Birchbox July Review 2017

The summery Birchbox has arrived, all the products are in this sunset, palm trees and beach in the background themed box and it makes you think about booking a holiday hehe. 

And the design of this month's box was voted for by us, the subscribers, Birchbox did a competition a few months ago asking subscribers to choose from a few summery box designs and this was our favourite, and I think it's cool that Birchbox have let the subscribers decide.

Balance Me | Flash Cleanse Micellar Water | RRP £16

I like this, most cleansers irritate my skin and don't feel nice but this does the complete opposite, I was interested what Micellar Water is so I googled it and came across this website Micellar Water

and I'm definitely going to buy Micellar Cleansing Water products in the future.

Native Unearthed | Natural Mineral Deodorant | RRP £7.99

I have never used a natural deodorant before but I was pleasantly surprised with this product I like the idea of this because you don't have to spray it, spray cans can be too strong and get on my chest but I have to use it because it's deodorant and I want to feel fresh but this little product is great! You apply to your underarms after a shower and then re-apply whenever you want, and the bonus it smells lovely 

This is on my list of things to get!

Origins Ritual Tea | Face Mask £32

I'm not overly fond of this to be honest, it's got a smell to it that I really didn't like, but after I rinsed it off my skin felt really nice and fresh. 

This face mask is a little bit different, you have to blend 2 teaspoons of the powder with 2 teaspoons of water. 

I think it's good but I can't stand the smell.

 

Benefit GoGo Tint Lip & Cheek Stain | RRP £25.50

I like Benefit products and I love their packaging so when I get samples of Benefit in my Birchbox, I always do a happy dance hehe!

I was really happy I got this product as I've wanted to try it for so long! It's just a tint that you dab onto the apples of your cheeks and lips, it's a nice colour on my lips and it's very rare I use blusher but I have to say I really like this once it settled on my cheeks, it give this subtle blush, it's adorable. Definitely recommend this product!

Catherine Maladrino | Romance de Provence Eau de Parfum | RRP £32

It's always a hit or miss when I Birchbox do perfume samples, I love scents but I haven't always liked the samples that I have received in the past.

But this one is not bad, it's very strong but once it settles it's nice, but weirdly I can't really describe what it smells like.

Percy & Reed | Perfectly Perfecting Wonder Overnight Recovery | RRP £20 

Full review will be up in a few days for this product.

That's it for this month's Birchbox, thank you for reading 

Sarah x

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Gifts for Graduation

So today's blog is about buying gifts for Graduation when there isn't much out there (or I was just looking in the wrong places haha) and when you're on a budget like me which I think most people are nowadays, online stores like eBay, amazon and Etsy will sort you out, though Etsy can be on the pricey side because of the p + p. 

I like to spoil people for every occasion, but this was a very special occasion so I went the extra mile!
 It was Sam's graduation and because he's only going to have one Graduation I spoilt him, watching his face light up when he saw and opened everything was so worth it! 

Buying the banners and balloons wasn't the tricky part it was actually deciding what to get him, I wanted to get him something that he could keep forever and not like a keyring or things like that, at first I toyed with the idea of getting him a nice journal and foundation pen or a really nice photo frame but I didn't think 'wow' about the ideas so I googled 'graduation gift ideas for him' and jackpot! it took a bit of searching but I found the perfect present that wasn't breaking my budget still on the pricey side but I did had money left in the piggy bank aha. 

Gifts

I got him this Silver Engraved Graduation Certificate Holder and Stand for only £22.95 + £3.95 for shipping from A1 gifts. 

                                 

 Look how beautiful that scroll is! As soon as I saw it I knew it was the perfect gift for him. It's so nicely decorated and you can get their name engraved for no extra cost, I was really happy with this and it came in this really nice box with this lovely silk material so it wouldn't get damaged. I'd definitely recommend this, it stands out from everything else in the room and something that you can keep for a long time as long as you keep it clean.  

The next gift that I got him I was lucky to find and it was a last minute gift, I didn't want him to just open one gift, because I got him a scroll holder I wanted to get a Graduation hat themed gift, and eBay once again answered my prayers.

I came across this little guy, it's a lovely gift, there's a nice message inside and the bear is glass. 

Banners, Balloons and more

So the next part was easy, I bought balloons, confetti and banners and scattered them upstairs and downstairs and it didn't break my bank.

I was going to make these graduation hat confetti by hand but it would have taken ages, so I brought some instead of eBay for only £2.25 and there was quite a lot in a pack, bargain!

Next up, balloons, I got sliver and black balloons 6 in a pack from Etsy for £6.20 + £1.85 postage and packaging.

I got some red balloons and a 'congratulations graduate' banner from Clinton cards and but I can't quite remember how much they were.

I got so lucky with this card, I spent a good week and a half going around Hanley like a headless chicken trying to find the perfect Graduation Card, one that stands out and then I find this gem! An Origami Graduation card!? Like I didn't even think you could get a card like that. 
You can predict where it's from haha! Clinton cards for around £3.00 I think

Now for the last 2 gifts I got them at the Graduation gift shop on the day as I wanted to get him a teddy bear but couldn't find the perfect one, but I couldn't leave this one as it's Staffordshire University themed, it was £11.50 I think which isn't bad at all really.

I got Sam this adorable rubber duck, I actually got the rubber duck first and then went back for the bear. 

I couldn't leave the duck, come on it has a graduation cap on and it's own little scroll (which Sam's jelly of because he just got a certificate (bummer) if only we lived in America *sigh* ) 

The duck was £3.50

And that's it for today's blog, I hope you enjoyed reading it and got some good ideas for somebody's upcoming Graduation or next years. 

And to help you guys out I have some links to the websites and it takes you straight to the 'Graduation' section

Clinton Cards

Etsy

A1 Gifts

Sarah x

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Sam's Graduation Staffordshire University 2017

Friday 14th July was my boyfriends time to shine, that was the day he graduated from Staffordshire University with a 2:1 in Web Development.

Sam and I have only been together for 3 months but he is such a hard worker he would stay in the uni library overnight, he lost work but he overcame that, there was a lot of stress and tears but he did it, he didn't give up, he's now a graduate with a 2:1 and has already found a job in web design and not everyone can find a job that easy, I am so proud of him he really his going to go far. 

So I decided to spoil Sam for his graduation, it's a once in a lifetime thing unless you do your masters that is so I wanted to spoil him. 

I love spoiling and surprising people ... so I stayed up quite late and decorated the house in banners, balloons, and of course sprinkled graduation themed confetti from his bedroom to the living room (wear around socks around the house or else it get stuck between your feet haha)

Sam loved what I did and the gifts that I brought him, he had the biggest smile on his face and it made me so happy :3

 I brought Sam a scroll that came with a stand and a mini graduation hat with an adorable glass bear in the hat. 
Whilst we were at the Graduation I also brought Sam a cute teddy bear and rubber bath duck haha I'll post pictures of them in another blog coming up!

.......

So after he opened his presents, we got all dolled up and our next was Trentham Gardens where the Graduation was being held, perfect place! I love Trentham Gardens, it's beautiful the gardens are lovely it was a really nice atmosphere. 

So after the Graduation, Sam's Mum and I went to the Harvester for a light lunch which was really nice and cheap as chips! I had a potatoe wedges which cheese and bacon and oh my gosh it was goood! Sam and Alison were healthy and had prawns, ew ew.

After lunch Alison went home so me and Sam had a lovely walk around the lakes and as usual I took loads of photos! I just wish I could of filmed the day to be honest, I would have done clips and made it into a youtube video but there was so many people and it takes time but either way I did get few pics!

A little tip, take spare shoes with you to the Graduation because I didn't ( I don't think ) I was in heels and walked around the lake in the heels, yes it was painful but thankfully I have no blisters haha!

.....

After we took pretty pictures and we took a romantic ( slighty painful for me) scroll around the lake we set off to Stone for a fancy meal. 

It was a lovely meal, our first proper date and it felt extra special for us as we celebrated 3 months together on Saturday hehe.

The staff were really nice, they were attentive and polite I'd definitely recommend Pasta Di Pizza.  

And that's it for today's blog, I am currently working on a second blog on how to find the perfect gifts and my July Birchbox review is also coming up! So keep checking my blog.

Thanks for reading

Sarah x

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