Subscription Box Series: Urthbox

I haven't done an SBS in goodness knows how long--it's been almost a year, I believe--because now that subscription boxes have become a 'thing,' a lot of the more cheaper companies have either since folded due to competition or hiked up their prices to support the demand. For someone on a budget, I can't see buying a $30-60 box just to sample it for an entry in this series, so I had to put it on hold for awhile while I found some more boxes in my price range. 

What is it?

Urthbox is a monthly box service that specializes in providing health-conscious snacks and beverages. There are four types of boxes you can choose from (classic, diet, gluten-free and vegan) and all of the snacks are GMO-free, organic and natural. A couple of extras, such as energy, vitamin or mineral supplements, hygiene or skincare products, can also be included in your box.

How much does it cost?

Mini--6 products for $8.99/monthly

Small--12 products for $12.99/monthly

Medium--17 products for $26.99/monthly

Large--24 products for $36.99/monthly

These prices change if you'd like to purchase a 1, 3 or 6 month-long subscription. You can also buy an Urthbox for the workplace or purchase it for someone else as a gift in 6-month increments. 

Sign-up and ordering:

Sign-up and ordering are both fairly easy; you can complete your order without needing to sign-up for the site first. After going to the "Get Started" link on the homepage, you select the box you want, followed by the monthly plan you'd prefer. Then you get to choose which of the four box types you want to receive, and the checkout page follows that. If you have a coupon code like I did, this is where you'll get to enter it. After that comes the confirmation page--you should receive a confirmation email as well--and the billing of your debit card, and on the 1st the new month's subscription begins so I'd suggest ordering this box at the beginning of the month to avoid getting two boxes. 

Delivery and cancellation:

Delivery took a couple of weeks but everything arrived in good shape. The box wasn't damaged in any way and everything inside had been packaged well. Cancellation was what I had problems with from Urthbox. Instead of instant cancellation that you can do yourself from the website, which I would have preferred, you have to email your cancellation request to the support team before the 30th of the month to ensure you won't be billed for the next month's box. I'd suggest calling earlier in the month to avoid getting caught up in the end-of-month madness that usually ensues when the company's only cancellation method is by email. You're supposed to get an email informing you that the support team will be in contact within 48 hours, but in my case that never happened so I called the customer support number. Now I'd already called the customer support line not long after ordering my box but after a snafu with the representative in which he'd said that he cancelled my subscription and would be sending me a confirmation email (that I never got), I went with their steps instead of emailing my cancellation request and waiting. I got the automated follow-up but no actual confirmation, so I called and after being told that the wait time would be longer than 10 minutes, I left my name and number on the machine. There was never a callback, so I emailed again and gave them a brief rundown of the prior events and that I was trying to confirm my cancellation before the next month. I finally got my answer a couple of days later and my subscription was cancelled. It took a week total to cancel the subscription. 

Purchasing products you received:

I had to search for the products individually on Google because once you log into your Urthbox account you can access your account information and see what kind of box you ordered, but you don't get any details about the items that came in your box. There is a section labeled "Products," but I couldn't find anywhere to search for the individual products to purchase them from Urthbox. 

So what came in the box?

I ordered the Mini Classic box, and here is what I was given:

1. Pretzel Perfection Salted Caramel Clusters

These are pretzel sticks covered in caramel and dark chocolate with chocolate chips and sea salt sprinkled over the top. For me, these were pretty sweet but they taste so good I'm willing to deal with it. lol I loved the size of the bag, it's more than enough for a snack or two, the bag is resealable which I also liked, and you can't even tell that this is a healthier snack because it tastes so sweet. I'm not normally a big fan of dark chocolate so I wasn't sure I'd like them, but the sea salt and caramel mix with it really well and balance out the bitterness. They're sold out on the company's website (probably from the Urthbox customers who also received these--seriously, these taste great lol) but they should be getting new stock in soon. That last part could be wishful thinking, though. lol If you live in a hot area like I do, I'd suggest refrigerating these or you'll have a melted clump of mess on your hands when you go back in for a snack. 

2. Fuel for Fire Fruit & Protein Fuel Pack in Triple Berry, $17.99

This is the only product in the box that I can say that I truly hated, and hate is still an understatement. I've tried a juice similar to this one before and it too was the stuff of nightmares. I've been trying to find one that doesn't provoke my gag reflex but unfortunately, this wasn't it. When I smelled it, it had that sickly sweet smell one gets when they're drunk and the alcohol is leaking out of their pores, or that smell after the alcohol comes back up. As an emetophobe and a non-drinker, that smell brings back so many bad memories from my younger days at the club trying to spot the ones who couldn't hold their liquor so I could get away in time. LOL The odor was enough to send me running for the hills, but I didn't feel right not trying it so I did. Immediately, I had to fight the urge to gag. The liquid looks like baby v and has this powdered milk/fruit taste that really isn't good. The aftertaste takes awhile to die down and it's bad the entire time. I don't see how people can like these. I even had some of my family try this and much like the other product we got like this, nobody liked it. If this was the only way to get my protein and energy, I'd pass. lol These are temporarily out of stock as well.

3. Chic-a-Peas Baked Crunchy Chickpeas in Sweet BBQ, $2.29

I've never had chickpeas before so I wasn't sure what to expect with these, but to me, the chickpeas taste like Japanese peanuts, but just a bit drier. I didn't get a sweet taste from the BBQ, it just tasted like BBQ seasoning but it was pretty strong. I can see taking these along with me if I'm going to be out for a few hours; I can't eat more than a few at a time but they tasted alright to me. I think they could have left the chickpeas plain and they still would have been okay. I guess these could be considered a healthier alternative to Corn Nuts, that's what these remind me of.

4. Hemp Hearts Raw Shelled Hemp Seeds, $8.99 for 8oz.

I've never had any sort of edible hemp product before but I smelled a hemp shampoo once and thought I was going to die, so I wasn't eager to try these at all. At first these taste like sunflower seeds and it's not so bad, but the aftertaste is pretty dry, like if you ate a bunch of pecans and didn't drink any water afterward. lol I can't see having these as a snack because they don't do much for me, but they weren't awful. 

5. Pnut Punch Cold-Pressed Bar, $11.99 for a 15-piece box

There was no description of these anywhere on the wrapper and the name of the candy doesn't give you much to go on either, but if you've ever had marzipan candies before, that's exactly what this tastes like. It has a stronger walnut taste than regular marzipans, but it's similar in texture and in taste. It wasn't anything new for me; the ice cream trucks here sell marzipans all the time and I used to eat them a lot when I was a kid, but if you've never had them then these candies should be a treat. 

6. Energy Gummi Bears in Citrus, $1.50 for a single pack

One of these bags is supposed to be the equivalent of one energy drink, but to be quite honest, I'd rather just have the energy drink and get it over with. lol I ate a couple of these and I didn't really feel any changes in my energy levels, so I think if you were to have one of these packages you'd have to eat the whole thing at once to get any sort of energy boost. They do taste like citrus though so even if you're not trying to get an energy boost, they'd still make a pretty good snack. 

My thoughts:

I like the concept of Urthbox, and I liked the majority of the snacks I was given. There were a couple of definite misses, but the majority of the products were hits that I'd love to purchase again. I like that there are multiple box types as well as sizes that you can choose from, and I thought it was really cool that you could buy a box for your workplace. I like that the snacks are healthier and portable so you can take them along with you on days out, and I like the variety in the types of snacks that I got. 

I do think there are some points for improvement though. I think that the option for instant cancellation should be added to the website (but that is partially because I have gone through companies who use the email cancellation option and it proved to be unreliable), and the option to purchase the products that came in your box from the website rather than searching on Google should be made available as well. Customer service is where I have the most complaints; they don't always follow through on delivering the cancellation emails (check your spam mail was what I was told; I check mine daily and never received it, but your email may filter any communication attempts there) and it can be like pulling teeth to actually get through and talk to someone. Overall, however, I liked most of my snacks and if not for the problems with getting customer service to respond to you, through either email or the support line, I wouldn't mind ordering from Urthbox again. 

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Blossom VoxBox

I received the Blossom VoxBox from Influenster earlier this month, and I figured I'd give myself time to try everything at leisure before posting my review, which is why it wasn't up here sooner. As always with any VoxBox that I post from Influenster, I received all of these items free of charge in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. The post is not sponsored by Influenster or any of the companies who participated by adding their products to this box. Let's get started!

I wasn't quite sure what the Blossom VoxBox was when I found out that I was selected to get one, so I opted to wait and be surprised. Here's what I got in my box:

1. Beanitos Bean Chips in Chipotle BBQ & Original Black Bean, $3.49

When I saw these were bean chips, I was not intrigued. lol I don't eat beans often and I'm not really a fan of black beans, so I didn't think they'd taste good at all. But I did like all the health benefits that the chips boasted and that the ingredients were all natural, so I went ahead and tried them. The nutritional info on the back lists these chips as being gluten, MSG, sodium, They ended up tasting great, at least to me. The original flavor was my favorite of the two; they had a subtle taste with only a hint of black bean at the end. The chipotle bbq reminded me of a less greasy Lay's Barbecue chip with a finish of cayenne or chili powder. It left a heat behind that wasn't overwhelming, but it did mix quite well with the barbecue. The bean taste wasn't strong in this chip either. I think they would both be good chips to eat alongside a burger. I figure I'll get all the good stuff with the chips so that I can get a pass on eating the burger. It balances out. LOL

2. Bear Naked Granola in Sea Salt Caramel Apple & Coconut Almond Curry, $10.49 for 12oz.

I've never had loose granola before, and while I was excited to try the caramel apple version, I did not share the same excitement for the curry granola. The caramel apple has bits of dried apple and pieces of caramel mixed into the loose oats, and the almond curry has bits of shaved coconut slices and almond pieces mixed in with the oats. I absolutely loved the caramel apple. It reminded me of the apple oatmeal and granola bars I used to eat when I was a kid and it tasted great. The curry granola, however, not so much. I don't think curry should be combined with granola. At first the taste is slightly sweet, but then the heat of the curry hits and for me, it just didn't mix well with the oats and coconut. That would explain the significant difference in the amounts I have in the bags. lol

3. Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs in Medium, $13.99

My legs are darker than the shade of Airbrush Legs I was given so I wasn't able to get a full idea of how it would work for me, but when I tried it out I noticed a difference in the texture of my legs. The leg without the makeup felt normal and soft, but the one with it felt a bit rougher, sort of how my skin feels when I apply self-tanners or bronzing lotions. The leg makeup did give my leg more of a uniform complexion and after awhile I forgot it was there. It blended in well and disguised the smaller marks on my leg, and it didn't feel sweaty or greasy after a couple of hours. The only complaint I have with the product itself was how parched it made my leg feel. If it had the effect on my skin of a lotion then this would be great. I'm open to trying this again with the shade that matches my skintone.

4. Clairol Hair Food Root Cleansing Shampoo in Strawberry and Ginger, $9.99

On average I wash my hair about once or twice a week; I usually use my conditioner as a leave-in because it helps to keep my hair from drying out or becoming unmanageable between washes. My hair is very dry and weak in general, so I try not to go overboard with washing it or using heat on it. When I do wash it though, I need a shampoo that removes all built-up products or oils and fully cleanses without drying out my hair. The first time I washed my hair with this I noticed that after rinsing my hair, it felt a bit stripped and brittle, so I had to apply the leave-in to put some of the oils back. The second time, I didn't use the leave-in and proceeded as normal; it felt very stripped at first and very tangled. Once it was dried it did feel clean, especially at the root, but it fully exposed how dried out my ends were, and those parts are still prone to tangling even when dry. My hair doesn't feel weighted down per se, but it's kinda got the helmet effect going on--it's not flat, it brought out some of the waves at my roots, but it's not moving. I love the scent though and ends aside, I do like how my hair feels. It feels clean, but it also feels drier and much more brittle. It's gotten good reviews from other bloggers who've tried it and while I did see some of the benefits, I think maybe it just mixes badly with how damaged my hair already is or the texture it already had. I'm going to use it again LOL, just not without my leave-in afterward.

5. NYC 24-hr Eyeshadow in Brooklyn Mocha, $2.99

I've never tried any NYC products before, save for the dual-color eyeliners, so I was excited to try this. I really liked that it was a twist-up crayon. I swatched this on my hand first and I was expecting it to be a shimmery sand, but it actually looks more gray. I applied it over a primer on one eye and left the other eye naked, and that's where I noticed the difference. On the primed eye the color was darker, a bit more intense and smokier. On the naked eye, it was lighter, there was more of a shimmery finish, and the color blended out a little easier. I love the color by itself, but it also mixes well with other colors, makes for a slammin' smokey eye, and would probably be a good base if you'd like a little bit of shimmer to peek out from underneath darker eyeshadows. This is easily one of my favorite products in the box. 

6. Australian Gold Sunscreen in SPF 30, $7.99 for 8oz.

This is a great sunscreen. I don't know that it replaces my other two favorites just yet, but it's right up there. The scent is very summery but doesn't have that irritating sunscreen smell or feel to it. The formula isn't as thick as old school sunscreens, it rubs in very well and it doesn't leave the skin looking or feeling greasy. It makes your skin look moisturized and dewy, and I liked that as well. I applied it before leaving on a midday walk last weekend and when I got back, I had a tan but my skin wasn't as dried out as it normally is when I leave without sunscreen. My skin wasn't leathery or chafed and still felt moisturized. It's also supposed to be water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, so if you're going to spend a couple of hours out by the pool or at a water park, this would be a good sunscreen to take along with you. The size of the bottle that I received makes it very portable, the top doesn't easily come off so it won't spill in your bag, and you won't need to drown your skin in it; you can mix it in with your lotion to get it to stretch. I liked this sunscreen a lot. 

7. Nasoya Pasta Zero Pasta, $2.29

I haven't been able to get to the store to buy sauce for this pasta yet, but let me tell you that I was not intrigued by this when I first saw it in the bag. lol It was delivered very securely though, it was in a bubble wrapped container and that was placed into a Ziploc bag, so I appreciate that I didn't receive noodle juice (lol) drenched all over everything. These noodles are supposed to be cooked in a skillet, then you can add whatever sauces you'd like and eat. When I try this, I'll update the post. 

Extras:

Besides the fact sheet I got on all of the products in the box, I also had coupons for Beanitos and Hair Food products, and an invitation to post some how-to or inspiration tips in order to receive a $25 eBay gift card. I much prefer when I get fact sheets with my boxes; after I review them initially I tend to forget about where I got them, and the fact cards help me keep track. 

The Blossom VoxBox is by far one of the better boxes I received from Influenster, and I'm beyond appreciative that I was selected for this box. I got a couple of new alternatives for healthy snacks, and with this new goal of mine to workout and start being more aware of what I eat, a couple of those snacks couldn't have come at a better time. Thanks again to Influenster for including me in this box and Happy Memorial Day!

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Carefree VoxBox

I hadn't received a VoxBox from Influenster since sometime last year, so when I found out I was in last month's Carefree VoxBox it was quite a surprise. I hadn't even entered it; I was just selected for it so when I got the email, I was like, "Wha?" lol Now as with any box you'll see from Influenster on this site, all products reviewed were sent to me for free in exchange for an unbiased review. None of these posts are sponsored by Influenster or any of the participating companies; all thoughts and opinions are my own. Well, with that disclaimer out of the way, let's get started!

When I first received this box, I was a bit unsure of how to post this and give a personal experience without veering into TMI Lane, but I'm going to try to maneuver around it. As a reader, I don't want to read about the graphic details of someone's flow so I won't cross that line now that I'm on the other side of the matter. Anyway, here is what came in my box:

Simple and to the point, right? lol As you can see, I received a small box of 20 regular unscented Acti-Fresh Carefree liners. These are intended for light to regular flow but aren't meant to take the place of a more durable feminine product, so I wouldn't use them alone unless you're just dealing with minor spotting. I was a little skeptical of them since they didn't have wings and I learned my lesson with wingless products the hard way (and if you've ever had to get a pad from the nurse's office in middle or high school, I wouldn't be surprised to hear that you learned this lesson the hard way too lol) a long time ago, so at first I was like, "Nah, kid. I'm not trying these." But when my dear friends Cramp and Flo made their way into town a couple days after said statement and I had errands to run throughout their visit (so I couldn't hole up in bed and pray for a swift death like I was planning to do), I figured it was the Almighty's way of telling me to do my job and stop whining. 

There are a few reasons why I don't bother with pads, one of the main reasons being that I don't find them comfortable at all. I always feel like I'm wearing a diaper and I have the biggest fear of people being able to see it through whatever bottoms I'm wearing. LOL Liners are okay for the most part, but I hardly ever wear them anymore so I never gave it too much thought. Fortunately, these aren't the fear-inducing liners of old and as a result, my experience with them was quite pleasant. 

Pros:

--Very compact & easily disposable

--Relatively crinkle-free packaging

--Thin but absorbent

--Durable and sturdy

--Unscented but still has odor control

Cons:

None that I can think of!

I'm hoping this is the first and last time I have to put a picture
of a pad up on this blog. LOL

My thoughts:

I'm not really one for liners but if I were to start wearing them again, I'd go with these. The size, as you can see in the pic, is very small, so it'll fit in a small pocket or even a small purse with no problem. Because it's so small, disposal is a snap. One thing I like about this liner is that the wrapper is one of the crinkle-free ones, so you can put it in your pocket and walk around with it without that tell-tale crinkling sound. When I first saw them, I wondered how they would hold anything in because they were so small, but they're surprisingly absorbent. They're durable and sturdy despite having no wings for extra security so there's no fear of them falling and slipping down your leg (or is that just a fear of mine? LOL I saw it happen to a girl once at school, became traumatized, and developed a fear at irrational levels of it happening to me), and it molds to your body so well that you forget you're even wearing it. I would say that a con would be that these don't have wings since those are the ones I prefer, but they're very secure, so I didn't miss them. Scented items of that nature tend to irritate my skin, so I usually stay away from them. Even though these liners are unscented, they still have a fresh, clean smell to them with odor control properties. It's a very subtle scent but it does work. I was very pleased with how they worked and I'm open to trying them again. 

Overall, I liked the Carefree box and as always, am appreciative to Influenster for giving me something new to review. I'm not in a terribly large hurry to review anything quite like this again as I worry about toeing that line of TMI lol, but I appreciated the challenge of trying to review something that I initially wasn't too keen to talk about. If you're in the market for a solid liner, try out the Carefree Acti-Fresh liners; despite not being a fan in general, I have absolutely no complaints with these.

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April Favorites

This list of favorites doesn't have many new things on it; much like last month, these things were already favorites that I just happen to use often. It's not one of my more interesting lists, but here it is anyway. lol

Aquafina Flavorsplash Lip Balm in Berry Loco, Wet 'n Wild Matte Topcoat

The last little snap of cold weather we had left my lips feeling like I ran them across a shredder so I've been on the hunt for a good lip balm and I finally found it with this Aquafina lip balm. I'd tried a store brand before that, but it left my lips with a thick, waxy feeling so I scrapped it. The Aquafina is much lighter on my lips, leaves them feeling moisturized for much longer than other balms, is a good base for my lipsticks, and smells great. It also doesn't leave a thick buildup on my lips, and it's helped to repair the cold weather damage. 

I'm not going to talk too much about the topcoat because I'm going to be reviewing it in-depth in an upcoming post, but it works really well on all kinds of polishes and it's been a fun new polish to play with. It's worked great for different polish finishes and I love it. 

Beyond Top Secret by Robin Lubitz

This book isn't from a genre that I usually read, but this was one of the books that I requested last month for LibraryThing's Member Giveaways and I loved it. If you like government conspiracy novels, then check this one out. In this novel, a series of men all come home and kill their families before committing suicide on their 60th birthdays. The cases seem isolated as the men are in various parts of the country, but to one man who is aware of all the situations involved, he knows that these are far from coincidences. Sworn to secrecy about the truth behind these situations, he gives an anonymous tip to a newspaper reporter and tries to wash his hands of the entire matter. Unfortunately for Ryan, he ends up more involved than he originally intended when the woman he loved and lost over a decade ago is brought to the front burner when she is accused of murdering her husband on his 60th birthday. Against his better judgment (and the warnings of the CIA), Ryan has to confront his demons and fight different levels of government officials to save Alana from going to prison for a murder she committed in self-defense. In doing so, he must reveal the conspiracy that the CIA is trying so hard to keep hidden, and revealing all could endanger both his and Alana's lives. 

I loved this book because instead of explaining things from one perspective or the other, this book gives equal insight into both the story behind the conspiracy and those who are being dragged down because of it. I love government conspiracies and I think this one was an excellent look into both sides of one. Of course you root for the hero and reluctant heroine, but at the same time you understand the repercussions of these things getting out from the government's side. There are enough plot twists to keep everything from going stale as well as a bouncing viewpoint from the various main characters, corruption, violence, love and death, all the good stuff. lol If you'd like to download the book, here's where you can do so: 

Amazon ($3.99) | NOOK ($3.99) | Google Play Books ($3.03)

Cooking shows

I love food. Love eating it, love serving it, especially love cooking it. I randomly fell on the discovery that cooking and the hospitality industry was where I belonged. There's a long story connected to why I fell in love with food in general that I'll probably touch on in the 'Random' category, but I'm in the beginning stages of researching local food trucks, so I've been watching more cooking shows lately to get some inspiration. 

Kindle Cloud Reader, WWE Network, Spotify for PS3, Journal (by Journey)

This month wasn't very experimental for me, so what's on the list are apps that I use most often. My Kindle Cloud Reader is my primary book storage and reading app. All of my Amazon-purchased books are there, the books that I read for review are sent to my app's email address and I get to access them from the Cloud Reader, and because I have so many books, the app has been a godsend. I don't often use the Chrome version of the Cloud Reader, but it works just as well as the app.

I usually use the Network via my PS3 because the picture quality is better there than on my phone and I have more control over the app in general, but it's gotten a good deal of usage this month. I've had more than a few late nights while I was trying to get posts up, and wrassling has kept me company. Not too much else to say. The PS3 app that I was excited to try was the new Spotify app, which syncs most of your PC/mobile account onto the PS3 platform, enabling you to listen to your favorite playlists whenever you want. The best quality of the app, however, is reserved only for PS4 players, which is the ability to listen to Spotify in-game. I was a little irritated by this at first, until I remembered that I actually like the music in my games, so this wasn't too much hair off my back, but it still irks to know that the PS4 players have one more thing that I do not. LOL

The Journal (by Journey) app is actually a Chrome app that I have on my laptop, and it's very simple, easy to use, and lets me record my thoughts to my heart's content. It has an uncomplicated interface (I hope that's the right word LOL) and saves to Google Drive from the app. I don't have many requirements of my writing apps; let me write and let me save it are the only things I ask. This one fits the bill and I like it. 

FontSpace, GoFundMe

Any amateur graphic designer has to have a list of the best sources for free fonts, graphics and vectors, and for me, FontSpace is near the top of my list for the best free fonts on the web. There is a huge variety of different fonts in an array of styles and themes, and although I don't see too many new additions often, it's still a great font library to utilize if you're just starting out. Anytime I'm looking to add a new font, FontSpace is one of the first places I look and with me trying to upgrade the fonts I use for my blogs, I've been on there quite a bit.

GoFundMe isn't a typical website addition, but I wanted to bring attention to it because it highlights a worthy cause that I recently donated to. The effects of the first earthquake in Nepal were absolutely devastating, with more than 4000 among the dead. Another earthquake hit Nepal within the last couple of weeks, which thankfully wasn't as bad as the first but still dealt a blow to the ongoing relief efforts. I donated to help rebuild the country and even though the goal has since been met, I still thought it was important to give it some attention. There is no feeling quite like donating to a cause to help those with less than you, and I encourage everyone to do it at least once. I'm grateful for my position in life, but there were many times where I wish there'd been someone in my corner that way. It's nice to see people coming together with what they have to spare to be that 'someone' for others who desperately need it. 

Home cleaners, inspiration boards, nerd-related fashion and/or decor

Every spring when everything thaws out, for some reason bugs like to try and push us out of our house by attempting to take over it. My mom is a beast with cleaning supplies and as an asthmatic, not only can I not deal with the fumes, I have a strong fear that one day one of her concoctions is going to blow up the house. LOL So I've been trying to find cleaning supplies that are strong enough to clean and can do some double duty in case one of the little suckers comes back around, but won't close up my lungs and kill me in the process. lol I like the concept of natural cleaners but I have some doubts about their strength, so I've been trying to find cleaners that are both heavy-duty and natural without costing an arm and a leg.

Inspiration boards have been on my favorites list for the better part of the last year, but I finally got around to making one this month. This is more of a self-reflection inspiration board. What I mean by that is that rather than this inspiration board being a collection of outer things that inspire me, this is a visual of what I want to be inspired by within myself, character traits that I would like to possess or already do that could potentially push me to do the other things you would normally put on an inspiration board. It's coming along well and has already started to do its job of inspiring me to do and be better.

Finally, nerd-related fashion and decor has always been something I've been interested in, but I've had this serious DIY itch lately and it's been related to integrating my favorite video games into my decor or fashion choices. If you like nerd-related home decor, Our Nerd Home is a fantastic source and has also been a huge source of inspiration in the types of things I'd like to create. 

Chapstick, cooking, journaling, fitness (wtf?)

As I mentioned up above, Chapstick was the #1 must-have on my shopping list this month. It was awful. It's a good thing I'm single, because if I'd had a boyfriend before I got that Aquafina I would have probably sliced up his lips just trying to kiss him goodbye. LOL I'm exaggerating, but dry lips are a massive pet peeve for me so it really was of the utmost importance that I correct the situation ASAP.

When I was younger, cooking was not on my radar. At all. I was kind of an ass who thought cooking was for moms, wives and the occasional romantic meal. I thought I'd be one of those chicks they show on tv, the ones who magically have the money to eat out everyday and never use their beautifully styled kitchen for anything other than spontaneous sexytimes. LOL My struggles with anxiety and agoraphobia eventually led me to cooking shows, which relaxed me. That turned into a desire to learn to cook, which turned into a desire to cook and cook often. It was during the time I was stuck indoors that I discovered where my passion laid, and in an ironic twist that would make my 17-year-old self cringe with disgust, it was in the kitchen. It's my #2 favorite place in the entire world. The first, of course, is my bed. LOL Anyway, cooking is usually on my mind, and with my desire to have a food truck at some point in the future, I've been getting the itch to test out some new recipes. 

Journaling, as I mentioned earlier, has been helping me in both a general sense and in the wellness challenge that I'm doing for the month of May, and I recommend it if you're ever in the need of a little self-reflection or self-therapy. It's relaxing, gets all the thoughts out, and can help immensely if you don't have anyone you can vent to about certain things. 

Finally, fitness (wtf?) is a new one for me. When I was younger, I used to love working out and running, partially thanks to my stepdad. From around the age of 10 until I was 15, my stepdad gave me martial arts training and he used to take me to the gym with him, which is where I first learned to love working out. But I got out of the habit as a teen then became too weak as an adult because of some of my health issues, until an important realization came to me awhile ago. I realized that I ask God to take care of my outer life, but I'm not taking care of myself internally, even in the conditions I'm in. So I wanted to improve things for myself. The wellness challenge is meant to implement some sort of daily aerobic activity in my life, whether it is walking for a certain period of time each day, doing a structured workout, or doing sporadic reps on various body parts throughout the day. It's been challenging, and as the initial 30-day challenge begins to wind down, I'm left with a lot of questions but I've learned so much throughout it that I'm also encouraged to continue in some fashion after the initial duration is over. 

Documentary Recommendation: Kink

I know this is a rather risque choice for a documentary recommendation, but if you've ever been curious about the BDSM lifestyle or have a set opinion on what you think it and/or fetish porn are about, Kink can give you some educated insight without making it look indecent or feel seedy. (omg no pun intended. LOL) I think this is one of those documentaries that can give birth to a great debate, if that's your thing. I love having discussions about these kinds of things, so not only was this a good conversation topic for me, but it really did give me new perspective on what I already knew and was able to learn from the documentary about the BDSM fetish. 

Well that wraps things up for this month's list of favorites. Like I said, I know it wasn't one of my more interesting lists, but again, that's me. Next month will probably have a few new additions, but April wasn't a very interesting month and it clearly showed in this post. lol See you soon!

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