Fabulous, Flirty and Thirty

Today I sit in front of my laptop and I feel like a completely different person than I was two months ago. Maybe it isn't just a feeling. So much has happened.

I have been working on this post for almost three months and was hoping to have it published before my 30th birthday as a present to all my loyal fans, friends and family, who take time out from their hectic schedule to read my posts. Unfortunately I've had to deal with very personal issues and this post ended up in the back burner.

Last month I became an official member of the 30 club, something I had dreaded since I turned 20. Thirty  isn't that bad, although it's been a bumpy ride for me. I'm realizing that with every passing stage in my life I'm becoming stronger, wiser, more confident and getting better with age (I know it's an overused adage, but it's also very true.)

The events in the past two months have tested me, changed me and reinvented me, I'm hoping it's for the better, but really I'm just trying to adjust to all the changes.

One of the most important things I've learned in my 30 years of living is that time moves too fast for us to sit around complaining about the things we have no control over. Here are some other lessons, I've learned in honor of my 30th birthday, and while some are cliche, please keep in mind that cliches are real and honest and, although they only seem like vague words, they take a lifetime to understand their depth and complexion.

•  Life only gets harder and more complicated the older we get.
• Don't make excuses when your loved ones and friends ask to see you. Make time for them because we exist on borrowed time.
• Look for something positive even when the world feels like it's caving in. I know it's not easy, but you have to remember that there's always sunlight after the storm.
• In order to love anyone, you must first learn to love yourself. 
• While on the topic of love, words are never enough you have to show people you love them.
• If you forgive, forget and move on. 
• Start taking care of yourself today. One day you'll realize all the things you should've done, but didn't. Health is one of the most important things that we take for granted on a daily basis.
• Success is perceptual and what one person thinks is success isn't exactly what you might consider successful.
• Respect other people's opinions, even if they differ from yours.  
• Find your passion. It's important for your livelihood.
• Don't compare yourself to anyone else. You are your only competition.
• You'll never have it all figured out, so don't drive yourself crazy trying.
• Don't let the mistakes of your past paralyze you from taking a risk now.
• On that note don't punish the new people in your life for the wrongs other people have committed against you in the past. 
• Don't dwell on the past. Live in the present. Plan for the future.
• Fall 10 times. Get up an 11th time!
• Don't settle. 
• Compromise in relationships.
• Dress for the body you have not the body you wish you had.
• There's no such thing as over accessorizing. 
• The higher the heels the taller you stand.
• Being a woman is a beautiful thing-- dress like a woman, act like a woman and don't let any man tell you you can't do something. 

With that said, I can say that there's something different about telling people I'm 30. I'm not sure if that difference stems from actually admitting I'm 30 (I honestly thought I would be one of those women who goes around telling people I'm 29 for another five to six years) or that turning 30 signifies that I'm now a more mature and responsible woman who has gathered enough wisdom to make important life decisions on my own terms without consulting anyone.

Indeed turning 30 is truly special. It's something we have to embrace.

XO GTG

Don't forget to keep up with me:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourgo2gal
Twitter: https://twitter.com/YourGotoGal
Tumblr: http://yourgotogal.tumblr.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/yourgotogal
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/yourgo2gal/
Foursquare: https://foursquare.com/yourgotogal

Spotlight: Julep Maven February Box

I discovered Julep Maven, a nail color monthly sub, a few months ago, when I was trying to decide what I really wanted to get from my monthly boxes. I don't mind spending money on things I know I'm going to use and I felt like I was getting tired of receiving the same samples from other subs, which have now accumulated inside two drawers of my vanity set.

But I like love to have my nails look pretty in the hottest colors of the season. So joining Julep Maven was a no brainer. Signing up to become a Julep Maven is very easy: you take a quiz, you discover your style profile (It Girl, Bombshell, Classic with a Twist, American Beauty or Boho Glam) and you purchase your first box. All boxes are $19.99/month, but unlike other subs you can pick whichever style you like each month. 

Today I received my February box and wanted to share the colors I received, as well as the inspiration behind this month's collection and the freebies I got from my Julep Jules (Julep Maven's reward program for ordering my monthly box.)

Julep Maven's February Box: Bombshell

Something noteworthy to know about Julep colors:

• Julep nail colors are "4 free" (don't contain formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toulene or DBP.)
• highly pigmented colors
• Julep donates a portion of the proceeds to organizations that support women through its Powered by Girlfriends program. 

My style profile is Classic with a Twist, but this month I opted to order the Bombshell box because I was smitten with Laura, an olive khaki creme. I also received Ginger, a sand tone in a holographic finish. In addition I got an eyelash curler and a couple of heart shaped chocolates (one of which I ate before I got to take a picture of the box :) )

Almost all of this month's boxes came with the new oxygen nail treatment that is supposed to make nails stronger, thicker and smoother in just one stroke (review will be up very soon) as well as freedom polymer top coat, (an extra this month) which claims to extend the life of your manicure by creating a force field that prevents chipping and a gel like finish (review for this will also be up shortly.)

Because I had accumulated a nice amount of Julep Jules, I added on the Old Hollywood Charm set, which consists of three colors at no extra cost.

I thought this was the perfect add-on because the entire "Get on The A List" February collection was inspired by classic and modern Hollywood leading ladies.

Unfortunately with all the new polishes that I have received in the last week or so I haven't been able to try them all on. As usual, I'll come back and update this post with all the colors received.

FYI: The window for the new monthly subscription opens up later this week from the 20th-24th with a new style profile: Modern beauty that will feature other products besides polishes.

If you'd like to become a Julep Maven use my referral code: 5799024 during sign up or just click on the following link: Julep Maven

What's your favorite monthly subscription?

Until next time,
xo GTG

Don't forget to keep up with me:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourgo2gal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/YourGotoGal

Tumblr: http://yourgotogal.tumblr.com/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/yourgotogal
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/yourgo2gal/

Foursquare: https://foursquare.com/yourgotogal

Go-to Guest Blog: A Fella Tackles the New Birchbox Man

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to @hypergraffic aka Rob, one of my besties. He's giving us the scoop on the first Birchbox Man ever!

Check it out:


Listen up, gentlemen: Birchbox Man is finally here. If you’ve got a special lady in your life who happens to be on the fashion up and up then you’ve probably heard of Birchbox, the online subscription service that delivers beauty samples to her door each month. While I lack a special lady, and (let's just get this out of the way right here) ANY semblance of style, I do happen to have direct line of communication to none other than Your Go-to-Gal. When she mentioned the prospect of receiving a male-oriented version of Birchbox I gave in to my curiosity and registered for the waiting list.

“Well hello there. Oh you’re 49 CFR 173.4 compliant? Me too, I think.”

The Experience

Dat box. It's a nice box, guys. And it's fun to open. Brown and blue cardboard, minimalist design, and you even get to do a little unwrapping. You feel cool just opening this box.

There's an index card inside that lists and explains each of the products, as well as directs you to their website if you'd like to pick up a full sized version, which they ever so conveniently happen to sell. More on that later, though.



The Contents

Inside that box we have:

- .05oz sample of Costume National's "Scent Intense" fragrance. Described as "the mystery and sensuality of amber", whatever that means, the scent itself is a mellow, floral, yet masculine scent that would work well worn during the evening

-3.2oz bar of Kiehl’s Ultimate Man Body Scrub Soap. Made with bran AND oatmeal (this thing will solve a lot of continence issues if swallowed, apparently) it has a fresh citrus scent and does not fail to live up to its name. This bar of soap is not for the fair skinned. Those oats? They scrape your skin. Brusquely, let’s say. And yet it feels great. And smells excellent as well.

-2oz sample bottle of Billy Jealousy’s Liquidsand Exfoliating Facial Cleanser. Liquidsand is right. The fine grain in this face wash is much more pleasant than the typical Clean n Clear that your humble writer might purchase at Target. This cleanser doesn’t have much, if any, fragrance, which is a nice change from that “I feel like I just rubbed toothpaste in my eyes” feeling that most facewash gives you.

-Finally we come to the coup de grace of this inaugural Birchbox Man ensemble: A pair of Richer Poorer socks. “Uhh, socks?” you ask?  This is where the Birchbox Boy is separated from the Birchbox Babe. The ladies just don’t get this type of item in their boxes, which explains why the dudebox is double the price. As for the socks themselves, while simple, they’re comfy enough, and will add some pop to a boring work outfit.

The Problem

Ahh, but it isn’t all roses with Birchbox. While they invite you to visit their website to purchase full sized versions of their samples, their prices are a bit... exorbitant. Consider, for example, the Kiehl’s Scrub Soap, which is available for $13 on birchbox.com. I found it for as low as $9.99 on Amazon.com. I know that $3 isn’t much, but the Costume National cologne was almost half of Birchbox’s price on Amazon.com, for a savings of $63! Though I may find something interesting in my box each month, I can’t consider Birchbox.com a one stop online destination for both inspiration and shopping. Not when I can so easily find these products for less with a simple Google search.

The Future

A question that begs to be answered is: “Did you like what was in the box?” Well, why bother answering that? While I may have liked what was in this box, you could easily hate these products for whatever reason. So a better question might be: “Are you going to continue your subscription?” Yes, I will. And it was those socks that made up my mind. Birchbox played it just right for guys by including these. Standard beauty products probably won’t keep many men coming back. But the promise of a surprise such as this; an element of style the entire world can see, rather than just something you know you scrubbed your butt with, is what will keep your average guy subscribed.

Thanks for reading this guest blog, and thanks to our favorite Go-to-Gal for letting me write it! And find me on Twitter while you’re at it! @hypergraffic