I Live with a SMOKER--But Get FREE STUFF!

I'll confess something to you if you promise not to tell.  When I divorced my first husband I SWORE on the heads of my future children that I would never, EVER date, much less marry, another smoker.  Now, many years later (never mind HOW many), I have to admit to having discovered one universal truth--never say never. 

My husband is a smoker.  God, it looks worse in print.  He doesn't smoke in front of me, or in the house, or in front of the kids.  He does, however, power smoke when he's outside working in the yard or tooling around in his mid-life crisis convertible.  I never thought I'd see a benefit.....until....UNTIL....Marlboro.com.  Yep, hubby smokes Marlboros, so I logged into the website to talk smack and forward hate mail.  Much to my surprise, I found......OMG, FREE STUFF!   I immediately signed up under my husband's name (what?  I didn't want to lie!) and have never looked back.  Over the past few years I've received flasks, spice rubs, lighters, butt holders, tshirts, and more.  Today, however, came the gift I know the hubby's going to LOVE--a gift that was, again, totally free, and unbranded.  Take a look!

 

WEIGHTED CUSTOM DARTS!  These little gems have pencil shaped barrels, smooth ring-grooved grips and standard black and white striped flights.  I would gauge them to be about 20 g. 

 

So out of my husband's dirty little not-so-secret habit has come some enjoyment for me in the form of great little packages haunting my mailbox.  Who would have thunk it?  ;)

Beauty Box Sample Society Subscription - April 2013

This is my second month with Sample Society, a $12 beauty subscription box service, and to be honest, I have yet to be impressed.  I don't expect dancing elephants and juggling mice, but I do expect to receive products I feel I can use--or comfortably gift.  Unfortunately, no dancing elephants, juggling mice OR me-friendly stuff in today's little black box.   I've listed the contents for you here, along with my witty (not) narrative.  Feel free to agree or disagree!  For the record, this is labeled box "C".

So....let's look at the box!

 

One thing I do have to say is that Sample Society makes a great presentation!  The nifty black box is filled with crinkly black paper, and the products themselves sit on a sheet of tissue.  I'm assuming that's due to the complaints last month regarding black "dust" on all the products.

 

 

 The first product is a 3g sample of CoTZ FACE Natural Skin Tone.  It's not exactly a generous sample, and, in fact, the card says "Try this 'free' sample".  Fail.

Next was a 2 ml. tube of an anti-aging treatment, Caudalie Premier Cru.  I'm actually anxious to try this, but I'm praying to the makeup gods not to like it, as it's $155.00 for a 1.7 oz. tube! 

 

 

The third product pulled from the box was .5 oz tube of Borghese Gel Delicato Makeup Remover.  I've heard good things about this, but I use simple Oil of Olay wipes for a fraction of the cost and find they work just fine!

 

 

Fourth on the list is a 10ml tube of Hanskin's Super Magic BB Cream.  I'm not sure why that name just tickles me, but I honest to God giggle every time I read it.  I can't almost hear the board room discussion.  "Let's call it BB Cream!"  "No, let's call it MAGIC BB cream!"  (collective ohhhhh).  Finally, "I've GOT IT!  SUPER Magic BB Cream!"  (Mad applause).   Ok, maybe not.

The next little gem was two hair clips (one barrette and one bobby pin) from Jane Tran.  Cute and useful, but don't these things usually come in pairs?  Ok, when "I" was young....wait, that sounds like my mother.  :: sigh ::

The last product I plucked from the crinkly black paper was a Hanskin Hydro Sheet Mask (obviously named by a different group at Hanskin).  I've read mixed reviews on this one, so it might sit awhile before I give it a go.

As always, there is a code for $15 off of a $50 purchase, providing one of the purchased products is made by one of the brands in the box.  I think this month I'll pass.