Monday, October 24, 2016

October Ipsy WITH MY MOM!

Hey guys! I hope you had a lovely weekend, happy Monday (that's an oxymoron I'm pretty sure). Today I am extra excited about this post because not only am I sharing with you guys my October Ipsy bag, but I also have a video sharing my mom's Ipsy bag of this month with me! We had so much fun filming our first ever video together, so thanks to my momma for being such a great sport :) I know how awkward it can be at first to sit there and talk to a lens, but it means the world to me that you were willing to give it a try. We were both super excited to open up our bags this month, and Ipsy, as always, didn't disappoint! Make sure to check out our video and leave some love for my mom in the comments section <3


This month's bag was a collaboration with Valfre, an amazing artist who says that a "valfre girl is a girl who is not afraid of self expression", and what better way to express yourself than through makeup?

The bag has a bunch of cute Halloween themed items on the front, and an adorable little ghost zipper (that my mom and I didn't even notice until halfway through the video, hehe).

The theme of this month was Black Magic. Ipsy said that October is all about magic, so they wanted to give us the ingredients for bewitching looks! Such a cute theme.





TheBalm Hot Mama! // One of the products I received was an itty bitty sample size of Hot Mama blush from the Balm. I absolutely love the Balm products, but this blush in particular isn't really my style. It seems very springy to me; it's a peachy pink with a lot of gold shimmer to it, it honestly looks like a NARS Orgasm dupe! The blush itself is really pretty and the Balm makes one of my top five blush formulas, but I probably won't be reaching for this sample much to be honest. The pan is so small that it's almost hard to get the brush into. But, I think it's great that Ipsy has the Balm in their bags, and I know it's a good product, just not really my personal jam, and that's ok!

Pur-Lisse Daily Lip Nourish // I was super excited to give this daily lip nourisher a sniff because it has mango and shea butter in it! It smells like a natural mango and gives the lips tons of lasting hydration. A little bit goes a long way, which will make my sample last awhile too. I'm already loving this one! And if you're sensitive to products like this, I wouldn't worry about it because my lips are very reactive to new lip products (curse them) and they loved this one.

INSPR Brow Powder Duo // This was by far my favorite of this month's bag. Never have I ever tried a brow powder before and man I don't know where I've been! The information on Ipsy's website suggests using the light shade to feather in the start of your brows, mixing the shades for the center, and using the deep shade for the tail. I love that it's so easy to do, looks extremely natural, and you can really get an intense brow if you want, or you can keep it nice and natural too. I am totally in love with this product!

Noyah Natural Lipstick 'Currant News' // First off, this is the tiniest and cutest little lipstick I've ever seen. And the shade? Absolutely stunning. It's the most beautiful deep berry shade with a creamy finish and super comfortable wear. It's definitely not transfer proof, but it doesn't feather outside the lip lines or onto the teeth, and it's lasting power is truly impressive for a creamy formula. Loving this!

Ciate Fierce Flicks Eyeliner // You guys know I love me some liquid liner. I've been stuck on my Kat Von D Tattoo Liner for ages (I really don't know how I haven't run out yet), so I was feeling a little stubborn about trying this one. But, I am definitely impressed! I didn't think I would enjoy the felt marker tip applicator but it is a very fine tip that makes getting a wing really easy, and it is extremely pigmented. I love that it dries truly matte, and there is no smearing or smudging with this guy. My only complaint? Once dry, I feel like it isn't truly BLACK, it has that charcoal gray feel to it like many eyeliners, it's hard to find a liquid one that is extremely black believe it or not. But for staying power and pigmentation, this one is still a win in my book.

What did you get in your October Ipsy bag?

Sunday, October 16, 2016

IS THE INTERNET BEING RUINED?

This post is my reaction to Freakonomics podcast, “Is the Internet Being Ruined?”, linked here. The podcast covered a large amount of background on the internet from the 1960’s and the creation of the idea of a computer itself, to today and how the internet is changing. This podcast made me think about how the internet has changed in my lifetime. The last part of the podcast focused heavily on how the internet is changing to be more advertiser-friendly. Since platforms don’t charge a fee for use, advertisements are necessary. And their goal is to keep us on the site just a few minutes longer, because then we, as users, will see more advertisements. My original thought was when Facebook first came out, I don’t remember it being very advertisement heavy. And now? All I see is advertisements for items that I’ve recently browsed the internet about, trying to get to me to purchase things that I am trying so hard not to purchase! Advertisements are all over social platforms, more than ever. Platforms that we created are becoming more regulated, in a world that we intended to not be. The internet was meant to be a world with a stupid network and smart devices, so that the network was ignorant of the user purpose. Now, does that mean the internet is being ruined? I don’t think so, but it is definitely changing. As history shows, especially with technology, there is no way to truly predict where technology will go next. I wouldn’t say this podcast changed my view of technology, but I do think it made me want to know more about the information world, and pay more attention to the algorithms and way platforms work, instead of just scrolling through and reading the feeds mindlessly. I do completely agree with what Tufekci was saying about the fact that those who are behind the internet have amazing brains, and it is a waste to use them to figure out how to keep users on Facebook for another ten minutes. In relation to MIS 320, I think this podcast heavily emphasizes what we’ve been talking about in class where the power lies not in the technology itself, but how we use it. And there is so much more we could be doing. It also relates heavily to our recent discussions about data, data collection, and algorithms (i.e. Netflix like we discussed last week). Tufekci discussed algorithms on Facebook and how they gear posts towards positivity and likes, versus information that is challenging or important to read (i.e. Ferguson). I think my biggest takeaway from the podcast is that we, as a first step, need to care. We need to care about the information environment as we do our physical environment, as Benkler stresses. The biggest way the podcast influenced me was a larger desire to understand the information environment and where it is headed. What are your thoughts on the Freakonomics podcast? Do you think the internet is being ruined?

Thursday, October 13, 2016

REVIEW: HELLOFRESH

Hey guys! Long time no chat. Life has been crazy lately, so me finally sitting down to write this post is really exciting for me! I'm also super pumped to share today's review with you all. A few weeks ago, Jason's lovely mama shared a coupon code with me to try my first HelloFresh box for free. If you guys don't know what HelloFresh is, don't worry, I'll give you all the information you need to know in a bit :) Of course I jumped on the opportunity because hey, IT'S FREE. I'm a college student, I love free! Honestly, I thought it was going to be kind of eh or gimmicky, but now I completely understand why they can get away with giving a box for free, because it totally sucks you in! If I could afford to do this box every week, I would in a heartbeat. So there's my review spoiler, but I wanted to share with you guys exactly what the box looks like, share with you a couple meals I experienced, and some in depth thoughts. I also still have a few coupon codes that expire soon, so if you guys are interested in trying a box for free, shoot me and email (cupofthoughtsandabagoftea@gmail.com) and if they are still good by the time you do, I'll send you my code!

What is HelloFresh?

HelloFresh is an online subscription meal service that delivers fresh ingredients directly to your doorstep. You can choose which kind of box you'd like, whether it be for a family, a vegetarian, or just a classic plan (which is what I chose). There are different recipes each week, six to choose from, and you get to choose which three you'd like to receive. You can input allergies or food specifications if need be as well. You get to choose the day you'd like your box delivered, and if you aren't home, no worries because everything in the box is well insulated, so if it sits at your doorstep for a few hours it will still be 100% okay.


All of the recipes come with exact ingredient measurements (unless it's like 1/2 cucumber, then you get to save the other half for later, but that's really the only exception). They also come with difficulty levels, instructions for the meals, and all nutrition facts all in a little booklet. I found all of the recipes to be extremely easy, straightforward, but still unique! They are very user-friendly, especially the way the booklet is set up, so the recipes would be really easy to follow even for those who don't spend time in the kitchen usually.

Why HelloFresh?

I of course tried this one because it offered a free box, but now there are lots of services like this that I plan on trying and comparing. Blue Apron, Home Chef, Munchery, these are all services I want to try out. For my lifestyle, I found this to be such a convenient, yet healthy option. Sometimes, as a college student in a rush, you can be pressured to cook up a little Top Ramen or just not eat if you're in a hurry or don't feel like making a huge meal because of sheer exhaustion. But, with this, everything was measured out, and it took 30 minutes or less for every meal. It pushed me to try different foods, like steak (which I would never buy, #broke), and encouraged a little bit from each food group.

I can see this box being ideal for those with a busy lifestyle, people who hate grocery shopping, who hate cooking, or who are indecisive on meal choices. This would also be a great option for families with busy lifestyles.

How does the box come?

On the HelloFresh website once you've subscribed, you get to choose which day of the week (and the exact date, ie. Monday October 31st) you'd like to receive your box so that it works best for your personal schedule. You leave specific instructions such as "leave at front door" or "leave behind bench on front porch", whatever you need to keep your delivery secure. Your box is given a delivery time window of 8am to 8pm, which I personally found to be extremely inaccurate. My first box was delivered around 10:30pm. And, one of Julie's boxes that was supposed to arrive on Monday arrived on Tuesday, so that is definitely something to keep in mind.

On your doorstep you will find a very hefty, secure, chilled box full of your meals for the week. The box itself has really cute facts and HelloFresh goodies on it. Opening your box, you'll find insulation to secure all of your food, which I think is totally awesome! On the top is your three meal ingredient packs, each boxed and labelled for the exact meal they are for. All your ingredients are in one place, which is great. Once you've tossed those into your fridge, you'll find a large gel ice pack that conceals your meats. I love that the meat is kept in between two of these ice packs, as well as the fact that the raw meats are kept separate from the produce and fresh ingredients.




How do I find the meals?

Every week HelloFresh will change their meals. You just head over to their website, hover over "Our Meals" and click on whichever tab is applicable to you - "this week", "next week", upcoming, etc. You have a deadline to select which 3 you'd like to receive or it is generated for you. But you can always see what recipes are coming to you! 



If I'm ready to make my first meal?

All you need for each meal is what HelloFresh sent you, some salt and pepper, and a cooking oil of your choice. They send you everything you need down to the 1tsp of spices!

Just pull out the package labelled for whichever meal you're craving, along with the separate raw meat. If you receive any fish, they recommend consuming that meal first, so that everything stays fresh. One thing I did find about this box is that everything was truly fresh. The meat was all pasture-raised, and I'd never tried fancy meat before, it really did make a difference in the taste of the meat (then again, maybe that's all in my head).

The recipes are contained in a small booklet, with a photo of the meal, nutrition facts, prep time, cook time, and all the steps one by one for you! P.S. I'm posting the photo below of this recipe because you guys have got to screenshot it, it was INCREDIBLE!



Follow the instructions one by one and your meal will be all ready to go before you know it! The first meal I made was Italian Sausage and Baby Broccolini Pasta. Another thing I loved about these meals is that they really are the perfect amount for 2 (if that is the family size you choose) nice and filling, without being too much food, and no leftovers to worry about.




Is it worth it?

If you have the luxury to spend on receiving these meals, I definitely highly recommend the service. It's $69.95 for 3 meals a week for 2 people. If you are out on the town eating, you'd spend roughly the same if not more, so it really isn't that outrageous. As a college student, spending that much every week is not practical at all for me, so I won't be continuing my subscription, but I loved the luxury of trying it for a week!

And the biggest plus? You can pause deliveries anytime you wish and unsubscribe at any time, so if you don't like your first box, you can cancel right away, or if you're on vacation or just bought groceries, you can skip a week. And, HelloFresh and their awesome customer service will likely check in on you and ask how everything is going too. 

My favorite meal of all? Vietnamese Marinated Steak with Quick-Pickled Veggies, pictured below, with the recipe above. Which is another great plus, even if you make an account and don't use the service, you can download the HelloFresh recipes and go get the groceries yourself!


What do you guys think? Have you tried / are you going to try any food subscription service boxes like HelloFresh?