Getting Free Samples, Part Two

Aloha everyone! I'm back with Getting Free Samples, Part Two! Back in June, I told you about how I had emailed lots of companies, asking for free samples of their products. Well now the samples have arrived and I'm ready to share what I received! First, I will write a list of the companies and what their responses were. Then, I will show you the products that were mailed.

Companies That Sent Things To Me:

1. Burt's Bees

2. Tom's of Maine

3. Jane Iredale

4. BareMinerals

5. L'Occitane

6. Nivea

7. L'Oreal

8. The Republic of Tea

9. Blum Naturals

What They Sent Me:

Burt's Bees: Two full-size tinted lip balms in the shades Rose and Red Dahlia. This was so generous of them! Most companies will only send small, sample size items, but not Burt's Bees!

Tom's of Maine: A full-size Daily Moisture Beauty Bar and a full-size Lip Shimmer in the shade Spring Blossom. Again, full-size products! I haven't used the soap yet, but it smells amazing! The Lip Shimmer is a beautiful shade and gives lips such a pretty sheen when applied.

Jane Iredale: Two sample-size Amazing Base Loose Mineral Powders in the shades Radiant and Ivory, a sample-size LipDrink Lip Balm, and a Glow Time BB Cream sample card trio. The lip balm seems a bit waxy, but it does work fairly well. 

BareMinerals: A sample of the Bare Skin Foundation in Bare Linen 03. This definitely wins the Largest Packaging to Sample Size Ratio award. The sample is barely enough for one use, but it arrived in a roughly 6x8x4 inch cardboard box. 

L'Occitane: Five cream samples: Perfecting Cream, Divine Eyes, Divine Cream, Precious Cream, and Light Comforting Cream

Nivea: Sadly, they told me no for samples. However, they kindly sent 7 dollar off coupons!

L'Oreal: They actually told me that they didn't have any samples to send, but for some reason I received some! They send me samples of their Extraordinary Oil collection: one Nourishing Shampoo, one Nourishing Conditioner, and one Transforming Oil-in-Cream. They also added a two dollar off coupon for any of their advanced haircare products.

The Republic of Tea: Four tea bags in the flavors Mango Ceylon, Ginger Peach, and British Breakfast. They also sent me a catalog of their teas.

Blum Naturals: Three Cleansing Towelettes: two for combination/oily skin and one for exfoliating. They're great for removing makeup and cleansing!

There ya have it. My samples experience. I'm so grateful to all of the companies that kindly sent me samples, but especially to Blum Naturals, Burt's Bees, and Tom's of Maine who sent me full-size products! Let me know if you have any questions about what companies said no or how I went about this fun little project! 

~ Kat :)

A Few Favorites: Books

Hello everyone! 
Reading is one of my favorites. It whisks you away to unbelievable places and introduces you to spectacular characters! It allows you to travel to places such as make-believe Narnia or magical England within seconds. I'm here to share some of my favorite books with you. I'm sure you heard of (if not read) most of these. I'm not going to write summaries (my hope is that you Google them after reading this post), just my thoughts. Also, they are listed in no particular order. Enjoy!

1. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

I met someone once who didn't like these stories and I was shocked! Who couldn't love these? They're simply amazing. Yes, children love them, but the wonderful thing about them is that no matter how old you are, they will always be entertaining and enjoyable! C.S. Lewis was absolutely amazing with all of his works. He put so much thought in these stories and hid so much truth in these fictional stories.


2. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

I know what you're thinking. "What? Why is this one of your favorites? It's a horrible, gut-wrenching book of tears!" I agree. It's plot gives you a nauseating feeling. Now I'll try not to spoil anything, but you will feel completely sick, upset, and saddened after finishing this book, but that's the point. This book provides us with a deeper understanding of the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust. Often we say that we know how bad the Holocaust was, but this story will enhance your understanding of it.


3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The story being told through the eyes of a six-year-old girl provides a different outlook. Her youthful innocence is not frilly, or fake, she speaks exactly what's on her mind and we can benefit from that. This story is truly a work of art and it most probably ranks number one in my favorites (this blog post is not written in any kind of order). There's not much more I can say about it rather than GO READ IT IF YOU HAVEN'T!

4. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Ray Bradbury is one of my favorite authors (the other being Edgar Allan Poe). In this story, he sheds light on the problem with our society doing away with individual thoughts and controlling everyone with mass media. It shows the problems that arise when people start to drift away from their own original thoughts and ideas, and start to follow the crowd.

5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

This is such a classic. I believe that everyone should read this book in their lifetime. It's such a good reference to the Roaring Twenties! It's full of drama, which is always a good thing to have in a book (keeps you entertained the whole way through). The characters are complex and so different from each other. Isn't it annoying when you read a book and it seems like all of the characters are the same: flat and boring. I can't encourage the reading of this book enough! It's definitely a favorite.

There you have it! A small selection of my favorite books. If you take the time to read these, then you won't be disappointed! Let me know what you think of them and feel free to suggest your favorite books in the comments!

~ Kat :)

5 Ways to Overcoming Stress

  Hello everyone! It's Pryn here:) I know I have not posted for a while now... I am truly sorry for that. 
But Lets get started shall we?

  Today's topic is overcoming stress. We all deal with stress in different ways from twiddling our thumbs to just pushing it off. I wanted to share some ideas to help you overcome these stressful situations. 

1. Dealing with it then and there. 
  This can be difficult depending on who you are as a person. Sometimes getting it out helps loosen its grip on you. Sharing it with a family member or even a friend can really help you overcome what you are currently dealing with.

2. Getting it done.
  Maybe it is a paper from school that your teacher assigned to you at the last minute. When you get the chance, get the paper done when you get home. That way you are able to relax afterwards! There have been times where I have gotten the assignment and ended up waiting until the night before it was due to write it. That was a nightmare!! I do not suggest doing that:)

3. Laugh about it. 
  Have you ever heard of the phrase "Laughter is the best medicine?" Yes well it definitely is. Taking the time to evaluate the situation and just laughing at yourself helps you to be less uptight and more focused because you now know how to handle it more efficiently.

4. Removing yourself from any potentially stressful situation. 
  Sometimes we can find ourselves in a rut. Where we feel alone and we start to get anxious. If we can remove ourselves from that situation we are more likely to find peace. I find if I am sitting in my bedroom a lot, I tend to start thinking about everything that I have to do. When I remove myself from there and go spend some time with my family I notice I'm not as stressed out about what is going on. 

5. Talking to the Lord.
  God is so amazing. In times of struggle and worry he wants us to come to him to find peace. He loves giving us big hugs to show us that he is there with us. We are never alone. So when you find yourself in stress, read this verse, Psalms 91. He is there.

  I hoped this blog helped some of you guys:) If you have any other ways that help you overcome stress please feel free to comment down below! See you guys soon:) 

Stay fabulous!

~ Pryn

25 Random Questions Tag

Hello Everyone! I thought that I would do this fun little questionnaire just for mere enjoyment. I hope you enjoy!

25 Random Questions Tag

1. Do you have any pets? Yes! I have two turtles and a dog

2. Name three things that are physically close to you: This laptop, my mocha, and my phone.

3. What's the weather like right now? Sunny, windy, 75°

4. Do you drive? If so, have you crashed? I'm learning to drive now, and I haven't had any crashes

5. What time did you wake up this morning? Around 8:30 a.m.

6. When was the last time you showered? Last night, before bed

7. What was the last movie you saw? In theaters, Finding Dory (Not as good as the first one, but still good). At home, The Four Feathers (LOVED IT)

8. What was your last text message? I texted, "Ok" to Prynn. Trust me, I'm actually not that boring in person

9. What is your ringtone? The Hawaii Five-0 theme song

10. Have you ever been to different country? About 13 years ago, my family and I went to Poland, Czech Republic, and Austria. I would love to travel to other places as well though! 

11. Do you like sushi? Nope, nope nope! It's disgusting!

12. Where do you buy your groceries? Mainly Wal-Mart and Trader Joe's, but we get a few things at Earth Fare.

13. Have you ever taken medication to make you fall asleep faster? I've used Benadryl before and also I've taken Ambien once. It was the strangest feeling ever. It's safe to say that it affects my mind in strange ways.

14. How many siblings do you have? I have two older sisters that are ten and 12 years older than me and I have an older brother that's three years older. I can't tell you how many times "Aw so you're the baby?" has been said to me.

15. Do you have a desktop computer or a laptop? Macbook Air laptop

16. How tall are you? 5'2 1/2" Yes that 1/2 inch really counts

17. Do you wear contacts or glasses? Both!

18. Do you color your hair? Nope! I colored a few pieces underneath purplish red last year, but that's been the only time and it's all grown out now!

19. Tell me something you're planning on doing today: Swimming in a lake

20. When was the last time you cried? Alright, no joke, I cried a little when I heard Daveed Diggs was leaving Hamilton...

21. What is your perfect pizza topping? MEAT! Especially sausage and bacon

22. Which do you prefer, hamburger or cheeseburger? Cheese all the way. A burger without cheese is a sad burger. Cheese makes everything better!

23. Have you ever had an all-nighter? Yes I have. My record for amount of time awake is 27 hours

24. What is your eye color? Blue

25. Last question, Can you taste the difference between Coke and Pepsi? Nope. They both taste disgusting to me (I'm not a soda drinker)

I hope you enjoyed that! I really liked doing it. Maybe there are some more tags coming your way... 

~ Kat :)

Five Skincare Favorites

Hello everyone! If there's one thing I love, then it's a good skincare recommendation. I thought that I would tell you about a few products that I use! I'll also include links to them as well so you can check them out for yourself! Also, keep in mind that these are not in a particular order. Here we go:

1. St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub

This is what I've been using to wash my face and it's amazing! There are little bits in it that cleanse my skin deeply. My face always feels incredibly fresh and soft after using this product.

http://www.target.com/p/st-ives-fresh-skin-apricot-scrub-6-oz/-/A-11185895

2. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Moisturizer Pink Grapefruit

My skin is fairly dry so a good moisturizer is essential for me. This one fulfills my needs and rejuvenates my skin. It also smells beautiful and fresh. 

http://www.target.com/p/neutrogena-oil-free-acne-moisturizer-pink-grapefruit-4-oz/-/A-16452531

3. EOS Visibly Soft Coconut Milk Lip Balm

I'm not the biggest fan of EOS. I've never had much a problem with them other than them not working very well. However, that's false for this one. Something about it raises it so much higher than all the other EOS lip balms. It never fails to hydrate. It also tastes amazing which is always a plus. 

http://www.target.com/p/eos-visibly-soft-coconut-milk-lip-balm/-/A-16295791?lnk=abtest_searchpdp_2

4. Estee Lauder Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion

Seriously I love this stuff. All you need is a little smidgen and it will wipe away anything. This is what I use for my waterproof mascara and the lotion takes most of it away within one swipe! Then you follow up with one more dab and voila! No makeup in a cinch! It is on the pricey side, but if you get a sample size, then it should last awhile. 

https://www.esteelauder.com/product/681/25956/Product-Catalog/Skincare/Take-It-Away/Makeup-Remover-Lotion

5. Bath & Body Works Beautiful Day Ultra Shea Body Cream

Who else can't help but going into Bath & Body Works whenever you spot it in the mall? There's something about an abundance of wonderful scents that draws me in. Of all their scents, my absolute favorite is Beautiful Day. It's perfect for spring and summer, yet you can get away with it the entire year round. I personally prefer the body creams over the body lotions. I like the thickness of the formula and how easily it glides onto my skin. It's hydrating and the scent sticks with you. 

http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/product/index.jsp?productId=81189416&cm_vc=200

There you go. Five of my skincare favorites. I love them all and definitely recommend them. Let me know what your thoughts are on these as well!

~ Kat :)

Getting Free Samples, Part One

Hello everyone! 

I'm very excited about this little project I'm doing! For the past few days I have been emailing companies (mainly beauty/skincare) and (very politely) asking for free samples of a few of their products. Here's how you can do it too!

1. Greeting: You want to make a good impression right off the bat so I always stick with "Dear Sir or Madam"

2. Body: OK, here's where you pitch the idea. If it's a company that you've used and loved then say something like "I'm a huge fan of..." or "Your product...is one of my favorites!" However, if you've never used the company before then say something like "I've been itching to try..."

3. Most important line: Try Before I Buy. This is the key factor to your email. You don't want to seem like you're just trying to mooch off of companies. You want them to know that you really want to try their products.

4. Closing: Make sure to end your email with a polite closing such as "Thank you very much for your time" or "I'm very grateful for your time"

There you have it. Now you too can ask companies for free samples. I can't guarantee that they all will oblige your request, but you've definitely got a shot. Most websites for companies have a Contact Us section that you can click on and it will take you to a space right on the website where you can type up your question. Others provide you with an email that you can message to reach them. Either way works just fine! 

As you probably noticed in the title, this is part one of my project. Once I have heard from all the companies and have received all of the products, then I will fill you in some more on which companies sent samples and which didn't. 

~ Kat :)

Back Again

Dearest Readers, 

Allow me to take this time to sincerely apologize for neglecting my 
blogging duties. You know how you can just get so caught up in life that you forget to do things that you should be doing? Well that's me right now. I do apologize.

What I would love to talk about today is one of the big things on my mind right now: COLLEGE

Ah College. The place that always has seemed like the coolest thing ever is now approaching me quickly. I get excited about it most times, but my brain can pick up a few uncertainties about it such as:

1.  Major (SO MANY OPTIONS!)
2.  Friends (Can't my best friends and I just go to the same one?)
3. Distance (Farewell, Family)
4. Education (I'm not sure if I can do this)
5. Payment (Excuse me, money doesn't grow on trees)

All of these things occupy my thoughts from time to time and I'm sure that there are several of you that feel the same way. I know it can feel preeeetty crazy right now if you're looking at colleges, but the best advice I can give you is to pray. God knows His plan for you. He's got it allllll figured out. It can be kinda stressful not knowing for yourself what He's got in store, but this is when you need patience. Relax, He'll reveal it to you sometime. Also, remember that whatever major you choose isn't confining you. You can always switch up majors after you get a feel for it. As for me, I haven't decided on a major yet. I have so many areas of interest that I'm just trying to figure out which one I would like and fit in the best. 

Thank you millions for taking your precious time to read a selection from a neglectful author.

*Warning* I have little to no experience in what I just talked about (meaning I've never been to college so all information is based entirely off of my own thoughts rather than experience) so don't take it too seriously

~ Kat :)