December 2011 Birchbox, plus Cupcakes and Snowmen

My husband and I had a little gift-exchange date last night, and he couldn't even wrap my present... because it is a Cupcake Ottoman!

I think I'll use it to store makeup... of course!
This month I keep posting up photos of cupcakes and snowmen (in spite of the utter lack of snow... very odd for December in Michigan), so here's another: my breakfast today

Krispy Kreme... my weakness.  It was mochi-mochi and super-delicious!

And since I know we all love spying into each others' beauty subscription boxes, here's my December Birchbox.  The box is a little different as it's printed with snowflakes.

I've seen this exact box all over the interwebs. 

I like the "Ageless" perfume - it smells nicely of grapefruit and I like the artwork on its accompanying card.  The name of it makes me cringe, though.  Even if the bottle were pretty, which it's not, I'd be embarrassed to have the bottle out on my vanity screaming, "I want to be perceived as younger than I am! Please think I'm 21, PLEASE?" Blech.

In spite of my disappointment in the blinc mascara (review here), I'm looking forward to trying the blinc eyeliner.  That's why I got the birchbox subscription - to play!

I think it's really cool there is a jouer birchbox-exclusive shade of fuchsia gloss. It's also tiny so I'll probably actually use up a lippie for once!

ShowStoppers are double-stick tape to ensure you don't have a wardrobe malfunction... they could actually render the black column dress I have wearable. Now I just need to get the husband to take me on another holiday date (more swanky than Red Robin this time, perhaps?).

Benefit The POREfessional primer - I have another sample of this unopened somewhere. I really ought to give it a try already!  Some of my fave bloggers (i.e. Gaby and Vivianna) use it  (:

EBoost drink mix - I guess I'll try it but I usually like to get my vitamins from whole foods or Whole Foods (Deva/VegLife).

Not a bad birchbox, but kinda forgettable in my humblest.  I think for the holidays it would have been wise to pull out all the stops and throw in a full-size makeup item.  Wish I could get a GlamBox...

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

... because I can eat Oreos with red creme in them! NOM!

I think the Oreos look like anti-hero oreos... just a little bit evil >:D

Isn't this snowman polish adorable? I got one in white opalescent glitter (like China Glaze Snowglobe) as well.  These were available at Rite Aid a month or so ago, but I'm not sure if they'll still be around now.  From what I understand, though, they come out every year  <3

Unrelated find: Yesterday at CVS I spotted this cheapo, $2.99 palette for the holidays:

If you see it, I recommend picking it up.  Its style is quite reminiscent of Guerlain, Dior and Lancome Spring 2012 with the embossed flowers.  I found the pigmentation to be quite nice and the texture soft and easy to blend.  It's definitely higher quality than I expected!
This time of year can be all about extravagance, but it's nice to find joy in small (budget) pleasures ^.^