Hi, I'm Mia. And I'm a makeup subscription junkie.

It all started back in January 2013. I was on YouTube searching for makeup how-to videos. I don't remember quite how it all played out, but I was introduced to Ipsy. If you are not familiar, Ipsy is a $10 monthly subscription started by YouTube beauty guru, Michelle Phan. For your $10, you receive 4-5 deluxe, sometimes full size, beauty products to try, as well as a makeup bag. (Learn more here) In my first bag I received a nail polish, Josie Maran argan oil, Pacifica Blood Orange lotion, Sexy Hair Spray & Play hairspray. I was HOOKED.

Fast forward a year later- I am Ipsy's Facebook page scoping out what items are coming in my bag that month. I saw a suggestion on the sidebar for a group of fellow Ipsy lovers like me- so I joined. Little did I know what I was really signing on for! I had only ever heard of Ipsy. These ladies were talking about all these other subscriptions I had never even heard of! Within a week of joining this group, I was subscribed to 2 more: Birchbox and Julep.

Birchbox is somewhat like Ipsy, but has an amazing rewards program (learn more here). It is $10 a month for anywhere from 4-8 product samples. I have gotten makeup, hair care, skin care, tea, snacks- the samples are definitely eclectic. For each product you get in your box, if you review the product through Birchbox, they give you 10 points. Ten points equals $1.00 to spend in their shop. I joined in January and have spent $50 on my subscription since then. By simply reviewing the products I have received, I have almost $50 to spend.

While Ipsy and Birchbox offer a variety of products, Julep (learn more here) in almost all nail polish and nail supplies and tools. When you sign up, you will take a quiz to determine your style profile:
Classic with a Twist- "chic, elegant colors" (two polishes and one full size beauty product each month);
Bombshell- "bold glam colors and anything that sparkles" (two polishes and one full size beauty product each month);
Boho Glam- "earthy tones and playful, vibrant colors" (two polishes and one full size beauty product each month);
It Girl- "cutting-edge colors and finishes that make a statement" (three polishes each month); and Modern Beauty- "latest, most innovative products" (two full sized beauty products each month). 

Julep offers two membership tiers: My Maven and Maven Luxe. The My Maven is $24.99 a month for $40+ of products. You do have some options to pick what you want (you MUST log in to your account between the 20 and 24th of the month to do so, otherwise you will get your default style box). Maven Luxe is $39.99 a month and you receive $60+ of "prestige products". I am at the My Maven tier, so I cannot speak to how prestige the products truly are. I can say I have been very pleased with the colors and variety of polishes I have received. They also run A LOT of specials where you can get products that did not come with your monthly box at a discount.

I recently joined Beauty Box 5. I received my first box and cancelled. The products were things I could get in the travel section of my local drugstore and not at all worth the $12 a month cost.

There are SO MANY different types of subscriptions available. You can get a box for you kids, your man, your dog. There are food boxes, jewelry boxes, fishing tackle boxes- you name it, I bet there is a box for it! In April, the Washington Post released an article on the every growing industry and why it appeals to consumers and retailers alike. Consumers like getting the products; retailers appreciate the feedback they get on their products and what the consumers like and dislike.

So, what is it about a box subscription that has me hooked? It's like getting a surprise gift every month. I LOVE trying new products and have been introduced to some indie brands I would have otherwise missed out on. I have also received high end samples of makeup that I would never even think of splurging on. Do I love everything I get? No, of course not. But I have found groups online where ladies trade the items they don't want for items they do. And I have made some wonderful friends through that process. Do I need everything I get? Of course not, but these boxes are my little addiction.

I am eyeing a few others and will of course share my thoughts should I sign up.

Why Am I Here?

That is a loaded question, but fortunately I am not going to get all philosophical on you. Not yet, anyways! Why am I HERE, writing a blog? In my ever increasingly busy life, I find that I don't have time to connect with people. I am a solo attorney, a mother of 2, a partner to an airline pilot who is gone a lot, and a self proclaimed makeup junkie, just trying to keep it all afloat. Now, please understand, I would not trade my life for anything. I KNOW how fortunate I am. I just miss my social life! I miss that connecting with people who share my interests. I miss having an outlet for what is on my mind. It is not a problem of not having people to share with, but a problem of time. I doubt my girlfriends would appreciate a call at 11:30pm when I finally have the time for chat. While writing a blog is not the same as one-on-one connecting, it is at least an outlet for what is on my mind dying to get out.

So what will I write about? Being a Mom. Being a lawyer. Makeup. Love. Heartache. LIFE. I'm not an expert on anything, but I do have a lot to say (my partner, Steve, would agree with that!). And if what I have to say can inspire, touch, or help even just one person, then this blog is a success.