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How FabFitFun Gave Me My “Me-Time” Back

Every Mom Needs This One Subscription Box

When my son turned one last year, I was determined to throw a memorable party -- not for him (I mean, he's not going to remember it), but to celebrate all the hard work my husband and I have put in over the last year.

The sleepless nights, the crying (him and us) - it all really tested us, but now our healthy, happy one-year-old is the joy of my life. We threw him a dinosaur-themed party, and I baked a cake in the shape of a T-rex - it nearly lived up to the Pinterest version!

My best friend knew how hard I'd worked on the decorations, so she showed up to the party with a dino sweater for him and a gift for me - a FabFitFunbox. I expected that once I had kids, I'd never get a gift again.

She told me that her coworker had gifted one to her right after she had her daughter, and it was the only thing that kept her sane.

Over a paper cup of lime green Raptor Punch, she told me about the joy and the crushing exhaustion she experienced, too - she said the first time she felt like herself again after having her daughter was one night where her husband suggested she take time for herself.

She confessed to me she hadn't showered in 3 days, from stress, so when she finally had an hour, she decided to make the most out of it.

She lit a candle: the D.L. & Co. Blackberry Nectar Gold Candle she received. She inhaled deeply, then nearly fell asleep in the tub. After shaving, she said she slathered herself in a beach butter body cream (Anderson Lilley's in Sicilian Tangerine).

Surrounded by luxury gifts, she said she felt like she could finally indulge for once.

I couldn't remember the last time I had truly indulged. I'd shrugged off the self-care movement as frivolous, but a luxurious bath probably was good for my mental health.

When the party was over, and Marshall was sleeping soundly (and the baby, too), I opened up my gift - I was surprised to see so many products! The sheer volume was incredible; I felt like a kid during the holidays. The first few items wowed me: a yoga mat from Anthropologie, a pack of shimmering gold eye masks (I'll definitely be using those!), and a beautiful wooden cheese board. There was also a bottle of body butter lotion, cute exfoliating sugar cubes for the shower, and much more!

I couldn't believe how much they gave me - I was still worried that my friend had spent a fortune on me, but I looked it up and the box was only $49.99 - but with over a $200 value. I got the Fall box, and found out they deliver at the start of every season.

Since I used every single item in the box, I looked into signing up for a membership, so I could get the Winter box - I really needed some surprise TLC on my doorstep.

My mother-in-law gifted me a massage for my birthday, but I still hadn't redeemed it. I was dreading the hassle of finding a substantial block of time for the massage - that would also mean more time away from my husband and son. Getting a new box of goodies just for me delivered right to my door means I can pamper myself even in the middle of a Peppa Pig marathon.

When I signed up, I saw that you have the freedom to customize some options in the box based on your likes and dislikes, but for me, letting the FabFitFun editors work their magic and make the decisions is the biggest treat. Everything about this box has brought me joy, and it has made me realize the value of regularly treating myself.

Not only have I discovered so many new and useful products, but FabFitFun has also reminded me that to spoil my son with love, I need to take time to spoil myself, too.

I learned how to indulge myself again, and that it's not a bad thing.

Since many of the items I received were worth more individually than the price of the entire box, I can't imagine a better and more affordable way to shop for myself. So if you're reading, thanks, FabFitFun!

UPDATE: FabFitFun is giving our readers $10 OFF their first box! That's $200+ of products for $39.99.New Members, Follow This Link To Snag A Box Before It's Sold Out!

⭐MARK. YOUR. CALENDARS.⭐

Black Friday is coming, and that means sweet, sweet discounts and extras coming for everyone on your holiday list.

But it also means late nights, mob mentality, and ABSOLUTE PANDEMONIUM. The holiday season gets cuh-razier every single year, and we think you deserve to add one more name to your list: yours.💖

This Black Friday, you can chill out right from your couch in your cozy clothes while you indulge in one of the biggest sales of the year: FabFitFun is adding a FREE luxury m y s t e r y box (valued at $150+) to the purchase of your 1st box for only $49.99!!

So you're getting at least 8-10 premium products - luxe skincare, coveted makeup, chic home decor, jewelry, and way, way beyond - shipped right to your doorstep, along with a mini box filled with full-sized products worth over One Hundred and Fifty Dollars. 💸

This is just the stuff to cut through the winter blues and warm your heart. The Winter 2019 Box is filled with all the stuff you want but never buy for yourself. Seriously!

We're sworn to secrecy on what's inside the mini box, but we can hammer home the goodies in the full-sized box. Here are some Winter Box favorites that could be arriving at your door for just $49.99.

The UnHide Lil' Marshmallow Faux Fur Blanket (normally $65)

Literally, the SOFTEST blanket we've ever felt (your furry friend will think so too)! This toasty faux fur in the adorably perfect "Beige Bear" goes with every aesthetic. In collaboration with our #wcw every day, Ellen Degeneres, proceeds from every UnHide purchase go to The Humane Society, to strive toward a fur-free world.

The Proof Is In The Puddin' Palette from Beauty Bakerie (normally $38)

Could this eye shadow palette be any cuter? With four matte and five shimmer shades, all hard-pressed to reduce fallout, you've got all your looks planned for the holiday season. In universally flattering neutrals with cute names like "Butterscotch'd" and "'Nana Puddin,'" you're all set for every school or office function and New Year's party.

The Makeup Eraser In Original Pink (normally $20)

This one's in every box! It's a sure thing, which is comforting when we live in a world where you've got early access to Harry Styles tix and still can't land 'em. In hot pink, this cult-favorite makeup remover magically gets rids of all traces of make-up - even mascara! - With just water. The other side's for exfoliating, so say hello to your new bedtime BFF.

There's a possible total of 24 rotating items, including a beautiful Swarovski Rose Gold Bracelet, moisturizer by skincare fave Kate Somerville, full-size shampoo and conditioner from R+Co, a neoprene cross-body bag, detangler from Dry Bar, the softest grey faux fur trim cable slippers, a 7-pack of Karuna face masks, a Rose Floral 2020 Planner, a white ceramic Jonathan Adler candle, a beanie and arm warmer set from Rebecca Minkoff, and evenmore high-quality beauty & skincare products.

And then, there's the secret mini. Trust us: you will love it (but if you don't…. regifting is allowed! 🤣). FabFitFun prides themselves on scouring the globe for the best "it" products around, so you can live in the lap of luxury for less.

So skip the Black Friday madness and order your amazing gifts right from your couch. It's the key to winter self-care (that, or the exfoliating coffee scrub in your box!).

🖤This Black Friday offer is temporary, so act fast. What are you waiting for?🖤

Hurry: Don't miss this limited time offer from FabFitFun + Popdust. Get a FREE Mini Box ($150+ value) with the purchase of your 1st box for only $49.99!
MUSIC

Hear Ingrid Michaelson's New Stranger-Things Inspired Single, "Missing You"

Ingrid Michaelson has released the first track off of her 'Stranger Things'-inspired album, along with a Pac Man-themed lyric video.

Does Netflix's Stranger Things make you feel like you're wrapped in a blanket of sweet memories of the 1980s suburban youth you never had?

You're not alone—Ingrid Michaelson feels the same way, and she's written a whole album about it.

Today, Michaelson released the first track off of her Stranger Things-inspired LP, Stranger Songs. "Missing You" borrows muffled synth-driven arpeggiations from the show's theme music, and layers her crystal-clear vocal tones high above them.

Lyrically, the song—which is a reference to the character Nancy and her fraught love triangle with moody dreamboat Jonathan and popular, pure-hearted Steve—offers the kind of complex portrayal of romantic tension that Michaelson has always been an expert at painting in her music. "When he's kissing me I'm missing you," she sings. "I'm in his bed feeling like a stranger."

With its 80s-style beat and grainy bassline, "Missing You" is a euphoric and sugar-sweet song that could easily soundtrack a triumphant bike ride in a Stranger Things final scene, just after Eleven has returned to sweep Mike off his feet and save all of Hawkins.

Michaelson's music has received widespread critical success; two of her singles have gone platinum, and all seven of her albums were released on her own record label, Cabin 24. But after the release of her last album, she found herself seeking inspiration—and discovered it unexpectedly in Netflix's smash-hit show about parallel dimensions and glowing Christmas lights.

All in all, her music is a natural match for Stranger Things' softly lit nostalgia. "I've already made seven records, I have a lot to say. But I've said it so much from the brain and mind and soul of Ingrid Michaelson—I wanted to create something through a different lens," the musician stated. "There's something about Stranger Things that's really comforting, it brings me back to my childhood. It's the best kind of escapism and I find myself seeking that now more than ever. I took inspiration from the show and the characters and all these ideas started to come to me. Every song on the record includes a reference from the show, some more specific than others, but all of the themes are universal—these are feelings everyone has."

Regarding her love of the show, she told Entertainment Weekly, "I've always longed to re-live childhood memories. There's no word in the English language to describe what it is that I'm feeling. But it goes deeper than nostalgia — this desire to quite literally be able to go back in time and re-live those moments again because the memories are so wonderful and wrap you up with a warm feeling."

Stranger Things isn't the only beloved work of escapism that Michaelson will be lending her ear and lyrical sensibilities to in the near future. She has also written the score for a musical adaption of The Notebook, and the first performances will debut in Poughkeepsie, New York this July at Vassar College (the same place Lin-Manuel Miranda debuted his Hamilton Mixtape way back in 2013).

Ingrid Michaelson Reveals She's Working On 'The Notebook' Musical | TODAYwww.youtube.com

Both The Notebook and Stranger Things are portals into magical, dreamlike worlds of passion, nostalgia, and parallel dimensions. With her penchant for spinning reality into perfect rhymes and whimsical melodies, Michaelson seems like one of the best people around to turn both of them into song.


Eden Arielle Gordon is a writer and musician from New York. Follow her on Twitter @edenarielmusic.


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Will Smith Celebrates 50th Birthday By Jumping Off a Helicopter

The Fresh Prince star raised money for charity with his family

Some people have a midlife crisis — Will Smith marks his 50th birthday by jumping out of a helicopter near the Grand Canyon.

The dad of three was raising money for charity alongside his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith and former co-star Alfonso Ribeiro.

Yesterday, Smith did a bungee jump out of a helicopter near the Grand Canyon — over the Little Colorado Gorge on Navajo Nation land. About time too, since he was challenged by YouTubers "Yes Theory" six months ago — Smith was also raising money for Global Citizen's education campaign.

"For as long as we can remember, Will Smith has been a hero of ours, and meeting him, let alone going on an adventure with him, has been a lifelong dream," said "Yes Theory" in their challenge video. "Yes Theory" is a YouTube channel devoted to challenging societal norms and going outside of your comfort zone.

A month later, Smith posted a video on his channel entitled "THEY CHALLENGED ME!" — which first of all, is strange because we're still bridging the gap between Hollywood and YouTube. However, more and more, we see A-listers appear on popular YouTubers' videos or even have their own channels.

The video starts out with Smith meditating and getting fake angry when his friend interrupts him to show him the challenge video to "heli-bungee." The duo does research first and playfully banters with each other — they even run a simulation of what could happen. After accepting the challenge, Smith laid out three conditions — one, they do it for charity, two, they do it after his movie finished filming, and three, it has to be over the Grand Canyon.

Flash forward five months later, we come to the big day — Smith's YouTube video starts off with drone shots of the helicopter and of him receiving directions and boarding the aircraft. The craziest thing is that during lift off, Smith has to stand over the side of the helicopter which scared me even looking at it.

"Never look down," Smith said over and over again as he looked down. After a bit of coaxing — a lot of coaxing, actually — Smith finally jumps. We see beautiful shots of Smith going up and down, screaming and having fun as the crowd cheers below.

Seeing an actor from our childhood genuinely having fun and trying new things is a magical thing to watch — especially surrounded by family and friends. We hope you have a good 50th year Will, and don't become too much of an adrenaline junkie!


Amber Wang is a freelancer for Popdust, Gearbrain and various other sites. She is also a student at NYU, a photographer and a marketing intern.



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