Posts Tagged ‘food’

Yogi Surprise February 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Alright, after a first box that I liked, I was really looking forward to the next one. It’s another one with a variety of items that I’m glad I get to try! I guess I’m really into the yoga lifestyle.

Yogi Surprise is just under $36 per box (with code for 20% off your subscription – use my referral links from this post) and comes with yoga gear, skincare, food, and other lifestyle products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you free boxes.

contents of yogi surprise february 2015 box with info card yogi surprise february 2015 info card with product details

kaia naturals juicy bamboo facial cleansing cloths – What timing! I just bought a pack of these after months of waiting for a deal at a price I was ok with. I’d only used them a couple of days when this box arrived and I just had to laugh at that. I’m very pleased with receiving another one and I’ll certainly be using these once my first pack is gone.

Emma’s Organics sprouted granola – I’m not much into granola, but this chunky kind looks perfect with some Greek yogurt. I’ve been eating a lot healthier lately, so this will fit into my new habits quite nicely. My backup plan is to have Panda and my coworkers help me with it.

Keen-Wah Energy & Glow bars – Fascinating! I certainly enjoy quinoa so I’m excited to try these. I’ve seen them at the store before, so if I like them I’d get more. This is a nice change from the other bars out there. I want to save them for when I need a boost, so I haven’t tried them just yet.

organic yoga headband – This is fun! I put it on right away and it was wonderfully warming around my ears. The color is perfect and can certainly see myself using these for working out. I’m just not sure if the narrow part is supposed to go by my neck or forehead… does it matter?

Native Touch Rooting Bear Rub – If I didn’t already have some lotions I’m using for the winter, I’d dig into this right away. I like their plant-based philosophy and I’m excited to try it when my current body butter and oil run low.

sibu beauty sea buckthorn face and body bar – This is one of my favorite soaps EVER. It’s been two years since I first heard of them, through a Yuzen box. I used up my first bar like it was the only way to be clean, then saved my other one as I tried other samples in my stash. Now that I have this, I quickly opened the one I’d had sitting so I can enjoy it in the shower again. The scent is amazing, it foams just right, and I feel so clean but not stripped of my skin’s oils.

Kishu charcoal to go – You know, I saw these back at Green Conference 2012 and had it on my wishlist. I’m so happy to have one to try now! It’s definitely not what we’re used to when we think of water filter (having the filter sitting right in the water rather than the water flowing past it), but I love the idea. It’s a fun conversation piece too, if anyone asks why I have charcoal in my drink.

I’m so impressed with Yogi Surprise and this box is my favorite yet. I didn’t realize how well this lifestyle aligned with my personal preferences and values!

yogi surprise february 2015 product offer cards

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Power Supply Week of Jan 12 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , ,
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Here’s the first set of meals I got upon returning from the break. I tried a mix of new and old dishes for the first time, now that I’m starting to get familiar with some of the options.

Power Supply is around $9.50-$15.50 per meal (when you sign up for a recurring plan – single orders are 5% more) and offers a variety of ready-made meal types, all gluten- and dairy-free. Boxes are sent once or twice weekly (depending on your plan) and you have total control over customization of which meals you get. You can easily switch between plans or choose to skip some weeks. They offer a referral program that earns free meals for referrer and referree.

Mushroom & Beef Bolognese over Spaghetti Squash

power supply mushroom and beef bolognese over spaghetti squash mixitarian/paleo dinner meal in box

I like beef bolognese and I was curious about the spaghetti squash, so I got this dish.

power supply mushroom and beef bolognese over spaghetti squash mixitarian/paleo dinner meal open

I like the flavors, though I would have liked either more food or spaghetti squash that was thicker so it’d feel more hearty.

Chicken Enchilada w/ Cauliflower Rice (SPICY)

power supply chicken enchilada with cauliflower rice paleo dinner meal in box

You know, they say dishes are spicy but I never feel they are.

power supply chicken enchilada with cauliflower rice paleo dinner meal open

I quite liked the wraps they used and the sauce gave it good flavor. The cauliflower rice was a lot more ground up than I would have preferred.

Turkey Pot Pie (reorder – see the original review)

I feel like this time around the portion size was a little better, though I could still go for more! I like this and will probably get it again.

Thai Chicken Curry w/ Jicama, Carrots & Green Beans

power supply thai chicken curry with jicama, carrots, and green beans mixitarian/paleo dinner meal in box

I’ve found I gravitate towards dishes with rice, zuchinni, or carrots.

power supply thai chicken curry with jicama, carrots, and green beans mixitarian/paleo dinner meal open

This was a decent meal. I could have gone with a bit more curry and thinner slices of jicama and carrot.

Blackened Mahi Mahi w/ Herbed Mashed Sweet Potatoes & Sautéed Kale (reorder – see the original review)

 

I ended up sharing this with Panda because I decided I didn’t want to eat it anymore. I still would consider it again, but maybe not the next time I see it.

Power Supply Week of Dec 22 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , ,
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The week we went off to the holidays, it was a short one so they only did a delivery that Monday. The Thursday that week was already Christmas so there was no second delivery and it became a 3-meal week, which worked out since we left Wednesday anyway.

Power Supply is around $9.50-$15.50 per meal (when you sign up for a recurring plan – single orders are 5% more) and offers a variety of ready-made meal types, all gluten- and dairy-free. Boxes are sent once or twice weekly (depending on your plan) and you have total control over customization of which meals you get. You can easily switch between plans or choose to skip some weeks. They offer a referral program that earns free meals for referrer and referree.

Tagine Chicken Salad w/ Peppercorn Dressing

power supply tagine chicken salad with peppercorn dressing mixitarian/paleo lunch meal in box

I have no idea what tagine means, yet somehow I decided to try this dish because of the name.

power supply tagine chicken salad with peppercorn dressing mixitarian/paleo lunch meal open

The salad was decent, but I’ve found I’m not much into their style of salads. I’d rather have more veggies and stronger dressing.

Roast Beef Brisket on Gluten Free Almond Bread w/ Apple Sauerkraut

power supply roast beef brisket on gluten free almond bread with apple sauerkraut mixitarian lunch meal in box

This intrigued me because of the sauerkraut.

power supply roast beef brisket on gluten free almond bread with apple sauerkraut mixitarian lunch meal open

I think I got a poor cut of meat – it was all tendon-y or something. I cut out quite a bit because it was difficult to chew. If they had softer meat, I might try this again.

Cuban Pulled Pork w/ Mexican Spiced Carrots & Parsnips

power supply cuban pulled pork with mexican spiced carrots and parsnips mixitarian dinner meal in box

I’m always willing to try pulled meat, since it’s likely to be more of the texture I like.

power supply cuban pulled pork with mexican spiced carrots and parsnips mixitarian dinner meal open

I liked the meat, but the veggies were a bit too crunchy after awhile. Not too much flavor either.

Treatsie January 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
1

It’s quite the chocolate-fest to kick off the year. The nice thing about cold weather is you don’t have to worry about things melting. Frozen candy is far better than melted.

Treatsie is $15 per box + $4.95 shipping and comes with artisan candy from 3-4 brands (I am grandfathered in for $15 for 2-3 brands and fewer items). That means about 6 or 7 different flavors of treats (or 4 or 5 for me). Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral link program to earn store credit. Use my referral link to get your first box FREE!

treatsie january 2015 box contents with dallas caramel company caramels & armadillos, biscuit gourmet biscotti the muse, and buddha chocolate almond butter cup treatsie january 2015 info card

Dallas Caramel Company Armadillos: These are amazing. I love the solid dark chocolate crunch against the soft crunch of the almonds and the chewiness of the caramel. So delicious in so many ways! I think it’d be fun to add a little marshmallow to the mix here for even more awesomeness.

Dallas Caramel Company Caramel Assortment: Great caramels! Their assortment baggie is so adorable and the flavors are wonderful. I like that I got to try so many flavors! I liked the apple pie, chocolate, and sea salt most, but they were all good.

Biscuit Gourmet Biscotti in Chocolate The Muse: Am I imagining the hint of coffee? Maybe these are so dark chocolate that I think I taste that. I certainly would enjoy them more with a lighter flavor. I think pairing this with some milk would be perfect.

Buddha Chocolate Almond Butter Cup: When I tried this, I thought it had a bit of a taste I am not super fond of. Now that I see it has almond, that might be it. I am not much into peanut butter cups or almond stuff, so this was ok for me. I did love the chocolate part though.

The Dallas Caramel Co products totally blew me away and I’ll be looking for more. I’ll eat everything that came regardless and I’m happy to have these treats to try. What products do you want to get your hands on? To get Treatsie, sign up with my link and get your first box free!

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Love With Food Taste the Season January 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , ,
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Alright, this should be my last box from them. The six-month subscription is finally over and I won’t have to worry about accumulating snacks that I feel guilty about. All in all this box just didn’t suit my needs, but I think it’d be great for kids and folks who are less picky eaters.

Love With Food is $12 per box (or as discounted as $120 for an entire year, with an option in between) and comes with 8 or more snack products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards products or boxes.

contents of january 2015 love with food box including eight snacks info card with details for january 2015 love with food snacks(click to enlarge and read messaging)

I haven’t gotten around to trying any of these yet and I don’t want to open them since I need more snacks at work. I’ve had the Somersaults before and I think I remember liking the salty pepper taste over their chocolate and other sweeter options. At first I thought I received the Stash Breakfast in Paris tea in my Escape Monthly box as well, but turns out that was the Christmas in Paris. This one sounds good – lavender, bergamot, and vanilla flavors instead of chocolate and peppermint. I saw the Big Slice kettle cooked apples and other flavors at Target and they’ve been on my “to try” list so I’m happy to get that! I sure hope it tastes good.

I think the Wai Lana Cassava Pops will be nice and light with that crunch of airiness, so I’ll have those the next time I want a salty treat. I’m hesitant with the Babalu In-Shell Almonds. I’m not a fan of nuts, but I did have some tasty chocolate-covered almonds at work, so who knows. I might just love’em. Ooo and then there are the chocolate treats! A Luna Mini bar with chocolate and coconut. I quite like coconut bits. Then more cacao nibs to add to my current stash with Britt chocolates cacao nibs. What a fun little package too. It reminds me of those frozen popsicle things. And finally, the piece of Alter Eco Velvet Truffle will be a wonderful treat when I want a bite of something special.

So based on the impressions I have of these items, I’m quite happy! We’ll see if they live up to my expectations or completely surprise me. Which items do you like best from this box?

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box at the special offer price and wanted to share what I got!]

Buca di Beppo deal!

laelene Posted in lifestyle glimpses,Tags: , , , , ,
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buca di beppo promotional deal email for $15 towards mealThis weekend, Panda and I got a chance to go to the Buca di Beppo to redeem an offer. It was some sort of promo they were doing and the first 50k to register got $15 towards their meal! We both signed up and received the email for it. For some reason I could not find mine for the life of me, so we printed his and headed out. Later on, I was desperate so I checked in CloudMagic for the email and BAM they found it! I still couldn’t tell where it was originally in my email server, but that didn’t matter. I figured I might as well try showing the email and hope for the best.

buca di beppo welcome offer email with free pasta dealAlong with that email, my search result pulled up a welcome email with a different offer. At first I didn’t pay much attention, but then I decided to open it up. Turns out you can get a free pasta for joining their mailing list. I decided I’d rather get the free pasta, but I’d try to use them both. As we were looking at the menu in the restaurant, Panda checked his email and found that he had missed the welcome email, but received it as well. He had already placed his order for the penne arrabbiata using the $15 voucher, but I figured it was all such a great deal we might as well order everything and have a bunch of leftovers.

So, ultimately we were both able to redeem the free pasta (I went for the ziti and he opted for the spaghetti). I used my $15 towards the bruschetta. All in all, this entire feast only cost us about $8! Now how splendid is that?! It’s too bad Buca isn’t located closer and more convenient to us, or I’m sure we’d be here more often. Still, I plan on going back – I enjoyed all the pastas and really liked the brushetta.

buca di beppo meal to go with penne arrabbiata, bruschetta, bread, spaghetti marinara, and baked ziti

Yogi Surprise January 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , ,
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Alright, after a first box that I liked, I was really looking forward to the next one. It’s another one with a variety of items that I’m glad I get to try! I guess I’m really into the yoga lifestyle.

Yogi Surprise is just under $36 per box (with code for 20% off your subscription – use my referral links from this post) and comes with yoga gear, skincare, food, and other lifestyle products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you free boxes.

contents of yogi surprise january 2015 box yogi surprise jan 2015 info card with restore & rejuvenate theme yogi surprise january 2015 info card with product details

lotus moon roll-on eye massage treatment – Oh, this smells fabulous. It’s rose and a hint of something else – very soothing and calming. The metal roller helps cool the eye area as you roll this on and then it tingles a bit. I don’t think my eyes are particularly puffy or saggy, but I’m not opposed to using this treatment to help prevent that sort of thing. It’s simple to use and fun, so why not?

Moon Valley Organics Rejuvenating Rub – First of all, this brand has fun packaging. When you open up the back of the box, it sort of unfolds like a flower opening. They share their story with you and you get a good sense of their ideals. The rub is in a metal tube and I felt bad squeezing it since it was such a pretty shape. The rub is much more solid than I expected – I thought it’d be lotion-like but it’s more of a butter. The mint and lavender scent is perfect for this product and there’s a slight cooling feel after rubbing it on. I’ll use this whenever I have sore muscles for sure.

Next Organics Dark Chocolate Cherries – I love that they use organic cherries and dark chocolate. It’s a nice bite-size piece of sweetness. Watch out, it’s very sweet! Two pieces at a time is pretty good for me. I’m glad that they use actual cherries and not some cherry-flavored thing. I’ve only ever liked actual cherries; artificial cherry flavor just doesn’t work for me. I also love dark chocolate and the combo here is nice.

Sacred Wood Essence Palo Santo Incense Sticks – Wow, what a scent! You can definitely smell it as you open the box and the whole of the six sticks emanates out around you. I’ll store these in my Infinity Jar to help preserve them longer since one stick will likely last me a long time. They are a little taller than would fit right now, so once I burn them down a bit or cut off pieces to use, I’ll preserve them for a long time to come. I can see this being the scent used at yoga studios and it certainly helps clear my sinuses and tension in my head. Amazing how strong they are even in the packaging!

bolt tape – This is cool and not listed on the card, but there are two sample strips included in my box. I’m very intrigued and will save this for a time that I truly feel achy. I can’t wait to see how it feels and if I notice the effects. I get a lot of tension in my back and shoulders, so I like to schedule massages – maybe this could help and I can cut back on massages to pay for the facials I plan on getting more regularly now.

Essence of Vali Soothing Mist in Sleep – I’ve had the EoV  in Sleep before, so I’m familiar with the scent. I’ll have to keep this handy to spray on before I sleep at night! It’s very relaxing and I hope it helps me get better sleep. I haven’t been resting well lately.

Betsy’s Best Bar None in Dark Chocolate Chip – This is a funny little snack that’s shaped like a bread roll and kind of reminds me of a nutrition bar. It’s softer though, which I appreciate and the chocolate chips are perfect inside. I was surprised that I actually ate through one whole one (there are two in the pack) in one go and it was just what I needed to get me through until dinner. I’ll have to consider these for trips when I want to pack a nourishing snack that doesn’t take up much space and isn’t messy.

What a nice start to the year! Yogi Surprise is going into my rotation now so I’ll pick a box or two to give up to make room for it.

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Power Supply Week of Dec 15 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , ,
1

After pausing for a weeks for the holidays, I’ll be receiving my next batch of food next week. In an effort to keep up with the reviews, here’s the second week’s worth of food I got! We’re starting to see repeats of the dishes from the first week so it looks like they’re cycling through the meals every 5 weeks.

Power Supply is around $9.50-$15.50 per meal (when you sign up for a recurring plan – single orders are 5% more) and offers a variety of ready-made meal types, all gluten- and dairy-free. Boxes are sent once or twice weekly (depending on your plan) and you have total control over customization of which meals you get. You can easily switch between plans or choose to skip some weeks. They offer a referral program that earns free meals for referrer and referree.

Sundried Tomato Basil Grilled Chicken w/ Citrusy Carrot Salad

power supply sundried tomato basil grilled chicken with cirtusy carrot salad paleo lunch meal in box

I decided to begin with a lighter fare.

power supply sundried tomato basil grilled chicken with cirtusy carrot salad paleo lunch meal open

Chicken wasn’t super tasty, but the dressing gave it a bit more flavor. I liked the carrot salad – crunchy and tangy.

Jerk Chicken w/ Garlic Spinach, Brown Rice & Coconut Sauce (NEW)

power supply jerk chicken with garlic spinach, brown rice, and coconut sauce mixitarian lunch meal in box

I forgot a pic of this after I microwaved it. It didn’t stand out as particularly good or bad.

Garlic Baked Cod w/ Tomatillo Dressing, Spinach & Herbed Mashed Sweet Potatoes

power supply garlic baked cod with tomatillo dressing, spinach, and herbed mashed sweet potatoes mixitarian dinner meal in box

Grabbed this one for lunch during a meeting.

power supply garlic baked cod with tomatillo dressing, spinach, and herbed mashed sweet potatoes mixitarian dinner meal open

I enjoyed the cod and the tomatillos were nice and soft. I didn’t end up eating the sweet potato mash since it was kind of sour.

Beef Stew w/ Braised Root Vegetables

power supply beef stew with braised root vegetables paleo dinner meal in box

A coworker had extras so I decided to try this one out.

power supply beef stew with braised root vegetables paleo dinner meal open

All quite tasty, but far more meat than I prefer. I cleaned up the vegetables!

Spanish Frittata w/ Kale, Brussels Sprout & Bacon Hash & Pumpkin Mousse (NEW)

power supply spanish frittata with kale, brussel sprouts and bacon hash, and pumpkin mousse mixitarian lunch meal in box

I took this home to eat over the weekend.

power supply spanish frittata with kale, brussel sprouts and bacon hash, and pumpkin mousse mixitarian lunch meal open

I really liked the salad. The frittata turned out to be a bit too heavy for my taste, but with the salsa it was more refreshing.

Spring Turkey Salad w/ Green Beans & Dried Cherries

power supply spring turkey salad with green beans and dried cherries mixitarian lunch meal in box

I gave this to Panda to eat for lunch and he loved it.

power supply spring turkey salad with green beans and dried cherries mixitarian lunch meal open

I will be ordering this again the next time around so maybe I can try it. If not, at least I know it’ll be enjoyed by someone. 🙂

Love With Food Taste the Season December 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
0

You know, I feel like a lot of the boxes put out some of my favorite stuff in the winter. Still, I’m not going to re-subscribe to this when my pre-paid months are over. I like having snacks, but there are always so many bags of things I haven’t eaten that I need to regulate more.

Love With Food is $12 per box (or as discounted as $120 for an entire year, with an option in between) and comes with 8 or more snack products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards products or boxes.

contents of december 2014 love with food box including eight snacks info card with details for december 2014 love with food snacks(click to enlarge and read messaging)

I ended up bringing a bunch of these on my trip and leaving some for my friends to try. The Oogies Kettle Corn is in my backup stash for when I need a snack on the go. I like kettle corn every now and then, but it’s not the type of thing I crave. Now the Hannahmax Cookie Chips – oh those are fantastic and the very sort of thing I can eat a whole bag of without realizing it. They’re totally addicting and provide an awesome sweetness with some crunch. Both the Liddabit Sweets Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels and the Honey Acres Dark Chocolate Honey Mints were nice chocolate treats for a bite-size boost of sugar. I was very curious about the Next by Nature Dark Chocolate Coconut snacks, which are kind of like eating a crisp Almond Joy (without the almond). Or wait, there’s a dark chocolate version without the almond isn’t there? I don’t know the name of that, but imagine if that bar was more like a chip. It’s a nice snack to have around if you like coconut flavor!

I decided not to keep the Nocciolata Hazelnut Spread because I already have an entire jar that I haven’t even used yet. The Olympos Pitted Green Olives are not to my taste (no olives are) so I’ll find them a happy home. And since I don’t like anything coffee, the Bali’s Best Coffee Candy shall be shared with someone else who likes those types of things.

Another decent box that I mostly enjoyed. I love having options when I need to be traveling, whether on a plane or in a car. What items do you like from this month?

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box at the special offer price and wanted to share what I got!]

Homegrown Collective November 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , ,
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You know you’re an old-timer when you start to see familiar projects showing up! I’m sure I would have been more excited if I didn’t already try two of these projects already, but these are great nonetheless. I think it’s all very seasonal and appropriate.

The Homegrown Collective GREENBOX is $39 per box + $9 shipping (or as discounted as $429 for an entire year, with options in between) and comes with fun and easy projects to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program you can apply to join.

inside of reset yourself homegrown collective box with the info sheets on the inner lid contents of the homegrown collective november 2014 box with reset yourself theme

Project #1, essential oil immune boost: When I first saw this, I thought it was the tincture project from last year, but it looks more like the oregano oil one with a twist. I thought it was something you drop on your tongue for a boost, but then I wasn’t sure if it was meant to be inhaled more. Now that I compare it to the oregano oil though, I’m pretty confident you can ingest it as well as use it for a topical solution, since both oregano and peppermint are safe to eat. This is perfect timing what with compromised immune systems all around me at work.

the homegrown collective november 2014 project essential oil immune boost info card the homegrown collective november 2014 products for essential oil immune boost

Project #2, evergreen oil lamp: I made this very lamp last year and brought it to our new condo for a housewarming item the first time we visited after it was complete. 🙂 It’s very easy to put together and can burn crazy large flames if you don’t trim the wick down a lot. I like it more for the look and don’t really feel like tainting the wick with a burn. After a few months, the plants inside went brown – I’m not sure if that was due to the heat from the flame or if they’d do that anyway. I’ll have to leave this one around without burning it for comparison.

the homegrown collective november 2014 project evergreen oil lamp info card the homegrown collective november 2014 products for evergreen oil lamp

Project #3, cacao wonder cups: One of the very first projects I ever conquered! This one came in the August 2013 box that was my first and they were fabulous. The chocolate chips are a little different this time around, but no doubt just a tasty. I’ll have to make this for my coworkers sometime. They’d love it! What a nice winter treat.

the homegrown collective november 2014 project cacao wonder cups info card the homegrown collective november 2014 products for cacao wonder cups

This was the first time I was a little disappointed with the box, just because it included repeats. Still, the projects in and of themselves are wonderful and I’m happy to do them again.

the homegrown collective november 2014 reset yourself info card

If you want sweet projects like these, subscribe to the Homegrown Collective now! Why wait? Get an awesome start to 2015.

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

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