Posts Tagged ‘products’

Petit Vour August 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , ,
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I was really excited about this box, which came with a really large full-size product to try. Everything happened to be from a brand I’ve experienced before, but all products were absolutely new to me.

Petit Vour is $15 per box (or as much as $30 for international subscribers) and comes with vegan beauty, skincare, and other personal care products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free boxes (email contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you if you sign up!).

contents of petit vour august 2015 box with juara serum, modern minerals finishing glow, yarok serum and defining creme, mychelle enzyme scrub, and info card with you're glowing theme petit vour august 2015 box info card with item details

Juara Clove Flower & Tumeric Serum – What fancy ingredients! I’ve never had any product with clove or tumeric before. A little bit is enough to nourish the whole face and it has a slippery texture that then absorbs into skin well.

Modern Minerals Tea Rose Finishing Glow – Hmm I’m debating whether I should use this product. It seems like a blush-like item and I don’t usually use that, but this seems like fun to apply. I might try it on my cheeks or even eyes, for a rosier look.

Yarok Feed Your Shine hair serum & Feed Your Curls defining creme – This definitely brings more shine and luster to my hair. I just don’t like the smell though, so I’d have to use it super sparingly to not get a whiff of it with each move. The creme seems like a cool product to style with. I hardly ever do my hair, but I’ll pull this out the next time I do.

MyChelle Fruit Enzyme Scrub – I love this product! So happy that we got the full size to use. It smells wonderfully of something sweet and the little grains offer excellent exfoliation. It’s so much fun to rub around on my face and I feel great using it.

I’m a fan of what came this time and just the scrub was more than worth the value. What do you think of this box?

[This post mentions a referral program. Signing up and emailing contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you 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!]

Treatsie July 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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I spent a good hour playing with the cats outside before discovering this box at my door! What a nice surprise for the week.

Treatsie is $15 per box + $4.95 shipping and comes with artisan candy from 3-4 brands. That means about 6 or 7 different flavors of treats. 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 july 2015 box contents with shotwell candy co tennessee toffee trail mix, anya's licorice sticks, and wackym's kitchen cookies treatsie july 2015 info card treatsie vanilla bean lemonade recipe card

Shotwell Candy Co Tennessee Toffee Trail Mix: I couldn’t tell if it said coffee or toffee when I opened the box, so I’m glad it was the latter. But then I noticed it said trail mix and I was unsure again – I’m not generally a fan of trail mixes, but I hoped the toffee could help overcome that. I was surprised at the look when I opened the package – chunks of what looked like caramel that had bits of fruit and nuts in them. There’s one strong flavor that I’m not into – I think it’s either almond or cherry. Otherwise, this is a fun treat!

Anya’s Licorice in Cherry, Mango & Strawberry: At first I thought these were fruit leathers, but they’re somewhere between those and  the licorice I’m used to. They’re soft and full of fruit flavor. Quite good! I don’t know if I’d ever crave them, but if I wanted snacks for a road trip or hiking, these are nice to get a burst of sweetness.

Wackym’s Kitchen Salted Caramel & Margarita cookies: These are nice crunchy cookies that aren’t greasy, so they feel light. The salted caramel is a very strong flavor, great for those who like a lot of taste. The margarita has a light lime flavor and is more refreshing. These would be great with tea!

These products were pretty tasty, even if some have flavors that don’t always appeal to me. It’s cool that they have a recipe on the other side of the card this time. I had no idea vanilla could be added to lemonade to help with the acidity. Pretty cool! What snacks do you like from this box? 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!]

Escape Monthly July: New Orleans Box review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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I think this box came a lot earlier in the month than I’m used to. Either that or the month has been going by super quickly. I haven’t had a chance to try most items yet, since quite a few involve the kitchen and I’m great at procrastinating there. 😛

Escape Monthly is just under $40 per box (with code for 20% off your subscription – see end of post) and comes with a variety of food, home, skincare items themed around a city/region. Each box comes with a guide for that area. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral commission program.

escape monthly july new orleans box products showing escape monthly july new orleans box info sheet escape monthly july new orleans box info sheet opened with details of products included(click to enlarge and read full messaging)

This felt eclectic and fun, with quite a mix of products. I love the purple, which is the best color!! I’m not sure what the random little spoon is for – maybe it goes with the seasoning?

Here’s what came in the box:

Frommer’s New Orleans day by day guide – This is new and I don’t think I’ve gotten one in an EM box before. I’m curious to see how different the style is and what I’ll learn. Panda is so intrigued by New Orleans and I’m hoping this guide will show us awesome ways to enjoy the city without partaking in alcohol and parties. It’s funny since what they’re known for is not our scene, but he really wants to go.

New Orleans voodoo doll – I’m glad I read about this, because I had those crazy media portrayals in my head and I thought, “Why would I want to use one of these? I don’t want to harm anyone.” Just goes to show how ignorant I was. I liked reading about how to use it to bring healing and goodness to someone’s life. I think it’s important to set intentions and visualize your goals, so a voodoo doll can be useful for that. I might not believe in the superstition of it, but it’s a good exercise to get me thinking about what positivity I want or what negativity I don’t want.

NOLAS Blue Like Jazz Sugar Scrub – I’m a little confused if this is a lip scrub or general skin scrub. At first I thought lip scrub because I’d just gotten some from another box and my mind was on that track, plus their logo says “lip and soap” on it! But then after reading the instructions, there’s no indication that it’s for the lips. I guess I’ll just use it like a normal scrub then.

Mardi Gras magnet – It must be serendipity that I got a magnet in my favorite color. I love how it looks and am more than happy to add it to the other on my fridge. This reminds me a lot of Venice, so I think I’ll see similarities when I go down to New Orleans. Since there’s a string on it, this would also make a good ornament for a future tree.

NOLAS Mint Julep lip balm – I’ve got a huge stash of lip products I’m working through. This will be added to my collection and pulled out when I next need a simple lip balm that will be hydrating and no fuss. I like to have a plain(ish) lip balm, a tinted lip balm or lip gloss, and a bright lip color in rotation at any given point.

Bocage Candy Company pralines – I tried a piece of this and couldn’t really taste anything. It was just sweetness that sort of melted in my mouth. I was surprised at how quickly it fell into a powdery consistency when I was expecting something more crunchy. Maybe I’m just not used to how these are supposed to be.

Cafe du Monde beignet mix – Oh I love beignets! When I was reading the box, I thought it said “Makes 4 French doughnuts” and I was surprised and disappointed at that. But then I reread it and realized it was “Makes 4 dozen French doughnuts.” Thank goodness! That’s plenty and more. I do wish they’d include a bit of powdered sugar, since that’s not something that I have at home.

Pat O’Brien’s Hurricane cocktail mix – This is the one item I’ll need to give away since neither Panda nor I drink. Perhaps if I take it to the office my coworkers will make use of it in subsequent happy hours in the kitchen. I’m sure someone would like to try making cocktails!

Red Stick Spice Co BBQ Shrimp Seasoning – As soon as I opened the box, I got a whiff of this seasoning. I can totally imagine getting seafood with this type of flavor and I really need to get around to cooking with it. I love shrimp and I’m looking forward to how this seasoning will make them taste.

Spa Wraps eye pillow – I would have thought something like the magnet would be bonus item, but this is awesome! I enjoy spa treatments and tools for relaxation. I can use this to cool down my eyes and face after a long day, or to help shut out the world for a little bit.

The party vibe was all over this box and I’m glad a little bit of relaxation was in there too. I like the diversity of products and slightly higher quantity too. What products from the New Orleans Escape Monthly box would you want too? If you want to sign up, be sure to sign up for their newsletter to get a code for 20% off the lifetime of your subscription.

I haven’t seen the next destination posted yet! I’m hoping for something abroad like Thailand or Hungary.

[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!]

Petit Vour July 2015 review

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

More great products to help you through the hot weather. I can see each of these contributing a healthy summer glow.

Petit Vour is $15 per box (or as much as $30 for international subscribers) and comes with vegan beauty, skincare, and other personal care products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free boxes (email contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you if you sign up!).

contents of petit vour july 2015 box with nubian heritage mango butter, luxe de mer toner, routine. de-odor-cream, aila nail lacquer, and info card with cruelty-free summer theme petit vour july 2015 box info card with item details

Nubian Heritage Mango Butter – Well, mango isn’t typically my thing but the scent is this is amazing. The consistency is a bit grainy at first and then when I let it melt on my skin and rubbed it in, it was very hydrating. It absorbs nicely to leave behind soft skin without greasiness.

Luxe de Mer organic rosewater toner – I love the cooling tingling that I get from applying this. It makes me feel so refreshed and confident that my inflammation will be soothed. It smells wonderful too!

routine. de-odor-cream – A clay deodorant? That’s cool! I thought it was powdery when I saw it, but it’s a nice creamy texture. I didn’t need much to rub in and it felt nice. I haven’t ever really needed deodorant, so I’m sure this will work for any perspiration I might have.

Aila nail lacquer in Doolish – Coral is a great summer shade. I do have some similar ones so I might share this (or my others) with someone. This nail polish is easy to apply, though you definitely need two coats to get a nice solid shade throughout.

I’m a fan of these products and will definitely consider repurchasing some of them. The only reason I’d trade the nail polish is because I have coral shades already, but we’ll see. Which of these items do you like most?

[This post mentions a referral program. Signing up and emailing contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you 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!]

Yogi Surprise July 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Whoa, the first third of the month (I got the box around the 10th) went by so fast I didn’t realize it was time for this box again! I guess it’s because I was just getting my bearings after returning from a trip west.

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 july 2015 box with info card yogi surprise july 2015 info card with product details

Aura Cacia sweet orange & peppermint motivating yoga mist – This smells great – sweet, citrusy, and minty. It’s nice to spray in the air for a relaxing environment. One of the cats was really interested when we were spraying it!

zhena’s gypsy tea coconut chai green tea – I’ve seen this brand and wanted to try it, so this will be a great opportunity. I like that it’s organic and fair trade. The tin has 22 sachets, so that will last me quite awhile.

Acure cell stimulating face mask – I’m a fan of this brand, so I’m happy to get this mask. I love all the plants they used to create it and the instructions are really cute: “Apply evenly over the face until you look like a green sea-monster.” 🙂

Gaiam dual-grip headband – What a cool headband! I’ve never had one with two bands like this, which is a nice design. I like that it feels more secure than a single band, plus it’s in my favorite color!

Tiger’s Eye Buddha charm bracelet – I’m getting quite a collection of bracelets now and this one has an adorable little Buddha charm. Tiger’s Eye is such a cool type of stone that catches light in a really unique way. Looks like I should start wearing more jewelry.

While there weren’t many items in the box, there were some really solid products that I will use. I do hope they don’t lean on the jewelry part to try to bring up the “value” of the box. I’d much rather see 7-8 items than one large ticket item. Which products do you want?

[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!]

Escape Monthly June: Vancouver/Victoria BC Box review

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

The timing of this went perfectly with Canada Day, giving us a chance to see items from our neighbors. I was away when it arrived, so I’m a bit delayed seeing what I got!

Escape Monthly is just under $40 per box (with code for 20% off your subscription – see end of post) and comes with a variety of food, home, skincare items themed around a city/region. Each box comes with a guide for that area. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral commission program.

escape monthly june victoria/vancouver box products showingescape monthly june 2015 box with new tissue paper design escape monthly june victoria/vancouver box info sheet escape monthly june victoria/vancouver box info sheet opened with details of products included(click to enlarge and read full messaging)

The look of this one was completely different, with new tissue paper, the new logo, and a different style of insert. I guess the digital kind from last month didn’t go over well. This type feels less professional than the original three-panel one. I was also really bummed that I didn’t get the bonus item! I’m used to receiving it in nearly every box, so I’ve messaged them and should have it on its way this week.

Here’s what came in the box:

Moon Handbooks guide to Victoria & Vancouver Island – This part of Canada is pretty foreign to me, though I will be going that direction for a cruise to Alaska later this year. I certainly want to go spend some time there another time.

Murchie’s The Golden Jubilee tea – I will drink just about any tea, so I’ve already started sipping on this. I’m not super sensitive to flavors so this tastes pretty normal to me and I’m happy to drink it at home when I want something a little more flavorful than water.

Vancouver Island Salt Co. Orange & Lime Sea Salt – Whoa, this is cool and I love the citrus aspect of it. I wonder how strongly that will come through when I use it for some cooking. This should be fun!

Native Origins Eco Bag in Butterflies – This is totally perfect for me. I love using these types of bags to carry lunch to work or just use in lieu of a large bag or purse. The size is great for some of the larger containers I try to carry and the pattern is really pretty.

Rain City Foods Miso Ginger Grapefruit dressing – This sounds delicious. I can’t wait to try it out on my next salad! I usually like Italian dressing, so I think I’ll like the tangy aspect of this one. It’s a very large bottle that will last for quite some time.

Coconama chocolate – These chocolates are very rich, sort of like cheesecake. I can only have a small bite at a time. When I first saw the box, I thought it might be jewelry. It’s nice packaging!

Sea Change Seafoods smoked salmon paté – Hmm, I am not familiar with this kind of thing, so I’ll have to look up how to eat it. I’m thinking I can either cook with it or maybe spread it right on a cracker? I do like smoked salmon, so we’ll see about this.

native art magnet – The magnet was the bonus item this month and I’m looking forward to receiving mine in the mail soon. It’ll be a nice momento to keep on the fridge and help hold up random coupons or ads we have.

I love the freshness of the products in this box, though I would have liked to see at least one home or skincare item. Which products from the Vancouver Escape Monthly box would you want too? If you want to sign up, be sure to sign up for their newsletter to get a code for 20% off the lifetime of your subscription.

Next will be New Orleans, which I’m sure will feature some awesome food options.

[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!]

Treatsie June 2015 review

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

With the hot summer months upon us, it’s time for some snacks that won’t melt in the heat. There’s a good variety in this box.

Treatsie is $15 per box + $4.95 shipping and comes with artisan candy from 3-4 brands. That means about 6 or 7 different flavors of treats. 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 june 2015 box contents with salem baking moravian cookies, the art of caramel artisanal caramelized popcorn, and nutwhats confection crunch treatsie june 2015 info card

Salem Baking Co Meyer Lemon Moravian Cookies: Mmm, the fresh lemony taste of these are a nice, light treat. Plus, the cookies are super thin and crunchy! Definitely a nice summer snack to have. I’ve never heard of Moravians much less their cookies, but I’ve learned that it’s a style that comes from those belonging to that church.

The Art of Caramel Artisanal Caramelized Popcorn in Vanilla Bean Cocoa NibBananas Foster with Dark Rum: I don’t care for popcorn much, but I did try the Vanilla Cocoa one, which was a somewhat strange combination of flavors for me. I’ll pass on the other since I don’t particularly like bananas or rum. Luckily, I’ve got plenty of mouths willing to eat my snacks at work.

Nutwhats Peanut Butter Crunch & Almond: I’ve got to say, smothering nuts in sugar is one way to get me to like them! I enjoy the crunchiness of these treats and the uber sweetness too. They’re rather addicting and can be quite dangerous once you get started.

The popcorn was meh for me, but the rest is all delicious! I really liked trying out a new style of cookie. Which snacks do you want from this box? 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!]

Petit Vour June 2015 review

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

With summertime in full swing, it’s great to see some products to help with my skin. I’ve gotten some odd tiny bumps scattered over my cheeks and nose, which flared up in the past few days. I’m hoping I can calm down my skin soon.

Petit Vour is $15 per box (or as much as $30 for international subscribers) and comes with vegan beauty, skincare, and other personal care products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free boxes (email contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you if you sign up!).

contents of petit vour june 2015 box with meow meow tweet spot serum, jacq's organics scrub & masque, 100% pure facial cleansing brush, fior minerals vegan eyeliner, and info card with bright eyed and fresh faced theme petit vour june 2015 box info card with item details

Meow Meow Tweet Spot Serum – I’m really glad I got the spot serum, because that’s just the type of thing my skin needs. I can’t seem to avoid breakouts, even when I use medication, so I sure hope this can help reduce some of the insanity on my face.

Jacq’s Organics Green Smoothie Scrub & Masque – Am I putting food on my face? Haha, that’s what this name makes me think of. I love masks so I’m sure I’ll enjoy this one. I like the dry formula, which saves on a lot of space.

100% Pure facial cleansing brush – Alright! As a tool junkie, this was the first thing that grabbed my attention. It’s very soft and such an adorable little size. This might be a good way for me to cleanse my face when I’m not in the shower. I hate getting my hands wet and having water dripping down my arms, so I think this might be a lot less messy.

Fior Minerals D’Fined Lines Vegan Eyeliner – I’ve started to use eyeliner here and there and I found that the brown shades are great for a more subtle look. I’ll add this to my lineup for future use.

This was a great box that really fit my preferences quite well. I’ll be using all of these things! Which of these do you want to have?

[This post mentions a referral program. Signing up and emailing contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you 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!]

Homegrown Collective May 2015 review

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

What a cool theme! Focusing on an area of the body allowed them to really include a nice variety of projects this time. I’m super excited about these, some which are totally new and some which are familiar.

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 above the neck homegrown collective 2015 box with the info sheets on the inner lid contents of the homegrown collective may 2015 box with above the neck theme

Project #1, DIY rosewater tonics: I have a bottle of rosewater sitting on my counter, which I use to lightly mist my face from time to time. I like that this time they also offered a toner option, which I’m totally going to try. I definitely need to use toner!

the homegrown collective may 2015 project diy rosewater tonics info card the homegrown collective may 2015 products for diy rosewater tonics

Project #2, DIY makeup remover pads: I’ve already done this one so I can try them out this week. I generally use facial wipes, but I’m happy to make my own makeup remover pads to use instead. I love how simple and easy it is.

the homegrown collective may 2015 project diy makeup remover pads info card the homegrown collective may 2015 products for diy makeup remover pads

Project #3, DIY activated charcoal mask: I’ve seen both these projects in previous boxes before, but I think it’s the first time they’ve been offered together. I just started trying a teeth whitening toothpaste, so once I get a chance to see how that works, I’m curious to try the charcoal and compare.

the homegrown collective may 2015 project diy activated charcoal mask info cardthe homegrown collective may 2015 products for diy activated charcoal mask

Project #4, DIY coconut oil pulling chews: I also went ahead and made these to try first thing tomorrow! It takes me a good half hour to get to work, so I might chew these on my drive. I’ve never heard of oil pulling before, but I figure it couldn’t hurt. I made half peppermint and half cinnamon to see which I prefer and future batches will probably be one or the other.

the homegrown collective may 2015 project diy coconut oil pulling chews info card the homegrown collective may 2015 products for diy coconut oil pulling chews

I couldn’t quite figure out what the loofah was for, but I’m happy to have another one. Is it weird that I love the unique jars, molds, and containers they send? I just love that stuff. I’m also really pleased with this box. I’m trying to be better about doing them right away or else I sort of don’t get around to trying them…

Want your own? Subscribe to the Homegrown Collective start getting projects too!

[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!]

Yogi Surprise June 2015 review

laelene Posted in general blog,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

It was pouring rain when I got home and found this box on the stoop. It got pretty wet, but everything inside was ok!

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 june 2015 box with info cardyogi surprise june 2015 info card with product details

Natural Fitness hemp yoga strap – This is a nice strap that feels soft and thick. It’s strong and long, with very sturdy metal buckles. Between this and the other yoga strap we got, I’m all set for classes! I will also use them to help with stretches at home.

Mind Over Lather yoga mat spray – What a refreshingly clean scent! Perfect for cleaning off my mat. It’s a really large bottle too, so it’ll last me a good, long time. I might transfer some to a smaller bottle so it’s not quite so heavy to carry around.

Yoga Gangsters Truthful Mist – I don’t quite get this energy mist thing, but I sprayed and inhaled it as recommended. I think it’s nice for being a face mist of sorts. This particular scent isn’t my ideal, but it’s different so I think it’ll offer a nice change of scenery from the usual lavenders and citruses I have.

Gaiam Super Grippy yoga gloves – Fascinating product here, which certainly helps make it easier to keep your hands in place. I would like a pair of similar socks to use and then I can practice yoga on any smooth floor!

Bearded Brothers bar – I’ll be saving this for before or after a workout when I feel like I need a boost. Today I ate a bar before running and thank goodness! I probably would have passed out otherwise.

Jade Tree of Life bracelet – Aww this is cute. I like the delicate pendant hanging off the bracelet. I wear a solid jade bracelet, so I might try pairing them together. I can also use it for meditation like meditation beads. 🙂

Another box I’ll make good use of for the most part. Some items are more of a novelty sort of thing, but others are really practical. What do you think?

[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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