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Treatsie September 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: biscotti, boxes, brittle, candy, foodsnacks.treats, pictures, reviews, subscriptions, taffy, treatsie

21 September 2015

Wow, what a delivery day – I got three boxes at once today!

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!

Mighty Brittle in Maple: Mmm, the maple flavor makes this taste sort of like it was made with brown sugar. It’s a deeper sweet that really grabs you. I’m a fan and like that the nut pieces are nice and small.

Salty Road Salty Caramel Apple salt water taffy: I like the hint of salty with a nice burst of apple flavor. I wouldn’t choose this flavor on my own, but it’s just right for the fall. Wonderfully chewy and sweet for a little morsel of the season.

Marlo’s Bake Shop Original, Midnight & Banana Bread biscotti: I like that these are soft and not the super hard, super crunchy kind. They are a little dry on their own, so it’s the perfect complement to a nice hot drink. Next time I have hot chocolate, you bet I’ll be dipping these!

It’s a pity there wasn’t another recipe this time, perhaps for an apple cider! I hope that they try that again on their cards. Their treat selection was on the money with the transitioning season. Which treats do you want to try? 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!]

Yogi Surprise September 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, candles, cookies, pictures, reviews, soaps, subscriptions, tonics, yoga, yoga mat sling, yogi surprise

19 September 2015

Alright, first subscription box of the month. I’ve whittled it down to just four now, so I appreciate each one all the more.

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.

Gaiam yoga mat sling – What a nice, simple tool to easily transport a yoga mat to and from class. I currently have a yoga bag that is quite well-ventilated and does the job, but this will be handy to have when I need to save on space.

Molly Muriel Butter Up soap – I feel pretty familiar with this brand now that I’ve received multiple samples and full size soaps of theirs. The other Butter Up bar I got was from Escape Monthly box this January. I like how gentle and foamy it is with just a mild scent. I wouldn’t have minded receiving one of their other soaps, but I’m happy with this.

All Good Coconut Sunstick – I find rubbing solid formulas like this a lot of fun. A little goes a long way and I end up smelling like a delicious snack! This will be perfect to bring along on travel without worrying about airline liquid limitations.

philosophie Berry Bliss vegan protein & superfood powder – Erm, I’m not really sure how to consume this. Can I just mix with water or would that taste awful? They have a smoothie recipe on the back, but I don’t really make those so perhaps I will try mixing this in with my morning yogurt.

Yogi Surprise Rooting Down yoga sequence series card – Here’s the second card of the series, with a focus on grounding and having a strong foundation. The instruction page has been updated for this month’s sequence so you can download the PDF and view the poses, but no video this time.

Urban Moonshine Joy Tonic – I first came across this brand in another Yogi Surprise box and this is one of their other products. This is supposed to help with anxiety and bring a sense of calm and peace.

Big Dipper Wax Works Citronella tea light candles – What timing! The Homegrown box just came with ingredients to make my very own citronella candle so these are perfect to have as well. I like to keep the porch door open for the cats, so I will try keeping a candle burning near that area to see if it prevents mosquitoes from making their way inside.

Caveman Cookies in Original – Wow, I tried just tasting one but it was surprisingly addictive and I ate the entire cookie. I like how it’s sort of like an oatmeal cookie combined with a soft energy bar in its texture. It’s very chewy and moist. Great little snack to pop in your bag for whenever you need extra energy or to stave off hunger.

I’ll get around to trying each of these and expand my horizons a bit. I like the mix of product types! What products do you want to try from this box?

The hidden gems of iOS 9

laelene Posted in general blog, reviews，Tags: apple, ios, pictures, reviews, software, technology

17 September 2015

I just got around to upgrading my phone to iOS 9 today and there were some surprises in store for me! First was the new font, which is a bit… cuter, I’d say. It’s hard to describe but I feel like it’s a bit thinner, more rounded, and seems slightly more spaced out. Most people probably won’t even notice it.

The biggest shock was when the keyboard popped up and *gasp* there were lowercase letters! This seemed like such a basic thing, yet it took years to finally get it. In fact, I’ve already converted to Swiftkey as my default keyboard because the Apple one just doesn’t cut it.

ios 9 new safari bookmark icons and lowercase keyboard

As you might also note from here, Safari bookmarks now show a letter when there’s no custom icon from the site. Previously, they used the Safari compass icon as a placeholder.

Switching between apps takes on a new feel as you swipe in the opposite direction now. It glides more but I find it harder to close two apps at once.

Menu box pop-ups feel rounder and more spaced out.

ios 9 new photos folders for selfies and screenshots

New default photo folders group together “Selfies” and “Screenshots”

Photos have a scrubber at the bottom, where you can quickly navigate through.

Other nice updates allow you to zoom on videos to get a better view, quickly select a bunch of photos by swiping across them (no more individual taps!), and swipe down on a photo to go back to the thumbnail view of an album.

ios 9 new notes with checklist, sketching, and image capabilities

Notes gets a lot more functionality, with the ability to create checklists, draw sketches, and insert photos.

Notes can also be put into folders, making it easier to organize.

Now easily add a webpage to your notes too!

ios 9 search within settings functionality

Search within settings when you can’t remember where something like battery usage would be found (don’t we all have trouble with this?)

ios 9 view event showing schedule before and after event

Viewing events in Calendar show you a glimpse of your time before and after the event.

ios 9 reminders with number of reminders and overdue items shown

Reminders have nice summaries of how many items are in each list and which of those are overdue.

Sometimes text runs into each other though.

And then of course there are plenty of other changes that you probably heard about as well:

-directions for public transit in select cities

-smarter prompts from Siri: swiping right from the home screen pulls up suggestions for contacts, calendar events, apps, and more

-“Back to [previous app]” option in the top left now lets you quickly return to the app you just came from

-Low power setting to conserve your phone’s power usage

-Improvements to performance so battery life is extended

-Passbook is now Wallet and you’ll be able to add loyalty cards in addition to other forms of digital cards/tickets

-A News app for aggregating news that you might want to read

-“Remind me of this” prompts Siri to set up a reminder about whatever you are looking at

-Add attachments in Mail – not just for photos anymore!

So far I’m really liking the changes and I look forward to stumbling upon others that make the experience better in subtle ways. I’m not upgrading my iPad mini just yet because a coworkers told us that the version of Reflector we use isn’t compatible with it. I need to be able to show my tablet screen for demos and webinars and I’m not keen on paying for the newer version of the software just so I can have iOS 9 on my tablet. Have you upgraded to this new operating system? What do you think so far?

Homegrown Collective August 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, bug spray, candles, homegrown collective, insect repellants, pictures, reviews, salves, subscriptions

13 September 2015

Hah! How perfect that this came when I’ve been having some skin flare-ups. I wonder if they’ll be good for that in addition to actual bug bites? I don’t know what is causing my redness and bumps but it might just be worth a try.

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.

Project #1, DIY anti-itch salve: This looks really promising for soothing itching skin of all sorts. I love how simple it is, so it can be quickly put together and slathered on. I’ve rubbed it on my swollen fingers and so far so good with the soothing effect. I may smell like I’m trying to ward off vampires, but if it helps with the itching then I’m all in.

Project #2, DIY plant-based bug spray: Whoa, there’s a lot going on here! All sorts of scents to keep those bugs at bay and create a barrier between us and anything that might want to to irritate our skin. Mosquitoes, beware! This should definitely pack a punch.

Project #3, DIY mint citronella candle: I know that citronella is great for keeping bugs away, so this is a great candle to have for burning outdoors. Luckily, it smells good to us humans and can provide a nice freshness to the air. I like to keep the door open in the evening so the cats can play on the porch, so I might try having this candle by the door to hopefully keep the insects from flying in.

It’s great to have these natural ways of repelling insects so we don’t have to worry about what we’re putting on our skin or what we’re breathing in. This box offers three great ways to keep the bugs away and/or soothe any bites that you might have gotten.

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

Petit Vour August 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: hair care, pictures, products, reviews, scrubs, serums, skincare, subscriptions

09 September 2015

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!).

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!]

Escape Monthly August: Hawaii Box review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: body mists, boxes, coasters, dried fruit, food, granola bars, guidebooks, hawaii, keychains, lotions, pictures, postcards, reviews, snacks, subscriptions, sunscreen, travel

03 September 2015

Wow, Hawaii again? I hadn’t paid attention to when they announced the next month’s theme or I might have thought about the wisdom of a third Hawaii-themed box. Still, it turned out ok and there isn’t much overlap in products, which is great.

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.

(click to enlarge and read full messaging)

I must say, I’m pleased with the selection here and really found some new favorites!

Here’s what came in the box:

Moon Handbooks guide to Maui – Darn, this is the same one I got in the second Hawaii box. I wish it was a third kind so I could keep amassing my collection! Now I don’t know what to do with this. Maybe donate it to a library?

Island Art Store map of old Hawaii vintage-style postcard – Adorable postcard that I’m going to keep as art! I love the look and feel and it’s a great little map of Hawaii. It’s just too nice to actually use!

Pure-Aid sport sunscreen – While sunscreen is important, I wish they’d included either a local brand or a tropical scented one at least. The sport version just seems generic, though it will be useful for the outdoor activities you’d want to do in Hawaii.

Kahala Pineapple slices – These are amazing snacks that I already want more of. I love how the pineapple is soft and slightly chewy. Most dried pineapple gets too hard and chewy for my liking. The sweetness was just right to offer a snack that’s also a treat. I see they’re in Whole Foods all around Hawaii, but what about elsewhere?! I’ll keep searching every Whole Foods I go to.

glass coasters – Totally random items that weren’t even listed but this pair of coasters is one of my favorite items. Ever since being a homeowner, I’ve enjoyed mundane household things. Like cute glass coasters. The design of seashells fits the Hawaiian theme nicely and these coasters add an elegant look to our coffee table.

surfboard keychain – This surfboard is nice and smooth with a glossy finish. I love the look of it but I wish I’d gotten any color other than pink! Oh well, it still looks good and I might swap out the Australian surfboard keychain on my keys for this one now.

Island Soap Candle Works plumeria blossom body wash – The body wash smells great, with a nice light flowery scent. I’ve never had anything plumeria scented before! I’m surprised this is the bonus item and would have expected the surfboard or coasters, but hey we seem to always get the bonus item anyway so that’s great.

Ola coconut body lotion – I’ve got this same scent from this brand in the body butter, which is of course thicker than this lotion. The coconut scent is quite subtle once you rub it on and the consistency is somewhat runny.

Ola passion fruit body mist – Whoa, what an immensely fruity smell! Great in the spring to liven things up, or to remind you of blossoming flowers. I like that this spray can be used around the room, on linens, or of course, on the body. It’s sure to add a little boost to the experience.

MacaMania Anahola tropical granola – I’ll never love granola bars, but this one looks pretty good. I’m saving it for a trip when we do something like hiking or a long drive. It’s great to have a burst of energy for those types of things.

I’m happy with the different products being showcased this time around, but I do wish they wouldn’t rely on Hawaii so much. The third year in a row isn’t necessary when there are so many places in the world yet to explore. Which products from this Hawaii 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 up is Greece! Now that’s a great place we haven’t escaped to yet and I can’t wait to see what comes. I’ve been there before and really enjoyed it, so I hope some things remind me of my trip.

Treatsie August 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, candies, caramels, cookies, food, hard candy, pictures, recipes, reviews, snacks, subscriptions, treats, treatsie

31 August 2015

I’ve had these treats for awhile but didn’t get to try them all yet. Still, here’s a look for you on what came this month!

Walker Creek Sea Salt Caramel: I can always have more caramel! This is a really soft kind that is a nice morsel to pop in your mouth. I do tend to prefer mine a little more firm, but the taste is great and I will eat them all.

Butterfields Peach, Lemon & Honeybell buds: These are the ones I haven’t tried yet, but I don’t know why. They were the most intriguing for me and I sort of want to keep them around longer. I have no idea what honeybell is, but it sounds good. These are great snacks to have in the heat, since they won’t melt on you.

Grey Ghost Bakery Chocolate Chip & Peanut Butter cookies: I’ve had this brand from previous boxes and I like their cookies. My all-time favorite are the lemon ones. These are nice and I enjoyed them, but they don’t quite top the lemon ones!

I liked and will eat every single thing here. I think they’ve finally figured out a great way to use the other side of their cards, with another awesome recipe! I like this new approach. Which items do you like from this box? To get Treatsie, sign up with my link and get your first box free!

Yogi Surprise August 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: body wipes, boxes, braclets, food, jewelry, reviews, snacks, subscriptions, yoga, yogi surprise

27 August 2015

This box was waiting for me when I got home from my trip! It’s eclectic and offers some cool stuff.

SunBiotics chocolate almonds – These are very crunchy, with a mild cocoa flavor. They’re coated in powder, so it wasn’t quite the type of chocolate almonds I thought. They’re pretty tasty and make for a great healthy snack. Since they’re raw and have added probiotics, it should help with digestion as well.

Aura Cacia Revive body cloths – Ooo, what nice wipes for the body! These are perfect for a quick refreshing cleaning on a hot day or after a workout. I don’t want to open them just yet so they don’t dry out, but I can’t wait to try them.

My Tat inspiring temporary tattoos – If I ever want to show off my yoga lifestyle, I can put one of these one. There’s a nice collection of yoga symbols to decorate your body with.

African turquoise bracelet – They seem to really like including bracelets now – this is my fourth from them! Each one is made with something different, but they are similar in that they’re composed of beads. I might keep some for myself and I might give others away.

Yogi Surprise Fire to the Core yoga sequence series card – This is a new initiative that they’re doing and I think it’s a great way to tie in yoga to the box more. This cute little card reminds you of the sequence they put together and you can also check out the special page highlighting the full sequence complete with video.

Jem raw & organic Cinnamon Red Maca almond spread – Next time we have bagels in the office, I will give this a try. I might not like the almond taste as a spread, but the cinnamon could mask that. If that doesn’t work, I’m sure my coworkers can help me eat this.

Neelu Kaur Yogini Bliss – I can’t pick out the scents comprising this, but it’s a nice blend of essential oils and smells sweet and slightly minty. It’s great for breathing in to relax and clear your mind.

There were some great new items in this box that I look forward to using. I’m glad to see the item count back up again, which gives me a chance to try more products. Which of these items do you like most?

Homegrown Collective July 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: green, homegrown collective, pictures, projects, reviews, soaps

23 August 2015

Ooo, another soap box! Almost a year ago, we got a similar box, but the recipes are mostly different this time. I like that they used the same three base soaps, but came up with some more soap types to try out. The charcoal one is the same as last year, but that means I get to try it with both possible bases (white and clear). I want to try using some of the fun molds I’ve gotten, like stars or ducks.

Project #1, DIY charcoal soap: As mentioned, this soap is the only repeat from the last box. Since you can try it with two different soap bases, I look forward to being able to make both! Yeah, I still haven’t made the soap from the last round… I just have so many bars waiting to be used! I’ll make these when I finally work through some of the backlog I’ve managed to accumulate.

Project #2, DIY rosemary mint soap: I don’t think I’ve had a rosemary soap before, so this is a cool one to try. I certainly enjoy cooking with rosemary and I like the benefits that it is purported to have for the skin. Detoxifying soaps are my fav!

Project #3, DIY cacao chocolate soap: For me, this is the most likely candidate for the luffah and I can’t wait to try it. I will look for some extra ingredients to incorporate as well, just to make things more exciting. It’s so much fun to get full control over how your soap will be made! I wasn’t sure when the cinnamon sticks were supposed to be used, so I figure this one would be the perfect fit. I’ll probably shave off some and then break off some bits to mix in.

I prefer using soap over body wash, so I’m more than happy to get another box of them. With these pre-made bars, it’s super easy to customize them the way I like and have fun creating something unique. These ingredients should sit pretty well, so I will hold off on making them until I’m closer to using them. I’ve got a drawer that’s full of other soaps at the moment!

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

Yuzen Autumn 2015 edition review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: body washes, boxes, cleansers, conditioners, gum, lip scrubs, masks, reviews, serums, shampoos, skincare, subscriptions, yuzen

21 August 2015

I can’t believe I’ve been sitting on this box for a good month now. I’ve recorded the unboxing for the Yuzen site and Yuzen’s YouTube channel and even gave one away to a friend! Finally, here’s a look at what comes in the box.

Yuzen is $33 per quarter (with boxes sent Feb, May, Aug, and Nov) and comes with around 7 or 8 eco-friendly beauty, skincare, food/snacks, and home products. Boxes are sent quarterly with no option to skip, but you can get one-time gift boxes too. Sometimes there’s a waitlist to get the subscription. They do not offer a referral program.

Africa Organics – Marula Shampoo or Marula Conditioner: These are giant bottles and you would get either the shampoo or conditioner. The timing is perfect because I’m running low on hair products so I’ll use these next. Marula comes from a cool African tree and the oil is supposed to be good for protecting skin and hair. I found the formulas to be more runny than I’m used to so I definitely used more.

Glee Gum – Refresh-Mint gum: In another stroke of luck, I needed gum and got it! These are hard pieces with a nice crunchy shell. The ones we got are sugar free and a refreshing mint. They are good for a quick breath of freshness. The flavor doesn’t last long though, so don’t think of it as chewing gum. Use code YU15GG by 10/31/15 for 10% off at Glee Gum.

Nubian Heritage – Indian Hemp & Haitian Vetiver body wash: Ooo, this feels luxurious and so silky. I love how it foams and my skin feels super soft afterwards. Neem oil is another one of those exotic African things that seems to be good for skin. The hemp and vetiver are pretty cool too. This wash smells nice, which might be due to this mysterious vetiver. Use code NHYUZEN for 15% off at Nubian Heritage.

red flower – lymphatic phytopower sea cleanser and masque: The soothing smoothness of this makes me think of a lotion, so it feels strange to wash with it. There’s a hint of sweetness that makes this pleasant to use. I haven’t tried it as a mask yet, but I can feel how healing it would be. Use code YUZEN20 by 10/31/15 for 20% off at red flower.

red flower – arctic berry cloud milk cream: While I don’t really like the scent of this one, it looks awesome and is great as a body lotion. It feels a little watery when applying, but then absorbs leaving a little bit of stickiness. It’s not sticky, but I can feel it on my hands for a bit. I like it on my legs, which need extra hydration. Use code YUZEN20 by 10/31/15 for 20% off at red flower.

Cowgirl Skincare – extreme antioxidant serum: I thought this looked familiar and no wonder – I got the extreme c serum last year! They are basically in the same packaging, but are totally different. This serum has a more milky look compared to the oily one of the extreme c serum. It has a really nice lemony scent and absorbs well into the skin, leaving it soft and hydrated. Use code YUZEN15 by 10/31/15 for 15% off at TheSkinFactor.

EcoLips – organic lip scrub in brown sugar, vanilla bean, or mint: What an adorable product. Absolutely love it and I was lucky enough to get all three to try, but I shared two with coworkers and kept the vanilla one for myself. You need just a little to exfoliate and moisturize lips. It’s a lot of fun, smells great, and you get to lick off the rest for a sweet treat! We are all big fans of this and really enjoy using it not just because it’s cool, but because our lips feel so soft afterwards. Use code YUZEN by 9/30/15 for 20% off at EcoLips.

I’ve got a full skincare regimen in this box! I enjoyed trying them out and found a few new favorites. What do you think of these items?

*Disclosure: As a super fan, I was invited to be the Yuzen Ambassador to help them spread the word about their brand. I now receive the boxes for free. I was not compensated otherwise and all opinions are my own, irregardless of my relation to Yuzen. I just happen to think they’re awesome (as does everyone else I’ve heard from). 🙂

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((little fat notebook))

Treatsie September 2015 review

Yogi Surprise September 2015 review

The hidden gems of iOS 9

Homegrown Collective August 2015 review

Petit Vour August 2015 review

Escape Monthly August: Hawaii Box review

Treatsie August 2015 review

Yogi Surprise August 2015 review

Homegrown Collective July 2015 review

Yuzen Autumn 2015 edition review

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laelene

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