reviews « ((little fat notebook))

Homegrown Collective May 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: eco-friendly, green, health, pictures, products, projects, reviews, skincare, subscriptions

14 June 2015

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!]

AdoreMe Soleil bikini & Darling hipster review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: adoreme, bikinis, clothing, hipsters, pictures, products, reviews, subscriptions, swimsuits, swimwear, underwear

06 June 2015

I went crazy playing their version of 2048 one week – I was determined to win first place! Ultimately, I was able to cinch it and I got a code for $50 off. I had some credit in my account too, so I actually got this order free! Now that’s a steal. Totally love the opportunity to win, especially a game I’m quite good at. 🙂

AdoreMe is just under $40 per store credit for intimates, sleepwear, or swimwear. Credits are charged monthly unless you choose to skip (which is very easy to do). Each month, bra and panty sets available in your size are selected for you in the showroom. You can always get other items at their VIP pricing of $40-50. They offer a referral program that earns you money towards purchases. Use my referral link to get your first outfit for $25!

The Soleil bikini swimsuit.

Soleil

VIP: $39.⁹⁵/SET (Regular: $49.⁹⁵/SET)
22 reviews, 4.5 stars

Lined V-neck wrap bikini
Wide self tie closure
Nylon / Spandex
Mix & match bikini top & bottom set

Beat the heat in this fresh coral number! Featuring a criss-cross wrap style top and cute bottoms with split straps along the side, our Soleil is guaranteed to flatter your figure. You’ll love the side boning for additional support and fully adjustable straps for your custom fit.

I enjoy the look of this and it’s a sort of coral pink that is bright and fun. The top has cute peekaboo holes on the sides, which I thought was a nice subtle hint of skin. It does get a little out of shape with some wear, since it’s a wrap style and all the pieces move. This is probably because I don’t have much to fill it, so it shifts more. The bottom is perfect and fits nicely, plus offers a little skin on the hips. This is a good bikini for swimming and tanning!

The Darling hipster panty.

Darling Hipster

VIP: $14.⁹⁵ (Regular: $24.⁹⁵)
8 reviews, 5 stars

Hipster panty
Rayon / Spandex
Matching bra sold separately

Soft to the touch & easy on the eyes, you’ll love this flirty new hipster! Peacock blue and playful aqua make a bold color combo while the faux lace-up accents add a romantic touch.

I really like the design of this and the material is super soft. It fits really well and looks great. The only thing that could use improvement are the seams where the two vertical pieces come down. The interior is itchy there and takes away from the softness of the rest of it.

I’m pleased with both these items even if they’re not perfect. I enjoy the designs they have and I’ll probably purchase more later.

[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 product and wanted to share what I got!]

Fabletics Skinny Headbands + No Show Socks review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: accessories, bonus, clothing, comfortable, deodorant, exercise, fabletics, free gift, headbands, pictures, products, reviews, socks, subscriptions, workout

04 June 2015

When I made my most recent purchase, I decided to use some of my points to redeem some accessories. Points are earned based on the money you spend. I’m really glad I did the add-ons because I’m loving them!

Fabletics is just under $50 per outfit credit and comes with a 2- or 3-piece set of athletic wear. Each month, three outfits are selected for you to choose from at the 1 outfit credit price point. You can always get other outfits at their VIP pricing of $50-80 (2- and 3- pieces available) or buy any individual item separately. Outfits are sent monthly unless you choose to skip (which is very easy to do). They offer a referral program that earns you money towards free outfits.

Get your first outfit for half off with my referral link! All fitted Fabletics items are chafe-resistant and feature four-way stretch for comfort and movement.

collage of fabletics skinny headbands 6-pack in multi print

6 Pack Skinny Headbands in Multi Print

This set of headbands are perfect for keeping hair out of your face. I love the fun colors and skinny band. The interior is lined with plastic so it stays put in your hair and doesn’t slide off. I feel very secure wearing them and I don’t have to worry about them sliding off. At 300 points for a listed retail value of $9.95, these were a nice deal!

No Show Socks 3-Pack in Blue Multi

The no show name works pretty well with my sneakers. I normally hate socks, but I could barely tell these were on. I love the extra fabric at the heel to help prevent the shoe from rubbing on you. These are nice and soft, the fit is great, and they don’t slide off my feet! Total win in my books. The retail value for this is listed as $14.95 and they were also just 300 points. What a steal!

These two bonuses plus the free deodorant were a lovely addition to the outfit I got. I’m very pleased and will continue to redeem other accessories as I accumulate more points. Want them for yourself? Sign up for Fabletics to get your first outfit for as low as $25.

Treatsie May 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, brownies, candy, caramels, chocolate, cookies, food, pictures, products, reviews, snacks, subscriptions, sweets, toffee, treatsie

31 May 2015

For a long time, I was grandfathered in to the original $15/box price. This is the first box since they discontinued that and have everyone on the same plan now. I’ll have to evaluate if I feel the extra shipping cost is worth it over the next few months. The box arrived on a hot day and sat in the mailbox for a couple of hours. Summer treats are carefully chosen to be types that don’t generally melt, so everything was fine!

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!

Hard Crack Toffee Cookies in Mocha, Chocolate Chip, & Original: What fun! Toffee cookies? Now that’s different. I like the taste of these cookies in general, though I’d love them if they were a little more sticky. I really like a toffee that gets stuck in your teeth. These are nice for a crunch and when you want something that doesn’t feel too heavy.

Keena’s Kake Designs Fudgeez Gourmet Brownies in Dark Chocolate: I like making brownies, so I’m not sure about this treat. I’m saving it for a snack or breakfast one day and I’m hoping it isn’t too dry for my taste. It does look good!

Bequet Confections caramels in Chocolate, Cinnamon Swirl, & Salted Butterscotch: Caramels are some of my favorite sweets. The caramels did get a little melted and stick to the plastic wrap, but it’s easy enough to lick it off. All the flavors are good and I’ve kept this in my bag for work! Great morsels to have around in the afternoon.

I like all these treats and will eat everything except the mocha-flavored toffee cookies. It’s nice trying some unique treats that I’ve never seen before. What items do you like from this box? To get Treatsie, sign up with my link and get your first box free!

Escape Monthly May: Rocky Mountain Box review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: bars, bath bombs, boxes, chocolates, escape monthly, food, keychains, lotions, pictures, products, reviews, root beer, skincare, snacks, soaps, subscriptions, sunscreen, travel

29 May 2015

For the first time, there was no brochure/info card insert – instead it was sent digitally! I’ve embedded it below and also included a link to where you can view the PDF in detail if you’d like. I’m a fan of less paper waste and if this box is an indicator of the quality of future boxes sans paper insert, I’m totally happy.

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)

escape-monthly-rocky-mountain-box-info-card-pdf

(view the file to read in detail)

When I first opened the box, I was totally impressed! Not only did it smell fantastic, but it had so many items that it truly felt like a treat. I’m all about more medium-sized (and value) items rather than a larger one that may have monetary value, but isn’t something I like as much. Or maybe I just really like what this theme meant in terms of curation! I could have done with digital versions of the info cards in addition to the already-digital brochure they always have.

Here’s what came in the box:

Moon Handbooks guide to Montana & Wyoming – Well, this doesn’t quite match up to the listed handbook, but it looks like it covers more than that one would have so I don’t mind. I’ve been to Yellowstone before, but haven’t really explored the rest of the national parks or either state. I think it’d be fun to do a road trip in that area to admire all the nature. I love scenery and animals!

Rocky Mountain National Park commemorative keychain – This is a nice, quality keychain that is very well-crafted. It’s so nice that I’m going to have to store it rather than actually use it on my keychain. I don’t want to wear it down!

NAAWK EcoPack sunscreen – I love this packaging, which is so perfect for traveling through national parks and wilderness. Just clip it to your belt buckle or backpack and you can reapply sunscreen throughout the day. What a cool pack!

the Spirit Goat Goat’s Milk lotion in Bear Lake Raspberries – This is a rather unusual scent for me (in a good way). I’m not sure I’ve had a raspberry lotion before and I love it! There’s a mild sweetness that is really nice and not in your face. It’s such a fresh sort of feeling. My skin feels wonderfully soft after applying.

Rocky Mountain Root Beer – I heard something moving in the box as I was carrying it and it turned out to be this bottle. I opened it pretty much as soon as I took the picture and it was a nice treat to enjoy. I love the glass bottle and that it wasn’t super sweet. Sometimes sodas are just too much, so this is a nice alternative.

Kate’s Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Stash Bar – While I don’t really like bars or peanut butter, this one looks quite good. I will definitely make good use of it next time I need a boost, whether from travel or exercise.

Salus Bath Bomb in Mountain Mint – How perfect that I got shower bombs from Yuzen and now I have a bath bomb to try too! This strong mint scent is sure to be a nice cooling experience. I hope it helps soothe aches too.

Dirty Diana Preserves – I’m hesitant to try this due to the cherries. I typically only like fresh cherry flavor. I’m also not quite sure how to use this… as a spread? To cook with? We’ll see.

Sierra Nevada Soap Company Rosemary Lavender soap – Ah yes, this was emanating relaxation as soon as I opened the box. I love the scent and will add this to my soap queue near the front. It’s fun that there are chunks in there – I like a soap with some added texture.

Wild West Howdy chocolate bar – This bar has dark chocolate and almonds. It’s a very hard chocolate that is a perfectly balanced so it’s not bitter, but not crazy sweet either. The almond bits are smaller and don’t steal the show.

I’m thinking I need to move near the Rockies at some point in my life. I love eco-friendly stuff and the clean, fresh feeling these products give me. Which products from the Rocky Mountain Escape Monthly box would you want too? If you want to sign up, try one of these codes (not sure which ones are still active): YOURESCAPE or ROCKY for 20% off the lifetime of your subscription or GIFTESCAPE for 25% off.

Coming up is Vancouver for some Canadian goodness. I’m excited for that and I wonder if any packaging will change since I just noticed their new logo.

Petit Vour May 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, dry shampoo, lipsticks, petit vour, pictures, products, reviews, skincare, subscriptions, sugar scrubs, toners

24 May 2015

After canceling some subscriptions, there was a gap in deliveries for awhile and I was antsy for the next one. Happily, this one arrived over the weekend to satisfy my thirst.

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!).

MUN No. 11 Anarose rejuvenating rose toner – I’ve never seen a toner sample in one of these packets before, so I hope it isn’t too drippy. I should use more toner, so if I like this I might get the full size of it. Sometimes I can’t tell what all these different types of skincare items are for.

nyl. organic shimmer scrub – What a fun concept to make a sugar scrub glittery. I like that it will add a subtle enhancement to my skin and it smells amazing! This will make me very happy in my next bath. It’s just the right kind of thing for the summer. 🙂

LippyGirl Vegocentric vegan lipstick in Snog Me – I’d describe this shade as a sort of deep cranberry or raspberry. I like that it looks like any lipstick you’d get normally, but it doesn’t have that odd smell that non-vegan ones seem to have across the board. I’ve got a ton of lip products in rotation at the moment, so this pretty tube will have to wait.

Zabana Essentials shimmery dry glow shampoo – I love dry shampoo. This bottle is the perfect design to dispense it in little spurts and not giant globs. It’s going to be a shimmery summer since this also has a bit of glitter in it! I have two other dry shampoos I’m using so I’ll be adding this to the lot. This one will probably be the go-to fora day out in the sun.

Again, great curation to help us find cruelty-free products. I can’t believe they’ve only been around 2 years and I look forward to what else is to come. Which of these do you want too?

[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!]

Kocostar Nail Therapy review

laelene Posted in reviews，Tags: healing, nail care, nails, pictures, products, reviews, treatments

22 May 2015

I did a trade a long time ago where I got this Kocostar Nail Therapy treatment. They also do foot and hair therapy packs. When I finally got around to trying them, I was chillin’ on my computer at night. Check it out!

kocostar nail therapy treatment pack on fingers

At first I made a n00b move and tried to squeeze my fingers in at odd angles. Then I realized they were meant to be torn apart!

kocostar nail therapy treatment on fingers and being removed

Ah yes, that feels much better.

I let them sit on my fingers for well over half an hour. They smelled great and had a soothing blend inside. I loved that the exterior is plastic of sorts, so I could safely type and do things without rubbing gunk everything. It was a lot of fun just to rub my fingers against each other, since the covers are so smooth. When it came time to slip them off, my fingers were soft and felt great. I massaged the rest of the lotion into my fingers and it was like a mini spa for my hands. I don’t know if it strengthened my nails, but it certainly did soften my cuticles and leave my fingers feeling wonderful. If I saw these in a store I’d definitely get another set! I also want to try their foot treatment.

AdoreMe Daniele robe review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: adoreme, clothing, nightgowns, pictures, products, reviews, robes, sleepwear, subscriptions

17 May 2015

After getting lingerie from AdoreMe, I discovered a ton of other things I wanted – namely swimsuits and evening wear. I’d played to win free money towards a purchase and ended up with a code that saved me $30! I decided to apply it towards the purchase of this nightgown, which was just the right combination of comfortable yet classy.

The Daniele robe.

Daniele

VIP: $39.⁹⁵ (Regular: $49.⁹⁵)

72 reviews, 5 stars

Mid-length robe
Belt tie closure
Rayon / Spandex

Wrap yourself up in our jet black Daniele, an exceptionally soft modal robe with ecru lace-trimmed cuffs! This drapey style puts a sophisticated spin on your everyday cover ups. Looks great over satin slips and colorful sleepwear.

This robe is sooo soft! It’s the perfect one to wear in spring and summer, as I begin to want more lightweight and cooling clothes. The lace accent at the wrists is a nice touch, making this an elegant look. I also like the length of the robe, which extends just above my knees, so I can easily lean over or lay down without worrying about it hiking up. The little belt that comes with it allows me to tie it into place and there are even strings on the inside to keep it even more secure.

I am a big fan of this robe as a casual nightgown. It keeps me warm without overheating and I feel like I can be seen with it on the porch, if I want to step out for a bit. It’s extremely comfortable and a really great fit. No wonder it has a ton of reviews and a solid five stars on the site!

Home Chef May 6 Delivery review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, carne asada, chicken, cooking, food, home chef, homemade, japanese, korean, meals, mexican, pictures, pork chops, potato chips, reviews, sandwiches, skewers, slaw, soba noodles, subscriptions, tilapia, yakitori

13 May 2015

I don’t browse Facebook much anymore, but when I was a few weeks back, I saw an ad offer for Home Chef. For $30 off, I was totally willing to give it a try! Their soba dish caught my eye since our recent one from Hello Fresh was soooo good.

Home Chef is just under $10 per serving and comes with your choice of up to 8-9 meals of 2-8 servings each. They also offer a breakfast option as well as fresh (seasonal) fruit. Shipping is $10 for orders under $40 and free for orders over that. Boxes are sent weekly unless you choose to skip (which is very easy to do). They offer a referral program that gives $30 off to both the person you referred and your next order.

collage of home chef cinco de mayo special carne asada with pico de gallo, spanish rice, and seasoned black beans recipe card

Our very first meal from the box was Panda’s choice. He loves Mexican food!

collage of home chef cinco de mayo special carne asada with pico de gallo, spanish rice, and seasoned black beans ingredients and meal being made

Cooking the steak to our liking was the hardest. Panda also hurt his fingers cutting the jalapeno.

home chef cinco de mayo special carne asada with pico de gallo, spanish rice, and seasoned black beans finished product

The meat and salsa were yum! I liked how the salty beans and the more bland rice blended for a base. I wish the rice absorbed more flavor from the spice though.

collage of home chef japanese chicken yakitori with baby bok choy slaw recipe card

Next up was something lighter.

collage of home chef japanese chicken yakitori with baby bok choy slaw ingredients and meal being made

I’m so proud that Panda pretty much made this all on his own. I just had to help with making sure the chicken didn’t stick to the pan.

home chef japanese chicken yakitori with baby bok choy slaw finished product

I was surprised at how soft and juicy the chicken was and that the bok choy slaw was to my liking. Nice!

collage of home chef bbq korean pork chop with sesame-cucumber soba noodles, radish sprouts, and green onion recipe card

The main reason I got this box was this dish!

collage of home chef bbq korean pork chop with sesame-cucumber soba noodles, radish sprouts, and green onion ingredients and meal being made

Oh yes, loving these ingredients. I’m totally shaving more cucumber like that in the future.

home chef bbq korean pork chop with sesame-cucumber soba noodles, radish sprouts, and green onion finished product

Delicious, just as I hoped. I’m a fan of this recipe.

collage of home chef pan-fried tilapia po' boy with remoulade and cajun potato chips recipe card

Finally, we felt this was a fitting lunch for the weekend.

collage of home chef pan-fried tilapia po' boy with remoulade and cajun potato chips ingredients and meal being made

Panda took charge again and did most of the work for this one. I helped with a few tasks here and there.

home chef pan-fried tilapia po' boy with remoulade and cajun potato chips finished product

This actually turned out to be way more filling than we expected. I totally want to make our own potato chips now.

As you might have noticed, we opted for four dishes this time. What I like about this subscription is the flexibility in adding as many as you want, and even having the option for a breakfast recipe as well as getting some fruit to supplement your meals. I’ll definitely keep an eye on their recipes and order again the next time I like the upcoming menu.

Yogi Surprise May 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: decorations, food, foot rub, home, jewelry, necklaces, pictures, products, reviews, snacks, subscriptions, teas, vegan, yoga, yogi surprise

11 May 2015

I’m seeing some familiar brands! There are some nice reusable items too, that will last a long time to come. Let’s get ready for summer with this box…

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.

Luv Superfoods almond beegan-bites – These look like fun little chocolate cups, though I’m hesitant to try them because they’re raw and vegan so I’m not sure about their flavor. I will definitely eat them though, since they should really pack a nice punch of energy.

Moon Valley Organics Peppermint Foot Rub – Much like the Rejuvenating Rub that came a few months ago, this is a minty tube of cream that smells great. It melts with your body temperature and just a little is enough to cover a lot of skin. I don’t quite feel the mint on my feet so I would have liked more of the cooling effect, but it sure does leave my feet nice and soft.

Star Essence Yoga Mind Mouth Mist – Haha! I had just mentioned the mouth mist I’d gotten when we got a different spray from this brand in my very first Yogi surprise box. So now I have another one, which works since my original is back at my parents’ home.

Tea Tibet Harmony Spiced Tea – Oh yay! Definitely excited about this tea since I don’t usually have spiced ones and I enjoy tea of all kinds. I’ll take this to work to drink since it’s always cold there and I end up drinking a ton of hot water or tea throughout the day.

Tibetan prayer flags – These will be a nice decoration to put up in one of the rooms. We don’t really buy things to put up or on display, so this will help spruce up the place.

Yogi necklace with Om pendant – I don’t typically wear large pendants like this, but I’ll try it out and see how I feel. I can always gift it to someone!

I’ll try to make good use of all the items here. We’ll see how it goes – I can always share if I’m not a fan.

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