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Petit Vour April 2015 review

laelene Post in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: konjac sponges, nail polishes, pictures, reviews, subscriptions, sunscreen, towelettes, wipes

28 April 2015

Am I the only one who noticed the change back to the lighter pink box this month? And funny how most of the items matched too.

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!).

The Konjac Sponge Co pink clay konjac puff sponge – How funny that I finally got around to using the konjac sponge I’d gotten in a Julep box quite awhile ago and then I get two more! The other was in the Escape Monthly box this month. It’s cool this one has pink clay – that’s a first. I’m used to plain or black konjac sponges (typically with charcoal for absorbing oil). I’ll break out this one next once my current one needs replacing.

Box Naturals Luxe towelettes in Rosewater & Lavender – These feel like a fancy little treat I can keep in my bag/purse/car. I’m obsessed with wipes and I can’t wait to make good use of these. I’ll probably want to get more, but dang they’re expensive!

Suntegrity 5-in-1 Natural Moisturizing Tinted Face sunscreen in Medium – This brand must be promoting itself because it also showed up in the summer Yuzen box I just got! I’m glad I got medium, which should match my skin tone well. I like that this is a bit of a sunscreen and BB cream in one. Less work for more gain, you see.

lauren b beauty nail polish in #ImSoLA – It’s as if they made this shade just for Petit Vour. It’s a bright, bold color for the warmer months that I will definitely be trying out on both fingers and toes. It just seems like the type of shade I should have on my toes with flip flops. (And back in LA I’d be wearing flip flops pretty much every day.) This is more of a luxury nail polish brand that costs a pretty penny.

This box felt pretty high-end overall and I liked all the skincare stuff. I’ll be using every single product! What items do you want from 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!]

Yogi Surprise April 2015 review

laelene Post in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: bars, boxes, bracelets, essential oils, lifestyle, meditation, notebooks, perfumes, pictures, products, reviews, stones, subscriptions, trail mix, yoga, yogi surprise

13 April 2015

It’s spring and time to focus on energy! I feel like all the items here are good for that. Not my favorite box so far, but I’m learning a lot and trying some new items.

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.

Essential Living Foods Superfood Trail Mix – Trail mix (or anything with nuts and dried fruit) isn’t much of my thing, but I’ll still eat it! It’s nice and sweet on its own, without any added sweetener.

Grey sage smudge stick bundle – I certainly like the light, healing smell of this stick. Now if someone could please explain what smudging is, I’ll happily go about smudging my home! Or I’ll just inhale this lovely stick’s scent whenever I need to clear my mind.

Essence of Nature Paradise Papers notebook – This is such a cool notebook, made completely from plants and NOT trees. There are four distinct sections where you can tell it was made from one of the four plants: banana, coffee, lemon, and mango. If I was still journaling this would be the perfect item to use next. Maybe I’ll start up again.

GoodOnYa breakfast bar – I’m very hesitant about this bar, so I’ll probably give it to someone else to eat and try a piece then. I just don’t like breakfast bars, energy bars, granola bars (you name it). But I’d absolutely bring this on a hike for an energizing boost.

Frisky Fish Essentials Exhale roll on perfume – Is this really a perfume? This essential oil roll-on is just so relaxing I can’t imagine using it for perfume. I find it perfect to roll on at night to help me sleep easier, or during the day to calm down. The combination of eucalyptus and lavender is cleansing and soothing.

Vanessa Valente Crystals Quartz starter kit – I was surprised at the small size of the quartz included, but I guess that makes it easier to bring along in anything. I’m not sure how effective such a small one would be, but it doesn’t hurt to carry it around and adopt a mantra to stay in tune with positive energy.

Rosewood Mala bracelet – What a light bracelet! I might use it for meditation, or just wear it as an anklet since it’s rather large. It makes me think of monks from Thailand.

I’ll make good use of these items to recalibrate myself for the season. It’s been a rough start and I’m still trying to find my footing as everything blossoms around me.

[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 March 2015 review

laelene Post in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, chocolates, clutches, food, incense, lifestyle, music, pictures, products, reviews, snacks, subscriptions, yoga, yogi surprise

17 March 2015

I’m still very much impressed with the product choices in these boxes and I’m glad I decided to subscribe.

Gone Nuts White Chocolate Cacao – Alas, nuts aren’t my thing, but the white chocolate aspect could be good to offset it for me. I have some other pouches to get through first before I try this out, but I’m sure it’s a healthier alternative to many of my snack choices.

Gaiam yoga clutch – I’m a sucker for clutches and this one is totally unlike any others I have. I love that it’s using the scraps of yoga mats, though I wish my color was a little more exciting, maybe even with a bit of a print on the corner or something. Nevertheless, this will be really useful for future yoga classes, since it can house my phone, ring, extra hair ties, and other loose items.

Blessed Blend Whispers of the Trees CD – I can’t wait to throw this on, close my eyes, and let the world melt away. My computer actually doesn’t have a CD drive, so I’ll either have to use Panda’s or listen in the car. I can imagine this being perfect combined with candlelight for a relaxing evening.

Namtso healing incense – This must be the item that took a little longer for them to receive! Looks like it came straight from India and herbs are a nice mild scent. Nothing overwhelming, so when it burns it shouldn’t be too strong. As spring goes into full swing, I can use these while airing out the rooms.

RAD roller – What a fun tool to have. I’m going to be rolling my neck and shoulders every night now! I had fun with this and will have to take some time to read more on recommended use. It smells rather strongly of something that’s similar to paint though, so I’ll have to let it air out and wash it a bit.

Buddha Chocolate Almond Butter cups – I got a sample of this previously and I’m not much into almond or nut butters, so I’ll share this with Panda. Love the idea, just not to my taste.

Again, I’m a total fan of this box and I feel like they’ve been quite well curated. Very fitting for a yogi to have these items and just seeing them makes me feel more calm and peaceful.

Yogi Surprise February 2015 review

laelene Post in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: bars, boxes, facial wipes, food, granola, headbands, health, lotions, pictures, products, reviews, skincare, snacks, soaps, subscriptions, yoga, yogi surprise

13 February 2015

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.

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!

Love With Food Taste the Season January 2015 review

laelene Post in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, food, love with food, pictures, reviews, snacks, subscriptions

21 January 2015

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.

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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?

Yogi Surprise January 2015 review

laelene Post in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, food, incense sticks, pictures, products, reviews, snacks, subscriptions, yogi surprise

17 January 2015

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.

Love With Food Taste the Season December 2014 review

laelene Post in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, caramels, chocolates, cookies, food, love with food, pictures, reviews, snacks, subscriptions

28 December 2014

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.

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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?

Yogi Surprise December 2014 review

laelene Post in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, lifestyle, pictures, products, reviews, subscriptions, yoga, yogi

11 December 2014

Yay, my very first Yogi Surprise box arrived today! It looks like this company is run by the same folks as Escape Monthly so they offer a similar photo contest to win a trip (in this case a yoga retreat as opposed to a general vacation getaway with Escape Monthly). I got a deal for their “Purple Friday” so I decided to go for it. The original price of $44.95 is just too much for me. I think $40 is my general subscription box limit and my preferred range is $15-20. I’m pretty excited about what came, so I’ll keep this subscription going.

Urban Moonshine Energy Tonic – I’m still trying to understand this product, but it’s certainly intriguing. I think I’m supposed to spray it in my mouth to get a boost of energy? It feels so very strange, but I can see how it can quickly deliver energy. This one tastes a little bitter, as I imagine all of them do (they are tonics, after all). I don’t think I could do more than a few sprays at a time. I could mix it with water to dilute the flavor though. We’ll see if this actually helps with energy!

essential living foods chocolate-covered cacao nibs – I like chocolate and cacao, so this is a nice treat. It’s certainly not the sweet kind of chocolate kids may want, but if you like dark chocolate and the crunch of nibs, it’s kind of like munching on seeds. I think this is supposed to help with both energy, being a superfood, and mood, what with the chocolate and whatnot. I’ll nibble on a few throughout the day whenever I need a little boost.

booda butter daily moisturizer – Yes!! I’ve wanted to try booda butter ever since I saw them on Beautiful Basics. This is fantastic and I’m so excited. It’s a generous size tin and it starts melting right as you put your body heat on it. Then it just melts into your skin like it can’t wait to moisturize you. This is wonderful and I’m so happy to see it included. Totally fits the yoga lifestyle and it’s exactly what I wanted.

Star Essence Angel Rejuvenation Spray – Funny enough, back when I chose a yoga-themed box from blissmobox, I received another product from this brand. That was a mouth mist and this is a face/pillow/air mist, so I’m glad to try something else of theirs. I love it as a relaxing pillow spray and calming facial mist. I might spray myself with this before I start my yoga practice next time. I’ll also want to use it on my pillow at night!

Metolius Tea & Apothecary Cardamom Rose Mate tea – So this was in my box instead of the Indian Tiger Eye mala beads. I’m not sure how I feel about that knowing I didn’t get the original intended product, but I do like this one. Still, I wonder if those beads would have come in useful for meditation. In all reality, I probably wouldn’t even have used them so this is probably far more practical. The tea is just gorgeous – rose petals, peppercorn, and green leaves mix in a beautiful blend. I look forward to drinking it – it’s probably very soothing! This is another brand I’m familiar with because I received it in an Escape Monthly box. I think I’m going to like this flavor more.

skout pacific sea salt raw pumpkin seeds – Seeds are pretty good for us, so I’ll eat these. They’re quite salty at first taste, but then as I chew the seeds, it mellows out. I think this would be great mixed with other items. I could eat a handful here and there too. The brand looked familiar, and lo and behold, it came in a Conscious Box once. I don’t like bars, so I never did try that…

Yogi Surprise yoga strap – How cool that they made their own branded yoga straps! All I have are mats and a carrying bag, so I’m glad to be adding to my yoga toolkit with this strap. I think I’ll try to use it at home to stretch better. If I remember to bring it to class, I may use it too (but I hardly ever use straps in class). I think I’d make more use of it if we ever get an instructor to come to work. For some reason that type of class would make me want to bring more of my own stuff.

So there you go, Yogi Surprise for December! So far I am impressed and I look forward to the next box. I think I’m going to have to cancel one of my other subscriptions though, if I’m picking this one up long-term.

Pike’s Peak Rocks geode review

laelene Post in reviews，Tags: colorado, escape monthly, geodes, nature, pictures, products, projects, reviews, rocks, stones

30 March 2014

I got this super cool “break at home” geode in my January Escape Monthly box and I finally decided to break it open today! It was my reward for cleaning up my room and getting more organized. Nearly all of my boxes upon boxes of stuff have been put into categorized boxes: face, body, bath, food, etc. I even have ones for packaging materials, paper goods, and other random stuff.

plain looking rock that is actually geode

You’d never guess what’s inside based on appearances.

hammer and two screwdrivers used as tools to break apart geode

It took quite a bit of pounding to break this fellow.

geode broken into four large pieces and a pile of small pieces

I wonder of they offer different colors or if all these break your owns are white-ish.

pieces of broken geode arranged on towel

I wish I knew how to break it into two halves! Looks better like this, don’t you think?

It was fun breaking this apart and seeing the beauty within revealed. I would have loved it more if it was a cool color (*ahem* purple), but it’s still a fascinating phenomenon to partake in. For a few dollars, I would totally get another to attempt to break into just two large pieces – I’d go for a strategy of a flat blade going around instead of alternating flat and pointed on a concentrated area like I did this time. I look forward to playing with these pieces and finding a nice way to display them.