Posts Tagged ‘food’

Graze snacks (two more boxes)

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
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It’s been awhile since I last wrote about the Graze boxes I’ve been getting! I’m knee-deep in them now and have slowed down my deliveries to anywhere from 2-4 weeks. I’m starting to get bored of them so I think I might discontinue my subscription (or keep pushing back deliveries).

Graze is $5 per delivery (you choose the frequency of deliveries) and comes with four pre-proportioned, nutritionally-balanced snacks. Choose from the regular nibblebox or the low calorie caloriecounterbox with a default frequency of every 2 or 4 weeks. You can always increase or decrease the weeks between deliveries to fit your needs, thereby effectively “skipping” weeks as you please. They offer a referral code and link program that gives your referral their 1st and 5th boxes free and earns you $1 off your next box (or you can choose to donate it).

Here are boxes 5 and 6 that I received:

my fifth graze box with fruit & seed flapjack, eton mess, herby bread basket, and eleanor's apple crumble

My fifth Graze box with nutritional info.

graze fruit & seed flapjackThe Fruit & Seed Flapjack came before I realized I just don’t like flapjacks that much. I’ve since chosen trash for all the variations so I don’t get them. These are still sitting around waiting to be eaten. I might end up putting them out for the birds and squirrels to nibble on. Or, if I can convince Panda to take them to work as a snack that would work too! Verdict: TRASH.

graze eton messEton Mess has these super fun little meringue bites. I love how crisp and fluffy they are. The almond slices are a nice way to offset the sweetness of the rest of this snack. I wouldn’t go crazy over these but I’d definitely munch on it every once and awhile. Verdict: TRY.

graze herby bread basketOh yes, now this is what I’m talking about. The Herby Bread Basket has crunchy bits of bread and it’s a savory selection. I love a good salty snack (that does not involve nuts) and I love bread, so this is a good combo of those two things. This is not my favorite of the salty snacks but it’s one I’m always happy to eat. Verdict: LIKE.

graze eleanor's apple crumbleIt’s funny, I don’t generally like dried apple but I find the super soft texture of these to be fun to chew versus those crisp bags of dried apple slices. Eleanor’s Apple Crumble pairs the soft apple with crunchy almonds and chewy raisins for a wide range of textures. This one can get a bit sweet for me, but I can see myself eating it infrequently. Verdict: TRY.

my fifth graze box with mississippi bbq pistachios, tropical daiquiri, my thai, and poached pear

My sixth Graze box with nutritional info.

You know, I can’t quite remembering eating the Mississippi BBQ Pistachios. I’ve never been super into pistachios but I will eat them so this was one of those that’s enjoyable enough. I do like the unique flavor since I usually just have plain pistachios. Verdict: TRY.

I actually liked the Tropical Daiquiri more than I expected. It seems that I can really get into this whole dried fruit thing. Still, I don’t want to get it too often. Verdict: TRY.

I got the My Thai in my first box and I still enjoy it. I’m a sucker for the crunchy soy and the sauce! Verdict: LOVE.

The Poached Pear is a nice mix of soft and crunchy bits. It’s a nice sweet/fragrant snack but I’m just not that into nuts. I’ll give it a chance though! Pumpkin seeds are supposed to be good for you right? Verdict: TRY.

365great Day 163: jujubes

laelene Posted in 365great,Tags: , , , , , ,
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Learn more about 365great here.

365great challenge day 163: jujubesOk, so there is some confusion about dates vs. jujubes. I always thought them to be one and the same, but apparently dates grow on palm trees. What I’m thinking of are jujubes, aka Chinese dates. Those are the red wrinkled fruits that we commonly put in soups or eat as a super sweet snack. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I learned what fresh jujubes look and taste like. My mom planted one of those trees in our yard and when it started to bear fruit, I had no clue that those fresh green fruits were the very deep red dried fruits I was used to. As soon as I bit into my first one, I was hooked. They are sweet and crunchy but not juicy like apples would be, so it’s easy to eat them and they don’t make a mess! They’re fun to eat fresh and they’re delicious dried too – now that’s a great fruit.

Yuzen Spring 2013 edition (February – April) review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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The fall box is on its way and many people have received them, but I happen to be leaving before it gets delivered to me so I can’t open it until after my vacation. Sad times! Let’s cheer me up by reviewing the spring box!

Yuzen is $26 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.

*Disclosure: As a super fan, I was invited to be the Yuzen Ambassador to help them spread the word about their brand. Starting with the October box, I began to receive them 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). :)

collage of unboxed spring 2013 yuzen boxes

Two of the variations you could have received.

Click on the pictures for the full sizes so you can enjoy all the details of each product!  You can even zoom in to read all the messaging.

collage of red flower italian blood orange little flower candle included in the february-april spring 2013 yuzen boxred floweritalian blood orange little flower candle: Back in the October box, we were first introduced to red flower with their cream and wash. Then in December we got a super cute ocean candle. This time around I got the blood orange once, which is a scent I really enjoy. I lost track of how many hours it lasted me, but it definitely meets the 15 hour burn time that is advertised. That’s pretty awesome for such a small little candle. I really enjoyed using this and it was a nice little size to even bring on a trip.

collage of nova monda heart-shaped truffles included in the february-april spring 2013 yuzen boxNova Mondatruffles: Nom! Truffles always feel like such a luxurious treat and the texture of these was divine. The heart-shaped one was cacao nib and the other one was sea salt flavored. Both were delicious in their own way and the cacao nibs and sea salt grains offered a nice little bit of crunch to the otherwise smooth and creamy treats. These were super cute and tasty!

collage of juara avocado banana moisture mask included in the february-april spring 2013 yuzen boxJuaraAvocado Banana Moisture Mask: Avocado and banana in a face mask? Yes please! I mean if I wasn’t so lazy I’d try to make this myself, but hey since it’s already here… I enjoy using this mask – it gives me a warming sensation on my face that is really soothing and I feel great after rinsing it off. My skin is always soft and super hydrated afterwards. For some with more sensitive skin, you might not like the slight tingling but otherwise I think anyone would enjoy this mask.

collage of kneipp deep sleep mineral bath salts included in the february-april spring 2013 yuzen boxKneippDeep Sleep Mineral Bath Salt: I really enjoy the smell of these, which is quite relaxing. I don’t understand why they’re so blue though – is there a reason for that? I barely need a tablespoon of these salts to dye my bath water blue. I haven’t tried to see how well it helps me fall asleep, but I like it just because it’s a fun bath product. It’s interesting how I rarely take baths (maybe once every other year at best) but I love bath products. I mean, I almost never use them so what’s the fuss right? I guess I’m just weird like that. But hey, once we’re in the new condo I definitely want to take more baths.

collage of spa technologies marine repair cream included in the february-april spring 2013 yuzen boxSpa TechnologiesMarine Repair Cream: This facial cream is lovely! It feels great, smells great, and makes my skin supple. It’s not greasy and absorbs well, which makes me feel refreshed and protected all in one. I really enjoy using this, though the price point is scary. I don’t know if I could ever spring for something so pricey, but maybe as a treat to myself one day… the good news is my current samples will last me awhile!

collage of jane iredale mini lippies included in the february-april spring 2013 yuzen boxJane Iredale – Lippies including Just Kissed Lip Plumper in Tokyo, Just Kissed Lip & Cheek Stain, and LipDrink: These are adorable!! They are an excellent size, perfect for traveling with and there’s plenty to see if you like them or not. I don’t wear lipstick so I only tried it once for a special occasion and it was nice. Can’t tell if my lips were plumped or not, but I wasn’t paying attention. I don’t really stain my lips or cheeks so I haven’t used the stain much either. Maybe I’ll start trying it since I want to look good at work. As for the LipDrink… I didn’t feel like it was very moisturizing. Granted, I only tried it once so maybe I just caught my lips on a bad day.

NaturopathicaEspresso Mud Body Scrub OR Oat Facial Polish: [don’t have closeup pictures, oops] I really enjoy Naturopathica! I won a set of facial products from them because I was introduced to their brand by Yuzen. That’s pretty awesome because I never would have known to enter otherwise. You would have gotten one of these items in your box, depending on how early or late you subscribed and got your box. The scrub is kind of hilarious to use because of the mess I make in the shower. As I scrub myself (particularly my back), bits and pieces of it go flying every which way. Next thing I know it looks like I am rinsing off the evidence of a mud wrestling competition! The oat polish is suuuper moisturizing and feels great on my face. The beads are large and I enjoy knowing they’re scrubbing away at my skin. My face is always soft after using that.

EOVEau de Parfum: [another product I forgot to get closeups for] I’m not a perfume person, so I haven’t tried this sample, but it’s a typical trial size vial. It’s a warm scent for those of you who like a bit more floral and citrus scent. This one will be added to my trade list for anyone who might be interested in trying it. I get plenty of scents from all the skincare products I use and I see no need to throw on even more smells. I don’t want to walk around oozing fragrance so I just skip perfumes altogether.

As always, an excellent box introducing me to so many new brands and amazing products. I can’t wait to see what the fall box has in store! This will have to tide me over until I am able to open up my boxes next week. Yuzen always puts a smile on my face. 🙂

365great Day 157: cornbread

laelene Posted in 365great,Tags: , , ,
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365great challenge day 157: cornbreadOh how I love cornbread. One of my favorites can be found at Boston Market. It’s just the right combination of soft and sweet, yet crispy and crunchy. It’s very fragrant and always the perfect complement to the chicken pot pies that I get there. I love how it’s filling like bread but then sweet like a dessert. I feel like I’m getting more out my meal that way. I prefer moist ones to the crumbly type and I always enjoy having some corn pieces hidden inside. I just had some last night that was really delicious too – came served straight out of the skillet! I can eat them as breakfast, a snack throughout the day, or a side to my meal. I’m going to have to try making it sometime, just so I can have the experience of pulling it out from the oven piping hot. That would be so great.

Conscious Box August review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Alright, here’s my 4th box of the 6 free ones I won. This time there was no info sheet again so I’m wondering if last month was just an exception?

Conscious Box is just under $20 per box (or as discounted as just over $203 for an entire year, with options in between) and comes with many samples from about a dozen brands. Choose from their Classic, Vegan, or Gluten-free box. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral link program.

conscious box august inner box with card

This month the imagery was bright and warm, exactly what I associate with August. It’s actually quite cool here in the DC area, which is surprising for this time of year. I want more heat before summer’s out!! If you’d like to watch the video of the unboxing, you can check that out too.

conscious box august contents including sneakz organic chocolate milkshake, amazing grass raw reserve probiotics, mrm veggie protein, nordic omega-3 jellies, stash tulsi tea, happy tot super toddler bars, country choice oatmeal, ultima replenisher, actz soap, allimax allicin, barbara's snackimal cereal, mrm digest-all, and herbal zap immune support

I’ve tried the Sneakz drink before and it was ok but not something I’d get, so this time I’m chilling it to see if it tastes better than at room temp. I’m horrible at taking supplements and boosting my health that way, so the Amazing Grass raw reserve, MRM veggie protein, Nordic Naturals omega-3 jellies, Ultima replenisher, MRM Digest-All, Herbal Zap immune support, and Allimax pills will all be great to try. I’ve had the Stash tea before and I enjoy just about any type of tea so I’ll definitely drink that. The happytot bars will be perfect to bring to my new job for a boost in the mid-afternoon. I’m attending training this coming Monday/Tuesday so I will pack these! I’m not a morning person and I almost never eat breakfast (it jump-starts my metabolism and makes me hungrier throughout the day) so I’ll probably have the Barbara’s Snackimal cereal and Country Choice oatmeal as snacks as well. Or, they might be given to Panda for his morning meal. This time around there was a lot of food! The only non-food item is the cute little Actz Cosmetics soap that is banana scented. I’ve never had skincare smell like banana before and I love it!

What did you receive in your Conscious Box this month? Would you enjoy what came in my box?

365great Day 150: aloe drinks

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365great challenge day 150: aloe drinksI just wrote about these in my July favorites and I think they deserve a mention in my 365great as well. I really enjoy aloe drinks because they aren’t crazy sweet but they’re more hefty than most drinks due to the particles. I quite like having some pulp bits to chew on. It adds a nice texture to the drink, making it somewhere between a smoothie and liquid. I know that aloe is healing for the skin, so I figure it couldn’t hurt to drink it. At the least I like the taste when it’s mixed with other fruit flavors and I like that it doesn’t go away as fast as a regular drink would. Sometimes I want something light yet filling and this type of drink works great.

365great Day 144: bread

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Learn more about 365great here.

365great challenge day 144: breadBread comes in so many shapes and forms: as buns, rolls, baguettes, loaves, and more. You can get sourdough or whole grain or English muffin or rye… I mean, there are almost boundless ways that you can enjoy bread and I love so many types. It’s filling, not too sweet or salty, and goes well with a lot of other dishes. You can have it as a snack, along with appetizers, as a side dish, or as part of the main course. You can have it soft or crispy or soft with a crispy shell. You can add things to make it sweet or salty or let it be bland. How could you not enjoy something with so many options? You can really customize it to your preferences, whether it be according to taste, texture, ingredients, or otherwise. I’m a huge fan of French baguettes and my favorites are the ones they give you a piece of at Panera Bread. Nom!! They taste great.

Yuzen January 2013 edition

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Getting closer to finishing this game of catch-up! Here’s the January box, which was the last monthly box that Yuzen sent. In February they started the seasonal boxes sent out every three months, with a favorites box showcasing some of the items from previous boxes as a separate gift option. They tend to sell out quickly of all box varieties, so sign up quickly if you’re interested!

Yuzen is $26 per month (but will be changing to quarterly as of the next box) and comes with around 7 or 8 eco-friendly beauty, skincare, food/snacks, and home products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. Sometimes there’s a waitlist to get the subscription. They do not offer a referral program.

*Disclosure: As a super fan, I was invited to be the Yuzen Ambassador to help them spread the word about their brand. Starting with the October box, I began to receive them 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). :)

yuzen january 2013 box so full it was bulging

This time around the box was so full that it was nearly bursting at the seams! Look at how mine was bulging with goodness. 🙂 I didn’t get a chance to get individual pictures of everything, so I’ve included what I have.

collage of unboxing of january 2013 yuzen box

Click on the pictures for the full sizes so you can enjoy all the details of each product!  You can even zoom in to read all the messaging.

collage of sweetriot 65% dark chocolate covered cacao nibs included in the january 2013 yuzen boxsweetriotflavor 65: Let’s start with the wonderful little snack! These dark chocolate-covered cacao nibs are 65% dark chocolate and amazingly crunchy. They’re the perfect treat to pop when you want something nice and crispy, chocolatey, and delicious! The tube doesn’t look like much, but just a few of these nibs is more satisfying than you’d expect for eating so little. I love the 65% taste that’s not too bitter and still a bit sweet. These taste like a high-quality product and I’d try their other products too. I was nearly done with them when I discovered the cute little “fortune” note inside! This company’s got personality. 🙂

TilveeLavender Lemon Lip Balm: I have a ton of lip products so I haven’t tried this yet but I’m excited to. I loved the healing balm that came in the August Yuzen box and I’d be happy with any of the Tilvee line! I like both lavender and lemon, so I can imagine this would make my lips feel great and smell/taste quite lovely too. I’m working through my current stash of lip balms and will pop this one open ASAP!

pangea organics facial cream in italian red mandarin with rose for dry to sensitive skinPangea OrganicsItalian Red Mandarin with Rose Facial Cream: Pangea is a brand I’m fascinated with and I’m glad to get to try their products. Similar to my lip balm dilemma, I have a looot of facial creams I need to use up, so I’ve kept this one sealed to be as fresh as possible when I do start using it. I’m curious how strong the rose will factor in, since I generally don’t like that fragrance (except real roses on bushes), so hopefully it’s mostly the mandarin scent that comes through! I’m starting to think I might have sensitive skin so this would be great to try.

Essence of ValiSleep essential oil concentrate: This little vial is an essential oil blend that’s supposed to help you get to sleep and be more comforted during stressful times. Apparently it’s so powerful/effective that you just put one drop on your pillowcase! I sure wish I brought this out east with me because I’ve had trouble sleeping at night and I’d love to see how effective this might be. At first I thought it was a perfume sample, and I nearly dismissed it, but once I learned more I found it’s definitely something I’d put to good use if it works!

collage of sheaterra organics moroccan argan oil included in the january 2013 yuzen boxSheaTerra Organics Moroccan Argan Oil: I have a large jar of argan oil for my hair, which I’ve been using here and there for ages. However, I’d never tried it on my skin before and this adorable little bottle with its dropper cap makes me want to dot oil on all my rough skin and rub away! Then again, I don’t really much rough skin these days since I’ve been taking better care of my body. Still, I enjoy rubbing this on and it almost doesn’t have a scent – just a faint kind of herby smell if you take a good hard whiff.

Acure Organicsmoroccan argan oil + argan stem cell shampoo & moroccan argan oil + argan stem cell conditioner: I’m not really into almond-scented things and unfortunately this is no exception. I tried the products once or twice but couldn’t stand the smell so I haven’t used them since and I was too busy being distracted by the smell to know if it actually worked any better than my current hair products. Plus, since I only used them twice I don’t know if I would have noticed a difference or if I’d need a few more washes to get a good idea. Whatever the case, I’m going to have to pass this on to my family and get their feedback. I’m sure they don’t mind the almond smell!

aromafloria aromatherapy stress less foaming bubble bath with lavender, chamomile, sageAromafloriaStress Less Foaming Bubble Bath: So this is what was making the box bulge so much! A nice GIANT bottle of bubble bath that I cannot wait to try out in the new condo someday. I can’t remember the last time I took a bubble bath, but I’d love to and the tub I’m going to get is nice and large, with plenty of room for bubbles to foam up without overflowing. Lavender, chamomile, and sage all sound so soothing and nice that I’m sure it be a perfectly relaxing scent. I’m eager to find out just how well this foams up when I put it to the test.

And there you go, the January box, with so many fantastic products to promote relaxation, destressing, and keeping your skin in tip-top shape.

365great Day 138: cake pops

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365great challenge day 138: cake popsI’ve written about them before and they’re worth mentioning again as part of my 365great series – cake pops are an amazing little treat! For awhile I was super obsessed with them and bought them frequently. I’ve since calmed down but I still love them and much of the reason I haven’t had any lately is because I don’t know where they sell them out here! At some point I definitely want to try making my own since those little suckers are rather costly. I love how they don’t dry out the way cupcakes or cakes might and they include a nice chocolate layer instead of icing or frosting (which are a bit on the sweet side, don’t ya think?). They come in such lovely *almost* bite-size pieces yet are super filling so one or two is plenty to fill you up. A more convenient, easier-to-manage dessert item? That’s great!!

365great Day 136: spring/summer rolls

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Learn more about 365great here.

365great challenge day 136: spring/summer rollsI had a craving for rolls today, both fried and not. So where did I go? To a Vietnamese place of course! Not only can I get delicious fried spring rolls with crisp lettuce and a sweet sauce, I can also get refreshing summer rolls with fragrant peanut dip. It’s really the best of both worlds with these two types of rolls. Whether hot or cold, sweet or salty, strong flavors or more mild ones, you can take your pick. I enjoy the easy-to-manage shape of rolls – bite off as much as you can on one end without worrying about something flying out the other end (ahem, burgers anyone?) and the round tube shape fits in mouths perfectly! You can get such a variety of flavors with them depending on what you put inside and how you cook them. Such a versatile appetizer is pretty great!

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