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Prospurly February 2016 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: bath milk, boxes, candles, cards, chocolates, lip butters, pictures, products, prospurly, reviews, salves, skincare, snacks, subscriptions, treats

02 March 2016

So about a month ago, I got an email that Escape Monthly was going out of business. I’m glad that I found Prospurly before that happened, because it helps make that loss a little easier. I’ll miss that box, but this one is my new fav.

Prospurly is just under $45 per box (with code for 10% off your subscription – use my referral links from this post) and comes with artisan foods, bath & body items, home products, and other sustainably crafted items. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you free boxes.

Acanela Shashi India spice blend – Well isn’t it interesting that I got this when I recently received it in the last Escape Monthly box! I’ll probably share with a friend since it’ll take me forever just to use the original one I got.

Sakari Botanicals Rosehip lip butter – Adorable. The sliding lid is fun to use and there’s something about savoring the moment of letting the lip butter melt and then rubbing it on your lips that makes this an experience. A nice light layer has kept my lips well-hydrated and I really like this. I don’t smell a scent to it, so it must be really light.

Sacred Summit Herbal Chocolates Midnight Maca – Whoa! There are all kinds of cool flakes on this bar, which was totally unexpected. There are bits of coconut and cacao nibs and the bar itself is super soft and melty. I’ve never had maca before and this bar has a sweetness that is very warm. It’s strangely addicting.

Skin Nutrition from nature with love ancient bath milk – This is delightful! It smells milky and herbal all at once, which I’m sure will be good for my skin. Plus there’s clay, oatmeal, salt… it makes me want to take a bath, pronto. I love that they made a special blend just for Prospurly. I thought the brand name looked familiar and it turns out we got some other items from them in a previous box. I’m just about done with the lotion that I had received!

Sakari Botanicals Wild Rose Cedar salve – This salve is perfect for winter and absorbs so well after a few minutes. It takes some pressure to break it and speed up the melting process. Then I just slather it on and enjoy soft skin.

Lexy Olivia watercolor cards – I thought these cards were ones that opened, but they’re like name cards. They make for really cute artwork. They really seem to include cards pretty often in these boxes. I hope they branch out into things like this that are on household items like coasters or hand towels. That way I can use them and have cool-looking stuff!

Wax & Wick Cedar + Vanilla soy candle – What a cool candle!! Not only does it smell deliciously sweet, but it has a wood wick. I’ve never seen that before and I can’t wait to try it out to see how it burns. This might be my newest addiction. I love when people rethink something we’re used to and try a different approach.

Again, I’m having a lot of fun exploring these artisan brands. I can’t wait to use them all and see what comes next. What do you think of these products?

[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 February 2016 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: aromatherapy, boxes, cards, chocolates, food, macaroons, pictures, plants, products, reviews, salves, seeds, skincare, snacks, subscriptions, teas

28 February 2016

Well I’ve had this box for three weeks and somehow forgot to blog about it. I really need to keep better track of which packages I’ve posted and which ones I haven’t.

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.

barkthins dark chocolate almond snacking chocolate – Yum! These are nice and crisp, giving a satisfying break when you bite in. The thinness helps with making me feel like I’ve eaten more than I actually have and the flavor is a rich chocolate. I do sort of miss the crazy sweetness of holiday peppermint bark though.

Zhena’s Detox Renew Me tea – You can definitely taste the cranberry in this tea. I’m not sure if my liver needs much cleansing, but hey herbal tea can be good for keeping everything functioning well, right? I like that these pouches have no string or paper or staples. Tea bags should really move away from that and use compostable materials to make a bag with nothing else.

emmy’s raspberry macaroons – I’ve got to admit, I’m scared to try this. I’m not typically a fan of raw things and this type of macaroon is not usually something I enjoy. I’ll try to get myself to eat these once I sign up for a barre class! Which reminds me, I need to email about that…

Aura Cacia Chakra Balancing insightful third eye aromatherapy roll-on – Ah, what a soothing and mildly sweet scent. This is just the type of thing that we end yoga practice with and a great way to relax the mind. I will enjoy using this before I sleep at night.

Joshua Tree Healing Salve – This is supposed to be good for all sorts of cuts, scrapes, even minor burns. I don’t have any of those at the moment, but I will absolutely pull this out whenever I do hurt my skin the next time. It smells somewhat herbal and reminds me of a Burt’s Bees product that my cousin loves.

Dive in Deck – These cards are all wacky designs with either a question to provoke discussion or a statement followed by “Dive In.” For the statements, I’m not quite sure what the conversation would be, but I guess the point is to let whatever comes to mind flow. I think the most confusing one is “As above, so below. Dive In.” I wouldn’t know what to say to that since it doesn’t really mean anything to me. Overall the cards get you to think about interesting ideas about your personal philosophies in life.

Yogi Surprise Blooming with Love yoga sequence series card – I haven’t practiced yoga in a long time, but these cards are so fun to collect that I really should try them out. Go to their instruction page to download this sequence and the old ones too. That way you can use them too!

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Kohlrabi – Whoa, how cool! I had kohlrabi and apple salad in one of my boxes once and it was quite good, but I’ve never seen purple ones. Purple being my favorite color, I am totally excited to plant these eventually.

There are some items I really enjoyed and some others that were interesting but might not be to my taste. Which of these items would you like to have?

Petit Vour February 2016 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, boxes, conditioners, eye shadows, perfumes, pictures, products, reviews, samples, serums, skincare, subscriptions

25 February 2016

I saw an email about a preview of this box, so I watched it and they talked about the eye shadow and serum. I thought the way the lady said “Petit Vour” sounded kind of strange, like using an American accent to pronounce it the French way. It came out as “petty voor” when I think it should be more of “puh-tee voor.”

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!).

Christy Organics Trance perfume – Ahh, this is a very flowery scent with the jasmine in there. It smells really nice and I can dab on a bit here and there when I want to remind myself of my grandma’s old place, where she grew jasmine plants in the window. I’ll have to plant some myself sometime! I hardly ever wear perfume, so this small sample will last me forever.

HAN Skin Care Cosmetics eye shadow in Taupey Plum – Well, this is going straight to my trade/sell box. I’ve tried using some of the smaller eye shadows I’ve received, but I know this giant one won’t be put to good use by me. Instead I’ll work to find it a happy home elsewhere.

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Booster Serum – I’ve got plenty of serums at the moment so I’ll keep this sealed until I’m ready. I recently read about how Vitamin C is a good ingredient for your skin and I see a lot of serums with it, so I look forward to using this one. I’m still not quite sure what a serum does, but I sure like applying it after washing my face.

Graydon Hair Smoothie conditioner – I wish this bottle was larger! I can smell the different plants in there and it seems like a cooling product. I sure hope it will help with hair growth, since I can never seem to grow my hair past my bust. I do need a haircut soon since the ends are getting kind of rough.

Well three out of four is not bad. I’m gathering so many products though, I really need to either sell some or stop my subscription. It’s so much fun to discover all these brands though! What do you think of these products?

[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!]

Teavana dragon tea set

laelene Posted in lifestyle glimpses，Tags: pictures, products, shopping, tea, teapots, teavana

21 February 2016

It’s been an arduous two months of trying to fix a situation with Teavana and finally, finally – I have my cast iron tea set! I’ve wanted it for years (I estimate 7 or 8) and with patient evaluation and a lovely gift card from friends, I now own the set I’ve had my eye on. For now I’m just going to enjoy the fact that I have the product at hand, but I’m still dealing with them to resolve the situation to my satisfaction. That will be quite a story for another time.

Let’s enjoy the products, shall we? 🙂 These cast iron items are meant to last a lifetime, so it’s certainly an investment. As you use them, the black is supposed to wear off a bit to reveal some more gold. I’m certainly happy with the quality of the items and the elegant feel of using them. I got the Imperial Dragon teapot because dragons are immensely important to Asian cultures and this is the one that I was attracted to time and time again. Best part? The ways the spout is designed is perfect. It doesn’t spill!

teavana gift bag with gift box, teapot, and tea

My Teavana imperial dragon cast iron teapot and free tea sample.

teavana gift box with ribbon and message

The box the teapot came in, with a message as you open it: Opening the Doors to Health, Wisdom & Happiness

teavana tea cups, warmer, and rock sugar

I ordered the accessories separate from the pot so I could take advantage of a deal. To reach the minimum spend, I ended up getting an extra cup. The rock sugar was the free product for the purchase.

teavana imperial dragon cast iron teapot 44 oz

If you ever go to a Teavana store, you’ll see them using one of these to brew Monkey Picked Oolong tea samples. Now I have my own!

teavana imperial dragon cast iron teapot lid and strainer

Inside, everything is coated in enamel that is supposed to slowly absorb the flavor of the tea and enrich it with each brew. There’s also a stainless steel strainer that reaches pretty much to the bottom of the pot for steeping.

I got these gold ones to go with the black and gold theme. The cups are also enameled like the pot.

teavana imperial dragon cast iron tea cups 3 oz

These are the matching cups that go with the pot. All these cast iron products are made in Japan.

I got a medium warmer to keep the pot hot. It’s almost the same size as the base of the teapot so maybe I should have gotten the large.

teavana medium cast iron warmer inside with area for tea light candle

You put a tea light inside and the heat of the flame helps keep your tea heated for hours! It maintains a temp that’s more than warm but not too hot to drink.

teavana peach tranquility tea sample in bag

I got a free ounce of Peach Tranquility when I got the teapot.

teavana monkey picked oolong tea sample in bag

My favorite, the Monkey Picked Oolong. The manager at Teavana gave me this sample for free because she felt so bad that should couldn’t help me. This was about a month into my ordeal.

teavana perfectea belgian brown rock sugar

Here’s a peek at the rock sugar that I got free with the cups & warmer order. It’s supposed to help enhance the flavor of tea without affecting it.

teavana imperial dragon cast iron tea set with teapot, cups, and hidden warmer

And there’s my tea set! As you can see the dragon cups and the gold ones are different sizes – the gold ones are wider and lower with 4 oz capacity while the dragon ones are taller and narrower with 3 oz capacity.

I’ve been using the set for about two weeks now and I’ve really enjoyed it. The flavor of the tea is great and doesn’t ever seem to get bitter as it often does in other scenarios. Something about the cast iron perhaps? I use the flame only when I plan on drinking quite a bit of tea in one sitting. For the most part, I add hot water to the pot and bring a cup to wherever I’m sitting. It makes the experience special every time and I’m so glad I got this. I shouldn’t ever have to replace it!

Yuzen Spring 2016 edition review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: aromatherapy, balms, chocolates, cleansers, lotions, masks, mineral baths, oils, pictures, products, reviews, skincare, subscriptions, yuzen

15 February 2016

We’re in the throes of winter, so I can hardly believe it’s time for the spring box! I actually quite like getting snow so I don’t mind winter sticking around a little more. Watch the unboxing video on Yuzen’s YouTube channel and read more below.

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.

MyChelle – Refining Sugar Cleanser: I’m always happy to receive a scrub! This one is wonderful to use and feels really good while smelling sort of milky. As you rub the sugar granules, they melt away and you work up a lather on your face. What a fun way to wash your face. This is a brand that I’m a fan of and will keep on my radar as I use skincare. Use code YUZEN by 4/30/16 for a free gift at MyChelle.

Aura Cacia – Euphoric Ylang Ylang Aromatherapy Mineral Bath: Now I haven’t taken a bath in awhile, so I haven’t tried this just yet but I look forward to it. I can already imagine the relaxing experience and refreshing yet calming scent.

Wei of Chocolate – Joyful, Gratitude, Love & Radiant chocolates: I think you’re supposed to savor these and let them melt in your mouth, but I was generally too impatient and bit right in, chewing them up. I did try letting one melt and found that my mouth felt somewhat dry afterwards. I love the flower shape and size, I love the concept, but I think the flavors are a bit strong for me. Use code YUZEN by 4/30/16 for 15-20% off at Wei of Chocolate.

80 Acres – Lavender Hand & Body Lotion: They always send me two boxes and in one was the lavender scent while the other had the blood orange one. I looove the citrus scent the absorption of the lotion. It’s more runny than some of the thicker lotions I’ve used, but I guess that would make it more of a balm or cream? Whatever the case, I really like smelling my hands now. 🙂 Use code YUZEN by 4/30/16 for 20% off at McEvoy Ranch.

everbelle – ultimate multi-purpose balm: This might be a small little tub but it packs a punch! I can smell the coconut origins and it does a great job of softening my hands. It’s very handy and the small size makes it easy to bring along anywhere. I’m surprised that this is their only product, so we’ll see if they expand to other items. Use code YUZEN by 6/1/16 for 20% off at everbelle.

Aimee Raupp Beauty – Love aromatherapy stick: Ooo the sweet fragrance of this oil is delightful. It smells like a tropical flower and there’s a hint of tartness. It’s great to get a whiff of this! Use code LOVE15 by 7/31/16 for 20% off at Aimee Raupp Beauty.

eslor – chlorophyll lifting mask: Chlorophyll? Isn’t that what plants are made of? Well, it’s what makes them green. And yes, once you open up this you’ll find it’s very green! It looks rather like jello and is very gooey. It’s fun to rub around on your face and very cooling. Then you feel the tightening as it dries and you rinse it off. This is supposed to help with circulation, which would be great for me. Maybe I can use it all over my body for that? Use code YUZEN by 6/30/16 for 20% off at eslor.

It’s been great giving each of these a go and I enjoy using them. A few might well become new favorites. What do you think of these products?

*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). 🙂

Treatsie January 2016 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: candy, caramels, chocolates, food, peanut brittles, pictures, reviews, snacks, subscriptions, toffees, treats, treatsie

13 February 2016

I took the pictures of these at night because I couldn’t wait to start eating them! I’m a sucker for caramels so I wanted to eat them right away.

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 and code FRBUCO01 to get double the treats (a purported $40 value) in your first box!

Zingerman’s Candy Chocolate Covered Peanut Brittle: I just recently discovered this brand as one with a really cool culture. I watched some videos of co-founder Ari Weinzweig talking about how the suite of companies got started and it’s so funny that I get to try one of their products. This is a crazy combo of tastes and textures and I’m not sure I prefer it over non-covered brittle. If you love brittle and want something to slightly tone down the sweetness, then the dark chocolate coating might be just the trick.

Dave’s Sweet Tooth Milk Chocolate Toffee: Mmmm this is a very sweet toffee covered in a powdery nut coating. I love the crunch and the flavors, which are very rich.

Mayana Chocolate Kitchen Sink Bar: Amazing! I gobbled this bar right up and really enjoyed the chocolate giving way to caramel and bits of crispy rice. I do wish there was a great ratio of rice since I really enjoy the crunch, but very tasty nonetheless.

Annie B’s caramels in original and black raspberry: Ah yes, I’m all about caramel. These come in cute sticks and are very delicious. I liked the original best since I don’t generally go for fruity flavors in my caramels. The black raspberry one adds an extra dimension of fragrance and a different type of sweetness.

I’ve pretty much managed to consume the majority of this box already. All great things to try! What do you think of the treats from this box? To get Treatsie, sign up with my link and code FRBUCO01 to get double the treats in your first box!

Petit Vour January 2016 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, boxes, brushes, cleansers, creams, gel eyeliners, lip scrubs, petit vour, pictures, reviews, skincare, subscriptions

06 February 2016

Ah, freshness. These products are simple and clean – great way to start a new.

S.W. Basics cream – This is a super soft cream that melts like butter upon contact with skin. It smoothes on very easily and softens the skin. Now it does smell a little odd to me, so I’ll probably use this on my legs more than I would on my hands or face.

French Girl Rose Lip Polish – Mmm, this smells really nice. Just a tiny bit is enough to completely refresh my lips and it feels so good! Lip scrubs are a ton of fun and I enjoy using this one a lot.

Evelyn Iona – Now I’m not much of an eyeliner person. I haven’t tried gel liner before and I nearly didn’t see the little pot of it! I thought it was just the brush as a tool at first, haha. This is a really cool set and it might just be enough for me to try it out. Or I might give it to a friend.

kaia bamboo tapioca beads – I got a sample of this previously and I’ve tried it before. It’s a handy way to bring a facial cleanser/mask on a trip without taking up much space at all. It has a nice sweet smell and the granules in it are a good way to exfoliate.

I like the skincare focus of this box and I’m curious about the eyeliner so we’ll see how that experiment goes! What do you think of these products?

Prospurly January 2016 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, cards, facial serums, food, foot soaks, honey, laundry soaps, lip balms, pencils, pictures, prospurly, reviews, subscriptions

02 February 2016

This Prospurly box was also waiting for me first thing after the snowstorm and I’m finally getting around to reviewing it!

blythe market detox foot soak – How fun! I think this will be the perfect thing to do when I want to relax and a bath is just too much effort. It’s very lightly scented and the crystals inside have clumped into bits that can be broken up in water.

fawn lily botanica geranium + argan oil facial serum – I love a facial serum so this is much appreciated. I’ve been trying to stick to a routine that includes cleansing, toner, serum, and moisturizer. Once my current serum is used up, it’s good to know I’ll already have another one ready to go.

affirmation cards – These are cute cards that each have a theme: kindness, self-belief, choice, and exploration. On the back of each card it says, “This day forward, I [will be/believe/choose to/will]…” and has six lines to list: “Kind to/I can/I choose/Explore.” It’s a nice way to put intention into who you want to be and what actions you can take.

Faber-Castell charcoal grey mechanical pencil – To go with the cards and fill them out, you can use this pencil! I can’t remember the last time I used a mechanical pencil, but it might just come in handy for grad school. I love the sleek look of this and the triangular shape of the tube. I’m more into pens, so I might have to try some of theirs.

handmade la conner lavender laundry soap – Ooo this is super cool. I am all about natural products! I would be happy to replace any current laundry soaps with this kind and I look forward to trying it.

fawn lily botanica spiced chai + coconut lip balm – This is a very unique flavor and has a light spice. It’s sort of chocolatey as well and is super soft on the lips. I like to have lip balm handy in a variety of locations, so I’m sure I will easily find a home for this one, whether at work, in the car, or at home.

Barefoot Apothecary Chamomile & Euphoria Honey Elixir – I really should have had this earlier when I was terribly congested and coughing up a storm. Still, it’s nice to have now to mix in my drinks as I slowly heal from a bout of the flu.

Another great box full of products that I am happy to discover! This is quickly becoming my favorite box. I’m a huge fan of artisans making products in small batches with love and care. What do you think of these products?

Escape Monthly January: India Box review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, dvds, food, home goods, pictures, reviews, skincare, snacks, soaps, spices, subscriptions, teas, treats, videos

30 January 2016

As soon as Blizzard 2016 was finally cleared enough for the mailman to return, I got this package! I wonder if it had been waiting at the post office the whole time.

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)

How cool! I’m already making good use of the sheesham box and I love the Diwali lamps. It’s great that this box has no overlap with the other one from India.

Here’s what came in the box:

Rudy Maxa’s World: India DVD – What a cool way to learn about India beyond a guide book. I’m glad they chose to go this route since seeing and hearing what India is like will be much more telling than reading about it.

Shelly Mehandi henna kit – How fun is this?! Don’t we all want to try doing our own henna tattoos? I know I certainly have. This cute kit includes the powder, which you mix with water and then squeeze in the provided cone (like those pastry ones people use for frosting). Mine came with a stencil of a gecko/lizard type creature, which will be fun to trace onto myself. I’m totally inviting someone over to have a little henna party.

EBM Brands Click cumin biscuits – Whoa, this is so interesting. These dry, crispy cookies have bits of cumin that give it an earthy flavor. It’s sweet yet not all at once and a totally unique flavor. Quite cool! My brain is still not sure what to make of it.

United King Soan Papdi pastry – This came in a container that made me think of someone’s lunch box in Asia. I thought there’d be squares in the box, but then I opened it and it seemed to be one giant chunk. I wasn’t quite sure how to get a piece out, so I just started scooping! This pastry is sooo delicious and yes, very very flaky. Like falls apart as I try to scoop it up. That kind of melting in your mouth is pretty sweet.

Song of India English Lavender soap – Is there a difference between English lavender and other lavender? This one smells more soapy than the lavender ones I’m used to. It’s clear and reminds me of this glycerin soap I have. Happy to add it to my queue of soaps to use!

Diwali lamps – Ok, these just look like a party. All you’ve got to do is put in tea lights and enjoy! I love the colorfulness and atmosphere they provide. Now I just need to bulk purchase tea lights…

Organic India Tulsi tea – I enjoy a tulsi tea when I want something sweeter and caffeine-free. This came at just the right time, since I’ve been sick and I could use a boost. I’ve probably had three of the tea bags brewed multiple times already.

Acanela Shashi India spice blend – We’ve been working to cook more, so spices will be a great thing to have to add to dishes. Sometimes salt and pepper get boring and just aren’t what you want. I’m going to keep these fresh and sealed until we’re ready to figure out what dishes to use them on.

handmade sheesham box – This is the perfect box to store some of my jewelry bedside. I now keep my rings and small earrings in here for safekeeping next to the bed. It’s so simple and looks great anywhere.

They haven’t announced the next location yet, so we’ll see what it is when it arrives. Which products from this India Escape Monthly box do you like most? 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.

Blizzard 2016!

laelene Posted in lifestyle glimpses，Tags: blizzard 2016, experiences, neighbors, panda, pictures, snowfall, snowing, snowstorm, snowzilla, weather, winter storm

23 January 2016

Well, we’re almost done with this major storm of the season and it’s been pretty crazy! I happened to start getting sick this week and by Thursday, I was coughing and sneezing constantly. I was glad that we didn’t go to work on Friday and began to hunker down for the storm. All day today I’ve been coughing and trying to stay warm, but I don’t think I’ve made much progress. I did go out a few times to peek at the snow building up. Here’s a look at some pics!