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Escape Monthly January: Portland Box review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: bar soaps, bath salts, boxes, candles, guide books, lip balms, pictures, popcorn, products, reviews, subscriptions, travel, travel guides

25 January 2015

It’s Portland time! I got the Oregon box over a year ago and I like that they didn’t have much overlap with that one. It’s great to see some brands that are new to me and different variations for the brands I am familiar with.

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.

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I’m liking the curation of this box! It’s a good mix of food, body care, and home stuff. I’m pretty excited about most of these items.

Here’s what came in the box:

Masala Pop Saffron Rose Popcorn with Sea Salt – Ooo, this looks luxurious. After learning about how prized saffron is, anything with it sounds cool. This is my second time seeing this brand – I enjoyed the Chai Masala flavor from the India box, but it stuck together after I opened it and didn’t eat it quickly enough so I’m saving this for when I can finish it in one sitting.

Moon Handbooks guide to Portland – You know, Panda and I were planning on going to the Pacific Northwest last year and didn’t make it, so now I have have some guide books to peruse when we finally do get around to that trip. Portland will certainly be on that list! I also have friends who moved there in the past few years, so maybe we can explore together.

Keep Portland Weird! soy candle – Soy candles are awesome. This one has a nice charity component and the candle is a lovely lemongrass type scent. I wonder if it’s the only mix they offer? Well, I’m happy to have a clean-burning candle to use in the future.

Portland Bee Balm in Oregon Mint – Previously I got this bonus item in the original unscented variety; since then they’ve changed up their packaging! The tube is encased in a cool wood sheet that looks awesome. I like that we get to try a different scent/flavor for this one and it’s fantastic that they are supporting beekeepers. Bees are a crucial part of our ecosystem, after all.

Molly Muriel Butter Up shea butter bar soap – The info sheet talks about a different scented soap from what I got. I’m a fan of this one, so I’m happy! I can’t wait to use this – it looks like it’s going to feel great on my skin. This will be perfect for the winter. We got the Volcanic Bliss bar in a previous box, which I just love.

Rose City Pepperheads Berry Trio – Whoa, spicy and sweet jelly things? I have no clue what to do with these. I see they can be for dipping or cooking, so I’ll have to do some research and try them out a few ways. Luckily, their site includes some recipes and suggestions for how to enjoy them.

Valentina’s Home-Brewed Magickal Mineral Bath Salts in Habit Breaker – Oh, bath salts, how I adore thee… I was most excited about this product! It’s whimsical and slightly wacky, yet a totally wonderful thing. They gave a very generous size and the scent seeping through is sweet and beautiful. I look forward to relaxing in a bath with some of this. 🙂

Well, last month I was hoping for a candle, skincare product, or something else non-food. Guess what we got this time? All of the above! So yes, I am pretty happy. What’s your favorite from this Portland Escape Monthly box? If you want to sign up, try one of these codes (not sure which ones are still active): NASHVILLE or MYESCAPE for 20% off the lifetime of your subscription or GIFTESCAPE for 25% off.

Just when I thought I was going to stop getting Escape Monthly, they announce for next month a city that is completely new to me and surprisingly compelling for keeping my subscription just one more month. I guess I’ll choose between a facial or massage each month until I decide to cancel this (at which point I’ll treat myself to both monthly!). This time they didn’t show the next month’s city on the back, but their Facebook page has indicated it will be Nashville. I know very little about that part of the country, so I’m excited!

[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 January 2015 review

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

17 January 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.

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.

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.

Beauty Box 5 January 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, beauty box 5, body washes, eye shadows, hair care, mascaras, nail care, nail polish strips, pictures, products, samples, shampoos, skincare

15 January 2015

I love the nail wraps and mascara! I’ve used them and will continue to. The eye shadow’s the only thing I’ll put up for trade. The bath/shower items are ideal for travel!

Beauty Box 5 is $12 per box (or as discounted as $99 for an entire year, with an option in between) and comes with 5 cosmetic products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. You also have the option of buying it as a gift your box to a friend. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards products or boxes.

Coastal Scents Eye Shadow samples in Mint Condition, Sundried, Stone Cold, and Wild Raisin: These are adorable, but totally not my thing. Adding it to the trade box! My favorite shades there are the sundried and wild raisin, since they’re warmer colors and can be more subtle.

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips in Misbehaved: These are fab! I like the simple pattern – nothing too bold, yet it’s still got character. With 16 strips and my shorter style of nails, I can actually use these up to three times for manis/pedis. In fact, I’ve already used 5 strips to do a full mani on my hands. I’m going to have to look for more of these because I just had so much fun and I love the look that I couldn’t accomplish on my own by painting my nails.

Ultraflesh The Gold Standard Mascara in Blackout: The gold tube is luxurious so already I feel great. The brush is more bristle-y than I expected, but it works and I love the flexible design rather than the stiff rods most brushes seem to be. It gave my lashes a great boost so now I’ll just have to see how it wears throughout the day. So far I’m liking it, though I wish it applied more easily to my baby lashes towards the inner corners of my eyes.

Softsoap Nutri Serums Body Nourishing Wash: Ok, I’m a huge sucker for anything with those little suspended pearls. It just looks so fun! I’m saving this for my travel bag next time I go somewhere. It’s perfect to bring along!

Garnier Fructis Daily Care Fortifying Shampoo: Another great travel-sized item to keep in my travel stash. Actually, now that I say that I should really have a designated travel stash. I like Garnier so I’ll definitely use this when I’m not at home. Too bad the small bottles don’t have the same top as the full size. That’d be so cute.

With a theme of “hello!” they kept it pretty open to just about anything. I certainly feel like I’m getting a great start to the year with this set of products. Now I can stay clean and have smashing eyes and nails with style. 🙂 What items appeal to you from this month’s box?

Escape Monthly December: Europe Box review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, pictures, products, reviews, subscriptions, travel

04 January 2015

So I’ve been with Escape Monthly for a year and a half now and I think I’ve reached the end of our time together. For awhile I was really enjoying getting items from other cities, but I’m not getting the same sense of excitement with them anymore. I hung in there for this box because there’s so much Europe can offer and I was suuuuuuuper curious what they would highlight. I wish they had focused less on food items and included some other seasonal items or personal care type stuff.

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I would have preferred to see more diversity in countries – it seems that the majority of products are French or French-inspired. While I do enjoy France, it certainly doesn’t represent the breadth of cultures across Europe.

Here’s what came in the box:

St. Dalfour Red Raspberry & Pomegranate Jam (French) – I need to start eating breakfast and incorporating jam. I’ve accumulated a couple jars of various flavors and I don’t want them to all go to waste! This didn’t feel uber Christmas-y, but I can see it evoking certain memories of the season.

Rick Steves’ European Christmas – Well that’s interesting. A book about Christmas in Europe! I never knew travel guides go specific to the time of year like this. I’ve spent two holiday seasons in Europe, but I didn’t seek out specific holiday festivities, so perhaps I shall have to plan another trip to take advantage of what I can learn from this book.

St. Michel Mini Madeleines (French) – I love these snacks and happily brought the bag along for my travels to save me from the possibility of going hungry. I actually haven’t needed to open them yet since I’ve stayed rather well-fed, but I’m definitely looking forward to having these. I imagine to them to wonderfully moist. I like eating madeleines in general (like the Costco ones) so I’m glad to get this.

Stash Christmas in Paris herbal tea (French-inspired) – Chocolate tea was never my thing and peppermint in tea can be a bit too cooling for me, so I wasn’t sure what to make of this. The warmth of the chocolate actually helps dull the peppermint so it’s not too cooling in my belly. It’s an interesting combination that I will certainly drink, but it’s still outside my normal tea-drinking habits enough that I wouldn’t get more on my own. As a fun holiday thing, it’s nice though.

bisschopswijn mulling spices (Dutch-inspired) – Oh, this smelled good! Definitely perfect for the season and very reminiscent of Christmas spices. I’ve been drinking a lot of hot apple cider and I wonder how this will compare (or enhance that flavor?). I’ll brew some of this and experiment with taste options over the next two months when the snow finally hits!

Chabert & Guillot Nougat de Montelimar (French) – What a wonderful bonus treat! I have a major sweet tooth and nougats are one of my top favorites. I love the chewiness and sweetness and the bit of nuts offers a nice break to the sticky bar. This is fantastic.

Stickservice Vogel ornament (German) – What a cool little ornament. It’s so delicate and dainty! I’m amused that it’s in the shape of a Christmas tree, so it can act as our tree this year, since we don’t have one. In the future I want to collect one ornament a year so this is an excellent start with such a special piece.

Clement Faugier Creme de Marrons de l’Ardeche Chestnut Spread (French) – I have to admit, I’m apprehensive about this. Something about it coming in a metal tube seems odd. I’m used to hand creams coming in this form, but food too? I don’t plan on making my own crepes anytime soon, so I’ll have to see how else this can be used. Maybe as part of a dish! We did make a chestnut pasta dish a few weeks ago…

I would have appreciated this theme a lot more had it included a candle, skincare product, or something else non-food. Much as eating is a part of the holidays, so are a ton of other things that didn’t get highlighted here. The other thing would have been to include just one (max two) products from any given country. Certainly there could be compelling stuff from Italy, Spain, Eastern Europe, and Scandanavia. Would you want this Europe Escape Monthly box? What do you like best? If you want to sign up, try one of these codes (not sure which ones are still active): PORTLAND or MYESCAPE for 20% off the lifetime of your subscription or GIFTESCAPE for 25% off.

For the first time, the next month’s location was not yet chosen – it was a “users choice” type thing, where I guess you could put in your suggestion on their Facebook page. At the beginning of the month, they announced that it will be Portland. There are a ton of great products coming out of the Pacific Northwest, so I’m looking forward to this. I hope they don’t overlap with the previous Oregon box.

Petit Vour December 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, blushes, boxes, cremes, deodorants, makeup, nail lacquers, nail polishes, petit vour, pictures, products, reviews, skincare, subscriptions

26 December 2014

Ah, another blossoming partnership! This time it’s with Vegan Beauty Review and it offers a nice sampling of products.

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!).

Blissoma Evening Calming Creme in Peace – This smells somewhat herbal and has a thick creamy texture. I’m not sure why it needs a dropper, since it’s not drippy at all, but I’m good with that. I like the formula and it’s a soothing cream that seems good for inflammation.

meow meow tweet deodorant cream in Lavender – This reminds me a lot of the first solid deodorant I received (also from Petit Vour), which was a lavender sage scent. I definitely think this smells clean and is great for using as deodorant. I’ll wait to open this while I use up the other one. I’ve been curious about this brand, so I’m excited to try their stuff.

Everyday Minerals Matte Blush in All Smiles – I’d be interested in this if I used blush, but I don’t, so I’m going to put this up for trade. I do like the idea of the powder and the shade looks nice.

Trust Fund Beauty Nail Lacquer in Do You Know Who My Father Is? – Alas, another pink nail polish. I’m just not much into that color, so I’ll put this up for trade as well. Too bad, since I love trying new polish brands!

I’m so-so on this box, since two of the items I won’t use. I’m definitely happy with the value and diversity of products though! What are your thoughts on 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!]

Beauty Box 5 December 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, boxes, fragrances, lip balms, moisturizers, nail polish remover, nail polishes, perfumes, pictures, products, review, skincare, subscriptions

21 December 2014

This was a great box that covered the essential face and nail care needs. I’ll be keeping all the items and I even started using some already.

Body Drench Lip Drench lip balm in Pomegranate: I just love the scent of this. It’s a bit tart and is sort of like a sweeter cherry. It’s super hydrating and a great lip balm to have in these cold months. My lips stay soft for hours it feels fantastic. While I enjoy the candy one we got awhile back, I’m liking this one even more.

Absolute! Nail Polish Remover Pads in Peach: These little pads are so small and thin, but they pack a punch. They’re great at getting nail polish off AND making my nails feel nourished afterwards. I’m a huge fan already. They sort of remind me La Fresh’s acetone-free nail polish wipes, which are pretty amazing. I just wish they were a little larger in diameter so it was easier to grab on and wipe.

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Moisturizer: I like this brand, so I’m happy to get this moisturizer to try. I don’t want to open it just yet so I use some of the other ones I have, but for future travel I’d throw this in my bag to use on my trip.

Nanacoco nail polish in Sapphire: They must really like this brand, since they’ve included their polish before. I wasn’t sure if I needed another glitter, but then I gave it a try layering it over that polish from the previous box and I love the winter wonderland feel it gives me. So perfect for winter. The varied glitter sizes and colors offer extra dimension to spruce up any nail!

Lucky Brand Lucky Number 6 fragrance: Well, every now and then I might want to have a perfume handy, so I’ll keep this. I also happen to like the packaging, which reminds me of cherry blossoms. The scent itself is very warm and floral. Generally something more mature for a gala or something.

The “merry & bright” theme is month is all about more practical items to take care of yourself. I’m all about that! This will set us off on a great start for healthy skin, hair, and teeth. Which items do you want from this box?

Yogi Surprise December 2014 review

laelene Posted 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.

Petit Vour November 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, boxes, petit vour, pictures, products, reviews, skincare, subscriptions

07 December 2014

This month, they teamed up with The Little Foxes to curate the box. As always, I like how the combination of items can account for a good portion of a given day’s routine.

Au Naturale Organic Creme Concealer in Beige and Eye Shadow in Palma – I was really confused when I first opened this, because there was a tube that looked like mascara and a tub that could be any creme. Once I actually opened the products and read the part of the info card on either side for both items, it made a lot more sense. The eye shadow comes in a long tube much like lipstick would. That’ll make it easy to apply without irritating my eyes! The shade is somewhere between bronze and gold, which makes for a nice metallic color that won’t stand out too much (just the way I like it). The concealer is too light for my skin tone, but since I tried it already I’ll see if it can still be helpful when merged with my foundation.

French Girl Organics Mineral Lip Tint in Cerise – I’m actually just using up my Keeki lip shimmer, which has the same fun oval tube as this. The tint on this is a bit darker and it has a sweet and minty smell to it. It’s a lot like that lip shimmer as well as the Burt’s Bees ones I’ve had, but it smells better – kind of like a macaron. It’s a great formula that is hydrating and applies smoothly. I see this easily being my next go-to lip balm!

Caru Skincare Co Rose Facial Serum – As far as serums go, these oil types with the dripper bottle are by far my favorite. My skin is so soft, supple, and nourished after applying this serum. I can definitely smell the rose and something else that I can’t place. I’m not crazy about the scent but I think the ingredients will be awesome for my complexion. I think their Immortelle Facial Serum would be awesome and the best fit for my preferences and skincare needs.

Earthbody Sacred Skincare Dream Body Oil – The scent of this oil is fantastic – just the kind of soothing fragrance I’d relax and fall asleep to. Now is the perfect time for body oils, which is what I’ve switched to applying after my showers. There’s nothing quite as restorative for the skin and so little covers a lot of skin. I’m really curious about their day spa and might treat myself to that experience the next time in SF with time to explore.

I enjoyed trying the products from this box and I’ll be keeping them all. The body oil and lip tint are right up my alley. I use both types of products regularly! What do you like from this box?

Love With Food Baby, It’s Cold Outside November 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: biscotti, biscuits, chocolates, food, love with food, pictures, products, reviews, seasoning, seattle chocolates, snacks

05 December 2014

The snacks for this month were far more aligned with my taste overall. I considered if I should continue this box but I really don’t get around to eating all those snacks, so if I’m not absolutely loving it then it’s a no.

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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Maybe I’m more into winter weather food or something. These snacks fit my preferences more than most other boxes so far. I enjoyed the Laiki red rice crackers that scared me at first when I saw they were kind of purple-ish. The taste was a nice salty flavor, nothing overwhelming and a most excellent crispy crunchy with each bite. I was also surprised by the Marlo’s Midnight soft baked biscotti when I saw it had some espresso flavor, since I don’t like anything remotely coffee-related. Turns out the chocolate flavor of this was enough to overcome any espresso influence. I definitely prefer this being soft and crumbly rather than firm like most biscotti. When it came to the Fruit Bliss soft dried mini figs, I was really hoping I’d like them, but they were kind of plain and too natural. Is it my imagination or did they taste almost earthy? Then the last treat I’ve tried so far is Jer’s Groupies Milk Chocolate peanut cluster, which are too peanuty for me. They have plain peanuts inside so the flavor was too strong for me (I don’t like peanuts). I was really hoping for something more like a caramel turtle.

As for the ones I’ve yet to try, I’m mostly looking forward to it. The Chipz Happen Cinnful Sweet Heat tortilla chips look so intriguing. I don’t think I’ve ever had sweet tortilla chips, much less sweet and spicy ones. I already put the Whole Spice All Purpose Salt Seasoning in our cupboard for use. I love seasonings and I dream of having a rack of them, except that I hardly ever use them so it’s not worth it. This little pack is perfect and I can’t wait to taste it. The Dick & Jane Smart Educational cookies seem fun, both to eat and brush up on my knowledge. I sure hope they’re buttery and crisp the way I imagine. Then there are the Guylian truffles, which I know I’ll enjoy. I’ve had them before and I like the slight hint of graininess in the filling.

This was a pretty great combination of items and I’m happy knowing that they won’t have to go to waste, though I’ll probably need help finishing the peanut cluster. Which are your favorite products?

Escape Monthly November: Hawaii Box review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: bath salts, boxes, cremes, escape monthly, europe, food, hawaii, lotions, pictures, products, reviews, shampoos, snacks, subscriptions, travel, vacations

29 November 2014

This is the first true repeat theme that they’ve done, so of course I was curious to see how much overlap it would have with the previous box. I personally don’t feel this was as good as the first box and especially having received that one, this was rather disappointing. Even just looking at it without considering what I had previously, I didn’t feel like the value and variety were there. I guess I prefer boxes with more smaller items versus a larger-ticket item or some medium ones. I’m starting to carefully evaluate the value I perceive I’m gaining from these boxes to decide how much longer I’ll stay with them. Another box or two that are under par might make me end my subscription, but for now I’m really intrigued with the possibilities for next month’s box.

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Everything here was new to me, so that was great for introducing me to different items. I like that some of them went full out with the British look while others are just products you might go for any day as you shop around.

Here’s what came in the box:

Moon Handbooks guide to Maui – Well, at the least it’s good that they didn’t send the same guidebook. Last time I got the Big Island and this time I have Maui, which are perfect since so far I’ve only been to Oahu. With all that new territory still waiting for me to explore, both of the guidebooks I have will be useful.

Hawaiian Host Kona Glazed Macadamia nuts – As always, I’m not into nuts (though macadamia nuts are at least tolerable and even enjoyable at times). What really kills this for me is the coffee flavoring, so I’ve passed it on to Panda for him to eat. I doubt another flavor would have persuaded me otherwise anyway though.

Hawaiian Rainforest Naturals Stress Release Bath Crystals – This was the only entirely new brand to show up and I think it’s pretty cool. I love bath stuff, so this will be great for my next bath when I’m looking to soak away the stress. This pouch is gently sweet and almost reminiscent of baby powder. I find it wonderful that the ingredients are responsibly sourced from the Hawaiian rainforest and I’d love to go there on my next trip. I’m curious what flower essences went into this one, which would have been a nice thing to outline along with the directions for use.

Royal Hawaiian Orchards Kona Coffee Banana Macadamia Crunch – Again with the coffee flavor! I think with one, that should have been enough for this box and they should have included a different flavor. I would have been fine with receiving the same flavor I did with the last box (papaya lime) since that was pretty unique and tasty. Unfortunately, I can’t stand coffee flavored stuff, so this has been put in Panda’s pile as well. Pity.

Honey Girl Organics Face & Eye Creme and Night Creme – This is the exact same thing from the last box. I wish they’d included any other products from this line, since I would have been happy to try those, but I don’t want repeats of the same items! I sure hope someone would want to trade for this. I’ve barely even used the first set since I have so many other products I’m using too.

Personal Paradise Noni Papaya Pineapple shampoo – We received this brand in the last box, but I like that we get to try their shampoo this time. I like how they have very tropically-inspired scents and I’m looking forward to how my hair will smell after this one. I like the packaging for this brand and I like the lotion that I got in the other box, which I’ve already used up. Now this is how to repeat a brand across different boxes.

Personal Paradise Noni Papaya Pineapple body lotion – This lotion is definitely a lighter scent than the coconut lime one I got in the original Hawaii box, but I like it as well. It’s so refreshing and the lotion is a great consistency. It absorbs into my skin really well and softens my hands right away! I’ll totally be using this until it’s completely empty too, just like the other tube I had. I’m glad I get to try another one of their lovely scents.

seashell lei – The bonus item was again a lei, though a different design. I like the use of some cowry shells to change up the pattern and I’ll add this to my growing collection of seashell leis from Hawaii.

Well, it was an ok box, but I was to feel more excited about what I’m getting. I think something with koa wood would have been cool, like the bookmark I’d bought on my recent trip to Hawaii. What’s your impression of this Hawaii Escape Monthly box? If you want to sign up, try one of these codes (not sure which ones are still active): MYESCAPE or YULETIDE for 20% off the lifetime of your subscription or GIFTESCAPE for 25% off.

To round up the year is a more general theme, with all sorts of possibilities! I look forward to some European delights. This will help me decide if I should actively consider cancelling this subscription or if I should continue on for awhile. Bring on the good stuff!

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