subscriptions « ((little fat notebook))

Posts Tagged ‘subscriptions’

Treatsie May 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, candy, food, pictures, products, reviews, snacks, subscriptions, treats, treatsie

25 May 2014

Just in time for my trip, I got these treats to snack on. With the warmer months in play now, we probably won’t get much in terms of chocolate, since it’d likely melt along the way. It’s also been awhile since Treatsie has included little ice packs with their boxes, which is good in that it saves on waste. I do miss the nice inner boxes that I reused for storing various things. So much is changing!

Treatsie is $15 per box + $4.95 shipping and comes with artisan candy from 3-4 brands (I am grandfathered in for $15 for 2-3 brands and fewer items). That means about 6 or 7 different flavors of treats (or 4 or 5 for me). Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral link program.

CC Made Caramel Popcorn in Classic, Rosemary & Cashew, and Pistachio: What fascinating flavors! I tried the classic first and it was a solid snack to have. Definitely a really tasty caramel popcorn, with a nice crunch to it. I then tried the rosemary cashew, which was kind of strange but still good. I wouldn’t go around eating bagfuls of it, but I liked the unique flair. There were a few bits of cashews mixed in, which was quite different. I haven’t tried the pistachio yet, but I imagine it also has nuts mixed in.

Williamette Valley Confectionery Strawberry Rhubarb & Raspberry Sweet Heart Pâte de Fruit: Oh boy, this is a whole lot of sugary sweetness! I couldn’t have more than one small bite before needing some water. If you have a major sugar craving, definitely check these out. I may have a sweet tooth, but I can’t quite handle this concentration of sweetness.

Serendipity Confections Sea Salt caramels: I can definitely taste the difference the brown sugar makes in these caramels – they’re richer and… warmer? It’s difficult to describe, but they are quite dense! I did devour them, though I don’t know if I’d prefer the brown sugar taste. A solid candy for sure, but just not to my personal taste the way some other caramels are.

They seem to be playing around with the look of their card. They only recently started to include one and this is the most developed look I’ve seen yet. I wonder if they decided to stick with this? As usual, the bonus item for upgrading to premium just isn’t enough for me to want to upgrade. I am perfectly happy with my fewer items. Do these treats appeal to you?

[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!]

Escape Monthly May: California Box Review

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

23 May 2014

The timing of this box was pretty funny, since it’s themed for my most recent home state and I happened to get it right before I went home for a visit. Got California on my mind! I feel like the value was a bit lower than they could have gone for, but I liked the variety of items, as usual.

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. Each box comes with a Moon Handbooks guide for that region. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a lovely recurring referral commission program.

(click to enlarge and read full messaging)

I was really happy to get another beauty tool, since I always get excited about them. I’ve tried most of the food by now so I’ve got most of the box covered!

Here’s what came in the box:

Moon Handbooks guide to California Wine Country – Ok so the very first Escape Monthly was for California wine country, so I really think they should have chosen a different focus for this month’s handbook. A more general look at the state or a focus on NorCal or SoCal would have been nice. It’ll be interesting to compare this with the first book we got to see how much new information it contains.

sea sponge – This item made me very happy. I’m a sucker for things like this and the sponge is so soft and comfortable! What a wonderful way to exfoliate gently. It’s enough to get the job done without being too rough on skin. I’ll be adding this to my shower to use with body wash.

Juice Beauty Green Apple Age Defy Hand Cream – I must admit I haven’t tried this yet, but I like this brand and I’m confident I will enjoy this lotion. I’ve been going through tubes of lotion since I like to lather up after each hand wash and since I drink water non-stop at work, I am going to the restroom quite a bit too. This will be great to add to my collection!

San Franola Cinnamon Almond granola – Not super into granola, but I will get some yogurt to put this on since I really should eat breakfast more. Mine appeared a bit crumbly, but still has big bits. Seems like the box is one serving size.

Ips All Natural Egg White Ch(ips) in Aged White Cheddar – What a strange concept that tastes quite good! I like the idea of egg whites in chip form since I like egg whites, but it’s a hassle to cook them. With this, I can get more protein without having to heat up the stove. The white cheddar is nicely mild, not at all overwhelming like some cheeses. They are sort of like puffed chips, which is not my favorite texture, but I gobbled them up nonetheless.

caliwater Cactus Water – Erm, I’m not a fan of this. I wonder if it’s just the bottle I got, but it tasted sour and stale to me. I had three sips before I decided to put it away. I mean, I can still take a few sips at a time, but no way I’d drink a whole bottle in one sitting. Just not my type of thing I guess. Too bad, because I could use a drink that is super hydrating!

Hugo Naturals Vanilla & Sweet Orange soap – Well, I just got one of these in my summer Yuzen box so this one will go up for trade eventually. I love the scent, which is sweet and inviting and I’m sure a bar this size would last me ages! This is a brand I like, though I wish I’d get another one of their scents to try since everything has been the vanilla & sweet orange so far.

California Poppies – As always, the bonus item is something special that I’m glad I got. I need to get a planter so I can plant these beauties and some of the shamrock seeds from the Ireland box. There are a ton of seeds, so I’m going to save a stash for next year as well!

nicobella vegan organic dark chocolate truffles – I couldn’t tell what flavors I got, but one of them was sour, which was weird. Got to say these aren’t the best truffles I’ve had so I wouldn’t purchase, but I do like the packaging and branding so I’m curious about their other products.

There was quite a bit of fluctuation with this, with some hits and misses. Maybe I have extra high standards for this box because it’s meant to represent California, but it wasn’t one of the best boxes I’ve received. What did you think of the products in this California Escape Monthly box? If you want to sign up, try one of these codes (not sure which ones are still active): CALIESCAPE for 20% off the lifetime of your subscription or GIFTESCAPE for 25% off.

For June, it’s inland to Las Vegas! I don’t know what is from that area, so this will be fascinating. So far they offered a sneak peek of a calming mist, so I wonder if the focus will be more on relaxation than the party side of things. We’ll see!

Petit Vour May 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, cruelty-free, eau de toilette, eco-friendly, fragrances, hand creams, lip glosses, perfumes, petit vour, pictures, products, reviews, serums, skin brightening, subscriptions

19 May 2014

With a theme of Bonjour Belle!, these items are meant to make you feel beautiful. They’re a great way to recharge and gear up for warmer times ahead.

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!).

Harvey Prince Hello fragrance – I totally didn’t make the connection at first, but this is the same brand of perfume as the one we got in the last box. Totally different scent that I never would have associated with the other though. Kind of funny that I juuust got this in my Beauty Box 5 – they must be on the promotion prowl or something. I like this scent for how warm and springy it is, but I can barely use up the first sample I got so this will go up for trade.

Paula’s Choice Resist C15 Super Booster – What an adorable little glass bottle this comes in! It feels very luxurious and I can’t wait to see how it does on my dark spots. I’ll be happy if it helps reduce the appearance of some of my acne scars for a more even tone. There’s just a hint of a sweet scent and the fun bright orange color totally makes me think of Vitamin C. How very appropriate.

AROMI Lip Gloss in Rouge – Wow, what a large tube of lip gloss! It’s sort of a fuchsia color and quite a pop of brightness on your lips. I’ve never had a lip gloss with such a strong, vibrant color itself and it looks like I put on lipstick underneath. Why not get the effect of lipstick and lip gloss all in one go? Definitely feels good on my lips and keeps them moisturized and smooth.

Deep Steep Hand Cream in Lavender Chamomile – The branding of this reminds me a lot of Petit Vour itself! They chose an adorable animal, have a single background of color in their packaging, and went for a fanciful design. No wonder they were chosen! The lavender and chamomile combo is nice and relaxing. The cream is very hydrating and felt great on my skin. I’m really happy with the large tube they included, which will last me quite some time. 🙂

I really appreciated the items in this box and felt they were timely and a great mix of products. I’d use them all, which is always a good sign! Which product are you most interested in this month?

[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!]

Ipsy May 2014: Fresh Picks review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, eye shadows, hair masks, ipsy, lip balms, microdermabrasion, pictures, products, reviews, scrubs, subscriptions, sunscreen

15 May 2014

Ok, Ipsy is back in my good graces with this one. I love the cute little bag and the products are some of the better fits for me. I’d use all but one! I didn’t peek at all this month, so everything was a complete surprise and I am quite pleased. Yay for feeling excited about a bag again!

Ipsy is $10 per glam bag and comes with 5 or so beauty/skincare products. Bags are sent monthly with no option to skip. There’s usually a waitlist to get the subscription. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free products.

derma e microdermabrasion scrub – Ooo! I had no idea this would be back in circulation and I’m so glad it is because I love it. I didn’t get this the last time it was offered and I actually wanted it so bad I got it in a trade, but I’m perfectly happy receiving it and having another one to use. I love the citrus scent, the little scrubby beads, and the creamy texture. I have been made a big fan of derma e and I look forward to trying some of their other products when I finally use up my current skincare items.

Hang Ten Classic Sport SPF 50 – The packaging on this is cute and retro. I’m liking the neon look, which totally reminds me of LA and summer. It’s the more liquidy type of sunscreen and it doesn’t smell like sunscreen when I first put it on, but as I rub it in I get a little more of that scent that reminds me of childhood summers. After rubbing it in, it’s a little sticky and gives my skin a little sheen to it. This is perfect to bring in my bag or leave in the car so I can apply it whenever.

eva nyc therapy session hair mask – I like the light scent of this and I’m definitely appreciating the size of the tube! It’s really refreshing to receive an item that isn’t your usual beauty product, since I’m really up to my neck in lotions, cleansers, soaps, creams, etc. A hair mask on the other hand, is just what I need to add to my collection! This is a very rich, creamy formula that is like a thicker conditioner. I can’t wait to try it out!

Olive Lips Refreshing Rosemary Moisturizing Lip Balm – Oh wow, olive and rosemary? How wonderfully different from other lip balms. I’m not super into the scent, but it’s not bad either. This is super moisturizing to keep those lips from drying out. I find the little tube to be great; it’s adorable and a better fit for the size of my lips. I like keeping a tube in just about every place I might be for awhile, so I could always use another one to place in one of my many spots.

Pacifica Mineral Eyeshadow Duo in Moonbeam & Unicorn – I’m tempted to try this out because they’re just beautiful. You can’t tell from the picture, but the left half (moonbeam, I presume) is this deep purple and the right half (unicorn, then?) is a gorgeous white with gold flecks! Totally fun and just the kind of shades I like. But alas, I just don’t use eyeshadow, so should I just trade it instead? I might have to sit on this awhile. I mean, everyone loves Pacifica so I’m sure I can trade it off, but maybe I should just give it a go myself.

I think in general the theme this month really offered itself to types of products I like more. I’d love to see this trend continue, with fresh products that aren’t the typical boring makeup stuff. If you want to trade for any of my items, check out my eDivv shop.

Beauty Box 5 May 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, body wipes, boxes, cleansers, eye liners, face masks, makeup, perfume, pictures, products, reviews, skincare, subscriptions

14 May 2014

I was wondering what happened to my April review when I realized it was the 24ClearIt kit. Speaking of which, it started to dry out my jaw area so I stopped washing with it as regularly. Overall it’s done ok with my skin so far and calmed it down a bit, but breakouts just can’t be quelled it seems. As for the May Beauty Box 5, the theme is fresh and focused, which is meant to help with some pick-me-ups.

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.

Is it finally time for summer?! What a refreshing collection.

Info on the products with prices of their full sizes.

MaskerAide Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask: I’m a big fan of sheet masks, though they are rather pricey so I don’t use them that often. This one is suuuuuper moisturizing and just oozing with healing ingredients. I’m glad I read the instructions because I probably wouldn’t have cleansed and toned my face before using it otherwise. This is the only mask I’ve tried to date that actually fit my face! I have a pretty wide one so the eye holes are often too close together and the corners of my eyes get covered a bit, but not with this one! Amazing. It says to leave on for 10-20 minutes and after 10 I was itching to take it off. I can only take so much relaxation! There was a ton of serum on my face afterwards, so I rubbed it in, rinsed off a bit, and also put some on my neck.

H2O Plus Aqualibrium Marine Cleansing Gel: I couldn’t tell what this was for at first. I thought it might be some sort of eye gel, but turns out it’s a cleanser. It came out almost goopy, but smoothed out just fine. I didn’t smell any sort of scent to it and it was very nice and soothing. I do wish the sample size was larger since I feel like I can only get a few face washes out of this tube. I can’t really tell if it’s better than any other cleanser, but I do like this brand overall so I’d consider getting this product.

Ban Total Refresh Cooling Body Cloths: What perfect timing for these little cloths, which will be a very useful way to refresh the body during the heat of summer. I’d definitely keep some of these in my purse/bag/car or wherever to have them on the go. I was super surprised to find they had a bit of an alcoholic smell when you first open them. I guess it helps kill off bacteria? My skin feels great after the wipe-down and the powder finish is amazingly smooth without feeling like there’s powder on you (just the way I like it). It was moist enough to get my whole body, yet not dripping wet so there was no mess. If I ever work out during work hours, I’m totally using these to freshen up with.

Harvey Prince Hello: Never been much of a perfume gal, but this truly is a warm, happy scent. With such playful packaging, I was totally intrigued. Then I saw the citrus and floral choices and I knew this would be something I could enjoy. The little card is sweet and explains the choice of Meyer lemon, mandarin, grapefruit, forsythia, and plumeria beautifully. I’m liking this brand already!

Cattiva Precision Eye Liner: I was skeptical, but this eyeliner really delivered. Waterproof? Indeed! And such a smooth, easy application it’s hard to mess up. It doesn’t smudge even with my clumsy hands, so I’ll definitely keep this handy for the few occasions I do use a little eye liner. I like the retractable design so I don’t have to worry about using a sharpener. I’ve never heard of this brand before, but consider me impressed.

Ok, so I have to admit when I first got the box I was like, whatever, decent box. But now that I’ve tried them I am truly impressed. Not only did I underestimate some of the products, I wouldn’t even have given them a chance had I not wanted to provide a more thorough review for this post. Turns out I’ve been introduced to some really great items that I’ll keep in my arsenal. What’s your favorite item this month?

Fabletics Portico Outfit (Aventura poncho + Salar legging + headband) review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: athletic wear, clothing, exercise, fabletics, fitness, health, pictures, products, reviews, sportswear, subscriptions, workouts

11 May 2014

It had been awhile since I’d gotten Fabletics so I decided to take a look. I knew I was interested in some sort of outerwear, like a casual sweatshirt. When I came across, the Aventura poncho, I couldn’t resist. I was going to get it alone originally, but didn’t want to pay shipping so I decided to spring for the whole outfit. I’m really glad I did since the leggings turned out to be my new favorite pair!

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

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

Aventura Poncho in Charcoal Heather

This is such a fun piece to have. I like how it just drapes over your shoulders and provides warmth over any top. The terrycloth fabric makes it nice and warm and the generous hoodie size makes it easy to cover your head completely even with a ponytail. Snap buttons on either side ensure your warms stay in place, or unsnap them for a flowier fit. I like to half unzip the half-zip front, but find that the weight of the hood will often drag the zipper up towards my neck. I wish the front was weighted a little more so I didn’t feel my throat getting covered all the time, but otherwise I love it. The retail value on this is listed as $44.95.

Salar Legging in Flame Orange

These leggings were absolutely worth it and the most comfortable pair I own! I was surprised because I wasn’t even going to get it in the first place, thinking it was more of a cloth-like texture based on the pictures. Turns out it’s far more silky smooth (blend of polyester and spandex) and oh so soft. The color is fantastic too! As with all the other leggings, you get a little secret pocket for a key or card. They offer maximum support, for a nice firm fit. Retail value’s listed as $49.95.

Headband in Ultra Lemon

The headband in this outfit was really just an extra item to me. I don’t usually use headbands, except when washing my face. I wanted the color that matched the leggings, but of course they were sold out so I ended up with these, which happen to match the first sports bra I got. It holds well even on my slippery hair and I’ll certainly keep it around for when I do decide to use a headband. Its retail value is listed as $4.95.

I’m pleased with this outfit, though I would have loved to have gotten it at the $50 price point (it cost me close to $70). Still, if I count both top and bottom at $35 a piece, not even factoring in the headband, I think it was a good value. Not great, but good, especially for the unique items I got and how much I’m enjoying them. I even got complimented on my style when I wore the poncho with the leggings last week! Thanks Fabletics for making me appear fashionable. 😉

I’m really excited now because I’ve officially earned enough points to get a free outfit credit! Nothing caught my eye this month, but I’m really looking forward to redeeming that free outfit soon…

Blue Apron April 22nd Delivery review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: blue apron, boxes, cooking, food, meals, pictures, reviews, subscriptions

09 May 2014

There had been quite a dry spell from the last time we ordered one of these meals, so I was ready for another box to come. For awhile I stayed away from Blue Apron because they changed their methods and you no longer get to choose any three of six options for your box. Instead, you indicate preferences: which meats you will eat, or if you’re vegetarian. Then your meals are chosen for you based on those preferences. One week I really wanted to get the box, but I wanted one of the vegetarian dishes and my pre-selected veggie dish was not the one I was trying to select. So… I ended up not getting it.

This time I liked all three meat dishes so I went for the order. The pork buns were delicious, though next time I’d just far less fatty meat. I really liked the pairing with the red cabbage salad there. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the chicken and mushrooms because I usually find chicken to be dry and the mushrooms weren’t ones I’m used to eating. I had no idea there was garlic bread too, which was awesome. I ended up breaking the fish up when I cooked it and the flavors got kind of lost, so that’s probably the only dish I wouldn’t recreate as is.

Blue Apron is just under $60 per box and comes with 3 meals of 2 servings each. That’s $10 per meal serving! Boxes are sent weekly unless you choose to skip (which is very easy to do). After ordering a few times, they will offer free meals you can send to friends (but no referral program).

collage of blue apron 5-spice pork buns with red cabbage, carrot and thai basil salad recipe card

I’m always a fan of their Asian-inspired dishes.

collage of blue apron 5-spice pork buns with red cabbage, carrot and thai basil salad ingredients and meal being cooked

I accidentally swapped the basil and Thai basil (what’s the difference?).

blue apron 5-spice pork buns with red cabbage, carrot and thai basil salad finished product

Oh those fluffy buns… so yum!

collage of blue apron chicken and mixed mushroom forager with toasted parmesan-garlic bread recipe card

I was very pleasantly surprised by this dish!

collage of blue apron chicken and mixed mushroom forager with toasted parmesan-garlic bread ingredients and meal being cooked

I must always cook chicken in flour – it helped so much with the tenderness!

blue apron chicken and mixed mushroom forager with toasted parmesan-garlic bread finished product

So many awesome flavors coming together.

collage of blue apron cod over linguine with fresh peas, meyer lemon and spring herbs recipe card

I can’t say I’ve ever had fish and pasta together.

collage of blue apron cod over linguine with fresh peas, meyer lemon and spring herbs ingredients and meal being cooked

I didn’t know how to cook fish without it falling apart.

blue apron cod over linguine with fresh peas, meyer lemon and spring herbs finished product

Pretty good dish, but some of the flavor got lost in all the water.

Yuzen Summer 2014 edition review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: baths, boxes, fragrances, green tea, mints, pictures, products, reviews, serums, skincare, soaps, sprays, subscriptions, summer, toners, yuzen

06 May 2014

It always seems like I sit on my Yuzen boxes for a long time before I finally get the review out. Don’t know why that keeps happening, so I’m finally getting this done before summer is truly upon us! I filmed the video for this a week and a half ago and it should be showing up on Yuzen’s YouTube channel in a few days. But hey, you get to see what comes in the box here!

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.

Shamanuti – Seaweed Toner: I’m a huge fan of sprays and mists, so this toner is just fantastic. It has a light scent that is wonderfully relaxing and has a very soothing effect. I like how it’s ocean-inspired with the kelp they use. Some great skincare comes from the ocean! I did accidentally overspray myself at first because one push of this sends out a lot of product. I learned to hold it at a much further distance to get better coverage. Use code yuzenlove by 8/31/14 for 20% off at Shamanuti.

Kerstin Florian – Lavender Body Spray: Wow, this was a major surprise when I tried it. I thought it’d just be a normal spray, but what I got was a sheen of ultra-moisturizing amazingness. A gentle rub into the skin and felt soft and smooth. This is fabulous! I love how the spray head allows me to quickly moisturize my skin with a spray and swipe. That’s all it takes to absorb and heal my skin. I’m very impressed. Use code ZEN20 by 9/30/14 for 20% at Kerstin Florian (restrictions apply).

Kneipp – Herbal Bath in Lavender: What a relaxing bath additive. Lavender is the perfect choice for a bath and this bottle of concentrated goodness promises a most excellent bathing experience. Of course I still need to get around to drawing a bath in the first place… I’ll probably end up doing that within the week, since I’ve been so drained and I could use a good soak. Just smelling it in the bottle is helping ease my mind already. Use code Yuzen14 by 12/31/14 for 10% off the full size product at Kneipp.

MyChelle – Ultimate Lash and Brow Serum: I like this brand and I certainly like the idea of increasing my lash length. This is a small tube, but I’m sure it will last quite some time since you barely need any each time. I’ve applied it to my lashes and I hope it works! It doesn’t smell or feel like anything, though it did tingle a bit when it was drying. The consistency is liquidy enough to come on easily and we’ll just have to wait and see for results. Use code YUZEN25 by 2/1/15 for 25% off at MyChelle.

Aromaflage – fragrance & insect repellent: Ok, this has got to be the most unique thing I’ve seen! Taking a fragrance (aka perfume) and making it an insect repellent too? What a brilliant way to make something I’d never care for (perfume) into something I’d actually consider! The scent is very special, with a warmth and citrusy notes. When the bugs start coming, I’m totally using this as my insect repellent. I mean, who wants to go out smelling like bug spray, right? Might as well disguise myself as a fine lady with this scent. It smells more down-to-earth than your typical perfume fluff too. 🙂 Use code Yuzen2014 by 7/31/14 for 15% at Aromaflage.

Hugo Naturals – Vanilla & Sweet Orange soap: This is a brand and scent I’ve tried, not as a soap, but as a lotion. Funny enough, that was the same box I got my first taste of MyChelle from too. This is a generous full size bar that will last me ages! I’m saving it until my current soap is done so it doesn’t lose any of its scent or go through too many cycles of drying out and getting wet. I like the sweet scent of this bar that’s perfect for cleaning my body and giving me a fresh smell. Use code VSO20 by 8/31/14 for 20% at Hugo Naturals.

Sencha Naturals – Pink Dragonfruit mints: How random that just after receiving these, I was in a store and saw them being sold! Was it just that I had never paid attention before? Granted, it was a completely new store I was in at the time. Whatever the case, funny timing. I love the leaf shapes they use and that they incorporate green tea to help with bacteria (and of course give you some antioxidants). This flavor is sweet with a mint that comes later and lingers nicely. Use code YUZEN15 by 7/31/14 for 15% off at Sencha Naturals.

I definitely feel more prepared for the warmer months, what with insect repellent and super healing products for my skin. And hey, I might just get some longer lashes too! What items are you most interested in from this box?

*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). 🙂

Homegrown Collective April 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, condiments, fermentation, food, homegrown collective, ketchup, kitchen, mustard, pictures, products, reviews, subscriptions

02 May 2014

How did the end of the month come up so fast?! Work has really got me off-kilter and I totally didn’t expect this box yesterday. I sure hope I recover enough over the weekend to get one of these projects going. I had no idea that ketchup and mustard were fermented items (though I wonder if the ones with preservatives are still fermented), which I’m kind of fascinated by. I love fermented stuff!!

The Homegrown Collective GREENBOX is $39 per box + $9 shipping (or as discounted as $429 for an entire year, with options in between) and comes with fun and easy projects to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program you can apply to join.

Project #1, chipotle ketchup: This is what ketchup is made of?! I’ve been completely clueless this whole time and it never occurred to me that it could be fermented. I’m totally intrigued by this fermentation jar too, which is a funny-looking contraption. I’m not generally a ketchup fan, but chipotle ketchup sounds wonderful and making it myself means I’d totally eat it. It’ll be great to have some around the house to use so we don’t need those packets.

Project #2, spicy mustard: Well gosh, I learn some much from all this, like how mustard is good for you. I learned to enjoy mustard a couple of years back when I saw my dad always getting it and now I’m a fan too. Panda and I could certainly use some probiotics in our lives, so I’m excited about this and I’ll start with this fermentation process as soon as I figure out how to accomplish this without a blender (or I might just decide to get a blender…). Recipe calls for 4 cloves of garlic, but I only had three left after divvying the other two to the ketchup project, but I have plenty of garlic from my Blue Apron box, so I’ll use that. [Edit: Errr so I totally had a brain fart and thought they meant a head of garlic when they said clove… as I was making the mustard I suddenly realized how preposterous four whole heads of garlic would be for that recipe and it dawned on me that they actually provided way more garlic for future use!!]

This was another month with only two projects. Perhaps this time it was a space issue? Whatever the case, I love the stuff we did get and it’s so cool to learn about condiments I thought I knew. I’ve always wanted to try making my own pickles, kimchi, and other fermented foods. I’ll have to look up some instructions for those too. 🙂 Here’s the info card about fermentation:

Awaken your inner scientist, crafter, and environmentalist! Get your own fun projects and subscribe to the Homegrown Collective today. It’s totally mind-blowing.

Petit Vour April 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, cleansers, eye shadows, oils, perfumes, pictures, products, reviews, subscriptions

01 May 2014

I feel super pampered from this box. It’s oozing luxury though the theme is Boheme Beauty. Perhaps it’s referring to the less mainstream products?

Jane Scrivner Skin Elixir – I like the herbal smell to this oil. It makes me feel like I’m healing my skin and it absorbs to make my skin super soft. It’s so weird to put oil on my face though, so I’ll use this sparingly.

Lily Lolo Mineral Eye Shadow Quad – What a nice full size product. It comes in a nice white compact and this Smoky Rose set includes a white, rose pink, brown, and deep chocolate. I’d have fun with this if I use eye shadow, but since I don’t I’ll trade this.

Harvey Prince Yogini eau de parfum – I don’t know anything about perfumes and they generally smell similar to me, so this reminds me other perfumes I’ve smelled. It’s a nice-sized bottle with a roll-on ball, which is the type of applicator I like. However, I don’t wear perfume, so this is another trade item for me.

Kimberly Parry Sea Orga1nics – I can definitely smell the sea influence in this cleanser and it’s nice. I love how this one foams up as you rub it. Feels really gentle and luxurious. Definitely a keeper!

Well, this time there was a little more on the beauty side of things versus skincare/body care so two of the items are types I don’t use. I think it’s great that they included two full size items though. What’s your favorite item in this box?

First Prev 15 16 17 18 19 Next Last

((little fat notebook))

Posts Tagged ‘subscriptions’

Treatsie May 2014 review

Escape Monthly May: California Box Review

Petit Vour May 2014 review

Ipsy May 2014: Fresh Picks review

Beauty Box 5 May 2014 review

Fabletics Portico Outfit (Aventura poncho + Salar legging + headband) review

Blue Apron April 22nd Delivery review

Yuzen Summer 2014 edition review

Homegrown Collective April 2014 review

Petit Vour April 2014 review

Follow Me! :)

laelene

Categories

Top Posts & Pages

Recent Posts