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Posts Tagged ‘subscriptions’

Hello Fresh July 2 Delivery review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, cooking, food, hello fresh, pictures, reviews, subscriptions

19 April 2015

Whoa, I can hardly believe it’s been a year and a half since we started getting these boxes. I somehow totally slacked on reviews and didn’t do any of our 2014 ones! So here we go, a look at some of the dishes that we once cooked. This delivery came because I forgot to keep pausing and I happened to forget to do the same for Blue Apron at the same time, so we suddenly had TWO boxes to cook, right before our weekend trip to Pittsburgh! Luckily we planned it out and cooked & ate like crazy for a few days. (Interested in trying Hello Fresh? Use my referral code to get $40 off your first order: 9CAMJS)

Hello Fresh is just under $70 per box and comes with 3 meals of 2 servings each. That’s less than $12 per meal serving. Boxes are sent weekly unless you choose to skip (which is very easy to do). They offer a referral code that gives $40 off to the person you referred and $20 off your next order.

collage of hello fresh bbq chicken with cole slaw recipe card

We cooked this one right before leaving for the weekend.

collage of hello fresh bbq chicken with cole slaw ingredients and meal being made

It’s relatively simple and just takes some time for the sauce and baking.

hello fresh bbq chicken with cole slaw finished product

I enjoyed the sauce and would want to try it with drumsticks in the future, since I don’t like eating around all that bone.

collage of hello fresh cheddar stuffed sliders with german potato salad recipe card

As soon as we returned from the weekend, we set to making the other two dishes.

collage of hello fresh cheddar stuffed sliders with german potato salad ingredients and meal being made

I liked the concept of a patty stuffed with cheese, though it didn’t quite ooze the way I imagined.

hello fresh cheddar stuffed sliders with german potato salad finished product

The sliders were tasty, but the potato salad was odd.

collage of hello fresh lemon grilled shrimp with pineapple salsa recipe card

Yum, more shrimp skewers! The Blue Apron box had a similar offering.

collage of hello fresh lemon grilled shrimp with pineapple salsa ingredients and meal being made

I somehow neglected to take many photos (must have been too distracted with the slider ones).

hello fresh lemon grilled shrimp with pineapple salsa finished product

I like the combo of skewer, rice, and pineapple salsa.

These dishes were well-curated and certainly made me feel like it was time for a summer barbeque. We’ll have to bring out some of these recipes as the warm weather arrives again!

[This post contains affiliate codes. 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!]

Beauty Box 5 April 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, beauty box 5, body lotions, boxes, face cleansers, lip balms, lip glosses, nail polish strips, pictures, products, reviews, skincare, subscriptions

17 April 2015

Alas, this will be my last BB5 for now and I really liked it! It’ll be a good break though since I’m just getting too many products to keep up with.

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.

Lasting Smiles Passionfruit Mango organic lip balm: Who doesn’t like a brand with a mission to help children? This is a rather expensive lip balm though. I’m not a huge fan of mango, so I am hesitant to open this and try it just yet while I have so many other products to use. I might share it with someone else!

Dancin’ Goat Hula Bliss hand & body lotion: What a fun brand. This is a great little bottle of lotion to have in the car or at my desk. I love the relaxing scent and it’s a great formula that feels great. It absorbs well and doesn’t leave any oiliness so I don’t leave my prints all over my screens.

Incoco Nail Polish Applique Set: I’m totally applying these on my nails this weekend. They’re fun and a nice change for spring. I like nail polish strips since they’re not messy and they can have really cool, intricate designs.

Style Essentials TwinGloss lip gloss: At first I thought it was the shadow making me think one side was darker. Then I thought it was the packaging. Imagine my surprise when I found it’s actually two shades of lip gloss! How fun. I’m all about these types of products that mix as it comes out. This gloss is also awesome because it’s not sticky and applies so smoothly.

First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser: I’ve seen this brand and was curious about it, so I’m glad to have these samples.

The “bloom” theme is quite appropriate and I enjoyed this final box. Which items do you like most?

[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 April 2015 review

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

13 April 2015

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

Yogi Surprise is just under $36 per box (with code for 20% off your subscription – use my referral links from this post) and comes with yoga gear, skincare, food, and other lifestyle products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you free boxes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Petit Vour March 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, boxes, cc creams, face masks, juice beauty, lip balms, lip creams, perfumes, pictures, products, reviews, skincare, subscriptions

31 March 2015

Woo hoo, spring is just around the corner! What a great way to get ready for it, with refreshed, hydrated skin.

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!).

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream in Warm Glow – Holy cow! I was very surprised to find this in the box and totally thrilled. I’ve wanted to try this for a long time but the price is quite high for something I wasn’t sure would work for me. What a great opportunity to try it! I found it had a pretty thick consistency and provided light coverage. It looked good and blended with my skin tone well. I’ll see how I feel once I use the whole thing and decide if I’ll get more.

Metropolis Soap Co. lavender & spearmint nourishing lip cream – Ah, the lavender scent is just wonderful. Why aren’t there more lip balms with that scent? This is a great lip balm for relaxing with and it provides good moisture. Sometimes I just want to sniff it though! Applying it was very soothing and the spearmint gives a nice cooling sensation. Having the scent right under my nose actually helped calm me AND clear my sinus congestion! Pretty useful, eh?

Vert Mont Perfumery EROS perfume – This is probably one of the boldest fragrances I’ve experienced. There are some really earthy scents going on in there, which kind of remind me of a fragrant sort of wood. It makes me think of my grandmother’s dresser. I can’t say I’d use it though – for reason it reminds me of a fortune teller. It’s a bit too strong for me and the more subtle scents I prefer.

The Little Alchemist Cacao & Banana Face Glow – This is so cool! I love the glass jar and I was surprised to find a powder inside, which makes this a really generous size. I used a small bit for a face mask and was surprised at how well it covered my face. The smell is hard for me to place – sometimes the cacao is obvious, but other times there’s something else I smell. Can’t identify the banana in there at all. It tightened when drying and then felt great washed off. I definitely felt like my face was fresher and less inflamed.

Whoa, I’m impressed by the value of this box. Just the CC cream alone is worth it, but the mask is amazing too! Which items do you like most from this box?

[This post mentions a referral program. Signing up and emailing contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Treatsie March 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: bars, boxes, candies, candy, chocolates, food, lollipops, macaroons, pictures, products, reviews, s'mores, snacks, subscriptions

29 March 2015

This is the first time I ordered an extra item as an add-on to my box this month! Pretty exciting. I’ve been meaning to do that but then it’s so much effort to look for items to add that I just hadn’t gotten around to trying before.

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 to earn store credit. Use my referral link to get your first box FREE!

Quin Candy Fruit Lollipops in strawberry, cherry, tangerine, lemon: These are nice, light candy lollipops. I had one and I couldn’t tell if it was cherry or strawberry though – it was kind of just sweetness. It was really nice and I did enjoy it. They’re so delicate and cute!

stay. sweet. macs gourmet macaroons in half dipped milk chocolate: I found these to be a nice snack, though more dry than I prefer my food. I certainly could have used more chocolate on them. If you like coconut, this is a good snack. I only like my coconut when it’s super moist (think Almond Joy) so perhaps I’ll have to eat these with some hot chocolate to dip them in.

Sticky Toffee Pudding Co. Millionaire Shortbread: Hmm, I expected more flavor in the bread part. The salt kicked in later, but I was hoping for some butteriness too. The shortbread is also more on the crumbly side whereas I prefer crunchy. I think I also imagined something else that I thought was millionaire shortbread, but maybe that is just a figment of my imagination.

Zingerman’s Candy What the Fudge? bar: This reminds me a bit of a Milky Way bar. It’s a bit grainy and packed with flavor. The large size makes it perfect for sharing or eating over multiple sittings. It can be quite sweet, so I like to drink some water or tea with it.

Viveltre Confections Classic Devotion 7 Layer S’mores jar: This is what I sprung for from the store to take advantage of free shipping with my monthly box. Each month, there are certain items you can add to your cart and pay no shipping on because it comes with your subscription mailing. I’m really glad I got this! I was surprised how much I enjoyed the soft, gooey marshmallow layer in contrast to the firm layer of chocolate. Delicious! The crumbs caused quite a mess though, so be careful where you eat this.

Each item this time was a solid product, but not all of them aligned with my personal preferences. I did like trying them out though. What items look good to you? To get Treatsie, sign up with my link and get your first box free!

Escape Monthly March: Australia Box review

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

23 March 2015

Ok, it’s like they’re reading my mind (or maybe I’m just interested in too many places that it’s hard to come across a theme I wouldn’t be intrigued by). I mean, Australia?! Yes please! So while I’ve been meaning to cancel my subscription just to cut on costs, I haven’t been able to pull the plug. I love it down under and I couldn’t wait to see what they had in store.

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)

I’m glad that what was included really felt like it was authentic from Australia. I haven’t come across these brands, so I like being introduced to them.

Here’s what came in the box:

Moon Handbooks guide to Living Abroad in Australia – I’m definitely going back to Australia again and hopefully can even live there for awhile, so I’ll keep this handy for when that time comes. I’ve only explored Sydney and the Gold Coast previously; there’s so much more to see!

Australian Gold Face Guard Sunscreen Stick – This is just so fitting! What a nice easy way to apply sunscreen to the face without looking like some pale monster. With so much sunshine in Australia, I’m sure this would be a staple need. Now that spring is coming, we’ll be having lunch outside again and this will come in handy.

Simple Scents Australian soap in Eucalyptus – This is what I smelled as I opened the box and it kind of reminds me of Irish Spring soap. It’s a very refreshing, clean sort of smell that would be great for anybody to use.

clip-on koalas – Oh yes, I’ve definitely gotten these myself before. Can you go to Australia without leaving with one of these clingy little guys? They’re a fun little trinket to have and remind you of the real koalas that you can find there. I think they might also make a good cat toy…

Lucky Country Aussie Style Soft Licorice in Strawberry – Yum! I may not like black licorice, but I can appreciate strawberry and these were so soft and fresh that I wasn’t even sure they are licorice! I really like these.

La Mav Bio-A7 Firming Eye Lotion – I don’t exactly have wrinkles to test this on, but I can say it’s very gentle on the sensitive eye area, and very velvety in texture. It feels nice and luxurious and I love that it’s organic. This is the most high-value item, being an eye product and all.

B’Lure Hibiscus Flower Extract – I wish I’d gotten their original made from butterfly pea, because apparently it changes color from blue to purple to pink with more acidity! How cool is that? It’s like a science experiment in your drink. My hibiscus one does appear more versatile though, with recommended uses including glazes or cream cheese. All the extracts are good for drinks and desserts as a natural sort of food dye. Pretty cool! I’m definitely trying making ice cubes with this, among other things.

I’m pretty pleased with this box, which definitely opened my eyes to some of what Australia has to offer. What products in this Australia Escape Monthly box do you want to have? If you want to sign up, try one of these codes (not sure which ones are still active): YOURESCAPE or MYESCAPE for 20% off the lifetime of your subscription or GIFTESCAPE for 25% off.

Next month is Japan, so of course I’m staying on board – who could resist that? I’ll keep my Escape Monthly subscription as long as they continue to choose awesome destinations.

Beauty Box 5 March 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, beauty box 5, boxes, eye liners, lip glosses, lotions, mascaras, pictures, products, reviews, skincare, subscriptions

21 March 2015

Spring is starting to show its signs and this month they took a spin on the word, with the idea of springing into gear! The nicer weather sure does make the world seem more conquerable.

Eslor Introductory Collection Second Edition: At first glance you might think they sent a repeat from a previous box, but this is a different set of samples from this brand. It’s the second edition, with a cleanser, peeling gel, mask, and cream. I enjoyed their stuff last time, so I look forward to trying these out too.

Elite Therapeutics Rosemary Eucalyptus Body Cream: This is a nice light formula, perfect for warmer months. The scent combination makes it feel super soothing and slightly cooling on the skin. It absorbed really well and left my hands super soft.

Scandalous by Nanacoco Thickening Mascara in Dark Brown: Something about fatty tubes of mascara just appeal to me. It seems more fun, more bold. This is not a volumizing type mascara, but provides a more subtle boldness. Perhaps part of that is the shade, making it less in your face. I think it’s great for day-to-day wear at work!

Styli-Style Line & Seal Twist Mechanical Eye Liner in Brown Glitter: I can’t say I’ve ever had brown glitter eye liner before. I’m curious, but with how little I use these liners, I think it’s best to put this up for trade.

Laugh Out Loud by Nanacoco Lip Gloss in Call Me Babe: This is a nice neutral shade to provide gloss without being too bright. It makes my lips look just moist enough without being obvious that I have lip gloss on! I’m liking the formula, which is not sticky/gooey at all and applies really well.

The “hustle” theme seemed to bring about more mature products, which are quite good for the office environment. Still, I decided it was time to part ways with this subscription – while I like the products, I’m accumulating too much stuff and I feel the fit is not as good as some of the other boxes I get. Since I was on the quarterly plan, I’ll get one more box because my subscription cancellation kicks in. Which products do you like from this month’s box though?

Yogi Surprise March 2015 review

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

17 March 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Homegrown Collective February 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beeswax, boxes, face scrubs, home, kitchenware, lip balms, pictures, projects, reviews, subscriptions, utensils, wood butter

15 March 2015

Now this is a theme I’ve seen before. In fact, it was exactly a year ago! I like that the projects are slightly different from the first time around, though I think once my annual subscription is up I’ll have to take a break since I’m starting to see repeats.

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, honey lip balm: This simple recipe for lip balm is all you need for soft lips! I like that there are the tubes and tubs to use. I didn’t realize until later that the essential oils were meant for this one. I have a ton of lip balms, but this might be just the thing I can make for Panda so he doesn’t always complain of dry lips in the winter.

Project #2, honey & sugar scrub: This time around, the sugar was not included. Luckily, I have the bag from last time and raw sugar isn’t hard to find at the supermarket. I think the essential oils could be useful in this as well. I love a good scrub!

Project #3, beeswax wood butter: Sweet! Last time we did wood coasters, which I still use pretty much on a daily basis at home. Now I get some cooking utensils, which will be great for the meals we make. I even used some of the wood butter I made previously on the kitchen cabinets, which helped give them a nice luster (and hopefully be more resist to the steam and oils from our cooking). I’m excited to add these to my collection of tools.

I couldn’t quite understand what the peppers are for and I wasn’t sure about the essential oils until I reviewed the recipes in depth, so I took a picture of these mysterious extras separately. I still don’t see a use for the peppers, but I can use them for other things!

I would have enjoyed these a lot if they were new to me. I do appreciate that it wasn’t identical to the last box of this theme, but some greater variation would also keep me interested. We’ll see how many more repeats come along.

Subscribe to the Homegrown Collective to get your own projects to try. You’ll be going green in no time.

Power Supply Week of Jan 26 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, food, pictures, power supply, reviews, subscriptions

09 March 2015

This was a rather successful week, with plenty of dishes I enjoyed!

Power Supply is around $9.50-$15.50 per meal (when you sign up for a recurring plan – single orders are 5% more) and offers a variety of ready-made meal types, all gluten- and dairy-free. Boxes are sent once or twice weekly (depending on your plan) and you have total control over customization of which meals you get. You can easily switch between plans or choose to skip some weeks. They offer a referral program that earns free meals for referrer and referree.

power supply coconut lime chicken tenders with thai coleslaw paleo lunch meal in box

Mmm, chicken tenders and Thai slaw. Tropical flavors that sounded intriguing!

power supply coconut lime chicken tenders with thai coleslaw paleo lunch meal open

I enjoyed the taste, though next time I will bake the tenders instead of microwaving.

power supply pulled chicken with kansas style bbq sauce, cabbage slaw, and sweet potato fries mixitarian dinner meal in box

Kansas style BBQ? Well this I had to try.

power supply pulled chicken with kansas style bbq sauce, cabbage slaw, and sweet potato fries mixitarian dinner meal open

I liked the BBQ and the sweet potato fries. The flavors mesh well in this dish.

Could it be? I forgot to take a picture of this meal altogether, it seems. I found it to be rather dry and not exciting, so I likely won’t get it again.

power supply charmoula hake with kale, harissa, and tomato salsa mixitarian dinner meal in box

I saw all sorts of strange words so I ordered this just to see what it all meant.

power supply charmoula hake with kale, harissa, and tomato salsa mixitarian dinner meal open

Good flavors, though a bit smelly. Hope my coworkers didn’t mind.

power supply asian martinated pork tenderloin with brown rice and korean cabbage mixitarian lunch meal in box

This one was presented in partnership with Teaism! Pretty cool.

power supply asian martinated pork tenderloin with brown rice and korean cabbage mixitarian lunch meal open

Oh yum, this is right up my alley. Tart cabbage, tender pork, and brown rice for a variety of textures and tastes.

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((little fat notebook))

Posts Tagged ‘subscriptions’

Hello Fresh July 2 Delivery review

Beauty Box 5 April 2015 review

Yogi Surprise April 2015 review

Petit Vour March 2015 review

Treatsie March 2015 review

Escape Monthly March: Australia Box review

Beauty Box 5 March 2015 review

Yogi Surprise March 2015 review

Homegrown Collective February 2015 review

Power Supply Week of Jan 26 review

Coconut Lime Chicken Tenders w/ Thai Coleslaw (SPICY)

Pulled Chicken w/ a Kansas Style BBQ Sauce, Cabbage Slaw & Sweet Potato Fries

Roast Turkey w/ Garlic Cream Spinach, Sage Roasted Squash & Chocolate Almond Cookie

Charmoula Hake w/ Kale, Harissa & Tomato Salsa (SPICY) (NEW)

Asian Marinated Pork Tenderloin w/ Brown Rice & Korean Cabbage

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laelene

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