New Jamberry Style Box and Giveaway!

Happy Wednesday!

Today I wanted to tell you about Jamberry and their new monthly stylebox. Jamberry is new to me as well so I am still learning more about their services so that I can tell you too.

I love my nail polishes and there are many subs out there like Julep Maven, however Jamberry is offering an alternative option to make manicures more fun! They have an insane offering of nail wraps and I do mean insane because they have just about any pattern or color you could imagine. This is really new to me, how about customizable nail wraps? If you pick any 3 nail wraps you get one free, you gotta love a deal! Oh and my favorite that I want to try? Mommy and Me nail wraps!

I have never tried nail wraps before but Im pretty terrible at doing my own nail art. Be on the lookout because I will be posting the results of my first “jamicure” very soon. My photos will probably include little P too. Im sure she is going to want to have nails like mommy.

Okay okay, so what’s inside a Style Box?

Launched on July 1st and are available for July and August. After that it will get harder to get your hands one one, so act fast if your interested!

In every box you will receive a minimum of $30 worth of Jamberry Nail Products, a nail file, an Orange Stick, and a monthly style guide. Each StyleBox by Jamberry  will have one catalog item and one exclusive item that is only available in that month’s box! When you subscribe, you take a quiz to find your signature style, and choose a plan that works for you. You can change your ‘signature style’ whenever you want, but at least 5 days prior to the coming month to ensure the change is saved.

There are 3 plan options:

3 Months – $75 (equals out to $25/month)

6 Months – $140 (equals out to $23.34/month)

12 Months – $275 (equals out to $22.19/month)

 

And now you have the chance to try out  Jamberry ! Thanks to one of their consultants, Allison I am doing a giveaway for a $30 gift certificate which would buy you 2 nail wraps! Simply click the link below to enter and good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

September Taste Guru and Promo for 2 Free Months!

Taste Guru is a service that sends a monthly shipment of completely gluten free food. This is a really great idea for someone who has Celiac’s and would make a great gift. While I don’t have any trouble eating gluten I thought this service sent some really great items and wanted to try it out. I was blown away by how big and heavy the box was when the delivery man dropped off my first box.

Here is a first look of the products neatly assembled in the box.

Viviana Sweet Potato Fettuccine- $6.99

I am already planning a recipe to make with this delicious looking sweet potato pasta. I love trying different varieties of pasta and also recently found a chocolate raspberry pasta to experiment with as well. This fettuccine is gluten free and made with rice flour and sweet potatoes of course! I also think it was nice that Taste Guru sent out a email with a recipe using the pasta, just in case you needed some ideas.

Sea Turf Pacific Smoked Salmon Chowder-$6.99

This looks so good. I don’t often eat smoked salmon but when I do it’s a real treat. I usually eat it on an everything bagel with red onions and capers. This soup is going to be great when the weather finally cools down.  I think the pouch packaging is the best. I hate using my can opener and this way you can microwave the pouch and pour it into a bowl. Isn’t it the worst when you burn yourself grabbing a hot bowl out of the microwave? Or is that just me that does that? Anyway…taking a look at this company it seems like they put a lot of care into making a premium product, so I hope it’s up to scratch!

Cook Simple Tamale Pie- $5.00

This box has some neat directions on the back so I had to include a picture of it. Im not too much of a fan of chili but this is still a good pantry item. Especially for a night when you are too tired to figure out dinner. This does need extra items to make it, but I think the extras are items one normally has on hand anyway.

Glutino Strawberry Breakfast Bars- $5.00

I have been giving these to my daughter to snack on and she likes them a lot . I also tried them and they tasted pretty good.

Toufayan Wraps- $3.50

I liked making some tuna wraps with these. From what I’ve heard it can be hard to find a gf wrap that doesn’t rip on you. These too seemed like they were on the brink of ripping but didn’t “whew”.

Rocky Mountain Naked Popcorn- $1.25

This was gobbled up immediately. It was good popcorn and I wish there was more. I still think it’s hilarious that my little girl loves popcorn so much. I was worried about it being a choking hazard when I gave her some for the first time. To my surprise even though she still doesn’t have all her baby teeth in she loved it! So basically any popcorn is good with us.

I used a special code to get this box cheaper which is why I decided to try it out. If you want to try Taste Guru then use the code 2FREE to get 2 months for $24. Considering this box was definitely worth more than $12 and Im going to eat everything I would say that’s a great deal!

Mexican Candy Box-September

     

If you like trying new things and are a candy junkie then this new monthly subscription might be for you. Mexican Candy Box sends a mixed box of candy every month ranging from chocolate to spicy mango lollipops with chile powder. Personally I love this concept because I love trying new things and I also have never tried any spicy candy till now. When trying to purchase candy from another country it can be hard to choose what to get and sometimes even harder to find a good way to get it. Before this box came out I also used to receive a similar box, but of asian candy treats. The company has since gone out of business but I really enjoyed trying new things from them and was super excited to try this box. There are three different options to choose from the smallest  solo (for 1) is $12, amigo (you and a friend) $15 and familia (for the whole family) $20. I chose the amigo so I would have enough to share with A. 

  

So although this came in a somewhat small rectangular box it was pretty heavy! I checked and the shipping cost on the label said $6. When I opened my box everything was nicely wrapped up safely in tissue paper and on top was a handwritten thank you note. I thought that was a very sweet touch. Just like the description said I received a few of each candy so that I could share (or have more for me!) 

     

Mango del Puesto (2)

I am totally digging the packaging of these lollipops. I am not too much of a fan of lollipops, but a mango lollipop with spicy chile powder to dip in? Count me in, I really enjoyed trying this. I also love that if I don’t want the whole thing in one sitting I can just close it up for later. 

Sandia del Puesto (2)

This is the watermelon lolli with salty chile powder to dip it in. I haven’t tried this one yet but I am sure it’s tasty. I enjoy the contrast of sweet and salty and sweet and spicy. 

Vero Elotes (3)

This is a strawberry lollipop already covered in chile powder. The second picture above is what it looks like. 

Paledon Goat Milk Lollipop (3)

These look delicious, Im thinking they will be similar to the Tomy candies I got. I will try and update after I try everything (I can only handle so much sweets at once!). 

  

  

Duvalin Strawberry & Hazelnut frosting 

This is very very sweet, and I think I prefer Nutella. I did still enjoy trying it and I thought the little spoon it came with was very convenient and cute. 

Bocadin Chocolate Wafer

These chocolate wafers were not impressive, I think they were stale. I have definitely had better. 

 

  

Canel’s Gum assorted flavors

I feel like I have had this gum before. At any rate I normally don’t buy gum so these will be nice to have in my purse. So far I have tried the peppermint and it has a nice minty taste. 

  

Tomy Butterscotch candy

I love these hard candies! This was maybe my favorite candy in this box and even better, I got the most of these in comparison to everything else. 

  

Pulparindo- Extra Hot and Salted Tamarind Pulp Candy

I was so excited to try this! I have never had tamarind and certainly never spicy salty tamarind pulp! Woah this stuff has to be eaten in small doses. It packs a punch, I can handle my spice but it still is an intense flavor. Lots of salt and fire, it will make your mouth pucker up and your eyes squint. I know that may not sound like something you want to try, but I really enjoyed the unique taste. 

This was the first month of Mexican Candy Box and overall I am pretty happy with it. I paid $15 and shipping was $6. So did I get $9 worth of candy? No, I don’t think so. I am sure I could get the candy cheaper. Here is why I don’t mind: Since I have never tried mexican candy and also can’t speak much spanish I wouldn’t really know what to buy. I looked online and saw several places to buy mexican candy but they would be in bulk (with choices being overwhelming). I think for a once in a while purchase this candy box is a great way to try new flavors and see if you like Mexican candy. I wouldn’t get this every month but if they offer a one time box, then I would get it every now and then. 

So tell me, do you have any strange or foreign candy that you like? I would love to know in the comments below! If you have had Mexican candy what’s your favorite? Do you enjoy spicy candy, I know I am! 

April Jungle Stand Review

How in the world did I get this yummy little plate of appetizers you may ask? Why from the new subscription service The Jungle Stand. This is my first box from them and I am in love. For $9.92 a month prepare yourself for some kind of surprise tasting every month! One month was chocolate, one month was cheese, this month is an assortment of appetizers.

 

excerpt from the front:

“Ahoy, me adventurous Tasters!

We’re about to embark on a treasure hunt. There are hidden riches in this BAR. A taste in here is highly prized. It has a flavor known as the “diamond of the Kitchen.”

The box: Jungle Stand- monthly tasting bar

  

From left to right:

Stuffed Mushrooms- Jumbo mushrooms in canola oil stuffed with a cream cheese and red pepper mixture

Blue Cheese Olives- green olives stuffed with bleu cheese mmnnn

 

Red Mini Peppers- red peppers aka pepperoncinis stuffed with cream cheese, this red pepper is milder and not too spicy

Fungi- Cheese Stuffed Olives- Green Sicilian olives stuffed with a Fungi-flavored cheese, the briny olive combined with the earthy cheese come together for a delicious appetizer

* this was the taste that had the hidden treasure- Truffles!

Greek Olives- greek olives with feta cheese capers and canola oil, this taste is very firm tart and slightly bitter

Pepperballs- sweet picante peppers imported from South Africa stuffed with cream cheese and moistened with canola oil. These are crunchy and mildly sweet and spicy

and let’s not forget the crackers and cute tongs that come with every box:

I’m not sure what my favorite appetizer was because I am obsessed with olives and peppers and they were all so good. I even usually don’t like mushrooms and I liked these!

I can’t wait to see what’s in next month’s tasting, my only wish is that I knew where to buy what they had this month. Im going to probably go searching for those stuffed peppers…

April Goodies Box

Ok so this is only my second Goodies box and Im on the fence still if I like it or not. This is a food subscription box that’s only $7 a month and that’s including shipping. I love finding out about new products and with this box I have definitely found some things I like, for example the BelVita biscuits from last month. Honestly, I think it’s the size of their box that makes the box seem empty and unimpressive. For $7 I think everything included is a good deal but in a smaller box it would look a lot better. Anyway enough rambling here’s what’s in this month’s box:

True Bar- Fruit & Nut Bar- $1.59

Zone Bar Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bar-$2.00

This was really good, maybe a but too sweet for me but tasted exactly like cookie dough without the added calories and with the added protein

Celsius Sparkling Orange $1.70

This is a sugar free energy drink that is supposed to help burn calories and boost metabolism without the usual taste of an energy drink and more like a soda.

Frontier Snacks in Macadamia Pineapple Coconut- full size $5.99 sample size $.25?

Angie’s Popcorn Sweet & Salty Kettlecorn- $1.19

Yum I love kettlecorn!

Green Giant Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips- full size $2.99, sample probably $1.00?

How neat is this! I associate Green Giant with frozen vegetables, it was neat to see them come out with a new item and these chips were really good, great alternative to unhealthy chips

Okay so this month it was a little iffy trying to figure out the cost of each item but I think it basically adds up to around $7 and thats not including shipping or the $50 gift card to Naked Wines. I don’t think this gift card should be included because you basically have to spend more than $50 in order to complete your order. However, I love my wine and I will be attempting to use this. Im pretty happy with the variety of samples in this month’s box, I think I will be finding something new to snack on for sure.

April Citrus Lane Box!

I recently renewed my Citrus Lane subscription because I got an awesome deal on it! I believe the code was TAKEHALF to get half off the box making it about $13? Anyway I love Citrus Lane I just can’t go overboard on baby boxes for P, but I always make an exception if there is a good deal involved.

On to the box:

Looks like they changed their product information card since my last box, and it’s cute!

Everything we received this month:

oogaa non-slip silicone placemat- $8.99

Tried this with my daughter and she immediately tossed it on the floor, but Im sure if I weigh it down or as she get’s older this will be great!

Melissa & Doug Caterpillar grasping toy-$7.99

Honest Co. Shampoo and Body Wash (full size!)- $9.95

I really like this company and have switched out P’s other soap for this one. It has a nice light scent and doesn’t irritate her skin. I thought it was adorable the way they put it in a cute drawstring bag and the Honest Co. always has nice packaging for their products.

InnoBaby Packin Smart Stack N Seal-$8.99*

This is a BPA, Phthalates and Lead-Free, dishwasher safe and a great addition to our baby food storage collection.

*pictured at the top in box

Normally Citrus Lane is $ 25 a month and this month my box came to $35.92, and I only paid about $13. So needless to say Im happy I took advantage of the promo code : ). If you want to join but it doesn’t work anymore, use my referral code here and get $10 off your new subscription.

April Bluum Box: 10 Months Old!

My Bluum Box for P arrived today! I could not have been more excited since my daughter and I have been sick this week, this was just what we needed to cheer us up. Our box was for 10 months old and the theme was: A Little Pick Me Up

 

First Look Inside, Looks pretty well packed:

Siliconies Teething Bangle Bracelet in Plum – $12.95

This is pretty big on my wrist and I have heard a lot of people bad mouth teething bangles as hideous but my daughter really liked it! This bangle is not only BPA free but also free from PVC Phthalates, Cadmium and Lead. I really like that it has a diamond pattern on the outside and small bumps on the inside for when my little girl is chewing on it.

    

B Kids Stacking Cuos- $8.00

I have been wanting to get my daughter stacking cups for a wihile now, these are perfect. They are brightly colored and will be fun in the bath or if we go to the beach. I’m really starting to like this brand now that it’s been in a few of my Bluum boxes.

RaZbaby Raz Pack- $7.49

Formula and Snack Containersstackable as one unit or lids to make 3 separate containers. These are BPA free and have these awesome spouts to pour out whatever is inside. With P eating more and more these containers really come in handy, I love that these are a cleaner and less messy design with the pour spout.

Luna Bar- $1.50

I can always use an extra protein bar to throw in my diaper bag.

Ella’s Kitchen Milk & Vanilla Baby Cookies- $4.21

I like Ella’s Kitchen a lot but I’m still on the fence about their cookies. We’ve gotten them a few times for P and I just don’t like the consistency. I think the size is good for gripping and I like that it has no sugar or salt but… These cookies get messy fast! And P tends to try and shove a huge piece of it in her mouth and gag on it, very scary situation. I wish these didn’t get mushy quite so easily, I think right now for P their a bit of a choking hazard and prefer her having puff snacks or mum mums.

and of course what baby doesn’t love playing with the box itself and the packing paper!

March Bluum Box Review

This is the first of the new and hopefully improved bigger box from Bluum. Originally Bluum sold subscription boxes for moms & babies for $12 and sent out a little box of samples and goodies every month. Now they have decided to change it up as I wrote about in my post for their February box. The new box is $24.95 a month and supposed to be bigger, better, and unique to your child’s age. My box is for my daughter who just turned 9 months old, yay!

Let’s Practice Standing

Carre Jaune Pommade – $10.00

I love this so far, this is for diaper rash and it’s texture reminds me somewhat of a petroleum jelly vaseline type product- but better

B Kids Friendly Links- $14.00

Loved the other toy we got from B Kids I really like these since P is teething. The only thing that is annoying is that the links once connected easily fall off so I will not be taking them with us anywhere in case we lose them.

Child’s Play The Mulberry Bush Cd- $6.00

StriVectin-EV Get Even Brightening Serum – $13.00

I have always wanted to try this brand and now I get to, especially since the sample included was a great size! I could use something to even out my skin tone, let’s see how it works out.

Earth Friendly Baby Ecos- $2.20

This is a hypoallergenic laundry detergent that is gentle for baby ‘s sensitive skin. We have been using Dreft with our daughter’s laundry, but I will try this out since my daughter has very sensitive skin.

Dapple Toy and Surface Wipes – $3.00

I loved the dish soap from Dapple and I am excited to use these. They will really come in handy with P’s ever expanding toy collection.

I loved everything in this box, but Im still not sold on Bluum’s new box. I was hoping to get more even though the box total comes to over $30, which is pretty good considering that the new box is $24.95 a month. I can’t wait for next month’s box especially since I purchased enough to get one free!

Anyone subscribing to Bluum? I’d love to hear what other parents are thinking about what they received in this month’s box.

The Little Book Club March 2013 Review

Dinosaurs! Roarrr

When I received my first ever LBC box I was super excited!! When I was little I loved reading (and still do) and so even though my daughter is only 9 months old I still want to read to her…even if she tries to rip or eat the books. Eventually I know she will appreciate them as much as I do. The little book club is $24.95 a month and sends 3 books a month based on your child’s age. They send books out for children 0-6 years old. There is also a different theme every month, which leads me to this month’s theme DINOSAURS!

This is the cute box I received in the mail…

 

Once you open the box your books are neatly wrapped, mine were thankfully flawless and undamaged.

The first thing I opened was the thoughtful envelope with my daughter’s name printed on it! I wish they hadn’t sealed the envelope so that I could re-use it for her. Inside the envelope are images of the 3 books I received that month and that month’s theme “Dinosaurs.”

The first book was a board book by Sandra Boynton entitled ” Oh my Oh my Oh DINOSAURS!” and retails at $6.95. Board books are the only kind I read to my daughter right now seeing as everything goes right in her mouth the second she gets her hands on it.        This book is really cute! I have another book by Boynton “Moo Baa La La La” that I enjoy reading with P.

My little munchkin P checking out her new book

           

  

 

The next book was a hardcover by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague, “How do Dinosaurs say Good Night?” This book retails at 16.95.

Let me just say I am in love with this book! It is adorable and thoughtful. On every page there is a different dinosaur and somewhere on the page has written the name of the dinosaur, for example the type of dinosaur would be written on their bed. The illustrations are great, I know as P gets older this will be a bedtime favorite.

The last book in this month’s box is “Dinosaur Roar!” by Paul and Henrietta Strickland and retails for $6.99. I like this book and it’s illustrations, although I think the verses are similar to the board book we received and I would have liked something with a different story.

as always P edging into the picture as I try to snap the shot

All the books in this month’s Dinosaur Themed box

Overall I was very happy with the books this month especially since I used a deal at  Plum District for $13 ! Even if I had paid full price the total for this month’s selection was $30.89 and the subscription is only $24.95. Sure you could buy used/discounted on Amazon, but personally with books for my daughter I really loved getting new books. I also hate how the shipping fees add up on Amazon. This is a nice service for busy parents LBC tailors each month’s books for your child and picks out the awesome books for you! For this month I am happy so we’ll have to see how it works out next month.

Extra Pros and Cons:

Under LBC’s FAQ’s if you receive a book you already own you can donate it or request a refund for $12.50 of that month’s order

and

You can skip a month if you feel like your getting to many books or cancel anytime

What I don’t like is that they say that they have mail tracking, but when I received an email saying I would be getting my package at the beginning of the month it didn’t have a tracking number. When I realized I didn’t receive my shipment I emailed them and never received a response. Although I received my box I didn’t get it until the end of the month, not cool.

So as I said previously we shall see how it goes next month, I loved everything but the odd shipping situation. Any other parents out there subscribing to LBC? How did you enjoy your books?

 

    

Goodies Box: March 2013 and New Deal at Plum District!

Just got my first Goodies box in the mail on Saturday! When I found out about Goodies Co., I had to go on a wait list and finally got to join, for only $7 a month! Goodies Co. interestingly is a part of Walmart and as much as I am NOT a fan of Walmart they do have those low prices. This is a food box with a different theme and goodies every month. This month’s theme was “Rise and Shine”.

My first impression was wow this is a decent sized box, hopefully there are a bunch of goodies inside! My second though upon opening the box was how cute the inside design and card is.

Here is the front and back of the info card

Bonne Marie Strawberry Preserves- $0.38

I tried this before in a Love with Food box, though you may not be able to tell from the picture this was a decent sample size. I love these little jars the preserves come in and Im totally going to keep them and reuse them somehow.

Jovan’s Instant Breakfast in Rich Cocoa-$1.60

This I am excited to try just add milk and enjoy! In the past, especially when my daughter was born I was drinking Carnation instant breakfast just to get a quick boost of protein and vitamins. Let’s see how Jovan’s measures up.

Erin Baker’s Original Breakfast Cookie in Peanut Butter- $0.43

Made with whole grains and sweetened with fruit puree, this is one dense chewy cookie. This tastes much healthier and is more satisfying and less sweet than your usual cookie. I’d like to try it in other flavors.

Ola! Granola in No Nut Vanilla- $.67

I received this sample in another box and wasn’t too impressed. Personally I love making my own oatmeal or granola creations. Plain old vanilla just doesn’t cut it for me, I like to add in a bunch of other things like chia seeds and nuts.

Rickland Orchards Greek Yogurt bar in Toasted Coconut-$1.30

I’ve had other flavors including this one and I like these a lot. You can never go wrong with some kind of granola bar for a quick snack on the go.

belVita in Cinnamon Brown Sugar-$0.80

These reminded me of graham crackers, but these are even better with the addition of whole grains.

Newton’s in Triple Berry- $0.75

Alo in Strawberry Peach-$1.99

I have always wanted to try an aloe water. The aloe vera plant is really amazing at healing bad sunburns and is very soothing on the skin. When I heard about aloe water I was very curious as to it’s health benefits. This drink was good, I especially liked the bits of aloe in the drink. Weird but they remind me a bit of the tapioca pearls in bubble tea, they were almost like bits of gummies floating in my water. That probably would gross some people out but I liked it.

Ok so this is my first Goodies box and even though I was hoping to see a bit more, I am still pretty pleased. For only $7 shipping included I have received and gotten to try some new things to mix up my breakfast in the morning. I loved getting to try the Aloe drink and will be getting more, I also liked the healthier cookies from Erin Baker and belVita. I’ll be looking forward to April’s box!

UPDATE: Now at Plum District get your first Goodies box for just $ 5 !