Book and Beauty Cravebox Giveaway!

It's time for another giveaway! This time Cravebox has provided me with two Book and Beauty Craveboxes to giveaway. One box is going to a local blog reader and the other box will be given away here to one lucky reader!

Click below to view the contents of the Book and Beauty Cravebox:

Book and Beauty Cravebox

Use the Rafflecopter below to enter.

Good luck!

Cravebox is a product discovery service. You can purchase different themed boxes for $12-$16. Cravebox is not a subscription service, as you can pick and choose which boxes you want. To sign up for Cravebox, click HERE. If you do join Cravebox, please use me as your refferal: rebeccamarietta@gmail.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cooking Light Fast Meals Cravebox

Some of you may be asking, just what exactly is a Cravebox? Cravebox is a discovery service that helps you learn about cool new products and the great thing is that every box I have received is full of great values. I have yet to pay for a box that wasn't worth more than the amount I paid (usually $10-$16). If you like what you see below, head on over to Cravebox and check out what they have. This is not a subscription service because you get to pick and choose which boxes you receive. There are several instant boxes you can order right now that will be shipped shortly after you order. If you do order, I would appreciate you using me as your referral. Just put rebeccamarietta@gmail.com in the referral box. 

I have been really looking forward to the Cooking Light Fast Meals Cravebox. I had a feeling that it would be packed full of tasty goodies and I was right! When I opened my Cravebox, it was brimming over with awesome products. In fact I had to rearrange several times to get everything in the photo:

Oddly enough, I ran out of stevia for my coffee yesterday morning and thought I was going to have to go buy more at the store. Wrong! Inside this Cravebox was a box of Pure Via  and a box of Equal along with some great recipes to use with them. The Pure Via got used this morning.

I used this next product last night while grilling. There were two seasonings from McCormick - Southwestern and Moroccan. We love Southwestern at my house so this will be put to much use. I will have to study about the Moroccan seasoning more because this is new to me. If you have any recipes or ways to use this, feel free to leave it in the comments! 

Southwestern chicken on the grill last night:

There were several snacks included. I'm so glad they chose to throw in some Fig Newtons because that is one dessert I will allow myself to have in limited quantities. There were also some Zone Perfect Bars and Popchips.

Stash Herbal Tea Sampler, 18 count. I will pass this on to someone because I don't drink hot tea, but I'm sure it's very tasty if you like tea!

Finally lots, and I mean LOTS of coupons! There are even two coupons for FREE Triscuits.

This was a great box and I'm really happy with everything I found inside. Another great thing about Cravebox is that they send out boxes with full-sized products along with samples and coupons for the same price as other boxes that only include samples. You definitely get your money's worth with Cravebox!

Bikini Ready Cravebox

What is my favorite time of the year? SUMMER!!! I love it! Number one reason, school's out. I also love wearing shorts and flip flops, going to the lake, and just taking it easy. Cravebox has supplied me with several things I can use to help me get ready for that long anticipated time with their Bikini Ready box.

The biggie in this box is a book. This book should definitely help me get ready for the summer. I have recently lost 50 lbs and needed a little "push" to finish my last 20 lbs. I am absolutely going to try the diet in this book called The Fast Metabolism Diet by Haylie Pomroy. The book includes a diet to follow and many recipes. This should be just the thing to jumpstart those last 20 lbs! You can buy this box on Amazon for around $15 (the entire box only cost $16).

I tried waxing my legs once when I was in my early 20's. OUCH! I quickly gave up on that! However, with the Sally Hansen Pre Waxed Strips I will give it another shot. I may even give them a whirl on my eyebrows. These can be bought at just about any store that sells health and beauty supplies for around $7. Cravebox also included a $2 off coupon.

I am so excited about this next product. I have seen it advertised and really wanted to try it, but haven't bought it yet. Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips look so awesome and I hope turn out like I think they will! I haven't tried them yet because I broke a nail and want to let it grow for a bit so my nails will all be even. The design they sent is a black and white pattern that will match a multitude of outfits (and swimsuits!). You can purchase these in stores for around $7.50. The only problem with these will be keeping my 13 year old daughter away!

Like lotions and oils? Well, then this next product will be for you! I personally love lotions and have tons in my bathroom. Cravebox sent a sampling of Weleda products. The packet included two lotions (which smell amazing), a massage oil, and a cellulite oil. The packet also included a brochure about the products.

Zone Perfect? I think there was a Zone Perfect bar, but it seemed to disappear soon after I showed it to my fitness buff 16 year old son. He's all into protein supplements, so this was right down his alley. Hmmm, wonder if it tasted good? Guess I'll need to ask him.

I'm not really sure about this next bikini ready product. It seems there is an app called Gym Pact that will pay you if you work out and charge you if you don't. Since I just had bladder surgery and can't work out for a while, I don't think I will be using this (I don't have the extra cash for all the missed workouts). I may look in to it, though, after my full recovery. There is also a $5 credit if I do decide to use this app.

As you have seen above, this is a great value for the money. Want your own Bikini Ready Cravebox? You can still purchase one from Cravebox as they have put this in their instant boxes. You will pay $16, but what a value you will be getting! Please, if you do order this box or another use me as your referral by putting rebecamarietta@gmail.com in the referred by box.

Book and Beauty Cravebox

I just received Cravebox's latest goodie box, called the Book and Beauty Box. When I opened up the pleasantly familiar blue box, here is what I found:

Being a librarian, I'm always on the lookout for another great read. I do not think Cravebox has disapointed this time. While I have not yet started reading the hardover book Mistress of My Fate by Hallie Rubenhold, I'm sure I will enjoy it and share it with others. This book is the first in a trilogy about a character named Henrietta Lightfoot. The genre is historical fiction and it has rave reviews on amazon.com. 

Mistress of My Fate retails for $25.99 for the hardcover ($17.55 on amazon). I will begin reading it as soon as I finish my current book, Church of the Dog, by Kaya McLauren, another author Cravebox introduced to my library with How I Came to Sparkle Again. 

My hands have been SO dry this winter, so I was very excited to see Vaseline Total Moisture Lotion. I have found the products that actually moisturize my hands also leave them feeling greasy, but not this product. As soon as I rub it in, the lotion soaks into my skin leaving behind nothing but smooth soft skin.

Cravebox included a 3 oz. size, perfect for my purse or desk at school.

Apparently heat damages your hair, or at least it does mine so this next product will be very useful. Cravebox included a 4 oz tube of  John Frieda Full Repair Conditioner. This product promises to reverse the damage done to hair by heated styling tools with every use. The ingredient promoted is Inca Inchi Oil. I already use other John Frieda products and really love them, so I'm sure this product will be no different. I can't wait to try it!

I don't know if you have ever tried Biore products, but let me tell you, they are AWESOME. I am a loyal Pore Strip user; they are part of my weekly skin care routine. Biore's Pore Strips remove many impurities from my chin avoiding unsightly blemishes (yes, they DO work!). I don't care if what Cravebox included was a sample pack, I was still excited to receive anything from Biore. In this Cravebox we got a sample pack of Biore cleanser, scrub, and a pore strip. Let me tell you, if you have oily skin prone to breakouts, Biore products are for you!

Cravebox is a product discovery service that will send you boxes filled with goodies, ranging in price from $10-$15. I, for one, have never been disappointed with any box that I have received. The wonderful people at Cravebox are always very thoughtful about what they include in their boxes. Where else can you get all these products, mostly full-size, for just the price of shipping?

Do you want your own Cravebox?  Click HERE to sign up and I would appreciate you putting my email address in the referral box: rebeccamarietta@gmail.com

Zatarain's Big Game Cravebox

Someone once said, "You know you're Cajun if You start cooking your rice when you make your coffee in the morning, even though you don't have any idea what you're serving for dinner."  So Cravebox nailed it when they put together the Zatarain's Big Game box. Plenty of rice, plenty of Cajun seasoning, spicy mustard and even sweet tea! Everything one would need for a rockin' Cajun celebration.

What celebration would be complete without some steaming hot Jambalaya? Zatarain's Jambalaya is the best! I've been making it for years with glorious results. I was very pleased to see that Cravebox included not one, but TWO giant Family Size boxes! I was truly pleased to find these boxes when I opened my Cravebox.

For those nights when I don't fix the Jambalaya, Cravebox included two boxes of Zatarain's Red Beans and Rice. These are a  spicy, Cajun addition to any meal and with only 1 fat gram per serving, they will fit into even the strictest of diets (mine, mainly).

I have already used this next product several times, on sandwiches, hotdogs, hamburgers, and even with pretzels. I love the ZING I get when I put this Zatarain's Creole mustard into my mouth. It is very spicy, so it is not for the faint of heart. As my husband says, "It will put hair on your chest!" Love it!

OK, I'm guilty. Of what, you might ask. Of the fact that I put Creole seasoning on most everything I cook. We are a family that loves spicy, so the Zatarain's Creole seasoning is a lovely addition to my pantry. I have always used Tony Chechere's Cajun seasoning, so I am excited to try Zatarain's. If this seasoning is anything like their other products, we will all absolutely love it.

Iced tea? A Southern meal wouldn't be complete without it! Cravebox gave us True Lemon Iced Tea Mix. My kids love it and it is so much easier than brewing tea because you just mix it with water. Awesome!

The people at Cravebox have really outdone themselves with this box. I was pleased with everything, but mostly I was pleased that everything I got was doubled!

As the Cajuns say, Laisse les bons ton rouler. (Let the good times roll). We will all eat, drink, and be merry at my house, compliments of Cravebox!

Want your own Cravebox? Head on over to cravebox.com and sign up! Be sure to use my email as a referral (rebeccamarietta@gmail.com).

Teen Time Cravebox Giveaway!

Who wants to win a full size, unopened Teen Time Cravebox?

Now is your chance!

I am giving away one Teen Time Cravebox to a lucky winner.

Simply post a comment below for a chance to win.

To read more about the Teen Time Cravebox, read my review from earlier this year:

Teen Time Cravebox

For anyone who doesn't know what Cravebox is, it's a product discovery service. They offer different themed boxes for between $10 and $16. To sign up, click here and I'd appreciate you using me as a referral (rebeccamarietta@gmail.com)

Happy entering!

Contest begins on 02/10/2013 and ends on 02/17/2013. You must be at least 18 to win. One time entry only.

Resolutions Cravebox

Just when I think Cravebox has topped out, they take the cake again. I was completely blown away by the Winter Favorites box, and I have to say that I love this Resolutions box equally as much if not more. I was purely delighted when I opened the box.

My absolute favorite thing in this box was the Sunrype Fruitsource fruit bars and Just Fruit and Grains bar. Now that I have adopted a healthy eating lifestyle, approved snacks are limited. These bars are 100% fruit and very tasty. I got three Mango Strawberry bars and one Summer Berries Just Fruit and Grain bar. These are very filling and satisfy my sweet tooth. I will definitely be buying more!

I have loved Mary Kay products for a long time and the Mary Kay Timewise Repair Eye Cream is no exception. Yes, I have to admit, as I near the big 40 I am noticing some lines and wrinkles around my eyes. Hopefully this eye cream will help diminish those pesky little lines. At $40, this product greatly exceeded the $15 paid for the Cravebox.

These days I am all about diet drinks, which is why I was delighted to see two cans of diet soda in my Cravebox. They included 10 calorie 7-Up Ten and A&W Ten. I already like the diet versions of these two sodas so I am excited to try the 10 calorie versions.

Something completely new to me was the Cocoa Via drink mixes. Hey, anything chocolate is fine with me! I love chocolate milk, but since the healthy eating thing I have given that up. I haven't tried this  yet, but I imagine in skim milk it will be tasty. They also included some fruit flavors that you can add to water or plain yogurt or a smoothie or anything, really.

I was already aware of the next product, but I already like it. Actually, I had previously received some samples of this from other companies, which is fine because now I have a lot of it! The product is Pantene's Moisture Whip. It is a mousse product that makes my fine hair really soft and smooth.

My son made off with the Zone Perfect Perfectly Simple Bar. He is all into nutrition bars right now, so he was happy to try it out. I got the toasted coconut flavor. While my son is not wildly crazy about coconut, he did eat it rather quickly and said he really liked it. I will be purchasing more for him. There is not photo of the Zone Perfect bar because it got eaten immediately before I could get my camera!

There was also a sample of Metabobalance Tea from Celestial Seasonings. I have used their teas for many years and this one was as delicious as I expected.

There were also several coupons included in this Cravebox:

Free Smart Ones Entree

Free Wholly Guacamole Product

$0.75 off Celestial Seasonings tea

$1.00 off Perfectly Simple Bars

I have to say that I was more than impressed with this Resolutions Box. Cravebox, you have done it again! 

If you would like to get your own Cravebox, sign up here. Make sure to use my email as a reference: rebeccamarietta@gmail.com

Winter Favorites Cravebox Giveaway

I am giving away one Winter Favorites Cravebox!

This Cravebox was awesome and if you missed out, here is your chance to get one. If you want to see what was inside, click here to read my review.

If you haven't signed up for Cravebox yet, click here to create an account. Be sure to add my email address to the referral section so I can get credit for you: rebeccamarietta@gmail.com

Back to the giveaway...

The winner will receive one Winter Favorites Cravebox

Just enter a comment below to win! I will contact the winner for their address when the contest ends.

Contest begins on 1/12/2013 and ends on 1/19/2013 at 12:00 am CST.

One entry per person. Persons who enter more than once will be disqualified.

Teen Time Cravebox

I went to take pictures of the Teen Time Cravebox and this is all I saw:

Apparently a 13 year old girl is not interested in a paper insert or a coupon because that is all that was left when I got to the box.

Upon further investigation, I learned that there was indeed more in the box. I based this thought on the fact that my daughter was furiously chewing gum and her lips were extra shiny, all the while asking me what Vitamin E oil is. It was then that I said, "hey! The gig is up, girlie, now let's see what was in your box!"

The vitamin E question stemmed from a bottle of Fruit of the Earth Vitamin E Skin Care oil. It seems to have multiple uses, from facial moisturizing to reducing scars. 

The chewing was a result of the ID gum, obviously very tasty and teenager-friendly. Also included was a coupon to buy one get one free.

My daughter absolutely loves the Mary Kay Nourishine Plus Pink Parfait lip gloss. Every time I look in my rearview mirror in the car, she is reapplying. The color is very non-assuming, perfect for a teen!

The Schick Intuition Tropical Moisturizing Razor was also a big hit, since smooth shaved legs are a priority for my teen.

Finally, there was a sample size bottle of Pantene Moisture Whip styler. This is like a mousse, but it also moisturizes the hair. 

Overall, I have to say the Teen Time Cravebox was a huge hit. My daughter is always excited when I get a Cravebox, so it was very exciting for her to get her own. I do hope Cravebox will do more boxes like this.

Want to sign up for Cravebox? Please put my email address in the "Referred By" section after you create an account and login: rebeccamarietta@gmail.com.

Coffee Lover's CraveBox Contest!

Welcome to my first ever Blog Contest! What better to be giving away than a Coffee Lover's Cravebox. I received this box back during the first of December. I loved it, blogged about it, and won the blog contest on Cravebox. My prize was goodies to give away to you!

Click here to read my review of the Coffee Lover's Cravebox.

Did you get a box the first time and "Crave" more? Did you miss out on the box lottery? Have you never heard of Cravebox, but just love free coffee? Then this contest is for you!

Enter your comment below and on January 2, 2013, I will pick one lucky winner who will receive the Coffee Lover's Cravebox above!

I will contact the winner on January 3, 2013 by midnight CST to get contact info.

Click here to learn more about Cravebox.

Contest begins on 12/28/2012 and ends on January 2, 2013. One time entry only. Persons who enter more than once will be disqualified.

Winter Favorites Cravebox

This has got to be the best Cravebox since the one with the Tree Hut body scrub (I'm still addicted to that!). I was highly pleased with everything inside my Winter Favorites Cravebox. 

There was so much stuff inside that I had to rearrange the contents more than once to get everything in the photo!

First, there were several (and by "several" I mean LOADS) of free product coupons. I love using these at the store because everyone around is always amazed and asks how I got them. 

Free coupons included in this Cravebox were:

One FREE package of Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie crust
FREE any one Nancy's Frozen Appetizer or Dessert
One FREE Pillsbury Refrigerated Cookie Dough
FREE any one International Delight Iced Coffee half gallon
FREE any one International Delight creamer
BOGO Belvita Breakfast Biscuits
WOW!

The Mary Kay Nourishine Lip Gloss in Red Passion is just perfect for the Holiday season! My lips will look much more festive now.

The Cambell's Golden Butternut Squash bisque looks delicious and I can't wait to try it. It also included a little card with add-ins for those feeling cheeky. Since I'm almost always feeling cheeky, I will for sure use an add-in.

Stocking Stuffers? Yes, please! These Vitabath Body Wash samples will be great for finishing up those stockings. The only question is will I actually put them in someone else's stocking or slip them in my own...

Heinz Chili Sauce. The possibilities are limitless. I may try the meatball recipe. I will also use this for so many other recipes. Delightful!

If your mornings are anything like mine, it is rush rush rush. Many mornings I have to tell my 12 and 15 year old to grab something to eat in the car (of course this could be solved by getting up earlier, but hey, who wants to do that?). Belvita Breakfast Biscuits will be a great addition to our morning routine and could quite possibly be healthier than Pop-Tarts.

And last but not least, a recipe book from the expert, Pillsbury. I have already scoped out several things I want to try during my Christmas break.

Cravebox hit the nail on the head when they decided to call this the "Winter Favorites" Cravebox! Everything in this box is not only useful, but also delicious and fun. Thanks, Cravebox, for introducing me to some new products and for restocking my shelves with some old favorites!

Coffee Lover's Cravebox

Finally, my much anticipated Coffee Lover's Cravebox has arrived and I could not have been happier with the contents. I received the Cooking Light box a while back and was in love with the Tully's coffee and the Torani sugar free syrup, so I have been a little sad lately because my supply was just about out. To my delight when I opened my Coffee Lover's Cravebox, I found MORE Tully's and Torani!

I appreciate Cravebox trying to offset the shipping company's roughness by enclosing the Cravebox in another larger box with bubble wrap. Everything in my box arrived intact.

Here are the juicy details about the contents of the box:

The main product in the box was Tully's French Roast Coffee. This coffee has a rich bold flavor and is in general a very tasty way to start my mornings. This coffee sells on Amazon for $23.17 as a two-pack. It is delicious and I am thrilled to have more.

The next product is a perfect compliment to the Tully's. Torani French Vanilla sugar free syrup. Since I am on a low fat, low carb diet a sugar free syrup is just the thing for me. I love that it is sweetened with Splenda and it is quite scrumptious every morning in my coffee. I finished off my salted caramel flavor last week, so now I have more. Awesome! Check out Torani's  website for some appetizing ideas! This is not a full sized bottle, but it will be good nonetheless. 

Also included were two samples of Biscotti Brother's treats in Cranberry Blueberry Almond and Oats granotti as well as Almond biscotti. The other item will be my breakfast in the morning on the way to school. It is Barbara's Bakery High Fiber Cranberry Medley. This sample size will be perfect to munch on during my morning commute.

I continue to be impressed with Cravebox. Compared to other subscription box companies, Cravebox is a great deal. I have another well known subscription which only sends sample sizes for $15/month. Other companies that promise full size products cost between $35 and $50 a month. Kudos to Cravebox for offering a great selection of products for around $12 per box!

Cravebox HolidaySpruce Up Box

Ahh, the controversial Holiday Spruce Up Box. So many have jumped on the "Let's Bash Cravebox" bandwagon that it amazes me. Some are complaining that there were not enough products in the box. Some were complaining that they had gotten some of the products as free samples in the past. And some were even complaining that they included coupons in the box. We paid $13 for this box and as I will show below, it was worth the money spent. 

First, here is a picture of the box:

The most expensive thing in the box is the OxyClean Dishwasher Booster (13 oz.). Now, I don't know about anyone else, but this is a new product to me. I love OxyClean and have used their other products for years, so I am excited to get this one. I have already put it in my dishwasher. Anything that will make the dishes I and my family eat off of cleaner is OK with me! This product retails for $10.99 for 13 oz.

The Febreze Set and Refresh in New Zealand Springs smells delightful and I have it set up in my kitchen to help combat odors. I have looked around online and while I haven't been able to find that exact scent, I have seen other scents for around $3.29-$3.99. 

Now, correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the price of the OxyClean Dishwasher Booster and the Febreze Set and Refresh equals more than the cost of the box, plus, I didn't have to drive anywhere to get it!

Other items included in the box were a Bissell Stomp & Go pad, a Tide Pod, a $1 off coupon for Mean Green Cleaner, and a $2 off coupon for Biz Stain Fighter Laundry Booster.

I am pleased with the box. No, cleaning is definitely not my favorite thing to do so this probably wasn't my favorite box and yes, I have gotten several Tide Pods and Febreze Set and Refresh free over the past year but I am out of both so getting more is wonderful. 

Cravebox, keep up the good work!