Cravebox Cooking Light Box

What can I say? It's Cravebox! Never a disappointment. Cravebox has partnered with Cooking Light magazine to bring this amazing box. I am just overjoyed with this Cooking Light box. It is filled to the brim with yummy goodness!

I wondered why this box was so heavy when I picked it up, and as soon as I opened the box I found out why. There was a  full size bottle of Torani sugar free coffee syrup in Salted Caramel. I begin every morning with a cup of steaming hot coffee and this will make an excellent addition! This sells for $11.49 on amazon.com, so already the box has paid for itself.

To compliment the Torani syrup, a full size package of  Tully's French Roast coffee was included. Tomorrow is Saturday, so I will test out the coffee and syrup when I have time to savor and enjoy it. Tully's French Roast sells on amazon for $32.99 for 2-12 oz bags.

My new favorite sweetener, Nectresse, was included. In my box I found a full size box of Nectresse, which is from the makers of Splenda and is made from the all natural monk fruit. I pay about $3.50 for this size box at our local Kroger. The taste is very sweet and no aftertaste that I have noticed. My husband loves this, too, on his cereal and he is very picky.

The next item is something my children will like-Fruit Crisp from Dole in 3 flavors: peach, apple, and pear. It will be a warm tasty treat.

Cravebox included 2 bottles of Perfect Pinch Salt Free Garlic & Herb seasoning from McCormick. In my opinion, McCormick sets the standard for seasoning, so I was very excited to see this. Since my husband and I are making healthy food choices, we are eating lots of chicken, white pork chops, and fish. This seasoning will be perfect for all of those meats. I feel like this will be used heartily around my house.

Everything in this box hits me and my family just right. I cannot say enough good things about Cravebox. I can't wait to see what the next box will hold!

Popsugar Must Have Box October 2012

It's getting to be a little like Christmas every month around here. I can't wait until my Popsugar box arrives! It takes SO long to get here, too, because it starts in California. But today finally I found a pink and white box on my doorstep.

Being a librarian and reading geek, I immediately noticed J.K. Rowling's name. They included her new book The Casual Vacancy. I can't wait to read her first novel written for adults! Cost $35.

I then smelled something heavenly. I followed the smell to a small brown box and proceeded to open it. It was a Red Flower Petal Topped Candle in Moroccan Rose. It smells divine! I found that it retails for $38. I can't wait to burn it.

One of my favorites from this month's box is the OPI Pink of Hearts nail polish duo. I love sparkly, so this is perfect for me. Also, OPI is donating $30,000 to breast cancer research, so that is an added bonus. I will be painting my nails shortly. Sells for $14.50.

What better for upcoming cold weather than some grippy socks. Crescent Moon socks are fitness socks that won't slip or slide. I don't know if I will wear them while working out, but I will definitely wear them around the house. $9.99 a pair.

I was almost out of shampoo and conditioner, so thankfully a full size bottle of Clear Scalp shampoo and conditioner was included in the box. I have been wanting to try this, so awesome! $4.98 each at Wal-Mart.

Two yummy (although I'll never get a taste since my 15 year old son made off with these, I barely had time to take a picture) products were included in this month's box. Dylan's Candy Bar gummy bears and Pirate's Booty cheese popcorn. Gummy bears $15 and the popcorn is a sample size.

Yay, Popsugar! I have yet to be disappointed with anything I've received from them. I love getting these boxes in the mail. Want one of your own? Click here, but hurry. November and December is sold out, so you will need to reserve your January box now.

Halloween Freebies

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Tonight is the night that children everywhere have been waiting for. It is also the time at school when all the students, young and old, are extremely excitable. I live out in the country now, so I don't really see that many trick-or-treaters, but I better pick up a little candy because usually the neighbors' kids make their way to my house. 

If you are going out tonight, be safe! 

Some tasty Halloween freebies:

• Free Krispy Kreme donut for wearing your costume. Check here for one near you: http://locations.krispykreme.com/
• Kids eat FREE at Outback Steakhouse tonight! http://www.outback.com/menu/halloween_2012.aspx
• Free Frankenweenie glowstick from Subway:                                             Free Glowstick

AND Sonic will have corndogs for 50 cents tonight!

Thoughts on Cravebox

There seems to be a lot of grumbling going on focused around the way Cravebox is running their business and the way they are currently changing things on their site. Apparently the way things were was not working or they wouldn't have to change. When I received the first email several months ago (maybe a year?) about joining this new subscription box service I signed up immediately. I had not had any experience with subscription boxes before then, but I could tell that this was something special. It turns out that shortly after I joined, Cravebox slots sold out. I have been overjoyed with Cravebox and all the products I have received. Via their Facebook page, Cravebox keeps its member updated on boxes and the latest news. 

I personally think the changes being made to Cravebox's program are positive ones. I like the fact that I will be assured 4 boxes and have the chance to earn more boxes. Change is hard on some people, but in the end change is usually a good thing. I am looking forward to receiving Craveboxes and enjoying the products found therein. If some people are truly unhappy with the way Cravebox is run, then those people need to cancel their subscriptions and find something more suitable to their needs.

Cravebox, if you are reading this please remember President Lincoln's famous quote:

You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.

I think Cravebox is doing a fine job and I can't wait to see what it coming next!

Save Money the Old-Fashioned Way

Ok, you've probably heard the old saying, "Simple is best". I have to agree that in many cases this is true. I am not one who only purchases organic products and a lot of times I go towards the convenience tunnel to make my life easier. However, about a year ago I discovered that I could make my own laundry detergent that works like a charm and is easy on my husband's sensitive skin. 

This all started when my husband was breaking out no matter what laundry detergent I used. I tried it all, including All (the free and clear kind), to no avail. We had already started using Ivory soap for showers and it works great and is simple; it claims it is 99.44% pure, right?

I started thinking, hmmm, wonder if I could make my own laundry detergent without all the harsh chemicals that are in the store bought kind. Even All Free and Clear has a list of ingredients as long as my arm. So I set out looking for a recipe and sure enough I came across something that looked heavenly, and it included our already successful Ivory soap. It looked simple, very simple in fact. I decided to give it a shot and what do you know? A year later I am still using it and there have been no breakouts on my husband's skin and my clothes smell clean and fresh.

Here is the recipe I use:

3 bars of Ivory soap, grated
3 cups baking soda
3 cups of borax (I use 20 Mule Team)

Mix together until the soap is in small chunks.

I use 2 tablespoons for a regular size load of laundry. I have a HE washer and have had no problems.

This costs a FRACTION of what a bottle of store bought laundry detergent costs and doesn't really take much time to make. You should give it a try!

The Birchbox Breakup

Well, the time has come. I have given Birchbox a fair shake and I just cannot get into it. I know I have said this before, but I'm pretty sure Cravebox and Popsugar have spoiled me rotten with their full-sized packed boxes. This month seemed like the worst one yet! I didn't even deem it worthy of a post. It was all sample sized products, and not the deluxe samples that you get with Sample Society, but rather small samples like ones that I already get for FREE directly from the companies. 

I know it is only $10, but in a year's time that will add up to $120 and for my little Versa, that is several tanks of gas! I did manage to get 100 points from reviewing the products and I will use that before I quit. So, if you have been waiting for a Birchbox spot, one is going to open up in the next few days!

Sample Society October 2012

I have once again received my Sample Society box in the mail and I have once again been impressed. As I have stated before, these are probably not products that I would just go out and purchase, but it is extremely fun to try them and daydream of the time when I might win the lottery and be able to actually afford some of these!

I love getting boxes in the mail, and to know this one will be full of luxury products make it even better!

The Oscar Blandi instant volumizing conditioner may be just what I need. My hair lacks volume and sometimes just hangs there. I did read in the little booklet enclosed that for more volumized hair, you should condition FIRST and shampoo last. Apparently this method removes the residue that the conditioner might leave behind, while still leaving your hair conditioned. I am going to try this on my hair today when I wash it. I will also try this new conditioner, which retails for $24 on brand websites, like Nordstroms but I found you can buy it on amazon for around $10.

I exfoliate my face a lot, so this next product will be well-suited to my skincare routine. It is Kate Somerville's ExfoliKate intensive exfoliating treatment. My skin feels so much fresher and clean after I have exfoliated, so I can't wait to try this. ExfoliKate retails for $85/2 oz. and this sample is 0.25 oz. It has rave reviews online and is reported to be Kate Somerville's best seller.

I love, LOVE trying new fragrances, so I was excited to see a small spray bottle that looked like perfume. It turned out to be Aromachology Clean and Fresh. It does smell clean and fresh and I will wear it occasionally. It does seem a little strong, but perhaps that is because I am just not used to it yet.  I'm not sure what size the sample actually is, but the full size of 3.4 oz. retails for $100.

Hands down, the most expensive product in the box is Erno Laszlo's Phormula 3-9 repair balm. This product is for smoothing scars, burns, wounds, and extremely dry skin. I read where it promotes rapid healing. I do not want to get hurt, but when I do (and I will, I'm too clumsy) I will keep this on hand to see if it actually helps you heal rapidly. It retails for $245/1.7 oz.

It is common to find a Jane Iredale product in the Sample Society box and this month was no different. Included in the October box was Jane Iredale's Tantasia self tanner. I'm not crazy about self tanners because I have yet to find on that doesn't leave an orange tint, but I will give this one a shot because I've always been pleased with any Jane Iredale product I've tried. This self tanner retails for $36/4.2 oz. and has online reviews that are on both ends of the spectrum. I will try it on my legs since summer is over and my tan has started to fade.

An added bonus inside this month's box was a Herban Essentials lavender towelette antibacterial hand wipe. A box of 20 costs about $15 on amazon.com. This will be great to keep in my purse. 

As usual, I have pleased with Sample Society's subscription box. I will continue to purchase it and continue to be pampered with products that I will probably never buy! 

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