Conscious Box May 2014 Review + 50% Discount Code!

If you read my last Conscious Box review, you might be aware that I'm struggling with this one. The concept is to promote healthier living by allowing you to sample natural non-GMO products in the food, household and personal care categories. (GMO means "genetically modified organism"; GMO free foods in particular have been an increasing focus of many subscription boxes over the past couple of years.)

There has been a lot of customer criticism of Conscious Box for sending so many tiny samples, coupons and brochures in their boxes with less actual product substance. Conscious Box listened and said they would be making significant improvements starting in May.

Since this was only my second box, I can't really compare over the long run but judging from comments I've read, reactions are mixed.  It is obvious that people receive different things in the same month.  Some subscribers did notice significant improvement in May but many others continue to complain about tiny samples, too many coupons and repeat items. 

My May box was attractively packaged and was permeated with a wonderful coffee scent when I opened it.  I'm not a big coffee drinker but I love that smell!

A single serving pod of San Francisco Bay Gourmet Coffee - French Roast was responsible for the intoxicating smell of this box.  These pods are compatible with several popular coffee makers, including various Keurig and Mr. Coffee models. Unfortunately, I don't have one of those machines so will probably attempt some unorthodox drip method!

The paper in the May box includes a card advertising several features on the Conscious Box site, a brochure from Crystal Body Deodorant, a Dr. Hauschka card with a 25% code that expires less than two weeks from the receipt date of the box (boo!) and another coupon for Barbara's Cereal or Snackimals Cookies.  Sorry to say, nothing of real substance here.

There is an 11 oz. container of Pure Coconut Water from Vita Coco.  I'm not sure I'd drink this on its own but I've heard that it's a really good addition to smoothies, so that's how I will try it.  This is 100% natural and loaded with electrolytes and potassium.

A package of two automatic dishwasher tablets by ECover was included.  These are phosphate and chlorine free; not an exciting inclusion but definitely one that will get used.

There was a BioBag, which is "Certified Compostable", again not exciting, but useful. These are biodegradable and meant for the collection of organic waste.  Already set up in my kitchen!  Also included is a single serving of Spatone PurAbsorb Iron.  This is a liquid that can be consumed by itself or diluted in fruit juice or water.  The goal is gentler and easier absorbtion.  

Next are three foil pack samples, a Crystal Body Deodorant Towelette (these have come in SO many sub boxes), Vegan Bone Maximizer, a dietary supplement to enhance bone strength and density and a biodegradable Wipe 'N Clear lens wipe by Flents.  Glad to have that last one but would have liked a dozen of them! 

Another tiny foil pack sample is Dr. Hauschka Firming Mask which is a 20 minute treatment that claims to have great anti-aging properties for the face. Unfortunately, this sample is so small (.08 oz.), there's just not enough to give it a serious trial run. 

And there are still more foil pack samples.  There is an Oat Replenishing Shampoo & Conditioner from Weleda.  Weleda makes great hair products but again, there's just not much here. (Are you sensing a trend yet?)

The first thing that I actually used/consumed from the May box was the Clif Kid ZBar, a baked whole grain energy bar in the Chocolate Brownie flavor.  This was not great, but tolerable and did give me a little energy boost.

There is a single serve package of Barbara's Puffins Honey Rice Cereal, a gluten free whole grain with brown rice cereal.  I don't remember getting a cereal sample in a sub box before so am interested to try this.

The last item is a small Super Squares grain & seed chewy bar in "Vanilla Apple with Almond" from Cascadian Farm.  This looks pretty good, but with 7g of fat, it's not exactly a low fat item...one of my requirements for a food to qualify as "healthy".

So, as you can see, I'm still pretty lukewarm about Conscious Box.  The hardcore healthy living types will probably stay loyal but for those who just want to be exposed to new products, I'm not sure the value is really there yet.

If you'd like to try Conscious Box, they do have a great promotion.  Use the code TAKEHALF to get 50% off your first box.  You can also get the Taster box (the smaller size) for free using the code FREENOW...just pay $4.95 for shipping.

If you've tried Conscious Box, I'd really like to know what you think.  As mentioned above (and is apparent on their site), there is a LOT of variation among their monthly boxes, so I'd like to hear what others received.  Please comment below and add to the discussion!

Thanks so much for reading,

Cheryl

Yumvelope All Natural Snack Food Subscription Review, May 2014 + 20% Discount Code!

One of the newer healthy snack subscription boxes is Yumvelope.  Is that a cool name for a monthly food service or what?  Yumvelope sends a selection of all natural products that can include drinks, cookies, nuts, chocolate, snack bars, etc.  Most of these are small batch or artisan brands.  I was impressed that they send all full size items...no tiny samples in this box!

Yumvelope's subscription plan is simple.  If you subscribe on a month to month basis, it's $21 per month plus free shipping.  If you subscribe for six months, it's $126.00 plus free shipping and you get a free bonus shipment.  If you would like to try Yumvelope on a one time basis, the cost is $21.00 plus $3.00 shipping.  

My first box contained a really nice mix of seven full sized items:
  

There is a card describing each item and giving its retail price, as well as contact information if you want to buy more of a particular product.  There are also two discount coupons for Kiss Me Organics and Nina's Fresh Baked.

First is what just might be the best tasting food item I've received to date in a snack subscription box...a big 10 oz. bag of Pecan Cherry Granola by Nina's Fresh Baked. Honestly, this is some of the best granola I've ever tasted.  It's made from oats, roasted pecans, dried Montmorency cherries, maple syrup and sea salt.  It has big chunks of pecan (my favorite ingredient in anything) and is a perfect mix of sweet, crunchy and salty....absolutely delicious!  I'm so glad to be introduced to this brand; I just may be a new customer of theirs very soon.  

      

Next is a big chunky apple cinnamon quinoa "breakfast cookie" from Morning Sunshine.  This is a high protein, high fiber cookie with slow release carbs.  Looks like a great breakfast alternative that would be really easy to eat on the go.

The box included two Fig Bars by Nature's Bakery, one in Lemon and one in Strawberry. I've had these before and they are quite tasty and filling.  These are cholesterol free which is a big plus for me these days.

Next is a 2 oz. package of "Organically Grown California Pistachios Straight from the Farm" by Allgood Provisions.  These are roasted with sea salt, so good!  They are pretty high in fat, but unlike chocolate, pistachios are something I can eat in moderation.

There is a big 16.9 oz. bottle of Alo's "Appeal" drink in the flavor Pomelo Lemon + Pink Grapefruit.  This is such an attractive looking square bottle and I love the flavor combination!  Alo adds aloe vera pulp to their various drink flavors which is said to have all sorts of health benefits. This is another product I'm really happy to have an opportunity to try.

The last item in May's Yumvelope is a package containing two Oatmeal White Chocolate Chip cookies from Ella's Heavenly Hunks.  I haven't tried these yet but looks like a great flavor combination.

Since I'm trying to improve my diet and avoiding snacks is out of the question, I thought Yumvelope was a great solution.  With the exception of the fig bars, all of these foods were new to me.  The careful curation of my first box gives me a lot of confidence in this company so I'm really looking forward to my next Yumvelope!

A big thank you goes to Yumvelope for providing a great discount for my readers. Use code "lonestarshopper" for a 20% discount off your first month.  I think you'll be as impressed with this company as I am!

Now I'm off to spend some quality time with that big bag of granola!

As always, thanks for reading,

Cheryl

Ipsy Beauty Subscription Box Review, May 2014

For just ten bucks a month, I don't think you can beat Ipsy in the beauty subscription category. Ipsy consistently provides more product than their main competitors and always sends a great mix of brands.  An added bonus is the cute cosmetic bag they send every month. My collection of those is getting out of hand, but I'm not complaining!

Ipsy's theme for May is an ode to Spring called "Fresh Picks".

The cosmetic bag is a fun leaf printed canvas with an Ipsy logo zipper pull.

The first product is a luxury sample of "Therapy Session Hair Mask" by Eva NYC.  This deep conditions, repairs and strengthens dry and damaged hair and "drastically" increases hair's strength and elasticity.  Drastically?  Sounds like a challenge to me.  My dry hair sops up products like this so I'm interested to see if it lives up to its promises.  

Next comes an eye shadow duo from Pacifica.  At first I thought this was a blush/bronzer duo (which I would have preferred) but after a little research, I find that it is actually eye shadow.  Not sure why that most basic information wouldn't be clearly shown on the packaging?  Anyway, this is a shimmery bronze and a neutral beige combination.  Maverick that I am, I still might try this as a blush/bronzer combo!

Now here comes the REAL bronzer....Chocolate Soleil by Too Faced.  Isn't that a great name? This is a matte bronzer that is actually infused with cocoa powder. Chocolate on your face is never a bad thing, right?  Unfortunately for me, this one is in a medium to deep shade.  I just checked and they do have an extensive upfront profile system now but that wasn't in place when I first signed up a couple of years ago...probably the reason I got a shade that isn't right for me.  Lesson learned; I'll be updating my profile very soon!

There is a small spray can of Eau Thermale (Thermal Spring Water) from Avene.  This is a multi-purpose hypoallergenic product meant to soothe sensitive skin after sunburns, various drying treatments, razor burn, hair removal and even for diaper rash.  It can also be used for freshness after makeup removal, exercise, during travel, etc.  I sprayed a little of this on my face; it's a very fine cooling mist.      

The last product is a natural suncreen by Hang Ten.  This has SPF 50 and is a non-greasy lightweight formula that is water resistant up to 80 minutes.  This sample would be a good purse or beach tote size.

All in all, another awesome bag!  I don't think Ipsy has any real competition when it comes to providing value for price paid and fun seasonal product mixes.  If you received the May bag, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts!

By the way, if you haven't done so already, please subscribe to this blog so you can get new posts automatically sent to your e-mail address.  There are lots of great new subscription box reviews on the way that you won't want to miss! 

Thanks for reading,

Cheryl 

Boxycharm Beauty Box Review, May 2014, $77 Value for $21!!

Boxycharm surprised us with new packaging this month!  For May, they introduced a new white box with a printed gold ribbon.  There were also several new products that I have not seen in beauty subscription boxes before.  

My February review contained initial impressions and all the subscription details.  If you missed that and want to catch up, please click here

There are two foil packs containing "hair food" by Novex from Brazil.  These are basically deep conditioners that you apply after shampooing and leave on for 25 minutes.  One features olive oil and the other argan oil, both natural emollients. Looks like there are one or two applications in each package. (Samples)

Next is a round white container (called a puck!) by Lauren B. that holds 15 nail polish remover pads.  These are acetone-free and infused with aloe.  The real test for me will be whether or not one pad can remove the polish on all ten fingers.  (Retail $15.00)

Then there is a really cute pink kabuki brush by Ferro Cosmetics; they call it a "Fabuki Brush".  This has porous bristles that absorb minerals and apply them evenly.  These are great for products that require broad application like face powders, blushes or bronzers. Full size kabuki brushes are rather expensive so I'm really glad to get this little one and try it out.  (Retail $20.00)

The "star" product in this month's box is a full size Lavish Hand Cream by Illume.  This is "Desert Tulip" which features red tulips, white tea roses and lilies.  Because the packaging on this is so beautiful (not to mention the luscious description), I'm going to give it as a gift.  (Retail $20.00)   

And finally comes a dark red lipstick from Mirabella in the shade "Fever", a really good descriptive word for this one!  The shade is much deeper and redder (with a hint of berry) than my camera was able to capture in the photo.  A really pretty color but definitely one to be used with restraint! (Retail $22.00)

Although May's box does not have as high a retail value as some of the previous boxes, I think most reviewers agree that the product selections this month are exceptional!  And, at a total retail value of $77, you more than get your money's worth for the $21 paid. Boxycharm remains very high on my list of favorite beauty box companies!

I have never been able to find a coupon code for Boxycharm but if you do know of one, please let me know and I'll update this post. 

Boxycharm has put out a teaser for their June box with the information that it will include a product from either Fresh, Bombshell, Tarte, Philosophy or Zoya. I really hope it will be Philosophy or Tarte, but my guess is Bombshell or Zoya. Anyone else care to speculate? Please comment below.

Go and be beautiful today!

Cheryl

Taste Trunk (Sweet Trunk) May 2014 Review + 25% Discount Code!

It's always a good day when my Taste Trunk arrives!  I subscribe to their Sweet Trunk and they can be counted on to send some wonderful gourmet desserts.  May's box contained five items from five vendors, three in California and two in New York.  One of them is probably the best tasting product I've ever received in a subscription box. Read on to find out what that is!

If you missed my Taste Trunk review for April, catch up here.

Now let's dive in to the May box!  As always, it arrived in their signature treasure chest printed box (not pictured).  Inside were four cards with information about the artisan brands included in the box. 

And here are the goodies, a delectable mix of desserts and treats!  The wrapped caramels and the cards came inside vintage Sears catalog printed paper bags...these aren't pictured but you can see them in my prior review.

 
Before I tell you about each item, there was an issue with this box.  When I opened it, there were crumbs all over everything and the lid on the big tub of cookies was open. I'm sure it probably just popped open in transit but I didn't feel comfortable with an open package, so I contacted Customer Service.  They couldn't have been more responsive, e-mailing me back right away with an apology and the news that a replacement was on the way.  Great service and a textbook example of how to properly address customer problems!

The large container contained Russian Tea Cakes from Graceful Cookie of Vallejo, California.  These look like a gourmet version of the ones we've all made at home...a buttery shortbread cookie coated in a thin layer of powdered sugar.  I can't wait to try them when my replacement arrives.

Next is a big single serving of a Classic Crumb Cake by Sweet Sam's of Bronx, NY. This is a rich buttery cake piled high with crumbs.  Looks like it would be great for breakfast as well as a dessert.

There is a 9 oz. jar of Raspberry Lambic Caramel Sauce.  This is described as a "luscious, whole-raspberry beer joyfully united with a rich, buttery salted caramel" from the Boujie Baking Co. in Arcata, CA. (I definitely want to taste anything with "joyfully united" ingredients!)  I wasn't sure what to do with this but the information card gives a suggestion.  They have provided a recipe for Cheesecake Cupcakes and recommend drizzling this sauce over them.  Very tempting!

 

What I thought were Rice Krispy squares are actually Toasted Coconut Marshmallows from Sweet & Sarah of Long Island City, NY.  Artisanal marshmallows have risen in popularity in recent years and are much more available than they used to be but somehow I had never tasted one.  These are wonderful!

And...drum roll please....my favorite sweet from any sub box I've received to date......a sack full of Almond Caramel Chews!  These to-die-for candies come from Nunes Farms in Newman, CA.  Caramels are not my favorite candy; at least, not until now.  For one thing, these are soft, not tough and chewy. They have a distinct taste that obviously comes from quality ingredients. Slivers of almonds give them an exquisite flavor. These are SO good that I plan to order more directly from Nunes Farms!

  

I'm really having to pace myself with this month's box; everything is so good.  And it's just nice to know I'm dealing with a company who stands behind their product if a problem occurs.  Taste Trunk rocks!

Use the code Lonestarshopper25 for a 25% discount off your first box.  Or you may be able to get a 40% discount on your first box by entering your e-mail on Taste Trunk's home page. You won't be disappointed!

If you've tried Taste Trunk's Sweet Trunk or any of their other trunks, please comment below.  And don't forget to subscribe!

Thanks for reading,

Cheryl

Total Beauty Review of "The Beautiful You Collection" May 2014 + $10 Promo Code!!!!

In case you can't tell, I'm just a bit obsessed with Total Beauty's various collections! That's partly because there is no commitment and partly because you can pick and choose which collections you like. Plus you get access to some pretty high end cosmetics whose retail price might otherwise scare you off. The collections get even more attractive when they near the end of their run and the prices drops by a third or more.  "The Beautiful You Collection" is still available on their site but I have a feeling it won't be around for much longer. So, if you're interested, hop on it soon!

The Beautiful You Collection contains seven bath and body items.  Two of them were "revealed" and the rest were surprises.  This collection arrived in their signature sleek matte box:

Inside was the explanatory card which shows a total product value of $95.65 to $105.65 and a brochure for Apothederm with an expired discount code on the front.  (Boo!)

There is a .7 oz. of Apothederm, which is a stretch mark cream.  This helps build collagen and reduces the appearance of red and silver stretch marks.  It is said to give visible results within two weeks.

A body wash containing Moroccan argan stem cells and organic argan oil by Acure is included.  This has a fairly strong almond smell to me, although I don't see that on the label.

  

Next is "Your Body Scrubber" by Daily Concepts for "individuals who think and sing in the shower".  This is a rectangular scrubber with a loop attached.  Its plastic carrying pouch is designed to be hung on your shower wall with the included suction cup.  It has drainage holes in the bottom.  Really functional packaging! 

The Honest Face & Body Lotion is a rich blend of organic olive oil, calendula and organic aloe that rehydrates, nurtures and moisturizes.  The Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask by REN is a facial exfoliating mask.  Looks like there's only enough here for one application.  

One of the revealed products is a full size bottle of ProBalanze Probiotics by Nature's Dynamics.  This product contains a blend of six live beneficial probiotics that help support a healthy digestive track and immune system.  This is a dietary supplement and the bottle contains 60 caplets.  With a retail value of $39.95, this by itself is worth double what you pay for the entire collection!  Some customers will receive gummy multi-vitamins by Nature's Dynamics or BodyBoost Bone and Calcium Gummies instead of the ProBalanze.  

The other revealed item is a book called "Yogalosophy--28 Days to the Ultimate Mind-Body Makeover" by Mandy Ingber.  This 287 page softcover book contains wonderful color photos of the various yoga poses. There is a LOT of great information packed into this book; it also is easily worth the entire cost of this collection by itself.

The Beautiful You Collection by Total Beauty is a great buy at its original $30.  It's an even better buy at $20 when you use the Promo Code SAVE33.  I don't know how much longer this collection will be available but if you're interested, I'd grab one now.

If you've tried a Total Beauty collection, please comment below and let me know your favorite so far!

Thank you for reading,

Cheryl    

Orange Glad Gourmet Dessert Sweet Box Review, May 2014 + 2 Discount Codes!!

If you have a gourmet sweet tooth, Orange Glad just may have a solution with their Gourmet Sweet Box subscription! Each month, they send five deluxe desserts from bakeries and sweet shops around the country. You can also buy single boxes or send them as gifts.  The pricing structure looks like this:

Subscription Plans

Monthly Plan - $15 plus S&H
3 Month Plan - $14 plus S&H
6 Month Plan - $13 plus S&H

Gift Boxes (One Time Purchase)

One Box - $15 plus S&H
Three Boxes - One time charge of $42 plus S&H
Six Boxes - One time charge of $78 plus S&H

For an additional $12, you can get double the amount of treats in any of the above boxes.

In addition to the Sweet Boxes, they also have a marketplace where you can buy various gourmet gift boxes and individual treats a la carte.

My first box took one month and three days to arrive after initial payment which was a bit annoying.  Their site says that orders placed before the last day of the month will be filled in the following month.  So if you were to order at the end of the month, you might not have long to wait.  But I ordered in the second week of the month and had to wait a full month.  They did finally send me a notice of shipment, then it was another five or six days before the box arrived (not the two to three days estimate given in the tracking e-mail). That means the baked products inside were at least a week old when I received them...and that's not even counting the time from the bakery to the distribution point. 

The Sweet Box is a good sized cardboard box with their logo on the lid:

Inside you see orange tissue paper first (as their name suggests!), then green:

The information card tells about the products and vendors and gives their ingredients:

The first item was a big S'More Cookie from Baking Betty's, so named because it contained graham crackers, chocolate chips and three marshmallows on top.  This is one of the items that was marked "Please enjoy right away" on the card, so I did!  It was definitely good but I would have enjoyed it more if I'd had it a week sooner.

Another "Please enjoy right away" item from Baking Betty's is a small peanut butter cup cookie.  This is about one third to one half the size of the first cookie.

Then there is a package of two Welsh Cakes in Cranberry Orange flavor.  The card says these are a cross between a cookie, a scone and a pancake.  They originated in Wales and are cooked on a griddle, not baked.  These should be good when heated...something like fancy little English muffins!

Next are two handmade Italian Butterhorns by Cici's.  These are hand rolled and made from a light buttery dough, then filled with cinnamon, sugar and walnuts.  They look delicious and have inspired me with an idea of what to do with Pillsbury crescent rolls from a can.  (Why didn't I think of this sooner?)

Last and certainly not least is a gluten-free Ultimate Brownie from the Fine Sconehenge Baking Company.  It's made from rice flour, dark chocolate and butter. Can't wait to try this one!

I think Orange Glad is providing a really nice product at a good price. With gourmet baked goods though, the issue is always going to be freshness, with the question being how fast they can move it from the bakery to your mailbox.  In my opinion, they are going to have to find a way to speed that up to stay in the game.

If you'd like to try Orange Glad, use code FIRST10 to get your first box for $10.00.  I believe this will work on any subscription plan and also on the 3 or 6 month gift plan. 

Also, you can use code LOVESWEETS for a 10% discount on their marketplace items.

If you've tried Orange Glad, I'd be interested to hear what you think in the Comments below.

Thanks for reading,

Cheryl 

Victoria's Secret Bath & Body Mini Haul and Review, May 2014

If your name is on the Victoria's Secret e-mail list, you get a lot of sale offers from them. Recently, they offered a deal I just couldn't refuse--free shipping PLUS the 3 for $25 deal for certain bath and body items. They make absolutely luscious bath and body products and although these are all new to me, I knew I was in for a treat.

Victoria's Secret does an incredible job of packaging spillable products.  My items were inside foam envelopes, then sealed in plastic...no chance of a leak.

It's not like I NEED bath and body products so I tried to reign myself in with just three items, a body scrub, a body wash and a whipped body souffle...a summery rush of pink and orange packaging!

   

The first item is Pure Seduction Body Wash which has a red plum and freesia floral scent. This is a foaming formula that contains aloe vera for skin softening and a Vitamin E antioxidant.  Lovely fruity floral scent that makes your bathroom smell great!

Second is a pomelo and coconut water body souffle called Island Rush.  This is a weightless moisture cream that also contains aloe vera. Very coconut-ty, slightly fruity and fresh...my idea of an island getaway at home. (Also makes me suddenly want to sing "Kokomo"!)

Last is a smoothing body scrub called Mango Temptation, with mango nectar and hibiscus scent.  This is my favorite scent of the three, a delicious light fruity floral.  I like this enough to check out some of their other products in this line.  

So that's my VS mini haul.  For some reason Victoria's Secret isn't often on my shopping radar, but when I do order something, I'm always re-impressed by the quality of their products and the care they take in packaging.  Keep an eye on their e-mails and you can score some decadent bath and body items at great prices!

Also, don't forget to sign in through eBates so you get an extra 1% off.  (not sure if that changes over time but that's what the rebate is right now) 

Scent-fully yours,

Cheryl