Treatsie February 2014 Review & 15% Coupon Code

It cannot be a coincidence that my first Treatsie box arrived the day before Valentine's Day! For a confirmed chocoholic, it's not an exaggeration to say that this box of "curated artisan sweets" was my most highly anticipated subscription box this month.

Considering the price ($15 + 4.95 shipping, total $19.95), I was a bit underwhelmed by the contents of the box.  There were only five items:

• Raley's Confectionary Love Mix, 3 oz.
• Neo Cocoa Hearts of Chocolate Truffles, 2 pc. box, .08 oz.
• Eclipse Chocolate Gingerbread Crumb bar, 1 oz.
• Eclipse Chocolate Cinnamon Brown Sugar bar, 1 oz.
• Eclipse Chocolate Salted Dulce de Leche bar, 1 oz.

However artisanal these treats may be, 7 ounces of candy for $19.95, even when you count the shipping cost on a 13 oz. box, seems pretty steep to me.  That's even more true when only 4 of those ounces are chocolate.  

Raley's Love Mix is basically a flavored hard sugar candy that comes in several flavors...pomegranate, cinnamon, cherry and cranberry.  Each candy has a cute little picture or word on it.  These are o.k. but remind me of the common ribbon candy that is available in every discount store around the holidays.

The tiny little box of truffles contains one "Almond Butter topped with Smoked Sea Salt".  The other is "Zested Lime" which sounds like a very odd combination with bittersweet chocolate.

The three chocolate bars come in dark, milk and white chocolate.  I'm sure they are all good but if you lean towards one type of chocolate as I do (dark only, please) you may have to find another home for a couple of these.

I'll give this subscription service another month but Treatsie is really going to have to step up their game a bit to keep me as a customer.  Although I realize this is more expensive high end candy, this box just didn't provide enough quantity for the price to keep me interested. 

Use coupon code "SWEETDEAL" to get 15% off the February sweets at www.treatsie.com.  This code expires at the end of this month.

Happy Valentine's Day.....and have some chocolate!

Cheryl     

Blush Mystery Beauty Box February 2014 Review + $10 Discount

The Blush Mystery Beauty Box just may be one of the hidden gems of the subscription box community.  It doesn't seem to be as frequently reviewed as some of the other services. That may be because the subscription page is buried on the Blush.com website.  To complicate things even more, Blush is entangled with Dermstore and Hair Envy.  So it's just a bit difficult to even FIND the subscription page, then when you do, there really isn't much information about what you can expect. (That's why I'm here!)

The Blush Mystery Beauty Box seems to be almost an afterthought on the Blush.com site.  The site carries an enormous range of beauty brands, including many that are lesser known.  This makes one wonder if the monthly beauty box program is somewhat of a dumping ground for products they can't otherwise move?

Well even if it is, you do get a great assortment of products each month, including several that are full size. The Beauty Box can be purchased on a one time basis for $34.95 or as a monthly subscription for $24.95. I've been a member for quite a while now.  I'm always glad to see these boxes arrive; however, it seems to me that the selection has started to include some pretty obscure products in recent months.  See what came in my February box and judge for yourself!

The items arrive every month in a black drawstring bag inside a box.  There are usually a couple of "bonus" products outside of the black bag.  For February, the biggest thing in the box was a full size can of Jonathan Finish Control High Shine Flexible Hairspray.  This big 10 oz. can stands 10-1/4" tall.  I'm not a big hair spray user myself but this strikes me as a fairly high end product.

Next out was a generous sized sample (.17 fl. oz.) of Elizabeth Arden's "Untold" fragrance. I liked this scent; it's fresh, fruity and floral all at the same time, yet still light.  I was surprised to read the number of ingredients on the website...there is a LOT packed into this elegant little bottle!

This month's nail product is a set of nail wraps by NCLA Los Angeles in a black lace design. Certainly unique, but not my style.  The set includes 26 nail wraps and a nail file.

Then we have a luxury sample size of "Rub Off" by vbeaute, a gentle facial exfoliator. These are always nice and good for your skin so I'll definitely give it a try.  I'd say there's enough for three or four applications.

There is a small sample packet of "Reve de Miel" body cream (with honey, sunflower and plant oils) by Nuxe Paris. I'd put this one squarely in the obscure category.  There's only enough for one application.  This is the kind of sample that should be free; I wouldn't include it in the value of this box.  

Another full size item in this month's box is a dry shampoo by Klorane.  This is an oil control product that includes nettle.  On the Blush site, it says this product retails for $19.50.  I'm on the fence about dry shampoos; the reviews I've read have been about 50% positive.  They seem to be sort of a fad right now; we'll see if they are still around in a year or two.

  
The next product is a mask by Bioxidea Miracle 48 in "Excellence Gold".  I understand that some boxes included this mask in "Excellence Diamond".  According to the instructions, the mask is applied first to the face for 15 to 30 minutes, then dropped into the bath, where it completely dissolves.  It is supposedly a red carpet product used by celebrities that leaves an "unmistakable glow".  I'm skeptical but also open-minded, so will give it a try.

DHC's "Deep Cleansing Oil" is a product I've used before and don't particularly care for. Tiny DHC product samples are widely distributed in mail order catalogs.  This is too oily for me and I just don't really get the concept of cleaning with an oil.  There are much better make-up removers out there that aren't so hard to get off your skin.

I guess this is the true "mystery" item in this bag...a sample of "Eye Decompress" by Talika. There was no information on the card included in this shipment and the product isn't mentioned at all on the list of items included in this month's box on Blush's site.  Out of curiosity, I looked up the Talika brand and found this description of "Eye Decompress". This product works in a really interesting way and sounds like something I need.

"Revive tired eyes with Talika's innovative Eye Decompress. This revitalizing eye treatment comes in the unique form of tablet and liquid capsules. By immersing the tablet into this restorative blue fluid, the liquid is instantly absorbed into the pastille. The tablet then unfolds into a fresh, therapeutic eye mask. This thin, nourishing mask reduces swelling while soothing tired skin and firming contours of the eye. Eyes feel and look incredibly renewed after just 5 to 10 minutes!"

Lastly is a mascara by Nyx.  I like Nyx products and this mascara has a good thick wand so I have high hopes.  Just wish these beauty companies didn't always send black mascaras....it would be nice to get some browns or brownish blacks for those of us who are more fair complected.

As you can see, you get your money's worth with the Blush Mystery Beauty Box.  Even if you can't use a couple of the products, you still get very good value for the price paid. Blush advertises that you get a free gift with all orders.  Since the hair spray did not appear on the included information card, I'm guessing that was the gift for this month.  

I haven't been able to find a discount code for the Blush Mystery Beauty Box but if you would like a $10 gift card, send me your e-mail address and I can submit it to them.  I believe they will then e-mail you the $10 card.  (Update:  I've discovered that they won't send the gift card if your e-mail address is already signed up with them.)

It's nice to have the opportunity to try some of these high end brands and Blush really does provide a nice array of them every month!

Thanks for reading and please let me know if you would like the $10 discount e-mailed to you.

Cheryl

Nature Box Review February 2014 (Includes $10 Discount)

Nature Box is a healthy snack subscription service that sends you five nutritionist-approved snacks each month.  Their snacks are free of high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, artificial sweeteners, flavors and colors and have 0g of trans fat.  

My first Nature Box arrive nine days after placing my order.  My first impression was that the outer box and snack bag presentation are almost identical to Boxtera (see my post of Feb. 3, 2014).  They are so similar in appearance (even the color scheme) and concept that one wonders if the same people are behind these two services?  

  
Right away, I noticed one BIG difference.  The Nature Box snack bags show the snack name on the front and have full nutritional information on the back.  I have a feeling that the lack of labeling on the Boxtera snacks is a side effect of a fast roll out of their service and a cost cutting measure.  Hopefully, they will take a cue from their competition and step up their bag labels in future boxes.

A really nice feature of Nature Box is that you can choose your own snacks.  Just browse their 100+ selections and choose those you want in your next box five days prior to the next billing date shown in the "Box Tracker" section of your dashboard. You also have an opportunity to indicate your own dietary needs and taste preferences so that your box can be customized for you if you don't choose your own snacks.  

Nature Box plan prices are as follows:

Smart Snacker (20 packages, 4 packages each of 5 snacks) - $49.95
Happy Snacker (10 packages, 2 packages each of 5 snacks) - $29.95
Nature Box Deluxe Package (5 packages, 1 package each of 5 snacks) - $19.95

If you see other snacks you'd like to try, you can add them to your upcoming box for $3 per bag.  You can pause or delay a delivery at any time.

So, let's munch!  First I tried the "Pistachio Power Clusters".  I loved these but at 12g of fat per 1/4 c., they aren't exactly low fat.  They are little squares packed with almonds, cashews and pistachios.  My only complaint is that there weren't enough of them in the bag...I could easily have polished off the entire bag in one sitting.  This is definitely one to repeat in a future bag!  

  
Next up is "Cherry Berry Bonanza", "a medley of dried cranberries, cherries and blueberries". These are just what the name says...a slightly sour, sticky and sweet treat.  For me, this one is a little intense to eat on its own.  I think it would be great sprinkled on cereal or oatmeal or mixed into yogurt.

The "Roasted Kettle Kernels" are a nice twist on regular corn nuts.  These are lightly toasted in honey...great juxtaposition of sweet and salty and you get a nice generous serving!

Then we have "Vanilla Macaroon Granola".  This has a mild vanilla smell and consists of rolled oats, coconut, almonds, honey and a few other seeds and spices.  It has a nice almond and coconut flavor.  At 10g fat per half cup, this is not a low fat snack but it is a tasty one!

Last is one of my favorite salty snacks..."Masa Crisps".  I have had these before which is why I requested them in my box.  These are similar in texture and fairly close in flavor to a Frito or Dorito but have the good-for-you benefit of flax seeds.  You really don't taste the flax seeds so this is a great way to get them in your system.  I love these and will definitely repeat them.

Since I had a hand in choosing these snacks, I really have no complaints.  They are all delicious and all items I would choose again for future Nature Boxes.

Because they are all so good, it's hard to rank order this group but here's my opinion:

1.  Masa Crisps
2.  Pistachio Power Clusters
3.  Roasted Kettle Kernels
4.  Vanilla Macaroon Granola
5.  Cherry Berry Bonanza

For comparison with other monthly snack services, here are my Pros and Cons:

Pros

1.  Opportunity to choose your own snacks...this is what really separates Nature Box from its competitors right now.
2.  Packages are clearly marked with name, ingredients and nutritional information
3.  Generous portions (except for the skimpy package of Pistachio Power Clusters that I received)
4.  Guilt-free snacking

Cons

I really have no complaints about this service.  They provide a fantastic product for the price charged.

If you would like to try Nature Box, use the code "share10off" for $10 off your first box. At that price, you really can't lose!

Snack on,

Cheryl

PopSugar Must Have February 2014 Box Review

Popsugar Must Have's box for February arrived this week!  This was my first box from them and my expectations were high.  At $39.95 a month, this is definitely one of the more expensive subscription boxes out there.  Each box contains a hand curated mix of mostly full size beauty, home, fashion, fitness and food items.  This is a more ambitious concept than many of the other subscription services which tend to focus on only one or two categories.     

My first box showed up 14 days after I placed my order.  I got a nice big box with "Enjoy!" in big letters inside the lid.  Everything was wrapped in pretty pink tissue paper with this pamphlet on the top.  This gives a full color explanation of each product in the box.

First out of the box was the Argan Face Serum by Nourish Organic.  This is a complexion-improving and softening face serum with a really nice apricot and rose hip scent.  At .7 oz., this seems to be more a deluxe sample than a full size product.  When I opened the cap and looked inside, the container was only about 2/3 full.  Also I thought it a bit strange that more than half the box it came in was empty...as if something (instructions?) were missing.  

The fashion item this month is a jewelry roll by Gorjana.  It's a beautiful bright pinkish red color with long ties on the outside.  It has three zippered sections on the inside with zipper pulls that match the outside...a nice touch.  This jewelry roll measures about 12-1/4"x 8-1/2" when open, so it's a really convenient size for travel.  This is very well made and seems to be the real "prize" in this month's box.  This jewelry roll retails for $45 and has 18K gold hardware.  Also included was a coupon for $25 off Gorjana's website.

Next is a Lip Pops Duo by Model Co.  One end is a neutral pink lip gloss and the other end is a mauvish pink lipstick.  These can be worn separately or together and are designed to be long-lasting and high shine.  When I tried it on, this duo almost exactly matched my natural lip color.  It definitely did not add color, but there was a lot of shine.  This product has a light slightly fruity smell.

Another beauty product this month is a gorgeous deep, deep plummish red or burgundy nail polish (darker than it looks in this photo) by NCLA Los Angeles.  While I love the rich color, it seems an odd choice for heading into spring.  I'll save this one for the fall.

The "home" item is a small hand poured candle in a metal container with a lid.  The scent is "Peony" by K. Hall Designs.  This candle has a wonderful strong floral scent.  Hard to believe a 2 oz. candle will burn for 20 hours....we'll see!  I'm looking forward to using this.

I got all excited when I saw the elegant Tiffany blue box tied up with a red cord in this shipment!  Not so fast...we're talking Valentine candy here, NOT Tiffany jewelry!  Inside was a generous size package of heart-shaped cinnamon candies with a card that says "Always expect something sweet is about to happen". The box is really adorable and will be great for re-gifting.     

Also included is a 20% off coupon for a "Petite Sugarwish" from their website.  This is a fun site for gift giving because you make the purchase but the recipient can go on the site and decide which candy they want.  

The heaviest item in the box (by far) was a 16 oz. bottle of Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash.  This has a nice fresh smell (kiwi, I think) and is probably something everyone can use but I was a little surprised to see a common drug store brand in the mix.  It was presented as a "Special Extra" though, so hopefully, this is not typical of what we can expect in the future.

Popsugar has a straight monthly subscription plan with discounts for the more months you sign up for.  They do offer occasional discounts so be sure to check around before placing your first order.  (I wasn't able to find one as of the time of this post but will update if I run across one.)  

This was a fun box to open because of the product diversity inside.  However, I've read and heard a lot of complaints from subscribers who had received earlier boxes and felt they contained much more bang for the buck.  Some also felt that February's box should have been more geared to Valentine's Day.  Of course, people will complain about anything but my overall feeling is that Popsugar will have to step up the "luxe factor" of these boxes to retain subscriber loyalty.  

Pros

1.  Nice quality products
2.  Creative fun mix
3.  Attractive packaging
4.  Good coupons included

Cons

1.  Price
2.  Drug store product
3.  No opportunity for customization based on subscriber choices

I'm looking forward to next month's box.  Let's hope Popsugar will take subscriber input to heart and make the needed improvements.  If they do, they just may have the best subscription box out there!

Please use my referral code if you'd like to try Popsugar Must Have: http://popsu.gr/qaDh  

Thanks for reading,

Cheryl

Essie Spring 2014 Resort Collection

I've been an Essie fan for a long time.  For some reason, those colorful little square embossed bottles lined up on my polish shelves just speak to me!  Essie's new Resort Fling collection for Spring 2014 includes a really nice array of four colors from the demure to the dramatic. From left to right these are called:

• Find Me an Oasis (an icy cool pale blue)
• Cocktails & Coconuts (a very subtle beige or sand shimmer)
• Resort Fling (the most wearable peachy coral)
• Under the Twilight (a luxurious dark plum shade)

I don't wear enough nail polish (who has the time?) to justify buying the full size bottles, which makes the mini collections perfect for me.  They are affordable and contain about a third of the amount that comes in a full size bottle. I don't think I've EVER reached the bottom of a regular bottle so the minis give me just what I will actually use...not to mention they satisfy my curiosity to try many of the latest colors!  They come in a tray in little square boxes that are about the size of a Rubik's Cube.

  
Which color do you like best?  As for me, well, let's just say it's a good thing I have ten fingers!

Cheryl

Minnetonka Kilty Suede Mocs - Foot Candy!

Moccasins are in right now and there are many styles to choose from, but the simple design and great colors are what attracted me to Minnetonka's Kilty Suede Mocs.  (Notice that is Kilty with an "l", not Kitty with a "t".)

These new moccasins have a retro cool look updated with some fun new colors. The kilty inspired fringe and whip-stitched toes add great detail.  Needless to say, the only thing more comfortable than moccasins is going barefoot!

I like that these mocs have a hard rubber sole with a cushioned interior so you have enough support to wear them out of the house (unlike some traditional moccasins).  Of course, they are wonderfully comfortable as house shoes too.  The uppers are all soft suede with that intoxicating new suede smell!  (I confess the smell had as much to do with my decision to buy a second pair as the color.)

Here's a beautiful aqua pair:

  

And who could stop at one?  I wanted these in a coral color, but they didn't have my size, so I settled for plum:

I found these mocs on one of my favorite shopping sites, 6pm.com.  I believe they are also available through Nordstrom, Zappos, Amazon and DSW, although the best price I found ($29.96) was on 6pm.  (As always, do your homework and look for coupon codes.)  

A caution about sizing...these mocs do run big so if you order them, you'll probably want at least a half size smaller than you normally wear.  I've noticed that certain colors sell out quickly so if you're interested, check them out soon.

When my feet are happy, I'm happy.  And these mocs make my feet very happy indeed!

Shop on!

Cheryl

Boxtera February 2014 Review + 10% Discount Code!!

So excited to be reviewing my first Boxtera box!  I signed up on January 25th and the box arrived just nine days later.  Boxtera is a subscription snack service that provides 5 bags of healthy snacks each month.  They make an effort to appeal to different tastes with creative mixes.  Cost is $19.95 per month. (See code information at the bottom.)

My snacks arrived today in an attractive eco-friendly cardboard box with Boxtera's branding on it.

The presentation was very simple, just five bags of snacks and a card showing the snack mixes on the front and identifying them....a good thing as the individual bags are not labeled with the names of the contents.       

Of course, I couldn't wait to taste these so dove right in.  All of these mixes contained ingredients that were new to me, so I tried to keep on open mind.  Please know that I paid for this box myself and have not been compensated in any way for this review, so these are my honest impressions!

Boxtera makes the choices for you and includes snacks in the "sour", "sweet", "salty", "bitter" and "savory" categories.  Full disclosure....I have a serious sweet tooth so my opinions may skew a bit in that direction.

First I tried the Wasabi Bean Medley, the "bitter" selection in this group.  Wasabi is an acquired taste but I think it added just the right amount of heat to this mix.  Lots of good crunchy sesame sticks, peas and many things I couldn't identify in this one.  Really liked it!

Next up was the "sour" selection, the Mango Chews.  My first impression was that they certainly don't look as appetizing as they do in the photo on the card.  I'm not a big fan of mangoes, but these were pretty good and nicely chewy.

I was and still am nervous about consuming the Toasted Watermelon Seeds, the "salty" option. Just seems like something you shouldn't eat.  The taste isn't bad but honestly, I had a hard time swallowing these and had to spit the last bit out.  I am curious as to the actual nutritional value of these. Definitely not something I'd repeat.

I was a little taken aback by the appearance of the Banana Ribbons.  I like bananas in all their forms but had never seen them presented like this before.  Kinda strange looking but they have a nice mild banana flavor and are a little chewy.

Last was the Honey Almond Crunch, the "savory" selection.  This was, hands down, my favorite. This mix is full of things I like....bits of fruit, nuts, sesame sticks, peanuts and almonds...all with a light honey coating.  I would have been happy if all five bags had been this one!  YUM!

Here's how I'd rank order this month's Boxtera selections:

1.  Honey Almond Crunch (no surprise!)
2.  Wasabi Bean Medley
3.  Banana Ribbons
4.  Mango Chews
5.  Toasted Watermelon Seeds

Overall first impressions:

Pros

• Speed of delivery after first ordering on-line
• Creativity and good diversity of selections in each box
• Quality of ingredients
• Good healthy "no guilt" snacks
• Generous servings
• Nice packaging
• Price is reasonable for what you get

Cons

• Nutrition information and ingredients are not listed on the bags.  This information is on their site but it should be on the packages as well.
• No choice about what you get
• There seems to be a glitch on the site when you try to set up password access.  I contacted them about this a week and a half ago but it still has not been fixed.  Since I can't access my account, I'm not sure if you can "veto" snacks that you don't like so they won't be included in future orders.

I enjoyed exploring this box and especially like having some healthy snacks around the house.  I intend to stay with Boxtera for now!

If you would like to try Boxtera, use the code "NOMTOGETHER" to get 10% off your first box.

Happy snacking!

Cheryl
www.crownshop.net

Benefit 10 Blush

Benefit's cool new blush & bronzer duo is simply named "10", as in "perfect 10".

Most of us know that perfectly contoured cheeks require both a blush and a bronzer, but honestly, who has time for that? This little box contains a pink powder blush and a bronzer side by side. The idea is that you run the wide brush over both at once, then apply to your cheeks in one quick step.

The concept works great, but the result on my fair skin was very light and subtle. I had to swipe the brush across my cheek several times for any color at all to show. If you are looking for a more intense or dramatic effect, this isn't it. For everyday wear, this product gives a nice sheer wash of color with just enough cheekbone definition.

This blush/bronzer due comes in an eco-friendly two inch square cardboard box. At a retail price of $28, you might expect a bit more luxe packaging. However, if you can locate this blush duo for less (I found mine on eBay for $14), you just may have a new favorite to add to your makeup bag.

Cheryl
www.crownshop.net

In the Beginning....

I am a product junkie....always have been, always will be. Whether it's fashion, beauty, food, household items, books, music, movies, interesting collectibles or a new store or restaurant.....whatever, I have insatiable curiosity and an opinion about everything. I am also not above commenting on random news pieces, the weather or politics (despite what I was taught about polite behavior!)

Some think it's intimidating to be faced with a blank page. I think it's exciting! There are so many thoughts jockeying for space in my mind; this seems as good a place as any to inflict them upon the world.

I have lived in Texas (the Lone Star state) for most of my adult life, specifically in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex, where shopping is considered a competitive sport. As the bumper stickers around here attest--"I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as soon as I could!"

And full disclosure....I have an e-commerce store on five different auction platforms. I may not be able to resist an occasional shameless plug or discount offer. I sell lots of different things and sometimes an item comes through my hands that's just too good to be quiet about.

Well, Spring has sprung and the time jumped ahead today. What SHOULD be 10:30 CST is now suddenly 11:30 CST, so my bedtime.

Thanks for reading!

Cheryl
www.crownshop.net