Glossy Box ~ The Grand Bleu ~ July 2013

 Hello Everyone!

I'm so sorry that I haven't been posting this past week! I had my mother, father & brother come into town, and I found it virtually impossible to blog while they were here. They stayed late into the evening, and by the time they left, I was pooped from running around town & entertaining them!  They left yesterday morning, so I'm trying to get back into my blogging routine. 

I'm sure this Glossy Box is old news & nobody cares about it this late in the game, but I thought I would still post, since I had already taken the pictures!

If you are new to Glossy Box, please see my post here.

The theme for July's Glossy Box was The Grand Bleu. The products we received were suppose to be great accompaniments for a glorious day at the beach!

Brazilian Blowout Acai Deep Conditioning Masque  ~ 1 oz. ~ Sample Value $5.00

The Acai Deep Conditioning Masque is a creamy, rich, intense masque that hydrates hair by coating each strand with exclusive, nutritive proteins to eliminates frizz, promotes shine, and guarantee longest-lasting smoothing results.

Bulgari Eau Parfumee au the Blanc Shampoo & Shower Gel ~ 1 oz. ~ Sample Value $6.18

Eau Parfumee au the Blanc is a generous and elegant expression of personal indulgence. Relaxing and calming, this shampoo and shower gel reflects the precious nature of white tea, offering an intimate and luxurious expression of sensory pleasure.

Evologie Intensive Blemish Treatment ~ 5ml ~ $11.66

This serum with a patent pending formulation delivers blemish fighting natural ingredients deep below the skin's surface to prevent and remove unsightly spots caused by acne.

 Figs & Rouge Cherry Blossom Tinted Lip Balm ~ 12.5 ml ~ Sample Value $9.00

Made with 100% natural ingredients and featuring a light cherry blossom scent, this organic tinted lip balm provides a tinge of color while keeping lips moisturized. 

Nails Inc.  Baker Street Nail Polish ~ 4 ml ~ Sample Value $3.80

Nails Inc. polishes are professionally formulated for a long lasting, super glossy, flawless finish. This traffic stopping, vibrant cobalt blue nail polish is one of Nails Inc.'s best selling nail polish shades.

Nicka K New York Absolute! Make-Up Cleansing Tissues ~ 10 ct. ~ Sample Value $1.16

Water based with natural extracts, Absolute! Make-Up Cleansing Tissues gently and effectively removes all make up - even the most stubborn of waterproof mascara and eyeliners - while moisturizing and refreshing your skin.

The retail value of the July Glossy Box is $36.80. Not bad at all. These are all products that I wouldn't mind trying. However, I did trade the Bulgari Shampoo & Shower Gel for the Fekkai Glossing Creme that came in the Target Beauty Box.
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Spoilers for the August 2013 Glossy Box Include:

Full-sized lip crayon from Jelly Pong Pong ($18 value) and a full sized Sue Devitt Triple C-Weed Pressed Powder ($28).

There is also a limited edition "Best of Britain" Glossy Box, available for purchase now! The cost of this box is $40.00. To order this limited edition box, please click here. 

This box is rumored to contain the following products.....

• Nails Inc. Kensington Caviar Topcoat :  High-gloss shine will be yours with this incredible 45-second dry-time top coat formula.
• Steamcream All-In-One Natural Moisturizer For Face Body & Hands : The award-winning “oh-so-British” all-in-one moisturizer instantly hydrates and nourishes your face.
• Nailgirls London White #1 : Inspired by models on the catwalk, Nailgirls London developed a nail lacquer in this season’s hottest color: white.
• HD Brows Grow Baby Grow : This wonderful serum speeds up your eyebrow growth and nourishes them with essential nutrients.
• MeMeMe Cosmetics Beat the Blues Skin Illuminator : This iridescent skin illuminator enhances your natural radiance and accentuates your cheekbones with a subtle all-over shimmer.
• Helen É Cosmetics Lasting Lip Color : Whether cream or pearlized, in a neutral or bright hue, you will definitely find one that suits your complexion best.
• Mitchell and Peach Luxury Hand Cream : Originating from the Mitchell family farm in England, this best-selling hand cream contains carefully selected ingredients such as vitamin E, shea butter and English honey to soften, nourish and protect your skin.
• Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush : This iconic dry shampoo is what savvy British festival-goers use to keep their hair glossy and fabulous between washes.

Bestowed Box ~ Healthy Lifestyle Subscription Box ~ July 2013

I recently found another great healthy lifestyle subscription service called Bestowed Box.

I decided to contact them to see if they would like me to review one of their monthly subscription boxes, and they were kind enough send me the box in the photos below for free, to share with all of you!

This monthly service is $19 per month, including shipping, or $209 per year (which works out to be $17.62 a month, a savings of $16.56!) Each box is curated by celebrity nutritionist & author Heather Bauer. Your assortment of 5-7, healthy & delicious foods, snacks, beverages & lifestyle items are sent to your home or office on the 15th of each month.

Use code 5OFFBESTOWED01 to get $5 off your first box!

Bestowed Box comes in a brightly colored Orange box!

You received a pamphlet with information about the products in your box. Bestowed Box explains why they LOVE each item, and tips on how to use it.

 Roots

2 ~ .39 oz packets ~ Blueberry Flavored Powdered Fruits & Vegetables ~ Sample Value $2.80

Get your days worth of vitamins & nutrients, as well as increasing energy, detoxifying your body, and assisting in weight management.

  California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil for Everyday Meals, .4 fl oz. each ~ Retail Value $.60

 I received this brand in my very first Goodies Co. box, as well! This olive oil is grown from sustainably grown olives, and the green, glass bottle it comes in protects the oil, which allows it to stay fresher, longer.

Arrowhead Mills Instant Plain Oatmeal ~ 1 packet ~ Sample Value $.54

Arrowhead Mills oatmeal is organic & sodium free.

 Hemp Hearts

Raw, Shelled Hemp Seeds ~ Sample Value $ 1.99

Sprinkle on Salad, Cereal or yogurt. They have a mild, nutty flavor similar to sunflower seeds & are packed full or Omega 3 & 6, as well as protein!

Bakery on Main  True Bar in Coconut Cashew ~ Sample Value $ 1.99

This is an all around "good for you" snack bar. It's a great source of Omega 3 & fiber, low sodium, and non-GMO certified

.

Herban Essentials Essential Oil Towelettes ~ 6 count~  Sample Value $6.00

This was definitely the coolest item I received in my box this month! These individually wrapped towelettes are perfect for cleaning hands. They are naturally anti-bacterial & anti-septic without using chemicals, and they smell amazing!

$25 i Train Gift Card ~ Downloadable workouts for your MP3 player. 

The retail value of my Bestowed Box is $13.92, not including the i Train Gift Card, which I may or may not use. Whenever, I receive a subscription box, It's my hope that the boxes contents are worth more than the monthly price tag. In this case, if you were to take advantage of the gift card the boxes value is $38.92, which is not bad at all! If not, then the boxes contents fall a tad bit short, value wise. I do think Bestowed Box had an interesting mix of food & lifestyle items. If living a healthy lifestyle is the way you "roll," then check out Bestowed Box!

Birchbox Sneak Peek: August 2013: Finishing School

I'm excited to offer all of you a sneek peek of the products, that will be appearing in the August 2013 Birchbox! The theme this month is Finishing School! Which products are you most looking forward to this month? I'm exciting to try the Miss Jessie's Rapid Recovery Treatment and Whish Exfoliating Body Wash!

If you would like to subscribe to Birchbox, you must do so by August 14th to receive the August box. To subscribe, please click here!

Possible Products in August BB:

Whish Exfoliating Body Wash

Whish Correcting Gel

Miss Jessie's Rapid Recovery Treatment

Juice Beauty Oil Free Moisturizer

Jasmine Seven Fresh Feet Wipes

Mally Beauty Evercolor Starlight Waterproof eyeliner

 Model Co. Party Proof Lipsticks

What's Good at the 99 Cent Only Store this Week? 7-31-13

I had a great shop at the 99 Cent Only Store this week! There were some incredible deals to be had, including 11.5 oz. tubs of Oscar Mayer Carving Board Pulled Pork! When I saw these babies, I added quite a few into my cart! 

Has anyone seen items that have a limit of 1 or 2 in their store?  The tubs of pulled pork had no limit. I wonder how they decide which items have limits? I would have thought, there would be a limit on these, but luckily for me there wasn't! Yay!

Also, I'm loving the Earthbound Farm Organic "Power Meal" Salads! It contains everything you need to create an entree salad for one, or side salad for two! I hope they have more of these in the future!

And, check out the Organic Snyder's of Hanover Pretzel sticks. I heart the 99 Cent Only Store!

Here's what I picked up this week!

59 fl. oz. Key West Chillers Strawberry Banana Juice Cocktail Exp. 8-24-13
59 fl. oz. Tropicana Tropical Punch Exp. 8-12-13
7.9 oz. Earthbound Farm Organic Power Meal in Tomatillo Black Bean Energy Exp. 8-11-13

11 oz. Pillsbury Crusty French Loaf Exp. 8-22-13
11.5 oz. Oscar Mayer Carving Board Pulled Pork Hickory Smoke Seasoned Exp. 8-16-13
10.6 oz. Cool Whip Frosting in Cream Cheese Exp. 10-18-13
Tanimura Farms Hydroponic Green House Grown Butter Lettuce

9 oz. Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Oven Roasted Turkey Breast Exp. 8-7-13
9 oz. Healthy Creations Pretzel Plus in Zesty Ranch Exp. 4-21-14
7 oz. Busy Baker Baked Snack Crackers in Garden Vegetable Exp. 12-25-13
There were several different flavors of crackers!

8 oz. Synder's of Hanover Organic Whole Wheat & Oat Pretzel Sticks Exp. 9-7-13
8 oz. Synder's of Hanover Organic 8 Grains & Seeds Pretzel Sticks (with Flax, Quinoa, & Blue Agave) Exp. 11-23-13

8 oz. The Original Pocket Pretzels filled with Real Peanut Butter Exp. 4-5-14
2 oz. Premier Ultimate Heel Balm Intensive Heel Therapy Exp. 7-2014

2014 Calendars!! They had at least 15 different ones. Here is the one my kiddos picked out.

The contents of the Earthbound Farm Organics Salad....yum!

Tortilla Strips, Sunflower Seeds, Corn & Black Bean Topping & Dressing.

Other items of interest......

Please come back next week to see what I pick up at the 99 Cent Only Store!

The Jungle Stand ~ July 2013 ~ Tastes of Japan

If you are new to The Jungle Stand, please see my post here.


Well, it's that time again! It's time for my monthly review of The Jungle Stand! As you recall, I had a less than an enjoyable experience last month. In June, we received a tasting bar from Taiwan. I absolutely hate seafood and seaweed, and 3 out of the six items contained those flavors. When I saw another Asian themed tasting bar, I have to admit, I was somewhat nervous I would have to endure the same flavors....yuck! Unfortunately, I did spy seaweed again this month, however, it was much more tolerable than last month's tastes!

Let's take a look!

Baked Cake ~ A steamed cake with a sweetened white bean paste filling.

This was good, but nothing special. The flavor and sweetness was very subtle. By the looks of it, you would think it's a mini chocolate eclair. Unfortunately, that wasn't chocolate on top!

Nori Koiwa ~ A rice cracker dusted with seaweed

Okay, here we go....more seaweed. I only tried one of these, and gave the rest of my seaweed/sushi loving husband. You would think these would be savory, but they were actually sweet, similar to the flavor of caramel corn, ruined by seaweed sprinkles.

Age Ichiban (Rice Cracker) ~ Crispy & crunchy rice cracker flavored with with soy sauce.

I only took one small bite of this, and gave the rest of my hubby who enjoyed it. I thought it was disgusting! I didn't enjoy the flavor at all. And, why do all Asian snacks have that shiny glaze coating it?

Hitokunchi Kurobo ~ Wheat Cracker is what this taste is called when translated, but this tastes nothing like a wheat cracker!

This has a very light & airy cake texture, with the flavor of brown sugar. It looks terrifying, but tasted good! It was dry, but very delicate.

Taruyaki Goma Senbei ~ Crunchy rice crackers with toasted black sesame seeds, coated with a soy sauce glaze. 

Why, oh why! This is just like the "pink" taste, but with added sesame seeds. Now, I like sesame seeds, so I had high hopes for this taste, but alas, after one small bite, it got passed to my hubby. Enough, with the soy sauce glaze! I like soy sauce, but the glaze on these crackers is just gross!

Strawberry Caramel Corn ~ Strawberry & Caramel flavored puffed corn.

Yay! Something yummy! These look like grubs, but taste delicious! I don't recall a "caramel" flavor, but definitely taste the strawberry. They're like strawberry flavored "cheese" puffs.  I wish The Jungle Stand would include more tastes like this in the future. I would love to discover unique eats from other counties that are sweet & delicious!

Come back next month to discover where The Jungle Stand will take me in August! 

I keep going back and forth about whether or not to keep this subscription. I paused my bar a few days ago, but then un-paused it yesterday,lol.  I hope I un-paused in time to receive the August box! I don't like paying for tastes that I hate, but the excitement of getting to try unique items that I might enjoy keep bringing me back for more!