KlutchClub Review July 2013

I'm very behind with this review, but this is my second KlutchClub of a three month subscription.

As usual, Oliver wants to check out my boxes even more than I do.

Botanical Interests Wheatgrass Seeds ($1.69/each, $3.38) I have no plans to grow this for my own use, but it's kind of a cool item to include in a health focused box like this. I wonder if cats eat wheatgrass? Hmm...

Earnest Eats Dark Choco Espresso Whole Food Bar ($1.75) I don't like coffee, so this will go to a friend. Not a bad item, though!

Beanfields Bean & Rice Chips in Sea Salt ($1.25) I have no problems with normal corn tortilla chips, but these will be eaten.

Puritan's Pride Raspberry Ketone Capsules, 30 count ($2.99) I had no idea what these were, so I looked them up. It appear they are supposed to help with weight loss. I'm not sure that I buy it, but I'll give it a shot.

Power Bar Performance Energy Blends in Banana Blueberry and Apple Mango Strawberry ($2.19/each, $4.38) I'm excited to try these! I like similar applesauce pouches, so I bet these will be great.

Soy Greek Yogurt Good Greens Bar in Blueberry Bliss ($2.99) I'm excited to try this. It looks tasty!

Nawgan Alertness Beverage in Mandarin Orange ($3.91) I'm in grad school, so this will come in handy. I'll drink this before I do some serious reading.

Flavrz Liquid Drink Mix in Fruit Punch ($5.62) Hopefully I like the way these taste, but they sound like they could be good.

This box ended up being about $25 value. Not bad since I got a deal on my three month subscription, but I would never pay the regular $18/month price. This month was way better than last month, but beauty/clothes/lifestyle boxes are way better suited for me.

Goodies.co Review July 2013

Goodies changed their box this month and it's about half the size of the usual.

I like the green color, and the box was always way too big for the contents, so I'm happy to see that it's a little smaller.

Here's the card they sent with it. Makes sense to me!

First look. See how the box separates the drink from the other items? I'm a fan.

The Better Chip Corn Chips I'm sure I'll be able to use these for a serving of nachos or chips and salsa. Nothing incredibly innovative, but these won't go to waste.

Crunchmaster Grain Crisps Honestly, these look pretty dry and awful. I'm sure they will be eaten, but...gluten free crackers are not exactly at the top of my snack list.

Gimbal's Cherry Lovers These are basically cherry jelly beans. They are slightly more moist on the inside, but otherwise they're the same texture and have the same sugary coating on the outside. There are nine different flavors, all of them cherry--cherry cola, cherry cheesecake, bing cherry, kiwi cherry, black cherry...you get the idea. If I loved cherry flavored things, I'm sure I'd love these. Edible, but not my favorite. Make these in orange variations and I'll be all over them.

Black Raspberry Fruit Water I've tried this in the orange mango flavor and it was pretty good. Basically flavored sparkling water. Black raspberry is probably the last variation I'd want to try, but it will still be tasty I'm sure.

Cosmos Caramel Popcorn Caramel popcorn is always a winner--but this isn't exactly caramel corn. It's made with "corn meal," so it's kind of a weird cracker/popcorn/sweet Cheeto puff material. It has no hulls or kernels, so maybe this is replacement caramel corn for the braces-wearing/delicate gum population? It was pretty good, but not nearly as good as caramel corn, and the bag was tiny. 
You can't really tell, but it's about the same size as a pouch of fruit snacks.

Alright, so, contents-wise, this isn't a bad box. Value wise, though, this may be the worst Goodies has ever been. Only five items in single serve sizes (or perhaps less than single in the case of the popcorn and the crackers) is pretty disappointing. Here's to hoping they step it up next month.

Love with Food Review July 2013

Okay, so...first things first, the photo quality in this post is less than stellar. I picked up this box on my way to work, and I forgot to pack snacks, and, well...I decided photos on my phone was better than photos of empty packages. Sorry, but hopefully it's a one-time-only thing.

This month's theme is "Fun on the Boardwalk," which I think is a great theme for summer.

Strawberry Fig Bar--This was okay, but nothing spectacular. Kind of like a healthier version of Fig Newtons I guess? The outer "bready" layer was a little thick for my tastes.

Lord Nut Levington Rebel Mary Spicy Bloody Mary Peanuts--I haven't tried these, and I'm not sure if I'm going to. I'm not a big fan of Bloody Marys, but maybe it's worth a shot.

Necco Wafers--Well, I'm not sure if I've ever had these, or at least not for a long time, but this is one of the first candy companies in the US. Obviously clove flavored chalk textured candy seemed like a great idea back then but I'm not so sure that it's a good idea now. Of course not all of it is clove flavored, but these really weren't spectacular. This is the same company that makes those awful Sweethearts around Valentine's Day.

Kukuruze Hawaiian Salted Caramel Popcorn--This was really good. Most "salted caramel" products aren't terribly salty, but this really delivered. Large chunks of salt in rich caramel corn. Definitely a winner, and the fact that they're from Seattle makes me like it even more. I think I'll have to look into trying their other flavors (white cheddar jalapeno sounds pretty tasty).

Uncle Henry's Handmade Pretzels--Well, these were hard and salty like hard sourdough pretzels should be. I think this must be an Amish company since they have German on the front and a bible verse on the back, plus they're located in Lancaster County. Interesting. These were good, and really mimicked soft pretzels for the Fun On the Boardwalk theme.

Vermont Smoke and Cure BBQ Beef Stick--I haven't tried this yet, but hopefully it's like a Slim Jim? Kind of a unique item to include, so I guess I'm a fan.

Orange Salt Water Taffy from Angel Mint--Taffy is a great boardwalk food, and I love orange flavored things, so of course I was going to like this.

Seasoning Salts from Twangerz--These came in lime, chili lime, lemon lime, and pickle flavors. The packaging suggests that you "sprinkle on fruit, veggies, chips, popcorn, etc." Hmm...I'm not sure that that sounds good. I'm not really sure what to do with this but I'm sure I'll come up with something.

All in all, a pretty good box from Love with Food that's fairly on theme. Besides, Love with Food donates meals for every box sold to food banks. If you want to sign up (and give me some bonus points in the process), click here.

Ipsy Review July 2013

This month's Ipsy theme was "Beach Beauty," which makes a lot of sense for July. I think they did a really great job matching the products with the theme.

July Glam Bag ($1?) This month's bag was translucent and hot pink. A lot different than they've had before. I don't mind it, but I don't know how I feel about being able to see inside. The point of bags like that are to stash clutter away, not showcase it, you know? Either way, I don't buy Ipsy for the bag! The logo doesn't bother me but others have said you can remove it easily with nail polish remover, just FYI.

Pop Beauty Pouty Pop Crayon in Coral Crush ($4.17) I haven't tried this out yet, but even if the color is a little too much for me, I suspect I can dab off any excess to make it wearable. Much better than a gloss! I have never tried a coral before, but this is a pretty reddish coral, so it will be a good way to dip my toe into the coral trend.

Coola Unscented Mineral Sunscreen ($4.87) I hate moisturizers, and I hate sunscreen. My skin is way too oily to really need a moisturizer, and I don't go out in the sun long enough to really justify sunscreen. Not to mention that it seems like every subscription ever wants to send sunscreen (understandably, since it's summer). Also, it only has SPF 20. Not very good for something that calls itself sunscreen, considering that my foundation has SPF 17. Needless to say, I'm more than okay with this being a fairly small sample, but I can see why other subscribers would like it.

BH Cosmetics California Collection Eyeshadow Sample ($2.94, based on sale price @ $.98 per color for a custom palette) These aren't very pigmented which is sort of a bummer, but they're great colors and I'm excited to try them out. I think using a brush instead of my fingers (like I usually do) will help.

Big Sexy Hair Weather Proof Spray ($7.80) This spray is designed to fight humidity, which makes it a great summer pick in my opinion. But it rains a lot around here, so I'm thinking that maybe I'll save this for once it starts to get really rainy. Rain counts as humidity, right? This was a variation item, the other choice being the surf spray from Healthy Sexy Hair, but I think I'm happier with this. I just got a salt spray from my FabFitFun box, and you only need so many!

Microdermabraision Scrub from derma e ($16.25) This was another "or" item from Ipsy. I could have gotten a bright nail polish from Nailtini, but I didn't want that since I have so much nail polish. I could have gotten a perfume roll on from Demeter, but I didn't want that because it was supposed to smell kind of sunscreen-ey and I hate the smell of sunscreen. I could have gotten a sample of benetint, which would have been great, but I already tried posietint and was not a huge fan. So I was actually thrilled to get the scrub. Hands down it would have been my pick this month. I love it when things work out like that! I haven't used it yet, but it smells really good, and very lemon-ey. I anticipate it won't be too different from the Suki scrub in my Birchbox last month.

I paid $10 (including shipping)for everything, and it ended up having a retail value of about $37. Not a bad deal at all! Lots of new, fun goodies to try, but nothing too far outside my comfort zone. I love this month's selections! If you want to subscribe to Ipsy (and give me some referral points in the process), click here. I highly recommend this subscription; you can't go too wrong when you're only gambling with $10/month!

Birchbox Review July 2013

This month's Birchbox featured a partial collaboration with the show "Suits," and apparently the stars chose a few key items in this month's boxes ("Suits picks"), but I really didn't see any elements of the show come through.

See how my "Suits Pick" is highlighted? I wish there was more to it than that, because I really like collaboration boxes when they're done right.

Number 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect (~$7.10) I'm going to guess this is about an ounce and a half of product, but unfortunately it's unmarked, so take the price estimate as a grain of salt. I straighten my hair almost every day so I always need heat protector sprays--and this will be perfect for my trip to Vegas in September since it fits the TSA guidelines! Unfortunately I never got the Beauty Protector exclusive spray that Birchbox started sending out a few months ago (and everyone raved about), and I'm still crossing my fingers for it in a future month.

Benefit It's Potent! Eye Cream ($6.40) I'm not one for moisturizers, but I think I could totally rock an eye cream. And the little glass jar is just SO cute. I'm totally reusing it for travel or foil packets that are multi use. Unfortunately it wasn't all the way full, but a little eye cream goes a very long way. Some samples I save for later for one reason or another, but I'm using this one up right away.

Isn't this the cutest little magnetic case?

Instain Staining Powder Blush in Swiss Dot ($4.40) Okay, so this sample is only .018 ounces...but the full size is only .09 ounces, which means that this sample is actually 1/5 of full size. It's tiny, but not half bad for a sample. This was my "Suits Pick" and also super hyped up this month. Most cheek stains aren't powdered and this one is apparently really unique. I've heard it's especially pigmented and can be hard to apply. I'll have to try this on a day when I have lots of time to get ready (and apply with a light hand so I don't overdo it). I can't wait to see what all the fuss is about though!

Birchbox Bobby Pins ($1.67) I almost never wear bobby pins. Maybe once every few years. But these are SO adorable, and super sturdy. I love the design too, modern and fun without being too flashy. I think I'm going to have to make a point of wearing these because I really do like them.

DDF Acne Control Treatment ($12.94) This is a GREAT size sample. It will certainly last me quite awhile. I'm not a huge fan of face creams as acne treatments (like my face isn't oily enough), but I'm definitely going to try it out. If it makes my skin clearer it will be well worth it!

This month I paid $9 for my box (including shipping) and got $5 back in points to spend at the Birchbox store. So essentially I got over $30 in product for $4! Birchbox is an insane value and I can't ever see letting my subscription go. If you want to join in on the fun, click here to sign up using me as your referral.

PopSugar Must Have Review July 2013

It's that time of the month again--PopSugar time! July is PopSugar's one year anniversary, so a lot people thought the July box would be extra special--I figured otherwise, and I was right. They recently announced a spoiler (below) for August as an "anniversary gift," so they must be celebrating August as their one-year instead.

I think this necklace is absolutely gorgeous, so I'm thrilled to have it in the next box. This makes it already a "good box" in my book! Can't wait to see what else they send out.

"The dog days of summer are here,and just because we may be searching for any way to beat the heat doesn't mean out fashion, beauty, or entertaining routines have to suffer." Kind of a stretch for a theme, but okay.

HannahMax Baking Cookie Chips in Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip ($2) Yum! These are super tasty. Basically, they're like the crispy edge pieces that sometimes form on cookies. They kind of remind me of brownie brittle. I'd really like to try their salted peanut butter next.

Tovolo King Cube Tray ($8.24) I've used a jumbo ice cube tray before at a friend's house, and I loved it. The ice cubes melted much slower and they were way easier to get out of the silicone. I'm totally happy to have one of these for summer.

This looks kind of pink in the photo but it's actually a deepish red. I'm a little sad they didn't send out a more fun color for summer.

NCLA Nail Polish in As If! ($16) I love the color but I don't see it as a summer shade. Maybe spring? I could even see it in the winter with a silver sparkle polish since it is kind of icy. I still love it, but God knows I don't need more nail polish. Certainly not a "Must Have" for me.

Rose Gold Double Curb Chain ($28) Other people said this was heavy and they weren't kidding! It sank right into the carpet when I tried to take a photo. I am not a huge fan of this but I think if I wore it with something neutral and classic it could look nice. I'll give it a try anyway. Might as well since I have it, right?

 Supergoop Serum ($42) Okay, so...sunscreen is a product I never, ever use. Moisturizer is a product I also never, ever use, especially in the daytime. I get burned way too easily, so I tend to just stay inside when it's sunny, and my face is oily enough without added moisture. That being said, I think this is a great item for summer, so I totally understand why they included it, and it's certainly preferable to a sunless tanner.

I'm satisfied with this box, especially once I got my hands on everything, but it's not one of my favorites. Lucky for me, I already have an amazing item to look forward to for next month! If you want to sign up (which I highly recommend you do), click here to give me some referral credits!

Level Naturals The Good Box Review June/July 2013

I got my second Level Naturals box yesterday--I was beginning to wonder if it would ever show up! Unfortunately Level Naturals doesn't send out shipping confirmations so you can't really have any sort of idea when (or if) your box will arrive. For impatient types like me, this makes a good surprise when it does show up.

I'm subscribed to The Good Box, which is Level Naturals' lowest level subscription. The Good(er) Box also includes room spray, and The Good(est) Box also includes room spray and a six pack of bath bombs.

Every month, the base subscription comes with one bar of soap, four shower bombs, a travel candle, and a secret item.

This is the card they include with the box. I think it's pretty attractive!

Travel Candle in Jasmine Rose ($6.66) This candle is incredibly floral, but that's to be expected from the scent. It's a little strong for my tastes but I think it will be beautiful when lit.

Peppermint Volcano Soap ($5.99) This soap does indeed smell minty, and it's a great size. Definitely "meatier" than your average bar of Ivory.

Shower Bombs ($7.99) These shower bombs have a very strong menthol and eucalyptus scent. I like them, and they're great to have around for when you're sick (they're very similar to Vic's Vapor Rub). However, they include a package of four in every Good Box. I don't think I really want four of the exact same product every month. I'll use them, but I'd love to see them branch out.

Every month The Good Box includes a "surprise" item. Last month I got a bath bomb, which is always a great treat. This month I had no idea what the surprise item was since it was in this drawstring bag.

What do you know...it's soap ends. As in, the little pieces of soap that get cut off when they're forming the big bars. I feel like this is akin to sending out day old bread. Sure, sell it on your website for a few dollars. It's wasteful not to, I get it. I would even understand if they advertised sending out soap ends in each box. But don't include this as my "special item." I'll use this as hand soap I guess, but I'm not thrilled with this item.