Last week I started a new series where I will order different goods and services from Groupon and let you know how the order process goes and how good the actual items/services are. My first order was a 51% discount on my first order from GoodFood, a recurring subscription for a meal prep kit delivered weekly. (You can read the initial post here.) I signed up for the family box, which consists of four meals that each feed four people and will cost me $140 per week. Each meal will have all the ingredients, washed, measured, and properly portioned, along with a recipe card. The price is surprisingly fair - it's about $35 a meal. Yes, I can absolutely make dinner for less than that, BUT I will have to figure out what I'm making, go to the grocery store to pick everything up, then wash and measure it all prior to cooking. There's also waste to consider. We're pretty good about using up what's in the fridge, but that has only been a recent change in this household. As recent as six months ago I was throwing out a whole lot of spoiling food every week. Even with the recent change in habit where I try to use up everything fresh we buy, I still end up with a decent amount of scraps and odds and ends that I have to throw out because we just can't go through it quick enough. Especially if I need a quarter cup of heavy cream and I have to buy a carton of it. Since things like cream, spices, vinegar, etc., are sent in the exact portion I will need for the recipe, I don't have to throw it out, or have it sit in my cupboard until I'm sure it's no longer any good. Since I am an exceptionally curious person, I wanted to know how the options and pricing available to me through GoodFood compared to other companies offering a comparable service. Mind you, I did some preliminary research before I even signed up because I need to know I'm getting the best bang for my buck, along with the best service on offer. So here are some companies (that deliver to my area), and how they compare:
GoodFood offers two family sized options, The Classic which can be ordered for 2 or 4 servings and offers "unique ingredients... for a culinary adventure" or The Family, which has family friendly fare which can be prepared a little faster. The Classic will run you $150 per week, at a cost of $37.50 per meal and The Family is $140 per week, which is $35 per meal. I would love to try out The Classic, but I have a very picky eater, and little time for cooking most nights during the week, so The Family it is. Also, of note, I found the GoodFood website very easy to navigate, and quickly found all the information I was looking for. The same cannot be said of 3 out of 4 of the 'competition' - Chefsplate wanted my email address right away, Fresh City was not user friendly, and Prepd looked like an eleven year old used a free website builder. Only the HelloFresh website was as easy and informative as GoodFood. My first box arrived on Tuesday February 28th. I received an email the day before letting me know what to expect in my box and that it would arrive at some point before 8:00pm. Since their box is lined and contains ice packs, you do not need to worry about being home when it arrives. Our box arrived at some point between 4:00 and 6:00. I say at some point because although there were two cars in our driveway, no one rang the doorbell or knocked on the door to let us know we had a delivery. I found that a little odd. If I hadn't happened to look out the front door around 6:15, I wouldn't have known it was there. I probably would have only gone out to look around 8:00, wondering where my food was. That aside, I was excited to bring in my box and check out the contents: There was a whole lot of goodness packed into that box, it was difficult to get it all into one shot. Just a quick glance assuaged my fears of portion sizes, this looked like a decent amount of food. First up, Shrimp Al Ajillo with Patatas Bravas. From my research I have learned that all of the aforementioned meal kit deliveries come with recipe cards. As you can see from the photo above, GoodFood sent me beautiful, full page recipe cards that were exceptionally easy to follow and will definitely find their way into a binder with two sections: "Make Again" and "Nope". GoodFood also has a link to each recipe on their website, so if you spill something on your card, or if the dog chews it up, you're good. Shrimp Al Ajillo will make it into the Make Again section. I hate green beans. Hate them. I haven't touched a green bean in over twenty years. These green beans were so good I actually wanted more! The shrimp were also good, but the real star of this meal were the potatoes. Simply roasted, but with the addition of the smoked paprika mayo - a delicious surprise. The recipe card states 35 minutes for prep time, but it took me just under an hour from start to plate. Maybe I'm just slow at cutting the ends off of the beans or pulling the tails off of the shrimp. Day two was Chana Masala. Hubby really enjoyed this dish, but the rest of us weren't too keen. Since it's an East Asian dish, I expected really bold flavors, but I found it really bland. I don't care for chickpeas or kale, so I was hoping the spices would make it worthwhile. The spiced naan was quite delicious, even if there was too much vinegar on the salad. My older son only ate about half of his meal (that has probably only happened a handful of times in his 18 years on this planet), and I had to make the younger one a peanut butter sandwich because he took one bite and said nope. The recipe card states 40 minutes for prep time, and that time was pretty much bang on. Day Three was Pork Chops with Onion Gravy and Parmesan Broccoli. I was the least excited about this meal because we eat pork chops all the time. However, this meal was even more enjoyable than the shrimp meal. The parmesan on the broccoli was a nice, sharp contrast to the sweetness of the gravy on the chops and barley. Definitely keeping this recipe! The recipe card states 40 minutes for prep time, but once again I took almost an hour. There were a lot of components to this recipe, and a lot you had to pay attention to. It was worth it, though. And we come to Day Four: Loaded Ground Beef Nachos with Fresh Salsa. My kids were looking forward to this one all week. Unfortunately, with all the stuff on it, my picky youngster would only try one chip. That was okay with the rest of us, because we really enjoyed dinner. Even with all of the fine chopping, this meal was on the table in an hour (The card said 40 minutes). It seemed like every meal this week featured an ingredient I am not fond of, so I give a whole lot of credit to GoodFood for designing meals that made me enjoy these foods! Today's ingredient was the radishes. Truthfully, I almost didn't use them. I am really glad I stuck to the recipe because they were a delicious addition to the nachos, along with the red pepper ketchup. There was a lot going on with this nachos, and yet every flavor shone through and it was a harmony for my taste buds. I work nights. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but lately I just can't find the energy to plan my meals, do my grocery shopping, then actually get into the kitchen and get it all together. Yes, it's the nights, but it's also the fibro, and the long, cold winter. By mid January I was already done with it. GoodFood has been an absolute lifesaver this week. Our family ate delicious, fresh, home cooked meals and I didn't have to put too much effort into it. I was able to wake up on my worst day, pull my ingredient bag out of the fridge, and be sitting down to a simple, yet wonderful, meal in less than an hour. I am extremely happy that I signed up for this service. The ingredients are fresh, perfectly portioned and pre-washed. The recipes are relatively simple but full of flavor. The price is very fair, and the portion sizes are perfect - no one is going hungry in this house. We put our meals in order of preference and here it is: ME: 1- Shrimp 2- Nachos 3- Pork Chops 4- Chana Masala HUBBY: 1- Shrimp 2- Pork Chops 3- Nachos 4- Chana Masala 18 YO: 1- Pork Chops 2- Nachos 3- Shrimp 4- Chana Masala 13 YO: 1- Shrimp 2-Pork Chops 3- Nachos 4- Chana Masala
All opinions expressed in this blog are my own, unbiased after testing the product. The product was fully paid for by myself. The subject of this blog entry has no expectation of a review, favorable or otherwise.
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I’ve been spending some time perusing Groupon lately, and there are some pretty interesting things to buy and places to see listed. I haven’t used Groupon in quite a while because the last time I used it I had a bit of an issue. Not with Groupon, mind you, but with Urthbox. The short version is that I bought the deal through Groupon, but when I signed up at urthbox.com they did not honor the discount code and charged me full price. It took quite a few angry emails to get any action from them, and in the end all I received was credit to my account, not a full refund. And so, I thought maybe I would give it another chance and do a Groupon series. I’ll buy some stuff, order some services, see some Ontario attractions, and let you know how smoothly it all goes, from start to finish. My first real issue is occurring as I'm trying to write this post. I have always used the app, and it's one of those things where you sign up, click the 'remember me' box, and don't really give it a second thought. Right now I'm attempting to get my password reset because I'd like to log in from my laptop but don't remember my password. I have (so far, the night is young) sent seven password reset requests, both from my laptop and from the app. A definite snag. I'm not sure where they're sending the reset email, because it's not showing up in my inbox or my spam. I even added them to my address book. Still nothing. After an hour and I lost count of how many requests, I sent Groupon a direct request. Fingers crossed. Let's move on. The first Groupon I decided to get is one I’ve been eyeballing for a few days: goodfood.com. It’s a meal prep subscription box. I love cooking & I have a real soft spot for subscription boxes. There’s just something fun about getting a mystery box of goodies delivered to your door. If I had the funds, I think I’d be up to my ears in subscription boxes! The discount looks pretty good: $69 for a $140 box. Yes, it says $150 for the regular price, but I selected that one on the website and it was listed at $140. Even at regular price, on its face, it looks like a fair trade for four family meals. So enough fresh ingredients to feed four hungry mouths. I say on its face because I haven’t seen the portion sizes yet, so I’ll have to reserve judgement. Anyone trying to eat real food knows that $140 does not go very far nowadays, so I’m curious to see what kind of bang I get for my buck. I'll do a full review on the actual box once it arrives. After I purchased my Groupon, but before I redeemed my voucher, I visited the goodfood.com website to confirm that I am actually getting a special deal. In other words, I don’t see the point of purchasing a voucher from Groupon and taking those extra steps if all I’m getting is the standard ‘new customer’ discount available to anyone direct from the site. You do get a discount directly from the site with your first order, but it’s $30 off, so your first week costs $110 instead of $140. I paid Groupon $69, and a strange (but wonderful) thing happened. When I entered my Groupon code, I received a discount of $150! So it looks like I have a credit of $10 towards next week. Bonus. (This must be because the Groupon stated $69 for $150) New customer discount vs Groupon discount The goodfood.com website is easy enough to navigate. Although I do have an option to switch out 2 meals, I decided to go with what they chose for us. I also got to choose my delivery day, which is nice, and a bit unusual. Most subscription boxes show up whenever they decide, especially with fresh food. Understandable, they’re grouping orders to each location to save time and cut down in costs. Goodfood.com did, however, give me the choice, and I went with Tuesdays because if I decide to stay with them awhile I figured it made sense to account for holidays and family stuff on weekends. As with all subscription services available at a discounted price (on any site, not just Groupon), I did have to enter my credit card information. However, the website is upfront... you’re entering your card number right above the disclaimer that clearly, in regular sized font, tells you that you are signing up for a service that will charge your card $140 every week unless you say otherwise. So, other than the password thing, it was pretty smooth sailing. I found something I liked on their main page (within the app), I purchased it, immediately received an email, and was signed up with the service with no issues with my discount code. Now I am on my way to some yummy meals next week. **UPDATE** Groupon customer service got back to me very quickly. Although it doesn't explain why I couldn't get a password reset through the app, it seems that I was attempting a reset with groupon.ca, while my account and purchases have been with groupon.com. (groupon.ca is for residents of Quebec) So top marks for customer service so far. A word about navigating the Groupon app; Even when I enter a specific city in the search bar, it shows me a whole lot of attractions and events that are not all that close. For example, I live in Oshawa, and when I enter that, I am also getting fun things to do in Downtown Toronto, which is an hour drive. I can tell you right now that I am not interested in driving for two hours just to have dinner or learn to salsa. An easier way to hone in on your actual area is to use the map feature (which you can find in the upper right hand corner on the app) and only things in that specific area will show up across the bottom of your screen. Now you can just scroll through them and see what is actually available in your area. Finally, a pet peeve for all us Canadians... pricing in USD. Wagjag is famous for it, and that is largely why I don't really even look through their offers anymore. Groupon is pretty good, most things are priced in CAD, but it is disappointing to see what you think is a great deal and then see that the price is say, US$72 for a concert in Toronto. With the current exchange rate, it isn't really a good deal anymore because it's actually costing me just over $91, and that doesn't take into account the exchange fees my credit card will charge. I wish they'd do away with that and just show pricing in the currency of the country that I'm shopping in. So that is it for my inaugural Groupon post. I'll give you an update on how quickly my password situation is resolved, and expect a new post either Tuesday or Wednesday when I review my GoodFood box. Stay tuned to see what I buy next! Click here or any green Groupon to use my personal referral link! It won't cost you anything extra, but I'll get a small credit to help me buy more from Groupon and deliver more honest reviews for you! Thanks for stopping by and supporting my blog.
Yesterday I posted pictures and descriptions of the items I received in my November Topbox and promised the same for the Flare Beauty Box $5 Add On. Well, here it is! The unveiling of the box. My treats are wrapped in pretty pink tissue with a note from Flare's beauty editors. Next is a little info sheet with a brief description and tip for each item included in the box. I absolutely love getting these - especially when one or more samples come in an unmarked jar, it definitely helps. Pantene Pro-V Ultimate 10 BB Creme, 151ml Actual value of product received: $6.94 According to The Pantene website, this product: Let's start with the reason I got this box. Yes, $5 is an excellent deal for what I received (it was no mystery box, they let us know before ordering what would be shipped) but this product is my number 1 pick for best product of the year (see my Bzz campaign product review here), and to get it again was a no-brainer. Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash with Shea Butter, 50ml Actual value of product received: $0.84 According to the Olay website, this product: I'm always up for trying a new bodywash. I've used Olay before and find them to be pretty hydrating and non-irritating. CoverGirl LashBlast Clump Crusher Mascara in #800 Very Black, 13.1ml Actual value of product received: $6.99 According to the CoverGirl website, this product: I absolutely LOVE mascara - it's my favorite makeup. Unfortunately it can also be one of the most difficult to get right. Not enough length, clumping, stink, racoon eyes, not waterproof, too waterproof, won't come off even with a chisel - the list is lengthy. I have tried some really great mascaras and although CoverGirl Exact EyeLights is among my favorites, most others I've tried by this brand have been disappointing. Let's see which way this one goes. Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream, 5g Actual value of product received: $2.50 According to the Olay website, this product: The obligatory facial cream included in every beauty box. Unfortunately, these sample sizes are usually too small to get a real idea of what the product can do. Pantene Pro-V Blowout Extend Dry Shampoo, 140g Actual value of product received: $4.96 According to the Pantene website, this product: My sister in law first recommended using a dry shampoo, as she has the same issue I do - I can't wash my hair every day because I lose so much that I'd probably be bald by the end of the year, but my hair looks gross and greasy the next day - like I haven't washed it in a week. I'm happy to try this out and see if it is as good as it's supposed to be. Any Clairol Hair Colour Product, 1 kit Actual value of product received: $6.92 According to the Clairol website, this product: I'm going to use this to get a box of the Clairol Nice 'n Easy #126 Natural Black Mahogany because I received a box to test out as a part of my most recent Bzz campaign and one box is usually not enough because my hair is so long. I was going to use just the one, but since I can get a second one free, why not? The actual value of my $5.00 CDN Flare Beauty Box Add On is (drumroll, please): $29.15. I got way more than my money's worth on a box with many items I am excited to try out.
Topbox is available as a monthly subscription for $12.00CDN per month - by invitation only. If you would like an invitation, drop me an email, I'd be happy to send you one. Add on boxes are only available to subscribers. Nothing puts a smile on my face quite like a package full of goodies in my mailbox! November's Topbox arrived today, complete with the Flare Beauty Box add on, which I paid an extra $5.00 for. Let us begin with the November subscription box. This month I received: Revlon UniqOne All in One Hair Treatment, 9ml Actual value of product received: $0.90 According to The UniqOne website, this product: This product seems to be along the same lines as the Pantene BB Creme, which is my absolute favorite product of the year. I will definitely try this out to see how it stacks up against it's stiff competition. Elizabeth Arden Flawless Future Caplet Serum, 5ml Actual value of product received: $12 According to the Elizabeth Arden website: I'm always game when it comes to trying out the fountain of youth in a bottle. So far, none of them have erased any years. Maybe Elizabeth will be the one. Benefit Cosmetics Stay Flawless 8-Hour Primer, 1.2g Actual value of product received: $2.94 According to Benefit Cosmetics website, this product: I was going to stick this on my 'For Sale' page, but then I had second thoughts. I think I'll try this out and see if it gives a smoother appearance to my foundation. It has excellent online reviews, but so did their mascara, and I was less than impressed with it. Eyeko London Black Magic Mascara, 4ml Actual value of product received: $12 According to the Eyeko London website: Oh, I'm a sucker for mascara! Lately I have been sorely disappointed by everything that has been showing up at my door. But I am ready and willing to love again! Eyeko London, show me some love. I'll definitely be posting a review on this one once I get it on my lashes. The actual value of my $12.00 CDN box is (drumroll, please): $27.84. Just a meh month. I'm not really excited about any of these products, but none are terrible. Although I got my money's worth, it was not a fireworks in the sky kinda box. Topbox is available as a monthly subscription for $12.00CDN per month - by invitation only. If you would like an invitation, drop me an email, I'd be happy to send you one. As I spent way too much time dealing with some other issues earlier and my children are clamoring for dinner, I'm going to break this into two parts and give you a post on the Flare Beauty Box add on tomorrow - stay tuned!
I received this item as part of my October Topbox and decided it would be the first item I try out. I have a few skincare items waiting in limbo to be taken for a test drive, but I like to use them one at a time so that I can tell if any effects, good or bad, are actually a result of using that particular product, and not something else entirely. I have adult-onset acne and my usual regimen for facial cleansing consists of washing my face in the morning with Neutrogena All-in-1 Acne Control Daily Scrub and using Balea 3-in-1 Facial Cleaning Towelettes in the evening. Together they seemed to minimize my breakouts, but I am always on the lookout for the next great thing. Enter Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution. I'm replacing both of the aforementioned products and cleansing my face in the morning and before bed exclusively with Bioderma. It's a liquid, so you treat it as you would a toner, pour some on a cotton pad and wipe it gently across your face. Week one saw a massive breakout of red, itchy pimples all over my cheeks for about three days. I was inconvenienced, annoyed, embarrassed, but not overly concerned. Starting any new facial cleanser often gives me breakouts and I know well enough to give it some time to acclimate to the Bioderma. The second reason I wasn't too concerned yet was because I've been seeing a lot of posts lately accusing companies who manufacture acne products of putting something in the soaps and creams that actually make you break out so that you will continue to buy their product. I've also heard that Proactiv works wonders - until you stop using it. That being said, I don't know any of these things for a fact and I'm willing to try a product not made to fight acne to see how it stacks up. Boy, was I itchy, though! Around day four, the itch was gone, and the redness and pimples had begun to subside. My face definitely felt softer. I have an issue with the skin on the sides of my face - it looks normal, but if you touch it, it feels like sandpaper. Not fun, and embarrassing if someone touches it. I feel a definite difference in the softness of the skin all over, but it's most noticeable here because that area is what I use as the ultimate test. My face was already feeling less dry and oily (combination skin, here) and more even, just like skin I imagine normal people have. I also noticed a reduction in blackheads on my nose, which are the bane of my existence. I can't seem to get rid of them ever with just regular washing, no matter how hard I scrubbed or how much exfoliation I used. Biore face strips were my weekly go-to. Since they specifically mention removing water-resistant makeup, I decided to put on some waterproof mascara and see how easily I could remove it at the end of the day. I did take some rubbing, and three cotton pads, but Bioderma did, in fact, remove all of my mascara from my lashes and the skin around my eyes. Before I give you my final verdict, here's what Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution can do for you according to their website: Overall, this product did what it claimed it would do, my skin felt softer, cleaner and did not dry out after use. It removed my waterproof mascara and on the whole, this product does exactly what it claims it will do. Its also reasonably priced at $21.95 for a 250ml bottle at Shoppers Drug Mart. Product Rating: 5 smiles out of 5 Product Website: www.bioderma.com Product Type: skin care Would I purchase again?: yes Would I recommend?: yes All opinions expressed in this blog are my own, unbiased after testing the product. The product was fully paid for by myself. The subject of this blog entry has no expectation of a review, favorable or otherwise. I received this product as part of my October Topbox (see what else it contained here) - if you'd like an invite to be a part of Topbox, send me an email.
I opened my mailbox today to find a lovely surprise - October's Topbox! What is Topbox, I hear you ask? It's a Canadian beauty subscription box. The cost is $12.00 per month and they ship you a mystery box with four full-sized products for you to enjoy. I say mystery because you don't know what you'll get until you receive your package and open it! When the people at Topbox are getting ready to put your box together, they'll send you an email in which you can head on over to their site and create your wishlist. They'll give you options, and you decide which one you prefer. Some are just a mystery box, other times it will be only a product or two of a higher value. You also have the option of paying a higher price and getting one of their limited edition or anniversary boxes, like Lou Lou or Chatelaine. These boxes are no mystery, they let you know exactly what you're getting in them. They also have a new 'greener' option available - skip the box and receive your product in a reusable mesh bag. I (obviously) opted for the box. It is my very first month and I really wanted my Topbox to come in a box. When they're ready to ship your box, they send you another email letting you know that your products are on their way and they also give you a tracking number, which is nice, but I really didn't need it since I received my package by Expresspost the next day (today). Let's get to the good stuff... I've been showing you pictures of the packaging, but what did my box contain? Voila! My little box of goodies. They also send a little info sheet so that you know what you received, retail prices and how to use it, which I always appreciate. Here's a closer look at what I received: Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution, 100ml Actual value of product received: $7.50 According to Bioderma's website, this product is: This looks like a great product. Especially since I often wear waterproof mascara which seems to be soap-proof also. I am interested to test out whether this will actually remove my makeup without too much scrubbing. China Glaze Nail Lacquer in X-TA-SEA #1306, 14ml Actual value of product received: $7.50 According to China Glaze's website, this product: LOVE purple! I am always excited to see nailpolish in any of the boxes I get. The colour has to be really horrendous or a duplicate for me to be unhappy. This colour is so vibrant, I'm excited to get it on my nails. Its a full sized bottle, which is also nice. I have never tried the China Glaze brand (shockingly), but I have read really great reviews about it. Lancome Genifique Yeux Light-Pearl Eye-Illuminating Youth Activating Concentrate, 5ml Actual value of product received: $19.10 According to Lancome's website, this product: This product looks really interesting, especially since I am just about out of my night cream. Super expensive, too. But it is Lancome, and I only expect the best from them. I was going to put this up on my for sale page, but after reading about it, I decided to keep it for myself! Benefit Cosmetics they're real! mascara, .01oz Actual value of product received: $9.67 According to Benefit Cosmetics' website, this product: Mascara. How do I love you, let me count the ways! Next to nailpolish, mascara is definitely my number 2 favorite beauty product. The colour is a rich black and the reviews online are excellent, so I'm ready to try this out! All in all, I think that Topbox is out to steal my heart! I am super happy with the October box, I am ready and willing to use all of the high-quality products I received, with some really big names represented. The actual value of my $12.00 CDN box is (drumroll, please): $43.77. That is a pretty decent haul! Like I said, all big names and great products. Can you read the super-huge smile on my face? Are you interested in getting in on your own Topbox? Email me your request and I'll send you an invite. Be warned - there is a waiting list. This subscription box is in high demand. I think for good reason!
Last month I purchased the Julep Jewel Heist Mystery Box - full of joy and anticipation of fabulously sparkly polishes arriving in my mailbox. I mean, just look at the beauty in the picture above (snapshot from the email they sent) - to look at that is like seeing the heavens open and feathery angels draped in white descend while trumpets play and each one is holding a harp made from a different precious gemstone in their arms... Boy was I disappointed. First off, it took forever to get here. Shipping is usually 5-10 business days, and their stuff usually does arrive right around the 8th day. This time around, it was well over the time and I had to email them to find out what was going on. Waiting for something so anticipated is pure torture! The coveted package finally arrived yesterday. I bounded home in the rain from the mailbox and set my package down, eager to tear it open to reveal the glittering surprises within. I suppressed this urge and gingerly cut the tape and flipped the lid. This is the sight that greeted me: My smile froze on my face as I pulled out the contents for closer inspection: Oh Julep - How have you disappointed me? Let me count the ways... I'm going to start with this. This picture above is actually a snip from this post, where I review the 100 Degrees of Mystery Box. Why? Because I already received this item in that box and now I have two of something I will never use. I have to guess this is a poor seller if it's showing up in all the mystery boxes. Moving on. The next item to disappoint is these Twistband hair ties. They're not even a Julep product. Don't get me wrong, all ladies need hair ties, if you have long hair, you can never have enough. However, no matter how fantastic they claim these are, they're not really for me. I like to wear my ponytail high and tight, and these do not hold my hair. Within minutes, it was sad and droopy. So I'll use them until they get lost and I have no use for the discount on the membership. Nor would I ever pay this amount of money for a hairtie - unless there were actual jewels in it. Value of product: $4.00 + $7.50 (for the membership discount) Next, we have this eyeshadow brush. A great compliment to the eyeshadow I received (see next item), but not really anything I need because I don't wear eyeshadow or blush. Next up is this palette of five neutral shades of eyeshadow which are great for fall, but not very reminiscent of jewels. I mentioned previously that I do not wear eyeshadow, so this is another disappointment for me. Finally, something I will actually use. I love lipgloss and this is a pretty colour for the fall season, but I still don't see anything yet that has to do with the whole Jewel Heist theme. The cool thing about this gloss is that it goes on like a neutral, then slowly changes into a pink. I will use this because I have it, but it goes on stickier than other glosses and feels thick and uncomfortable on my lips. I wouldn't ever pay $20 (or $16) for this, and if I did, I would have been pretty upset about it. Finally! Something I want to use in a promised jewel tone! I am really not crazy about orange, but quite frankly, I was just just happy to see polish in the box. As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, my expectations were high for a box full of lovely, sparkly polishes and unfortunately had to settle for one in a shade I'm not crazy about. So, I paid $27.98 for this mystery box. What were the contents worth, all told? Retail $109.50 Maven $89.90 So if I was a Maven, I would not have received $100+ value in this box (as advertised) - or do Mavens get a better box? I'm still on the fence about signing up to be a Maven - and this box put me on the no side for a while. One thing is for sure, even though I was really, really disappointed this time, I will try again with the next box. Let's face it, I love surprises. Click to take the quiz and find out which is your style! You can also become a Maven by using this link (and get your first box free by using code FREEBOX at checkout) - and I get some referral points so I can get more pretty stuff for me from Julep. If you do sign up using my link drop me a line and let me know! All opinions expressed in this blog are my own, unbiased after testing the product(s). The product was fully paid for by myself. The subject of this blog entry has no expectation of a review, favorable or otherwise.
This "Double-duty cuticle and nail care" mask was part of the Julep Mystery Box I purchased and reviewed earlier this month. I finally had a chance to try it out. I opened the package to find ten little pockets filled with cream. They're attached and tearing them apart is pretty easy, but slipping them on ( and getting them to stay put) is another story. I started with the fingers on my left and that was perfectly fine - however, once I had them on, using that hand to get them onto the fingers of my right hand required a little bit more effort. If you have someone around to help you out with this, I definitely recommend recruiting them. The pockets (for lack of a better word) are one size fits all, so they're not very snug. In fact, I spent the entire half hour pushing them back down. Maybe that was part of the plan, because I also spent that time massaging the cream into my nails, nail beds and fingertips as I tried to keep them in place. While they were on my fingers I felt a very mild tingle going on. It was unexpected, and I'm not sure if that's what it was supposed to do, but it felt kinda nice, like a little massage. There was no scent whatsoever from the pockets themselves. I sniffed the package and all I got was a very faint citrus scent. That's great in my book, because I find that too many beauty products use too much fragrance for no good reason. I also have an issue with heavy perfumes, so this is a product that didn't give me headaches. After about 25 minutes, I peeled them off and massaged the rest of the cream into my fingers and nails. In fact, there was so much cream left on and under my nails that I had enough to massage into my entire hands. The cream was easily absorbed and did not leave a greasy feel afterward. So, did I see any difference? My nails definitely felt softer and look less dry. I change my nail colour often and all the polish removal use can really dry out my nails, so this mini spa felt like the right thing. Overall this product does exactly what you expect. I will definitely purchase and use it again and would recommend it to anyone who cares about their nails. Product Rating: 4 smiles out of 5 Product Website: www.julep.com Product Type: nail care Scroll down for pricing info. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own, unbiased after testing the product(s). The product was fully paid for by myself. The subject of this blog entry has no expectation of a review, favorable or otherwise.
I receive a referral reward for purchases made through any link within this entry. Thank you for supporting my nail polish addiction. Ever since I heard about the Julep Maven subscription boxes, I have been dying to get one. I am not a Maven yet, but I did finally spring for a Julep Mystery Box. A Julep Mystery Box gives you a great deal on product that is almost out of stock, out of season, you know, odds and ends they have left over while cleaning out their warehouse. If you're okay with that (and I totally am), these are a great deal. This one just seemed way too good to pass up, $100 value for $25 (USD). So I placed my order and waited. And waited. And waited. I don't think I've ever checked my mailbox every day for an entire week in anticipation of a package before, but I did this time! I won't make you wait any longer, here is the unveiling of my box: What did you get, I hear you ask excitedly? Well, I made out pretty well, I think. I received four polishes, an eye primer, a spa mask (!) for my nails and a lipgloss in one of the most gorgeous shades I've ever seen. Julep Lipgloss in the colour 'Posh' - Regular price on julep.com = $20, Maven price = $16 *This colour is no longer available for purchase* Julep Nail Mask (single pack) - Regular price of a pack of 10 on julep.com = $30, on sale right now for $10/pk *this item is still available for purchase* Julep Blank Canvas Mattifying Eye Primer - Regular price on julep.com = $22, Maven price = $18 *this item is still available for purchase* Julep nailpolish in the colour 'Max' (black & white confetti) - Regular price on julep.com = $14, Maven price = $12 *This colour is no longer available for purchase* I used the colour 'Paris' for pricing, it was closest to 'Max'. Julep nailpolish in the colour 'Zoe' - Regular price on julep.com = $14, Maven price = $12 *This colour is still available for purchase* Julep nailpolish in the colour 'Lynn' (nude) - Regular price on julep.com = $14, Maven price = $12 *This colour is no longer available for purchase* I used an average price, I was not able to find the style. Julep nailpolish in the colour 'Gloria' - Regular price on julep.com = $14, Maven price = $12 *This colour is no longer available for purchase* I used the colour 'Brielle' for pricing, it was closest to 'Gloria'.
So? What did I think overall? I am thrilled and think I got a pretty good deal for my 30 Canadian dollars. Regular total cost is about $100, and Maven cost is about $84 (both in USD, I paid $30 CAD after shipping and exchange). I'm super psyched to try out the other three colours, even though I already have two other shades in the nude family, this one is a little darker, so it's okay. The lipgloss is such a beautiful colour that I have to try it out ASAP! I'm interested to see what the eye primer can do for me and I'll definitely give you a product review when I get those nail masks on! My verdict? I need to talk to my manager about a raise so I can become a Maven as soon as possible so I can start getting some more of this awesome polish from Julep. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own, unbiased after testing the product(s). The product was fully paid for by myself. The subject of this blog entry has no expectation of a review, favorable or otherwise.
Above: Yesterday's box with cherries, corn, tomatoes, fennel, cucumber and a pineapple. I subscribe to Farms & Forks (formerly organicfooddelivery.com) and I have never been disappointed. Although they offer a fantastic policy in regards to over-ripe or damaged foods, I have yet to find one piece of fruit or vegetable that wasn't absolutely perfect in my box. Customer service is second-to-none, questions are answered and issues are dealt with quickly. They started out small, but are growing quickly, something that usually means the death of such fantastic customer care. However, with the Farms & Forks team, this is not the case. They put you first and deliver fantastic food with many more options offered each week... growth looks good on them. And my delivery person, Roxanne, is so friendly, always waiting around to say hi when I come outside to pick up my box after she rings the doorbell.
Supporting your local farmers by using their CSA (community supported agriculture) boxes is a great option, but we do live in a country with winter, so these are only an option during the growing season. Therefore, I like to subscribe to a year-round box and visit farmer's markets during the summer and fall months. Farms & Forks delivers all across the GTA, and if this is something that sounds interesting to you, I urge you to give them a try. They offer three box sizes (see pic for examples) and you can choose fruit or veggie only, or the combo box with both. If you don't like them, cancelling after your first box is easy. Start small and see how it goes. They also offer a 'one time only' deal, so you can try it out before you commit. Their website is http://organicfooddelivery.com (clicking this link will open a new window) and if you do decide to try them out, I ask that you enter my name (Sonja Pecnik) in the referral area, I do get $5 toward my next box if you do! Please let me know in the comments section if you decided to give it a try and what your experience was.
Above: Last week's box with basil, beets, bananas, zucchini, purple (!) sweet pepper, oranges, red cabbage and strawberries. Also, our dessert featuring the super-sweet strawberries from Ted Eng's Farm. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own, unbiased after testing the product. The product was fully paid for by myself. The subject of this blog entry has no expectation of a review, favorable or otherwise.
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AuthorHi! I'm Sonja and I'm glad you're here! I'm happy to share some recipes and gardening tips with you while I let you know about great (or not so great) products, services, and media I encounter. Visit my online shop at MysteriousDragonfyre.com
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