So this month's Loot Crate was way awesome, as expected. The shipping took a little longer this time. I got my tracking number on the 19th, but it actually arrived on the 26th, a whole 8 days! D: Two friends of mine who live in my area actually got theirs one or two days earlier than me. But this subscription box thing is like that... you have to be patient. Luckily, Henry doesn't get the tracking number, so he's kind of just surprised whenever it comes. Again, if you don't know what a Loot Crate is, it's a subscription box (a box that comes once a month filled with surprises) geared especially towards gamers and geeks. And they only ship to the US for now, but they say they will be going international one day. :) So hang in there!
The unboxing!
His membership card came with it this time! Had his name on it and everything.
This month's theme: Outbreak (in celebration of Halloween)
The packing list!
Henry was SO smitten about his shirt.
He is so into Diablo III, and didn't see all the spoilers on facebook, so this was a nice surprise for him. :)
A really cool dog tag.
FYI: MC stands for Matthew and Chris, the cofounders of Loot Crate. :)
Zombie Pea Brains (wasabi flavored) - $7.50, Zombie Jerky - $7.99 for the full size (est $1.00 sample?), Love Potion Energy drink - $4ish, Glow in the Dark Vampire Fangs - $5.25 for 72, Custom Dog Tag, and Diablo III shirt - $20!
Henry actually tore open the jerky package and started eating it before I could take a picture of everything.
I don't know if you can tell or not.
Also, two zombie buttons!
.:. Update .:. So I forgot to really review the highs and lows of the actual products themselves, as I was running out of time during my lunch break. The best part of the box was definitely the shirt, the "high-value" item that a subscription box usually has (or they will have a bunch of awesome samples). Since Loot Crate offers 6-8 things for their price, subscribers will usually expect a high value item each month since I would think it'd be difficult to get your hands on a bunch of geeky mini samples. :P We enjoyed pretty much everything... the love potion could probably be saved as a cute way to break the ice with a new girl, Valentine's Day, or a small gesture of apology if you're in the doghouse. The dog tag and zombie buttons would definitely have to be the other things we really enjoyed. The dog tag, because it's something original that you can't purchase anywhere else, and admittedly, it's kind of cool to have something cool and unique. The buttons, because Henry gets to cover his lunch cooler from all his Loot Crate buttons (he might be able to start a collection if they keep including them in every crate). The jerky, Henry wanted to try right away, as I couldn't even take a picture of it before he cut it open. Tasted like regular jerky... it's a novelty, so we probably wouldn't replace our regular jerky snack with it... plus, it doesn't really give you that "I want to eat that" feeling lol. The zombie wasabi peas were our least favorite, but that's only because we both don't really like wasabi that much. Well, me not at all, and Henry only likes it with his sashimi. I am a fan of the regular roasted pea brains without the wasabi though! It's a shame.
Overall, Henry really liked this month's box a lot, and I loved it because of how happy it made him. I actually tried to take a picture of his wide eyed, gleeful reaction, but he covered up his face with the card before I could get it. Boooo. But trust me, he was super happy. Thanks Loot Crate! :D The value of the box this time around was GREAT, as the shirt was already worth $20 so everything else was kind of a bonus. A great step up from last month! If you haven't gotten one yet, and you would love getting things like this every month (it's fun), you totally should. I would also recommend liking Loot Crate's facebook page, as sometimes they post discounts (ie. 20% off for the first 20 people who sign up with their link). Be aware that people sometimes post spoilers on their page, so I would stay away from looking at their stuff around shipping time if you want to be surprised. :)
Oh! And this is what the Mega Crate winner for the month of October got.
Congrats Chris Glock! (Fan of the last name)
So sign up, if you want a chance at getting an awesome Mega Crate!
If you want to check out what I thought about last month's box (September), you can click here.
And if you want to show your support for my blog by signing up through my personal Loot Crate link for a subscription, I would very much appreciate it. <3
Thanks for reading!
TheRxNina PS - Just a few pics of our ninja Halloween costumes that Henry put together. For fun.
Heyyy dog lovers! So I was feeling really under the weather today (experiencing the beginnings of what I hope isn't a cold), but fortunately, Boomer and Sookie's BarkBox and PawBox came in! It was so difficult to wait for the boyfriend (Henry) to get home so we could open it together, but I somehow managed. I'm gonna try and make it really brief this time since my last one was a *bit* long.
Both BarkBox and PawBox are a subscription box for dogs, but PawBox is going to soon offer a box geared towards cats too. My BarkBox was shipped first, but since they are based off the east coast (and I am not), they both got here at the same time. It took an awfully long time for my Barkbox to get here; shipped on the 15th and got here on the 24th = 9 whole days, while PawBox shipped out the 22nd and came on the 24th = 2 days. I've been spoiled by Amazon Prime so anything more than two days is a long time for me. I was able to score an almost 1/2 off deal from Groupon, which has actually been offered multiple times so I would keep a keen eye out for that. I paid $60 for a 6-month subscription which would usually be $105 normally. So I am basically paying $10 a month, instead of the normal $17. I was also able to get my first month of PawBox for 1/2 off through Coupaw, instead of the usual $10 a month it would cost. BarkBox is shipped out on the 15th of every month, and it includes 4 or more products ranging from toys, shampoo, food samples, treats, etc. What I like about their box is that 10% of the proceeds from each box goes to supporting a rescue group, which is such an awesome thing for them to do. Again, normally $17 a month including shipping. PawBox doesn't have a set date they ship out. I actually think that's smart of them because it adds to the surprise element. Sometimes I feel like I wish these subscription box places didn't send out tracking numbers because I'm such an impatient person that I get antsy once I know it's been shipped out. They are also based in San Diego (I'm pretty sure, since it was sent from there), where Henry is from, so kudos for that. From what I gather from the website, they send out a mix of 5 luxury miniatures every month. And again, they are normally $10 a month including shipping, a cheaper alternative to BarkBox.
So let's get to the unboxing part!
BarkBox Unboxing:
Boomer was so excited! ><
What was in the box! Feelgood Turkey Trail Blazin' Bitz Treats (made in Canada) - $6, Lollycadoodle wool toy snake (made in Nepal) - $5, Moody Pet Humunga Stache (it really was, Sookie couldn't even fit the ball part in her mouth) - $12, Tropiclean Clean Tooth Gel - $8, a prescription discount card from Honest Discounts, and a roll of poop bags from Metro Paws - $2.
My little Sookie waiting for her new treats.
She was being so patient. :)
The treats themselves kind of looked like pieces of cereal; really crunchy.
Action shot of the Lollycadoodle wool snake! They loved this thing!
How I got them to look at the camera was a miracle.
Probably the best Humunga Stache shot I got, even though it's blurry lol.
The next few pictures are all the attempts of us trying to get a perfect one. I had Henry get the Mario mustache that he got from Loot Crate last month so we could get a father and son stache' shot!
...It had to have been the most difficult photo shoot EVER.
He did NOT want to stay still.
Quit strangling my dog!!
Aw.. finally. Sheesh.
Here is a totally legit video that I made in 20 seconds using the Magisto Video Editing app for Android.
October BarkBox Fun!
Who let the dogs out?! Woof, woof, woof, woof.
Overall, I was really really happy with the BarkBox as my dogs LOVE new toys and from what I've seen, BarkBox includes at least one in there each month. They went for the snake right away and at first, they had no idea what to really do with it, but as you can see in the video, they got the hang of it really fast. It's actually still holding up pretty well, as it's been an hour and Boomer hasn't destroyed the whole thing yet. We're only letting Sookie play with the Humunga Stache since she's usually pretty gentle with her toys, but Boomer would definitely destroy that thing in a second. They could really use that Tropiclean tooth gel too, since their breath is staaanky. Hopefully it works! I also love that they included training treats since we can always use more of those. And they don't make your hand smell. I always give my dogs a treat before I leave and I hate having to wash my hands afterwards because they're usually so smelly. The poop bags we could have probably done without just because I already have a TON of them that I buy in bulk on Amazon. But I know that some people probably love that they include poop bags in the box. I definitely thought this box was worth the normal price ($17), and I'm ecstatic that I got such a great deal for it at $10! We had a lot of fun with the box and we are definitely a group of happy customers!
Pawbox Unboxing:
Dr. Harvey's Veg To Bowl pre-mix food, scented Doggie Walk Bags, a bone-shaped biscuit from Fido's Cookies, 2 sample packets of Isle of Dogs Shampoo, and a Lickety Stik sample.
The actual box and tissue paper was really cute.
Overall, I liked the PawBox too. I really liked the shampoo samples, because it comes in really handy for when we go on road trips with our dogs and don't have to lug around a bottle of their shampoo. I also liked the lickity stick sample since we have bought a full size before and they love it. It's also really handy for times when you don't want to get your hands smelly. But be warned, the liquid in there itself is staaaanky. I would definitely use it in a more open-aired room lol. It kind of smells like highly concentrated chicken broth. The Fido's cookie treat was really cute, and another thing we could bring on our trip to San Diego in the near future. Again, probably could have done without the poop bags, but hey, I guess it's something you'll always need to buy. Like toilet paper. And as for the food sample, we actually feed our dogs grain-free food because Boomer is apparently allergic to something (we suspect chicken, or grains) so we buy the Kirkland Salmon brand which they really seem to like. We also recently bought some Nature's Instinct raw food in Rabbit as a way for them to not get bored of the same food all the time. I guess you aren't supposed to mix a raw food diet with a dry diet if it has grains in it, although I haven't looked it up yet, but that's just what the guy at the Pet Planet told me. We will probably end up letting them try it with some meat anyway (not chicken). It's kind of like an oatmeal type deal where you cook the pre-mix with hot water and then stir in some protein and just feed it to them like that. It's not very convenient, so I probably wouldn't buy that particular type of food as a daily thing. I thought the PawBox was worth the sale price of $5 that I payed for it, but I probably wouldn't want to pay the normal $10 a month for it, as the box was mostly made up of samples. I will probably try it one more time for next month to see if it's better.
If you're thinking about spoiling a pup with a BarkBox, click here and you will get $5 off your first subscription! If you're thinking about trying out samples with a PawBox at a more reasonable price, click here and you can save $5 through Coupaw (you just have to sign up first)! It's a reeeally fun thing to do. And who deserves a gift every month than a family member who loves you no matter what? :)
Thanks for reading! (Apparently, the "trying to be brief" thing didn't work lol)
TheRxNina
.: Update 11/01/12 - Thank you to whoever it was who signed up through my BarkBox link! You got my pups another month of their awesome BarkBox and you've made them AND me, so happy! :D We appreciate it! :.
.: Update 11/13/12 - Thank you to the second person who used my referral link! I hope that the next BarkBox will make your pup(s) as happy as it has made mine! :) We appreciate it! :.
.: Update 11/21/12 - This is incredible! Thank you for the all the people who are signing up through my referral link! I am so happy to see that my reviews are actually being read lol. Again, my pups are going to have a couple of extra fun months of Barkbox because of some wonderful readers and now fellow Barkboxers out there. Hope you all enjoy your new Barkboxes! Will be doing November's review soon! (Another awesome box) :.
Hello my eco-friendly friends! So I finally got my vegan box from Conscious Box in today. I had gotten my regular Conscious Box in already, but I actually splurged a little last month and decided to just go for the vegan box because I had read on Facebook that they were going to feature some goodies for dogs (and everyone who knows me knows I am a sucker when I come to spoiling my dogs or any dogs). I'm definitely an omnivore though. The reason why my review is a little late because it's been not just a hectic week for me, but also because I wanted to wait for both boxes to come in before doing it. So why didn't I get them both at the same time? I had actually signed up for the Vegan Box first, but forgot to update my very old address in Paypal. After signing up for the regular conscious box also, I caught this mistake and shot them an email asking if they could make sure that the shipping address was changed to my new one, but I guess it slipped through the cracks since it got sent to my old Hawaii address anyway. No harm, no foul though, since my vegan box was totally worth the wait! Jesse from Conscious Box was actually very helpful and responded to my emails very quickly. Surprise!! So instead of getting just my vegan box in the mail, they also sent me another regular Conscious Box! Thank you Conscious Box staff! That was really awesome and kind of you! So instead of being greedy and keeping it all to myself, I wanted to pay it forward and give it to someone else so they can experience the joy of what a subscription box is like. I decided that there would be no one better to receive a Conscious Box than my dear friend, mentor, and old professor, Rachel Smith. She started the environmental club back at my old community college and was a huge part of my getting admitted to pharmacy school so I am forever going to be grateful for all the ways she helped me since I moved to AZ. Love you, Rachel! Let's start off with a little about Conscious Box, since this is my first time reviewing it. They are a subscription box company that focuses on introducing their subscribers to eco-friendly products. They create themed boxes like most subscription boxes do, but also reward those with a bonus product in their next box if they've left a comment about the box on Facebook or Twitter. One of the unique things I like about Conscious Box is that they really encourage people to reuse their boxes in a creative way and post it on Facebook. If you like their page, they usually share the best ones. The most interesting one I saw was someone who reused theirs as a little nook for their ferret to play in, haha. It's about $20 a month with shipping included, so it's one of the higher priced ones. My boyfriend graduated as a mechanical engineer with a specialization in Energy and Environment so I figured he would appreciate this box. We're admittedly not that eco-conscious although we do recycle and try our best not to harm the environment by not littering and such. The great part about conscious box is not only do they introduce you to awesome sustainable products, they also educate you on why it's important to be eco-friendly and give background about the companies they support. You can tell that they put a lot of time and thought into researching their products and honestly care about the satisfaction of their customers and I love that. So to the unboxing! Everyone's favorite part. :) Sorry if the pictures are blurry! I have to take them with my smart phone (plus, it's really convenient since it auto-uploads to my google+ account), but I'll be sure to ask Henry for a better camera this Christmas. First: The regular Conscious Box
This was the theme for October's box.
A beautiful photo that was sitting on top of everything.
It's a postcard!
In an email, they'll send you the packing list of all the things that are in your box. They usually try to send it about the time you would probably get it in the mail so it doesn't spoil the surprise, but if you don't get it in the mail by that time, just have some self control and don't open it. :P Didn't work for me though!
Conscious Box packing list:
RW Garcia Dippers – 3 Seed Curry & Mango Dipping Chips
These. Chips. Are. Delicious. Combining tantalizing curry spice with a touch of sweet mango, just one bite will leave your taste buds reeling and you'll see what we mean. Both Gluten-Free and Non-GMO certified, these tasty chips are perfectly paired with organic avacados. Dippers are the perfect centerpiece for festival dips for the whole family!
GeoDeo – Natural Deodorant + Detox
Coming in Unscented, Ocean, and Island scents, GeoDeo is a great new staple for your underarms. No parabens, harmful aluminums, sulfates, dyes, or petrochemicals. Instead, get a deodorant that is infused with volcanic minerals, odor neutralizing enzymes and vitamin E. Detox while you deodorize.
Bumble Bar Organic Sesame Bar
Gluten-Free, ethically-sourced, kid-approved, delicious, and nutritious? Yup. Bumble Bar has got it all! The perfect Halloween candy alternative, this tasty bar is a much needed change of pace. It has already made its way into our hearts—one sweet little seed at a time! Use coupon code GLUTENFREE for 30% off from September 17th through December 17th at bumlebar.com
Clandestino – Banana Bar
The banana is a powerful fruit. Packed full of potassium, it provides us with a source of serious energy and fuel for continued exercise and performance. Clandestino artfully combines the power of the banana with the convenience of a delicious treat. 100% recycled packaging, verified non-GMO ingredients, and with a taste to die for, you won't want to miss grabbing a box of these before your next outing.
TeaTulia
A staple in our cupboard is the most delicious tea on the planet, and this month, we're excited to introduce Teatulia—an incredible mastery of organic tea blends. From Earl of Bengal to White Tea to Neem Nectar, your sure to find your favorite flavor! Make sure to stock up for the cold season ahead :)
Yummy Earth Organic
Created by lollipop-fans turned new-dads, Yummy Earth Organic creates some of the most delicious organic candy around. If you're looking for a lolly to replace the standard sugar fix in your Halloween basket, Yummy Earth is the best place to start!
Larabar
Still trying to find a snack bar worth replacing the "usual"? Larabar's got your gluten-free, non-GMO solution, and it doesn't stop with delicious flavors like Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough—wait till you get your hands on Carrot Cake, Blueberry Muffin, or Peanut Butter & Jelly! Energizing, delicious, and from a company built with a purpose, we love Larabar :)
GoodLight Natural Candles
GoodLight Candles is rooted with a simple, yet very true principle: you breathe what you burn. The candles in your home have big effect on the air you're breathing—that's why they created these clean-burning, non-toxic, lead-free, and paraffin-free candles. GoodLight does more than just "good" with 100% palm wax candles, an active membership with 1% for the Planet, and their involvement with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil and Greenpalm, ensuring their palm source is of the highest and most sustainble quality. Let's always fill our home (and pumpkins!) with candles a bit more principled—starting today!
Zarbees
With the cold season right around the corner, equip yourself with a more natural solution. Gluten-free, dye-free, and free of harmful drugs and alcohol, Zarbees comes pediatrician recommended. But hey... that's not to say it can't help your sore throat even if you're all grown up!
VitaRocks
We've discovered the funnest way to take your vitamins—and it goes pop! Vitarocks are a healthy, delicious alternative to normal vitamins, or even to normal candy! No artificial colors, flavors, or ingredients, and with just a bit of sweetening. What are you waiting for? Rip 'em open! Use coupon code CBOX20 for 20% off the entire line at vitarocks.com
Crum Creek – Certified Organic Soy Nut Mix
Finding a delicious trail mix is like taking a breathe of fresh air. The best mixes aren't too sweet—or too salty. Crum Creek has mastered the balance in a wholesome, organic blend of non-GMO soy nuts, chocolate chips, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and raisins. Add a pinch of sea salt and there you have it. Healthy, wholesome, and there to help you conquer that last stretch of switch backs!
My overall take on the box:
Unfortunately, the downfall of my subscription box reviews will be that I am a sample hoarder and I love saving samples for vacations. So I don't always try everything out right away! I know that it's kind of annoying reading this whole thing from a person that hasn't tried everything in the box yet, but I will definitely let you know what I think of the things that I have tried and haven't. And I will be sure to update as I try all the things in my boxes. Just cut me some slack for now and think of this as more of a "What is this subscription box like?" kind of review for now, please. :)
We got our box right before we were heading to Vegas, so I was excited to have some things to try on the car ride over there. My first impressions of the box were that it was awesome seeing some full sized items, like the Goodlight candles (6 tealights) and the Geodeo deodorant. The box was mostly edibles though, I believe.
RW
Garcia Dippers – 3 Seed Curry & Mango Dipping Chips: Haven't tried these yet because I haven't been able to get my hands on any dips/salsa! They sound delicious though. I love curry but don't really care for mango that much (very picky eater, I would drive you nuts), so we'll see. I'll update once I try.
Update: Henry and I tried it after we had some leftover salsa from taco night! Glad to say, this one was good. I've never tried a "curry chip" before, but being as I don't like mango, I was pleasantly pleased by this sample. Unsure if we would purchase a bag to replace regular tortilla chips though, as it takes away from the taste of the salsa. I would perhaps use it with a yogurt based dip that was blander to give it a kick. :)
GeoDeo – Natural Deodorant +
Detox: I was actually really psyched about this one because it was a full size bar and my scent was "Island". It smells so good. Kind of reminds me of one of those import car air fresheners in "squash" actually lol. Unfortunately, after using it during Vegas, I really should have given it to someone else to try because I realized that I don't regularly use deodorant. Ok, I know you're thinking "Gross", but I actually don't have body odor. Must be in my family genes or something because no one in my family actually needs to use deodorant. Not even the men lol. So... I've asked Henry to start using it and tell me what he thinks. Update: Henry is using the deodorant, and happy *really happy* to say that it's been working! And he's very picky about deodorant. He usually buys the gel because it doesn't leave residue, but he really likes this solid. I love the smell of it, and he loves that it's not sticky and doesn't leave that residue. The scent isn't as strong as regular deodorants, but it's fine with me since it takes care of the BO. Good job, GeoDeo!
Bumble Bar Organic Sesame Bar:
This is so delicious! At first, the "natural-ness" of it throws you off. I think my taste buds were confused because I'm usually used to fake synthetic sugar tastes, but once I had the first few bites, the rest were so good. It kind of reminded me of the sesame sugar snacks that people eat during Chinese New Year, except healthier, since it wasn't covered in sugar. It has a soft, chewy texture, and a light honey flavor along with the roasted sesame flavor. I really liked this and if I was richer, I would definitely buy some to pass out for Halloween.
Clandestino – Banana Bar:
So I hate bananas. I know. Wth, right? Don't ask me why... it's something about the aftertaste or the smell... my taste buds just do NOT like banana. Fortunately though, my boyfriend LOVES bananas! He said that it kind of reminded him of an Almond Joy but instead of having coconut in the middle, there was shreds of banana and chocolate, same texture though. He really liked it. When I asked him about the balance, like if there was too much banana and not enough chocolate, he said that it was just right. Chocolate, with the essence of banana. I tried a bit just to see if it would change my mind, but alas, it did not. Still hate banana.
TeaTulia:
I haven't tried this one yet! But I love tea. I'm trying to save it for the holidays though when I really appreciate some hot tea. The flavor I got was Earl of Bengal, which I guessed was an Earl Grey type of tea. I actually switched mine out for the one in Rachel's box (she got peppermint), since she's British and I thought she'd enjoy it more. I know, stereotype much? But I actually also have a thing for peppermint tea/mochas/anything, so I might just be doing it for myself too. Can't wait to try this one.
Yummy Earth Organic Lollipop:
Haha, for my flavor, I got mango tango. Again, not a huge fan of mango, but I actually tried a lick or two and it was nice! Like, an orangey, mango flavor... Henry really liked it. We agreed that it would probably go well with some Lucas.
Larabar:
I haven't tried this one yet. I keep forgetting to put it in my bag for school, but I've tried a Larabar before (I don't remember which flavor) and I don't think I liked it very much. I've seen a few of my classmates eat it and I know that it's got really great ingredients. I've heard awesome things about it, but I will update on the taste once I remember to bring it to school with me. The flavor I got was chocolate chip cookie dough. Update: Unfortunately, I don't like the taste of Larabars. But my friend Phil thought it was good. If it tastes good to you, I would recommend buying them since they are very healthy. And you can get them cheaper in bulk at Costco, if you have a membership.
GoodLight Natural Candles:
I haven't tried these yet, but that's mostly because I'm waiting to use them during the holidays. I also have those aroma warmer things on my wishlist, where you put a scent in a pot and light a tea candle underneath and it makes the room smell awesome. I think I like the idea behind this that they're non-toxic and paraffin-free, and they are not much more in terms of cost than regular tea light candles. If I had babies in the house and enjoyed lighting candles for holiday centerpieces, I would definitely invest in some. Update: We figured out a perfect way to put these candles to use. :)
Henry's "Barf Face" pumpkin.
His first pumpkin carving ever!
Zarbees:
So this was an interesting sample for me, since I'm in pharmacy school. This is a "more natural" cold remedy product that is dye-free, gluten-free, and free of harmful drugs. The ingredients were as listed: Proprietary blend of buckwheat and other dark honeys, water, ascorbic acid, natural flavors, tartaric acid, zinc gluconate, malic acid, mesg-pg (plant extract to preserve freshness. I am kind of biased in that I never like it when people mix natural over-the-counter supplements when they are taking prescription medications. It's very hard to keep track of drug interactions this way, and these natural supplements don't always have hard proven evidence that they're beneficial in some populations of people. I like the idea of this all-natural children's cough syrup because it doesn't have a lot of chances for toxicity like acetaminophen, or things like that do. According to some studies, if you administer zinc 24-hours before symptom onset, it should actually help reduce the severity and duration of cold. It claims to sooth sore throat (from the honey), and boost the immune system (zinc gluconate). How effective it is at it's claim? I'm not sure until I try it. So I'm praying that I won't have to use this any time soon, but if I do, I'll let you know if I thought it helped or not. The dosing guide says it shouldn't be used for anyone under 12 months (1 year), 12 months to 5 years old - 1 packet, and 5 years old and over - 2 packets. They only included one packet in the box, so I wish I had another one just so I could have the right dosage when I do use it. Or I'll just give it to one of my friends who have a baby that fit the criteria. :) The flavor I got was in "Grape". Update: Tried it cause I was feeling like I was going to get sick, but since I only had 1 packet and the dosing was 2 packets for an adult, I just took some extra multivitamin gummy bears to make up for the missing zinc. The taste was waaay better than the traditional Tylenol, so it would probably go down better for kids who hate that really bitter taste. And also, I didn't get worse, so that's a plus. If it was because of the Zarbees? Who knows. But it's worth a try if you can catch the symptoms early enough. :)
VitaRocks:
This is a vitamin in the form of pop rocks. In terms of taste, it's very "vitaminey", as in you can definitely tell it's not regular ol' candy pop rocks. But I would imagine this would be an awesome way for your kids to take their vitamins everyday if they've never tried regular pop-rocks before, because then it'll probably taste better since they have nothing to compare it to. Of course, I would advise hiding them on the top shelf somewhere, since you probably don't want your kids to be overdosing on vitamins, in case they're little pop-rock monsters! Mine came in "Lemon Burst".
Crum Creek – Certified Organic
Soy Nut Mix:
This I really loved. It kind of reminded me of trail mix, but instead of peanuts and cashews, you get crispy soy nuts. The taste and crunch actually takes a little while to get used to, but once you get going, it's pretty delicious. There were raisins, chocolate chips, sunflower and pumpkin seeds present in the mix and it was a perfect size snack. I would definitely buy these.
Overall, good box! I wish that I had loved more things in it, but since I am such a picky eater and since I don't need deodorant, I didn't get the full excitement as someone else possibly could have, I'm sure. But that's not Conscious Box's fault. That's the thing about a subscription box, sometimes you'll get things you absolutely love and sometimes you don't. If I had to buy this particular box over again for $20 though, I wouldn't, but that's just me personally.
For their vegan boxes, it seems as though they are picking people who can help them figure out some good products. I didn't know who you were Eco-Vegan gal, but I do now!
Another beautiful postcard.
My favorite brand of shampoo and wipes! (For dogs)
Sample of vegan dog food!
And... a video of my dogs enjoying it.
So cute. Conscious Box actually apologized for scaring some vegans since the tea says "honey", but they double checked and it's just honey flavoring with no actual honey in there. But it was nice that they addressed the issue and tried to correct it.
These two products were actually not on the packing list, and I think I got these instead of the sugar scrub.
Coupon I'm definitely getting use out of.
Everything in the box together. It's insane how much they fit in there.
Vegan Packing List:
Green Tara Kale Chips – Super Green
Loaded with the health benefits of Kale (high iron, vitamin K, and tons of antioxidants), these tasty chips are the perfect companion for your lunchbox. 100% natural, vegan, and GMO free, these chips are your new best friend on the road to healthier snacking.
Tea Forté
Tea Forté produces some of the most delectable teas around. With a commitment to organic ingredients, fair trade teas, recyclable packing, and minimal carbon impact, Tea Forté makes enjoying tea something both delicious and sustainable. Please note: One of the teas in this month's box, Honey Yuzen, sort of slipped by our resident vegan (he was found hiding in the closet gorging himself on Angell bars :) However, we have confirmed that there is no honey in this product, only a natural honey flavoring. Nonetheless, we know the shock of seeing the word HONEY! and we're extremely sorry that this passed by us—we're doubling our efforts to stop our resident vegan's chocolate bar addiction and get him back to focusing on his job :)
Bambooee
Made from certified organic bamboo, Bambooee is the perfect alternative to your standard kitchen towel. One Bambooee towel stays tough longer than 3 ordinary paper towels. Machine washable, reusable, biodegradable, and soft to the touch... Say hello to bamboo!
Barre
Formulated by dancers, Barre is a unique real food bar perfect for either snacking or energy before a workout. Get exceptional nutritional fortification blended into wholesome, delicious bars. And don't forget to redeem coupon code "conscious1" when ordering your box of Barre bars at realfoodbarre.com!
Suntegrity
Sunscreen doesn't have to be all bad. Suntegrity provides a natural, antioxidant-infused facial sunscreen and primer. Non-greasy, non-toxic, and cruelty-free, this makes the perfect addition to your daily routine or that spontaneous trip to the beach. Protect your skin, naturally!
Eco-Dent
One of the best replacements for your home starts in your medicine cabinet with your toothpaste. We're excited to introduce Eco-Dent, a natural, safe alternative for toothcare. Try their Original Mint dental care, a natural baking soda—or their naturally flavored Dental Gum! Freshen your breath, strengthen your teeth, and improve gum health!
Bodycare Café
Sometimes the best things in life are made from the most simple ingredients. This Maple Brown Sugar Scrub is exactly what we have in mind—made from only 4 ingredients: brown sugar, maple syrup, olive oil, and cinnamon! It goes on tingly and leaves your skin soft to the touch, without compromising your health!
Pure Matters
It's important to get a complete nutritional profile, especially when it comes to protein in your vegan diet. Try this 100% vegan, non-GMO plant based protein that's got a taste as good as it gets. Mix it up in your next smoothie and find out what we mean!
V-Dog
Even your dog needs a healthy vegan option! 100% vegan, GMO free, soy free, gluten free, and oh so much more, V-Dog is the best option when it comes to healthy vegan pet food options. Endorsed by organizations like PETA, your furry little friend will be rolling over for more!
Earth Balance – Grooming Wipes and Shampoo
Bathing your pets can be a real mess—but it definitely doesn't need to be a toxic one! Here's a safe, natural solution that won't sting their sensitive skin or harm the environment. The wipes have a clean green-tea scent, and the shampoo softens while freshening with an oatmeal and aloe blend. Your four-legged buddies will love it!
Overall, I LOVED the things I got in this box. I literally just opened it today so I haven't tried anything yet besides the Bambooee reusable towel (and yes, it really does wipe things up nicely), but I'm excited to. I especially loved that there were Earthbath products, since I use that brand currently for my pups. Except I use the puppy version of the shampoo and grooming wipes, which smell like cherries. I'm happy to have the opportunity to try new scents and a new shampoo formulation though. I will probably be saving them for my Thanksgiving trip to San Diego, so I don't have to lug a big bottle of shampoo with me. I actually didn't get the kale chips (which I'm sad about since I love kale chips), and the body sugar scrub (which I also enjoy!), but I'm okay with it because I think they gave me the Dark Angell chocolate bar, laundry detergent, a Vega Sport pre-workout energizer, and coconut oil to try instead. We're probably going to save the coconut oil for a coconut shrimp recipe one day, but I'll definitely let you know how it is! I completely thought this was worth $20, as I got 17 different samples to try! I love full size products, but I would rather have a variety of things to try because it's no use having a full size of something if you don't even like it. I usually want to try to estimate the cost of subscription box items to see if it was a good value but since these types come with samples of a lot of things, it's more difficult to do. That being said though, with the amount of samples in this box and how difficult it is to get these types of samples on your own, I thought it definitely was worth its' cost.
Update: Tried the honey yuzu Tea Forte tea! Was feeling a little under the weather, so I figured it would be comforting, which it was. Had a very light citrus and honey taste to it. Made me feel better just drinking it.
Next month's box is going to be curated by the culinary artist Jason Wrobel, so that makes me really want to continue my subscription for both boxes next month, but I actually don't think I will be able to afford it. So if you don't see a November review for Conscious Box, that's probably why! (Sad face)
I really love Conscious Box though, even if only experiencing it for a month. I feel like they have excellent customer service, and try to give you the best value they possibly can for your money. To me, I think those are the two most important things for a subscription box. And Conscious Box, you do it well. You will definitely be missed dearly.
If you're thinking about purchasing a subscription box, and want to try eco-friendly products, I would highly recommend going with Conscious Box! You get a great value for the amount of money you pay, and a variety of items ranging from things for you, to your dog, to your kids. In fact, Pure Citizen is offering 3 months of Conscious Boxes all at once for $30, which is 1/2 off! It's a great deal, and they are saying that you would get a different variety of items even though you're already a subscriber, and the boxes all won't be the same. I might actually indulge myself since I won't be able to get next month's boxes (just don't tell the BF). .:Update - So Henry gave me the okay to purchase the 3 box halloween special on Pure Citizen! But I'm probably most likely not going to be able to renew for next month. No matter, more boxes, yay! Make sure you do it by October 21st (Sunday), and that after you purchase from Pure Citizen, that you go to http://www.consciousbox.com/purehalloween to input your order! If you want to try Conscious Box, this is the time to do it.:.
In other news!
I was able to score 1/2 off a 6-month subscription to Love With Food through Groupon, got 1/2 off my first month of PawBox through Coupaw, and got my invitation to Birchbox recently! So my subscription box addiction is fully satiated at the moment. I also got my Glam Bag from Ipsy in the mail recently, but I was missing a lip bomb, so I had to get that shipped to me, which is why I'm holding off on my review for that. Henry's Loot Crate is on its' way very soon, so that review will be coming up! So all in all, for next month, you should be seeing a review for the following boxes: PawBox, Love With Food, My Glam Bag by Ipsy, Birchbox, Barkbox, and Loot Crate. The only reason I get to have these next month are either because I bought them for 1/2 off and paid for 3 or 6 months ahead of time, or because they are cheap ($10 with shipping) and you have to be on a waiting list for them (ie, Ipsy and Birchbox). I was pre-qualified to receive a Beauty Blogger Voxbox from Influenster, but unfortunately, I didn't make the cut in the end. But I'm looking forward to another invitation for another Voxbox soon!
I started a twitter just for my reviewing stuff, so add me if you'd like (not that I'm even positive I know how to use Twitter properly yet)! TheRxNina's Twitter-ma-bob. And if anyone wants to know why I don't do unboxing videos and save myself hours of typing, copying, pasting, and inserting... it's because I hate my voice. And people need to practice reading more anyway nowadays. :P
Anyway, I'm really excited to receive my upcoming boxes and write about them for you! Hope you enjoyed.
