September Bestowed Box Review

My first experience with Bestowed was in August, and I was very impressed by the array of healthy foods they sent.  I was curious to see what they'd include in their first-ever themed box, September's "Back to School" package.

This month's box contained eight items total and had a good variety of salty and sweet snacks.  Even though I've only tried two Bestowed boxes so far, I've noticed that they try to include easy pre-packaged snacks as well as things you can use as ingredients in more elaborate dishes (does that make sense?).

• La Tortilla Factory White Whole Wheat Soft Wrap Minis - These little wraps contain only 50 calories and will be put to good use.  I like to make quesadillas as a snack and since these are smaller I won't feel as guilty about eating them.  They're also great for sandwich wraps, so I might throw some stuff together in one and take it with me for lunch at work.
• Funky Monkey Fruit Snacks - I received the Carnaval Mix (sp) and I absolutely loved it!  It contained freeze-dried organic banana, papaya, pineapple, and apple.  I've only ever tried one other type of freeze-dried fruit and I didn't care for it, but these were nice and crispy and had a lot of flavor.  I'm going to look for them the next time I go grocery shopping.
• Pearls Black Pitted Olives To Go - I am not a fan of olives, so I offered these to the rest of my family.  Based on how quickly they were devoured, I'd say they were probably pretty good!  The to-go packaging is convenient and also not messy because it's sans olive juice.
• Nonni's THINaddictives Cranberry Almond Thins - This is actually sitting in my desk drawer at work, uneaten.  I keep forgetting that I have it, but I'm going to make it a point to give it a try tomorrow for breakfast.  It's a twice-baked cookie with antioxidant-rich ingredients like pistachios, cranberries, and almonds and has only 100 calories per serving.

• Happy Family Happy Squeeze Greek Yogurt - This was my favorite item in the box!  I eat a lot of greek yogurt and this Razzleberry flavor was nice and tart and delicious, and I liked how it had real fruit mixed in.  I like these pouch containers, too, because they're easy to eat.
• Somersault Snack Co. Cinnamon Crunch Somersaults - I've had Somersaults before but never this flavor, but I'm sure they're going to be great (cinnamon is the perfect flavor for fall).  These are made from sunflower seeds and are 100% vegan and nut-free.
• Popcorn Indiana FIT Popcorn - This was the item I tried first, and I really wanted to love it, but unfortunately it was just so-so to me.  The popcorn itself had good texture and wasn't too chewy (the way some bagged popcorn is), but I think personally I would prefer something with a bit more flavor.  These bags only have 40 calories per serving, though, so they're a good alternative to regular chips.
• Pacific Natural Foods Hazelnut Chocolate Dairy-Free Milk - I haven't tried this milk yet.  It's sweetened with brown rice and cane juice and is Non-GMO Project verified with 130 calories per serving.  I like hazelnut a lot so I'm anticipating enjoying this!

Bottom Line: I think the September Bestowed box contained a lot of great options for back to school!  I'm definitely going to look for a lot of these brands the next time I go grocery shopping.  That's probably my favorite thing about Bestowed, is that they deliver so many new brands for me to try.

• Visit Bestowed to learn more and sign up for a subscription
• Use coupon code HELLOTEN094 to receive $9 off your first box, bringing your total to only $10!

*Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Bestowed..  I received no monetary compensation.

Autumn Yuzen Box Review

I had been wanting to subscribe to Yuzen for quite a while, and I finally signed up a few weeks ago.  The first box I received was the Fall/Autumn 2013 one, so the products inside probably aren't a surprise to anyone since this box has been out for a while.  I still wanted to review it and give my take on the items and service as a whole, though.

Since I received my box after everyone else, I already knew what was going to be in it after reading reviews on other blogs.  I was still very impressed by the array of items!  The box costs $33 a quarter (it's only sent out four times a year) and there's currently a wait list to join.  I think it was about a month between when I requested a spot and actually received one.  I couldn't find any other price options on their website, so I'm not sure if you can pay for an entire year up front or not.  I wish I had joined earlier, because the price used to be only $25 a quarter, I think.  This was a monthly box at the very beginning, but they switched to quarterly a few months ago.

• Sanitas Vita-Rich Serum - I'm currently inundated with serums, but I did give this one a try and I like it.  I'm using it as a night time moisturizer.  My skin is so weird, it's oily/combo but it's also pretty sensitive so this is rich enough that I don't need to layer a night cream over it as well.
• Sphatika Rose Cleansing Foam - I haven't tried this cleanser yet, but once I run out of the one I'm currently using I'm going to work it into my routine.
• Acure Organics Argan Cell Stimulating Body Wash - I've used one of Acure's shampoo and condition combos before, so I was excited to try their body wash.  This one moisturizes as it cleanses with Moroccan argan stem cells, organic argan oil, CoQ10, sea buckthorn oil, and pumpkin seed oil.  I wish it lathered a bit more, but I still enjoyed using it.

• Coola Mineral Facial Sunscreen - I definitely needed a new facial sunscreen, so this came at the perfect time.  SPF is still important even in fall and winter, and this one is broad-spectrum and works to improve skin's elasticity.
• Verve Organics Soul Sister Lavender Nut Sugar Scrub - I haven't used this yet because, frankly, I forgot that I had it.  It smells absolutely wonderful and is made with sugar and coconut and lavender essential oils.  It might be a little too rough to use on my face, but I'll give it a try on my arms and legs the next time I shower.
• Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Sensitive - This is the only product in the box that I had used before, and I was very happy to receive another one.  Juice Beauty is one of my favorite brands and the sensitive peel is perfect for my skin.

• Ajara Ayurvedic Beauty Tea Bath Sachet - I don't take baths (my bath isn't deep enough for it to be enjoyable), but I think I'll use this as a sort of toner.  I plan on dropping it into a bowl of water, placing my face over it, and then putting a towel over my head.  It sounds funny, but it's good for your skin and I'm actually battling a sinus cold right now so I think it would feel great overall!
• Torie & Howard Blood Orange and Honey Hard Candy - These candies are so good!  I've seen them in stores before but I never purchased them because they're a bit on the expensive side, but now having tried them I think I'm going to buy more.  They're non-GMO and USDA-certified organic.

Bottom Line: I loved this Yuzen box and I definitely think it was worth the $33!  I can't wait to see what's included for winter.  I'm hoping for lots of cozy, peppermint-themed products.

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

More photos of my box are available after the "read more."

Pijon Box on Living Social!

Pijon Box is a fairly new subscription service that caters to college students and costs as little as $25 a month.  You can choose a box based on gender, and each one sold helps homeless children in need (read more about that here).

I'm no longer a college student and I haven't tried Pijon Box myself, but it's definitely a box I'm interested in!  It contains 5-6 items, including food and snacks, the "essentials," health and beauty, and accessories and gadgets.  Living Social currently has a deal for 4 months of Pijon Box for only $49, as compared to the $108 it would cost if you paid for the 4 month deal up front on the Pijon Box website (or $116 if you purchased the monthly subscription).  Each box contains $40-$55 worth of items, so clearly this is a great deal!

• Click here to visit the Living Social deal page and learn more about Pijon Box!  This Living Social deal is good through the 25th.

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

Nordic Naturals What’s Essential™ School Supplies Giveaway

Nordic Naturals is the brand behind the #1 selling fish oil in the United States, Ultimate Omega.  Omega-3s are essential to human health, but can't be produced by the body on its own.  These fatty acids are most often associated with cardiovascular health, but their benefits extend throughout the whole body.  Omega-3s also promote healthy immune response, brain and cognitive functions, joint mobility, eye health, healthy skin and hair, and much more.

Nordic Naturals is committed to providing quality supplements to each generation, and they back the effectiveness of their products with 15 clinical studies (and 30 more currently in progress).  Another reason to support them is their sustainability initiatives, such as sustainable fishing practices.  Fishing regulations are strictly monitored, and Nordic Naturals makes sure to comply with these regulations so as not to contribute to overfishing.  They also embrace corporate social responsibility initiatives and work green practices into their daily lives.

The Nordic Naturals What’s Essential™ School Supplies Giveaway supports families, children, and schools.  Everyone is invited to nominate an elementary, middle, or high school via the Nordic Naturals Facebook app, and the nomination period runs from September 20th to October 31, 2013.  In November, one school will be randomly selected to receive a check for $3,000 for school supplies, and the first 500  schools to be nominated will receive a copy of Amazing Grades: 101 Best Ways to Improve Your Grades Faster by Pat Wyman, an excellent resource for teachers, students, and parents.  You can learn more about the book by clicking here!

• Visit the Nordic Naturals Facebook page and nominate your favorite school by clicking here.
• Use promo code SSGIVEAWAY for 15% off of your entire Nordic Naturals order through 10/31.
• Learn more about the health benefits of omega-3s by clicking here.

*Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Nordic Naturals.  I received no monetary compensation.

September Birchbox Review

I've been so impressed by what Birchbox has been sending me since I re-subscribed in June.  Prior to that I received quite a few lackluster boxes, but these past four have been really great!

September's theme was Heritage, which kind of missed the mark for me because I'm not really sure what any of these products had to do with that, but regardless I did really enjoy my assortment of samples!  Birchbox has done a much better job of sending me a variety, as opposed to a box full of skin care.

First up is my least favorite product in the box, the Yes To Grapefruit CC Cream.  I didn't dislike this product due to a lack of efficacy, as I'm sure it's a great CC cream, but my skin has a lot of redness so I just need a product that offers more coverage.  It's also hard to judge something like a BB or CC cream on such a small sample, because you really need to use a skin care product for a month or more to truly judge the results.  I tried the light-medium cream and it felt weightless on my skin, and I think it would be great for someone who has a more even skin tone than I do.

I also received a Voesh New York Premium Manicare Hand Mask, which I haven't tried yet.  I actually plan on using it tonight, so I'm very interested to see how it works.  I really hate having dry skin, especially on my hands and cuticles, so I hope this gives me lots of long-lasting moisture.

The Yes To Blueberries Age Refresh Cleansing Facial Towelettes smelled nice and sweet and were great at removing my makeup.  I like to use these types of towelettes when I get home from work and want to take off my makeup, but I don't want to bust out a full face wash because I save that for later in the night.  These are great for on-the-go, but they do remove makeup so if you're looking for refreshment but want to keep your makeup on, these might not be the best choice.

My last two products were color products, which made me really happy.  I love nail polish so I was excited to try the Ruffian Nail Lacquer, which I received in the shade "Hedge Fund."  Green is my favorite color so this was a perfect match for me.  I'm wearing it right now and I love the gold flecks in it!  The application was very smooth, my only gripe is that for $10 a bottle I think it should contain the standard .5 fl oz instead of only .17.

I also received a sampler from the Coastal Scents Neutral Mirage Palette, which contained the shades (clockwise from left) Autumn Sun, Medieval Gold, Miss Marigold, and New Terrain.  I wear neutrals/browns on a daily basis, so this palette is another perfect pick for me!  The top two shades are bright and pigmented, and the bottom two browns are great for blending.  I would definitely consider buying the full-sized version of this palette.

Bottom Line: September brought another great Birchbox!  I've been very satisfied with my products thus far, and I'm so glad that they're including more natural and cruelty-free brands.

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.