October Bestowed Review and Coupon

Alice at Bestowed told me that October's box was her favorite yet, and I can see why!  This month's theme was "Non-GMO," and as an avid supporter of non-GMO foods, I emphatically agree with her that this is the best box I've experienced, too.

For $19 a month (or $209 a year), Bestowed will deliver a box of health-conscious snacks to your door.  I've sampled two other boxes and they've all been packed with a great variety of foods!  Like I said, I especially loved this box because all of the foods were non-GMO.  If you're not familiar with what GMOs are, you can read more about them here.  Now, on to the snacks!

• Nature's Path Love Crunch Dark Chocolate Macaroon Granola - This was my favorite item in the box!  My friend introduced me to this granola a month or two ago and we both have been hooked on it ever since.  This flavor was new to me, though, so I was so excited to try it.  It didn't disappoint!  This stuff is just so delicious--perfectly sweet, crunchy, and absolutely delightful.  The Bestowed brochure states that it's available at Whole Foods, but I can state for a fact that it's also available at Wegmans stores (the greatest grocery stores on Earth).
• Way Better Snacks Simply Beyond Black Bean Tortilla Chips - Way Better Snacks is another brand I was familiar with, but this flavor was new to me.  I've loved all of the other chips by them that I've tried, and these were no exception.  I love that they're incredibly flavorful and crisp.  You would think that Black Bean would just be kind of flavorless, but these were salty and wonderful!
• Gnu Foods FiberLove Cinnamon Raisin Bar - I haven't tried this bar yet, but I've mentioned before that I like to take them to work for on-the-go breakfasts, so that's most likely what will happen to this one.  I don't love raisins, but I do love cinnamon, so I'm willing to look past them and give this a shot.  I'm sure it'll be delicious.
• UNREAL Peanut Butter Cups: The Double Ones - I've had UNREAL candies before and they are fantastic.  These Peanut Butter Cups were new to me, and I loved them.  These taste even better than that "other" brand, and they're "unjunked:" no hydrogenated oils, corn syrup, GMOs, or artificial colors and flavors.

• The Good Bean Smoky Chili & Lime Chickpea Snacks - These little guys were the snack I was most intrigued by.  I was enticed by the flavor name, since I love all things smokey and spicy.  I also like chickpeas, so I figured I couldn't go wrong with these.  I thoroughly enjoyed them and they were a great alternative to a greasy bag of mass-market chips.  The flavor is a good balance of chili and lime, and the chickpeas had a great crunch.
• Manitoba Harvest Hemp Pro 70 Plant Based Protein Supplement - I don't use protein supplements (my workouts are never really that hardcore), so I'm going to pass this along to my brother.  It contains all 10 essential amino acids to offer more sustained energy throughout the day.
• Enjoy Life Seed & Fruit Mix - I received the flavor "Peach Bash," and it sounds really yummy.  I haven't eaten it yet, but based on the ingredients, I'm sure I'll like it.  I might mix it into my yogurt, or maybe I'll eat it on its own; I'm not quite sure yet.  This is nut-free and full of tangy fruits and crunchy seeds.
• Ultima Replenisher - I've sampled this before and I remember it having a great flavor.  It contains eight essential electrolytes to replenish the body during or after a workout.  This type of supplement is more my style, since when I work out I do a lot of cardio.  I'll definitely mix this up after my next session.

Bottom Line: I can't even express how much I loved the October Non-GMO Bestowed box!  Every single item was amazing.  I got to sample some new favorites from brands I had heard of before, as well as learning about some new ones.  This service is a fantastic and affordable way to learn about new health brands, so I highly recommend it!  Use coupon code HELLOTEN103 and receive your first box for only $10!

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

More photos after the "read more!"

Graze Box Review

I haven't posted a Graze review in a while, but I've loved all of my boxes so far.  This one that I'm reviewing now is my fifth.  I have no excuse for not reviewing the others other than that I was lazy about it!

I subscribe to the nibblebox option and it costs me $5 per shipment.  You can choose to have them sent as often as every week, or once a month.  Right now I'm receiving monthly shipments.  Each box contains healthier options for snacking, and the nibblebox opens up a wider variety of foods (90 total) you could get.  The other option is the lightbox, which has 50 foods that are all between 50-150 calories.

My first snack was the Korai Chutney, which I was actually talking about with a friend that I had referred to Graze.  She said it was her favorite thus far, but I only just liked it.  It was definitely tasty, but I've had other snacks that I liked better.  It consisted of spiced tomato chutney and baked curry bites.  The chutney itself was spicy/sweet, but a little bit too sweet for my tastes.  The curry bites were much better than the chutney, in my opinion (they were nice and crunchy and had a good dose of flavor).

Next was the Honeycomb Crunch, made up of milk chocolate coated honeycomb, almonds, and raisins. I was interested in trying this mostly because of the chocolate element, and it turned out to be okay.  I'm not the biggest fan of almonds; I'll eat them but I prefer them to be coated with something.  This mixture had an equal ratio of all of the parts, so even though I wouldn't have eaten plain almonds on my own, it all tasted good when eaten together.

My favorite snack in this shipment was the Fruit and Seed Flapjack, a rustic rolled oat flapjack with mixed seeds and dried fruits.  I tried the Honeycomb Flapjack in my first box and I absolutely loved it.  This variety was much less sweet but still very delicious.  The flapjacks are basically soft granola bars, and they're lightly sweetened.  I liked the tartness of the fruit in this one.

My last snack was simply called Florentine.  It was a mixture of dark chocolate buttons, pumpkin seeds, and cranberries.  I think Graze wanted to send me as many chocolate snacks as they could before they became unavailable again (all three of these are only available in the fall), and I'm not complaining.  Much like the Honeycomb Crunch, I found this to be a great mixture when eaten all together.  It was hard for me not to just eat the dark chocolate buttons by themselves, but they definitely were even better when paired with the crunch of the seeds and the tart, chewy cranberries.

Bottom Line: I love food and these Graze snacks are delicious and I don't feel guilty eating them.  I like to take them with me to work for when I get hungry in between breakfast and lunch, since they're easily portable and have good nutrition (as opposed to a bag of chips, which might satisfy cravings but it won't help you feel satiated).  I highly recommend Graze, and I have four invite codes available for anyone who is interested!  You'll get your first box for free, too.

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

October Phone Case of the Month Review

I signed up to try Phone Case of the Month when I found a promo code that would allow you to get your first case for only $5.  I had heard of this service and had seen other reviews, but I wasn't sold on it because I'm not the type to change my phone case often.  But the cases I had seen that other people received were fun, so I figured, why not?

Phone Case of the Month will send you a specially made phone case for $10 a month (currently they are only producing cases for iPhones, so if you have an Android phone or otherwise, you're out of luck).  Each case is gender-neutral and is made solely by Phone Case of the Month, so it's not like they're just sending you random cases they buy from wholesalers.  You can't choose which design you receive, but I think that's the fun part.  I was really excited to see what my first case would look like!

The case I received for October is not exactly my style, but I'm still using it because it's really nice quality.  I'm assuming that the words are lyrics to a song or a poem.  The cases are made from polycarbonate and ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and are solid but soft to the touch, which I learned is thanks to a silicone coating.  These cases are definitely worth $10 to me, and I would guess that if I found a similar case in stores it would cost somewhere around $20-$25.  Even though this design isn't favorite, I'm not discouraged.  I'll stay subscribed for a month or two more to see what else they send me.

A few other quick details about Phone Case of the Month:

• Shipping within the U.S. is included in the $10 charge, and international shipping is $5 more
• Although they are only making iPhone cases at the moment, there are plans to expand to other phone types.  If you really want a case made for a certain phone, they encourage you to get in touch with them at questions@pcotm.com
• Visit Phone Case of the Month to learn more!

October FAIR Treasure Review

To my surprise, I received an October FAIR Treasure box in the mail!  I have really enjoyed all of the boxes I've gotten from them, and I'm excited to share this shipment with you.

FAIR Treasure is a monthly subscription service that delivers fair-trade certified goods.  They include lots of information about the people and organizations behind the items, which is something I truly appreciate and enjoy.  The boxes cost $30 per month, and you can pre-pay $90 for three months (the 3 month option includes free shipping).  It may seem pricey, but I think it's well worth the cost!

My first item is the Ceramic Owl Topper by Jallpa Nina Artisan Group.  I love owls and all things bird, so I was really happy to receive this!  The Jallpa Nina Artisan group was founded in Lima, Peru in 1988, and they specialize in hand-made, high-temperature stoneware and porcelain.  Their designs are inspired by their Inca heritage and the textures and colors of nature, both of which are apparent in this topper.  The organization offers its workers healthy working conditions, high-quality tools, and assistance in product design, training to learn new techniques, and quality control training.  I'm not quite sure what I'll use this owl in just yet, but I can see it being a great decoration with a potted plant.

My second item is the Marquet Open Weave Scarf by Ton Fai Group.  I also love scarves, so this box was spot-on for my interests.  I think this scarf is beautiful--I love the colors, and the fabric is soft yet sturdy.  This scarf was made by Khun Baukum Yupkaew, whom everyone calls "Grandma Kum."  The informational card provided states that Grandma Kum owns her land and home and doesn't need to work, but she continues to in order to save money for her grandchildren and to help provide a bright future for them.  She is a member of the Ton Fai Group in Thailand, made up of fruit and rice farmers who have been weaving for 15 years as a second source of income between planting seasons.  This local business allows the weavers to stay close to home while working their second job, as opposed to needed to seek work away in larger cities.  The card also states:

"Grandma Kum would really like to say thank you to all her customers who give her the opportunity to still work with the Ton Fai Group.  She puts her heart into the quality of her work and is very proud of her weaving."

Bottom Line: The personal stories and anecdotes included with my FAIR Treasure items make them all the more special to me.  I thoroughly enjoy this subscription and highly recommend it to all, especially people who are looking for an easy way to contribute to fair trade organizations!

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

Recharge With Live Love Spa!

Going on a spa retreat is a luxury that most people dream of or look forward to for months, and something I have yet to try for myself.  I often treat myself to massages, but a full-on spa experience is something I hope to treat myself to in the near future.  Finding that perfect retreat to begin with can be challenging.  Planning destination or resort spa vacations takes time and effort, but it all more than pays off in the end.  Live Love Spa is a great resource for finding the perfect fit for you!

Live Love Spa offers insider tips and covers spa events, spa brands, products and more.  There are many high-quality facilities out there, but there are also many spas that offer limited services, use old equipment, or exaggerate how much of a resort or destination spa they are.  Utilizing Live Love Spa will ensure that you're getting all of the information about possible spas.

Red Mountain Resort in Utah

Finding the perfect spa location is one of the most important factors when it comes to deciding where to book your stay.  A spa vacation should be a satisfying sensory experience, and if you don't choose a location that excites you, you'll probably have trouble fully enjoying your stay.  Many people find a particular type of setting, like the mountains or the ocean, more relaxing than others, so make sure you're being true to your preferences.  My ideal spa experience would include a lot of natural surroundings, where I could hear the birds and look out to lots of green.

Alchemie Spa in California

Many people go to spas to mentally recharge and take a break from real life.  Choosing a retreat spa isn't something that you should do hastily; retreat experiences are a rare splurge for most people, so you really want to get everything that you can out of your visit.  It will be much easier to do that if you think about what you want and make a real effort to find out which destinations can offer all of that.  Be sure to check out Live Love Spa for much more information about planning your perfect spa vacation!

*Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post for which I received monetary compensation.