CookUnity Review and $40 off Coupon

I've tried a lot of meal subscription services where you still have to cook the meal yourself, but CookUnity is the first I've tried where everything is already prepared. Here are my thoughts!

*Disclaimer: This box was purchased by See, Shop, Love! Post contains referral links.

CookUnity sends pre-made, pre-packaged meals made by a diverse group of professional chefs. You can select from four to 16 meals each week and skip any weeks where you don't want a delivery. You can pause (for up to eight weeks) or cancel your subscription at any time, too.

The plan is a bit pricey and I recommend it for people who order takeout often, as it comes down to equivalent the cost of doing that a few times a week. Here is the price breakdown of meals per week:

• 16 meals: $10.49 per meal ($167.84 total)
• 12 meals: $10.99 per meal ($131.88 total)
• Six meals: $11.99 per meal ($71.94 total)
• Four meals: $13.49 per meal ($53.96 total)

You can change your number of meals received for any shipment, so if you start with six but then realize you only want four, you can easily change between any option for the next shipment.

The CookUnity menu changes weekly and has meals to fit different dietary needs, but this isn't specifically a low-calorie or health-driven subscription. There's so much choice, though, that you can easily pick what you need to meet your preferences.

Unfortunately, CookUnity does not ship nationwide--yet. They're available to most of the East coast, south, midwest, and some of California. You can input your ZIP code to find out if they deliver to you.

My favorite thing about CookUnity is the diversity of food available. I was so happy to see Korean, Mexican, Cuban, Indian, and many other cuisines featured. I chose to receive six meals in my first box.

First is the Chicken Tinga Tacos by chef Akhtar Nawab. The chicken portion was huge and more than enough for the four tortillas (I had it for leftovers the next day). It came with the chicken, obviously, and guacamole and cilantro for garnish. The guac was my favorite part, it was smooth and delicious. I wish the chicken had a bit more flavor, but overall it was a very good meal.

I'm Korean-American but I rarely ever order Korean foods from meal kits because they're rarely ever even close to being authentic. I don't expect full authenticity, but one of my pet peeves is seeing a "Korean" meal with absolutely no actual Korean ingredients. Luckily, CookUnity has chef Esther Choi on their team and I picked her Bulgogi Bibimbap. I was pleasantly surprised at how well this reheated. I was worried the rice would be too dry or tough, but it kept well and this was a delicious, comforting bowl of bibimbap with a hearty portion of bulgogi beef.

Next is the Filipino dish, Pancit Bihon with Chinese sausage, from chef Jordan Andino. I don't have access to a lot of Filipino food in my area so I was very excited to try this. Unfortunately, I found it to be too salty for my tastes. The flavor was good, but it was overall too salty. The portion was huge and had a nice mix of sausage, noodles, and veg. I can't say if it was authentic or not since I have no other experience trying this dish, but given how good the other meals are, I have a feeling it was pretty spot-on.

I've recently been craving vodka sauce, so the Rigatoni alla Vodka from chef Marc Forgione was an easy choice. A pasta dish might be a safe choice from a meal service with so many different types of cuisines, but hey, sometimes you just want pasta. Unfortunately, this was just okay to me. I wanted more flavor. I felt like it needed more salt, spice...something. Overall it was kind of bland (but not terrible).

I actually picked three meals from Chef Esther Choi but forgot to take pictures of the third one. This is the Gochujang Baby Back Ribs. It came with rice and corn cheese as sides, making it a good representation of Korean barbecue. Gochujang is a staple of Korean cuisine and this one was nice and spicy-sweet. If you've never had corn cheese, it's exactly what it sounds like: corn mixed with (usually mozzerella) cheese, sugar, and mayo -- might sound weird, but it is so good. I was very happy to see it included in this meal. I liked the flavors here but the ribs were tougher than I would like, though I suppose it's hard to make fall-off-the-bone ribs with a frozen meal delivery service.

The sixth meal I chose was the Spicy Braised Short Ribs, which came with glass noodles (dangmyeon) and veg. As with the baby back ribs, the short ribs had a punch of delicious Korean barbecue sauce flavor. It reminded me of galbijjim, a braised beef stew, and after looking at the description of the meal on the CookUnity site, Esther lists it as her take on the dish.

• Visit CookUnity to subscribe
• Use this link to get $40 off your first box -- that could be 4 meals for $13.96

Bottom Line: My take on CookUnity is that they send really delicious meals from great chefs, but it is expensive. This isn't a service I will receive every week, but I could see myself treating myself once a week to four meals going forward. I would spend at least $10-$15 on takeout at least four times a month, so while it may not be a huge savings, it is a comparable spend for me.

One last thing I want to note is that I chose to have my meals delivered on a Friday and four of them had a "use by" date of Sunday. That kind of defeats the purpose of ordering six meals, as I couldn't save them for dinners for six consecutive days like I originally planned.

Winter 2021 Cat Kit by Pusheen Review

I wanted to try the Cat Kit by Pusheen Box  because I love Pusheen but couldn't commit to their regular box for humans, both due to price and because I wanted but didn't need all of the Pusheen knick knacks. I finally subscribed and got their Winter Box as my first shipment.

*Disclaimer: This box was purchased by See, Shop, Love!

The Cat Kit by Pusheen Box is from CultureFly and is an offshoot of the original Pusheen Box. It's a quarterly subscription that sends Pusheen-themed items for your cat.

The box was large with a cute holiday pattern to match the "Holiday Cheer" theme. The cardboard was durable and had sections that popped out, making it an extra item your cat could play with.

My cat, Tully, actually has never been too interested in boxes, so I bribed her to check this one out with some treats. As you can see in the photo above, there's a circular hole in the top and a square one in the side so the cat can enter and poke its head out.

The Cat Kit costs $29.99 per quarter, plus shipping, or $107.96 for a full year (four boxes), plus shipping. Subscriptions renew automatically and you can cancel any time.

The Winter "Holiday Cheer" box came with eight total items, nine if you count each individual plush toy. Not pictured above is the ceramic treats jar, but keep scrolling to see that. Here's everything else that was inside:

• Fleece Blanket
• Collar and Charm
• Treat Jar
• Cardboard Scratcher
• Cookie Ribbon Toy
• Gingerbread Plush Toys

Tully's favorite item was definitely the fleece blanket. She loves all of the cozy blankets I have, and this one is perfectly cat-sized. One side has a Pusheen print with gingerbread, presents, and trees and the other side is a soft white fleece.

The treat jar with scoop was the hero item of the box and unfortunately mine broke shortly after I started using it. The small handle that holds the scoop completely fell off as I was placing the scoop back in, which was disappointing. I fixed it with Gorilla Glue, but I was hoping for better quality overall from this box. I have heard complaints from Pusheen Box subscribers that the items weren't the best quality, and now I can see why.

The collar and charm are so cute but I knew they'd be useless, since Tully doesn't like collars. She's never worn one and I didn't bother trying to get her to wear this, but I'll gift it to one of my fellow cat lovers.

The gingerbread plush toys are so cute and squishy! They have a slight crinkle to them when you squeeze them, which cats love. Tully enjoys bunny-kicking these.

Here's a closer look at the collar and charm.

• Visit Pusheen Box to subscribe

Bottom Line: Overall, I liked my first Cat Kit by Pusheen Box. Even though the jar broke, I still will stay subscribed for a few more boxes because I think the items are cute and my cat will use most of them. The box cost me a little over $30 after shipping, which I think is a fair price.

Ekster Parliament Smart Wallet Review

If you're still looking for holiday gifts, Ekster has innovative wallets that are perfect for anyone on your list! They have a Christmas sale going on right now, too (more on that further down in the post).

*Disclaimer: This product was sent to See, Shop, Love! in exchange for an honest review.

Ekster sells wallets, bags, cases, and tech accessories with the aim of making your daily life easier. They reimagined the traditional wallet, making it easier to use and harder to lose. They were able to bring their products into fruition due to crowdfunding and are now able to deliver high quality products made from sustainable, durable materials.

The most innovative part of the Ekster wallet is the smart tracking device. The card is branded with the Ekster logo and is made by the Chipolo company and run through their app. The credit-card sized tracker fits perfectly inside of the Ekster wallets, or any other item you wish to keep track of. It works via Bluetooth and the app on your phone will either set the device ringing, or you can also use the tracker card to locate your phone if you misplace it (the phone app will make a sound even if you have your phone on silent). The tracking card is sold separately from the wallets.

I received the Parliament Wallet to review and it is beautiful. It's made from environmentally-certified premium leather with slim storage and quick card access. It also has RFID blocking technology to protect your cards. I don't like a bulky wallet and this one is perfect for my needs and style preferences.

The wallet is a bifold design with a pocket for one card or cash, and a pop-up card holder that fits five cards. I absolutely love this slim, efficient design.

As you can see, with a push of the black button the bottom interior of the wallet, the five cards will pop up out of their compartment for easy access. Now, I do have more than five cards between debit, credit, and other necessary ID, so I had to prioritize which I used the most. But overall I found this wallet has everything I need.

If you're someone who regularly carries cash and coins, this design probably wouldn't fit your needs as well, but Ekster has other designs available. There is a more traditional Modular Bifold and cardholders that are slimmer and carry up to 10 cards.

• Visit Ekster to browse their full line of products 
• Shop the Christmas sale for 25% off all orders and 35% off orders of $200+ with free shipping and free returns and guaranteed Christmas deliver7 (no coupon needed)
  

Bottom Line: I love the Ekster Parliament wallet. The design is great and the materials high quality, but you really can't beat the smart tracking device. I also appreciate that the tracker can be used both ways, since I tend to misplace my phone more often than my wallet.

Bespoke Post Black Box 2021 Review and $20 off Coupon

Every year, Bespoke Post releases a limited edition "Black Box" on Black Friday. I've never gotten one in the past but decided to grab one this year.

*Disclaimer: This box was purchased by See, Shop, Love! Post contains referral links.

The Black Box is no longer available. It is released on Black Friday and is free with a $45+ Bespoke Post shop purchase. You'll be upgraded to the Premium Box with a $90+ purchase.

I skipped my November box shipment because I knew I wanted to buy something and that the Black Friday sale would be later in the month. I got the "Destination" box and picked up the non-premium Black Box as well.

To be completely honest, I hadn't been impressed with the Black Box shipments in the past, but I figured since I already knew I wanted a Bespoke Post box this month, an extra box of things couldn't be bad, even if I ended up not liking what was inside.

I ended up being pretty pleased with the selection, though I wouldn't have paid for this box on its own. Here's what was inside:

• KIND Bar: These two KIND Bars were bonus items. I've had them before and they're pretty good granola bars.
• Leather & Brass Key Fob by Ezra Arthur: This is a genuine leather key chain in dark brown. I like the simple design and sturdy leather.
• Oakmoss & Amber Room Spray by Bradley Mountain: This smells great, with essential oils of oakmoss, amber, and oud. I love Earthy scents and this one is perfect.
• Electrolyte Vitamin Sample Pouch by Brode: These vitamins fight dehydration (and hangovers) with electrolytes.
• Crew Socks by Unsimply Stitched: I think boxes like these always have a pair of socks, since they're an easy item to send. These are exclusive to Bespoke Post and are a comfy cotton blend.
• Grooming Starter Kit by Tiege Hanley: This is probably the best value item in my opinion (not based on price, but usage). Even though it's branded as "uncomplicated skincare for men," I'll take any kind of skincare. This kit has a Wash, AM Moisturizer, and Hand Cream
• $10 Off Coupon: There was also a small card with a unique coupon code for $100 of a future purchase of $75+.
  

Bottom Line: If you're already planning on buying individual gifts from the Bespoke Post shop and/or a club box around November, I think it's worth it to wait until the Black Friday Black Box sale. That being said, I wouldn't go out of my way to try to get this box if there isn't something you already really want from the Bespoke Post shop.

Although the Black Box is no longer available, you can still subscribe to Bespoke Post or shop one-time purchases from their shop. 

• Use this link to get $20 off your first box (only $25)!
  

MEL Science "Aircraft" Review and 50% off Coupon

If you're looking for a way to keep your child's mind engaged while having fun, the MEL Science kits are a great subscription! 

*Disclaimer: This box was sent to See, Shop, Love! in exchange for an honest review.

MEL Science sends monthly hands-on science projects for three different age groups: STEM for ages 5-9+, Physics for ages 8-14+, Chemistry for ages 10-16+, and MEL Med for ages 14+.

You can choose one course or start with a mix, with prices starting at $26.20 per month. You'll get a new kit each month with 1-5 hands-on projects. You'll also gain access to virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) lessons and live lessons with professional science teachers. They also have a 100 percent money back guarantee if you're not satisfied and you can also cancel or pause your subscription at any time.

I would have loved these kits as a kid! I was excited to share them with my nephew, who is a bit younger than their target age at three years old, but I wanted to see if he was interested in them nonetheless.

I shared the "Aircraft" STEM kit with him at Thanksgiving and I have to admit, the excitement of the day made it hard for him to focus so we didn't end up doing the project together. I put it together myself and will give him the two aircraft projects to play with later.

The kit comes with a full color booklet with a comic strip telling a story behind the kit, as well as instructions and more fun activities. This box featured a story about helping little creatures get fruit from atop of a tree, hence why the aircraft were needed. There were also two card inserts with other activities.

There is a list of components on the first page of the booklet to make sure your kit isn't missing anything.

The comic strip and other facts about flight were well-drawn and eye catching for kids. I'm sure they'd have fun learning more about the topic at a reading level appropriate for their age.

There are step-by-step color instructions for how to put together each project. There are no word descriptions, but the pictures are easy to follow.

Then, of course, were all of the components for the two aircraft projects, split into two packets. Obviously adult guidance is needed when putting these together, especially for younger kids.

The two aircraft projects were a boomerang-style launcher and a spinning top projectile. They were easy to put together (from an adult standpoint), and the booklet includes information for kids about the science behind how/why these gadgets work. They do a great job of breaking it down into terms children will understand, and the toys are, of course, really fun to play with!

Here are two videos of me launching both projects. I had a little bit of difficulty with the boomerang, mostly because I was afraid I was holding it the wrong way and it would snap back and hit me in the face, ha (it didn't)!

• Visit MEL Science to browse all their kits and subscribe 
• Get 50% off your first box with coupon code SSL50, or just click any of the links in this post and the coupon will be automatically applied. Expires 12/31/21
  

Bottom Line: The MEL Science "Aircraft" kit was a lot of fun to put together and I could see how kids and their guardians could bond over putting together the projects. They're a great way to introduce science and engineering to kids!