November Arcade Block Review

Pete was really excited to get the November Arcade Block because they released a spoiler saying that the box would contain an Assassin's Creed item, one of his favorite video games.  It ended up being a really good box overall, and the Assassin's Creed item was a huge plus.

Arcade Block is a geek/gamer subscription that specifically sends video game items.  It costs $19.99 a month and ships from Canada, so it's about $30 after shipping to the U.S.  Each box comes with a t-shirt (they ask for your size when you sign up), which always makes the box a good value overall.

• Assassin's Creed II Pop Vinyl - This was randomly selected from six options, and our box had Ezio, the main character of the Assassin's Creed franchise.  I don't know much about the game other than what I've observed of Pete playing it, but he was really happy with this and was glad to have gotten Ezio.
• Minecraft Hangers - This is a blind box-type item with 10 possible designs inside.  We haven't opened it yet, but it's a keychain, I think.
• Team Fortress 2 Gift Wrap - I don't know anything about Team Fortress 2, but based on their website I think it's a computer game that has comic books as well.  Either way, 'tis the season for wrapping presents, so this will come in handy.

• DOTA 2 Convertible Bandana - I'm not familiar with DOTA (Defense of the Ancients), but it looks like an online MMORPG.  This bandana can be worn a bunch of different ways and has different characters' faces on it.
• Mario Bros. Super Star - The informational card says this is "back by popular demand," so I guess it was pretty popular in a previous box?  This is only the third month of the box, though, so it must have been included in the first month (we started subscribing at the second box).  It's a cute little stress reliever, or I suppose it could be a decoration.

• Mario Bros. Hero Series T-Shirt - I almost forgot to post about the t-shirt!  It features Mario, obviously, and is an interesting design.  It's not Pete's favorite, but he'll still wear it out and about.

Bottom Line: Arcade Block is a fun subscription for gamers.  I'm not a part of their target audience, but Pete enjoys it and I like that they send a t-shirt in each box.  I suppose how much you like the box really depends on what games are featured, but if you like surprises, I'd recommend giving it a try!

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

CapriClear 100% Coconut Oil Spray Review

When coconut oil started rising in popularity I wasn't quite sure if I was on board.  I didn't really know how to use it, I knew you could cook with it, but I'm not really much of a creative cook so I more or less ignored it.  But then a few readers suggested using it as a moisturizer and I saw the light!  Coconut oil is amazing as a moisturizer for hair and body, and the CapriClear 100% Coconut Oil Spray is a fun and easy way to get a dose of all-natural moisture!

CapriClear is an innovative treatment that fights dry, flaky, and irritated skin.  It was conceived by a dermatologist and is exceptionally pure, with one single ingredient: 100% fractionated coconut oil!  It's the most stable form of coconut oil and delivers all of the ingredient's skincare benefits without overwhelming fragrance, so you won't have to worry about walking around smelling like a piña colada.

Not only is CapriClear colorless and odorless, but it's also free of preservatives, additives, dyes, parabens, sulfates, and other potential irritants that are commonly found in other skincare products.  It's safe for use on babies, kids, and adults, and works great against conditions like eczema and atopic dermatitis.

I've been using CapriClear mostly on my hair and I love how soft it makes it feel!  The spray bottle is really convenient, and just a few spritzes here and there are enough to leave my hair feeling smooth.  I've also sprayed it on my skin after the shower and it absorbs quickly.  The winter months can be really harsh on my skin (and anyone else who lives in a snowy climate like I do!), so this is a great way to moisturize.

• Visit the CapriClear website to learn more and purchase a bottle for yourself!
• Connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, and Instagram

Bottom Line: I recommend CapriClear to anyone who is looking for an all-natural moisturizer that's pure and effective.  It works great and is appropriate for everyone, from babies' gentle skin to adults who want to feel pampered, too!

*Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by CapriClear.  Press sample received for review purposes.

Belli Skincare Review

It's important to be mindful of what you put on your skin, since our skin is our biggest organ and it absorbs everything we use on it into our bodies.  Belli is a physician-formulated skincare line that focuses on ingredient safety to provide expectant mothers with effective, toxin-free skincare.

Even though Belli's products are made with mothers in mind, their line is great for anyone who wants skincare that's made without harsh chemicals.  They screen all ingredients for use during pregnancy to avoid teratogens, which are chemical, synthetic, or even natural ingredeints that have been linked to birth defects or miscarriage.  All of their products are allergy-tested and free of parabens, BPA, phthalates, and artificial dyes, and they are also cruelty-free.

The All Day Moisture Body Lotion contains vitamin E, which is an antioxidant, and chamomile to soothe and refresh the skin.  I immediately noticed its lemon scent, which is because it also contains lemon oil.  The lotion has a silky smooth texture and absorbed into my skin quickly.  I like to use this after my morning shower (in conjunction with the Pure & Pampered Body Wash) because the lemon scent is a great pick-me-up, and I'm not always 100% awake in the mornings!

The Pure & Pampered Body Wash gently cleans without stripping the skin of its natural oils.  It contains cucumber and green tea extracts, which are rich in antioxidants, and lavender and chamomile to provide a relaxing aromatherapy experience.  I love the scent of lavender in any skincare product because it really is quite soothing, and it makes this body wash perfect for use at night since lavender helps to calm the mind to prepare for sleep.

Belli's Healthy Glow Facial Hydrator is a lightweight moisturizer designed for daily use.  It's rich in botanical humectants that refine the skin and soften its texture.  It also provides an antioxidant boost in the form of vitamin C and grapeseed oil for radiant, healthy skin.  Like the body wash and lotion, it also contains chamomile to help neutralize skin irritants.  It's packaged in an airless pump, which is something that I really like my skincare products to have because it means the product will stay potent and you won't have to worry about dispensing more than you need for one use.  This smells great (like lemon!) and goes on smoothly, and I appreciated how quickly it absorbed into my skin.

Last, but not least, is the Eye Brightening Cream.  It's enriched with vitamins K and B and revives tired eyes while minimizing the appearance of fine lines.  This soothing, restorative eye cream is also packaged in an airless pump and a little goes a very long way.  I never used to use eye creams before, but now my skincare routing feels incomplete without them and this one is an excellent choice!

• Visit the Belli Skincare website to learn more and browse their full line of products
• Connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and Instagram

Bottom Line: I was thoroughly impressed by all four of these products from Belli.  I love that they are cruelty-free, free of harsh chemicals and teratogens, and also highly effective!  I would recommend all of them to anyone who is looking for skincare that provides peace of mind, whether you're an expectant mother or not!

*Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Belli. Press samples received for review purposes.

Shake the Crave Review

I'm not a breakfast person.  I know it's the most important meal of the day, but I like to sleep for as long as possible, and if that means taking an extra 30 minutes in bed instead of using that time to make a breakfast, I'm staying in bed!  Needless to say, I do get hungry once I get to work so I either try to eat something small before I leave the house or take something with me.  One thing I do like to have in the morning is a breakfast shake, and Shake the Crave is a delicious new option!

Shake the Crave is a guilt-free shake that helps keep you feeling full while also boosting your energy.  I drank mine in the morning, but it's also great for any meal-on-the-go or as a healthy snack.  It's available in two flavors, Chocolate and Vanilla.  The ingredients are 100% pure, including natural cane sugar, milk, coconut powder, and vanilla or cocoa (depending on the flavor).  The 20 grams of natural sugar it contains are a type of sugar that the body converts to glucose quickly, which fuels ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production in the body--ATP transfers chemical energy within cells for metabolism, thus giving you the energy to think, move, and perform.

Shake the Crave is more than just a shake, though.  Their website also provides resources for weight management, including a game plan, lifestyle dos and don'ts, recipes, and more!  I like that they provide so many helpful resources, since the more support you have, the better your chance of success.

I didn't realize at first that the instructions say to use a blender for your shakes, so since I didn't have one on hand I made my Chocolate shake without.  You add the shake mix to eight ounces of milk (any kind you like, I used 2%), blend for 20 seconds on low, then three seconds on high, let it sit for one minute, then blend on low again for five seconds.  After blending, immediately pour the shake into a glass and let it sit for another minute so that the ingredients can rehydrate.  I had to improvise a bit, and at first I tried stirring it up with a spoon.  That didn't work quite so well, so I transferred it to a reusable water bottle and shook it up (if I had one of those protein shake separator cups I think that would have worked perfectly).  The shake tasted great, but the finished product was still a little bit chunky because I didn't use a blender--that's entirely my fault, though.  I was very impressed at how great this tasted; normally products like this have a weird taste or texture that isn't for me.  This one tasted just like a glass of rich chocolate milk.

When I made up the Vanilla shake I borrowed my mom's blender and followed the instructions and it came out great!  No chunks, and it tasted just as great as the Chocolate one.  I prefer Chocolate over Vanilla in general, so I did like the Chocolate shake more, but I think anyone who likes Vanilla would love this.

• Visit the Shake the Crave website to learn more and purchase
• Connect with them on Facebook and Twitter

Bottom Line: If you're looking to lose weight and/or for a yummy meal-on-the-go, I think Shake the Crave is a great option!  The Chocolate and Vanilla shakes were delicious and really did help me feel full in the morning.

*Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Shake the Crave.  Press samples received for review purposes.

JustFab Review - January Boots

I made my first purchase through JustFab in October; I was initially attracted to their buy two for $39.95 sale (I think that was it), but I ended up getting something not included in the sale.  I was able to get my first pair of shoes for only $19.95 within the first 24 hours of signing up, so I opted for that since nothing in the two for $39.95 section really caught my eye.

JustFab is essentially a subscription, but it's a little different than your average box-a-month service. For $39.95 a month you can choose a pair of shoes, a handbag, clothing, or accessories from their website.  A stylist creates a showroom for you with picks based on how you rated other items (and what you requested to see for the next month), but you can choose to purchase anything from the site for the VIP price.  You can also skip any month that you want.

I think $39.95 is a pretty good price for a pair of boots, which is what I was in the market for.  Also, shipping is free for orders over $39 within the contiguous U.S.  I probably won't purchase anything from JustFab more than a few times a year, but since you can skip as many times as you want I don't mind keeping my VIP membership going.

I picked the January boots because I loved them as soon as I saw them!  They're 100% my style.  I even showed them to my friend Linze and told her I was thinking about buying them and she said they were definitely me.  I love the foldover faux fur detailing and the brown color.  I also like flat boots--there was a time in my life when I wore only heels, but now I prefer to be able to actually walk without having to worry about wobbling.  I actually wanted to get these in black, but they were sold out in my size (I purchase a size 6).

Bottom Line: Overall I'm impressed with JustFab's selection.  A lot of the shoe and handbag styles definitely aren't for me, but there are enough that are to keep me interested.  The quality is good, but not stellar.  They're pretty much worth what you pay for in terms of how well they're made.

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. Post contains referral links.