tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36298449407829999552024-02-07T04:02:36.405-06:00Joann's Little ThingsEnjoy the little things for one day you may realize they were the big things.Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.comBlogger241125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-76916185222151858362015-11-17T12:02:00.001-06:002015-11-17T12:02:50.415-06:00Harrison Blake Apparel Monthly Club - November Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I recently found Harrison Blake Apparel and decided to try out their monthly club in hopes of getting a few things I can use as Christmas gifts for my teenage sons and husband. Both of my boys wear 'fancy duds' often but they are also becoming quite fussy in the quality of their clothing and accessories. I wasn't sure how HB would measure up but thought it was worth a try.<br />
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All of the details on the Selected club can be found<a href="http://www.harrisonblakeapparel.com/what-is-the-selected-club-1/"> here</a>, but in a nutshell it's $25 US for 1 necktie and 4 other accessories. From what I've seen of past boxes (which they have photos of on their site), the accessories typically include pocket squares, tie bars, lapel pins, bracelets or watches. All items are HB brand so you can't really compare the prices elsewhere. There is a bow tie club available as well.<br />
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You are billed on the 20th of the month for the next month's box. I asked if I could get November's even though I subscribed on Nov. 3 and sure enough, they shipped it to me right away on Nov. 6. I received it today, Nov. 17th which is an excellent turn around time for something coming from the US.<br />
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<u>Contents:</u><br />
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This month was extra-special as there were 6 items rather than the usual 5. There is a card included itemizing the items and providing a retail price. <br />
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1. Rosette Lapel Pin - $15<br />
2. Microfibre pocket square - $18<br />
3. Knit necktie - $25<br />
4. Anchor tie bar - $24<br />
5. Leather Anchor bracelet - $12<br />
6. Stainless Steel collar stays - $20<br />
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<u>Verdict:</u><br />
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They did a great job on this month's theme - the items look great together. I don't think any of the males in my house would wear anchor items on a daily basis (but with teenagers, who knows), but we go on a cruise every couple of years so they will definitely wear them then. My oldest son LOVES knit ties so I know he will love this one. He wears pocket squares all of the time at work and he's also starting to wear lapel pins so I think this month's box will be part of his Christmas present. Overall, $114 retail value for $25 is a great deal. As for quality of the items, the tie and pocket square felt very nice. We'll have to see how well they hold up after a few uses but they appear to be good quality.<br />
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The item I like the most are the collar stays. These will definitely get used. They have small magnets to keep them in place - what an excellent idea! I checked on their site to see if I could purchase an additional pair but they are only available in this box.<br />
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If you are interested in this particular box, it is available for $35 on their site now.<br />
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If you are interested in a sneak peek of December's box, you can find that<a href="http://www.harrisonblakeapparel.com/blog/december-monthly-box-sneak-peek/"> here</a>. I know my boys will be happy with everything in it! I'm thinking of getting a second box for a gift for my nephew too.<br />
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<br />Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-24196710969478206382015-11-06T16:04:00.001-06:002015-11-06T16:04:13.108-06:00Little Life Box November reviewOh how I love my Little Life Box. I didn't get it last month and I missed it. I purchased a one year subscription that I thought was auto-renewing, but it doesn't. I had to go back on to their site and purchase another. Not a big deal, just meant I missed a month of goodies.<br />
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As you can see, LLB changed their look - version 2.0 they say - it's a new colorful logo and the boxes are now white. Looked different on the outside, but still the same awesomeness inside.<br />
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All of the details can be found on their site<a href="http://littlelifebox.com/"> HERE</a>. Very simply - Your new healthy essentials. In a box. At your door. Every month.<br />
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This month's box is super loaded:<br />
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As usual, there is a good variety of items but mostly snacks and foods which suits me just fine. There is always a mixture of samples and full sized items. This month included the following goodies:<br />
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<u>1. Flap Jacked buttermilk Protein Pancake Mix</u> $3.65<br />
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Why have I never thought to add protein powder to my pancakes? My kids love pancakes so I have many healthy recipes, but having a mix can be super handy. All you need to add is 1 cup water and the mix will make 6-8 pancakes. I checked out the company website<a href="http://www.flapjacked.com/"> here</a> and see they have single serving protein muffin mixes too - chocolatey goodness. A bag of the pancake mix sells for $9 on flapjack's site and $11 on LLB's (due to fact they are a US site and LLB is Canadian) - this sample is one-third of a full-sized bag.<br />
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<u>2. PB & Me all natural Powdered Peanut Butter</u> - $8<br />
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I've been wanting to try powdered PB for a long time so I love that I got this one. From the companies <a href="http://pbandme.ca/products/pb-me-traditional-200g">website</a>: The original all-natural, low-fat peanut butter. Made with premium roasted peanuts, PB&Me traditional flavour is lightly blended with a hint of sweetness to create the delicious peanut butter you grew up eating, without the calories of course! PB&Me is a fresh take on Peanut Butter. We remove 90% of the fat from the peanuts - resulting a delicious alternative to traditional peanut butter, with 2x the proteins per gram than traditional stuff. PB&Me's uses are endless! Add a little water to enjoy it as a spread, use it as an ingredient in your shakes, absolutely delicious in baking, or simply enjoy it by the spoonful! 2 Tablespoons of mix to 1 T of water - how simple is that! This is a 180g bag, it's sold for $9 for a 200 g jar online. Love that it's a Canadian company too!<div>
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<br />3. <u>Simple 7 Quinoa Chips </u>$1.25<br />
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MMM, chips, but healthy ones! No fat, no artificial colors or flavors, no perservatives, gluten free all clean ingredients. This is a 23 g bag. A full size (99g) size bag is $4. According to LLBs site they are available at health food stores as well as some major grocery chains (Sobeys, Loblaws, etc.). Made in the USA.<br />
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4. <u>eLan Sunflower Seeds</u> $3<br />
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Sunflower seeds without all the effort of shelling. Organic, GMO and gluten free. Packaged in Canada but from China. This is a big bag (200g) and is priced at $3 on LLB so seems like a great value.<br />
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5. <u> Four o'Clock Tea bags</u> - $0.50<br />
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This company has been included in the box in the past, but these are two new flavors which I'll be happy to try. Gingerbread and Almond Biscotti. Available in many healthy or organic food stores across Canada. Another Canadian company.<br />
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6. <u> Real Salt - Nature's finest sea salt </u>- $0.20<br />
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This is a really cute and very small salt shaker. So cute. All-natural sea salt with more than 60 trace minerals, a unique taste their customers love, and reports of health benefits around the globe. Don’t we all just like it simple! 135g sells for $4.79 on Well.ca so this is really only worth about $0.20 but it's a cute addition to the box.<br />
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7. <u> Amazing Grass Raw Reserve Super food Berry flavored mixe</u>s - $4<br />
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We've received these in a past box, just not the Berry flavor. I'm going to pass these on to my husband and see what he thinks. I wasn't fond of the other but I'm not so good with green powdering stuff. Count them, if you dare: Amazing Grass Raw Reserve contains twenty five billion probiotics per serving. You could say it’s their ultimate combination of whole organic superfoods. These are sold on <a href="http://www.amazinggrass.com/store/raw-reserve-berry.html">Amazing Grasses</a> site for $2/package<br />
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8. <u> Planima hazelnut cacao + maca sprouted vitality bar</u> - $3.50<br />
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The Hazelnut Cacao bar combines the creamy taste of hazelnut butter with raw Peruvian cacao in a rich brownie-like treat. It's filled with crispy nuts and seeds, plus raw cacao nibs and maca root for an energizing boost in vitality and focus. Enjoy the enhanced flavor and nutrition of living nuts and seeds that have been brought to life by soaking, sprouting, and gentle dehydration to preserve their life force. Only the most nutritious whole food ingredients have been selected. No artificial ingredients or additives, ever. Sounds super healthy and with cocao can it be bad? Another Canadian company, this one appears to be founded by some young heath enthusiast. </div>
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9. <u>Neocell Beauty bursts Gourmet Collagen soft chews</u> - $1</div>
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<br />Soft chewy candies that result in better complexion, nails and hair - yes please! NeoCell Beauty Bursts deliver high absorption beauty nutrients in delectable, gourmet soft chews. Collagen Type 1 & 3 is the body's beauty protein & strengthens skin, hair & nails. Hyaluronic Acid is know as "Nature's Moisturizer" & hydrates the skin. Vitamin C is essential to boosting collagen in the skin. Well.ca sells bags of 60 for $28.<br />
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10. <u>Earth paste toothpaste</u> - $0.50<br />
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All natural, lemon twist and peppermint flavored toothpaste. These packages will be super handy for an overnight trip. Can be purchased online in tubes or in these travel sized packages for $6/24 packs.<br />
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11.<u> Buckthorn Sniffle Stick</u> - $5<br />
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A natural way of being. Looks like a chap stick, but it's actually an essential oil blend to apply to your chest and nostrils when you have the sniffles. I used essential oils all of the time when someone in the house has a cold, but this is perfect and easy to use. Love this! Available on their site (but I couldn't find it) and well.ca. Another Canadian company who need to update their website though!<br />
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12.<u> Weleda Anrica Massage Oil</u> 0.06 oz sample - $0.40<br />
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<li style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: montserrat-light, montserratlight, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 12px;">Nourishes skin with antioxidant-rich sunflower and olive oils</li>
<li style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: montserrat-light, montserratlight, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 12px;">Addresses muscle aches and soreness with extract of ecologically harvested arnica</li>
<li style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: montserrat-light, montserratlight, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 12px;">100% natural fragrance of rosemary and lavender helps the mind to relax</li>
3.4 oz bottles is available from Amazon.ca for $24.<br />
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<u>13. Urban Spa classic nail brush</u> - $3<br />
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Another Canadian company, this will go straight into my basket of goodies near my bath tub. <br />
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Verdict:<br />
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LOTS of stuff in this box. It's taken me quite a bit longer than usual to write this post, which is a good thing. The value of this box is $34 and I paid $25 for it. Best of all though, I was introduced to quite a few new companies and products. Happy, happy!<br />
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Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-73270568928064631092015-11-04T14:45:00.004-06:002015-11-04T14:45:49.034-06:00Jule's Wellness Lifestyle November box reviewIt's always a happy day when my box from<a href="http://juleswellness.ca/"> Jule's Wellness</a> arrives.<br />
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Jule's Wellness is a Canadian company, supporting Canadian business. I receive a themed box each month with high-quality and health-conscious products. What else could I ask for???<br />
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<u>The Details:</u><br />
<br />From the Website:<br />We hand-select health-conscious & female focused lifestyle products every month for our subscription box service. Surprise yourself or a loved one monthly to luxury wellness lifestyle products! This isn't just a box of sample packs... we send you an assortment of goodies from our boutique! <div>
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Cost: $34.32/month including shipping</div>
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Item you are interested in purchasing after you've had a chance to sample them in the box, can be purchased in the online boutique. You will receive a 10% discount code with your box.</div>
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This month, the box contains some culinary favorites and staples. As always, there was an information card and this month we also received a recipe card.</div>
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<u>This Month's goodies:</u></div>
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<u>Lee's Ghee:</u></div>
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I have never tried Ghee before, so I guess this is a good time to start. The butter is sourced from Ontario's Organic Meadow. The website and card provide a lot of information on the health benefits and uses of Ghee. The price online is $20/255g. This is a 125g size so I valued it at $11. </div>
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<u>Earth's Choice Organic Coconut Milk:</u></div>
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We use coconut milk mostly in baking or smoothies in our house and this is a good size for that at 160 ml. This is not available on their site, but I'm estimating it at $1.60 based on similar products. </div>
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<u>Celtic Grey Sea Salt:</u></div>
<br />I've used white and pink sea salt, but never grey, so this will be nice to try. This is a full sized 8 oz container, valued at $8 on their site. From the site: Light Grey Celtic® is a whole crystal (coarse), moist salt that is mineral-rich, completely unrefined and hand harvested. Dried by the sun and the wind; it retains the ocean’s moisture, locking in a vast array of vital trace elements. Light Grey Celtic® gets its light grey hue from the pure clay lining of the salt beds where it is harvested.<br />Light Grey Celtic® is perfect for use in a grinder and for cooking. The whole crystals dissolve with heat and moisture, enhancing food with its rustic, old-world flavor while adding vital nutrients to your diet.<br /><br /><u>Acropolis Organic Mousto Balsamic Vinegar:</u><br />
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I LOVE Balsamic Vinegar. I just opened a new bottle though so I'm going to keep this one sealed until I've used that one up. This is a great sized bottle (250 ml) which is priced at $12 on the site. From the site: Created from an ancient recipe, Acropolis Organics mousto balsamic vinegar is made from Romeiki grapes to deliver a taste as rich and dynamic as Crete's history and culture.<br />Unlike most modern balsamic to which cane sugar is added, our Mousto Balsamic is enhanced with Petimezi - a natural, ancient grape molasses, which gives our vinegar a full fruity sweetness. It's then aged in oak barrels for six years to further enrich its flavor. The refined chef's choice ingredient, Mousto Balsamic will transform your salads, vegetables, pasta, meat and seafood dishes into culinary works of art. This is a product of Crete.<br />
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<u>Jaswant's Kitchen Tadka Masala 100% Natural Indian Spice</u><br />
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Thanks to a very close Indian family friend, my kids have a developed a love of Indian food. I've never attempted much but this I will use for sure. They included a very simple recipe for salmon that even I shouldn't be able to mess up. Again, this product is produced in Canada. Price online is $8.<br />
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<u>Verdict:</u><br />
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This box contains 5 items which will all be used. The value is there, adding up to approximately $40. Unfortunately, it didn't feel as exciting to me as some of the past boxes, but I guess that's because it contained staple items. I'm hoping next month's box will be one that feels more like presents with Christmas coming.<br />
<br />Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-32392057920253343792015-11-03T09:08:00.000-06:002015-11-03T09:08:37.682-06:00House Box response<div class="tr_bq">
I really don't like complaining. I will go out of my way to avoid confrontation any kind. I was raised by the old "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" philosophy.</div>
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I don't like posting poor reviews, but the last one was a negative review. After a few days, I thought i should at least give the company an opportunity to respond. I sent Alison, the owner of House Box, an eMail expressing my disappointment in the first box, a link to my post and a request to cancel my subscription.<br />
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Here is her response:<br />
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Hi Joann,<br />Thanks for letting me know about your blog post, and about your feelings of disappointment towards the service. I am truly sad that you felt the value was not there, as the box was carefully thought out and curated to present new ideas for household items. I understand that not everyone will love the service and will feel that the product total is not worth the money spent. All I can say is that the idea is to present new ideas, not necessarily deliver a dollar value of product.<br /> <br />When I first thought of the company, I had no idea how much all the things that went into producing a shipment was going to cost, and was completely shocked when I learned what shipping costs were! Ideally, the cost would be closer to $15/box plus $5 shipping, but then it would be costing me money to produce. As we become more established and our brand is recognized, I hope we will be able to include more high value "deluxe" samples. And I understand that when our volume of shipments increases, we will be offered lower shipping rates, which we will gladly pass along to our subscribers. I am sorry to see you cancel your subscription, but I understand it was disappointing if it was not what you had in mind.<br />Sincerely,<br />Allison Brown</blockquote>
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Although she was very polite in her response, I'm certainly not changing my mind about the subscription. Firstly, these really weren't 'new ideas' that were being presented. I use all natural laundry detergent and dish soap already (and there are a LOT of options out there and places to purchase them). Paper straws can be purchased online, or in local department stores. As for coffee..........nothing new there. </div>
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As for shipping, I completely get that Canada shipping is pricey - and completely out of her control. The subscription price does not include shipping - that is an extra $10 which is enough to cover the cost. Obviously, there are costs of packaging, etc. that need to be covered too but paying $30 for $7 worth of stuff can't all be blamed on shipping. </div>
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I wish her luck in her business, but I think she's going to have a tough time of it. </div>
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Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-84457958752892399712015-10-23T15:31:00.001-06:002015-10-23T15:31:48.234-06:00Review of House Box #1 subscription boxI was very excited when I heard there was another Canadian Subscription box on the market - this one catering to your home. As per the website,<a href="http://www.housebox.ca/"> www.housebox.ca</a>:<br />
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Discover items that make a house your home.<br />Expertly selected products and samples delivered right to your doorstep! You will receive 5 or more items, including samples of household products (cleaners, laundry detergents, dish soaps, etc), non-perishable consumables (coffee, tea, spices, etc), atmosphere enhancers (candles, essential oils), and other unique household items!<div>
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The cost was $21.95 + $9.95 shipping less 25% off the first box.</div>
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There were quite a few eMails from the company in advance to build the hype of the box and then another sending me a refund since I had paid full price before they released the 25% off coupon for the first box. As a result, I was very impressed.</div>
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The box ships out every second month on the 15th of the month. I received my box on Oct. 19. This is what I received:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33VpoUheJ8-OZ459wd3O7ly7JYagyLeTwj6yTGvrgr0KbCr1iwn3JrI9pQytK3SbzMndMju3d6_zFEBoD39F5dmDTRiynxkNTBN_xD8et1mlpDK10uZOYvIBiYaKIypcF9ua-AKH5plTA/s1600/IMG_20151023_152553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33VpoUheJ8-OZ459wd3O7ly7JYagyLeTwj6yTGvrgr0KbCr1iwn3JrI9pQytK3SbzMndMju3d6_zFEBoD39F5dmDTRiynxkNTBN_xD8et1mlpDK10uZOYvIBiYaKIypcF9ua-AKH5plTA/s320/IMG_20151023_152553.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The box is small so fit into my super mailbox no problem. It measures 4.5"x 2.5" x 8". The box included an information card with details and pricing of each item received.</div>
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1. Greenmunch Paper Straws:</div>
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These were listed at 250 for $30. I received 8 straws so this was worth $1.</div>
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2. Paradise Mountain Organic Coffee:</div>
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Cost listed is $13 for 340g. This is a 70g sample so worth $2.67.</div>
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3. The Good Home Co. Summer Cottage Dryer Sheets.</div>
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Cost listed at $12 for 20 sheets - that seems very expensive to me. I use wool balls so don't know how this compares to other natural dryer sheets, but I would not purchase at that price. They recommend using 1 or 2 sheets per load. They are not reusable. That's about $1 per load of laundry and with a family of 5, I do at least 2 loads per day. There were 2 sheets provided to try, worth $1.20.</div>
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4. The Laundress delicate wash detergent.</div>
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Cost listed as $24 for 16 oz. I use all natural laundry detergent so I'm aware it's more pricey than the cheap stuff, but this is very pricey. The sample received is 0.5 ml enough for one washing and would be worth $0.75</div>
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5. Murchison Home Heirloom Dish soap.</div>
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Cost listed at 32 oz for 32ml. Again, much pricier than the natural brands I use. The sample received doesn't have a size indicated but it's enough for 1 load of dishes, I'd say about 0.5ml as similar size to the washing detergent. That would be worth $0.50.</div>
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6. Young Living Essential Oils</div>
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I use essential oils all of the time. There is no cost listed on the information sheet, but my sister sells YL so I know it's not inexpensive. The sample size received is not big enough though to get any sense of the product so I don't think there is any value to it.</div>
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Verdict:</div>
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I hate publishing anything negative but I am not happy with this box at all. The value is about $6-$7. That comes no where close to the cost of the box. In addition, not one of the items in the box are items I would ever purchase again. </div>
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I immediately cancelled my subscription.</div>
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Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-67209686263174939152015-10-15T15:30:00.001-06:002015-10-15T15:30:42.246-06:00Relish Clothing Review #2<br />
Once again Harper Noel, owner of<a href="http://www.relishclothing.com/"> Relish Clothing</a>, hit it out of the park. <br />
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This time I ordered a large mystery tote which is described as follows on the website:<br />
"Large box $199 – This is where all the magic happens. Expect to receive 8-9 pieces and perhaps even a luxe item!! For the super adventurous #relishgirl. The value is = mindblowing!"<div>
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My first review,<a href="http://joannslittlethings.blogspot.ca/2015/09/relish-clothing-review-1.html"> here</a>, was for a medium sized box but I decided to order up this time. The shipping doesn't increase for the larger box, so why not? </div>
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The way Relish works is described best on their Facebook page, but it does involve pinning items of interest from Harper's Pinterest board and other customer's reveals on Facebook. In my last order, I received 6 pieces of clothing, 4 of which were items I had pinned, and 2 complete surprises. I liked everything, but ironically the two surprises are what I've worn the most in the past month. This time all but 1 of the items were items I had NOT pinned, but yet I'm very happy with what I got. Maybe Harper knows me better than I know myself. </div>
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Along with pinning items, you are also asked to give your measurements, items you are particularly looking for, items you aren't etc. I wrote a VERY detailed list for both orders and it seems to have worked. I do know that I had asked for pants, but I also was worried about anything low rise which is likely why I didn't get any. I did say I had some fundraising events coming up if there was a LBD I'd love that, so am a bit disappointed I didn't get that, but I will stalk the for sale boards in the facebook group to see if something that would work is listed there.</div>
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Enough chatter, here are the goodies:</div>
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1. <u>Comme Toi plaid button up. </u></div>
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I had asked for anything black and white plaid. This is navy and I'm definitely okay with that. The back is stretchy so a very comfy shirt. I know I will get a lot of wear out of this one. It does recommend dry cleaning, but if I'm wearing this as an everyday kind of shirt, I'm not dry cleaning it. I will wash in gentle cold cycle and hang to dry and hope for the best. I have never seen Comme Toi brands here so no idea on quality, etc. but after a quick search online it seems to be decent line.</div>
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This is the one item I did have pinned. </div>
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2. <u>THML lightweight sweater</u></div>
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Another item with plaid makes me happy. The grey sweater is very lightweight but lined on the front so no worry about it being see through. Again, I plan on wearing this a lot but will have to be careful washing as it recommends hand wash, lay flat to dry. Again, a new-to-me brand (because I live under a rock in the middle of nowhere) but I've seen other THML items in stitch-fix reviews for around $60. I did have quite a few black and red plaid items on my style Pinterest board which I'm sure Harper noticed.</div>
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3. <u>Staccato Elbow Patch striped sweater</u></div>
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I didn't have THIS pinned, but I had the black and white striped cardigan with elbow patches, so I think that's close enough! I love this one. Super comfy and the patches give it just a bit of character. Another hand wash item, but it'll be worth the extra care required. Even I've heard of Staccato before. It's not too heavy of a sweater and I know I'll wear it often.</div>
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4. <u>12PM by MonAmi Floral Hoodie</u></div>
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I don't own anything floral, and I didn't have anything floral pinned BUT I love this! My daughter is also going to love it, so I have to keep it hidden. It is SO comfy and will look awesome with a couple pairs of leggings I own. I received a 12PM by MonAmi in my last box and it was super happy with it, so happy to see the brand again. Says hand wash, but again I'm going to risk washing on gentle cycle. Did that with the one from last month and it was perfectly fine. The crazy pose is to show it has a hoodie and a kangaroo pocket - LOVE it!!</div>
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5 <u> EZRA floral blouse</u></div>
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Another floral, this one I'm okay with but not loving but mostly because it's way too low in the front. I will have to try it with a cami of some kind. Another new to me brand but it looks like very good quality. I'm thinking it will dress up a pair of grey skinny jeans really well. </div>
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<u>6. Naked Zebra blouse</u></div>
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A beautiful maroon colored blouse I didn't know I needed. Terrific color for fall. There's a exposed gold zipper on the back but I didn't get a pic of it. A good quality brand again. I love the detail on the neckline. Everything I received was size small but this one definitely ran the smallest.</div>
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7. <u>90021 by Naked Zebra cardigan</u></div>
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I know I'll wear lots. It's SUPER soft and actually matches the floral blouse perfectly since the blouse has this sagey green in the leaves. Another item I haven't seen in any Relish reveals before but happy with receiving it.</div>
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8. <u>Cherish Maroon Cardigan</u></div>
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I had pinned this in ivory, but I LOVE that I received this one instead. I know I'd stain the ivory one right away and this is so much better color for fall. I think it's the softest piece of clothing I've ever owned. I haven't taken it off since I tried it on this morning. </div>
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9. <u>ZAD necklace</u></div>
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I had requested that I not receive jewelry but this is just too beautiful, so I'm okay. I have so much jewelry, I really don't need anymore but since I love multi-strand, gold and stones this is a triple-win for me.</div>
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<u>Verdict:</u></div>
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I'm happy!</div>
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I placed the order on Harper's birthday when she gave everyone a discount. The box came to $188 after discount and shipping of $35. Unfortunately, I also got hit with a custom's charge of $36 this time. So the final cost to me was just under $280 Canadian. Not chunk change by any means. I receive clothes I haven't seen in stores here and I don't have to go shopping! I really think I'm set for a few months though. There are many other companies out there where I could spend less for 9 items, but I do believe the quality of these items are better than many other places I've ordered from.</div>
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Will I order again? Absolutely. </div>
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Do I need to wait for a bit? Yes. </div>
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Will I be able to stay away from the posts and reveals on Facebook and avoid the temptation of ordering another one soon? Probably not..........</div>
Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-14310789867667182942015-10-15T14:05:00.003-06:002015-10-15T14:05:23.672-06:00October Readings I can't believe it's only October 15 and I've already read 7 books this month. A few were definitely quick reads, but I have managed to find a few more hours to dedicate to reading the past few weeks. Once my daughter's sporting activities start up, I spend more time in the vehicle to and from practices and find it a great way to get a few chapters completed.<br />
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I've read nothing new so far this month, instead I'm trying to get a few titles off of my to-be-read list. Many have been there for a few years. Right now I have over 400 books on the list so need to whittle that down.<br />
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1. <u>The Trouble in Mudbug</u> by Jana Deleon - Rating 0/5<br />
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I got this kindle title free awhile back from Amazon. I hate giving bad reviews, but this books was just not good. I suspect that's why it was free. It's the first in a series, and I won't be continuing.</div>
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2. <u>A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum</u> - Rating 3/5</div>
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Not a typical read for me by any means. I ordered it from the library for two reasons: I needed to read a play for my Goodreads reading challenge; and my son is about to perform this in his high school musical theatre class. Hard to know what to say other than - I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY ARE DOING THIS IN HIGH SCHOOL! It takes place in a whore house for goodness sake!! My son is playing the role of Hero who falls in love with the only virgin in the house. Really. Part of me is shocked, but the other part of me can't wait to see the production!<br />
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3. <u>Silver Gir</u>l by Elin Hilderbrand - Rating: 3/5<br />
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I enjoyed this book. It was nice to see main characters able to rebuild a friendship that fizzled years earlier. The author was able to make me feel for the main character rather than think of her as a spoiled wife of a cheating husband.<br />
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4.<u> Falling Home</u> - Karen White Rating 2.5/5<br />
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I always enjoy Karen White when I'm in the mood for a light read. This one had a lot going on - maybe a bit much actually. Coming home to a dying father, falling for the high school friend even though engaged to someone else, then discovering her sister is also dying. I think my biggest problem was that I didn't really love the main character.<br />
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5.<u> Catcher in the Rye </u>- J.D. Salinger - Rating 3/5<br />
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My goodreads challenge was to read a book that had been banned at one time and this was one I've heard a lot about but had never had the interest to read in the past. It's hard for me to decide if I like it. It's quite depressing, but that's obviously the intent so the author was successful. I do think it would be better suited to young adults (as was the intend) than an "old" lady like me.<br />
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6. <u>Would-be Witch</u> - Kimberly Frost - Rating 4/5<br />
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I 'should' be reading intelligent, thought-provoking books, but I can't help myself - I love fun books like this. Goodreads has a feature where they recommend books to you based on what you've already read so I was just introduced to this series even though it isn't new (although there are still titles being written in the series). The book was a fun, quick read. The main character is just developing her witching abilities, there is the bad boy who wants to help her develop her skills, and the good guy (ex, but not really-ex husband) who doesn't believe in witches. Throw in a cat with it's own abilities and a few other cooky friends and I think it has the potential to be a great series. I'll definitely be continuing with this one.<br />
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7. <u>Vanishing Acts</u> by Jodi Picoult Rating 3/5<br />
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This is an older Jodi Picoult book but has been on my to read list for quite sometime. I really like the storyline of this book, but did find there was some extra 'fluff' that in my mind didn't add enough to the characters stories for it to have been included in the book. The Indian neighbor's life, illness and suicide wasn't necessary, nor did I really think the full details of the prison life added much. I do think those parts were written well, but in my opinion should have been saved for another book.With that said, I still thought the book was worth reading.Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-4526545448254269292015-10-13T19:41:00.003-06:002015-10-13T19:41:54.260-06:00Goodreads Giveaway New Book Reviews<br /><br />I have been fortunate to receive some ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) of some new books through Goodreads.com.<br /><br />I've reviewed them on Goodreads but thought I'd post them here in one post as well.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Sideways (The Sideways Series #1)</u></span> by Annie Carlisle Rating: 3/5<br /><br />Published April 2015<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /><br />There is a lot to love about this book. I quite enjoy mysteries and this definitely fit the bill. Without ruining the plot, I'll just say Olivia is recovering from a traumatic event, thrust into another, and then another! The author does a great job of keeping you on your toes, wondering what is going to happen next.<br /><br />The book is also very much a romance as well. Although I do like romantic story lines in mysteries, there was just a bit too much for me (but that's just my taste). I'm not one to like sex talk but that's just me and I know other's may find that enjoyable.<br /><br /><br /><u><span style="font-size: large;">A Week at the Lake</span> by Wendy Wax</u> Rating 4/5<br /><br />Published June 2015<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /><br />This is a wonderful story of three friends, Emma, Serena and Mackenzie. After an accident leaves Emma struggling for her life, their initial plan to spend a week together at the lake with Zoe, Emma's daughter, turns into a longer visit while helping Emma heal. While together, they learn to overcome events from their past and solidify their friendship. A terrific beach read. <br /><br /><br /><u><span style="font-size: large;">Host Writer (The Archivist #1</span></u>) by W.F. Kuehn Rating 4/5<br /><br />Published April 2015<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /><br />This is quite the book! There's a lot going on, but the author manages to keep it all clear and easy to follow. There's some mystery, suspense, paranormal characters and a bit of romance too. I really enjoyed this one.<br /><br />I feel it's a great YA read as well so will be passing it on to my teenagers.<br /><br />Looking forward to the next in the series!!!<br /><br /><br /><u><span style="font-size: large;">1/2 Minute Meditations</span></u> by Mischa V. Alyea Rating 3/5<br /><br />Published April 2015<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /><br />I found this to be a great introduction to meditation. Since I've never done it before, it was a great place for me to start. If you are familiar with meditation, I suspect this book won't be as helpful for you as it is clearly an introduction. The book is only 56 pages so definitely just introduces mediation techniques.<br /><br /><br /><u><span style="font-size: large;">Across Canada by Story </span></u>by Douglas Gibson Rating 3/5<br /><br />Published September 2015<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /><br />If you are a fan of Canadian literature, this is a great book for you. It's a light read that takes you across Canada, 'hearing' about many Canadian authors and their roots along the way.<br />My mother is an avid reader of Canadian literature and I can't wait to pass this one on to her.<br /><br /><br />I have won a few more in the last month so will be reviewing them shortly.<br /><br />Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-65127611764285957252015-10-13T14:36:00.000-06:002015-10-13T14:36:11.647-06:00Reading ChallengesBy back at the beginning of 2015, I posted that I planned on taking part in the PopSugar's 2015 Reading Challenge on Goodreads.<br />
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I have really enjoyed taking part. The challenge is now in week 41 and I have now managed to read all but 7 books of the 52 required categories. The list can be found on the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/152301-2015-reading-challenge">Goodreads challenge group</a>.<br />
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I'm pretty sure I will be able to finish up the challenge before the end of November and I will post a list of each of the titles I read along with the categories. <br />
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The group is now voting on a regular to come up with our own list of categories for 2016 and it looks like it's going to be a lot of fun. I've already picked most of the titles I'd like to read for it.<br />
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In addition to this group, I also have a goal of reading 100 books this year and as of today, I'm 8 books ahead of schedule so I think I'll get there.<br />
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Once I become hooked on this challenge group, I decided to start looking for some more on Goodreads and discovered <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/55345-the-challenge-factory">The Challenge Factory</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/47249-the-lost-challenges">The Lost Challenges</a>. Combined, these two groups have a LOT going on! I've limited myself to 2 or 3 challenges per group. For this month, I'm taking part in a scavenger hunt of October themed words, a phobia challenge, a scattegory game, a Halloween trivia challenge, plus a couple of others. In most cases you can decide what level so reading as few as 4 or 5 books a month will still allow you to take part. It's become quite addictive!! I'm starting to wonder if I enjoy selecting the books I'll read as much as I enjoy reading them.....<br />
<br />Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-67130094788720028782015-10-08T17:25:00.000-06:002015-10-08T18:12:39.043-06:00Jule's Wellness October Lifestyle BoxIt's always a great day when my Jule's Wellness box arrives!<br />
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Last month's box can be seen<a href="http://joannslittlethings.blogspot.ca/2015/09/jules-wellness-box-september.html"> here</a>, So far, I've liked the variety but it's especially evident when you subscribe for a few months in a row. For instance, this month's had more snacks compared to last month - which had facial items and this had none of those. I know I will use everything I've received since I've started subscribing and that's pretty amazing compared to many subscription boxes.<br />
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<u>Who</u>: <a href="http://juleswellness.ca/">http://juleswellness.ca/</a>. Jules Wellness is an online Wellness boutique. They sell a variety of Health conscious items including the subscription box. If you like what you receive you can purchase more and even subscribe to a particular item and they will ship it to you on a regular basis. <br />
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<u>What</u>: monthly box of goodies for health conscious females. These are not samples, they are full sized items from the boutique. I noticed they are planning a Mom and Baby box soon.<br />
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<u>When</u>: arrives at the beginning of each month.<br />
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<u>How much:</u> $34.32 month including shipping within Canada <br />
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This Month's goodies:</div>
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1. <u>Beekeepers Propolis Throat Relief</u> $12</div>
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Ironically, the day the box arrived my daughter came home from school with a sore throat. She's 13 and made lots of funny faces at the taste of the spray, but she did say that it felt good and didn't have any aftertaste. I loved seeing this in the box as I hate giving my kids sugary lozenges.</div>
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2. <u>Bach Rescue Night Liquid Melts</u> $10</div>
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A homeopathic natural sleep aid. I received this last month in my Little Life Box but have yet to try it. I do have troubles turning my brain off many nights so will be keeping it on my bedside table.<br />
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3. <u> Strawsome Glass Straw and cleaning brush</u> $7</div>
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I've always wanted to try a glass straw but was concerned about keeping them clean so it's nice they included a brush as well. </div>
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4. <u>Yes, peas chickpea trail mix tropical</u> $6</div>
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I love snacks with chickpeas so happy to try this one.</div>
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5. <u>pur peppermint gum</u> $1.50</div>
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I've had this gum before as I refuse to use anything with aspartame, I'm not a gum chewer but I keep this in my vehicle just in case I need a breath refresher and this one is very strong flavored and does the trick.</div>
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6. <u>pukka refresh tea bags </u>$0.75</div>
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This is a blend of organic peppermint, fennel and rose so I suspect it will be great anytime someone has a bit of upset tummy or indigestion. </div>
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7, <u> Larabar apple fruit and nut energy bar</u> $2.25</div>
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My daughter's basketball and soccer seasons started this week so having a supply of healthy snacks is a must. These will go into her bag for between games or after practices</div>
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8. <u>Chocosol Artisan Sinfully Raw Vanilla Chocolate Bar</u> $4.75</div>
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This is NOT going in my daughter's bag. I'm going to keep it to myself. These are made in small batches by hand in Toronto using all real ingredients.</div>
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<u>Verdict:</u></div>
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The value of this box was about $44 or $10 more than what I paid for it. That's a bit lower than the last few months. As usual, I was introduced to some new products many of which are made in Canada which I love.<br />
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This is a box I regularly recommend to friends and family.</div>
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Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-2320818738961876382015-09-26T14:13:00.003-06:002015-09-26T17:19:18.765-06:00Books Read and reviewed - September<br />
I can't believe how many books I've been able to read lately! My messy house is evidence that I should probably do something else, but housework is just so boring.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pretty Baby </span><br />
by Mary Kubica<br />
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Rating 5/5<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
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What a great book. There are a lot of twists and turns that kept me guessing right until the end. There are a few different issues throughout, but the author did a great job of not making it confusing. There was instances of sexual abuse, a teenage runaway, some marital issues, cancer, and loss of a baby. It sounds like maybe a bit too much in one book, but it isn't. <br />
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I look forward to reading any future books by this author.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Space Between Us</span><br />
by Thrity Umrigar </div>
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Rating 4/5<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
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I enjoyed this book very much. It's very tough to believe that this isn't a historical book - this is still the way many women live. It definitely isn't a 'feel good' lighthearted read. It tells the story of an abused wife, her very underprivileged servant and her servant's granddaughter. The way the servant and her granddaughter live is very bothersome. <br />
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Nice eye opener to what's still going on in the world.<br />
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I was slightly disappointed in the ending as it left me wondering what happened to the characters.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry </span><br />
by Gabrielle Zevin </div>
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Rating 3/5<br />
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This was a very quick read for me (started and finished it on a 4 hour flight) that I found quite enjoyable. It's the story of a widowed bookstore owner who undergoes a dramatic change in his life as the result of the influence of some important people in his life. It doesn't have a happy ending, but you were able to see how his life was not an unhappy one.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And Then I Found You </span><br />
by Patti Callahan Henry</div>
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Rating 2/5<br />
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<span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;">I actually can't pinpoint exactly why I didn't love this book but I didn't. The story line was good, but I felt as if I didn't really "get" the characters enough to care what happened to them. From the beginning I could guess how the book would end which also didn't help. I have read other books by this author that I did enjoy but there are too many great books out there to recommend this one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Boat Who Wouldn't Float </span><br />
by Farley Mowat<br />
Rating 2/5 <br />
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I really wanted to love this book but I didn't. I read a Farley Mowat book when I was a teenager but can't remember how I felt about it. As a well-known Canadian author, I wanted to try him again. I found I just really couldn't get into the book. From other reviews I thought it was going to be very funny but I found it only slightly amusing. I really think it must be me though since there are some wonderful reviews on it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Red Notebook</span>by Antoine Laurain<br />
Rating 4/5<span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person">
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<span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person">A very short (159 pages), entertaining read. I quite enjoyed this story of a man who discovers a woman's purse and his search to find the owner. This was originally written in French but translated well. I lent this to a 17 year old family friend and she loved it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Second Time Around</span><span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"></span><br />
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<span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person">by Beth Kendrick</span></div>
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<span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person">Rating 3/5</span></div>
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The story of college friends who get a second chance at their old dreams. A quick read that doesn't have too much depth but sometimes that's okay. I did find that with as many characters as there in this story, it's hard to really get to know each of them sufficiently.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> The Lost Recipe for Happiness</span><br />
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<span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person">by Barbara O'Neal</span></div>
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<span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person">Rating 3.5/5</span><br />
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<br /><br /><br />Sometimes all I'm interested in is a feel good, fun read and this fit the bill. The main character has enough 'tough-luck' history behind her that you feel for her and hope things turn out this time. She is a tough character who you empathize with immediately. The supporting characters also have issues in their past but not so much that it's unbelievable. The author successfully tells the story from a couple of points of view, and the ending makes you happy. <br /><br /><div class="stacked" id="bookAuthors" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><span style="font-size: large;">The Summer Girls and The Summer Wind </span><br />by Mary Alice Monroe</span>Rating 2/5</div>
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</span>I didn't find the writing in these books very good. I expected them to be light 'chick-lit' books, which I frequently enjoy, but these didn't cut it for me. I don't find the relationships between the sisters very real and found much of the story shallow. The grandmother bribes them to visit her (really??), and they reunite as sister (obviously they don't know each other at all, but become best friends???).<span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"></span></div>
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Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-24859217212140183362015-09-17T12:13:00.000-06:002015-09-17T19:24:38.584-06:00Relish Clothing review #1I say #1 because there WILL be more. I'm in love with almost everything that arrived in my mystery box! I ordered a Medium sized box - 6 or 7 items - for $149 US plus $30 shipping to Canada. I can't remember why, but at the time I ordered there was a 10% discount so in total, I paid $164 US or about $215 Can. For me, that was taking a risk. I don't tend to spend that much on clothes but I knew my closet needed some TLC.<br />
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If you're interested in how Relish works the best thing to do is join the group on Facebook and to place an order visit the website <a href="http://www.relishclothing.com/">http://www.relishclothing.com/</a><br />
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I am NOT a fashionista - I need all the help I can get to look presentable. I don't mind shopping, but I really don't know what looks good, what's in style, etc. so all the help I can get is a good thing.<br />
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What I need is real clothes and that's exactly what I got. These are all staple items.<br />
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I still need to spend quite a bit of time styling the outfits, but here's what I got:<br />
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<u>1. Esley Blazer</u><br />
This is a knit blazer that can perfectly dress up a pair of jeans but with the comfort of wearing a sweater or cardigan. I had asked for this and in this color. They did size me up to a Medium which was the right thing to do as a small would not have fit.<br />
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I did a quick search and found in on sale in a variety of online boutiques for between $60 and $75.<br />
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<u>2, Creative Concepts blouse</u><br />
Another one that I had pinned as an item I liked from past boxes. It does run large in size so this size Small is big, but is still fine.<br />
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I found many Creative Concepts blouses online (and in Stitch Fix reviews) priced around $60.<br />
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<u>3. Le Lis long sleeve t-shirt</u><br />
Perfect everyday t-shirt, but the mixed media gives it a little more style. <br />
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Similar Le Lis long sleeves are about $40 online.<br />
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<u>4. Paper Moon Cardigan</u><br />
Wow this is comfy, oversized (so probably not flattering) and something I will live in this fall and winter. It has pockets and a hood, and covers my butt perfectly.<br />
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Similar Paper Moon cardigans are about $40 online.<br />
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5. <u>12PM by Mon Ami dress/tunic</u><br />
I think it's a bit long on me for a tunic and it's too darn cold here to wear it as is as a dress. I'm going to try to style it with boots, caridgan and tights and see how I can pull it off. It is SUPER soft and comfy! Even though I'm not that into fashion, even I know that Ombre is 'the' thing right now.<br />
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I've seen this exact same dress online priced on average of $50.<br />
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6. <u>Beulah Moto in Teal</u><br />
These are perfect! They fit like a glove (I was sized up to Medium which was the right call) and are so flattering. I can't wait to start styling these. I had some teal jeggings that I thought were nice until I got these! My favorite in the box.<br />
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These are priced at $50 online.<br />
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<u>Verdict:</u><br />
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I'm very happy with the items I got. I feel the value was definitely there. For $164, I got about $300 worth of clothes. I have already ordered another box, this time a $199 large box. The shipping cost is the same, so decided I may as well as pay $50 more and get 2 or 3 more items.<br />
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Looking at these pictures, it's obvious I need to do some styling, but I'll wait for my teenager to help me with that!Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-62421782419977458592015-09-14T10:57:00.000-06:002015-09-14T10:57:34.975-06:00Moxie Style - Purchase #1Purchase #1 because there are quite a few more to come.....<br />
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As I mentioned in my <a href="http://joannslittlethings.blogspot.ca/2015/09/clothing-and-mystery-boxes.html">last post,</a> I've discovered mystery clothing bags much to the delight of my closet and my daughter, but not so good for the credit card bill.<br />
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I know I needed some new items to update my wardrobe. A lot of the things I owned were just no longer looking good. I took a lot to the consignment store and only some was taken which is a pretty good clue that my wardrobe was out of date.<br />
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I typically wear small clothing with the odd medium thrown in. My daughter is either XS or small, so I have the 'safety net' if it doesn't fit me, it will likely fit her. My plan was to order the Mystery Tote bag only but when I went on the site, there was some ridiculously priced sale items so I bought quite a few things. Here's a recap:<br />
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<u>Who</u>: <a href="http://moxie.style/">Moxie.style</a><br />
Jackie Lisa is the owner and the company is a full one-woman show. She opened for business in June and just received her 1,000th order.<br />
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<u>What: </u> Boutique items, Curate Your Own (CYO) mystery totes, or full mystery bags<br />
As this is a new business, she is trying out lots of new things and running new promos frequently. The only way to keep up is being active on the Facebook page (which is really addictive)<br />
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My order:<br />
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<u>Mystery Tote</u> - I don't believe she's offering these right now but I was able to choose the bag (purse or tote) I wanted and the number of surprises in it. I purchased the most expensive bag with 2 surprise items for a cost of $65 US with free shipping to Canada. There were other fabric totes that were less expensive.<br />
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<u>The tote:</u><br />
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I really like the bag except for the plastic "thingy" hanging on it. It really cheapens the bag and I will be cutting it off once I find something strong enough to do so. I do like the bag though. It's a very generous size and will be perfect for the fall.<br />
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<u>Surprise item #1:</u><br />
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Super cozy Gilli cardigan. It is quite lightweight so a good transition piece for early fall. I need to figure out how to strike a more flattering pose. I have worn it a few times and happy with it.<br />
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<u>Surprise item #2:</u><br />
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Fits my daughter better than me. It fit me, but is has open back which is not okay for this 46 year old. It is Hour Glass Lily brand and very good quality. I may try to style with black tights, cardigan and boots. My daughter says the print is too young for me though.<br />
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Boutique Sale Items:<br />
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1. <u>Varsity cardigan</u> - $6<br />
2. <u>Sweat it out Heart & Hips pants - $5</u><br />
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Picked this cardi out for dd and she loves it. Very lightweight so another good transition piece.</div>
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The pants I sized up to M thinking they'd fit me and they were very tight on her but she'll likely wear anyway.</div>
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3. <u>Always Ruched Cardigan</u> - $12</div>
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4. <u>Hearts & Hips basic tee in plum</u> - $5</div>
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Another lightweight cardigan that looks better on her than me as it was tight on me and showed all the lumps and bumps. It is really cute though with ruching all along the sides. It's okay unbuttoned but you lose the effect of the ruching that way.</div>
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The tee is super soft!!! Good basic and a nice plum color.</div>
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Verdict:</div>
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Overall we were very happy with the quality. I should have sized up on a few things but now I know that for the future. The total price came to $93 US but at the time she had a 30% discount and free shipping over $75 so my final total came to $63.60 US for a purse and 6 items of clothing - how can you beat that!!! All of it will be worn by one of us.</div>
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I have since placed 3 more orders to pretty good indication we were happy with the quality of items received. I'll be reviewing those soon.</div>
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<br />Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-27664729210846128552015-09-14T09:30:00.000-06:002015-09-17T12:14:58.375-06:00Clothing and Mystery Boxes<br />
As is obvious to anyone who's read any of my posts, I love getting surprises in the mail. I'm not so good at using up those surprises though so I had to re-evaluate what I was getting. A lot of it was just going into my stash and not seeing the light of day again. <br />
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So, I cancelled a couple of subscriptions. <br />
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Going to the mailbox was back to boring.<br />
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I Kon-mari'ed my closet and I got rid of a lot of old clothes. A LOT of clothes.<br />
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I saw a need for new clothes.<br />
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I went back online and discovered many mystery style shopping sites. I knew I was in trouble but I kept going.........<br />
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The first I tried was <a href="http://www.sunshinecrate.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html">Sunshine Crate</a>. My review of the mystery bag is <a href="http://joannslittlethings.blogspot.ca/2015/08/sunshine-crate-mystery-clearance-bag.html">here</a>. I'm not sure why I chose to order from there first, but I did. In retrospect, I think the clothes are geared more to a younger crowd and I wasn't impressed with the quality. After ordering the mystery bag I ordered another of the regular bags where you chose 1 item and then the rest are surprises. The entire bag was a miss. The clothes didn't fit and the quality was poor. The entire bag went back. They do offer a full refund so all I lost out was $16 to ship it back. Not that expensive of a lesson. I have noticed that she has been purchasing higher quality items recently so that may help. I hope she does well as the owner seemed very helpful, but I just don't think it's for me.<br />
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The second I tried was<a href="http://www.moxie.style/"> Moxie.Style</a>. I have yet to review the items - update <a href="http://joannslittlethings.blogspot.ca/2015/09/moxie-style-purchase-1.html">review #1 is done</a> - but let's just say I have made three more orders since receiving the first.........yes I may have a problem. Moxie has a very active and addictive Facebook account which is where you find out what's going on, and there's a lot going on. She (she being the owner and sole employee, Jackie Lisa) is constantly posting new plans, new specials, new products, new ideas she wants feedback on, etc. She started the business in June and it seems to have taken off at warped speed. It is part mystery, part chosen items so a great mix. The quality seems good and somehow she offers very inexpensive - and sometimes free - shipping to Canada. She must not be making very much on anything she's sending this way! I will post what I've received so far very soon.<br />
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The third one I've ordered from is <a href="http://www.relishclothing.com/">Relish Clothing</a>. Again, this is a very new startup (started this spring) and is taking off very quickly. This one also uses Facebook to communicate with it's customers. Relish relies on you sending them a list of your likes and dislikes and links to your pinterest boards so she can get an idea of who you are, and what would be flattering for you. The more info you give her, the better chances of getting something that works. There are mystery bags for clothing or accessories. My first order is on the way and I'm super excited! They are not quick to ship as she will hold your box if she thinks something she has on order will be great for you. She's all about quality or quantity but from what I've seen, the boxes look great! The one big downside is the $35 shipping to Canada. Of course, the exchange sucks too, but that can't be avoided. Yesterday, she had a 23% off sale because it was her birthday, and I ordered a second box..........yes I may have a problem. I asked her to delay filling and shipping for a couple of months though. Update: <a href="http://joannslittlethings.blogspot.ca/2015/09/relish-clothing-review-1.html"> Review of my first package is here.</a><br />
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Finally, after discovering these, I learned of a Canadian option, <a href="http://www.magnoliapostco.com/">Magnolia Post Co</a>. which looks promising. September was their first month so I'm waiting to see what other's got before considering. I do think it's geared more to the professional gal rather than a stay at home mom, though.<br />
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With 4 orders on the way, I should be good for clothes until after Christmas for sure! I don't really enjoy shopping for clothes, never know what to get, and not really liking the limited selection of items here. If this works well, it may become my only way to purchase clothing.<br />
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<br />Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-14907627397178324372015-09-14T08:48:00.001-06:002015-09-14T08:48:33.727-06:00Jules wellness box. SeptemberOnce again I was impressed with this box. I initially was ordering month to month but just signed up for a six month subscription. I don't think there was a savings but this way I won't forget to order.<br />
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<b>Who</b>: <a href="http://juleswellness.ca/">http://juleswellness.ca/</a>. Jules Wellness is an online Wellness boutique. They sell a variety of Health conscious items including the subscription box. If you like what you receive you can purchase more and even subscribe to a particular item and they will ship it to you on a regular basis. <br />
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<b>What:</b> monthly box of goodies for health conscious females. These are not samples, they are full sized items from the boutique. I noticed they are planning a Mom and Baby box soon.<br />
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<b>When:</b> arrives at the beginning of each month.<br />
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<b>How much:</b> $34.32 month including shipping within Canada<br />
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<u><b>This month's goodies:</b></u><br />
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<u>Washbeautyco Konjac bamboo charcoal sponge. </u>$14<br />
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This is the item I was most excited about as I've been wanting to try for quite awhile. I have super sensitive skin so was a bit nervous but I've used it a few times now and have really like it. <br />
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<u>Consonant Organic Face Wash</u>. $18<br />
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Another product I was really happy to see! I haven't tried it yet but it sounds great. With my sensitive skin, I'm always on the look out for something 100% natural. Quoted as being a 3-in-1 product - cleanser, makeup remover and toner.<br />
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<u>The Honest Leaf </u>- Serene Tea $13<br />
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I'm a huge tea drinker, but almost only black. I will try this one though since it should make me a little serene. Made with peppermint, chamomile and other organic stuff. Great when the teenagers are getting under my skin.<br />
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<u>Hemp Heart Bites</u> - 10g (large) package - $7<br />
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I love most products from the Manitoba Harvest Hemp company, but I can't say I loved these. Maybe dipped in chocolate????<br />
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<u>K's NRG Whole Food Energy Bar </u> - $3<br />
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My teenager's soccer, volleyball and basketball seasons will be starting up soon, so this bar will go straight into one of her bags as she's always needing snacks in between games or practices.<br />
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<u>Consonant DHE face mask sample</u><br />
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This was the only sample included and should be good for one use. The full size product is $45 and claims to do it all: Detox, Hydrate and exfoliate. 100% natural product made from Manicouagan clay extracted from the site of a 215 million year old asteroid crash in Central Quebec - how cool does that sound!!!<br />
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This month's box had a value of approximately $55, not including the sample. I'm very happy with that! It has introduced me to a couple of products I'm really excited about trying. I love that it's Canadian and includes mostly made in Canada full sized products. I look forward to next month's.Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-31848277475665251132015-08-10T09:18:00.000-06:002015-08-10T09:21:23.199-06:00Little Life Box August<br />
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Yippee! More goodies in the mail. This time it was my <a href="http://littlelifebox.com/">Little Life Box</a> of greatness. They always pack it so pretty and include a seasonal postcard.<br />
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Details as per their website: <br />
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<li>Curious about switching to healthier, more sustainable alternatives of the brands that you consume on a daily basis? Receive a package of up to a dozen products right to your door for you to sample and discover. Snacks, cosmetics, supplements, vitamins and more! </li>
<li>Original or vegan subscriptions</li>
<li>Shipped on the first Monday of the month via Canada Post (I seem to always get mine on the first Friday of the month)</li>
<li>Prices begin at $19.95/month </li>
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There is no product information card included, but all the details on the products can be found at their site with links to where you can purchase more.<br />
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<span style="line-height: 37.7999992370606px;"><u>1. Tolan Skincare Foam Cleanser 50 ml </u></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 37.7999992370606px;">This was the sneak peek item this month. </span>Tolan Skincare is dedicated to providing top-quality, cruelty-free, all natural, Canadian produced products. Our Foaming Cleanser is formulated from a coconut base with aloe vera to moisturize and provides an all-around, refreshing feeling. Use morning and night to defend your skin against daily dirt, oil and makeup-up build-up. On the Tolan site, a 210 ml bottle is $30 so this is worth about $7. I love that it is a large enough size that you really get a chance to try and know if you like it.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 37.7999992370606px;"><u>2. Arome Oils Hand lotion 0.5 oz sample</u></span></div>
Arôme hand lotion's are homemade with Shea butter, sunflower seed oil, avocado oil and more natural ingredients that are excellent to moisturize and replenish dehydrated hands. A 4oz bottle on the Arome Oils website is $6 so this sample is worth about $0.75. This is a great size to throw in my purse and it smells great (Hawaiian Breeze).<br />
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<u>3. ethical bean coffee rocket french roast - no size indicated</u></div>
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The lovechild of dark alchemy and complete combustion. A hammering dark roast, blended to display body, balance and a dark cocoa-laced finish. This is a sample size about 6" x 2" package. I would guess it's about 1/4 of a full sized bag so going to guess $4 value.<br />
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<u>4. Four O-Clock teas - 4 bags</u></div>
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We have received this in the past but I like it so I'm okay with that. One of the flavors is cucumber mint which makes an awesome iced tea. Based on the price of a full box, I'll estimate this at worth $1.</div>
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<u>5. i heart keenwah Quinoa puffs x 1.5 oz bags x 2</u></div>
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These look really good. They sent two flavors Herbes de Provence and Aged Cheddar. They are priced at $1.25/bag on the i heart keenwah site, so these are worth $2.50 total</div>
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<u>6. Free for All Kitchen gluten free Brownie Thins 1oz x 2</u></div>
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These aren't listed on Little Life boxes website, but the crackers are. I did find the brownie thins on Free for All Kitchen website, but there are no prices listed. I'm going to guess at $1.25/bag.</div>
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<u>7. Tasty Bite Kung Pao noodles microwaveable pouch</u></div>
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My teenager son is going to love taking this for lunch! A vegetarian take on this staple of Sichuan cuisine, our Kung Pao noodles are freshly cooked with vegetables and tossed with peanuts in a sweet and spicy sauce. Heat and serve to enjoy real Chinese cuisine in 1 minute (without the MSG). These are worth $3.50</div>
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<u>8. Solo apple cinnamon with quinoa energy bar</u></div>
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This will be great in my golf bag. Apple pieces and cinnamon notes paired with protein-packed quinoa - all wrapped up in yogurt. Yes please! This all-natural energy bar tastes like a piece of fresh apple pie. Go ahead; indulge. With this bar in your cupboard, who needs dessert? These are about $2.25/bar if you buy by the case</div>
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<u>9. Mediterra nutrition Sesame energy bar with pistachio & honey</u></div>
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Another great item for my purse or golf bag. Did you know sesame seeds and Greek honey are among the best natural sources of energy?Packed with fiber, vitamins and minerals, these Mediterranean favorites have been boosting performance since ancient times. They added pistachios from Aegina Island to bring you a nutrition bar bursting with flavor. $2/bar</div>
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Once again, I'm happy with my Little Life Box. It's a great way to sample new (and frequently Canadian) products. I paid $18 for this box, as I purchased a 6 month plan. The total cost of the products was about $25 based on my calculations which was lower that normal, but still more than what I paid for it. </div>
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I continue to look forward this box every month and can't imagine ever cancelling my subscription.</div>
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Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-42863842124660939772015-08-06T11:47:00.000-06:002015-08-06T12:02:13.628-06:00Sunshine Crate Mystery Clearance Bag July I was very curious to see a new clothing subscription company. I have wanted to try Golden Tote for quite awhile but the cost, exchange, shipping and possible custom fees have scared me off. I did try one of their mystery bags in January and was happy with three of the four items, but still not sure about subscribing regularly. <br />
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I still follow the Golden Tote Trading Group on Facebook and it was there that I heard of <a href="http://www.sunshinecrate.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html">Sunshine Crate</a>. I'm a sucker for new start up companies so I placed an order for a clearance bag and a regular mystery crate. This is a review of the clearance bag only.<br />
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The shipping was incredibly quick and the contact with the owner was very positive. I started following the company on Facebook and used a discount code that was posted there which gave me a $10 discount off a clearance bag which brought it to $15 for the bag. The bag promised 3 pieces of clothing and 1 accessory. Pretty awesome price for all of that. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3DDJoq1oEfRLxBcskBPFn7uWN-DLD_tkt82HtUAZr4jrHH2ydGyJbYR1buYCRQm7yWL8Tnyvokl5kdRRtRzJqB3JUgA4tcvFDlVAOk-9qdFyVtMVymdq-jjbxba2IQRH7HvFJ5QaMVGD/s1600/IMG_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3DDJoq1oEfRLxBcskBPFn7uWN-DLD_tkt82HtUAZr4jrHH2ydGyJbYR1buYCRQm7yWL8Tnyvokl5kdRRtRzJqB3JUgA4tcvFDlVAOk-9qdFyVtMVymdq-jjbxba2IQRH7HvFJ5QaMVGD/s320/IMG_0014.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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From the reviews I had read and pictures posted of some of the clothing I was concerned that some of it would be too young for me, but fortunately I have a teenager who is the same size as me and would love the items that wouldn't work for me. The first item I pulled out of the bag was indeed, far too young for me but I think looks perfect on her! The ruffle skirt is more mustard colored than yellow and will be perfect for the fall. The embroidery on the waistline is teals and pinks which matched perfect with the bracelet that was also included.<br />
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The next item I pulled out was this necklace which is really pretty. I know I'll wear this one quite a bit.</div>
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The last two pieces of clothing worked together perfectly. I LOVE that the mystery bag provided an entire outfit not just random pieces. The tunic is a nice loose fit so could be worn this time of the year, but I do think it will be a great fall outfit with a cardigan. The color is a bit dull but that's fine. The leggings are lined making them far too warm to wear in the summer but I know I will use them this fall. The only thing that was disappointing was the quality of the leggings. There is already a pull in them and it's obvious they will pill quickly.<br />
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Overall, I was really impressed with this clearance grab bag. The owner did state that the bag was made up of items that she didn't feel comfortable using in the regular crates due to quality or style. I can see why these pants wouldn't be included in a regular crate and therefore part of this bag. When I ordered a clearance bag, I knew there may be items with flaws, etc. so I can't complain.<br />
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Overall, I was really impressed with this bag. 3 clothing items and two accessories for a great price!!<br />
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<br />Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-82863302797389795042015-08-04T20:31:00.001-06:002015-08-06T11:09:42.060-06:00Jule's Wellness August Lifestyle box<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was so happy to discover a new Canadian subscription box! This one focuses on women's health and includes many Canadian products. <br />
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I first tried it last month and was very impressed with the goodies. As a result I ordered the August box right away. I was very happy when it arrived on July 31. <br />
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<b>Details:</b><br />
Who: <a href="http://juleswellness.ca/">Jule's wellness</a>. <br />
S<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">hare our passion for healthy living! We are navigating through the confusion to help eliminate health-washing and bring you the best healthy living and wellness products. We read the labels, and do the taste testing. If we find something we love, we share. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">What: </span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We hand-select health-conscious; female focused lifestyle products every month for our subscription box service. Surprise yourself or a loved one monthly to luxury wellness lifestyle products! This isn't just a box of sample packs... we send you an assortment of goodies from our boutique! </span><br />
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Cost: $34.32 monthly including shipping within Canada<br />
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<img height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/q8SvjFWvHLjH_Ag7iiPZyNSIrBu2jlYKWlyWKdH7Wao=w483-h643-no" width="238" /></div>
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<b>August box: </b></div>
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The theme this month is getting active and they included a card with some tips to help you,<br />
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<img height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d-_MPkp3EQwnS4TvZ7AlvePVhOtKGa4FZ9_AE3-G2Yc=w483-h643-no" width="238" /><br />
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They also included an information card for the products and a 20% off code if you order more of the products in their boutique.<br />
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<img height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Qw6C_eyOAvI_5qQ8A6vSOYwJDD3aCtsWQEuBkqWH2es=w483-h643-no" width="239" /><br />
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<u>1. Toe socks</u><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3629844940782999955" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3629844940782999955" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3629844940782999955" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>My daughter almost had a fit when she saw these. She's been wanting a pair for awhile. There's no way I'm getting this back from her. Just a note I was asked in advance what size footwear I wore to be sure they sent the right size. $18 at <a href="http://juleswellness.ca/">http://juleswellness.ca/</a> which is cheaper than anywhere else online. Toe Sox is a Canadian company.<br />
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<u>2. Juicy bamboo facial wipe sample.</u><br />
No chemical cleansing cloth. Sample of one wipe. Online price $14/30 cloths. So this sample is worth about $0.50.<br />
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<img height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cxzDLZkXdCPjS2ddytZ60TP_umaj9--q99OC8UwDaaA=w858-h643-no" width="320" /> <img height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/xs8rEvlTkPHBgEpsc4l8be10ViS1fXYGQkPUxHvownc=w501-h643-no" width="249" /><br />
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<u>3. Boiron Arnica 15g sample</u><br />
Homeopathic ointment for injuries, pain and inflammation. I received this in other subscriptions but was happy to get again. I hate using non natural products so love having this on hand for my active teens and husband. Online price $17/70g tube so this sample is worth about $3.50. Canadian product.<br />
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<u>4. Ella's Botanicals Sports Rub 62g</u><br />
I'm not sure if this was a bonus item, if this was an item that varied per subscription or if they just forgot to list it on the information sheet. This is a soothing & revitalizing Sports Rub. Not online at juleswellness but Ella's botanicals has it listed for $20 on their site. Made in Canada.<br />
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<img height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/kkZrfgsO9lzzJTSxCDkpxFVUfSqJDYQOd6_gqFwvYyE=w858-h643-no" width="320" /><br />
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<u>5. Ultima Raspberry Replenisher Sample </u><br />
Electrolyte powder sample. I'd love to find an alternative to Gatorade for my kids so I'm hoping they'll love this. Online price is $17 for 4.7oz so this is worth about $0.50<br />
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<u>6. Natural Calm Magnesium sample x2</u><br />
Mineral for muscle relaxation and optimal organ function. Magnesium is also great for sleep too. Online price is $27/8 oz. so these are worth about $0.40. Canadian company.<br />
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<u>7. Four Sigma foods Instant Cordyceps sample</u><br />
Cordycep mushroom helps the body maintain constant energy levels. I think I'll send this with my husband to add to his pre workout smoothie. Not available at juleswellness<br />
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<u>8. Honey Stinger energy chews </u><br />
online price is $2.75 <br />
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<img height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/dIb00QczbGE5DjNLCx09kSCsmL4_iauGUKluMCEzDjI=w858-h643-no" width="320" /><br />
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<u>9. Buff Bison Jerky</u><br />
100% Canadian bison meat without steroids or hormones. Online price $4.25 Canadian product.<br />
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<u>10. Flow Water</u><br />
Naturally Alkaline Spring water. 500ml Online price reg $5.45 on sale for $2.40. Canadian product.<br />
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<img height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/uZVuxRBlkyOqKthBoA98FEF51Y0621HUwO6jRIog7zE=w483-h643-no" width="239" /><br />
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I was happy with this month's box. There was a very clear theme and all products will be used by our family. The toe sox and the sport's rub made up the value of the box and the rest were bonuses. The total value of the box is just over $50 which is definitely more than it cost me. I love being introduced to new Canadian products and will be looking forward to next month's box.<br />
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Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-28369995998766664942015-08-04T18:00:00.000-06:002015-08-04T18:00:05.610-06:00Books Read JuneTrying to catch up on my posts. Had another good reading month:<br />
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<b><u>5 Star:</u></b><br />
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<img alt="To Kill a Mockingbird" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361975680s/2657.jpg" /> To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee - I read this in high school, but I think the writing was lost on me. I'm glad I reread it now as an adult<br />
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<b><u>4 Star:</u></b><br />
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<img alt="The Secret Garden" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327873635s/2998.jpg" /> The Secret Garden - Burnett - A Classic that I am glad I took the time to read<br />
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<img alt="One Plus One" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403185695s/18693716.jpg" /> One Plus One - Jojo Moyes - I love this other and enjoyed this one (not near as much as Me Before You though)<br />
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<img alt="A Week at the Lake" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1418411825s/23398697.jpg" /> A Week at the Lake - Wendy Wax - I was fortunate to receive this book for free and I really enjoyed it. I love books set at the lake.<br />
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<img alt="Host Writer (The Archivist, #1)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1429135968s/25362342.jpg" /> Host Writer - Kuehen - Another Book I was fortunate to receive as a Goodreads win and another one I really enjoyed. Looking forward to the next in the series<br />
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<img alt="Where'd You Go, Bernadette" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1338822317s/13526165.jpg" /> Where'd You Go Bernadette - Maria Semple - I chose this one based on the cover and wasn't disappointed.<br />
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<u><b>3 Star:</b></u><br />
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<img alt="Eight Hundred Grapes" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1429742890s/23492613.jpg" /> Eight Hundred grapes - Laura Dave - Fun read<br />
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<b><u>2 Star:</u></b><br />
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<img alt="Homecoming. Cathy Kelly" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1330582246s/8723431.jpg" /> Homecoming - Cathy Kelly - disappointingJoannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-1245505788714960362015-08-04T17:49:00.004-06:002015-08-04T17:49:59.297-06:00Books read April and MayYes, this is super late!!<br />
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Here are the titles I read, sorted by my ratings:<br />
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<u><b>5 star:</b></u><br />
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Still Alice - I was hesitating reading this since the topic of Alzheimer's disease scares me (runs in my family) but it is written so well it was very much worth the read.<br />
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<b><u>4 star:</u></b><br />
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<img alt="Magic Hour" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320542057s/1470232.jpg" /> Magic Hour - Kristin Hannah - Really enjoyable<br />
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<img alt="Sh*t My Dad Says" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1370399211s/7821447.jpg" /> Sh*t My Dad Says - Justin Halpern - I think I enjoyed this because it sounded SO much like an Uncle of mine!<br />
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<img alt="You Are Here: Around the World in 92 Minutes" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1402886732s/22104991.jpg" /> Around the World in 92 Minutes - Chris Hadfield - Amazing pictures from space!<br />
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<img alt="Still Missing" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1260468195s/7159515.jpg" /> Still Missing - Chevy Stevens - Pretty scary storyline, probably best not to read it if you are a realtor<br />
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<img alt="A Constellation of Vital Phenomena" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1408313066s/18428067.jpg" /> Constellation of Vital Phenomenon - Anthony Marra - Wow! Hard to believe this was the first novel by a 20-something author<br />
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<img alt="Three Amazing Things About You" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1418766020s/22692338.jpg" />Three Amazing Things About You - Jill Mansell - Very enjoyable Chick Lit<br />
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<img alt="Cancel the Wedding" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1392225008s/18698835.jpg" /> Cancel the wedding - Dingman - Another fun, chick lit<br />
<br /><b><u>3 Star:</u></b><br />
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<img alt="Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children, #1)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1391229642s/9460487.jpg" /> Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is definitely a peculiar book<br />
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<img alt="You Had Me At Hello" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348787624s/15733851.jpg" /> You had Me At Hello - McFarlane<br />
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<img alt="The Big Over Easy (Nursery Crime, #1)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1432412758s/6628.jpg" /> Big Over Easy - Fforde - Twisted Nursery Rhyme<br />
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<img alt="I Love You More" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1408924330s/18525793.jpg" /> I Love You More - Jennifer Murphy - a fun read<br />
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It's Just Mary - no cover photo - Marilyn Wright - this is a homesteading book my Mom really wanted me to read. <br />
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<img alt="The Secret of Happy Ever After" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361880519s/12425416.jpg" /> Secret of Happy Ever After - Lucy Dillon - fun, quick read<br />
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<img alt="Somebody to Love (Gideon's Cove, #3)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328979422s/12929918.jpg" /> Somebody to Love - Higgins Not much meat to the story but still fun<br />
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<img alt="The Longest Ride" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1367536453s/17407748.jpg" /> The Longest Ride - Sparks - Looking forward to watching this movie. I think this is one of those books that I had troubles deciding how to rate. It's probably more of a 3.5<br />
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<img alt="Home For the Haunting (A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery #4)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1404480039s/17707641.jpg" /> Home for the Haunting - Juliet Blackwell - I like a good ghost story now and again<br />
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<img alt="The Old Man and the Sea" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1329189714s/2165.jpg" /> Old Man and the Sea - Hemingway - I thought it was time to read a classic. Great imagery but not a lot to the story<br />
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<img alt="Bossypants" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1307825121s/9476337.jpg" /> Bossy Pants - Tina Fey - Enjoyed some of it quite a bit, other parts not so much<br />
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<b><u>2 Star:</u></b><br />
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<img alt="The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death: Reflections on Revenge, Germophobia, and Laser Hair Removal" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1255630260s/2029834.jpg" /> Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death ...... Just not really up my alley<br />
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<img alt="We Have Always Lived in the Castle" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1415357189s/89724.jpg" /> We have always lived in the Castle - Shirley Jackson - again, just not my cup of tea<br />
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<img alt="The Beekeeper's Ball (Bella Vista Chronicles, #2)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1398188002s/18528409.jpg" /> The BeeKeeper's Ball - Susan Wiggs - This just disappointed me after the first in the series. I think there was potential but it fell very short.<br />
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<img alt="Hero at Large" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348428895s/6852374.jpg" /> Hero At Large - Evanovich - Let's just say she's obviously improved as an author<br />
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<img alt="Too Much Happiness" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320459874s/6464937.jpg" /> Too Much Happiness - Alice Munro - Again, just not up my alley<br />
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<img alt="Weird Things Customers Say in Bookstores" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347651279s/13586727.jpg" /> Weird things Customers Say in Bookstores - Jen Campbell - I think I prefer books with more of a storylineJoannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-80478558929293898562015-08-04T12:32:00.000-06:002015-08-04T12:32:24.863-06:00I've been a very bad blogger....Yes, the last post was April but I will be posting a quite a few in the next couple of days. Mostly subscription box updates. I've discovered a few new ones that I'll post, along with the latest from my favorites.<br />
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I've been away on holidays, and have read A LOT so won't be posting a complete review of each but will try to get the titles and ratings up shortly as well.<br />
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We are fortunate to have been loaned a cottage for most of the summer. Good friends are out of the country on holidays so they offered it to us to use and look after for them. We have loved it! As a result, we are now on the hunt to purchase one ourselves. I'm already itching to decorate!!! My plan is to add a few of these posts to the blog as well.<br />
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I've also been Kon-Mari'ing (no that's not really a word) my clothing and have started with my 12 & 15 year old. I'm loving the feeling and can't wait to get the rest of the house done. I didn't take before photos but will share some aftersJoannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-64946450525520526332015-04-01T13:39:00.001-06:002015-04-01T13:39:40.901-06:00My April "intimates" shop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Once again, I did my own intimates shop to replace my Wantable subscription. This time I spent $36 CAN and got a REALLY cozy night shirt, coordinating fuzzy socks, a couple of pairs of undies and a good quality bra.</div>
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I can't see myself needing to keep at this every month!!!</div>
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<br />Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-81932964270071156052015-04-01T13:36:00.003-06:002015-04-01T13:36:44.145-06:00March readingThanks to a couple of weekends away, some "inside" weather, and kid's activities on a hiatus for a bit, I was able to read quite a few more books than typical this month. <br />
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I read One Day and liked the writing style, but hating the ending so I wanted to give another one by him a shot. This one I rated 3.5/5<br />
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I think I liked this one for the majority of the book, but then close to the end the style of the book changed and I didn't like it as much anymore so only rated it 3/5<br />
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I think this is the wrong title for this book. I did enjoy it anyway - 3.5/5<br />
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Yes, I kind of knew what was going to happen, but it was still a fun read with enough 'meat' to not make it too fluffy. Rated it 4/5<br />
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This was a big book but a quick, enjoyable read. Rated it 4/5<br />
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I always love Sarah Addison Allen and this one didn't let me down. 4/5<br />
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Another good read 4/5 (it takes a lot for me to rate something 5 stars)<br />
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This book had such great reviews, but it wasn't for me at all. Rated it 2/5 since I did like 1 of the short stories.<br />
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I like Karen White and enjoyed this one. 4/5<br />
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What can I say - I like the story but I'm pretty simple so had a bit of trouble following the language at times. Overall 3.5/5<br />
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I've been working through the Pop sugar challenge list and have been able to cross a few off:<br />
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Over 500 pages - The Woman Who Stole My Life<br />
Female author - Lost Husband<br />
Classic Romance - Pride and Prejudice<br />
One Word Title - Us<br />
Set somewhere you would like to travel to - Beach Trees (New Orleans)<br />
Set in a Different Country - Light Between Oceans<br />
Graphic Novel - Hyperbole and a half<br />
Published this Year - First Frost<br />
Book you own but haven't read - Always on My Mind<br />
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<br />Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-62855948478165675852015-03-14T17:04:00.000-06:002015-03-20T10:22:20.239-06:00Read books January & FebruaryI'm trying hard to make more time for myself and that includes one of my favorite pastimes, reading. I have set a goal to read a minimum of 52 books this year and so far I'm on target. I'm a huge fan of Goodreads and use it to keep track of what I have and what I would like to read. Unfortunately, my TBR list is about 600 titles long!! <br />
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Here's some I've read so far:<br />
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This was a nice light read. I've like many of her other books as well. I rated it 3.5/5.<br />
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This was a really quick, chick lit read. Rated it 3/5.</div>
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This was a little more romancy than I typically read, but I still thought it was okay. Rated 3/5<br />
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Another quick chick lit read (the best kind when on vacation). Rated it 3.5/5<br />
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I love reading mindless books, but I hope to expand my horizons, so to speak. There are a lot of reading challenges all over the web, and after a quick search, I decided to 'play' along on this one posted at <a href="http://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/2014/12/01/042/n/3019466/ccc0001cc6a0b0ae_Love_Sex-2015ReadingChallenge.png">Popsugar:</a><br />
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I'll be keeping track of these 52 challenges along with others I'll be reading just for fun.</div>
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<br />Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629844940782999955.post-26411041036756188322015-03-12T14:37:00.000-06:002015-03-12T14:37:08.539-06:00Little LIFE box - March 2015I received my Little LIFE box today (4 days after shipping!!!!) and was thrilled with what was all in it. It always looks so pretty when I open it.<br />
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1. <b>A. Vogel Beauty Essentials daily supplements</b> - 60 capsules (one month) retail $30<br />
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There's a good video on the <a href="http://www.avogel.ca/en/herbal-remedies/beauty-essentials.php?gclid=CjwKEAjw8oSoBRCss4qDrP3Y7yUSJACKumZ9dN9XBHQPrKv8yfsgoRreyB33GglS2UaH9bi9qftG5BoCxyPw_wcB">A.Vogel site</a> describing this supplement. My skin is not great right now and my nails are always a mess so I took my first one already. <br />
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2. <b>Orange Naturals Adult Multi vitamin</b> - 60 capsules (one month) retail $22<br />
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From the Orange Naturals website:<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6e71; font-family: Helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Adult Multi is a high-potency, complete multivitamin and multimineral formula designed for optimal daily nutritional support for both men and women. This multi is iron-free as iron is not a mineral required by everyone and an excess of iron when it is not needed can, in fact, be harmful. Each vegetable capsule provides all the vitamins and trace minerals in its preferred and active form for rapid absorption. All ingredients in this multi are at therapeutic levels – none are included ‘just for show’. Orange Naturals Adult Multivitamin is your choice for a daily multivitamin!</span><br />
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Orange Naturals website has a lot of other products that look really interesting as well so I'm glad I was introduced to them. They also included a newsletter in the box with a lot of information.<br />
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3. <b>Herbion Naturals Cough Syrup for Children</b> - 150 ml (full size) $8<br />
My kids are teenagers, but I will still keep this for them to use. I don't buy cough syrup because of all of the sugars and other unnecessary ingredients in most syrups, but this one looks good. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYQLNKU906D1Imms0Kg-uXkrxjXr9d79a-iGEuiOQ7YDigp8-5r46Cpni_t5UHXjHW5ig0a2362iMNs_HT6DJnFnTK_B2HOojVXUcgH_qEytwgobv4KwcSL7zs57ftYDTvaXyc-zFQ_XF/s1600/IMG_20150312_142227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYQLNKU906D1Imms0Kg-uXkrxjXr9d79a-iGEuiOQ7YDigp8-5r46Cpni_t5UHXjHW5ig0a2362iMNs_HT6DJnFnTK_B2HOojVXUcgH_qEytwgobv4KwcSL7zs57ftYDTvaXyc-zFQ_XF/s1600/IMG_20150312_142227.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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4. <b>Neolia Hydra-agerelief Soap</b> - full size 130g - retail $3<br />
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From their site: Made with 100% Organic Grapeseed Oil + Apples & Ginger<br />Polyphenols & Vitamin E For mature skin A rich and unctuous lather for soft, treated and hydrated skin</div>
I don't typically use bar soap but will try this since it's 100% natural and organic.<br />
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5. <b>Abio Organic Bath bomb</b> - retail $3.50<br />
I loved getting this since it's been awhile since I've had a nice relaxing bath. Will be adding this to my to-do list for the weekend. It has a very strong rose scent which may turn some off, but I like it.<br />
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6. <b>Max Effects naturals makeup remover plus toner</b> - 5ml sample size<br />
400ml retails for $20 so this has an approx value of $0.25. Available on little LIFE box website.<br />
This is great for a travel bag. It's a one-step, no rinse makeup remover and I look forward to trying it out.<br />
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7. <b>Montagne Jeunesse Mud mask</b> - 6g trial size<br />
A 20g pack retails for $2 so this is worth about $0.60<br />
My teenager daughter is going to love this. It's an ultra deep-pore cleanse so perfect for her.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5Y9l-D0Mo_wYy42Tz0-DhTM92mz5GeN24iwQlhba_4utZpX_1W-h1m0mPLp024Xc8Aj3iIcwh4KCMhh6ynZGoTqodvkkMgnc50HGOWiFb7F2GRxnlCCnVHBxpjw2gQ5CEmMAg2HVLYcY/s1600/IMG_20150312_142413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5Y9l-D0Mo_wYy42Tz0-DhTM92mz5GeN24iwQlhba_4utZpX_1W-h1m0mPLp024Xc8Aj3iIcwh4KCMhh6ynZGoTqodvkkMgnc50HGOWiFb7F2GRxnlCCnVHBxpjw2gQ5CEmMAg2HVLYcY/s1600/IMG_20150312_142413.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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8. <b> Herbamare Natural salt substitute</b> - 10 g sample<br />
500 g retails for $4.50 so this is worth approx. $0.10 but big enough to try it out.<br />
It's a very reasonably priced alternative to salt and I will be passing this on to my parents to try since they need to watch their salt intake.<br />
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9. <b>Virage Sante lalma tea bags</b> - 4 bags - $1.75 value<br />
16 bags retail for $7 on little LIFE box website<br />
This is included a pamphlet of the various teas they have. This pack included samples of Nightly, Javaslim-t, Detox, and Easy lax.<br />
I'm not a fan of herbal teas but my sister is so I will gift these to her. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrKyyaS4KfhrmuzoRS2UZJiS9HBiPVDcMH5DFk82vE6Taov2btdutvUH1MvETkEgWOQFn6VyK1lef6D-XDW7do8nD86w8NxBRIXJmA-ysGuZ9XhxDpL-9bxf8Ouhp8LnhJUNTur8r2Hx2/s1600/IMG_20150312_142502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrKyyaS4KfhrmuzoRS2UZJiS9HBiPVDcMH5DFk82vE6Taov2btdutvUH1MvETkEgWOQFn6VyK1lef6D-XDW7do8nD86w8NxBRIXJmA-ysGuZ9XhxDpL-9bxf8Ouhp8LnhJUNTur8r2Hx2/s1600/IMG_20150312_142502.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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10. <b>Coconut Organics CocoBacon</b> - 42 g retail $3 on little LIFE box website<br />
These are definitely for my husband! He (like most males) loves bacon and this is a new way to try it.<br />
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11. <b>Beanfields Bean & Rice chips, nacho flavoured </b>- 43g<br />
I'm going to guess the value of these at about $2 based on other brands.<br />
This is another one I'm not going to share. My weakness has always been chips so I'm always on the lookout for a healthier version. I did a search and they are available at various health food stores.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxa5x7iYgEq9GyzFL1EZXR0e1j3V-dBBNznLpgtae71jSthBWbiUz7zdt-NI9dso5r__EegXde7o3a7oD9n1WD4F3K4bT07fCboEq6ROsjqRddaroYL6BmqyQsvUW2sH0dzrhxutCMM6PV/s1600/IMG_20150312_142647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxa5x7iYgEq9GyzFL1EZXR0e1j3V-dBBNznLpgtae71jSthBWbiUz7zdt-NI9dso5r__EegXde7o3a7oD9n1WD4F3K4bT07fCboEq6ROsjqRddaroYL6BmqyQsvUW2sH0dzrhxutCMM6PV/s1600/IMG_20150312_142647.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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12. <b>Mrs. Crimble's large Chocolate Macaroon</b> - 68g<br />
Walmart carries a 6 pack for $3.50 but there is no mention of the size. I'll value this at $1.50.<br />
This is a large cookie and I'm not sharing with anyone. I'm eating while I'm typing and it's very good!!! It does have a lot of sugar and fat in it so it's definitely a treat. I would buy these again for sure. You have to trust me there was a cookie in the package when it arrived. I devoured it then realized I hadn't take the picture :).<br />
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13. <b>Made Good Chocolate Chip organic Granola Bar </b>- 24 g value $1<br />
A box of 5 bars sell for $5 online.<br />
This will be going in my purse for an emergency snack need. Full of good stuff (one full serving of veggies per bar!). Non-GMO, organic, vegan, Kosher, peanut free.<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTp4kEMykcHsyPJhleja4h_RKtn-95picTVemvdG5nBjcOhktC1zqiCBfQqnpWwFIdW6p4S3t7AiH61nNXHTx-kiTcsP2Ioe6Ewv7F4EQVZUFzatxpO9xrElsm9zthdYKOwAhTNOiSuezF/s1600/IMG_20150312_143434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTp4kEMykcHsyPJhleja4h_RKtn-95picTVemvdG5nBjcOhktC1zqiCBfQqnpWwFIdW6p4S3t7AiH61nNXHTx-kiTcsP2Ioe6Ewv7F4EQVZUFzatxpO9xrElsm9zthdYKOwAhTNOiSuezF/s1600/IMG_20150312_143434.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I LOVED this box! It was my favorite so far. The value was really good at about $76. Not all subscribers received the cough syrup so I got lucky. All of the products will get put to use. I really liked that the supplements/vitamins were general and not for a particular problem. I purchased a 3 month subscription and will definitely be renewing it.<br />
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<br />Joannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341181251863764294noreply@blogger.com0