Disk launcher from KiwiCo is great for outdoor table games
KiwiCo is a subscription box for kids of all ages with STEM related activities. Service like this is especially vital in 2020, when the entire country is closing, opening, and then closing again without an end in sight. Kids have been stuck at home without school and without camps since March. Seeing friends is also still limited in some states, so unsurprisingly, families are at their rope end looking for things to keep kids occupied with, besides screen time.
Young explorers love KiwiCo
This is where KiwiCo activities can help. Sure, the box comes just once a month, but when it does come and for a while afterwards, it will keep kids occupied. All activities are age coordinated, but all equally engaging and fun. We, as parents, always seek projects that would teach something and not serve only as a mindless game, and with this kids don’t even know they are engaging in learning.
KiwiCo offers different lines for these ages:
I love the 104 years old specification, but not sure what 105 year olds are supposed to do – I smell some ageism!
Building directions can be fun too
You can currently save 15% on everything with code FIREWORKS. There is usually some sale going on and some coupons always available, especially for new customers, so look for savings opportunities before ordering one of their awesome lines.
My son is 5 and very handy, so we decided to try Kiwi crate and it didn’t disappoint! This month’s project was building a wooden disk launcher. It came with high quality materials and very clear step-by-step directions.
Adult guidance is needed, but just for a few minutes
I can happily report that the device is really working and it wasn’t complicated to make. It made my son follow steps and have patience as he did almost everything by himself. I was very proud! He also has an older brother who is always ready to help, so I was needed only for pictures. And those I made sure to take aplenty because I love watching my boys work together.
I have neither tools nor imagination to come up with an idea like this and don’t know where I could find a project like this for sale, so I am very thankful to KiwiCo for sending it to us.
CauseBox arrives looking beautiful
In my never ending quest of finding the best beauty subscription box, I have so far tried Macy’s Beauty Box, Birchbox, GlossyBox, and FabFitFun. Out of all of them I definitely loved FabFitFun the most. All other ones included mostly sample size items and I am not too keen on those. FabFitFun had 7-10 full size items in each quarterly box and I decided that I much rather pay a little more for the box and really use what I get.
Opening this box is always a celebration
Today there is one more beauty and lifestyle subscription box entering the picture – CauseBox. I have heard quite a bit about it, mostly positive reviews, and really wanted to try it myself. This is my experience:
The box works very similarly to FabFitFun. It also costs $49.95 per box, but only if you sign up for yearly delivery, otherwise it’s $54.95.
It gets delivered every three months and features seasonal themes. Unlike FabFitFun, the boxes can be cancelled at any time. I read that FabFitFun gives quite a run around if you want to cancel them half way through your time.
CauseBox brings some good reading material
Just like FabFitFun, the value of items is always above $200, so you know you are getting good deals regardless if you like everything that’s inside or not. I re-gift stuff that I don’t fall completely in love with all the time. And let me tell you – all those items make perfect gifts for my girlfriends in addition to helping me save money on their gifts. I say it’s a win-win.
CauseBox magazine is full of beauty product choices
CauseBox differs from FabFitFun with their products and philosophy more than anything else. The first message you see when visiting CauseBox website for the first time is the “Be Good”. After looking at their products I understood that they are encouraging each one of us to be good to our bodies, environment, and all living creatures though no cruelty and natural product policy. I have not seen a message like that on FabFitFun or any other beauty subscription box. Major points go to CauseBox here!
Great deals in CauseBox magazine
The company delivers all kinds of products, not only beauty or health, even though those are the most frequent. You will also get fashion accessories, home décor items, fitness products, and even jewelry. I have to say that I was very happy with what I received with my first CauseBox. This is what came, 7 items total:
I am loving my new blanket from CauseBox
Winter is still far from over and even in California it can get pretty cold and clammy, so I plan using this blanket for what it is at home and take it with me when I have to travel to be used as a shawl that goes with just about anything. I totally love this! The price of this alone is more than twice over the entire box’s cost!
La Lueur black current candle smells like my childhood
I am a well-known scented candle lover, a legendary one in my family, so needless to say I am in love with this one. I grew up eating black currant as a child in Europe, never found it here, but now I can at least smell it.
I love how understated and luxurious this candle looks. The best thing – it’s made of coconut wax blend and hand poured, so I don’t imagine having any black smoke coming out from it.
It looks good too
Wyld facial sponge is great for face scrub and massage
I can now forget those one-time use facial cleaning pads because this sponge will serve me for a long time, even when the scent of konjac is gone. Who said I can’t use it with my own products? This is how CauseBox is being responsible.
CauseBox knows that it can never be too many makeup brushes
The brushes might not be uber expensive, but I have no plans to use them for years. I love how soft they are and how they all are neatly packed in a white draw-sting case. The only thing I am worried about is keeping that case white.
Daily hair health from CauseBox
I love coloring my hair all the time and because of that my tresses can really use all the Vitamin E that comes in this leave-in lotion. I don’t imagine there is anybody that could say no to this heavenly smelling product. I definitely won’t.
Beautiful SOKO earrings
If I wear earrings, I wear them big, chunky, and long, so these definitely fit the bill. At the same time they speak of luxury and sophistication. I like the fact that I can take them anywhere – from office to the happy hour and beyond.
Rose gold reusable straws from CauseBox
This is one thing that I was looking for on my shopping trips, but haven’t found yet. My kids are using silicone straws or none at all, but I haven’t had any adult version until now.
I am very worried about the state of our oceans, so I banned plastic straws and water bottles in our house long ago. Thanks to these good looking straws I will now be able to use them for all my spiked adult beverages and feel good about marine life and birds not getting into plastic straws.
Sharing is caring at CauseBox
Total value of all items is $291. Not bad for a $50 box!
It is worth mentioning that people with quarterly subscription don’t get to choose the items they receive, but annual members can and do. In my opinion, the element of surprise is one of the most attractive things about subscription boxes, so it really doesn’t matter to me if I have a choice or if I get products selected by beauty experts at CauseBox. After receiving my first box I am definitely a new fan of CauseBox and will be ordering again.
Today was the first time I opened GlossyBox beauty subscription box and I was excited! I was not sure what to expect because I ordered it based on my sister’s recommendation and she is new at this service too. All I knew is that the box contains full size beauty products, and who wouldn’t like full size beauty products?
I have tried a few boxes before – FabFitFun, Macy’s Beauty Box, and Birchbox, so I consider myself kind of an expert. I love trying new subscription boxes because of the surprise element and because I am not one of these women that spends time and effort looking for new beauty brands and products. I love makeup and creams very much, so subscription boxes are right up my alley because I get to try things that I would never find myself. I actually even feel trendy and on top of beauty world news!
GlossyBox has a few different plans – pay per month, 3-months, 6-months, and 12-month. I just wanted to try, so I ordered one month box for $17.95. I have to admit that I liked this price for full size items.
The box arrived just a few days after ordering, but opening of it got kind of delayed because it’s Christmas, so between traveling and Christmas morning gift opening craze I couldn’t catch a break, but today was the day!
I loved the design of the box – gold tone with red color blocks going across it. It looked luxurious and felt like I am opening my one last Christmas gift and that is a nice way to fight post-holidays blues. So here it goes:
Inside the box there were 5 full size items, not huge, but still not samples. On top of burgundy wrapping paper and gold bow I found two nice coupons. And I love coupons!
The first one was for Hello Fresh meal delivery kit – $80 gift card. I intend on using that as soon as the New Year’s celebration is over and I am back to work, back to gym, and back to my diet, which went totally haywire since Thanksgiving. The coupon for Hello Fresh offers $30 off first two deliveries, $10 off next two deliveries, and free shipping. Another coupon is for $100 off Nakedwines.com order of $160+. Did I tell you I love wine?
When it comes to the rest of the contents of my GlossyBox, I have some love/hate relationship. Let me start with all the positive things about it and then talk about not so good ones.
The first item I got out was Golden Gatsby 3D Faux Mink Lashes ($15). They look long, natural, and stunning. I am sure they work great too. I am also sure I will not use them, but that’s no fault of those lashes. I simply had previous bad experience with faux lashes and their glue, so I am weary of experiments. However, I have a friend who doesn’t go to any outing without lashes like these, so I will gift them to her and make her very happy.
Next came Luxie Rose Gold Makeup Brush, normally $10-$12.I will enjoy this because nobody can have too many makeup brushes, especially high quality, medium size, with pink handle like this one.
Then I spotted purple liquid in a cute square bottle – Nail Medic Rejuvenator ($8). I usually wear gel or SNS long-lasting polish on my nails, so once in a while they really need some TLC and a break. I will definitely use this product. Actually, this rejuvenator can be used on cuticles even with nail polish! Great nails are coming!
The final product that I liked is Steve Laurant Lip Tint Cherry Gloss ($19).
I have a bit of hard time believing that this little round container is really $19, but let’s say it is. The color looks good and lasts long, but it’s not a lip gloss.
I would call it lipstick, but you do need a brush or a finger for application, so it’s not great for traveling.
For some reason I expected cherry flavor, but it’s just cherry color. I would give this one 7 stars out of 10.
And last came a huge disaster! I was opening the box while sitting on a white sheepskin by the Christmas tree, and this beauty product produced some fireworks that left me, my dog, my camera, and my sheepskin covered in gloss for days. The Real Her Ultimate Glow Cheek Trio ($32) was all broken, destroyed, with lose powder spilling all over the place.
I was mad and sad, because it took me a while to clean up and I couldn’t enjoy it. It went straight to the trash can. I am thinking about contacting GlossyBox and asking for a discount or replacement. This accident also created a negative impression of the whole box, even though it’s not their fault. I will have to think if I will ever give it another try. This also made me think how good FabFitFun service is as nothing ever came broken.
All in all, I like everything beauty, but this box was a bit of disappointment with faux lashes, broken product, and small lipstick that can’t come along with me. I calculated that the box is worth $84, which I am a bit skeptical about, but maybe. I know I would never pay that much for these products, but I love getting all that for just $17. So there – it’s not the best box on the market, but price/value ratio is not bad, so I might even go for another one and see if it comes broken again. Stay beautiful, ladies!
Splendid Spoon delivery brings breakfast and lunch meals
Food and ready-to-eat meal delivery services are still going up in popularity even when it seems that everybody have tried everything already.
Up until very recently people with special diets and eating preferences didn’t have many choices, but that is finally changing.
Splendid Spoon meals are healthy and affordable
Price is one of the reasons some people don’t try meal kits and delivery. It seems that the amount of food is just not worth the money when you can get all the ingredients form a grocery store for under $100/week. We took time and effort to try as many plant-based food delivery services as we could and picked the sure winner – Splendid Spoon. It was based on price, quality, variety, and company philosophy about healthy lifestyle.
Splendid Spoon starts at $65 per week and you can choose from a few programs: Lunch, Breakfast & Lunch, and Breakfast & Lunch & Reset.
The plans are customizable with all the meals plant-based and gluten free.
Great deals and options from Splendid Spoon
We went with “The Program 2.0”, which delivers breakfast and lunch for five days and a full day cleanse.
Splendid Spoon urges you to start caring about you now
This last word might make people roll their eyes a bit simply because it’s very fashionable now and seems that everybody is on some kind of cleanse, but give this one a chance – it is actually easy and feels good. The food we received was very good, tasty, filling, and made us feel amazing.
The goal of this program is not necessarily weight loss, but it can definitely help with that. If you do want to lose a few pounds, you can sign up for a health program that includes one plant-based meal per day, 15 minutes of mindful practice, and a community to share your progress with.
Taking healthy breakfast on the go is easy with Splendid Spoon
Plenty of tasty choices from Splendid Spoon
First of all, let’s talk about breakfasts. All 5 breakfasts came in smoothie shape – perfect for those of us that love morning smoothies already.
Monster good nutrition from Splendid Spoon
The best thing was the variety of flavors that we wouldn’t have thought of ourselves:
Healthy refreshments for summertime
Carrot Ginger Chia smoothie from Splendid Spoon
Green goodness from Splendid Spoon
Every one of those smoothies tasted good and had distinct and complex flavor.
From farm to you via Splendid Spoon
We use word complex because it’s the best way to describe the rich mix of good for you ingredients. All of those smoothies definitely kept us full until lunch time and gave us ideas for the future smoothie making at home.
Nature in Splendid Spoon bottles
Tasty and filling Splendid Spoon lunch options
Lunches were all soups, five different and amazing recipes. It might be scary to think that all you are going to get for lunch is soup, but trust us, they were so satisfying and so filling that we struggled to finish them sometimes.
Soup flavors:
Splendid Spoon meals don’t take much space
The soups are hard to review because their liking is so based on personal taste and preference. Some people might love borscht and some might never have had it in their life, so we are leaving the taste test up to you. All we are going to say is that the soups were made of high quality ingredients, we loved them, and they definitely filled us up.
Now let’s get to the one-day soup cleanse. Even if cleanses are not your thing, try this at least one time.
You will be surprised how not bloated and full you will feel just sipping those soups all day.
Cleanse soup flavors:
Breakfasts and lunches are served
All of those soups could be eaten hot or cold. We loved them hot, but you might also enjoy them cold. One thing is for certain – it was an easy day and we felt amazing the next morning.
Life with Splendid Spoon is fun
The meals come in good looking brown paper boxes, frozen, semi-frozen, or chilled, and are delivered by FedEx. The containers are plant-based and insulated. You will also get a guide to inform you about the company and the meals you received.
Splendid Spoon is delivered right to your door
In conclusion, the Splendid Spoon is great.
You might not be able to order it all the time if you have budget constraints, but try it one week per month and you will love it. It’s easy to stay on track with it and the food is great.
Busy can be healthy with Splendid Spoon
After breakfast and lunch you can eat whatever you like for dinner and not feel bad about it. Splendid Spoon takes away the need to spend time preparing healthy meals – all you have to do is warm the soups up and enjoy.