Runner Box Bi-Monthly May 2013 Unboxing & Review!

I had the honor of reviewing a wonderful box for you guys courtesy of Staci over at Runner Box! This is a subscription box for runners and fitness extraordinaires (or just regular fitness lovers... :)) I actually received a card with this, so to tell you more about it, I'm going to refer to it:

"Runnerbox is a mini shoebox full of running and fitness based products. It's a gift to yourself, or someone else, that arrives at your door! From energy products to Nutrition Bars, protein shakes, gels, chews and other accessories, we search out great products, from the tried and true to brand new, and send them to you in our custom box!"

I have to say, I was beyond surprised with not only the contents of the box, but the quality. I just loved everything about it! It really was packed full of items. The subscription comes in 2 different ways. First, there is the monthly subscription, which is $10 a month + $5.70 shipping (although, the site is not showing it, so I'm not sure if they got rid of it, or are just sold out.) Then there is the Bi-Monthly box which is $20 + $5.70 shipping every other month, this is the box I got, and it's FILLED with items that are well over the cost of the box.

In addition to the RunnerBox, they also have a TriBox. This is a box specialized for triathletes. This comes just like the RunnerBox in both Monthly and Bi Monthly for the same prices.

Now let's get on with the box :)



Oops...I ripped it open a little too soon... 0:)

This is my awesome box! I'm not going to start anywhere purposely, I'm just diving in :)

The first product in my box is this Simbi Bracelet/Hair tie! These bracelets are handmade in Haiti, and are "cool with a cause". Why are they "cool with a cause" you may ask? Because each Simbi sold purifies 1 gallon of water a day and created jobs for the people of Haiti! How awesome is that? Now I haven't even taken my bracelet off (except to take a shower) since I got my box. I'm so in love with it, and it's awesome to ALWAYS have a hair tie with you. I thought that it wouldn't work that well as a hair tie, but it really does. I really do love everything about this product.

You can purchase 6 of these on their website for $12.99 making this band about $2.16 



 

Next is this 2.1 oz package of GU Chomps Pure Performance Energy Chews in Lemon! These chews are caffeine free, and contain amino acids, vitamins C+E and electrolytes! The back of the package reads:

"GU Chomps deliver the premium ingredients and performance benefits you've come to expect from GU Energy Products:

• Amino Acids for added focus, rippin' energy and speedy recovery.


• Vitamin C + E, those mighty antioxidants that combat tissue breakdown.


• Sodium and potassium to restore electrolyte balance


• Exclusive blend of complex and simple carbohydrates

All in all, a superior choice to propel you in your athletic pursuits."

There are 8 pieces in this packet, which is enough for 2 servings. My niece and I tried these, and thought they were delicious! They have such a true lemon taste, and my niece thought they tasted like the little smiley fruit snacks you can get at grocery stores. I also shared the love with my bestfriend and gave her a couple as well. I found that I had a little more energy, but I also didn't eat the whole 4 chews needed, so I'm sure it would have worked better.

Now, you can purchase a box of 16 packets on GU's website for $35.20 + $3.99 shipping, which makes each packet about $2.20, OR you can purchase the single packets on RunOutlet for $1.99 with free shipping on all orders! So I'm going to say, based on GU's website, this sample is $2.20 but you can definitely buy it cheaper.

Next I have this 0.88 oz packet of CytoMax Sports Performance Drink in Tangy Orange! This is simply a powdered mix that you mix into a water bottle. It is caffeinated with Herbal Lift, has sustained energy and electrolytes, maximizes endurance and is an advanced carbohydrate system! I really like that at the bottom, it gives you three words; pre, during, post. It then has pre and during highlighted with arrows pointing up, indicating this product is intended for pre workout and during workout. I have yet to try this, but love these powered drinks, and I like that this has the ability to give you energy.

You can purchase a 24 count on their website for $20.95, making this sample $0.87

The next product is this little Skin Strong set with 2 Slather tubes, and a 1 fl oz. bottle of Silk. This is a Runner's Box Member Special! I've used the Silk product, and I have to say, it's AWESOME! I love it! I have very sensitive skin, so I'm forever getting irritated with clothes rubbing together on my body, my socks rubbing against my achilles, ect. It's terrible, and leaves me in pain. I was so excited to get this in my box, and immediately put it to use. It's a thin coat of oily substance that puts a barrier between your skin and the clothing. I received a little card in the bag telling about Silk:

"Just a few great uses for SILK:

• Prevent runner's rub on thighs, under arms, under sports bras, under heart rate monitors, and more
  


• Use under wetsuit to prevent chafing and for quick removal (safe for wetsuits)


• Use on feet for quick transitions in triathlons"

 

"Just a few greats uses for SLATHER:

• Long lasting chamois cream


• Prevent blisters on feet


• Soothing for chafing when you forget to apply before"

I like that it has soothing abilities, so you're not punished if you forget to use the Silk before hand.

You can purchase a 1 oz bottle of Silk on their website for $6.99 and you can purchase a 20 count of these slather tubes for $12.99 making the 2 samples together $1.30

ALSO if you use the code: RUNBOX at checkout, you'll receive 20% off your first order :)





 

Next I received these Injinji Performance series Lightweight socks in gulf blue! HOW COOL!? These socks have an ultra thin interface, and have a patented 5 toe seamless design that provides proper toe alignment for natural feel, protection from blisters and hotspots, and superior moisture management. These socks are NO SHOW (meaning below ankle) and have extreme CoolMax with Lycra Fiber! These are made for people who run, walk and bike. (Who DOESN'T walk?...this will be good for anyone). I've worn these a couple times, and loved them every time. I like that they're smooth and not rough like cotton socks are. My feet don't sweat as much, and my toes don't rub together. One thing I'm not crazy about it that the size for women is 9-11.5, but I'm an 11 (yes...big feet) but it still feels like it's stretching too much...it could be my toe nails, but I'm not sure :) Oh well, they still rock!

These socks retail (according to the back sticker) for $10 a pair! That's HALF the box already! :) You can purchase these on their website!

Here I have a 1.04 oz packet of Chocolate Agave #9 gel! This is a slo-burn energy gel, that is Belgian Style Dark Gourmet Chocolate, low fat, vegan, and 100% agave sweetened. It is also certified low glycemic index. The ingredients are simple, Organic Agave and Breakfast Cocoa processed with alkali! That's it! I have not used this yet, but I'm very excited to!

You can purchase a trial pack including 3 single sized servings for $4.99 on their website, making this sample roughly $1.66



 

Next I have this 1.76 oz Accel Recover bar in Chocolate Peanut Butter! This bar has a scientifically proven formula, converts fat directly into energy, replenishes muscle energy stores, and rebuilds muscle protein. I have yet to try this, but it sounds very good! I'm a sucker for peanut butter and chocolate :)

You can purchase a 12 ct. box of these on their website for $23.88 making this sample $1.99

Next up is this 1.5 oz packet of Huma Chia Energy Gel in Strawberries. This is a 100% all-natural energy gel that is also gluten-free! What I thought was strange was that it said to "consume with water". After trying this with my niece, I realized why that might be...it's very sticky and dry for a gel. I thought it tasted awesome, but couldn't get it down in the gulps necessary. I really did enjoy this product though!

You can purchase a 5 sample pack of these on their website for $11.25 making this sample $2.25



 

Next I have this 1 load sample of WIN Sports Detergent! This supposedly helps remove the sweaty smells that get embedded into sports clothing. This detergent is biodegradable, septic safe, color safe and optimized for technical fabrics but safe for all. I have not yet used this, but after today in this 93+ degree heat, I'm sweating like CRAZY!

They sell 2 bottles of detergent on their website for $19.90. One bottle would be $9.95. Each bottle has 14 washes, which means this one wash sample is about $0.71

Last but not least is this single serving of EnergyBits! These are little bits that are 100% natural organic green algae. These things are ugly, and smell terrible. They smell like rotten seafood, and rabbit poop. Literally! I have no interest in these, and will be passing them onto my bestfriend who works out a lot. This is made up of spirulina. It's a little confusing because on their site it says that 12 tabs are 1 serving, yet it tells you to take 30 or more tabs for best results, also my pack came with 28 tabs? I'm confused...but I won't be using them so it's okay. I really don't like the idea of taking 30 or more pills, not to mention, these are very expensive!

You can purchase a bag of 1000 tabs on their website for $115.00!!!! YES ONE-HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN! That's outrageous! If you think of it as being 12 tabs per serving, that's about 83 servings, but 30 tabs per serving? That's only about 33 servings!!! That's crazy! I figured my sample out to be roughly $3.36 

ALSO if you use the code "RunnerBox" at checkout, you can save a whopping 15% off your purchase!

With the box, I received a ton of coupon codes as well.

Skin Strong: 20% off your first order with code "RUNBOX"

EnergyBits: 15% off your order with code "RunnerBox"

Accel Recover Bar: Try a box of 12 (Reg Price: $23.88) for $13.88 with free shipping. Use code "RUNNERBOX"! Offer ends 8/1/13

Huma Chia Energy Gel: 10% off one box of 24 with code "RUNNERBOX"

Injinji Socks: 40% off your purchase with code "ANYSHOE"

May or may not be one time use:

Zensah Compression Socks: 20% off compression socks with code "RBCS20"! Expires 12/31/13

Skora: 20% off at Skorarunning.com with code "SKORA_XF596

 

TOTAL: $33.49

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this box. I think that you get PLENTY for the purchase price, and I think it's awesome that it's every other month and not every month. It definitely is a great program to try new items for your workout routine to see what does actually work for you without spending a million dollars to try it. I think the $25.70 cost of the box is a very good deal, and I can see myself personally purchasing this in the future!

Therunnerbox.com

 

 

 

GFreely May 2013 Unboxing & Review!

I recently received a generous package from the folks over at Gfreely to review on my blog for my wonderful readers! For those who don't know, Gfreely is an all Healthy and Gluten-Free subscription box! You pay $25 a month ($20 for the box + $5 for shipping) or it can decrease for multiple months. If you subscribe for a 3-Month subscription, it's $23 a month ($20 for the box +$3 for shipping) or a 6-Month subscription for $19 a month flat. Each month you receive a box full of delicious Gluten-Free and Healthy goodies delivered right to your door! On the site, it doesn't really say how many treats you receive a month, but this month I got 10 items, so I assume it must be roughly 8-10+ items.

This month was all about flavor, which I mean, come on, who doesn't love flavor? On the card that came with the box, it says:

"This month is all about flavor. Our May box is packed with new treats, condiments and sauces that will kick up the flavor in your gluten free lifestyle. 

Fruits you can take on the go from Chiquita, cookies from Ginny Bakes and delectable desserts from Suncups have you covered with sweets. Halfpops, Canyon Boulder Rice and Bean chips and Grawnola bars cover salty and savory. Saffron Road's Simmer sauce and Beatty's Blend Spice have arrived this month to help you kick up the flavor in your favorite GF dishes!

Don't miss the recipe on the back.
Happy Mothers Day & National Celiac Awareness Month!
~gfreely"

This is my first (and most certainly not last) GFreely box! Look at all the goodies :) I'm just going to start in on it and not make you guys wait any longer!

The first item I received is this 7 oz packet of Moroccan Tagine Simmer Sauce from Saffron Road! This is a medium heat level sauce that is made to work with various types of meat to create a true, authentic, Moroccan dish. On the back of the package, it says:

"Magic happens inside the domed earthenware pot called the Tagine. Deep inside it, food and spices are transformed by a long oh-so-slow simmering that creates amazing sauces that are filled with flavor. Try our Tagine and see how it turns any meal into a Moroccan delicacy. All natural and Certified Halal, Saffron Road's Simmer Sauces are held to the highest standards for wholesomeness and culinary excellence."

We unfortunately haven't been able to try this yet due to some problems in the family, and this past Memorial Day weekend, but I really can't wait to try it! I've never had anything Moroccan, but I love spicy things.

You can purchase single pack purchase of Saffron Road Simmer Sauces on their website for $3.69 a piece. Oddly enough, they don't have this on there... but they do have other awesome flavors! 

Next up is this 1.05 oz bag of Super Crunchy Fruit Chips in Banana from Chiquita! These chips are 100% Air-Crisped fruit that are never fried and never freeze-dried. They are fat free and have no sugar added. The ingredients are simple...1 banana! :)

These banana chips are DELICIOUS! I honestly really like them. I feel that they have a good, obviously all natural flavor. I like that they're hard at first, but they soften up right away while in your mouth. This is perfect for people of all ages, and is perfect for on the go snacking.

Mom: Gross, I don't like it. (She spit it out.)

Dad: First taste, baby food. I do get an off taste, then it starts to taste like baby food.

Niece: Would rather have a real banana, taste like baby food, don't like it.

You can buy these 1.05 oz packets at Walmart for $1.48!

The next product is this 1.2 oz bag of Protein Cookie Bites in Cinnamon Almond from Kay's Naturals! These bites are Gluten-Free, all natural and are only 125 calories for the bag! They are dusted with a very awesome cinnamon powder.

These bites look like Shredded Wheat! They're very light and crunchy, and the cinnamon dusted on them is fantastic! The only problem is that they seem to have a very weird aftertaste that I'm not in love with. While these are delicious, I don't think I would purchase these alone. They seem as if they should be a cereal not a "cookie".

Mom: There is no cookie about this. I do like them though.

Dad: Like Shredded Wheat with Cinnamon Toast Crunch flavor. Uses awesome cinnamon, very good.

Niece: Like them, I like the cinnamon on it.

You can purchase a 6 pack of these 1.2 oz bags on their website for $10.14, making this sample $1.69



The next product is one of my FAVORITES in the box! It is this 2 oz of HalfPops in Natural Butter & Sea Salt! These are the "Crunchy Heart of Popcorn". These are hard, tasty little halfpopped kernels slathered in butter and salt.  This is one of the "Featured Products" this month. On the card it says:

"Partially Popped. And fully delicious. Savor the crunchy heart of air-popped kernels. Revel in flavor that's positively packed in-not lost in the fluff."



These things are honestly amazing. I'm sitting here snacking on them as I type, and I wish I had more. They're so addicting, both flavor and texture. I love that they literally POP in your mouth when you crunch down! They're just awesome! I need to find out where these are sold instores (I'm not an online shopper) so I can buy more :)

Mom: Not bad! Different, not sure if I'd buy them.

Dad: You can taste the popcorn after it settles. It tastes like Fritos Cornchips!

Niece: Love them!

You can purchase a 16 pack of these 2 oz bags on their website for $23.84, making this sample $1.49. I would GLADLY pay that for this product, it's so delicious and easy to snack on, I'm in love!

Next is this 1.5 oz bag of Rice & Bean with Adzuki Beans Snack Chips in Natural Salt from Boulder Canyon Natural Foods! Woo, that was a mouth full! These chips are All-Natural and Gluten Free! They're a good source of fiber, and are non-GMO, MSG-Free, Kosher, and they have no trans fat or cholesterol!

These chips are awesome! They're literally delicious. The salt on them is very good, the bean flavor is amazing, and it even has a little spice to it! The bean aspect to these chips taste a lot like Taco Bell to me, which of course, is awesome.

Mom: Like the lightness and the flavor of the chips, as well as the heat.

Dad: Not bad, very misleading. They're light, but really heavy. Don't know if after taste is dirty or beany. 6.5 out of 10!

Niece: Love the saltiness! (Side Note: At first she said "Meh" but wouldn't stop eating them...) 

BONUS (Sister): "Tasted like cardboard with B.O....I'm serious."

You can purchase a 5 oz bag of these chips on their website for $3.25, making this 1.5 oz sample about $0.98 

Next I have this cup of Organic Super Food Oat Based Cereal from Vigilant Eats in Goji-Cacao. This is an organic oatmeal that is Gluten-Free, soy free, dairy free, additive free, preservative free, and does not contain refined sugar.

I didn't have the pleasure of trying this or photographing it, because I gave it to my dad. He really loves oatmeal, and was excited I received this. He said: "While I've never had a bad bowl of oatmeal, I have to say that this combination just didn't work for each other. Goji Berries and Cacao Nibs just didn't balance or compliment each other. The berry was good by itself, but was over powered by the maple and cinnamon combo. When put together, you can only get the texture of the berry, not the taste. Should have thought of an apple bit for this mix. I don't see the purpose of the Cacao Nibs other than for crunch."


You can purchase a 12 pack of these on their website for $50.40! Making this sample $4.20! That is one expensive cup of oatmeal...

Next was this GrawBar in Original. This is a Gluten Free, nutrient dense, raw, sprouted energy bar. It contains a whole bunch of fruits, nuts and spices.

I really can't stand products that look like this. They almost ALWAYS taste the same...gross.

All: SPIT IT OUT.

You can purchase this on their website for $2.99

Next is a package of SunCups Dark Chocolate Sunflower Butter Cups! These are organic, nut and gluten free. This is the other featured product of the month! From the card:

"A peanut butter cup for everyone. These delectable treats are nut free, gluten free, sustainably sourced and use only the best ingredients. Yum!"

These things are great! They're chocolatey, salty, sweet and most of all, HEALTHY! I can't believe such a little snack can be so good! I like that you really can taste the sunflower in the sunflower butter.

Mom: I love it! Great combination, Salt is awesome.

Dad: Chocolate is really good, not crazy about the center.

You can purchase a 12 count of these on their website for $20, making this sample $1.66!

The next item is a pack of 2 cookies from Ginny Bakes in the flavor Coconut Oatmeal Bliss. These cookies are fresh baked, organic and gluten-free! They are also preservative free as well :)



 

These cookies were phenomenal! I honestly was very shocked with the taste for being an organic cookie! It had the perfect amount of spice in it, as well as perfect coconut and raisin ratio! I can't wait to purchase these :)

Mom: I could eat a whole package of these!

Dad: Don't like it, I just keep chewing and chewing. It lost the oatmeal flavor and tastes macaroonish.

Niece: Spit it out.

You can purchase a bag of appx. 12 cookies on their website for $7.00 making this 2 ct. sample $1.16! PLUS if you use the code GF10OFF you'll get 10% off your purchase until June 30,2013 :)



 

The last product is this Junior Sized Bumble Bar in Chocolate Crisp. This is an organic, gluten-free energy bar. Every Bumble Bar purchase directly aids in community development and the construction of a school in Ethiopia :)



 

I thought that this was very weird at first. I found that it was dry, and hard to chew. As I chewed, I realized it had really awesome flavoring. The chocolate was awesome!

Mom: Like the flavor and the texture.

Dad: Not bad, soy takes over, weird after taste.

Niece: Like the flavor, just not the texture.

You can purchase a 12 count box for $12.99 on their website, making this sample $0.92

 

TOTAL: $20.26

This is a fair value for the cost of the box. Some people want the overall total of the box to cover the shipping, but it's not a necessity.

 

I really think that the GFreely box is awesome, and well worth the money, especially if you are forced to eat a Gluten-Free diet. I know for me, it's recommended, but I can't find a lot of Gluten-Free products that are actually tasty, so this is an awesome service. It's nice to get new snacks and companies delivered right to your door without having to leave and go shopping around for hours.

Big thanks to GFreely! I appreciated this box :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MistoBox May 2013 Unboxing & Review!

Recently, I was sent a box to review from the awesome MistoBox company! MistoBox is a subscription box that sends out four unique and tasty coffees each month for a low cost! There are 2 different options to choose from, but within those 2 options, you have 2 MORE to choose from! The first you can choose the "Awesome" Subscription which is 4 1.7 oz coffee bags (this is the one I received), and you can choose to get that once ($15/month) or twice($30/month) a month. You can also get your first "Awesome" Subscription box for $5! Then there is the "More Awesome" Subscription which is 4 3.4 oz coffee bags, and you also can choose to get that once ($30/month) or twice ($60/month) a month. You can also get your first "More Awesome" Subscription box for just $10! What a steal :)

Also, a little fun fact, I found out about these guys through my dad and I's favorite show, Shark Tank. Every Friday night we sit down to watch the latest episode :)

My dad isn't a flavored coffee drinker, so only my mom and I tested these out. She was overly excited and kept referring to the box as "Her" coffee. Needless to say, there was one brand I actually didn't even get to try because she drank it all on me...punk.

When I say "flavored" I mean that they have natural tasting notes, I should specify there is NOTHING artificially added to these wonderful coffees :)

The box is SUPER cute!



This is the box :) I'm so in love with it, that once this is over, I'm going to take it upstairs to my room and keep stuff in it...very nerdy? Yes.

This was the packaging before I rudely ripped it wide open because I was excited :)

This is the card that tells you all about your coffees for the month. It's so informative and neat :) I will be referring to this a lot in my post! :)

On the back of the card it says:

"Bon Voyage! This month, we are taking you on a journey around the globe to show you how different coffees can be based on where they were grown. We're showcasing coffees from each of these major growing regions:

Central America: As coffee cultivation extended throughout the New World in the early 1700's, it quickly became one of Central America's most important agricultural products.

Asia/Pacific: The Dutch were the first to spread coffee cultivation outside of Africa, by secretly bringing coffee plants to islands like Java in the 1690's.

South America: The Dutch government and French missionaries introduced coffee farming to the Caribbean islands and then to Brazil, where it expanded to places like Colombia.

Africa: The indigenous birthplace of the coffee plant, all coffee originated in the region of Kaffa, Ethiopia, where we get the word 'coffee' from."

The first coffee was one of my favorites!

This is Ethiopia Agaro Jimma from Case Coffee Roasters in Ashland, Oregon. This coffee's origin is in Jimma, Ethiopia, which doing some research tells me it's the larget city in Southwestern Ethiopia! (Look at this, you get great coffee PLUS fun geography facts!) This is the "Africa" coffee the card told us about above. The process in which this coffee is made is "fully washed". The variety is Heirloom, and the elevation is 1900-2100 meters. Tasting notes are Raspberry, Peach Delicate. I really think it's awesome that the package tells you all about the information about how the coffee is made and everything. From the card:

"This washed coffee from the well-known coffee growing town of Agaro is more sweet, delicate and clean than most dry process coffees typical of the region. The dry aroma is full of apricot and honey sweetness. Berry and Peach notes burst out of the cup and as it cools, a nice floral and bergamot note emerge."

These are the beautiful beans.

I'm going to first start off by saying, I'm not a coffee enthusiast, and I'm not a huge coffee drinker. I'm the kind of coffee drinker that will drink iced coffee in the summer and hot chocolate in the winter, it's not a necessitiy in my life. This coffee however, is amazing. It's almost like a mixture between tea and coffee, and it tastes really awesome cold or hot. It has a nice, sweet, fruity flavor that I think would be perfect for iced coffee.

Mom: Color is nice, it's an awesome lightroasted coffee. The taste is awesome, and is one of my favorites.

Let the records show, she drank the rest of it...

You can purchase a 10.5 oz cannister of this coffee on MistoBox.com/Case for $19.00

The next coffee is Finca Buena Vista from Water Avenue Coffee Company in Portland Oregon. This coffees origin is Santa Ana, Apaneca Llamatepec, El Salvador. The process in which this coffee is made is "fully washed". The variety is 100% Bourbon and the elevation is 1,250-1,450 meters. Tasting notes are Tangerine, Honey, Refined. This is the "Central America" coffee from the back of the card. From the card:

"This coffee comes from the El Cachillo mountain in the Apaneca Llamatepec mountain range, known for producing coffees of the highest caliber. This farm is planted with only the bourbon variety. Bright, tart acidity of pomegranates and tangerines are met with distinct honeyed sweetness and a clean finish." 



Of course, here are the beans. All of the beans really look the same, I just wanted to get shots of them for blogging purposes... :)

This was another awesome coffee that was very fruity and light! I really enjoyed this one, and thought it had the fruity/tea flavor as well.  This, again, would be the perfect iced coffee drink in the summer. It's light, fruity, and delicious :)

Mom: Doesn't taste like tangerine, still thought it was very good!

Let the records show, she thought it was good enough to drink the rest of the bag...

You can purchase a 12 oz bag of this coffee for $17.00 on Mistobox.com/WaterAve!

Next is San Agustin from Elemental Coffee in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma! The origin of this coffee is Los Naranjos, Columbia. The process, is once again, "fully washed". The variety is Cuturra, Typica, Bourbon and Castillo. Elevation is 1,350-1,900 meters. Tasting notes are Papaya Molasses Complex. This is the coffee from "South America" as stated on the back of the card above. From the card:

"A group of 50 producers join together to make up this lot of Los Naranjos San Agustin. These farms are planted with caturra, typica, bourbon, and castillo varieties to make this lot. 

The gorgeous beans :)

I unfortunately didn't get to try this coffee (THANKS MOM!). She downed it all before I got a chance...

Mom: Good, but weak. (She's a strong coffee person), favorite out of all of them.

She really enjoyed this, and finished this off within 2 days, she was obsessed with this! :) Her birthday is coming up in June... ;)

You can purchase a 12 oz bag of this coffee on Mistobox.com/elemental

for $17.00!



Last but not least was Toraco Station by OQ Coffee Co. in Highland Park, New Jersey! This coffees origin is Tana Toraja, Sulawesi. The process, like the rest, is "fully washed". The variety is S795 (Typica Hybrid), and the elevation is 1,600-1,800 meters. Tasting notes are Floral Aroma, Warm Spices Nuanced. This coffee is the Asia/Pacific coffee the card talks about above. From the card:

"While this stellar Sulawesi has certain traits in common with Latin American coffees due to its washed processing, it still remains a typical Indonesian vibe. Aromatic notes of flowers, pine and juniper are balanced by its textured body, followed with spicy sweetness of cloves and coriander that come to dominate the cup as it cools." 

These beautiful beans :)

I liked this coffee a lot. It is very light, and the flavoring is fantastic. I think that this is the most natural flavored coffee I've ever had. It's perfect for me! The only bad part is that it has a weird aftertaste, but in all it's a nice coffee. Would, once again, be an awesome iced coffee.

Mom: Great! Nice and smooth, good consistency, the way coffee really should be.

You can purchase a 12 oz bag of this coffee on Mistobox.com/OQcoffee for $17.00!

Overall, I really really love this subscription box. Considering my parents spend $8 a week on plain, boring coffee, I think that this is definitely a change in pace. I really think my mom enjoyed this as well, and I feel that this could potentially be an awesome birthday, Christmas, or just any day present! :) I honestly suggest this to ANY coffee enthusiast :)

MistoBox.com

Bulu Box May 2013 Unboxing & Review!

I recently received my 2nd Bulu Box in the mail. After being completely stunned and surprised with the amazingness of the first box I received, I was very shocked and disappointed with this second one. It was full of almost all foil packets/1 time uses. That's something I really don't like, I like to try products out more than once to see if it's right for me and it actually works. That being said, I wasn't disappointed in the products as much as I was in the sample sizes.

For those who don't know, the original Bulu Box is a monthy subscription service in which you pay $10 a month for a box of 4-5 premium samples plus lifestyle extras from time to time. As the first and only vitamin and supplement sample box, this box includes a well-rounded sampling of vitamins and supplements that help in all areas of health. Every box is a feel good discovery.

Bulu Box Weightloss is a monthly subscription service in which you pay $10 a month for a box of 4-5 premium weight loss samples such as vitamin and supplement samples, fitness gear and healthy eating tools. The first and only weight loss subscription box, this box was designed with the specific goal of weight loss in mind. Discover products to help you succeed with weight loss.

This unboxing is of the ORIGINAL Bulu Box.

The first product I received (which I made the mistake of eating it before taking a picture, woops!) was Fit N' Crisp from Promax in Vanilla Marshmallow! This was a rice Krispy like treat, except without the delicious qualities of Rice Krispy Treats. From the card:

"Healthy Craving Fix- Fit N' Crisp by Promax: Make a healthy snack decision-reach for a Fit N' Crisp by Promax. Only 140 calories, 13g of protein and 0 artificial sweeteners or high fructose corn syrup, it's your perfect quell to the sugar craving storm inside."

Well...to be honest, I'd rather just eat a normal Rice Krispy treat, and work off the extra calories. This was honestly very gross. I split it with my mom, and we both ended up giving it to my dog, who wouldn't even touch it the first time around. This was very hard and grainy. By grainy, I mean it literally had the texture of sand. The flavor wasn't even that good, and it tasted like an overly powered vanilla bean. I wasn't too happy with the taste or texture of this "treat".

You can purchase these on their website for $1.69 a piece.

Next are these Beauty Bursts Gourment Collagen Soft Chews in Super Fruit Punch by NeoCell. These are supposed to help by containing different vitamins and nutrients for strong, healthy and beautiful hair, skin and nails. These contain NO lactose and NO gluten. From the Card:

"Delicious Collagen Support- NeoCell Beauty Bursts: A burst of nutrients with a gush of flavor. Collagen Types 1 and 3, found in NeoCell Beauty Bursts, promote smoother, more radiant skin, hair & nails. Try both super fruit punch and fresh mint chocolate. Treat yourself t0 delicious taste AND beautiful skin."

I'm going to have to say that they completely lied about this. Well...at least about the taste part. This product was DISGUSTING. It was a weird texture, and had a weird flavor. It was very plain and chemically to me. I didn't enjoy it at all. I'm not a fruit punch person, and would have rathered the chocolate, although I'm not sure it would have made a difference. This is a product in which you need to use a couple times to see the difference, so it was a pointless sample for me.

The card tells me that it is $15.95 for 60 chews. This sample packet came with 2 chews, making this sample worth $0.54. There is no place to buy these on their website...

Next I have a 4 capsule sample pack of AllerDX by Plantiva. This is a Fast Acting Seasonal Relief capsule that works in minutes! It's Non-Drowsy and Stimulant Free! From the Card:

"Fast Allergy Relief-Plantiva AllerDX: Boost your immune systems' tolerance to the environment around you. By strengthening kidney health and calming over-active liver function, AllerDX calms histamine reactions and improves nasal airflow. Best part, it works in minutes!"

This is an awesome product. The only thing that is a downfall is that you have to take 3-4 CAPSULES AT A TIME! I'm sorry, but I really don't want to buy a bottle of 16 pills, and only have 4 uses out of it. I also don't want to be  swallowing all of those at once, even if I do it one at a time, it doesn't seem right to me. If only they could be a higher dosage...

You can purchase these on their website for $21.95 for a bottle of 60 capsules. This means that this 4 capsule sample was roughly $1.48. It's sad to think that the amount of capsules in the bottle is only enough for 15 doses...

Next was this FitMixerAmino Energy drink in Fruit Punch. This supports the three phases of fitness to help you prepare, push and repair your body no matter what your fitness level. From the card:

"Muscle Building Fuel- Fitmixer Amino: Give your muscles fuel to burn longer and build stronger. By increasing nitric oxide production, the delicious Tri-Flow Amino Blend reduces fatigue and improves your muscle recovery."

I had this before I went out side to work the other day, and I have to say, for Fruit Punch, which I don't like, this wasn't that bad. It did have a weird taste, as I'm not crazy about mixes that need to be mixed with water, but over all it wasn't bad. I didn't really see a difference in anything though.

You can purchase a canister of this product on their website for $26.99. The canister has 35 servings, this packet is 1 serving, so this packet is roughly $0.77 

The last product is this Acai Berry Nut Butter from Artisana. It's what it sounds like, an acai berry nut butter. From the card:

"Maximum Antioxidants- Artisana Superfood Nut Butter: Already love the delicious and nutritious taste of cashew butter? Now with 5 different superfood additives, Artissana Superfood Nut Butter is a perfect appetite suppressing snack for your taste buds and your body. Take control of your appetite and feel full longer."

This product is very...weird. It has the texture of goop, the look of poop, and the taste of fruity peanut butter. It's a dark brownish black color. This is a very weird consistency, and to be honest, I don't think I'd every get it again. It's very odd, and confusing.

You can purchase a 20 pack of this butter for $34.99 making this packet roughly $1.75

 

The total for this box is $6.23. It didn't even cover the $10 amount it costs. This was a terrible box in my opinion, and I'm very disappointed...compared to the last box, this was trash :( No offense to the brands or anything, but there was like, no organization to this. I don't know, I just wasn't feeling this...