Bluapple Food Preserver Review & Giveaway!

Last week I received this awesome product called the Bluapple to review for you all. It is, in short, a device used to preserve fruit and produce longer! I don't know about you guys, but fruit and vegetables don't last very long here before getting wilted, rotted, and molded. It's a shame, especially since we have a garden that grows both! Sometimes you get more than you can handle. Of course, you could always freeze your items, but then you risk them getting freezer burn, or taking up too much space that you can't put your meat, ice cream, ice cube trays, ect. inside! I've tried vacuum sealing bags, and found they don't work at all. I just needed something that allowed us to keep our hard earned veggies and fruits fresh and solid, not slimy and rotted. That's when I came across the Bluapple. It's a unique, plastic blue apple that absorbs the ethylene gases that accelerate a produce/fruit's ripening, leading to rotting of the fruit that you just purchased 3 days ago. Bluapple absorbs those gases, and helps slow the maturation of fruits and vegetables. This is the same technology used on ships, in warehouses, and in trucks for years now. This is how you're able to get fresh fruits and produce in your local grocery store even after them enduring a long truck over to the store they're in now. Except it's been modified to be used in your house! Not only does this thing help save you money and product, it's also organic, non-toxic and recyclable! So what does this little device look like?

These cute apple look alikes are small and easy to hide. You can even use them in a fruit bowl! For those curious about how the absorbtion of ethylene gas works, I'm going to explain a little further courtesy of the wonderful people from Bluapple! Ethylene gas may sound like a toxic chemical, but it is actually harmless (except to your food!), odorless and colorless gas that is produced from natural and man-made sources. There are several ways to remove the gas from produce storage areas such as oxidizing it with sodium permanganate (which is used in drinking water and air treatment systems). The reaction between Ethylene and Sodium Permanganate oxidizes the gas away and decreases the sodium permanganate away as well. The amount of the Sodium Perm (which is in the packet inside the bluapple) will typically last at least 3 months in refrigerators and dry storage areas. After those 3 months are up, the packet should be replaced with another, which can be purchased online or in store. You can reuse the Sodium Perm by sprinkling it onto plants and flowers in and around your house. It is a natural soil!

I decided to do a little experiment to determine if this device actually worked. My grandparents' neighbor has a nice Mirabelle Plum Tree (at least that's what we think it is), and gave us a huge bag of them, just in time for my experiment! I took 2 of the plums, washed them off, and took pictures of them.

The one on the left later went into the refrigerator with one of two Bluapple's I received, while the one on the right stayed out on the counter with nothing but the good ol' fresh air. I waited a week (which ended up being a little less, but I'll get to that further on). The guide said that fruits and vegetables should be kept at room temperature, because refrigerators cause a stunt in ripening basically. I realized this while I was doing the experiment, but didn't have an area to actually separate the two so that one was with the Bluapple and the other was alone.

This is 6 days later. As you can see, the one on the left, that had the Bluapple is still almost the same as it was on the first day of the experiment. The feeling was the exact same, and it was in perfect enough condition that I ate it! The second one, that was on the counter, actually split open when I squeezed it just a little bit. You can see it was oozing out the juices. You can also see how dark and translucent it also became. I ended up having to cut this experiment a day short because we were getting massive amounts of fruit flies from this plum being left out. I was honestly so shocked to see how much this one little blue device worked! I immediately put the other one in our drawer that has our fresh, home grown zucchini and squash!  Now we'll be able to keep them longer than we would have. I'm so shocked that these last 3 MONTHS too! I think this is a MUST HAVE in any house!

A two pack of these Bluapples can be purchased online for $9.95! If you'd rather purchase in-store, they are sold at Bed Bath & Beyond as well! You can also purchase a 12 Month Supply of refills for $9.95 online too! That is an amazing deal because you will be saving a boat load of money not having to throw your food out!

Now here's the best part of me reviewing this for you guys! Bluapple wants to give 3 of my loyal readers, a Two-Pack to try for yourself! That's right, 3 PEOPLE will EACH win a Two-Pack like I received! I'm telling you all, once you try this, you'll be hooked! To enter to win, click the link below!

Entry-Form

Big shoutout to Jessica over at Bluapple for sending this out for review, and generously doing this giveaway for my readers!

Court Yard Hounds-Amelita CD Review!

I recently received a CD in the mail from One2One Network of the new Court Yard Hounds CD entitled Amelita! For those who don't know. Court Yard Hounds is a band made of the 2 sisters of the Dixie Chicks. I don't know about you, but I enjoyed the Dixie Chicks music growing up, with my favorite song being Traveling Solider. If you've never listened to it, please click here! I used to make my bestfriend sing it to me :) Martie Maguire and younger sister Emily Robison set off to start their own band in 2009 after being on hiatus with the Dixie Chicks since 2008. The two sisters wanted to get back into the studio, but the 3rd DC (Natalie Maines) didn't want to just yet, so the 2 sisters decided to go in an make some music which lead to their first Self-Titled Studio Album. Fast forward to 2013, and they released their second studio album, Amelita. Containing 11 new tracks, Robison and Maguire took a different approach with Amelita than their debut album in 2010. This album contains a new perspective, which is due in part to time passed since Robison’s divorce. “I’ve been freed of all of those time-heals-everything kind of things,” says Robison. “Now, I’ve opened up to other ideas and ways of looking at life and the world. I think it’s not only a more hopeful album, but it’s more… well fun." The Court Yard Hounds’ new album is a clear statement of who the girls are as artists, defining their sound as a band, with soaring songs that are personal, yet familiar and widely relatable.



 

I've never been a huge country music fan. I like the pop country genre more than the regular (Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood ect.) and this CD falls right into that. While being a Country album, you can still hear the poppish undertones that I enjoy very much. While listening to this CD, a few songs stood out to me. One being track 7. Phoebe. I will let you all know what the song is about below :)

I also really loved the coloring of the CD and booklet! I'm in the process of redoing my room, and these are the colors it will be! Aqua, and a peachy orange color! :)

The booklet is very stylish, but also modern and simple. I love that they included all of the lyrics of the songs in it!

Now I'm going to get onto what I thought of each song! I did listen to all songs thoroughly to get an honest opinion of each one.

The first song is:

1. Sunshine- This song has beautiful upbeat music! I really think putting this song as the first on the Album was very smart, because it hooked me into the rest of the CD. I immediately was interested, so it was a great first impression. It honestly reminds me of Taylor Swift a lot. This could be a hit or miss for someone. Personally, it's a plus for me as I love her. The music, lyrics, singing all sounds like something she would do. I think it's very sassy in a way, like with this lyrics:

"...You like the drama and attention, God forbid we bring you down"

There are many other examples in this song, but you'll have to listen to it for yourself ;)

2. Amelita- This is the CD titled song. It reminds me of the 70's. Very psychedelic sounding. It reminds me a lot of the Partridge Family, which may or may not be weird. It's actually very catchy. It almost sounds folkish. I really like it! My favorite lyric is:

"I take your hand let's go tonight/Just leave it all, I promise you'll be fine"

It's a very cute song if listened to in whole. I really enjoyed it.

3. The World Smiles- For me, I loved that the song feels light. It's a way I can't really explain. It's very beautiful and is very...high. This is one of the things I know what I'm talking about in my head, but I can't get it out in words. It sounds like it should be a song from a movie, either that or a commercial. It's a great summery song. I really REALLY liked this song. My favorite line:

"A Little Baby/What's she gonna be?/She may hold all the answers/Wait and see"

4. Aimless Upward- This is a very unique song. It's almost told in the point of view as a plant. Did I really just say plant? Yes...I did. It's almost a metaphor for life...is it metaphor? I don't know. It's such a cool song though. It's very uplifting. My favorite line:

"It's a gift to see the stormy skies/But too much rain and the waters rise/I've got steady hands when my roots are deep/We are seeds with promises to keep"

5. A Guy Like You- This is one of my favorite songs. This song has a slow twist to it. It's so good, but to understand you'd have to hear it for yourself. Sounds like a song that's part of a musical (such as Rock of Ages, how they have various musical numbers). It again, sounds 70ish to me...which may or may not be correct. I believe it's sung by Martie and not Emily, which is good for me. I'm not too crazy about Emily's voice, but I'll explain that later. I actually don't really have a favorite line or lyric for this song, I like it all the same!

6. Rock All Night- This is such an upbeat song that is very summer like! It would be awesome to see in concert. It's a great love song without being slow and sappy! I love that about it. My favorite lyric:

"We'll do anything just to feel alive/Life is like a Himalaya ride/Gonna rock all night"

7. Phoebe- This is probably my favorite song from the CD. Some of you may not know this, but I live in Massachusetts, and a couple years back, a young girl who moved here from Ireland killed her self due to bullying. She is basically what started the media whirlwind about children committing suicide, and children being bullied. Of course, I'm one of the few kids (well...adults now I guess) that will confront bullying if I see it happen. I've been like this since highschool. I'm not going to say I never bullied anyone, everyone has at some point in their life, but I took a moment to step back and realize that I was doing something wrong, even if I didn't think of it that way. (I was known as a class clown, so I fooled around a lot with people, sometimes I guess it could have been considered bullying, but at the time I thought it was just joking.) I've stuck up for people my whole life, so this song has a strong meaning to me. I would like to write down the entire song for you all, because it's very dear. It gave me both goosebumps and tears in my eyes when I was listening to it. It's such a good song, with a very good message. The one thing that confused me was why it was so upbeat, music wise. I would have expected it to be slower. Here is the song:

"My daddy said
Keep a cool head
Don't let those pretty boys own you
Don't let them into your bed

Everyone knows
How the river of talk does flow
They'll make you weep
And you'll reap what they sew

The golden rule
You'll never learn in school
Boys can be mean
But girls can be downright cruel

You're gonna make 'em pay, you're gonna make 'em pay
You'll have the last word today


Your daddy said
Walk away instead
Don't let those pretty girls throw you
Don't let them in your head

A small town spell
Your living hell
It's a story we've all heard before
But you won't live to tell

You're gonna make 'em pay, you're gonna make 'em pay
You've had the last word today

Back from school you walk alone
Empty street and no one's home
They weaved their stories, spread their lies
Give up the fight but keep your pride

No dances on a starry night
Prom dresses in red and black
It ain't right, it ain't right"

This made me tear up just writing it. I truly wish no one had to go through the pain of bullying. While I've never been bullied myself, I know the pain is unbearable which is why I tried and helped when I could. It's a shame that someone has to feel that they need to take their life to stop the abuse. I would just like to say R.I.P. to Phoebe and all of the kids who have taken their lives. I know 2 people personally that have done it, and it's not fair.

8. Divided- This song isn't really my favorite. It's okay, but nothing spectacular. Maybe this is because I've never had to divorce so I don't connect with it, but it's just not for me.

9. Gets You Down- In the chorus of this song, Martie sings a ridiculously beautiful high note! I literally got mega goosebumps! It's one of the prettiest sounds I've EVER heard in my life! I really like this song. It's very beautiful. My favorite lyric:

"Are you gonna stick your head in the sand?/Are you gonna turn and run, just like that?/ Are you gonna make a fall or stand today?"

10. Watch Your Step- This is also one of my favorite songs! This is not only clever, but extremely badass! I love the fire in her voice with this song. My favorite line:

"'Cause I'm a trip wire, make you walk on fire/Balance on the bridge/Who knew I'd sneak up on you/And push you off the ledge"

That's all that needs to be said... :)

11. The Road You Take- This is a very truthful, beautiful song. The way it is played, and the way it is sung is so pretty. The lyrics make the song whole though. My favorite line:

"Lines and gravity it's the price we pay to be here in the end/And we all live with our mistakes/Times of clarity, I see the bones we break aren't always gonna mend/But no apology's too late"

I love the last one personally...I always say that no apology is late, you can always apologize for something you have done. Some may not accept it, some may...it really depends on the situation. I had someone steal something from me a few years ago, they caught her red-handed, using her real name and everything, and she still won't admit it to this day which makes me have hatred for her. But I've said over and over again, all she needs to do is apologize and admit her wrongdoings and I will move past it and not hold a grudge. As of today, she still won't mention a word about it, and when a mutual friend saw her, she still denied it. I'm one to most of the time forgive, even if I don't forget.

Overall, I think the majority of the songs on this album are very good! I think that I would have rather enjoyed Martie's voice as lead vocal over Emily. I know that sounds mean, but Emily has a very soft spoken, almost flat voice that is perfect for harmonies ect. I don't think it's necessarily strong enough to be lead vocal in a band. That being said, some of the songs she did in fact pull off, like Sunshine and Amelita. I do wish Martie was highlighted more in the album though. The songs all have a similar tone to them, and I'm not sure if it's the instruments used, or Emily's voice. I really don't think that this album is something spectacular or special. I'm not trying to be mean at all, I'm just being honest. This could be because I really am not a country fan. I was happy to be introduced to songs like Phoebe and Gets You Down, because I wouldn't have heard them otherwise. If you are a country fan, and enjoyed the Dixie Chicks, I highly suggest picking this album up. You may have a different appreciation than I do for this type of music. I did really enjoy being introduced to new music though!

If interested in purchasing this album, you can get it from Amazon HERE for $11.88, or iTunes. You can also find this CD in stores for around the same price. I recently saw this at Tractor Supply for $11.99

If interested in following Court Yard Hounds on social media:

CYH Facebook

CYH Twitter

Emily Robison's Twitter

Martie Maguire's Twitter

Big shoutout to both Court Yard Hounds and One2One Network for letting me listen and review the new CD! :)

*I participated in this campaign for One2One Network. I received a free copy of the CD to facilitate my review. By posting, I am eligible for incentives. All opinions stated are my own.

 

 

Stunner of the Month July 2013 Unboxing & Review!

A couple weeks ago, I received the Stunner of the Month box I ordered for July! I was so excited to see there was a sunglasses box, as I'm an avid lover of them! I even have a pair of white wayfarer glasses with the Gulf oil logo all over them that I won at a Rascal Flatts concert this summer! For those of you who don't know, Stunner of the Month, as I stated above, is a new subscription box for SUNGLASSES! I love my sunglasses, so this is a box that's well worth it to me! For $9 a month (FREE shipping!), you get a nice pair of sunglasses sent to your door without stepping foot out of your house! (Of course, only to get the mail). You can sign up for Female, Unisex or Male sunglasses! This month I, for some reason, went with Unisex.

Here is the front of my box! This is so cute. I love the summer theme :)

Here is my box! It came with a super handy Sunglasses Repair tool that has a nut option on the end, and both a flat and Philips head screwdriver inside (the ends screw off). It also came with an awesome bag to protect your glasses, a business card, a detail card, and a super cool bumper sticker which is actually placed on my review book right now!

Here is the cute little tool! I've been looking everywhere for one of these, because I have a pair of blue wayfarer glasses that have been broken for a good 2 years now (they were my favorite) so I used this to fix them! I love that it comes with a key ring as well.

 

Here is a closeup of the sticker. I got this one, I'm assuming because of the Fourth of July (Duh Mishelle, ya think?). I saw that some boxes varied. I was very happy with this one :)

Here is my bag close up! The glasses are inside, shielded from all of you so you can't see them! Well...until you scroll down to the bottom of the post... :) I love the high quality of this bag, and carry it with me where ever I go! The logo on it is super cute too! It's made of the cloth like material that you use to wipe smudges off of lenses, phones, ect.

Here is the information card, and the business card! I love that it comes with a business card. This will be going into my card pile! The info card says:

"The Blades: Forged in the untamed fires of the underworld and tempered in pure Antarctic ice, these stunners are the most powerful weapon against supernatural forces known in the Universe. Heads will roll and spirits will disperse at the merest glance. Don't lose them! Collection: Arms; Level: Mezzanine"

And of course, here are the shades themselves! How cool are these!? I literally gasped when I saw them! I love the aviator look, with the rose gold touch! They're beautiful for any one to wear. The one problem I had is that, on the right lens, if you look towards the bottom, you can see that it's shattered almost. They came like this in the box :( It almost looked as if it was glue separating from the frame (But I don't even think those are how sunglasses are made...) and it also did it on the left side toward the arms of the glasses, but I didn't see it until after the picture was taken. I did contact customer service, and they're sending a new pair out to me. Talk about great customer service!

Here you can see the rose gold color better. I love the little rubber bumpers on the arms as well so they don't hurt your face as much and stay in place better! While these glasses aren't 100% high quality, I really enjoy them! I think these are PERFECT to change your style up a little if you're used to wearing the same pair of glasses. For me, it's wayfarer, and honestly, it's time for me to switch it up. I've never had aviators and I love them! My sister saw them and was like "AW CAN I HAVE THEM?!" and I told her, no, you have to wait for Christmas :) (Side Note: My sister and I aren't good at keeping presents secrets...so I did tell her one of her presents was going to be a 3 month subscription to this site...woops!)

In all, I really like this subscription box, and I'm looking forward to getting next month's box! (Not August unfortunately...) I think that for $9 with free shipping, you really can't go wrong. It's a great way to build your sunglasses collection, which of course can be used all year long! Did I mention that you can skip a month too? That's always good in my book, I love being given the opportunity to skip a month or two if you have enough glasses or not enough money!

If you'd like to sign up for Stunner of the Month, you can click here and if you could, please type in Mishelle Fuller for the "Who did you hear about us from" at the end of the sign up page! Thank you so much, and I hope you all enjoy :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Woolzies Dryer Ball Review!

Recently I was sent a package from the nice folks over at Woolzies that included a box of 6 XL balls to review for you all! Woolzies are, in a simple way, AMAZING. They are 100% Pure New Zealand Wool Dryer Balls! These Dryer Balls are literally the best things I've ever seen or used! These were a GREAT alternative to the plastic dryer balls we've been using because these balls are a NATURAL fabric softener! That means no more liquid fabric softener! The minute I got these bad boys, I put them to the test with a load of my laundry! I did receive these about a week ago, but I wanted to thoroughly test them out so I could get a valid, strong opinion on them for you all.

This is the box to the Woolzies! I love how simple, yet beautiful it is. I think it looks very retro! I'm a sucker for packaging :) As you can see on the box, these Dryer Balls are guaranteed to last for at least 1,000 loads! That's CRAZY! We do an average of 2-3 loads per day (depending on who is washing their clothes) so this should last us about a year! That's already saving us money! And keyword, it said "at least" So that means they could last longer! As I said above, these balls are a natural fabric softener. I love that it all comes in one single ball, and that you don't have to have separate items for drying/softening (I.e Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets). These balls also reduce drying time by 25% in larger loads, and more in smaller ones! To be honest, I'm really not sure about this aspect. We usually just set our dryer to the slot it's always on, which isn't really timed, and whenever it's done, it's done. We don't really keep track of that, but I believe these would actually cut down drying time just because of the wool itself.

I have pretty big hands, and this is a photo to show just how large these actually are! They're nice and plump, and are very high quality.  According to the website, these wool balls are also handmade! As a fellow crafter, I find that great. I love when things are handmade and not made by a machine or robot! There are so many pluses to these wool balls. They contain NO chemicals, instead they soften laundry fibers with gentle friction. After doing a test load, both me and my mom were surprised with the results! The clothes felt SO much softer, and were very comfortable. I was very amazed!



Here are 3 of 6 balls in our clothing in the dryer! The other 3 are already hidden among clothing. (See the Spiderman pants? Those are mine...yes, I'm a 20 year old girl and I have Spiderman pajamas ;)). These balls really rock. They help eliminate wrinkles AND reduce static! But the thing that happens to be my FAVORITE touch about these wool balls? They're noise free. If there is one noise in the world I hate a lot, it's the sound of those pesky little plastic/rubber dryer balls banging around in a dryer drum, that echoes throughout the house! I get headaches SO fast when I hear that noise, and now I don't have to suffer.

Here is one of 4 plastic dryer balls we have. This one USED to be completely yellow...now it's not. These things SUCK, but my mom swears by them. Now she likes the wool ones better. That's good for the environment AND my ears :) Not only are these loud, but they break apart. At one point we were using 2 blue ones that had cracked in half! What good is that? Not only are the plastic balls annoying, they also are one of the most poisonous plastics on the Earth, and when heated up can emit the dangerous materials inside. (Yes, I did some research on this.) So, I'm happy to say I think we've converted completely to Woolzies XL Dryer Balls! One last thing that is awesome is that these balls are safe for people with wool sensitivities, and are also hypoallergenic!



The box also came with this cute FAQ's card inside. I will be reciting the above for you below.

"What are Woolzies and how do they benefit me and the environment?

Regular fabric softeners, both in liquid and sheet form contain numerous harsh chemicals which are toxic to the environment and even more dangerous to many people who have serious allergic reactions to them. The elderly, ailing and small children can suffer from a variety of negative symptoms which are really just allergic reactions to the harsh chemicals contained in these commercial fabric softening products. Additionally, because Woolzies bounce around in your dryer, they naturally separate and create space between your laundry, thereby allowing the hot dryer air to circulate better and subsequently cutting down on drying time by about 25%-30%. This of course saves both time and money for you and energy for the environment. These 6 Woolzies dryer balls are enough for a small, medium or large load. If you are drying an extra large load, we recommend using 8 dryer balls.

How long will my Woolzies last?
Woolzies are guaranteed to last for at least 1,000 loads.

If I have an allergy to wool, can I still use Woolzies?
Yes! Absolutely! Since the wool is not directly touching your skin and does not shed, everyone can use Woolzies without any allergic reactions.

Why do the dryer balls seem to each vary slightly in size, shape and texture?
Our dryer balls are completely handmade. They are not mass produced by machine. Therefore, you will notice variations in size, color and texture.

Why are Woolzies better than rubber/plastic/tennis balls in the dryer?
Rubber and plastic balls are made from harsh chemicals including PVC's which are released onto your laundry by the hot dryer air. Not only are these types of dryer balls dangerous to your health, they are toxic to the environment as well. Additionally, the harsh tumbling action of rubber, plastic and tennis balls can damage your dryer's sensitive electronic sensors. Finally, some of these types of balls may even melt slightly and cause fabric staining."

There is also a "Did you know?" section on the back:

"1. Most commercial dryer liquids and sheets contain chemicals that destroy the fire retardant qualities in children's and adult's clothing and reduce the absorbancy of towels!
2. You can reduce static cling even more by simply rolling up a piece of plain kitchen aluminum foil into the size of one of the Woolzies balls and placing it in the dryer together with the 6 Woolzies dryer balls.
3. The Secret to Heavenly Scented Laundry:
After the laundry is completely dried, take out 2 of the Woolzies balls and apply desired amount of pure essential oil to each ball. Toss the 2 back into the dryer with the other 4 and run on Air Fluff (no heat) for 10 minutes. Your laundry will smell heavenly AND the scent will linger for several days! "

So in recap, these balls:

• Soften Naturally


• Reduce drying time by 25%


• Reduce static


• Eliminates Wrinkles


• Are Chemical Free


• Are Safe for people with Wool Sensitivites


• Are Hypoallergenic


• Are Handmade from Fine New Zealand Wool


• Saves Energy


• Are Noise Free

Why have you not bought these miracle workers? I'm in love with these balls, and will be a customer for years ahead. These would be a GREAT gift for loved ones and friends (especially those with kids!) that could keep on giving by letting THEM save money! It's a win-win.

These 6 Ct. Boxes are priced at $34.95 and can be purchased on their website.

A Big thank you to Woolzies for sending these out to me! You've gained a new customer :)

http://www.woolzies.com/

*I did receive this product for review purposes. This did not persuade me into writing a good review. I really loved these, and know my fellow readers will too.

Happy Dog Box Starter Box July 2013 Unboxing & Review!

A few weeks ago, I received my Happy Dog Box that I bought for $5. I actually purchased this in June, but didn't get it until the end of July. I was told it was because it was too late to receive the June box, which didn't really make sense considering it's the same exact box that was shipped in June, which is why I've labeled it the "Starter Box". Happy Dog Box is a monthly subscription in which you pay $30 (I think, the website is a little sketchy when it comes to pricing.) and you get a box of treats and toys delivered directly to your house. I have 2 dogs, a 5 year old Weimaraner, and a 5 year old Chihuahua. We just got my Chihuahua, so I tailored the box to her needs (Tiny, 7 Lbs.) and not my other dog (gigantic 200+ Lbs.) because he has enough stuff already. Well...let's just say, when I got my box, nothing matched up to the size I put. (0-10 Lbs). So that was already strike one, but the next strikes actually came with the products itself.

This was my box! Very cute display, with a little hay on the bottom. Presentation was very nice.

The first item was this Poop Bag container from Earth Rated. This was actually my favorite item out of the whole box. I was literally about to buy one from Ocean State Job Lot the same day I received this. I love that they included these. The dispenser carries 15 Lavender Scented poop bags to easily clean up after your pup. The dispenser also has a clip on the back of it so you can just clip the used poop bag on the back and don't need to carry it around! From the card:

"Earth Rated PoopBags were created to help care for the environment and to make picking up poop a little more fun- all while keeping your pocketbook happy. These high quality bags are so long, strong, and even have a lavender scent. With PoopBags, you're not only caring for the planet, you're enjoying the pick up too!"

This is frequently used because my little dog, naturally, takes little poops, so it's easier to pick it up then my big one! The bags are extra long so you never have to make contact with the poop! Awesome! The real cool thing is that these bags are compostable, because they're corn based! Perfect for the eco-friendly user :)

You can purchase this from Republic of Paws for $2.99 

The next product was a Monster Mouth from Jolly Pets. This 100% Natural Rubber toy is vanilla scented. I personally didn't smell the vanilla...This is a treat hiding toy that actually makes your dogs think about getting a treat. This helps clean teeth and gums.

"Jolly Pets Monster Mouth The monster mouth treat dispensing dog toy is great for keeping your dog's mouth healthy and encouraging brain activity. This fun chew toy is perfect for hiding a healthy treat and is designed to massage gums, while helping to keep teeth clean. Designed for unpredictable bouncing, it is sure to have dogs on their toes."

While I think this is cool, I clearly checked off the Tiny Dog button, which was 10 Lbs and under...this toy says "3" Size for Medium to Large Dogs". I couldn't even use this with my little girl, it was way too big for her. The second unfortunate thing is that my other dog is a big dope. He honestly didn't even know what this was, and after not being able to get the treat out, he simply walked away. Maybe I will try it with him again in the future, but for now it's just sitting in his toybox. I have actually seen these sold at my local Tractor Supply Company, so it's cool to see it in the box, but for my dogs, it doesn't serve a purpose.

You can purchase these from Tractor Supply for $10.99 

Up next is a Long Curly Bully Stick from BarkWorthies. This is, basically, a Bull's "Pizzle" as they like to put it...gross! I wasn't too excited about this considering I actually just read a story last month about Bully Sticks having an insane amount of bacteria in them, and it can cause a dog to become very sick, potentially even die. These are, of course, all natural and they encourage healthy chewing. Also, on the tag, it literally says "Not for Human Consumption".  Well boy am I glad! I wanted to eat the pizzle myself...NOT. Who would even think of that? Anyways, it claims that it is awesome for maintaining oral health and fresh breath (how in the world does that work?). I love that these are 100% digestible, unlike their enemies the "Rawhide" family. From the card:

"BarkWorthies offers premium quality, all-natural dog treats and chews that provide a healthy, eco-friendly alternative to low quality ingredients and chemical additives so often found in many of today's treats and chews. Barkworthies products are 100% digestible, and use free range, grass fed cattle- qualities that are sure to keep your pup happy and your mind at ease."

I broke the pizzle in half, and kept the littler half for my Chi, and the bigger half for my Weim. Neither of them wanted anything to do with it. My bigger dog eats almost anything that is handed to him, and he literally walked away from it the first time. Now of course, as I'm writing this, I gave him his half, and he's going to call me a liar because he's sitting here nibbling on it. Well...that just turned out for the better, because I was upset that neither dog even touched it. :) Thanks to live blogging, I just changed my mind about the product. I'm so happy right now that he's actually chomping away on his! I really was disappointed in it though because I had bought this box for my Chi, and that was WAY too big for her...

You can purchase these by the case, which contains 25 pieces, on BarkWorthies website for $157.50, making 1 $6.30! I really don't think I'd ever spend that much on this, and I'm sure I can find other Bully Sticks around for cheap.



 

The next product is a cute bag of treats from Woofables Gourmet Dog Bakery. It was a nice little mixed bag of different kinds of dog treats. It included Veggie Carrots, Cheese Its, and Quacker Treats.

Veggie Carrots, Quacker Treats, and Cheese Its.

These are Wheat Free biscuits that are made totally from scratch using healthy ingredients! I thought these were so cute. When my parents owned their bakery, I used to make dog treats and they were a hit! I loved doing it (and actually recently made my pups some). These are true, homemade treats. From the card:

"Woofables handmade biscuits are a dog's delight! These crunchy treats are as healthy as they are tasty. All of Woofables dog biscuits contain healthy, all-natural ingredients with no preservatives or additives. Each biscuit is cut by hand, with care. Tons of flavors are available, including wheat-free options."

They put out a TON of cute items, including decorated and frosted cookies, dog food, cat food, and cat treats as well. My dogs unfortunately didn't go for these. They both sniffed and walked the other way. My little dog is definitely picky, but my big dog usually is not. It is sad, because these are so cute! I might try them again with my big dog later tonight (considering he proved me wrong with the Bully Stick that is now in his belly). If he doesn't like these, then I will pass them on to my mom's client's dog :)

You can purchase a "Dog Pound" of treats for $10.99. This is most likely a half pound, so the price is about $5.50 

Next is a 1.76 Oz package of Beef Puffs from Jump Your Bones. These are made with 100% Uniquely Dehydrated Australian Beef and, of course, are made in Australia and imported to Florida! How cool! I've always wanted to go there :) They are 100% natural and have the same enzyme and nutritional value as fresh beef. These puffs have no preservatives, no flavoring, no MSG, no coloring, no added salt, no added sugar, no binding agents, have no soy product and are also gluten free! From the card:

"Offering the discriminating dog owner the best in pet treats, Jump Your Bones starts with the finest pasture-raised meats and use a exclusive low temperature, low humidity dehydration process. Bad fats are eliminated and all the aroma, flavor, protein, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and healthier fats are retained. The final result- some of the tastiest, most nutritious pet treats available today."

I really thought these were neat and thought they'd be a huge hit with my dogs! Boy was I wrong. Neither wanted anything to do with them. I was so excited for them too. They were way too big for my Chi, and hard to break in half. Definitely not for "Small" dogs. The funny thing is that one of my 8 cats actually LOVES them! She immediately chomps them, and is left begging for more. I thought it was so funny! This company is very unique, they sell a lot of different varieties including Lamb Puffs, Green Lipped Mussel Puffs, Loin of Albacore Puffs, and even, get this, KANGAROO PUFFS! Seriously! How neat is that? I will be trying these with my bigger dog again, so I can see if he really doesn't like them. If not, I will split half of the bag between my cat and my mom's client's dog.

You can purchase this bag on their website for $4.29

Lastly is a 5 oz bag of Dynamo Dog Hip & Joint treats from Cloud Star in Chicken. These are grain free, and are used as a daily support of healthy joint function. They are free from corn, wheat and soy and have no artificial colors, flavors or byproducts. These are a good way of giving your dogs the support they need but in treat form, not pill form. From the card:

"Dogs, like people, benefit from daily vitamins too. That's why CloudStar developed Dynamo Dog Functional Treats Hip & Joint formula. Now there is a fun and delicious way to help supports your dog's specific needs. Dynamo Dog Treats are grain free, gluten free, and are always made in the USA with the freshest ingredients."

I wish I would have had these when my old dog, Maggie, was alive. She recently passed (June 2nd 2013) but had very bad hip problems. We used to give her Glucosamine for her joints and it worked miracles. Honestly, some days my mom wouldn't give it to her, thinking she was doing okay, and I would see it and say "Mom, you didn't give Maggie her medicine did you?" because you honestly could notice the difference. I love that it gave her the ability to walk somewhat normally. She would have LOVED the treats. As for my other dogs, they don't want anything to do with them, once again. I'm actually disappointed because on the back it says "Dog Weight 10-26 Lbs" but that's the only size they start with. I might not be able to give them to my Chi, since she is a good amount under 10 in dog pounds. And as for my big dog, he'd need 3 of these a day! I will try them again with him, but if he doesn't like them, I will be passing them on :)

You can purchase this bag on their website for $6.95 

TOTAL: $37.02 

This box wasn't even the guaranteed $42 that the box was supposedly worth, which is very disappointing. Most items I pulled the price off of the official website. The only one I didn't was the Poop Bags, and there is no way that is actually $8.00. I thought the box, as a whole, was very good. But I feel that it was very misleading as well. None of the items in my box (sans poop bags) actually was for a "Small" Dog. I had wrote to them, to let them know this, and they just told me that they were starting to tailor the boxes more, and to please give them another chance. Unfortunately, I don't think I'd like to spend $30 to give another chance with the chance of getting another box that gives nothing my little girl can even use. While I only paid $5 for the box, I still am both pleased and disappointed. I'm glad to know I have other pups in my life that may enjoy the treats that my dogs pass up. The poop bags alone, (even if they are only $2.99) was worth it for the whole box. I would have paid more than that at the store buying one. I don't think, right now, I will give them another chance. Maybe once a few more boxes come out, I can see how far they've come and make a decision then.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quick Update!

Hi! I know I haven't posted in a while, but I've been busy! I have a ton of reviews, and some giveaways coming up though! To the companies working with me, sorry it's been a little while. I've been enrolled into a drug study for IBS and have been busy going back and forth an hour away, so it's taken a toll. Today I went for a ride to Maine with my grandparents, and tomorrow it's back to work :) Thank you all for reading this and understanding! :)

Bulu Box & Bulu Weightloss July 2013 Unboxings & Reviews!

I will be posting the Original Bulu Box and Bulu Box Weightloss in one blog instead of multiple  This is of the July 2013 boxes!

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 also 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.

I will be reviewing and unboxing the Original Bulu first!

Here is the overall preview of my box.

The first item in the box is this $30 "Free Gift" to Daily Burn. Now, I put this in parenthesis, because this is basically free for anyone to use. All you have to do is go to dailyburn.com/bulu. There is no codes or anything, so it's not really a special gift. This supposedly allows you to burn fat anywhere at anytime with apps and videos you can download onto your MP3, Phone or tablet. From the card:

"Daily Burn: Daily Burn allows you to burn fat anywhere by giving you access to an enormous library of workouts spanning all areas of fitness. The best part? The videos are accessible on any device and anywhere you have internet connection."

The "Free Gift" was 30 days free, and $20 to spend on nutritional supplements. I went to sign up, and you had to give payment details (i.e. your credit card). I was a little disappointed because I have one card, a Jingit card, and it says they "do not accept debit cards". Well...then I guess you don't accept my business either, because that's all I have. This was a very dumb product to put in the box. I'm also wondering if you'd have to spend your OWN money for the "$20".

I'm not even counting this towards the total of my box...

The next item is a little 2 tablet sample packet of Acid by Erba Vita.  These tablets are supposed to support a healthy pH of the stomach. It contains all natural ingredients that soothe and promote healthy neutralizing of acids in the stomach. It contains coral calcium carbonate, licorice extract, green clay and chamomile. It is GMO-Free, Gluten Free, has no artificial colors, no preservatives, no dairy, no lactose, no soy, fish/shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, or yeast! From the card:

"Erba Vita Acid: A balanced pH creates a health balance within your digestive system to maximize your metabolism and keep your body happy and regular. Create a feeling of whole body wellness by keeping your digestive system in check."

I haven't tried this product yet, but I'm very interested. I have terrible stomach problems due to IBS, and I'm always suffering even when I feel "good". I'm wondering if this really does work, but it stinks they didn't give a couple packets considering you need 2 each dosage...

Bulu Box screwed up somewhere, because the card said that it's $15.59 for 30 pills, yet their website says $22.49 for 30... I'm going to go with the card and say these pills are $0.52 a piece, making it $1.04 altogether.

Next were two Performance Energy Blends from PowerBar. 1 was in Apple Mango Strawberry, the other was Banana Blueberry. These easy to eat packages give fast energy to muscles and are made with real fruit! They are gluten free, and have no artificial flavors or colors. From the card:

"PowerBar Performance Energy Blends: Fuel your body before, during and after exercise with natural ingredients like bananas and blueberries. Energy blends make the perfect on-the-go boost for the endurance athlete in you."

My niece and I absolutely LOVED these! They were so easy to eat, and tasted really good. I thought the banana one tasted like baby food, which is always good. We ate them warm, but I feel that they'd be better chilled. I love that you can just take the packet and go, no need for spoons or straws. I also love it has a resealable cap on it! I actually had 300 Bulu Points to spend, so I bought a 6 pack of the Banana Blueberry ones.

Again, Bulu screwed up, the card says $13.59 for 6 servings, website is $14.59 for 6...I'm going with the website considering that's how much I had to pay. That makes each of these $2.43 and a total of $4.86 

Next is a single serving packed of Ripped Cream in Lean Vanilla Bean. This is an all natural, Gluten Free Protein coffee creamer. From the card:

"Ripped Cream: Don't settle for weak coffee- make it as ripped as you are! Ripped Cream is the first ever high-protein coffee creamer packed with vitamin D3 and 11 amino acids."

I'm not a huge coffee fan, so I haven't tried this. I'll be passing it on to either my mom or dad. I do, however, enjoy the title...it's very clever :)

You can purchase a bag of 11 servings for $11.99 making the single serving $1.09 

Next is one of my favorites! It's a 2 tablet sample packet of Vivarin Caffeine Alertness Aid. This is a great sample because I've tried it before and love it! This comes with 2 tablets, as I mentioned before, which means there are two separate usages in there! Each tablet contains 200mg of caffeine. It also came with a $2.00 coupon! Awesome! From the card:

"Vivarin: Driven by caffeine, Vivarin is a safe and effective method to keep your mind and body alert and focused. Use in the mornings instead of coffee or before a workout to maximize efficiency."

As I said above, I love these things. I tried them before after getting a sample in the mail and loved it! Usually energy items don't really work on me, but these definitely do! I'm actually considering taking one right now so it will give me energy to clean the house :)

You can purchase a 40 ct. bottle on Bulu for $6.99, making each tablet $0.18, and the total $0.36 



 

Last but not least is this sample pack of Zellies Xylitol Mints and Gum. This came with a packet of 2 Cool Fruit mints, a packet of 2 Cool Mint mints, and 1 piece of Spearmint gum. All Natural Zellies are perfect for helping protect teeth after meals, drinks and snacks. Zellies can be used for fresher breath and stronger, healthier teeth. They are sweetened with 100% xylitol, have no artificial sweeteners, and are naturally sugar free. They help prevent damage from plaque, protect and strengthen teeth, and are a new way to care for your teeth. From the card:

"Zellies Xylitol Gum & Mints: Xylitol, found in Zellies Gum and Mints, rids the mouth of sticky harmful bacteria while promoting growth of tooth-protective bacteria."

The Fruit Mints are so good! They're tiny but last a while, and have a tangy taste to them. The cool mints are very strong, but good! I love the instant tingle it gives. I haven't tried the gum yet, but I'm sure I'll like it. I did end up purchasing a container of the Cool Fruit gum from Bulu with the rest of my points.

You can purchase a 100 ct. container of any of these gums for $12.50, making the single piece $0.13 You can purchase a 250 ct. bottle of Mints for $12.50, making all 4 samples $0.20 

TOTAL: $7.68 

This box wasn't anything spectacular, and didn't even reach the $10 total that box had...I guess if you wanted to add in the Daily Burn, but I didn't because I couldn't use it .

Next was the Weightloss box.

I got all of the same items except two.

One of the different items I received was a 4 energy tablet packet of Shortcutz by Rival-Us. These are a way to shortcut your diet and workout to get rid of weight faster. From the card:

"Rivalus Short Cutz: Give your body the very best ingredients for weight loss with Short Cutz. It contains powerful thermogenic energy, fat shrinking CLA, taurine and Dr. Oz recommended raspberry ketones. Short Cuts is also formulated with ginger root extract to aid digestion and ease stomach discomfort."

I haven't tried these out yet, but they seem interesting. The only thing I don't like is that on the back it says take 1-3 tablets, yet they give 4?

This is very expensive...you can purchase a 30 ct. container from Bulu for $56.99 making each individual pill $1.90 and a total of $7.60! That is ridiculous!

The only other different item I got was Total Soy Meal Replacement from Naturade. This is a delicious protein shake that helps lose weight and reduce cholesterol. From the card:

"Naturade Total Soy: At only 140 calories, Naturade Total Soy is the perfect meal replacement shake to help you lose weight and reduce cholesterol. High in protein and low in calories, this all natural soy protein is the best start to your day or post-workout meal."

I haven't tried this, and most likely won't as I can't stand soy. I may pass this on to my brother-in-law who usually tries anything I don't like or want to ;) He's the guinea pig.

You can purchase a 19 oz. container on Bulu for $12.99, making this $1.24 

The other items included in this box:



You can purchase a 100 ct. container of any of these gums for $12.50, making the single piece $0.13 You can purchase a 250 ct. bottle of Mints for $12.50, making all 4 samples $0.20 



You can purchase a 40 ct. bottle on Bulu for $6.99, making each tablet $0.18, and the total $0.36 



Again, Bulu screwed up, the card says $13.59 for 6 servings, website is $14.59 for 6...I'm going with the website considering that's how much I had to pay. That makes each of these $2.43 and a total of $4.86 



TOTAL: $14.03 

I always find that the Weightloss box is worth more than the normal box. I'm glad I got double samples of the PowerBar Blends, the Vivarin and the Xylitol candies though.