May 2014 - My Cotton Bunny Box

This month's My Cotton Bunny box was called "The Essence Bundle." This is my second MCB box and I just canceled so I can continue subscribing to Bonjour Jolie.  Which sells for the same monthly price of $16, but offers more items.  I'm glad I canceled because next month's item is this unusual Angel Wing Ear Cuff that I am not into. 

Here is everything in the box... I didn't order liners, I ordered something else instead, but it's okay since my Bonjour Jolie box included what I wanted. 

I was pleasantly surprised by this cute charm bracelet! From the photos on the MCB fb page I wasn't attracted to it at first.  I already have three charm bracelets and this one doesn't fit my small wrists. I am going to gift it to a friend and I think she will really like it!  

Next was Galleon Tea ... I have never heard of Galleon Tea Company. They are based out of Manhattan Beach, California.  The teas are Apricot Peach and Mango Passion and give directions for ice tea on the back of the packets.  I love teas and I have jar full of all kinds of different teas to try from my subscriptions!

It's not a terrible box but I just wish there was more items included in the monthly subscription.  Check out my My Cotton Bunny/Bonjour Jolie comparison review here! 

*I was not compensated or asked to write this review and all opinions are my own. : ) 

May 2014 ~ Hammock Pack

This was my first Hammock Pack experience and I was so delighted when I opened the box and saw the bright purple tissue and scattering of pink rose petals!  The destination for May was Florida...

Neatly tucked into white crinkle paper were all these wonderful goodies!  

Everything in the box was created by Florida companies. First up was Sun Bum SPF Lip Balm by Trust the Bum from Cocoa Beach.  I checked out their website and they support over five non-profit organizations, including Surfers for Autism and Boarding for Breast Cancer.  The next item was Florida Key Lime soap from Naples Soap Company.  I've vacationed in Naples, Florida before and I'm thrilled to support one of their local businesses!  On their website you can order sea salt scrubs, loofah soaps, bath bombs, and more! 

I did not know Rifle Paper Company was based out of Florida. Winter Park, Florida to be exact.  I was in Anthropolgie just the other day and saw their cute recipe tin boxes and market shopping list paper pads for sale. The artist hand paints the designs, which I love because I paint canvas art and now watercolors. I'm attracted to so many of their designs and could admire items on their website all day!  Some of the other items they sell are pretty botanical wrapping paper, gorgeous wedding invites, chic phone cases (I've already picked out three of my favorites!), and darling hand painted prints!  

Here is another item from Rifle Paper Company.  A printed card from a hand painted design that I gave to my grandmother for Mother's Day! 

I have gathered quite a collection of chocolate chip cookies from subscription boxes lately and these are the best so far!  These Chocolate Chip Cookies by Kelly Family Kitchen from Miami are made with ingredients without the use of dairy or nuts.  They are not a super soft cookie but more crunchy-then chewy.  My teaching partner and I enjoyed them during our last week of school! The cookies were quite yummy! 

The last item was this Happy Chocolate Bliss Nut & Chocolate Bar by Ginny Bakes also from Miami.  They make organic, gluten free, non-gmo, wheat/oat-free, kosher products.  The Ginny Bakes website as some gorgeous food photography!  Unfortunately, I don't care for nuts but I gave it to a friend and she loved it!

My first Hammock Pack was a success...5 out of 5 stars!  The next destination is Los Angeles and I cannot wait to see what that box brings! 

*I was not compensated or asked to write this review and all opinions are my own. : ) 

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Mon voisin, ma mère, mon ami....

Mon voisin, ma mère, mon ami  ...loosely translated means "my neighbor, my mother, my friend."

My mother and I always joked and made references to one of our favorite movies "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." In the movie, the parents buy a house for their daughter and new husband that is right next door to theirs. We've laughed and dreamed..and said "wouldn't it be fun if..."  Well, it did one day happen!  Last summer, my husband and I moved right next door to my mother and grandmother.  It seemed to be the perfect little starter home for us and living next door to relatives was a plus! And still is!  My mother and I have a special relationship and are the best of friends. We have that sort of Lucy/Ethel thing going on where she comes over to chat and have tea and I'll go over her house to return a dish and have dessert!  We have a perfect picket fence that divides our backyards where we often meet to trade back tupperware, borrow eggs, or send plates over  to taste test new recipes we've tried.

Just the other evening we went to the market together. She wanted to make beef soup and I wanted to make a French ham and cheese sandwich recipe that I'd been admiring on Pinterest.  We came back home, made our dishes, and traded over the fence.  We found a fresh olive tapenade at the market and I paired it with leftover Gruyère cheese and some feta over French bread.  (The bechamel sauce for the croque monsieur took me a bit longer to make!) ..then she traded me some of her beef soup. I looooove her beef soup. It is made with simple ingredients but so good that I can eat three bowls of it!  French bread goes along nicely with it too!  In her soup she uses stewed tomatoes, broth from short ribs, potatoes, celery, vermicelli noodles (boil seperatly, then add to finished soup), and carrots.

I look forward to our summer together trying out recipes! 

My Cotton Bunny vs. Bonjour Jolie

Bonjour Jolie is a monthly subscription box for your "time of the month" ..and as I've said before, there is a subscription box for everything! The company is based out of Pensacola, FL and the boxes cost $16/month + shipping.  A card appears first when you open the box. The card lists the theme, (this month's was "A Few of our Favorite Things") a brief description of items in the box, and a retail price of each item.  This months retail value is almost $30 and well worth the price I paid for it.  I also like. upon ordering your box, you can choose how many feminine pads, tampons, or liners you would like (up to 25). You can choose your brand, size, and create combo packs. 

Cute packaging of items..and as I've seen on other review the packaging will be different each month. 

In the first gift bag there was Torie and Howard Organic Hard Candies, a Cougar Mountain Gourmet Cookie, 2 Caramels for Karson, a Peach Cobbler Leccare Lollipop, and a sample of Bigelow Teas!  I was surprised by how many treats were included. I tried one of the caramels first and then immediately told my husband that he HAD to try one! The caramels are soft, chewy, sweet, and slightly salted...best caramels I have ever tasted.  I will be ordering more of those!  I'm thrilled to have received six teas! The cookie looks yummy and I'm saving it to go with a cup of tea some night this week.  The lollipop and candies are from companies I have not heard of before so that will be something new to try! I also found out that Cougar Mountain Gourmet Cookies have a cookie of the month club..that would be a fun gift idea!

In the next bag there was Starfire Creations Honeysuckle Soap (smells SO good and Honeysuckle is my favorite scent), Bonny Bubbles Body Powder, Scaredy Cat Cosmetics Eyeshadow, Advil, and Vaseline Hand Lotion.

Also, in the box there was a silk sarong imported from India and the feminine products in a discreet bag.

My Cotton Bunny was the first time of the month subscription that I subscribed to.  The box is the size of a shoe box and has cute bunny tail branding. The company is based out of Los Angeles and you can pick what brand/combo of feminine products you would like. Like Bonjour Jolie, you select when your cycle is and your box should arrive in time before your next cycle.  

The bundle is wrapped in black tissue and comes with an item list description as well.  On the MCB facebook page there are monthly special messages you can complete to receive more items in the next box.  June's box features a charm bracelet and I wrote about my favorite relaxation destination (Quebec City!) on their fb page so I should receive extra charms. I'm not in love with the bracelet myself but I have an idea of who I want to gift it to.  MCB box is $16/month.

This MCB "Spa Bundle" themed box contained the feminine products, an LA Fresh Makeup Remover Wipe and Always Radiant Wipes-to-Go, a Natural Loofah Sponge, A Loofah Soap Bar, Bart and Judy's Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies (photo below), Equal Exchange Organic Chocolate Mini (not pictured), and True Lemon - Raspberry Lemonade packet (not pictured).  The mini chocolates were good, although I wish there were more! 

Bart & Judy's Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies... hmmm.. it's a lot to boast about having THE BEST chocolate chip cookies in the world.  I was really interested in trying these..there's actually directions on how to enjoy them on the back of the package...lol. For best results, you open the package and let them breathe for a few minutes. And you can microwave them for 10 seconds for a fresh baked cookie experience.  I shared them with a few friends at work and we all agreed that although they were not the best cookies we'd ever tasted they were still a good quick chocolate fix!

So, I have one more My Cotton Bunny box to go through and I've canceled my subscription because I do not feel there is enough extra fun items in the box to suit my liking. I feel Bonjour Jolie offers more items for the money and provides nicer packaging and well that always gets me. : )  Looking forward to my next Bonjour Jolie box!

*I was not compensated or asked to write this review and all opinions are my own. : ) 

Croque Monsieur

Croque Monsieur - Bonnie Ruth's Cafe Trottoir et Patisserie

Croque Monsieur - la Madeleine Country French Cafe

Croque Monsieur has become my new favorite this season! It is a warm toasted ham and gruyere (sometimes swiss) cheese sandwich with an overlay of creamy bechamel sauce. It is usually so dense that it must be eating with a fork! As I am writing, I can almost taste it, and I'm tempted to run to the store to try making it at home tonight! I first had Croque Monsieur at Bonnie Ruth's in Texas. Along with the sandwich I had French onion soup which was delicious!  There were so many tasty things on the menu I wanted to try!  Yesterday, I had lunch at La Madeleine and I usually order the Chicken Madeleine but decided to try out the Croque Monsieur. It is usually served at la Madeliene on wheatberry bread but I asked if I could have a croissant instead.  It was delicious as well!  La Madeleine's version did not have as much sauce as Bonnie Ruth's, so I did in fact like Bonnie Ruth's better.

Here is an easy recipe to make a Croque Monsieur with Bechamel sauce ...by Elise Bauer from Simple Recipes.  I just might have to make it tonight! Delish!!

June 2014 ~ Popsugar Must Have Special Edition Summer Box!

It's here!! The Popsugar Must Have Special Edition Summer box has arrived as of this morning! I had been tracking the package for a few days now..it said this morning that it was out for delivery.  I never heard a knock or anything...I went out to check the mail and there sat the much anticipated Popsugar package plus my new Bonjour Jolie box! 

Isn't it just a bit nicer to unwrap something in delicate tissue with a sticker mantra just for you?! ; )

Tadaaaaa!!!  It was a bit heavier than the regular Popsugar box I received before. I saved the big brown box to open last!

SACHAJUAN Ocean Mist beach waves spray - $28 at Barney's/NY

I love beach waves in my hair and can't wait to try out this product from SACHAJUAN. I currently use Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray from Ulta that sells for $5.99.  It works well for me but I am excited to try something new! I will have to do a comparison of beach wave sprays this summer! 

Tarte Cheek Stain & Lipsurgence Power Pigment - $30? & $24

I had never heard of Tarte cosmetics till I saw the sneak peek for this box from Popsugar. The cheek stain has a screw on cap and then you push from the bottom of the container to release more.  It appears dark in the container but when I put it on it was much lighter and a bit shimmery.  Interesting..and certainly not as messy as a powdered blush can be.  I could not find the exact cheek stain on the Tarte website but their other cheek stains sell for around $30.  Next, is the Lipsurgence Power Pigment. You would twist the end of the tube to release more of the lip tint. I like the color, it is a dusty light shimmery pink. I will probably wear both of these this summer! 

I tried to guess what was inside..it was a bit heavy...I thought glass and I was right!  Inside the box was four City Rocks drinking glasses made by Sisters of Los Angeles.  All were in tact, none broken, and each had been wrapped in bubble wrap. 

City Rocks glasses - $45 approx.

These glasses were specially designed for Popsugar in honor of their four office locations. They arrived in bright summery colors and would be cute served on a white metal circular tray for an outdoor party.  Since they are specially made, there is no exact retail price for these. Similar glasses on the Sister's of Los Angeles website sell for $45.   

I do like that it says Popsugar on the bottom of the glasses : ) 

Eliunt Extra Virgin Olive Oil - $15 approx.

Honestly, I thought this was a hair product at first! It's not your typical olive oil bottle.  Eliunt sells olive oil from ten locations around the world!  The color of the band on the bottle represents what origin it is from which is pretty cool! There is also more info on the details and explanations of the packaging, cap, and color on their website. Mine is from the USA..I would have rather had another country but it will be fun to try it out anyways. I just finished my Oregon Olive Mill olive oil from A Kitchen Box yesterday and I have more homemade pizza recipes to try out this week..so this was a nice surprise...kind of random though.  

Soixante Neuf Jewels Vintage Inspired Horn Necklace - $155 (!!!)

I didn't know what to think when I pulled this out of the trinket pouch.  Interesting, unique, like the colors, would I wear it? ...not really....but apparently Kim Kardashian, Vanessa Hudgens, and Ashley Tisdale did. Still Italian horn necklaces (origninally worn to ward off bad omens) are not my thing..nor my style. Soixante Neuf Jewelry does make some other really pretty neclaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings. 

Samudra Blue Tropics Pouch - $60

But I do love this tropical Live Love Aloha zippered bag!  It's made out of canvas and big enough to store sunglasses, a magazine, and a pair of flip flops! It was made exclusively for Popsugar by Samudra. Samudra sells bags, totes, t-shirts, and hats.

Here is the other side of the bag..which goes really well with my new Roxy swimwear! (pictured below)  I can use the tote to store my swimsuit in my suitcase on vacation.

This was not in the Popsugar box ..but the tropical print goes well with my new Samudra bag!  I purchased this one-piece online. Roxy does make a two piece version that I found at Macy's.  I don't know what is with this summer's swimsuits..but  I could not find anything I liked in the stores!  It's like the whole world thinks every woman should wear a bikini! I really like this Roxy Sunset Strip one piece ...it has cross straps that tie so the top can be higher or lower and it has slight ruching of the material in front. 

I am glad I ordered the Popsugar Must Have Special Edition Summer Box... They sold out fast and I think I ordered the second day it was posted.  I added up all the approx. retail values of the items and it ended up totaling over $300 dollars!  The box was a birthday present and cost $100, so I am glad to see the value of items exceeded the price of the box.

My regular Popsugar Must Have box will be arriving soon for June and I can't wait to see what summery things are inside!

*I was not compensated or asked to write this review and all opinions are my own. : ) 

May 2014 - Dottiebox Review!

This is my second Dottiebox and still can't get over the attention to detail each item has!  I love the packaging, the crinkled paper stuffing, and the attention on handmade items from independent artists/crafters! 

This type of card insert comes in every box and I usually save it to read after I unbox the items so I don't spoil the surprise! 

What's this? A cute little package with a dainty tied ribbon for me? 

Thankfully I read the insert in this tiny box before I popped one of these "bon bons" in my mouth.. I mean they look just like chocolate, right? They are actually Birds and Butterflies seed truffles made of clay with seeds mixed in for planting by Garden Bon Bons!  I am terrible at growing and/or keeping plants alive... I've already let go of 20 pre-k kids' non growing potato plants, one dried up chia plant, and quite possible our class squash plant this year!  So when I opened this, as cute as it is, someone will take better care of these truffles than me!  I gifted it to my work secret sister and paired it with a couple of cute pots and a garden flag.  I think these bon bons make an adorable gift for someone with a green thumb! 

Next was mineral makeup eye shadow by Beauty Bar Baby.  I haven't tried this yet but it is a brown shimmery color and  I do wear brown shimmery eye shadow often!  The Beauty Bar Baby Etsy shop not only sells eye mineral makeup, but blush, eyeliner, lip color and more!

Lucy wants a makeover...sheesh ..she thinks everything's for her! 

This box had not one but two jewelry items! These are purple beaded earrings by Pagan Cellar Jewelry. I already have a pair almost exactly like them so I gifted them to a friend and she loved them!  It is always a treat to receive handmade jewelry!  

I was super excited about the last item! It is an Esther & Mila gold feather bracelet!  I rarely find bracelets to fit my small wrists and this one fits perfectly..plus the shop sells matching earrings!

I am already excited about my June Dottiebox.. the June vendors are posted and it looks like I will possibly be receiving hair bands, nail polish, soap, and jewelry! If you would like to find out more about Dottiebox click here! 

*I was not compensated or asked to write this review and all opinions are my own. : )