August Cloud9 Sample Box

This is a fairly new subscription service and I was super excited to receive my August box. For those of you that haven't heard of Cloud9 Sample Box, they are a family owned business and they provide gourmet food and body products for only 15.00 a month.

The Contents

1. Jaxn's Twice Baked Potato Stix
2. Geraldine's Key Lime Cookies
3. Vintage Honey
4. Kelapo Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
5. California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil
6. Char Crust
7. Lisa Ann Skinecare

Cloud9 Sample Box did a survey last month asking which products we would like to see out of three products, I was excited to see that every product on the survey was provided in the box.

Each box has a small note from the owners of the company.

The Review

The first thing I tried was Jaxn's Twice Baked Potato Stix. I was happy to see that this is one of Georgia's products. Not many things that I try are manufactured in my state. They were ok. They weren't like your normal Potato Stix where they are thin and crispy but these were actually thicker. I enjoyed sea salt and the cracked black pepper but sadly I won't be buying this product in the future.

I was happy to see Geraldine's Key Lime Cookies, also a Georgia manufactured product by the same company as Jaxn's. These were awesome. They were light and airy and they melted in your mouth. They key lime flavor were there. I say a big bag of these in my local grocery store and I can say that I will be buying these in the future.

I have just started really enjoying honey, especially whipped honey since I have purchased from the store recently. They sent us Vintage Honey in various flavors. I didn't get all three flavors but I did get two of the cinnamon and one lemon. I can't wait to try the cinnamon on a piece of toast.

We received a sample of Kelapo Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. Although I would love to be able to eat with coconut oil, the people in my household are allergic to coconut . I will be using the coconut oil in my hair instead. Coconut Oil is good for your hair for sealing moisture in to make hair stronger and also protects your scalp which will lessen shedding and breakage.

California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a sample that I have tried before and I actually like it, especially when I bake my salmon. I also enjoy using it when I cook pastas to prevent the pasta from sticking. These samples will come in use in my kitchen.

Char Crust is a sample that we have tried in a previous box but we have a different flavor, Original Hickory Grilled. There is nothing I enjoy more than have my hubby behind a grill and he loves trying new seasonings. This will come in use before the summer ends.

Lastly we have the Lisa Ann Skin Care. I was truly amazed that this was provided in this box. The valued of this product alone exceeded the price of the subscription box at 19.00 for this 4 oz butter. I love the coconut lime smell and as state a little goes a long way

Overall Thoughts

I was very pleased with my Cloud9 Sample Box. Although new, I can tell it will be one of those boxes that I am waiting impatiently for in the mail. Normally I would put the value of each item but a lot of items were samples, which wasn't bad because the full size product in this box was 19.00. It cost more than the subscription service alone. I consider anything outside of the body butter as an extra. This is not a subscription service I will be parting ways with any time soon.

August Love With Food

This months box was stuffed. I'm surprised it was able to be closed.

Receiving my Love With Food Box is one of my favorite times of the month. Every month Love With Food crams a small red box with delicious and new foods. Each purchased subscription helps fight hunger. The monthly subscriptions are only 10.00 a month + 2.00 for shipping.

This months theme was Backyard BBQ

The Contents

1. All Natural Spice Rub from The Dizzy Pig BBQ Co.
2. Sea Salt Potato Crisps from Good Boy Organics
3. All Natural Salsa from El Pinto
4. Original Creamy Praline from Aunt Sally's
5. Amsterdam Waffle Cookie from Rip van Wafels
7. Snapea Crisps from Harvest Snaps
8. Sugar-Free Fresh Mints from Project7
9. Crunchers from Schale Snacks







The Review

This first thing I got was the Dizzy Pig BBQ Co. Tsunami Spin Poultry/Seafood seafood seasoning. I love the smell of the seasoning. This is their most popular one they offer which they say has a blend from Far East Influences. The seasoning has Seasame seeds, ginger, galangal and fenugreek. I can't wait to try this seasoning on some chicken wings and throw them on the grill. This product is valued at 1.10 for this individual sample.

Love With Food gave us a sneak peek of this product and I got the Good Boy Organics Bops Sea Salt. I think they can read my mind because I love Sea Salt chips. What's special about these is that they are baked and actually light and airy. I didn't actually enjoy them. They were interesting in taste but I wouldn't be buying these in the future. This product is valued at 1.37.

I love salsa. I can sit and eat chips and salsa everyday and I was very excited to see El Pinto All Natural Salsa from. This salsa was made in New Mexico and has roasted chiles and jalapenos. They included a 2.00 off coupon for your next purchase of any flavor of salsa. This product is valued at .83.

This was my  favorite product in this months box, Aunt Sally's Original Creamy Praline. Oh my goodness is all I can say as I'm mentioning this product. The flavor was like Butter Pecan Ice Cream. I loved every bite of it and can honestly say that I was pinching it in small pieces so I could savor every bite. This is New Orleans' most famous praline and I can truly understand why. This is a must buy and is valued at 2.33.

The first thing I noticed about the Rip Van Wafels Carmel Filled Amsterdam Wafel is it's size and although I wanted to love every bite of it, I didn't. I understand where they were trying to go with this product but the wafel was lacking crunch and because it was so soft, I didn't get a chance to enjoy the creamy and sweet caramel. They wafel over powered it. The way they state to eat it online is with your coffee but I'm not a coffee lover so I figured it could be ate alone. This will not be something I buy in the future. This product is valued at 1.25.

This was interestingly good. Harvest Snaps Sanpea Crisps were delicious. They were light and airy and you can taste the sweetness of the sweet pea. They knew these would be enjoyed so they included an manufacturer's coupon for BOGO free. This product is valued at .90.

Project7 Sugar-Free Mints were in the box also and I loved how they were packaged. It had a nice little tube with a cork in it. I don't really eat mints unless they taste fruity but I love the concept of the product and what they stand for. Every tray of "Save the Earth" mints plants 10 fruit trees back to the earth. This product is valued at 1.00.

Lastly we have Sahale Snacks Crunchers I must say that these were awesome. I loved the sweet and salty balance that this provided. The salt of the sesame seeds and the sweetness of the cranberries and hone, along with the crunch of almond slices had me wanting more. This is something that I will be buying in the future and it's all natural and gluten free. This product is valued at 1.00.

Overall Thoughts

This is a subscription that I don't see myself every parting ways with. Look at how they crammed this months box. For the most part, I enjoyed the box with the exception of two products I may never buy. I love the concept and the purchase of this box this month donated a meal to a hungry child in America. Each month gets better and better and I can't wait to see what September has in store. This boxes valued was 9.78.

July Bestowed Box

I ordered the Bestowed box very late into the month of July, so my review is a little late but here it is.

those of you that don't know of the Bestowed box,  they offer food, snacks, and more. You can get a subscription for only 19.00 a month and that includes shipping.

As quoted from the website

"You'll receive healthy and delicious food, snacks, and more to try every month - all hand-picked by celebrity nutritionist and author Heather Bauer. "

The content

1. Health Warrior Chia Bar
2. 34 Degrees Crisps
3. Barre3 Online 15-day Pass
4. 1-Year Subscription to Organic Gardening
5. Hooray Puree Butternut Squash Puree
6. Food should Taste Good Multigrain Chips
7. Emmy's Organics Vanilla Coconut Macaroons

The Review

Health Warrior Chia Bar is said to be a power food that provides energy.The flavor Chocolate Peanut Butter excited me but I don't know if I was wowed by this bar. It tasted like chocolate peanut butter but the texture of the excessive amount of Chia seeds caused me not to like it. I can't say that I will be buying this in the future. This bar is valued at 1.56.

34 Degrees Savory Crisps were actually tasty. We got a sample of two of the crisps and they were very light. It is said that only 18 of their crackers are 100 calories. Pretty cool. I couldn't find a value of this one since it was just a sample but for 4.99 for a box, I think that I will be purchasing this product in the future.

I was excited to see the Barre3 Online 15-day Pass. I am moving towards a healthier lifestyle and exercise is a must. With Barre3 it is said to have the grace of ballet, the zen of yoga and the strength of pilates. They offer different subscriptions for online workouts, starting at 15.00 for a month. This 15 day pass is valued at 7.50

I'm not a gardener, so I wasn't happy about receiving a 1-year subscription to Organic Gardening. I have re gifted this subscription to my grandma that enjoys growing veggies in her back yard.. This subscription is valued at 10.00.

Hooray Puree Butternut Squash Puree was a surprise to see. I love the taste of butternut squash but it being pureed reminds me of baby food. This product has 4 full servings of veggies and is new. surprisingly it is only 60 calories per serving. This box included two 4 oz pouches and I will be trying this one day with a recipe I found for maple chicken. This product is valued at 4.00

Food Should Taste Good Multigrain Chips Sweet Potato were amazing. They were simi sweet and salty, so the flavors were really balanced. They gave us a 1.5 oz bag to try and I can really say that I was sad when I reached the last chip. But I found them in a  local store and I will be purchasing this amazing tortillas. I couldn't find a value of this sample bag..

While the Emmy's Organics Vanilla Coconut Macaroons looked great, I was unable to try them. The people in my household are allergic to coconut. I did give these to my grandma. I did check out their website and I see other wonderful products that I may try to give this company a review of their products. This product was valued at 2.95

Overall Thoughts

Although I liked the variety that they had to offer, I can't say that I will continue subscribing to Bestowed. I am more into food products and I like to have a lot of variety in a box. Amazingly this box total value was 26.01. 

July Taste Guru Box

This is my first Taste Guru Box. I hadn't seen or heard any sneak peaks of this box so it was a surprise when I finally got a chance to open it.

Huge Box. I knew it would be awesome before I opened it!

What is Taste Guru?

Taste Guru is a subscription service that offers taste approved gluten free products from all over the world. The monthly subscription for this box is 34.00 a month  for 3 months, 29.00 a month for 6 months or 25.00 a month for 12 months. In that box they offer 4 pounds of food. I was able to get this box for this month for free and only had to pay shipping of 12.00 which was a deal. So enough talking and to the box.


The Content

Unlike other subscription services, Taste Guru is the only one that I have tried that did not have a information card to describe what was listed in the box.

First look into box

1. Sea Fare Pacific Seafood Bisque
2. Rocky Mountain Popcorn Company Jalapeno with white cheddar cheese
3. Bakery on Main Gourmet Naturals Truebar
4. Happy Squeeze Super Kiwi Banana & Apple with Super Grain Salba
5. Le Veneziane Pasta
6. Namaste Foods Italian Herb Coating Mix
7. Schar Vanilla Sandwich Cremes
8. Baba Joon's Chocolate Chewies Orange Almond

The Review

I have never tried Seafood Bisque but I love new things. What I like about this product is that it is quick and simple. You can either warm in the microwave or on the stove top. Due to the extremely hot weather here in Georgia, I will be saving this to eat during a colder season. This product is valued at 5.99 for this 9 oz pouch.

For those of you that have read my blog, you know I don't care for popcorn. I will be passing this product to my husband which is on a healthy eating path and when I told him the flavor of the popcorn, Jalapeno with White Cheddar Cheese, he was really excited to try it. Update:My husband tried and loved this product and I will be buying him more soon. This popcorn is valued at 1.25 for this 1.5 oz bag

I absolutely love granola type bars but this Truebar is a little different. I love on the package it says "I'm a fruit and nut bar with nothing to hide". I love fruits and nuts and it looks delicious. This is something I will be eating in the morning to get my day started at work.Update: I tried the true bar and I really loved the variety of nuts and fruits. Very tasty. This is a bar I will buy if I see a good sale going on it. This bar is valued at 1.99.

I haven't tried this specific brand before but have tried a product like it. I'm not really eager to try it although the flavor sounds good. I can't get past my fruits being processed and to me it's like adult baby food. I don't think I will be trying this one. This product is valued at 1.79.

I love pasta. Although I am trying to eat healthier and lose weight, one thing that I refuse to let go is my pasta. I was very thankful that Taste Guru put a  recipe for Chicken Parmesan with Fusilli Pasta and placed two of the key ingredients in this months Taste Guru Box. I will be trying this recipe out on Monday and can't wait to taste. This pasta is valued at 4.99

We also got Namaste Foods Gluten Free Italian Herb Coating Mix. You can smell it in the box and it smells delicious. I can't wait to try this product
This product is valued at 4.59

We got two of these and I love cookies. These cookies were delicious. It had vanilla creme between two shortbread cookies. It had the perfect balance of sweetness and butter taste of cookies. Loved, Loved, Loved these. My son and brother enjoyed them also. This will be something we buy in the future. This product is valued at 1.85.

I had to save my favorite product in the box for last. Baba Joon's Chocolate Chewies Orange Almond was the best thing I've ever tasted. They were chewie and had the taste of chocolate, orange and I loved the Almond in them. My and my son enjoyed these. I attempted to save one for the husband to try but I wasn't strong enough to do it. This is a must buy and I will be buying this weekend. This product is valued at about 1.49

Overall Thoughts:

This was my first Taste Guru and it will not be my last. I don't know what took me so long to try there products. The total value of this box was about 23.94 and that's not bad at all. I loved the selections that they have to offer and some new products that were introduced to me that I would've never known about. I love the Taste Guru box and if you are gluten free or trying to go a new path and eat gluten free this is the perfect box for you.

July Cloud9 Sample Box

Have you heard of this new sample box service called Cloud9 sample box?

What is Cloud9 Sample Box?

Cloud9 Sample Box is a new monthly subscription that offers gourmet samples and body products for 15.00 a month.

First Look Of Insisde

"Every month our team of three family members sends a beautifully packaged box filled with a variety of sample products hand selected for its unique, delicious or purely fun qualities. We sample each and every item to make sure it meets our high standards (I know..it’s a tough job..)."

I love the note from the owners. It really leaves a personal touch.

First Look of Contents

Contents

1. Half Pops .75 oz
2. Oats Granola
3. Scrubz Bye Bye Makeup Remover
4. Mayflower Soaps
5. Eco Teas
6. Char Crust

I like that this snack is gluten free and it was in one of my favorite flavors aged white cheddar, but I will not be trying the Half Pops. The worst part of popcorn for me personally is the kernels and that's why I stopped eating popcorn. But when I showed the hubby this product, he had a childhood memory and stated that was his favorite part eating popcorn. These will be passed to him. Valued at about 1.49.

I recently started loving granola as me and my hubby started eating more healthy and I was excited to see these in my box. The sample that I received was in Dark Chocolate and they were delicious. With Oats Granola it is wheat, dairy, and GMO free. I loved that it had pieces of pecans, walnuts and almonds. This products isn't sold in the state that I live in but I will be ordering some online. Valued at about 1.75.

How Cute ! What's Inside?

I don't usually wear makeup, but when I do I find that it is hard to remove. I loved that we had this sample of Scrubz Bye Bye Makeup Remover and I must had it has a very cute name. I love the fact that it is a Natural cleanser that has a blend of 8 natural oils including jojoba and olive oil. This products has no smell to it which is a plus to me. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping we can try more of their products. Maybe a body butter or scrub. This product is valued at 3.00.







I love soaps and a soap that I have been dying to try is a goat milk soap. I received Mayflower Soaps goat milk soap and I can't not wait to try it out. I love the mild and clean scent of this soap which was fragranced in almond and that it is a natural color. Mayflower soaps states that their soaps are made by hand with goat milk straight from their form to make this soap. We received about at 2 oz sample of soap. This product is valued at about 2.00

As soon as I pulled my cloud 9 box out of the packaging, I was wondering what this wonderful, sweet smell was. I found that it was the ECO teas. I received 4 sample packs of the Tulsi tea. It states that is it used in India for medicinal and religious purposed and that it reduces the harmful effects of stress, reduces inflammation, supports the immune system, increases endurance and antioxidants. This sample is valued at .88.

I love good seasonings, especially for the summer (grilling season). Char Crust All America Barbecue seasoning is a dry-rub seasoning for all meat and fish. It's stated that it is 100% natural and that it is Kosher. I will be trying this rub of the weekend. This sample is valued at about .69.

Overall I was and still am happy of the contents that I received from Cloud9 sample box. I received this first box for 7.50 and received a box totaled at about 9.81. Not bad and I loved the variety of the contents. If you would like to try Cloud9 Sample Box, you can by clicking on the link and you can get your first box half price too as I did by entering the code save50.