I’m loving SnackNation! This is my second box, and at only a dollar (plus $3.99 shipping), it’s totally worth it. My family enjoys this box, because we get to try new snacks I would normally not buy. Most of them are completely new to us, so we taste them as a family. As a mom, this helps me get a better idea of what I can pack in my children’s lunches. I grind my own wheat and am big on baking, so most of our snacks revolve around homemade baked goods.

For a dollar and shipping, you get six healthy snacks each month. You have to fill out a short survey shortly after receiving the box, or you wind up paying the $9.99 regular price. It’s really quick and gives them feedback to give the companies. Not only do they try to be healthy and ethical, but they also donate to Feeding America for every box. It’s really a great company!

This month’s box contained some interesting finds. My daughter loves jerky, but she doesn’t seem to like the meat sticks. The white fish jerky looks intriguing. It’s from a new company still launching, and they’re all about sustainability. The bag is only sixty calories and ten grams of protein. I hope my daughter likes it. She’s in high school and skips a lot of meals. This is something I could get her to grab on her way out.

As a baker, I’m not into the minute mug cake mix, but they won my vote with the fair trade chocolate. If you’ve read my post on child slavery, you know I only buy fair trade chocolate. It’s that important! I know a lot of people who don’t make things from scratch, and although I usually cringe at packaged cake mixes, this one is organic and wheat. Nice!

Be sure to check out my first post on SnackNation. When I signed up for the dollar box, I paid extra and got a box of fifty snacks that month. I’m still loving this box and highly recommend it.

I’m on my second month of reviewing subscription boxes, and I’m still a fan of Ipsy. Their boxes are definitely worth more than the $10 I pay each month. Last month had a full-sized eyeliner pencil valued at $20, along with other goodies. I keep telling myself I get the Ipsy subscription to share with my two teenage daughters, but I seem to have trouble sharing. The last few years I’ve been buying the girls makeup and not really getting anything for myself, so it’s kind of nice updating my stash.

Small makeup bag (you get a different one every month)

Full-size BELLÁPIERRE COSMETICS Matte Mineral Lipstick in Incognito – $20

2.25 oz Hempz Pure Herbal Extracts Body Creme – $7.50 at Ulta

Nice-sized sample Douccc Cheek Blush in RSVP – $28 for full size

3 ml Kush Mascara – $24 for 10 ml

.25 oz Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion exfoliator – $46 to $79 for full size

As you can see, just the lipstick alone costs more than the $10 I paid for the box, and I love every one of the items. Sorry, children, Mommy won’t be sharing this month’s Ipsy. I LOVE the color of the lipstick, and the blush matches perfectly with it. Everyone around me knows I can’t go without hand lotion and always keep some nearby. The Hempz is a perfect size. I don’t use mascara on most days, so the Kush sample will do just fine. And then there’s the exfoliator. I have never used an exfoliator on my face until my last Ipsy box. I have sensitive skin, so I’m pretty much a minimalist when it comes to what goes on my face. However, while watching a video on how to use something in last month’s Ipsy bag, I learned exfoliating is highly important–especially at my age.

The good news about Ipsy is that every item is selected for my skin tone and type, and that’s why I’m having a hard time sharing. The lipstick and blush in this month’s box go perfectly together, and I would never have found them outside of Ipsy. The same goes for exfoliators. I don’t have time to research and stare at makeup all day, and I love that Ipsy picks items for me. Not only am I getting my makeup much cheaper than if I go shopping for it, but Ipsy knows what will work for me and has more knowledge when it comes to skincare and makeup. When I looked up the Dr. Brandt exfoliator, it specifically said it was for my skin type, and it has some great reviews.

Thanks, Ipsy! I’ve learned a lot in the last two months with what you’ve sent. As for my girls, I think I’ll give them the bags I get with each box. You know, teach them about sharing.

To sign up, just fill out the form on your skin preferences. I had to go on a waiting list, but it only lasted a month. This subscription box is very popular, and it’s a favorite among many. As a member, you can also shop on their site, where you can save quite a bit.

I don’t know how long this deal will last, as it’s a bit too good to be true. At only a dollar (with no shipping fees), this is awesome! YaDoggie seems to be a new company, and the quality is definitely there. When I pulled out the jerky yesterday and ripped off pieces for training my puppy, she went crazy over it. (She’s a bit wild anyways.) I’ve used other treats with her, but she REALLY likes this jerky and kept sniffing my fingers, trying to get more.

See what I got for a dollar? And did you notice how they have my puppy’s name on the box? Sometimes it’s just the little things.

So how does this work? I just clicked on their link and filled out a few questions about my dog. They wanted to know her age and weight to direct me to the right food for her. The lamb and duck popped up, along with how much to feed her.

Grass fed jerky? Nice! Not just for the health of my little Luna but also out of respect for the cows. I only buy grass fed for my family. There’s a big difference in the health benefits, and I also don’t believe in modern farm practices. I’m from the South and come from country and farming, so I’m not prejudiced against farmers. It’s the opposite! I support local farmers and buy a lot from them–including meat. What I don’t support is large-scale farms that treat their animals cruelly. It’s not how our ancestors did things, and it’s not how God intended us to treat animals. I’m very aware of corporate farming and don’t want to be a part of it.

Anyways, I don’t need to get started on that rant. Just know this company seems to be a new, small business from Santa Cruz, California. They’re very attentive to the details, and their dog food is grain free. It’s definitely high-quality.

At the moment, I buy Taste of the Wild from Chewy.com. I love how it’s automatically delivered on a subscription basis, but this company does the same. Once set up, it would come regularly without me having to do anything. The price may be just a little more, but it looks like this company gives various rewards. I get twenty percent off the next bag if I decide to order within the next two weeks, and I also get more off for each referral. (So if you plan to order a kit, please do so from this post.) I don’t know if there are other ways to get discounts in the future, but with this being a new company, they have room to grow and add things. That means there’s a possibility for samples. Their site also said you get poop bags with each delivery.

I’ve learned from experience that quality dog food is a must. Our little Gigi only lived eleven years, and I can’t help but think I should have fed her better food. When I had a rescue with a sensitive tummy, I did some research and found some shocking things. I also did a blog post on the horror we went through with Iams. I highly recommend Taste of the Wild, but I’m pretty sure this food is of higher quality. And if it’s more expensive, it’s not much. I’ll admit I only got the box for the dollar price and thought this would be too high-end and expensive when I clicked on the link, but after getting the box, I’m really considering making the switch.

I love Graze’s flapjacks! After trying them over the summer while traveling, I went to their website looking for a cheaper way to get them. That’s when I learned they ship them to your home much cheaper than you can buy them at the stores. They have two options. You can sign up for their subscription box (which you can cancel at any time) or you can shop at their online store. Both ways come out much cheaper than grabbing their snacks at a physical store. They also give rewards for various things, which brings the cost down even more.

I signed up with a code to get my first box for a dollar. While signing up, I rated all of their products so they could get an idea of what I like. This is one of those boxes where they try to personalize each one to your taste. For me, I don’t really snack on anything they offer but their flapjacks, which seem to be healthier versions of granola bars. I don’t usually eat granola bars, but the Graze ones taste so yummy. It’s good for when I’m on the go.

For a dollar, this is what I got:

Nice, huh? I got four different flapjacks, the nutrition information, and some stickers for one of the kiddies. I liked the box, so I kept my subscription going and paid $13.99 for the regular-sized box, which is larger. Instead of four snacks, it comes with eight.

Hmm… not many flapjacks in the second box, and I don’t usually snack on savory mixes or dried fruit. However, when I went back to their website, I found that I had a few rewards in my account. It seems you get rewards for a variety of things, and I used some to order from their shop. I ordered two six packs of flapjacks and got $10 off. I plan to pause (indefinitely) my subscription boxes and just shop from their online store in the future. That way I’ll get exactly what I want.

They seem to have different specials going all the time, along with ways to rack up rewards. The coupon code I’m giving will give you the first and fifth boxes free, and along the way, you get rewards and discounts added with each box.

Although I’m too picky for their subscription boxes, I highly recommend you try them. I mean, getting two boxes for free–that’s better than my $1 box! They have a lot of healthy snacks to choose from. I work from home and do a lot of baking, so except for when I travel, I don’t usually grab snacks at a store. I just gave my husband the grilled cheese crunch to try this afternoon, and I’ll use the dried fruit in some oatmeal or homemade bread. My husband likes the fact that the serving is only 150 calories, so it’s nice if you count calories. Of course, the flapjacks have the most calories out of all the choices in the box.

If you don’t like their subscription box, you can cancel or pause at any time. Don’t forget they have an online store, and the rewards add up. It still comes out cheaper than buying them at a physical store. So, go ahead and try a free box. You’ve got nothing to lose!

Jaclyn and the Beanstalk by Mary Ting

What fate awaits a girl who hears monsters at night…

Sixteen-year-old Jaclyn looks up to her father. An honest man who once fought for the king, he now teaches Jaclyn how to use her wits—and her sword.

But he has a secret. And his secret may have a connection to the one thing Jaclyn is hiding from him.

Upon hearing “monsters” are terrorizing the small villages around Black Mountain, Jaclyn’s father and his friends head out to hunt them … but they don’t return.

Just $1.99 on Amazon

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Author Mary Ting

International Bestselling/Award Winning Author Mary Ting/M. Clarke resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one-Something Great. She also toured with Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children’s chapter book-No Bullies Allowed.

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