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!

It’s that time of year again. I can start expecting calls from my mother. They usually go something like this:

“Have you been checking the weather?”

“Yes, Ma, I’ve been checking the weather.”

“What are you doing then? Are you planning to evacuate?”

“I’m making muffins right now. No, we’re not evacuating. It’s not a high-scale hurricane.”

Mom’s disapproving tone, “You need to be taking this seriously. The weatherman said it’s serious.”

“We are taking it seriously, but the worst to expect is a power outage, and we have a generator. You do realize that you’ve had to evacuate about three times in the past two years, don’t you?”

“Yeah, but now you moved to New Orleans. You also live closer to the beach than I do.”

“Ma, we don’t live in New Orleans. We’re an hour and a half away and don’t get as many storms as they do.” She’s easily distracted by food, I remember. “I’m cooking muffins right now, and I pulled a spiral ham from the freezer and plan to make some homemade bread and potato salad. The fridge is loaded with fresh fruits, veggies, and salads. We’ll have plenty of food if I can’t cook.”

“You have a spiral ham?” she asks. Her tone curious.

“I have a ham. We can eat off that for days if I can’t cook anything. I may even make some cookies. Oh, and I have the ingredients for a couple of pumpkin pies, and I got some boiled peanuts in the freezer . . .”

That’s pretty much how it usually goes. My mother is not happy I moved seven hours away instead of the five I lived while in Atlanta. She highly disapproves, but I can usually reign her in with talk of cooking. And, true to my word, I spent the day cooking and doing laundry. I also made sure my hair got a fresh wash and my legs got a clean shave. You know, things that need to get done before chaos sets in.

I even made a container of matcha latte so that I can pour it over ice, in case I can’t use my kettle–because tea is a must! It’s now 7:00 in the evening, and the storm is on its way. The worst of it will hit tonight, which helps when it comes to taking the dog out. Laundry is done, and I have enough food that I don’t have to cook for a while. Life is good at the moment.

Hopefully, our sailboat won’t get too much damage. We’ll see how that goes. I think I’ll go get ready for bed early. I seem to be on a roll of getting things done today!

If you’ve been following my blog lately, you know I’m trying out subscription boxes. Well, this one is my favorite of them all. At only a dollar (plus $3.99 for shipping), it’s also the cheapest. And it’s food. Who doesn’t need food? Male, female, single, married with a house full of children–this box is for everyone! They have different subscriptions, but I signed up for the Dollar Snack Club Box, which comes with six healthy snacks. To get the box for a dollar, I have to fill out a quick survey after I receive the box each month. Otherwise, they’ll charge me $9.99, which is the usual price for the box.

The name of the company is SnackNation, and each month they send out a mix of bars, chips, healthy indulgences, and classic snacks. The healthy indulgences are sweets, and the classic snacks consist of dried fruits and nuts. They seem to be full-sized, and a lot of them are unique.

I’m always searching for new, healthy food for my family, and I’ve spent quite a bit of money on some fails. I’ll see something that looks great, but when I get it home, no one in the house likes it. One of the main things I like about this company is that I’ll get a box of new snack items each month–much cheaper than what I would pay at the store. If my family likes it, I’ll start buying it. If we don’t, then at least I didn’t waste much money on it. And with four people in the house, there are a variety of tastes to appease.

Here are the six items I got in my first box:

Definitely worth more than a few dollars! And my family tried some new foods. The Pipcorn bag was big, and it only had 81 calories total. I’m so glad I tried it. My son took the sunflower kernals to school for his snack, and my daughter took the meat stick. (She didn’t like it, though.) The chocolate wafer bites were yummy, but since I usually eat dark chocolate for my sweet snack, it’s not something I’ll buy in the future. The children liked the SHEFFA bar, but my husband I didn’t care for it. The Pure Protein bar hasn’t been eaten, but we’ve bought those in the past. It’s not a new item for our family.

Along with the subscription box, I bought a large box at checkout. For $39.99 I received a separate box with fifty snacks in it. It took longer to come in, and I just got it today. The box had (my son already got into it) ten different snacks–five of each item. 

No regrets on buying the large box. I already know some of the items, while the others are completely new to me and my family. I plan to hide the Pipcorn in my office (next to my dark chocolate stash), and I’ll share the rest of the items. It will help with school snacking.

I just looked on SnackNation’s website and can’t find the big box for sale. I believe it’s something you can only get at checkout or your first purchase. If you decide to sign up for the monthly dollar box, I highly recommend getting the large box as well. It’s a one time purchase. If you like any of the items in the box, you can buy more of them at a discount price on their website–for a limited time. It’s like a discount snack store. They also have some office snack boxes for your company’s employees.

Oh, and did I mention SnackNation has partnered with Feeding America? They donate one meal for every order shipped. I’m loving this company!

I love tea, but I never really liked chai until last year–when my tea addiction led me to the World Tea Expo in Las Vegas. While there, I tasted hundreds of teas from around the world. It was amazing! And although I tried various chais, only one stood out. No powder or skimpy ingredients–only all natural, handmade and blended fresh ones. The display was quite impressive, with a large container of chai on a podium, for all to see and smell. Covered in Australian Bushland honey, the blend was dark and shiny. And the taste? My friend and I were hooked immediately. When I got home, it was on my list of top teas, and I now sell it locally. No worries, though. It recently popped up on Amazon, so you can get it easily.

Meet Prana Chai–one hundred percent Black Ceylon Tea, Australian Bushland Honey, cinnamon, cardamom, star anise, peppercorns, cloves, fresh ginger, and salt. Although it tastes like a guilty pleasure, it’s loaded with health benefits. Just look at the pictures below. You can actually see the spices.

I traveled the entire summer and picked up many chai and matcha lattes from various coffee and tea shops, yet none of them tasted as good as the Prana Chai I make at home. And I won’t even go into the amount of money I spent on them! My advice–make your own chai latte at home, for less than five minutes. It’s simple, healthy, and tastes amazing. A chai latte shouldn’t be a sugar-laden, pricey splurge. You can easily add it to your daily lifestyle.

The only ingredients you need are a bag of Prana Chai, milk, a small pot, a small strainer, and a mug. Although you can buy special chai pots, any small pot will do. You’re not going to boil the milk, so you don’t have to worry about scorching it. Except for the Prana Chai, most people have the other ingredients on hand.

First, add two heaping teaspoons of Prana Chai into the pot. (I use tablespoons, because I usually supersize mine.)

Then add the milk. I usually pour it into my mug first so I get the right amount.

Cook on medium high while stirring. The color will soon start to look like chocolate milk. Your goal is to get it nice and hot–not boiling or simmering! The whole process takes only a couple of minutes.

Then you pour it over a strainer into your mug.

Notice how yummy the blend looks, even after heating.

And here’s the finished latte:

The end result is a creamy and tasty chai latte–in less than five minutes! And although it’s premixed, did you see any powder or fake ingredients? Nope!

Now, everyone has their own milk preference, and the recommendation is to use almond milk. I did that at first, but I soon found something better. I tried it with Fairlife milk, and it tastes even better than before. I’m not saying you should go out and buy the more expensive brand of milk. I’m just saying you should try different types until you find the one that works for you. I personally use Fairlife so that it’s a healthy splurge. It’s lactose free and has less sugar. Although this chai tastes like a guilty pleasure, it’s not. I can have my cake and eat it too–or rather, have my chai and dark chocolate and eat them both too.

Many people add extra honey to the pot before they heat it, but I find it tastes fine without it. I’m more of a purest and don’t add sugar to my teas. I advise people to try to go without the extra sweeteners. Your taste will adjust, and you’ll soon not want the sugar. That’s my advice for the day. Try it first without extra honey. In fact, try it a few times without extra honey. You’ll start craving it without.

If you know someone who loves chai lattes, Prana offeres a variety of gift sets, and I highly recommend them. If buying for yourself, you really don’t need the extras. You can just use what you already have at home. I’m telling you. This is the good stuff, and you should definitely try it.