Ellie Fit Fashionista Club Review (& 20% off Coupon Code!!) - August 2013

Ellie Fit Fashionista Club is a monthly subscription that provides subscribers with a great way to grab some adorable (and great quality) workout gear! So if your collection is worn out, look no further! Ellie was kind enough to send me a sample shipment to review for you.

The Fit Fashionista Club allows members to select two items currently for sale on the Ellie website for the club price of $49.95 each calendar month, shipping included. Some of the items in the store are "Ellie Signature" items (which have a higher retail price - such as this Noble Sapphire Sweater, retail priced at $120.95) and subscribers may chose ONE of these items monthly for the $49.95 price tag (still a significant discount!).

The packaging is super feminine - which translates to very very pink!!

The items were folded nicely and padded with tissue paper inside the envelope (as shown in the picture at the top of this post).

The first item I chose was the Rise and Shine Tank - Value $64.95

Front

Back

This tank is a liiiiiiiittle tight on me (even though it is a Large), but it is SO stretchy and still very comfortable! Many of the tops Ellie makes (including the Rise and Shine Tank) have built-in shelf bras, which don't work well for me, but a lot of people love this feature in active wear. The material is VERY good quality, and Ellie promises that it will never stretch or lose its shape. I washed this top, and it came out still looking like new. I love it!

The second item I chose was the Eclipse Legging - Value $74.95

Side Detail

Front

The pants go down to the ankles, and they are also extremely stretchy. The side detail is really cute - these leggings have an electric yellow/green stripe all the way down each leg underneath a mesh overlay. I love the fit, and they come up high enough that I'm not afraid to bend over in front of anyone (you know that's happened to you!) and low enough that I don't feel like they are up around my armpits. They are so comfortable!!

Here are a couple photos of me wearing the entire outfit (sorry for the poor photo quality!):

The clothing all has the Ellie logo on it (pants: right leg on the back, top: middle of the green on the back) but they are very discreet, and kind of genius. Instead of writing out "Ellie", it is just shortened to the two letters L and E written in pretty script inside of a tiny heart. Cute!!!

TOTAL VALUE: $139.90

Wow!! For $49.95, this is really an amazing value for a really cute, functional, and comfortable exercise outfit! I also love that these items go together (you can mix and match if you like, but I got an outfit set), but can also be paired with clothes that I already own. I will definitely be a Fit Fashionista from now on!!

COUPON LINK: Click HERE (or any of the Ellie links in this post) to receive 20% off your first order as a Fit Fashionista!

What do you think of Ellie Fit Fashionista Club?


Until next time.... <3

Jacked Pack Review and 50% off Coupon Code - July 2013

I got in contact with Jacked Pack recently because I want to make sure I review ALL kinds of boxes - even if I don't necessarily fit into the target demographic for the box!

Jacked Pack is designed for people who love to workout and want to get some SERIOUS results - as in getting super buff. They send out supplement samples each month for you to try, and they sell the full sized versions in their online store if you end up liking what they send you.

Jacked Pack has three size options:

Heavyweight - $14.50/month

• 6-8 samples each month (some contain more than one serving)

Custom - $29.50/month

• Trial size (7-14 servings) of a product from a specific category that you choose

• 4-5 other product samples (some with multiple servings)

Custom XXL - $49.50/month

•  One full-size product from the category you choose (25-40 servings)

•  2-3 samples of the full-size product (to make sure you like it before you open it -if you don't like it, you can return the full-sized product for a credit towards your next shipment!)

•  4-5 other sample products to try (and keep)

I love that they have super customizable box options! I can really appreciate that in a subscription box company.

Jacked Pack was kind enough to send me their July box to review. They sent me the Heavyweight box, and the informational card inside the box was impressive!! Even if you're just starting out with serious weightlifting and bodybuilding, they help explain the different categories of products you receive:

And there is a key for those little red dotted boxes too (because I had no idea what any of them meant, I was super excited about this key :D)

Here are the items I received in July's box:

Myogenix Amino2 in Fruit Punch - Value $1

Animo2 is a recovery supplement full of amino acids to help you get back into the gym faster after a hardcore workout. You mix this with a shake or in water.

Creature by Beast Sports - Value $1

12 Gauge Shotgun by VPX Sports in Exotic Fruit - Value $1.67

From the informational card: "This comprehensive pre-workout formula gives you an incredible boost of energy, insane pump, and efficiently increases blood flow and creatine retention."

Nitrix 2.0 by BSN - Value $4

Life Lift Protein Bar by VPX Sports in Cinnamon Bunz Ablaze - Value 2.79

I haven't tried this yet, but I think I'll be keeping this one for myself! It has 20 grams of protein (holy cow!) and 20 grams of fiber, but only 185 calories! Not to mention Cinnamon Bunz sounds like a delicious flavor!

BPI Pump-HD in Ice Blue Lemonade - Value $4.25

A pre-workout muscle builder, this supplement contains stimulant (caffeine), electrolyes, and amino acids. The instructions say to take one serving (there are four servings in the sample) 15-20 minutes before working out for optimal results.

Cellucor Super HD - Value $0.66

I'm sad that there is only one capsule in this sample, but it is a fat loss supplement, so I will probably be keeping this sample too!!

Overall Value: $15.37

This Jacked Pack box has a higher value than cost, which makes it a winner in my book! This set of supplements is a little extreme for me, so I will most likely be gifting this to a friend who is into weight lifting. There was a lot of variety in the box though, and I am going to get to use some of the items. Overall, I would recommend Jacked Pack to any of you "meat heads" (as Jacked Pack calls you) out there!!

COUPON CODE: Apply code 50SUMPTO2013 at checkout to get 50% off your first month of Jacked Pack! 

What do you think of Jacked Pack? Would you try it out?


Until next time.... <3

Healthy Surprise Box Review - July 2013

Healthy Surprise is a subscription box that sends natural, vegan, gluten-free and soy-free snacks to your home. They send a variety of items, and they have three different sized boxes so you can get snacks just for you, or for your entire family!

The three sizes options are:

Starter Box (16-20 servings) - $33/month
Healthy Box (32-40 servings) - $66/month
Large Box (48-60 servings) - $99/month

(Shipping is an additional $6 per box. If you order more than one month at a time, you get a discount.)

So what do you get in a Healthy Surprise box? Well - check out my unboxing video to find out! (**Healthy Surprise offered to send me the Starter Box for review purposes - all opinions are my own**)

Here is the breakdown of the items in this month's Healthy Surprise box:

Matt's Munchies Premium Fruit Snack in Mango Acai - Value $2

This was delicious - it was kind of reminiscent of a fruit roll-up and tasted sweet but not overwhelmingly so. I would love to try their other flavors as well!

Sprouties Pumpkin Seeds 2oz - Value $1.98

These were...interesting. I did end up bringing them to work with me, and had some of the girls there try them too. They were described as "a mix between pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds", which I found to be pretty accurate. They are raw, which gives them a different texture than I am used to when eating pumpkin seeds. They also taste slightly green - if that makes sense. I don't know that they are my favorite plain, but they might be better on salad or with other foods.

Happy Hemp Toasted Hemp Seeds 2oz - Value $6

This stuff has more protein per serving than meat, fish, or tofu! You can add it to salads, granola, and cereals to give it a little crunch and some extra protein. I did NOT like these on their own - they had a very grassy flavor that I did not care for. But on a salad - YUM! I liked them a lot! And they are super healthy, so I feel good about adding them to things : )

Righteously Raw Chocolates Squares (Dark, Spice, and Mint) - Value $3.75

These were not what I was expecting, and I really didn't care for these. They are low on the glycemic index, so they have very little sweetener and they are VERY dark. They are between 80-83% raw cacao, and that's a LOT! Plus, the Synergy Spice flavor wasn't nutmeg and cinnamon spice - it actually packed some spicy heat!! I do not like spicy food, so that was an unpleasant surprise >_< Overall, probaby my least favorite items in the box.

Peter Rabbit Organics Pear and Pea Veg/Fruit Puree 4.4oz - Value $1.85

This is a portable pouch that is easy to give to small children when you are on the go. It is resealable, which is very convenient! The only ingredients are organic pear puree, organic pea puree and organic lemon juice concentrate (for freshness) - no added sugar or salt! And it is very tasty - just enough pear to make the pea almost indistinguishable! I would definitely give this to my kids (if I had any!).

MacroLife Naturals Miracle Reds Berri Berri Bar - Value $2.99

This bar was SO yummy - it was a little chewier than I was expecting, but it had a great fruit flavor. Every bar is 100% raw and natural ingredients, and this bar contains probiotics as well! A true superfood - I will almost definitely order more, especially since I got a coupon with this bar!

Oskri Dates Walnuts Bar - Value $1.25

This is one item that I haven't tried yet, but I think I'll like it. Dates have a natural sweetness to them, and I love walnuts. There is also crispy rice in this bar, which sounds awesome! These are dairy-free, vegetarian and gluten-free, so they will fit a lot of lifestyles.

Sesame-Mango Rawma Bar - Value $1.80

This bar is raw, sprouted and gluten-free. Also, a portion of the profits from the bars go to support cow protection! How sweet is that? The texture of this bar was a little too much for me, although the flavor was good. It was a little sweet, but it had a lot of the sesame flavor too. I am still on the fence about this one - maybe I have to try some other flavors to see if they are really for me!

SeaSnax Seaweed Snacks (Chipotle and Original) - Value $3

The tagline for these snacks is "It's Strangely Addictive!" - I'm not so sure that this applies to me, but it certainly applies to my husband! He tried the Chipotle flavor for me because I don't like spicy food, and after his first bite, he was in love! He also finished off my Original flavored SeaSnax. They are basically very thin, dried, crunchy sheets of seaweed. I have a feeling people either love it or hate it, and I am not on the side that loves it!

California Snax Kale Italiano Pizza Flavored Kale Chips - Value $4?

I could not find these ANYWHERE - so I'm totally guessing at the value. It's a decently sized bag, and this kind of snack is hard to come by! They smell amazing - just like pizza! It has a lot of different herbs and spices, and also has a "cheese" coating on it, which consists of almond and sunflower seed paste, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar (I think - according to the ingredient list?). They are crunchy and delicious, and I was not expecting to like these, but I do!!

TOTAL VALUE: about $28.62

Overall: I liked Healthy Surprise. I liked the variety of treats that were included. There were some things that I just did not care for, but you have to expect that when it comes to a box full of things you've never tried before! If I had paid for this box, I would have been disappointed with the cost versus the value (there was a $21 deficit!). I don't know if I will continue to subscribe, simply because this is one of the pricier subscription boxes I've come across, and I don't know if it will fit into the budget!

What do you think of July's Healthy Surprise box? Will you try it out?


Until next time.... <3

Sent Her Way - July 2013 (**GIVEAWAY**)

Sent Her Way is a subscription box company that allows women to get exactly the kind of supplies they need for their visit from "Aunt Flo" without going to the store every month. This service is super convenient, because no one wants to end up in Walgreen's at 11:30pm on a Sunday night asking the only employee working (who always seems to be a man) where the feminine care aisle is located!

Sent Her Way allows you to choose either a box of 20 or 40 tampons (they have Tampax pearl or cardboard, O.B., Playtex scented or unscented, and Kotex) and will discreetly send them to your home. You choose the size combination as well as the brand you like. Sent Her Way generously offered to send me a box for review, as well as a box to give away to one of my readers!

Sent Her Way boxes range (based on the type of tampon you want) from $6.97 to $8.63/month for a customized 20 count box (with free shipping). If you would like a 40 count box, you add between $7.04 and $7.75 to the 20 count box price. Again, it depends on the type of tampons you would like. Shipping for the 40 count box is still free!

The packaging is very neat, and no one will know what you've ordered just by looking at the box:

There is a box inside of the cardboard shipping box, which looks like this:

They also mark on the interior box which tampons have been included ^^^^

This is everything they included in my sample box (which is an assortment of Tampax cardboard sizes).

Overall: I like the idea of not having to run to the store to get supplies, and you get the option with Sent Her Way to have tampons shipped every 30, 60, or 90 days - so you never have more than you need. You can always change your order frequency as well. This subscription is all about convenience, and it totally delivers!

The folks at Sent Her Way have also decided to give away one custom box of 20 tampons to one of my readers! They will send you any type you like - you just have to enter to win! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
Until next time.... <3

Hungry Globetrotter Heat Seekers Hot Sauce of the Month Review

Hungry Globetrotter has multiple monthly subscription options, including the Hot Sauce of the Month.

This service is just what it sounds like - every month, Hungry Globetrotter hand-picks a small batch hot sauce to send out for its members to try. The folks at Hungry Globetrotter were kind enough to send me a sample shipment to review.

This subscription is $14.95/month, and shipping is included. It is a month-to-month subscription, and can be cancelled at any time.

The box was pretty unassuming, and came surprisingly quickly!

I opened up the box, and this is what I saw:

It did also have some padding around it to protect it while being shipped.


This month, the sauce is Bandar Spicy Mango Chili Sauce - Value $3.99

There is a card inside the box that tells you about the hot sauce and why it was chosen. The Bandar company (pronounced bun-dar, it means "monkey" in Hindi) started from a Kickstart campaign in 2012, and in addition to their Mango flavor, they also make a Mint Cilantro chili sauce.

I personally don't like spicy food, but my husband LOVES it, and gladly tried out this hot sauce for me : ) He took one taste, and has been putting it on everything he can since then. He likes that it really has a good kick to it, but still has a good flavor. I did try a tiny bit, and it does have quite a bite to it, but at the same time it is a little bit sweet while not being overpoweringly sugary.

I don't know that I would pay $14.95/month to keep getting this subscription just based on the value of the item versus the cost of the box, but I do like the idea of curated hot sauce (and so does my hubby!). It is cool to discover new brands, and to have them delivered to you. So it would be worth it in that sense!

What do you think of the Heat Seeker's club? Would you try it out?


Until next time.... <3

Christmas in July Promo from Dottiebox!!

If you liked my Dottiebox review for June, now is your chance to check out Dottiebox for yourself!

Until this Friday only (or until supplies run out) Dottiebox is doing a Christmas in July promo, and is selling a mystery box containing items from past boxes for HALF PRICE! They hardly ever have sales, so this is a great opportunity.

Each box is $10 (plus $6 shipping) and you can buy as many as you like. Each box is guaranteed to have at least 5 items in it, and many will have more. Items from July's box will not be included, but anything else is fair game. You can also request specific items (add them in the Comments section on the checkout screen) if you really loved something from a past box.

I love Dottiebox, and I already ordered my mystery box! If you want one, you have to hurry - they will run out quickly!

Tell them you discovered them because of My Other Monthly : )

NEW SUBSCRIPTION BOX - Taste Trunk!

**Sorry for the lack of posts recently, but I was on vacation for a little bit ^_^ I was getting a little overwhelmed with my jobs, school, and the blog, so I needed to regroup. But I am back, and you better believe that I have some awesome July boxes lined up for you!!**

There is a new subscription box in town that is designed to fit every taste, whether you like sweets, health food, or just throwing some meat on the grill! It's called Taste Trunk, and it comes in four varieties (for now - they plan on adding more options!):

The Sweet Trunk - "Designed to satisfy your sweet tooth"

The Gourmet Trunk - "features new items...from the best gourmet lifestyle brands"

The Health Trunk - "Healthy living, made easy"

The BBQ Trunk - "Discover a new world of BBQ"

Each trunk comes with 5-10 items per month, and also includes discount codes and recipe ideas. The cards included with this box are so detailed, and they really give you a good background on the companies that provided items for the boxes - see the pictures down below!!

I chose the Health Trunk, because I like having a variety of healthier snacks to choose from, but there are SO MANY different choices out there that it can be overwhelming! So I like having the subscription boxes to introduce me to new brands. It was super tempting to choose the Sweet Trunk, but I'm glad I resisted, because this box was AWESOME ^_^

The boxes all cost $29/month, with shipping included.

Very classy box - this was shipped inside of another box.

Detail on the box - so pretty!!

First look inside the box. I love how organized it is!

SO MANY CARDS! I love them! Each one describes a different product in the box, and some have recipes or coupon codes on them. One of the cards describes Taste Trunk and the idea behind their boxes.

Vigilant Eats Organic Superfood Oat-based Cereal (Coconut Maple Vanilla and Goji-Cacao) - Value $8.40

This cereal is SO GOOD. All you need is water - they even include a folding spoon in each container! So far I've tried the Coconut Maple Vanilla, and it was kind of like a mix between oatmeal and cereal. It was so good, and super convenient for on-the-go. These are also gluten-free, and contain no soy, dairy, additives, preservatives, or refined sugar! I really want to buy more of these!

Teatulia Organic White Tea Bags (FULL SIZE!) - Value $8.49

I'm not a huuuuge fan of tea, but I'm willing to give this a try. There are 16 individual teabags in this canister, but you can use each bag TWICE, which is a great value! It comes from a single garden farm in Bangladesh, and is certified USDA organic. It smells heavenly!

Nunes Farms Sweet Chipotle Almonds (1.5oz) - Value $0.75
Nunes Farms Maui Onion California Crunchies Almonds (1.5oz) - Value $0.75

I do not care for spicy foods myself, but my husband is a huge fan, and he LOVED the chipotle almonds! We also got the Maui Onion California Crunchies, which are seasoned almond halves. I ate those all by myself, and they were amazing ^_^ They make a great snack, and Nunes Farms offers many different flavors and varieties of almonds.

Peeled Snacks Apple Clusters - Value $2.19

These are yummy, crunchy, and all-natural snacks that are good all by themselves, or (as the card that accompanied the box suggested) in a salad! I'm sure they would be good in other ways too, and the package is the perfect size. Peeled Snacks also makes other flavors - I can't wait to try them!

Nibnaks Apple Cosmo - Value $2.19

A dried fruit combination of apples, cherries, and raisins. I love dried fruit, and these were so good! They had a great texture, and they were extremely flavorful. Nibnaks is also dedicated to supporting sustainable manufacturing practices and keeping their products organic. 

Thoughtful Foods Giddy Up & Go Granola, Notoriously Nutty and Seriously Seedy (1.5oz) - Value $2.50

I preferred the Notoriously Nutty variety over the Seriously Seedy, but they were both very tasty! They were the perfect size to cart along with us to go camping or to a softball game.
Thoughtful Foods was created by a mom who was battling food intolerance alongside her two children. The line is designed to help people eat and live healthier by making it easy. Love that!

Dang Coconut Chips (1.43oz) - Value $3.20

Named after the creator's mother (who was from Bangkok), these are simply toasted coconut "chips". I was a little wary of these at first, simply because I've had shredded coconut before and I know that I don't really care for the texture. But this stuff...WOW. It was so delicious that I was sad when the bag was gone! This was probably my favorite item in the box, and I will definitely be buying more of them. They were crunchy, sort of nutty, and not too sweet. SO GOOD!!

San Franola Granola (1.55oz) - Value $2.00

This granola was created by a dad who simply wanted a healthier option for his family when it came to snacks. You can choose to get this granola with or without raisins (mine was with raisins), and it only comes in one flavor. San Franola freshly roasts all their ingredients, which makes their granola low in sugar, high in protein and fiber, and all around delicious! It had a hint of honey flavor, and it was very crunchy. Yum!

GloryBee Foods HoneyStix (5) - Value $1.55

These are so yummy - a quick little pick-me-up that I can take anywhere. I packed a few in my lunch box for work, and I've saved a couple at home...but I had to try one right when I opened the box! It was so good - honey with a hint of watermelon flavor! GloryBee honey is all-natural, plus these sticks come in over 27 different flavors! They also have AgaveStix, which are a great low-sugar alternative to the HoneyStix.

Total value: $32.02

The box costs $29/month, so the value of this box exceeds the cost, which is awesome. Not to mention that I got to try a ton of different (and amazing!) brands that I never would have otherwise uncovered. I love this box, and I will definitely continue to subscribe!!

What did you guys think? Would you try a Taste Trunk? Which one would you choose?



Until next time..... <3