January Luxe Box!

Wow Loose Button really outdid them selves this month!  Their boxes got out a bit late this month but they notified all the customers of this and express posted them.  I got mine on Monday the 30th and it totally made my Monday - it was well worth the wait!  I was quite confused when I got the package because because it was a lot larger than the previous.  And here's why...there were 2 boxes!

So the white box was what Loose Button called "Complimentary Bath and Body Box." It contained;

Schick Hydro Silk Razor:  It's a 5 blade razor in a nice blue colour.  It also came with a coupon for $4.00 off any refills and $0.55 off shaving cream.  The value of the razor itself is $13.00.  This is one item I will definitely use.


Fekkai Advanced Brilliant Glossing Shampoo and Conditioner: Each one is a 9mL sample so not a deluxe size but its a bonus none the less.  I haven't tried them yet but they contain olive oil and I love olive oil conditioners so can't wait to try it out.

And now for the actual Luxe Box. I was a little worried to see what I was going to get because I didn't get to my e-mail on time to select a "First in Line" option - which really had me down since two of the products were by benefit and I really would have liked to try them.  But surprisingly I still got a nice box!  It included;

Pur Minerals; 4-in-1 foundation in Light (full size).  Its a foundation, powder, concealer and has SPF 15. I was a little surprised to see this since I feel that foundation is a tricky product to get right at the best of times.  While it is a bit dark for my skin tone I'm optimistic that it will work in the summer when I get a bit more colour. Value $31.

Olay Regenerist; Wrinkle revolution complex (7mL). Its basically supposed to reduce the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles. It has a really nice scent and goes on smoothly.  I just got it so can't comment on its efficacy as of yet. While it seems like a small sample the full size is only 15mL and worth $60!


NYX; Mega shine lip gloss in Cosmo (full size). This cherry scented super sparkly bronzy pink gloss is not something I would ever buy.  However, it goes on a lot lighter than it looks and is actually very flattering. Value $8.

Loose Button; My scent. I was selected to provide commentary on 6 different scents, so here they are.
Prada Candy - I love this it is sweet like candy/caramel but also a bit musky.
Prada Infusion D'Iris - Not a fan of this it smells like orange iris - ick.
Nina Ricci L'air du Temps - A complex fragrance, very floral and fruity - smells very peachy to me.
Nina Ricci Nina - A nice very light citrus apple scent.
Paco Rabanne Black XS for her - I love this one too - its a spicy yet sweet scent.
Lady Million - I like this one too - very sweet and fruity smelling.

* I had already received the two Prada fragrances - but since I loved the candy and got to try a few more along with it was pleased.

Seattle's Best Coffee (Bonus); Level 3.  A bit random but I enjoy a good cup of coffee so can't wait to try it.

All in all I was very happy with this months Luxe Box. With a value of over $80 how could I not be!  I have read quite a few people that are upset that they got this not that etc, and of course there will always be something you may want but didn't get - however I am still very happy about my box.  I love surprises and will continue to support Loose Button!

If you want to learn more about them follow this link
http://luxebox.loosebutton.com/friend-sign-up?referrer=ZmFjZjEzMTk=

New Year - New Healthy Foods!

So anyone that knows me knows that I am a foodie at heart.  I am a vegetarian and love trying new foods.  I thought I would share with you some of my recent food finds.  I tend to cook/bake on the simpler side but in time I'm sure I'll find a few recipes to share. I believe that food should be as unprocessed and natural as possible so I hope that you will try some of these super healthy and delicious foods.

CHIA SEEDS

 

Chia seeds are teeny tiny little seed packed full of big benefits! Think lots of Omega-3, fiber and antioxidants, they also help to balance blood sugar and keep you feeling satiated.  They absorb the flavour of whatever they are with so they are really versatile.  I like to add them to my salads, stir-fries, curries and smoothies.  

HEMP HEARTS

I know what you're thinking "this must be some type of hippie food".  Well you are wrong - hemp hearts are more like a super food. While a little high in (essential) fats, they have a ton of protein and Omega-3 and 6. Like chia seeds they are also very nutrient dense. They are reported to help with a myriad of different ailments (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes...) as well as help with weight loss. I like them because they taste like nuts and keep me feeling fuller longer.  

COCONUT OIL

What can't this stuff do!  Its great in the kitchen, but it has a million other uses!  I kept half of this in the kitchen and transferred half into a container for in the bathroom.  In the kitchen its said to help with weight loss, aid digestion, help heart disease, and boosts immune function.  I also use it as a body moisturizer, hair treatment, before/after shave,  and to help heal bruises and small cuts faster.  Oh and there is the perk that it smells AMAZING!  It can take a little while to absorb - but the after effect is amazing - so far my fave use is as a body moisturizer (Esp in the winter).

CAROB POWDER

 This is like chocolates younger healthier brother. When starting on a healthier eating routine (I hate the word diet) it can be really hard to give up some faves especially chocolate!  Well carob powder to the rescue, harvested from the carob tree, it has two major advantages on chocolate 1) its high in fiber and 2) it has no caffeine.  It also contains A, B and D vitamins. I love it in my smoothies as a guilt free tasty addition.  And last but not least its really cheap :) 

DAIYA SHREDS

In an attempt to be vegan I purchased this "vegan cheese" product.  It had great reviews and I thought if cheese is my biggest setback I would try it out.  Its not bad per say, but it certainly does not taste like cheese at all.  Perhaps the reviews I read were of people that had not eaten cheese for quite some time. I have eaten it up but I don't think I would but it again - I'll stick with real cheese.  But for vegans I think it is a good alternative, I used it in omelets and it melted very well .

MATCHA POWDER

Matcha powder is basically finely ground high quality green tea. I fell in love with it in Japan where it is a flavour of pretty much anything (ice cream, chips, kit-kats).  It has a lot of antioxidants and catachins that are known to help boost your metabolism and aid with weight loss.  It has a bit of a bitter taste but is also very rich and complex and you will fall in love it. Matcha is considered better than green tea since you are consuming the tea leaf itself as opposed to just the brewed water (1 cup of macha is equal to 10 cups of green tea). There are many types of matcha and in my experience the best kind is not the "big name brand" one. I should mention as well that it does have some caffeine so its great in the morning. I like drinking it as tea (hot or cold) or throwing it in my morning smoothie or bowl of oatmeal.

So these are some of my recent food purchases.  Here are a few of them in action...aka my lunch. Spinach salad, with tomato, cucumber, garam masala tofu topped with some chia seeds and hemp hearts.  YUMMY!