Review: Love With Food

Reviewer: Jackie Snider

I seriously love subscription boxes right now. This next one is no exception. Who doesn’t love getting exciting new yummies in the mail every month? This month I had the pleasure of trying out Love With Food. 

When I got the box, one of the first things I noticed was how small it was. When I opened it, I was completely shocked by how much was packed inside this package! 

Laying nice and neatly on the top was a detailed list of what everything in the box was. 

There was also further literature and coupons for each item.
  

Now we can move on to the good stuff! 

The first thing I pulled out was Savory Shortbread by Dancing Deer Baking Co. The flavor was rosemary sea salt. I thought that sounded strange, so I was a little nervous to try it. There were two cookies in the package, and after just one bite it took a lot off willpower to not swallow both cookies whole. They were so incredibly light with a lovely buttery taste that just melted in your mouth. These crispy little treasures were a delicious delight.  

 

The next item I tried was KuKuRuZa tuxedo popcorn. This was caramel popcorn drizzled with both milk and white chocolate. What immediately stood out was the fact that it was resealable. I thought that was a great feature. Until, of course I realized ten minutes later that it was a pointless feature! Upon opening, they smelled absolutely intoxicating. I meant to just eat a few pieces to get a ‘first reaction’ out of it. However, while taking notes on the rest of the box, I accidentally ate the whole small bag. Whoops! 

I enjoyed the ones that were just slightly covered with the chocolate the most. Some of the pieces were completely covered in the chocolate, and in my opinion there were too rich. It almost had a frosting taste.
 

Next up was Sweet Corn Crunch from Sensible Foods. I was expecting a corn nut kind of snack. I was quite surprised when I opened it to find actual dried corn. It smelled just like a bowl of fresh corn. 

To be honest, I didn’t like it. I’m not a big fan of corn in general. I thought it tasted like dried creamed corn! My husband thought it was good, and my 4-year-old daughter ate most of the bag by herself. There was only 40 calories for the entire bag!
 

Now onto the chocolate! There was a cute little satchel containing two bars of Green and Black Organic Dark Chocolate bars. They were 70% dark chocolate. They were definitely bold and bitter, and dark chocolate should be. Personally, I’m more of a fan of dark chocolate when it has fruit or nuts in it, but it was very good quality and quite tasty.
 
One item I put off trying was the Laura Secord Maple Fudge. I’m neither a big fan of maple, nor fudge. As expected it was quite rich! The texture was very soft and creamy. 

It definitely had a strong maple flavor, but it was surprisingly pleasant. I could only eat a few nibbles at a time though.
 

Another item I wasn’t looking forward to was the Sweet Potato Pop Chips. Pop Chips are chips that are neither fried nor baked. The texture is amazing! However, I can’t stand sweet potatoes. I was very pleased with these, surprisingly! 

They are a perfectly natural blend of sweet and salty! I haven’t yet found these in the store near me, but I can’t wait to get my hand on another bag.


 
I thought the packet of tea was a nice touch to add to the Love With Food box. 

It was a single packet of Mighty Leaf Ginger Twist. I’m not a frequent tea drinker, but when I do, I enjoy the whole tealeaves like this. Generally speaking, I only drink tea when I am sick. In addition, I only remember to buy tea, when I’m sick and need it! I’m very happy to be able to put this away for the inevitable rainy that that I will want tea. I can smell it through the package, and it smells wonderful!


 
Also in the box was a full Eat Natural Apricot and Almond fruit and nut bar with a yogurt flavored coating. It was my breakfast, split up, for two days. It was very tasty and had an amazingly creamy apricot flavor.

 
Lastly, the box included a packet of Chicken Tikki Masala spices from Arora Creations. It smells amazing! 

The first scent I noted was sunflower seeds, which happen to be the main ingredient. I have not tried it just yet but I will. I’m saving it because it looks like it would make great cold whether food! It even has a full recipe on the back of the package.
 

I was very impressed with the diversity in products included in my box, and I will definitely be a repeat customer. 

Another amazing thing about Love With Food is that when you buy a box, they donate a meal to children in need right here in America! They donate meals to food banks and other organizations such as Feeding America Network. It is always so great to hear of companies sharing their wealth with those less fortunate. It’s also amazing to know that, as a customer, your patronage is for such a good cause! To date, over 156,000 meals have been donated! It even tells you where this month’s meals are going. For the month of November, all donated meals went to San Francisco’s Harvest From the House.

  I’m going to guess that you would be as surprised as I to find out that this box I received was actually their ‘Tasting Box!’ That means that they have an even bigger amazing option called the ‘Deluxe Box.’ 

The Tasting box costs just $12 a month! Or you can choose the 6 month plan which is $11/month, or the 12 month plan running just $10 a box. 

The Deluxe box, which is at least double the amount of goodies, costs between $17-$19.95/a month depending on the plan. On top all that, the Deluxe donates 2 meals, thanks to your purchase. As if all of that wasn’t just amazing enough, you earn points for each box you receive. When accumulated, you earn credits towards products.
 
Which brings me to my next topic. I think one of my favorite parts of this box subscription is that when you love the things in your box, they make it so simple to buy more! You don’t have to search it out or cry because it’s unobtainable a second time. You just go their website and click on “Shop.”
 
I can’t think of a single person, man or woman, that wouldn’t love to receive this box as a gift. I can’t recommend it enough!
 
Love with Food on Facebook
Love with Food Website

Review: Warm and Useful Things

 Reviewer ~ Lynda Hardy

Winter has arrived, and with it comes my desire for things that make me feel warm and comfortable, along with an urge toward cheery colors that brighten up the gloom of grey, cold days.

Warm and Useful Things, an Etsy shop of knitted goodies by Karen Kyer, fills my needs perfectly and I was very happy when I learned I'd be able to review her handicrafts.

Karen not only knits, she also felts and has created a number of warm and unique felted brimmed hats. Color really alters the personality of these hats, from earthy to vibrant. I was drawn to several of them, but I chose one in purple, my favorite color. When the package arrived, I was excited to see that she'd included a large felted red rose on the hat. She sells these knit flower pins separately, and as you can see, it adds a good deal of color and interest to the hats, but it is detachable and I expect it will find its way to my coat lapel now and then as well.

Karen offered some good guidance on caring for the felted hat, suggesting spot cleaning with a damp cloth and using a dry cleaning service for more intensive care. Because it is felted, it's not intended for wet weather. Even so, they are a jaunty way to stay warm and stylish, and would be a fun addition to the wardrobe of anyone looking for something unique and interesting.

I was also sent a cotton knit French Market bag in blended shades of green and red that I absolutely love - it is lightweight and very sturdy and the design allows the bag to expand to contain items while still providing extra support at the bottom so that it will retain its shape. Because they are cotton, it can be handwashed and layed flat to shape. I deliberately used it to haul some items on the heavy side, and it did a fantastic job, bouncing back with no problem after I emptied it out. These bags are only $14.00 each - a real steal for the quality of the work. These would make wonderful functional and attractive gifts to anyone on your list.

Warm and Useful Things is the sort of small business I love best - Karen, a high school teacher, has taken a love of knitting and other crafts, and used her experience and skill to create a few signature pieces to offer for sale. She continues to knit other things for herself and friend and family, while keeping her Etsy shop focused on these key pieces. While I never learned to knit, I am fascinated and impressed by those that do, and the felting of knitted items is an old and wonderful method I am happy to see being put to use.

If you're looking for hand knitted and felted items done skillfully and with a loving hand, please check out Warm and Useful Things, and pick up something to keep your winter days merry and bright!

Check out Karen's handiwork at her Etsy Shop: Warm and Useful Things or on Facebook.

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This post was originally posted at WAHM Review and is being cross posted here by the original author.  I received no monetary compensation for this review, however I was provided with the product for free for purposes of review.  All opinions are my own. Click here see our full disclosure policy.

Review: Mia Tempo Subscription Box

Reviewer: Anne Cone

What is every busy woman’s favorite phrase? “You deserve a break”!

As a busy mom of three, I was intrigued by Mia Tempo’s tagline - “Treat Yourself and Take a Break”. I wondered how I could possibly make use of a box that was intended to give me some time for ME?

I decided to check out their website (Mia Tempo) to see what this was all about. They send you a monthly “care package” of spa and beauty products. 

As a bonus, these products only come from companies that are socially conscious. That sounded pretty good to me, especially because I love finding products that are from small businesses and eco-friendly companies.

The box itself was plain brown, but when you opened it up, you found a thick envelope laid on pretty tissue paper. Inside the envelope were two cards, printed on heavy cardstock. The cards remind me of a formal invitation! 

The first card tells you all about Mia Tempo’s box and their philosophy on how important it is for women to have “me time”. I couldn't agree more! This card also lets you know that for every box you buy, the company makes a donation to a non-profit that helps women. What a great bonus!

This is the “Treatment Menu” on the next card. This is important, because it’s what makes Mia Tempo different from other subscription boxes! This card takes all the guess work out of your “me” time - it gives you step by step instructions on how to give yourself the entire spa treatment in your own home.

As I’ve mentioned, I am quite a busy mom. It’s not often that I get to designate time to myself, mostly because I always feel like I have something more pressing that needs to be done.

The night after my box arrived, I put my kids to bed and proceeded to go about my nightly chores. As I did, I spotted my Mia Tempo box on the counter and I decided that there was nothing that couldn't wait until tomorrow - that box was sent for me to relax and I was going to use it!

I grabbed the treatment menu and opened up the box. The tissue paper was a rich brown and aqua, sealed with an embossed brown seal. The attention to detail in the Mia Tempo box is such a treat. Every part of it, from the tissue paper to the treatment cards is luxurious and high quality. It gives you the feeling of a decadent splurge.

What a pleasure to open this box. The smells of the products aren't overwhelming, but you can pick up a hint as you unwrap the paper.

 Step one was to make a cup of the tea, light the candle, and use the bath salts. I'm not much of a tea drinker, but I brewed a cup anyways and took everything into our bathroom. I lit the candle and stuck it on the ledge near my head (so I could smell it, but far enough not to burn my hair off!), and used 2 oz of the bath salts. I also took my book in with me because I was not going to pass up some time to read in quiet!

To my surprise, the tea was delicious. It was Kiwi Lime Ginger, a sweet and fruity blend unlike any tea I've ever had. I would drink that every single night.

The candle had a hint of rose, and I am surprised how much the scent helped me to relax. It was something different and made you feel like you were sitting somewhere besides just your bathroom.

The bath salts were Amber and Fig, lightly scented. The actual salts do have some herbs and dried flowers in them so you will see them floating in your tub! It was a really fun, out of the norm way to feel pampered. I let myself have a relaxing bath while I sipped my tea and read a book I've been dying to catch up on. Thats like a paid vacation to a mom!

Next step is to use the fig body scrub and the wild rose face mask. The mask needed to be pre-mixed with honey and water, so it was nice and set by the time I was ready to use it. I let that sit while I used the body scrub, which was thick and creamy and smelled incredible. After rinsing off the scrub and the mask I felt like a million bucks! Its been so long since I treated myself to products like that.

Step three is to finish off after bath with amber and fig lotion and wild rose eye cream. The lotion was just as sweet smelling as the bath salts! The eye cream was luxurious and felt great. I also noticed how soft my skin was the next morning.

I cannot believe what a difference that hour made in my attitude the next day. I felt rested and refreshed - like I had pressed the reset button for myself. Not only are the products in the Mia Tempo box amazing, but the very idea of receiving a box that is specifically meant to give you a time out is incredible.

Mia Tempo offers monthly subscriptions, or you can buy a single box anytime you’d like. At first glance, they seem a bit pricier than other subscription boxes ($39.95 per box, discounts offered for multiple months purchased together via a Mia Tempo Membership), but when I do a cost analysis these boxes are actually LOWER priced than what I would expect to spend on products like this shipped to my door. Every item in the box I received was a deluxe sample or a full sized product, and each one will give me multiple uses. Not to mention that you get free shipping, which makes the price of a box pretty incredible.

Mia Tempo also offers a Give a Gift option that is incredible. For the same price ($39.95 a box), you have a beautifully wrapped gift sent to the door of the receiver. There is not a woman that I know (and some men too!) that would not be ecstatic at receiving this box as a gift. The price is amazing for the products, wrapping, and shipping - and the ease of sending cannot be beat! All you have to do is fill in the information and just like that - your gifting is done. I know a few ladies in my family who are getting these boxes for Christmas, and I cannot wait to give them! This is the most fun and unique gift I will give this season.

Gentlemen, please allow me to make your life easier for one moment. If you are wondering what to give your wife for her birthday, anniversary, Mothers Day, you name it, look no further. Hand your wife this box, take the kids for an hour or two, and you will be the husband of the year. It simply couldn’t be easier!

In a market that is full of subscription boxes, Mia Tempo certainly raises the bar. Check them out - I promise you will not be disappointed!

Mia Tempo Website
Mia Tempo Facebook

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This post was originally posted at WAHM Review and is being cross posted here by the original author.  I received no monetary compensation for this review, however I was provided with the product for free for purposes of review.  All opinions are my own. Click here see our full disclosure policy.