Awesome Pack Big Kid Unboxing November 2015

I wasn't expecting my Awesome Pack until tomorrow, so when the doorbell rang and this cute package was in Alex's arms, I got really excited to discover what Awesome Pack thought we could enjoy on our game nights.

So, as you're probably wondering what this package is, let me explain You have the choice between two different Awesome Packs: 
Awesome Pack Family : geared towards families with kids of all ages to encourage family activities.
Awesome Pack - Big Kid: this is the one we opted for, geared towards big kids at heart.
Before you get your first box, you fill in a questionnaire so you can get a better fit to your family.  Example, I informed the company that the box is for myself and my partner (32 and 33 years old) and a few of our interests.  They also try to find out which games you already own so they don't send you a duplicate.  Pretty cool, right?
Prices are $44.99 for US and $49.99 for Canadian residents.  I'm trying to verify if there's shipping but I can't find anything about shipping on the website.  I believe it is free.

First thing I pulled out of the box is this:

 This is a poster and I pretty much laughed out loud when I read it.  This is going up in my office room as it does match the colors and I think it's pretty humorous.

And this just about made me melt...they sent me a birthday card! How awesome is that!  Big points for you Awesome Pack; you did fantastic with just these two items.  But no, this is not the only things I got...these were just thoughtful.

I pulled out this Wooly Willy retailing at 4.96$.  I swear, the instructions on the Awesome Pack Card made me crack up : "I think Wooly Willy needs and Awesome Movember Stache!! Don't You?"  Yes, yes, I think he does.  I think this is fun, silly and I can definitely see having this in my office (I'm a psychotherapist) and have my nervous clients occupy their hands as they try to talk about important things.  I LOVE IT!  Sorry, Alex.. I am claiming this as mine :)

Thanks to a friend, I got an add-on because she used me as a referral (thank you Sarah!). This is Babylon valued at 8.99$.   Described as a fast-paced strategy game played with 2 plays 7years old and up.  When we say fast, apparently they aren't kidding...a game can take only 5 minutes. Based on what I am reading, the goal is to create a tile pyramid.  Can only top the bottom tile with one of a matching color or a smaller tile.  I will give this a try with Alex today.

We also got Farkle Nano (keychain form of a game) valued at 5.99$.  Plays 2-8 players ages 8 years old and up.  I've never played Farkle but I read that it's a classic.  This is a dice rolling game and objective is to collect 10 000 points by scoring your dice rolls (click here to know the value of certain rolls).  Seems a lot like yahtzee/poker but scored differently.  We'll also try this out later today, sounds fun.

Sign of the Pagan has got me all kinds of excited; this really looks like my cup of tea.  First, the description as given by Awesome Pack " Sign of the Pagan from Richard Berg portrays the most famous battle of one of History's most feared figures - Attila the Hun."  I was very much into history when I was in high school so I am well aware of who this is and to have a game based on his story makes me soooo thrilled, I can not even fake it!  This is valued at 19.99$ (the cheapest price I saw of this game), it's a 2 player game for people 13 years old and up.  Game play is also approximately two hours, but that's quite alright, that just means quality time with my man.

And the last game is called Zong Chi "In a large town in Old China, several talented artisans, masters in their own right, aspire to become recognized as Zong Chi - The Grand Master Craftsman.  You are one of these master artisans!" Alex broke the seal of this box as soon as I took it out of the box to learn the rules and as he explained them to me, I can't help but see the similarities between this and Lady of Waterdeep.  I really enjoyed that game so I know this is a win for me.  The quality of the pieces in here is really good too.  So this plays 3-5 players ages 13 years and up and plays 60-90 minutes.  Worth 44.24$, this almost covers the whole cost of the box.

Curation of this box really great and I got about 85.00$ worth of products, not to forget the awesome poster and birthday card that accompanied the box.  I have to admit, I am super happy to have hopped on the Awesome Pack bandwagon and definitely looking forward to next month's pack.  If you're subscribed to Awesome Pack, let me know what you got?  Does any of the games I got intrigues you? 

Ipsy Unboxing November 2015

 Before I start my Ipsy review for the month of November, I must advise you that this is the last Ipsy unboxing.  Yes, I am stopping my subscription one month ahead of time and I will explain why when I get through the review.  However, that is not to say Ipsy is not a good subscription, it actually is.  It just might not be the subscription for me as I am a bit more picky than most people when it comes to products I receive...

If you`re not sure what Ipsy is, it`s a make-up subscription where you get to try out  beauty products every single month for the price of $10US.  For Canadians, Ipsy is a tad more (about 19$Canadian) taking in consideration US-Canadian conversion and shipping. The value of the items in the bag can double or triple the amount you pay per month, which makes this subscription, in my opinion, one of the best beauty subscriptions out there.  You also collect points each month, and, you can redeem them on other products you`d like to try out. To subscribe to Ipsy, you can click here or you can subscribe directly with them if you prefer on their website.

The bag this month is pretty neat and the material is a bit slinky.. sorry, it' hard to describe...
Before we get into the contents, I did en up redeeming some points this month and got these items:

 These Jersey Shore Spa Lip Balms come in a variety of flavors and retail at 10.00$ each.  I'm a bit shocked at how much these are worth but they are quite tasty.  I got one in Apple Harvest and another in Pumpkin Spice.

First item is INSPR eye shadow in the shade Carnival.  Honestly a beautiful golden brown shimmer that will accentuate the gold in my eyes.  I like it, just a bit sad that this shade seems to be on repeat in my Ipsy Bag... I'd like to try different colors out of a palette, but it seems Ipsy is stubborn and wants to keep my eyes in the neutral shades, oh well.  I will wear it though.  Pricing for full-size is 13.00$ and I know this is not full-size...maybe half that?  I'll go out on a guess that it's 6.50$

This is the Crown Brush is C412 DLX Pointed Crease retailing at 12.38$, presently on sale for 4.95$.  This is another product I'm a tad bit disappointed with.  Don't get me wrong, I love this brush and I will use it but why do I get eye shadow brush after eye shadow brush after eye shadow brush?  I mean, if they are so set on sending me a brush, at least send me one that I don't have...like a blush or bronzer brush?  But I can't deny that this brush is super soft and that I will use it...

Then there's CoolWay Strong Hold Spray, this sample valued at 3.02$.  Hmm...my hair is really thick, frizzy and in no need to spray whatsoever.  Actually, I have hairspray set as one of the products I would least want to receive just because my hair does not handle hairspray well.  I'll give it a try but I am not holding my breath on it.  It does, however, smell really nice...

And next, we have Liquid Gossamer by Jelly Pong Pong valued at 22.95$ (this is a full-sized product).  The amount of shimmer this packs is beyond amazing and this is a total win for me (yes, at least there's one good thing out of this bag and it covers for the cost of the subscription).  This is absolutely gorgeous!

And last product is Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara, this sample being valued at 7.40$ as it is approximately 1/3 of the full sized.  I can't complain about getting mascara as this is my go-to product I must wear every day.  I, however, received a mascara just last month, and would have liked something different.  BUT, I will use this, regardless.  The brush is nice and bushy and definitely is different than the previous one I got.

This months bag was worth approximately 52.25$ if we don't count my add-ons...but if we do, it' wroth 72.25$...that is simply insane!  I must admit, I didn't think it was going to be worth this much, so this is a surprise for me. I will try each of these products, even if I'm a bit disappointed about the variety.  I'm open to any feedback or questions you may have,

Project Candy Box November 2015 Unboxing

I'm here today, to continue my trend of reviewing candy/snack boxes available to Canadians.  Today, I am reviewing Project Candy Box, a Canadian candy box that ships out 10+ items per month for the reasonable price of 23.00$ + 7.00$ shipping.   I have to add, their customer service is also fantastic.  I asked a question about my order and had a prompt response within the day from the owner himself.

First off, this box is very appealing to look at. I like that the shipping label wasn't put on top.  Shaking it lightly, I heard a lot of rattling which got me even more intrigued.

First look after opening the box : I see a few candies peaking through but not clearly, they are well hidden by the styrofoam peanuts and Welcome Card which specifies they regularly do giveaways on their Facebook and Twitter pages.  This month was their birthday month, so their box is jammed packed with items relating the birthday celebration.

Mike and Ike Berry Blast was selected because these look like the sprinkles we add on top of birthday cake (how silly and it did bring a smile to my face reading that on Project Candy Box's website).  I've had Mike and Ike's before, though not in this flavor, and I very much enjoy this jelly bean like treat. 

Kabaya Grape Candy is a new candy for me.  The packaging is ultra cute and when I look inside, these look like there's also orange and apple flavors.  They are little pieces of hard candy and they are quite flavorful.  Due to the fact these are Asian, I have a hard time finding it online but if ever I find this again, I know I'd grab some more.  I like them.

Sugar Straws (6) are also a childhood favorite and since these are individual and no words on them, I can't link you to the name of this brand or cost.  But I can promise I will enjoy these, especially the blue one.

Milo Pitaki Apple Pie is a Greek treat that is apparently packed with flavor.  Although various flavors were randomly asigned, I am super happy I got the apple pie one as it is by far my favorite fruit.  I will definitely enjoy this treat.  And unfortunately, I can't link this one either as I can't find it online.

Walkers Original Toffee is something I've never tried but I have heard of people raving about this so I am more than happy to give this a try.  Apparently an English toffee that melts in your mouth.  Who here does not like toffee?  So this should be a win for many recipients.  When I look at the website, I realize I've tried their Yummy Banana flavor, and honestly, the texture of this toffee is beyond amazing.  Since I'm allergic to bananas, it wasn't the best item for me.  So this one will be a bigger hit for me.

Bit-O-Honey is a honey-flavored taffy with almonds mixed in it.  I've never had this either but I am intrigued.  I love honey, so how can this go wrong? 

Maynard Beanz is like jelly beans in flavors of most popular gummy candies.  I got Sour Patch Kids flavored, and I'll be honest, I've had these before, but I also am a major fan of anything sour so this is a total win for me. 

Refreshers is another new one for me: Project Candy Box describes this as a little bit fizzy, a little bit sour and quite sweet too and compares them to a childhood favorite of mine: bottle caps.  I will be happy to give these a go.

Millions in Strawberry flavor has got me all sorts of excited.  I've been eyeing a lot of candy box reviews and every time someone got these, I have been intrigued to try them out.  And now, I can.  I am also glad I got the strawberry flavor.  These are tiny bits of chewy candy.

I got a Tic Tac Mixers in Peach Lemonade.  I got one in my Treatsbox last month in cherry cola and I very much enjoy it so I am happy to have this in a different flavor.  These Tic Tac Candy start off tasting like Peach and finish off tasting like Lemonade.

Tiliko Mango Mix is a new candy for me.  It's from Mexico and is a mixture of tamarind and mango which makes this candy sweet and spicy.  I know Alex and I will enjoy trying this out since we're always up to trying spicy foods.

I can't read the language on the bubble gum wrappers so I can't really say what company they are, what the flavors they are or anything of the sort.  They may not be bubble gum either.  But I will still try these out.

Ion Chocofreta is a chocolate wafer bar and I have never tried this either.  They look good.  Apparently this is Greece's most popular confectionery.  Ion is a company name I am familiar with; I've had some of their chocolate before and quite enjoyed them.  So I am sure these will be right up my aisle.

M&M Birthday Cake (wait what?  these exist?!  where have I been since their release!) has got me very excited to try them.  I love chocolate, I love birthday cake, put them together and it must be a dream!  I am surprised I never found these out before today.  Awesome inclusion, Project Candy Box!

And last product: Klondike Bar in Mint Chocolate Chip...uh yeah, it's the candy, not the ice cream.  I didn't even know they ventured in the candy business but I am definitely happy with this inclusion. If this tastes anything like their ice cream counterpart, I know this will be a win for me.

Project Candy Box has treated me to 15 different candies and honestly, I am impressed with the variety and novelty of all of these products.  I think this box is well worth its price and would highly recommend it to all candy lovers.

As always, any questions or comments are welcome.  I'm off to try some of these with Alex.

Fortune Cookie Soaps - Get What You Get Grab Bags

There's nothing like receiving a box full of Fortune Cookie Soap goodies after a 12 hours shift at work, no seriously, there's really nothing that beats this for me.  I was super thrilled to be getting this, and I think Alex was too as he helped me by opening the box for me and we were immediately greeted with awesome fragrances promised by Fortune Cookie Soaps.  I LOVE IT!

First off, let's show you the things we knew I was getting, as I redeemed my 10$ on two soap bars and a wooden soap dish:

 

This Groovy Beech Soap Dish is exactly what we've been wanting to prevent our soap from getting mushy.  For some reason, we have a hard time in that factor as water seems to accumulate in the built-in soap dish in the shower.  So this will be perfect to keep the soaps lasting a long time.  and it was accompanied by a red FCS sucker, which I consumed immediately.  Pricing on this soap saver is 6.95$.

This Cotton Candy Soap Bar smells exactly like you'd imagine it would smell...a dream!  I am a huge fan of anything cotton candy, so I obviously could not resist.  Valued at 6.95$

This Yipes Stripes Soap Bar smells like fruit gum.  It is as beautiful as it is awesome in scent.  Also valued at 6.95$

And as you remember, there was a sort of grab bag event called Get What You Get happening at FCS and I got two bags.  Each bags cost me 10$ but they were definitely worth more than that.

First bag had this variety of items:

a body wash, a hair spray, an OCD hand sanitizer and a whipped cream (yay!)

Wendy Bird from the Straight on Til Morning collection and smells like "bright green apples with a tropical twist" I like it very much and it is worth 10.99$.  This, alone, covers the cost of the grab bag.

Helmet Hair is a hair spray that smells like a soft floral scent with notes of strawberry pie.  It gives texture to the hair without the crunch and conditions it at the same time.  I am really looking forward to giving this one a try.  This is valued at 9.99$.  If you're keeping tabs, that's now double what it cost me to get this bag and there's still two more items!

Mele Kalikumaka OCD Hand Sanitizer smells like "tropical spiced rum and Tahitian vanilla sprinkled with jasmine petals and undertones of wood" and is valued at 2.89$ like all other hand sanitizers but cannot be found on the website (not even in their museum...strange),  I like a good hand sanitizer though, especially since it's that time of year when everybody seems to be getting sick...

American Royalty Whipped Cream has got me doing flips all over the room...I LOVE this smell!  There's just something particular about this one scent that drives me nuts.  As you remember, this was part of the Fall Collection for Old Hollywood and it smells like "Rose milk, thick honey, and warming tobacco blossoms wrapped with caramel and notes of mandarin" Honestly, this scent is out of this world.  This is the 8oz one and it's worth 16.49$.
So my first Get What You Get grab bag was worth 40.36$ and I only paid 10$ for it.. pretty impressive, right?  Well that's not it.. I got a second one to show you!

Got some bath salts, OCD hand sanitizer, whipped cream and body wash.

 

As mentioned in the previous item, I love American Royalty scent so when I saw that I got the American Royalty Bath Salts in my second grab bag, I was super thrilled!  I can't wait to soak in this soon.  I won't repeat what it smells like, as you can just scroll up two paragraphs but I am super happy.  This item is worth 10.99$.  Again, I cover the price of the grab bag with just this product alone.

 We're All Mad Here OCD Hand Sanitizer from the Wonderland Collection smells like "playful mint waters and natural leafy green performs a masterful balancing act with musky rich cedarwood" Honestly smells quite nice and I've always been a fan of musky smells so this is right up my aisle.  And this is valued at 2.89$.

Kiss Whipped Cream from the Straight on Til Morning collection is another fantastic smell : "exotic watermelon, juicy pineapple, and coconut water, bursting with fresh citrus juices".  Can you say yummy?  I am happy to give this scent a go, especially since I am a huge pineapple coconut fan.  This is valued at 10.99$.

Jello Surprise Body Wash smells like festive plums with a zesty curl of citrus all wrapped-up pretty-like with winter orchid and soft sandalwood.  There's something to say about how pretty this body wash is to look at but it also smells pretty amazing too.  This is valued at 10.99$.

So my second grab bag is worth 35.86$ and again only paid 10.00$ for it.  I am duly impressed and convinced I'll need to participate any time FCS decides to do a Get What You Get event.  I love very single item I received!  What do you think about what I received?  What item seem the most interesting to you? 

Julep November Birthstone Welcome Box:

Because I unsubscribed from Rainbow Honey a month in advance and also cancelled my Ipsy Bag as well, I decided I would sign up for Julep one month ahead of time too.  Lo and behold, there was a code to get my first month free (actually more than one) and I decided I could not resist these colors so there you have it.  I got two nail polish subscription boxes inside of one day.

For those of you unfamiliar with Julep, it is a monthly nail polish and beauty product subscription at a reasonable price of 24.99$/month.  If you sign up on the 3-month plan (pay for three months all at once), it costs you 19.99$/month.

Subscribers get to pick their choice of beauty product and nail polish on the 20th of every month and get billed on the 27th.  They are also free to skip a month if needed.  I am looking forward to doing my first pick next week.

Here's the first glimpse at the box:

Since my address was on the front of the box (darn!) I didn't want to show you the box itself.  It would be nice if it were placed at the bottom instead.

Items included in this box are 3 nail polishes and 1 eye liner.

First item I am showing (with swatch) is the Julep Eye Glider Gel Eyeliner in Smoky Taupe Shimmer.  This retails at 16.00$ or 12.80$ if you are a Maven.  I really like the color on this and this is not the first time I have tried this product...what I don't like is the pencil is wrapped in plastic, which makes it that much harder to sharpen...I don't know if anybody has any tips for that...I unfortunately end up wasting a lot of the product as I have not mastered that yet..  I'm happy to get this though... it stays put once applied and is perfect for hazel eyes.

And here are the nail polishes included in this November birthstone box.  The blue color is the one that drew me in but the other two are equally as gorgeous.

First there's Louisa May - Citrine for November - retails at 14.00$ or 11.20$ for Mavens.  It is described as citrine birthstone iridescent shimmer.  This rose golden hue is perfect for the fall weather and I am definitely looking forward to sporting it as my next manicure.

Next there's Colton - retails at 14.00$ or 11.20$ for Mavens.  It is described as a black iris creme. It's a bit purple but barely.. so dark it looks black.  It it similar to their Logan, except this one does not have shimmer.

And lastly, there's Paulina - retails at 14.00$ or 11.20$ for Mavens.  It is described as peacock duochrome.  As mentioned above, this color is the one that sold me out on getting this box.  It is so gorgeous and I do not have any color quite like it.  Love it!

If you're keeping tabs, that's 58$ worth of products for free!  Not bad for my first box.  I am really looking forward to seeing what my next box reserves for me.  Any question, do not hesitate to leave them below or leave me a comment to let me know what you thought of this box or for tips on how to sharpen a plastic pencil.  Thanks for reading!