I did a survey recently, and asked what box do you wish existed. The most popular answer (see the results HERE) was a baking box! I did some research and found a baking box. A bake box sends at least one high quality baking ingredient plus decorating tools to make cupcakes. Each month is a new flavor with fun items. Bake Box was very generous and sent me a box to review. I must admit, I am not a great cook. I was a bit nervous about getting this box. Prior to this box, I had never made cupcakes with homemade icing. Read on to see if I burned the house down.
I really love cheese and I was so excited when I saw a new subscription box for cheese, Yankee Hollow. Yankee Hollow sent me a box to review, and I couldn't wait to dig in. I live in a rural area and we don't have many gourmet cheeses in the area. I have seen some gourmet cheese sections in grocery stores, but I never knew what to pick. Yankee Hollow doesn't send you regular cheese from the grocery store. Each month Yankee Hollow sends you an assortment of artisanal cheeses along with information about that cheese. You get tasting notes and tips on beer and wine to pair with your cheese.
The Details:
Cost: $35.00 a month
Whats in the box? “Each month, you'll get 1-2 lbs of cheese. The hope is that you'll love them all, of course…but this is a way to try new cheeses you've many never had! The weight of cheese is broken down into 2-4 different types. Usually you'll get 3.”
When am I billed? 10th of the month for monthly customers, every 3 months for the 3 month subscriptions and the same with yearly subscriptions.
When does the box ship? Go HERE to see the full shipping schedule through Sept 2014
Cancel policy? You must cancel by the 10th of the month.
There was an ice pack at the bottom and two sheets of insulation padding. The cheese was wrapped in brown paper with some straw filling. The cheese was nice and cool. The box was sent 2 day priority and two hours after the box was opened, the packing was still cool
Information Cards
Each cheese comes with a colorful card that tells about each cheese
Information Card-Back
I loved how detailed the information cards. The tasting notes were so descriptive and fit each cheese perfectly. There was also suggestions for beer and wine pairings. I am including the tasting notes with each cheese.
Edelweiss Raw Milk Grassfed Gouda Twice Bake Squash
This sounds interesting and I might try it.
Traditional Abergele 8 ozs
Tasting Notes: “This Welch cheese is very well-rounded. Your first bite is a little spicy, and then gets nutty. The finish is sweet and mellow, with a slight tang. The texture is not too tacky, yet it still melts nicely. You'll notice this cheese is a fun one to move around in your mouth to see what your taste buds pick up. The sides of your tongue will be able to taste the cheddaring of the cheese, as it is in the cheddar family. The tip of the tongue is where you get the spice (which can be increased by biting into a spicy piece of charcuterie right before”
This sounded a bit weird and I didn't know if I would like it. I really did enjoy this cheese. The description is very accurate. I ate this cheese by itself and it tasted great. I tried to find it online, but I was unable to find it. These cheese is made at Specialty Harmony Dairy in Stratford, WI.
Tasting Notes “It starts out sweet, fresh and cheddar. The sweetness turn into a delicious creamy candy caramel flavor…before, depending on the piece you've bitten into, you're slapped in the face with the blue molding. Before you've finished, you've not even sure what just happened… you just know you liked it. It's like a funhouse of cheese. A very, very fun house.”
Oh wow, this is fantastic cheese. I don't like blue cheese, so the blue part of this made me nervous. I tasted it and it was fantastic. It is a harder cheese with a strong cheddar taste with added blue flavor. I am going to buy more of this. This cheese is made at Roelli Cheese Haus, in Shullsburg, WI
Tasting Notes “This semi-soft version is creamy and buttery, yet quite tangy. The cheese is slightly sweet like other gouda varieties – at least that's how it starts. The sweetness moves to buttery, which changes to a tangy flavor. “Swish” it around in your mouth.. can you taste the grass? We thought so. At this point, you'll almost feel as though the cheese tastes bitter.. but in a good way! As you've devoured almost the entire piece..hints of nut and molasses linger.”
This was the most unusual cheese of the bunch. This cheese was soft but had an interesting taste.
The Whole Box
Final Thought: Wow, I really love this box. The cheese was fantastic. I can be a picky eater, but these cheese were so good. My husband really enjoyed this cheese and thought it was really good with some salami. I am getting more of the Red Rock Cheddar, once I eat all of it. If you would love to try Yankee Hollow (You should!), go to www.yankeehollow.com. Yankee Hollow has also agreed to give 1 lucky reader a 3 month subscription. If you would like to enter to win, just click below!
Disclosure: Yankee Hollow is responsible for price distribution. I received the box free for review. My opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way.
Doteable sent me the classic duffel to review this month, and I was excited to get it. Doteable is a monthly subscription service that sends a duffel of goodies and other essentials to college students. I reviewed the mini duffel HERE. I love all the new college subscription boxes, I have a couple of lucky cousins who are going to get some awesome care packages. One thing I really like about Doteable, is how versatile their care packages are. Doteable is a perfect gift for college students but would make great gifts for teens and adults.
I was very excited to get my first Rocks Box. Rocks Box is a new jewelry subscription service that send 3 unique pieces of jewelry for $19.00 a month. You can buy longer subscriptions and pay as low as $15.00. Rocks Box will send you jewelry worth over $200.00! You wear it out and about, when you are done with it, simply return it in the prepaid envelope. There is no time line on when you have to return the jewelry, you will simple pay your monthly fee as it is scheduled. You can send you jewelry back at anytime and get 3 brand new pieces. It's basically like having a bottomless jewelry box!
What happens if you like your items? You can buy the items you like for 20% off retail prices.
Rocks Box sent me a box to review, and I was very excited.
Rocks Box
The box ships inside a white bubble envelope. All the jewelry is packaged in this little white box.
First Look
Information list
I copied and pasted my personal information from the top. The list comes with a description of all three pieces. You also check if you liked the piece, disliked it, loved it or want to buy it. You can also write in comments about your pieces.
Lotus Jewelry Studio (Member Price $68.80) Asymmetrical Twisted Hoop Necklace in Silver and Good
I love this necklace and it is just my style.
Close up
Packaging
All the jewelry was in little bags like this
Double Druzy Ring in Navy and White (Member price 88.00)
I think this ring is pretty unique. The stones look like actual rocks. This fits perfect and is pretty cool.
Urban Gem All Tied Together in Pave Silver $22.40
I also love these earrings. They are small and classy.
Final Thought: Wow, I love this box. I really want to keep all the jewelry. I am not sure if I will buy it all or wear it and trade back for new stuff. This is such a fun subscription. If you want to have access to a bottomless jewelry box, you can try your first box FREE! Just click HERE and use the code Friendsrock to sign up. The FREE MONTH offer ends tonight 10/25 at midnight. You can try out Rocks Box risk free. You cancel right from your account if it's not for you.
Sensational Beginnings carries Boom, Lego, Melissa and Doug, Friends, P'ilino. Green Toys and Skip Hop.
Shipping is only $4.95 flat rate and free over $99.00. They also donate a toy for every purchase over $50.00/
If I get 3 people to use my link, I will get mine free. Once I get my 3, I will put another person's link in my post. The first person who purchases with my link, will get their link featured first (when I get my 3)
Sparaj is a new subscription box company that brings Asian wellness and spa products to your home. Sparaj is $40.00 a month and brings you holistic products from around Asia. Sparaj is subscription box but doesn't have reoccurring billing. This mean you only buy the box you want. I love when companies make it easier on customers.
I got the opportunity to review Sparaj and I loved the box. Everything was packaged so beautifully. If you would like to see my review, just click the picture below.
The United Box Bloggers have partnered with Sparaj and Sparaj is giving one reader a 6 month subscription. That is a $220.00 value! Be sure to enter, because you will love this box. If you want to sign up for a box, go to www.sparaj.com and use the code subboxmom5 to save $5.00 (expires Oct 31st)
This is a speaker, headset and speakerphone. My husband loves this thing. The speaker quality isn't the greatest, but C had a blast playing with it. He is taking this to work for our “conference calls”. My husband loves techie gadgets like this.
Ashton Says: “Talk about efficiency at its finest. This speaker, handset and speakerphone combination is a terrific triple threat.”
This is a deck of cards with tips on how to be a proper gentleman. You can learn to tie a proper Windsor knot, or the proper way to taste whiskey. C also loved this and has been reading the cards all evening.
Ashton Says “Halloween is a month for disguises. Use these cards to help master yours”.
C wears jeans and a t shirt to work, so he won't use this much. It is a very nice pocket square though. This may be a gift for a trendy relative.
Ashton Says “This pocket square adds the perfect hint of Halloween flair”.
Information Cards
Fancy always includes a card for every item in the box. On the back, is a message from Ashton, on why he picked the item.
Whole Box
Final Thought: This month's box had a total value of $120.95. My husband loves the Monocle and the card deck. The Ashton Kutcher A+ Fancy box is filled with many unique items, that you wouldn't find regularly. If you are interested in signing up for The Ashton Kutcher A+ Box or any Fancy box, click HERE. Use the code FOLLOWUP10 to save 10% on your first box.
Do you love Giveaways? Check out all my Giveaways HERE
I am always excited to get Bluum. Bluum is $24.95 a month and each month, you get an assortment of goodies from lotions to toys and books for your child. Bluum curates each box by ages. Each theme is the same every month for every age, but the products within each box are different from month to month and from box to box. Bluum can be a bit different but I always like my boxes. I have heard they can be hard to cancel, so sign up with a re-loadable prepaid card.
First Look
Generally items don't fit the themes, but I was surprised by all the colorful items in the box.
Information Card
Bluum sends an information card with each month's theme. The back has more detailed information about your child during that month. The list of items in the box is emailed once your box is delivered.
I received another Early Lingo in my Stork Stack box. I like that this is part 1 of the series. I am still not crazy about having a dvd for my 20 month old. I will let my 4 year old watch this. It is always good to teach children another language.
This is Eczema & Sensitive Skin Formula. I am really excited to try this for T. He has eczema and I hope this can help. This has vitamin A, canendula, aloe vera, chamomile
I love Melissa and Doug and we don't have this toy. This is a fun toy, as you can put the rings in any order. T really likes this and has been playing with it, ever since he got it.
Luna Bar $2.00
I dislike Luna bars and carrot cake. I will just say yuck and move on.
This bib is made with organic cotton and non gmo soy fibers. This is really soft. I will probably save this for a baby shower. T doesn't use bibs unless it is mealtime, and then we use easy clean ones.
The Whole Box
Final Thought: I thought this box was really good. There were 6 items total in my box. I dislike the Luna bar, but it's only $2.00 of the total value. The total value of the box is $61.21. That is a really good value for a $25.00 box. My favorite items are the book, ring stack and the lotion, that is $32.92 right there! If you are interested in trying Bluum, click HERE.
Do you love giveaways? Click HERE and see all my current giveaways.
Disclosure: This box was received free for review. All my opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way.
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