How to Be Vegan Book Review by Boxy

I have pretty much always been a vegetarian. There were times, growing up and even into college, when I took "breaks" for various reasons - generally health-related - but I gave up eating meat very young. My parents, especially my dad, were very supportive of my decision, but it still didn't make it easy. When I was younger, it was very hard to find vegetarian alternatives at the grocery store and unless you lived in an urban area, people thought you were odd if you didn't eat meat. Restaurants didn't have options beyond salads and it grew somewhat frustrating, not only for me, but for my friends and family as well. 

Fortunately, a lot has changed since the early 1990's. Vegetarians are a lot more common and almost every restaurant has options, some more than others. Still, a few options are far better than living off salad (not that I mind salad, but we like variety, too!). Even fast food restaurants, with the exception of McDonald's, have come around and started to make it easier to go the same places as the people you know without making a big issue of things. 

Of course, that's not the same as being vegan, but it's slowly getting better for vegans, too. Personally, I am not a vegan but not because I don't like vegan food. I actually eat plenty of vegan options and don't mind when products are vegan at all. I just haven't made that step. 

My parents were recently traveling and came across the book How to Be Vegan, which they sent me as a surprise. I was pleased that they sent it, because they are not only showing support for our choices, but also helping us eat even better. 

POPSUGAR Must Have Box Review: March 2015

So I am not like a lot of women, I guess. I discover this consistently when I talk to women for extended periods of time, as I don't seem to have similar interests to most of the women in my life. When I signed up for the POPSUGAR Must Have Box with a long-term subscription, I knew I would end up only keeping a few of the items each month because they're very much targeted towards women who are not like me. I don't mean to disparage anyone in any way, but I always thought that this was a box where there was good value and although I may not love everything, I could gift the items I didn't like. That's how I feel about FabFitFun and Little Lace Box, too, because generally they source really high quality and often somewhat unique items that someone will love, even if it isn't me. So I have had a long-term subscription with POPSUGAR and then as it was running out, I was debating next steps. Should I go month-to-month or maybe subscribe for an even longer period? Fortunately, they released the March box, making my decision very easy.

There are a lot of women who loved this box, proving again I am not like a lot of women. I canceled before this box even shipped once I saw what was in it. There is not one item in this box I want and I ended up throwing most of it away. Even worse, the items were not even giftable, because they looked cheap and the makeup is all tested on animals.

Eco Emi Variety Box Review: March 2015

I bet you're surprised that Eco Emi's March box was awesome! ;) Seriously, I love this box. I know some people were concerned when they did away with the Beauty Box. I hope it's not a sign of anything but them focusing their efforts on their Variety Box, because I look forward to this so much each month.

Kloverbox Review: March 2015

I fell in love with kloverbox last month, and I have used the products in the last box daily since it arrived. So I was very excited to get this month's box from them. All the items in the kloverbox subscription box are organic, cruelty-free, and natural.

Kloverbox Review: February 2015

Kloverbox is a subscription box of handcrafted, ecofriendly, ethical, and cruelty-free products. These are generally beauty or personal care items. It's a slightly more expensive subscription box, but the products are full-sized and top quality.

Eco Emi Variety Box: February 2015

Surprise - my Eco Emi Variety Box is awesome! ;) (Of course it is, because it always is!) I recently decided to stick to the Variety Box over the Beauty Box, at least until winter and the heating costs pass, because I think I prefer it. Sure the samples are smaller, but it's more loaded and I find myself exposed to a greater variety of brands. I'm happy to buy things I like and I get so many great products from Eco Emi.

Every month, the items come wrapped in tissue paper and sealed. Inside were rose petals and an info card, and the beauty products were wrapped in their own bag. I love the detail and effort put into this box. Again, I really can't stress how amazing everything Eco Emi does is.

Petit Vour Review: February 2015

I truly enjoy Petit Vour, although I had to put my subscription on hold for the next few months. The winter has been harsh and our heating bill is pretty high so I've decided to pause a few subscription boxes until spring. As much as I love this box, I don't use the items quickly enough so I figured I would pause but I will definitely be going back.

Body Merry's Cellulite Defense Gel-Cream and Hyaluronic Dew Serum: Product Review by Crafty

Body Merry's products are taking over my bathroom and I am okay with this! A month or so ago, I reviewed two of Body Merry's products and I was very pleased with not only the results but also the quality of the products. So when they offered me a chance to review additional products, I jumped at the chance!

This month I took on Cellulite Defense Gel-Cream. I won't deny that I, like most women who have given birth to three children, have had a weight problem that fluctuates. This, combined with getting older, means I admit that I have cellulite. The main areas where I notice it are on my backside and upper thighs, which seems to be pretty typical.

The other product was Hyaluronic Dew Serum, which helps to replace the moisture that is lost as we age. I have had a terrible problem with dry skin, especially on my face, for YEARS. It is something that started when I was in my late teens and has continued. This time of year is perfect for trying a product like this because the cold weather, as well having the heat on nonstop, means I dry out even quicker.

Eco Emi Variety Box: January 2015

I signed up for Eco Emi a little late, so I didn't technically get the Variety Box in January. That's why this review is as late as it is, because I ordered one they had left over at the end of the month. As always, Eco Emi does a great job! I had this within a few days, even with all the storms!

Petit Vour Review: January 2015

Petit Vour is a cruelty-free and vegan beauty subscription box. Although I'm normally not one to buy a lot of beauty products, especially monthly, I like this subscription because it ensures that the products are animal friendly. Sometimes it can be hard to determine what is and isn't cruelty-free, not to mention how hard items can be to find depending on where you are, so I love that Petit Vour makes it easy and helps me stock up on products I don't have to feel guilty about using.

Body Merry Personal Care Products Review by Little Miss Crafty

I am not old (well, at least I tell myself that). I am, however, in my mid-thirties and I have three kids. With that said, I have a TON of stretch marks and numerous scars from various surgeries over the last several years. I have been looking and looking and looking for a stretch mark and scar cream that actually works. When I stumbled on Body Merry's Stretch Marks & Scar Defense cream, it seemed worth a try and I was very excited to be given a chance to review this product.

I have only been using this for just under a month, but I plan to continue to use it to help with the areas that are a problem on my body. I wanted to share some highlights about this product, as well as another product I received from Body Merry.

Honest Company Essentials Bundle Review

I hadn't realized prior to ordering that Jessica Alba (yes, that Jessica Alba) is one of the founders of Honest Co. It wouldn't have affected my ordering or anything, but I do like seeing people who have pull in the world doing something to give back and improve it.

Honest Co. is mostly a family company - with a focus on leaving the world better for your children. However, in addition to baby products and diapers, they also have a cleaning products line, a line of beauty products, and vitamins and wellness products.

Honest has three essential packages, which are basically starter packs to let you decide if you want to subscribe long-term. I ordered the Essentials Bundle, which included beauty and cleaning supplies. I've also now decided to subscribe monthly, because you get five full sized items (from their beauty and cleaning lines) for $35.95. You also can change which items you get each month and they make almost everything!

Wholly Hemp Review: January 2015

Wholly Hemp is a beauty product subscription box that you can purchase in three sizes, from basic to pamper. I subscribe to the basic, which includes two products each month. The products include soaps and lip balms mainly, all of which are cruelty free, handcrafted in small batches, and made with eco-friendly ingredients.

In addition, 25% of all purchases is given back as microloans to women in developing countries, so that these women can develop and manage sustainable businesses and get themselves out of poverty. The money goes directly to the women and allows them a greater role in their own lives, as well as their communities.

Petit Vour Review: December 2014

Petit Vour is a beauty subscription, which isn't normally my thing. However, they only use cruelty free and vegan products, something I love, so this is one I feel passionate about subscribing to if only to support these companies.

This is the December 2014 box. I love the box itself because it's bright pink and easy to find! I also like that it's small enough to store, while big enough to hold samples.

Conscious Box: Vegan Plus Review

Conscious Box was one of the first boxes I signed up for, but this is also going to be one of the first I cancel and it's my first negative review. I want to like this box, I really do. I want this company to do well, but the customer service seems nonexistent, the site seems easy to navigate but doesn't make a great deal of sense, and the boxes... well, they're not so great anymore. In theory, this should work, because who doesn't love a variety of products that are eco-friendly, healthy, and usually from companies with integrity? The problem is that the box was basically full of nothing. It was literally full of filler - that little rabbit-food looking paper that people put in gift baskets. Other than that, it included a few postcards encouraging me to buy the full size products and a bunch of samples. Does this look worth $20?