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Subscription Box Deal Alert
For a limited time get up to four months free when you subscribe to KiwiCo!
3 month subscriptions get one month free, six month subscriptions get two months free and twelve month subscriptions get free.
Not familiar with KiwiCo? No worries, read my past reviews and find out more information below.
The What: Assortments of age appropriate toys and books (up to six in each box) for children up to two years old as well as activity cards and Wonder Magazine
The When: Bi-Monthly
The How Much: $39.90 with reduced prices for longer subscription terms
The Shipping: Free shipping in the US, ships international (full list of countries is available on their website).
The Coupon: Use code MERRY and the link below to save on your subscription!
*post contains affiliate links which means NAT receives a small commission for each sale made
Uncompromised Life is a Mindvalley course available from Mindvalley, an online platform for personal growth. They have classes that teach anything from mind expansion, fitness, self love and entrepreneurship through their “Quests”. Each Quest is taught by a world class teacher with other classmates – and you have the ability to communicate and discuss each class with your “tribe” (or class). Mindvalley offers free courses in addition to courses that you have to pay for. In this course that I’m reviewing today, Marisa Peer helps us to discover how to get the most out of life by changing your perspective. This course is designed for people who may be holding themselves back in life and uses Marisa Peer’s powerful hypnotherapy program to rewire the mind. You can choose to take just this course from Mindvalley or you can opt for Mindvalley all access where you can access each Quest that Mindvalley has to offer. NAT received this course at no cost for review purposes.
Mindvalley Course Review
Marisa Peer is the UK’s top therapist. In her 25 year career she has worked with countless celebs, royalty and even rock stars and so many more. Marisa’s method of therapy is called Transformation Hypnotherapy and it helps to optimize that mind in ways that will transform the way people both think and live – it can work in two sessions!
Lesson 1
What I found most interesting about this class compared to the other Mindvalley courses that I’ve taken is the amount of time is a bit different. Rather than a daily lesson Uncompromised Life has you listen to an hour long talk given by Miranda and then you go through a Hypnotherapy session and a recorded call for a total of three days of commitment. So the time spent on this program is a bit different but I seriously felt “different” after the first lesson.
In our first lesson the theme is that, “Your Mind Does What it Wants”. The lesson was surprisingly simple but extremely profound. If you are afraid of a situation your mind has the power to manifest a roadblock. Maybe that’s in the form of an upset stomach, a headache or you create a situation where you can’t possibly complete or attempt the obstacle. Essentially your mind does what it thinks you want it to do…. let me repeat that one more time… your mind does what it thinks you want it to do. Our goal at the end of this lecture was to find the things we say that are negative like, “This is killing me” or “I’m dieing” or “I can’t cope” and replace them with positives – like saying, “I love this”, “I can deal with this”, “I am good at this task”. I started doing this in normal day to day activity and while it didn’t immediately make me check off all the boxes on my list I was given this beautiful feeling of … I CAN and it motivated me to complete some things I found really tedious.
At the end of this lesson we were asked also to take a growth survey which is used as a benchmark to record our progress during this program and also to complete the activities located in our PDF Quest Workbook. We also do a hypnotic exercise these come in at just over twenty minutes and you’ll need somewhere comfortable to practice it in. We’ll do this exercise everyday for a week.
The final step for our first week of this course is a Live Call Recording. This is intended to raise the question of problems you may encounter on your journey with this course. You’ll get more in depth responses to some everyday situations.
You’ll also have the option of completing Lovability Hypno Track.
The second week of this course our theme is that we only respond to two things. What are those things you ask? Well the first are the pictures we see in our head. And Marisa makes a great metaphor; we see a caterpillar, it’s cute and we like it hence it’s positive association but a worm on the other hand is viewed as slimy and has a negative association These are an instance of the pictures that we create with our mind. The second thing that we respond to are the words that we say to ourselves. This seems like a crazy simple concept but I assure you, you’ve negative self talked yourself before, particularly if you are reading this review!
Again for this week we’ll have a hypnotic exercise that we practice each day for a week and we’ll also have a Recorded Group Coaching Session
While this course goes over the span of eight weeks the last lesson I will leave you with today is the Week Three – Make the Familiar Unfamiliar. For many people we bring the past along with ourselves. For instance, someone with an uninterested father may seek out men that are … well… uninterested solely because it’s “familiar”. In this lesson we go over ways to move away from that toxic familiarity. The first way is with praise, seek out and accept praise for your accomplishments because it boosts self esteem. Criticism has the absolute opposite effect. Basically, the point of this lesson is to accept things that are good even if we didn’t get them when we were young. We’ll finish this lesson by filling in our Quest Workbook and again completing this week’s hypnotic exercise each day for a week. We then end the lesson with a live recorded session where Marisa goes over what we learned and gives you a mental exercise you can complete on your own.
Basically, I loved this course. I felt like when it’s said out loud it seems super simple but having it put down as a course forces you to face the fact that we aren’t living our best life if we don’t treat ourselves with love and compassion and consider ourselves as a priority. That’s pretty much what this course helps you to do in simple and helpful ways!
*post contains affiliate links which means NAT receives a small commission for each sale made
Are you trying to curb your drinking? With 2020 being the AWESOME year that it has been and now the holidays steadily on their way drinking can become a bit of a vice. Those evening cocktails are nice but no one wants to depend on them or feel their effects in the AM. I have been scouting non-alcoholic drinks out lately and have found my favorites that are low calorie and even lift your spirits and in some cases help you sleep. Check them out!
Sunwink is great because it has such an amazing variety. It also creates each of it’s tonics with no sugar additives and infuses them with botanics and herbal ingredients that are good for your body. Choose from Detox Ginger, Immunity Berry, Turmeric Cleanse, Lemon Rose Uplift, and Hibsicus Mint Unwind. Calories range from 25-50 calories per 12 ounce serving (one bottle).
Curious Elixirs creates booze free craft cocktails made for EVERYONE! These lightly carbonated drinks are collaborations with the world’s best herbalists, bartenders and scientists. Choose between Curious Elixir Number One -a Pomegranate infused mocktail. This has 85 calories per six ounce serving so it is a bit higher than some other alternatives out there. Curious Elixirs Number Two is a combination of both pineapple and ginger and has only 44 calories per serving. Curious Elixir Number Three seems like it would be my favorite, it’s a blend of cucumber, florals, lemon and ashwaghanda. And finally Curious Elixir Number Four is a limited release and is Curious Elixirs take on Italian Apertifs. These are great for someone that wants pre-made drinks.
Next is Ghia… this non-alcoholic apertif includes only all natural extracts, plants and herbals. The lemon balm in this drink is perfect for calming you down at the end of a long day. Each 1.5 ounce serving is just 20 calories making this the perfect mixer to add to your favorite cocktail. This is great for those that like making and mixing their own drinks – and the recipes on their website sound delicious!
Lyre’s is a spirit lovers alternative to drinking and at just about 5 calories a serving you’re going to love it. They also have a really incredible range of varieties. Choose from; Dry London Spirit (Gin Alternative), American Malt (Bourbon Alternative), Italian Orange (Campari Alternative), Apertif Rosso (Vermouth Alternative), Dark Cane Spirit (Rum Alternative), Coffee Originale (Coffee Liqueur Alternative), White Cane Spirit (White Rum Alternative), and Amaretti (Amaretto Liqueur Alternative).
What The Free Spirits lacks in selection it makes up for in quality! These non-alcoholic liquor inspired drinks celebrate making the choice to be sober however long it is! Choose from The Spirit of Bourbon, The Spirit of Gin and the Spirit of Tequila. Also A+ for pretty packaging as well!
Next up we have something for the beer drinkers out there! Hop Wtr is an alternative to beer that is 0 Calorie (Wow!), 0 Sugar, no gluten and no alcohol. Choose from Original Hop flavored, Blood Orange, Lemon Lime or Mango. These include nootropics as well as adaptogens to make you feel great without the hangover!
Seedlip was one of the first non-alcoholic spirits that I’ve ever heard about and so it will always have a special place in my heart. Seedlip creates three different kinds of distilled spirits – the Grove 42, a citrus and lemon flavored drink, Spice 94, an aromatic blend of cardamom and allspice berries, and Garden 108, a floral blend with notes of pea and hay (FAVE). These are great for those that want something to mix with tonic water for a beautiful evening nightcap.
*post contains affiliate links which means NAT receives. a small commission for each sale made
Subscription Box Deal Alert
Get FREE Boxes when you sign up for FabFitFun!
Offer Details:
Subscribe to a Seasonal membership & receive a free mini box!
Subscribe to an Annual membership & receive a free bonus box!
Not familiar with FabFitFun? No worries read my past reviews or find out more information below.
The What: A women’s lifestyle subscription that includes fashion items, beauty items and housewares. Worth over $200 in retail value!
The When: Quarterly
The How Much: $49.99
The Shipping: FREE for contiguous US. Additional $8 for Canada, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska
Ships to: USA and Canada
The Coupon: Sign up for a seasonal subscription with code YOURMINI and the link below and get a free mini box. Sign up for an annual subscription using the code YOURBONUS and get a free bonus box! Offer is valid 11.20 – 11.30
*post contains affiliate links which means NAT receives a small commission for each sale made
Subscription Box Spoiler Alert
The Beachly 2020 Subscription Box will include the Beach Club Pullover from Beach Riot.
Not familiar with Beachly Box? No worries, find out more information below.
The What: Seasonal assortments of accessories, apparel and lifestyle items inspired by the beach worth $200 in value. These boxes are customized and there’s an option for both men and women!
The When: Quarterly
The How Much: $99 with reduced prices for longer subscription terms.
*post contains affiliate links which means NAT receives a small commission for each sale made
Spice Breeze is a monthly spice subscription box. Each month a new featured location is included along with a signature recipe and all spices to create that recipe. Choose from the three options Spice Breeze offers – Wanderlust where you select two meals each month (enough to feed 3-4 people) for $8.90. Family which is the same as the Wanderlust except it serves 6-8 people for $12.90. Or the Wanderlust Plus which allows you to select 3 meals each month that serve 3-4 people for $12.90. Use code BESTDEAL at checkout to save 10% off a 6 or 12 month subscription. NAT received this package at no cost for review purposes.
Subscription Box Unboxing
Subscription Box Review
My first glimpse inside the Spice Breeze package.
Everything that came in my Spice Breeze package.
So what is all this stuff?
My box insert
The reverse tells us a little bit more about the featured location of the month, Canaima, Venezuela
Our first spice kit in our package for the month is a Reunionese Culinary Spice Kit. This recipe is from the cultural melting pot of the La Reunion region of France and uses spicy smoked sausages or chicken.
There are two spice packets included with this kit. The first includes thyme, turmeric, ginger and bay leaves and the second includes Makrut Lime Leaves.
Our second spice kit is a South American dish – Carne Asada. This is one of my favorite types of tacos and I am super jazzed to have received this!
Our spice packet for this meal includes tangerine peel, cumin, garlic, chipotle pepper flakes, oregano and black pepper.
The final spice kit is a Persian dish called Ghormeh Sabzi. This stew is vegetarian (or not) and is really customizable in my humble option. That’s why I decided to make this for the month.
The first packet for this kit includes methi or fenugreek leaves and the second include omani limes and turmeric
Okay so first –
We saute in a pot our onions and garlic until they are transluscent
Then we add the leek and fry until it’s soft. Then we add our herbs and our first spice packet. We will cook this until it turns brown and stir frequently so it doesn’t burn.
This recipe was so easy to create … one of my last steps was to add beans (the recipe called for kidney but I subbed them for what I had), a cup of water and our second spice packet as well as salt and pepper. You’ll mix, cover and cook for about 20 minutes stirring occasionally. If desired you can add more water.
Oh yeah- I added some harissa paste for a pop of spice too!
You can serve this with rice – but I didn’t. It was fine for a weekday lunch as is!
So in summary
Presentation: Everything was packaged well and arrived to me perfectly in my subscription from Spice Breeze
Quality: I love that the spices in this subscription are both organic and non- gmo. Such great quality
Curation: Considering we can select from the menus that Spice Breeze creates the dishes that we receive I’d say the curation is excellent!
Misfits Market is a weekly or bi-weekly ugly produce subscription box. You’ll have the ability to select from either the Mischief Box which contains 8-13 pounds of produce for $22 or the Madness (what I’m reviewing) that contains 18-23 pounds of produce for $35. Select areas are able to customize their boxes. Currently Misfits Market ships to Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maine, Ohio, West Virginia, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and now Utah. Use code COOKWME-IW1PXJ or the link above to get 25% off your first box. NAT pays for this subscription.
Subscription Box Unboxing
Subscription Box Review
The first item I chose for my box was spaghetti squash. I know these don’t look big but… this fed our family of six as our vegetable for dinner! We roast this in the oven with garlic, salt and pepper and just a smidge of olive oil.
Then there were these four zucchini included in my box. We usually either roast or sautee these in garlic, salt and pepper. Are you seeing the trend here yet? Honestly, so many veggies do the talking without a lot of fancy spices and sauces!
Next up in my box are these four russet potatoes. These are great in my opinion because they don’t have to be peeled before cooking which is a welcome bit of convenience in my book.
These five kiwis are the first fruit that was in the box. I usually halve these and include them in the kids packed lunches.
We LOVE fresh citrus in my house and so these five lemons are a wonderful addition. I use them as marinade, dressing and my oldest daughter even enjoys snacking on them (so do I truth be told).
Ugh… I order it because we use it but that doesn’t mean that I have to like it… CELERY. It’s like, my least favorite vegetable of all time and if you’ve ever noticed it tastes a LOT like parsley which I coincidentally don’t like.
These four yellow squash will be used in our dinner tonight. We are making a Mississippi Pot Roast and so we’ll sautee these as a side along with some mashed potatoes.
Then we have two mangoes in our box. This is the third fruit that we received in this box, both my husband and the kids love fresh mangos!
Terrible picture but we chose white onions this week… they sent us four. Little bit of information – if you don’t get to the marketplace right away to place your order some things will be gone… I missed the email for this week so it was slim pickins’ for us.
There were two yellow onions included in my box as well. Onions are so versatile – there’s no doubt that these will be used very quickly!
These two beets are HUGE! I love making these in a Harvard Glaze like my grandmother used to – in fact I’m making them for lunch today!
These six limes were also included in our box. I used these on tacos and in lime ginger chicken which is one of my favorite go to’s for white meat! Like I said, citrus fruit is where it’s at!
I usually don’t select radishes because they are hard to use up around here but this week they were one of the only items left. I’ve decided to pickle these and see how they turn out. There were two large bunches included in my box.
Alright so… bummer. I selected cilantro and parsley (which like I said I don’t like but it’s what was left). Well, they messed up and labeled a parsley cilantro and so… I received two parsleys… heh… I’m still trying to figure out how to use it all!
So in summary
Presentation: Everything was packaged well and arrived to me in great condition – no misfits in this box!
Quality: I love that all the vegetables and fruits are non-gmo and organic. Great quality!
Curation: Considering I selected each of the items that was included in my box I’ll say it was a great curation!
