My Top 8 Subscription Boxes

When I was younger, I loved when they had grab bags at stores. I used to buy them every chance I got. They had them at the dollar store and sometimes at the drug store full of teen toiletries. It was always exciting to get a surprise. You never knew what you would find inside. You usually knew what kind of items you would find, but never what. I used to love when I went to a party and they would give you a wrapped up surprise as a party favor or as a party game. Now companies have updated the same idea of surprises in the form of subscription boxes. They are monthly boxes that you don’t know what is inside but they usually have a theme like kids, pets or beauty items. You pay a small monthly fee and every month you receive some awesome goodies.  They also make a great gift!

 
 There are so many different types of subscription boxes. If you don’t know where to look you may miss some really great subscription boxes. Thankfully there is CrateJoy who has them all in one place. Sometimes I hear about them from TV or a friend but I always forget which one they are mentioning. CrateJoy makes it so easy, gives ratings and you can even sign up for multiple subscriptions really easily.

Here are my top 8 subscription boxes:

Box O’ Munch is a subscription box for those who love to snack. I love to snack but, I don’t always like to have healthy snacks. Box O’ Munch contains things like candy, chips and cookies. You receive 10-15 pieces of awesome treats a month. https://www.cratejoy.com/box-o-munch

Nerd Block is a monthly subscription box that is full of nerdy things. My son would love this subscription block. It could have Star Wars items, Pokémon, and other “nerd” items.  It would be a fun monthly surprise for kids or anyone who likes Star Wars, comic books, or Pokémon. It also comes in its very own block which is really cool. https://www.cratejoy.com/nerd-block

Benko Box is a box full of everything you would need to make a masterpiece for kids. Noah is a great artist. This box contains 10-12 art supplies each month. This box is great because buying art supplies can be expensive. You also have to plan out what you want to make. Benko Box gives you other art supplies to use that you might not think about using. https://www.cratejoy.com/benko-box

Faithbox is a subscription box full of items that will help inspire Christian living. It contains items that are good for the planet and others. They also feed a needy child for every box you buy. Faithbox is truly inspirational and would make a great gift for my neighbors who are always helping others. https://www.cratejoy.com/faithbox

A Little Bundle would be a great gift for a new baby. A Little Bundle is a subscription box full of items for baby and mom. It contains items that your baby will love. It’s a great way to keep the gifts coming after they are home from the hospital.  There is a clothing item in each bundle. Such a fun surprise for any new mom. https://www.cratejoy.com/a-little-bundle

 

Hamptons Lane is the ultimate kitchen monthly subscription box. You can find recipes, kitchen gadgets and Artisan food items. I love to cook and try new things. This box would be something fun for me because I have a kitchen gadget collection. Each month there is a different theme so you will always get a great variety. https://www.cratejoy.com/hamptons-lane

Flicker Box is a really cool artisan candle subscription box. You receive candles from candle artists from around the United States. I love candles and I really think that they help make your home warm and welcome.  I don’t think you can ever have too many candles. https://www.cratejoy.com/flicker-box

Darby Smart is a mystery monthly box full of DIY items. You never know what you are going to get to make that month. It could be perfume or it could be a cool craft for your kids. I would love this box because I love to make things and I love surprises. I know I would wait each month for it to arrive. https://www.cratejoy.com/darby-smart

What are your favorite subscription boxes? For more information and many more subscription boxes check out Cratejoy.

Bath and Bodyworks Teams up with Matthew Robbins

Two things I love are candles and Bath & Bodyworks. It is no surprise that I love Bath & Bodyworks candles. I remember when they first started selling candles. I was working there and when they opened up White Barn Company part my heart melted. I was addicted. I had all kinds of candles. They used to sell candles in my favorite scents. I could light a candle and use the lotion and be lost in a land of Juniper Breeze. I still have some of those candles that I have had for 8 plus years. My mom said that she was lighting my Bartlett Pear candle. She said she would replace it and I said that's not possible because they don't make it anymore. I don't think she ended up lighting it. I have had many different candles from Bath & Bodyworks through the years. My current favorite scent is Fresh Bamboo. I cried when they stopped selling it. If they would have warned me, somehow. They could have emailed or tweeted I would have gone crazy and bought a lifetime supply. They ended up bringing it back and I got a couple candles. I even gave my mom one.  She loves Fresh Bamboo too. I look forward to when Bath & Bodyworks comes out with new scents each season. I can't wait to smell the spring ones. Yesterday I received a flyer in the mail with some coupons.

Everyone knows how great the scents are but did you know that Bath & Bodyworks White Barn Candle Company sells candle decorations. The candles are in beautiful jars with silver lids but sometimes you wanna add something special.

Bath & Body Works partnered with celebrity event designer, Matthew Robbins, to create some fun spring décor ideas as well as provide a few tips and tricks. From setting a table for Easter brunch to a casual get together with friends, the new Bath & Body Works White Barn Candle Collection and Accessories are sure to bring the scents and colors of spring into your home.

Candles: $20 at bathandbodyworks.com
Accessories: $5.50-$44.50 at bathandbodyworks.com

For more information please visit Bath & Bodyworks

I am working with Bath and Bodyworks on this post. I am receiving some samples of the products. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

MyScentEssence Review and Giveaway

I absolutely love things that smell good. I have an extensive candle collection, there is just something about a great smelling home that gives off a positive feeling to me. Since I have become a mom, I am very careful about having an open flame around Noah. He thinks that all candles are birthday candles and tries to blow them out. I have them up high enough where he can’t reach them but it still makes me nervous. So, when I had the opportunity to review a product from MyScentEssence I was really excited for a few reasons. The first reason it is a smell good product. The second reason is there is no flame. The third reason is it is electric. I was thinking back to when I would go visit my grandma in her assisted living community. I would always see those signs where it would say no smoking or open flame, Oxygen in use. I remember thinking that stinks because they can’t have candles or anything to make their rooms smell nice or the atmosphere that a nice thing like a candle would give off. I am not sure why that thought popped in my head at the time that I first heard about MyScentEssence but it did. This would be a great product for anyone even older people.

This product breathes a sigh of relief when you can just turn it on and let it go and not have to worry about it. It has many different types of scents and warmers. I just put in 12 of the little scent shakes and that lasts for 24 hours. I am sure most of you that have been reading for a long time know about how much I love tarts. Well, the worst thing about a tart was getting it out of the warmer. I actually broke one of my tart warmers by putting it in the freezer and it falling out. With the MyScentEssence warmers all you do it turn it off, let it harden and take your nail and make a little scratch on the side and it pops out. You could save the little “discs” and put them in a drawer for a nice subtle refresher kind of like a sachet. That is a great way to repurpose them.

I love the MyScentEssence warmer I own. I use it all the time. I have quite a few different scent shakes. They are always having sales so I picked some up for cheap! My two favorite scents are Very Vanilla which just smells so good and clean to me and Country Apple. I love the scent of apples. Country Apple smells just like one of my favorite bath and body scents. You can get a 2 ounce package of Scent Shakes for $4.50 which burns for many many hours because you only use 12. If you think about it, 1 little piece lasts for 2 hours which makes it extremely affordable.
I really like MyScentEssence so much that I decided I would start selling it. I haven’t really sold anything like this before but it is an exciting adventure to embark on.

Thank you to MyScentEssence and MommyPR for this wonderful opportunity and providing me with a complimentary electric warmer and 2 Scent Shakes to try out for my review.

I have a giveaway for you!

One lucky winner will win a Onyx Fan Electric warmer and two packages of scent shakes in the scents of their choice.

Mandatory Entry: Visit the MyScentEssence website and take a look around and tell me what 2 scent shakes you would love to try out.

Extra Entries:

Subscribe to my blog via Email

Subscribe to the MyScentEssence newsletter

Follow my blog with GFC

Follow @Sheilacakes7 AND @Scentessence on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway including a link to this post. This can be done once a day.

This giveaway will end on September 2, 2010 at 11:59 pm EST.

Bath and Bodyworks

I used to work at Bath and Bodyworks when I was younger. It was a fun job. I have always been a Bath and Bodyworks junkie as long as I can remember. I worked in a store that was upgrading to the new fancy store. I helped them move and set up the store. It was interesting. I met a lot of interesting people and surprisingly I didn’t get sick of the smell of the store. I had to be really perky. I am a friendly person, but I am also a tad bit shy. I don’t like being all in your face like you have to be with that job. Most of the people I worked with were really nice, I had fun joking around with the cute stock guys even. I learned something I wanted to share with you all. It’s not really a corporate secret but it is something that not everyone knows and I didn’t until I worked there.

Everything at Bath and Bodyworks has a 100% guarantee. How long does the guarantee last? For-ever( in my best Squints voice). Does it have to be new? Nope, if you decide you don’t like the scent anymore you can exchange it. You know your sense of smell changes, especially if you bought it when you were pregnant or if it reminds you of a horrible memory. Have no fear you can take it back no questions asked. I have actually put it to the test. There were things I had for years that just didn’t smell good to me anymore and I exchanged them. The receipt was somewhere buried under 50 feet of trash in a landfill, they gave me store credit, they didn’t give me the price I had paid for because some of it was discontinued packaging or scents.

Of course I am not telling you to clean out your drawer of Bath and Bodyworks products and exchange them, but I know we all have that one or two bottles of lotion or bodywash where we are now thinking what the heck that stinks. I am almost convinced that they pump scents in the air ducts so you are in a scent coma that forces you to buy more. That’s my story and I am sticking to it. We all know it is almost impossible for me to walk in there and not come out with something. It’s not that I am out, it is quite contrary. I have plenty. My two favorite scents are from the classics collection and I stock up on them after Christmas when they are super cheap.

My favorites are Pearberry and Country Apple. I also really like Juniper Breeze but I always go back to my old stand bys. I remember how upset I got when they retired Pearberry. I cried a lot. I eventually found it online again but I didn’t want to pay the shipping for it. The next thing I knew it was back in the stores for limited times. Usually at Christmas. So, I have quite a few Pearberry body washes, lotions and sprays. I wish they made it in the antibac soap again. All my sinks have Bath and Bodyworks soaps on them. I need a support group badly. I have gotten a little bit better just because I have so many, but I still get the urge from time to time. I only buy it when it is on sale and/or I have coupons. They always ask me for my email address for coupons and I always say, “You already have all my email addresses.” I went yesterday and bought some more soap!

Glade Holiday Collection Review and Giveaway

As I have mentioned before, I love candles. I love the ambiance that they create. I love the aroma of the candle and it just provides warmth and atmosphere. So when I had the opportunity to review two of the new Glade Holiday Candles I was really excited. I really like Glade products and I have many of them in my home. Glade of course is an air freshener company that makes candles, air fresheners and carpet deodorizers which I call Carpet Sprinkles. Glade has many different products and scents. One of my family’s Christmas traditions is buying a candle that smells like a Christmas tree. I love that tradition but there are many other holiday scents of candles I like as well.

Glade has different types of candles. The normal candles in a glass candle holder, the candles in the tins and the Scented Oil Candles. I think that the Scented Oil Candles are cool because when they are done they go out. You can re use the same base over and over with different scents too. I love the Glade commercials. My favorite one is the one where the lady tries to convince her friends that her candle is a boutique candle from France and the label is stuck to the back of her dress. One of her friends says what you have never heard of Gladay. I think the commercials are so funny.

I had the opportunity to try the Bayberry Spice Holiday candle and the Apple Cinnamon scented oil candle. The Bayberry Spice candle is in a beautiful glass holder that is perfect for my holiday décor. It smells wonderful. It is actually lit right now. I often use candles as decorations when they are not lit. It is my favorite color too! It is a strong scent but not over powering. I have noticed that some candles are really over powering or you have to almost burn your nose to smell anything. The Bayberry Spice has a spicy scent that reminds me of Christmases in the past. The Apple Cinnamon Scented Oil candle is great as well. My favorite candle scent is apple. I love the smell of cinnamon too. It reminds me of apple crisp when I smell it. It is warm and inviting and a sweet yet spicy aroma.

The great thing about Glade candles are they are inexpensive. There is usually coupons in the Sunday paper to help you save even more. You can afford to put a Glade candle in every room. You can even afford to burn them all day. I like those expensive candles that you get at candle stores but since they are so expensive I can only get one at a time. I am much more careful about burning them too. Glade candles smell great and are very affordable for all of your candle needs.

I have a giveaway for you.


One very lucky reader is going to win an awesome gift basket from Glade full of great holiday goodies.

It contains:
• Two Glade Candles from the Holiday Collection, in Apple Cinnamon and Bayberry Spice
• Bellagio® Gourmet Cocoa Chocolate Truffle, a true liquid chocolate bar
• Home Classics® Fleece Throw
• Mineral Bath Soak Stress and Tension by The Village Company, made from natural lemon oil, rosemary, and eucalyptus,
• A Holiday favorite, The Polar Express DVD
• Woven Strap Small Shelf Tote, great for both stylish display and storage of accessories

That would be a great gift for someone or a great family gift for your family.

Thank You to Glade and SC Johnson for the two complimentary candles I received for reviewing purposes and for providing the gift basket for the giveaway.

Mandatory entry: Go to the Glade Website and tell me your favorite Glade scent
You must do the mandatory entry to receive the bonus entries.

Bonus entries:

Subscribe to my blog via email. You must verify it. I have had to disqualify winners for not verifying.

Follow my blog

Follow @sheilacakes7 on twitter and tweet about this giveaway and please include the link to this post. This may be done once a day.

This giveaway is open to US Residents ONLY

This giveaway ends on December 15, 2009 at 11:59 pm ET

One of my secret loves is TARTS!

Tarts are one of my favorite things. Some of you might be wondering what a tart is. No it’s not sweet tarts although the chewy ones are really good. It’s also not a little pastry. It is scented wax. You put it on top of a tart burner and then you put a tea light in the bottom lit of course. It melts and scent is distributed in to the air. Yes it is kind of like a candle. It serves the same purpose. I love candles as well. Tarts are cool because you can change the scent when ever you want. They are a lot cheaper than candles but of course you get less burning time.

Yankee Candle says you get 8 hours of burning time but I feel like I get about 12. When the scent is weak you can blow it out and let it harden. Pop it in the freezer for about 15 minutes or so and the tart will come out really easily. Note that it doesn’t work very well with soy tarts. I got a small package of soy tarts last year at the Car Auction. Good thing I have three tart burners.

You can then take the harden wax and stick it in your underwear or sock drawer for a great smelling freshener. How’s that for recycling? I love everything Yankee Candle from the tarts to the Jar candles to the linen spray. They don’t make that anymore. Yankee Candle if you are reading I want them to bring it back! Oh and please stop retiring my mom’s favorite scents. If you want to you should totally email everyone on the email list and send a note in the catalog so the people that love them can stock up. That would be a great idea. Since the scent lasts forever it would be a great idea not only for sales but to make the customer happy!

I went to the flagship store in Williamsburg VA which was a paradise of any Yankee Candle lover. It was huge and it had a holiday land and little shops inside it. My son lost his favorite orange pacifier in there. I found it by the tarts. We spent like 2 hours in there and made a special trip on the way home from Virginia Beach. They have other flagship stores as well. I will return again someday.

My favorite Yankee Candle scent is Macintosh. It smells so good. I have fond memories of my mom burning it when I was younger. It was also a candle given to my Grandma Rose as well. It just smells so crisp and nice. I like Country Linen and Vanilla cupcake as well. I like most of the scents a lot but Macintosh will always be my favorite.

I have a nice collection of tarts from Yankee Candle. I have a good assortment of scents. I love them all . I have 66 of them. That is a quite a bit. Tarts are a great way to try new scents. OK sure you could buy votive candles but they can be messy. You could burn a votive without a holder but then you get melted wax every where or you could burn it in a little holder but it doesn’t come out too well. So, tarts are the best way to go for sampling scents or if you like different ones like me.

They would be a great gift. Go to Bed Bath and Beyond and get a tart burner for 5 dollars and some tarts and some tea lights. For those of you that aren’t candle savy they are the ones in the little metal holders. Guys don’t think tarts are a female thing, My old best friends dad would burn them in his office all the time. He was a Marine and far from girly.
So check them out! Your house will smell great!