Product Reviews - Simply Shawn & Jenn

by Amanda Walton on December 22, 2014

Holiday Gift Buying Guide

Well it is that time of year when we must all start thinking about the holidays even if we have not been thinking about the holidays. This year I am going to be preparing a great guide to holiday gifts and must have items for the holiday season. Keep checking back as I will be adding a ton of information to this post and I will be adding all of the MUST have gifts in this one popular location.

Perfectly Personalized

VivoPrint offers you the chance to get the personalized gifts that your loved ones are going to cherish for years to come.

Zazzle makes it possible for you to create the perfect personalized gifts for everyone on your holiday shopping list.

Perfect for Everyone

Bean Box is a great gift idea for anyone who LOVES coffee.

New Air offers a great line of products including water dispensers that are perfect for everyone trying to get their daily water in.

Premier Kites offers kites that are amazing and perfect for the entire family.

DK Publishing offers you the chance to give books to everyone on your holiday gift list.

Zoku makes the products that you need to have delicious healthy frozen treats at home any time.

Winning Moves Games offers a little something for everyone! You can rest assured that you will have the best family game night after shopping with them.

Books to Me offers you scheduled books of the photos that you have been posting to your Instagram account. I am eager to check out this product and will be posting a full feature at the beginning of December so you can check it out. I think that this is a great gift for your favorite person who loves to post pics at Instagram!

Chicken Soup for the Soul books are perfect for anyone who loves a good heartwarming tale that is going to encourage them in their own struggles.

Eco Cloth Diapers offers you the chance to buy high quality bamboo items for everyone in your household. They are a whole lot more than just cloth diapers!

Honeywell makes great personal heaters that will keep you warm all summer long while helping you to save money too.

Ozeri makes a high quality fan that is perfect for anyone who is looking to have a gentle breeze in the winter or really cool off in the summer.

Items for the Kiddos —

Livie and Luca offer high quality shoes that your little ones are sure to love just as much as you do.

Chatsters Gabby doll is a fun and interactive toy that is unlike any doll that you have seen before!

Zoomer Dino makes your child a dino tamer!!

I love Trunki products and find that they are going to make a lot of people happy this holiday season. I am in love with the Yondi neck pillows because they are neck pillows that my little ones will actually use. I am also in love with the PaddlePaks! I love that these amazing backpacks are splash proof and a ton of fun for your child to carry around.

ALEX Toys offers you the best choices for a great home kitchen for your little one.

DigiPals offers a unique way for your child to carry their electronics and keep the screens clean at the same time.

ALEX Toys offers you a lot of toddler fun for your little one.

POOF offers you a great line of My 1st Sports toys that will help any budding athlete find their sport.

ALEX Toys offers bath time fun for little ones!

Green Toys offers safe toys that you don’t have to worry about containing toxins or other harmful chemicals.

Wee Squeak offers adorable styles of squeaky shoes that your toddler and early walker will love to wear!! Until November 25th you can enter a contest to win a $50 gift card!! Open to residents in the US and Canada!

Boogin’ Head will be like a breath of fresh air for moms as it makes their life a whole lot easier.

Safari LTD offers you a little something for all of the kiddos on your shopping list this year.

North Star Toys has all of your handmade wooden toy needs and a great nativity set that is perfect for the holiday season.

Bubble Bum booster seats offer you all of the protection that you need from a booster seat in a package that is fully portable and can be folded into a small bag.

SparkUp is the reader that you wish that you always had for your child.

Tsukihoshi Shoes offer you a great selection that are comfortable for your child but also feature the best styles and colors.

YOXO offers your child creative fun and is a great tool to teach them about recycling.

The Halo SleepSack is an amazing gift that will keep the little ones in your life warm all night long.

Buttons Diapers offers high quality cloth diapers that are great for all of the little ones on your list.

Kidz Gear offers you high quality headphones that are perfect for your child.

ThinkFun offers you a lot of great ways to have fun playing games while you help your child learn…Robot Turtles will teach your little ones programming.

Zoey’s Attic offers you a lot of great choices for personalized gifts for your children.

Aden + Anais offers you amazing products for your baby…and guess what they’re perfect for baby’s stocking!!

Tidy Tots Diapers are a great choice for your little one if you are thinking about cloth diapering. Their starter set offers you an affordable way to jump in and fall in love!

The Beatrix Girls are a great present for any little girl. The little girl will learn about being confident and having great self esteem from these popstar dolls.

Zip It! Baby features high quality layette wear and blankets that are perfect for any baby in your life. The materials are some of the softest and thickets that I have felt.

Tumblewalla offers high quality clothes for babies and toddlers and if you order before December 17th using the code HOLIDAY you can save 30% and get free holiday shipping too!!!

New Jammies offers a wide range of holiday styles and pajamas that really are perfect for everyone. With so many great styles to choose from there really is no reason that you should not be shopping with New Jammies this holiday season and throughout the new year.

eeBoo offers you a lot of high quality children’s items that are more than just toys.

iSwimband offers moms a chance to feel more at ease while around water with their kids.

The Paw Patrol is always on a roll and ready to help others. The Spin Master line of Paw Patrol toys will help you teach your little one to help others and give back.

Spin Master’s Family Game Night games are perfect for playing games with your family from toddler to adult.

Spy Gear offers you the toys that your child needs to become a spy on their own.

A Posh Play Mat is a great place for a little one to play and a must have for all families.

Bella Bundles offers you high quality blankets that are great for babies and toddlers alike.

Knitwits offers high quality character hats that are as much fun to wear as they are practical and warm.

Items for Women

Tieks by Gavrieli are comfortable easy to take anywhere ballet flats that every woman needs as a part of their wardrobe.

Honeycat Cosmetics offers luxurious bath products that will be the favorite gift of any women in your life.

Taos Footwear offers the perfect shoes for every woman in your life. Check them out for great style, function, and fun!

Betabrand offers great clothing choices that are fun for any men and women on your list. Check out my post on their awesome holiday styles.

Couture Gel Nail Polish will let you give the gift of the perfect home manicures.

Initials Inc offers free personalization and something for everyone!

Our World Boutique offers you an amazing selection of high quality clothes and jewelry so you can shop for that favorite woman in your life.

Live Happy Magazine is a great gift for any woman that you want to be able to find her true happiness in life.

Anatomie offers great clothes that are perfect for travel and the women who is on the go in your life.

SPANX offers you high quality fashion finds that are going to make you feel more confident and leave you looking great. SPANX brand products are filling up my Christmas wish list this year!

Blinc Inc offers high quality make up products with the best eye make up available.

Items for Men

Betabrand offers great gift choices for men and women both. Check out my post about their clothes being perfect for holiday style.

IDEAL Toys offers you a great selection of yard games that are perfect for any fun loving man in your life.

For the Techies in Your Life

D-Link offers exciting solutions to make your home into a smart home.

BITS Limited offers a unique way to keep your electronics protected and safe with the some of the best surge protectors on the market.

Eartheasy makes the perfect gifts for any outdoor enthusiast in your life.

For Your Favorite Photographer

Miggo offers a great line of camera straps that are completely unique and offer a great solution to the same boring and bulky camera bag.

Perfectly Stuffed Stockings

Zebra Pens offers you a lot of great choices that are going to make it easy to have perfect stockings this year.

Dust Off offers clean computers and screens. Great new fashion forward options are perfect for stockings for everyone you love!

Piggy Paint is a great nail polish that can perfectly fit in your favorite little girl’s stocking.

Ribbies is a collection of hair accessories that are perfect for any little girl’s stocking in your life.

ShaveMOB offers you high quality razors and razor blades that make the PERFECT stocking stuffer.

Knock Knock makes a great line of paper products that are perfect for gifts or stuffing into stockings.

Beasty Buddies are fun hats that are perfect for stockings and great for the little ones in your life.

For New Moms and Pregnant Friends

Hip Baby Wrap is the perfect gift for a new mom or mom to be. Babywearing has a ton of benefits for baby and mommy too!

For the Fur Babies in Your Life

Neater Feeder offers you a simple solution to being able to keep your house clean from food and water spills and messes.

For the Fitness Enthusiast

Ignite Fitness offers the fitness enthusiast in your life great workouts that are a ton of fun.

Filed Under: Product Reviews Tagged With: best gifts 2014, holiday gift guide, holiday gifts

by Amanda Walton on December 18, 2014

Altchek MD Helps Ease the Signs of Aging

I love finding products that really work to not show my age. I always find it a compliment when people can not believe that I am mom to my oldest. The best thing about this is that I was 21 when he was born, so while I was a young mom I was not that young!! It is such a blessing to be able to say that I age well but I will admit that my obsession with not aging means that I am always looking for great new products and brands to test out. Altchek MD is one of those brands and one that seems to really help ease the signs of aging.

So I thought that I would share with you some of the things that I have learned about adopting an anti-aging skincare routine.

Tips for an Anti-Aging Skincare Routine

**Have a Routine and Stick to It

The first thing that you need to do if you want to reverse and limit the signs of aging is to have a routine and stick to it. My personal routine is to wash, moisturize, and treat. I like the Altcheck MD Brightening Serum in the mornings as it seems to really perk my face up a bit.

**Have a Day and Night Routine

While it is great to have a daytime routine, you must realize that your skin is going to have different needs at nighttime so you will need a nighttime routine too. Personally I think that the Altcheck MD Night Treatment is a great choice for helping to prevent and treat aging at night.

**Don’t Forget the Eyes

It is also important that you do not forget the eyes. There are a few different things that i like to do for my eyes as the eyes are often the first place that shows aging. I like to use the Eye Repair Cream as part of my daytime routine.

As part of my nighttime routine I like to use the Altcheck MD Eye Gel Pads to make sure that my eyes look bright and beautiful in the morning.

Altcheck MD is a great line of products that are really going to help you to avoid seeing the signs of aging in your own skin. I love mine and think that you will love yours too! Plus, everyone loves looking younger and having people

Filed Under: Product Reviews Tagged With: Altchek MD, healthy skin, skincare

by Amanda Walton on December 9, 2014

The Secret to Clean Healthy Skin

I will admit that I was not so sure about the Bellapulse once I received it. I felt the bristles and they were very soft so I was skeptical as to how clean they could really help me get my face…remember I am a fan of dermabrasion so I like it when I feel like everything has been scraped off of my face!

I received the Black Bellapulse and cannot say enough good things about it because I really do love washing my face with it. There are even different heads that you can put on it. I love using the sponge head to massage my lotion into my face every day.

The Bellapulse is a system that everyone with skin problems should own. In the past few weeks that I have been using it I have noticed a drastic reduction in the number of blackheads that I have and I have only had one white head.

Secrets for Clean Healthy Skin

**Find a Great Cleanser

Not everyone has the same type of skin so not everyone will like the same cleansers. I have found that the Rose Hip Seed Cleanser is really nice for my combination skin. I had a couple of other people try it out that have different skin types and they all reported that they liked it as well. It really seems to be a cleanser that could be good for all skin types.

**Have a Cleansing Routine

You have to be routine in taking care of your skin or things will quickly get out of hand. I notice with my skin that a few days of skipping the Bellapulse routine and I am instantly regretting it. My skin starts to look dull and lifeless because of all of the extra dead skin cells that seem to quickly pile up. I also start to break out. My personal routine is the following:

AM — Cleanse, Mositurize with SPF, Eye Cream

PM — Exfoliate, Moisturize, Treat

**Exfoliate

Exfoliating is key to having healthy and beautiful skin. I love using the Bellapulse and the Bellapulse Exfoliating Brush on my skin to make sure that I am exfoliating deep enough. I would have never guessed how amazing a face brush really is for this purpose. In fact I kind of thought that I knew it all about skincare and owned all of the products that I could ever need. Then the Bellapulse made its way into my life and now I know that a great cleansing brush is something that everyone needs to own. The AHA Exfoliating Cleanser is great for the purpose of exfoliating and leaves my skin feeling fresh and clean each night.

**Moisturize with SPF in the Day

Having clean healthy skin means that you are constantly taking care of your skin. Yes it does take some time and effort to make sure that you are caring for your skin properly but in the end it works out and is something that you will be thankful that you have done. One of the things that you have to do is make sure that you are using a moisturizer with SPF during the day. I LOVE to apply my moisturizer with Bellapulse Massaging Sponge. This tool truly makes moisturizing your skin feel like a wonderful treat each morning.

**Moisturize at Night

Before bed each night I make sure to really moisturize my skin again. I use the Massaging Sponge and focus on each area of my skin that might feel a little dryer than another. I take the time to really focus on making sure that each area of my face has been moisturized and I make sure to not skimp on product during this step. I love the Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer that came with my Bellapulse set. I love that this moisturizer does not feel greasy or heavy on my skin and is easy absorbed during the massaging process.

The Bellapulse really can help you to have the healthy beautiful skin that you have always dreamed of having. I know because I have struggled with skin that can sometimes look pretty awful and when I am using the Bellapulse as part of my regular routine I see improvements in a matter of days. My skin looks brighter, healthier, and clearer that it did before.

The Bellapulse regularly retails for $229 and the three piece skin care system retails for $75. Right now you can actually get your Bellapulse for free. Please see details of this exciting offer here. You only have to pay a shipping and handling fee of $7.90.

Please excuse me for using stock photos for this blog post. I love the product and use it on a regular basis. The pictures were on my memory card that went missing that I have not been able to find.

Filed Under: Product Reviews Tagged With: Bellapulse, face care routine, facial skin care, healthier skin, healthy skin, secrets to healthy skin

by Amanda Walton on November 30, 2014

Don’t Skip Your Make Up…It Only Takes 90 Seconds with Juice Beauty

I hate going out of the house without make up but I honestly struggle some days with taking the time to put it on. One of the challenges that I had was that I was just trying to do too much each day. Fast forward to today and I know just how to have a natural looking face that I can feel confident with. I played around with Juice Beauty products and realized that I could have a beautiful looking face that lasted all day long with just 90 seconds of work….LIFE CHANGING!

Here is a short video that shows you how you can get the perfectly made up face in 90 seconds.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3Y0mKS2HkY]

Here are the instructions as I could not talk and get this right when trying to do it so quickly.

Step 1 —

Apply Juicy Beauty’s Correcting Concealer ($18.00) to problem areas that you might have. For me this includes under the eyes, on my cheeks and on any blemishes that I have at the time.

Step 2 —

Use a great tinted moisturizer to get two steps done at once. You get the benefits of a moisturizer and the bonus of your complexion getting just a hint of correction. I love Juice Beauty’s CC Cream ($39.00). This tinted moisturizer is great! It looks beautiful on my skin and helps me feel more confident than I did before.

Step 3 —

Set the make up. One of the biggest mistakes that I feel a lot of women make is that they do not take a few seconds to set their make up. This means that they do not have the make up that they want because their make up gets smudged or smeared. It does not take that long to set your make up with a great loose powder like Juice Beauty’s Refining Finishing Powder ($22.00).

Step 4 —

Make sure that your eyes get noticed. Give them a quick coat of mascara to guarantee that you get the pop that you want when you are out and about. Juice Beauty’s Lash Defining Mascara ($19.00) is perfect for helping you to have eyes that pop.

Step 5 —

Finally add a little bit of color to your lips. I love Juice Beauty’s Conditioning Lip Color because it feels like a great lip balm but adds the right amount of color like a great lipstick. It is the best of both worlds, looks great on and will make you feel fabulous and ready to face your day!

Having a naturally beautiful face does not have to require a ton of time. You can actually give yourself the boost of confidence that you need in just a short amount of time.

Filed Under: Product Reviews Tagged With: 90 second face, Juice Beauty, make up

by Amanda Walton on November 25, 2014

Holiday Gift Guide — Holiday Cards They’ll Treasure for Years from Minted

Have you struggled with finding the perfect holiday cards each year? Do you hate thinking about spending all of that money for someone just to toss them aside or even throw them away after the holidays. Well, look no further you can have all of the amazing holiday cards of your dreams with Minted.

These special personalized holiday cards are just what you need if you want share the joy of the season with you friends and family. They are also perfect for you to be able to share how your family has grown, something that you are proud of or have accomplished, or just to share so that your family and friends will keep them for years to come.

Plus you will find that there are holiday cards that are perfect for every family.

Looking for Something Unique?

If you are looking for a unique holiday card then you have to check out the Destination Luggage Tag. This card is a favorite of mine for the unique shape and creative design. Plus the card is absolutely beautiful.

Celebrating Christmas?

I sometimes feel like everyone is sending out the same Christmas cards. I love that the Holiday Map West Coast Holiday Photo Card is perfect for families who are not living by their friends and family. I have a lot of friends who have moved away and I think sharing a little greeting from where they are living is a great way for them to say Merry Christmas. Minted offers many different Christmas card designs so there is going to be something that is perfect for everyone there.

Want Something Striking?

The Merry & Bright Hand Lettered Holiday Photo Cards are unlike anything that I have ever seen before. These cards are simply striking in their shape and are something that will be sure to impress everyone on your holiday card list this year.

Rather Celebrate the New Year?

If you are not big into Christmas or if you’d rather send a card that would look great on someone’s fridge year round then you will find that Minted has a great selection of New Year cards for you to choose from. I love the Date Stamp Holiday Postcards. Not only are these great because they offer you a little something different and can be left up all year but they also are a postcard so you are going to save money when you are mailing them.

Can’t Choose Just One Picture?

Sometimes when you have had a particularly exciting year it can be too hard to pick out just one picture to put on your holiday cards. You might think that your only option is a collage card like everyone else has sent in the past but you do not have to look any further. Minted offers you some unique options like the adorable Retro Peace Tree Holiday Minibook that will show off a small collection of your favorite pictures.

If the minibooks still do not work for you there is also a great selection of booklette cards. I love the Joyful Type Holiday Booklette Card and think that it would be so much fun to create one with my family’s favorite memories from the year. I also think that it would be fun to let each kiddo pick out a picture to be included in the booklette.

Considered Giving a Keepsake?

One year I wanted to do something different for our Christmas cards. I wanted to send out personalized ornaments with a picture of our children but was very frustrated when I could not find them for a price that I thought was reasonable. I sure wish that I had found Minted that year because these Twisted Peppermint Holiday Ornament Cards are adorable and the perfect keepsake for your family and friends.

Want to Show Off Your Sense of Humor?

For me personally nothing is greater than getting a hilarious card. I love it when people show of their sense of humor with their cards and I am always impressed when someone is willing to show off their sense of humor with their Christmas cards. When I saw the Wreck the Halls Holiday Photo Cards I laughed out loud. I instantly could picture my children on there and I loved that it would be something for family and friends to enjoy looking at together.

Best of all with Minted you can get one stop shopping. Pick up your holiday cards and create some keepsake gifts at the same time, all from the convenience of your home.

Filed Under: Product Reviews Tagged With: Christmas cards, holiday cards, holiday gift guide, minted, personalized, photo gifts, unique holiday cards

by Amanda Walton on November 8, 2014

Holiday Gift Guide Feature — Dust Off

I know what you are probably thinking from the title of this post….”who wants computer duster for Christmas?” Well I will tell you that Dust Off actually has a lot more to offer you than just computer duster spray! In fact they have a whole line of products that are perfect for the holidays that I never knew anything about at all.

Fashion Collection —

Now I was aware of the Fashion Collection ($4.99 each). In the past I reviewed a couple of these amazing little clothes. I will tell you that they are something that I use each and every day. They are very convenient and a great way to keep the screens on your electronics clean. I keep one in my computer bag and one in my purse all of the time. Now that I have a couple more they will be in our iPad/tablet bag and everywhere else so that I always have a clean screen to look at.

Tips to Keep Electronic Screens Clean

Clean Them With a Safe Cleaner

One great way to help your computer screens stay clean is to use a safe or approved cleaner. Dust Off makes some great products to help you with this too. Monitor Wipes are a favorite at our house since we both spend the majority of our work time on a computer. They also offer a great Screen Spray and the convenient Ultimate Screen Care Kit ($24.99).

Use a Screen Cloth Often

One great way to stay on top of keeping your electronic screens clean is to use a screen cloth on a regular basis. These special cloths are made from microfiber so that they will not leave threads or pieces behind on the screen. You can find ones like the fashionable versions above or larger sized ones from Dust Off as well.

Put Your Electronics Away

How you store your electronics is also going to determine how you are going to keep them clean. Make sure that you put electronics away in their cases and that screens are covered to ensure that they stay as clean as possible.

Keep Keyboards and Other Areas Clean

In addition to cleaning the screen you will want to make sure that your entire electronic item is cleaned well. This will help keep dust and debri from these other areas from getting on the screen and causing it to look dirty.

Filed Under: Product Reviews Tagged With: clean computers, dust off, hoilday gift guide

by Amanda Walton on November 8, 2014

Holiday Gift Guide Feature — Zebra Pens

I am a writer and part of that means that I really love to write. One of the things that I have gotten lazy with is journaling. Journaling used to be a part of my daily life and I am determined to make it that way again in 2015. I really want to be able to write and keep amazing journals that my children can cherish when they are older. For that reason I love finding great new pens to write with and really enjoy when I can journal in different colors based on my moods.

Sarasa 14 Pack

I had actually put a set of different colored pens on my Christmas list for my husband so when I received the Sarasa 14 Pack of Retractable Gel Pens (retail for these is $1.64 each) I gave them to him to put up. I will admit that it is killing me to not use these yet and to know that they will be sitting in the basement for six more weeks!

First off I love that there are 14 different colors. This means that my journal for 2015 is going to be even more beautiful than I had originally imagined. It also means that my calendar is going to be very well organized. That’s right…each person in our family can have their own color which means that each person is going to instantly know what they have going on. This is going to make my life so much easier in so many ways.

I am excited for an easy tool to help me to stay organized as we approach the new year.

I also think that these pens would be great for someone who enjoys writing or drawing at any level. I am sure that my children will love them and that it is going to be a struggle for them to not swipe them. I also want to mention that while this is a gel pen it features a “rapid dry” technology which makes it a great choice for someone who is left handed who might otherwise not be able to use gel pens without them smudging.

Stylus Pens

The Stylus Pens (retail value is $4.99 each) that I received are very cool. I love how they feature a stylus at one end and a pen at the other. One of these is definitely going in my son’s stocking and the other one will probably go in the pile of gifts that I want for me. LOL! I love the idea of being able to use a stylus although I have honestly never tried one. One thing to note about these is that they can be shortened so that they are perfect for carrying with you. However you can pull them out so that they are full sized pens as well.

Zebra Pens makes a full line of pens and features something for everyone. You can choose the pen that is going to fit your needs and your style best and you will be happy with the quality. I have owned a lot of Zebra products in the past and have never been disappointed with anything that I have owned. Plus you can purchase them everywhere…most local stores and even some drug stores will have these on their shelves. It really does make it a great stocking stuffer and something that you can readily pick up.

Filed Under: Product Reviews Tagged With: holiday gift guide, pens, Zebra pens

by Amanda Walton on November 8, 2014

Holiday Gift Guide Feature — Miggo

Miggo is a great brand to check out for your holiday shopping needs if you have a special photographer in your life. It is also perfect for anyone who takes a lot of pictures. There are two amazing styles that I was able to check out and that we will be using as gifts in our house this holiday season.

I will admit that there are times when I struggle with trying to find the perfect gift for someone. My daughter’s teacher is also a photographer. Taking pictures is just one of her passions and in my opinion she excels at both roles. When it came time to shop for her this holiday season I was looking for some unique and fun items to add to her gift basket. (I almost always do baskets for teachers as I have a lot of fun shopping for them!)

Miggo Grip & Wrap

I got to check out the Miggo Grip & Wrap Mirrorless in Space Zoo ($39.99). This unique camera strap can convert into a protective camera case. I love this for so many reasons but the biggest one for me is that I am working in the music industry some and taking photographs of artists. I love how convenient this would be when I am in the pits instead of struggling with a bulky camera bag and trying to get my camera all protected with so many people around.

I also think that it would work perfectly for sports enthusiasts and backpackers, pretty much anyone that does not want to have to lug around a bulky camera bag while they are trying to still get some amazing shots with their camera.

Miggo Strap & Wrap DSLR

I also got to check out the Miggo Grip & Wrap DSLR in Royal Wings ($49.99) which I fell in love with! As I shop for a new camera I am tempted to look into a DSLR for sure now because I love this handy product so much! However I did need an amazing gift for the aforementioned teacher and this one seems to win the prize.

This handy strap converts from a strap to a camera case. It is a great thing to have when you are doing something where you will not be needing your entire camera bag. It is another product that can make your life just a little bit more convenient.

Miggo makes great products that any photographer is going to love. Even someone who is not a professional photographer is going to enjoy the quality of pictures that they can get with this one.

Filed Under: Product Reviews Tagged With: camera case, holiday gift guide, miggo

by Amanda Walton on July 10, 2014

Orange Glad is the Monthly Subscription Box that is Sure to Please

If you have ever been wary of a monthly subscription box I can certainly understand. I too have been there and have wondered what companies were thinking and whether or not I would really spend my hard earned money on their box. I have even been a member of a few different boxes and ended up with boxes that I was disappointed with but with the Orange Glad box I have never been disappointed, not even once.

The Orange Glad box that came in May was awesome and everything that I had hoped that it would be. I love getting to try the most luxurious treats from bakeries and places that I would not likely try.

I decided this month to share my treats with you by telling you a story about the places that I enjoyed the treat and the moods that the treats put me in.

I LOVE chocolate so of course when I saw a delicious looking brownie in my box I knew that this was the first thing that I was going to try. I will admit that some days are rough when you have four kids. There are days when the kids seem to fight all day long and they never want to listen. So when I was having one of those bad days I will admit that I stepped out onto my back porch to try the Fine Sconehenge Gluten Free Brownie. I was amazed by how delicious this was especially since it was gluten free. I also was amazed by how it seemed to whisk me away from the stress and gave me just the bearings that I needed to go inside, get creative and try to entertain my kids. We did an art project and yes our day got a whole lot better.

The next thing from the box that I tried were the Cici’s Italian Butterhorns. I was up late one night writing and wanted a little treat to keep me going. I will admit that sometimes I will eat something sweet to help me write my way through the night or the upcoming things that I have going on. This was one of those nights and the butterhorns were amazing and delicious. They actually helped to give me what I needed to refocus while also giving me a few minutes where I could almost imagine being in the beautiful Italian countryside.

One of the things that I promised myself when I signed up to be a blogger for the Orange Glad team is that I would try everything, even the things that I did not think that I would like. At first when I saw the Orange Cranberry Welsh Cakes I thought that I was going to break this promise that I made to myself. I hate raisins and other dried fruit. It is just not my thing. However I decided that I could pick out the cranberries just like I pick the raisins out of things that I eat other places. These cakes were delicious and without the raisins I did not notice anything but a great flavor. They were moist and had a unique texture more like a sponge cake which I really enjoyed.

I sometimes think that my name should have been the cookie monster. I will admit that I really enjoy a great well baked soft and chewy cookie. I was excited to see two of the Baking Betty’s Cookies in the box. I was eager to try them both but saved them for times when I wanted a special treat. While I had the box I ended up baking cookies with the kids and when they were having a cookie that we made I tried the Peanut Butter Cup Cookies and decided quickly that I was not going to be able to wait to try the S’more Cookie. I am also obsessed with s’mores so the fact that they made one of my favorite treats into another one of my favorite treats with this cookie made it that much more delicious. I will admit that I was a bad mom and that I let the kids even have a second cookie so that I could eat this one.
Once again the Orange Glad box did not disappoint and was a great escape from my crazy reality for a few minutes to make me feel like a mom who had been whisked away to a different more calm and peaceful place.

Please accept this public apology for posting this May Orange Glad box post so late. I had thought that it went live and was very surprised when I learned that it had not been posted as planned. I am sincerely sorry for this oversight on my part.

Filed Under: Product Reviews Tagged With: desserts, monthly subscription box, treats

by Amanda Walton on July 9, 2014

Thanks Orange Glad You Just Made My Mommy Time Out a Little Sweeter

I will admit that when the kids are crazy and everything seems to be going on I enjoy having a mommy time out. I need those few minutes to sneak away and gather my bearings to be a better mom. A mommy time out really helps me to be able to relax and get back with the kids without being stressed out and losing my patience with them.

The June Orange Glad box did not disappoint and was something that I fell in love with once again. I will admit that as someone who is not a huge sweet fan that it always surprises me when I really love sweets and Orange Glad delivers sweets that I love each time that I open their box.

In June I was very excited to try some new treats that I had not tried before. The first treat that I tried was the Fine Stonehenge Baking Co Luscious Lemon Bar. Prior to April I had never tried a lemon dessert before because the idea of something that was creamy and sweet and lemon just did not appeal to me. Thankfully I took my first few bites of lemon goodies a while ago and when I was given the chance to try this I did. To date this bar might have been my favorite treat that I have ever been given from an Orange Glad box. The bar was delicious and something that was perfectly textured too. This means that it was smooth and the texture was thick without being too thick. I am seriously addicted to these and I love them so much that they are actually listed on my wish lists for gifts so that I can eat them for my birthday and other favorite holidays. Since I am dedicated to lose weight and trying to live a healthier lifestyle there are few treats that I want to have around but these are one that I would allow myself to eat time and time again.

The next treat that I chose to eat were the two delicious Lily’s Baker Shop Hamantashan. This is a traditional Jewish holiday cookie that is made to be eaten during Purim. There were two of these cookies and they were really delicious. One of them was an apricot flavor which I really enjoyed and since I do not like apricots that means something there. The other one was raspberry and it was delicious! I would choose these treats again as I love that they were not too sweet but that they were perfectly balanced.

I had to sneak the Cheryl’s Buttercream Summer Cookie since my kids would have wanted it had they seen it. I ate it in the car on the way to spend some time with my brother and it was heavenly. I almost forgot for a few minutes that I had somewhere to go because this was like an escape from reality through deliciousness.

Perhaps the most exciting treat in the box when I saw the things that were included was The Cravory Salted Caramel Cream Cookie that I was able to try. I LOVED this cookie because one of my favorite flavor profiles is salted caramel. The cookie itself was really good and it had some nice white chocolate chips. It had a really nice salty flavor which I really enjoyed since I LOVE salty foods. I was afraid that it would be like most “salted” caramel treats where you can not even begin to taste the salt. I have heard from some people that they thought that these cookies were too salty but I honest did not have this reaction. I do wish that there had been more caramel swirls in the cookie as well.

Finally I received the Rip Van Wafels which I did not realize at the time melted if you put them on top of coffee or hot chocolate. I tried these as they were and thought that they were good but to be honest they are probably not something that I would purchase. Although I would probably eat them if they were around. I guess since I am fat this is really not saying much but to be 100% honest with you I do not feel like sweets are my problem. I tend to like really rich foods and things made with butter and cream cheese which is why I have weight issues.

All in all the Orange Glad Box did not disappoint. It was a great box of treats and one that allowed for me to have a few mommy time outs that were very enjoyable.
We all have to have those moments where we are allowed to spend some time being able to enjoy moments of peace. My Orange Glad box offers me those amazing moments of peace each month so that I can enjoy them fully.

Please forgive me for using stock photos. I had pictures taken with my camera and the SD card came up missing after a trip to my mother in law’s. I have been quite devastated to lose all of the pictures from this and these were among the ones that were lost.

Filed Under: Product Reviews Tagged With: dessert box, Orange Glad