Petit Vour June Box Review

You'll remember that I was just "okay" with my Petit Vour box last month but wanted to give it one more shot. I am highly disappointed with this months box and immediately canceled it. 

Included was:

*Sample of Acorelle perfume (which does smell good)

*Sample of (Skingen)x eye-comlete, XFoliator, and Anti-Wrinkle Complete

*Barre bar (cinnamon pecan)

*$15 coupon for Mineral Hygienics

I was 'so-so' about the box until I realized that with the Mineral Hygincis coupon you still had to spend $5.95 shipping. This was not a "free' product and this box was not anywhere worth the $15 I spent. Hopefully the future boxes will get better but I'm not sticking with them to find out. There are many more boxes for $15 or less that come with a lot more.

Yummy!

I wanted to post one of my go-to summer recipe. The picture doesn't do it justice; they may not be pretty but they are yummy! It is a variation of a BLT and my kids love these.

Bacon Tomato melts

Toast bagels (I use whole wheat bagels)
Fry up some bacon
Slice tomatoes
Assemble these on a baking sheet and top with shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Enjoy!

Last week I did a shoutout on my blog Facebook Page for ideas for all the rhubarb I have. Thank you for the ideas...I'm going to be trying them all out. Last night I made the Rhubarb Cake and boy was it good! Even my husband, who doesn't like rhubarb much, ate two pieces. 

Take a white or yellow cake mix and make it as the package directs. Spread in pan and top with 2 c. sliced rhubarb and 1 c. sugar (I am not a huge sugar fan so only used about 1/4 c. on top). Pour 1 c. cream over top and bake at 350 degrees for about 25-30 minutes or until done. This is going into my recipe box for sure!

June PopSugar Must Have Review

I'm not sure why my PopSugar boxes always take forever to get to me because most people had them delivered late last week or early this week. By this time I've always seen spoilers, but that still doesn't quell the excitement of opening up the box. I was so excited once I saw what was in this month's box!  

The box was packed full and nicely arranged when I opened it. This I probably my favorite box ever from them - it totally screams "Summer!" to me.

Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns ($24) by Lauren Weisberger. I loved her first book and look forward to reading this. It is definitely a "beach read" and perfect for easy summer reading.

Gorjana & Griffin Zuma Scarf ($62) and a Gorjana & Griffin gift card ($25). The colors of this scarf are gorgeous and the fabric is oh so soft. I really wish I was a scarf person and I would have totally picked these colors out for myself so I think I am going to google how to tie a scarf in different ways and try to become a scarf wearer - I love how they look on other people! The booklet also recommends wearing it as a head scarf or beach sarong so it is versatile. I checked out their site and there are some reasonably priced items on sale so the gift card should make something almost free!

Popcorn, Indiana Fit Popcorn ($5) and Project 7 Quench the Thirsty Wintergreen Mints ($1.50). Who doesn't love popcorn?! And, the mints sound yummy, look cool, and a portion of the proceeds benefit a project to being clean drinking water to communities around the world.

Juice Beauty Stem Cell Repair Moisturizer ($65) and two CC Cream sample ($5). I love, love, LOVE Juice Beauty products and was so excited to get this. It is a blend of fruit stem cells infused with vitamin C and grape seed. Made from organic ingredients. They included two different colors of the CC cream samples so that one was sure to match your skin tone.

Hard Candy Fitness DVD - Addicted to Sweat ($19.99). I'll be honest and say that I could care less about this. I'm not a huge fan of fitness DVDs. With that said, this DVD doesn't require any fancy fitness equipment (bands, weights, etc.) but just a chair. So maybe I will end up liking it?

The total of the box comes to a $200 value! Talk surrounding the July box is that it may be an awesome one since it will be PopSugar's 1 year anniversary. If you would like to sign up for the July box before they sell out you can use this link and use code "REFER5" for $5 off your first box, making it just $30.

Disclaimer: Referral links are included in this post.

This Week

*The kids have been picking and eating radishes out of the garden like demented little bunnies. They are loving them.

*The clothesline has been full. Today it was peaceful watching towels and blankets flap in the breeze while birds sang and puffy white clouds drifted through the clear blue sky. It felt like something out of a Disney movie.

*Books on my to-read list. Since signing up for the adult summer reading program I have been trying to get some serious reading time in; instead I'm only on my third book (the Mindy Kaling one above...it is hilarious!)

Organic Outreach for Families

Organic Outreach for Families by Kevin G. Harney & Sherry Harney

   I love the concept of this book - turning your home into a lighthouse. This book digs deep into the fact that we, as parents, need to basically "practice what we preach". Our children won't learn anything if our actions don't match our words.

   One point that I love is that we shouldn't push our children to attend activities at church or in the youth community that they don't enjoy. If we are living a Godly life; actively praying, showing others outside our home true Christian love, following God's word then our children will learn from us. In a nutshell 'actions speak louder than words'. I, myself, have learned this over the years. I try not to be quick to preach any more and constantly remind myself of what St. Francis said "Preach the gospel always, when necessary use words.".  In Kevin and Sherry's own words "We can't give others what we don't have. If we want our children to love Jesus with authentic and passionate hearts, we, as parents, must have a living and dynamic relationship with God. Parents who are lukewarm about living for God can't expect their kids to shine brightly for Jesus. We need to examine our own relationship with God and ask, If my child grows up to have a faith like mine, would that be a good thing?"

     This book goes on to speak about how to shine bright in our own homes, neighborhood, and community.

     I really enjoyed the concept of the book but as someone who has read several books on this topic I found it to be a repeat. I didn't feel as though it was an original idea so got bored of the book midway. I think this would be an excellent book for those who haven't read on this topic before; it would be a wealth of information in that case.

Disclaimer: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze® for my honest review.

Happiness, Home Grown

I've said it often, "Flowers make me happy!"

We finally have a dry sunny day so I hung up a few loads of laundry on the line and then took a stroll through the yard to say hello to my flowers. The one above is a miniature rose bush that I planted years ago. The one below is a wild rose bush that I stumbled upon. It was hiding behind my raspberry bushes. I figure that since Amy Rose arrived this spring, so did this flower for her. :)

 My white peony is going crazy this year with blooms. They look like giant clouds and are so soft and fluffy. I do wish that the peony flowers lasted longer than a week!

Bringing a little happiness (as well as a lovely fragrance!) to your home can mean something as simple as finding a lovely flower friend outside your door.

Summer Fortune Cookie Soap Box

I love "The Soap Box", which is a quarterly subscription box from Fortune Cookie Soap. Each box contains samples from that season's new line. The names are creative and fun (though sometimes the titles can seem a little adult themed).

First glance shows color and fun!

The OCD hand sanitizer is "Do You Salsa or Mango" and smells like mangos to me, though it also has hints of chile and cilantro the card said. I just (literally, yesterday) finished off the bottle from the spring line so this will go directly into my diaper bag.

A body shot "Don't Be Jelly" which smells delicious...like raspberry lemonade which is exactly what the card says it is supposed to smell like. This can be used in the shower like body wash on a sponge or wash cloth.

I love, love, love Fortune Cookie Whipped Cream. It is a thick lotion and their scents are all amazing. This one is "It's Five O'clock Somewhere!" It does smell like a fruity cocktail.

"Where the Sun Don't Shine" solid Sunscreen Stick. This is a new product and I can't wait to try it. This small sample will be great to try on the face and it smells like coconuts and bananas.

"One in a Melon" fortune cookie soap. The kids always claim these soaps.

"Aquaholic" sea salt hair spritz. This spray is supposed to make those beachy waves in your hair...my hair is already wavy/curly but the scent is amazing (pina colada) so I'm going to use it anyway!

"Mother Pucker" shower steamer (yes, I told you some of the names are "adult"). You place this in the floor of your shower and it will release a lovely lemon scent as you shower.

 

 

"I Scream, You Scream" sugar scrub. This is a sweet, sweet smell like vanilla and strawberries. Almost sickly sweet but I'll try it!

   This box is $20 quarterly. The samples are all very good sized (the hand sanitizer lasted me months, the whipped cream lasted at least 20 tries, etc.), plus every box comes with a $10 coupon good for their site so I am able to get something "free" just for the shipping cost. Last time I bought with their coupon a tub of Whipped Cream in "Cupcake" scent and it literally smells good enough to eat and makes my hands oh so soft. This is a lovely box and I am always excited to get it!