Introducing RedPawPaw-May 2014

Morning all,

I'm taking another departure from my normal content (although it fits my budget tag) to bring you a new subscription box on the market.  Red paw paw is a grocery subscription box, and for $5 a month (if you're willing to leave feedback, $10 if you just want the box) you get a box of goodies delivered to your door (unfortunately they currently have a limited delivery area due to the box being couriered.  hopefully the more of us that get behind them the larger that distribution will be).

This is their first month of deliveries, and there have been some teething issues.  I signed up 3 weeks ago, but was somehow missed.  I sent off an email 29/5 querying why i hadn't received anything, had a response that night that a box would be packed the next day for me, and this morning, 31/5, i had a box on my doorstep.  Great customer service!  (unlike another subscription box, but more about that in coming weeks).

Anyway, on to the contents of the box.

This is your box.  It comes in a normal brown box for delivery, but you open that one to this.  nice and sturdy, perfect for storage when empty, and is has movable dividers inside.

 The May box!!!  As you can see there is plenty in the box, most of it is full size, and the samples are generous.

 First thing you see when you open your box is this!  It's a glossy magazine telling you about the contents of the box, plus what is Aussie from the contents.  There was also a single sheet with a couple of recipe ideas for the jam.

 Special K Cracker Crisps-RRP $4.29-Full Size
Taylor's Pea and Zucchini Soup-RRP $4.29-Full Size (this is marked as a Aussie Made product)

Green's Buttermilk Pancake Shake-RRP $3.12  (325g)-Sample Size (200g, valued at $1.92)  (another aussie made item)
Henry Jones & co Fruit and Chia Jam-RRP $5.36-Full Size (again another Aussie item.  I also received a voucher via email for 50% off this at Woolworths)

 Saxa Iodised Sea Salt Flakes-RRP $9.02 (200g)-Sample Size (112g, valued at $5.05)
Saxa Smoked Cyprus Sea Salt Grinder-RRP $5.90-Full Size

(saxa is the last Aussie made brand in the box)

 Mentos Pure Fresh Gum-RRP $2.14-Full Size
Mentos Very Berry Chews-RRP $1.40-Full Size

Pine-o-Cleen Disinfecting Wipes-RRP $4.50-Full Size
Finish Quantum Dishwasher Tablets-RRP $30.09 (40 tabs)-Sample Size (4 tabs, valued at $3.00)
Nivea Q10 CC Cream-RRP $15.99 (50ml) Sample Size (1.5ml, valued at $0.47)

Total Value-$38.32

As you can see the Red Paw Paw box is worth well over the $5 i paid.  It has a range of products to try, some old favourites plus some new brands to try.  As a family we can use everything in this box, my husband is a gum chewer and is willing to try anything, my kids want the crackers, mentos and pancakes (although they will be hard pressed to get the crackers, i want them!), we have a dishwasher and use the disinfecting wipes in the bathroom already, and the jam sounds very intriguing.  I'm definitely interested to see what June brings, and hopefully the boxes continue to have the value and range that this one does.

To sign up visit RedPawPaw

(all prices bar the nivea come from the woolworths online shopping site, nivea from chemist warehouse online.  Box was paid for by me)

Have you signed up?  What are your opinions?

Playgro Toy Review-My First House Blocks

Afternoon all!

Master T and i are back with our third toy review, My First House Blocks.

What we like-

• They're nice and soft, perfect for when everything gets thrown.
• They have a good range of pictures (there are cartoon people and pets, real pictures of animals, numbers and a set of black/white images-perfect for little bubbas)
• they're easy to build with
• They squish easily, then pop back up, and hold up to being chewed.

What we didn't like-

•  We need more!  so ad-ons, bigger packs, etc.  These are great for little people

We seriously thought these blocks were great.  We have a household full of blocks (big megablocks, small mega blocks, duplo, lego etc), but these were perfect for little people who still shove everything in their mouths and have a tendency to throw things.  These have been aimed at our TV with no damage done, and chewed without fear of them being swallowed, plus they're easy for little hands to stack.  They're nice and bright, with different faces to look at, and animals to talk about, making them great for playtime with mum or dad.

One review to go!  Check out my original Toy Tester post, and pop over to the other blogs reviewing toys, we all have different ones to review!

Playgro Toy Review-Elephant Shape Sorter

Hi again!

Master T and i are back to review another toy.  This time we're reviewing the Elephant Shape Sorter.

What we liked-

• He has crunchy, scrunchy ears, which are also made out of satin.  Master T quite often goes to sleep caressing a tag on a pillow, and what kid doesn't love crunchy sounding toys
• His shapes are brightly coloured and numbered, making it easy to interact with little ones
• His shapes aren't too hard for little people to put in

What we didn't like-

• the shapes are slightly hard to get back out of Mr Elephant.  I can only just get them back out, yet the plastic holding them in is too tough for Master T to get his hand through.  
• The triangle is an Isosceles triangle, so it has to go in a particular way to fit.  An equilateral triangle would be better.

Master T really loves this toy.  It's great for his fine motor skills, plus it's different to any other shape sorter we own (we have my old tupperware shape sorter, and a box shaped one from my older 2).  He's nice and bright, looks very friendly, and is a great way to interact with your little one.

Playgro Toy Review-Click Bitz

Master T and I have been having a good play around with our Playgro toys, and i think we're finally ready to start writing our reviews.  Master T has been enjoying have new toys to play with, and it's great to see what's been a hit and what's a miss.

Today we're reviewing the Click Bitz.

What we like-

• They're bright and colourful

• They're textured, and different shapes

What we didn't like-

• They're boring!!  they don't do anything, you can't make anything out of them (the 12 aren't enough to even make a circle)
• They're hard to get together/they're too easy to put together.  Some i struggle to push together, and some fall apart the moment you put them together.

Master T loves throwing these around, otherwise he tends to leave them alone.  He can't get them together, which completely stuffs up the idea of any hand-eye coordination development the toy may have had.  If there were a few more included you would at least be able to make a circle with them, but in the current state you can make a snake shape and that's it.  And when that snake is picked up it falls apart.

This hasn't been a hit in the house (except for the said throwing), however that might just be us (Master T is on the go constantly, so sitting still with something like this doesn't overly appeal to him).  With the addition of a few more beads and making the size of the beads more universal (by that i mean where you put them together, make it so a baby/toddler can get them all together themselves) it might make it more appealling.

As you can see, on the go.  Constantly.

Violet Box May 2014

2nd box in 2 days!!!  VB this month released 2 sneak peeks, a Lush lipscrub and a Goldwell product.  Very exciting.  Turns out the box got even better! 

I opened this in front of my husband and he thought it looked empty, which it did.  but there are some hidden gems that are very exciting.


Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub-RRP $9.95-full size

This was the sneak peek from Facebook.  It smells amazing, very caramelly, and the list of ingredients sound like a very yummy treat.  Mine was handmade by Sabita!  It's available in 2 other flavours, mint tulips and bubblegum


Goldwell Stylesign Sleek Perfection Spray-RRP $24.95-sample size

This was our other sneak peek.  It's a decent sample (20ml, full size is 100ml), and should do a few applications.  It's a heat protectant spray and is humidity resistant.  I'll give it a go next time i straighten my hair.


Teeez Eve's Ready To Wear Lipstick-RRP $32-Full Size

This was the first thing i noticed when i opened my box, another TEEEZ product!!  This lipstick is supposed to be highly moisturising and long lasting, and is paraben free.  Mine's in Paradise Pink, a gorgeous mid pink that will suit nearly everyone.  Full review to follow in the next few weeks!


Chella Highlighter Pencil-RRP $22-Full Size

A new brand all the way from America!!  This is a highlighter pencil for light skin, and has multiple uses (the website says "This fresh and pretty neutral pencil will brighten and visibly lift your eyes when lightly applied on the brow bone, dark circles, blemishes and red spots. In addition, this multi-purpose pencil can be used to brighten and “open” the eye area by applying to the water line and inner corners of the eye. Applying a thin, blended line down the center of the nose creates the illusion of a thinner nose. Perfect for highlighting a beautiful smile by eliminating dark shadows and preventing lipstick spread by applying to the Cupid ’s bow and along the lip line. So many uses in just one perfect pencil! Formulated for LIGHT toned skin.").  It swatches to a matte ivory, so it may not suit everyone, but should suit the majority.  Chella is an eyes/brows and skincare brand, and sound very interesting.

Timeless Truth Herbal Rejuvenation Immortelle Mask-RRP $8-full size

Another full size product and another new brand (at least it is to me).  This mask is meant to be good for hydration in cold climates, which suits me to a "T" (it's starting to get quite cold here in canberra).  It's supposed to help with fine lines and blemishes, which sounds perfect for my skin.  Very excited to try this out.

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse and Creme Merveillance-RRP $24.95 and $64.95-Sample sizes

 These are written as 2 separate samples.  The Huile Prodigieuse is a multipurpose oil (body, hair, face etc) and the Creme Merveillance is a face cream for visible expression lines.  I've heard marvellous things about the oil, and the cream sounds interesting.

Teeez and Chella Swatches

So, for a box that looked relatively empty, it contained 4 full sized products and 3 samples, valued at $71.95 for the full sized products alone.  I'm excited about every product in the box, and can't wait to try them all.  

Have you received yours yet?  Any different colours/products?

 

Lust Have It may 2014

Can i be perfectly honest?  I have been a bit over my LHI boxes recently.  I don't know whether it's just box overload (i've been with LHI for just over 2 years now) or just crappy boxes (not super crappy, but not completely awesome), but i was at the point of giving them one more month and then cancelling.  There have been issues postage (ie the april boxes not arriving til may), there have been some suss product sizes (which may not be completely LHI's fault, but it doesn't inspire confidence) and repeats of samples and brands way too regularly.  Not to mention price increases, product quality decreases, packaging changes etc, etc.  It's just been a bit meh!

So, imagine my surprise this morning when a box arrived at my door.  I thought it would be VB (my shipping notification was sent yesterday, so it could arrive anytime) but it was my LHI!  May 20th *gasp*, less then 3 weeks after my april box arrived (i must admit it took me a little while to figure out why the VB sneak peeks weren't in my box.  I felt like a doofus once i figured it out).

This months box came in the black out box, with the products wrapped in tissue paper.  no new packaging, but it was explained why on a separate card (the new packaging didn't arrive in time, and they didn't want the boxes to be held up just because of the packaging), and they've given members $20 to try out a new box to apologise for the lack of packaging (which means you can get an eco box for $9.95, or try the FAB box for $15).  Congrats LHI for trying to make things right!! 

On to the products

Mary Kay Lip Lacquer-RRP $22-Full Size

This was our product that we could choose this month.  it came in a zip lock bag with the lacquer and a mini retractable lip brush (it's so cute).  2 colours to choose from, the one above is chai latte, and there was also pink pagoda.

(i will apologise now for not reviewing this better.  I was fairly certain i chose the pink pagoda over the chai latte, as the chai latte is a colour i won't wear much.  I've emailed LHI to look in to it, which they are, but i don't want to open this one any further at the current time.  I promise a more in depth review soon).


The Cosmetics Kitchen Pure Mineral Blush-RRP $34.95-Full Size

This is another limited edition for LHI (like the bronzer from last month).  It's in the colour strawberry and i am absolutely in love with the packaging (it's so cute).  It contains 6g of product, and has no nasties.  I don't think it's an overly strawberry shade, it's a gorgeous mauve instead, perfect for the colder months.  It goes on fairly sheer, but is easy to build up.  I can see some people having issues with it, it is fairly shimmery, but i really like it.

Coral Colours Eyebrow Definer Pencil-RRP $7.95-Full Size

Coral Colours is one of those brands i don't tend to look at very much these days.  My favourite lipgloss as a teen was from coral (a really pretty shimmery pink, although it tasted and smelt foul) and my favourite lipstick (metallic purple, it matched my shimmer powder and hair mascara.  i wore it with stick on stars and glitter.  Guess which era i was a teen in?  Actually i think i still have a tiny amount left in a tube here).  Anyways, this is a brown eyebrow pencil.  It's a colour that will suit me, and i'll have to give it a go.  It did tug slightly when i swatched it, however that might have more to do with the weather here then anything else (the sun has just decided to come out, it's been a bit cool today).


Appelles Rosemary Body Bar-RRP $4.95-Full Size

This smells amazing!  very lemon myrtle-y (it's actually rosemary and lemon myrtle), is organic, isn't tested on animals etc, etc.  But the smell!!!  Disappointing thing about this?  It's in the current eco box, and is also in the may Bellabox, which for some would make this bar #3.  I don't mind if LHI double things up between their range of boxes, but they should give a bit of a gap for those who subscribe to more then one.


Sasy n Savy Vitamin Enriched Facial Recovery Masque-RRP $50-sample size

What do i like about this?  It's aussie made (but not owned) and it has some lovely oils in it (macadamia, lavender, lime etc) which make it smell lovely.  What's meh about it?  It's another mask.  But it sounds and smells lovely, so i'm interested to give it a go.

Cosmetics Kitchen blush and Coral Colours pencil swatched

So, my thoughts on the box.  4 full sized products, equaling $69.85 worth of value, however 3 of those products are repeat brands (there was a mary kay cleansing oil in a box last year, maybe the year before, and a appelles set -shower gel, body lotion and soap- in a box roughly the same time period ago.  Cosmetics kitchen was in a box at the start of this year).  All in all i'm happy with the box, 2 of the repeat brands are from long enough ago that it really doesn't matter, plus they are all different products (bar the soap, however this one is full size plus a different scent).  It's nice to see a commercial aussie cosmetics brand (coral colours is readily available, and is relatively cheap and good quality), and it is lovely to find a brand new brand in my box.

Have you received yours?  What d you think?

Playgro Toy Tester

Afternoon all!!

Master T and I are proud to announce that we are official Playgro Toy Testers (well, Master T is an official tester, i'm his faithful assistant).  We've been lucky enough to be accept to test some lovely toys out, and we get the opportunity to review each for you!!  Our parcel of goodies rocked up this morning, and i thought i'd do a post on exactly what we have, then in the next couple of weeks each will be independently reviewed.

So, we are toddler bloggers (we each have a different section, some as parents of more than 1, some of babies etc).  Each of the toys we have received are 6 months+, but are wonderful for this older age group as they can grow with your child.  We have:

All our goodies!

My First House Blocks-these are lovely soft blocks, and each way you turn them there is a different pictures (animals, the house etc).  Perfect for dribbly babies and they're extremely bright and engaging.

Bathtime Squirtees-there are frogs and turtles and ducks.  lots of fun in the bath or for outside water play in summer.
 

Elephant Shape sorter- he has crinkly ears (master T loves his ears).  the blocks are very bright, and they are numbered (so you can name the shapes, colours and count them!) and are easy for little fingers to put in.

 Click Bitz-bright, textured beads and can be pushed together.

And everything came in a nice big box, that has been climbed in to and out of, closed, opened, pushed around, filled and then unpacked.  As per usual with any box that comes in to this house its more exciting then the toys that came in it (once i unpacked the toys it was a different story, though).

So there you go!   Master T and i will be back over the coming weeks with a review for each one of these, so check back to see how we go!

Oh, and links to the other bloggers involved (check each one out, they'll all be bringing you reviews as well)-

http://www.mizzmummy.blog.com/
http://beautyandlifestylehunter.blogspot.com.au/
http://xavierloves.wordpress.com/
http://theprofessionalprampusher.blogspot.com.au/
http://njtreviews.blogspot.com.au/
http://www.greatgoogamoogas.com/
http://findingmyselfyoung.blogspot.com.au/
http://vidotfamily.blogspot.com.au/


*thank you to Playgro for the opportunity to try these wonderful toys out!!  https://www.facebook.com/PlaygroAustralia?fref=photo