Hello Fresh

This month I tried out a new food delivery service called Hello Fresh! I found this company via an email from GlossyBox giving a 50% discount on my first box so I though why not!

The concept is that you get a box of fresh ingredients delivered to your door every Tuesday with the recipes included and each meal takes roughly 30mins or less to prepare and cook following the fool proof recipe cards included.

The costs vary depending on how many meals and how many people you are cooking for I went for the 3 meal box for two people which would normally cost £39 but I paid £19.50.

As promised my box arrived mid morning on Tuesday, I was impressed with the packaging, if you were out or it had to be left somewhere you wouldn't worry as its well packaged in lambs wool and ice packs!! 

Once opened everything I needed to make the meals was present and correct and the recipe cards are clear and easy to follow plus as a welcome gift I got a bar of Dark Chocolate.

I've now cooked all three recipes and produced three delicious meals that both I and the other half enjoyed.

Having finished the box I was in two minds about the concept.

I liked the fact that the ingredients were fresh and seemed of a good quality. I liked that there was no waste you use everything supplied and importantly I liked the recipes I recieved.

What I didn't like was that you have no choice over what you get other than you can choose between vegetarian and non vegetarian. This service will be of no use to someone with a food allergy and if you receive your box and you don't like the menu....tough!!

I'm not a fussy eater but there are things I'm not keen on and my other half doesn't eat Lamb so should any unwanted meals crop up its a waste of food and money.

I do think they should have some kind of user profile or system such as Graze where you can let the company know clearly what you can't or don't want to receive.

The other point is the price. £39 isn't outrageous for three meals lets be honest you would spend more than that if you went out, but at the same time I could easily pop to my local supermarket and buy three meals I know I'd like for the same price and be content that my family is going to eat what I'm cooking?!

That all said I did really enjoy my box, the recipes aren't what I normally cook and it was nice to have new ideas as I'm sure like many people I do get stuck in a rut making the same meals every week so it made for a refreshing change to try something new.

I was also lucky in that we all liked what was supplied so it meant it was excellent value for money.

All in all I'm not sure I'll continue with this service, however I think this would make a great gift to new parents or would suit someone who has no fussy eating habits and is up for trying something new! 

Check them out at www.hellofresh.co.uk if you fancy a try!

Augusts GlossyBox

It was a pleasant surprise to actually receive this months Glossy Box during the Month its intended!! Normally we get them right at the end of the month which always bugs me when they take payment at the beginning of the month!! Anyway here is my box, I haven't really looked at any other blogs to see whether I have the "best" box or not and to be honest I've given up with that, some months this box is amazing others not so but again I digress! 

My goodies were the Alessandro Pro White nail polish, DHC Deep Cleansing Oil 30ml, All for Eve Eves balm 7g, Vera Valenti eye palate, Lipcote lipstick sealer and Glossybox's own lipstick in glossy pink! The theme of this box is International Superstars with each product allegedly having cult status in their native country.

The stand out product for me is the Cleansing oil from DHC, I buy this anyway as it really is amazing stuff! Wash your face as normal then cleanse with the oil and you'll be embarrassed as to what it pulls out your skin! Its also reasonably priced and a little goes a long way you can buy 30ml upwards from only £3.60. I love DHC anyway as you get samples sent through with your catalogues and orders, their website clearly lists everything you need to know about their products and yeah they're just yar!

I also love the Eve's Balm, I like the fact it has a mirror in it (I know vain!) and its for a good cause so you can't knock that.

The Glossy Box lipstick is ok the claim that its £9.50's worth seems a little exaggerated but its ok not a terrible colour and its an extra so can't complain! 

I wont waste my time or yours talking about the eye palate... shocking sums it up! The Lipcote is from about 1989 and stings like a bitch I also remembered why I don't use it because the brush gets tainted by your lippy then you end up with grim looking fluid in your tube!! The nail polish is ok small size makes yellow nails look white and bright...again can't moan its ok!

I have seen on GlossyBox's facebook page lots of people bitching about how shite the box is but I have to say it's not the worst box I've ever got, She Said Beauty's box this month was an absolute shocker, in comparison I really liked my Glossy box it contained one of my favourite products and it had a reasonable bonus item so another good month for me! 

                             

August's SheSaidBeauty Box

So as usual I get the email saying my box is on its way and then the door knocks and there's the postman with it in his hand! 

I really wanted to like this months box I'd seen the sneak peek and whilst it didn't blow me away it looked ok however in reality its a pretty poor offering.

In summary I got a mini tube of toothpaste, Redkin colour extend lotion (my hairs not coloured?!) Balance me Lip Salve...really wanted to try this but when I did it just tasted rank and smelt weird and was just a fail for me, Blotting papers....no words...!! Probably the vilest nail foils I'll never try and a tiny tiny bottle of cologne that I hate!! 

It wasn't a good month for me with She Said Beauty there actually is nothing in this box I will try, the toothpaste I already tried from two other boxes and what can I say its just toothpaste??!! The rest was just pants and not for me. This is the first Beauty Box that I've ever received where nothing in it at all has grabbed me but I guess that's the way it goes and hopefully this months poor offering is because they saved pennies for next months awesome box....maybe wishful thinking but we can all dream!

July's GlossyBox

Today I finally got my July GlossyBox!! This is the second box GB has sent me as the courier kindly left my first box on the doorstep and some tramp promptly nicked it which was a bit pants. 

Its left me wandering what was in my original box and whether I was one of the lucky few to receive the HD brows kits....I'll never know and its probably for the best as I am DESPERATE to get my hands on one of those kits but alas it's not to be!

So as you can see from the pic above I received the Collin Resultime regenerating collagen Gel 15ml, Awapuhi Wild Ginger texturizing sea spray 25ml, Monu Night cream 20ml, Jelly Pong Lip Frosting 15ml (fullsize) and Kryolan satin powder 3g (full size) plus some bonus samples from Elizabeth Arden.

I love the Monu Night cream I've had other products from Monu in previous GB's and I really like it. I'm not usually one for herbal smelling products but this is the exception as Monu really works for my skin and actually I don't mind the smell so that for me was a winner straight off!

The Kryolan powder I was initially a bit "meh" about but I got it out tried it and was really surprised at how much I liked it, I used over the top of my normal eye shadow and it gave a really nice shimmer effect and following advice seen on GB's Facebook I tried it wet and was really pleased with the depth of colour so another yes to that.

The Jelly Pong Lip Frosting smells divine remind's me of Hubba Bubba the pink one! I like it it works for me, I think a clear gloss over the top would give it more of a pop but as it is I can see myself using this daily.

The sea spray I'll give it a whirl but I'm crap at the beach look I just end up looking like a gull has nested in my hair rather than the "sexy beach babe" I dream to be!!

Never heard of Collin's before other than the dictionary peeps who I assume are not affiliated?!! It says it can be used daily as a serum or applied thick as a night mask so I think I'll try it as a mask as I already have enough serums to get through!

The Elizabeth Arden samples are in the bin I have no time for those samples they just end up half used oozing in your bathroom till you chuck them so no! It was a bonus however and apparently if I go to Debenhams I can flash the card and get a delux sample so I can't moan.

Really pleased with my box, the Monu products I adore so that alone won it for me and the rest all seems good so I really can't complain. Obviously I would have loved the HD brows kit but actually what I got is more what I'll use so I can't grumble especially as GlossyBox where so good in replacing the stolen box.

Thumbs up to GlossyBox this month I loved it!