Subscription Box Mania

Subscription boxes are all the rage right now.  There's one for just about every interest you can imagine, from food to beauty to fitness, and everything in between.  They make for a great gift that keeps on giving, or a fun treat for yourself!  Here are a few of my faves:

Birchbox
Birchbox was one of the first subscription boxes I ever heard about, and I've been getting them for close to a year now. For only ten bucks a month, I always look forward to my next box of fun beauty samples.  I've received high-end makeup, hair products, lotions, nail polishes, and even the occasional accessory or healthy snack.  I always feel like I get my money's worth, and it's a great way to try new products before you buy. It's just the best!

Stridebox
For Christmas this year, I signed Jay up for a few months of Stridebox, a subscription box just for runners.  For $15/month, it came primarily stocked full of nutrition products, such as sports bars, goo, and electrolyte drink mixes.  Pretty much everything they sent was organic and made with real ingredients, so that was a big plus.  The boxes also included a few accessories, like a water bottle and shoe laces.  Jay really enjoyed it!

Graze
I just recently signed up for a free trial of Graze, a $6 healthy snack box that comes as often as once a week.  I am always on the lookout for easy, nutritious snacks to keep at work, so I thought I'd be worth a try.  I was able to specify my snack preferences and dietary requirements ahead of time, and it's easy to sort through what they have.

I opted for vegan snacks only in my first box, and I received fruit and seed bars, a black pepper cashew mix, a natural energy nut mix, and a mix of dried apples, cranberries, and figs.  Everything so far has been delicious, and the individual packaging is really convenient.  I like that I can easily throw one into my purse or lunchbox when I'm in a rush.

If you are interested in Graze, use the code JY6FN1XJB and you'll receive your first and fifth boxes free!

Naturebox
I also tried Naturebox for a while, which is very similar to Graze.  Instead of receiving a box every two weeks, you get just one box per month full of healthy snacks.  It ranges from $20 to $50, depending on how many snack bags you opt to receive.  It is definitely more expensive than Graze (which is mainly why I stopped ordering it), but it's also a lot more food.  You can select and rate your snacks, all of which are nutritionist-approved.

Naturebox always offers half off plus free shipping on your first box.

Barkbox
I've been seriously eyeing Barkbox for a long time - a monthly box stocked full of toys, treats and gadgets for your pooch.  Wendy and Oliver absolutely LOVE all presents, so I'm sure they would adore this monthly treat.  At $20/month, it's a tad pricey (especially if I were going to get a box for each of them), but I will definitely keep it in mind when their birthdays roll around in the fall.  I've heard really good things about Barkbox, and I love that they donate 10% of their proceeds to doggy rescue organizations.

These pictures of pups with their Barkboxes are too cute!

 

If you're interested in checking out the other millions of subscription boxes out there, try this website for a complete list with reviews.  I wish I could order them all!

Have a great weekend!

Salty Sweet No-Bake Oatmeal Nut Butter Balls

I try not to eat too much added sugar, but after dinner I love to have a little something sweet.  Most nights, after we have finished up all of our to-dos for the day, Jay and I sit down together and watch a show before bed.  (Currently, we are watching the entire West Wing series from the beginning...it is sort of old school but I love it!)  We often used to have a little ice cream while we watched (back in the day when I was still eating dairy), and now it's like my brain automatically associates TV time with dessert.  The rest of the day I could take it or leave it, but, as soon as we sit down to watch our show, I start craving sugar!

Most nights, a square or two of good dark chocolate will do the trick, but last night we were all out and I could not get dessert off my mind.  It was already pretty late in the evening and my energy was lacking, so I wanted to make something easy and somewhat healthy that I could throw together without turning on the oven or dirtying a bunch of dishes. 

Of course, I immediately checked my "something sweet" Pinterest board for inspiration and decided to try my hand at some no-bake oatmeal balls.  They were roughly inspired by this recipe, but I added in some carob chips and sea salt, among other things, to give it that salty sweet flavor I love. 

The cookies turned out great...we ate more than our share last night, and I'm sure the rest won't last long.  Luckily, they are super easy, so I can always whip up another batch.  And they are full of fiber and healthy fats, so you could eat them anytime, not just for dessert.  

Here is my recipe:

• 1 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
• 1/4 cup almond butter
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1.5 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1/4 cup vegan carob chips (or chocolate chips)
• 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Combine all ingredients in a bowl.  Roll dough into balls and refrigerate for an hour or so (if you can wait that long!).

There are so many different variations you could try with this recipe based on your taste preferences and what you have on hand.  I can't wait to make it again!