August Fabletics Review!

*I'm not compensated in any way for these reviews.  All opinions are my own.  However, reviews do contain affiliate links *

I am a workout junkie.  I don't feel like my day's been productive unless I've done something that really makes me sweat, so you can find me at the gym most mornings.  I have been wearing a variation of the same workout outfit for six years at this point: black "supermodel" pant from Victoria's Secret Sport, an American Eagle boyfriend tank top, some manner of zip-up sweatshirt, ponytail and a silicon-backed Goody thin headband.  I've branched out a little lately, working a few new, more loose-fitting cotton tanks into the rotation, but I always go back to my favorites.  My husband makes fun of me for wearing so much clothing to the gym, and it's true; the pants are somewhat thick, though they wick away sweat nicely, and I sometimes feel like the slightly flared bottoms get in the way when I'm spinning.  I was eager for a change, and when I saw an ad for Fabletics (affiliate link) that boasted a full workout outfit for $25, I decided to give it a try!

Fabletics is the same sort of subscription model as Jewelmint, ShoeDazzle, etc: become a "VIP member," pay a monthly fee, in this case, $49.95, and pick out an outfit.  You can skip a month by the 5th by clicking a button on the site.  Otherwise, the credit card on file is charged, and you will have a credit for $49.95.  You can shop the site without becoming a VIP member, but prices are higher.  You also take a short quiz to determine what outfits fit your style and needs.  You can buy separate pieces, but the outfit deals are way better.  New styles come out each month.  Kate Hudson collaborates on the designs and often models them.

There is no earthly way I need a new workout outfit every month, even with all the exercise I do.  I just can't see spending $50 a month - I have a washing machine!  Also, I'd rather spend that money on other clothes.  But for $25, I figured it was worth a try... I plan to skip months unless there is something I love.

Outfits generally consist of 3 pieces: a top, a bottom, and a sports bra.  One glance at the bras they have on the site, and I knew they weren't gonna cut it.  I'm busty, and I do hardcore cardio.  I need maximum strapped-in support and an underwire, and the bras they have are more like shelf bras.  Too bad; some of them are cute!  A few outfits had a scarf (huh? who needs a workout scarf) or socks or a headband with them, so I went for Sept: a pair of patterned "Salar" black/grey/white capris, a "Leon" black racerback tank, and a peach headband.  The tank comes in other colors, but they were sold out.  Apparently, styles/colors sell out quickly in desirable styles.

Standard shipping is free.  You can't mix and match items to create your own outfit, though, which is a bummer.  I wanted a different pattern, but it only came with outfits with sports bras, which are basically useless to me.  I received my order relatively quickly.

Each piece comes separately wrapped in plastic.  You can return items, but they must have tags attached.  When I tried on the top, the tag fell off.  Oops.  It's okay; I planned to keep it anyway.  The top and pants are both made of a combo of polyester and lycra.

I wore the outfit to a typical sweat session today.  The pants are definitely thinner than my VS ones, but not in a bad way.  They felt lighter and made it easier to move, though the somewhat shiny fabric squeaked a little against my bike seat.  They are definitely tight, but I think that's because a) they are compression pants, and b) I'm used to my VS pants, which I bought before I lost weight but still fit, more or less.  They're also very opaque; there's no seeing through these bad boys, even the white parts!  I liked the top quite a bit; it was definitely body-skimming but not overly snug, and the small mesh panel in the back kept me cool.  It seemed to wick away perspiration nicely, so while I was still very, very sweaty by the end of my time at the gym, I didn't feel disgusting.  The headband was definitely comfortable and soft.  It stayed put during a jog, but I had to readjust once during spin class.  I hardly ever have to touch my cheapie, silicon-backed Goody headbands, but adjusting once isn't so bad.  I also just generally liked the way the outfit looked; I thought it was pretty flattering for gym attire, and I got compliments on my pants.

So on  the whole, I give Fabletics a 7 out of 10.  I like the product, but I really hate getting roped into these monthly charge websites.  I'll inevitably forget to "skip" a month, and then get mad and cancel.  For what it's worth, you can cancel at any time, but you have to call them to do so.  I also don't like how quickly desirable colors/sizes sell out; I would have liked this tank in a different color, but only black was left.  On the plus side, the clothes are very cute, and they're a pretty darn good deal at $49.95 for a full outfit.  I've skimped on workout clothes before (hi, Old Navy!), but it never works out.  My 4 pairs of VS pants, despite being washed probably once a week for the past 6 years, have held up impeccably.  Fabletics say to wash their items cold, tumble dry low, so we'll see how that goes.

You can use my link to get your first outfit for $25 - if you use it, I get $10 off my next order!  And you'll get your own referral link when you sign up, too!

Little Black Bag Review 2014!

Hey guys!  My last review of Little Black Bag inspired a bunch of you to sign up yourselves - yay!  I hope you found the review helpful, and since you used my referral link, I got a bonus item in my next bag!  I thought I'd do another review of my latest bag.

I've been really enjoying the variety of items available on LBB.  If you want a detailed rundown of how it works, please see my last post - but it's basically a website where you pick an item (shoes, bag, jewelry, accessories) that you want.  The item is then bundled with a few "surprises," and you can then trade everything for a week with other site users.  All the trading happens before the items ship, so you know you're getting exactly what you see online in brand new condition.  New items come up almost every day.

One of my favorite things about LBB is their promotions.  Seems there is always something going on - free bonus items, sales on bags, or just a plain ol' coupon.  I got $10 off and decided to take the plunge on a Betsey Johnson bag I'd been wanting.

I reloaded until I got "bonus" items I thought I might like - a beauty product from Minerologie and accessories from Dye Ties, plus an extra bonus for referring someone.  Your referral bonus is a product worth $50 - not one that costs $50.  I got something called a "bangles case."  What the heck is that?! I stared at the item for a long time and still couldn't figure it out.  LBB, I love you, but you need to hire some better writers to describe the items.  I guess a bangles case is a pouch to keep your bracelets in so they don't get tangled... except my bangles never get tangled... and is that such a global problem that they needed their own pouch?  Anyway, I knew I had to get rid of that ASAP.

The beauty item was an eyeliner, and eyeliner freaks me out, I traded it pretty quickly.  Here's what I ended up with:

Betsey Johnson Front Stripe Speedy Satchel:

My husband actually said, "Wow, that's a cool bag."  Which is saying a lot.  He thinks the quilting looks like the seat of an old car, haha.  I got a lot of offers for this bag, but I turned 'em all down.  I like that it will go with anything, and I'm willing to overlook the subtle (but kinda cheesy) heart details.  It's the perfect size, and the strap drop is just right - fits under your arm comfortably. Tag says $98.00, but who's paying that for a non-leather bag??  Came nicely wrapped and had no flaws.

Jules Smith Bow Charm Necklace:

Cute and easy to wear - it'll go with lots of stuff.  Looks like it's good quality, and the bow charm is sparkly but delicate enough to be wearable.  Original price was $65, but again, I find that hard to believe.  I'm seeing them on eBay for around $30, which seems more reasonable.

K. Kreative Rope Chain Link Bracelet:

Looked interesting and funky online.  In person, it's kinda cheap-looking.  The gold chain is really lightweight and flimsy, probably just painted plastic.  I actually can't find this brand sold elsewhere, which is odd, but it's the kind of jewelry I wouldn't pay more than $5-$10 for.  I'll probably skip this brand in the future.

Dye Ties At World's End Headbands:

These were a huge surprise.  I was curious about these, since they are always floating around LBB.  I figured if they were a total bust, I'd use them for working out.  I actually really like them!  They're super sparkly, and not in a cheap way, either.  They're not too snug, though I must admit that the fabric is just a little itchy due to the sparkle.  Not much of a problem except for places where it touches my neck - but I got used to it.  On the Dye Ties website, each headband sells for $10 apiece.  I believe LBB had them listed as $18.

Here I am looking matchy-matchy, but I was making dinner and already had my hair up - the headband was the perfect way to keep hair out of my face (and food) but still look presentable.

All in all, I continue to feel like LBB is a good deal for the occasional accessories purchase.  The cost for all the above items (plus shipping/tax) was $50.40, which seems like a great deal to me.  I'd pay $40 for the bag alone.  The trading element is super fun, though it can also be stressful, so make sure you have time to trade during the week you choose!  Just make sure to skip the month before the 5th, or you'll be charged $9.95 on the 6th, though it goes to your next bag.  You can cancel at any time.

You can use my referral link to save 25% on your first bag/bundle - now THAT's a great deal.

Hope you found this helpful!  What do you think of Little Black Bag?  Have you scored any great deals?  Feel free to ask any questions in the comments!  LBB maintains its 8 on the Awesome Meter for stylish and affordable accessories and a very fun way to shop!

Graze Box - US Review!

Happy New Year!  I'm back with more fun reviews to help you get an awesome start to 2014.  

A friend of mine recently tried Graze Box, a new snack delivery service.  She had great things to say, and she even had a code for a free box.  Hey, I'll try anything once, and I particularly love subscription "surprise" boxes, so I eagerly signed up.  The company is popular in the UK and is now branching into the United States.  Lucky us!

How it works:  Sign up for a Graze Box on their website.  Each box is $6, including shipping, and contains 4 individually packaged healthy snacks.  There are more than 90 varieties, most including some sort of dried fruit, nut, or seed, and all with a healthy benefit.  Before you receive your first box, you can go through the selections and rate each of the snacks: trash, try, like, or love.  They default to "try," and you can leave 'em there if you're open to trying any of the items.  However, if you have allergies, are vegan, or simply dislike certain foods, you can through and "trash" items you never want to receive.  For example, I don't like spicy food, so I eliminated anything that looked too zesty.  I know, I know... I lead a bland life ;)  Once you get your box, you can rate your snacks to determine what future boxes will contain.  Thus, your snack selection is a guided surprise.

You can also choose between their regular Graze Box and their Lightbox.  Snacks in the Lightbox are all under 150 calories each.  In my ongoing efforts to be healthier, I selected the Lightbox.  You still have a decent selection of items, though their granola bar-esque "flapjacks" are unavailable.  You can switch between types of boxes at any times.  

Boxes ship out every 2 weeks or 4 weeks, depending on your preference.  You can cancel at any time.  

So what did I get in my first Graze Box?

Olive and Rosemary Bruschetta: Tomato-flavored breadsticks, rosemary and garlic cashews, and kalamata olive croutons.  

Black Pepper Pistachios: Roasted pistachios sprinkled with black pepper.

Tropical Daiquiri: Lime-infused raisins, dried green mango and pineapple.

Coco Paradise: Milk chocolate drops, dried cranberries, and dried coconut flakes.

Overall, a good selection - a nice mix of nuts, savory items, fruit, and sweets.  I've got a major sweet tooth, so I went for Coco Paradise first.  I found the coconut flakes a little tasteless, but the rest was great and very fresh.  The "bruschetta" was equally yummy, especially the cashews, though the croutons were somewhat artificial-tasting.  Tropical Daiquiri was interesting and flavorful; I've never had a lime-infused raisin before, and it was intriguingly sweet and sour.  The black pepper pistachios were my favorite; the serving felt generous, and the seasoning added just enough kick.  Each sealed packet contains perhaps 1/4 cup of food, depending upon which snack you get, and I found them very satisfying.  I prefer my snacks around 100 calories, since I work at home and tend to graze during the day, so this service worked out really well for me.

Verdict: I love the variety, and the snacks really are tasty, healthy, and fresh; they're made with real ingredients and very little "filler."  No weird ingredients!  If you like unique trail mixes, you'll love Graze.  I didn't feel limited by my Lightbox, either - I still enjoyed the snacks and even got some chocolate.  Packaging was streamlined yet eco-friendly, and the little packets are well-sealed and convenient.  I even took one to a movie theater in my purse and ate it in lieu of popcorn or overpriced candy!  Not a bad swap.

I give Graze a 9 on the Awesome Meter.  Lots of flexibility, tasty, filling, natural snacks, and a good price.  I've already gotten my second box and can't wait for my third.  I only wish you could get more than 4 snack pouches per delivery!

If you would like to sign up, head over to www.graze.com/us.  You can use my friend code (click here) to get your first box free.  If you choose to continue getting boxes, you'll also get your fifth box free.  As mentioned earlier, you can cancel at any time.  Once you sign up, you'll get a friend code, as well.  For each friend that signs up, you will either get $1 off your next box, or you can choose to donate $1 to a school of farming in Uganda.  Pretty cool!

In case you have trouble with the link above, my friend code is: JANS2WJ3P

Here's to a wonderful 2014!

Awesome giveaway time!

A quick note on an awesome contest you should know about...

Effortless Anthropologie is having a fantastic 5 Year Blogiversary giveaway - the winner gets $1000 to Anthropologie (where else?) and a personal shopping appointment with Anthro's head personal stylist!  How amazing!!  Click here to enter, and do it quick - the contest closes Nov. 3.  If you're an Anthro fan, Roxy's blog is the best place for information on sales and promotions, product reviews, styling tips, and just about everything else Anthro-esque.

I'll be back with a new review and a holiday gift guide very soon!

Little Black Bag Review (and haul!)

I'm pretty late on this, but I recently discovered Little Black Bag (that's a referral link), a shopping website with a unique concept.  If you like monthly boxes and surprises, you'll find LBB pretty exciting!

So here's how it works:  You purchase something from the site.  They carry handbags, beauty products, jewelry, accessories, and home items.  With each item, you can either buy it alone, or "bundle" it with other surprise items.  The bundles are generally good deals, and you can see the categories for the surprises.  When you buy the item, your surprise items are revealed.  Here's where it gets fun: you can either keep your items, or trade them with other users!  All the trading is done before the items ship; LBB does the dirty work for you.  You can trade for up to a week.  If you fall for an item that's sold out, you can try to trade for it.

You can make a one-time purchase, or you can join as a VIP.  VIPs get slightly lower prices on all items, and you are charged $9.95 per month, but you get a $10 credit toward whatever you purchase.  You can choose to skip a month, and you will not be charged at all, but you must choose the option by the 5th of the month.  VIPs also get free bonus items.

I had a coupon code for 25% off, so I decided to give it a try.  While I initially made my purchase as a one-time thing, I ended up joining the VIP program to save $13.  Customer service seemed extremely confused about retroactively applying the credit, but I think I eventually got through to them.  I need to check my credit statement to make sure.  Next time I have an issue, I'll call instead of using their chat function.

So here's what I bought:

The Olivia and Joy Regards satchel in black and white.  Cute, right?  I looked around the internet before purchasing it. LBB lists its suggested retail price as $92, as does the tag on the bag itself.  However, on the Olivia and Joy website, it sells for $78.  I also found it on the DSW website for $60.  The LBB price was, after my coupon code and VIP discounts, as well as after tax and shipping, about $44.  That includes the surprises, so I decided to go for it.  Why not??

My surprises were a pair of earrings and a bracelet.  I quickly discovered that you can control, to an extent, the kind of surprises you get.  When you put an item in your basket, it will show you the brands and categories of bonuses you will get.  You can reload that until you get something you're happy with; for example, I wanted jewelry, not beauty items.  I also opened a new tab and looked at the items from each designer and their price points to figure out what bonuses were items I might genuinely like.

So I received a pair of gold alligator earrings by Robert Rose, valued at $15, and a friendship-style bracelet valued around $20.  I loved the gators - totally cute.  Couldn't find them elsewhere online, though Robert Rose items are sold at Nordstrom for around $12.  The bracelet wasn't really my style, but I very quickly was offered a pair of dangly gold, orange, and brown earrings.  I made the trade, and that was the end of my trading, though I kept the bag open for a week just to see.  Most people wanted to trade for my bag, but I still liked what I had chosen more than any other options.  Some people even offered two purses for my one!

Here's what I got:

The Robert Rose Alligator Earrings.  Super cute.  I love quirky jewelry!

Carol Dauplaise Double Link Stone Drop Earrings. I wear a lot of orange, and I'm really into gold jewelry right now, so these will go with a lot of items in my closet.

Olivia and Joy Regards Satchel.  The tab in the front is just decorative, as are two zippers running down the sides.  There is one compartment with a few inner pockets, plus one smaller zippered back pocket.  The inside is nicely lined.

I was impressed by the quality of the bag.  LBB carries some brands I'm familiar with, but I've never seen Olivia and Joy bags before.  It's certainly not a bag I'd pay $92 for, as it's not real leather, but it's definitely a sturdy, well-made bag.  It's the perfect size; not too big, not too small, and I like the gold touches.  Both pairs of earrings are cute in person, too, though the earrings looked orange online but are more coral in real life.  I couldn't find these Carol Dauplaise earrings for sale elsewhere.

So for $44, I got a bag and two pairs of cute jewelry.  I think I actually got a great deal.  The items were packaged nicely and arrived promptly.  I'll be trying LBB again, because the trading aspect adds a little fun and excitement to the experience, and I do feel like I got some great bonuses.

If you want to try LBB, here's my referral link!  Use it to get 25% off your first bag, so you can score a great deal, too!

Have you tried LBB?  I love seeing what other people got!!

LBB gets an 8 on my Awesome Meter.  I'm very pleased with what I got for the price, and the experience as a whole is unique, fun, and seamless.

Healthy Living Reviews!

Lately, my husband and I have started to focus heavily on getting fit.  It started because we were going on a cruise for the wedding of good friends who happen to be actors.  Of course, they are exceptionally good-looking and in shape, and a lot of their friends are beautiful actors or models, too.  We didn't want to be out of shape on the lido deck among a bunch of super-toned models in bikinis, so we stepped it up.  Since then, fitness has become a big part of our lives.

The wedding came and went, and it was on a cruise ship with tons of people, so we didn't need to be self-conscious, but regardless, we wanted to keep up with dieting and just generally getting fit.  My husband is at the point where he wants to put on weight and muscle, but I'm, well, not, haha.  This means a lot of the time, I make very low-cal (and low-carb, high protein) meals, but he just eats twice as much as I do.

That being said, here are a couple of tricks I've used to lose weight without a fad diet or anything like that.  If you're looking to make a healthy change in your life, there are, as I see it, three essential pieces of equipment you'll need:

1) A digital food scale.  We use the food scale for everything, including fruit.  It helps us record our calorie intake properly, and it's also just a great way to control portions.  Once I've measured out, say, 30 grams of trail mix, I probably won't go back for more.  Serving size is a major issue for many people, so having a way to control it without estimating is very helpful.  These are relatively cheap; the one linked above is $15 at Amazon.com

2) A heart rate monitor.  Okay, so you're measuring your intake carefully... now what about your calorie expenditure?  We love our heart rate monitors; they show you how hard you're working by displaying your heart rate in real time, and they count calories for you based on your height, weight, and age.  They are much more accurate than the calorie counter on cardio machines at the gym.  We use them for everything - I've even worn mine to Disneyland to record how many calories we burn walking for miles and miles all day!  I know that if my heart rate is dipping during spin class, I've got to step it up.  I wouldn't go to the gym without it.  I like the Polar F7, which is linked above.  At $60, it's a bit of a splurge, but it comes with a chest strap (like Iron Man!) and a watch that displays the information.  My husband has a slightly pricier Polar HRM that connects to an app in his iPhone.  I prefer watching my heart rate at all times, but he would rather see it at the end of his workout.  My HRM is one of my favorite purchases ever and has really stepped up my workout.

3) MyFitnessPal.  This one is FREE!  It's a calorie counting website, and it's kind of amazing.  You can set your height, weight, age, and activity level, and it'll tell you how many calories to eat to lose, maintain, or gain weight.  You need to cut 3500 calories a week to lose a pound - that's 500 calories a day.  However, if you work out, you can eat back your calories - that's why it's so important to use your HRM to get an accurate count!  And that's why you'll find me at the gym daily... I love to eat.  MFP is an amazing resource; almost every food can be found in its database.  You can input recipes, save your favorites, and even use your phone to scan barcodes of products.  The iPhone app is free and amazing.  Just the act of recording your calories makes you eat less.  Open up your diary to the public, and take advantage of the huge, supportive community there.  With calorie counting, you can eat what you want for the most part, you just have to do it in moderation and fit it into your day's calories.

Anyway!  I'm not a fitness expert, just a regular person trying to get fit in a healthy way.  Stay tuned for more reviews of healthy living products.

What tips do you have for getting fit?

Skinny Cow Ice Cream Bars Review

Oh man, you guys know I am a sucker for Skinny Cow products.  I love their candy, especially the Dreamy Clusters and the new Divine Caramels.  When I saw they had a new product at my grocery, I knew I had to try both varieties.

The first ones I tried were the Cookies 'n Dough ice cream bars.  They are vanilla ice cream topped with a sort of sugary, gooey layer with small lumps of cookie dough, then enrobed in chocolate.  The bars are fairly small, but I found them very satisfying for 160 calories.  The gooey layer can be a bit gritty - almost like the gooey filling in a pecan pie - but it balances out the vanilla ice cream nicely.

It was a bit harder to find the Salted Caramel Pretzel bars, as they always seemed to be sold out, but I finally located a package.  Same calorie/fat content as the Cookies 'n Dough bars.  These ones start with the same vanilla ice cream, then a layer of more fluid caramel and a sprinkling of pretzels, enrobed in the same milk chocolate - which is described as a "chocolatey coating," so I guess they can't call it "chocolate."  I love the salty/sweet combo.  These ones are the same size as the Cookies 'n Dough bars - smallish, but great for an after dinner treat.

Given the choice, I prefer the Salted Caramel Pretzel bars.  They're unique, rich, and nicely balance sweet and salty.  However, I've had difficulty finding them.  I also tried the Weight Watchers equivalent, which are called Ice Cream Candy Bars.  It's the same basic deal - vanilla ice cream, a layer of caramel and some peanuts, then enrobed in a milk chocolate coating.  They are 4 points plus and 150 calories and 9 grams fat, so very similar to the Skinny Cow bars.  However, the WW iteration seems slightly larger, though they may just be longer but less squat.  I definitely prefer the Skinny Cow versions - much more decadent and flavorful for the same basic calorie/fat content.  The WW ones are much easier to find in stores, though.

I give both the Skinny Cow ice cream bars a 8 on the Awesome Meter.  Highly nommable treats without the guilt!  Hooray!

While I'm posting, I wanted to link you to this awesome giveaway on Lisa's fun fashion blog, Respect the Shoes - $50 to J. Crew, Zara, or Anthro!  I love her blog - lots of fantastic clothes inspiration, as she always looks adorable - and some really great conversation topics, too!  Check it out - and just a heads up, Anthro's tag sale starts this Wednesday!  You'd better believe I'll be looking for good deals.

*Note - All views are my own.  I am not compensated in any way for these reviews - I'm just trying to help you find awesome stuff!