Terra Bella Box Review

About Terra Bella

With countless subscriptions boxes available today you can easily get lost and overwhelmed. I have been looking for a natural product based box. When I found Terra Bella I was immediately intrigued. Each box contains 5-6 natural based beauty products. You can sign up without a contact (that’s right, no contract) and do a month to month deal. They also offer 3, 6 and 12 month packages which make the best gifts at Valentines Day, birthdays and just about any holiday! There is also a mini box called Terra Bella Box Lite. This is a box which contains only 2-3 items per month. They do not offer Terra Bella Box Lite in 3, 6 or 12 month subscriptions, instead they just offer month to month boxes. I think it’s perfect as an easy birthday gift for your friend or sister

Tired of getting subscription boxes with beauty products you never use! Terra Bella only contains natural, usable products every beauty product lover will be excited to try. Do you have sensitive skin? So does the founder of Terra Bella, Kate. She got sick and tired of buying subscription boxes and not being able to use the items, or worse, having a reaction from the products. What a waste and disappointment. Thanks to Kate’s hard work and determination she created a subscription box we can all love. I am blessed with pretty ‘average;’ skin but I don’t want the harsh chemicals that those with sensitive skin folks avoid. Kate took the time to search out companies that are small businesses. This helps all of us support local economies. She also strives to provide products from women and minority-owned businesses. Helping families instead of large corporations. Buying from these businesses also allows your products to come from smaller, fresher batches.

I live in Ohio. I have Cleveland and Columbus kinda near by, but no huge metropolis. My local stores don’t stock these wonderful smaller brand products. Finding quality organic products on a local shelf is possible, but not with the variety and scale a curious beauty product lover seeks. By subscribing to the Terra Bella Box you can get a taste of tons of amazing brands and products you probably would never have found locally.

Terra Bella Box = $37.95 (month to month)

$107.84 (3 months)

$209.67 (6 months)

$395.34 (12 months – Best Value)

Terra Bella Box Lite = $17.95 (month to month)

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Mama’s Experience

I love a good subscription box. There are tons of boxes available, but not so many ‘good’ ones. A good box is one I want. One where I will use the items that are included. That is what makes Terra Bella so unique, you want all the products, not just a few of them. That is what makes customers go back and sign up for 3, 6 and 12 month subscriptions. They quickly see that this is not some random stuff in a box, but a well thought out and purposefully planned box. I love that the support local businesses. Families, just like mines and yours.

January 2016 Box

1. Wellsmith – Detox Bath Tea
2. SkinYoga – Coffee Body Scrub
3. Fig + Yarrow – Smelling Salts
4. Meraki Botaniclas – Rosemary Sage Hair Oil
5. Mother Earth Beauty Bar – eyeshadow primer
6. Mother Earth Beauty Bar – eyeshadow in Midnight Mocha

Wellsmith – Detox Bath Tea

Bath teas are one of my most favorite treats. I get little alone time as a mom of two toddlers. When I get the chance to take a bath I revel in the glory of it. I always use a special add in to my bathing experience. I have tried different bath teas before, but what I love about Wellsmiths is that you get to divide up the tea for yourself. You get your own separate cheese cloth sack bag. This is a reusable bag that you fill with as much or as little bath tea as you desire. I typically place it under the running water so as my hot water fills the tub is pummels the tea and helps mix and release it. This package suggests to boil water and add your bag to the boiling water. Then after the tea starts to release 15 minutes) to dump the water and bag into your bath. I like this idea as a way to fast activate the tea bag. I have not tried this as I haven’t have the time to boil water before (I mean precious little moments count for a tired mom), but I do plan on trying this method soon. The smells that emit from this bath tea are so fun and relaxing. This will instantly turn your tub into a spa. If you’re keen to pursue new methods of detoxification for your own wellness, you could consider a foot soaking detox to help you relax and that is intended to remove toxins from the body.

SkinYoga – Coffee Body Scrub

I love a nice body scrub. Every few weeks or sometimes every weekly, I will give myself a full body scrub to help wipe away dead skin and to boost healthy skin growth. I do this to feel fresh and to keep those tiny red bumps that sometimes happen on my arms at bay. This scrub smells amazing! You are literally bathing in luxurious coffee! Be sure to rinse completely as to not create coffee stains on your skin (which really can happen). To watch your elbows, palms and feet for staining (think of the areas you get weird stains with spray tans). The little wooden box, which is so attractive, contains 2 uses of individually packages coffee scrub.

Fig + Yarrow – Smelling Salts

This is a fun item I would never have bought for myself. This is exactly why I love subscription boxes. I have not jumped on the essential oils bandwagon like a ton of my friends have. I think its fun and interesting and probably has some sweet benefits, but I just don’t know much about it. This is a blend of salts and smells which are supposed to help stimulate energy and discourage drowsiness. You are supposed to shake the vial a bit and then hold under your nose and smell. I plan on keeping this next to my coffee maker. So when I am waiting for my liquid courage to face the day brews, I can try out my salts.

Meraki Botaniclas – Rosemary Sage Hair Oil

When I think of hair oil I think of my mother, in a good way! She taught me that you need to treat your hair with care especially in the winter. The dry air can reek havoc on your hair. Whether you are a habitual blow dryer user, curling iron addict or just live in a dry area, you need to try oil on your hair. This particular oil is to be used for 1 hour up to overnight. You take 3 drops and apply to the ends of your hair up to the roots. Being more generous with the tips and less on the scalp (however if you have dandruff or a dry scalp I would use a drop up top to help any itchy flakes). Once in hair wrap your hair up with a towel and let the oil sit for at least 60 minutes. Some people choose to sleep overnight with it in for a super deep treatment. Either way, once its done wash hair like usual. You will see and feel a difference right away. It will be shiny, healthy and silky.

Mother Earth Beauty Bar – Eye Shadow Primer & Mother Earth Beauty Bar – Eye Shadow in Midnight Mocha

I am not a daily eye shadow user. Eye shadow is something I wear to a wedding or a special night out with my husband. I do know that basics about shadow. A primer is like a base that will hold the powder in place. After a while when wearing eye shadow the powder flakes off and falls on your cheeks and nose. By using a good primer you keep the shadow on without covering your face in loose powder. This primer can be used straight from the tube (like applying lipstick) or you can use your finger. You want even stroke so you don’t miss an area (think of it like vacuuming, getting all the lines straight). The shadow that comes in this box is a soft goldish/tan color. It’s perfect for all skin tones.

Bleuberets Artisanal Jam Review

About Bleuberet

Bleuberet started as a ton of my favorite companies did, in a family kitchen. The recipes that start with the heart, a real family making foods they love, are the kinds of food you can taste the difference in. When I tasted Bleuberet I knew there was something special about these jams, something I couldn’t put my finger on. After talking with the owners I found out one of their secrets and it’s not even a secret at all! Their blueberries are not your average blueberry found here in my local grocer, but fresh, always picked in season Maine blueberries. “They are a smoky blue color, with a white powdery outside.  A Sweet-tart burst of flavor is how we explain the taste.  Wild Maine Blueberries are only available fresh for about 5-6 weeks a summer, so preserving them in a jar of jam assures that we can have summer all year long.” – Source: Bleuberet. Bleuberet makes sure to freeze their berries during that 5-6 week “peak-freshness” period. Using a technology called IQF (instant quick freeze) means that the berries are frozen as individual berries, thus sealing in the fresh taste. This allows the berries to keep that tart punch that is still super sweet throughout the year.

Growing up in main, this family spent those precious few weeks picking berries to their hearts content. Lugging them all home to make jams, pies and all kinds of fun berry goodness. Having such a love for them, and knowing the best way to enjoy them properly all year long, their jam making session became a part of life. Having been taught by their grandmother how to make the perfect jam, they followed her recipes (occasionally adding their own twist) and have created the successful business of Bleuberet. We feel pretty sure she would love what they created and would be beaming with pride.

Local Sources:

Bleuberet tries to pick all their fruit and other ingredients as local to Maine as possible. This helps stimulate the local economy and ensures freshness. They would never choose a sub-par ingredient to be placed in a jar with a Bleuberet label. They choose organic whenever possible. They are currently using Transitional Wild Maine Blueberries. Transitional means farmed organically, but not certified. They also put in added sugar, but just enough to enhance the natural flavors, never so much as to over power. Their jams should always taste like a blueberry, not a sugar-ladened spread.

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Mama’s Experience

These jams are the jam! I knew that I would just love every flavor of Bleuberet jam. What I didn’t expect was that my kids ages 2 and 3 would like them too! I tried all of them on their peanut butter and jam sandwiches over the past few months and each one they gobbled up. Best part about that is I know they are getting quality, healthy jams instead of some preservative laded junky jam.

Artisanal jams are meant to be enjoyed in a more refined way then your average PB&J though. They are specialty created to be paired with foods that will elevate the jam as well as what it paired with. This allows you to have a more sophisticated tasting which is great for parties, family events or just wanting to spice up your Saturday night at home.

Bleuberet has 9 different flavor options of jams as well as a maple syrup and pickled carrot.

1. In The Buff – wild maine blueberry jam
2. Spiced – wild maine blueberry & spiced jam
3. Madras Curry – wild maine blueberry & curry jam
4. Bharbie – strawberry & rhubarb jam
5. Cranberet – maine cranberry & apple jam
6. Lingoberet – strawberry & lingonberry jam
7. Fennelicula – wild maine blueberry, heirloom apple, blackberry & fennel jam
8. Lavender’s Blue – wild maine blueberry, lemon & lavender jam
9. Fraise – strawberry & fenton’s bladwin heirloom apple jam

This Lavender jam was just right to pair with a cranberry orange scone you can find at most any bakery. The hints of lemon put along side of the orange in the scone gave you that tangy citrus punch that makes you come back for more. The lavender gave the jam a depth that is not found in a traditional jam ingredients. It really elevated it to a sophisticated dessert jam. What surprised me the most about this jam was how much my kids liked it on the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. These are kids who would eat fries off the floor mind you. I did not thin lavender would be a toddler approved flavor, but to my pleasant surprise they loved it! This would be great on a simple pound cake or sugar cookie.

This is your classic strawberry jam. Do you want a thick, rich jam that you can eat off a spoon? Then this is the jam for you! I sampled this with strawberries and mascarpone.  This gave you a rich and filly treat. This jam is so basic that you can use it with really any recipe that jam in used. Its thick but spreadable which makes it a perfect every day jam.

This was the jam I was most curious about. I never tried pairing a jam with a protein like chicken before. I have heard of chefs suggesting this but never had the guts. So, in the comfort of my own home I was able to give it a whirl! I prepared this chicken by lightly salting the skin then covering the exposed sides with hummus. This adds some depth of flavor to the chicken and increases the moistness. When I took a bit I was pleasantly surprised at how awesome this jam is with chicken. I ate all of this breast with little additions of jam to most bites. It really made my meal a lot more fun. I can envision myself making a cold turkey sandwich on ciabatta bread with a brick or munster cheese.

The Spiced jam is so much fun to eat with an aged cheddar. I tried this jam a few times with several different cheeses. Cheese, jam and some nuts with berries are a favorite late night snack of mine. I was able to watch some fun cooking shows and feel like I was partaking in some refined dining while snacking. Its a great serving jam when having company over. I love finding a beautiful charcuterie board at a party. It gets me giddy. This would be the quintessential jam to place on any board. It holds its own but complements every cheese you may pair it with. Total home run.

There are so many fun flavor combinations the Bleuberet jams have given us. The options are endless. They make the perfect housewarming gift or hostess gift. Do yourself a favor and try out a few of these amazing jams for yourself.