CrateChef Subscription Box Review

 

Welcome to A Sampling Bee! Today, I share with you the CrateChef Subscription Box! This awesome, bi-monthly subscription box allows you to nourish your inner chef! When you subscribe to CrateChef, you'll receive a box full of top-name chef curated favorites! Boxes may include a selection of local artisan food products, useful kitchen items, selected recipes and a letter from the chef. Recipients will be delighted to discover new chef-selected food and other products, delivered right to their door. May's box is inspired by Chef Blythe Beck!

 

May's box, curated by Chef Blythe Beck, the executive chef and co-owner of Pink Magnolia in Dallas, TX, has a great selection of food products and fun kitchen items. She believes that everything is better when cooked with bacon, booze or butter. She is know as the "Naughty Chef" because she likes to cook with flavorful ingredients. Check out the awesome products in her box..

 



 

What's in the box....
 

CoCo Andre Chocolatier Sea Salt Caramel Turtles- $7

Mrs. Renfro's Gourmet Foods Peach Salsa- $4

Mud-Pie Butter Dish Set- $20.25

Lamb's Gristmill Stone Ground Yellow Cornmeal- $2.50

My Country Story Pink Magnolia Soy Candle- $8

For the Love of Sew Embroidered Tea Towel- $8

4 Recipe Cards-

  

 

 

My Thoughts

 

I am in L.O.V.E!! The CrateChef subscription box is an amazing box. This box if full of stuff that I am interested in. My favorite products in the box? All of them! The Peach Salsa is amazingly delicious. The butter dish is really cute. The butter knife that it comes with is engraved with the saying "No Such Thing As Too Much Butter." My Country Story's Pink Magnolia Candle smells really good. It fills my whole home with such a beautiful scent. I ate every single one of the Caramel Turtles in one sitting..

 

One of the recipe cards that came in the box is a recipe for Shrimp & Jalapeno Hushpuppies. I will be making these with the corn meal that was included in this box. I will be sure to share :)

 

I cannot say enough nice things about this subscription box. CrateChef makes a great gift. I would not mind receiving this subscription box every other month. Chef Blythe Beck, I love the products that you chose! Subscribe today :)

 

I received CrateChef Subscription Box in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. Always!

 

CrateChef | $45 bi-monthly

 

~Melissa~

Grilled Chicken & Bacon Wedge Salad with Litehouse Chunky Bleu Cheese Dressing #SeeTheLite

 

This review and giveaway was made possible by iConnect Influencer Management and Litehouse Foods. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Hello! Welcome to A Sampling Bee! Most of us grew up reaching for that bottle of room temperature dressing in the condiment aisle. We probably didn't give it much thought to the preservatives in those bottle that kept them on the shelf for so long. There is a better, more delicious way to dress your veggies: with fresh tasting, refrigerated Litehouse Dressing. Because real food deserves real dressing. Your family will be asking for seconds and your kids will be eating their veggies in record amounts. Cold is where it's sold!

Why put a room temperature dressing on your delicious, crisp fresh salad? The salad is cold, so why is your salad dressing warm? For dressings as real as the salad you are putting them on - think cold, that's where it's sold. Make sure to look in the refrigerated section of your local supermarket for Litehouse Homestyle Ranch and Chunky Bleu Cheese Dressings. Litehouse Inc. is a leader in the refrigerated salad dressings, veggie dips, sauces and Instantly Fresh Herbs.

 

If your veggies could talk, they would say no to room temperature dressings. Fresh foods deserve fresh tasting dressings that are packed with ingredients like buttermilk and real blue cheese.

 

Summer time means salad season. Fresh veggies, delicious fruits and warm nights, spent enjoying outdoor meals with family and friends. To make your fresh meal burst with flavor, make something real, with something real: Litehouse dressings. In the refrigerated produce section, where real dressing should be!

 

 

 

Grilled Chicken & Bacon Wedge Salad with Litehouse Chunky Bleu Cheese Dressing

 

 

Ingredients

 

Head of lettuce; cut into quarters

Grilled Chicken; chopped

Can of Black Beans

Bacon Crumbles

Litehouse Chunky Bleu Cheese Dressing or Homestyle Ranch

 

Directions

 

1. Cook bacon in skillet or in the oven. I cook my bacon in the oven. It's so much easier and less mess! (To cook bacon in the oven, place a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Place slices of bacon onto baking sheet. Try not to overlap the bacon slices. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until cooked to your liking). Let bacon cool and then crumble.

 

2. Grill chicken breasts on grill or you can always use store bought grilled chicken. Cook and then cut into chunks.

 

3. Quarter head of lettuce. Place on quarter on a dish, or in a bowl, and add Litehouse Chunky Bleu Cheese Dressing. Then, sprinkle the remaining ingredients over the lettuce and dressing.

 

4. Enjoy!

My Thoughts

 

Litehouse makes awesome salad dressings and dips. Dressing is so much tastier cold. It only makes sense to use cold dressing on a cold chunk of lettuce. This was my first time ever having a wedge salad. And, I must say, it was amazingly delicious. I thank Litehouse for that :) The chunkiness of the Bleu Cheese dressing is awesome. If you love chunks of blue cheese, this dressing is for you!

 

Litehouse Dressings are so creamy and full of flavor. These dressings are perfect for dipping fresh vegetables as well. I highly recommend Litehouse products!
 



 

This review and giveaway was made possible by iConnect Influencer Management and Litehouse Foods. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.

 

Enter to WIN: One winner will receive (2) Free Litehouse Foods Product Coupons! Open to the US only. Winner will be chosen by me and notified by email. I will verify each entry. Good Luck! :)

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enjoy! ~Melissa

Mrs. Jones' Soapbox All-purpose Disinfecting Spray Review

 

Welcome to A Sampling Bee! Today, I share with you Mrs. Jones' Soapbox All-purpose Disinfecting Spray! This awesome spray is handmade! This disinfecting spray is called "Clean". Mrs. Jones' products are all natural and safe!

Clean is a multipurpose disinfectant that cuts through dirt & grease and kills germs naturally. This spray is great for kitchens, tile surfaces, walls, doors, carpet stains, kid's areas, bathroom, trash cans, etc. When the spray bottle is empty, Mrs. Jones' gives you the choice to either recycle the bottle or you can buy a large refill container!

Ingredients: distilled H2O, lemon juice, castile soap, borax, baking soda, citric acid, vinegar, grapefruit seed extract, essential oil blend (lavender, lemon, lemongrass, bergamot, tea tree).

 

Mrs. Jones' offers a lot of other great products including Laundry Soap & Fabric Softener, Glass Cleaner, Granite Cleaner, Wood & Leather Cleaner Toilet Bowl Bombs and Soft Cleaning Scrub.

My Thoughts

I really love Mrs. Jones' products because they are safe for the environment as well as safe for my family. My son, who is 4, loves to help me clean. I don't worry about him helping me when he uses this disinfecting spray. It gives me peace of mind.

I love the way "Clean" smells. So clean and super fresh. I know that it is safe for my family and I to smell the scent of the cleaner in the air. Most cleaners are so toxic that you shouldn't even smell the fumes they give off. Smelling this multipurpose cleaner in the air, all I can smell is natural, fresh products. After cleaning, the scent lasts!

"Clean" works extremely well. I love using it in my bathroom and kitchen. In the bathroom, this cleaner works well on tub grime and mildew. In the kitchen, it's my favorite cleaner for removing grease off of the stove and wall near the stove.

Another great thing about Mrs. Jones' Soapbox is that there prices are reasonable! And, you get a lot of product! I highly recommend this company! Excellent products and they all smell amazing!

I received samples from Mrs. Jones' Soapbox to create this review. All opinions are my own. Always!

BUY | $10 (16oz)

~Melissa~

Laiki Rice Crackers Review

 

Welcome to A Sampling Bee! Today, I share with you Laiki Rice Crackers. These rice crackers are gluten-free and contain only simple ingredients. Laiki Rice Crackers are full of flavor and pack a satisfying crunch!

Laiki Rice Crackers are made with red and black rice. Laiki only uses red and black rice from farmers in Thailand. Laiki Rice Crackers contain more phytonutrients, antioxidants and flavor than white or brown rice. With only 3 ingredients, Laiki Rice Crackers are naturally gluten-free, vegan and allergen friendly. Just 100% guilt-free, wholegrain goodness!

Laiki Rice Crackers contain either wholegrain black or red rice, sustainably farmed palm oil and sea salt. That's it! No artificial flavors or preservatives. These rice crackers contain NO sugar. Sodium content for 16 crackers is 80mg. Total carbs- 13 grams. Contains 2 grams of protein.

(T) Red Rice (B) Black Rice

My Thoughts

This yummy snack is non-gmo. I love them because they are different from most snacks out there. The rice crackers are very tasty and crunchy. They have a great flavor to them and that flavor keeps me wanting more rice crackers. I normally like anything that is made with rice. Especially crackers. I really like Laiki Rice Crackers. They're amazingly good! I think of these as Bugles, only much healthier for you.

You can purchase Laiki Rice Crackers in a standard 3.53 ounce package or in single serve 0.74 ounces. The single serve option in 100 calories.

I received Laiki Rice Crackers in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. Always!

Buy Now | Store Locator

 

~Melissa~

Healthy Baby Home Party with Seventh Generation

 

Welcome to A Sampling Bee! Today, I share with you a fun opportunity with Seventh Generation. A few times a year, Seventh Generation send out 2,000 party kits to moms and dads. These mom and dads throw a party with all of their close friends an relatives to teach them about Seventh Generation products! You too can sign up!

 

What is a Healthy Baby Home Party? 

 

Seventh Generation's home parties are powered by people like you who are focused on creating a healthy environment for the next generation. Developed with input from non-profit partner, Healthy Child Healthy World, they are a great way to get together with friends, share helpful information, and make an impact!

Healthy Baby Home Party kits are provided to all selected hosts and are filled with educational info about our environment, helpful tips, a fun game, and samples and coupons from Seventh Generation and other favorite family-friendly brands like bobble, American Meadows and Zarbee's Naturals.

Sounds fun, doesn't it!? Sign up HERE to join this awesome community!

~Melissa~

Cush Comfort Review

 

Welcome to A Sampling Bee! Today, I share with you Cush Comfort. Cush Comfort is a product that is designed to help reduce back pain and help improve your posture. Cush Comfort is great for your chair at work, your car seat, and while traveling on an airplane or train! You can take this cushion with you anywhere!

Cush Comfort contours to fit snuggly to your butt. It's soft, strong velour fabric is 100% washable. It's non-slip bottom keeps it in place when getting up or sitting down. The inside of the Cush Comfort is made of 100% Highest Grade Memory Foam. With no added chemicals or fillers. The Cush Comfort has a durable steel zipper and the cover can easily be removed.

The cutaway section suspends the tailbone, easing the pressure and strain on your spine normally associated with sitting for long periods of time.

My Thoughts

Cush Comfort has allowed me to sit more comfortably and it has made it easier for me to sit for a long period of time. I have low back pain due to child birth and since I have been using Cush Comfort, I have had a lot of relief.  I bring my Cush Comfort with me every where. But, I mostly use it at home. The Cush Comfort is portable. Not bulky and not hard to carry. But, it would be great if it had a handle on it. It's cover is easy to remove and the cover washes nicely. The no slip grips on the bottom really keep the cushion in place. No matter what surface its on. The memory foam bounces right back after getting up. I haven't had any problems with the cushion going flat. All-in-all, this is a great cushion. I've had less back pain and less migraines!

Cush Comfort is great for traveling. Whether it be in a car or on a plane. Rely on Cush Comfort to help ease your travel pains.

I received Cush Comfort in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. Always!

SHOP | $37

 

Save 10% Off Cush Cushion with promo code: CLUBCUSH

 

~Melissa~

Dick Steven's Jerky Trail Mix Review & GIVEAWAY!

 

Hi there! Welcome to my blog :) Today, I share with you Dick Steven's Jerky Trail Mix. This Jerky Trail Mix is full of raw nuts, seed, berries and of course Jerky! No other snack on the market combines jerky with trail mix. It's healthy for you and delicious!

Dick Steven's is made with all-natural, unprocessed ingredients. The jerky is made with only USA all-natural beef & turkey as well as US grade nuts & seeds. Contains no artificial preservatives. USDA certified Gluten-free. Dick Steven's Jerky Trail mix is low in saturated fat, contains zero trans fat and low cholesterol(turkey).This jerky trail mix is also low in sodium and is full of protein.

This jerky trail mix is available for purchase with either beef jerky or turkey jerky. Flavors available are: Original Blend Beef, Original Blend Turkey, Extreme Blend Beef and Extreme Blend Turkey.

Original Blend contains: Either beef or turkey, almonds, macadamia nuts, cranberries and blueberries. (7 grams of sugar)

Extreme Blend contains: Either beef or turkey, macadamia nuts, pecans, walnuts, cranberries, blueberries, sunflower seeds and goji berries. (7 grams of sugar)

(T)- Original Beef, Extreme Blend Beef

(B)- Original Turkey, Extreme Blend Turkey

My Thoughts

 

I am a huge fan of both jerky and trail mix. So, when I came across Dick Steven's Jerky Trail Mixes, I knew that I had to try them and then share my thoughts and review. Needless to say, I am in love! This jerky trail mix is amazing! The beef jerky and the turkey jerky are both moist and tender. I love the mixture of flavors in this trail mix. There is the saltiness of the beef or turkey and the sweetness and bitterness of the berries. As well as the yummy nuts and seeds.

 

This all-natural snack is perfect for on-the-go. The jerky trail mix is packed in a portable, re-closeable package. The 4 ounce package size contains enough jerky to share with your friends or family. Pack this jerky trail mix when traveling, hiking, biking, camping, etc. It really makes the perfect power-packed snack!

 

I received Dick Steven's Jerky Trail Mix in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

 

 

GIVEAWAY

 

 

One winner will receive 8 packages of Dick Steven's Jerky Trail Mix (2 Original Beef, 2 Original Turkey, 2 Extreme Blend Beef & 2 Extreme Blend Turkey), a Dick Steven's T-Shirt AND a Dick Steven's Pocket Knife. ARV- $75! Enter below. Good Luck!

 

 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

~Melissa~

Swoffle Waffle Cookies Review

 

Welcome to A Sampling Bee! Today, I share with you Swoffle Waffle Cookies! Swoffle Waffle Cookies are inspired by the Dutch treat "Stroopwafel". These yummy waffle cookies go great with a cup of hot coffee or tea. They come individually wrapped so they are perfect for an on-the-go treat :)

Each yummy Swoffle is made with organic, kosher, gluten free and non-GMO flour. The inside of the Swoffle is a layer of creamy caramel. Swoffles are available in Original Caramel and French Vanilla Caramel. These waffle cookies were created by a Father and his daughter. They wanted to create a healthy and delicious snack for all to enjoy!

My Thoughts

Each waffle cookie contains two super thin waffles and a layer of creamy caramel. I love the thinness of the waffles. The waffles are super moist. They are not chewy or dry. I like their texture. I'd never guess that these are gluten free. The caramel is gooey and sweet. The combination of the waffle and caramel go great together. Swoffles are a great size. Perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth while watching your calorie intake. One waffle is 150 calories and contains 9 grams of sugar.

This Swoffle Waffle Cookie just melts in my mouth. Out of the two flavors that Swoffle offers, my favorite is the French Vanilla. They're so delicious! I love having one of these cookies with a hot cup of tea.

Swoffle cares about giving back. So when you purchase Swoffle Waffle Cookies, you're helping to provide meals to those in need! Buy Online :) Free shipping!

I received Swoffles in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. Always!

~Melissa~

Free2B Sun Cups Review

 

Welcome to A Sampling Bee! Today, I share with you Free2B Sun Cups! These Sun Cups are made with Sunflower Seed Butter. Free2B has created a snack that is not only delicious, but their snacks are safe for everyone to enjoy. Hence the "Free2B" :) Read my review below!

Free2B Sun Cups do not contain any peanuts or tree nuts. These yummy Sun Cups are also soy free, gluten free, egg free, fish free, shellfish free and are soon to be dairy free as well! They also do not contain any coconut, corn, mustard, pea or sesame. Free2B uses only the finest ingredients when making their Sun Cups. Their products are Non-GMO Verified, certified Kosher and certified by the Celiac Sprue Association.

 

Sun Cups are available in both milk and dark chocolate. The milk chocolate Sun Cups are available in original and caramel. The dark chocolate Sun Cups are available in original and mint. Free2B uses only cacao beans that are Rainforest Alliance Certified. That means that the chocolate in everything they make comes from farms that look out for their workers and the planet. Free2B wouldn’t have it any other way! Their facility is 100% nut and gluten free.

 



 

 

My Thoughts

The center of these Sun Cup are just bursting with awesomeness! The Sunflower Seed Butter is creamy and so flavorful. I love it so much more than peanut butter. Something about the taste of the sunflower seed butter is just so satisfying! The chocolate is amazing, too! I  like the milk chocolate Sun Cups better than the dark chocolate. That reason only being that I am not a huge dark chocolate fan. But, for those of you who do like dark chocolate, I recommend these. All-in-all, these are a great treat for those who cannot have peanuts or tree nuts. Once Sun Cups go dairy-free, these will be safe for every one to enjoy.

Sun Cups come in packs of two at the grocery store. Or, you can buy a whole case of them on their website.

I received Sun Cups in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. Always!

Where to buy Free2B

~Melissa~

Send Me Gluten Free Subscription Box Review

 

Hi! Welcome to A Sampling Bee! Today, I share with you the Send Me Gluten Free Subscription Box! Allergic to gluten or on a gluten-free diet? Then this subscription box is for you! This monthly subscription box introduces you to new gluten-free snacks each month. Each month, you'll get 8-12 new gluten-free products. Products included in the monthly assortment are both full-size and sample-size food, personal care items, supplements and household products that support a gluten-free lifestyle.

So, what's in the box?

Caramel Apple Crisps from Cosmos Creations- Premium puffed corn that tastes like apple pie. No hulls or kernels.

Biscotti-Style Grahams from Pie In The Sky Bakery- Traditional and sweetened with honey. Perfect for a cup of tea or coffee.

Hummus Chips from Simply 7- In their Sea Salt flavor. All natural chickpeas. Simply delicious!

Mini Plums from Fruit Bliss- Made from deliciously juicy organic French Agen plums.

NuStevia from NuNatruals- A non-bitter zero calorie sweetener.

Chocolate Chip & Peanut Butter Cookie from Montana Monster Munchies- "The Last Best Cookie" made with rolled oats.

Caramel Apple Chewy Bar from Enjoy Life- This baked bar is milk, nut and soy free.

Leave-in Conditioner from MopTop- Junk-free hair care. Infused with aloe, sea botanicals and honey.

 

 



 

My Thoughts

 

Absolutely awesome gluten-free box! I have not tried any of these products before so  I was so excited to open everything up! Gluten-free products have gotten a lot more common and they've also have gotten a lot better over the past couple of years. There is a huge variety of snacks that those who are allergic wheat, can enjoy.

My favorites- I really loved the Hummus Chips, the big cookie and the Leave-in Conditioner. The Hummus Chips were really tasty and crunchy. Very yummy. The big cookie was flavorful and full of chocolate chips. Perfect for a cup of hot tea. The Leave-in Conditioner works great! My hair has never looked so shiny and healthy. The conditioner smells great, too!

All-in-all, this subscription box is amazing! I got an awesome selection of samples to try. I highly recommend Send Me Gluten Free!
 

Send Me Gluten Free subscriptions range from $14.85-$19.85 per month depending on the number of months you sign up for. Shipping is charged at a flat rate of $5 per month.

 

I received this subscription box in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. Always!

 

Send Me Gluten Free 
Use code BLOG20 at checkout and save 20% off your first box!

~Melissa~

Hole In Wall Subscription Box Review

 

Hi there! Welcome to A Sampling Bee! Today, I share with you an awesome subscription box called Hole In Wall! This subscription box lets you explore products from different cities. This box that I am reviewing is full of goodies from Seattle Washington! Hole In Wall is a bi-monthly subscription box.

So, what's in the box?

Orange Honey Hazelnuts from Holmquist Hazelnuts- Delightfully crunchy, sweetened with orange and golden honey to perfection. $6

Dried Bosc Pears from Tiny's Organic- The slow-dried Organic Bosc Pears are both delicious and nutritious. A healthy snack alternative. $3

Healing Hemp Lotion from The Fay Farm- Made with nourishing oils, herbs and essential oils found in help. Gentle on skin. $8

Seattle Salt from Herbn' Farm NW- A touch of sage and lavender gives this salt its unique character and distinctive taste. $7

Vanilla Lemon Lip Balm from Moon Valley Organics- A hint of natural vanilla and lemon essential oil gives it a silky, luscious taste. $3

Boehm's Chocolate Bar from Boehm's Candies- Milk chocolate finely molded and wrapped by hand into the perfectly sized candy bar. $3

Whiskey-smoked Salt Caramels from Jonboy Caramels- Hnad-crafted with local ingredients like Samish Bay Whiskey and Skagit Valley Cream. $10

Pinot Noir Cherries from Chukar- Dried Bing cherries covered with dark chocolate and rich essence of pinot noir wine. $4

Lots of goodies, right?

My Thoughts

Hole In Wall Subsciption Box is full of stuff that you'd find in local mom and pop shops. The products in the Seattle box are products that only the locals know about. That is my Hole In Wall created their subscription box. To get all of us aware of these amazing products! This box is available for international shipping!

My favorites? I am loving the Dried Bosc Pears, Seattle Salt and Vanilla Lemon Lip Balm! The lip balm is so silky. It leaves my lips feel like velvet and I love the smell of it! The Dried Bosc Pears are an awesome snack. I am not a pear fan, but I really love this snack. They're chewy and full of flavor. The Seattle Salt is cool because it has lavender and sage in it. The salt is great on anything! Gives food a unique flavor.

This is by far one of my favorite subscription boxes because it's loaded with stuff I love. I also love this box because there is a great variety of goodies. The Seattle box was amazing! I cannot wait to see what Hole In Wall has in store for their Quebec City Box! Subscribe now!

I received this subscription box in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own! Always!

Hole In Wall

 

What are you most excited about trying?

 

~Melissa~

Dreft Spring Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

Welcome to A Sampling Bee! I have teamed up with a few other bloggers to bring you this Dreft Spring Giveaway! Enter to win $60 worth of Dreft Products!

 

Winner will not be chosen by me. I am not responsible for prize fulfilment. Ends 5/17/16! 

 

Good Luck! ~ Melissa

 

 

Entry-Form