Little Life Box

Isn't it nice to get things in the mail that aren't bills or subscription information for various theatres? (Maybe the second one is just me...) I've always loved getting goodies in the mail, so when the kind folks at Little Life Box offered to send me some treats I was stoked!

Little Life Box is a Canadian company and touts itself as a healthy alternatives subscription box. The boxes feature a variety of samples including beauty care, snacks, supplements and home items, with the selection changing from month to month. You can purchase the boxes monthly, pre-purchase up to a year in advance or send one as a gift.

My box arrived the week of my birthday on a day that I was working from home. Canada Post delivered it to me right around the time I felt like I needed an afternoon snack, so it couldn't have been more perfect timing.

When I opened the box, I was greeted by some pretty sunshine-y yellow wrapping and an adorable bunny-adorned card. 

I opened it up to find a wide variety of snacks, some laundry detergent samples and some bamboo cosmetic applicators. I was familiar with many of the companies whose products were included but was happy to discover a few new ones as well (including my favourite item of the bunch - the chocolate covered cocoa beans!). 

Everything was Ashley-friendly except for the Chai tea mix, though I later found out that there is an option to choose between an original or vegan box. Each month you can check back on the website to learn more about the products that are included and purchase some of them directly through the site. 

It was definitely a sweet treat to receive my Little Life Box and lovely to see a Canadian company offering a fun subscription box! 

The Belleville Roadtrip

Remember that time I went to Ottawa for a bachelorette? This past weekend it was time for Laura to take the walk down the aisle to say "I do" in her hometown of Belleville, Ontario. And what does that mean for those of us who don't live in Belleville?

ROAD TRIP!

The awesome folks at Infiniti lent us a gorgeous 2013 Infiniti M37x sport to make the drive in (and spread the #infinitilove), which was pretty much all kinds of amazing. I brought Fab Detox friendly snacks, the car did lots of snazzy things, SiriusXM & Justin's iTunes provided the soundtrack and Justin took care of the driving business and we were off! 

The drive really made me realize that fall really is here. The trees along the road were definitely screaming AUTUMN. Speaking of trees, the 'forest air' setting in the car kept us incredibly comfortable over the course of our drive.

We were also really impressed with its fuel economy. The M is a pretty large car, but handled gas really well whilst rocking eco mode. 

We spent some time visiting with my Nan (grandmother), her husband, my uncle and cousins before heading off to the wedding. 

Laura was to be the third generation in her family who got married at this particular Anglican church in Belleville, which was really special. She looked STUNNING. 

I found myself getting teary as I watched her come down the aisle, thinking about how much has changed since we were 11 year olds in the 6th grade. I thought about how much my mum would have loved to know that Laura was getting married and how beautiful she looked. She and her new husband have been together for 10 years and their love is truly inspiring. I wish them nothing but happiness in this new chapter of life together!! It was such an honour to be a part of their special day. 

The reception was held at a local country club, and Justin and I had a blast with Laura and Jon's friends who we were sitting with. I think we were the loudest table and we fit right into that mix. It was also really great to see Laura's friend Kristy, who was part of the bridal party. She's so much fun too!

Thanks to the bride's taste in music, there was a lot of Backstreet Boys and Spice Girl dancing action amid the traditional wedding dances and a whole lotta country and top 40. It was a very fun evening!

On Sunday morning we spent some more time with my familia before heading back to Toronto. I managed to snap some pictures of the beautiful yellow roses that Nan has planted on her front lawn for my mum, as they were her favourite flowers. 

It was a sweet little visit to Belleville

but definitely always good to come home

I'm thrilled that we were able to be in Belleville for Laura's big day! Thanks again to the Infiniti team for lending us such a sweet ride. It made our trip that much more awesome, smooth and entertaining and I really appreciate it!! 

Beauty Stuff - Beautifying Nail Kit from Premier Spa Boutique

I got an email a couple weeks ago asking if I would like the opportunity to try out a Beautifying Nail Kit from Premier Spa Boutique. My nails shouted YES YES YES. Like Val, my nails haven't been much the same since I shellac-ed it up a little while back and I'm trying to be frugal and cut back on trips to the salon for manicures.

The kit came with three components - the buffing block, cuticle oil and hand cream. My nails were happy for the love.

Nails - before

While I sat there doing my nails, I thought of a gal in the 6th grade who did her science project on nail growth. She compared natural growth vs. using a special treatment. I did my project on barometric pressure, and somehow hers seemed so much cooler. She even got to go to the city wide Science Fair with her pretty nails. Oh the sixth grade...

I loved the 3 sides on the buffing block, and I definitely noticed an immediate difference in my nails. They were super shiny, felt smoother and looked more polished with only a few minutes of buffing.

Nails - after
Definitely shinier!

The whole process was easy peasy and I managed to take care of both my hands in under 15 minutes. While the products boast dead sea minerals, vitamins A and E as well as aloe vera, the hand cream does contain parabens, which I didn't love. My nails have maintained their happier appearance since using the kit and I'll definitely continue to use the buffing block and cuticle oil.

If you'd like to learn more about Premier Spa Boutique, you can check out their website, Facebook page or Twitter account.