{Product Review} Kona Kase - July 2013

Kona Kase is a subscription service designed to "fuel your active lifestyle." Every month a "kase" of eight nutritional products is delivered to your door for you to try.

Month-to-month subscriptions cost $15 per month. Kona Kase also offers multi-month discounts for subscriptions of three, six or twelve months.

I got to try out July 2013's Kona Kase. Unfortunately, I only received seven of the eight samples. One item that was listed in the product description was not included in my box, which I thought was super lame, especially since there was no explanation as to why it was missing.

Inspirational quote from a fellow UCLA Bruin! 

My Kona Kase included: 

1. Caveman Cookies - "Caveman Cookies are just like your great, great, great...great grandmother used to make! Made with simple ingredients (just honey, nuts and berries!), they are all natural, grain-free, dairy-free, preservative-free, naturally sweetened, delicious, and make a great post workout snack!" 

I received two Caveman Cookies, and they weren't my favorite. I didn't like the taste or consistency of the cookies. 

2. Garuka Bars - "Garuka Bars is named after one of the few remaining mountain gorillas ranging the volcanic forests of the Virunga Massif in Rwanda. Garuka needs protection and you need all-natural energy. We're working on both. Our bars are packed full of simple, wholesome ingredients, and a percentage of each sale goes towards gorilla conservation." 

I really liked the bar. I think the thing I liked the most was the taste from the raw honey they use. I am assuming that is the taste that is shining through. I also like that it only contains six ingredients.

3. Barbara Llewellyn Granola - "Enjoy artisan granola at its best from the kitchen of award-winning California caterer, Barbara Llewellyn. Rolled oats, sliced almonds, sesame and pumpkin seeds, honey sweetened and spiced for the perfect breakfast treat or snack to keep you going throughout the day, on the trail or at the office." 

Sounds good, right? Alas, this was the item that was missing from my box so I was not able to try it.

4. Body Glove Surge Gel - "NEW Body Glove SURGE is an energy gel that delivers rapid and sustained natural energy and is incredibly easy to use whether you're in the water, on a bike, or running. Each gel contains 150mg of caffeine."

This is the only item from my box that hasn't been consumed yet. I use similar types of energy gels pretty often, so I am looking forward to trying this one out soon.

5. Perky Jerky - "Perky Jerky is an all natural, premium jerky that is unlike any other! It's made with a seven ingredient marinade, which includes Guarana. It is low fat, low carb, and high protein without any preservatives, nitrites or added MSG. It's great for a quick pre-game boost or a mid-mountain hike snack. Satisfying and portable, it's the perfect fuel to do whatever it is that you do."

This was my favorite item from the box. I love beef jerky, but I really liked the flavor of Perky Jerky. I will definitely be purchasing more of this!

6. Enjoy Life - "Salty, sweet and crunchy, Enjoy Life's Seed & Fruit mix is great for on the trail or on the go! This portable protein-packed snack features a blend of sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and dried fruit! Enjoy Life products are always Gluten Free and free from the top 8 allergens. The Seed & Fruit Mix is also verified Non-GMO and Vegan!"

I wasn't a fan of this item. I found it to be pretty bland.

7. Pro Bar - "Bolt organic chews step up your game right when you need it. They're loaded with electrolytes, B vitamins, antioxidants and complex carbs that last through the home stretch of a long workout." 

This was my second favorite item. I also use energy chews on a regular basis as fuel on long runs. I actually used these chews during the Disneyland Half Marathon. I loved the citrus flavor and how easy they are to chew. I could pop one in my mouth and pretty much just keep going.

8. Health Warrior - "Health Warrior Chia Bars are the best way to "Chia" on-the-go. The ultimate superfood, Chia has more omega-3's than salmon, more fiber than oatmeal and loaded with antioxidants and plant-based protein. Each bar has 100 calories, and just 5g of sugar, perfect for a snack or pre-workout energy boost."

The Chia Bar I received was the coconut bar and I pretty much hate anything coconut flavored, except for pina coladas for some reason. Raisin Bread, on the other hand, loves coconut, so he had the pleasure of trying the bar. He also loves chia, so the bar had two things he loves. He gave me his opinion of the bar after he ate it and said he enjoyed it.

What's my take? Despite missing an item from my box, overall, I thought my Kona Kase was pretty good. I liked most of the items I tried from the box. I also didn't mention that if there are items that you really like, there is usually a discount code for you to use to purchase more, which I think is great. I love trying new nutritional foods and Kona Kase provides a great service that allows you to do just that. 

Disclosure: Due to my affiliation with Fit Approach, I received a complimentary month of Kona Kase. No compensation was received. All opinions are my own. Read my full disclosure here.

{Product Review} Le Tote - Totes #3 and #4

I'm currently on my fifth Le Tote. From this, you can probably assume that I have been relatively happy with the service so far, and I have been overall.

Le Tote #3 

1) Black top with ruffles and faux leather strap in back

2) Purple pleated tank

3) Orange and white print dress

4) Purple earrings, 5) white and gold bangle, 6) thin gold bangle

7) Black statement necklace

As you can tell, this tote contained more than five items, as promised by my stylist to make up for the broken piece I received in Le Tote #2.

I wore the gold bangles throughout the week with different outfits. I wound up wearing the purple top two times, once to work with the purple earrings and once to a festival on the 4th of July. I decided to pair this casual outfit with the statement necklace to make it more interesting and also because I needed to send back my items and didn't have anything else to wear the necklace to. 

I wore the black top to work, together with some old pieces. I actually really liked the fit of this top even though I initially thought it was quite boring. I was thinking about keeping the top but the "leather" strap in the back wouldn't stay closed throughout the day. 

I threw on the graphic dress for dinner one night with my hubby. I wasn't too happy with the shape of the dress and I didn't have an appropriate belt to cinch the waist with, so it was worn for all of 45 minutes. 

I wrote a long-ish email to my stylist after this box. Almost every piece I have gotten so far were flowy and waistless. I asked to receive more interesting shapes and cuts.

Le Tote #4

The items in this tote were completely different from the flowy, shapeless pieces I have normally received in previous totes. They were different cuts and different materials. 

1) Blue and pink dress with pink belt

2) Red pleather dress

3) Blue hummingbird top

4) Red dangle earrings and 5) Blue and gold chain necklace

The weather this week was scorching (in the high 90s and 100s) every single day, so I am quite sure I would have looked absolutely ridiculous wearing a pleather dress out. I thought it was quite odd that this piece was sent to me. Doesn't say summer at all! I did take a selfie of me in it though. 

I thought the blue dress and necklace were amazing together. So sweet and very girly. Honestly, it was a little too girly for me, but I didn't mind putting on some super girlish clothes for the day.

I really loved the hummingbird shirt. I wore it twice and also was pondering purchasing it. Unfortunately, it was a tad snug so I wound up sending it back. I paired the shirt with the earrings since I wasn't able to wear them with the dress. 

I don't think I'm going to cancel my subscription anytime soon. I love not having to think about what to wear after I receive a new tote and I love that it still serves its purpose of mixing up my wardrobe with new pieces. 

If you missed my first review of Le Tote, check it out here. 

{Product Review} Le Tote: Clothing Rental Service

Now, I know that I don't typically blog about fashion on here, but I recently stumbled upon a service that I am totally in love with.   

What is Le Tote? Lots of people have described it as the "Netflix for fashion," which I find to be a semi-fair comparison. Instead of DVDs, you are renting fashion. Subscribers pay $49 per month and receive unlimited "totes" of three garments and two accessories that you can keep as long as you want. Once you are finished with all five pieces, you send them back in a prepaid envelope (no washing required!) and wait for your next tote. The big differences between Le Tote and other fashion subscription services is that you are borrowing the items, and the subscription fee is per month, not per box so it is possible to get two or three boxes per month. If there is an item that you must keep, you can purchase that piece and send the rest back. 

To get started, I filled out a questionnaire on my style, which Le Tote's stylists to pick out your pieces for each tote. 

Why Do I Le Tote? 

1. I don't have an infatuation with owning things. I borrow books and DVDs from the public library. I purchased very few textbooks in business school and, instead, rented them for the semester. Along the same lines, I don't feel the need to own the clothes I wear, especially if I will only wear them a few times. 

2. Small closets. I live in an urban area, which means high rent for very little space. This is the size of my closet. As you can see, it is teeny tiny and I can't really fit much more in it. 

3. No time for shopping.
4. Fashion changes. I find that when I do have time to shop, I buy the practical items and not the fun items even though I would be open to trying out the trends from time to time.

Le Tote has been great so far. I don't have to commit to the clothing I receive and I don't have to make room for them in my closet permanently.

Le Tote #1

About four days after I subscribed, this box appeared on my doorstep. 

Inside was a Le Tote tote that was mine to keep plus a note from my stylist. 

I received 1) a white and gold bracelet and 2) gold earrings. 

3) A beige and white top

4) A zebra dress with red sash

I also received 5) a navy skirt with heart print that I forgot to take a separate photo of but it is below. None of the items were appropriate for work, so I saved them all for our weekend in Maine.

I paired the top, skirt and bracelet for one look.

The next night, I wore the zebra dress with the earrings. It was a bit chilly so I had to wear a sweater with the outfit.

Besides the bracelet, if I saw any of these items in a store, I would not purchase them because I don't think they would get worn enough. That has been my favorite thing so far, wearing things once that I wouldn't want to own. It allows me to change my wardrobe up.  

Le Tote #2
I sent Le Tote #1 back on a Monday and received Le Tote #2 that Friday. This was a much more colorful selection.

1) Corral pleated top with buttons up the back

2) Teal pleated flowy top

3a) Yellow and blue printed dress

3b) Blue belt for the dress

4) Beaded necklace and 5) blue and gold bracelet.

How'd we do this time? The flowy top looked really unflattering but I wore it anyway. I kind of felt like a lampshade. The other top was more my speed and my husband took this silly photo of me in it.

Finally, I wore the yellow and blue dress paired with the bracelet to Raisin Bread's birthday dinner. Also wasn't in love with the shape of the dress. Not super flattering!

I didn't wear the necklace because as you can see from the photo, it is broken! I emailed my stylist and she said she would send me an additional piece in my next box. Sounds like a good solution to me!

What's my take? Le Tote has been a great way to mix things up with my wardrobe. There have been some hits and some misses, but I love receiving my Totes. It's so exciting to get mail and not have any idea what might be inside. Le Tote is tots fun!