A New Year's Resolution
I really don't take much stock in New Year's resolutions. They're prone to failure for a variety of reasons, not least of all: who can predict what trials and tribulations we may run into throughout the year?
But I did make a promise right around January 1st that I was going take better care of myself. I was going to spend quality time on me. Going to allow myself some simple pleasures. Get back to a lifestyle that nourishes me.
In short... I was going to treat myself.
One of the reasons I'd stopped caring for myself properly in the past was money. So I knew that if I was going to treat myself, I was going to have to cut some costs, or find something that was cost-effective.
That's when I discovered subscription boxes.
No, I haven't been living under a rock. I'd heard of subscription boxes before, but it was always toys or soaps, nothing that I felt was both practical and entertaining. But just in time for the holidays, I found out about two subscription boxes I want to talk about today: Try the World and HelloFresh.
First, we'll talk about Try the World.
Try the World is a subscription box filled with goodies from various countries around the world. For $39 every two months, you get a beautiful box and 7 - 8 items from France, Italy, Spain, Thailand, Japan, Argentina, and a variety of other nations. Your treats may vary—for instance, the Holiday Box (the first box I ordered) could have contained either hazelnut cream or pistachio cream. I got the hazelnut cream, which I was kind of disappointed about until I tried it on top of some Swiss ginger snaps. OMG, PERFECTION.
Please excuse the lighting here. I was in my office, and the track lighting bulbs go out about once a month, and we haven't replaced this month's outages yet.
The reason I decided to experiment with Try the World is because I LOVE FOOD. I'm a true Gemini, easily bored by the banal, always seeking out new experiences—and that goes double for anything culinary. I'm also fascinated by the idea of travel, but since I'm not rolling in dough quite yet, this is sort of a way for me to visit other countries without the massive expense.
Plus, they were doing a deal where you got two boxes for the price of one, PLUS a coupon for 15% off. Um, yes, please.
Inside: nummy goodness and little, wispy, straw things I got way too excited about.
My first box, the Holiday Box, arrived within about 10 business days after I placed my order. Everything arrived intact, and the goodies consisted of: a sweet loaf from Milan; tea from the UK; orange peel cookies from Morocco; hazelnut cream from France; Acai dessert sauce from Brazil; chocolate truffles from Canada; olive oil from Israel; and Swiss ginger snaps.
From left to right: orange peel cookies, dessert sauce, olive oil, sweet loaf, chocolate truffles, hazelnut cream, tea, and ginger snaps (duh).
I loved that each individually packaged morsel wasn't just wrapped in plastic or tin foil, or otherwise looked generic. I felt like I could have walked into a shop in any of these countries and seen one of these products on the shelves. It brought a little ray of sunshine to an otherwise dreary month.
On top of that, you get a neat little guide that tells you more about the items in the box, including suggestions on how to use them, as well as recipes.
Of course, being the impatient child that I am, I just had to try everything right away. I was not disappointed. The hazelnut spread and ginger snaps were amazing. I'm a huge fan of ginger snaps to begin with, but I figured they'd be like the kind I pick up here at the store. WRONG. They were way better, with a crisper bite to them that went really well with the sweetness of the spread. The orange peel cookies were more savory than sweet, but still delicious; the cocoa truffles were out of this world (not as sweet as expected, but that's not at all a bad thing); the sweet loaf was gone in an instant (mostly the work of my daughter); the tea was very soothing; and I'm looking forward to glazing either a turkey breast, or a whole chicken, with some of that Acai sauce.
As for the olive oil... well, it's olive oil. But it's always good to have some of that around!
Did I feel like I got enough bang for my buck? Well, yes and no. On one hand, I probably could have found similar products myself at World Market, or some other place. But the World Market closest to me is in Sanford, which is quite a distance, and would be super inconvenient to go to. $40 is a lot for eight items, but knowing they came from places I'm dying to see, and in such pretty packaging too, softened the blow. The next box I receive will be the Paris Box, which I'm eager to tell you all about. But first, let's talk about HelloFresh.
HelloFresh is a grocery delivery service affiliated with celebrity chef/nutritionist Jamie Oliver. I've been a fan of his for quite some time, and knowing I wouldn't have to go to the grocery store except for a few staples really appealed to me. There are a variety of plans you can choose from: the Classic Box, where you can order two meals for two people, three meals for two people, four meals for two people, or five meals for two people; the Veggie Box, which is like the Classic Box, except vegetarian; and the Family Box, where each meal serves three to four people.
The best part is that HelloFresh had the foresight to design these groceries around specific recipes, which are included in the box. Not only that, but absolutely everything you need (minus cooking utensils and oil) is packed right in there. Oh, that recipe calls for oregano? Great! You've got a packet of oregano inside. It's a fish recipe? The fish is included, too!
And you can swap recipes out if, say, you have an allergy, or if you'd just prefer one from another box. I'm all about variety, so that really seems like it will work for me.
I'm supposed to receive my first HelloFresh shipment tomorrow, so I'll update then and let you know how it went. I've read some complaints about the freshness of the foods (ironic), but I'm feeling very positive going into this. It may even be less expensive than what we spend on groceries now, which makes it a very practical way to treat myself.
I haven't been paid by anyone, or received anything free, for these reviews. This is all me. So if you're wondering about how genuine this is, never fear—I will always give my honest opinion on a subject. Especially when it comes to food. So far, I think Try the World is definitely worth trying. Time will tell on HelloFresh, but I'll be sure to post more when we receive our first box.
Do you guys have any indulgences you'd like to share? How about a subscription box you absolutely love? Let me know in the comments! I'm always looking to try new things and would love some recommendations.
And if you're interested in trying the world, click here for a coupon for $15 off your first box!
