The Dubinskys' Travels

Where did the Dubinskys Go?

2017-01-05T09:55:00.000+00:00

Well that is a great question.

Sorry all to disappear both from our FS blog but also from the unboxing reviews. We appreciate everyone we worked with.

Andrew and I decided last May to take a break from the blog for 2 reasons. 1) Because I was realizing how much money we were investing into the blog and because we committed to not generating an income from YouTube and Blogger we were not covering our costs. I did truly love what I was doing, BUT it was starting to take a toll on us financially.

However, we would have continued if not for number 2. In 2016 the US started a 11 month election that took its toll on us as a country, but also divided a lot of us abroad. If you are "the Hatch Act" of 1939, officially An Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities, is a United States federal law whose main provision prohibits employees in the executive branch of the federal government, except the president, vice-president, and certain designated high-level officials of that branch, from engaging in some forms of political activity. The law was named for Senator Carl Hatch of New Mexico. It was most recently amended in 2012. Why am I giving you a history lesson?

This specific law says government employees while at work are unable to discuss at length politics or engage in political activity. Fun fact: US Diplomats posted abroad are considered "always at work." So Andrew and I were unable to articulate our thoughts and concerns about the election on this blog and any and all social media. To be honest, I think this is an archaic rule, but I am sure there are reasons for security and safety I will never understand. We took a hiatus on the blog to allow ourselves not to slide down the slippery slope.

The Dubinsky family has and always will serve the federal government and serve at the discretion of Embassy Ambassadors and the US president. We remain committed to the goals and objectives of the Department of State and USAID.

I will update later in the week whats going on with us as we...PREPARE TO LEAVE GHANA!

StrengthCrate: April Unboxing

2016-05-31T21:50:00.002+00:00

This month's StrengthCrate came jam packed with workout gear. You all know how much I enjoy StrengthCrate, so let me get right into the unboxing.

The centerpiece of the April box was a sandbag from SKLZ. This sandbag is roughly the size of a standard gym bag and has handles all around - I'm counting six total. It comes with four inserts that hold up to 10 pounds of sand each so you can determine how much weight you want to carry around. SKLZ sells this set for $59.99.

Next up was this pair of women's compression socks (I think we got the women's box this month) from Hylete, a StrengthCrate favorite. These knee high socks sell for $20, and Hylete claims they provide compression, abrasion resistance, wicking, and breathability. Whit says she will most likely use them for running and plane rides. The life of a Foreign Service gym rat. The full-sized Tufmed Tufrelief cream is made to help recovery in swollen or discomforted joints. It's made of a long list of natural ingredients and sells for $17.99

Finally, the box includes more coffee protein and another shaker. The shaker came just in time because I'm starting to leave one at work, one upstairs, and one downstairs. This shaker is 25 ounces and made with stainless steel. I found it on Amazon for $7.95, but it did only have 2 stars over 6 reviews. Most people seem to say that it doesn't hold up with multiple uses. Finally, we have a full-sized 17.56 ounce bag of Chike's high protein coffee. I'll admit that I haven't tried the previous sample yet -partly because I had lots of samples (and a giant bottle I bought after trying a sample in a previous box) and partly because I usually drink my protein after workouts at night. A friend did tell me that he really liked this protein, though. Chike claims that each serving has as much caffeine as one cup of coffee and sells this bag for $32.95.

This month, out of 10, I give StrengthCrate an 8 on quality (a few points off based on Amazon reviews), 10 on cost (The G.O.A.T. crate costs $75 plus shipping; I found the products online for about $139), 9 on appropriate for us, and 10 on fun. I've never really been into creams for recovery, but I'm willing to try this one and everything else is something I will definitely use. StrengthCrate is also offering 15% off everything in their shop and 10% off all subscriptions with coupon codes BUFFDAD15 and BUFFDAD10, respectively.

MILITARY DISCOUNT: StrengthCrate has won our Gold Award. Take advantage of $10 off S&H for all APO/FPO addresses (first order) and Active Duty Military get 5% off their order (Code PTSTRONG15).

Disclaimer: This post contains referral links

Bubbles and Books Box Unboxing May 2016 + Giveawy: Soaking in Goodness

2016-05-10T11:00:00.001+00:00

I live overseas and the stress gets to me. I admit it, just driving or trying to find a meal that satisfies me can stress me out. Things that are normally low key in the US like going to get coffee can become a 3 hour Horses in the ROAD?? disaster. I find solace in two important things Books (I have written about this a lot) and BATHS! Mentally I dismiss whatever may be lurking in the water and soak for an hour. I was thrilled to see there are is subscription box out there that caters to both need. READ TO THE END FOR A GIVEAWAY OF A BUBBLES AN BOOKS BOX OF YOUR OWN!

When you sign up for a Bubbles + Books Box, you will receive a box with a full length romance novel, artisan soap + other bookish + self-indulgent goodies. The soaps are small-batch made and you will not find these brands in your local store or in my case AMAZON. All of this delivered to your bathtub every month!

There are three types of boxes:

The Luxe Box ~ One paranormal {including shifters!} romance novel + one artisanal soap, plus other bookish + self-indulgent goodies to make your bathtime even more relaxing!
Bad Boy Box ~ You like your alpha males bad on the outside, but with a heart of gold! Think, mafia guys, motorcycle club, and military men! You'll get one full length bad boy romance novel + one artisanal soap, plus other bookish + self-indulgent goodies to make your bathtime even steamier!
Swept Away Box ~ For those of you who love to be taken back in time, and love the men from the past. You'll receive one full-length historical romance novel + one artisanal soap, plus other bookish + self-indulgent goodies!

This month, I got a Luxe Box. The first item was a hot and steamy book called The Selection by Jayne Faith,4.5 Stars, 11.99 on Amazon:

"Twice a year, the alien Lord Toric demands a selection of human women between the ages of 18 and 20 to compete for a place in his harem. Maya must get through just one more selection and then she can marry the man of her dreams. She should have been safe, but when a young woman who was supposed to compete dies the day of the selection, Maya is forced into the competition. Thrown into the fight of her life with no preparation, Maya must shed her innocence and win Lord Toric’s favor. And there is only one winner in the competition. The losers will be sacrificed. Will she survive the first round, or will she pay the ultimate price for her inexperience?"

I am excited to pick it up as it combines my love for sci fi with the urge to pick up a good romance.

The next two items were a Dazzle Bomb Lux Bomb (6.99) and handmade goat milk soap by Rock Bottom Soap Co ($6). The bomb smells FANTASTIC and yup, I already used it and it was FANTASTIC. I had never used a goat milk soap before but the smell is good and the texture is awesome. We also got all the fun discounts below.

Overall out of 10 I give the Bubbles and Books Box a 8 on quality, a 9 on cost, a 10 on appropriate for me and a 7 on fun. If you are abroad like me this is a GREAT box for gifts or to relax by.

NOW YOU CAN OWN THE ABOVE. All of this can be yours! Enter the below giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MILITARY DISCOUNT: The Dubinskys' Travels thanks BB Box for offering 25% off the first purchase for military and overseas personnel, AS WELL AS, all our readers.

StrengthCrate: A Late March Unboxing

2016-05-09T21:41:00.002+00:00

Another StrengthCrate, another month with awesome stuff. If you read the blog, you know what I think about this box, so let's get into the stuff. The first item is these bar grips from Harbinger ($24.99). I've recently started a new training program that includes heavier weights (this might be a theme of this month's post), and I'm noticing my grip getting fatigued sometimes before I'm done. I plan to incorporate these into my workouts to help.

I think I was supposed to get the men's version of this shirt, but Whitney got the tank top version ($25). She really likes it and says its lightweight and comfortable. Win win for me because I'm still rocking the StrengthCrate shirt from my first box.

As I've ramped up weights, I've been relying on whey protein from past StrengthCrate boxes and needed to order some glutamine. To fill the gap before the glutamine arrived, I used these BCAAs with glutamine from Eat the Bear ($45), which seemed to help quite a bit. Also, I now keep a shaker in the kitchen, in the pantry, and at my desk, so the extra one definitely comes in handy.

The box also included Black Widow liquid chalk ($14.95) and Icon Meals protein cookies (2 pack for $15). I'm still using an older liquid chalk, so I'll admit I haven't tried this one yet. The protein cookies have about 280 calories per cookie, but they do taste pretty spot on.

This month, out of 10, I give StrengthCrate a 10 on quality, 10 on cost (The G.O.A.T. crate costs $75 plus shipping; I found the products online for about $132), 9 on appropriate for us, and 10 on fun. This month was all stuff that I have already begun to use or plan to use on a regular basis.

MILITARY DISCOUNT: StrengthCrate has won our Gold Award. Take advantage of $10 off S&H for all APO/FPO addresses (first order) and Active Duty Military get 5% off their order (Code PTSTRONG15).

Disclaimer: This post contains referral links

Buzz Bag March Unboxing 2016: Fandom Jewelry

2016-05-03T16:12:00.003+00:00

I am always looking for a fun new subscription box that will serve as an inexpensive but heartfelt gift. I recently came across Buzz Bags and was super curious.

Buzz Bag is "a mystery bag filled with fandom jewelry & gifts, just for you! Buzz Bags are filled with items from your favorite sources of entertainment, including Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Legend of Zelda, The Hunger Games, Doctor Who, Percy Jackson and much more! [They] focus on giving fans high-quality, fun items that celebrate fandom. Each bag is tied together with a theme and is announced prior to your purchase."

Every month comes with 3-5 fandom jewelry items such as earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, keychains, pins & magnets in a drawstring bag. The items will value at over $60 of our normal pricing if you where to purchase the items separately. Some items are only exclusive to the Buzz Bag & can not be purchased afterwards so get it while you can.

The theme for this month was "Fandoms." Now this reminded me a lot of the Fandom of the Month box I have previously reviewed.

The first item in my box was a cute buzz box charm and a Harry Potter fridge magnet. Cute and original. Side note: Apologies for the large quantities of dog hair in the photos. I didn't notice how bad it was until I uploaded the photos.

Along those lines was a Golden Snitch Bracelet. It fit great and looks really cute on.

The next is a necklace straight out of the divergent series. I believe its just plated but it has some nice weight to it.

The next necklace on a rope chain was from the Percy Jackson series and reads "Camp Half Blood." I don't love the chain on this one, but its fun.

The last item was this tiny pair of multi color triangle earrings. Tell me in to comments below what its from because I am not sure which Fandom we are doing here.

Sweet Melissa's Buzz Bags are $15 and they only accept Paypal. They do offer APO shipping. The individual pieces are for sale on their web site. The box is comparable to Fandom of the Month and prices less.

Overall out of 10, I give Buzz Bags 6 on quality, 10 on cost, 7 on appropriate for me and 10 on fun!

Disclaimer: This box was received for review purposes.

PeelyPack April Unboxing: Stickerific Review

2016-04-20T16:45:00.001+00:00

I love when worlds collide. This week I am an reviewing a NEW subscription box created and put together by a Foreign Service Family member. This sub box came from the motivation by the owner to create sticker delivery for children full of interesting, unique stickers that could tell a story or be used imaginatively without television characters. She also wanted to help some friends-of-friends who had kids in the hospital battling serious illnesses. The solution was a sticker subscription company that donates to children’s hospitals. I love not only the motivation but the support for such an amazing cause.

PeelyPack stickers are made in the USA, at small print shops, to ensure the highest quality and safety standards, and to support fellow small businesses. They work with artists from all over the world who create inspiring art for our sticker designs. Personally, I adore the interactivity of this kit and the creativity behind it.

The original PeelyPack comes with 10 sheets of exclusive stickers and is $11.99 a month.. The FamilyPack has double the stickers and is 11.99 a month! The stickers are based on a different theme each month, and they throw in additions too!

This month's theme was animals and woodlands with a great and consistent pallet. I hope my pictures show that the pack contains not only the stickers, but a fun activity mat style background to help your child's imagination run wild.

Each sheet was fun and surprising and super creative. I love how the sheets pair together and flow with both a "story" and color palate. My son is three and he was easily able to get off each sticker with no tearing (which for him can be rough). Perhaps my only criticism was the large amount of branding on the stickers. Perhaps not necessary on every sheet.

Also included this month was a project for mom. The kit encourages us to relax by using the bookmark as a mini coloring book project. I have pulled out the colored pencils yet but I am super motivated to do so.

Overall I was impressed with the pack. It ships easily and even packs up. I think this would make a GREAT birthday gift or even a nice holiday gift that keeps on giving. Out of 10, I give PeelyPack a 7 on quality, a 7 on cost, a 10 on appropriate for LJ and a 10 on fun!

MILITARY AND FSO DISCOUNT: USE Coupon Code FSLIFE - 20% off the first month.

Disclaimer: This box was received for review purposes.

Tokyo Treat February Unboxing: Late but AWESOME!

2016-04-11T14:47:00.002+00:00

I was super excited to come home from vacation to another Amazing Tokyo Treat Box. This weekend my husband and I decided to cozy up to a cheesy movie and try the Japanese Goodies.

Quick reminder for those who missed the last post Tokyo Treat offers 3 size boxes and my review will be for the premium box that is 34.99 a month. Each premium box includes 13-17 Full-size Japanese candy and snacks, 1 DIY candy kit which my toddler loves, 1 Drink and 1 special item (i.e. drink, premium DIY, high-quality toy)

Because we got the premium box we got these first two items. The ice cream candy was fun to do. We made a bit of a mess and to be honest it just tastes like PURE sugar, but the project was fun. The company that makes it is called Kracie's Mr. Fun Bakery. I don't get why there aren't more main stream candy meets DIY kits in the US, aside from fun dip.

The next item was SOOO GOOD. Imagine a strawberry godiva truffle and then make it a GIANT chocolate bar. Seriously this chocolate bar may have incited a little marital spat. Have no fear readers...I won.

The third premium item was Sweet Red Bean Soup drinks. I have to admit these are not my favorite. We followed the directions (sorta) and nuked the drink and drank from the mug. As I mentioned, not my thing but its nice to get a real taste of Japanese culture. Also included in the Premium box was a pair of chopsticks made from Bamboo. Also pictured below is the Collis Strange Gum (small) and Lotte Kome soft candies (regular). The gum was sugary goodness which reminded me of the gums we ate as kids and the candies were super addictive.

The next item was Great in flavor HORRIBLE in Name. Cream Collon was like a mini crunch with a Twinkie style filling. My husband finished the whole bag without sharing. Though, I think our Japanese colleagues should have consulted English translation before running with Cream Collon, sounds like your inner organs got an infection. Also pictured were the string candy, which tastes like rope candies in the US and Kiwi and Lala Strawberry Crunch. This was essentially a rice crispie treat with straberry flavoring with the characters from Little Twin Stars (yup I googled that).

The next two are soo cute and awesome. I loved the Strawberry Pocky and HOW CUTE are those chocolate Lollipos.

The next two items won our taste favorites from this box. Dontaco’s Chili Taco Flavored Chips reminds me of a Taco flavored Dorito, which is AWESOME. And the Jelly Beans our AMAZING. Kasugai Grain Gummy is hands down my new favorite bean, going to have to go stalk Amazon looking for GIANT bags.

The last item was our ummmm....ok item from the box. Nagewa Mentai Mayo Flavor Rings are crispy potato rings flavored with mentaiko. Googling found that mentaiko is marinated roe Pollock often served with pasta and a butter sauce. Umm it was...unique!

The magazine in Tokyo Treat was also super funky and included fun facts and information!

Overall out of 10, I give Tokyo Treat an 9 on cost , 8 on quality (everything was super different and fun) 8 on appropriate for me (CHOCOLATE!), 10 on fun! I still love the DIY candy projects.

Disclaimer: This box was received for review purposes

OwlCrate March 2016 Unboxing: Overcoming my own Writer's Block

2016-04-08T09:54:00.005+00:00

So I started getting Owl Crate to diversity my book choices, but I have continued getting it for the funky things inside.

The first item was this month's book: The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner ($10.58 with 4.7 rating on Amazon and 4.42 on Good Reads). As always, included was a nice not from the author.

Book Summary: Dill has had to wrestle with vipers his whole life—at home, as the only son of a Pentecostal minister who urges him to handle poisonous rattlesnakes, and at school, where he faces down bullies who target him for his father’s extreme faith and very public fall from grace.

He and his fellow outcast friends must try to make it through their senior year of high school without letting the small-town culture destroy their creative spirits and sense of self. Graduation will lead to new beginnings for Lydia, whose edgy fashion blog is her ticket out of their rural Tennessee town. And Travis is content where he is thanks to his obsession with an epic book series and the fangirl turning his reality into real-life fantasy.

Their diverging paths could mean the end of their friendship. But not before Dill confronts his dark legacy to attempt to find a way into the light of a future worth living.

Now I am a little critical because some reviews on GoodReads imply there is a Christian theme in the book and that is not something I am comfortable with in general for my easy readying.

Out of Print Banned Books Socks – Value $10. LOVE these socks. My pictures don't do them justice but one foot is all the book titles and the other is the same titles redacted. Fun and thought provoking.

The next three items are cute and go with the whole "Writer's Block theme" but nothing I jump for joy over. The first are Bookworm Boutique Pins ($4). They read: I start a new adventure every time I open a book; let’s live in fictional worlds;I live to read. I read to live. These pins are cute for sure, but Sub boxes in general, What does everyone think we are doing with these pins? Do people use pins in their day-to-day that I haven't thought of? I get a lot of pins lately and I have NO IDEA their purpose? Please if you have ideas hit me up in the comments. The next item was a Kikkerland Quill Pen ($7). It's cute, fun if I am writing with a pen...but I rarely do that now.

The final item was 642 Tiny Things to Write About ($7). The book is meant to help you overcome writer's block by just flow writing. Each page has writing prompts to get you going.

OwlCrate is $29.99 plus shipping ($6.99 to US and $10.59 to Canada) and offers APO Shipping. We were unable to find out if they offer a military discount, but will follow up, but from MySubAddiction, coupon code OWLCRATEMSA10 gets you 10% off.

Overall out of 10 I give this month's OwlCrate a 7 on quality (only because the socks), a 5 on cost (priced at $38.52), 6 on appropriate for me and a 7 on fun!

Previous Unboxing Video:

My Texas Market March Unboxing: RODEO!

2016-04-05T13:42:00.004+00:00

I Love the Rodeo. Hands down one of my FAVORITE things about having lived in Texas. And now that I have lived, well all around the world and the US, I can say there is nothing else in the world like it. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is hands down one of the most amazing events on the planet. That is why I was pumped to see this month's theme for My Texas Market, RODEO!

Firs up was Basic Foodism's BBQ Sauce ($7.00) – I am excited to try this as I love home and local sauces. It is rough to find this "foodie" type sauce here. Kuhdoo Soap Co. – Texas Gentlemen Shave Bar (10?) – this company uses plant based oils and natural additives. This bar is crafted with Shea butter, cocoa butter and raw honey and additional natural items. I am going to be frank, I have NO IDEA what a shave bar is, but hopefully husband will love it!

More food! I love how much food is in this box. Next was ATX Homemade Peppered Beef Jerky ($6.99). I haven't tried it yet, but it does seem like a smaller serving size for 6.99. MMMM CHOCOLATE..Tejas Chocolate – Espiritu Santo ($7.00) is very bitter dark chocolate with an interesting flavor. Of course I did dive right into this one. Finally was Garden Dreams Houston – Two Step Jam ($7?)– The jam was custom made specifically for My Texas Market. Strawberries with Jalapenos sounds like a different but amazing combo.

The last item was a Republic of Texas Magnet from Park Bark. The small business specializes in unique and handcrafted collectibles sing environmentally friendly items. This magnet was made from a pecan tree from Texas. Sadly mine broke.

My Texas Market is $35.00 a month with a reduction to $100 for 3 months and $195 for 6 months.
Overall, out of 10, on quality I give this box a 7, on cost an 7 (I cost the total box out at o/a $40), on appropriate for me 7, and on fun a 10.

Military Discount: My Texas Market won the gold award from the Dubinskys' Travels for offering a 10% discount for military, veteran, and diplomat communities with coupon code MILITARY10.

Follow Dubinskys Travels (FSO Life & Unboxing)'s board My Texas Market Unboxing on Pinterest.

Disclaimer: This box was received for review purposes

Travel with Toddlers Part 2: Buy the Toys

2016-04-05T10:13:00.002+00:00

Last week I did a post called "Travel with Toddlers." As requested on various social medias, this is the answer to "What Specific Toys should I buy for my long vacation with a three year old?"

The Surprise System: One of the BEST things I did this trip was implement a "slow roll" or "surprise systems" for new toys on this trip. I borrowed from the office seal-able folders and put two or three different types of the below "surprises" in each folder. When we departed for our three week journey I had Four SEALED folders that I could pull out on long car rides, train rides or in the event of a disastrous meltdown. The folders ENSURED my son did NOT see the items I purchased until I was ready to give them to him. On a three week journey SURPRISE is important.

First and foremost, you know your kid better than anyone else. You know his/her favorite characters, shows, animals and games. When looking to purchase new things, my first suggestion is Know YOUR kid, not someone else's. My kid for instance, is super into Paw Patrol, Bubble Guppies, all things Animals, and LOVES any type of puzzle. He isn't all that skilled in arts and crafts but still really likes stickers.

REUSABLE, REDOABLE! This trip I fell in love with Melissa & Doug's Water Wow collection that allows your kid to paint with water. Each board set comes with a water pin, but you really only need to travel with one. The books dry and the paint goes away so my son spent HOURS doing these books whether it was in his stroller or on a road trip. AND since the pens just use water we weren't having to help much or buy stuff. I STRONGLY recommend this product for 3-4 year olds. Look our for them on Zulily or on Amazon for deals.

Now, there books have gotten popular and rip offs are showing up, in the characters sections on Zulily I found off brand water wow books for Bubble Guppies and Paw Patrol. These books work with the Melissa and Dough "brush" but throw out the ones they come with because they LEAK.

Also on Zulily but I am sure if you are in the US in any dollar bin, I picked up character CHEAP books and items. The "Play Pack: Grab and Go" packs are PERFECT for flights because it includes a coloring book and stickers.

I also included this trip some themed books on the locations we were visiting. It was a great idea to stick children's books on Ireland and Scotland into the mix because he knew what Highland Cow was when we saw it.

In addition to the Water Wow books Melissa and Doug has introduced a WHOLE LINE of "On the Go" travel items for your toddler that are age appropriate and cheap. For this trip I bought:

Melissa & Doug On-the-Go Craft Set - Felt Friends Stickers: LJ liked these but this one requires A LOT of parent involvement as the stickers backs are impossible for a little kid to get off. We did this project during our SECOND flat tire of the day.

Melissa & Doug On The Go Safari Animals Hidden-Picture Pad: This one went over great but my son struggled on this one He loved scratching out the animals but struggled with the stick. But I think the average kid would REALLY like this one.

Finally, my mother added to the mix some great learning tools from Lakeshore learning. Their Opposites Ready-To-Go Learning Pack was good for both the plane and the car, though the little cards were hard to keep track of.

What are your favorites?? Suggestions?? Let us know in the comments!

Travel Tips for Toddlers

2016-04-01T19:05:00.000+00:00

So I am not an expert on this subject. I would never try to say I am, but I just spent the last three weeks traveling around the UK and Ireland with a three year old and I feel as if I have wisdom to share. Before we left, I searched and goggled trying to find some REAL travel tips for traveling with a three year old and EVERYTHING said the same things. Be flexible, bring toys, blah blah blah, all things that were no brainers, so I vowed when my vacation started to come to a close I would write up my Top 5 Tips for Traveling with Toddlers.

1. AirBNB: I hate sharing a room with my son. It essentially means we go to bed at 8 or are stuck in the hallway every night of vacation, which sucks. My husband had tried a lot of things, whether it was attempting to book one bedroom hotel rooms (which ALWAYS ended up being more like creative studio apartments) or balconies etc. This trip I said FORGET IT! I looked at hotel prices on all the stops of our trip and found AirBnB places of equivalent value.

This meant for the entire trip we were staying in 2 bedrooms flats, cottages and in one case a cute little caravan with kitchens, dining rooms, wifi, tvs, refrigerators, and most importantly, 2 bedrooms. This opened up so much for us. For instance, coffee and breakfast without having to get dressed, the ability to not be on top of each other and LAUNDRY LAUNDRY LAUNDRY. And to be a little TMI, gave my husband and I ample alone time. There are down sides like no maid service and odd and surprising places, but each place on our trip allowed up to see a new part of town and a new set of people.

2. Travel Toys. Ok I know that is the generic write up I referred to, but I am about to get down to specifics. I will actually do a whole separate on the EXACT toys I purchased, but this is a place to spend some cash. All the blogs I read said "how to do travel toys cheap." I say screw that! Spend for sanity's sake! The key here is REUSABLE, REDOABLE, and where possible, things your kid can do on his/her own.

3. Pack Light! The thing I did the best this trip was lay down a mandate on everyone including myself that we would pack LIGHT. We were all allowed 5 shirts and three (ish) pairs of pants. Before everyone stares at me with open mouths, this really applies only if you are changing locations a lot. We did London, driving trip around Scotland and Ireland. We were literally in a new city every two days, but since our luggage wasn't OVERWHELMING, it allowed us to focus on other things. We had a lot more flexibility than any trip before. And in case you were curious, with all the laundry we did (detergent pods are the best invention ever), no one in my family ever felt like they were "out of clothes." At one point, however, I did start wearing my husbands clothes at night.

4. TRAVEL COOLER! I track Woot, like obsessively, and a couple months back this travel cooler popped up. The cooler folds ups to be a nice flat piece, but is a GREAT cooler. We checked it, brought it on trains etc. What is so special about a collapsible cooler? It means on road trips you can travel with whatever your family needs.

In my family that is Almond Milk, Apple Juice, Orange Juice, an assortment of fruit (including strawberries wherever we could buy them), cereal (can'r survive without "Blue cereal"/ Frosted Flakes), and WINE!. After our initial leg of the trip, I put all my kids food, my travel food in the cooler. It was nice not to have a carry on bag full of food.

5. Collapsible Containers and Water Bottles: This one goes with the Cooler and AirBnB. Before we left I purchased some collapsible containers and water bottles. The containers ended up being SUPER awesome on the trip. When my toddler refused to finish the spaghetti, lunch for tomorrow. When we purchased a giant container of strawberries, I had somewhere to throw them all in. And as toddlers ALWAYS do, when my son tried one of every type of cracker we bought, we had safe containers to throw them in. By the end of the trip instead of sifting through and assortment of travel food he just asked for the "green bowl." Easy!

The water bottles were great when I wanted a container of juice always accessible. My son drinks juice CONSTANTLY, and it was nice to have something that was cheaper than CONSTANTLY buying juice boxes. I just went into the cooler and grabbed our big thing of juice and refilled each day.

Bonus: Try not to make drastic changes that will make life harder. One mistake I made on this trip was taking pity on my three year old that we were in a new place night after night. To alleviate his fears, I crawled into bed with him, something we had always been SUPER against. And It is 8:30 pm on our last night of vacation and sadly I am listening to him SCREAM because I won't crawl into bed with him. If your kid isn't allowed candy, don't start giving him candy. If he can't have juice after 6 (a rule in my house) don't make a vacation exception. Makes things SOOO much harder when you get back to normal.

So those are my Dubinsky Style tips...exact toys to come..

ElementaryBox March Unboxing + Military Discount: Fun for Teacher

2016-03-14T17:02:00.000+00:00

My son is three and one thing I constantly find myself worrying about here at post is his education. We send him to an amazing British inspired pre-school, but as an mom does, I worry he isn't getting the same quality education he would in the US. Now, if I was an amazing teacher with all the skill and tools of my mother (teacher), my aunt (teacher) or my cousin (teacher), I would be able to come up with an amazing array of ideas to help me supplement my child's education. But...I am an economist with ZERO patience.

Recently I found ElementaryBox and though they don't cater to my SPECIFIC need, I thought the military and embassy community would benefit to know more about this subscription box.

ElementaryBox is a subscription box service for elementary school teachers, Pre-K thru 5th grade. Because they know how hard teachers work, each month they send you a box filled with fun and useful items for your students, classroom and YOU (whether you are the teacher or home teaching). Teaching resources, student incentives and teacher gifts delivered to your doorstep. Though this is targetted at teachers, I also got to thinking about all the Eligible Family Members and Military Personnel working as teachers overseas. This box builds a sense of community in your "classroom", and boost student performance !

Their shipping works a bit differently from most other sub boxes. Because it is so important for teachers to plan, they begin shipping around the 22nd of the month, for the following month's box. This way all of the teachers receive their box-of-the-month before that month actually begins, and they have plenty of time to integrate any time-sensitive materials into their lesson plans/classroom.

Let's jump into this month's box. We received the Kindergarten March box, and was super impressed by the quality of items and thoughtfulness of the curation.

The first two items were Foam Word Families Cubes ($12.25 and 5 stars) and Reading Comprehension Cubes ($18.46 and 5 stars). Both the products have great reviews for reading and spelling games that are great for kids to get them talking about words and stories. Questions on the reading cubes assess comprehension skills regarding text types and reading strategies

For me these are good because I am not all that creative with follow up on books and these can be great conversation starters. Foam on both are lightweight, soft, quiet, and washable.

Books! Also included were two books I know my son will love. This Old Man ($4) and Humpty Dumpty($4) are great soft cover books with fun illustrations. Also included was a class worth of bookmarks. Personally, I am going to put these in our Embassy Community Liaison's Office

Finally for the mom at home teacher, I get to relax to Zhi Tropical Garden blend tea ($9). I haven't tried it yet, but it poured today in Ghana so I am looking for a warm cup.

"Zhi Tea is obsessed with obtaining incredible teas and hand blending life long favorites. We travel to source, visit with our farmers, direct import, and hand blend and package our signature and award winning teas. We are tea geeks through and through who just love to share our passion for organic, premium teas."

ElementaryBox is priced monthly at $29.00; 3 Month Prepay at $28/month, $84.00; 6 Month Prepay $27/month, $162.00. In addition this company has won the Dubinskys' Travels' Gold Award by offering a military discount USMILITARY for a $2 month discount. The promo is Pay Only $27/Month for the life of your subscription using Coupon Code USMILITARY. (Valid on Month-to-Month Plans, not valid for already reduced Prepay Plans).

Overall I am impressed with ElementaryBox in curation, concept and quality. Out of 10 I give the box an 8 on quality, 9 on price (I priced it over 45 dollars), 7 on appropriate for me/LJ and 7 on fun. I will let people know how LJ enjoys the cubes.

Disclaimer: This box was received for review purposes

Strengthcrate:Very Delayed Review

2016-03-03T20:14:00.000+00:00

I know that I'm way late on this review (it is the December box). Between travelling and work, we've been a little overcome by events. This StrengthCrate had some really good stuff, but I did feel that the focus was slightly different than in the past. More on that below.

First up were these products from WOD Welder. They sell one bar of soap for $9.95 or a 3-pack for $25 (let's call this $8.50 each for simple math) and the bath bomb for $5.95. I can say that the soap was a giant block. I'm not really sure how to quantify how quickly it accelerated recovery. You can read more about their process. I personally don't buy into the whole paleo thing, but it does seem to use some good ingredients. I think the same can be said for the bath bomb.

The big ticket item in this box was this set of birch rings and straps from X-Training Equipment (normally $72 on their website). These are the same or very similar to the rings at my Crossfit box in the States. I have no problem with the quality of these rings. They feel like among the best you can buy. I will admit I've been struggling on how to use them. I've always viewed this box as perfect for sending me small portable equipment for a home gym or for travelling. These rings are a little difficult to use at home (unless you have a sturdy swingset or tree branch). I was excited to work on muscle ups, but I don't think I have anything strong enough to hold my weight in our house. I'm still experimenting but these are a good, compact item to hold onto once we move into a new home, which is all too frequent in this job.

The box also included its usual supplements, this time grass fed whey from Driven ($20). Not pictured is a Hylete T-shirt ($35).

This month, out of 10, I give StrengthCrate a 10 on quality, 10 on cost (The G.O.A.T. crate costs $75 plus shipping; I found the products online for about $140), 7 on appropriate for us, and 9 on fun. Like I said, the products are all really top notch. This month, my only struggle was trying to figure out how to use the rings at home.

MILITARY DISCOUNT: StrengthCrate has won our Gold Award. Take advantage of $10 off S&H for all APO/FPO addresses (first order) and Active Duty Military get 5% off their order (Code PTSTRONG15

Disclaimer: This post contains referral links

Gymbag February Unboxing: Needs improvement

2016-03-03T17:15:00.000+00:00

New month, new box. The newest crave in box world is athletic based boxes. More and More are popping up. You can see our previous unboxings and articles on StrengthCrate and Super Gains! This month we had the opportunity to try out a new box called GymBag. Now, I write this article with some trepidation. The review box I received was missing the key Item. So I will try to review but keep in mind their 39.99 Supplement was not included.

So in order to not bias my views on them completely I am going to review the other items and leave off discussing whether it is worth the price, which I will note is higher than the average sub box. Lets jump in!

GymBag Premium are as mentioned, fitness goods delivered including 6-8 fitness Products,

Macro-friendly snacks, supplements, accessories with an average $80+ value in every box or a

100% money back guarantee, cancel anytime. There are men's and women's options for $55.49.

The first items in the box were edible, which is always a plus. Two different varieties of Protein
Cookies ($4.99). These cookies aren't Gluten free but are high in protein, fiber and non-gmo.

"The Protein Cookie Company bakes fresh high protein cookies made with Whey protein. Lightly Sweetened with Stevia and Brown sugar making these protein cookies low in sugar and diabetic friendly. Each cookie has a perfect serving of macros so you can enjoy a whole protein cookie as a snack or a meal replacement. The Protein Cookie Company offers a protein cookie that can be integrated into any diet whether your trying to lose weight or train for a competition. Order your macrofriendly protein cookies, Low in Fat, Low in Sugar, and baked fresh for you."

Also were two Whey Cleans which were meant to help you clean out your Whey Shaker (which I only have from Super Gains Pack). Next were Protein Chips by Quest Nutrition (maker of the amazing Quest bar). This is a very Proteiny box. The chips are $2 on amazon and have a 3.7 star review.

Last was a GymBag bracelet ($1) and an APE Athletics (shrug $8) hat. I am not sure I would ever wear either of these items and they sorta feel like I am doing an ad campaign. I have since followed up with the owners of Gymbag on the hat and bracelet. The hat is valued higher, but they also flagged a couple other interesting facts I wanted to share with our readers. First, if you are not SERIOUSLY into weightlifting (and only weightlifting) then this isn't the box for you. It isn't meant for a gym lifestyle that includes crossfit, yoga or cardio enthusiasts, but focused on avid users of BodyBuilding.com and supplement users. I imagine that is a narrow customer base, especially with women.

Overall, sadly, I am really underwhelmed with the GymBag I got. Even with taking the $40 item into account I price the box out at $58 which doesn't match the $80 guarantee. Also, there are a lot of gym boxes out there, and I would hope to see more non advertising apparel or equipment. I look forward to seeing where GymBag goes from here.

Overall out of 10, I give GymBag a 4 on quality, 5 on cost, 5 on appropriate for me and a 6 on fun.

Disclaimer: This box was received for Review purposes

ELEPHANTS! We went to Mole National Park

2016-03-01T11:29:00.002+00:00

First apologies we have been in and out for the last couple of weeks. Motivation is a fickle fickle thing. Last month we had the opportunity to stay at an amazing new lodge in Mole National Park, Zaina Lodge. We went on a couple safari drives, had a picnic in the bush and saw wild elephants

Mole National Park is Ghana's largest wildlife refuge. The park's lands were set aside as a wildlife refuge in 1958. The park is home to over 93 mammal species, and the large mammals of the park include an elephant population, hippos, buffalo, and warthogs. The park is considered a primary African preserve for antelope species including kob, defassa waterbuck, roan, hartebeest, oribi, the bushbuck, and two duikers, the red duiker and yellow-backed duiker. We heard a lot of hyennas at night, but no sightings.

Among the 344 listed bird species are the martial eagle, the white-headed and palm-nut vultures, saddle-billed storks, herons, egrets, the Abyssinian roller, the violet turaco, various shrikes and the red-throated bee-eater.

This is LITERALLY the view from our balcony. Aren't they AMAZING!

Tokyo Treat Unboxing: PIKACHU!

2016-02-23T13:19:00.004+00:00

Snack crates are popping up more and more. And I am constantly impressed and inspired by both the themes and curations of these boxes.

This month I am trying a newer Japanese candy crate. Tokyo Treat offers 3 size boxes and my review will be for the premium box that is 34.99 a month. Each premium box includes 13-17 Full-size Japanese candy and snacks, 1 DIY candy kit which my toddler loves, 1 Drink (?) and 1 special item (i.e. drink, premium DIY, high-quality toy)

The first item despite the packaging is not fish flavored, but New Years treats and CHOCOLATE! They tasted great!

The next item combines my love of two amazing things, ice cream and caramel corn, the Tohato item inspired by the monster trend in Tokyo was super tasty.

I have to admit it, I am a huge baby! Spicy things scare me and this jalapeno devil bag scared me off, BUT I will sneak them on my husband when he gets home. I am super curious whats inside.

The box also included pokemon chewing candy and sticker matching gum, they are simple but pack a lot of flavor. For pokemon fans the candy is wrapped in each individual monster. The Sticker gum was flavored like cola and not my favorite taste but if you are a pokemon fan its super cute. My drink in this crate was Amazake Sweet Sake?

"Amazake literally means “sweet sake,” but when produced it’s either low-alcohol or alcohol-free. The low-alcohol variety is made by mixing sake kasu (the lees left over after sake has been extracted) with steamed rice and water. The non-alcoholic variety is made by mixing plain steamed rice and water with kome kōji, rice that has been inoculated with Aspergillus oryzae, the fungus that is the basis for many kinds of fermented foods such as miso, nattō (fermented soybeans) and soy sauce as well as sake. " I wasn't sure if it was meant to be hot or cold. I tried it and it was sweet and a tad thick. I threw it in the fridge and will give it a go again after Dinner.

The next item was a Pokemon figurine, some Pocky which is a MASSIVE hit with everyone in my house and 2 DIY candies. We have done these in the past and make great "projects" for our toddler.

MORE Pokemon! Also included were more Pokemon candies and wafers.!

The magazine in Tokyo Treat was also super funky and included fun facts and information!

Overall out of 10, I give Tokyo Treat an 8 on cost (the price point is on and there a lot of diversity in items), 8 on quality (everything was super impressive) 5 on appropriate for me (I am just not all that into Pokemon), 10 on fun! I loved the DIY candy projects.

Disclaimer: This box was received for review purposes

Bramble Box January Unboxing + Coupon: It's Getting Cold in the Arctic

2016-02-04T16:48:00.003+00:00

Bramble Box is slowly becoming my son's favorite not only because he loves to dress up and do projects, but he gets super into the topic and theme of each box. This month we were freezing in the Arctic!

The box came with directions for two projects on the Arctic and the above pictured Explorer's Kit Bag. My son loved the bag and made sure everything went "back in" after each activity. The first activity in the box was making a Polar Bear Mask.

The pieces were perfect for my son, and though we got confused between polar and panda bears we ended up with a great mask and a night of "grrrrr Mommy."

The next project was creating your own Igloo. LJ struggled with this one and I sadly did about 99%, but we did talk about ice and the Arctic the whole time. LJ's favorite part of this activity was that it came with THREE PENGUINS! There was a HUGE amount of excitement.

Bramble Box is $25 for a single box and includes definitely a nights worth of activities along with toys and books that can be reused in creative ways. 3 Month subscription is 75.00 6 Month Subscription is $144.00 and 12 Month Subscription is $276.00.

Overall out of 10, I give this month's Bramble Box an 8 on quality, a 10 on cost, a 8 on appropriate for LJ and 10 on fun!

Military Discount: Bramble Box has won our Gold Award for offering a great military discount! Use coupon code Overseas20 for 20% off your first box, which cannot be combined with other coupons.

Follow Dubinskys Travels (FSO Life & Unboxing)'s board Bramble Box Unboxing on Pinterest.

Disclaimer: This box was received for review purposes. This article also contains referral links

Retro Pop Box January Unboxing + Coupon: I love the 80s

2016-02-01T16:41:00.001+00:00

Since I initially heard about Retro Pop Box, I have been counting down until the 80's box. This is the first decade they cover I was alive during and consider myself a true 80's child. I move the movies, the "fashion" and even tolerate the music! So here is my review of the 80s Retro Pop Box.

Right off the bat I was impressed and saddened by the decal included to memorialize David Bowie. Super sad, but super glad it was included.

Once again, the Exclusive TShirt ($15) for Retro Pop Box was on the money. This Rocky 3 fight poster is a lot of fun. Now, it isn't the most female appropriate shirt, but I will wear it to the gym for motivation.

Next were DC Heroes Magnets ($10.75) which pair nice with the 70's box we received the "Villains" magnets. I was confused given that the last box was 70s and this is 80s, but I am sure the comic book nerds out there will fact check this and it is in fact 1980s. In addition we got a SUPER MINI Loveboat lunch box ($5.99) clearly just meant to sit on your desk it pays homage to the 70's and 80's hit.

Next was a 1980s themed Battle Star Gallactica tin coaster set. Not a Battle Star fan but know Lots of people who are. They are funky and its cool that its tin. There was also a "Back to Basics" joystick sticker.

Coupon Code: Use code UNBOX1 to get 10% your subscription.

Overall out of 10 I give my 1980s Retro Pop Box a 6 on quality, an 7 on cost (the box is $20 and I totaled this box at over $27.44 only lowered because of the $40 guarantee), on appropriate for me I give it a 5 and a 7 on fun! I have to admit I was a tad let down.

Disclaimer: This box was received for review purposes

Wantable Makeup January Unboxing

2016-01-27T13:46:00.005+00:00

It's Wantable time again. I have to admit, I am getting a lot less excited to see the Wantable white box, but this month did include some interesting pieces and some stuff I didn't love. (See unboxing video below)

The first item was a glitter nail polish from FACE Stockholm in Stardust color ($12). I am wearing the polish now and its good for an accent piece or simple jewelry, but may have been a little "young' for me. I know I am only 33. Also included was a Sheer Powder from Mineral Hygenics ($19.00). "If you are prone to oily skin. Use this special powder to reduce oil and shine. Use as much as you need, all throughout the day, it wont cake up or enlarge your pores." I have an overabundance of setting powder so for me this is headed back

Next was "Brand New Day" by One Love a Microderma Scrub. "This superfine, water-activated exfoliator combines organic sweet pea flour, pineapple enzymes and mineral rich kaolin clay to remove impurities, clarify, and smooth skin for a luminous, baby-soft complexion." Seems high quality to me and smells good. The website prices it at $39!

The last item was from Pop! goes the Shadow which is an Elizabeth Mott line ($13). Though I love Elizabeth Mott and her products, this one is headed back too. I just didn't love the Antique Brass color.

Overall I give this month's Wantable Makeup a 5 on quality, 9 on cost, 5 on appropriate for me and 5 on fun!

Follow Military and Expat Unboxing (Foreign Service) The Dubinskys Travels's board Wantable Makeup Unboxing on Pinterest.
Disclaimer: This post contains referral links

Yogi Surprise January Unboxing + Coupon: Inspiring Purpose

2016-01-25T15:37:00.002+00:00

It has been a busy weak here. This weak a new Ambassador arrived in Ghana which leads to a new style and marching commands (not in the literal sense). Naturally, this exponentially increases stress at an embassy.

Therefore, I was beyond excited to see my Yogi Surprise arrive in the mail.

This month's box was entitled Inspiring Purpose, which s a great motto for the new year. I was pumped to see a full size product, Pacifica Sea Foam Complete Face Wash ($11). This is a gentle cleanser with a beach sent.

As a gluten free folk, I was happy to try Rawxies Chocolate Brownie ($3). It was good, not the best paleo brownie but a great flavor. Also included was Simply Straws Single Sleeve Set ($12). To be honest, I thought this was some overpriced silly. It is a glass straw to inspire you to leave behind plastics.

The next item was Facial oil. Kensington Apothecary Facial Oil #2 Pure Clarifying ($25) smells amazing. The concept of facial oil is new to me but as I loved the smell I am willing to give it a go.

Two additional scent items were in this months box. The first was 21 Drops 18 Sleep Essential Oil Blend 3 ml ($10.80). This item "fuses the 100% natural essential oils of: Palmarosa helps diminish anxiety, Sandalwood quiets the mind, Vetiver soothes, helps with relaxation and Ylang Ylang encourages peace. I like that this is different type of product but I have a hard time with scents to go to bed. The other scent was Valentina’s Home Brewed Prosperity Perfume Oil ($14), a perfume scented with frankincense, bergamot, patchouli essential oils. It smells great and as someone who can't wear perfume because they cause headaches, I enjoyed it

Yogi Surprise costs $45 a month. Use coupon code GRATITUDE to save 20% off your subscription.

Overall out of 10 I this month's Yogi Surprise 7 on quality (too many oil), a 7 on cost (priced at $75.8 but I feel some of the pricing on the oils is off), 6 on appropriate for me and 6 on fun (once again too many oils).

Disclaimer: This post contains referral links

Adore Me January Unboxing: Valentine's Day Surprise

2016-01-22T11:03:00.003+00:00

With Valentine's Day rapidly approaching, I have come to the revelation that I have purchased nothing for my husband. And given it takes mail a pretty hefty amount of time to get here. Thank goodness for monthly Adore Me

How it Works: For those reading about AdoreMe for the first time, it is a monthly subscription that offers you a showroom to choose from monthly. You choose by the 5th of the month between lingerie, lounge wear, swimsuits, and undergarments. For every purchase of 5 boxes you get the 5th box for free!

This month I decided on a piece that was sexy meets comfy. Another pair of pajamas that are just cute cotton. The price was good at 39.95 and there was an online code (now expired) that got me $5 off.

I super loved the short and the top looked great on!

Overall on out of 10 quality I give this month's AdoreMe an 8, cost 8, appropriate for me 9 and fun 10. Use the above referral link to get your first set for only $25. Also you can get a FREE MASK for Mardi Gras coming up with coupon code, MASKUP

Previous Unboxing Video:

Follow Dubinskys Travels (FSO Life & Unboxing)'s board AdoreMe Unboxing on Pinterest.
Disclaimer: This post contains referral links

Reading Bug Box January Unboxing + Coupon: LJ PERFECTION!

2016-01-15T12:39:00.001+00:00

My son is addicted to books. I know that this isn't something to complain about but he will flip through on average 30 books a day so our library is getting big to keep up with him. Books are on par with Toys in our house. Even our TV watching has become book related. He is addicted to the Scholastic versions of books including a set by Mauric Sendek and I Stink! Given that I live in Ghana it is NOT easy to find kids books and it's not something I regularly think to buy, I have experience with BookRoo, but this month I was excited to try Reading Bug Box!

Each Reading Bug Box for one child contains 2-4 books plus fun educational extras every month. A box for 2 children includes 4 to 5 books. A special extra gify is included during a child's birthday month. They currently offer boxes for ages baby to 12 years. Month to month subscriptions starting at $29.99/mo.

Prior to getting our first book I got the super sweetest set of questions asking what my son likes..And I responded right now we are LOVING animals and obsessed with trucks, specifically garbage trucks. So our box was PERFECT. First was Night Animals (5 Stars on amazon) $12.81 which my son loved and read three times. Other book reviews:

* “Truly remarkable illustrations clearly convey the book’s raucous activity and feature beautifully rendered animals standing in sharp contrast to pitch black backgrounds…This eye-catching, slapstick foray into the worrisome night will light up the room with smiles.” – Booklist, starred review

* "Every page is visually funny, with hilarious close-ups and slapstick animal postures…A giggle-inducing new gem for the night-fears bookshelf.” – Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Next was Duck & Goose Let's Dance ($6.98 5 star). Whats awesome about this book was that its part of a series we owned, BUT the book curator wrote it and SIGNED IT!

"Honk, quack, dance, and sing with New York Times bestselling friends Duck & Goose in this fun new board book, which includes a link to an original Duck & Goose song.

Want to learn the Duck & Goose song and dance? Join Duck & Goose at their dance party! With easy-to-follow moves, like first jump forward and then jump back, Duck & Goose, Let’s Dance! is sure to get little bodies wiggling. This lively board book features lyrics from an original song by Lauren Savage and Ross Gruet, so put on your dancing shoes and get ready to “walk like a duck, honk like a goose, and flap your fuzzy tail feathers, too.”

Here’s the perfect addition to any Duck & Goose library, which includes Duck & Goose Go to the Beach; Duck & Goose Colors!; Duck & Goose Find a Pumpkin; Duck & Goose, It’s Time for Christmas!; and more!"

Also included in the box were stickers and post cards. I keep finding ducks stickers everywhere, including the dog :P

BUT! We won super parenting points when we showed our son I Stink ($6.43 4.5 stars)! He went CRAZY! he has bee watching this on Scholastic loops for months so we won parental gold stars for this one, thanks Reading Bug.

"Know what I do at night while you're asleep?

Eat your trash, that's what!

With ten wide tires, one really big appetite, and an even bigger smell, this truck's got it all. His job? Eating your garbage and loving every stinky second of it

And you thought nighttime was just for sleeping."

As mentioned above the box also came with Stickers and Postcards ($2). Overall out of 10 I give this month's Reading Bug Box a 10 on quality, a 7 on cost, a 10 on appropriate for LJ and an 7 on fun!

Coupon: We have a special deal for our readers! Use code DUBINSKY for 10% off of any subscription with the following link.

Disclaimer: This box was received for review purposes

Harry Potter Giveaway!

2016-01-11T16:14:00.001+00:00

You heard right, we are giving away a box of unique and fun Harry Potter Items. This box is over $30 in value and includes a Harry Potter T-shirt, bookmark, earring, necklace, bookmark and more! We also hope to throw in a few surprises. Enter with RaffleCopter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

30 Days of Candy Unboxing: Worldwide Delicious!

2016-01-11T16:00:00.004+00:00

A couple months back I had been in contact with the lovely folks at 30daysofcandy and sadly we couldn't find a common ground on APO shipping. However, recently they came around and decided to jump on the military shipment idea! So today I bring you our family's review of the 30daysofcandy "Around the world" 30 candies!

30daysofcandy as the name implies provides 30 deliciously indulgent, individually packaged, expertly curated, with 100 calories on the bag for the health conscious. With the box you get background on the candy's and additional fun information. Now as this isn't a candy rating box I am not going to go through each candy and tell you what I thought.

On whole I loved about 45 percent of the candies. There were taffies from all over the world (my addiction), amazing chocolates, licorice and even gummy bears. For my husband the Pez enthusiast there even was a bonus pez dispenser!

I enjoyed picking out a candy and trying it for the first time from countries everywhere. Some were just lame sucky candies, but I recognize that's what some countries are known for. I was super impressed with the research that went behind each bag. For instance, the Haribo Gummi Bears were labeled as Turkey which took me off guard, but as the label explained all the Gummies for the US are made in Turkey.

Now, this one caught me off guard having lived in Thailand for 2 years. Kopiko which I have had ALL over Ghana (not in Asia) but I did go down a rabbit hole researching this one...not Thai guys, Indonesian, but perhaps inputs as the label says are exported to Thailand. Still great candy

I was surprised to see the US's was Bit O Honey, but I forgot how much I love this stuff. Every Halloween I would trade for it. BIG FAN!

The facts really did give us more enjoyment than the candy itself. For instance the above on PEZ was super fun. Especially given how into it my husband is.

The opposite sides of each package had great and fun quotes from the country. 30daysofcandy.com is $29.95 + $5.95 shipping

Overall out of 10 I give 3 0daysofcandy a 7 on quality (would have liked to see a little more chocolate and higher end quality and less sucky candy), an 8 on cost (shipping is high, but appreciate the switch to APO), 8 on appropriate for me (ALWAYS need new candy) and seriously 10 on fun!

Tinsel Box January Unboxing: NYE in Style!

2016-01-08T13:38:00.000+00:00

This was a great New Year in Ghana. We started the night at dinner with friends in an empty restaurant, we entertained ourselves and dined like kings and then headed to an Embassy party. However, I carried the contents of this box everywhere we went.

My Favorite part of this box, hands down, is once again a feel of a cohesive box that flows, matches and all goes together flawlessly.

First was the Confetti Popper ($6), exclusively made for TinselBox and features a festive silver and gold color scheme. For a celebration, remove the cap, hold the barrel, and quickly push up the stem. Confetti Everywhere! Sadly for me it had popped prior to box arrival, BUT I instantly thought, still can be used for a push pop for baking! Also to make any NYE celebration complete are four Fringe Horns ($3.80).

Next was a fun "project" I got to do and read to our dining friends. Wish papers ($7.50) packet includes 10 magenta colored “wish papers”. To use them, you crumple one of them up into a ball and make a wish. Next, uncrumple it, form it into a cylinder shape and stand it up on a plate. Then light it and the flame is meant to go out quickly and the paper will float into the air, turning into ash. As it falls back down, you are meant to catch it and your wish will come true! I stupidly threw mine in the candle and none of these things occurred except a small fire at our table.

Another FUN piece was the Star Sparkler ($4.50), great for lighting at the table or putting in a cupcake.

Candy Coated Fortune Cookies ($10) Also induced were 4 awesome fortune cookies. Mine sadly read "A New Year's Resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.." Punny, but not a fortune.

My toddler enjoyed an evening as a king running around in one of these Gold Metallic Paper Crowns ($5.50). Not all that durable, but fun for an evening around the house.

Notebook and Pencils ($10) were also included in the larger box to get the new year started right by journaling and writing your thoughts.

This box makes a great gift for the FSO or family overseas or for just a great box to make your day. The Box of Spontaneous Joy is $19.99 Per Month plus $3.99 Shipping, the larger Box of Cheerful Curations is $39.99 Per Month plus Shipping.

For our non overseas readers you can save $10.00 with Coupon Code Tinselbox10. Use coupon code EXPAT for $5 off the box and $5 off shipping upgrade.

Overall out of 10 I give January's TinselBox an 8 on quality, a 6 on cost , an 8 on appropriate for me and a 10 on fun!