Mailtime: Vegan Conscious Box September 2012!

Holy crap you guys, this Conscious Box was like a Christmas present!  There was so much in it!!  So much, in fact, that for detailed photos, I had to take two pictures.

Overview:

Overall.

I didn't even have room for the additional literature and coupons that are usually included!

Things to eat!

These are all of the edible items in the box:

Funky Monkey Purple Funk Freeze Dried Fruit - 1 oz - $1.83
This is a freeze dried blend of organic bananas and organic acai.  I love freeze dried snacks, but they're not terribly filling, so I'll save them for a popcorn/potato chip kind of craving.

Coco Orange Mango Coconut Milk - 3.5 oz - $2.25 [four for $8.99]
I love coconut milk, coconut water, coconut cream, shredded coconut.. and so on.  I literally told j0hn about twenty minutes before opening this box, "I really want some coconut water tonight."  Reading the ingredients list on this, there are five other ingredients before the coconut water, but I'm hoping it's still as thirst quenching and tasty as I'm expecting.  Also, I love the packaging on this.  Trader Joe's Fruit Crushers are the same packaging and I love those things.
Edit to add:  I was surprised to find that this was similar in texture to a Fruit Crusher, haha.  It was tasty, and I noticed mostly orange flavor in it.

Teecino Maya Herbal Coffee Organic French Roast - 1.05 oz [brews 6 cups] - $2.50
This is curious to me.  John loves the taste of coffee, but can't have caffeine past around 3pm on a normal day.  This may be something I share with him, as I'm not a hardcore black coffee drinker, and typically reserve coffee for when I want caffeine.  However, with an interesting ingredient list, I'll have to try it at least once.

Vega Sport Pre-Workout Energizer in Lemon Lime - 1 pack - $1.66
This month's curator for the box was Brendan Brazier, professional Ironman triathelete.  He also happens own Vega, a brand know for performance enhancing supplements.  This mix looks like it has a lot of tea based energy, but there are definitely other things in there as well.  I'll try this tomorrow before work!

Kelapo Virgin Coconut Oil - 0.5 fl oz - $1.05
I have used coconut oil in the past to cook, but I mostly kept it on hand for at home spa stuff.  However, I don't like that it's a liquid at room temperature, because mine would melt & re-solidify constantly and it seemed odd to me.  Also, I know if you use it in cooking, it's supposed to be low heat cooking  A lot of people like coconut oil though, so this will be a fun one for j0hn to get to try; I'm not sure that we've ever cooked anything in coconut oil since we've been together.

Artisana Organic Goji & Milk Thistle Nut Butter - 0.5 oz - $1.25
Goji berry and milk thistle are a little lower on the ingredient list than I'd like to see in this product, but I have to admit I am honestly intrigued.  Judging by the other ingredients, this is going to taste amazing.

Teecino Herbal Coffee in Vanilla Nut & Hazelnut- 1 bag - $0.43/ea
This is more of that non-coffee coffee.  It's caffiene free and non-acidic.  However, this one has a flavor and I am much more likely to drink this as an evening treat than I am of the French Roast from Teecino.  Both of these flavors are among my favorites, so I look forward to trying these.

C3* for Stress in Lemon Lime - 0.21 oz - $2.59 [$12.95 for 5, currently on sale for $4.95!]
This is another supplement, but this one has the opposite intention.  This proprietary blend is aimed at helping you kick back in relax.  The first ingredient in the list, Kava, is a natural sedative and plant-based anesthetic.  I don't think it's a strong enough dose to knock you out, but it would probably be helpful in unwinding after a busy day of work.

Madecasse Chocolate in 63% Cocoa - 5g/ea - discontinued product
First of all, these little chocolates are adorable.  I wanted to eat them immediately, but I made myself wait.  Clearly Brendan is in touch with women if he knew to not tease us with only one piece of chcoolate, but to give us the guilty satisfaction of two.
Edit:  John & I ate these.  They seem like they're going to be waxy, but then they melt in your mouth.

100% Pure Cabernet Grape Nourishing Body Cream - .066 fl oz - $1.24I apparently can't read, because for some reason I thought this was a fruit spread, and put it in the edibles photo.  Upon further investigation, this is not the case.  Whoops.

Non-edibles.  Ignore the watermark on this, GIMP is misbehaving.

Cleanwell Disinfectant Wipes - 1 wet wipe - $0.60 ($29.99 for 50)
I now have two of these because I just got one in my Ipsy/Myglam bag.  I'm still not sure about the long term use of the active ingredient in these, and I'm not sure how well they kill bacteria, so I'm still very cautious about these.
Edit:  I used the one I got in my Voxbox (for hands instead of surfaces) and my hands feel softer, but I hate the smell.  John, however, thinks it's awesome.

Vaska Perfect Lavender Laundry Soap - 0.75 fl oz (one load) - $0.32
I am going to use this to wash our bed sheets because I love lavender scented things for blankets, sheets and pillowcases.

Ancient Minerals Magnesium Oil Ultra with OptMSM - 1 fl oz - $3.63
I have never tried a magnesium oil before.  Furthermore, I don't think I've tried any mineral oils, especially not with the intention of absorbtion.  This idea intrigues.  I also need to look into why magnesium.  I am sure it's probably just something vegans struggle with, but that's why I take Prenatal Vitamins year round.

Hurraw! Coconut Lip Balm - .15 oz (full size) - $3.79
I am absolutely in love with this.  This is one of the few ways I can still use coconut oil as a skincare product without having more problems than benefits.  This one is so coconutty that it almost tastes like I'm eating a coconut desert.  It does, after all, have sweet almond oil as the first ingredient.  Overall, I am a huge fan of this lip balm.