Project-B Pregnancy Subscription Box (40 Weeks+) - Review

We're at the end! This is my final Project-B box and I have absolutely loved them all!

This month, I received month 10 (40 weeks+) and the theme is: ARRIVE. The day after my box arrived, E was born! Thank you Project-B!

C was clearly very excited - check out the pointy finger!

Inside my box was:

1. Nordic Wipes - these are unlike anything I've ever seen before. They are disposable, allergy friendly wipes but they are foam! I've totally been won over. 

2. Halos N Horns Baby Moisturising Lotion (RRP £3.59) - I'm familiar with the Halos N Horns range and really like it so I was pleased to see this included in the box. E's skin is very dry so we have begun using it on her. 

3. Baby Ddrops (RRP £9.99) - these drops are a source of vitamin D3. They are for breastfed babies so unfortunately, not for us as E is formula fed. 

4. NUK Soother Chain (RRP £6.19) - this is adorable! We love Mickey Mouse and we have given E a dummy to settle her during her feeds. This is perfect for keeping her dummy close to hand. 

5. Bambino Mio Miowipe sample - I'm not a huge fan of samples in boxes but this natural, biodegradable wipe is handy for keeping in the changing bag in case of emergency!

6. Baba + Boo Reusable Nappy (RRP £9.25) - we have used cloth nappies with C but have yet to do so with E. This is such a lovely addition because it gives mums the chance to try out cloth if they had previously never thought of doing so. 

7. Green People Organic Babies Nappy Ointment sample - I love the Organic Babies range and E luckily, hasn't had a nappy rash yet. I'll keep this in our changing bag for when we need it. 

8. Metanium Everyday Barrier Ointment sample - I've heard such good things about this cream but had never tried it. I've been putting it on E's bum to prevent nappy rash and so far so good! 

9. Aquaint Natural Sanitising Water (RRP £2.49) - I love this! It's natural water that kills 99.9% of bacteria. With E having a dummy, we've been carrying it with us while we're out and cleaning it with it. 

10. Aleva Naturals Sleep Easy Wash sample - I always worry about what products to use on a newborns skin when bathing them and I'd never heard of the Aleva brand before. It is completely free from by-products, fragrances and potential carcinogens and is made from 100% natural ingredients. 

11. Aleva Naturals Calendula Plus Skin Remedy Cream sample - again, as E's skin is very dry this will come in handy for her. 

12. Tiddly Pom Organic Massage Oil samples - this oil is made from organic and fair trade ingredients. I've heard that baby massage really helps your baby settle to sleep. Now that I have these oils, I'll have to give it a go!

In total, this box is valued at around £31.51 which is fab considering the box is only £14 to buy. I have been blown away by how much I've loved every single Project-B box and I cannot recommend them enough.

You can read my reviews of past boxes here and you can find out more about Project-B on their website, Facebook and Twitter.

(Disclaimer: I received this box free of charge in exchange for an open and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Project-B Pregnancy Subscription Box (35-39 Weeks) - Review

I've been receiving Project-B's pregnancy subscription box from the beginning of my pregnancy and I always look forward to it coming (you can read my past reviews here). I can't believe we're almost at the end!

This month, I received month 9 (35-39 weeks) and the theme is: NEST. All pregnant women in the last few months can relate to the feeling of needing their home to look perfect for their new arrival and I am no exception!

August also sees Project-B's first birthday so they were lovely enough to send a free gift with every box (a gift for us but it's THEIR birthday?! Too nice!).

The free gift came in gorgeous Project-B wrapping paper and it turned out to be a full-sized bottle of Weleda Citrus Body Lotion worth £13.95! I rarely spend money on myself for anything let alone something to pamper myself with. This smells beautiful so I'm really looking forward to treating myself. Thank you, Project-B!

Now for what was inside my main box!

1. Spontex Washups (RRP £2.49) - This is no word of a lie, but I am obsessed with keeping the kitchen tidy. I don't know why, it's not like the baby will be spending much time in there! I have to have all of the dishes washed so these were a great addition to me. They are such great quality too and seem to last longer than supermarket own brand scourers.

2. Pampered Chef Microfiber Towel - How glam is this!? It's so soft and perfect for cleaning up any spills baby might have/make. It's pink and I'm having a girl - it must be fate! It's a lot bigger than I'd expect it to be and I'm sure we will use it quite a lot in the first few weeks of her life.

3. Eco2Life Bath & Shower Cleaning Spray & Refill (RRP £3.10) - I love this! Eco2Life are a range of eco-friendly green household cleaning products and they use a refill and reuse system. To make up the cleaner, you just fill the spray bottle halfway with ordinary tap water, add a little of the refill and top up with cold tap water. Easy!

4. NO-GERMS Instant Hand Sanitiser (RRP £5.99) - I am obsessed with keeping my hands clean, I was really bad about it when we first brought C home from the hospital. This sanitiser is 100% alcohol-free and kills 99.9% of germs for 2-4 hours (alcohol sanitisers stop working as soon as they dry). It hydrates your skin with natural lavender, chamomile and aloe vera. I've been keeping mine in the changing bag!

5. 2 x samples Phyta Oil stretch mark cream - At this stage of pregnancy, my stretchmarks seem to be increasing by the day. I love being introduced to new products but as I've said before, I'm not a huge fan of sample sachets. I don't feel like you get enough in them.

6. Yes! Nurse's Hand Formula (RRP £5.49) - This is a fast-absorbing, non-greasy hand cream which aims to hydrate your skin after constant hand-washing - something which I'm all too used to with having a newborn! 

7. Weleda Calendula Lotion (RRP £7.95) - I've heard such good things about Weleda so I can't wait to try this on the baby. They must be good with an £8 price tag per 200ml bottle.

This month's flash card topics are:

Information on how my pregnancy is developing this month, a recipe card for chicken and broccoli stir fry (how yummy does that sound!?), tips of posture for getting your baby into the right birthing position and a last minute shopping list!

In total, this month's box is worth around £25.02 then on top of that, you get the £13.95 free gift. Considering that the box only costs £14 to buy, this is a good deal. I've been really impressed by all of my Project-B boxes and I'm so sad that my next box will be my last!

You can find out more about Project-B at their website, Facebook and Twitter.

(Disclaimer: I received this box free of charge in exchange for an open and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own).

Project-B Pregnancy Subscription Box (30-34 Weeks)

If you are a regular reader, you'll know that throughout my pregnancy, I've been receiving Project-B's pregnancy subscription boxes (you can read my past reviews here).

I recently received month 8 (30-34 weeks) and I was super excited to see what was inside. This months theme is PREPARE which is great as right now I am getting ready for impending labour.

As soon as I opened the box, there was a lovely surprise of a 7ml sample of Weleda Pomegranate Firming Cream (RRP £23.95 for 30ml). This was a lovely treat in addition to the already fantastic products that were in the box.

"What are these fantastic products?" I hear you ask. Well, inside there was:

1. 2 x Montezuma Mini Bars [milk chocolate with butterscotch] (RRP £0.85 each) - These were really yummy. A nice little treat for a pregnant lady. Although they were milk chocolate I did think that they tasted a little like Bourneville. I'd never tried Montezuma's chocolate before but I will definitely buy it in the future.

2. Sample pack of Vital Baby breast pads - I am planning on breastfeeding this little one and, because I'm just so lucky, I am having little leakages already!

3. Laboraide Twin Pack (RRP £19.99) - This is the item that I was most excited about. I had heard of Laboraide back when I was pregnant with C and had planned on buying a pack. I didn't have a chance to as he arrived early and it was a C-section anyway! This time around, I am allowed to go for a VBAC and I cannot wait to try these out as I want to have as natural a birth as possible. They are a dental support device that are designed to be used during the first and second stages of labour to help reduce the pain by relaxing the jaw and keeping the mouth open. This in turn eases the neck and shoulders down to the core muscles. It can be used alongside TENS machines and gas and air too. It's gone straight into my hospital bag and I cannot wait to see how effective they are!

4. Femfresh Freshness Wipes (RRP £1.59) - These are small and discreet and leave you feeling fresh! Very happy to see these included.

5.  Benecos Nail Polish 9ml (RRP £6.95) and Benecos Natural Lip Gloss 5ml (RRP £6.95) - I'm not a huge girly girl but it is nice to see little make up treats. These are both natural products and haven't been tested on animals.

6. Weleda Perineum Massage Oil 50ml (RRP £8.95) - I actually told Chris that I wanted to use this oil a few months ago and he recoiled in horror - at least he doesn't have to worry about this sort of thing as he won't go through childbirth! The idea is to massage it into the perineal area 3-4 times a week from the 34th week of pregnancy in order to elasticise that area and hopefully reduce the risk of tearing in labour. I was so happy to see the full sized product and I will definitely be using this once I hit 34 weeks.

7. Floradix Liquid Iron 10ml - I wrote recently that my blood tests had come back showing that I was anaemic so this arrived at the perfect time!

8. Pukka Tea Bag samples - I do like trying new samples of tea but I have been drinking less due to having low iron levels as my midwife told me that they include tannins which can stop me from absorbing iron fully. I did enjoy these caffeine-free bags though!

I also received my usual four flash cards and the topics were:

Information on how my pregnancy is developing this month, a recipe card for salmon with pine nuts and lime (I love salmon so I am eager to try this!), staying active during pregnancy, and a hospital bag checklist (which came in very handy as it's what I'm in the midst of doing!)

Overall, I was seriously impressed with this box. The Laboraide alone won me over. For a £14 price tag, the items in this month's box total over £46!!!!! Unbelievable! Totally worth buying.

You can find out more about Project-B at their website, Facebook and Twitter.

(Disclaimer: I received this subscription free of charge in exchange for an open and honest review. All thoughts an opinions are my own.)

Project-B Pregnancy Subscription Box (25-29 Weeks)

For the past three months I've had the opportunity to try out Project-B's pregnancy subscription box. This month I've received my fourth box which is tailored to weeks 25-29 of pregnancy (you can read my reviews of boxes 1, 2 and 3 too).

The theme of this months box is RELAX which is exactly what I feel like I need to be doing right now. I'm so tired but still quickly trying to get the last of the baby bits in.

My box was the usual Project-B branded box with the goodies inside wrapped in blue tissue paper and fastened with a Project-B sticker. In addition to this, I received a rather large plain cardboard box too which really intrigued me.

Inside my boxes were:

1. BLOOM Heartwarming Rooiboos Tea (RRP £4.22 for 20 teabags) - I do love a good cup of tea but I worry about the caffeine content now that I am pregnant. BLOOM teas are designed to support your body's changing needs and deliver antioxidants and regular hydration. It's caffeine-free too!

2. St Eval Candle Company Tranquility Scented Candle (RRP £8.95) - I love scented candles but I'm really fussy when it comes to fragrances. This one is lavender, orange and ylang ylang and it smells gorgeous! It burns for a whopping 45 hours too! 

3. PG Tips tea bag samples (Green Tea x2, Red Berries x2) - I don't usually like samples in a suubscription box but PG Tips are a great brand and I especially love green tea!

4. Balm Balm Rose Geranium Face Balm 30ml (RRP £7) - This balm is said to be a 'multi-tasker' meaning that it smoothes lips, moisturises, tackles dry heels and cracked elbows. I've been using it mainly on my face and feet and I really have seen a difference. It smells gorgeous too!

5. Bio Oil samples - My house is coming down with all sorts of stretch marks lotions and potions and while these are only little samples, they are great to have as I'm going through them like there's no tomorrow. Bio Oil is my favourite stretch mark lotion so far.

6. Eisberg Alcohol-free Riesling Wine 750ml (RRP £2.75) - I'm not a big wine drinker if I'm honest but I did give this a shot and was pleasantly surprised. It didn't have that dry, lingering taste that I expected and it was actually quite fruity. These wines contain less than 0.005% alcohol and only have 34 calories per 125ml glass. 

In addition to these items, I also received a giftcard worth £10 to download a Pregnancy Relaxation CD and the usual four flash cards. This months topics were:

Homemade Chicken Nuggets recipe card, information on how my baby is developing this month and how I may be feeling, what to buy for your baby - part 2 (this is a follow on from last months part 1), and information on yoga during pregnancy.

This months box totals around £32.92 (not including samples) which is fantastic considering that the box only costs £14 to buy! I'm kind of sad that I only have a couple of boxes left - I'm loving Project-B!

You can find out more about Project-B at their website, Facebook & Twitter.

(Disclaimer: I received this box free of charge in exchange for an open and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Project-B Pregnancy Subscription Box (20-24 Weeks)

If you're a regular reader, you'll know that I've been trying out the Project-B Pregnancy Subscription boxes and this month, I received Box 3 which is tailored to weeks 20-24 of pregnancy (you can read 12-15 weeks and 16-19 weeks too).

The theme of this months box is ENERGISE and at this stage of pregnancy combined with running around after a toddler, I really needed to be energised!

My box arrived in its usual Project-B branded box with the items wrapped in pink tissue paper and sealed with a branded sticker.

Inside my box, I received:

1. 3 Teapigs teabags in Super Fruit, Lemon & Ginger and Peppermint Leaves - I do love a good cup of tea and I'd never tried Teapigs before so I was curious to give them a go. They are caffeine free so perfect for pregnancy. I love peppermint and although this was quite strong, it was my favourite. The Super Fruit one was lovely too but I'm not a fan of ginger so Lemon & Ginger just wasn't for me!

2. Apothederm Stretch Mark Cream (2 x 20g) - I'd never heard of Apothederm before and I'm really enjoying trying out all of the different brands of stretch mark creams that Project-B are introducing to me. Apothederm is a lotion which is formulated with SmartPeptide technology which reinforces the skin's support structures by helping to build collagen. It visably repairs and reduces the appearance of both red and silver stretchmarks and smooths skin texture. There is no scent to it either which I love!

3. Divine Fairtrade Chocolate with Sea Salt & Caramel - This was definitely my favourite item in the box and it didn't last very long at all! I love the combination of sea salt and caramel mixed with the milk chocolate and it's even better to know that it's fairtrade too!

4. Urban Veda Daily Purifying Facial Wash & Purifying Exfoliating Facial Polish (2 x 20ml) - I love the smell of tea tree so I could literally sit all day sniffing these. My skin has been awful throughout pregnancy with my forehead being really dry and flaky with the rest of my face being oily. The special ingredient i these Urban Veda products is Neem which is an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and detoxifying to spots/acne. It also provides anti-aging properties. It has been making me feel a little refreshed after each usage.

5. Femfresh Daily Intimate Wash - I always worry about what products I can and can't use during pregnancy and I've been shocked that some of the products that I normally use in the shower aren't recommended for use during pregnancy. Femfresh is totally safe during all stages of pregnancy and leaves you feeling fresh and clean!

6. What to Buy for your Baby book - This book is amazing! Even as a second time mum, I get really overwhelmed at all the baby products that there are on the market and find it hard to decide what will be a waste of money or an amazing expense. This book contains the lowdown on all things baby and is fantastic! 

I also received the usual four flash cards and this months topics were:

 What to Buy for your Baby - Part 1, Staying Active - enjoy a burst of energy, eating well - a healthy chickpea veggie burgers, and how your baby is developing throughout month 6.

The book alone is worth £12.99 so with this box being £14 it is definitely worth the money. I'm so excited to see what is in next months box!

(Disclaimer: I received this subscription free of charge in exchange for an open and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Project b Pregnancy Subscription Box (16-19 Weeks) - Review

You may remember that a few weeks ago, I reviewed my first Project-b box tailored to weeks 12-15 of pregnancy. Last week, I was thrilled to receive my second box which is tailored to weeks 16-19. This months theme is 'Blossom' as by now morning sickness should be gone and now you should be enjoying pregnancy which is very true in my case!

My items came beautifully packaged as before, in a branded Project-b box with the items wrapped in tissue paper and sealed with a Project-b sticker. 

Inside was: 

Similarly to the last box, we have 4 flash cards with information on this. The topics this time around are What Else to Buy for your Pregnancy, a Mediterranean Lamb with Quinoa recipe, Exercises for a Fitter Pregnancy and information about pregnancy during weeks 16-19. All very useful and I can't wait to make the lamb dish! 

1. Ginvera Green Tea BB Cream sample - I've never used a BB cream before but it's said to provide the benefits of blemish-free concealing, sun block (SPF 30), moisturiser and fine line reducer. My skin has been really dry lately so I'm hoping that the moisturising aspect does wonders for it!

2. Weleda Oat Replenishing Shampoo & Conditioner samples - I've heard of Weleda before but never actually tried the brand so I was happy to see these included although I generally don't like samples in subscription boxes. The precious oils in these products revitalise your hair and scalp and restore your hairs natural shine and strength. My hair seems to be really greasy all the time and I did see a change in it but I would have liked to have seen full sizes as I only got one use out of them.

3. Super Drinks for Pregnancy book - Although the name might suggest that there are only drink recipes in here, but there are some soup recipes included too. I do worry that I'm not getting enough nutrients for both myself and the baby so I'm really excited about making my way through this book. I don't drink enough so I think that it may help me ensure that I drink enough and with summer coming in, the drinks will be a good replacement for cocktails!

4. bloom bump and baby Stretch Mark Defence Body Oil sample - I received a few stretch mark samples in the last box and I was really happy to see more this time. Stretch mark oil can be really expensive (especially with the amount that I'm slathering my tummy in!). This oil is handmade with natural ingredients and smells beautiful as it contains mandarin, lavender and neroli.

5. Joe & Seph's Gourmet Popcorn - What pregnant lady doesn't want to see food in a subscription box!? This is the item that I was most excited about and it was demolished almost straight away. I didn't feel guilty though because the popcorn is made from natural ingredients and is popped by hand so it has 10% fewer calories and has 35% less fat than leading crisp brands.

All in all, I was pleased with this box as the book alone retails at £14.99 so paying £14 for the box is well worth it. I did however get a bit disappointed at seeing more samples.

You can purchase your own subscription or just a one-off box at the Project b website.

(Disclaimer: I received this subscription free of charge in exchange for an open and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Project b Pregnancy Subscription Box (12-15 weeks) - Review

I'm a sucker for a good subscription box and recently I've been lucky enough to receive my first Project-b Pregnancy box. 

If you aren't familiar with Project-b, here's how they work. The subscription is 7 boxes in total and you receive them at different stages in your pregnancy. 

Box 1 - 'Nurture' 12-15 weeks

Box 2 - 'Blossom' 16-19 weeks

Box 3 - 'Energise' 20-24 weeks

Box 4 - 'Relax' 25-29 weeks

Box 5 - 'Prepare' 30-34 weeks

Box 6 - 'Nest' 35-39 weeks

Box 7 - 'Arrive' baby's arrived/congratulations box

Each box contains around 5-10 items from healthy eating to household and pampering as well as expert advice regarding your month of pregnancy, a recipe to try and exercise to try out. In addition to the boxes, Project-b also have a panel of pregnancy experts offering advice and information, including live Facebook chats. They are £14 per box.

I recently received the 12-15 week box. It came in a cute little Project-b branded box and upon opening, I found a welcome note, list of what I would find in my box and 4 cards (I'll go into these in more detail below). Beneath these was tissue paper wrapped around my products and sealed with a Project-b sticker. 

And here we have my contents:

1. WaterBaby Pregnancy Care Drink - I actually reviewed WaterBaby a couple of weeks ago and loved them so I was so pleased to see it in the box. If you missed my review, WaterBaby is a flavoured water which is fortified with your recommended daily intake of folic acid and a blend of vitamins including zinc and calcium. Perfect to keep a pregnant lady refreshed!

2. 7 day sample of Pregnacare - I'm actually taking Pregnacare at the minute and as its quite expensive, it was lovely to see included. I'm sure everyone has heard of Pregnacare. I love taking it as I do worry that my baby isn't getting enough vitamins from me so these are a good reassurance!

3. Femfresh Feminine Freshness Deodorant - this deodorant smells so fresh and gives 24-hour comfort and protection.

4. Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks - During my first pregnancy, I didn't do much to prevent stretchmarks and I ended up with horrible ones. This time round, I'm doing more about it! I religiously apply stretchmark oil or lotion twice a day in the hopes that I don't develop more. I love the scent of Palmers and it massages into the skin really well.

5. Bergamot Organic Lip Balm, Pai Skincare - this lip balm is infused with the same Bergamot Oil that flavours Earl Grey tea and it contains sweet almond oil to help condition your lips. Since falling pregnant I've noticed that my lips are drier than usual and are more chapped.

6. Nakd cereal bars in cocoa orange & berry delight - these cereal bars are free from gluten, wheat and dairy and taste absolutely delicious. They're made from fruits and nuts with no added sugars or syrups. The perfect healthy indulgence!

7. 2 Weleda Massage Oil for stretchmarks - Weleda is such a well-known pregnancy brand and you can never have too much stretchmark lotions.

As I previously mentioned, my box also contained 4 cards:

These cards contained information on how my baby is developing and how I might be feeling at this stage of pregnancy, information on eating healthily, a guide to maternity clothing and the importance of regular exercise during pregnancy.

In total, the items in my box come to around £16. This is £2 over the price of the box. It may not be much but it's still over! I really like all of the products in this box so I'm very excited about my next one!

You can purchase your own subscription or even just a one-off box at the Project-b website and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

(Disclaimer: I've received a Project-b Pregnancy Box Subscription free of charge in exchange for an open and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)