New Things That Are Awesome!

Vellabox Candles and Gifts

My family and I tried some new things recently and three of them were awesome enough to share with you here. Picture me curled up on the love seat with a tasty burger in one hand, an organic freezer pop in the other, enjoying the light from a flickering candle. (That’s not at all how it happened, but it’s the way I would like you to imagine me.)

The Habit’s Golden Chicken Sandwich

The Habit is a fast casual burger restaurant on Canwood between McDonald’s and Trader Joe’s. I have been there a few times since it opened a few years ago when the mood has hit me. It’s a little bit more newsworthy now because a new location will be opening at Thousand Oaks and Westlake Blvd, which means I’ll have two Habits to choose from when the mood strikes again.

The Habit announced its limited-time Golden Chicken Sandwich ($6.25) on October 5. It’s the first fried chicken sandwich the restaurant has offered, and this one comes “hand-dipped into house-made seasoned flour and buttermilk, fried to perfection and topped with a new spicy red pepper sauce.” Since I don’t like spicy things, I made my food taste-tester (my husband) sample this one. He liked it but would not give me any more details. So there you go.

I rate this entry awesome because The Habit is nicer than a fast food burger joint, serves up the food quickly, and prepares their “charburger” with a relishy sauce that gives it some extra flavor. Plus, they have soft serve ice cream for dessert.

The Habit Burger
29145 Canwood Street
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
(818) 707-7300

Sunday Cats Freezer Pops

Sunday Cats has nothing to do with cats, as a matter of fact. But when a box of the freezer pops came in the mail, my kids ripped it open and immediately assumed these organic freezer pops (the company calls them “freezies”) were treats for the cat. Sigh. I mean, the box did come with little cat-themed scissors…

I did not pay him to pose like this.

Sunday Cats makes “the first organic and natural version of the pop! Real fruit juice, whole food electrolytes (perfect for those little soccer players), NO sugar, NO artificial flavors, and NO preservatives. Vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free.”

They come in watermelon, strawberry, and pineapple. Strawberry is super sweet, like a power-punch of very ripe actual berries. Watermelon is my favorite – refreshing but not too sweet. Pineapple actually tastes like real pineapple. Because it is.

I’m actually lucky I got to try one myself. The kids pretty much devoured these all by themselves.

Sunday Cats Freezer Pops
Order online. Box of 6, including shipping: $11.29

Vellabox

So, I still haven’t tried any of the subscription boxes of things and stuff that I keep seeing in my Facebook and Instagram feeds. Clothes, books, crafts, cooking supplies…meh. I just haven’t been interested. But then I read the description of Vellabox. It’s candles, you guys! I love candles! I mean I really love candles. This subscription service sends you candles! “We source the highest quality candles hand-poured by American artisans and combine them with a bonus lifestyle gift and a unique packaging style to create a memorable unboxing experience each and every month.”

And what an unboxing it was. I actually let my son open this one because to be honest, I had forgotten I agreed to review this thing, and so I didn’t recognize the name of the company. He didn’t do too much damage, and he really enjoyed opening the beautifully-wrapped candles. And then I enjoyed smelling them. For a long time.

This box is the Vivere October box with a fall theme, complete with pumpkin spice granola bar. The big candle filled my house with a crisp apple-cinnamon scent and made everyone think I was baking something. Psych! I think a Vellabox subscription would make an excellent host/hostess gift for that family member whose home you’re crashing in for the holidays.

Vellabox Candle Subscriptions
Order online. $10-$30 per month plus shipping

I received complimentary samples from each company. All opinions are my own.