Artza Box - Negev Desert

Can I just saw how sad I was to miss reviewing the last box Artza put out? Life was so busy I just knew I wouldn't have the chance to get to it. When they offered the Negev box, there was no way I was saying, "No," to them! I'm thrilled to share the latest box with you!

First, I want to let you know about the amazing options you have for purchasing their boxes. There are TWO subscription plans with two options in each. First is the Artza Subscription Plan that is either $74.99 quarterly for 4 boxes or $60 billed annually and that includes an extra 5th box for FREE! Second there's the Artza Premium Subscription Plan. Instead of up to 8 items per box, you will receive up to 9 items per box. That starts at $94.99 billed quarterly or $76.00 which is billed annually plus you receive an extra 5th box for FREE! With those deals it's hard to decide, right? To top that off, use my discount code to get 15% off with your order: MIMI20!

Now, let's check out what goodies came in my Negev box!

First is the ADI handmade ceramic dish with olive leaf. The residents of ADI have severe disabilities. Plates like the one I received are part of their rehabilitative vocational workshop sessions. This beautiful dish is going to get a lot of use in the future! I imagine using it for flavored oils to dip bread in. I also plan on using it in lots of my future photos!

Next is the Dany & Galit Super Berry Granola. It has everything you want to either jumpstart your day or as a snack. This Super Berry Granola is vegan, dairy free, no added sugars, no artificial sweeteners, and enriched with dietary fibers. The seeds and berries aren't small pickings either! They're large and delicious! Dany & Galit created this granola blend for Artza and I can't get enough of it! If I thought I liked granola before, now I LOVE it!

I know I'm a bit late to the game, but I've really been trying hard to take extra care of my face. I'm now a woman of a certain age and should've been treating my skin better years ago. Needless to say, better late than never. So, I took the Arugot Green Classy & Lamineria Facial Mask, applied it to make face, and after 5 minutes, rinsed it off with warm water.

• The scent is amazing because of the aromatherapy extracts!
• After I rinsed it off my face felt incredible!

This fascial mask is for all skin types and is certified organic & vegan. Arugot grows their own organic plants in the desert of Israel next to the Gaza River where Abraham and Issac dug wells!

Next is a fun game for the whole family. Hooga has created a game called Connecting Hearts. It's "the game that makes every participation feel included." I think it would be fun as an ice breaker at a party, when the kids have their friends over, or maybe at the dinner table after everyone has finished eating. A person picks a heart card, reads the question, and everyone else has to guess what the answer might be for the person who picked the card. The person who answers correctly gets the heart. Whoever has the most hearts at the end is the winner.

Now we have the Dukkah Spice Mix. We've had spices from Derech Hatavlinim in the past and they've been fun to sample! My husband (the one who cooks all the time) always appreciates that Arza sends along a recipe to try their spices with! The Hearty Dukkah Yogurt Soup looks and sounds like the perfect fall recipe. Or & his father created this locally grown spice blend to match the flavors of the Negev Desert! We can't wait to try it. I can tell you that it smells incredible!

I have a few olive wood crosses that I love to lay around the house and use for photos with my books. It's a smooth, light-weight and unique with the wood's design. I appreciate this little bonus item.

Last, but not least, is the hand painted Moroccan "Shalom" tile. Zuak is rather fascinating. It "develops connections between the periphery and the center, between East and West, between Judaism and Islam, looking for similarities rather than differences. How great is that? The bringing together instead of the breaking apart. Usually I let someone else do the craft, but this time I decided to try my hand at it. I have to say I'm honestly thrilled at how my tile turned out!

One thing I found unique about the craft is that it suggests taking an hour of quiet for yourself. They even have a playlist you can listen to as you paint! I listened to a book while I did mine. It was thoroughly enjoyable and I love the peaceful colors of it!

This was a really fun box and I can't wait to see what goodies lay inside the Christmas box! Be sure to sign up for a subscription so you get in on the holiday action!!

Do you have a favorite item from this box?