Sunday, January 25, 2015

Treatsie: January 2015

I'm so excited that my delicious Treatsie box came in the mail. Treatsie is a subscription that is $19 a month and sends a selection of artisan sweets. I have never received something in a Treatsie box that I didn't love. 

The January Goodies:

-Biscuit Gourmet Biscotti The Muse: These are chocolate biscotti with chunks of dark Belgian chocolate. 


-Buddha Chocolate Almond Butter Cup: This cup is hand-poured, slow-roasted almond butter paired with stone-ground dark chocolate. 


-Dallas Caramel Company Armadillos and Caramel Assortment: The Armadillos are Texas pecans sandwiched between caramel and dark chocolate. The caramel assortment includes the flavors apple pie, chocolate, cinnamon, coconut, orange, original, sea salt, and Texas drunken nut.


My thoughts: This box is on-point. I love caramels and I can't wait to dis the biscotti in a warm winter drink. I've never ad an almond butter cup, so I'm interested to try that as well. Great job, Treatsie Sweets!!

MIssion Cute: January 2015

Mission Cute is $39/month, less if you have a multi-month subscription, and they also have a mini-box that starts at $17/month. Mission Cute donates 50% of their proceeds to a different non-profit each month. This month's non-profit is One Simple Wish. One Simple Wish was started in 2008 "to empower more people to support children who've been victims of abuse, neglect, and abandonment in very simple yet meaningful ways." You can nominate a charity at MissionCute.com/community.

The January Box Goodies:

-MissionCute Mason Jar Tunbler: This 25oz tumbler came with a pink lid and pink straw. Perfect! Thank you MissionCute to supporting my cup addiction.


-MissionCute Jewelry Roll: I actually have never owned a jewelry roll, and it has let to a few lost earrings and tangled necklaces. I'm excited to add this to my collection!


-One Word Designs "Slow Down & Enjoy Life" Print: This 5x7 print is a nice reminder to display after the busy holiday season. Mine is already hanging in my kitchen!


-MissionCute Mint Cable Knitted Headband: This headband is sure to keep ears warm, and the color is so cute!


-MissionCute Pearl Drop Necklace: This necklace is gold-toned and is unique without being over-stated.


My thoughts: Another perfect box from MissionCute! I'm pretty sure my favorite thing is the tumbler, and I'm so excited to have a jewelry roll to use when I travel in less than two weeks. I don't feel so bad about my subscription box addiction when I know that 50% of the proceeds from this wonderful box went to a good cause.





Sunday, January 18, 2015

Box of Happies: January 2015

My Box of Happies came in the mail last night. Box of Happies is $24.99 + $4.99 shipping for one month. It's not a recurring subscription- you have to buy it for the number of months that you want. I bought a year subscription over the summer. Each month, you receive 4-6 handmade products.

The goodies:
- Very Pretty Thing Necklace: This necklace is a simple glass and silver metal pendant, and I like it!  I have gotten several necklaces in Box of Happies that weren't my style, but I like the simplicity of this one.


-The Soaking Tub Chocolate Lavender Soap: This soap is made with cocoa powder and lavender essential oil. The smell is VERY strong, but yummy if you're not sensitive to strong scents. Both the lavender and the chocolate come through.


-Box of Happies Original Necklace and Bracelet:  These pieces are puzzle piece themed. I'm not sure when Autism Awareness Month is, but these would be perfect for it.


My thoughts: I love the glass necklace. The soap smells really strong, but hopefully if I keep it in a ziplock the scent won't be so bothersome. Another good Box of Happies!

Friday, January 16, 2015

BirchBox Fresh Start Special Edition Box

I had a coupon code plus $20 in Birchbox points, so I ordered the Birchbox Fresh Start box and it came in the mail today! This box was $40, but with the coupon code and Birchbox points, I paid $18.

The goodies:

-Bombas Ankle Socks: I always love a new pair of socks, and these are pink! Yay!!



-Fig + Yarrow Healing Salve: This is a balm that contains organic herbs and botanical essences. My dry, cracked cuticles are calling out for this.


-Ilia Lip Gloss: This is made from coconut oil and shea butter to add both luminosity and moisture to lips.

-Juice Beauty Green Apple Age Defy Hand Cream: While this is an anti-aging hand cream, and I don't necessarily need those type of ingredients yet, I love Juice Beauty and can't wait to try this out.


-Kor Water Aura Water Bottle: This is a 16oz BPA-free water bottle. I love collecting new water bottles, and this is also pink. Love it!


-Mullein & Sparrow Pink Himalayan Bath Salts: These are organic bath salts that you add to your water to help soothe sore muscles and joints. I think I will pass these along to my mom since she takes baths far more often than I do.


-Vapour Organic Beauty Aura Multi-Use Blush: This blush is made from organic and mineral ingredients. I have plenty of blushes for now, so I'll be trading this on eDivv.


-Yarok Feed Your Ends: This is a leave-in conditioner spray full of vitamins and minerals. We go through plenty of leave-in conditioner in my house, so this is great!


My thoughts: This is the second limited-edition box I've bought from Birchbox, and it was totally worth it. Even if I hadn't used point and a coupon code, I would have been happy with this purchase. I can't wait to use all of the products, and I especially love that many of them are pink!

Birchbox: January 2015

My Birchbox was one of the four boxes that came in today's mail. Birchbox is $10/month, although they frequently run deals where you can get them for much less. I got a yearly subscription for less than $90 around Black Friday. Birchbox sends 4-5 items monthly that range from hair care to perfume to mascara and lip gloss.

The goodies:
-amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo: I have been running out of dry shampoo, so this came at the perfect time.


-COOLA Tinted Matte SPF 30 for Face: I know that you're supposed to wear sunscreen year-round, but I personally don't. It's in my moisturizer and BB cream, but I don't intentionally wear SPF daily. Maybe that's a habit I should try to get into?


-Cynthia Rowley Beauty Creamy Lip Stain in "Heartthrob": This is a long-wearing stain in a classic red color. I don't personally wear lip stain, but it was nice to see Cynthia Rowley in the box.


-REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask: This mask is made with fruit acids and papaya enzymes to exfoliate and brighten. I have really sensitive skin on my face, so I haven't decided whether or not to try this yet.


-Whish Three Whishes Body Butter- Lavender: I love the shave cream from Whish, so I'm hoping to love the body butter just as much. Lavender is the perfect scent for me since it helps with relaxation and sleep.


My thoughts: I have only recently resubscribed to BirchBox after a hiatus. I've been pretty happy so far with their offerings. I'm especially happy to have been introduced to Whish, and I can't wait to try the body butter that was in this month's box.

BeautyBox5: January 2015

My BeautyBox5 came in the mail today! BeautyBox5 is $12/month, although I got a deal, mine costs me about $8. BeautyBox5 sends you 5 beauty or self-care products monthly.

The goodies:

-Hard Candy Kal-Eye-Descope Baked Eyeshadow: The colors that I got are called "make believe," and they're a dark and light shade of slate blue. I've seen this brand before at the drugstore, but I've never tried it out.


-Softsoap Nutri Serums Vitamin E Body Wash: This body wash contains pearls that hydrate skin with Vitamin E and Omegas 3 & 6 to help combat dryness.


-Sally Hansen Salon Effects: These are nail polish strips that give the effect of a gold french manicure. I've used these strips from Sally Hansen before, and I have trouble getting them to last more than a day or two.


-Ultraflesh The Gold Standard Mascara in Blackout: I've never heard of Ultraflesh before, so this might be interesting to try out.


-Garnier Fructis Daily Care Fortifying Shampoo: This is a decent sized sample (not a foil packet), but I do wish that they had included a conditioner with it.


My thoughts: BeautyBox5 is a good subscription if you're looking to try out new items that can be found at the drugstore. This box contained a good mix of brands that I've tried before and brands that I haven't. 

Dottiebox Mini: January 2015

I got 4 boxes in the mail today! The first one opened was the Dottiebox Mini. Dottiebox Mini is $13/month + $3 shipping and sends 3 handpicked creations each month. Usually at least one of the items reflects a smaller version of what was included in the regular Dottiebox.

The goodies:
-Running Blynd Clothespin/Thumb Tack Set: I got a similar set in the regular Dottiebox, but these are silver. I love glittery things, so I'm happy to add these to my collection.


-Gracious Bee Greetings CD Case Calendar: This mini calendar is contained in a clear plastic case that opens up to act as its stand. I got another version of this in the regular Dottiebox, so I might end up trading this.


-Dottiebox Tassel Keychain: This is a Dottiebox creation pretty much identical to the Box of Happies tassel products that I've been receiving. This is a grey leather tassel keychain with a silver keyring. 


My thoughts: I always like Dottiebox, both the regular and the mini. However, I'm curious about the identical keychains from Dottiebox and Box of Happies. I'm excited to add the silver them tacks and clothespins to my collection.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

PopSugar Must Have: January 2015

The mailman dropped off my PopSugar MustHave box today! This box is $40/month and sends 6-7 items that range from accessories to snacks. If I had to only subscribe to one box, this would be the one. I always love what they send, and I have never received a box that I didn't like. Anytime there is an item I won't use, someone in my family is very excited to receive it.

The goodies:

-Jack & Lucy Pom Pom Hat: This hat is heather-grey with a  faux fur pom-pom. It's like a more surprising version of the average beanie.


-First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream: This cream contains colloidal oatmeal and soothing eucalyptus oil, so it's perfect for the ultra dry skin almost all of us get in the winter. I can't wait to try it on my hands since they're always very dry from washing a lot at work.


-KeepCup 12-oz Reusable Coffee Cup: This cup is made of soda lime glass and a hard plastic lid. It's meant to be used on-the-go instead of a paper coffee cup. It even has a pretty pink band around the middle!


-Manduka eQua Hand Towel: This is a lightweight microfiber towel meant to be used on the yoga mat or at the gym. The second I saw this, I thought of my dad since he does yoga twice a week. I'm going to pass this along to him, and he'll let us know if he likes it!


-ToGoSpa Eyes: These refreshing gel eye pads contain a cool solution to help reduce unwanted dark circles and puffiness. There are three treatments in the pack, and I'm pretty excited to try these. I can get wicked under-eye circles, especially after working nights.


-Skin Jewel Tattoos: These are sponsored by the new drama Empire on FOX. They are gold and silver and PopSugar Beauty has some ideas for how they work as nail art. These really aren't for me, so I'll probably pop them up on eDivv.


-General Mills Nature Valley Protein Granola: I have never met a granola that I didn't like. I can't wait to eat this in the morning for breakfast. Yum!!


My thoughts: Another great box from PopSugar. This included a great variety of things that will definitely help me start the new year off right!

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Ipsy Glam Bag: January 2015

My IPSY bag came in the mail today. Ipsy is $10/month and sends 4-5 deluxe beauty samples or products each month. The bags are curated through Ipsy Match, which is based off of your product ratings on previous bags. This month's theme is "fresh start."

The goodies:

-J. Cat Beauty Fantabulous Gel Eye Liner: This gel liner came in the color "blue black." I usually like the J. Cat Beauty products, but I have so many eye liners that I will probably pass this along to someone else.


-Pacifica Natural Mineral Coconut Eye Shadow: This eyeshadow is the perfect nude shade for everyday wear.  Plus, the packaging on this is so pretty!



 -Nourish Organic Renewing Eye Cream: I love getting an organic product in my Ipsy bag. This sample is big enough that it will last a few weeks, so you can really see if it works.



-Manna Kadar Cosmetics Sheer Glo Shimmer Lotion: I don't know if I've ever seen the brand Mannai. I don't really use "glo" lotions, so I'll be passing this along. It says to use it for both the face and body to add some sheer shimmer all over.


-Real Techniques Fine Liner Brush: I love a nice small liner brush. I like to use eyeshadow as liner on my bottom lashes, and this will be quite handy to have. I always love new brushes!


-This month's bag: This isn't the cutest bag I've ever received from Ipsy, so I'll probably put it on eDivv.  One side of the bag is blue, one side is white, and the zipper is orange. The outside feels kind of like vinyl and the inside is lined with orange fabric.


My thoughts:  While this isn't the best Ipsy bag I've ever received, it's still pretty good. I'll be keeping about half of what I received, and there was a pretty good variety of products. Plus, for $10/month, you can't beat this subscription!

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

DottieBox: January 2015

DottieBox came in the mail! DottieBox sends 3-4 artisan products each month for $20+$6 shipping. They also have a mini box for less that comes during the third week of the month.

This month's goodies:

Graciuos Bee Greetings Easel Desktop Calendar ($11), www.etsy.com/shop/GraciousBeeGreetings: This is the cutest little calendar. It's about 3 inches tall and 3 inches across when it's on the easel. I love the design, and I think it will go nicely on my dresser. 


-The Vinyl Company "Hello" Door or Wall Decal ($6), www.etsy.com/shop/TheVinylCompany: This is a vinyl hello sticker in white. I like that it's simple decoration for the house entrance. Our doors and walls are white, so I'm not sure yet where to put this, but I'll eventually find the perfect place. The picture is of the vinyl still in it's paper.


-Cuppow Wide Mouth Jar Drinking Lid ($9), www.cuppow.com: This is a great idea! You just take this lid and place it on top of an canning jar. Then you screw on the metal ring and BAM- you have a travel cup! Brilliant!


-Running Blynd Decorative Clothespins/Thumb Tacks ($7), www.etsy.com/RunningBlynd: This pack of 10 clothespins and 4 thumb tacks is covered in gold glitter. I'm thinking that I'm going to put magnet tape on the back of the clothespins and take the thumbtacks to the office. They're so pretty!


My thoughts: I always love DottieBox. This month's items showcase some pretty creative talents. I can't wait to make use of each of these items, and I'm super excited for my mini box in a few weeks!





Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Pennie Post: January 2015

PENNIE POST is my very first subscription to arrive in 2015!! Pennie Post sends 3-4 stationary items a month and costs $11. This month the theme is "White Winter" and features Pennie Post's first screen printed cards. 

The goodies;

-Midnight Polar Bear Card: This card is so cute. I can't wait to use it. The paper is dark, so I'll need to scrounge up a metallic or white pen. Where does someone find a white pen?


-Birch Tree Forest Card: This card is simple and yet so neat. I love the details of a forest. It makes me think of winter snow on the trees.


-Thank You Bubble Note Card:  This simple card has plenty of space for a nice note. Plus, the envelope is a pretty mint green. Can't wait to write a note and send it off!


My thoughts:  I have never received a Pennie Post that I didn't love. This month's cards are great. The two screen printed cards are super cute. Pennie Post is the best!