Saturday, October 26, 2013

Quilty Box October 2013

Rating: Like It!!!
Cost: $38.95/month plus $5.95 shipping

My Quilty Box finally arrived! I think this is one of the boxes I was most looking forward to seeing this month. It's brand new and I had no idea what to expect (how big the box would be, what it would look like). I knew it would be arriving either yesterday or today and I was disappointed when I didn't see anything from Quilty Box sitting on my doorstep. But I did receive it today and the box fit in my mailbox. I was hoping it would be a larger box because of the price of this subscription, but I know good things come in small packages. And it was noticeably from Quilty Box in a white box, with their logo on top.

I really wanted to check this box out as a possible gift for my mother, because she loves quilting and could use some projects for the winter months ahead. I'd never seen any subscription like this before, so I was very happy when I came across this box. October's theme was Geometry (which could really be anything in terms of quilting, so I had no idea what to expect). This is the first look at the box.


There was a very nice sheet included in the box describing everything you receive for the month and also the retail price of each item and totaled for the box! It says this box has a retail value of $57.75, which is great! The first thing I noticed when I opened the box was the fabric. Minimalista by Art Gallery Fabrics Fat Eight Bundle. The fabric was perfect for me and definitely matched my style, but not really my mother's style (she likes primitive fabrics and is more traditional than modern) The fabrics actually made me want to try to make the projects myself!


The next item included was a Sidekick Ruler by Jaybird Quilts. It cuts diamonds, half triangles, and triangles without any complicated measurements or math. It looks like a helpful tool, especially for the projects included, but I'm glad it includes instructions because I'd have no clue how to use it. 


Rock Candy Table Topper Pattern by Jaybird Quilts was included. This pattern definitely looks like something my mother would make, so I think she'll be happy to test it out.


I also received Aurifil 50wt. Cotton Mako Thread in a yellow and gray color that coordinate with the fabric. I'm very happy about this, because it gives you what you need to make a completed project. And these look like quality thread (though I'm definitely no expert in quilting).


The "Basic" item for the month was Jeanna Kimball's Foxglove Cottage Sharps Needle Sampler. There are 4 different sizes included. And you can always use needles, right?



The next item was probably one of my favorite things included in the box. It's a Custom Fabric Label by Jennifer's Jewels. It's always great receiving handmade items and even better when it includes a tag with the crafter. These are so cute and personalized for the Quilty Box. And there is a code to order more at a discounted price!



I received an X Pin by Art School Dropout, which was a nice extra to the box. They call it their "Outside the Box" inspiration item for the month. They will be posting 10 creative ways to use these in your studio. It's cute!


The last item that wasn't really included in the box (but was sent in an email) was Geometric Paper Piecing Pattern by Art School Dropout. You can use it as the first block of a quilt, a potholder, or be creative and come up with your own idea. This designer will also be posting patterns for 11 more blocks, so it could be the beginning of a quilt. 


I'm very happy with this box. I love the fabric! I'm not sure if everyone received the same fabric this month, but if not I'm really happy I received what I did (even if it isn't my mother's style). Since I'm no quilter my mom is going to take over from here and make the projects using the contents of the box (and hopefully give me the final products) I'll update you on her thoughts. 

My mom was able to create 3 of the table toppers using the pattern included with the fabric from the box. I think they turned out great! And she loved this subscription box!!!




What do you think about Quilty Box? Will you be subscribing?

Stitch Fix #2 October 2013

Rating: Maybe, One More Try!!
Cost: $20 styling fee + retail price of items you keep

My Stitch Fix #2 arrived yesterday! I was so excited to see what my stylist sent me this time based on my feedback from my last fix. I was happy to see some color when I opened the box. There was also some patterns that looked interesting, so I couldn't wait to try everything on. Here's a look at what I received.



Bay to Baubles Cecilia Rectangle Gems Layering Necklace
Retail Price $32

I didn't really like this necklace nor do I really need another long necklace. The large stones kept flipping backwards as I was wearing it and I have a 1 year old daughter that would really pull on this, so I never wear necklaces anymore. The colors were different shades of blue that were nice and definitely colors I would wear. 

Sent Back


Kut from the Kloth Jonathan Corduroy Skinny Pant
Retail Price $78

I liked the tan color of these because they are versatile and will go with many items in my closet. They fit well and were comfortable. They are a tad tight, but I think they will loosen up with wear as most pants do. They are not uncomfortably tight, but if they shrink a bit they may be.

Undecided, what are your thoughts?



Mak Neptune Stripe & Colorblocked Cardigan
Retail Price: $48

This was the item I was most excited to try on when I first opened the box. But it didn't fit quite right. The sleeves were slightly too short and the sweater was a bit shorter than I like. The colorblocked pattern also just looked wrong on me. I guess an unsymmetrical pattern is just not for me.

Sent Back


Under Skies Finley Bell Sleeve Knit Sweater
Retail Price $68

I wasn't crazy about this sweater at first look, but I tried it on anyways. The neckline was large and it drooped down over my shoulder, which I wasn't crazy about. I hated the bell sleeves. And they were slightly short, so they looked even worse. (I don't have crazy long arms, so I'm not sure why nothing fit in the arms. I've never had that problem before.)

Sent Back


Sweet Rain Dally Knit Chevron Pencil Skirt
Retail Price $58

I loved the print on this skirt, but it was very long (below the knee). And very form fitting. I'm really not sure how I feel about it. I'm not sure what to wear it with besides solid colored sweaters or blouses for the fall/winter. The material was soft and it is very comfortable, but I'm not sure it is really my style.

Undecided, what are your thoughts?




I was hoping I would love at least one piece in this Stitch Fix, especially since I provided a lot of feedback from my last one. But I'm not sure I like any of them enough to keep anything. The two items I'm undecided about are the tan corduroy pants and the chevron pencil skirt. Can you please help me decide whether I should keep either of them? Please leave your comments below. And be honest!

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Popbasic Rubi (October 2013 Collection)

Rating: Love It!!!!
Cost: $78 Worldwide shipping is included

My Popbasic Rubi Collection arrived yesterday and I was so excited to see it! As you may remember from last month I was already waiting for this collection to launch, because I needed the Basic Grey Marl Dress! I'm so happy with the quality of these pieces. Here's what I received:


The Basic Grey Marl Dress is my favorite item from this collection (as the clothing pieces usually are). It has a cute exposed zipper in the back. The dress is super comfy and fits perfect! I'm already thinking about styling it with some cute purple tights, ankle boots, and a fun cardigan! The Latte Leather Belt is very nice. It fits great and has lots of holes, so you can wear it any way you like. Seeing this belt makes me regret not buying the Salut! Collection that included a Latte Leather Clutch, because I would have loved it!!! The pop item for this collection is the Mimi Necklace and I love the red color of this necklace. I'm already thinking of all sorts of ways to style it for the holidays. And will probably put it on with everything I wear!



This collection was everything I expected and I love every piece! I can't wait to wear them and am looking forward to styling all the pieces in many different ways. This collection is still available to purchase, so get yours before it sells out! I can't wait to see what they have in store for November.

Are you addicted to Popbasic like me? What do you love about it???

Friday, October 18, 2013

Popsugar Must Have October 2013

Rating: Love It!!!!
Cost: $35/month (increasing to $39.95 effective Nov 4, 2013)

When I saw the Popsugar Must Have box on my doorstep yesterday, I was very surprised! Partially, because my subscription was not supposed to start until November and because I never received an email from them saying that the box had shipped. I had already looked at some blog reviews to see what was in the October box (because I thought I wouldn't be getting it) so I knew what would be inside. But it's still fun to open a box that you have never received before to see how everything is packaged!!!



This box felt pretty heavy and looked very full when I opened it up. I think this is my new favorite subscription box....EVER!!!! It felt like I kept pulling more items out of the box and it was great how much was packed in there. The booklet telling everything included in the box was much larger than any other subscription box I've received before. I could tell I was getting my money's worth. No wonder they are upping the price to $39.95/month (effective Nov 4, 2013) It's definitely worth it and I will keep subscribing even with the price increase!!! Here's what I got:



A Must Have Food item included in this box was The Can't Cook Book: Recipes for the Absolutely Terrified! by Jessica Seinfeld. This cook book looks perfect for me! I hate cooking and I'm terrible at it! (The problem is I spend so much time cooking and the food that results is usually not edible, so I end up ordering out anyways) So, I never cook, unless I absolutely have to, which is usually never. I'm really going to try some recipes in this book and see how we like them. It even has pages that fold out further to give you more detail and pictures of exactly what you should be doing (I need that) I'm actually excited about trying to cook with this book!!! We'll see how it goes and maybe I'll post pictures.



A Must Have Beauty item included was NYX Cosmetics Liquid Liner and Smokey Shadow Palette. I love a smoky eye, and these colors look great! I'm excited to test out the different colors. I don't usually wear eye liner, but I may give this a try. Or I may gift this. I'm undecided. I'm so bad at drawing a straight and even line on my eyelid that I just gave up and wear shadow as liner instead. I do think liner looks great and makes eyes really pop, but I just haven't been able to master this technique. Maybe I'll give it another go.



The Must Have Fashion item included was Gorjana Charity Bali Bead Bracelet. If you purchase it on the Gorjana retail site, 100% of the proceeds goes to the charity Breast Cancer Connections. This bracelet is adorable! It's the perfect color for breast cancer awareness and I love how bright it is. It fits my wrist perfect and it's so dainty! (This runs quite tiny (7in) if you're thinking about ordering one)



The next Must Have Beauty product included was Julep for Popsugar Duo. I received a Julep nail polish in my September Citrus Lane box and was hoping that it was not the same color (I received Coco in Citrus Lane) I saw some reviews and they received Coco. But I received a nice blue/purple color (Millie) that I love and am looking forward to wearing immediately!!! And also a Julep top coat (Freedom). I really needed a new top coat, because the brand I am currently using I do not like at all. I'm interested to see how this one works!


The next Must Have Fashion item was Jane Tran Bobby Pins. These bobby pins look really nice and the colors are great (green, gray, and blue). But I'm not sure they'll work in my hair because it's very fine, but I'm going to try them. They may end up going to a friend!



Another Must Have Beauty item included was The Wet Brush. This brush is exactly what I need! I always brush my hair when it's wet and definitely use the wrong brush for it, so I was very happy to get this. I tried it on shampooed, but not conditioned wet hair and it worked amazing! Didn't pull, tug, or tear at all. I'm thinking I need to buy an extra one to put aside for when my daughter has enough hair to actually brush, because you know how fun it is to brush a child's wet hair. This would make it so much easier on their little scalps! 



The final Must Have Food item included in this box was The Crispery Halloween Crispycake. This yummy treat looked delicious and was! It was very large and perfect for sharing. We had it as a treat after dinner. 


The Special Extra included in the October box was $20 for Stitch Fix. My #2 Stitch Fix box will be here in a week or so and I'm looking forward to using this towards my purchase! Great addition to the box.  


I am very happy with this box and I'm already excited to see the Popsugar Must Have box for November! What do you love about Popsugar Must Have?


Citrus Lane October 2013

Rating: Lifer!!!!!
Cost: $25/month

Citrus Lane is one of my favorite subscription boxes to open every month with my daughter! I always love the products they send and this month was no different. This review is for a 16 month old girl. The box this month was pink instead of yellow, as usual. In honor of two important causes, they created the bowstache. It's pink to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October and shaped like a mustache to support Men's Health Awareness month in November. And there were cute mustache and ribbon cutouts on the box for your child to model!


This box included something for all the important parts of a baby's routine - Playtime, Bath time, and Bedtime. Here's a look at what we got this month:


The first item for playtime was a Toddler Tambourine from Hohner Kids. My daughter instantly loved this toy and was making music in no time. She loves instruments and we don't have a tambourine yet, so this fits into her collection perfectly!!!


The next item for bath time was Scrubble from Boon. They explain these bath toys as a cross between a squirter and a loofa. Your little one can fill it with water and squirt it out and also use the textured surface to scrub themselves clean. These look like a lot of fun! I think my daughter will love playing with these and squirting the water out. And I love that they come apart so they are easy to wash and dry! We can't wait to try them out. (My daughter was going to have a bath tonight, but she fell asleep earlier than usual, so we'll be trying them out tomorrow)


We also got a Bops from Good Boy Organics. (Snack time is a very important part of baby's routine also) They are baked organic potato snacks. She had these as a snack today and loved them!!! She loves all kinds of chips and these are healthy for her, so I didn't feel bad about her eating them. (I had to hide these from her when we opened the box, because she would have been begging for these)


The final item in the October box for bedtime was Babybug from Cricket Magazine. This is a really cute magazine and she liked looking at the pictures and hearing the stories and rhymes. This is a magazine aimed at children age 0-3. I think this is a perfect magazine for her age. It also came with a coupon for 3 months of digital copies. We will definitely put these to use.


Another month that I love every item from Citrus Lane! Oh, I also need to show you the add on that I ordered, because it goes with the pink theme of the box! (Citrus Lane sends emails to their subscribers of items they can add onto their box at a discounted price with no additional shipping costs and sometimes I just can't resist ordering) It's a Green Toys Pink Race Car. I love this and think she will really enjoy it too!!! What girl wouldn't want a pink race car?



Do you subscribe to Citrus Lane? What did you get in your box???


Thursday, October 17, 2013

Fair Ivy Coupon Code

Cost: $25/month + shipping for Jewelry Subscription
         $40/month + shipping for Original Subscription (includes 3 handmade items each month)

Fair Ivy is one of my favorite subscriptions, especially to give as gifts. The packaging is always unique and the jewelry is beautiful, dainty, and timeless! Plus they post pictures of past surprises right on their website, so you can check them out to make sure you're going to love what you get month after month! 

I found out some fun information from the founder of Fair Ivy that I'd like to share with you. 

How was Fair Ivy started and how did you come up with the name?

The name Fair Ivy came from the origin of the concept.  A friend and I were at coffee discussing how sad we were that we no longer received packages in the mail that were a complete surprise (like what our parents used to send us in college or at camp).  One thing led to another and once we realized no one was doing something like that (at the time) I set about starting the company.  My last name is Fairweather, and my friend's last name is Ivry, so I took pieces of each name and voila!

Fair Ivy was started in 2008 as a way to share beautiful handmade items with others while supporting small businesses in the process. A subscription to Fair Ivy's monthly surprise packages means that at least one stunningly crafted item will be delivered to the person of your choice each month.


And Fair Ivy has graciously provided some coupon codes to my readers! Yay!!!

To save $10 off the first month of an Original Subscription use the code:  SAVE10
To save $5 off the first month of a Jewelry Subscription use the code: SAVE5
Coupon codes are valid until November 13th, so go ahead and subscribe today. (Perfect to get some holiday shopping out of the way and save some money, who doesn't love that!)

What are you waiting for? Subscribe today!

Parenthood Survival Box October 2013

Rating: Love It!!!!
Cost: $34.99/month

This was the first box for Parenthood Survival Box, and they kindly sent it to me to review. This is a subscription filled with nifty items for babies and parents. All the items in the box are chosen to make your life as a parent easier and more fun. I was so excited to see this box on my doorstep when I got home from work today! I couldn't wait to see what was inside. And, as always, it's the most fun to open up a new subscription because you never know how everything will be packaged!

The Parenthood Survival Box came in a brown box with their logo stamped on the side, so you definitely knew where it was from. (By the way I love the name of this subscription! It is so fitting!!! And I will probably use this box to wrap the gift for the next baby shower I go to! Love it!!!)


Inside the box was pink tissue paper and a sheet telling everything included in this month's box. Here's a look at what I received for the girl box:


I immediately thought this box looked like a great value and was very happy with everything I saw! It'd definitely make a great gift for new parents!!! The first item in the box was Angel Dear Swaddle. This is a muslin swaddle blanket that can also be used for a stroller cover, burp cloth, nursing shield, tummy time blanket, changing table cover, portable crib sheet, etc. I think it will be my daughter's new favorite blanket because it is so soft. And the pattern is super adorable and matches her nursery! Perfect!!!


The next item was a Parents Night Out Pad by Knock Knock Pads. I've never seen anything like this and thought this was a great idea! You write down everything from important numbers to meals and snacks and nap times. This makes it very easy to tell a babysitter everything they need to know and so they'll remember it's all written down for them. Genius! 


My favorite was the next item. (Actually I truly loved every item, but thought this was very fun and it made me laugh when I saw it) It was a Fred and Friends Chill! Baby Pacifier. This is a clear pacifier, with a volume control dial on the front. It's hilarious!!! My daughter is addicted to pacifiers, so this went straight in her mouth. Also, this made me think of a funny story. I think we may have watched the movie Robots a few too many times, because when my daughter was born we were really hoping she came with a volume control like baby Rodney in the beginning of the movie. Haha! Now she has one!!! Love it!!! 



We also received a Flutter! Fly! Indestructible Book. I've never seen anything like this before. They are chew proof, rip proof, nontoxic, and 100% washable! My daughter loves to look at books, but tries to rip the pages and chew on them. This was perfect. She sat on the floor and flipped through the pages looking at all the pictures of things with wings and I didn't have to worry about her destroying the book. The illustrations were very bright and colorful and kept her attention for quite a while. Then she threw the book around and tried to eat it and the book was unscathed. 



The final item included in the box was Baby Legs legwarmers. These are a really cute pink and blue design. They will go with multiple outfits of my daughter's, so I'm happy about that. They feel so soft and I can't wait to try them out.


I loved this box! I think it was well worth the price and we will use everything!!! This would also make a GREAT gift for new parents. I can't wait to see what's in their next box. They did have a spoiler on their Facebook page of one item that will be in their second box. And it looks like a very cute read!!!


Order your Parenthood Survival Box now, so you don't miss out on getting this book! What did you think of the items in the first box? Will you be subscribing???

Disclosure: This complimentary box was received in exchange for my honest review. As always the opinions are my own!