Monday, December 30, 2013

Popsugar Must Have Coupon Code

Are you subscribing to Popsugar Must Have? No?!? If you like great deals and have been wanting to try this subscription (which is my favorite) now is the time!!!! Get 3 boxes for the price of 2! Click here to subscribe for 3 months using the code NEWYEAR to get a 3-month subscription for only $79.85! (regularly $39.95/month)

Check out my past reviews to see what you've been missing, then click here to subscribe today! Promotion ends January 10, 2014 at 11:59 pm PST, so hurry before time runs out!!!

December 2013
November 2013
October 2013

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Saturday, December 28, 2013

Quilty Box December 2013

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

My mom received her December Quilty Box on Christmas Eve and we made her wait until we were all together on Christmas Day to open it. The box was very small (thin) this month and looked quite mangled from it's delivery journey. My mom was hoping nothing fell out or was ruined. I didn't get to take a picture of the box before she opened it, so I'll just go through each item she received.

The theme for December's Quilty Box was Give. There was a paper that listed everything included. I don't have the paper with me, but I'll do my best to describe everything.


The first item was Andover fabric squares. Retail Price $10.95. We received two of the smaller lines and these fabrics are so cute. One has mice and cats and patterned fabric, and the other has whimsical animals and patterned fabric. Both will definitely make an interesting project.


The next item was an Art Kloth Kit. Retail Price $21.00. You can use this to make a Quilt Journal for 2014. I think that is a great idea. My mom makes a lot of quilts and tries to take pictures of most of them, but this will be a nice organized way to keep track of everything she makes.


We also received Quilting Isn't Funny by Megan Dougherty (The Bitchy Stitcher). Retail Price $12.99. This is a book with a collection of stories all about quilting. My mom is very excited to take some time to relax and read this. I may even read it when she is done. It looks interesting (even if I'm not totally into quilting). I love that they included a book in this box! It's something I didn't expect to see, but looks like a fun read.


My favorite item in this box was this Feathers Pattern by Alison Glass. Retail Price $12.00. I love this and told my mom if she wanted to make me another quilt I'd love it in this pattern. I hope she makes it for me!!! I took a picture of the back of the package that had a better picture of the pattern, so you could really see what it looks like. It also says on the sheet included that they will have a Quilt Along for this pattern, covering all the basics of paper piecing as well as more specific instructions for each block. My mom was very interested in checking that out, but can't find any more information about where she can find that. If anyone knows please comment below. Thanks!



The final item in the box was this Fabric Hoarder Art Print by Sara Watts. Retail Price $20.00. My mom loved this print and wanted to hang it up immediately in her quilting room. Unfortunately, the way the box was packed the print was creased when it arrived. It came rolled, but the box was very thin and squished the print, so it is no longer flat. She is not able to frame it or hang it, because the creases will not come out. It was a nice, high quality print though that would have looked perfect in her room!


My mom loves Quilty Box and looks forward to completing the projects she receives each month. This box had a total retail price of $76.94, which is much higher than the price of the subscription. It also included quite a few unique items, which makes this box a fun one to open month after month.

What do you think about Quilty Box?

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Thursday Thoughts


I'm linking up with Jen from Ramblings of a Suburban Mom for Thursday Thoughts.

We had a great Christmas! And I hope everyone else that celebrates did too! I finally opened my Popsugar Must Have Neiman Marcus Limited Edition Box and LOVED everything!!! I received a navy zebra dish, navy throw, and blue plates. Then I went and looked at all the reviews I could find to see what other color combinations people received. I loved all the bright colored zebra dishes! I was very proud of myself for going spoiler free and it made it that much more fun to open Christmas morning!

My guy also loved his Popsugar Must Have Holiday for Him Box. Everything was perfect and he looked pretty snazzy in his new flannel tie. His favorite thing was the monacle speaker. He immediately needed to try it out by calling me with it!

My sister and I bought my mom a Quity Box subscription for Christmas and made her wait to open it until Christmas also. Luckily hers arrived Christmas Eve, so she didn't have to wait too long to open it (unlike me, my wait was a month of torture). She loved it and I'll be reviewing it later!

I also bought my sister the Sparaj November box for Christmas and she loved all of it. She loved the way the coffee scrub smelled and the hand cream. She used the hand cream immediately. And she was very excited about the facial roller. Sparaj sells out very quickly. The reviews for the December box looked great and January is already sold out, so if you don't want to miss out on February order today.

My little one was so much fun this year (1 1/2 yr old). She wanted to open presents and help everyone else. We thought she would be most excited for Big Hugs Elmo, and she loves him (when he is off). When he talks she gets scared and walks away from him. Hopefully she warms up to him, eventually.

We definitely had a subscription box Christmas. What was your favorite gift/memory of the Holiday?

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Your Bijoux Box Grab Bag December 2013

Rating: Not for me!
Cost: $25/ 5 items

I've been wanting to try Your Bijoux Box, and when they offered a grab bag to get 5 items for only $25 I couldn't resist. I thought it would be worth it, even if I only liked one item. And jewelry always makes good gifts. I was so excited to see what I would get and I couldn't wait to open up the small box that arrived in my mailbox today. Here was my first look.


Everything was wrapped in pretty blue paper or enclosed in a black velvet bag. There were two sets of earrings in tiny bags and they were the first thing I noticed. One set is black and the other green. They are the same size and not at all my style. I was hoping the rest of what I would open would not match these.


The next thing I opened was in blue tissue paper. It was a bracelet with large black beads. I am a very tiny framed person and this is too large for my wrist and just looks strange. And it's gold and I prefer silver. This is another miss for me. And I can't think of anyone I could even gift this to.


The next item was a gold necklace that is long with gold hammered rings. I can't wear long necklaces too often because my toddler loves to pull on them. And again I'm not a huge fan of gold. Another miss. 


So, at this point I was really hoping whatever was in that last bag would be perfect for me. The last item was a sparkly gold link bracelet. I believe it may have been the spoiler bracelet for the December box. Again, it's gold and quite large for my small frame. So, I wasn't really crazy about anything I received in this box.


Now I'm wondering if there is a place to trade with other Bijoux Box subscribers. Does anyone know of any? Really I'd be willing to give these pieces to anyone that would wear them, because they're just not for me. I've seen so many pieces of jewelry I've loved from Bijoux Box and I thought I would have received at least one piece that was my style. I'm totally in love with their spoiler piece for January and thinking about subscribing, so I get it. I would have loved to see something like this in my grab bag.


Did you order a Bijoux Box grab bag? What did you get?

Citrus Lane December 2013

Rating: Lifer!!!!!
Cost: $29/month

My 18 month old daughter's Citrus Lane box arrived today. I didn't look at any spoilers this month, so I had no idea what would be in this box. I always love seeing what new products I'll discover by opening this box. Here's what we got.


My favorite item in the box was this Handprint Art Kit from Pearhead. This was designed exclusively for Citrus Lane and allows you to capture your child's handprint on canvas. It's sized generously, so you can do a mommy and me or sibling project. I'm going to need to think about what we'll do. I may look on pinterest for cute handprint art ideas to turn her little hands into a picture she can hang in her room for years. The best part is, if you make a mistake you can rinse the wet paint off, blot the canvas dry, and try again! I'm so excited to make this!!!


We also received a Rainbow Stacker from Melissa & Doug. It's made of smooth wood in bright colors that are easy to grasp, and each piece stacks atop a rocking base. My daughter loves these types of toys, so this is sure to be a favorite!


The next item was "I Took the Moon for a Walk" by Barefoot Books. We always love getting a new book! This one is a nice story with great illustrations.


The last item was Snuggly Lotion from Episencial. Episencial uses organic ingredients and the entire line is safe for children and good for the planet. We go through lots of lotion through the winter months, so I was very happy to see this. I've tried other products from this brand and love them! My daughter has very sensitive skin, and she is able to use these products without any irritation.


I love Citrus Lane. We always receive products we wouldn't normally buy, but end up loving! Can't wait to see what we get in January.

What did you love in your Citrus Lane this month?

Birchbox December 2013

Rating: Like It!!!
Cost: $10/month

I received my December Birchbox and I already knew what would be inside because I had checked my account. This month's theme was Holiday 2013. The packaging was very festive this month! Here's what I got.




Birchbox always includes an information card telling the theme and the products included.


The first item I received was Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle. This spray is a leave in conditioner that you spray onto damp hair before styling. It locks in color, protects from heat damage, and adds silkiness. I've tried the shampoo and conditioner from this brand in a previous box and loved it! And as expected, I also love this spray. It made my hair very soft and manageable and actually added volume. I have a hard time finding products that add volume to my fine, limp hair, so I am very happy about this. Plus the scent is my favorite! I will be purchasing every product by Beauty Protector!!!


The next item was La Fresh Travel Lite Makeup Remover Wipes. These are biodegradable, vitamin E packed wipes that erase all traces of makeup without drying. I can't wait to try these. Last night would have been the perfect opportunity, because I fell asleep on the couch while watching a movie without washing my face, but instead of using these I ended up going to bed without taking my makeup off. Whoops. These will come in handy for nights like that though.


I also received LAQA & Co Fat Lip Pencil. I believe I received the Ring of Fire color. I couldn't find the color on the packaging, but it looks closest to that color. It's megawatt color and lip nourishing vitamin E with an easy to wield crayon applicator. This color is a bit too bright for my liking, but I'm going to try to pull it off over the holidays! I do love how easy it is to apply and the texture of it.


The item I was most excited to try was The Honest Company Organic Healing Balm. Use on irritated skin, eczema, minor cuts and scrapes, or anywhere that needs hydration. I've tried other products from The Honest Company and I was sure I would love this! It was a bit greasy when I first put it on, but it moisturized my hands very nicely. The scent was soft and nice. The sample size was generous, so I'm happy I get to try it for awhile before deciding to buy.


The lifestyle extra included was Twistband Metallic Hair Tie. I received the silver sparkle color. Use it to dress up a low key pony, or wear on your wrist for extra shimmer. I own Twistbands already and wear them a lot. This will be a nice color to add to my collection!


I was very happy with my Birchbox this month. I will use everything! I also loved the packaging this month. It made it a little more exciting to open the box!

What did you get in your Birchbox this month? Click here to subscribe.

*If you use my links in this post, I'll get a small referral credit. Thanks!

Friday, December 20, 2013

TravelBox Founders Edition December 2013

Rating: Love It!!!!
Cost: $33 + $5.95 shipping

This was the Founders Edition of the TravelBox, which is a new subscription box that includes a curated mix of travel goods selected from around the world. They kindly sent me this box to review! I always love seeing how new subscriptions are packaged, because you never know what to expect. The box arrived yesterday and was blue with their logo on it, so it was easy to tell what it was.



And the best part is opening the box for the first look...


This box looked very neatly packaged with teal colored tissue paper and a silver seal. They also included an information card with all the items included and a small handwritten note. I love that! The information card was great and said what country the items were from and the retail value.


So, here's what was inside....


The first item was the Breffo Spiderpodium (UK). Retail Price $19.95. I had no idea what this was at first, but it's genius. It's for holding your phone, camera, ipod, etc anywhere and everywhere. I think this is going to come in very handy. And it's perfect for traveling to help with taking pictures! I took a picture of the back of the packaging, which shows some of the ways you can use it. I love it and I never would have found something like this on my own!



The next item was a Luxe City Guide (France). Retail Price $9.95. I'll be honest when I saw this on the information card I thought it'd be a pamphlet, with some pictures of famous sites. But this is so much better. First, it's so French looking with the black/white stripe and red print. Love it! And then it folds out like an accordion and has so much information about restaurants, shopping, etc. It even tells you how to say "I think I stepped in something nasty" in French. I couldn't stop looking at this guide and it made me want to plan a trip to France tout de suite!



The Dreams Essentials Sleep Mask (United States) was also included. Retail Price $10.95. This sleep mask is contoured to allow for maximum light blockage and would  be great for getting some sleep on a plane. There was also earplugs and a pouch included.



 My favorite item was the Lanolin Agg Eggwhite Facial Care (Sweden). Retail Price $4.00. This soap smells amazing! It smells like you just walked into a room of fresh cut flowers! It was created by the Royal Soapmakers to the Royal Swedish Family, and uses a traditional Swedish recipe of eggwhites, rose water, and lanolin. I can't wait to use this and feel like royalty!


The last item included was Guylian Artisanal Truffles (Belgium). Retail Price $1.09. These look delicious! They are Belgian chocolate filled with Hazelnut filling. Yummy!!!


I loved everything included in this box and thought everything would be very useful for traveling. It was a great box that included items from different countries. It's always fun when you get things you wouldn't be able to buy in the US! I think this box would be wonderful for anyone who loves to travel or just wants to try some products from around the world. If you're interested in subscribing to TravelBox use the code WELCOME to save 10% off your first box. 

What did you think of the Founder's Edition for TravelBox?

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

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Thursday Thoughts


I'm linking up with Jen from Ramblings of a Suburban Mom for Thursday Thoughts.

I finally decorated the house for Christmas and put up a toddler friendly tree. It's a felt tree, with felt ornaments that stick to it, that my daughter can rearrange as she likes. And the presents will still go under the tree on the floor. I'm happy with it and it was an easy project to make! Now I just have to start wrapping presents...



I finally found a sippy cup for my daughter that she likes and it doesn't leak. I couldn't be happier. My daughter always finds a way to spill the "leak proof" cups. I have been unsuccessful (until now) in finding one she couldn't figure out. And the ones you need to bite to get the liquid out just didn't work for her. She'd get frustrated trying to drink out of them. So the winning sippy cup (in our house) is the Nuk Active Cup. It's cute, doesn't have extra inside pieces, isn't too round and difficult to hold (it's slightly larger than a bottle), and best of all doesn't leak!!! I'm in love!!!



I'm hoping a few of my subscription boxes that are in transit show up this week. I really want to see the Popsugar Must Have Special Edition Holiday for Him box. (I'm going to open it to check it out, even though it's a gift) And I'm excited to see my Birchbox this month. I peeked at what I'd be getting and I'm excited to try everything out, especially the Honest Co Hand Cream. I was hoping I'd get it when I watched the spoiler video!

Oh, and one more thing. I'm still spoiler free for the Popsugar Must Have Neiman Marcus box. I can't believe I've made it this far, so I'm sure I'll make it to Christmas now! I'd disappoint myself if I peeked. And because of that I'm so excited for Christmas this year. I can't wait to see what is in that box!!! And my daughter is going to be so much fun this year! She's going to love her Big Hugs Elmo. She doesn't talk much, but she does repetitively say Elmo whenever she sees him.

What are your Thursday Thoughts?

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Popsugar Must Have December 2013

Rating: Like It!!!
Cost: $39.95/month

My Popsugar Must Have December box came today. It's always a surprise when this box shows up on my doorstep, because I don't get the shipping notice emails from them. I tried not to look at spoilers this month, but ended up looking, so I knew what was in this box. I was hoping for a box like last year's December box, because it looked amazing! This box was slightly underwhelming from the spoiler pictures, but I wanted to see everything in person to check it out for myself. Here's what was inside:


The must have fashion item included was a Lulu Frost for Popsugar Bracelet. I've never heard of this brand, but it's always nice to get something in a subscription box that was made just for them. At first look I wasn't crazy about this bracelet, but it's really growing on me. It's not like anything I own, which is nice. I like that it's gold and silver, and looks like a vintage piece you could have found in an antique store! I think I'll need to wear it a few times to see if I end up loving it!!!


The next item was Mixt Studio Holiday Gifting Set. This was my favorite thing in the box. I love great wrapping paper and this is different from anything I've seen! I can't wait to wrap some special gifts with this. I love that it came with tags and twine also!


I received ModelCo Fibre Lashxtend Black Mascara. And I needed mascara, so this couldn't have come at a better time! I can't wait to try it out. It promises clump-free, voluminous lashes! And it has a mirror on the side of the tube, which is very handy.


The next item was Govino Go Anywhere Flutes. I thought this would be my favorite item from the spoiler pictures, but in person they weren't my favorite. I thought they would be larger and I was excited there were 4 flutes included in the box, but they are small. (I guess I really like champagne and this size just won't cut it) And for some reason I really was expecting glass and they are not. They are plastic champagne flutes, with a little style. I'm not sure I'll be using these during the holidays, but I thought they'd be perfect for my toddler to use, since she loves to drink out of real cups and these are just her size! Each glass is slightly smaller than a dollar bill, as you can see below.



I can't wait to try the CC Made Caramel Corn. I love caramel corn and I'm keeping this for a treat for me! I received the classic artisanal flavor, but it looks like there are a few variations including toasted almond and pistachio nut. They all sound yummy to me!!!


I also received NCLA Peppermint Lane Nail Wraps. I can't wait to try these. I'm going to mix and match the stripes and polka dots to make a cute manicure for the holidays!


The special extra in this month's box was 2 bags of Ghiradelli Squares Chocolate. The first bag was Milk & Caramel squares and the second bag was a Holiday Edition with Eggnog, Peppermint Bark, and Pumpkin Spice Caramel. They all sound delicious! I'm debating whether to gift these or keep them for myself. Maybe I'll bring them to the office to share, so I'll be able to try them also!



I like everything included in the December Popsugar Must Have box, and will use everything I received. I was hoping for amazing boxes after the price of the subscription went up, but I feel like the boxes before were much better. I still love that you never know what you're going to get. It really could be anything! I'm already looking forward to January's box!!!

What was your favorite item you received from a Popsugar Must Have box? And if you don't subscribe, click here to sign up today!!!

*If you use my links in this post, I'll get a small referral credit. Thanks!