Thursday, December 29, 2016

Popsugar Must Have December 2016

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

I know I said I was done subscribing to Popsugar Must Have for awhile, but my boyfriend bought me a 6-month subscription for Christmas. Yay! I'm so happy I won't be missing it. I opened the December box on Christmas and hadn't looked at spoilers. The box I received was very damaged and re-packaged in a larger box, so I thought I'd be receiving broken items, but it appears everything arrived in tact. You can tell by my picture the box was in rough shape. The bottom had holes all in it, so I didn't bother trying to get a picture.


Popsugar always includes an information card explaining everything in the box. This month's inspirations were festive, snowy white, minimalist, giving, and celebration.



The Odeme Catchall + Ring Dish was my favorite item in the box. Retail value $67. I love the simplicity of this set. It will look so pretty displayed on my dresser to put my jewelry in. I thought it'd also make a very pretty dish for dip or cheeses, but it has a note that says it's not food safe. And that's probably a good thing, because I'd be sad if this broke and I'm clumsy with dishes. The boxes were damaged on these too, so good thing I'll be keeping them for myself and not gifting them!



The next item included was Baublebar Snowfall Pendant. Retail value $28. This was created exclusively for Popsugar. I love that it's a long necklace and I like the simple, yet unique style. I haven't worn this yet, but I really like it and think it will go with everything.


I also received Mane Message Date Night Bobby Pins. Retail value $10. I love bobby pins, but I don't wear them even though I should. My hair is very boring and could use some pizzazz! And I saw them styled so pretty on a coupon included in the box, that I had to include a picture. I might be trying that look for New Year's Eve!



Another item included was Winky Lux Lip Pill in Bunny. Retail value $14. This is the cutest lipstick packaging. I love it! I always receive dark hued lipsticks in subscription boxes, but I rarely use them. This one is so cute, I'll definitely be throwing it in my bag and using it instead of chapstick throughout the day. It will definitely give my look a great update for the new year!



The Sisters' Gourmet Baker's Dozen Classic Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix looks so good. Retail value $6.99. I'll be waiting a bit to make them, because I've been indulging in too many cookies throughout the holidays. They'll be perfect for Valentine's Day though! And I'll make them heart shaped!



The final item included was Dessange Professional Hair Luxury Color Restore Color Protecting Top Coat Serum. Retail value $11.99. I desperately need to color my hair, so I'll be saving this to use after to make the color last. This was a good reminder that I needed to color my hair, so I was happy to see it included. This box was also a bit mangled.


I really liked the Popsugar Must Have December box. The catchall and ring dish was my favorite. I can't wait to display it! I'm so excited that I'll be getting Popsugar again. I was so sad that I would miss out on great stuff! I can't wait to see what's included next month!!!

*This subscription was purchased and financed by me, unless noted otherwise. Posts may contain referral links and I totally appreciate it when you use them!

Popsugar Must Have Limited Winter 2016

Rating: Love It!!!!
Cost: $100

It has become a tradition for me to buy the Popsugar Limited Edition Winter boxes for my boyfriend and myself to open on Christmas. I don't look at spoilers, so it's a surprise for both of us. I'll be reviewing the woman's box, but not the men's box, because I wasn't able to take pictures before items were used :)

I love the Popsugar Must Have Limited Edition Winter boxes! It's so much fun to open every year. This year the only item I knew I'd be getting was the spoiler from when I purchased the boxes. This box is described as "giftable luxuries that encompass everything wonderful about winter. In the spirit of holiday gift giving, Popsugar curated a selection of fabulous luxuries that are ideal as gifts or personal pleasures. This box overflows with the coziness of the Winter season, warming you from the inside out."


The Limited Edition boxes are always very nice quality sturdy boxes. They feel like a special gift and I love opening them up! Popsugar always includes an information card explaining everything in the box.



The spoiler item and the reason I bought the box was the Pehr Charcoal Muskoka Throw. Retail value $136. I love the Pehr brand and all the items Popsugar has been including in their boxes from the brand. This is a cozy blanket made from machine-washable cotton flannel. I love the simple look of it. This will be my go to cozy blanket for this winter!


The next item included was The Cambridge Satchel Company Tiny Satchel. Retail value $95. This was designed exclusively for Popsugar and I love it! I love the black and white color that will go with everything and the small size. This is more practical than some of the clutches we've received in previous boxes. The long cross-body strap on this purse makes it very versatile to wear anywhere. I can't wait to use this!




I loved everything in this box, but the next item was my favorite! The Louis Sherry 6-Piece Camellia Pink Truffle Collection looked like a pretty tin box to keep jewelry or other items in. Retail value $22.50. But when I opened up the box I was surprised to see the prettiest (looks to good to eat) chocolates. This is the fanciest chocolate box I've ever received! I love all the care that went into the packaging and I'm in love with the tin box, that I'll definitely be using after the chocolates are gone. Popsugar handpicked each of the unique truffles included. I haven't had the heart to bite into one yet, but I will soon!!! And I can't wait! I'm not sure I'm willing to share with my family. Maybe they'll be my very special New Year's Eve treat!




I also received Simpatico Home Snow Hobnail Diffuser Kit. Retail value $48. This smells amazing! It's a peppermint vanilla scent that I love. It's not so strong and perfumed that it hurts your nose. It's perfect and makes me happy when I catch a whiff of it! I also love the simple bottle. I'll need to find a use for it after the scent is gone.



The next item included was R + CO Tinsel Smoothing Oil. Retail value $24. This is exactly what I need for my winter hair static. It can be used on wet or dry hair, which I love. I'm sure I'll be using this every day. These are the type of beauty products I love receiving in subscription boxes. It's like Popsugar read my mind and knew what I needed.


The final item included in the box was Cargo Cosmetics Around the World Eye Shadow Palette. Retail value $34. This is a huge eye shadow palette with neutral colors that anyone can wear. I really like it. I have an abundance of eye shadow palettes. I can't seem to get through them quick enough. (Do they last forever or something?!? They sure seem to) I can't wait to get to use this one! It also has a mirror in the case and a real nice eye shadow brush.



Popsugar did a great job curating the Winter box. I love everything, seriously! I will use it all and it's all stuff I would have purchased on my own. I was so happy with everything. And I love that it was all a surprise when I opened it because I hadn't looked at spoilers. I hope next year's limited edition box is as good as this one!

*This subscription was purchased and financed by me, unless noted otherwise. Posts may contain referral links and I totally appreciate it when you use them!

Friday, December 23, 2016

The Zoe Report Box of Style Winter 2016

Rating: Love It!!!!
Cost: $100/quarterly box; $350 yearly subscription

I received my Box of Style quarterly subscription box last week. I couldn't wait to see what was inside. It felt like a Christmas present! I love receiving this box with everything individually wrapped, because it always seems like a special gift. I knew what the hero item was and I couldn't wait to see it in person. This quarter the box was white instead of black, which gave it a nice winter feel!




Box of Style always includes an information booklet explaining everything in the box. I love reading it and getting styling tips. 







The first item in the box was the hero item Dylanex Zoey Custom Necklace. Retail value $200. This statement necklace was created for Box of Style. I love statement jewelry and I'll be wearing this to the holiday parties I'll be attending this year. It's really gorgeous and not over the top. It will definitely go with everything! 


The next item included was Sunday Riley Tidal Enzyme Brightening Water Cream. Retail value $65. I always need a great moisturizer for winter skin, so I was excited to see this included. I can't wait to try it. 


I also received Soia & Kyo Olivia Cable Knit Hat. Retail value $50. All subscribers were able to choose the color of the hat they'd receive in their box. I chose the merlot color and I love it. I've already worn this a couple times. It's very comfy and looks stylish!


The D.L. & Co. The Zoe Report "Birch" Custom Candle is one of my favorite items included. Retail value $50. This smells great! It was custom made for Box of Style. It has a Woodsy scent and smells just like Christmas. I also love the simple dark colored glass. It looks so chic! I'll be burning this all winter long!


The next item included was Dagne Dover Exclusive Leather Card Case. Retail value $50. I love this! I know it's meant for credit cards and cash and I'll probably use it for that when I am using a clutch or a wristlet. But for now I'm going to use it for business cards in my purse. I needed something to put business cards in and I think this will be perfect. Much more chic than other business card holders! I'm so happy this was included!


Also included was Clinique Pop Lip Colour + Primer in Berry Pop. Retail value $18.50. I love Clinique products, so I was excited to see this. I usually don't wear bold, red lips, but I do like this color if I layer it on very lightly. This will be perfect for holiday looks.


The final spotlight product included was Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Fragrance. I am usually not a fan of fragrances, but I actually like this one. I wasn't expecting the top to not be a spritzer, but I like being able to control how much I put on. 


I really liked the winter Box of Style. I will use everything in the box, and I'm excited to try some new products and brands I haven't tried before. I thought this was curated very nicely with great pieces for holiday. I'm excited to see what is in the Spring box next. I love thinking Spring is right around the corner!


*This subscription was purchased and financed by me, unless noted otherwise. Posts may contain referral links and I totally appreciate it when you use them!

Kidstir December 2016

Rating: Like It!!!
Cost: $15.95/month

My daughter loves to help cook, so as a Christmas gift we bought her a year subscription to Kidstir. I'm so excited to review a different subscription box. We also received a Kidstir binder with our subscription to keep all the recipes in that we receive throughout the year. Kidstir includes three recipes a month and a couple kitchen gadgets/utensils. They also include some fun activities each month.


The December box was Winter Wonderland Cookies. It included three cookie recipes that my daughter will be making for her pre-school teachers. There was a shopping list included, so you'll know what you need to have for each of the recipes. I like the shopping list, so I didn't have to look at each individual recipe to know what I needed. It's great to have it all in one place.




Here is a picture of the binder we received. It's really nice and has tabs for each category of recipes, so it'll be easy to keep them organized.




The first recipe included was Snowball Truffles. These look yummy and you can roll them in powdered sugar and anything else you'd like to decorate them with such as sprinkles, nuts, peppermint candy, etc. They're a no-bake cookie, so they should be really easy for my daughter to make. Kidstir also included Holiday Gift Tags to use if you are packaging the cookies up as gifts! I love this!




The second recipe included was Hot Cocoa Cookies. These are small cookies that can be put on the side of a mug of hot cocoa, which is such a cute idea. Kidstir also included Starry Night Cutters to use to cut these cookies into star shapes. There was even a recipe for Homemade Hot Cocoa included. We may have to add some cocoa to the cookie tray we make!


The Starry Night Cutters were used to cut out the star shapes. These were easy to use and my daughter loved rolling the dough and cutting out the stars!


The last recipe included was Snowflake Shortbread. I love shortbread cookies, so I am very excited to make these! These cookies had maple syrup in the recipe, which gave them a great flavor! Kidstir included Cookie Decorating Kit to decorate the shortbread cookies. And it's a silicon bag to put the icing in, so we can re-use it. I'm very happy about that. And the tips are plastic and colorful, so they'll be perfect for my daughter. There is also a recipe for Cookie Frosting. There is also instructions to make a snowglobe out of a small jar. 




The cookie decorating tools are the best! I love the plastic kid friendly tips and the silicon bag can be used over and over again. Plus they are real easy to use and easy to clean. Love this!



I love the December Kidstir kit. I think my daughter will really enjoy making the cookies and giving them away as gifts. We'll be making them this week! Update: I forgot to take pictures of the actual cookies, but they all looked nice. The snowflakes didn't come out as great as the pictures in the kit, but they were delicious! I can't wait to see what we get in the January kit!

*This subscription was purchased and financed by me, unless noted otherwise. Posts may contain referral links and I totally appreciate it when you use them!