POPSUGAR Must Have {November 2013 Box Review}

It's always nice when my POPSUGAR Must Have Box I know is coming arrives 2 days early!  I've learned to stop stalking my tracking code since I know it will take at least a week for it to get to my mailbox.  So, maybe that is the trick.  The theme of this month's box surrounds the fall festivities of being a hostess or just enjoying being a guest.  Anyway, let's get to the good stuff...enough babbling and idle chit chat.

First...a couple updates on last month's box:

1) The hubs and I have tried 2 recipes out of the The Can't Cook Book.  One was the roasted chicken and potatoes, which we both had high hopes for.  For some reason, the potatoes turned out super super salty and soggy.  We followed the recipe exactly though and my hubby is a great cook!  Perhaps we should put the potatoes on top of the chicken or make them separately?  Also, I had the banana, peanut butter, and coconut English Muffin (from the Quickies section) for quite a few mornings.  Num num!!!

2) While I loved the Wet Brush and it works exactly the way it is supposed to, I just don't need it.  I really want to buy the Shine Brush version for when I use dry shampoo.  I'm keeping it though in case I ever decide to grow my hair out or if I go for a ride in a convertible.  

3) I'm horrible and haven't used the Julep nail polish yet...because there are so many colors I have in my collection that I've been using first.  Whoops!  As for the bobby pins and the makeup...they just aren't something I really wanted in the first place.  Erm...I'm just so stuck on my awesome Jordana liquid liner.  Oh well!

4) I just got an email from StitchFix that my first fix is on its way!!!!  I can't wait to see what the stylist put together for me.  I plan on doing a blog post with lots of pictures of what I got.  I'll list what I received as well as what I decide to keep or give back as well.  Stay tuned to see that next week!

First Look

The Lowdown

Cost:  $35 a month (you get a discount if you subscribe for multiple months at once)...they are raising their price to $39.95 after November's box.  But you can order several months at a time now and get them at the $35 price. 

Coupon:  Use REFER5 to get $5 off of your first box!

Sign up now to get the December box, which is not sold out quite yet.  But if it is, you can sign up to get on the wait list and wait for January.

The products:  Think lifestyle must have products for women procured by editors and celebrity recommendations...it varies from month to month and usually includes beauty, fashion, home, fitness, health and more.

Definitely add POPSUGAR Must Have to your wishlists or subscription services, because it is a unique box that is a ton of fun to open up.  FYI, my box weighed 3.7 pounds this month!  I love that I get to enjoy items outside of the makeup and beauty realm that I have been getting in my Ipsy.  

The Goods

Michael Stars Folk Art Wrap - valued at $42

So happy to have finally received a scarf!  After eyeballing them in several of the past boxes that I missed out on before subscribing, I really hoped I didn't miss out completely.  I love the tribal type print of this scarf as well as the color.  This is a wrap but can also be used as a scarf.  It is super soft and thick enough to throw on if I am eating out on a patio at a restaurant or going on a walk somewhere before it gets too super cool.  But I'm even more excited to don it as a scarf once it gets into the winter temps here in the dessert.  I love it!  This particular wrap also comes in a russet/orange color, but it's not as versatile (in my opinion).  Oh and hellooooo!!!  The scarf completely covers the cost of the box plus a little extra too.  

Land's End Single Canvas Wine Tote - valued at $14.50

From the website: 

• Strong canvas wine carrier
• Water resistant
• Neatly finished inside seams
• Lasts year after year
• Make it Your Own by adding a monogram or embroidery icon

Our Wine Tote is the perfect way to bring along some­­thing to toast with. When you bring wine to a party, this is much more durable than the usual paper bottle bag, being 100% cotton canvas. And adding your host’s monogram makes the gift even more special. Or get years of use taking wine to picnics, restaurants, concerts on the lawn. Spot clean. Imported.

Erm.  I am not a wine drinker.  So, I wasn't really ecstatic to get this in my box.  But I have a good friend who looooooves wine and I've already asked her if she would like it.  And basically, she was uber happy to find out she could have it after she saw my initial Instagram shot.  LOLOLOL.  At first I kind of thought I'd try to use it with my water bottle.  But even then, I still wouldn't use it that much.  

Illume Naughty Candle - valued at $15.75

Hmmmm...I hate the scent!  It is a sort of foresty and flowery scent and very very strong.  The candle was the first thing I smelled when I opened the box.  But the glass is very thick and it's quite a lovely looking candle.  I already gifted it to my friend who also subscribes to Must Have because she loves her candle that she got.  So...now she has 2!  

The Soap & Paper Factory Roland Pine Shea Butter Soap - valued at $8.00

Kind of wondering why they didn't save this one for the December box.  But that's okay!  I do love the smell of pine during December, especially since I live in the desert and cactus doesn't smell like anything fun.  My mom actually is obsessed with pine scented items and so this might make its way into her hands...since I also don't really use bar soap.  Just so you know though, the scent of this is very natural, nothing like some of the candles out there that have a distinct fake pine-in-a-jar smell or those air fresheners that people can spray all over the place.  Just like all other Shea Butter products I use, I'm sure this will leave someone's hands feeling quite soft and lovely afterwards. 

Barefruit Crunchy Sea Salt Caramel Apple Chips - valued at $3.50

Caramel?!  Sea salt caramel?!  Yes please!  I had high hopes for these.  I could also use more healthy snacks in my life.  But, these are not my friend.  The caramel isn't really apparent...more of an aftertaste actually.  It certainly doesn't have a salty caramel vibe to it either.  Oh well.  Back to the drawing board.  

Maison de Monaco Strawberry & Blackcurrant Cream Preserves - valued at $6.00

How about I don't even try explaining how lovely this sounds and let their website do it for me..."We use a high quality 'Creme de Cassis' (a black currant liqueur made by Massenez) imported from France to bring out the sweetness of our strawberries.  The liqueur is put in early during the cooking so there is no alcohol left in the finished jam."

This sounds heavenly doesn't it?!  It is 70% fruit and hand-cooked in San Francisco.  The preserves can be spread on toast, pancakes, waffles, cheese, and ice cream!  I think this is a great excuse to start having those things for breakfast and dessert no?  Yum!!

Absolute! Nail Polish Remover Pads - valued at $2.99

I received the lemon scented remover pads.  This is something you can throw in your purse to use when you want to quickly get rid of polish when it chips.  I can see using this so I don't end up picking at it instead.  I tried it out today after quickly swiping one coat of polish on 2 of my fingers.  At first, when I pulled one of the very thin pads out, I noticed it was almost dry.  Of course, I immediately blew off this product thinking there was no way it would work.  I started rubbing at my first fingernail and nothing was happening.  But quickly after that the nail polish came off quite easily.  There seems to be a bit of oil in it and comes off way more natural than other removers.  The label says one pad can remove all 10 fingers' polish.  I am not totally sure I see that happening, especially when I have my top coat and 2-3 coats of polish on.  BUT...I can say I will be putting this in my makeup bag in my purse to use when I get a chip or two.  It smells like lemon and almost nothing like polish remover.  

CanvasPop $30 Gift Card - valued at $30

I would love to use this gift card to get one of my favorite Instagram shots done!  Most likely I will go for 12x12 .75" deep.  But that is still quite hefty, so I'll have to step back and figure this out.  I noticed the gift card does stipulate that you can't use it toward shipping.  Technically, I could use it to get an 8x10 rolled and only pay for the shipping.  Hmmmmmm.  Decisions.  But I don't want to have to frame it myself or put it on a canvas, so I might as well pay some extra to get them to do it.  What do you think?

Final Verdict

I paid $35 for the November box and got $123 worth of items from POPSUGAR Must Have!  The scarf/wrap itself paid for the box!

All in all, I liked 4 out of the 8 items in this box.  So, the verdict for November is 2 out of 5 stars.  This is definitely my least favorite out of the 3 months I've been a subscriber.  While the scarf is awesome, the other items weren't worth as much as the last 2 months and I didn't like them a whole lot.  I'm gifting quite a few of the items.  

What do you think of this month's box?  

Which item is your favorite or a must-have?  

Did you get a POPSUGAR Must Have box too...if so, what are you going to choose for your canvas?

POPSUGAR Must Have {October 2013 Box Review}

It feels like I just got the September box last week!  But my October box arrived in my mailbox yesterday and I was more than happy to pop it open and dig through my must have goodies.  The theme of this month's box is Breast Cancer Awareness and getting back into the kitchen for holiday cooking preparation.  Seems pretty interesting yes?

So first...a couple updates on last month's box:

1)  I'm still loving the scent of the diffuser and it is still keeping our guest bathroom smelling lovely.  Yeah for that!
2)  I haven't used the DIY book and I plan to gift it to a friend soon.  There's just no way I'll be able to sit down long enough and make something.  Maybe my friend will make one of the fun little items for me?!
3)  As for the item I ordered from Shoptiques?  I got it a few days after my post, tried it on, and quickly ripped it off!  It was hideous and the material was so very thin. Not worth the $36 at all...and I just sent the refund package back today.  I don't think I'll be exchanging it for anything as I went to the site today to see what they have and I just can't stand any of their more inexpensive items.  They have simple tops that I could get at my favorite stores like JCPenneys or Kohls for a better price and better fit.  Sorry Shoptiques!  It's just not my digs.

First Look

The Lowdown

Cost:  $35 a month (you get a discount if you subscribe for multiple months at once)...they are raising their price to $39.95 after November's box.  But you can order several months at a time now and get them at the $35 price.  No word on why they are raising the price yet, except that they want to continue giving us the best must have products out there.

Coupon:  Use REFER5 to get $5 off of your first box!

Sign up now to get the November box, which is not sold out quite yet.  But if it is, you can sign up to get on the wait list and wait for December.

The products:  Think lifestyle must have products for women procured by editors and celebrity recommendations...it varies from month to month and usually includes beauty, fashion, home, fitness, health and more.

Definitely add POPSUGAR Must Have to your wishlists or subscription services, because it is a unique box that is a ton of fun to open up.  FYI, my box weighed 3.7 pounds this month!  I love that I get to enjoy items outside of the makeup and beauty realm that I have been getting in my Ipsy.  

The Goods

The Can't Cook Book:  Recipes for the Absolutely Terrified by Jessica Seinfeld - valued at $11.99

The first thing I look for in a cook book (when I do actually buy one...such as The Pioneer Woman) is if it has pictures for the recipes.  I know I know, I sound like a little kid or something.  But I like being able to see what the actual dish looks like so I can decide if it is something I might like.  I'm super weird with textures of foods I eat (AKA can't stand hummus, tapioca pudding, or pulp in my OJ). This cookbook does not disappoint with the pictures! Every single recipe has a photograph or multiple photographs (there are a few pages that have fold-outs...see below picture).  Some recipes or tips have video QR Code links you can scan and that lead you to YouTube to see tutorials.  Heck yes!

While I haven't made anything from the book yet, my husband and I picked one recipe we both thought looked extra tasty to add to our weekly menu this week.  We chose Skillet-Roasted Potatoes & Chicken on pages 68 and 69.  I'll let you know in my November review if it turned out well enough to keep rotating it through out our menu.  

I also really really like the section called, "Quickies" (see below) that include even simpler breakfast, lunch/dinner, and snack type foods.  There are several I've spotted that I want to try, but I bought ingredients to make the English Muffin with Peanut Butter, Banana, & Coconut breakfast.  But I also plan to try Avocado Toast, Tomato & Ricotta on Toast, Rice Cake with Cucumbers & Salsa, and Cottage Cheese-Stuffed Avocado with Hot Sauce.  Mmmmmm, mmmmmm, gooooooood!  

Also included are typical sections like tools needed, preparation, etc.  But what I do really like about this cookbook are the several pages containing "How-to" tips (with photographs!) on how to do certain techniques that a lot of people don't know how to get through the correct way.  This includes how to slice an onion, how to use fresh garlic, how to use herbs, etc.  

So far, I'm pretty darn impressed with this cookbook that I most likely never would have bought or picked up.  I may even buy this for my bestie (Hi Beth!) since I know she feels just like Jessica does on the cover of this book.  

The Wet Brush - valued at $14

First off, it is incredibly nice to know that the brush in my box also allowed for a donation towards the fight against breast cancer!  

Okay, so I have very short hair and the last time I used a hair brush to actually brush my hair was about10 years ago.  No really!!  My hair doesn't get tangled and the conditioner I use keeps it from getting tangled.  But, I was incredibly intrigued by the idea of this.  I used it this morning after washing my hair and it went through it like butter.  It's lightweight as well, so I also know it will be easy to use when I am styling my hair.  This brush works well on all hair styles and is meant for use straight out of the shower.  The bristles are made to eliminate tugging, tearing, pulling, and ripping.  

They sell the brushes in different colors and purposes as well.  When I visited the site, I saw there is one meant for use with dry shampoo to create shine.  Anyone who has used dry shampoo knows how dull it makes one's hair look.  I actually wish I would have received that version since I use dry shampoo frequently!

Jane Tran Bobby Pins - valued at approximately $19.50

Again, as a short haired gal, I don't necessarily need bobby pins unless I use them in the morning or at night to keep my hair out of my face while I get ready.  

But, I do find the shape and design of these will hold back my hair very very well.  I like the darker colors with the slight sheen they have so if I do decide to use them for a simple updo, they will add some pizazz to my hair instead of the typical brown or black bobby pins I have hiding in a drawer somewhere.  

NYX Cosmetics Smokey Shadow Palette - valued at $7

Not a fan!  These shadows are not very pigmented and need to be put over a white base first.  As I swatched them on my arm, it took me 4-6 swipes to get them to show up and somewhat match the color you see in the palette.  Hmph.  

NYX Cosmetics Liquid Liner from Collection Chocolate - valued at $6

I am a liquid liner lover...but in a felt tip pen form.  Now, I did use this liner this morning and it wasn't too terribly difficult, but I don't like having to re-dip the brush as I'm working on my eyes.  So, that's a downside.  But, you can see that the brush allows for a thicker or thinner lines as well as a darker brown or a lighter brown.  Since I'm a bit spastic, it will take some practice, but I do love the formula of this one.  When I went to remove it off of my arm, it almost peeled off more than smudged or rubbed off.  I can see that translating into long lasting liner on the lid.  

Julep for POPSUGAR Duo - valued at $32

Julep is a nail-polish brand mostly known for their Maven subscriptions.  I've never wanted their polishes just because of the high price tag.  So, it was quite a lovely treat to find two bottles in my box this month.  Granted, I already have a Butter London navy or sapphire polish, but I'm willing to give this one a go since I've never used a Julep polish.  

We also received a Julep's polymer top coat that dries in 5 minutes.  I'm a big fan of my Out The Door top coat, but I'll give this one a shot and see if the $18 price tag equals an insanely good top coat or not. 

Gorjana Charity Bali Bead Bracelet - valued at $45!!!

From the site:  100% of proceeds benefit Breast Cancer Awareness. The gorjana Bali Bead Bracelet features braided cord and small Bali beads creating an almost studded appearance. Stack this bracelet with our classic charm bracelets for a more refined combination.

What a sweet item to include!  Not only did the inclusion of the bracelet in my box allow a donation on my part, but the color itself was also chosen to represent breast cancer awareness.  It is a super bright pink that adds a really nice pop of color and I love the way the beads look like studs.

The only downsides?  It is a little small and I don't how it would fit average-sized wrists.  My wrists have always been tiny, so for once it's nice to have a bracelet that isn't too big on me.  I had to get my husband to put it on for me.  The button and loop closure are very hard to maneuver with one hand. But I do quite love the little hanging gg charm and gold button.

StitchFix giftcard - valued at $20

I am way more excited about this than the Shoptiques giftcard!  This is a new site that gives you a style fix.  You complete a style profile (takes about 10 minutes) and personal stylists find 5 items that match your likes and wants.  Next, you schedule a stitch fix for a $20 styling fee and they send you a box of items that you are allowed to try on!  That $20 applies towards anything you keep.  They even send you a style card to show you how to style items you receive.  You have 3 days to decide on what you want to keep or return.  Anything you don't want, you return using a pre-paid mailing bag.  Login to your account to pay for any of the items you want to keep.  If you keep all 5 of your items, you get 25% off the total.  

Here is what part of the style profile quiz looks like:  

I had to select whether I loved or liked all or some of the items or whether I basically hated them.  There were about 6 of these groups of clothing pieces and each one matched a sort of style (preppy, classic, trendy, etc.)

You even get to list how much you are willing to spend on the different clothing items.  For me, I chose to get the most inexpensive in all categories.  This isn't something I want to spend a lot of money on if I choose to do it outside of this one time the gift card paid for.  

But, this is NOT a subscription service.  You can choose when and how often you want to get a Stitch Fix!  I think this could end up being a super neat treat for myself for a birthday or celebration.  I think it would also be very fun to give as a gift to someone...to have a stylist choose items for you and try them on in the comfort of your own home!  How cool is this...I mean really?!!!  

I already signed up for my first Stitch Fix for mid-November when they had some openings.  I was able to use my $20 giftcard to pay for the styling fee.  Don't worry...there will be a blog post and pictures of what I am sent, what I end up keeping, and how I liked the service itself.  I can't wait!!

The Crispery Halloween Crispycake - valued at $3.95

I saw this as soon as I opened my box!  My husband looked at me and wondered what was wrong with me as I screeched at the site of sprinkles.  LOL.

These Crispycakes are handmade and definitely put a smile on my face.  It was like an adult rice crispy treat!

Do you see how HUGE this thing is?!  Look at it in comparison to my hand.  It was seriously almost 2 inches thick too.  I ended up sharing half of it with my husband for dessert last night.  He scarfed his half down while I ended up only eating half of my half.  I wrapped the other part in cellophane and had it for dessert tonight and it was just as fresh and soft as it was yesterday.  

This flavor was so so.  There wasn't much flavor to it, except for the marshmallow and the chocolate sprinkles.  The marshmallow vs. crispies ratio was a little off too.  But.  I am not going to lie.  I want to try some of the other more gourmet varieties they carry.  Some of the other flavors I would order in a heartbeat?...mint chocolate chip, creamy caramel and marshmallow fluff, pretzel surprise, cocoa crispies and chocolate fluff, and cookies and cream.  They also sell gift boxes that come with a couple different flavors all gift-wrapped and pretty.  Could be a fun and unique Valentine's gift or birthday gift for a friend?  I noticed they also have some special varieties for baby showers.

Final Verdict

I paid $35 for the October box and got $165 worth of items from POPSUGAR Must Have!  The bracelet itself paid for the box....that little itty bitty tiny thing!

All in all, I liked 7 out of the 9 items in this box (and we shall see how the Stitch Fix styling goes).  So, the verdict for October is 4 out of 5 stars.  Here's hoping the November box has some really great fall-inspired items.

What do you think of this month's box?  

Which item is your favorite or a must-have?  

Did you get a POPSUGAR Must Have box too...if so, did you schedule your Stitch Fix yet?

Ipsy Glambag "Classic Beauty" | September 2013

Okay, so I'm a bit of a makeup hoarder, errrrr, collector, I mean, user.  But I'm also a fan of trying out beauty subscriptions.  I've been subscribed to Ipsy for almost 2 years now and haven't looked back.  I used to be a Glossybox subscriber for over a year, but theirs was just not living up to the price tag and I wasn't digging enough of what they were sending me, even though the boxes were fun and I would get a pretty nice item I ended up purchasing more of every so often.

If you're new to the whole beauty subscription world, Ipsy is a $10 monthly subscription service in which you receive a variety of beauty and makeup deluxe samples and even full-size items each month. You actually get 5 items per month, which is a pretty darn good deal for $10!  They send you items based on a style quiz you take on their site.  The difference between Ipsy and Birchbox (which is also a $10 service) is Ipsy matches up the products you get to what you like and their items are always bigger...many of my friends have cancelled Birchbox because they send repeats and foil packets rather than deluxe samples.  But that is just my opinion and insight.  Ipsy also does way more makeup than Birchbox does and that is a HUGE plus for me.  Oh and they send them in specialized makeup bags every month, rather than boxes.

Anyway!  While this month was not my favorite by far, I still liked my items more than I ever did with my Glossybox boxes.  The theme this month was "Classic Beauty" and my items were definitely toned down colors, so I went back in to my "room" and changed my settings because even though classic is my style and preference, I want them to send me more adventurous items.  Let's hope it works for next month!

I try not to look at the website before I get my bag, because they do show you what you will be receiving according to your quiz.

Little screenshot from my "Glam Room"

In my bag this month:

We also got a bonus item this month of a new set of palettes coming from the founder of Ipsy.  It's a very small sample though.  I do love the colors I got, so we shall see what the quality is like and how the colors work out.  As long as they are buttery and have color pay-off, I'll like them.

From left to right:

Elizabeth Mott It's so Big Mascara (sample) | Full size at 10ml for $19.99
I'm too happy with my drugstore mascara to ever enjoy the teeny tiny samples they send me.  The brushes are so hard to use and I find they tend to be gloppy.  Although, each time I've pulled the wand out of this sample, this seems to be one of those formulas that has those fibers...so this might be worth a little shot.  I don't love the larger price tag.  I used to use Laura Mercier and Benefit mascaras that were expensive, yet my $2.99 Jordana mascara works just as well!

Starlooks Kohl Eye Pencil in Obsidian (full size) | $12.00
I am really tired of getting black eyeliners in almost all my bags this past year.  It's the reason I went in and retook my quiz today.  Perhaps if they sent more vibrant or trendy colors, I'd be more willing to try it.  But again, I'm too happy with my black liquid liner that I use everyday to try one of the many different liners they keep sending in the same color.

NYX Single Eyeshadow in Sparkle White (full size) | $4.50
I love that Ipsy sends NYX products often.  They have ever since I started subscribing, which is basically since they came on the scene.  Their lipsticks, butter glosses, liners, and eyeshadows are all great.  While I need more eyeshadows like I need more holes in my head, I always embrace them!  NYX shadows are that fantastic buttery and colorful type that work so well for a higher-end drugstore brand.   I will probably only use this as a highlighter, but would have rather had one of the other shades I saw so many other online subbies get.  Waaaaaah!

John Freida full REPAIR shampoo and conditioner (deluxe sample size) | Full size at 8.45 fl. oz for $6.59 each
Ugh.  I am so picky about my shampoo and conditioner these days because I finally found one that doesn't wash out my hair tint that my stylist uses.  It's an expensive one, but I of course got them during Beauty Brand's liter sale.  I digress.  So, I tend not to like trying samples out.  But I'll give this set a go since my hair is due for a color job soon and this won't affect the color much at this point.  It claims to help out hair that has been overworked by heating and styling.  Sounds like something I could use!

Swatches:

from left to right:  NYX shadow, Starlooks kohl eyeliner, Elizabeth Mott mascara, full REPAIR conditioner, and full REPAIR shampoo

See how utterly boring and underwhelming my bag was this month?!  Sigh.  Funny that my first review I decide to put on my blog...even though I used to do them on my old Tumblr...has to be this plain vanilla bag.  My friend got a super fiery tinted red balm and some people got this awesome wine colored Butter London polish. See?!  Waaaaah!  

I promise, I usually am way more in love with my bags than this and they usually are quite fun.  Oh well.  Next month. 

If you'd like to subscribe for $10 a month and get the latest and greatest in makeup and beauty, join up!

Do you subscribe to any monthly services?  What do you think of the products I received?  Have you tried any of them and have any insight for me?