Finally, to wrap-up my subscription service review posts for the month of January is my personal favorite- my POPSUGAR Must-Have Box! I’ve only been a member of this service since last Summer- but I have yet to receive anything I didn’t really love- and the value of the items that are included always surpasses the cost of the box (and shipping & handling) each month. More than that, the variety of the assorted products is always really unique and interesting- ranging anywhere from food, beauty, books, tech, and home decor- among other things.

I had received the outline of January’s inspirations/theme a while back- and was pretty excited to see what was inside the actual box since I’m very much all about that New Year renewal/rejuvenation thing. To kick off 2016, POPSUGAR turned to RENEWAL, ORGANIZATION, DETOX, NEW YEAR, and HEALTHY HABITS for their inspiration with putting the assortment of products together.

Let’s take a look and what I received!

To kick off the ‘ORGANIZATION’ aspect of January’s POPSUGAR box, I was really happy to receive this beautiful 2016 planner from Blue Sky. I have a small planner I keep in my purse to jot down appointments or reminders (and it was recently featured in my ‘January Hits List’ post!)– but this one is very detailed and designed specifically to meet and maintain both short-term and long-term goals. I’ll be keeping this at my desk at work for motivation!

I was also sent a copy of Maria Kondo (a bestselling author and cleaning consultant)‘s manual on tidying up, ‘Spark Joy’. Although I’ve flipped through the book, I have yet to fully implement it’s teachings as of yet- although I plan to in the coming days after I get home from work! I want a spotless, organized home!

I was so, so thrilled to receive this set of body washes from Not Soap, Radio in this month’s box. Each decently-sized bottle has a different fragrance, infused with different extracts to illicit a range of emotions/feelings- and they all smell SO good. These are perfect for travel, too- since they’re not too big to pack and not too small where they’ll get lost easily in the shuffle of everything. They come in a handy, clear zip-pouch, as well- which makes keeping track of them all a little bit easier.

Sheet masks are all the rage right now, and I am shamelessly and helplessly aboard that bandwagon. I love them- and there’s nothing that makes me feel more relaxed than taking off my makeup after a long day of work and resting a sheet mask over my face while I kick back in my bed or on my couch in my fleece pajamas and let it work it’s magic on my skin.

It’s nice to see POPSUGAR keeping the trend alive and well by sending a trio of five-minute sheet masks from Patchology in January’s Must Have boxes- each one made to target a different skin concern. I’ll definitely be using these up in no time at all!

I was actually a bit surprised to see a simple tube of chap stick in a POPSUGAR box- but I’ll never say no to it since Winter is awful on my skin/hair/lips. This new age-defying formula is vanilla-scented and is loaded with argan oil to help repair my lips from current damage and protect them from further dryness/peeling/cracking. I’ll take it and I won’t complain about it.

Priced at $40, this pebble-speckled storage bin from Pehr Designs is officially the most expensive item included in January’s Must Have box. I like the colors of this bin, since they match pretty much anything in my home- and despite how compact it looks in the packaging all folded up- this bin can hold a LOT of stuff! I’ve been using this to keep my hats and gloves in one place so I’m not left scrambling before I leave for work in the morning- and it’s definitely come in handy!

I don’t know how many of you have ever tried Project 7 Gum– but it’s pretty wild. It comes in a variety of off-the-wall-flavors, all of which taste exactly like they’re described (I recently had the birthday cake flavored gum and it blew my mind how spot-on it was to tasting like actual vanilla cake)– so to receive a packet of one of the newer taste tests- sno-cone- was fun. I’m still searching for the kettle corn popcorn-flavored Gum- but this’ll do ’til then!

Also, Project 7 does some serious charity work across the board- so it’s nice that POPSUGAR is helping get their name out there to their subscribers and beyond so more people can get interested and support their causes. You can check out Project 7’s website for more information on their partnerships and charitable contributions.

Finally, this month’s coupon (the unique code was edited out so I could post this online!) was for 25% off any order from Pehr Designs- the company who created the storage bin shown above. I actually think I’ll be ordering a few more bins to place around the other rooms in my home, so this will come in handy when I sit down to make the purchase! It was nice of POPSUGAR to include this.

All in all, I liked January’s Must Have box very much. The chapstick and the gum threw me off a little- if only because they were small compared to everything else in the box and nearly got misplaced for a second during my opening of everything- but I thought the composition of items was well thought-out and interesting. I’ve already been getting a lot of use out of most of the things I received, and I can’t wait to start the ‘Spark Joy’ book!

I’m not sure what February’s theme/inspiration will be just yet- since those spoilers usually arrive in my inbox during the second or third week of the month- but I’m suspecting it will be something Valentine’s Day-related. Chocolate, maybe? (Hopefully.)

I’ll just have to wait and see.

Until next month’s unboxings- that’s it for my January subscription service reviews!

xx

Next up on my subscription service review list is my December POPSUGAR ‘Must Have’ Box- which has quickly toppled Loot Crate as my favorite subscription box to receive. Although it’s a little pricier than some other services- the value of the products included each and every month is worth what I spend, and then some. I’m always left so impressed- and the items I don’t or won’t use end up being INCREDIBLE gifts for my friends and family.

December’s assortment of items was inspired by: Celebration, Holiday Glamour, New Year’s, Indulgence, Chocolate and Sparkles. I obviously enjoy all of those things- so I couldn’t open this box fast enough!

To cover the “indulgence” and “chocolate” aspects of December’s POPSUGAR box- I received one package of My Cup of Cake’s Belgian chocolate microwavable mug soufflé. I’ve had similar products like this in the past (cake in a mug, brownie in a mug, etc.) so I know how to prepare these and what to generally expect in terms of flavor and texture if it’s done right- so I’m pretty excited to give this a try on Christmas Eve while I’m curled up in my blankets and watching ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ with my dog. Yum!

Although I’m done with my gift wrapping for this holiday season, I’ll be saving this roll of sparkling glitter tape from Meri Meri for my packages next year. It’s so pretty- and it will pair nicely with these gift tags from Tiny Prints. Both items are a beautiful and simple white and silver combination- so the presents I wrap for Christmas come next December are going to look gorgeous.

The only item in December’s ‘Must Have’ box that I plan to gift to a friend of mine- who is a wine enthusiast to the core- is this uniquely shaped and built-to-last bottle stopper designed by Nima Oberoi. I know she’ll appreciate this item and get much more use out of it than I will!

Up until now, I was pretty unfamiliar with Stowaway Cosmetics– but now that I’ve been wearing these AMAZING (think: creamy, dreamy, highly pigmented and long-lasting) shades of their miniature lipstick tubes for a little over a week now- I’m sold. Out of the three, ‘Raspberry’ is my current favorite (it changes every couple of days, however-) and I’d love to try some of their other products if they’re half as good as these are!

What do you do when you wear a lot of silver and gold during the holiday season but can’t decide which of the two to choose to sport at any given time without going overboard? You turn to this stunning silver, gold, and rose gold plated chain bracelet from Luv AJ (a $65 value!) to cover all the bases while looking chic and sparkling. I’m in love with this piece- which I’ve been rocking on my wrist almost daily since it goes with pretty much everything I wear and helps make even the most casual of outfits look more put together and fancy.

And where else could I store that beautiful chain bracelet shown above than in this equally lovely leatherette and suede jewelry box from Swing Design? I’m so enamored with the colors of this box- which I feel would look great on display through the remainder of the Winter, as well as the Summer (since the colors kind of remind me of the beach.)

And finally, the coupons- which almost always have an impressive value themselves! The first, from My Cup of Cake, is a 25% of any order voucher. Since each package of cake costs approximately $6 each- I’ll be using this to stock up if they taste good enough!

The second coupon, from Stowaway Cosmetics, is valid for three additional lipsticks- for free- with the purchase of my first Stowaway Cosmetics kit. Considering how much I’m loving the trio I received in this month’s box- I might just sign up!

Overall, December’s ‘Must Have’ box was another huge hit for me. With the exception of the bottle stopper- I’ll be using and enjoying everything I received for a while! I can’t wait for next month’s assortment of items!

xx

The second subscription box review for the month of November comes courtesy of POPSUGAR, who’s ‘Must Have” box is quickly becoming my favorite assortment of items to receive (the third and final box for the month, Loot Crate, is currently en route to me!) I have to admit that this box arrived at a perfect time- since I’ve been trying to prepare for upcoming job interviews as well as Thanksgiving- and I have admittedly been getting a little frazzled in the process of staying organized and on top of things. To receive a box filled with fun things briefly took the edge off for a bit- which is always appreciated.

November’s box, in keeping up with the impending holiday- was inspired by the nicer aspects of Thanksgiving (as opposed to say, “FOOD COMAS” or “BLACK FRIDAY FIGHTS AT TARGET”, for example.) I had already received a couple of spoilers/hints via e-mail leading up to the collection shipping out- so I was eager to check everything out.

So, what did I receive?

For Thanksgiving this year, I’ll be heading to my mom’s house to gather with family and stuff my face, and while I normally help out around the kitchen and with serving her guests- this year I’m only obligated to bring myself. HOWEVER, I’ll be bringing along this jar of pecan honey mustard from Terrapin Ridge Farms to serve as a dipping sauce for her appetizers. I got curious and took a look at Terrapin Ridge Farms’ website to see what else they have available- and I think I’ve found quite a few things to order and gift to my foodie friends for Christmas.

I can never have enough candles- especially ones that come in packaging as lovely as this beautifully fresh fragranced one from Capri Blue. With a metallic tin that doubles as a jewelry box when the wax runs out and a lovely carved wooden lid- this candle has already found a spot in my bedroom. I received “Rain”, which is scented in the way you’d probably expect- clean, crisp, and refreshing. I’m a big fan.

I’ve been preparing to go through my annual End-of-the-Year makeup clean-out in the coming days- which is where I do an inventory of cosmetics I own that are either empty of almost expired and go about throwing them out and/or replacing them. I know for a fact that a neutral eye shadow palette I’ve owned and loved since the Spring is almost gone (I’ve been scraping my brush along the edges of the container in a desperate attempt to salvage any remaining color) so this “Beauty & the Box” shadow quad from Tarte– which features two shimmery tones and two matte tones for easy blending- is a life saver.

I’ve been wearing these pigmented and long-lasting colors every day for the better part of a week now- and I’m completely smitten with them!

Late November and the entire month of December is all about sparkling to me. My jewelry, my clothing, and my makeup- I like to look and feel as festive as the scenery around me in beautiful New England this time of year. November’s “Must Have” box included a high valued item ($56!) in the form of this gorgeous crystal headband from Deepa Gurnani. I’m really looking forward to wearing this with my holiday ensembles around the party and celebration circuit this season.

I’ve never been much of a bingo player, but I have to admit I liked the look of this modernized (and very chic) set from West Emory. I have an Aunt- a frequent attendee at local bingo nights- who would absolutely love this set. I’ll be seeing her at Thanksgiving next week- and I think she’ll really appreciate this and get a lot more use out of it than I will!

November has, to date- been pretty stressful at times for me- which can really be said about 2015 in general (but I’ll get to that in my year-end wrap-up post next month.) Even still, I have a lot to be thankful for- and I’ve already been writing down my gratitude to family and friends on these really beautiful postcards from Gramr Gratitude Co. Each one features a gorgeous print with a word of thanks on the front. I love receiving mail- especially handwritten letters and postcards- so I’ve been enjoying repaying the favor to some of those I hold nearest and dearest to me.

Finally, the add-on bonuses in November’s “Must Have” box- all of which will be coming in handy this holiday season. I received a coupon for $15 off of a Gramr subscription (monthly deliveries of postcards!) and 20% off of a future purchase at Capri Blue. Considering how much I am loving the “Rain” candle- I think I’ll be picking up a couple more for myself and friends this Christmas.

The last add-on bonus was a $20 gift card to inkdot.com– which I’m going to be using for a canvas print I’ve been planning on creating for a family member in the coming weeks. I’m really excited to have it done and done well- but still be able to save some money on it!

As usual, POPSUGAR didn’t disappoint this month. I love that I can get so much use out of the things they send me- and the stuff I give to others make such wonderful and beautiful gifts.

I’m really looking forward to December’s box- which will be my first holiday one since subscribing with the service earlier this Summer. I have a feeling it’s going to be really impressive!

xx

I know that in the past I’ve said that Loot Crate is my favorite subscription service that I pay for, but in the couple of months that I’ve been subscribed the POPSUGAR’s monthly “Must Have” box- it’s definitely creeping up on the competition. I love the themes and monthly inspiration, how everything is carefully selected and packed, the variety of what’s inside the box- and the value. I get food, home decor, accessories, beauty products, jewelry and so much more. It’s an incredible find that I look forward to each and every month!

October’s box was inspired by Autumn (yes!) being cozy and restful nights (double yes!) irresistible, and breast cancer awareness (the entire month of October marks Breast Cancer Awareness month, for those who didn’t know!) As it turns out, via a card tucked inside this month’s assortment of items- POPSUGAR made a charitable donation to Right Action for Women (also known as the Christina Applegate Foundation), which I thought was fantastic- and I’ll be making an independent donation of my own before the month is over.

Let’s see what was inside, shall we?

I was so, so, SO excited to receive a hardcover copy of Mindy Kaling’s “Why Not Me?” and I absolutely cannot wait to start reading it this week. I think Mindy is so talented, so funny, and unbelievably inspirational- and this book of her personal essays that cover a variety of thoughts and topics is sure to be a page-turner that I’ll read cover to cover in no time at all. Just give me a rainy day and a warm cup of coffee and I’ll immerse myself in this!

I love the “cozy” items included in October’s POPSUGAR box. The first, a set of 100% satin pillowcases from Savvy Sleepers. I’ve heard a lot of great things about these pillowcases, like how their material prevents wrinkles and hair damage while you sleep (because satin doesn’t roughly rub up against your skin and hair like some other fabrics.) I’m going to be washing and changing my sheets and bedding this coming weekend- so these are going to get some use for sure!

And I am THRILLED with these soft, fuzzy slipper socks from Richer Poorer! I wear socks like these on my lazy days around my place or on nights where it’s cold under my covers. They’re just so comfortable- and cute!

I love that POPSUGAR includes one or two food/beverage items in each box, since it sort of opens doors to brands and foods I wouldn’t have discovered or would have thought to try otherwise. I haven’t bitten into these caramel-filled waffle cones from Belgian Boys yet (they’ll be packed in my lunch for work this week)– but they look delicious.

I also took a peek at some of the company’s other products available on their website- and it all looks ridiculously tasty!

I’m not a big wine drinker, but I thought these four individual paper wine bags from Easy, Tiger were pretty cute- and I’ve already gifted them to my brother and my sister-in-law who will surely get more use out of them than I would! The company makes more than just liquor bags, too- and I’ve been coveting some of their uniquely styled greeting cards and comfy-looking t-shirts while browsing their website!

I am a compulsive exfoliator- I go through facial and body scrubs on a bi-weekly basis- so I was pretty psyched to get this full-sized tub of a relaxing lavender & vanilla scented sea salt and sugar scrub from The Honest Company. I’m looking forward to working this stuff into the dry patches on my knees and elbows the next time I take a nice, hot soak in my tub. It’s going to be divine!

And I can never have enough leave-in conditioner- so the deluxe sample-sized one from It’s A 10 is always welcome on my bathroom vanity! I’m currently finishing up a couple of other conditioning products I’ve received in recent beauty/subscription boxes- but this one is next on my list to try when I run out of them!

And finally, POPSUGAR also gives out some really impressive coupons each month! October’s box (the photo was edited to white out the promo codes) included a 20% coupon for Savvy Sleepers- for when I’m ready to order more pillowcases- a 30% off coupon for The Honest Company, and a $40 gift card for Danielle Stevens Jewelry! I am head over heels in love with their monogrammed necklaces and I will definitely be using this generous bonus to purchase one of my own in the coming weeks!

Overall- and it should come as no surprise to anyone- I LOVED October’s POPSUGAR box! Each item included was wonderful and thoughtful and I can’t wait to dive right into using and trying them!

I cannot wait to see what’s in store for November!

xx

Having been so completely impressed and pleased with August’s POPSUGAR Must Have Box, my first with the service, I was practically pacing the floor while awaiting the arrival of my September one. I already knew one of the products that was going to be included this month thanks to the e-mailed spoiler POPSUGAR sent out to subscribers near the end of August, but the rest was a mystery!

September’s theme/inspiration, also revealed near the end of last month- contained items centered around ‘Fashion Fix/Travel/Refresh/Beauty Recovery’. With a Vegas and San Diego trip planned for mid-October- I was especially excited to see what fit into the ‘travel’ aspect of this month’s assortment of products. Whatever can make my packing and/or time spent in the airport easier and less stressful is always a welcomed treat.

Oh, hello again, Briogeo’s Rosarco Milk Reparative Leave-In Conditioning Spray! The last time our paths crossed was in my May Ipsy bag– and I had taken quite a liking to a sample of you that I’d received! Coincidentally enough, I had said I would *definitely* purchase a full-sized bottle in the future- and now I don’t have to since POPSUGAR was nice enough to send me one! This conditioning spray is just as lovely as ever (and just as strongly fragranced- but I don’t mind!) and I’ve been using it daily with another styling product over the past few days to protect my color-treated curls and keep my hair soft and shiny.

I’ve been doing an “au naturel” look with my nails lately, which is just a fancier way of saying that I haven’t been able to find the time to get a proper manicure for a couple of weeks now so my fingertips are looking a little rugged. Even with a fresh coat of polish, my cuticles are in need of more than a little TLC these days. I was really happy to see this cuticle oil- in the cutest little dropper bottle- from NCLA in September’s box (retail value of $18) because I know it’ll come in handy when I finally sit down to give my digits the attention and affection they deserve!

I love that POPSUGAR includes at least one food/beverage item in each month’s box. This month, it was this slightly-sweetened almond & dried cherry mix from Nourish Snacks. These are great to keep in your bag for travel since they’re a much healthier (and tastier) alternative to a bag of potato chips, cookies or any other regrettable temptation. Nourish Snacks also has a bunch of other varieties available at their website- all of which look pretty good!

The item I knew I’d be receiving this month was the ‘Brow Envy: Brow Shaping and Defining Kit’ from Too Faced (a $39 value!) My brows have always-thankfully- had a natural high arch and decent thickness to them, so having to maintain and shape them every day as part of my makeup regimen was never really a concern for me- but I feel like this will come in handy in those days between waxings when I need to keep bushy-ness at bay. The kit comes with two brow powders, brushes, tweezers, stencils, instructions for the stencils, a highlighter- and setting wax- all packaged nice and neat. It’s convenient for travel or for simply keeping on hand at home.

I was really happy to see these travel cases (one TSA-friendly clear pouch and two black & white patterned drawstring bags) from Hudson + Bleecker in September’s box. During my last mini-vacation to the West Coast, my usual toiletries pouch was all but destroyed after an impromptu inspection by the TSA in Logan Airport and I haven’t had a chance to replace it. With not one- but three flights scheduled within a few short weeks- I think these bags are really going to make my packing 100x easier. I’m hoping that TSA is gentler with these then they were with my last ones- especially because these are of much higher quality!

My favorite item in September’s POPSUGAR box had to be these XO stud earrings from Kris Nations ($35 value.) I’ve been starting to gravitate towards smaller earrings after years of wearing dramatic dangling ones or chandelier styles (especially in the Fall and Winter when they can easily get snagged on sweaters! Ouch!) and these are perfect transition pieces. Plated in 14K gold, the earrings are subtle, lightweight, and so, so cute.  I have a feeling I’ll be getting a lot of wear out of these. Also? They’re packaged so simple- but it’s still beautiful and unique at the same time!

Finally, the coveted coupons. September’s POPSUGAR box included two 20% coupons for Kris Nations and Too Faced. I’ll be using both since I’m a big fan of both brands (I’ve been eyeing the Massachusetts state pride necklace at Kris Nations for a couple of days now- and I think now is a good time to order it!)

I also received two $10 coupons for anyone looking to subscribe to POPSUGAR’s Must Have Box. Each card has a unique code printed on the back to give you the $10 discount on your very first box!

Overall, September’s POPSUGAR Must Have Box was another wildly successful one for me. The total retail value of the products included surpassed $150- and each item was carefully selected to go hand-in-hand with the listed theme/inspirations. I really loved everything- and I can’t wait to see what’s coming in October!