Popsugar Must Have March 2014 Review

Popsugar Must Have March 2014

This is how it usually goes for me and my subscription boxes:

Me: Ooooh, I like this box a lot! Let me look at all the previous months and choose whether or not to subscribe!

Then I subscribe.  Beginning months are great! Then the boxes seem to go downhill.  Maybe I get desensitized?  Maybe I just get too greedy?  Who knows.  Months pass.

Me: These boxes are getting lame.  I'm going to cancel my subscription.  

Last box arrives.  

Me: This is great! Maybe I should renew my subscription!

PSMH March 2014

That is how PSMH went this month for me.  It was great! I like this box a lot! It's making me reconsider canceling.  I'm afraid that the April box will be FANTASTIC and I will miss out.  But- I will be strong.  I will stay unsubscribed... until a coupon comes out with a great spoiler attached.  Then all bets are off!

So, for now, this is my last PSMH box.  Prices have gone up, and most of the boxes have not reflected the higher price in their content.  

First Look, PSMH March 2014

This month's box contained:

Real first look

Activeforever Fusion Exercise Ball

Now, with handy dandy straw to inflate it!
ActiveForever Fusion 7.5 inch Exercise Ball

This is a tiny basket-ball sized (7.5 inch) exercise ball.  I have NO IDEA what to use it for!  It comes with a little straw to blow it up, and took all of three seconds to do so.  Now what?

This is from Activeforever and suggested retail is $9.95.

Harvest Snaps Snapea Crisps in Lightly Salted

Snapea Crisps- Lightly Salted

These have the texture of cheez doodles- the crunchy puffed up kind- with a subtle veggie (pea) flavor.  They are strangely addictive! My boyfriend said they were weird, but he is not exactly a health-food connoisseur.  If I happen to come across these in a store, and they have the wasabi-ranch flavor, I would probably pick some up.

This is what they look like.  Appetizing?

These sell for about $2 in various grocery stores.  Here is their site.  

Nature's Bakery All Natural Strawberry Fig Bar

Nature's Bakery Fig Bar in Strawberry
Like a grown-up Fig Newton

This was really really good! It's long gone...

You can get a 12-pack of these on Amazon for $7.50.  That means this single bar is worth $0.63.

This month's big ticket item was the spoiler- a blue ikat scarf from Brokedown.  This print was exclusively designed for PSMH, but this type of scarf retails for $72 on Brokedown's site.  I have to say, this scarf is amazing! 

Brokedown Ikat Scarf

I love the colors and the pattern, and it is just so darn soft!  It is very lightweight, and I know I'll be able to wear it through the summer.  Amazing. 

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum

Jurlique Advanced Serum

It's a little unusual to see a non-full-sized item in PSMH, but it does happen.  At least they send sample sizes that are very generous (this is half of the full size) and allow you to test out the product for a decent amount of time.  I also think it's a little weird that they sent us a face serum (oil) last month, and then another one this month! That's ok- I send half of my oil from Nature's Organic (last month's brand) to my sister.  This one might stay with me.  This serum smells very strongly of roses, which I happen to like, and spreads out nicely.  It absorbs pretty fast.

30 mL size on Jurlique's site is $54, making the 15 mL sample worth $27.  

Dogeared Lucky Horseshoe Make a Wish Necklace

Dogeared Lucky Horseshoe Necklace

This is a rather short gold horseshoe charm on tobacco silk thread.  You are supposed to make a wish when you put this on, and then when the silk breaks, your wish will come true.  

Blurry picture of the necklace on me.  It's short.

This is a cute necklace, but Dogeared has things that are much cuter! I would have picked a different design for myself, but it is still a nice idea.  I might use the 30% off code to pick up some gifts!  Everything is pretty reasonably price, which is nice.

This sells for $26 on the Dogeared site.

Baublebar Elephant Ring Tree

Baublebar Elephant Ring Tree

This is adorable! I currently have my rings sitting in a tiny ceramic dish, but I think this will be cute next to my sink at home or on my desk at work (rings do not mix with continual rubber glove usage).  

So cute!

Baublebar has a number of really cute ring trees (that giraffe! omg!) that are all really reasonably priced!  This was a nice addition to this month's PSMH box.

Ring tree, $12 on Baublebar. 

All together

All together, this month's PSMH has an approximate value of $149.48.  This box costs $39.95 per month, but lately they have been sending out discount codes for new subscribers (5 or 10 dollars off) each month.  If you want to try it out, please use my link here.  If one more person signs up with that link, I will get a free box!

No special consideration or compensation was received for this post and all thoughts and opinions are my own. All items mentioned within were paid for by me.

Subscription Box Spoilers, March 2014

Hello everyone!

There are some good spoilers and deals out there for subscription boxes right now.

Popsugar Must Have is featuring this pretty scarf in their March box, AND you can use IKAT10 as a code to get $10 off.  This makes your box $30! 

Golden Tote selection time!  I picked the $149 tote with:

Elephant Dress

Not-so-Basic Button Down in Black and White

Are you getting anything this month?

Ipsy spoilers have started rolling in!

BareMinerals Double Trouble

Spoiler 1 shows this gloss and lipstick- subscribers will get 1 of the two.

FabFitFun  has two spoilers out for their spring box!  Use code SPRING5 to save $5 off of the $50 price tag.

Kai Perfume Oil (gardenia)

Turband from Cult Gaia

This post contains referral links.

Popsugar Must Have February 2014

Popsugar Must Have February 2014

First Look

This month's Popsugar Must Have box had a "pamper yourself oh and also it's Valentine's Day" theme.  This was the month that people could get for $20 using the awesome 50% off code released a few weeks ago.  That made this box an excellent deal for some people, and it caused some of those who paid full price to have a few issues with the box.

PSMH February 2014

Me? I'm indifferent.  This just confirms to me that not renewing my subscription after it expires in March is the way to go.  I already signed up for FabFitFun which is $50 quarterly.  (Get $5 off the Spring box using code ZOE or EARLY5.)

Dial Vitamin Boox Lotion Infused Body Wash

I'm just going to get this one out of the way.  This body wash polarized the internets.  It is listed as a "Special Extra" in the booklet, and is not supposed to count toward the total value of the box.  Fine.  Birchbox does this all the time- they feature drugstore items in addition to the normal content for the month.  I don't have a problem with BB or PSMH doing this.  As long as it is a bonus, great.

Some people found the inclusion of this body was to be insulting.  They felt it devalued the box as a whole, and would have been better to just omit it all together.  It inflated the box weight significantly without contributing to the value.  That's their opinion, and they are entitled to it.

I am just happy to stockpile more bodywash!  This one smells like kiwis and isn't too girly.  

$3?  Price may vary depending on stores and current sales.

Whew!  Onto the "real" stuff...

Nourish Organic Argan Face Serum

Last month Ipsy included a sample of face lotion from this brand in my bag.  It was just ok.  This is better.  Normally when I read "face serum," I think of a thinner, gel-like product.  Serum?  Right?  Something with some viscosity to it? 

No.  This is a mixture of oils and oils alone.  I wouldn't call that a "serum," and it totally squirted all over the place because I was expecting something with a little more heft to it when I pushed on the pump.  Oh well.  Nomenclature notwithstanding, this is a decent mix of oils.  It is mostly safflower, with argan, sweet orange (which contributes the most to the scent), apricot and rosehip seed oils.  It also has vitamin E.  That's it.  No additives or silicones or anything.  It was a little on the heavy side on my skin, and took a little longer than I'd like to absorb, so I won't wear it in the morning.  At night,  this is great.

20 mL is $23.99 on Nourish Organic's site.

Sugarwish Mini Red Cinnamon Hearts

Cinnamon hearts always remind me of my mom.  There were very few candies in the world that our family did not enjoy, but as far as I remember, she was the only one that liked these.  I thought they were too spicy for my delicate baby mouth.  I've since aged a couple decades, and discovered that these are indeed delicious.  They are also small, which is good.  And not chocolate, which is better. 

I don't like chocolate.  It's ok if that makes you not read my blog anymore.  

Sugarwish is a mail-order candygram company.  You send a gift card to someone and they pick out the candy they want, and Sugarwish sends it to them.  The smallest size you can gift is 4 1/4lb bags for $25 including shipping.  They have the kinds of candy you normally see in the bulk-candy mall stores.

The candy hearts we were sent are 1/4lb, giving them a value of $6.25.  I definitely wouldn't pay that much for cinnamon hearts, but they did come in a cute box with a bow.  Packaging is everything!  There was also a 20% coupon. (I also think it's kinda cute that Popsugar included another company with sugar in the name!)

k. hall designs Peony Travel Candle

This is such a cute candle!  I love the tin, I love the scent (I wouldn't normally like a floral), and I will definitely burn this.  Very appropriate for a pampering/Valentine's themed box.  Would a jar candle have been better?  Yes.  But I'll make do.

$11 on k hall designs' site.

ModelCo Lip Pops Duo Lip Gloss and Lipstick

This is a dual-ended lipgloss and lipstick combination product.  Both ends smell like strawberry to me.  The gloss is clear with a little shimmer, even though it is tinted pink in the bottle.  The lipstick is a brown-leaning medium mauve color which will be flattering on most people.  I managed to leave the lipstick twisted-up after this picture and smushed it into the cap.  That is what I get for taking pictures of my stuff while on too much cold medicine.

I could not find this product individually on ModelCo's website.  It looks like this is the nude lipstick/ striptease gloss combination included in this set.  The set is $49 and includes three of these combos and a mascara.  

I'll estimate $12.25 for this by itself.

ncLA Polish in Rodeo Drive Royalty

What could be more massacre-themed than blood-red nail polish?  Not much, and I'm happy to have another ncLA polish to try out.  We got one over the summer in another PSMH box, and I really liked it.  However, that one was a creme formula, and this one is more of a jelly.  I prefer the creme!  This went on unevenly and was tricky for even me to apply.  My bottle does have a wonky brush, though.

Rodeo Drive Royalty in bright light, 2 coats

This picture is a little lighter than the polish looks in real life.  It is closer to the bottle color.  I'd say it is the color of blood before it has a chance to oxidize- like when you are getting blood drawn into a small tube.  That color.

This is $16 on the ncLA site.  They also call it a creme and that it is cran-apple colored.  They may be less-morbid people than me.

Gorjana Brooks Jewelry Roll

This is this month's "big ticket" item: a faux leather jewelry roll from Gorjana + Griffin.  It is a poppy-red color, close to the zipper pulls in the next picture.  There are three zippered compartments inside and it is held together by wrapping some ties around the thing and kinda tying it the best you can.  The edges of that tie are not stitched onto the back of the pouch well, at all.  I also have random glue splotches around the zippers on the inside.  

Gorjana Brooks Jewelry Roll, inside

I don't feel like this would make traveling with jewelry any easier for me.  I don't often bring much with me, and what I do bring, I wear.  I have a small container I put it in while I go through security, and then it goes back on.  I will probably use this as a clutch, instead.  My iPhone fits in a pocket, and I can put my cards and cash in the others.  Voila.

This is $45 on the Gorjana website and this exact color doesn't seem to be listed.  PSMH also included a $25 off-your-next-full-priced-order coupon code.  I have two of these now, and will never use them because shipping is too expensive and I can't combine the codes with each other or with sale items.  If you think this is something you would be interested in, please let me know in the comments! I will email you one of my codes! I have two! Two people can get $25 off codes!  Yay!

PSMH February 2014

All together, this box had a total (approximated) value of $117.49.  More importantly, I'll actually use and enjoy everything included.  I still probably won't renew my subscription.  I'd rather try out other boxes!

Popsugar Must Have is $40 per month, with slight discounts if you prepay for a certain number of months ahead of time.  You get 6 (sometimes with +1 bonus) full-sized items from various categories.  It is a very diverse subscription and you never know what will be included.  It consistently has a value of over $100.

If you want to try PSMH for yourself, please use my referral link here.  I'll get a free month for every so many people who join using that link.

This post contains items purchased by me.  No special consideration or compensation was received and all thoughts and opinions are my own.  This post contains referral links to PSMH and FFF. 

Popsugar Must Have Coupon!

Hi everyone!

I have the latest Phone Case of the Month review to do, but first:

THERE IS A 50% OFF PSMH COUPON CODE.

If you have wanted to try out Popsugar, but it was out of your price range, now is the time.

ASK50 *should* get you 50% off of your first box, making it $19.97 + tax.

If you want to try it out, please use my referral link here.  One more person and I will get a free month!  That would be nice, I just cancelled (after my next two prepaid boxes, that's it!).

Popsugar Must Have January 2014

Popsugar Musthave January 2014

I got my box early this month!  Very early.  In fact, spoilers only started showing up this morning.  FedEx usually gets to my house around 6:30 pm, so I wasn't the first, but I am one of the first to open up the January offering from Popsugar.

This month is all about keeping your resolutions.

What's inside?

I really feel like PSMH is grasping at straws when they choose themes, and with how they try to fit their items into said theme.  It's ok to just send a box of stuff.  I promise.

Anyway, the big-ticket item this month is a (Malin + Goetz) Detox Face Mask.

(Malin + Goetz) Detox Face Mask

This goes on like a lotion and foams up after sitting on your skin.  I tried it out, and it was a very interesting sensation.  It feels like little bubbles popping all over your face!  My skin feels smooth and hydrated after using it, and it smells like almonds (benzaldehyde).  Not bad.  I like it a lot!

4 oz, sells for $40 on the (M+G) site.

Next up is a book by Eric Helms: The Juice Generation

The Juice Generation by Eric Helms 

I have a juicer.  I've used it a few times, but it is a pain to clean.  It also takes a LOT of produce to make a glass of juice.  This has juice and smoothie recipes, as well as a guide for getting started and easing your way into juicing.  Maybe I'll give it a try.  Or, maybe this will just sit with my other cookbooks and be neglected.  

Book, $15.96 paperback on Amazon.  Cheaper for Kindle version.

Also included this month is a pair of tech gloves from Jack + Lucy

Jack + Lucy golves

These are gray (chenille?) gloves with conductive threads woven into the forefingers and thumbs.

Gloves

They are nice in the sense that they extend above the wrist, eliminating the pesky gap between short gloves and coat sleeves.  The fingers are a little big on me, these don't stretch very much which could be a problem for some of the smaller-handed ladies out there.  These do work with my phone, but not as well as just with a finger.  I'm not sure if it is because I have a screen protector on or not, but I have to be very deliberate with my gestures when I use these to manipulate my phone content.

I couldn't find this brand anywhere online, and there wasn't a website listed in the PSMH booklet.  I'll estimate these at $15 to be nice.

Since it is January, I sort of expected a calendar of some sort in this month's box.  I was right.

Rifle Paper Co. Cities Calendar

This stand-up calendar from Rifle Paper Co. features cute drawings of a different city each month. The actual calendar part of each page is pretty small, and I don't like that there isn't room to write down appointments and reminders for the days.

January: New York

The pictures are cute, and I'm sure I will find someone that will like this.  I use a blotter-style calendar at work, so I can write down my appointments and reminders and research goals for each day. It also gives me space to write down random things, so I don't need to dig around for paper.  This calendar is not as practical.  Cute, yes.  Practical, no.

This is $16 on the Rifle Paper Co. website.

I wish I had never opened the next item:

Pipcorn Truffle Flavored Mini Popcorn

Pipcorn Mini Popcorn in Truffle flavor from Pipsnacks.  This is amazing.  It is SO GOOD!  I can't even tell you how delicious this popcorn is.  Seriously.  It is salty and savory and light and because the kernels are mini, there aren't any big chunks of hull to get stuck in your teeth!  This mini version is supposed to be easier to digest.

Mini popcorns

All I know is that this is the best bagged popcorn I've ever had.  Ever. 

Pipcorn is $18 for 3 bags ($6 each) and comes in a variety of flavors.  

Last, but not least... well, ok.  Maybe least.  Revlon by Marchesa Box o' Files.

Revlon by Marchesa Box o Files

This is a box of nail files.  They are cute.  They file my nails.  I'm not too excited about them, but whatever.  I'll still use them.

$3.49 at Target.

Popsugar Must Have January 2014

All together, this box had an estimated value of $96.45.

I like the face mask and LOVE the popcorn.  I'll actually use the gloves and files, but that's about it.  At least it is better than months where I just give everything away.  I wasn't blown away by anything.  The last few boxes have been kinda dull for me.  I don't plan on renewing my subscription when it runs out in March.  I'll get 2 more boxes, and then move on to a different subscription.  Maybe FabFitFun?  Any ideas?

If you want to try out Popsugar, please use my link here.  I'll get a free month if I refer 1 more person.   It costs $39.95 per month, plus tax if applicable, and you get discounts if you buy a 3, 6, or 12 month subscription.  Right now, you can get 3 months for the price of two with code NEWYEAR.  Other codes include $10 off your first box with code JAN10, or a free necklace with code HEART14.

No special consideration or compensation was received for this post and all thoughts and opinions are my own. All items mentioned within were paid for by me. This post contains a referral link; see above for details.

Popsugar Must Have December 2013 Review

Popsugar Must Have December 2013

As always, I peeked this month!

December Popsugar!

 Popsugar suggested that the December box is, "the wish list you never knew you needed," and I'm not quite sure about that.  I wouldn't wish for wrapping paper, but I appreciate it in time to wrap gifts. 

Look at this stuff!

Mixt Studio Holiday Gifting Set

This recycled paper wrapping paper came with three small-ish sheets in different designs, twine, and tags.  I will definitely use this!  

Wrapping Paper

My favorite is the blue snowflake print, and I like that they include everything you need to wrap up some cute gifts.

Paper Prints

Three sheets (19-20 x 30 inches), twine, and gift tags, $9 on Mixt site.

Govino Go Anywhere Flutes

I'll take my champagne to go, please

This is a set of 4 sturdy plastic champagne flutes with a little finger notch in each.  I don't have champagne flutes, but I do have some mis-matched wine glasses because I keep breaking them.  For that reason, I like these plastic glasses!  I have some plastic wine glasses that came in a picnic set, but these look a little nicer.

Set of 4, $12.95 on Govino's website.

Modelco Fibre Lashxtend Black Mascara

Modelco will make me beautiful

I got this exact mascara in a birchbox about a year ago.  I liked it enough that I used up the whole tube, and that never happens.  I usually get bored and start alternating, and then throw out a handful of partially used tubes after a few months.  A nice feature of this mascara is that the tube has a mirror on the side of it!  

Reflectron of my ceiling.

The fibers add length and a little volume without looking like you have little spider legs above your eyelids.  It's not the best mascara I've ever used, but it's far from the worst.  I'll happily add it to my pile to use up.

The weird thing is, I couldn't find this mascara by itself on ModelCo's website!  They had normal Lashxtend (tubing) mascara, and an "unboxed" black mascara that didn't mention anything about fibers, and a fiber falsie mascara set thing that is definitely not this.  However, they are selling this as part of a set with an eyeliner for $10 on sale.  The same mascara is $24 in the Birchbox shop.

CC Made Caramel Corn in Pistachio Nut (3 oz)

Pistachio Caramel Corn!

This is really good popcorn! I was going to save it, but my willpower lasted all of one hour.  The pistachios are different in this caramel corn, but in a good way.  They add a nice salty/savory crunch that is different from the normal peanuts you see in products like this.  The popcorn was fluffy and the caramel was buttery and crunchy, and I'm glad I opened this!

3 oz bags sell for $4 on the CC Made site.

ncLA Peppermint Lane Nail Wraps.

Polka-dots and Candy Cane Stripes

I've used these nail wraps before, and they last a day or two before I peel them off.  I like this style because you put down clear nail polish before and after applying the strips.  They do not dry out if you open the package, and they give you 26- enough for at least 2 manicures.  These would also make nice accent nail designs!

ncLA nail wraps, $16.

Ghirardelli Squares Chocolate, Milk & Caramel (5.32 oz) and Holiday Assortment (7.18 oz)

Who doesn't like chocolate?... oh, right.  Me.

My willpower may not have extended to the caramel corn, but I have no problem keeping the bags of chocolate closed until Christmas.  These will stay safe until then, but when they hit the candy bowl, all bets are off!  The holiday assortment has Eggnog, Peppermint Bark, and Pumpkin Spice Caramel flavors.  The milk chocolate & caramel squares are my second favorites (I like the peppermint filled dark chocolate the best!).  I like that PS gave us two full bags of chocolate this season!  I know some people were a little disappointed that this wasn't a "higher end" brand, but it will do just fine.  These are individually wrapped and are a holiday stand-by.

You can frequently get these on sale at most mass-market supermarkets and pharmacies.  I went with the lowest price I could find (Walmart) and am estimating $3 and $5 for the two bags.

Last, but not least, (well, ok, maybe) is the "big ticket" item.

Lulu Frost for Popsugar Bracelet.

Lulu Frost Bracelet and fuzzy bag.

When looking at spoilers online, this bracelet looked chunkier than in real life.  That is a good thing.  I am not crazy about the brass chain and the silver charm with glass rhinestones... I feel like they clash.  The charm would look pretty on a silver necklace, and the bracelet chain would look better with... well, anything the same brassy color.

Bracelet being worn.  Check out my burn, too.  Ouch.

I like this more than I expected to, but that's not saying much.  I like the little fuzzy bag it came in more than the bracelet! HA!  I can't see myself paying that much for a brass chain and silver-plated zinc with little bits of cut glass.  I just can't.

Lulu Frost now has this bracelet on their site for $110.

All together, this box had a value of $169.95 (being conservative on the mascara).  I paid $33 for it with my multi-month discount.  The price per month has now increased to $39.95 plus tax.  If you would like to sign up for PSMH, please use my link here.  If I refer one more person, I get a free month!  You can use code REFER5 to save 5$ on your first box.  PSMH sends full (and sometimes deluxe) sized items from all across the board.  They send accessories, home items, makeup and beauty items, food, etc.  You never know, and that is what makes it so exciting every month.  I know that even if I don't like something, I will be able to find a home for it.

No special consideration or compensation was received for this post and all thoughts and opinions are my own. All items mentioned within were paid for by me.