February 2016 POPSUGAR Must Have Box Review and Thoughts

 It's February 5th and I already have the February PopSugar Must Have box!!

 Crazy sauce, this is awesome.

 POPSUGAR Must Have is a monthly subscription lifestyle box for gals.  The cost is $39.95 a month, free shipping, but it's cheaper when you subscribe with a 3, 6, or 12 months subscription.  On any month you can receive goodies for home, a book, fitness, snack, makeup, pampering, fashion, etc.  You never know what you're going to get, only that it will be fun and worth around $100, give or take a little.

 The big reveal, though I realized after the fact that I didn't properly capture the ring.

 The info: Click the picture if you want to read what the cards say.

 Fringe Studio: Hello Beautiful Square Tray, $14.

Usually when I see a tray like this my first thought is soap.  I like having little trays for soap, but it's also good for jewelry and little nick-knacks.

Really cute, and the gold shines.

 Tilo: Heart Print Scarf, $125

Tilo scarfs are like works or art.  Their website is full of beautiful scarves.  This one is simple, and I like the subtle heart print in gray tones.  Makes it easier to wear, and the gray makes the scarf more sophisticated then if it was the typical pink.

 Beautycounter: Nourishing Cleansing Balm, $50

So, I realized something.  The Beautycounter website doesn't list the size of the item, but states it's $80, $30 more then ours.  And our little Popsugar info pamphlet shows a picture of the Cleansing Balm with a gold lid and a size of 2.75 oz., just shy of twice the amount we received at 1.5 oz.

Curiouser and Curiouser.

Makes me wonder if there are any other differences between the item we received vs what was advertised.  For example, the pamphlet mentioned we would receive a "soft muslin cloth" to help wash off the balm, and I received no such cloth.

The instructions say to use this balm at night, so I'll be giving it a try tonight.

 JewelryStorm: Endless Arrow Ring, $28

This is a really cute ring.  It's also tiny, coming only in a size 6, which would serve as a pinkie ring or something called a midi-ring.  I don't get midi-rings.  I've looked into the trend, but I just don't get it.  I don't get a lot of fashion in general.

Thankfully the ring fits my pinkie.

It is rather thick, so I feel it when I wear it, but it's cute, so I like it.

 Foodstirs: Heart Cookie Mix, $12.95

Foodstires is cofounded by Sarah Michelle Gellar.  The kit we received is also "free of artificial ingredients, GMOs, and preservatives."

 The kit is really cute!

And I love how it came with sprinkles and a heart cookie cutter.

This will be a fun activity on Vday, heh, and since I don't have a special dude in my life, I'll devour all of them!!  JK, I'll share ;0)

 Victoria's Secret: Coconut Milk Hydrating Body Lotion, $18

I love the smell of coconuts.  Love, Love, Love, all caps.  And this scent is nice and soft.  "The exclusive hydrating formula of this soothing lotion will help moisturize your body, even during the chilliest months of the year."  So we can slather it on in the Winter while dreaming of Summer.

Because coconuts make me think of  Summer.

I miss Summer.

SPECIAL EXTRA

 Victoria's Secret Sport Socks.

Heh, I need sports socks to encourage me to get back into my forgotten New Years Resolutions.

Thanks Victoria's Secret and Popsugar for the reminder.

Victoria's Secret: Reward Card

A $20 gift card.  There doesn't seem to be any restrictions, only that it expires on March 31, 2016.  I may need to go buy more lotion!  No, I'm not going to go buy lingerie.  That would be silly. Like I stated above, I don't have a special dude in my life.  Lotion it is!

January 2016 POPSUGAR Must Have Box Review and Thoughts

 DRUM-ROLL!!!!  I like this month better then last month

 POPSUGAR Must Have is a monthly subscription lifestyle box for gals.  The cost is $39.95 a month, free shipping, but it's cheaper when you subscribe with a 3, 6, or 12 months subscription.  On any month you can receive goodies for home, a book, fitness, snack, makeup, pampering, fashion, etc.  You never know what you're going to get, only that it will be fun and worth around $100, give or take a little.

 The Big Reveal!

 The handy information.

 Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class to the Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo,  $18.99, on AMAZON for $11.49

 I've heard so much about The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, which I thumbed through at the bookstore but didn't buy.  My sister-in-law is obsessed with that book and talks about it often.  I'm interested in the method, but nervous, as I'm no hoarder, but a pack-rat.  A sentimental pack-rat.  After looking through the pages I'm inspired to go through all me things again and tidy up some more.  Get more organized.  This has become my favorite item in the box.

 The illustrations in this master class are so cute!

The rabbit on the right pretty much sums up how I feel about my books.

 Patchology FlashMasque Trio, $20

I've been wanting to try a face mask sheet for some time, but never justified buying one, so I was thrilled when I found out we were going to get facial sheets in the January box.  Each sheet, one for revitalizing, hydrating, and illuminating, only takes 5 minutes to work, and requires no rinsing.

 Blue Sky Day Designer Weekly Planner, $15.99

I'm not a big fan of getting planners in the January box.  It seems pointless, especially since this box came so late in the month.  I'm already using a planner.

 With that said, I'm going to make this planner an exclusive Talea Studios book to keep the progress on projects more organized.  To make sure large and mini goals are kept in check.

I've read on forums that some people are going to use the planner for meal organization and exercise.

 Pehr Designs Pebble Speck Bin, $40

This item goes right along with the theme of organization, and I think it's cool Pehr Designs gave us the larger size, not the smaller.  This bin is well made and sturdy, yet easily collapsible for easy storing if not in use.  A nice, unique item for a subscription box.

 Not Soap, Radio Bath and Shower Gel Gift Set , $7.50

This item makes me upset.  Not because it's shower gel, I love shower gel and these are nice scents, but because of what they're claiming this set is worth: $22.  Not Soap, Radio has a shower gel set with 7 bottles at 2 oz. each for $22.  You can buy a single 2 oz. bottle in any scent for $3.  And yet this set of 5 one ounce shower gels is valued at $22.

I appreciate the item.  I don't appreciate dishonesty.

 Project & INC Summer Snow Sugar Free Gum, $1.99

I'm cutting back on sugar, so sugar-free gum is a nice snack item this month.  It's sweetened with maltitol, which you must be careful with in large doses, but as a small food item it's fine.  I wish the flavor of the gum lasted longer.

SPECIAL EXTRA!

Chapstick Total Hydration 100% Natural Soothing Vanilla – Value $2.99

I won't complain about getting more chaptick.  This time of year you can never own too many!!

So overall this was a good month.  The items go together nicely, and I like the theme: Organization with a little relaxation.

December 2015 POPSUGAR Must Have Box Review and Thoughts

 This has been a crazy month!  I love the Holidays, but I'm so excited for 2016, which is only a few hours away.  Crazy sauce.  I also got my box just before Christmas, so they were sent a little late this year.  Honestly, though, I'm a little lukewarm about this months Popsugar Must Have box.  My Mom got her box a couple days after I got mine, and having seen my box contents, her box sat on the counter top a few more days until she finally opened it.  Maybe this box will improve with time.

 POPSUGAR Must Have is a monthly subscription lifestyle box for gals.  The cost is $39.95 a month, free shipping, but it's cheaper when you subscribe with a 3, 6, or 12 months subscription.  On any month you can receive goodies for home, a book, fitness, snack, makeup, pampering, fashion, etc.  You never know what you're going to get, only that it will be fun and worth around $100, give or take a little.

 The information.

 LUV AJ The Rose Gold Ombre Bracelet, $65

The spoilers leading up to us getting this box hinted at a jewelry item. It seems the last couple December boxes had a little bling, and I loved 2013's bracelet, which I converted into a gorgeous necklace, and the 2014 crystal necklace.  I'm disappointed with this 2015 bracelet.  The clasp is cheap, and it's not my style.  The three tone metal choice is interesting though, but seems like it was trying to please everyone, though if it was a solid color this bracelet would probably be even more boring.

I'll give it a try.  It's modern, and I tend to go for simple and pretty, which is probably why I'm not too stoked about this.  It does look better on, and it has a nice weight to it.  It's not worth no $65, though.

 Stowaway Creme Lipstick Trio – Value $30

These are really cute and the small size is handy.  I never use full size lipsticks, anyway.  The colors are really nice.  This is the first time I've tried this brand and I'm impressed.  Easily my favorite item in the box.

 Nima Oberoi Lunares Geo Stopper, $24

This was one of those items where I thought, "hmmm, what do I do with this?"  I go to one of those specialty olive oil places, and I was hoping this quark top would fit one of those bottles, but it doesn't.  It has a nice weight to it, and it looks all modern fancy, but I have no use for it at all. 

 Meri Meri Sliver Stars on White Glitter Tape, $4

I used this tape to wrap Christmas gifts with, and I didn't care to much for it.  I would have loved if the silver stars were on transparent tape.  That would have been really cute!

 My Cup of Cake Classic Belgian Chocolate, Value $6

I'm making this tonight as my final 2015 treat!  I'm going on a 3 month no processed sugar purge (which I've done before and was successful, but fell back into bad habits, but I still allow myself wheat, beans, dairy, and potatoes/carrots, just no cupcakes, cookies, ice -cream, etc.)  So, I hope this is good!!!  I'll report tomorrow how it went.

 Swing Design Nova Blue Mist Jewelry Box, $36

This is a nice little box.  It's a Must Have exclusive, and it's well made.  I really like the color.  I've been thinking about retiring my jewelry tree, because it's looking like a whispering willow (side note: I always thought it was "whisping willow"!  Thank you internet.)  My only complaint is that there's no compartment/sections for organization.  But it's still a nice box that will get used.

 It's made with a soft blue leatherette and suede interior.

Tiny Prints Gift Tag Stickers, Special Extra Item

This was our special item, and nothing about it seems special.  I did use them on my gifts, because it was handy, but I wish it had color, or better yet gold embossed!  That would have been cute.

So, we'll see how next month goes.

I LOVED last month, November!!  But there's still nice items in this box.  It's natural not all items, every month, is going to work for me.  It's a surprise subscription box after all, and everyone has different likes and dislikes.  Par for the course.