November 2012 BirchBox Review

So this one is long overdue too, I know. But I was satisfied with November's Birchbox.

Quick rundown of what you need to know about Birchbox:
- The original subscription box
- Includes 4-5 beauty samples and usually one lifestyle sample that can really be anything
- $10 a month
- There is a variety of boxes made, so not everyone will get the same things in each box (it depends on what you put in your profile)

November Birchbox: {Give}

This month's theme was Give, and Birchbox was supporting The Art of Elysum, which is a non-profit organization that encourages actors, designers, musicians, and artists to dedicate their time and talent to children with medical disabilities and encourages creativity. I love when companies use their profits and influence for a greater good and am very happy to see that Birchbox was doing that for this month.

Here is the list of things that came in this month's box, with full-size prices included:

Total Value:

~$39.20

Limited Holiday Edition Bath Bomb in Ribbon Candy Cupcake from Feeling Smitten ($5.50/mini):

I was the most excited to see this in my box since I LOVE bath bombs. It's pretty pricey for just this mini one, so I'm not sure if I would purchase it regularly, but I'm glad that I got to try it from my $10 Birchbox. I haven't been able to use it yet, but according to their website, this is supposed to smell like berries and sugar with undernotes of rose and carnations. I can't wait to try it out! And look how cute it is! Unfortunately, mine got a little banged up during transit, so it came broken and got some powder on things, but it's okay. I can't get over how adorable it is still.

Fibre Lashxtend Lengthening Mascara from ModelCo ($24.00/full-size):

I was really excited to see this in my box also, because it's a full sized product! I haven't heard of the company ModelCo before, but it sounds familiar... in any case, I was even more excited to see that when I flipped it over, there was a mirror on the back! I love cosmetics that come with built in mirrors, only because it makes it so much easier to apply when you're on the go somewhere. I don't carry a separate mirror with me, so it's a nice feature. I haven't been able to test it yet, as I've got a bunch of mascara samples that I haven't used up yet, but I will definitely update when I do.

Baked Whole Soy & Fruit Bar in Cranberry from SoyJoy ($1.20/bar):

To be quite honest, I was really not happy to see this sample in my box. I've tried SoyJoy before and I believe it was an awful experience. The texture was very soft and mushy, and it was very dense in a bad way. I don't even think my boyfriend liked it and he pretty much enjoys everything. I haven't brought myself to take a bite out of it yet, but maybe I have a friend out there that likes SoyJoy bars?

Pronto Texture & Volume Spray from Oscar Blandi ($6.00/1 oz):

I was really excited to see this in my box too cause a girl can never have too much travel sized hairsprays. And I've always wanted to try Oscar Blandi. It's usually so pricey though, that I can't bring myself to buy a whole bottle of it when I have a perfectly good (and inexpensive) bottle of Chi hairspray that I love, but barely use, at home. I haven't been able to try it yet because I'm saving it for a vacation, but I'm sure it's fabulous. Definitely going in my "To Pack" pile.

Hand Soap from Caldrea in Mandarin Vetiver & Crimson Pear Ginger ($0.25/each):

These were little cute samples of handsoap, though I'm not sure I felt about them. They're just so small and a one time use kind of thing. I'm not sure if I would even bother to bring them on a trip, but I guess they could also go into my travel sized items pile. The Crimson Pear Ginger scent it limited edition, so that's kinda cool. I'll update on how they smell when I actually get to use them.

Miss Me Eau de Parfum from Stella Cadente (~$2.00/sample):

I always like getting perfume samples, but I feel like I can get these for free at my local Sephora or Ulta, so I don't really like to see them in my subscription boxes as an item. This one smells like baby powder to me more than anything else. I probably wouldn't purchase the full size, as it's not really me. At least I know what it smells like now though.

$15 off coupon code to Chromaticgallerie.com (BIRCHFRIEND15):

I probably wouldn't find this coupon code very helpful as I don't like shopping for shoes online. I have very wide feet, so I need to try them on in the store and walk around for a bit before I buy any shoes. I hope it's useful for someone though!

Birchbox Holiday 2012 Gift Guide:

Shows items you can buy in the Birchbox store for specific types of people. It didn't come in very handy for me, but maybe it did for others.

"Give" Refillable Envelope:

I really liked this. It's a cute idea to brighten up someone's day and I think they should include these in the boxes more often, even though the theme isn't always "Give". I would definitely purchase something like this around Christmas time to put little goodies in it for my friends.

Overall, I was satisfied with my November Birchbox. I loved the theme and the little gift envelope that came with it, as it's a really neat idea. Although it was meant for November, I think that it's a great way to pay it forward for 2013. I definitely have samples of things that I could put in it for a friend. My definite favorite of the box was the bath bomb, and the mascara is really cute too. I liked that it was full sized and has a mirror in the back. I personally love cosmetics that combine a mirror with it, since I don't carry a separate one around with me. I'm supposed to be cutting down on boxes, so I think this might be one of the ones I let go, only because I really LOVE the other beauty subscriptions I get. It makes me sad though, since I usually do enjoy the samples that I get in Birchbox. I'm just starting to accumulate more samples than I can use. I also love that they personalize your box with different things by your personal preferences, and does a really good job (in my opinion) of matching you with things that you'd like. Birchbox definitely gets a thumbs up from me.

If you'd like to sign up for Birchbox, please use this link. You'd be getting a great beauty subscription box and getting me 500 points that I could use in the Birchbox store! I believe there might be a waiting list, but I don't think it took me long to get off it. Also, if you'd like to see what was in the other boxes for November, Zadidoll usually has all of them listed on her blog.

Thanks for reading!

TheRxNina

January 2013 Love With Food Review!

Happy new year!

So I'm still sick (now with a sinus infection), but I figure I could blog while I recover. I got my Love With Food box in the mail today; the first box I've received this month or this year, really. It's one of my favorite boxes in the mail to get because it never seems to disappoint (I guess I really do love food), and it's a box I can share with Henry. I always get to try something I've never had before and it's usually always delicious. There was a little mishap this month, but nothing I would consider huge, as they made amends before I was even aware of the error.

Here is the email that I received in my inbox this morning:

"Dear Nina Tran,

My name is Aihui (pronounced as i-we). I'm the founder/ceo of Love With Food. 

I want to personally thank you for being a Love With Food customer. We turn ONE-YEAR old this month and with your help, we've donated more than 50,000 meals all across America in the last 12 months. 

Your January International Delights Love With Food box was mailed out this week and you might have already received it or will be receiving soon.

We are very SORRY we made a mistake this month. The printing company we used made a printing error and our warehouse folks didn't catch the error in time. We are growing extremely fast, thanks to your support. Along with the fast growth, we are also facing some growing pains. However, that's not a good excuse on our part.

We'll be crediting your account with an additional 500 points in the coming week. We hope you'll accept our sincere apologies. Please know that we've taken all measures to ensure this doesn't happen again.

Here's the International Delight menu, listing all the products in our January box.

Once again, we are sorry and we look forward to your continued support.

If you have any questions or concern, please feel free to contact us at team@lovewithfood.com.

Sincerely,
Aihui Ong
CEO/founder

"

Basically, the side of the card which has that list above (all the things that come in our box) wasn't printed on the back side of the theme card. We received the card, but it just had the two same sides printed on it (see below). They gave each of us subscribers 500 extra points, which I thought was very generous, to make up for the incident. Love With Food seems to have excellent customer service, although I've never really had to email them for any problems (which is a good thing). In addition to this, Love With Food is one of the only boxes that always gives back every month from the profit of their boxes, by donating a meal to a hungry child for every box they sell. I love that. Anyway, let's get to the unboxing! I only tried two things today, as I don't like reviewing food when I'm sick since my taste and smell is altered. I will update once I try the others though.

Quick rundown on what you need to know about Love With Food:

- Foodie Subscription Box (one of the least expensive options out there)
- $12 a month (and gets cheaper when you buy 6 months at a time)
- For every box that's sold, they donate a meal to a hungry child (you can see how many meals have been given out through Love With Food here)
- Awesome referral program (earning points that you can trade in for full sized items)

January Love With Food Box: International Delights

This is the card that had the same thing printed on both sides:

What came in this month's box?

Tiger Spice Chai from David Rio, Gluten-Free Japanese Tea Shortbread Cookies from Kyotofu, Almond Anise Biscotti from Biscotti De Suzy, Plantain Chips from Turbana, Apple-Strawberry Applesauce from GoGo Squeez, Firecracker Chocopod from Chuao Chocolatier, Cinnamon Milk Chocolate (Cannelle) and Belgian Biscuit Dark Chocolate (Speculoos) from New Tree

Total Value:

~$10.28

Tiger Spice Chai from David Rio ($2.00/packet):

I love Chai tea. I tried mine with water, although you can also mix it with milk. It probably would have tasted better with milk, but I forgot that I had some in my fridge. It was still good though. The directions say to mix it with 7 ounces of water, which isn't really a lot. At 140 calories a packet, I wish I could have made more without having it taste diluted. It was definitely enjoyable for the amount I had though, and I had it with the biscotti which came in the box also (see below). They went nicely together. The other thing that I noticed about it was that I had to keep stirring it because some of the spice wouldn't dissolve and would just sit on the bottom. It was fine, but it's just inconvenient as sometimes you might not have a stirrer, in which case you'd have to swish it around and possibly make a mess. I liked it, but it is a little pricey. Trader Joe's Spicy Chai Tea Latte is comparable and you get a lot more for the price.

Tiger Spice Chai Tea with Anise Almond Biscotti:

 Gluten-free Japanese Tea Shortbread Cookies by Kyotofu (~$3.80/3 cookies):

Haven't had the chance to try these, but I'm sure they are delicious. The flavors that came in the little sample packet are Genmai Toasted Brown Rice, Matcha Green Tea, and Black Sesame.
Update: So I finally had the chance to try these today, and they were delicious! I can't believe they're gluten-free. The differences in the flavors are very subtle, although, I'm still sick so that might have been a factor too. I would definitely purchase these if they were available in the Love With Food store. Unfortunately, they are not at this time. And they're pretty pricey on the Kyotofu website, but would make an excellent gift for someone who is looking for light, delicious, gluten-free cookies. I thought my favorite would have been the Matcha Green Tea, but I actually enjoyed the Genmai Toasted Brown Rice since it had the most distinguished flavor. You could actually taste the bits of toasted rice, and I really enjoyed that. Very glad I got to try these.

Anise Almond Biscotti by Biscotti de Suzy (~$0.87/each):

I did try this with the Tiger Spice Chai Tea that came in the box, and it was pretty good. I think the fact that I paired it with something that already had a bit of spice in it already, made the taste of the biscotti alone a little less overwhelming. When I tried the cookie by itself, I definitely had a bit of anise in my bite, and anise is a very strong spice. It wasn't that great by itself, and I'm not sure how well it would go with coffee, but it was enjoyable with my chai tea. I always enjoy a good biscotti. As with most biscotti, when it's not soaked with hot liquid, the texture is very tough and crunchy... almost stale. But I think that's just how most biscotti are, at least the ones that I have had.

 Natural Plantain Chips by Turbana ($1.00/each bag):

I'm not very excited to try these, only because I don't like bananas and plantains are very similar to them. I will wait for Henry to get home and will update with what he thought about them. They ARE a bit healthier than potato chips though, so if you're looking for a healthier alternative then I would give these a try. They are still a high calorie snack at 130 calories a bag, but they are gluten free, have 0 cholesterol, and 2 grams of fiber.
Update: So I was completely wrong, and these chips don't taste like banana at all. They actually taste more like potato chips, or those veggie chips that you find in the store made up of sweet potato, taro, or carrots. They were very thinly cut and crispy, and lightly salted. I would probably buy these if I wasn't trying to cut down on processed snacks. But I'm glad I got to try something like plantain chips for the very first time!

Apple-Strawberry Applesauce by GoGo Squeez ($0.71/packet):

I was a little excited to see this because we actually have these in the regular apple flavor. Henry brings them to work as a part of his lunch sometimes. I personally have never enjoyed applesauce, so we'll see if this one changes my mind. I'll have to wait for Henry to come home to try it, so he can tell me if it's better than the regular apple. I will try it too, but I'm a little hesitant since I saw that there was banana in the ingredients, so we'll see if I can taste it or not. These would make a convenient and healthy snack to put in a child's lunchbox though. I'm sure if I had a kid, this would be going to school with them.

Firecracker Chocopod by Chuao Chocolatier ($1.00/each):

I haven't tried this yet, but it sounds exciting! It's got sea salt, smoky chipotle, and popping candy with dark chocolate. I'll be sure to update when I do.

Update: I really liked this. I wish I hadn't waited to claim some for myself in the shop! It's so unique! Spicy chocolate with popping candy... who knew? And look how cute it is.

Cinnamon Milk Chocolate (Cannelle) by New Tree ($0.45/each):

Haven't had a chance to try this one, but I love cinnamon and milk chocolate. It also contains lime blossom extract, so that should be an interesting flavor. I will be sure to update once I do.

Belgian Biscuit Dark Chocolate (Speculoos) by New Tree ($0.45/each):

Haven't had a chance to try this yet either, but it sounds delicious. It's made in belgium, organic, and is made up of dark chocolate, Belgian biscuit, and flax seed. Will update when I try!

Update: This was also delicious. It was a bit on more of the bitter side than what I like for my dark chocolate, but the little bits of biscuit in them were a nice surprise. A part of me wishes the biscuit pieces were a little bigger so you could actually taste the biscuit instead of just getting the textures.

Overall, I was happy to see what was in my Love With Food box this month. Although, I was a little disappointed at the total value of the box since you pay $12.00 every month for it. I always believe that a subscription box's items value should outweigh the amount you pay for it by at least twice as much. I've explained this concept in my other posts, but it makes up for any items that you received in the box that you didn't like. That way, you're still satisfied that you got your money's worth even if you didn't enjoy everything in the box. What I do like about Love With Food though, is that you can try little samples of items that you'd have to buy in full size otherwise. This way, you know if you like it or not first before deciding if you'd like to buy it in bulk, which is nice. This is also a huge concept of a subscription box. So far, I've been able to try a lot of things that I wouldn't be able to find easily in big box stores, so that's kind of a pro and a con. A pro being that without Love With Food, there's a high chance you wouldn't have tried a snack otherwise, and a con being that if you DO end up liking it and wanting to go and buy it, most things would be hard to find in any stores. We actually buy the GoGo Squeez Applesauce in bulk at Costco, so that's an exception. Luckily, Love With Food provides their own store in which you can buy full sized items of the samples that you liked in the box, and you are able to use your points that you earn with their referral program, by reviewing items, or even just buying a box every month. They make it really easy for you to rack up points. I haven't redeemed any of my points yet, since I'm waiting for something that I really really like, but it's nice that they do this because if you're active on their website, it rewards people in this way. A lot of subscription boxes don't offer this incentive to the extent that Love With Food does, so if you are a subscriber, I highly suggest taking advantage of this and write reviews on the products! It can get you free stuff, which is always great.

If you'd like to subscribe to Love With Food, just click on the link here. It's only $12 a month, and it's always a fun thing to enjoy every month if you're a foodie or know someone who is. As you can see, I don't have any advertisements for my blog, and just love doing these as a hobby. I pay for all these boxes just like you guys do, and feel very honored and lucky when someone uses my links to sign up for a box! Hope everyone's new year is going great so far!

Thanks for reading!

TheRxNina

Mine and Henry's Xmas Subscription Boxes to Each Other. :)

So since I've been having this crazy addiction to subscription boxes this year, Henry and I decided to make each other subscription boxes for Christmas. Well, he decided that he wanted to make me one first, and I figured that would be a really fun and great idea. And it was! For being together for four years, it should have been easy to come up with stuff, but I always have trouble getting him things as he's really a laid back "I don't need anything" kinda guy.

What do you think of what we came up with? Whose is better? I personally think I put a lot of thought and effort into his, but he also didn't have as much to spend on my box since he bought me a Chromebook for my birthday. He has the unfortunate timing of Christmas, my birthday, and our anniversary pretty much in the same 2 weeks. Poor guy. Anyway, I know this isn't a normal review of a normal box, but I thought I'd do this anyway, in case someone wanted to try making one for a subscription box addicted significant other one day!

Henry's Box For Me

So I really loved the box Henry got for me! He did a great job in remembering what I liked and thinking about what I need. I don't really want to look up the prices though, since it was a gift. That just makes me feel weird and rude. Even if he is okay with it. I guess he does seem to pay attention when I'm talking to him... strange. :P

What was in it?

1) Hanky Panky Low-Rise Thong in Canary Yellow

I really love Hanky Panky Thongs. It's the only kind of underwear I wear now since I've discovered them. They've got to be the most comfortable thongs on the Earth. And they make your bum look really cute too. I don't have many of them since they're really pricey for underwear (about $20 a thong), so I'm always welcoming more into my collection! Henry likes bright colors, so that's why he picked yellow. I highly recommend them! I've seen that they make Hello Kitty ones now too. Those are my next targets, although I know I'll never find them on sale. :(

2) Box of Goodies from Lush!

I love Lush. It's my absolute favorite store to go to when I frequent Scottsdale Fashion Square. I'm a bath kind of girl. When I'm sick, I take a bath. When I'm down, I take bath. When I'm happy, I take a bath. You get the picture. They're just so calming. I really miss our big garden tub in our old apartment. Anyway, he got me a lot of the holiday bath bombs, and a seasonal shampoo. I haven't gotten a chance to try them all yet, but Dragon's Egg is my favorite. It smells so good and I love the sparklies. I always think of the movie scene in Harry Potter when he puts the dragon egg into the water whenever I use this. I don't know why.

• Golden Wonder (looks like a present, releases gold glitter, and has a surprise inside)
• Dragon's Egg (big round one that looks like it has colored polka dots, releases gold glitter)
• Party Popper (pink and blue one, has soap confetti inside)
• So White (Apple scented and lovely)
• Cinders (Spicy and crackles)
• Fair Trade Honey Shampoo (Smells really strong, but is pleasant after you wash it out)

3) Tokidoki Lip Balm Stain in Pink Martini

I actually thought it would be really bright on me since it looks so bright in the container, but it's actually not. I thought it was a lipstick at first, but it's a balm stain, so it goes on really sheer and gives just a hint of color. It also has a slight tinge of fragrance to it but I can't put my finger on what it is. Anyway, I do love my lip balms! And I adore anything Tokidoki.

4) Tokidoki Mini 6-Piece Rollerball Collection

So this is a little set of mini perfumes that come in Rollerball form. There are 6 different types. I've only opened two of them so far, but they all seem nice. I'll probably throw them into my minimergency bag since they're so tiny.

5) Arkon Seat Rail or Floor Mount for iPad

At first, I was a little like "Huh?" when I saw this, but then I realized that I could use it for when I'm listening to my podcasts in my car. I usually just throw my ipad into the passenger seat and it moves around everywhere, so it's nice to have something to hold it steady. Safety first! This was the practical gift that Henry would enjoy installing into my car for me, I could tell. :)

6) Silky Sleep Bridal Satin Pillow Case with Hidden Zipper

So I actually asked for this for Christmas, because my hair stylist told me that I should totally invest in one because it works! A satin pillow case is much more delicate on your hair and face and helps reduce friction which can cause breakouts, or frizzy hair. I like it so far. I still have frizzy hair, but I do notice that it's less. Boomer somehow got onto the bed one morning and was trying to paw at me when I woke up and left a few claw marks in it though. I was not happy.

7) Hello Kitty MAC Mini Brush Set

This was a really nice set! The brushes were really soft, and I love Hello Kitty. Henry thought it would be easier for me to have a travel set when we go traveling instead of almost ruining my brushes by putting them in my regular bag. Another practical gift. Upon further research, I found out that these aren't real MAC brushes (as they are super duper expensive), but they'll do the job. I still think they're cute, and as long as it works well, that's fine with me!

8) "I will always be with you" Stainless Steel Ring

This one made me tear up a little. Henry meant for it to be a promise ring while I wait for my real one. It's really pretty. I don't usually wear jewelry unless it means something significant, so I've been wearing it quite often. It's a little big for me, which is surprising, since I thought I was a size 6-3/4 but this is a 6. It's very lovely and warms my heart whenever I look at it. :)

My Box for Henry

I wrapped it in gold and wrote his name across the fold. I would have done it all over the wrapping if I had the patience, but I really don't. Oh, and all the prices that I post next to the items are just the retail price for it. I actually paid a lot less for most of the items in here, because after all, a subscription box is supposed to be worth at least twice as much as you paid for it. :) And also because we had a $200 limit that we could spend on the boxes. I was under.

And then I individually wrapped everything except for the 32gb micro SD card I got for him, since that was supposed to be a stocking stuffer. I got it on cyber monday for a really good price. We didn't end up hanging our stockings so that's why it's in there!

1) Micro SD card 32gb - $39.99

Thought he could use a bigger memory for his new phone.

2) Sport Armband for his Galaxy Note II - $24.99

It's a huge phone, but if we go jogging or hiking one day, he won't have to lug it around in his pocket.

3) Etude House Milk Talk Body Wash in Strawberry Milk - $7.89

Henry actually hates it when I buy body lotions or washes that smell like food. I love products that smell like sweet things though. He says it just makes him hungry. Anyway, this is the only product I've ever used that smells like food, which he LOVED. So I bought him one for himself. It's a Korean brand so you can't just find it anywhere. I had to order it on ebay. He says it smells like Nestle Strawberry Milk. And it makes your skin really soft afterwards too, with no lotion needed.

4) Roku LT Streaming Player - $49.99

This had really great reviews on Amazon so I got it, not really knowing too much about what it did. I knew it could play Netflix and Amazon Prime videos on there, and that there were some channels you could watch but I didn't know what kind. Anyway, I've been using it a lot more than Henry during the break. We've been watching movies off it with my Amazon Prime account. I probably wouldn't replace this with the antenna we have though. It doesn't get live TV channels. 

5) New Trent iMirror 6000mAh Heavy Duty 2A/1A USB Ports External Battery Pack - $89.95

Since Henry works in the middle of the desert sometimes, I thought it'd be nice to provide him and external battery pack. And it drives me nuts when we have to delay going out somewhere because we're waiting for his phone to charge or his phone starts dying when we're out and we need to rush home so he can charge it. Hopefully this alleviates that problem. Unfortunately, it is a little bulky, so he probably won't be carrying around all the time. It'll definitely come in handy for long festival days or shopping days when I'm walking around looking at things while he's playing games on his phone waiting for me to be done.

6) Batman Dual Compartment Lunch Kit by Thermos - $30.00

I thought he'd like this! But I guess it's too kiddish for him to bring to work. He loves Batman and I thought it'd be more of a fun part of the subscription box. He says he likes it, but he doesn't want to be teased by his coworkers I guess. It even has a cape!

6) Funko Tupac Rock Pop Figurine - $12.99

This was actually his favorite item out of the whole box. Can you believe it?! When I asked him why, he said it was because he would think it would be really cool to have but he would never buy it on his own. I guess that's the secret of getting someone a gift. Henry loves his Tupac.

7) Travelchair Slacker Chair - $37.89

I got him one of these because he's always wanted a pocket chair, the one that's like "As seen on TV"? But it never got good reviews, so I refused to get him one. Well this one, actually has great reviews. It's light and portable, and can hold up to 275 lbs. It'd come in handy for when he's at work and has nowhere to sit in the field, or if we go camping one day.

8) Adidas Men Superlite CC 3-pack No Show Socks in Black/Graphite - $16.10

Henry has holes in his socks. I got him new ones. These got good reviews. That's all.

9) SE KC5006S 4-Inch Camping Steel with Detachable Knife - $6.99

Tell me that's not one of the coolest, most practical things you have ever seen. Anyway, I thought it would be good for him to take to work in his new lunch bag. You can detach the two sides from each other so you can actually use your fork and knife at the same time. Brilliant!

10) Personalized Calendar from MiniBox - $34.99

I wanted to make something personal and found a really good deal on living social to make a calendar, so I decided "Why not?" It took me FOREVER to put the pictures together and customize the dates (anniversaries, birthdays, etc). But it came out really well! You can see it below in the photo of all the things that came in the box.

Total Value: $351.77

I admit, I did go all out on the box, but that's because I had a lot of time to think about it. And I did get very good deals on most of the stuff in there. It's was a fun project! I highly recommend trying it at least once for your significant other for an occasion. It would have been a really fun idea for an anniversary too. Anyway, Henry seemed to like everything that came in his box! So I think that's a win? What'd you guys think of it? Not bad for my first subscription box making, right? :)

Thanks for reading!

TheRxNina