I love receiving subscriptions delivered to my doorstep every month filled with fun products, ranging from beauty and lifestyle to food and crafting items. It’s a great way to be introduced to new things I might not otherwise try.
My current subscriptions include Julep Maven, Eco Emi Beauty, KnitCrate, and PopSugar Must Have. I also subscribe to the Fortune Cookie Soap Box, which is a quarterly subscription with a delivery once every three months. I’m excited to share the Spring Box in this post. Read on to see what came in each box this month:
Please be advised that some of the links provided are affiliate links and I do receive a small commission if you make a purchase using those links. I very much appreciate your support of this blog in doing so!
Julep Maven
It’s no secret that I love nail polish. I’ve been a Julep Maven subscriber for a couple of years now and I always look forward to my monthly box from them. The Julep polish formula is one of my all time favorites. The Maven Box costs $24.99 a month, or $19.99 a month with a three-month prepaid subscription. They ship to the United States and Canada only. I love that you can select between several different offerings each month or even skip a month if you’re not feeling it.
I received the It Girl version of the Afterglow for February collection which includes three wintry polishes and a bonus Valentine’s Day gift. The three polishes in my box are Becky, an “oil slick duochrome” packed with glitter and a silk finish, Colton, a super dark eggplant crème, and Carla, a light rose crème. All three polishes are subdued and classic wintry shades. The box also came with a holographic glitter top coat, Hartleigh, as a special Valentine’s Day gift. White and holographic mini glitters suspended in a clear base with sweet red heart pieces seems like a pretty Valentine appropriate polish to me!
Each Maven box comes with a quote. This month’s quote is: “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” – Edith Wharton
If you’d like to learn more about the Julep Maven program, I recommend checking out their website. Join now and use code WINNER to receive a four-piece gift free!
Eco Emi Beauty
The Eco Emi Beauty Box includes four to five deluxe or full sized natural and cruelty-free products ranging from bath and body to beauty and cosmetics. It costs $22 per month for US customers, which includes shipping. The box is available internationally for $34 a month.
The February box theme is “It’s All About Love” and comes with five full size products, including four beauty products and one bath item. The Chocolate Soap by Jersey Shore Cosmetics smells heavenly if you’re a chocolate lover like me! It contains anti-aging oils with an exfoliating side to keep skin smooth. The Dancin’ Goat lip duo includes a lip scrub and balm in the refreshing Mambo Mint scent. I absolutely loved the Java Jive “Bye Bye Cellulite” Scrub Eco Emi included from this company in the October box, so I am especially looking forward to trying more products from Dancin’ Goat. As a fine-haired lady, I’m always on the lookout for products that can help add volume to my hair without weight, but so many have toxic ingredients with strong smells. I can’t wait to test the Neuma neuVolume Blow Out Mist included in this box, which uses only “renewable, beneficial plant-based ingredients” without all of those nasty preservatives that so many hair products can have. I hope it works! Lastly, the bright and sunny nail polish by 1143 H20 in You Are My Sunshine can sure cheer up these gloomy February days! I haven’t tried many water-based polishes before and am always interested in testing out brands like this that are new to me.
KnitCrate
I absolutely love KnitCrate, which is a monthly (or bi-monthly if that seems like a bit too much yarn coming at you) subscription service geared towards knitters. There are eight different subscription options, which you can see here if you’re interested. The prices range from $23 to $75 a month depending on which kit you choose and where in the world you live (they do ship internationally). I subscribe to the Beginner’s KnitCrate, which includes a pattern suitable to that level, enough yarn to complete that project, a couple of bonus items (ranging from soothing to sweet to fun), and promo codes for knitting related products. It’s basically the most awesome care package a knitter could ever dream of!
The yarn included this month is one hank of Lima DK by Ewetopia Fiber, which is 100% alpaca. I am in love with this super soft fiber in the gorgeous purple/burgundy Dames Rocket colorway. There is one pattern included this month, which is the Vera Poncho by Kathryn Ashley-Wright. It looks beautiful! The fun extra is a a French Curve Closure by Jul Designs, which uses screw mechanisms to make it “moveable and removable” in knit items. I think this would be great addition to an open-stye cardigan or on a shawl. The soothing extra is a tin of Bag Balm, which is animal and people safe to aid in chapped skin and minor abrasions, perfect timing for these sub-zero wind chills we’ve been experiencing in Chicago lately. As always, KnitCrate subscribers receive promo codes each month. This month includes discounts on certain patterns by Tamara Goff, and yarn from Lydia Yarn as well as Ewetopia Fiber. There’s also a coupon to save on the Sexy Knitter’s Tool Kit (I adore mine!).
I also subscribe to the 5 Mini Add-Ons package available through KnitCrate. Each month I receive five 30-yard mini hanks in hand painted/indie dyed yarns. It’s a nice way to try out a variety of hand-dyed yarns from different providers. I use the mini hanks I receive through this subscription for my Beekeeper’s Quilt. This month’s selections includes five spring shades from Lydia Yarn. This hand-dyed sock yarn is a 75% superwash merino wool and 25% nylon blend that is super soft in rich colors. I love all of the variety I get with this subscription for my ongoing quilt project!
If you’re interested in purchasing the Beekeeper’s Quilt Kit or other items from KnitCrate you can receive 10% off your first KnitCrate purchase (not including monthly or bi monthly subscriptions) by clicking here!
FCS Soap Box
I absolutely love opening my quarterly FCS Soap Box! If you’re not familiar, FCS stands for Fortune Cookie Soap, which is a husband and wife run handmade soap and body products company. The FCS Soap Box is a quarterly subscription service that includes sample sizes of upcoming seasonal releases and it is Fun, Fun, Fun! If you love trying new and unique bath and body products then this box is for you!
The theme for the Spring box is Wonderland, which is inspired by Alice in Wonderland. What fun! I love the clever names FCS comes up with for each product. The FCS whipped cream is one of my favorite lotion formulas. “It’s Only A Dream” is a soft floral scent. The “Off With Their Heads” bath bomb is so pretty with dried rose petals pressed into it. It’s a lovely combination of citrus and floral scents. A little vial of perfume oil is a nice touch for spring. The “Eat Me” sweet scent of yellow cake with vanilla frosting is surprisingly subtle. I’m excited to try out the “Twisted Tea Party” bath tea that is a green tea base accented with sweet herbs. The OCD hand sanitizer in this box in “We’re All Mad Here” has a soft but fresh scent combination of mint, cedarwood, and leafy green notes. The “Futterwacken” Body Wash has a bright citrus and floral scent. Interestingly, FCS included incense cones in the spring box, which is a fun thing to try. These come in the “Who Are You?” scent (I’m assuming this is inspired by the caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland). They smell fruity, with a mixture of ripe, lime, vanilla orchid, and cane sugar notes. Each box always includes a fortune cookie soap, their namesake product. The “Almost Alice” scent of snap peas and pears combined with sweet pea flowers, freesia, and ripe berries makes for a bright, springy effect. All in all, it’s a very playful theme with soft and subtle but bright scents that awaken the senses for spring.
I am fortunate that FCS sends me a PR box in addition to my paid subscription, so I have a spring box to give away to one of you! The FCS Spring Soap Box Giveaway will run until Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 6 PM CT. The giveaway is open internationally. All entrants under the age of 18 must have parental permission to enter. One person will win an FCS Spring Soap Box like the one I showed in this post. You can enter by following the directions in the Rafflecopter widget posted below (check out this blog post for more information on entering Rafflecopter giveaways). I’ll announce the winners on THIS blog post and contact them directly through email, as always. Good luck!
** GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED ***
Congrats to the winner of the FCS Spring Soap Box Giveaway!
The Poll Results for *Which FCS spring product would you most like to try?* out of 1779 entries:
“It’s Only A Dream” Whipped Cream (527) 30%
“Off With Their Heads” Bath Bomb (367) 21%
“We’re All Mad Here” OCD Hand Sanitizer (173) 10%
“Futterwacken” Body Wash (173) 10%
“Almost Alice” Forctune Cookie Soap (168) 9%
“Twisted Tea Party” Bath Tea (161) 9%
“Eat Me” Perfume Oil (160) 9%
“Who Are You?” Incense Cones (50) 3%
Sometimes Rafflecopter experiences technical difficulties. If you can’t enter for some reason, try again later and it will probably work.
Popsugar Must Have This subscription is so much fun! PopSugar Must Have is a monthly subscription service where you receive a selection of full size and premium beauty, fashion, home, and fitness items for $39.95 per month (this includes shipping and is available in the US only). The February box theme is inspired by “One Love, Hearts & Arrows, Red Hot, Devine Desserts, and Pampering.” As usual, there is a nice variety of items in this box ranging from beauty to leisure.
The goodies they included this month are all very Valentine appropriate. The gorgeous rosy blush in True Love by Tarte is the perfect pop of color to match chilly cheeks. I’ve been a fan of their Amazonian Clay 12-Hour blushes for years now and am happy to add this one to my collection! The sparkly red polish in Romanticism Ruby by Finger Paints is a very festive Valentine shade as well. I sure do love trying out new polishes! In keeping with the Valentine theme, Popsugar included a sweet Mini Arrow Pendant Necklace from Baublebar. It’s darling! The lip product junkie in me was super excited to see the Wild Cherry Lip Balm by Figs & Rouge, which I’ve heard about but haven’t had occasion to try yet. It’s super moisturizing with a delightful tart cherry scent. I’m planning on saving the sweet Acme Party Box Company Bamboo Heart Cutting Board & Cheese Knife as a hostess gift that would pair nicely with gourmet cheese for a dinner party. I will, however, be keeping the U.S. Apothecary Rose Water Bubble Bath for myself. What a lovely rose scent! I really like the glass bottle and vintage-inspired label presentation. Popsugar usually includes a food item, more often than not a tasty treat. The Ravishing Rocky Road Bar by Chuao Chocolatier looks absolutely amazing with salted, caramelized almonds and huge marshmallow pieces. Yum! PopSugar delivered another smashing box, as per usual!
Click here to learn more about the PopSugar Must Have Box. Use code REFER5 to save $5 off your first box!
I like to order the special limited edition boxes that PopSugar offers from time to time. I share a look at the Target collaboration box in this video:
I picked up an additional Popsugar Must Have + Target box as a special gift for one of you! The PopSugar Must Have Target Box Giveaway will run until Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 6 PM CT. The giveaway is open internationally. All entrants under the age of 18 must have parental permission to enter. One person will win the PopSugar Must Have + Target box like the one I showed in the video. You can enter by following the directions in the Rafflecopter widget posted below (check out this blog post for more information on entering Rafflecopter giveaways). I’ll announce the winners on THIS blog post and contact them directly through email, as always. Good luck!
** GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED ***
Congrats to the winner of the PopSugar Must Have Target Box Giveaway!
The Poll Results for *Do you use a fitness tracker like a fitbit?* out of 3115 entries:
No, but I’d like to try one (2489) 80%
Yes (587) 19%
I have no interest in that (39) 1%
Sometimes Rafflecopter experiences technical difficulties. If you can’t enter for some reason, try again later and it will probably work.
I hope you enjoyed seeing what I received with my subscriptions this month. I’d love to know if you receive any monthly subscriptions, too!
* Fortune Cookie Soap very kindly sent me the FCS Spring Soap Box I share in this post for consideration. The box I am giving away is from my paid subscription. All other products mentioned are part of the Julep Maven, Eco Emi Beauty, KnitCrate, and PopSugar Must Have monthly subscription programs, for which I pay for my own memberships. I purchased both the Popsugar + Target boxes I share in the video and the one I am giving away. All opinions are genuinely my own. *