Subscriptions are one of those things I just have to try out. A mysterious surprise of a product category I already know and love? Sign me up. So when Erin Condren announced the launch of the new Seasonal Surprise Box I only lasted about an hour before hitting purchase.
Let’s lay out the details before diving into the good stuff. The subscription is a quarterly released box for $35, but contains over $85 worth of goodies. Each box is geared towards the holidays and season of the upcoming months. Plus it comes in a reversible box which is just too cool.
The products themselves are better than I could have ever expected. Everything inside is either a sneak peek of products yet to be released or exclusive subscription only goodies. Exclusive products are always a nice touch to make a subscription worth while and this box is packed with them. First are two exclusive monthly sticker sheets for February and March. A nice variety of stickers from St. Patrick’s Day and Valentine’s Day. There is also an exclusive Floral Ink Snap-in Dashboard to write daily to-dos or shopping lists. My favorite exclusive addition has to be the note cards for Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day. I’m a sucker for stationery and it’s such a thoughtful thing to include to encourage subscribers to send out more snail mail to loved ones.
The box also includes sneak peeks of future released products. The subscription feels like a special club to see new products before anyone else. The Lips Flair Pin got me particularly excited as I have quite the growing collection of enamel pins. I’m a proud owner of all the pins Erin Condren has produced so far so having this one before it goes on sale is an added bonus. There is also a new Coloring Book as well as Colorful Dual-Tip Markers included in the box. The Dual-Tip markers are my favorite markers Erin Condren has released yet. With a fine and medium point tip they’re incredibly versatile and have a really great color range.
The $25 coupon blew me away. With the box being $35, the coupon basically made it only $10. Something that definitely didn’t have to be included in the box to make the subscription worth it, but a really awesome gesture to encourage subscribers to get more organized. As an extra bonus there is also four sheets of Heart Gift Labels. Perfect for snazzing up a Valentine’s Day present to a sweetheart or making any gift a bit more special.
As soon as I opened the lid of the subscription I knew it had me. I’ll definitely be purchasing the next one after seeing the amazing variety of quality, unique products in this first one. No corners were cut and no expense spared to make this box and you can definitely tell. Products were carefully chosen and I felt beyond special opening the box and seeing all of these curated products just for me.
If you missed out on this first subscription box, the next one is a must.
*This post is sponsored by Maybelline. All opinions expressed are my own.
Maybelline has been my go to brand for mascara for years. Their formula rivals high-end brands at a fraction of the cost I can get behind. They’ve been doing amazingly well giving more affordable options so when I had the opportunity to try out a couple of their new products available this month, I jumped at the chance.
The Colossal Big Shot Express mascara does a fantastic job at separating my lashes while coating them generously with a somewhat dry formula. At first I wasn’t sure about the drier consistency as I often find myself using quite wet formulas, but it made application so much easier. I tend to bumble around and get mascara at least one spot it doesn’t belong, but the brush and formula made it fool-proof to keep product just on my lashes. The end result is a perfect mix of length and volume without leaning too far to either side. No clumping and it held the curl all day. My lashes are known for bringing down even the fanciest of mascaras to drooping lash levels but this mascara held its ground. It’s a great every day mascara that I’d build up if I ever found myself going out at night. Pfffft granny status for life.
The 24karat Nudes Palette sparked my interest as a potential alternative/dupe for the Urban Decay Naked Palettes. I love the wide range of shades I wouldn’t normally gravitate for, but the palette conveniently groups together flattering shades to take the guess work out of trying to match them together. It has a good mix of shimmer and matte that all swatch really well and are easy to build up. Of course I went for a smokey neutral eye mixing together four different shades on the right side of the palette. It’s one of those palettes I don’t think I’ll get bored with quickly. There are enough options to choose from that it’ll travel well too.
The Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner was the only product I was somewhat hesitant about. I haven’t had the best luck with liquid liners from the drugstore as they’re tips are to bendy and always split after a couple of uses. Yet this liner did an amazing job creating a thin, bold line as I shakily tried to apply it. The point is firm, yet just flexible enough to form into any possible angle and by the end of application I felt confident enough to add a little flick at the end. I haven’t touched liner in months and I definitely feel myself gravitating back to a cat eye. Who am I?!
Biggest pro is the price. I’m in saving mode this year as we’re doing quite a lot of travelling. Drugstore makeup is going to make a resurgence in my life in 2017 and Maybelline has definitely set the bar high.
Maybelline was kind enough to send me two Colossal Big Shot Express mascaras so I’m giving one away to you! Giveaway is open internationally to anyone over 18-years-old or with parental consent.
So it’s January 2nd. Are New Year’s Resolutions still a thing? I’m definitely the type to have grandiose plans January 1 and abandon them by March. Yet this year I wanted to really commit to a couple of things I know hands down I can easily stick with. Start small and work my way up to the mega resolutions later on.
Thanks to some really awesome Christmas gifts I have all the tools in order to get started. Right off of my wishlist (this never happens) and better than I could have imagined, the Disney Collectible Postcards box is going to do a lot more than just sit pretty on my shelf. I lusted after these gorgeous cards showcasing how some of my favorite childhood movies came to life because I want to use them. Sure part of me wants to horde them and collect them all, but a postcard demands to be sent. I want to send all 100 of these gorgeous cards to people throughout the year. I used to write letters like crazy. I still do, but I wanted something to inspire me and encourage me to do it even more. These cards are amazing and I can’t wait to share them with friends and family.
Alex and I love to host events, so this next one would probably happen naturally. I want to expand my cooking and baking skills in 2017 and this seriously amazing appetizer cookbook will make it loads easier. It has 225 different appetizer recipes and each one has a photo. Done. Nothing will make me try a recipe more than a mouthwatering photo to go right alongside it. By the end of 2017 I want to cook at least two dozen of these recipes for various parties I’m sure we’ll host throughout the year.
That’s it. Those are my two goals for 2017. No fuss and no frills I just want to cook more and stay in touch with family and friends. 2017 feels like the year to strip down all the excess and get back to the things that bring me joy.
