popsugar must have box

POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX | DECEMBER 2015 | LAST POP SUGAR EVER?!

December 16, 2015 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I just opened what just might be my last PopSugar Must Have Box ever! I have decided after three full years as a subscriber to take a break so that I am able to try other things (which of course I’ll also share with you). I absolutely adore PopSugar, so it’s sad but I know I’ll survive ; ) The PopSugar Must Have Box is a monthly lifestyle subscription box that has food, fashion, beauty, home decor, and exercise goodies for $39 per box.

PopSugar Must Have Box December 2015:

Luv Aj The Rose Gold Ombré Bracelet

$65

I love that this has silver, rose gold, and gold together! Mixing metals is so fun, but I’ve never done three at once before.

Stowaway Cosmetics Créme Lipstick Trio

$30

These colors are gorgeous! I can’t wait to try them!

Nima Oberoi Lunares Geo Stopper

$24

How gorgeous is this?! I love that it can be used over and over without breaking or tarnishing.

Swing Design Nova Blue Mist Jewelry Box

$36

This is pretty, I love the color, and it’s practical, but I’m not super excited about this. However, even though I’m not jumping for joy, I bet this will get a lot of use!

My Cup of Cake Classic Belgian Chocolate

$5,99

I have yet to have a really delicious mug dessert, so I am excited to try this! *Maybe* I’ll split it with Stephan, or else enjoy it when he isn’t here ; )

Meri Meri Silver Stars on White Glitter Tape

I love washi tape, so this was a fun surprise! I think this will be the perfect finishing touch for pretty Christmas presents!

Special Extra:

Tiny Prints Gift Tag Stickers + $20 Promo Card

I will use the gift tags, and it’s nice they offer the promo.

Overall I was really happy with this box!! I think that each thing is beautiful, and would make an amazing gift if you didn’t want to keep it for yourself! Have a beautiful weekend! Can you believe it’s nearly Christmas?!

POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX FEBRUARY 2015!

February 23, 2015 & 1 Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Thank you for being here and making me part of your day : ) Today I want to share my PopSugar Must Have Box for February with you. Once again I am disappointed with the shipping :/ It wasn’t AS bad as last month, but I got this box several days after a friend who lives in the same state, and after Valentine’s Day which this box was strongly themed around. With that said, I LOVELOVELOVE this months box, and will still use every single item, but I wish the shipping would improve to how it was a year or so ago. I have been subscribed for 26 months and shipping has seemingly gone downhill. So, the dates of delivery really seem to vary, but *usually* the PopSugar box usually arrives between the 10th-15th of every month for me…it ships from California via FedEx Smart Post, which means it goes out FedEx but arrives to my P.O Box.

If you don’t know, the box contains full size, premium quality items in all different categories: food, beauty, fashion, home, and sometimes an extra goodie too! Each box boasts a retail total of $100 or more. You can check out my review of the PopSugar Must Have Box for January 2015 here.

The February box was inspried by, “One Love, Hearts & Arrows, Red Hot, Devine Desserts, and Pampering” (a.k.a Valentine’s Day ; ) ) …ummm yes please!!

February Must Have Box:

*Note: Rose Water Bubble Bath by U.S Apothecary NOT shown because it arrived (very) damaged

Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush by Tarte Cosmetics in True Love:

I was instantly over-the-moon excited by this box when I saw this! Obviously, I reeeeally love makeup, and Tarte is an amazing brand! I own a holiday blush palette from Tarte, but until now did not own any of the individual Amazonian Clay blushes. I love this shade, and it wears beautifully for a very natural flush that can be built up as needed. It is great that just a tiny tap into this is all you need because it is so highly pigmented, and this could be worn on many skintones.

$26

Rose Water Bubble Bath by U.S Apothecary:

This was a huge letdown because mine was broken : ( It leaked badly and my whole box smelled strongly of roses, but thankfully it didn’t damage my other items except the burlap bag that the next item was in. I appreciate that PopSugar always is sure to wrap items like this incase this happens, but I was still bummed! I contacted PopSugar first by email, but then recieved a much faster response by reaching out on social media. I have had two or three other issues over the course of 26 months, and always get excellent customer service once I get ahold of someone at PopSugar. If this happens to you I suggest sending a *nice* tweet to @MustHaveSupport or a Facebook message to the PopSugar Must Have Facebook page. I look forward to trying this when I get my replacement!

$30

Bamboo Heart Cutting Board & Cheese Knife by ACME Party Box Company:

I swoon over the ACME Party Box Company website, they have fantastic but fairly pricy gift ideas for everyone, and things themed for any party or celebration you could imagine! I love making little cheese and snack platters to make a night of Netflix with Stephan a little more special, so this is perfect for that! I love that this came with a little cheese knife, too!

*Similar item linked

$32

Mini Arrow Pendant Necklace by Bauble Bar:

Just like the Tarte blush, I was estatic when I saw something from Bauble Bar! I adore Bauble Bar jewelry! This little arrow necklace so dainty and cute! I think this would be adorable layered with other small necklaces, or worn alone. You can wear it at two different lengths, and I found that it laid better on the shorter length for me. This is definitely a new favorite for me, and my 3 year old Hailey gave it her nod of approval as well ; )

*Similar item linked

$32

100% Natutral Blam by Figs & Rouge in Lemon Berry:

This has such cute packaging! I really like the ever ever so slight tint and feel of this. Although I love the look of a tin style balm, I don’t like dipping my finger into it unless I have something to immediately wipe my finger off on, so I end up using balms like this less than ones in tube form. I also feel like they are less sanitary. I really like the Lemon Berry color/flavor that I got, but if you’re subscribed what kind did you get? Leave me a comment and let me know, I love hearing what other variations people received!! : )

Ravishing Rocky Road Bar by Chuao Chocolatier:

OH MY GOSH YUM!!! Salted, caramelized almonds, and marshmallows in all-natural milk chocolate? Yes, yes, yes!! This is soooo good! I was really sad when it was gone! And Steph, who isn’t a big sweets or milk chocolate fan typically, also really enjoyed the small piece I shared ; ) I think these would be awesome as a gift add-on, or a sweet thing to send to a friend or loved one…maybe a Galentine!

FingerPaints Nail Color by Sally Beauty in Romanticism Ruby:

This is a special extra and what a fun one! I love nail polish, and this is a brand I’ve never tried, so I can’t wait to try something new. I think Romanticism Ruby will be a great toe color! If you’re a PopSugar subscriber, what color did you get?

$5.50

I am THRILLED with the items in this months box, but I am frustrated with the shipping and my broken item as well. I hope that PopSugar can turn it around quickly so that I can start enjoying my box and sharing with all of you in a timely manner. This box has a retail value of $139.50 which is $100 more than the cost of the box. It really is like Christmas every month! Do you subscribe to PopSugar? What did you think about this box? Let me know in the comments! If you’d like more information on PopSugar you can find it here.

Have a great Monday!! XO

POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX DECEMBER 2014!! BONUS POST

December 19, 2014 & 1 Comment

Hi there! Happy Friday!!

Today I have ANOTHER bonus post because I got my December PopSugar Must Have Box and have to share it with you right away! It’s suuuuch a good one!

If you don’t know, the box contains full size items in all different categories: food, beauty, fashion, home, and sometimes an extra goodie too! *Usually* the PopSugar box usually arrives between the 10th-15th of every month for me…it ships from California via FedEx Smart Post, which means it goes out FedEx but arrives to my P.O Box.

December 2014 Must Have Box:

Speckled Metallic Scarf from SPUN by Subtle Luxury

I love this! Anything metallic, especially gold, catches my eye! I absolutely love this lightweight scarf and think it’s a great way to add a little sparkle to any outfit.

$62

Sydney Necklace from Sparkle Pop

This is by far my favorite thing in the box!! It is *so* sparkly! I was doing my monthly unboxing with my 3 year old, and she nearly broke my heart when she said “Mom! Check and see if there is another one in the bag” because she loved it so much, too. I couldn’t blame her, it’s stunning!

$42

Platinum Bowl by Canvas Duaville

This bowl is plain matte white on the outside, but on the inside it is a super sparkly platinum! This looks PERFECT with the Sydney Necklace above tossed inside! I adore this for a jewelry catch-all.

$29

Be Legendary Long-Wear Lip Lacquer

This deep bordeaux color is perfect for winter! I thought that staying power was great, and I haven’t braved it without a lip liner yet, but with a liner I didn’t have any bleeding or feathering. I really like this color, the gloss formula (again, my DRY lips need it!), and the stain it left was beautiful! Even after eating out at a mexican resturant!

$24

Parcel Tags from Knot & Bow

These little tags are cute! I think they would look adorable with a name written in gold sharpie : ) I don’t love these for Christmas gifts, but I like them for other gift giving, or labeling around the house! I love that these are from an etsy.com shop!

Cupcake Mix in Vanilla Bean from William-Sonoma

I was hoping for some fancy smancy chocolate this month, but I am not complaining about this ; ) I love William-Sonoma cooking ware, but haven’t tried any of their mixes. Hailey, my 3 year old, LOVES to bake with me! So, we will have fun with these even though I wouldn’t pay this much for cupcake mix myself : )

$14.95

I looooove this box! The $175.95 total value is fabulous and I think this box is absolutely worth the $39 price! Do you subscribe to PopSugar? If you would like to you can sign up here for $39/month! If there are any other subscriptions that you think I need to try, let me know in the comments or find me on social media! It’s always LeahTackles : ) Good luck getting all of your last minute Christmas shopping, baking, and wrapping done this weekend!!

PopSugar Must Have Box November 2014!!! BONUS POST!

November 20, 2014 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy THURSDAY! Or Happy Friday Eve ; ) Because that sounds much nicer to me!

I usually post on a Monday and Wednesday schedule but when both my PopSugar Must Have Box AND My Ipsy Glam Bag showed up I knew I had to squeeze one of them in right away for you guys!!

November 2014 PopSugar Must Have Box:

The Secret Recipes by Dominique Ansel from Simon & Schuster:

This is such a beautiful baking book! This is written by the creator of the Cronut (YUM!) and has recipes for everyone, no matter your skill level so it says. It looks complicated honestly, but I still want to try some recipes out! I really enjoy baking, and I do have some baking books but none as fancy smancy as this! I think it would look gorgeous sitting in your kitchen or on a table, but with little kids mine is up with all of my other cookbooks.

$35

Saffiano Wallet On a Chain by Sorial:

I love this! I think it’s a fantastic idea and although I usually am carrying a big bag or diaper bag because I have little kids, this could be great for a girls night out or date night!! One concern is that I do *not* think this will fit larger phones like the iPhone 6. Quality wise this seems nice, but someone told me that the zipper on theirs came broken : / I am sure PopSugar will get it replaced quickly, but it does make me question the quality a bit. Still, very cute and functional! *Note: Lipstick shown in picture is for size reference!

$49

Ambergis Shea Butter Cream by K. Hall Simpatico:

I say this every time PopSugar sends luxury lotions…I LOVE IT! I don’t splurge on lotions but I definitely love them! The packaging of this is very luxe, but I don’t like the metal style tube because sometimes when you squeeze it they can crack…basically it is stylish but just doesn’t seem as functional this way to me…is that just me?! I opened this right away, but I had to do so with a pen because it doesn’t have that little part some caps have to poke it open. I love the light scent of this and have already been enjoying it!!

$22

Thoughtful Heart Stationery by Tiny Prints:

I just mentioned in a recent post how much I love sending snail mail to loves ones! And I *adore* pretty stationary, so this will definitely get used.

$15

Custom 3-Pack for POPSUGAR Must Have by Wine Glass Writer:

Oh my goodness! These are fantastic!! I am super pregnant, so I’m not currently consuming any wine, but I love wine and all the little accessories to go along with it! These are so much fun!!

$9.95

Chicago Mix Popped Corn by G.H Cretors

THIS. IS. UNREAL!!!! Are you paying attention?! UNREAL! Seriously!! I saw it an was kind of “meh” about it at first. I knew I would eat it, I do like carmel corn and popcorn, but it isn’t something I gravitate to if I’m in a chocolate shop or anything. But this?! Stop, seriously, stop! It is THE BEST SNACK I HAVE TRIED ALL YEAR! Hands DOWN! I know I sound sort of like a crazy preggo, but both my mother in-law and my friend who are also PopSugar subscribers have confirmed my feelings, this is the bomb.com! My husband doesn’t like carmel corn, and isn’t much of a snacker (it’s truely unfair actually!), but even he thought this was pretty amazing. I am buying a case of 12 bags on amazon for $35! That should last me a good two weeks ; )

$3.69

TOTAL BOX VALUE:

$134.64

After feeling lukewarm about the October PopSugar Must Have Box I am so happy with the November box! I love everything and everything will get used! I am super excited for the December box and hope that it ships plenty early so we can enjoy the goods before Christmas!

Do you subscribe to PopSugar? If you would like to you can sign up here for $39/month! I love subscription boxes and will be reviewing my November Ipsy Bag next week!! If there are any other subscriptions that you think I need to try, let me know in the comments or find me on social media! It’s always LeahTackles : ) Have WONDERFUL weekend my loves!!

POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX OCTOBER 2014! AND BUTTER LONDON GIVEAWAY!!!

November 3, 2014 & 34 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Okay, I know it’s November now, but I JUST got my October box last Thursday. If you are subscribed to the PopSugar Must Have Box then you know that they had MAJOR issues this month after revamping their website. People had issues with shipping and also with billing. I am disappointed, but I also understand that things happen. My experiences with customer service have always been good, and that says a lot as well.

October 2014 Must Have Box:

Animal Socks by Happy Socks:

$12

I love fun socks like this for the winter months! I am really happy with these : ) Super cute, and very nice quality.

WINK Eye Pencil by Butter LONDON:

$18

I love this!! I love makeup, and eyeliners are one thing that I don’t have that many of, and I don’t have anything like this. Earl Grey is a beautiful silver gray color and I think it will be wonderful for the holidays (I know, I know I can’t help it…everything can be twisted to be holiday related in my book!)

Would you like to win one of these? My mother in-law is a PopSugar subscriber and she doesn’t wear eyeliner, so she was kind enough to let me have it for a little giveaway for my subscribers! Details will be at the bottom of this post!

Acrylic Frame by Issac Jacobs International:

$36

I like that this is magnetic and easy to swtich pictures frequently! I think this would be great for a place in the home where you’d like to change out the picture frequently, maybe with the seasons.

Chalkboard Candle by Mine Design:

$24

I LOVE candles and I think this is fun because I can write little messages for the seasons, for my husband, for the kids…how cute! I think one of the best things will be depotting this and using it for makeup brushes or pens on my desk.

Pumpkin Spice Malt Balls by Dean & DeLuca:

$5.75

I love trying out fancy candy, and I think these will be nice to have in the evenings when my sweet tooth comes out. *Update: I tried these…meh, they’re okay. It tastes like pumpkin pie filling, but a different texture, and has a lot more pumpkin than chocolate. Still, I ate a couple just for you guys ; ) and I didn’t spit them out or anything.

Halloween Decals by Nailed Kit:

These are cute little nail decals that you can wear over any nail polish you like! I think my daughter will enjoy these as well : ) I would have REALLY liked these had I got them when the boxes usually arrive, and it isn’t a huge deal because I can save them for next year, but I’m not going to put these on for one day! Because to me, Halloween is OVER when it is over, and then it’s full on holiday mode. Checking out the website they have some ADORABLE choices!!

Special Extra:

Shoreline Shea Butter/ Olive Oil Bar Soap by K. Hall Designs:

I’m feeling pretty *meh* about this. I’m not a big fan of bar soap usually, I know PopSugar has sent out a few in the past and I liked one of them, but this is very nice looking. Depending on the scent, Stephan may like this and if not I’m sure we will use it at some point.

Blue Jean Box by The Blue Jean Bar:

Enjoy $40 off of a box. I LOVE subscription boxes, but I haven’t really been tempted by clothing subscriptions. I probably won’t use this, but it is a nice discount.

GIVEAWAY:

1) Comment on this blog post and tell me your favorite makeup item of the moment!! Commenting is *easy* promise! Just click the link by the title of this post and you enter your first name, email, and comment : )

2) You *MUST* be subscribed to my blog! To subscribe enter your email into the subscription box on the right side of the page! You will then get an email that asks you to confirm that you subscribed and that’s it! You’ll just get emails when I post something new.

EXTRA ENTRY OPPORTUNITIES:

If you’d like to gain extra enteries you can 1) Share this post on your Facebook, 2) Share this post on your Twitter, 3) Follow me on a social media platform you are not yet following me on and you will get an entry for each new like or follow (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Luvocracy, Pinterest)

The support means a lot to us and it’ll get you extra entries : )

RULES:

1) This giveaway is limited to those in the United States and Canada, but eventually giveaways will be opening up to subscribers everywhere!

2) If you are under 18 years old just ask permission from your parents to enter the giveaway!

3) A random selection website will determine the winner to keep things fair.

4) Once the winner is contacted by email they will have 48 hours to respond and after that I will select another winner.

5) This giveaway will end in two weeks!!

If you have any questions please reach out to me and I would be happy to help!! I hope that you are having a wonderful week so far : )

Popsugar Must Have Box September 2014!

September 22, 2014 & 4 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

It’s POPSUGAR TIME!!!! Today I am reviewing the September 2014 PopSugar Must Have Box.The box contains full size items in all different categories: food, beauty, fashion, home, and sometimes an extra goodie too! The PopSugar box usually arrives between the 10th-15th of every month for me…it ships from California via FedEx Smart Post, which means it goes out FedEx but arrives to my P.O Box. I am LOVING this months box, so let’s get into it!

September 2014 Must Have Box:

Stereo Earbuds by Nicole Miller

$20

I needed a new pair of earbuds, and I can’t wait to use these! I love the dark blue color that I received, though I’m not sure if everyone got the same color. If you are subscribed to PopSugar Must Have Box, what color earbuds did you get? Let me know in the comments!

Superfine Purse Size Hairspray by Orbie

$21.50

I like the sleek packaging of this hairspray, and I will definitely use this for travel! It smells pretty nice, too.

Almond Brownie by Urban Remedy

$6.99

I thought this might be kind of strange…it’s a 100% raw and organic…but it was REALLY good!! It wasn’t the same as biting into a chocolate fudge brownie or anything, but it was a nice dense bar with a nice dark cacao chocolate-y taste. That said, would I pay $6 for one of these? Probably not.

Gold Foil Arrow Pencils by Letter C Design

$7.50

I *looove* the sleek black pencils with the gold details! I haven’t used these yet, but they look gorgeous on my desk! I love that they threw in a small pencil sharpener too, because I haven’t used a pencil that wasn’t mechanical in ages.

Modal Gradation Scarf in Raisin by Tilo Scarves

$125

This is far and away my favorite item in the box this month!!! I looooove this scarf! When I first glanced at it, I only saw charoal, but once opened it is a beautiful mix of grays and a raisin brown…GORGEOUS! Seriously, stunning! This makes the most basic tee look beautiful.

Garance Doré Assorted Girls Set by Rifle Paper Co.

$18

I love having blank notecards to send to friends and loved ones! I also will use these for giveaway winners : ) Super cute!

Special Extras:

Milk Chocolate Sea Salt and Almond Minis by Ghiradelli

This was an awesome “extra”! I am ashamed to say how quickly these disappeared, but hey at least I can blame it on the pregnancy…right??! SOO yummy!

$20 Nike Giftcard

I don’t reeeeally count this, because you have to make a purchase to use this, but I will definitely hang onto it and it’s nice to have on hand.

This is one of my favorite PopSugar Must Have Boxes in awhile! And with a total of $198.99 it is clearly WELL worth the $39 price point since I have already been using most of the products! As usual : ) Have you subscribed to any subscription boxes or bags yet? I would love to hear about them in the comments! I finally caved and got my first Ipsy Glambag and I will put a review up on Wednesday, so be sure to subscribe to see that if you haven’t subscribed already : )

POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX JULY 2014!

July 16, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!!

Today I am *SO* excited to be reviewing the PopSugar Must Have Box for July 2014!! The box contains full size items in all different categories:food, beauty, fashion, home, and sometimes an extra goodie too! The PopSugar box usually arrives between the 10th-15th of every month for me…it ships from California via FedEx Smart Post, which means it goes out FedEx but arrives to my P.O Box. I am LOVING this months box, so let’s get right into it!!

JULY 2014 MUST HAVE BOX:

Beach Hat from Michael Stars

$48

I LOVE Michael Stars and I was thrilled to see a fun sun hat in this months box. I have several beach hats and floppy hats now, and I really need to find more opportunities to wear them! This is a nice hat becasue it isn’t too huge and oversized (which is fabulous also!), and that makes it wearable on a more frequent basis.

Sunscreen and Lotion from Sun Bum

$20

First off, these smell AMAZING!! I love that coconut, sunscreen-y scent! I always wear sunscreen, and I am always happy to have some more on hand. Also, the packaging is so cute!!

Toasted Coconut Chips from Dang Foods

These are so tasty! I shared a few with Stephan because we are both huge coconut fans, but now I am going to have to get some more of these! I love that the only ingredients are coconut, sugar cane, and salt.

Jump Rope With Soft Grip Handles from TKO

$13

I have been wanting an athletic jump rope for awhile now, and I am really excited to try this out. And I’m not sure how fast you’d have to jump to burn 170 calories in 15 minutes…but it claims that it is possible, so SIGN ME UP!

Chevron Paper Straws from ACME Party Box Company

I love paper straws and these ones are so cute!

Ziggy Salad Servers from French Bull

$12

These are so cute! I love that PopSugar includes so many fun kitchen gadgets because they are all things that I typically wouldn’t buy myself, but absolutely adore! Summer is the perfect time to show off such fun serveware!!

Bold Lacquer Length & Volume Mascara from Revlon

This is the special extra this month and I am glad that it’s an extra. As you all know, I love makeup! But I would prefer and eye shadow, a lip product, or maybe a blush. Ohh or nail polish…but that’s not quite makeup ; ) I know mascara is easy because there isn’t a color-match issue, and I will definitely try this one out!

This box has a total value of just over $110 and I am VERY happy with it!! Do you subscribe to PopSugar or any other subscription boxes? As always, I would love to hear about them!! I hope that you have a WONDERFUL rest of your week! And don’t forget to enter my Ell and Emm bracelet giveaway!!

POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX MAY 2014

May 16, 2014 & 1 Comment

Hi There! Happy Friday!

Today I am very excited to be reviewing the May 2014 PopSugar Must Have Box! Some people read spoilers…maybe that is why you are here reading this?!…but I prefer to be surprised! The box contains full size items in all different categories:food, beauty, fashion, home, and usually an extra goodie of some kind, too. The PopSugar box usually arrives between the 10th-15th of every month for me…it ships via FedEx Smart Post, which means it goes out FedEx but arrives to my P.O Box.

I will quickly go over the items from my April 2014 PopSugar Must Have Box first, and then dig into the May box!

Product titles are also links for more information or to buy online.

APRIL MUST HAVE BOX MINI REVIEWS:

Must Have Food:

PopSugar Must Have Mix from Nature Box

Verdict: I LOVED THIS!! I wish I could buy this at my local grocery store. YUM! I still haven’t gotten a subscription for Nature Box yet, but I want to!

Must Have Home:

Caldrea Rosewater Driftwood Liquid Hand Soap

$10.50

Verdict: I haven’t used this yet because we have been using up what we have, but it smells lovely and I can’t wait to try it.

Must Have Beauty:

Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette

$36

Verdict: My orignal palette came with a broken shadow, but PopSugar quickly replaced my palette. I love this little palette, and have been getting a lot of use out of it.

Must Have Fashion:

(XO) Echo Shopper Collapsable Tote Bag from Lauren Conrad for Blue Avocado (*Similar)

$24.99

Verdict: I really love this! It still hasn’t made it to the farmers market, but as soon as ours opens up, this bag will be heading there : )

Must Have Home:

Pocket Notes from Graphic Image

$20

Verdict: I used this immediately! It is so adorable and I love it.

Must Have Home:

TOTALLY AWESOME: 80’s Sayings Tea Towel Set by Fresh Pastry Stand (an etsy.com site)

$18

Verdict: I have used these a little bit, and they are pretty cute! I like the summery colors!

MAY 2014 MUST HAVE BOX:

Must Have Beauty:

Smell Bent St. Tropez Dispenser

$45 Value

This smells just like sun screen, salt, coconut…basically a day at the beach in the bottle! This may not be a favorite for everybody, but I LOVE it! It doesn’t seem to last super long on the skin, so that is a bit of a downside, and the bottle is glass so if you wanted to take it in your bag you’d have to consider that. I can’t wait to wear it this summer!!

Must Have Home:

Kerry Cassill Eye Mask (*Similar)

$24 Value

This is really pretty, and I needed a new eye mask, so I will happily use it!

Must Have Fitness:

Tone It Up

$15 Value

I really like workout DVDs because with two little loves running around, I don’t get to the gym very often anymore! I use our treadmill the most consistently, and I like to change up my DVD workouts. This DVD features the ladies from Bravo’s Toned Up, which I have never seen but have heard about. Has anyone watched Toned Up? Have you tried the Tone It Up DVDs? I would love to hear from you! Please comment and let me know : )

Must Have Home:

Zing Anything Cirtus Zinger

$17 Value

This is my favorite thing in the box!! I was *so* excited when I saw it!! In my April Beauty Favorites I mentioned that I have been drinking lemon water every morning recently, so the timing on this couldn’t be more perfect. You can press lemons, limes, or other citrus fruits into your water. Love!

Must Have Beauty:

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Pool Boy Nail Lacquer

$10 Value

This is such a pretty color for spring and summer! This is 100% vegan and cruelty free. I already put it on my nails and I love it!

Must Have Food:

Hi I’m Skinny Sticks Multi-Grain Sweet Onion

I was excited when I saw these, but I unfortunately really didn’t like them. They do have adorable packaging though! I think that if these were savory flavor I would have liked them, but a sweet flavor just wasn’t doing it for me. I sent these to work with my husband, so they hopefully won’t go to waste!

At first glance, I thought this was a fairly small box, but that being said I really enjoy the items in this months PopSugar Must Have Box! This box has a value of $115 and besides the Hi I’m Skinny Sticks, I know that I will use everything in the box. As always, well worth the $39. Do you subscribe to PopSugar? Do you subscribe to any other subscription boxes? Please comment (click the link by the title of this post) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! Please subscribe by entering your email into the subscription box on the right hand of this screen and you’ll only get emails when I post something new : )

PHEW! SUPER LONG!!! But thank you for reading : ) Also, don’t forget to check out my column, Leah’s Friday Five, on Pearls and Pastries Shop Blog! There is a new post up today!!

POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX APRIL 2014!!

April 14, 2014 & 5 Comments

Hi There! Happy Monday!!

I hope you’re having a wonderful start to your week! If you want to make my day, be sure to follow me on social media! The pink button links are at the top of this page! It’s LeahTackles everywhere!

Today I am very excited to be reviewing the April 2014 PopSugar Must Have Box! I have been receiving this subscription service since December 2012 and it is like Christmas every month! I personally love being surprised by what’s in the box, so I steer clear of spoilers! If your April box hasn’t come yet and you want spoilers, keep reading! Here is a little bit about Pop Sugar: The box contains full size items in all different categories…food, beauty, fashion, home, and usually an extra goodie of some kind, too. The PopSugar box usually arrives between the 10^th-15^th of every month for me…it ships via FedEx Smart Post, which means it goes out FedEx but arrives to my P.O Box. Today I will quickly go over the March items so you know what I loved and what was maybe so-so for me. When I go over the May box in a post next month I will do a mini review of the items from this month and talk about what I used, didn’t use, liked, or maybe didn’t like as much.

Product titles are also links for more information or to buy online.

Okay, here we go…

MARCH 2014 POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX OVERVIEW:

Must Have Food:

Snapea Crisps from Harvest Snaps

$3 Value

Verdict:

I ate these up quickly and really liked them! I was happy to find them shortly after receiving them in my box at my local grocery store. The listed value is $3, but I found them for less than $2, so keep your eyes peeled!

Must Have Beauty:

Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum from Jurlique

$30

Verdict:

I really like this serum! It is a very thin consistency, but I find that only 1-2 pumps is enough to cover my face, neck and décolleté. I have only been using it every few days at night, but I think I am going to be brave and test it during the day on my combination/oily skin to see how it goes! The serum seems to absorb into the skin quickly, so maybe it would work on me for daytime as well.

Must Have Fashion:

Lucky Horseshoe Necklace from Dogeared (*Similar)

$28

Verdict:

I love it! Very cute! I need to remember to wear it more often.

Must Have Fashion:

IKAT Scarf from Brokedown

$72

Verdict:

This is such a fabulous scarf! I have been reaching for it a lot lately, and it’s a great transition piece for spring!

Must Have Fitness:

Mini Stability Exercise Ball from Fusion Pilates (*Similar)

$9.95

Verdict:

I used this only once, right before writing this post so that I could tell you all at least a little something about it. The workouts for this Mini Stability Ball were fairly basic, but as most workouts not quite as easy as they looked! Now that I know how to use it, I need to grab this and give it a try with my exercise routine! I tend to get in exercise slumps where I do the same type of work out over and over! Time to change it up!

Must Have Home:

Elephant Ring Tree Holder from Bauble Bar

$12

Verdict:

I love this still! It looks so cute sitting on top of my jewelry box, and I have two little rings sitting on it looking pretty.

Special Extra:

Whole Wheat Fig Bar from Nature’s Bakery

Verdict:

This was yummy and came in handy when I needed a snack on the go! Would I run out and hunt down this exact bar? No, but it was tasty and I would consider grabbing again if I saw it at the store.

Okay, now onto the good stuff!! This months box!!

APRIL 2014 POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX:

Must Have Food:

Pop Sugar Must Have Mix from Nature Box

$5 Value

I have been curious about Nature Box for quite awhile now and was really excited to see something in this PopSugar Must Have Box to try from them. The mix is dried cranberries, corn, soybeans and almonds in it, and it wasn’t something I would have reached for myself, but I really liked it! I almost always have a snack while watching our favorite TV shows with my husband after our kids go to bed, and having healthy snacks like this around keep me from wanting chocolate or other not-so-healthy treats! The fat content is pretty high, it is a trail mix/energy snack after all, but otherwise it’s definitely a healthy option. They also included a coupon for a $9.95 trail month of 5 items, and I am definitely tempted! If you subscribe to Nature Box, do you like it? I would love to hear your thoughts! Let me know by commenting (click the link on the title of this post! Super easy!) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Must Have Home:

Caldrea Rosewater Driftwood Liquid Hand Soap

$10.50 value

I love seeing things like this in the box! I would feel guilty spending too much on hand soap, it’s a spot where I can cut corners or at least get the deals at Bath and Body Works, but I LOVE the little luxury of using them! It is a very nice rose smell, not too overpowering and not at all a fake floral smell that some soaps have.

Must Have Beauty:

Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette

$36 Value

I was SO excited when I saw this in the box!! I love Too Faced bronzers, lip products, and mascara but I have never tried the eye shadows! Speaking of their eye shadows, I am currently lusting over the Chocolate Bar Palette and know that eventually that must be added to my collection! Has anyone tried either of these palettes? Let me know by leaving a comment (click the link by the title of this post) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram ! Anyways, I love neutral eye shadows and was super excited until I noticed powder covering the box while I was opening it : ( One of the eye shadows broke! I know I could try to repair it, but I also sent PopSugar an email to see about sending it back and getting a replacement. It wasn’t wrapped at all sadly, which I was surprised about because I haven’t had that issue in the past. I have only had one other issue in the 17 different boxes I have had since December 2012, so as long as it’s replaced I am not concerned about it, and PopSugar has always had great customer service.

Must Have Fashion:

(XO) Eco Shopper Collapsible Tote Bag from Lauren Conrad for Blue Avocado

$24.99 value

I wasn’t thrilled initially with this bag because I figured it would just be another bag that wasn’t any different than others that I have. However, upon further inspection it’s simple to use and an adorable print! This bag makes me so excited for warmer weather and hopefully heading to some farmer’s markets with my family! So many bags advertise that they fold up “easily”, but this one really does fold up without a struggle. I think it will be functional for so many things, for day trips or barbeques I always have extra stuff I want to bring along and this is a great way to look stylish while doing it. The company Blue Avocado works with other companies and they upcycle by using plastic bottles to make the Blue Avocado products. The Lauren Conrad line from Blue Avocado also has lots of beauty and travel items that are just adorable! She can seriously do no wrong!

Must Have Home:

Pocket Notes from Graphic Image (*Similar)

$20 Value

I LOVE this so much! It says “Run The World” (how CUTE!) on a small periwinkle leather notebook with silver glit edged pages and a little ribbon bookmark. I am already using this, and it’s a perfect addition to toss into my bag or have displayed on my desk.

Must Have Home:

TOTALLY AWESOME: 80’s Sayings Tea Towel Set by Fresh Pastry Stand (an Etsy.com site)

$18 Value

These are cute, and I will definitely use them a lot this summer in the kitchen. They are big enough unfolded that they can be very multi-functional, which I love! I think they’re a fun way to liven up and lighten up the kitchen for spring.

All in all it is another great box from PopSugar! The total value was about $115 (each month $100 value or more is promised!) and for $39 it is well worth it since I will use the products. I am not as excited as I was about last months box (I LOVED last months box, so pretty stiff competition), but I still think I will enjoy and use all of the products in the box! I will keep you posted and put a note at the bottom of this post when I hear from PopSugar about my broken Too Faced palette. If you liked what you saw here, you can subscribe to PopSugar Must Have Box and join in the fun too! It’s the only subscription box I have tried so far, but I am *SOCLOSE* to trying more! Everybody loves fun mail, right?! If you subscribe to any subscription boxes that you love, tell me about it commenting (click the link next to the title of this post), or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! As always, thank you so much for reading this and please subscribe! It’s easy, just enter you email and receive emails only when I upload a new post, and it’ll make my day!

***UPDATE*** PopSugar has emailed me back and are replacing my Too Faced palette! I am SO happy with the customer service and once I have my palette in my hands I think this will bump up to being one of my top boxes so far!! Makeup? Eeek! Too Faced makeup? EEEEEEK!

***ANOTHER UPDATE*** PopSugar sent my replacement and it arrived carefully packaged this time! So excited : )