Little Lace Box Review, April 2015 + 15% Discount Coupon!

Over promising and under delivering is a real hazard for subscription companies, especially those that are set up as monthly delivery services.  Being "between a rock and a hard place" is never more true than when you're dependent on suppliers and obligated to customers on a timed interval basis.  That dynamic has recently brought down several fledgling sub commerce companies.  Little Lace Box seems to have narrowly escaped that fate with their recent re-vamp which involved massive changes to their service.  The most important of those is that they switched to a bi-monthly schedule starting in May.  Monthly subscribers will not be charged again until June and annual subscribers will have their subscriptions extended to twice the original term.

Little Lace Box subscribers received a series of lengthy e-mails explaining the situation. Recognizing the signs of potential trouble, I was concerned about what the next box would bring.  (Survivors of the French Box debacle will understand my trepidation.)  However, the LLB ladies went to great lengths to communicate the issues and provide options.  The extensive communication went a long ways towards easing my fears. 

In spite of the turmoil (or maybe because of it), the "Nonna's Kitchen" themed April box is one of their best yet!  The contents of this box represent a unique Italian culinary adventure. 

There is an extensive information sheet about the included products and a "Suggested Pairings and Fact Sheet" from The Ancient Olive, a purveyor whose products are included in this box.  This sheet gives possible flavored oil and vinegar pairings...help that I definitely need and appreciate!

First out is a cute and useful kitchen towel from Belle & Union Co. with a "Farm to Market" truck print.  (Retail $14.99)

I'm a little confused about this trinket dish from Artisan Janelle Beaulieu, a ceramic artist who lives and works in the Adirondack Mountains of New York.  The tag and LLB description describe it as a porcelain jewelry dish.  This looks and feels like molded plaster to me; maybe the two are related?  It has a vintage lace design pressed into the top and I received the unglazed version.  While I love receiving hand made items in sub boxes, this dish is so flat that I can't see it as being very useful for holding jewelry.  It is a pretty piece though (and nicely packaged) so I'll find some way to use it. (Retail $14.99)

There are two 60 ml bottles from The Ancient Olive, packaged exclusively for Little Lace Box (a nice touch!)  One contains Milanese Gremolata Olive Oil and the other contains Sicilian Lemon Balsamic Vinegar.  Both are imported from Italy and look like they'll pair well for Italian-inspired Spring cooking.  (Retail $13.99)  

Next are four adorable olive oil dipping bowls by Le Cadeaux.  Each mini bowl is decorated with an old world Italian design.  They are the perfect size for individual olive oil and vinegar pairings.  These are so darn cute; I suspect I'll be finding other uses for them as well!  (Retail $15.99)

I am not a pasta connoisseur but this box of Pennette della Domenica from Filotea looks like something special.  It is an artisan egg pasta that comes from a family owned business and is imported from Italy.  (Retail $8.99)

To go with the pasta is this jar of Italian Basil Pesto from Trentasette.  Their sauces are made from the freshest ingredients and are made in small batches in Italy.  This goes with pasta, breads and crostinis.  (Retail $8.50)

When I first saw this big 16.9 oz. bottle with a lime on the front, I thought it was a flavored olive oil.  But NO!  It's a concentrated dish detergent called Cucina dish soap from Fruits & Passion.  This one has a tangy lime zest and woody cypress scent plus it's biodegradable. The scent is really nice and I think this makes a wonderful addition to the box.  (Retail $8.99)

This Market List Notepad was designed by one of the LLB sisters to match the tea towel with its farm truck print.  Very handy for making grocery (or any other) lists! (Retail $4.99)  

As if all of the above weren't enough, the information sheet tells us that each subscriber to the April box is entitled to one full size bottle of either olive oil or balsamic vinegar from The Ancient Olive.  These did not make it in time for inclusion in the April box, but there is a code for subscribers to use to order from the extensive list on LLB's website.  There are 22 options available; I'm sort of leaning towards the Black Cherry Balsamic Vinegar or the Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar.  They even offer a Dark Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar!  (Retail $13.99)

I was most impressed with April's Little Lace Box.  I thought the curation was exceptionally thoughtful and the quality undeniable.  The care that went into the selection of each item is obvious.  If this box is representative of what we can expect from Little Lace Box in the future, subscribers really have some treats in store!

Under the new structure, a bi-monthly box is $59.99.  A six month subscription (3 boxes) is $149.97 and twelve months (6 boxes) is $269.95.  Prices include shipping. Little Lace Box also has an on-line shop where most of the items featured in the monthly boxes (plus other products) can be purchased individually.

The next box comes out in June and the theme will be "Classy and Fabulous", an intriguing idea since the phrase comes from a Coco Chanel quote!  If you're interested in subscribing or making a purchase, click here for a 15% discount off your first purchase.  

Thank you for reading,

Cheryl

Disclosure:  Views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly my own.  Product discussed in this post was purchased by Lone Star Shopper. Post may contain referral or affiliate links.

Sock Panda Subscription Review, April 2015 + 15% Discount Code!

Yes, I'm slightly obsessed with socks.  I wasn't born that way; it's the natural result of SO many sock subscription services (in other words, NOT my fault).  Socks are the quintessential sub box item because they are lightweight (cheap to ship), ubiquitous (everybody needs them), easy to source (Hello China!) and relatively inexpensive. To be fair, most of the sock sub companies do a pretty good job. But Sock Panda stands out in the crowd because their socks are just so darn cute!  

If you missed my last Sock Panda review, click here to catch up on the details.  I am on the two pairs per month plan ($19) because it's less expensive per pair than if you just get one pair per month ($12).  Sock Panda arrives in a fun envelope with their panda on the lower front and pairs of socks all over the back.

Here are the two very colorful pairs of socks inside.  When you sign up, you get to choose your sock style, "Bold", "Cool" or "Both".  I don't remember which option I chose but for me, the whole point of a sock subscription is to push your sock boundaries. Judging from these two, it looks like I probably chose "Bold"!

I think these light green socks with aqua cuffs, toes and heels and a black panda print are about the cutest socks I've ever seen.  Up until now, I haven't declared any one pair of socks to be my favorite but I think we have a winner!  A-do-ra-ble!

Nothing really compares to those panda socks but I love these wildly colored socks too...with their pink, yellow, aqua, blue, green and purple geometric motif.  They almost have a stained glass quality.  Like most Sock Panda socks, these are meant to be seen!

So, those are my April socks.  I appreciate the way Sock Panda is expanding my sock horizons. My boring solid blue, white, black and gray socks are probably not going to be seeing much future use.

If you're interested in trying Sock Panda, the codes HELLO, SUB15 and MILITARY15 will get you a 15% discount off your first month.  PANDA10 will get you a 10% discount. These codes should work on either subscriptions or gift orders.

Everything about Sock Panda is fun, from their name to their packaging to their socks.   If your sock drawer could use some pizazz, check 'em out!

Thanks for reading,

Cheryl

Disclosure:  Views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly my own.  Product discussed in this post was purchased by Lone Star Shopper. Post does not contain referral or affiliate links.

Mary's Secret Ingredients Culinary Box Review, Spring 2015 + $16 Discount Code!

Four months is a LONG time to wait for a subscription box!  But I knew what I was getting into when I ordered a box from Mary's Secret Ingredients, which is a seasonal box that ships four times per year.  I just happened to discover Mary's box shortly after the Winter 2014 box shipped last November, so had a lengthy wait for my first box.  I was told right up front what the ship date would be and that's exactly when my box went out.  

"Mary" is Mary Frances, who writes a popular food blog called LOVE - The Secret Ingredient. You can read about her passion for cooking and serving great food and her impressive credentials on the "About" page of her blog.  With her limited edition culinary surprise subscription box, Mary shares unique gourmet and artisanal products along with handy kitchen tools.  Boxes are shipped on the 25th of April, June, September and November.  The cost is $25.95 per box or $103.80 for an annual subscription.

So let's see what arrived in the Spring 2015 box!  The box always gives you a sense of whether or not a sub company has its act together.  This one certainly inspires that confidence.  It is a big white box with blue branding and Mary's tag line:  "Inspire Your Cooking - Fight Hunger", which refers to the fact that a portion of box proceeds goes to "Feed the Children", a wonderful charity that is near and dear to my heart.  There is also a great cooking quote on one side:  "Cooking is like love.  It should be entered into with abandon or not at all." (Harriet Van Horne)

Everything was neatly packed in blue and white tissue with a welcome note and "The Little Book of Ingredients" tucked inside.

The note from Mary mentions that recipes using the ingredients in the box will be e-mailed to subscribers and that they can also be found here. The ingredients pamphlet gives a lot of information about each product, what's in it and a bit about the purveyors. 

Here's a group shot of the Spring box after I removed all the packing material.  As you can see, there is a lot here!

First out of the box is a package of Maple Pecan Oatie Bites from Reids of Caithness in Scotland.  These cookies are made with maple syrup and chunky pecans combined with Scottish oats.  They are very crunchy and tasty.  Some subscribers received the flavor "Banoffee" which is a combination of banana and toffee.  That's a new term to me but apparently, it's a classic British combination.

Next is a box containing a pho liquid broth concentrate from Savory Creations International. This box contains four pouches with traditional flavors and aromatics to make pho, a Vietnamese soup.  Looks like you add vegetables and cooked rice noodles, then garnish with whatever condiments you please.  I couldn't find a recipe on Mary's site to help with this so will be watching for the promised e-mail.

  
This big chocolate bar comes from the Loacker family in Italy.  This milk chocolate bar contains a cocoa cream and crispy wafer filling.  It is described as "a premium confection with a unique crunch and indulgent flavor".  Although I wish this were dark chocolate, I don't need any instructions on how to dispose of it!

There aren't too many utensils that aren't already in my kitchen drawers.  But this Cit-Trease tool from Chef's Planet is a new one to me.  The blade has sharp teeth on one side.  The instructions say to cut the orange in half width-wise, then insert the tool and make one complete revolution while rotating the orange.  The idea is to easily separate the fruit from the peel.

The next item comes from South America.  This is Chimichurri Dry Mix from Samba Flavor.  This contains gourmet quality herbs and spices which you mix with wine, vinegar or lemon juice and olive oil.  Again, I don't see a recipe that utilizes this on Mary's site so am hoping an e-mail will arrive with instructions.

This box of Cheese Straws comes from Delta Bred, straight from the Mississippi Delta. These come from an old family recipe and contain 100% real cheddar cheese. These are very crispy and cheesy and have a spicy "bite" to them.  I'm relieved that no recipe is needed to enjoy these.  (Having an ice cold drink close at hand definitely is required!)

  
The last item is a box of Shirataki Harvest Noodles in a marinara sauce.  This "secret weight loss food" consists of noodles in a vibrant tomato sauce.  The entire dish contains only 80 calories and has zero fat grams.  The box has substantial weight to it so I can see how this would make a full meal for one.  It comes in a microwavable tray.

That's everything in Mary's Spring box.  I liked the diversity of ethnicities and cuisines represented in this box; everything in it is new to me!  The price seems more than reasonable for what you get.  My only complaint is the lack of quick access to the recipes that are needed to prepare the pho dish and the chimichurri.  I know those are supposed to arrive via e-mail and are also supposed to be on the website but it certainly would be easier if they were just included in the box.

Spring boxes are sold out but the Summer box ships on June 25th.  If you sign up for a full year, use code SWEET16 for $16 off, meaning that each box is just $21.95.  This is an exceptional deal!  If you're interested, I encourage you to take advantage of this before the code expires.  I don't know of any other food related subscription box that sends so much for so little!

I am really impressed with my first Mary's Secret Ingredients box and can't wait to see what comes in the Summer box!

Cheryl
  

Disclosure:  Views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly my own.  Product discussed in this post was purchased by Lone Star Shopper. Post does not contain referral or affiliate links.   

Bath Time Box May 2015 Giveaway! Subscribe for your chance to win! (Contest ended)

Congratulations to Deidre of Brampton, Ontario -
Winner of the Bath Time Box Giveaway!
Thanks to all who entered!

If you follow this blog, you know that one of my favorite new subscriptions is Bath Time Box. This is a Canadian service whose mission is to promote bath time luxury with all natural handmade products.  To catch up on past reviews, click here to see what came in the February box and here for the April box. 

I am thrilled to announce that Bath Time Box has generously offered to send a FREE box to one of my subscribers!  These boxes are full of absolutely decadent bath products and the winner will be getting the same box that May subscribers receive.

All you have to do to enter is:

1. Be subscribed to this blog (enter your e-mail address where it says "Sign up for blog updates" in upper right hand column)  Current subscribers are already entered.
2. Like Bath Time Box on Facebook (the link takes you straight to their page)

That's it!  There's nothing else to do!  The winner will be announced on Sunday, May 17th. Please be advised that this contest is open to those age 18 or over and is available only in the U.S. and Canada.

Now that I've had some time to enjoy these products, I am even more enthusiastic about this company and eager to see what's coming next.  Just as a reminder, here is what came in April's box:

And here's what we received in February's launch box:

A BIG thank you goes to Bath Time Box for sponsoring this giveaway!  I am honored to partner with a company that is so devoted to a quality subscription experience and that sends such an amazing box every month.  Check them out; I think you will be as impressed (and addicted) as I am!

Again, all you need to do for your chance at winning the FREE Bath Time Box is subscribe to this blog and like Bath Time Box on Facebook!

Good luck to everyone!

Cheryl

Disclosure:  Views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly my own.  Product discussed in this post was purchased by Lone Star Shopper. Post does not contain referral or affiliate links.

PijonBox College Subscription Review, May 2015 + $10 Discount Code!

There don't seem to be many sub boxes that cater specifically to college students. Seems like that would be an obvious niche market but I guess the summer revenue gap is a major barrier to entry. For a while, Co-Ed Supply appeared to be the only player in this market, but they vanished from the scene after the Spring, 2014 semester.  There are companies that send care packages to college students but the only subscription box I know about is PijonBox.  Neither my French dictionary nor Babelfish confirm the existence of "pijon" but since their logo is a pigeon, I think it's safe to assume that "pijon" means "pigeon".

Although it is near the end of their shipping season, I decided to take advantage of a deal that included the final box for this semester, then resumes shipping in the fall. So my first box is their May box which is the last one for this school year.  Wnen signing up, you have the option to indicate a university and whether you're buying for a male or female.  The available subscription plans are:

Four Mos. - $27/mo., billed in advance
Eight Mos. - $25/mo., billed in advance
Custom - schedule 1 to 16 boxes (price drops to $23/mo. for commitments of 9 mos. or longer)

Shipping is $1.99 per box for all plans.

My first box arrived about two weeks after placing the order.  It is a good sized blue logo box with an admonition to "Be Good, Don't Steal" on the outside.  I see how that could be a problem if the box arrived in a communal living situation!

Inside were seven items, loosely packed in paper crinkle shreds.

My first impression was that this is a distinctly masculine assortment, surprising since I ordered a girl's box.  Sorta looks like they just had a bunch of "boy" items left over at the end of the semester so that's what everyone got.

An information card gives a brief description of each item.

The first item in my "female" box is a black Ethik Clothing Co. ball cap.  This is a streetwear company in NYC.  Judging from their site, it looks like their clothing is geared completely towards boys and men.  It is a cool cap but not something any college age girl I know would wear.  (Yes, I know a few might but my point is that this box does not reflect the gender choice I made.)

  
Next is a sunscreen stick from Raw Materials. This is an antioxidant rich SPF 30 intended for use on the lips, nose and face. Again...very masculine packaging.  I would not gift this to a girl.

If you've been getting subscription boxes for any length of time, you're probably familiar with Dang coconut products.  They are very tasty and come in different flavors.  This box contained a 1.43 oz. package of toasted coconut chips in Caramel Sea Salt flavor and a smaller package of the original chips.  Some people like to eat these straight but I add them to salads and/or desserts....anywhere I want an extra bit of crunch.

There are two packages of Kettle potato chips, one in Backyard Barbeque and one in Jalapeno flavor.  I like this brand but gotta say that single serve packages of potato chips are not very exciting in a sub box.

There is also a $1.50 coupon for the purchase of 2 packages of Kettle chips.

The last item is a small package of Honey Stinger Energizing Chews in Pomegranate Passion flavor.  These are a natural source of energy that were originally designed for long distance cyclists.  They are pretty tasty.

So that's it for my first PijonBox.  This would have been a nice box for a college boy but since I ordered a girl's box, it was a disappointment.  The edible items would be fine for either gender but the two non-food items are definitely for guys.  I have contacted the company about the apparent mistake and will update this post if and when I hear back from them.

• Update (5/6/15) - PijonBox responded immediately to my e-mail about the lack of "girl" items in this box.  They sent out a replacement shipment that contained two small lip products, which are female-appropriate.  Thank you to PijonBox for correcting this issue and especially for the quick and professional response! 

Aside from the gender issue I encountered, this is an interesting box that I'm sure would be appreciated by any college student.  It's also fun for non-college students! If you're interested in trying PijonBox, click here and use the code media-deal to get $10 off any length subscription.

The next round of PijonBoxes goes out in September so keep this box in mind for students over the summer.

Thanks for reading,

Cheryl

Disclosure:  Views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly my own.  Product discussed in this post was purchased by Lone Star Shopper. Post may contain referral or affiliate links.

Fair Ivy Handmade Gift Subscription Review, April 2015

Fair Ivy is not your average subscription company.  For one thing, they don't send lots of items each month.  They also do not tell you what you'll be receiving, although their site shows examples of items that have been sent in prior months.  Fair Ivy sends a high quality hand made item each month, shipped directly from the artist. At the fairly high price of $30 plus $6.95 for shipping and with only one item in the box, there is a risk of getting something that doesn't work for you. However, the quality/desirability of the items I've received so far has been impressive. Also, these products are 100% gift quality if you just can't use them yourself.

In case you are spooked by the shipping charge, let me just say that my April box had a postage amount of $8.26 on it.  The lovely item inside retails on the maker's site for $32.  So, I received $40.26 in value for the $36.95 paid.  Just wanted to mention that since shipping is a big part of my own business and buyers often don't understand how high postage costs really are.

So, what was this terrific item in my April box?  It is a stunning yellow and gold latte mug from White Peach Pottery.  This is a wheel-thrown mug with two glazes on it and a 24K gold accent at the top of the handle.

The information card says that the mug is thrown on a potter's wheel before being hand-altered and high fired three times throughout the process.  

This is a heavy mug, weighing about 12 oz.  It holds about 8 oz., so is the perfect size for coffee, tea, chocolate or the hot drink of your choice.

As a full-time scavenger and re-seller, I am constantly watching for marks of origin so was impressed to see the White Peach Pottery mark on the bottom of this mug.  I don't think I've ever received a handmade item in a subscription box that included a maker's mark. That is what makes this subscription SO unique!

A small pottery stirring spoon...surprisingly heavy for its size...was also included. The bowl of the spoon is decorated with tiny gold dots that match the handle of the mug.  

Here is the little introductory note for April from Fair Ivy:

And this is the explanatory card telling about the mug.  It mentions the name of the artist, Marianne Tolosa and her pottery in Virginia.  After seeing this mug, I am a new fan!

I can't say enough good things about this amazing mug.  It is beautifully made and unlike anything else I own.  The stirring spoon is adorable.  This is the kind of thing you HOPE somebody will give you as a gift!  It is definitely not your average subscription box fare.  Fair Ivy is going to have a tough time equaling or exceeding this stunning mug in the next box but if anybody can do that, they can.

As you can see, Fair Ivy is not for bargain or quantity hunters.  It is for those who appreciate handmade quality and beautiful items.  Because of the very unique nature of this service, there are a limited number of subscriber slots open each month.  If you're interested in signing up, you may need to put your name on a waiting list.  When I did that earlier this year, I heard from them within a month that a spot was open.

If you check Fair Ivy's subscription page, you'll notice that monthly subscriptions include eligibility for special bonus gifts.  In reading and watching other reviews, I see that some subscribers also got separately mailed loose tea and handmade soap following receipt of their mugs.  Fair Ivy says that a limited number of these bonus items are available each month and they try to rotate them among subscribers.  It is disappointing to not be among that group so I'm sure this policy is frustrating for the "have nots".  Let's hope Fair Ivy can find a way to make the bonus program a little more equitable.

Now I plan to do a little shopping on White Peach Pottery's site, a place I definitely would not have found without Fair Ivy!

Thanks for reading,

Cheryl

Disclosure:  Views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly my own.  Product discussed in this post was purchased by Lone Star Shopper. Post does not contain referral or affiliate links.

Treatsie Gourmet Sweets Review, April 2015 + Double Sweets Code!

April's Treatsie box is full of decadent goodness, including plenty of chocolate, both milk and dark.  After some heat related issues last summer, Treatsie has become really good at protecting their chocolate during shipment.  I appreciate their pro-active measures because nobody wants to receive melted chocolate!  April's box (which contains almost all chocolate items) arrived inside an insulated bubble mailer with a cold pack inside.  Since I was traveling at the time the shipment arrived, I wasn't able to pick it up for two weeks. Thanks to Treatsie's careful packaging, I'm happy to say the contents were in perfect condition.

  
As always, the sweets were wrapped in mint green tissue with a Treatsie seal.

Look at all the chocolate!  Yes!!!

The information card tells us what's in the box and the retail values.  The other side of the card shows a U.S. map with the current month's contributing confectioners marked.  For April, our treats are coming from Minnesota, New York and Georgia.

The only non-chocolate item in the box is this package of four big Malvi Marshmallow Confections.  (Their site is well worth a visit!)  These are in the flavor Vanilla Salted Caramel.  I've had these before in other flavors and they are really good.  In case you're wondering, "Malvi" is short for "Malvavisco", the Spanish word for marshmallow.

On to the chocolate!  There are four little chocolate bites from B.T. McElrath Chocolatier in Minneapolis.  Two are milk chocolate and two are dark.  Here are the very appealing and creative flavor combinations:

• Dark Chocolate Caramel Bite (butter caramel in 70% dark chocolate)
• Super Red Bite (70% dark chocolate with cherries, strawberries & raspberries)
• Buttered Toast Bite (Toasted bread crumbs in 40% milk chocolate)
• Prairie Dog Bite (40% milk chocolate with toasted almonds, butter toffee and sea salt)

In an elegant mint green paper wrapper, there is a full size PB&J Dark Chocolate Covered Peanut Praline, Raspberry Pate de Fruit bar from Tumbador Chocolate.  I feel a chocolate coma coming on!

The last two items are small cube shaped boxes, also from Tumbador Chocolate. One contains "Corn Nut Dragee", which is corn nuts covered in 72% dark chocolate. (Why has nobody ever thought of this before?  These are delicious!) The other is "Chocolate Pretzel Poppers" which are pretzel nuggets dipped in 42% milk chocolate.  

Although I wish I'd gotten all dark chocolate, I have to admit this is a great box! Treatsie is obviously being very diplomatic with their inclusion of half milk and half dark chocolate items.  New subscribers now have the option to indicate a preference for milk, dark or coffee/espresso chocolates, but I haven't found a way for existing subscribers to make that choice.  (Yes, I have e-mailed them!)   

If you're interested in trying Treatsie, the cost is $15 per month, $42 per quarter or $144 annually.  There is a $4.95 shipping fee per month with all the plans.  They feature three vendors per month and you get at least $25 in retail value inside each box.  Boxes are shipped in the third week of the month.

Click here and use code FRBUCO01 or FBDOUBLESWEETS to get double the amount of sweets in your first box!  

Thanks for reading,

Cheryl

Disclosure:  Views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly my own.  Product discussed in this post was purchased by Lone Star Shopper. Post may contain referral or affiliate links.