Foot Cardigan (Sock Subscription) Review, March 2015

The last time I counted, there were at least a dozen sock subscription services. That's not surprising since socks are lightweight, easy to source, relatively inexpensive and everybody needs them.  It's no wonder they are a natural fit for the subscription business model.  There has been a bit of grumbling about the cost per pair of socks but that usually comes down to buyers not recognizing the fact that shipping costs are included in the price of the socks.  

Foot Cardigan is one of the least expensive sock subscriptions available because they just send one pair per month. The cost is $9 plus $2 for shipping.  If you want more than one pair of socks, you can add as many subscriptions as you want to your shopping cart. Subscriptions can be purchased for men's, women's or kids' socks.

Foot Cardigan socks arrive in a black poly mailer.

 
And here are the socks I received for March.  I like these a lot; the pattern looks like multi-colored clouds against a blue background with yellow cuffs, toes and heels. Quite versatile and wearable!  I believe all the Foot Cardigan socks are made of the same cotton blend; these are nice and stretchy and not too tight around the top.

Foot Cardigan subscriptions can be purchased by the month and for 3, 6, 9 or 12 months. The only discount comes at the 12 month level (for $121) where you get one month for free. For kids' subscriptions, they send two pairs of socks for $11 per month.

You can return socks that you don't like but at such a low price, that seems a little silly to me. Just keep an open mind, wear what you get and enjoy 'em!  So far, Foot Cardigan has sent great socks and I have no complaints.

A Foot Cardigan subscription is super affordable and would make a fun and useful gift for anyone!

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.

An Easter Sunday Memory From Long Ago

Happy Easter everyone!  Since my copywriter has the day off (ha!), I thought I’d take a break from reviews and tell a little story. 

My pup has a crystal clear way of letting me know when it’s time to go on our daily walk.  He suddenly appears, sitting at attention, staring at me with bright sparkling eyes and an undeniable air of expectation.  The intensity of his message varies in direct correlation to the weather.  On a beautiful afternoon like today, there was just no avoiding his request.  So, off we went.

Because there are long stretches of sidewalk that are not adjacent to private property, we generally take our constitutionals in a nearby neighborhood rather than our own.  (Dog walkers will understand.)  Our walks often result in various friendly encounters.  Today, we came upon a Rockwell-esque tableau. 

On a quiet neighborhood street, we passed a father teaching his young daughter to ride a pink kick scooter.  She tried and tried but couldn’t quite get the hang of it.  Dad was right there encouraging her, steadying her and giving pointers.  Several times, she got moving but lost her balance.  Dad caught her or stabilized her every time she was in danger of falling.  She was clearly giving it her all, desperately wanting to master that skill.  I nodded and smiled as we passed.  We continued on our regular route which included a U-turn at the end of that street.  A bit later, we again came abreast of the Dad and daughter.  Her scooter skills had noticeably improved in the ten minutes or so that had passed.  Dad was so focused on teaching and protecting her that he never even saw us pass the second time.  We kept on walking.  About 20 yards later, I heard a shout of "I did it!" from the exuberant little girl.

Something about that scene caused the mists of time to shift in my mind.  Suddenly there was another little girl, about the same age, who routinely accompanied her Daddy on local errands.  She was a happy tow- headed child whose father adored her.  The feeling was mutual.  She often found herself in places that 6 year old girls didn’t usually frequent, like the lumber yard, the hardware store, an electronics repair shop, the bank and the post office.  She tagged along wherever he went, picking up odds and ends of random information and playing whenever and wherever the opportunity arose.  Her father beamed with pride and bragged about her tiny accomplishments to anyone who had the patience to listen.

One beautiful Easter Sunday, the little girl’s mother dressed her in a white frilly dress with matching white patent shoes.  Money was tight but the mother thought a special Easter outfit was in order for her daughter.  The young family went to church, celebrating the occasion in their holiday finery.  Afterwards, her Mommy went home to prepare an Easter feast and her Daddy took her along on a few errands he needed to run.  He was self employed, so holiday or not, his work never took a break. 

Soon they found themselves at a blacksmith shop.  Her father had some business to discuss with the blacksmith so, as usual, the little girl busied herself with play.  Her father’s back was turned as he talked to the blacksmith.  After a while, the blacksmith noticed what she was doing and told her father to have a look.  He turned around and there was his pride and joy, scrambling around in a huge pile of coal.  Every inch of her and the beautiful new white dress was covered in black soot and she was having the time of her life!

The blacksmith said to the father “You better grab her; I think you’re going to be in a LOT of trouble when you get home”.  Her father just laughed and said “Let her play; she’s having fun and there’s no way to make things better at this point”.  After he finished his business, he extricated his filthy sidekick from the coal pile, mopped her off as best he could and took her home.  I don’t know what words passed between the Mommy and Daddy but I do know how loved that little girl was.  Her father has gone on ahead now but the same kind of love was evident today as another little girl’s Daddy taught her to ride a scooter.

~ You ask me how I know He lives; He lives within my heart! ~

(Alfred Henry Ackley)    

Bocandy International Snacks Review, March 2015, First Month Free!

When my second ever Bocandy box arrived, it looked like the candy was trying to escape from the box; the red crinkle shreds were certainly on the run!  I don't know why but this just struck me as funny when I saw it in my mailbox.  

Bocandy sends a box containing several international candies each month.  Notice that I said "containing several" and not "packed with" or "crammed full of".  I know that international candy is more expensive to obtain but when volume discounts are taken into account, this box does seem light on content.  The two boxes I have received both contained about 2/3 candy and 1/3 filler.  If you would like to check out the subscription details, click here for my first Bocandy review.

Here's everything that came in the March box: 

First out is a package of Melkerull (Milk Chocolate Roll) from Freia, which I think is the first time I've seen a candy from Norway.  Looks like this is a roll of milk chocolate disks.  With an expiration date of 5/15/15, this is quite short dated which is surprising to see in a food box.  

Next is a handful of individual bite size Hi-Chews (from Morinaga) in Green Apple, Grape and Strawberry.  Thanks to subscription boxes, I've come to really like Hi-Chews (which are even chewier than Starburst) but it does seem like Bocandy could have included a full size roll as have other subscription candy companies.  By the way, Hi-Chews are an iconic Japanese candy and they come in more than 113 different flavors!

There is a simply named Milk Chocolate Coated Caramel Wafer Biscuit from Tunnock's of Scotland, another country you don't see often in candy boxes.  This must be popular in Europe because the wrapper says that more than 5 million of these are sold every week! The Daim Crunchy Caramel Candy Bar comes from Sweden.  I think both of these are considered full size candy bars but they are considerably smaller than what we are accustomed to in this country.  (Why am I not surprised?)

These Milkita Milk Shake Candies in Strawberry flavor seem to be more filler for this box. There are only three bite size candies.  The one I tried had virtually no flavor. These come from Indonesia.

This Nestle Mirage Bar comes from Switzerland and is described on the wrapper as "Real Bubbly Milk Chocolate".  From the ingredient label, it doesn't look like there's anything else in it besides milk chocolate.

I wasn't even going to try this edible "Monster Money" from Germany but decided to take one for the team.  I bit off one corner of a hundred dollar bill.  To quote another reviewer, it tastes exactly like chewing heavy paper with no flavor whatsoever. These are awful and basically inedible; I can't imagine anybody really wanting to eat them.  Now what do I do with the rest of the pack?  I guess they'd make a fun novelty gift but I sure wouldn't encourage anyone to eat them.

  
So this was a pretty disappointing box for me.  The four major candies all contain milk chocolate.  Milk chocolate fans will like that but for those of us who prefer dark chocolate, this is pretty much a wasted box.  (Candy subscriptions should give subscribers an option to choose milk or dark chocolate!)  The bite size candies should have been full size packs, as far as I'm concerned.  The wafer money is fun but not enjoyable as a candy.  I did like the wide range of countries represented in this box.

Bocandy and I may be parting ways soon mostly because I don't eat milk chocolate.  (The two boxes I've received so far were full of it.)  At their month to month price of $15, the value is not there for me.

If you do like milk chocolate, you may find one of the discounted longer term subscriptions to be feasible.  (The 8 mo. price is $96 which would make the box a reasonable $12 per month.)  Bocandy does have a very good incentive deal for first time subscribers.  When you sign up, you get the first month for free.  That will give you a couple of months at a reduced rate to see if you like this box.

Note to Easter Bunny:  PLEASE bring me some dark chocolate!

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.

Style Quarterly Fashion & Beauty Subscription Review, Spring 2015 + 10% Discount Code!

Is there anything better than a subscription box that over delivers?  I wasn't sure what to expect when I signed up for Style Quarterly.  This company started out as PashBox which I believe was mostly a scarf subscription service.  They quickly evolved into Style Quarterly whose mission was to tell a story around a seasonal theme by sending four boxes per year filled with limited edition fashion and beauty items.  Their focus is on small, independent businesses which always makes for a better sub box, in my opinion.  

Style Quarterly promises to send three to six fashion, beauty and lifestyle products per quarter so it was really exciting to actually receive NINE items in my first box!  The box itself is fairly small considering what it holds; I couldn't believe how much came out of it.  How often do you receive a sub box that contains NO filler whatsoever? No mountain of crinkle shreds, no half empty boxes, no tiny samples, no coupons where you have to spend a lot of money to get something, no advertisements.  This box really delivers!

My first Style Quarterly box is white with a cute graphic of a girl standing in front of a VW Bug, packed and ready to go.  I'm already intrigued!

Inside there is a letter detailing the products which are packaged inside hot pink tissue paper.  The theme for Spring is "Road Trippin'" so this box contains a lot of travel essentials.

This photo doesn't do justice to ALL that's jammed into this box!

First there is a pair of aviator sunglasses with a hard shell case.  These have gold rims and UV400 protection.  The case is faux reptile with a cleaning cloth inside.

The second item is a bottle of Lemon Vanilla body and hair spray, an alcohol free body and hair mist from Puur Body.  This smells like REAL lemons with a dash of vanilla...like lemon sugar cookies.

     
I wasn't familiar with Baggu before this box but I'm a fan now.  They make bags from 100% ripstop nylon that can hold 50 lbs and weigh less than 2 oz.  They can hold the contents of 2 or 3 plastic grocery bags.  These are available in an amazing array of colors and patterns on their website.  The one I received is a polka dotted salmon/coral color and came packed in its own little bag with a foldover top.

My camera really struggled with the color; it's brighter and prettier than these photos show. This bag is their "standard Baggu" which retails for $9.  The little pouch would make this really convenient to stash in a purse or backpack.  

Rifle Paper Co. products have been showing up in a lot of sub boxes lately.  That's not a bad thing since they are a high quality stationery and gift brand.  There is a really nice "Bon Voyage" themed travel journal in this box.  On the right side, the pages are lined and have a place for the location and date at the top.  The left sides are blank so you can draw pictures, attach photos or tickets or make notes about where you want to visit next.

This next item is a box containing 12 Luxe Towelettes from Box Naturals.  These are good for removing makeup, spot treating, quick wipe downs or whatever you need to do.  They are lightly scented with rose and lavender essential oils.  

I am not crazy about this gold "good luck" reversible coin bracelet, but it would make a nice layering piece.  It sells for almost $28 on Amazon.  It is lightweight and seems to be well made.

This elephant and paisley patterned square scarf is very lightweight and has an ethnic look to it.  This would be easy to wear no matter what the season and the colors make it a great versatile accessory.  This scarf retails for $16 on the Shop David and Young website.

Like a clown car, there is still MORE coming out of this box!  There is a 2.25 oz. bottle of foaming cleanser from One Love Organics in their "Easy Does It" scent.  This lathers into a non-drying foam that can be used on your face, hair and body.

Also from One Love Organics is a white heart shaped cleansing sponge.  The texture of this is hard and condensed but when you put it in warm water, it softens up fully and expands. This is meant to work with the foaming cleanser and is particularly nice for cleansing your face.

So there you have all nine products in my first Style Quarterly box.  This was such a fun box to open and dig through and I love the way that all the products were in some way useful for travel.

One real benefit to quarterly sub boxes is that the companies have more time to assemble quality products and thoughtfully curate their boxes.  The pressure is intense on monthly subs to get their boxes out and sometimes subscribers see the impact in terms of poor curation, sub standard products or "what were they thinking?" inclusions.  That is rarely the case with quarterly subs.  Three months is a long time to wait between boxes but chances are good that you'll generally be pleased with what you get.

If you're interested in trying Style Quarterly, use code RAM10 to get a 10% discount for the life of your subscription.  Their Spring boxes are sold out but June boxes are on sale now. You may want to sign up quickly as I suspect these will sell out soon.  If you don't want to subscribe, you can buy a single box for the same price ($49.90) as a regular subscription box.  (The discount code does not work on a single box purchase.)

Everything about this box appeals to me.  There are a couple of items that I won't use personally but everything is gift quality.  The diversity and focus on small businesses sets this box apart and makes it one to grab if you can!

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.

Pet Gift Box Review, March 2015 + $5 Discount on First Box!

At just $17.99 per month, Pet Gift Box is quickly becoming Tucker's (and my) favorite pet subscription box.  We have tried a lot of dog boxes but Pet Gift Box consistently sends the best assortment of quality products for the lowest price. You can't beat the value even if you stumble upon a great sale at the pet store!  If you missed our January review, click here to catch up on the details.

Weighing a little over two pounds, the March box was definitely the highlight of Tucker's month.  The box was even addressed to him.

The theme of this box is "March Mutt Madness!" and there was a sticker with Tucker's name hand written on the paper wrapper.

Inside we found two toys, two full size treat bags, a single serve treat, a first aid item, a sample and a coupon.

Tucker loves chewing and I love that these Muttz-rrr-Ella Dental Chews are so good for him. They are made with cheddar cheese and this package is specifically for small dogs.  The outer layer helps to remove plaque and tartar and the inner layer is a great tasting surprise for your pup.  Retail $14.99

Tucker has always liked cheese in any form so these are right up his alley.  These are substantial treats that take a while to chew up, a great benefit if you have a pup who gobbles and inhales everything.

Here is a fun purple and yellow plush basketball from SPOT with a squeaker inside. Retail $4.99

I will save this Hoop Star Biscuit from Bubba Rose Biscuit Company for a very special treat. Retail $3.99

Very few dog boxes include first aid items. This Fou-Stick Soothie from FFD Pet is a natural soothing balm in stick form.  It can be used to relieve dry itchy skin and minor skin irritations. The card suggests using this on your dog's paws after long walks. Tucker and I walk regularly so I'll give this a try after our next outing.  I have found the first aid section at most pet stores to be woefully under stocked, so I really appreciate getting canine first aid items in sub boxes.  Retail $8.99

This big bag of Zuke's Power Bones contains natural energy bites for active dogs. These little treats contain carbs, anti-oxidants and Tucker's all time favorite...beef! Tucker is such a family member that he doesn't need any training but I think these would also make great training aids.  Retail $6.99

Right in keeping with the theme of this box is this cute green sneaker toy from Pride Bites. This durable chew toy has a squeaker inside and floats.  You can also toss it in the washing machine. Retail $9.99

Last, there is a sample of Licks Athlete which is a maximum energy, muscle recovery supplement and recovery aid.  Since Tucker is a senior citizen now, he does get winded near the end of our walks so I'm going to see if this will give him a boost. They've also provided a coupon code (LICKSLUV20) which gets you 20% off your order at the Licks site.  Retail $3.99

If you've been running a tab through this review, you can see why I like this box so much. Not counting the Licks sample, there is a retail value of $49.94 in a box that I paid $17.99 for. Pet toys and treats are quite expensive so I don't think a similar assortment of products could be purchased in a pet store for so little.  (Even more astonishing when you consider that the shipping cost alone on this box has to be at least $6 or $7)  It's clear that these products are being subsidized in some way, probably by the manufacturers. You see that a lot in beauty boxes but it's rare in other sub box categories.  Tucker doesn't really care; he just wants another dental chew!

If you and your pup would like to try Pet Gift Box, click here to get $5 off your first box.  Don't forget your kitty; they have great feline boxes too!

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.

PopSugar Must Have Lifestyle Box Review, March 2015 + $5 Discount Codes!

It seems like a LONG time since I've reviewed a PopSugar Must Have box!  While this is still one of my favorite subscription boxes, it does feel like they've lost a bit of their energy over the past few months.  For a while last year, the boxes were just getting better and better, but they've definitely been a little less dazzling lately.  Still...this is a fun subscription and if you're not familiar with PopSugar, their boxes definitely deserve consideration.

PopSugar is classified as a lifestyle box because they send items in a number of different categories, including fashion, beauty, home decor, fitness and food.  They sometimes include a few samples as well.  The value of each box (using MSRPs) is generally above $100.  

There are three subscription plans available with significant discounts for the multi-month plans.  Shipping is free.  The 3 mo. and 6 mo. plans auto renew on the 25th of the month.

Monthly - $39.95 
Three Months - $109.85
Six Months - $214.70

The March PopSugar box contained several on-trend items that pretty much cover the range of categories mentioned above.

The fold-out information card provides the vital stats and retail prices.

The dominant item is a big tube with a diffuser kit inside.  This one is called "The Archivist" and it comes from Greenmarket Purveying Co.  The kit contains an 8 oz. bottle of Lemon & Cucumber fragrance oil and a set of eight black reeds. I have this diffuser set up in my office; the scent is very refreshing and invigorating!  Retail $20

The next item seems like a strange choice to me.  It's a hot pink zip pouch by Samudra.  It has a pattern of pineapples and the card says the see-through plastic is meant for easy access to beach items.  But it looks more like a document holder for a grade schooler to me.  Since I don't live anywhere near a beach, this will have to serve as some kind of office accessory.  The card says the retail value is $40 which is absurd.  This would probably sell for a dollar or two at Walmart.

The food item in the box is a bag of Half Pops in Chipotle Barbeque flavor.  I like Half Pops but they have been in so many sub boxes that this isn't a particularly interesting addition to this box as far as I'm concerned.  Retail $1.69

More weirdness...this pad of "What to Pack" packing list sheets from Knock Knock. The idea is to help you remember all your travel essentials but with 60 sheets here, one would have to travel a LOT to really make use of this pad.  It is designed in a cute way but I wonder how many PopSugar subscribers will really find this useful? Retail $7  

The Micro Magic Microdermabrasion Treatment from Bliss gets us back on track.  This full size product uses volcanic pumice and aloe to resurface, smooth and renew skin.  This is said to provide "spa perfect" results at home.  I think it's nicely timed as we head into Spring.  Retail $48

This little yellow brush is called The Squirt by Wet Brush.  It uses "IntelliFlex" bristles to eliminate hair breakage while also massaging the scalp.  It is a nice small travel size and can be used on wet or dry hair.  Retail $4.99

Last is a cute pink Benefit box that contains luxury sample sizes of their Roller Lash mascara and POREfessional balm.  Oddly enough, I was just studying Benefit's Roller Lash mascara at Ulta this afternoon.  It is said to curl and lift lashes giving you a more wide-eyed look.  The POREfessional is a lightweight mattifying primer that minimizes the appearance of pores.  No retail value given.

Not counting the Benefit samples, the total retail value of this box is $121.68. That is at least $38 over-stated because of the ridiculous valuation of the plastic pouch. For me, the winners in this box are the diffuser kit and the microdermabrasion treatment. The Benefit samples are a great little bonus.  The detangling brush is a nice item but not suitable for my hair so it will be gifted.  The plastic pineapple pouch and packing list pad...well, I am resourceful so will find some way to use these.

Although this box was not their absolute best, PopSugar has been one of the most consistently fun and interesting boxes available.  So I trust there will be many more great boxes to come!   If you're interested in trying PopSugar, click here and use code REFER5 or MUSTHAVE5 at checkout for a $5 discount on 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.

Sock Panda Sock Subscription Review March 2015 + 15% Discount Code!

OK, there is this panda.  He makes socks.  He lives in Venice, CA.  His socks are colorful, fun and fashionable and made by a manufacturer in Peru.  He also donates socks...lots of 'em...to those in need.  Sock Panda has socks for men, women, kids and gifts.  For adult socks, the price is $19 per month for 2 pairs or $12 per month for 1 pair.  Kids' socks are 2 pairs for $11 per month.  You can send a gift box of 6 socks for an adult for $60 or $50 for a kid.  

When signing up for a Sock Panda subscription, you can indicate whether your style is "Bold" (bright colors and fun graphics), "Cool" (wear them with pride in just about any office) or "Both".  I can't remember which option I chose but judging from the socks I received it must have been "Bold".  (Thanks to the proliferation of sock subscriptions, I am no longer shy when it comes to socks!) My first package arrived very quickly, about a week after I ordered.  

There were two pairs of what I'd call quite bold and colorful socks inside, both tagged with Sock Panda labels.  I did not know that pandas could write but there is was a hand written thank you note included.  I do like a well mannered panda!

The first pair of socks has a wild pattern of stripes in chartreuse (not yellow as it looks), orange and black with green cuff, toe and heel accents.  Little panda faces are near the top of each sock and "sock panda" is written in orange across the toes. These nice, stretchy comfortable socks are made of 85% Peruvian cotton, 10% nylon and 5% spandex.

I can't say I've ever owned any St. Patrick's Day themed socks before but thanks to Sock Panda, I do now!  These are green (of course) with leprechauns sliding down rainbows into pots of gold.  (The photo really doesn't do these justice.)  For once, I'll have exactly the right touch of green to wear on St. Pat's Day!  

I'm very pleased with my first Sock Panda socks.  They are well made and comfortable.  They are colorful and fun and add some life to my tired old sock drawer.  It will be fun to see how Sock Panda celebrates future holidays.  There are lots of sock subscription competitors out there but I don't think any of them send holiday specific socks.  

If you're interested in trying Sock Panda, here are some discount codes.  I believe these will work on both subscriptions and gift orders.

HELLO - 15% off your first month

SUB15 - 15% off your first month

MILITARY15 - 15% discount

PANDA10 - 10% discount

Have you tried Sock Panda?  If so, let us know what you thought in the Comments below!

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.