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Friday 26 February 2016

Awesome Pack February 2016 Unboxing

Yay!  It's that time of the month where we automatically become awesome! I just came back from a fantastic day at the Sugar Bush to see this lovely box on my doorstep :

So, as always, I'll give you a run down of what is Awesome Pack: You have the choice of two different packages:
Awesome Pack Family : geared towards families with kids of all ages to encourage family activities.
Awesome Pack - Big Kid: geared towards big kids at heart, obviously the one we opted for.

Before you get your first box, you fill in a questionnaire so you can get a better fit to your family.  Example, I informed the company that the box is for myself and my partner (32 and 33 years old) and a few of our interests.  They also try to find out which games you already own so they don't send you a duplicate.  Pretty cool, right?
Prices are $44.99 for US and $49.99 for Canadian residents.  I'm trying to verify if there's shipping but I can't find anything about shipping on the website.  I believe it is free.

This month, I am quite happy to see the requests we made in our monthly survey were fulfilled: We asked for Dice Masters game, some more HeroClix and  a fun, light game to unwind...here's what we got:

 Another Awesome Pack poster.  Alex will be decorating his man cave of these posters before long.

Walking Dead Don't Look Back Dice Game retailed at 20.00$ on Crytozoic Entertainment website which is the publisher.  This Dice Game fulfills the request for a Dice Masters game (not exactly a Dice Masters game but it`s similar).  This is also a series I want to watch so this will be right up my aisle.  Plays 1-4 players ages 15years old and up and it is a fast-paced game that can be done within 30 minutes.  Here's a video that explains it.

The King Commands is retailed at 21.67$ on Amazon.ca and it`s a bluffing game about Camelot, King Arthur and Merlin (uses items from that mythology: Excalibur, the crown and crystal ball) and the goal is to accumulate points by gaining gold, attacking your opponents, etc.  Plays 2-6 players, 10 years old and up and game play is approximately 30 minutes.  Here's a video explaining how to play.

And we've got a really happy camper here - we wanted to gain characters in our HeroClix collection.  In our box we received a Star Trek HeroClix Tactics retailing at 19.03$ on Amazon.ca.  We had a hard time finding this online but there it is.  We tried playing HeroClix at our last game night and found out it might be easier for us to create character specific cards explaining their possible moves.  I think this could be super enjoyable once we get a hang of it and we do like Star Trek.

Last but not least, we got Nebula from Guardian of the Galaxy Drobz retailing at 11.99$ on Amazon.ca.  She is adorable!  I guess that's what Dorbz stands for.  She will sit on top of my computer desk in her box. 

That sums up my Awesome Pack for this month.  I'm quite happy with the selection of items for our box this month and the value is of 72.69$ which is much greater than what I paid for the box.  I am pretty certain we'll enjoy each of these games.  Thank you, Awesome Pack, for another awesome month!

Tuesday 23 February 2016

Japan Yum February 2016 Unboxing

I got two boxes waiting for me on my doorstep tonight, both of them part of my snack box comparison project.  One of them was Japan Yum.

Japan Yum is a Japanese novelty snack box shipped to your door on a month to month basis.  Cost is 25.99$ and shipping was 7.99$ when I ordered it but it has since gone up with USPS changes in shipping fees.  You can expect 8-10 snacks per box. 
When I compare it to Oyatsu, there's much less substance in this box than there was in Oyatsu.  It's unfortunate I am reviewing Japan Yum after such a fantastic job from Oyatsu in curating their box.  But let's not get ahead of ourselves.  Let me show you what was inside this box.

First this I had grabbed out of the box was these crouton-like pieces.  They are Kome-Tsubu Age Rice Crackers.  Apparently they are habanero and soy sauce flavored.

Next, there`s Glico - Pocky Panda in Cookies and Cream.  Those look amazing.  I'm a huge fan of Pocky, so we can never go wrong by including a Pocky in an uncommon flavor.

This is a DIY candy - Coris Chocolate Banana Candy to be specific.  As mentioned in different posts, I am allergic to bananas, so this will go to Alex.  It's unfortunate though because this looks like an awesome treat.

This is Wata Gum Soda Candy by Meiji which is apparently soda flavored cotton candy.  Intriguingly, the cotton candy turns into gum once it melts in your mouth.  Strange!

And these are Coris Cola Burst Gumballs.  I am a tad worried at the description : "Three cola flavored gumballs, but watch out, one of them is not like the rest!"  uh oh!  hope it's just sour.  A bit apprehensive lol

These little guys are Miji Meltyblend Milk Tea Chocolate.  Not much to say about this... self explanatory.

And last is Meiji Ichigo no Apollo.  I'm excited to try this one as I hear they are quite popular.  They are pink strawberry chocolate with strawberry syrup in the middle.

And that concludes Japan Yum unboxing for February 2016.  I am a bit disappointed at the quantity of items in this box when I compare it to other boxes, especially since I pretty much paid the same price for Oyatsu Box, which I also received today, and I seem to have gotten a much better deal with the latter.  That said, I am fairly certain I will be enjoying all of the items I received in the box (minus the banana candy).  So, I am fairly happy with it, just not over the moon.

Oyatsu Box Unboxing February 2016

My Snack Box comparison continues and today I got not one, but two snacks boxes on my door step to review.  I'll start with the first one I ordered : Oyatsu Box.  
Oyatsu Box  is a Japanese novelty snack/candy box.  It comes in a variety of prices and sizes :
  • Jr Box : 12$ for 3 Japanese snacks
  • Original : 20$ for 6 Japanese snacks
  • Premium: 30$ for 10-14 Japanese snacks.

I got the Premium snack box and let me tell you I am quite pleased with the amount of snacks and sizes there are in this box.  Shipping is free, which is definitely a plus in this day and age.   I will not be linking the different items to websites as it is quite difficult to find these snacks online.  Here`s a first look inside the box:


As you can see, it is jam-packed! I love it!

First item is Koikeya Scon - Sour Cream and Onion which is apparently a corn-puff snack.  I have never seen this type of snack in this flavor and I am sure I will enjoy this.

Next is Kabaya Pure Strawberry Gummy.  Can never go wrong with gummies and strawberry is a well liked flavor in this household.  Apparently it's chewy on the outside and juicy on the inside, just like the picture illustrates.


These are Genji Pies.  The picture on the package is quite adorable!  Seems similar to palmiers, a flaky cookie I'm acquainted to that is only a tad sweet but quite enjoyable with coffee or tea.

This is Dagashi Sauce Senbei.  The packaging is quite curious, apparently a retro Japanese candy.  they are wafers accompanied by a sweet sauce to top it off.


Next are Crisp Choco in the flavor Maple.  This is a corn flake cake coated in maple pancake flavor.  They kind of make me think of our rice crispy squares, just made with corn flakes instead?

And we've got Kamen Rider Chips in Salty Sweet Potato flavor which also includes a Kamen Rider sticker.  From what I gather, Kamen Rider is a popular series in Japan; I am not familiar with it.  I'll be honest, I thought this looked like Deadpool at first glance but a second look at it makes it obvious that it is not.

Next is Meiji Choco Banana.  You guessed it, these are banana candies filled with chocolate.  As you probably know by now, I'm allergic to bananas so these will go directly to Alex.

This is JOO C Shortcake.  We got this in a previous snack box and I very much enjoyed them.  They really do taste like strawberry shortcake and the texture makes me think of sweet tarts.

Next is Meigum Oekaki Sherbert, a DIY kit to make animal shaped sherbert in different flavors.  looks kind of fun :)

Next is Kikori No Kirikabu which are chocolate covered biscuits in the shape of tree trunks.  We had a similar snack before except in the shape of mushrooms.

Last item is a Japanese Gachapon.  I'm uncertain of who this little guy is but I'll hang it up in my room. 

That concludes my Oyatsu Box.  All in all, I am quite happy with what I received.  It seems like I got a lot of items for the 30$ it cost me.  I would definitely recommend this box to you.

Saturday 20 February 2016

NYC Metro Girl Soap Box Unboxing February 2016

When I canceled my Fortune Cookie Soap Box this month, I decided I wanted to try out a different soap box because for some reason, I can`t help but want to try out new soaps.  NYC Metro Girl Soap Box was the box I landed on I was the most excited to try.  Honestly, when I signed up, the pricing was really good at 14.00$ + 5.00$ shipping for Canadians.  I thought that`s definitely something that would be worth my while.  Things changed in the last month and by no fault of NYC Metro Girl.



First up, NYC Metro Girl decided to sell their soap boxes directly on their website instead of on Cratejoy, so the price got changed to 14.95$/month.  That`s not a huge difference;  I would have stuck with NYC Metro Girl if that was the only change.  The second thing that happened with this move is USPS started charging 15.95$ shipping to Canadian subscribers.  Now that was not something I was ready to do.  So, I unfortunately unsubscribed.  Minnie, if the shipping fees calm down, do please let me know because, from what I received in this month's box, I can tell this is really up my alley.

Before I get into my review, here's an idea at what you get in a monthly soap box:
4 (2-3oz) artisan soaps
Your choice of one of the following options: Bath product, Body Spray, Face Product, Hair Product or Lotion
A free solid perfume on your first box.

It comes in a golden envelope and I'm quite surprised (in a good way) at the size of the soaps.  I was wondering what 2-3oz soap bars looked like.  Well... when I look at these soap bars, I think of a regular soap bar cut in half. Pretty decent....and oh my goodness!  Let me tell you, the smells!  As soon as you open up the envelope, you definitely get surrounded by amazing scents!  Also, it comes with a small booklet that describes these scents.


First, I chose bath product as my bonus item.  As you can recall, I can no longer wear scented products at work so I try to aim for things that won`t tempt me to defy the policy.  Bath products seemed like a safe option for me.  This is a Bubble Bar (you crumble a desired quantity in a bath tub for nice scented bubbles).  This is in the scent Very Sexy Girl described as a "blend of rose and violet with a touch of citrus and musk".  This smells very feminine and I really enjoyed having a nice bubble bath after the blizzard on Tuesday.  This could not have come at a better time.

Since I very much enjoyed the feminine floral sweetness that is Very Sexy Girl, I couldn't be any happier to get a soap in that scent too.  And like I mentioned previously, this is a decent size too!

This one is my personal favorite; the scent Forever Love is described as "beautiful notes of sweet marshmallow with a fruitful burst of fresh pomegranate".  This is sweet, delectable and I really can`t wait to try this one out.

The next soap bar is in Dark Berries and is described as: "delicious black raspberries blended with ripe plums and a touch of warm vanilla" and it smells fantastic!  I think this is the one I smelled most when I opened the envelope as well.  It's pretty good!

Last soap bar is in Fresh Waters and is described as: "fresh waters surrounded by mountains, magnolia flowers and honeysuckle bushes."  This is probably the scent that is most unisex and it smells really clean.

And as mentioned earlier, you get a free solid perfume in your first box.  And you could not have picked a better scent for me than anything with vanilla.  This Vanilla Fig solid perfume smells exactly as you'd expect it: vanilla and figs.  I really enjoy it and regularly rub some on after I come back from work.

That concludes my NYC Metro Girl Soap Box.  I totally encourage you to get this box if you`re a US resident; it is fantastic! And the quality of the soap is out of this world!  Hopefully, the shipping gets rectified as I'd really enjoy to keep this subscription going.

Tuesday 9 February 2016

Fortune Cookie Soap Unboxing Spring 2016

I got my very last Fortune Cookie Soap box in the mail today.  I am really sad to part ways with it because I am absolutely in love with it.  You're probably wondering why I am unsubscribing if I love it so much...well, my work has developed an anti-scent policy and it's been official as of this month.  So, although I absolutely love everything Fortune Cookie Soaps has given to me so far, I will no longer have many opportunities to wear their scented products, which ends up to be, sadly, a pointless purchase.  Boo!  But I'm happy to get my last box nonetheless!


Fortune Cookie Soap Box is  a quarterly subscription (every season) that includes 8 Fortune Cookie Soap sample products that are about to be released as well as a 10$ coupon code to redeem in the store.  It costs 19.99$ for US clients and 28$ for Canadians.   Here's a link to subscribe if you're interested.  This does give me referral points which can then give me money off my next order.  Please keep in mind I will not show prices for the items shown; as specified, these are samples (you do get a fair amount though).  If I can link, I will send you to items on their website.

Theme for this month is based on The Lorax movie (which I absolutely loved!)  I think the theme is well picked for a spring box!
 And just look at those colors.  If that doesn't scream spring, I don't know what does!  Who here has not seen The Lorax yet? 

First thing is FCS signature Fortune Cookie Soap in the scent Guardian of the Forest which smells like crushed bouquets of flowers and meyer lemons.  My fortune reads: "You have been warned."  seems like a bad omen lol I definitely smell the floral scent but not so much the lemon.  I like it though.

Next is their signature OCD Hand Sanitizer in the scent This Thing? which smells like oranges, vanilla and lemon as well as a bit of a floral undertone.  I really like this... it smells fresh and leaves the hands feeling soft, unlike most hand sanitizers.

And their signature FCS Whipped Cream came in the scent Disco Tree which smells absolutely delicious in fresh picked berries, lily of the valley and sandalwood scent.

This is a new product, at least to me.  It is a Pedi-bomb in the scent Unless... it is recommended to add this bomb in a foot bath to moisturize the feet  Smells like spring water, algae, hyacinths, water lilies, dirt and oakmoss, earthy woods and resins.  Wow, that was a mouthful.  It smells like a spa in my opinion.  I like it,

And I got a shampoo bar in the scent Oh Hair which smells like peach nectar, grapefruit and thyme.  I've tried their shampoo bars before and very much enjoyed them so I'm happy to get a new one in this box.  And let me tell you, this is very scented.  I love it though...kind of makes me think of the peach cocktail at Tim Hortons.

This is another new product, at least to me...it's a cuticle oil in the scent One C which smells like warm woods, patchouli and vanilla.  It is said to soften and repair dry, cracked cuticles.  I seriously need this right now so I am super happy to have it in possession.  I'm so applying some before bed tonight.  Smells a bit strong for my liking but it's all good.  If the product can heal my cracked cuticles, I'll be really happy.

Another signature FCS product is their perfume oil.  This one is in the scent Paradise Found which smells like freesia, rose petals, mangoes, strawberries, tonka bean and amber.  I'm a huge rose fan so this is a win. I won't be able to wear it often but I will enjoy it when I can.  And yes, those are flower petals inside the bottle.

 And last product is a Shower Steamer (a bath bomb but for your shower) in the scent In-Organic which smells like lemons and parsley.  I have to say, with the 10$ coupon code I got with this box, I got more shower steamers (one for colds and the other rose scented) because I like the novelty of it.

An added bonus was these confetti that grow into flowers.  I've received some of these at my cousin's wedding and really like the thought behind them.  I'm sure these can join them.

That concludes my last Fortune Cookie Soap Box; what did you think of it?

Monday 1 February 2016

Julep Maven February 2016 Unboxing

Wow, I feel quite spoiled today.  Not only did I get my Awesome Pack in the mail but I also got my Julep Box.  I was really looking forward to this box because I was out of top coat and I think my base coat is getting stringy...

For those of you unfamiliar with Julep, it is a monthly nail polish and beauty product subscription at a reasonable price of 24.99$/month.  If you sign up on the 3-month plan (pay for three months all at once), it costs you 19.99$/month. Subscribers get to pick their choice of beauty product and nail polish on the 20th of every month and get billed on the 27th.  They are also free to skip a month if needed.

Here's what my box looked like when I first opened it:

 As mentioned higher up, I was running out of two important items to keep my manicures pretty: base coat and top coat.  I decided that this month, I would make those two items the main focus in the box and then...well, as you can see, I ended up going for add-ons too lol oh, how can I resist.  Well to be fair, I redeemed my points and all those add-ons only cost me 6.99$

I got an Oxygen Smoothing Base Coat (18.00$) as I tend to get bubbles in my manicure lately.. so I thought this might be what I was looking for.

And then I got Oxygen Performance Top Coat (18.00$).  I figured with a name like that, it would go well with the Base Coat.
  
 This was the featured beauty product this month : Eyeshadow 101 in the shade Warm Gold Shimmer (18.00$) since that kind of color will definitely make the golden flecks in my eyes pop out.  It even has a buffer sponge at one end.  I really like this format of eye shadow, so I really dig this.

Those three items makes my Julep February Box and are worth 54.00$.  One item alone almost covers the box itself, so I feel like this is a steal!  And now, for the add-ons.

Five new polishes, each worth 18.00$ and all of them new. If you add that up, that's 90$ worth of nail polish, and if you so recall, I only spent 6.99$ on this; what a steal! I keep getting surprised at how I don't get duplicates when I select mystery polish since my collection is getting pretty big.  I am really happy about that!  Here's a close-up and then I'll go on with the descriptions.
How it works: add 3 add-ons to your box for a free gift every month.  I have one polish I chose specifically, and 2 mystery polishes.  And then, there's my gift.  I don't know which one is the free gift.
First there's Sienna which is described as a sophisticated shimmery gold.  Quite pretty.

Then there's Rosie described as charcoal gray with magenta glitter.  This is the nail polish I specifically selected.  It's new this month and I've never seen anything quite like it so I had to grab it.

And there's Zoey described as a sea spray creme.  Funny thing is, I'm actually wearing a similar color on my nails (Rainbow Honey - Delphine) and was thinking it would be nice to get a Julep version of this color because...their formula is just that much better.  And seriously, it is!  This was a one-coater!  That's pretty impressive for such a light colored polish.

Then there's Caitlin described as shocking hibiscus with gold shimmer.  This is absolutely gorgeous!

Finally, there's Hartleigh which was a free valentine's day gift from Julep.  It is described as a holographic heart glitter top coat.  I was most excited about this.  I put it on my current manicure and honestly, not as big of a fan as I thought I would be.  it is hard to get the hearts out and then applying is a bit of a hit and miss.  Don't get me wrong...with a little bit of effort, you can make this look good.  I obviously was lacking time tonight... oh well.  

That concludes my Julep Maven February 2016 unboxing.  As always, any comments/questions are welcome.