Another month, another subscription box review!  This month we have another box from Japan Crate… the Umai Crate, a pack full of ramen and noodles to enjoy, straight from Japan.  But is this box worth the price and the wait?

Like the Doki Doki Box I reviewed, all of these items are shipped from Japan, which means the items will have quite a long shipping time.  While the Doki Doki Box took about six weeks to get to me without interruption, the Umai Crate took about eight weeks, as it was stopped by U.S. inspections.  This is no fault of Japan Crate themselves, and when I contacted customer service to report that my box had not come in (it arrived a day after I sent the e-mail), they were courteous and more than willing to ship a replacement or offer a refund.  There are subscription services out there that have poor customer service and make it difficult if problems arise, so it is great that Japan Crate is not one of them.

Let’s get to the details of the Umai Box itself.  Each month’s Umai box comes with five (out of a choice of seven) noodle packs to try, with an additional non food item, generally related to cooking or eating the noodles.  The Umai Crate does not account for any dietary restrictions or allergies (understandably), so there might be some packs people with certain allergies can’t eat.  For example, this particular box had a lot of noodle packs with fish ingredients in them, which would be a problem with vegetarians and those with allergies to fish.

Now, as stated, these items come straight from Japan, and as such reading the labels and brands of these noodle packs is impossible unless you know the language.  I don’t, so I’ll be using the handy guide that comes included with the Umai Crate in order to provide accurate information about these products.  Without further ado:

Yamadai Tenobe Somen

While somen are traditionally served cold, this noodle bowl serves them up piping hot! [This bowl comes] with a broth rich in the flavors of sardine, flying fish, shiitake and four different types of soup kelp.

This was delicious!  The broth was tangy and very good, and the noodles soaked in the flavor of the flavor back well.  I’d be excited if I could order these elsewhere, but international shipping is always a bit expensive.

Ace Soup Harusame Kakitama

These vermicelli noodles are not only delicious, but they’re also lower in sodium!  The scallop based broth can be enhanced with a few pieces of crab and fresh veggies!

This is my first time seeing clear noodles!  I was a bit shocked at first, I thought I messed up cooking the noodles, but that’s how they were suppose to be!  After getting over the initial shock the noodles were very good, and the broth complemented them well.

Itsuki Mini Nyumen

Itsuki Mini Nyumen has a super delicious broth featuring Hidaka Kombu [note: a type of seaweed].  It also has a nice, round flavor from the shiitake and citrus.

This was a decent bowl of noodles, but like the description says, the broth steals the show here.  The noodles don’t really soak up the taste of the great broth, and while that doesn’t make it bland or terrible, it does leave a bit to be desired.

Maru-Chan Tempura Soda

This buckwheat noodle dish is similar to Kanto region dishes with the broth being balanced between soy sauce and sugar.

The broth in this one was quite tasty, as were the brown noodles!  The buckwheat noodles seemed to have a bit of sweetness to them, but the broth was the real winner here.  I was worried that the mixture of soy sauce and sugar wouldn’t be that great, but it turned out better than expected.

Fujiwara Shizimi Salt Ramen

The ramen in this dish are made using flour from the Hakkaido region.  While it is a salt ramen, this one is not vegetarian [as] it includes fish and clam in the broth!

This packet was… odd.  Not bad, but it was an unusual set of flavors.  The broth tasted like a fishy chicken noodle soup, and the noodles were also a bit unusual in their texture.  It certainly wasn’t bad, but not the type that I’d go out and buy if I could easily.

Non food item: Soup Ladle

This is a nice silicone soup ladle.  The ladle part is a bit small, so I’m not sure if I’ll actually use it often, but I’m not one to complain about more kitchen utensils.

When I first ordered the Umai Crate, I was worried it would be full of ramen packs that I could easily buy at a local Asian mart at the fraction of the price.  Thankfully, though, this box was full of unique items that I’ve never got to try before.  Of course, given with any type of food subscription box, your mile will vary wildly on how much you like the items within–if you’re not a fan of fish or fish ingredients, then you wouldn’t have liked the box I received.  On top of that, $25 for five ramen packs is a tough deal to sell, though the allure of foreign products does help this a bit.  If you’re looking for something a bit different and don’t mind waiting a while for the crate to ship, then the Umai Crate is a fun box to try.

Umai Crate Subscription Review

We all know there are subscriptions for everything these days.  There is something out there for everyone, of course… but what about things you didn’t know you wanted?  Sure, we all love your Amazon subscriptions and the subscription box of our choice, but there are some… unusual subscription services out there.  But these aren’t just weird, they’re helpful, too!  Let’s look at 10 subscription services you probably didn’t know you wanted.

1. Bacon

Every self-respecting meat eater loves bacon, so what better subscription than one that delivers new slabs of delicious meat candy every month?  The Bacon Every Month Club from Tender Belly sets you up so that you get four packages of bacon every month, in either a sweet (maple) or spicy (habanero) every single month.  Now that’s a tasty subscription to get behind!

Bacon Every Month Club

2. Black Socks

Are you the type of person that likes black socks, and only black socks?  Do you want a new pair of the darkest, blackest socks to slip into every few months?  Well, look no further than BlackSocks’ Sockscription.  This subscription will send you three new black pairs of socks every four months, so that you can unify your sock drawer, and never have to go sock shopping again.  And, with a unified sock drawer, losing a sock will never matter again!

BlackSocks Sockscription

3. Underwear

Like BlackSocks does for socks, MeUndies is looking to revolutionize your underwear drawer.  Every month, MeUndies will send you a new cozy pair of underwear to slip into–and with a variety of styles and colors, your subscription can be catered to your tastes.  Additionally, MeUndies underwear is made out of modal, a fabric much softer than the typical cotton undergarments.

MeUndies Subscription

4. Feminine Products

Look, periods suck, and no one wants to think or talk about them, let alone remembering to go out shopping for feminine products before Aunt Flo pays her monthly visit.  Le Parcel is a simple subscription by comparison… every month, a bit before a lady’s time begins, Le Parcel will send a care package with all the tampons you need (from a name brand of your choice)… and a chocolate treat as well, to help curb those cravings a bit.  There’s even a few other goodies, at well!  Simple, yet so helpful for you (or a lady friend in need).

Le Parcel Period Subscription

5. Toothbrushes and Toothpaste

Do you find shopping for dental products a little too overwhelming?  If you have an electric toothbrush, finding new brush heads for it can be surprisingly a pain, and all the different brands and varieties of toothpastes seems unnecessary and needlessly confusing.  Quip is looking to go back to basics with a simple electronic toothbrush with no frills attached (so no weird settings or apps) and a basic, simple toothpaste that gets your teeth nice and clean.  If you opt into it, you can also choose a subscription that gets you a new brush head, full sized toothpaste and travel sized toothpaste every three months, saving the need to remember to search for and buy new supplies.

Quip Store

6. Fancy Paper

Maybe you’re a crafty person, doing neat little DIY projects and making collages.  Maybe you’re an artist, creating work on quality parchment.  Or maybe, you just like good paper.  No matter the situation, OliveBox has you covered with a monthly box filled with high-quality ‘lifestyle items’, which ranges from notebooks to card to… just nice paper.  It’s a perfect subscription for someone who that truly appreciate some good stationary.

OliveBox Subscription

7. Stuff from Celebrities

Are you the sort of person that enjoys getting ‘inspired’ by celebrities?  Whether that be trying a new culinary skill, trying to write the next hit novel, or anything else, Quarterly sends out packages every three months that are curated by well known artists, chefs, scientists, and any profession in between.  With ten different boxes to choose from, all with vastly different themes, anyone can be pleased and feel inspired by this neat subscription… or maybe just get some neat stuff.

Quarterly.co

8. Grass for Your Dog to Poop In

So anyone with a dog knows that sometimes… going out to walk your dog can be a real pain.  It might be cold, or there’s a hurricane outside, but when nature calls for your pup you have no choice but to brave the elements… or do you?  Not anymore!  DoggieLawn has created the Dog Potty Grass, which is a patch of grass you can place in your home for your dog to do their business in.  Think of it as a mix between home training and a cat’s litter box… the best of both worlds!  And your dog will be able to go whenever they want.  You can get new patches of grass weekly, biweekly, or monthly.

Dog Potty Grass

9. Food… With Music

Everyone’s heard of wine and meal pairings, but what about music and meal pairings?  Turntable Kitchen has an interesting idea for the foodie/audiophile in your life.  Every month, Turntable will send you three recipes to try with 1 or 2 of the premium ingredients (you’ll have to get the rest of them yourself), as well as an exclusive 7″ vinyl record, and a digital version of the music to play with this tasty meal.  It’s just unique enough that the person that has it all… probably doesn’t have this subscription.

Turntable’s Pairings Box

10. Retro Doodads

If you’re stuck in the past, it can be a little hard at times to feed your obsession for the oldies.  Exploring Goodwills and scouting eBay can be fun, but sometimes you just want stuff delivered to your door without such a large time commitment.

Thankfully, the Retro Pop subscription box is here to help, with items from the decade of your choice–either the 70’s, 80’s, or 90’s.  Each box comes with an exclusive t-shirt done just for the box… and while it might not be an authentic item from the decade, it encapsulates the style of the time well.

Retro Pop Box

10 Unusual Subscription Services You Didn’t Know You Wanted

ThinkGeek is jumping on the subscription box train with the ThinkGeek Capsule, a box chock full of nerdy goods from one of the top companies for nerd swag. It’s seems like a no brainer for anyone that likes collectibles, but there’s also the chance that ThinkGeek just stuffs their clearance items in a box to get rid of it all once and for all. How does the Capsule stack up?

Before getting into the items in the box, let’s talk about how the Capsule works. Each Capsule is $24.99, with $5 shipping, so it rounds out to right under $30. The Capsule isn’t quite a monthly box–you can order a Capsule until it sells out (even after all the items are revealed). Also, ThinkGeek doesn’t do an automatic subscription like most subscription box sites do, so you don’t have to worry about cancelling.

The box I’m reviewing today is simply the Capsule #3, which was billed to include an item from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. There was originally a delay in getting the box due to ThinkGeek having to wait on one of the items. ThinkGeek was really good at communicating the delay, though.

Now, let’s get into the items themselves:

Justice League Funko Pop!

Funko Pops are quite the popular figurine line, so it’s a no-brainer that ThinkGeek would have one in the Capsule! This Capsule featured the Justice League Pops for the upcoming movie, and you had a chance of getting one of the six. I ended up getting The Flash, which is cool, he’s one of the Justice League members I like more! The other figures are Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Batman, and Cyborg.

Fantastic Beasts Journal

The Fantastic Beasts item for this Capsule is a nice journal! I’m always one for more journals and stationary, and I really like how this cover looks. There were two different covers to get–the one I got is the Obliviate cover, which is in reference to the magic spell that makes people forget things. Fitting for a journal to write stuff down in so you don’t forget!

Collectible Pinz: Cats in Cosplay

These are adorable. A Capsule exclusive, you get… well, a cat in cosplay! There’s a trick, though–the pins are randomly chosen, and you have a chance to get a rare pin. I got one of the more common pins (1 in 5 chance), but there were pins that had a 3 in 100 chance and a super rare pin that doesn’t even have a percentage chance. Regardless, though, the pin is super cute, and has some weight to it.

Retro Travel Tag

This may not be for everyone, but it’s perfect for me! It’s a simple travel tag to stick on some luggage in case it gets lost. I love that it’s in the shape of a floppy disk… of course, I also have a floppy disk pillow so maybe I’m a bit biased. I needed a travel tag too for my suitcase, so now I have one less thing I have to buy. The tag is a nice size and the ‘string’ is made out of plastic, so it’s unlikely to fall off easily.

ThinkGeek Promo Credit

ThinkGeek doesn’t want you to not shop at their online store, after all. This card has a code for promotional credit to use at ThinkGeek, and the value can be anywhere from $5 to $100. My code was only $5, as I’m not exactly the luckiest person around, but free money is free money!

Tardis T-Shirt

The Capsule has a shirt that comes with every box, and this month is a Doctor Who themed shirt. I really like the box that it came in, it’s a nice touch. I’m not the biggest Doctor Who fan, but I do like the design on the shirt.

Overall, I really like what the Capsule provides. It’s a pretty good deal for $30, and while some might complain that the Capsule only covers more ‘popular’ series and whatnot, it’s the best way to please most people that would like to buy a subscription box like this in the first place. It’s well worth it for any swag seeking nerd.

Order the third ThinkGeek Capsule here!

ThinkGeek Capsule Subscription Box Review

If you’re a 90’s kid, you’ve surely watched a ton of Nickelodeon back in the day.  Plenty of shows and cartoons from Nick are pretty big staples to those that grew up in that era–cartoons like Rugrats, The Angry Beavers, and The Wild Thornberries are sure to bring up fond memories for the TV addicted child.  So imagine my surprise to find The Nick Box, a quarterly subscription box meant to aim straight at that 90’s Nick nostaglia.  Can this box possibly stand up to the lofty standards of the rose tinted glasses?

This quarter’s box is the ‘Nick Toons Rewind’ box, and is mainly centered around the older Nick Toons of the 90’s.  Surprisingly, the slight majority of the items came from Rocko’s Modern Life… one of my favorite cartoons from that era, so this box was definitely off to a good start with me!  The box was supposed to come with nine items, but my box seemed to be missing the Nick Toons stickers, though that’s not much to be upset over.  Let’s look at each item with a bit more detail:

Filb Vinyl Figure

Now this super neat… a nice sized vinyl figure of a Rocko’s Modern Life character!  The craftsmanship on this isn’t perfect–there’s a small error on the paint job on mine–but it’s still overall sturdy, nice-looking, and surprisingly large for something they could have skimped out on.

Tommy’s Ball

This, on the other hand, was a bit smaller than I thought it would be.  It’s essentially a small ball modelled after the Rugrats toy.  It’s not really bouncy or anything, though.  I’ll likely give this to my cats as a nice toy they can play with that’s big enough to not get caught under furniture.

Ren & Stimpy Pins

Three nice little Ren and Stimpy pins.  I really like how they look and the material they’re made out of, since most pins are cheap button pins.  They have a nice weight to them, too.  These are definitely going up in my office with the rest of my pins!

Rocko Cosplay Set

Now, this is fun, if… weird.  Dress up just like Rocko from Rocko’s Modern Life with his iconic shirt (in the size you’ve chosen for the box) and some one size fits all socks.  You might be wondering about pants, but Rocko didn’t wear any pants!  It, of course, fits properly, but I can never see myself pulling this out and wearing it… ever.  Maybe for Halloween, but the reference is just obscure enough that I don’t know if anyone would know who I was dressed as.

Powdered Toastman Sandwich Container

It’s awesome looking and works as intended, there’s not much else to say.  My boyfriend immediately took it for himself after my pictures.

Heffer Blanket

I’m always a sucker for fleece throws, so a throw with a character from my favorite Nick show is a huge hit with me!  It’s also very soft, too, and the same size as an average throw.  This will definitely be in my couch rotation!

Arnold Locket Plush

It’s a cute little plushie to show your undying love for Arnold to anyone that bothers to come into your house.  As much as I like Hey Arnold, I know some people that would appreciate this more, so I’m going to make this a nice little gift.

Vinyl Decal

A nice sized Ahh! Real Monsters decal.  I really like the idea of putting it on the toilet seat like the package says, but there are any number of places to stick this, and it looks nice to boot, provided you don’t mind having such blatant fanservice up on your walls.

It’s hard to truly measure the worth of the Nick Box, as each item is crafted uniquely for said box.  That said, for $50 plus shipping, the box is a huge blast from the past and just a treat to go through.  You can’t really put a price on nostalgia, after all!  I’d recommend this to any 90’s Nickelodeon fan–you’re bound to get a few really neat items, and some more to give away to friends and family to share the love!

90s Nostalgia: The Nick Box Review

Are you a fan of the Japanese culture?  Whether you enjoy their food, their entertainment, or anything else from the Land of the Rising Sun, you can be assured that anything from Japan is a unique treat.  But, importing stuff from Japan can be a bit pricey, and it’s not exactly possible for everyone to hop on a plane and head over to the Asian country.  Thankfully, for those looking for a slice of Japan at home without breaking the bank, the wide world of subscription boxes has you covered.  Here are five Japanese-themed subscription boxes you can look forward to ordering!

JapanCrate

If you’re looking for one of the most popular Japanese subscription boxes, look no further than the JapanCrate.  JapanCrate is a snack box, and the selection of foods come straight from Japan, if you couldn’t guess by the name.  There are also a variety of box sizes available, so that buyers can try out a box even on the cheap.

Doki Doki Box

Doki Doki Box is by the same people that made the JapanCrate.  Instead of snacks, though, the Doki Doki Box is a collectibles box, shipping five to seven items a month to your doorstep.  The items range from tiny statuettes to stationary and everything in between, and the Doki Doki Box guarantees at least one wearable item, and one plushie per month.  If you like cute things, this is the box for you.

LootAnime

If you’re an anime fan, you know the best anime swag comes from Japan, but that also makes it a bit hard to get a hold of.  Thankfully, LootAnime has you covered with monthly boxes of anime-themed goodies.  Made by the same people that bring you the geeky LootCrate every month, you’ll know that you’ll be getting some fun, high-quality good.

Kawaii Box

The Kawaii Box is much like the Doki Doki box, with a focus on cute Japanese gear to adorn your house with.  However, the Kawaii Box tends to have more items (ten to twelve) at a cheaper price.  There are no items guarantees, though, and the items skew a bit more towards the stationary related (washi tape, stickers, and writing utensils), so deciding which cute swag box to get will depend on your preferences.

Skoshbox

Skoshbox is very similar to the Japan Crate.  It’s a subscription box service that offers to send you a slew of Japanese snacks to your door, and they offer a variety of box sizes to help you customize you snacking fix.  The larger box options also include an exclusive non-edible item, which is a nice touch.  And if you want, you can order both the JapanCrate and the Skoshbox to get an overload of tasty Japanese treats every month!

Are there any Japanese item subscription boxes you’d like to see?  Let us know in the comments!

5 Japanese-themed Subscription Boxes: Perfect For Otakus

There are a fair amount of pet related subscription boxes out there on the market.  These boxes tend to focus on treats and toys for your cat or dog, and it’s a nice monthly surprise for your pet.  But what about you, the pet owner?  As the person that cares and provides for their pets, don’t you deserve a reward for your undying love of your furry friends?

That’s where the Cat Lady Box comes in.  The Cat Lady Box provides a sampling of items for the cat lover, and sometimes even some toys for your feline friend, depending on what version of the box you buy.  But, is the cat themed swag worth the price of entry?

He knows there’s something in there for him…

Before getting into the items, let’s talk a little about the Cat Lady Box itself.  There are two versions of this box to choose from:  The Cat Lady Box, which costs $35 a month and gets you the two or three cat themed items of the month; and the Crazy Cat Lady box, which at $40 a month also nabs you two cat toys on top of the themed items.  The full Crazy Cat Lady box was purchased for this review.

Now, the box is billed monthly automatically, and money will be taken out of your account on the 6th of every month.  This leads to my largest gripe with the Cat Lady Box… the box of the month doesn’t ship until either the very end of the previous month, or the beginning of the month, and oftentimes you don’t get your box before you’re charged for the next one.  It’s frustrating on a timing level, because if you want to wait to see what kind of items you get from a box before deciding to continue the subscription, you might end up getting charged when you don’t want to be.  On the flip side, though, it’s immensely easy to cancel and reinstate a subscription, so the problem can be avoided with some attention to billing dates.

The theme for February 2017 is Meowlentine’s Day, the perfect holiday to celebrate with your feline friends.  The total retail value of the box (according to the information card, as these are all exclusive items) comes out to around $80, which is double the price I paid for the box.  A pretty good deal!  Let’s look at the items:

Links of Kitty Love Necklace

What a cute little piece of jewelry!  I’m always worried with pet related stuff that it might be too gaudy, but these little cat-shaped links are adorable!  It’s perfect for showing your love of cats without being too… blunt about it.  I didn’t take it out of the package, as I’m thinking of giving to someone else as a nice gift.  It even comes in a easy to wrap box!

Kitty Cat Backup Charger

Honestly, I think this looks a bit more like an owl than a cat, but I’m really not complaining.  I’ve needed a power brick for when the power randomly gives out, so it does the job nicely for me, and it’s neat looking to boot!  The information card says it’ll “charge an iPhone almost two full charges”, so while it’s not the most heavy duty backup charger you could get on the market, it’s perfect for an emergency charge or just if you’re out all day.  This item also makes a great gift if you already have a power brick lying around.

Teddy Bear Rug

Dinosaur added for size comparison because the cats didn’t feel like modeling.

This is essentially a cat bed that’s shaped like a bear skin rug.  How adorable and perfect for the romantic holiday!  It’s pretty much normal sized for a cat bed, and one cat can sleep on it comfortably.  Or, I assume they could, as my cats didn’t want to sleep on the bed.  They’d rather sleep in the box the bed and other items came on… like any self respecting cat would.  But, it’s quite soft, and it does look pretty neat sitting around.

Choco-Nip Strawberry with Catnip

Okay, there’s no actual chocolate in this, that would be silly, it’s a catnip toy shaped like a chocolate covered strawberry.  That’s another nice Valentine’s Day themed item, and this is one of the two cat toys that came in the Crazy Cat lady box.  Fun fact, I had to take this picture really fast because….

…then my cat Sissel stole it right from the dresser top and proceeded to play with it non stop for at least an hour.  Needless to say this toy is a hit with the cats; the small size makes it easy for them to play fetch with, and there’s catnip inside, so obviously they love it.

Purrfect Play Love Dice

Here’s the second cat toy for the Crazy Cat Lady Box.  It’s a playful rendition of love dice, with more cats oriented things to do should you “roll” one up.  But really, it’s just more of a catnip toy.

I got Reila to play with it a bit while she pouted over not being the first one to grab the strawberry, but the former toy was still the clear winner amongst the cats–the dice is simply too big for their tastes, although it’s a fine toy in and of itself.  My cats just weren’t interested in it for long.

I’m personally very pleased with the Cat Lady Box!  There’s a nice spread of cute and unique cat themed items, and definitely a bunch of things you normally wouldn’t see in a typical pet store.  I also like how closely most of the items stuck to the theme of the month… the backup charger might be an odd fit for a Valentine’s Day box, but the other four items invoked the spirit of the holiday well.  The early billing date for the box is a bit of a downer, but considering the quality and value of the first box I got, I can’t be too upset about getting another one.

If you’re a cat owner, or have a cat lover in your life, this box is well worth it.

Order the Cat Lady Box here!

Is it Purrfect? Our ‘Cat Lady Box’ Subscription Review

I love the idea of subscription boxes, but I’m always a little wary of them.  I do know that they are almost always a good deal, but are the items things I actually want, or is it ‘swag’ that’s just going to lay around the house?  When I subscribed to LootCrate back in the box’s infancy, it normally ended up being the latter, and while I enjoyed having some neat little stocking stuffers and gifts beyond the T-shirts I didn’t have a reason to continue the subscription.

But, since those days, subscription boxes have blown up in a huge way, and there’s a whole range of options for anything you could possibly want.  One of the boxes that caught my eye is Julep Maven’s box, a beauty box that focuses more on nail polish… and I do love my nail polish.  More importantly, though, you get to choose what items you want in your box, so that means I can’t complain about getting anything I don’t want!  But in the end, was Julep’s box worth it?

The package label was on the top of the box, so here’s a side view of my Julep box.

Before we get into the contents of my box, let’s talk about Julep’s process and how they get their boxes to you.  Julep Maven’s beauty box is $25 a month, or $20 a month if you pay for three months at once.  On the 20th, you get an email about choosing the items for your box.  Julep typically has an ‘item of the month’ that’s pretty much the feature item, as well as some new nail polish colors to choose from.  You don’t have to pick any of those items, though, and can also scroll through their inventory of older items, including nail polish, make up, and other beauty items.  You pick three items by the 24th, then Julep ships out the boxes and you get your box by the 10th.

It’s all very easy, and I love how the boxes can be customized.  January 2017’s box theme was called ‘Future Fresh’, and in good spirit of the review I chose the item of the month, as well as two of the new nail polish colors.

The box came with a nifty leaflet for this month’s featured items.

As such, the Julep box only came with three items, which seems a little lackluster compared to some boxes, but all three of these items were full sized, and the value of the box came to a whopping $64 dollars, making it a great deal over buying each item separately from Julep’s online store.

However, saving money is not always a win if the items were overpriced or of lower quality in the first place.  Let’s look at the items individually to see if the Julep box is really worth your hard earned money:

Boost Your Radiance: Reparative Rosehip Seed Facial Oil

The featured item for the Julep Maven box for January was the Boost Your Radiance oil, which, according to the leaflet, uses three main ingredients to moisturize your face.  There’s the rosehip seed oil, which moisturizes, heals, and regulates oil production; vitamin E, which helps in absorbing the rosehip oil; and bergamot oil, which brightens the skin.

I was really wary of getting this oil, honestly.  Other than a consistently greasy nose, my face rarely gets dried out, and as such I was worried that putting oil on my face would make me feel greasy, or worse, I would breakout.  However, with this being the main non-nail polish item for the month, I wanted to give the oil a fair shake for my review.  So, after a shower, I got two drops of the oil and applied it to my face… and I was very surprised by the results!  My face felt normal, but more importantly my nose was far less oily than usual.  Additionally, my skin tone seemed a lot more evened out, giving my face a nice and healthy sheen.

Since I live in Florida, I can’t really comment on how the oil might help against the cold and dry winter, but I imagine it’ll be a godsend during this time of the year for anyone whose face feels raw from the rough weather.

Julep Nail Color (x2)

I went with getting two of the new colors that were promoted for the Future Fresh box–Evan, a dark creamy red, and Yulia, a sheer and sparkly blue.  The two polishes are very different overall, with the red completely covering my nail in one coat (and dying my finger slightly if I happen to miss my nail), while the blue was still quite see through after a single coat.

I am pleased with both of these polish colors.  The polish lasts a long time; I’ve had two coats of Yulia on for over a week and only now am starting to see chipping at the tips of my nails.  Julep’s nail polish also covers quite well, usually only needing a single coat for total coverage (the sheer colors being an exception).  If nail polish is your thing, it’s definitely worth getting some Julep polishes in your collection.

Here are the colors after a single coat of polish.

The Julep Maven is a beauty box that is definitely quality over quantity.  While there are only three items a box, they are all high-quality full-sized beauty products, and the value of the box itself is through the roof in savings.  However, this box won’t be perfect for everyone… while Julep does offer more than just nail polish, that is the company’s key product, and those that aren’t as interested in painting their nails might think the pickings are a little slim after a few months.  But, in many ways, Julep Maven offers a great beauty box.  If you’re on the fence about it, give it a try–it’s not likely to disappoint!

Order the Julep Maven Beauty Box here!

Julep Maven Subscription Box Review

They say that “beauty is pain”, and while that may be true in some ways (I will never pluck my eyebrows, thanks), it doesn’t have to be true in finding your beauty products in the first place.  With the explosion of subscription box options over the years, there are plenty of boxes out there for pretty much anything… and that includes boxes for makeup and other beauty products.

But, the choices can be a little overwhelming… worry not, here’s a list of six beauty subscription boxes that may be right up your alley:

Ipsy

In all of my subscription box research, by far Ipsy is one of the most popular beauty boxes available.  While it is on the cheaper side of the spectrum, Ipsy manages to be well worth the $10 a month by offering five beauty items (some full sized, some samples) and a nice new makeup bag.  That’s every month.  If you want to dip your toe into subscription boxes but are worried about price, Ipsy is one of the best options available.

Julep Maven

Julep Maven’s beauty boxes focus more on their high end nail polish.  Julep’s box is a little on the higher end of the scale at $25 a month, but you are able to pick each item in your box, from old polish colors to new, or even other types of make up and beauty products.  Additionally, if you don’t want your box that month for whatever reason, it’s easy to skip a month of the subscription. Julep makes sure that you get exactly what you want in each box.

Target Beauty Box

Target’s Beauty boxes are just a little different from the others on the list–Target doesn’t actually offer a subscription, and the release times for these boxes aren’t always consistent.  However, these particular boxes come relatively cheap, and are packed with makeup and beauty goodies.  The Target box mostly contains samples, but all the better to learn what items you like and want to get more of (probably at a Target, like a clever advertisement scheme!).

Vegan Cuts Beauty Box

The Vegan Cuts Beauty Box, as the name suggests, is a beauty box consisting of all vegan beauty products, that were not tested on animals nor have any animal products in them.  There’s a surprising amount of beauty products that can contain items derived from animal parts, so Vegan Cuts makes it great for vegans to easily find beauty products that match their lifestyle.  Most items in the Vegan Cuts box are samples, but it goes a long way in raising awareness for animal free beauty products.

Boxycharm

Boxycharm is like a higher-end Ipsy box.  Like Ipsy, Boxycharm sends you five items a month, minus the makeup bag.  However, all of these products are full-sized, and the value of the items easily values around $100.  Boxycharm is one of the best values on the market right now, and a great way to build up your beauty product collection.

eSalon Hair Coloring

eSalon differs from the beauty boxes by providing high quality hair color.  eSalon has an extensive quiz you take to help determine your hair type and how you want to color it, and specialists create a perfect formula just for you and mail it to your door.  Any person that dyes their hair somewhat regularly know that with over the counter dyes can be difficult to match to the color on the box, but eSalon takes the guesswork out of it.  Better yet, the subscription model helps to keep you stocked up on your color, so it will never fade out.

There it is, a beginner’s guide to the first beauty boxes you’ll want to try out… or maybe one or two you missed along the way.  Are there any beauty boxes that you recommend?  Let us know in the comments!

6 Beauty Subscription Boxes Worth Your While

I’m not sure who was more excited to find the little blue box from Brick Loot on the doorstep last week: me or my 4 year old son. We were only more excited when we opened it up to find that the theme for this month was superheroes!

Brick Loot is a subscription box program, along the same lines as Loot Crate or BarkBox, that sends you a box full of LEGO-brand and LEGO-compatible building sets and accessories once a month ($25/month+ shipping with a 3 month subscription); every month there’s a new theme that ties everything in the box together.

The cool thing about Brick Loot is that everything you get is totally unique–nothing you’d be able to pick up at Target, Toys R Us or even Amazon. Most of the items that come in the box are custom builds that were designed specifically for Brick Loot, rather than existing LEGO products. Here’s a rundown of what was in our superhero-themed box:

1. The Dark Knight Custom Kit

It’s Batman, therefore it’s awesome. Kind of cool that it’s a Brick Loot exclusive (designed by an independent “LEGO Artist”), but it actually comes with authentic LEGO brand bricks. It’s not a great piece to play with once built, but it’s a great collectible to show off on a shelf.

2. Demon Star Vehicle and Minifigure

Another Brick Loot exclusive set, but this one includes LEGO-compatible (off-brand) bricks. A pretty easy build for kids and a fun new villain to add to your existing superhero sets.

3. Comic Book Tile Pack

Cute little collectible tiles, though I’m not totally sure what you’re supposed to do with them.

4. Brick Popper

A tool made to help you pop LEGO bricks apart. Worked pretty well at breaking apart some pieces we definitely thought were permanently stuck together.

5. Red Archer Custom Minifigure

Another example of an authentic LEGO brand product that they’ve turned into something new and unique–this little guy comes from United Bricks, a company that uses UV printing to make custom LEGO items.

As far as skill level required to enjoy this box, I would say Brick Loot is definitely aimed more at kids/beginners than adults. My four year old was able to build most of the sets himself with some assistance. An adult with any LEGO experience could easily put everything together in just a few minutes.

Overall, I thought our Brick Loot box was a lot of fun! One thing to keep in mind is that a lot of what you are paying for here is the novelty and surprise factor. Pricing out everything we got in our box individually, it would probably add up to about the same price (or a little bit less) than what the monthly subscription costs. So you’re not really getting a “deal” on LEGO products; you’re paying for the opportunity to check out some unique items that you’d probably never come across on your own.

For anyone interested in trying Brick Loot for yourself, they’ve sent us a 10% off code: bens10, good on either the 1-month or 3-month subscription plans. Next month’s theme is Race at the Brickyard, and boxes ship April 11th.

Check out Brick Loot Here

Brick Loot Subscription Box Review

It’s no surprise that Loot Crate is one of the most popular monthly subscription boxes for gear related to superheroes, super-villains, popular movies, geeky television shows and the most iconic video games. Of course, a subscription box is a fantastic gift for someone, as they will receive a variety of cool items for multiple months; long after a holiday has come and gone.

After the subscription box craze caught on, websites similar to Loot Crate started popping up everywhere. Besides services like Loot Crate that offer a wide range of items, many sites started to focus in on a specific aspect of nerd or geek culture. For instance, there are subscription boxes geared specifically to Marvel or Star Wars fans, boxes that are for people who love video game culture, boxes for people who love comic books, etc…

Aren't familiar with Loot Crate? Click Here.

Loot Crate sends out a box each month for about $20 (including shipping / handling). Each box is specific to a theme. For instance, a recent box was themed around villains. That box included great themes around the Joker (from Batman), Venom (from Spider-Man) and Los Pollos Hermanos (from Breaking Bad). The subscription price drops if you opt into multiple months and it can increase if you opt into the Level Up service that adds more geeky apparel to the mix. Full details are below:

Loot Crate

Loot Crate

Founded in 2012, Loot Crate sends 6 to 9 themed collectibles aimed at geeks and gamers every month. Recent crate themes have been Heroes, Villains, sci-fi and horror.

• Monthly Rates:  $13.37 (1 mo.), $12.37 (3 mos.), $11.67 (6 mos.)
• Shipping: $6
• Coupon: Get $3 off your first order with SAVE3
• YouTube Reviews: Click Here

We’ve broken down our favorite subscription boxes like Loot Crate into a few categories. Check out the full list!

Subscription Box Companies like Loot Crate

These other companies like Loot Crate will offer a general smattering of items each month, pulling from all aspects of pop culture to fill the box. This is probably a great gift for someone that you know who’s into cool, geeky stuff, but you don’t really have more information beyond that.

1up Box

1up

1up offers a single box that has a focus on “5 to 7 epic items” that would appeal to geeks and gamers. Some of the past boxes have included gear themed around characters from Nintendo, the Cartoon Network and Star Wars. Each box will feature a specific collection of items as well as an exclusive t-shirt that you can’t buy anywhere else.

Value of each box tends to be over $40.

• Monthly Rates:  $12.92 (1 mo.), $12.42 (3 mos.), $11.92 (6 mos.)
• Shipping:  $7
• Coupon: Save $3 on your first month with the code AWESOME
• YouTube Reviews: Click Here

Fanmail Box

FanMail

Finally offering up a solid option for all those cool, geeky ladies out there, FanMail is basically Loot Crate for women. All of the items are specifically chosen “by women, for women” around a specific theme each month. For instance, the August theme was “Super Sheroes” and included gear like a Black Canary #1 comic book, a Wonder Woman wristband, a Melinda May Pop Vinyl and a Batman vs. Superman necklace.

Value of each box will be at least $50.

• Monthly Rates:  $22 (1 mo.), $21 (3 mos.), $20 (6 mos.), $19 (12 mos.)
• Shipping:  Depends on location
• YouTube Reviews: Click Here

Geek Fuel

Geek Fuel

Geek Fuel will send your lovable geeky friend a monthly mystery box filled with 6 to 9 toys, games and collectibles from the worlds of Marvel, Star Wars, Japanese anime and so on. Recent boxes have included goodies like a Doctor Who ice cube tray, downloadable video games and comic book variant covers.

Value of each box tends to be over $50.

• Monthly Rates:  $18 (1 mo.), $17 (3 mos.), $16 (6 mos. +1 mystery item), $14 (12 mos. +3 mystery items)
• Shipping:  $6
• YouTube Reviews: Click Here

Geek Me Box

Geek Me Box

Geek Me Box offers between 5 to 8 geek & gamer products each month with no specific focus on a theme each month. Past boxes have included gear from Marvel, South Park, Thundercats and DC Comics. There is a $2 add-on charge for t-shirts XXL and up.

Values of the boxes tend to be over $50.

• Monthly Rates:  $22 (1 mo.), $20 (3 mos., 6 mos. or 12 mos.)
• Shipping:  $8
• YouTube Reviews: Click Here

Nerd Block

Nerd Block 

Nerd Block has a choice of six themed mystery box toy subscriptions: Nerd Block Classic which will send you 4 to 6 collectibles and toys including one custom T-shirt every month; Arcade Block for gamer collectibles;  Horror Block for pop horror collectibles; Comic Block is for comic collectibles, Nerd Block Jr. for Boys (ages 6 to 11); and Nerd Block Jr. for Girls (ages 6 to 11).

Values of the Classic, Arcade and Horror boxes tend to be over $60. Values of the Comic, Jr. Boys and Jr. Girls boxes tend to be over $40.

• Monthly Rates (Classic, Arcade or Horror):  $20 (1 mo.), $18 (3 mos.), $17 (6 mos.), $16 (12 mos.)
• Monthly Rates (Comic, Jr. Boys or Jr. Girls):  $14 (1 mo.), $13 (3 mos.), $12 (6 mos.), $11 (12 mos.)
• Shipping:  $10
• Coupon: Save 15% off your first month with SAVE15
• YouTube Reviews: Click Here

Power Box Box

Power Up Box

Power Up Box offers a choice between two boxes of geeky gear. The Premium level offers 6 to 9 hand-picked items while the Deluxe box offers 4 to 6 items. Past boxes have included gear from Marvel, Star Wars, DC Comics and Pokemon.

Value of the Premium box tends to be $70 while the value of the Deluxe box is closer to $50.

• Monthly Rates: (Premium Box) $30 (1 mo.), $28.50 (3 mos.), $27 (6 mos.), $25.50 (12 mos.)
• Monthly Rates: (Deluxe Box) $20 (1 mo.), $19 (3 mos.), $18 (6 mos.), $17 (12 mos.)
• Shipping:  $10 for Premium / $7 for Deluxe
• YouTube Reviews: Click Here

Superhero Subscription Boxes

Targeted specifically at fans of superheroes, these loot boxes aren’t going to include items outside of that genre. This is a great gift for a fan of the recent rash of superhero movies to hit the theaters as well as fans of Star Wars.

HeroCrate Box

HeroCrate (closed as of late Jan 2016)

Including 4 to 6 hero-related items as well as a unique T-shirt, HeroCrate features items from Marvel, DC Comics, Star Wars, TMNT and pretty much anything else that can be considered hero-related. The team running HeroCrate also offers a secondary VillainCrate service that ships every two months.

Value of each crate of heroic loot is at least $40.

• Monthly Rates: $30 (1 mo.), $27 (3 mos.), $26 (6 mos.), $25 (12 mos.)
• Shipping:  Included
• YouTube Reviews: Click Here

Marvel Collector’s Corps

Marvel Collector Corps

Started up earlier this year, the Marvel Collectors Corps box was launched in partnership with Funko. Boxes typically include Marvel Funko characters, comic books, T-shirts and collector patches. FYI, DC will also be launching a similar box starting during early 2016.

Value of each box is at least $50.

• Monthly Rates: (Collector Program) $25 every 2 months.
• Monthly Rates: (Hero Program) $150 per year. 6 boxes over 12 months + 1 exclusive collectible.
• Shipping:  $7
• YouTube Reviews: Click Here

Smuggler’s Bounty Box

Star Wars Smuggler’s Bounty

While not specifically a superhero genre, there’s little argument that the Jedi are the superheroes of the Star Wars universe. Similar to the Marvel box above, the Smuggler’s Bounty box was created in partnership with Funko for Star Wars fans. It’s also going to be distributed on a similar timetable, every other month. The first box goes out in November.

Value of each box is at least $50.

• Monthly Rates: (Pirate Membership) $25 every 2 months.
• Monthly Rates: (Boss Membership) $150 per year. 6 boxes over 12 months + 1 exclusive collectible.
• Shipping:  $7
• YouTube Reviews: Not Available Yet

Hero Box 2.0

SuperHeroStuff Hero Box 2.0

Relaunched during July 2015, the Hero Box 2.0 can be an awesome subscription box for someone who’s a fan of a specific superhero. For example, you could get a box with only Superman items inside. Items like t-shirts, socks, comics, bumper stickers, keychains, plush toys, etc. However, this level of customization is more expensive.

Boxes are valued at a minimum of $70

• Monthly Rates: $49 (1 mo.)
• Shipping:  $5.50 minimum
• YouTube Reviews: Click Here

Comic Book Subscription Boxes

Ideal for anyone who spends Wednesday afternoon in the comic book store picking up the latest issues, these subscription services will bring some serious comic book loot to your doorstep.

Comic Bento

Comic Bento

Shipping out a collection of comics and graphic novels each month, Comic Bento uses a panel of comic experts to pick issues around a theme each month. For instance, when the theme was Cinematic Adventures, subscribers received graphic novels related to The Avengers, Star Trek: Into Darkness, Predator and Green Hornet.

Value of each box is at least $60.

• Monthly Rates: $20 (1 mo.), $18.34 (3 mos.), $17.50 (6 mos.)
• Shipping:  $5 in the U.S. / $12 to Canada
• YouTube Reviews: Click Here

Comic-Con Box

Comic-Con Box

Ideal for anyone who frequently attends Comic-Con in San Diego, the Comic-Con Box (launched early 2015) is filled with collectibles and exclusives related to comics, movies and television shows. It may also include discounts for anyone who’s attending Comic-Con. Typical items included are T-shirts, graphic novels, prints and figurines.

• Monthly Rates: $30 per month. Bonus items included at 3-month, 6-month subs.
• Shipping:  $7
• YouTube Reviews: Click Here

ComicBoxer Box

ComicBoxer

Providing a mystery selection of 5 to 7 comic books to subscribers each month, ComicBoxer selections include new releases, variant covers, #1 issues, etc. Selected by a team of experts, some of the comics can be geared toward a mature audience, so avoid giving this as a gift for kids. The ComicBoxer team is working on a plan for younger readers.

• Monthly Rates: $20 (1 mo.), $19 (3 mos.), $18 (6 mos.)
• Shipping:  $8
• YouTube Reviews: Click Here

Gaming Subscription Boxes

If you love playing all types of games, these boxes will provide tons of entertainment as well as help you show off your love of video games.

Awesome Pack

Awesome Pack

Offering up a package for families as well as one for “Big Kids,” the Awesome Pack includes items like board games, handheld games, plush toys and activities. The company includes items from Disney, Hasbro, Marvel and DC Comics. With perks such as custom cards for birthdays, this subscription is ideal for any family with young kids.

• Monthly Rates: $45 per month
• Shipping:  Included
• YouTube Reviews: Click Here

Gamer Girl Monthly

Gamer Girl Monthly

Offering up 3 to 5 pieces of gaming-themed jewelry each month, Gamer Girl Monthly started during mid-2015 and includes items that were specifically “selected by girls, for girls.” It’s definitely unique in the subscription box scene and could be a cool way for young women to show off their love of video games.

• Monthly Rates: $13 (1 mo.), $12.50 (3 mos.), $12 (6 mos.), $11.50 (12 mos.)
• Shipping:  $4 to U.S. / $7 to Canada
• YouTube Reviews: Click Here

IndieBox

IndieBox

Featuring one collector’s edition PC game shipped to your home each month, the IndieBox package includes a retro-style game box, USB game cartridge, color manual, and original soundtrack. Other items that may come with the game include pins, posters, game controllers or keychains. Games are specifically chosen based off positive reviews.

• Monthly Rates: $25 (1 mo.), $23 (3 mos.), $20 (6 mos.)
• Shipping:  $4 to U.S.
• YouTube Reviews: Click Here

Geeky T-Shirt Subscription Boxes

Awesome shirts for wearing to your next convention or maybe just to your cubicle at work, these cool crates and boxes contain T-shirts that will show off your geek cred.

Once Upon A Tee

Once Upon a Tee

Targeting fans of Doctor Who, The Legend of Zelda as well as other random pop culture themes, Once Upon a Tee offers up monthly subscriptions of an item that’s been printed exclusively for that month’s box. In addition, all subscribers are entered into a monthly drawing for a gift card that can be spent in their main online store.

• Monthly Rates: $10 per month for Doctor Who, Zelda. $7 per month for random item
• Shipping:  $4
• YouTube Reviews: Click Here

Teeblox

TeeBlox

Including $30 of gear for a low monthly subscription price, TeeBlox offers up an officially licensed T-shirt each month as well as two of the following items: a comic book, a poster, a sticker or a decal. During the subscription process you can also choose a theme such as games, movies & TV, beers or hot items.

• Monthly Rates: $10 per month
• Shipping:  $2.50
• YouTube Reviews: Click Here

Misc. Subscription Boxes of Eternal Awesomeness

Last, but certainly not least, these two subscription boxes provide some entertainment into the mix as well as killer gift crates for people of all ages.

Wil Wheaton Quarterly

Wil Wheaton Quarterly Co.

The Quarterly subscription service is curated by celebrities like Wil Wheaton as well as style experts, authors and bloggers. Of course, Wil’s wonderful picks often lean into geekdom. For instance, the July box included a Dungeons & Dragon starter set, custom Wesley Crusher socks and a vintage NES Game with the Retrobit Duo NES console. The quantity and types of items in each box will vary for each curator and season.

• Quarterly Rates:  $100 (for Wil’s box)
• Shipping:  Free (for subscribers); $8 (for one-off purchases)
• YouTube Reviews: Click Here

Brick Loot Box

Brick Loot

Offering up anything related to brick building (like LEGOs), Brick Loot includes 4 to 8 brick-related toys related to a specific theme each month. Competing services include Brickbox as well as Brickswag.

• Monthly Rates: $27 (1 mo.), $25 (3 mos.), $23(6 mos.)
• Shipping:  $6 to U.S. / $13 to Canada
• YouTube Reviews: Click Here

20 Awesome Subscription Boxes like Loot Crate