Le Parcel Subscription Box March 2013-- Rant and Review

I have a minor rant about Le Parcel before I get into the review.. so if you would like to skip that please ignore this paragraph and scroll on down to the bottom.

Begin Rant: I placed an order for this subscription late February in hopes of receiving this by early March in time for me to ride the Crimson Wave. I was charged, via PayPal, almost immediately after I subscribed which led me to believe that I would be receiving the box on time or close to. I received the box a little over a week after my scheduled date, which is not my main qualm with Le Parcel. What bothered me was that I was NOT provided with any email notifications pertaining to my package or whether it would be able to make the scheduled dates or not... nothing was even provided when the package shipped. Finally, after two days and two emails, I received an email from Amanda informing me that I had used a fraudulent coupon code which caused the delay in processing/shipment. I have a hard time believing that load of poo for three reasons: 1. Why was the code allowed to be used and why was I not notified until I contacted them; 2. My PayPal account was charged immediately after signing up; 3. My package was not shipped until the day after I received a response, to my 2 emails, from Amanda.

Perhaps, I am just a skeptic, but I don't know if I would have even been notified or sent my package until I contacted them. I am not saying you should forgo Le Parcel if you're interested, but just be cautious and make sure you sign up early and with a "valid" coupon code. End Rant.

I paid a total of $15.50 for this box, shipping included. Amanda did honor the "fraudulent" coupon which provided a certain percentage off. My initial inclination to choose this box over MyCottonBunny or Juniper had to do with the option to choose how many of each item you would like--ie: how many tampons, how many pads, etc. There would also be an additional monthly gift along with your necessities. I think they advertise their January box on their site which came with a watch and ferrero rocher. The packaging is definitely cute and this month came with a lip balm in Champagne (which looks used or melted), 3 hair ties, 2 Lindt chocolates and a 10% coupon for the hair ties from Etsy. Personally, I do not have a problem purchasing personal hygiene products at the store. I thought this might be a nice thing to have each month, but I don't think this box is worth more than $10... if that.

Due to my frustrations and the clear lack of incentive, I decided to cancel my subscription and contacted Amanda, again,  after cancelling regarding my cancellation. I finally received a reply after about 4 or 5 days, but on their site it shows my account is still active.





*Disclaimer: I purchased subscription with my own funds and am not being paid to provide review*

Chevron Locket Necklace by PetiteCo

I recently purchased a new locket necklace from PetiteCo via Etsy. It is adorable. I knew it was going to be tiny, but it is much smaller than I imagined. I still really like it and it was $15 so it was reasonable. I contacted Vanessa with a few questions regarding the necklace and she was prompt and very friendly. I included photos below.

                       

The locket compared to my thumb nail

*Disclaimer: I purchased this item with my own funds and am not being paid to review it*

PopSugar Must Have Box March 2013

Yay! I am so excited to finally get my very first PopSugar Must Have Box. I had been debating whether or not to commit to a subscription because the price is a little higher than the other boxes I had been considering. I ended up going for it. This may also end up being a SPOILER for some... so if you would like to be surprised please do not scroll down....

What’s inside and the approximate prices of each item….

Must Have Fashion:

Heather Belle’s Signature Tassel Necklace
My Thoughts: This item feels pretty sturdy and does look great in person. However, it's really long. I ended up gifting this to someone else. 

Price: Approx 85.00-95.00

(Price found on http://www.ramblingsofasuburbanmom.com)

Must Have Home:

The Laundress Wool and Cashmere Shampoo
My Thoughts: I am really excited about this because I have several items that need to go to the dry cleaners and instead of doing that I can hand wash them. 

Price: 19.00

Corkatoo Corkscrew in Green
My Thoughts: This is an adorable little inclusion. I was definitely excited to see this. 

Price: 14.00

Must Have Beauty:

Buxom Sculpted Lash Mascara in True Black
My Thoughts: I have a lot of mascaras that I need to use and try. When I saw this I could not help but think that I most likely would not be using this and will probably be giving this away. 

Price: 19.00

Must Have Fashion:

Hollywood Fashion Secrets Sweater Saver
My Thoughts: I have been continuously looking for something to rid my sweaters and coats of the pills that plague them. So when I saw this in the box I was incredibly happy. I can't wait to give this a try.

Price: 6.00

Must Have Beauty:

The New Black Nail Polish in Pardon My French
My Thoughts: The colors are really pretty. There was a light grey-ish taupe color and a deep blue-ish color. I have been wanting to try New Black nail polish for some time so looks like I'll get that opportunity.

Price: 10.00

Special Extras:

Marshmallows Peeps
My Thoughts: Peeps have never been a treat I would willing indulge in so I gave these away. 

Price: 0.50-1.00

Hollywood Fashion Secrets Fashion Tape Assortment Pack
My Thoughts: I don't think I will use these, but I will check out the site to see what else they may offer. I believe I read they sell nipple petals also-- those would be useful. 

Price: --

I have to say I was not overly excited when I received this package... I am on the fence about my Popsugar subscription. I am definitely going to give this one or two more month(s) because I have seen some of the amazing boxes they have had in the past. I know this box was amazing for some people, but these items aren't all my cup of tea. I will say I was definitely most excited about the Hollywood Fashion Secrets Sweater Saver, the Corkatoo Corkscrew, and the Wool and Cashmere Shampoo. I am looking forward to next month's box!













*Disclaimer: I purchased subscription with my own funds and am not being paid to provide review*

Chic Shave Subscription Review & First Impressions

Chic Shave is the first of my 5 monthly subscriptions to arrive and from what it seems, the concept is similar to the dollarshave subscription for me. I really liked the packaging, which as you can see is adorable. There are 3 different types of razors to choose from: The Sapphire Lady; The Pink Lady; The Lady's Man. 

I, obviously, chose The Pink Lady mainly because it was the only razor option with more than 3 blades. The other two are blue with 3 blades, which is fine, but I prefer more. I used the razor for the first time last night and it did provide an extremely close shave and was moisturizing. As you can see in the photo above, it does have a pink strip surrounding the razor blades. The strip has vitamin E, aloe and botanical oil. The handle is really light. I don't know how I feel about the weight because my Quattro is heavier than this so that is what I am used to. I am going to try it out a few more times and decide how I really feel about it, and maybe if I am able to resubscribe.

The service is $9 a month and includes 2 razors cartridges each month. I ended up cancelling this service because I do not shave enough to make this subscription worth the cost. Plus, the razors I use are cheaper than these, but for those that use other higher end razors, such as one named after a planet, this might be worth it to you. I did deal with their help desk and their customer service rep, Evelet, was really kind.

http://www.chicshave.com/

*Disclaimer: I purchased subscription with my own funds and am not being paid to provide review*

First Entry.... wooo

I decided to create this blog because while I was researching certain subscription boxes and products I noticed that there weren't too many reviews or much info, in general, on them...some of the products I review may already be popular and I just felt the urge to comment on them too.

Hope some of this is helpful for those who are considering these boxes/products.