FANCY BOX: December 2014 [Kelly Rowland]

quickie post today since well... i just really need to get back on track... 

the weekend flew by again - this time, i had my high school reunion to go to. ten years can come by so fast! i can't believe it's been a decade!! it was a casual get together where invites were sent via Facebook so not a whole lot of people came out. still, it was nice to see some people! there was a whole lot of: so... a) are you married? (no); b) do you have kids? (no).  

i think everyone wants to do a formal reunion in a few months when more people can make it out.

1) Vinyl Impression : Work Hard Stay Humble Wall Sticker in "Black"

size: N/A (slightly smaller than a paper size?)

retail value: $16.00 CAD

good quote but not something that i would put on my wall. for sale!

2) Kryolan : Fun Faze UV-Dayglow F/X Cream Sticks in "91202 UV-Pink"
size: 3.7 g 
retail value: $10.00 USD

the words 'Kryolan' are written so tiny that when i first saw this item, i thought it was some cheap lipstick - especially after seeing the words "Fun Faze" inscribed on the side.

but lo' and behold, it is from Kryolan which is a professional makeup line that i've heard a little about. i believe that they specialize in stage/special effects makeup.

anyway, where i was also wrong is thinking that this is a lipstick. it is actually a cream stick that is to be used on the hair or for special effects only - not for cosmetic purposes. very confusing because on the Fancy website, it calls it a lipstick and there is an image of a girl applying it on her lips. oopsies?

3) Blue & Cream : Change Tray in "Wear the Pants" 
size: 1 6 x 6 tray
retail value: $45.00 USD

yikes - cute little tray but pricey. the tray is bent on the sides and made of glass.

4) Hello Apparel : Hello Heather Grey Raglan Pullover 
size: Large
retail value: $50.00 USD

California Fleece by American Apparel is quite soft since it is 90% combed cotton. this is a size large which is what i told Fancy when they asked me ages ago what size of a t-shirt to send me. i said large, figuring that i would probably just wear it to bed, but the shirt they sent me was nowhere near a large.
in this case though, this is huge! the pullover was already loose to begin with but now it is extra roomy.

so i would categorize this month's box as more of a miss than a hit. the sweatshirt is cute but rather big... and the change tray is neat as well but i can't exactly agree with the dollar value. and i probably won't use the black light cream stick since i am not going to a rave anytime soon...

AT THIS MOMENT ...
currently listening: Lay Me Down - Sam Smith
just watched: The Rock // The Proposal // Dragon Blade
still watching: Walking Dead Season 5 // Vampire Diaries Season 5 // Outlander Season 1 /// Game of Thrones Season 5 // Forever Season 1 (finished - and signed a petition to keep this series going) // Grace & Frankie Season 1 (finished in a few days - some moments are very real and heartbreaking) // Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 2
now reading: - -

FANCY BOX: November 2014 [Kelly Rowland]

has anyone gone to some Big Taste events happening in Calgary these few weeks? i am blaming them for the amount of times i've been going out to eat!

this week, i tried the dinner menu at Buchanan's and Hapa Izakaya.
at Buchanan's (steakhouse, contemporary), i had the mixed green salad (you can never go wrong with pork belly and i've discovered a new cheese that i like - boursin!), the New York steak (which was just alright, not all that tasty) and finished off with the auchentoshen creme caramel (which i don't really understand - some kind of pudding that tastes like egg tarts). overall, Buchanan's was just okay. i wasn't super impressed by any of the courses.
i also had the dinner menu at Hapa Izakaya (Asian) which included a carpaccio trio (light and delicious), buta no kakuni (pork belly again, this time in steamed buns but very fatty) and spicy pork hot stone bowl (lackluster... perhaps missing an ingredient or spice?). there was a dessert as well, a sort of tofu pudding with maple syrup and almond nuts. this dessert was delicious! but sadly, it is not on their regular menu. i find that this sort of defeats the purpose of the Big Taste event. i thought it was supposed to introduce you to many of the food items at a restaurant... but what happens when you fall in love with something that is just available temporarily? :(

November's Fancy box featuring Kelly Rowland included:

1) AdNArt : 45 Degree Tilt Tea Mug in "Black"
retail value: $9.99 CAD

great concept! i hesitate to try loose leaf tea because i'd have to get a diffuser, steep my tea and then take it out while it is still wet... sounds like a lot of work to me.
so instead, this ceramic mug comes with a silicone diffuser, so when you're done steeping, you can tilt your mug and there's no dripping mess! you can also move the diffuser around the lip of the mug depending on your preference of mild or or deep infusion.
also available in other colors: red, purple, green, yellow

2) Kikkerland : Head Massager

retail value: $4.00 x 2

to achieve a similar response from your friends and family (see first pic below), all you need is this fancy stainless steel tool. "Instantly invigorating" cannot describe this massager better. it's like watching babies try lemons for the first time - get ready for some LOLs.

i have seen these around at those shops that sell quirky items, never thought i'd get one, let alone two. thank goodness i gave one out during a Christmas exchange. reviews for this item have been very positive though!

3) Suck UK : Break Glass Money Box

retail value: $12.00

another one of those quirky items. don't worry, you can also twist to open the back for non-emergencies. 

4) NPW : Get the Hint in "Loud and Clear"

retail value: $6.95

pretty funny labels that are probably not appropriate for work. don't take my word for it though.

5) Young and Wild Tee 

retail value: $?? (someone on the web says $32)

printed on a short sleeve shirt from Next Level Apparel. very soft material. can i just say that the sizing is ridiculous though? i selected my shirt size on Fancy as L because to be honest, i probably will only wear whatever shirts they send me to bed (this shirt is a very good example since being young is almost pushing it for me, and wild, well that is out of the question). and i like to wear comfy and loose pajamas so Large was what i went with. this would be way too tight! still soft though.

all the items in this November box are definitely 'quirky' but only a few are practical for me. the Tilt Mug is a genius idea... hopefully it works out well! 

can't wait to use the Head Massager on unsuspecting people... muahahaha.

AT THIS MOMENT ...
currently listening: From Eden - Hozier
just watched: Belle (boring... i didn't really like the main character and couldn't quite grasp the possibility of falling in love with someone so quick... but then again this was the 18th century...); Hereafter (definitely some intense scenes - the tsunami and the brother)
still watching: Doctor Who Season 5 // Walking Dead Season 5 // Vampire Diaries Season 5 // Marco Polo Season 1
now reading: - -

FANCY BOX: October 2014

looks like Fancy is cutting back on the info cards... bummer. sort of defeats the purpose of getting a 'handpicked' item from Kelly if i have no idea why she chose it anyway... for all i know, someone not named Kelly is throwing these random items in. :P

1) American Apparel : Glow in the Dark Nail Polish in "65469 Neptune"
retail value: $18.00 (3 bottles)

okay, i can handle glow in the dark polish, i can handle blue polish, but WHY three bottles of it?! i do not understand... what am i going to do with 3 bottles? (see sale page...)
as you can see, the polish has settled and although i can see a ball in there, the polish is still very thick so it is difficult to shake this up. i don't have a UV light to test this polish out just yet.

2) DIY Nails: Nails Decals in "Celestial"
retail value: $10.00

DIY Nails is a UK company and they carry a range of nail decals - you can even get the faces of Breaking Bad on your nails! the nail decals can also double as temporary tattoos. nail decals seem like a lot of work to me but i might try it out one day if all it takes is a little bit of water...

3) Kitsch : Charm Jewelry Necklace & Earring Set in "Be Electric"
retail value: $32.00 (CAD $38.72)

hands down my favorite item in the box. i love simple jewelry like this - so easy to wear! and plus, lightning bolts! any Harry Potter references are welcome :)
the necklace and earrings are 14 k gold plated brass but they are also available in sterling silver plated brass. the necklace chain is 16 inches, so it sits right between my collar bones.
Kitsch ships to Canada and their prices aren't bad either. their rings are especially cute!

4) Paperwallet : Wallet in "Galaxy"
retail value: $14.00

this particular 'Galaxy' design is part of the "Pattern Series". it is a very pretty design... reminds me of my desktop background at work. the faces of two Sphynx cats chill on the inside where you would put your cash. Paperwallet products are made from a type of paper called Tyvek - it's thin and waterproof. i tried (not too hard) tearing it and it didn't work. it is also 100% recyclable! that's neat for sure but i don't really use wallets. instead, i rather flip through about 20 cards before i find my credit card. you know how it is. i gave this away during one of the Christmas exchanges last year.

5) WallsNeedLove : Wall Decals in "Silver - Coronata Stars"
retail value: $12.00

at first i was like, what am i going to do with this?? but, after checking out the website, i am inspired! there is one photo in particular where it looks like the stars are bursting from the corner of a room and the stars are just falling. very pretty!
there are plenty of designs as well as a number of colors to choose from - 40 to be exact!
tutorials are available which would definitely be useful to me.
i believe their design packs change recently because the website says there are 28 in each but mine says 30.

some of the contents were misses, but those that were a hit - hit hard! i especially love the Kitsch jewelry set because it is so dainty and cute. i was feeling iffy about the WallsNeedLove wall decals but their website has inspired me! i just need to figure out now where to release the inspiration... decisions decisions!

AT THIS MOMENT ...
currently listening: "Panic Cord" by Gabrielle Aplin
just watched: nothing since Edge of Tomorrow
still watching: Doctor Who Season 4 // Walking Dead Season 5 // Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 1 // Vampire Diaries Season 5
now reading: "When God Was a Rabbit" by Sarah Winman 

FANCY BOX: September 2014 [Kelly Rowland]

here comes an orange Fancy Box, handpicked by Kelly Rowland. this month had no item card so i had to do a search on their website for all of the items below.

1) Mzube : Photomug Retro Camera Mug
retail value: $16.00

looks like i got the retro version of this Retro Camera Mug - the one they are selling on Fancy is an updated version. this is sort of cute but i have a handful of mugs at my work now, one of them being the Morning Mug from an earlier Coco Rocha Fancy box. i'll probably regift this! tis the season, right? :P

2) Isaac Jacobs : Neon Rim Frames
retail value: $15.00

this is a neat photo frame. at first, i thought it looked a tad boring but this is actually REALLY neon. so bright! and quite heavy as well. it fits a 4 x 6 photo and also comes in neon purple.

3) Galisfly : Gold Ear Cuff
retail value: $24.00

i've bought a few ear cuffs in the past but sadly, i don't wear them more than once because of sizing. they were either too tight or too loose. BUT this one is adjustable! it is handmade in Israel with gold plated brass. i think i might try to wear this at a wedding this weekend... we will see how that turns out!

4) Galisfly : Thin Ring Bracelet
retail value: $34.00 

another Galisfly item but this one is rose gold plated brass. i admit that i've been intrigued by ring bracelets before but never figured out how to pull it off. i feel like i have to exude a certain aura of cool before i can swing a ring bracelet. 'swing' is probably not the term i should be using when defining cool... maybe a wedding would be a place to test this out as well? an ear cuff is cool too right?

and tada!! the four items in September's Fancy box. not too shabby hey? the jewelry pieces are items i wouldn't have picked for myself but am intrigued to try. the neon photo frame may soon find its place on my work desk but i have yet to figure out what photo to put in it... i currently do not have any photos at work so the pressure is on to pick a meaningful one. :)

AT THIS MOMENT ...
currently listening: "Angel" by Yoonmirae
just watched: nothing! :O but i started another season of a series...
still watching: Doctor Who Season 4 // Walking Dead Season 5 // Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 1 // Vampire Diaries Season 5
now reading: "When God Was a Rabbit" by Sarah Winman (still!)

FANCY BOX: August 2014 [Kelly Rowland]

i made the switch from Coco Rocha to Kelly Rowland's Fancy box for the month of August. i was experiencing more misses than hits with Coco's boxes and just wanted to try Kelly's before i completely unsubscribed from Fancy.

check out my first Kelly Rowland Fancy box (which came in a yellow box as opposed to a white one with a round pink circle):

1) Living Royal : Ice Cream Cone Ankle Socks

retail value: $8.00

the first item is a pair of socks... i don't think socks are particularly fancy even when the brand has the word "Royal" in it. these 100% polyester ankle socks only come in one size  the ice cream cones are quite adorable though. 

2) Luxe Cartel : Diamond Cutout Necklace

retail value: $24.50 

the card says it's a Dainty Gold Circle Necklace but it is definitely not a circle. i looked up this diamond cutout one but it is not sold on Fancy's site. on Luxe Cartel's website, it is currently on sale and is described as a gold plated over brass necklace on a 16" chain. i love diamond cutouts so this is my favorite item in the box - in fact, i just bought a H&M blouse with diamond shapes all over it just three days ago. would it be overkill if i wore them together? :) 

3) Banksy : Temporary Tattoos

retail value: $10.00 for 2

right after my favorite item in the box, comes the least favorite. yes they are 'artsy' but they are still temporary tattoos... i can't imagine them selling for $10... but maybe that's me being old and boring?

4) Hello Parry : Luna Holographic Checkered Clutch
retail value: $45.00

i appreciate that a handbag was included in the box but sadly i do not love love this one. it's cute and a great size for a clutch (or a mini iPad case). the holographic checkers are neat and i'm surprised that this bag is handmade. it is made of 100% polyurethane and is roughly the same size as the pink padded envelope ipsy ships their bags in.
i am putting this on the Blog Sale page if you are interested!

overall, the value was $87.50 USD and i paid $63.05 CAD for it... very steep price i know. although the bag and the necklace were a nice touch, i was quite disappointed by the temporary tattoos and their retail value. each box is supposed to contain over $80 worth of items so this one barely makes it. what do you think of Kelly Rowland's Fancy box?

FANCY BOX: July 2014 [Coco Rocha]

i always look forward to opening my Fancy boxes since you never know what to expect. 

sadly, i was not a big fan this month:

1) Passport Luggage Tag
Passport luggage tag-a luggage tag that's ready to take on the world!
retail value: $10

soo uhm, this is sort of flimsy... and pretty much asking for trouble.

2) Wallpaper City Guide: NYC
Wallpaper* City Guides present a tightly edited, discreetly packaged list of the best a location has to offer the design conscious traveller. Here is a precise, informative, insider’s checklist of all you need to know about the world’s most intoxicating cities.
retail value: $14

this could have been useful when i was actually in NY in May... neat idea but not that interesting to me.

3) Privé Zipper Pouch by Izola
Izola's zipper pouches are 100% cotton and lined with PEVA to keep the contents dry and tidy. Use in the bathroom, for travel, or for your desk to keep all those pencils and pens organized.
retail value: $28

i have plenty of bags i use for traveling but i guess i did not have one that was plastic-y inside so that you can throw a wet swimsuit in there (Google tells me Privé means private). but $28 retail value?! 

4) Universal Travel Adapter by Kikkerland Design
Worldwide compatibility, more than 150 countries. Ultra compact for travel, folds flatter than any other adapter on the market.
retail value: $15

not something i need right now but maybe down the road when i travel to Australia again. or perhaps... Europe!

5) Well Kept Screen Towelettes
Each pack contains 15 pre-moistened towelettes, useful for cleaning a variety of electronics and lenses.
retail value: $13

i've never once been like, ya know what i could really use right now? a screen towelette! 

this month was my last Coco Rocha box. i thought i'd stick around until my birthday month and then decide... unfortunately, this was probably the most disappointing Coco Rocha box i've opened thus far. the items all revolved around a fun theme - traveling - but they were very lackluster.
Fancy boxes are all about sending you goods worth over $80. well this box just made it. the total of the retail value is $80 but that's nowhere near what i think it is worth. i'm thinking more like the $30 range.

i'm going to try my hand with Kelly Rowland next month. but just the one time! and it might be time to finally wash my hands of this.

FANCY BOX: January 2014 [Coco Rocha]

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

summer is upon us! finallllllly! 

here's a John Legend treat (from last week's concert) - mind you, the quality is not the best because i am realizing now that my iPhone 4 is really not up to par anymore... but it is John Legend nonetheless.

he spent the night making the audience swoon with his beautiful vocals in a very intimate setting - he pretty much played piano all night. it was different from other concerts i have gone to - less energy, but amazing!

quick post here about the January Fancy box - all this talk about catching up is really not working out for me, is it? i might need to look at another method here.... perhaps skip a few months again? yikes

bear with me here! i was all caught up with Game of Thrones and Orange is the New Black - both great endings. GoT - always always exciting scenes that make your jaw drop; OITNB - season 2 ending was soooooooo satisfying that i had to re-watch it. 

what shows are you currently into?

okok back to the Fancy box.

i love opening these because the beauty subscriptions are losing its appeal but these boxes are unpredictable. 

i received the January one on the 4th of February after it was shipped on January 31st. it is delivered by FedEx so they usually leave it on the front porch. the box is wayyy to big to fit into a regular mailbox anyhow. 

the order was charged to my CC on Jan 3rd for $56.00 USD which came up to be $61.20 CAD - AHHH! ok very pricey. the shipping kills me. 

shall we see if it was worth it?

1) The Cottage Industry : Morning Mug
retail value: $15 USD

i've seen many versions of these hot & cold temperature-changing cups and now i finally have one! the 'awake' face looks better from afar but up close you can see the eyelashes and circle remaining from the 'asleep' face.

the cup changes only up to the level where your hot liquid is poured up to - so sometimes i get a streak of black along the brim since i didn't fill mine to the top. it's also a smaller size than the average mug - it only holds up to 300 mL. 

still fun though.

2) Echo Design : Sparkle Fingerless Gloves in "Denim Heather"
retail value: $35 USD

here's an obvious reason why i should open boxes in the month they are intended for. haaaaaahaaaaaaaa. the sequins are cute but i never find a need for fingerless gloves - i live in Canada remember?

these ones go up past your wrists.

3) Fred : Deep Tea Diver
retail value: $12 USD

AAAAAAAAAH so cuuuuuute. what a marvelous idea to be able to reuse this for brewing loose teas (as opposed to tea strainers).
now all i need is to become a true tea drinker and buy some loose tea.

4) Lexon : Bag Light
retail value: $12 USD

i admit that i scoffed when i saw this product. i mean, REALLY? how outrageous must a bag be to require one to throw a light in and scour its depths?
but it was only two days later do i find myself struggling to find keys in the massive bag that contains my life.

so yes, perhaps useful. perhaps.
the clasp goes around a bag handle so it doesn't also get lost. there's a button on the other end and the LED is actually quite bright.

5) Paddywax : Library Collection : Travel Tin in "Henry David Thoreau"
retail value: $10 USD

this is a very adorable tin and i love the nerdiness of it - a Library collection featuring different authors?? so cool. though i have absolutely no clue who Henry David Thoreau is. the mix of cedar, moss and juniper makes me think of a clean-smelling man. maybe that was a significant trait of Henry Thoreau's?

total value: $84.00 USD - and i paid $56.00 USD? hmmmm i wouldn't say this box was really worth it overall. the item that stands out the most to me is the Deep Tea Driver - not because it's something i would definitely have used but because it is just so adorable. the whole box contained items that are neat - yes - but not absolutely practical.

FANCY BOX: December 2013 [Coco Rocha]

here is my very first - and much much delayed - Fancy box review :)

i decided to take the dive and get a new subscription box because well... it was December and you never know what extras or specials could be included.

and i'd been eyeing Fancy box for a very long time. i decided to go with Coco Rocha because her past boxes contained items that were most appealing to me. i also considered Jennifer Love Hewitt's and Kelly Rowland's boxes. i didn't go with JLove because she occasionally picked items related to cooking and i don't can't cook. Kelly Rowland's was tempting but i couldn't see myself using all of the items. 

plus there was a 30% off promo code so it pretty much sealed the deal.

the cost breakdown was:

Fancy Box       $39.00

Discount            (11.70)

Shipping             17.00            (booooo i know - Canada is really not that far)

Total            44.30 USD

so even with the discount, it's not the most affordable box out there. the Coco Rocha Fancy box description states that the boxes have more than a $80 value. so it's a gamble, like all other subscription boxes.

i placed my order on December 2, 2013 for the December box. since this order was placed before the 26th, it was shipped on December 30 (Fancy's cutoff date for the current box is the 26th). it arrived on my doorstep January 3, 2014.

the box is pretty huge! here is a picture to illustrate the size, as well as my current collection of unopened Fancy boxes:

the leaning tower of Fancy boxes

upon opening the Fancy box, i see some black tissue and then... some more tissue. these ones were 'inflated' (what's the term here?) to keep the things from moving around too much. on the VERY bottom of the box is where i found all of my items.

keep reading to find out more about my first Fancy box experience!
p.s. all retail values listed below are in USD.

you get these little cards for each item you get, along with some notes from Coco on the back:

1) Greeting Cards for All Occasions by Rifle Paper Co. - "Go Get 'Em Tiger"
Inspired by vintage playing cards and perfect for a friend or significant other.

this is quite a neat-looking card - it has a 'Papyrus' feel to it: a unique, well-made card that i can't ever bring myself to purchase. but i guess $5 isn't really that bad. except it is blank inside, so it's all on you to write something clever.

retail value: $5

2) Moleskine Ruled Notebook - "Brilliant Violet"
The Moleskine Mini Notebook has 56 acid-free pages (28 leaves) with rounded corners. It is so lightweight you'll forget about it - till you need it. Whether you're a veteran Moleskine aficionado or new to this fabulous world you can't pass up this new simplicity for thoughtful journaling.

i do often find myself looking for something to jot down some ideas or to make a quick list. opening the 'Notes' app on my iPhone can literally take too long.. my phone has way too many blogging photos on it so e v e r y t h i n g  i s  s u p e r  s l o w .
this is the perfect size to throw in a handbag. it even comes with a small pocket in the back for you to slip cards/receipts in.
now all i need is a mini pen to go with it.

retail value: $6

3) Quay Sunglasses - "Kitti / Tortoise Shell"
Specs:
Polycarbonate Frame
Polycarbonate Lens
100% UV protection

Dimensions:
Width: 14cm/5.5"
Height: 5cm/1.9"
Nose gap: 1-4cm/0.3-1.5"

these sunglasses aren't your typical cheap plastic sunglasses. staying true to the name of the model, these sunglasses are very cat-like. i am not quite sure how i feel about them - they may indeed be too fancy for me. but i can maaaaaaybe see myself busting these out on a summer road trip. maybe.

retail value: $40

4) Sovanna Earring by Senhoa 

Golden Shade Swarovski crystals, evoking the rich essence of luminous sunlight hitting the stirring streets of Siem Reap. Sovanna is a homage to the promises of the coming dawn.

okay seriously hands down - my favorite item in the box. and of course, the most expensive. these earrings alone exceed the "> $80" Fancy box value promise.

i thought these were absolutely beautiful the second i took them out of the velvet bag. but it was after reading the card about the company that really amazed me.

"Each Senhoa jewelry piece is individually handcrafted by a survivor of human trafficking or a young woman vulnerable to sexual exploitation."
if that is not one of the best reasons ever to buy jewelry, i don't know what is.

i love the color and shape of the golden Swarovski crystals. definitely gorgeous to wear to a fancy event with an updo or more subtly with my hair down.

retail value: $85

oooh the color is so purdyy

so i must say i love this box. the highlight and most valuable item were the earrings and they are very pretty indeed. the total value of this box was $136! that's quite amazing. the notebook is very cute and practical at the same time. the sunglasses and card may not be as impressive to me, but still very interesting and different. this was definitely a great first impression.

i must say that i am itching to open my next Fancy box. maybe it's because it's a change of pace from all the makeup bags which makes this so exciting! there's so many things that could possibly be inside!
i believe there is a t-shirt in my next box because i recall the Fancy team asking me to pick a size... guess we will just have to see!! must. breeze. through. January. boxes. stat!