Tag: BOOMbox

The latest quarterly round of the Espionage Cosmetics BOOM!Box has arrived!  The theme this round is, “The Perfect Storm,” so I had an idea of what might be involved here, but as always, was surprised and pleased to see what showed up in the box!  This time around, we have a sheet that explains all the products in the box that also doubles as our art print on the other side which is exactly what’s printed on the mousepad as well.

• Weather Witch Nail Wraps – These great wraps have glitter and glow in the dark content, so they’re extra bonus awesome!  Could this be a subtle nod to everyone’s favorite weather witch, Storm from the X-Men?  They fit perfectly with the theme.
• Electrostatic Spark Nail Wraps – Glossy and glow in the dark on these wraps which feature a perfect storm of lightning strikes.  These are so fun and will be a great last-gasp-of-summer manicure.

• Cyclone Bookmark – This heavy brass bookmark features a domed medallion with a tornado inside.  It’s a really substantial piece and will go great to mark my place in any book albeit I feel like I may have to re-read  The Tempest just because.
• Lucky 13 Lacquer Quick Dry Top Coat – This is SUCH a smart idea to add into this box!  The top coat by Lucky 13 Lacquer is honestly the quickest drying top coat I’ve ever used and it works incredibly well with the nail wraps (yes, I had to try it out right away!).  The brush is nice and wide, so it can cover a whole nail in pretty much one pass, and it dries to a thick, glossy finish that protects your nail wraps without shrinking or curling the edges.  It’s also 4-free.

• Mouse Pad – This elemental beauty is a creation of Suzanne Van Pelt and is printed on a mouse pad.  She looks as if she’s getting ready to hurl a fire-ball, standing in front of a stormy background.  This gal fits in perfectly with the theme, and it’s neat to see a mouse pad in this box!
• Product Sheet – The back of this is the same image as the mousepad, but what a way to double task and use less paper!  The design of the product sheet is pretty great, so I couldn’t help but include it here too.
• The Three Wise Cats Incense  – This scent was created just for this box by  The Three Wise Cats  and is a really pleasant scent that’s reminiscent of the way the air smells after a storm.  It’s fresh and clean and not at all like traditional hippie patchouli incense.  It smells SO good that I have half a mind to keep the bag by me here at the computer while I work since whenever I walk into the room, it smells so nice.

It’s always hard to put a value on these boxes, but the nail wraps alone are worth $20, and the box costs $36.25 including shipping, so the value definitely exceeds the cost.  The value of the exclusive items that are only available with this box though make this pretty priceless!  They always fit the theme into every product selected for the box and I’ve never yet been disappointed.  The theme for November’s box has already been announced, and it’s, “Frozen,” which, YES!  Perfect timing for that theme, and it’ll be interesting to see what they pull out of the nerdiverse to deliver on theme.

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Oh hey, it’s May, that means another edition of the Espionage Cosmetics BOOM!Box has arrived!  I completely forgot this was a May thing, so when I saw the box on my doorstep this morning, I was pleasantly surprised.  This month’s theme was, “Battle of the Badlands,” and was teased as featuring items from our favorite dystopias.  The theme was right up my zombie-loving alley, and may be one of my favorite boxes so far!

• Drylands Map – SO much awesome in one little map.  This came rolled up in a tube, but flattened out pretty easily.  Both sides are printed  with the back being a plain surface that looks like a distressed parchment paper.  It was designed by Jessica Freaxx who did an AMAZING job.  The map design is a collection of cities from all kinds of different dystopias from WALL-E to The 100, Shaun of the Dead, and even Zombieland to name a few.
• You’ve Got Red on You T-Shirt – Created as a collaboration with Jordandené, this t-shirt has that classic phrase from Shaun of the Dead.  This is one of my most favorite movies ever, so I’m absolutely IN LOVE with this shirt.  The fabric is a super soft cotton, and I’m beyond over the moon for this.  I have .. plans .. for a better photo shoot for this shirt that I couldn’t quite accomplish today, so I’ll probably post that at a later date.  [insert evil cackle here]

• Heda Necklace – Made of two layers of faux leather on a ball chain necklace, this necklace is amazing.  I am a huge fan of  The 100 so this is perrrrfect.  The black faux leather top layer is imprinted with “Jus drein jus daun,” and lays over a brown faux leather layer to make the Trikru symbol.  The back of the card lets you know that the chain was left extra long, but you can easily snap off the excess length to shorten it to your liking.

• Twinkie – It’s a Twinkie!  Definitely a reference to  Zombieland, this addition to the box gave me a good laugh.  The unsinkable Twinkie also made an appearance in WALL-E, and just like in  the movies, I’m pretty sure Twinkies will outlast us all (although this one may not last a week).  Such a great reference to two excellent movies!
• Wasteland Wanderer Nail Wraps – These glossy nail wraps are a reference to the  Fallout video game, specifically to Vault Boy’s outfit.  I can’t say I’ve ever played the game myself, but I’m familiar enough with the franchise to have picked this out right away.

• Dead Inside Nail Wraps – OHBOY OHBOY.  ZOMBIES.  This is just such a neat take on  The Walking Dead and I’m going to need eleventy more of these.  The nail wraps have a glossy finish with silver foil accents that make it look like you’re watching for zombies behind the (apparent) safety of a fence.  There’s even a glow in the dark accent! (Click here to see)
• Borderlands The Pre-Sequel Nail Wraps – This is another video game franchise I haven’t yet dipped my toe into, but I keep seeing references to the game everywhere, so it might be time!  These are glossy nail wraps in super bright colors, and even if I don’t know much about the game, they sure are pretty.

Values are always hard to assign with this box since most things are custom-made just for this box.  I know that the Jordandené shirt retails for $30, and the three nail wraps would be $10 each which makes for a  running total of $60, so we’re already way over the cost of the box which is $30 per month plus shipping, making  the cost $36.25 in total.  I can’t get over that t-shirt though!  I have a bunch of other  Shaun of the Dead themed tees, but this one is so perfect and so different from the others.  And, that necklace!  I’m definitely wearing that out this weekend.  So yeah, yet another box that completely knocked it out of the park for me!  Next cycle’s theme arriving in August has already been announced and is, “The Perfect Storm,” which, YES PLEASE.

IT’S HERE!  Holy crap, it’s here.  The theme for this BOOM!Box cycle was, “Automaton,” and featured all sorts of robot goodness.  I think this was originally meant to ship in February, but there was a delay which was well communicated and WELL worth the wait.  On first opening the box, I was greeted with an insert about the new makeup palettes which should be releasing for pre-order soon.  Under that was a little card about entering to win a free BOOM!Box with posts on social media using the hashtags #ecboombox and #post4boom.  There was also a little rolled up scroll with a note from Marissa Meyer who collaborated on this box.

Just underneath that was something new!  A silver envelope that contained product cards for everything in the box, information on Nexus and Nexus OP, as well as a reminder to check your email for the sale code for the box.  I really love this level-up on the product card.  Having separate pages for each item may use more paper, but it also gives us more information about each product which is nice.

Also inside the envelope were three stickers featuring still more automaton goodness.  There’s nods to the Iron Giant  and Terminator, and even a special Espionage Cosmetics robot sticker.  I have to admit that the Skynet FREE WIFI sticker is making me laugh – I’m going to have to stick that to my laptop.

Next up was the Wires and Nerve makeup bag featuring artwork from the new graphic novel by Marissa Meyer, Wires and Nerve Vol. 1.  The bag has some really beautiful artwork on both the front and the back and is lined with a bright orange fabric.  The outer fabric is a heavy canvas while the inside is a slightly lighter nylon, and it has padding between the inner and outer layers.  The fabric choice and padding make this a really stand-out item.  It’s not a cheap cotton bag, it’s a seriously heavy-duty, thick bag and will undoubtedly work great to protect items inside the bag.

The nail wraps this month are GORGEOUS!  We also have  some new nail wrap packaging which I absolutely adore.  On the left is, “We’re Doomed,” which is a little nod to C3PO with a quote from Return of the Jedi.  Gold and silver foil accent these glossy nail wraps around a design of exposed wires.  On the right, we have, “U-87,” which is definitely Battlestar Galactica themed.  This is another glossy nail wrap with silver foil accents and one bright red glitter accent wrap.  We also got a brand new nail file – it’s shorter and  thicker than the old cardboard ones, but I like the way it looks, and it feels more substantial with the foam core between the two sides.

WOW.  This is the A-Maze-Ing Lantern made by Geekify, Inc.  The lantern came flat-packed in a burlap bag as six pieces.  A little bit of glue and foot-tapping later, my lantern was ready to go!  Two sides have a maze design, one side has the quote, “These violent delights have violent ends,” and there’s a solid back, bottom, and top.  Obviously, if you’re using a tea light candle, you have to remove the top while lit.  The quote is more recently recognized as being from Westworld, but has its origins in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.  When lit, the lantern casts pretty shadows on the wall from the maze design, and I suppose you could even turn the quote side around so it can be read when illuminated on a wall instead of read while glowing through the lantern.  It’s made of laser cut wood and painted brown, and is really a lovely, unique piece.

Our artwork this month comes from Jen Taylor and features Roxie the Robot, a retro glam automaton, self-aware, and done taking orders!  The colors on this print are just perfect, and she’s such a lovely, badass girlbot.

I’m not sure I could even begin to come up with a value for this month, but even just with the nail wraps being $10 each, the cost of $30 per month is nearly covered, and we haven’t even gotten to the value of the lantern, makeup bag, or print yet!  Yet again, they nailed the theme in every single item, and I’m consistently wowed by how well they work a theme in each delivery.  In case you’re thinking about subscribing and want to send me some love, hit up my  referral link!

December’s Espionage Cosmetic’s BOOM!Box is here!  The theme this month was, “Candyland,” so the box is filled with all sorts of candy-themed goodies from a peppermint print scarf to sweet lip balm, a bath bomb, and even a fancy chocolate in addition to the nail wraps and art print, all courtesy of Princess Sparkle Hooves.  This month may make it into my top 3 favorite BOOM!Boxes so far, it’s just that good, and the theme is carried out so perfectly.  Plus, who doesn’t love a box full of candy-themed goodies?!

The nail wraps are up first!  On the left is, “Moar Dots!”  These have a pretty neat pearl finish (I think that’s a brand new thing for EC!) and are reminiscent of those candy buttons that come on a paper strip.  On the right is, “Oishii Treats,” which are pretty pastel nail wraps covered in all kinds of goodies.  Both wraps fit the theme perfectly and will be fun to wear.

Next up, from  Apothecary Noir come Frost Bitten Remedies, two lip balms in delectable flavors.  One is Chocolate Orange flavored and the other is Cotton Candy and both smell positively amazing.  I’m a total lip balm junkie, so these are going straight into my bag for a sweet treat for my lips this winter.

Another item from  Apothecary Noir  is this Jawbreakin’ Bath Bomb in, “Sweet Berry,” which is a sugary sweet, berry scented bath bomb.  It’s just too perfect, wrapped in cellophane and colored to look like a Jawbreaker, another completely on point item.  Our room for an upcoming vacation comes with one of those big, fancy jacuzzi tubs, so I get to use this in just a few weeks!

I received the green apple version of the ginger bread man chocolate truffle from The Truffle Cottage.  WOW is it amazing!  The outer shell is filled with a  sugary sweet green-apple flavored creamy filling (you know I had to try it.. for science), and  it is so, so good.  The company also makes all kinds of nerdy chocolates, so I have to keep them on my radar for future gift giving.

A BOOM!Box exclusive in this box is the, “Simply Mint to Be Scarf,” in a fun peppermint candy print.  I’m already dreaming up uses for this since I happen to have dyed the ends of my hair red and this will match perfectly.  The scarf is 28″ across and is square, so it’ll make a great headband if I fold it over a few times, or I can use it around my neck for a pop of color with a plain top.  I know I’ll get tons of use out of this!

And last (but not least!), this lovely print by Miss Mandible Designs.  I believe that’s Queen  Frostine from the Candyland game with her snowflake sceptre, standing in front of ice cream cones with peppermints in the corners, as if she’s taking a peaceful walk through her candy kingdom.  It’s a beautiful print, and I know I say it every month, but I do need to get my tush in gear and get frames for all these great prints!

It’s definitely a great value for the cost which is $30 per month.  The two nail wraps put us at $20 already, and  that’s not even half of the box’s contents, so the value far exceeds the cost.  The best part of this box, to me, is how perfectly the items line up with the theme – every last detail is just right every time, and I honestly love everything in every box.  This one may be the sweetest box yet!  (sorrynotsorry, it had to be done!)  In case you’re thinking about subscribing and want to send me some love, hit up my  referral link!

October’s Espionage Cosmetics BOOM!Box has arrived!  It’s right on time and is full of goodies related to this month’s theme, “Haunted,” from spooky nail wraps to a nightmarish print and sparkly bats and even mysterious gems for your ears.  It’s yet another amazing box and perfect with Halloween coming up this month!

Let’s start with the two nail wraps!  On the left is Graveyard with a nod to Thriller in the subtitle.  In my head, I could actually hear Vincent Price reading that line (also hey, earworm!).  These are glossy nail wraps showing a graveyard scene against a dusky sky with glow in the dark ghosts swirling around the wraps.  On the right is REDRUM, with a glossy print of the carpet from The Shining, and  REDRUM scrawled on the wraps in glow in the dark ink.  It’s so hard to pick a favorite between the two, but I know I’m going to be wearing one or the other this month for sure.

This was a big surprise this month!  Two full serums, two everything shadows and two mixing pots to go wild creating custom lip colors.  Everyone got something a little different according to the product card.  I received the serums in Soulless and Fatality and shadows in Shiny and Headshot.  I’ll have to give these a try with the mixing pots to see what I come up with!

Two super fun items that fit the theme and round out the box.  On the left is a set of bejeweled bat clips, Glittering Acro-Bats.  There’s a card included that says they’re more than just hair clips and can be used to add a bit of bling to your handbag, as a necklace, on shoes, or anywhere else they can clip to.  On the right are a set of earrings from Sparks Emporium.  They’re red with an iridescent blue sparkly glow.  Included along with the earrings is a 15% off coupon for any purchase from Sparks Emporium which is a nice bonus!

And finally, a print from Nerdy Post that reads, “Sometimes Nightmares are Real.”  This is gorgeous between the lettering and lacy design around the edges and I just love it.  It’s a departure from the character sort of artwork we’ve had in previous boxes, but it fits in SO well with the theme, plus it’s fun to get something completely different!  I guess I really need to get on that whole finding frames thing, huh?!

As far as value goes, it’s definitely above and beyond the cost which is  between $25 and $30 depending on the length of the subscription.  Just with the serums and shadows alone, we’re already at $33, so then add in everything else and the value is way above the cost!  This is another big hit, and honestly, those two nail wraps are AMAZING.  Have I mentioned how incredibly bright the glow in the dark magic on the nail wraps is?  Because it glows for hours after exposure, so much so that sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and startle a little seeing something glowing on my hands (and then remember it’s my kickass nail wraps and laugh at myself).  I’m so thrilled with this box and cannot wait for the next one already!  In case you’re thinking about subscribing and want to send me some love, hit up my  referral link!

Another Espionage Cosmetics BOOM!Box has arrived!  This one showed up on my front steps on Friday the 12th which was just a hair behind schedule, but we were given an email update alerting us to the ever so slight delay.  It’s still the first half of the month, so it’s not a big deal to me, but I definitely appreciate the communication!  This month’s theme was Retro Gaming, so of course I expected a little Zelda, some 8 bit joy, but as usual, had no idea how they’d incorporate that into the products in the box.  I’m yet again astounded by how well everything fits into the theme and how fun this box is!  I feel like I’m a kid again.

Three eyeshadows were included this month, all with fun names and colors that fit the theme.  On the left is an Everything Shadow in “1up,” and it’s a perfect shimmery green.  On the right  are two brand new items to the Espionage Cosmetics line, pressed powders in “Console,” the blue, and “Pixel,” the pink.  The two even  blend together to make a stunning purple color and there are tutorial cards included, courtesy of @thepryncess.  Having the tutorial cards is HUGE for me since I’m really not all that great  with makeup, and seeing new ways to use these shadows is a big help.

Up next are TWO new nail wraps this month.  On the left is “8-Bit Hearts,” which, if you’ve ever played Legend of Zelda or really any 8 bit game with a heart health meter, you’ll recognize these right away.  On the right is “Power Up” with a nod to the Konami Code, featuring a glittery scatter of 8 bit doodads from games (Rupees from Legend of Zelda!).  I absolutely love both of these and cannot wait to wear them.

Hooboy does this bring back memories!  It’s a notepad with floppy disks for the covers.  It’s completely brilliant, and I got a good laugh out of the use of the America Online for Windows 3.0 disk.  I honestly love having notepads like this to carry around to jot a quick note.  I’m probably faster at grabbing a notepad and pen than finding that app on my phone to take notes (weird, especially for a computer/tech nerd like myself), so I will definitely be carrying this around with me!

On the left are three stickers and dude, OREGON TRAIL!  That one I didn’t expect to see in this box (Retro Gaming, so DUH, of course Oregon Trail), but I’m SO PSYCHED to have that sticker.  It may have to go on my car right away.  On the right is a beautiful print by Fox Smith.  It’s in the style of traditional Japanese prints, but that’s definitely our beloved Mario riding Yoshi, attacking a koopa paratroopa.  It’s such a fun new take on a classic we all know and love.  I’ve got a spot in the guest room (also known as the Lady Lair) picked out for this and the other two prints from previous boxes once I decide on frames.  (Note to self, go find frames!)

WOW.  Just.. wow.  This necklace is a gold Triforce from GeekStar Costuming.  It’s acrylic with a mirrored back and it could not be any more perfect!  In case you missed it, I’m a beekeeper, and while the husband and I were trying to come up with names for our hives, the one that stuck instantly?  Hive Hyrule with Queen Zelda.  This is what happens when the power of two nerds combines to name beehives.  So yeah, I love this A LOT A LOT, and you can be sure I’ll be wearing it all week to show off my nerd pride.  Also included in the box was a discount code for 20% off a future purchase with GeekStar Costuming.

As far as value goes, it’s definitely above and beyond the cost which is  between $25 and $30 depending on the length of the subscription.  The sentimental value of seeing childhood  favorites reborn into nail wraps, makeup, stickers, notepads, and jewelery?  PRICELESS.  Every box so far has been a wild hit and I find myself eagerly awaiting the next shipment because I just know they’re going to knock it out of the park every time.  It’s like I’ve finally found my people and they get me, they really get me.  I just cannot possibly say enough good things about this box.  In case you’re thinking about subscribing and want to send me some love, hit up my  referral link!

This one arrived last week, but in the craziness that was husband’s last week home before heading out to sea for something like 4 months, it  waited patiently for its day in front of the lens!  BEHOLD the glory of the June BOOM!Box from Espionage Cosmetics!  This month’s theme was, “Naturally Awesome.”  Now I had to wonder what sort of things they’d fit into the theme.. Dinosaurs?  Carnivorous plants?  I’m pleased to say I was right on both accounts and was then was surprised by a few extra additions I hadn’t even considered!  On to the contents..

On the left is a candle from Boonzy Arts in honor of that famous man-eating plant.  The candle is a wicked green color, made from soy wax, and smells like fresh cut grass with just a wee twist of citrus.  It’s a lovely scent and just what I’d imagine to work perfectly with the theme.  They also included a card for 10% off a future purchase.  I KNOW I’m going to use that since I see a bunch of candles that would make great gifts.

On the right is a set of Treestar Hair Pins.  This is a fantastic way to include the dinosaur bit of the theme by a reference to  Land Before Time, a movie I know and love from my childhood.  In fact, I  live near a school district called the Great Valley School District, not on purpose though, honest!   A friend, whenever she comes to visit and we drive by the school, shouts out, “IT’S THE GREAT VALLEYYYYY!”  Endless source of amusement.  Back to the pins!  I have long curly hair and use pins like this ALL the time, so these are going straight into regular rotation for hair-wrangling purposes.

Next up are TWO nail wraps this month.  I honestly can’t pick a favorite – they’re both SO neat and perfect for the theme.  The left is the Turquoise nail wrap with silver and gold foil accents.  One half of the nail wrap set has silver foil and the other half has gold foil.  I’m torn between making one hand gold and one silver, or  mixing them together on both hands.  They’re just stunningly lovely.  The right nail wrap  is Pretty Poison and features foil accents on the leaves and a clear background with  poison ivy vines and a venus fly trap design.  Carnivorous plants are probably one of nature’s neatest creations, and I absolutely cannot wait to wear these.  Also included, as usual, is a EC branded nail file.

No box themed, “Naturally Awesome,” would be complete without a nod to CAPTAIN PLANET!  Oh man, this box is hitting all the nostalgia for me.  They included a sweet set of double-sided colored pencils and three coloring pages.  The pages are the Espionage Cosmetics Crest, a cute woodlands fairy scene, and that sweet Captain Planet logo that’s been Espionage-Cosmeticized.  All the coloring pages were designed by the ever talented Sam Skyler.  I really should work on one today since it’s a dreary rainy day and I could use a little coloring-therapy.

WHOA!  Okay, so this is really neat.  It’s a contouring set featuring three pigments.  There are two highlighters: Cryosphere is a cool toned highlighter and Thermosphere is a warm toned highlighter.  Terrafirma completes the set as the darker color to create depth.  Now, I’ll admit that I’ve never done any sort of contouring before, so this is all new to me, but thankfully there’s a fantastic tutorial in the package with the pigments that gives you an idea of how they work, what to highlight and what to darken and how it all comes together for a final look.  I haven’t yet had a chance to try these, but I’m amped to see how it works out!  This is a BOOM!Box debut exclusive, so subscribers get to try this set first before they’re released on the website.

I can’t even begin to calculate a value, but with just the two nail wraps and the contouring set, we’re already well over the cost of the box which is between $25 and $30 depending on the length of the subscription.  The box this month was SO full of fun things and well exceeded what I expected with the subtle nods to my childhood – clearly, these are my people, and they are awesome, naturally!  In case you’re thinking about subscribing and want to send me some love, hit up my  referral link!