Tag: ecboombox

I don’t even know what to say.  I thought hey, that first official BOOM!Box was incredible, there’s just no way to top that.  I WAS WRONG.  First off, I’m not Jane Austen’s biggest fan, so when they announced the theme was, “Most Ardently,” featuring a Jane Austen theme, I was pretty much indifferent.  I’ve read her books, seen some movies, it’s good stuff, but I’m a horror and dystopian fiction sort of gal.  Needless to say, when I opened this box and saw Zombie Jane Austen, I was BLOWN AWAY.  I didn’t even know this was a thing (hello, welcome to the rock I live under, it’s cozy here), but HOW PERFECT?!  I’m amazed at how well they work a theme out across so many  different products.

• Attic Journals Notepad – $7 –  As the product card states, the front and back covers are taken from a Jane Austen inspired deck of bridge cards.  I love little notebooks like this to keep stashed in my bag for taking on-the-spot genealogy notes when I don’t happen to have my tablet, so this is super handy and will fit perfectly in the front pocket of my everyday bag.  Attic Journals Link
• Geeky Hostess Darcy’s Delight Tea – .6 oz / $10 – TEA!  I received the flavor, Darcy’s Delight, which is a blend of Oolong, orange peel, osmanthus, and green sparkling sugar.  Of course I brewed a cup right away.  It’s a great black tea with hints of orange and sweetness which may be the perfect tea for a snowy day.  Geeky Hostess Link
• Optimystical Pendant – $25  – Normally something like this wouldn’t fall into my style range, but I actually really dig this and can’t wait for an opportunity to wear it!  The chain is gold tone with a gold fountain pen tip charm and a wee corked glass bottle  that contains a bit of moss, a teensy scroll containing a page of Pride & Prejudice, and a glittery glass pebble.  It’s basically the perfect Jane Austen necklace ever.  Optimystical Studios Link
• Kiru Pin – $2 – Okay, I’m not a big fan of pink and flowery things, but I like the quote, “Know Your Own Happiness.”  It’s another pin to add to the knitting bag, so I’ll take it!  Kiru Link
• Mystery Nail Wrap  – $10 – I was super thrilled to open the package and see an old favorite, Unicorn Blood (non glitter) inside.  Perfect!
• Gothique Lace Nail Wrap – $10 – DUDE.  Where has this been all my life?  A beautiful lace design with skulls grinning through, and it glows in the dark.  I’m super happy that I got these and not the Most Ardently nail wraps I’ve seen other people post because skulls and lace are totally my jam – pink and flowers not so much.  As usual, there’s a nail file included.
• Glitter & Shadow Duo – $15? – The colors included are Sensibility, a golden cosmetic glitter, and Tea & Crumpets, a chocolate sparkly eye shadow.  I’m still trying to embrace the glitter (lash glue tends to really irritate my eyes, so I’m not sure how else to use this), but the lovely brown shadow is absolutely spot on perfect for me.  It’s not so sparkly that it can’t be used every day which is great!
• Sam Skyler Art Print and Bookmark – ??? – GLORIOUS.  Sam Skyler knocks it out of the park again with a beautiful print done again using Espionage Cosmetics products.  I really need to find proper frames and get this print and the one from the last box up on the wall somewhere because I love her style.  The bonus bookmark is printed on some lovely pearlescent paper, and I know I’m going to put that to use right away with the next item.  Sam Skyler Art Link
• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Book – 1 book / $14.95 – This is the item that  really set up the whole box.  When I grabbed the box out of the mailbox, I wondered why it was so heavy, and this is why!  A paperback copy of Pride  & Prejudice & Zombies courtesy of Quirk Books to go along perfectly with the release of the movie this month.  I’ll dig into this probably next week, although I’d have preferred a coupon for a digital copy rather than a physical paperback book.  The majority of my reading happens on a tablet or phone lately, but the idea of sitting down with the tea from above and this book on a chilly day is rather appealing.

Overall value this month is probably somewhere around or above $100 which is incredible!  The box costs between $25 and $30 per month depending on subscription length, and I’m happy to say that this is quickly becoming my favorite box of the three boxes I subscribe to.  Espionage Cosmetics has wowed me with both boxes so far, and I’m really digging the variety and the fact that they’re introducing us to new artists and products.  In case you’re thinking about subscribing and want to send me some love, hit up my  referral link!

(Edited 18 Feb 2016 to add missing product values)

Welcome to Espionage Cosmetics’ BOOM!Box, first of its name.  Earlier this year, they had a Kickstarter campaign and the rewards included beta testing for their new subscription box.  I originally had one month of beta testing but expanded to three additional months towards the end of summer (Check out the older posts under the Espionage Costmetics tag).  The beta testing boxes were mostly nail wraps, four per month, so I wasn’t sure what to expect for the first official EC BOOM Box, but I know they have a habit of going above and beyond, so I was hoping for something epic.  EPIC was definitely what they delivered here!  I couldn’t  even begin to expect that they’d add in items from other vendors, but am super pleased with the selection of products that go from glitter to art prints, nail wraps to perfume.  Below is the run down of the contents, but Espionage Cosmetics?  You rocked my world this month.

• Wyvern Scales Nail Wrap – 1 wrap / $10 – A take on their popular Mermaid Scales line in green and glitter to match the limited edition Bombsheller leggings released this winter!  The Mermaid Scales design was already a favorite, so this is a fun color to have in addition to the blue and orange.  Plus, this nail wrap set the theme for the whole box.  Also included with the wrap is a nail file because you can never have too many.
• Cosmetic Glitter in E.L.F.S. – 1 pot / $7.50 – ALL the holiday colors in one crazy pot of red, green, and gold glitter.  I’ve already seen this used on a nail polish base and LOVED how that looked, so I may have to try that sometime soon!
• Wyvern Headband w/ Self Rescuing Princess Pin – 1 set / $25 – HOW AWESOME IS THIS?!  Again on the Wyvern Scales theme, this is the same fabric used in the Bombsheller leggings, but made into a headband (I have SO MUCH HAIR so this is perfect!) and adorned with a Self Rescuing Princess pin.  The pin is probably going to go hang out on my knitting bag and the headband will be put to use right away.  The button is by Kiru and the headband was sewn up by the geniuses at the EC HQ.
• Wyvern Scale Pendant – 1 pendant / $15 – The pendant, from Optimystical Studios, reads, “Never laugh at live dragons, you fool.”  The background is the same Wyvern Scale pattern as the nail wraps and the quote is from The Hobbit.  Cute geeky pendant and a fun way to extend the theme into something beyond the nail wrap.
• Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab Imp’s Ear – 1 vial / $4 – I received the Edith Cushing scent which is  described as, “pearlescent vanilla musk with white sandalwood, grey amber, white patchouli, ambrette seed, and oudh.”  It’s a really wonderful earthy, musky scent which suits me perfectly.  Sandalwood is probably my favorite scent of all time, and I couldn’t quite pick it out of the blend at first because the scents all work together as a unique entity.  Edith Cushing is a character from the Crimson Peak movie, and while I didn’t get a chance to see the movie yet, it’s on my to-watch list should I get the chance!  Oh and BPAL is already on my list of favorite companies, so I was happy to see them involved in this box too.
• Sam Skyler Artwork & Coloring Page –  ??? – A, “We Are Not Things,” print of Furiosa from Mad Max Fury Road and coloring page both of which are awesome.  What’s more awesome is that Sam Skyler created the painting of Furiosa using a sharpie and Espionage Cosmetics products.  Brilliant!  I need to find a nice frame and appropriate spot on the wall for the print since I LOVED the movie.
• Cupcake Bath Bomb – 1 bath bomb / $7 – In the scent, “Peppermint Forest,” this bomb is 1/2 bath bomb and 1/2 sugar scrub.  I’m not a big bath person since we have a teeny tiny tub and it’s just not good for taking baths.  I’m going to save this for a future vacation that includes a big  jacuzzi tub since that’s the only way to do it justice.  Peppermint isn’t my favorite scent either, but this one isn’t overwhelmingly candy-cane scented, more sugary than anything else, so I’ll have to report back once I’ve had a chance to try it.  Oddly, this item wasn’t listed on the product card, but it’s a great inclusion in the box!

Overall value is somewhere around $90 if I count the print and coloring page as a $20 value.  Considering the box costs between $25 and $30 depending on the subscription length, that’s a HUGE value!  On top of the box, there are all kinds of coupon codes and offers plus possible “Golden Tickets” in random boxes worth $10-75 in shop credit.  You really can’t go wrong with this box – so much thought and time went into the whole thing and I’m positively blown away.  If you’re interested in signing up for February’s box, do it now!  And if you want to give a little love back to me, use my referral link   🙂