You Win Some, You Lose Some

I was in a ‘treating myself’ kind of mood last week and had the brilliant idea to order myself a grown up gift box. I’ve been loving Jack’s monthly Citrus Lane gift boxes, so I thought that getting a box especially for me would be just the thing I needed to pull myself out of the winter sadness that everyone seems to get this time of year.

I googled around for some different subscription box options and ended up ordering the “Lovely” gift box from Indie Gift Box. The company works with independent artists and small businesses to send you a few different surprise items. I’m obsessed with etsy and pretty much want everything they show on their main page, so I thought this would be a good chance for me to try something new.

And I wanted to love it.

I really, really truly did. And I did love the CONCEPT of the box…. just not the actual box.

My “Lovely” box contained:

  • Three vinyl decals from threethirtysix (some small hearts, a rose and a small ‘you are loved’ heart.
  • A handmade Valentine’s Day card from issaino.
  • A bottle of citrus scented lotion from Blue Orchid Botanicals.
  • A pair of fabric button earrings from Puddingcups.
  • A postcard and silver-tone minimalist necklace from EEF LLC.

The box was $20.00 + $6.00 shipping. The value of the box was more than that, which is great. Unfortunately, I didn’t really like anything from the box.

Actually, that’s a lie. I did like the Valentine’s Day postcard. It is really cute and I’ll probably give it to my husband. Since my hubby is my only Valentine, I guess he’ll get the other card too. Or I can leave it on his dresser with a note to write something nice inside for me, but that sounds really super lame.

decal
Source: threethirtysix listing on etsy.com

I kind of like the “you are loved” vinyl decal, but I have no idea what I would use it for. On their website they show the decals used on laptop covers, but I’m thinking a “You are Loved” decal might be a bit inappropriate for my work laptop. Well, maybe not inappropriate. Just weird.

I love lotions and potions, but really do not like the citrus scent of the lotion from Blue Orchid Botanicals. That’s obviously a personal preference thing though, so I’ll probably throw it in a box of stuff that I grab from for giveaways in the hopes that someone else would enjoy it.

The fabric button earrings are absolutely NOT my style. Um, I actually kind of hate them. Which is so mean, I know. And I’m totally sorry if you’re the person who made these things. Maybe a small child might like them? Or a hipster? I don’t know. Maybe not. They’re pretty ugly. (Of course, I just went on their page to grab a picture for you guys and there is a comment from someone who loved her earrings. So maybe I’m just so terribly out-of-style that I don’t know cute when I see it? Here’s the link).

The necklace actually DOES look like something that I would wear, but in person it looks super cheap. There are other necklaces on the EEF website that I like a lot better than the one I was sent (especially the cute star), but that’s the beauty of surprise gift boxes… you DON’T pick out what you get.

So instead of this box being a super awesome gift to myself that I’m excited to share with you, it’s just kind of a disappointment.

I don’t have anything against the company, I’m sure that someone else who received my exact box might totally love everything included. Just not me. And I’m kind of kicking myself for wasting the $26.00, when all I’m going to use is the $2 postcard. Needless to say, I will not be ordering another Indie Gift Box for myself.

And before anyone points it out, I know I sound like a total sourpuss today. I’m actually in a totally fine mood. I was just shocked that I didn’t really like anything in this box. Maybe my standards were too high, but I really expected more. There are so many wonderful artists out there who are making reasonably priced crafts that I just thought there might be SOMETHING that I loved in this box.

Oh well, I tried.

I do still have high hopes for two other subscription boxes that will be delivered to my door this month: the January boxes from both Citrus Lane and Bluum. The Bluum box is a one-time tryout thing because I came across a 50% discount, so maybe it will be a surprise winner that is exploding with awesomeness.

So here’s your chance to chime in. Have you tried a subscription box service for you or your kids? They have boxes for EVERYTHING now – I saw some with everything you need to make a recipe, monthly craft kits for kids (that I’d totally do), makeup samples, and even sassy adult playthings!

Update: I used my “You are loved” and heart decals and I absolutely LOVE them now. Check it out!

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My Life is a TV Show

Do you ever feel like the people on TV are reflecting your life back at you?

I mean, of course we watch television shows that are relatable, but I watched two different shows on Monday night that mirrored my feelings right back at me. Totally weird, right?

First, I was watching How I Met Your Mother (as I’ve been known to do). Lily recently had a baby and has been struggling a bit with her transition into motherhood. In Monday’s episode, she confesses that she thinks she’s a bad mother because sometimes she just gets so overwhelmed with her responsibilities that she wants to just run away.

Then, about a half hour later on Bones, Angela says almost the exact same thing. She misses the old version of herself – the version who would walk through museums and enjoy the artwork. She’s not happy with who she currently is and isn’t quite sure how to change things.

I’m there.
So incredibly there.

This past weekend was HARD. All last week I was dealing with my own sickness, my husband’s cold and Jack’s hospital stay with bronchiolitis and RSV. Oh yeah, and working on top of that. All I wanted for the weekend was to curl up on the couch with a book for an hour or so. Just an hour would have been fine.

Of course, this didn’t happen. Jack decided that naps were for chumps and Travis had planned a full weekend working in the garage with a friend. Leaving me to be Supermom for another two days.

I was done. DONE.

I was frustrated and angry and just all around DONE with the situation. At one point, I wanted to walk out into the garage, hand Jack to my husband, and get in my truck and leave.

I don’t know where I would have gone, but it would have been somewhere where I only had to worry about myself. I didn’t though. Instead I unleashed my fury on Travis when he came inside. Which apparently worked, because he then took me out to dinner and gave me a massage.

I’m feeling better this week. Everyone is almost totally healthy again (knock on wood), which brings my stress level down a half-turn. I also booked a beach vacation for March, which gives me some relaxation to look forward to. Will this cure me forever? Um, probably not. Motherhood is HARD FREAKING WORK and sometimes you need a break.

It’s nice to see them dealing with the same issues on my favorite TV shows though.

It makes me feel like a little less of a failure. Because when I take a step back and look at it with clear eyes, I know I’m not a failure. I’m actually a pretty awesome mom. But I’m also Joules, a person other than a mom. Sometimes I just need to remember that.

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Happy Friday Squirrel-Burglars!

Yup, Squirrel-Burglars. It’s a thing now.

Speaking of random crap I make up to make myself laugh, did you know you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter? Yup, that’s right and I totally just passed 300 “likes” on my Pocketful of Joules Facebook page, so I’m obviously a rock star.

On that note, I’m counting down the MINUTES until this weekend starts for two reasons:

#1. Tonight is date night and I have a sassy pair of leopard print heels that I think my husband is going to drool over.

#2. I’m so freaking excited to sleep in tomorrow. It’s like when you’re looking forward to a special homecoming dance or something as a high schooler, but in my case I just really want to put on my pj pants and bury myself in a mountain of covers.

How about you, what are your weekend plans?

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