PopSugar Must Have Unboxing and Review part 1

I bought two boxes from POPSUGAR Must Have this month.  The first one to arrive was their Summer Special Edition box, and then a week later the monthly box for June also arrived (which I'll cover on Thursday).  I was super excited for these boxes because the many in the past were AMAZING, but also a little nervous because of the price tag and the fact that the last monthly and special edition boxes fell flat.

How did these measure up?  Let's get on with the unboxing and review of the Summer 2015 box!

The first thing I pulled out of the box was Savannah Bee Company's "Honey for Cheese" and a mini honey dipper, retailing at $7.50 according to the information card PopSugar sent along (which, btw, I love, big props to them for that!)

I enjoy honey and I LOVE cheese so this is certainly intriguing and I'm excited to try it, plus it gives me an excuse to buy some Roquefort and/or Manchego as those are the suggested cheeses for pairing.

With that being said, I do usually only buy local honey because it helps with seasonal allergies and of course is better for the environment.  This company does seem responsible, though and they do not pasteurize their honey, which keeps the amino acids intact. 

If I wasn't so excited to try this for myself, it would make a fun re-gift.  In fact I've been looking at some of their other products as possible gifts for hard-to-buy-for Dad.  Shhhhh, don't tell!

Next was Omorovicza's "Gold Shimmer Oil," retailing at $80 for 3.4oz/100ml.

I loved the idea but the scent was too strong and the shimmer was barely noticeable.  The oil was soft and luxurious though.  While the brand hails from Hungary, it's sold at Sephora and Neiman Marcus so my plan is to see if I can get an exchange for something else.  If not, it will make a beautiful gift for some lucky woman!

Next came the "Ainsley Cuff Bracelet" from Kendra Scott, which retails for $120!  For some reason it photographs better than it looks in person, in my opinion.  I like gold but it's just too.......something.  I was worried when I opened it because it was huge on my wrist but it was easy to adjust without deforming the shape at all.  This will be another regift for a soone-to-be spoiled friend of mine unless I can return it to Nordstrom.

The "Love Anchors The Soul" tray from Fringe Studio is a little blah to me, especially for it's retail value of $16.  It's small (about 4x6 inches) and while photos portray it as being written in gold lettering with a gold border, it's not that way at all.  I was also disappointed to see it because spoiler pictures showed the tray as a cute view of the Eiffel Tower, and even though I am annoyed at how the Eiffel Tower seems to be the only European symbol every placed on anything romantic, I actually liked the picture.  In fact, the Barnes And Noble website has several of the Fringe Studio trays that I liked a lot more than this one.  *sigh*

This is definitely being regifted, maybe with a fancy soap or candies on top?

The Baggu "Weekend Bag in Sailor Stripe" on the other hand, was better than the spoiler pictures suggested.  Retailing at $74, this bag is strong and heavy with a definite nautical feel.  I don't worry at all about it falling apart with regular use.  It's large enough to carry our large beach towels and other poolside necessities, which is perfect because the day this box arrived we went to the apartment pool and it was a pain to carry all of our stuff!

I would never pay this much for a tote bag so it was fun to get it in my box.

The final item in my box was a pair of "Beach Paddles in Bronte" from Sunnylife, which retail for $26.  I had never heard of this game, which is basically badminton without the net, so at first I was disappointed in what I thought was a stupid thing to put in the box.  However, after talking to Jamie and looking it up online, I changed my mind.  This would make a great backyard game for summer cookouts, or for hanging at the park or beach.  I'll keep these to see if Jamie and I enjoy it.

The overall value of the box was $323.50 and it cost $100.  If it wasn't for the regift-ability of most of the items I would say it wasn't worth it, since I only really liked the honey and the bag (which I would never pay for).  But I like the range of gift opportunities for people who are typically difficult to buy for and the fact that they are high value gifts that look like you put a lot of thought into them.

To be fair, I think part of my dissatisfaction with the items for myself personally is that I'm not very summery.  I prefer fall and winter, so I will go ahead and get those boxes when they go on sale and see if they are any better.

If you're interested in signing up for the monthly boxes, which are $40, consider using my link here to help me earn free boxes.  Thanks in advance and I'll see you Thursday for my reviews of the June 2015 PopSugar Must Have Box!