July Petit Vour Review

After a meager showing with the June box, July's Petit Vour was an improvement.  I wasn't blown away by this box, though; it was still just okay to me.  I want to stick with this service a little bit longer because they are brand new, but I have a feeling that after a box or two more I will end up cancelling.

The reason I'm considering cancelling is because I don't feel like I'm getting my money's worth with this box.  I want to love them because they feature only cruelty-free and vegan products, but I think I would feel better if this box cost $10 as opposed to $15.  There were two full-sized products this time around, though, so I suppose my perspective is still being skewed by last month's disappointing box.

• Beauty Without Cruelty Natural Eye Pencil in Delft Blue ($16.95) - This is the third blue eyeliner pencil that I've gotten from a box, and I don't understand why they send them.  I'm a pretty traditional girl when it comes to eyeliner--just give me black or brown.  In no universe can I pull off wearing blue eyeliner.  I'll save this to give to someone who will use it in the future.
• Sumbody Soap in ahh-vocado ($1.98) - I love handmade soaps!  This one is cute and green and smells really ripe and citrus-y.
• Mun Aknari No. 1 ($6.33) - At first I thought this was another perfume sample, but it's actually an argan oil and prickly pear seed oil blend that can be used to soften and nourish the skin.  The package says "Nighttime Dream Youth Serum" on it.  My issue with this sample is that the vial is 2.5 inches long, but it's only filled up to the 1 inch mark.
• Kimberly Sayer Tangerine and Calendula Cream ($2.40) - I'm excited to use this night cream because it's for oily and combination skin.  My box contained three 1.5 mL packets.
• Dr.'s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish in Rescue Red ($17.00) - I was glad to get a nail polish in this box because they're one of my favorite beauty products to receive.  I've already used this once and it glided on very smoothly and was opaque after three coats.  These polishes contain tea tree oil, vitamins, and wheat protein to help nourish your nails.

Bottom Line: July's box was much better than June's, but I'm still not in love with this service.  The overall value of this month's box was $44.66, but I'm still not that impressed with it because I'm not overjoyed with any of the items.  The nail polish is probably my favorite, but I still haven't gotten that, "Wow, this box is amazing!" feeling that I've been hoping for.

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

Midnight Velvet Padlock Handbag Review and Giveaway [CLOSED]

Midnight Velvet is an online retailer and mail-order catalog that has been in business for more than 25 years.  They offer apparel, jewelry, accessories, mineral makeup, and much more.  I was given the opportunity to review their beautiful Padlock Handbag from their upcoming fall collection!

Midnight Velvet offered me the option of reviewing makeup, apparel, and other items, but I chose to review this handbag because I can never have enough purses!  I'm glad I chose the Padlock Handbag because it is gorgeous.  It retails for $99.95 and comes in a variety of colors, from fall shades to brights.  I liked the black version best because black goes with everything.

It's a larger satchel made with faux leather with gold hardware.  The interior has three pockets -- two on each side that are separated by a middle zip pocket.  There are two interior slip pockets on one side with a zipper pocket on the opposite side.  There is also an exterior zippered pocket on the back of the bag, and you could also slip a cell phone or other items into the front of the bag (the line running horizontal between the two gold handle hardware in the photo above).  I really liked that this handbag had so many compartments.  It also has a handle drop long enough to wear the bag over your shoulder, which is pretty essential to me.

A look at the many interior compartments of the bag

There was a slight hiccup with my order, but Brenda, my contact for this campaign, provided excellent customer service and the issue was quickly resolved.  Not only does Midnight Velvet offer quality products, but this incident showed me how excellent their customer service is as well!

Be sure to visit the Midnight Velvet website to browse their full line of products.  You can also request a free catalog via snail mail here.  If you like what you see, you can enter to win a $50 gift certificate by using the Rafflecopter form below!

• Connect with Midnight Velvet on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, and Pinterest
• Check out the Midnight Velvet BeautyBlog

Enter the giveaway and view more photos of my Padlock Handbag after the "read more."

*Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Midnight Velvet.  I received no monetary compensation.

RocksBox #4 Review

I'm currently on my sixth RocksBox, but it's taken me so long to post my reviews for the fourth and fifth boxes because they really weren't anything special.  For continuity's sake, though, I figured it would be best to write up a quick review for both.

I'll start with my favorite piece from the box, which was this necklace by Gorjana.  I didn't write down the names of the pieces before sending the box back, oops.  I've seen bar necklaces like this around and I wanted to get one, so I'm glad that I was able to try one through RocksBox because I actually didn't care for it once I had it on.  This was similar to all of the ones I've seen out and about, and I realized that the chain is just too short and I prefer longer necklaces.

I don't remember anything about these earrings, and RocksBox doesn't keep lists of the past items you've received so I have no idea what these were called or who the designer was.  I wanted to like them but they ended up being too big for me.  I just felt like they looked ridiculous regardless of what I wore them with because I just don't usually rock giant earrings.

This is the worst review post of all time because I also don't remember the name of this bracelet!  I do know that it was by CC Skye, though, because it's imprinted on the inside of the cuff in the photo above.  I wanted to like this one, too, but I didn't.  First, and most importantly, it was in terrible condition!  The clasp was dirty and really worn, and I think that RocksBox should have pulled this from their rotation.  I can't imagine anyone wanting to purchase it because it was in pretty rough shape (more photos below).  I thought that this cuff looked cool when I opened the box, but once I put it on it just seemed awkward and I didn't like how the chain part just hung down (it felt weird on my wrist).

Bottom Line: This box was a bust for me.  I thought I would like these styles, but I didn't.  It was also the fourth box in a row where they sent me all gold jewelry, even though I had specified in my profile that I wanted a mixture of silver and gold.

• RocksBox Review #1 & more info on the service
• RocksBox Review #2
• RocksBox Review #3

*Disclaimer: I received a free six-month membership to RocksBox through the iFabbo Shop.  I was not monetarily compensated for this post.

More photos of my items are after the "read more."

FAST Shampoo and Conditioner Review and Giveaway [CLOSED]

I've always had pretty long hair, but I wear it in a ponytail most days out of laziness.  On the rare occasion that I wear my hair down, people are always surprised at how long it is.  That being said, I recently got a hair cut because I was lacking a style and it had been more than a year since my last cut (I know, so bad!).  Anyway, why am I telling you this?  Maybe you have short hair and you want it to grow longer, or maybe you have long hair like I do and want it to grow even longer.  That's where FAST Shampoo and Conditioner by Nisim comes in!

I've been using this shampoo and conditioner for about two weeks now, and I so far I've really enjoyed my experience.  FAST stands for "Fortified Animo Scalp Therapy," and it's clinically proven to increase the rate at which your hair grows.  It works by feeding hair with a special blend of amino acids, nutrients, and proteins.   Two weeks isn't the longest amount of time to gauge hair growth, but I feel like FAST has already started working on my hair.  I used it daily during that time, except for the two days during the week that I had to use my dandruff shampoo.  I won't lie, I haven't had any measurable differences in hair length yet, but I do think that this set is giving me healthier hair.  Hopefully after a month's use I'll have noticed a difference in length.

FAST is free of sulfates, parabens, and DEA, but it does contain other synthetic ingredients.  It's also a cruelty-free product.  What I liked best about the shampoo was that, even though it didn't contain sulfates, it still lathered really well.  Both the shampoo and conditioner have a scent that kind of reminded me of how Head & Shoulders used to smell, a bit like peppermint.  Overall, the system left my hair feeling hydrated and soft.

Bottom Line: I like that FAST Shampoo and Conditioner is cruelty-free and also sans sulfates, parabens, and DEA.  Even if it doesn't end up affecting the rate at which my hair grows, I'm happy to continue to use this system because it does have positive affects on the appearance of my hair.

Want to win a set of FAST Shampoo and Conditioner for yourself?  Enter using the Rafflecopter form below!  The giveaway is open to US residents aged 18+ and ends at 12 am EST on August 2nd.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


*Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Nisim International.  I did not receive monetary compensation.

July Birchbox Review

After some time away from Birchbox, I re-subscribed last month and loved my box.  July's box is not as phenomenal as last month's, but I'm still really happy with it and I'm still excited about the prospect of future boxes.

July's theme was "Power Play" and featured products inspired by the show Suits.  I've never actually watched an episode, but I'm familiar with it because I watch a lot of other USA Network shows and I've seen the promos, etc.  I didn't really get a Suits vibe from this box, but that was inconsequential because I was really happy with the samples I got.

This month's box contained the first repeat product I've ever received from Birchbox -- last month I got one of the Color Club exclusive nail polishes, and another one arrived for July.  I am totally not complaining, though, because I love nail polish!  I especially love Color Club because they have a great formula and they're cruelty-free.  I'm also glad I got a different shade than last time, if it was a repeat shade I don't know if I would have been so happy.

• Birchbox + Color Club Wanderlust Collection - I think this mint shade, "London Calling," is really cute.  It's a bit more neon on the nails than in the bottle, but it's fun for summer.
• Birchbox Bobby Pins - I'm glad I got the green pins and not the white ones.  I'm still not sure I'll use these, but they're much sturdier and have a stronger grip than I was expecting.

• Caudalie Divine Legs - This is a tinted lotion that "imparts firmness, moisture, and a beachy glow."  I probably won't use this because my skin is already pretty tan, plus I'm hesitant to use a tinted lotion only on my legs.  I'm assuming the color isn't very strong, but there definitely isn't enough in this packet to spread onto my arms as well in the case that my legs looked darker than the rest of my body.
• Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream - At first I thought this was like a BB Cream, because I've used Dr. Jart+ BB Cream before.  It's actually more of a moisturizer and I liked it.  It's very smooth and a little goes a long way.  I would have considered purchasing a full-sized bottle of this, but it costs $48.  Oh, and this was my Suits pick.
• ModelCo Party Proof Lipstick - I'm not a lipstick wearer but I like this one!  It actually smells really good (fruity and vanilla-y) and is not drying like other lipsticks I've tried.  My shade is called "Peony" and it's a creamy, darker pink/red (photos below, click to enlarge).

 

Bottom Line: Good job again, Birchbox.  As far as I'm concerned, you can send me a nail polish in every box!  I'd love to see some Zoya, please (*hint hint*).

Mini June Little Black Bag Unboxing

I opened up a second Little Black Bag in June because I had an exchange credit from my defective Lionel Francis satchel.  It wasn't a true bag in the sense that I picked a starting item and had stylist picks; I chose to just open up with the exchange item and keep the bag open for a week in case anything was released that I wanted to add to my bag.

I ended up adding only one item, but I would have purchased more if the summer sale hadn't started while I was working!  Usually the sale items are a bunch of ugly items that no one wants, but this time they actually had a lot of nice bags that I had been wanting, so of course I would miss them.  I suppose it's better off that way, it saved me probably somewhere around $50!

First, let me talk about this bag - the Big Buddha Marin Hobo in Coral.  It is gorgeous!  I don't think it was a very popular bag on the site, probably because it's more on the plain size, but I absolutely love it.  I had been eyeing it for a while, but since not a lot of people ever had them in their bags it was hard to trade for them.  The retail value on this is $90 I think, so the fact that I didn't have to pay anything other than shipping was definitely a win (well, not counting whatever the prorated value of the Francis satchel was).  The faux leather is very soft, the color is perfect, and I absolutely adore the chain detail on the strap!  The only downside is that since the chain is so heavy, when I set the bag down anywhere it kind of caves in on itself under the weight of the strap.  There are 10 of these left in cobalt in the gallery and one left in coral, so if you like what you see I highly recommend this bag.

 Next up are my crazy lady cat shoes!  I think these are so funny and I love them, regardless of how ridiculous they are.  They're the C. LABEL Judy-1C Oxford and I know they're a knockoff of some other, more expensive brand, but I just liked them because they're cats.  I didn't love them enough to ever open with them, but when they went on sale for $10 I said, "yes, please!"  The original retail price was $50, I think.  I wore them out to dinner the day that I got them, and I found that they're a bit uncomfortable to wear.  The hard tops don't have a ton of give, so my toes ended up hurting a little bit.  I'm not sure if this will go away as I break them in more, but even if it doesn't I don't really care because I just love them anyway.  They make me laugh.

Bottom Line: This is probably one of the more boring Little Black Bags I've ever shared, but I like I said, it wasn't a "real" bag that I traded for.  The entire bit cost me about $16, so I can't complain.

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

Check out more photos after the "read more."

First Graze Box Review

I finally got around to trying Graze and I am so glad that I did!  I love absolutely everything about this box and I can't wait to tell you all about it!

Graze is a food subscription service that is based out of the UK.  They only recently started shipping the US, and I'm really glad that they did.  This box costs $5 per shipment (shipping included), and you can have it set to be sent once every week, every other week, or once a month.  All of their snacks are geared toward being more on the healthy spectrum, but they're far from the typical flavorless health food.  For those of you who are now thinking, "not all health food is flavorless!," I'm just saying that because I'd rather grab something bad for me than something with real nutritional value (haha).

What I think is really great about Graze is that you can rate all of their snacks, even before your first box arrives.  I had a lot of fun seeing photos of the snacks, and I could practically feel my pupils enlarging while reading their descriptions.  There were a few that I marked as "do not send," but not many.  You can choose one of four ratings: "trash," "try," "like," and "love."  Trash means you'll never receive that snack, try means you're happy to try it at least once, like is send occasionally, and love is send often.  You can change these ratings at any time, too.

So what was in my box?  A whole lot of yummy, that's what.

• Honeycomb Flapjack - rustic rolled oat flapjack with honeycomb and milk chocolate
  I loved these!  When I saw them on the site I thought that they would be a hard bar, kind of crunchy, which isn't my favorite.  To my delight and surprise they were incredibly soft and incredibly delicious.  The flavor was sweet and amazing and I just wish I could have them forever!
• Korean Chilli Rice Crackers - spicy chilli rice crackers
  OMG, hands-down my favorite snack in the box!  I can't even tell you how much I loved these.  Actually, I can.  I devoured them so quickly that they were long gone before I remembered that I needed to take a picture of them.  So, sorry folks, I have no up-close photos of them other than the one above.  I was really hoping that I would get to try these, so Graze picked perfectly for me when they decided to put them in my first box!  They tasted spicy/sweet to me, which is a fab combo.
• Eleanor's Apple Crumble - raisins, cinnamon and honey almonds and apple
  This snack was just okay, wasn't amazing but also wasn't terrible.  Like with the flapjacks, I expected the apple pieces to be dried and hard, but they were still pretty soft (which was good).  They had a similar texture to the raisins, so the cinnamon and honey almonds added a needed crunch.  I must say that the almonds were delicious, and I don't even like almonds otherwise.
• The British Barbecue - rosemary crostini, mini basil breadsticks, fiery seeds, smoked almonds
  Based on the description, I thought I was going to love this snack, but it ended up being my least favorite of the box.  I actually changed its rating to "trash" after trying it out.  It wasn't that it tasted bad, the flavors were all there and did taste good, it just wasn't what I'm looking for in a snack.  It reminded me too much of bridge mix, and I'd rather try something more exotic like the Korean Chilli Rice Crackers.

Bottom Line: For $5 a box, you really can't beat the value of Graze.  I am so impressed with these snacks and I can't wait to get my next box!  Currently I have it set to ship biweekly, but I may change it to once a month just because I spend more on subscription boxes than I should at the moment.  But if it comes down to having to cancel a subscription, it certainly won't be this one!

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

View more photos of (most) of my snacks after the "read more!"

July Bonjour Jolie Review

I was really excited when Bonjour Jolie sent me one of their boxes to review because I've seen what they've included in past boxes and they have been wonderful!  July's edition is no exception.  If you're unfamiliar with this service, which translates to "Hello Pretty," they are a monthly subscription that will send you a box of feminine goodies and treats for only $16 a month, plus shipping.  They ship to the U.S. and Canada, too (shipping within the U.S. is $5, Canadian is $10).

Bonjour Jolie is a premium box that's filled with goodies for women to pamper themselves during their period.  They'll send you 25 feminine products of your choice, and they'll also include gifts ranging from specialty bath and body products to artisanal chocolates and more!  When you join, you'll fill out a profile where you can give them more information about your cycle and choose which types of feminine products you'd like to receive (tampons, pads, and pantyliners).  They even give you the option of choosing which brands you prefer, as well as what style of product (wings, thin, overnight, etc.).  The profile also allows you to tell them about your hair type, skin type, and whether or not you have any specific allergies or health concerns.  No one really enjoys talking about their period, so I love that this box makes "that time of the month" quite a bit easier to deal with!  They also have a box that's tailored for young teens.

 

Before I talk about the products I received I wanted to point out their packaging.  The box itself is on the larger size, but (obviously) still small enough to fit into a standard mailbox.  What I really liked about the packaging is that on the inside flap of the box they have a sticker that says "Thank you for your business!  We want you to know that you are appreciated!"  I think that's such a sweet little touch.  Messages like that really go a long way with me in showing that the company really does care about their customers.

Now the fun part!  When I opened this box I was so impressed by how it was so neatly and beautifully put together.  I couldn't wait to open up all of the little goodies!  I think that this box is an incredible deal at only $21 (that's the price including U.S. shipping) because of the variety and quality of products they included.

This box was the perfect combination of pampering products for me!  The first item I noticed was the sarong, which is the pink turtle pattern lying underneath all of the items.  I unfolded it all of the way so you could see how cute it was!  But anyway, here's the breakdown:

• Chiffon Sarong ($16) - As I said, this was the first item I noticed.  I thought it was a scarf at first, which for all intents and purposes it could totally be worn as.  I love the colors and I think the pattern is so adorable--the turtle is visible here, but there are also fish and other sea creatures on it!  This is perfect for the beach as a sarong/cover up.
• Toot Sweet Caramels ($2) - I love caramels!  I especially love artisanal caramels.  These are flavored with salted honey and organic heavy cream.  They only have four ingredients and are really delicious!
• Bigelow Tea ($1) - Five bags were included, and I'm not sure if everyone received the same flavors (mine were Pomegranate Black Tea, Constant Comment, Cozy Chamomile, Plantation Mint, and Perfect Peach). I'm a big tea drinker, so these will be put to good use.
• Bath Bomb by Spa Girl Soaps ($1.50) - When I saw the words "bath bomb" on the informational card I was so excited!  I rarely take baths, but I still love bath bombs.  Mine is in the scent "Lavender Chamomile," which will be perfect for a before-bed bath.
• Silky Body Powder by Bonny Bubbles ($1) - This is an organic and vegan deodorant body powder to help keep skin feeling fresh.  The tube I received is in the scent "Garden Spa."  All of these powders are talc and cornstarch free.
• By the Sea Body Lotion by The Fleury Girls ($1.50) - This lotion has a light, powdery scent.  Methyl Paraben is listed on the ingredients list, and although I'm trying to steer clear of harmful synthetics, I'm not quite sure how I feel about parabens just yet.  I've read a lot of conflicting accounts on whether or not it's as harmful as some say it is.  I'll leave it up to you to decide for yourself.
• 100% Cotton Face Scrubby by Crochet Happy Mommy Of 3 ($1) - I have a few other face scrubbies like this one and I haven't used them yet because I don't want to ruin them!  They just look so pretty that I feel like actually washing with them would just turn into a big, stained mess.  I think I'm going to have to give in and use this one and just hope that the stains wash out, because I bet it works really well as a gentle exfoliator.
• Advil - I also received two packets of 200mg Advil (with two pills each inside), but if you don't feel you need this you can opt out of receiving it when you sign up.
• Feminine products - Bonjour Jolie sent me 10 pantyliners, eight pads, and 10 tampons (all of various sizes).  This adds up to three more than the 25 they promise, which could have been a happy accident, or I'm assuming they sent me a few more for review just for the purposes of showing what kind of inventory they have.

So all in all, my box added up to a value of $24, not including the value of the pads and tampons.  I'm just estimating, but I would guess that including those products would put the value up more toward $30+.  Generally I'm not too concerned with adding up the values, because as long as I feel like I got my money's worth then I'm happy.

Bottom Line: I am very impressed with Bonjour Jolie.  I think this box is well worth the price because they include such a variety of items beyond just the feminine products that you'll need each month.  Sure, you could go to the store and buy a box of tampons for much cheaper, but you wouldn't be able to buy all of these extras for the price!  The only downside for me is that brands like Kotex and Always are not cruelty-free (they are owned by parent companies that test), so if shopping cruelty-free is on your list of must-haves, that's something to consider with this box.

• Visit Bonjour Jolie and sign up for a subscription - if you'd like, please mention that you found them through "See, Shop, Love!" in the section of the profile that asks what website you discovered them at.  This is not a referral/affiliate credit or anything for me, but just a way for them to know that people are noticing their reviews.
• Connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest

*Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Bonjour Jolie.  I received a box to review.

Check behind the "read more" for more photos!

July FAIR Treasure Review

July's FAIR Treasure box contained another gorgeous set of items.  This subscription service will send you a package of ethically sourced goodies for $30 a month; for more information you can check out their website.

The first item that caught my eye when I opened the box was the card because I love birds.  Then my eyes made their way down to the necklace and I thought, "pretty!"  Overall, this box was just as great as June's for me because all of the items were right up my alley.

This dainty Blooming Bud Vase by Crisil Srl. measures about 3.25" high.  Crisil Srl. is a family-owned business based in Cochabamba, Bolivia.  They take recycled glass collected from local garbage dumps by other small businesses, clean it, and melt it down to produce beautiful creations like this vase.  Employment at Crisil Srl. creates a valuable source of income for the some of the poorest people in the region.

I love this necklace!  I've been really into turquoise recently, and I love it paired with gold.  This necklace is interesting because it also has silver elements in the chains at the bottom.  It's called the Garden Party Necklace and is by Mata Traders.  I was already familiar with Mata Traders through Little Black Bag, and I'm very happy with the one other necklace I own by them.  Jewelry for Mata Traders is sourced by a large NGO that is a leading advocate for marginalized and exploited artists.  Under their guidance, artisans in North India set up their own cooperatives and produce jewelry to sell in domestic and international markets. The NGO ensures that their workers receive living wages, safe working conditions, and that no child laborers are used to produce their jewelry.

My last item is the Birds of a Feather Card by Jirmit Papyrus Group.  I absolutely love the design, not only because it features birds but because the colors are so bright.  Jirmit Papyrus Group is a registered fair trade organization that aims to create jobs for the unemployed young people in the town of Mallawi, Egypt.  Artisans with this workshop also make bookmarks and other art on authentic Egyptian papyrus.

Bottom Line: This was another fantastic box from FAIR Treasure!  I highly recommend this service.  $30 is a great price for these handmade items, and it's even better to know that the money is going to help support fair trade companies.

*Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by FAIR Treasure.

Bonjour Jolie Women's Subscription - 20% off!

I was contacted by De of Bonjour Jolie and she let me know about a great discount they're going to have this Thursday, the 4th of July.  From midnight to midnight CST you can purchase a three-month subscription at 20% off, no coupon necessary!  All you need to do is sign up at their front page.  My Canadian readers can jump in on this special sale, too, since they ship to the U.S. (including US territories and APO/FPO/DPO boxes) and Canada.

Bonjour Jolie is a premium subscription box made for women, by women.  Each month they'll send you feminine supplies of your choice, along with edible goodies and gifts to pamper you during your period.  These hand-selected items range from specialty bath and body products to artisanal chocolates!

• Visit Bonjour Jolie to read more about their service and sign up on the 4th!
• Connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest

*Disclaimer: I was contacted by Bonjour Jolie to publicize this deal but received no compensation.

ShopBevel Review

If you're a jewelry fan and haven't heard of ShopBevel, I think you should check them out!  They're different than your average jewelry shop because they work with independent designers to bring the best designs to market.  Artists submit their designs, the community votes on them, and then ShopBevel produces the selected winners!  I think it's such a fun way to shop and help independent artists bring their creations to life.

Members can preorder the winning designs while enjoy special early-adopter pricing, and designs are produced for four to six weeks.  The company is the brainchild of Founder and CEO Courtney McColgan, who created ShopBevel while as a student at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.  She was inspired to create the company after seeing many talented designers, including her own friends, face difficulties when trying to get their designs to market.  ShopBevel goes a step further than most other jewelry stores because artists are able to receive peer feedback directly from other members, and consumers are able to have a voice in what they are able to purchase.

ShopBevel sent me a pair of the Gold Elephant Studs by Jules Koppel of Berlin, which retail for $25.  The artists receive a 15% royalty on all of their pieces that are sold.  My earrings arrived in a black box, and were neatly packaged inside a canvas bag.  They also included some informational cards about ShopBevel and the earrings themselves.  The artist states that "These studs pay homage to the always patient and loyal elephant!"

The studs themselves are really pretty and well-made.  They're about 3/4 of an inch long and across and made of nickel-free, gold-plated metal.  They are definitely more of a statement earring.  I would pair these with a breezy, bohemian maxi dress for a summer day in the sun.  I love animal-themed jewelry, so these were a good (random) pick for me!  You can view more of Jules Koppel's designs by checking out her ShopBevel profile.

• Visit ShopBevel to view current designs and vote for ones you'd like to see brought to life!
• Use code BBSTUDS to receive 25% off of your first purchase (expires July 31st).

Bottom Line: I recommend ShopBevel to all jewelry lovers.  I think it's so fun that they allow members to have a say in what is created while also helping independent artists bring their pieces to fruition!

*Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by BrandBacker.