My Favorites For 2014

I've had this blog since 2011, but I think this year was the year that I had the most fun with it.  A full-time job and higher income meant I had more money to try new subscriptions and other products, even though that also meant I sometimes had less time to devote to blogging.  I've always wanted to keep this blog strictly as a hobby, and I have no intention of changing that for 2015.  In regards to the year ahead, I just want to keep trying new things and having fun with it!

Like I said, I got to try a lot of new subscriptions this year, and most of them were really great!  There were a few not-so-great experiences (actually, I can only think of one off of the top of my head), but that's bound to happen.  Read ahead for my favorite subscriptions and products from this year!

Favorite Makeup Product - Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette
Okay, this was technically released in 2013, but I got it as a gift for my birthday on December 28th and I posted the review in January of 2014.  I am the biggest fan of neutral eyeshadows, and my friend Linze picked out the perfect gift when she gave this to me!  It has more shimmers than mattes, but I prefer shimmery shadows so I don't mind the imbalance.  Too Faced is my favorite cosmetics brand overall because they're cruelty-free, and they didn't disappoint with this palette!

Favorite Subscription Service (Overall) - Birchbox
I think Birchbox is the most-well known of all of the beauty subscriptions (and maybe of ALL subscriptions, period), but I'm choosing it as my favorite for this year because I think it's the only one I stayed subscribed to for the entire year.  When I first joined back in 2012 I took a few breaks from it because the products weren't too exciting.  I signed back up in June of 2013 and have stayed ever since.  They really improved their user profile, and since then I've had great luck with my boxes.  Also, you can't beat the $10 price.  I guess it's kind of fitting that I ended the year by visiting their standalone store in NYC!

Favorite Beauty Subscription - BoxyCharm
I only purchased two BoxyCharm boxes this year, but I kept up on the reviews from other blogs and was consistently impressed by what they included.  I like this subscription because they send all full-sized products for a reasonable price of $21 per month.  They featured a lot of great brands, too, like tarte, ncLA, and Tarina Tarantino.

Favorite Snack/Food Subscription - Love With Food
There's a lot to love about Love With Food: they're affordable ($10 a month), they feature only natural and organic foods, and they donate a meal to a child in need for every box purchased!  I bought a three-month subscription from Rue La La, but I've enjoyed it so much thus far that I'm definitely going to stay subscribed once my initial three months are over.

Favorite Green/Eco-Friendly Subscription - Vegan Cuts
Vegan Cuts offers two great subscriptions, and I was lucky to try both this year.  They have a Snack Box and a Beauty Box.  I'm not sure which one I prefer more, it's hard to choose because they're both fantastic!  I love that they make vegan and cruelty-free products accessible to everyone, and that they feature so many great brands.  I was especially excited to receive a full-sized LUSH soap in the box above (November's Beauty Box).

Favorite Geek/Gamer Subscription - Arcade Block
Geek and gamer boxes definitely increased in popularity this year!  I tried a few, but when my boyfriend subscribed to Arcade Block in October we both liked it quite a bit.  It's a little bit more expensive than some others because it ships from Canada and we're in the U.S., but it's worth it (especially for Pete) because it features all video game products.

Favorite New Subscription - Harry Shum, Jr. and My Subscription Addiction Quarterly Co.
I tried Quarterly for the first time ever this year when Harry Shum, Jr. became a curator and I thought his first box was a lot of fun.  Unfortunately, that was his one and only box.  Luckily, Liz from My Subscription Addiction launched her own box around the same time, so I signed up to receive her second shipment.  I was bummed that I missed the first one, but it was my own fault for not subscribing.  I'm glad to be a subscriber now, though!

Favorite Box (Overall) - PopSugar Must Have Special Edition Holiday For Her
I. LOVED. THIS. BOX!  I never would have thought that I would spend $100 on a subscription box, but the reviews for this one were so great that I had to have it.  I have no buyer's remorse!  Everything inside was so wonderful and well worth the price tag.  I think this is the best curated box I've ever received!  It was also a great deal because I used a coupon code that allowed me to get the December PopSugar Must Have box for free.

So there they are, my favorite things from 2014.  I'd love to hear what your favorite boxes and purchases were, feel free to tell me in the comments!