January Snakku Review and Giveaway

Snakku has quickly become one of my favorite subscription boxes for a number of reasons! They have beautiful packaging and delicious snacks that are sent straight from Japan. Their January box is the best one yet!

*Disclaimer: This box was sent to See, Shop, Love! in exchange for an honest review.

Snakku is a Japanese snack box that is unique in that they send authentic foods that are only available in Japan. They also include more popular and easier to find snacks, but my favorite part is that the box lets me sample things I wouldn't normally have access to.

Boxes cost $38.95 per month with free shipping to U.S. addresses. While that might seem like a high price at first, I think it is well worth the cost because you'll get nearly two pounds of snacks that are only available in Japan. Without Snakku, I would have no access to these types of snacks!

Snakku's packaging is absolutely gorgeous. Each box is wrapped in a colorful cloth, which I would love to share with you but I must have accidentally deleted the photo I took of the box before opening it! You can see examples in my previous Snakku reviews, though.

This month's box features snacks from Chidoriya, which is a boutique snack company based in the southern island of Kyushu. It was established way back in 1630 near the port city of Nagasaki, which was the only place in Japan that had access to western goods at the time. Chidoriya was also one of the first snack shops in Japan to put sugar in their products. Even today they still hand make all of their snacks using traditional methods and high quality ingredients!

Here are the Featured Snacks for January:

• Hanachidori (top left in pink and yellow packaging) - These little cakes are called manju cakes, which I had never heard of before. They're filled with finely-milled bean paste and come in two flavors: mellow white bean paste and rich yellow bean paste mixed with egg yolks. When I first read the description I thought, bean paste? I wasn't sure what to expect, but these are delicious! I associate beans with savory in my mind, but these were soft and sweet.
• Tirolian Hat - This is the second most popular snack that Chidoriya makes. They're wafer sandwiches with a thin layer of creme in the middle. They come in lemon, strawberry, and coffee. I loved these but I wish they had more creme inside.
• Tirolian Chococrunch - These. Are. Amazing! They're little mini-waffle crunch cookies that are made with locally-produced milk and butter, baked for hours at a low temperature, coated in milk chocolate and then baked again. The chocolate taste is heavenly and the crispy texture is perfect!
• Tirolian - These are Chidoriya's most popular snack. They're roll cookies that are made using the same recipe that was used when the store opened in 1630. They're filled with creme and come in chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and coffee creme flavors. I honestly can't pick a favorite flavor because they all were so good!

Here are the Popular Snacks for January:

• Pretz Corn - These pretzel sticks are very popular in Japan and are in the seasonal Hokkaido winter corn flavor. They have a nice savory flavor that really does taste like sweet corn.
• Happy Turn - The informational card says that these are hard to describe but that the Snakku team loves them, and I agree! They're kind of airy, like a popped chip, but have a good sweet/salty flavor. I love the kawaii packaging, too.
• Lemon Yogurt Candy - These are dual-layered candies with lemon on top and yogurt on the bottom. I haven't tried them yet but the combo sounds yummy.
• Yaki Imo - These are made with stone-baked Japanese sweet potatoes, and I am assuming that they have a creamy filling like the bean paste cakes. I haven't tried them yet, though, so I'm not entirely sure.
• Kuromame Senbei - I love senbei and this one was very tasty. It's a rice cracker with black beans baked in and an earthy yet slightly sweet flavor.

Bottom Line: This was my favorite Snakku box yet because I just loved all of the Chidoriya snacks! I tried to find Tirolian roll cookies (and really all of the cookies featured this month) online but couldn't find them anywhere, which just goes to show that Snakku really does send items that are only available in Japan!

• Visit Snakku to learn more and subscribe
• Connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram

Want to win a January Snakku box? Snakku has kindly offered two boxes for my readers to win! Enter using the Rafflecopter below. The sweepstakes is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada aged 18+. Please see the Rafflecopter for full terms and conditions.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

February PopSugar Must Have Theme!

The February PopSugar Must Have theme has been released, and it is...

*Disclaimer: Post contains affiliate links.

What kind of items do you think they'll include? Be sure to sign up to get the box here!

Zigels Laptop Travel Backpack Review

I don't travel as much as I'd like to, but I do like to get down to New York City as often as possible. The last two times I went I kept wishing I had a better carry on. Not taking my laptop with me on a trip is absolutely out of the question, but the "carry on plus one personal item" rule can be a bit cumbersome. Now I have the Zigels Laptop Backpack, which is the perfect combination of a carry on and laptop bag!

*Disclaimer: This product was purchased by See, Shop, Love! at a discounted price in exchange for an honest review.

My first impressions of the bag were that it was lightweight but sturdy at the same time. I'm a cautious packer and I always pack enough basics to last me through my trip in case my main luggage gets lost in transit. That means at least one pair of jeans, a dressier outfit, a casual outfit, pajamas, makeup, hair products...way more than most people probably put in a carry on! This expands and has a ton of extra pockets to put all of my items in.

I also really like the colors. Black is my favorite for accessories, and I like the tan/camel accents. I also appreciate the mesh pockets on the sides; they're perfect for slipping a water bottle into. I would definitely unpack this and then take it with me during my vacation, too. Maybe not in NYC because it would be too easy for pickpockets to take stuff out while it was on my back, but definitely for something like a hiking trip.

The bag has three zippered compartments and this is what the first one looks like. I really like all of the separate pockets, and the extra zip pocket inside! I could easily put my iPad Mini in the zip pocket and other miscellaneous things (lip balm, lotion, etc.) in the smaller slip pockets.

The second main zip section is where I would put my laptop because it has a velcro strap to keep it in place. It's also easy to remove and put back for the TSA check, since they require that you put any computers in a separate bin when you go through security. The bag fits laptops up with up to 17" screens.

There is also a zip pocket on the front of the exterior of the bag, which I would use to put my ID and wallet in, and anything else I would need to grab quickly at the airport and during a flight.

Lastly, the back of the bag has thick, sturdy straps and a buckle snap that holds the straps together. The straps are very comfortable on my shoulders and dispense weight evenly across my back.

This bag is really versatile and doesn't have to be used for travel. I also would have used this while I was in college, and it's great for day trips and hiking!

Bottom Line: I really like this bag and I can't wait to use it when I go to NYC in April! It's the perfect size for everything I need, and I love that I can now just use this as my carry on and laptop bag and no longer need to bring both.

• You can purchase the Zigels Laptop Travel Backpack on Amazon

Harrison Blake Apparel February Review & Coupon

Harrison Blake Apparel has a men's subscription that makes coordinating an outfit convenient and simple. This box is perfect for the man who doesn't like to shop but still wants to look good!

*Disclaimer: This box was sent to See, Shop, Love! in exchange for an honest review.

The Harrison Blake box costs $25 per month and includes one tie with four color-coordinated accessories. Shipping is free to the U.S. and Canada. They also offer international shipping outside of the U.S. and Canada, which you can get the details for here.

All of the items are exclusive and hand-selected for the box. Accessories can include pocket squares, lapel pins, tie bars, and more!

I really like the colors in February's box! The maroon and blue are really nice together. All of the prices are listed as "average retail price" on the informational card included in the box.

• H.B. Scissors Tie Bar ($25) - Alright, so I don't wear ties, but I'm pretty sure tie bars are used to hold the tie together. The scissors shape is unique.
• Cotton Pocket Square ($20) - I really love the pattern and colors of this. It's a lightweight cotton square and feels really well-made.
• Knit Necktie ($25) - I've never seen a knit necktie before. This one doesn't have a triangle-tip end like every other tie I've ever seen in my life (as you can see in the photo above). It's interesting, but I like it!
• H.B. Polka Dot Socks ($12) - I love tall socks with fun patterns, so I'm keeping these for myself!
• Beaded Bracelet ($15) - I like this bracelet a lot, too. I think it's a pretty unisex design so I'll wear it with my casual outfits.

Bottom Line: I really like the Harrison Blake Apparel box! I'm impressed by the quality of the products and the low price. A tie alone would cost more than $25 in a lot of stores. The fact that everything is color-coordinated makes it an amazing deal, in my opinion.

• Visit the Harrison Blake Apparel website to sign up
• Use coupon code FASTFIVE for $5 off your first box
• Use coupon code FEB16 for 40% off a purchase from their shop (expires Feb. 28)
• Connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube

December Chisel Shave Club Review and Coupon!

Chisel Shave Club is a new wet shave subscription that was created to help men "discover the lost art of wet shaving." Even though this box is for men, I think we ladies can use it, too!

*Disclaimer: This box was sent to See, Shop, Love! in exchange for an honest review.

Traditional wet shaving is definitely making a comeback, and Chisel Shave Club makes it easy for men to treat themselves to a smooth, superior shave at home.

The box costs $29.99 per month with the option to add on a safety razor handle and shaving brush to the first month's box for an additional cost. They also have the following price points:

• 3 months prepaid for $28.99/month
• 6 months prepaid for $27.99/month
• 12 months prepaid for $26.99/month

The 6- and 12-month prepaid options come with a free safety razor handle and shaving brush in he first box. Shipping is free to anywhere in the U.S., but they are currently not shipping outside of the U.S.

Here's everything that came in the box. Keep in mind that you'll have to pay an extra fee if you wish to receive a razor and brush without signing up for the 6- or 12-month prepaid options.

• Dr. Squatch Cedar Citrus Soap - I love Dr. Squatch soaps; they always smell so good! This one has natural coconut and olive oils to nourish skin. It smells exactly the way it sounds, citrus-y with a hint of cedarwood.
• Brickell Clarifying Gel Face Wash - This is made with coconut, aloe, and geranium to cleanse skin without drying it out.
• Red Leaf Black Tea Shaving Soap - This soap is 100% vegan and handmade in small batches in Seattle. The scent has notes of sandalwood and sage.
• Astra Superior Platinum Blades and Shark Super Stainless Blades - The Astra blades are made in Russia and are stainless steel coated in platinum for a smooth shave. The Shark blades are from Egypt and are known for their consistency and sharpness.
• Brickell Instant Relief Aftershave - This has aloe vera to reduce irritation, coconut to nourish, and hyaluronic acid to rejuvenate and refresh.

And then, of course, there is the brush and razor. The safety razor is sturdy and really well-made. The brush has sturdy yet soft bristles that lather up really well when you add the soap.

Head over to Chisel Shave Club to join and use coupon code SEESHOPLOVE10 to get 10% off your first order.

Bottom Line: Chisel Shave Club seems like a great way to introduce your man to wet shaving! I will definitely use these products myself, though, to shave my legs. And I'll certainly use the face wash as well. I think they send high-quality products and I'm very impressed with the December box!

January Beauty Box 5 Review

I think Beauty Box 5 keeps getting better and better every month! January's box had six items and focused on hair and nails.

*Disclaimer: This box was sent to See, Shop, Love! in exchange for an honest review.

Beauty Box 5 costs $12 per month and features deluxe samples and full-sized products. They normally send five items, but as I said before, this month's box had six! Shipping is free to U.S. addresses and $3 to Canadian ones.

January's theme was "Ev'rythang Done," and the info card had a quote on it that said "You can get away with almost anything if your hair is styled and your nails are on point." I'm not so sure about that, but I think it certainly helps boost your confidence!

• Bodipure Keratin Gloves ($5.00 for two gloves, full-sized) - I am so glad these were in the box! My hands get incredibly dry and itchy in the winter and treatments like these are a godsend. This strengthens nails and nourishes your skin and cuticles.
• Scratch Custom Accent Nail Wraps ($6, full-sized) - This had only four wraps in it, but they're meant to be accent nails and not a full set (obviously). Scratch also has a Monthly Mani box and there was a coupon for 50% off your first box inside the package. It's ScratchxBB5, if anyone wants to try it.
• Nails Inc Nail Polish ($9.99 for .33 fl oz, full-sized) - I got the shade "Bruton Mews" and it's perfect! I love greens and these looked so good with the gold Scratch accents. You can see my finished product here on Instagram.

• Novex Bamboo Sprout Deep Conditioning Treatment (~$.78 for 1.1 oz) - I should use a deep conditioner more often but I don't because I'm lazy. This one has bamboo and Vitamin E to soften and smooth hair.
• Not Your Mother's Plump for Joy Thickening Hair Lifter (~$1.50 for 2 fl oz) - I love this product! I actually had a full-sized bottle when I got this box. It works really well to lift hair without being too sticky or looking weighed down.
• Salon Grafix Freezing Hair Spray (~$1.05 for 1.5 oz) - I don't use hairsprays so I gave this to my mom, but she used it and said it was wonderful. It has extra hold but doesn't give you helmet hair.

Bottom Line: It was a treat to get six items this month instead of five, and three of them were full-sized! I really liked the Scratch Accent Nail Wraps and the Nails Inc polish, especially together.

bellapierre cosmetics Eye & Brow Complete Kit Review

If you've been reading my blog for a while then I'm sure you've seen my Beauty Box 5 subscription reviews, but did you know they have an extensive shop as well? You can buy full-sized versions of the items in their monthly boxes, or try something fun like the bellapierre cosmetics Eye & Brow Complete Kit!

*Disclaimer: This product was sent to See, Shop, Love! in exchange for an honest review.

Confession: I overplucked my eyebrows years ago, back when I was in high school, and they've just never been the same ever since. I learned how to use liner to fill them in, but this brow kit has everything you really need to have full, gorgeous brows!

Inside you'll find the instructions for use as well as a window that shows you what's included.

Here's a list of the ingredients for each item. Each product lasts for quite a while, too (you can see on the right hand side of thep hoto the 36 month and 12 month expirations).

I ordered the kit in Marrone, as you can see from the photo above. The other options are Ginger Blonde (bottom) and Noir (top). I have pretty dark hair, most would call it black, but I learned from past mistakes to pick a shade slightly lighter than your natural color. I tried using a jet black brow pencil once and it was just way too dark and didn't look natural.

The kit contains five full-sized items, as follows:

• Eye Brow Powder
• Clear Mascara
• Brow/Liner Brush
• Eye Brow Tweezers
• Eye Brow Pencil in Dark Chocolate

Here's what everything looks like outside of its packaging. The brush is fantastic and I was happy to get it because I did not have a brow brush previously. The clear mascara is also perfect for keeping every hair in place. I was using hair spray before and it worked but wasn't ideal (I'd spray just a light amount on my finger tip and then dab onto my brow).

And here is how my brows looked before (top) and after (bottom) using the kit! I wasn't lying when I said I overplucked, ha! I'm happy with the current arch of my brows, but they definitely need to be filled in. I used the pencil to outline the shape I wanted, as instructed on the packaging, and then used the powder to fill in. I probably could have filled in with the pencil a little as well to blend the color better, but this was my first time using the kit and I wanted to do it exactly as the instructions said to for the purposes of this review.

Bottom Line: Overall I'm very happy with this kit and I think it has everything one would need for perfect brows! My experience with bellapierre products has always been positive and this kit was no exception. I definitely recommend it!

You can purchase the bellapierre cosmetics Eye & Brow Complete Kit right here in the Beauty Box 5 shop!

Love With Food: Get 40% Off Your First Box!

Love With Food is one of my favorite subscription boxes. Every box I've ever gotten from them has been full of delicious all-natural snacks (read all of my reviews here), and they donate a meal to a child in need for every box sold!

*Disclaimer: Post contains affiliate links.

Now you can try your first Love With Food Tasting Box for 40% off, or 50% off your first Gluten-Free Box! The boxes are already incredibly low-priced, but with this deal you can try your first box for even cheaper. Here are the normal pricing options:

• Tasting Box: $7.99/month for 8+ snacks
• Gluten-Free Box: $19.99/month for 1-15 gluten-free snacks

Click here to get your first Tasting Box for 40% off, or click here for 50% off your first Gluten-Free box!

Tote-ally Awesome Julep Mystery Box Available Now!

Julep always has fantastic Mystery Boxes, and their latest one is available now! Get the Tote-ally Awesome Mystery Box for only $24.99. Keep reading for more details!

*Disclaimer: Post contains affiliate links.


I haven't purchased a Mystery Box in a while, but the last one I got had $180 worth of products inside (read the review here)! This box costs $24.99 for $120+ worth of products. Each box will include:

• Andie (pastel confetti matte glitter topcoat) and Posie (lavender fog creme) polishes
• Canvas tote with the slogan of your choice: Makeup the Rules; If You Can Put it On, You Can Pull It Off; and Fun Looks Good on Everyone
• Five mystery beauty and skincare items

The boxes will be on sale until January 18th, or while supplies last. The mystery items are selected at random, so if you buy multiple boxes you may receive duplicate items.

Pick up your Tote-ally Awesome Julep Mystery Box now!

January Birchbox Review - On Trend: Korean Beauty

I've only chosen the guest editor boxes from Birchbox a few times, but when they announced that January's would be a Korean beauty box I chose it right away!

*Disclaimer: This box was purchased by See, Shop, Love! Post contains referral links.

I'm Korean and I'm really glad that Korean beauty products have become popular here in the States. I'll admit that I didn't know a ton about them until they started getting trendy over here, but it's a lot of fun to learn about what's popular over there. Also, I figure products created mainly for a Korean audience can't hurt my Korean skin, right?

The box was curated by Charlotte Cho, a K-Beauty expert and co-founder of Soko Glam. It had five samples and two bonus foil packet samples. The contents of the guest boxes are always announced during sample selection, so I already knew I would like everything (otherwise, I wouldn't have chosen the box).

• Manefit Beauty Planner Cucumber Soothing + Moisturizing Mask - Sheet masks are huge in Korea but I'm not the biggest fan of them. I prefer to do other things while I have a mask on, and you can't really move around too much with these. Maybe you can, but I prefer not to. Anyway, this has cucumber to sooth, tone, and restore moisture to dry skin.
• RE:P Bio Fresh Mask with Real Calming Herb - This mask is the main reason I picked this box and I was glad that it came in a pretty generous sample size. It has organic herbs and kaolin clay to reduce redness and deeply cleanse pores. I have oily, red skin so this is perfect! I've used it once and it left my skin feeling smooth and refreshed.
• Goodal Yerba Mate Bubble Peeling and Yerba Mate Cleansing Foam - These are bonus samples so I don't mind that they're foil packets, but I do wish they were deluxe sized! I've used the Bubble Peeling cleanser and it's wonderful. It's already sold out in the Birchbox store and I can see why. It smells great and it bubbles up on your skin to leave it feeling fresh and smooth. I am definitely going to buy a full-sized bottle of this if it comes back in stock!

• Goodal Waterest First Essence - I wasn't really sure what an essence was, and to be honest I'm still not entirely sure, but I think it's basically a serum. This one has hyaluronic acid and fermented lotus flower to help skin retain moisture. Fermented products are also pretty popular in Korea. This has a nice, silky texture and feels soothing on my skin.
• IPKN New York Flash Cream Radiant Primer - I haven't tried this yet but I'm always up for trying a new primer. My skin gets way too oily during the day to not use one under my makeup. This has SPF 15 and creates a smooth canvas for makeup.
• TONYMOLY Delight Tony Tint in Red - I think TONYMOLY is one of the more well-known Korean brands, and I do tend to like their products. This is a lightweight lip color that dries for a matte look. I posted it for swap because I'm inundated with lip colors right now.

The box also contained a coupon code for 50% off of Charlotte Cho's book, The Little Book of Skincare. I looked through the preview on HarperCollins.com and it looks really cute and I think I might pick up a copy! The coupon is BEAUTY50 if you want to use it, too.

Bottom Line: I really liked the products Charlotte chose and I think most of them will fit well into my skincare regimen. I like the Goodal Yerba Mate Bubble Peeling cleanser the most and I'm hoping that the RE:P mask will help reduce the redness on my skin.

50% off your first Julep Maven box!

Julep has updated their beauty quiz and are offering 50% off your first box for new subscribers! The two minute quiz asks you about your favorite style trends, beauty routines, coloring, and your beauty challenges to tailor polishes to your interests. Your first box will be curated based on your answers!

*Disclaimer: Post contains affiliate links.


Normally Julep costs $24.99 per month, but with this deal your box will only cost $12.50! Each box contains more than $40 worth of full-sized products. It's even cheaper if you prepay for three months, as each box will cost $19.99.

Juelp's boxes are also completely customizable. You can add limited edition nail colors and full-sized products. You'll see what products are in your box each month and can swap out anything you don't want or like. You'll also get 20% off all single product purchases and free shipping from the Julep shop, and early access to secret sales!

If you haven't tried Julep yet, now is a great time! Take advantage of the 50% off your first box deal by clicking here (there is no coupon code, you have to use the link).

Stitch Fix Review - Fix #2

I received my first Stitch Fix back in March (read that review here) and I was underwhelmed by the selections. I did end up keeping once piece, but I held off on ordering another Fix due to the prices and selection. When I got my Christmas bonus from work I decided to give them another try, and I liked this Fix a lot more!

*Disclaimer: This box was purchased by See, Shop, Love! Post contains referral links.

Stitch Fix is a styling service that works a little bit differently than traditional subscription boxes. Each Fix has a $20 styling fee, and you can sign up to have a Fix delivered automatically (e.g., once a month), or you can just log in and order one on a one-time basis whenever you wish. You fill out a style profile, which can include a link to a Pinterest board, that the stylist uses to choose clothing and accessories for you. You can then try on the items for three days, keep what you like at special member prices, and send back the rest. Shipping both ways is free, and the $20 styling fee is used towards any item you choose to keep. If you send back every item, though, you don't get a refund of the $20 fee.

My last Fix included TONS of stripes, so I specifically requested no stripes this time around! I also cleaned up my Pinterest "Clothes/Stitch Fix Inspiration" board so that it more accurately reflected my style. I highly recommend putting together a Pinterest board for the stylist to reference, I think it helps them really get a sense of your style.

I was much happier with my stylist picks this time around. I received four clothing items and one accessory. Each Fix comes with a note from the stylist and inspiration cards for all of the pieces you received. I was really excited to try on the jacket they sent me, and overall was pleased with the look of the selections.

I know that photos of me actually wearing the clothes would be preferable for a post like this, but unfortunately I live alone and have no one to take good photos of me. I tried setting my camera to a timer delay, but the photos just didn't look good. I don't have a good space to model the selections on.

Anyway, the piece I was most excited to try was the Monoreno Kalbarri Cargo Jacket ($78 to keep). I really liked how the silhouette looked on the style card and I had been wanting to get a jacket like this for a while. Unfortunately it just didn't look great on me. I am petite (5'3") and this was just bulky enough that it overwhelmed my small frame. I was bummed because I really wanted this to work on me! I would have kept it if it was a bit more fitted.

I was also excited to try the La Classe Couture Jeanne Faux Leather Fleece Lined Legging ($58) because they were so different than anything I own! I mean, I have lots of leggings, but none that are faux leather. I also liked that they were fleece lined, because it gets cold here during the winter. These fit nicely along my legs but were just a bit too tight in the waist (they were also pretty high-waisted, which isn't my favorite), so I decided to send them back.

I love the color of the Market & Spruce Talena Side Zipper Knight Top ($48) and the zipper detail, but I didn't like the ruching along the zipper. This also has an asymmetrical hem, which you can see better in the photo of the style cards at the beginning of the post. I would have kept this if the ruching wasn't there.

The Collette Antigo Button Down Front Pocket Knit Top ($58) was my favorite piece. It perfectly fits my style -- the color, the cut, and the design. The material was also super soft and the shirt fit my body really well. I didn't end up keeping it, though, because I know I can find a similar style for a much cheaper price elsewhere.

I considered keeping the Romolo Janine Stacked Bar Pendant Necklace ($28) because it would only be $8 more out of my pocket due to the $20 styling fee, but I just didn't really like it that much. I like pendant necklaces, but the actual charm part was too big and bulky.

Bottom Line: Even though I didn't end up keeping any of the pieces in this Fix I was much happier with the stylist's selections this time around. I think she picked items that really fit my style aesthetic, but I didn't keep anything because either the price or the fit weren't quite right. I will definitely be ordering another Stitch Fix soon, though!