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Sunday, February 28, 2016

GAIA Collective MoonBox Review and Coupon

My best friend Linze introduced me to the world of full moon rituals, and when I found out about GAIA Collective's MoonBox I was interested in reviewing it for a number of reasons. If you're not familiar with what full moon rituals are this box is a great way to delve in!

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


GAIA Collective is made up of a group of artists who believe in spreading positive intentions and universal compassion. Their MoonBox is sent out each moon cycle and they also host a Moon Event featuring a full moon ritual and meditation. This box allows you to participate in the event from the comfort of your home!

There are two subscription options. The Moon Gift box costs $12.50 per box with $2 shipping, and the MoonBox (which I am reviewing here) is $29.50 per box with free shipping.
  • The Moon Gift box is a small gift set for internal guidance and includes a hand-picked crystal, essential oil blend, tea/soak herb blend, and a mantra.
  • The MoonBox comes with three hand-picked crystals, an essential oil blend, tea/soak herb blend, featured item, a moon oracle card, guided meditation, full moon ritual, full moon ritual supplies, and you can add a wearable gem for $10.
GAIA Collective has partnered with Trees for the Future and plants 10 trees for every box sold!



The box is medium sized and came wrapped in brown paper. The actual box is white and has a MoonBox design and other images around the sides.


This box was for the Virgo full moon that occurred on February 22nd. This moon had a lot of significance for me because my moon sign is actually in Virgo. If you're not familiar with astrology, you have your sun sign, which is generally the sign that people refer to. I'm a Capricorn because I was born December 28th, but there are also rising signs (mine is Aries) and moon signs. You can learn more about that with a quick search, but I wanted to explain for anyone who wasn't familiar.

Anyway, Virgo is an Earth sign and is ruled by the planet Mercury. The moon oracle card that was included states that "powerful intentions can be planted and diligently tended to with the divine energy of the Goddess Virgo. Allow this time to be a positive force for motivation." There is more information on the card, but that is the main message.

As you can see, the box is beautifully packaged! I couldn't wait to learn more about all of the items and how to do the full moon ritual.


Here's everything that was inside of the box. Along with a printed version of the full moon ritual, GAIA Collective also emails you a guided meditation and ritual instructions. I received my email on the 21st and my box arrived on the 22nd, just in time for the full moon.
  • Crystals - I received peridot, quartz point, and labradorite. Peridot enhances connections with friendliness and relationships with compassion. It is a stone of rebirth, renewal, and repair. Quartz point is an amplifier of all energies and is the time keeper and healer of the world. This is used to magnify your intentions. Labradorite is surrounded in magic and mystery and is the stone of the stars. Use it to connect with the mysterious dream realms.
  • Essential Oil - This box's blend contained lemongrass, rosemary, sweet marjoram, thyme, white spruce, black spruce, peppermint, and spearmint, This smells amazing and I pick up on the lemongrass notes the most.
  • Herbal Tea - The tea is made of dandelion root, fennel, ginger, hibiscus, holy basil, elderberry, licorice root, and rhodiola root.
  • Peridot Gemstone Essence - This is the little stopper bottle in the photo above and is an energetic remedy that was created during the full moon of Imbolc. The instructions say to add five drops in water, topically, or directly by mouth.
  • Full Moon Ritual items - A succulent chipping and hexagonal jar with lid were included for the actual ritual.
The ritual instructions say to add a bit of soil to the jar and plant the succulent. Moss from the box lining and your crystals can also be added to the mini terrarium. Think about this ritual as the process of bringing something to life. This succulent represents the intention you wish to bring to life during this full moon, and when it begins to manifest the succulent will grow too big for the jar and will need to be replanted. This is a sign of the beginning of your new journey!

The email contained more detailed instructions on what to do for the ritual, which I have placed at the end of this post for anyone who's interested. The guided meditation was also nice to have to listen to.
Bottom Line: I think the GAIA Collective MoonBox community is a wonderful introduction to guided meditations and full moon rituals! The box itself is beautiful and I found the ritual to be very calming. I have been going through some personal things recently (haven't we all?), and being able to center myself and focus on a new intention helped to put things into perspective.

If you're interested in seeing the full ritual, click the "Read More."

Saturday, February 27, 2016

February Snakku Review

If you aren't already aware, I am obsessed with Snakku! I've reviewed their boxes before and they're consistently one of the best snack boxes out there, in my opinion. February's box featured snacks for Valentine's Day!

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



Snakku sends authentic Japanese snacks that are only available in Japan! They also include more popular foods like Pocky, but my favorite thing about this box is that it gives me access to things I wouldn't be able to try otherwise.

Boxes cost $38.95 per month, which may seem a little high, but consider the beautiful packaging (as seen above) and the fact that you get authentic snacks that you can't just find in the grocery store, and I think it's well worth the price!


Each box comes with an info card that describes the snacks but also gives background information on Japanese culture and the snacks' significance. February is strawberry season in Japan, and this month's selection featured strawberry-flavored snacks from the snowy city of Kanazawa.

  • Chocolate Arare - These are from a rice cracker store in Kyoto and are chocolate-covered mini rice crackers. The two pouches (far right of the photo above) come in two varieties: bitter and sweet. The bitter pack has matcha green tea, dark chocolate, and white chocolate covered crackers, and the sweet has strawberry, milk chocolate, and white chocolate. I tried the sweet pack so far and I love the salty/sweet combo!
  • Chocolate Fruit Crunch - These were my favorite snack in the box! They're made by a boutique store in Hakata, an old merchant city in southern Japan. They're made from locally-sourced fruits, cocoa from Madagascar, and cream from Hokkaido. The two flavors included were strawberry and blueberry, and they reminded me of a strawberry/blueberry crunch ice cream pop.
  • Pururun Strawberry Mochi - Mochi is kind of difficult to describe to someone who's never tried it before, but I'll do my best: it's a soft snack that kind of looks like a gummy candy on the outside and has filling on the inside. These are also made by Hakata Fuubian and are made with the finest rice in the area and stuffed with strawberries from the island of Kyushu.
  • Chocolate Senbei - These adorable senbei are shaped like hearts! They're covered in rich milk chocolate from Hokkaido and were absolutely delicious.
  • Gold Okaki - These snacks are so pretty! They're crepe crackers that are baked and then dipped in a ginger emulsion and topped with edible gold foil. They're hand made in Kanazawa, where they've been in production for over 500 years. I found the cracker really hard to bite into, but it had a great ginger taste.
Pururun Strawberry Mochi, Chocolate Senbei, and Gold Okaki
Chocolate Fruit Crunch

This month's box also had a good number of more popular snacks, all of which I loved!
  • Strawberry Heart Pocky - Pocky is just so good and I could easily eat an entire box in one sitting! The strawberry flavor is my favorite. If you haven't had these before, they're wafer sticks that are dipped in strawberry cream.
  • Umaibo - I love the cartoon on the packaging for these! They're airy corn puff sticks and were the perfect salty snack.
  • Ichigo Milk Candy - These have been popular since 1970 and have a multi-layer strawberry and milk filling.
  • Senbei - Senbei are rice crackers, and these came in two flavors: plum (the smaller one) and soy seaweed (larger ones).
  • Green Tea KitKat - I've always heard that Japan has a bunch of different Kit Kat flavors so I was excited to try these. They had a nice creamy flavor and were very good!
Bottom Line: Snakku is such a good box and I loved February's selection of snacks! The Valentine's Day theme was really cute and I loved all of the strawberry foods.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

January Harvey Prince The Story of Perfume Box and Freebie!

I have been a huge fan of Harvey Prince Organics for a while now and when I heard that they were launching a subscription box I was so excited to try it! Now you can get a delivery of luxury fragrances made with natural ingredients that are vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free, too!

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


Harvey Prince Organics was founded by two brothers who wanted to create the perfect perfume as a Mother's Day gift to their mother. The result of this endeavor was their first perfume, Ageless. Ever since they've been creating boutique-quality scents that are free from toxic chemicals.

Their new The Story of Perfume Box comes with two private blend Harvey Prince perfumes available only from the box! The exclusive fragrances are made with the finest essential oils and high quality natural ingredients and come in a 7 mL rollerball. Each box also contains two samples from Harvey Prince's best-selling bath, hair, and body lines, which will range in size from 15 to 30 mL. And again, all of their products are vegan, gluten-, and cruelty-free!


The box launched in January 2016 (with this box that I am reviewing) and is available in one, three, six, and 12 month options. Each box costs $22 per month regardless of the length of your subscription (so, for example, a three month subscription costs $66 every three months). The boxes ship worldwide, and your shipping costs will depend on where you live. I think this is an amazing price, especially considering you're getting exclusive perfumes!



The first thing I noticed about this box is how beautiful the packaging is! The box itself is sturdy and embossed with the Harvey Prince logo on the top, and inside there was the prettiest tissue paper.


The big ticket items here are the mini rollerballs. I absolutely love both scents!
  • D'Amore - This perfume is inspired by a woman exploring Venice, Italy and smells like the perfect balance of spicy and sweet to me. The top notes include Italian bergamot, Cypress oil, and sweet pink grapefruit. Next come lily, jasmine, cyclamen, and deep blond woods as well as vanilla, patchouli, vetiver, tonka bean, sandalwood, and clean musk. No wonder I love this so much; it has so many fragrance notes that I love! I wore this today and it smelled so amazing on my skin, and it lasted for at least six hours. This is definitely a new favorite!
  • Baciami - This perfume is inspired by Rome, Italy and smells like a spicy floral to me. The name means "kiss me" in Italian, how cute! The notes include lemon, cassis, pineapple, calla lily, jasmine, brown sugar, sandalwood, vanilla, and musk. This didn't last as long on my skin as D'Amore, maybe two or three hours, but I think it smells wonderful and I still love it.

The two body care samples were in a scent I have tried before, Hello. I've actually tried both of these products before, too, thanks to other subscription boxes.
  • Hello Liquid Loofah Exfoliating Shower Gel - The Liquid Loofah gel doesn't require a sponge and is meant to be applied directly to the skin. It leaves skin feeling soft, smooth, and hydrated. The Hello scent is a blend of Sicilian lemon, Spanish mandarin, and plumeria.
  • Hello Body Cream - This contains shea butter, citrus botanicals, and sweet almond oil to keep skin feeling soft and hydrated.

The box also contained two spray vials that were 1.5 mL in size.
  • Bailando - Another new perfume to love! This is another spicy/sweet combo (can you tell that that's my favorite?) with notes of Spanish mandarin, Moroccan rose, Japanese orange flower, Indian jasmine, Australian sandalwood, Madagascar vanilla, clean musk, and dry woods.
  • Perfumista - This is the one scent that I didn't fall head over heels in love with, but don't take that as a reflection on its quality. It is just very floral, which is not my personal favorite. It has notes of South African freesia, Japanese orange flower, Moroccan rose, and hints of Indonesian clove bud and Australian sandalwood.
I can't believe this box only costs $22! Considering that a Harvey Prince 8.8 mL rollerball retails for $23, I'd say that's an amazing deal. I know that the mini rollerballs are smaller than that, but the box also contained four other samples. 

Now, remember how I said that the mini rollerballs are exclusive to the box? If you missed out on this box you can still purchase one of the minis individually for $30 on the Harvey Prince website, OR, you can use the promo code that Harvey Prince has so generously provided for my readers to get one for free! You do have to pay shipping (which will vary depending on your location), but that won't cost anywhere near the $30 retail price!
Bottom Line: If you're a perfume lover you must give this box a try! I think it's very fairly priced and, in my experience, Harvey Prince Organics perfumes are high quality. They're also vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, and made with natural ingredients! What's not to love?

Sunday, February 21, 2016

February Birchbox Review

February's Birchbox featured samples to help create "not-quite-everyday" looks. It wasn't my favorite box ever, but there were a few samples that I'll get good use out of.

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


I don't really see the theme reflected in the samples I got, because everything seems pretty everday to me. I've said it before, but I feel like Birchbox's themes are never really on point.
  • ARROW Boost Color Enhancing Lip Balm - This is what I picked for sample choice and it ended up being my favorite sample in the box. ARROW is Birchbox's new brand that's vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, and gluten-free (do lip balms normally contain gluten?), and I wanted to try this balm because I love lip balms. This one is fun because it reacts with the pH of your skin to bring out the natural color of your lips, and it really works! I'm glad I got it in the box because, even though I like it, I wouldn't pay $14 for it.
  • Not Soap, Radio Body Wash - I've never been a huge fan of Not Soap, Radio products and I'm not really sure why. They just seemed kind of cheap to me. Anyway, I got the scent "Liquid Freud," which is coconut milk and mango scented. I posted it for swap.
  • Obliphica Professional Seaberry Serum, Medium to Coarse - I love getting hair serums because I heat style every day and these are great at revitalizing and smoothing my hair. This one smells wonderful and left my hair feeling silky and soft.
  • Whish Revitalizing Cleansing Oil - Is it just me, or do Whish samples hardly ever contain enough product? I didn't use this, but I feel like there's hardly any product in the tube. I already have a cleansing oil from Badger Balm that I really like, so I probably won't use this.
  • Color Club That's My Jam - I love nail polish and Color Club, but I have so many red polishes! I posted this for swap.
Bottom Line: Overall, not my favorite box, but I do really like the ARROW balm and the Obliphica serum. They can't all be winners, and hopefully I'll be more excited about next month's box!

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

February Beauty Box 5 Review

Happy 4th birthday, Beauty Box 5! I've been reviewing their boxes for quite some time now (maybe two years, maybe more?) and they get better and better with each month. February was no exception!

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


Beauty Box 5 sends five deluxe samples and full-sized products for only $12 a month! In my experience, usually at least half of items are full-sized. Shipping is free to U.S. addresses and $3 to Canadian ones.

In honor of their fourth birthday, February's box was filled with items to help you sparkle on! One item was even custom made for BB5.

  • Hemp Nation Kiwi-Mango Body Wash ($7.99 for 2 fl oz) - The info card has this listed as a full-sized item, but I think that might be a misprint. It appears that a full-sized bottle is 8 oz. Anyway, this smells delicious! Kiwi and mango are two of my favorite scents.
  • Manna Kadar Beauty 3 in 1 in Fantasy ($19, full-sized) - This is definitely a full-sized item and I love it! I've used a few other Manna Kadar products and they're good quality. The shade goes on lighter than I expected it to (see swatch photo at the end of this post), but it's a great highlighter.
  • Epic Blend Hemp Premium Lip Balm ($3.49 for .15 oz, full-sized) - I received the "Raspberry Pomegranate" flavor. I don't remember the last time I had to purchase a lip balm because I get so many from subscription boxes, but I am not complaining! This one is non-GMO, gluten-free, and made with natural ingredients.
  • Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Eye Shadow Primer ($9.71 for .17 oz) - I'm almost out of eye primer so I'm excited to give this one a try. It has a waterproof formula to help shadow stay all day long.
  • Starlooks Custom Lip Liner in Sultry Sangria ($16, full-sized) - BB5 teamed up with Starlooks to create this exclusive shade just for the box! It's a pretty mauve/pink that will work well with a lot of lipsticks that I have.
Bottom Line: Without accounting for the Hemp Nation body wash, this month's box had an approximate retail value of $48.20! That's an amazing deal for only $12. I can't wait to see what else Beauty Box 5 has in store for their fourth year!

Monday, February 15, 2016

Julep "You Said Yes!" Free Gift!

From now through February 27th, Julep is offering a free You Said Yes! duo with any purchase of $20 or more!

*Disclaimer: Post contains affiliate links.

You Said Yes Wedding Duo GWP

The set includes Lillian, a petal pink and Kris, a diamond-like silver for the perfect engagement manicure! Even if you didn't say yes this Valentine's Day, these colors are still gorgeous for transitioning into spring.

To claim this free gift, add the You Said Yes duo to your shopping bag, along with $20 of other merchandise, and use coupon code RINGITON. Not sure what you want to buy along with the duo? Shop Julep's Wedding collection for some ideas!

Offer expires 2/27/16 at 11:59 PM PT, or while supplies last. Promotional code RINGITON must be entered at checkout, and is valid for 1 free gift per order. To receive free gift, add the You Said Yes duo to shopping bag, in addition to $20+ of other julep.com products. Promotion excludes the Jule Box, Savvy Deals, Julep add-ons, Sweet Steals and Secret Store catalogs. Not valid for purchase of julep.com gift cards, gift boxes, Gift of Maven, or Mystery Boxes. Orders placed for the Monthly Maven Reveal (e.g. monthly Maven Boxes, Upgrade Boxes, and add-ons) are not eligible. No exchanges or returns on free gift. No adjustments on previous purchases. Taxes vary by location.

Friday, February 12, 2016

Columbia Skincare: First Aid for Sensitive Skin

Columbia Skincare has been creating high quality products with real benefits for 144 years. All of their products are developed to provide curative results using the best ingredients. The Antiseptic Powder is a medicated powder that's perfect for sensitive skin.

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


The Columbia Antiseptic Powder is produced in the exact same way it was originally done over 100 years ago! Clearly their formula and process works. It's fragrance free, allergy tested, and cruelty-free as well (PETA-verified).

The powder promotes "the natural healing of irritated skin." I wanted to give it a try because I have always had sensitive skin and have especially had issues with eczema since childhood. It can be used for all sorts of ailments, from diaper rash to insect bites to sunburn. I used it on my feet after working out because, well, feet get gross and sweaty after a workout! It felt soothing on my skin and I only needed a small amount to zap up excess moisture and leave my skin feeling comfortable and dry.


The active ingredient isn't visible in the photo above due to glare from my lighting, but it contains zinc oxide as a skin protectant. The inactive ingredients are talc, boric acid, and carbolic acid (phenol). As you can see, it's a very simple mixture that can be used for a wide variety of conditions.
Bottom Line: I'm impressed with the Columbia Skincare Antiseptic Powder, especially because it's been around for so long and is still proven effective. It didn't irritate my skin in the least and I look forward to using it for things like bug bites once the nice weather returns!

Friday, February 5, 2016

Bag Balm On-the-Go Tube Review

I love wintertime because it means much less humidity, but that also means dry, dry skin! I like to have a moisturizer with me wherever I go, especially because the tops of my hands get very rough and cracked during this time of year. I recently tried Bag Balm's new On-the-Go tube and I'm loving it!

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


Bag Balm was first created over 115 years ago by a pharmacist in Wells River in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom to help protect cow's udders from chafing and cracking. Even though it was first made for use on livestock, people started using it to moisturize cuts, callouses, and any other dry skin ailments.

I received their new On-the-Go tube to try, which contains .25 ounces of product. That may not seem like a lot, but I think it's the perfect size for exactly what it's named for: on-the-go! It has an angled tip applicator, making it perfect for use on the lips or cuticles. Bag Balm is also available in one-, four-, and eight-ounce tins. If you're really looking to invest in some, you can get a four and a half pound pail!


Like I said before, the tops of my hands get very dry and rough in the winter, to the point of being painful sometimes. I applied this directly to the rough patches and it provided instant relief and long-lasting moisture. It's made with petrolatum and lanolin (as you can see from the photo above), so it's highly concentrated and a little goes a long way. If you've never smelled lanolin before, it has a kind of strange scent at first, but I don't mind it because the product works so well otherwise!

After I applied this to my hands I didn't need to re-moisturize for quite some time (at least an hour or more). I like that it not only soothes my already dry skin, but it helps prevent it from drying out again for a long time.
Bottom Line: I really like Bag Balm and I think the On-the-Go tube is the perfect size for keeping some handy at all times! I would keep one in my purse, one at my desk at work, one in my car...basically, I never want to be without it!

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

SnackNation Review - Healthy and Delicious Office Snacks!

I work in an office and oftentimes I find it hard to sit still. I'll get up and take a short walk or get some coffee to break up the time, and sometimes I'll find my way to the vending machines. The vending machines at my office are stuffed with crap, like most vending machines. But I love snacking! What's a girl to do? Well, I could beg management to get us a subscription to SnackNation!

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


SnackNation launched in 2013 and to address the demand for healthier snacks in the workplace. As such, they cater to businesses, not individual customers, which I wanted to point out before listing their pricing below. But before I get to that, I also wanted to mention that SnackNation wants to help enhance employee productivity, health, and happiness by providing delicious snacks to keep people motivated and engaged.

Plans start at $299 a month, and SnackNation will work with you to choose the best option for your office size and budget. Shipping is free. If you're not sure yet if SnackNation is right for you, you can request a sample box that you only have to pay $9.95 shipping for. Each box is expertly-curated with a mix of new and exciting snacks, with a 50% rotation every month (so you won't be getting the same snacks over and over again).


I think that the box I received is an example of what you'll get if you request a sample box. The actual boxes that are sent to your office for $299+ are much bigger and contain many more snacks. Again, SnackNation will work with you to figure out the best size and pricing for your office.



I was so excited to tear into this box because I love snacks!!! If I was more generous I would have taken this into my office to share, but I'm not so I didn't. I did share some of the snacks with my family, though!


The box had a great variety of snacks, with 16 packages total. I think this sample box is a great deal for only $9.95! Here's what was inside (items without a description are ones I haven't tried yet):
  • Super Human Snacks BBQ Crisps - Delicious! These are air-popped chips that were very light in texture but huge in flavor.
  • Pro Bar Bite Organic Snack Bar in Superfood Greens
  • Nature's Bakery Fig Bar
  • Nourish Snacks Berry'd Treasure Blueberry-Acai Granola Bites - I took these with me to work for a breakfast on-the-go and I loved them! They had great flavor and were the perfect balance of soft and crunchy.
  • Ginny Minis Coconut Oatmeal Bliss  - I am not a fan of coconut so I passed these along to my parents but they said they were delicious.
  • PopCrinkles Popped Potato Crinkles in Sour Cream & Onion - LOVED THESE! Sour cream and onion is one of my favorite chip flavors, and these were nice and light and crispy.
  • Deep River Snacks Rosemary & Olive Oil Kettle Chips - I love kettle chips and I've had this brand before so I knew I would love these. They were the first thing I ate from the box.
  • Epic Chicken Meat - This sounds so weird (and I haven't tried it yet) but I think it's basically chicken jerky.
  • 18 Rabbits Jr. Chocolate Banana - I love 18 Rabbits and this was so, so, good! It had tons of chocolate chips and was nice and sweet.
  • Clif Organic Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter - I had this as a pre-workout snack and it had chocolate coating on the bottom. I really liked it! I usually don't like Clif bars but this one had better flavor than any other Clif bar I've ever had.
  • Jackson's Honest Sweet Potato Chips - These are made with coconut oil and are so good! I've had Jackson's Honest before but not the sweet potato chips and I was very happy with the crunch and flavor.
  • Buddha Bowl Himalayan Organic Popcorn - I love this popcorn; it is slightly sweet and has great flavor.
  • Chinook Seedery Original - Sunflower seeds are always a good snack.
  • Simply 7 Quinoa Chips in Barbeque - These were light and airy with a good crisp and great barbeque flavor.
  • Dang Toasted Coconut Chips - Again, not a fan of coconut, so I gave these to my dad.
  • Barnana Organic Coffee Banana Bites - These are chocolate and banana covered coffee beans. The chocolate and banana perfectly balanced out the coffee bean's flavor.
Bottom Line: I think that SnackNation is a great option for any office and I hope that my office chooses to subscribe! The snacks are healthier than the garbage you'll find in a vending machine and are really delicious. If you want to try out their sample box you can for only $9.95. You can keep it for yourself or take it into your office to help convince your bosses to sign up!

Monday, February 1, 2016

February PopSugar Must Have Spoilers and Coupon!

PopSugar Must Have has released two spoiler's for February's box! Each box will have a Coconut Milk Hydrating Lotion and a $20 Victoria's Secret Reward Card (the lotion is by VS, too)!

*Disclaimer: Post contains affiliate links.


Click here to purchase February's box. New subscribers can use coupon code MUSTHAVE5 for $5 off their first box.

What do you think of the spoilers? I think they're a good fit for February and Valentine's Day and I might have to pick up a box for myself!