INKnBURN

INKnBURN

Monday, April 27, 2015

Little Lace Box April 2015

Little Lace Box is a newer subscription box for women. It's curated for women by three sisters and isn't really described as a "lifestyle" box, but curates their boxes around particular themes. They used to be a monthly box and that is changing after the April box. I think because of their popularity, they grew really fast. They put so much thought into the curations, it has been challenging keeping up. After April ... the subscriptions are going to every other month ... six times a year. I had an annual subscription ... so it extends it out 18 months for the remaining 9 boxes. No complaints.
You can purchase a bi-monthly subscription for $59.99. 3 boxes over 6 months for $149.97. 6 boxes over 12 months for $269.99. If you have a recurring subscription, you can email them to suspend subscription for any reason and then resume when  you are ready.  I purchased mine when the annual (12-box) subscription was $383.90 ($31.99/box). Shipping is between the 20th-23rd each month and they bill monthly just before shipping.  If you like items you receive and want more, they have an on-line boutique where you can purchase more. For every dollar you spend in the boutique or on the purchase of the box, you get a loyalty point.  50 loyalty points is one dollar to spend in the boutique.

I want to share how nice and personal these sisters are. I shared a link to my blog last month and one of them PM'd me back asking about my blog name and we chatted a bit. She was very sweet. I thought it was nice that they reached out personally. 
Such a nice personal touch, I received a text notification when my box was shipped out. So, I was anxiously awaiting it's arrival. The first thing I noticed was how HEAVY the box was and it is bigger than last month. I love how there is a personal note describing the thought that goes into each box. This month's theme was a reminder of the the things in life that remind us of home and family. For them it was their grandmother's Italian kitchen.

The first item in the box was this Porcelain Jewelry Dish by Artisan Janelle Bealieu: Perfect for putting rings in while cooking or doing dishes. Some were glazed, some were not.  The unglazed version should develop a nice patina with time. I received unglazed and I'm super happy with it. It is more authentic, in my mind. The lace pattern was either on the top or bottom of the dish. Mine is on top and I'm super happy about that too. Because they are handcrafted, each one will have a slightly different shape. I have heard some grumblings that some folks didn't like it because it doesn't look "finished" or looks "simple" and they weren't very nice. I love it. I think it looks very personal and I could easily see myself picking this up at a local farmer's market from the person who made it herself. This will get lots of use and will spare me from searching the counter for where I left my rings. Retail $14.99



Gourmet Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar from The Ancient Olive. What a great combination for a paring. I love olive oil and vinegar for dipping and dressing. This combination of Milanese Gremolata Olive Oil with the flavors of Italian herbs and Sicilian Lemon Balsamic Vinegar should be amazing. Retail $13.99. They also wanted to include a full-size bottle of olive oil, but where would it have fit. So, in true Little Lace Box form, we get to pick our own to choose just what will suit our own individual tastes. A form was included with suggested pairings and I might just have to spend a little coin to order a pair instead of a bottle. I really love the personalization that goes into the curation. Retail $13.99

Oil & Vinegar combinations wouldn't be complete without Olive Oil Dipping Bowls (by Le Cadeaux). These cute little individual bows are just perfect for it. Just a little nice touch for a dinner to add a little style. I love the roosters and fish and floral ... all very Italian kitchen to me. Retail $15.99

Tea Towel By Belle & Union Co. I always have a tea towel on the stove and I love the whimsy of this design. Retail $14.99. Following a similar theme of things you need in the kitchen is notepad for your grocery list. This Market List Notepad was designed by Little Lace Box to match the Tea Towel. I've never thought about it, but I suppose most are designed to be torn by a right-handed person and this is designed to be ambidextrous as one of the sisters is left-handed. This sure beats the post-it notepad that I have on the counter right now. Retail $4.99







Seriously, could you have an Italian Kitchen without gourmet pasta? I can't wait to try the Filotea Pennete della Domenica from Marx Foods and I won't be letting my husband do the cooking that night. It needs to be prepared perfectly and paired perfectly so we can get the true benefit of fine pasta. Retail $8.99 Along with the Pasta, the box included Trentasette Pesto from Marx Foods. I believe some people received a Sauce and some a Pate. Mine was Red Pesto with Truffles. It has a lot of cheese and cheese with rennet, so I'm passing it along to a friend. It does seem very gourmet. Retail $8.50

 Unfortunately, after every meal, dishes have to be done. So, the sisters included Cucina Dish Soap from Fruits & Passion. It's concentrated, eco-conscious, bio-degradable with a great scent. Retail $8.99

So, what do I think? I really love it. The box really did really follow a great theme. It had lots of small treats and items that are just a little bit decadent that I may not have picked up for myself, but that I will surely enjoy. It's a perfect Italian Kitchen with a value of $105.42. I love how some boxes have a few items of high value and some boxes are packed with a ton of items of lower value.






I can hardly wait for June. The box theme is Classy and Fabulous so should be filled with style items. And, thank God, they promised no temporary tattoos.