unboxing: Fair Trade Friday January 2015

This is my second month subscribing to Fair Trade Friday since making it off the waiting list. Fridays are already good days for me since they are my one guaranteed day of the week I won't have school or work, but now thanks to FTF, the first Friday of the month is somehow even better!

Fair Trade Friday
January 2015
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unboxing: CauseBox by Sevenly Winter 2014

CauseBox is a brand new subscription from Sevenly that sends out $150 worth of socially conscious items quarterly, though after this first amazing box I wish they shipped every month instead of only every three!

CauseBox by Sevenly
Winter 2014
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unboxing: Fair Treasure December 2014

Oh my, I have been getting a little behind on posting my boxes this month! I believe I have five unboxings to post, if I can get to them all today. I'll start with Fair Treasure, my monthly fix of fair trade crafts!

Fair Treasure
December 2014
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unboxing: Fair Trade Friday December 2014

Yay! I finally got off the wait list for the super popular monthly Fair Trade Friday subscription box! On the first Friday of the month, subscribers receive a package of thoughtful fair trade gifts. Today is Saturday, but I'm not complaining about my package being one little day late, especially considering how great the items are that I received.

Fair Trade Friday
December 2014
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unboxing: Birchbox November 2014

Most boxes I subscribe to are either fair-trade items or green beauty items. Birchbox is my one exception that sends out a mix of green and not-so-green beauty items, but I just can't give it up!

Birchbox
November 2014
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unboxing: Fair Treasure November 2014

Fair Treasure is my monthly treat to myself that sends me a box of 2-3 beautiful fair-trade creations from artisans around the world. The monetary value of the items for me is always equal or slightly more than the box cost, but the business it creates for the artisans is incredibly valuable to them and their families.

Fair Treasure
November 2014
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unboxing: Limited Edition Conscious Commerce for Birchbox Men's Box

I make every effort to live a green and mindful life, and my husband supports me, but I'm still working on encouraging him to be more mindful himself. I mean, he will use my 100% natural shampoo if it's within his reach during his shower, but if a bottle of Old Spice or something was there instead that would be what he used. Still, I really liked the look of the men's version of the limited edition Conscious Commerce for Birchbox and bought it because I figured I could keep for myself what he wasn't interested in :).

Limited Edition
Conscious Commerce for Birchbox
Men's Box
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unboxing: Limited Edition Conscious Commerce for Birchbox Women's Box

This year, Birchbox has really impressed me with the wonderful holiday boxes they have created. Great as they looked, I was able to restrain myself from purchasing one until I saw their two Conscious Commerce collaboration boxes, and I had to have them both. This unboxing is for the women's version.

Limited Edition

Conscious Commerce for Birchbox

Women's Box

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unboxing: Mercy House + Fair Trade Friday Limited Edition High End Box

Fair Trade Friday is a super-popular monthly subscription that delivers 3-4 high-quality fair trade items to subscribers by the first Friday of every month. They are so popular that their subscriptions are often sold out! I am currently on the wait list for a spot, but I did snag a limited edition box from them I want to show off! The box I am featuring today is a collaboration with Mercy House featuring high end fair trade items.

Mercy House + Fair Trade Friday
Limited Edition High End Box
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Fair Treasure October Collection

Remember how I told you Fair Treasure was launching a new shopping experience?! Last night, I got the e-mail to register an account to shop their first monthly collection! How exciting!

As of yet, only current Fair Treasure subscribers can purchase from this collection. Everything is limited in supply, so could be sold out before the collection becomes available to everyone else. Here is what is available this month:

Jane Cuff - Custom Design: $34

I got this in my October box and love it! I was already hoping to buy more to gift, so this is great!

Link It Up Earrings: $22

I got these in the September box, they are gorgeous and musical :).

Marquet Open Weave Scarf: $21

I looove scarves, and these look particularly gorgeous, I might have to have one (or two).

Jogi-flower Cushion Cover: $32

I got one of these in the September box, a second would pair perfectly with mine currently on my couch.

Ceramic Owl Wine Stopper: $16

I love owls, these are so adorable, though I'm unsure which month box these are from. I've always wondered what male subscribers receive in their monthly boxes instead of jewelry. Maybe one of these?

~ ~ ~

I experimented a little bit to see how much shipping would cost (it's not free) and would usually get a flat $5 or $10 rate, but I haven't completed check-out yet. I haven't decided on just what I want yet because everything looks so great! I'm glad Fair Treasure created this option to purchase such neat fair-trade items through their website! 

Disclosure: I am not sponsored by or affiliated with any brand mentioned. All opinions are my own! 

unboxing: Fair Treasure October 2014

Green beauty is not my only obsession; I am also crazy for unique, fair-trade and handcrafted art pieces. I absolutely love my subscription to Fair Treasure who delivers 2-3 gorgeous pieces to my mailbox every month.

Fair Treasure
November 2014
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store special saturday: Pura Vida Bracelets. My experience, review and giveaway!

Who doesn't love free stuff? 

Anybody, anybody? 

I didn't think so.

Glad to see you back for my next-to-last post in this week-long series, and the first edition of Store Special Saturday! This will be a day to feature specials for my eBay store, such as discounts, free sample offers and giveaways!

Since today is my first time posting a Store Special Saturday, I felt like it needed to be special. And by special, I mean long and involved. Today, I want to write about my experience ordering from Pura Vida Bracelets.

photo credit

Pura Vida translates from Spanish to "Pure Life", and what better name for a company that started out with two Californians and two Costa Ricans, but now employs more than 65 free spirited artisans? Not only is Pura Vida fair trade, the company also donates to 190+ charities worldwide.

I got my first Pura Vida bracelet a few months ago because I was just short of the free shipping mark on an order I was placing and the $5 bracelet would get me there. Once I received it, I loved it and wore it for two weeks straight. Then one day a friend passed along to me a 50% off coupon to shop direct and so I placed my first order on August 20th!

(Please leave a comment if interested in a 50% off coupon for yourself; I can e-mail you one!)

Pura Vida ships with DHL, which means the package starts out with the company DHL and ends up delivered by USPS. Handling was on the slow side, but once my order was shipped on August 25th it sped it's way into my hands by the 27th. I was so excited to rip in, but restrained myself in order to snap some unpackaging pics!

Look at the sticker they sent with my order! Those pineapples are cute and my sticker is stuck to my algebra notebook looking rather spiffy right now :). Packaging was so nice. Except for my "Ocean Pack" set, each individual bracelet was tucked neatly away into a little drawstring bag bearing the name of "Pura Vida", plus the back of the bag says that if I return 10 of these little bags back to Pura Vida I can get a free bracelet!

See those notecards with the turtle and planet? Those are bracelets that support charities such as "Save The Turtles!" and "1% For The Planet".

And what can I say about the bracelets themselves? They are simple yet chic, waterproof and practically indestructible. They are stackable,  collectible, and easy to become obsessed with! I wear two or three on one wrist most days, and am proud to say I am the cause for the empty spaces in some friends' wallets where the money once was that was paid to Pura Vida.

Now, here's the part you've been waiting for, the part where I say what's in this post for you.

Free Pura Vida bracelets!

(UPDATE: Promotion Expired)

Starting now and ending one week from today, Saturday October 11th at 11:59 CST, I am giving away one assorted original Pura Vida bracelet in a logo pouch to eight of my lovely customers. Here's how to get one:

1. Leave me a nice comment here on this post or any other post on my blog. Comments left previous to this post do not apply!

2. Make a purchase from my eBay store here, no minimum purchase required, not applicable to purchases made previous to this post! 

3. During checkout of your purchase, write a note to seller saying that you commented, where, and that you want your FREE Pura Vida bracelet.

4. That's it! Easy, no? I'll update this post if/when I hit that eight customer limit.

I hope you had fun reading this post, and hope to see you back tomorrow for my final post in this week-long series we've been making our way through :).

Disclosure: I am not sponsored by or affiliated with any brand mentioned.  This giveaway is sponsored solely by eco Beauty on eBay. All opinions are my own!