Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts

August 25, 2015

Have a Good Morning, Courtesy of Eucopia

UPDATE 03/15/2016
I'm really disappointed to say that it looks like this company already went out of business after two boxes. That's me jumping to conclusions, but they aren't answering emails and their January box was delayed till February, and it's March without a shipment. Fortunately, I was able to cancel from my account because I've also tried emailing them with no response. That's the hard part about subscribing to a new box, and also why I refused to sign up for a lengthy commitment to any new boxes!


Original Post
A few months ago my brother passed along an email from a friend who wanted to start up a European themed subscription box. I have tried a variety of subscription boxes and was really excited to see what Jason Toon's box would offer! I was able to try out his first [or second?] intro box for $35, and was quite impressed. You can see the Eucopia blog post [with far better pictures than my own] on their site.

This post is [incredibly] late, as I received the box in June. Summer has just passed me by in busy, lazy ways. But, on to Eucopia [or click here to see the Facebook page]! The box was put up on Indiegogo last month, and looks like it got 143% funded. Not bad, and it shows that people really like European stuff. How could you not? Because, come on, Europeans created wine, French bread, beer, gelato, waffles, and foreign films. Well, they're not really "foreign" in their own countries, and they probably didn't create boxed wine [my personal favorite].

The Eucopia box felt like a present. Jason hand delivered the box to my brother, who also purchased the box. Each item was nicely wrapped or packaged and nestled into crinkled paper padding.
There was a card describing each item, styled like a newsletter. It very pretty cool and informative. I've seen some of the fancier boxes like Oui Please use similar inserts. There was also a passport, which was sort of confusing. I think the concept of it was interesting, but not fully baked. To me, the passport should have had little stickers, and the box receiver would get the stickers from each country each time they got a new box, and only new subscribers would get the initial passport booklet. Sort of cheesy but cute.
Now, on to the meat of the box! I really appreciated how family-oriented this box was. It seemed like there was a little something in there for everyone.

Contents of the Morning Eucopia box:

  • De Ruijter--The Dutch sprinkles are in my fridge for if my nieces are over and I need to sprinkle everything in chocolate.
  • Couto--This Portuguese toothpaste is still unused on my desk, mostly because the packaging is so nice. I do plan to use it, so I should probably just put it in the bathroom!
  • Vasa Tvål Ab--Lingonberry soap on a rope from Finland. I meant to give this to my mom, and in fact it was in my suitcase for a week as we drove from WA to SD and back. I think I ended up using it as a gift for someone else, which is one really great aspect of subscription boxes! Items can be easily gifted =) 
  • Kikkerland--A Rotterdam/NYC designed clock, though it was made in China. I like this company, and occasionally see their products in various stores. I am not the sort of person who is picky about where an item was made, though I do see how people would be upset in purchasing a European box with outsourced items. However, I love this clock and it's on the shelf in my office next to an antique clock that doesn't work. This clock is nice and quiet, except for the first day I put the battery in and accidentally pushed the button to set off the alarm! 
  • d'Ancap--The best piece in the box was an Italian porcelain latte mug. Mine was in teal! It's hard to tell from my dark pictures, but it's teal, which is one of my favorite colors. I love this mug! Because it's summer, it's currently holding mints on our turquoise bookshelf [also weirdly next to a broken antique clock], but come Fall it will be filled with chai or tea. 

I thought this box was great. Though I did not personally find a use for all the items, they were perfect for gifting. Money is tight right now, but I think in the future I will have to get a subscription to this! I am quite happy it was more than funded on Indiegogo, and according to an email last month from the creator, after the campaign, the regular box will be $49 including shipping. I felt like this was a better price for the box, especially considering the weight of the contents.

The only thing this box is really missing is a price breakdown of the contents. I really like getting those in boxes because it makes it feel more like you got some awesome deal, and then you can also see that you didn't pay $50 for items that cost $38.

Blogging the depths of the abyss,
[a]


PS: According to Wikipedia... I mean, according to very reliable sources, boxed wine originated in Australia. Those geniuses. 

January 26, 2015

Not Just Funny Business Anymore!

While I am still interested in humor writing [though at this point I have loads of ideas and rarely write them out anymore], I want to add more to this blog. I do a lot of crafty things and cooking, plus I'm addicted to subscription boxes, and I know there are approximately 80 centrillion blogs like that out there, but I also know that writing is supposed to be good for you. I don't have many friends out in the PNW, so this is a nice way to share things and ideas with others.

First off, I found out a few months ago that I have anxiety and ADHD. Which makes a lot of sense, actually. This morning I got out of bed around 11am [having gone to bed at 3.30am] and the following is my path throughout the house:

  • desire to do pilates
  • room smells like boy stink, so light candle and open windows instead
  • decide to wash sheets as well
  • accidentally leave sheets in bedroom when going out to the garage [where the washer/dryer is], and instead work on planter started previous night
  • respray paint rocks for planter
  • go inside to grab something, forget, remember sheets, put them in wash
  • work on planter 
  • make bed
  • work on planter
  • remember I wanted to do pilates
  • have breakfast
  • work on planter
  • take a nap
  • make dinner
  • go to the store
  • finish planter
  • work on homework for first week of class

I never actually got around to doing pilates, and it's now past midnight. I wanted to sort of give you an idea of my day so that future posts make a little bit more sense. Following through, being on time, remembering anything, and listening are my giant weaknesses! Right now there are like 30 half finished projects in my craft closet. Though, I am rather proud of myself for finishing off my planter / Darby Smart Pebble Terrarium! Obviously I couldn't leave it completely white, so I did some spray paint [pictures soon].

As for my craft closet, right now it's filled with past hobbies like collage materials, card making supplies like stamps, papers, inks, etc., buttons for projects, a sewing machine and some fabric, yarn for crocheting and arm knitting, letter from penpals along with a large supply of paper, envelopes, pens, and envelope-making supplies, and now my new hobby is jewelry making. I started on a stacking ladder bracelet last night, and I also bought a mini beading loom that I've made a couple of bracelets on. I don't understand how people do some of the crazy weaving projects out there... I cannot stay on task for that long, though I do enjoy doing fine motor activities.

That looks like a good start. Okay, break! I'll leave you with this picture that describes me perfectly, and I may or may not ever continue writing on here =) Let's go with may.

from Everyday People Cartoons

Blogging the depths of the abyss, 
[a]

April 1, 2013

50 Ways to Lose Your Roomie [Pt. I]

Living with people isn't for me. It's not that I hate people [or maybe it is and we're just going to pretend like it not], it's that I don't like my things being touched. Fortunately, other than my Rold Gold, my sister doesn't touch my carby food.

However, my last year of college I had several roommates. While living with them, one had a friend stay over and I cringed when I heard my roomie say to her friend, "Make yourself at home. Eat anything you want." The next morning I shuffled into the kitchen to find a bowl of barely touched strawberry instant oatmeal. My favorite. The packets that I save for last because they're the best. And she had wasted it.

I know your heart broke for me. Mine re-broke just typing that.

However, years later I've come up with a solution. Does your roommate have any allergies or foods they hate? Find them out--come up with a list. Then stock your cabinets with those items. Learn to love the things your roommate hates. That way you'll never have to "share" again!

Does he hate raisins in his food? Easy. Mac'n'Cheese'n'Raisins.

Maybe your roomie is allergic to nuts? Here are some ideas: peanut sauce on all your main dishes, crushed nuts in every cereal box, and be sure to rub peanut oil all over the lids.


Some people hate colors or textures of foods. We can work with that! Aversion to creamy sauces? Mayonnaise, horsey sauce, cream cheese, and alfredo sauce go on pretty much everything. Freaked out by jiggly substances? Gel all of your foods into Jell-o mealtime creations!

Good luck!

Blogging the depths of the abyss,
[a]