Who Doesn't Love Mail?

I have a confession. Probably not a shocking one. 

I am obsessed with monthly subscription boxes. 

You know, the ones that send you a bunch of random stuff, wrapped in tissue, straight to your door? 

I want all the boxes, all the pretty things. Less selfishly, I want to send them to everyone. I have literally found subscriptions for anything, that could be easily sent to everyone we love. 

The only thing preventing me from ordering all the boxes right now, is the fact that I am glued to the couch, and that many of the most beautiful boxes don't ship to Canada. Or, if they do it's at a much higher cost! 

I think these boxes are such a great idea, I mean who doesn't love mail? Especially when it's a surprise! The excitement of opening a box and not knowing what you'll pull out next! 

For a while blogland seemed to be having lots of package swaps, that were essentially these boxes but more personalized. What ever happened to those? I'd love to get in on that!

From my extensive research and drooling on the keyboard I've found a few boxes that I absolutely want to order for myself, a friend or my dear husband and these lovely creations do ship to Canada! #winning.

Check, check, check out the links below and please let me know if you've got a favourite monthly box subscription service! There are so many options I'm having trouble deciding! 

Umba's Discover & Delight Boxes

These boxes are full of handmade treasures, everything from soap to jewelry to candles! They look gorgeous and have some great reviews! Plus, they ship to Canada at a very reasonable rate! 

Canadian Prices (Including Shipping): $34/month, $102/3 Months, $174/6 Months, $323/12 months 

Beauty Box 5

Another great box that ships to Canada! They send you a variety (5/month) of beauty products to try, some are higher end brands and others are more mainstream. This box also has fabulous reviews and looks awesome! You can order in 3, 6, or 12 monthly intervals! 

$12/month, $30/3 months, $99/12 months and free shipping!

Wet Shave Club

Courtesy of The Wet Shave Club Facebook Page

This one is obviously for my lovely manfriend. He has been wet shaving for over a year now and loves his life, this box filled with fancy shaving soaps and blades would make him very happy. Plus, it looks so swanky! 

$20/month, 3 months/$55, $100/6 months and free shipping! 

Fortune Cookie Soap Box 

Each box has a different theme or style, Summer 2014 was Candy Land! They offer a variety of products including dry shampoo, hand sanitizer, cuticle butter, bath fizzies, body butter and other truly useful beauty products! Eight in each box. Seriously how cute are these? 

$20 in the US, $28 in Canada, including shipping, and they send them out every 3 months! 

The list could go on and on.  Stichfix, Bespoke Post, Boxsome, Fancy Box are worth checking out too! 

Seriously, let me know if you've got a favourite- I am trying to resist giving my credit cards a major work out! 

Keep Smiling :) 

Pop Culture Confessions.

I cried hysterically when Regis retired from Live With Regis & Kelly. I had to work when the episode aired but I caught up on YouTube, hysterically basically from the beginning. Jay did not understand my emotions.

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Related (& Possibly Disturbing?): I really enjoy the shape of Regis' head, I find him to be quite good looking.

I used to be team Bieber- back when he was a good Canadian boy. When Never Say Never came out we took the youth from work to go see it, and I'll be honest- I cried. I am still hopeful this is just a phase, from a kid who missed out on the rebellious teenage years, but some of his choices lately have been very concerning.

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Maybe he should be just a bit sorry??! 

Speaking of teenage rebellion, I spent my teenage years watching family channel constantly. I feel like Mr. & Mrs. McGuire and the Russos raised me. Whenever I had a bad day, even in university I would watch The Lizze McGuire Movie and it would cheer me up.

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It was so hard to only pick one picture from Lizzie McGuire. 

I like to think I hate comedy and late-night talk shows. I can rant quite a bit about how "unfunny" they are, yet when Jimmy Fallon opens his mouth I dissolve into giggles. Countless Saturdays have been spent watching him be "unfunny" on YouTube.

I am addicted to Perez Hilton. I don't find him particularly funny, or the facts about celebrities that fascinating, but when I'm bored on the internet (daily!) I find myself wasting hours there. I actually don't even care about most of the celebrity gossip, I just at this point feel like I know so much, I might as well keep reading.

I love most shows the CW (WB) makes- but can't get into the Vampire Diaries. Everwood, Dawson's Creek, Gossip Girl, Hart of Dixie are amongst my favourite shows of all time.

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Come back anytime Everwood and bring your amazing cast with you!

Speaking of the CW, I own every season of Reba on DVD. I've watched all the discs at least three times, and that's on top of catching re-runs on TV. Jay was away one summer while I lived in his tiny apartment without internet, so all I did was watch Reba. It was just such a cute little family show.

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I used to be krazy for Keeping Up With The Kardashians, they are just so absolutely ridiculous and hilarious. Especially the older, less scripted seasons- I really got sucked in by their family dynamic and just complete krazyness. Since Kimmy K's divorce from Kris H. I have kind of moved on though.

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Oh, and Khloe & Lamar's break up was devastating. By the time it happened I was over my Kardashian obsession, but I still was rooting for them. They were the most honest and interesting couple on the show, and their spin off was totally cute.

One more Kardashian thought- at the height of my obsession I read both their fictional novel Dollhouse and several of their photographic biographies and whatever. I was silly then. Oh, and I still have this on my iPod. But, I'm over them I swear!

I like Beyonce from Destiny's Child and her early solo years far better than this new, surprise album dropping Beyonce. She's just too perfect. Even if I am so happy she and 

Jay-Z are keeping it real. 

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My list could go on, but I think that's enough oversharing for one day. 

Am I the only one with weird secrets related to all things pop culture? Please tell me you have a few weird secrets too?!?! 

Keep Smiling :) 

#Obsessed

Just a few things I'm obsessed with lately.

[1] This gorgeous blue parka I got on sale for $50. It's basically everything I wanted (and needed) in a new coat, and had a great price! I'm trying to save it for next Winter, but if Spring doesn't come soon I might have to wear it!

[I know I've already blogged & tweeted about this, I am really excited!]

[2] Orange Juice. I know it's probably filled with sugar and terrible for me, but it is delicious and so satisfying. 

[3] This creative marketing I see daily on my travels. It's encouraging people to donate hats, mittens, etc to the Ottawa Mission. I think it is a brilliant way to attract attention for an important cause.

[4] EOS lip balm. I jumped on this bandwagon late, but I love these little balls of fun. My lips are no longer dried and cracked and it is way easier to find a ball in my purse than a skinny tube of lip balm. 

[5] Being able to see Parliament Hill whenever I want. I don't want to get into the politics, I know there isn't good stuff happening there everyday but I just think the buildings are gorgeous and that it is cool to live so close to the centre of government in Canada. *Sorry for the grainy picture, it was foggy and snowing and I took it from quite far away. 

[6] Vanilla Bean Hot Chocolate and this adorable cozy, courtesy of one of my best pals, H-Mac. I only recently discovered Vanilla Bean Hot Chocolate but it is seriously delicious. I'm hoping it's not a seasonal item. 

[7] & [8] Space. Galaxies. Planets. My kiddos at work are so curious about space and this is one of the first topics I've really felt like I was able to teach them about while involving them in the whole process. Everything we're learning is driven by their interest. We made galaxies and suns last week, and are making space stations and solar systems this week. So fun! 

[9] This butternut squash mac & cheese recipe. K-Fran turned us onto it when she lived her last year and it is still one of my favourite dinners. I tweaked the recipe a little this time, adding breadcrumbs and basil and baking it in the oven. It's so fantastic, I highly recommend you give it a try, you can hardly notice the squash, especially if it's mashed! 

What are your current obsessions? 

Keep Smiling :)