“A friend of mine had an idea for a subscription box that came with everything you needed to make something akin to pita bread but softer and made with yogurt. I told him it was a naan-starter.”
A little subscription box humour to start the week. (I’m here to serve, ha ha.) Today’s subscription box is beautiful inside and out, with a wow factor in the presentation that makes it lovely for gifting and receiving and a carefully curated assortment of little luxuries you’ll want to use every day. It’s White Willow Box, a bi-monthly lifestyle box from Vancouver, BC that delivers 4 to 5 full-sized and deluxe sample size products from beauty to home decor and everything in between. At $65 Canadian/box including shipping (and $10 flat-rate shipping to the US) it’s a solid value all-round. Have a look at the August box and you’ll see what I mean.*
*They kindly sent us this box to review.
So elegant, wouldn’t you agree? I love the classic black and white colour scheme and the branded ribbon. It feels classy, black tie, luxurious, fancy.
Each White Willow Box includes a product card with a picture of the contents on on side and detailed descriptions of each item on the other. (I’ve included the descriptions in italics below.) I like how the picture on the front doesn’t show every item in the box so there’s still an element of surprise.
Laid Back Snacks
“Laid Back Snacks are packed with real ingredients that are healthy and energizing with zero compromise on great taste. Their mission is to create a more relaxed world one snack at a time following the 80/20 rule of snacking: 80% wholesome goodness, 20% live a little. Happy Snacking! Curated in Nutless Wonder or Hearty Tamari. ($3 CAD / $2.50 USD)”
We’ve tried several Laid Back Snacks over the years (I’ve ordered our favourites directly from the company many times over) so I was delighted to see this one in the box. Ours is Nutless Wonder, a delicious and generous single serving of salted chickpeas, dried cranberries and apples and pumpkin seeds. White Willow had reached out in advance to ask for our preference between that and Hearty Tamari, which we’ve also tried and enjoyed. (That one’s a mix of tamari-coated sesame sticks, spicy pretzels, almonds and cashews.) Like White Willow, Laid Back Snacks is based in BC. Great to see one of our favourite Canadian products!
Day Cream SPF 30 by Anthony (Cruelty-free · Dermatologist tested · Gluten-free · Paraben-free)
“Practice safe sun by adding this essential double-duty moisturizer to your daily routine. Broad Spectrum SPF 30 protects from damaging UVA + UVB rays, while a high-performance fast-absorbing lightweight formulation of natural AHAs, vitamin B, and wheat protein work to erase fine lines and wrinkles as well as protect and support your skin’s natural elasticity and appearance. Anthony offers a collection of simple to use, award-winning products designed to bring you high performance care fused with natural ingredients and cutting-edge technology that deliver results you can feel and see. ($46 CAD / $36 USD)”
This moisturizer is marketed for men but my fella’s skincare routine doesn’t stray far from soap and water so I’m selling it to him as sunscreen with some moisturizing properties because the sun dries out your skin and nobody wants to look like a raisin. With its light, neutral fragrance there’s a high probability I’ll be using it too.
Laundry Eco-Strips (Fragrance-free) by Tru Earth
“Clean, green, and simple! The laundry detergent you use should be as sensitive to your skin as it is to the environment. Each Tru Earth eco-strip packs ultra-concentrated, hypoallergenic, eco-friendly cleaning power into a tiny, pre-measured strip of detergent that you just toss in the wash. The zero-waste compostable packaging helps keep more than 700 million plastic jugs out of landfills per year! Dissolves completely in Hot or Cold Water and works in all washing machines, including HE. Front loads or top loads. Make laundry easier, healthier, more economical, and much kinder to our planet! ($19.95 CAD / $16 USD)”
You know you’re an adult when you get excited about laundry detergent, ha ha. But honestly I was more than a little bit curious to see how this worked. As luck would have it, our teen returned from camp this week with plenty of dirty laundry to put it to the test. I really like our current detergent but I’d happily switch it out for this eco-friendly alternative. Easy to use, fragrance-free, zero skin irritation and that compostable packaging! This is the first time we’d seen it.
Blue Stitch 8.5″ Plate by Torre & Tagus
“Bring a little bit of fun to your dining table with this bold coloured Blue Stitch pattern porcelain side plate from the Kiri Collection by Torre & Tagus. Mix and match with other dishes from the collection for everyday use. Dishwasher, microwave and oven safe. ($13 CAD / $10 USD)”
Such a pretty plate and a great size for snacking. I’ve been using it for fruits, veggies and nuts but it would make a nice sandwich or salad plate too. (Or chips! Whatever!) Goes great with a good book.
White Textured Throw Blanket by Willow Home
“Add a minimalistic elegance to your home with this beautiful soft cotton throw blanket by Willow Home. Woven in a unique and intricate geometric pattern, it is photo-worthy draped over your soft or used as a summer picnic blanket. ($58 CAD / $46 USD)”
White always feels so fresh and clean so I love it in this throw, and it’s the perfect summer weight. I don’t find it particularly soft but I feel like it’ll get there with a few washings.
The way I see, August’s White Willow Box is a great way to get some reading in. I can throw in a load of wash, put on some of that day cream with SPF, plate my snack, grab my book and sit under a tree with my throw while I wait for the laundry to finish. (And maybe ignore it for a bit when it does, ha ha.) In short, it’s a collection of products I’ll readily use and enjoy, a mix of familiar and new-to-me finds that I’ll look for again. Whether it’s a gift for someone else or a treat for myself, it’s what I want in a subscription box — packaging that makes me excited to dive in and products that are a pleasure to use, tasty to eat or drink, cozy or special to wear, beautiful to look at, or fun to share. Highly recommend!
-Try Small Things – https://trysmallthings.com