Subscription Box // The Indie Box - The Next Penelope

March Box: The Next Penelope

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I have to commend whoever is in charge of the artwork, whether it is on the developer's side of The Indie Box side, because the artwork, again, is so beautifully done. I love that the blues and purples. 

The items are very lackluster. I was not impressed with the items...at all. It was a let down and to be frank, they weren't really novelty items. Only a couple of items with the game logo or a similar color scheme did not win me over. There was also a little snap-bracelet which I thought was not practical nor was it necessary to have. I think it would've been better instead of a paper plane to build, it could've just been a plastic plane on a stand. It could have been a plastic plane assemblage.

My expectations for this box may be a bit high, but I am paying for physical copy of the game, as well as novelty items, exclusive to the game. These items were not novelty... they felt like children's toys. I was honestly disappointed in this box, even though the art was beautiful, the items left a lot to be desired. 

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This box and subscription made me realize I have a real standard for novelty items and a high importance for it also. It also made me realize that a subscription box like this just isn't for me. It may be nice for other people who are collectibles or enjoy indie games, but I guess that isn't what I expected or looking for in in this subscription. The game takes a backburner already because I am not critiquing the box for the game, I am in it for the items, but that just be my downfall already. I'm just providing my opinion and outlook on the box and maybe it will change in future boxes, but for now I'm just left with wanting more.

Twitter: @kimchipopp | Instagram: @kimchipopp

App Review: Shopkick

Hello Lovelies ♡ Today, I want to take the opportunity to introduce to you a phone app called Shopkick. In this post, I'm going to explain everything that's great about Shopkick and why you should try this app too! I wouldn't suggest anything to y'all that I wouldn't use myself, but don't feel pressured to try it.

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What is it? Shopkick is an app that rewards you for visiting some of your favorite stores and it's super easy to use. It's as easy as walking into a store or scanning a few items while you're walking around. You get points, which are called kicks and when you get enough kicks you can redeem them for real life items, like gift cards or even a cruise vacation!

How do I get kicks? Walk into a store or scan items that show up in the app! The app will show you how many kicks you will earn for walking into a store and how many kicks you can earn from scanning items at that store. Sometimes there are special days where you can earn more kicks such as 100 kicks just for walking into a store.

What do I do with those kicks? You can redeem them for gift cards or other real life items, such as an iPad, clothes, or Beats by Dr. Dre. Once you have enough kicks, you can redeem it for anything on the rewards list!

Why should I start using Shopkick? It doesn't cost you anything and you still get rewarded. Honestly, you get free stuff and who doesn't like free stuff? If you're at the store already and window shopping or just walking up and down the aisle, you can whip out your phone and scan a few items. Eventually you'll get enough kicks to redeem a gift card to spend at the store you choose. 

Here are some rewards that are available!

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My Experience with Shopkick

I have been using Shopkick for over two years. My sisters introduced it to me and I have never been so grateful for them showing it to me. I haven't had to pay for anything from Starbucks in over two years because of this app, and to be honest, that's all I use my kicks on, gift cards to Starbucks. I always make a killing during Black Friday because they do special extra kicks such as 100 kicks for walking into stores and it's amazing. I don't have to do anything extra besides walking into a store or scan a few items when I walk around or when I'm waiting at the checkout line. 

Some cons about the app is sometimes I forget to take my phone out or open the app before I walk into the store. There are other times I will walk into a store but I don't get kicks, it bums me out, but to be honest it doesn't cost me anything extra, just a little bit of time. I'm glad to take a little extra time if I get free stuff for doing it. It takes a little while to accumulate kicks also, but again, I'm eventually getting free stuff, so it's worth it to me.

If you're interested in joining Shopkick, click this on your phone to start using the app. I hope you take into consideration in trying this app, because it'll be worth your while. ♡

Twitter: @kimchipopp | Instagram: @kimchipopp

*Disclaimer: I am not sponsored by Shopkick nor was I paid for this review. This is my honest opinion and review of an app that I've been using for a long time. If you have any questions feel free to comment or tweet them to me.

Let's Eat!

Since James and I don't live near our parents anymore, or close to family, eating Vietnamese food is rare nowadays. Thankfully, there's a Vietnamese Restaurant just a few streets down from where we live. It's a nice family owned restaurant and everything is so cheap! The whole meal cost around $10-$12!

On the right is shrimp spring rolls, a great appetizer. It comes with a side of Hoison sauce with a little bit of Sriracha sauce. On the left is the entree. The bowl in the forefront is mine; it's noodles with bbq pork with peanuts and lettuce/herbs. James had the bowl in the back, which is pho with meatballs.

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Then we went to Starbucks for dessert! I am part of the Starbucks Rewards/Star Member and they were doing bonus stars for any purchase of a s'mores or caramel ribbon frappuccino. I love all the frapps that Starbucks offer, but my weakness is always a caramel one. ♡

Twitter: @kimchipopp | Instagram: @kimchipopp

Review: Anti-Stress Mask | Dead Sea Minerals

♡ Anti-Stress Mask | Dead Sea Minerals

I've had these Freeman masks for a while now and I never really used them. I decided that since I wanted to take better care of my skin, I should use the products I already own instead of buying new products. I barely used these masks and I will try to use them all more frequently. I'm going to review each mask with it's own post.

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To start off, I'm going to review the Anti-Stress Mask, the blue one on the right. I thought this was a perfect mask to use since there are a lot of things going through my mind lately and it might be causing my recent breakouts. 

The mask is very easy to apply. I wear glasses so it's hard for me to see because I obviously can't wear my them after applying. I've used this mask previously before and I've learned to apply only a thin layer. You can tell from the pictures that the thinnest layer dries very fast, especially on the nose and upper lip area. You can also apply the mask on your neck, but I mostly focused on my face. The scent is kind of floral but it's not overbearing. It only took about 10 minutes for the mask to dry all the way and during that time I took these pictures and also check social media, so it doesn't take long for it to dry at all. You can leave it on for longer and you'll notice that it gets harder to move your face or make any facial expressions. That's a clear sign that you're ready to wash it off.

 

I would've taken pictures of how it looked like when I washed the mask off, but I applied the mask before hopping in the shower. The mask feels like silk when you rinse it off and I think it's easiest when you're in the shower. I don't know about you, but when I wash my face at the sink I tend to get water everywhere or I didn't wash the mask off all the way. My skin felt very refreshed and I felt instantly relaxed afterwards. This feeling didn't last the whole day though, but product says you can use it around twice a week or as many times as you see fit. I'm not sure if I have enough patience or can remember to use it twice a week but I think realistically I would use it around once or twice a month.

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I purchased these masks about two summers ago while they were on sale (buy one, get one free) at ULTA. If you're iffy about trying them, you can purchase a sample for around a dollar in the cosmetics section of your local drug-store, Wal-Mart, or Target. The sample sizes can give you about two masks, so you can try it twice or try it out with a friend. It's nice because you don't have to commit to a whole bottle, especially if you just want to test it out. 

Twitter: @kimchipopp | Instagram: @kimchipopp

Subscription Box // The Indie Box - Risk of Rain

I've recently found an interest in Subscription Boxes and this is the first one that I've subscribed to. Subscription boxes have been around for a couple of years now, but I didn't have an interest in them until recently. A subscription box is when you pay for a box that gets shipped to you every month. There are many different subscription boxes out there and all the prices vary.

The Indie Box is a gaming subscription box. It is targeted towards people who like video games but also those who like indie games and novelty items. Indie games are usually games that many people don't know about or is produced by a small company or even just a group of people. The Indie Box's goal is to "Bring Back The Box," this means that they value the aspect of physical copies of video games. This is one of the best things about the box because nowadays you can just buy the game online and digitally download it. With The Indie Box, you get a physical copy of the game as well as some novelty items related to the game itself. The subscription is mostly for James. He's more of the gamer of the two of us. I personally wanted the novelty items that came with each box, so it was perfect for us. 

February Box | Risk of Rain

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I have to admit that the artwork for this box was amazing. I thought it was beautifully done. I was a bit disappointed about the items included inside the box. I'm not sure what I expected for the novelty items and I haven't played the game, but as a general consumer, I'm just not impressed.

The Captain's Brooch Pin was very high quality, perhaps a bit too high. It's very heavy and I don't think it would stay put if I wore it on my shirt. The back part of the pin feels a bit flimsy compared to the rest of the brooch. If I were to use the brooch, I would put it on a purse or bag as a decorative item, but honestly I don't see myself using it at all. I think that's why I feel unimpressed. These items don't have functionality to them, granted they are novelty items, but I would at least like to display some things.

The Monster Log is super nice. I have many notebooks like this and I might be a notebook hoarder, so I would never use it because I don't like making mistakes in nice notebooks or ripping out paper. It's an overall nice notebook, but because I am a bit OCD and like to keep things clean and pristine, I wouldn't use it daily. It's hard to tell on the picture but it has little notes, I'm guessing of monsters, from the game. I thought it was a great little touch to the notebook to make it different than any normal notebook you could get at the store.  

Some other things in the box includes a thing that's kind of a USB card to plug into your computer to play the game. This is kind of like how you could normally get a game at the store and stick it in your computer. It also comes with a steam code on the outside of the box if you don't want to open your box at all, probably for those extreme collectors. The box also includes an official game soundtrack and a few stickers. To be honest, I haven't opened many of the items in because I am one of those people that likes to keep things in their original packaging. It also came with a pair of socks! The socks are alright. I don't know if you can tell, but there is a little face on it, cute factor - check! The quality of the socks? Meh... It's alright if you don't want to wear them, but compared to normal pair of socks, it's not the best type of socks ever. They're probably more for lounging around than anything.

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Overall, it was a nice box. I am mostly reviewing the novelty items, but I will update this if I, or James, ends up playing the game. I think what I learned about subscription boxes from this is that I value novelty items more than I thought. The game aspect is nice but not for me specifically. Don't let this semi-review of The Indie Box deter you from subbing to it. It's a great box and I love that their philosophy is trying to bring back physical game in a mostly digital world. This is great for people that enjoy a nostalgic feel about video games. If you're still unsure, I will be reviewing all the boxes I get from now on, which is quiet a lot of reviews since we signed up for the 6-month subscription. Keep a look out for the other boxes that I've received in the next few weeks until I get caught up with the current boxes!

Twitter: @kimchipopp | Instagram: @kimchipopp

Personal/Journal Update ~

This is more of a personal post, read if you wish :)

School: Summer is here!! I am finally done with school... well kind of.. I'm taking an online class and it's really a bummer. I wish I didn't have to worry about it, but it's the only way I can graduate early in December. That's also another scary subject... graduating. It's such a big step in life and I will actually feel like a real grown up. I'm just so excited that I will be walking across the stage to receive my diploma with James. Well, probably not at the exact same time, but you get the point. It's just so exciting that we are taking this huge step together, it gives me butterflies.

Beauty: I've been breaking out a lot lately. I'm not sure what the problem is and it makes me really sad. I haven't changed much of anything in my daily routine/chores, my eating habits, or lifestyle. I know I should be taking better care of my skin so I need to look into some products that will help my skin. I think tomorrow I will be doing some face masks, just to relax a bit and to treat myself to a nice facial cleaning. I feel like I need to do this type of thing more often, at least once a month.. I'm going to mark it in my calendar to start it, hehe. Speaking of taking better care of my skin, I really want to try out LUSH cosmetics. I'm a bit intimidated by the store because the scent is so strong and my nose is very sensitive. I am so intrigued by their bath bombs and I want to test out their products to see what the hype is all about. If I can manage it, I might do a personal review for the products that I try. If you guys remember a while back I purchased some lotion from The Body Shop and I've been meaning to try their skin care products also. Ah, so many things I want to try ... but not enough money *sigh*

Home: We moved into a new apartment in February. I didn't get to update my blog that much but if you're interested in seeing what our apartment looks like, I created a playlist on YouTube of some of our moving process. Click to watch the playlist.

Summer Plans: I'm going on vacation to visit my parents and my hometown in a few weeks. I'm very excited as I get to meet one of my stream viewers, who happens to be James' brother's girlfriend. I'm also going to see Tycho live for the first time ever! The last time I tried to see him, I had to leave before he got on stage, it was really sad. My friend is also taking me to see Fall Out Boy, I'm not particularly a fan, but I don't dislike them either. I agreed to go because I thought it would be fun and I get to hang out with a very good friend. I also can't wait to have my mom's home cooking and just some doing and seeing some things that I can't do where I live now. It's definitely going to be a treat, especially getting to go to the beach. There's also going to be a mini-family reunion. I say mini because my mom's side of the family usually visits for the 4th of July and this is the first time in many many years that I get to see them and all of my little cousins that aren't that little anymore.

I'm going to try to capture as many moments as possible during my summer break. I've been lacking on taking pictures mostly because I want to take the best pictures, which isn't always great because phone quality. I'll try my best not just more content for you, but I love keeping those memories.

Twitter: @kimchipopp | Instagram: @kimchipopp

Anime Review ☪ // Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo

Hello lovelies ♪

I've recently starting watching anime. I was never really into animes and I much prefer live-action Asian dramas, but those are so hard to come by nowadays. I thought I would give anime a try because as you all know, I am drawn to things that are cute and I thought it was high time to find out why so many people are interested in it.

I can see the allure and interest that animes provide. I like that animes, specifically anything animated, breaks the boundaries of the real world. It sounds weirder than it is, but I just like the aspects of fantasy, or things that wouldn't normally happen in real life, but is normal or okay in an animated series. This is the same allure I get from reading books. These things could happen, but they exist outside of the real world... and that doesn't mean that it isn't realistic or unbelievable, you just have to dive into believing it.

The first anime that I watched is Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo. Fair warning, it is a more risqué type of anime, which can be inappropriate at times, but it is not overbearing or the main focal point of the show. I really enjoyed the anime and I thought it was a great one to start off my anime adventure.My overall rating of this anime is 7/10. It was a great anime, but there were some things that kind of wish were different.

Continue if you would like to read my review of the anime. 

Live-Streaming *:･ﾟ✧

I've been spending most of my time lately on twitch.tv and if you don't know about it, that's okay because I'm going to explain everything you need to know.. which isn't much because it's pretty simple!

What is it? Twitch.TV is a place where you can watch people stream video games live. You get to interact with people playing the game and chat with people in real time. It's mostly video games but there are some exceptions like 'Creative' where you see people create things, either digital art, cooking, or physical objects (like sculptures). 

What do I do on there? I've been spending lots of my time on this website because I love interacting with people. I am someone that communicates better via internet.. that sounds weird, but I am genuinely a shy person and talking to people via chat system or just to a camera really helps me with communication skills. It's also a great bonus/plus that I get to meet awesome and supportive people. When I stream or cast a video game, I mostly play, but I also interact and chat with people that are hanging out with me. They're honestly the coolest and most supportive people ever.

But I'm not a streamer. You don't have to be a streamer to enjoy Twitch.tv. Streaming is not for everyone. I do it because I am blessed with tools to stream. Before I streamed, I would watch other people play video games. If you're a someone that likes video games or just need some background noise, consider checking the website out!

If you're interested in watching me stream, check out my channel at www.twitch.tv/kimchipop ♡
You'll also find some other things like my streaming schedule and past streams.

Happy Blogging! ♪

Twitter: @kimchipopp | Instagram: @kimchipopp

Revamp & Update

Hi friends! I always start off with an apology and make promises to blog more often, but at this point my actions will speak louder than words. I am revamping my blog in hopes that I get more motivated to update it often. I've been busy and occupied with other things but summer is upon us which means more time and more hobbies! Here are some of the things that I have been doing the past couple of months which I will expand on in other posts:

• Started a YouTube Channel
• Started a Twitch.TV Live-Streaming Channel (for video gaming)
• Finished Spring 2015 Semester
• Started Yoga
• Started Summer 2015 classes
• Started watching Animes

I will also be doing a "journal-like" update, just as a personal checkup. There are so many things that happened in the past couple of months that I should probably start updating more and that's exactly my intentions. Until then, please look forward to upcoming posts!