Subscription Purchases: DIY Subscription Box with The Spice House – April 2016

Box:

Randomly Curated by Pnut

Featuring:

The Spice House in Chicago, Illinois

Kick Back and Get Comfortable: 

  • I adore my Subista sisters. And I always talked of making a DIY box for them. I called my boxes “Randomly by Pnut” because they would never know when it will come in because it keeps getting delayed if I plan one but the wait would be worth it! It started out with me sending them boxes curated by me and then somehow transformed into a happy fun box exchange amongst the four of us.

 

The idea that spun this “DIY Curated Box” for me was of a website that Mailbox Junkie showed me. I will have her let you all know the website. That website needs it’s own time to shine in the sun *giggles*. The packaging was totally awesome and something so awesome the products would be meant for display purposes only (versus their intended use). Mailbox Junkie wanted to get something for me because it was local to her. She is awesome like that knowing that I am entirely obsessed with her home state. I realized by looking at the website that the items were free shipping no minimum. I told her to search for stuff that I cannot access so freely because box space in a gift box is premium. Plus I wanted all the products.

 

And I thought to myself (a la Sex in the City) that “I should make a local box whenever someone I adore from Chicago has a free shipping no minimum code!” So I let my Subista sistas know that I was eyeing The Spice House in Chicago. Specifically, you need to always let peeps be aware of the correct way to google search for The Spice House, otherwise it would/could just be awkwardness waiting to happen. I anticipated that a rare code would appear (this comes from my stalking abilities to trudge at The Spice House’s old FB postings) and I asked my Subista sistas to give me preferences when able.

 

And just like that (I am telling you ladies you need to watch or read The Secret), The Spice House had a rare free shipping code with no minimum. Seriously it was like the next day after my email to them. I got trigger happy and ordered so fast to beat the rush of incoming orders so my Subista sistas would get their order first. So I got each lady a jar from The Spice House. I also gave a jar to some friends as well. And I did not want to be left out, so I got a bag of Hot Chocolate Mix to see whether I should buy some more in my next trip.

 

I gave Subscriptionista Lake Shore Drive because it was a spice blend that truly means something to me. All of my Chicago apartments were all walking distance from Lake Shore Drive and/or Lake Michigan. Some had lake views. A pair of my grandparents lived in Brooklyn, NY with a ocean view. I think this probably drives my emotions towards ocean/water scents. And a view (my new home gave up the lake view for a park view). I usually hopped on a Lake Shore Drive bus versus the El (Chicago for subway/train) just for the view. So out of all the spices I gift, most have Lake Shore Drive in them! Also, Subscriptionista eats fish and veggies and Lake Shore Drive is a perfect match for those noms!

 

I gave Mailbox Junkie a jar of Ginger because I wanted her to see if a powdered form of ginger would make her family and friends think about her cooking and ask “there is something different this time”. I know that ginger is all over Hawaii so it also brought my curiosity to see whether there was such a difference. I usually use my ginger powder in my Teriyaki sauces.

 

I gave Onderria a jar of Back Of The Yards because she has a love for whimsical woodland creatures. It was kind of a weird joke. Kinda like my cousin teasing my other vegetarian cousin calling the Disney character Babe “bacon”. Back Of The Yards is also The Spice House’s biggest seller.

We are kinda weird here at Subscriptionista and we all embrace our weirdness.

 

Here is the feedback from my Subsist sistas…

 

Subscriptionista who received Lake Shore Drive:

Thank you Pnut for your curated spice shipment!!!!

I got some kick ass lake shore seasoning that is great with fish and veggies! My diet!

My cat went wild for it weirdly. She wouldn’t leave the box alone and then got into such a womp that she went wild on her scratching post!

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Thank you Pnut!!!!!! Wooot!!!!!!!

I’m eating it now! I put it on my cheese pizza lol yummy!!!!!

 

Onderria who received Back Of The Yards:

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Meow meow meow! We approve of the spice Pnut! Thank you =♡▪♡=
This spice made me think of my childhood when my mom would let my sister and I use the griddle to make lemon pepper chicken! We put this spice on our grilled chicken and it was pretty tasty.

 

Mailbox Junkie who received Ginger

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I love it! I have been using it in combo with the jar of ginger in the picture because we love a lot of garlic and a lot of ginger! I also have been putting it in my tea! I used it on Sat night with my Hamptons Lane box to season my wok. I filled the wok with hot oil, ginger powder, jarred ginger, and onions and let it simmer for 15 minutes per their directions.

image I can’t wait to use it in sweet stuff though like some type of sweet bread!!

 

And finally we have me (Hello my name is Pnut) who received Hot Cocoa Mix:

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I was happy to see that I received my bag of Hot Chocolate mix in a box! The box instantly smelled like The Spice House. I really liked the hot cocoa mix. It goes great with some heavy cream (that I original sourced from my Home Chef container which caused another obsession with heavy cream in my life). It will be awhile before I trudge back to The Spice House as I usually buy my spices in bulk, but I will be sure to purchase another (bigger) bag of Hot Cocoa too!

 

Verdict: Whew! All the Subista sistas (and their fur babies) approve! I now have their preferences for spices but I would have found it hilarious if one of them did not like their spice and they would have to say that the curator asked for preferences but I did not let her know them! I am definitely going to do this again!

 

What did you think of Randomly By Pnut? Have you ever thought of sending a curated box to your friends? Please share your thoughts below (because I can’t read them when they are in your head and enquiring minds need to know). Also feel free to add anything random and/or digress!

***See more of our Subscription Purchases here***

Disclaimer: I bought these with my own clams. There is an affiliate link to this post.

  12 comments for “Subscription Purchases: DIY Subscription Box with The Spice House – April 2016

  1. April 5, 2016 at 2:50 pm

    One of my very favorite activities (besides sorting and cataloging my hoarded sub box items) is to come up with gifts for folks out of my hoard. I only use maybe a third of what I get. BUT! I have tastefully displayed (well, when it’s not covered by laundry or Kroger bags) baskets and trays of makeup, skin care, jewelry, and other odds and ends that I go through for birthday boxes or “just thinking of you” boxes for friends or family. And it makes me feel rich. Look at all my tiny tiny bottles and boxes!

    • April 5, 2016 at 6:18 pm

      I am with you Maraschino5 100% 😀

    • April 5, 2016 at 10:23 pm

      I conquer! I just did a birthday gift box to my sister in law that had thee Tilo PSMH Scarf, The nanette PSMH watch and the Tibetan goji berry eye cream. Then I did a pre-surgery/post surgery pamper box for a friend of mine that was full of beauty stuff. I love making gifts out of my hoard too!

      • April 6, 2016 at 7:20 am

        You are great with gifts that is for sure!

  2. April 5, 2016 at 2:56 pm

    Thanks again, Pnut! We put it on our homemade pizza the other night and the boyfriend and I really liked it!

    • April 5, 2016 at 6:21 pm

      You are welcome!

      I think The Spice House would be tickled to see that their spices are used as a pizza enchancer! Hmmmm… that sounded spicier than I intended.

  3. April 5, 2016 at 10:24 pm

    Great post!!

    • April 6, 2016 at 7:19 am

      Thanks! Hopefully The Spice House will have another code soon. It’s the little things 😀

  4. Artemis
    April 6, 2016 at 8:55 am

    Randomly by Pnut is pretty nicely curated. Well done!

    I send boxes to my one of my closest friends all the time. Mostly she gets clothes and accessories I no longer use that she would like, but I also add some beauty product samples that I have duplicates of or otherwise think she would like. She in turn sends me beauty products she won’t use and random food stuff from Groupon. It’s rather fun to send and to receive!

    • April 6, 2016 at 9:02 am

      Thank you Artemis!

      That is awesome that you have a share buddy!

      I really should not look into this random food stuff from Groupon you speak of. I get enough food stuff from the Amazon!

  5. Sub Bella
    April 7, 2016 at 12:27 pm

    This post is awesome!

    • April 7, 2016 at 12:56 pm

      XOXO 🙂

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