Finally! Itâs here! Although itâs Januaryâs box, it just got here last week. Thank you snow! Anyhoo, my favorite box! Street Fighter V just came out...so we know thatâs going to be in here somewhere (plus it was in the last Arcade Block), and they almost always have some sort of Nintendo memorabilia. Letâs see what theyâve got this month!
Box Information
www.nerdblock.com
$19.99 (+S/H)
Value: $60
1-3-6-12 Month Subscriptions, Delivered Monthly
4-6 Video Game Collections
1 exclusive T-shirt from ShirtPunch w/coupon
Shipping Info:
Canada: 3-5 Business Days
United States: 4-6 Business Days
Worldwide: 6â10 Business Days
Please note that above shipping times are estimates only. Delays can occur, or you may receive your block earlier!
Box Contents:
Exclusive: Mortal Kombat X Bobblehead (Scorpion)
ShirtPunch T-Shirt: Street Fighter V
Exclusive: Morphball Stress Reliever
Exclusive: Puzzle Cube
Pokemon Trainer Beanie
Portal - Safety First Tin Sign
Exclusive: Mortal Kombat X Bobblehead (Scorpion)
This is TOTALLY RAD! The detail is absolutely stunning. Iâm going to pair it on the shelf with my Scorpion plushie I got from a past Arcade Block. Eeee!
ShirtPunch T-Shirt: Street Fighter V
I donât have Street Fighter V (womp womp), but this shirt is WICKED. Great quality, great design. A+ from me!
Exclusive: Morphball Stress Reliever
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! This is so cool! This is the first time Iâve seen Arcade Block starting to use their own little product boxes with their logo like this too. I like the design. When you first open the crate, you have no idea what it is...all you see is their logo. Itâs a nice, effective way of hiding items at first glance and a total surprise when you start unpacking. Now, as for the item, again SO COOL. Love me some Samus/Metroid stuff! Iâm just...so excited...I might just..
Exclusive: Puzzle Cube
Another amazing idea executed very well. A combination of Super Mario blocks as a Rubik's cube. Brilliant! Now...Iâm terrible at solving these. I might...just...keep it as it is so I donât get myself too frustrated.Â
Pokemon Trainer Beanie
And now you get to see my cute lilâ face! In all seriousness, this is another great item. Itâs still chilly here in Kentucky (well, 65, but anything under 74 degrees is cold to me), and this beanie fits my tiny head nicely! Usually beanies fit weird and have that funky baggage at the top to where I look hella gangster (although...you know...not), but this isnât too terrible! Comfy and keeps my ears warm.
Portal - Safety First Tin Sign
Of course...the surprise at the bottom of the box. I ADORE this item. Iâm going to hang this right next to my P-Body Portal gun...for science!
Overall, this is, I would say, my absolute favorite box of all time. Great quality items well-worth the price, plus some surprises. Not a single downer in this box. Arcade Block never ceases to amaze me, and Iâm happy I kept this lovely in my budget. I still consider this a must-have for any gamer, especially the classic ones!
The theme for January was âHEROINESâ. Letâs see if they aced the theme this time around!
Box Information
https://www.gamergirlmonthly.com/
1-3-6-12 Month Subscriptions, Delivered Monthly
Discounts on longer subscriptions.
Cost: $13.00 (+S/H: $3.99 US, $9.99 CAN, $12.99 International)
3-5 items + Jewelry bag
Bills: 1st of the month
Ships: last week of each month.
Powered by CrateJoy
The insert goes on to explain the origin of each item as it fits with the theme. I really like the design of Januaryâs insert as compared to the last one. This one seems a lot more...unified, and no misleading imagery like Decemberâs.Â
GGM Theme Button
Okay, I know Iâve seen this picture before but for the life of me, I canât remember where. If you know the artist of this image, PLEASE INBOX ME. Besides that, it fits the theme rather nicely!
Jewelry Bag: Heroine
This also fits the theme! I love the purple color too.My only complaint would be that it feels weird that the body is cut in half...I could see this design working better if it had some sort of circular border, kind of like a badge or logo look.
Lara Croft Necklace
Fits the theme? YES. This is a creative item to have in this crate, and Iâm so glad they included it. Itâs not bad quality either as far as this crate is concerned.
Exclusive: Player 1/Player 2 bracelets
These were made custom for this box. Theyâre a great little gamer tid-bit for either friends, siblings, couples...whatever. Theme? No...not at all, but a nice item nonetheless.
Adjustable 8-bit Treasure Chest Ring
This would have been perfect for Decemberâs âTREASUREâ theme...I honestly donât know why they bothered including this ring in this box at all. Oh well, itâs cute...a bit theme-late...but...cute.
Sticker Pack (6 Stickers featuring: Lara Croft, Samus Aran, Zoey, Lightning, and Zelda)
These are pretty awesome! I have no idea where Iâm going to stick them yet...but theyâre pretty awesome! This is GGMâs first custom sticker pack...and from my understanding, there will definitely be more!
Overall, Januaryâs box was pretty rad! Some great item choices and the first sticker pack! They didnât hit their theme 100% (I still wish they put the ring in Decemberâs box), but you win some, you lose some, right?
Januaryâs Loot Crate theme was INVASION. This is my last Wearable from this subscription, and I no longer receive Socks, but Accessory is still coming in! I will not be subscribing for their Shirt subscription, but I will still post the spoilers that come in from the insert.
Socks: I Believe Alien Socks & Exclusive Destiny Socks
Wearable: Space Invaders Hoodie
Accessory: Star Trek Friendship Necklace (by Quantum Mechanix)
Shirt: Exclusive Heart Invaders T-Shirt
I Believe Alien Socks & Exclusive Destiny Socks
The alien socks are pretty sweet. I kind of wish I got them! I donât play Destiny (...yet), but definitely fits the theme. Iâm scared of playing it because I know if I do, I will cease to exist in the outside world for quite a while (Iâve already been through WoW and Skyrim...I really donât need another to add to the list). Iâm sure it will draw me in eventually.
Wearable: Space Invaders Hoodie
Not exactly ready for winter as its pretty thin, but I love the design. Iâm totally wearing this at the Louisville Retro Arcade Expo next month (and I bet you that there will be others wearing it haha). A+ for the theme!Â
Accessory: Star Trek Friendship Necklace (by Quantum Mechanix)
Iâll be honest (oh dear, that phrase never really means anything good, now does it?) I was pretty disappointed with this. It fits the theme, I love Star Trek, BUT...but, usually the Accessory subscription has one super awesome item, or two smaller okay items. This seemed like...just one okay item and a bit of a waste. I hope they make up for it with February, but weâll see! As far as this particular item goes...itâs cool...not something I would wear. When put together, it reads, âI HAVE BEEN AND ALWAYS SHALL BE YOUR FRIEND.âÂ
RIP Spock/Leonard Nimoy. <3
Shirt: Exclusive Heart Invaders T-Shirt
A great pairing with the hoodie they included with the Wearable. Just in time for Valentineâs Day, amirite?
Overall, they never fail with hitting the theme right on the mark. Great items, a little disappointment, but at this point, I guess thatâs expected with things from Loot Crate (at least from me). They stuck to Space Invaders and they stuck with it well!
Winter may be coming (actually it's already here), but we're heating up our March Block with other awesome items from Arrested Development, Batman V. Superman, Karate Kid and Daredevil! (Feel it getting warmer already?)
I saw an advertisement/teaser for the book that would be included in this box, and was intrigued. This isnât the typical nerdy/gamer-type boxes I have been getting and more of a lifestyle box. Itâs definitely something different, but letâs see if it was worth it!
*COUPON: If you are interested in subscribing, use code MARCH5 to save $5 on your first box.
Box Information
http://musthave.popsugar.com
$39.95 (includes S/H)
Value: $100+
1-3-6 Month Subscriptions, Delivered Monthly
5-7 Items
Gift Collections and Special Edition boxes also available.
Box Contents
PehrDesigns.com 25% Off Coupon
Pehr Designs: Pebble Speck Bin
Spark Joy by Marie Kondo
Patchology: FlashMasque Trio
Blue Sky: Day Designer Weekly Planner
Not Soap, Radio: Bath & Shower Gel Gift Set
Project 7, INC: Summer Snow Sugar Free Gum
It looks like the overall theme for Januaryâs box was a âNew Years Resolutionâ / âFresh Startâ sort of idea. Itâs all about healthy habits, pampering yourself, and getting organized...which is what I would think are the biggest new years resolutions people aim for.Â
Just by looking at the card, and my first glance into the box...this box is definitely worth the money as far as getting more than what you paid for dollar-amount-wise.
Oh look! Coupon code! For 25% off your entire order: use PEHRPOP on pehrdesigns.com
Which, Iâll be honest...may/may not be worth it. Iâm a bargain shopper. I donât go out of my way to buy super expensive, designer things. This...seems like one of those types of things but for home type items like storage bins, hampers, tablecloth things...pretty but high quality cloth napkins. For example, their clothes hampers are $70...I would just go to the store down the street (like a Walmart or something) and pick one up for about $10. Practical, gets the job done, without dipping into my wallet too much. So to me, something like that costing so much seems impractical to me, but eh, to each their own.
Pehr Designs: Pebble Speck Bin ($26.00)
You can pick one up here if you like it! Nice quality bin. Of course, a bit rough around the edges from being folded into a little box, but I like it! The pattern isnât exactly my taste...doesnât match anything in my house, but Iâm sure Iâll find something to put in it to store in the closet. Thick, durable, not too shabby!
Spark Joy by Marie Kondo ($18.99 retail, 11.43 on Amazon)
This is what peaked my interest in giving this box a try and review. I, like so many others, wanted to start getting organized and such at the beginning of this year. So far, Iâve been doing well so far (putting health first, getting art commissions in order, etc etc). I havenât sat down to read this book yet, but I will be now that itâs in my hands...since I work nights and it gets pretty slow! Perfect reading time. High quality hardcovers...mmmm, I love it! The little illustrations make this pretty adorable.
I also canât fold clothes to save my life.
Patchology: FlashMasque Trio (~$30.00)
I think my mom is more anxious to try these than I am. I have very sensitive skin, and rosacea. These types of things are pretty hit or miss as far as causing flare ups. When I get the chance, Iâll try one out and make a separate entry for it. :) Â So far, the reviews for the hydrate one are pretty good! Hopefully it wonât make my face hurt. Itâs the chance Iâm willing to take FOR THE REVIEW! *dramatic pose*Â
Blue Sky: Day Designer Weekly Planner
($15.99 on Blue Sky, $4.99 on Amazon)
Amazing quality, and you know how difficult it is for me to find a nice planner thatâs exactly how I want it? THIS IS PERFECT. I now no longer have to make my own little planner sheets using Microsoft Word. I have a little dinky $1 planner I use to help organize my commissions, but this one is super nice and I love it. Iâm so excited to use this (even though itâs already mid-February, still early enough). In my spare time (usually at work when I have nothing to do), I may lists. To-Do lists, Places I Want To Go This Year lists, Fan Art I Want To Draw lists...anything.Â
Not Soap, Radio: Bath & Shower Gel Gift Set ($15.00 on Amazon)
I canât wait to try these. I love bath and shower things. Even when someone gets me those last-minute gift sets for holidays or my birthday, I still love it. I just...again, have to be careful about my skin because itâs very sensitive. They smell great though!
Project 7, INC: Summer Snow Sugar Free Gum (~$1.50)
Iâm sorry guys, Iâm probably the worst reviewer ever. I canât have gum either! Haha! When I chew gum, my jaw will pop with excruciating pain. But, based on the packaging...this is definitely something different I have never heard of or seen before. Maybe Iâll just take a painkiller first and then try these, hm?Â
Special Extra: ChapStick Total Hydration (~$3.00)
Itâs chap stick...nothing really special to say about it.
Overall, well worth the money. They definitely strive for quality, but this box is definitely more on the higher end price-wise. Itâs one of those âYou didnât know you needed thisâ sort of boxes. The picked a theme and really stuck with it and added in some little teeny extras too.
Iâm not personally a huge advocate for Loot Crate, but if youâre interested, they have now opened a gaming-themed subscription box. Theyâve started opening up separate boxes lately to hit different demographics instead of cramming them altogether, similar to what Nerd Block already has. Loot Crate now has their general crate, Loot Anime, Loot Pets, and now Loot Gaming on top of their franchise crates (Firefly, Star Wars, etc.).
The Merc with a mouth is taking over and bringing an exclusive Deadpool item that we'll be shipping to subscribers across the world this February! Knowing Deadpool, we expect there may be another surprise to be found too!
But wait, there's more!
10,000 lucky subscribers to February's Nerd Block Classic will find an extra special variant of our exclusive Deadpool item! Will you be one of the lucky one's? The only way to find out is to subscribe!
February's Nerd Block Classic is full of super surprises, including one that should please fans of the Dark Knight!
There are plenty more surprises in store for subscribers, including one from the Mushroom Kingdom and another Nintendo surprise that will truly put the power in your hand!
And remember, every Nerd Block Classic subscriber is eligible to win February's Monster Block Giveaway!
One lucky Nerd Block Classic Subscriber will win:
âȘ PS4 Console
âȘ Far Cry Primal for PS4
âȘ Lego Marvel's Avengers for PS4
âȘ Street Fighter V for PS4
âȘ Mortal Kombat Triple Feature Blu-Ray
âȘ Street Fighter II Blu-Ray
Every subscriber is eligible to win, so don't miss your chance!
Every month, Nerd Block brings subscribers across the world the very best pop culture collectibles!
Now we're teaming up with the largest producer of pop culture events, ReedPOP, to bring an exclusive block stuffed with incredible surprises that celebrates the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), taking place March 18-20 in Chicago.
Nerd Block started with the goal of delivering the Comic-Con experience in a box, and now we're taking that further with an exclusive and very limited box celebrating this great fan event!
And this is only the beginning, as we work to bring blocks for Emerald City Comic-Con and New York Comic-Con as well!
Fans interested in picking up the highly-limited C2E2 box should visitnerdblock.com/C2E2 to find out more and sign up to be among the first people notified when orders open.
This C2E2 exclusive will be limited to 2,500 blocks, so don't miss your chance to score amazing and exclusive collectibles and bring C2E2 home!
The time has come! This is your absolute last chance to order Februrary's Sci-Fi Block and make sure that a universe of awesome collectibles reaches your door!
Don't miss amazing franchises like Star Wars, Guardians of the Galaxy, Aliens, an exclusive Star Trek item, and double Funko month!
That's right!
This February we're bringing subscribers double the Funko items as well!
Every subscriber to February's Sci-Fi Block can expect to discover 2 awesome Funko items, and one is a guaranteed Funko Pop!
Thatâs right. Iâve had to cut some of my subscriptions due to finances.Â
Anyhoo, the following boxes have been cancelled. I hope to re-sub again, or if anyone would like to ship a little giftie box my way, check out my Menu, and all the info to do it is there!
Gamer Girl Monthly
Loot Crate & LVL UP Wearable (Accessory is still coming)
Nerd Block Classic
Hereâs what reviews/spoilers will be posted this month:Â
Just Arrived:
January POPSUGAR MUST HAVE
January LEVEL UP (Loot Crate)
Still Waiting For:
January Arcade Block
February Reviews:
Loot Crate (DEAD theme) + LVL UP Accessory
Gamer Girl Monthly
Doki Doki Crate
Cat Lady Box (Crazy)
Sci-Fi Block
Arcade Block
Nerd Block Classic
Looks like Loot Crate will be packed full of Deadpool and The Walking Dead...plus whatever else they decide to throw at us.
Just because of Deadpool, I will be subbing Loot Crate...and hope they donât bastardize another crate. Iâve been pretty sour towards them, hence why I cancelled my sub in the first place. I wish I gave Marvel Collector Corps a shot but there were a lot of bad comments and reviews of people not receiving their boxes among other issues.
Please donât bring Deadpool to shame...PLEASE.
You can nab Loot Crate with this link! <--- Click that
Join us for âCracking The Case,â a box celebrating some of your favorite detectives, spies and secret agents. Weâll have a Risa Rodil-designed Sherlock wearable, a special X-Files replica, and unique items from Hannibal, Jessica Jones and Daredevil!
This box wonât be reviewed on this blog for February. Iâm taking a break to give Doki Doki Crate a shot (since they advertised Studio Ghibli items...canât pass that up). So if youâre interested in checking out FanMail:
Januaryâs theme was âGalentines & Valentinesâ...so just in time before February hits! Galentineâs, for those who arenât aware, is in reference to an episode of Parks & Recreation. I donât consistently watch the show myself, but my fiance does (only reason I know that reference honestly, outside of the emails from FanMail using gifs from the show). Their teaser emails hinted at the below:
This monthâs box will be a guaranteed hit with anyone who wants to appreciate the female friendships in their life and indulge in some romance, too!
Celebrate the sisterhood in Orphan Black, experience the passion in Outlander, relive the joy and tragedy of love in Doctor Who, and more! Â
Letâs see how much of it they got in here this month! After this box, Iâm putting FanMail down for a while to try out some other boxes. Februaryâs theme has been announced, which will be in a later post.
Box Information
https://myfanmail.com/
$21.99 (+S/H)
Value: $50+
1-3-6-12 Month Subscriptions, Delivered Monthly
Aimed towards a female gamer audience.
Renews and theme announcements on the 1st of every month.
Past boxes are also up for sale for $25.00, as well as comics, gift cards, and Exclusive/Limited Edition boxes.
FanMail supports at least one small business run by women in their boxes. One, or multiple, products each month will be from independent sellers (usually from Etsy).
(from their FAQ)
Whatâs in the box?
FanMail boxes contain a variety of memorabilia and collectibles, some old, some new, some handmade, some fanmade. Among the items you may find are exclusive comics and t-shirts, jewelry, stationery, books, autographs, photos and much more. And each month, youâll get a handy pop culture newsletter that will tell you what movies are coming out, whatâs up for streaming and bringing, and what conventions or events are out there that you may want to attend.
UNFORTUNATELY, my box did not come with the aforementioned newsletter or a list of the items. Only a postcard advertisement that they have gift cards. Womp womp. Thatâs the second box Iâve gotten this month missing the card. Shucks. With that being said, I donât have the references or links for some of the items and have had to do some digging. If there is anything that I missed (such as an etsy link), PLEASE shoot me a message.
So Whatâs In The Box?
T-Shirt: The Princess Bride âAs You Wishâ
Outlander Wedding Ring necklace
Exclusive: Espionage Cosmetics Nailed It! DNA Nail Wraps
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard 50-Page sample
TruthWitch by Susan Dennard advertisement poster with Map
Valentines/Greeting Card Set of 4
T-Shirt: The Princess Bride âAs You Wishâ
Simple yet sweet. The color is actually a deep, royal purple. The camera/lighting makes it seem abnormally bright.
From a design standpoint: I think the little icons around the font kill it. The font alone would have worked better. Thatâs just my opinion. Fits the theme of the box. (It also is a Boba Fett quote, but...that doesnât fit the box theme sadly)
Outlander Wedding Ring necklace
Decent quality (well, cheapy actually, but for a sub box, not bad). I didnât know what Outlander was until seeing this and looking it up from the teaser email. Not much I can really gush about this item. My fiance has heard of it, but also hasnât seen it. We plan on seeing it...soon (just like we have been about Game of Thrones). The bag it came in is better quality than the rings are. Once I see the show, Iâll better understand the significance of this item. Since they are wedding rings, and based off of a show, it definitely fits the theme FanMail is going for.
Exclusive: Espionage Cosmetics Nailed It! DNA Nail Wraps
($10.00)
Iâve just started getting into nail wraps after being in a friendâs Jamberry Nails party. These are particular nice, not only because of the nerdy science DNA design, but because they donât require heat of anything. Pretty simple! Iâll be sure to post pictures once I get these things on!
Be sure to check out Espionage Cosmetics in the meantime. Iâm tempted to get the CL4P-TP nail wraps. The Harley Quinn ones are pretty nice too!
Iâm going to throw this out there: in the rest of the box, I didnât see anything referencing Orphan Black (which I also havenât seen). From what I gather of what the show is about, this may be the Orphan Black themed item. DNA...stealing identity...seems to tie in together. Sorry Iâm such a noob, haha.
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard 50-Page sample
One of my New Yearâs Resolutions was to read more...since I have a lot of books, but never actually sit down to read any of them. Iâve never read anything by this author or in this series (at least, I think itâs a series). Time to get started! The full book can be found here on Amazon.
TruthWitch by Susan Dennard advertisement poster with Map
This book is already out! Another to add to my list of reads this year. When I looked it up on Amazon, itâs suggested along with Red Queen, so it looks like this ties in with the sampler in the box. High ratings on Amazon too, although there are a couple of downers in there. Worth a chance though.
You can pick up or read more into it on Amazon.
Valentines/Greeting Card Set of 4
These are really sweet! Theyâre thick, glossy, nice quality. The art is nicely done. We have Captain America, Game of Thrones, Parks & Recreation, and Doctor Who. Iâm definitely using one of these for my fiance...or maybe all of them...weâll see.Â
Overall, I realize how sheltered I am and need to watch more television and read more books. I didnât understand most of the references, and I tend to be pretty critical when it comes to the item reviews. I really need to broaden my horizons! This box was decent and FanMail held true to its theme, at least from how Iâm interpreting it. Itâs hard for me to review a box I really donât understand fully, but...it is what it is! Let me know what you think of this monthâs FanMail! Decemberâs theme was more up my alley.
For those of you that donât know (or havenât checked my âWant To Gift A Box?â page), Iâm in Kentucky. Weâve been having some hellish snow lately (to me anyways. Iâm originally from Florida. Anything more than an inch of snow to me is hell). Boxes for January have been delayed. Iâll be queuing the spoiler reviews as they come in.Â
What Iâm currently waiting on is Gamer Girl Monthly, POPSUGAR MUST HAVE, and Level Up by Loot Crate. FanMail just came in, so that will be posted here soon once I can get the images uploaded! ARE YOU EXCITED?Â
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