Reviews

    Ziba Foods

    Emily BLevel 3 16 Reviews

    a year ago

    Purchased through a Thingtesting offer

    Until I tried Ziba's products, I never realized how good dried fruits and nuts could be. I guess everything I've been eating for entire life has been old, stale, dry, and gross? Because their nuts are incredible. I tried the apricot kernels and mulberries first and LOVED it. I'd never had apricot kernels before (thought they were almonds at first) and this was such a fun way to try new foods. The product is incredible, but I also love their focus on helping Afghanistan gain recognition for its wonderful dried fruits and nuts. They're also super clear about their supply chain and other goals on their website. Cute packaging and website too! I wish I had seen the recipes on their site before I ate all the apricot kernels!

    NAOMI NAOMI

    Emily BLevel 3 16 Reviews

    a year ago

    This is my first Naomi Nomi shirt, but I don't think it will be my last. Naomi Nomi makes beautiful, thoughtfully-designed and made shirts (and some other stuff, but I'm focusing on the shirts). I came across them on Instagram and fell in love with their branding immediately. The aesthetic of their photos, the diversity of their models, the story on their website, their tone of voice... But we really care about the shirt, right? When I got The Honors Oxford in the mail, the moment I touched it, I knew it was worth the price. This is the softest denim I've ever touched, and I think the shirt is going to be a great year-round staple. Not too heavy, but easily layered, and equally as chic open as it is buttoned up. This particular shirt has INCREDIBLE buttons. I've never felt this way about buttons. Corozo buttons (good) surrounded by gold (even better) take my oxford to another level. All of their products are made-to-order, meaning this is not a "order it today, get it in three days" situation. The making + shipping timelines were clear in the product descriptions. Other little surprise-and-delight things I like about my shirt: - The merino-backed collar. It makes me feel like a boss. - The stitching on the shirt is the same color as the fabric, which just makes it look so clean. - The buttons. The buttons!! - The fabric is so, so soft. I love it. They allow you to pay with Shop Pay and break up your not-inexpensive shirt into a few payments, which is a plus for me!

    Feedback

    There was a slight mix up when my shirt was being produced, where because they are a made-to-order company, they made the wrong size shirt for me. They caught it before the shirt ever left their studio, and they kept me in the loop. Incredible communication from the team when this happened! In the end, I got my shirt, I was happy, and everything was good.

    Paynter

    Emily BLevel 3 16 Reviews

    2 years ago

    I have never loved a clothing brand the way I love Paynter. They're doing things right. High quality materials, cool-yet-classic styles, and a unique approach to creation and sharing that shows you every step of your jacket's construction. I own three Paynter jackets in three different styles and love each one. Since buying with Paynter, I've started thinking a lot more about how the clothes I wear are made and the quality of materials. The Paynter team is clearly passionate about what they do, and it shows in their products and in their marketing.

    Date Better

    Emily BLevel 3 16 Reviews

    2 years ago

    I was surprised by just how much of the peanut butter filling was in the dates! Honestly, it overwhelmed the actual date flavor a little bit, but I suppose if I wanted straight-up dates, I'd just eat a plain date. Expensive? Yes. There are only two dates per package. I wish there was one or two more, but I understand that every step in the production process has people behind it, and everyone deserves to be paid a living wage.

    Feedback

    Not sure if this is how the packaging normally is but the dates inside my box were in a compostable plastic-y sleeve, but the sleeve wasn't sealed? I'm not even sure if I should have eaten them given that they're just in a paper box with an open plastic sleeve, but... they were $7 so I ate them. Definitely a luxury snack, would be a great gift for a date lover! Would I buy them again? Maybe, but only for a "special occasion" (not totally sure what special occasion calls for $3.50/date dates) or as a gift.

    Juliet Wine

    Emily BLevel 3 16 Reviews

    2 years ago

    Purchased through a Thingtesting offer

    Juliet is making boxed wine cool! I would never, ever say that about a box of Franzia, but the branding and taste is on point here. I wouldn't be ashamed to have this out on my counter — despite my strong opinion that you should drink what you like, even if that is Franzia :) Very chic packaging, I could definitely see myself bringing this to a party. The rose won out for me over the pinot noir. Light, crisp, fruity. It would be the perfect patio sipper for a warm day.

    Feedback

    The pinot noir felt a little... empty. There's not much to it. If you're not a red lover, this is probably a good red wine for you. Love that they're eco-friendly, but in my shipment, there was a note that said the box was recyclable and that I could send back my empty plastic wine bags for proper recycling in the included return sleeve. Unfortunately, there was no return sleeve in my box. Finally — at $55+ after shipping per container, I'm not sure I'd be willing to pay $27/bottle for this wine. It's good, but I can buy a better bottle for less.

    The Pizza Cupcake

    Emily BLevel 3 16 Reviews

    2 years ago

    Purchased through a Thingtesting offer

    Love the flaky crust! Truly scrumptious. This hits all the notes in terms of convenience. Shipping was super speedy and they arrived still-frozen!

    Feedback

    I ordered the pepperoni flavor, and the first one I pulled out of the box didn't have a pepperoni on top. I didn't love the taste of the sauce, which I recognize is just personal preference. I also think you either HAVE to thaw these before baking, or you risk overcooking the outside before the inside is warmed through. They're pretty expensive for what I feel like I get, too! Also, small gripe, but if the choice is (1) have a pizza in my freezer or (2) have a box of pizza cupcakes in my freezer, I would choose the pizza because the packaging is thinner and easier to store/slide in somewhere in the freezer. I find the large box to be difficult to store in a full freezer!

    (MALIN+GOETZ)

    Emily BLevel 3 16 Reviews

    2 years ago

    The rum scent. The rum scent. The rum scent. So good. I love the dark rum soap and lotion. The scent is great and the hydration is standard (it's like the back up to your normal lotion) — but if I wanted a super intense moisturizer, I'd use my Vaseline anyways. I'm here for the smell.

    Feedback

    I've tried their facial soap and moisturizer and they didn't wow me. They just didn't seem like they worked well. I'd stick to the hand products.

    Dagne Dover

    Emily BLevel 3 16 Reviews

    2 years ago

    I've had a Dagne Dover backpack for 4+ years now. It's cute and people always ask me where it's from! I love the saturated olive color. It's durable and doesn't have any major damage from use over the last several years, except on the corners/bottom where it's set on the floor.

    Feedback

    I've gotten some "dents" in the fabric over the years and I'm not sure why the fabric hasn't bounced back. It just makes an otherwise nice bag look not-so-nice.

    Boy Smells

    Emily BLevel 3 16 Reviews

    2 years ago

    These are some hella smelly candles (in a good way!). They have a lot of staying power, and their spread is really large. That being said, I've ordered some of their multi-candle packs and just can't get into some of the scents. That's just personal preference, though! The quality of the candles is great and they seem to burn for a long time.

    OLIPOP

    Emily BLevel 3 16 Reviews

    2 years ago

    I like the concept, but honestly, I'm not a frequent enough soda drinker for the alt version (Olipop) to be worth it. The flavors always taste good at first, but sometimes there's a weird aftertaste or the flavor seems to change after a few sips. I'm assuming it's due to the sweeteners they use. I've tried a few flavors (root beer, strawberry vanilla, and their holiday apple flavor) and feel the same about all of them. I just don't *love* them.