Studio DIY "Can't Clutch This" Review + Giveaway!

For those of you who know, I'm a huge fan of subscription shopping.  I've subscribed to ipsy, Julep, FabKids, JustFab, Fabletics, ShoeDazzle and the Planner Society.  Over the past few months I cancelled several subscriptions because I hardly used any of the products I'd gotten and it wasn't worth the money for me anymore.  So, when Studio DIY launched their Can't Clutch This subscription I was hesitant at first but ended up giving in because the clutch was just too cute to pass up!

After receiving my first month's clutch (and add ons!), I was instantly hooked!  The design is so cute, and fun and true to the spirit of Studio DIY which I absolutely loved.  The clutch itself exceeded my expectations as far as quality goes.  It is very sturdy and easy to clean and the hardware is legit!  No need to worry about pulling the zipper too hard on these!

My Snap of December's Clutch

In my opinion, at $20/month it's totally worth it.  Plus, you can add on some awesome flair that coordinates with the clutch each month as well!  ALWAYS get the add-ons.  You won't regret it.

Though I really, truly love the subscription and I think it's totally worth it, I have a few things I thought I should share with you about my shopping experience so far with Studio DIY.

When I first signed up, there wasn't much to go on.  It was quite a confusing experience because it was fresh and new.  I had no idea when the clutches would be revealed, when they would ship, what the deadline was to select add-ons, etc.  I'm the kind of person who needs to have those things laid out in plain view, bold letters, all caps, flashing lights, animation and reminder emails.  Studio DIY doesn''t have all that.  You kinda have to search around for that info which I didn't find out until a few days ago.

Also, another thing I should note is that you can't skip a month.  If you don't care for that month's clutch, you'll have to "start a conversation" with them and cancel your subscription.  And, if you forget to put aside money in your "subscriptions account" for that month, your order will be voided but your subscription won't be.  So, if you get an email saying your subscription payment failed and your order was voided and you log in to purchase that month's clutch because you completely forgot about it and had no idea when you'd be billed for it anyway, you'll end up creating TWO subscriptions.  That means, every month thereafter you will be charged for two clutches and will have to "start a conversation" to cancel one of them.

If you haven't already figured it out, I ended up creating two subscriptions in January.  So, when February came around, I was charged twice and received two clutches.  Instead of sending it back and going through the whole process of a return, I figured it would be great giveaway prize to go along with my review, so my loss is your gain!

This is the first giveaway I've hosted in quite a while so I'll make it easy for you:  Just comment below and tell me what your favorite subscription service/box is!  That's it, that's all there is to it!  I'll be picking the winner at random, so if you don't have a blogger account, or your email is not connected to your account, please be sure to include your email address in your comment so I can notify you if you've won!

GOOD LUCK!

**This opinions expressed in this review and the prize included in this giveaway are 100% my own and paid for by me.  This post is not endorsed or sponsored by Studio DIY in any way.***

12 Days of Guam Giveaways [Day 12]

Well, well, well.  We've reached the end of the Guam giveaway extravaganza event.  Can you believe it?  It's actually been so fun for me, posting and promoting and sharing such wonderful things from Guam with all of you around the world.  There's still time to enter some of the previous giveaways so don't forget to check back on the older posts and see if they're still open so you can get some entries in!

Today's prize is this gorgeous necklace, handmade here on Guam by Nara, the creator of Vida Local.  I've been a long-time fan of her pieces and have always loved the beachy/modern/chic look of everything she creates.  I mean, if you know anything about me you'd know that I consider myself to be beachy/modern/chic so really, it's a no-brainer.  I already have a couple pieces from Vida Local and absolutely love them so I can assure you that this won't be the last time you hear about Nara and her amazing jewelry here on the blog.

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12 Days of Guam Giveaways [Day 11]

Welcome to the 11th day of Guam giveaways here on the blog!  Can you believe that 10 days have already passed us by in December?  I can't.  I can't even believe that I've posted this many times in one month.  It's been a while since I've done that so hopefully I can keep this momentum going for the rest of the month.  Maybe not every single day, but 2-3 times a week is good, right?

 

Today's prize is one 4.25oz bag of Taotaomo'na blend coffee from the Guam Coffee Co. located in Tumon, Guam.  This is perfect for those cold winter mornings, even if it's only cold because you're in an air conditioned room.

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12 Days of Guam Giveaways [Day 10]

Ahh, another giveaway post!  Two more days of prizes and then I'm turning into scrooge for the rest of the year.  Just kidding.  Maybe.

These coasters though!  I'm so in love with them, I'm actually beating myself up about giving them away to someone else because they're so frikken cute!

These beauties are from Cross My Hart Workshop and handmade by a gorgeous Guam gal named Amanda.  She has some amazing artwork and I'm loving all the vibrant colors she uses.  Definitely makes a great conversation piece and it's a fun way to spruce up that coffee table!

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12 Days of Guam Giveaways [Day 9]

There are only a few more days of giveaways left, people!  Have you entered all of them so far?

This print is one of my favorite things ever because, PINEAPPLE.  While pineapples are not native to Guam, our climate is perfect for growing them so there are some local farmers who produce them.  Pineapples have always been a favorite of mine (before the whole pineapple trend thing took over) because I spent most of my growing up in the little town of Wahiawa, Hawaii.  The Dole pineapple fields, where my grandfather worked during his teenage years, is right on the outskirts of our town and I could see the fields every day while standing on my front porch.

Whenever I see a pineapple, I think of my grandfather and all the stories he used to tell me about working on the plantation, his old buddies from the Big Island (where he was raised), and how much things have changed since then.  He would sing me songs from the old days and play with me all the time, no matter how weak or tired he was.  He played along while I took his order and made him some pretend Laulau or Chop Suey, rolling it to him on his little cart - the cart my grandmother had to use to clean his colostomy bag everyday.

As I got older and the years went by, he still remained the same.  Always looking for ways to get a smile out of me by singing his songs, telling me about the conversation he had with Josephine (a little bird who lived in the lychee tree in the yard) or sneaking me some candy or a $10 bill behind my grandmother's back.

He passed away in 2004, right before my high school graduation.  He had already been in hospice care by that time and he went peacefully in his sleep, listening to the Perry Como (one of his favorites) CD I had bought him.  Needless to say, I sang "Moon River" at his funeral because it was the last song the both of us had sung together.

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12 Days of Guam Giveaways [Day 8]

Well, we're on day 8 (a couple days late) of my magical Guam giveaway extravaganza!  Can you feel the holiday spirit in the air yet?  I'm still in disbelief that it's already December and we're just weeks away from 2016!

Today's prize is this sweet Hafa Adai travel mug from MN by Anjelica, another amazing local brand featured at the Guam Art Boutique.  I just love the gold glitter combined with the pink script!  Also, you can add your own photos and images to the inside of the mug to make it truly unique!

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12 Days of Guam Giveaways [Day 7]

Whoop whoop!  Here's day seven of my spectacularly epic Guam giveaways!  Are you stoked about all of these giveaways or what?  I know I am!

Today is another product from one of my favorite (and yours too, right?) local brands, Love from Guam.  I was immediately drawn to Jessie's products when I first saw them because they're so beachy and natural but with a modern vibe and just so ME.  Her photos are so gorgeous and depict the true beauty of Guam like no other.

These cards are the perfect way to send some warm, tropical vibes to your loved ones this winter!  This pack comes with five cards so that means you can give away four and keep one for yourself.  I know I can't be the only one who does that.  Right?  Anyone?  No?

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12 Days of Guam Giveaways [Day 6]

I know, I know.  This was supposed to be up two days ago.  I had more technical difficulties last night after posting Day 5.  As in, my 6-year-old swiped my laptop to watch Netflix in his room.  So, yeah.

Anyway.

These Guam seal crayons are another great handmade goody from Bonita Baby!  My kids and I fell head-over-heels in love with them when Jessica, the creative mastermind/supermom behind Bonita Baby, posted them on her feed.  She is such an amazing and talented woman who creates some of the most adorable things EVER.  I especially love her Guam designs because they're so unique and are such a great way to introduce culture to our kids by teaching them how to kamyu (grind) a coconut and explain the significance of a latte stone.

The quality of her products and their packaging are always top-notch and you know I'm a sucker for little details like that.  So even though I don't have a baby, I'm still always browsing her Instagram feed and looking at all the adorable designs and products she has - and maybe, possibly, making a mental note of what items I want in the event we ever decide to add another little migraine to the mix.  Maybe.

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12 Days of Guam Giveaways [Day 5]

Okay, I'm a few days late with these posts due to some technical difficulties.  Because, technically I was so busy running errands and getting the rest of my Christmas shopping done that I had ZERO time for blogging or posting or taking photos of the prizes this weekend.  But hey, at least you can enter three giveaways in one day!  That's good, right?

 

 
For the fifth Guam giveaway, I've got this AWESOME pair of Hafa Adai leggings from Ene Wear Clothing Co.  These things are seriously amazing!  I've purchased two pairs of their previous designs and am still very much in love with them.  The pair I'm giving away is one of their two newest designs and you won't be able to get it in store anymore because I bought the last 2 pairs (one to give you and one for myself, duh)!

The Ene Wear brand has been around for a few years and I really love their original designs and products.  I've already got the Tribal Dress on my Christmas wishlist this year!

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12 Days of Guam Giveaways [Day 4]

And we're back with another AWESOME prize today!  Okay, maybe not we.  More like me.  Singular.  I'm back.  Anyways.

Today's prize is something I found on Etsy that I immediately fell in love with.  I love art and have a tendency to get lost in a painting or sculpture and this one was no exception.  I chose this particular piece to give away because it showcases the Latte Stone Park.  Latte stones are the remains of the foundations of buildings from ancient Chamorro times.  They are the symbol of strength and stability and a representation of the Chamorro culture.

Doesn't it make you feel like you're walking down that path?  I just love everything about this.  The winner will receive an 8x10" print to be shipped directly from Mr. Elliott himself.  His pieces are all so amazing and I'm already planning to order this print as well as several others for myself to start my own collection of Guam art at home.

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12 Days of Guam Giveaways [Day 3]

Isn't this bookmark just everything?  I actually got one earlier this year but ended up giving it to Trace so he could give it to one of the Japanese exchange students visiting the school, so I didn't actually get to use it myself.  And I'm sure that even if I were to go and get another one, I wouldn't be able to use that one either because Aniyah already claimed the next one for herself, so it looks like I'll need to go out and get several more just so I can actually use one!  Such is the downside to having amazing and unique little trinkets like this - you love them so much that you just want to share them with everyone!

This bookmark is another item from Love from Guam, but she's sold out of them on Etsy right now, which is why you should definitely "Favorite" her shop so you'll know when she restocks.  Plus, she's got a ton of other amazing items listed (some of which I may be giving away in the upcoming days) that you should definitely check out.  I seriously want one of everything she has...and you might too!

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12 Days of Guam Giveaways [Day 2]

Happy Tuesday!  Did you all enjoy my surprise giveaway announcement yesterday?  Have you entered yet?  If not, there's still time to go back and enter later.  But first, check out today's prize!

Aren't these just the cutest things ever?  Dare I say, cute as a button?  Yep.  I dared.  This pack of cute little button pins is something I picked up at the Guam Art Boutique, located in Chamorro Village in Hagatna.  My favorite has to be the "Grindin'" kamyu (pronounced com-zu) because it reminds me of my son Trace, who loves to help grind the coconut with it.  Maybe I'll post a video sometime showing you what that's all about if you're interested.

You know the drill!  Enter below for your chance to win and be sure to stop by tomorrow for a chance to win another great prize!

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12 Days of Guam Giveaways [Day 1]

Surprise!  Get excited, because for the first 12 days of December, I'll be giving away one prize every day!  Each of these prizes are unique to Guam, hand-picked by me and made by some crazy-talented people who love this island as much as I do.  Aren't you lucky?

For the first day of this epic giveaway extravaganza, I'm giving away Santa's Magic Key!  For those of you who don't know, Guam is a tropical island paradise in the middle of the Pacific.  It is hot and humid all year long so having a fireplace or chimney here is a bit ridiculous.  So, how does Santa get in to deliver gifts on Christmas Eve here on Guam?  Why, through the front door of course!

Hang this key on the front door and Santa will have no problem delivering your gifts!  Oh, and it is a magic key and it won't work for anyone else but the big man himself.  So you can rest easy without worrying about anyone else but Old Saint Nick popping in.

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Happiness Boutique [Review + Giveaway]

So remember that Rocksbox post I wrote a while back?  Well, since then, I've been on the hunt for cute, AFFORDABLE, quality pieces to spice up my everyday wardrobe.  Lucky for me, I was contacted by Happiness Boutique to review a product of my choice from their website and after the Rocksbox fail, I was already in the market for a brand new statement necklace that I didn't have to return.

Trying to pick just ONE piece to review was tough.  They have over 300 items in the necklace section alone!  It literally took me days to finally narrow it down to a few choices and then another few days to actually commit to one.  After about a week of serious deliberation, I finally chose this one.

If it isn't obvious from the photos, this necklace has quickly become one of my faves and I've worn it on several occasions.  It's so easy to style that I can wear it with shorts and a tank top on the weekend, with a v-neck and flare jeans to work, or with a simple bodycon dress to go out.  The details on this are absolutely stunning and while it looks like a high-end piece, it's actually really light and doesn't make me feel like I'm carrying an anchor around my neck.

The people over at Happiness Boutique are so true to their name that they also offer free shipping!  As in, no minimum purchase required.  As in, you don't have to pay anything other than your items.  As in, AWESOME.  Oh, and did I mention that they also have a reward program?  Yup.  You get points for purchasing, points for reviewing, points for sharing, points for tagging, and points for signing up for their newsletter.  That's a shit ton of points that you can redeem for FREE STUFF.  If you're not happy with free shipping and free stuff, then something must be terribly wrong with you.

Oh, and because I love my necklace so much, I've decided to spread a little happiness and give you a chance to win one of your own!  You know the drill, enter below!

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Catching up + an EPIC Giveaway

Oh, hi there!  I know it's been a hot minute since I've been around these parts but thank you for all of the kind comments on my last post.  Things are better now, we're moving forward.

I'm sorry that I haven't had much time to post or read any blogs lately.  I actually threw myself into planner beast mode after seeing Lisa's posts about her new Plum Paper planner and goodies.  I'm pretty much done with creating all the pages of my 2016 planner, it's just a matter of doing the add-ins (blog schedule, budget sheets, direct sales tracking, etc.) and then taking it in to be bound.  Hopefully by next week I'll have photos of my completed planner and a file for you all to download and print your own because I know you love freebies as much as I do!

I actually do have a LOT to post in the upcoming weeks (hellooooo holiday season!) so be on the lookout for reviews, giveaways and other fun stuff!  Oh, and speaking of giveaways, I've joined up with some awesome peeps to give one of you lucky readers this super fucking awesome prize pack:

A group of bloggers and I have teamed up to bring you a fabulous giveaway you can't resist!  We're giving one precious follower a gift package consisting of a gold iPad Mini, authentic Tory Burch tote bag, Tory Burch shoulder bag and a Tory Burch wallet, all valued at approximately $1,900!  By following as many bloggers as you want on the Gleam widget below, you will have better chances of winning!  Good luck lovelies!

Tory Burch + iPad Gold Mini Part 2

You're welcome.

End of Summer Giveaway Pt. 3: Younique Fiber Lashes+

Time for another giveaway! Though I still haven't gotten around to ordering my own set of Younique's Fiber Lashes+ (bills come first, makeup second), I wanted to give one of you the opportunity to try it out too.  The original Fiber Lashes are still my favorite thing ever, and I cannot wait to try and share the new Fiber Lashes+ with you all.  So, once a winner is chosen, I'll order the winner's set and my personal set so we can try it out together!

This one's all on me so there's just one simple entry in order to qualify!  Good luck!

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End of Summer Giveaway Pt. 2: [Jackpot Candles]

You ever notice how certain scents and smells can alter your mood?  The smell of garlic cooking almost always makes me hungry.  The smell of gardenias makes me think of my grandma and grandpa.  Citrusy scents make me feel energized while floral scents put me in a romantic and flirty mood.  Fruity scents make me all sorts of happy and clean, subtle scents help me to relax.

The right scent can turn a bad day into a bearable one which is why I hoard perfumes, Scentsy, sprays, incense, and candles.  Especially candles.  So when I was given the opportunity to review a scented candle from Jackpot Candles I was thrilled!  What put me over-the-moon excited was when I found out that each candle had a piece of jewelry in it.  Double win.

  

I chose the Lilac Candle because I wanted a light, floral scent to come home to after a long stressful day.  It really was hard to choose just one scent but I'm so glad I chose this one.  It smells amazing.

All you have to do is light the candle and let the scent fill up your room.  You can read a book, clean, browse the web, write a blog post, etc. while you wait for your candle to burn.  After a while, you'll notice something that looks like a giant raisin embedded in the wax.  That's your jewelry surprise!  Once the wax has melted enough for you to pull out your surprise, blow the flame out and use a pair of tweezers to take the raisin out of the hot wax.  Then, peel open the foil to reveal your jewelry and use the code on the tag to find out how much your jewelry is worth!  I found out that my necklace was valued at $48.00!  So cool!

Jackpot Candles are so great.  How can you not love something that fills your home with an amazing scent and gives you a nice surprise too?  I know, you can't.  That's why Jackpot Candles has offered my readers a chance to win their very own candle!  Enter below because you KNOW you want this.  And, please be sure to check them out on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on giveaways, discounts and to see all the other great jewelry finds people have gotten from their candles!

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End of Summer Giveaway [Pt. 1]: Firmoo Glasses

It's been a while since I've done a giveaway (there goes my "host one giveaway each month" goal) so I wanted to end the summer with a bang by giving you 4 weeks of giveaways!  Excited?  I sure am!

I'm sure most of you have probably heard about Firmoo by now.  Their products have been popping up all over the blogosphere for a while and I've had the chance of trying out their glasses twice now (reviews can be found HERE and HERE).

Thanks to Firmoo's awesomeness, they've offered me the chance to give away a pair of glasses (yes, absolutely free) to one of my lucky readers!  Are you excited now?  It could be you!

The winner will get their pick from the Blogger Collection free of charge with free shipping to U.S.!  International residents are still welcome to apply provided you're okay with paying for international shipping.

Now I know you can't wait to get your hands on a pair so go ahead and enter below!

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