Review || A Year With Kawaii Box

Hello fellow pudding cups!

So I got my first ever KawaiiBox back in January of 2015, and today, a whole year later, yet another KawaiiBox is on my doorstep. It's been a great year for my dragon-like hoarding of cute things, thanks to KawaiiBox, so I thought it's probably time to give you puddings an update. I did a mini series back in 2015 that covered the 3 month subscription I had, so now let's take a looksie into what the past year had in store. Here's my first year with KawaiiBox!

So as you puddings know, I began with a three month subscription to get a feel for what I was in for. From the very first box, I was totally in love, and after my subscription ended, I signed up for the monthly plan - meaning, I'll be getting a KawaiiBox every month until I click that unsubscribe button. I was super happy to know that every month I'll be getting a box of kawaii goodies delivered to my door - however, there were some issues.

When I went to resubscribe, KawaiiBox had for some reason discontinued their PayPal option, so I had to buy an online visa card to continue. I guess taking PayPal away didn't work out too well for them, because by the time it came to pay for the next box, PayPal was back!

Soon enough I was back on the PayPal plan, but there were still some complications. My boxes started being sent to me later in the month, until I had actually skipped a month and I was always a box behind. I contacted KawaiiBox about this, and I'm not sure what they did, but I then got two KawaiiBoxes in the same month, one super late, and one super early.

Since then, it's been smooth sailing. My KawaiiBoxes arrive closer to the end of the month than the beginning, but at least they're coming on their designated months now! I'm super happy with the customer service at KawaiiBox because they're always super nice and helpful! I don't blame them at all for the shipping troubles, as I believe that once they've dropped the boxes at the post, it's out of their hands. I just thought I'd include my experiences so you puddings can have a full review of the service.

(December 2015 Kawaii Box)

So onto the actual boxes, I think they're amazing value. Each box is just under $30 AUD (because of the crappy exchange rate) and if you actually go to the Blippo online store, you'll find that the total value of everything you get in your box either matches or overtakes the price you pay for the box. Every box I've received this year has included a pen, sticker sheet, food, and a charm - which is good reassurance that no matter the box, I'll get something I like in there. The boxes will contain 11-12 items and to be perfectly honest, some of my favourite things that I own are things I received from a KawaiiBox. I think the service is amazing, because not only am I guaranteed to get something I'll love (I'm obsessed with stickers and pens), but it also includes a lot of items that I wouldn't usually buy for myself, and I end up really liking those things.

I love the feeling of knowing that at the end of the month, a special present full of kawaii stuff is coming just for me. Though I must admit, some of the stuff KawaiiBox includes isn't the best quality - as mentioned in my mini review back in 2015, there are usually a few minor faults with some of the smaller items such as scratches or paint going over the lines. But to be honest, I don't take much notice half of the time, as the damages are only usually visible upon close inspection. Again, I just thought it was worth mentioning to keep this review as honest as possible. For the most part, I adore everything KawaiiBox gifts me with.

(A few of my favourite things) 

So yeah, that's been my year with KawaiiBox! I would really recommend it to everyone who's looking for a little extra kawaii in their lives. It's the perfect gift to a friend, or even to yourself! I know I sound like I might be a little too hyped, but honestly, I'm just so in love with the service, I can't see myself stopping any time soon. I know signing up to subscription services can be a little daunting, so I hope this review helped some of you puddings out!

Happy 2016 and I wish all of you many many kawaii treasures for the coming year!

Review || Dolls Kill Teenage Dream Backpack

Hey there pudding friends!

Wow, my first review of 2016! Unfortunately, this is going to be my first ever review that's more bad than good, but I thought it was important to publish it so that you puddings can be aware.

So a few weeks ago, I made my very first order from Dolls Kill, which I was super excited about, because I've had a wishlist growing on their site for a very long time. Dolls Kill is an online store where you can get some amazing pieces of clothing, accessories, and anything else under the fashion umbrella. They stock a range of brands like Iron Fist, Tokidoki, Jeffree Star, and even LA Japan!

When a backpack that I've wanted for ages was marked down during their new years sale, I finally decided it was time for me to start tackling that wishlist. Unfortunately, I didn't end up getting the bag that I had been dreaming about. When it finally arrived, I immediately noticed several flaws. There were loose threads all over the straps, strange red and black stains, and worst of all, a big cut on the inside of the bag. I was really disappointed, because I was so excited to have a cute new backpack to show off to the world, and instead I got this damaged thing that I'm not very proud of.

Anyways, let's get on with the review, and you pudding cups can decide for yourselves!

(my favourite dolls kill model wearing all pink!)

The Store: 8/10
Dolls Kill have sales pretty much all the time, and if you spend over $100 (USD), you get free shipping! They stock almost all of my favourite brands, and use their own models to show off their stock, so you know that it's legit. One of my favourite things is that they always have a massive clearance section, where you'll find a lot of good stuff marked down. My favourite thing about them is their massive range of brands.

Pricing: 5/10
At first glance, the prices on Dolls Kill seem reasonable, due to the fact that the products are mostly from expensive brands. However, I have managed to find some of the exact same items they stock for much cheaper prices on other websites - so always make sure to shop around before you buy.

As for my case: the Australian dollar is doing really badly at the moment, so even on sale, after conversion and shipping, this backpack cost me just over $60. I wouldn't usually spend that kind of money on something so simple, but I happened to be doing well money-wise the week that the sale came one, so I decided to treat myself. I only wish that what I actually got in the mail today was worth the $60.

Shipping: 5/10
Processing time was super quick, and once my order was confirmed, I got an update saying my package was due to arrive on the 13th of January. That's only 9 days after I placed my order, which is pretty sweet. Unfortunately, my package arrived one day short of a week after it's due date. When my package didn't arrive on the 13th, I went to the tracker, which told me that it had arrived at the warehouse to be shipped to Australia. I then had to wait almost another week before I saw my package. If they meant the due date was the date it was due to be shipped, that's pretty damn misleading. And if they really did mean that my package was due to arrive on the 13th, well they failed that pretty hard. Neither answers are particularly pleasing. The only positive aspect of the shipping was that the tracker Dolls Kill provided was really detailed - it gave me almost daily updates on exactly where my package was, and why it was there. It was this feature that gave me reassurance that my package wasn't lost when it hadn't showed up on its due date.

Quality: 4/10
When I opened the package, I instantly noticed a bunch of flaws in the bag. The biggest and most obvious flaw was a big gash on the inside of the bag, as if something stored inside the bag had cut it - which is strange, seeing as it was supposed to be new. There were also a bunch of loose threads on the straps of the bag. I always expect some loose threads when I buy something, as it's just something that happens, but they were everywhere, which made me think this bag isn't going to last very long if this is it's unused state. The final straw was the black and red smudges all over the bag. I managed to wipe the black smudges off of the pink straps (although I have no idea what they were), but there are massive red stains all over the stitching that just wont budge. For the prices Dolls Kill charge, I assumed that they would run quality checks on the things they ship out - I think after spending $60 on a backpack, I deserve to be guaranteed a good product. So yeah, that put a bit of a downer on things.

(gash on inside // loose threads // red stains) 

Customer Service: 6/10
So obviously, I'm not happy with the bag. I didn't know what their policy is on damages, but I emailed them anyway, just letting them know what had happened. I got a response within 12 hours and they immediately offered to replace the bag, provided that I mail my damaged one back to them. They even sent me a shipping label so I wouldn't have to pay twice. They took care of everything so well, I immediately forgave them - clearly this neglect of a quality check was not the norm. However, it kind of all went down hill from here. I went to the post office and turns out, they gave me a shipping label I couldn't use. They knew I was in Australia, and they gave me a label for FedEx. I emailed them again, and told them the people at the post office couldn't use that label - and it's a good thing I didn't end up sending it back because Dolls Kills response was to tell me that the backpack is out of stock.

... are you kidding me?
This really upset me, because I feel like once we agreed that I would send the bag back to get a replacement, they maybe should have.. I don't know.. set one aside for me and not sell them all?

They said they could refund me whatever money I spend on shipping through Australia post so I can still send the bag back, and to replace it, I could get an item of similar value - or, I could keep the bag and get store credit worth 30% of the bag (which ended up being just over $9). I really didn't know what to do, because I still really wanted the bag, I just wanted it to look good. I didn't want something else, but I did want my moneys worth. After some thinking, I decided to cut my losses and keep the bag. Yes, it's damaged, but at least I can still have it, rather than get something that I didn't want to begin with.

So yeah, how's that for customer service? I was served by Lauren, who was really polite and handled things well. I don't know the exact chain of command at Dolls Kill HQ, but I'm assuming the girls responsible for responding to complaints aren't the ones in charge of inventory, so I don't blame her for what happened. However, I can't say that I'm happy with how things turned out. To send me such a damaged product, and then not even hold up your end of the bargain?? Poor game, Dolls Kill.

(at least I still look cute)

So yeah, out of the three main factors I consider when it comes to online shopping - price, shipping and quality - Dolls Kill pretty much failed. Don't get me wrong, the backpack is adorable, I just wish it was in the condition that I paid for. I feel strange saying such negative things, but if you're wanting a good quality product, I don't recommend Dolls Kill. I really feel like I got ripped off.

Despite my bad experience, I haven't totally ruled out buying from them again in the future - I just think that next time, I'll wait for when the item is a lot cheaper, and I will know not to expect the quality to be that great.

What do you puddings think? Am I being too harsh? Let me know your experiences with Dolls Kill! Am I just one unfortunate customer, or am I right to have lost faith? You know where to find me~

Kitty's 2015 Favourites

Hey there, pudding friends!

I can't believe 2015 is all done and dusted! A lot of things happened this year, and a lot of those things have lead to some pretty big plans for 2016. I've been in a car crash, I've changed my major, I've fallen out with some friends, I've made tons of new ones, I've adjusted my life plan, and I've learned how to be alone.

Even though all these things are pretty big for me, the things that seem to slip under the radar when you look back on the year are the smaller things that have changed. Today I'm going to share with you puddings some of my favourite things I've been introduced to this year. Get ready for my first ever favourites post!

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Kawaii Box is a subscription service run by Blippo! Each month, they create a box filled with around eleven or twelve items - in each box, there's always a sticker sheet, a pen, and a kind of food, all with a kawaii theme. Kawaii Box isn't good for my hoarding tendencies, but it sure is good for having something to look forward to each month, and for introducing you to things you wouldn't usually buy for yourself. It's pretty affordable (around $25 Australian dollars per month), and having been subscribed for a year now, I can honestly say that it's 100% worth it. If you're interested in adding a little kawaii to your life, you can find the official KawaiiBox website here !

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I fucking love plants. I've always wanted to start my own garden, but where I live right now doesn't really let anything grow, so I've grown to accept that I can't be surrounded by as many plants as I'd like to be. However, this year, I was introduced to fake plants! Not just your tacky dollar store fake flowers, but actual house decorations that really do look real! I'm so obsessed with these. They're so pretty, and they always look nice. I don't have many yet, because good quality ones are pretty expensive, but I can definitely see myself expanding my collection in 2016.

Due to my bad back, I can't exercise as much as I'd like to, which makes me feel a bit 'blah' most of the time - especially on days where I've eaten a little too much. This is where my new favourite thing comes in: green tea! I'm crazy about tea, so when I discovered the amazing health benefits of green tea, I started having a cup every morning with my breakfast. Within a week, I instantly felt a lot better, and even (unintentionally) lost some weight. Not only does it help me fight off the 'blah', it tastes damn good. When I'm not drinking it to help improve my diet, I'm drinking it because it's fucking delicious. I've been drinking it 3 times daily for the past 6 months now, and I have no idea how I survived so long without it.

The next favourite is a food, more specifically, a candy. It's ice cream candy by Caplico! I got one of these candies in a KawaiiBox earlier this year, and it was the best damn candy I have ever eaten. It just so happened that the next time I visited the Korean convenience store in my city, they had one, and only one box of them. So of course, I had to buy it. Eating all the different flavours just made me love it more. In a pack, you get chocolates, strawberries, and vanillas, and they all have a really strong flavour. They make the perfect little snack, and have a really nice bubbly texture that doesn't make you feel too full. Unfortunately, I've never seen them at the store again, so I guess I'm going to have to turn to Blippo to hook me up!

I've been so obsessed with f(x)'s new album since it got released, I couldn't not mention it on here. 4 Walls is their fourth full length album, and I am totally in love with it. It's so rare that I enjoy every song on an album, but f(x) hit the mark every time. Literally every song on this album is golden, I just had to buy the physical copy. I'm so glad these girls were given a comeback this year and I'm really proud of how well they've managed to pull through, despite missing a member. They still have an amazing sound, and absolutely slayed their live performances. If you're looking for some new tunes, I would 100% recommend this album. It's just insane.

The last thing is my most recent favourite, and that is tennis skirts! I'm slowly but surely building up a collection of them, and wearing them as often as I can. It's summer time here in Australia, and almost every day recently has been 40+ degrees, so any form of pants are a big no no. Skirts are a life saver, and what better way to beat the heat and still look adorable, than to rock a tennis skirt! I really like the pleated pattern on skirts, so when one of the stores in my city started selling tennis skirts in a range of colours, I started buying one for each time I visit! 

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So those were six of my favourite things from 2015. I really hope you puddings find joy in at least one of these, because I know I definitely have. Have you puddings found any small treasures lately? I'd love to hear about them! You know where to find me~