Hi Peeps! It’s time to do the Summer reviews for My Meraki Box – which features jewelry from my favorite designer of all time! The completely awesome people over at Wristicuffs got me all excited about their jewelry through the Heart + Honey Box, which features exclusive pieces from them often. Their jewelry is not only unique and trendy, but it is also really high QUALITY. There is a tremendous amount of attention to detail using quality materials, and their passion shows. If you have read any of my other reviews, you know quality is very important to me – especially when it comes to jewelry. I have recently developed an obsession with semi-precious stones, and My Meraki Box was the absolute perfect match for me.
Wristicuffs started as a small, homegrown company and is now an accomplished indie jewelry design company offering several lines of accessories based in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada – and their designs have been featured on display and in the gift bags at the 2014 Golden Globe and Emmy’s GBK Celebrity Gift Lounges! They have photos of several celebrities wearing their jewelry, which is fun to see. They became so popular that they decided to offer a monthly jewelry box, so My Meraki Box was born as a way to offer fans new exclusive designs for a greater value.
Here are the subscription deets:
Each month, My Meraki Box will feature new exclusive designs, only available to My Meraki Box subscribers. To ensure you receive jewelry pieces that you will love for years to come, you will be able to log in and select your preference of either leather, gemstone or metal color options. We will use this information to create customized jewelry just for you in a design and color you are sure to love! Each month will feature 3+ brand new Wristicuffs designs, exclusive to My Meraki Box. Every month My Meraki Box will contain jewelry pieces handcrafted in our studio with a minimum $100 retail value.
They offer month-to-month, 3-month and 6-month subscriptions starting at $59.99; with a lower cost per box for longer subscription commitments. Upon subscribing, you are asked to fill out a short form that asks you what your favorite colors are, as well as your not-so-favorite colors, and how you would describe your personal style. I described my style as ‘Edgy Boho’ leaning toward the darker hues of blues, greens, browns, black & grey. I tell you this because each box is designed specifically with your tastes in mind, so you will see my boxes tailored to my style. Your box may look completely different!
For 10% off of the first box in your subscription ($6 off for any length subscription) use code: CDM10 at checkout! You know you want it!!
I pay for my subscription, but there may occasionally be affliliate or paid links in my posts. Please note, however, that I *never* accept compensation in exchange for a positive review. All of my reviews are my honest, personal opinions and contain my own photography (unless otherwise stated).
My Meraki Box Review, June 2018
A simple & classy little black box with their logo that makes my eyes light up when I see it in my mailbox! The My Meraki Box motto? “Because no woman ever has said she has too much jewelry.” They must have stole that from me. 😉
Meraki (v): to do something with soul, creativity, or love; when you leave a piece of yourself in your work.
They certainly live up to this!! Keep scrolling to see for yourself…
Unpacking all the goodness!
June’s theme is “The Vintage Collection”. When it comes to jewelry, the “vintage” look is a very good thing!
The product insert card gives you all the details about the exclusive jewelry, and this month it also gives retail values – which is rare! Makes my job easier. 🙂 This box is ALWAYS high in value, though. There is zero risk! I think it is quite thoughtful that when earrings are involved, there is a second item offered for those who don’t have pierced ears. You can specify all your preferences when you fill out the survey for the subscription.
Speaking of preferences, each month ALL subscribers are given a choice of colors or stones for one of the jewelry pieces! This month the choice was for a vintage leather color:
Vintage Turquoise Leather Choice
Vintage Red Leather Choice
Vintage Purple Leather Choice
Vintage Navy Blue Leather Choice
Vintage Brown Leather Choice
Vintage Black Leather Choice
“FLEUR” Vintage Leather Triple Wrap Bracelet – Retail Value $69.99 (based on similar)
This bracelet is made with vintage-finished European leather featuring a ‘wax seal’ fleur de lis on a magnetic clasp with a brushed sterling silver finish.
I chose the red vintage leather and it does not disappoint! Red is my favorite color so it was a no-brainer, but usually I have a really, really hard time choosing. The fleur de lis part was perfect for me, too! It just so happens that 3 days after I received this, I embarked on a road trip from California to Florida, and would be traveling through Louisiana. The fleur de lis has a rich history in the state of Louisiana, so I was ready!
Look at how cool! I love it! Sporting thick wrists, I generally have a terrible time getting bracelets to fit me the way they are supposed to (especially wrap bracelets), so I am thrilled that My Meraki Box tailors to your specified size! This is a HUGE perk, my friends.
It is hidden well in the design, so I thought I would show you how the clasp works. It’s magnetic, but strong enough that you do not have to worry about it falling off.
Time to look inside the little blue boxes!
“ROUEN” Silver Necklace – Retail Value $49.99 (based on similar)
Staying true to the theme, the ROUEN is a classic vintage leaf style necklace accented with delicately set CZ stones that sparkle when they catch the light.
This necklace is a little over 16″, and comes with an extender to make it 18″. (Appreciated!!)
It is LOVELY! Dainty, but not too much so, and very feminine. I don’t have anything like it in my collection.
Box #2!
“NORMANDIE” Solid Sterling Silver Hook Earrings – Retail Value $34.99 (based on similar)
For subscribers who don’t have pierced ears (or opted out of earrings), an alternative option was offered – a beaded stretch bracelet with a sterling silver fleur de lis charm featuring African turquoise and onyx with silver bead accents.
They match the vintage leaf necklace perfectly!
These beauties are hearty (they don’t bend easily), so I’m not worried that I will break them.
This is a terrible cell phone photo, but I love how they lay and dip below the earlobe. They have a flat hook too, so they are comfy!
Here they are together.
Each My Meraki Box comes with a small “Thank You” gift each month, which is nice.
EmElleEm Soaps Mini Bath Bomb in Black Raspberry Vanilla – Retail Value $2.12 (sold in a 12-pack)
OK, yeah, this smells AWESOME! I used it the same night I got it. I’m a bath product junkie, and a bling addict with a book obsession.
June’s My Meraki Box came with 3 pieces of jewelry (plus a bonus gift) for $59.99, so if you take off $2.12 for the gift, each jewelry piece is an average of $19.29. A bit of a steal, don’t ya think?!? The total estimated retail value of this box is $157.09, which is pretty far above their promised value of $100, and way beyond this girl’s expectations. Total win!
My Meraki Box Review, July 2018
My poor box took a beating this month! 🙁 But the good news is, everything inside was in perfect condition.
Meraki (v): to do something with soul, creativity, or love; when you leave a piece of yourself in your work.
Their custom logo/designs can be found on ALL the packaging (down to the ribbon!), which shows their attention to detail in even the smallest things!
July features “The Boho Collection”.
A most bee-you-tee-full spread!
I love the artwork on the product insert this month!
It’s funny – the insert describes this set as BOHO; a collection that does not perfectly match, but coordinates for a relaxed, summery vibe. Boho, short for Bohemian, and a fancy term for “Hippie”. I typically do not match perfectly at all. Ever.
Here were the choices presented to subscribers for July:
Rose Quartz Bead Choice
Clear Quartz Bead Choice
Amethyst Bead Choice
“ALLEGRA” Beaded Stretch Bracelet – Retail Value $44.99 (based on similar)
This pretty mala-style bracelet is made with rose quartz (my choice for the month) and lava. Solid sterling silver geometric beads are used to separate the accent stones, and are placed next to the color-coordinated tassel. For subscribers who specified that they don’t care for black, polished grey agate was used instead.
I have tons of Mala necklaces, so it’s great getting mala-style bracelets to pair with them!
This is such a pretty bracelet, and one of my favorite color combos is black & pink!
One of the great things about lava beads is that you can use essential oils on them (they absorb the oil) for a long-lasting therapeutic aroma! Just be sure to apply the oil on the beads farthest away from the tassel and the rose quartz, so as to not damage them. If you are interested in purchasing some high quality essential oils, you can find my services here and here! Essential Oils are my thang!!
“SKYE” Beaded Wrap Bracelet – Retail Value $69.99 (based on similar)
This STUNNING bracelet is made with top quality aromatic sandalwood (love!) and clear, frosted quartz. It is accented with a black tassel to make it a mala-style, and it has the same solid sterling silver geometric separating beads as the ALLEGRA bracelet, plus a silver feather charm.
The first of it’s kind from Wristicuffs; instead of two separate bracelets forming a set, it is one long strand that double-wraps as a bracelet, or can be worn as a short necklace.
The quality can be felt in this bracelet; it’s heavy and soft, and looks rather regal!
You’ll also notice a little Wristicuffs logo charm, which I think is really cute!
Now we open up the mysterious box!
“INDIO” Statement Quartz Arrowhead Necklace – Retail Value $79.99 (I inquired on the price because I no idea!)
I *gasped* when I opened this box. This edgy little number is HANDS DOWN the coolest necklace I’ve EVER seen!! I wore this baby every day for a month without taking it off. It goes with literally EVERYTHING. I have to give my other necklaces some wear time too (to be fair), but I have no doubt this will be my go-to necklace for many years to come.
I took a lot of photos of this necklace, because I’m kind of obsessed with it. I’ll pass on some of the info I found out about the process it undergoes in design. It takes about 8 hours per pendant! Here is how it was explained to me:
You use electric conductive paint that is almost pure silver with just a touch of copper in it (no nickel!) and wherever that paint is inside of that blue solution is actual silver particles. You then run an electric current through the solution and connect the pendant to the opposite wire and run it on super low voltage. Then very slowly, the silver pulls out of the blue solution and bonds to the silver paint. Once that’s done, the silver is almost flat, but matte and dull because of the lack of nickel, so then there’s a pretty extensive polishing/buffing process to get the silver to shine.
Amazing!
I can’t get over it.
This necklace alone exceeds the cost of the box, and I am now one of a very select few people who own this stunner!
I’m so proud to wear this! (If you are curious about the earrings I’m wearing, be sure to scroll down and take a look at the August review.)
“Hakuna Matata” Bracelet Set for Health by We.Org – Retail Value $15
In Swahili, ‘hakuna matata’ means ‘no worries’; but everyone should know that from the movie ‘The Lion King’ – haha! The purchase of this particular bracelet helps provide a person with access to health care, and you can track your impact with the code provided on the back of the packaging. How cool is that?!?
These bracelets are lovingly handmade by a female artisan in Kenya.
This cute little handmade bracelet set is made with glass beads on stretchy cord that includes several single-strands that you can wear together OR individually.
The beads are a pinkish-blush color; really pretty.
I like it paired with the rose quartz / lava bead bracelet!
July’s My Meraki Box came with 3 pieces of exclusive jewelry (plus a bonus gift) for $59.99, so if you subtract $15 for the gift, each custom jewelry piece has an average value of $15 each! The total estimated retail value of this box is a HUGE $209.97, which is WAY beyond their promised value of $100.
I am just floored at how much I love this month’s My Meraki Box!! I mean, just WOW!! It is my favorite box to date!
My Meraki Box Review, August 2018
The box came in photo-worthy condition this month – ha! Something to also note is that this box is always on time; right around the second week of the month. I live in the US, and this box comes out of Canada, so I’m impressed!
The beautifully packed box with precise attention to detail.
Behold “The Essentials with a Twist Collection”!
First look at the unpacking…
The August My Meraki Box is a collection created to add a fun twist to the essential pieces every woman should have in their jewelry collection.
Here are the bead choices subscribers received this month:
Lapis Lazuli Bead Choice
Sesame Jasper Bead Choice
Onyx Bead Choice
Sunstone Bead Choice
Fully unboxed! Choosing the bead this month was agonizing for me – I loved them all! I decided on the lapis because I inherited a lapis necklace and ring from my mom, and this bracelet would complete that set.
“ELDER” Beaded Bracelet Set – Retail Value $69.99 (based on similar)
This bracelet set (two separate strands) features both polished and matte stones (the stone you chose) with a solid sterling silver ‘twist’ accent, as well as starburst sterling silver accents and vermeil gold accents to highlight the natural gold color in the stones.
I’m so glad I chose the lapis! The blue is so pretty, and the gold and silver accents make the blue POP, creating a very unique look.
“FREEPORT” Silver Adjustable Lariat Necklace – Retail Value $64.99 (based on similar)
This simple, but elegant lariat necklace is made from solid sterling silver and is versatile enough to wear with casual day wear, or more formal night attire! A perfect inclusion in the “essentials with a twist” collection, this necklace can be paired with a longer or shorter (choker) necklace to create a layered look, and can be length-adjusted to your liking.
How it will look on the average person.
How it looks on me.
This necklace comes up a bit higher on my neck (beefcakes over here, remember?), so I have to wrap the bar end around the circle a time or two so it doesn’t pop back out of the circle when I turn my head. I don’t think it detracts at all from the look, so I’m satisfied with my solution, but I could also get an extender if I wanted the bar to hang down lower.
Because of how I wear it, it kind of reminds me of a key (a handcuff key, that is), so I think it will also go FABULOUSLY with this bracelet; which I will be purchasing very soon! Can you picture it?!?
“BIMINI” Silver Hoop Earrings – Retail Value $34.99 (based on similar)
Playing off of the circle and bar on the FREEPORT necklace, these solid sterling silver earrings are a twist on the classic hoop earrings.
Another lousy cell phone selfie, but you get the idea. I’m finding that I’m wearing these little hoop earrings A LOT because they simply go with everything, and they are just different enough to attract attention. There is another photo of me wearing them with the INDIO necklace in the earlier July review above.
For subscribers who don’t have pierced ears (or opted out of earrings), an alternative option was offered – a solid sterling silver anklet featuring a silver twisted spiral charm and silver ball accents.
Ice Silk Tassel Keychain – Retail Value $1
Each month, the My Meraki Box includes a “Thank You” gift, and I have to admit that I always like & use them! For only a dollar (that I could find), it feels pretty luxe to me and looks great as a purse charm!
August’s My Meraki Box came with 3 pieces of jewelry (plus a bonus gift) for $59.99, so if you subtract $1 for the gift, each jewelry piece is an average of $19.66. And I’m sorry, where can you find exclusive handmade premium jewelry for under $20 these days? NOWHERE. The total estimated retail value of this box is $170.97, which is way beyond their promised value of $100. Not only do I LOVE everything I received, it was an absolutely incredible value as well! You just can’t go wrong with this subscription if you like this type of jewelry. I’m totally addicted, and plan to continue my subscription for quite awhile – it makes me look and feel so stylish!
So what do you think of My Meraki Box?? Let me know in the comments below! Personally, I can’t wait for my next box…
Don’t forget! For 10% off of the first box in your subscription ($6 off for any length subscription) use code: CDM10 at checkout! You know you want it!!
Bonus Review of Wristicuffs Jewelry, August 2018
So I don’t think it’s a secret here that I am a huge fan of Wristicuffs Jewelry. In fact, I’m such a big fan that I decided to purchase some additional pieces from the Wristicuffs SHOP! I thought you might like to see them. 😎
I have about 30 pieces on my Wristicuffs wishlist at present, and thought I would get started this month and buy 3 of my must-have-now’s.
“Nadia” Cuff – Retail Value $99.99
Um…can you say FUCKING AWESOME?!? I’m sorry to be so crass (not really), but I about fell over when I saw this cuff bracelet. It’s like it was made for ME, and just waiting patiently for me to find it. There is so much love here; UNIQUE, BOLD, BEAUTIFUL, LUXURIOUS. My precious. I wear it literally everywhere.
Made from 5 strands of black European leather in 2 different sizes, this large statement cuff features an abstract design brushed sterling silver finish center bar and magnetic clasp.
All metal is hypo-allergenic, lead-free, nickel-free, cadmium-free.
This baby has some weight to it, but it’s soft and comfortable, too. And all you skinny-wristed bitches can suck it because you have to have larger wrists to handle it. So NYAH!
All the loves!!
This cuff makes me so very happy. I get TONS of compliments on it; it’s such an eye-catcher.
“Curcuma” Double Beaded Bracelet – Retail Value $69.99
This luxe stretch beaded bracelet set features beautiful green brecciated jasper highlighted with golden pyrite stones and creamy riverstone beads.
It is hard to convey the beauty of this bracelet unless you see it in person! It is absolutely gorgeous! The beads are a greyish-green with highlights of cream/white and blended with metallics.
Heavy & luxurious is good way to describe the fit, too.
Such a lovely design that I’m proud to own!
“Shayla” Leather Wrap Bracelet – Retail Value $79.99
This double wrap bracelet features a camouflage center strand made from soft European leather with complimentary beige and chocolate European leather strands. The clasp is a sterling silver finished strong magnetic clasp. All metal is hypo-allergenic, lead-free, nickel-free, cadmium-free.
We’ve already established how much I love leather wrap bracelets, and this one was necessary because the second most abundant color in my closet is olive (or Army) green. I have some camo leggings, and I pair those with a black v-neck t-shirt and this bracelet!
Wristicuffs is legit, people; the real deal! I love them so much!! I am a snarky girl who lives in yoga pants, t-shirts and flip flops, so edgy BOHO jewelry suits me well – but even if you are a classy glam gal, you can’t go wrong – flawless taste and unique design is hard to find!
Don’t forget to comment below and say hello…
-TTFN, CrazyDogMama XOXO
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