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Arianna Huffington Quarterly Box Review – #ARI01

Liz Cadman
ByLiz CadmanDec 10, 2014 | 20 comments

Arianna Huffington Quarterly Box Review - #ARI01 Box

As soon as I saw Arianna Huffington was a Quarterly curator I signed up for her box. Her book, Thrive, was on my must-read list, and I was hoping for a box that followed the themes presented in the book. Judging from some of the comments about this box on another Quarterly box review, I know this box isn't for everyone, but it is exactly what I wanted/needed!

My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes). (FYI - I signed up for this box Day 1, and the box was incorrectly listed at the price of $50 instead of $100. Quarterly updated the price the next day I believe, but let every subscriber who signed up keep the original $50 price for the first box. Moving forward, boxes will be $100 for everyone).

A little more about Arianna from Quarterly:

Arianna Huffington is the editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post Media Group and author of fourteen books. She sends items that help her take her mother's advice: "Don't Miss the Moment."

Arianna Huffington Quarterly Box Review - #ARI01 Items

The Subscription Box: Arianna Huffington Quarterly Box

The Cost: $100

The Products: Items that follow Arianna's mother's advice, "Don't miss the moment."

Ships to: US and Worldwide (additional shipping costs for Canada and International orders).

Delivered via: USPS

Arianna Huffington Quarterly Box Review - #ARI01 Letter

Each Quarterly box comes with a letter from the curator detailing the items included and why they were selected. Her letter is all about taking time to "push the world away, unplug and recharge."

Arianna Huffington Quarterly Box Review - #ARI01 Thrive

Thrive by Arianna Huffington - Retail Price $26, on Amazon for $14.20

I was hoping this book would be in the box! The value is definitely more than the list price on Amazon though, since the book includes photo copied post its from Arianna throughout:

Arianna Huffington Quarterly Box Review - #ARI01 Pages

This book is all about redefining what success means, and looking beyond the traditional success metrics of money and power. The third metric Arianna outlines is about well-being, wonder, wisdom, and giving back. In previous jobs I've definitely felt the negative impact of being overworked and overstressed, so the message of this book really hits home for me. (And I've only read the first chapter!)

Arianna Huffington Quarterly Box Review - #ARI01 Lace

Perpetual Shade Custom Sleep Mask - Value $69

A big part of the theme of this box is taking time to recharge and get enough sleep. I've never slept with a sleep mask before, but this one is so nice I have to give it a try!

Arianna Huffington Quarterly Box Review - #ARI01 Eye mask

The band on the back is really wide and doesn't slip, and the trip along mask also has non-slip material built in.

Arianna Huffington Quarterly Box Review - #ARI01 Braun

One Month Access Pass to Headspace - Value $12.99

Braun Alarm Clock in Grey - Value $35

Good news - this one-month access to headspace does not require credit card info. I'm really excited to try it since I've never tried meditation before but always seem to be reading about the important link between meditation and happiness.

Arianna included this alarm clock in the box not for a morning wakeup, but instead as a way to set a reminder alarm for yourself when it is time to go to bed. She pointed out in her letter how important it is to get a quality rest each night, but often it's the last thing we focus on - meaning we sleep when everything else gets done. Arianna encourages her subscribers to think of sleep time like they think of a flight time. You can't miss it, and you need to craft your day around it to make sure everything important gets done and you still arrive to sleep on time! This is another lesson that really rings true for me, and while I don't need an alarm clock to do it, I really appreciate the thought behind including this item.

Arianna Huffington Quarterly Box Review - #ARI01 Aveda

Aveda Stress-Fix Concentrate (2) - Value $48 total

These stress-fix roll-ons are made with organic ingredients and smell amazing!

Arianna Huffington Quarterly Box Review - #ARI01 Tea

David's Tea Mother's Little Helper Tea (2) - Value $15 total

I'm a big tea-drinker, so getting organic peppermint tea is a treat for me!

Verdict: I absolutely love this box and will use everything in it. I know this isn't a box for everyone, but it was exactly what I wanted in the box, and it is very apparent that Arianna put a lot of thought and curation into her first collection. The value is excellent too - about $200!

What did you think of #ARI01?

Liz Cadman
Liz Cadman
Liz is the founder of My Subscription Addiction. She's been hooked on subscription boxes since 2011 thanks to Birchbox, and she now subscribes to over 100 boxes. Her favorites include POPSUGAR Must Have, FabFitFun, and any box that features natural beauty products!

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20 comments

Tealand

This post just made my day.

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Simone

I cancelled my subscription. Spending 100 Dollar plus shipping on a book and an alarm clock? Too extravagant for me;)

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jerilynn

I just got the second box and am disappointed I loved the first box and used all the items and even bought a year of the meditation app. But to me, the curation on this one is sloppy and the value is not there. I am wondering if you got this box Liz and if so what you thought about it

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VolGal1919

I was pretty disappointed, honestly. Two items with duplicates and a travel alarm in a $100 box? Your MSA box had way more value and appeal for half that. I’d rather just buy or swap for the book and mask, the only two items that appealed to me. This is going back. Bummed.

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j vanstory

OK, I have had this box for two weeks now and I am loving it. I have finished the book and have been using the headspace app for 11 days. I will be signing up for a year’s subscription once my 30 days expires. I am finding that it is making a difference for me and reading the book really reminded me that I need to take care of myself and slow down. I am using everything in the box and recommend that if you got this box and kept it, read the first chapter of the book at least, use the products, and do the headspace meditations. THis box, along with Liz’s, fabfitfun and French box are my favorite boxes now and I plan to stay subscribed.

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Trinity

I love this box but it’s too expensive. I have a favorite silk sleep mask that cost like $10.00, so this seems a little insane to pay $70. I like to have a new one every night, so that would be way overboard. The tea looks good & the aveda sounds nice. Unfortunately, I prefer ebooks, so I will get it on kindle. I like the clock but I just use my phone for that. So I just talked myself out of this.

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PA Anna

I love this box and will continue my subscription. I’m impressed with the quality of the sleepmask which held up to the handwash cycle on my washing machine. I’ve used it the last 2 nights and think it helps. I’ve been reading the book which resonates with me. I may have my teenager read it afterwards because I am constantly reading a passage or quote to him. I enjoy reading the post-it notes. I do wonder if there was an intern that had to handwrite them or a printer was able to print them. I also been using the alarm to wake me up in the morning. I like that it’s travel-size. It’s not what she intended, but this allows me to move my cell phone further away from me and not use it as an alarm.

At first I wonder if something fell through which is why we received duplicates. It makes sense receiving 2 David Teas after reading how it is packaged. I gave one to my sister. It’s handy having 2 stress-fix rollons. It allows possibilities such as keeping one at work and one at home.

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LC

I posted on the other thread that I would return this but then I remembered after this review that I only paid $40 ( I signed up the first day and used the coupon code ) so I will be keeping this. I really like the idea of using the travel clock instead of your phone for a morning alarm!

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Holly

I was excited to receive this box and assumed it would include her book. The copied sticky notes are a great touch. I like all of the products in the box, but am disappointed with the duplicate items for the cost. I think I’ll pass on this one in the future.

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Jamie

Does anyone have any current promotion codes for Quarterly?

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Amanda

I got this box and think it’s fabulous. I was a little unsure at first (because of all the duplicates) but have actually been enjoying every single thing. I love having two of the stress-fix since I keep one at work and one at home. I think the duplicate tea is more a practical matter and plus it will stay fresher this way. Reading her book has been great. The sleep mask is luxurious. The travel alarm clock is high quality. And so forth.

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Jill

At first, I was thinking this was a great box for $50 and that I’d consider getting her next one. Then I saw that it was $100, and that’s a bit out of my price range…

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Chrissy

I’m over here laughing at myself because I read it as “Ariana Grande” and I was like WHY THE HELL IS SHE A CURATOR, lol.

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Pilar

Thank God that “One Less Problem” we will have to worry about. LOL

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Susie

omg this just made me lmao!

Lexie

I love everything in this box! I absolutely love AVEDA, peppermint tea arguably my favorite flavor of herbal tea, I’m addicted to sleep masks, and was in the market for a new alarm clock anyway!
Will the theme (Don’t Miss the Moment) be consistent for every box, or will it change?

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Liz Cadman

I’m not sure, but based on the description on Quarterly’s site I believe so. (And I hope so!)

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Dawn

I considered this box but $100 was way too much. I’m glad I didn’t get it. I got the sleep mask from the Hitha box and it was supposed to be an exclusive style but was for sale on the site. Way too much for a sleep mask, but it is nice. And to me duplicating items shows a serious lack of creativity. Unless there was some point made about giving one to a friend or something – but 2 roll on fragrances and 2 things of the exact same kind of tea??? Seems like more of a screw up to me. so weird. MSA is still the best quarterly box and the only one I’m getting from here on out!

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Brenna

I often buy tea from DavidsTea, so I’ll just add that I think the reason there are two packages of the same tea is likely due to their typical packaging. When you buy tea online, the loose leaf tea arrives in 50g bags. 100g of tea is fairly standard, so it would arrive in 2 bags. I doubt it was sincerely intended to be a duplicate item, and more likely that it was never thought through how DavidsTea packages their 100g orders 🙂

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gcc

Hitha on the Go’s 2nd box (last Aug.) had a Perpetual Shade eye mask. It’s great, so light on your face, so I was glad to get one since I’d have never gone out and ordered on for $69.

I find it odd though that quarterly would allow such duplications in its boxes, esp on a pricier item. It makes me hesitant to subscribe to multiple quarterly boxes…

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