Mostess is a subscription box for people who love to entertain! It's a seasonal package filled with curated party items, recipes, and other ideas to help you host beautiful gatherings.
Every box arrives with a hand-tied white ribbon row, and the contents are carefully packaged inside. This is one of my favorite unboxing experiences:
This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out our review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Mostess
The Subscription Box: Mostess
The Cost: $125 with a quarterly subscription, $120 a box with an annual subscription
ACTIVE DEAL: Save $10 + get free shipping!
CODE: MSAMOSTESS
The Products: “Mostess sends seasonally curated home decor and hosting products in a luxuriously wrapped box each quarter (4 boxes a year). You will enjoy full-sized and perfectly coordinated items such as cocktail ingredients, glassware tableware, linen, stationery, bar cart items and more. In addition to fantastic products, each box includes a Mostess Booklet complete with original recipes, product descriptions, and modern home decor and hosting tips.”
Ships to: US only, for free
Mostess Winter 2017 Review
The theme for the Winter box is "Cheers"!
Every Mostess box comes with a booklet filled with ideas for using the items in the box, and all sorts of inspiration to make your gatherings great– to make you into the "hostess with the mostest" 🙂
After introducing you to all of the items in the box, you'll get into the decor & hosting tips section.
I love this tip about re-using your Christmas decor for New Year's Eve with just a few small changes!
These images also feature items from past boxes to help subscribers think of ways to re-use items they may already have at home for their gatherings this season.
There are a few small recipes for Rosemary Pecans (yum!) and Tableside Whipped Cream (featuring one of the items in this month's box).
And a few cocktail recipes as well. Irish Coffee is very popular in our family on Christmas Eve, so I'm looking forward to the addition of some frothed milk this year!
The rest of the items in the box are packed under the initial tissue and info booklet, adding to that highly giftable and fun-to-unwrap experience. All of the items are typically packaged in their retail packaging, too, making them easy to break apart into smaller gifts if you like.
Moonstruck Dark Hot Cocoa – Retail Value $12.50
I am an absolute hot chocolate fiend in the winter time, and this blend does not disappoint.
I'm used to cocoa with a 2 or 3 Tablespoon serving size with 6 oz of milk, but this brand recommends 4 with 8 oz of whole milk, so it's a bit richer.
I love this style of tin for the packaging. It's easy to scoop and has such a great holiday pattern.
We deviated from the recipe and mixed ours up with some coconut milk, and with the recommended 4 tablespoons of mix it was absolutely perfect! A very rich and smooth dark chocolate flavor that was very balanced, not too bitter or too sweet. (And we had to serve with candy canes, of course.)
8 Oak Lane Disco Ball Drink Stirrers – Retail Value $34 ($17 per set of 2)
I've actually been considering buying a small disco ball lately just for fun. These drink stirrers are so cute and festive!
These swizzle sticks are about 5.5" long and have a nice weight to them. I couldn't find detailed product info, but I believe the actual part that goes into your drink is stainless steel, and the disco ball toppers are plastic.
My little sister happens to have a December 31st birthday– so I'm thinking of adding a few to the bow on her birthday present. There are lots of fun ways to use these even if you're not a big cocktail or mocktail drinker!
Jack Rudy Co Vermouth Brined Olives – Retail Value $14
Of course, if you are making cocktails, Mostess has also included these unique vermouth brined olives in your box this month!
Mostess suggests using these in a martini bar, but they'd be just at home on a charcuterie and cheese platter. They definitely have a strong and unique flavor thanks to the vermouth and are sure to have guests talking no matter how you use them!
We couldn't resist the classic martini, with disco picks added for fun 🙂
Caso Fomini Handheld Frother – Retail Value $25 (Found here for $20.05)
I already had a frother like this at home (from IKEA), but this one is quite a bit nicer and is a really great idea for giving an extra oomph to your warm holiday beverages.
This frother takes two AA batteries, which are not included.
The Fomini is comfortable and easy to hold, and I love that it comes with a stand– that makes it easier to quickly wash and leave to dry after using, plus it'll be ready for the next person who wanders over to refill their coffee cup.
The teeny whisk on the bottom is also bigger than the one I've currently got, and the motion was more powerful. I usually pour a bit of half-and-half into a mug and heat it briefly in the microwave before frothing. It adds a little something special without taking more than an extra minute to your coffee routine:
I only wish I'd added a tiny bit of the hot cocoa mix on top of that foam!
Mosser Inverted Thistle Berry Bowl – Retail Value $28.99
This piece is made in America and definitely has a retro feel to it. It made me recall a similar candy dish that my great-grandmother always had filled with licorice and caramel candies.
The bowl features an elegant floral cut glass design. I am loving the festive bright red; it catches the light beautifully in person.
It's a smaller size, so perfect for after dinner mints and candies, just like my great-grandmother would have used it.
8 Oak Lane Dessert Plates – Retail Value $36
Finally, we have this set of 4 dessert plates from 8 Oak Lane.
These have a black and white plaid print with a delicate golden rim, and come neatly packed with bow and tag.
I love this pattern! It goes perfectly for fall and winter holidays, but I could see myself using these year round.
They are hand wash only and cannot be microwaved, which is typical of other metallic rimmed ceramics I've owned.
They're the perfect size for a slice of cake, or as a mug saucer with a few cookies or macarons on the side.
Verdict: Mostess always seems to have great curation and packaging, and my first time reviewing this box did not disappoint. The items all felt unique and of high quality (like the amazing hot cocoa mix and really unusual olives), and everything will definitely add some much-needed flair to my holiday entertaining this year.
The retail value for the items in the box works out to about $150, which is the range we've come to expect for this $125 subscription box (and above the price tag even at the $135 one-time purchase price). Together with the whole presentation and the booklet of inspiration and ideas, Mostess is a really fun quarterly package, whether you host get-togethers yourself or are looking for a thoughtful housewarming gift.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes, as of publication, this box was still available!
Coupon – Get free shipping on your first box! No coupon needed, just link here.
Value Breakdown: For the $125 price point of the box (which ships free), here's about how much you're paying per item:
- Moonstruck Hot Cocoa - $10.38
- Disco Stirrers - $28.24
- Jack Rudy Olives - $11.63
- Milk Frother - $20.77
- Mosser Glass Bowl - $24.08
- Dessert Plates - $29.90
What do you think of the Winter Mostess Box?
Check out all of our Mostess reviews and the Women's Subscription Box Directory!
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