• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Joy the Baker
Joy the Baker
  • Cookies
  • Bread
  • Cakes
  • Pies
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Cookies
    • Birthday Cake Recipes
    • Biscuits
    • Muffins
    • Cupcakes
    • Drinks
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Fruit
    • Nuts
    • Buttermilk
    • Chocolate
    • Vanilla
    • Holiday
    • Healthy
    • Gluten-Free
    • Vegan
  • Blog
    • Baking 101
    • Tips
    • Beyond the Kitchen
    • Let It Be Sunday!
    • New Orleans
  • Shop

Last Minute Gifting: The Subscription!

December 22, 2013 by Joy the Baker 19 Comments

The best thing about gift-giving is treating someone to something they wouldn’t necessarily splurge on themselves.  Making someone feel super special takes time and planning…. dangit if we’re not running short on both.  Enter: the gift subscription!

The gift subscription is no longer a cheesy wine-of-the-month club, or fruit basket club.  Nope.  The Internet has made gift subscriptions seriously cool.  You can take to the internet, find a totally niche gift subscription, and sign your friend up for a monthly gift to enjoy throughout 2014.  Some gifts are monthly, some are quarterly.  Either way it’s just enough time for your friend to forget that they have a sweet package coming in the mail.

You can make your friend a cute little card to let them know that their gift is on the way.  Trust me, in January after they’ve long forgotten about your gift, they’ll receive it in the mail and be blown away.

One of my favorite discoveries this year has been Stitch Fix  ••  Stitch Fix is a mail order personal styling service.  You fill out a detailed style profile and receive a box of five hand-picked pieces according to your style preferences.  Buy them or send them back.  It’s all up to you.  I have had wonderful luck with this service.  It’s really nice not to have to try on jeans in a dusty dressing room… that in itself makes this service awesome.  Treat yo’ self and treat a friend to a Stitch Fix gift card!  It’s rad.

Quarterly  •• Subscribe and every three months you’ll receive an awesome curated gift.  The gift curators are pretty cool.  Think:  Dooce, Food 52, Andrew Zimmerman, and the guys behind the LA restaurant Animal.  It’s great!  Totally unique.

I can’t seem to keep my nails looking right.  I blame the fact that I do dishes 5 times a day.  But I want to make sure my friends have their nail game on point.  Scratch •• is the answer!  Scratch is a Los Angeles based nail art company that provides subscribers with three sets of nail stickers each and every month.  Best of all, each month of nail stickers are designed by a different artist.  It’s the best way to make your nails looks super cute without leaving your house… and without having to wait for drying time.  I love this nail option!  I use them all the time.  They’re incredibley easy to put on.  I say this as a person who is generally terrible and careless with all things nail polish related.  This is an excellent gift!  Scratch Monthly Mani Box. 

I love getting crafty but heck nooo I don’t want to go to the craft store.  That’s immediately overwhelming.  For The Makers  •• is a monthly gift box with all of the little pieces necessary to put together a clever craft.  Get the pieces.  Follow the directions.  Put it together!  Feel accomplished.  It’s like Lincoln Logs in the mail… but cooler. (Although Lincoln Logs in the mail would be pretty cool.)

You don’t want to be in my house the morning I realize I’m out of coffee.  It’s really not a good look.  Spare your friends the same disaster with Craft Coffee  ••

Get out of the cocktail box with Julibox  •• It’s a boozy subscription service that sends out a cocktail recipe, spirit, and mixer every month.  At-home Happy Hour is just the best!

Turntable Kitchen is a lovely food and music blog .  Lucky for us Matt and Kasey send their love of food and music to our doorsteps every month.  The Turntable Kitchen’s Pairing’s Box  •• includes a limited-edition 7″ vinyl single along with a digital download mix-tape, a few seasonally themed dried ingredients, and three recipes along with tasting notes.  It’s dinner for you and a few friends with the perfect party music to match.  This just feels right!

Salumi Society with Boccalone  •• You know… just your monthly delivery of ‘salty pig parts’… except it’s not just salty pic party because Boccalone has a way with pork.  Their lardo is my very favorite.  Lardo… it’s exactly what it sounds like.  Meat in the mailbox!

Olfactif  ••  I require a few luxuries in life:  a good blazer and really classy perfume.  I often like to press those same luxuries on my friends.  Olfactif helps keep things classy in the perfume department.  Each month they send three large samples of perfume along with information about the artist that created it.  Pretty cool, right?

Vogue Magazine   ••  Sometimes there’s nothing more indulgent than sitting on the couch and flipping through a magazine.  Let it be Vogue!

I hope your pre-holiday weekend is going well!  I’m stepping into the kitchen to make Shells and Cheese.  Recipe for you tomorrow (fingers crossed)!

Happy Sunday!

 

Previous PostNext Post

Filed Under: Beyond the Kitchen

Previous Post: « Chocolate Peppermint Icebox Yule Log Cake
Next Post: Bonkers Awesome Mushroom and Onion Shells and Cheese »

Reader Interactions

All Comments
I Made This
Questions
  1. Danielle

    January 7, 2014 at 4:09 pm

    I have been trying {HARD} to subscribe to the food and home and OF COURSE it has been sold out and I am waiting {NOT TOO PATIENTLY} for my turn. When oh when will I make it to the top??????

    Reply
  2. Pam

    January 4, 2014 at 1:34 pm

    I know this is a late reply… I’m just catching up from the whirlwind of the holidays! But just a note to say how much I still love what I got from my Joy the Baker Lost Crates boxes – any hope that you will start curating again??!!

    Reply
  3. Kate

    December 27, 2013 at 1:35 pm

    Love sub boxes! I used to get Eco Emi for myself and discovered lots of fantastic products. This year I got Turntable Kitchen for my brother and sister in law who are way into music and food, and for my younger brother I got Skoshbox, which is candy and snacks from Japan.

    Reply
  4. Victoria

    December 23, 2013 at 6:18 pm

    The Stitch Fix gift sounds incredible! I definitely have to look into that! Thanks so much for the tip!

    Reply
  5. melanie bauer

    December 23, 2013 at 1:01 pm

    Oooh – I’m thinking my husband would salivate for a Salumi Society box!

    Reply
  6. Tricia N

    December 23, 2013 at 9:42 am

    i was gifted a subscription to kinfolk for the year and couldn’t be more excited about it! another one to add to the list :)

    Reply
  7. lindsay

    December 23, 2013 at 7:18 am

    I just got my first Stitch Fix and I love it! Another good one for anyone with a sense of humor is Stunner of the Month. It’s totally ridiculous but they send you a pair of “stunner shades” aka completely embarrassing pair of sunglasses every month. It also comes with a description of the shades, and a “level of flyness” per pair.

    Reply
  8. Kat

    December 22, 2013 at 9:44 pm

    You have just solved the “impossible friend” shopping problem. Thank you!

    Reply
  9. Jayne @ Tenacious Tinkering

    December 22, 2013 at 9:42 pm

    I love subscription boxes even though there are only beauty-related ones here. I wish we had food boxes. That’s something I can truly get into… Salty pig parts? Hit me with that.

    Reply
  10. Pash

    December 22, 2013 at 5:39 pm

    Love Olfactif! I’m a perfume freak and those little vials are so awesome for trying stuff I never would have found on my own. Got this for my mom and sister this year. And I’m wearing pants from Stitch Fix right this very moment. :) Turntable Kitchen sounds amazing.

    Reply
    • joythebaker

      December 23, 2013 at 6:26 pm

      you know what’s up!

      Reply
  11. Iris R.

    December 22, 2013 at 2:26 pm

    Thank you for this list! I still needed gifts for a couple of girlfriends (Christmas snuck up on me). A few clicks, a couple Julibox subscriptions bought and now they’ll happily receive curated cocktails making it seem like I planned it that way all along…

    Reply
  12. Dana

    December 22, 2013 at 12:41 pm

    i absolutely LOVE posts like this. i just discovered the wonder of nail wraps and i am super excited about scratch. but the more important find? stitch fix. whaaat? just because i know what i like doesn’t mean im good at shopping. or stylish in any way. you are my hero.

    Reply
    • joythebaker

      December 22, 2013 at 12:47 pm

      we’re in this together!

      Reply
  13. Jillian

    December 22, 2013 at 12:34 pm

    One of my favorite subscription boxes is Umba Box (umbabox.com). Every month you receive 2-3 handmade items from artists all around the world. I love everything I’ve received since I signed up 6 months ago! Thanks for all the recommendations, I had no idea there were this many subscription boxes out there!

    Reply
    • joythebaker

      December 22, 2013 at 12:47 pm

      that’s really cool! i love this suggestion! thank you for sharing!

      Reply
  14. ChrystinaNoel

    December 22, 2013 at 12:32 pm

    You might have just sovled my what to get my sister problem.

    Reply
  15. michelle

    December 22, 2013 at 12:08 pm

    nice idea Joy! thanks – for the makers!

    Reply
    • joythebaker

      December 22, 2013 at 12:24 pm

      i just signed up myself and can’t wait to get started.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RELATED POSTS IN Beyond the Kitchen

Oscars 2023 Party Menu

Since I was raised on movies, the Oscars ceremony is my Super Bowl. I look forward to it all year long and always try to watch all the contenders. Of course I’m in it for the films, the celebs, and the clothes. But I also love a good theme party—who doesn’t? My ideal Oscars party…

Read More

Fat Tuesday aka Paczki Day

Happy Fat Tuesday everyone! We’ve arrived at the day before Lent, where everyone loses their minds and indulges before 40 days of meatless Mondays and fish fry Fridays. Chicago, while having faith from all corners of the world, is an incredibly Catholic-centric city – kind of like New Orleans. Growing up non-denominational Christian I never…

Read More

New Year, New Orleans

If you can spend a holiday away from home, do it. Christmas on a beach with a cocktail? Yes, please. Santa can bring his swim trunks! This year I decided to ring in the new year in New Orleans, my favorite place outside of Chicago, with my girlfriend Breyon. A bae-cation, if you will. We…

Read More

Primary Sidebar

Fresh baked emails, delivered to your inbox

Receive recipes from Joy the Baker and updates on events at The Bakehouse.

HI! I’M JOY!

Welcome! This has been my little corner of the internet since 2008!

I’m a baker, photographer, cookbook author and teacher.  I live laugh love in New Orleans. 

MORE ABOUT JOY AND THE TEAM

BOOKS + Magazines

JOY THE BAKER 2022 SUMMER MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2021 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2020 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

HOMEMADE DECADENCE

OVER EASY: SWEET AND SAVORY RECIPES FOR LEISURELY DAYS COOKBOOK

JOY THE BAKER COOKBOOK

joy the baker on facebook joy the baker on twitter pinterest-social instagram-socialbloglovin-social

JOY @ WILLIAMS SONOMA

SHOP THE CAKE LINE OF CAKE MIXES!

DRAKE ON CAKE

Passionate from miles away since 2015.

Check it out on Instagram

Drake on cake instagram.

 

BREADS YOU’LL LOVE

jambalaya buttermilk biscuits in a row

Smoked Sausage Jambalaya Buttermilk Biscuits

inside of warm cinnamon roll on plate

How To Make The Best Single Serve Cinnamon Roll

Orange roll on a plate with a fork.

Christmas Morning Orange Rolls

LET’S MAKE COOKIES!

a stack of white chocolate macadamia nut cookies with a bite taken out of the top one with milk

Classic White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

wider shot of lemon bars stacked on a plate with a bite taken out of one lemon bar

My Favorite Classic Lemon Bars Recipe

completed recipe close up shot of a blondie so the toasted almonds, chocolate chips, and sea salt can be seen

My Best Classic Blondie Recipe

Footer

Instagram

joythebaker

📚Baker and author of books and magazines
🎂Creator @drakeoncake
💁🏻‍♀️Classes with me @thebakehousenola
🍰 Products with @williamssonoma

joythebaker
🍓🌼 Pan Dulce is the best way to bake spring! 🍓🌼 Pan Dulce is the best way to bake spring! Full recipe linked in the @joythebaker bio! Xo
Second coffee: the perfect way to re-start the day Second coffee: the perfect way to re-start the day. 
✨Beignet Café au Lait✨⁣
⁣1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk⁣⁣
Splash of vanilla extract⁣⁣
½ cup heavy cream, whipped to stiff peaks⁣⁣
2 cups fresh brewed strong coffee⁣⁣
½ cup toasted cinnamon cereal, lightly crushed⁣⁣
Powdered sugar for topping⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Place sweetened condensed milk and vanilla in a small bowl. Add half of the whipped cream and fold to combine.  Add the remaining half and fold until you have a fluffy sweet cream. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Divide brewed coffee between two mugs. Spoon dream on top.  Sprinkle cinnamon cereal between the cups.  Dust with powdered sugar and enjoy immediately.
Life Skill No. 458: How to Make 1️⃣2️⃣ Cup Life Skill No. 458: How to Make 1️⃣2️⃣ Cupcakes with just 1️⃣ Stick of Butter⁣
⁣
Full recipe linked in my bio! xo
Someone call @foodnetwork because Dad and I need a Someone call @foodnetwork because Dad and I need a baking show stat. Here’s our very best chocolate chip cookies and all the little tips that make them perfection. ✨🍪 Find the full recipe linked in the profile!
We’re baking the classics on Joy the Baker this We’re baking the classics on Joy the Baker this month and up next, my very favorite Lemon Bar recipe with fresh lemon juice and the tiniest hint of coriander. ⁣🍋🌼✨
⁣
Find the full recipe linked in the profile and bust out the white chocolate and macadamia nuts for next week’s bake! ⁣
⁣
#lemonbars #easybaking #bakedfromscratch #joythebaker
Day in the Life: out in the woods writing a little Day in the Life: out in the woods writing a little cookbook about camp food. 💖🏕️🙋🏻‍♀️
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Joy the Baker
All rights reserved. Violators will be whupped and sent to bed with no dessert · Privacy Policy

Scroll Up