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Rosario Dawson Quarterly Box Review #18902

Liz Cadman
ByLiz CadmanJan 22, 2015 | 130 comments

Rosario Dawson Quarterly Box Review #18902 Box

The Rosario Dawson Quarterly Box was probably one of the boxes I was most excited to get my hands on this seasons - it includes 31 items for an advent calendar theme!

This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

Rosario Dawson Quarterly Box Review #18902 Items

The Subscription Box: Rosario Dawson Quarterly Box

The Cost: $50 a box (ships every quarter)

The Products: Rosario's picks: "beautiful, creative works meant to inspire).

Ships to: US, (Canada extra $20 fee, International extra $30 fee).

Rosario Dawson Quarterly Box Review #18902 Bag

Studio 189 Oversized Tote - Value $250?

I couldn't find this exact same tote on Studio 189's site, but I linked to one that I believe is the same size. This is my favorite item in the box. I love the colors and the extra large size is so useful. Plus the straps are reinforced, so I think I could carry a lot with this!  Also, the mission behind this brand is wonderful:

STUDIO ONE EIGHTY NINE is a social enterprise created by Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah that consist of creatives that seeks to provide a platform to help promote and curate African and African-inspired content through an ecommerce shopping site, a supporting agency and an artisan produced fashion collection, called FASHION RISING COLLECTION, launched in support of V-Day's One Billion Rising. We focus on creating opportunities for empowerment, education and employment of artisans and creatives.
Together we represent countries all over Africa and its Diaspora. Created by Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah, the mission of Studio One Eighty Nine and the idea for Fashion Rising, took shape following a trip with V-Day in February, 2011, through Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda to Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the opening of the City of Joy.

Rosario Dawson Quarterly Box Review #18902 Coach

Coach Double Zip Leather Wristlet - Value $68

You can't go wrong sending a beautiful and classic leather Coach wristlet in a subscription box! This is one of those items that I really like but also know it would make an amazing gift, so I'm not sure if I'm keeping it yet.

Rosario Dawson Quarterly Box Review #18902 Coasters

Studio 189 Coasters - Value $15?

Occult Crimes TaskForce Playing Cards - Value $10?

Under Armour Hair Ties - Value $10

The coasters and playing cards are really interesting - but I can't find them for sale online so I'm just guessing on the values. And the Under Armour hair ties will come in handy!

Rosario Dawson Quarterly Box Review #18902 Bookmark

 

Top Five Photo

Studio 189 bookmark & postcard

Black and White photography magnet

I like that Rosario always includes items from her latest projects - I really want to see Top Five!

Rosario Dawson Quarterly Box Review #18902 Honest

Honest Hand Soap in Lemongrass - Value $5

Honest Fruit + Veggie Wash - Value $7

I love Honest products so I'm always happy to have more. I'm pretty surprised that these items arrived in perfect condition though! Normally when I order through the Honest Company the hand soap is packaged in its own plastic bag to account for some leakage in shipping - which almost always happens!

Rosario Dawson Quarterly Box Review #18902 Bobble

Studio 189 Sunglasses Bag - Value $30?

Bobble Sport Bottle - Value $11

I already received a bobble sport bottle from the Bianca Jade Quarterly box (and thanks to subscription boxes I have more bottles than I will ever need), so this one will go to a friend. The sunglasses case I will use though - I like the bright blue colors!

Rosario Dawson Quarterly Box Review #18902 Daredevil

Daredevil Mini Poster

My husband and I watch Arrow and The Flash, so we're looking forward to NetFlix releasing this series!

Rosario Dawson Quarterly Box Review #18902 Rent

Rent Poster

I'm not much of a musical person, so this is going to my cousin who I know will absolutely love it!

Rosario Dawson Quarterly Box Review #18902 Spoon

Stuffed Peppers Recipe and a Wooden Spoon

(We're getting into the stocking stuffer/advent calendar little gift and item portion of the box, so I won't be commenting on everything).

Rosario Dawson Quarterly Box Review #18902 Balm

ProBCAA Supplement, Blowfish for Hangovers, and Honest Co. Organic Healing Balm

This healing balm is great, and my mom loves it even more than I do, so this is going in her gift pile! (And maybe this hangover "cure" will come in handy on January 1st!)

Rosario Dawson Quarterly Box Review #18902 Random

More of the little toys and games included.

Rosario Dawson Quarterly Box Review #18902 Chocolate

And I saved the treat for last - Henry Lambertz Premium Chocolates and Cookies - Value $15?

These look delicious - I will be gifting them tomorrow!

Verdict: This was a really fun box to go through. I like that there are some really great quality pieces, some practical pieces, some silly pieces, and some box exclusives. Plus the value is well over $400! And if that wasn't good enough, the proceeds of this box go toward getting water filters for cleaner water in West Africa!

What do you think of the latest Rosario Dawson Quarterly box?

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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130 comments

PA Anna

I saw the spoilers on MUT (google MakeUpTalk Forum Rosario Dawson). Now I wish I didn’t cancel.

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Yogamom67

Just opened my new Spring 2015 Rosario Box. It is AWESOME!!!!

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Browning

Really? I’m kinda disappointed. Seems like a bunch of random junk (and this coming from someone who LOVED the last box.) Raquel, spoiler pics on MUT

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Raquel

No!!!! PARTY FOUL!!! You cannot just be vague and say the Spring box is awesome and just leave us hanging like this!!!! LOL.

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heat7918

Ha ha! I agree with Raquel – what’s in the Spring Box?? And is it still available?

I just discovered sub boxes and this site in Feb and this is one I’ve never noticed or looked at – there are soooo many boxes!

But I would have LOVED this December box! Now I have another box to add to my “Want” / watch list. 🙂

Sandra

So I just cancelled my subscription for this box. I received an email stating that the box would ship early this week. checked and there still is no tracking number. So I am done. I am not a fan of companies who promise things and don’t deliver

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PA Anna

Sandra – It looked like it shipped. Did you contact them for a tracking number? It can take Quarterly a few days to send out the tracking number.

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Kimberly

I was charged for it yesterday so i would check if you even actually cancelled it. assuming i’ll get it next week at this point.

Marie

Hi!! I keep reading about a MSA quarterly box?? Where do I subscribe for that one??

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Courtney

Wow this is AMAZING. I wish I had known about it then. Her first box was.. very underwhelming, but this one is awesome. I just subscribed for her next one, supposed to ship this month.. hopefully it is just as good as this one!

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grace

Did anyone in Canada received Thiers yet? this is my first Quarterly box I was wondering if it was suppose to take this long to get here.

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Raquel

This box sold me on subscribing but it looks like I will be receiving the new one to launch in January. Does anyone have this box #18902 that they are willing to sell? I think it is awesome. [email protected]

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Lauren

If anyone wants to buy this box, I am willing to sell mine.

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Blessedmommi

Hi Lauren, I’m interested. Email samariaford at hotmail
Thanks!

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Judy

Can you contact me.. Judydesigns @ gmail

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Jillian D

I had signed up for this box as soon as I heard there would be 31 items in it and then cancelled when Quarterly couldn’t live up to their shipping promises. I’m glad I cancelled. I already own the Honest items and the only other thing worth anything to me is the Coach clutch. I mean, some of the small stuff is really…well, it would go straight into the garbage at my house. It’s not worth putting the effort into swapping it. I thought the Under Armour item would be a tank or something. I’m in my 30’s, I don’t put posters on my walls… when they said 31 items this was NOT what I had in mind. I don’t know what I expected for $50. Maybe my expectations were too high. I guess I felt like I’d be the target audience for this curator and I was so wrong and that’s what’s extra disappointing.

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Teglar

What ever happened with the raffle?

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PA Anna

They held the raffle and posted pictures on Twitter of the winner at the movie premiere.

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Emily Whitaker

This was my first one and I absolutely loved it!!!

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Sherita

Amazing box! Its loaded! Subscribing now..

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lz

Finally got my box today, love love love it! I had most fun unboxing it even though I saw spoilers. (It sucked that quarterly.co didn’t get this box to us in the beginning of December, but that’s quarterly.co’s problem)

Such a thoughtful box! Did you see the jelly bean message? What do you think the message on the back of the bookmark?

For all the folks who don’t like the box, there is no need to argue whether the stocking stuffer is junk or if the tote worth $25 or $200. I’m sure one of the reason Rosario picked quarterly for her boxes is you can return your box if you don’t like it.

Best box ever!!!

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karol

I loved the box! For a $50. box, it was fun, quirky, interesting. The Coach wristlet was worth the whole box and I loved taking the toys out of the bag, regardless of its value. Cookies look yummy too. Very happy with this nicely curated box; she must have had fun putting it together, too.

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Dawn

I was disappointed in this box and was surprised so many people liked it. With an advent calendar theme and statement “open one a day” – it seemed as if the items might actually be wrapped or at least packaged. Everything was just randomly tossed into the box. I didn’t get the coasters and got the awful rubber under armour headband things. Weird little plastic gizmo toys went into the trash – sorry swappers, no way would I pay postage to mail those things out. Go to the factory card store – they are about 10 for $1. Everything felt like a free sample.

If the large tote bag is from her collection – why is there no tag? And it has a batik look – but I think the fabric has been printed, not hand batiked, or they would all look different. But no tags and no explanation……

And the Coach wristlet? Take a close look at the one in the box and the one on the Coach site? See a problem??? My guess is these were one-off mistakes that would have ended up in a bargain store like TJ Maxx anyway.

I think Liz has me spoiled! Nobody can do a sub box like Liz – so I don’t know why I even try anyone else’s!!

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Kim

Liz Linked to the wrong coach wristlet. If u look in the comments I posted the correct link with out the “stage coach” tagging, same price.

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Mara

There are two similar wristlets on the Coach site–both are $68. One has the horse and carriage and one just says Coach. I don’t think it is a mistake.

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CreativelySwank

interesting…”The walnut was known to ancient Romans as “the nut of the Gods” and was one of the very first tree ornaments. Prior to the Reformation, European children received walnuts from St. Nicholas. And, often tiny gifts were concealed inside a gold or silver painted walnut”

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CreativelySwank

Ok so the tote being worth $$$ is total BS, we can all agree, but regardless this is a great box. I was planning on using this for stocking stuffers and it did not disappoint. I mean seriously, when you get a $70 coach item everything else is icing, how can you complain?

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Krystal

That is just laughable a tote could be worth $250, especially in a box with a Coach wristlet for $68 which will obviously be better quality. And for anyone saying “well it’s handmade” just go to Etsy and you will find hundreds of handmade tote bags not even near that price. Companies will sell tote for charity all the time and never get near a price tag like that.

This box just seems like one huge plug for Studio 189 and not a curation of things Rosario enjoys, the box should be “Studio 189 Quaterly” instead.

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CecilyK

It’s not just that it’s sewn together by hand. The batik fabric is also hand batiked, and batiking by hand is pretty time consuming and requires quite a bit of skill to get it right. While this tote bag isn’t the same as the one on the website (it’s definitely not as substantial as that one) and subsequently is most certainly not worth $250 (maybe $100), I think it’s sad that people don’t value the time and skill that goes into making a handmade product. Yes, you can find it cheaper on Etsy, but some of those people are selling their wares for less than what the materials themselves cost them in order to just get people interested in their work. Many of those artisans aren’t selling their items for anywhere near what they should sell them for. You have to not only account for the cost of materials, but also for the time, skill, and artistry involved. Something like this that is mass produced is worth maybe 1/10 to 1/20 what a handmade item is worth. If handmade items can be found cheaply, then the people who made the items aren’t receiving a fair wage.

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jerilynn

Well said. As someone who knits, crochets, crossstitches and other craft, when something is handmade it is often 5 times the cost of mass produced and usually better constructed. This will make the perfect yoga bag.

Benita

I just got my box today and I came here just to say how much I love it! I had read spoilers on MUT but seeing it in person makes it so much better. A lot of people were commenting on the “box of junk” but I don’t see it that way at all. I loved opening each little tiny thing (stocking stuffers!) and someone complained about a ball of thread, which was actually a super cute little worry doll that could be hung like an ornament. I think even most of the small items will get used, I put the magnet on my fridge and I can always use a bookmark. I will also use the large Rent poster/calendar in my cube at work, which is large and needs some more art to fill it up.

The funny thing is many of the small items have already become cat toys in my house! My cats love the little rubber ball and the juggling balls, they even went crazy over the sound of the noisemakers, which I’ll likely pass on to my toddler nephew, who will love them.
The big items are plenty “value” for me so the small thing are just fun. I am not a fan of Coach, but actually really like the wristlet since it’s black and gold and will go with everything. I love Honest Co. products so those are a win for me too. And I’m actually happy with the filtering water bottle too since I travel frequently and bottled water can get expensive so I often fill up at airport water fountains. I haven’t tried the cookies yet, I might save them for a hostess gift but I might not be able to resist.

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CreativelySwank

Yeah…I don’t get the ball of thread thing either, I have bought these dolls before for my tweens and they are not cheap or just junk.

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Barbie

I commented on the “ball of thread” in mine.. it wasn’t that green ornament made of thread. It was literally a huge chunk of black canvas threading sitting in the middle of the box. I didn’t know if it was something other people got since there was no list of items, and it was weird.

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PA Anna

My Eva Schrivo box arrived today! Very happy.

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Gloria

Mine too! Totally loved it! The first one was great but this one is so much better! I posted spoilers in Instagram with quarterlyco. Would have loved to see a hydrating shampoo instead of another oil fot the hair since I still have more than half of the obliphica that was in the last box, but overall is such a great box and I love the inserts included! Hope you enjoy it as much as Im doing!

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PA Anna

It came early enough today that I decided to try out the deep conditioner. I love how my hair is manageable and feels soft and silky. I can’t wait to try out the rest of the items in the box. I think it is a wonderful box!!!

weslyn

Good value box..even if just for the wristlet! I hope it goes up on the Best of Quarterly for sale!

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sarah

is there a way to still buy this box?

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lily

Emailed yesterday, got an email back and found out this box is sold out :(. I went ahead and signed up for the next box that is (supposed) to ship in January. Hope it is just as good.

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Marlene

Loved it. My under armour was a (nicer) headband warmer kind of thing

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brandy

I believe the daredevil poster is the disney item since marvel is owned by disney

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Judy

I e-mailed Quarterly inregards to the missing Disney item and I was told that the Disney item did not make the box. They used something else non-Disney in it’s place.

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Sarena

Anyone else getting charged a C.O.D. fee now with their Quarterly boxes? I had 4 subscriptions and so far have received 3 of the 4 with a C.O.D. fee on each one! I am a Canadian subscriber already paying $20 for shipping. Thinking I am going to have to cancel all my Quarterly subscriptions-even Liz’s. 🙁

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Jill @ CdnBoxAddict

I have had this happen twice before with Quarterly. I e-mailed them about it and they refunded me immediately, no questions asked.

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Laura

I am also in Canada (MB) and have never paid a C.O.D. charge with Quarterly boxes. You should email Quarterly and see if they can help you. What part of Canada are you in? I’m curious because I am still waiting for Liz’s box to get here.

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Sarena

Northern Ontario. Just got Liz’s box today. I have had Quarterly boxes for more than a year and this is the first month with any COD. I contacted Quarterly and got a credit for one of the CODs but was told “it happens” for the other. Haven’t messaged for Liz’s box yet. Just a hassle to worry about and have to make a trip to post office since won’t deliver to door with COD.