My Subscription Life is a series designed to help you get to know the MSA team a little bit better. Each profile introduces a different member of the team, showcases their favorite subscriptions, and explores how subscriptions impact their lives.
This week on My Subscription Life, we're speaking with someone on the team you may not recognize. Samantha has been with MSA since November 2020, but she works most of her magic behind the scenes. As our newly appointed Managing Editor, Samantha is the wind beneath the wings of the writing team. She's an organizational guru, a maestro at coming up with the perfect title, and an all-around lovely human being. She splits her time between London and New York, and she might be some kind of supernatural being because she always seems to be online when you need her. (Seriously. I'm nearly certain she does not require sleep.) Despite being an incredibly hard worker, she's also a ton of fun. One of my favorite facts about Sam is that she took all of her favorite memes and turned them into a coffee table book. I mean... *mic drop*
Without further ado, let's learn a little bit more about Samantha in this week's edition of My Subscription Life!
My Subscription Life: Samantha
Lindsey: Hi Sam, thanks for taking some time to talk about your subscription life! Can you start by sharing a little bit about yourself?
Samantha: Certainly, thank you for having me! I am probably best described as a person with too many interests; my shortlist includes writing, crafting, cooking, traveling, and organizing. My hidden supertalent lies in my ability to source the perfect gift on a fixed budget - all I need is an hour of quality conversation with a person to uncover whatever that thing is that will truly speak to their heart.
I wouldn't call myself an artist, but I do enjoy sketching and painting (this came in handy when I needed to decorate the bare walls of my house - art comes a lot cheaper when you make it yourself!). I love creating in all sorts of ways; I find candle pouring to be a relaxing activity, and sometimes I'll get real adventurous and tackle an unusual project (IKEA hacks are serious business to me!). I've also written and illustrated six children's books, but not with intent to mass publish - just as token gifts to a few special kids in my life.
L: Can you describe a memorable trip you’ve taken?
S: I was bitten by the wanderlust bug from a very young age, and all of my journeys hold special meaning to me. Prior to the pandemic, I had been traveling quite a bit to write articles about destination weddings and honeymoons for Sophisticated Weddings Magazine. I tend to travel alone most of the time, however there's always one little guy by my side: my daughter's Llama Llama doll (as in the children's book series character by Anna Dewdney). He's been everywhere from Thailand to Uganda to Antarctica. I bring him along so I can send photos of his adventures back home to my daughter while I'm away. We have one of those digital picture frames where you can remotely add photos to it... she enjoys spotting those little surprises over breakfast! Since the pandemic began and I sewed the little fella his own atlas-themed face mask, Llama Llama doesn't get quite the same action these days, however he has attended all of my vaccination appointments, so I guess you can say I'm keeping my tradition of looking properly strange on global scale alive.
1 of 6 | Llama Llama in Antarctica
L: When and how did you first discover subscription boxes?
S: I’m pretty sure this story begins with a mail order Archie Comics bundle subscription, which may have been the highlight of my ‘90s childhood. In the modern day sense, the first "real" subscription box I'd ever taken on was CAUSEBOX (now Alltrue). I loved the sustainable nature of it, and they really won me over back in the day with their artisan goods that I could sprinkle around my home.
L: Which subscriptions do you currently receive?
S: At the moment, I am subscribed to Birchbox, FabFitFun, Aura Kits, Quip, and Pretty Kitty Litter. I've actually reeled it in since being in the UK. I have a wish list though!
In the past, I’ve subscribed to AllTrue, VINEBOX, MEL Science, Oyster, KiwiCo crates, LOL Surprise/Culturefly, Hello Kitty Loot Crate, kidpik, Nick Box, Stitch Fix, Blue Apron, Freshly, Tamed Wild, BarkBox, Magikal Folk, Silk + Sonder, Kidbox, Rocksbox, Groovebook, Bloom & Wild... I’m sure there’s more I’m just not thinking of right now.
I’d also gone down the rabbit hole of advent calendars this year having missed out last season (the FOMO was real), with sets from Birchbox, LOOKFANTASTIC, Nespresso, and L’Occitane. Apart from Nespresso, I’ve even managed to exhibit some restraint and stick to one just one treat per day from LOOKFANTASTIC and L’Occitane. With Birchbox, I decided to bring this advent calendar to a small holiday gathering between three of my friends. I labeled 25 pieces of paper, dropped them into a bowl, and had the three of them randomly select their numbered slips (with the host getting one extra). One by one, they went through the calendar, discovering their treats. It turned out to be such a fun activity! As for the calendar box, I think this makes for a great repurposed utility for storing tree ornaments of varying sizes. I’ll be honest with you - I wouldn’t hate an advent calendar subscription that gifts us all year long!
L: Which is your favorite subscription?
S: Right now, I'd say it's Aura Kits, a London-based self-care/mindfulness box that I've really come to look forward to. It's packaged so thoughtfully with a personal touch, and includes things like bath salts, incense, sage sticks, candles, crystals, oils, etc. I'm always blown away by the attention to detail - it's a little box of positive vibes!
L: If you could only subscribe to one box or service, which would it be?
S: This is tough! Can they make FabFitFun monthly? (No, please don't do that - I'd go broke!)
L: Describe your perfect subscription.
S: My perfect subscription would probably be as eclectic as I am. I imagine everything from an emergency survival kit (let's just say, I'm the person who always has exactly what you need, no matter how random, even if we're in the jungle of East Africa) to stationery and things that promote organization to... all the pretty things.
L: Which subscription categories do you enjoy most and why?
S: Self-care, beauty, and home decor. I'll admit I'm a sucker for a box with a hint of mysticism to it... I couldn't possibly need another sage stick, but I'll always accept them with open arms. For me, the experience of opening a subscription box is one I want to savor. I will set it aside until I'm able to be truly present with it. It's the present I give myself, and the closest I get to feeling like a child surrounded by presents on their 5th birthday!
L: Which subscription item that you’ve received in the past is the most memorable?
S: This is going to sound really silly, but I love the Frye boot socks I received in my Fall FabFitFun box. They're so soft, and you know what? I needed some socks. It's easy to forget sometimes, and where do you even begin to think about the source of your perfect sock? Happy toes with this box find!
L: People gravitate to subscriptions for different reasons. What are your primary reasons for subscribing?
S: Subscription boxes are very personal to me. Of course there are the ones I get simply because it's convenient (my Quip toothbrush, for example - I mean, they will send my refill anywhere in the world for just $5 - can’t beat that!), but the stand-out ones are the boxes I don't need, but bring a smile to my face. And maybe that is a need - it reminds me to take a time-out for myself, and that I too am deserving of a little pampering from time to time.
L: If someone offered you the opportunity to curate your own subscription box, what would you send out to your subscribers?
S: I love beauty boxes, but that's a tough one-- everyone's taste and skincare needs are so varied, I think it can be so hit or miss. I'd probably want to go very niche with a feel good/pamper box. I feel like a calligraphy box with a quill, ink, wax seal, stationery, candle, etc. would be a good place to start. Something with good vibes that promotes the lost arts.
Thanks so much, Samantha!
Questions for Sam? Jump into the comments section below!
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