While I was in California, I fell in love with all the different bits of makeup and candy that you just can't get here in England. To cut a long story short, this spawned a package swap with my dear blogger friend Kate who lives in California, near San Fransisco. She sends me supplies of my favourite candy, Essie nail polish and lots of little surprises from America, and I send her little bits of UK only makeup to try, traditional sweets and goodies I bring back from France!
This is our second package swap - I was to excited to rip the first one open to remember I wanted to photograph it for a blog post!
What I Got:
Wonka Nerds (one of my favourites, you used to be able to buy them everywhere in the UK, but now only for jawbreaking prices in specialist places like Selfridges, and not in big mixed boxes like this!
Milk Duds - Really, really amazing hard caramel balls covered in candy chocolate.
Pomegranate Fine Milled Soap
Jolly Ranchers - Hard Candy, I love these so much I've dedicated an entire post to them, coming soon!
Love & Beauty Nail Polish (From Forever 21)
Bright & dark blue Sinful Colour nail polish
Whoppers & Reeses Peanut Butter Whoppers (basically an American version of Malteasers)
Essie nail polish in 'Bahama Mama'
Forever 21 necklace
E.L.F Lipglosses
Covergirl Lash Blast Length Mascara
Though out packages are supposedly things we can't get in your own country, when I was in CVS I almost had a heart attack when I saw that Essie nail polish was only $7.50. That is about £4.60 a bottle. A bottle of Essie nail polish her in the UK is £9.95. It may be my favourite brand, but you can see why I refuse to buy it in the UK anymore...
I've wanted to try this Covergirl Lash Blast Length mascara for ages (my obsession with their Blast collection is well documented) and they'd sold out when I went to California. How could I not love NYLON magazine and not want to try the mascara that is always splashed across its pages? I can't wait to try it!
I absolutely love this necklace she sent me from Forever 21, and I can't wait to show it off in an outfit post. I've heard great things about Forever 21 jewellery, but I can't see myself getting near the new Oxford Street store anytime soon without getting crushed!
Do any of you take part in package exchanges with friends abroad?
oh wow what a great idea!! Package swap seems so fun :)
ReplyDeleteLooks like you got an awesome bunch of stuff! I love the idea of package exchange, it would be so fun to do one, especially with someone who lives somewhere with quite different candy/products.
ReplyDeleteI love doing swaps like these! I wish I knew someone in the US to send me some jolly ranchers! Last time I got them was when I was in uni halls and we made flavoured vodka out of them. It was the best thing to drink with tonic! Just thought I would put it out there... ; )
ReplyDeletehttp://elle-yeah.blogspot.com
@ Elodie - Jolly Ranchers vodka? That will be even better than Skittles vodka - thanks so much for the idea!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to swap packages with someone in the US but I don't know anyone who lives out there. Your package looks amazing - what a wonderful parcel to open :) x
ReplyDeletelauramarycoyne.blogspot.com
This is such a beautiful idea... i want to try this! i love willie wonka & yes that forever 21 necklace is stunning. Love this =)
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http://www.facebook.com/amarivintage
The package looks great, I'd love to get something like this in the post!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a nice idea :) And you got so much lovely stuff! xx
ReplyDeleteSirens and Bells
This is so lovely! What a great selection. x hivenn
ReplyDeletei really want to try cover girl make up one day. my boyfriend got some nerds for his birthday!
ReplyDeleteElla @ Belle Vintage
Nothing is more exciting than receiving a package! Looks like you go some great swag! xo
ReplyDeleteI love package swaps. I participated in a "snack swap" through a Livejournal community. I love UK and European candies/chocolate more than USA options.
ReplyDeletepackage swap, I like this idea. that is so surprising that those candies are so overpriced over there. lovely necklace and nailpolish.
ReplyDeleteSuch a brilliant idea! I just need an american friend! :)xx
ReplyDeleteOh Nerds!! I used to buy a pack every day after school! Best sweets ever. That F21 necklace is stunning x
ReplyDeleteI love the necklace you got! <3
ReplyDeletewww.loretta-blog.blogspot.com
I really like the F21 necklace! <3
ReplyDeleteWow! I need a friend like this!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to do a package swap!
and the F21 nail polish is amazing. I brought a suitcase full back (almost anyway haha) from New York, and I think the one you got sent is my favourite! Perfect if you don't have time to do your nails properly, goes on really quickly and thickly, and its a beautiful colour! :)
That is seriously the cutest idea every. Need to find a package pal ASAP. Wonka Nerds are the best, I really miss them here in Germany... And Junior Mints! I only tried them recently, but what could be bad about the combination of mint and dark chocolate? Needless to say, I'm addicted and going cold turkey.
ReplyDeleteI need to do this with a friend in America...stat!! I love Nerds. I hate how they're so overpriced here.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a lovely idea! Hopefully one day I'll find someone to do this with too! I love Jolly Ranchers, I can't believe they stopped doing them in the UK!
ReplyDeleteForever 21's jewellery is fab. I really want to take a trip to the store in Birmingham. Their online shopping is good though, so until then!!!
Lovely blog post Rachel, I really like reading your words! xo
Lovely
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun idea - you got some pretty awesome and delicious things!!! Super lucky! Great post & blog xx
ReplyDeletewww.thehappeningblog.com
I really like the idea of package exchange with friends! I'll have to try that soon. I just started following your blog so I was wondering what part of California were you in? Near SF??
ReplyDeleteaww amazing idea, i would love to do one of these to.
ReplyDeleteI love milk duds and nerds! mmm.
www.jaymieocallaghan.com
xxx
@ Elysse - Yeah, I visited actual San Francisco, and then I went skiing in El Dorado!
ReplyDeleteyum yum yum! whoppers & milk duds! i so miss american candy!
ReplyDeletexo
Bang & Buck
That`s a great package! I miss all those candies that I can`t get where I live...
ReplyDeletewow you are a lucky gal :D Well done for scoring such a amazing gear!
ReplyDeleteCome follow my blog gorgeous!
that is such a cute idea!! one of my best friends is in dubai, and i think thats something we are going to try and do :)
ReplyDeletehttp://xoxo-carolinalove.blogspot.com
Funny how except for the candies, everything else is available here in the Philippines :)
ReplyDeleteAnd like everyone said, the package exchange seems like a very good idea! :D
it's always lovely to receive packages from family and friends!
ReplyDeleteTravel in Style
Wow hat I a fantastic idea!!! I love Essie!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment!
Wow what a great package, I absolutely love the Forever 21 necklace. I can't believe how expensive Essie nail polish is over here! xoxo
ReplyDeletehi miss rachel!
ReplyDeletethank you for your comment. i'm so glad that you did because it's connected me with yourself and your great blog. to be honest i've spent the last hour scrolling through your past posts. so much cool info. you seem like such a cool and interesting girl!
- Juliet xxx
I've been wanting to do a swap forever!!! I used to have a penpal (a long time ago) and we'd send each other packages with UK only or US only stuffs. Too much fun!
ReplyDelete♥ laurathe blog of worldly delights
Wow, that is such a great idea, you can get some american sweets etc in england but they're ridiculously overpriced. I love reeces pieces, let me know if the peanut butter whoppers are like them!
ReplyDeleteSarah
x
Ooh, I'm definitely jealous, I've been wanting to do something like this with one of my friends from abroad for a while, and it looks like you definitely got some fun goodies :)
ReplyDeleteHey girl, I really love your blog. It´s amazin!!
ReplyDeletei love american things so much. last year i was there for 2 months. and bought such lovely things. i cant wait to in the future again to get more. what you got is lovely.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to do a package swap! Let me know if you'd be interested. xoxo NJ
ReplyDelete@ Natalie - I think one is enough for me at the moment, but if I ever want another, you'd be the first on my list Natalie!
ReplyDeleteYour blog is truly amazing. I have been wanting to get involved with a swap in sometime now. I still cannot believe that I have never had any items from England. Crazy. I love to try new things and I love to send things that I love to those who love them or have never tried them.
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