Why I love these Harry Potter products

Many of us are aware of a high street chain that sells Harry Potter fandom gifts and homewares, but did you know there is a rather amazing website that sells these products and much more?

Win a box load of geeky goodies

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Win a box load of geeky goodies with RachaelJess.com

Those who follow my blog or my Instagram will know I have a BIG weakness for subscription boxes - mainly the geeky ones, so it's no surprise that I've started to accumulate pieces occasionally that don't really float my boat, so I've decided to save them up and when I have enough bits run a little giveaway - and this, believe it or not, this is my 2nd geek box giveaway!

The POP! in this box was bought by my lovely partner who feeds my passion and picked up Thor when he was on special offer in Tesco - for this very purpose!

The T-Shirt is Game of Thrones - and no, I do not watch this.  I know this is a bit of a shocker for some, but I've tried it 3 times now and it's just not grabbing me,  I want it to, but alas it's just not meant to be - but wahey for you guys - guess where all the G.O.T. bits go....

I made the Batman badge!

The trolls were originally for my son's party bags but he pulled the hair out of one of them, so now they are all escaping out my house in various forms!  Finally, there are a couple of other little bits to make up the box.

AND.... I thought I'd make it international!!

So what do you think?  Interested in winning my little geeky bundle?  All I need you to do is complete at least one of the actions from the Rafflecopter below and a winner will be picked from the Rafflecopter entries in a few weeks time.

Good Luck 

Zavvi's Retro zBox Review

March ZBox - Retro Theme

It's that time again.......For anyone who reads my blog (thank you, by the way, I do love you all).....I am on a quest to find the perfect Mystery/Geek subscription box for us, and up until now, I have loved zBox.  I have struggled to decide whether it's my number one or not, but after this month's box, it has lost it's number 1 spot.

#ZBox Undead Box review

I have been SOOOO looking forward to this box!  I'm loving Zavvi's Zboxes!  The Zbox is the latest in a range of mystery geeky subscription boxes that I've been trying out over the months to find the perfect one for us.

The ZBox is the second highest priced geek box that I've tried so far, only being topped by Nerd Block - which I actually don't rate as high.  Now I may have seen some reviews of the Undead box on Zavvi's facebook page before I got mine so I knew there would be no POP! thanks to people moaning!  If you want a POP in every box then try Infinity Crates or a subscription that PROMISES a POP!  Zbox does not make that promise, so don't be surprised when one doesn't turn up!!!

There were also complaints about the box!.  Some are complaining that there is no outer packaging or parcel bag when the box is delivered, that the box (which is lovely and now filled with lego.....) is sealed with just a small seal and the address label added to the ZBox itself.  Whilst I don't mind the label I am concerned that a flimsy seal may not be enough to hold the contents secure in some instances.... and that could be the one thing that would move me away from this box!

Anyway, if you can get yourself over those 2 facts and the fact that Undead is not JUST the Walking Dead - it relates to all things 'UNDEAD' then you'll love the box.

First up is the handy little magazine which details all of your goodies and other bits of chat, such as ZBox battles and undead cocktails!

ZBox Undead Magazine

As always, I've added these in order of preference and not having a (major) sweet tooth, this crazy little thing is first!  It's a novelty sweet called Brain Licker - and it's not nice, yes, of course, we tried it and both myself and Max pulled the same 'Ewwww sour' face!

ZBox Undead Brain Licker Sweets

Zombie Hunting Permit Sticker - nice and random and has been put away in the Halloween box - ideal for sticking in the car at the end of October.

Zombie Hunting Permit Car / Bumper Sticker

ZBox exclusive this month are Zombie Badges.

ZBox Undead Zombie Badges

Ohh now we are getting into the good stuff.  Zombies, A living History DVD is one for us to watch - although I'm not watching it if there is a chance I'm going to hear snoring 15 minutes in as it actually quite sounds a bit freaky - "This history special explores the real story of zombies, beginning at the dawn of civilisation and continuing right through to today' !!!

ZBox Undead Zombie DVD

Zombie Socks - LOVE them - Nuff said!

ZBox Undead Zombie socks

Now we may not have a POP! this month, but we do have a couple of funky little mini mates!  Series 3 of the Walking Dead Mini-mates range and I rather like these, they have for now though been put away in case little hands decide to add them to his lego range....

ZBox Undead Walking Dead Mini Mates

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!  I have forever loved coloured Vinyl - yes we got a vinyl in the box..... and I'm soo old I could rummage around in the loft if I so wished to pull out the old record player - but this is so going in a box picture frame!

As always I've left my favourite piece until last, and it's a ZBox T-Shirt which of course has the undead theme - one of the best we've received.   So, all in all, I love this box, as I did the last and next month - RETRO.... Already ordered!

ZBox Undead T-shirt

So, as I've done with all my boxes here's my rating in order of preference on the ones that I've tried :

Number 1 - Infinity Crate at £16.99 / Number 1 - zBox at £19.99
I honestly can not choose between these two at the moment!

Number 3 - Nerd Block approx £21
Number 4 - My Geek Box £14.99
Number 5 - QwerkiBox £15


Love to hear your thoughts and even more so if there is a fantastic geek/nerd subscription box that I don't know about yet.  I have the ones yet to try listed here.

Quote from the Walking Dead in the bottom of the ZBox

Creating my POP shelf from a Spice Rack

I recently obtained a little spice rack from my local free up page on Facebook and was very much hoping it would be the right size for my POPs, so when I got it home I was VERY pleased that it's a perfect fit for them!!

Spice Rack - a perfect size to home Funko's POP Vinyl

Obviously having a bare spice rack in a house that has random pieces of paper, paint and well nothing bare!  I had a good rummage through my papers and found the perfect Gorjuss scrapping pack to act as a backing sheet and decided to go bold and use metallic - first for me!

Yes my favourite POP is in the picture

I gave the rack a quick sanding down and used B&Q's metallic effect paint spray.  I really can't get to grips with paint pots and brushes.

And there we have it, a little sparkly spice rack.  I could leave it like this, but I do believe it would benefit from a backing sheet.

Spiced up Spice Rack

Gorjuss scrapping paper

Once the rack was painted I did select half a dozen different sheets but went back to my original choice which was part of my Gorjuss pack.  I just used UHU to glue the paper to the back of the shelving.

Prepping the back sheet.

My final POP Vinyl Shelf

Not only am I pleased with the result I'm really pleased that this shelving holds 6 POP!  Great little space saver.

Upcycled Spice Rack

Living it up on the Wardrobe

ZBox Subscription Box - January Review

January ZBox Review

So those who follow my blog know the deal by now.  In a search for my favourite geek box subscription I've now tried Zavvi's ZBox  - oh and its good!!  Similar to QwerkiBox the ZBox is not a monthly reoccurring subscription plan.  You purchase the box each month as and when you want it.

January's theme was Cosmic and as I said it did not disappoint, and as usual I'll post up what's in the box in order of preference:

First up is a magazine which details the contents of the box, may have been the last thing I opened after everything else came flying out the box.....

ZBox magazine detailing what's in the box

This is pretty nifty, it's a phone wallet which you can stick to the back of your phone and it acts....as a wallet.

X-Men Phone Wallet

ZBox exclusive - Terminator card holder - went down well with my partner.

Terminator Card Holder

Being comic theme there is obviously going to be Star Wars items in the box, and this box has 2.

Death Star T-Shirt

Pretty cool comic book

One for my son who absolutely loves these and Transformers.

Transformers collectable

I've left my two favourite pieces until last.  Now, first up is dancing Groot.  I have him already so this little bad boy went in the car and was the best movie ever!  He is on the dashboard and dances away, constantly puts a smile on my face!  We now have the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack so watch out on Instagram for a filming of this little man having a bounce to the Jackson 5!

Got to love Groot

And finally, I LOVE the sonic screwdriver key-ring.  Everyone should own a Sonic Screwdriver!

Sonic Screwdriver Key-Ring

So there are my goodies from ZBox and I am very happy with this box and will definitely be ordering February's box which has the theme 'UNDEAD' - can't wait!!

So to break down the boxes reviewed to date:-

Number 1 - Infinity Crate at £16.99
Number 2 - zBox at £19.99
Number 3 - Nerd Block approx £21
Number 4 - My Geek Box £14.99
Number 5 - QwerkiBox £15

QwerkiBox January Review

January QwerkiBox Review

In my quest to find my favourite nerd box I have now tried the relatively new QwerkiBox.  This little box of Qwerki promises a POP in every box along with 5-6 mystery items.  Also, unlike my previous boxes, this is not a reoccurring subscription.  You need to purchase the box each month.

So, what's in the box?

The Joker - how cool is that?!  I already have Batman, Robin and Poison Ivy so I'm rather pleased to be building on my DC collection via my subscription boxes.

Getting a nice little DC Collection here

A couple of packets of Reese's pieces, which within the hour have reduced down to 1 packet!

So pleased our local 'old sweetie shop' also sells these!

A rather cool new x-men.

Now it may come to a shock to some but I'm not into Game of Thrones, never have been so it took me some while to figure this one out!

First of 2 key-rings - Mario Kart 'Bullet Bill' Key-ring.

The only picture I got before my little geek boy grabbed this one.

The second of my key-rings is a Blank Bear Qee which can be decorated any way you like.  My son has seen this and claimed it so if I can get round to decorating him I will, but if it's left with my boy to choose his colours - I can see a spider-man Qee in the making.

I love him!

A rather quirky Dr Who construction figure - and quite frankly the scariest one of all in my opinion!  Don't Blink!

Now there is a very good reason why I've left this item until last -

nommmmmmmmmm

I LOVE TWINKIES!  If it wasn't for the fact they cost A BOM here in the UK I'd probably live off them!

I think QwerkiBox have the potential to be a great little geek box each month.  I will purchase the February box before moving on to Loot monster (I know, I found another one!).

So to break down the boxes reviewed today:-

Number 1 - Infinity Crate at £16.99
Number 2 - Nerd Block approx £21
Number 3 - My Geek Box £14.99
Number 4 - QwerkiBox £15

Infinity Crate - November Review

I am loving Infinity Crates!  I know, I know I said this last month but I do, I think this may be the one!  But, I will continue my search for the best geeky subscription box (for me), so for the second month now I have an Infinity Crate - Animation theme!

Last month the theme was Doom and I LOVED it, this month I love (but no caps) Animation, and-and just a wee bit excited at next month's Might and Magic box - let alone January's Heroes v Villains!

So, what's in my box?  Well as with last month and unlike My Geek Box I've put the images up in preference with my favourite being last.

First up is the postcard image above, must not forget these and they are really quite fantastic, and to compliment the smaller poster there is the larger animation poster.

Infinity Crates Animation Poster

Next up is a TMNT badge - Leonardo (favourite is Raphael, but that's mainly because its similar to my name and red, but hey, Leo's still a hero in a half shell)!

Infinity Crate TMNT Badge

Homer Simpson Socks - Classic!  I can't believe Simpsons has been running for 25 years!

Infinity Crate Homer Socks

This one is a new one on me.  It's Jake from Adventure Time.  My boy loves this key ring, so we found Adventure Time on Cartoon Network and now we appear to be hooked (yeah, both of us will sit and watch it!).

Jake Key Ring

5 items down and 2 to go, in true Infinity Crate style the last 2 items will be a T-shirt and a POP Vinyl.

Holy Smokes Batman, quite possibly my favourite DC T-Shirt I've seen in a long time!  This went down very well, in fact when I passed it over it went straight on!  Must admit, this is a pretty cool T-Shirt - and not black for a change.

Infinity Crate Animation T-Shirt

And finally, who doesn't love a minion?  Carl is now with our other minions pride of place on the mantelpiece!

Infinity Crate Minion POP!

So there are my 7 goodies from November.  I have every faith my December box is going to be fantastic, so much so I may have ordered the Christmas specials......

To summarise, my top geek box is still Infinity Crates at £16.99 per month
Based on boxes received I'd put Nerd Block 2nd at approximately £21 per month
3rd would be the newly received My Geek Box at £14.99

From my original post, you can see I have many more boxes to sample, but I'm going to struggle to cancel this one!

Good call on the POP! this month @InfinityCrates :D #minions pic.twitter.com/LbxLhff8kM

— Rachael Jess (@RachaelJessBlog) November 25, 2014