It’s beautiful out in Hawaii! Oh, but watch out for that vortex of swirling water as the power plant pumps out its hot water and it mixes with the cool ocean water. It’s not toxic but it might take you for a spin!
swirling ocean water from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
cruising on boat from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
I’ve been spending more time at Targets lately (Panda got me into it), and one thing I’ve noticed is that they have a lot of cool products that come and go quickly. In addition, it seems that a fair amount of limited edition items are offered there, including the two lip balm sets you’ll find below. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to grab the item if you really want it, because the next time you decide you’ll swing by and get it, it’ll probably be gone. Happened to me a few times, especially with that bungee chair! I sure do hope they bring it back next year for back to school.
Awesome bungee chair! Should have bought it when I saw it because now it’s gone. 🙁
Don’t be fooled – these sunglass picture frames are actually really large. What a cute way to display pics!
How adorable! Anytime is meal time, right?
Ah, the product that launched my eBaying beyond iPhone cases and into beauty products as well.
Gum in fun tubes that also contributes to a cause. Cool!
It’s a pillow – it’s a seat! There were owls and elephants too. 🙂
I frantically searched stores for these once I decided to buy and came up empty. Turns out most of them don’t have them out on floors yet!
Ever since I started selling things on eBay, my choice of products has been affected by my physical location. When at home, I list the items we have there; when at Panda’s I list the items we get here. These things vary based on our interests, as well as what stores we have access to. So, when it came time for a bit of traveling, I found myself packing a suitcase full of products so I’d be prepared in case something sold while I was on the road. It certainly made for some interesting packing!
It’s funny how I’ve become a sort of new-age “traveling saleswoman.” Rather than traveling around the country to try to increase sales, I’m traveling as I please and bringing my inventory along for the ride. As my needs change, I hope to one day travel to discover new products to add to my offerings. That way I’m enjoying myself while still managing to get plenty of work done to further my business! Plus, I can find excuses to travel to some awesome places around the world, searching for the best gift items out there.
There are some key strategies: chirp flirtatiously (birds, you know what I’m talking about), run & pause, then stay your distance. Eventually you’ll get the girl!
robin chase from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
Panda and I got a chance to go to Myrtle Beach and this is what we encountered along the way!
There were the parts with trees lined on both sides of the road.
There were the parts with water towers looming above.
There was the part with a bunch of mowers driving around along the freeway.
There was the town with the giant stop sign.
There was the last leg with a quiet neighborly road leading up to the resort.
There were the parts with bridges supported by triangular metal legs.
There was the part with a really interesting building near or in Quantico.
Wondering about the second Yuzen box? Never fear! I’m here to show you what came in it and give you the low-down on each item. This time around, the color scheme was yellow and there were six fantastic brands included.
Yuzen is $26 per month and comes with around 5 or 6 eco-friendly beauty, skincare, food/snacks, and home products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. Sometimes there’s a waitlist to get the subscription. They do not offer a referral program.
Click on the pictures for the full sizes so you can enjoy all the details of each product! You can even zoom in to read all the messaging.
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day – Lemon Verbena All Purpose Soap Bar: As I was opening the box, I got a hint of this soap bar’s clean scent wafting up. It’s a huge full-size bar that will last me a LONG time! The wrapping was a nice smooth texture and it wasn’t glued too strongly together, so opening the packaging was actually a pleasant experience. I’d heard great things about Mrs. Meyer’s products, so I was pretty happy to get a chance to try it out. The soap suds nicely and gently cleans your entire body.
Cowgirl Skincare – Desert Recovery Cleanser: This is a fun new brand I hadn’t encountered before! The smell of the face wash is soothing and slightly sweet – maybe rose? It’s perfect for washing away whatever managed to accumulate on your face and doesn’t strip your skin of moisture. It’s meant for dry, aging, or sensitive skin but it’s useful for any type of skin. The container reminds me of elixirs from a Western (or maybe it’s just because their name is Cowgirl :-P). Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, anyone?
Organic India – Tulsi Original, Lemon Ginger, Sweet Rose, & Sleep teas: I enjoyed each one of these Tulsi teas! I’ve never heard of Tulsi before, so I was definitely intrigued by this “holy basil of India” that is incorporated in Ayurvedic practices. It’s apparently popular as an herbal remedy and has both general health and medicinal values.
It didn’t taste much different to me than normal teas, so it’d be easy to substitute them in while still enjoying the taste of tea, yet getting the added (healing) benefits of tulsi. With a name meaning “the incomparable one” how could you not give it a whirl too?
Coola Suncare – Cucumber Mineral Sunscreen for Face: Haha! Funny that just like the first Yuzen box, I happen to already use one of the products included. This is that particular product from this box and I’m more than happy for another! In fact, I happen to have one at Panda’s and one at my parents’ now so I can protect my face wherever “home” is. The cucumber scent is so relaxing and the sunscreen absorbs into the skin well, with no greasy layer to worry about. It’s perfect for your face and hands. Don’t forget to apply it to your neck too, if it’ll be exposed!
Olomomo Nut Co – Chai Bliss Almonds: Oh yum! Talk about wonderfully fragrant and oh so delicious. These almonds are covered in a sweet layer of vanilla and cardamom flavoring that is just delightful. I don’t normally like to eat nuts, but if they all came like this, I could definitely incorporate them into my routine! Plus, who doesn’t want a product made with love? (See ingredient list, hehe.)
Tilvee – Calendula & Comfrey Healing Balm: WOW. Not only do I love the usefulness of this product, it smells wonderful too! I can hardly get enough of it. It’s basically what you’d put on for anything adverse that happens to your skin, whether it be cuts and scrapes, rashes or sunburn, even plain old dry patches! Not long after getting it, I actually got a scratch and I applied it until my skin healed. Worked great, though it’s not meant for eliminating scars. Still, my skin would have scarred horribly had it not been for this healing balm. I’m obsessed and I use it on just about all skin conditions that ail me. Oh, and I absolutely love that it comes in stick form for easy application and ultimate portability!
When the rain and sun cross paths, you get blossom rain (as I learned from Beneath Blossom Rain). It’s quite a beautiful thing!
blossom rain from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
Holy cow, that’s a lot of fish and ducks crowding around waiting to be fed!
They were so tightly packed there that some fish were flipping over the others like worms squirming in a bucket.
The duck inadvertently got stuck on the pile of fish when it swam over them.
So many gaping mouths!!
You know, I don’t quite get what Americans think of cats. For the most part, you hear of dog-lovers vs. cat-lovers, but it doesn’t seem to be that simple. A lot of people will tell you they aren’t really fond of cats. They find them aloof, scary even. But then they turn around and spend so much of their time enjoying cat videos and cat cartoons and cat pictures. You don’t really see the same amount of attention given to dogs.
There seems to be a bit of a love/hate relationship going on here. People love to see funny/weird media regarding cats, but they don’t actually like the creatures that much? Or maybe there are just tons of cat-lovers out there who are in denial of their status. It’s all confusing to me since I’m a cat-lover! Make up your minds people!! Either way, it seems we’re a nation obsessed with our felines, good or bad.
If you’re ever in Times Square, check out the American Eagle shop and head down to the kids’ floor!
colored light steps from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
