We’ve had quite a few wet days this week and a few more to get through before the skies clear. Temperatures have fallen and I find myself very happy I have heated seats and steering wheel in my car. It’s allowed me to thaw out much faster as I start my drive to work and I know it’s going to be fantastic come winter. It’s so satisfying to have heat exude from the steering wheel and seat rather than just waiting for the hot air to bring up the cabin temperature. I love getting all toasty, whether it’s using special heating equipment like those or things like heating fans, electric blankets, and heated pads. There’s nothing better than being dry and warm in cold weather; it feels so great!
365great Day 211: heating
11
October
2013
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Furloughed fiancé
laelene Posted in lifestyle glimpses，Tags: behavior, events, experiences, government shutdown, panda
11
October
2013
Panda sent me a funny article about the spouses of furloughed employees and how they’ve had to adjust to different behavior from their partner. It highlighted one woman whose husband is at home now and is cooing with the cat, organizing their CDs, and otherwise staying active with random stuff. She works from home so she really notices the difference. For me, there was quite a change too (I say was because Panda got called back as of yesterday, so now he’s deemed “essential” and they’ve put him back to work). We actually got to enjoy the furlough a bit since we don’t live paycheck to paycheck and I believe Congress agreed to give backpay so we can definitely hold out until the government shutdown finally ends.
One night, I came home to this!
So what was it like for the 9 days that he was home? Well, for one thing the chores got done – floors were vacuumed, clothes were laundered, dishes were washed, and meals were cooked. I got to come home to a hot meal waiting for me quite a few times AND he even got up to cook me breakfast a few mornings. Twice, we were able to eat lunch together. He got to sleep in and get some reading and exercise in. He was able to help me pick up packages from the rental office (I never get home before they close on weekdays). He even had time to help me play a game on my iPad so I can advance faster. 😛 Not too shabby.
Did I enjoy it? You know, it really was nice. I like having a house spouse. I’m not a chores kind of gal so I loved having all that being taken care of. However…
Packages like these could be opened pronto instead of waiting til the weekend!
Once Panda went back to work, I found that I really enjoyed having him look all professional and important as he headed out the door. I liked knowing that he was spending his days interacting with plenty of smart people, working toward a goal. I was comforted that he had that social interaction since sometimes his communication skills need work. 😛 And of course, since he’s the breadwinner of the family, I certainly like knowing he’ll be bringing home a paycheck. After all, our new condo purchase is riding on it! Definitely couldn’t afford the mortgage on my income alone. Still, sometime down the line I’d be totally open to a lifestyle change where he stayed home and took care of the household, if he wanted it. For now, we’re enjoying our DINK (dual income, no kids) status. It’s a nice life. 🙂
365great Day 210: face masks
10
October
2013
I’ve really gotten into face masks recently. They’re a nice way to get a deep clean and intensify your normal routine. I tend to get ones that are detoxifying and help draw out impurities, with ingredients like kaolin clay, mud, etc. Then I got a couple of paper masks from Ipsy in the last Glam Bag and I loved those! They’re drenched in a serum solution that made my skin so soft and very well-hydrated afterward. I totally took advantage of the deal being offered on the whole line of those face masks and got two each of their 16 types (plus one free as a bonus). While it’s not the most cost-effective to get the individual packs, this will allow me to try out all the formulations and see which ones I like the best. Variety is the spice of life, no? So over the next couple of months I’ll be testing these out and looking silly most nights. It’s totally worth it for the relaxation and skin conditioning I get from them. It’s a great feeling.
Blissmobox: Body Bliss
laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, blissmobox, candy, chocolate bars, creams, eco-friendly, facial masks, food, green, health, lotions, pictures, products, reviews, snacks
10
October
2013
Still catching up on my Blissmoboxes (only 3 more after this I think). I got this box back in early April – it was offered as a spring special and since I missed it the first time I decided to snag it on sale.
blissmobox is just under $25 per month with shipping (or as discounted as just under $120 for 6 months) and comes with eco-friendly products in themes like beauty, snacks, home, pets, and more. Each month you choose from two or three themes, or skip if none of them appeal to you. They do not offer a referral program.
The three choices for the spring blissmobox sale.
This spring sale caught my attention with the first two choices, but since I already had half of the beauty bundle II option I went for the body bliss. I wanted to try the Own brand and getting that Pangea Mask is a great deal!
Tree Hut, Coconut Lime shea body butter – This turned out to be my absolute favorite item from this box. It also ranks pretty high among all products from all boxes I’ve gotten. I was surprised since I’m not usually a coconut person, but the combo of that with lime is an amazing scent I really enjoy. I also love the texture, which is firm and somewhat elastic. You barely need any of this to get a lot of results and it applies so well. I plan on trying many of the other scents they have.
Own Skin Care, Dual Protecting Day Lotion with SPF 30 – I’m still saving this one to use when I’m low on my current face lotions. It’s a brand I’ve wanted to try so I’m really glad I got it and I wonder how effective the bio-activating formula is. They’ve got a cool concept. I wonder what’s going on with their site though – it’s down for me and I can’t tell if it’s temporary or if they shut down?
Pangea Organics, Japanese Matcha Tea with Acai & Goji Berry Facial Mask – I got a sample of this in another box, so I decided to trade this for some other products. It’s a wonderfully large size that would last for a long time. This is another brand I’m interested in so I definitely love getting their products, especially since they’re a bit pricey for me. Yay for saving on the retail cost of this item!
Scharffen Berger, Extra Dark Chocolate bar – This is a nice dark chocolate bar that isn’t crazy bitter. It’s got a smooth texture and I found this size to be super cute. Who needs a giant bar at one time anyway? I think I’ve seen these in Whole Foods but I haven’t bought any yet. At 82% cacao, it’s their highest concentration of cacao so if you’re into something less strong, you can opt for many other options.
100% Pure, vanilla bean nourishing body cream – I have a bunch of these packets that I’ve yet to use. The name is simple and the branding makes me feel like it’s a green product. The small packets are great for throwing in a bag for use when you’re out and about. I can see this being enough for my full body or many uses for my hands and arms.
What do you think of this selection? Have you tried any of these products? What’s your favorite?
365great Day 209: new
09
October
2013
That fresh out of the box look of any product is quite satisfying. We have an obsession with new in many cultures and I’m certainly not immune. Still, there’s something wonderful about opening a box and taking out new items for the first time, treating them so gently in those initial encounters. Tonight I spent most of my time setting up my new laptop to keep everything I still want about how I did things on my old laptop while discarding some things I had accumulated without intending to. New is the perfect opportunity to transition to another phase, carrying over what you want to preserve and letting go of what you don’t want anymore. It’s a fresh start and a way to alter your course. That’s why I liked moving a lot as a kid, because each time I got a chance to rework my room and find some things I’d been missing. New is also a chance to discover what you haven’t encountered yet for a great learning experience.
New laptop time
laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: pictures, products, shopping, technology
09
October
2013
I finally, finally pulled the trigger on my new laptop today. 🙂 I can’t believe I’ve been building up to this moment for two and a half years. It feels like five. Ever since pretty much day 1 of getting my current laptop, I’ve been annoyed by the loud noise it makes. I thought I could make do or make it better, but it never happened. So, thank goodness I can finally move on.
Awhile back, I decided I wanted an ASUS (and when I choose a brand, I pretty much always get the one I intended). My initial search this summer led me to crazy expensive ones because I convinced myself I should get one with a solid-state drive. After putting up with excessive noise for too long, all I want is quiet. As silent as possible. But after looking around and talking to various sales personnel, I decided to get a laptop with a normal hard drive and change it to SSD if I find the need to. Anything’s got to be better than my current situation though! This one has the main features I preferred: touchscreen, backlit keyboard, and 3 USB ports. The weight isn’t too bad, but I sure did hope for a super-light ultrabook.
Now excuse me while I go enjoy setting up my brand new ASUS!
It came with a microfiber cloth to wipe off fingerprints!
Yay, my new toy!
365great Day 208: clouds
08
October
2013
Oh what a brilliant skyline we had this evening as the sun was setting. The light came at just the right angle to create an amazing hue on the clouds lingering overhead. You could see everything from golden yellow to deep purple and it was stunning. If the clouds weren’t there to reflect the light, we wouldn’t have nearly as cool a view. I also enjoy thunderstorm clouds, with their deep grey menacing look bringing thunder, lightning, and rain. It’s the perfect time to curl up with a hot drink and get cozy as the pitter patter of the rain and rumbling of thunder create a symphony of sound. On the flip side, those super fluffy white clouds floating ever so peacefully overhead is striking too, especially against a rich blue sky. It’s always fun to look up and see what sort of clouds are blowing by; it’s great entertainment.
Homegrown Collective September 2013 review
laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, diy, eco-friendly, green, pictures, projects, reviews, subscriptions
08
October
2013
I got the Homegrown Collective September GREENBOX about a week ago, but am just getting around to reviewing it! I enjoyed this “Back-to-school: sustainable laundry 101” theme a lot because it is so useful – I mean, everyone’s got to do laundry, right? (I hope.) Here’s the unboxing video for those who prefer that.
The Homegrown Collective GREENBOX is $39 per box + $9 shipping (or as discounted as $429 for an entire year, with options in between) and comes with fun and easy projects to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program you can apply to join.
They stuck the info sheets on the lid and changed up the sticker this time.
All sorts of laundry goodness. Yes, I already used the wool ball, which is why it looks worn.
Project #1, soap nuts: This is a nice project because it’s as easy as tying the bag and throwing it in the wash! These soap nuts are so cool and I wonder if someone has accidentally tried to eat them. Do they taste soapy? I’m not about to test it out, but I am curious.
Yay for a sustainable way to wash clothes.
This will clean my clothes?! Amazing.
Project #2, olive oil castile soap: Wow, this soap can be so versatile, cleaning everything from clothes to yourself. Mix it with washing soda + salt to clean your laundry or just rub it on your skin or hair to wash clean! Simple – nice and easy.
A slightly more involved laundry soap solution.
What exactly is washing soda? Baking soda?
Project #3, dryer ball & essential oil: I totally wasn’t expecting the ball to be so soft and large. It’s totally fun! All you have to do is add it to your dryer load so it can soften your clothes and prevent static. They also included a bit of essential oil with a super refreshing minty scent, which you can dab on the dryer ball to make your clothes smell fabulous.
A ball to beat your clothes soft, hehe.
Fun fuzzy ball and the invigorating essential oil too.
Project #4, laundry soap & bleach alt.: Once again, an effortless project where you just use the pre-made products. I wonder how they make this laundry soap and bleach alternative, versus what’s out in the market these days. I’d like to make some myself!
A summary of the contents and the intro to the bleach alternative.
What an adorable spoon!
Did you get this The Homegrown Collective box? What do you think about the theme?
[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]
365great Day 207: the tropics
07
October
2013
Who doesn’t enjoy a vacation to a tropical paradise? I’ve visited many a palm tree-covered region like Florida, Hawaii, Australia, Hainan… each of which had its own draw and gorgeous sunny days. Some people may prefer the dry California climate, but I quite enjoy a nice humid place. The colors seem brighter in those places and the sky is such an amazing hue. Oftentimes you get the most brilliant white sand that is so fine it soothes your feet. Ah, and those crystal clear waters that are home to friendly dolphins, sea turtles, and all sorts of funky fish. It’s such a pleasure to go relax in those places, but it’s a good thing I don’t live there or I may never get work done! Maybe down the line when I no longer work I’ll consider moving to one of those regions – wouldn’t that be great?
Battle of the Brawn
laelene Posted in lifestyle glimpses, stories，Tags: nerf guns, toys, work
07
October
2013
Ready for an attack.
Sometime last week, I found myself getting involved in the Nerf gun battles at work. One of the fun parts of working at a tech start-up are these random breaks we can take. Today I really got into it after being attacked (for no reason!) by Brawn. We had some back and forth attacks in the afternoon and towards the end of the day, I found myself holed up in a room with Jokester as Brawn tried to barge in. We have these doors that are glass with a wood frame, so it was pretty terrifying to be facing the enemy with just glass between us. I couldn’t help shrieking and squealing a few times – hopefully I didn’t disturb many people! A lot were wrapping up for the day or gone already, so I think it was fine. Then again, I was having too much fun to care enough… 😛
Battle wounds.
I’ve managed to be a pretty worthy adversary, though I’m all paranoid about being attacked now. So anyway, there I was stuck in a room with Jokester (who, by the way, was attacking me from behind). I managed to shove my foot in the door to prevent it from opening too much as Brawn and I shot at each other through the crack. I held off pretty well and was having a grand old time until I felt my finger get wet, which was really weird. My first thought was that somehow they’d spilled water on me (or did Brawn spit on me?!). Alas, when I looked down I found my finger was covered in blood. I hadn’t even felt how I cut myself, but apparently my finger got caught on the trigger and got a little shredded up. Ouch. I let Brawn in the room at this point since he seemed to feel bad for me, but then he turned around and shot me in the gut! That guy can’t be trusted, lol. But hey, at least then he went and got me a paper towel to clean up my blood. My right hand will have to be out of commission for a little while now, but I’m sure I’ll make do with my left.
