A lesson in buyer’s remorse

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Recently, there have been a couple of items that I really wanted to get, but in deciding to wait it out, I missed on the opportunity. Panda and I have been to multiple Dollar Tree stores hoping to find a melon-scented Skittles-themed candle I had my eye on. They’re all sold out now and I’m bummed, but I do have hope they’ll bring it back. I’ve learned that some things are just not meant to be delayed, so I’ve grabbed a few items that I would otherwise have spent more time evaluating. No more regrets, wishing I had that cool product!

coca-cola glasses with one in shape of soda can

Such fun glasses! I’ve never seen one shaped like a soda can, so I couldn’t resist.

blue felt accent chair

This chair I’ve been eying for weeks and I didn’t want to overwait it so I got two today.

white plush blanket with purple and gray leaf pattern

As soon as I saw this at Costco, I knew I had to grab it. It’s amazingly soft and in my favorite color!

365great Day 345: green tea ice cream

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365great day 345: green tea ice creamIt probably was in college that I first tried green tea ice cream. I grew up used to flavors like chocolate chip, rocky road, and strawberry, so this was completely different for me. The most unique flavor I had before that was black sesame, which is pretty popular in China. You’d think green tea would be common in China too, but I guess because it is made from matcha tea (which is more of a Japanese style tea), it wasn’t really offered. It’s strange thinking of tea mixing with a dessert, but since matcha already has a sort of creamy taste to it, it actually works quite well. I enjoy the taste a lot when I’m looking for an ice cream flavor that isn’t overloaded in sweetness. I like eating the ice cream straight or having ice cream mochi. Both ways make for a great eating experience!

Escape Monthly February: New York Box Review

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Just as I was getting antsy for another box, I got the Feb Escape Monthly box yesterday. Lovely way to end the week!

Escape Monthly is just under $40 per box (with code for 20% off your subscription – see end of post) and comes with a variety of food, home, skincare items themed around a city. Each box comes with a Moon Handbooks guide for that region. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a lovely recurring referral commission program.

escape monthly february new york box products showing escape monthly february new york box info card against blue and white chevron background escape monthly february new york box info card opened with details of products included(click to enlarge and read full messaging)

I used to live within an hour of the city, but I would have no clue what to include in this box. I think it’s appropriate that there is a greater focus on food items in this box, since everyone talks about the food you can find in NYC. As for the rest of the state, something apple-themed would have made sense, but I guess that didn’t make the cut. Oh well!

Here’s what came in the box:

Moon Handbooks guide to Metro New York City – This would have been handy when Panda and I went on our trip to New York last year. Luckily, we’re close enough that we’ll definitely be going back soon enough, so I’ll keep this handy. There’s so much to do in the city, I’m sure it will take many visits to experience and see all that we want to.

Better Brittle West African Style Peanut Brittle – Hmm, what does it mean by West African style? These little bars of brittle are inspired by something called “nkati cake” from Ghana and they’re made upstate in Syracuse. They’re vegan and all natural, with a strong nutty flavor. They’re not overly sweet like many other brittles I’ve had and the pieces have a solid crunch to them. They’re a simple blend of peanuts, evaporated cane juice, and salt so you know just what you’re getting.

Sundaes Best Hot Fudge Sauce – I’ve never bought fudge sauce, so I’m excited to explore the options here! I’m going to have to try making hot chocolate with it, pouring it over ice cream, and even spicing up some other desserts with chocolatey goodness. I like having these kinds of products at home, which is really making this place feel at home. Whenever I want gooey chocolate on something, I’ll have a jar handy now.

Flint Creek Soap in Good Skin Blend – These soaps are made in upstate New York and only contain natural ingredients. This particular soap sounds fantastic, with bentonite clay (great for clearing impurities) and essential oils that apparently tone and tighten pores. I’m going to have to try this in all my breakout problem areas! I love the smell that is super refreshing and minty. These soaps are made in small batches and are safe for any to use anywhere on their bodies!

kanpekies peckigram cookies in Cherry B Mine – These are perfectly themed for Escape Monthly, with an adorable box that looks like a postcard! They’re made right in NYC and you can tell they’re packaged with love and flair. Inside the box are two sets of two shortbread cookies. I got the cherry chocolate variety that looks like a chocolate chip cookie until you start opening it and find that the sticker on the bag was covering a sweet pink heart! The shortbread is just crumbly enough to fall apart in your mouth.

The Peanut Principle Gourmet Maple Peanut Butter – Maple peanut butter?! That’s totally new to me. I could totally smell the maple in this product through the seal, but once I opened it the peanut butter took over. It’s super creamy and has a slightly different taste, though if you didn’t know it was maple I don’t know if you’d notice. I don’t normally eat peanut butter, but I’m sure Panda can make good use of this on toast.

Brooklyn Studio Travel Tin Candle in Green Tea Lemongrass – Ooooh I’m liking this candle tin. I enjoy green tea and lemongrass so this combination is lovely. It’s a soy candle, which is fabulous, and it came in a nice little travel baggie! I wonder if people actually travel with candles though, since, um, aren’t you not allowed to burn them in a hotel? I don’t quite understand the concept of a travel candle, but I love it anyway.

New York Taxi Treats Cookies – More shortbread! Is that something New Yorkers are known for? Well, anyway it’s a fun theme and seems like an excellent item to include in a kid’s lunch pail. These cookies are light and crunchy, almost like a cracker. I can definitely taste the milk or vanilla influence giving it a sweetness.

I<3NY – This little sticker was the bonus item, a total classic. It’s so simple yet powerful. I have no idea where I might put it, but at least I can say I was a New Yorker before.

I think this box was great in showcasing brands in New York state. Almost every single item was made there and most of them are actually from upstate, so there wasn’t too heavy of a focus on NYC. What do you think of the New York Escape Monthly box? If you want to sign up, try one of these codes (not sure which ones are still active): IRELANDESCAPE or YOURESCAPE for 20% off the lifetime of your subscription or GIFTESCAPE for 25% off.

When I saw the theme for March I got SO excited! I looove Ireland and I hope to get something sheep-related.

escape monthly february new york box info card back with preview of next month's box theme of ireland

[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 344: tree climbing

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365great day 344: tree climbingI’m very much in touch with the monkey in me. I love climbing trees, swinging around, and even hanging upside down. Ever since I was young, I enjoyed trying to get up in trees. Nothing too crazy, but if it had a branch that wasn’t more than a foot or two above my arms’ reach, I could at least hang off it. But of course the best thing is when you can get up there and sit around for a bit. There was a tree in my front yard in St. Louis that was just big enough to hold me and I loved to arrange myself on its branches with my books on a beautiful afternoon. When I couldn’t make it into a tree, sitting on monkey bars was a decent alternative. When I found this tree in Anaheim, I absolutely had to play around on it. A good tree is so sturdy, so supportive, and offers a fabulous view. What a great way to enjoy nature.

365great Day 343: Coach bags

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365great day 343: coach bagsWhen Panda wins an award at work, he gets to choose a prize. One of the items he got was this set of Coach bags for me. 🙂 I’ve been using them for many months now and I’ve been very happy with how well they hold up to my heavy use. The larger bag has acted as my work bag and carries my laptop, snacks, drinks, even clothing. Despite the thin straps, it has shown no sign of wear and I love how the quality makes it so sturdy. The smaller bag actually snaps into the interior of the large bag, but I’ve been using it separately as its own clutch sort of purse. I like the simple design that is very practical and so useful for me. I’m not usually into brand names, but this is one brand I’ve grown to appreciate, so it might be a gateway product for me to get into designer brands. 😛 Only at steep discounts though! Or maybe I could just win them; wouldn’t that be great?

How to Apply for a Chinese Visa

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What a ride it’s been applying for my visa to go to China! I watched as time after time, people were turned away because they didn’t have everything they needed for the application. It seems that the law changed in the past couple of years, so those who had been getting visas to China for over 20 years suddenly found themselves no longer meeting the requirements for the application (on their first try anyway). I don’t think a single person who was there for the first time had a successful experience. So, to help you avoid a similar fate, here’s what I learned to make your visa application process as painless as possible.

Short on time? Skip right to the tips list.

First and foremost, PREPARE thoroughly.

When I first saw the extensive forms of visas, I had no clue which one I wanted and I didn’t pay much attention to the requirements. After all, I’d done it plenty of times before so how hard could it be? Oh no, how naive I was. First of all, you have to fill out the form ahead of time. There are no longer forms at the embassy – my first big mistake. Luckily, there is a well-situated travel agency upstairs from the visa office in DC (what a smart move on their part), so I went there and paid $10 to fill out my form on a computer and print it out. Avoid those mistakes and download a copy and print it yourself.

sign and entrance to chinese embassy visa office in washington dcAll applicants are going to want to have a photo copy of their passport ID pages (for the office to keep once they return your passport to you), previous visa(s) to China if this is not your first, and a copy of your itinerary (proof that you will leave the country within an appropriate time period). If you’re like me and just got a new passport, you’ll want to bring copies of your old passport and visas that you had in there. If you’re getting a special visa that lasts beyond the typical maximum of 12 months, there are other documents to provide. This usually includes a signed letter from a Chinese native/resident or company, inviting you to the country and explaining the purpose of your visit.

Plan for at least 40-60 minutes at the visa office

Don’t forget to bring all your documentation! When you arrive, you’ll almost always find a dozen or more people in line to submit their application and it’s a painfully slow process. After all, they have to be thorough in reviewing your application. They also often have to explain exactly what is missing from an application so people can get it right the second time. And inevitably, there are those frustrated people who spent hours getting to the office only to find out they have to make another trek, so they vent and sometimes demand managers.

Wait patiently for 3-4 business days, then pick up your visa

chinese embassy visa office windows for payment and pick upWhen you leave after submitting your application, you’ll get a receipt – hang on to it! It lists the date your visa will be ready and if you don’t get a call by that time, it means your visa should be ready with no issues. Picking up the visa is pretty quick, thankfully. Go first to the payment window and they’ll process your payment. All visas cost the same, no matter the length of validity and they’re currently at $140 for US citizens. I paid by credit card and then took my receipts over the to pick up window when the lady returned. She located my passport and showed me the page with the visa on it. I checked to make sure it was accurate – correct personal information, appropriate expiration date (two years from now, woo hoo!), and actually in my passport.

chinese visa payment window with receipt slip and stamp

Payment time.

passports in boxes ready for pick up after getting chinese visa

Boxes of passports.

So here’s a recap of the main points:

Download the application and bring it filled out along with a 2×2 photo attached (no more copies offered at the visa office)

Bring
-photo copy of passport
-copy of old passport (if recently outdated)
-copies of previous visas (if you’ve had any before)
-copy of travel itinerary (if already booked)
-invitation letter with name, ID number, and address of inviter (Chinese citizen or resident) – also include your name and passport number as invitee
-copy of front and back of ID of inviter

Apply at least 5 business days prior to intended travel (but preferably closer to 8-10 days in case there are issues)

When picking up your visa, bring form of payment (credit card is fine) and receipt slip

Did I forget anything? Do you have any lessons learned to share?

365great Day 342: boutiques

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365great day 342: boutiquesI’ve been shying away from most large chains when I shop. Nowadays with all the shops on the internet, it’s super easy to find sweet little boutiques selling much more unique items for good prices. I’ve come across quite a few and even follow these two on Instagram – on the left is a necklace from Stone Rush Jewelry and on the right is a shirt from Hazel & Olive Boutique. I also recently bought a necklace on sale from Cents of Style. It’s a lot more fun shopping these e-stores than going out to your typical big box store. I find the selection far more intriguing, with personality and flair. It’s much more fitting to my preferences and a far more comfortable shopping experience. I’m glad I’ve stumbled across these brands because they offer some great products!

Cardboard catnip

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When cats see a cardboard box, it may as well contain catnip for how much they enjoy it. What a silly cutie!

cat leaps and licks from Mary Qin on Vimeo.

cat in box playing with finger from Mary Qin on Vimeo.

cat playing in cardboard box from Mary Qin on Vimeo.

365great Day 341: Postagram

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365great day 341: postagramPostagram is a fun app that allows you to send out postcards of pictures you’ve taken. It’s like sending a physical version of an Instagram post, in a way. Pictures are always cropped to a square and come as part of a postcard where you can remove the square photo for posting up. They make it fun and easy to send a unique, simple gift all through a few taps in their app. They also do quite a few offers where you can get free credits; in fact, I don’t think I’ve ever paid to send one. I’ve sent about 7 or 8 and I still have a good 25 credits! Amazing. For special occasions, it’s such a nice way to commemorate a meaningful moment. What a great little gift.

Blissmobox: Winter Beauty

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
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The final blissmobox. As I mentioned recently, I never got the last one I was supposed to receive, so I contacted customer service and they eventually agreed to send me one of the variations they have now. It was a toss up between Winter Beauty and Blissmo Beauty for me (the other option was a snack-themed one). I went with Winter Beauty hoping for more rich, hydrating, healing skincare. This was my last blissmo box and I think it was the February one, but I’m really out of touch with their cycle so it might have been from the Jan selections.

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.

opened blissmobox february 2014 with contents displayed

Yes To Blueberries, Age Refresh Eye Firming Treatment – I’ve been fascinated by this brand and I’m always happy to get their products, but I don’t know if I really need eye treatment stuff so I think I’ll put this in my samples pile to share with people I trade with. It’s hard to believe that this packet is fully 1/5th of the regular size they sell! I bet it’d last quite a long time.

Nature’s GateBiotin Strengthening Conditioner – I already got this in last February’s Skin Essentials box and it was pretty good. However, I am confused as to why they only included the conditioner this time… would it have been so much trouble to have at least the shampoo again, if not the body wash as well? I mean, isn’t conditioner more effective combined with shampoo? It’s disappointing to get just the single sample here.

Joyful Bath Co, Oatsy Floatsie bath soap – I love this soap and have another sample sitting around somewhere. I’d bought the full size previously and used that all up. I love how well it suds and it smells wonderfully of lavender. When I use up some of the other soaps I have around now, I’m definitely going to look at getting another one of these. I believe you can even find them in Whole Foods now! I love perusing the bath section of stores.

Choice Teas, Organic Breathing Space – I could definitely use some caffeine-free tea. This seems like a great one to have when you’re feeling a little under the weather or need a pick-me-up on a cold day. Like with the hair care sample, I wish they hadn’t given just one little packet. Another flavor or a trio of this same flavor would have made a far greater punch here.

Calolea, Glycerine & Olive Oil Complexion Bar – Ok, I was not impressed at first, but once I read about how great this soap is I’m looking forward to using it. Plus, I sniffed it and it’s such a lovely clean, fresh, but not too strong scent. This is hypoallergenic and is supposed to be good for your complexion. I certainly need something like that! It’s gentle and they even recommend using it for men when they’re shaving. So useful! And with olive oil, I’m sure it won’t dry me out.

ellovi, lip butter – Pure and simple, just a few ingredients (six, to be exact). It’s a cute little lip butter with nothing extra in it to complicate things. I happen to love the oval shape for lip balms, which applies faster and really gets those corners well. I like to have lip balms available everywhere, since you never know where your lips will feel dry, so this will find a happy home in a pocket, on a counter, or maybe even in the car.

Mee Beauty, Bee Kissed honey & beeswax lip balm – Ooo, a lip balm infused with honey! That’s pretty new to me and a fun way to draw in the bee theme. Once again, I’ll find a place for this so I can keep my lips well taken care of. I like how there’s not a strong scent to this. I’m sure I could even convince Panda to use this for his winter lips.

This time there was no info card and I wish there was some “wow” factor. While I do like some of the new brands here, I feel like they could have been a bit more generous with the samples.

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