365great Day 25: foaming cleansers

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , , , ,
08 April 2013
2

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365great challenge day 25: foaming cleansersMaybe it’s just me, but foaming cleansers bring a smile to my face every time. Whether it’s hand soap or face wash, there’s something really fun about pumping out a handful of suds. It might just be a gimmick since they can get away with a lower concentration of cleanser to water, but for the enjoyment, I’m okay with that. Supposedly, foaming cleansers give you a deeper clean? I guess I do feel “squeaky clean” after using one, but I get the same feeling with a bar soap. Anyways, this made my 365great list purely for the fun factor! After all, a basic skincare product that can make me happy just by pumping it? That’s pretty great (and rather cheap entertainment).

365great Day 24: Korean BBQ

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
07 April 2013
1

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365great challenge day 24: korean bbqAfter a fantastic dinner tonight, I just had to make Korean BBQ today’s 365great. My all-time favorite place to go is Tahoe Galbi because of their delicious salad, sauces, and rice paper. KBBQ in general is awesome for many reasons: first of all, it’s all you can eat (ok, usually)! Secondly, they have wonderful side dishes to go with all the meat you’ll be having. Then there’s the really tasty meats they provide, along with sauces and whatnot to ensure you get the most flavor possible. Plus, it’s pretty fun to grill things up yourself and enjoy the cooking and eating process all in one. Not only are you enjoying a meal, it’s an entire experience. It also helps that you can stuff yourself until you can’t move, if you choose to do so. Between all the wonderful flavors and the fun times, Korean BBQ is the type of dining experience you don’t want to miss – and that’s what makes it great.

365great Day 23: handmade

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , , ,
06 April 2013
1

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365great challenge day 23: handmadeThere’s something very rewarding about creating something yourself. I always wished I was more crafty and even joined a cross-stitch club in middle school to try to gain some skill. The only other things I’m good at are origami and paper cutting, so when I thought of what I could make, one of the first things I tried was origami earrings. You can see more designs over at Panda Loves! I had a lot of fun with these and I wish I was more skilled with making higher end stuff like Stone Rush Jewelry. Still, it’s really fulfilling to be able to create something.

I admire all those sellers on Etsy making really cool stuff. Whether it’s soap and candles or jewelry and accessories, I love anything handmade. Usually it’s super cute and the personal touch is something you just can’t get from mass-produced items. Craft fairs are a great place to find these kinds of things and I love supporting local artists & artisans! I’m totally envious of their abilities. I wish my creations involved a bit more hands-on activity beyond typing or wielding a pen. If you make your own crafts, I’d love to learn more – please do share. 🙂 The rich stories and hard work behind handmade items are what makes them great.

365great Day 22: marinated mushrooms

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , , , , ,
05 April 2013
4

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365great challenge day 22: marinated mushroomsI’m a sucker for these things. Pickled, marinated, brined (is that even correct?) – when it comes to veggies soaked in a solution, I’m obsessed. One of my absolute favorites (other than pickles) are marinated mushrooms. I first discovered these at Costco back in my teen years and I looooved them. Unfortunately, it seems that my taste doesn’t suit most other people, so eventually they stopped carrying it. I tried in vain for years to find another place that sold the kind I like, until finally I stumbled across the salad bar at Ralph’s. I was ecstatic to find that they were pretty similar to my favorite kind. Unfortunately, the price of getting mushrooms from the salad bar by weight was just too much for normal consumption.

Then, about two weeks ago, I was in a Costco on the east coast when I stumbled across jars of marinated mushrooms again! It’s been like 8 years since I’ve seen them there and I was thrilled. They were the perfect flavor and consistency. Perfect! I practically inhaled that first jar and then returned for more and more. I even had Panda help bring me over a few jars since they don’t have them at my local Costco here on the west coast. For someone who loves sour things, this is the perfect amount of sour and salty and chewy. Plus, unlike pickles, when I eat these on an empty stomach, I don’t feel queasy. Maybe it’s because the mushrooms are rather meaty and filling? Whatever the case, finally being able to buy one of my all-time favorite foods again is amazing. Marinated mushrooms are tasty on their own or in a salad and to my taste buds, they’re just plain great.

365great Day 21: B.B. Cream

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , , ,
04 April 2013
1

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365great challenge day 21: bb creamYou might have heard about BB creams lately. They’re all the rage! I was thrilled when I was invited to try out the Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector as part of a BzzAgent campaign. Free BB cream? Yes please! I’ve loved these from the first time I heard of them – not only do they help with evening out your skin tone, but they’re great as part of your normal skincare regimen. In fact, BB creams are supposed to be able to act in place of five other products: your serum, moisturizer, primer, foundation, and sunblock. I love the idea of putting on one product and getting all those benefits. It’s precisely because putting on multiple products is too much effort that I usually skip all but the moisturizer. Luckily, I can use the BB cream in place of my moisturizer and get so much more out of it!

I’ll write up a full review on the Garnier BB cream I’ve been testing for another post, but for now let’s just say that I wish this product had been around longer. I remember back in college I decided I should at least try to cover up some of my terrible breakouts and acne scars, so I got some foundation and ended up looking like a raccoon in pictures because I had a bit spot around my eyes that I hadn’t covered. That stuff felt cakey and/or greasy to me too, which didn’t help. As college ended I decided I didn’t care so I went au naturel for the next few years. While I still don’t care for full on makeup, I am definitely interested in a versatile product like BB cream that can offer so many benefits in one. If applying just that single product also allows me to cover up some of the acne scars and redness, why not? What a great concept! The convenience and versatility of BB creams makes them pretty great.

365great Day 20: packages

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , , , ,
03 April 2013
1

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365great challenge day 20: packagesWho doesn’t love receiving a package? (Assuming of course, that you’re not the target of some crazy bomber.) Whether it’s finally getting to open what you ordered or the surprise of a gift from someone, packages have a sort of magical quality. They can make just about anyone smile with anticipation. Gift or not, the process of opening a package always feels like you’re opening a gift and that makes you special. This is probably why I’m enthralled with subscription box services – not only do you get a package every month, but what will be inside is a lovely mystery. It really is like having your birthday every month! (More on those later – they deserve their own 365great day.)

Packages in general, whether mailed to you, handed to you, or discovered by you, are the type of thing that bring a bit of joy. Just think of the delight of a child digging in to a present on a birthday or holiday! Those sparkling eyes, the excitement, and that wide grin before the gasp of “oh my gosh I love it” as they run to hug you. Of course, not all packages are so well-received, but I think secretly, each time we see a package, we can imagine a scene like that. Even with products bought online, there’s joy in finally getting to open up that box, assemble the item (if appropriate), hold it in your hands, and try it out. The potential for that sort of happiness in each package is what makes them great.

365great Day 19: cupcake in a jar

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , , , , ,
02 April 2013
1

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365great challenge day 19: cupcake in a jarOk, so if you love cupcakes and you travel, what better than a portable cupcake? Cupcakes in jars are an excellent way to bring along a delicious treat without taking up that space. Plus, eating it is a whole lot less messy. Another great benefit is that one jar contains about two cupcakes so you get twice as much! Don’t be fooled by the small containers – these guys are denser so you get a lot more than it looks.

I brought these along for my flight and the lasted me two sessions. What a great way to bring along the flavors of one of my favorite cupcakeries (Bake You Happy). If you can’t eat them fast enough, just refrigerate them upon arrival and they’ll last a good two weeks or more. Tasty and convenient? That sure is great!

365great Day 18: dust plugs

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , , , ,
01 April 2013
1

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365great challenge day 18: dust plugsDust plugs are pretty popular in Asia, probably because they love to bedazzle and bling out their devices. They’re a fun and creative way to add some personal flair to your phone, tablet, or miscellaneous device with a headphone jack. You can get everything from really large, flamboyant, dangling ones to small, cute, “barely there” ones (or something in between). Whether you want to add a subtle accent to your device or you want to be noticed, there’s probably a style for you. Just check out some of the examples I have: little gems, adorable plastic animals, super shiny dangly ones…

These accessories take advantage of an often-ignored part of the phone that sits empty a lot (except for those of you who listen to music incessantly). And since they’re really easy to interchange, you can update them frequently based on your mood. If you’re interested, I’ve started to list some for sale over on DeckMyPhone.com so you can join in on this newest craze!

365great Day 17: photo challenges

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , ,
31 March 2013
1

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365great challenge day 17: photo challengesToday marks the end of the March photo challenge! I chose to participate (mainly on Instagram) in #FMSPhotoADay, the one by Chantelle of FatMumSlim. Granted, I only joined in partway through the month, but I’ve been enjoying it and I think I’ll keep going through April. I like the challenge of taking a picture each day based on a single word, phrase, or idea. It keeps us alert to what’s going on around us and helps train us to see an opportunity for a cool shot in just about anything. I think it definitely makes creativity more accessible and fun; I’m a huge fan of trying to interpret the prompts in a unique way.

If you want to get better at anything, you should practice, so this is an excellent first step for amateur photographers. Get your feet wet, keep on doing & trying , and I bet you’ll improve! A nice side benefit of all of this is that you join a community of others working towards the same goal. It’s a lot of fun to share neat photos and see what others have to share as well. Maybe you’ll even make a friend! Plus, the feeling of successfully completing a month-long challenge is pretty rewarding too. Challenge yourself to a photo contest of some sort, join the community, and learn along the way! I bet you’ll feel pretty great next month.

 

365great Day 16: massage oils

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , , , , ,
30 March 2013
1

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365great challenge day 16: massage oilsI was always concerned about being too greasy after applying oil – I mean, some lotions are already greasy enough! However, after getting some oils in my Yuzen boxes, I figured I had to at least give them a chance. I started by applying them after showering, when my skin was most susceptible to drying out soon after. I was pretty surprised at how well they absorbed – a little goes a long way with these! As long as you don’t pour out too much and rub it all in, there’s no greasy residue or “oil marks” at all, so that’s great.

Plus – and maybe it’s just me – they smell soooo good! Perhaps it’s because of the gentle way that they let our their scents, but I prefer how oils smell to most lotions (which are usually too strong). And you can’t help but feel pampered when you oil up, even if you’re applying it yourself. If you’re lucky, get someone else to help you out and give you a massage in the process. 🙂 What a great way to relax, treat yourself, and be good to your skin.

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