365great Day 15: Daily Grommet

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

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365great challenge day 15: daily grommetDaily Grommet has been an excellent source of discovery for me! They consistently introduce fabulous products, ranging from sugru (which I am itching to get my hands on) to Squishables, which was featured earlier on 365great! When it comes to curated content for those looking for unique, often eco-friendly products, this is the place to be. If you are ever out of ideas for gifting, check out their recommendations – I guarantee you’ll find something cool.

Products range from practical to whimsical, from kitchenware to clothing, and so much more. Usually you’ll find a clever solution to common problems or something beautifully and elegantly designed. Each one has a compelling story, which is how they get chosen. I really can’t even begin to describe all the awesomeness you’ll encounter there, so I think the best thing to do is go browse yourself! Or hey, browse my own personal favorites here on my wishlist. I’m sure you’ll come across something great.

365great Day 14: sea monkeys

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

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365great challenge day 14: sea monkeysSea monkeys are seriously some of the coolest pets ever. They’re super low-maintenance, cost very little, and are immensely entertaining. For around $10-15, you can get a starter kit including aquarium, eggs, and food. I also recommend getting an aerater (they have the “million bubbles pump” or you can find your own tool) to help refresh the water. Beyond that, you really don’t have any other expenses! Just follow the directions to get your eggs hatching and you’re on your way to sea monkey bliss.

These little suckers are awkward and funny fellows that are really fun to watch. You can watch them grow from a pinpoint-sized dot to about 1 cm long, all the while swimming about energetically in their backwards flowing fashion. Soon enough, you’ll find a pair mating and if you’re lucky, your brood will multiply. At this point, it’s probably best to get them a larger container, since I think I’ve had batches die due to overcrowding. Other than that it’s super easy to care for them – just feed every few days and keep out of direct sunlight. They’re really hardy and can last a long time without a feeding, if you need to go on a trip or something. For that sort of convenience and price, sea monkeys as pets are a pretty great idea.

365great Day 13: notebooks

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

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365great challenge day 13: notebooksI seriously don’t know what I’d do without them. I mean, I even named my blog after one! I love small notebooks in particular, with super cute designs that make me smile. But, for the sake of practicality I tend to use the single-color Mead ones, since they have plenty of sheets and each is perforated so I can tear them out when I’m done. Recently, I found an excellent one that gave me both aesthetic joy and functionality! I love the cute little owls and I love that it’s a fatty notebook with tons of pages that I can tear out as needed.

I always carry these types of notebooks around with me, to help capture all the ideas and inspiration I come across daily. For me, they’re an indispensable part of my life, helping me keep track of all that goes on between these ears. Plus, they are so satisfying to use because I love the feeling of putting pen to paper. Whether it’s jotting down bullet points of things I want to remember or sketching out my brainstorms of how something should be designed, it’s a medium that allows me to do whatever I need. I can even fold it into shapes if I want! Such versatility and usefulness is what makes notebooks great.

365great Day 12: Coursera

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

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365great challenge day 12: courseraI only found out about Coursera a few months ago and I eagerly signed up for every class that caught my interest (nearly all of them related to business and/or psychology). This site offers an excellent selection of online courses from quality professors at prestigious universities around the world – all for free! There’s no limit to how many students can take the course, since professors use automated grading and peer grading to help with the assessment and aren’t limited by their own (ok maybe more like their TAs’) time. Talk about opening up higher education to the masses and making it easily accessible!

In January, I started my very first class, diligently listening to lectures, taking quizzes, completing projects, doing peer grading, and otherwise taking the class like a good student. As it was wrapping up, two other classes started up and I discovered a third I was interested in. Suddenly, I was overwhelmed with everything I had taken on and couldn’t keep up with the workload.

Luckily, that’s what’s great about Coursera (and other platforms for massive open online courses – MOOCs): you take the class at your own commitment level. Each of my professors in these classes has reiterated that it’s totally fine to just audit the class, throw yourself into all the assignments, or something in between. It’s your choice how involved you want to be and how much you want to take from each course. In the end, more effort means you get a certification that you completed the course and extra effort means you can get certification of completion with honors.

So, I’ve stepped back and evaluated what I can manage for each class and will focus my efforts accordingly. It’s such a wonderful way to enrich yourself just because you’re interested in certain topics. Ultimately, you’ll grow as an individual and it might help you with your professional skills as well. Plus, there’s plenty of opportunity to interact with thousands of students around the world to learn from them. Coursera is what you make of it and it opens up quality educational opportunities to thousands. There are so many things that make it great!

365great Day 11: snow

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

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365great challenge day 11: snowYet again, as we were hoping for signs of spring, nature decided to take its own course and lightly blanket us with snow this morning. And even though many people are complaining and griping about this endless chill, I think there’s always a beauty to snow. There’s something truly wonderful about those light, fluffy flakes floating down and slowly layering until all you see is a landscape of white. In just an hour or two, your world can turn from tones of brown and green to bright, bright white! I love looking out the window to suddenly find my neighborhood transformed. It’s magical.

I wish that more people took a moment to sit in awe of the beauty in front of them, even as they have to get up in the cold and trudge off to work after digging their cars out of the drifts. I think all children do as they trot off to school! Everyone should retain that sense of wonder and wide-eyed enthusiasm. Snow is such a cool phenomenon and it makes an excellent & versatile playtoy. So while the plants have shown the first signs of spring and everyone is tired of the cold, don’t let it diminish the experience of snow. The way that it can alter our landscape and be so much fun to play in is what makes snow great to me!

365great Day 10: aromatherapy

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , , , ,
24 March 2013
3

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365great challenge day 10: aromatherapySmells are a powerful way to evoke emotions and memories. Lately, I’ve found myself using this sense a lot more, what with burning candles and spraying mists to enhance my mood or try to induce a different one. Even just the act of lighting the candle or spraying the mist has allowed me to intentionally set what I wanted to do and how I wanted to feel. Whether you want to relax with a calming scent, energize with a revitalizing scent, arouse with a warm scent, drift off to sleep with a soothing scent, or even feel more empowered with a vibrant scent, you can find something for just about every emotion-enhancing need.

Some of the products I’ve explored are the energy shifting sprays by hellomellow, the aromatherapy candle by Bath & Body Works, the eye pillow by Herbal Animals, and the energy mists by Lotus Wei. Through spraying my pillow and my face, lighting up a candle, and covering my eyes with the herbal pillow, these products have helped me reach better moods whenever I’ve felt frazzled or down. I’ve especially enjoyed these mini rituals that allow me to take care of myself .

365great Day 9: touchscreen gloves

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

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Or more accurately, touchscreen compatible gloves. These are awesome because you can keep them on when you need to use your smartphone or tablet. There’s a ton of variety in the style of gloves that come with these special fingertips, from knit ones to more weatherproof ones. Whether you prefer funky ones like mine or more professional ones, these can be a freezing-finger-saver!

365great challenge day 9: touchscreen glovesTouchscreen-capable gloves often use a special type of conductive thread to imitate to conductivity of our skin. It’s a simple and elegant solution that is excellent for anyone who has to be out in chilly weather. I love that it helps solve an uncomfortable (and sometimes painful) situation. What a practical and fun way to solve a pretty common problem! That’s why they’re great.

365great Day 8: cats

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , ,
22 March 2013
2

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365great challenge day 8: cats

Totally endearing.

I am a huge fan of animals in general, but cats have a special place in my heart. Ever since I was a little girl, I’d wanted a cat. I liked that they don’t require the incessant attention that most dogs do, that they were generally a certain size (just cuddly enough yet not too heavy to carry around), and that they don’t smell (to me, anyway). Once my parents finally gave in and we adopted cats, I learned of how extraordinary their personalities are. I had a lot of fun playing with my cats, even the ones that were a bit more stand-offish. Sometimes it was enough just to watch them. If you’ve ever seen them speed around a corner, jump over fences, or any other number of athletic and acrobatic acts, perhaps you understand the majestic way they tend to do things.

I think cats are often misunderstood by all those “other” animals-lovers out there who claim they don’t like cats. Just give these creatures a chance and even the infuriatingly senile manage to find a way into your heart. I’ve had cats that were so loving that I always had emotional support and I’ve had cats that were sometimes borderline neurotic (and sometimes full-fledged crazy). Still, each one is brilliantly unique and their strong personalities make for some great times and stories. I think their quirks are just what make them awesome; taking the time to discover what makes them tick allows for some very deep bonds to form. Plus, they’re (usually) such graceful creatures with an air about them that is awe-inspiring. No wonder they were worshipped in many cultures. An animal that can command respect like that is pretty great.

365great Day 7: Girl Scout Cookies

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

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365great challenge day 7: girl scout cookiesYou’re probably munching on some right now, aren’t you? These cookies are not only delicious and an anticipated annual treat, they help teach girls some basic business skills. It takes a certain amount of planning, strategizing, and selling skills to successfully sell these cookies, even if they already have a fan following. It’s a great way to get young girls to start thinking about the types of skills they’ll need to do well in the workforce and at home. It’s often a benefit that is overlooked, but the teamwork, goal-setting, budgeting, time management, overcoming fear, gaining confidence, and acquisition of other skills are great for any situation.

Then of course, there are the cookies themselves. I don’t know what they put in these things to make them so delicious and addicting, but paired with the cute scouts eagerly trying to sell you a box, how can you say no? I always end up getting at least a box or two, if not a dozen (or two). After all, they’re only available once a year, so if you want them to last, you’re going to need to stock up. My personal favorites are Samoas, but this year I opted to try something new in the Thank You Berry Munch flavor – very tasty too! I do miss the All Abouts, which they discontinued awhile back. I guess you could always dip Trefoils in chocolate to get the same effect. Between the delicious cookies and the lifelong skills they’re teaching girls, don’t you think Girl Scout Cookies are pretty great too?

365great Day 6: shea-infused socks

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

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365great challenge day 6: shea-infused socks

Fun, soft, playful footwear with a twist.

Bath and Body Works has these understated shea-infused socks that I think are just amazing. I don’t even like wearing socks, but I enjoy wearing these. Perhaps it’s the novelty of the idea – shea outside of lotion and in my socks?! Does it feel greasy? Will it leave marks? Is it effective? It certainly raises my curiosity about the product. I absolutely couldn’t resist getting them (and some adorable slippers!) when I got a chance to get a decent deal, since they felt so soft and silky. They’re very soft and fuzzy, don’t leave any residue, and seem to do well with keeping my feet from drying out.

To me, these are the perfect indoors socks. I can lounge around in them comfortably, keeping my feet warm and hydrated, plus I don’t have to worry about slipping when I’m on smooth ground (due to the non-skid bottoms). I particularly enjoy the slippers because of their extremely low-rise design that clings to my heels just so. I’ve always wanted socks like that! Plus, the designs are just so cute they make me smile every time. Finally, I’ve found socks that actually make me happy! Isn’t that just great?

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