365great Day 57: black peppercorn

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365great challenge day 57: black peppercornI really love snacks that have some cracked black pepper sprinkled on top. That bit of a kick and strong taste is really nice! It’s pretty addicting and a burst of flavor that doesn’t linger so it’s refreshing without being overwhelming. But because it doesn’t last, I keep wanting more! Before I know it, I’ve devoured a giant bag of chips or crackers and I feel oh so satisfied. I found it’s also great on meat. Who needs salt when you can crack some black peppercorn over your food? I think it’s a great (better) replacement.

FMSPhotoADay April 2013

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Yikes, completely forgot it was so far into May already! I’ve officially completed my first full month of the FMSPhotoADay photo challenge! I started back on March 10th so March was only 2/3 done – see what I posted that month! And here’s a roundup of what I did for April:

365great Day 56: Amber Lyn Chocolates

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365great challenge day 56: amber lyn chocolatesOh my gosh. I just discovered these AMAZING chocolates today at Costco. How can a sugar-free dark chocolate taste so good?! There’s no bitter aftertaste, it goes down smooth, and tickles the taste buds with wonderfulness. I can’t speak for the milk chocolate, but both the dark chocolate and dark chocolate with cocoa nibs are delicious. In fact, I immediately bought a box of 15 bars for like $22. Yeah, they’re that good. I swear. You really have to try these if you have a Costco nearby that’s demoing these! The ingredients are simple, the product is gluten free, and it’s all natural too. I’m still baffled at how good they are (and I’m currently devouring my second bar tonight – yikes!). This brand is undoubtedly great.

Visitors

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Some relatives are coming to town, so my mom and I will be picking them up soon. We spent the last couple of days rearranging things in the house so we’ll be able to accommodate them. My mom, cousin, and I will be in the master bedroom as they take over the other three beds we have. I’ll be taking then around town the next two days before they head out again. Should be an active weekend!

One nice thing about having guests is that you really take the time to tidy up around the house in ways you might not have for awhile. It’s pretty cool that our rooms look so clean and organized now and hopefully it sticks for some time after they’re gone. I hadn’t realized the dust and water marks that had built up. Now everything is sparking and wonderful. Feels good to have such bright, gleaming surroundings.

When you have guests over do you do some spring cleaning too?

365great Day 55: TOUS

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365great challenge day 55: tousTOUS is a fun brand of jewelry that often uses their signature teddy bear shape in their designs. It’s pretty cool how creative they get with it sometimes and my ring is my favorite example. This was a gift from Panda for Valentine’s Day and while at first it may look like flower petals wrapping around the Murano crystal, it’s actually the shape of a bear! I absolutely love it because it is so unique and unexpected. Plus, I love the delicate/dainty feel of it. But back to TOUS – they have styles ranging from cute to elegant and most of their pieces manage to incorporate a bear. The versatility yet consistency of their brand is pretty amazing, and I find that’s what makes them great.

When in a jam…

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Question: What happens when a naked mole encounters a traffic jam?

Answer:

naked mole traffic jam from Mary Qin on Vimeo.

[There is a video embedded in this post. If you do not see it, click through to view in a browser.]

365great Day 54: markets

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365great challenge day 54: marketsOutdoor markets, whether farmer’s markets or craft fairs, are always cool to browse! It’s really amazing to wander around from stall to stall, exploring all that people are capable of making and/or growing. Maybe you’ll stumble across some awesome handmade jewelry or homemade jam! There are artisans of all types here and the congregation of them all is truly a sight to see. What a fantastic way to showcase everything that our fellow humans can accomplish with skill using their hands, some tools, and hard work. Perhaps it can even inspire you to plant or craft something of your own. I know I’m always envious of their abilities and it makes me want to work with my hands more. Markets bring together an often eclectic group of tradespeople and it’s beautiful what you’ll find there. It’s all pretty great!

Blissmo no more

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It’s coming up on one year since I signed up for an annual subscription for Blissmobox and while I’ve enjoyed some boxes, others have been “meh.” Throughout this time, I’ve had to deal with customer service multiple times due to some issues with their system. They’ve always been helpful and accommodating (albeit slow to reply). But this time, I am NOT happy. The past two boxes I got from them had a repeat product. And not just a small sample or one of many other great products, but one of the main products that make the box actually worth its value! So, I emailed their customer service expecting at least a partial refund of my money, an offer to send a replacement item, or something to try to make up for this transgression. What did I get? “Sorry, but that item was actually a bonus item.”

collage of blissmo march and april boxes

See something familiar in both boxes? Now imagine the right box without the lotion. Would you be happy?

Allow me to vent.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! If they had tried to send the box without that item, I bet you they’d get a ton of unhappy customers complaining! After all, it made up for half the value of the box. How puny and pathetic would the box be otherwise?? It’s sad. So I suggested a compromise: they could give me a prepaid shipping label and I’d send the box back to them, all items intact. I would count the month as “skipped” and we’d move on. What was their reply? We don’t provide prepaid shipping labels.

I’m sorry, what?!!

Maybe my standards of service are too high, but seriously, you can’t give me a shipping label??? That is just unheard of. I mean I understand if you’re just an individual seller like those on eBay, but here you are an established business with plenty of customers and YOU WON’T SEND ME A FREAKIN’ LABEL? It’s not like I just didn’t like the items in the box. I feel cheated that I paid twice for getting THE SAME EXACT PRODUCT when I got this service to get introduced to new ones. I would have been ok if it was the same brand but a different product from their line. But I can handle repurchasing products just fine without you, thank you very much.

They’re not even trying to make it right. All they’re saying is sorry, but we’re not going to help you. That’s what I’m getting from their correspondence anyway. So I guess it’s a good thing my year is almost up, because I am ready to part ways with Blissmo. I never complained before when their boxes weren’t very good and the one time I do have a problem with a box, they won’t do a thing. This kind of “service” isn’t even service. -___- At least this helps me decide my next move, since I wasn’t sure if I should renew my membership. I will take my business elsewhere.

365great Day 53: tea

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365great challenge day 53: tea
It’s a bit chilly and dreary today and nothing comforts me more than a nice cup of tea. Not only is it great for your health, but there are so many tasty options to choose from! I prefer loose leaf teas or tea bags with full leaves (not that crushed stuff). You get the best flavor that way and there’s something rather rewarding about watching tea leaves unfurl. I feel more connected to my drink that way. Cupping a piping hot mug of freshly brewed tea is almost healing in itself. Drinking the tea enhances that experience and inhaling the gentle scent brings a smile to my face. It’s so soothing and relaxing to drink tea – you should really take a moment for yourself each time and connect with some inner peace. A drink that can bring on tranquility like that is pretty great.

Mask me up! Murad Clarifying Mask

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murad clarifying maskI got a facial at Massage Envy a few weeks back – my first one there – and boy have I been missing out! They use Murad products for their facials and between the products and the esthetician, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I came out with fresh, soft skin and for the first time, I actually noticed that my pores (particularly on my nose) looked smaller! After reviewing some of the products my esthetician during my facial, I decided to buy the Murad Clarifying Mask for use at home as well. I mean, this is right when I was getting fascinated with kaolin clay, so when I found it was one of the ingredients, I couldn’t help myself. I need some gentle skin purification!

I’ve used the mask a bunch of times since then and I’m really enjoying it. You don’t need much to cover your face, so the bottle will last a nice long time, even if you use it frequently. I am still struggling with acne and consistent breakouts at this age (whyyy?!), which this has helped calm down. My skin is clearing up and if  I do get another breakout here and there, they are much smaller than before. Perhaps I should use the mask more than once a week to get that under control. Immediately after wiping off the mask, I always feel great – my blackheads have diminished, my skin is very soft, and overall my skin feels healthier. It’s great!

So if you have oily or combination skin, breakouts/acne, blackheads, or large pores – give this product a try. Let me know how it goes!

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