((little fat notebook))

40 minutes

laelene Post in lifestyle glimpses，Tags: habits, home, panda

02 June 2015

Panda and I (try to) have a tradition. Every night before bed, as we’re winding down for the night, we have our “40 minutes.” It’s time for us to talk about our day and share our thoughts before sleeping. It started when he had first moved out east and we’d sit on Skype, both doing our own thing, occasionally talking. I think it started off as 20 minutes and it’s fluctuated back and forth a few times. The point is to have time to each other; we don’t need to accomplish anything from it and we don’t have anything specific we need to say. It’s sort of like when you sit down to write and sometimes you just write your stream of consciousness.

By talking, we end up covering important issues some nights. Sometimes it’s an experience we want to share, sometimes it’s our life philosophies. I think it’s a nice way to put time aside for each other and be able to exchange ideas. However, it almost never goes so smoothly. Just in trying to enforce our “tradition” we often end up debating when we should have started and whether sleep is more important. Panda’s always trying to sleep early, but unless he announces 40 minutes, any talking is just normal conversation and not our special time. I’m weird like that.

And so the night continues, we us spending as much time talking about whether we should do 40 minutes as we actually do “doing” 40 minutes. It’s silly, but it’s a part of how we close out the night. It’s hard to close out distractions and I’m starting to think maybe we should have topics or questions to discuss so there’s a little less ambiguity around it. But I like to go with the flow and see where our thoughts take us. It just feels better to me.

Do you have any strange traditions in your family?

Treatsie May 2015 review

laelene Post in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, brownies, candy, caramels, chocolate, cookies, food, pictures, products, reviews, snacks, subscriptions, sweets, toffee, treatsie

31 May 2015

For a long time, I was grandfathered in to the original $15/box price. This is the first box since they discontinued that and have everyone on the same plan now. I’ll have to evaluate if I feel the extra shipping cost is worth it over the next few months. The box arrived on a hot day and sat in the mailbox for a couple of hours. Summer treats are carefully chosen to be types that don’t generally melt, so everything was fine!

Treatsie is $15 per box + $4.95 shipping and comes with artisan candy from 3-4 brands. That means about 6 or 7 different flavors of treats. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral link program to earn store credit. Use my referral link to get your first box FREE!

Hard Crack Toffee Cookies in Mocha, Chocolate Chip, & Original: What fun! Toffee cookies? Now that’s different. I like the taste of these cookies in general, though I’d love them if they were a little more sticky. I really like a toffee that gets stuck in your teeth. These are nice for a crunch and when you want something that doesn’t feel too heavy.

Keena’s Kake Designs Fudgeez Gourmet Brownies in Dark Chocolate: I like making brownies, so I’m not sure about this treat. I’m saving it for a snack or breakfast one day and I’m hoping it isn’t too dry for my taste. It does look good!

Bequet Confections caramels in Chocolate, Cinnamon Swirl, & Salted Butterscotch: Caramels are some of my favorite sweets. The caramels did get a little melted and stick to the plastic wrap, but it’s easy enough to lick it off. All the flavors are good and I’ve kept this in my bag for work! Great morsels to have around in the afternoon.

I like all these treats and will eat everything except the mocha-flavored toffee cookies. It’s nice trying some unique treats that I’ve never seen before. What items do you like from this box? To get Treatsie, sign up with my link and get your first box free!

[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!]

Escape Monthly May: Rocky Mountain Box review

laelene Post in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: bars, bath bombs, boxes, chocolates, escape monthly, food, keychains, lotions, pictures, products, reviews, root beer, skincare, snacks, soaps, subscriptions, sunscreen, travel

29 May 2015

For the first time, there was no brochure/info card insert – instead it was sent digitally! I’ve embedded it below and also included a link to where you can view the PDF in detail if you’d like. I’m a fan of less paper waste and if this box is an indicator of the quality of future boxes sans paper insert, I’m totally happy.

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/region. Each box comes with a guide for that area. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral commission program.

(click to enlarge and read full messaging)

escape-monthly-rocky-mountain-box-info-card-pdf

(view the file to read in detail)

When I first opened the box, I was totally impressed! Not only did it smell fantastic, but it had so many items that it truly felt like a treat. I’m all about more medium-sized (and value) items rather than a larger one that may have monetary value, but isn’t something I like as much. Or maybe I just really like what this theme meant in terms of curation! I could have done with digital versions of the info cards in addition to the already-digital brochure they always have.

Here’s what came in the box:

Moon Handbooks guide to Montana & Wyoming – Well, this doesn’t quite match up to the listed handbook, but it looks like it covers more than that one would have so I don’t mind. I’ve been to Yellowstone before, but haven’t really explored the rest of the national parks or either state. I think it’d be fun to do a road trip in that area to admire all the nature. I love scenery and animals!

Rocky Mountain National Park commemorative keychain – This is a nice, quality keychain that is very well-crafted. It’s so nice that I’m going to have to store it rather than actually use it on my keychain. I don’t want to wear it down!

NAAWK EcoPack sunscreen – I love this packaging, which is so perfect for traveling through national parks and wilderness. Just clip it to your belt buckle or backpack and you can reapply sunscreen throughout the day. What a cool pack!

the Spirit Goat Goat’s Milk lotion in Bear Lake Raspberries – This is a rather unusual scent for me (in a good way). I’m not sure I’ve had a raspberry lotion before and I love it! There’s a mild sweetness that is really nice and not in your face. It’s such a fresh sort of feeling. My skin feels wonderfully soft after applying.

Rocky Mountain Root Beer – I heard something moving in the box as I was carrying it and it turned out to be this bottle. I opened it pretty much as soon as I took the picture and it was a nice treat to enjoy. I love the glass bottle and that it wasn’t super sweet. Sometimes sodas are just too much, so this is a nice alternative.

Kate’s Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Stash Bar – While I don’t really like bars or peanut butter, this one looks quite good. I will definitely make good use of it next time I need a boost, whether from travel or exercise.

Salus Bath Bomb in Mountain Mint – How perfect that I got shower bombs from Yuzen and now I have a bath bomb to try too! This strong mint scent is sure to be a nice cooling experience. I hope it helps soothe aches too.

Dirty Diana Preserves – I’m hesitant to try this due to the cherries. I typically only like fresh cherry flavor. I’m also not quite sure how to use this… as a spread? To cook with? We’ll see.

Sierra Nevada Soap Company Rosemary Lavender soap – Ah yes, this was emanating relaxation as soon as I opened the box. I love the scent and will add this to my soap queue near the front. It’s fun that there are chunks in there – I like a soap with some added texture.

Wild West Howdy chocolate bar – This bar has dark chocolate and almonds. It’s a very hard chocolate that is a perfectly balanced so it’s not bitter, but not crazy sweet either. The almond bits are smaller and don’t steal the show.

I’m thinking I need to move near the Rockies at some point in my life. I love eco-friendly stuff and the clean, fresh feeling these products give me. Which products from the Rocky Mountain Escape Monthly box would you want too? If you want to sign up, try one of these codes (not sure which ones are still active): YOURESCAPE or ROCKY for 20% off the lifetime of your subscription or GIFTESCAPE for 25% off.

Coming up is Vancouver for some Canadian goodness. I’m excited for that and I wonder if any packaging will change since I just noticed their new logo.

The perks of Gogobot Pro

laelene Post in lifestyle glimpses，Tags: free stuff, gogobot, pictures, swag

27 May 2015

Back in early 2013, I noticed a post from a friend who was sharing her Gogobot swag. I was immediately curious and got hooked to reviewing on the site. Not long after, I was thrilled to learn I’d made Pro! When you are an active member of their site, you can get selected to Gogobot Pro, which means you get awesome swag, a badge on your profile, and invitations to exclusive events (with themes like Spring Break, 500 Days, and Tron Party).

When you earn the status, you get to keep it through the rest of the calendar year. The following year, you’re re-evaluated and if you don’t make the cut, you can make up for it and get back in later in the year. So far I’ve made it each year since and I can’t believe I haven’t officially shared the sweet swag that they’ve sent me, so here’s a quick look back at the past three years!

gogobot pro 2013 canvas tote bag, beach towel, and flip flops

The first year it was beach themed. I love that tote bag and use it for all my travels.

gogobot pro 2014 sunglasses, pen, luggage tags, bottle opener, screen wipe sticker, and pin

I was renewed for 2014, but the gear was taking time so they sent these knick knacks while we were waiting.

gogobot pro 2014 duffel bag and water bottle

Finally, months later we got our stuff! I’ve used that water bottle as my main one for volunteering and trips. The duffel bag gets used for small getaways.

gogobot pro 2015 backpack and travel mug/tumbler

At first I didn’t make it this year, but I diligently posted again and was re-instated! I just recently got the backpack, which I now use for work. The mug is really cool and ceramic inside.

Time and time again I’m impressed by the unique products chosen and the quality of the items! For example, that tote is super sturdy and has a nice outer pocket to throw things in or the larger compartment that zips up for safe storage of your stuff. The water bottle is a self-sealing one so it’s easy to use with one hand when you need a quick grab and sip. The backpack has many compartments and I nearly missed the special zipper on the side for you to slide in your laptop! And the mug’s interior is ceramic, which is something I haven’t seen before. I just wish it held more liquid inside, but it’s still awesome.

Gogobot is such a cool brand that really knows about getting super fans who can become advocates and ambassadors! I hope to continue to be a power user for years to come, decked out with really nice gear to travel with. 🙂

Petit Vour May 2015 review

laelene Post in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, dry shampoo, lipsticks, petit vour, pictures, products, reviews, skincare, subscriptions, sugar scrubs, toners

24 May 2015

After canceling some subscriptions, there was a gap in deliveries for awhile and I was antsy for the next one. Happily, this one arrived over the weekend to satisfy my thirst.

Petit Vour is $15 per box (or as much as $30 for international subscribers) and comes with vegan beauty, skincare, and other personal care products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free boxes (email contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you if you sign up!).

MUN No. 11 Anarose rejuvenating rose toner – I’ve never seen a toner sample in one of these packets before, so I hope it isn’t too drippy. I should use more toner, so if I like this I might get the full size of it. Sometimes I can’t tell what all these different types of skincare items are for.

nyl. organic shimmer scrub – What a fun concept to make a sugar scrub glittery. I like that it will add a subtle enhancement to my skin and it smells amazing! This will make me very happy in my next bath. It’s just the right kind of thing for the summer. 🙂

LippyGirl Vegocentric vegan lipstick in Snog Me – I’d describe this shade as a sort of deep cranberry or raspberry. I like that it looks like any lipstick you’d get normally, but it doesn’t have that odd smell that non-vegan ones seem to have across the board. I’ve got a ton of lip products in rotation at the moment, so this pretty tube will have to wait.

Zabana Essentials shimmery dry glow shampoo – I love dry shampoo. This bottle is the perfect design to dispense it in little spurts and not giant globs. It’s going to be a shimmery summer since this also has a bit of glitter in it! I have two other dry shampoos I’m using so I’ll be adding this to the lot. This one will probably be the go-to fora day out in the sun.

Again, great curation to help us find cruelty-free products. I can’t believe they’ve only been around 2 years and I look forward to what else is to come. Which of these do you want too?

[This post mentions a referral program. Signing up and emailing contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you 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!]

Kocostar Nail Therapy review

laelene Post in reviews，Tags: healing, nail care, nails, pictures, products, reviews, treatments

22 May 2015

I did a trade a long time ago where I got this Kocostar Nail Therapy treatment. They also do foot and hair therapy packs. When I finally got around to trying them, I was chillin’ on my computer at night. Check it out!

kocostar nail therapy treatment pack on fingers

At first I made a n00b move and tried to squeeze my fingers in at odd angles. Then I realized they were meant to be torn apart!

kocostar nail therapy treatment on fingers and being removed

Ah yes, that feels much better.

I let them sit on my fingers for well over half an hour. They smelled great and had a soothing blend inside. I loved that the exterior is plastic of sorts, so I could safely type and do things without rubbing gunk everything. It was a lot of fun just to rub my fingers against each other, since the covers are so smooth. When it came time to slip them off, my fingers were soft and felt great. I massaged the rest of the lotion into my fingers and it was like a mini spa for my hands. I don’t know if it strengthened my nails, but it certainly did soften my cuticles and leave my fingers feeling wonderful. If I saw these in a store I’d definitely get another set! I also want to try their foot treatment.

Reading speed test

laelene Post in general blog，Tags: reading, skills, tests

21 May 2015

I just tried a reading speed test and scored 317 on the first try, then 357 on the second. I don’t think I’d read much faster than that without compromising comprehension. Not that I feel being particularly fast at reading is going to make a huge difference, but it’s a fun little test to try!

Source: Staples eReader Department

Smokey’s adventures

laelene Post in video blog，Tags: cats, dogs, home, pets, smokey, surgery, veterinarian, videos

19 May 2015

It’s been a busy night, so I’ll share a quick set of videos with you of life with our cat Smokey. She’s a finicky girl with some adorable quirks! First she enjoys climbing in one drawer and popping out another, second she tries to escape the scary sound of a dog after surgery on her tooth, and third she tries to walk off the anesthesia from the vet visit.

cat hiding in drawer from Mary Qin on Vimeo.

cat hiding from dog in kennel from Mary Qin on Vimeo.

cat walking off anesthesia from Mary Qin on Vimeo.

AdoreMe Daniele robe review

laelene Post in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: adoreme, clothing, nightgowns, pictures, products, reviews, robes, sleepwear, subscriptions

17 May 2015

After getting lingerie from AdoreMe, I discovered a ton of other things I wanted – namely swimsuits and evening wear. I’d played to win free money towards a purchase and ended up with a code that saved me $30! I decided to apply it towards the purchase of this nightgown, which was just the right combination of comfortable yet classy.

AdoreMe is just under $40 per store credit for intimates, sleepwear, or swimwear. Credits are charged monthly unless you choose to skip (which is very easy to do). Each month, bra and panty sets available in your size are selected for you in the showroom. You can always get other items at their VIP pricing of $40-50. They offer a referral program that earns you money towards purchases. Use my referral link to get your first outfit for $25!

The Daniele robe.

Daniele

VIP: $39.⁹⁵ (Regular: $49.⁹⁵)

72 reviews, 5 stars

Mid-length robe
Belt tie closure
Rayon / Spandex

Wrap yourself up in our jet black Daniele, an exceptionally soft modal robe with ecru lace-trimmed cuffs! This drapey style puts a sophisticated spin on your everyday cover ups. Looks great over satin slips and colorful sleepwear.

This robe is sooo soft! It’s the perfect one to wear in spring and summer, as I begin to want more lightweight and cooling clothes. The lace accent at the wrists is a nice touch, making this an elegant look. I also like the length of the robe, which extends just above my knees, so I can easily lean over or lay down without worrying about it hiking up. The little belt that comes with it allows me to tie it into place and there are even strings on the inside to keep it even more secure.

I am a big fan of this robe as a casual nightgown. It keeps me warm without overheating and I feel like I can be seen with it on the porch, if I want to step out for a bit. It’s extremely comfortable and a really great fit. No wonder it has a ton of reviews and a solid five stars on the site!

[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 product and wanted to share what I got!]

Bruising

laelene Post in general blog，Tags: body, bruises, pictures

15 May 2015

For some reason, I seem to bruise really easily. It’s been that way as long as I remember and every few weeks I’ll discover a bruise that just appeared without me knowing. I’m quite certain that with most, I did not just bump into something and forget about it. After all, these bruises come in the most random places (mostly on my legs). Sometimes it’s the back of my calf. Sometimes it’s the middle of my thigh. Occasionally I get them on my arms too.

And if I ever do bump into something, oh boy. It’s pretty much guaranteed that I’ll have a bruise emerge the next day. I didn’t realize this extended to small jabs too – I had my blood drawn recently and my arm was sore for days afterward, in addition to the bruising that came up! It was nearly two weeks before it completely faded and the flesh wasn’t tender anymore. Who knew a needle would create such problems for me? I guess I should have known, since the last time (maaaany years ago) I did get some bruising as well. I guess I have delicate veins?

Are you sensitive to bumps, scrapes, and bruises too?

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