Posts Tagged ‘home’

Blissmobox: Bliss de Toilette

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
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Been awhile since I’ve posted up my Blissmobox stuff! I want to get them all up just so it’s all out there. This one was the April one and I chose the Bliss de Toilette option because I always like getting skincare and I wasn’t feeling the snack box.

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.

the choices for april's blissmobox: grab'n'go and bliss de toilette

The two choices for the April blissmobox.

I liked the name of this box, so I decided to try it. It was an ok box for me – I didn’t like that the only full-sized product was a repeat from the March blissomobox I’d just gotten! I even wrote about it because I contacted their customer support about it and did NOT get the kind of resolution I was looking for. Oh well, I guess you can’t win it all. If I’d gotten a different box for March and hadn’t already seen the lotion, this box would have been alright for me.

opened blissmobox april 2013 with contents displayed

collage of softwater soapworks lemongrass soap included in april 2013 blissmoboxSoftwater Soapworks, Lemongrass soap – This is a really cute little handmade soap bar that makes for a perfect item to be used in a guest bathroom. I have a bunch of soap bars I have yet to use so this will be saved for that queue or I might share it with someone if they ever come over to visit and want a soap bar to use. I love that this soap is vegan with very simple ingredients. I wish I could make soap like this too! I’ll have to try it out one day.

collage of natu liberating shampoo and reawakening conditioner samples included in april 2013 blissmoboxNATU, Liberating Shampoo & Reawakening Conditioner – I don’t often need shampoo and conditioner samples since I either have full sizes at home or travel sizes at hotels, but when I get these I want to save them for a time I’d need them. Sooo they end up not getting used for awhile usually. I like the names they use for these and how they’re free of all the crazy chemicals that hair care products are often laden with.

collage of antho organic serum included in april 2013 blissmoboxAntho, organic serum – This little bottle can go quite a long way since it doesn’t take much oil to get the job done. It has a light herby scent and is super healing for dry skin. I like what I see from this brand and I’ll have to add them to my list of brands to try more products from. I actually can’t find this product on their site, so I wonder if I would even be able to get more of it.

collage of skin salvy lip repair unscented lip balm included in april 2013 blissmoboxSkin Salvy, unscented lip repair lip balm – I find myself using a whole lot more lip balm now that I’m living out east, so it’s always good to have more. I haven’t opened this one yet since I have many tubes open, but I’m sure I will get around to it soon. At this rate I’m going to go through 3-4 tubes this winter! That’s more than I’ve used for years… but hey, I’m really trying to avoid chapped or dry lips.

collage of earth science daily defense lotion with spf 15+ included in april 2013 blissmoboxEarth Science, Daily Sun Defense Lotion SPF 15+ – Well, I do like that this is a giant bottle of lotion. Great for slathering on to keep my skin hydrated all through the cold months. It feels good and doesn’t have a scent so it’s good for guys to use too. I just wish I hadn’t already gotten one! I would have loved to try another product from this company, or a lotion from another brand.

collage of golden earth aromatherapy perfume sample in euphoria included in april 2013 blissmoboxGolden Earth, aromatherapy perfumes from nature in euphoria – I’m not into perfumes, but since this is an aromatherapy scent I’m thinking of dabbing it on my temples and wrists to relax with after yoga or during meditation. This rose and jasmine blend is supposed to inspire happiness, creativity and a sense of well-being – perfect! Who doesn’t want some of that, right? I might even try putting a few drops on my yoga mat so I get a whiff of it as I do my yoga practice.

collage of 100% pure green apple nourishing body cream sample packet included in april 2013 blissmobox100% Pure, green apple nourishing body cream – I’ve stashed this away for when I need a super portable bit of lotion. I’m such a hoarder! I have a bunch of these packets but only one in this scent so I almost don’t want to open it… just not yet!! I like the simplicity of this brand and I’d enjoy a full size of one of their lotions if I didn’t already have way more lotions than I need. I also have a scrub from them I need to try!

If you’d like more info on these brands, you can click below to enlarge the photo and read more.

blissmobox bliss de toilette info sheet

Pre-drywall walk-through

laelene Posted in lifestyle glimpses,Tags: , , , , ,
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Panda and I had our pre-drywall walk-through at the condo this week, where we got to check out the general frame and make sure we were getting outlets, cables, and ceiling rough-ins where we needed them. It was cool to be able to see the place in this unfinished condition right before they get the drywall installed and the interior starts looking like a home.

view upwards of wood beams supporting interior of condo frame mid-construction

There’s a whole lot of wooden beams!

colored stickers on window indicating approvals for construction of new condo

Got all the approvals in order for gas, plumbing, wiring, etc.

unfinished porch with single wooden support post

The porch is still in the works.

new condos construction site

The next building is already well underway.

pile of white panels laying on ground by construction site of new condos

Outside there are a ton of materials still to be used.

wooden beams for framework of walls and ceiling of condo under construction

This is where our sales guy explained to Panda how I get the walk-in closet. 🙂

bathtub sitting in wooden framework of new condo being built

Can’t wait to make good use of our new tub.

open hvac box with wiring and piping

All kinds of HVAC stuff going on in here.

wooden framework of stairs and walls

One last chance to see the stairs from this side before the walls get in the way.

large blocks of insulation sitting on wooden beams for future ceiling

There are random chunks of insulation everywhere.

trees and shrubs laying on ground getting ready to be planted on new condo lots

Many more trees to be planted between us and the single family homes we face in the back.

365great Day 200: loofahs

laelene Posted in 365great,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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365great challenge day 200: loofahsI love loofahs. If you don’t decide to eat them you can just let them dry out and boom, you’ve got yourself a wonderful exfoliating sponge. Not only can you wash your skin with it, it makes for a perfect sponge to clean dishes with. So take your pick on how you choose to use it and then when you’re done just bury it in the ground! A beautifully natural tool for bath and kitchen that will compost away and create no waste when it’s time to get a new one. You can even save the seeds from them to plant yourself for a never-ending supply. Now that’s a great thing.

The laundry basket

laelene Posted in general blog,Tags: , , , ,
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white sqaure laundry basket with clothes piled insidePanda and I have very different habits. Some we’ve compromised on and others we tolerate. His laundry basket habit falls under the latter category. You see, to me a laundry basket is something you use to gather dirty clothes. When you no longer plan on wearing them, you throw them in there. Therefore, it is not a place you want to be rummaging through. Things go in one by one, they all get dumped out around the same time, and sometimes a freshly laundered load will temporarily go in to be transported away from the dryer.

Is that how you use your laundry basket?

Because it certainly is not how he uses it. For him, the laundry basket is a holding cell for clothing that has been worn once but is still viable for another wear. Yet at the same time, there are items meant for the wash as well. This grosses me out even though really it’s just a bit of weathered clothing – not like there are dried stains from sauces or anything super dirty. I can’t help it; it’s completely psychological but if something goes in that basket I am NOT taking it out unless it goes straight to the wash.

So how do you manage your laundry?

365great Day 187: cooking

laelene Posted in 365great,Tags: , , , , , , ,
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Learn more about 365great here.

365great challenge day 187: cookingPanda and I have been cooking a bit together* and I’ve really enjoyed it. Not only are we spending time together, getting a chance to chat and catch up, we’re producing results that we get to enjoy at the end. There’s something very rewarding about getting a product that is useful after all that effort. Then we get to sit down and eat together and spend even more time together! Oh, and of course cooking is nice because you can make things taste just how you want and you don’t have to leave a tip. 😉 You save time and money (usually) and you are more active too. We really should do it more often, but it’s so easy to slip into laziness and order out or just go out. That’s why I’m exploring options to make it easier for us, like this Hello Fresh meal that was pre-planned for us. I won’t delve into it too much since I’ll feature them another time, but suffice it to say that cooking at home can be a great experience.

 

*More like I’m doing the cooking and he’s doing the cleaning up, but hey we’re working together and that’s what matters.

Blissmobox: Spring Picnic

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
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This was the March box and I chose the Spring Picnic one because I had already gotten the Skin’n’Hair Care box and I didn’t need cleaning supplies. It had also been quite some time since I’d gotten a food theme from them, so I decided to take a break from my beauty binge.

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.

the choices for march's blissmobox: spring picnic, fresh & clean, and skin'n'hair care

The three choices for the March blissmobox.

I totally sucked at taking pictures for these items so I’ll just show you the overall box and share one product picture. I’d go back and take pictures of what I have but they’re not at this location.

opened blissmobox march 2013 with contents and info card displayed

dang foods toasted coconut chip flakes in palm of handDang, Toasted Coconut Chips – Ok, I had to lead with these coconut chips. They are so freakin’ addicting. In fact, now that I am reminded of them I’m totally going out and buying some more. This is the one product photo I do have to share so you can see what the flakes look like. These are bits that are on the smaller size, but you get the idea. It’s so hard to describe this snack – it’s a little sweet and you can feel the coconut oil a bit as you’re eating it, but it’s not greasy. I love the fragrance and the crunchiness that is super crisp. You’ve really got to go try these. I’m developing more and more of a taste for coconut stuff and this product really makes me a coconut fan.

KIND, Dark Chocolate & Cranberry Clusters – These clusters are hard and crisp, so they’d be great with some yogurt. I actually did buy some yogurt cups to eat them with, but I tend to like softer granola so I didn’t end up eating much. The flavor was good but the texture was too hard for my preference. It’s one of those snacks I can feel grinding in my stomach so I can only eat a little at a time.

KIND Plus, Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate + Protein bars – Oh, these look yummy but I’m just not that into peanut butter. I gave them to my dad to eat and I haven’t seen them since so I’m pretty sure they were enjoyed. 🙂 I do want to try their other bars sometime.

Earth Science, Daily Sun Defense Lotion SPF 15+ – This is a nice hefty bottle of lotion that will be great for use on the entire body whenever you’re going outside. I haven’t opened it let since I have so many lotions, but I do look forward to slathering this on after a shower. It’s definitely something I’ll use more in the warmer months so it is currently stowed away.

FoodShouldTasteGood, Sweet Potato tortilla chips – I was really looking forward to these chips, but found them to be somewhat greasy. I didn’t like the texture too much and the taste was very notable. Still, I’d give them another try and I just discovered they have a new Kimchi flavor, which I’m super curious about.

CleanWell, All-Natural Hand Sanitizing Wipes – Hand wipes are super handy to have in a purse or car. You never know when you might not be able to wash your hands and you want to clean them of something. These are a win in my book! I love that they’re all natural and disinfecting.

The snacks in this box were good to try even if I didn’t like them all and I’m so glad the Dang chips were in there because they just rock. I can definitely see these items being brought along for a picnic, along with some fresh food. What do you think of these items?

365great Day 176: sherpa throws

laelene Posted in 365great,Tags: , , , , , ,
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Learn more about 365great here.

365great challenge day 176: sherpa throwsO.M.G. !! I think I have found heaven. Sooo basically it started when we were up in Scotland, wandering the streets of Edinburgh. There was a Woolen Mill store selling a variety of Scottish items, perfect for tourists like us. We stepped in to browse and see what we might want to buy. Near the door, I saw a pile of sherpa throws on sale. They were originally £40 and currently being offered at £20. It took one touch for me to want one. They’re sooo soft! But Panda was skeptical… did I really want to get that? I thought about it for a bit and decided I’d “think about it” and go back to the hotel to research what sort of price I could get them for. I mean, their bright red Scottish fabric pattern wasn’t really my style so maybe I could get something more neutral. Then today, there we were at Costco and what greets me just a few feet in but sherpa throws?!! One look and I knew I had to have them. They were $20 and solid colors. PLUS the non-sherpa side is plush so you really can’t lose, no matter which side you use. It’s so soft and warm! I love it and have been rolled up in it all night. I’m totally bringing this with me on future flights, since I always get soooo cold and this last time my stomach was aching the whole time. I have found my holy grail of blankets and I’m never letting go. In fact, I think I’ll stay in bed all day tomorrow… forget beating jetlag in time for my first day of work! (Ok just kidding there but I almost could.)

365great Day 166: pillows

laelene Posted in 365great,Tags: , , , , ,
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Learn more about 365great here.

365great challenge day 166: pillowsI’ve got a bit of a love affair with pillows. I love them in all shapes, sizes, fabrics, and uses! I mentioned body pillows before, which are awesome for their huggability, but really any type is good in my book. I have super fun moshi ones like the star and round one here, not very practical but too cute to pass up ones like the Tootise Roll one, and functional ones like a sweet kitty pillow with built-in speaker for listening to music. I like smooth ones and fuzzy ones and coarse ones and stretchy ones. I use them for my head or to hug or keep my lap warm or to pad my butt. They’re such a versatile product! You can find them on beds and couches (and in my case, strewn all over the house). I love when my bed is just covered in them so I can grab whatever suits me at any moment. They’re like little clouds of awesome that you can use to be more comfortable or just to decorate a space. For such a simple product, that’s great!

365great Day 160: home

laelene Posted in 365great,Tags: , , , , , , ,
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Learn more about 365great here.

365great challenge day 160: homeHome is what you make of it and to me the strongest association I’ve had for it as of late is my parents’ place in SoCal. This is the longest we’ve ever been in a single place, albeit on and off for many years. And now that I’m a new Virginian, I feel like LA is my old home – the one I can keep coming back to, where my family, friends, and alma mater are. Since the new place out east doesn’t quite feel like home yet, the best home in my mind is currently this house I’m back visiting for the week. Nearly all my stuff is here and much of my personal and social connections are too. It was nice to come home after a long day of traveling and hang out with my mom and cousin, be temporarily reunited with my cats (Missy shown here), and return to this house. When I see Missy sprawling like that I know I’m home, chillin’ and enjoying all that it has to offer. That’s a great feeling.

365great Day 149: Brookstone

laelene Posted in 365great,Tags: , , , , , , ,
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Learn more about 365great here.

365great challenge day 149: brookstoneWhat a fun store to explore. Brookstone has all kinds of awesome solutions to your problems (whether you even realized you had them at all). You can get massagers, technology accessories, gadgets, toys, and so much more. My most recent visit allowed me to enjoy their massaging zero gravity chair for 15 minutes of comfort. I also discovered they’re now selling fun little plants you can keep in your home, which you buy in store and have shipped straight to your door from wherever the plants are stored. I mean, you could really equip your home with some amazing stuff from this store. It’s a fantastic place to browse for gift ideas and other novelty items that can be quite practical too. I always enjoy stopping by and trying out their various knick knacks and I look forward to the day when I can start filling my house with some of those cool products. Brookstone is great not only because of the range of products they carry, but that they allow you to try out all that stuff as you please!

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