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Posts Tagged ‘pictures’

A moment

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: cats, meditation, moments, pictures, present, relaxation

29 May 2014

How often do you take the time to enjoy a moment? People get way too caught up in the past and the future, even as they’re living out their lives. It’s not often they stop to enjoy right here, right now anymore. They walk right by gorgeous flowers, stare right past the breathtaking sunset, and tune out the music of their lives. They tend to forget to notice the little details, to take a deeper breath, to feel, to be present. Perhaps that’s why our society is filled with over-stressed, over-worked, overly-unhappy folks. How can you be joyful if you do not get to enjoy?

cat sitting on arm of couch with arms dangling in front off couch

Zen moments.

Being present and shutting out the rest of the world can be such a peaceful experience. I love just get lost in my thoughts of nothingness while staring into someone’s eyes, gazing across a stupendous landscape, or even driving around. It’s noticing the slight breeze that tickles my face or the brilliant colors splashed all around me that brings a smile to my face. Cats are exceptionally good at living the good life; I’m sure we could all learn from them. They know how to soak up the sun in bliss, sniff the breeze with mild curiosity, and then settle in for a spectacularly long nap (after which they get an oh-so-satisfying stretching session).

What I love about yoga and meditation is that it allows me to actively be in the present. I am aware of my body, aware of my mind, and able to relax and challenge both. It helps bring a lot of peace in my life, especially when I’m letting stress get the better of me. I don’t necessarily need either to appreciate the present though. I often take time to sit quietly and let the thoughts flow in and out. I can stare out at everything without really looking at anything. It’s soothing for me, like resetting my mind. I find the most effective way to enjoy those zone-out sessions is with some sort of nature nearby. I can listen to a waterfall or the rustle of leaves; I can smell the gentle perfume of flowers and feel the breeze bringing their wafting scents; I can watch birds hopping around as they chirp their little sounds; I can even turn my face to the sun and feel my body heat up. That’s why I like to eat lunch outdoors!

So the next time you’re feeling stressed, go take a stroll (or seat) outside and notice what you can. The humidity clinging in the air. The dull roar of conversations around you. The smell of wet pavement. Let it all come and go and take some deep breaths. It’s such a wonderful release. Or if you’re stuck indoors, trying meditating. Think about your breath, feeling it go in and out. When you get distracted, just go back to the breath. I almost always fall asleep when I do this, and isn’t that the ultimate relaxation? 🙂

Treatsie May 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, candy, food, pictures, products, reviews, snacks, subscriptions, treats, treatsie

25 May 2014

Just in time for my trip, I got these treats to snack on. With the warmer months in play now, we probably won’t get much in terms of chocolate, since it’d likely melt along the way. It’s also been awhile since Treatsie has included little ice packs with their boxes, which is good in that it saves on waste. I do miss the nice inner boxes that I reused for storing various things. So much is changing!

Treatsie is $15 per box + $4.95 shipping and comes with artisan candy from 3-4 brands (I am grandfathered in for $15 for 2-3 brands and fewer items). That means about 6 or 7 different flavors of treats (or 4 or 5 for me). Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral link program.

CC Made Caramel Popcorn in Classic, Rosemary & Cashew, and Pistachio: What fascinating flavors! I tried the classic first and it was a solid snack to have. Definitely a really tasty caramel popcorn, with a nice crunch to it. I then tried the rosemary cashew, which was kind of strange but still good. I wouldn’t go around eating bagfuls of it, but I liked the unique flair. There were a few bits of cashews mixed in, which was quite different. I haven’t tried the pistachio yet, but I imagine it also has nuts mixed in.

Williamette Valley Confectionery Strawberry Rhubarb & Raspberry Sweet Heart Pâte de Fruit: Oh boy, this is a whole lot of sugary sweetness! I couldn’t have more than one small bite before needing some water. If you have a major sugar craving, definitely check these out. I may have a sweet tooth, but I can’t quite handle this concentration of sweetness.

Serendipity Confections Sea Salt caramels: I can definitely taste the difference the brown sugar makes in these caramels – they’re richer and… warmer? It’s difficult to describe, but they are quite dense! I did devour them, though I don’t know if I’d prefer the brown sugar taste. A solid candy for sure, but just not to my personal taste the way some other caramels are.

They seem to be playing around with the look of their card. They only recently started to include one and this is the most developed look I’ve seen yet. I wonder if they decided to stick with this? As usual, the bonus item for upgrading to premium just isn’t enough for me to want to upgrade. I am perfectly happy with my fewer items. Do these treats appeal to you?

[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!]

Cat cuddling

laelene Posted in lifestyle glimpses, photo blog，Tags: cats, missy, molly, pets, pictures, smokey

25 May 2014

Oh how I’ve missed cats who sit or splay all over me. Smokey only likes to be pet and still can’t stand being held, much as she rubs against us. But Missy and Molly sure make sure of my body as their personal pillows/perches!

cat sitting with arms straight out dangling off sofa

Oh, and I’ve missed hilarity like this.

Escape Monthly May: California Box Review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, pictures, products, reviews, subscriptions

23 May 2014

The timing of this box was pretty funny, since it’s themed for my most recent home state and I happened to get it right before I went home for a visit. Got California on my mind! I feel like the value was a bit lower than they could have gone for, but I liked the variety of items, as usual.

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. Each box comes with a Moon Handbooks guide for that region. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a lovely recurring referral commission program.

(click to enlarge and read full messaging)

I was really happy to get another beauty tool, since I always get excited about them. I’ve tried most of the food by now so I’ve got most of the box covered!

Here’s what came in the box:

Moon Handbooks guide to California Wine Country – Ok so the very first Escape Monthly was for California wine country, so I really think they should have chosen a different focus for this month’s handbook. A more general look at the state or a focus on NorCal or SoCal would have been nice. It’ll be interesting to compare this with the first book we got to see how much new information it contains.

sea sponge – This item made me very happy. I’m a sucker for things like this and the sponge is so soft and comfortable! What a wonderful way to exfoliate gently. It’s enough to get the job done without being too rough on skin. I’ll be adding this to my shower to use with body wash.

Juice Beauty Green Apple Age Defy Hand Cream – I must admit I haven’t tried this yet, but I like this brand and I’m confident I will enjoy this lotion. I’ve been going through tubes of lotion since I like to lather up after each hand wash and since I drink water non-stop at work, I am going to the restroom quite a bit too. This will be great to add to my collection!

San Franola Cinnamon Almond granola – Not super into granola, but I will get some yogurt to put this on since I really should eat breakfast more. Mine appeared a bit crumbly, but still has big bits. Seems like the box is one serving size.

Ips All Natural Egg White Ch(ips) in Aged White Cheddar – What a strange concept that tastes quite good! I like the idea of egg whites in chip form since I like egg whites, but it’s a hassle to cook them. With this, I can get more protein without having to heat up the stove. The white cheddar is nicely mild, not at all overwhelming like some cheeses. They are sort of like puffed chips, which is not my favorite texture, but I gobbled them up nonetheless.

caliwater Cactus Water – Erm, I’m not a fan of this. I wonder if it’s just the bottle I got, but it tasted sour and stale to me. I had three sips before I decided to put it away. I mean, I can still take a few sips at a time, but no way I’d drink a whole bottle in one sitting. Just not my type of thing I guess. Too bad, because I could use a drink that is super hydrating!

Hugo Naturals Vanilla & Sweet Orange soap – Well, I just got one of these in my summer Yuzen box so this one will go up for trade eventually. I love the scent, which is sweet and inviting and I’m sure a bar this size would last me ages! This is a brand I like, though I wish I’d get another one of their scents to try since everything has been the vanilla & sweet orange so far.

California Poppies – As always, the bonus item is something special that I’m glad I got. I need to get a planter so I can plant these beauties and some of the shamrock seeds from the Ireland box. There are a ton of seeds, so I’m going to save a stash for next year as well!

nicobella vegan organic dark chocolate truffles – I couldn’t tell what flavors I got, but one of them was sour, which was weird. Got to say these aren’t the best truffles I’ve had so I wouldn’t purchase, but I do like the packaging and branding so I’m curious about their other products.

There was quite a bit of fluctuation with this, with some hits and misses. Maybe I have extra high standards for this box because it’s meant to represent California, but it wasn’t one of the best boxes I’ve received. What did you think of the products in this California Escape Monthly box? If you want to sign up, try one of these codes (not sure which ones are still active): CALIESCAPE for 20% off the lifetime of your subscription or GIFTESCAPE for 25% off.

For June, it’s inland to Las Vegas! I don’t know what is from that area, so this will be fascinating. So far they offered a sneak peek of a calming mist, so I wonder if the focus will be more on relaxation than the party side of things. We’ll see!

Chick-fil-a Military Appreciation Night

laelene Posted in lifestyle glimpses, photo blog，Tags: events, food, pictures, restaurants

21 May 2014

Aww, they’re so patriotic here! I met Panda for dinner at the Chick-fil-a near our area, just making the 7 PM cut. They were already packing up the festivities they had set up in the parking lot when I arrived. I’d meant to leave work early since I was exhausted from getting up for a 6 AM conference call, but somehow I found myself working til 6, when I really had to go before it was too late! They were so very nice there and even had people walking around with wipes to clean off the tables as people left.

Petit Vour May 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, cruelty-free, eau de toilette, eco-friendly, fragrances, hand creams, lip glosses, perfumes, petit vour, pictures, products, reviews, serums, skin brightening, subscriptions

19 May 2014

With a theme of Bonjour Belle!, these items are meant to make you feel beautiful. They’re a great way to recharge and gear up for warmer times ahead.

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!).

Harvey Prince Hello fragrance – I totally didn’t make the connection at first, but this is the same brand of perfume as the one we got in the last box. Totally different scent that I never would have associated with the other though. Kind of funny that I juuust got this in my Beauty Box 5 – they must be on the promotion prowl or something. I like this scent for how warm and springy it is, but I can barely use up the first sample I got so this will go up for trade.

Paula’s Choice Resist C15 Super Booster – What an adorable little glass bottle this comes in! It feels very luxurious and I can’t wait to see how it does on my dark spots. I’ll be happy if it helps reduce the appearance of some of my acne scars for a more even tone. There’s just a hint of a sweet scent and the fun bright orange color totally makes me think of Vitamin C. How very appropriate.

AROMI Lip Gloss in Rouge – Wow, what a large tube of lip gloss! It’s sort of a fuchsia color and quite a pop of brightness on your lips. I’ve never had a lip gloss with such a strong, vibrant color itself and it looks like I put on lipstick underneath. Why not get the effect of lipstick and lip gloss all in one go? Definitely feels good on my lips and keeps them moisturized and smooth.

Deep Steep Hand Cream in Lavender Chamomile – The branding of this reminds me a lot of Petit Vour itself! They chose an adorable animal, have a single background of color in their packaging, and went for a fanciful design. No wonder they were chosen! The lavender and chamomile combo is nice and relaxing. The cream is very hydrating and felt great on my skin. I’m really happy with the large tube they included, which will last me quite some time. 🙂

I really appreciated the items in this box and felt they were timely and a great mix of products. I’d use them all, which is always a good sign! Which product are you most interested in this month?

[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!]

8 ways my cat is like my fiancé

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: behavior, cats, observations, panda, pets, pictures, similarities, smokey

18 May 2014

Have you ever marveled at how similar a person and an animal have been? I often wonder if Smokey is just Panda (my fiancé) in feline form. They’re so similar in their personalities and preferences that they’re perfect for each other. So much for me getting a pet cat! More like them finding soul mates in each other. Curious what I mean? Here’s a round-up of ways “my” cat is like my fiancé…

1. They’re both kinda awkward. Panda’s an engineer who often fits that stereotype. He’s a bit gangly, not always socially appropriate, and just kind of off in his own world at times. Smokey can stare into space and get lost in her little head. She doesn’t always respond the way you’d expect and she runs kind of crooked. Both very silly, but totally adorable nonetheless.

2. They’re both bad communicators. I am always working with Panda on how he expresses himself (like how he used “veer” when he meant “leer”) and how he misinterprets the meaning of phrases. He doesn’t always use the English language to its full advantage. Meanwhile, Smokey will meow at us as if she wants something, but never follows through. My other cats make it clear when they meow if they want attention or food or something. Smokey just meows and then appears to have no purpose. I wonder if that’s because…

3. They both have poor memories. Panda never seems to remember things I bring up and Smokey seems to forget something happened as soon as she turns around. Perhaps their confusing communication efforts are due to these memory lapses?

4. They both eat and sleep a lot. You’d never know it looking at Panda, but he eats a ton (and never puts on weight). He can certainly chow down and Smokey does the same. She goes through bowls of food like nobody’s business! And when they’re done eating, they can both sleep up a storm. Whereas I usually wake up after 7 or 8 hours, they’ll go on for 10, 12 hours easily.

cat sleeping soundly against soft blanket and pillow

Big sleepers in this family.

5. They both love to play. Panda is always enjoying games and toys, like his little Lego people and even happy meal toys. Smokey will bat around anything she can find, from bottle caps to wads of paper. She’s a huge fan of chasing around a laser dot and playing with her squeaking mouse toy. Lucky for her, Panda is more than happy to play with her. 🙂

6. They both like to pet people. Panda will come around and pet my head like I’m a cat sometimes, which is a funny goofy thing he does. Little did I know that Smokey would like to “pet” us in her own way… by putting her paw on our faces (claws out, ouch!). Maybe they just like to put their hands on things.

7. They’re both scaredy cats. I’m the brave one in the family, staying calm for most things. Panda gets super nervous/worried/scared about things and stresses himself out. He gets startled whenever Smokey is feeling playful and decides to pounce on his feet. He’s intimidated by bugs. And Smokey? Every little noise or movement could cause her to jump alert and/or run off in fear.

8. They both stretch strangely. I often find Panda in a strange position on his side with his knee stretched up and his arm extending through his bent leg. Apparently he finds this comfortable. Smokey is more about stretching completely long, which I’ve never seen a cat do before!

So you see, they were really made for each other. Wouldn’t you agree?

Ipsy May 2014: Fresh Picks review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, eye shadows, hair masks, ipsy, lip balms, microdermabrasion, pictures, products, reviews, scrubs, subscriptions, sunscreen

15 May 2014

Ok, Ipsy is back in my good graces with this one. I love the cute little bag and the products are some of the better fits for me. I’d use all but one! I didn’t peek at all this month, so everything was a complete surprise and I am quite pleased. Yay for feeling excited about a bag again!

Ipsy is $10 per glam bag and comes with 5 or so beauty/skincare products. Bags are sent monthly with no option to skip. There’s usually a waitlist to get the subscription. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free products.

derma e microdermabrasion scrub – Ooo! I had no idea this would be back in circulation and I’m so glad it is because I love it. I didn’t get this the last time it was offered and I actually wanted it so bad I got it in a trade, but I’m perfectly happy receiving it and having another one to use. I love the citrus scent, the little scrubby beads, and the creamy texture. I have been made a big fan of derma e and I look forward to trying some of their other products when I finally use up my current skincare items.

Hang Ten Classic Sport SPF 50 – The packaging on this is cute and retro. I’m liking the neon look, which totally reminds me of LA and summer. It’s the more liquidy type of sunscreen and it doesn’t smell like sunscreen when I first put it on, but as I rub it in I get a little more of that scent that reminds me of childhood summers. After rubbing it in, it’s a little sticky and gives my skin a little sheen to it. This is perfect to bring in my bag or leave in the car so I can apply it whenever.

eva nyc therapy session hair mask – I like the light scent of this and I’m definitely appreciating the size of the tube! It’s really refreshing to receive an item that isn’t your usual beauty product, since I’m really up to my neck in lotions, cleansers, soaps, creams, etc. A hair mask on the other hand, is just what I need to add to my collection! This is a very rich, creamy formula that is like a thicker conditioner. I can’t wait to try it out!

Olive Lips Refreshing Rosemary Moisturizing Lip Balm – Oh wow, olive and rosemary? How wonderfully different from other lip balms. I’m not super into the scent, but it’s not bad either. This is super moisturizing to keep those lips from drying out. I find the little tube to be great; it’s adorable and a better fit for the size of my lips. I like keeping a tube in just about every place I might be for awhile, so I could always use another one to place in one of my many spots.

Pacifica Mineral Eyeshadow Duo in Moonbeam & Unicorn – I’m tempted to try this out because they’re just beautiful. You can’t tell from the picture, but the left half (moonbeam, I presume) is this deep purple and the right half (unicorn, then?) is a gorgeous white with gold flecks! Totally fun and just the kind of shades I like. But alas, I just don’t use eyeshadow, so should I just trade it instead? I might have to sit on this awhile. I mean, everyone loves Pacifica so I’m sure I can trade it off, but maybe I should just give it a go myself.

I think in general the theme this month really offered itself to types of products I like more. I’d love to see this trend continue, with fresh products that aren’t the typical boring makeup stuff. If you want to trade for any of my items, check out my eDivv shop.

Beauty Box 5 May 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, body wipes, boxes, cleansers, eye liners, face masks, makeup, perfume, pictures, products, reviews, skincare, subscriptions

14 May 2014

I was wondering what happened to my April review when I realized it was the 24ClearIt kit. Speaking of which, it started to dry out my jaw area so I stopped washing with it as regularly. Overall it’s done ok with my skin so far and calmed it down a bit, but breakouts just can’t be quelled it seems. As for the May Beauty Box 5, the theme is fresh and focused, which is meant to help with some pick-me-ups.

Beauty Box 5 is $12 per box (or as discounted as $99 for an entire year, with an option in between) and comes with 5 cosmetic products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. You also have the option of buying it as a gift your box to a friend. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards products or boxes.

Is it finally time for summer?! What a refreshing collection.

Info on the products with prices of their full sizes.

MaskerAide Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask: I’m a big fan of sheet masks, though they are rather pricey so I don’t use them that often. This one is suuuuuper moisturizing and just oozing with healing ingredients. I’m glad I read the instructions because I probably wouldn’t have cleansed and toned my face before using it otherwise. This is the only mask I’ve tried to date that actually fit my face! I have a pretty wide one so the eye holes are often too close together and the corners of my eyes get covered a bit, but not with this one! Amazing. It says to leave on for 10-20 minutes and after 10 I was itching to take it off. I can only take so much relaxation! There was a ton of serum on my face afterwards, so I rubbed it in, rinsed off a bit, and also put some on my neck.

H2O Plus Aqualibrium Marine Cleansing Gel: I couldn’t tell what this was for at first. I thought it might be some sort of eye gel, but turns out it’s a cleanser. It came out almost goopy, but smoothed out just fine. I didn’t smell any sort of scent to it and it was very nice and soothing. I do wish the sample size was larger since I feel like I can only get a few face washes out of this tube. I can’t really tell if it’s better than any other cleanser, but I do like this brand overall so I’d consider getting this product.

Ban Total Refresh Cooling Body Cloths: What perfect timing for these little cloths, which will be a very useful way to refresh the body during the heat of summer. I’d definitely keep some of these in my purse/bag/car or wherever to have them on the go. I was super surprised to find they had a bit of an alcoholic smell when you first open them. I guess it helps kill off bacteria? My skin feels great after the wipe-down and the powder finish is amazingly smooth without feeling like there’s powder on you (just the way I like it). It was moist enough to get my whole body, yet not dripping wet so there was no mess. If I ever work out during work hours, I’m totally using these to freshen up with.

Harvey Prince Hello: Never been much of a perfume gal, but this truly is a warm, happy scent. With such playful packaging, I was totally intrigued. Then I saw the citrus and floral choices and I knew this would be something I could enjoy. The little card is sweet and explains the choice of Meyer lemon, mandarin, grapefruit, forsythia, and plumeria beautifully. I’m liking this brand already!

Cattiva Precision Eye Liner: I was skeptical, but this eyeliner really delivered. Waterproof? Indeed! And such a smooth, easy application it’s hard to mess up. It doesn’t smudge even with my clumsy hands, so I’ll definitely keep this handy for the few occasions I do use a little eye liner. I like the retractable design so I don’t have to worry about using a sharpener. I’ve never heard of this brand before, but consider me impressed.

Ok, so I have to admit when I first got the box I was like, whatever, decent box. But now that I’ve tried them I am truly impressed. Not only did I underestimate some of the products, I wouldn’t even have given them a chance had I not wanted to provide a more thorough review for this post. Turns out I’ve been introduced to some really great items that I’ll keep in my arsenal. What’s your favorite item this month?

Thunder and lightning

laelene Posted in lifestyle glimpses, photo blog, video blog，Tags: cats, lightning, pictures, smokey, thunderstorm, videos, weather

13 May 2014

The dark clouds were rolling in just as I arrived home today. I had driven home taking advantage of the warm air by opening my moon roof to the sky and sticking my hand out every chance I got. At red lights, I’d blissfully turn my face up to the gathering clouds, watching their ever-changing patterns. It was serene. At home, I spent the next hour gleefully enjoying the air before the storm. I love this weather! (Certainly have written about it quite a bit too.)

As the workers laid bricks on the new homes next door, I dutifully stood outside on the porch with my camera, determined to catch a photo of lightning this time around. I just can’t get enough of how they split the sky and make the whole area glow. Those crooked lines crawling across the clouds, flashing in and out before I can even react… they’re so elusive. I could sit and stare for hours as they danced around me. I really wish I had a panoramic room since I found myself chasing the light of flashes from one end of the house to the other.

After awhile, the grumbling of thunder began and a light rain splattered down. I watched as plane after plane kept coming in to the airport amid all that insanity. Oh what I wouldn’t give to be on one of those planes, watching lightning flashing around me! I’ve always been fascinated by how things look differently when you’re up in the sky and I wish I could have experienced that. Those lucky passengers. As I admired their good fortune, I noticed that I could hear birds chirping. Strange, since I would have thought they’d be hiding somewhere. Perhaps they knew the storm wasn’t that big, so they stuck around to wait it out and sing it off.

What a peaceful way to start the evening. Thunderstorms calm and excite me all at once, and always bring a sense of contentment.