Posts Tagged ‘pictures’

Blissmobox: Body Bliss

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
10 October 2013
0

Still catching up on my Blissmoboxes (only 3 more after this I think). I got this box back in early April – it was offered as a spring special and since I missed it the first time I decided to snag it on sale.

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.

blissmobox spring sale box choices including beauty bundle ii, body bliss, and naturally hers

The three choices for the spring blissmobox sale.

This spring sale caught my attention with the first two choices, but since I already had half of the beauty bundle II option I went for the body bliss. I wanted to try the Own brand and getting that Pangea Mask is a great deal!

opened blissmobox spring 2013 special deal with contents displayed

collage of tree hut coconut lime shea body butterTree Hut, Coconut Lime shea body butter – This turned out to be my absolute favorite item from this box. It also ranks pretty high among all products from all boxes I’ve gotten. I was surprised since I’m not usually a coconut person, but the combo of that with lime is an amazing scent I really enjoy. I also love the texture, which is firm and somewhat elastic. You barely need any of this to get a lot of results and it applies so well. I plan on trying many of the other scents they have.

collage of own bio-activating skin care renewing dual protecting day lotion with spf 30Own Skin Care, Dual Protecting Day Lotion with SPF 30 – I’m still saving this one to use when I’m low on my current face lotions. It’s a brand I’ve wanted to try so I’m really glad I got it and I wonder how effective the bio-activating formula is. They’ve got a cool concept. I wonder what’s going on with their site though – it’s down for me and I can’t tell if it’s temporary or if they shut down?

collage of pangea organics japanese matcha tea with acai & goji berry facial maskPangea Organics, Japanese Matcha Tea with Acai & Goji Berry Facial Mask – I got a sample of this in another box, so I decided to trade this for some other products. It’s a wonderfully large size that would last for a long time. This is another brand I’m interested in so I definitely love getting their products, especially since they’re a bit pricey for me. Yay for saving on the retail cost of this item!

collage of scharffen berger extra dark chocolate barScharffen Berger, Extra Dark Chocolate bar – This is a nice dark chocolate bar that isn’t crazy bitter. It’s got a smooth texture and I found this size to be super cute. Who needs a giant bar at one time anyway? I think I’ve seen these in Whole Foods but I haven’t bought any yet. At 82% cacao, it’s their highest concentration of cacao so if you’re into something less strong, you can opt for many other options.

collage of 100% pure vanilla bean nourishing body cream sample100% Pure, vanilla bean nourishing body cream – I have a bunch of these packets that I’ve yet to use. The name is simple and the branding makes me feel like it’s a green product. The small packets are great for throwing in a bag for use when you’re out and about. I can see this being enough for my full body or many uses for my hands and arms.

What do you think of this selection? Have you tried any of these products? What’s your favorite?

365great Day 209: new

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , , ,
09 October 2013
0

365great day 209: newThat fresh out of the box look of any product is quite satisfying. We have an obsession with new in many cultures and I’m certainly not immune. Still, there’s something wonderful about opening a box and taking out new items for the first time, treating them so gently in those initial encounters. Tonight I spent most of my time setting up my new laptop to keep everything I still want about how I did things on my old laptop while discarding some things I had accumulated without intending to. New is the perfect opportunity to transition to another phase, carrying over what you want to preserve and letting go of what you don’t want anymore. It’s a fresh start and a way to alter your course. That’s why I liked moving a lot as a kid, because each time I got a chance to rework my room and find some things I’d been missing. New is also a chance to discover what you haven’t encountered yet for a great learning experience.

New laptop time

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: , , ,
09 October 2013
0

I finally, finally pulled the trigger on my new laptop today. 🙂 I can’t believe I’ve been building up to this moment for two and a half years. It feels like five. Ever since pretty much day 1 of getting my current laptop, I’ve been annoyed by the loud noise it makes. I thought I could make do or make it better, but it never happened. So, thank goodness I can finally move on.

Awhile back, I decided I wanted an ASUS (and when I choose a brand, I pretty much always get the one I intended). My initial search this summer led me to crazy expensive ones because I convinced myself I should get one with a solid-state drive. After putting up with excessive noise for too long, all I want is quiet. As silent as possible. But after looking around and talking to various sales personnel, I decided to get a laptop with a normal hard drive and change it to SSD if I find the need to. Anything’s got to be better than my current situation though! This one has the main features I preferred: touchscreen, backlit keyboard, and 3 USB ports. The weight isn’t too bad, but I sure did hope for a super-light ultrabook.

Now excuse me while I go enjoy setting up my brand new ASUS!

collage of asus black laptop including box and packaging

It came with a microfiber cloth to wipe off fingerprints!

It came with a microfiber cloth to wipe off fingerprints!

black asus laptop open and turned on

Yay, my new toy!

365great Day 208: clouds

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , , ,
08 October 2013
0

365great challenge day 208: cloudsOh what a brilliant skyline we had this evening as the sun was setting. The light came at just the right angle to create an amazing hue on the clouds lingering overhead. You could see everything from golden yellow to deep purple and it was stunning. If the clouds weren’t there to reflect the light, we wouldn’t have nearly as cool a view. I also enjoy thunderstorm clouds, with their deep grey menacing look bringing thunder, lightning, and rain. It’s the perfect time to curl up with a hot drink and get cozy as the pitter patter of the rain and rumbling of thunder create a symphony of sound. On the flip side, those super fluffy white clouds floating ever so peacefully overhead is striking too, especially against a rich blue sky. It’s always fun to look up and see what sort of clouds are blowing by; it’s great entertainment.

Homegrown Collective September 2013 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: , , , , , , ,
08 October 2013
1

I got the Homegrown Collective September GREENBOX about a week ago, but am just getting around to reviewing it! I enjoyed this “Back-to-school: sustainable laundry 101” theme a lot because it is so useful – I mean, everyone’s got to do laundry, right? (I hope.) Here’s the unboxing video for those who prefer that.

The Homegrown Collective GREENBOX is $39 per box + $9 shipping (or as discounted as $429 for an entire year, with options in between) and comes with fun and easy projects to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program you can apply to join.

inside of homegrown collective box with the info sheets on the inner lid and white homegrown collective sticker on brown paper wrapping

They stuck the info sheets on the lid and changed up the sticker this time.

contents of the homegrown collective september 2013 box with laundry theme

All sorts of laundry goodness. Yes, I already used the wool ball, which is why it looks worn.

Project #1, soap nuts: This is a nice project because it’s as easy as tying the bag and throwing it in the wash! These soap nuts are so cool and I wonder if someone has accidentally tried to eat them. Do they taste soapy? I’m not about to test it out, but I am curious.

the homegrown collective september 2013 project washing with soap nuts info card

Yay for a sustainable way to wash clothes.

the homegrown collective september 2013 products for washing with soap nuts

This will clean my clothes?! Amazing.

Project #2, olive oil castile soap: Wow, this soap can be so versatile, cleaning everything from clothes to yourself. Mix it with washing soda + salt to clean your laundry or just rub it on your skin or hair to wash clean! Simple – nice and easy.

the homegrown collective september 2013 project mixing olive oil castile soap info card

A slightly more involved laundry soap solution.

the homegrown collective september 2013 products for mixing olive oil castile soap

What exactly is washing soda? Baking soda?

Project #3, dryer ball & essential oil: I totally wasn’t expecting the ball to be so soft and large. It’s totally fun! All you have to do is add it to your dryer load so it can soften your clothes and prevent static. They also included a bit of essential oil with a super refreshing minty scent, which you can dab on the dryer ball to make your clothes smell fabulous.

the homegrown collective september 2013 project using wool dryer ball and essential oil info card

A ball to beat your clothes soft, hehe.

the homegrown collective september 2013 products for using wool dryer ball and essential oil

Fun fuzzy ball and the invigorating essential oil too.

Project #4, laundry soap & bleach alt.: Once again, an effortless project where you just use the pre-made products. I wonder how they make this laundry soap and bleach alternative, versus what’s out in the market these days. I’d like to make some myself!

the homegrown collective september 2013 project using bleach alternative info and summary card

A summary of the contents and the intro to the bleach alternative.

the homegrown collective september 2013 products for using bleach alternative

What an adorable spoon!

Did you get this The Homegrown Collective box? What do you think about the theme?

[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!]

365great Day 207: the tropics

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: ,
07 October 2013
0

365great challenge day 207: the tropicsWho doesn’t enjoy a vacation to a tropical paradise? I’ve visited many a palm tree-covered region like Florida, Hawaii, Australia, Hainan… each of which had its own draw and gorgeous sunny days. Some people may prefer the dry California climate, but I quite enjoy a nice humid place. The colors seem brighter in those places and the sky is such an amazing hue. Oftentimes you get the most brilliant white sand that is so fine it soothes your feet. Ah, and those crystal clear waters that are home to friendly dolphins, sea turtles, and all sorts of funky fish. It’s such a pleasure to go relax in those places, but it’s a good thing I don’t live there or I may never get work done! Maybe down the line when I no longer work I’ll consider moving to one of those regions – wouldn’t that be great?

365great Day 206: pore strips

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , ,
06 October 2013
0

365great challenge day 206: pore stripsThese are such a useful way to get rid of nasty blackheads and whatever else is lurking in your pores. For someone like me with an oily t-zone causing all kinds of issues, they’re pretty amazing. It’s just what I need to stop picking at my face and feel better about my skin. Plus, there’s a morbid satisfaction in seeing the gunk that gets pulled from my pores. It’s really rewarding to see how much smoother my skin looks afterwards and not feel the need to try to squeeze out the blackheads. Certainly not pretty business, but great when it comes to functionality.

Tricky time zones

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: ,
06 October 2013
0
map of world time zone breakdowns

Image credit: WorldTimeZone.com

I was setting up a phone call with a potential partner last week and I wanted to make sure I chose a time that was good for them (in India) and us (on the east coast). The first time I searched, I got an answer that 9 am EST was 6:30 pm IST. I thought I misread or found a faulty source of information, so I checked a few other sites. As it turns out, India really is on an “offset time zone” from most of the world. Whaaat?! I couldn’t believe I’d never heard of this before. You’d think someone would have mentioned it at some point in my education.

Up until that point, I thought the strangest thing about time zone breakdowns was that China, despite spanning a good 4 or more time zones, is on a single time. That means that sunrise may be around 6 or 7 for people in Beijing, but it isn’t something like 10 for those out in the western parts of the country. It makes things easier since you don’t have to convert between times, but boy is it strange to have people starting their work day when it’ll still be pitch black outside for a good 2-3 hours. Then again, for the majority of the population it’s not a big deal, since everyone crowds towards the eastern border where all the major cities are.

This of course got me thinking about what other strange nuances there might be with time zones. Turns out that not only do countries like India, Venezuela, Afghanistan, and Australia have time zones that are off by 30 minutes, there are even a few places that decided to take it one step further with a 15-minute increment difference. Nepal is one of the few places in the world that is one on of those random time zones, which is +5:45 from GMT. I also came across this fun artistic way of showing some of the stranger time zones that have existed throughout history. Imagine being 4:51 off GMT… is that 1 really necessary? Wouldn’t being 9 minutes later for a full 5 hours be just fine?

They really should have taught this stuff in school. It’s pretty interesting.

365great Day 205: Target

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , , , ,
05 October 2013
0

365great challenge day 205: targetI didn’t really shop at Target until I met Panda. A few years ago, he started to introduce me to it. And as I began to see all the different deals and offers I also began to hear about how all these people love it. I began to follow some bloggers who happen to be huge fans and I slowly started to learn the ins and outs of Target shopping. I love using my RedCard, bringing a bag to get that 5-cent discount, and compounding Target coupons with manufacturer ones. Oh yes, I’ve certainly enjoyed adopting Target as my new store of choice. There are some fantastic products to be found and if you’re patient you can get them at absolute steals! Just check out the deal I got on some shampoo. 🙂 Not only do they offer products I like at good prices, there are so many discounts to take advantage of! Makes for a great shopping experience.

Hello Fresh Week 37 Delivery review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: , , , , , , ,
05 October 2013
1

Towards the beginning of last month, I finally got around to trying the Hello Fresh deal I’d gotten on LivingSocial. The delivery came one day when Panda was still out on a business trip, so I saved everything and hoped it would all last in the fridge. Lesson learned: next time freeze the meats right away. I was pretty surprised when it showed up on my doorstep because it wasn’t due until the next day. When it comes to planning for cooking, sometimes that can make a big difference so I sure hope that doesn’t happen all the time. They were right in the middle of changing up their shipping schedule though, so I’ll let this one slide.

Watch the unboxing if you’re interested! (Interested in trying Hello Fresh? Use my referral code to get $20 off your first order: 9CAMJS)

Hello Fresh is just under $70 per box and comes with 3 meals of 2 servings each. That’s less than $12 per meal serving. Boxes are sent weekly unless you choose to skip (which is very easy to do). They offer a referral code that gives $20 off to both the person you referred and for your next order.

hello fresh large cardboard box

It’s a pretty large box!

hello fresh box interior with insulation padding on all sides

The inside is well-insulated with a ton of frozen packs to keep things chilled.

hello fresh welcome letter and large black recipe cards

I got a nice welcome card, the three recipe cards, and a promo card from one of their partners.

hello fresh chili rubbed chicken with barley avocado salad ingredients

The ingredients for the chicken dish.

hello fresh garlic skillet meatballs and baby new potatoes ingredients

The ingredients for the beef dish.

hello fresh lemon pepper shrimp scampi and roasted pepper over linguine ingredients

The ingredients for the shrimp dish.

collage of hello fresh chili rubbed chicken with barley avocado salad recipe card

The first dish we decided to cook was the Chili Rubbed Chicken.

collage of hello fresh chili rubbed chicken ingredients and meal being cooked

It was fun to cook chicken for the first time – I never knew it cooks so fast!

collage of hello fresh barley avocado salad ingredients and meal being made

The salad was something I never would have thought to piece together myself.

hello fresh chili rubbed chicken with barley avocado salad dish finished product

The final product! Pretty good, eh?

collage of hello fresh garlic skillet meatballs and new potatoes recipe card

The next night we went for the meatball recipe.

collage of hello fresh garlic skillet meatballs and new potatoes ingredients and meal being cooked

All kinds of stuff I like to eat!

hello fresh garlic skillet meatballs and baby new potatoes finished product

And the end result with a nice mix of veggies and meat.

collage of hello fresh lemon-pepper shrimp scampi with roasted pepper over linguine recipe card

And finally, it’s shrimp and pasta time!

collage of hello fresh lemon-pepper shrimp scampi with roasted pepper over linguine ingredients and meal being cooked

Oh yum. My first time making pasta with more than just tomato sauce!

hello fresh lemon-pepper shrimp scampi with roasted pepper over linguine finished product

I really enjoyed this dish, though I’d probably sub spinach for the peppers next time.

Overall I found all the dishes pretty easy to make, though the instructions assumed a bit more knowledge about cooking than we had. 😛 I enjoyed the shrimp dish the best, partially because I’m a seafood lover and partially because it was the least adventurous dish. While it was cool to try something like the barley avocado salad, I don’t know if I’d ever really look to make it again. I do like that I have more experience under my belt and got to a try a variety of dishes. I’ll definitely get Hello Fresh again, but maybe only once a month or so. Thankfully, they make it really easy to manage deliveries within your account so it’ll be smooth sailing from here.

[This post contains affiliate codes. 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!]

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