Posts Tagged ‘pictures’

Conscious Box May & June reviews

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
14 July 2013
0

Remember when I won those Conscious Box subscriptions? Well, I’ve received two of the three-month subscription and I’m expecting that third one any day now. Then I’ll be redeeming the second subscription I won for three more months of boxes! So let’s take a look back at what I’ve gotten so far:

conscious box inner box lid with signature window and image peeking through

Conscious Box comes with an inner box with a “window” that has a pretty design peeking through.

first glance at contents of conscious box may 2013

Upon opening the two layers of boxes, a beautiful card greets me!

conscious box may contents with yesto spf lotion, herbamare, dream water, somersaults, earthpaste, ecover, healthy hoohoo, mrm relax all, healthy kids drink, zukay kvass, bija tea, ultima replenisher, mac n mo's treats discount, and ethical electric code

Everything that came in May all laid out. They sure to know how to jam pack the box!

Conscious Box is just under $20 per box (or as discounted as just over $203 for an entire year, with options in between) and comes with many samples from about a dozen brands. Choose from their Classic, Vegan, or Gluten-free box. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral link program.

The box is pretty heavy and they pack it very well. It’s amazing how they stuffed so much into that box! I like right off the bat that I’m seeing products spanning all categories: snacks, drinks, personal care, supplements, household, skincare, etc. Check out my unboxing video for this to see each item.

I drank the Healthy Kids drink right away and I think it’s a great way to get kids to consume more healthy stuff. I like the vanilla taste and it’s something anybody could enjoy. I tried the small Earthpaste in lemon and I’m not sure how I feel about it so I’m scared to open the giant tube. The texture and consistency is quite different from the toothpastes I’m used to and I feel like it’s not cleaning as much because I don’t get that minty aftertaste, but really that just psychological. Still debating if I’ll sell/trade the large tube, at least until I finish my current tube.

I got Dream Water in another subscription box previously and I didn’t want to use it until I needed it so I’m still holding on to it! I do have trouble sleeping but that’s because I have all this stuff I try to work on at night. At this point I don’t have to get up at a certain time, so I’m not too worried about staying up late – I can always sleep in to make up for the sleep! I do look forward to trying this and seeing how well it works.

I’ve gotten a bunch of the Somersaults in various boxes now and I’m just not into sunflower seeds. I’ve seen plenty of people who like them, but I’m not very excited about them. I do love their extra crunchy texture but I’ll be passing this off to someone else in my household.

As for the smaller samples, I’m looking forward to trying everything out! I’m a hoarder so it will probably be some time before I actually get through them all… meanwhile they will be saved for a good time!

Overall impression: I enjoyed the variety of the box and I definitely found some new brands. I’m not sure I would have wanted to pay the $19.95, but I’m glad that I was able to try out this stuff for free! (Who wouldn’t right?) 🙂

conscious box june contents including molly muriel soap and shampoo bars, cloud star pet wash, sneakz veggie drink, flavrz drink mix, natural vitality calcium drink, son shave cream, earth friendly products hand soap, skout trailbar, nakedwines gift card, greek island labs joint mud, and stationery card

Everything that came in the June box laid out. Got too excited and didn’t take pictures of the boxing this time.

And then there’s the June box! Another well-packed box with products in many categories. I got so carried away with getting a picture and videotaping the unboxing that I don’t have any other pictures. I was most excited about the Molly Muriel bar soap and shampoo bar because I love detoxifying soaps AND solid shampoo bars. I’m currently testing a new facial care regimen and working to finish off a shampoo bar, so I haven’t tried them just yet, but I already want to buy more! I also think the Son will be great for my fiance – he was pretty happy there was a product for him!

Once again I tried the drink right away and this one was harder to get down. It had a sort of chalkiness and I don’t know if it was just in my mind, but I felt like I could tell it had veggies packed in. I made it through the entire thing but I would not be able to drink this on a regular basis. I don’t have a kid to test it on though – perhaps their taste buds are less sensitive and the chocolate is good enough for them! The other thing I’m not so excited about is the Skout bar, because I generally only like cherries fresh. I might have Panda try it if he likes that sort of thing.

I love the small travel size of the hand soap – perfect for bringing along on a trip. I’m a sucker for travel size items so of course this made me happy. I’m super curious about the Joint Mud, but I don’t have joint pain so I will have to wait to find someone who does or try it later. I find the card to be super cute and just the kind of thing I love but never buy… so maybe I will now. Cards like that are so much more fun than the ones you find at a checkout stand. That $50 gift card is no use to me (or Panda) since neither of us drink, so let me know if you’d like it. I might give the dog thing to a friend since my cats would hate to be washed.

Sorry if my thoughts are random and all over the place! There are so many small items I kind of just did a stream of consciousness thing instead of having 15 two-line paragraphs. My overall impression of this box is once again good, but still shaky on the $19.95 value. I really enjoy everything I’m getting but I also can’t see myself paying for Conscious Box. It’s a dilemma!

What did you think of these two boxes? Did you get either of them or are you getting the July one?

365great Day 121: stud earrings

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , ,
13 July 2013
0

Learn more about 365great here.

365great challenge day 121: stud earringsA nice simple pair of stud earrings are my default jewelry item. I put them in, I forget about them, and they always go with whatever I’m wearing. Every few months when I remember that they’ve been in for a long time, I’ll swap them out for a slightly different size or shape. I pretty much always go for the cubic zirconia look since it’s shiny without attracting too much attention and the white/clear/silver coloring matches just about any color you throw its way. I can look more dressed up without having to do a thing. I’m all about low-maintenance solutions like that! A good pair of stud earrings is just great.

Ticklish teeth

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
13 July 2013
0

Have your teeth ever tickled?

pink plastic and metal retainer

The culprit.


Yeah, I know it can sound like a weird question. But bear with me here. Every few months I decide that I’ve had enough of my teeth shifting from the alignment that my braces created over 10 years ago. I pull out that retainer I’ve had ever since the braces came off and shove them back in my mouth. My tongue is not happy with me about the extra bulk in my mouth and my teeth protest at the tightness they now feel. However, my parents didn’t spend thousands of dollars for me to undo all the orthodontic work and I certainly would like to preserve my straight teeth.

I suck it up and wear the retainer for anywhere from half an hour to a couple of hours. If I sleep in them, I generally wake up to straighter and more sensitive teeth. The other day, I had the retainer in for a few hours as I typed and clicked away online. By the time I popped it out, my teeth very very sensitive. And whenever I breathed through my mouth, I swear, my teeth felt ticklish. I guess it’s due to the heightened sensitivity of the nerves there. After all, tickling is basically lightly stimulating nerves, right?

Surely I can’t be the only one who has ever experienced this. Maybe you’ve even had some other odd body part feel ticklish. So I’m curious – what’s the strangest place you’ve ever felt ticklish?

365great Day 120: shin ramyun

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , ,
12 July 2013
0

Learn more about 365great here.

365great challenge day 120: shin ramyunI think every college student has had to subsist on Top Ramen at some point or another. I wish I had also known about this other type of instant ramen noodle back then! It’s a nice way to spice things up (literally and figuratively) with a less starchy, more slippery type of noodle, freeze dried veggies for more oomph, and a spicy powder for that extra kick. The texture of these noodles is something like mixing ramen with udon. It still has the fun curly noodles that I like (which also makes it easier to eat since it’s less likely to slip from your chopsticks or fork). It’s the perfect thing to keep a stock of in your pantry when you need a quick, cheap meal that also tastes great.

That ring thing – help!

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: , , , , , ,
12 July 2013
2

custom made engagement ring with purple sapphire center stone in black jewelry boxOk, so I’m still pretty new to this whole engagement thing and I am so curious what people (especially women) typically do with their rings. Do you wear it all the time? Do you always take it off to wash your hands? Do you often forget it at home? I have no idea what is normal for ring-wearing behavior and I could really use some guidance. My parents are from a generation of Chinese who did not have rings, so growing up I didn’t have role models for that sort of thing. In fact, I’m not sure if any of my relatives have rings. Well, they might have rings, but not really wear them. However, my generation of cousins are getting married now and I think some of them have rings. Still, I don’t think it’s as common or as big a deal as it is in the US.

I’m always concerned about getting the ring wet so I make sure to take it off to wash up. I’m also very careful about where I put my hand since I don’t want to scratch it up or anything. I see older women who seem to have had their rings on for so many years now that they basically forget about it. Do they also meticulously take them off each time they wash their hands? It seems like such a hassle.

What about at home behavior? Do you just keep the ring(s) on all day, every day the way I do with my stud earrings? Or is there a special place you keep your rings at home? How do you make sure to remember to wear them? Or do you just leave them and forget to put them on frequently? Just yesterday I was running late and headed out completely forgetting my ring. I figured it didn’t matter since I was getting a massage and would have to remove it anyway, but I felt a little bare. Should I just keep it on at home too?

Oh and speaking of ring etiquette/habits, do you wear yours on the left or right hand? I’ve seen both and I know different cultures have different habits, but in the US I kind of expect them to be worn on the left hand. Yet I’ve noticed a ton of people wearing rings and bands on their right ring finger… are those just decorative or is there some other meaning to that? Or is it just due to personal/cultural differences perhaps?

And finally, why am I even so concerned about this? I’m sure everybody has their own way of doing it and really it’s a symbol that I don’t need to show to the world all the time. Just because I don’t have a ring doesn’t mean I’m not committed and just because I have a ring doesn’t I’m bound. When it comes down to it, it’s what’s in my heart and mind that matter and I don’t need other people to know what my relationship status is. But, since we live in a society where we do use symbols like these and I do have a ring, I’m super curious about what other women typically do.

So tell me, what ring habits do you have?

365great Day 119: Massage Envy

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
11 July 2013
0

Learn more about 365great here.

365great challenge day 119: massage envyMy favorite part about Massage Envy is the convenient booking – I’ve gotten appointments within half an hour from calling, which is just what my sore muscles need sometimes. The monthly membership offers a reasonable rate and I’ve found some real gems in the massage therapists there. I’ve gone to at least 4 different locations and with most, I already have a favorite or favorites who I know will give me the kind of massage I’m looking for. I also like that they have so many massage therapists, because sometimes I just want to mix it up and try out many different styles. They also offer really nice facials that have always left me feeling refreshed. They use Murad products for their facials, which is a nice brand. I always look forward to my visits and having a membership encourages me to take care of my body more! That’s always a great idea.

Ralph’s produce finds

laelene Posted in photo blog，Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
11 July 2013
0

There’s some really pretty shots to be found at Ralph’s groceries.

colorful heirloom tomatoes ranging from green to red to yellow to orange at ralph's grocery store

Wow, at first I thought these were pumpkins and squash, but they’re all heirloom tomatoes! They’re just about every color you can imagine.

pile of baby pineapples at ralph's grocery store

So cute and petite! I wonder how much meat is edible though.

exotic fruits found in ralph's grocery store

There’s passion fruit, dragon fruit, kiwano melon, pepino purple melon, and manzano bananas.

365great Day 118: first class

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , , , , , ,
10 July 2013
0

Learn more about 365great here.

365great challenge day 118: first classWhen I was a kid, traveling by myself to China once, I was allowed to go sit in first class for a bit. The seats were huge and it was quieter, but I didn’t notice much difference. Over a decade later, I got my first chance to sit in first class when Panda got an upgrade (he’s got a lot of miles under his belt so they upgrade him whenever there’s an open seat) on our trip to Hawaii. We had booked the tickets separately because he was flying from the east coast in before I joined him on the second leg of the trip. So, when he got the upgrade, he gave it to me. 😀 I had no clue that they serve meals on the flight, give you alcohol for free (wasted on a teetotaler like me), and provide all around better service. I mean, I knew the service was better and there were perks, but I never really gave it much thought. As you can see though, I was pretty excited about my flight. I ate a delicious meal, had a fantastic dessert (whaaat they have ice cream sundaes?!), and got tons of space. It’s so much better flying this way! Great in many ways.

 

And on a side note – have you been following the Asiana flight story? Absolute insanity. I am glad that it wasn’t worse, but I feel for the parents who lost their daughters. Hopefully there are no more fatalities, though I believe there are some paralyzed? My thoughts are with them all.

What’s in your fridge?

laelene Posted in general blog，Tags: , , , , , , , ,
10 July 2013
5

Much like finding out what is in your purse or your medicine cabinet, seeing what is in your fridge can be an interesting insight into your life. I know one thing that distinguishes our household’s fridge from most others in the modern world: the lack of alcohol. I’d imagine most homes have at least a wine or a beer chilling in there, but not us. My dad’s the only one who drinks alcohol at all and not all that much. In fact, I don’t think we ever had alcohol in our household until I was in college. Neither Panda nor I drink, so if you ever see alcohol in our fridge, it’s someone else’s (or we got it for them).

Well, what is in our fridge? Let’s take a look:

fridge door open with contents showing

Let’s start with the door, which has eggs, salad dressing, soda, marinated mushrooms, pickles, and peanut butter. I don’t think there’s ever a time that we are without eggs. They’re a great food item to eat in the mornings, throw in a soup or noodle soup to add protein, or boil and use as a snack. Definitely a staple in my household. Also very important are the mushrooms and pickles – I love love love just about anything brined, salted, preserved, etc. Usually this meas pickles and marinated mushrooms, but I also enjoy kimchi, preserved radishes, and more. This particular bottle of soda was actually free due to a promotion Pepsi is doing for their Pepsi Next product – usually I’d have real Coke or Dr. Pepper and Pepsi cans. The peanut butter is not mine… I’m not a fan.

Then you can see in the body of the fridge, it’s pretty empty. At this stage, Panda and I still eat out quite a bit so there are a bunch of takeout boxes from the leftovers we had at Olive Garden. We love their 2 for $25 deal! You get so much food to eat while there AND there’s plenty of leftovers for the next meal and the next next meal. I also have a bag of black pepper turkey from the deli section, since I don’t eat much meat and Panda thinks I should consume more. We’ve got a nice half of a watermelon left, plus some oranges at the bottom (you can see one peeking through). I don’t eat fruit nearly as much as I probably should and watermelon is just about the only fruit I can eat a ton of. We’re also not so great on the vegetable side of things, so the corn helps out. It’s so easy to gobble down one of them and feel good that you’ve eaten something vegetable-like (I mean, is corn actually a vegetable? Close enough!).

And now let’s peek into the freezer!

looking into open household freezer with contents showing

Ice cream is a must, no matter what the season. You never know when you might want some chilled goodness. Other than that, we like to fill up with various microwavable items that I can easily heat up for a snack or lunch. We recently stocked up on these and got some taquitos in addition to the Hot Pockets, pot pies, chicken kebabs, and (hidden) bowls of wonton noodles. When you’re lazy and not a very skilled cook, the microwave is your friend. I sure wouldn’t know what to do without it!

So what do you have in your fridge and freezer?

365great Day 117: Flickr

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

Learn more about 365great here.

365great challenge day 117: flickrAwhile back, I began to compare photo sharing and storing options because I didn’t want my hard drive to be my only backup. I wanted a place where I could easily store the gigs upon gigs of photos and videos that I’ve taken over the years (for free). This way, I can also access it from anywhere in the future, so I don’t have to lug around the hard drive whenever I want to gain access to old pictures. Since I wanted to be able to use old photos as if they were on my computer already, I needed a site that would let me store and download the images at full resolution. In Flickr I found the perfect solution. They offer a great interface, full resolution downloads, and 1 terabyte of storage! They also have a social component that might be a nice bonus feature to use. How can you go wrong with free online storage of your media? I’ve been uploading hundreds of pictures and I’m still at less than 1% of my limit. That’s unbelievably great.

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