Posts Tagged ‘products’

365great Day 23: handmade

laelene Posted in 365great,Tags: , , , , ,
1

Learn more about 365great here.

365great challenge day 23: handmadeThere’s something very rewarding about creating something yourself. I always wished I was more crafty and even joined a cross-stitch club in middle school to try to gain some skill. The only other things I’m good at are origami and paper cutting, so when I thought of what I could make, one of the first things I tried was origami earrings. You can see more designs over at Panda Loves! I had a lot of fun with these and I wish I was more skilled with making higher end stuff like Stone Rush Jewelry. Still, it’s really fulfilling to be able to create something.

I admire all those sellers on Etsy making really cool stuff. Whether it’s soap and candles or jewelry and accessories, I love anything handmade. Usually it’s super cute and the personal touch is something you just can’t get from mass-produced items. Craft fairs are a great place to find these kinds of things and I love supporting local artists & artisans! I’m totally envious of their abilities. I wish my creations involved a bit more hands-on activity beyond typing or wielding a pen. If you make your own crafts, I’d love to learn more – please do share. 🙂 The rich stories and hard work behind handmade items are what makes them great.

365great Day 22: marinated mushrooms

laelene Posted in 365great,Tags: , , , , , , ,
4

Learn more about 365great here.

365great challenge day 22: marinated mushroomsI’m a sucker for these things. Pickled, marinated, brined (is that even correct?) – when it comes to veggies soaked in a solution, I’m obsessed. One of my absolute favorites (other than pickles) are marinated mushrooms. I first discovered these at Costco back in my teen years and I looooved them. Unfortunately, it seems that my taste doesn’t suit most other people, so eventually they stopped carrying it. I tried in vain for years to find another place that sold the kind I like, until finally I stumbled across the salad bar at Ralph’s. I was ecstatic to find that they were pretty similar to my favorite kind. Unfortunately, the price of getting mushrooms from the salad bar by weight was just too much for normal consumption.

Then, about two weeks ago, I was in a Costco on the east coast when I stumbled across jars of marinated mushrooms again! It’s been like 8 years since I’ve seen them there and I was thrilled. They were the perfect flavor and consistency. Perfect! I practically inhaled that first jar and then returned for more and more. I even had Panda help bring me over a few jars since they don’t have them at my local Costco here on the west coast. For someone who loves sour things, this is the perfect amount of sour and salty and chewy. Plus, unlike pickles, when I eat these on an empty stomach, I don’t feel queasy. Maybe it’s because the mushrooms are rather meaty and filling? Whatever the case, finally being able to buy one of my all-time favorite foods again is amazing. Marinated mushrooms are tasty on their own or in a salad and to my taste buds, they’re just plain great.

365great Day 21: B.B. Cream

laelene Posted in 365great,Tags: , , , , ,
1

Learn more about 365great here.

365great challenge day 21: bb creamYou might have heard about BB creams lately. They’re all the rage! I was thrilled when I was invited to try out the Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector as part of a BzzAgent campaign. Free BB cream? Yes please! I’ve loved these from the first time I heard of them – not only do they help with evening out your skin tone, but they’re great as part of your normal skincare regimen. In fact, BB creams are supposed to be able to act in place of five other products: your serum, moisturizer, primer, foundation, and sunblock. I love the idea of putting on one product and getting all those benefits. It’s precisely because putting on multiple products is too much effort that I usually skip all but the moisturizer. Luckily, I can use the BB cream in place of my moisturizer and get so much more out of it!

I’ll write up a full review on the Garnier BB cream I’ve been testing for another post, but for now let’s just say that I wish this product had been around longer. I remember back in college I decided I should at least try to cover up some of my terrible breakouts and acne scars, so I got some foundation and ended up looking like a raccoon in pictures because I had a bit spot around my eyes that I hadn’t covered. That stuff felt cakey and/or greasy to me too, which didn’t help. As college ended I decided I didn’t care so I went au naturel for the next few years. While I still don’t care for full on makeup, I am definitely interested in a versatile product like BB cream that can offer so many benefits in one. If applying just that single product also allows me to cover up some of the acne scars and redness, why not? What a great concept! The convenience and versatility of BB creams makes them pretty great.

Ultra hydrated hair

laelene Posted in reviews,Tags: , , , , , , , ,
1

When I first got this set of Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge shampoo, conditioner, and “moisture-plenish” treatment to try for free, I didn’t think much of it. I was pretty excited to get them as part of a BzzAgent campaign, but I figured it’d just be a nice way to replenish my hair care supply. Little did I know that I’d be completely wowed by the results!

Let’s start with the basics: the Hydra Recharge line uses superfruits like goji berry, passion fruit, and kiwi – all of which fascinate me! I was really curious about what the combination might smell like and I’m happy to report that it’s wonderful. If you want to understand it too, you’ll just have to pick up a bottle for yourself and give it a whiff next time you’re in the store. This line is meant for dry to normal hair, to make your hair weightlessly silky and hydrated. The shampoo has these cool beads in them that burst as you rub it in your hair – this is the first time I’ve seen this in a shampoo!

collage of garnier fructis hydra recharge hair treatment system from bzzagentThe first thing I noticed when I got the set was the new cap design. I used to struggle with the old Garnier bottles, which had the small round nub to push on. Very cool design, but hard to use when my hands were slippery. With this new cap, I don’t have the problem anymore! It is very easy to open and close no matter how wet your hands may be. They managed to keep the aesthetic appeal of the ball yet improve functionality – bravo! Ok, now that you understand the facts, let’s discuss how these products performed.

I’ve been using this haircare regimen for four weeks now and I’m still pleased with the way my hair has responded. The first couple of days I immediately noticed my hair felt much, much silkier. It was so much fun to swish it around! I tried to capture the newfound glossiness, but my camera didn’t seem to pick it up very well. Once I got more used to the shine my hair had gained, I remembered that the results were supposed to last two days. I hadn’t really gotten a chance to test that since I was showering daily, but when I did skip a day here and there, it definitely held up. My hair tends to get very oily very fast if I don’t shower on a daily basis, so this was really good news!

Then came the real test – I was going on a flight and whenever I do, I always get uncomfortably dry, static-y hair. Would my newly hydrated locks hold up to this kind of pressure? My plane ride was a cross-country ordeal that lasted 5 1/2 hours and (did you guess it?) my hair came out just fine! It was amazing. This had never happened before. Now I’m just sad I couldn’t bring my new regimen with me, because I’m going to be here awhile.

Even nearly a month in, I’m pleased to say that my hair hasn’t gotten “tired” of the shampoo like it has with some previous products. You know that feeling, right? You get a new product that works great at first but then your body gets used to it or something and performance goes on a steep decline… this is what happened to me with Proactiv. Happily, I can report that Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge has continued to perform well. I might just need to get a set to use in my new location.

365great Day 18: dust plugs

laelene Posted in 365great,Tags: , , , , , ,
1

Learn more about 365great here.

365great challenge day 18: dust plugsDust plugs are pretty popular in Asia, probably because they love to bedazzle and bling out their devices. They’re a fun and creative way to add some personal flair to your phone, tablet, or miscellaneous device with a headphone jack. You can get everything from really large, flamboyant, dangling ones to small, cute, “barely there” ones (or something in between). Whether you want to add a subtle accent to your device or you want to be noticed, there’s probably a style for you. Just check out some of the examples I have: little gems, adorable plastic animals, super shiny dangly ones…

These accessories take advantage of an often-ignored part of the phone that sits empty a lot (except for those of you who listen to music incessantly). And since they’re really easy to interchange, you can update them frequently based on your mood. If you’re interested, I’ve started to list some for sale over on DeckMyPhone.com so you can join in on this newest craze!

365great Day 15: Daily Grommet

laelene Posted in 365great,Tags: , , , , , , ,
1

Learn more about 365great here.

365great challenge day 15: daily grommetDaily Grommet has been an excellent source of discovery for me! They consistently introduce fabulous products, ranging from sugru (which I am itching to get my hands on) to Squishables, which was featured earlier on 365great! When it comes to curated content for those looking for unique, often eco-friendly products, this is the place to be. If you are ever out of ideas for gifting, check out their recommendations – I guarantee you’ll find something cool.

Products range from practical to whimsical, from kitchenware to clothing, and so much more. Usually you’ll find a clever solution to common problems or something beautifully and elegantly designed. Each one has a compelling story, which is how they get chosen. I really can’t even begin to describe all the awesomeness you’ll encounter there, so I think the best thing to do is go browse yourself! Or hey, browse my own personal favorites here on my wishlist. I’m sure you’ll come across something great.

365great Day 9: touchscreen gloves

laelene Posted in 365great,Tags: , , , , , ,
1

Learn more about 365great here.

Or more accurately, touchscreen compatible gloves. These are awesome because you can keep them on when you need to use your smartphone or tablet. There’s a ton of variety in the style of gloves that come with these special fingertips, from knit ones to more weatherproof ones. Whether you prefer funky ones like mine or more professional ones, these can be a freezing-finger-saver!

365great challenge day 9: touchscreen glovesTouchscreen-capable gloves often use a special type of conductive thread to imitate to conductivity of our skin. It’s a simple and elegant solution that is excellent for anyone who has to be out in chilly weather. I love that it helps solve an uncomfortable (and sometimes painful) situation. What a practical and fun way to solve a pretty common problem! That’s why they’re great.

Geeky cute

laelene Posted in photo blog,Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
0

robot earbud wrap with googly eyes

penguin retractable earbuds

iplunge plunger-shaped iphone stand

yellow angry birds iphone case

365great Day 5: BzzAgent

laelene Posted in 365great,Tags: , , , , , ,
2

Learn more about 365great here.

365great challenge day 5: bzzagent

Always providing full size free products to try!


With all the ways to get free things, few are as rewarding and hassle-free as BzzAgent. All you do is fill out surveys so they can best match you with products, then wait to get invited to a campaign. Once you join a campaign, you’re sent a full size product (or coupon for a full size) to sample and you’re encouraged to share your thoughts about it/them through social media channels, in person, and in any other way you see fit. I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of this site earlier, since I usually find out about cool new sites pretty quickly. Once I did and saw how legit it was, I jumped right in. I went crazy connecting my social media accounts, filling out their surveys, and looking around to see what I could do to maximize my opportunities.

As I let it simmer, I went about my business until one day about two months later – boom! An email in my inbox invited me to the MorningStar Farms campaign, trying veggie burgers. I got a coupon and went to my local store to pick out any flavor I wanted. It was so exciting! Not long after, I got invited to some beauty-related ones, including Schick’s Hydro Silk razor, Garnier’s Olia hair coloring system, and most recently, Garnier’s BB cream campaign. I love how you always get a full size of the products to try and there are no mandatory activities to do. Plus, it’s completely free unlike many other “free” offers where you need to spend money elsewhere to earn your free reward. Ultimately, BzzAgent really impresses me with their reputation; I know that I can trust them to make me feel valued and not make me jump through hoops just to get a teeny tiny sample. This is how sampling programs should be, and that’s what makes them great!

365great Day 2: Yuzen

laelene Posted in 365great,Tags: , , , , , , ,
4

Learn more about 365great here.

365great challenge day 2: yuzen

Sending yu a little zen” – Yuzen

Yuzen may technically be a subscription box service, but they’re really in a league of their own. What sets them apart is that they focus on inner well-being rather than external beauty. The products they choose for each box are not only eco-friendly and more sustainable, but high-quality items that make you feel better when you use them. Whereas many other boxes focus on beauty, food, pets, or other physical themes, Yuzen stands alone in their quest for something more emotional and abstract: zen. As their slogan goes, they’re amazing at “sending yu a little zen.”

I’ve been subscribed to them since their first box in July of 2012, and I even got involved as a Yuzen Ambassador because I admire them so much. They are the only brand that has positive reviews across the board – people love their carefully chosen products, beautifully presented boxes, and excellent customer service (all of which promote more zen!). Their standards are top-notch and the care and love they pour into everything they do shows. That’s what makes them so great.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...