Posts Tagged ‘snacks’

Free cone day

laelene Posted in lifestyle glimpses，Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
08 April 2014
0

I’m getting a little antsy with no new box recently. I do have some on the way though! I ordered a Julep spring mystery box (I had skipped March, but it looks like I got sucked in to getting something anyway :-P) and I got a notification that my Beauty Box 5 is on its way. In the mean time…

Today was free cone day at Ben & Jerry’s locations across the nation! For lunch, a bunch of my coworkers and I went to claim a freebie and I donated $5 to the charity that was there – apparently each location has a local charity for the day. I got a scoop of Liz Lemon, which is a lemon frozen Greek yogurt with blueberry swirl. I think I’ve found a refreshing fav! I really enjoyed the slight tartness and lightness of this flavor.

ben and jerry's ice cream free cone day april 8th 2014 sign

hands holding ice cream cones from ben and jerry's

“Hurry up with the picture, I want to eat my cone!!”

Treatsie March 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: , , , , , , , ,
20 March 2014
0

This month, the new premium version of Treatsie (which you’d get if you signed up after they changed their pricing) had a deluxe TCHO bar in addition to what I got. These bars are larger than the set of minis I have and include fun flavors like Galactic Gelato and Strawberry Rhubarb Pie.

Treatsie is $15 per box + $4.95 shipping and comes with artisan candy from 3-4 brands (I am grandfathered in for $15 for 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.

treatsie march 2014 box contents with chocolate bars and caramels

CocoaPlanet Salted Caramel and CocoaMint chocolate bars: I didn’t understand the “pearls of flavor” until I bit in and found wonderful little pockets of caramel or mint scattered throughout the salted caramel and cocoamint bars/discs. It’s a nice round chocolate “bar” and there are directions on how to make hot chocolate with it. I think that’s a fabulous idea! I enjoy eating them as is too.

Big Picture Farm Cocoa Latte, Maple Cream, Chai, & Sea Salt & Bourbon Vanilla caramels: I’m not sure about the two with coffee and alcohol flavoring, since I like neither, so I think I’ll share them with someone else. I loved the chai, which tasted wonderfully of chai and gave me a nice warm sensation. The maple cream tasted like a pretty normal caramel to me and it wasn’t until I’d been chewing it for awhile that some of the maple and cream was noticeable. If subtle was their intention, they got that down.

TCHO Minibar Assortment: These are packaged beautifully and each comes with a fun description of the taste notes: there’s the PureNotes dark chocolate – extremely rich and “chocolatey,” the SeriousMilk “classic” milk chocolate with caramel notes, the PureNotes dark chocolate with layers of “fruity” notes, the PureNotes dark chocolate with light and “bright” notes, the SeriousMilk “cacao” milk chocolate with lush and fudgy notes, and the PureNotes dark chocolate with subtle “nutty” notes. Well, I know exactly what to expect with these! I’ve enjoyed the flavors I tried and I think these bars are a perfect little treat.

I’m still glad I’m locked in for the original box for now. I was plenty happy with the contents of this box and don’t feel too bad about missing on a large TCHO chocolate. Do you like the contents of the box this month?

[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 361: roasted chestnuts

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , ,
10 March 2014
0

365great day 361: roasted chestnutsEvery time I see one of my cousins, she knows exactly what to get me: freshly roasted chestnuts. She’ll stop by a street vendor roasting by the side of the road and buy me a bag or two of the treats. They come out so perfectly that way – a cut in the skin allows me to easily peel it and eat the chestnut whole. The exterior layer of the meat is a little glossy, providing sort of a glazed feel. The rest of it is just the kind of mealiness that I like and a nice sweetness that isn’t overwhelming. When I was young, I remember going to pick chestnuts with my parents – I was amazed by the spiky green ball that they grow in, which we had to step on with our feet to break. We then carefully pried them open to pick out the chestnuts inside. They’re one of my favorite foods and I never really considered them a nut. I guess I do like nuts after all! At least I think chestnuts taste great.

Bargaining at Silk Street Market

laelene Posted in stories，Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
10 March 2014
0

Visitors to Beijing will probably all be familiar with the Silk and Pearl Market known as the Silk Street Market. It has six floors of shopping, grouped into types. Towards the very top you’ll find the nice fancy jewelers with precious stones and metals. There’s the electronics floor, filled with phone and tablet accessories, headphones, etc. Then are the softer goods, like blankets, cloth, and clothing. Continuing on down you’ll find purses, wallets, and shoes. Somewhere along the way you’ll encounter luggage stalls too. And of course there are plenty of fun little Chinese trinkets and gift items.

stalls of vendors at silk street market in beijing with glass wallsBargaining at the Silk Street Market is pretty much expected (except for food you eat while there). I went there today with the goal of getting Panda a new wallet (or two) and checking out anything I might want for myself. You can get to the market from subway line number 1 (the red line). Go to exit A and up the escalators to find yourself in one corner of the building that houses the market. I like to start at the top and work my way down, so I strolled through some nicer stalls first. Eventually I made my way down to my real goal on level B1: the purses and wallets. The majority were for women, but I found a stall with mostly men’s leather goods and got to work.

My style of bargaining starts with first seeing how much I actually like what they have. After all, it’s no use to bargain for something I don’t really want and won’t be pleased with. So the stall attendant stares at me while I browse through a ton of their items. If I’m not seeing what I like, I’ll ask them if they have it. In this case, none of the wallets I was looking at had a little pouch for coins, so I asked and one of the ladies went to the back to find me some. She came back with four designs, of which two were to my liking. I asked how they were sold and was told ¥460 for one. Err, what?! That’s about $75!! I mean, I can go to Marshall’s or TJ Maxx and get a nice wallet for less than a third of that price.

men's leather wallets in brown and black from silk street marketThese attendants like to ask you what your price is. I like to go lower than I’d actually want it for to leave some room, and also remain as vague as possible at first. I said I came out only expecting to spend in the 10’s (as in not going into triple-digit territory). I kept looking and when I found blemishes, the attendant cleaned them off. There was one corner that was missing a piece, so she went to get a replacement one, but I didn’t like it as much (no more identical ones left). At these places you can usually get an item for less than 20-25% of the original asking price (often as low as 8-10%). So I figured, maybe I can get both for less than ¥100. I started by saying I only wanted to spend ¥50. She lowered the price into the 200’s. Still not good enough – I thought a bit, looked a bit, and decided I’d go with ¥80 (though I was considering saying ¥60). As she protested, I told her nevermind and walked away. As I walked off, she hollered at me to come back to talk and eventually (about two stalls away), I heard her say ok. I promptly turned around and I got my two wallets for ¥80 total – just $13!! If my mom was there, she could probably get both for ¥50, but alas, I’m still happy with my purchase.

Did I get the best deal? Probably not, but I certainly did pretty well. I think part of it might have been because the attendant could tell I’m a “??” (overseas Chinese). I never actually confirmed with her (once again, remaining vague with these people is usually a good strategy), but she could tell from my mannerisms, presence, and/or skin. She said she had a feeling and that my skin was different (presumably not white enough, since mainland Chinese women like to lighten their skin tone). I’m still amazed at how they know, but those people at the Silk Street Market… they always know. After all that interaction with people, I’m sure they’re excellent at reading us all.

cup of chinese frozen yogurt with fruit toppingsI then continued on to another stall, where I saw another men’s wallet, a women’s wallet clutch, and a toiletry bag I liked. When I tried to get all three for ¥100, the attendant started to put everything back in its place. That’s when I knew I was too low for them to even bother with me. No biggie, I didn’t want or need any of those three items anyway. So I kept going and eventually made my way to another floor to explore. When I came across a frozen yogurt stand, I couldn’t resist. I was thirsty anyway and wanted something refreshing. I got chocolate chips, watermelon, cantaloupe, kiwi, and peach jam drizzle on it. I like the Chinese version of frozen yogurt, which is more tart and dense. Some of the American ones are too sweet and soft for my taste.

silk market and pearl market plastic bagAs I carried my food, I continued on and went through a couple more purse/wallet stalls. In one of the larger ones, I saw some that I liked. They were a material resembling patent leather and had a fun, bold Asian-inspired logo on them. Unfortunately the attendant bargaining with me lost interest after I said ¥50 and she came down to ¥200. I guess I was too low again, so I walked away, hoping to find the design in another stall. I didn’t see it anywhere else and my back had started to hurt, so I decided to come home. I did get the one thing I absolutely wanted from there, but I’m considering asking my mom to go back before she leaves Beijing to get that wallet for me.

Oh, and according to the bag, apparently the three things to do in Beijing are: 1. Climb the Great Wall, 2. Eat Peking duck, and 3. Do shopping at Silk Market. I’ve done them all, so I must be properly acquainted with the city then!

365great Day 340: rice crispy treats

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , , ,
17 February 2014
0

365great day 340: rice crispy treatsIn middle school, I used to gorge on Rice Krispy Treats and Gatorade. I loved the sweetness of the marshmallows and the crispness of the popped rice in those snacks. Since then, I’ve enjoyed many other versions made by a variety of sources and I’m always looking forward to trying more. I like ones that are gooey and soft, almost taffy-like. These ones from Starbucks are pretty fantastic and I could eat them for breakfast, as a snack, or for dessert. Rice crispy treats make a versatile snack that you can enjoy any time of day. I find they go quite well with a nice hot drink too. One of these days I’m going to try making them for myself. I can just imagine how amazing they’d be fresh out of the oven! What a great baked good to have around.

365great Day 339: smoked salmon

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , ,
16 February 2014
0

365great day 339: smoked salmonI had a craving for smoked salmon again, after eating a delicious sushi roll with some of that recently. For the longest time, I wouldn’t eat it because I shied away from what I thought was raw meat. I’m still confused as to whether smoked salmon is considered truly raw since it’s been treated, but I like it enough to not really care. I love the cool, moist texture of it and the salty but not overwhelming taste. Last time I craved it, I ate a ton as part of salads. This time, I opted to pair it with cucumber on bread. Since I didn’t want a creamy sauce, I just added lime juice, salt, and pepper on top for extra flavor. Then today I saw this offered at Ikea and I couldn’t resist. Yum! It’s a great little snack to enjoy.

Yuzen Spring 2014 edition review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
16 February 2014
2

Aww, it’s finally Yuzen time again! I actually got it over a week ago, but with the move and filming the video for them, I kept forgetting to get still pictures. This lovely box for the spring provides a wonderful assortment of products for treating yourself. They smell great and feel wonderful too. I’m ready for all this snow to finally end and feel like spring is on its way! The box I’m showing here came in a red organza bag and has white tissue paper for Valentine’s. If you get this later in the quarter, you’ll probably receive the spring one with a white organza bag and yellow/lime green tissue paper. That’s what you’ll see in the video I filmed for Yuzen’s YouTube channel, which will be up soon. 🙂

Yuzen is $33 per quarter (with boxes sent Feb, May, Aug, and Nov) and comes with around 7 or 8 eco-friendly beauty, skincare, food/snacks, and home products. Boxes are sent quarterly with no option to skip, but you can get one-time gift boxes too. Sometimes there’s a waitlist to get the subscription. They do not offer a referral program.

yuzen box with white flowers on aqua background and spring info card

Beautiful red coloring that works for spring AND Valentine’s.

yuzen spring 2014 box info card inside

Info about the products in the spring box.

yuzen spring 2014 box info card back

And the last couple of brands included.

unboxed spring 2014 yuzen box with contents shown

I see myself taking an enriching bath and then nourishing myself afterward.

Click on the pictures for the full sizes so you can enjoy all the details of each product!  You can even zoom in to read all the messaging.

Lotus Wei – Infinite Love Mist: So very suitable for the month of love. I actually have this mist already, from way back in the early days of Yuzen. It’s a sweet scent with a hint of tartness, which makes sense since it’s a blend of mandarin, rose, and honey. These are meant to be sprayed around to surround you with the type of scent that will enhance your experience of love for yourself and those around you. You can use it as a pillow mist, spray it as you enter a room, or just spray it around your body. Inhale, relax, and feel the love! Use code YUZEN by 4/30/14 for 20% off at Lotus Wei.

Acure – Radical Resurfacing Facial Treatment: I am pretty excited about this product, if it can help even out my skin! I have acne scars and some random dark spots that plague me, so I’m hoping this will help. I’ve never heard of lemon probiotic or chlorella growth factor, but I do believe plants have powerful abilities to heal and harnessing that certainly sounds good. I’ve heard of natural remedies using lemon to brighten skin, so this probably works similarly. At the very least it feels so hydrating and smells sort of tangy like ginger. I’m loving this as a moisturizer on its own, even though it goes on under one. Use code YUZENLOVE for 25% at Acure.

sumbody – sum fizzer: This large block of fizzing fun is in their Coconut Cream scent (though I don’t know if they were sending out other variations too). I tested a small piece and it fizzes very well! Can’t wait to incorporate this into a bath. My skin felt great after using the water with the fizz in it and I loved the light scent it left! It’s not too strong on the coconut, but definitely gives you a tropical feel. I think you’re supposed to use the whole one in the bath, but I’ll probably split it up between a few uses. I’m loving this! Use code Yuzen2 by 5/1/14 for 20% off at sumbody.

sumbody – bath melt: I broke off a quarter of this to use in my bath this weekend and I enjoyed the use of goat milk in their Milky Rich variation. It reminded me of a luxurious bar of chocolate and I was almost tempted to eat it! Inside the foil you’ll find a little piece of paper telling you more about the product and how to use it (they had one for the fizzer too). It took some swirling of the water to get this dissolved and then I could see the oils that were released. It was almost like taking a milk bath, which I’m sure my skin was happy about. Use code Yuzen2 by 5/1/14 for 20% off at sumbody.

Sranrom – Calm Down Hand Cream: Anything inspired by Thailand has got to be good. This lotion is thicker than most, but not quite a body butter. The lemongrass and lime scent is so refreshing and soothing all at once. I love it! It’s very enriching and perfect to combat the dryness that winter brought on. I got a good laugh when I saw the scent name of Calm Down, because I tell Panda to do that all the time. When I showed him, he had a chuckle too and I think I’m going to give him a tube to use. He worries too much and needs some calming! Use code YUZEN20 for 20% at Sranrom.

Sranrom – Compassion candle: I’m really enjoying all the refreshing scents in this box, like this lemongrass, lemon, and spearmint candle! It’s beautifully made and smells wonderful. I used it while soaking in a bath and it was a great calming prescence. It burns cleanly and comes in such a cute little glass container! What a lovely way to enhance the mood in any room. Use code YUZEN20 for 20% at Sranrom.

Balanced Guru – Balm Me Up Body Balm: I was surprised at how solid this body balm is when I first opened it. It’s actually quite soft though, and melts with your body heat. It’s a very strong tangy scented product that is super buttery. It’s absolutely wonderful for your elbows, knees, and other rough patches of skin. Just a thin layer took away all trace of dry skin for me. I can see this being perfect for getting through the cold months, though the scent can get overwhelming for me so I can only use a little bit at a time. Use code YUZEN by 4/30/14 for 20% off at Balanced Guru.

Chocolove – Cherries & Almonds in Dark Chocolate: I just got my first intro to Chocolove in my Escape Monthly box and what do you know, it’s showing up here too! This flavor is just what you’d want around Valentine’s and I enjoyed it, but I’ve got to admit I’m not a huge fan of anything other than fresh, ripe cherries. Nevertheless, the chocolate is delicious and they have plenty of amazing flavors to choose from! Definitely a brand that I’ll keep my eye out for when I’m out shopping.

essio – aromatherapy shower kit: Finally, there’s a discount code for Essio’s aromatherapy for the shower. It’s a little arm contraption that you put on your showerhead and then you swap in little pods with different essential oil aromatherapy scents. I met the founder at a LOHAS event that I was helping Yuzen out at and I liked the idea, but was not at a point in my life where I was treating myself to such luxuries. However, I’m thinking that now might be the time, since I’ve really gotten into skincare and taking care of my body. Thankfully, I have until June to decide on this! Use code YUZEN20 by 6/30/14 for 20% off at Essio.

So there you go, a lovely way to kick off spring by healing your skin from a tough winter’s beating. What did you like most in this box?

*Disclosure: As a super fan, I was invited to be the Yuzen Ambassador to help them spread the word about their brand. I now receive the boxes for free. I was not compensated otherwise and all opinions are my own, irregardless of my relation to Yuzen. I just happen to think they’re awesome (as does everyone else I’ve heard from). 🙂

365great Day 317: Escape Monthly

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , , , , , ,
25 January 2014
1

365great day 317: escape monthlyI’ve been with Escape Monthly since they started with their first box in August 2013 and it’s been a fun ride so far! Each month, they’ve carefully chosen products that reflect the spirit of a certain region and almost every single product is actually made there (if not all of them). Products include a bit of personal care, a bit of food or snacks, a bit of home goods, a bit of random items, and always a guide book for that area. The vibe of each box has been different based on the theme of the month and it’s been lovely trying products from all over the place. So far it’s mostly been US cities and states, with one international box focused on Italy. I hope they mix in more international destinations as time goes on! I also love their referral program, which has earned me quite a bit of money back. 🙂 Awesome tours of cool destinations AND recurring commission for referrals? That’s great!!

365great Day 314: Popcorners

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: , , , , ,
22 January 2014
0

365great day 314: popcornersThis is seriously the only way I eat popcorn. I’ve never liked the squeaky texture of popped popcorn, so I rarely ever eat it. Popcorners offers the perfect solution – a nice crisp, condensed texture with the same tastiness! They have a most satisfying crunch that I love, much like a potato chip but with none of that grease. They’re a fun triangular shape and one of my favorite corn products. What a lovely way to enjoy corn in a brand new fashion. My favorite is their white cheddar flavor, which is light yet flavorful all in one. I’m a fan of a snack that is fun to eat and tastes great.

Escape Monthly January: Colorado Box Review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
21 January 2014
7

Today the first Escape Monthly box of the year arrived in the midst of snowstorm Janus!

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.

escape monthly january colorado box products showing escape monthly january colorado box info card against blue and white chevron background escape monthly january colorado box info card opened with details of products included(click to enlarge and read full messaging)

Since Panda recently went to Colorado, I had him review this with me. He nodded approval at the locally-sourced products and noted that a lot seem to be centered around Boulder. I hadn’t paid attention to that, but yes three of the items come from companies there. We liked the sampling of products that captured many aspects of the area.

Here’s what came in the box:

Moon Handbooks guide to Colorado – I’m getting quite the collection of these guides. This one will come in particularly handy when I either visit Colorado again or move there someday! It’s one of the few states I haven’t lived that I definitely would like to relocate to for a few years. I love the thought of fresh, crisp air and all that lovely outdoorsiness. They seem to have a whole lot of healthy choice brands that are gentler on the environment and our bodies.

Not the Same Rocky Mountain Mud Bath in Stress Relief Blend – My next bath is sooo going to be muddy! I’ve never had a mud bath before, so this is exciting and I can’t wait to try it. It’s a heavy pack of powder and the clay in it is supposed to draw out toxins. I’m sure I’ll enjoy this relieving, detoxing blend. Once I see how messy it may or may not be, I’ll decide if I’d get more. I certainly love the idea and look forward to trying it.

Jackson’s Honest Potato Chips in Sea Salt – I haven’t tried a chip made with coconut oil before, so that’s new. These chips feel more solid and have a strong crunch without hurting the roof of my mouth when I bite down. I like the taste, but because of the… heaviness of each chip, I don’t think I’d eat much at a time. That seems to be a good thing since I feel more satisfied with less product.

bluecorn naturals beeswax aromatherapy candle in Tranquility – This lovely little candle is a wonderful blend of lemongrass, cinnamon, and rosemary. It’s so unique to see lemongrass and cinnamon together and I love it! I couldn’t stop sniffing this candle and I look forward to burning it. It certainly is relaxing and nice to clear the mind with just based off the scent. I’ll break this in when we get into the new condo.

White Girl Salsa Medium Tomatillo – The most unexpected of the bunch, I’ve got to say. I don’t think I’d ever associate salsa with Colorado, but I am amused by this product and hey, it’s made in Colorado! I think the tomatillo flavor is perfect for so many things and I’ve got to get some chips to eat this with. I’d also love to put it on some fried eggs or even cook some meat with it as suggested on the label. I’ll browse the recipes on their website and figure something out!

Chocolove Orange Peel in Dark Chocolate bar – Mmm, rich dark chocolate with crunchy bits of orange peel make this bar delectable. Their branding fits the theme of mail/a postcard very well and I’d be absolutely thrilled to receive this in lieu of a letter! It is so delicious and smooth and crisp. The chocolate is very firm and takes a bit of strength to break. It’s fantastic and I’d definitely get one if I saw it in a store.

Bobo’s Oat Bars in Peach – Oh I just love the peach smell of this. Lightly fragrant and sweet in a subtle way. I’ve never been huge into oats, so it was quite dense for me and I could only eat a little corner. That bar would last me a good six rounds! It’s very tasty and just the sort of thing I’d bring on a road trip, hike, or other activity where I want something to sustain me. I don’t see myself eating this as a normal snack.

Colorado Aromatics Lavender Mountain Mist Hand & Body Lotion – How perfect that there was a lotion just as the cold hits us again and I started to run low on my supply at work. If you like lavender at all, you will love this. What a wonderful scent that is so soothing and relaxing. It definitely has aromatherapy qualities and I can see it being the perfect lotion to use for a massage. Treat yourself by rubbing it in and savoring that scent, letting it calm you.

Pike’s Peak geode – The bonus item this month is adorable!! I’m afraid to break my rock so I’m going to keep it whole for a little while. I’m so curious what it’ll look like inside though! I hope it developed well on the inside. I wonder if I can find a rock outside to practice on or if I just need to go for it with this one. I want a nice break into two pieces, but I can see myself shattering it. Well, we happen to have screwdrivers at the new office due to all that furniture-building, so maybe I’ll bring it in to work next week!

The theme of this box could very well have been finding peace because so many of these items promote relaxation and simple enjoyment. I feel very well pampered and I’m pleased with that. What do you think of this Colorado Escape Monthly box? If you want to sign up, try one of these codes (not sure which ones are still active): COLORADOESCAPE or YOURESCAPE for 20% off the lifetime of your subscription or GIFTESCAPE for 25% off.

For February the city we get to explore is New York, which should offer a ton of options.

escape monthly january colorado box info card back with preview of next month's box theme of new york

[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!]

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