For me, fashion has always been somewhat love/hate. I love the artistic parts: colors, shapes, texture, seeing how things fit together, how they transform a body. But I hate shopping.
Urmm. Let me elaborate. It's fun trying on clothes, putting together outfits, experimenting. But I hate dealing with crowds and changing booths, not being able to find my size, going through piles of crap to find good pieces, plus I simply don't have time for leisurely shopping anymore. Over the years, my casual clothes haven't changed much from jeans & t-shirts. My work clothes....well, let's just say I'm wearing the same pair of Express trousers from 8 years ago.
But there are some new services in the market which I think can help change that. I'm trying out two different companies which work from a similar model:
* CakeStyle: They ship you a box of clothes, especially selected to match your preferences. On average, there are 6 complete outfits with combined cost in the $2500~$3000 range. You have 10 days to try everything on. You only pay for items you keep. The rest, you ship back for free.
* StitchFix: For $20, they ship you a box of clothes selected per your tastes. There are 5 individual items, each one priced within a range you request. You have until the Monday after receipt of shipment to decide what you want. You pay for those items, with the $20 fee applied as a credit towards the purchase. The rest you ship back for free.
I don't know yet which will serve me better. I've signed up for both services and hopefully will be getting boxes of clothes delivered soon!
May 25, 2012
May 17, 2012
April 2012 Eco-Emi Box
Review of the April 2012 Eco Emi box!
All products listed below are linked on their site.
Mr. Ellie Pooh: Elephant Poo Paper - A sheet of paper printed with a beautiful elephant graphic. According to the company, it's "made up of 50% fiber from elephant dung and 50% post consumer paper" and I have to admit, the first thing I did was hold the sheet to my nose and try to detect poo scent. Instead, the paper smells faintly of cinnamon and grass! It's thick, with the lovely rag quality that artisan papers have. My only complaint is that the paper was folded to fit in the shipping box, thus adding a bad crease and making it unusable for me. However, I want to buy more of this stuff - they have cards & journals available!
Shea Radiance: Whipped Shea Butter with Kalahari Melon Seed Oil - Lovely bright smell. Thick, waxy consistency. On my hands, this felt greasy and added a weird shiny coating. But when applied to rougher skin on my elbows and feet, it seemed to absorb better. The sample contained a generous amount, I will continue to use on dry spots.
Maté Factor: Tropical Lime Yerba Mate Tea - Tart & grassy, with a pleasant smokey bite. Not bad, but probably not something I would drink more of.
Dr. Collins: Natural Toothpaste - Oddly sweet flavor. My mouth felt clean without the sting that some toothpastes have. But the sweetness is unsettling and I think it did more for my breath than for the health of my teeth.
Catalyst Gourmet: Enchanting Chai - Three different samples:
Burt's Bees: Lip Shimmer in Plum - Full size tube, with the typical Burt's Bees high quality. Soft on lips, color is not too dense, has a nice sheer & moisturizing feel.
Alabu Skin Care: Baby Me Ultra-Moisturizing Goat Milk Soap - Bar soap sample. Sadly, this dried my skin and made it feel rubbery.
Wholesome Sweeteners: Organic Raw Fair Trade Honey - Haven't had a chance to try this, as we don't normally consume honey. It's a wonderful dark amber and smells like sweet grass. A booklet of recipes was included, hoping to try some soon.
Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques: Bronzer in Golden - This shade is too dark for me, but the powder goes on smoothly and blends well. Nothing amazing, a competent product which does what it should.
The Seaweed Bath Company: Seaweed Body Wash in Eucalyptus & Peppermint - Overwhelming mint odor in the shower, but the scent fades after rinsing. Silky smooth body wash, luxurious and just the right amount of foam. Left my skin soft and freshly clean. One of the better body washes I've tried!
Mr. Ellie Pooh: Elephant Poo Paper - A sheet of paper printed with a beautiful elephant graphic. According to the company, it's "made up of 50% fiber from elephant dung and 50% post consumer paper" and I have to admit, the first thing I did was hold the sheet to my nose and try to detect poo scent. Instead, the paper smells faintly of cinnamon and grass! It's thick, with the lovely rag quality that artisan papers have. My only complaint is that the paper was folded to fit in the shipping box, thus adding a bad crease and making it unusable for me. However, I want to buy more of this stuff - they have cards & journals available!
Shea Radiance: Whipped Shea Butter with Kalahari Melon Seed Oil - Lovely bright smell. Thick, waxy consistency. On my hands, this felt greasy and added a weird shiny coating. But when applied to rougher skin on my elbows and feet, it seemed to absorb better. The sample contained a generous amount, I will continue to use on dry spots.
Maté Factor: Tropical Lime Yerba Mate Tea - Tart & grassy, with a pleasant smokey bite. Not bad, but probably not something I would drink more of.
Dr. Collins: Natural Toothpaste - Oddly sweet flavor. My mouth felt clean without the sting that some toothpastes have. But the sweetness is unsettling and I think it did more for my breath than for the health of my teeth.
Catalyst Gourmet: Enchanting Chai - Three different samples:
- Gourmet Enhancer: Small packet of ground spices (cardamom, cinnamon, star anise, ginger, fennel, black pepper, cloves & nutmeg). Added this to my breakfast tea and it was delicious! So many potential culinary uses!
- Finishing Sugar: Mixture of above spices plus sugar. Too sweet for coffee or tea, but would be wonderful on pancakes or french toast or yogurt.
- Spiced Dark Chocolate Bark: Spices + Dark Chocolate = Yum!
Burt's Bees: Lip Shimmer in Plum - Full size tube, with the typical Burt's Bees high quality. Soft on lips, color is not too dense, has a nice sheer & moisturizing feel.
Alabu Skin Care: Baby Me Ultra-Moisturizing Goat Milk Soap - Bar soap sample. Sadly, this dried my skin and made it feel rubbery.
Wholesome Sweeteners: Organic Raw Fair Trade Honey - Haven't had a chance to try this, as we don't normally consume honey. It's a wonderful dark amber and smells like sweet grass. A booklet of recipes was included, hoping to try some soon.
Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques: Bronzer in Golden - This shade is too dark for me, but the powder goes on smoothly and blends well. Nothing amazing, a competent product which does what it should.
The Seaweed Bath Company: Seaweed Body Wash in Eucalyptus & Peppermint - Overwhelming mint odor in the shower, but the scent fades after rinsing. Silky smooth body wash, luxurious and just the right amount of foam. Left my skin soft and freshly clean. One of the better body washes I've tried!
May 4, 2012
March 2012 Eco-Emi Box
Review of the March 2012 Eco Emi box!
All products listed below are linked on their site.
Bella Bars: Cinnamon Nut Raw Bar - Delicious flavor, but the gooey raw texture just did not work for me.
Vitacare: Pomegranate Gum - Had barely any taste, and in just a few seconds, it was like chewing chalk paste. Definitely not something I would buy.
Vitacare: Toothbrush - It's...a toothbrush. I haven't used it yet, but looks like your typical manual toothbrush. I do like that it's made from biodegradable & recycled materials.
Old Post Road Oils: Pear Tree Specialty Soap - Liquid soap sample. Has a light refreshing scent. Pleasantly astringent. Seems too mild for body washing, but I love it as a facial cleanser. My skin is combination dry/oily and this soap left my face feeling fresh & clean.
Auromere Ayurvedic: Patchouli Incense - Strong! The sample contained just three mini sticks, but the scent of patchouli was pervasive. I'm a big fan of patchouli, the dirtier & earthier, the better, and these fit the bill nicely. However, I don't burn incense sticks, so I ended up gifting these. The company looks really interesting though, and I might buy some of their other products.
Badger Balm: Lip Tint - No color indicator on the sample, but I think I got "Rose Tourmaline." A bit waxy and hard until it warms up on your lips. The shimmer is soft & subtle. I don't normally wear lip tint, but I'm keeping this around for those rare occasions.
Green Body Green Planet: Revitalize Shampoo & Conditioner - I actually like their product from last month better (the "Energy" version). This one smells kind of weird and left my hair feeling a bit more dry.
The All Natural Face: Vegan Eye Shadow - Such pretty powders! I got 'Rose Gold' and 'Warm Honey', both lovely shades. Easy to apply, feels smooth and light.
The All Natural Face: Vegan Eye Liner - A black gel which came in a pot with a cute little brush applicator. It was creamy and gentle, but difficult for me to control. Had a tendency to clump and I kept having to wipe excess off the applicator. Once on, it was nice. But I prefer a pencil form factor.
Bella Bars: Cinnamon Nut Raw Bar - Delicious flavor, but the gooey raw texture just did not work for me.
Vitacare: Pomegranate Gum - Had barely any taste, and in just a few seconds, it was like chewing chalk paste. Definitely not something I would buy.
Vitacare: Toothbrush - It's...a toothbrush. I haven't used it yet, but looks like your typical manual toothbrush. I do like that it's made from biodegradable & recycled materials.
Old Post Road Oils: Pear Tree Specialty Soap - Liquid soap sample. Has a light refreshing scent. Pleasantly astringent. Seems too mild for body washing, but I love it as a facial cleanser. My skin is combination dry/oily and this soap left my face feeling fresh & clean.
Auromere Ayurvedic: Patchouli Incense - Strong! The sample contained just three mini sticks, but the scent of patchouli was pervasive. I'm a big fan of patchouli, the dirtier & earthier, the better, and these fit the bill nicely. However, I don't burn incense sticks, so I ended up gifting these. The company looks really interesting though, and I might buy some of their other products.
Badger Balm: Lip Tint - No color indicator on the sample, but I think I got "Rose Tourmaline." A bit waxy and hard until it warms up on your lips. The shimmer is soft & subtle. I don't normally wear lip tint, but I'm keeping this around for those rare occasions.
Green Body Green Planet: Revitalize Shampoo & Conditioner - I actually like their product from last month better (the "Energy" version). This one smells kind of weird and left my hair feeling a bit more dry.
The All Natural Face: Vegan Eye Shadow - Such pretty powders! I got 'Rose Gold' and 'Warm Honey', both lovely shades. Easy to apply, feels smooth and light.
The All Natural Face: Vegan Eye Liner - A black gel which came in a pot with a cute little brush applicator. It was creamy and gentle, but difficult for me to control. Had a tendency to clump and I kept having to wipe excess off the applicator. Once on, it was nice. But I prefer a pencil form factor.
March 25, 2012
Spring Green
Despite my terrible track record with plants, we have attempted an herb garden. After preparing a small bed in the backyard corner, we laid down seed for mint, basil, sage, chamomile and thyme. Should be interesting to see how it goes....
March 20, 2012
February 2012 Eco-Emi Box
Review of the February 2012 Eco Emi box! All products listed below are linked on their site.
Revolution Organics: Freedom Lip Gloss - Lovely color, applies smooth and even. Smells a little weird, kind of sour. But feels very moisturizing and pigment is rich.
Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques: Sweet Chai Body Butter - Very small sample, but a little goes a long way! Smelled amazing, exactly like fresh chai. Thick, beeswax consistency. Sadly, my skin did not absorb this well and I was left with a greasy coating.
Eco Lips: Dagoba Lip Balm - Got the 'Roseberry' flavor. Texture was nice, but the smell made me gag: a chemical cough syrup, artificial and sickly sweet. I had to scrub this stuff off.
Oluv Skin: Suds Soap - Interesting, it doesn't feel like soap! Creamy and soft, buttery, like it's going to melt at any moment. Not much lather, but washes smooth and gentle. My skin felt soft, it doesn't strip away as much oil as other bar soaps.
Dr. Robin Sunscreen - Feels like high-end lotion. Not too greasy and doesn't have that fake coconut smell. Very nice, would definitely use again.
Greener Living: Soap Nuts - Skeptical at first, but I did some research on soap nuts in general, and there's quite a market for this stuff. The sample contained 5 nuts (not actually nuts, but dried fruit of a plant related to lychee), supposedly enough for a few loads. Came with a small muslin bag. Tied the nuts in the bag and threw it into the washing machine. I tried a relatively small load - two little doggie blankets, a few t-shirts and socks. While the package recommended warm water, we always use cold, so I stuck with that. And the soap nuts worked pretty well! Clothes came out clean, no lingering odors, and fabric felt soft. You can extract liquid from the nuts too, and use as cleanser, insect repellent and general soap replacement. I want to get more and experiment!
Crystal Essence: Lavender & White Tea Deodorant Towelettes - Unfortunately, not strong enough for me. I used one towelette for both pits. After a normal work day, there was significant BO and the pretty scent was gone. This was without strenuous activity! I think if your body normally doesn't have a strong odor, these would work fine. But I need something more powerful.
Green Body Green Planet: Energy Shampoo & Conditioner - Invigorating ginger/citrus scent. Shampoo felt sticky and required additional rinses, but my hair was clean and moisturized. Conditioner resulted in decent volume and shine. Found this combo didn't help my frizz. Good products, but I wasn't impressed enough to buy full sized bottles.
Mighty Leaf Tea: Herbal Chocolate Mint Truffle Tea - I'm already a big fan of Mighty Leaf Tea! However, dessert tea isn't my thing, so I ended up gifting this to a co-worker.
Revolution Organics: Freedom Lip Gloss - Lovely color, applies smooth and even. Smells a little weird, kind of sour. But feels very moisturizing and pigment is rich.
Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques: Sweet Chai Body Butter - Very small sample, but a little goes a long way! Smelled amazing, exactly like fresh chai. Thick, beeswax consistency. Sadly, my skin did not absorb this well and I was left with a greasy coating.
Eco Lips: Dagoba Lip Balm - Got the 'Roseberry' flavor. Texture was nice, but the smell made me gag: a chemical cough syrup, artificial and sickly sweet. I had to scrub this stuff off.
Oluv Skin: Suds Soap - Interesting, it doesn't feel like soap! Creamy and soft, buttery, like it's going to melt at any moment. Not much lather, but washes smooth and gentle. My skin felt soft, it doesn't strip away as much oil as other bar soaps.
Dr. Robin Sunscreen - Feels like high-end lotion. Not too greasy and doesn't have that fake coconut smell. Very nice, would definitely use again.
Greener Living: Soap Nuts - Skeptical at first, but I did some research on soap nuts in general, and there's quite a market for this stuff. The sample contained 5 nuts (not actually nuts, but dried fruit of a plant related to lychee), supposedly enough for a few loads. Came with a small muslin bag. Tied the nuts in the bag and threw it into the washing machine. I tried a relatively small load - two little doggie blankets, a few t-shirts and socks. While the package recommended warm water, we always use cold, so I stuck with that. And the soap nuts worked pretty well! Clothes came out clean, no lingering odors, and fabric felt soft. You can extract liquid from the nuts too, and use as cleanser, insect repellent and general soap replacement. I want to get more and experiment!
Crystal Essence: Lavender & White Tea Deodorant Towelettes - Unfortunately, not strong enough for me. I used one towelette for both pits. After a normal work day, there was significant BO and the pretty scent was gone. This was without strenuous activity! I think if your body normally doesn't have a strong odor, these would work fine. But I need something more powerful.
Green Body Green Planet: Energy Shampoo & Conditioner - Invigorating ginger/citrus scent. Shampoo felt sticky and required additional rinses, but my hair was clean and moisturized. Conditioner resulted in decent volume and shine. Found this combo didn't help my frizz. Good products, but I wasn't impressed enough to buy full sized bottles.
Mighty Leaf Tea: Herbal Chocolate Mint Truffle Tea - I'm already a big fan of Mighty Leaf Tea! However, dessert tea isn't my thing, so I ended up gifting this to a co-worker.
New Car!
Eight years and 153,000 miles later, I finally got a new car.
And it's another Ford Focus hatchback. Because apparently I'm going to chain buy these things until they're discontinued.
My old car drives fine, actually. It's still in my possession with just the normal wear-and-tear you'd expect from years of new england driving. Hell, it even survived minus 10 degree weather on a 600 mile Vermont road trip two months ago.
But I've tolerated an onerous commute with antiquated vehicle amenities for long enough. No more awkward headsets and tangled cords. No more fishing around for CDs or unwinding ipod speaker buds. Now I have bluetooth, voice commands, two USB ports and an SD reader at my fingertips. Plus, the new car has better gas mileage and it's nice to be back on warranty again!
And it's another Ford Focus hatchback. Because apparently I'm going to chain buy these things until they're discontinued.
My old car drives fine, actually. It's still in my possession with just the normal wear-and-tear you'd expect from years of new england driving. Hell, it even survived minus 10 degree weather on a 600 mile Vermont road trip two months ago.
But I've tolerated an onerous commute with antiquated vehicle amenities for long enough. No more awkward headsets and tangled cords. No more fishing around for CDs or unwinding ipod speaker buds. Now I have bluetooth, voice commands, two USB ports and an SD reader at my fingertips. Plus, the new car has better gas mileage and it's nice to be back on warranty again!
February 25, 2012
January 2012 Eco Emi Box
Review of the January 2012 Eco Emi box! All products listed below are linked on their site.
JR Watkins: Lip Tint - I have the "Simply Mauve-Laus" color. I'm not a lip tint person, but this color is pretty and I've always liked JR Watkins products.
Merry Hempsters: Endangered Species Lip Balm - Mine is "Polar Bear - Vanilla" and smells lovely. The texture is smooth, not too greasy.
Tru Roots: Sprouted Organic Quinoa - Our first time trying quinoa! We cooked them in a sauce pot with chicken stock, tomatoes and garlic. Quite delicious, we'll definitely get more in the future. This was a great introduction, we would never have tried quinoa without getting the sample first.
TeaGschwendner: Acerola Fruit Tea - I thought this would be super sweet, given the ingredients (candied papaya, pineapple, mango). But this brews a bright cherry red and tastes refreshingly tart. It would be fantastic iced.
TeaGschwendner: Marani Green Tea - Turns out this combination of pineapple & green tea is not for me. I thought it was odd and ruined the green tea flavor for me.
Kelapo: Organic Fair Trade Coconut Oil - Interesting, but not something I have immediate use for. It will be stashed and maybe go into the next baking project.
Deep Steep: Honeydew Spearmint Lotion - Smells pretty. It's not the most remarkable lotion I've tried, but it gets the job done.
Dr. Clean Green: Organic Hand Purifier - I dislike hand sanitizer products on principle, so I gave this to a co-worker. I appreciate that the ingredients are all natural and probably better for your skin, but I'm a soap & hot water gal.
Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques: Organic Eye Liner in black brown - Nice pencil eye liner. I didn't notice anything drastically different from conventional eye liner but it did feel soft and washed off easily.
Biokleen: Citrus Laundry Liquid - The sample was enough for a large laundry load. Clothes definitely came out clean, it even handled some underarm sweat stains. I don't like the citrus scent but they have a fragrance free formula which might do the trick. We have to be careful due to sensitive skin allergies and once our current product runs out, I'd like to try this one.
JR Watkins: Lip Tint - I have the "Simply Mauve-Laus" color. I'm not a lip tint person, but this color is pretty and I've always liked JR Watkins products.
Merry Hempsters: Endangered Species Lip Balm - Mine is "Polar Bear - Vanilla" and smells lovely. The texture is smooth, not too greasy.
Tru Roots: Sprouted Organic Quinoa - Our first time trying quinoa! We cooked them in a sauce pot with chicken stock, tomatoes and garlic. Quite delicious, we'll definitely get more in the future. This was a great introduction, we would never have tried quinoa without getting the sample first.
TeaGschwendner: Acerola Fruit Tea - I thought this would be super sweet, given the ingredients (candied papaya, pineapple, mango). But this brews a bright cherry red and tastes refreshingly tart. It would be fantastic iced.
TeaGschwendner: Marani Green Tea - Turns out this combination of pineapple & green tea is not for me. I thought it was odd and ruined the green tea flavor for me.
Kelapo: Organic Fair Trade Coconut Oil - Interesting, but not something I have immediate use for. It will be stashed and maybe go into the next baking project.
Deep Steep: Honeydew Spearmint Lotion - Smells pretty. It's not the most remarkable lotion I've tried, but it gets the job done.
Dr. Clean Green: Organic Hand Purifier - I dislike hand sanitizer products on principle, so I gave this to a co-worker. I appreciate that the ingredients are all natural and probably better for your skin, but I'm a soap & hot water gal.
Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques: Organic Eye Liner in black brown - Nice pencil eye liner. I didn't notice anything drastically different from conventional eye liner but it did feel soft and washed off easily.
Biokleen: Citrus Laundry Liquid - The sample was enough for a large laundry load. Clothes definitely came out clean, it even handled some underarm sweat stains. I don't like the citrus scent but they have a fragrance free formula which might do the trick. We have to be careful due to sensitive skin allergies and once our current product runs out, I'd like to try this one.
January 1, 2012
Obligatory New Years Resolutions Post
Four for 2012:
* Half or more meals without any meat
* Go to the public library more often
* Leave work by 5 PM at least once per week
* Learn WPF
* Half or more meals without any meat
* Go to the public library more often
* Leave work by 5 PM at least once per week
* Learn WPF
September 11, 2011
Waking Up
A cloudy Sunday morning, a breath of wind and sighing leaves. Cup of tea, dog walked and fed and resting head on paws, Coldplay's Viva la Vida soft in the background, contemplating and reflecting and glad to be alive.
September 9, 2011
Fall Fashion
Another reason why fall is my favorite season: fall fashion always seems to work best on me.
First, the colors! Gone are the pale pastels and wan flowers. No more pinks and yellows and Hawaiian prints. Instead, all the stores are stocking mulberry and paisley and dusky teals.
And then, the return of sleeves! I do not wear strapless well, given my shortcomings in the boob department. And my workplace frowns upon sleeveless shirts. So I always welcome cool weather fashion, with its sleeves, cuffed and trimmed and buttoned in all their glory.
Fall fabrics are also much to my liking. Not as thick as winter clothing, but nothing you can see through, either. And most fall styles are meant for layering, which is wonderful when shuttling from home to an office where temperature regulation is nonexistent, to grabbing a drink outdoors, to walking the dog.
Oh, and I love fall jewelry. Leaf and acorn motifs, purple and black gems, bronze and copper accents. Plus pumpkins, apples, and other harvest related designs. They sure beat seashells and roses!
The sad part is that fall is so short. Everything turns into sweaters and peacoats within a few weeks. But I'll enjoy while it lasts!
First, the colors! Gone are the pale pastels and wan flowers. No more pinks and yellows and Hawaiian prints. Instead, all the stores are stocking mulberry and paisley and dusky teals.
And then, the return of sleeves! I do not wear strapless well, given my shortcomings in the boob department. And my workplace frowns upon sleeveless shirts. So I always welcome cool weather fashion, with its sleeves, cuffed and trimmed and buttoned in all their glory.
Fall fabrics are also much to my liking. Not as thick as winter clothing, but nothing you can see through, either. And most fall styles are meant for layering, which is wonderful when shuttling from home to an office where temperature regulation is nonexistent, to grabbing a drink outdoors, to walking the dog.
Oh, and I love fall jewelry. Leaf and acorn motifs, purple and black gems, bronze and copper accents. Plus pumpkins, apples, and other harvest related designs. They sure beat seashells and roses!
The sad part is that fall is so short. Everything turns into sweaters and peacoats within a few weeks. But I'll enjoy while it lasts!
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