Makeup Monday: Look&Feel by Caroline Chu

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In the last week I have broken out more than ever before.  Growing up, I didn’t have problems with blemishes; maybe the odd one every now and then.  Aging and medications can wreak havoc, and I think my skin is hating life right now.  Stress, lack of sleep, medication, and other issues have caused more breakouts than I care to think about.  It is not, by any means, horrible; it’s just not what I’m used to.  I digress…

Image courtesy of carolinechu.com

Caroline Chu (I’ve loved her skincare for years!) released Look&Feel, and was kind enough to send me the system to try.  It is a fool-proof, two-step process for clearing up breakouts in order to reveal your skin’s true beauty.  The natural clay, tea tree water-infused, non-foaming face wash helping to gently clarify the skin.  Just take a pea-sized amount and apply it to moistened skin in circular motions.  Make sure to pay more attention to problem areas.  I use it with the Clarisonic, and it has cleared up my breakouts in two days!  I follow up with the white willow cream to ensure that my skin stays hydrated.  The white willow will also help to combat build-up that can lead to breakouts throughout the day.  It is gentle enough to use daily, and the duo are worth every penny.  My skin feels smooth and refreshed every time I use them.  Not wanting to be without them, I purchased some travel pumps at Daiso.  Now, I will have amazing skin regardless of where my travels take me!

Caroline also has a fragrance, hair care line, and eyeshadow duos, making it a final destination for all of your face/hair/makeup/skin care needs.  I haven’t tried them yet, but knowing the quality of her products, I know they’re going to be fabulous!

Making up is hard to do…

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…especially when you’ve got a number of side projects.  At any rate, the posts will have headings that may not match the day, until next week.  Why?  Because I’m still playing catch-up.  At any rate, I hope you all have an amazing weekend!

Wellness Wednesday: Bart’s Bakery. Are they really "the BEST’?

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So, sometimes you need a little sweetness in your day.  I was at Fresh & Easy and had seen the cardboard box from Bart’s Bakery, which claims to have “THE BEST _____ COOKIES IN THE WORLD” (there are several varieties, hence the blank space) (BartsBakery.com, 2015).  Now, as a consumer, I realize the tactics that are used to market products.  Things claiming to the “the best” rarely are, and it’s all subjective.  That being said, when I found them on sale, I had to try them out. 

Image courtesy of BartsBakery.com

As you can see, the box is covered in text…including the inside, which I ‘ll get to later.  The box mentions that they don’t compromise on quality, and they do not mask the quality with a ton of sugar.  They aren’t lying there!  Okay, I’m getting ahead of myself.  After opening the box, I noticed a flyer.  The flyer contained instructions on how to eat the cookies, and it is a process!  They compare them to a fine wine that has to decant.  All of the quarter-sized cookies are in a foil bag.  You open the bag, and leave it for 10 minutes, then enjoy.  The inside of the box contained some short stories and poems, so you have reading material whilst you wait.  There’s also a chance your flyer will have a holographic serial number, which is like a reward and can put you in the running for a trip for two to Paris.  This program, titled “Just For Fun and Thanks” will be down until February 15, 2015 (BartsBakery.com, 2015) 

I decided that the only way to see if there was a difference would be to try one as soon as the bag was opened, then one after they had had time to “breathe”.  My hopes were not high, and I was a bit surprised.  They were not “the best” by any means; company did not lie when they said they were not sweet.  Bart’s Bakery also claims that they use Belgian chocolate, yet there is not mention of that in the ingredient list.  Maybe they only use it in some of them and just don’t disclose that?  Anyway, the chocolate tasted more like Hershey’s than Belgian.

Personally, I’m not a fan of overly sweet anything.  The cookies didn’t need any added sugar (plus!), but they were incredibly chalky, both times.  My favorite thing was the crispy texture, but the cons really outweighed the pros.  I, personally, didn’t notice a difference between the first and the second.  Maybe it was the batch I purchased, but they in no way, meet the expectations created by the claims on the box.

Here’s everything in a nutshell:

I purchased expensive (even on sale) cookies that were marketed as “the best”.  Then had to wait 10 minutes to truly enjoy them (per the company), and instead experienced an average mini cookie with a chalkiness that wouldn’t quit.  If these ever go on sale again in another flavor, I may try them in the event that the batch I tried wasn’t what they usually put out.  Overall, I would say to save your money and get the minis from Trader Joe’s.     

Reference

BartsBakery.com. (2015). Homepage. Retrieved from http://www.bartsbakery.com/

**Please note that this is purely my opinion**  If you have one, I’d love to hear it!

CES: Day 4 Recap

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The final day of CES, which is a shortened day, was spent between the Sands and the LVCC, saying our “goodbyes” to everyone. We also learned that Android had a pin event. Various booths were giving out limited Android pins, and it reminded me of when I used to trade at Disneyland (now, I’m just a collector. . . and no, I’m not ashamed to admit that). Had we known about the trading, we would have paid more attention. There was an app associated that allowed the user to mark which pins were obtained and where others could be found. There were 45 pins in total, and we only got about 4 or 5. . . it, literally, would have taken an entire day just to collect them all. I feel like I need to complete the collection…hopefully they have it again next year. Were you able to get any? If you were, which ones?

We also saw a kiosk called SAMPLEit, which allows consumers to purchase sample-sized bath, beauty, fragrance, snack, detergent, and hair products for around $1.00-$2.00. It was in with Redbox, CoinStar, and a couple of others.  The samples from SAMPLEit is essentially free when you factor in the coupons that come with each. Sample items are changed out every week or so, and full-sized products are displayed on the sides of the kiosk for easy access. It’s like a sample program without the monthly subscription! There is an app available that has a spinner, which gives the user an opportunity to win samples. The SAMPLEit app also has a rewards program. Since there are no kiosks in California, I can’t say anything about the effectiveness of the rewards program. I can’t wait for this to come to California. I have had a subscription to Eco-Emiin the past (it was okay.; maybe a 6/10 points for value and product selection), and am currently subscribed to Birchbox (5-8/10 points that fluctuates depending on the month and sample sizes. They also have a nice rewards program and free gift options). This kiosk will definitely give subscription boxes a run for their money, especially since they are quite a bit cheaper depending on the sample and number of samples purchased, and there is no waiting. Keep an eye out—one may be coming to your neck of the woods! If you have used them in the past, how was your experience?

Side of the kiosk. Image courtesy of H. Nelson
SAMPLEit demo. Image courtesy of H. Nelson

3D printing, like the fitness trackers and drones, was everywhere. Some pictures will be posted here, but there are so many that I will have a separate post with a gallery just for them.  3D Systems, the makers of the ProJet, CubePro, and ChefJet introduced the ChocoJet.  They have partnered with the Hershey Company.  Once the ChocoJet is available, consumers will be able to make his/her own, custom 3D chocolate pieces.  The chocolate was not available for sampling, but the candy from the ChefJet was.  It was AMAZING!  The flavor was sour blackberry, and it tasted just like that.  I was expecting it to be a bit more firm, but the piece dissolved almost instantly.  We could have easily eaten a dozen!  Other companies were showcasing their printers such as MakerBot, and of course a few Asian vendors.  
3D printed dress. Image courtesy of H. Nelson

3D printed necklace. Image courtesy of H. Nelson

The two images below are of the 3D candies.  I think they came in 2 or 4 shapes, but I don’t remember.  What I do remember is how amazing they were!

Image courtesy of H. Nelson
Image courtesy of H. Nelson

 
These were taken at two of the 3D printing booths.  The image on the right is a close-up of one just like the middle image.

Image courtesy of H. Nelson

Image courtesy of H. Nelson

 

Image courtesy of H. Nelson

 All of these were born out of a 3D printer!  The hammer is usable, but only on a project like a dollhouse.  Holding it, you’d never think it could be more than a decorative piece.

Image courtesy of H. Nelson
Image courtesy of H. Nelson
Image courtesy of H. Nelson
Image courtesy of H. Nelson
One of our last stops before saying, “Goodbye,” to everyone was the AfterShokz booth. They have one of two, I think, bone conduction headphones. They offer amazing products that are specially made to increase the safety of those who workout at night, or those who need to be aware of his/her surroundings. When I first sampled it at their booth, I was blown away. The quality is the same as if I had earbuds in, except that I could also hear everything around me. Safety is extremely important, and using these allows the user to hear it all.  The images below show the two colors of the Bluez 2.   I will have a review of them in the next couple of weeks.
Image courtesy of AfterShokz.com

Image courtesy of AfterShokz.com

Image courtesy of AfterShokz.com

There was so much to see, that there is no way to cover it all in a page to two. An announcement was also made for CES Asia, that will be be held in Shanghai May 25-27th of this year. What are your thoughts?  Do you plan on attending?  I can’t help but hope this will alleviate some of the traffic at CES Las Vegas next year.

CES: Day 3 Recap

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CES 2015 was the year of the drones and fitness bands. First, the drones…they were out in full-force; some with cameras and others without.  Here is a picture of one from my personal favorite, Zano that is equipped with a camera, and connects to your phone via an app.   It can find its way to you, and create all types of memories.  The Zano also comes in limited varieties, such as glow-in-the-dark (my personal favorite).

Image courtesy of H. Nelson

Next come the fitness bands. Of course the bigger, more well-known, companies were there, such as iHealth (my personal favorite) and FitBit.  Health trackers cover everything from steps to heart rate and sleep patterns.  Below are photos of a few of the fitness bands we saw.  I will have a review of each of the bands I will be testing out, as well as another comparative piece with a table. You will then be able to see which is best for your needs should you decide to purchase one.  Nearly all of the trackers look like the one in the left photo.

Photo Courtesy of H. Nelson
Photo Courtesy of H. Nelson
Photo Courtesy of H. Nelson

Image courtesy of iHealthlabs.com

We also were able to speak with others in different states and countries…by robot!  They were able to control the robot from wherever they were located, and walked with various passers.  House-cleaning robots are wonderful, but cannot allow people to telecommute.  If you’ve ever seen the episode of The Big Bang Theory where Dr. Sheldon Cooper decides to telecommute, it was that kind of interaction. Soon, the days of staying home sick from school and the office will vanish, especially if these are implemented.  The image on the left, with a lovely view of the back of my head, shows the device that is being moved by the woman on the screen.  She was able to walk us over to the stationary screen (image on the right), and we were then able to move one that was located in the Bay area.  As our buddy, Robert, moved the bot we caught a glimpse of the Google car that drives BY ITSELF!  Oh, the future. . . if only we had that now. . . 

Image courtesy of H. Nelson
Image courtesy of H. Nelson

We also saw Skechers Game Kicks.  When I was a kid, the coolest things were light-up shoes.  Now, kids will never be bored because Skechers has built a game (just like Simon) into their shoes!  Where were these when we were growing up? 
Image courtesy of H. Nelson
Day 3 was also the day I got to meet one of my favorite celebrities.  There were several celebrities there, but only one mattered.  Any guesses?  It was R2D2!!  He was so lively.  Once people knew R2 was there, he gained a huge following.  We were lucky enough to take photos with (and of) him before the handler moved on.  
Tried my best to crop out the guy in the back.  The house in the background was made of shirts by the Habitat for Humanity people.  Image courtesy of H. Nelson

CES: Day 2 Recap

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Part of South Hall is dedicated to gaming, and Oculus was definitely the highlight of the day. The virtual reality (VR) and virtual gaming (VG) have advanced significantly, and each demo made you feel a part of it. If you made an appointment, you were taken to one of the private viewing rooms (otherwise you stood in an insanely long line, and viewed it with others on the open floor). Each room was soundproofed, and each had a mat for the viewer to stand on. Viewers encountered rubber duckies, a charging T-Rex, being at the edge of a skyscraper, and three other scenarios. One of the most memorable was the skyscraper demo. I didn’t even realize where I was. As the screen changed, I thought I was looking out of a window in a high-rise, only to look down and see ant-sized cars whizzing below. Even though the logical part of me knew I wouldn’t fall, I didn’t want to take a step forward on the mat because I feared that something might happen. Everywhere you turned there was something to see, and nothing was repetitive. I can’t wait for this to be released! All they need now are attachments to increase the interaction between VR and player.
Image courtesy of oculus.com
Image courtesy of H. Nelson

And speaking of, directly behind was Omni.  They integrated Oculus’ technology in their gaming systems.  As you can see, demonstrators wore special outfits and guns designed to create a fully interactive experience. Have you ever seen the Daria episode where Daria and Ted go to the arcade, and they start to play a VRG that is set in a castle? Well, by the end of it, Daria quits because the game is making her sick, but others join in. . . to harass at first, but then they really get into it. This game looked EXACTLY like that, externally. Of course the graphics are a far cry from what they used to be, which is most excellent!

It was a little messy because the only available space was at the bottom…
The picture above was part of a wall that passersby got to write one.  On the other side, people could “mind-control” cars in a race. . . but we didn’t get a photo of it.  Moving on. . .
If you love cars, you would have loved all of the modified, tech-heavy, custom cars on the floor.  Ford, Audi, Kia, etc. all featured the latest technology that will (soon) come standard.  There were also customized cars at different vendor booths.  Here are some photos that were taken of them:
 
Image courtesy of H. Nelson
Image courtesy of H. Nelson
Image courtesy of H. Nelson
Image courtesy of H. Nelson

Everyone who knows me know that I truly love my Ford.  This year, Ford got creative, sending those who knew about the program on a scavenger hunt for pins.  Each Mustang-shaped pin featured the flag from one of 10 countries.  Each booth that was visited had a special guest.  Participants were able
to sit in the vehicles, and learn about all of the features that could be added on.  My personal favorite was the top-of-the-line Mustang that lights up the floor with a (you guessed it) Mustang!  It was like the Bat-Signal, but on the floor, in the shape of a horse.
You can’t really tell, but it looks like the inside of a command center.  Image courtesy of H. Nelson

CES: Day 1 Recap

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We got in to Las Vegas just before 1 p.m. on Monday. Checked in to the hotel, and despite the Internet going in & out, it’s been nice. Woke up early today (Tuesday), after a restless night due to body aches, and covered South Hall 1 & 3. Most of the vendors in the South Halls carry mobile accessories, such as this plastic iPhone 6 case:

Image courtesy of H. Nelson
Image courtesy of H. Nelson

 

 Remember those oil-in-water toys when we were kids? Well, you can now relive your youth. . . or at least that part of it. This color can be changed to virtually hue, and the little hearts can be changed to cars, dolphins, or whatever your little heart desires! Yes, they are wholesale, and no, they do not sell just one at a time. I did a quick search, though, and the cases can be purchased for virtually all phones here. There are also glitter-in-water cases, such as the kind foundhere. The image on the right shows how much will be added to the depth of the phone; not bad, eh?  The plastic is strong, but I haven’t been able to test my sample yet. . . I’m not sure how well they hold up nor do I know what it takes to crack them. If you have tested this style out, please let me know what you think!

Image courtesy of Amazon.com
Since my photographer and I are both gamers, we stopped at Turtle Beachto see what was coming out. Their booth had giant headphones, and we couldn’t resist taking a picture with them.   Below is a photo of one of the displays, featuring Turtle Beach and the Xbox One.

Image courtesy of H. Nelson

 While he is a Turtle Beach fan, I fully support Razer. They have wonderful gaming products that are easily customized to fit your needs. We met Ryan who introduced us to the Chroma line, and I can’t wait to complete the set. I upgraded my Naga mouse to the Chroma, and hopefully soon, I will have the headset and keyboard to go with it. If you are in the market for a new mouse and aren’t sure which is best for your needs, you can utilize the MouseSelector tool at the bottom of the page. The Chroma headset, in terms of noise-canceling, is comparable to those that Bose produces (and at a fraction of the cost). All three Chroma products can be synced to display the same color or color patterns. What is life without a little color?! To make things even better, the Razer team is fantastic! They know their product lines, and are passionate about providing well-made, aesthetically pleasing products that will last. Power to the gamers!

Razer logo.  Image courtesy of H. Nelson
Image courtesy of RazerZone.com

Chroma keyboard image courtesy of H. Nelson
Image courtesy of RazerZone.com

  

Image courtesy of RazerZone.com

As we moved through the hall, we came upon Brookstone.  They carry some really innovative products, like the Perfect Bake. I remember seeing this back when I was Christmas shopping, and thought, “What a useless product! How lazy can you possibly be?” until it was demoed. The Perfect Bake is a way, for even the most novice baker, to prepare amazing baked goods, flawlessly. I don’t believe there is a person on this planet who could mess up any recipe that is included. The product comes with three differently sized measuring bowls (but you can always use your own), a scale, and an app. The scale connects to your phone via the headphone jack, and automatically alters the recipe to suit your needs. Have a recipe for 24 cookies, but you only need 12?  No problem! The app will automatically adjust each item in the recipe to suit your needs. Whether you need 1 or 100, they’ve got you covered. As you fill the bowl, the line on each individual ingredient will rise until you have just enough. Did you accidentally put too much flour in the bowl? That’s not a problem either, as the app will adjust the amount for each item as it does for different quantities.

Image courtesy of Brookstone.com
Now, we move on to vlogging and video chat. Move over cameras and video chat; iTOi is here!  We got to test it out, and I absolutely love it! This portable, iPad-friendly machine works as a video recorder and prompter for those who want to vlog but hate having to look into a camera. The product works with your iPad to create a meaningful dialogue between you and your viewers. No more looking off into a camera, and no more editing from a camera. You can adjust the prompter speed and edit directly from your iPad. Don’t like what you see? Scroll back, change the text speed (if you use that feature), and start over. This product serves more than just the vlogging community. If you are like me, and prefer to have a script ready, you can create a flawless presentation for any event. The unavoidable disconnect between individuals in a virtual meeting does a 180, turning it into a personal experience, because you are looking directly at the person, not at a camera. When I FaceTime my friends in Australia, I am always looking at the camera when I am talking to them, and they do the same. It looks like we are not communicating with each other, and there is no way to see what is going on when you’re not looking. You can also use iTOi to chronicle life’s adventures, which will allow your future kin to see what went on in a day in the life of you. Create a video resume that is professional and personal, with iToi. You can purchase the iTOi from Brookstone, here.
 

Image courtesy of seeitoi.com

Better Late Than Never

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Okay, so it’s been almost a month since CES.  Life happens, which is why these are being posted so late.  Everything posted is what we happened to see.  Since there were 3.5 days of the show, there was a lot, I’m sure, that we missed.  I’ll also have the other make-up posts uploaded soon.  If you have any ideas for future posts, let me know!  In the meantime, here are some pictures from the show.  All images are courtesy of H. Nelson:

Zano camera drone
Nvidia

Gowin
How cute are these?!

3D printed drums!
Comic-inspired 3D sugar sculpture

This dress will attack anyone who gets too close!
3D printed working guitar!
A close-up of the guitar.

Tech Tuesday: KiiTAG 2

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Life n Soul, who brought the world the KiiTAG and amazing Bluetooth headsets, has something new up its sleeve.  While at CES, there were a number of inventions that would make daily life that much easier.  The KiiTAG 2, which is a CES 2015 Best of Innovations Award honoree, is one of those.  It is important to note that the item is not currently for sale.  Their Kickstarter has launched, and I sincerely hope they are able to reach their goal. 
Image courtesy of Kickstarter & Life n Soul
Developed by Founder/CEO Ronny Tsai, the KiiTAG 2 is an all-in-one that is equipped with a flash drive, key finder, voice memo recorder, mini power bank, and so much more!  He wanted to create an all-in-one, pocket-sized device that would provide several functions without weighing down one’s pocket or purse.  Up to four shortcuts can be made on the KiiTAG 2, such as the “fake phone call” (which will give you an excuse to leave a date, for instance, if it starts to go south) or phone finder, all of which can be synced to the dedicated KiiTAG 2 app.  The app, compatible with Android and iOS devices, allows everything to be stored and managed in one place.    
You can support the project on Kickstarter by clicking here.  The KiiTAG 2 will retail for $79.99 and $89.99 for the 8GB and 16GB, respectively.  However, if you decide to back the project, you can get the 8GB for the special price of $60, or the 16GB for $70.  If you live in the United States, shipping is free! 

Back to Posting

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I know it has been awhile.  I had planned to have my review of CES posted last week, but due to unforeseen circumstances, that did not happen. 

Hopefully you all have been having a great week!