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| Image courtesy of socalvegfest.org |
Who is excited for SoCal VegFest? We are! It is annual, and there are so many vendors, speakers, and food samplings. SoCal VegFest seeks to inspire others towards healthful, conscious, compassionate, eco-friendly living. You can read more about them in their About Us section. If you are interested in attending, you can purchase tickets here. Continue reading
My best friend and I now have annual things we go to. One of them is Renegade Craft Fair in LA. This past weekend was the summer show, so we went on Saturday. After having brunch at Crossroads Kitchen (it was pricey, but really good!), we grabbed some tea at Alfred’s and headed over.
Renegade is a neat spot where local, small businesses can showcase their wares. They have everything from home decor to food, jewelry, clothes, etc. Most everything is handmade, or at least partly handmade. I love supporting local, small businesses, so I got a couple of things. I bought a deodorant spray and solid from Cee Cee & Bee, a cold brew bottled coffee from Knight Owl Coffee, washable face pads from Facekins (you can read my review here), and some Health-Ade kombucha because I like the taste. It was hot (of course it was; it’s SoCal in July), but not as bad as last year. The prices for the products can be a bit astronomical, in my opinion. For instance, ~$180.00 for a canvas tote bag seems a bit excessive, but there are some pretty great finds.
The fair is located at the Grand Park, past the fountain and splash area. There are several tents, food trucks, and bathrooms/port-o-privies (thank goodness!), which means there is plenty to see.
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| This door is a unicorn riding a bike! |
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| Tea & Water |
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| “Cheese” plate w/dried fruit, nuts, and bread |
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| “Chicken” and waffles w/spicy maple syrup. |
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| Benedict (our least favorite). |
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| This sign in the bathroom… |
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| Potatoes! |
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| Mint tea w/soy milk & boba. |
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| Lollipops w/plantable sticks! |
Renegade is a neat spot where local, small businesses can showcase their wares. They have everything from home decor to food, jewelry, clothes, etc. Most everything is handmade, or at least partly handmade. I love supporting local, small businesses, so I got a couple of things. I bought a deodorant spray and solid from Cee Cee & Bee, a cold brew bottled coffee from Knight Owl Coffee, washable face pads from Facekins (you can read my review here), and some Health-Ade kombucha because I like the taste. It was hot (of course it was; it’s SoCal in July), but not as bad as last year. The prices for the products can be a bit astronomical, in my opinion. For instance, ~$180.00 for a canvas tote bag seems a bit excessive, but there are some pretty great finds.
The fair is located at the Grand Park, past the fountain and splash area. There are several tents, food trucks, and bathrooms/port-o-privies (thank goodness!), which means there is plenty to see.
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| My purchases for the day. Sorry for the crappy photo! |
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| A view of the fair. |
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| T-we Tea |
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| Some fun jewelry |
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| Frost’D |
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| More Frost’d |
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| I think my cat was the inspiration for this card! |
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| Oh, Hello Friend |
After we finished at Renegade, we went to see the Lotus Festival, and then grabbed some dinner at Sage. It was so good! The first time we tried to go there the kitchen had closed. This time, they were open. We split nachos and each got a bowl. The jackfruit “carnitas” nachos came piled high with pickled jalapeño cabbage, jackfruit “carnitas”, cashew nacho “cheese”, pico de gallo, and black beans. I got the Brazilian Bowl, which had plantains, kale, pico
de gallo, guacamole, fried leeks & jalapeño, mushrooms, and a rice/quinoa combo. A raw, sweet, spicy, sauce was served on the side. My BFF got the Bowl of Soul, which contained a fried “mac & cheese” ball (the breading was made with almond flour, and really delicious), biscuit & gravy, sweet potato, grilled corn, black beans, quinoa, kale, and pickled jalapeño cabbage. We also had KindKreme after, which was yummy. Many of the flavors are less creamy than traditional ice cream, so I would suggest a chocolate flavor. They have a far less icy texture & flavor than the other flavors.
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| So many booths and people! |
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| Lake view 1. |
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| Lake view 2. |
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| Jackfruit “carnitas” nachos. |
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| Brazilian Bowl w/plantains. |
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| The Bowl of Soul. |
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| The sunset over Los Angeles. |
Very few things in life get me excited. Artisanal LA is one of those things. It is a really fun event with local, small business vendors selling their wares. My best friend and I went to their holiday show (read more about that here), and it was a blast! We are going again in April, so this post will be updated with all the happenings at the show. I will have to remember to take an ice chest with me. You never know what you’re going to find! What are you most looking forward to seeing?
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| The top of my CES badge. |
We are back at CES, and this time it’s (supposedly) bigger than ever, with even more drones & 3D printing areas. Not that we really need more, but why not? I am looking forward to seeing everything that will be coming out in the next year. Over the week, I will try to post updates on what we experience. I am especially looking forward to seeing what new products Razer and iHealth will be producing over the course of the next year or so. Virtual Reality (VR) is another thing I am quite excited for, and not just for the gaming aspect. With VR, you can be just about any place at any time. Last year, we were chased by a T-Rex, we attacked a giant robot destroying the city, and watched two cute cranes play ball. Oh, the future…
Stay beautiful!
Califia provides almond milk, juices, coffee, and other non-dairy beverages. In all honesty, I am not a fan of their almond milk. It reminds me of colored water. That being said, I really liked the nog. It’s not thick nor as spiced as the real thing, but if you’re sensitive to eggnog it is a nice alternative. The one from Silk is as well. We also tried the pumpkin spice and peppermint mocha. I don’t remember the pumpkin spice being all that pumpkin-y (then again, when is it?), and the peppermint mocha tasted like peppermint chocolate milk. Then came the aftertaste of coffee. Very interesting, and worth a try if you’re into something that’s non-traditional. Califia gave out free shakers to people, during the event, who followed them on social media. What a wonderful gesture! I don’t know where they sell the totes, but I think they are super cute as well (see the haiku guys’ photo below). And since I mentioned The Haiku Guys, they were there to provide free haikus to anyone who wanted one. You gave an idea and they came up with something. I found it fascinating how well they could come up with something “on the fly”.
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| Califia’s new seasonal beverage line. |
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| How generous! I love this shaker. |
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| These guys provided free haikus! |
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| I want this tray…and the tote. |
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| A little haiku. |
There were so many vendors it was hard to keep track of them all. Here are some photos of the different vendors. From artisanal pastas, pies on sticks, pickles, and jams, to all types of snack items, crafts, and gardening products, everything was under one roof.
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| Semolina Artisanal Pasta |
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| Naked Hippie Snacks |
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| My friend’s hand got in the way. Super cute Noshkins display! |
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| I bought sushi & a banana for my nephew’s kitchen. |
A HUGE “thank you” to Connie for the ticket to this event! She is the maker of Noshkins and Facekins. She, along with her team, makes each piece by hand. A combination of hand-stitching and a sewing machine create these wonderful products. When we walked up, she was hand-sewing part of a watermelon! Everything is so cute and washable! Did I mention that the banana comes out of its peel, and the sushi can be deconstructed?! Where were these when we were kids? My friend purchased a pack of Facekins, which are reusable face pads. There are also nursing pads. Even though I am not nursing, I find them very comfortable when it’s that time of the month. Unfortunately, bras… and any fabric, really… kills my chest when it touches it. My lower back also kills me, but I guess those are in exchange for not having cramps. Anyway, they alleviate a lot of the pain because they are so soft. Facekins are machine/hand-washable, and perfect for any situation. I have used them on sets, on travel adventures, at the gym, and while at home. Each pad can be used twice; use one side in the morning, then one at night. Wash the pad at night, and it’ll be dry by morning. You can read more about my experience with them in my review, here.
Just a couple of days before I was looking at a product package for some chalk stickers I bought. On the tag were pie pops. Yes, they were Photoshopped whole pies on sticks. I was talking to my partner, and we both wondered if these actually existed. The question was answered when my friend and I walked by and saw these:
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| Pies on a sitck! |
The shop is called Hello Sweetie Pies, and according to the company, the pies will not fall off the sticks. I’m not sure how that’s possible, and unfortunately I did not get a chance to purchase one. Honestly, we were so shot by the end of the day, I forgot to go back for a blueberry one. It’s a long story, but my grandfather always used to ask if we wanted blueberry pie and ice cream, even though he never had it. It became a running joke.
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| Blonde ramen dessert bars. |
I purchased a bag of Blonde Ramen from Spoon Me Sweetly. I know what you’re thinking, but it was really good. In the past I have had ramen noodles with butter & sugar. It’s much like sweetened nurungji, which is a nice snack. Not the healthiest, but I like how it tastes. Anyway, instead of taking the traditional approach and using Rice Krispies, they are replaced with ramen. There were three versinos: Blonde, Chocolate, and Peanut Butter. I really liked the Blonde and Peanut Butter, but opted for Blonde since I could do more with it. She also had spoons (pictured below) that soften in hot drinks. You can eat it when it softens, or flavor up your beverage. Spoon Me Sweetly also makes some fun flavored sugar, such as Unicorn Poop (a warm vanilla) and Pumpkin Spice.
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| Owl’s Brew |
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| I bought White and Vine. |
Owl’s Brew is a tea concentrate that you add to booze. If you aren’t into liquor, you can mix it with anything: Seltzer water, juice, sodas, etc. The vendor happened to have already paired them with liquor. I tried one with tequila, and my friend tried the vodka. I can’t remember the exact notes, but each one was delicious. They also had these nifty cards that gave recipe ideas. I think I will frame mine, because they are little works of art.
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| Akasha Peach Bourbon Jam |
All-in-all, it was a wonderful experience. The vendors were so nice, as was the crowd. It was a very relaxed atmosphere. If you get a chance to attend an event like this, or any future Artisanal LA show, please do so. It is a great way to support small & local business and immerse yourself in all types of crafty wares. I hope there is one lined up for the holidays.
Stay beautiful!
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?
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| Side of the kiosk. Image courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| SAMPLEit demo. Image courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| 3D printed dress. Image courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| 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!
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| Image courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| 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.
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| Image courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| Image courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| 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.
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| Image courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| Image courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| Image courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| Image courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| Image courtesy of AfterShokz.com |
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| Image courtesy of AfterShokz.com |
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| 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 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).
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| 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.
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| Photo Courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| Photo Courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| Photo Courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| 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. . .
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| Image courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| Image courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| Image courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| 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 |
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| Image courtesy of oculus.com |
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| 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!
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| It was a little messy because the only available space was at the bottom… |
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| Image courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| Image courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| Image courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| Image courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| You can’t really tell, but it looks like the inside of a command center. Image courtesy of H. Nelson |
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:
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| Image courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| 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!
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| Image courtesy of Amazon.com |
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| 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!
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| Razer logo. Image courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| Image courtesy of RazerZone.com |
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| Chroma keyboard image courtesy of H. Nelson |
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| Image courtesy of RazerZone.com |
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| 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.
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| Image courtesy of Brookstone.com |
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| Image courtesy of seeitoi.com |
So, I wasn’t able to get my posts in this week, and it’s because I’ve been prepping for my Vegas trip. I will be attending CES 2015, and can’t wait! I will try to post make-up posts for this past week, and keep up next week, but I can’t make any promises.
Here is what I will be taking during this trip:
TPG Clear Soft Pack (Large & Medium)
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| Image property of thepowdergroup.com |
I absolutely LOVE these! I’ve had mine for years, and they look brand new. Each pack I have houses everything from makeup and brushes, to docking stands and charging cords. The plastic is strong and durable, and each pack can be washed. A little soapy water will do the trick. The large size fits several palettes, individual shadows, and a brush roll. I can also fit all of my cords, mouse, note cards, and pens with room to spare, or clothes, for short trips. The medium is perfect for long trips, when I need to take more toiletries that normal. They also have a longer case that can be filled with pens/pencils/highlighters, brushes, eye/lip liners, or eye/lip pencils.
MAC Pro Palette in matte/shimmer neutrals.
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| Image property of zuca.com |
Zuca was established in 2004. In that time, their line has expanded to include bags for kids, an artist collection that includes backpacks, graphic prints, etc. The one in the image is the one I have. It conveniently fits in the overhead bin when I fly, and since it weighs practically nothing (under 10 lbs) it feels like you’re pulling nothing…even when it’s full! I’ve filled it with well over 20 lbs, and I forget that I’m even pulling a bag. It also holds up to 300 lbs on the top, so you can sit on it while you’re waiting in the security line. All of the accessories, such as the Artist Backpack, is made to conveniently fit over the handle, and rest on the seat of the Zuca. This roller goes EVERYWHERE with me, whether I am flying, driving, or going to the local tea house.
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| Image property of apple.com |
I purchased my MacBook Air a couple of years ago, and it has been one of the best purchases I’ve made. Admittedly, I purchased it from their refurbished site, since it was significantly less. It does not come with a DVD drive; if you need one, you can purchase the external here. I am working on my PhD, so all of my work is on it, including everything for my dissertation. When I start to lose space, I back it all up on my external hard drive. That way, I can make sure there is enough space for all of my work.
…and of course clothes & walking shoes.
Darphynia's Diary 
