Looking to sell or buy stuff here in the local Lehigh Valley area? Check out this great FB page! It allows people to list things they have for sale, or things they are "in search of"-often abbreviated ISO. I have completed one transaction with a person who is part of this group and it went great! The moderator does a good job, and according to the rules if you don't show up for a meet (to buy or sell something), or otherwise act shady, you get removed from the group. This helps weed out the riff-raff you might find on sites like criag's list. Always be safe if you do choose to use this service! Consider meeting in a neutral, well populated location!
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I got a free sample of these products to try from Loreal. This is perfect because I have been having major issues with staticy hair all winter! I used them both during the same shower since they are meant to be used in that manner. Here are my thoughts:
Shampoo: It lathers well, but smells like a cross between soap and hairdye. Very unappealing, AND the smell stayed with me for a few days afterward (despite having used several other scented hair products!). I didn't notice any difference in my hairs smoothness after rinsing this product out. I seriously doubt I would ever buy more due to the smell. Conditioner: It has a creamy consistency, spreads evenly on hair, and is thick enough that it doesn't drip off. Unlike the shampoo, this conditioner has a clean fresh scent that I did not find objectionable. My hair was noticeably smoother after I rinsed this product out! I am seriously considering buying more of this conditioner. First impression of the results was quite positive, I had NO STATIC after applying two leave in products and letting my hair air dry as usual. I have since gone back to my usual hair products (since I only had enough samples for one shower) but continue to experience less static. Could be because winter is coming to an end, but it might also be lasting effects of these products, its hard to tell. I do want to warn you that this product line has a similar name to another product line of Loreal's. The other line is called Ultimate Straight and it also comes in black and pink bottles. I have no idea who decided THAT was a good idea! So be careful you buy the right thing if you are interested in trying this! PS-someone once suggested I spray static guard on my hairbrush and then brush my hair for the static. Turns out there are pretty flammable ingredients in static guard (like propane), so I really don't recommend that! If you need help with staticy or dry hair, comment below and I will get back to you! I got this product free from Venus to try in exchange for my honest review.
Trying this new 5 blade Venus Swirl razor has opened my eyes to the fact that, although the original 3 blade Venus razor is great, there is so much more available in the world of Venus razors that have the potential to be even better! My review is as follows (In a hurry? Scroll down to my quick pros and cons list!): As far as the handle is concerned, I like my original Venus handle with the hard plastic where you place your index finger better than the Swirl handle-my old one makes me feel like I have firmer control. The swirl handle has soft rubber where you place your index finger, and I feel like I have less control as it wiggles under my finger. As well, the way the rubber is shaped, it digs up under my fingernail-which I find painful! The FLEXIBALL on the handle of the Swirl doesn’t impress me either. Frankly, it just makes me feel like I have less precise control over the razor. I can’t apply exactly the right pressure because it moves. As well, the way it moves (slight rotation from side to side) doesn’t really make sense to me for the areas I shave (legs and underarms). Up and down would make more sense I think, but I still wouldn’t want that either-as I prefer precise control. As it stands-I fell like the FLEXIBALL might allow the razor head to slip sideways and cause a slice. The razor head on the Venus Swirl is AH-MAZING! I always thought that 3 blades was all you need, and any more is just a way to make you pay more money. I am here to tell you how wrong I was! The 5 blades on this razor head make shaving so much faster and simpler! I only have to go over each area once to remove hairs (compared to twice with my old 3 blade original Venus) and if I want a super close shave, I only have to go over each area twice (compared to 3 or 4 times with my old 3 blade razor). I don’t feel like I have to apply too much pressure to get a close shave. The MoistureGlide serum on the head is also amazing! When I shave, I do so by simply running water over my legs. I never use any kind of shave gel or cream. Since the MoistureGlide serum is water activated, this is perfect for someone like me. Not sure how long the serum will last, I have seen it decreasing and the shave quality degrades slightly. As a warning, don’t wrap the razor in a towel, it ends up soaking up some of the serum if you do. As far as the Swirl razor head/blade is concerned, it is one step to success! This is really helpful to someone like me with disability and chronic pain. Bending over to shave my legs is difficult and painful, so the quicker the process goes, and the fewer strokes I have to make, the better! I highly recommend anyone with pain or disability consider getting a 5 blade razor for this reason. I was also given Violet swirl shave gel to use with this product, but found it unnecessary, especially due to the MoistureGlide serum. I also found out that all Venus razor heads are compatible with all Venus razor handles, except that the Swirl head isn’t compatible with the Simply Venus handle. This is great news! It means I can get the benefits of the Swirl razor heads, and still use my preferred original razor handle! I am also excited to try other Venus razor blades now! Up next is my quick pros and cons: Pros: -Close, smooth, quick shave -Water activated MoistureGlide serum on razor head means shave gel is unnecessary -Razor head is good for the disabled and those with chronic pain due to its efficiency -Swirl razor heads may be used on all Venus razor handles except the Simply Venus handle -5 blade razor head outperforms original 3 blade Venus razor head Cons: -FLEXIBALL handle makes precision control impossible -FLEXIBALL doesn’t move in a way that is intuitive for a woman’s curves -The rubber grip for the index finger position on the handle wiggles as you shave, further reducing precision. It also pokes under the fingernail painfully. -These blades seem like they might wear out faster than the original Venus blades. -These blades don't feel like they are as exfoliating as the original Venus blades-which is key to a close, lasting shave! -Shaving in a bubble bath, makes the handle on the Swirl MUCH slipperier than the original Venus handle. Final verdict-I will be getting more of these blades since I got a coupon. I will use them on my old original Venus handle for better stability. I may also try other Venus razor heads, especially ones with serums and/or 5 blades. Swirl razor head/blade=YES! Swirl razor handle=No thanks Went to the Subway on American Pkwy in Allentown PA on Mon evening...there was only one woman working (the others were all CLEARLY gabbing away in the back), and so it took forever to get our sandwiches. The others emerged as our sandwiches were being wrapped and one of them decided to ring up our order. Man was she terrible-we had to repeat what we had ordered several times (as she giggled and laughed distractedly), and then she was trying to figure out which sandwich was which "because they like to sign their work" (even though she didn’t make any of them)--and we just said it doesn’t matter we'll figure it out at home but she was rudely insistent! Then she realized that my husband’s cold cut combo didn’t feel warm through the package-and said that was wrong and that all bread must be toasted? Who toasts a cold cut sandwich? It was on white (not the flatbread), so what’s the problem? This woman was being “fake friendly” and it showed.
THEN-when we got home I bit into my sandwich (that was made with flatbread) and it was CRUNCHY! That’s how stale the bread was-it was actually crunchy! So much so-that the woman who made it should have been able to tell that even through the gloves they wear-horrendous! This wasn’t my first experience with stale flatbread there either-but it certainly was the worst example of it! I ate what I could, but threw half of it away it was so terrible. Something needs to be done about quality control with flatbread at these stores. I also tried the new subway vinaigrette on half of the sandwich (I usually get the sweet onion dressing), and I really don’t recommend that either. It had a sort of “vomity” taste to it. I do like the sweet onion dressing, except for the poppy seeds that get stuck in my teeth-could do without those in there. I am getting really tired of subway and how they treat people. They stopped the loyalty card program, AND raised their prices this past fall. Then there is how stingy they are with cheese (super tiny slices and not very many of them to boot). I think I’ll patronize Wawa instead. Never had a bad sandwich from there! I MIGHT come back to subway in the summer if they have the orchard chicken salad available again (it’s really good)…but that would be the only reason. Anyone know of other good places in the area of west Allentown/Dorneyville/Trexlertown to get subs? Comment below if you do! UPDATE: SO-on FB subway responded by passing the buck, saying I needed to fill out this ridiculously long form and re-write a bunch of stuff I already wrote here, so the store manager could handle it. Half of the problems here in are CORPORATE problems....I have NO CLUE why the social media person can't fwd that info to the correct dept! Sick and tired of excuses...sorry subway-you lose! I received a free sample of this shave gel from Venus to try, and here are my thoughts- (In a hurry? Check out my quick pros and cons list below!). First, I want to say that I do not ordinarily use shave gel or anything other than water while I shave, so this was a new experience for me. I found that the gel comes out of the container very fast and so you may end up with way more than you need. On the plus side, a little bit of gel does lather quite well! So-if you can get a small amount to come out, I believe you could get many uses out of one container. I did not find this product to be moisturizing in the least, and it seems to leave a sticky residue behind. The shave I got when using it, was subpar compared to my usual routine of using just running water over my leg as I shave. The gel seemed to clog the razor. I let hubby try it on his face as well and he also did not like it compared to his usual use of shampoo as his shaving product. As well-the accompanying razor that I got (Venus Swirl), has MoistureGlide serum on the head making shave gel even less useful. The scent is mild and pleasant-I think it smells like cucumber. Here is my quick breakdown of the pros and cons:
Pros: -Cute purple colored gel -A little goes a long way -Mild, pleasant cucumber-like scent Cons: -Clogs razor -Drying to skin -Comes out of can very fast -Seems to leave a little sticky residue Final verdict-I will definitely not be purchasing this Violet Swirl shave gel (or any other shave gel for that matter). To me it is an unneeded product under any shaving circumstance for women, but especially with the moisturizing serum on the razor head! What are your favorite shaving products (razors and soaps)? Tell me if you are male or female and share below! Recently, I received my copy of the 2015 Lehigh Valley area visitors brochure. In it is a center section with a bunch of coupons, including one for a free order of Pub Pretzels from Tilted Kilt. The Tilted Kilt has been on our list of places to try for a while so hubby and I decided to give it a go. For those who are unaware, this restaurant is similar to hooters in that the servers are mostly pretty girls in skimpy clothing, which may be offensive to some, but I don't personally find objectionable. We visited the Allentown location, but a location in Easton was recently opened.
Firstly, the decor in this restaurant is a bit odd. It is Irish themed, but isn't exactly like a cozy pub...its more like a dimly lit warehouse. There is some sparse Irish decor and lots of TVs, but it isn't homey at all. There are only high and low tables, no booths. The ladies room felt somewhat dingy, BUT I did appreciate that there are paper towels (not just a blow drier) and that the door opens outward (I appreciate not having to touch door handles when leaving a restroom!). Our server was friendly, but only moderately attentive-despite it being mid afternoon on a Sunday and not too busy (and there being seemly tons of staff). We got our free pub pretzels, which consisted of two soft pretzels and some cheese dip that I believe had a slight mustard flavor. I am not a fan of mustard but this dip was good. I wish the pretzels were softer, but they were very filling and a great deal for free food! I got the margherita pizza, which was larger than I could finish after having the appetizer so I took half home (which hubby finished pretty promptly after returning home). It was well balanced, with lots of cheese and the tomato slices added a nice acid. However, it was a little...soggy-for lack of a better term. I honestly don't think it was grease, I think it was just condensation from how warm it was. I have never experienced pizza that was soggy before, so again...odd. Surprisingly, not inedible though. I had the pizza and a shirley temple, and hubby had an entree salad (no meat on it) and our total came to $20, which I consider somewhat expensive. The free app helped offset that, but I will certainly not be treating myself to this place very often-more than likely only if I have a coupon. Click this link if you are interested in getting your own free copy of the LV visitors brochure. Here is another place to find the free app coupon for the Allentown store also from Discover Lehigh Valley. Have you been to the Tilted Kilt? What did you think? What is your fave food from this restaurant? Comment below! Upon perusing Perkins new specials menu (Cost to Cost Classics), the Oregon Apple Brioche French Toast caught my eye. So I decided to give it a try, but I just got the french toast al la carte, not the platter. This is the first time I have had their brioche french toast, which they have on the regular menu plain, but I never had a chance to try it before. The fresh toast itself was awesome, and I would highly recommend getting it off the regular menu-plain. The apple pieces that came with this version were too sweet (although the sauce they were in was alright) and the streusel topping tasted like big hunks of brown sugar. It all came together to be too sweet for me. I would definitely get the regular plain brioche french toast, but not with this apple topping again. The brioche is quite thick and very filling!
On a side note-my father has tried, both the Monterey Shrimp Pasta and the San Francisco Shrimp Stir fry on the new menu-and really liked both of them! He is a seafood lover, so I imagine the quality was quite good. What’s your favorite dish at Perkins? Share in the comments below! Feeling dried out this winter? Here's a few tips:
1-Put bowls of water out near heat sources so they evaporate! My massage therapist does this to great effect in her home! Obviously, be careful if the heat source is electric not to spill! 2-When showering, leave the bathroom door open and turn off bathroom vents so that the moist air can escape into your home! Also, don't use water that is too hot-this dries out your skin and hair! Instead keep the bathroom warm (a space heater might be a good idea), and use cooler water. Be sure any space heater used is made to be operated in a moist air environment! 3-Use a humidifier in your bedroom. We got ours at Walmart and love it! It is a sunbeam model and can be found here. I recommend getting one that does NOT use filters-as these can be cleaned simply by using straight white vinegar to remove mineral build up and keep it working efficiently! Here is a large selection of humidifiers! We run ours all day so we have one with a large water reservoir, you may wish to take that into consideration! What are your tips for staying dewy fresh in the dry winter months? Comment below! *this post contains affiliate links I received a free sample of this product to try from PINCHme. It is pretty nice stuff. First, it didn't cause irritation to my very sensitive skin which is a huge plus! It is quite moisturizing which is nice as well. It didn't suds up very well however but that is because it is a low sulfate formula. It did make SOME suds, so it wasn't awful or unusable, just not ideal. (see edit below for more info on the lather) The smell is nice-although I only smelled the strawberry, no mint. It was kinda like a creamy strawberry scent. At one point I swear the scent took on a synthetic tone for a moment though. Haven't finished the sample bottle yet, so I am uncertain whether I will consider getting this again. I'm not over the moon, so for now I believe I will keep trying other body washes. As of this writing, It is not yet available in stores. So, if you are interested in trying it, you'll have to wait! Below is a synopsis of the product features as they apply to different types of users.
This product is good for: -Dry skin -People looking for lower sulfate products This product may not be appropriate for: -Oily skin -People who prefer a good lather EDIT: Since writing this review I have had the opportunity to use this product with my faux sea sponge and it lathered nicely! So-if you use a sponge the lathering may not be an issue! I previously used this product with a natural bristle shower brush, fyi. What is your favorite bodywash? Let me know in the comments! I received a free sample of this product to try from PINCHme. One issue I had was that this sample did not provide enough product to wash all my hair, so my experience was colored a bit by that. (I ended up having to rewash my hair with my regular shampoo.) This sample didn't make much suds, which many products don't nowadays due to having less harsh detergents in them, but that means you must use more product and there simply wasn't enough in the sample. If you like suds, this is NOT the product for you! I feel like it also didn't do what it claims. It is supposed to be deeply cleansing, but I felt like it was more of a balancing shampoo that you would use regularly. My regular suave shampoo is more cleansing than this was and it isn't even a clarifying formula! If you are looking for a basic, low suds balancing shampoo, this might work, but I feel like there are probably better products out there for that.
Here is the product page on PINCHme. Have you tried this product? What did you think? What is your favorite shampoo? |
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