Month: March 2018

Cleaning and Organizing – Laundry Area

On By jackiblosblackisIn House, OrganizationLeave a comment

I lost the before photos for the laundry area but trust me it looks better now ha-ha. I do have the after photos though.

On the floor we have the container that we keep the dry dog food in. I purchased this on amazon. There is a smaller container that is empty right at the moment. It actually is only ever in there when a new bag gets opened. The laundry hamper is used for towels and clothes. I also have a plunger hidden back there.

The bottom shelf starting from the left is canned dog food, dog treats, dog grooming and health items. Once Missy can walk some of this needs to be moved. Galaxy’s pills are there. The first basket is clippers (nail and hair), hair brushes, and toothbrushes. The last basket is all the cleaning clothes and in the back I have the mop pads.

On the middle shelf starting from the left are all soy candles and the basket contains wax melts. We have the regular cleaning supplies loose and in the basket is stuff I do not use often. I put them in a basket just so they stay together.

On the top shelf starting from the left we have the water additive for the dogs. One basket contains filters for the dog bowl and the other contains random dog items and poop bag rolls. The blue pail is just random cleaning items, tools, small bag rolls, and the attachments for the forced air dryer. A large excess of laundry soap. Normally I would say you are not saving money when buying smaller containers but when the sale come on it turned out I saved more on the small bottles compared to the big bottle. Unfortunately it is not very environmentally friendly either. I have two rolls of paper towels behind the one box of tissue. I hardly ever use paper towels.

On the left side of the closet is pretty basic. The only things missing are the mop and the vacuum. The fabric hamper is not truely suppose to be there but I currently have no use for it. I am going to hold on to it for a little bit longer before I donate it.

Across from the closet are the washer and dryer. Is my cow not pretty! It was the first piece in my cow collection. I have been dragging it along with me for 11 years. Okay, so, on the left we have dog towels and mostly laundry supplies. I also put the essential oils in here. There is no way for Missy to get to them in here.

On the right starting on the bottom is just a small brush and dust pan. The middle shelf has extra cans of air, the basket is magic sponges and brushes, latex gloves and the fuzzy dust things. On the top shelf are the tools for cleaning the dryer vent and face masks. I have the face masks from when I was cleaning homes. I used them particularly at seniors homes since they have compromised immune systems.

These are things that no longer belong in this area and are not actually leaving the house. I had to throw out a bunch of stuff but I have no photo of that. The few things in the bin are being put in the porch with the other dog items in that area.

I am hoping areas like the cleaning supplies will get smaller. I am just currently trying to use up products I have and just will not repurchase them. I also get cleaners from my mother if she cannot stand the smell of them and they do not bother me. I really do prefer just the vinegar.

Bumble Box (Canadian) – 3 to 6 Months

On By jackiblosblackisIn Baby, Baby Boxes, ReviewLeave a comment

Here is another quarterly subscription. This one follows along with your child though. I had thought about getting it when Missy was a newborn but I did not and I kind of wish I did. I paid $229.50CAD for three boxes (prepaid). Each box costs $84.99. Not going to lie the price is a little high but lets see what I got in the first box.

The first item we have is what I am hoping is a very absorbent bandanna bib. Very ‘gender-neutral’ but the print is cute. The backing is very soft and I think Missy is going to love this once I get it washed. The brand is ‘eggie’ and they are $10.00CAD on their website.

This is freakin’ adorable! It is by Granny and Mummy Baby Boutique and they sell for $5.50CAD. The band is soft and stretches quite a bit. We have not tried this on yet because she is a wild child and would end up around her face.

**We still use this now that Missy is 14 months. She was not in to things are her head when we first got it. She still pulls it off but enjoys it more. I think it is cute.

Mellow Mama Organics has their store on Etsy. I have a wash cloth and towel here. They are very much soft and as much as I want to use them I think I am going to donate them. I have plenty of towels and clothes, I would like to see someone who can not afford items such as these get to use them.

So the clothes come in packs of 8 for $10.00CAD which makes one cloth $1.25CAD. The towel sells for $18.00CAD. I may have purchased the wash clothes for myself but there is no way I would have paid that for a towel. I am going to keep this shop in mind though for shower gifts.

So we did rig this so that I would be able to use it one evening. It is a suckie clip by Granny and Mummy Baby Boutique. They sell for $7.00CAD online. None of Missy’s suckies have rings on them so right now it just is not working for us. Although it is very cute.

**Still using this at 14 months when we got out. Missy is allowed her sucky at nap/sleep and when we go out.

Last but not least. These made the entire box worth it. Are these not the cutest pants ever? I wish I had these in adult leggings! Here is another Etsy shop called After the Stork Baby Boutique. These sell for $24.00CAD.

I only checked out her shop quickly but she has other very cute prints but there are some gorgeous bibs on there.

**She only got wear these twice I think. They were freakin’ adorable and I had a chubby baby ha-ha

The total of this box comes to $65.75…. I cannot say I am that impressed with how that worked out. There are two more boxes to come and I really hope they make up for this. I could have purchased the full pack of wash cloths from Mello Mama Organics and it still would have been cheaper. I will say I did not check out what the shipping would have been but still.

I will update the products as we try them out or what I have done with them. I have to wash a couple things before we use it anyways.

Luxe Box – Spring 2018

On By jackiblosblackisIn ReviewLeave a comment

This is my second box in my purchase of year subscription. It is a quarterly subscription (which is why I had to go with a year). I paid $96.00 CAD with free shipping. If you wish to pay quarterly it is $26.00 CAD and free shipping with in Canada.

I am not sure where the winter box went maybe the last one was mislabeled.

We have a travel size can of Professional Sebastian – Shaper Plus+. This is an extra hold hairspray. Not a common thing for me to use. I honestly cannot remember the last time I used hairspray. I am going to hold onto this as a back up though. I do occasionally wish I had some.

Here we have a Pedi in a Box by Voesh in a lemon flavour. It claims to be a waterless 3 step. However, you are required to use water in the first two steps. That is not what I consider waterless. I also see water in the ingredient list.

Manna Kadar Beauty – Lash Extending Primer. Oh, how I wish I had waited to purchase primer. I am using one right now and so far I cannot say I like it but if it keeps to under perform I will try this one next. I am interested in finding out how it does with extending my lashes.

I did try swatching this but you could not really see it against my skin. Its a shimmer eye pencil by Laritzy Cosmetics. I do have a few things by this brand and the formula for the eye pencil seems nice on the swatch. I just need to buy a sharpener.

We have China Glaze in Stop that Train! I do like the colour and I have lots by this brand. It is a nice shimmer in a red/copper hue.

#GRLPWR liquid lipstick by The Beauty Crop. This is a very dark red that dries down to a matte. I really wish I could find a middle ground with red lipstick. I will try it out though. I may be finding a way to lighten it though.

Delectable hand cream in the flavour sweet mint and cream. Now I have gone back and forth on purchasing this brand. I am happy to see it in the box. I enjoy the formula, my hands did not feel greasy, and I had no allergic reaction. However, the smell I am not so sure about. It reminds me of those thin mints the Girl Guides sell. I do not eat them but they have a distinct smell. Yes, that is what it smells like with out the smell of chocolate. I will be buying from this brand in the future.

 

As always I will come back and update as I try items.

Medusa’s Makeup – March 2018

On By jackiblosblackisIn Make Up, Review1 Comment

Ha, Marches review is not late. I only recently received the box. I think my favourite thing this month is that they changed their packaging.

The bubble mailers are not recyclable (or at least they are not where I live) but the cardboard is. I am not actually going to be putting it in the recycling but plan to hold onto it for a gift box. It is adorable!

Here we have Witch Lash in Electric Blue. Not quite sure if I will be wearing this one or not. So because of that I have decided not to even open it. I may actually include it as a gift to my one niece. I am pushing for this girl to have fun with her make-up while she is still young. I mean my favourite eye look at in grade nine was yellow liner on top of yellow eye shadow. I sported very bright colours and still like them. I just tone it down a little for my job. This is $12.00 USD.

Black Hawaiian Sea Salt Facial Scrub. This one is $10.00 USD. On the fence if I am going to try this or not. I really just do not use face scrubs.

Salt N’ Peppermint lip balm is $8.95 USD. I do enjoy the formula but I am not going to lie; this is just to expensive for my taste. It is a lip balm and I would not pay that price if it was in CAD. I do have others I enjoy just as much.

**Very much like this lip chap but the cost still hurts me.

Here we have Lip Paint in Whoopie which is $12.00USD. This is a true red and this was actually my second swatch. The first was a pain to get off and had not smudge in 24 hours even with constant hand washing. This one I took off not long after it dried down (dries down to a matte finish). My hand was raw for the rest of the evening.

I have just checked online for the product and see they have a lip paint remover. I am going to be honest and wished they would have included it in the box. I would still have this opinion if I was head over heels for everything else. It is going to be quite a while before I actually try putting this on my lips. Not until I find something that will remove it fairly easily. I mean in my house and not special ordering.

So, not on them but I am going to cancel my subscription for the time being. I may be giving a way half of the box and for the cost it is just not worth it to me. I do enjoy it enough that it is just going to be a break. I will re-subscribe in the future.

Cleaning and Orgainizing – Master Closet Part 2

On By jackiblosblackisIn Cleaning, House, OrganizationLeave a comment

So I just realized I never added the ‘after’ pictures from doing the master closet. Which explains why I had it sitting as a draft. So here is the finished product.

Okay so I pulled put the maternity wear, things I am not finding comfortable, and I replaced the hamper. I looked everywhere for a nicer one with the two separations. I did not find what I was looking for or anything reasonably priced in my opinion. I’ve quit looking for a hamper for Missy and I am just using one of the sections for her. I just have to find one before she moves into her own room.

I did have to remove the bin of seasonal clothing. This hamper is longer than the last. Which means that the bin no longer fits.

I also switched our Missy’s cl9thes since she grew :(. Rhings have just been straightened up really. I do have to get the sheets up top organized better. I can still easily locate sets so I am not worried about it right now.