chesao
Member Since: January 11, 2018Reviews
Lysol Disinfecting Wipes Citrus
I use these primarily to wipe down my counters and stovetop after dinner, but they do feature occasionally when cleaning the bathroom as well! The lemon scent means that I'm never crabby about chemicals, and they're not too harsh on my hands... +
I use these primarily to wipe down my counters and stovetop after dinner, but they do feature occasionally when cleaning the bathroom as well! The lemon scent means that I'm never crabby about chemicals, and they're not too harsh on my hands (despite my sensitive skin) to use on a daily basis. They're often on sale or available for purchase in a multipack, and if you keep your eye peeled for coupons, you can get them for a very reasonable price. I do likely harm the environment a teeny bit more than if I were to knit some good, reuseable cotton washcloths, but the disposable nature of these cloths is something that I greatly appreciate to prevent smearing around germs, or giving them a nice, warm breeding ground. They don't tend to leave streaks on my glass cooktop (which saves me much-needed time on taking out oven cleaner every day) and one wipe is usually enough to do my whole small kitchen! -
Burt's Bees Moisturizing Lip Balm Cucumber Mint
Burt's Bees lip balm is a luxury that I pounce on every time it's on sale, and with good reason! This was no different: I didn't choose the flavor, it came as part of a value pack. Coolly refreshing, Cucumber Mint is an absolutely lovely scent, and... +
Burt's Bees lip balm is a luxury that I pounce on every time it's on sale, and with good reason! This was no different: I didn't choose the flavor, it came as part of a value pack. Coolly refreshing, Cucumber Mint is an absolutely lovely scent, and the texture of the lip balm is softer than the classic Burt's. That said, the lasting power is - as it is in many of their flavored balms - significantly less fantastic than the original. I find myself with a thinner coat of lip balm that dries up more rapidly than classic Burt's, and though it's still a cut above the rest in terms of quality, it just doesn't meet my standards for Burt's Bees. All that said, though, if you see it on sale, jump on it! There's no residue, no metallic taste, all-natural ingredients and it really does smell like a fresh summer's day. It's just that if they have the classic on for the same price, your lips would thank you to take that instead. -
Kinder Surprise Hollow Santa (75g)
For something so good that the US has made it illegal, Kinder Surprise toys sure don't live up to my childhood memories. These Santas each contain a buildable ornament: there is some fun to be had snapping each of the six pieces into a sphere, but... +
For something so good that the US has made it illegal, Kinder Surprise toys sure don't live up to my childhood memories. These Santas each contain a buildable ornament: there is some fun to be had snapping each of the six pieces into a sphere, but inside the ornament are two flimsy (and quite bent: living their lives in a tiny plastic egg has not been kind) pieces of cardboard that are supposed to go in the middle to tell a cute two-panel story when you turn the ornament. The pieces would need to be pressed in order to get them to flatten out, but this still doesn't seem to have the perfect execution of most flip toys.
That said, the chocolate is the same classically delicious, creamy delight that you remember from your childhood, and though kids won't play with the toy, there is something to build! A better bang for your buck in terms of price per g of chocolate than the classic 20g eggs (but I bet that it will get eaten all in one go anyways ;) ). The detailing on santa isn't horrifying, like some molded chocolates: he's cute and jolly even inside the foil wrapper. Very much worth it in a post-holiday sale, or as a cute stocking stuffer!
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Twinings Exotic Mango and Ginger Green Tea
Thank goodness for the Canadian penchant for borrowing other cultures, because this tea is enough to make me grateful for the wonderful melting pot that is our country. It's sweet on its own, one bag is enough for two sequential 12 oz cups or one... +
Thank goodness for the Canadian penchant for borrowing other cultures, because this tea is enough to make me grateful for the wonderful melting pot that is our country. It's sweet on its own, one bag is enough for two sequential 12 oz cups or one large 1.5L thermos, and the high-quality, fine plastic mesh tea bags mean that there's never any of that gritty residue in the dregs of your tea. If I could find this anywhere for half the price, I would live on the stuff: retailing at $8 for 15 tea bags, it's a little bit outside of my daily budget as a med student, but the box that I do have has been a lasting treat. I've been savoring it for months, usually trying to pump three cups out of the same bag, and it still tastes just as strong and fresh as the day that I... inherited it from a visiting friend. Even my mother - with her Breville teamaker and exclusive use of Chinese green tea imports when she's at home - asks for a cup of this when she comes to visit.
I highly recommend that you make the splurge and try this tea if you like a sweeter, smooth tea profile: the mango significantly overpowers the ginger, so the resulting flavor isn't too spicy in any way. Absolutely no sweetener necessary (even if I was offered real sugar, agave or pure honey from back home without the calorie hit, this tea just doesn't need it). Luxury is expensive for a reason, folks, and this tea is so worth it. There's a thick golden foil bag inside the box that helps to keep your tea bags fresh!
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Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice Tea
This spicy tea is a perfect after-dinner drink for those wanting something cozy to fill their evening. It has quite a strong flavor, even half-steeped, so it would not appeal to... essentially those who would read the label and go "hmm, I don't... +
This spicy tea is a perfect after-dinner drink for those wanting something cozy to fill their evening. It has quite a strong flavor, even half-steeped, so it would not appeal to... essentially those who would read the label and go "hmm, I don't know, it might be TOO spicy." If that is you, and you want to try it anyways, then you might like to start in the form of a tea latte with a little of your favorite sweetener: steeped in milk, this will seem more like a softer drink, and could easily appeal to those worried about the bite, but who love a good ginger cookie during the holidays. A vanilla almond milk would be a treat here, too, for vegans and almond aficionados alike .I find it sweet enough to stand on its own in water, and generally don't add sweetener, but if I were told that calories didn't count, I'd throw in a teaspoon or two of sugar to make it even more indulgent. Celestial teas are on sale quite frequently, so wait for a sale and get more bang (or tea!) for your buck. -
Triscuit Crackers
These peppery bites are so good that I can't buy them anymore: 6 crackers - even big, thick, hearty ones like Triscuits - is just never enough. I grew up eating Triscuits warmed up in the microwave with a little bit of cheese, black pepper and fresh... +
These peppery bites are so good that I can't buy them anymore: 6 crackers - even big, thick, hearty ones like Triscuits - is just never enough. I grew up eating Triscuits warmed up in the microwave with a little bit of cheese, black pepper and fresh bacon from our farm. They were a "stock up the second they're on sale!" item, and my picky mother adores them, so our cupboard always had a nice stock of them. They keep well, and stay crisp if unopened even until close to their expiration date, and I'm quite certain that I've probably eaten them even beyond without knowing. The black pepper adds a layer of complexity to the cracker itself that makes it seem indulgent and much more "grown up" than the original Triscuit. Try them alone (have fears of a dry cracker? I'm no food scientist, but these fall apart in your mouth, probably due to the thin, crispy weaved layers and olive oil. Or due to cracker magic! Take your pick), or with a nice roasted red pepper and white bean hummus, classic caprese (cocktail bocconcini, cherry tomato, basil leaf and balsamic reduction) or even with the classic cheddar and crispy bacon - I'm telling you, half a dozen just isn't enough of these bad boys. -
Lipton Peach Mango Herbal Tea
I have been living off of this stuff since I started medical school: I am not the type to need a caffeine hit, but I do need something to keep me from snacking incessantly during our long hours in the classroom. I find that it's strong enough for... +
I have been living off of this stuff since I started medical school: I am not the type to need a caffeine hit, but I do need something to keep me from snacking incessantly during our long hours in the classroom. I find that it's strong enough for two cups of tea sequentially (~12 oz), or for one huge 1.5L thermos, which is my general go-to. Others may prefer two tea bags for this portion (it is noticeably less steep than were I to use two, so for a more "robust" flavor (if that can be said about tea), up your bag count). There is a bit of "tea leaf" - or herb, really, in this case - residue at the bottom of ever mug, but I avoid that by prepping large portions each time. It keeps well in a thermos without separating/settling too much, and I don't have to feel guilty that all I do all day is sit on my butt as a desk, because it keeps me from snacking. -
Red Rose Orange Pekoe Tea Bags
This was the only type of tea that my incredibly picky mother would drink for eons. If you like a strong black tea, this is the one for you: no bitter aftertaste, minimal tea floaters in the bottom of your cup, and delicious with a bit of milk and... +
This was the only type of tea that my incredibly picky mother would drink for eons. If you like a strong black tea, this is the one for you: no bitter aftertaste, minimal tea floaters in the bottom of your cup, and delicious with a bit of milk and sugar for a sweet after-dinner treat. I personally prefer to half-steep this tea and add about 4-5 portions of 2% milk and two sugars: I view it more as a dessert than as a caffeine hit. That said, it's actually the only beverage that makes it worth drinking my calories instead of having a nice, filling snack, so I would absolutely recommend this tea even to anyone just starting out with tea and wanting to try something classic, but not too strong. Just swirl your teabag for about 10 seconds before taking it out rather than doing a full steep. -
Ferrero Rocher
I worked as a secretary before I started medical school, and these were a fan favorite among patients to gift to their physicians around the holidays. For good reason: I missed them so much this Christmas that I've bought myself a rather large pack... +
I worked as a secretary before I started medical school, and these were a fan favorite among patients to gift to their physicians around the holidays. For good reason: I missed them so much this Christmas that I've bought myself a rather large pack. They're not the most economical chocolate, but despite the fact that I generally prefer pure milk chocolate to anything filled, Ferrero Rocher keeps drawing me back. In a post-Christmas sale, they're an A+ find. -
Cadbury Mini Eggs
These little eggs are my absolute favorite way to eat chocolate. I stock up every easter, and no matter whether I buy a 200g bag or a kilo, they're not enough to last me. The candy shell is sweeter than you would find on a Smartie, and thicker than... +
These little eggs are my absolute favorite way to eat chocolate. I stock up every easter, and no matter whether I buy a 200g bag or a kilo, they're not enough to last me. The candy shell is sweeter than you would find on a Smartie, and thicker than an M&M;- in combination with the super sweet Cadbury chocolate inside, it makes them a pretty satisfying fix for my sweet tooth. -
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