CrunchyCanuck
Member Since: August 26, 2014Reviews
Ben & Jerry's Peanut Butter Half Baked Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert
We recently eliminated a lot of dairy in the household and, for my husband, icecream is a dealbreaker. There's no possible way he was going to give up his nighttime treat UNTIL we discovered Ben and Jerry's Non Dairy. It's delicious, smooth, creamy... +
We recently eliminated a lot of dairy in the household and, for my husband, icecream is a dealbreaker. There's no possible way he was going to give up his nighttime treat UNTIL we discovered Ben and Jerry's Non Dairy. It's delicious, smooth, creamy and comes in at the same pricepoint as comparible dairy brands. I can't wait to try this entire line up and I'm happy to be able to keep icecream in the house. The only downfall, for me personally, is that I'm hoping to see an ORGANIC line because nuts, soy or anything else that could be used for a base isn't ideal if it's GMO or full of pesticides. Work on that, my business will be yours for life Ben & Jerry's! -
McCain Extra Crispy Spicy Straight Cut Fries
I was actually really surprised how much I enjoyed these. There's a perfect balance with the salt, which isn't always typical of preseasoned, convenience foods. They're the PERFECT base for a nacho poutine! Delish.
I was actually really surprised how much I enjoyed these. There's a perfect balance with the salt, which isn't always typical of preseasoned, convenience foods. They're the PERFECT base for a nacho poutine! Delish. -
Thermalabs Organic Self_tanner
I'm probably about as pasty as they come- you know you've got serious pale girl problems when the lightest shade of foundation is too dark, okay? I'm not even an "ivory", I'm more a "corpse white" but, sadly, vampires don't have a make up line so... +
I'm probably about as pasty as they come- you know you've got serious pale girl problems when the lightest shade of foundation is too dark, okay? I'm not even an "ivory", I'm more a "corpse white" but, sadly, vampires don't have a make up line so I'm left to literally mix white Halloween make up with a foundation so my face matches the rest of my body when I go out. I do, however, tan a fantastic shade of brown and was lucky enough to pass this on to each of my seasonally pasty children.
This is hard work, however, and I'm a mother of four now- if I had time to tan, I would use it to catch up on the Mountains of Madness aka my light and dark laundry pile. I'll either walk around looking gaunt or I've got to go with a self tanner. I would much rather use a sunless tanning method, as I'm not capable of investing hours in the sun to tan naturally and I don't want to use tanning beds, but I don't like slathering my entire body in a chemical soup in order to not look like my brand of sunblock is called roof.
Luckily, I was sent a bottle of Thermalabs organic self tanner free for review and discovered that not all sunless tanning products on the market are made up of complete garbage. I will note, however, that "parfum" is included on the label and that is the last thing that I want to see included when I'm buying something for the organic attributes. I would rather it had no scent, or even a somewhat unpleasant one, than include synthetic ones and I was disappointed to see that.
I've used a few different sunless tanning options and I've ended up every colour from orange to Obama- I can honestly say that Thermalabs was one of the best self tanners and I've taken a billion photos to try to get a decent shot. I can't really capture the bronzed brown of my hand now but, just note, this colour is more brown in person than gold or orange.
Clearly, there's a massive difference and I intentionally did only the top of one of my hands because this was the easiest way to show a before and after for you. That was two thin coats and, looking back, one would have sufficed but I worried that I had washed some of it off so I applied a second. I'm going to have to do my whole body now, which the bottle will cover without issue, and I'm going to be darker than I have in years. We'll have to see how this goes.
All in all, Thermalabs provides a product that contains more natural ingredients than any other on the market, it's safe for all skin types and the application was not streaky or difficult in any way. If you're someone who invests in these types of products on a regular basis, I would definitely recommend checking this one out. I like the shimmer of the brown, as it looks more sun-kissed than Kardashian-kissed and doesn't go overboard with bronzers. The tanner dries fairly quickly, smells less offensive than any other tanner that I have used in the past, and they sell it with a money back guarantee. I have no complaints, with the exception of the "parfum" addition, and I will leave you with these words of advice; If you can't tone it, tan it.
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Anthro Desk
Pardon my messy, post-workout look but I had to write this while resting and it came in very handy that I have the anthro desk to use while I do it. I have a hard time resting a laptop on my body and just lounging, as I have a back injury and my... +
Pardon my messy, post-workout look but I had to write this while resting and it came in very handy that I have the anthro desk to use while I do it.
I have a hard time resting a laptop on my body and just lounging, as I have a back injury and my complete right side is always sore (especially after a work out or during the winter) so I try to keep my posture perfect and my seating comfortable whenever possible. As a result, I have to work at a desk most of the time and it’s a pain that I’m not able to write while also enjoying my family’s company. I was recently sent this handy package from Anthrodesk, in exchange for an honest review, and that has rectified this problem for me. It’s a portable, economic substitute for a standing desk that I can take absolutely anywhere. What I really like about it is that it folds completely down, to barely bigger than a book (it’s only 4lbs) and I can tuck it neatly away when not in use. In my small space, that’s ideal and far more convenient than a permanent piece of furniture.
I did find that the massive variety of possibilities, although great, was a bit of a pain for me where set up is concerned. It’s incredibly easy to use, however, and the angles are achieved with the click of a button instead of having to unscrew and tighten anything. I use it primarily for blogging but my son has stolen it a couple of times to read while laying on the floor. This way his book or tablet is propped up and he can have a snack after school, busying his hands with that instead of having to hold onto his reading material.
I have honestly abandoned my clunk, stationary desk since finding the anthro desk and I don’t think I’ll be going back to it anytime soon. I love being able to work in whatever position is comfortable and necessary within the space I have.
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Batiste Dry Shampoo Original Clean & Classic
I recently received the Batiste Dry Shampoo as part of a Chick Advisor campaign and I actually was not terribly impressed. I have dabbled with my fair share of dry shampoos, as I prefer to avoid drying my hair out with frequent washing, and I... +
I recently received the Batiste Dry Shampoo as part of a Chick Advisor campaign and I actually was not terribly impressed. I have dabbled with my fair share of dry shampoos, as I prefer to avoid drying my hair out with frequent washing, and I actually found this one to be less effective than most.
I don't have overly greasy roots but on day 2 or 3, you can definitely tell that I could do with some TLC and that's typically my go-to. I received this on the day following a wash and had done a light workout the night before so I opted to refresh my roots before working out that day and doing a complete wash. I actually found that there was very little difference between the look before and my look afterwards, although it *did* give me a bit more volume. I also really enjoyed the fresh scent of the product but do wish I had been sent a full-sized can for review, as I've got a lot of hair and wish I could have tried this a couple of times before posting. It was gone after my second use.
As you can see by the photos, I've still got what I like to call the "grease parts" that happen when your hair is oily underneath. The dry shampoo didn't take care of those, sadly.
All in all, I wouldn't recommend it.
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Sun N Fun SPF 30 Kids Sunscreen
It’s winter time now and, when I say “winter time”, I mean that you can’t see the ground where I live. Ever. For around 3 months straight. During these months, product reviews give me something to pass my time while cooped up- this one came... +
It’s winter time now and, when I say “winter time”, I mean that you can’t see the ground where I live. Ever. For around 3 months straight. During these months, product reviews give me something to pass my time while cooped up- this one came as a result of a free product.
I live in Canada so it’s snowing like a mofo outside but I at least get to bust out all kinds of boots. Short ones, high ones and super clunky crappola footwear for when the snow has reached a FML depth that vertically challenged individuals, like myself, have trouble slugging through.
I don’t often don the big, proper winter boots because I choose to boycott the season by passionately displaying displeasure through coffee drinking and blanketed couch snuggling.
That being said, once in a while I’m required to leave my home in order to attend pre-planned appointments, such as the recent eye test that I went to. Thankfully, my eye sight is fine (which I expected) but I found out that I have very little pigment left in the back of my eye. This explains why they’re already becoming lighter before I have even hit 30. I used to have deep blue eyes, which changed to a lighter blue in my younger years, then blue-green in my teens and they have turned a pale, light green this past six months. I figured it was genetic, as my grandmother’s, mother’s and uncles’ eyes have lightened up in their latter years but it turns out that we may all be losing pigment sooner than an average person. The solution? Protect what little pigment I have left by way of polarized, super sexy Versace sunglasses through my insurance company! Woot woot! I have to wear them every single time I’m in the sunlight because the sun is pigment’s enemy.
As a super pale person of British heritage, it’s not like the sun and I were great buddies to begin with.
Year round, I like to protect my skin from its rays and to make sure my wee ones have similar protection while outside. Sunscreen is necessary year round, even though it’s not commonly thought of during this chilly season. Did you know that the sun is actually closer to the earth during the winter while, at the same time, the ozone layer is actually at its thinnest? It’s true! The National Science Foundation Polar Programs UV Monitoring Network will tell you as much- so we’re actually at an increased risk for UV exposure, especially if you’re a winter sports enthusiast. According to skincancer.org, anyone hitting the slopes may want to remember; “Higher altitude means increased risk of sun-induced skin damage, since UV radiation exposure increases 4 to 5 percent with every 1,000 feet above sea level. At an altitude of 9,000 to 10,000 feet, UV radiation may be 35 to 45 percent more intense than at sea level. In addition, snow reflects up to 80 percent of the UV light from the sun, meaning that you are often hit by the same rays twice. This only increases the risk for damage.”
When heading out skiing or beaching, the pictured sunscreen is a new favourite for our skincare. The Sun ‘N’ Fun description reads that this;
Chemical free, non toxic, not greasy, no white cast, EWG Rating 1.
Natural with Organic ingredients, Zinc 20%
Contains fresh and inviting (natural) scent of marshmallow & chocolate, that kids love
Can be used by kids and adults alike
moisturizing with antioxidants
suncreen sun protection
The 1 rating means that this sunscreen has the lowest hazard rating possible, and when 75% of sunscreens and 90% of SPF moisturizers tested in the Environmental Working Group’s “2013 Guide to Safer Sunscreens” were found unsafe or ineffective, that’s a major plus. We typically use my homemade sunscreen for that reason but this one does appear to contain a fairly comprehensive ingredient list. It also includes the antioxidant tocopherol (from soy), which enhances sun damage protection.
When they say that it smells of marshmallow and chocolate, it smells EXACTLY like that and Peanut loved it. My husband loathes sunscreen and hates wearing it but he readily agreed to wear this one whenever asked as a result of the scent. He said, “I would be a walking dessert” and then many suggestive comments, full of innuendo followed. Men. Heh.
However, it is pretty chilly and curling up with him sounds fairly fantastic right about now so I will leave you to contemplate lying on a beach while I go and cuddle up in our bed. ‘Til next time.
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Perfect Threads Online Clothing Shop
One of the best online clothing stores that I have come across has been Perfect Threads, the company that sponsored this review. As a mother, it's not always easy for me to get out in the dead of winter, shopping for myself or the kids with all of... +
One of the best online clothing stores that I have come across has been Perfect Threads, the company that sponsored this review. As a mother, it's not always easy for me to get out in the dead of winter, shopping for myself or the kids with all of them in tow. Sometimes, in order to avoid a fiasco in a store, I prefer to shop from the comfort of my home. It's not always affordable to do, however, and that's where second-hand clothing stores like Perfect Threads come in.
Here, you can find a wide variety of used clothing online, including kids clothes, bargain clothing lots and women's fashion. They're close (to me), they're affordable and they support area communities with fund-raising drives within the GTA. Anyone who wishes to start a drive with Perfect Threads is able to contact their offices via e-mail at [email protected] and let them know your cause, your deadline and the amount of money that you're hoping to raise. They will create a custom campaign for you, coordinating plans in order to help you reach your charitable goals. They work with area schools, religious groups, sports teams and other social programs, then arrange to pick up their donations and pay you based upon weight obtained. This, on its own, greatly encouraged me to stick by the company but take a look at some of the items that I obtained for less than $25 in TOTAL.
My great coat was one of my finds and it came with the plastic attachment for tags still attached. I was shocked by the like-new quality of the item, looking as though it was never previously worn, and I've got to say I completely love it. I took it out in bitter cold (I'm from Canada, that to us is -15 kind of weather) and it stood up well. I like the versatility of the collar because, like any girl knows, sometimes you just have to hide a cold nose from a winter wind. That feature was great, not to mention the belted waist and all of the pockets! For $10, I made the smartest buy of the year.
When doing some online shopping for clothing, you can never really tell whether or not the items are going to arrive true to size but, using a Canadian retailer, I knew that the outfits I ordered for my girls would fit them. As you can see, they look adorable and just loved their dresses. Pardon the one photo, it was taken during a family get-together that Peanut really wanted to sport her Elmo dress for so I took the opportunity to shoot it then.
Service from Perfect Threads comes with guarantees that most online retailers don't, or even local shops that sell used clothing and I learned very quickly how much customer service can matter. I initially ordered a few different shirts from the store, choosing mediums, and was accidentally sent smalls. I let the company know of the dilemma, expecting the standard response of "You can ship it back to us and we'll exchange it, then reimburse you" or something along those lines, which is always a huge pain in the butt. As soon as I got the email back, I was shocked to discover that I was quickly provided with a store credit to rectify the situation and asked to donate the other items to a local charity shop. No fuss, fast service and great communication!
If you happen to place an order, I would truly appreciate you adding [email protected] to the comments box because referrals generate a store credit and you get a $10 credit for doing so! Be sure you pass on the word to friends and have them use your email address if they opt to make a purchase. This only counts for new customers, of course. Any order over $50 qualifies for free shipping- and that includes Canada! As a Canuck, I was overjoyed at this because most of the free shipping promises are for United States residence only but theirs applies to both countries. Bonus.
Happy shopping!
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Glasses Shop
Brought to you, and me, by GlassesShop.com, I received the product at no cost in order to facilitate this review. What's cool about this particular post though, is that it involves a sweet discount code for all of my readers and my glasses are... +
Brought to you, and me, by GlassesShop.com, I received the product at no cost in order to facilitate this review.
What's cool about this particular post though, is that it involves a sweet discount code for all of my readers and my glasses are pink!
As you can see, these specs are pretty out there. That's exactly what I was going for when I chose them from the site and, if they're your cup of tea too, then you can find the product page here. At $20 a pop, they're fantastic, discount eyeglasses and you can't really go wrong. The absolute best part of dealing with Glasses Shop, on top of that pricing, is the fact that single vision prescription lenses are included FOR FREE, along with their anti-scratch coating.
I had an eye appointment last week and discovered that I have so little pigment in the back of my eye that it explains why I am already losing colour in them. My eyesight is perfect but the eye itself is probably going to become a little albino-looking in the years to come. Fine with me, as I happen to think the whole vampire look is rather sexy. Well, some anyway.
In all seriousness though, I have to protect the pigment that I have left with polarized sunglasses, whenever outside, all year round (I immediately wanted to start singing Sunglasses at Night by Cory Hart when told this),and that can be pretty expensive. It adds up when, as any person might, I want to buy a few different options for those days when I feel I need a change. I can't do that if my glasses cost $300+ a piece; which, according to the insurance claim that I just put through for my sunglasses, would still be kinder pricing than I recently received.
I mean, let's face it, some outfits pull together nicely with something so loud and then different occasions may require a more subtle, less distracting frame. I love being able to change things up once in a while and, even if I went with the necessary polarized pair, or even a transitioning one, Glasses Shop beats out my local retailers' pricing by a mile. I thought that was a fantastic bonus.
Speaking of bonuses, please use the discount code AlysiaX20 to receive a further 20% off on the website. I'm not an affiliate of Glasses Shop, just a lady who likes to pass on some savings when possible. Enjoy!
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Skin QR Organics NuElle Triple Action Anti-Cellulite Concentrate
I'm a woman. I'm a woman who's had children. I'm a woman that's had children and now has far too much junk in her trunk as a result. I own it! That being said, I sometimes wish that I didn't- or that the maintenance of cette trunk was a bit easier... +
I'm a woman.
I'm a woman who's had children.
I'm a woman that's had children and now has far too much junk in her trunk as a result.
I own it!
That being said, I sometimes wish that I didn't- or that the maintenance of cette trunk was a bit easier, that's for sure. Coming across NuElle Triple Action Anti Cellulite Concentrate was intriguing although I'm never sold by the promises on a bottle.
After using this product for the past few weeks, I can honestly say that it works. I would post before and after photos, only I don't make regular practice of sharing pictures of my behind. I think my hubby would lose his metaphorical shit if My Domestic Dish became My Photographed Tush but, then again, he might not. In any case, no one wants to see my butt right now so here's another lady's perfectly sculpted gluteal muscles for your viewing pleasure;
The ingredients listed down the side of that picture are "flub busters" and are supposed to contribute to an overall tightening of the skin, toning in appearance, as well as overall cellulite reduction.
The smell is quite a bit like lemongrass and straight aloe, which is not exceptionally pleasant for me, but it dies down quickly and I would rather it smell like natural ingredients than some heavily perfumed synthetic.
I did enjoy the idea of the airless pump, which means that I don't have to repeatedly attempt to get the pump to function properly and it comes with a satisfying amount dispersed each time.
The cream is rich and takes a bit to absorb but it leaves a pleasant sensation on the skin once it is applied. The "sauna effect" has been mentioned and it did make me feel a bit clammy or heated in the areas where I put the cream on but it was well worth it due to the end result.
I've found, after numerous applications, that it does exactly what it is supposed to and am sold on the effects that it has had to date. If I am being honest, I can't comment about how well it would work on a lot of cellulite, as I have been fortunate enough to avoid the orange peel look where my buttox is concerned, but I did notice that it has changed the overall size of my bum without any difference in my daily routine. Even my husband has commented, "Your butt looks smaller" more than once since I started using this cream. I've only been using it once a day, whereas you're supposed to use it twice, and am sure I may notice better results when I bump up the applications.
If you want to check it out for yourself, you can find it on Amazon and be sure to check out the product page for other reviews. I am not the only person who has had a positive experience and you don't have to take what I say at face value, of course. It's good stuff!
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Firmoo Eyewear
I was recently approached by Firmoo, in order to review a pair of their snazzy specs from their ever-changing website, and jumped at the opportunity to work with the business. Although my husband needs glasses and won't admit it, no one in the... +
I was recently approached by Firmoo, in order to review a pair of their snazzy specs from their ever-changing website, and jumped at the opportunity to work with the business. Although my husband needs glasses and won't admit it, no one in the household wears prescription lenses. Due to anxiety issues, as well as my penchant for stylishly covering dark Mama-circles under my eyes without the use of make up, I enjoy wearing a pair of non-prescription frames on a regular basis. I simply get clear sunglasses so that I never have to take them off and so my eyes always have a bit of UV protection. These suit that purpose, as well as give me a bit of flare at the same time.
I am a big fan of the cat eye shape, as well as the tortoise shell look that turns into a pop of turquoise. As you can see, the frames are a bit on the larger side and are made to be a statement piece. I have honestly never worn a pair of glasses that have gotten such reaction from people. I have been complemented on my new specs every time I've been out wearing them since they arrived- while out of town to view some Christmas lights, out for a drink with my sister or even while grocery shopping. They came in a gorgeous, good quality case, that looks as though a map is printed on the outside and my husband actually stole that for his sun glasses because he liked it too. I also got a cleaning cloth, as well as a little glasses screwdriver with them and was very impressed with the company consideration. Shipping for these puppies was also exceptionally fast, with them arriving the very same week that I ordered;
The frames are affordable, the company communication is excellent, shipping is speedy and the site sales are fantastic. I absolutely love my Firmoo glasses and have received so much positive feedback about them that I will most definitely never shop anywhere else.
For those who wish to peruse the collection, it's possible to even get a free pair of glasses if you use the code FIRMOOFREE while checking out with selected style options. Be sure to browse their First Pair Free selections, or check out their buy one, get one free Christmas sale.
Oh! If you want to check out how I got my hair to look like this, please read this review here; http://www.mydomesticdish.com/2014/12/kiss-instawave-automatic-curler-review.html
Happy browsing!
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