Touch Purse Review

The other day I was perusing the As Seen On TV section in my local Rite Aid and found the Touch Purse.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE purses, and although this was not my usual bright and blingy style, it certainly seemed like it would be a USEFUL purse... if it worked.  Since it was only $9.99, of course it ended  up in my basket.

In the box were the purse, a wrist strap, and a shoulder strap (both detachable). Its features claim to be 6 inside pouches, zipper closure, a phone pouch with clear plastic cover that touch screens work through, a belt loop on the back, and a pen/stylus loop.

The box says you can use it with "any phone".  This claim is not true.  My Samsung Galaxy S4 with its thin plastic cover was definitely the largest the phone pouch could take.  I had to force it in there, but it did go.  If I took the cover off I would have to be careful to never flip the purse upside down or risk the phone falling out.  I would never have been able to fit a Note 2 or any of the larger phones in there. I would be perfectly accepting if it stated "most phones" instead. I think the majority of phones are the size of mine or smaller.  An iPhone 4s or older would have a good deal of extra room.

With my phone, the bottom buttons were covered by the fabric, but it still worked just fine anyhow. I could touch where the button is and it would respond.  The same was true for the screen. It responded properly. I was quite surprised at how well my phone still worked, in fact.  The only drawback to the phone pouch would be that (obviously) you cannot take photos without taking the phone out of the pouch, and that I could not fit any pen or stylus in the loop, but that may be a manufacturing error.  I wasn't terribly bothered by this as I could put either one of those inside the purse itself.

I tried a variety of items in the purse to see just how much I could potentially carry and still zip it up.  I did find that the box claim that it will hold a checkbook was blatantly false.  My standard checkbook with no cover on it was almost an inch too long to fit in there; but, again, not a big deal.  How often does anyone actually use a checkbook while out and about any more?  I could easily tear a couple off and fold them in half to carry for emergencies.

I could easily fit 10 credit cards and all 5 of our social security cards with room for some cash (that wold also have to be folded up);  a pack of cigarettes and half a dozen cards and cash; or an inhaler, contact case, half a dozen cards, and some cash.

The one thing I was bummed I couldn't fit in were my EpiPens. Clearly this is not an issue for most people, and could probably be resolved by getting that new Auvi-Q which is much smaller and rectangular.

This one problem prevents this from being the PERFECT vacation/festival/craft fair purse for me because I always have to carry my EpiPens.

I will still likely still use this for mall shopping and other times I want a small purse but feel safe that I wont have a severe allergic reaction, or when I have my husband with me and he can carry my EpiPens on his belt.

For most people, I would definitely call this a win.

Physicians Formula CC Mascara Review

The claim:

"Curl & Volumize. Condition & Nourish. 100% Natural Origin. 100% Recyclable Sculpting Brush. 24 Hour Wear! 1st Ever CC Curl + Care Mascara. Curl Booster Technology."

Having recently had a bad run of luck with mascaras (a couple needed to be tossed out because they were old and dry, one had what I have to assume was a manufacturing error of an applicator, and one that was barely noticeable on), I was hunting for suggestions.  I read other bloggers favorites. I read reviews.  I read lists.  I was confused.  How do I know they want the same look I want?  So, I tried vloggers, hoping they would SHOW me the differences.  That was a tough one.  Few show close ups, and even fewer review drugstore makeup. 

Eventually it occured to me to check and see if my favorite silly fun beauty vlogger grav3yardgirl had ever reviewed drugstore makeup, and she DID! In fact, she even did one specifically comparing four popular drugstore mascaras! Perfect!

I watched her video (more than once) as she applied and provided close-ups of all four, and then again with her favorite two.  I looked closely to see which of the four applied I liked best.  I decided to try Physicians Formula CC Mascara, and off I ran to Rite Aid to buy it for $9.95.

As soon as I  got home I plunked down with a mirror and tore it open to apply it, and I was immediately surprised.  The wand was caked full to the very tips of the bristles with what looked to be rather dry, clay like mascara. This looked NOTHING like the video I had seen.

I scraped it back into the tube hoping it was a settling issue, pushed the wand back in and spun it a couple times.  It did seem better when I pulled it out, so I started brushing it on.  It was still more dry than I am used to, but it went on.  It took 3 coats for me to decide something really just wasn't right.  Yes, It made my lashes black.  No, it did not curl them at all.  And, it certainly didn't give me anything near the dramatic improvement over my natural lashes I had hoped for.  It wasn't really any better than the old ones I had just thrown out for being old.  I also found out later that night (thank you cheezy romance movie) that this mascara runs super easily and stings my eyes a little bit if I tear up.

I couldn't find any expiration date on the package (wondering if maybe it had just been in the store too long... this happens in small towns), so I decided to call the company itself. They were, of course, closed for the weekend.  Just my luck.

On Monday I called again.  I have definitely got to say the representative I spoke with was super friendly and helpful.  When I described my experience, she agreed that it did not sound right.  The product itself is new this year so it couldn't have been expired, but she agreed it should not have looked as I described or apply the way it did.  Any number of situations could have caused this from temperature problems in shipping to a manufacturing error, and she did take the lot number for reference.  She let me know that if the store would not take the return, Physicians Formula would replace it for me.

I did return the mascara with no problems and would be willing to try it again, but I chose not to that day under the assumption  that the 4 in my store probably came in the same shipment from the same lot, just in case those were the cause of the problem.  Having seen how nice it looked in the video, I will likely buy it again for one more try in the future... from a different store. ;)

All in all, I didn't hate it.  I just didn't love it enough to make me want to stay with that tube when better results supposedly can be found with others. 

The Curse of the W.I.P.

Yes, the Work In Progress.

Something about my personality makes me aspire to do BIG projects, but to get bored with them after a week or two, or to get distracted by the next shiny lovely thing I want to try; and so, my WIP pile grows and grows.

I really don't like this bit of my personality, but I can't seem to shake it no matter how often I try.  I make the decision to not make anything new until I clear away my WIP pile but get overwhelmed trying to choose which one to do first.  If I can manage to put them in an order of "to dos", I find that after going back to something that has been sitting in a bin for months (sometimes even years) I can't remember where I was in the pattern, or I no longer like that pattern, and end up having to tear it all apart. And, even if I do manage to complete a couple, I somehow feel like it makes it ok to reward myself by starting new projects which, quite likely, will end up in the WIP pile also.

I literally have a project that I have been working on, on and off, for 26 years.  I started it when I was 14 and have frogged and changed plans for it so many times I have lost count.  I just can't get it right. It's currently sitting in a bin and I know I need to frog it again and start over, but that alone is a daunting process I have been avoiding. Yes, it's the one from my And So It Grows Rug post.  It's still sitting there heckling me from my office.

There is another bin that held the materials (cotton craft loops) for a braid rug for almost 10 years. I originally tried to make it round, but I apparently sewed it too tight and it buckled up, so I had to cut the stitching back out and start over.  Being me, of course, I then decided to make it an oval big enough for my living room (or as close as using ALL the bags of material would allow).  I finally made ALMOST all the braid last year, and then it went back into the bin because it hurts my back to even think about the actual sewing part.  I'm hoping to find the ambition to try it when I dig my dining room table out from all the clean laundry piles, but somehow I doubt even a magically open work space will get me to start sewing that bugger together any time soon.

I have drawers full of decoden kits I never put on the bin full of phone cases, and now the phone styles are a year out of date so it seems it would be a waste to decorate them. They all sit awaiting my decision between buying more recent cases to decorate or using them on something else someday.  Either way, I need to get around to selling those cases before they are tragically outdated.

I have at least half a dozen quilts siting anywhere from cut pieces in a pile (like the picture below) to fully assembled tops waiting to be backed and finished, and easily that many afghans also in varying states of progress.  It's probably considered some kind of sickness in some book somewhere, some bizarre combination of ADD, OCD, and hoarding, but I just can't seem to ever get ahead of that pile.

Mary-Kate & Ashley Bare Effects Mineral Foundation

My mother gave me this unused and still sealed.  She bought it in a discount bin somewhere, but hadn't gotten around to using it.  She loves the discount bin for makeup to try out when she can find it.  It seemed like the perfect option to keep in my purse after foolishly going on vacation with no makeup in my bags:  small, convenient shape, what appeared to be a good color, and no need to buy a kabuki brush also as it had one built in. 
It claimed that you twist the top to dunk the brush into the powder, and then back up to apply in a similar fashion to any other loose powder minerals foundation. Repeat as needed, and twist back down to replace the cap over the brush when you are done.  I was thrilled with the concept.
I would love to report on the makeup itself, but I CAN'T. No matter how many times I twisted the bristles up and down into the powder, tried to use it in the up or down positions, no makeup came out through the bristles. When you try to apply the apparently nonexistant powder, the bristles fall out like crazy, leaving you with a foundation free face that feels like a shedding cat slept on it.
Thankfully, this product was discontinued in 2009, but clearly some stores still have it in their discount bins, and it is still readily available online. It used to retail in stores for 6.99. It now costs significantly more than that online.  I have even seen it as high as $20 each on ebay, though it usually runs about $10 each now. 
Had I spent any money on this product, I would be very annoyed.  Do not waste your money even if it seems like a great deal.  It's terribly obvious to me why it was discontinued.

Pandora Charm Bracelets VS. Connections from Hallmark

For years I wanted a Pandora Charm Bracelet, but they only come in a pricey Sterling Silver, or an exorbitantly priced 14kt gold, and I am allergic to silver.  Obviously, I can't/won't pay the gold prices.  Last year, on my birthday, my family gave me a Connections from Hallmark bracelet, and I have been VERY surprised by it.  I had no idea there was a charm bracelet collection so similar in appearance to Pandora that I could wear safely, and also afford.  I also had absolutely no idea a jewelry line exclusive to Wal-Mart would be of such good quality.
*side note: Pugster is somewhat less expensive than Pandora and sometimes claims to be steel, but I've found that after wearing it for a time, some kind of plating rubs off and I see a core resembling copper that makes me break out in hives.
It's all stainless steel (embellishments like crystals aside) and available in a price range for almost anyone.  
Pandora bracelets are priced from $45-$400, and their charms run from $35-$240.  Connections Starter bracelets are $15 and the charms range from $5-$12 each, and some 3 piece sets for $15.
The best I could do in comparing prices was to compare my bracelet and charms to the most similar (least expensive versions) on Pandora's web site.
                    Connections from Hallmark                                Pandora
Starter Bracelet                    $15                            Sterling lobster clasp bracelet    $45
Boy Charm  (x2)                  $18                            Boy Charm   (x2)                      $ 70
Girl Charm                             $9                            Girl Charm                                 $35
Crystals & Hearts                $15                             Shimmering Blossom                  $65
Elephant                                $9                             Elephant                                     $35
Key/Heart Dangle                 $9                              Filled with love dangle                $65
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals                                   $75                                                                            $315

Yes, over 4 times more for a bracelet from Pandora that, at a distance, would likely be impossible to tell from the one I wear.
I have worn my Connections bracelet day and night, only removing for showers (when I remember) for well over a year now, and see no discoloration or loss of enamels or crystals.  It still looks like the day I got it.
Yes, Pandora has a MUCH larger selection of charms to choose from, but Connections from Hallmark does have a nice array, and have added a number of new ones just in the time I have had mine. 
Conclusion:  Yes, I would like to someday have a gold Pandora bracelet; but, I am extremely happy with my Connections from Hallmark bracelet.  I would recommend it to anyone who likes the Pandora look but has metal allergies or doesn't have the budget for precious metals.

Mother's Day

To all the children of mothers on Mother's Day:
Call your mother, don't just send her a text, tweet, or FB post.
Send her a letter, not a store card.
Make her a meal, don't take her out to a restaurant.
Plant something in her yard or garden, don't buy cut flowers.
There are so many ways to better honor your mother than what has become the norm.
http://nypost.com/2014/05/10/how-mothers-days-founder-went-completely-insane-defending-it/

A Year in Hexies - March

Unfortunately I am running just a tad behind on my March work. All the hexies are made, but I have about a dozen I still need to attach. Hoping I can do that tonight or tomorrow morning and post the yarn list and picture.
Sorry! Sometimes life with special needs kids gets in the way.