I’m a Birchblogger! – Chapstick Review

Ooooo!  So, I guess I’m a birchblogger……( accidents happen all the time ^^)

So,  last week i received some of Chapstick’s newest products to test out! These are the duel end “hydration lock” chapsticks that have been floating about the interweb.

They were overnighted in a fedex envelop! ( Sniff…I kinda miss getting official looking mail …. sniffle)

First Impressions: These guys look really cool, The size is one “cap” longer than a normal stick of chapstick.  The night and day Chapstick was the one I was most interested in trying out so I started there.  I was totally thinking ” Oo, now I won’t missplace my chapstick anymore, because I’ll always have it on me!” um….oops?

Product Impression:  I haven’t noticed any big differences in the formulas both of these feel a lot like the 8hr Hydration lock chapstick that Birchbox sent out last winter.  The “night time” formula smells better though, It might have some lavender in it.   Extra Point, the hydration lock formula absorbs into the lips by morning so there’s none of that awkward scrubbing before brushing my teeth.  The “day time” formula boasts some SPF but it’s so little, that there’s practical protection. I would look into coola or supergoop for a lipbalm with more spf power.

My issues:  So Now that I have a night and day chapstick, I want to use it – night and day, but the design ( which was the coolest concept ever! ) became the limiting factor.  When I carry the chapstick in my purse I used it during the day, but at night I would forget about the chapstick since it was in my purse.  Or If I used it at night, I wouldn’t think to grab it in the morning when I headed out for work.  Sigh…..I would need 2 sticks of Night and Day chapstick to use it both at night and during day – which defeats the point( and leads me to the same problem I have now….so much chapstick, but never one when I want it. )

Final Verdict: The hydration lock formula is awesome – I would buy it from the store if my boxes magically stopped sending out sample of lipbalm.  I totally used up the chapstick samples from Birchbox last winter ( I started with 4…and I’m down to the last 2 ) – but this duel end stuff is just too gimicky for me. When I start traveling again for work, these will be a god-send – I can just tell.  For everyday use – I’ll pass.

 

 

Moon Cakes!

Once a year my house turns into a bakery – for moon cakes!  Yomyomyomyomyom ^^

What ARE moon cakes?  Well, moon cakes are a seasonal ( ready extra starchy ) pastry that typically contains a yummy center wrapped in a cake or pastry crust.  See below for pics of awesomeness – my mom really outdid herself this year!

My family prefers the flaky crust so most of our moon cakes are the pastry variety instead of the cake – but that means  even the “N/G” moon cakes look really cool!.

The red marks  you see on the pastries are part of a  growing bakery tradition.  Long ago, the choices for fillings were kinda slim, but people still had preferences for Red bean vs Mung Bean vs Lutus paste and etc.  So there’s a system for marking these traditional pasteries ( ie. if it’s mung bean filling then 1 dot, if it’s read bean filling than 3 dots) But as bakeries and households started to come up with new flavors or mixes of flavors they started adding new stamps into the mix. But here’s the catch; once you have a new pastry and you mimic the flavor you still use the same shape!  ” how bazaro is that !?!”

There’s some mythical and Practical history behind the continued emphasis on moon cakes during the mid Autumn season, but it’s kind of boring. ( Watch Moon Fairy ( 2003 ) starring Fann Wong and her husband Chris Fong )

 

Happy Mid-Autumn Moon !

Woot! it’s Mid-Autumn Moon!  Happy roundest moon of the year everyone!

Laundry list of what this day means to me:

1. Moon Cakes! ( pics in separate post )

2. Binge-ing on really bad ” 嫦娥奔月 ” TV shows and Movies

3.Mom’s Birthday ( but I always forget….hm….)

4.  Grandma’s Birthday ( but I  always forget….um…..)

Eep! ::: Runs away to * Make* Phone* Calls* ; D :::::

 

It’s my birthday month!

It’s the start of my Birthday MONTH!  (bring out the party hats, Woot! )

To help kick-off the beginning of my birthmonth, I’m sharing a special promo code from DarbySmart for 25% off my DS kit ( and anything else you buy ^^).  Type in “Infinity25” at check out.  Valid on though Sunday  09,07,2014.