Fun Times: The Flat Tire

I was having a marvelous day off last Monday. I slept in, got a little holiday shopping done, and was on my way to get my brows waxed when I heard a loud BOOM. It sounded as if something had hit the roof of my car and I was worried it cracked the glass on my sunroof. I pulled over, checked the top of my car and all looked fine. I also checked the rest of the car and everything looked fine so I drove on for a few miles. Nothing sounded or seemed out of the ordinary until I suddenly wasn’t able to accelerate. Shortly afterward, I started slowing down even though I was pressing the gas. I pulled over again, got out, and saw that I had a flat. I’ve only ever had a flat tire once before and also didn’t realize it was flat for quite some time (until a nice lady  flagged me down).

Even though I didn’t have many warning signs of a flat that I immediately recognized, it’s good to know what to look for. I can’t tell you how to change a flat (I know it’s supposed to be easy but I still haven’t learned how) but I can inform you of the basics of tire care:

-I always get my tires rotated on schedule. This helps them to wear evenly and it’s also a great way to know if you need any repair work done (retreading, etc.) or if your tire shop expert notices any potential problems for the future. They will also usually check your pressure (if not, ask them to). I take great care of my tires since they are pretty big investment and sometimes no matter what you do, flats will still happen. If you don’t know how many thousand miles to have them rotated, ask your local shop.

-You should also always check your tire pressure at least once a month. To do this, you can purchase a gauge, which is relatively inexpensive, at your auto parts store or any store that sells basic auto products (Target, Walmart). I prefer to have my own so that I can check the pressure anytime and anywhere. Most gas stations also have air you can fill your tires with and the hoses usually have a gauge that you can use for free. Side note for Californians: It is now illegal for gas stations to charge you for air use. To find out the desired pressure for your tires, there is often a chart on the driver side door of your vehicle, in your owner manual, or you can ask when you purchase your tires or have them rotated. The place I purchase my tires from will also check my levels for free and fill them if needed. Many places will also do this for free or a small fee.

-If you are in an emergency situation, call 911 immediately!  If you need to pull over due to a flat or stall (for any reason), try to do so safely and pull off to a safe spot. Grip your steering wheel firmly and steer carefully, minding traffic conditions around you. Do not slam on your brakes and don’t stop in traffic as it may cause an accident. Turn on your blinker to alert drivers of your lane change. If you remember to turn on your emergency flashers, now would be an ideal time to do so. Carefully exit your car (preferably on the side NOT adjacent to the road) and stand off to the side of the road.

-If you carry emergency flares, place them 300 feet away from your car. If you have a second pair, those should be placed about ten feet from the first set. Flares are especially needed at night or in bad weather to warn other drivers that you are on the side (or middle) of the road. There are now LED flares on the market that can be re-used several times.

-If you are not able to accelerate, it’s a good idea to pull over and inspect your tires. This, for me, has always been a sign that I had a flat.

-Some people hear a flapping sound or a boom when they have a flat. It’s always good to pull off and investigate.

-If you have a cell phone, always make certain it is charged or that you have a car charger in case of emergency. It is also a good idea to have emergency numbers on hand to refer to: road side assistance or a tow company, your highway patrol, and someone you can count on for a temporary loan if you don’t have charge or cash on hand (or someone who will be nice enough to drive you to a bank or ATM).

-I believe that it is best to over prepared then not prepared at all. I keep an emergency kit in my car that consists of: a blanket, plastic rain gear (pants and jacket), a change of warm clothes, socks, old shoes, two jackets, a gallon of water, flares, bungee cords, jumper cables, a travel-friendly tool kit, a large towel, paper towels, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, first aid kit, and a personal toiletry bag (new disposable razor, sample packs of cleanser, moisturizer, spf, eye cream, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, a small brush, extra hair pins, and a tooth-brush and tooth paste. Plus, I always carry two flash lights and I check the batteries every six months.

It’s always good to expect the best and also be ready for the worst.

Clarisonic Opal

 

I want one when it comes out! It is designed to help to diminish signs of aging immediately and over time. While my skin is well-cared for and I’m too young to see aging, I still want this to keep my skin looking that way. Click here to see the sneak peek: Clarisonic Opal (there is a vid full of info you can check out).

Dior Creme Abricot Fortifying Cream For Nails

This nail and cuticle treatment has been around for a very long time and has a cult following. It hydrates, strengthens, and encourages nail growth. A small amount is all that’s needed to be effective and can be used before or after using polish. It’s $23 and you get plenty of product in one little pot.

I know a lot of people really dig this product but I did not like having to physically dig into the pot to get any out. I’d much rather invest in products with user friendly packaging. It is hard to close a screw top pot after one has goo residue on his or her fingers from hydrating the cuticles.

I tested this product in store and did not buy, so I can’t report on if it actually helps with nail growth. Like other Dior products, it is fragranced. That’s fine and dandy, however, the fragrance they used for this product is less than satisfactory to my nose. Very grandma-like (though not my grandma, she’s hip and smells lovely).

 

Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment & Brown Sugar Body Polish Turns 10!

I love Fresh bunches and I also love their original Sugar Lip treatment. It contains sugar, a natural humectant, to help keep your lips hydrated. It also feels smooth and makes my lips look and feel healthy. It also contains a ton of ingredients to keep your pucker in top condition. Plus, it features SPF 15 to prevent sun damage and burns.

The “new” Rose tinted treatment has all of the same benefits of the original, now with a little hint of tint. The color is sheer, buildable, and is a very soft rose color. I liked it at first because it was great when I wanted a little color and hydration. Then, I left it in the heat and it melted everywhere. So no more Sugar Rose for me. Oh well, I think I prefer the original better since I can wear it to bed without turning my pillow pink.

At $22.50 for both the original and roseversion, it is a bit steep. Keep in mind, though, that this is more of a treatment then a lip balm. A little goes a long way and you just want to use a little dab instead of slathering it all over your lips, especially with the rose version. Either is a great treat for yourself or a gift for someone else.

Celebrate Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish’s 10th birthday! Fresh Stores will be hosting events every Thursday from 5pm til closing during the rest of September. There are two events remaining, check the website for details: http://www.fresh.com/content/TenYears

If you have not tried this body scrub, it will knock your socks off. It’s a very luxurious body polish that softens and hydrates with essential oils. It’s almost like having a pricy spa body exfoliation treatment in your own tub at home.

Travel Beauty Items vs Full-Sized

Dear readers,

There is an issue I would like to bring to your attention that will hopefully help to prevent some disappointment from future purchases of certain beauty items.

So, lets say I’m in the market for a new hair dryer. I want salon quality without the price tag but any old drug store dryer just won’t do. The dryer I want is $150, but I see there is a travel size for only $100! Should I:

1. Pick the travel size because it will save me some money and save space.
2. Go with the original size.

If you are like most consumers, you probably picked the first option to save a bit of money. The best answer is really 2. By the way, this is just a pretend scenario. I happen to love my Conair from Target.

Most electric “travel size” beauty accessories (i.e. hair dryers, flat irons, styling tools, and skin care items that require an outlet or batteries) are just that- travel size and only for travel. They often have shorter warranties and are not intended for daily use. They will not usually hold up to every day wear and tear and are meant for occasional use, hence why they are for travel.

Think of it this way: If you wash and condition your hair at least five times weekly, little travel sized bottles of shampoo and conditioner would last, at most, only for that one week (maybe longer if you have shorter hair). You would possibly end up spending more on the smaller size items then to just shell out for full size shampoo and conditioner.

It is the same concept for beauty appliances. You might be saving a little money for the moment, but you’ll spending more in the long run, having to purchase a new one when the manufacturer deems the warranty void because it wasn’t used as intended. And, as previously mentioned, the warranties are often much shorter in duration, sometimes by up to a few years.  

If you really do intend to use it occasionally then you will be fine with purchasing the travel size with no problems at all. Just make sure that if you find yourself using it more often to invest in the full size/original size version.

XOXO,

A.

50% Off In Store: BBW True Blue Morocco

For the past month, I’ve been wondering what Bath and Body Work’s True Blue Morocco line was like. The scent and texture of everything sounded promising so I was more then happy to drive my mom to the nearest BBW store when she asked to go. I love that BBW has testers availble because I dislike buying anything unsniffed.

I ended up falling in love with the Sweet Fig and Argan body lotion. It doesn’t feel greasy and smells fab! It’s simi-spicy while still being light and creamy. I also love the pump bottle and at the same time wish it isn’t glass (I’m klutzy and am afraid of breaking it). This smooth body treat is packed with green tea, shea butter, and my liquid gold (argan oil). Mmmmmmm, hello, hydration!

I also liked loved the Cedarwood and Spice warming body scrub. I used it in the shower tonight and it was like heaven. It is the perfect mix of scrubby, creamy and warm. The scent is comforting and features a bit of sandalwood and amber, two of my faves. I think I must stock up while this product is still around.

 Also, noteworthy was the Honey & Date body yoghurt. The texture was nice and I liked the scent but I ended up passing on this one as I liked the body lotion better. Other items I passed on in the line were the shower gels as I have too many as it is and they are huge bottles. If I had purchased one, it probably would have been Moroccan Tea and Cucumber.

FYI: this line is on its way to being discontinued and is in the “Fond Farewell” section of BBW’s website, where it is full price. In store, it is currently 50% off.

And the fall stuff is out! I picked up some wallflowers (they are buy one, get one free right now) in leaves and pumpkin patch. I tried leaves today and it’s soft and warm and wonderful! The scent is hard to describe but it totally reminds me of fall.

Skin Care Expiration

 

Have you ever been using your favorite skin care or body product and think, “So when does this expire, anyway?”

Some products do have expiration dates, though those are few and far between. Many brands have an expiration suggestion printed on the back of the bottle, jar, ot tube. It looks like a jar with the lid open and has a number printed inside. This number indicates the number of months after opening the product that it should be good for. Conditions such as contamination (IE dipping unwashed hands into a jar) or forgetting to put the lid back on the product can shorten that amount of time.

In the above photo, one of my products is optimal to use until six months of opening, while another is good for 24 months. The amount of time will vary from product to product depending on factors such as ingredients (essential oils, plant or fruit extracts, parabins aka preservatives, and etc.).

if you are using a skin care product as directed, it should not last longer then the expiration suggestion. Some products (body items, for example) may last longer then the suggested amount of time. In these cases, it’s best to monitor the texture, color, and scent for any changes which can indicate it has spoiled.

Don’t remember when you first opened a product? I always try to mark the bottom or somewhere inconspicuous with the month and year, just so I don’t forget. This is also a good idea if your product doesn’t suggest any time frame of expiration so you will know how long it’s been around.

Challenge to Myself

 

It just occurred to me that I have a ton of makeup that I don’t use or I’ve never even touched. I’m going to try to put these items to use in the next few weeks, that way maybe I’ll find new faves and I’ll have something to blog about.

I also challenge myself to go to the gym 4 days this week. We’ll see if that happens. If I fail, I can try again next week.

Oh! And finally find a recipe so I can cook the tofu that’s been in the fridge before it expires. I like tofu, I’ve just never cooked it myself before.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

It’s my fave time of year- time for the Nordstrom anniversary sale! My vices at this sale are always shoes and jewelry and I am allowing myself to buy one of each. I have to keep myself away from the purses and Nordies exclusive makeup because my closet is overflowing with both! You can get more info about the sale and check out a sneak peak at the catalog here.

Deodorant Files: Secret and Lavanilla

I can never find a deodorant that I’m 100% happy with so I’m always on the lookout for something new. I’ve been using Dove for a while and it’s been working out well but I decided to try two new ones. Both are vanilla based scents, which is unusal for me to pick since I tend to favor fresh fragrances, especially in deodorants.

The first was Secret’s Va Va Vanilla in their “scent expressions” line. It’s in solid form and goes on sheer. The scent is supposed to be vanilla but to my nose, smells nothing like it. I’d say it’s kind of a fruity-floral without a trace of vanilla. I felt dry all day, even through a fairly intense workout. While it holds up well, I would not buy this scent again. It will compete with any fragrance or lotion you apply and is a bit cloying.

The second deodorant I tried was from Lavanilla in Vanilla Coconut. The scent held up well although I felt a bit of underarm moisture after a few hours. I should note that this is a deodorant and not an antiperspirant, so it’s possible that you will end up sweating. I like the idea that it’s aluminum free and “good for you.” I would not buy this product again, either.