Every Friday, I will be listing 5 of my favorite products and/or brands that I use and discussing their pros and cons in a series called Fav Five Friday. Let me know if you have tried the products before and what your personal experience has been with them. If you purchase from the Amazon links I may receive a small compensation.
As a teenager, I always admired girls who had beautiful natural nails. Unfortunately, I was not blessed with strong nails that don't break the minute they extend beyond the fingertip. When I was in high school, it was the era of acrylic french tip nails so I tried them, but being the shy, people-pleaser I was, I didn't know how to tell the nail tech that I wanted my nails shorter than the average acrylic customer. So I wasn't a fan of having acrylics, plus the maintenance was time-consuming and expensive. When gel polish arrived on the scene, it was a game changer for me and I loved that I could have nice-looking natural nails that weren't too long, but again, the maintenance was and still is expensive. I decided to try press-on nails and see if I like them. After trying out a variety of brands, Glamentic has quickly become my favorite. I love that the nails are sturdy and not flimsy like some other brands. They can be reused and have a lot of size and design options. While their size short round is still too long for my liking, I am able to easily cut them down to the size that fits my style. I do wish they had a shorter length so I can wear some of the more fun designs on the tips of the nails, like the neon tips ones below. Each box includes a 24 Nails, Nail Glue, A Cuticle Stick and Alcohol Pad.
PROS:
Cost less than a Gel Manicure or Acrylics
Sturdy not flimsy
Variety of sizes and designs
Easy to apply
Easy to cut and file
CONS:
Short round size is still too long for me
When I say that my FoxyBae Blowout Dryer Brush has changed my life, I am not exaggerating. If you read my previous blog post, you know that my hair is unruly and is constantly getting tangled. This brush has made the process of taming my hair quicker and easier. After I apply my hair oil, I use the brush to detangle the knots that I am unable to do by hand. The heat helps keep the frizz to a minimum and leaves my hair feeling silky smooth. Since it is a brush and hair dryer in one, I only need to use one hand instead of two. Like a hair dryer, there are multiple speed/temp settings for the air to come through although I always turn it to the highest setting.
PROS:
Dual bristles
3 different temp settings
Blow dryer, rounded brush, and hair dryer rolled into one tool
Untangles difficult knots
Reduces frizz
CONS:
I wish it was cordless
Size is bulky to store or travel with
I work primarily from a laptop, so being able to work comfortably without straining my hands and wrists is important to me. I love this laptop stand because it is adjustable and portable. I am fond of the minimalist sleek design. It can easily fit in my large tote purse so I often take it with me if I bring a laptop or iPad. I have had mine for several years and for the most part, it has proven to be durable. The only downfall is that two of the rubber square pads on the bottom of the stand have fallen off somewhere. It doesn't affect its balance or made the stand wobbly, so I didn't even notice they were missing until recently.
PROS:
Sleek minimalist design
Sturdy, quality materials
Easily adjustable height and angle
Portable
Variety of colors to choose from
CONS:
Pads on the bottom of the stand have come off after several years
I've been on a smoothie kick lately and have been trying out different kinds of protein powder. The one I currently like is Simply Tera's Organic Whey Protein Bourbon Vanilla. I like that it has 20g of protein and only 2g of sugar. The taste is also mild so I am able to blend it with all the things I like in my smoothie.
Here is my favorite way to enjoy it:
Misa's Go-To Smoothie Recipe
2 scoops Simply Tera's Organic Whey Bourbon Vanilla Protein Powder
1/2 cup of frozen blueberries (I like the wild ones from Trader Joe's)
1 medium Banana
1 tbsp cacao nibs
2 tbsp chia seeds
2 tbsp shelled hemp hearts
1tbsp of Peanut butter or PB2 powder
A handful of ice cubes
2 cups of milk, water or non-dairy milk
Throw everything in a blender and blend until smooth.
PROS:
Subtle pleasant taste so it's easy to add mix-ins
Only 4 ingredients
20g of Protein
2g of sugar
CONS:
Can be pricey
Vitamix Blender I bought my Vitamix S30 so long ago (maybe in 2015?) that Vitamix has officially retired it. Thankfully mine is still running great, but I will be forever bummed that I am not able to get another one if it ever stops working.
We also have a bigger Explorian version, but I love this small version because it is the perfect size for making my daily smoothies and small enough to keep on the counter. I love that can blend directly into the cup which makes fewer things to wash and put away. Previously I had a Nutri Bullet and it never could get through ice like the Vitamix can. I have had to replace the cup at least one time because the original cup did get a crack in it, but thankfully the cups are still easy to find (linked in the title). It looks like they now have a Vitamix One which is more compact like mine is, and it is more affordable than the bigger models.
PROS:
Powerful motor
Blends through chunks of ice easily with stainless steel blades
You can make so many things with a Vitamix - including soup!
Space saving (my retired Vitamix)
Long durability
Easy to clean
CONS:
My favorite model has been retired
More expensive than other brands
Vitamix One looks to be limited on what it can blend vs its bigger models
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