Im Back!!

I started this blog years and years ago wanting to just rate products.  While I am still a product junkie and would like to continue giving you my unsolicited opinion of items I have tried, I would also like to write about other things;  Day to day things, things I  learn, things I observe, as well as things i like or dislike.
Today was a day with no plan because my daughter was coming over with her kids but decided tomorrow would be better so the day opened up for anything...
I have a friend that was selling things at a garden shop nearby  so Joe (my husband) and I stopped there on our way to breakfast.  We were so impressed by her creations!  We came home with a couple of them.

 This one is a hanging moss ball thing --0nly $10!  less than a bouquet of flowers.  

Look how cute this one is -- in a drawer!  The pelican handle and shell match with with my beach condo decor even the condo is contemporary and the drawer planter is not.  only $18!  what?!?  thats right!  can you believe that?  not even a "friend" price...the actual price on the tag!  

Liquid Soap

I bet my family goes through 2 or three bottles of liquid soap per month.  And while I do like splurging sometimes for a fuffy bottle of soap, I don't want to do it every time.  You can usually buy the store brands for a dollar or less and soap is all pretty much created equal right?  I like to buy Equate brand of soap at Walmart and the front label easily comes off leaving it looking as good as a more expensive brand. 

TOP 5 PLACES TO SHOP FOR A BARGAIN!

1. Walmart - great prices on everything from dishes to pet supplies. Go to http://www.walmart.com/ to find a store near you.
2. Food 4 Less - for groceries at a good price. The weekly ads are posted on http://www.food4less.com/
3. Kohl's - low prices on clothes and shoes, but they also have gifts and housewares.  Find a brand you like and check in on that section when you are in the neighborhood.  Last time I was there, they had alot of racks that were 80% off! http://www.kohls.com/
4.  Flea market - go to a local flea market. Mine has flowers, jewelry, pictures...  To find one in your area go to http://www.fleamarkets.org/
5. H&M - Where else can you get a dress for $15?  Go to http://www.hm.com/ to find a store.

STARBUCKS VIA

Its paper tubes filled with instant coffee. 

Three single serving tubes in a pack.

You purchase them at Starbucks coffee shops (maybe other places too, I don't know)  for $3. 

I do not like instant coffee so I was not going to try it ever but decided to do it for my blog.  Well...It isn't as good as getting a cup of joe at Starbucks or Coffee Bean Tea Leaf but it is good for traveling or if you work in an office with bad coffee.  Its super easy:  just put the powder in a cup and add hot or cold water (yes, it dissolves in cold water, the granules are VERY fine).  It doesn't make a very big cup of coffee since you only add 8 oz of water. 

Additional Notes:

It is way better than any other instant coffee.

BARILLA PLUS PASTA

I bought the Farfalle pasta (the ones shaped like a bow). 
The ultimate test of pasta to me is to just prepare it with a little butter, salt and pepper so I can really taste the pasta and not judge it by the sauce. 
I thought it was more dense than a regular pasta.  Thicker and dryer tasting.  But I did not tell my family it was a multi grain pasta and not only did they not notice, they liked it.  I will probably use it again, especially in my favorite pasta recipes where the pasta would be in a delicious sauce. 
Here's how it compares to regular pasta:

              Barilla regular FARFALLE                                      Barilla PLUS FARFALLE

                

                 Protein: 7 g                                                               Protein:  17 g

                 Fat:  1 g                                                                    Fat:  3.5 g

                 Omega-3:  360mg                                                     No Omega-3

                 Fiber:  2 g                                                                 Fiber:  7 g

Additional Notes:

About $2.50 per box

FIBER ONE BAR

I purchased the chocolate mocha flavor.  It's a delicious chewy granola bar.  9 grams of fiber per bar!  That's the same or more than you would get in a high fiber cereal but MUCH more enjoyable. 
The box of 5 bars was around $4

Additional Notes:
Where I purchased mine, (Walmart) they also had a peanut butter flavor, which did not sound good to me, but also an oats and chocolate that I will be trying next. 

It has 10 grams of sugar per bar (I wish it was less, I wouldn't mind it being less sweet)  and 2 grams of protein. 

BLACK & DECKER FLEX VACUUM

I took a photo of this vacuum near a 16 oz water bottle so you could see how tiny it is.  Also, super lightweight!  

It has pretty good suction.  Great for dog hair (I have 4 dogs)  But the best thing about it is that it charges and then you unplug it to use it!  I vacuumed the inside of my car with it and it was great to not have a cord!  

Its great for window sills, furniture, keyboards, edges of stairs etc.  

Additional Notes

I did the initial 21 hour charge and it lasted long enough to vacuum my car but had to be charged afterwards.  I thought it would last longer.

The hose is short so if you are doing the floors, its kind of awkward.