All Photos By Gail
TJ Maxx delivers again with the accidental discovery of this awesome Valentines Day card that opens to feature a bunch of cute sharks popping out at you! Squee!
I realize that all TJ Maxx stores do not necessarily have the same merchandise, but the card is super cute and pretty cheap ($3.99) for a pop-up card of this quality, so maybe make a run to your neighborhood location and see if you can get lucky.
Shark Attack in your Mailbox!
All Photos By Gail
Did you overindulge a bit more that usual during the holiday season? Join the club. It would be nice if Holidays-in-lockdown meant that there are no rules, and you can eat whatever you want, but if you’ve made a New Year’s Resolution to curb your consumption of sweets treats, there’s a new candy in town called Pink Panda that can help you snack guilt-free.
Pink Panda is a line of gummy candy that lets you give in to the sweet desires of your inner child while also satisfying your responsible adult brain that says snacks should be healthy whenever possible. Made with 90% less sugar than regular candy (only 2g per bag), there is no sacrifice made the it comes to quality and taste. We received bags of both the Treasure Chews and Astro Blasters varieties for review. Read on for our findings!
Review Continues, After the Jump!
All Photos By Gail
In this modern Covid life that we live, do you find that your hands are perpetually red and chapped from constant washing, as well as endlessly wiping down counters and household surfaces with disinfectant wipes that can dry your skin even further? Not to mention, but you can see I am about to, the fact that for many months wipes were difficult, if not impossible, to even find on the shelves. I think we can all relate to the intimate new relationship that we have with disinfectant wipes; a product that, prior to March of 2020, I will confess to having purchased maybe once or twice in my entire life. Just being serious.
Now that wipes of all sorts are back in-stock in most stores, it’s nice to have the option of using a brand made with natural ingredients that are also gentler on your skin. Elyptol, makers of multi-use cleaning essentials, has just launched its all-natural cleaning wipes in Target stores nationwide and on Target.com. I recently received a package of Elyptol Natural Cleaning Wipes for use here in the Chickpad so that I can let you know how they work. Here are my findings.
Before you can start using the wipes, you will a need short tutorial (not provided on the container, but provided here by me) on how to remove the lid (which surprisingly neither twists off nor pops off easily) from the Elyptol Wipes container. First, get a large spoon from the kitchen, turn the container on its side, and nudge the edge the spoon’s bowl underneath the rim of the lid, then push the lid up and off.
Review Continues After The Jump!
In a year that, few will argue, has been unreasonably difficult for almost everyone, the holiday season offers us many opportunities to open our hearts, connect with others, and participate in something greater than ourselves. With that in mind, Wreaths Across America (WAA), a national non-profit organization that honors our military with a mission is to ‘Remember, Honor, and Teach,’ will continue this December with the placement of sponsored veterans’ wreaths at 2500 participating locations across America, most notably at Arlington National Cemetery. A highly-anticipated part of this annual event is the weeklong, miles-long parade of tractor trailers, wrapped vehicles carrying veterans and Gold Star Families, law enforcement and motorcycle riders, leading the escort of wreaths to Arlington for placement.
This year’s annual escort of wreaths will have a different look and feel due to the necessary changes being made throughout the country for health and safety. The physical journey – which will include one tractor trailer load of wreaths hauled by Gully Transportation professional driver JD Walker, who is also a Gold Star Father and NAVY Veteran, 11 wrapped CHEVY vehicles carrying Gold Star Families, and nine police cruisers – will take place from Tuesday, December 15th through National Wreaths Across America Day, Saturday, December 19th.
Continue reading you find out how you can sponsor a wreath for just $15, and other ways to share and participate in the event!
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Photos By Gail
I swear to god, this Shark Attack Hand Sanitizer is a real product that exists which I spotted while on line to check out at TJ Maxx on Sixth Avenue between 19th and 20th Streets in Manhattan. Finding this made my week!
Shark Attack On Your Hands!
Is it even necessary to explain why you need to own this shirt? I don’t think so. I bet you’ve got lots of reasons why a shirt that declares Fuck 2020 in bold lettering on a none-more-black shirt (although the shirt is available in your choice of 15 different colors) could be the star of your wardrobe right now! Visit This Link to purchase one for just $19.95!
Photo By Gail
Say you were creating a miniature holiday diorama, and you were in need of something to represent a Pink Christmas Tree. Wouldn’t this flower, which is a variety of Cockscomb, be just the thing? These little pink blooms have been spotted in the public flower beds around First Avenue and 16th Street during the transition into early fall, although the bright pink color fades as they come to the end of their lifecycle.
I think they are pretty rad!
All Photos By Gail
Innovative design can be described as showing people what they can have, rather than merely giving them what they want: and this often translates to expanded functionality. When your apartment has limited tabletop and storage space, it’s especially fun to discover one product that can replace two or three devices you use regularly. Are you fond of infusing your home with comforting scents? And do you love to set a mood with colorful lighting? Perhaps you are also in the market for a small humidifier to offset the drier indoor air during winter months. If you’re feeling any or all of these scenarios, then you will want to check out the Innogear Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser.
Innogear is a pioneering company in the art of aromatherapy, and they offer a range of home diffusers to meet your needs and complement your decor. I received the Model AD309D, seen above, for the purpose of this review. Let’s look at everything this diffuser can do!
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Image Source (All Other Photos By Gail Except Where Noted)
Some of our favorite Halloween traditions may be off-the-table for this year’s scariest night, but there’s still time to create your own delicious festivities with a treat from Gourmet Gift Baskets that can be delivered direct to your door! Honored by Newsweek earlier in 2020 as a Top Food Site, Gourmet Gift Baskets has a few new offerings for Halloween that are scary good ways to treat yourself, or someone you love! Check out the Boo Baked Good Gift Box, packed with tasty sweets that I am currently enjoying here in the Chickpad.
Before we take a peak at what’s inside, can I just say that anyone would love this adorable, lidded-box that lets the gift keep on giving as it can be re-used to store whatever strikes your fancy once the enclosed treats have been gobbled up! So cute!
Brand new this season, the Boo Baked Good Gift Box, ($29.99) is stuffed with nearly dozen fresh-baked goods, including delectable, chewy chocolate chip cookies, fudge brownie cookies and a novelty crispy rice treat shaped like a giant Candy Corn. You need to see this to be sure your eyes aren’t tricking you! This very affordable gift will make anyone’s Halloween feel special.
The baked goods are individually wrapped to stay fresh, and each gift box arrives with its own greeting card, so your recipient knows it came from you.
Rice Crispy Treats are a favorite of mine since I was a wee lass and used to bake them with my Mom. I’m happy report that the Gourmet Gift Baskets bakers’ version of this classic is just as soft and chewy as I remember, and the candy coating takes it to the next level. This oversized treat is so rich that you might want share it with a friend, or wrap half of it to save for later!
Also brand new, for those looking for a more Adult-geared gift, is the Eat, Drink & Be Scary Beer Bucket ($69.99) which features delicious treats like handcrafted Kettle popcorn, peanut butter cups, and Halloween Junior Mints — packed in a fun and functional black cauldron pail — plus 6 assorted Beers that provide a perfect pairing.
Find the perfect Halloween Treats for your scary celebration now at Gourmet Gift Baskets!
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Growing up in Southern California really ruined me for Mexican food. New York has a handful of restaurants that have game, but if you crave the consistent taste and authenticity of real California Mexican cuisine, you might be better off cooking at home. Even if you want the convenience of using a few packaged ingredients, it’s important to have a fresh-tasting salsa on hand, and what I call ‘restaurant style’ chips that are sturdy enough to stand up to the thickest guacamole. The problem is, which brands of chips and salsa taste the best? Obviously, other non-native New Yorkers have considered this situation, because fellow East Village resident Matt Bennett has created Dreams Aren’t This Good (DATG); a line of unique salsas and authentic tortilla chips that blows away everything else on the supermarket shelf. Seriously, this brand is a game changer.
Sweet Dreams Are Made of This Salsa
Inspired by and infused with the sights and sounds of New York City, one-of-a-kind DATG salsa flavors include The Original (which I received for review), The Fighter (garlic cilantro), Just Dance (jalapeno pineapple), Now or Never (avocado pepper), and Girls Girls Girls (blueberry coconut). All salsas and tortilla chips are gluten free, vegan and contain no preservatives.
DATG’s origin story goes back to Matt’s upbringing in Southeast Texas and his tenure as a student at Louisiana State University (LSU). “At school, I started making salsa by mixing Mexican style with a little Cajun spice,” Matt remembers. “As I experimented with different ingredients and flavors, the salsa was always a huge hit with everyone, and I knew I was on to something.”
Review Continues, After The Jump!
