Showing posts with label Product Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Product Reviews. Show all posts

Monday, August 12, 2013

I am officially obsessed with VeryJane.com

{note :: some links in the following post are affiliate links, but all opinions and reviews about products are my own and I did not receive compensation for writing this post}

Those that are close to me know that when I get excited about something, I am EXCITED about it.

I am so happy to have found VeryJane.com, a daily boutique deal website, and wanted to share with you what VeryJane.com is all about.

Basically, everyday there is a new deal.  I am talking 80% off types of deals.  The items are of a wide variety, but all boutique-store-worthy.

I cannot wait to use VeryJane.com when it comes time for Christmas shopping.  But, if you see something you like, do not wait.  Not only do the deals only last for a certain amount of time, the items can sell out very quickly {case in point, I tried to buy a necklace and was D.E.N.I.E.D}.

Daily Boutique Deals

Keep a watch out here on West Street Story for some of my favorite finds, most of which I will be adding to my gift closet {I love when I need to get a gift put together quickly and all I need to do is open my gift closet}.

For today, here are some of my favorites…..some are going in the gift closet, but a few are going to sneak into my own personal wardrobe!

Deal #6664 – Chevron Infinity Scarf – $4.99 (normally $22.00)

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Deal #6681 – Trendy Little Girl Leg Warmers – $2.99 (normally $14.99)

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Deal #6643 – Trendy Chevron Chiffon Hair Bows – $1.99 (normally $6.99)

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Sunday, August 4, 2013

how to mix Shaklee’s Basic H2 cleaner and how it saves you money

Today I wanted to hit on how easy it is to mix Shaklee’s Basic H2 cleaner and how it will save you a ton of money in cleaning products {not to mention saving the environment at the same time}.

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When you purchase a bottle of Basic H2 cleaner, you are receiving a 16 oz bottle of double concentrated formula that can be mixed to create all of the cleaning power you need for your household.

If you are purchasing the Basic H2 cleaner for the first time, I also suggest investing in the 3-pack of reusable bottles.  With this 3-pack, you will receive a bottle to mix an all-purpose cleaner, window cleaner, and degreaser in {but please note that the Basic H2 cleaner can be used for MUCH more than just these three types of cleaners}

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I would like to emphasize that these three bottles are REUSABLE….you will save thousands of plastic bottles from ending up in the landfills each time you mix your cleaner in these!

An added bonus, the recipe for Basic H2 concentrate + water is printed right on the side of the bottles.  No need to try and remember!  Plus, the colored lines across the top of the bottle represent how much water to add, so really there isn’t a whole lot of measuring that you actually need to do.

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The three basic formulas, that would represent the cleaners in the refillable spray bottles are as follows:

For all-purpose cleaning:
Add 1/4 tsp. to 16 oz. of water


For windows and mirrors:
Add 1-2 drops to 16 oz. of water


For degreasing:
Add 1 1/2 tsp. to 16 oz. of water.

For bigger jobs {like cleaning your floors}, add 2 oz. to 1 gallon of water.PDF Page 2

If you have already done the math, you can easily see how much money you will save by switching to Shaklee’s Basic H2 cleaner.  I mean, you only need two drops of the Basic H2 concentrate to make your window cleaner! 

Here is an example for you – the 16 oz bottle of Basic H2 concentrate mixes 5,824 bottles of window cleaner.  If you went out and purchased 5,824 of that blue window cleaner, you would be spending MUCH more than you did on this one bottle of concentrate {Shaklee’s Basic H2 16 oz bottle is currently $12.15 retail or $10.35 for members}.

Another example – the 16 oz bottle of Shaklee’s Basic H2 concentrate can mix 48 gallons of all-purpose cleaner!

Not to mention, you will have saved 5,824 blue window cleaner plastic bottles from ending up in the garbage. 

And did I mention that Shaklee’s Basic H2 cleaner is nontoxic, natural, and utilizes biodegradable surfactants?  You can use Shaklee’s Basic H2 cleaner on any washable surface, inside and out and it is safe for your kids to use while helping you clean!

I have been using my Basic H2 cleaner, mixed in my three reusable bottles, on everything.  It certainly works just as good, if not better, than any “traditional” cleaner I have used in the past. 

The one thing I did miss initially was the “clean” smell {which was just a chemical smell, but something I associated with “clean”}.  To solve that problem, I now mix essential oils in with my cleaners.  Each type of cleaner now has a new, fresh smell such as orange, lavender, or lemongrass!  I use this essential oil sampler pack found on Amazon.

Do not worry, I will have more posts to come on how versatile Shaklee’s Basic H2 cleaner is {and how many different ways I use it to clean}.  Today’s post was more to show you that the cleaner really isn’t that expensive…..and that, in fact, it is much LESS in cost than what you are using now.

Not to mention how much SAFER it is for you, your children, and your pets!

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Like I mentioned above, if this is your first time purchasing a bottle of Shaklee’s Basic H2 cleaner, I would HIGHLY suggest getting the reusable bottles as well. 

The best way to get started with Shaklee’s Get Clean products is with one of their Get Clean Starter kits.  Shaklee offers a variety of wonderful cleaning kits, with a great mix of all different products.  My favorite, of course, is the fragrance free kit {so that I can add my own fragrance via essential oils}

However, if you are looking for something a little more basic, just to get started with the Basic H2 cleaner, make sure to check out the Get Clean Household Mini Kit that includes a bottle of Basic H2 cleaner and the three reusable spray bottles.  It also comes with the Scour-off Paste which you will absolutely LOVE….it has basically replaced all of my Mr. Clean Magic Erasers {more to come in a future post}!

Not sure what the difference between “member price” and retail price is?  Let me break it down for you. 

You are either a member of Shaklee and save at least 15% off the retail price on all purchases, or you simply pay full retail price.

To become a member, there is a one-time fee of $19.95.  This is for a LIFETIME membership with Shaklee.  There is never a renewal cost, and you will always pay the member price on anything you purchase for the rest of your life!

And it wouldn’t be fair of me if I didn’t mention that there are actually ways to get your lifetime membership for FREE!  You become a lifetime member of Shaklee, for free, with the purchase of a Vitalizer or a Shaklee 180 kit {either the turnaround or the lean and healthy kit}.  If you are looking to lose weight, get healthy, AND become a lifetime member of Shaklee {saving at least 15% on all purchases}, then this would be the way to go!

Okay, now, remember in my “why I love Shaklee” post a few days ago I mentioned I had some hefty goals for myself?  Here is the first one! 

I want 10 different households to try Shaklee’s Get Clean products by the end of August.  Will you be one of them? ……  {pretty please?}

Do not forget that Shaklee also has a great income opportunity.  I would love to have you join my team!  Please email me if you would like additional details, or you can sign up with the Shaklee program right online.  Earn a few extra dollars in your spare time at home.  Plus, you automatically become a lifetime member of Shaklee, for FREE, when you start your Shaklee business!

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Friday, July 26, 2013

product reviews and advertising options

Did you know that West Street Story will review your product, for FREE!

Yes, that is right, send me your products for review and I will post about them on my blog.  For even more business, add in a giveaway or a permanent discount for my readers.

Disclaimer!  Jen will only review those products that she whole-heartedly loves and would recommend.  All reviews will be of her own, honest opinions of the product.

Interested in having your product reviewed, or to sponsor a tile ad {rates starting at $10/month}, click on the Product Reviews and Advertising page link above.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

the top five places to buy k cups

After professing my Keurig brewing system love, I thought I would share with you my “secrets” to finding great deals on k cups.  Like I mentioned in my last post, one of the biggest downfalls {for me} with the Keurig is the cost of the k cups themselves.  Therefore, I am always on the lookout for a good deal on some of my favorite flavors!

Here are my top five k cup retailers:

1.  Amazon

This is the first place I turn when I am out of k cups!  Amazon has the biggest variety and great pricing.  Plus, I am an Amazon “Super Saver”, so I get free shipping on all items eligible for super saver shipping {over the course of a year, the $79 fee to be a Super Saver definitely pays for itself given the amount of shopping I do on Amazon}.

Recently I was gifted some Folgers Vanilla Biscotti k cups…..they have instantly become my new favorite.  The best price, that I could find, of this flavor k cup on Amazon is $0.74 each.

2.  Ebay

Just like Amazon, Ebay gives you a wide variety of k cup choices and great pricing, but what makes it a little less likeable than Amazon is the fact that you have to bid, hope you win, and then wait for your k cups.  I am too impatient for that sometimes!

I was able to find the Folgers Vanilla Biscotti k cups for $0.72 each {including shipping and assuming you win one of the auctions at the opening price}

3.  Keurig.com

When  you sign up for Club Keurig {which is free to do}, you receive a 10-15% discount on k cups on Keurig.com.  You also get to choose a free sample with every six boxes that you purchase.  There is free shipping on orders of $45 or more and you earn points {that you can redeem for a discount on select items} with every purchase.

Assuming you order four boxes of 24 {to get free shipping}, and including the Club Keurig discount, you would pay about $0.62 per cup.

4.  Walgreens

Believe it or not, you can get some pretty good deals on k cups at Walgreens.  Once you use coupons, and factor in any balance rewards, you could pay as little as $0.45 per k cup!  The selection, however, is really limited {the Walgreens I shop at only carries two different Starbucks k cup varieties}.

5.  Fleet Farm

Yes, you read this one correctly.  Like Walgreens, the selection is really limited, but they clearance out k cups WELL before the expiration date, so if you keep your eyes peeled, you can score some really cheap k cups.

And that is what is happening at West Street Story!

|||  Jen  |||

why I like {and don’t like} my Keurig B60 Special Edition Brewer

It dawned on me that I have very strong opinions about the good and the bad aspects of my two Keurig brewers.  Okay, I’ll be honest…I have strong opinions for almost every aspect of my life, but there is not enough blog space in the world to cover it all.

So, for now, I will stick to sharing my thoughts and {strong} feelings about my Keurigs. 

I have two Keurig machines, one in the work office at my house and one at the studio downtown.  Today, I will be sharing my experiences with the one at my house.

I am fortunate enough to have the Keurig B60 Special Edition brewer in my work space at home.

I have been using this Keurig since November of 2011, so just over a year.  In the morning, my husband and I share a pot of coffee brewed from our traditional coffee pot, but then I use the Keurig as needed. 

Things that I absolutely LOVE about this brewer:

  • heats up quickly and brews quickly
  • the coffee comes out piping hot
  • has a large water reservoir so I am not constantly refilling
  • offers three brewing sizes {but the sizes themselves are a dislike noted below}
  • includes a timer so that it automatically shuts off after a certain amount of inactivity
  • offers the ability to brew just one more cup of coffee when the household pot is out in the morning!
  • allows me to have a ton of variety in what you drink for the day {coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and/or iced tea}
  • very easy to use

What are some of the things I dislike?

  • the brew sizes are small {the “travel mug” size option fills my coffee cup}
  • not convenient when brewing cups for a group of people {this is obviously a downfall of all home Keurig brewing systems and not just this one}
  • versus brewing a pot of coffee in a traditional coffee pot, the k cups themselves are costly when looked at on a per cup basis

Overall, I give my Keurig B60 special edition brewing system 5 stars {out of 5} in quality, style, and value!  I love this brewer and would hate not having it.

I bought my Keurig at Kohl’s when I had a 30% off coupon, it was on sale, and I earned Kohl’s cash for the purchase!  If you cannot wait for that perfect storm to purchase your Keurig {and you know what I mean by “the perfect storm” if you shop at Kohl’s}, then I would suggest buying it on Amazon {here} as it is the best price I can find elsewhere.

And that is what’s brewing at West Street Story {ha!}

Monday, November 26, 2012

vintage owl pendant necklaces

Do you remember me telling you about my newly found obsession with owls {but not the creepy owls….the cute ones}?  Well, I just stumbled upon some owly gems.  Literally!

Whenever I come across good deals such as these, I tend to buy a couple and put them in my gift closet {yes, I have one of those}.  Then, whenever I need a gift for someone, I open it up and put together a fun gift basket from things I have already purchased.  However, with the price of the following necklaces, I was able to snag a couple of each for less than $15 total, including shipping…..merry christmas to you AND to me!

If I give you gifts, please expect to find one of the following to be in your possession sometime in the near future {in other words…spoiler alert!}

This cutie pie pendant necklace is only $1.37 on Amazon today…including shipping!!

 

So, why not get the silver version as well….which is only $2.89.

If you like a little color, take a peek as this beauty:

 

This vintage blue eyed owly pendant is only $1.93…again, including shipping!

My favorite, however, had to be this vintage pendant necklace:

And at a whopping $0.89 {plus free shipping}, the price is just a hoot {ha!}

Just be aware that most of these items ship from China or Hong Kong, so they might not make it here for Christmas with the free shipping option.  But again, get your gift closet stocked up {yes, you should have one of those}.

I’ll let you know what I think of them when they come in, but in looking at the reviews that folks have already left, everyone seems to be happy with their purchases.  So, I decided to “review” these necklaces simply because of the insane pricing to give you a chance to get you a few more presents taken care of for this holiday season!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Etsy Love: Droid Phone Cover Review

As most of you know, Invites by Jen wouldn’t be where it is today without Etsy.  Whenever I am looking to make a purchase, I always ask myself, “Could I find this on Etsy?”  I love supporting the sellers on Etsy, especially knowing all the items are handmade {and hopefully handmade with love}.

When I bought my new phone, the Android Razr, I bought one of those silicone covers for the outside.  However, I still didn’t feel comfortable just throwing the phone into my purse.  I realize the screen is made of the “toughest materials available”, but I still didn’t like the idea of my keys {and their sharp teeth} sharing a space with my phone.

So, I turned to Etsy in search of a padded phone cover.  I bought a similar item for my laptop and love it.  Although the seller I bought the laptop cover from did not sell phone covers, I knew I was going to be able to find something on Etsy.

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Indeed I did!  I even found one that matches the laptop cover I purchased {black and white outside with a pink felt inside}.

Before I continue on with my review, I would just like to emphasize that I am in no way being compensated for doing this.  I purchased this for my own personal use, and just thought I would share my experiences thus far {I have been using the cover now for about a couple of weeks}! 

In any case, I cannot say enough good things about my new phone cover and about the seller’s work.  I purchased the cover from thameowdesigns.  When I checked out on Etsy, I simply provided my phone’s dimensions and, guess what?  It fits like a snug bug in a rug.

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The ONLY “complaint” I have is that the phone fits a little TOO tight when I also have the silicone protective cover on.  But, I do not feel like I need it any longer while the phone is in this holder, so I guess this isn’t really a complaint, just a side note.

As far as the good things go, the cover is wonderfully padded and of sturdy material on the outside.

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The clasp is definitely not one of those chincy clasps that will break on you during the first use.  I actually take my phone with me, in this case, on my walks and carry the phone by this clasp {and feel comfortable the clasp will not break causing my phone to fall dreadfully to the ground}.  I would also feel comfortable hooking my phone to the outside of my purse and just have it hanging on the purse strap {or wherever I found to hook it to}.

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The cover also includes a very handy pocket compartment!  Right now I have a shopping list and paint samples in there, but when I have to go out and run a quick errand, I just slip my credit card and license in there and do not even worry about my purse.  I can already see this phone cover coming in very handy on the day-after-Thanksgiving-shopping-extravaganza with my mom and sister!

Top top it off, the item came packaged with such a cute presentation and obvious care {something I do take note of}.

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If you are interested in a cover for your phone, make sure to check out thameowdesigns.  She makes covers for all types of phones and it looks like she accepts custom size requests!

P.S. {all of the pictures were taken in kitchen, so it gives you a sneak peek for what the countertops look like!}

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P.P.S. {Happy belated Easter – that is a cute little bunny from the Easter basket from my MIL and hyacinth blooms from the backyard…and, oh yeah, a bit more of a sneak peek at the kitchen!}