Showing posts with label Mimi Treschaud. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mimi Treschaud. Show all posts

10/25/2025

Twizler Happy Birthday Card with Games Console

It's quite difficult finding birthday cards for boys, but I hit the golden buzzer with this. I sent this card to one of my nephews and he absolutely loved it. I think it reflects the personality and hobbies of many boys  his age (9yoa) who play soccer and love video-games. I would say that it's designed for an European audience as most children would play soccer not footy or other kinds of football.  The card is quite large and comes with a lovely red envelope. 

Bukamkom Under Eye Patches Gold (10 pairs)

I read the reviews mentioning that the patches fall easily and you have to lay down while applying them. My experience is that this isn't the case. Truth be told, sometimes one of the patches sticks perfectly and the other tends to slide down.I wouldn't be exercising with them on, for sure, but I wear them when working on my computer and they don't fall. The results are beautiful as my eye area looks refreshed, tightened and less wrinkled after use. In my case, if I leave the patches more than the time advised, I get mild irritation, so stick to the instructions and you'll be fine. This eye treatment is good value for money as the box comes wit 10 pairs of patches individually packed and is really affordable. 

Life-Space Double Strength Probiotic Capsules (64 Billion CFU , 15 Strains, 30 count)

This is a double-dose version of the 15-strain variety that I reviewed in the past. This one has 60-millium CFU and the other 30 million, but the strains are the same. I bought this variety as it was heavily discounted and wanted to know if I'd notice a difference. It hasn't made a difference to me. Said differently, it's still an excellent product, but I don't see a difference in my body for the lower dose capsules. These capsules don't need of refrigeration, so I can keep the jar anywhere. 
 
I love the packaging. The glass container can be easily reused as the info on it is written on an easily detachable plastic coat. 
 
Cannot publish the review on Amazon as I reviewer the other product and that prevents me from reviewing this one.  

L'Oreal Preference Permanent Hair Colour (5.3 Light Golden Brown)

I prefer L'Oreal Preference hair colour (pun intended) to the more popular Excellence variety as it doesn't dry my hair as much as Preference, and the resulting colour is also nicer. The kit contains the usual colour bottle, developer bottle, treating mask and plastic gloves.
 
Colouring was easy and the result on my gray hair was a colour very close to the one on the packaging. I have dark hair so I didn't expect to have my colour toned down at once, as I'm going from dark to light. However, the side of the packaging shows a photo of the colour one might get when used on a dark brown colour. The results were not close to that colour, unfortunately. At the same time, it created some random highlights that I really liked. I thought that I would get the overall toning down on subsequent applications. So I waited less than my average tinting time to apply the colour again. The results this time were way better and I can see the difference. So I will continue using it till my hair tones down completely. This is not going to happy in two uses, but perhaps in four depending on one's hair length. 
 
The complimentary hair mask is really good and can be used twice depending on one's hair length and thickness. However, I prefer to use a professional, salon-purposed Argan oil mask that works better on my hair. 

10/11/2025

Ohuhu Mix-Media Hardover Pad (210cm x 210cm)

This Ohuhu pad looks expensive due to its luxurious leather-like cover, flexible soft binding, elastic band, ribbon bookmark and decent mixed media paper. It comes in a sturdy cardboard box that protects it and makes it perfect for wrapping and gifting. It comes with a complimentary silicone sheet that can be inserted between pages to prevent bleeding and staining. All the design is really well thought and the price fantastic. 

I was looking forward to having this pad for mixed-media painting, but the first results were disappointing. I first tasted the paper without gesso priming and I was getting quite happy with the paper performance despite using a lot of wet media. My happiness ended when, after finishing a grid layout, I started to remove the low-tack soft masking tape I normally use. This tape glides off beautifully on most papers, but it ripped the paper apart destroying most of the painting area. I got me really annoyed.

The product page states "Designed especially for use with alcohol markers, the 120lb (200GSM) mixed media paper has a pleasingly smooth surface that resists smudging and feathering." To me, this is not the best paper for wet mixed-media because the paper definitely wraps and buckles, and needs of gesso to work on it to prevent the paper being ruined or torn apart. However, the pad is perfect for dry media, pencils, crayons and markers.  
 
In the end, I decided to use it as a collage sketchbook with limited use of water-based products and I'm very happy with this pad for that purpose. 
 
The pages are punctured so you can cut them off if ain't happy with what I'm doing or the paper gets damaged. However, the part of the binding before the puncture stays in, so if you have many pages cut off, it bulks up and it looks cheap. 
 
For the rest a good quality pad perfect for limited wet and dry media, and collage.  

Arttec Oil & Acrylic Sketch 240gsm A2 Pad (12 sheets)

This pad is one of the few affordable A2 pads in the market that allow you to work with oils. acrylics and mixed media. I've used it with mixed media and it's great both as a sketchbook and for producing studies or art pieces that you aren't going to sell. It has a beautiful canvas-like texture on the front, and a sealed plastic-ish smooth back that prevents bleeding. It's not meant to replace good quality paper, but allows creating quality studies and sketches without breaking your budget. You can still have some rubbing and scratching done on the paper, but to a certain point. I gesso the pages before working on them so that the pages don't tear or break when doing that. The pad is not only affordable but the twelve sheets are a generous number for the price. 

10/10/2025

Johnson's Pure Cotton Bud Applicators With Paper Sticks (150 Pack)

I use these cotton buds for so many purposes, to clean my ear lobes to start with, but also as part of my DIY manicure, to clean my eyebrows while dying, in my artwork practice, you name it. I love that the sticks are made out of paper. They are still strong and don't break. 
 
I cannot understand the necessity of using a plastic container. A cardboard one, made out of recycled cardboard, would be not only more environmentally friendly, but also cheaper to produce. I hate one-use plastic packaging. The container is really cute and can be reused, but due to the shape is not easily to store in small spaces, so I ended binning it. I feel guilty every time. 
 
Due to what's happening in some parts of the world I'm no longer supporting brands like this and reverting to local brands and companies.  

Bamboo and Plastic Desk Top Drawers

This is one of those Kmart items that I consider a staple at home. I have many of them stacked on each other in my art studio/home office. They're not only good looking, durable, roomy and easy to clean, but also fit well with the Ikea Skandi look that I love for my studio. I stuck them by using a bit of blue tack on the base. I have put some of them inside my shellves, and they look great, keeping all my stuff tidy and organised.

USEFUL INFO

Measurements: 12.1cm (H) x 33.7cm (W) x 24.2cm (D).

Materials: Polypropylene (PP) plastic and bamboo.

Product weight: 1.7kg.

10/08/2025

Kmart 4-Drawer Storage Unit on Wheels

Not fancy, not pretty, but a great storage solution if you're on a budget. This unit is perfect for garage storage, tools storage, shoe cabinet, and toys storage among other uses. It's amazingly simply to put together (it's like a large Lego puzzle piece) without the need of any tool. It has rudimentary wheels that help me move and transport the unit around. Price is amazing for such a useful unit. I've had two of these for years, and they're still as new. On the flip side, they're a bit wobbly, made of plastic and nothing you want to display around the home.  
 
USEFUL INFO 
Measurements: 70cm (H) x 31.5cm (W) x 43.5cm (D) / 2.3ft. (H) x 1ft. (W) x 1.4ft. (D). Drawers: 15cm (H) x 32cm (W) x 43.8cm (D).
Material: Polypropylene (PP).
Maximum weight capacity: 5kg (each drawer)

Yitexin Canvas Pencil Roll Wrap (72 slots)

This is a good quality large pencil wrap with 72 slots. Perfect to keep pencils, average pen and thin/medium markers. The elastic band are  tight, so it's difficult to get some of the markers in. At the same time, this prevents them from sliding off. There are too double fittings, which are perfect to insert thick markers or several small things, like pencil/pen refills, erasers, etc. I miss having a couple of more of those double fittings to put all the things I wanted in. This wrap has thicker canvas and is better quality than others I own. I fit tons of stuff in this.  

YOUSHARES 6-pc Aluminium Pencil Extender Set (Assorted Colors)

These pencil extenders are not only good quality aluminium in six good-looking colours, but perfect for average pencils when they get too short. It fists most artist pencil brands and all the short pencils I have.  
 
USEFUL INFORMATION
Measurements: 7 mm dia x 105 mm long.
,

UPPFYLLD Ice-cream Scoop (Turquoise)

This scoop costed me a dollar, but it isn't worth the money. It's made of great quality plastic in a lovely turquoise colour and it is dishwasher safe. However, it defeats the purpose because it isn't good for hard ice-cream, the one most people would have in the freezer. The ice-cream gets stuck inside and you need a spoon to get it out. Needless to say, it doesn't hold the shape or improve presentation. Ikea recommends heating up the tool with hot water, but this doesn't change the use as it is made of plastic not metal and would not heat enough to get the desired purpose. Perhaps works well with soft ice-cream? Not sure. A simple spoon put under warm water does a better job. Watch professional chefs use two average spoons to present ice-cream and you'll save your money and the planet. 
 
DESIGNER: K. Gouriou & W. Chong.
Material: ABS plastic.
Measurements: 18 cm L.

Diswashing: Dishwasher-safe. Wash this product before use. 

 

 

CarSleek 2-Pack Non-Scratch Plastic Scrapers with 8 Blades Replacement

I love this little tool both as a everyday scrapper and as an art tool. I have one these devoted to removing paint from my desktop, small little drops on the floor and other hard surfaces. The manufacturer says that It can be used to remove sticker decals and glue on glass, cook-tops and ovens. I haven't tried this tool on those surfaces so far, so I cannot comment. But the blades are sharper than you think and work well on the surfaces I've tried them on. This scrapper is also a great mark-making tool. Easy to store as it's pretty flat. I love the ergonomic design, as well. I appreciate the complimentary blades. 

Jopenope Mini Folding Windproof Travel Umbrella (Yellow)

This is a cute mini-umbrella that can easily be carried in a small bag or small backpack pocket. The colour makes it easy to see from a distance and and is really convenient. The pouch is great and keeps the umbrella tidy, and can be used for other purposes.  This umbrella has inner lining for sun protection of 50+ so it's perfect as a parasol or beach umbrella. By all means, this is NOT a windproof umbrella. That's false advertising. It is perfect for drizzle days or spitting raining not for full showers or rain with wind as it fully turns over. 

9/21/2025

Kmart Claw Hammer

This is a good solid hammer, nothing fancy about it. It hits the nail on the head :))) every time. It's quite heavy and works well for all purposes I've used it for. I dislike the handle length as makes storage difficult. For the rest, good value for money. Mind -- No longer for sale on Kmart.  

Egoaugx Vintage-Style Scrapbooking Date Roller Stamp (Black)

I've been looking for one of these traditional stampers for a while, to use it with my archival ink pad as I use a stamp to date my journals artwork and most stamps out there have self-inkers with ink that isn't archival or waterproof. This seemed the perfect alternative. 
 
I love the stamp vintage style and the fact that is really small but the numbers sizing is clear and readable. It looks great on my desk and the wooden base prevents the ink left on the numbers to stain anything. I can use this with any of my archival inks, black or coloured, which is great both for office and craft purposes.   

Having said that, the stamp structure is feeble. The numbers adjusting wheels are a bit loose, so they don't hold their position as strongly as other stamps do. The knob is loose and rotates, something that doesn't bother me, but it's another proof of its mediocrity. The edge of the numbers box will be printed if you press the stamp a bit too strong on the ink pad.
 
The product arrived used, with some of the numbers already tried and blacked by ink.  No problem with that if I had known that I was buying a used product and that the price had matched that.
 
I would have loved something like this, just good quality without any of the faulty features that I have mentioned. However, it's OK for the price. 
 
USEFUL INFO 
Measurements = 5L x 4W x 10H centimetres 
Date Range =   2025-2036 (I had to post a question for the seller to mention this important item of information). 

Posca Acrylic Marker 8pc Set (Basic Colours) (5M, Medium Nib)

Posca markers are one of my favourite art supplies, due to their quality, versatility and easy of use. My preferred tip is this 5M medium one, which is also reversible. So, if the tip gets stained or tinted, I take it out, reverse it and I have a new brand one. The stained part will self repair when inside. In this way, the tips last for ages. Lines are clean and precise. 
 
The set has a mix of basic colours. They aren't primary colours per se, but basic bright gorgeous colours, plus black and white.  These markers have a good lightfast rating,  which varies from colour to colour, and they're waterproof once dried. If they aren't fully dry, they smudge, which sometimes you want to do to fill in small areas or produce artistic effects. 

The main downside of Posca is that they're not refillable, or not easily so. Therefore, they generate a lot of plastic waste and aren't environmentally friendly,  which is a shame.
 
For the rest, great value for money.  
 

Amazon Basics Tool Bag with Strap (Small, 30.48 CM)

This is a great little bag made of good quality sturdy materials. It opens fully to a square box format, f you prefer it open,. Otherwise, you can close as shown in  the product page photos.

I bought the small size as I have a basic tool kit at home, and it is perfect for that. It has 16 inner and outer pockets in different sizes, and holds plenty of stuff. However, I'd  buy the large size if you have more than the basics. For example, a usual-length hammer would not fit in, but a chubby one would. 

I won't be moving this around, it is just a storage bag, and it is perfect for my needs. However, it comes with a carry-on adjustable strap and has two handles, so that you can carry it by hand as well and keep all closed and it.

One of the main downsides is that, if the bag is full, it's difficult to close the mouth and zip it.
 
USEFUL INFORMATION
Materials : 600D Oxford cloth exterior; 210D fabric interior; wear-resistant PE base
Measurements: 30.99 x 13.97 x 20.07 cm
 

9/13/2025

Life-Space Broad Spectrum Probiotic Capsules (32 Billion CFU - 15 Strains, 60 count)

Life Space probiotics are my fav in the market among the ones I've tried. This variety is perfect to use when my microbiota is affected by illness or medication. For daily uses I take another variety with less strains. These capsules are easy to swallow, odourless and tasteless and they work. They don't need of refrigeration, so I keep them in my pantry or in my office's drawers. I love the fact that the jar is glass and the plastic waste minimal. The labelling can be easily peeled so I reuse these jars for different storage purposes. Great value for money, too, as he jar has 60 capsules and it lasts me, even when I take them often around 2-3 months. 

9/12/2025

Curaprox Toothbrush CS Smart (random colour)

This is the first time I use a Curaprox toothbrush. The size is perfect for both children and adults. I have a small mouth, so normal brushes will get me my gag reflex activated due to their being too bulky. This brush is great to reach tricky spots at the back of my mouth without getting the gag. It is pleasurable to use on my gums and it doesn't feel abrasive like so many other brushes. However, it's perhaps too soft for an adult.   
 
I know that the exterior doesn't matter, but the looks of these brushes with colour combos that are really great and eye candy. I'd loving having the option to select my preferred combo. 

This toothbrush costs double an average one,  so I expected quality and a bit of fancy. To me, the fancy isn't just about the colour combos or the logo, but also about its sustainability. This brush is made of great quality plastic. Yet, it's a disposable one-use brush.  Why?!!!! You can easily have the same design and quality, just with replaceable heads, a la electric toothbrush. Why not thinking about the environment? That's also fancy.