5/11/2026

PELARKORSBAR Cushion cover (50x50 cm)

This is an abstracted botanical cover, which I love. It's very cool and edgy, and goes well with minimalist decor and Scandi offices. Great for reclining chairs. It can be easily removed via the zip.  I haven't washed it yet, so I will comment on my experience when I do, but it's made of 100% polyester so I expect it to be durable and keep the colours for a long time.  Not two Pelarkorsbar cushions are identical as they're 
made from random-cut pieces from the same fabric. As this polyester, the fabric isn't especially nice to touch. 
DESIGNER Stina Persson.
 

XIAOFEIPENG USB-C 25W PD Fast Charger

I bought this fast charger just to have a spare charger for some of my devices. This is good looking, economical USB-C only charger, very light, good looking, and it does the job. It is compatible with all my USB-C devices, which is great. 
Unlike other similar devices, it only has an USB C port, no extra ports or kinds of USB ports included. I haven't timed the charging time for my small devices, but it's quite fast. The  company states that it fully charges devices in 60 minutes, so that is not especially fast I'd say!  The company offers a 18-month replacement policy, so check the enclosed instructions. 

1000 HOUR Instant Brows Mascara (Black/Dark Brown) (6 g)

This is a small wand specifically designed to temporarily colour eyebrows. The wand is very small and allows great definition and cover. The tint perfectly covers greys and looks very natural. A tiny bit is enough to completely transform my eyebrows. It's like a mascara for the eyebrows. I always slightly rub on my eyebrows with a cotton pad to remove any excess tint. I also use cotton buds if the tint goes on my skin. I remove it easily using any cleansing facial or eye product. Good priced but small container. Perfect for travelling as well. One of my beauty staples. 

5/01/2026

INNER Soft Cushion pad (50x50 c)

I don't like this cushion pad. It is too flat and formless so it doesn't look good on its own or as an accent cushion, no matter how pretty the cover. It is not firm or plump so this is more appropriate for a reclining chair, or the floor, than anything else. 

Designer IKEA of Sweden

Materials

Fabric: 100% polypropylene. Filling: 100 % polyester - hollow fibre (100% recycled)

MIND

It can be used outdoors but store away indoors when not in use.

 

 

 

4/29/2026

Telus Health (Free Counselling)

Telus Health is a multinational corporate wellbeing company contracted by major private companies and government agencies to provide workers with free wellbeing tools to deal with stressful situations (so that management doesn't have to deal with those.) 
 
I've used this service for quite a few years now. Most of the counsellors I got were all very nice, but also unhelpful. Many of them have little knowledge or qualifications. Others are experienced counsellors but their expertise isn't in the field you need them for, and you wonder why you're connected with them. Most of them listen to you  for sure, let you vent, but too many show no interest or attention and respond with ready-made sentences, like, I'm so sorry to hear, oh that's terrible, aha uhm, but there is no true empathetic listening or anything genuine when they say that they feel for you. You can feel when a person feels for you. 

Many of the items of 'advice' or 'tools' they give you is just common sense, something that your friends/family would tell you or you already know. E.g. don't take things personally, breath in an out, contact HR, talk to the person who did this to you, journal, talk to your friends and family, do a list of pros and cons, use a budget sheet, discuss this with your spouse. Other times the information they provide you with is easily available by looking up Google.  

Not sure if they get paid much, but quite a few of the counsellors I've spoken to when I was really distressed were not in a professional setting but cooking at home, driving, walking from one place to another. That's the antithesis of what a professional counsellor or health professional should be doing. If a counsellor is doing their chores while talking to a client, their focus is not the client, is the money they get for picking up the call. 

The last counsellor I got said that she'd provide me with some helpful stuff at the end of the call, then she muted herself, she was cooking, was irresponsive for a minute, so she was perhaps at the toilet or talking to someone else, then came up and said the usual, so sorry, it sounds terrible, have you had the same problem at work before? Like no. Then she said that she cannot help me because she doesn't know me, (yes, she said that) and asked if I wanted to book another session. I said no because I work FT and it has to be weekends or evenings, and she lost her interest. You don't need to know anyone to help them, especially if you are a professional counsellor. A counsellor is a low-level professional, and I wasn't consulting on mental health or anything that you need to be careful, like someone who has depression or mental illness, but about work-related stuff for goodness' sake. You need to have, I don't know, some sort of professionalism and empathy. She is not the only one. Too often they want to use all your sessions to milk you and continue doing nothing and uttering platitudes with no real empathy or interest in you. Empathetic listening is at the core of counselling, so why they cannot do the bare minimum? They aren't volunteers, but are paid for the service. They have profiles on Linkedin and/or private practices. Yet, they seem to be cut out by the same tailor.  One wonders why these people choose a career that clearly doesn’t suit their natural qualities.  

I have several work colleagues who have mentioned to me the same negative experience with Telus Health. They all say the same thing, that it was a waste of their time, that they don't help you, they hear you but don't listen. So this is not only my own experience.  

There is no option at the end of the call for us to rate the counsellor's service. In most cases, at least for me, they call you, so it's understandable that they don't ask you for feedback. There is no quality control :) Even when I've been transferred to the counsellor directly from the phone operator, there hasn't been a request for feedback. That's good for them because... look at the reviews on Trustpilot!

Be careful, they record  the calls if they are in their office and have to ask for permission to do that. You can say no, of course. If they don't mention anything upfront you can easily ask them before the conversation starts. Also, it is unclear how or who handles your personal data. Don't provide information that is not strictly necessary, like your name and phone. Otherwise, the counsellor fishes for it during the consultation or so they say, that the company demands them to do that. 

For people without an inner circle, Telus might provide some relief as, worst case scenario,  they listen to you and are nice overall, and it costs you nothing. In the best possible scenario, they will be helpful and offer several sessions that might help you to deal with specific issues. Yet, contact them without any expectations or you'll be disappointed.  If you have mental health issues, just talk to your GP, because some of the counsellors here will drive you bananas :).

I want to finish with something positive. I've had 3 occasions where the counsellors were really helpful and truly genuine. They helped me make my mind, take a decision or just appease my upset.  Also, the girls who pick up your initial call and book you in and do your profiling are always sweethearts. 

4/06/2026

IKEA 365+ Stainless-Steel Square Food container (600 ml)

This is another brilliant IKEA 365+ food container that I use all the time. It's very small, but it fits my small air-fryer beautifully and it has replaced the very toxic stinky greasy silicone liners I had before. 
 
It's not only an air-fryer container. I use it to store leftovers or small quantities of cooked vegetables in the fridge (the plastic or bamboo lids are sold separately), and to reheat and bake in my normal oven.  
 
It washes beautifully. Although it will lose its lustre with use, mine still looks great despite the many uses.
 
I wish they made this one in larger sizes.   

DESIGNER Unknown.

MIND  Freezer, dishwasher and over safe.