Happy lungs, happy life

Living in a 700 square foot apartment with two adults and a Pomeranian can sometimes feel congested. Literally and figuratively.

Our dog sheds invisible hairs that gets stuck on your eyeballs. I freak and run to the closest mirror thinking it’s just an eyelash, but I’m oh-so brought to reality when I can’t see an eyelash laying on my eyeball. So I’m rooting around for these darn pomeranian nearly invisible hairs! I’m sure some pet-owners can relate.

Thankfully he’s a cutie…alfie-side-onTwinsies! He told me he wanted to look like me, so I dressed to match, with his little red Canada Pooch jacket.

Let me tell you something, there needs to be a bit of circulation in the indoor air for everyone’s lungs. No one wants to breathe in stale air in the winter, so that’s where air filters come in handy. I never really thought about getting one until the Boyfriend explained its benefits. Air filters help reduce allergies like rag weed and pet dander, dust and even bacteria that cause colds. That boy is an encyclopedia that I will never try to understand. How does he store so much information in his brain?

It’s difficult to get a bit of fresh air during the winter months in the apartment, especially since it’s so bitter cold outside, and there’s no way I will open a window open a crack. Some days I’m wrapped up in a scarf. Indoors! I’m cold-blooded.Bionaire-Allergen-RemoverWe have a few air filters in our place. We purchased quite a large one in the “movie room”, and recently received a Bionaire® Allergen Remover Mini Tower Air Purifier (available at Wal-Mart; MSRP $99.99) that has true HEPA filtration. HEPA basically means it’s a very fine filter.  Switching-on-the-Bionaire-AIt has three speed settings and a digital timer.

It also has an optional ionizer, which helps assist in particle removal. When you turn that on, though, you can smell it. It’s weird.  I’m not sure if it’s the case for this one or not, but I’ve heard some ionizing air filters can give off small amounts of ozone that you can smell.air-filter-on-my-dresserWe have the filter in our bedroom, and though it’s recommended for small size rooms (up to 80 square feet), our room is quite large at about 150 square feet. I don’t leave it running during the night since we like it really quiet when we sleep. It’s not that the filter is loud, but it is noticeable.

To be honest, it’s hard to review an air filter. I have no idea if the thing is working or not (we aren’t trying to filter cigarette smoke or strong smells), but it gives me peace of mind knowing we have two running in the house, cleaning our air for the two of us and Alfie,  who’s home all day long. Plus, with me having (exercise induced) asthma, I’m sure my lungs appreciate a little fresh air during the winter. Happy lungs happy life, you know.Bionaire-Air-FilterYou’ll notice the two extra air filters shown in the above photo. This is the first air purifier filter that is customizable. They have filters specifically for cold and flu season, for total air wellness, for odor control and for allergy suffers. It has all kinds of neat tricks!  I’ll get a better idea of the good it is doing when I change the filter and see everything it has picked up in a couple of month’s time.

I received the Bionaire® Allergen Remover  Mini Tower Air Purifier in exchange for a blog post. All opinions are my own.

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eBay purchases: rated

This is the third time I’ve done an online/ebay purchases rated blog post. See my other two here, and here. Photos shown on the far left are the images on eBay, and the other ones to the right are when I received the product, so you can tell what it looks like!

elephant-scarfSeller: smilelife168 on eBay
Item: Elephant print scarf
Paid: $8.68 + free shipping. Worth the price? Yes
Location: China
Delivery: 19 business days
My opinion: It’s a cute scarf, I love wearing it and it was super cheap!
Overall rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

slimsonic-toothbrushSeller: rbargains on eBay
Item: Violight Slim Sonic Toothbrush
Paid: $15.95 + $5.00 shipping. Worth the price? No
Location: United States
Delivery: 8 business days
My opinion: What can I say? It’s a toothbrush. It works well, and it’s the perfect size for traveling. I’m not sure that I’d pay the $20 for if I had my time back though, the brush head is small.
Overall rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

(click image to enlarge)

Seller: michael-dan on eBay
Item: Rose Gold Plated titanium steel Bracelet
Paid: $19.00 + free shipping. Worth the price? Yes
Location: China
Delivery: 12 business days
My opinion: This is such a gorgeous piece, and actually a knock-off of a higher brand name. I’m not sure who? Michael Kors I know makes one too. The bracelet has an engraving that says “Cartier” on it, but of course it’s not real. As soon as I opened the box it came in, it looked like a child sized bracelet and I thought it wouldn’t fit my 5-inch-something wrists (I have petite wrists). Thankfully it did and it’s amazing quality. It feels like it’s got some weight to it, and the edges don’t rub on my wrist at all. If I knew anyone who would love this bracelet as much as I do, I’d buy it for them for next Christmas! I’ve been wearing this non-stop and getting tons of compliments on it, each time I wear it.
Overall rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Seller: mckalaur on eBay
Item: 5 PRADA Shielding Lip Balm SPF 15
Paid: $12.99 + $3.00 shipping. Worth the price? No

Location: United States
Delivery: 5 business days – incredibly fast shipping
My opinion: These lip balms are so miniature, but for a person who doesn’t wear much lip products on a daily basis, this is a nice luxurious touch to add into my handbag. The lipbalm itself is very buttery on your lips, and it has a slight tint to it. Very nice!
Overall rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

(click image to enlarge)

Seller: ticticcompany on eBay
Item: Ladies jumbo metallic designer rose gold watch
Paid: $17.49 + $4.00 shipping. Worth the price?
Location: United States
Delivery: 9 business days.
My opinion: As soon as I took the watch out of its wrapping, I first noticed the size of the face. That thing was huge! The sound that the watch made when it was off my wrist was also notable, as it sounded quite cheap. But that’s what I get for a $20 watch. The face itself is quite nice and doesn’t look inexpensive. I had to get  a few links removed from the watch as it was ginormous as every watch is, before you get it sized. But I’ve been wearing it nearly ever day since I got it. I fooled my co-worker and she actually thought it was one of my many Fossil watches. Until I told her I got it on Ebay! I gave it 3/5 stars because of the quality. I feel like it’s not going to last. But it still looks nice.
Overall rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

ebay-walletSeller: voguesdoor on eBay
Item: New Tough Genuine Leather Brown Removable Mens Womens Wallet purse a68160 NWT
Paid: $28.96 + $5.99 shipping. Worth the price? Yes
Location: China
Delivery: 17 business days
My opinion: Smells like real leather, parents said it was real lol! It’s so very soft to the touch, too. I bought this during the summer but decided to wait until now because it was a Christmas present. Yes, I shop that early on in the year. My Mom received this wallet part of her Christmas present so I couldn’t post it until now.
Overall rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

fake longchampSeller: liying3692011 on eBay
Item: new women’s Waterproof nylon cosmetic bag/makeup bags purse handbag 21 color (ebay seller doesn’t have these up for sale anymore)
Paid: $3.85 + free shipping. Worth the price? Yes
Location: China
Delivery: 21 business days
My opinion: For $4, you get a Longchamp knock-off nylon bag! It’s completely only worth the $4 though, as it’s dollar-store quality.
Overall rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

 

kids-backpack

Seller: kevinstly on eBay
Item: Canvas Backpack Satchels Bookbags Zipper Closures Bag Free Shipping
Paid: $32 + Free shipping
Location: China
Delivery: 18 business days
My opinion: Nice big zipper pulls for small hands. great backpacks. 2 separate big compartments. They are more pricey than I’d like for a kids backpack.
Overall rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

stainless-steel-braceletSeller:  dailydiamonddeal on eBay
Item: Steel bracelet
Paid: $19.99 + $3.45 shipping
Location: USA?
Delivery: 18 business days
My opinion: Super unique bracelet with a magnetic clasp. I purchased a variety of different styles/colors of this bracelet for me, and for 2012 Christmas presents.
Overall rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

coin-mini-purseSeller: evajuni on eBay
Item: Bags Charm Coin Purse Key Ring Luxury Lovely Cute Tote Handbag Accessory
Paid: $13.90 + $4.80 shipping
Location: South Korea
Delivery: (I forgot to record this)
My opinion: I gave a black one and turquoise coin purse as Christmas presents this year, and they were just adorable and went over well with the receivers!
Overall rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

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My CrossFit footwear

I’ve been wearing my pink and grey Nike Free Run 5.0’s to CrossFit since I bought them on eBay for my birthday in May 2011. Look how bright they were!

They are my favorite type of shoe to wear at CrossFit and to do short runs (5-10km) I’m not a huge runner and when I do run, it’s not for long distances, so I can get away with a bare minimum running shoe. They offer me support, they’re light weight and it doesn’t hurt that they come in super fun colors.

I could wear them to CrossFit, to go running in, and believe it or not – climbing. I do have my own climbing shoes (that look like ballet slippers, they’re very tight and conformed to your foot) but if I’m bringing someone new to the climbing gym who has never attended before. I tell them to wear a shoe where you can tie the laces tight and not have your foot feel like it’s moving around too much. Having too much of a sole on the bottom of your shoe, you won’t be able to feel the holds on the wall causing you to not have good footwork on the route.

Another shoe I’ve always had my eye on the Zoot’s. That’s what my Boyfriend runs in, when he races in Triathlons. They’re again, a nice flat minimal shoe which would be perfect for CrossFit and short running distances. Sport Chek fulfilled my request and sent me a pair. Unfortunately my usual size was too small, but I had no problem exchanging them for the larger size while I was in Toronto one time. I’ve been wearing these to CrossFit in conjunction with the pink Nike’s.

Have you ever tried CrossFit?
I can’t believe I’m coming up on year TWO in February!

What type of shoes do you wear to workout in?
Nike’s are my first choice and then it’s the Zoots.

Now I have to jet and research some wide selection of inuit pos system… I’ll explain why, later.

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