Product review: 2020 Floral Xray Wall Calendar

The X-ray flower images are beautiful and unique, the calendar is lovely to look at.
It is made of high-quality paper. The paper is thick and glossy.
I write notes of many days and the ballpoint pen writes well on the paper of this calendar.
Each square is 1.5" wide and 1.75" tall.  Each page shows the current month, small squares with the previous and next months, and it shows USA holidays.

The price of this calendar fluctuates, I bought it for $12.50.  As a post this review a few days later it is almost $21.  You can always watch for the price drops using amazon price watch websites (like camelcamelcamel) that email you when the price drops to the level you specify.

This is listed as a 16-month calendar, the 4 extra months are 1/4 page squares at the start and have no photos. I would not really consider it a 16 months calendar since it only has 12 images.

I am a big fan of Lang calendars (which this is not). There are two things I like better in Lang calendars: the hole at the top of this calendar is NOT  reinforce like in Lang calendars. The paper is glossy rather then textured, so if I use scotch tape to attach a note or a business card to a square, it does not remove cleanly.  However. the images in the calendar are beautiful and I like how it looks.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: The Company Store Ripple Bath and Hand Towels (Ripple Towel Blue Multi Color)

After not being satisfied with the towels I bought on Amazon, I turned to a high-end linens store called The Company Store. The prices on the web site are pretty high, but this time of year they run very nice sales. Over the last several months, I made five purchases. One day I caught a 50% sale, another 30% sales.

The quality of everything I bought is excellent. On the purchase of the towels I am reviewing in this review, I also experienced outstanding customer service. One of the towels arrived with a stain. Even though I did not get it out completely, I managed to make it reasonably faint with repeated washing. I mentioned this in my review, and they sent a replacement towel free of cost without me even asking for it.

I am picky about towels: I don't like them either too thin or too thick. The Company Store towels (I know bought three different sets so I feel I can generalize) thickness of the towels is precisely how I like it.

The design of the towels in this review is called "Ripple Bath Towels." Their primary color is white, and the color at the bottom of the towels is slightly brighter on one side then the other, but both sides look good. The first washing generated quite a bit of lint, but now after three weeks, they don't produce all that much lint in the dryer. They are soft and absorbent. They are also colorfast.

You can find The Company Store by following this link. If you use this link to order you will get a $50 friends and family discount.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Du Cote du Parc Hand Painted Box (jewelry box, stationary, organization)

This is large (12" x 9" x 3") box has many uses.  Right now - Christmas card writing time - I use it to keep my Christmas cards.  In the future, I plan to use it as a box to keep my earrings.

The box comes with a black divider that splits the box into four sections. The divider is removable and I am currently not using them.

The top is glass and it is decorated with reverse hand paintings.  The bottom surface is black felt with four sillicone feet.  The box feels substatial and well made.

I mentioned that the op is glass decorated by hand painting the glass from the back so the paint is on the inside, the top surface is smooth.  The small details are painted first, and the background last. I found the video that shows the entire process on YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuXdPNgRQ3o&t=54s.


This is a very pretty box, I love keeping pretty things inside of it. You can purchase it on either Amazon or Etsy in the hand-made part of the site, I provide both links below.

You can find this box on Amazon by following this link.

You can find this box on Etsy by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: INJOYLIFE Evening Black Leather Bag Clutch

This evening bag is simple and classic - black leather and sloping curves.  This can be used as a clutch with a short leather strap, or as a purse with a black snake metal chain strap.  I like the metal strap it adds a dress-up touch to this purse.

The purse has a metal clasp closure. The purse is compact (9.5 inches wide and 3.5 inches tall and 1.5 inches side to side) but pretty roomy. I can fit my wallet, phone, and a cosmetics bag with some room to spare.

I bought for myself for an upcoming Holiday party, but enjoyed opening a nice looking black box it felt like opening a present.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Pearlessence Dry Shampoo Cherry Blossom

I've been using dry shampoo for the last year when I need to make my hair look good in a hurry.  I purchased this dry shampoo in a local Marshalls because they had a really attractive price and I was meaning to give Pearlessence a try.  I liked the attractive bottle and the nice smell, however, I needed to use more during each application than Batiste Dry Shampoo. I also noticed the effects did not last as long as when I use Batiste Dry shampoo.

The Pearlessense dry shampoo (just like Batiste Dry Shampoo) goes on like white residue on the hair which you need to work into your scalp with finders and then style with a brush.

So given the price difference, Peralessence did not live up to my expectations.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: INJOYLIFE Business Card Holder Leather Magnetic Case

Injoylife business card holder is a leather case with magnetic closure.  It stays closed in my purse.  It feels substantial (2.6 oz) and well made. Its size is 3.7" x 2.3" x 0.4". In the attached photos I show it on 1/2" grid for size reference.

Even though it is fairly compact I can fit 15 business cards into it.  Sometimes when I go to an occasion when I carry only a small purse I stick a credit card in there as well to access money without carrying my big wallet.  I tested that I can fit 7 credit cards (and no business cards) in the case just to give you an idea of its capacity.

I bought this for myself, but since it is a gift-giving season I want to mention that It comes in a nice looking black box, and would make a nice present.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: The Company Store Ripple Bath and Hand Towels (Ripple Towel Orange Multi Color)

After not being satisfied with the towels I bought on Amazon, I turned to a high-end linens store called The Company Store. The prices on the web site are pretty high, but this time of year they run very nice sales. Over the last several months, I made five purchases. One day I caught a 50% sale, another 30% sales.

The quality of everything I bought is excellent. On the purchase of the towels I am reviewing in this review, I also experienced outstanding customer service. One of the towels arrived with a stain. Even though I did not get it out completely, I managed to make it reasonably faint with repeated washing. I mentioned this in my review, and they sent a replacement towel free of cost without me even asking for it.

I am picky about towels: I don't like them either too thin or too thick. The Company Store towels (I know bought three different sets so I feel I can generalize) thickness of the towels is precisely how I like it.

The design of the towels in this review is called "Ripple Bath Towels." Their primary color is white, and the color at the bottom of the towels is slightly brighter on one side then the other, but both sides look good. The first washing generated quite a bit of lint, but now after three weeks, they don't produce all that much lint in the dryer. They are soft and absorbent. They are also colorfast.

You can find The Company Store by following this link. If you use this link to order you will get a $50 family and friends discount.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★