(Forewarning; I am Canadian. I spell like one. Fibre has RE on the end, rather than ER) Anyone who knows me will tell you how frequently I discuss cleaning like it's one of my most exciting past-times. I'm a stay at home mother with four children... +
(Forewarning; I am Canadian. I spell like one. Fibre has RE on the end, rather than ER)
Anyone who knows me will tell you how frequently I discuss cleaning like it's one of my most exciting past-times. I'm a stay at home mother with four children and two of them are home with me all day. This means mess. A lot of mess. It also means that when I find something that cleans well, quickly, is cheaper to use and enables me to clean around my babies without chemicals it *is* exciting for me. That is why I love the microfibre option so much- you can pick up 99% of bacteria on hard surfaces without the use of chemicals, papertowel, Lysol wipes and all the standard array of nasty things we're buying and putting into our homes.
I was fairly nervous about this review, as I was recently sent the E-cloth to check out, yet I work for Norwex. They would probably be our biggest competitor in the microfibre world and, of course, I have bought into our products and hold a vested interest in the company doing well.
That being said, when something is good, it's just plain good and I am not about to say otherwise.
Sorry Norwex- I still love you, dearest, but was distracted by this cute, little thing that passed through....
Now, there are a couple of things that I really loved about the kitchen cloth straight off the bat.
Firstly, the $14.99 pricepoint is nuts in comparison to the Norwex $33.99 one for the same package.
Mind you, this E-cloth also includes a little scrubby corner and you don't get that with the Norwex Basic package. This means you'd end up spending even more if you wanted that useful addition, as you would have to buy the items separately and the scrubby kitchen cloth adds at least $2 right from the start. So it's a toonie- but that's coffee for the hubbs for a day!
Secondly, every package comes with the polishing cloth, as if it's a no-brainer. Score!
E-cloth is, hands down, a better value.
Third; It's soft. The ecloth is super plushy and actually washes up beautifully too! Below is a picture of a close up after one washing and you can see how the little microfiber bundles are still nice and puffy.
The things I was not exactly over the moon about would be the fact that it *is* smaller than my standard cloth. This means that I have less washing surface to work with, less times to fold it over and it means more rinsing. This equals out to more time spent cleaning in the long run, although the pricepoint does allow for less material. It would be silly to have it be just as big but half the price, granted.
The E-cloth also isn't laced with silver, therefore not anti-bacterial and the material will end up getting smelly after a day or two. You're going to have to wash it more often and, as these are guaranteed for 300 washes, it could mean less use in the long run.
I never bought into that old saying, "It's not the size that counts" but, performance-wise, this little baby was so good I could have used a cigarette afterwards!
In all honesty though, especially considering I'm a non-smoker :P, the two competitors perform exactly alike. In fact, I found myself enjoying the scrubby that I do not typically have access to with routine cleaning. The E-cloth is incredibly absorbent, and tackled all of the chores that I typically do with other cloths but it ended up coming cleaner quite a bit better than they do. There was no staining, which I was thrilled about because it did not look terrible after one use, and it sprung back like a champ.
I have been so thoroughly impressed by the E-cloth line, which you can peruse on their site www.eclothusa.com, that I have gone ahead and ordered myself their home cleaning bundle.
Just, uh, don't tell my Norwex...
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Thank God for the Keep It Simple, Stupid approach to curling with this hair tool that I received through BrandBacker to review, as I'm completely inept where these types of endeavors are concerned. Luckily enough, for my viewers and my locks, I had... +
Thank God for the Keep It Simple, Stupid approach to curling with this hair tool that I received through BrandBacker to review, as I'm completely inept where these types of endeavors are concerned. Luckily enough, for my viewers and my locks, I had a relatively easy time of things with KISS Instawave Curler. You can find these awesome tools online at; http://www.KISSInstaWave.com
I am actually doing a video blog for this one and I'm hoping that's alright, as well as a welcome change to anyone reading along today. Please check out my video below for my experience and, as it's my first ever YouTube review, please be kind!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc58vnqB1sQ
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I recently had such an unexpected, unique experience with a plain, old granola bar that I figured I would share. This is Slow Food For Fast Lives and they carry a few surprising flavors that you may want to check out; The company objective is to... +
I recently had such an unexpected, unique experience with a plain, old granola bar that I figured I would share. This is Slow Food For Fast Lives and they carry a few surprising flavors that you may want to check out;
The company objective is to create innovative, delicious and nutritious options for people on the go, setting themselves apart from the standard, sugary or chocolate covered energy bars that are so widely available. As each of the three founders wears a variety of titles and has their hands in other companies, it's no wonder they needed something quick and satisfying to boost their energy stores. Slow Food For Fast lives was born in the kitchen of an imaginative, healthy, home-cooking Mama and every bar is made around a central theme, such as "Thai" or "California".
Speaking of, I will tell you a bit about my experiences with each type.
The first option that I tried was the Moroccan, the original bar.
I have to admit, if you go into this thinking "granola bar" then you're going to become quickly alarmed by the assault to the tastebuds. I did and did not initially enjoy the experience, as I am so accustomed to the chocolate drenched, chewy, Quaker-like "granola" bars that offer no comparable nutritional value. These do offer the same mouth feel, with added chunks of real nuts or whole pieces of ingredients. I was not a fan of the ginger in this, although I really (and surprisingly) enjoyed the way the carrot sneaks up in this snack. I took a few bites and shared this one with my daughter, who devoured it in it's entirety quite quickly. I asked her what she thought and my little lady replied, "It's yummy! Delicious." Clearly, by the fact that my child who eats like a bird ate the rest of it, she approved. As a parent, I like the idea that she was eating something that offered diverse, new tastes while being full of nutritional value.
My least favourite of the package was the Indian selection;
I will start by saying that I absolutely love Indian food. In fact, if I was to choose any one regional cuisine to eat for the rest of my life, I would choose the culinary options native to India and I am extremely familiar with such dishes. I would not have chosen to combine these options in one palette for a snack bar, personally, and couldn't get over the cauliflower, coconut and cumin combination. It just was not for me and the scent of the cauliflower, as well as it's taste, was not my preferred ingredient. I think each component could have made for a unique bar but combined was not the best way to go. If coconut was being used then possibly cinnamon or cardamom instead of cumin and then rice, rather than cauliflower, may have been nice. Even a dessert bar inspired by India would have been delicious but not overly sweet, in keeping with the company theme. I don't know, this one was just not for me but I like the concept and it may be of interest for others.
The California bar and I have a love-hate relationship;
I am a huge quinoa fan and I will eat it mixed into dishes or even on it's own. I also love kale, almonds are a daily snack for me and pomegranates are something I enjoy immensely. All good things. The taste of this bar is especially great when you get a bit of fruit in there, or a whole chunk of almond. I asked my hubby to take a bite though and he could not get over the way it smells. Admittedly, it smells quite a lot like rabbit pellets and, as taste and smell are definitely linked, I feel that this is something that could be improved upon. After he mentioned it, I noticed the scent more so and became fixated to the point that it dampened my overall experience.
The Thai bar was like sitting down to dinner;
I was very surprised by the complexity of flavor and how much I enjoyed this. The peanut is more peanut buttery but it melds nicely with the other notes and there is a hint of lime in there, just perfectly mixed in with the pepper as a citrus undertone. I think, of all of them, I enjoyed this one the most.
Overall, I think Slow Food For Fast lives definitely lives up to the company name- each bar provides an experience that is worth savoring and taking some time out to reflect upon.
They are definitely not something that you will have come across before and I recommend them for those who wish to branch out of their comfort zone.
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I recently had the opportunity to work with Glutino and I jumped all over that like a fat kid on cake or, more so, a pleasantly plump lady on an organic chocolate and banana bar.... Everyone is afraid of "gluten free" at first and, if you aren't... +
I recently had the opportunity to work with Glutino and I jumped all over that like a fat kid on cake or, more so, a pleasantly plump lady on an organic chocolate and banana bar....
Everyone is afraid of "gluten free" at first and, if you aren't someone who shied away from the label, or felt bad for anyone who had to adhere to it, congrats- you are a miraculous minority! Although the health benefits of eliminating gluten are widely known, I will readily admit that I do not typically purchase anything "gluten free". I'm not sure why, exactly...maybe it's the whole meat-eater mentality, where I am prone to giving up healthier options because I love the taste of the other so very, very much. My hard-wiring states that I should shy away from things like veganism, vegetarianism, non fat lattes and, uh, a balanced breakfast. I am a healthy, surprisingly fit, lardo-brain that loves her carbs, cream and pinot noir.
That being said, I am exceptionally health conscious when it comes to my children. What's that saying, "Those who can not do teach"? I hide my cravings, curses and the good ol' carb fetish in order to promote a healthy lifestyle for my children and I have decided to add in a bit of gluten free when I can sneak the label past their father. He shares my sentiments but not my self-restraint. This is how I came across Glutino and I was immediately intrigued by the wide variety of snack options that they carry.
The first I tried was the chocolate wafer bar.What I immediately liked about this snack was the fact that it's tiny, bite-sized and allows you to pop one in quickly on the go. A piece or two was satisfying enough for me that I didn't want to grab a handful and munch. That being said, I am also not a fan of chocolate (yep, weird eh?) and did not find myself tempted by these. If they were dark chocolate, with a nutty middle, my tune may have been a bit different. I found the taste on par with what would be expected by any standard, chocolate treat and the experience was very pleasant overall.
My husband said that he loved the texture so much with these, noting the delicious creaminess, that he would eat them for that reason alone.
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On the subject of chocolate, here is the chocolate & banana organic bar guys! As if the Glutino gods read my mind, these were made with dark chocolate chips and satisfy nearly any craving possible at any one time, whether it be for fruit, savory, a... +
On the subject of chocolate, here is the chocolate & banana organic bar guys!
As if the Glutino gods read my mind, these were made with dark chocolate chips and satisfy nearly any craving possible at any one time, whether it be for fruit, savory, a small snack, a gooey treat or a more hearty, healthy option. Now, sadly, these are not peanut free and it really defeated the purpose to my having them, as I wanted them for a snack option for my son at school. On the plus side, my two girls are snack-a-holics and actually dove straight into these the second that I opened the box. In fact, you can actually see the postal packaging on the table behind little Chicky here, who is showing off her review skills and the chocolatey goodness that she discovered in the post. She is demonstrating the bite-sized bounty that she has before her and is, clearly, approving of the taste of her snack.
With these, I found they reminded me a bit of an Eat More mixed with a granola bar and a banana candy. They were sweet, without being sickeningly so, and the banana flavour came through quite well- which was quickly taken over by the dark chocolate, which transitioned nicely into some nutty hints and the quinoa. Overall, this was not the average snack bar and I much prefer these to standard grocery store offerings. Like I said, the only downside is that this is not a nut free option or else I would be purchasing much more frequently and it will greatly impact the choice I make in the future.
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These pretzels can not possibly have justice served by way of a description. You MUST eat them. Do so, immediately....at which point you can promptly comment with many thanks because they are honestly freakin' fantastic and you will love them. I... +
These pretzels can not possibly have justice served by way of a description. You MUST eat them. Do so, immediately....at which point you can promptly comment with many thanks because they are honestly freakin' fantastic and you will love them. I have never come across a more satisfying snap with snack foods, with these being crunchy, not at all pasty (as some pretzels can be) and the overall flavour was simply perfect. I don't even really enjoy pretzels but I was hesitant to share these because they are just that good. These beat Rold Gold pretzels, hands down, in every way and are the only ones I will now eat. They're also really cute, perfectly shaped and I can not possibly say enough about them. My only complaint- the bag wasn't big enough!
After this experience, I can honestly say that I am a gluten-free believer. It's truly possible to have a healthier option, without sacrificing taste and pleasure. In fact, I had a more pleasant food experience with Glutino than with similar snack options and I can't wait for the next bite!
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I recently used my father and my hubby as guinea pigs, in order to review Herbal T Male Performance supplement; This is supposed to naturally boost testosterone, without drugs, hormones, steroids, fillers or anything synthetic. Testosterone, apart... +
I recently used my father and my hubby as guinea pigs, in order to review Herbal T Male Performance supplement;
This is supposed to naturally boost testosterone, without drugs, hormones, steroids, fillers or anything synthetic. Testosterone, apart from being one of the main reasons that men are the less intelligent sex ;), is required to help a guy function. Without adequate levels of it, they go all nutzo or are as useless around the house as a couch potato on game day.
All joking aside though, testosterone is required to combat things like diabetes, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. That's on top of being necessary in order to combat fatigue, irritability, loss of initiative, depression, reduced muscle mass and weight gain- especially in the midsection and chest. Plus, testosterone is responsible for pretty much everything down below, from the size of a guy's berries to the firmness of his twig. Seriously! As if we hadn't known that already though, right?
Of course, I thought a means of naturally boosting it was fantastic and really wanted to find out whether or not this could be something that the important men in my life could benefit from. Here are our results;
My hubby is 27 years old and a very large man, at 6'4" and 235lbs. He eats a fairly healthy diet and is as active as possible, while working full-time and Daddy-ing straight afterwards because he misses his babies like mad. He's adorable. Overall, he's also quite fit. We don't typically have issues with mood, irritability or any nether regional difficulties BUT he has an issue with falling asleep if he sits still for any length of time. There's no reason for him to be tired, or lethargic, and he can't figure it out. I know many of you ladies out there will say, "Oh, I hear ya!" because your own husbands sack out on the couch nightly but this was, honestly, so bad that I thought he had narcolepsy. I sent him to the doctor's office and they checked his testosterone levels, which he told me were fine but it's a serious issue in our relationship. We don't spend a heck of a lot of time on our own, once all kiddies vacate our laps, and having to fight him to stay awake gets to me.
This supplement genuinely helped from the first day he took it and he called on his break to tell me this;
"I normally crash around lunch time and find myself getting tired. That didn't happen to me today. In fact, I feel better than usual and...it's going to sound stupid but...I've got an urge to lift really heavy things!"
I took that as a positive sign. This carried on for the duration of him taking it, including him being able to stay up much later at night and not falling asleep while I talked to him. Bonus.
As far as improving sex drive goes, he did note that he thought about it far more often...but that's not exactly new for him and he may have been playing it up for sympathy? Who knows but, either way, he took it as an excuse to be a horndog. I suppose the supplement would work if your partner needs a bit of inspiration in that respect, although mine does not and I can not speak to it's effectiveness because I have never experienced him feeling "ineffective", so to speak. With four children, a household to run and two holy terrors aged 2 and under, that's incredibly inconvenient sometimes.
As far as my father goes, he's 50 years old and has noticed a considerable decline in strength these past few years. He used to compete in body building competitions so, if anyone knows what he's talking about where that kind of thing is concerned, it would be my Dad. He has used Tribulus, for similar reasoning, previously and that's one of the ingredients found in this formula so he was instantly intrigued by the idea of reviewing it for me.
He did notice being much less tired and not falling asleep around the house, which is the same thing that Bryan can attest to. As well as that, after four days of rest between gym work outs, he is typically weaker and noted that he was as strong as usual, if not stronger. That, plus the energy boost, has sold my father enough that he is willing to jump into modern day society and make his first-ever online purchase by ordering another bottle.
All in all, I can say that this product is worth trying!
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Woot woot! My finger tips currently look like beautifully wrapped Christmas presents, thanks to Jamberry Nails! Admittedly, I had heard about these before and saw them mentioned in People Magazine but I had zero clue what was so special about them... +
Woot woot! My finger tips currently look like beautifully wrapped Christmas presents, thanks to Jamberry Nails! Admittedly, I had heard about these before and saw them mentioned in People Magazine but I had zero clue what was so special about them, if I needed to go somewhere to have them applied or what the whole deal was. My sister-in-law recently became a sales rep for the company so, of course, I had to check more into it.
Now, I'm a fairly "crunchy" Mama, as regular readers know; we cloth diaper, try to eat primarily organic, cook from scratch with fresh ingredients and go phthalate/chemical/synthetic free whenever possible. That being said, I do like visiting a nail salon once in a while and enjoy the time out of the house, prettying it up and taking a break in order to get a nice manicure. That and hairspray are two things I will still indulge in whenever given the opportunity- I'm weak I tell ya, weak!
Anyway, nail polish never lasts long in a house with four children, dishes to do, things to scrub and, to make matters worse, I'll chew my nails. It's gross, I know, but I hate when they start growing the littlest bit because I can't stand being able to see the underneath of them. I do that or will need to have them painted constantly, which I pick at polish, and that just ends up a futile endeavor.
With Jamberry Nails, I've been able to grow my nails longer, have them protected, I don't want to chew or peel chipping polish off (as it doesn't happen) and the vinyl covering will strengthen my nail to boot. It seems much better than a trip to a nail salon, where they'll file down my nails until they're ruined, super glue tips on and use a bunch of chemicals to build up a fake nail. It's cheaper too!
It's not a perfect product where PVC is concerned, if I am going to be entirely honest, but I eliminate the inhalation of scents, as well as the need to remove it with acetone. Points for that.
They're easy to apply too! Supplies required;
Scissors and/or nail scissors, a nail file, Jamberry wraps, tweezers (or something to hold the wrap with while you heat it), a hair dryer, that cool stick doo dad (not entirely necessary but I like it) and a glass of wine. The glass of wine may not be your preferred beverage of choice, although I highly recommend it. Yes, it is required for manicure- trust me.
For each nail, you trim the wrap to size, heat them up for 3-5 seconds one by one and stick them to your nail. Try to not touch skin or the nail bed, then apply a good deal of pressure while you smooth out everything perfectly. The adhesive will keep the wrap on your nails for about 2 weeks, while maintaining their perfect look the entire time, and they will last even longer on toes.
Check out the final, picture perfect result too! How gorgeous and festive do those look?
This is only my second time applying these wraps, the first being a tester on my pinky finger only, so I would say that I'm a newb to the nail world. I am not a professional, by far, and can manage to do these without issue. They are a cinch to deal with, very simple instructions are provided, and there is a wide array of options available in the online shop, which you can access here.
One of the best things about Jamberry is that it is also incredibly easy, unlike with ordinary polish, to make your lead hand look as nice as the other! See how mine compare?
I did both myself and they look the same, which is a first for me. Plus, there is no drying time and no post-mani screw ups the second you're done.
I love the massive array of design options listed on the site, as well as the "buy 3, get one free" option because it makes some Christmas gifts a no-brainer for me. Always handy this time of year, especially with the festive prints available.
If you order via the Facebook shop, international shipping is possible so be sure to get in touch with Ash if you're living overseas and want to hop on the jamwagon! I have already gone ahead and ordered a poinsettia print for my following set and, thank you to Ashley, my sister-in-law, your next jamicure could be on us!
You will get the print pictured throughout this review, PLUS the Santa Suit print, found on their website. Go to www.mydomesticdish.com (my blog) to enter the giveaway!!
If you want to peruse her Facebook page for more info, some neat contests and to see more photos of the beautiful options available then feel free to look up and join Ashley's Jam Shop!
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We have had nothing but garbage weather lately, with it raining for nearly a week solid and I took some indoor photos during that time as a result. I'm not sure how well they have turned out but I will let you be the judge, although I feel that the... +
We have had nothing but garbage weather lately, with it raining for nearly a week solid and I took some indoor photos during that time as a result. I'm not sure how well they have turned out but I will let you be the judge, although I feel that the darker photos are fitting with this slightly darker-feeling fashion statement. Ladies and gents, meet Alkemie Apparel.
This line up came about as a result of Stacie and Kenneth Randolph deciding that they would refuse to be ordinary, create a badass fashion line and clothe those who were looking for something different. That is exactly what transpired, as each piece is eye-catching, captivating and most are designed by the couple themselves. Many feature skulls, reference to tattoos and have the cult classics type of appeal but I think, overall, they just look damn cool. To me, they don't scream any necessary type of style and I have worn mine with a black, knitted sweater, my ripped up jeans, my nicer pants, a leather coat or just a regular pair of blue jeans. It works for me, speaks to me and has quickly become one of my go-to shirts.
I had a difficult time choosing between all of the cameos offered, as I like so many, but I decided to go with the squid because of my Cthulhu tattoo. I opted for my necklace to match my feet, if it couldn't match my shirt, and have been enjoying the piece with a variety of looks. Since checking out the site, Alkemie has launched a large quantity of new pendants, including a Marilyn Monroe one that I have added to my list for Santa. For the Nightmare Before Christmas lovers, you'll want to check out the collection. You can view all of the necklaces online but there is a close up shot of the Inky one that I have been wearing.
The t-shirt that I am sporting is called, "The Raven", for obvious reasons. I had to have this shirt the second that I saw it, due to my love of Poe and kickass attire. It is 100% combed, ring-spun cotton and is exceptionally soft, stretchy without spandex, and the fit is quite flattering. I have issues with some clinging too much to my midsection but this one sits on it nicely, without sucking straight to it and making me look heavier. I hate the belly button shadow that is so often present when I see ladies in the stores or streets but this t shirt is thicker and stays away from that area. The quality of the fabric, as well as the natural fibres, allow for a heavier shirt that breathes easily and would fit all kinds of body types in a flattering manner. The best point for me is the pricing, as everything offered by Alkemie is obtainable for any budget.
To leave you with some food for thought, I derive inspiration from the author of The Raven;
There is no exquisite beauty… without some strangeness in the proportion.
- Poe
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That's my Flat Bag under my arm and it doubles as a purse, diaper bag or laptop carry case. It looks good enough that I wanted to do this whole post for a Wordless Wednesday, as the pictures are review enough (in my mind) but there is so much to... +
That's my Flat Bag under my arm and it doubles as a purse, diaper bag or laptop carry case. It looks good enough that I wanted to do this whole post for a Wordless Wednesday, as the pictures are review enough (in my mind) but there is so much to this neat, little creation that I wanted to "Dish" about it with you a bit!
Flat Bags are the brain child of Shannon Hames, an avid mountain biker from British Columbia, Canada, who made the first purse using old inner tubes and splash pants in 1996. At least something worthwhile came from horrible 90s fashion mistakes, I suppose you could say- Sorry Shannon! :P
The company is now responsible for making fantastic, environmentally friendly fashion statements out of over 16 000 feet of inner tubes to date. They have also graduated beyond raingear to this lovely, leather-like, white creation that you see before you.
The picture features the Large Favourite in Pearl, which has two inner pockets and a zippered pocket on the back. The back compartment actually has enough room that it can store the smaller purse shown below, or as part of my outfit in the Echo Verde review I posted earlier, as well as on my site www.mydomesticdish.com. Having a lot of space is great for me, as I carry a full sized hairbrush for out of control locks, have more keys than makes sense, I need to bring things to amuse my boys or else they'll kill one another, I'm Peanut's Little People mule, we have a ton of baby items in tow at all times, I need food about every two hours because I am a huge pig and I carry a honkin', old lady wallet- so bonus!
The purse fastens closed by two magnetic snaps, which I found very fun to use, and the shoulder strap is similar to a seatbelt so it's far more comfortable than what a typical bag would offer. I hate those straps that dig into my traps when I'm toting all that I do but this one is wide enough that it doesn't- plus, it has an additional pad included for my shoulder as an added comfort feature.
Of course, Peanut got straight into the parcel as soon as I opened it and she took a liking to the larger of the two purses. As it looked ridiculous (and made me a bit jealous) I gave her the little one to sport around. Hopefully she will tote her own Little People but, as of right now, her purse includes one of my chapsticks, a box of Smarties, a Cinderella necklace that belongs to her sister, a crumpled picture of herself, a fridge magnet, a play syringe from her doctor kit and one Oreo. I'm not sure if this is really cute or if I should be concerned that my daughter may turn out to be a drug addict, narcissist, kleptomaniac, thief or a diabetic. In any case, she's very pleased with her purse and it's contents.
Check out the fall colours too- they are perfect for the season. More colour options are available on the Flat Bags Etsy page so you will want to check there, or their Facebook, if you are looking for this purse. I love the Zippity Doo Da in Tamale- it's such a statement piece!
This specific purse is not featured in this pattern on their website but, if you want to check out more of the fancy, fantastic Flat Bag fun visit the site at www.flat-bags.com.
The small one is a simple, single pocket with the same magnetic closures as the larger option. I think it is perfect for those ladies would would prefer to carry only a wallet but, like I do, have the nasty habit of sitting it down while shopping in stores and walking away from it. This way you can do the same thing but have it attached to your shoulder at all times. It would comfortably fit keys, sunglasses, a comb, a couple of make up basics, money and identification. Presently ours is housing an Oreo but, hey, a girl's gotta eat.
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