Shoplet Duck Tape Reviews

Don’t laugh, but tape has always been one my favorite office tools.  I use it for everything. I tape notes on the wall. I use tape for craft projects, scrapbooking, packaging things up, and once upon a time, I even used it to hold up the bumper on a car. *lol*

Needless to say, I’m thrilled to receive my favorite office supply, tape (and lots of it), to review from Shoplet!

I recieved:

• Duck EZ Start Premium Packaging Tape
• Duck EZ Start Premium Packaging Tape w/ Dispenser
• Zebra Printed Duck Tape

The Duck EZ Start Premium Packaging Tape is perfect for bulk-packaging. The roll was big and easy to grip, and you can tell the tape itself is of high quality and will hold up. I say this because I’ve had some no-name, crummy tape before, and it made packaging a pure chore. The tape rolled out easily with minimal effort, which I really appreciate because it saves time and avoids loads of frustration. I’m glad this comes in a pack of 3 because when you’re packaging in bulk and you’re on a “roll”, running out of tape is a nightmare.

 

While I appreciate the extra big roll, and can see its benefits, I personally would like something smaller for storage purposes, which is why I’m so delighted with…

The Duck EZ Start Premium Packaging Tape w/ Dispenser! It’s compact and super-easy to handle. Duck must have had me in mind when designing it because they’ve made it so you can easily use it with one hand (something I usually struggle with when I’m taping up a box). With the assistance of the white roller near the cutting blade, the tape unrolls so easily and so smoothly I didn’t want to put the darn thing down. The size is perfect for easy storage (in my case, to keep in my trunk for emergencies). Fifty-five yards of tape is uber-generous. Again, the premium tape is of a great quality, and you’ll never have to worry about the tape ripping, coming loose, etc. I used this dispenser for a handful of packages already and I’ve never had any tears, ripples, or mishaps.

All in all, after using DUCK’s premium tape and quality tape dispensers, I’ll never go back to the no-name, crummy, hard-to-dispense packaging tape that I had been using before.

Now let’s talk about DUCK Zebra Printed Duck Tape! I love duct tape and personally think every household should have some in case of emergencies. Now that they come in such fun prints, they’re even better! DUCK’s duct tape is sturdy enough for emergencies like keeping the bumper on your car in place, but the fun prints that DUCK makes are perfect for fun crafts, like adding a little personality to a boring box or even wrapping up your phone’s charging cable. I loved the fun print and the quality.

All three DUCK products I received from Shoplet greatly exceeded my expectations, and I’m delighted to add them to my arsenal of office supplies.

Happy Taping,

agentNERDY

I received the products mentioned from Shoplet.com to review and then share my experience with my readers. All opinions are 100% mine.

Kiss Nail Dress [ Review ]

I spy with my nerdy eyes…

Kiss Nail Dress, a great alternative to nail polish! No, they won’t completely replace my precious collection of nail lacquers, but they are a great, funky-fresh alternative to the same-ol-same-ol and they’re super affordable ($6.99)! They come in 18 different style, from fierce animal prints, girly gems, to fabulous pops of colors and more.

Let me just say that Kiss Nail Dress simply blew me away. Application was a cinch, so easy I could do it in my sleep. Just make sure your nails are completely clean, size them up to your nail bed (kiss makes it easy by making the strip they’re on transparent), peel off, apply, smooth down, trim off excess, file (the file is included too) and you’re ready to take on the world. No waiting around for your polish to try, no smudges to fess over, no chips. And let me just tell you, they hold up superbly. I work a lot with my hands, and were impressed they held up for more than 10 days.

For $6.99, you get 28 strips that’ll last well over 10 days, that’s good for hands and toes! I adore Kiss’s Nail Dress! Find them and Stock up at your local CVS and Walgreens.

Vanilla Bean Kisses,

agentNERDY 

I am part of an amazing community called influenster and was lucky enough to qualify for their complimentary Love Vox Box, which included the product mentioned in the post. All opinions are 100% mine.

Twitter Party: Meet Verizon Executive Diana Zaccardi Yekta #VZWbuzz

Join @TheOnlineMom & @VerizonInsider today, March 9th at 12 noon PST  to meet one of Verizon’s top executive, Diana Zeccardi-Yekta!

Diana Zaccardi is one of Verizon’s top executive and a mother of 2 kids. Diana balances work and being a busy parent perfectly and won the 2011 Working Mother of the Year for Verizon by Working Mother Magazine. Join TheOnlineMom & VerizonInsiders to chat about how technology helps her achieve a balance between work, life and family.

#VZWbuzz Twitter Party info:

Date: Friday, March 9th 2012
Time:  12-1PM PST
Host: @TheOnlineMom @VerizonInsider

Prizes: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 & an HTC Rezound smartphone (+ $125 Verizon Gift Cards)! 

RSVP: http://www.theonlinemom.com/secondary.asp?id=2011&t=join-the-buzz

Diana Zaccardi is an amazing woman, and so inspiring, I really hope you can join us!

I’ve got Spring in my Clutch

I spy with my nerdy eyes bright beautiful clutches.

Spring 2012 is all about c o l o r, especially the bright bolds and the pastels. My every day look tends to steer towards black and neutrals, so I’ve been a bit apprehensive. The solution to my problem is a bold clutch. It’ll take any outfit from plain & lame to fabulously stylish. The best part is that a good clutch will seamlessly fit into your current wardrobe and add a much needed update to your go-to outfits.

Casual Friday at work? Add Rebecca Minkoff’s mini mac in hot pink for a bit of flair. Sunday brunch with the in-laws? Bring on Anya Hindmarch’s valorie in a pastel pink for some lady like love. Girls Night Out? Throw on your LBD, and Linea Pelle has you fierce & covered. Date night with the mister? Wrap your perfectly manicured hands around Bottega Veneta and you’re set.  Accessories can do wonders, and a bold new clutch is definitely my must-have item of the season.

Add a little Spring to your look and grab a bright bold clutch already.

Strawberry & Champagne kisses,

agentNERDY

Numi Organic Tea For Me [REVIEW]

Our friends at Shoplet.com have again offered to send us a new product to try in exchange for our opinions regarding the product and experience. This time, instead of office supplies, we were offered something we would have to taste… Tea!

As many of you know, I am allergic to coffee, so when I am looking for something to warm me up or calm me down, I look for either hot chocolate or tea.

We were sent a variety pack consisting of 8 kinds of Numi Organic Tea.

I chose to enjoy the Moroccan Mint, the Orange Spice, and the Chamomile Lemon for this experience and review. Please note: I will use the word “experience” because Numi Organic Tea is both a flavor and an aroma experience!

The first experience would come from the Moroccan Mint Herbal Teasan. The package says I should be humming as I prepare this tea, but I was whistling. Whistling, to me, is a lost art that should go hand-in-hand with preparing tea.  Back to the packaging… As soon as I opened it, my olfactory system was met with a fresh, minty aroma. While steeping, the aroma is expectedly stronger, but not over-powering.  The Moroccan Mint has a fresh and warming aroma and taste.  The aroma is mintier than the taste as the minty-flavor is more of an after-taste. This would me a perfect tea for unwinding in the evening as it is caffeine-free.

The second experience would come from the Orange Spice White Tea. The package says I should be pondering ancient myths as I prepare this tea, so I tried to do so as I watched the leaves of the bamboo in our backyard flit in the blowing snow. As I opened the package, I instantly felt the combination of orange and spices in the back of my throat. I knew this was a sign of this tea having a real kick! Breathing in the tea as it was steeping noticeably cleared my nasal passages and sinuses. The taste is smooth at first, followed by a non-threatening assault of flavor mid-tongue.  I definitely can taste the orange, clove, cinnamon, and ginger flavors. This is a great-tasting/smelling tea with an interesting flavor explosion. Sip after sip, the pattern was repeated: Smooth at first with a definite kick moments later.  That kick stayed on my tongue for a good two hours after I had finished the tea. Although the Orange Spice is a lower caffeine tea, this would make for a great morning experience with its kick of flavor.

The third experience would come from the Chamomile Lemon Teasan. As expected, the tea exuded a pleasant, refreshing lemon aroma as I opened the package. As per the packaging, I sat back and relaxed as the tea steeped only to have my soul soothed by the aroma again. I almost drifted off, but it’s time for tea! The Chamomile Lemon is a no-frills, caffeine-free experience, but is a winner if you want a comforting tea. The taste has a great lemony flavor that is not over-powering. I could just sip on this all day, letting my worries and responsibilities melt away. If you are looking for a relaxing experience, this is the tea for you.

So, which of these teas would I pick as my favorite?  All three of them were great-tasting and great-smelling, but the Orange Spice White Tea has the interesting kick in both its aroma and flavor that made me enjoy every sip.

Thanks for your kind attention,

DS

Thank you, Shoplet for sending us this great assortment of Numi Organic Tea to enjoy and review.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Avery Trio: EZD Heavy-Duty Reference View Binder, Custom Binder Inserts, and Note Tabs [REVIEW]

Office supplies and organization are two things that I have always had a fondness for, and it just so happens that they often go hand-in-hand. (That is, if they had hands, but you know what I mean.)

I browse and stare at office supplies much like many stare at candy, only I never ever have chewed on a pen. If you chew on my pen, you can have it. Anyhow, Shoplet.com is like a candy shop to me, and they’ve so graciously sent us products to enjoy and then asked us to share our views.

On my desk, I now have an amazing organizational trio:

• Avery EZD Heavy-Duty Reference View Binder – SKU# AVE79795
• Avery Custom Binder Spine Inserts – SKU# AVE89105
• Avery Note Tabs – SKU# AVE16323

First up is the Avery EZD Heavy-Duty Reference View Binder.

I’ve had lots of ring binders over the years for school, work, and also home use, and I can say without a doubt, the Avery EZD Heavy-Duty Reference View Binder is the best that I’ve had so far. While other ring binders may be strong in one area, but weak in others, the Avery EZD Heavy-Duty Reference View Binder excels in all areas.

          

PROS:

• Binder is very sturdy with no sharp edges.
• Ring mechanism is firmly attached to the spine.
• ONE TOUCH EZD ring opens and closes easily without fear of pinching fingers.
• Internal pockets aplenty that are not baggy or poorly connected to binder.
• Holds 40% more paper than a round ring binder.
• PVC-free.

CONS:

• Moderately pricey, but worth it for all of its features.

I’ve had ring binders in the past that have pinched my fingers and papers, had flimsy ring mechanisms, or had pockets that were so ill-attached that I lost important items. With the Avery EZD Heavy-Duty Reference View Binder, you will have none of these problems.

Next up are the Avery Custom Binder Spine Inserts – SKU# AVE89105.

I’ve never actually had binder labels before. In the past, I have always just printed and printed and cut and cut until I had a piece of paper that would sometimes slip all the way down the spine. Yeah, that was tedious and wasteful. Sometimes, I would just use an adhesive label that would look too small for the length of the binder spine. The Avery Custom Binder Spine Inserts remove all of the guesswork and make me look like a professional.

          

PROS:

• Easily customizable with templates from Avery.com.
• Perforated card allows for easy separation. Just fold once and it’s separated!
• Works in all laser and inkjet printers.
• Easy to insert and remove.

CONS:

• None that I can see so far.

Something as simple as nice binder labels can really be the finishing touch on your project. The Avery Custom Binder Spine Inserts are a great way to complete the exterior of your binder, whether it is for a presentation at work or for hobby-use at home.

Last up we have the Avery Note Tabs – SKU# AVE16323.

These are unlike any binder tabs that I have ever used. I have only used the binder tabs that are actually just little sticky flags or tabs that don’t have much room to write. They’re often just a glorified bookmark… Not very exciting, hmm? Avery Note Tabs are very helpful little organizational tools that work as a note, flag, and a tab. These will be great for editing purposes.

          

PROS:

• Durable and Repositionable.
• See-through.
• Comes in a variety of sizes and colors.
• 3 functions (note/tab/flag) in one product.

CONS:

• None that I can see so far.

With these three products in my organizational arsenal, I should have no problem with any documents that need bound, identified, and annotated in a durable, easy-to-use ring binder.  Avery has done it once again with products that can do double-duty at work and at home.

1, 2, 3…  Break! Errr… ORGANIZE! Then BREAK! (Yes, I’m watching basketball.)

Thanks for your kind attention,

DS

Thank you Shoplet for sending us these great Avery products to use, enjoy, and review.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Taupe Be or Not Taupe Be

I choose to taupe, always to taupe. Last spring I was swept away with the taupe trend, and you know what? I’m not letting go of my taupe love just yet.

I spy with my nerdy eyes taupe fashion must haves:

A flirty & fabulous taupe hand bag from…

 R&Em

R&Em Chevron Gig in Taupe $98 at Macy’s

R&Em is a mix of Rebecca Minkoff’s signature design aesthetics and the latest trendy elements all at a very affordable price tag. The best part is that the entire hand bag and accessory line is VEGAN, and you certainly wouldn’t have known this if you didn’t read it for yourself.

I have a few bags from R&Em that I constantly get compliments on, but I have my eyes on the Chevron Gig bag in taupe (pictured above). It’s the perfect balance of elegance and edge. I can take it to work or a Grand Opening of an art gallery without skipping a beat.

I am already a very happy owner of an R&Em gig bag in a different color and pattern, and let me just tell you, the quality is fantastic, the attention to detail is super, and the bag is the absolute perfect size. It’ll fit a small notebook, iPad (very important), make up, wallet, and other essentials without a single unsightly bulge.  You can shop R&Em exclusively at Macy’s.

More R&Em bags I’m loving:

Gorgeous patent flats, perfect for frolicking in Spring from…

Target

Ona Ballet flats in Blush $14.99 at Target

I have a pair of these patent “leather” ballet flats in taupe & blush and am debating if I want to purchase them in black, eggplant, red, and leopard.  Dressed-up, dressed-down, they’re ultra-versatile and low-profile. They won’t break the bank and with proper Foot Petal cushioning, they definitely won’t you’ll still have a spring in your step after 6 hours! Every girl needs a pair of proper flats tucked away in her closet. They’re a Spring must have!

I can’t find a link to the blush flats online, but the link to the taupe is here. The taupe is definitely more on the brown side, so if you crave something a bit lighter the ‘blush’ is for you! I recommend buying these 1/2 a size bigger than your usual shoe size due to the banded back.

Taupe-fully yours,

agentNERDY