Happy #thinkingoutloud Thursday! No idea what I’m going on about? Click here!
1. Yesterday was a fun day! And the reason for that was becaaaaause…
… packages! I’m not sure why they all decided to come on the same day, but I also don’t really care so much about the why as I do about the what[‘s inside]. So let’s take a look.
2. First up is Ipsy. This is my third month (check out 1 & 2) getting one of their subscription glam bags, and at this point I feel like I can confidently recommend checking them out* (referral link) if you like beauty products and trying out awesome new things that you might not have otherwise picked up. Each month, you get a unique makeup bag filled with 5 deluxe samples that are chosen based off a profile that you create when you sign up. I was a little skeptical at first, but I have to say that I’ve been really happy with everything I’ve gotten so far and I’ve been using the products regularly. The price is good, and it’s just a fun little thing to have show up in your mailbox every month.
3. Next up is Sephora… which was nothing overly exciting since I was just restocking on a couple of tried-n-true staples…
And, yeah, I know I could have just gone to the mall and picked some up myself, but shipping is free and I really don’t enjoy going to the mall… although I might have to go in to check out their new holiday sets.
4. And last but definitely not least, we’ve got a drop from Love Grown! I mostly grabbed their hot oats this time around, and I love that they threw in a box of Bats & Boos since I can never seem to find them around here. Definitely grab a box if you can find it – they’re only around for Halloween!
5. Speaking of Halloween… are you dressing up? Are you going all out with the decorations?!? I’m… not. BUT! I’ll probably head out to a friend’s or my parents’ so I can hand out candy since I don’t get any kids around my place. We’re not allowed to have real Christmas trees either. I know.
6. Oh! And if you do dress up, please don’t go as a creepy clown. That’s some serious WTF right there.
7. And before I go, I wanted to share this awesome productivity tool that I’ve been using for the past little while. It’s called the Tomato Timer, and what it is is an online timer that’s based on the Pomodoro Technique. So what you do is pick a task, set the timer for 25 minutes, and commit to only working on that one task until the timer is up. Then you take a 5 minute break and move on to the next task or do another 25 minutes of the same task, etc., etc. I’ve actually found that it’s a pretty great way to minimize multitasking, stay focused, and get more done.
8. Alright, that’s all 😀 Happy Thursday, friendly faces!!
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Yeah, I swear by the pomodoro technique, although as you know, I kind of cheat and group 3-4 up in a row!
Well, I thought I posted my TOL yesterday and found it patiently waiting to be published. So it’s more of a Friday Thinking Out Loud…whoops!
I’m going to try the timer! It sounds like something that will help me stay focused and organized. And will likely be a bullet point on next week’s TOL 🙂
I LOVE Sephora! I just ordered skincare from them from a line I’ve never tried (Origins) and am excited to try it out. I, too, usually just stick with the basics from there but lately, I’ve been taking more risks and trying new products. I hate driving to the mall, so I always order online from them, especially since I have their flash 2-day shipping. I also LOVE that you can get 3 free samples with each purchase, along with deluxe samples every now and then with promo codes.
I’ve actually been on their waiting list for their Play! box (similar to Ipsy.) The idea of receiving 5 deluxe samples every month is really appealing!
I’ve used a handful of different Origins products and I have a feeling you’ll love them 😀
Nothing better than a boat load of packages coming all at once! Especially in a shiny pink bubble mailer. 🙂
I freaking LOVE mail day. Even if it’s lame and just cat food I ordered off Amazon 😂
I think I’m going to need to download that timer. I’ve been working on being more mindful with my time and I think that would help.
Pink package!! So pretty. I love that time management app. That’s a great concept.
I know! It’s those little details that count.
I love package drops. They are so exciting! You get so many different kinds of packages; that would make me feel like a kid at Christmas.
They don’t come at once like this all that often, but it’s awesome when they do!
Mail days are so fun. I live in a dorm, so I have to go down to pick up packages after they’ve been checked in by our admin/security staff and sometimes I wait a few days before I go get them so I can open a bunch at once.
And I need to give the Pomodoro technique a fair shot. I always think I’ll have trouble refocusing after the break, but maybe if I know it’s only for 25 minutes I’ll be able to buckle down?
The shorter time is for sure helpful. I actually feel like it helps me focus more since I’m kind of trying to beat the clock 😆
My little bro and sissy’s schools have both sent out notices prompting kids to NOT wear their clown costumes to school. I was like really? That even needs to be said? haha I would think that parents would just KNOW not to let their kids dress up as a creepy clown – ESPECIALLY when there are creepy clowns everywhere already.
It’s nutty. Thankfully I haven’t seen one myself. I’d probably freak out hardcore.
I LOVE a good mail day. Both sending and receiving. I send snail mail all the time to friends (packages if they are lucky, but typically cards). I need to start using a timer (and that technique)! I was working on my computer yesterday and saw an hour go by without much accomplished. Kind of killed me.
You do snail mail?! Ohhhh that’s freaking awesome! I only do Christmas cards once a year, but it’s definitely something I’d love to get into more since it feels a lot more thoughtful and personal than just sending a text or email.
I used to LOVE my IPSY bags! It was one of the things that got cut from my budget about a year ago, but I always enjoyed trying new, awesome products.
That’s my favourite part too since these are things I wouldn’t have thought to try otherwise.
Now that is a lovely mail day. I really enjoyed my birch boxes when I got them. It’s been a few months now and I’m still using the sample products. They really fit a lot into those tiny tubes.
The clown thing…I can’t even.
I used to use the stopwatch on my phone to push productivity but these days I use it to track the baby’s naps. 🙂
They really do. They look so tiny, but I’m always surprised by how much mileage I get out of them. I might have to take a couple of months off before it gets to be too much 😆
There’s not many kids that trick or treat at my conplex either, and I miss it! Handing out Halloween candy is so fun. I like that Tomato Timer and sometimes set up my to-do list that way.
Yeah I feel like there used to be so many more kids when I was younger. I have no idea where they all go now!
We’ve decorated at work, but I haven’t done much at home. We do have kids in the complex, but I didn’t get trick-or-treaters last year. I think they go to neighborhoods with houses, but I’m fine with that. My plan that day is to watch Hocus Pocus and veg out.
Ohhh that one’s a classic! And definitely the kind of “scary” movie I could get myself to watch.
I love that pink envelope! I’ll have to keep an eye out for that… of course that would cheer up anyone’s day to receive it! I also love package day 🙂 Recently received a PopSugar package that just made me happy to open it up!
I’ve tried the Pomodoro Technique before and yes, it works! Thanks for the reminder on it as I’ve gotten off track in using it recently! Hope you have a great day!
It’s so cute, eh?! Have a great weekend, Lauren!
Awesome mail day! I’ve been wanting to try ipsy or something similar. Maybe I’ll treat myself.
And, yes, the clowns are so creepy! We’re taking my son to a bday party this weekend that is supposed to have a clown and I’m kind of terrified 😉
I think you should 😉 It’s definitely a fun little package to get every month.
I am expecting my Erin Condren life planner any day now! I look forward to this day every year!! 🙂
Finally getting your hands on that gorgeous box is such a great feeling. Hope it comes soon, Daisy!
This whole clown thing is so scary. Just last night I had a clown attack nightmare and couldn’t fall asleep again.
I tried the pomodoro technique too. I can totally second that you can work more focused and get more done but on the other side I feel super stressed and chased by the timer. But maybe it’s still worth it when you see the results.
You could always give yourself more than just one session to do something if you don’t finish. Like there’s no way I could write a post or reply to emails in one go, so I do my 25, take a break, and then do 25 more. Less stressful that way 🙂
That timer is genius! I would love that to keep focused when I want to work on blog stuff–thanks for sharing! Enjoy all of your goodies! I wont be dressing up this year, but I’m sure I’ll head over to my sister’s house because my niece is dressing up as a bumble bee (she’s 2) 😀
I hope it helps, Heather! And little kids seriously have the best costumes.
For some reason it’s saying I don’t have a back link in my post. I submitted my link anyway, maybe you can approve it?
But more importantly, yay for an awesome mail day! I always seem to get all the packages at the same time as well. It’s like a mini holiday!
Sorry about that, Rachel! I’m not sure why it randomly decides to do that to some people, but I try and go through the links regularly to make sure no one gets stuck in Q for too long.
YAY for all of the makeup packages! And that cereal looks like something I would eat! 🙂 So fun!
Definitely – any reason to get a little more excited is good in my books.
I am so obsessed with Love Grown Foods! All of their cereals are so good, it’s hard to believe that they are made from beans! Also thank you for sharing that productive tool, I have been lacking in the productivity department lately so this is perfect 🙂
I hope it works for you, Rachel! I’ve found that it really does help keep me focused.
I want nothing to do with those creepy clowns!! UGH!
I totally need a timer like that, I’m usually all over the place when I’m trying to work!
Me too! I swear the internet has made me so much more ADD…
I will seriously freak the eff out if I see one of those freaking clowns. Nope, nope,nope. NO. Not okay. Also, I
ve never gotten the Ipsy subscription since I’m not a huge makeup person, but I’m having total buyer’s remorse right now because that bag is too stinkin cute!
Right?! You can also choose just to get hair and skincare stuff if you’re not interested in the makeup 🙂
The whole clown thing baffles me but this is exactly why I can’t do Halloween. It’s just too many scary things for me.
I’m not a fan of being scared either. I used to have a tradition with my friends where we’d watch scary movies, but it seriously messed with me and I couldn’t sleep for a few weeks afterwards 😆
I just love those Bats & Boos! They don’t stand a chance over here! 😉
I’m not one to dress up, but I’m sure many of my coworkers will. I’m also not sure if I’ll be getting trick or treaters, so (just in case) I picked up a bag of the Justin’s nut butter mini cups to hand out and if no one shows up, I won’t be complaining. 😉
I seriously love the way you think 😉
I need that mud mask–I used to do a mud mask after my marathon training long runs, and my skin was so much better for it.
One of my clients actually mentioned the pomodoro method and time to me a few months ago! She says it is really helping her. My problem is that I am so distractable, I don’t know if I would be able to re-lock in!
I’m totally the same way, Susie, and I’ve actually found it pretty helpful. 25 minutes doesn’t seem like a crazy long time in my head to do one thing, and the structure and knowing you have a break coming up is nice.
That Tomato timer is what I need! Especially with my crazy all over the place work skills right now. And I think I need to run into Sephora for some make up help. Too bad it’s not a trip I can do online!!
The internet has made me pretty ADD when it comes to work skills 😕 The timer helps as long as I can keep most of my tabs closed 😆
Alright, I need that tomato timer. My ability to to one thing at a time is non existent. And how badly do I wish “Bats and Boos’ were in Canada!!
Me too! You could always just mix the chocolate and honey flavoured Power O’s to get something similar though 🙂
Love Love Grown & a good mail day. 😉
Tomato timer sounds interesting.
Never been a big Halloween fan – we stopped giving out Candy when we got up to 4 animals!
That must be tough to have people ringing your door all the time and bothering the dogs!
I like when all of my packages come on the same day LOL. Plus that packaging is awesome. I’m not exactly sure what my plan will be this Halloween. I have to work (sadly).
Are you allowed to dress up to work? Because that would be awesome 🙂
I haven’t seen the clowns but we’ve gotten alerts from the school that it’s happening in our town – definitely a halloween downer! I have no idea what my approach to halloween would be now if I didn’t have kids. Now it’s basically just a day that exhausts me to be honest!
I used to go out to Halloween parties, but I feel like I’m over that at this point too. I really only loved using it as an excuse to get a little crazier with my makeup 😆
It’s always great to get a package, especially one that’s such a cheerful color!
That cereal looks so fun– I’m not much of a Halloween person, but I’m always up for festive food!
Same for me! I’ll take any excuse to get a little more excited 😀