Deodorant Testing

Don’t you get frustrated when you can’t seem to find the right deodorant? I walked out of the house the other day in the hot sun and I didn’t realize that I didn’t apply deodorant until later.  I stopped by Rite-Aid to get deodorant.  I wanted the Degree Motion Sense in Fresh Energy (citrus-y) scent but they ran out.  I like that one because it adjusts to your body…basically the more you sweat, the prettier you smell! Also, it lasts and lasts!  I went to the next store and they did not carry it.  Long story short,  I bought whatever was on sale because I was trying to be frugal.  There was a Degree sea salt one.  Sea salt?!  I have never seen that but figured at $1.49 on sale, you can’t beat that and I’m always down to try a quality bargain.  It basically had no scent even though it was supposed to be an absorbent, I guess no scent.  I liked it but I probably won’t buy it again…maybe that was why it was on clearance?

A while back, my friend suggested that I try the Dove collection.  I’ve tried both the citrus and cucumber ones but they don’t seem to cut it for me…I mean I don’t sweat like a pig but it just does not cut body odor scent.  By midday, the formula starts rubbing off and doesn’t leave a nice scent, at least for me.

I’m not normally picky about my deodorants, but I found out that I guess in a way I am.  Back to the Degree Motion Sense….man if they ever discontinue this, I don’t know what I would do.  Should I stockpile now? lol

Left: Degree Absorbent Sea Salt, Middle: Degree Motion Sense in Fresh Energy Right: Dove Go Fresh in Energizing

Disneyland Food Adventures

While at Disneyland this weekend, I came across an interesting thought.  First of all let me say the weather was so hot that you don’t want to be standing in one place for too long or else you can feel the scorching heat!  Second of all, the park wasn’t as crowded as it normally is either.  Anyways, I waited in line for corn dogs and the line took forever.  There were about fifteen people ahead of me and two counters open.  So why did it take about 30 minutes to order and get my food? I realized that I’ve come across this dilemma before.  The food and service are good but the process seems inefficient.  I remember awhile back while at the ice cream counter, they had two lines open as well and three people working.  More specifically, two cashiers and one person scooping the ice cream.  After we paid, we had to wait on the side to get our ice cream but it seemed that the person scooping ice cream for both lines could not do it fast enough.  Meanwhile the two cashiers seemed bored and just stood there and waited.  To make things seem worse, the person scooping had to walk about five feet forward to hand off the ice cream to the customer because of course the cashiers can’t touch food after handling money which makes sense.  You would think they would have more people scooping and just one person cashiering or something since ordering/paying seemed to go so quickly.

Then I started to think…is this Disney’s brilliant marketing tactic to generate hype and have these huge lines to make you want it even more? That day I waited for the ice cream, I had a dilemma: 1) I don’t want to wait for the ice cream, this is lame or 2) dangit, it’s so freakin hot ice cream sounds soooo good right now, yummmm.  Anyways, so while I waited in line for that hot link corn dog…yes, that’s right spicy yummy hot link! (that they only have at California Adventure by the way), I wanted to put in an anonymous suggestion but then I thought I’m sure if this really was an issue that they did not intend, that Disney would be the first to change it? Despite it all, I know I’ll definitely be back and still be waiting in those lines for food.

Cruising to Seal Beach

Whenever I drive from LA to OC, I notice the San Gabriel River along the freeway.  I always thought it would be such a great, fun workout to bike somewhere.  After procrastinating and making excuses for how hot the weather was, I decided to give it a try.  I recently got a beach cruiser after months of looking.  I knew I wanted a beach cruiser but I was very particular about one; it had to have a turquoise/teal I’ve used it a couple times to ride short distances, but unfortunately it has never been used that much.  I blame it on the fact that I don’t have a bike rack or SUV to transport the bike. Oh, and I also don’t live close enough to the beach to bike there.

I got on the Katella/Willow section with a friend.  We rode our bikes for 5 miles and reached Seal Beach.  I guess I was out of shape because my legs were burning and out of breath.  I was pleasantly surprised how many bikers there were along the way.  Of course, most of them were experienced road bikers but once we got closer to the beach, I started to see beach cruisers.  It was definitely a workout, especially going up and down under the bridges (on a bike that has no gears, it’s a sweaty activity!)  Once at the beach, I was sweating like a dog but it was a good trip.  I wish I had discovered this earlier in the summer because I would have gone more often.  The whole experience is so relaxing! New goal: ride my bike to the beach at least once a week.

Inspiration from Richard Branson

I came across this article from The Entrepreneur magazine about someone I look up to, Richard Branson.  I think it is amazing what he has transformed his company into and the ways in which he has commanded such attention.  He mentions many important aspects of branding oneself such as learning to network often and never neglect the power that those around you can have.  You just never know who you will meet.  The person who stood behind you getting coffee could be your one ticket to working for the company of your dreams.

While all of this seems almost like common sense, many people neglect to do so.  I am guilty too because I keep saying I will attend more events, build more relationships with people, and engage in more volunteer activities; however, life seems to catch up with you. There is never the perfect time, I guess we have to find time.  I think what has inspired me and the reason I feel his tips are so valuable is due to what his company has grown to be over the decades.  Nowadays, there is so much competition and online media that we miss that face to face interaction that is crucial to building businesses.

When I think of what interviews were like in the past, they often entailed face to face meetings and phones to set up interviews whereas nowadays, setting up interviews are done sometimes entirely through email.  It’s amazing to see how much our society has changed and to look forward to what we’ll be like in the next decade.  Every day I am growing professionally and personally because it is through inspiration I find from people all around, and especially from reading these inspirational articles.

 

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