Category: Lifestyle

My KonMari Journey | Clothing Accessories + Komono Declutter

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I’m continuing to share my journey implementing the KonMari method with all of you. If you want to learn more about what the method is and why I decided to declutter my home in this way, please read the first blog post in this series HERE. I decided to follow Marie Kondo’s advice as closely as I can, so after decluttering my clothing, I moved right on to the clothing accessories, or what she calls clothing komono. This includes bags, shoes, jewelry, scarves, hats, and so on. Today I will be showing you some photos from this step in my tidying campaign, and sharing the experience I had with each category.

The clothing komono category may be tackled all at once, or in smaller sections. I decided to break down all of my clothing accessories so it would be easier to see how much I had in each category. I used a spare sheet as a drop cloth over my bed again (and you will see this in every blog post!). I find that helps to make sure no dirt or dust ends up on my bed, as that is the best surface in my bedroom on which to work.

 

BAGS

I began decluttering my bags first. This included all of my handbags, backpacks and duffle bags, travel pouches, and tote bags. I used to own a lot of handbags, but I only have a couple right now, so that was easy to narrow down right away. I ended up donating a ton of reusable tote bags, mainly the ones that weren’t very strong or were for brands I didn’t love. I also donated a lot of makeup bags and other pouches. I didn’t love most of the pouches I owned, so it wasn’t difficult to let go of them. While I use pouches a lot, I still only need a few. As for storing my bags, I put the ones dedicated to travel inside my luggage set, and then I stored the rest in a giant canvas tote that lives in my closet.

SCARVES, HATS, + GLOVES

Next up I tackled all of my scarves, hats, and gloves. I used to own a ton of scarves, but was fine with that in the past because I wore them regularly. You can even see what my giant scarf collection looked like a few years ago in THIS blog post! I now wear one scarf regularly, and it is rare I use another one. When using the KonMari method, I found that I was able to declutter many scarves I crocheted myself in the past. While I appreciate the memories associated with each item, they no longer spark joy because they were made with colors I don’t like any longer, or because they have been worn so much they were quite ratty. I donated the ones in good condition. I also donated some hats I no longer like and a spare pair of earmuffs.

What’s really exciting is that my entire collection of scarves, hats, and gloves now fits in a small plastic tote I keep on a shelf in my closet. As shown in the photos above, I used the KonMari folding method for my scarves, and layered other items on top. This allowed me to donate the scarf hanger I’ve used for years and freed up a bunch of space in my closet!

JEWELRY + HAIR ACCESSORIES

I recently did a big clear-out of my jewelry and hair accessories, so I didn’t think I’d have much to get rid of in these categories. I was wrong! I love that the KonMari method forces you to gather items from every area of the home at once. I knew I had some jewelry pieces in my nightstand, but I found a bunch more I totally forgot about in there, too! Same with hair accessories – I forgot I had a stash of headbands in a drawer. I rarely wear jewelry or hair accessories, so it was quite easy to declutter the items that no longer spark joy. In the photo above you can see all of the jewelry I’m donating. The pile I kept is much smaller, and mainly includes family heirlooms and other higher end pieces I’ve been given over the years. As for my hair accessories, I’ve only kept what I really need and a few pieces from my childhood that still spark joy, such as a Mickey Mouse bow.

SHOES

The last category in clothing komono is shoes. Despite thinking I had already narrowed down my shoe collection, I found six pairs that no longer sparked joy for me, including three that were so worn they needed to be thrown away. They might not look too bad in this photo, but in real life they were quite gross!

The shoes I’m keeping include my winter boots, a few pairs of heels, and some casual shoes that I wear regularly. The Converse and Sperry shoes you see in the front row are shoes that I want to declutter because they no longer spark joy, but that I need to keep for practicality’s sake. I no longer want to wear real leather, so once the Sperry shoes are worn out, I will get something new. However, I cannot afford to replace them at the moment. Similarly, I no longer enjoy wearing bright pink Converse, but they are the most comfortable shoes I own, so I am keeping them until I can afford to purchase another pair of comfortable sneakers. I’ve made a note of this in my planner to I can prepare for these purchases.

THOUGHTS ON CLOTHING KOMONO

This category can seem a bit overwhelming to tackle at first because there are so many sub-categories that fall within it. Thankfully, the entire process of tidying my clothing komono only took me one hour and 55 minutes. I know this is due, in part, to me already decluttering many of the items in these categories over the past two years. However, I also think this went quickly because I’m starting to really understand what sparks joy and what doesn’t. Storing these items was also quite easy, as I already had storage in mind. If your clothing komono categories contain many more items than mine, feel free to break up this process over multiple days. Perhaps you need an entire day for just handbags – that’s totally fine! Make the KonMari method work for your own personal needs. I know I look forward to continuing my tidying campaign using this method!

Do you find it easy or difficult to declutter clothing accessories? Let me know in the comments!

My KonMari Journey | Clothing Declutter + Reorganization

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to begin a new series here on my blog all about my journey implementing the KonMari method in my life. You may have heard of the famous book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. I recently read its companion book, Spark Joy, in which Marie breaks down her KonMari method and explains step-by-step how to tidy your home. I absolutely fell in love with this book, and I knew I had to begin implementing her method right away. In today’s first post about my KonMari journey, I will quickly share about my decluttering history, and then my process trying the KonMari method for the first time with my clothing.

If you’ve been following my blog for some time, you’ll know that I’ve been simplifying my life for the past two-three years. I’ve spent a lot of time decluttering my belongings, and I’ve shared the process with you when it came to makeup and nail polish. I cannot tell you how many bags of clothing, household goods, books, and more I’ve donated over the past couple years, but I somehow still have more stuff than I need or want. I think this is mainly due to merging all of my college and law school things with everything that I left at my parents house when I moved to school. I will admit that I’ve been a pack rat all my life, finding a lot of meaning in what I deem to be sentimental items. After getting rid of so many belongings on my own, I was ready to read Spark Joy by Marie Kondo and adopt her tidying process. I knew it would give me that final push I needed for all of those items to which I have emotional attachment.

You can learn more about the KonMari method by reading one of her books, but, in essence, it focuses on only keeping items that bring you joy. I absolutely love this tidying method, as there is no room to rationalize about whether or not I need to keep an item. If it doesn’t bring me joy in some way, it needs to go. I’ve decided to follow the KonMari method as closely as I can to see if it can work for me. I know there are many opinions about this method ranging from extremely positive to extremely negative. I see a lot of value in the KonMari method, and am sharing this personal journey with you in hopes that it will inspire you to rethink how you declutter and organize your home as well.

Marie Kondo lays out a specific guide to decluttering, and it begins with clothing. The KonMari method requires you to gather each and every item in a category from everywhere in your home and place it in a giant pile. You then hold every item individually and decide whether or not it sparks joy. I know this might sound a bit ridiculous, but I soon got the hang of it! My first eye-opening experience was looking at my giant clothing pile. I put my clothes on my full size bed, using a spare sheet as a drop cloth. Woah! My pile was HUGE! I did not expect it to be so large, as I think I operate on quite a limited wardrobe. Of course, this pile includes all of my clothing, from socks and underwear, to jeans and tops, to jackets, and so on. Still, I did not anticipate having such a huge pile through which to sift!

Overall, I found the sorting process quite easy. Because I’ve been regularly donating clothes, what was left in my wardrobe were mainly items that sparked joy. I didn’t get rid of too much, but I was able to fill a kitchen sized garbage bag with clothing to donate, create a small pile of clothes I want to sell, and a decent size pile of things to put in the garbage. I like to sell name brand clothing that is in excellent condition on the website ThredUp. While I would ultimately like to donate all the rest, some of my clothing was quite old and damaged. For instance, the t-shirt sitting on the top of the pile is so worn with age there are several holes in the back, and the design is washed out almost completely. Needless to say, those items no longer brought me joy!

Here is a look at everything I kept. While I was, at first, a bit disappointed that I did not get rid of more, I had to remind myself that the quantity of the items does not matter so long as they all bring me joy. I did keep a pair of jeans from Target that I eventually want to replace, so I made a note of that in my planner. I highly recommend keeping a notebook handy so you can record when there is an item you want to repurchase or upgrade in the near future when you have the money.

My next step was to fold and store my clothing using the KonMari folding method. Marie recommends folding as many clothes as you can, and provides detailed instructions on how to achieve the desired result. I admit that it took me quite a while to fold all my clothes, and I often had to refold items before getting the hang of this new-to-me method. That being said, I am beyond thrilled with the result! Not only can I fit a lot more clothes into my drawers, but they are easy to see and access. The above photograph shows my top drawer filled with camisoles, everyday t-shirts, and sweaters. I’m so in love with the look of the drawers, and now that I’ve used this storage method for a little while, I’m happy to say they are also functional and easy to use.

Everything that cannot be easily folded, such as coats, dresses, professional clothing, and fluttery tops, hangs in the closet. Following Marie’s recommendation, I grouped items by category, faced them to the right, and went from long to short. This is completely different from how I used to organize my closet, but I’m really enjoying the result. I got used to this change in just a few days.

The entire process of tidying and storing my clothes took me four hours and ten minutes. I did this on a Sunday and did take breaks! While I was quite tired at the end of the day, I felt very accomplished. Not only did my drawers and closet look amazing, but I already felt more joyful. I definitely think the state of our surroundings impacts our mood, and after completing the first step in my KonMari tidying campaign, I felt awesome.

I hope you enjoyed this first blog post in my new series documenting my KonMari journey with all of you! I will be posting about my tidying campaign every Wednesday on this blog, so make sure to follow so you will see all of my updates! Next week will cover clothing accessories, such as bags, jewelry, scarves, etc. Please let me know in the comments how you liked this blog post, and if there is anything you want me to mention about the KonMari method in my next post.

Buy Spark Joy by Mari Kondo on Amazon HERE to learn more about the KonMari method.

This post includes affiliate and referral links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

 

Vegan Recipes I’ve Tried and Loved | Summer 2017

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Food Friday! This past year I’ve spent a lot of time finding easy and delicious vegan recipes online. It can take a lot of searching to get that perfect recipe, so I thought I would save you some time and share some of my favorite recipes with you! If you are looking for some simple vegan recipes that anyone will love, this is the post for you. Let me share with you the delicious recipes I’ve tried and loved this summer.

Super Easy Vegetarian Chili Recipe [LINK]

I was never a big chili fan growing up because I’ve always disliked ground beef. Now that I love beans, though, chili seemed like the perfect dish for me! This recipe from The Spruce is really easy and beyond delicious. I do not put in any of the ingredients listed as optional, but otherwise I stay true to the recipe. Plus, this chili freezes really well! I made a double batch and froze half of it so that I could have meals ready to go on busy days.

 

No-Fuss Vegan Cornbread [LINK]

Of course, I had to make cornbread to go with my chili! This recipe from Food52 stays true to its name – it really is no-fuss. I follow the recipe exactly and it comes out really well each time. This cornbread also freezes well, so if you are cooking for 1-2 people just save some of this for later! I’ve always loved cornbread, and this one is absolutely delicious.

Healthy 5-Ingredient Granola Bars [LINK]

Next I tried a breakfast food, and that is granola bars from Minimalist Baker. I’ve never made granola bars before, and this recipe made it really simple. I followed the recipe exactly, but also added in about 1/3 cup of peanuts that I had on hand. My bars came out great, but I used a 9×9 pan instead of an 8×8, so they did fall apart easily in some spots. Nonetheless, they are beyond yummy, and I love pairing a bar with fresh fruit for breakfast.

One Pot Vegan Fettuccine Alfredo [LINK]

Last but not least is my favorite of the bunch, an absolutely amazing Vegan Fettuccine Alfredo from Neurotic Mommy. I found this recipe on Pinterest, and knew right away I needed to try it. I cannot stress to you how delicious this pasta dish is! I’ve already made it twice, and I know it will be a part of my regular dinner rotation. The one change I make to the recipe is that I keep the stove on medium-high as opposed to medium-low when cooking the pasta. Otherwise, the pasta does not absorb the sauce. That being said, if you are craving some creamy pasta, you need to try this now!

That wraps up the new-to-me vegan recipes I’m loving at the moment. I hope you found this post helpful, and that you will give some of these recipes a try. I plan on sharing my favorite recipes with you every season so you can know what I’m loving at the moment. You can also follow me on Instagram HERE to see more of the food I eat on a regular basis!

Have you tried an amazing recipe lately? Please share it in the comments!

Amy’s Black Bean Vegetable Enchilada Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Food Friday! After being a huge fan of Amy’s Rice Mac & Cheeze (see full review HERE), I decided to try out the Black Bean Vegetable Enchilada. I was really in the mood for some enchiladas, so when I saw this option at the grocery store I picked it up! Unfortunately, this meal was not a hit for me. Let me tell you why I won’t buy it again.

As with the Rice Mac & Cheeze, the Black Bean Vegetable Enchilada is vegan and gluten free. It contains two enchiladas, with a combined 10 grams of protein. The enchiladas are made with corn tortillas, black beans, tofu, and vegetables. As with all Amy’s products, I appreciate the clear labeling on the box so I know it is certified vegan. It’s always nice when I don’t have to read any ingredients!

Unfortunately, the enchiladas were a bit of a disappointment for me. The main reason is because they did not heat up well in the microwave. Even though I followed the heating instructions, the tortillas were hard as a rock after cooking – I couldn’t even cut through them easily with a steak knife! I also found that the filling was not evenly distributed in the enchiladas. More importantly, the enchiladas didn’t taste all that great to me. They were okay, but they were not as flavorful or filling as I would like. When I pair the lackluster taste with the poor cooking result, I would not buy these enchiladas again, especially considering the price tag of $3.69.

All in all, I’m glad I tried out the Amy’s Black Bean Vegetable Enchilada so I could share my thoughts on this product with you! I am still a big fan of the Amy’s brand, and will continue to purchase and enjoy other products. These enchiladas just did not work for me. After this fail, I decided to make my own enchiladas, and found THIS amazing recipe from the blog Full of Beans. It was 100% worth my time and effort, and now I have a new recipe to add to my repertoire.

Have you tried the Amy’s Black Bean Vegetable Enchilada? Let me know in the comments!

5 Ways to Save BIG at Michaels!

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to share more of my money-saving shopping tips with all of you. I love going to Michaels for planner supplies, craft tools, and home goods. There are so many fun items to look at, but I always make sure to stick to my budget and only buy the items I really want and plan to use. Luckily, Michaels runs amazing sales and offers coupons on a regular basis, so there is always a way to save money. Today I’ll share how I maximize my savings at Michaels so you can live a fabulous and affordable life, too.

I am not affiliated with or sponsored by Michaels. I simply want to share my money-saving tips with all of you!

1. Always Use a Coupon

Michaels always has at least one coupon available for use each week. You can find the coupons available in your local area by visiting the coupon page on the Michaels website HERE. Michaels also has a free rewards program that sends out exclusive coupons to its members via email and snail mail. I recently received a flyer in the mail that had three exclusive coupons for the month of July. I was able to get 25% off my total purchase including sale items! You can learn more about the Michaels Rewards program on the store’s website HERE.

2. Shop the Entire Store

When I go to Michaels, I make sure to look at every section in the store even if the items I plan on purchasing wouldn’t normally be there. This is because products often get put on seasonal and holiday displays, on the end of aisles, and in hidden clearance sections. For example, I often get asked where you can find the $1.00 sticker books sold at Michaels. Unfortunately, I can’t give you one answer! I’ve found them in the kids section, on holiday displays in the center aisle, on seasonal displaces in aisles, and more. The trick is to look carefully in each section, because you never know where an item will be. Plus, while Michaels will often have a dedicated section for clearance, it can pop up behind the aisles and in the regular sections as well. Keep an eye out for the red and yellow clearance sings, and blue clearance price tags!

3. Become Familiar with Sale Promotions

My next tip is to familiarize yourself with the sales that Michaels runs each week. Even if you don’t plan to shop, take a look at the weekly ad. Michaels tends to recycle and repeat its sale promotions. For instance, washi tapes often go on sale for 50% off, and a few times a year they are 60% off. If you know that you want to pick up new washi tapes, wait for the sale to take place. Once you know what the regular Michaels sale promotions are, you can time your purchases so they line up with the sale. Of course, if you need to buy something at the last minute, this tip won’t be as helpful. Thankfully you can still use a coupon!

4. See if You Qualify for a Special Discount

Michaels also offers special discounts for teachers, members of the military, and senior citizens. You can learn more about these special discounts on the Michaels website. Click HERE for information on the teacher discount, HERE for information about the military discount, and HERE for information about the senior discount. What’s even more exciting is that sometimes you can stack this discount with a coupon! Make sure to read the fine print on your coupon for any exclusions.

5. Use Ebates to Earn Cash Back When Shopping Online

If you can’t get to a Michaels store in person, you can shop online now! Michaels does offer cash back through Ebates. You can sign up to Ebates for free using my referral link HERE. If you have any questions about Ebates and how it works, check out my blog post HERE.

That wraps up my shopping tips for Michaels! I hope this post helps you to save some extra money at your next Michaels shopping trip. As always, if you have any more tips, please share them in the comments!

Want a savings guide for another store? Let me know in the comments!

Erin Condren Sherpa Throw Review | Floral Ink Design

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to share my thoughts on the Erin Condren Sherpa Throw blanket with all of you. Erin Condren is my favorite place to purchase planners, and the company has expanded to offer more products for the home including art prints, accent pillows, and throw blankets. I decided to purchase the Sherpa Throw in the design Floral Ink, because I absolutely love blankets and needed a new one for this past winter season. Now that I’ve used the blanket for a few months, I’m ready to share my full review!

The Sherpa Throw currently comes in 15 different designs. I purchased the Floral Ink pattern because I love the color scheme and gorgeous florals. The throw is also available in two sizes: 50″ x 60″ at $55.00 and 60″ x 80″ at $75.00 I went with the smaller size blanket, and it appears to be the average throw blanket size. In the photo above, the blanket is folded in half and draped over a couch. The product is 100% polyester, and is machine washable and dryable.

The difference in blanket color is due to the lighting in each photograph. The blanket did not change color after being washed.

The Sherpa Throw shipped to me from a third-party, and separate from the other Erin Condren products I ordered at the same time. I was disappointed that I did not receive a tracking number for the blanket, but it arrived quickly and in perfect condition. The blanket was beyond luxurious when it first arrived. I loved how soft and fluffy the underside of the blanket was, and the top felt so velvety and smooth to the touch. The Sherpa Throw is also really warm and cozy – just what I wanted for the cold winter months! Unfortunately, I did notice a big change in the blanket after washing it. Despite following the washing instructions exactly, the once-fluffy underside became matted after its first wash, and a bit more matted after its second. The top also lost its velvety smooth feeling. While the blanket is still in great condition and extremely warm and comfortable, I am disappointed that it lost all of its fluffy texture. Nonetheless, I still think the Sherpa Throw is beautiful, and I will happily continue using it.

All in all, I think the Erin Condren Sherpa Throw is a great product, but I do think the price tag is too high when I think about the comparable products that can be purchased at stores like Marshalls and Target for more affordable prices. Of course, I also think it is disappointing that the texture of the blanket changes so much after each washing. In the end, I do recommend this product if you are able to afford the price, or if you get it during a sale. I still really love my Floral Ink throw, and I would consider purchasing more in the future if I wanted a specific design for a room in my home.

Save $10 off your first Erin Condren purchase by using my referral link HERE.

 

Vegan Banana Applesauce Muffins Recipe

Happy Food Friday! Today I am excited to share a recipe with all of you. I recently ended up with an overripe banana, and that meant it was baking time! I did a search of the web for some banana muffins, but all of the recipes I found required at least two bananas, and I only had one. I decided to create my own recipe based off of THIS simple one from PETA. I’ve made these Vegan Banana Applesauce Muffins a couple times now, and today I’ll be sharing this easy and delicious recipe with you!

This recipe is not only simple to make, but it uses ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. What’s great about using applesauce in baking is that it works like an egg to hold the batter together, and it also keeps the muffins really moist. You do not taste a strong apple flavor in these muffins. Instead, they taste just like traditional banana bread! These are a great breakfast treat for anyone, whether you are vegan or not. I love enjoying them with my morning coffee!

Print Recipe
 Vegan Banana Applesauce Muffins Recipe
Delicious banana applesauce muffins made from simple ingredients. These are perfect for breakfast or snack time, and are great to bring for brunch! Even your non-vegan friends will love these muffins!
Course Breakfast
Cuisine Vegan
Prep Time 15 Minutes
Cook Time 20 Minutes
Servings
Muffins
Ingredients
  • 1 Ripe Banana
  • 3/4 cup Unsweetened Applesauce
  • 1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
  • 3/4 cup Sugar
  • 2 cups Flour
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
Course Breakfast
Cuisine Vegan
Prep Time 15 Minutes
Cook Time 20 Minutes
Servings
Muffins
Ingredients
  • 1 Ripe Banana
  • 3/4 cup Unsweetened Applesauce
  • 1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
  • 3/4 cup Sugar
  • 2 cups Flour
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 360º.
  2. Mash banana in a large mixing bowl.
  3. Add applesauce, vegetable oil, and sugar to banana and mix well.
  4. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, salt, and baking soda.
  5. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until blended.
  6. Pour batter into a greased or lined muffin tin and bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Share this Recipe

I hope you enjoy this recipe for Vegan Banana Applesauce Muffins! If you try this recipe, I want to know. Tag me on Instagram HERE so I can see your photo.

What do you make with overripe bananas? Let me know in the comments!

5 Reasons to Read the Balance Keepers Trilogy by Lindsay Cummings

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to share with you one of my new favorite book series, the Balance Keepers by Lindsay Cummings. I’ve followed Lindsay’s YouTube channel for years now, and when I found the first book in this series at a library book sale, I knew I had to scoop it up. I don’t read a lot of middle grade novels, so I was nervous this wouldn’t be the series for me. I am so happy to say I fell in love with the Balance Keepers, and I hope to encourage more people to pick up these books. Here are five reasons why you should read the Balance Keepers trilogy by Lindsay Cummings!

The Balance Keepers trilogy is a middle grade fantasy series consisting of The Fires of Calderon, The Pillars of Ponderay, and The Traitor of Belltroll. You can read my full, non-spoiler review of the first book in the series by visiting my Goodreads page HERE.

1. Imaginative Magic System

The first reason I love the Balance Keepers trilogy is the unique magic system. This series takes place in the underground world known as the Core, which works to ensure the Earth above is safe from danger. Our protagonist Albert is a Balance Keeper, and he must work to restore any imbalance in one of the three realms to keep Earth safe. Each Balance Keeper gets one magic power by diving underwater to retrieve a tile with a symbol on it. Whenever you wear your tile in the Core, you get to use its magic power! There are tiles that allow you to speak with animals, tiles that give you an incredible memory, tiles that help you swim, and many more. I loved seeing this magic system come to life, as it encouraged the characters in the book to work together to solve problems.

2. Strong Friendship

Speaking of the characters, another reason to read this trilogy is the strong friendships represented in the story. Albert is put onto Team Hydra with a boy named Leroy and a girl named Birdie when he arrives to the Core. These three become fast friends, and it is wonderful to see how much they care for one another. They work as a team to keep the Core safe, but they also support each other and build each other up if one is feeling sad. It’s also wonderful to see Albert, Leroy, and Birdie grow as friends throughout the trilogy!

3. Exciting Adventures

Another reason to read this series is the aspect of adventure. In addition to competitive training simulations, Team Hydra is always on the move around the Core to discover more information and learn all they can about this new place. Each book also ends up with a trip inside a magical realm, where Albert, Leroy, and Birdie must figure out how to deal with the realm’s unique geography and creatures to help restore its balance. I really enjoy adventure-filled stories, and the Balance Keepers trilogy always keeps me turning pages for more!

4. Magical Creatures

If you are an animal lover, you are going to adore this trilogy! In addition to a wide variety of interesting creatures, this series features a special dog named Farnsworth. While he looks like any normal dog, Farnsworth can actually live for many, many years, and he also has flashlights for eyes! Farnsworth is Albert’s companion creature, and goes with him everywhere he possibly can. It’s so sweet that Farnsworth plays such a big role in the series, and I loved reading about him and the other creatures of the Core.

5. Strong Writing

Last but not least, I think this series stands out because Cummings has a great writing style. This trilogy is aimed at middle grade readers, so it does cater to that audience in terms of the tone. However, the writing can definitely appeal to adults as well. I was very impressed with how Cummings weaves her storylines together. While there is one over-arching plot in the Balance Keepers series as a whole, each book also has a smaller plot that concludes nicely. In addition, I found the series to be quite unpredictable. I could never guess what was going to happen next, and that kept me wanting more. I’m also inspired to read more of  Cummings’s books now that I know I enjoy her writing!

  I hope this blog post introduced you to a new series, and that you will give it a try! These are just some of the reasons I adore the Balance Keepers trilogy, but there are many more, including the character of Pap, Albert’s adorable grandpa. Whether you are already a fan of middle grade fantasy, or you are looking for something out of your comfort zone, I think the Balance Keepers will keep you entertained from start to finish. Please be sure to let me know if you read the series!

What is your favorite middle grade fantasy book? Let me know in the comments!

This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Campbell’s Well Yes! Italian Vegetables with Farro Soup Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Food Friday! Today I’m reviewing another vegan food product for all of you, and this time I have some soup! I’m always on the hunt for a good soup to have on hand in the pantry, and I discovered that one of the new Well Yes! soups from the brand Campbell’s is vegan. I thought the Italian Vegetables with Farro sounded delicious, so I grabbed a can and got to eating. Let me share my thoughts on this soup with all of you!

Well Yes! is a line of soups from Campbell’s that are created with nutrition in mind. I absolutely love the clear labeling on these cans, which states whether the soup is vegan or vegetarian, and also shares that the can is BPA free and the soup is made without preservatives. The Italian Vegetables with Farro is the only variety of Well Yes! I found that is vegan, but I’m excited that Campbell’s has at least one soup directly catering to vegans. This soup in particular features tomatoes, white beans, carrots, red peppers, and zucchini. Each serving has 4 grams of protein, which could definitely be better.

The first thing I noticed about the soup is how amazing it smells upon opening the can! The soup has a really nice flavor, and I like the ratio of vegetables to beans to grains. On its own, the soup is not very filling. The broth is definitely on the thin side, and that was the main drawback for me. I felt like the soup was not a complete meal on its own, partly because the broth is so light, but also because I would like a more nutritious meal. Thus, I repurchased the soup and added it to some whole wheat pasta as a sauce. That was an okay idea, but it still wasn’t great. Overall, although I think the soup is tasty, it’s not something I would have on a regular basis. Instead, I would keep it on hand for sick days, or days when I’m really in a pinch for a meal.

I hope this review of Campbell’s Well Yes! Italian Vegetables with Farro Soup was helpful to you! I purchased this can for $2.49, which is more than I would like to spend for prepared soup. As I mentioned, this is a nice item to have on hand in the pantry, but I would not eat it regularly. I am very glad that Campbell’s made this vegan option, and I hope the brand will release more vegan soups in the future!

What is your favorite kind of soup? Let me know in the comments! 

Marshalls Haul | Vegan Food & Beauty

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Food Friday! Today I have a haul to share with you. I recently went to Marshalls for the first time in quite a while, and I couldn’t believe my luck. I discovered a plethora of vegan food products, and some vegan beauty products, too! While I knew Marshalls sold some food, I had no idea my local store had expanded to include a few isles of goodies, many of which are vegan. There were so many tasty treats available that I had to limit myself to a few things. I’m so excited to share with you my vegan haul from Marshalls!

FOOD

Cybele’s Free To Eat Chocolate Chunk Brownie Cookies – $3.99

This box of cookies started the haul for me. When I saw vegan Chocolate Chunk Brownie Cookies on the shelf I just knew I had to try them. These cookies are from the brand Cybele’s, which specializes in products that are free of the top eight allergens. I’ve already tried all of the food products in this blog post, and I’m happy to report I really enjoyed these cookies. They were such a nice treat, and I think the price was good for a box of 12 cookies considering this is a boutique brand. I stopped by the brand’s website and there are coupons available HERE if you would like to try them for a discounted price!

The GFB Gluten Free Bites in Dark Chocolate Coconut – $3.99

Next I grabbed this bag of Gluten Free Bites in the flavor Dark Chocolate Coconut. I’m sure you will notice that many of the vegan products I feature on the blog also happen to be gluten free, but I do not eat a gluten free diet. It just so happens these two dietary restrictions overlap in many specialized foods! I thought these bites sounded delicious, and I was right. It felt like eating cookie dough, and I loved the coconut outside with a gooey inside. Plus, two bites have 4 grams of protein, which is pretty good in a mini snack. I also saved a dollar buying this product at Marshalls, as a bag retails for $5.00 on the brand’s website HERE.

Pereg Quinoa with Spinach – $2.99

The last food item I purchased was a Quinoa with Spinach packet from Pereg Natural Foods. I needed to get at least one meal option instead of snack food, right?! This quinoa was really tasty, and very easy to make as it comes with all the spices pre-mixed into the packet. I am surprised to learn that this product sells for $4.80 on the brand’s website HERE, meaning I saved nearly $2.00 by shopping at Marshalls! I also got two meals out of this, stretching my dollar even further. First, I made the quinoa for dinner and sautéed some broccoli and garlic to make complete the meal. I then finished the leftovers for lunch the next day by adding the quinoa to a salad for added protein! I would definitely buy this product again, perhaps try the other flavors as well.

BEAUTY

Eco Tools Makeup Brush Cleansing Cloths – $2.99

Last but not least, I stopped by the beauty section to see if there were any products I needed to try. I found a lot of great vegan options, but limited myself to one new-to-me product. I purchased a pack of the Eco Tools Makeup Brush Cleansing Cloths because I thought they were an amazing price at $2.99. As it turns out, I got a great steal! These clothes retail for $6.99 on the brand’s website HERE. I saved $4.00 by shopping at Marshalls. I think this is because Eco Tools has new packaging for this product, so the products with the old packaging are now discounted. I’m so excited to use these cleansing cloths whenever I travel, or perhaps on days where I really need a clean brush but don’t have the time for a complete cleansing session. I’ll be sure to report back once I’ve tested these!

That wraps up my latest Marshalls Haul! I still cannot believe I found all of these vegan products for such great prices. I know some people are wary about buying food at stores like Marshalls, but so long as you check the expiration dates and ensure the packaging is in good shape you shouldn’t have any problems. All of the food I purchased was well within the expiration dates, and they tasted fresh! If you are struggling to find some treats that meet your dietary restrictions, I highly recommend seeing what your local Marshalls has to offer. I know I will be going back whenever I’m in the mood to try a new product, especially a yummy treat like cookies!

What unexpected finds have you discovered at Marshalls? Let me know in the comments!