POSHVICE

Hey Ex-Employer, That’s NOT What POS Is Supposed To Mean…

Sarah — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 14:23:14 +0000

One thing that I can rant and rave about all day is the retail practices of past employers… nothing annoys me more than working for a store that may have good products, but manages to counteract that with poor customer policy (I used to work at a pet supply store that, no joke, explicitly told us that we were not allowed to try and upsell the customer anything, even if we thought it was something they needed - we were also not supposed to wander off with the customer and help them make a choice on which of the hundreds of pet food brands would be best for their dog, or anything else along those lines, because corporate saw that as “pressuring” the customer), awful store managers who obviously didn’t know the first thing about marketing, or a computer system that was in dire need of an upgrade. It’s just so frustrating, especially when there are loads of resources out there to help fix such issues in no time flat.

Case in point, the previously mentioned outdated and always half-broken computer system? A quick Google search can land you at this website about POS system that literally has everything you could ever possible need or even wonder about when it comes to retail. With such resources like that, it makes me even MORE baffled as to how some of these poorly run stores can manage to stay so… poor.

Ugh, I need to stop complaining before I make myself mad all over again. Call it my pet peeve, I guess. Sorry, I just had to get that out there!

Post from: poshvice

Hey Ex-Employer, That’s NOT What POS Is Supposed To Mean…

The Benefits Of Fatty Acids In Skincare

Sarah — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:35:18 +0000

I mention my dabblings in various fitness supplements and pills pretty regularly here on Posh Vice; but I’ve yet to mention my two absolute favorite supplements! I know that some people take them for some sort of fitness benefits (I personally never noticed myself losing weight quicker, but I also have a very stubborn body - I pretty much have to be taking diet pills, supplements, drinking loads of water & green tea, eating very little, and working out a ton to lose ANY weight at all, so YMMV), but I personally adore popping a few Flax Seed Oil & CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) gelcaps each day for the MASSIVE difference in makes in my skin’s clarity and texture.

I have a bit of a skincare fetish - I’ve tried out tons and tons of products, and even went to classes put on by companies like Murad as training for my old job where I sold high-end skincare - and while I do consider finding a good cleanser, toner and moisturizer to be very necessary, the most crucial step in my skincare routine is the aforementioned fatty acids. There’s always a world of difference in my skintone when I’m taking them regularly; I break out less, my skin looks softer and more radiant, and I don’t get dry patches.

If you have troublesome skin, I’d strongly suggest grabbing a bottle of CLA and/or Flax Seed Oil (or Fish Oil, if you can stand the smell and taste… I can’t, personally) and try adding a few pills each per day to your routine. I think you’ll see the difference!

Post from: poshvice

The Benefits Of Fatty Acids In Skincare

Gifts For A Good Cause

Sarah — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:55:15 +0000

I’ve always loved giving gifts that have a little extra to them - you know, like purchasing some gorgeous jewelry or clothing that was handmade and gives back part of the profits to a charity supporting the artisans and/or their culture, or donating to a worthwhile fund in a friend’s name, or giving eco gifts - items that are well-made while benefiting the environment. Whether it’s home decor made from recycled materials (the previously linked site features such innovations as mailboxes, tables, and chairs all made from old traffic signs) or hydrogen-powered children’s toys (the most futuristic remote control car kit ever?), it’s always fun to be able to pick out a gift that’s amazing in its own right, while the environmental and charity benefits back it up to give it that extra added oomph.

Post from: poshvice

Gifts For A Good Cause

On The Prowl For New Diet Supplements

Sarah — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 08:33:01 +0000

I’ve mentioned in the past that I like to use diet pills when I need that extra boost to help me make it through (or even get started on) a workout. I’m naturally a very low-energy person (it seems to come from having chronic low blood pressure), so it can be very hard for me to talk myself into getting onto the treadmill or doing my kickboxing DVDs, because I tend to feel extremely physically tired almost 24/7. So when I want to work out but just can’t work up the necessary energy on my own, I’ll turn to diet pills for an easy, non-filling (if I work out with anything more than water and/or pills in my stomach -even coffee or soda - I’ll throw up in short order; my stomach is very dainty, I guess) way to get both my metabolism and my energy level boosted. However, with the gigantic selection of fitness supplements on the market, it can be really hard to find and choose the best diet pill for my purposes. My old standby, Hydroxycut, reformulated recently, and the new version doesn’t do much other than give me a headache, so I’m currently on the lookout for a good replacement. Anybody have suggestions?

Post from: poshvice

On The Prowl For New Diet Supplements

Sneaky Savings: The Power Of A Second Bank Account

Sarah — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:19:40 +0000

A few entries back, I mentioned that I tended to use a separate savings account when I’m saving for big purchases. I started doing this a few years back, when I was still living check to check, because the way most bank accounts set up their online access makes it WAY too easy to transfer money back and forth between your checking and savings. This is, of course, a good and convenient thing if you have a need to dip into your savings on a frequent/spur of the moment basis, but I find I’m much more successful when it comes to long-term savings if I use the “out of sight, out of mind” technique.

The way I do this is by starting a completely separate savings account, completely unattached to my primary checking account. This way, withdrawing any money from the special account becomes enough of a hassle that I won’t impulsively withdraw some of my nest egg because I really want a new video game or something. Also, because of my forgetful nature, having an account that isn’t in my face every time that I log into my main checking account’s online control panel means that I’m somewhat likely to completely forget about the money I’ve tucked away until I’ve saved up enough for whatever my original purpose was, or I’m in dire straits and really need the extra cash.

This works pretty well for me, but like I said, a lot of it relies on the way I shop and think and my ability to forget things that aren’t in my face (which is a blessing AND a curse). What sort of tricks do you employ to help with your finances?

Post from: poshvice

Sneaky Savings: The Power Of A Second Bank Account

Precious Ions: The New Skincare Trend?

Sarah — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 07:02:46 +0000

There seems to be a recent trend (or at least, I’ve recently noticed, it’s entirely possible that it’s a more long-standing phenomenon) towards precious stones and metals being used in acne products. Most of it seems to center around something called “ions”, which I previously only really associated with chemistry and hair-dryers and… Tales Of The Abyss, I guess.

I think the two biggest examples that stuck out in my brain are the Asso Gold Cleansing Bar (what an awful name), that retails for $125 per bar (though I’ve found it for $24 online, here) and has 24k gold particles in it. The makers claim that the pricey soap is really big in Asia for its ability to “kill acne at the source”. Who knows if there’s any truth to those claims - personally, I’m curious as to how EXACTLY gold is supposed to heal acne - but hey, if it works, it works.

The other product that caught me off-guard was a toner by MAC Cosmetics called “Charged Water”, that’s supposed to be “infused with ions from diamonds” or something. It only retails for $19, so I guess it’s not a terrible choice if you want to try this trend of precious ions in your skincare, but to be honest - if the toner works at all, I’d be more apt to credit the fact that it has green tea in it. I use a green tea based cleanser and LOVE it.

If you see any other crazy skincare products pop up with super-pricey ingredients, please hit me up and let me know about them… I’m completely fascinated by this whole trend.

Post from: poshvice

Precious Ions: The New Skincare Trend?

Time To Buy A New TV!

Sarah — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 06:41:03 +0000

Lately, the television in our living room has been giving warning signs of an impending collapse. The picture has been going slightly blurry at times, and the speakers emit a low whine if the volume is turned up higher than normal. In other words, it’s time that I begin shopping around for a new big-screen television.

I’m particularly envious of my friend’s large (almost wall-sized, really) plasma TV that she recently got - unfortunately, she bought it at a local electronics store on impulse and will probably be making payments on it for years to come, which isn’t really my style. I’d rather do some research, get an idea about the price range of the size/type of television I’m interested in, and start a separate savings account just for squirreling money away for the “new, nice TV” fund.

Does anyone have any particular brands that they recommend, or, conversely, recommend that I stay AWAY from? To be honest, this will be the first television that I really invest in - most of the televisions that we have in our house are older, inherited from parents when they upgraded their TVs, or just cheap $100-200 things we got at Target for dorm rooms past. So any ideas or ratings are very welcome!

Post from: poshvice

Time To Buy A New TV!

Shopping For Toys Online

Sarah — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:33:59 +0000

Although I remain childless - and plan on staying that way probably forever - a good amount of my friends have kids in the 2-6 year old range. One of my closer friends from high school actually has a little girl about to begin kindergarten next month! It’s amazing how fast time flies.

Anyhow, point being, this kind of rules for me because while I’m not into the idea of ever having my own children, I’ve always liked helping my friends shop for toys for their kids -most likely because one of my favorite things (if not THE favorite thing) about gift-giving is the reaction, and children are naturally more honest and enthusiastic about whatever you’ve picked out for them.

One of my favorite places to help my friends e-shop for their kids is definitely the Buy.com toys section. They’ve got just about anything that you (or your child, niece, grandkids, toy-collecting adult friend, whatever) could possibly want!

Post from: poshvice

Shopping For Toys Online

Online Reviews & Resources For Skincare Products

Sarah — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:26:51 +0000

One of my absolute favorite topics to read about (or think about, or talk about, or… you get the picture) would definitely have to be skincare. I’ve always had rather, shall we say, temperamental skin, and products that work wonders for me one day will somehow stop working for me in a few months, forcing me to be on the constant lookout for new products, supplements, and skincare regimes to try and whip my oily-yet-sensitive skin into shape.

After looking around the web in search of the current best acne treatment, I found this website - getacnetreatments.com - that is definite bookmark-worthy if you’re at all interested in shopping online for skincare. They have brutally honest reviews & descriptions of every brand out there, from Proactiv to Murad, and they keep records of not only each product’s retail price, but also the best price to be found via eBay or other webstores. All in all, VERY helpful, and worth a read if you’re looking for to-the-point, concise reviews and price listings on skincare products.

Post from: poshvice

Online Reviews & Resources For Skincare Products

I Just Can’t Help Myself…

Sarah — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:34:01 +0000

Okay, maybe I’m just a total child at heart, because recently I’ve become kind of fixated on the idea of adding swing sets to my backyard. I don’t have kids (and really don’t plan on ever having any, to be completely honest), so yes, this would be a completely selfish purchase and totally just for me. It’s just that I had gotten into a recent discussion with my boyfriend about all the crazy, elaborate backyard toys that you see nowadays (especially when watching one of my more guilty pleasures, The Fabulous Life Of… on VH1), and he asked me what childhood toy - out of all the extravagant things that can be found today - I would want to spoil myself with. And honestly? The only answer that I could come up with was a good, old fashioned wooden swing set. I like the idea of having my dogs running around the backyard while I relax on the swings, enjoying the (at least in my daydreams) nice weather. This small, relaxing fantasy of mine has completely made me dead set on making it come true someday… I WILL have a swing set. You can’t stop me, adulthood!

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I Just Can’t Help Myself…

Saving Space With TV Wall Mounts

Sarah — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:13:44 +0000

When I was younger, I was probably one of the messiest people that you could ever meet - and living in a room or apartment that consistently looked like it had been hit by a hurricane did not bother me at all! However, things have changed - I have noticed that recently, I find myself driven to distraction by messes, clutter, or having too much furniture in too small of a space.

My current home office is right on the precipice of falling into that last “too crowded” category, even when it’s perfectly clean. In order to fix this and make me feel a little less claustrophobic & crazy when I’m trying to get some work down, I’ve been looking into ways to sort of condense all my electronics and furniture, by way of home entertainment centers (you know, with all the nice cupboards and such) and a TV wall mount to clear up space even further.

Does anyone have any organizational or space-saving tips that I should know about?

Post from: poshvice

Saving Space With TV Wall Mounts

My New Allies In The Battle Against Mosquitos: Cows

Sarah — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:44:02 +0000

The Fourth of July has come and gone, and with its passing, summer is in full swing. Unfortunately for me, that’s a mixed blessing - while I love the longer days and warm weather, summer also forces me to confront my lifelong nemesis; one that respawns itself every year solely to torment me. That’s right, it’s mosquito season again.

While I once read that somewhere out there exists a small percentage of people who actually get enjoyment out of mosquito bites (um…), I am so not even CLOSE to being one of them. First off, they seem to single me out - I can be hanging outside with 5 other people, and somehow none of them will get even one bit; whereas I’ll be eaten alive within 15 minutes. And not to be disgusting, but I think I must be mildy allergic to mosquito saliva or something - any bites on me immediately swell to half-dollar proportions at the smallest. So you can see why the return of these evil, evil insects is something I dread completely.

However… this year, it seems that salvation may emerge from the unlikeliest of places: cattle supplies. The Macro Fly Manager Dispenser, to be exact. From what I can tell, it’s like one of those air fresheners that sprays scent every half hour or so - except this sprays mosquito (and general bug) repellent. I’m thinking of ordering one and installing it on my balcony, because having a constant source of insect control without having to keep an eye on citronella candles or slathering bug spray all over myself every five seconds sounds like a REALLY nice idea. Thanks, cows, who knew you’d end up saving my skin (literally)?

Post from: poshvice

My New Allies In The Battle Against Mosquitos: Cows