review - Natalie Wise Blog

Checks vs. Auto-Pay: FFF Week 1

It’s Frugal February Friday here on Good Girl Style and I’m discussing finances every Friday during February. I’d love your two cents (or a dime or a dollar!).

I’m so old-school sometimes, even when it comes to finances. I really prefer to use checks and like the control they allow me to have over my finances.

Besides, any opportunity I have to “pretty-ify” my life, I’m all about. My old checkbook cover, the standard-issue blue one from the bank, was in sorry shape and I was in the market for a new, pretty checkbook cover. A store in my town happened to be clearing out Vera Bradley, and they had one lonely (LOVELY!) checkbook cover left for 75% off. I couldn’t resist this amazing vintage-modern pattern (Cocoa Moss) and color scheme for $5.

Now I may want to upgrade my checks from standard-issue bank checks to something like:

Hello Cuteness?

Pretty Botanicals?

Are pretty checks more expensive? Nope. They are about the same, but with discounts offered all the time!
For new customers: 1-Box of checks: $5.50// 2-Boxes of checks: $11.00// 4-Boxes of checks: $16.50 and the 4th box is free ($1 more per box for duplicates)// Includes free shipping and handling Coupon Code: F4NB valid until 6/30/14

Using Checks

I think sitting down and paying my bills allows me more control over my finances and forces me to pay attention to where my money is going. Writing out a check helps me realize I’m investing my hard-earned dollars and gives me more awareness of my spending. You might be paying for a service you no longer need, but it’s “out of sight out of mind.” I prefer to sit down and see exactly where my money is going, to look at paper bills for discrepancies, see what services I’m actually paying for every month and have a record of it all (I love duplicate checks). And it’s just somehow so satisfying. We all know I’m a mail girl, even if it’s a stack of bills.

vs.

Auto-Pay

Auto-pay or online bill pay is certainly convenient, potentially more environmentally-friendly, and saves on postage. If you ARE going the e-pay route, I personally wouldn’t recommend the auto-pay option unless absolutely necessary and if you check up on it regularly. I have had issues with auto-pay when companies have double-charged me or over-charged me and I haven’t caught it immediately. They love to sneak new charges in there. Paying all of your bills online is fine if you prefer it and remember to keep up with it. I have done this in the past, and for me it’s just a matter of personal preference.

Are you a check-writer or an auto-payer?

Natalie

*This post contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase from my links I earn a small percentage for referring you, but you don’t pay anything extra for my two cents, promise!

Monogram Necklace Giveaway

Yesterday I shared my lovely Onecklace.com monogram necklace (check it out!), and I have exciting news! Onecklace wants to give one of my (fabulous, beautiful, sophisticated, lovely, brave, talented, and awesome) readers a $50 credit to pick out their own monogram jewelry! Well, isn’t this exciting ya’ll?

You could choose your name in gold or silver:

click on the photo to look at other samples on their website!

Or you could choose just an initial:

click on the photo to look at other samples on their website!

You could do engraved tags (love these!):

click on the photo to look at other samples on their website!

Or you could choose your full monogram like I have, with or without the circle around it:

click on the photo to look at other samples on their website!

ONE reader will win a $50 coupon code to be used at oNecklace.com!

To Enter:

Step 1: “Like” Onecklace.com on Facebook here.

Step 2: Leave me a comment here saying you liked them on Facebook and that’s your entry!

Additional entries for:

1.) Liking Good Girl Style on Facebook (leave me a separate comment that you did and don’t forget to hover over ‘Liked’ on Facebook and click, ‘Get notifications’ so we can stay in touch!)

2.) Following Good Girl Style on Twitter (leave me a separate comment that you did)

So that’s up to 3 entries per person.

One winner.

Giveaway entry closes on Monday, January 27th at midnight eastern time.

Good luck!

Natalie

New Specs and a GlassesUSA Review

I need new glasses, ya’ll.

So these are my current/old glasses. Horn-rim Chaps, oval, get the job done.

But it is time for an update.

I really wasn’t sure how to go about this process, since it’s always so difficult to choose new glasses. But I decided to try one of these online glasses places, and be brave. When GlassesUSA contacted me to do a review of a pair of glasses, I jumped on board! I’d been eyeing (ha, I crack myself up) their site anyway, so it was a great fit.

I don’t just need glasses, you see (clever me, all the puns). I don’t need just frames, or readers. I need prescription glasses. Like, Coke-bottle glasses. Really-really-really thick glasses. Hazardous-to-my-health-AND-your-health blind without my glasses. Such is life. So I always have to get the primo lenses (read, expensive), so saving on the frames is a MUST for my budget. GlassesUSA eyeglasses are a great buy, and their clearance/sales/coupons section is also worth a look.

Here are my two picks (I purchased one pair with my own money and the other one partially with a GlassesUSA.com credit):

Muller in Brown

Personal Shopper in Blue

I made a video to show you the frames in person and tell you a little more about my experience:

GlassesUSA Review from Natalie of Good Girl Style on Vimeo.

I love the lucite and tortoise sides of the Nicole Miller Personal Shopper.

Muller has metal and crystal detailing.

GlassesUSA is always offering crazy-good discount codes, so check out their Facebook and Twitter pages for exclusive discounts. You can also use the code: Blog10 for a 10% discount. You can also try their new Virtual Try-On feature. This wasn’t available when I chose my frames, but I highly recommend giving it a try.

They have a 110% lowest-price guarantee and 100% money-back guarantee, so you’re safe no matter what you decide. Overall, if you need to buy glasses, I’d say GlassesUSA is a great place to update your look!

Soooooo now the question is, should I keep them? Just one? Which one? Both?
And which frames are YOU eyeing?

xo
Natalie
PS> We’re not talking about the craziness that is my bangs in these photos right now, ok? They’re not chopped weird, I promise, they were just being weird. #whoknows

Tiny Book of Tiny Stories, Volume 3

You all know of my affinity for HitRecord, Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s (JGL) online collaborative recording/creating studio. Oh, you don’t know? Check out Tiny Book of Tiny Stories Reviews Volume 2 and one collaboration I was a part of here.

Tiny Stories Volume 3

I adore the concept of tiny stories. They fascinate me. They’re like little snippets, little poems, even dearer for the fact that they leave so much to your imagination and interpretation.

Love this one!

And this one! I love that the illustrations and stories are all collaborative, so they’ve been mixed and remixed by artists to create the final product. It’s such a fun thing to do, and you can be a part of it, too, at Hit Record. I’ve got an account (goodgirlstyle)! Even better? You get a portion of the proceeds of any products that are created using your artwork or words.

Love these little books.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has also created the first collaborative variety show, Hit Record on TV, that just debuted. I just watched it…how fun is this, guys? It’s so quirky and has such a cool edgy vibe. Here it is:

JGL is one of the most multi-talented people I’ve ever seen, I’m pretty sure. He plays the piano, sings, acts, writes, produces, and is always doing something new and unique. In a pretty one-dimensional Hollywood, I admire that he steps out from the crowd to do his own thing. And I just LOVE being a part of cool new projects.

“Getting started, it’s always the hardest part, just walking up and saying Hello! Or sitting down in front of that blank page. Once you start writing, there’s plenty to say.”

JGL

Let’s get started. Let’s live and write and share and record our own tiny stories.

Who knows, to someone else, they might be the biggest stories ever told.

Natalie

PS> Thanks to it!Books by Harper Collins for the review copy of Tiny Stories, Volume 3. I loved it.

Warby Does it Again

Warby Parker has this mysterious way of combining a lifestyle I aspire to into an eyeglass frame. Their frames speak of adventures and books and stories. They speak of things that have already happened and things that you hope will happen while you wear the glasses. Their Winter Collection just launched today and I had to show you my favorites, in case you’re looking to wear some adventure on your face. I’m pretty sure they need to pay me for that “Wear adventure on yo’ face, yo!” has cache, don’t you think?

Here are some of my favorites:

Langhorne in Whisky Striped Evergreen: looks great on brunettes.

Seymour in Tennessee Whiskey: classic and sophisticated.

and my very favorite, the Webb in Saddle Russet: the perfect mix of quirky and classic.

In Warby Parker Winter Collection frames, I could make my Christmas list and check it twice. But I probably wouldn’t need to, since I’d see it so clearly the first time.

Natalie

A Walk Through the Dark by Eva Piper with Cecil Murphey

Have you ever read 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper? It’s a touching, incredible story of a Baptist preacher pronounced dead at the scene of a collision with a tractor trailer, while he was returning from a ministry conference. He describes his near-death experience of meeting spiritual influencers in his life in heaven, and coming back to earth to face a terrifying and difficult recovery.

And this is the other side of the story.

A Walk Through the Dark is the fascinating tale of Don Piper’s WIFE, who was by his side from the moment he arrived at the hospital through the darkest stages of recovery. The subtitle is, “How My Husband’s 90 Minutes in Heaven Deepened My Faith for a Lifetime.” Wow.

I am on the fence about this book, to be honest. It was interesting at first, and parts of the tale are dynamic and gripping (such as her difficult choices on her husband’s medical care following the accident) and her story of dealing with a husband who wanted to return to heavenly bliss.

But the actual writing of the book loses me. It reads like a personal outpouring, a tell-all maybe interesting to family members, but that should have been much more tightly edited. And if I’m being perfectly honest, I felt that Eva had not fully healed from all of her sadness, hurt, and despondency since the accident. I got bogged down in the middle and put this book down for a long time before I decided to pick it back up.

It was, however, very interesting to me to hear the often-untold side of the caregiver and how their life is changed just as much as the person injured. I think this book will probably resonate strongly with others who have been in a similar situation.

Happy Reading!
xo
Natalie

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

My Favorite Grab at the Grocery Store Lunch

Grab at the Grocery Store Lunch

These are some of my favorite things to grab at the grocery store for a quick, tasty, filling, and mostly-healthy lunch. Add an apple and you’re good to go!

Nile Black Bean Soup: Basic ingredients but a nice kick. Can be easily made at work with hot water from an electric kettle or microwave.
Lesser Evil Black Olive & Feta Chia Chips: They aren’t kidding when they say these are “super savory”–gluten-free and a hearty complement to the soup.
Ginny Bakes Chocolate Chip-Oatmeal-Coconut Cookies: These are amazingly delicious.
Ayala’s Herbal Water: Any of these flavors are the perfect accompaniment to this lunch.

Happy Tuesday!
xo
Natalie

Minted Giveaway

{my sewing/craft space with Paris Map from Minted and a photo of me and my mom in Paris}

A pink map of Paris.

Can anything say “Natalie” more?!

I just love my new pink Paris map from Minted (thanks, Minted)! Seriously, though, I went to a dozen stores and could NOT find a frame I even remotely liked, so that’s still on the back burner while washi tape holds it up in the meanttime. I also love my vintage-style metal nail bin, which now holds craft supplies, and my giant wooden @ sign. Fun things! Tablecloth I made from Amy Butler fabric, and it matches my stools perfectly.

But back to my Paris print, which I adore, from Minted. One of the many cool things about Minted is that their offerings are created by a community of independent artists all around the world. This is real art, created by real artists. My Paris print is created by Four Wet Feet Design (look at her other gorgeous designs here!). Check out Minted’s gorgeous art prints, holiday cards, custom stationary, and more. I’m sure you’ll love it!

I’m so sure you’ll love it that I am so excited to be able to offer one winner a

$75 credit to minted.com

Crazy-good right?

CLICK HERE TO ENTER on Minted’s website
(comments on this post will not count as entries, sorry!)

The contest is open today Monday, October 7th-October 11th at midnight ET.

xo
Natalie

Do You Kombucha?

Have you dared try kombucha? I admit, I was a scaredy-cat. Kombucha is a fermented tea of sorts, with yeasts and good bacteria. I don’t claim to know all about the purported health benefits (and sometimes risks), but for something new to try, I kinda like it! It may be an acquired taste, but here is my rundown of my favorites I’ve tried so far, in case you need a little inspiration to try this drink yourself:

High Country Kombucha Tangerine Dream

Good flavor, LOVE the bottle and design. Unfortunately, this was the most mead-y tasting one, and it never tasted ice COLD to me. I suppose I could have tried it over ice. It was also missing the nice sparkling essence I liked in the others.

GT’s Synergy Kombucha: Guava Goddess

This one is delicious! I love guava flavoring, but it’s not something you see too often (yet). This was light, refreshing, lightly bubbly, and made me feel happy (due in part, I’m sure, to its light pink color!).

Kevita Sparkling Probiotic Drinks: Mango-Coconut, Strawberry-Acai Coconut, and Pomegranate

I don’t think these are technically kombucha, though they are certainly based on the same principles, and are delicious. The mango-coconut and strawberry-acai coconut are pretty good, but the Pomegranate is out of this world. The flavor was deep, the color dark, the sparkling quite fizzy, and all-around delicious. I’ve purchased the pomegranate several times. However, I do caution that it contains apple cider vinegar, so I always like to brush my teeth after I drink it so the acid doesn’t kill my enamel.

****

Granted, these drinks are all very expensive and I will say my experiment is probably short-lived because shelling out almost $4 for one bottled drink makes me die a little bit inside. However, I wanted to try it, and should I ever be aching for a fruity, sparkling, slightly vinegar-y drink, I’ll reach for the KeVita Sparkling Probiotic Pomegranate (sometimes on sale for a slightly-less-outrageous $2.29).

You?

Adventuring with KIND & a Giveaway

Y’all know how much I love a good adventuring day, be it hiking, trail running, antiquing, going to a local festival…anything unique and fun I find along the way!

{ready!}

I am always on the lookout for gluten-free, healthful snacks to throw in my bag or a back pocket for adventuring. This is much easier said than done, because all manner of granola and snack bars contain the dreaded gluten. Or taste terrible. Lose-lose.

Hello, KIND bars. I found KIND bars in an airport a few years ago (which was an extra-awesome find, since gluten-free food in an airport is even harder to come by). I LOVE these bars. I can’t get over them…because they are nuts, but they aren’t crunchy. They are a bit syrupy to make them chewy, but they only have 4g of sugar. And the flavors? Outta this world. Seriously. Cashew-Ginger Spice. Madagascar Vanilla Almond. Dark Chocolate, Nuts, and Sea Salt. Dark Chocolate Chili Almond. Maple Glazed Pecan & Sea Salt. To name a few! These are bars for the adventuring gluten-free foodie. Win-win-WIN.

Their tagline? “Make Junk Food Nervous.”

Love that.

This summer, hop on your bike, in your car, in your canoe, or climb a tree and go repelling or zip lining or SOMETHING cool…just go adventuring!

Make sure to grab a KIND bar (or two or three ’cause they’re that good) to throw in your bag. You will thank me later.

———

The best part?

I get to give away a MONTH’S supply of KIND bars to one reader!

I kid you not I’m a little jealous because that means approximately 72 KIND bars are yours for the eating and taking-on-adventure-ing.

Whatchya gotta do to enter?

Take a look at KIND’s website and tell me what your favorite flavor is in a comment (one mandatory entry).

Bonus entries for following KIND snacks on Facebook and/or Twitter and me on any social media channel. Just leave me a separate comment for each entry. Giveaway open until midnight EST, Monday, June 10. Open to US residents.

Have fun!