» Reviews & Products

5 Reasons Why the Kindle Fire is a Gem

The Cubicle Chick — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:00:17 +0000

Last month, I wrote an un-boxing post teasing you about the new Kindle Fire I purchased as a gift for that special someone in my life. I promised that I would be back to write a more complete review of the tablet and let you know my thoughts on how it compares to the other tablets that are on the market. Here are my 5 Reasons Why the Kindle Fire is a Gem: Size: When traveling, size is everything. You want to travel light when it comes to bringing equipment with you on the plane or train. The wonderful thing about the Kindle Fire is that it's 7 inches and perfect for being on the go. You can watch movies and surf the web on your flight without a big and bulky screen. It's also light enough to put in your purse or briefcase without weighing it down. If you are a heavy traveler, don't sleep on the Kindle Fire. Amazon Prime: Yes, the Kindle Fire is made by Amazon, and it's a great companion to the Amazon Prime feature which allows you to download movies, television shows, music, etc. by paying a yearly fee. Have brand new media at your fingertips! Amazon Prime is like the Android Market for media---on steroids. It will bring your Kindle Fire to life. Price Point: At 9.00, the Kindle Fire is affordable for a lot of people. Tablets are all the rage these days, but not everyone has 0 and up to spend on a tablet. I bought my S/O a Kindle Fire because he's not an early tech adopter like me (he usually warms up to things a year or 2 after they hit the market) and I didn't want to spend a mint on something he might not use. For the price, it's a great starter tablet, or perfect for that person who doesn't need all of the bells and whistles. Unlike the big name tablets, though, it doesn't have a camera or video feature, so if you must have that within your tablet, the Kindle Fire may not be for you. Wi-Fi: I've used the Kindle Fire on my own several times and I must say, I am impressed with the wi-fi capabilities. There is virtually no lagging, and easily connects to the available wi-fi in your area. There is no internal 4g wifi with the Kindle Fire, so you must use an outside wi-fi source to surf the web. If you travel a lot, you may have the option of using your smartphone to tether---or you can purchase a portable wi-fi hotspot. Android OS: I love me some Android OS. It gives you the option of personalizing your experience so much more than on the iPad. And if you already have an Android phone, you can synch your apps onto the Kindle Fire by using your Gmail address. I am definitely Team Android, so having it on the Kindle Fire is a win/win for me. The Kindle Fire is a great buy and gives you the ability to surf the web, listen to music, watch movies, check email, and more on the go seamlessly. I highly recommend this device.

12 Fab Girlie Valentines Day Gift Ideas & Fashion Finds

The Cubicle Chick — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:00:39 +0000

Valentines Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. I love spending time with my man in a romantical way, and all of the love and coupledom that goes on during Cupid's Time makes me warm and fuzzy. Valentines Day isn't just about the gifts, but it is quite wonderful when your significant other surprises you with a special gift that makes you smile. I've compiled a Cube Closet of 12 Fabulous Girlie Gift Ideas & Fashion Finds that are glamorous, fly, and oh so Chic!

Wearing a lot of red? Break up the monotony with this white nail polish from Essie---great sheen and shine w/ a hint of sparkle. .00, ULTA

MAC Red Lipstick is THE definitive red lip color. Timeless and fab! MAC Cosmetics, .50

This amazingly fly timepiece is from Tissot, and is indeed a head turner! Tissot Couturier Ladies Watch, 5

This red wireless mouse from makes it easy to compute on the go. JetTech, .99

You can't go wrong with an iPod Touch. The white finish ups its fabulousness factor. Apple.com. 9 for 32 GB

Color blocking is the rage these days. Take this red, pink, & beige number from day to evening, Old Navy Women's Color Blocked Charmeuse Dress, .99

I fell in love with this ASUS Ultrabook at CES! Thin, hip, and trendy. (Price unknown, 2nd quarter offering)

China Glaze's Eye Candy 3-D Glitters in Love Marilyn is fun, playful, and Blonde Bombshell approved. China Glaze, .00

This cute Coach wristlet has pink hearts. It had me at hello :), Coach.com, .00

Dare to be different. Instead of an all red shoe, try some polka dots. Good for outside of the bedroom as well as in! HAUTE! Bordello Shoe, .99

Monster's Beats by Dre headphones are a must have when listening to music. Experience music the way the artist intended. BeatsByDre.com. 9 and up

Lip Gloss is a girl's best friend. And with Sephora's Shimmer Harmony Gloss Palette, a little goes a long way. Sephora, .00

I hope these Fabulous and Girlie Valentines Day Gift Ideas & Fashion Finds help you and your Cupid out. I certainly enjoyed putting it together for you! :)

I, The Cubicle Chick, received promotional consideration from some of the items listed in this post. The opinions and descriptions of all items within this article are mine. Stay FAB!

As My Hair Turns: My New Curly Q ‘Do

The Cubicle Chick — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:00:21 +0000

Yes, I change my hair---ALOT. I suppose it's because I tend to get bored really easy with it. I've been long, short, straight, curly, bangs, no bangs, highlights, layers. I've pretty much done it all. My feeling is that life is too short. And I want to live it being as fabulous as I can. I don't want to waste a minute not living it up, and that includes, glamming it up! :) For the last few months, I have been rocking a long straight weave with layers. I thought it was time to shake things up a little by going a little shorter and switching from straight to curly. The hair I used is from ModelModel and is from their Max 5 Collection----it comes in 5 bundles of different lengths to make it easy to put in and style. One bag retails for .99 and will complete a whole head (and yes, if one bag could cover my big head, it does indeed work). Little cutting is needed. I opted for a quick weave because at this time, I am trying to determine if I want to go natural again. It's been several months since I have had a full relaxer, so I am thinking I will continue to get either quick weaves or sew-ins until all of the relaxer grows out. My hair stylist, Carla, is the bomb and I always leave feeling fab after I visit her. The photos below are the results of my new 'do.

Curls, anyone?

Beauty Buzz: 5 New Year Beauty Resolutions w/ Walgreens

The Cubicle Chick — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:00:53 +0000

Thanks to Walgreens for underwriting this post. I was paid as a member of the Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all mine. Visit http://www.discoverbeautywithin.com/ -------------------------- Cubicle Chicks understand that beauty doesn't have to cost a lot of money. In fact, you can be at your most fabulous while spending minimal funds. And while I like to peruse the magazines and look at all of the designer, high market beauty products that are out there, I can't afford most of them. But I don't let that stop me of course, especially when I am always prepping for events and traveling. I have to have my game face on so to speak, so I have to be lights, camera, action, ready! One of my New Year's Resolutions was to pay more attention to the money I spend and budget more wisely. One of the things I dislike the most is spending tons of money on a beauty product only to get it home and find out I don't like it and never use it again. Walgreens has been my go to place for years for quality beauty products at low prices. You don't have to worry about breaking the bank there, and they have quality cosmetics that have been in business for years. Here are my 5 New Year Beauty Resolutions with the Help of Walgreens: 1. Read the labels: A lot of products that are offered at high end stores have the same ingredients as those in Walgreens. Especially when it comes to facial cleaners. You would be amazed when looking at the contents of your favorite high end beauty item and then looking at those that are available in Walgreens. Things like Acai Berry, Vitamin D, Retin-A, and more are also in the lower price brands in Walgreens. So why pay more for the same thing? 2. Colors: If it's a color you are in love with by a high end brand, then finding a like color at Walgreens is a good look. Brands like Revlon, L'Oreal, Maybelline, and Rimmel are all available and Walgreens and have amazing color choices and selections. Color match by taking the more expensive brand and finding a similar color that costs less. More in your pocket! 3. Couponing: Walgreens offers competitive coupons for most of their cosmetic brands located in their store. I love their "Buy 2 get one free" deals, and you can end up saving a lot of cha-ching utilizing Walgreens store coupons for cosmetics and beauty items. 4. Selection, selection, selection + Location: The Walgreens in my neighborhood offers such a wide variety of beauty items and selection, that I almost feel silly going to the mall, fighting over a parking space, to buy the same thing. Many of their stores are open around the clock, so even in the wee hours of the night when the kids are in bed and the hubby is watching the game, you can sneak out and get your shopping on at Walgreens. 5. Return policy: Buyer's remorse? Sometimes with beauty items, it happens. You get the product back to your home only to find out that it's not quite what you thought. Most Walgreens will let you exchange the purchase for something else or refund your money (terms and conditions apply). So buying my beauty items there gives me a piece of mind, because if it's not my cup a tea, I have options! Utilizing these New Year Beauty Resolutions with Walgreens makes it easy for me to stay fly and fabulous and keep a few dollars in my bank account. Do you have any New Year Beauty Resolutions that you want to share? Comment below.

Sin City Fab: Sephora at the Venetian Mini Haul (Photos)

The Cubicle Chick — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:00:59 +0000

You know what they say---all work and no play makes Jane....well, you know the rest. Anywho, I can't be in Las Vegas for CES without doing a little shopping. I enjoy going to the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian, looking at exquisite shops like Herve Leger, Michael Kors and Barney's New York. I also love visiting Sephora at The Venetian. It's massive with a Make Up For Ever mini shop inside, which also boasts a Pro area for MUA's. Each time I visit Sin City, I always make my way to this particular Sephora location. I managed to get a few things that I wanted (and needed) without breaking the bank. I call this a mini haul because I didn't get out of control; but I had a fabulous time shopping and looking at the sites the store had to offer. Below are a few pictures of the Sephora at the Venetian, as well as my mini haul of items:

The front of the fabulous Sephora at The Venetian

The Nail Bar which features Nails Inc, NARS, Dior, & more

3D Nails Inc., London Special Effects nail polish in 'Bloomsbury Square' .50

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Shadow Pencil in 'Delinquent' (my favorite!)

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Shadow Pencil in 'Baracuda'

Tom Ford's Violet Blonde Parfum (received a sample of this last month in my Sephora order and LOVED it!)

My complete mini-haul

I will be leaving Vegas soon....Til we meet again! :)

Seven Gables Inn: A Boutique Hotel Experience in the Heart of St. Louis

The Cubicle Chick — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:00:15 +0000

I adore boutique hotels. Staying in corporate owned properties with all of the amenities is a treat, but for me, finding a neat hideaway hotel that is quaint and hospitable is something that I enjoy staying at. When it came time for us to choose where we would be staying for New Year's Eve, I scoured the net looking for the perfect property. I lucked up on Seven Gables Inn, a fabulous Bed and Breakfast sort of hotel that featured small-town charm and old fashioned glamour. The hotel has fabulous scenery and furnishings, and has an Irish restaurant attached called Molly Darcy's. And while we were tucked away in an older historical building, Seven Gables Inn boasted some of the amenities I have come to love at bigger hotels including valet, wake-up service, homemade (and hot) cookies in the lobby, business center, complimentary breakfast, wake-up calls, and pleasant staff. Below are a few pictures* that I took of Seven Gables Inn, located in Clayton, Missouri. I did not manage to take photos of our room (we messed it up as soon as we arrived) but the room was a nice size with French doors, flat screen TV, and marble counter tops. The only con that we could think of during our whole stay was that there was not an elevator. Our room was on the 3rd floor, and we had to take steps to get to our room. Not that we minded doing so, but for those guests who cannot maneuver steps or have a handicapped, staying on other than the 1st floor could prove difficulty. I would definitely recommend Seven Gables Inn for anyone visiting St. Louis who want a small hotel full of charm.

Front of Seven Gables Inn & Molly Darcy's on Meramec

Seven Gables Inn awning

Seven Gables Inn is on the National Register of Historical Places

Breakfast & Common Area

Sitting area near lobby

Lobby & desk area

Outside courtyard area

One of the staircases (near the business center area)

Sitting area in the lobby

I, The Cubicle Chick, was not paid to write this review, nor given a comp room for blog coverage. We paid for this room out of our own pockets, but wanted to do a write-up for the hotel since we had such a pleasant experience.

*Taken with my Samsung S II smartphone

Christmas ‘Cube Candy Cane’ Nails: OPI Muppets & Cha-Ching Cherry

The Cubicle Chick — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:00:47 +0000

It's Christmastime, so what better way to 'Tis the Season, than with a new manicure that is fresh and fab with the colors of the season? Last year, I went all out with greens, and reds, and whites. This year, for my Christmas mani, I kept it simple, with a French Manicure that is remixed with two of my favorite OPI colors---Cha Ching Red and Excuse Moi (included in the OPI Muppets Collection). Here are a few photos of my holiday manicure. Simple, but also quite fabulous with red and glitter.

OPI's Cha-Ching Cherry was applied to my tips in the form of a French Manicure. Then Excuse Moi was added over Cha-Ching Cherry to create a bright, sparkly look that is perfect for this time of year. A clear coat base was added over top on the full nail for a finish.

What do you think of 'Cube Candy Cane'?

2011 Holiday Gift Guide: Fun & Educational Gifts for Girls

The Cubicle Chick — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:00:54 +0000

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year for the entire family, but we all know that it is especially joyous for the kids. Children love Christmas, especially when they know there are wonderful things awaiting them under the tree. Most of my favorite Christmas memories were when I was a child and got the toys I wanted from Santa. It is the most wonderful time of the year! Now that I am a mother myself, I love giving my 17 year old and 7 year old what they want on their Christmas lists. My 7 year old usually gets many toys which she plays with throughout the year. I like to make sure that the toys she receives are fun and functional, but also educational too. Here are my picks this year for fun and educational gifts for girls: Leapfrog LeapPad Explorer My daughter always wants to use my Motorola Xoom, so when I received a Leapfrog LeapPad Explorer last month to review, she instantly fell in love with it. The LeapPad is a great gift and allows my daughter to learn and play while on the go and it's like she has her own tablet. There are many books and applications that I download for her that feature children's favorites like Dora, Arthur, Disney stars, and many others. The LeapPad Explorer is for ages 4-9 and retails for 9.99 for a bundle that includes the LeapPad, accessories, and games. Cabbage Patch Kid Doll After doing research for my Cabbage Patch Frenzy 1983 post this weekend, my daughter expressed that she too wanted an original Cabbage Patch Kid doll from BabyLand General, the "hospital" in Cleveland, Georgia where the Cabbage Patch Kid dolls were first born and created by Xavier Roberts. And because I was such an avid fan of the dolls when I was a kid, and I wanted my daughter to experience her own bit of history, I purchased her an original Cabbage Patch Kid doll. This is a great gift and is something both you and your kid can treasure and enjoy. The doll below is from the BabyLand Exclusives collection and is .99. If you want to rename the adopted Cabbage Patch Kid doll, there is an additional .00 fee. Hartlyn Kids Books I first became acquainted with these books via Twitter by my follower, Aisha, who is co-owner of the company. Hartlyn Kids books specialize in multicultural stories from all over the globe, and serve as fun and entertaining children, as well as encourages them to read. My daughter received her book a few weeks ago and has read it several times. The books also comes with a sticker-stamp of the country the book is located in, and that sticker can be placed in a Hartlyn Kids Passport, detailing all of the books and countries read. The books are .99 and the Passports are .50. Crayola Twistables Pencils Sketch n' Shade Set My daughter loves to sketch and enjoys using colored pencils. These Crayola Twistables Sketch n' Shade Set comes with colored pencils that you can twist to sharpen as well as a 40-page sketch book. It also comes with a neat traveling case so your artist can make creations wherever they go. This set retails for .99. Lalaloopsy Doll I first fell in love with the Lalaloopsy Doll last year and I am buying my daughter her 2nd one this Christmas. This Lalaloopsy doll is special, though, because it is the first one I have seen that is brown, just like she is. I love buying my daughter dolls that come in different colors and ethnic backgrounds, I am glad that Lalaloopsy celebrates the diversity in us all with their dolls. The Lalaloopsy dolls retail between and .99. Leapfrog Tag and Map The Leapfrog Tag is a fabulous invention. It's a pen-like toy that reads, plays, music, and helps guide your child and help them learn. You can purchase books and maps that utilize the Leapfrog Tag, acting as a tutor. My daughter has a world map that is two sided, and she can use the Leapfrog Tag to learn about the world. She simply touches the country with her Leapfrog Tag and she is given a wealth of information about the country. It's fun time and learning time at the same time! The Leapfrog Tag Map Bundle retails for .99.

Hallmark Interactive Storybook and Story Pal A few weeks ago when we were shopping, my daughter and I were at Hallmark Gold Crown and she saw Jingle the Husky Pup, a cute furry dog that also comes with a book called Jingle All the Way. But not only is this a book, but it's interactive, and Jingle, the stuffed animal responds to certain phrases/words when reading the book. My daughter loves to read with Jingle and she really likes how he responds when she reads to him. The duo retails for .95 at Hallmark Gold Crown Stores. Hearts 4 Hearts Girls As you may notice, I am all about showing my daughter diversity, individuality, and different cultures. My friend, Robyn, went to the Time for Play toy fair in September, and introduced me to Hearts 4 Hearts Girls. They are dolls from different countries and their mission is to help girls become agents for change. For each doll that is purchased, 6.5% of the proceeds go to a charity in the doll's country of origin. The 6 dolls in the collection are: Nahji from India Lilian from Belarus Dell from United States Consuelo from Mexico Rahel from Ethiopia Tipi from Laos The dolls retail for .99 and can be purchased on their website, Hearts4HeartsGirls.com or on Amazon, Target, and more. Robyn is gifting my daughter with Rahel from Ethiopia (seen pictured) for Christmas. Isn't that nice of her? These 8 gift ideas for girls are Cubicle Chick tested and Cubicle Chicklet approved. Fun, educational, and definite memory makers. I, The Cubicle Chick, have not been compensated to review any of the items above. However, since disclosure is a must, I have been given several of these items for my honest evaluation and critique for consideration for my 2011 Holiday Gift Guide.

OPI Muppettes Mini Lacquer Review: Excuse Moi! & Warm & Fozzie

The Cubicle Chick — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:00:08 +0000

I love purchasing OPI's mini lacquers, especially since it gives me the opportunity to try several colors from a collection without spending a fortune buying each color. Last night while shopping, my 7 year old (who loves the Muppets and Disney) begged me to buy her the new OPI Muppettes Mini Lacquers inspired by The Muppets movie being released. I relented quickly when I saw the color offerings, and figured I could buy them so we both could share. Here are the results of her nails, which are covered with Excuse Moi! and Warm & Fozzie: The OPI Muppettes Mini Lacquer comes with the following four colors: Wocka Wocka!, Excuse Moi!, Designer....de Better!, and Warm & Fozzie. It retails for .50. Each bottle is 1/8 fl oz. and can be used for 4-5 uses (using 2 coats each). What do you think about the OPI Muppettes Mini Lacquers?

Cube Review: LUSH’s Fresh Face Cupcake Mask