CSN Stores: Review of IMAX Mini 6-Piece Vase Set

First of all, let me wish you all a happy St. Patrick's Day! And you know what March 17th also means...

It's almost spring!

And just in time for this new season, I have a fun review for you. Today I'm reviewing the IMAX Mini Six Piece Vase Set from CSN Stores! I've taken so many pictures of these vases that this review just begs to be told through those pictures! So I'll share some of them with you along with my comments, and at the end I'll wrap up my thoughts more succinctly. ;)

Review in Pictures:

Just like the beautiful pair of black heels I reviewed for CSN Stores several months ago, the set of vases arrived very well-packaged! They came in a huge box, and inside that box was this littler one and lots and lots of bubble wrap! ;) Thinking back on it, I'm reminded of a line from The Emperor's New Groove: "I'll put that flea in a box, and I'll put that box inside of another box..."

Once I got the box with the vases inside opened, I took pictures of my hand holding each one individually--so here's a closer look at one of the vases. Very earthy-looking and stylish, wouldn't you say? (And I doubt you can see, but that's me in the mirror!)

Here's what the whole set looks like fresh out of the box. Aren't they all lovely? There is a nice variety in color and shape, and they're definitely very classy!

Remember all that bubble wrap I mentioned earlier? Well I just had to add that not only did I get a great set of vases, but I got some fun memory-making material to boot! ;) I saw the potential early on, but after the first jump I was scared I would disturb others in the dorm with the loud noise. My roommate and I later decided to just go for it and had an awesome time popping tons of bubble wrap. ;)

Now, back to the vases! This was from the first "try-out." My roomie got some lovely flowers from her boyfriend and we set up a photo shoot with the vases and flowers. ;) Very artsy, I'd say! The vases don't hold too many flowers, but they beautifully showcase the ones that they can hold.

My sweet roomie let me keep one of the flowers to grace my desk for a while! (I feel like this photo would make a great "look and find" picture: How many flowers do you see? What time is it on the clock? What books was I planning to read? Does anyone else think that vase looks like a cute Easter egg?)

The second "try-out"/photo shoot was with fake flowers that I bought at Walmart. We have a few of the vases around the room right now with some fake flowers, which is great because they don't die! ;) Doesn't the one pictured above go great for St. Patrick's Day? And my roomie is using one of the vases to hold some real daffodils right now, as well.

Overall Thoughts:

I was very pleased by how well-packaged the vases were--there was pretty much no way they could have been damaged en route to my school. Each of the vases is lovely, and I enjoy their uniqueness and their elegance. The colors are soft and varied to match different flowers and different settings at different times, which means there are plenty of options for how and when to use them!

Whether they're used to hold fake flowers or real flowers, these vases can add a touch of class to any room. Because of their small sizes, they don't hold too many flowers, but they're more artistic rather than functional pieces. Add a handful of flowers to any of them and you can brighten a desk, a windowsill, or any small place that needs a ray of sunshine.

(With thanks to CSN Stores for providing me with a $30 gift code in order to purchase and review a product for their company. This review is my honest opinion.)

CSN Stores: Another Review to Come!

I have had the pleasure of working with CSN Stores in the past to promote their site here on my blog, through doing a review and through doing a giveaway. CSN Stores sells a variety of products on their website, and I was quite happy with my shopping experience when I got to review a pair of heels!

The time has come when I get to do another review for CSN Stores, so I've been scouring their site looking for just the right product to enjoy and post about. I think I've finally decided on something: a pretty set of 6 mini vases! I'm hoping this will bring a touch of spring into my dorm room.

So be on the lookout for a future review of some pretty vases!

Winner!

Congratulations to Hannah (Project Journal)--you are the winner of the $35 CSN Stores gift code!!!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to let me know what gifts you're giving to others this year. It was so fun to hear from you! May you all have a merry Christmas!

And thank you to Kate from CSN Stores for allowing me to do this giveaway and providing the gift code for the winner!

(The picture is of my grandparents' Christmas tree last year. I have yet to see it this year, but hopefully soon! I'm sure it's beautiful!)

An Early Christmas Gift from CSN Stores!

Yes, this Christmas gift is for you, my readers! CSN Stores is offering a $35 gift code (to use on any of their sites) to one lucky winner from this blog!


The CSN Stores websites have everything from TV stands for flat screens to those adorable black high heels I reviewed back in November (click HERE to read my review!). There are plenty of products to choose from, and you can have lots of fun shopping without having to leave your home. ;)

This giveaway is open to my U.S. and Canadian readers!

Here are the other rules for the giveaway:

• Leave a comment sharing what one of your favorite gifts you're giving this year is. If you're afraid the person you're giving the gift to might read this post, then feel free to leave a comment sharing about a gift you loved giving in the past.
  

• Please remember to leave your e-mail address in the comment.

• You can gain one extra entry for being a follower of this blog.

• The drawing ends Sunday, December 19th at 9:00 p.m (PST), and a winner will be announced on Monday, December 20th.
  

As for me, I'm not sure which of my family members and friends might stop by and glance at this post, so I want to be careful not to give any surprises away! But let's just say that I'm excited because I have a few little Texas souvenirs (from my trip over Thanksgiving break) to distribute when I get home before Christmas even arrives... ;)

As a side note, I had been thinking about saving this for my 250th post, but I was rather eager to launch this giveaway. Maybe my 250th post can be my celebratory "I'm-done-with-finals" and "I'll-be-home-for-Christmas" post... (Definitely looking forward to that!)

Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season so far, and merry (almost) Christmas!

(The picture above is of my grandparents' Christmas tree last year. So festive!)

CSN Stores: Review of "Dyeables Bonnie in Black" Heels

Several weeks ago I was contacted by Kate from CSN Stores and given the opportunity to review one of the CSN Stores' many products on my blog! I chose to review a pair of black heels from Shoes Got Sole (a division of the CSN Stores company) called "Dyeables Bonnie in Black." Here are my thoughts (with pictures):

It was with great excitement that I brought the package up to my dorm room, eager to see in person those lovely-looking shoes from the website. The picture at left shows the package sitting on my bed, waiting patiently for me to tear it open! ;)

The following pictures show each step of my process in opening the package:

Inside the package was this shoe box, just like one I'd find at an actual shoe store. The name of the brand "Dyeables" is on the top of the lid.

Nicely wrapped. Very professional!

Nothing was going to happen to these shoes on their way to me. Look how well-packaged they are!

And now for the grand-unveiling...

Ta-da! Aren't they beautiful? It was very fun taking the heels out of the box and admiring them. Then, of course, I had to model them!

Please don't mind the jeans--I simply modeled them right on the spot, jeans and all! ;)

Needless to say, I fell in love. These shoes are very cute, and very stylish! The online store had them in 1/2 sizes, so I was able to get size 7.5, which fit me just right. These particular shoes came with free shipping, which was great, and it didn't take too long for them to arrive at my school. I was pleased with the overall quality--of the packaging, the service, and the shoes themselves.

And I was very happy to get these shoes in time to wear them to a "Mocktail" party in honor of my RA's birthday! I wore a black dress to go along with these black heels, and I had a wonderful time dressing up, drinking non-alcoholic mixed beverages, eating chocolate-dipped pretzels and cake balls, and dancing to fancy music. Here's a picture of my roommate and me at the party in our dorm's second-floor lobby (I'm on the right):

I love these shoes, and I look forward to wearing them again soon!

(With thanks to CSN Stores for providing me with a $35 gift code in order to purchase and review a product for their company. This review is my honest opinion.)

CSN Stores: Review to Come!

I recently received an e-mail from Kate with CSN Stores, and I'm excited to say that I'm going to be reviewing one of their many products here on my blog! They have a lot to offer, anything from an end table to a bookcase (like the one Renee over at Black 'n Gold Girl's Bookspot reviewed for CSN back in July).

Now, I confess I already made up my mind what I think I'd like to review. And since most of my readers are women (and the men can use the review as a possible gift idea for the women in their lives!), I think a review of a pair of adorable heels is in order! ;)

So be on the lookout for my possible "shoe review" to come! (Aren't I a wonderful poet?)