Geek Pick of the Week — a little shameless, but what can you do?

This week has turned into a whirlwind of…stuff. Mostly stuff I can’t talk about yet, but I hope to soon.  Sorry for all the cryptic non-telling, but it is what it is and I can’t yet reveal it. I promise when I can, I will.  It’s also the last week of summer vacation, so it’s a little weird. I want to just spend this week sitting on my butt enjoying the last days of freedom, but I have a long list of stuff to get done, son is in football, yadda yadda yadda.

Oh, and we started the choir season a little early because we have a lot to do and little time to do it. Which leads me to my Geek pick of the week. If you’re a music geek, that is. The Choral Arts of Southern New Jersey, of which I am a member, has updated their website, and it includes audio from our Spring concert season.

Boy, we’re good. If I say so myself. So I’m linking to the site this week, and you all should go and listen. Especially to “Dark Night of the Soul”, because, well, it’s awesome and it was a hard piece for me to learn, so I’m pretty proud to be a part of it.

Go here: Choral Arts of Southern New Jersey. And then click the “Audio” link.

Enjoy!

Geek Pick of the Week: L’air Bleu

I know, I am falling down on the job big time this week. I will do better next week, I promise. Anyway, this week’s Geek Pick of the week is a little unusual. I am calling L’air Bleu bath and body products my pick, and there’s a story behind it. I met Shari, the owner and formulator of the products, while I was on vacation. She told me her story. From the time she was 15 years old, she’s been involved in Chemistry. Like, really involved. She was in a special program in H.S. where she did Chemistry for four hours a day. Her Senior year she interned at Smith-Kline Beecham, and when she graduated, they HIRED her. At 17. She did a bunch of other things, including running a lab for another big corporation, before deciding she wanted to make her own products and sell them.

And they are awesome! I got a sample pack and tried them out.  They feel and smell great, and use natural ingredients. I tried the clay mask, bath salts, mint foot cream, body silk, sugar scrub, and some products she doesn’t even have on the site yet. All wonderful. For such high-end products they are insanely reasonably priced. Shari tests each and every product to retail standard — even stability testing like the big companies do.  The scents she uses are amazing, and she even does everything in Unscented. Custom orders are welcome, and they make great gifts.

So why is this my Geek Pick? Because Shari makes her products in a lab she has in her house! She is a mad scientist, and what is more Geek than that? So go and try out her stuff, which can be bought at her Etsy shop: L’air Bleu. 

Geek Pick of the Week: Steampunk Emporium

*Christine is on vacation. Any comments left will be replied to upon her triumphant return!*

This week’s Geek Pick of the Week is for the Steampunk Enthusiast who just doesn’t have time, skill, or inclination to sew their own outfit. Five years ago, I would have made my own, but I am now one without time or inclination, though I have skill.

So I direct you this week to the Steampunk Emporium. Wonderful Steampunk clothing at reasonable prices, with most everything coming in a range of sizes from small to 2-3X. I bough a blouse, vest, and skirt here about a year and a half ago, and the quality of the stuff is very high. Everything from base pieces to weaponry to jewelry and “Brassy Bits”, this is one of the go-to places for the beginner Steampunker, and even the more involved one who wants a new accessory, like The Annihiliator Mark II.

Pretty quick shipping and good customer service make this an all-around great shop.

Geek Pick of the Week: Corset Story

I don’t know exactly how geeky this is, but as they have Steampunk stuff, and their prices are INSANELY reasonable for a steel boned corset, this is my Pick of the Week.

Corset Story.  A place for all your body shaping needs, without breaking your wallet. I mean, $120 for a corset?? Nuts. And right now they are having a buy one get one FREE sale on certain styles. AND they have plus sized corsets, which is near and dear to my heart. I haven’t yet ordered one, but it’s in the offing. I am giving serious thought to the one at the left. I have an Elizabethan corset that I had made for my wedding, but it’s plain muslin, and it chafes something terrible. No fun at all.

If anyone’s bought from them, leave me a comment about your experience?