Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Just Fab is getting Boot-tastic! And BOGO
Join Just Fab to take advantage of the awesome boots that they have on sale! PLUS they have a buy one get one free sale going on! Woot!
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Monday, July 15, 2013
Pristine and Clean with Blissmo and Haven, CleanWell, method, and If You Care reviews
When it comes to cleaning products, there's an unfortunate number of them that scare the bejeesus outta me. So much harsh, toxic, skin/earth/water/plant/animal/baby harming stuff is sadly the norm under the typical American sink. Remember Mr Yuck?
Cause if you weren't careful, it would KILL you. That's pretty scary! It thrills me that there's so many companies out there now that realize that you can make a green, sustainable cleaning product that is still effective.
Blissmo offers you on average 3 different box themes to choose from each month, along with the option to skip a month, which is incredibly easy and convenient to do. (I skipped this month and it took all of 3 seconds. )
You get an email that looks something like this
This is a picture of what the select your box email looks like. They don't tell you what's in the box but give you a basic theme idea. They send the emails out and then give you about a week to decide.
This is a look at the Pristine & Clean themed box, which had some excellent products that were a joy to use.
Household gloves by If You Care are a great mix of the practical with the ethical. Unbelievably sturdy with a great fit. The cotton lining keeps them from making your hands get too hot and sweaty, and they last forever. A year later and I'm still using this pair. I have a few pairs so that there's one for gross stuff, one for basic cleaning, one for doing crafts..... Even my husband is a fan of these.
Clean Well Disinfectant Spray- I love the travel sized cans of this stuff. I like to keep one in my purse for all the nasty, disgusting stuff out there. Nothing makes road trip potty breaks seem less horrifying than knowing you've got this stuff on your side! Doorknobs, phones, toilet seats, public computers..... I don't like to use chemical antibacterials because they lower your body's immunity while also being just kinda scary and creating superbugs. This works using botanicals that are gentle enough to be used as a hand sanitizer! No rinsing or wiping necessary, even when used on cooking surfaces! I like to give the kitty boxes a good spray with this because it disinfects and kills odors without overwhelming their little noses or exposing them to harsh chemicals.
I'd have to say that the honors for my favorite stuff in the box had to be the inclusions from Haven.
Crafted by hand in Brooklyn, HAVEN's small batch, botanical home care products brighten chores with the nontoxic power of raw, straight-from-nature ingredients and incredibly fresh organic scents.
Haven's all natural products are not only handmade in small batches, ensuring the highest attention to detail and quality, but they also WORK. The Lavender Linen & Air spray is a delight. Fresh, clean, relaxing, cooling, calming..... I give a few sprays of this almost every night onto the sheets before bed. It seems to really purify the air, freshen the sheets and puts me into the perfectly relaxed zone I need to go night nite.
The All Purpose Cleaner in lemon mint is delightful. Finally a cleaner that doesn't make me sneeze or get all stopped up or burn my nose and eyes! It has such an invigorating, happy scent that it makes cleaning actually not unpleasant! Our kitchen sink is porcelain with metal fixtures, and I had gotten used to having to use 2 different cleaners on it to get good results. Not now! This stuff makes the porcelain squeaky clean but also gets the metal all sparkly without spots or streaks. Also got fish smell out of my countertop tiles after I dumped a can of tuna juice onto the counter.....
What's extra cool about these is that what you have in the bottle is just the concentrate- you add your own water once you're ready to start using it. If you look at most cleaning products, the first ingredient is water. By sending it sans H2O, the carbon footprint is greatly decreased. Think about the added shipping requirements as far as with the extra weight.... Every little bit counts!!
Was a $36.25 value, so a 45% savings with the box.
Cause if you weren't careful, it would KILL you. That's pretty scary! It thrills me that there's so many companies out there now that realize that you can make a green, sustainable cleaning product that is still effective.
Blissmo offers you on average 3 different box themes to choose from each month, along with the option to skip a month, which is incredibly easy and convenient to do. (I skipped this month and it took all of 3 seconds. )
You get an email that looks something like this
This is a look at the Pristine & Clean themed box, which had some excellent products that were a joy to use.
Household gloves by If You Care are a great mix of the practical with the ethical. Unbelievably sturdy with a great fit. The cotton lining keeps them from making your hands get too hot and sweaty, and they last forever. A year later and I'm still using this pair. I have a few pairs so that there's one for gross stuff, one for basic cleaning, one for doing crafts..... Even my husband is a fan of these.
Clean Well Disinfectant Spray- I love the travel sized cans of this stuff. I like to keep one in my purse for all the nasty, disgusting stuff out there. Nothing makes road trip potty breaks seem less horrifying than knowing you've got this stuff on your side! Doorknobs, phones, toilet seats, public computers..... I don't like to use chemical antibacterials because they lower your body's immunity while also being just kinda scary and creating superbugs. This works using botanicals that are gentle enough to be used as a hand sanitizer! No rinsing or wiping necessary, even when used on cooking surfaces! I like to give the kitty boxes a good spray with this because it disinfects and kills odors without overwhelming their little noses or exposing them to harsh chemicals.- Cleans, Disinfects, and Deodorizes, Kills 99.99% of germs botanically.
- Antibacterial and Antiviral- Fresh lemon citrus scent.
- Great for high chairs, children's toys, cell phones, fitness gyms, changing tables, toilets, counters, and much more!
- Active ingredient Thymol is all natural thyme oil, categorized as least toxic disinfectant product by EPA.
I'd have to say that the honors for my favorite stuff in the box had to be the inclusions from Haven.
Crafted by hand in Brooklyn, HAVEN's small batch, botanical home care products brighten chores with the nontoxic power of raw, straight-from-nature ingredients and incredibly fresh organic scents.
What's extra cool about these is that what you have in the bottle is just the concentrate- you add your own water once you're ready to start using it. If you look at most cleaning products, the first ingredient is water. By sending it sans H2O, the carbon footprint is greatly decreased. Think about the added shipping requirements as far as with the extra weight.... Every little bit counts!!
Was a $36.25 value, so a 45% savings with the box.
Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Purifying Toner - and some awesome GWP and upgrades
I love my toner, that much is for sure, and I'd have to say that this is one of my all time favorites. More than just something to close your pores, this stuff is a treatment in and of itself, which when used in conjunction with a skincare routine, yields lovely results. The results are immediately apparent from the first use. You clean any residue from your skin but instead of feeling tight, it feels dewy and soft. My moisturizer seems to be more effective after this, particularly lighter moisturizers. It's essentially prepping your skin to get more bang for your buck.. After about a month of twice daily use after cleansing, my skin felt calmer, smoother, softer. Highly recommended.
Our uniquely effective toner is a two phase system. In Phase One, botanicals gently cleanse and purify the skin while removing excess residue. In Phase Two, our Ceramide 3 formula soothes and calms your skin and leaves it feeling refreshed and soft. This toner partners beautifully with Ceramide Purifying Cream Cleanser.
You can actually combine all THREE of these and get a TON of freebies!
FREE Visible Difference Deluxe Travel Serum + Free Shipping with ANY Order! Enter Code HEALTHYSKIN3 at checkout! (Offer is Combinable with BEAUTYSTASH, Enojy!)
14-Piece Gift with ANY Purchase Over $79! Plus Free Shipping. Enter Code BEAUTYSTASH at checkout.
11-Pc Fun-on-the-Run Tote filled with Makeup, Skin Care & More! (Includes 9 Summer essentials plus two bags!), Just $26.50 ANY order (A $122 Value!). *Combines with ANY promo code. 
Our uniquely effective toner is a two phase system. In Phase One, botanicals gently cleanse and purify the skin while removing excess residue. In Phase Two, our Ceramide 3 formula soothes and calms your skin and leaves it feeling refreshed and soft. This toner partners beautifully with Ceramide Purifying Cream Cleanser.- Suitable for all skin types.
- Fragrance-free.
You can actually combine all THREE of these and get a TON of freebies!
FREE Visible Difference Deluxe Travel Serum + Free Shipping with ANY Order! Enter Code HEALTHYSKIN3 at checkout! (Offer is Combinable with BEAUTYSTASH, Enojy!)
14-Piece Gift with ANY Purchase Over $79! Plus Free Shipping. Enter Code BEAUTYSTASH at checkout.
11-Pc Fun-on-the-Run Tote filled with Makeup, Skin Care & More! (Includes 9 Summer essentials plus two bags!), Just $26.50 ANY order (A $122 Value!). *Combines with ANY promo code.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Giveaway- Win a CASE of Beanitos
Fancy
a Rafflecopter giveaway
So I am officially CRAZY about Beanitos. I have blogged about them not once, but TWICE now.
Beanitos are my current obsession. I've been preaching the gospel of Beanitos to anyone who will listen. BEST NACHOS EVER. No joke, I actually made some nachos for breakfast this morning (I'm sick! Don't judge me!) using an extra sharp cheddar on top of their Better Cheddar pinto bean chips with a dollop of organic fat free sour cream and a smattering of the world's best hot sauce, Cholula. Made me forget the fluid in my lungs for a few minutes.......
So I am officially CRAZY about Beanitos. I have blogged about them not once, but TWICE now.
Beanitos are my current obsession. I've been preaching the gospel of Beanitos to anyone who will listen. BEST NACHOS EVER. No joke, I actually made some nachos for breakfast this morning (I'm sick! Don't judge me!) using an extra sharp cheddar on top of their Better Cheddar pinto bean chips with a dollop of organic fat free sour cream and a smattering of the world's best hot sauce, Cholula. Made me forget the fluid in my lungs for a few minutes.......
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| Please note: I could eat my cat if you put Cholula on her. |
I am now officially addicted to these. "Beanitos are an honestly delicious snack made from super nutritious beans that have fiber and protein grown right in them. They’re real food, full of crunchy flavor, free of preservatives, and made with only natural non-GMO ingredients."
I love that these are so full of fiber and protein instead of being an empty calorie snack. This is what they mean when something is called snack FOOD. This is real food with actual nutrition and health value that fills you up and contributes something to your nutritional intake. The texture is really cool, they have a really cool mouthfeel that lets you know that you're eating something substantial. They make the best nachos ever, too. It tastes like you have beans on your nachos! I've eaten the black bean with sea salt and the restaurant style white bean with sea salt, but they have numerous other flavors as well. The Better Cheddar pinto bean might be one of the best things to ever touch my mouth. And WOOT! They now sell them at my local grocery store! (though I did add a link to where you can get them from Amazon Grocery if your local store doesn't carry them.) If you like to eat healthy but also get the crunch monster cravings, these are fantastical. All about Beanitos
I love that these are so full of fiber and protein instead of being an empty calorie snack. This is what they mean when something is called snack FOOD. This is real food with actual nutrition and health value that fills you up and contributes something to your nutritional intake. The texture is really cool, they have a really cool mouthfeel that lets you know that you're eating something substantial. They make the best nachos ever, too. It tastes like you have beans on your nachos! I've eaten the black bean with sea salt and the restaurant style white bean with sea salt, but they have numerous other flavors as well. The Better Cheddar pinto bean might be one of the best things to ever touch my mouth. And WOOT! They now sell them at my local grocery store! (though I did add a link to where you can get them from Amazon Grocery if your local store doesn't carry them.) If you like to eat healthy but also get the crunch monster cravings, these are fantastical. All about Beanitos
Monday, July 8, 2013
Amping up for Summer
Jergens Natural Glow Healthy Complexion Daily Facial Moisturizer, Body Moisturizer
I tried these in the fair/medium as I'm an albino, despite the protests of my husband. He prefers me au naturel, freckles and all. I explained to him that it was all in the name of research and it was my duty to inform my readers of my experience with various products, good, bad, or indifferent. Both the facial moisturizer and the body lotion were soft, creamy, and absorbed rapidly. After about a week of use, I noticed a bit of a sunkissed look to my skin- not a tan, mind you- simply a glow. Trust me, no one wants to see me with a tan- it'd be downright freaky, but a glow was quite lovely! If you're looking for something to make a noticeable COLOR difference to your skin, you'll certainly need one of the darker shades, but for the palefaces who prefer to remain that way, this is a nice way to look like you've left your cave for a few minutes, anyway!
Noteworthy For Target Raspberry Delight Foot Scrub
One of the most important things for the summer is to make the feet NOT look like they belong on a shoeless hobo. I normally quite like the Noteworthy stuff in Target's Dollar Spot, but this is the most useless foot "scrub" I've ever used. I think I'd get more scrubbing by using a washcloth. When something costs a dollar and I tell you not to waste your money, well, that's really saying something.
Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Energy Body Lotion- Orange Ginger
Gurrrgggrlleee .......That's the sound of me drooling in bliss. Sometimes B&BW stuff is simply WAY too perfumey, but the Aromatherapy line they got just right. In the summertime it seems like everyone stays up and out later, and nothing kicks my heinie into high gear like slathering this cup of coffee in a bottle all over my body. the scent stays with you subtly throughout the day, but not in an overwhelming way- I can still wear perfume provided it doesn't clash with an earthy citrus. This is hands down one of the best things I've ever experienced from Bath & Body Works. Creamy but not so thick that it doesn't absorb, and it leaves your skin incredibly soft. I LOVE the glass pump bottle and it's old school apothecary feel, just be careful if you have tile floors like I do!
Mary Kay Revitalizing Mask #2 is an old favorite that I always keep a tube of around. It's for oily/combination skin and I mainly use it in the summer months when my skin tends to veer into oily territory. It's a clay base with little to no scent, so you don't mind sitting there with it on your face for a bit. I generally leave it on until it dries completely (20 minutes or so) then use a washcloth to remove. It also acts as an exfoliator, so when you wet it, give your skin a few gentle swirls before rinsing away. I recommend not scrubbing too hard though, as it's fairly large granules that could damage sensitive skin if you get too enthusiastic. A great 2 in 1 product, and you can't beat the price!
Update 7/8/13: it appears that Suave no longer makes this stuff. I guess if it aint argan oil, people don't want it. Phhhhbbbt. I was going to buy some for my summer hair......
Suave Chamomile Hot Oil Treatment really brings my hair back from the dead after a day of swimming. Chlorine is the least of my worries- usually I'm swimming in some nasty creek or lake and on top of that, in Dallas in the summertime we have ozone alerts almost daily which means the pollution is just saturating my hair as it's being baked in the Texas sun. My poor hair! This stuff though makes my hair feel all shiny and new. It's also great for smoothing out split ends. Cheaper than VO5 and works much better! Supposedly the chamomile helps remove buildup and I'd say it seems to do the trick. And again, it's a cheap thrill! Available for about 2 bucks at your local drugstore. (Check the box first though, these are a constant target of shoplifters because the boxes aren't shrink wrapped.) And FYI- while Suave used to test on animals, a query to the company verified that they DO NOT test on animals any longer. Good to know that Unilever got on board!
Lush- Ooh La La is a deep purple soap that makes shockingly bright lather! This was a big hit with my niece, she just kept giggling and giggling and playing with it like tub paint. After a long hot day, nothing chillaxes me like a nice cool shower with this lavender scented soap. If you love lavender scent you'll love this- if not- stay away. It's a strong scent that lingers on the skin. Perfect for me as lavender helps me to relax. Caveat Emptor- keep it on a soap dish or rack that drains and keeps it exposed to the air or else it will be Ooh La Gone.
I tried these in the fair/medium as I'm an albino, despite the protests of my husband. He prefers me au naturel, freckles and all. I explained to him that it was all in the name of research and it was my duty to inform my readers of my experience with various products, good, bad, or indifferent. Both the facial moisturizer and the body lotion were soft, creamy, and absorbed rapidly. After about a week of use, I noticed a bit of a sunkissed look to my skin- not a tan, mind you- simply a glow. Trust me, no one wants to see me with a tan- it'd be downright freaky, but a glow was quite lovely! If you're looking for something to make a noticeable COLOR difference to your skin, you'll certainly need one of the darker shades, but for the palefaces who prefer to remain that way, this is a nice way to look like you've left your cave for a few minutes, anyway!
Noteworthy For Target Raspberry Delight Foot Scrub
One of the most important things for the summer is to make the feet NOT look like they belong on a shoeless hobo. I normally quite like the Noteworthy stuff in Target's Dollar Spot, but this is the most useless foot "scrub" I've ever used. I think I'd get more scrubbing by using a washcloth. When something costs a dollar and I tell you not to waste your money, well, that's really saying something.
Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Energy Body Lotion- Orange Ginger
Mary Kay Revitalizing Mask #2 is an old favorite that I always keep a tube of around. It's for oily/combination skin and I mainly use it in the summer months when my skin tends to veer into oily territory. It's a clay base with little to no scent, so you don't mind sitting there with it on your face for a bit. I generally leave it on until it dries completely (20 minutes or so) then use a washcloth to remove. It also acts as an exfoliator, so when you wet it, give your skin a few gentle swirls before rinsing away. I recommend not scrubbing too hard though, as it's fairly large granules that could damage sensitive skin if you get too enthusiastic. A great 2 in 1 product, and you can't beat the price!
Update 7/8/13: it appears that Suave no longer makes this stuff. I guess if it aint argan oil, people don't want it. Phhhhbbbt. I was going to buy some for my summer hair......
Suave Chamomile Hot Oil Treatment really brings my hair back from the dead after a day of swimming. Chlorine is the least of my worries- usually I'm swimming in some nasty creek or lake and on top of that, in Dallas in the summertime we have ozone alerts almost daily which means the pollution is just saturating my hair as it's being baked in the Texas sun. My poor hair! This stuff though makes my hair feel all shiny and new. It's also great for smoothing out split ends. Cheaper than VO5 and works much better! Supposedly the chamomile helps remove buildup and I'd say it seems to do the trick. And again, it's a cheap thrill! Available for about 2 bucks at your local drugstore. (Check the box first though, these are a constant target of shoplifters because the boxes aren't shrink wrapped.) And FYI- while Suave used to test on animals, a query to the company verified that they DO NOT test on animals any longer. Good to know that Unilever got on board!
Online vintage jewelry!
I was really surprised to find these guys! They have a constantly rotating stock of vintage jewelry that comes generally from estate sales. The prices are a LOT cheaper than getting them at vintage shops and because they're a nationwide company they have access to stuff from everywhere.I really want to get this belt buckle for my hubby for $19 (saw one in a hipster vintage shop for almost $40!).
They also have new jewelry- again at really good prices.
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| This diamond and white gold pendant is only $180! |
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| I'm crazy about this $17 ring- my birthstone too! |
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