Asus Compu X551MA 15.6” Laptop

 

I bought this laptop in August 2014, after my 17” Toshiba ended up blacking out and never coming back on. Had I known it was going to surrender and die, I would’ve saved up more money. As a freelancer who essentially SPENDS my days on my computer, I should’ve had more money to splurge on something I desperately needed. But, as a mom- I had school clothes, backpacks, and supplies that had to come first.

  

So I went to Best Buy and was looking at the highest quality computers for less. I had owned an Asus previously and although I wasn’t THRILLED, it did it’s job and was light on the pockets. It ended up tearing up after my son (who was 3 at the time) slammed the lid when I was taking my daughter to the bathroom. The hard drive ejected from the computer, but I ended up getting the ASUS X551MAC 15.6" Laptop anyway.

Tech Specs:  Intel Celeron - 4GB Memory - 500GB Hard Drive – Black.

I was excited to get home and get this bad boy running. After almost a week working straight from my smartphone, I was definitely ready to have a computer again. I wish I had saved up my money and gotten something else though. This has a very cheap look and feel to it. Feels almost like hardened plastic, which I’m sure couldn’t withstand an accidental drop.

If you are looking for something basic, it would be good. Like someone who only needs it to check email, write assignments, or play simple games. It would make a good first laptop for kids or teens who want it to learn as a cheap learning tool. This would also be a great choice for a student starting college, but not for me.

I use mine for working. So I am almost always downloading documents, PDFs, and pictures. I end up saving them to a Flash Drives, just because I am weary of computers. Like I said my last one blacked out WHILE I was working on a post. I had all my scheduled posts that I’d written, pictures, and My Microsoft Office. I lost it all.

I don’t like that in just a short amount of time it is already starting to hesitate when I download stuff, even though the main stuff ISN’T saved on the hard drive, just passing through. I even go through every other week and defragment and still it’s weird.

If you’re looking for a gaming computer, I wouldn’t get this one. It can’t handle games, especially role playing or simulation games. Online gaming is fine, I play games on Facebook while taking a breather from writing. They aren’t a type of game that needs to be downloaded or read from a CD though.

It’s games like Detective Case File & Family Feud. As well as task games like ‘My Cafe”, “Designer Diner” and stuff like that. The computer works fine graphically, that’s not the problem. It the speed that is an issue. When you work from home like I do or play role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons ( I don’t play, just using this as an example) speed DOES matters.

I don’t want to sit around waiting for long periods of time for something to download. Time is money for me, and I don’t like wasting it on something irrelevant. I’m just trying to get my work done with all pictures and videos responding quickly.

Width
15 inches

Depth
9.9 inches

Weight
4.7 pounds

 

Screen Size (Measured Diagonally)
15.6"
Size of the screen, in inches, measured diagonally from corner to corner.

Processor Brand
Intel®

Processor
Intel® Celeron®
(Also known as the CPU). The part of the computer that interprets and executes instructions. Think of it as the brain of the computer.

Processor Speed
2.16GHz (with Intel® Burst up to 2.41GHz)
How fast a computer processor carries out instructions. In general, faster is better, but processor speeds across brands may not be equivalent (i.e., a 3.0GHz AMD processor may not be the same speed as a 3.0GHz Intel processor).

**My Thoughts:

I am disappointed because the processor seems to get slower with each passing day. I even make sure to transfer all my pictures and documents to a USB flash drive or an SD Card after I’m done with them. I wanted to save as much memory as I could but it’s laggy and crashes a lot.

Battery Life
Not available

Battery Type
3-cell Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) 2600 mAh

**My Thoughts:

The battery life of this isn’t too thrilling. Although I mostly work from home and have the charger right beside me, I wouldn’t really want to take this traveling. The battery-life is exceptionally bad. It only lasts about 2 hours before dying, which isn’t good if I had to go to an event and work straight from there.

Display Type
HD
Technology used to display text and images on the screen. Computer monitors, notebook computers, mobile DVD players and other devices typically use LCD (flat-panel liquid crystal displays) screens.

Cache Memory
1MB on die Level 2
A small segment of memory that stores frequently used information for fast access by the processor, improving response time.

System Memory (RAM)
4GB
The memory a computer uses to run its operating system, applications and active data files. Greater amounts of RAM improve speed and enable more applications to run at once.

System Memory (RAM) Expandable To
Nonexpandable
Maximum amount of memory a computer can support (as opposed to the amount that comes preinstalled).

Type of Memory (RAM)
DDR3

Computer Hard Drive Size
500GB
Capacity for storing programs, photos, video, music and other electronic information. Hard drive capacities range from a few gigabytes to several hundred.

Optical Drive
DVD±RW/CD-RW

Optical Drive Speeds
Drive speeds not specified
Fastest speeds at which the drive can write, rewrite and read data.

Direct-Disc Labeling
No

Digital Media Reader or Slots
Yes, digital media card reader

Graphics
Intel® HD
Type of graphics (video) adapter (usually built into the motherboard), identified by manufacturer and model.

DVD Drive/Video

If you are new to Windows 8.1, I would steer VERY clear from it. You can’t use the Disc insert to watch DVDs at all. The Media player has no playback which causes it to NOT play videos, which bites the big one. I tried to find one in the Windows store, but still had absolutely no luck at all. All they did was open the DVD to show me the chapters within it, the DVD still wouldn’t play video.

Even if the DVDs would play, I probably wouldn’t be able to hear the movie. The fan is crazy loud when reading. Even when I insert CD’s for software it sounds like a jet might be landing somewhere near. Pretty crazy if you ask me.

It has an even bigger problem than that. You can’t watch Netflix videos by plugging the computer up to your TV via an HDMI cable. An error message pops up saying there is a problem with the resolution.

You can however watch shows on the computer without a problem. I watch Youtube videos, Hulu, and Netflix on the laptop without a problem. I just don’t like that I can’t hook it up via HDMI to my TV and share Netflix or Hulu with my family. I usually bring my laptop to the doctor office so my kids can watch cartoons (via DVD) while we wait. Now we can’t. :(

TV Tuner
No
Enables reception of TV programs.

MPEG
Yes
A group of digital video formats created by the Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) to compress high-quality video into file sizes small enough to be transmitted over the Internet.

Built-in Webcam
Yes

Modem
None
Device that allows a computer to send and receive information over telephone or cable lines.

Networking
Built-in 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)
Ability to connect to other devices on a network using Ethernet, Wi-Fi (wireless; 802.11), Bluetooth, etc.

Wireless Networking
Wireless-N

My thoughts: Wifi & Networking

I was impressed with how easily this connected to my home wifi, but it didn’t last long. I don’t know why but even now it will randomly kick me off my wireless internet. I spend hours and hours searching on my Samsung Galaxy S4 trying to figure out why it my wi-fi kept saying “limited connection.”

I would be working on something and then suddenly the yellow triangle would appear above my wi-fi button in the bottom corner of my screen. I tried to trouble shoot it and it kept saying “problems with wireless adapter”. I re-hauled the entire computer at least 4 times thinking it might’ve been a software I’d downloaded counter-reacting to the firewall of the internet.

Nope. it isn’t. It’s the dang Windows 8.1. Although I think the interfacing looks cool- it has made me so mad at times that if it were a person I’d probably smack it in the head. It has frustrated me more times than I care to admit. It’s actually doing it right now. I can’t connect to the internet. So it’s another long night of working from my phone and writing what I need in Word until the internet magically comes back on.

Bluetooth-Enabled
No

S-Video Outputs
None
Connections that deliver separate color and black-and-white video signals through a single cable. S-video connections provide better picture quality than RF and composite video connections but not as good as component video, DVI and HDMI connections.

Audio
SonicMaster technology; AudioWizard

Speakers
Internal

PCMCIA Slots
None
Slots in notebook computers that accept credit-card-size upgrade cards. Type I is used mostly for memory, Type II for modem, fax and network cards, and Type III for hard drives.

HDMI Output
Yes

USB 2.0 Ports
1 USB 3.0; 1 USB 2.0
Ports that allow high-speed (up to 480 Mbps) data transfer between compatible devices.

My thoughts: USB ports/HDMI

This really surprised me because it only has 2 USB ports. Most computers have at least 3, so this is limited in what you can hook up to it. It isn’t a problem for most, because you can buy hub inserts, but the quality of the ports is what gets me. I’m not even sure they were added correctly because half the time when I connect my Samsung Galaxy S4, it shows it as a CD. I have to keep inserting it until it shows up as the Galaxy.

Even then the connection to the port is iffy. It took me a long while just to download my pictures to the computer because the connection kept going in and out for no reason. I tried to connect my Nokia Lumia Icon and it doesn’t even show that it’s connected. All it does is charge it, so there’s no way for me to get those pictures off except maybe email them to myself or bluetooth them to my Galaxy. Problematic is what it is.

Plus the fact that they are already going out. It’s like the USB port plugs inside the computer are loosening up or something. Nothing will connect right. I try to insert something and I basically have to hold it in and now that doesn’t even seem to be working.

Even if they weren’t going out, the USB ports are too close together. There is no way that I can run two cords or two ANYTHING side by side. They interact with each other. I had a KINIVO Dual Band Wireless N USB Adapter hooked up, yet couldn’t get my very small flash drive inside the second port. So really you only have one, and even that one doesn’t connect right most of the time.

IEEE 1394 FireWire Ports
None
(Also known as FireWire, Apple Computer's trademarked name for IEEE 1394.) High-speed connection that supports data transfer rates of up to 400 Mbps or 800 Mbps (depending on port version).

Parallel Ports
None
Older and relatively slower interface most commonly used to connect a PC to a printer.

Game Ports
None
Jacks for connecting video game controllers.

Buttons-

**My Thoughts

The buttons are kind of clickity clackity. When the house is silent and I stay up late to work, I am super scared I’m going to wake everybody up. The buttons sound hollow and create a loud ruckus. It seriously sounds like a woodpecker pecking wood very loudly from outside the window.

I don’t like that there are no lights on the buttons. My Toshiba had lights on the CAPS lock, num lock, and power buttons- but this one doesn’t. The only way to tell if the CAPS lock is on is to type and see what characters pop up. It can make it extremely frustrating when entering passwords, because I don’t know until I’ve entered that it was on when it shouldn’t have been.

The number of times I’ve entered the wrong password in the last few months is absolutely ridiculous. I just ended up adding a Google Chrome extension that automatically saves my passwords, so I’m not wasting my time and patience.

I do like that it comes with the side (numbered) keys. It makes it so much easier when I am trying to add up my finances and budget within excel. It does have a glitch here too and I still haven’t been able to figure it out. With my Toshiba I could go back and “insert” letters and number if I was typing too fast and got carried away.

This Asus insert somehow comes on and off by itself? I don’t know how and I can’t even figure out how to turn it back on. It is SUCH a hassle when I’m in the middle of writing something. I look and see something messed up, I go back to fix it, and instead of inserting the characters it just types over the words I’ve already written (deleting them completely).

Pointing Device
Touchpad

**My Thoughts: Touchpad

I don’t like this touchpad at all. Sure, it gets the job done (most of the time). The only thing I hate is that I have a horrible time trying to copy and paste stuff, which I have to do quite frequently. The touchpad seems to just lose it’s mind. I try to copy some random reference from the internet into Word and it jumbles it all up.

I can tell that this isn’t going to be one of those that have a long life span. I haven’t had it very long and I already wish it came with at least a USB mouse.

Blu-ray Player
No

Operating System Platform
Windows

Operating System
Windows 8.1
The master software that controls hardware functions and provides a platform on top of which any software applications will run. Commonly used systems include Microsoft Windows, Mac OS and Chrome OS for computers; Android, Apple iOS, BlackBerry and Windows Phone for cell phones; and Android, Apple iOS and Windows for tablets.

Operating System Bit Version
64-bit
The terms "32-bit" and "64-bit" refer to the way a computer's processor (CPU) handles information. A 64-bit operating system handles large amounts of system memory (RAM) more effectively than a 32-bit system.
Most software programs designed for a 32-bit operating system will work on the 64-bit version, with the exception of many antivirus programs. However, if a program is designed for a 64-bit operating system, it is not backwards-compatible with a 32-bit version.
Device drivers designed for a 32-bit system will not work on computers running a 64-bit operating system. Similarly, drivers designed for a 64-bit system will not work with a 32-bit version.

Included Software
Kindle and more

This does NOT come with even a trial version of Microsoft Office which other laptops usually do. It does come with a Webroot Security CD, but that’s it.

ENERGY STAR Certified
No
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

Best Buy PC App
No

Graphics Chip
Intel

Drive Capacity
500GB

Graphics Card
Intel® HD

EPEAT Qualified
No
The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) is the definitive global registry for greener electronics. It's an easy-to-use resource for purchasers, manufacturers, resellers and others wanting to find and promote environmentally preferable products.

UPC
886227738793

Warranty Terms - Parts
1 year

Warranty Terms - Labor
1 year limited

If you are looking for a beginner computer for someone who doesn’t need to do very much on their computer than this is for you. You can get it here

 

Giveaway: Venta Airwasher LW 15

 

Welcome to the Venta Airwasher Giveaway

Sponsored by Venta Airwasher 

JennsBlahBlahBlog.com

Jenn’s Blah Blog has teamed up with Venta Airwasher to bring one lucky person a chance to win a Venta Airwasher LW 15. To learn more about this amazing sponsor, Venta Airwasher, and all the exceptional products that they offer, check out Jenn’s Blah Blog’s Just Breathe with the Venta Airwasher review. As we approach the cold and flu season, we need to keep as healthy as we possibly can. Breathing clean, fresh air is a good way to do so. The Venta Airwasher filters the air with water, stopping and killing bacteria, germs, dust, allergens and odors. After the air is “washed”, pure water evaporates, humidifying the air in the room to a perfect level.   This Airwasher is super quiet, so you can place it in your nursery without fear that it will wake your baby.

 

Built to last a lifetime, the Venta Airwasher is easy to operate, fill and clean, without using any filter pads, and there is little to no maintenance involved.  I started using this Airwasher in my home the moment I received it and can tell you that it definitely makes a difference in the air quality, and it helps me to sleep much better. Giveaway will end on November 25, 2014.  Open to U.S. residents only, must be over the age of 18 and enter using the giveaway tool below. Good Luck Everyone! 

Just Breathe with the Venta Airwasher Giveaway (K)

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Disclosure: Jenn’s Blah Blog was compensated either by free product or payment. I have not been compensated for this post. All opinions and experiences are my own. Open to the U.S. residents only and must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor(s) will be responsible for product shipment to winner(s) of the giveaway. Sponsor will be responsible for prize fulfillment. This event is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

 

 

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Giveaway: no!no! Smooth 2.0 Device & Product line (RV $200)

Win a set of the new no!no! Smooth 2.0 line valued at $220 Giveaway

Sponsored by no!no!  

Giveaway by JennsBlahblahBlog.com

Watch the no!no! HSN Today’s Special Airing on November 3^rd for a special opportunity to purchase a no!no! device at a special price.  Hey friends, our sponsor over at no!no! is teaming up with Jennifer Crawford and HSN on Monday, November 3rd 2014, for 24-hours, beginning at 12 a.m. EDT for a 24-hour “Today’s Special”, giving viewers the opportunity to purchase a no!no! device for a limited-time special price. (Be sure to check local listings) A never before seen limited-time no!no! offer and price will be presented. no!no! products enable us to achieve professional hair removal and skincare results at a fraction of the cost in the comfort of our own home.

Beginning with the no!no! CLASSIC hair removal system, using revolutionary Thermicon™ technology, no!no! delivers professional, pain-free hair removal that's safe for all skin types and hair colors. The no!no! brand has grown to include seven more hair removal products, including no!no! LITE, no!no! PLUS, no!no! MICRO, no!no! Hair, no!no! Hair for MEN, no!no! PRO3 and no!no! PRO5, all with different features and technologies. In addition to the hair removal line, no!no! expanded to include no!no! Skin for pimple treatments, no!no! Glow the LHE beauty tool and no!no! Smooth the full skincare line formulated with hair growth inhibitors. no!no!’s growing line of products is committed to developing and producing professional technology made for you.

Now check this out, today no!no! is giving one lucky Jenn’s Blah Blah readers the chance to win a set of the new no!no! Smooth 2.0 line valued at $220. That's right, now you can have younger smoother skin at the touch of your finger tips! Best of all you don't have to own a no!no! to use these products!! They work with your normal shaving routine, how cool is that??   Giveaway will end on November 22, 2014.  Open to U.S. residents only, must be over the age of 18 and enter using the giveaway tool below. Good Luck Everyone!  

Win a set of the new no!no! Smooth 2.0 line

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Disclosure: Jenn’s Blah Blog was compensated either by free product or payment. I have not been compensated for this post. All opinions and experiences are my own. Open to the U.S. residents only and must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor(s) will be responsible for product shipment to winner(s) of the giveaway. Sponsor will be responsible for prize fulfillment. This event is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.    

 

Good Luck!

 

 

Give Your Thanksgiving Side Dishes a Makeover With 3 Exciting New Recipes

French’s French Fried Onions have been adding crunch and delicious taste to the holidays for almost sixty years. This holiday season, the French’s Test Kitchen introduces two exciting new recipe ideas, Crunchy Onion Bacon Potatoes and Crunchy Holiday Stuffing. Made with real onions and a perfect combination of crispy, flavorful goodness,

French’s French Fried Onions can elevate your holiday side dishes from delicious to sublime.

“The versatility of French’s French Fried Onions lends themselves to a variety of uses including these new recipes developed by the culinary experts at French’s,” says Lee Meyer, Brand Manager for French’s French Fried Onions. “Everyone who’s tried our Crunchy Onion Bacon Potatoes and Crunchy Holiday Stuffing has been wowed! The reaction has been one of surprise and delight when they discover it’s a long-standing family favorite that’s the secret behind the elevated taste & texture.” So liven’ up the mashed potatoes and stuffing on your holiday buffet with new ways to serve up these holiday classics.

The tradition of serving French’s French Fried Onions during the holiday season began with the Green Bean Casserole and this year more than 40 million* will be served once again.

So enjoy a spoonful of the original Green Bean Casserole, but be sure to serve it alongside its contemporary counterparts. Then, just sit back and watch with satisfaction as a new family tradition unfolds before your eyes.

CRUNCHY ONION BACON POTATOES

Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 25 minutes

Servings:  12

6 cups prepared mashed potatoes

12 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups  FRENCH’S® French Fried Onions

1. PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Layer half of the potatoes in an 8-inch square baking dish, sprinkle with half the bacon, 1 cup cheese and 1 cup  French Fried Onions.  Top with remaining potatoes.

2. BAKE 20 minutes or until hot. Top with remaining bacon, cheese and French Fried Onions. Bake 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

 

CRUNCHY HOLIDAY STUFFING

Prep: 10 minutes         Cook: 20 minutes

Servings: 8

½ cup (1 stick) butter or margarine

1 ½ cups coarsely chopped celery

1 ½ cups coarsely chopped carrots

1 pkg. (14 oz) stuffing

2 cups FRENCH’S® French Fried Onions

1 can (14.5 oz) chicken broth

1 cup water

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Melt butter in large pot; stir in vegetables and sauté for 5 minutes.

2. Add stuffing, broth and water and stir until moistened. Gently stir in French Fried Onions. Spoon stuffing into 3-quart baking dish.

3. Cover; bake for 10 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with remaining 1 cup onions. Bake, uncovered, 5 minutes or until onions are golden.

 

FRENCH’S ® GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

 Image Courtesy of French’s® French Fried Onions

 

Prep Time: 5 minutes   Cook Time: 35 minutes

Servings:  6

1 (10 3/4 oz.) can  CAMPBELL'S® Cream of Mushroom Soup

3/4 cup milk

1/8 tsp. black pepper

4 cups cooked, cut green beans

1 1/3 cups  FRENCH'S® Original or Cheddar French Fried Onions

Instructions--

1. MIX soup, milk and pepper in a 1 1/2-qt. baking dish. Stir in beans and 2/3 cup French Fried Onions.

2. BAKE at 350°F for 30 min. or until hot.

2. STIR. Top with remaining 2/3 cup onions.  Bake 5 minutes until onions are golden.

Look for French’s Original and Cheddar French Fried Onions in the canned vegetable aisle at your favorite supermarket.  For more great recipes and cooking tips from the test kitchen at French’s, please visit French’s.

The FRENCH’S® Foods Company is the maker of FRENCH’S® French Fried Onions and a division of Reckitt Benckiser, a leading manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of food and household products.  Some other well known, trusted household names in the RB family of food products include FRENCH’S® Mustard,  FRANK’S® REDHOT® Cayenne Pepper Sauce and FRENCH’S® Worcestershire Sauce.

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post.

 

SoapBox Acne Clearing Black Soap Bar for Face & Body> #BlackBarBeautyChallenge

 

Have you ever thought about the ingredients that are in your soaps? Where they came from? Who made them? I am always drawn to natural products, I don’t want to wash my face or body with something that has chemicals or additives that could potentially soak into my skin or my kids skin. SoapBox makes nothing but natural ingredients that smell amazing and make an impact while doing so.

FYI: This post is WAYYY longer than I normally write reviews, but I wanted to detail HOW the soap works. I didn’t want to just explain it DID work, but HOW it’s better for your acne, eczema, and even psoriasis. This soap is HANDS down the best I’ve used for my oily skin and I felt the difference immediately. Black is the new clean, didn’t you know?

PLUS> for every item they sell, SoapBox donates a bar of soap, a month’s supply of water, or a year’s supply of vitamins to a child in need around the world! A+ from me♥

The base of SoapBox bar soaps are made with all natural olive, coconut, soybean, and corn oils and scented with a blend of all natural essential oils. We also include organic shea butter and unrefined sea salt both of which provide natural benefits for your skin.

Authentic, healing, rejuvenating. Black soap is made from activated charcoal and a blend of all natural essential oils, and has been used for thousands of years to improve skin health. The activated charcoal, along with sea salt and shea butter gives the soap a mild gritty texture great for exfoliating and revitalizing your skin everyday.

 

I have always had very oily skin that’s prone to the occasional acne breakouts. Sometimes I think my pores might be deeper than Florida’s sinkholes. Seriously! I am NOT exaggerating, when I do get acne it is very deep and hard to rid of. I also have a severe problem with getting blackheads on my nose.

As you can see in the picture, the Black bar soap has a bumpy rugged texture. That my lovelies is the sea salt and activated charcoal. If you’ve been battling oily skin, acne, or blackheads—here’s your cure and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Adult acne is kind of sadistic, don’t you think? Weren’t those blackheads and acne bumps supposed to fade when we left our teen years? Not for some of us, sadly. We’ve all been there- trying this and that, products that contain harmful chemically induced ingredients. Not SoapBox products- you NEVER have to worry about that.

• All-Natural Black Bar Soap is ethical and great for your skin
• Each 4-ounce bar is completely free of gluten, palm oil, paraben, petrochemicals, phthalate and sulfate
• PETA-certified vegan, cruelty free and packaged with 100-percent recyclable fibers to make a positive impact on the environment
• Black bar soap is made from charcoal and other essential oils, which have been used for thousands of years to exfoliate and moisturize skin
• With each purchase of this refreshing bar of soap, SoapBox donates a bar to a child in need

Ingredients: Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Soybean Oil, Corn Oil, Organic Shea Butter, Sea Salt, Activated Charcoal, and a Blend of All-Natural Essential Oils

This soap will hook you on the very first use. It works and you can feel the difference in your skin texture within just that FIRST use. My skin felt refreshed and clean yet didn’t feel overly dry or tight. It’s like it scrubs deep into the oil’s soul and smashed it before it even had a chance to even think about causing acne. How awesome.

   

Directions: Lather up with your hands, washcloth, or scrub pad. Apply the lather to your face, body, or just your oil-prone areas making sure that you close your eyes. Gently rub in a circular motion, pressing harder on your acne/blackhead areas. Rinse it right off (within 30 seconds) with warm water. Rinse again with cold water to close your pores.

Let your skin air dry or lightly dab with a towel. TIP: Depending on the amount of oil your skin produces, you might want to wash twice daily. This could also be used as a mask (left on for about a minute).

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Everyone wants that glowing, healthy oil-free acne-free skin, yet we have ALL been looking in the wrong places. There are just so many skincare companies that try and sell us their “break-through” products, yet don’t actually do much at all for your oil-prone skin.

You may think that that retinol infused product sitting on your bathroom shelf is the go-to product for your oily skin, but it isn’t. It DOES help unclog your pores so the oil isn’t getting trapped inside, but it’s stripping layers off your skin every time you use it, which isn’t good. It will eventually cause your skin tone to become uneven. Overexposure of retinol can actually thin your skin and make you look much older than you are. WOW- from acne to wrinkles. That changed hands drastically, lol.

Who would’ve thought that a $5 bar of soap would put so many big name companies to shame? HOW does it work so well? Activated charcoal (AKA activated carbon) is carbon that has been conducted (AKA treated) with oxygen. The oxygen turns the charcoal into a very fine powder by opening the millions of tiny pores between the carbon atoms. Those pores are what soaks up the oils and impurities in your skin cells.

              

                    Image Source: Wikimedia Commons; Magnet

Think of the charcoal as a magnet. The magnet practically drags other metal towards it right? Well the charcoal does the same with dirt, bacteria, and impurities inside of your pores. It drags them out so they don’t have a chance to settle and cause breakouts or blackheads.

             

                  Image Source: Wikimedia Commons; Sea Salt

The Sea Salt is naturally rich in minerals and the best kind of therapeutic exfoliation. As you can see in the picture, Sea Salt is naturally abrasive. Sea salt is salt formed from the evaporation of seawater. Sea salt contains calcium which is known for it’s pore-cleansing properties, and bromide which soothes the skin.

Washing and rinsing with warm water opens your pores so that your skin can soak up the nutrients in the sea salt. The abrasive scratchy like texture exfoliates the skin cells, removing the dead ones and making way for healthier cells to grow.

Do NOT pop your pimples or squeeze your blackheads. This soap will naturally dry out the oils and reduce the intensity of the acne. Touching your face and squeezing on the breakouts is a big no-no because it could end up leaving acne scars. They might look bad RIGHT now, but it’ll be even worse with permanent spots.

Are you finding yourself applying pore clogging makeup just to cover your acne? You know it might cover it for the moment, but it causes your pores to become even more blocked, right? It’s a vicious cycle that we have to break through. What if you could go makeup free and feel confident about it? No oil, blackheads, or acne. Just clean, amazing feeling, oil-free, acne-free skin?

Give this a try, you won’t be sorry I promise you that. PLUS you’re helping children who would otherwise go without. $5 for all that amazingness, YES please. LOL.

What I'm asking is that you buy a bar of this soap, use it, and then watch your skin transform into something you can be confident about. Tired of covering up with makeup, only the makeup makes it worse? Break out of that cycle. Buy you a bar (or 5, you'll be sorry you didn't) use it, and then share your beautiful, make-up free, breakout free Selfie with me!! Do this‪#‎BlackBarBeautyChallenge‬ and then share via social media with that hashtag. I will be thinking of something amazing to giveaway for those that wanna break up with their oily skin AND it's only $5. AMAZING I tell you! Never used anything like it.

 

Connect with Soapbox to see their other amazing products.

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, & Pinterest

 

Don’t forget to tag SoapBoxSoaps if you do the challenge. Leave the link to your social media shares below.

 

Neutralize your Game Day Menu

Let’s face it. Football Sundays (Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays) can be taxing on the body. Rooting for your favorite team can lead to some serious stress and stomach acid, especially when you add spicy snacks and frothy beer to the mix. A Medical News Today study found when a fan’s team is losing they are 16 percent more apt to eat junk food.

We’re not suggesting you toss out the chili, sliders or guacamole from your buffet. But here’s a list of some foods you might want to mix into your game day menu to help neutralize your digestive juices so you can healthily nosh through the playoffs.

1. Serve up some team-themed fruits and veggies. An apple a day keeps the doctor away so you can give a healthy cheer for your team. It’s also great for memory, reducing stomach acid and more. Try dipping apple slices in caramel and serving them covered with team-colored sprinkles or plating upright-inspired carrot sticks.

2. Grilled not fried. Fried chicken wings are a game day favorite, but they are also full of fat and calories. Try grilling chicken instead with a delicious rub or marinade.

3. Have a healthy supply of nuts. Peanuts have long graced the counters at every sports bar, but when it comes to nuts, almonds are a delicious and healthy alternative to serve up at your football soiree. Rich in protein and essential fatty acids, almonds have been linked to promoting good heart health, which you’ll need when your team is pulling out an overtime win!

4. Offer a different kind of chips and dip. Instead of the traditional tortilla chips and salsa, try serving up hummus and pita chips. Rich in protein, hummus helps fight hunger cravings and balance blood sugar levels, to curb excessive eating that often happens at a football game or party.

5. Wash down your game day snacks with a healthy helping of high-alkaline, functional water. According to Dr. Ralph E. Holsworth, director of clinical & scientific research for Essentia Water, alkaline water can help neutralize stomach acid to balance the digestive tract, hydrate faster and reduce belly bloat. Less bloat leaves you room for eating more snacks and fitting into last year's jersey. If you’re planning to imbibe, try to have a glass of water for every alcoholic beverage consumed to reduce dehydration risks.

 

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post.

 

Prosperous Pooch: Organic Flavored Dog Treats; Pumpkin Spice & Thanksgiving Feast

 

My dogs are pigs. If they didn’t bark, I could swear they have spiral tails and a pink snout. I swear when I feed them, you’d think they’d never eaten a day in their life. Dogs, like us- love to munch around on snacks as well. Did you know that most of the store bought treats contain a ton of preservatives and calories? Dogs can get overweight and unhealthy just as we can.

           This is Harley, my Alaskian Malamute/Lab mix.

We can better what our animals eat by feeding them organic treats and food. They aren’t piled high with artificial colorings or stuffed with preservatives. Prosperous pooch is an amazing Etsy site dedicated to homemade organic dog treats ran by Monica Bojt.

The packages arrived very quickly after I spoke to her, and they were packaged very well. They had “DO NOT CRUSH” on the outside of the package. Because you know for a fact if your mailman doesn’t see that, they will definitely try and shove it in your mailbox, or at least mine does.

We were sent Pumpkin Spice & Thanksgiving Feast.

Pumpkin Spice

• Materials: oat flour, brown rice flour, pumpkin, molasses, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, flax seed, peanut butter, ascorbic powder

Cheyanne, Spunk, and Buddy are very big fans of pumpkin. They love to have it added to their food, and is pretty nutritious for them too—so win.win. When I seen that the treats were pumpkin spice, I knew they’d love them. Harley, I wasn’t so sure about—he wasn’t around last Fall because he wasn’t born yet. He thought they were alright, but he didn’t seem to love them like the other dogs did.

They smell amazing, like freshly baked pumpkin biscuits. That’s because that’s what they are, although the dog variety. They feel crispy and are easy to break, so they aren’t hard on your dogs teeth at all. Even the smallest of dogs won’t have a problem chewing these up.

Pumpkin everything is everywhere now, especially with Halloween just ending and Thanksgiving coming. I’ve seen so much pumpkin floating around, some stuff I wasn’t even sure could be pumpkin related. Lattes, Cookies, Breads, and even butter & Pringles (sayyy what?). People proved me wrong though, lol.

So, give your 4 legged friends some pumpkin treats while you’re devouring that amazing pumpkin pie or something else pumpkin spiced.. shh.. they won’t tell.

You can buy them in two weights—4 oz. for $3 or 8 oz. for $5.

 

Thanksgiving Feast

• Materials: oat flour, turkey, brown rice flour, ground flax, chicken broth, dried cranberries, carrots, sweet potatoes, honey, rosemary, cinnamon, ascorbic acid

Harley, Cheyanne, Spunk, and Buddy gobbled these up. Harley was a huge fan of these. I swear I wish I could have gotten a picture of how high he was jumping to retrieve the treat. I wasn’t even sure he could jump that high, lol.

They smell delicious even from a human standpoint. They smell like cinnamon mostly; I can only describe it as cinnamon bread or maybe a cinnamon bun without the icing. You can see the dried cranberries in the texture, and they are easy to crumble as well.

The dogs love these and they can chew them very easily. They feel like a hardened flat biscuit and “snap” when they are broken. They are sealed very well, and keep for a long while after they are purchased. We give both these 2 paws up! (well really 8 paws up, but still) lol.

These would be the perfect stocking stuffer for your four legged friends!

You can buy them in two weights—4 oz. for $5 or 8 oz. for $9.

Homemade, Preservative Free and Organic!

 

Did you know that wheat, corn, and soy are one of the number one causes of allergic reactions in dogs? Not only does it cause allergies, it is also harder for dogs to digest as well as a filler for commercial products used to cut costs. That's why Prosperous Pooch uses NO wheat, corn or soy products in any of the products offered.

Does your dog have a special dietary issue? Let Monica know and she can definitely find you a treat that will be healthy and tasty for your pet.

Connect with Prosperous Pooch:

Website & Facebook

 

About Monica:

 

Disclosure: Stylish Southern Mama received samples for her 4 dogs; all opinions are honest.

 

ULTIMATE TIPS FOR BIKINI BOTTOMS; Choosing The Best Fit

 

                    

                Disclosure: This post is a sponsored guest post from Sunbain.

Every year when summer season is about to start, we all start to worry about our figure and finding a bikini that will make us feel ravishing. There are so many choices: Moderate, minimal, full, and skirted, thong or boy shorts. Which one is the right one for you? Whether you go on vacation or a romantic getaway you definitely need options.

We need to select the right bikini bottom depending on our body shape and style. If we want to make our buttocks look bigger, low-waisted is the answer. We can emphasize our figure with ruffles and stripes. For a smaller impact, darker colors will create this fantasy and minimize our volume. This is the reason why every woman should have a black bikini. If what you need is for your legs to show off more, high-waisted bottoms will definitely provide you with this unique look.

Hip-waisted bikinis and boy shorts create a shorter leg effect.

ACCORDING TO YOUR BODY STYLE

Short Torso: Low rise bikini bottoms helps stretch out the middle section. Stay away from boy shorts they can make your torso even smaller.

Longer Torso: Low-waisted bottoms and bikini with side ties are very flattering.

Smaller Waist: Look for ruffles, drapes or skirt. Color blocked panels give the illusion of a trimmer waist while prints like diagonal or v shaped help to create a leaner silhouette.

Hide Love Handles: Bottoms with a moderate coverage that sits on your hips. You can also pin up a retro suit that have high to mid- rise coverage.

SWIMSUIT COVERAGES

Minimal: These minimal cuts are great for tanning. These slim bottoms are made to create a chic cheeky design. Very flattering and expose your buttocks to flaunt your figure.

Moderate: They are the most comfortable cut and style. This design offers medium coverage to maximize fashion in a way that your body is comfortable and conveniently sexy.

Full Coverage: Perfect for active styles. They are designed to provide additional coverage and a great solution to surfers and swimmers. This cut is very traditional, yet flattering to the lower stomach and bottom.

At the end of the day there are so many choices and options to pick from. Don´t be afraid to order different sizes for your top and another one for your bottom because you could have small bust with larger hips or the other way around. Keep it tasteful!

               

                               Swimwear at SUNBAIN.com

Anything you pick or choose, wear it with confidence. Use cover-ups or sarongs, if necessary, and can help you feel more comfortable when you are out of the water. You may prefer the beach, pool or lake, but there is one thing that we all women agree upon and that is getting our new swimwear for next season can be intimidating. Get the look you want depending on your style.

 

Disclosure: This is a sponsored guest post from Sunbain.