Friday, April 20, 2012
Sprout Skincare Review
I received two products from Sprout Skincare. I received the exfoliant and the cream. You can tell that these are made by batches because they have the date of made and who made them right on the side of the tubes.
The Exfoliant:
I am a HUGE exfoliant fan. I have had huge pores since I was a teenager, and I have tried everything in the world to make them smaller or at least keep them cleaner on a regular basis. Before they had all these organic exfoliants, I ended up stripping my skin and burning it out, while making my skin problems way worse than they were because I was using too many acid and chemical products.
Now that I have discovered the beauty and the healthiness of natural, organic products- my skin is so much better, and so much more healthy than it used to be.
The exfoliant made me kind of suspicious at first. WHY? because it wasn’t like any other exfoliator I have ever used in my life. It was a crunchy crumbled up powder. I had never used crumbles, only gels or creamy lathery exfoliants. You pour some of the crumbles your hand, put it under the faucet and then rub it in. I wasn’t sure what would happen, but I went with it.
I followed the instructions to scrub my face and neck. I did end up getting it in my mouth, around my lips and just about everywhere because I wasn’t used to it. It didn’t taste all that bad though, it tasted like oatmeal with salt on it. I left it on for a couple of minutes while brushing my teeth and getting a towel out for a bath.
Let me tell you- I ended up getting used to putting it on after the first time, so I didn’t get it anywhere besides where it was supposed to go! It worked miracles on my skin. It ended up leaving my skin GLOWING like never before. After using this and putting my toner and moisturizer on, my skin felt like a million bucks.!
My makeup went on smoother, and stayed on longer. The more I used it, the less pores I could tell were there. They didn’t actually shrink, but they did seem SO much cleaner. I was using exfoliants almost every day, skipping it here and there, but not now. I am only using this about twice a week and have seen a significant difference.
I could probably use this everyday and it not burn my skin out, dry it out, or make me look all red and puffy, but there isn’t a need to. The only products in this exfoliant are Atlantic sea salt, organic oat flour, and organic almond flour which seem to do the job using it only twice a week.
All of Sprout Skincare’s ingredients are all-natural and organic. They are actually so pure that they can be eaten without harming you. I do use my Lady Soma Antioxidant Berry Facial Masque here and there, but I use this every week. I love it. It doesn’t have a fragrance other than like a hay smell, which I seem to find relaxing. =)
I didn’t understand how much to use at first, but after getting the hang of it, I realized it doesn’t take a large amount at all. So the 4 oz. bottle should last at least 4-5 months, depending on how frequently you see the need to use it!
You can purchase this product for $28.00 on the website here
About the exfoliant:
Sprout’s Exfoliant is pure kitchen-cabinet awesomeness. We take organic oats and almonds, grind them until they’re not too rough but not too soft, add mineral-rich sea salt harvested from coasts nearby, and voila: a simple, nourishing, super-effective exfoliant that leaves your skin soft and glowing.
The Cream
This cream is AMAZING! It has no smell at all. It is subtle and natural, no extra fragrances. It doesn’t leave my skin oily or greasy like some creams seem to do. My clothes don’t end up sticking to my skin and it’s awesomely hydrating.
I have said this many time before- I have Keratosis Pilaris, which is nicknamed chicken skin for a reason. It leaves small reddish bumps all over my thighs and the back of my arms. There isn’t a cure, although it CAN be managed.
I looked it up online and found out that Retinol A cream cures it. The Vitamin A is a natural skin smoother and DID rid my skin of the bumps, but after paying $80 for a small tube that didn’t last long at all, I was looking at other options for myself. My doctor told me that Olive oil mixed with Nivea Body Oil would work, but I never
When I received this, I automatically thought of the “Chicken Skin”. I thought maybe at least it would reduce the appearance of the bumps or take away the redness associated with it. To my amazement it started doing both. I could tell a difference in the bumps within the first use. The second use and beyond was greater and greater reduction of the bumps and the redness wasn’t there AT all. My skin was smoother, more hydrated, and not one but greasy.
This can be used ALL over your body. I hate having dry skin, so this was tried EVERYWHERE. I loved rubbing this on my feet and putting on my socks. It kept my feet from drying out ALL day. It is a little too thick to try on my face, but other than that—I loved it every other single place I put this!! Hands, feet, knees, and especially loved it because it got rid of the “chicken skin”! And the best part about it that it’s HALF the price that the tube of Retinol A cream was and lasted twice as long (I still have more than half of the cream left after a month) and within a month the tube of Retinol was gone!
About the Cream:
This is the mother of all Sprout products. You know how lots of lotions and moisturizers leave you needing more, like ten minutes after you put them on? That's because they use water as a base. When it evaporates, you dry out all over again. Sprout Cream starts with wild-harvested shea butter we get from an incredible Fair Trade women's cooperative in Ghana. We add some organic extra-virgin coconut oil and organic extra-virgin olive oil. So it's extremely rich, sinking deep into the skin and staying there. But since all the ingredients are totally non-comedogenic, it won't clog your pores, meaning it's just as awesome on your face as it is on your body.
About Sprout:
These products are made in small batches by real people in Brooklyn, New York. They are ethically sourced and support small farms.
At Sprout, we use the simplest possible blends of whole, high-potency ingredients to create products that truly work. A lot of companies toss around the phrase "all natural" these days. Unfortunately, labeling laws for personal care products are extremely lax, and in our experience, "all natural" almost always translates to "not-at-all natural." We created Sprout Skincare to be an absolutely, positively, 100% truly all-natural line. Our products are made simply using only the purest quality ingredients we can find. And because we believe every business has a responsibility to preserve a sustainable environment, all of our ingredients are either certified organic, Fair Trade, or sourced from small family farms.
We created Sprout primarily to help people have healthier skin naturally. But if that were the end of the story, we probably wouldn't be as passionate as we are about what we do. Our goal was bigger: to make products that contribute not just to the health of our customers, but also to the happiness of our communities and the well-being of our planet. So when we say "holistic," we mean we're a company that always takes a wide view. But we also mean that we preserve the integrity of our ingredients, keeping them as near to their whole, raw state as possible and making each product by hand simply, using only traditional methods.
Find them on Facebook, Twitter, and they even have a blog.
Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, all opinions are 100% my own. Products were sent to me for review purposes only, I wasn’t compensated in any other way!
Thanks,
Jessica
Thursday, April 19, 2012
CostumeSUpercenter Review
Have you ever been to Costume Supercenter’s website? If you haven’t, you are in for a treat.! They have one of the biggest selections of costumes that I have ever seen!
It doesn’t have to be Halloween to wear a costume, so don’t think that.! Whether you want to dress up for a prank party, let your kid have the time of their lives just running around the house, or you want to get a way early start on Halloween, this is the place for you.
I had so much fun looking around. They have so many different items to choose from, and they are all so unique! I went straight for the infant/toddler costumes because what mom can resist?
They had quite the choice, I’m telling ya. They have the whole line of Disney costumes. The Little Mermaid, Minnie, Snow white, Mickey, Jack Sparrow, the whole pooh collection, and more. So, if your little one is all about Disney—look NO further. AND they are only $20- every single one!
They also have a great collection of boy costumes- Pirates, Firefighters, Dinosaurs, Cowboys, and Superheroes. Boys love playing firefighters, doctors, pirates, and everything in between. Why not fuel their imagination and buy them a costume to go with their imaginative play?
That’s what I did for Adisyn. Aidan already had a Spiderman costume from the previous Halloween that he still fit in and like to play with. The rapid growth of a infant to toddler, Adisyn was left out, so I searched until I found her the perfect costume!
They had so many different Girl Costumes, that it was hard to choose at first. I ended up getting her the Toddler Make a Wish Ballerina Costume, and I loved it. SHE did too. She was SO excited to see it unwrapped.!
Wishes Costumes are inspired by wishes made by children to the Make A Wish Foundation. This Toddler Make A Wish Ballerina Costume features a pink ballerina dress with a tutu, a pink dance panty, ballet slippers with ribbon ties, a sparkly tiara, a pink rose bouquet, an invitation note, a show poster and a ballet guide. These costumes are designed for imaginative play and come with a costume, a booklet and other key accessories. With all these accessories you child can pretend that she is the lead ballerina in a dance performance. She can send an invitation to her show and receive a bouquet of roses when she takes her bow. Let this costume fulfill your child's wish of being a real ballerina.
The show poster and ballet guide were in full detail and looked amazing! She looked So cute in it. She did end up getting it dirty, but it wasn’t hard at all to get clean. I just stuck it in the sink with some cold water, put in some laundry detergent, and swished it around.
You aren’t supposed to twist these to get the water out, so I bunched it up in a small ball until all the water came out, then hung it up to dry. These are NOT meant to be put in the washer OR dryer. They will fall apart.
Isn’t that Ballerina so adorable? Yea, she thought so too. LOL. She is so funny and I am glad that I could feed some creativity into her life! I love that little munchkin!
Be sure to visit CostumerSuperCenter.com for all your costume needs! Trust me, you will not be disappointed!
Find them on Facebook and Twitter
Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, all opinions are 100% my own. I did receive products in exchange for an honest review.
Jessica
Me! Bath Body Icing Review
I received two products from Me! Bath. Both items were Body Icing, although different scents. One was Papaya Nectar and the other Gotta Have it Pomegrante.
ME! Bath products are paraben-free. Just look for the seal and you can be confident that these products do not contain any parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, or GMOs (genetically modified organisms).
These DO feel like spreading icing on my skin, it feels AMAZING. There is nothing like a hot bath with these delicious smelling body icing’s applied right after. The scent is so aromatic and fresh. They leave my skin soft, supple, and so moisturized.
I went to hug my sister when she was down for Easter, and she wouldn’t let go. I was like “What are you doing, are you stuck on me?” She said “No- but whatever that is, smells AWESOME!, I don’t know if it’s your hair or skin- but you have GOT to let me try some.”
I told her it wasn’t my hair, that it was a new lotion I was trying. She has dry skin on her legs and she loved it. I did too, I thought the fragrance absolutely smells JUST like the real thing. You know when you get those lotions and sprays that “say” they smell like it, but they smell more like a musty smell mixed with water? NOTHING LIKE THAT on this part.
“As I open my suitcase after a long journey, the sweet aroma reminds me of a Thai beach in Phucket where the fruity scent of papaya is mixed with the fresh ocean air and warm sand. As I moisturize my body, memories of a far-off land carry me away.”
My Thoughts:
I don’t usually have a lot of time to myself. Even when I try, I have kids screaming for me like I’ve ran away to another planet. I either have to wake up before they do or stay up later to even get into the bath for some peacefulness. If I don’t they will stand at the door and beat on it until I’m done.
So, with these icings, I can definitely WANT to wake up a little earlier, or postpone going to sleep JUST so I can feel the luxurious relaxation of these creams.
They aren’t so thick that you have to wipe some off. They aren’t so thin that you have to reapply all the time either. They are the right consistency to keep me moisturized for at least 4-5 hours, and they smell great for that long also.
I feel such a connection with my mind, body, and spirit when I FEEL beautiful. I know this may sound like I’ve lost my mind a little, but it’s absolutely true. If I haven’t had time to wash my hair daily and put on my lotions and makeup, I feel drab and down ALL down. My brain doesn’t wake up until I get my senses moving!
A friend came over and seen this sitting on my counter, and picked it up. After opening the tube and trying some on, she was like “YUM.. this smells amazing, where’d you get this?” Of course, I told her where- but she said she has trouble finding lotions that help out her ashy skin. She said “This might be for white people, but it sure does work on me too!” I died laughing.!
Gotta love her for that one! LOL. It instantly moisturized and took the discoloration from her elbows and knees. I think she may try and steal it at some point in the future.. lol. =)
“Throughout history, this highly sought-after antioxidant has been revered as a symbol of health, fertility, and rebirth. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, used the pomegrante fruit as a powerful love potion. Go ahead, cast the spell, and indulge in sweet luxury and eternal life.”
My Thoughts:
Me! Bath is such an amazing brand! The scents of these body icings are DELICIOUS and smell 100% like the real thing. Now I trust them to give me the best bath time in the world. After getting out and rubbing this all over, not only is my skin nourished and luminous, but my sensations are as well.
The consistency is thicker than lotion, but not as thick as body butter. It is velvety and glorious. I don’t think I’ve ever used anything like this before. It DOES spread like frosting on a cake when the skin is moist. The scent lingers longer than I ever expected it to.
Now I see myself grabbing for a bottle every time I get a bit of dryness anywhere. I have even chosen this over my Victoria’s secret lotions. I even skimp out on the perfume while wearing this, because the scent of the icing is enough to last and I don’t need anything taking that beautiful smell away. =)
Both of these amazing products are infused with 20% Shea Butter and Vitamins A, C, and E. Me! Bath Body Icing melts into your skin, replenishing the moisture you lose each day. Creamier than a body lotion but not as thick as a body butter, it’s luxurious consistency is like frosting for the skin.
They also have some other very awesome products that I would love to try. They are so unique! I’ve never seen anything like these before!
They have Bath Ice Cream
and shower sherbert
They also carry other stuff.. like body wash, hand icing, and gift sets. The Body Washes, Hand Icings, Body Icings, and Bath Ice Creams can all be bought in the same scent! This would be a perfect gift for your mom, sister, or BFF on Mother’s Day. They will love you forever, I KNOW. It’s like having a spa at home.. Don’t try and EAT these though.. they may smell like the real thing, but they aren’t.. lol
About Me! Bath:
Me! Bath is the result of an effort to do simple things exceedingly well. With the highest quality ingredients and meticulous preparation, we hope we have created products that will gain your approval and continued support.
With only 24 hours in each day, it's getting harder and harder to find time for ME...
Headquartered in Los Angeles, ME! Bath was founded by husband and wife team Benjamin and Lisa Nissanoff in 2002. Since its debut, ME! Bath has become one of the fastest growing bath and body care companies on the market, helping consumers create a convenient, fun and luxurious spa environment in their own homes or while away on business or pleasure.
ME! Bath originated from the basic principle to do simple things exceedingly well. The idea for ME! Bath first started while Lisa was attending Stanford Business School for her MBA. According to Lisa, "I love taking baths at home but I was getting tired of the same routine every night. I envisioned a decadent bath and body line that could transform a mundane bath at home into a lavish spa-like experience." Benjamin, a MBA graduate with an advertising and finance background, decided to turn his wife's vision into a reality. Ten months later, ME! Bath was born.
Lisa and Benjamin began by selling their first product at local farmers' markets around the San Francisco Bay area. Today the entire line of ME! Bath products can be found in select apothecaries and in several high-end hotels and spas worldwide. ME! Bath has been featured in the press nationwide in numerous magazines, TV shows and online. Having made a splash in the beauty industry and redefining luxury bathing, ME! Bath is instrumental in setting the trends in high end bath and body products.
Welcome to the world of ME! Bath, where we encourage you to start making ME a priority again!
They have free shipping on products over $50!
Find them online:

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, all opinions are 100% mine. I wasn’t compensated for this review. I did receive products in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks, Jessica
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
SavvyCents Wallet $5 OFF: Perfect for Mother’s Day!
Organize cash, coupons, store cards, and receipts with the Savvycents Wallet Organizer.
Use coupon code: mothersday at checkout
The Savvycents wallet organizer is not only a functional organizer but also fashionable. It contains everything you need to organize your monthly or weekly budget using a cash and coupon system.
With an accordion style file system inside the wallet organizer you can separate money, coupons, receipts or store discount cards by spending categories. Your wallet organizer comes with file cards where you can label each category with our pre-printed labels.
There are also blank labels where you can customize your wallet organizer based on your personal spending categories. You no longer have to carry envelopes or zip lock bags to separate your money and coupons. Your change will fit nicely in a coin pocket located on the backside of the wallet.
It also has 6 pockets for debit cards and store discount cards. On the opposite side there is a place for your driver’s license and a place for your checkbook.
Wallet is 8” x 4”
They now have 2 more colors!! and they are AWESOME!!
Out of the 10 wallets in my possession, I don’t even use ANY of them but this one (I have the pink one)..!! I love it SO much. Help your mom, best friend, wife, girlfriend, or sister save money. This is perfect for coupons!
Savvycents was first formed in January of 2009 after Melinda Claudepierre read a book about becoming debt free and following the cash envelope system of budgeting.
Frustrated with paper envelopes and disorganization with her wallet, she wanted to create a wallet that would allow her to keep her cash in separate categories and also give quick access to her drivers license, coin holder, and all of her discount cards and coupons. The Savvycents wallet organizer allows you to have all these thing in an attractive wallet that every woman would love to carry.
Melinda Claudepierre - President and creator of Savvycents, thebest wallet organizer is a stay-at-home mom of three kids and has been married to Jon for 15 years. She is a former teacher.
Black Patent Leather Wallet
Price: $28.00
Pink Patent Leather Wallet
Price: $28.00
Zebra Wallet
Price: $28.00
Polka Dot Wallet
Price: $28.00
Jessica
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Jessica
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
SmartBones Dog Treats Review and Giveaway
SMARTBONES THE SMART ALTERNATIVE TO RAWHIDE™ 
SmartBones® is the next generation dog chew that has all the benefits of a rawhide chew – without the rawhide.Some dogs have naturally sensitive stomachs (such as humans do) and they can’t digest certain things. If you give your dog Rawhide treats, you may want to rethink this. It may end up giving them diarrhea because they can’t digest it properly. Or- they may end up choking on them, with the treats becoming lodged inside the dog’s esophagus.
Giving Rawhide treats to dogs could come with some pretty serious risks. “Rawhide chews can contain trace amounts of toxic chemicals. And, as with other pet (or human) foods, Salmonella or E. coli contamination are possible. Even humans can be at risk when coming into contact with these bacteria on rawhide treats.” (http://pets.webmd.com)
I was thankful when I learned of Smartbones. These bones are the safer way to give your dog treats and help them do the chewing they desperately need. Chewing is the alternative to brushing a dog’s teeth. They need to chew not only because they LIKE to, but because it helps promote dental health!
I was sent 1 bag containing 3 large bones for our dog Cheyenne to review. We received the large peanut butter Smartbones. When I asked to give these a try, they asked me what breed of dog I had, and what size she was. They have different bones sizes for dogs that are smaller compared to a larger dog..
Cheyenne is a Blonde Malamute and she is 4 years old. She is kept at my moms house because I moved into an apartment building 3 years ago and couldn’t bring her. So we gave her to mom, and go play with her when possible (when mom’s not working).
She is such a beautiful dog. SO loyal, trusting, and playful with the kids. They can run up to her (even when she’s eating) and never once I hear growls, snaps, or barking. I don’t usually let the kid’s go around her when she’s eating, because no matter how loyal a dog can be, they need their eating space just like humans.
As soon as the first SmartBone came out of the package, her nose was in the air!! “What is that?” and as soon as she received it—she immediately went and found her a spot to lay down and chewed her heart out.
Her vet told my mom not to give her anything super hard. Even though big dogs may seem like they can handle the roughness, it MAY eventually lead to their teeth being broken or falling out. I was super glad when I learned that these were flexible. They weren’t so flexible that I could bend it, but they weren’t like touching a concrete brick either. They seemed to be perfect for her. They fit inside her mouth perfectly!
She seemed to not be able to get enough of it. As soon as the first bone was gone, she was looking at me for more. I HAD to tell her “No, Chey!” but those sad puppy eyes always melt my heart. It isn’t good to give them more than one treat a day though, so even if they beg and beg—only give them one a day.!
These Smartbones Treats are fortified with vitamins and minerals and are 99.2% digestible. Made from real dried chicken breast, SmartBones are a healthier alternative for your dog. They come in three different flavors; peanut butter, dental, and chicken. They also come in 4 different sizes based on your dogs weight.
I am happy to report that Cheyenne LOVED the bones. There was no choking problems as with regular rawhide treats. These didn’t upset her stomach and give her problems. They seemed to help her relax also. She is an outside dog (she sheds like crazy) and she is always walking around.. I rarely see her laying around and catching some sun. When she was chewing these bones, she seemed so relaxed, calm, and to just be enjoying the time spent with this yummy treat.!
They aren’t messy. As soon as she chewed them up, she ate them. They didn’t fall to pieces and have her scrounging the yard for the pieces that fell off. I will say that we will definitely be buying these for her regularly. She loved them, and I loved that she has an active healthy (and yummy) way to clean her teeth.
Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored Post. Products were sent to me for review purposes only, opinions expressed are 100% honest.
Buy It: SmartBones are available directly from their web site. Be sure to visit SmartBones on Facebook for more information.
Win It: SmartBones is giving 2 lucky Made.By.Jess reader 2 bags of SmartBones dog chews. Giveaway is open to US only. Please use the form below to enter. Good Luck!
Good Luck!!
Jessica a Rafflecopter giveaway
The ILike Book Review
As a mom, I want my kids to have something to look back on and remember me by. Not just remember ME, but remember all the things I loved about them. All their little quirky traits, the funny things they say, the things that melt my heart, and just everyday things they do.
It is hard for me to keep a journal because I am so busy. I have started TONS of journals FOR and TO my kids and realized that they weren’t being written in very much. There were many many months that had nothing written. I didn’t want them to look at this and think I was a dud, that they were, or there life was.
With this book, it is so easy to write down little meaningful things that you like about your child EVERY single day. I was amazed at how well thought out the book is. At the very beginning of the book it has a place to put your kid’s picture, their name, who the book is from, the year, and a place to write a special message to them.
This Ilike book not only can help the kindness in each parent- by showing them to look closely at their child’s personality and love what they see. It also helps the child because they see what they were like, and how they progressed over the year.
Even if you buy this book in the middle of the year, you aren’t wasting time. It isn’t like a calendar, where the dates are already marked for you. You can mark the months and the year in this book, so that you aren’t missing months and can buy it whenever you want!
Already this book has helped my family. I wanted a memento for each child to have that reminded them of their childhood. I didn’t just want the pictures of them growing up, I wanted stories or things about them as well. Since I couldn’t keep up with a journal, this is really the next best thing (even better in my opinion).
The ILike Book Authors so generously sent me 2. I was afraid upon arrival that I wouldn’t know which kid to use it for if I only had one. Aidan was premature and has lots of things (like old clothes, pictures, things he had in the hospital, and scrapbooks). Adisyn has some of those things but there isn’t as many of them. So when I got 2—I was ecstatic.
For AIdan, here are some things I wrote in his Like Book: “I Like that you have such a big heart.” “I like that you say please and thank you without being asked” “I like that you take up for your little sister”. Aidan has grown so much since he was an infant. I am glad to have him in my life everyday-the same goes for Adi- but when Aidan was small, I wasn’t quite sure that he would be making the ride home with me because he was so premature. I thank God everyday for him but it’s hard to tell a 5 year old that without seeming a little crazy at times. ![]()
For Adisyn: “I like that you are so carefree—You are ambitious and take life as a challenge to be accepted.” “I like your beautiful blue eyes” “I like that you love horses. Everytime we see one (toy or real) you go into a fit.. HORSEY HORSEY. “I like how much you love your big brother”.
This isn’t some kind of book that’s all laid out for you, it can be creative as you want it to be. There isn’t room to write entire paragraphs everyday, so you know that you will stay on top of this, and give your child some inspiration WHILE learning about them as well.
When you look closely there are things under the layers that will come out. It’s actually (and always has been) fun to watch my kids blossom from the babies they were to the wild, ambitious, crazy, smart children they have become.
When they can look back and see how amazing they were, and you can also! I absolutely loved this book and thank the authors for this! As parents themselves, they know how important telling your kid that you like them is!
They now have the Ilike Book for Couples
ABOUT:
Biography
As Authors, entrepreneurs, and parents of two active boys, Meredith and I are on a journey to help strengthen the lives of children, parents, and couples through our ground breaking daily books, the i like book for kids and the i like book for couples. After spending many years in corporate America, we have now devoted our lives to helping people create "fantastic relationships" by promoting a back-to-the-basics philosophy of meaningful reflection with loved ones.
Visit the iLike website to purchase your iLike books! (They make great gifts as well!)
Find them online:
Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest
Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, all opinions are 100% my own. I did receive products in exchange for an honest review.
Jessica
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Everyday Minerals Makeup Review
I received some samples from Everyday Minerals, and I couldn’t have been more impressed. They sent me 2 eyeshadows from their pearl collection, and 2 blushes.
They have managed to keep their lids on, which I LOVE. I hate when makeup companies flake on the packaging and makeup spills everywhere. There was and is absolutely no issues AT ALL with these spilling out or getting everywhere.
The first eyeshadow is “In The Garden”. This is an antique bronze color with a peralescent finish. It offers just the right shade of darkness to be used as an eyeliner, but yet can also be used as a eyeshadow also. I have used it as both, and loved how you can put just a little bit on to give you the sheen shimmer look, or add a bit more to really add some flair to your eye color.
I used these eyeshadows both wet and dry. I put on some makeup primer on my lower and upper eyelids, and let it dry. I then dipped my Pretty Girl Duo Eyeshadow/Eyeliner brush into the eyeshadow. I tap the brush over the tube to remove excess, and then press into the eyelids. The harder you press, the longer it will stay. If you barely brush it on, it WILL come off very easy, but I press hard and it stayed the entire day.
Not only are their shadow colors unique, pretty, and awesome, their names are just as unique. Names like Ado to you, Little Black Dress, Stay Cool, Starlit and more.
I loved the shimmery color of Hot Chocolate. It isn’t too dark. It looks like a sheer white color when applied. I wore it all day, and never had any problems with it coming off, smearing, or creasing in my lids like some mineral eyeshadows. The best application tricks for mineral eyeshadow is to apply a primer on your upper and lower eyelids before you put your shadow on, and then also AFTER, so it has staying power of a regular eyeshadow. OR, you can dip your brush in warm water, then dip it in the shadow, and apply—the wet look is amazing as well.
Usually when I buy mineral eyeshadows I have to place the tubes of shadow inside a glass jar with a lid so I can put it in my makeup bag. If I don’t the shadow spills out of the tube and gets all inside my makeup bag. I hate when it gets dirty. I try and keep it as clean as possible by grouping mineral eyeshadows together inside the jar. The Everyday Mineral eyeshadows aren’t inside that jar. The tube is very strong. It holds the shadow inside VERY well, so I don’t have to worry about it spilling and getting the bag dirty, yet it’s easy to open.
I really like these shadows and WILL be buying more to add to my collection! “Perfect your pretty by choosing Everyday Minerals' pearl eye shadow. Offering just the right amount of sheen and radiance, pearl shades work well for highlighting and adding a heaven sent dash of vivid color. Light up your eyes with these gorgeous treasures!”
The two blushes I received were Ambrosia and Snuggle.
Ambrosia is a soft medium-pink shade with a pretty shimmer finish. This is more of a melon type of pink, so it would work on a variety of skin tones. I don’t usually go for pink blushes, but I will say- this one amazed me. It didn’t give me that “clown” look that I hate about pink blushes. It blended in very well to give me a melon shimmer. It’s perfect to wear all year long!
The shimmers in these blushes aren’t over the top SPARKLING that make you look like you are a 14 year old girl trying on your mom’s makeup and putting glitter everywhere. I don’t usually like to wear sparkly blushes, but this isn’t the case. The sparkles in these products give a glowing look more than a over-the-top Glitter.
Perfect for when you're feeling sparkly, take your pick of Everyday Minerals' shimmer cheek color. Soft sparkle illuminate your skin, these glamorous shades make achieving a dazzling look super easy. Picking your favorite shade is the hard part!
Snuggle is a radiant pink with a hint of peach and a dust of sheen. This is a peachy like color (definitely more peach then pink) which is what I like to wear anyway. I love the bronzed, sun kissed look. This isn’t bronzy, but it definitely does look sun kissed and goes on very well. This makes my skin look very healthy and glowing.
You definitely only need a little bit to get the look you are trying for. I just dabble my brush in and swoop it on my cheekbones. It manages to stay on 4-5 hours even outside when I’m sweating and have naturally oily skin anyway. I’ve had these blushes for awhile and haven’t even managed to make a dent in the blush, so it DOES last for a long time!
Give your cheeks a dose of luminous color with Everyday Minerals' sheen cheek color. Specially formulated to define your cheekbones while adding a splash of color, these shades are sheer and gorgeous. Just the right amount of color for nearly ever skin tone!
There are so many more products that I am dying to try from Everyday Minerals. There are so many vivid, beautiful colors of eyeshadows that would look so perfect! They also have an awesome line of brushes that I am dying to try. They have everything from Kuuki Mineral Foundation Brushes, eye shadow brushes, blush brushes, and even duo ended brushes so you don’t have to have TONS of brushes..
Bohemian at heart and eclectic by nature, the soul of Everyday Minerals is deeply rooted in the natural beauty of every woman. We are organic, vegan and eco-friendly, and specialize in an innovative collection of products with a spectrum of over 300 vibrant colors and shades that flatter virtually every skin tone. Innovation is an important ingredient in our recipe for success, as the constant desire to uphold a pioneering sense of creativity is what keeps our ideas and products fantastically fresh.
Born with an organic spirit, founder Carina Menzies believes that all-natural makeup products should not cost a fortune. Carina’s goal is to empower every woman’s inner beauty to shine by focusing on what women love most about makeup: effortless application, long lasting qualities, versatile shades, and most importantly, fun! With Everyday Minerals, women all around the world can access premium quality mineral makeup at an extremely affordable price. One of Carina’s favorite things about running Everyday Minerals is creating new colors, drawing inspiration from nature, art, fashion, and most importantly the vibrant and soulful women of the world. We are constantly evolving as new ideas blossom, and invite you to come along on this naturally beautiful journey with us!
Find them online:
Disclosure: Everyday Minerals provided me with products for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. No additional compensation was received for this review.
Jessica
Hexbugs Review and Giveaway

I was sent two of the crabs from Hexbug. Aidan received the green one and the blue one. He thought it was awesome! This looks and acts just like a crab. I thought at first that it may scare Adisyn because she is super scared of bugs, but she liked it too.

It was smaller that what I thought it was going to be. It is about the size of a half dollar, but the kids thought it was cool. They couldn’t wait for me to get it out of it’s packaging and hand it to them! Aidan was super-excited, and to my surprise Adi loved them just as much. I ended up giving her the green one, and Aidan the Blue one.
This walks sideways (back and forth) just like a crab. It’s awesome because it actually responded to Aidan. He would let it walk around, following it. He stuck it on the table, and it did walk off, but it didn’t break, so it IS sturdy. If it walks under furniture or if you hold something over it, it will stop moving. BUT if you clap it will respond to the clapping and start moving again.
You don’t have to clap very hard for it to respond to you either. Just barely clapping made it move. We didn’t have to clap so hard that it hurt hands or ears, lol. It wasn’t like being at a ballgame, trying to clap over the audience.. it was just amazing to see him so interested in this!
It was SO fun to put these in a dark room and chase these with flashlights. They have a light sensor, so they also respond to light. Aidan loved this, thought it was so funny. Adisyn didn’t want any part of it, because she’s scared of the dark, but Aidan and his daddy had tons of fun.
This toy runs off of batteries, and Hexbug does sell battery changes. Unlike other toys where you have to practically dismantle the entire toy to change batteries, this one has a battery lid that you unscrew to get to the battery compartment.
I wouldn’t recommend that this be bought for younger kids or anyone who is rough on their toys. Although it is sturdy (like it fell off the table and didn’t break) but it isn’t so sturdy that it would up-hold very rough treatment because the plastic is very thin. It doesn’t take much for the legs pins to fall off, but if your kid is careful and loves collecting robots, I would say this is perfect for them!
They sell more than Just the Hexbug Crabs. They sell ants, spiders, larva, and scarabs.

Find them on
Youtube
About:
HEXBUG®Crab Micro Robotic Creatures
The HEXBUG Crab is a micro sized robotic creature that uses its autonomous light and
sound sensors to hide in the dark and run from loud noises. You can control where
each HEXBUG Crab scurries and can make it change direction with the clap of your
hands.
How does it work?
The HEXBUG Crab will travel in a straight line until it hears a loud noise or encounters
a dark place. Upon noise, the bug reverses in a half circle, then moves forward again in
a new direction. Two button cell batteries are included.
Fits in the palm of your hand for miniature fun at anytime!
• Product Length: 2.76 inches
• Product Width: 2.36 inches
• Product Height:1.97 inches
• Product Weight:1.1 ounces
HEXBUG Crab is CPSIA approved for kids ages 8 and up. Available in various colors
including Indigo, Turquoise, Green, Red and Black
• MRRP $14.99
• Available at major retailers nationwide or at www.hexbug.com
Disclosure:
This isn’t a sponsored post, all opinions are 100% mine. I did receive products in exchange for an honest review.
BUY IT: You can buy the Crabs for $14.99 on the website.
WIN IT: One Lucky Made.By.Jess reader will win their own Hexbug Crab!!
Jessica a Rafflecopter giveaway
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Repurpose: The coolest coffee cup around
Welcome to a cleaner world.
These Repurpose Compostable coffee cups are amazing. They come in a pack of 12, and the lids are included. You don’t need a sleeve with these cups. I have heated and reheated coffee in these cups and never once could feel the heat through the cup.
The are lined with plant material, which are 100% renewable resources. So not only are you lowering your carbon footprint, you are helping the earth in many other ways. These cups break down and decompose after 90 days. So, even if you toss this, you don’t have to worry about it sitting in a landfill forever and a day.
I truly admire companies that are thinking green. They are trying to do better by our planet, and make us consumers more aware of the price we are paying by tossing everything away.
These cups are the first of it’s kind. I have never seen another coffee cup made from 100% renewable resources that break down that fast and so easily. Even the box the cups come in is made from 90% recycled paper, and they use 65% less carbon dioxide to produce!
I am a BIG coffee drinker. I drink coffee daily, sometimes even a couple times daily. I also travel a lot. I was having trouble finding cups that didn’t tip and spill in my floorboard when turning a curve. I needed something that would keep my coffee hot, but would fit in my cup holder. These cups do the trick.
I also wanted something I didn’t mind tossing. I don’t want to have coffee cups rolling around my floorboard or stuck inside my cup holder. I wanted something I could toss in the nearest trash can and not feel bad about it.! I absolutely found it in Repurpose.
Even better- I don’t have to squeeze an insulated sleeve on the coffee cup and then fight to get it off. It insulates the coffee by itself, yet you can’t feel the heat on your hands. It EVEN keeps cold beverages cold, so if you aren’t a big coffee drinker- and would like a to-go cup that you could toss with no worries, you could put soda, juice, or even water in these!
These are also thick enough to be able to rinse them out and reuse them a couple of times before tossing them. This makes the 12 pack last a whole lot longer than just using them once and tossing.
They are also thick enough that you don’t have to worry about them collapsing when your holding them! I’ve had that happen before and it wasn’t such a pretty site! The outside has a textured surface so that they are easier to grip. No slip-ups here.!
I would definitely recommend these to anyone who wants to cut back on the amount of coffee cups they toss per week, month, and YEAR. This makes tossing a little easier, because you KNOW it’s not going to sit in a landfill forever and a day. You can purchase these HERE (Bed, Bath, and Beyond $4.99 for 12-pack) or HERE (Amazon for $6.99)
ABOUT Repurpose:
Repurpose was founded in 2009 by a group of young environmental entrepenuers, looking for quality solutions to the problem of single use petroleum based plastic products. After searching and finding few quality and cost competitive compostable solutions, they decided to manufacture their own. Repurpose was born with its mission to replace all single use disposable plastics with high quality, innovative, plant based alternatives. Repurpose makes products from plants, not petroleum, using Ingeo™ resin and meet ASTM 6400 compostability standards.
Repurpose products are now available to consumers and to businesses allowing everyone the opportunity to lessen their dependence on oil, lower their carbon footprint, and find non-toxic, safe alternatives to plastic.

Say hello to the greenest coffee cup in the world. The technology behind the Repurpose insulated hot cup keeps hot beverages warmer longer, and prevents heat from escaping the cup while protecting the user from burning their hands without the use of sleeves, “jackets” or double-cupping! Traditional insulated cups are made by adding additional layers of paper, but the Repurpose insulated hot cup does the same, better, with our patented insulation material on a single wall cup. Our insulated cup is also chlorine free and uses soy-based inks. Best of all the product generates less CO2 than a traditional paper cup when produced due to it’s Ingeo lining, and can be composted in 90 days in a commercial composter, offering the greenest possible alternative to Styrofoam and all other non-compostable insulated cups.
Repurpose compostables are designated as compostable in the United States, as opposed to biodegradable in other geographies. What is the difference?
In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission publishes a "Green Guide." According to Green Guide, repurpose compostables falls under the category of "compostable." The Green Guide defines compostable products as those that will break down, or become part of usable compost, in a timely matter. For composting, a "timely manner" is approximately the same time that it takes organic compounds, like leaves, grass and foodstuff to compost. Biodegradable materials are defined as those which break down and return to nature in a reasonably short amount of time after customary disposal or use. A "reasonably short time" depends on where the product is disposed. For specifics on the FTC's Green Guide, visit: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/grnrule/guides980427.htm#260.7.
Read MORE FAQ’S HERE
“We find ways to repurpose everything we use:
Old Shoe ----> Flower Planter.
What do you repurpose in your life?”
Go to http://facebook.com/repurpose and let us know!
and also find them on twitter and youtube!
Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, all opinions are 100% my own. I was sent products in exchange for an honest review.
Jessica
TFX NonStick Baking and Cooking Sheet Review
I got the chance to review the TFX Nonstick Sheet from Engstrom Trading. This is an AMAZING way to lose those calories from butter and oil. You can bake with this, as well as use it on the stove.
This is an AWESOME way to cook oil free. Everything I tested on this never stuck ONCE. I was amazed. It is reusable, so it can be used in tons of different ways. You can cook with it, wash it, then turn around and bake come delicious cookies after supper.
It can replace so many things that are in your kitchen- aluminum foil, parchment paper, plastic wrap, butter, grease, oil, cooking sprays… It not only helps keep the earth clean, while helping keep your diet free from oils, butter, and grease. This is by far the best thing I could think of to rid fatty products from your diet.
Have you actually thought about how much plastic wrap, foil, and parchment paper goes into your garbage? Quite a bit, huh? The same said this way also. I wanted to go greener in the kitchen, but wasn’t quite sure how to rid of all the disposing of these necessities (or so I thought were necessities). The TFX Nonstick Sheet has SHOWN me how to do this.!
TFX Non-Stick is a reusable non-stick sheet that replaces parchment paper and wax paper for baking. It’s easy to use. All you have to do is line your baking sheet with the sheet, place your unbaked goods on top and bake away. You then then pull cakes, cookies, and so many other delicious baked goodies off the pan without all the mess. Did I just say that? UM—YES! You can now have some yumminess without having to scrub the pan after.. Dream for me!!
The best thing about this is that you can cut the sheet to fit your needs. Whether your pan is big or small, circle or rectangle.. NEVER scrub another pan in your life. These sheets can be used 1000+ times and ARE dishwasher safe, so you can just throw them in with the pans, kick your feet up, and enjoy that delicious cookie (or cookies) I won’t tell ! =)
It eliminates the need for oil, butter and non-stick spray for cooking. I have used this on many items that I recently used oil on. My kids love eggs, but I hated frying them in butter or oil in the morning for their fried eggs. I now have a sheet piece the size of my frying pan, that I can just crack the egg on the sheet and WA-LAH—no bad cholesterol for the kiddo’s for breakfast.
TFX® Non-Stick Sheet is made from “glass fiber coated with 4 layers of PTFE which prevents anything including bacteria from sticking to the sheet.”I love THIS! Not worrying about bacteria sticking to this, the fact that I can wash it and reuse it MANY MANY times, AND it’s only $10.. YES, please.!
I love that I can just put this in the oven, lay a pizza on top and not have to worry about the pizza sliding in between the rack pieces and falling on the bottom of the oven. I have also used this to bake chicken strips, fries, corndogs, and MORE. Everything seemed so fresh, so yummy! Crisp and I didn’t even have to use non-stick spray.
You can even place this on the bottom of your oven to catch all those nasty spills. No MORE messy oven bottoms, clean up is so amazing. Just take the sheet out, shake the crumbs in the trash (or wipe them in with a damp washcloth-depending on the crumbs).
Clean up is so easy, that it makes cooking and baking so much easier. Who WANTS to wash more dishes than they have to? Not me- if I can avoid it. This is such an amazing product, and I will definitely buy MORE when I need to- But I’m not even any where close to the limit, so I’m good for now.
Thank you Engstrom!! You are AMAZING. You have given me MORE time with my family because there is less clean up, meals are healthier, and we bake WAY more. Who wouldn’t when you don’t have to scrub the pans? LOL. We have had a ball reviewing this =)
The TFX Non-Stick Product Line makes your cooking and baking a breeze with minimum cleanup on a non-stick surface. It promotes healthy cooking and baking by eliminating the need for oil, butter and non-stick sprays. You can reuse your TFX Non-Stick products over +1,000 times, minimizing landfill waste.
TFX Non-Stick Sheet (Click to Purchase)
- Replaces parchment paper and wax paper for your baking needs
- Use in skillet to eliminate the need for non-stick spray, butter and oils
- Dishwasher safe and reusable +1,000 times
- Cut with scissors to fit your needs
Find them online:
Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube
Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% mine, and not influenced in any way. I did receive products in exchange for an honest review.
Jessica
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