Review: MadeFromEarth Three Berry Face Serum

Made From Earth is one of my favorite companies, if you didn’t know already. We have worked together plenty of times in the past and everything has always been WAY beyond my exceptions. #BlewMeAway!

This time around, I got to review the Three Berry Face Serum. I use this more than one time during the day. It can be used in the morning after cleansing the skin and then again at night before you go to bed.

I LOVE this. My skin has an oily tendency, so using this at night instead of a night cream that has a heavy/oily base is much better for my skin. The texture of this face serum is just absolute heaven. It is a light textured serum but yet SO soft and silky feeling.

Made From Earth didn’t just throw these 3 berries together for the heck of it, they compliment each other. The 3 berries are; blueberries, raspberry, and cranberry. They each have their own special “elements” that bring so MUCH more to skin care. There is nothing as natural as using fruits in skincare!

Blueberries override the free radical damage that has already been done to your skin. It also protects the skin against NEW damage that the elements (wind/sun) can do to the skin. They also help keep the skin looking young, healthy, and clear.

Raspberries are known for their calming, soothing effect on the skin. If you’re skin tends to be red and irritated- this could do wonders for calming both! Red raspberries have been shown to have the highest natural content of ellagic acid which is amazing turning around at cell division, regeneration and growth. It is also amazingly moisturizing to tissue and assists in healing skin problems.

Cranberries are known as superfruits and are the next big thing in skin care. Not only do they have antibacterial properties, but they are VERY well at helping keep skin looking young because they have amazing anti-aging properties.

They assist is cell renewal, so they naturally brighten your skin. Cranberries have high amounts of antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin B-3, and vitamin B-5, so they have a MAJOR stance especially for the winter months! The skin can become dried out and the cranberries help moisturize and to brighten that dull skin!

I love that I can put this serum under or on top of my skin. If I see my makeup beginning to dry out during the day (winter) or my skin getting chapped, all I have to do is rub a little dab over top of my makeup.

Most of the time I use this both under and over. It helps secure my makeup (AS a base/primer).

I love the way that my skin feels silky smooth all day long. I can go to bed knowing I’m not smothering my skin in something that’s actually too heavy for my skin type.

This is just absolutely perfect! It doesn’t take very long to absorb and it’s only $27.99. This would make the perfect stocking stuffer for that beauty guru in your life.

Connect with Made From Earth on Facebook and Twitter

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, products were sent for review purposes only. The opinions in this post are completely honest and not influenced in any way,

Jessica Renee

Review: October Starlook Starbox

If you’ve never heard of Starlooks Starbox, you’ve been missing out. It is a monthly box that you can buy for $25- but it comes with SO much more than $25. You get 3-4 FULL size bottles of beauty supplies every month you buy a box.

The October Starbox comes with tons of color! I love how they change up the color on the box every month. So it’s not only a surprise INSIDE the box, but outside as well. I loved the little ribbon wrap. After I open the box, I keep it for random stuff (whatever that may be) because the box is as sturdy as it is pretty.

It has a very beautifully colored red/orange lipstick with a very unique name "Masquerade". This is a blood red lipstick with a slight undertone of orange shimmer. It is absolutely spectacular. Since I recently dyed my hair maroon with black lowlights- this lipstick looked amazing on me!

 

The second item in the box was the Gold Dust Eye pencil. This is a brilliant gold color to it. The only thing is I wish it would glide just a tad bit easier. It was pretty, but I had to press a little harder and go over it 2-3 times.

The next item is the Eye Rock Eye Tattoo. This thing is amazing and beautifully colored. It took about 45 seconds altogether to put on. All I had to do was pop it out of the white paper like attachment, place it on my eye where I want it, and place a wet washcloth on it and wa-lah! Instant beauty!

The Posh/Peddle eyeshadow pigment was my absolutely favorite item in the box. It is such a beautiful bright purple that naturally bring out my green/hazel eyes. I love that it looks so amazing with the gold eyeliner that came in the box.

Everything that came in the box looks stunning together. I love that with each box they send that the items inside go together and can also be beautifully mix-matched with other items we already have!

You can purchase any of the other previous boxes online as well

Connect with Starlook online- Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, &

Pinterest

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, products were sent for review purposes only. The opinions in this post are completely honest and not influenced in any way.

Jessica Renee

Keeping it Cool by Dressing Appropriately this Winter

Since the winter time is quickly approaching, if you haven’t already been thinking about what apparel needs to be added to your wardrobe, it’s time to make a list! If you’ve worn the same coat for several years and it’s worn down or you currently desire to revamp your style, it’s possible to do this frugally without spending a fortune. Winter coats are expensive and so are other winter essentials, from warm leggings to long sleeve tops. Instead of worrying about how you’re going to afford an expensive coat and other apparel, consider alternative methods like using a New York and Company promo code. Other ideas include shopping at affordable stores that will offer fashionable clothing that’s still durable and trendy.

Ask Friends and Family Members if They Have Extra Winter Wear –
If you have family members that live near by or friends that own a lot of clothing ask them if they have winter clothing that they were planning on dropping off at Goodwill. Many times friends and family have clothing that their kids have outgrown or clothing that they just don’t like but perhaps you will, so it never hurts to ask. Instead of them giving away clothing that you could use, don’t be bashful and find out if they have winter apparel that will look stylish and keep you and your family warm. They’ll probably be more than happy to offer you apparel that will otherwise be given away.

Shop at Shops Like TJ Maxx and Shopko –
If you don’t have the budget to go to Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue, opt for other great stores such as TJ Maxx, Shopko, and Nordstrom Rack. The clothing might be from season’s past but it’s still trendy clothing that will look just as nice! Plus, you’ll save a lot of money as opposed to spending twice as much at an expensive store. Think smart and you’ll come home with extra apparel because you’ll be smart and find clothing at an affordable shop.

Use Coupons, Deals, and Promotions –
Do you ever happen to look inside your shopping bag after you leave the store? Many stores such as Target, Hollister, Express, and more put coupons and promo codes in your bag that you can use online or in the store next time you visit! It’s a great incentive stores use to get you to go back, but only use the codes if you truly need more clothing! If you are in need of more stylish apparel then it’s a great idea to put the coupons in your wallet and save them for when the sales start. You’ll have a fabulous wardrobe that will keep you and your family warm and you’ll achieve this wardrobe without spending a lot of money as well!

Sierra is a freelance writer who loves to shop, but she is constantly figuring out a way to save money in the process.

Melissa & Doug Terrific Twenty List and Giveaway

Melissa & Doug's Top 20 Holiday Gifts for 2012 is out, check it out here.

YOU can have a chance to win items from the top 20 list every day! Enter a giveaway everyday


Jessica Renee

Book Review: Unstuck- 52 Ways to Get Your Creativity Flowing

Can’t get the creative juices flowing? Unstuck features 52 simple, creativity-generating projects that can fit into any lifestyle. Arranged in order of time commitment—from 30 seconds to several hours—the 52 projects can be done randomly or one per week for an entire year of creativity building. Also included are 12 artist profiles that illuminate what other successful creative people do to stay inspired and productive, along with blank journaling pages to sketch, scribble, and jot down your experiences and ideas. Roll the dice (made from the “custom inspiration dice” template in the book) and see where your creative energy takes you!

When my copy of this came in the mail- I practically devoured this book. I stuck it in my purse and took it with me when I went to pick my son up from school. Shoo did time ever fly so fast. There are some AMAZING ideas in this book.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a writer, crafter, or artist- if your career or hobby needs you to be creative on a daily basis, you KNOW how it feels to get “ the creative block.” I don’t know how many times I’ve been working on something and then lost my train of thought and wished there was SOMETHING anything I could do to get back on track.

Now, with the Unstuck- 52 Ways to Get Your Creativity Flowing Book I don’t have to sit and ponder what it is I could do to actually get some work done without procrastinating and losing creativeness. This book is jam packed with amazing ideas to get moving!

This book has many ideas- not everyone you read is going to make you “BAM lose that fog in your brain.” But that’s ok- there are some that are going to grab your attention and you can immediately run with it.

The tasks are divided by how much time they will take.. so if you’re in a rush and just need a quick boost of inspiration you can look in the front. If you’re looking for something that is going to take a little more time, try the middle. LONGER like an hour- projects are in the back.

Unstuck is laid out like 365; a Creative Journal where there are spaces where you can write about your ideas or whatever after each exercise. . Each sections has about 10 exercises and they are all fun, thought provoking ideas.

If you’ve ever been stuck you KNOW how devastating this can be to your workflow.  Say NO to being stuck and get this amazing book. I have really enjoyed this book. It is another book that should be either on your desk, in your bag, or on your bookshelf.

Make sure it’s easily accessible, because your going to need it more than you’d like to admit.

Follow Noah!

www.noahscalin.com

www.skulladay.blogspot.com

www.makesomething365.blogspot.com

BUY IT: You can buy Unstuck from the Creative Publishing Website for $17.99

It’s also available as an ebook in all these form:

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, products were sent for review purposes only. The opinions in this post are completely honest and not influenced in any way.

Jessica Renee

Review: Fembody Hair, Nails, and Skin Activator

Some of you remember that I’ve had the chance to work with Fembody before. I got a chance to review their Advanced Bone Activator at the beginning of this year. When I got a chance to review the Fembody Hair, Skin, and Nails Activator I jumped all over it.

This is an amazing product for healthy hair, radiant skin and strong nails. My hair is already quite long, but I could always use the extra healthy look. I really wanted to review this because of the nails and skin.

I have horrible nail quality. Where I have to wash so many dishes my nails become brittle and break off very easily. Even when they don’t break off, they tend to be really soft and have a tendency to flake off (my thumbnail does). So I really wanted to have some amazing looking nails that are strong and healthy.

They ended up sending one bottle, which is equivalent to a one month supply. The reason that this supplement is so unique and has many more benefits than the average supplement is because of the ingredients.

Bamboo Extract is essential for humans. Bamboo produces silica which is what plays a huge part in healthy hair and skin. Taking 1 supplement a day can significantly improve the health of both.

It can help skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. The reason it’s so effective is because it helps the body drink in all those essential minerals such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

Just in one month’s time I can tell a HUGE difference in the health of my skin, hair, and nails. I can tell that it helped my body absorb not only the vitamins and minerals in THIS supplement, but those in my regular vitamin as well.

My nails is what has seen the most vast improvement. As they would split and crack before- now there isn’t even a trace of the splitting at all. It’s like they were never split in the first place.

My hair has much more strength it seems, and a fuller body to it. I love the volume. Before when I washed my hair I would see strands of hair EVERYWHERE. Now, there isn’t much but I see still some hair strands in the bottom of the shower/tub when I’m done (which is to be expected because we shed).

My skin feels smoother and softer to touch. The overall condition of my skin seems to be healthier. I don’t have any skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis , so I can’t say how well it would work for that. I DO have Keratosis Pilaris which is called chicken skin. The Vitamin A in this supplement is what has caused the “chicken skin” to remain calm of the ingrown hair like bumps on my thighs. They aren’t completely gone, but I’ve seen improvement.

I can say that with continued use, I think this would be an amazing product to use for all 3; hair, nails, and skin. Since there has been so much improvement with just one bottle.

BUY IT: You can buy the Fembody Hair, Nails, and Skin Activator on the Fembody Website and the  GNC  website.

Connect with FemBody on their website,

facebook, twitter, and pinterest

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Jessica Renee

Review: Spibelt

Do you exercise outdoors; walking, running, biking, or hiking? DO you have problems toting those small items that you desperately need to carry with you? Little items being cell phone, keys, or energy supplements such as granola bars,

My Nokia Lumia 900 was brand new when I took it on a job with me the first time. I out my headphones on, turned on some Alanis Morrissette and got down to it. While I was jogging though, I quickly realized that with a glass screen, my phone could quickly become NOTHING if I accidentally dropped it.

I wasn’t positive that if I started sweating I could keep a tight grip on it. NOR was I positive that it wouldn’t come clunking out of my hoodie and land smack dab on the pavement. My yoga running pants have no pockets, so that wasn’t an option. People were saying Armbands, but in the summer- that HAS to leave a major tan line.

Not until I heard about the SPIBELT did I feel comfortable running with a $500 smartphone. It arrived VERY quickly. At first glace, I wasn’t so sure that my phone would fit in it though, it looked SO small. AND the Nokia has a 4.3” screen. I was thinking “Keys, yes! Phone, Not so sure”. UNTIL I tried it. I was amazed at how far the fabric on this thing could stretch.

Before I started wearing it- I read what it was all about. They said that I wouldn’t notice it was there. That it wasn’t heavy and didn’t make anything I put in the spibelt jump up and down.

They were exactly right. While I was jogging, I completely forgot that it was there. It wasn’t bumping into my stomach, so I didn’t really feel it at all. There was room for my phone, my keys, and a small pack of gum. I didn’t want too much stuff in there because of the glass screen on my phone. I don’t have a screen protector, so I thought the keys would probably bounce around and scratch the screen, but they didn’t.

The SPIbelt I have is the basic SPIbelt that can be found HERE. They have made some that are targeted towards athletes and need access to energy ge, which is called the Energy Belt. They even have some you can clip on a leash while walking your dog.

If you find yourself needing a small pouch to store your essentials when you run, you should definitely check out the SPIbelt. There is room to attach headphones to an MP3 player or smartphone and still zip the SPIbelt without thinking it’s going to fall out!

Connect with SPIbelt on Facebook and Twitter

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, products were sent for review purposes only. The opinions in this post are completely honest and not influenced in any way.

Jessica Renee

Traveling Easy with #GoGoBot

Orlando, Florida has always been a place on my to-visit list. I would like to stay more than a week, so that my family and I get a chance to visit all the MUST visit places. Gogobot.com has helped me plan everything to a tee! I love feeling like master of trip-planning.

Nothing says vacation like non-stop fun! The first place I would love to visit is the Walt Disney Theme Parks. I would love to spend some time in fantasy land with my 2 kids. Nothing says magical like bright lights, fun rides, and characters that they’ve seen since they were born.
I am still waiting until my daughter turns 4, which will happen this upcoming February. I want her to be able to remember all the fun, magical memories that will be made.

I am pretty sure that when we go, we’ll be staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Disney has been above and beyond themselves with this. How could I contain my excitement when I heard about giraffes and the such walking outside the windows of where we’ll be staying? I couldn’t. It’s amazing how much thought Disney parks put into making people happy!

I am a huge Harry Potter fan. I’ve been reading the books since I was in 6th grade, so I really really want to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter place in Orlando. It would just be so surreal to see all the stuff up close. The Hogwarts palace, the Hogwarts Express, and they even have shops that are in the books/movies and you can buy stuff. It’ll be amazing to see everything up close!

I would love to take my family to eat at the Rainforest Café. On the Gogobot website, it’s showing that it’s a bit pricey- but it’s more about the atmosphere. My son and daughter would get a kick out of eating so close to an elephant replica.

Everything was just so easy! AND they have Iphone and Ipad apps, so you can get answers on a whim!

Gogobot allows you to tap into the knowledge of your friends when planning a trip anywhere. You can find like-minded travelers and inspiration for your next vacation, creating easy-to-use wishlists you can return to again and again.
And when you are not in vacation mode or planning a trip, you can discover hidden gems in your own neighborhood for entertaining guests or a weekend staycation.
The best part? Every page on Gogobot is personalized. You can see reviews from your friends and people you are following at the top, which allows you to weed out the noise and fraudulent reviews that become a problem on other review sites. Check out Gogobot today!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Gogobot. The opinions and text are all mine.

Jessica Renee

Book Review: Lemons & Lavender- The Eco Guide to Better Homekeeping by Billee Sharp

Author Billee Sharp shares her freecycling, budget-savvy, barter-better wisdom in this step-by-step handbook for revolutionizing spending habits and reclaiming quality of life. Lemons and Lavender is an inspiring and instructive guide to living the handmade life by consuming less and creating more. Practical and profound, this handy how-to covers every area of life and offers easy-to-do tips, recipes, and advice for saving money and the planet. Learn how to ditch your lawn and raise organic vegetables, cook healthy meals for pennies, cure minor maladies from the kitchen cabinet, save big dollars with small repairs, and eco-clean your house with lemons and lavender. With this guide, families can live more joyfully and far more creatively, all on a dime.

• Garden-to-table recipes for every meal

• Eco-deco ideas for furnishing your home

• Recipes for nontoxic cleaners, house paint and more

• Start a seed sharing garden with your neighbors

• Easy-to-make gifts with handcrafted gift wrap

• Grow your own cup of delicious herbal tea

• Learn to use organic sea salts, skin scrubs and detox bath therapies

MY THOUGHTS*

Simplifying your life is as easy as simplifying your home. When our homes are clean and organized, we tend to feel better; more relaxed. When you have an amazing book like Lemons and Lavender, homekeeping is simple and easy.

In this book Lemons and Lavender, you will find a ton of ways to save money using creative ideas to clean your house and create gifts for others. Saving money and being eco-friendly go hand in hand. Whoever said that you had to have a cleaner for every single different thing your cleaning? YOU don’t! There IS a better way than spending so much money on cleaning products.

This book isn’t too heavy or too thick. SO you can put this in your cleaning tote, on your desk, or in your purse to take with you. It makes for easy reading and finding out some very cool and amazing recipes.

In the introductory of the book she talks about how “times have changed”. We went from living simple lives, to using too many chemicals in every aspect of life, to wanting it simple again. I am SO for the simple life. I don’t want to think about all the different

Who wants to buy cleaners when they can be made simply from things you either already have or items you can get at the grocery store on your next visit. Need help with budgeting? She gives that information as well.

Billie Sharp is just like me! There is nothing wrong with shopping at thrift stores for fabric, nothing wrong with picking that amazing bookshelf you seen up off the curb, or trying to be more eco-friendly.

You aren’t only saving money by doing these things, but you are saving items from being thrown in landfills that will eventually end up there. I don’t know how many times I’ve found awesome shelves and tables on the side of the road that were in perfect working condition- they just needed a little re-haul and a little love.

In my opinion these little “road picks” are even better than those built at the store, because you get to say “I repainted that” or “I decoupaged that.” There is so much more “LOVE” for an item when you’ve put your own touches on it.

The same is said for cleaning products and handmade gifts. Wouldn’t you rather KNOW what just went into that all-purpose cleaner then having to read the back of the bottle to find a million names that you can’t pronounce? I know I would.

The gift item is hands down the best thing you could give someone. I would rather someone make me something with their hands then spend a ton of money buying me something. It comes from the heart rather than a wallet. Save YOUR money and make your own Christmas Gifts this year!

I love this book, as you can tell. This is the perfect stocking stuffer or gift for a new home/apartment owner. They just spent a ton of money buying something they want to keep nice and clean, and with this book they will not only save MONEY keeping it in tip-top shape, but they’ll also save time shopping for floor cleaner, window cleaner, toilet cleaner, all-purpose cleaner. They can make them at home.

BUY IT: You can buy the Lemons and Lavender book starting at $11.39 on Amazon, & Barnes & Noble

OR you can buy The eBook:
Amazon Kindle
B&N Nook
Apple iBook

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, products were sent for review purposes only. The opinions in this post are completely honest and not influenced in any way.

Jessica Renee

Review: Kicking Horse coffee; Dark

I am a coffee drinker, and by coffee drinker- I mean, I can’t function properly without it. I wake up in the morning 30 minutes earlier than I have to just so I can get a few cups in before I have to wake my son up for school.

I’m not a diehard coffee drinker that can drink plain black coffee, though. I prefer it with sugar and cream. Without my morning coffee, I feel like just crawling back into bed, pulling the cover over my head, and sleeping all day.

When I got a chance to review a jar of coffee from Kicking Horse Coffee, I was ecstatic. I love trying out new coffee! I was sent a can of the Kick Ass Dark Coffee.

The Kicking Horse Dark Coffee has a bright green lid. The coffee comes in whole beans, and smells amazing. It is certified organic and fair trade. Kicking Horse has beat the system when it comes to making amazing coffee.

Usually dark roasts end up tasting overly strong and leave a bitter acidic taste in my mouth that tastes slightly burnt. But this dark roast does an amazing job of tasting full of flavor without the slightest hint of tasting burnt.

It tastes and smells delectable, while keeping the powerful kick of a dark roast. This dark roast is full-bodied,  and strong. I feel like it has as much kick as drinking a whole pot of regular coffee or even an energy drink.

It has a smooth and robust flavor that goes down well. No bitterness, and no nasty stomachache later from it being WAY too much. I tend to drink more coffee than I should, so this is the perfect coffee for me. I am dying to try all their other flavors as well! I would love to try the 454 Horse Power, Cliff Hanger Espresso, and the Grizzly Claw.

About the company: Small in stature but big on flavour, Kicking Horse Coffee is Canada’s #1 Organic Fair Trade Coffee. Nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rockies at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River, a lot has changed since those humble beginnings in 1996. Now employing over 40 dedicated personnel and occupying a 60,000 ft2 office and roasting facility, a growing and loyal following continually reinforces our commitment to roasting, packaging and blending, the finest super-premium coffee in the country!

Where to purchase: You can purchase Kicking Horse Coffee at retailers throughout Canada and US. You can also purchase from the Kicking Horse Coffee website and on Amazon.com. Prices are $12.99 and up.

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, products were sent for review purposes only. The opinions in this post are completely honest and not influenced in any way.

Jessica Renee