Review: Cover Yourself with Cleava

I have some really cute shirts, but they are low-cut. This is sort-of a problem for me. I don’t like showing Cleavage AT ALL. Although, (In my case) it isn’t much. Don’t laugh at me. All of these shirts have been sitting in my dresser, not being used at all.

I really wanted to wear them! There’s only so many undershirts you can wear without them looking frumpy, so I was extremely excited to be introduced to Cleava.

Cleava snaps right onto your bra, so that it looks like you have a camisole underneath protecting everything from showing. It was just nice not having to choose 2 shirts for every outfit! Saved this mama some sanity and some time! Woohoo.

This is an absolute MUST-have for any woman or girl. It’s convenient, easy, and amazing quality. I got sent a brown one, so I can’t wear it with EVERY outfit, so I am totally thinking about getting a black one.

BUY IT: You can buy an original Cleava for $20

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: Simply Chickie- Chicks Rock Organic Kids Tshirt

Have you ever heard the words: organic, witty, and adorable clothing EVER said in the same sentence? I am pretty sure I haven’t, until NOW that is. We got the chance to review a toddler T-shirt from Simply Chickie Clothing and we fell in LOVE!

It was really hard for me to choose which shirt to get, because they were all very adorable! They had some really awesome choices!

I ended up getting the Chicks Rock T-shirt for Adisyn. She loves cute clothes, and I love seeing her face light up when she gets something in the mail. I love that it’s 100% cotton, she loves that there is a tiny little chickie on the front.

She was absolutely thrilled with the shirt! It is super cute and super soft. Certified organic cotton grown on organic farms! No pesticides, or fertilizers! It is made with unbleached cotton, so it’s completely 100% organic.

I love that they are all original. I’ve never seen any other clothing with the sayings that these have, some of them crack me up! I seriously want to get the Mommy Needs a Hand Tee! Sizes are available from 3 months to 6T. Retail prices range from $14 – $24.

 

Simply Chickie has some very amazing baby clothes, women t shirts, and hats as well as toddler and kids clothing. So if you’re looking for the PERFECT Christmas gift- here it is! You will FALL in love with how soft they are.

Connect with Simply Chickie on Facebook, Twitter, and The Blog

About Simply Chickie:

When Gwen was pregnant with her daughter, Elizabeth, she decided to put the designs on clothes. So, the Little E Chickie wear line began. The clothing is printed on 100% organic cotton - a very important thing to Elizabeth - though she doesn't quite know that yet!

Gwendolyn is the owner of the company, Gwen Designs. Creativity runs in her background; she comes from a long line of artists and writers; in fact, she is a direct descendent of Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author of the 1850 novel, The Scarlet Letter.

One of her earliest memories is Sundays growing up—when her father would gather crayons, paints, and paper from the kitchen cabinet for her to use while he and her mother slept in until almost noon. During college, she studied art history as well as abstract art with Karen Peterson from Hartford College for Women. Later, she studied the art of watercolor with Laura Eden.
In 1988, she lived in Tokyo, Japan where she became fascinated with the fine detail, elegance, and attention to nature that Japanese art highlights. Japanese paper and paint are the mediums she uses to create the art that gets printed on cards and textiles.

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: Color Edge; Pearl Shampoo, Acidifying Conditioner, & Shine Cream

If passion and hair care had a baby it would be Color Edge.

Pearl Shampoo:

Made with Jojoba Oil

Designed to remove excess residue, pollutants and DHT build up, to support healthy follicles. Jojoba Oil filled beads leave hair silky and soft. Our first Poo infused with Chamomile and Aloe Vera to show your true colors.

As I looked up the benefits that Jojoba Oil has on the hair- I realized that these benefits are AMAZING. Jojoba OIl is much in the same as our own scalp oil (sebum).

As I started using this shampoo, I could immediately tell that the health of my hair was improving vastly. Jojoba Oil works awesome for people who have dry, damaged, or brittle hair.

As a trick I’ve learned over the years- when you wash your hair- you NEED to avoid washing your hair in extremely hot water. It damages the hair because it strips it of it’s natural oils. So washing with the Pearl Shampoo in tepid/warm water for the past couple of weeks has provided amazing results.

If you’re used to using hair products that have a lot of chemicals in them- whether it be hair washing products, hair styling products, or conditioner- you know how weighed down your hair can get. This shampoo helps to wash away all those previous chemicals that have been put into your hair.

I didn’t realize how much my hair was being weighed down by the chemicals in my mousse and hairspray. Even using a regular shampoo that isn’t sulfate free. I didn’t only noticed extra weight, but my hair tended to get oily very quickly.

I was washing my hair almost daily because of how oily it looked. Now I don’t have to worry about that. The Pearl Shampoo takes all those chemicals and washes them down the drain, leaving my hair shiny, soft, manageable and CLEAN.

CLEAN as in- No chemicals, extremely moisturized yet not oily, and SHINY. It also has aloe vera and chamomile as ingredients. I also researched the benefit of both of these- and Oh my- I didn’t know the extent of the benefits that these give hair!

The aloe vera can help assist in hair growth, and it can heal and most of the time cure scalp problems. Chamomile helps to make your hair look naturally healthy, while nourishing and providing moisture.

The shampoo smells amazing; a mixture of cilantro, pineapple, and citrus! YUM. I love the silky texture of the shampoo. It is a yellowish color with tiny little blue beads that you can actually SEE inside the shampoo. The beads are filled with Jojoba oil and the beads burst as you rub the shampoo in! It’s amazing.

BUY IT: You can buy the Color Edge Pearl Shampoo for $7/ 2 ounces, $15/ 12 ounces, $38/ 32 ounces, or $78/ 1 gallon

Acidifying Conditioner

pH 3.15 - 3.50

Formulated with the perfect pH balance to lock in color by sealing the cuticle. One single application is effective (not to mention convenient) enough to defend against aggressive alkaline chemicals and neutralize post–coloring odors. Frizzies beware.

Since I have been using this conditioner with the Pearl Shampoo, I have noticed such a HUGE improvement in the overall texture of my hair. It is astonishing what changing it up can do for you!

This conditioner is astonishing and awe-inspiring because it gave my hair such fantastic body. I think it’s because seals the cuticle of the hair. So not only is it preventing frizz, but it has locked in my color to make it more vibrant.

I had literally JUST colored my hair when I started using the conditioner. It still had that “dye” smell to it. After using this conditioner, it was NO more. No matter what I had tried to do to get rid of it before, didn’t work, I could STILL smell it.

BUY IT: You can buy the Acidifying conditioner for $10/ 6 oz., $16/16 oz., or $30/32 oz.

 

Shine Cream

Made with Almond and Carrot Oil

Blow dry, style, or detangle with this multi-tasking weightless cream. Made with almond and carrot oil to bestow shine even on the dullest tresses, ideal even for fine hair.

I have fallen head over heels in LOVE with this shine cream. It really really makes a difference in the smoothness and shininess in my hair. I can blow-dry my hair, rub a small dab on my hair and it lasts all day.

The main thing that separates this from other anti-frizz like creams is this doesn’t really have an oily feeling to it. It feels more like a lotion/conditioner that you rub in your hair.

It’s such a creamy consistency that is basically weightless. It is absolutely perfect for my naturally oily hair.! It smells amazing and is the light blue color that you see in the picture above. 

I love to use this before blow-drying and straightening, because it makes my long hair more manageable! I truly truly LOVE this!

BUY IT: You can buy the Color Edge Shine Cream for $15/6 oz. or $28/12 oz.

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

Jessica Renee

Review: Sharpie Retractable Porous Point Pen

I have been a Sharpie fan for as long as I can remember. I LOVE all the different colored markers, and the fact that they come in such a variety of points for different tasks.

We’ve all used the poster/craft markers that come in vibrant colors. BUT now, I’ve had the chance to review the Sharpie Retractable Porous Point Pen in Black. This pen is amazing. It lives up to the Sharpie name, but makes it better.

This Sharpie Retractable Pen writes like a dream. They sent me 2 of these fabulous pens, so I gave one to my husband. He is a foreman at a Tree Trimming service, so he has to fill out a ton of paper work.

ME? I just love to write! I love the way it writes like a pen, yet the tip feels like a marker. With other markers, even if they are fine tip- they dry out extremely easy. If they do this, it makes it really a waste of money, because your buying them to use them a few times before they dry out.

This pen hasn’t dried out and I’ve had it for a month. I love that it has a retractable tip, so it makes it easier to get right to work! I don’t have to worry about a cap- whether it’s going to fit on the top of the pen, or if I’m going to misplace it if it doesn’t.

It has a soft grip, so that I am writing comfortably the entire time. It has quick drying ink, so I don’t have to worry about it smearing together as I write. I love that I can easily flip to the next page without it smearing on the page in front of it.

It has water-resistant, acid-free ink that doesn’t bleed through onto the back of the paper or the next page. I love this! The only reason I disliked the other fine-tipped markers is because they most definitely DID bleed through. This one doesn’t, which is what makes it so perfect!

It is non-refillable, so once it’s gone, it’s gone. BUT most markers aren’t refillable, so this is perfectly fine with me! They aren’t expensive and last quite a while, so it’s perfect quality for an amazing price.

I love that it has a metal clip attached to it. When I’m at my store and need to price stuff, I can just attach this to the pocket of my jeans or my shirt. It’s always there if I need it, and I don’t have to worry that I’m going to forget it in my back pocket!

BUY IT: You can buy this amazing Sharpie Porous Point Pen for only $3.23

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

Craft Shed: A Great Place to be Creative

(Image From: Pinterest)

Finding space for storing supplies and working on creative pastimes can seem like a hobby within itself. In fact, you may find that organizing and taking out/putting away the materials you need to be creative are cutting into what little time you even have to be creative! You may even find that the very thought of the production of constantly setting up and putting away supplies is making you put off your creative side altogether.

An affordable, popular solution to all this is to create a space of your own for the sole purpose of crafting. However, building an addition onto your home is costly and may not really provide the solace you need to get your creative juices flowing. Utilizing shed kits to build your own craft haven is a great way to keep your creative supplies handy and your creative spirit nourished.
It’s easy to customize shed kits with shelving, furniture, and whatever essentials you might need for your particular hobby. Your supplies will be safe from the elements, and no longer taking up space in your home.
There are many types of hobbies ideal for the craft shed:

• Sewing: You can permanently keep your big, heavy sewing machines and sergers set up in your craft shed. Store fabrics and threads in airtight, plastic bins to keep them safe. Filing cabinets are useful for storing patterns, and there’s plenty of room for a big, wide, cutting table that you never have to take down.
• Painting: One of the messiest of hobbies, shed kits are ideal as an artist studio. With wide doors, they provide wonderful ventilation for working with artist chemicals. You can also choose where in your yard to place your shed to allow optimal natural light though the window. 
• Scrapbooking: The supplies used for this meticulous craft never seem to end! It’s no wonder that you would need so much extra space to devote to the hobby. The possibilities for setting up and decorating shed kits as a scrapbooking oasis are as endless as the supplies themselves! Make it easy for yourself and put your printer and a computer in the shed as well to avoid running to the house to print off what you need. Just be sure to stock it with micr toner to avoid printing mishaps along the way.
• Woodworking: Unlike the inside of your home, you won’t have to mind the wood shavings and sawdust that gets everywhere. A craft she is the ideal solution for your woodworking endeavors.
• Photography: Shed kits can easily be customized to keep out light in order to create an outdoor darkroom. Here you can also safely store all your photo chemicals. Unlike a room in your home, you won’t have to worry about someone accidently walking in a running all your hard work.

Whether you partake in one, two, or all of the above hobbies, shed kits are a cost effective, cozy, attractive solution that will meet the expectations of your artistic eye. A Craft shed is a great way to keep all of your materials out of your family’s way and accessible to you 24 hours a day! These sheds can provide the privacy you need as well as the room to carry out all your crafting activities.

A Christmas Story- How I Grew My Own Christmas Tree

When I was growing up, my family used the same artificial tree every Christmas season. The day after Thanksgiving each year, my dad would haul the duct-taped cardboard box out of storage and my sister, mother and I would pull out the tree, branch by branch. It generally took over an hour just to assemble the countless pieces of the tree and then attempt to fluff it up to look presentable.

It was an enjoyable tradition I shared with my family and looked forward to every year. We would load it up with an excessive amount of gaudy ornaments and lights, and surround it with poinsettias and other lovely Christmas flowers. After convincing my family to spring for our first "real" tree, I decided I wanted to actually grow a tree of my own. I began researching how to grow my own tree, and this Christmas— nine years later— I now grow trees for most of my family and friends. Here's how I got started and how you can take on the rewarding task of growing your own Christmas tree.

Deciding What Kind of Tree to Get

Evergreen trees are not too difficult to grow. Douglas Fir, Blue Spruce, Virginia Pine and Afghan Pine are the most common type to grow. Nurseries offer seedlings that are fairly cheap or you can get slightly older trees in pots. Make sure you give the tree enough time to grow so you can have it up in your living room not too long after Thanksgiving. You wouldn't want all your hard work to only be on display for a few days.

How Old Should I Buy a Tree?

In my opinion, growing a tree from a seedling is the most rewarding. However, it is slightly easier and does not take as long to grow from an older tree and might be better for beginners. Decide what you're willing to put into growing the tree and how long you want to wait to reap the benefits.

Preparing to Plant

Arguably the most important step, preparing a plot for the tree takes lots of care and planning ahead. When choosing the perfect spot for your tree to call home, make sure the soil is not too dense or clay-like. Remove anything that could compromise your tree's health and keep the soil in the area fine-textured and constantly moist. You should start preparing the plot about a year before planting. I personally like taking a little longer to mature the soil and I keep each plot at about 5' by 5'.

When to Plant

I like to plant my trees in November, right before it freezes and the ground gets too hard. Make sure the soil is packed tightly around the trunk to prevent air pockets. These can dry out and kill your seedling. For potted trees, plant them seven to 10 days after you bring them home. Other sources recommend planting in the Spring, but much of that depends on the climate you live in. I live in a mostly neutral climate, but evergreens can thrive in most temperatures and elements.

Caring for the Tree

After your tree is in the ground you want to acclimate it to its environment and help it grow strong and healthy. As I said before, it is imperative to keep the soil tightly packed and moist. Christmas trees do not like to be dry. Keep the area clear of weeds. If you desire, you can use a fertilizer to help your tree grow. I have a compost bin in my backyard and use the material to fertilize my trees (they love it!). You'll want to trim and shear the tree once or twice a year. Better Homes and Garden suggests further protection from wind or harsh conditions by adding a screen around your tree.

“Join Romwe Official Fashion Bloggers in 2013” contest.

“Join Romwe Official Fashion Bloggers in 2013” contest.

Win big (up to $130 in freebies!) and become an official Romwe Fashion Blogger.”

 

Here are the contest details:

$100 in freebies for 3 lucky winners!  Awards are for bloggers with the most “likes”, most “fans” and best style.

…And each qualified participant will also receive $30 in freebies.  Your friends and fans can join us if they have 2000 or more fans on their FB fan page.  They will also have the chance to become a Romwe fashion blogger. Contest awards not available to current Romwe Fashion Bloggers.

For more details please click here: http://www.facebook.com/Romwe.Fashion/app_451684954848385

Jessica Renee

Review: Alphabet Photography #AlphabetPhotography

I am excited that I was given the opportunity to review and enjoy my own Alphabet Photography picture!

If you’ve never heard of Alphabet photography- let me tell you about them. It’s a company that lets you take any word you want and create a collage of images that resemble those letters.

On the main page, you just type in whatever you want.. Your first name, last name, nickname, or something inspirational.. It’s totally up to you. When you type in the * symbol, it creates hearts and special characters.

and then at the bottom of the picture, just hit the “create my word” button.

And it gives you a beautiful picture with each letter in the word shaped like something from their collection of stuff that resembles letters.

If you aren’t happy with one of the letters that show up on the picture, just click on it and it will give you another option. I love that they look antique, classy, and just SO beautiful.

When it came in the mail, it was wrapped SUPER tight with bubble wrap and protective paper so that it wouldn’t get ruined. It had pretty taffeta type string tied around it, so that gave it a “gift” type look.

 

I was excited to see what was under the beautiful wrapping. What came out of the box was nothing short of stunning. I mean- it LOOKS beautiful on the site, but nothing can compare to actually seeing and holding something that has been created for you.

It has a 3” solid wood frame with a dark chocolate finish, and a gold leaf trim. I was absolutely THRILLED with how it turned out. It is a VERY high quality picture frame, and my customized name in it- just makes it that much better.

Sorry about the glare- I had to take this with my NEW smartphone and I can’t figure out how to make the flash go away. My camera has thrown a temper tantrum on me (hopefully not the last one), but it shuts off as soon as it comes on.

I haven’t had the chance to hang it up yet because we just rented an office space in town. YES- I am going to be a business owner (starting tomorrow actually). I will be bringing this and setting it up above my desk.

My mom seen this and said “If you set this up, people are going to be asking to buy it”. I’m like “MOM, it has my name in it.” She commented on how professional, sophisticated, and beautiful it is. She was exactly right.

If you are looking for THAT perfect gift for someone, this is perfect in so many different ways. Whether you need something for your best friend, your mom, husband, sister or brother’s new baby. Because YOU get to choose what it says, it’s the perfect Christmas gift for everybody on your list.

This would be the perfect gift for someone who just bought their own home or apartment. Nothing says “MINE” like customized artwork!

BUY IT: You can buy the Chocolate Frame with any word you wish for $169.95 and free shipping!

The perfect customized gift that includes photographs from all over the world, this is the original Alphabet Photography. Celebrity owners include: Prince Charles, Prince William and Kate, Tyra Banks, Ryan Seacrest, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, John Schneider, Nelly Furtado, and many more!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Alphabet Photography. The opinions and text are all mine.

 

Jessica Renee

Review: One Styling Tools; Crush Citrus Green Blow-Dryer

As a 20-something fashionista, I have went through my share of hair dryers. I’ve had all ranges- little, big, cheap, expensive. Unless you’ve had the same hair dryer for the past decade- then you must know about the new technology offered in hair dryers these days.

We’ve all had the experience of staying at a friends house, relatives house, or hotel where we got to use another hair dryer then the one we’re used to. SOME blowdryers DO work better than others, you can just TELL.

I was sent the One Crush Blowdryer in Citrus Green. This dryer is the dryer of my dreams! It had me at hello, I swear. It comes in four colors; Citrus Green (lime green), Raspberry (pink), Black, and White. I love when companies offer different color choices in their styling tools, it makes my counter look AMAZING!

This blowdryer is ergonomically designed, which means it’s designed for comfort. Who said beauty couldn’t be comfortable? It is just the right size to wrap my hands around without them getting tired!

From someone with REALLY long hair- it was nice to get a professional looking AND feeling blow-dry at home without too much effort on my part. This little beauty is EXTREMELY powerful, and not ear-blasting loud like some hair-dryers that I’ve owned in the past.

As someone who frequently blow-dries my hair, I can tell you that NOT all blow dryers are the same. Most people think a dryer is just a heater with a fan attached, when reality is that- it isn’t true and there are plenty things to tell them apart and to decide the best!

When looking for a quality hair dryer, it’s best to get one with ceramic tourmaline technology. This is what eliminates the frizz and locks in moisture. This might not matter to you, until you realize that this will help your overall hair health in the end.

I know you’ve heard of blow dryers, straighteners, and curling irons damaging hair. When you get a dryer with ceramic tourmaline technology, there is extremely less damage then regular dryers.

It works on the interior hair molecules, drying the hair inside out instead of just heating it up and causing damage. It helps to split the moisture (water) on the hair into smaller pieces so that the hair dries fast without leaving your hair all frizzed out.

The “ceramic” part doesn’t mean that the dryer is made of ceramic, it just means that the coils inside the dryer is made of ceramic instead of copper. Ceramic gives off even heating, so there aren’t any hot spots and the dryer heats up more quickly.

This dryer is also made with far-infrared heat. This also helps dry the hair quickly, but it also stimulates the scalp and hair. It increases the blood flow to the hair roots, helping to trigger new hair growth. It also helps enhance the overall texture of hair, leaving it silky and soft!

My hair not only looks healthier, but it feels healthier. I can tell a huge difference in the frizz factor, which has reduced greatly. My hair feels so smooth now, instead of a big frizz ball like it did before. I tried every possible anti-frizz serum when blowdrying with my other blowdryer and it NEVER helped. Especially in the warmer months.

I love that this dryer has a professional motor- which means I’ll get MORE time getting to use this beautiful tool. It comes with the concentrator (the black tip you see in the picture up top).

It has the buttons that let you turn up the speed and temperature on the dryer which is what I love. When I give my daughter a bath in the morning before we head out (and I don’t want her getting sick) I can put it on the lowest setting and dry her hair. I can put it on the highest setting (which is my favorite) and I can dry my super long hair within 10 minutes!

I also love that it has a cool shot button. After I am drying my hair, I can blast my hair with the cool shot button (which blasts out room temperature air instead of hot). It really just turns the heater off, so that when I “shoot” my hair with the room temp air- it will set my look!

It has an extra long cord on it, which I love. I hate being so close to the plug-in that I can’t flip my head over and blow dry it like that. This cord is EXTRA long, so I have plenty of moving room!

This gives me volume all over my hair (which hangs limply if it isn’t blown dry). I love that I can flip my hair over and get instant root lift! It’s so much better than having to use a million products (anti-frizz, volume mousse, and root lifter). Now all I have to do is blow-dry and be on my way!

This is the perfect gift to give your sister, daughter, or best friend. Any girl or woman would definitely love to have this!

BUY IT: You can Buy the One Crush Blowdryer for only $100

Connect with One Styling Products on Facebook, & 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: DormCo Canvas Organizer with Mirror

I don’t live in a dorm room, but I live in a small space where it isn’t always such a great idea to try and DO everything near the mirror. The only place there is a mirror in my house is in the small bathroom, so there isn’t anywhere to store my stuff.

I have TONS of shampoo, conditioner, and hair styling tools and products. SO, I had to end up putting them in drawers until I came across the DormCo Canvas Organizer with Mirror. Now I can do my hair  and makeup in my bedroom without having to dig through everything looking for what I need.

I really love that it’s made of Canvas fabric, because it is EXTRA strong. I have it crammed full with my stuff and it hasn’t even budged! It fits perfectly over my door without it causing problems with it shutting right.

This organizer comes with 20, yes I said 20 pockets! How cool is that! It also comes with 2 hooks (one for blow-dryer and the other for curling iron). I can fit my straightener in the pocket beside the mirror, so it’s a win-win situation.

Now everything hair wise is nicely displayed. Before it was in random drawers and shelves, so I had to take time out of getting ready to search for everything. Now everything is close and easy to find!

I love this! You don’t HAVE to live in a dorm room to benefit from using over the door organizers. If you have a lot of stuff, live in a small space, or want to get better organized- this would be perfect for you!

BUY IT: You can buy the DormCo Canvas Organizer with Mirror for only $15.25

Connect with DormCo on Facebook & 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