Book Review: DIY Nail Art 75 Creative Nail Art Designs by Catherine Rodgers; Adams Media

The Cure for the Common Mani! Get ready for nails that will get you noticed!

Going to a professional nail salon for perfect nails can get pricey. Now readers can learn to do unique and fabulous nail art designs at home. With just a few basic tools and skills, they'll learn how to ditch the boring French manicure and create nails of envy! From Girly Cupcake Nails and Jack-o-Lantern Nail Art to Rainbow Drip and 80s Retro Floral, this book has a design for every occasion and mood. It also includes full-color photographs that will guide readers through each step of the design, so that they'll never have to worry about how their nails will come out.

Catherine Rodgers, creator of the popular nail art Youtube channel Totally Cool Nails, shares her secrets in DIY Nail Art. Packed with easy-to-follow instructions and helpful tips for recreating Catherine’s stunning looks, this book will help you create one-of-a-kind nail art designs without ever stepping inside a nail salon.
Inside this colorful guide to all things nails, you’ll find seventy-five eye-catching designs including never-before-seen styles like Argyle, Light Burst, and Spiderweb Nails.

Complete with step-by-step photographs so you can nail your look every time, DIY Nail Art will have have you saying goodbye to the nail salon- and hello to fashion-forward nails at home!

My Review

Black Lace. Summer Citrus. Hot Pink Zebra. For most women, having cute nails is an absolute must. We’ve all seen the amazing pinterest posts showing pictures of those really awesome nail designs but didn’t know how to do it.

I wasn’t sure exactly HOW to even begin with doing something extravagant to my nails (even though I’m crafty).. so I was really excited to get this book. Once you break it down it isn’t quite so hard to figure it out!

I love that this book has step-by-step instructions with colored pictures to go along with it. This makes it easy to KNOW what to do without having to second guess yourself (like I do if a book doesn’t have colored pictures).

When I opened the box and seen the inside of the book, I was instantly hooked. I couldn’t stop flipping through the pages. These designs are absolutely BRILLIANT and beautiful.

There are so many different varieties of styles that there is something for everyone! It does take a little practice to make it perfect, but so does everything else. That is what makes it so perfect for beginners.
For someone who is always on the lookout for new ways to paint my nails, the book was perfect. It has a ton of pictures and very simply tells in detail which steps to take to get that look!

It explains in detail the tools and techniques of nail art (i.e. the dotting tool, nail art brushes, nail decals, acrylic paint…) I loved knowing that you can use Acrylic paint to do nails! I had no idea. It is so much more convenient and less expensive (because they come in big bottles) then having to buy a ton of different color nail polishes. (Acrylic paint can be mixed together to create an even bigger variety of color!) How cool.

Of course you don’t have to follow the color code in the book! You can always create the “background” color any color you want to mix it up even more! This even taught me how to create my OWN nail designs with the techniques it shows!

Really amazing book! Whether you’re a beginner or someone who wants to explore more nail designs, this book is for YOU!

BUY IT:  $11.35 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25.
DIY Nail Art: Easy, Step-by-Step Instructions for 75 Creative Nail Art Designs

Jessica Renee

NoizyBandz- Musical Wristbands

Noizy Bandz Children's wristbands are musical, educational and a whole lot of fun! Watch your children light up as they hear the music and fun sounds coming from their wristbands that they control. First of its kind, expect more from your silicone bandz check out Noizy Bandz and hear the music at www.noizybandz.com Great for all ages and all occasions. Have a Birthday party give a musical Happy Birthday band instead of a card kids just go crazy for them. Check them out at www.noizybandz.com

Click here for the Coupon

 

Jessica Renee

Review: Educational Insights Smencils (Scented Pencils)

I love working with Educational Insights. Not only do they produce toys that kids want to play with, but toys that help them learn along the way as well. They have plenty to choose from, and are categorized by ages! That's really helpful!

This time around we got to use the Smencils. These are like regular pencils but they smell YUMMY. Both my kids love to write and draw, and my daughter loved that they came in little plastic tubes (to help save the smell)..

The pencils are bigger than the normal "pencils", which are easier for my 3 year old to grasp. She is the "artist" of my kids. She is always drawing and coloring. Aidan is more a hands-on "gamer" type. He loves to play board games!

When we got these, Adisyn was super excited for me to open them. She stood there waiting to see what was in those tubes. As I pulled them out and seen that they all had a unique name to go with the certain colors, I thought that was cool. Reminded me of the "smelly markers" that came out when I was a kid.

It's fun to see my kids exploring different senses.  They smell absolutely amazing and the colors are really bright! Both my son and daughter loved them, they are always drawing and writing something- now what they write smells good. LOL.

They loved that they smelled so great, and I love that they are made from recycled newspaper. Amazing concept!! AND they come with erasers too! They come in individual tubes that are guaranteed to make the scent last for 2 years!

BUY IT: You can buy a 10 pack of Smencils from Educational Insights for $14.99

 

Jessica Renee

Don’t let April Showers Dampen your Hairstyle!

While it still feels like winter around much of the country, April is notorious for rainfall, but that doesn’t mean it has  to be the month your hair frizzes and your style fizzles. These simple and weather-proof updos from Fantastic Sams’ style expert Pam Kelly, are sure to guarantee a fuss-free and fashionable style amidst the damp weather.

• The ballerina bun is not only elegant and flirty, but one of the chicest ways to camouflage unruly hair! Slick tresses into a tight ponytail, then twist and pin hair into a tight—or loose—bun. Not only does it work for a day of city slicking, it translates well into an evening look.

Photo Courtesy of: Stylist in the City

• Try a braid. Although not an official updo, braided styles work well with texture and make any style weather-proof. Whether tight and clean or long and loose, braids are an easy, carefree way to add style and glamour to an everyday look.

Photo Courtesy of Beauty.About.com

• Ponytails don’t have to be sleek and straight to look pretty – some of the flirtiest looks embrace texture! If humidity is messing with sleek strands, go for the tousled look! Low ponytails positioned at the nape of the neck look high fashion when full and textured. For a glam finish, wrap a small section of hair around the elastic band to camouflage.

Photo Courtesy of Beauty Riot

• Try a low, side style. Using your fingers, pull your hair into a low side ponytail. While securing hair into the elastic band, do not pull strands completely through  on the final pull. (This will leave your hair in a small loop secured into the rubber band.) Using your fingers, pull and separate the loop of hair, creating a messy, tousled effect, similar to a top knot. The look is fun and flirty, making imperfection look chic! (Finish off the look with an embellished barrette for a glam effect!)

Photo Courtesy of Polyvore

• Embrace the madness! Gone are the days when updo styles need to be polished and perfect to invoke glamour! Some of the latest french twists and chignons incorporate texture, curl and relaxed style elements. Style it up, pin it in place and rock it with confidence!

Photo Courtesy of All About Ladies

I have a coupon to share with you! A coupon for the month of April is good for $10 OFF a Cut and Full Highlight Service at Fantastic Sam’s Hair Salon. You can get this coupon, as well as other great updates at their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/fantasticsamshairsalons.

 

Jessica Renee

Cute Car Accessories for Mom

Car accessories add a little something extra for the car, especially for a mom who wants her personality to show through in the car that she drives. If you are a mom who happens to be looking for ways to spice things up a bit and add something extra to your car, you may not have realized truly how many different accessories are available. Regardless of your preference and personality, you will have no problem finding the best accessories for your car.

Animal Print Steering Wheel Covers

If you are a fan of animal print, whether your favorite is leopard, zebra, or even giraffe print, you can get soft and comfortable animal print steering wheel covers. What better way to add something extra to your car than to add comfort and style all in one shot? These steering wheel covers are usually available at stores that specialize in auto products, and they are also quite affordable. Everyone will get an idea of your feisty personality with these steering wheel covers. There are also matching seat covers that you can get to match with your steering wheel cover.

Flags for All Occasions

Flags are also a good accessory to add to just about any car. You can choose from all sorts of assorted cute flags, including American flags and flags that may represent other countries. Aside from country flags, there are also flags that support different colleges, schools, and beliefs. You can show people a different side of your personality by adding a flag for any occasion to your car.

Eyelash Car Stickers

Want your car to look as beautiful as you do? Why not buy eyelash car stickers that can be placed on the front headlights of the car. These stickers look like the real deal and people will literally be laughing out loud when they see how feminine your car looks with its eyelashes. If you are a woman who loves every aspect of makeup, including mascara and those fake eyelashes, you might want to give your prized possession some fake eyelashes as well. These stickers are easy to find, both in auto stores and online, and they are really cheap. Most of these kinds of stickers will cost only around $7.

Personalized Stick Figure Family

You may have seen them before on the back of other cars and you can get one too. The personalized stick figure family allows you to show off the members of your family on the back of your car. Your little creation may show you and your partner, along with your children and any household pets that you all have. The stick figure family stickers for cars have been popular for quite some time now and it seems like the trend is not dying down any time soon. It is a great sticker accessory to have for your car and they are also real affordable.

As you can tell, there are plenty of cute and cool car accessories for mom. It is not hard to find these accessories either. With these accessories, you can completely update the appearance of your car and give it more of a personality that represents who you are as a person. Your car will look even better and you can feel proud while driving around in it.

Book Review: The Mommy MD Guide to the Toddler Years by Rallie McAllister & Jennifer Bright Reich

 

Toddlers are like pint-sized teenagers. They don't call them the "terrible twos" and say "three is the new terrible twos" for nothing. Toddlers are challenging in many ways. They're learning and growing at an incredible rate, and at the same time, they're pushing and stretching against boundaries, in every direction.

The Mommy MD Guide to the Toddler Years is filled with more than 900 tips that 62 doctors who are also mothers use during their own children's toddler years. Some of these Mommy MD Guides are currently raising toddlers. Other Mommy MD Guides have children who are all grown up with toddlers of their own, They're Grammy MD Guides! Combined, these physicians have centuries of experience as doctors, and they have 142 children and 10 grandchildren.

The Mommy MD Guide to the Toddler Years offers trusted, reliable advice on all aspects of the toddler years. You'll read how Mommy MD Guides faced the challenges of picky eating, potty training, tantrums, and night terrors. You'll also learn how Mommy MD Guides celebrated birthdays and holidays with their toddlers and enjoyed playdates, shopping trips, and vacations. These Mommy MD Guides generously shared the wisdom and tips that they learned to make their own children's toddler years more enjoyable.

This book is divided into seven parts, each focusing on a different facet of parenting toddlers: growth and development, food and nutrition, health and safety, bathing and grooming, emotional health and discipline, learning and fun, and sleep. Each chapter opens with a special section featuring information about a toddler's development, tips on taking better care of you, and a justification of celebration. The book also features the following three types of sidebars.

*When to call your Doctor sidebars offer critical information about when to seek medical help.

*Mommy MD Guides-Recommended Product sidebars feature products that Mommy MD Guides found invaluable during their own children's toddler years, including cost and availability information.

*MomMy Time sidebar suggest ways for mom to relax, de-stress, and enjoy their children's toddler years.

The Mommy MD Guide to the Toddler Years is the third book in the Mommy MD Guides series. Welcome to the Mommy MD Guides!

 

MY REVIEW

Toddlers are absolutely amazing people. They are sprouting roots right before our eyes. They are gaining their own personalities and learning new things, the Mommy MD Guide to the Toddler Years is an amazing book to help your little one on their journey to becoming independent people who learn to do new things on their own (with Mommy's help of course!).

The first thing on the Mommy MD Guide list is growing. Just as we did with our newborns who turned into rapidly growing babies, we monitor their growth. This chapter tells how much your toddler should be growing in pounds, head circumference, and even noting how the baby face disappears (aww!).

You must know that during these years they begin to mimic and watch everything mommy (and daddy) says and does. You are their main stream for information and learning. So get down on the floor and play with them before they grow out of that Mommy play with me stage!

This book is filled with tons of beautifully gifted information that only other mothers (and it helps that they are doctors as well) would know! This book shows that no two people (including toddlers) are the same. Whether it be on a learning rate, growth rate, or eating rate.. Just make sure that they are developing at their own levels.

This book has the information parts that continue with the personal parts. It's really like a few friends writing you emails (or letters) with updated information on their toddlers. It really helps that it is written in such a "journal-type" format. It really is interesting to read.

It isn't just some "OTHER" parenting book that you may or may not read, that will sit at your bedside or on your bookshelf collecting dust. This is a break-open WANT to read. It's like reading a parenting magazine! Insightful, fun, and personal!

I love that they included the "walking, running, and gross motor skills". This is what tricks normal parents into freaking out (or boasting) about their kids developments. No worries about when they can walk, run, or start to talk.. As long as they are maintaining some sort of increase in development. Don't stress to let them "LEARN".

One doctor mom points out that you shouldn't freak out if your child falls from a height of less than 4 feet. All kids are naturally curious and falling is a part of learning something new.

I am totally SMITTEN with all the Mommy MD Guide books, they are beautifully written and I could never seem to put them down. This is a FUN parenting book that teaches how to help your child along the way as they turn into running, talking, tornadoes of a toddler.

This book breaks down many things that we really want to know as parents who have toddlers about to start real food;- trying new foods, first aid & choking, food allergies, helping picky eater, and more!

Weaning from the bottle/breast and introducing a sippy cup. I love that they tell you that you shouldn't stick to one type of sippy cup (or bottle for that matter) because it's trial and error finding one that they like (and you're likely to go through a TON before the toddler years are up).

They tackle the everlasting questions of choosing a pediatrician, what things to bring and games to play if there is a waiting time at the doctor, and writing lists to bring with you to ask your pediatrician.

Toddler proofing your house may seem more scary than it actually is.. Here they have a list as to what to put up or take down so your toddler stays safe.

Everything about this book intrigues me. Both as a parent and a mom.. I know that I wished I had this when my son was a toddler, but at least I had it while my daughter was!!

BUY IT!

$13.10 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25.

The Mommy MD Guide to the Toddler Years (Mommy MD Guides)

Connect with Mommy MD Guides on their website

 

Jessica Renee

Review: Kidz Gear Headphones

We have a lot of electronics in our house; computer, tablet, and smartphone. This is what keeps my kids occupied when we need to go somewhere they think is boring (the doctor, the dentist, and even when I take my daughter to work with me).
They might want to play games on the tablet, watch cartoons, or listen to music- but that doesn't necessarily mean that I or everybody around them wants to listen to it. When we got a chance to work with KidzGear, I was super excited.

They had plenty of different characters and colors on their products to make it interesting and fun for kids. I ended up choosing a neutral color (lime green) so that both my kids could use it. Aidan's at school during the day, and Adisyn goes to the shop with me. She gets bored watching me whip up something on the sewing machine.. So bringing the tablet and the headphones makes it extremely easy for me to get work done while she's with me.

I love the sound that filters through the headphones. It sounds so bright and vivid- like your in your own world.. It's easy to get entranced listening to music or watching a movie with these. They are so comfortable that you seem to forget that they are even there.
I even used them for a couple weeks. I went and got a new piercing (my tragus) and I couldn't use my normal (earbud) earphones in my left ear because of the barbell in my ear. So- I ended up using the kids headphones, AND they fit really well.

SO, whether your kid is a toddler, a school aged kid, or in high school the headphones slide down to situate on their head without a problem. I really loved that they offered color choices.. It makes it easier to spot them (lol).
They also came with their own bag and an attachment that is extremely helpful. The attachment goes into the phone, tablet, or handheld DVD player. It makes it so that 2 pair of headphones can listen in at the same time. When we were traveling in the truck, it made it a LOT easier for both my kids to watch Dora without us having to listen to is as well.
I love the quality as well. They are built well and built to last. There is nothing cheap or insignificant about these headphones. They are nothing but absolute TOP quality!!
BUY THEM: Kidz Gear Headphones


Jessica Renee

Review: ThredUP Kid Clothing

We all know how fast kids can grow out of clothes. When my kids were little my grandma (on my mom's side) would go out of her way to buy the cutest outfits even if they cost a ton of money. I kept telling her that she didn't have to go to Boutiques to buy their clothes (even if Adisyn DID look SO adorable in the handmade clothes) but they cost $45+ for ONE outfit.

I on the other hand have a limited income. I can't and couldn't afford to spend that much on one outfit when they grow like weeds and the clothes wouldn't fit a month later. The trick to buying kids clothes that are durable, comfortable, and will last them awhile is to bargain hunt and buy 1 size up if you can.

I was excited to get to work with thredUP for a review. This is a website where you can sell and buy gently used clothing from other people. This is like going to a thrift store and buying clothes (There are many name brand clothing on the website for next to nothing.)

I had tons of fun looking through the website. I drifted to baby/toddler sections even though my kids aren't that small anymore (aren't those clothes just SO adorable?) Aidan is more in need of clothing than Adisyn is, so I started looking through the 5-6 boy clothing. It helps that Adisyn has a girl cousin just a couple years older than her, so she gets the hand-me-down's that still look amazing.

Aidan isn't that lucky. All the boys in the family are more than 4 years older than he is. He had a really big growth spurt this year, where his pants become extremely short (JUST after we went and bought school clothes for him)..

What I decided to get from the website was a thin grey zip up hoodie jacket from Hurley, and 3 pairs of shorts. They were cheap and he can wear them when spring rolls around this year. They were all extremely adorable and very affordable.

I loved that I could go to exactly what I was looking for. There wasn’t any searching and searching and not finding what I wanted. You can search by type of clothing (jeans, tees, button ups, shoes) and then narrow it down by size. I love this! I wasn’t looking through sizes that didn’t apply to my son!!

On the plus side, if you have any clothing that are in great shape that your kid's have outgrown you can set it up to sell those on the website as well. If you are low on money, you could always sell the too small clothing first, and then use that money to buy more. WIN-WIN situation! ;)

Here is a step-by-step outline straight from thredUP on how all this works:

PICK – Browse boxes listed in the thredUP community and select one you’d like to receive. Hopefully, by now, you have your friends on thredUP so you can just pick their boxes. If you’re busy, tell us your clothing preferences and the experts at thredUP can choose a box for you.

PAY – Once you’ve picked your box, all you pay is $5 plus shipping ($10.70) to have it delivered.

PREPARE – As part of this process, you are required (this is a swap after all!) to list a box of clothes that your child no longer wears. We’ll ask for basic details such as types of clothing, number of items, colors, brands, season and sizes. Don’t worry, the USPS will mail you empty boxes for your gently used clothes.

SEND – When someone picks your box, thredUP will alert you and ask you to send this box. It is free to send boxes on thredUP because the recipient pays the shipping. You’ll be able to print the shipping label and schedule the pickup all in one click. Would you rather drop it off at the Post Office? No problem! Just cancel the pickup and leave a note for your postal carrier. As soon as your box is tracked by the USPS, you will see your box status has been changed to “shipped” in your thredUP closet.

Check out ThreadUP!

Website, Facebook, Twitter

 

Jessica Renee

Book Review: Sew Serendipity Sewing Workbook; D&C Publishing

 

Sew Serendipity Sewing Workbook makes a handy companion for trips to the fabric store, and is a convenient source of easy-to-follow sewing advice.

This workbook offers resources and ideas you'll love:

*8 quick, seasonal projects that you try out techniques and create fun accessories.

*Notions and fabric charts, project planning calendars, worksheets, checklists and more.

*Sewing tips and tricks from Kay Whitt, author of Sew Serendipity and Sew Serendipity Bags

*Note-taking space to keep track of projects, techniques, and inspiration

 

MY REVIEW

This book is set up as a question/answer book as well as a journal. Not only does it answer questions that most seamstresses (sewing hobbyists) want to know about (ex. Sewing in a zipper) but it gives you room to get a feel for what you would like to sew, purchase for your sewing projects, and goals you would like to set for yourself.

I have been sewing (really sewing) for about 3 years now. When I first began my journey down the oh-so-frightening (so I thought) sewing path, I had a ton of questions. The problem with my questions was I didn't have anybody to answer them. SO because it's the 21st century, I googled them. YES- I got about 1,000 different answers and techniques to the questions I asked, which only confused me even more.

I so wish I had had this book. When you are starting out, not only do you have questions but you definitely need to get a feel for what YOU like to sew. It's not going to be any fun if you are scared of certain techniques or have to skip over a certain project you want to tackle so badly because you don't know how to do something.

This book starts out with the Spring. They ask what goals you'd like to set for yourself for the Spring, what you would like to purchase for your projects, and Gifts you would like to sew for the season. This is in the notebook type, so it gives you room to write in what you actually want. I don't write in my books, so I photocopied each page like this and stuck them together. I put them in a book labeled what year (Spring 2013?) so that I could add more as time went on!

The sewing advice in this book is what tackles the everlasting questions of the beginner. The first advice is on the always dreaded zipper. I've broken MANY sewing needles trying to figure this out by myself back in 2009. Really the only thing freaking me out was myself, once I got the hang of sewing in zippers it was a breeze! This book has amazing illustrations to go with the step-by-step instructions so that you can see what you're doing while doing it.. Makes it 10x easier!

Fusibles? No sew or sew? Have you had questions pertaining as to what is right to use when? This book tells all about everything you need to know about Machine applique and the fusibles that go along with it. You don't want to use NO-sew fusible web when appliqueing! You'll mess up your machine because the stickiness of the fusible web will go through your machine via your machine!

Then it's time to tackle a project. The first project is a wristlet with cute bird applique. This is so you can practice with the zipper and applique (that was in the question section).. Again there are amazing illustrations to go with the step-by-step instructions to guide you in the right direction as you go along with your project.

Then after finishing the project there is a space for "reflection." This is about what you liked best about the project, what you would do differently next time, and what new skill you learned and what other projects you could use it on! This is a "notebook" section of course. I really like that they included this! This gives time to reflect on what types of techniques you learned and what you would like to create with them in the future! Brilliant! Keeps it fun!

I love that the book tackles stabilizers. When I was a beginner that was something else that had me puzzled. I didn't understand the difference of one stabilizer from another and ended up more confused then helped when I searched what I was looking for. This book breaks down the names of the stabilizer, the width, whether it's fusible or not, and the uses for that particular stabilizer (ex. Pellon 911FF is a versatile stabilizer and is perfect for linings of a bag, interlining of handles, facings on skirts and dresses.) Makes it a ton easier to decipher what you need and how much you should buy (if it's versatile you should buy more because more projects can be used with it).

The book tackles quilting your own fabric (mostly for bags and wallets), polar fleece, and laminated fabric. This makes it easier to know what you're getting into before you start to tackle a project. I love the way the book is written-- it's like you've got a best friend (who knows all there is to know about sewing) sitting there guiding you on your way!!

BUY IT:

Sew Serendipity Sewing Workbook: Tips, Tricks and Projects for Those Who Love Sewing

$15.60 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25.

Jessica Renee

Review: Starlooks January Starbox

Starlooks has done it again, but even bigger this time! If you haven’t seen my previous posts about Starlooks, they are an amazing website. They sell boxes of selected 3-4 full sized beauty products a month for only $15.

This is an amazing deal, because if you look at the different products they put in the boxes they are $9+ on their OWN. The products are nothing but high quality, beautiful makeup!

I love the excitement I feel each month when seeing the package in the mailbox. I get to try and guess what is in the box—although I don’t make it too long before I JUST have to open it.

January's Starlooks Starbox arrived in a light green box with bright tissue paper and an alluring description card and quartz crystal.

For the January box, they had a light green box (my favorite color)! I love how well they put it together EVERY single month. Not only does the boxes always arrive in pristine condition, but the color of the paper ALWAYS matches the box! SO adorable!

Starlooks not only included 4 full sized makeup samples this month, but they also sent a beautiful beaded emerald wraparound bracelet. The makeup samples include 2 eyeliners, a makeup brush, and a blush.

Here are the items I received in the January box:

"Fancy" Diamondline Eye Liner

"Brown" Eye Liner

"Cuty Peach" Blush Compact

858 Dome Brush

Abby Rose Design beaded bracelet

This is an amazing deep brown. It is smudge proof which I really like, I use a lot of brown eyeliner and was glad to see this in the box. This one also goes on very creamy and smooth. I like that I don’t have to heat it for it to apply so perfectly, like I do with my other brown liners.

 

This one is called “fancy”, and is a beautiful light green with sparkles! sparkly AND green? Yes please! It is absolutely beautiful and sets off my eyes! It is easy to use, waterproof, and creamy & smooth. I love how long it stays on without wearing off like a normal eyeliner would!

This brush is made from 100% pure, cruelty-free pony hair, and is super soft to the touch. Blends eye shadow and eye liner smoothly for that perfect smokey effect. Use in the corner of the eyes, eye lid, or under lash line. Also great for packing on pigments or loose shadows. Wash with Starlooks gentle brush cleaner or shampoo. (Starlooks Retail $15)

The "Cuty Peach" Blush Compact is a very light peach toned blush. I like blush but only if it’s light or bronzed. I never use the darker colors (CLOWN? lol). This was absolutely the perfect color though. It added a hint of dewy-ness to my skin that I loved!

The Abby Rose Design Bracelet was a very welcomed surprise to the box. They were only putting in makeup samples so a jewelry piece was an amazing addition. Abby Rose Design creates wonderful handmade products. I love the emerald color of the bracelet and how well it wraps without clinging too tightly or being too loose. It’s the absolutely perfect size (for everyone) because it’s a wrap bracelet.

I always recommend the Starlooks boxes. If you were to buy these items separately there is absolutely no way that it would only be $15. You’d end up spending WAY more, and I love the surprise I get every month! I never know what’s going to be in them! Each box is guaranteed to have a retail value of at least $35!

Head on over to Starlooks and check them out. Awesome subscription, awesome products, fast shipping and wonderful customer service!

 

Jessica Renee

Review: Fagor Slow Juicer

I had been on the lookout for a better way of adding more fruits and vegetables in my diet without the hassle. My #1 New Year’s Resolution was to eat and drink healthier (and not consume so much soda and coffee)!

I was on the hunt for an affordable juicer that was easy to use and was easy to clean. I’ve had many MANY appliances that were hell to clean! It seemed to take a ton of elbow grease and a sharp object wrapped around a washcloth sometimes STILL couldn’t get the hard to reach spots. I ended up breaking the spout off my old blender this way.

When I got the Fagor Slow Juicer in the mail, I was ecstatic. Not only did it look easy to clean (even more so than on the website) because it came with it’s own cleaning brush, but it looked easy to use.

It came with a manufacturer book that tells how to properly clean it, and THEN in the back of the book it has some awesome mixtures of different fruits and vegetables for unbelievable tasty (AND healthy) juice mixes.

We all know that going to the store and buying a jug of juice without all the extra fructose, sugar, colorants, and additives can be quite hard (AND quite expensive as well). This juicer will pay for itself in just a matter of months (depending on how much juice you drink).

I loved that in the back of the book they show which vegetables and fruits help certain sicknesses and ailments.  It makes it easier to whip something up in a hurry!

The best thing about the Fagor Slow Juicer is how much juice it saves from being thrown out. The extraction of the juice (150 watts rotating at an ideal speed of 80-90 RPM)  gives not only more juice but MORE nutritious juice.

There isn’t any extra “heat” because of the slow spin of the motor, so that all that comes out is pure, healthy, great tasting juices. It comes with 2 different jars. One that you place under the front of the machine (which the pulp and extras go into), and the other your juice goes into.

The parts that come into contact with your fruits/veggies are BPA free and FDA approved. This is so that nothing goes into your juice but juice. No chemicals or extras coming off the plastic. AND all the parts have a terrifically placed 5 year warranty.

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Jessica Renee