Birchbox Favorite Review: amika Obliphica Nourishing Mask

Loyal readers will remember that I like to change my hair.  A lot.  Different colors, different cuts, I am never scared of taking a risk.  It is only hair, it will grow back, right?  Well all this experimentation can cause a bit of stress on my hair.  Which is why I am always looking for great products to help my hair destress.

Birchbox really delivered this month, with the sample of amika Obliphica Nourishing Mask.  The mask is a weekly deep treatment; there is a difference after one use, and multiple uses helps to strengthen the hair.  It contains Morrocan Oil, which is so good for your hair, and smells completely amazing!  I was really excited that the sample contained enough for about 4 applications.

After the first application, I did indeed notice that my hair felt silkier, and had less fly aways.  Now I have used it three times, and last Saturday I had one of the best hair days I have had in months.  My hair feels stronger, it tangles less, and is more manageable.

I think this is a fantastic product, and love that Birchbox allowed me the opportunity to try it.


 

Review: Kashi Banana Chocolate Chip Bars

 I recently had the opportunity to review the Kashi Banana Chocolate Chip Soft n Chewy Bars.  I am a longtime fan of the Kashi brand, it is a brand I trust to provide healthy, delicious foods.  I had a feeling that this bar would live up to my high standards, otherwise Kashi would not be making it.  That feeling proved to be completely accurate.

The first thing I took notice of was the nutritional info.  Each bar contains 4 grams of fiber, 7 whole grains, 1/2 serving of fruit, 1/2 serving of vegetables, only 3 grams of fat, 3 grams of protein, and only 140 calories.  In terms of a snack, this is pretty good.  While still a processed snack, this is a lot healthier than some on the market.

As I opened the package, I was struck by how the bar itself really looked exactly like the picture on the box.  That is so rarely the case.  Same dark brown color, same oats on top.  It looked pretty delicious.

As I tore a bite off of the bar, I noticed it was not as moist as I would have liked.  It is still a soft, chewy, texture, just a bit dry.  The flavor was actually really good.  It was not overly sweet, in any artificial way, and I thought the banana flavor was just right.  It did not have an artificial banana flavor, the flavor was subtle, mellow, but still detectable.  The same can be said for the chocolate, there are not too many chips, just enough to give the bar the perfect blend of tastes.

All in all, I was really pleased with the bar, as was my husband.  We are big fans of the chocolate banana combination, and this bar is a healthy way to satisfy a sweet tooth.  My only complaint is that it is indeed a little dry, so it would be best paired with a glass of water, or even a cup of coffee.  All in all, I think I can safely say I plan on buying more of these in the future.

Thankful for..... his patience.

Over the weekend, we got together to celebrate the birthday of one of my friends.  Some of the people at the get together were folks we were just getting to know, so over the course of the evening, Hubby and I got a chance to share the story of how we got together.  It reminded me how incredibly patient Hubby is.

You see, Hubby and I started out as just friends.  More specifically, online friends.  We would email, text, chat, and even talk on the phone about any and every thing under the sun.  He would patiently listen to me talk about the awful dates I would go on with total creeps, the hum drum daily stories from my life, my joys, my frustrations, everything.  And periodically, he would mention when he had time off from work, so that perhaps we could get together.  So, for 2.5 years basically, he casually asked me out, and every single time I said no.  I am not sure what I was so afraid of, but I convinced myself that it would never work out between us.  So, each time, I said no.

Finally, when I turned 30, I realized I clearly had feelings for this wonderful man, and I needed to figure out what was going on.  We went on our first date, and by the end of the evening, I just knew.  This was it.  He was the one.

I thank God each day that Hubby was so patient, persistent, and caring that he never gave up on me.  I can never express to him how incredibly thankful I am.  So, I thank him.  A lot.  For everything.

Thanks for doing the dishes.

Thanks for getting me a glass of water.

Thanks for working so hard to provide for us.

Thanks for switching the laundry for me.

Thanks for feeding the dogs.

Thanks for being you.

Thanks for being my husband.

You see, I think I should thank him.  I think it is good to say thank you to your spouse or partner, even for the day to day things they do.  Because I really am that thankful.  I am thankful that he is willing to do the things he does, thankful that he is the man he is, thankful that he chose me, thankful that he stuck it out for 2.5 years until we went on that first date.

We thank each other all the time.  It is just what we do.  I could thank him all day long, and it would still never express how truly thankful I am.

Review: WRRYFree Skin Care

I recently had an opportunity to review some products from a company called WRRYFree Skin Care.  I am kind of in love with this company for several reasons.  First off, the company is Pittsburgh based; I am all about supporting local business, and I consider myself a Pittsburgher at heart, so you know I love any chance to rep my town!  The company was founded by William R. Reynolds Young, a young entrepreneur with a good head for business (and all around cool dude that I met through the Pittsburgh social media community).  So, not only do I get to support a 'burgh based business, but one run by a young person?  Double awesome!

But probably the best part of the business is the content of their products.  The products are marketed as "Clean, Safe, and Effective", which means we do not have to worry about the effects of the products.  Partner that no worry with the founder's initials, and you get WRRYFree Skin Care.

I mentioned on Twitter that I had sore skin on my nose after suffering a cold from the 7th circle of Hades last month, and WRRYFree Skin Care told me that one of their products would help.  They sent me some samples, and let me tell you, it was love at first smell.  I swear, these products are so clean and fresh smelling, it is like springtime in a tube!

I received samples of four different products, so I will talk about each one individually.

First up was the Climb On! Bar, a lotion bar that is so safe you can even use it on newborns and dogs.  This bar is best used on small areas.  I first tried this on my heels, which tend to get dry and cracked.  It really worked well.  This is a fabulous all natural and cruelty free option for people who need intensive therapy for their skin.  I also used it on my cuticles today, and already I can see a difference.

Next was the Climb On! Creme'.  This is a formula similar to the bar, but in an easier to use lotion.  Once again, I found myself loving this product.  I thought it was easier to use that the bar, simply because it was easier to spread on my skin.  It still provided intensive moisture therapy!  No artificial scents or colors means it will not irritate my sensitive skin, yet it still smells heavenly because it contains natural essential oils.

Next up is the Lip Tube.  Of all the WRRYFree Skin Care products I have tried, this is, by far, my favorite. This is basically the same formula as the creme, but in chapstick tube form.  Again, a really clean and fresh scent.  Like many people, my lips get dry and cracked in the winter.  I started applying the Lip Tube several times a day, and my lips are now moist, soft, and totally healthy.  This product also can be used to heal "tissue nose", the problem that plagued me after my terrible cold.  Using my finger, I would apply a tiny bit of this to the dry, cracked skin on my nose, and it truly worked wonders!  This is one of the best lip balms I have ever encountered!

The final product I tried was the Mineral Sunscreen.  Of the products I tried, this is the one I have not had much opportunity to use.  The Sunscreen has an SPF of 30, and is safe for babies over 6 months.  It contains some organic ingredients, and like any sunscreen needs to be reapplied during prolonged sun exposure.  This one does not have as much of a scent as the other products, but I do love the fact that it totally absorbs into your skin so that you are not left feeling greasy.

All in all, I am beyond pleased with these products, and fully intend to try some of their other products soon (I am super intrigued by their Bast! Spa Line).  These products are all great for those people who want more natural products, people with sensitive skin, and pregnant or new mommies, simply because the products are so naturally derived and safe.  I really recommend that if you are looking for ways to make your beauty routine more natural and pure, check out WRRYFree Skin Care!

Thankful for... living in town

Hubby and I both grew up in fairly rural areas.  Well, let me clarify, we both grew up in rural counties in our respective states of residence, and within those counties, we both grew up on rural county roads, as compared to "in town".  So, when we decided to buy a house smack in the middle of the town that is our county seat, we both knew it would be a bit of an adjustment.

I had less of an adjustment, since I had moved out at 24 for graduate school.  I lived "in town" the entire time I was in graduate school, then when I moved to Pittsburgh, I lived in (several of) the South Hills suburbs, which were in and of themselves little towns.  So, for me, it was more an adjustment to living in a house, as opposed to an apartment.  I had been used to hearing other residents moving around my building, so the first few times I was in our house alone, it was a little scary!

For Hubby, the adjustment was much bigger.  He, too, had moved out for college and grad school, but when he was finished, he moved back in with his parents.  When he moved into our house, it was his first real, permanent, move.  Dealing with street parking, lots of sirens from the 3 local fire houses, and neighbors 2 feet away from our house, not to mention all the changes our particular street has undergone in the nearly 3 years we have lived here (nearly 3 years?  already?!).  Luckily, we happened to buy a house on a fabulous street.  We live on a one way street that is a mix of long term residents and young families.  Once we got over a few bumps adjusting to neighbors, I can say that this is probably one of the nicest, quietest streets in town.  Last fall, a large housing development was added for seniors at the end of our block.  We all had concerns, but honestly, we rarely ever see any of the neighbors from that development, and the pretty houses and landscaping have really perked up the street.

All in all, people keep to themselves on our street, but everyone is really kind.  We are all so busy that we just do not see each other much.  But today, I was reminded why living in town has become a blessing to us.

Our neighbors to each side had fencing along the side boundaries of our yard, so our first full summer here, Hubby and my dad fenced in the back and put fencing up to the house, so our back yard is completely fenced in.  This is great for the doggies.  However, it is a pain for cutting grass, because we have to drag the mower out through the gate to cut the side and front yards.  On top of that, last summer, I talked Hubby into buying a manual mower to help be a little greener (and to help us get some extra exercise).  It is quite cumbersome to drag it through that gate.

With the early warm spring weather, our yard had become a jungle, and today, I decided to give Hubby a surprise but tackling the first mow of the year.  His current work shift gets him home after dark, and I knew if we waited until next weekend to mow, it would be a complete mess.  As I was dragging the manual mower up from the basement, and trying to get into the groove, our next door neighbor was mowing along his side of the fence line.  He stopped his mower, and remarked that he saw I was manually mowing, and since he knew it would take me a long time, he was going to mow my front and side yards for me.  I was beyond grateful!  He cut my mow time in half, simply because I would not have to maneuver the gate and fence.

In this small act of kindness, which took him a fraction of the time it would have taken me, my neighbor reminded me how truly thankful I am to live in this town, on this street, with these neighbors.

Birchbox Favorite Review: Tea forte

My March Birchbox was awesome beyond compare, and it was so hard to pick just one favorite product, but the minute I saw that one of the samples was tea, I suspected I had found my pick.  My suspicions proved completely, deliciously correct.

Tea forte is a company that makes delicious gourmet teas that just so happen to have amazing healthy and beauty benefits.  Just a peak at their website has me considering giving up coffee altogether, well almost anyway.  I have a feeling Tea forte will turn me into a tea junkie, all of their blends sound absolutely amazing.  The samples in my Birchbox were from the Skin Smart collection, which providing skin care from the inside out.  With three different options, I chose to first try the Cherry Marzipan green tea.

I have to admit, it was love at first smell.  I am a huge fan of marzipan, so this tea was a heavenly experience for me.  It smelled so incredible.  Sweet, yet clean.  And the taste, well, the taste was out of this world.  It was not a heavy, overpowering taste, as some teas can be.  It was the perfect delicate blend of the cherry and marzipan flavors; I found it to be so relaxing, and yet rejuvenating at the same time.  I knew I had to have more of this tea.

So, I ordered this tea, as well as another blend, through Birchbox.  That is the best part of the Birchbox; if there is a sample from this month's box that you simply must have, you can purchase the full size through the Birchbox website with free shipping!  I could not wait to have more of this tea, so I ordered it and within 2 days, it was at my front door.  I have a feeling this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Note:  For local Pittsburgh folks, there are about 16 local retailers that sell Tea forte, including many of the local Coldwater Creek locations (Ross Park, Monroeville, Cranberry, and Mt. Lebabon), and it can even be found at the store at Phipps Conservatory.  Of course, you can always peruse the website to see the different products and order online!  Happy Tea Time!

Who Doesn't Love a Deal

If you know me, you know that I really do not enjoy shopping.  I find it so much hassle to get in my car, drive around to shops, deal with looking for something that I usually cannot find, and interacting with cranky customers and employees.  It is rare that I think shopping is a good idea, which is why I do a lot of shopping online.  Recently, I found a new website called nomorerack.com that seems pretty cool.

NoMoreRack is a daily deal website that offers 8 different deals each day.  Some of these prices are so amazing, particularly for electronics and various gizmos.  You know I am a tech girl at heart, so I am totally loving looking at all the awesome tech deals.  Even now looking at some of the gadgets, I am totally drooling over things I would love to get!

There is also a community built into the website, where you can interact with other deal hunters.  You can even refer friends to build up points toward free products.  Who does not love free products?

In today's economy, we are always looking for ways to make our money go further.  Check out NoMoreRack and see all the money you could be spending on these great deals!