12/23/08
With the New Year coming up I know I want to find as many ways as I can to make the dollar stretch. This has been a hard year for all of us, but we don't have to let it cause us to be depressed and give up. One of my favorite authors Ellie Kay has written a new book called "Living Rich for Less".
Here's a summary of what to expect…
You really can be rich in every way, every day.
So you want to own the home you love, make memories on wonderful vacations with family or friends, finance college educations, and help others too?
You can—starting here and now.
With lively humor, proven know-how, and practical principles for financial health, Living Rich for Less helps you stretch your dollars to realize the lifestyle of your dreams. Ellie Kay’s entertaining and enlightening examples show you simple steps to save, spend, and give smart, and her three main principles are undergirded by dozens of effective rules and hundreds of Cha-Ching Factor tips that keep or put money in your pocket.
Ellie knows what it’s like to be financially-strapped or struggling, wanting to be the Joneses but feeling as poor in spirit as in pocketbook. She went, within two and a half years, from being a new wife and mom with $40,000 in consumer debt and seven children (and college educations) to support, to being completely debt-free and within fifteen years able to pay cash for eleven different cars, give away three of those cars, buy two five-bedroom houses (moving from one to the other) and nicely furnish each, take wonderful vacations, dress her family in fine fashion; and support more than thirty non-profit organizations in more than a dozen different countries, giving away more than $100,000.
Isn’t that the kind of transformation to a rich life that you want?
Living Rich for Less helps anyone get there in our taxed-out, maxed-out times. Because financial security doesn’t mean just genuine prosperity, but being able to live luxuriously, give generously, and care for yourself as well as the others around you.
Why keep up with the Joneses when you can be them?
I really loved reading this book. I got so much helpful insight and advice to make some changes in my life. There's so much in here we all could use.
"Living Rich for Less" retails for $16.99 but you may purchase it at a discount rate online at one of these websites:
Amazon
Christianbook
Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was provided. You can visit Ellie's website to see all the books she has written. Her resource center is full of money saving ideas for shopping. While you're at it don't forget to stop by her blog.
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6/6/09
I was recently given an opportunity to read a book that has really challenged my thinking. Thanks to Zondervan for giving me the opportunity to review it and share my thoughts. The book I'm referring to is titled "Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus---How the Jewishness of Jesus can Transform your Faith".
This book is written by Ann Spangler who also wrote "Praying the names of God" and "Women of the Bible". The co-author is Lois Tverberg who's the author of "Listening to the Language of the Bible: Hearing It Through Jesus’ Ears". If you have never read or heard of this book, you don't know what you are missing. Having only read halfway through the book I was thinking things like "Wow...I didn't know that" or "Hummm...I never thought of it like that". There are so many eye opening things all throughout the book as you read it.
I often wonder why believers (in the body of Christ) all across denominational lines can't seem to agree on what the bible says, or what it all means. Is it possible that our westernized way of looking at God's Word be a major cause of the problem? Why do many people see Jesus as the blond hair, blue eyed Savior depicted in our movies, paintings, and books? So many people of other cultures cannot relate to our westernized way of seeing Jesus. It just brings so much confusion when you read God's word, and try to put two and two together. I often wonder when someone believes they were called to minister, the dept of their study of Jesus life and culture he was raised in. How much Greek and Hebrew do they understand? How much of the Jewish culture and customs are they knowledgeable about? There seems to be many gaps in our understanding of Christ when we don't understand the very culture in which God placed him.
We are not all Jewish so we may not be able to relate to their culture or customs. Have we let ourselves believe that knowing the Jewish side of Jesus is of less importance to us understanding how to follow in his footsteps? I don't think many of us realize how confused we've become trying to bring him to our level, and seeing him from our westernized point of view. Are we failing to allow ourselves to hunger and thirst to know more of the truth? Do we not want to challenge our thinking? If we really want to understand Jesus, I believe it's vital we get some understanding of the Jewish culture.
I love hearing from people who study bible prophecy to its fullest extent. Often many of them go really deep into their studies of God's Word. They travel across the world to the Holy Land, study Jewish culture, talk with Rabbi's and people who study the Holy Word. They seem to understand that there's more to it than what they've just learned in seminary or bible college. Every believer in the body of Christ should want to be a student of God's Word so they don't just rely on what they hear in church on Sunday or learn from their "favorite bible teachers". That doesn't mean our pastors and teachers should be looked down upon or that they are not needed. I believe God does use them to help us get better understanding of things. We just should not allow that to be the only means of God talking to us, or the end of our growing in knowledge of His word. All of us should be students of God's Word even when we're not attending church services.
Do you want to transform your faith? If so then "Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus--How the Jewishness of Jesus can Transform your Faith" can be found at places like Zondervan, Amazon, Christianbook and Family Christian Stores.
Disclaimer: Zondervan provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was provided.
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11/8/09
I love to read books that encourages and lifts you up spiritually. I have been reading a great book called "Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl" by Lysa Terkeurst who is the president of Proverbs 31 Ministries. This book regularly sells for $12.99 and is available at Zondervan. You can also find it at places like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Christianbook.
If you have been just going through the motions, settled into being a "checklist Christian", and your spiritual life is boring, you'll want to hear what's shared throughout this book. Lysa (in a down to earth way) shows you how to dig in to study God's word and grow in your relationship with Him. Through her own life experiences she has learned how she fell short in her walk with God. You are not getting the most out of your life with God just by believing in Him or believing that He exists. Don't just settle for religion. He wants to have a personal relationship with you. He wants you to not just read The Word but gain understanding of what is being said, why it's said, and how it applies to you.
We all no matter where we are in our spiritual walk need to understand our heavenly father more and His will for our lives. You can't get this by merely reading the bible and treating it likes it's one of those things on your "to do" list. Once we understand God's way better we will be able to see where our minds need renewing to line up with His way of doing things. I encourage you to get a copy of "Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl" to give you a fresh perspective on how you see your daily time with the Lord.
Disclaimer: Zondervan provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was provided.
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12/27/09
What a blessing it is when we can learn better ways to "make this our best Christmas ever". I had the opportunity to review this book just in time for the Christmas holidays. Not only that but, I was able to begin during the first week of Advent. Each day as I opened to that particular day's chapter I learned things like what Advent really is, the history behind the different things we associate with Christmas, and ways to readjust the way you look at Christmas from here on out.
Ace Collins put a lot of thought into writing this book. I can tell it really came from the heart. In it he also shares ways to make the holidays a more meaningful time to spend with those you love as well as some of his family favorites recipes. There were many things in the book I already knew and other things I didn't know. While it's a great book to learn a new thing or two, I can't agree with everything he suggests.
His thoughts of why we should not do away with certain traditional customs/beliefs is not fit for everyone. The way they lived back then, their language, and what they understood about God was limited. Just because something sounds like a good thing or fun doesn't mean it's right. In this time knowledge and understanding has increased and many Christians today have strong convictions from God of why they should celebrate different. The things of the past held a meaning for that time and we must move forward with what God is showing us in our time. Each family must pray about these things and do what they believe is right for their family and the lives of others they touch.
If you would like a copy of "25 Days, 26 Ways to make this the best Christmas Ever" to take you through the next Advent you can purchase it at one of these locations:
Zondervan
Christianbook
Amazon
Disclaimer: Zondervan provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was provided.
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5/12/10
I have been reading a great Bible story book with my 10 year old son. It' s called "Mighty Acts of God". It's "a family Bible story book" the whole family can enjoy. This book was written by Starr Meade and illustrated by Tim O'Connor. Each day we take time out to sit with him and read a story. It's perfect for sitting down and having a little devotion time together with him. This book has all the stories from the Bible from beginning to end with colorful illustrations. It helps you and your children discover God's mighty character throughout the scriptures. At the end of each section you will find questions and things to discuss together as well as a focus of prayer. The cost of this book is $24.99. It is available for purchase at Crossway Books. You can also purchase it at Christian Book, Amazon for around $17.00. Christian Book also has a book blog where you can read more about this and other books they have. My son enjoys reading and hearing Bible stories and here you can see him looking through the pages. He said the stories are amazing and he likes imagining what it was like living in those days. He likes the visualization of the pictures that help him to understand what was going on. The stories are not too long and don't bore him out. He stays engaged with us we are reading and asks questions along the way. He's able to read this on his own too and he likes that it sounds like the narrator is talking directly to him. A day doesn't go by that he will let us forget to read a story. He's curious to know what happens next. As a parent I really appreciate great books like this to help teach along with God's word. It makes it more fun and exciting to learn about God and all the awesome things He did when He created our world and helping us understand His relationship with people. We are halfway through this devotional and enjoy seeing our son be so amazed and enthusiastic at learning about our heavenly Father.
Disclaimer: Crossway Publishers provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was provided. Be sure to stop by their blog to read more book reviews.
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7/11/10
"More teens are turning away from the faith than ever before: it is estimated that 75 to 88% of Christian teens walk away from Christianity by the end of their freshman year of college. Something must be done.
Family Driven Faith equips Christian parents with the tools they need to raise children biblically in a post-Christian, anti-family society. Voddie Baucham, who with his wife has overcome a multi-generational legacy of broken and dysfunctional homes, shows that God has not left us alone in raising godly children. He has given us timeless precepts and principles for generational faithfulness, especially in Deuteronomy 6. God’s simple command to Moses to teach the Word diligently to the children of Israel serves as the foundation of Family Driven Faith."
When I received this book in the mail my eyes lit up when I saw who it was by. This is the first book I have read by Voddie Baucham. I have seen several of his videos on YouTube and always enjoy what he has to say. My husband couldn't wait for me to get started on the book because he wanted to read it with me. That was a shock because he doesn't read a book unless it's a topic he really wants to dig more into. We would find time in the day when we were alone to read a chapter and discuss what we read. Many times we were like "wow that was heavy!", or "I'm glad he's shedding the light about what's been on our hearts for years".
While this book is written for ALL Christian parents, there is one important thing that stood out for us because it's personal to us. Being an African American Christian who thinks outside the box has come with many challenges. Having another black man talk about the things Voddie shares is so encouraging to other black men like my husband. It's hard for us to find other like minded African Americans in our families, communities, and many times churches. Once you start doing something different because of your convictions people don't take it well. You are often persecuted by well meaning people whose eyes have not been opened to the things God has showed you. I know that this is true for all ethnic groups but truth be told African Americans take a heavy hit more than any others could possibly understand.
We are almost finished read Family Driven Faith. Is has been encouraging and helped us understand more about why this is the direction we want our family to continue on. I encourage anyone wanting to learn more about multi-generational faith to get a copy of this book. You can view clips about this book on the Family Driven Faith YouTube channel.
Disclaimer: Crossway Publishers provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was provided. Be sure to stop by their blog to read more book reviews.
Update:
The Response to Family Driven Faith
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7/14/11
Hello everyone! I’m back with another book review. The book I would like to talk to you about today is titled: “Give Them grace…Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus” by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick & daughter Jessica Thompson. "Give them grace" is available in paperback with over 213 pages for $14.99. If you like E-books they have that as well for $9.99.
In the introduction the Elyse leads you to ponder on this thought…"You’re a Christian parent but is your parenting Christian?” When I saw that I began to wonder why I would need to ask myself this question. As I continued to read on it started becoming clear why the reader is asked this question.
As Christian parents we want to raise good, obedient children who love God with all their hearts and will live to please Him their whole lives. There are so many parenting books out there with different strategies of how to and such. I have read a few myself and have found some useful tips here and there. "Give them grace" is not like all other parenting books that have so much in common. Through this book Elyse focuses on teaching you to rely on God’s grace instead of our own abilities (using the Law/rules) to transform our kids.
The book is written in two parts with a total of 10 chapters. Part 1 talks about the “Foundations of Grace”. Part 2 is about “Evidences of Grace”. She shares how using the Law, rules/morals does not have as much of a great impact on the hearts of our children like sharing the Gospel of Grace does. They may obey outwardly but not really be transformed on the inside. There are many case scenarios throughout the book of situations and how you could handle them. You have to be open to the Holy Spirit guiding you into turning these into teachable moments. It’s kind of like stopping and having short mini sermons with your kids about Jesus love for them and why he died on the cross for them concerning what lesson they need to learn at that moment.
At the end of each chapter are questions to challenge your thinking and help you clarify the principles learned. There’s also section in the back of the book (the Appendix) where they list common problems parents face and ways to respond the Gospel way. In the charts you’ll find suggestions for Blame Shifting/Making Excuses, Complaining, Disobeying, Fighting/Anger, Laziness, Lying, Provoking Others, and Talking Back. It’s broken into the categories (management/oversight, Gospel Nurturing, Gospel Training, Gospel Correction, Rehearsing Gospel Promises) with scriptures and examples provided for each.
I have already been (to some degree) doing as Elyse shares by sitting and talking with our son when dealing with him about an undesirable behavior. We try to explain why God’s Word warns against the particular behavior and tell what it could produce in his life if it continues on. We tell him about God’s love for him as well. As with any parenting book I picked up some tips I find useful. I can’t say I agree with everything they say because it seems like another way to try to be a “perfect parent” if taken to the extreme. The way they talked to the children in each situation is something that would not work for every child. Depending on the developmental/emotional age of the children talking to them in the way described in the book my not work for everyone. I know that when I saw the ages of the children I was like “my son at that age would not have comprehended what was just said”. It would have been too vague.
If you would like to read a free insert of "Give them grace…Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus" click here to go to the PDF download. You can also find this book at Amazon.com. Click on the book to take a look inside.
Disclaimer: Crossway Publishers provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was provided. Be sure to stop by their blog to read more book reviews.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10/3/11
I feel so blessed to have been selected to review a study I know will benefit my soon to be 12 year old son for years to come. When I saw the big package from Crossway that came in the mail my eyes got big. I couldn’t wait to open it up to see what was inside. I looked over the contents, started smiling, and wondering if my son would like to incorporate it into his school lessons for Bible time. So what did I get that got me all excited?
The Most Important Thing You’ll Ever Study: A Survey of the Bible
Publisher: Crossway
Type: Paperback
Retail Price: $54.99 (FULL SET: Volumes 1-5)
Price by volumes: Volumes 1 & 2, (Old Testament w/answer key vol. 5) is $32.99
Volumes 3 & 4, (New Testament w/answer key vol. 5) is $32.99
Volumes 1 & 2 (Old Testament) is $27.99
Volumes 3 & 4 (New Testament) is $27.99
This study is available in multiple volumes or as a full set. The books are not sold individually.
“The Most Important Thing You’ll Ever Study” is a series of workbooks that surveys the entire Bible. It teaches students each book of the Bible moving chronologically through the Bible. It can be used alone or as a supplement to their Bible reading. They will learn how to read the Bible for understanding and mastery. As they complete the course they will have not only greater knowledge the Word of God, but a love for it as well.
This study guide set is geared towards students in junior high and early high school. It aims to help them answer questions like “how are the pages of the Bible relevant to my life today?” or “Why is it so important that I read this book?”
Before getting started it’s important to read a few things first. In the “Quick Start” section Starr explains two ways the study book can be used. One way is as a supplement companion while reading through the entire Bible. The other way is as a workbook that guides you through an overview of the Bible. You will learn about the shaded icons and book symbols within the lessons and why they are useful in the study. The “Getting Started” section is REALLY important for you and your student(s) to read. Here she explains to the student the reasons why “studying” verses just reading through the Bible is important in the life of a Christian. In order to understand all its meaning we need to study, analyze, and think about what is being said. The goal here is for the student to begin a lifetime of Bible study.
Starr points out that the main character in the Bible is God not the other people in the stories like Noah, Abraham, Jonah, ect. The focus point is to look at “who God is, what He’s like, and what He does in the stories”. Even though we may study the Bible just like we do any other book we should not treat it just like any other book. We are not to pick and choose what we will believe or agree with from God’s word. If we find the Bible contradicts our beliefs, opinions, and preferences, we have to give up our idea and accept the truth God reveals in the scriptures. Last she tells the student not to expect Bible study to be easy. It won’t always be fun or exciting to study nor will they understand everything they read. That’s why we study for a lifetime because as time goes on we will continue to grow more in our understanding.
We used “The Most Important Thing You’ll Ever Study” by simply just following along with the questions. As we began I have to be honest and say I thought it would be a little too much for my son to comprehend and it would lead him to feeling overwhelmed. This is do to him having a learning disability. Well I was wrong. Once I explained to him what to do he took off and was able to complete to lessons with minimum help from me. He was excited to get started each day. We didn’t always finish a whole lesson that day because after 30 minutes he would show he was getting tired from all the reading. He also liked asking questions so we would get into deep discussions about some things. We’re in no hurry so the next day we just picked back up where we left off.
We are no where near finished with this study. It will take the rest of the school year (possibly more) for us to get through it. One thing my son loves is books that help him learn more about God. I was so happy to see him really get in there pondering and thinking about things he read in the Bible as he worked through answering the questions in the workbook. Receiving the full set of “The Most Important Thing You’ll Ever study” to review was definitely a blessing for our homeschool Bible study this year. No other book your child picks up will impact their lives more than the Bible can. This study is also available in e-book format for $9.99.
Disclaimer: Crossway Publishers provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was provided. Be sure to stop by their blog to read more book reviews.
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10/30/12
I am happy to share with you today about my first Voxbox I received for review from Influenster. Some of you may be wondering what Influenster is. Here is what it says on their website…
“Influenster is a free-to-join community of invited trendsetters who live to give opinions of products and experiences. Influenster creates links between brands and members to reward participation and influence future products.
Influenster is a place for culture junkies to come together and share their unique opinions of products and experiences. Active members of Influenster get exclusive access to deals, promotions, and swag from brands that thrive off the input (the good, the bad, and the ugly -- they just want to know what's up).”
I was chosen to do a review of their Beauty Blogger Voxbox 2012. The items came in the mail in a white box. Here is what it looked like when I opened it up:
The contents inside are:
1. NYC (New York Color) IndividualEyes Custom Compact for brown eyes
2. Kiss Ever Pro Lashes Starter Kit
3. Bath & Body Works Black Pepper Bergamot Mini Candle
4. EBOOST- orange flavor
5. Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin
6. Not Your Mother’s Kinky Moves Curl Defining Hair Cream
7. Vitabath Spa Day Citron Leaves Body Mist
I have set up a pin board on Pinterest of my Beauty Blogger Voxbox. I would love for you to stop by and see it. First I’ll start off by saying I have enjoyed all the great products I received. Now I want to tell you a little about each one.
The NYC New York Color IndividualEyes Custom Compact is the all-in-one compact with everything you need for a complete eye look. The price for it is $4.99. It comes with the primer, illuminator, applicator and complementing shadows. With four colors, specially coordinated to intensify and enhance your eye color, you can create a look as individual as you are to make your eyes pop! I'm not a makeup wearer but after trying the NYC all-in-one eye makeup compact I want to start wearing some color on my face from time to time to enhance the look. I have brown eyes so I was sent Union Square (for Brown Eyes) to try. It works perfectly with my face without adding too much color I love that it came with instructions since this is my first time using eye makeup. I want to purchase the smokey one for Brown Eyes too.
The Vitabath Spa Day Citron Leaves Body Mist is a weightless formula infused with conditioning vitamins and a unique antioxidant blend to keep the skin feeling refreshed and happy. The price for it is $9.99. Revive your spirit and soul with the zingy scent of citrus, crisp green verbena and soothing green tea. Layer this from head to toe to lightly scent your skin and feel flirty. This body mist smells lovely when I spray it on after stepping out of the shower. It doesn't stay on long so I have to reapply after a few hours to liven up the scent. I'm thinking of pouring some in a small spray bottle to take with me in my purse when I’m gone all day.
The Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin allows you to easily achieve three chic updo styles. Simply twirl your hair up and spin the two Spin Pins in for a perfect undone bun, side bun, or double bun! The price for it is $7.29.
Product Features:
* Includes easy-to-follow three step instructions for achieving a professionally perfect undone bun, side bun or double bun
* Available in light and dark hair colors to blend in with your hair
* Does the work of 20 bobbies
When I first saw the Goody Spin Pin I didn't think it was going to work for me. After opening the box I was wondering how this would work in my hair. I read the directions but did not fully grasp what to do until after watching a YouTube video. I put my hair into a messy bun and was very satisfied with not having to use a bunch of bobby pins. It held up all day long for me. This is now my new favorite hair accessory!
The Not Your Mother’s Kinky Moves Curl Defining Hair Cream helps encourage natural curls by giving them that extra oomph they so desperately need. The price for a 4oz. (full size bottle) is $6.00. It is infused with Grape Seed and Jasmine. It works to detangle, define, eliminates frizz and flyaways to show you true locks.This Curl Defining Hair Cream smells really good in my hair. The scent was not too strong and overpowering. My husband could smell it every time he was near me. He kept sniffing my hair. With this being a small sample I only got 2 uses out of it. I use this to put in my twists which results in a soft hold. I have to use a lot for my hair on wash day then a dime size applied daily. I only received a 1.5 fl.oz.size to review so it lasted just 2 uses. I would love to try more of this brands products.
EBOOST is a mood boost, focus boost, immunity boost, natural boost, a no-crash boost. It uses real ingredients you’ve heard of like Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Green Tea, Vitamin B-12 and Folic Acid as well as stuff you might not have heard of: Quercetin, 5-HTP, Resveratrol, Huperzine-A which is all good too. What could be sweeter than the fact it’s sweetened with Stevia, a plant, not a chemical. The price for it is as follows: $28.00 for 20 count box of effervescent powders, or $39.00 for 30 count box of effervescent powders, $39.00 for 12 count box of shots. Get your boost with the convenience of a shot, or an easy-to-mix powder packet in four delicious flavors: Super Berry, Orange, Pink Lemonade and Acai Pomegranate. No matter how you boost, you’re sure to feel great. All day, every day.
I got the EBOOST- orange flavor. This is the one product I my Voxbox I'm not sure about. I saw on the back where it shows how much water you can use. I started off with 2oz. but it was too fizzy and potent for my taste. I poured up to 1/2 cup measure. It was better but the taste was still not working for me. I suffered through it just to get it down to see if it would work to give me the energy I needed that day. I felt a boost but I won't buy something like this due to the taste. I have never like any type of effervescent tabs so I can see why I don't like this.
I tried using the Kiss Ever Pro Lashes Starter Kit. I have never worn any fake eyelashes before so it wasn't easy for me to put them on. The lashes kept falling off my eyelashes which are not thick at all. I'm thinking of thickening my lashes up with mascara then putting the fake ones on after they dry. If I do this I’ll come back later with that update. The price for the kit is $5.99.
I’m happy with my fist Voxbox from Influenster. If you would like to learn more about Influenster be sue to stop by their website.
Disclosure: Influenster sent me this Beauty Blogger Voxbox 2012 free of charge for my views and opinion. No other compensation was provided.
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5/6/13
Over the past couple of weeks my family and I have been using a new product to keep us smelling fresh and feeling clean from head to toe. What is that you may ask? It’s the new Ivory 2-in-1 Hair and Body Wash.
About The Product
• Cleans head to toe with dual action formula• Washes away dirt and odor
• Leaves hair clean and conditioned
• Free of dyes & heavy perfumes
• Saves shower space with just 1 bottle
• 50% more than other 2-IN-1 brands
• Made in the USA
Check out the fun new Ivory video to see why you may want to try some yourself.
The Ivory 2-in-1 is not too thick or too watery. My teenage son was the first to use it. He said it smelled good and that his skin felt really soft. He uses it each time he showers from head to toe. My hubby was the next one to use it. He was surprised he didn’t have to use as much as he normally do to get a good lather. He liked the clean fresh scent and how soft it made his skin feel. He also uses it to shave his face and his head. It did the job and he has no complaints.
I was the last one in the house to try out Ivory 2-in-1 Hair and Body Wash. I’m very careful of the type of products I use on my hair because I don’t want to strip and dry out my kinky curly hair. For review purposes I was willing to give this a try. When using any shampoo I only apply it to my scalp and not my hair. I follow up with a thorough cleansing using a conditioner on my scalp and hair. I used this product the same way. I didn’t have a problem with it drying my hair out. I’ll continue to use it this way because I like that the ingredients are gentle enough for this type of cleansing. If I do notice it drying out my hair at some point I will come back and update this post. As for my skin it felt so soft. I couldn’t believe that I didn’t have to use much to get the job done. Believe me when I say “a little goes a long way”.
Ivory 2-in-1 is a great alternative if you’ve run out of shaving cream. In fact I like using it much better. I doesn’t dry out my skin like some shaving creams do. I don’t have to hurry to put on some body butter/cream or lotion afterwards. As you can see my family was pleased with the product. It's sells for around $3.50 a bottle in stores like Wal-Mart and Target. I think I’ll be using up the coupons I received with my review to purchase some more bottles of Ivory 2-in-1 Hair & Body Wash.
Disclaimer: I received this product from Influenster free of charge for my views and opinion. No other compensation was provided.
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7/8/13
I'm back with another VoxBox review curtsy of Influenster. Just in time for enjoying the hot sunshine, some cool breeze, wearing sandals, and painting my nails is a box full of goodies to help me look and feel my summers best. I love the description on the card that comes with the box. It says…
“Palm trees, ocean air, sunkissed hair: the endless summer, take me there.”
~author Unknown
At the time of this writing I’m on my 3rd VoxBox from Influenster. I will admit I enjoy testing and doing these reviews. I have not been disappointed so far in what I have received. Now let me get back to telling you what all is in this box.
When my Sunkissed VoxBox came I could not wait to open it to see what was inside. You don’t know what you get in a box from Influenster until it is sent to you. First let me show you what all I got.
Now that you’ve seen the contents continue reading as I give you a brief description about each one.
From Dr. Scholl’s I had the opportunity to review their Dr. Scholl’s For Her High Heel Insoles. These are “clinically proven to help prevent foot pain caused by wearing high heels 2” or higher. They offer immediate, long-lasting comfort and an ultra-soft gel arch to shift pressure off the ball of your foot thus improving the way you feel wearing your heels.” This sells for $10.99 a pack.
Here I’m wearing a pair of my highest heels with the Dr. Scholl’s For Her High Heel Insoles. When you open the pack you’ll notice the insoles show left or right on the back to indicate which shoe/heel for that foot to place them in. All you do is peel off the adhesive covering and stick the sticky side inside your heels. It feels really comfy. Wearing heels after a few hours tends to make the balls of my feet hurt like crazy. With these gel inserts I can wear my heels a little longer and still feel comfortable. My hubby wants some for his dress shoes so we’ll have to get him a set of insoles for men.
From Olay I reviewed the Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream Skin Perfecting Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15. This facial cream provides “24-hour hydration and a splash of sheer color to your skin. This all-in-one skin perfecter, sunscreen, and tinted moisturizer evens tone and refreshes dullness, for flawless looking skin. It sells for $12.99 and is available in two shade: fair/light and light/medium.
Here are pics of me before and after applying the cream for the day. I received the light/medium face cream for review. First I cleanse my face with a mild cleanser then apply Witch Hazel with a cotton ball. Following that I put on the Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream. I like the creamy feel and the way it blends into my skin. I’m careful not to use too much because I don’t want it caked on. I’m not a heavy make wearer so I try to choose things that help me keep a natural look when I do wear some. Some days I wear the cream on my face just like this (in the pic) and others I have to go an extra step by applying a light touch of powder foundation over it for more cover up on spots. I had never used a liquid foundation before so I didn’t know if I would like this. So far I’m loving it and the smell is pleasant too. It lasts all day long and I can smell the fresh scent even after coming inside from sweating in the hot sun.
From the makers of Sinful Colors I got the chance to review their new line of nail polish called SinfulShine with Gel Tech. “SinfulShine with Gel Tech technology provides opulent rich color and superb shine. There are 32 trend right shades available now for a limited time exclusively at Walgreens.” It sells for $2.99 each.
The color I received to review is called “Set the Mood”. I have never heard of or used Gel Tech nail polish before. I was surprised I only had to put on one coat. The color was that rich. I really liked the way it shines without having to put a top coat on. I had so much fun painting my fingernails I went ahead and did my toes too.
Even though the nail polish itself has a shine to it I went ahead and put a top coat on so it would stay on my nails for a week. I wash dishes every day so nail polish doesn’t stay on my nails after 2 days if I don’t put on a clear top coat. I even follow up with another clear coat within 24 hours. It sounds like a lot but my hubby hates the look of nail polish chipping off or he’ll volunteer to get the nail polish remover and take it off for me. It doesn’t bother me because I get to relax and not have to bother with doing it myself. *wink*
I loved this nail polish so much my hubby bought me a bottle for my birthday! This color is called “Man Hunt”. I love Sinful Colors nail polish. Whenever there’s a sale my hubby picks me up a few bottles. I’d show my collection but there’s like 20 different colors and I need to finish my review. LOL
The last item I want to share with you is from Goody. These are their new Goody Ouchless Ribbon Elastics. The Ouchless Elastics are “unique knot styled hair ties used to personalize your ponytail. They are as beautiful as ribbons but soft and stretchy too. These hair ties are “knot” your average elastic. The Goody Ouchless Ribbon Elastics are both comfortable and fashionable, plus look great in your hair or worn on your wrist. They come in assorted colors and sell for $3.99-$4.99 for a set of 5.
I love Goody products and use them all the time. I was happy to get a chance to try the ribbon elastics out. They have a loose fit so if you’re looking for a tight hold you may want to wear this on top of another hair band with a tighter hold. I like the loose fit myself because I don’t like putting lots of tension on my thick curly hair. It’s prone to breakage if I’m not careful. Here in the first picture you see where I’m wearing my hair up in a ponytail and on the other one I’m wearing a low ponytail to the side.
In these last two pictures I show how I wore my hair in a bun. I used a different Goody hair elastic to put this up in since the Goody Ribbon does not have a very tight hold on my thick hair. I just used it for a finished look for my bun by putting it loosely over the other elastic band. The other pic is me wearing another ribbon elastic around my wrist. These little cuties are great to have on hand in your purse or worn on your wrist if you need to put your hair up when getting too hot while outside. As time goes on I hope to find more creative ways to wear my Goody Ribbon Elastics. This may inspire me to purchase more colors.
I hope you’ve enjoyed hearing my review of the Sunkissed VoxBox and learned something helpful about a product you’d like to try. I’ve had fun trying out all the products and they are helping me have a “SunKissed” Summer!
Disclaimer: I received these products from Influenster free of charge for my views and opinion. No other compensation was provided.
1 comment:
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