UPDATE & APOLOGY **REVIEW** CAMILLE ROSE NATURALS Honey Hydrate Leave-In

UPDATE & APOLOGY - 

First, I have to backtrack on all the trash I talked about the product. As with so many other things in my crazy life, most of the problem was due to user error. I need to remember that every product can't be used the same way for every person.

The Honey Hydrate saved my hair after I dried it out trying to wash out an unfortunate dye job. Clarifying shampoo is awesome for getting rid of buildup - with a good single wash. After using it 3 or 4 times in a row on my hair, I ended up with tresses like those straw-headed dolls. And the dye was still horrible.

My hair was so dried out that it felt like damp steel wool. When all the water evaporated, I was afraid to comb it for fear of strands just snapping off.

Honey Hydrate to the rescue!

I sprayed my hair so that it was very damp then I applied the Honey Hydrate to my hair in 4 sections. I ran my palms from root to tip to make sure I was coating the hair well. Then I wrapped my hair in a satin bonnet for the night. In the morning, my hair was softer and felt less damaged, if that makes sense. Still, I avoided combing it for a few days. I just sprayed my hair lightly with water every morning and wore a scarf and let the Honey Hydrate do its thing. 

Now that I have more respect for the healing power of Honey Hydrate, I try to use it more. I don't use it full strength because that's still just too much. What I do is add a couple of drops to my sprayer and use it for curl refreshing or for softening after applying those hard curl gels. I also tend to add it to almost every other hair product I have! 

Basically, I have to use the product sparingly. Otherwise, it's too hydrating.

So, yeah, I had to come back and give Honey Hydrate credit where credit is due.

P.S.: My best friend says that I never tell this update story the same way. Probably. But gist is the real deal! LOL

**********************

 Oh, the hype out there about this stuff! I read, watched, and listened to probably more than 50 reviews about Camille Rose Naturals Honey Hydrate Leave-In. Well, hype is hype but results are what count. The price of this ranges from $14 to $20, depending on where you buy it. I got it from Target for 14 bucks and Amazon has lost its mind and has it for around 17 bucks with free shipping (and up). So, is it worth it? Let's take a look at everything about the product:

The look: It looks exactly like the amber-colored supposed-to-be-honey you find on most store shelves. Well, it might be a touch darker.  When you hold it up to the light, it looks even more like honey because of the tiny bubbles and what looks like sugar granules.

The smell: I've heard other reviewers describe the smell as "nothing", slightly sweet, and "just like honey". Sniffing the jar, I thought it smelled faintly of honey and amber with the tiniest hit of... chocolate??? It's not stinky and it's not strong. However, once I used this on my wet hair, the scent got much stronger and sweeter. It was more candy-scented than perfume-like. When it dries, it retains the sweet scent but is not overwhelming or unpleasant.

The texture: I  saw where other reviewers said that this felt just like honey - very sticky and unpleasant to the touch, in some opinions. Maybe I got a different batch but I don't find this to be sticky at all. It's not lotion-like, but it not overly tacky. You can see from the photo what it looks like just smoothed across my palm and the back of my hand.

A test strand: Before I did my entire head, I tried applying this to some strands of my hair. The first thing I noticed is that it brings out the curl pattern. Second, it seems to have an elongating effect. The hair was *not* sticky but had a slightly "coated" feeling that I didn't mind because it seemed to protect the hair and make it feel stronger. 

Doing my hair: The instructions are to apply to conditioned hair. I use a leave-in conditioner - which seems like overkill but... I use the Hydra Steam that I reviewed here so I applied that first, then applied the Honey Leave-In.

As I always do my twists

I want to note here that, just as mentioned by other reviewers, there really is a warming effect when rubbing the Honey between my palms. I didn't notice this when I was just applying it with my fingers to the test strands. It must be a chemical reaction between the ingredients and it actually feels nice. As I applied this to my hair (I did it in sections), there was that slightly sealing/elastic kind of feel left on the hair that I previously mentioned. 

I was spraying my hair to keep it from drying out as I applied the Leave-In. At the finish, my twists - which are normally only damp at this point - were dripping wet still. I took that as a good sign.

By the way, I have fairly thick hair and I ended up not using a lot of the product. 

Overall results: I am not that impressed. See for yourself. My hair is very moisturized but looks dry.

This did leave my hair incredibly soft but it also 'floofed' out any curl definition. I love the way my hair smells and feels, but it looks like I haven't done any styling at all. 

I ordered this online but, after one more test, I plan to return to Target when I go back into town. It's just not living up to the hype. The other "test" I plan to do? Since this suggests applying to conditioned hair and I used a leave-in, maybe the low-quality results are on me. Next week, I am going to do a "traditional" wash and wash-out condition and see what happens with the Honey Leave-In. 

Keep in mind that I used this in conjunction with Hydra Steam Curl Designing Cream - which is highly moisturizing by itself.  This next photo is the 2nd-day results of the Honey Leave-in used as described and then the Hydra Steam product used by itself (no Honey Hydrate).

Top - Honey Hydrate Leave-In applied over Hydra Steam Leave-In
Bottom - Hydra Steam Curl Design Leave-In by itself

Look at how those curl pop! with the Hydra Steam. My curls have never been so defined and shiny with less work...

Summary (and to be fair): I saw where some reviewers used Eco Styler and other aids to help with curl definition. As I said, maybe the other leave-in I used over-softened my hair and ruined the curls. Maybe. 

I am not totally knocking this product. I think that results depend on how you use it and what your hair type is - or maybe just your styling method. I don't want to have to buy another product (styling gel) to use with one that costs this much. I would like to use just this and get all the benefits it's hyped for.

I will update this when I use it solo.

To summarize:

Natural hair needs moisture. Afro natural hair needs lots of moisture. Moisture retention is important for hair growth, length retention, and hair health. 

Peace

--Free

**REVIEW** Flora Bloom Probiotics for Women

This is a definitely a post just for us women. Guys, you have been warned...

There are certain issues specific to us females. We tend to deal with things to do with our feminine health and hygiene that aren't always fun to talk about. But let's go ahead and talk about them now.

Guys - I warned you. Go away.

As women, we know what it's like to deal with vaginal issues. There's odors and discharges and infections and, in most case, none of this has to do with our cleanliness. It all originates from inside. Diet, aging, hormones, stress, and other issues can be the cause. I know that and you know that. What I want is a solution.

In the past, I would try to eat yogurt for my overall vaginal health and I'd drink cranberry juice to combat UTIs that I got from taking certain medications. I like yogurt but I don't eat enough of the healthier types.  I don't particularly like cranberry juice. There are cranberry tablets, but they don't take care of all the other, um, feminine issues that a good probiotic will - especially a probiotic formulated for women. That's why I wanted to try this product:

This is Flora Bloom from Intimate Rose and I've been looking for something like it for a while. And, right up front, let me point out that they offer a No Questions Money Back Guarantee. Now, here is what the Flora Bloom is for and how it might help:

• If you have any digestive and urinary concerns, or 
• Bacterial vaginosis.
• This supplement will help to regulate those vaginal and digestive conditions,
• It will restore the pH and help control vaginal flora (to reduce odor).

Note that Flora Bloom does not contain wheat, gluten, soybeans egg, fish/shellfish, peanuts/tree nuts. The capsule shells are both vegetarian and kosher.

Remember what I said about my using cranberry and yogurt to combat certain feminine concerns? Take a look at the ingredients in Flora Bloom:

• Cranberry
• D-Mannose
• Polydextrose
• Proprietary Blend of the following: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus

(NOTE: Those links, by the way, lead to the USA.gov site search page. This is so you can look at some informational resources for yourself if you, like me, are not a medical professional.)

I started my tablets today and am happy that I have the chance to try them out. Once again, you can give them try and if you're not satisfied, there's that no question guarantee to get your money refunded.

Peace
-Free







DISCLOSURE: I received one or more of the products in return for a fair and honest review. I don't receive any compensation for any sales or other product proceeds. 

**REVIEW** Cossac Planner/Agenda

With so many phone apps, it's a wonder we need anything like calendars or planners. I love phone apps for most things but not for calendars. I have more trouble using phone and email calendars than I should! Certain things are just in the See-Hold-Feel category.

I think a lot of folks must agree with me because when I posted this on Instagram the other day, quite a few of my friends wanted to know more. I don't blame them.

That is a planner/agenda from Cossac. I hate calling it a planner because it's actually so much more. At first sight, I didn't like it. I didn't understand it. Ten minutes later (after reading over the enclosed instructions and checking the Cossac site), I was in love.

Most planners seem to be made to fit certain lifestyles. Usually, they are designed around people who work "regular" jobs. This one is perfect no matter what your day consists of. It's one of the first planners I've seen that someone could use - and I mean really use - whether they are a stay-at-home parent, working parent, student, or conventional employee. The whole idea behind this planner is to help you stay on track with whatever you are doing. For me, with my poor memory and organizing skills, this is just what I need. I can keep up with health appointments, medications, daily life hassles and commitments. Most important, it's going to be wonderful for helping me get on track and stay on track with writing projects.

Love this part!

If you feel overwhelmed by all that you have to do, or if you just want to be more focused or keep a record of goals and progress, this is an awesome planner. I am not exaggerating even a little bit.

This planner uses the organizing concept of general-to-specific.

When I did the review for this on Amazon, I tried to highlight some of my favorite features, so I'll run through them here:

• The layout is structured so that the user can focus more on primary goals in a 6-month period - month by month; week by week; and/or day by day. I will probably use the monthly pages for medical appointments just to glance at. What I will use most are the weekly and daily pages for my writing projects. 
• The paper is good quality for writing and not having a pen bleed through. (I am using a pencil in mine because I want to re-use!).
• The hardcover binder has a really nice texture that I can only describe and "creamy" smooth. Best of all is that you can flatten the planner without damaging the binder because of the way it's made. 
• I've already mentioned that this planner doesn't assume anything about the user; it's set up to work for every kind of occupation or lifestyle.
• The planner is most helpful for keeping a user from getting overwhelmed with whatever they are busy with. Everything is set up as in a flow of review backward and plan forward. That's what will help me most at the end of the day - to see what I've done (or should have) and plan for the next day.
• I love the way the Daily view is set up. It's constant reinforcement of what you "aim for" that day; what the general priorities are; more detailed "schedule/tasks"; a place to jot notes and ideas; then the review for the day. 

Pretty cool, yeah?

There are a couple of features I don't think I will even pay much attention to. There is a small space at the top of the Daily pages called a "Habit Tracker":

I guess that would be great for me to track my water-drinking habit but, nah, I don't dig that part so much. It could be great for someone who can use it, but I will be busy tracking appointment and writing projects.

There you have it. For better photos, go on over to the Amazon product page.

Peace
-- Free



DISCLAIMER: I received the product featured in the post either for free or at a discount, but not for writing this blog post.

**REVIEW** Boogie Board Jot 8.5

Let me start by saying that I would not have gotten this if I'd known about an upcoming birthday gift.

That is the Jot 8.5 that I picked up for $19.99 at Costco. The price was the one reason I got it, and the other reason is that I really want a digital pen/notebook system but can't decide on one. That's where my nice birthday surprise comes in. My niece and nephew are here from Arizona and a digital pen is going to be their belated gift to me. Yeah. Whoo-hoo!

Now the Jot 8.5 that came from the local Costco is still a nice tool to have. A good digital pen/notebook will be great for my detailed writing note taking on the go. The Jot is a replacement for all those scraps of paper I tend to jot quickie notes down on.

The package/labeling sort of sucks

Let's just go through the Pros and Cons I experienced at initial use.

• Right out of the package, I could see that there would be a lot of use - and some limitations. Even for a simple note-taking tool, this would have some drawbacks if it had cost more than 20 bucks. At that price, though, it's not a bad deal.
• The Costco set came with a bonus "Executive" stylus and a folio cover. Both those are nice, although the folio cover was tricky to attach to the board. For one thing, I almost tore off one of the two sticky strips meant to fasten the board to the folio. Instructions should have been clearer about only peeling off the thin top layer of the strips. (Or maybe I'm just too aggressive?). Also, lining the board up to the folio correctly was pesky. I had to make 2 tries and still the alignment is a bit off. 

Alignment not great, but not a disaster

• The stylus can act as a stand for the board if you place t just so. I don't know why you'd want to "stand" the board though. It's not easy to write on in that position. Nice that the stylus fits into its own spot for storage. Neat.
• The writing surface is super nice. My palm doesn't leave marks and both of the stylus' are smooth and feel great in the hand. I prefer the docked stylus over the executive pen which feels fatter in my grasp and writes thicker. That's purely a personal preference.

• The eraser button is (wisely) placed at the top and out of the way from accidental erasures. Still. it would be nice if there were a locking mechanism. I saw that somewhere on either a different version of this board or another brand.
• The instructions are lacking. And tiny. I really did have to use a magnifying glass to read them.
• The back of the package is to entice buyers who don't read the smaller print. Glancing at the back of the package, your eyes are drawn to this: 
  
  
  

• You might or might not notice the importance of the finer print just underneath:  

• The app that is mentioned for the scanning, editing and all the rest is called Jot. You could miss the mention of it on the package. The logos for the app stores are on the right while the tiny icon for the actual app is over on the left side. I only figured out what the icon was after I found the app on my own in the Play store. 
• Despite the super-cute name, Jot is a bit tedious to use IMO. First, I have to use the app to snap a shot of the board note, then I can share to other apps. Since I think my notes are important (hah!), I choose to save to Dropbox or OneDrive.
• I saw some reviews from other users of the Jot app claiming that their notes were "cropped" off at the top. I haven't had that problem. You are looking at my some Jotted notes in this post so you can see what I mean.

Too stark looking!

• You can also see that the image of the "scanned" note isn't pretty too look at. It's so stark that my eyes hurt.
• To be fair, I have to admit that this is a pretty cool gadget for such a low price. I will be able to take some quick (and short) notes on the go, photograph them with the Jot app, save to OneDrive, Dropbox, etc, and have them to work with later.
• Even during the "editing" of a saved.shared image, there is no way to erase. Same goes for writing on the board itself, you have to either cross out the mistake or erase the entire note.
• The major drawback is that there is no way to edit anywhere but in the scanned image of the notes. Any editing there is done in only 2 color choices: yellow (which is hard to see), and black (which is the ink color of the original notes). At twenty dollars, I think that, for now, it's too much to ask that my handwriting converts to text the way my Galaxy Note app does. Again, though, at twenty dollars... this is an awesome little tool.

Like I said, this one came from Costco. I did see one online from Costco that was priced higher. I think the price was $24 and some change. Not sure why the in-store price was better.

I have learned from trial and error that it's much easier to save to Dropbox than to OneDrive. It's quicker with a one-step save-to in Dropbox vs OneDrive's two-step and slower process. Depends on whether or not you want to save to your cloud, I suppose.

At the twenty dollar price, I give this gadget 5 of 5stars.

Peace
--Free

**REVIEW(s)** KeraCare, Marc Anthony, and SheaMoisture

No matter what type of hair we have - kinky, curly, coily, straight, fine, thick, short, or long - we know how frustrating it can be to find products that suit our individual hair care needs.

Speaking for myself, I get to try a lot of products in exchange for doing these reviews, but I also go out hunting on my own sometimes. And I also bag something... One day, I spent a gift card on 8 different hair care products from a local store. Curling creams, styling gels, polishers, conditioners... I ended up taking every last one of them back. Not one of them worked. 

By the way, my name is Trudy, and I am a product junkie.

Credit to Elle & Necie at Natural Hair Daily

That might be a bit harsh, actually. I'm not the kind to just try different products out of a bad habit. I just have trouble finding things that work, so I have to do the buy-and-return thing. Often. And, believe me, I have no trouble returning a product that doesn't work for me. (This is why I am starting to be way more careful about ordering things online if I don't already know the brand. More on that later.)

This review is for 3 different products I have recently tried. I have a few different goals when I'm looking at hair products. Since my hair is coarse and damaged, and I wear it relaxer-free, I have problems with moisture retention and breakage. For styling, I like having a gel or curl cream for twisting my hair at night (either bantu-style twists or corn-row twists), so that I have more curl definition during the day. Finally, I like good cleansing and rinse-out conditioners. I will alternate fully shampooing my hair with just massaging in then rinsing out a good conditioner, which is called "co-washing" the hair.

Credit to Natural Hair Problems

So far, I have a good shampoo that works well to clean my hair without stripping it. I use J,R. Liggett Moisturizing Shampoo Bar. The only thing I don't like about it is that, if any gets in my eyes, it burns like hellfire. I'd love to find a bar that works as well and doesn't have that kind of effect on the eyes. For conditioning, I have a few different favorites. I like Aussie Moist 3-Minute Miracle Moist for deep conditioning after a shampoo. For co-washing, I use Aussie Moist 7-in-1 conditioner. For deep conditioning with heat, I prefer Elasta QP Ultra Hydration or Cream Cholesteral (by Proclaim) because they are both extremely affordable and effective. The QP comes in such a huge size that I rarely have to stock up. With the Proclaim, I add water and shake the container to thin it out because less works better, plus this gives me a higher yeild of product.

With the cleaning and conditioning covered, what I still needed was somthing to use as 1) a daily leave-in conditioner and, 2) a moisturizing, non-sticky, non-greasy feeling cream for doing my twists. I was hoping for products that would be both affordable and effective, but I was willing to pay more depending on quality.

Recently, I tried out 3 products and am only unhappy with one. Let me back up and say that I am extremely happy with 2 of the products and supremely unhappy with 1 product. (On top of being unhappy with it, I'm irritated at the process required to return it. But, again, more on that in a moment.)

Let's start with the positive.

I found a wonderful daily leave-in conditioner that works even on my dangerously dry hair. It's this one by KeraCare:

The photo from the BeautyClicks page is better than mine...

 

I love this stuff. It's light, but very, very moisturizing. I only have to use the smallest amount. What I like to do is apply it to the roots of my hair just before I take down my twists. Once I have the twists down, I apply a little more of the KeraCare to any dry spots.

The thing is, KeraCare products are not cheap. This 4oz bottle is around $16. OUCH!!! But - and here is what it took me a minute to figure out - in the long run, it is much cheaper than a higher priced 16oz product I tried. And that is the one product that I loathe...

That right there is from SheaMoisture. Let me say now that SheaMoisture is one of those brands that seems to get a lot of undeserved (IMO) positive hype. Anytime I read something about natural hair, I hear "SheaMoisture is the stuff!" Bullcrap. I think the brand just has great marketing.

That leave-in by SheaMoisture was horrible. It was sticky going on and, after it dried, it felt slighty tacky to the touch. My hair might have been less dry, but I couldn't tell. The worst thing is that the price is crazy expensive for such lackluster results. (To be fair, a lot of folks seem to love SheaMoisture products. This is the second thing I've tried from them and I was underwhelmed both times. The other thing I tried was a small foil pack sample of some curl cream. Yuck. At least I didn't pay for that mess.)

I'm sending the SheaMoisture back (even though that means printing out a return label and praying I didn't toss the box it came in... ~sigh~)

I hate SheaMoisture so much that I don't want to spend anymore time discussing it. So, back to the positive.

The next product is one that I tried for the first time a long while back. I think I got the mostly empty bottle from a family member. There was only a little bit left and I loved it, but had to search for the bottle to get the brand name. It's Curl Envy 24-hour Moisture from the Marc Anthony Strictly Curls line.  At $7.99 for a 4.5oz bottle, this is super affordable. (Side mention: My dumb self, I thought that the singer Marc Anthony owned the line! "Tell me, baby girl, coz I need to know...") 

What I love, love, love about this leave-in is that it's perfect for doing my twists at night. Before finding this, I was just spritzing my hair with water at night. That worked great for styling my hair, but it didn't really boost the moisture throughout the night and after I took down the twists. When I use this moisturizer, I have a lot less dryness in the morning. My routine now is to spritz my hair with water, add a little bit of this product, then do my twists. I can really feel the difference in the elasticity of my hair when I'm doing the twists. There so much less breakage and pulling. LOVE it. 

                                                 

While I also love the KeraCare, I have to say that I think that the results are a bit similar with the Curl Envy. The KeraCare moisture lasts longer, but... At the price, I can always afford more Curl Envy.

So that's the rundown on a few products I've been trying out. I will try to come back and update this when I've used the KeraCare and Curl Envy for a longer period of time. Also, a friend of mine saw a leave-in by Dr. Miracle when she was at WalMart. She said she thought it would be something good for me to review so she picked up a bottle to give me. Isn't that sweet? Anyway, I will do a review of it when I've tested these other products for a while. 

Peace

--Free

**REVIEW** Organic Jojoba Oil

Sometime in the next day or so, I'm going to be doing a post just on Making Cosmetics. For now, I wanted to share my newest oil from them:

That is organic Jojoba Oil (which is really a liquid wax). For the 4.2oz bottle, the price is $10.90 (+ s&h) if you order it from Making Cosmetics, or $12.00 (+ s&h) from Amazon (even Prime).

From Making Cosmetics product information page:

Description: Organic pure liquid wax (not an oil as such) derived from the seeds of a plant (simmondsia chinensis) growing in the Sonora desert in the USA, composed of different liquid wax esters similar to human sebaceous, based on fatty acids & fatty alcohols (no triglycerides), cold-pressed, insoluble in water. Clear oily tan liquid, no or faint odor. 

INCI Name: Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) seed oil 

Properties: Precious moisturizer and emollient. Prevents transdermal water loss and retains moisture. Good lubricant without leaving a greasy film on the skin as it penetrates into the skin. Regular application can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

I've heard lots about Jojoba Oil being the closest to human sebum, but I know that some people dispute that. All I really care about is whether or not the oil will be something safe for my skin and hair. My skin already love is and I wish I could afford gallons of the stuff.

As soon as I put the oil on my hands (to test it), I noticed how soft and supple they felt. Immediately. I headed over to Google some information and the first benefit of Jojoba that I saw was for softening the skin. Nice. I'm very picky about what I use on my skin and I love anything that moisturizes and softens.

There are lots of  tips and some great info here for using Jojoba Oil.

Another plus to using Jojoba is that, while it is a moisturizing conditioning agent, it's supposed to also be great for acne and oily skin.

As for use on the scalp and hair, Jojoba Oil is supposed to be very nourishing without creating a lot of buildup. I refer to a couple of wonderful sites for information about natural hair - Naturally Curly and Curly Nikki - they both share some info about using jojoba (and other oils) for the care and feeding of natural curls. Check the sites often for good stuff all the time.

Right now, I am flat-ironing my hair. I need something to moisturize my scalp and shine my hair. The Jojoba Oil sure seems to be working. When I wear my hair straightened, the one thing that concerns me is not drying it out and not having a greasy feel. So far, so good.

There's no way to show you how my skin feels because of the oil, but I wanted to show how non-greasy it is once applied and rubbed in.

I hope that the photos show how absorbed the oil is. You almost can't tell, even in person, that there is oil on (rubbed in) my wrist. You can feel the difference though.

Oil on wrist
Clear and very thin texture

Oil rubbed in

No oil on this wrist

Did you notice how "runny" the oil is? It has a very. very thin texture. That's nice for getting a lot of use out of a small amount, but be careul with applying so you don't have a spill!

As far as I can tell, there is no noticeable smell to the oil. I have a cold, but I can still smell the neem oil I use! The label indicates that there is "no or faint odor".

Some other ways to use Jojoba Oil:

• To moisturize and treat dry feet (This is my first night using it for this, but my feet - which are not as bad as usual, thanks to a pedicure a month ago - soaked this oil right up. The difference in the Jojoba and other oils I've used on my feet is that this didn't take a lot and it soaked into even the driest parts.)
• As a lip balm (On one of the links I provided above, there's a recipe for a beeswax/jojoba balm. I just put the oil directly on my lips. Feels good, but I should do a lip scrub and try again.)
• For the ends of the hair (I applied some to the very tips of my hair and will keep doing that every night to see if it helps keep my ends from splitting so much.)
• As a makeup remover (I'm not trying to waste my precious jojoba to use for this. I plan to continue using my other oils for this and then moisturize with the jojoba.)

One thing I will suggest is that you get a dropper applicator to use when applying the oil to your scalp. That makes it easier to direct the oil where you want it. Try separating your hair into 4 sections, then putting a couple or three drops onto the scalp in each section. You can massage with your fingertips to spread the oil around without wasting any. This is going to be a nightly thing for me - especially when I am using the flatiron.

There are tons of places where you can get Jojoba Oil (I'm capping it because it's the subject of this post!) but, when it comes to oils and DIY beauty staples, I prefer getting mine from Making Cosmetics - who also have a presence on Amazon with some of their products. Like I said, I will talk more about that company in an upcoming post.


















Stay tuned for updates as I find more ways to use this...

Peace
--Free

***REVIEW*** ProLinc Callus Eliminator

Remember when, a few days ago, I was wish-listing products I'd like to review? Well, this product from ProLinc for removing calluses was on the bottom of that list but at the top of my mind. My niece has hardwood floors almost completely throughout the house. The floors look great. The floors are murder on my bad feet. I'm addicted to my house slippers at this point!

Would take a miracle for my feet

Anyway, I had to do something. I could either go wild and spend the whopping $8.20 (from Amazon) for the 4-oz bottle of callus remover, or I could keep wearing out expensive insoles or coming up with alternatives, one of which I'll tell you about if I don't chicken out before I finish this post!

First, let me mention that the feet used in the Before/After photo are not really that bad compared to my dawgs. (How sad is that? Cos you know they tried to find the worst-looking feet they could. They should've called me. Or maybe not. They want to make a point, not scare off potential customers...)

Second, I refuse to take a photo of my feet for this post. Not because they are that awful, but because it's really awkward to get a good shot of your feet. I almost fell off the edge of the tub when I tried it. Besides, I've been shameless in describing my feet so you should all have the idea by now.

The thing I noticed when looking at that Before and After pic is that 1) my feet aren't that bad - at least not all over, and 2) that person has cracks in their feet.  ProLinc's FAQs advises customers not to use the product on cracked feet. Common sense, right? So... I guess the "Before" pic may not be accurate. That's just my opinion. It didn't stop me from giving the product a try. After all, there are no cracks in my feet. Just calluses and corns.

Does anyone else see that crack in her heel?

I didn't have a lot of time the first time I used the product, so I had to kind of cram my self-pedi in between appointments that were 45 minutes apart. Gave me enough time for a 10-minute foot soak and another 10 for putting on some disposable gloves, applying the product, almost dropping my cellphone into the water, and damn near sliding off the side of the tub. I allowed 5 minutes for the product to soak in and do its thing. By the time I washed and dabbed my feet, I realized I'd left the foot file-buffer-thingie waaaay down the hall in the bedroom. I just used the edge of a cap from my shower gel to sort of scrape at my feet.

By the way, the product is runnier than I expected. It didn't really "stick" to my feet, so I had to keep catching the run-off and slathering it back on. Just a minor quirk, but all the photos show the product as having more of a coating texture. ~shrug~

Now. Since I didn't exactly follow directions, I can't complain about not getting the exact same results as the person in the Before and After photos. I got close, but... My heels and the softer areas of my feet ended up looking great. Very smooth and free of all that nasty dead skin that looks horrible.

The rougher areas of my feet (and I mean rough like a bad neighborhood after dark) didn't come out quite as beautiful. This is partly my fault. I didn't have my tools on hand and I'm pretty sure that a hard plastic shower gel cap is not a great substitution.

Here's the good thing: Even without the right tools on hand, I still saw a lot of improvement in my worst calluses - which are mostly on the pads of my feet right under my little toes. Just imagine the results when I actually have time to do a proper job of this. The bottoms of my feet and the heels are nice and soft. The calluses softened up enough for me to bear walking on these hardwood floors without being in pain.

I think this is a great product. It's affordable and easy to use. You just have to be careful to follow directions - not just for results but for safety (see the "Warnings").

Peace
--Free

P.S.:

I mentioned that I have come up with ways to protect the footsies when I'm without insoles. Insoles can be pricey and I can't afford them for every pair or shoe or cheap slipper I own. And what about when I want to just pad around the house in my socks? Well, I have a little trick I use that just cracks my family UP! I'm going to tell my secret solution to you and only you, but only if you promise not to tell everyone else:

Panty liners.

Yep. The cheap kind that are almost no good for use as a liner for your panties. Those are the ones that are great for use as a quickie insole. Just stick the sticky side onto your feet before you slide on socks to walk around the house. Depending on how your shoes fit, the liners are even great for a day out on your feet in one of those stores with concrete floors. 

You can laugh all you want but, baby, let me tell you... When I couldn't get my expensive Dr Scholl's into my cute boots, I strutted right around with some Dollar Store panty liners keeping my feet padded and comfy.

**UPDATE** Arm & Hammer Truly Radiant

My first post about My Smiley360 kit for Arm & Hammer's Truly Radiant toothpaste (and the spinbrush) was a happy one and I'd promised to do an update. (Make sure to check bottom of this post before purchasing the product. You'll be glad you did.)

Good stuff

Well, I have to say that after just over a week of using this toothpaste, I really like it. I like it lots.

I'm still impressed by how non-messy the toothpaste it. Some people like lots of foam and lather from their toothpastes, but I only like all that in my shampoos. The Truly Radiant has a sort of concentrated feel to it when I'm brushing.

I noticed the whitening effect after the first use and, since it was a bit dramatic, I'm not bothered that there hasn't been more whitening since. This is just the end of the first week though.

Not just brighter, but so much smoother

What I do notice more of a difference in is this: my teeth feel "smoother" for longer periods between brushing. I actually realized this when, a couple of days ago, I missed my bedtime brushing because I was kept unexpectedly away from home overnight. I didn't eat a lot of food that day, but I went through at least four big cups of coffee with lots of cream and brown sugar. When I got home the next morning and started to brush my teeth, I noticed that there didn't seem to be as much residue from the previous day.

I'm not making a habit of missing my regular brushing, but I was happy not to feel a lot of filminess on my teeth. (My breath? That was whole other story we will not be discussing!) Because of my overall results, I don't have a hard time believing all that Truly Radiant claims to do (with data they have on file):

• Whitens, strengthens and repairs tooth enamel
• Unique formula combines pure Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, Active Calcium, Fluoride and Peroxide
• Clinically proven to beautify teeth
• Restores glass and luster
• Removes better than the leading whitening toothpaste (when used as directed for 5 days)

(the effects that I have observed for myself after my first week are in bold)

Using the Truly Radiant with and without the matching spinbrush, I'm pleased enough after 5 days to switch from pastes I've been using. Actually, this is the first time I've decided to stick with one toothpaste. Usually, I buy one of whichever brand is on sale when I shop (think Crest, Crest Whitening, Biotene and Aquafresh). In the past, I have preferred Biotene - which I really like - and Crest, and I have tried Rembrandt. Rembrandt (about $7+ locally) doesn't really have anything on Truly Radiant (about $4).

Last of all, but pretty importantly:

Here are coupons for the paste and the brush

You can find money-back guarantees for the Truly Radiant toothpaste and for the spinbrush. Nice.

Peace
--Free



DISCLOSURE: I received my Arm & Hammer Truly Radiant to try for free (along with a spinbrush) via Smiley360.

***REVIEW*** Tony Little's Gazelle Edge

The other day, my neighbor gave me this:

Tony Little's Gazelle Edge

She's had surgeries for a serious back problem and her doctor has recommended a different type of exercise. Because she knows I've been doing a lot of regular walking and working out, she was kind enough to gift me the machine. (I'm going to look for a nice little "thank you" gift for her.)

I've used the Gazelle Edge regularly for the past 3 days and I'm ready to post this review.

PROS

• Very easy to store (for now, I'm keeping mine propped behind the bedroom door).
• Easy to move and set up for use. 
• Can be used for varying speeds and intensity of "walking".
• Feels stable and sturdy (even when I move faster and with longer strides). I have balance problems on a treadmill at fast speeds, but I'm able to use the Gazelle without holding the handles, which is great for doing a jogging type stride.
• Good workout for people who need something low-impact.
• Has a battery-operated tracker for speed, time & distance. (I haven't put in batteries. So far, I'm using my Android Pedometer Pro app.)
• After just 3 days, I can feel the ache in my legs & arms from a good workout.
• It's really quiet. (There's some mild squeaking when moving fast, but I'm going to follow directions for oiling the parts.)
• Can be used in small spaces. (I place mine at the base of my queen-sized bed & still have lots of room to make long strides if I want.)
• Though I got mine free, the price range I've seen online ($130-$140) seem reasonable for the value.
• Convenience. I save time driving to and from the gym to use a treadmill; I can get my exercise no matter the weather; and it takes very little motivation to do my exercises while watching TV or listening to music. (I've gotten heavy into podcasts of news & mystery theater type shows while I get my workout.)
• Because of all the above, it's easy to use this machine on a regular basis.

CON

• Don't lost your user manual or DVD. I couldn't find a complete manual online. I did find a basic manual, but I've had to resort to YouTube and other places for examples of exercises.

As you can tell, I had to stretch to find that one negative! The one thing I do notice is that, while this is a great workout for my legs and arms, my abs aren't getting as much of a workout. Don't get me wrong, I do feel some of what I call "workout ache" in my abs; I just feel it most in my thighs and calves.

The biggest advantage to having this machine is the convenience. When I was trying to get all my exercise at the gym, I sometimes just couldn't talk myself into making the drive in poor weather. Even on nicer days, I had to consider things like the cost of gasoline for my car, finding time in between other appointments, etc. Now that I have this handy alternative, I find it easy to do a little bit of exercise all during my day. My favorite time to do a little gliding on the Gazelle is first thing in the morning and after meals. The first day I had it, I used it while I was watching a documentary on Netflix. Without even realizing it, I'd been gliding for over an hour.

Do I think that I'm going to suddenly start dropping pounds because I have this machine? Maybe not suddenly, but I know for a fact that even light exercise on a regular basis can make a difference in the way I look and feel. I wasn't going to the gym as regularly as I should have been and I have come a looong way from where I was just a few months ago. I truly do think that I'm going to see a more drastic a change in less time if I keep using the Gazelle every day. I see a benefit to my energy level and sleeping pattern. My recent fatigue is already fading somewhat.

At this point, I can say that having the Gazelle is beneficial for someone who is a too busy (or bit lazy) to get to a gym more than a couple of days a week.

Peace

--Free

**REVIEW** The Detox is ON!

 Okay, so I'm not juicing my food so much as liquefying it. 

Because I am closer to being homeless than I am to living the high life, I had to do a lot of research and comparison shopping before I settled on what type of appliance to purchase. Thanks to a really good friend (Hi, Perry), I was gifted with fifty bucks toward the buy. Here are the products I considered (and why I didn't choose any of them):

Magic Bullet - Too plastic, too many parts & pieces, yet not enough power for constant heavy-duty use. (Sounds like I'm talking about a whole other type of "magic", doesn't it!) Besides the lack of power, I really couldn't be bothered with making space for, or keeping track of, all those dang parts. It is cute though.

Magic Bullet $50 - $60 (250 watts)

NutriBullet - Had better wattage at 600, but for that much money, it should. Besides, I read too many reviews about leaks, rusting, cracking and - my pettest of peeves: poor customer service and contact. Also... plastic! I'm not real fond of anything plastic when it comes to using long-term use of anything coming in contact with my food. Pro: comes in a variety of cute colors. Add to cons: too many parts.

NutriBullet around $100

Ninja - I would've have run when I saw the price but I felt too faint to move fast. This baby can go for $100 to $260 and up. I wasn't able to run, but I sure as hell got away fast enough not to notice whether or not this one had color options. I did notice that it packs 1000 watts at the low end model. I don't know about wattage for the higher end ones. At 260 bucks, I don't really care.

Ninja. 1000 watts at the lower end

Vitamix - If I felt faint looking at the price on a Ninja, I damn near puddled right to the floor when I saw the (gasp) $440 tag on this monster.The product service plan of $45 is what I had to spend when I walked in the store. Don't ask about the wattage. For this price level, that bitch would have to run my car before I'd buy it.  For the price, I could hire a personal chef for an eighth of an hour.

Pro: not many parts. They probably cost another arm...

I heard about another blender that runs around playing in the 600-dollar range. I left it playing and kept my ass in the world of the real. I won't even mention that madness. If you pay $600 for anything that doesn't cook, clean or sleep with you at night, you better be friends with Oprah or Bill if you don't want people waiting for you fall on your financial face. Hah!

Annnny-way...

I had fifty bucks, health on my mind, and a need for power. I found this for $40 and spent another $5 for a 2 year repair/replacement warranty:

Farberware 4-speed digital at 800 watts.

Chile, I almost stepped on a woman's foot trying to snatch that bad-boy off the shelf.

Single-serve cup attachment

I'll probably never use it with the blender, but that single-serve cup is perfect for packing with me on my errands.

An 800-watt motor, stainless still facing, and a glass jar. Perfection. (The travel cup is plastic but... whatever.)

The Pros: Easy set-up (once I decided not to bother with the travel cup), not a bunch of pesky pieces to deal with, and it's very sturdy, and powerful but not very loud. LOVE that not-loud part since I have a bitchy upstairs neighbor and a room mate who wastes every hour of the day in front of the living room television set...

The Cons: That freaking travel cup. I couldn't take the hassle of changing out between it and the glass jar.

I like that I don't have to monitor it while it's blending. It has a very cool way of stopping and restarting so as to let the contents settle for better blending. (Did that make sense???) 

The real test, of course, is how well it works. It does a super job. My first blend was one of carrots, kale, collards, spinach, turnip greens....

.... beets, strawberries, blueberries apples, banana and...

... about a cup of store-bought carrot juice I had left from last week.

Yeah. So.

That's a pretty crazy mix, but I'm a pretty crazy chick. I think I just got carried away with tossing in more stuff and watching the colors blend. It was fun until I realized I had 42 ounces of liquefied goodness that might taste like crap. So I squeezed in a little honey. 

The color: amazingly pretty. Sort of a beet-red/Prince-purple look. Gorgeous. Oh, wait - I was thinking of Prince. ~sigggggh~ But the juice was also gorgeous. The taste: deee-lisshus. Really. It was pretty thick, but pulp is what I wanted, which is why I decided on getting a blender instead a juicer. I don't want to pay all that money for produce to just toss out the best (and most nutritious?) part. Besides, I think that fiber won't hurt when it comes to filling me up and (ha ha) emptying me out. (Too much information? Sorry.)

I had 20 ounces to sip for my all-day meal and still have about 20 million ounces (kidding) left for the freezer. I'm going to have to see how freezing affects nutrients...

Anyway, I'll try to update here as I get through the coming weeks. My plan at the moment is to do an all- (or, mostly-) liquid intake for a month as a junk-food detox. Okay, it's really more about vanity. Summer will soon be here and I'd like to have my skin and hair ready for this round-the-clock Alaska sun that allows one to hide NOTHIN. 

Well, off to bed for me. I used up the last of my energy sucking down the rest of my "meal". 

Peace
--Free

(And because I just have  to post a reminder pic of GOALS)

You can do this chica!