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Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Wishing You All A Very Merry Christmas


Hope your celebrations are wonderful & uplifting. Enjoy whatever it is you have planned. I will see you guys when I see you guys...

xxooxxoo

Peace
--Free



(that beautiful image is from here. Thanks to the artist!)

Monday, December 22, 2014

Tru Moroccan Conditioner Review

**NOTE TO READERS: I already covered the review for this product here but the post had to be separated for sponsor's verification purposes**

You have no idea what my hair has been through lately. I don't even think you want to know...

Right now, I am struggling with a change in medication (plus, I've been on vacay to a different climate and am back here with the cold), and my hair is not happy. It's been kind of dry and kind of dull. Actually, it's been all kinds of dry and somewhat dull - which is, I guess, a natural thing for dry hair.

Anyway, I am giving this shampoo a tryout:



It'sTru  Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo & Conditioner for dry hair. My hair must have put in a call and these guys answered. Guess what? I like the results. A lot. To be honest, I've only used the shampoo once and the conditioner twice, but they tested well on this arid bush on my head.

The shampoo has a nice smell (herbal?) but isn't perfumey. The consistency is thicker than my current product. I guess it has the thickness of a good syrup, if that makes sense. The conditioner is luxuriously thick - almost cream-like in texture. The scent is much fainter than the shampoo's.
The conditioner is THICK
Unless I use a good shampoo and conditioner, I get that "crunch" of dryness after washing. To test the shampoo, I let my hair air dry before re-wetting and conditioning. By itself, the shampoo is not super-moisturizing to "natural" (kinky/curly) hair, but it does not strip it. Used with the conditioner, the results were really good. I got moisture without my hair being weighted down. Unfortunately, I have let my hair get in such a state that I am going to have to do some more conditioning before I heal the damage I've caused.

I did use the conditioner again (without shampooing) and I loved how intense a treatment I got without using heat or even leaving the product in for more than a few minutes. I was in a rush, so I just put the conditioner on and tied a plastic shopping bag over my hair for long enough to brush my teeth. I did a cool water rinse and let my hair air dry. Normally, I immediately spritz on a lot of StaSofFro (or rub in a little straight glycerin), but I wanted to see how my hair would look without it. While my hair stayed very soft for a few hours, it did eventually dry out. Way out. Again though, I think that this is because I've damaged my hair.

Bottom line, this shampoo and conditioner duo did wonders for my super-damaged hair. I am going to keep using it until I get this mane back in shape. I can tell that, had I used this when I had my normally dry/slightly damaged hair, I would have gotten amazing results. As it is, the results are still pretty outstanding. I'm surprised that it took so long for my hair to get "crunchy" after a conditioning treatment and no backup product.

To give you an idea of the damage I've done to my hair in recent weeks. I not only went from a cold/dry climate to a warm/dry one (with different water), I also applied a harsh chemical. Usually, I use a kiddie-strength texturizer to soften and define my natural curl pattern. When my local supply was out, I used a product I was unfamiliar with. It was supposed to be a "curl softener" but it felt more like a mild relaxer. Oh boy. So... I lost a lot of my natural curl and volume, plus my hair feels really stripped.

I'm going to keep using these products and will try to remember to do an update on my hair soon. For now, understand that there is a reason I'm going to keep using this shampoo and conditioner: they are doing their job. I need them. I must get my hair back into shape, hopefully, in time for Christmas. Some of my out-of-state family is coming and I don't want to look frightful...

The ingredients in these Tru Moroccan products seem to be just what I need.

Shampoo:
  • 100% Organic Argan Oil
  • Organic Herbal Infusion 
  • Organic Aloe Kosher Vegetable Glycerin
  • Wheat Germ Oil
  • Vitamin B5
  • Organic Asparagus
  • Organic Cilantro
  • Organic Geranium
  • Apricot Kernel Oil 
  • Organic Rosemary 
  • Jojoba
  • Olive Oil 
  • Rose Hip Oil
  • Tea Tree Oil
  • Ethylhexyl Glycerin
  • Phenoxyethanol
Conditioner:
  • 100 % Organic Argan Oil
  • Organic Herbal Infusion
  • Organic Aloe
  • Jojoba Seed Oil
  • Organic Sesame Seed Oil
  • Organic Avocado Oil
  • Organic Olive Fruit Oil
  • Organic Evening Primrose Oil
  • Organic Linseed Seed Oil
  • Organic Coconut Oil
  • Organic Shea Butter
  • Organic Starflower Seed Oil
  • Pro-Vitamin B5
  • Kosher Vegetable Glycerin (Plant Derived)
  • Palm Oil
  • Oatmeal
  • Citric Acid (Naturally Derived)
The 2 ingredients that surprised me were the Cilantro (in the shampoo) and the Starflower - also known as Borage -  (in the conditioner), so I looked them up. That's what those links are about.

Finally, for those who want to know, the shampoo and conditioner are made in the U.S. in an FDA Certified Facility. (For those who care, I will be checking into and blogging about what exactly it means to be an "FDA Certified Facility".)

Peace
--Free

DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

**REVIEW** Pure Body Naturals Organic Argan Oil

Let me just say right up front that I'm pretty impressed with Pure Body Naturals. No surprise that I really like the other product I've gotten from them to try out.

Of course, argan oil  generally is getting to be quite popular for its uses in hair care and beauty routines. In some places, it's even used in and on food. I didn't know that before. When I opted to try out this Organic Argan Oil by Pure Body Naturals I was most interested in the products moisturizing properties for hair, face, skin and nails - as it's promoted for.



I do like using oils in my beauty routine and this one worked really, really well on my dry fingernails and hands. It worked much better than any cuticle oil I've ever tried. For my hair, it was just a little bit too heavy. I have naturally kinky/curly hair and when I used this as a leave-in oil, it weighed down the curls.

It was a wonderful skin moisturizer (especially after a warm bath) so, after about a week, I started to re-think the way I could use it for my hair. Instead of trying to put it into my dry (or semi-damp) hair as a leave-in, I used it as a rinse-out conditioning treatment. And... SCORE! I think I mentioned recently how I have damaged my hair into stubborn dryness... Well, this oil really helped add some moisture and shine that lasted after my hair was dry from the rinse. It also worked as a hair softener. I was pretty pleased with that.

The argan oil has omega 3s that are so good for the skin. For facial use, the oil worked well (in my case) as a makeup remover. It's much cheaper than the makeup-removing oils that you can buy at the drugstores, and it worked so much better. Since I was wiping it off using my usual baby wipes, my skin retained enough of the oil for a moisturizing effect without the heaviness I got just using the oil as a leave-on treatment. Just like with my hair, it was too heavy for me unless I used it moderately.

If you have a different skin type (or even a skin issue, such as eczema) you might want to work out your own ways of using the oil to get the benefits. I can tell you that I do like using it on my legs and the backs of my thighs - especially when I'm going to be wearing hosiery - to keep my skin from drying out and feeling abused.

I did use the oil as an overnight facial moisturizer. I applied it sparingly and, by morning when I washed (baby-wiped) my face, my skin felt soothed and ready for my daytime face cream. I also plan to try it as an after-treatment when I use my konjac sponge. By the way, I did notice that, if you do want to wear it as a daytime moisturizer, you may want to blot well before applying matte makeup.

Since this bottle is so big (4oz), I am going to be using some of the oil to mix and use with some of the stronger essential oils I'm trying out. I'm going to love having a Sweet Orange-scented/argan mix for my after-bath moisturizing...

Once again, I have to give Pure Body Naturals credit for standing behind their product with a Lifetime 100% money-back guarantee. Simple, direct, and good.

Peace
--Free

DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

**REVIEW** Tru Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo & Conditioner for Dry Hair

You have no idea what my hair has been through lately. I don't even think you want to know...

Right now, I am struggling with a change in medication (plus, I've been on vacay to a different climate and am back here with the cold), and my hair is not happy. It's been kind of dry and kind of dull. Actually, it's been all kinds of dry and somewhat dull - which is, I guess, a natural thing for dry hair.

Anyway, I am giving this shampoo a tryout:



It'sTru  Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo & Conditioner for dry hair. My hair must have put in a call and these guys answered. Guess what? I like the results. A lot. To be honest, I've only used the shampoo once and the conditioner twice, but they tested well on this arid bush on my head.

The shampoo has a nice smell (herbal?) but isn't perfumey. The consistency is thicker than my current product. I guess it has the thickness of a good syrup, if that makes sense. The conditioner is luxuriously thick - almost cream-like in texture. The scent is much fainter than the shampoo's.
The conditioner is THICK
Unless I use a good shampoo and conditioner, I get that "crunch" of dryness after washing. To test the shampoo, I let my hair air dry before re-wetting and conditioning. By itself, the shampoo is not super-moisturizing to "natural" (kinky/curly) hair, but it does not strip it. Used with the conditioner, the results were really good. I got moisture without my hair being weighted down. Unfortunately, I have let my hair get in such a state that I am going to have to do some more conditioning before I heal the damage I've caused.

I did use the conditioner again (without shampooing) and I loved how intense a treatment I got without using heat or even leaving the product in for more than a few minutes. I was in a rush, so I just put the conditioner on and tied a plastic shopping bag over my hair for long enough to brush my teeth. I did a cool water rinse and let my hair air dry. Normally, I immediately spritz on a lot of StaSofFro (or rub in a little straight glycerin), but I wanted to see how my hair would look without it. While my hair stayed very soft for a few hours, it did eventually dry out. Way out. Again though, I think that this is because I've damaged my hair.

Bottom line, this shampoo and conditioner duo did wonders for my super-damaged hair. I am going to keep using it until I get this mane back in shape. I can tell that, had I used this when I had my normally dry/slightly damaged hair, I would have gotten amazing results. As it is, the results are still pretty outstanding. I'm surprised that it took so long for my hair to get "crunchy" after a conditioning treatment and no backup product.

To give you an idea of the damage I've done to my hair in recent weeks. I not only went from a cold/dry climate to a warm/dry one (with different water), I also applied a harsh chemical. Usually, I use a kiddie-strength texturizer to soften and define my natural curl pattern. When my local supply was out, I used a product I was unfamiliar with. It was supposed to be a "curl softener" but it felt more like a mild relaxer. Oh boy. So... I lost a lot of my natural curl and volume, plus my hair feels really stripped.

I'm going to keep using these products and will try to remember to do an update on my hair soon. For now, understand that there is a reason I'm going to keep using this shampoo and conditioner: they are doing their job. I need them. I must get my hair back into shape, hopefully, in time for Christmas. Some of my out-of-state family is coming and I don't want to look frightful...

The ingredients in these Tru Moroccan products seem to be just what I need.

Shampoo:
  • 100% Organic Argan Oil
  • Organic Herbal Infusion 
  • Organic Aloe Kosher Vegetable Glycerin
  • Wheat Germ Oil
  • Vitamin B5
  • Organic Asparagus
  • Organic Cilantro
  • Organic Geranium
  • Apricot Kernel Oil 
  • Organic Rosemary 
  • Jojoba
  • Olive Oil 
  • Rose Hip Oil
  • Tea Tree Oil
  • Ethylhexyl Glycerin
  • Phenoxyethanol
Conditioner:
  • 100 % Organic Argan Oil
  • Organic Herbal Infusion
  • Organic Aloe
  • Jojoba Seed Oil
  • Organic Sesame Seed Oil
  • Organic Avocado Oil
  • Organic Olive Fruit Oil
  • Organic Evening Primrose Oil
  • Organic Linseed Seed Oil
  • Organic Coconut Oil
  • Organic Shea Butter
  • Organic Starflower Seed Oil
  • Pro-Vitamin B5
  • Kosher Vegetable Glycerin (Plant Derived)
  • Palm Oil
  • Oatmeal
  • Citric Acid (Naturally Derived)
The 2 ingredients that surprised me were the Cilantro (in the shampoo) and the Starflower - also known as Borage -  (in the conditioner), so I looked them up. That's what those links are about.

Finally, for those who want to know, the shampoo and conditioner are made in the U.S. in an FDA Certified Facility. (For those who care, I will be checking into and blogging about what exactly it means to be an "FDA Certified Facility".)

Peace
--Free

DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

**REVIEW** Living Natural Yacon Syrup

In my quest to eat healthier, live healthier and stay in shape, I've tried making small changes in my life. One of the changes was trying to get away from so much processed sugar. I talked about this before. And then again. One of my favorite substitutes for white sugar is raw or brown sugar. A favorite  substitute for those sugars is Yacon syrup. I've tried others and now I've had the chance to try Living Natural's  Yacon Syrup.

Yacon syrup has lots of benefits over the usual sweeteners a lot of us use. For me, the taste is the biggest positive. There is non of that metallic, artificial tinge or aftertaste.

Living Natural's Yacon has an exceptionally nice taste because, to me at least, the molasses type flavor was a little more pronounced that in other syrups I've tried. The texture was a little different also - almost grainier-looking but not actually grainy at all.




This is Living Natural Brand Yacon

To compare a difference of textures, this is a photo what another brand of Yacon syrup I use:


This one is darker & a tiny bit thicker
As for quality and taste, both syrups I have tried are nice. The Natural Life syrup is (to me) slightly sweeter while the other one has a more wine-like undertone. The main thing is the benefits of using them as an alternative to sugar. Some info straight from the product page:
  • 100% natural with no additives or sweeteners and is extracted purely from the roots of the Yacon plant (Smallanthus Sonchifolius)
  • high amount of fructooligosaccharides. This natural soluble fiber has been shown to reduce symptoms of constipation and improve metabolism.
  • high in antioxidants and potassium and studies have shown it increases the levels of 'friendly' bacteria in the digestive system
From my own use over the months of Yacon syrup, I can tell you that using it on a regular basis did decrease my sugar cravings. (I have not used white table sugar in a few years, but I don't even use my brown or raw sugar in my coffee now except on an occasional basis.) When I started using Yacon syrup some time back, I was still coming down off my prednisone weight of (I shudder to even type this) 204 lbs. I am down to the 160's and would be doing better if I had not gone back on a steady diet of bread in the past couple of weeks... Also, it helps if you actually use the Yacon on a regular basis.

The suggestion is to use Yacon in beverages and I have grown to like the taste of it in my coffee. This time, I also tried adding a little bit to some rice (plain white rice with butter) and to some oatmeal. The taste was interesting and pleasant, but I had to experiment with how much to add to get the right amount of sweetness. (I ended up using about half a dinner spoon full.) Because Yacon has a distinctive taste, I got a sort of molasses-flavored treat with my oatmeal. I have to say that I like using this particular brand in my warm/hot food where I use the other brand in my coffees and some of my teas. I think it's going to come down to preference. Personally, I want to keep a variety around for my different uses.

I'd also like to add (as I usually do) something about customer service. The product page has a nice message:
When you order today, you're protected by our 100% quality and satisfaction guarantee together with our focus on exceptional customer service!
Finally, I will say this about using Yacon syrup: Any one of us who is trying to revise our diet and lifestyle to be healthy know that big changes come from lots of small efforts. Using an alternative to white sugar is one of the best changes I've made. Lord knows, I'm not giving up sweets if I can help it. Using Yacon syrup is a good way to make a single but important effort. Did that make sense? I hope so!

I will suggest to fellow healthy minded people that if you take one part of your daily diet that costs you the most calories from sugar, then use Yacon (or some other sweetener alternative) instead.

Peace
--Free

DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

****REVIEW*** Living Natural's Yacon Syrup

Since Living Natural's Yacon Syrup is not the first that I have tried, I was able to compare flavor and texture. It is a great-tasting Yacon syrup though, which is good because I know that taste varies among different brands and producers. This one has a really rich texture and flavor that I enjoy. One of the other brand of Yacon syrups (which I also liked) was the texture of table syrup and had a very mild flavor. This one has a different look (slightly lighter in color and sort of grainy-looking, even though it doesn't feel grainy) and the molasses-like flavor was more distinctive. I like using this one when I want to add a richer flavor to my beverages (okay, coffee). I like it best in hot coffee than any other drink although I have used it in hot and cold teas.

Living Natural brand
compared to...
...The other brand I like
What I wonder, now that I have tried 3 different brands of Yacon syrup, is whether - brand to brand - they all have a difference in taste and texture. In general, like Yacon syrup for the benefits of using it instead of other sweeteners, but taste is important too. With the Living Natural brand Yacon syrup I have not been disappointed.

I had my sister try this one in her coffee and she actually liked it (even though she is a Splenda user). One of the reasons I think she did like this one more than the first syrup she tried with me (and that I really liked a lot) is because of the stronger flavoring.

There's a reason I want to get my friends and family to try Yacon syrup. Some of the benefits that I have heard of are:
  • Yacon root is a natural source of sweetener
  • In most cases, fewer in calories and more nutritious
  • Yacon syrup contains Fructooligosaccharide (or FOS)
  • There are indications that Yacon reduces blood glucose levels & weight loss
  • Has a good flavor & lacks the unpleasant after-taste of artificial sweeteners
When my sister first tried Yacon syrup, she commented that she "could get used to it". And getting used to anything new is the main thing. If, like my sister, you have used artificial products -or table sugar, honey, and/or other sweeteners - you will need to get used to Yacon syrup. 

A third brand of syrup I tried was not as much to my liking. It had too strong of a flavor (almost with a wine-like aftertaste) that some people might not mind. This Living Natural syrup is probably my favorite. Unlike some of the other sugar alternatives I've used, Yacon syrup has been easy to get used to though. I did have to learn how much to use and when to use it. For instance, I had been trying Yacon syrup for a while before I started using it regularly on my hot cereals. My sugar use is mainly in coffee, so that's where I started out. 

Now that I am used to the taste and coloring of the Yacon syrup, I wish there were more products made using it as the primary sweetener.

Peace
--Free

DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Saturday, December 20, 2014

**REVIEW** Pure Body Naturals Lemon Oil

Wow. This:
Pure Body Naturals


When I applied to try this lemon oil, I was only thinking of using it for skin purposes (I'd heard lemon oil is good for softening calluses and for other body care issues), but then I started checking out some of the other ways it can be used. This is a list of what I've come up with:
  • Cleaning household items (stainless steel, counters, etc.)
  • Freshening the garbage disposal
  • Using with a diffuser to freshen a room
  • Adding to water in spray bottle to get rid of smoke & general funky stuff in the air
  • As a hair highlighter
  • In cooking and flavoring (I like mine in tea and water)
  • As a detoxifying drink (when used in water)
  • To cleanse the skin (and treat oily skin)
  • To freshen stale laundry
The list goes on but these are the ones I just listed caught my interest right off.

The first way I used it was on accident. I was opening the bottle because my sister and I were excited to see what the oil smelled like. As soon as I took off the lid, we could smell the scent without even getting our noses close to the bottle. That gave me the idea to put a few drops in a little glass bowl with some water. I set the bowl high up on a shelf (that my toddler nephew can't reach) and just let that fragrance go to work. Even such a small (diluted) amount immediately freshened the air. This is nice because when we have the windows shut against the winter air, all the cooking and other household odors turn stale. Another thing about the fragrance is that it's supposed to be soothing. What I can tell you for sure is that when I left a drop on a bowl on the windowsill overnight, I loved falling off to sleep with the calming scent in the air.

My next use was as a detoxifier. I added one drop - just one - to a 33.8oz bottle of water. This lemon oil is so concentrated that I ended up using the treated water to treat smaller bottles of water. I`m going to work my way up to drinking the stronger-tasting 33 ounces next. I just wanted to give you an idea of how concentrated (I guess that`s the word I`m looking for) this oil is. 

This much water with a single drop of oil
The reason that I`m so happy with the strength of this oil is because with all the different ways I'm going to be able to use it, this 4oz bottle is going to last a while. I agree with the comment I saw another Amazon user make, saying that usually essential oils come tiny bottles. Not this one. And the quality is apparently not sacrificed for the size.

As far as ingredients, there is only one: Lemon (Citrus Medica Limonum) Peel Oil. That`s it.



Usually, when I do a positive review of a product, I not only have to like the ite,, but I'm also thinking of the company and service. For this one, I think there are a lot of Pros (here comes another bullet list!):
  • The all-natural ingredients
  • Clear labeling and warnings
  • Labeling of Country of Origin
  • Bottled in the U.S.
  • Good length of after-opening time (PAO of 12 months)
  • Quantity and quality
  • Cruelty-free
  • Outstanding satisifaction guarantee
, this is one of those products I've tried that I will be using from now on. I have a whole list of ways to consider using lemon oil.

Pure Body Naturals is a brand you will want to keep in mind, not just for the quality, but also for the prices. If you have bought essential oils, you know what they can cost. Once you try Pure Body Naturals, I think you are going to be hooked like I am.

If for any reason you aren't happy with the product, then you will still come away happy as a customer because of their "3 months 100% money-back guarantee". And you even get to keep what's left of your bottle. That's my kind of guarantee. There's no way you can lose by trying out the product.

If there was one thing I`d like to see, it is a pamphlet of info for all the suggested uses of each essential oil. Still, this is such a good product that I don`t mind doing the searching for myself. I've just finished trying out Pure Body Naturals Argan Oil, which I will be blogging about shortly, and I only wish they made more products than they do. As a matter of fact, the next oil I`ll be trying from them is Peppermint. I can`t wait.

Peace
--Free

DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Depression and Holidays



This post is for anyone who might be struggling with emotional turmoil and depression. For a lot of us, tough times always feel tougher around major holidays.

We think of holidays as being a time of joy and togetherness, filled with good times and high spirits. People who don't understand the "Blues" outside of the usual and "ordinary" type, might assume that a holiday will lift make everyone feel better.

When you are dealing with any kind of depression - no matter the reason or source - it's easy to see only the downside to all that holiday cheer. While other people are gathering together, you might feel alone and forgotten - even while gathered with others. You see families and couples and friends and think of your own broken relationships. If you live in a snowy climate, you feel isolated. If you live in a sunny climate, you feel shut off from the seasonal spirit of things.

It's not only people who are dealing with mental illness or other emotional issues who can feel this way. Depression can come from lots of sources: having your life thrown out of whack by some surprise circumstance, illness or personal loss. Depression is a form of mental illness.

Let's stop and look at what that term means instead of just making snap judgments. This from NAMI is the best definition I've heard. The sentence is under the question of "What is mental illness":
A mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. (source)
If we lived in a society that subsisted mostly on sugar (and we just might), lots of us would suffer tooth decay and obesity (and we just might). We do happen to live in a society that is stressful most of the time, is it any wonder that so many of us are suffering from mental stress?

Times are just tough for a lot of folks and for lots of reasons. Money doesn't buy happiness, but poverty is no picnic either. Society is so fractured around us, with everyone feeling the pressure of belonging to (or being excluded from) some kind of group - racially, gender-wise; Boomers and Millennials and the Y's and Z's; the rich and poor and middle class; the "Singles" and the "Coupled Up"; Liberal, Conservative, Christian, Jewish, Athiest, and every other moral or religious or political persuasion.

No matter who you are, or which "group" or "percent" you belong to, you might be feeling the Blues a little bit harder than at any other time of year. I have my own version of the Blues that hum at me constantly like I'm being serenaded by Mississippi John or Memphis Minnie, so I get it. Totally.


What I want to say to anyone else who is dealing with their own Blues is that I hope you try to get through it one moment, one breath, at a time. I hope you don't let the cloud of your sad feelings overwhelm any light you have in you or around you.

Here are some resources for anyone feeling troubled - and these are just some, not all. If you don't find what you need here, call your local clinic or hospital and ask if there is counseling available. There are also resources for those of you who know someone who might need help.

And, finally, because I am a Christian, I turn to the Bible for reassurance. One of my favorite verses from the Bible is Psalm 27:1. I remind myself of it when I just need to get through one more moment: "The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?" (You have to know how awful my memory is to realize how much that verse must mean for me to have it memorized.) Here are 8 more verses that might be an encouragement to you. (And, if you are a person of faith, please pray for others.)

Peace
--Free

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

**REVIEW** Smart Weigh Digital Pro Pocket Scale

Since I have added to my diet tracking arsenal with their bathroom scale (and love it), I decided to try out this:

 The Smart Weigh folks produce this Digital Pro Pocket Scale with Tare, Hold and PCS (pieces) Functions.

It`s a (heh heh) mouthful, right? But since I'm using it to measure what I will be putting in my mouth, I can't fuss. That`s what I will be using it for, but it has other uses - such as checking mail weight, jewelry, or any other item up to 2000 grams.

My niece will want to borrow it to check mail weight (because of her business) but me - I`m strictly about the food. And, no, I don`t think I`m being obsessive. I just like the idea of being able to use this with recipes and checking on my intake of certain ingestibles. Then I have another niece who is way into baking and all kinds of ornamental food design. I have a feeling this is going to be a great gift idea for her.

Whatever you decide to use it for - business, personal, or kitchen use - the features are so useful:
  • It`s small for storage (5 x 4 x 0.6 in./ 8 oz), but efficient
  • The LCD screen is easy on the eyes
  • Has an auto shut-off that will save battery wear
  • Looks great (better even than the pic I took)
  • The stainless steel tray is easy to clean
  • Easy to use (I figured it out in a couple of seconds!)
  • Accurate, with readings from 1 tenth of a gram to 2kg
  • Reads in grams, ounces, troy ounces, pennyweight, grains and carats
  • Has a "Hold" funtion that will lock the weight reading.
My favorite feature: When you want to get the weight of something minus the container it`s in, you can use the Tare function. Coolness.

If I get outside my selfish self for a minute, I can think how useful this scale would be to small business owners, bakers and cooks, and craftspeople. Back to me: just perfect for the kitchen - where I spend so much time thinking about food... To be fair, I have a family member with special dietary restrictions, so this will be handy for her.

The fact that this has so many features, yet is still small and nice-looking isi what I really like. The design is sturdy and solid. It looks and feels very well-made. That surprised me because the price is so freaking reasonable.

The only negative to this is that I have family already wanting to borrow mine. I'm going to remind them how afforable it is to get their own.

Okay. There might be one more negative to having this scale. I mean, I don't always want to know how much that last grab of chips I scarfed down weighed out at...

Seriously? But it was just a hand full
Peace
--Free

DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

**REVIEW** pureSol Konjac Facial Sponge

You might remember my saying that the Konjac fiber was going to be a trend. Well, I have now been lucky enough to try Konjac more than once. This time, I tried the Konjac Facial Sponge
from pureSol.


Good thing in a small package
I can't help but think that these are perfect stocking stuffer gifts!

As I just said, this is not the first Konjac sponge I've used. The Konjac fiber seems to be a beauty care wonder-find and I just know it's going to trend in 2015.

This sponge by pureSol is a quite small and handy. I do prefer something a little bigger because I tend to be clumsy with small items, but my friend loves this one especially for its size.

shown dry & still in plastic wrapping
(along with the handy hook)
On top of the amazing things this does for your skin, another thing to love about the Konjac sponge fiber is that it's natural, and is eco-friendly. This particular one is produced to be softer and better suited to super-sensitive skin (again, my friend loves this part the most).

It's so gentle that I opt to use it only on my face and neck because it wouldn't be as exfoliating for the rest of my body. Where the other sponge I tried is big enough (and more exfoliating) for all-over use on a once-weekly basis, this one is perfect for regular use on extra-sensitive skin. It is shaped nicely for working around the contours of the face. My personal routine is to use this sponge daily to get ride of the blackheads and pores around my nose area. I use the other sponge less often.

It took quite a bit of soaking for this sponge to soften up for use and it didn't expand very much once it was ready. Even though the fiber is soft and gentle, the sponge is very firm and seems like it will last quite a while.

There are lots of reasons that folks are going to love what this sponge does for their skin but there are additional positives:
  1. Natural fibers (biodegradable), and
  2. No added chemicals
  3. Cruelty free & vegan
  4. You can compost the sponge, (try adding it to your flowerpot)
  5. Even the packaging is 90% compostable
Another nice little touch was the suction hook for handy attachment. For me, I like the idea that this sponge is effective but still gentle enough for daily use on my face. I can see a difference in the amount of icky blackheads on and around my nose. 

Check out more about the sponge on Facebook and on pureSOL's site. They also have a Konjac sponge that's infused with bamboo charcoal.

When you start hearing all about Konjac next year, remember that I predicted the trend! 

Peace
--Free

DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.


Monday, December 15, 2014

**REVIEW** Smart Weigh Body Fat Digital Precision Scale

Remember when I talked about another scale that was perfect for the non-smartphone person in your life? Well, here is one for the gadget guru (like me, if you go heavy on the 'gadget` and lighter on the `guru' in that phrase).

The Smart Weigh Body Fat Digital Precision Scale is loaded with features:
  • Is very sturdy and well made.
  • The design simple and is neat-looking (see the body shape in the center? Makes me envision my future self!) This will compliment any decor.
  • Measures weight, and
  • Body Fat, and
  • Water mass, and
  • Muscle mass, and
  • Bone mass.
  • Has a 440lb weight capacity, and
  • Recognizes up to 8 users.
Nice looking scale
Whew! 

Now, because of all the features, I did need to use the instruction book to get acquainted and comfortable with this beauty. That doesn`t take long - though impatient technophobes like my sister would probably recruit help using it the first time.

This is the second scale that I have fallen in love with. (The name, "Smart Weigh", is cute, right?) When you are on a quest to get in shape, it`s somehow motivating to have lots of information about your stats at hand. Also, most people (okay, *me*) hate dealing with charts about BMI and water and muscle, and blahblahblah... This puts it right out there for you.. in private!

The display is nice and large. There`s nothing not to like about this scale. It even came with batteries so I could try it out immediately. And the warranty is for 2 years from date of purchase.

Just to give you a better look at the display area:

I like that the symbols are easy to decipher

This is the first of 2 products from Smart Weigh that I am reviewing, so stay tuned for the next one.

There are some Warnings: This, like other scales using an electrical current, should not be used by certain people. If you are pregnant or have medical implants and devices, you should not use these types of scales. 


Peace
--Free

DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

**REVIEW** Gurin High Accuracy Digital Bathroom Scale

Since I have been trying out various types of bathroom scales with all sorts of features, I thought it would be nice to try out a basic one. This Gurin High Accuracy Digital Bathroom Scale is one that I would feel comfortable giving to someone in my life who still can`t figure out their smartphone. (Don`t laugh. My sister is one of those people.)


From the product page, but...



...It's even more beautiful right out of the box

Let me get right to what's great about this scale:
  • It`s nicely designed. Will look great in your bathroom.
  • There`s no set up. You literally can take it out of the box, step on it and read your weight.
  • And you will be able to read your weight with NO problem. The display is HUGE. (It measures 4.3")
  • It`s accurate measuring in small increments. (It matched the weight reading from my recent doctors appointment, which was, um, slightly disappointiing...)
  • NOT loaded with complicated features and buttons to figure out.
I don`t want to forget to mention the tape measure that`s included  (for a limited time, I believe) . It`s got a handy lock-notch feature that I`m crazy about. 

Look, no hands
Basically, there really are no negatives I have to report about this scale - unless you are like my nephew who was stunned by how large the display was. His comment was something about being able to see the numbers from space (or from his girlfriend's apartment about 3 miles away!) Another thing that lots of people will like is the lack of complication. I know that many of us are into gadgets and technology. I`m in that group. However,  I actually like that this scale gets right down to business in a simple and easy way.

This scale is basic in low-tech to use but gives you high tech readings from its "high speed precision sensors". And it looks good. On top of all that, it comes with a 100% guarantee and a 2 year warranty. Winner.

Peace
--Free

DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

**REVIEW** Kobert Mobile Premium Waterproof Case

Those of you familiar with this blog know that I am weirdly phobic and you might be wondering why I need a waterproof case for my phone. After all, I don`t swim - or even get close to where water touches beach sand. Besides, I live in Alaska. Beaches are not a main feature in our travel brochures.

Kobert Waterproof Case

But... This is a neat product from Kobert that I am trying out.

I live in Alaska, yes sir. This is the home of almost never ending winters where we (usually) get enough snow to turn our driveways into ski destinations. And when the winter finally decides to make room for what the rest of you call Spring, we Alaskans get our 5th season: Breakup. This is when all that snow starts to melt, giving us puddles and rivers of salty, grimy water. Did I mention that slipping and sliding is another unintended exercise we get plenty of? (An intended sport is that of drivers splashing pedestrians with some of that lovely, um, water!)

And, because of my disability, I am extremely clumsy. So, yeah... I need this waterproof protection for my phone. Of course, I needed to test the waterproofing feature (which the label suggests users do).

I inserted a piece of used notepaper, closed the case, then submerged the case in a Tuppperware bowl of room temp water for around 5 minutes. (By the way, be careful not to insert a too-warm phone in the casing & don't dunk in hot water. #CondensationHappens)

No smeared/blurry ink here

I'm sure "dirty, gritty, icky Breakup water" should be included...

For my test, the paper and ink survived.

Notice the pic showing what all else this protects against.  I myself am not bothered with all that "certified to 100 feet" bidness. If I ever get that far underwater, I'll have no need for any calls other than a direct line to Jesus.

Next up was to see how well my phone fit into the case and how well it worked when enclosed. The label advises that any photos taken while the camera is covered might not be top quality, but the one I took (labelled pic 000) fine. The touchscreen worked well for me even though you'll hear later where I had a minor problem.

Fits just fine
Since I am going to be putting my cellphone on the line (or, rather, in the water), I'll procrastinate by telling you some other points I noticed:

  • I spent 2 ot 3 minutes trying to find a place to attach the lanyard. I checked the product page and saw that it's just to be attached to the top of the case. (see pic 2)
  • The closure for the case itself was a little odd to me. It was hard to see the "close---> open" embossed on the black casing. Duh.
  • Using the phone while its encased is not too difficult. The touchscreen was good. Using the side buttons (Power, Volume) was tricky because I had to sort of contort the plastic to get to them. I am afraid to damage the case because of this:
Read that 2nd bullet point if you can (pic 000)

You know what? Smack the procrastination! I don't have to test this using my own phone (at least until I land tail-down in a puddle later this season) because Kobert already has a video highlighting the features. 

Whew! 


the 2:27 mark is where he submerges phone...

I noticed that the touchscreen didn't seem to work very well for him while the phone was submerged. That's cool with me though. I figure that if I end up testing this in a real-world situation, someone will already have dialled 911 for me. Hah!

My phone is the Galaxy S3, but there are cases for many phones, including the following:
  • iPhone 6, 6 Plus(Without Case), 5, 5s, 5c, 4, 4s, 3
  • Samsung Galaxy s3, s4, s5, Note 2, Note 3, Note 4
  • Nokia Lumia
  • Windows Phone 8x
  • Nexus 4 
  • HTC One/One X/X+
Not bad for the $13 the case is currently priced at via Amazon. Also, the kit comes with that lanyard I told you about and a stylus which are both of decent quality. Finally, for any fraidy cats, here is the best part from the product page:
"ZERO RISK INVOLVED - At Kobert International we stand by our products and offer a no questions asked 30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. We will offer an additional 1 YEAR REPLACEMENT GUARANTEE on the waterproof case. Your satisfaction is our top priority. So try it now. TOTALLY RISK FREE!"
For my fellow non-beach-going but possibly-skiing and definitely break-upping Alaskans, this is a good investment. Considering the price of cellphones and how pricey other protection options are, this works for me.

Peace
--Free


DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.