**REVIEW** Greenwald's Glass & Hard Surface Cleaner

The product I got to review a couple of weeks ago is interesting. There seems to be a new trend of certain cleaning products coming with refillable pods. The same morning I got this product, I was at a local store where I saw a common brand of household cleaner that was made to be used with refillables.

Greenwald's Glass and Hard Surface Cleaner is the product that I'm getting to try out for this review. I opened the outer delivery box, thinking how light it felt and saw this:

When I opened the product box, I saw why it was such a light package:

No water weight

You get the professional spray bottle (more on that later) and 6 packs of cleaner concentrate.

 Kind of cool, right? Not to have the heavy, liquid-filled spray bottle is nice. It's a lot easier to store until you are ready to use it. That's probably the main feature most people will like.

As for how this cleans, I was able to test it out right away. On the awning of the travel trailer. That's the dirtiest surface I could find to clean.

Yeah. That's only one side. I wanted to get a close up so I just got the one side here, but there are older photos of the whole awning so that you can at least see that both sides looked the same before cleaning:

                                           left side                                               right side

So... I cleaned the left side with Greenwald's, and the right side with a common brand from the store.

Results:

Can you tell the big difference? I certainly could.

I could have gotten the right side cleaner by scrubbing more, but that would have tilted the testing. As far as the "test", I just sprayed each side (one at a time) with its respective cleaner, let it sit for a few seconds, then I used a sponge to rub down the awning. I finished by spraying on clear water to rinse. (By the way, I used a sponge that is soft on one side and a scrubber on the other. The scrubber is safe for non-stick cookware.)

For a less tedious job, I cleaned the little mini-fridge that we keep in the garage. It's plenty dirty for an appliance because we use it to hold juice boxes for kids.

The top half with Greenwald's only

This is the test of cleaning the bottom part of fridge with the Greenwald's on the left, Brand X on the right. (Middle part left untouched.)

See? Hard to tell. The Greenwald's is a bit cleaner. (Middle part, I left untouched.)

It was harder to get photos that really show the difference. In addition to those pics of the appliance, I am going to include photos of the paper towels I used with each cleaner.

These are the dampened (but unused) paper towels:

I used 3 sprays each. Brand X just looks wetter.

Greenwald's on the left, Brand X on the right. You can tell that the Greenwald's seems to have picked up more dirt, but that could be because the fridge was dirtier on that side. I only judged by the finished results I could see on the appliance.





 As you can tell, the Greenwald's cleans a bit better than the usual glass cleaner we keep around the house, but there were a couple of things I liked most about the Greenwald's:

• The smell is not as unpleasant as unscented glass cleaner (though it's about the same as other scented cleaners).
• I didn't notice the residue our usual (scented or unscented) brand left behind.
• The mixing was easy because I could make the formula as strong or weak as I want it. (On the other hand, I do have to use the entire pod, regardless.)
• The non-smudge factor is nice. 
• The storing of Greenwald's is easier because of the concentrated packets. You only add the water when you are ready to use the product.
• The spray bottle was superb. It was great to be able to more finely adjust the nozzle and intensity of the spray.

By the way, these are the ingredients:

Greenwald's works out, (at the Amazon Prime price) to be about $3.30 each for 6 32-ounce bottles. At our local retailer, a popular brand (at Alaska prices) is around $3.50 for a 32-ounce bottle. 

Since the price is comparable, this comes down to other factors. The Greenwald's is made for multi-surface cleaning, where my usual brand is for Glass - though that brand does have a multi-surface product also. I don't have any in my home, but I checked online.) For one thing, if I have to use more of one product to get the same cleaning effect, I'm not saving money. From my tests, I could tell that I got better cleaning (although just slightly) from the same amount of Greenwald's as for the Brand X. And I have to add that, with a toddler in the house, I like being able to hide away the concentrate until I need to use it. For the usual brands (that come pre-mixed), we have to keep them up high and out of reach.

The Greenwald's is backed by their 100% Money Back Guarantee. They also have a few other cleaning products worth checking out, including a citrus cleaner. In addition to their products on Amazon, you can check their site (and sign up for coupons there).

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** Organic & Vegan Ultra Hydrating Facial Moisturizer

Of all the beauty moisturizers I have tried - and there have been a lot - this is the first time I tried something vegan. This is what the product touts:

Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Non-Toxic, All-Natural Face Moisturizer for Dry, Sensitive, Eczema, Combination, Mature Skin

How could I resist?

This is Nouveau/Organica Ultra Hydrating Facial Moisturizer.

Though my review of this got off to a bumpy start, I'm glad that I gave the product a try.

I'll address the one issue I had with this before I get to the rest of the review.

When the package arrived, we were having one of our famously warm days here in Anchorage. And I mean it was warm. For a week, we had temps that ranged from 80 to close to 90 degrees. Yeah. Warm.

melted

1 hour in fridge

The jar is slightly smaller than I expected (because I am bad a visualizing sizes by volume amounts) and I tilted it to get a better grip when I opened it. Lucky that I turned it right side up before the lid came off. Because of the warmth, the contents were completely liquefied. (There is a mention on the label that "softening" can occur.) I ended up spilling only a tiny bit o the product, but I am warning other users ahead of time.

Now.

This is more of an oil than a cream. I don't mind that at all because I love using oils on my skin. For people that tend to avoid oil products, I will tell you that the results are not what you might think.

The moisturizer is very non-clogging. My skin is not only a combo that runs from dry-to-oily, those zones fluctuate, but my nose is the spot that suffers when I use anything that irritates my skin or clogs the pores. The Organica passed that immediate test. When I used the moisturizer as an overnight treatment, I was even more pleased.

There is a faint smell to this that reminds me of used cooking oil. It's not unpleasant and I don't notice it when the moisturizer is in a solid state. When it's all liquefied, the scent is more pronounced. The important thing is that it doesn't linger on the skin.

I am surprised that I like this so much. I don't know what I expected. For some odd reason, I've never had the same positive view of 'vegan' products that I do of those labeled as 'natural'. It's a mindset of mine.

This product has me anxious to try others like it. Of the benefits I noticed in a few days' use, the main one is that this absorbs well. I didn't have to use a lot. I just scraped my fingernail over the surface to get slivers to apply. The oil melts on contact with my skin. I ended up being able to control how much I was applying to the different areas of my face. I like that.

Organica (which is just what I call it!) softens and nourishes. I noticed that it seems to work with my skin. It moisturizes deeply where my skin is driest, yet it didn't "grease" up my skin where it was already hydrated. Very weird but, again, I love the results.

I read reviews by other users and saw that people with various skin issues and they seem to have had positive results. I don't suffer from serious facial skin issues, but I do have 'mature' skin (hah!) and this has turned out to be a nice treatment.

When I went on a water challenge recently, my skin felt better, but I noticed that it tended to dry out a lot whenever I drank less water. It's as if, having gotten so much natural  hydration, my skin rebelled whenever I dropped back to my usual water intake. Since then, my regular moisturizer hasn't been working as well. This brought some balance back to my skin.

I've been using this on my elbows as well as the area at the back of my ankles to soften the skin. The most surprising way I've found this to be helpful is to oil my scalp. Because of the melting factor, the oil really soaks in without getting all over my hair. I just make little parts in my hair, apply the oil, then massage my whole scalp with my fingertips.

I like this a lot. I do wish that I didn't have to keep returning it to the fridge. Actually, I don't have to. I could just use it in the liquid state, but I like being able to better measure out applications by slivers.

For users who prefer truly vegan properties, this product hits high marks:

• Raw food grade
• 100% USDA Certified organic
• vegan
• gluten-free
• soy-free
• dairy-free
• cruelty-free
• No animal testing
• made with ingredients sourced from USDA certified organic farms

The ingredients:

Organic Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Organic Argania Spinosa Kernel (Argan) Oil, Organic Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Organic Rosa Mosqueta (Rosehip) Fruit Oil, Organic Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Organic Salvia Sclarea (Clary Sage) Oil, Organic Cananga odorata (Ylang Ylang) Oil, Organic Boswellia carteri (Frankincense) Oil, Organic Pelargonium roseum asperum (Geranium) Oil

Kind of nice that I didn't have to provide links to explain any of the ingredients, right?

There is a "no questions asked" guarantee in place. Can't beat that on top of all the other benefits.

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** Natural Lash Growth Enhancing Lash & Brow Serum

This is what I have started using just recently. It's  this Growth Enhancing Lash + Brow Serum called Natural Lash from Protege.

On the 28th of last month, I posted about a fiber lash product I'm using (which I love, by the way). I thought that this growth serum would just add to my goal of thickening up my lashes and brows.

In the past five or six years, my brows have started to thin out. I used to have nice, thick and well-shaped brows. I never did pluck or pick at them because of the shape so the only reason I can give for the thinning is... well, aging. Makes sense, I guess. My eyelashes were never very lush...

Anyway, this product is supposed to work for lashes and brows. I've just begun using it and will have to update this post when I see some changes. Since I just took the photos for the fiber mascara, I decided to use one of them for a Before shot:

Taken for a post done on May 28th

Today is Day 3 so I can at least tell you about using the product.

Application is easier than I expected. For one thing, the brush is really thin and fine so that using it on the lashes is a lot like applying eyeliner. For my brows, I just applied it in the spots where I have the most thinning.

The liquid is a light brown-ish color but does not show once it dries. It's thin and sort of watery so I was a little worried about it getting into my eyes. That turned out not to be a problem because, though the liquid feels thinner than eyeliner, it goes on like eyeliner.

Although this isn't something most users will every apply near their noses, I still wanted to check the smell. The scent is odd and reminds me of a leather conditioning product I once used and a hint of garden soil. Like I said though, this is not something I even caught a whiff of when I was applying it as it's meant to be.

When I apply it, I get no negative skin reactions. Once it dries on the lashline, it feels much like an eyeliner does - as in, you can tell that it's there only because you know you put it on. The first application of the day made my lashes feel as though I had shaped them with a very light styling gel - which I have done in the past so don't judge me! After the second application, I could feel it more. My brows were a bit stiff. It was not unpleasant or uncomfortable. (By the second day, I decided to use the serum to shape my brows, since I wasn't going to use the styling gel with it.)

I can't wait for the time to go by so that I can see what results I get.

With twice per day applications, the serum is supposed to produce results in 5 weeks' time. The bottle is expected to last for up to four months. That gives a user plenty of product to see results and to continue using for a while.

There are a few reasons I wanted to try this versus the brand that's been seen in so many commercials:

• Price is more affordable 
• Growth remains even after you stop using product
• A year-long guarantee

I see that the product states "all-natural" ingredients but, since we all have our own ideas of what is 'natural', I want to list them here for you to judge:

• Distilled Water (Aqua)
• Lactobacillus/Kelp Ferment Filtrate
• Carnitine (L-)
• Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
• Soy Isoflavones (Non-GMO)
• Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) Fruit Extract
• Grape Seed Proanthocyanidins (Vitis vinifera Extract)
• Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Endosperm)
• Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) Seed Extract
• Nettle (Urtica dioica) Root Extract
• Indian Frankincense (Boswellia serrata) Resin Extract
• Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
• Apigenin
• Amino acids
• Caffeine
• Glucose
• Porphyridium Extract
• Fucoxanthin notice what is said about the color of this
• Astaxanthin
• Keratinocyte Growth Factor (KGF, sh-Polypeptide-3) I found this to be interesting
• Superoxide Dismutase (SOD)
• Catalase
• Phenoxyethanol
• Caprylyl Glycol
• Sorbic Acid

I do like that the ingredients I could easily recognize as being natural are listed first.

And do remember: there is a 365-day guarantee for a FULL refund if you aren't happy with this product. I do love that.

There you have it - for now at least. I will come back with an update in a few weeks.

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** PolarGel Cool Pillow Mat

This is going to be a fun review to write just because I didn't expect to love the product for the reason that I do. I'll get to that, but first, let's do the review.

And, by the way, this is what I'm going to be talking about:

PolarGel Cool Pillow Mat

A little bit of a backstory on how I got to try this (and to show you the goofy state of my mind):

I reviewed a product that I'd bought at a local store. Loved the product, raved about it in a blog post here, raved about it on Amazon, and told just about everyone I know or met anywhere about it. Not long after I reviewed that product, I was contacted by the husband of the woman who came up with it. There was a mention that they might send me other products to use and review. Not long after that contact, I was invited (via email, not one of the product sites I use) to review the PolarGel Cool Pillow Mat.

That's how I got to review this product. The goofy part of my brain comes in at the point where I honestly can't remember (or trace back through emails) whether or not the first product and the PolarGel came from the same distributor.

Ah well... At any rate, I'm really super glad that I got to try out the PolarGel. I thought I was just going to like it because it's such a cool (heh heh) thing to have around during the summer.

I don't care where I am or how warm it is, I just do not sleep well without cover - and not just sheets. I need some sort of a light blanket to feel comfortable. That's not a problem 9 months out of the year here. This is Alaska. However...

Summers here can be warm. (Even during the winter, depending on who you share a home with, the heat is going to be cranked up like the entryway to Hades, so there's that.)

Warm is great during the daytime. It's even fine for most people during the night. Unless you are a fanatic about not "sweating out" your hair.

Right about now is when I have the attention of any woman who hates having to re-straighten or re-wash her hair because she "sweat it out" during the night.

I won't speak for every black woman out there but, personally, I don't like to wash my hair more than once or twice a month. I will co-wash (or even just rinse my hair) instead. This keeps my hair - which, because of genetics, tends towards dry - from drying out even further. If anything, I like to retain as much moisture in my hair and oil on my scalp as possible. Sweating it out means I have to wash or co-wash it, or use more products to re-moisturize.

So. Do I love this PolarGel or what? Yes, I do.

I was going to take a photo of mine,
but it's still tucked inside my pillow case! lol

The product comes with 2 straps that you can use to attach the pad to your pillow. I just slid my pad under the pillow case. Also you get an eBook (about getting better sleep) that you can download as a PDF or mp3 audio. I have not downloaded that yet.

I originally was just hoping that the PolarGel would help keep me cool at night. There's no air-conditioning in most Alaska homes. What we have are ceiling fans. What we also have in the home are people who like to blast the heat even when we are having one of our nice summer days. We keep the heat locked on a steady temp during the summer, which is great - if you like sleeping half nude and with no covers. Not me.

The first night I used the PolarGel (and I actually had to wait til after that blast of cold that we rarely deal with in the summer, which +prissy d d can tell you about!) I was just hoping for relief from the heat in general. Being fuzzy-brained the past several days, I forgot to chill the mat in the fridge until a couple hours before bedtime. What I realized the next day is that I didn't have to put it in the fridge. The gel inside keeps the mat cool enough as it is. On really warm nights, it will be nice to chill it in the fridge though.

I did stay nice and comfy-cool all night (even with my little blanket on), but what I also got was hair that wasn't all sweated and matted the next morning. Nice.

Usually, I have to either moisturize my hair fairly deeply with some leave-in and tie it up overnight, or just deal with the heavy moisturizing the next morning. Then, every few days, I might even have to do a rinse-out. That's because of the sweating.

The PolarGel is probably something that lots of folks will like just because it does a great job of keeping the pillow cool through the night. I have some extra love for it just because of how it saved my hair.

So. I can recommend this for that reason, and I'll step back in my memory to the first months of menopause.... I still get the night-sweats but, a few years back, I nearly lost my mind because of them. I wish I'd had this cooling mat then.

Anyway, there's not much to say about the specifications of the pillow. It's a simple concept that works better than I expected. My head sweat even during the winter months - probably because we run the heat so much and definitely because of the blanket thing I have going on - so I will be using the cool right out of this PolarGel.

The PolarGel Cool Pillow Mat is something you can use over and over, even as you go through new pillows. The best part of any purchase? The guarantee. Here it is, straight from the paged:

If for any reason you are not completely satisfied with your new cool pillow after 30 days, simply return it for a FULL REFUND. No questions asked!

I always love a good guarantee.

Peace
--Free

DISCLOSURE: I received one of more of the products mentioned in exchange for providing my fair and honest review.

**UPDATE** Zim's Crack Creme Contest

My apologies to everyone who had problems trying to enter the contest.

Sooo very sorry

This was my first Giveaway using the Tomoson widget, but I found out that it tends to be glitch-ey and, well, pretty horrible.

The next time I do a Giveaway, I will be using an alternate tool that I've heard good things about.

Again, I'm so sorry for anyone who tried but was not able to enter. I will be running a Giveaway of Zim's on my own in the future so that I can offer fair chance to anyone who wants to enter that one.

Love my blog readers & appreciate you for putting up with this particular snafu.

Peace
--Free

**REVIEW** 3D Fiber Lash Mascara by Mia Adora

Since my feet have been so much discussed here, I guess it should be easy to tell you about my skimpy eyelashes.

~sigh~

I don't wear a lot of makeup. Or I should say, I like for any makeup I do wear to be done lightly and appear as natural as possible. I was taught to accentuate (not exaggerate) my features. I'm happy with my face, but I do have skimpy lashes. Mascara can be tricky for me though. I like definition and a bit of length, but if I use just a touch too much, my lashes feel heavy and clumpy.

And all the ladies out there said, "I hear ya!"

When I got the chance to try this, I jumped on it.

The case is super cute, by the way

A magnetic clasp when you shut the box

That is Mia Adora 3D Fiber Lash Mascara.

Isn't that box just too freaking pretty? I like it when things come packaged attractively. I can tuck this right into my purse and will probably whip it out just to show off how cute it is (because I can be silly like that sometimes!!!).

Anyway...this is what my lashes look wearing ...

... No mascara

                    ...My regular brand (1 coat)                                ...Mia Adora (one coat gel & fiber)

I especially like that I got such a great effect with just one coating of the Mia Adora 3D. Even better, once I played around some, I learned to use the mascara to accentuate my outer lashes (which is what I like to do for a dressier look).

Now, one of the things about reviewing products that you get for free is that people tend to distrust your opinion. I hope that you guys have read enough of my reviews to know that I will give you the good, bad and ugly.

There's not much negative to say about this, but let's get those things out of the way right now:

When I first applied the Mia Adroa(I did one eye at a time), I didn't realize that the brushes weren't fully coated right out of the tubes. I spent a couple of minutes pretty much dry-brushing my lashes and wondering why nothing was happening. Doh! Once I realized the problem, I was timid about over-applying the gel or fiber, so the result was mediocre. It's hard to tell how 'wet' the brushes are because they feel very stiff, which is unlike the regular brand of mascara I use.

Once I experimented on the first eye, things went a lot better with the second eye. It does take some practice - or rather, it takes not rushing. You apply the fiber while the first coating of gel is still wet, but (and this is VERY important): you have let the fiber coating dry before applying the last (or setting) gel coat. Also when applying the fibers, it's best to start light, then add more later if you want.

The Pros of this mascara is that it goes on so much lighter weight than the other brand of fiber mascara - and, yes, I had a chance to try out the 'other' brand when I went to lunch with a friend of mine who owns some. Mia Adora doesn't flake as much. That other brand is good with lengthening more with one coat, but some of it flaked off into one of my eyes. Also it goes too heavy for my preference since I like more of a 'natural' look with all of my makeup.

Also, when I got that flake from the other brand in my eye, and rubbed at it without thinking, I ended up with more flakes around my eye and the raccoon look. Lovely. But I'm not reviewing the other brand. I just wanted to give a comparison.

That leads me to the other big Pro: once the Mia Adora is set, my lashes not only look more natural, but they actually felt more natural than with even regular mascara. I checked and my usual mascara is a long-wearing waterproof formula, so maybe that has something to do with the feel. I didn't have any basic mascara (non-long lasting, etc) on hand to compare.

The Mia Adora set is, in my opinion, much easier to use than the brand I borrowed. For one thing, the other brand is thicker and coats too heavily for me to have the control I like over the thickness and length. Like I said, you can always add more if that's what you want.

By the way, I want to mention that getting a mascara off is as important as applying it. I remove my makeup using the oil/baby wipe method. I found out that the other brand is a lot harder to clean completely. I tested the Mia Adora both ways: oil and baby wipe, then just with a baby wipe.

Two final things to mention:

• As of now, as far as I can tell, the Mia Adora comes in one shade - black. 
• I see that there is currently a Flash Sale. See bottom of product page about the 10% discount and free shipping information. I don't know how long the sale will be active

If anyone else does try this, let me know how it compares to other brands and mascara types you have experience with.

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** Pelican ProGear Voyager Case & Holster

I like to boast that I am always very careful with my phones. And, usually, I am. VERY careful.

Next to my vehicle, my phone is probably the most important necessity in my day to day life. It's not just a convenience (though it is very handy) but. because of my memory and health issues, it's my lifeline. Seriously. Besides all that, I haven't had a landline phone since living in Arizona some years ago.

Out of all the cellphones I've owned, I've lost one and dropped another into water. The one I couldn't find disappeared under really strange circumstances (as did a few other things) in the house in Arizona. We decided that we had a Bermuda Zone type of thing going on in one spot in that house. I'm not kidding, but that's a post for another day.

Every other phone I've had, I've kept til they die. Even back when I could afford to buy new phones whenever I wanted, I thought it was a stupid waste of money. Phones are not cheap. This is why I try to be so careful with mine.

I love a good case, and this one is my absolute favorite of all time:

The clip swivels and makes a stand

Those stripes are not that visible, btw

That's the ProGear Voyager Case & Holster by Pelican I have. Of course, I got the one made for my Galaxy Note 4, but there are models for most popular phones.

I got mine at AT&T because I dropped my phone while I was right down the walkway from the store at the mall. If I hadn't been so paranoid about waiting a few more days, I could have saved $10 by getting it at Amazon.

Real quick, before I get to the review, let me mention that this is the best link to the Pelican site if you're looking specifically for phone cases. I didn't realize that Pelican made cases for lots of products, but you can get to the main page at their official site for all of that by going here. Their Amazon page of products is here. (Can you tell by now that I really like these guys? Good, cos I do.)

Now. Where to start with all that I love about this:

• Fits very securely around the case of my phone
• Is not heavy like some cases
• Holster/Clip detaches for fitting into another outer case if you want
• The clip functions as a stand & stand extends to several stages of placement
• Clip has a hooked bottom so it won't slide off or pockets
• Case comes with a lifetime replacement guarantee in case it breaks

Personally, I can say that I like this case way better than one I got by the much hyped Otterbox brand a few years back. That case cracked at one edge, then the replacement they sent also cracked. Done with that.

Not that I was trying to put the case to a real-life test, but.... I did. Right after I got the case, I dropped my phone (or, rather, DJ bumped it out of my hand) onto a concrete floor at Walmart. The case did protect my phone. I'd already put a crack in the glass screen protector (which I'd been smart enough to get when I bought the phone) and even that crack didn't get any worse. I think the Pelican is "military rated" to drop at about 4 feet. I'm 5 foot 5 and I dropped my phone from about waist high.

Almost more than I like that this protects my phone is the fact that the stand is so good. The last stand I used with a case was sort of flimsy. The bottom would skid and topple the phone over. This one is nicest because it has 5 position tabs, rotates, and is steadied with a metal claw.

Lots of notches for positioning the stand
(notice the bottom where the "tooth" is on clip

Clip rotates for horizontal or vertical wear

 If I have to nitpick for some negatives...

In this position, holster won't/shouldn't be
detached from phone

There's no slot for ID/cards or folding money (but that's the same for most hardback cases), and I'm not crazy about the fact that there's no camera hole in the holster. I have to detach the holster/clip part to use the rear camera. Also, I sometimes forget to rotate the clip so that it's easier to remove the holster. But that's all really petty considering how well this case protects my investment.

I did recently find a really affordable faux leather case with clip that will work with the Pelican case (minus the holster/clip attachment). It's not made for holding cards or folding money either, but some other reviewers have told me that I can fit those things in with the phone. I would just have to be careful not to lose those items when removing the phone from the case.

INSERT PHOTO of that item

Like I said, I had to really look for some Cons with this Pelican case. I'm beyond impressed - not just with the case but with the guarantee. All I can say is "Yay for Pelican!" I don't think I will ever want a case by anyone else. (But "Boo! to AT&T for the jacked up price...)

There you have it. Pelican is apparently well thought of by other reviewers for good reason. I wish I could find more variety in colors from them for this phone. Or even one of their cases made with a ID/money slot.

Peace

--Free

**REVIEW** Zim's Crack Creme ***UPDATED WITH CONTEST***

Well, I got this just at the perfect time, didn't I?

Zim's Crack Creme in the 2-oz pump bottle.

First reaction: I got a fit of giggles at the name. I can be so freaking juvenile when I'm tired.

Second reaction: Um, this is some goooood stuff...

After using it the very first time, I knew that it would be easy to tell you why I like this creme so much

• Absorbs super fast
• Not oily or sticky/tacky
• Worked immediately (on my driest skin, which you'll get to see)
• No icky smell (and what's there fades off fast)
• Really softens the skin for a long time
• Works a little bit like a skin conditioner (I'll explain in a moment)

What's hard is to describe this product. It's not really a cream/creme at all, but a liquid.

Interesting, right? The ingredients list is short & fairly natural:

• Glycerine
• SD Alcohol 3-C
• Purified Water
• Arnica Extract
• Myrcia Oil

I noticed that the FDA classifies Myrcia Oil as Bay and vice versa, so I am assuming it's the same as Bay Oil. This reference seems to support my assumption. What I found so interesting is that both Bay Oil and Arnica Extract seem to be used more for analgesic and soothing properties than for moisturizing. (Always be careful with ingredients that you might have a reaction to.)

I had no negative reactions at all and, since I just fell in love with the callus remover I recently reviewed, this cream (or creme) was just what I needed for a follow-up.

Time for another callus treatment!

After the Zim's

Seriously, my feet looked new after the Zim's. I mean, removing the dead skin and calluses worked wonders, but the Zim's was the finishing touch.

Okay, okay - enough about my feet. I did use the Zim's on my hands and elbows. I really like the way it not only took away that parched look from around my cuticles, but it even moisturized my fingernails. Once again, it's hard to describe the difference between this and oils or lotions. For one thing, this absorbs much faster. Also, the moisturizing feels different. The best way I can describe it is to compare it to how my hands feel after they have been washed and before all that moisture dries up. 

Zim's is not sticky/tacky. It does leave your skin feeling conditioned. I actually think that's the best way to describe the results. You know how your hair feels different compared to just being shampooed to being deeply conditioned? That's what this did for my skin. And for my nails. That was really nice.

Another thing I like is the price. This is really affordable. It occurred to me that this 2-ounce multi-use bottle would last me for quite a while for use on my feet, hands, nails and elbows. The thing is, my family is going to love this so I will be sharing. (Tell you the truth, I'm thinking of trying it on my scalp and the ends of my hair.) I was glad to see that I can get this in different sizes and even in multi-packs. There are different varieties and formulations that you can check out here. Also you can check out their site here, or their social media presence:

• On Facebook
• and Twitter
• and on Pinterest

If I try their lip creme, I'll be sure to do a review for you. For now, let's take a closer look at these feet of mine...

Now, that's a product testimony right there! LOL

Peace

--Free

*** CONTEST***

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** Glass Roll-On Bottles by 2PM Essentials

Until I tried compared these roll-on bottles against the ones I have been using, I didn't know how much difference a steel roller could make.

Okay. That sounded a little bit strange, so let me show you the product I'm posting about:

That right there to the left is one of the roll-on bottles I'm going to be telling you about.  It's Frosted Glass Roll On Bottle.

It's prettier than any roll-on bottle I've used for my oils and perfumes, but pretty is not all it's got going for it.

Actually, what I got was a 2-pack set of the 10ml bottles from 2PM Essentials.

You guys know how I am about my oils. I use them for everything - for moisturizing my face and lips to using them as natural fragrances. Over the past year or so, I've been learning a lot about the various essential oils - or E.O.s. 

 What I learned about the containers I've been using to carry my oils in my purse is that they will leak. The biggest Oops I've had happen was when I unscrewed one of my old bottles and had oil leak from the cap right on to my jeans. I had to walk around the store with a icky-looking stain down the front of my leg. I usually know to check the cap because my oils will leak and drip out, but...

When I opted to try the bottles by 2PM Essentials, I just wanted to see if they were as pretty as the photos. I wasn't really thinking too much about the steel rollerballs.

These really are some elegant bottles. Much nice than the plain ones I have bought here and there.

The glass is lightly frosted and, because it's not a painted on frost, I won't have to worry about a lot of scratching from the keys and other junk in my purse. The cap is brushed aluminum with just a touch of smooth embellishment to add some flair.

But the steel rollerball is the real bonus. I'm not a mechanically inclined person so I don't much care why or how the metal ball works as a seal to stop leaks. I don't care, but I like it. (If you care, you can read about it on the product page.)

I do care that I don't have to remember to check for oil pooling in the cap before I unscrew it. This design does the trick. And the metal looks a lot nice than the plastic ones.

Something I never considered is that, though I use glass bottles for my E.O.s, the plastic caps probably affect the oils. And maybe the reason the caps leak is because the oils affect them.

At any rate, I really do like these bottles. The steel ball and all the technical stuff aside, the bottles are just so pretty. The fact that I'm not wasting my oils from leaks and spills makes me glad for the techy stuff, but I'm mostly loving the look of the bottles.

The price for these is just a bit more than what I've paid for some with the plastic balls, but saving oils evens out the cost difference. Now that I'm aware of the oil-plastic mix, I going to stick with the steel rollers.

I have to mention that, while you might be aware of the common ways to use a roll-on applicator (oils, deodorants, etc.), I tried something new (for me at least) with this one. Because the metal ball works so smoothly, I got the idea in my head to try applying some oil in the area under my eyes. You know how you want to avoid pulling or rubbing that thinner skin when doing your beauty routine? Well, I wanted to test out how well the roller would work. Results were great. (You do need to get the ball going a bit. Remember, it's made not to leak.)

Let's take one more look at that steel roller

The test with the under-eye area worked so well, I got carried away and used the applicator on my lips. Now I just want to mix up some specific oils for a lip balm to carry in my purse. (I'm thinking this will be a great way to pack some coconut oil without worrying about ruining the inside of my purse.)

To get down to the final nitty gritty, just in case you are not as impressed as I am, there is a super sweet guarantee in place for this product. It's not just a "No Questions Asked" guarantee, but a 100% Lifetime guarantee. Can't beat that with a plastic or metal stick.

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.

Wow! Liebster Award

When I started blogging here at Being Free, I never expected that I would still be posting 9 years later. The blog has progressed in a lot of ways, but still has a limited following. Limited, but very loyal and supportive. (Thanks you guys! ~MUWAH~)

One of the most amazing ladies I have met is another blogger. I only use the word "amazing" because there's not a nicer one to describe her. Sandy authors the addictingly inspiring Sandy's POV. My blog wants to be her blog when it grows up! LOL

It is Sandy who nominated me for the Liebster Award and I cannot thank her enough.

Now comes the fun part. I'm going to share some information about myself via the following Q & A, then I will pay this honor forward by nominating 11 blogs of my choosing. (Don't worry, I will list the rules at the bottom of this post.)

Ready? Set. Go!

1. How did you decide on the name of your blog?

At that time of my life, I was going through a lot of personal changes. The blog was my way to connect and share with people in a safe way - like free therapy. I didn't want to use my actual name so I decided to call myself "Free" (as in breaking free) and I was temporarily wanting to be "free" of a lot of things. So... I decided on Free Being Free. Because of something to do with Blogger (I don't remember exactly), I ended up with just "Being Free". 

2. Where does your blogging inspiration come from?

At the start, I just wanted to express my own take on people I observed and things that were going on in my life. As I progressed, I started focusing on specific things that interested me. In the past year or so, I have been doing product reviews. Since I like using as many "natural" things as I can for nutrition and personal care, I really enjoy reviewing products and sharing information for that.

3 What is it that you love most about blogging?
Everything, especially since I was hit with a chronic disease that limits my life in other ways. I've "met" so many nice people through blogging. Also, blogging allows me to feel productive and useful during the times I am able to function well. I joke that blogging lets me exercise the parts of my brain that still works well!

4 What is your favorite food?
Pizza. Otherwise, I'm easy. I like just about anything that isn't spicy. My favorite snack is salami sandwiches. I like blended fruits and veggies. And smoke clams. I love smoked clams.

5 What is your favorite thing to drink (alcoholic or not)?
Coffee. With sweetened creamer. I'm not much for alcohol, but I do like iced wines for special occasions. I'm recently drinking more water and trying to make it a habit.

6 What is an item you cannot live without?
My phone. That's because it contains just about everything else I need: my Bible, my address book, and so on. If I didn't have my phone, I'd want my Bible more than all else.

7 What are eleven random facts about yourself?

1. I like being a loner 90% of the time.
2. Blue jeans, t-shirts and tennis shoes as a wardrobe make me very happy.
3. My writing spot is a tiny vintage travel trailer on the side of our house that I am attempting to pretty up. In about 2 weeks' time, I've managed to sand a 12-inch section of a wall. 
4. I don't have kids, but I helped raise four of my nieces and nephews. Now I have a "grandson" who I adore. He also adores me. Mostly because I make him PB&J "sammiches" every day.
5. My nickname is Penny, but my grandkid calls me "BooBoo". He calls people whatever they call him and I always called him "my little booboo". I'm lucky. He calls one of his aunts "Stinky" and a friend of ours is labeled "Juicy". I'm good with BooBoo.
6. I love playing Farmville 2 (and hate myself for it). It's the only way I can farm without being outdoors. 
7. I'm fiercely in love with my big, crazy, wonderful family and can't be happy when I'm too far away from them. I tried to live in England once and lasted about 3 months before I had to get back "home".
8. I was born in Texas, but raised in Alaska. I don't like extreme heat or cold. Go figure that one out.
9. My favorite colors are (currently) red and gold. Unless it's jewelry. I don't like gold jewelry. Unless there are pearls in it. Lots of pearls.
10. I have a piece of metal behind one eye. Don't know how it got there, but I can't have MRIs. I think it might have something to do with having 4 brothers. That's what my doctors have decided.
11. I'm a bit of a conspiracy theorist and I don't think that's a bad thing. Conspiracies happen and I'm allowed to have a theory, right?

8 If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

Just about anywhere with 4 seasons. And with family somewhere really close by. For now, I'll stick with Alaska because 1 out of 2 ain't bad.

9 If you could meet anyone from history, alive or dead, who would it be?
I'd really like to meet whoever designed freeway roundabouts. So I can smack the back of their head. If I can't have that, I'd like to meet my maternal grandmother because she died when I was a baby.
10 What is your favorite outdoor activity?
Walking. To get back indoors as fast as I can. I'm not an outdoors person.

11 Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Living happily in my "tiny house" travel trailer, finishing the novel I started about 9 years ago. I'll settle for just living happily.

Here are my nominees for the Liebster Award:

1. Bama Blog
2. Seattle Amie Ryan
3. Gwen Sutton
4. Dacotah
5. Small Town Life
6. Samalexwrites 

THE RULES

For those who have been nominated for The Liebster Award AND YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT, write a blog post about the Liebster award in which you: 

• Thank the person who nominated you, and post a link to their blog on your blog. 
• Display the award on your blog — by including it in your post and/or displaying it using a “widget” or a “gadget”. (Note that the best way to do this is to save the image to your own computer and then upload it to your blog post.)
• Answer 11 questions about yourself, which will be provided to you by the person who nominated you.
• Provide 11 random facts about yourself.
• Nominate 5 – 11 blogs that you feel deserve the award, who have a less than 1000 followers. (Note that you can always ask the blog owner this since not all blogs display a widget that lets the readers know this information!)
• Create a new list of questions for the blogger to answer.
• List these rules in your post (You can copy and paste from here.) Once you have written and published it, you then have to:
• Inform the people/blogs that you nominated that they have been nominated for the Liebster award and provide a link for them to your post so that they can learn about it (they might not have ever heard of it!)

These are your 11 questions:

1. How did you decide on the name of your blog?
2. Where does your blogging inspiration come from?
3. What is it that you love most about blogging?
4. What is your favorite food?
5. What is your favorite thing to drink (alcoholic or not)?
6. What is an item you cannot live without?
7. What are eleven random facts about yourself?
8. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
9. If you could meet anyone from history, alive or dead, who would it be?
10. What is your favorite outdoor activity?
11. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Peace

--Free

**REVIEW** Rechargeable Foot File & Callus Remover

Wow!

I just got to try out this little life-saver here...

This is the Naturalico Rechargeable Electronic Pedicure Foot File & Callus Remover.

Now, I talk about my feet so much because they are the least favorite part of my body. I used to have beautiful feet: nice arches, soft, smooth heels and lovely nails. My feet were made for sandals. At one time.


About 13 years ago, I took on an extra job that was part-time perfect. It was just for the Christmas season, paid great money, and the hours fit with my full-time job. The best thing about it (other than the extra money) was that it was like getting paid to work out and stay fit. The worst thing about it was something I discovered on about the 3rd day: it was ruining my feet. Standing and walking on a concrete floor for around 9 to 10 hours each night was just brutal. I worked the job past the initial 1-month casual/temp contract and lasted around 4 months.

Was the job worth it? In the short term, it was. I paid up and saved up and our family had some extra financial breathing room for about a year. The damage to my feet has lasted longer. When my arches dropped, I started developing calluses and corns. ~sigh~

Anyway. That's the story of my feet.... This is the story about this product:

Let me go over what I really like so much about this:

simple & effective right out of the box

1. No tricky set-up. Can use right out of the box, even if it's not fully charged, because...
2. ... You can use it while it's charging. 
3. Uses a grinder head instead of blades. (I do not like blades!)
4. The grinder head (2 are included) is effective but gentle on even the less callused areas.
5. Very easy to use. No learning curve.
6. Does a great job without me having to exert a lot of pressure.
7. Doesn't jam up like some other similar products.

This works better than I expected. I was probably surprised because I once used a similar product that was really quite useless.

On the technical side, this callus remover spins 360 degrees at the rate of 40 turns per second. 

This callus remover comes with a light that is built in. I really didn't need the light, but it's nice that it's there. I did use the included cleaning brush quite a bit. It's just a small brush with soft bristles that I used to clean out all that icky dead skin from around the grinder and off my feet as I worked.

The product comes with information for registering the product for a Limited Lifetime Warranty on the machine, not the roller. 

Once again, I was more than surprised by the ease of use and effectiveness of this product. I'm glad I got to try it and I will be buying one to give out as a gift for someone who has an upcoming birthday :-)

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.

My reviews will also any negative feedback that I have regarding a product.