Zum Bar Dragon's Blood Goat's Milk Soap Review

More Dragon's Blood. I decided that I couldn't get enough after I tried the bath salts. And because I've still got dragons on my mind from Game of Thrones-which won't be back until next year.  But let's not talk about that. 

Zum Bar claims:

100% pure essential oils

All-natural ingredients

• Our Dragon's Blood products are commonly used for their antiviral effects. They help heal wounds and soothe skin irritation. 

Infused with Dragon's blood, a moisturizing tree resin, this legendary bar will breathe life into scaly skin.

So...it smelled OK. But definitely not as good as the bath salts. I feel like the underlying  Zum Bar scent that all Zum Bars have is more prominent than the dragon blood scent. . The bath salts are much more exotic smelling. More...spicy and powdery. Just better overall. In comparison the soap was just alright. Not very different from the scent of a lot of their other soaps. 

Almost forgot to mention-dragons blood in a resin much like frankincense and myrrh. It's named Dragon's blood because it's a deep red color. I thought it was a combo of different essential oils at first. I've never smelled the scent of it straight up, but one day I may order some and give it a sniff. Maybe use it to make my own Dragon's Blood oil

The bar itself is not the largest. You get about three ounces of products and these bars run about five dollars. So they are definitely not the most bang for your money. And they don't last very long since they are on the softer side. But it does make a lot of lather and it doesn't dry my skin.

The soap itself it very pretty. It's red with swirls of yellow and black. Not your typical bar of soap.

It is handmade, made in the USA and as far as I can tell completely natural. 

Ingredients:

Saponified Dragon's Blood infused 100% food grade olive, coconut, palm & castor oils, in a goat's milk base with pure essential oils and natural mineral pigments.

All in all, it was OK. I don't think I would buy it again. I would much prefer the bath salts-you can check out the review for that here! 

Have you tried anything Dragon Blood scented? How did you like it?

Kulche Badami (Afghan Almond Cookies)

Cookie baking time! I haven't been making as many cookies as I could/should be. Which is sad. It means when I don't make cookies- I don't eat them. For the most part. I don't do packaged cookies. Unless they are waffle cookies from Belgium. All other packaged cookies are a no. Only real cookies, made with real ingredients for me. I'm a cookie snob, with no shame.

Anyway, I've made one Afghan desert. And I really liked it. I think I like these cookies more though. I noticed looking through the dessert recipes, most are cardamom flavored, which I appreciate. I really like cardamom and not enough recipes use it!

This is the first time I've made Almond cookies. Almond cookies call for almond flour, which is expensive. But I think these were worth it. 

All I did was mix the flours, cardamom, and sugar. And also the cream of tartar into the dry ingredients because I wasn't paying attention and didn't realize it wasn't supposed to go in the egg whites. But I added some there too!

Speaking of egg whites, I also didn't realize you are supposed to beat them until they have soft peaks. Or until your arm falls off. Luckily I had my sister to help. If I would have been thinking and read the recipe ahead I would have used the mixer- which I did use to mix the dry ingredients. Dry ingredients I could have whisked together. 

Also about those egg whites, I used three chicken egg whites. And then 1 egg white from a duck. I found duck eggs in the store and wanted to try them out. They were on sale. And supposedly are great  for baking. 

Anyway, a little mixing, a little powdering, and a little almond pressing later, I was ready to bake them. They didn't look done after 15 minutes but I took them out anyway and I'm glad I did. They were perfect. 

I didn't take many pictures of the process. But they were good. And if I didn't want to try more afghan cookie recipes, I would definitely make these again. I still have some Almond flour that's not going to waste...so maybe I will.

You can check the recipe for yourself here! I got it from afghankitchenrecipes.com.

Here's the pic-I could have taken a better one. Also....I was supposed to make these much, much smaller. But...I didn't feel like rolling cookies all day. And I like a bigger cookie-because I can eat more in less cookies. Ha!

Mmmm. Cookies!

Project Pan #20

I've gotten pretty bad about doing these. It's like I don't want to do them unless I've actually used something up. Otherwise, I'm just not in the mood. I need to get better about it. But even if I don't do them as regularly as I should, I'm still working on using up some stuff. And doing the project pan really does discourage me from buying things I really don't need now that I'm seeing just how long it truly takes to use something up. 

1. Too Faced Brow Kit- Never thought I would make it to this much being gone....Still don't like it. But I'm thinking this might be gone by the end of the year and that makes me happy. Very happy. I still have the lighter shade in it. That will get demoted to eyeshadow. And then I will finally allow myself to buy a brow pencil!

2. Stila Rio Palette Carnivale Eyeshadow- I pretty much just piled this onto whatever look I was wearing when I got home. I just really don't like the color, and it has fall out like you wouldn't believe. And I'm just not a fan of colors like this. But it's gone. Finally. Now I just have that pretty blue to use up in the palette. It's a really beautiful blue and a part of me wants to keep it. But I'm just going to go for it.

3. Makeup Forever Aqua Liner- I sharpened it...once? It's really getting used up. Not fast enough...but it will be gone before I know it. I need to go back to wearing it in the waterline everyday. 

4.L'oreal  HIP Sassy Duo- I'm kind of sad to see this one used up! I really love this color. It pairs easily as a one shadow look with bright cool toned lip colors. Also make the perfect base for a smokey eye. But I keep reminding myself I have Too Faced Rum Raisin in the Semi-Sweet palette. It's pretty similar. Similar enough that I shouldn't miss this once I do use it up. You can see a bit of a difference though!

5. Too Faced Piano Keys Eyeshadow- I don't have a lot of use for colors like this. It's nice and pigmented. Easy to work with. Just not a lot I can do with it. It's just not my color. I do use it as a brow highlight. Apply and wipe most of it off. Lately, I've been using it to test where I'm actually applying product and payoff deposit with my brushes. I've hit pan...and it will probably be the next shade I use up.

6. Lorac Primer- I don't like this primer. I use it every time I wear shadow. It doesn't work consistently. It just isn't as good as Too Faced Shadow insurance. Just not a fan of it overall. I've used a bunch, but it seems there is still a bunch to go!

7. Smashbox Halo Powder- The powder that keeps going. I have no idea how much is left...I'm just ready to go back to a liquid foundation. I guess it's good you get your moneys worth. I think it works better as a setting powder...but to use it up I use it more all over my problem areas on a daily basis. Wish I could say I'm getting through it..but I don't know. 

And that's where I'm at. Still keep on keeping on....

Tony Moly The Black Tea Nutrition and Moisture Mask Review

I was supposed to write this post last week. It's a little bit late. But what can I say? I've been heavy into Game of Thrones...of course. This has been a roller coaster of a season. And I was loving it. But I wasn't super happy with their latest mission putting my faves Jon Snow Stark Targaryen, Tormund, Bheric, The Hound...all in danger. And for who? Cersei. Who needs Cersei? She doesn't even have an army! Anyway, that last episode had me really wanting a sword that catches fire...and children. Dragon Children. I want to be the mother of dragons! I'm super exited for the next episode. It's getting real. I could talk about Game of Thrones all day. But I'll get on with the review...

So this was another gift from Tia (Thanks Tia!), and I'm getting closer and closer to the snail mask. In fact, I'm going to try it tonight. But I thought I would use this one first. It's a tea mask! I love, love, love tea. Especially black tea. It's my favorite. So I was very exited to try it in a mask.

Tony Moly claims:

Every mask is enriched with anti-aging, hydrating facial serum thats enriched with 100% pure black tea extract. Reinforced with anti-oxidants for transparent, youthful healthy skin. Improves skin texture, fine lines around eye area & elasticity while hydrating. Protects skin from environmental aggressors with Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment Extract. Whitening & Anti-wrinkle functional product.

5 x The Black Tea Nutrition & Moisture Mask

Made with high quality black tea recognized by England's Royal Family.

So..scent. It's smells like earl grey tea. And I love early grey. It had me wanting a cup of tea pretty badly but I have to be careful about the days I drink tea because I'm caffeine sensitive. I liked the scent. It was pretty light though, so if you aren't a fan of the scent of tea, this one isn't too much.

I put mine on until it dried out. There wasn't as much serum as in the others I've used, but I did try to get as much out and rub it on my neck and arms.

Afterwards I felt my skin looked very healthy. Full of vitality. A bit smoother. Ready for the world. I let it set in at night and had a pretty good skin day the next day.

I wasn't mad.

The mask itself is made in Korea. Yay, Korean skincare!

Ingredients:

Water, Propanediol,Glycerin, Cyclomethicone, 1-2 Hexanediol,Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract C12-14 Pareth-12, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthum Gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/ Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tromethamin, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Seed Oil Disodium EDTA 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

Overall I liked it. I still don't think I liked it more than the tea tree from Dewey Tree. Maybe it's my second favorite?

Now I'm off to try out the Snail mask finally....Wish me luck!

Escada Desire Me Eau De Parfum Review

I'm so glad I blog. It's my escape from all the crazy things happening in the news. I don't talk politics or news here...because this is supposed to be my happy place. But I think so much has been going on these last few months, it just leaves you with a heavy heart.

 But...let's talk perfume. I'm almost out of my YSL Black Opium. I have a little bit left...I'm saving it for a special occasion. In the meantime, I needed something else to use, so I bought two perfumes from Perfumania. They are discontinued. But that's just fine with me. I like an older fragrance. I think some perfumes get better with age. Some. And I like a discount. So I bought this one and Escada Magnetism. 

Escada claims:

Escada Desire Me Perfume by Escada, For the woman who turns head and flaunts her charms this is afeminine fruity gormand.top notes entice with bitter-sweet citruses and mandarin which open to a pulsating heart of peony and fresh green leaves. The base is a gourmand delight of desirable treats and include notes of edible elements: tiramisu, coffee, cookies, cheese-cake and dark chocolate. 

I didn't know Escada was a UK brand until I saw it on the box. It's made in the UK too. I incorrectly assumed most fragrances were made in France. Except The Body Shop perfumes. I think those were made in the UK too. 

Anywho, the notes in this sounded delectable. Coffee, tiramisu, dark chocolate, cheesecake, cookies. Mmmmm. I've never had a scent with such foodie notes. And I'm a sucker for dessert so I thought I would love it.  It's not all food though, it has mandarin, peony and green leaves- whatever all that smells like.

So..I'm not great with notes. It smells a hint masculine....like something I've smelled before in a man's cologne. But it also has a sort of powderiness to it, that makes it a little more feminine. I'll be honest I don't really like the scent . Especially the top notes. And they seem to last quite awhile unfortunately.

It's just not me. And I thought it would be. How wrong I was.

Hours and hours later it goes kind of foody. And I can see where they get the chocolate, cookie savory notes. That part I love. But I don't notice it very often. Only sometimes. And I only smell it when I put my arm up to my wrist and really sniff. 

It has OK lasting power. Maybe around 6 or so hours. Longer if you put it on your clothing. That can extend it to  the entire day.

I paid around $30 for it. I think it was originally around $80 but I think it's quite a bit older so that's the reason for the price drop. 

So overall...I'm not a big fan. I don't hate it. And I'm hoping I feel a little different about it when the weather turns cooler. I think maybe it's a bit too heavy for summer. And I'm usually a person that thinks you can rock anything in any season.

Oh..almost forgot to talk about the bottle. I like collecting perfume bottles now..and this is definitely not a very exciting bottle. It's rathert boring....but I'll probably keep it anyway.

So....I don't love it. I don't hate it. But I don't like it either. 

Zum Tub Dragon's Blood Shea Butter Bath Salts Review

Happy Sunday! I think Sunday is my favorite day of the week..because Game of Thrones. As soon as Friday comes I'm like OK. Just gotta get through to Sunday at 9pm. I don't think I've ever watched a show that makes me feel as anxious as Game of Thrones. And I'm happy I have it on HBO Go, because I pause it and shout at the TV, sometimes turn off the TV completely and say I can't possible finish the episode.... but I can't really not watch it either. So it's usually right back on in a couple seconds. I can't wait for tonights episode. I really can't. I watched last Sundays episode twice...back to back. So yeah...I'm just biding my time. And blogging in the meantime. And speaking of Game of Thrones...dragons were definitely the star of the show last week. So dragon's blood bath salt review? I'm reaching..but whatever.

Zum Bar claims:

• A steaming bath doesn’t extinguish this dragon’s flame. Dracaena-infused natural bath salts submerge dry skin and stress. You emerge a new you.

  

  • 100% pure essential oils
  • All-natural ingredients
  • 
    
  • It's been awhile since I've reviewed anything bath related it.Remember when I was all heavy into Lush Bath Bombs? Then all the sudden I was over them. Anyway, this was a copycat purchase. I didn't even really consider buying it until I saw my sister buy it as a gift. Then I got curious. What's...Dragon's Blood? I originally thought it was a mix of essential oils. Or at least I read that somewhere. But dragon's blood is a resin much like frankincense and myrrh. 

 The way the resin looks...

Anyway, I picked this up at Wegmans for $7.99. A lot of the reason I skipped it was because I didn't know how many baths you could get out of it. I wanted something that I didn't use up in two baths. Or one time like Lush. This says you get 8-10 baths. That's alright with me.

So the first two times I used it I was pretty disappointed. I used a little over the recommended 2 tablespoons and I could smell the scent, but it was too light. The last time I used it I used closer to double the amount if not a little more. And I was much happier. I could smell it! And it smells pretty good. And sticks to your skin. 

As for the scent, it's really relaxing. It smells ...exotic. Almost peppery and powdery. It's really hard to describe. But I do really like it. 

It was relaxing. It left my skin hydrating. And if it's not just my imagination I really think it helped with some of the muscle pain I had from working out.

Almost forgot the packaging. I've never had bath salts come in a shaker type packaging. But it's cute.  And actually really practical. Just be careful of getting it wet. I don't think that would be good for the salts!

Overall, I am happy with the purchase...as long as I remember to use more than the recommended amount. I'm even happy with how many baths I get out of it. Much better than the amount I would get from Lush bath bombs. 

Another thing...I love that I can recognize all the ingredients. And I love that's it's made in the USA. 

Zum Bar for the win! Now I think I need to get my hands on the Dragon's Blood Oil body oil. I still have the frankincense one that I've been hoarding. If I ever finish it up I will definitely be getting that!

Harley Pasternak Hollywood Workout Light Body Toning Workout Complete

I did it!

via GIPHY

Another program down! I think this makes the third one I've done. Not sure. But I did  ALL 25 workouts. The program was five workouts a week, for five weeks, 25 minutes each.The first couple were hard to get through, I don't think my body had ever been so sore Thank you 8 pound weights. But I persevered.

Then there were days when I just didn't want to. I needed an extra break. Like four days would have been more manageable. But I was able to convince myself that once I started it would go fast. And besides didn't I want to go through the entire program and not miss one? I did. I really did.

At times it was boring. Harley says the same thing every workout, and you basically you the same exact workout rotation every week.They really should have recorded him saying more. But its the workout that counts.

I don't think I lost anything. I didn't get on the scale. I don't think my clothes fit THAT much better. But my arms look better, as do my legs and booty. And I'm stronger. And I got my heart pumping. Heart health is extra important and I like knowing I gave it a workout each week. So that's a five week program for the win.

I'm going to take a week (maybe week and a half break) and play some Just Dance for some Cardio and then I will start the next program! Your Shape Fitness Evolved here I come!

Gladys Knight and The Pips

It's music post time. This time...Gladys Knight. And the Pips. Can't forget the Pips. I love, love, love Gladys Knight. She has such a unique, soulful voice and I love her style and face! That might be a strange thing to say, but she has just has face that looks like she is full of joy. I can't look at Gladys without smiling. But back to the music!

I think my favorite Gladys Knight song is Love Overboard. This clip is from A Different World. I LOVE this song!

Of course, If I Were Your Woman. Alicia Keys tried it, I definitely heard her version first.. But she just doesn't have it like Gladys.



And can't forget Neither One of Us. Classic Gladys song. When music had lyrics that touched you and meant something.  I love her hair in this performance too.



Babyface penned, Gladys Knight vocals. You already know it's a LOVE. This should have been on the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack. It would have fit in perfectly.



I love the original of this song by Barbra Streisand. And I absolutely love Gladys Knights version. That voice!



And one last video. This vid made me laugh my head off....



A couple of other songs:
Everybody Needs Love- A completely different sound from her usual stuff. She really can sing any genre of music, from any decade.
Don't Turn Me Away
I Feel A Song
Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me
I've Got To Use My Imagination- I hear Papa Was A Rolling Stone so much in this song. But I love it! That voice!
Midnight Train to Georgia
Help Me Make it Through the Night
I Hope You Dance- This was off one of her solo albums
I Who Have Nothing- Another solo. No pips.

What's your favorite Gladys song? 

Tony Moly Master Lab Ceramide Moisture Care Mask Review

Mask review time! This was a lovely gift from one of my best friends Tia (thanksTia!). They have been super nice for a little skin treat pampering session each week. This particular one was one I kind of was holding off on because it has Ceramide. I had no idea what Ceramide is..or what it's supposed to do for the skin. Apparently Ceramide is a lipid molecule found in high concentration in cell membranes. It holds the skin together forming a protective layer that plumps skin and helps the skin retain moisture.  Sounds good to me. So let's get to the review!

Tony Moly claims:

Tony Moly Master Lab Ceramide Mask Sheet uses the nude seal fabric - a new material made of natural cellulose with silky soft texture and an excellent absorption & adherence function better than cotton - to closely adhere to skin and effectively deliver active ingredients to make it healthy by providing deep moisture and nourishment.

So I'll start off talking about my skin type. I have oily/combination skin. Oily in the T-Zone, dryer in the cheek area. But it's summer time so I think my cheek area is more "normal" now. 

The first thing I noticed about the mask (other than it was cold since I keep it in the refrigerator!) was the nice fresh scent. It's very, very light. But nice and pleasant and something I don't mind sitting around with on my face- because I leave them on pretty much until it dries out. I figure more contact time with the skincare serum can't hurt, right?

It was very refreshing. And pretty hydrating. A little sticky, which is why I always use them at night so that way I don't have a sticky face during the day. And also to give the "essence" time to really skin in overnight. 

Most of the hydrating masks I've tried so far have been a little too hydrating. All skin needs moisture, no matter how oily. But most of the time moisturizing masks are way too much for my skin and I get super oily the next day. I didn't notice that much with this one. So it was hydrating, but not too much.

Other than that I'm not sure I noticed too much else of a difference. I think those with dryer, dehydrated skin would benefit the most from this type of mask. 

Tony Moly masks are made in Korea. I think they are the most recognizable of the Korean skin mask brands that have become super popular in the US. And they are very easy to find now, Ulta and Amazon stock them if you are curious and want to try them for yourself.

Ingredients:

Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipropylene glycol, MethylPropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Schizandra Chinensis Fruit Extract,Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, , Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Acorus Calamus Root Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract,Hydrated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Panthenol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, PEG-60 Hydrogenated castor oil, Polysorbate 60, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Trehalose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fragrance.

It didn't really top the Dewey Tree Tea Tree ( I know I mention is every single face mask review-but that really was my favorite!).

Have you tried any of these mask? What was your favorite? Let me know in the comments!

Blossom Menstrual Cup Review

I have a different type of review today. Mostly we talk about makeup, sometimes food, skincare and anything random that pops into my head here. Today I thought I would bring in a different review. I've always wanted to try one of these cups- not long ago I got a gift card from amazon and I could't find anything else I wanted to order-so I finally picked one of these up.

For years now I've been a tampon girl. Pads are way to messy for me and I found myself going through toilet paper extra quick using them. Not to mention I get the sticky flaps stuck to the pad, to the floor, to my leg, everywhere but where they are supposed to stick. Plus I don't like having to see the pad every time I used the bathroom.  They are also uncomfortable.. So I was never a pad girl. I'm not sure when I started using tampons. It's been a long time now. They had a bit of learning curve, but once I got the hang of them, I stuck with them pretty faithfully.

As much as I like tampons, they have a couple downsides- they are expensive, they are bleached and soaked in chemicals and then those chemical can potentially be observed into your bloodstream, if you flush them they can eventually lead to a clogged toilet, and if you throw them away they can sit in a landfill for who knows how long (yuck). That's not all, they can potentially increase cramping, risk of TSS, and sometimes they leak. 

So I've been seeing alternatives.  I saw these period panties called THINX. But they remind me of pads too much and I can't figure out if they are supposed to be used in conjunction with a tampon-or alone. And they are pretty pricey. And I don't think I would like washing them. But I do like that they have a foundation that funds helping women in developing countries manage their cycle. In some countries young women are not allowed to attend school on their period-which disrupts education. Can you imagine?

That's not all THINX does though- I will link the website so you can check if for yourself if interested. After seeing all that...I think I might purchase a pair in the future. Just because I like what they are doing-and not that I think about it, they would be good for pantyliner days.

For now though I decided to try the menstrual cup. 

The first one I had seen was the Diva cup. I saw it in Bed, Bath, and Beyond. I picked it up, read the box, and put it back. It sounded interesting but I really didn't want to fork out $20 dollars on something I wasn't sure would work, so I got my usual box of $8 tampons and kept it moving. 

I'm not sure what made me look it up again. But for whatever reason I went on Amazon and decided to check out reviews. I found that there are a lot more cups then just the Diva Cup. They have the Lena Cup, Luna Cup, Lunette, Athena Cup, Lily Cup, Moon Cup and on and on. They even have cheapies where you can get a couple of them for a lot less than some of the other cups I mentioned above. 

I went with the Blossom. I liked the price. The reviews seemed to be good and it was one of the first that popped up in the search results. For some reason it took awhile to be shipped, but they did give out shipping updates. I meant to use it that cycle, but it came too late, which was a bummer. When it did come the box was all squished, they packed it in an envelope. I kind of wish they put it in a box, but whatever. The cup was fine.

 So I stuck it in the cabinet and patiently waited for the next time to test it out.

The cup itself is orange-you can pick your color, much bigger than I expected (I bought the small), and kinda soft but the rim is firm. It comes with a cute little bag to store it in too. Which I quite like.

 Wednesday night was the night I finally got to test it out. I heard many people say it was easier to use in the shower. And to really fold it up. Like really, really fold it up as small as you can.  So that's what I did.  It took a little time and some finger strength to squeeze it small enough to get it up there. But I did it. 

It's pretty comfortable once you get it in. I wouldn't say I couldn't feel it. I definitely knew it was there the whole time, but it didn't hurt or make me feel uncomfortable. It says that you can leave it in the entire day. So that's what I did. Although I kept wanting to go the the bathroom to check and see if it was doing what it was supposed to. Every time I checked, everything was fine. No flooding.

I wasn't sure if I should change it as soon as I got home-but I decided to just go ahead and wait it out. I left it in about 12 hours and then decided to go ahead and shower and empty the cup. I pulled the little tab-which was definitely helpful in taking it out. It  hurts more to take out than to put in. And I didn't find it to get better each time I took it out. It almost made me think I would go back to a tampon because I dreaded that part that much. It's not unbearable pain, but all the same I didn't like it. But once I had it in again and ready to go for the day, I kind of loved the cup again. Of course until it was time to take it out again.

My period is usually about 3 days. And then I get barely there spotting on the 4th day for which I think I will just use a panty liner for- I would not use this for that. I found it held fine the 1st and third days, but the 2nd day I definitely needed to empty it after about 9 hours. My 2nd day is always the heaviest. And third day is pretty light. I don't get much cramping-very rarely and only ever about an hour IF i do. But some people do report lighter cramping with the cups vs tampon or pad methods or no cramping at all.

I am overall very happy with the cup. The only thing is emptying it. It's easy to clean and rinse out.  You just need a proper place to do it. Public bathrooms are a no no. You definitely need a place that has the sink in the stall. But not only that I would be uncomfortable washing it in a sink in public. I just feel the sink or tub or wherever should be cleaned/disinfected after. For now putting it in at home in the AM and emptying and re-inserting it at home in the PM is working for me.

When the cup is full, I'm not sure if it's just my imagination ( it probably is), but I keep thinking I can feel the liquid moving around as I lay down or get up. And sometimes I could feel the suction change as I moved. But it didn't leak or flood out as I thought it would. 

I'm going to stick with it.I'm not sure how much healthier putting silicone up your hoo-ha is than putting a chemical-bleached soaked tampon, but for now it seems to be the best option. And I'm liking the money it saves. They are supposed to last from 1-15 years. I don't really think 15 years. But  2-3 seems reasonable.

The one thing I really don't like about the cup is it doesn't say anywhere on the packaging where it's made. It does say manufactured in the USA with medical grade silicone on Amazon, but it's weird it's not in the little booklet or on the box. 

What do you think? Is this something you have tried? Would you try it? What's your method of dealing with a visit from Aunt "Flo"? 

Also if you do decide to buy it, there is a coupon code that will get you 10% off for the Blossom Cup. It's CUPSHARE on Amazon. It's not an affiliate code, just a code they sent in an email a couple weeks after I got mine.  I wish I had known about it before.

Vitamix Mixed Berry and Green Tea Smoothie

It's been forever since I made a fruit smoothie. But that doesn't mean I haven't been eating tons and tons of fruit. I ate four entire watermelon by myself in one week-last week. I don't think I've ever eaten that much. It  probably isn't very good for you (moderation!), but I love watermelon and I couldn't resist the sales they had last week. 

I've had this recipe on my  list for awhile but it took time to get the ingredients. I just kept always forgetting something. Which is why I should make a list.

Today I had everything. So I made it.

It's just 1.5 cups of green tea (I brewed mine fresh from full leaf tea), half an orange peeled, a frozen banana, and two cups of frozen berries. This smoothie is full of anti-oxidants from the green tea and the berries. It's health in a drink!

Blend it up 30-45 seconds at 8. And all done. 

I was really hoping this would be good. Because the last two smoothies I made from my Vitamix book were not good at all.

And it was. It's going to be pinned on my pinterest board because I would for sure make it again. The green tea mixed with the berries was a great combo, along with the banana for creaminess, and the honey to add a nice bit of sweetness.

Top 5 smoothie for me for sure!

 It makes such a pretty color too!

PlantLife Sandalwood Aromatherapy Herbal Soap Review

It's been awhile since I've had this brand on my blog. I just haven't been to TJ Maxx a lot recently Trying to save all the coins I can. But I had to stop in there for something else, and I ended up picking this up. Sandalwood soaps aren't a scent you come across, and I'm really into more unique, old school,  "exotic" scents recently.

Plantlife claims:

Our soaps are made the old-fashioned way. They are hand-crafted using natural ingredients and include pure essential oils and organic botanicals. Known as Castile soap, our base is one of the gentlest and moisturizing of all soaps. We employ the "cold processing" method and do not add heat or chemicals to the soap pots. This process produces a bar full of natural glycerin, which is a by-product of the soap making process. Unlike most soaps on the market today, we do not remove this glycerin from our soap because it is a humectant, which helps attract moisture to the skin and can be gentle enough for even the driest and most sensitive of skin. Additionally, we do not add preservatives, colorants or fragrance oils to our products. Our soap is made with your skins well-being in mind - no harmful synthetics, just pure ingredients from nature

Sandalwoods sensuous and full-bodied  aroma is warming and woodsy. It is believed to transform one's desires and enhance alertness. The perfect soap to use before meditation or romance. Gentle enough for all skin types, especially dry skin.

I really like the brand Plant Life, the only complaint I've ever had with some of their previous soaps is sometimes it's a little light on the fragrance. And I like the scent to be stronger, otherwise, why use an aromatherapy bar? I didn't have that problem with this. It's not strong, but it's not weak either. As for the scent, oddly it smells a lot like patchouli instead of sandalwood. The first time I used it I was completely blown away by the scent. But it didn't seem to smell the same the 2nd time or any time after that. It smells decent. Just not great. 

The lather is pretty good. And it doesn't leave my skin dry in the least little bit. I can skip lotion for days and my skin will be fine. I think it's because it has so much Olive Oil in it (yay for a soap company using so much Olive oil-most use cheaper oils!).

That being said, it does melt pretty quickly. It's not a hard milled or even triple milled bar, so it's softer and melts away pretty quickly. Which can be a bummer, especially for the listed price. I get mine for $3.99 at TJ's but the listed price on the website is $6. Which is kind of high for how fast it melts-but then again it does have excellent ingredients.  It's a good "once in awhile" soap, but not a brand I could ever stick to exclusively.

The bar itself is a grayish color. I like the way it looks.

It's all natural, cruelty free, made in the USA, and comes in very easy to recycle packaging.

Ingredients.

Water, Olive Oil,  Coconut Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Soybean Oil, Proprietary Blend of Essential Oil, Sandalwood Powder, Frankincense Powder, and Spikenard Powder.

If it could smell the same as the very first time I used this, this soap might have made it to my favorites. It's still a good soap (if you don't mind earthy smelling patchouli scents.) but not one I will be purchasing again. I have seen the Lavender bar floating around, might have to give in and try that one next!

Random:

Have ya'll seen all the drama going on with this palette? It's the Anastasia Subculture. I wanted it (still on a shadow no buy though!), but it's not looking to good. Looks like they might need to do a recall and a repress. I've been following the drama and I really wish companies would learn to communicate better with their customers. I found the owners daughter to get really defensive which is never a good look for a company!  If you've been following it, what do you think?

Dr. Bronner's Patchouli Lime Organic Hand & Body Lotion Review

I really, really love Dr. Bronners brand. And its been awhile since I've used something that's not straight up oil to moisturize my skin. Love my oils, but sometimes it's good to switch it up. So since Dr. Bronners is a brand I really want to try more of I decided to pick it up. I sampled a tester for the peppermint one and that one was great. It was super refreshing, kinda thick, and very hydrating. For some reason though, I decided to go with the untested Patchouli Lime though.

Dr. Bronner's claims:

Sensitive-dry-rough-skin—hands-face-body-everywhere!

Nourish and hydrate skin with good ingredients: organic jojoba oil to heal and soothe, organic coconut oil to moisturize, organic hemp and avocado oils to keep skin smooth and supple. Good for most skin types, sensitive-dry-rough-or combination. We use only organic essential oils for fragrance-breathe deeply!

Gentle enough to be used anywhere — hands, face or body. Our lotions are highly emollient, so start with a small amount. Keep a bottle by your sink and apply a pea-sized amount after hand-washing. Put it on right out of the shower, before skin dries. Just a few squirts will cover the whole body and absorb quickly into skin. Nourishes and moisturizes organically. Massage slowly into skin for deep relaxation, always towards the heart. Breathe deeply! Health is Wealth!

I'll start off with scent. I mainly bought this because I was thinking back to Lush Karma soap and how its the most amazing combination of Patchouli and Orange. And so I was thinking this lotion is patchouli and lime. Maybe it will be similar. A citrus is a citrus right? No! The patchouli completely over powers the lime and so this should just be called straight up Patchouli.Because I don't get lime at all. And I like Patchouli, but I just wasn't expecting to be overwhelmingly patchouli. Some days I really like it, and other days I feel it's too much. It's a very unisex scent hough and it wouldn't clash with a lot of patchouli based perfume, if that's what you wear. The scent very lightly lingers on my skin. So even hours lately if I really sniff-it's there. 

It's not a thick lotion. In fact it's quite light and absorbs really quickly. And it's been hydrating enough for me. But then again it is summer. I'm not sure this would be up to the task of hydrating drier, winter skin. And I found while it's enough on the humid east coast- it did not work at all for me in the dry heat of the desert in Vegas. But that could be because my skin was just flipping out and probably needed some time to adjust. . 

The packaging is nice. I love the lime Green bottle. And if you like to read, it does have quite a bit of writing on it. 

Dr. Bronner's is a great brand. Everything is responsibly sourced and fair trade, the ingredients are natural, this product is organic, it's made in the USA, and cruelty-free.

It has a 24 month shelf life after opening. You get 8 ounces. And th

e packaging is recyclable- so make sure you recycle it!

Ingredients:

Aqua, Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Organic Ethyl Alcohol*, Organic Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil*, Organic Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Organic Quillaja Saponaria Extract, Organic Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Oil, Organic Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Organic Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol 

It's priced at around ten dollars. Which I think is very reasonable for what you are getting. And I do really like it. It's like a patchouli aromatherapy session. I would recommend it to patchouli lovers, but if you don't like patchouli I would advise avoiding or just purchasing in a different scent.