Galentine's Day With the Body Shop! (Review Included)

Galentine's Day falls the day before Valentine's Day. A day to celebrate the women in your life, or your 'gal pals'. Ripple Street partnered with the Body Shop to host a Galentine's Party with me. It was so much fun! Despite the crazy video issues. I invited several of the ladies in my life to share in the fun. 

*Disclaimer: My guests and I all received products for free in exchange for me hosting the virtual party and writing a review. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are my own.*

Who is the Body Shop?

In 1976, Anita Roddick decided to make revolutionary changes to beauty. She believed she could use the business as a force for good. They strive to empower women and girls in feeling beautiful. Not by making them look like someone else, but in feeling good in their own skin! They go for sustainable creation of their products. But they also want to keep as natural as possible with their products. In a world where chemicals seem to be in everything, it is nice to come across products that stray from the norm.

What did I get?

Each of us got different things. Which was really cool. I enjoyed hearing about their products and how my guests felt about them. The one thing we all received is the Carrot Wash. This is totally vegan and made to re-hydrate your skin. It is really orange, and reminds me of blended carrots with gel. Totally orange like a carrot, but in a smooth gel form. My skin was incredibly smooth after using it though.

The Vitamin C Glow-Protect Lotion went on well and was definitely a good moisturizer. However, I noticed it was pretty oily for me. I had to wash my hands after applying. I had used it right after using the Carrot Wash, so maybe my skin was too oily already. The smell was nice though. 

I also received the British Rose Plumping Mask. Love the scent of roses that it has. This one is meant to re-hydrate the skin., while plumping and toning it. Another totally vegan option. Oh I loved how my face felt afterwards! The concoction looked a little weird, smelled fantastic, and my skin was like silk. Absolutely love it! 

The Youth Serums are also fabulous! I can't believe how well they worked on softening and firming the skin. And all I used was the packets they sent. I love it!

What were our thoughts?

Personally, I enjoyed trying out the products. They are definitely different from anything else I have ever used. The Carrot Wash was amazing. I could see myself getting this product again.

My mother-in-law loved the Charcoal Mask and Youth Serum Cream. Since she has very sensitive skin, she tried the mask first on her hand. The silky smooth feeling lasted all week! Despite washing her hands a lot. The Youth Serum was another thing that had long-lasting effects. She thought the Carrot Wash smelled like her grandmothers house though - not in a complimentary way. 

My mother and sister-in-law both received the Tea Tree Oil products. My sister-in-law seemed to enjoy those most.  

Overall, I think the Youth Serum was a favorite of us all. The masks seem to do well in our crowd. And would be something I'd recommend to those wanting to get started with Body Shop products. 

Some of my other guests and their products. Lots of smiles all around! It was a fun time for us to chat and connect.

Lakanto Fall Into Baking Party!

 I love fall weather, don't you? Okay, actually I love the idea of fall weather. See, here in Texas, we only have two seasons; Summer and Extreme Heat. Summer is the majority, with Etreme Heat blasting in the peak of summer. But the idea of Fall weather is that the temperatures drop and leaves fall from the trees. Everyone starts baking and curling up with good books. Oh, yeah. That is what I like. Tryazon understands these joys and connects their influencers (like yours truly) with wonderful companies who make it their goal to help us #SweetResponsibly! 

*Disclaimer: I was sent these products in exchange for hosting a party and sharing my honest review. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions expressed are that of myself and my guests.*

Lakanto has an amazing product line. Take, for instance, their Monkfruit Sweetener. This is a sugar alternative that is healthier for you! Non-caloric and doesn't decay the teeth like sugar does or mess with your blood sugar. It tastes and looks like sugar though. Their Golden version is actually slightly sweeter. I made the mistake of adding a little more than needed into our tea - talk about southern sweet tea! But I use it in my baking and cooking just like normal. 

 

I've made coffee cake with it.

Why should you make the switch?

The main ingredient is a chemical compound called erythritol. I had to look it up. It comes naturally. The formula that Lakanto uses makes their sweetener totally calorie free as well as zero-glycemic. It is the only one of that variety! We made the switch because we are trying to eat healthier in every way we can. We are wanting to lose the extra pounds and get back into shape. Especially after taking the kids to the park the other day and being so out of breath! It was a real eye opener to me. I've let my constant physical pain be an excuse as to why I don't get healthy, but the real thing I am needing to work on is the food side of it all. So sugar had to be cut down and cut out. 

Cookies stuffed with Suntella are amazing!

Time to party! 

I had 2 guests in person and some that attempted to join online. I feel really bad for those online... Turns out Facebook and I aren't on good terms. And after crashing the party more than once, the online side had to be shut down. However, that doesn't mean there weren't some laughs. 

My mother and sister-in-laws came to dinner. I made a wonderful coffee cake (okay, I thought it was wonderful, but my mother-in-law definitely makes it better!). Several of my online guests are getting their samples shipped to them. With things the way they are, there are still a lot of people who are choosing to stay virtual until Covid-19 numbers drop. I managed to get a couple comments from those online. My mother-in-law agreed that this was the best alternative to using refined sugar. She said the consistency and taste were just the same. Which is what everyone wants right? The taste, the consistency, but without the bad side effects? 

They had also sent me the Suntella. I have had Nutella before, well, this was like that. But better. I LOVE it! And I don't have to feel bad when I eat it because it's healthier!

After the party, this was all that was left...

What are your thoughts?

So I really want to know what you all think! Leave me a comment below. Have you tried this before? Will you try it after having read my little post? Let me know!

Green Spring Party Time!

We have all heard the term 'Spring Cleaning'. It is that time of year when spring comes around and we feel the need to clean out our homes. There are many origin stories of why we do this, but my favorite is the simplest one. All winter, we are mostly kept indoors due to dreary weather (even in the south). So when the sun comes shining and bright, and the temperatures turn perfect enough for opening windows, we get busy. Cleaning out the dullness with the dust, making everything glimmer with hope of a renewed year! But we need to be careful of what we use for this task. Not all cleaners are equal - or safe for that matter. Which is why I'm happy to introduce you to Rebel Green and EarthKind. 

*Disclaimer: I was sent these products free of charge in exchange for hosting a party and writing a review. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are strictly my own.*

How clean do you go?

I like to think that I keep my house clean enough all year around. That I don't slack and let things go. That's what I like to think. But truth be told, I have my times when this is not so. SHOCKING, I know. But even though I'm OCD and a neat freak, winter is a hard time for me. I get cold easily, which causes the arthritis in my back and legs to flare up. So I prefer to spend my days wrapped in a fleece blanket, sitting on a heating pad, near a fireplace that is burning well. Not washing dishes and vacuuming floors. 

But we all know that with the changing seasons there are illnesses (take the Covid-19, for example) and plenty of dust to clean away. So when spring-like weather gets close enough, I spring into action. (Pun totally intended.) I even enlist my kids to help. Dusting rags (or old socks with holes in them) get passed out. Everyone finds a spot to dust. I get those fan blades wiped down. Sometimes they help wipe the countertops too. The three oldest children even do their own laundry. This is a must for parents who want their kids to know how to care for themselves and be independent. But what about that microwave and the baseboards? Or how about pest control? Spring brings warmer weather, it's true, but then the bugs start coming out again. And then inside if you live in an old, leaky house.

However, there is a beware attached. 

Not all cleaners are safe for children to handle. Take bleach, for instance. The fumes can be quite toxic. Sure, it can destroy all traces of DNA and leave something clean enough to eat off of, but it can be dangerous as well. So how can we get our kids involved without putting them in harms way? We need products that clean, but are safe. Something green is usually the way to go. Which is where Rebel Green and EarthKind come in. These are family friendly products! Rebel Green is all around the house products while EarthKind is the environmentally safe pest control options. 
Both of these companies are woman owned. Both want to be as organic as possible. Both are dedicated to being safe for family, pets and the earth. 

Rebel Green

Let's talk about Rebel Green first. They use functional essential oils to create the scents. Their products range from produce cleaners to household cleaning. Fresh produce often comes with dirt, pesticides, waxes, fungicides and hand oils - just for starters. Did you catch the hand oils part? Yep, 20-30 hands touched your apple before you did at the grocery store. Ever stop to think about whether those hands were clean? Washing these things away allows us to truly enjoy the natural flavors fully, without the worry of also catching something. The household products are without any toxic chemicals that can be dangerous to people and the planet. No parabens, phosphates, petrochemicals, synthetic perfumes, dyes, chlorine, ammonia or chemical brighteners. So many of these things are toxic to our skin and health. And definitely not helping the planet either. It is believed that phosphates actually dry out your skin. With us having to wash hands so much, we need things that won't dry us out. Their hand soap is perfectly balanced to clean our hands while keeping them moisturized at the same time. However, if you feel that isn't enough, they also have a cream! My daughter has been helping me by keeping the microwave clean. I still remember the first time she did it by grabbing a spray bottle that I had put bleach in for mold spraying... Talk about the fumes when I opened the microwave later! I thought it would take days to air out and be usable again. But now, she uses the Rebel Green All Purpose spray. And it smells so good every time! I have the Lavender Grapefruit scent. Calming while cleaning! Then I have the laundry detergent. It is 3 times concentrated, so I only need an ounce to do a load. And they have so many options. Like baby, delicates and even a sports wear one.
Their desire is to stay local. I love their philosophy of getting everything made here in the USA. Why have manufacturing exported to another country, just to have to buy their "products a one way plane ticket back to the States". This is smart business thinking. Not just for them, but for our local economy as well. They save money on shipping, lower costs and offer more jobs here. 

EarthKind

Now we come to EarthKind. They are committed to providing pest control options that are safe for everyone. They work with nature, not against. Harmony, not harm! Before checking out their products, I would kill any bug that comes inside. However, these products are pouches that are designed to repel the little critters without the use of poison. Works for me. I usually get my husband to kill the spiders or roaches. I get bugged out for the rest of the day/night. So, win-win! The founder and creator of EarthKind started out by creating the Stay Away Rodent product. She wanted to keep mice away, without having to use poison and kill them.

As she pointed out, everything is a part of the ecosystem. They all play a part. So in order to maintain the balance, you need to keep them in their place by repelling them from yours. The little pouches can be kept in a cute container to keep them discreet. 

I also like the nifty little mosquito spray. It is perfect for pockets, purses and bags.

Set up your cleaning routine!

I printed out checklists to help me keep focused. There are daily ones, nightly ones, weekly and monthly ones. This website has a great grouping that is perfect, no matter what kind of experience you have. I use lists to keep me focused and on track. Now is the time to really get dedicated. This corona virus has changed how we think of being clean. Touching our faces, touching commonly used items and how we wash our hands has come front and center to everyone's attention. Sickness prevention starts with the home. Besides the rules that have been passed down, we need to secure our homes first. So check them out! And let me know what your favorite chore is in the comments below. If you don't have a favorite (don't like cleaning?) then tell me your least favorite!

Dr. Jacobs Naturals Review

My family has been steadily trying to move in the direction of all natural products. With so many chemicals and unpronounceable ingredients in the health and beauty lines, it can be difficult to find ones that are free of what I like to call "junk". And being that I married a man who comes from a family of sensitive skin people, chances are good that my daughter will follow with that. So we have to be careful with what we use. That is why I was eager to try out Dr. Jacobs Naturals. 

*Disclaimer: I received these products, free of charge in exchange for my honest review. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed for my words. All opinions expressed are my own.* 

Teaming up with US Family Guide, Dr. Jacobs Naturals wants to get the word out, through bloggers about their products. They are as they advertise, natural! I was sent three products to try. 

Minty Cucumber Mojito Loofah Exfoliating Castile Soap is a bar soap. Not often do I like bar soap, but this one has my seal of approval! I use it on my skin as well as my feet to exfoliate all over. And the scent is quite alluring. I also appreciate the fact that it is a large bar. These are not like the little ones you buy in stores. 

Almond Honey Castile Liquid Soap came in a pump bottle. This is for both face and body wash. I thought the smell was more cherry than almond or honey. Perhaps the blend of the two made it so. It was too cherry for my liking, however. I used this on my hair first. Being a pure castile soap as it is, it is supposed to work well for anywhere you choose to use it. My hair did not like it as much as my hands did though. It felt a little oily afterwards. I think it is best used for body and face instead. My  husband thought the scent was too overpowering for him. While his hair was not as greasy-feeling as mine, it was definitely a little more weighty than he feels it normally is after being washed. I used it in my baby's bath too. Her skin was silky smooth and she liked the smell. I know because she kept putting her face near the water to breathe it in.
Lastly, I have the Charcoal Castile Soap. This is also a face and body wash. I used this one on my legs to shave with. Lathers up really well! And deep cleans.

I could feel the exfoliation it was doing while I was washing with it. I had thought charcoal was more of a fad, but now I see why so many people are using it. My husband used it to shave with on his face. It did help with the shaving process and made him feel smoother, but the smell triggered a headache for him. He said it was too strong for him, though I thought it was just right. 
Overall, I love these products. I love how my skin feels after using them. I like the scents, well except for the almond one that reminded me of cherries. I am also glad that these are made of more natural products. As the saying goes, if you can't read the ingredients, then it probably isn't very good for you. 
Let me know what you think about the products and the company! Would this be something you would use? Let me know in the comments below!