What do I think of the DREO Smart Ceiling Fan?

My bedroom ceiling fan had broken down a couple of weeks ago and I was on the hunt for a new fan that not only fit the aesthetic of my room, but was also powerful. I started searching at local hardware stores, but none of the fans seemed to really fit my needs. They were either very stylish, but lacked the functionality I was looking for or had the functionality, but looked industrial. That’s why I was so pleased to find the DREO Ceiling Fan CLF712S. It combined the trendy aesthetic with the functionality I was looking for all in one compact, but powerful product. 

First thing to talk about is the packaging and installation. It was packaged very well-all the parts were secure and well protected. Nothing arrived broken or damaged. Everything had its place in the box and it came with both a quick start guide and a more detailed instruction booklet. I also loved that there was a QR code that took me to an installation video. Now, I’m no professional electrician, but I do a lot of DIY in my home. For the installation, unless you’re comfortable with installing yourself, I would recommend an electrician. I was comfortable enough to do it without one. However, please keep in mind this is a 2 person job given the weight of the fan motor and having to lift it up to secure it in place so having another adult to help is definitely a must. I should also mention, if you have an older ceiling fan currently, there are some adjustments that need to be made in terms of connecting wires that will be different with a smart fan (one with a remote/wireless capabilities like this one). This was NOT mentioned in the instructions so that is something I think DREO could improve on. I didn’t have to buy anything extra, but if you have an older model fan previously that worked with a switch on the wall, please note, once you’ve properly connected the wires, one of the switches will no longer work. Everything is controlled with the included remote. 

The instructions in both the video and booklet had not mentioned the transition from an old fashioned fan to smart fan so if this is the case in your situation, it would probably be best to consult an electrician. 

Once the fan was installed though, everything was smooth sailing. Installation took me about 2 hours, mostly because I had to figure out the old to new situation. The fan itself is wonderful. It has a very minimalistic, simple design that will fit pretty much any decor. I got the fan in white, but there is also a black version. The fan blades are reversible so you can have plain white or white combined with a light wood veneer. The blades are 52” so plenty big to provide adequate breeze to the entire room. It looks very chic and stylish. 

Having had a regular on/off fan with pulling a chain to adjust the 3 speeds, the DREO fan was refreshing. There are so many innovative features. There are 6 speeds to the fan with the last one being the most powerful. It’s currently 90+ degrees in the South and I actually turned off the A/C one day while I was in the bedroom with just the fan one because it was so cool. My old fan just circulated the air-this one seems to cool the room down too. I love that there is a reversible feature that will reverse the direction of the fan blades-so in the winter it will circulate warmer air. 

Now to talk about the lights-wow! There are so many different options. The main ceiling light had several different settings including daylight, incandescent, fluorescent and more-which all have different levels of brightness. Then there’s the fun light-the RBG. It’s a rim around the main light that had a variety of different colors-red/green/blue/yellow/pink etc. This can be turned on separately or together with the main light. It comes with the remote (batteries included!) so no need to walk over to the switch to turn on/off. And even better, it has wireless connectivity so I was able to connect it to Alexa and can simply command it to turn/on off, change settings etc. The DREO app is also an option to use as a remote on your smartphone. 

This is my first smart fan and I’m switching all my fans over to the dark side. The functionality, features, ease of use and convenience make the DREO ceiling fan an absolute winner in my book. 

***Thank you to Dreo for gifting me a DREO ceiling fan CLF712S in exchange for an honest review.***

Find the Art You're Looking for at FulcrumGallery.com

Whenever I see paintings and art, it always brings back fond memories of art class in middle school and high school. I always loved sketching, painting and working with different mediums. It was a lot of fun and a great way to relax. I was absolutely terrible at it, but it was fun nevertheless. I remember working on a painting in art class for a couple of days and it was supposed to be a dinosaur from the Jurassic era. I came home with it and proudly showed it off to my parents. They told me that I did such a great job painting a camel. I knew I was a pretty horrible artist so we laughed about it when I told them it was actually a dinosaur and it still got hung up in my room.

Thankfully, now, I don't have to paint my own paintings to hang up in my home because FulcrumGallery.com has so many beautiful paintings to choose from. Their site is amazingly easy to use and everything is so well organized. There are a several different ways to sort through the myriad of options available. If you're looking for a particular color scheme, FulcrumGallery.com allows you to sort by color. If you are looking for art for a particular room, FulcrumGallery.com has that covered too. Being able to sort and organize the kind of art you're looking for really puts you in control of your choices. I was fortunate enough to be able to choose and review a piece that I really liked.

I chose this painting:

Some things I really liked about working with FulcrumGallery was:

I was really impressed with how fast my painting got here. FulcrumGallery.com really keeps you updated with your order and shipping throughout the entire process.

Another thing I really liked was the customization. I was able to choose my frame, my medium and the type of glass on the painting. It was all very personal and it made me feel like I was important to the company.

The quality of the painting and the frame is superb. The painting is obviously printed on high quality paper and the frame is made of sturdy wood. The use of high quality materials is reassuring and it feels very durable.

I once again have to boast about the organization of the site. It's so remarkably easy to use and there is bound to be a piece for anyone. They not only have paintings, but also photographs and the sheer volume of pieces to choose from makes it hard to pick a favorite.

I would say the only con is that it is a little bit pricey, but you get what you pay for: high quality paintings and workmanship.

I am so happy to have been able to review a piece from FulcrumGallery and I know I will be a repeat visitor on their site. I would recommend Fulcrum Gallery to anyone who would love to spruce up their home or office with a new painting or photograph.

*Disclosure: I was provided with a painting in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are unbiased and my own. 

Taking a 2-Week Challenge with Pond's

Recently, @Influenster gave me the opportunity to try @Ponds Rejuveness and Clarant B3 moisturizers as part of their program. I was very happy to try both as they claimed to remove fine lines and wrinkles and leave behind radiant, luminous skin. Now who wouldn't want that? #SeeForYourself #contest

Influenster challenged me to a 2-week challenge to see how well the Pond's Rejuveness would work in removing fine lines from my skin. Now that the 2 weeks are over, this is what I thought: overall I would have to say Pond's does a great job with diminishing fine lines and wrinkles, however there were a few issues I had.

Pros:
1. I was left with noticeably radiant skin. After 2 weeks I really found that my skin looked more radiant-I had that great glow to my skin instead of a somewhat luster I had come to expect. I'm very pleased with how well Pond's worked on my skin in terms of radiance.

2. I also felt my fine lines were diminished. I had a few lines near my eye area and while they made me look distinguished and wise (that's what I tell myself), they weren't really me. After 2 weeks of using Pond's, they don't seem very obvious to me any more. While I'm not saying they have disappeared, they definitely aren't in your face any more and I feel with another couple of weeks of using Pond's may make another significant reduction.

3. The scent after a couple of days. Note that I say a couple of days (you can read about that below). However, after a couple of days, I found the scent to be light, mild, fresh and faintly reminiscent of sandalwood. Sandalwood is one of my personal favorite scents so I was pretty happy with the scent and think it feels great on my skin.

Cons;
1. The scent when I first opened the jar. I don't know if it was a fluke or this is just the way it was, but when I first opened the jar, there was a really strange smell coming from the cream. I'm not even sure how to describe it, but it was very raw if that makes any sense. It was a really weird smell and I couldn't wear the cream on the first day. When I checked the next day, the smell had almost completely faded, but I could still smell a bit of it. On the third day, the smell was completely gone and I actually found the smell was really nice. I wore it then and it was perfectly fine.

2. Not enough moisture. I find that when I wore it on a very dry day, it didn't have enough moisture to keep my skin hydrated. On more humid days, it was fine, but on dry days, my skin got very dry. I needed to use an extra moisturizer in order to keep my skin from becoming too dry.

All in all, I was very happy with Pond's Rejuveness and Clarant B3. They really did work like the claims advertised. The one thing I would improve is their hydration power and that weird smell in the beginning (or was that just me?), but overall Pond's has done a really great job of coming up with a fine lines/wrinkle reducer.

*Disclosure: I received this product for free from Influenster in exchange for a review. However, all opinions are my own. 

A Party Featuring Sleep

The one thing I thought I'd never write was the words "party" and "sleep" in the same sentence. Of course if it's a dull party, sleep might just be the best option. In fact, I remember this one time...I diverge-back to the topic at hand. Thanks to Tryazon, I was given the chance to host a "Let Mom Sleep" Party. It involved a small sleep monitor called a Beddit and numerous pairs of Dearfoam slippers.

Before I hosted my party, I tried the Beddit for a week; the sensor sticks to the mattress beneath the sheets and plugs in into an outlet. You simply connect it to your smartphone via Bluetooth (it's compatible with the iPhone 5 and above as well as many Android devices), configure and press the start sleeping button when you're ready for bed. Voila! The next morning you hit stop sleeping on your phone and it gives you all the info you need about how well you slept. This is what one day's worth of sleep monitoring looks like:

Pretty cool isn't it? Of course I used the day that I slept the best so everyone can't see what terrible numbers I got otherwise. Guess I needed some sleep improvement, which I always knew, but didn't really know how I could improve. The beddit not only tells you your sleep score, but gives you tips for improvement. A few of mine were: don't go to sleep until you're tired, Be consistent with the times you go to sleep and get up around the same time everyday including weekends. It turns out this was pretty good advice; after following it I ended up with this nice, shiny 98!

Beddit recommends that your sleep score be over 85 and if it's not, to look at where you're losing points. A lot of mine were on waking up frequently during the night and *sigh* snoring. I never believed my husband when he told me I snored; well now he has proof and he knows it. Ugh beddit, why must you be so observant?!

All kidding aside though, I love the Beddit and how well it works. It tells me a bunch of sleep stats which are pretty interesting to know. I also get tips and get to see if I get enough sleep each night. Another feature I thought was pretty cool was the deep sleep feature. I can actually see when I'm going into deep sleep! In the night overview chart, I can tell at what times I went into deep sleep and how long I'm in it. That's just too cool! You can check out the Beddit and read more about the science behind it at Beddit's website.

Anyways, after my long rant about the awesomeness of the Beddit, I'm going to just give a quick summary of the party I had. Each gal (and guy) who came to the party got to take home an super awesome goody bag featuring Dearfoam slippers. Those super soft, super comfy slippers were a hit with everyone and they were all pretty excited when they saw the slippers. Everyone tried them on and wore them for the rest of the day. Visit Dearfoams website to check out their new Spring line and more slippers.

I even managed to get a picture of a few people wearing their Dearfoams. Anyways, I have to thank #tryazon for this amazing opportunity as well as #dearfoam and #beddit for providing such an amazing party pack. This party was a hit because of the great new and innovative items we all got to see.

*Disclosure: I received a party pack with Dearfoams and a Beddit for free from Tryazon in exchange for hosting a party and sharing on my social media. However, all opinions are mine. 

Customer Service Spotlight: Olay

Every once in a while, I will come across a company with either terrible or wonderful customer service. This time it seems Oil of Olay is in the spotlight.

A few days ago, I called Olay's customer service to inquire about a prize that I had won from Allure Magazine's August giveaway. To my consternation, they had no idea what I was talking about and I was transferred from department to department with no sign of ever figuring out what was going on. I took it all in stride and explained my situation repeatedly. Finally, I got to a customer service rep who told me there was no such giveaway and I was wrong. I'll admit I grew frustrated and told her I was a long time customer and that I wasn't going to buy Olay any longer if this was the kind of treatment I would get. She, in a very casual manner said, "Okay, that's fine". I was livid! In my mind, she could have at least checked or asked me to send her the link to the giveaway or the winner's list as proof. Either of these would have been fine. I would have even been okay with a "I'm sorry, but we can't fulfill it", so that I'd at least have an explanation. However, being transferred from person to person and finally being told I had no idea what I was talking about and saying I don't really matter as a customer was the last straw. I hung up the phone by angrily pressing end call, wishing that I had an older model phone so that I could angrily slam the receiver down.

I then wrote to Olay on their Facebook page and told them about my experience. I received a message a couple of days later with a promise to make things right. They assured me that my experience would not be taken lightly and that the views of one rep did not represent the views of their company. Today, I received a package from Olay with 2 of my favorite full size Olay products and another full size Olay product that I had wanted to try. They also included a handwritten note(!!!) expressing how much they appreciate having me as a customer. This, ladies and gentlemen, is exemplary customer service! I would never have expected that a company as large as Olay would take my comments personally and make sure that I as an individual was happy with their service. I was wrong-Olay absolutely went above and beyond what I felt was necessary. Having been a 10+ year customer of Olay's, I feel like my loyalty is appreciated by them and that they will do whatever they can to keep me as a customer and to keep me happy. I'm absolutely blown away by their commitment to their customers! 

I am now an Olay customer for life and can honestly recommend them to everyone. There aren't a whole lot of companies who will listen to you and ensure that they make things right. With both high quality products and an exemplary customer service team, Olay really is the whole package. 

*Note: Olay neither expected nor requested this review. It was done wholly based on my own inclination to promote their superb customer service and products. 

The Versatile Multi Use Argan Oil

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Argan oil has always been one of my favorite products because it is so versatile. You can use it on hair, nails, skin-it's literally a jack of all trades. I was given the chance to use Argan Oil by Adovia skin care. I've used some of their products before and have been pleased with them so I had high expectations for the Argan oil as well.

According to their site the Argan oil is 100% cold pressed organic oil. They also mention a list of other benefits:

• Argan oil contains a high concentration of skin-loving fatty acids and Vitamin E to moisturize skin and provide a layer of protection against environmental irritants and sun damage. This oil is gentle enough for all skin types and can be used on the entire body, including the delicate skin on the face and neck.

• Argan oil is one of nature’s most effective age-fighting skin superfoods. It absorbs quickly and cleanly, leaving no messy residue behind, and restores skin’s elasticity and vibrancy. It diminishes the appearance of fine lines and deep wrinkles by plumping the skin and improving its ability to retain moisture.

• Argan oil can be used to strengthen dry, brittle nails. Its softening properties make it an ideal cuticle ointment, effective in healing cracked cuticles and promoting the growth of strong, healthy nails. Simply massage the oil into your cuticles twice a day to restore moisture and strength to your nails.

So does the Argan oil by Adovia Skin Care live up to it's claims? I can definitely say it works incredibly well on hair. My hair is usually pretty dry and can get super frizzy if left untamed. However, after a couple of drops of Argan oil, it's texture and smoothness is remarkably improved. It also doesn't feel like an oil field in your hair; I've tried other oils before which leave your hair oily and greasy-not cool. Argan oil isn't like that. It left my hair shiny and smooth without being oily.

I can also attest to it's nail revitalizing properties. While I don't have dry, brittle nails, my cuticles sometimes get a little dry and look terrible. Argan oil solved that problem; with just a couple of drops applied onto the cuticles, it really helped their appearance.

Unfortunately, I haven't tried Argan oil on my skin, but I will have to soon.

All in all, I would say Argan Oil by Adovia Skin Care is a good investment to make in terms of beauty products. Being that it is so versatile and that you can use it on so many different things, it's a great value and you can't go wrong with it's moisturizing and revitalizing properties.

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.

Personalize and Customize your Favorite Artwork at FramedArt.com

Seeing different artwork always reminds me of a funny story that happened to me a few years ago. I had gone to a garage sale near my house to see if I could find something nice. An abstract art painting caught my attention and as I was looking at it, the lady running the garage sale told me I could take it for free because she needed to get rid of all the stuff she had in her house. I was thankful and brought the painting home with me and hung it up in my dining room. It looked nice and the color matched the room so all was well. A few months later, we had a family over who we had met through a common friend; we had only spoken a couple of times so we were still getting to know each other. As I was setting the table, the lady looked at the painting I had hanging on the wall and complimented me on the artwork. She spoke about how the mood of the painting set a somber tone and how each spot of paint was a reminder of the contrast of human emotion. I nodded my head and smiled. After about 5 minutes, she said, "Okay, I'm going to be honest, I just made that all up. I have no idea what I just said". We both laughed and I told her I got it at a garage sale for free so she didn't have to try to impress me with her knowledge on abstract art. It definitely broke the ice though and we are great friends now! 

So what's the point of this somewhat long story? Regardless of what the artwork is, it's always a great conversation starter. That's why I was so excited when I was contacted by Cassidy from FramedArt.com to review one of their pieces. There are so many paintings and artwork at FramedArt.com that it was so hard to choose. Eventually, I found just the piece I was subconsciously searching for-this beautiful peacock portrait. 

It's 15" X 19" and looks great on my living room wall. Working with FramedArt.com is easy and I had a lot of fun picking out the painting I liked. 

Pros:

1. Variety: There are so many different art forms that you can choose from. Abstract, traditional, fine art, photography; they've literally got it all. 

2. Customization: You can customize the kind of print you want. I chose framed canvas, but you can have it laminated, framed, choose the type of glass you want on top. There are so many different ways you can customize it to your needs. 

3. Quality: I've gotten prints from other companies before and they've been somewhat lacking. Not so with FramedArt.com. The quality of the print I received is supreme-it's high quality and the frame is also solid wood. They do not cut corners when it comes to high quality art. 

4. Packaging: A lot of times, this is overlooked. When I received my box with my painting, I could tell they took care to wrap it up well and ship it safely. The painting had been securely packaged so as to avoid mishaps and accidents. 

5. Customer service: This is another overlooked aspect of businesses. I think a product is only as good as the people who back it up. FramedArt.com has great customer service. Cassidy was there for every step of the order process and made sure I got everything in a timely manner. I was very happy with how I was treated. 

6. Easy to use website: One of the things I hate about online shopping sites are if they don't have the ability to filter. It drives me insane! However, FramedArt.com allows you to filter by print, frame, subject, size etc. They also allow you to sort by a variety of different characteristics. I love this! I like to organize things and this is one way I can organize my thought process as I choose a painting. 

Cons:

1. Price: It can be a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. These are high quality art prints, which may cost a lot more elsewhere. With the deals and clearance FramedArt.com always seems to have, you could really get a great piece of art for a real steal. 

My experience with FramedArt.com has been wonderful! Browsing through the site, ordering and receiving my painting has been easy and fun to do. The painting is of high quality and looks amazing on my wall. I truly would recommend using FramedArt.com to buy art-you can't go wrong!

To browse or buy go here

Follow FramedArt.com on Facebook

Follow FramedArt.com on Twitter

Follow FramedArt.com on Pinterest

*Disclosure: I was provided with a print of my choice in exchange for a review. No other compensation was provided. Please note that all opinions are my own and are unbiased. 

Zep Cleaning Products: How well do they Work?

Recently, Crowdtap had a sampling in which I was able to try Zep Quick Clean Disinfectant and Zep All-Around Oxy Cleaner and Degreaser. I cook everyday so my kitchen can get messy pretty quickly. This means I need something that will keep my counters, sink and cooking top clean; I also need the product to work on all these surfaces. I hate having to use separate products for separate surfaces since it takes up so much time that I would rather use to do something else.

Having said all that, I was happy to learn that Zep All-Around Oxy Cleaner and Degreaser does in fact work on virtually any surface and cleans it as well. It does mention, however, that you shouldn't use it on leather, silk, suede etc., but I don't have silk countertops so I think I'll be alright. Anyways, I found that the All-Around Oxy Cleaner worked just as well as other cleaning products I've used before, but was not any better than they have been. Does it clean? Absolutely, but I wasn't blown away by it. I cleaned my sinks with baking soda a few times and it worked just as well. The only pro I would say about Zep vs. another cleaning solution is that I was able to use it on all my kitchen surfaces without having to switch cleaners for the different surfaces.

I found the Zep Quick Clean Disinfectant to be a little trickier. There were all these warnings about using gloves and how it was a skin irritant on the label, which was fine, but how does this make it different than bleach? It works essentially just as well as bleach and contains the same warnings, so I didn't find anything special about the Zep Disinfectant. Would I recommend it? Yes, if you use bleach to clean surfaces to rid them of bacteria-go ahead, this works just as well. My point is, it doesn't seem to be any safer or have any added benefits over using bleach. That being said, the product does claim to kill 99.9% of bacteria like Staph so it is very useful in the kitchen or even the bathroom.

Overall, I liked the Zep Cleaners, but to be honest, I didn't find anything spectacular about them.

*Disclosure: I received this product for free in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are unbiased and my own. 

Cake Pops: the Best Invention since Cake

Apparently, I've been living under a rock or in a cave or in my own little bubble, because I'd never had cake pops before. It's true-while I'd heard of them, I'd never actually tried them. Now I'm wondering why I never did. A few months ago I won a giveaway that had a number of prizes. One of those prizes was a cake pop arrangement by Kelly's Confectionary Creations. Having never tried cake pops before I was intrigued and more than a little excited to see what they were like.

However, there was a tiny problem: Kelly's shop was located in Minnesota, while I'm in Tennessee. How could she send me the cake pops in August with temperatures hitting the 90 degree mark? Kelly suggested that we wait until it was cooler and then she would figure out a way to get them to me. She was super friendly and nice throughout the whole process and then in early November I got in touch with her again and she sent them out. Within two days I had a lovely package on my doorstep full of delicious cake pops.

Kelly sent me two different flavors: pink lemonade and orange chocolate. Not only do they look amazing, they taste even better. I tried the pink lemonade first and even managed to get a picture (it was difficult, but I did it).

The oh so soft inner cake layer was perfect-light, fluffy and delicious. The outer chocolate coating was also wonderful-it just melted in my mouth as soon as I bit into it. The sprinkles added just a touch of fun and sweetness. Where has this been all my life?!

My daughter, who I've somehow managed to keep under a rock with me and has also never had cake pops, stole asked nicely and took one of the orange chocolate cake pops to try. She devoured it! It's hard to please my daughter, who, quite possibly may be the pickiest eater on the planet, so the fact that she LOVED them really says something.

If you're located in the Minneapolis/St.Paul area or nearby, give Kelly's Confectionary Creations a try. You can't go wrong. Not only does she make cake pops, but also other baked goodies. Take a look here and here. Working with Kelly has also been great, she's just wonderful to work with and kept me updated about the status of the cake pops throughout. All in all, I'm so grateful to have gotten a chance to try these delicious treats-they are now one of my favorite sweets!

*Disclosure: I was not provided with this product for review purposes. However, I did win and receive these for free. As always, my opinions are my own and unbiased.

Remington 2" Straightener: Straight up Great

Remington First Look gave me the chance to try their T|Studio LUXE 2" Straightener. A little background before I start. My hair is frizzy-I'm not talking a little static on a humid day, I'm talking full blown Van de Graaff generator frizzy (well pretty close to it). It's also wavy to curly, not quite coils, but not straight either-somewhere in between. A straightener is pretty much a necessity at this point. So of course, I was thrilled to be able to try Remington's 2" straightener.

The straightener was a light lavender color, which I really liked. It was built well and was very sturdy-I could see this lasting a long time. 

Let's start off with the pros:

1. Fast heat up time: The package says the flat iron heats up to it's set temperature in 15 seconds. I found this claim to be true. I had the temperature set at 380 degrees Fahrenheit and it reached that temperature within 15 seconds. I was beyond pleased because the faster it reaches the set temperature, the faster my morning routine goes.

2. Easy to read digital setting: The digital light is very easy to read. I usually need glasses when the script gets too small, but in this case, I didn't have a problem at all.

3. Easy to use: I'm not that great with technology most of the time, but using this flat iron was a breeze. It was literally just plug it in, set temperature, wait 15 seconds, presto done. It required no work from me and I figured it out within minutes.

4. Works very well: My hair is wavy on good days and a frizzy, curly mess  the rest of the time. This basically constitutes 360 days of the year. A flat iron is a must at my house. This was a lifesaver. It's very simple and I felt that it did a very good job with my hair. I found less frizz (pretty much non-existent) as well as leaving my smooth and silky to the touch. This has definitely become a staple in my morning routine.

5. Fast: Did I mention how fast it is? From heat up time to actually using it, I found that the flat iron is incredibly fast. I didn't have to straighten parts of my hair over and over. I ran it over once and I was done. This really saved me a lot of time.

All in all, I was pleased with the flat iron: it was durable, high quality, was easy to use and left my hair silky. This makes for a very happy me and I would definitely recommend this to anyone who would like to straighten their hair. 

*Disclosure: I received this product for free from Remington in exchange for an honest review. As always, my opinions are my own and unbiased. 

Arla Dofino: Did Someone say Cheese?

A few weeks ago I got an invitation from BzzAgent to sign up for their Arla Dofino Cheese campaign. Now let me start by telling you how much my family loves their cheese. We have to have cheese in at least 1 dish a day, whether it be pasta, mac and cheese, pizza, quesadillas, etc. You get the picture. If it's not in a recipe, I'll find my the various members of my family (including me) raiding the fridge and cutting a piece of cheese to eat. String cheese doesn't last long and whole blocks of cheese disappear within a week. Basically, we love our cheese.

Having said this, I was ecstatic to try Arla Dofino cheese. I had seen their products in stores, but for some strange reason (especially being a cheese lover) had never actually bought them. Well, getting a free product coupon was just the catalyst I needed. Once I got my coupon I rushed over to the Kroger in my area and searched. Weirdly, I was only able to find 1 type of Arla Dofino cheese: the Chipotle Gouda. Fortunately, this was the one I had wanted to try. However, it would have been nice to have a selection of different cheeses-I'll have to check in other stores nearby to see if they offer a greater variety.

Regardless, that night I made quesadillas as a side dish. It was an instant hit! The slightly nutty, smoky flavor of the gouda balanced with a hint of spice really was just the ticket for my family's palate. I also made grilled cheese and added the gouda to some veggie pasta to see what it would taste like and both were wins! At around $5.00, the cheese is relatively inexpensive for the quality and I definitely think it's great value.

Overall, I was impressed with Arla Dofino's cheese and have bought more of their cheeses since my campaign. More Gouda as well as Havarti have become household favorites and I know I'll definitely be seeing more of them in my kitchen in the near future.

The one bad thing about having tasty cheese is that I completely forgot to take a picture of the meals I prepared with them and by the time I remembered, they were sitting snugly in our stomachs!

*Disclosure: I received a coupon for a free product in exchange for a review via BzzAgent. As always, all opinions are my own and unbiased. 

Chloe + Isabel Review with a Surprise

About a month ago I saw and decided to enter a giveaway for a Chloe + Isabel piece from Life With Angie. It was a pleasant surprise when I got the email from Ms. Angie that I won! This was my first experience with a Chloe + Isabel piece so I was excited to see what their jewelry was like. Well, about a week later Angie sent me my necklace and I was definitely impressed.

As you can see, it came with a cute burlap type drawstring bag and the necklace itself is so delicate and dainty. It's gold tone and is adorned with a very elegant feather. I'd have to say my favorite part is actually the little bird on the end of the necklace near the clasp, which is a staple it looks like with all C + I pieces. The simplicity of the necklace has me sold and I know I will be wearing this often-dressed down and dressed up!

C + I pieces come with a lifetime warranty. How many other jewelry companies can say that? The jewelry is high quality and can be worn alone or with other jewelry you own. They also have free shipping with a $100 order.

Angie and I have decided to run a pop up shop. This is basically like a party where you can check out all the great products C + I have to offer and if you like something, you can buy it. To sweeten the deal a little more Angie is graciously providing a giveaway for $25 off a $75 purchase to a winner. Imagine the things you could get with that.

The giveaway ends on October 8, when I'll pick a winner and give them the code so they can order whatever they'd like from the provided link.


Browse C + I's gorgeous selection of jewelry and if you'd like,
Order here

You can always join Angie's C + I group to see the special deals and offers she'll post.

Enter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out some of the other pieces C + I have to offer, these are some of my favorites:

*Disclosure: I was not provided with product for review purposes, however, I did win and receive it for free. 

Vitamin C Serum Review

It seems that these days natural products are making a bit of a comeback and it's all you really hear about. There are just so many, especially when it comes to beauty products. How can you be sure a serum or cream lives up to the hype? Or that it will even work? In many cases, you really don't, but word of mouth is one way to either corroborate or demolish the statements made by these companies.

I was given the chance to try out the Vitamin C Serum from La Beaute Pure and was excited to see if it lived up to the claims on Amazon. My initial reaction was very positive as I received the serum within a week and was given a free e-book and complimentary Shea Butter Black soap with my order. I also received a personalized email from the company to ensure that my experiences with all parts of the review process were excellent. From the ordering to a month after using it, the company made sure that I was pleased with the final result. They have excellent customer and are happy to work with you to resolve any issues. For that alone they deserve a five star rating.

But let's move on: you're here to find out if the serum actually does what it's supposed to do. The package comes with the product as well as a separate eye dropper or lid. This is the same bottle I received:

I loved the eye dropper because I could customize the amount of serum I needed. About 4 drops usually covered my entire face and I usually added a moisturizer on top of it. I found that my skin feels a lot fresher and softer than when I used a moisturizer alone. I can honestly say that it was so much better and faster acting than most high priced store bought products that I had used before. Also seeing that I'm only using about 4 drops a day, I know this bottle will last me a very long time meaning that it is very cost effective. I usually end up buying a new moisturizer every month or so, but I can see this easily lasting me 6 months or more.

I also want to note that my daughter started using this a couple of weeks ago as well and her skin looks great too! She doesn't use a moisturizer with it and uses it alone. La Beaute claims that the serum also lightens the complexion and while I didn't notice this on my skin, I can definitely see it on my daughter's skin. Her skin has definitely brightened and become more even toned after using the Vitamin C Serum.

Essentially, the Vitamin C serum by La Beaute Pure works, is cost effective and the awesome customer service is why I would absolutely recommend this product to anyone.

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.

HDMI Cable Review

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

I love watching Youtube videos: DIY projects, clips from movies, and even the always loved cat videos. It's kind of a hassle though to watch on my phone or computer. Even full screen I just don't get the same effect as if I were watching something on a big screen TV. Recently, I found this great Sherlock Holmes series on Youtube from way back in the day and hated watching it on a tiny screen. I wanted it on my TV, but how to connect it. I don't have a smart TV so all that wireless stuff was out of my reach, but I could use an HDMI cord. Well, this is where Vimle comes in. They offered to send me a pack of 2 HDMI cables that could connect my computer to my TV. Of course, I jumped at the offer.

The HDMI cable can connect not only a computer to a TV, but will also create an interface between any audio/video source. DVD players, Blu-ray players, video game consoles-pretty much anything that has an HDMI port.

I found that it worked exceptionally well! I connected my computer and TV up and voila, I had perfect clarity, picture and sound. I was able to watch my Sherlock Holmes series (and cat videos) with perfect ease and convenience. And since it came in a 2 pack, I could leave one with the TV downstairs and have a spare for another job if needed. It worked out really well. Another thing you should know is that I'm not very technologically capable-my daughter is the techie in our house, but I was able to figure this out and get everything going with ease.

It's not just useful for watching videos on the internet. When I connected it to my computer it had my computer screen on the TV-so I could literally do anything from give a presentation on Powerpoint to play Minesweeper while watching on my TV screen.

I was curious whether it would work with my Roku box and tried that out as well-worked like a charm! So now I have one cable connected between my Roku and TV and the other on standby for when I want to connect my computer. This is definitely a purchase worth making; the HDMI cables are quite exceptional!

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.

Dead Sea Mud Shampoo Review

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Dry, frizzy hair that never seems tamable or acts up in humid weather-sound familiar? Yes? Me too! In fact, my hair is one of those things I have to spend most of my morning routine on just to avoid looking like a crazy loon in public. I hate that I have to spend so much time trying to simply tame my hair. This is why I jumped at the chance to try out Adovia's Dead Sea Mud Shampoo.

Now I'd heard about the benefits of Dead Sea Mud shampoo and how well it's supposed to work on hair. In fact, this is what Adovia says about their product:

Helps to Relieve Itching from Dry, Flaky Scalp & Dandruff
Helps to Relieve Symptoms of Scalp Psoriasis & Seborrhea Dermatitis
Made with Pure & Natural Dead Sea Mud for an Infusion of Essential Minerals into Scalp & Hair
Specially formulated for dry, itchy scalps & Dandruff
Also Contains Olive Oil, Shea Butter, Vitamin E & Chamomile for a Natural Formula that gets results.

The first time I used it, I didn't really notice a whole lot of difference between my regular shampoo and this shampoo. After about a week of using it is when I really started to notice a bit more of a difference; my scalp didn't seem as dry and while I don't have a problem with dandruff, I can see how it would help someone who did. In terms of my overall impression of the shampoo, I have to say I do like it, but I don't love it. Without question, it cleaned my hair well and I could only hope that the Dead Sea minerals were doing a good job on my hair. However, I didn't feel like it blew me out of the water in terms of how well it worked. I didn't look like I just came back from shooting a shampoo commercial or like I could drive a convertible and still have smooth waves of hair falling down my back. It just wasn't meant to be.

Basically the pros and cons were this:

Pros:
Cleans hair very well, Dead Sea Mud is very beneficial for the scalp and hair, Lathers very well, Has a clean fresh scent (not muddy smelling like I may have been expecting), relieves dry scalp and has 100% absolutely wonderful customer service (see note at bottom).

Cons:
Works like any other shampoo I've used, Smoothness and silkiness of my hair didn't really improve that much.

One thing I wanted to point out was that the Adovia customer service is incredible. I would bump up a star just for that! I was having trouble checking out on Amazon using the code they gave me to review the shampoo. When I emailed them about the trouble they immediately emailed me back and tried to fix the issue. Eventually it came to a point where I just couldn't get Amazon to accept the code and so Adovia sent me the shampoo without having to use Amazon. They simply got my info through email and a couple of days later I had it. Now they could have said, "if it doesn't work, maybe you can do a review next time" or "sorry there's nothing we can do", but they went above and beyond to make sure my experience with their company was a good one. For that reason alone, I know I will be buying more of their products, because I know they work just as well as other products out there, but I also have that additional security that if I'm not satisfied with something, Adovia will fix it.

I've also come to realize that Adovia sells Dead Sea Mud Conditioners as well so I think I'll be trying that next with the shampoo to see if I can try to duplicate that shampoo commercial hair ;)

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.

Vitamin C Serum + Organic Rose Hip Seed Oil + Organic Argan Oil Review

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Moisturizers are a big part of my life-I don't quite know what I would do without them. In the winter seasons, my face tends to get dry and if ignored, would probably start itching and peeling. Doesn't sound pretty? Yeah, I don't think so either. So I use moisturizers like a life-line. I have them at home, in my purse, in my car-you get the idea. The one thing I don't love about moisturizers is the ingredients list. Now I'm not the kind of person who looks at a list and says, "Oh, I can't pronounce that word, it must be bad for me!" I take everything with a grain of salt. I like to do my research (from reputable sources) and figure out for myself if something is good or not. Of course, the ingredients list on moisturizers can be somewhat daunting and I'd like to spend my time not having to worry about this list. Well, that's where InstaNatural LLC comes in. They offered to let me try their products in exchange for a review-no doubt, I jumped on the opportunity.

What I loved about their products is that most of them are USDA certified organic. They're products are pure and contain what they are supposed to contain.

The first product I tried was the Organic Rose Hip Seed Oil:

It comes in a blue glass bottle (which I've heard is the best color and kind to put anything) and is a good size. I know this will last a long time, because as the directions say you don't need more than about 4 drops for your entire face. They ask you to store it in the fridge to keep it cool so there is now a spot in my fridge just for the Rose Hip Seed Oil. InstaNatural also mentions that it can be used as a moisturizer, hair oil for shinier, healthier hair, and cuticle oil for healthier nails.

What do I think of it? I really love it! I've only used it as a moisturizer so far, but I have no doubts that it would be great as a hair oil or cuticle oil. I've had these awful age spots on my skin and after using the Rose Hip Seed Oil they seem to have gotten lighter. My skin is so much softer than it was before and I've a noticed a lot of blemishes disappear. My skin has also brightened in tone and is smoother in texture. I cannot sing the praises of this oil enough! The only con to the oil is the slight smell it has. The smell can be described as a little fishy-not overly bad and it disappears completely after a few minutes, but there is just a hint at the beginning. To be honest, I didn't really notice it at all and wouldn't have, but InstaNatural mentioned it on their page. So if your very sensitive to certain smells, it might be more noticeable for you. Besides that I can only rave about how much I love this oil and I know once I finish it (which might take a while), I'll be back for more!

InstaNatural also gave me the opportunity to try their Vitamin C Serum.

Now since I was already using the Rose Hip Seed Oil, I gave this to my daughter to try so I could have an unbiased review. Unlike the picture, the vitamin C serum came in a brown bottle and was a little smaller than the Rose Hip Seed Oil. InstaNatural says that the serum works to brighten, moisturize and hydrate the skin. I found all of these to be true! A few days after my daughter started wearing it, I noticed her skin was brighter, more radiant and looked fresh and healthy. My daughter has naturally tanned skin and a few days after using the vitamin C serum I found that her skin had a healthy glow to it and any small blemishes had disappeared. I am absolutely in love with this product-my next step will be to try this myself to see how well it works on fine lines and age spots. This is definitely a product I would recommend to everyone! It works just as advertised and I don't have to worry about harsh chemicals on my face.

Finally, InstaNatural sent me a bottle of Pure Organic Argan Oil.

I've had nothing but good to say about InstaNatural's products and this one is going to be no different. The Argan oil can be used on your face, hands, cuticles and hair. I personally used it on my hair. In the 2 weeks I used it, I noticed a huge difference in the texture and volume of my hair. My hair gets really frizzy on humid days and is still pretty frizzy on non-humid days. After using the Argan oil I noticed that my hair felt and looked smoother on both humid and non-humid days. This is a huge plus for me because I hate when my hair is frizzy and dry. I've used other oils before, but I hate how they feel sticky and greasy in my hair. InstaNatural's Argan oil does not do that; I wouldn't have been able to tell that I was wearing it if not for the fact that my hair looked so much nicer than usual. I would recommend this to everyone-seriously this is amazing and works like a charm.

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.

Sky1 - Foundation by William Amerman Review

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Wow! Where do I even start with this book? The one thing I can say with absolute certainty is that this book will grip you in it's talons and won't let you go until you finish it. From the first page where we meet Nick Burke and learn of his situation to the last pages where...well you'll have to read and find out...the action keeps you immersed in Nick's story.

This is the synopsis provided for the book:

In a post-apocalyptic world, Nick Burke has been allotted 389 square feet of living space by the government. Disease spreads quickly when people are packed together so tightly. Quarantines have been imposed in an effort to contain the spread of infection. 

When a quarantine is imposed on Nick's Ground, he and his family are trapped. The only way out is to break laws that carry a penalty of death. 

Fearing for his life and the safety of his family, Nick joins forces with a local group to move to another Ground. But can he trust his new friends?

Right off the bat you can see that this is going to be a dystopian setting so if you enjoy reading dystopians, then I would definitely recommend this book for you. What I loved about it was the action sequences-you follow Nick and his family through their journey to get to higher ground and each scene is so meticulously described that you're on the edge of your seat. I also really enjoyed that this was a more gritty dystopian-many of the books I've read in that genre have been targeted to a teenage audience so you tend to miss out on the more gritty descriptions. This was perfect for an older audience (although I think it would be completely suitable for a teenage audience). I also really liked that this book was so believable. Many times when I read a book, I end up rolling my eyes every few pages because the scenes are just so over the top or absolutely unrealistic. That definitely wasn't the case here-I could very well see this happening in a post-apocalyptic world and that's what sets this book apart from many other dystopians.

But, the best part of the book is it's part of a series! Yes, that's right-more action, more conflict, more everything! What's also great is that the author managed to solve the basic conflicts in this book, but still sets up the overall themes for the next book so your not left with a frustrating cliffhanger. Instead, your left with a sense of completeness, with just a hint of anticipation for the next book and I know I'll be looking for the next book in the series to read soon.

Anyways, I would definitely give this book a try if your into Dystopians because it's definitely one of the better ones out there!

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.

Haven: A Stranger Magic by D.C. Akers Review

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

I'm sure you've all had that evening when you pick up a book and think I'll just read this for an hour then get some work done; before you know it, the book is over, you're sitting there with a smile on your face and it's 2 AM with the errands still incomplete. Well, that was this book- Haven: A Stranger Magic.

As a woman with a college year old daughter I thought this book might have been too young for me. When I started reading it, I found that the protagonist, Sam, was a 13 year old boy and his sister was only a couple of years older. I didn't think that I would be able to really connect with those characters and therefore wouldn't like the book that much. However, I'm not one to quit reading for a reason like that so I continued on. I found that it was actually quite entertaining. A lot of the struggles Sam goes through are very real and I found myself sympathizing with him a lot. I loved that the author was able to make me feel these emotions, because it drew me into the story even more. Another thing I loved and was happy the author did was Sarah's point of view. In the beginning when I saw the way she acted, I was a little angry with her, but getting to see her emotions and her motivations, not only redeemed her, but had me rooting for her.

What's it about?
This book was more or less a prologue that set up the setting, characters and background for the rest of the series, so if you're hoping for mind-blowing action scenes and earth-shaking revelations you won't find them here, but you will find the understanding you need to get there.
Essentially, the book is about Sam, a 13 year old boy, who sees a man standing outside his house at night. Somehow, magically, the man always disappears either then or by the next morning. While Sam works to discover who this stranger is, his sister is also starting to uncover her own secrets. The synopsis for the book reads:

Sam Dalcome thinks he is so completely average that no one ever notices him. Until he discovers a mysterious stranger outside his home. Bewildered, he tries to uncover the stranger’s intentions. But Sam is sidetracked when he and his friend Travis discover a secret passageway deep in the town’s quarry that leads to a hidden cavern. What they uncover next will not only change their lives forever, but will uncover the first clue to a deadly Dalcome family secret. Sam finds himself drawn into a world of mystery and magic he never knew existed, which brings him closer to a destiny he never knew was possible.

Definitely an interesting premise. I will definitely be checking out the next book in the series just to find out what happens. I've always been a fan of fantasy and I think this book fits the bill. If you've ever read the Fablehaven series, I find that this book has some of the same style of writing and setup as that one (I loved that series too).

If you get a chance give the book a try-you may really enjoy it. It's free on Amazon Kindle right now, so you can try it for free!

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.