Tag Archives: product review

Smart-Fab Review and Project

Smart-Fab Review and Giveaway

Each year the craft and hobby industries stores, media and crafter’s get together in one wonderful weekend in January. For the first time in 2016 I was able to attend this show. My hope was to discover new things and new crafting mediums that I would be able to share with my readers.

The 2016 show was held in Anaheim and this year featured hundred of exhibitors – all showing what the year had in store for their brands. Upon entry, I took a moment to take everything in and after gaining my bearings I set off on my quest of discovery.

The first company that I came across was Smart-Fab, with their rainbow of color that was scattered throughout their booth. Not only did the bright colors get my attention, but the material itself was so versatile and easy to use.

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Salba Smart Chia Seed Spring Giveaway!

Salba Smart Chia Seed Giveaway

When I think of Spring the first thing that comes to mind is all the seedlings that are planted and begin to sprout. Spring is a season of renewal and a season of change,and for many people this also means changing our diets.

I live about a stones throw to the beach, and since i am so close I see a good amount of foot traffic. I often hear people chatting about changes and changes in their lives. There are many way that people can make changes, one of the simpler ways is to adjust your diet.

Back in January I had the opportunity to review a 12.7 oz bag of Whole Salba Chia Seeds from Salba Smart Natural Products and after learning about Chia, there are little thing that are so tiny and pack a healthy punch! Continue reading →

Sun Bum Lip Balm Review

Sun Bum Lip Balm Review and Giveaway

As I have gotten older I have realized that life is full of coincidence, and how timing can really make the difference. I want to share with you a great example this coincidences. Back in February I had the opportunity to review Sun Bum’s Shampoo and Conditioner. One of the things that have remained with me is the Sun Bum logo.

The Sun Bum logo is a hefty, sunglasses wearing gorilla – something that stays with you and stands out in a sea of generic logos. So, with this memorable and recently seen logo, it was easy to notice it when I saw it out my car window one day. I squealed with delight and immediately when home and investigated further. I was excited to learn that their West Coast Office is going to be within 2 miles of my house.

The new West Coast office is going to house offices and a concept store! I am very excited to see this in my community. So it probably goes without saying that when I had the opportunity to review Sun Balm Lip Balm, I was excited!

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Milton’s Gluten Free Baked Chips Review

Milton’s Gluten Free Baked Chips Review & Giveaway

When i was growing up my father loved a good Jewish deli, which were in short supply here in San Diego. The closest deli was no less than 40 minutes from our home, and honestly out of the question most days despite his cravings. Some time in my teens a new restaurant popped up that was only about 20 minutes from out house, and we began patronizing this deli.

Flash forward 20 plus years later and what started out as selling bread out of the store front’s become a household name -Milton’s/Milton’s Craft Bakers. Going into this restaurant is a treat, and as soon as you step down the stairs and enter the front area you are met with pastries and bread. The sandwiches are just as good as a Jewish deli should be, and there are pickles on the table.

When I started this blog I never imagined that I would be come familiar with gluten-free brands, and that I would be watching if companies ventured down the gluten-free path. Yesterday I was in the store doing our weekly shipping and i noticed that many companies are starting to offer gluten-free alternatives to their gluten filled counterparts. Milton’s has continues the gluten-free wave with the arrival of Milton’s Gluten Free Baked Chips that come in 6 varieties and are crispy as well as tasty!

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Catzebox Review

Catzebox 1.0 Review and Giveaway

I am a cat lover and especially a lover of my own cats – Maggee and Murfee. I have mentioned it in the past, but Jason and I adopted them from our local Humane Society. We count this decision as one of the top ones we have made as a couple.

We often talk about what attracted us to each of the cats. Murfee was only a day old when he was found in the middle of an empty field alone (I have said it in the past, and will say again, it is a miracle he survived). The day that we happened to meet him at the shelter, was the day after he was neutered and he was lethargic and tiny! Despite being in pain (they had to give him pain medication – poor thing!), he still wanted to play with us through the cage. I loved this about him, and I knew that he was our cat.

Maggee on the flip side had been taken care of by many people, unable to find a forever home. Our little girl likes to play, and when she opens her mouth, many would think bite – she plays – they cited aggression issues. Jason and I were undeterred and we asked to take her in to the room so that we could get to know her – she jumped into each of our laps, and that was that – she was ours.

Despite the difference in their upbringing, they common thread between them is they are playful kitties – even at almost 4 years old and 3.5 years old. It is easy to get Maggee excited and while Murfee takes a bit to get excited, when he does watch out for claws. Since they are so playful, we are always looking for ways to burn their immense amount of energy, so when I saw the Catzebox, I knew they would love it!

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Avery Elle Alphabet and Stamp Review

Avery Elle Alphabet Stamp Set and Ink Review and Giveaway

As regular readers can attest, I love to not only send but receive a handmade card. About 6 years ago, I decided that I wanted to have a gathering for my birthday (for those keeping track it was my 35th birthday). I decided that I could have purchased invitations but decided that a handmade invite would be a good way to go.

The handmade cards had a floral theme and by making the cards myself, it was ensuring that the people I invited were truly the people I cared about. The important thing to know about me is that I am very careful and sensitive to the who I send my handmade items to. I spend time, money and love in each project so I tend to share them with the people I know will appreciate the effort involved.

When I was at the Craft and Hobby Show I came across a stamp company called Avery Elle, that also happens to be headquartered in my hometown, San Diego. When I saw the stamps displayed I knew that I had to share with you all, my new find.

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GoWashi by Allton Tape DIY Project

Allton Tape: Go Washi

DIY and Giveaway!!

One of the things I always love to do is find inexpensive ways to add a pop of color to an otherwise white-walled area. The problem with renting is that you can not paint, you can not remodel and certainly can lose a security deposit with little to effort on your part.

I would love to sit here and tell you that the advantage of owning a home is that you can do all these removal items, but the fact of the matter remains that you still have to pay for it. I have discovered that even the smallest of home upgrades can cost more than you anticipate so I am always looking for cost-effective ways to upgrade without doing into debt.

A couple of years ago I heard of a trend coming over from Japan that involved the same paper that is used for origami but made into a versatile, strong and durable tape. Since then, I have had little interaction with Washi tape, but each interaction I have had, as been positive. It goes without saying that when I saw a company called Allton Tape that specialized in Washi tape at CHA 2016 (Craft and Hobby Association Show) I was intrigued and curious. In the above photo from left to right it is a variety Fruit, Flower and Yellow-Orange Pop Washi tape.
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Balmshot Lip Balm Review

Balmshot SPF 15 Lip Balm Review and Giveaway

I have mentioned how lucky I am to live at the beach and on the coast of San Diego. While the sunny days outnumber the cloudy days, there is a downside – chapped lips.

Since I live close to a convienent store, I often take walks to get a coffee drink or to get laundry quarters. There are days that the wind coming off the ocean and reaching my lips is a bit harsher than I am able to handle. The other problem I suffer from is lack of water in my daily routine. I try as I might, but just do not get the water intake I should have which results in dry chapped lips.

I go through an adequate amount of lip balm, and am always looking once that moisturizes, protects and has a pleasant flavor. When I was recently contacted by a company whose lip balm is in gun shells, it got my attention. Balmshot Lip Balm comes in one of the more unique packages I have seen, as well was being a beeswax SPF 15 lip balm.

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Svelte Men Product Review

Svelte Men: Shave Cream and 3-in-1 Review and Giveaway

Men are synonymous with simplicity, there are few things as simple as a man. I have been lucky in that I was raised by a man, so I have inherited that simplicity. I take little time to get ready and generally use few products. I believe that woman attract men that are much like themselves. If this fact is true than I found the male equivalent of my level of simplicity.

Until recently I believed I married a man who had the same simplicity as I have, as it turns out he may not be as simple as I once believed. It turns out that for men the shaving process is much more complicated than I initially thought. It was through review blogging I made this discovery when I received an offer in my inbox for a review of shaving goods and mentioned it to Jason. I was then informed that is was a little more complicated than a shaver and water.

The email I received was from Svelte Men, a men’s barbershop located in the Hollywood Hill’s of Los Angeles and Manhattan Beach California has a line of shaving products for the at home use.

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Sun Bum Hair Care Review

Sun Bum Shampoo and Conditioner Review and Giveaway

Sometimes it is easy to forget how lucky I am. I was lucky to grow up less than 5 miles from the beach, and now as a homeowner I live a mere 1/4 mile from one of the most world renowned beaches in the United States.

The ocean is a vast and quite the mystery. The mystery being an answer to a question that is always being asked. On breezy days we can smell the saltwater coming off the ocean and feel the ocean breeze. My neighbors are all a decade or younger than my husband and I, and spend their days as mermen and mermaids. Despite this age divide we have one common thread, our mutual respect for the ocean.

As a kid that grew up so close to the ocean, I often had sun bleached hair that tended towards white the early part of life. As I have gotten older, I take much better care of my hair, but I still worry about sun damage and those relentless UV rays. I rarely use additional product and I let my hair air dry, but it really starts with my shampoo and conditioner. I recently received a bottle of Sun Bum Shampoo and Conditioner.

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