Artnaturals Body & Foot Wash Product Review

After laying down salt and clearing snow for days causing me days of being a sweaty mess underneath layers of clothes meant to keep me warm, I ended up with a skin yeast infection under my chest.  I had one previously while pregnant and working in a restaurant during the summer, another sweaty experience, so I knew what the rash was.  While pregnant, I was prescribed a topical antifungal cream which annoyingly took what seemed like forever to clear up an itchy rash.  

This time around, I was hoping for a quicker, more natural solution.  I was aware of the antibacterial and antifungal properties of tea tree oil having used tea tree oil soap in the past, so I was interested to try this tea tree oil body wash to help with my rash.

As soon as I received the body wash, I had to try it.  As soon as I was out of the shower, I could tell the itching was gone.  I checked back an hour later and was able to see that the redness had decreased significantly.  Within two days, my rash was completely gone.

The bonus of the tea tree oil body wash is that just like the soap I've used in the past, it can also be used for preventative measures as well.  So, I will continue to use this body wash especially when excessive moisture is an issue.

I will note that the body wash does have a pungent aroma that across as herbal and lingers after use.  I was not at all bothered by this, but I could see this as something those with fragrance sensitivities should be aware of.

Of course, like all of the products from Artnaturals, this product is vegan, cruelty free, and paraben free.

I received this product at a highly discounted price, but all opinions are honest, genuine, and my own.

Amazing Mounted Broom and Mop Holder Review #broomholder

What a great solution for keeping tools off the ground.  Now while the product is labelled as a mop and broom holder, even the product description mentions using to store other tools such as rakes.  As the weather warms up, I am hoping to have a garden this summer and autumn.  So, I need something in our shed to store the appropriate tools for gardening  such as hoes and shovels as well as our snow shovels.  In addition to the 5 holders for handles, there are also 6 hooks that can be pulled down for added storage capacity if you have items with large holes or a looped cord attached to them.  I need to emphasize that you will need the holes in the handles to be larger than the nail in a pegboard we've been using heretofore for storage.  The holders are adjustable with an internal roller ball and have worked for all of the handles I've tried.  All of the holders have rubber grips on them to keep the handle exactly where you want making it possible to keep different tools at different heights so you can stagger them if necessary so the bottom of the tools don't damage each other.  

Mounting will require a drill and Phillips head screwdriver which are not included.  

You can purchase it at Amazon here.

I received this product for free in exchange for a review, but all opinions are honest, genuine, and my own.

Proud Parent Child Safety Locks Review #proudparent

Having a exceedingly active 16 month old, I am always discovering new places we need to toddler proof.  We did all the cabinets in the kitchen, door knobs, etc.  Recently, she has managed to get into my dresser drawers and pull out all of my clothes which isn't as much a safety concern as much an annoyance until she decides to start using them as steps to get higher.

However, I've learned the hard way thanks to her cousin who is 4 that the safety locks in the kitchen probably won't last long either since she can open those by just pulling hard enough on them.

At this point, I am looking for a better solution than the safety locks you merely thread through or click in place.  I was open to trying the safety locks by Proud Parent.  After receiving them, I think I have found my solution.  As you see in the picture, instead of a single locking mechanism, you have to press on both the top and bottom to release the lock.  While an adult can easily depress both the top and bottom to open the lock, it will take my little one much longer to be able to not only figure out how to open this lock but also to have the coordination and hand strength to unlock this mechanism.  After testing it myself, I discovered I was completely unable to pull the lock open without depressing both the top and bottom of the lock.  If I can't pull it open, I feel confident my little one won't be able to either.  This definitely makes me feel safer using these locks over the more traditional ones we already have in place.

When I initially went to install today, I realized I hadn't placed it correctly to acheive the tautness I wanted on one of my drawers.  I was pleased that I was able to remove the lock without any damage to my drawer since eventually I do plan to remove them once I no longer have toddlers to get into my drawers and cabinets.  They use 3M, a company whose products I use frequently, for the adhesive, so I do feel confident that these locks will stay in place as long as I need them there.

You can purchase these from Amazon here.

I received this product for free in exchange for a review, but all opinions are honest, genuine, and my own.

AlmaBaby 3 pack Pacifier Clip Review #AlmaBaby

At my baby shower, I was gifted 3 pacifier clips.  Two were specifically made for MAM pacifiers which I thought would be fine since the majority of the pacifiers I owned were MAM.  The third was an all in one pacifier with the clip attached permanently.  I figured at the time we were set on pacifier clips at the time.  

When my daughter was two weeks old, she began rejecting pacifiers all together eventually in favor of bottle nipples which were way more of a pain as they required me to physically hold them in place for her.

Right around Christmas, she began showing signs of teething with which came understandable irritability.  Along with my concerns that prevention for SIDs recommended pacifiers when going to sleep, I started my search for possible solutions.  Several moms in the moms and babies support group I was attending recommended the pacifiers attached to a stuffed animal.  So, we got her one for Christmas.  The all silicon pacifier worked better for us as she could use it both as a pacifier and as a teether.  However, we didn't have any pacifier clips we could use for these.  However, I had a sippy cup leash I could attach to her swing, bouncy chair, etc by velcroing it around the body of the animal to prevent her from losing her pacifier.  

This plan had two problems within a few months.  At 8 months, my daughter was walking and hence no longer used a walker or swing to which we could attach the leash.  The second problem was that the pacifier is detachable from the pacifier in for you to be able to clean and sanitize the pacifier.  By this point, my little one figured out how to separate the pacifier from the animal and would do it repeatedly as if it was a form of entertainment.  In doing so though, we had nothing that held on to the actual pacifier portion.  

Way too many car rides involved me frantically pulling off into a gas station or the side of the road to find where she had dropped the pacifier and silence her crying over the loss of her pacifier.  Even in a perfectly clean car, it is amazing how far those things fly.  She once detached it with such force it ended up in the hatchback hidden among my grocery bags.  Often, I am on the highway in rush hour where stopping isn't an easy solution leaving me to try anything I can and often failing from the front seat to soothe her until I can safely pull over.  

I had the best of intentions of making a universal pacifier clip myself once we started having these meltdowns.  However, like many projects as a new mom, it got put on the backburner in lieu of daily activities like cooking and cleaning and running around after my quite active way too soon baby.

Recently, I did receive universal pacifier clips from another company which gave me a good point of reference as to options on pacifier clips.

I was all to happy to try AlmaBaby's pacifier clips with my little one.  Unlike metal clips, the plastic clip is detachable which makes them machine washable which is a savior for mamas like myself who might forget and leave one on a shirt when throwing clothes in the wash.  The mechanism for opening these clips was a bit trickier to figure out the first time, but it seems that it will keep it locked into place better than metal clips made with the overall clip.

As you can see, it lifts up from the back not the front.  Additionally, it has three sets of teeth instead of two like the metal clips.  The loop is made of elastic which I worry could break and hurt my little one; however, the loop is longer than other pacifier clips I've seen which I hope will prevent that from happening.  Additionally, the longer loop allows you to use this clip with thicker teethers or toys than most.  

My only real complaint about these clips is that these designs seem a bit dated being stars, polka dots, stripes, and gingham.  I would prefer something more modern as well as more of a variety of colors to match with different outfits.

My little one liked them anyway despite blinking every single time I tried to take a picture.  

She's still smiling though. 

You can purchase these at Amazon here.  

I received this product for free in exchange for a review, but all opinions are honest, genuine, and my own.

Three French Hens, Two Macarons, And Lovers In A Bakery - A Love Story Served With Indulgent French Desserts E book Review

This book is the love stories of three women who work in a bakery in Paris.  Each chapter ends with a recipe for an indulgent French pastry mentioned in the chapter.  Conceptually, I loved the idea of a story involving food where I actually get the recipes to use myself.

Thirty French pastry recipes are included in the book such as croque en bouche, pear tarte tatin, and crepes mille.  The recipe instructions are quite detailed making it feasible for anyone with even a little bit of baking experience to recreate these often fancy pastries.  Honestly, I can't wait to try out some of these recipes myself.

The ladies' love stories, however, are not as successful in my opinion.  I am not turned off by the author's use of foul language or candid descriptions of sexual encounters.  All of the characters are "modern" women, so the adult language and behavior is appropriate for the characters.  The actual love stories only occur in the last few chapters leaving them to feel rushed and somewhat unrealistic for characters two of three are up until this point skeptical of romantic relationships.   The author spends 27 chapters telling the backstories of the characters only to have the main characters meet and find love in just the last 3 chapters.  To me, the most realistic love story is of the old man who is a regular customer at the bakery.  Multiple love at first sight love affairs in one story feels way too hokey for my liking as well.

There are also a few fantastical elements in the novella that seem out of place in the story such as the mechanism for how a rival bakery take hold of the city for multiple days that seem quite out of place in a story so grounded in a realistic world.

So, for me, I found it worked well as a small cookbook, but not as much as a love story.

This ebook is available for purchase on Amazon here.

I received this product for free in exchange for a review, but all opinions are honest, genuine, and my own.

Quick "Pickles"

Meatless Monday

I cannot take credit for this recipe.  This is my take on a summer side my mom would make when we were kids.  If we were eating it that night for dinner, she would take cucumbers straight from the garden and cool the cucumbers with ice.  If any last to the next day, it's even better the second day.  Due to the vinegar, these hold up for several day.  My little one loves these, and I find them to be a great side to faux sweet potato bbq sandwiches and slaw.  

2 cucumbers

1 cup white vinegar

1 cup of water or water and ice

salt and pepper to taste

1 tsp minced garlic(optional)

1. Peel and slice the cucumbers.

2. Mix the vinegar, water, and spices.

3. Let the cucumbers to soak in the liquid for at least a couple of hours before serving.

Due to the high vinegar content, these will keep in the fridge for a few weeks.

Turtles Pacifier Premium Clip Bundle Review #TurtlusPacifierClip

At my baby shower, I was gifted 3 pacifier clips.  Two were specifically made for MAM pacifiers which I thought would be fine since the majority of the pacifiers I owned were MAM.  The third was an all in one pacifier with the clip attached permanently.  I figured at the time we were set on pacifier clips at the time.  

When my daughter was two weeks old, she began rejecting pacifiers all together eventually in favor of bottle nipples which were way more of a pain as they required me to physically hold them in place for her.

Right around Christmas, she began showing signs of teething with which came understandable irritability.  Along with my concerns that prevention for SIDs recommended pacifiers when going to sleep, I started my search for possible solutions.  Several moms in the moms and babies support group I was attending recommended the pacifiers attached to a stuffed animal.  So, we got her one for Christmas.  The all silicon pacifier worked better for us as she could use it both as a pacifier and as a teether.  However, we didn't have any pacifier clips we could use for these.  However, I had a sippy cup leash I could attach to her swing, bouncy chair, etc by velcroing it around the body of the animal to prevent her from losing her pacifier.  

This plan had two problems within a few months.  At 8 months, my daughter was walking and hence no longer used a walker or swing to which we could attach the leash.  The second problem was that the pacifier is detachable from the pacifier in for you to be able to clean and sanitize the pacifier.  By this point, my little one figured out how to separate the pacifier from the animal and would do it repeatedly as if it was a form of entertainment.  In doing so though, we had nothing that held on to the actual pacifier portion.  

Way too many car rides involved me frantically pulling off into a gas station or the side of the road to find where she had dropped the pacifier and silence her crying over the loss of her pacifier.  Even in a perfectly clean car, it is amazing how far those things fly.  She once detached it with such force it ended up in the hatchback hidden among my grocery bags.  Often, I am on the highway in rush hour where stopping isn't an easy solution leaving me to try anything I can and often failing from the front seat to soothe her until I can safely pull over.  

I had the best of intentions of making a universal pacifier clip myself once we started having these meltdowns.  However, like many projects as a new mom, it got put on the backburner in lieu of daily activities like cooking and cleaning and running around after my quite active way too soon baby.  

In came Turtles Pacifier Clips to the rescue.  I must admit I was sold when I saw two of the three clips had adorable owls on them since owls are my second favorite after ladybugs.  

The cats are super cute as well.  Plus, each clip has a different design on each side allowing double the options for matching with outfits.  I also like that these designs are gender neutral.  While we have a girl now, I am always on the lookout for products that could still be used if we do have another child regardless of whether we have a boy or girl.  

As added bonuses, they include a pacifier holder that is meant to hold 2 pacifiers and an e-book on Baby Nutrition.  

They claim the clips won't damage clothing.  Despite the metal exterior, the gripping part of the clip is plastic as you can see below.  

After extended use, I only noticed indents where the clip was attached to my daughter's shirts despite her occasional tugging.  

Their grip though is quite good.  With her previous clips, even as an infant, she was able to pull them off her onesies.  It had been quite a while since we used a clip, so at first, she spend lots of time trying to tug it loose.  Amazingly, she got nowhere with that.  Eventually, she figured out if she lost track of her pacifier all she had to do was pull up on the ribbon to get her pacifier back which made her quite happy since she loves her independence.  

Happy, sleeping baby with her pacifier easily in reach.  The clip is attached to her shirt not her car seat strap which important to note for safety.  

I, also, appreciate that the cord you attach to the pacifier is not elastic like many of the universal clips since I worry about those breaking and hitting my little one in the face.  The cord design allows you to wrap it around a variety of objects not just pacifiers but also stroller toys with rings and teethers which may get some use in the future since we still have 3 more teeth left to come in.

Finally, I've been blown away by Ltd Sellers customer service.  Since ordering, I have received 3 follow up emails.  The first was a thank you email for my purchase.  The second was tips and frequently asked questions, and the third was a reminder email about the 15% off future order code included with my purchase and how to use it.  All of the emails were friendly and gracious as well as including information for support if needed.  

You can purchase these clips from Amazon here.  

I received this product for free in exchange for a review, but all opinions are honest, genuine, and my own.

Hair, Skin, and Nails Supplement by 1Body Product Review #HairSkinNails

Since becoming a mom, I, admittedly like many new moms, have not done the best job of taking care of myself.  While I was breastfeeding, I continued taking prenatal vitamins.  However, since our breastfeeding journey ended, I haven't gotten back on a vitamin and supplement regimen.  Constant hand washing that goes along with having a toddler who like most is an expert at creating messes takes its toll on my hands and even nails.

After my last birthday, I vowed I needed to get back in the habit of self care and not spending all my time in yoga pants and no makeup hiding behind all of the work that goes into caretaking a one year old.  Getting back into a vitamin and supplement regimen has been on my priority list; however, being a vegetarian sometimes makes this one a bit more trouble.  Many supplements either contain nonplant based ingredients as part of the supplement or are in gelatin capsules which obviously aren't vegetarian.  Finding vegetarian versions of most supplements in my area requires either ordering online or travelling to a health store the closest of which is at least a half an hour away and not in my usual travel area.

So, one of the big hooks for me with this particular supplement was that it was vegetarian. Being able to have it delivered right to my door certainly makes my life easier.   Additionally, when reading the list of ingredients, I noticed that not only did it have basically the same ingredients as my previous supplements I had taken prior to my pregnancy; but it also had double the biotin of my previous brand.

While the capsules are somewhat large which seems to be true of all supplements I've taken, being in capsule form, it was still easy to down the capsule.  I've really started to have problems with pills recently especially supplements.  They tend to cause me to gag as many have an odd taste.  These capsules are basically tasteless and odorless, so they don't activate my gag reflex.

I try to be realistic with supplements and recognize that most results won't show up immediately.  However, I was impressed that even within the first week, I could tell a difference with this supplement.  Doing the same activities I would normally, I didn't break a single nail.  They are even noticeably thicker.  Rarely have I noticed substantial improvements so quickly with supplements.  I am certain by these rapid results that I will continue to see more improvements as more time passes continuing to take these supplements.

As an added bonus, my package included a voucher to claim an additional bottle for free.  That is an awesome bonus.

You can purchase these supplements from Amazon here.
I received this product at a discount in exchange for an honest review.