Review: Posh by Liz

© Igor Mojzes - Fotolia.com

Despite knowing the importance of skin care, I've never been very good at making sure it gets done. Sure, I take showers, and occasionally use one of those pre-moistened facial cleansing cloths – especially if I'm sweaty. But a multi-step face-washing routine? Nope. I know I need to do better, but actually doing it hasn't ever been a high priority. And then the times I've attempted to start a routine, my skin would not respond very well. I've had new washing regimens cause breakouts. Or rashes. Things that never happened – or at least rarely happened – without washing. So, any new habits I've tried to create haven't lasted very long.

Somewhat recently, a few of my friends have started selling Posh products. I'll admit to being skeptical. This isn't the only product line to boast of its quality, pampering power, and general awesomeness. Although, when I heard about their Solid Hand Lotion Bar, or Handle, I was definitely intrigued. Still, honestly, not quite enough to shell out the cash for it, though.

Then my friends started selling, and my friend Liz reached out to bloggers she knew to send samples and write a review. I jumped on that immediately. In all honesty, I was more just wanting to help a friend than anything. (Remember, I'm a skeptic about this type of product!) But, I was excited to finally get to try it out.

Some key points about Posh Products:

• Paraben- and paraffin-free
• No soy, lanolin, or gluten ingredients
• No sulfates (including SLS) or phthalates
• Cruelty-free, meaning no testing on animals

Liz sent me samples of various products, including the aforementioned Handle. A few of the other samples I received:

• Facial in a Bag (includes several products; more details coming below)
• The Bombinator (bath bomb)
• Chunk (bath bar)
• The Saint (moisture mask)
• Big Fat Yummy Hand Creme
• Slather (body butter)

I started with the Facial in a Bag. This included Gender Bender, a detoxifying charcoal soap; The Stripper, a detoxifying body mud; The SugarFix, a non-greasy body scrub; and Sister, I'm a Poet, a non-comedogenic (meaning it won't clog your pores) body butter. There also was a bonus Make-Out Magic lip scrub, to finish off the facial nicely.

The first thing to impress me is that all of the products smell fantastic! They're light and pleasant, and just made me smile. When I was done washing my face, I loved how my face smelled. When I woke in the morning, my face still smelled wonderful, and my skin was so very soft. And best of all, no breakouts or rashes! The routine is quick and easy, and I found myself really liking it. I might actually have found a cleansing regimen I can stick with! 

The other products are great, too. I used the Handle on the backs of my daughter's hands, which get painfully dry during the colder months. Her skin is extremely sensitive, so finding stuff that works for her is not always easy. We tried it, and she really, really likes it! And it helped her hands tremendously. I definitely will be purchasing more of this as needed.

If you're looking to try a new pampering product, I highly recommend Posh! 

To order: Go to Posh by Liz and click the SHOP link toward the top right of the page. 

Special for Readers of Ramblings & More: Make sure to contact Liz (use the CONTACT ME link at the top right of her page) before you place your order and mention this blog post to get a special discount. You also can ask her for samples, if you're like me and prefer to try before you buy. Don't need to try first? Let her know, and she'll give you a free product or free shipping with your order!

***Disclaimer: I did not receive any compensation for this post. Any products reviewed were either sent to me free of charge in exchange for my honest opinions, or they were purchased by me and I just wanna share.***

Mompact Review & GIVEAWAY: Twooth Timer

Motherhood leaves women with all sorts of new worries, jobs, and roles. In addition to caring for your children, taking care of the big things (like feeding, nurturing, etc.), and being their biggest cheerleader, moms also have to worry about the little, day-to-day things. Many of these things are much bigger, because they can help our children develop lifelong habits. Fortunately, other moms have got your back! Mom inventors have created many wonderful things to help moms with all sorts of tasks, problems, etc. that come as part of the job.

Today I am thrilled to share the Twooth Timer with you!

The what?

The Twooth Timer! In short, it's a 2-minute timer that helps ensure your kids brush their teeth long enough for maximum health! It's cute and fun to use, and can help your children develop a healthy habit that will last a lifetime!

From the company's Web site:

Experts recommend brushing your teeth for two minutes. A recent study found young adults spent less than 35 seconds brushing their teeth.
New research is that finding heart disease and strokes, as well as diabetes and respiratory disease, may be linked to gum disease. Consider your mouth as a doorway to your body. Plaque is a colorless film of bacteria that sticks to teeth and if not properly removed, can lead to gum disease. The bacteria associated with gum disease can enter your bloodstream and travel throughout your body. Good oral hygiene is the best prevention.
Healthy habits begin early and our award-winning, mom-invented products are designed to help children achieve good dental health and have fun doing it! Recommended by dentists and dental hygienists for a lifetime of healthy smiles!

Look at that timer! Isn't it cute? Here are some more facts:

• Convenient size - 3¼" H x 2¾" W x 2½" D
• No batteries needed
• Helps reduce dental bills by improving dental hygiene
• Works with all types of toothbrushes - manual and electric
• Easy to use! Simply turn the top to the 2 and begin brushing. Stop when the bell rings.

My Thoughts: I gotta tell ya, I love this little device! I first heard about it in a survey with QuestionMoms, and was thrilled when this was one of the products available as part of the Mompact Blog Hop event!

My kids have been using this for a few weeks now, and it does its job. My oldest, who is 8, will not brush without it now! She loves it. I don't have to be there – she goes up to brush her teeth, starts the timer on her own, and brushes until it rings! We haven't been to the dentist yet since it arrived, but I look forward to her telling him about it. I think he'll be proud of her!

Now, did I mention how cute it is? It's bigger than I thought it'd be, but I like it. It stands out on our (regularly cluttered) bathroom counter, which means it doesn't get forgotten. Plus, it's sturdy. I know for a fact, because it's been dropped at least a couple of times ...

I only have one teeny tiny complaint, and it really is small. The timer, when it rings, is loud. It sounds like a kitchen timer (which is how I know for sure my daughter's using it, because I can hear it from downstairs), and is probably just as loud as one. Because of that, my younger two (5 and 3 years old) aren't big fans of it. The ringing apparently is a bit loud for their sensitive hearing – or something. BUT, I like it loud because – as I just mentioned – I can hear it ring when I'm downstairs, so I know it's getting used. I suspect that as the other two get older, they will come around and start using it, too.

The Final Word: Wonderful product that is sure to help your kids develop healthy habits, and hopefully keep those habits for life!

More Information: You can find out more about the Twooth Timer and the company at the following links.

• Company Site: TwoothTimer.com
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TwoothTimer
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/TwoothTimer
• Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinettedejanasz

WIN IT!

One lucky winner will receive a Twooth Timer prize pack, which includes 1 TwoothTimer and some Toothy T Temporary Tattoos (great to use as part of a reward system)!

How to enter: Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Detailed instructions and links (where needed) are provided with each step. ***Comments on this post do NOT count as entries!***

MANDATORY entry: 

• Enter your name and valid e-mail address

Extra entries:

• Follow Ramblings & More via Google Friend Connect (+1)
• Like me on Facebook (+1)
• Follow me on Twitter (+1)
• Like TwoothTimer on Facebook (+2)
• Follow TwoothTimer on Twitter (+2)
• Join QuestionMoms (+3)
• Visit Mompact Web site (+3)
• Follow Proud Book Nerd (+3)
• Like Proud Book Nerd on Facebook (+3)
• Follow ProudBookNerd on Twitter (+3)
• Subscribe for Ramblings & More e-mail updates (+5)
• Sign up for TwoothTimer newsletter (+5)
• Vote for TwoothTimer on Spokesmoms Facebook Promotion (+1 DAILY)
• Visit and leave a relevant comment on Proud Book Nerd (+1 DAILY)

Terms & Conditions: Giveaway ends at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, September 18, 2011.
Entry is open to those in the U.S. and Canada.
Winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter once the giveaway has ended.
 
Disclosure: This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by Facebook, Twitter, or any other outside Web sites, nor is this promotion affiliated with these companies in any way. This is a Mompact sponsored event and the opinions and ideas on the product presented are entirely my own.





This post is part of the Mompact Blog Hop GIVEAWAY event, which includes a total of 122 blogs – and prizes to win on each! After you enter my giveaway, make sure to visit the next blog on the list:

Reviewed by Mom

***Disclaimer: I did not receive any compensation for this post. Any products reviewed were either sent to me free of charge in exchange for my honest opinions, or they were purchased by me and I just wanna share.***

Review: Dearfoams Slippers

I have always been a shoe girl. You know, the one who has several pairs of shoes, many of which only match one outfit.

Well, until I had kids, but that's another story.

Now that I'm a homeowner, I generally prefer no one wear shoes in the house. When I hear protests (often from Mr. Ham), my response is to wear slippers.

I love slippers! I especially love fuzzy, soft, fluffy ones. But I have a hard time finding ones I like. Some aren't as fluffy as they seem, others just don't suit my style.

Then I was introduced to Dearfoams slippers. Oh. My. Gosh! Any type of slippers you could possibly want are likely available there! You like ballet slippers? Clogs? Boots? Moccasins? No problem! They're there. The man in your life need slippers? They've got him covered!

But, Heather, you say, summer's almost here! Won't slippers be too warm? Don't you worry, my friend! They have open-toe and thong slippers, too!

And this brings me to my review. I was offered a few styles and colors, and chose a thong style. I figured that with summer fast approaching, I would get more use out of them in the coming months. I chose the Blue Print Floral Thongs. I thought they were so cute with the little flowers, and I just loved the colors.

Aren't they adorable? And don't they look supper fuzzy and soft? I couldn't wait to give them a try!

Here's the info on these particular slippers (from the company's Web site):

Go girly with soft and ladylike floral thong slippers—perfect for showing off your just-painted peeping toes.

• Upper: Terry
• Lining: Terry
• Decorative floral embellishments
• Indulgent foam cushioning
• Skid-resistant rubber outsoles
• Machine washable

Priced at $20, they are a great deal. They offer free shipping every day on orders $45 or more, and standard $6 flat-rate ground shipping for less. Not a bad deal!

My own feet donned in my
new Dearfoams slippers.

My Thoughts: They arrived today, and I've already been wearing them around the house. Yes. They are as soft and fuzzy as they look. Yes, they are very comfortable! I just love the rubber outsoles, as I do tend to wear my slippers onto the front porch (and occasionally out back) when I run out for a minute. I like the idea that they aren't going to wear abnormally (for slippers) because the bottom is sturdy. Plus, no concerns over slipping on our tile bathroom or kitchen floors!

These slippers make my feet very happy, and I think I'll be looking to get a winter-weather pair in the fall. (Maybe I'll ask Mr. Ham for some for Christmas.) I like the idea that they'll likely last a lot longer than my standard slippers, which tend to wear away on the bottom (because of my outside wear, no doubt) well before the fluffiness is gone. Bonus: They are machine-washable. I a house full of kids, cats, and a dog (not to mention the man), that is a HUGE bonus!

WIN THEM! 

That's right! I currently have a giveaway (with THREE winners) of Dearfoams slippers. Hurry, though, as the giveaway ends May 15, 2011.

Disclaimer: I did not receive any compensation for this review, although I was sent a free pair for evaluation purposes. The opinions expressed in this post as solely based on my experience with the product and/or company.

Book Review: Inkheart

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely loved this book! I was quite surprised. It started out kinda slowly, but after a couple of chapters I didn't want to put it down. The plot is amazing - so imaginative and so well developed. I loved most of the characters - especially Dustfinger.



I wondered if Fenoglio's reaction to seeing his characters in the flesh is how Cornelia Funke would react if she was able to see her characters brought to life. It was really neat to see her writing about an author. I wonder how much of it was derived from her own experience.



Anyway, this was an excellently written book. I cannot wait to get started on the sequel, Inkspell!


View all my reviews.

Year in Review

A follow-up to my New Year's post, if you will. My friend Lisa posted this on her blog and I had to follow suit! You go back through your blog and copy the opening sentence from a post (or two) for each month. I began this blog in March, so I will start there - obviously! LOL

Below is the opening sentence from a post from each month. (Any italicized text is a comment I'm writing NOW.) To read the whole post, click on the date/month name:

March: I had a bunch of stuff that I wanted to write. (Is that the story of my blog or what? LMAO)

April: I saw my allergist yesterday, and he said it doesn't sound like an allergy to food!

May: I've never been good at titles - or writing headlines, for that matter.

June: That sums it up perfectly!
June 25: My precious baby girl was born.

July: Around 9:30 p.m. our power was restored!

August: A few months ago, once my daughter got into the wonderful world of Webkinz, I bought her a couple I knew she'd LOVE off eBay.

September: I was just starting up a Baby Einstein DVD for Grant.

October: At this point exactly 12 months ago I was getting to know my sweet new baby girl, Natalie.

November: There is so much going on in my mind right now.

December: DH got home yesterday!

In looking this over, I have to say a couple of things. One, I need to blog more. And two, I need to be more creative in my first lines of my posts! It was hard finding something interesting. No more first sentences being one-word sentences! LOL So far as blogging goes, for 2009 I resolve to write more and better! Wish me luck!