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.***

Thoughts on Gratitude

Wow. It has been a really, really long time since I last wrote a post of substance. I have a huge list of excuses, but I'm guessing no one really wants to hear – er, rather, read – them! One small comment: No one warned me that kids become more time-consuming as they get older! I expected a bit more free time, but that's so not the case! LOL

As the title of this post suggest, I wanted to talk about gratitude. You see, I recently read a book, Fear, Faith, and a Fistful of Chocolates by Debora M. Coty. (Click on the link to read my review over on Proud Book Nerd.) Not surprisingly, it talks a lot about how to handle – well, more overcome than handle – your fears. It deals with many, many different fears many women face: death, losing a loved-one, failure, and many more. There are many strategies for working through such fears. I might implement many of them to my life. I might forget. But, one in particular caught my interest. A gratitude journal. A place where one can regularly focus on the positives in life. Coty specifically the people in life who make small, positive differences. The other driver who let you into the busy traffic lane. The helpful clerk at the store. The barista at Starbucks who shared some friendly chatter with you. The random strangers who kindly paid your bill when taking your children out to eat. Your mail carrier, who always handles your mail and packages with care. Or anyone else who's made a positive impact in your life.

I'm not sure I could daily do that. Maybe, if I sat down at the end of the day and ran through my day. Maybe not, though. As a stay-at-home mom, I have a somewhat regular (maybe even sometimes dull) routine that doesn't give me a huge variety of people I come across. It's just about the same people I see when I go by my daily life. Still, I know each one has made a difference at some point or another. So, I'm going to attempt to focus on the people. But, when I'm drawing a blank or feeling repetitive, I might just count my blessings. Either way, it's got to help me have more of a positive, grateful attitude.

I can't promise I'll do this daily. I'd like to, but I've rarely been able to really follow through on such endeavors.

So, for today, I want to express my gratitude to my parents. They did a small thing for my family that made a big difference. My 5-year-old daughter had her adenoids out a couple of days ago, and today a present arrived in the mail – just for her. A feel-better present. It brightened her day and made her happy, which in turn warmed my heart.

With any luck I'll be back tomorrow with more. Or at least sometime soon. Whatever the case, thanks for reading.

I do have a Posh review coming soon, so look for that.

Sunday Stealing: The 11/11 Questions Meme

It has been a very long time since I've participated in this, but today I felt like doing more on here than occasionally checking in and posting a review or giveaway once in a while. So, here we go!

What is your favorite possession? Um ... that's a toughy. Probably my computer. Or my iPhone. Or the iPad ... Do I have to pick a favorite?

Do you like to read? If so, which books do you love best? Um, YES! I own, operate, and write all of Proud Book Nerd. As for types of books, it really depends on my mood. So long as it's well-written and interesting, I'm usually happy.

Do you have any pets? Yes. A beagle, Sawyer. And three cats, Zeus, Huckleberry, and Jasmine.

What was your favorite food as a child? Is it the same now? Um ... probably macaroni & cheese, but I'm not sure. And, no, it's not the same. Now I love Alaskan King Crab.

What is your favorite thing about blogging? I know I don't use this blog often, but it's fun. With PBN (linked above), I love the community of fellow book bloggers. And reading and sharing my love of reading with others. Really, it's my involvement and commitments with that blog that makes me so quiet around here.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Near my family, meaning my parents and my sisters. I don't care where, so long as they were nearby – and my family (meaning husband and kids) were still with me.

What is your favorite number? 3

Which of these things would you find hardest to give up for a year? Chocolate, reading, coffee or smoking? Reading. No question there. And not just because of PBN. I don't drink coffee. I don't smoke. I do love chocolate, so that would be tough, too. But, not reading would be much, much worse. Heck, maybe giving up chocolate would mean I finally lost some weight! ;-)

If you could make your life into a movie, what would you name it.. and who would you want to play you? The Boring Movie? I doubt my life is exciting enough to warrant a movie! ;-) So far as actresses, I'm partial to Sandra Bullock or Anne (or is it Ann?) Hathaway.

If you had £20,000 for a shopping spree, what would you buy? I have no idea how much that would be in American dollars, but hopefully enough to pay off a little debt. Then, something for the kids.

If you could eat lunch with one famous person, who would it be? I used to always say Amy Grant, but now I'm not so sure. Maybe one of the authors whose books have recently touched my life.

WINNER: Simply Potatoes

Thank you to everyone who entered my Simply Potatoes giveaway! It's a fantastic product that my family loves, and I'm excited to share!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations to Rose T.!

Review & Giveaway: Simply Potatoes

As we enter the holiday season, some of the most planning and preparation goes into food. What to serve for Thanksgiving dinner. What to serve for Christmas. Even New Year's can have some food-related planning required. And, if you're like me, and not Martha Stewart or Rachael Ray in the kitchen, you feel a bit overwhelmed. Admit it! At least some of you do! ;-)

Enter Simply Potatoes. Seriously. I know, I know. I was wary, too. I can't tell you the number of times I've bought prepared potato products only to end up regretting it – or finding it OK, but the kids turning their noses up at it. Well, prepare to be amazed. Simply Potatoes products are GOOD. My husband and I actually have been buying and serving their products for quite some time. Probably a couple of years now. It is the ONLY brand of prepared potato products we buy. No others come close to tasting so good, so authentic, so homemade!

They offer tons of different potato products, plus macaroni and cheese. Here are a few examples:

• Traditional Mashed Potatoes
• Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• Red Potato Wedges
• Diced Potatoes with Onion
• Shredded Hash Browns
• Ranch Steamables

We have bought several of these, and others not listed above. The only ones we haven't tried are the Steamables – they're new, and I'll be looking to try them soon, as they sound good.

One of our favorites is the Traditional Mashed Potatoes. They taste so good, and don't even need salt. They aren't salty; their flavor's just right and doesn't require any enhancement. Coming from me, that is HUGE – I salt my potatoes to death most of the time! 

Our other favorite is Shredded Hash Browns. We almost always have them in our fridge, ready for whenever the mood strikes. My husband usually fries them and makes a skillet dish with it. We add some things – mushrooms for me; mushrooms and onions for him – and top it with cheese and eggs. YUM! Our oldest likes these meals, too.

So, looking at the Simply Potatoes Web site, I've recently discovered that they have tons of recipes. And many of them look good. They have variations for mashed potatoes, desserts, and what they call Simply-fied recipes. There are potato pancakes, sweet potato muffins, and much more. I'm planning to give a few of these a try soon!

So, if you're stressed out over planning holiday meals – or just need something quick for everyday cooking, grab some Simply Potatoes! They're quick, easy, and very tasty!

WIN IT!

One winner will receive a coupon for a free Simply Potatoes product. Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter. Giveaway is open to those in the U.S. only.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Time to Enjoy App

I was recently contacted to review the new Time to Enjoy app, free for iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad users. In short, it's an app that helps you find things to do wherever you are. I tried it out and gotta say, it is a pretty cool app! It has everything – events, movie showings, etc. Whenever I'm at a loss for things to do with the kiddos, this app comes in handy. Very handy! And you can search ahead, then add things to the calendar on your device! It is so easy to use, I love it!

The makers of Time to Enjoy are currently having an Instagram contest:

Download the Time to Enjoy App, Share it on Facebook and Twitter; Follow @timetoenjoy_app on Instagram then take a photo of an event you found on Time to Enjoy onto Instagram using hashtag #timetoenjoy_app. The contest will run from June 6th to June 30th. One reader of all the blogs that participate will be randomly chosen to win a $500 gift card –OR- a $500 total voucher for hotel and airfare on Southwest airlines. For more information and a list of Terms and Conditions, please click here. 

To learn more about Time to Enjoy, check out their site HERE.

Sunday Stealing: The Madness Meme, Part 2

Sunday Stealing: The Madness Meme, Part 2

Cheers to all of us thieves!

23. Do you ever walk around the house naked? No.

24. If you were an animal what would you be? Why? A house cat. Lie around all day, play with random small things, bask in sunlight. Sounds nice.

25. Hair color you like on someone you’re dating? My husband's hair is brown.

26. If suffering an injury, would you rather be left blind or deaf? I honestly don't know. Probably blind, if I HAD to. I can listen to audiobooks, listen to the TV, listen to music. I don't think I could live without music!

27. Do you have any special talents? Don't we all?

28. What do you do as soon as you walk in the house? Take off my shoes and hang up my key.

29. Do you like horror or comedy? Comedy

30. Are you missing anyone? Yes.

31. Where do you want to live when you are old? Don't know. We'll see where I am at that point!

32. Who is the person you can count on the most? My husband.

33. If you could date any celebrity past or present, who would it be? I don't know.

34. What did you dream last night? I don't remember.

35. What is your favorite sport to watch? Football

36. Are you named after anyone? My middle name was my grandmother's middle name.

37. What is your favorite alcoholic drink? I stay away from hard alcohol, but occasionally drink a little wine.

38. Non alcoholic drink? Dr Pepper or chai tea latte

39. Have you ever been in love? Still am.

40. Do you sing in the shower? Sometimes.

41. Have you ever been arrested? No.

42. What is your favorite Holiday? Christmas

43. Would you ever get plastic surgery? Maybe.

44. Have you ever caught a fish? Yes.

Sunday Stealing: The Madness Meme, Part 1

Sunday Stealing: The Madness Meme, Part 1

Cheers to all of us thieves!

1. Have you ever licked the back of a CD to try to get it to work? Um, no. Does that work?

2. What’s the largest age difference between yourself and someone you’ve dated? 3 or 4 years, I think.

3. Ever been in a car wreck? Yep.

4. Were you popular in high school? Not really.

5. Have you ever been on a blind date? No.

6. Are looks important? Sometimes.

7. Do you have any friends that you’ve known for 10 years or more? A few.

8. By what age would you like to be married? I got married when I was 22.

9. Does the number of people a person’s slept with affect your view of them? I don't generally seek out that info.

10. Have you ever made a mistake? Never. I'm perfect! ;-)

11. Are you a good tipper? When I have a good server, I am a generous tipper. When the server doesn't stand out, he/she gets the standard 15%. If I have a shitty server, they get less.

12. What’s the most you have spent for a haircut? Well, I rarely get a cut without color, so it's been $100+. I don't know what a cut on its own would cost.

13. Have you ever had a crush on a teacher? Not that I remember.

14. Have you ever peed in public? Sure. I do it all the time - at the restrooms in a restaurant or at Target or whatever! ;-)

15. What song do you want played at your funeral? I'll Meet You There by White Heart or a song by Matthew West that I currently forget the title of.

16. Would you tell your parents if you were gay? I'm not, so this is a non-issue.

17. What would your last meal be before getting executed? Alaskan King Crab Legs, fries, biscuits from Red Lobster, shrimp, mac and cheese, and lots and lots of chocolate for dessert.

18. Beatles or Stones? Neither.

19. If you had to pick one person on earth to die, who would it be? I'll let God make those kinds of decisions.

20. Beer, wine or hard liquor? A little bit of wine. (Too much alcohol upsets my stomach.)

21. Do you have any phobias? Yes.

22. What are your plans for the future? Immediate future: get my ankle healed up so I can start running again. I miss it already!