Lumi*Essence Organic Advanced Skin Brightening Repair Treatment Review #lumiessence

When I was young & not so smart, I spent a lot of time in the sun. Back then we didn't worry about wearing sunscreen to protect our skin, so I've got lots of freckles as a result. Most of them are on my legs & they don't really bother me but I was curious to see if this Lumi*Essence Organic Advanced Skin Brightening Repair Treatment would lighten them.

This skin brightening treatment is from Sweetsation Therapy & comes in a 2 ounce pump container. The label states that this product contains Kojic Acid to help lighten & reduce the appearance of dark spots plus Alpha-Arbutin which is a skin lightening agent derived from the leaves of cranberry, blueberry & bearberry shrubs to prevent the conversion of pigment-forming enzymes, along with papaya & pineapple extracts which provide intense exfoliation to help reduce the size & color intensity of dark spots & even skin tone over time. My freckles are dark spots which cause my skin tone to be uneven so I'm hoping that this stuff will work!

This product is a white cream with a light texture. It feels smooth & cooling on my skin when I apply it & absorbs quickly with no greasy feeling. The scent is light & refreshing. I've been using this on my legs twice each day for almost a month now. That is not enough time for any product to work on a cellular level but my legs definitely feel softer & hydrated. I'm going to keep using this product because I hope to see good results over time.

Lumi*Essence Organic Advanced Skin Brightening Repair Treatment is hydroquinone-free, contains no toxic ingredients & is Made in the U.S.A. But be aware that it is necessary to wear a sunscreen of at least SPF30 while using this sun damage repair product

You can purchase this skin brightening product on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Essence-Advanced-Brightening-Whitening-Treatment/dp/B009MT5ZXC/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

#lumiessence

I received this product for the purpose of testing and review. Regardless, I only recommend products that I personally use and believe will be good for my readers. The opinions expressed above are 100% my own and are based on my personal experience and use of the product.

Fresh produce! Fresh bread! My Bountiful Baskets goodness.

The last time I picked up produce from Bountiful Baskets was on the Saturday before Easter. I brought home so much that day that this is the first time that I've gone back! It's also the time of year that the local Farmers Markets are open again (some stay open all year, but some only open from May through October) so I want to visit them for even more good stuff!

Bountiful Baskets always offers so many tempting choices each week, but this time I limited myself to the regular basket plus one add-on item.

This is my regular basket: 4 Artisan Romaine lettuce, 2 spaghetti squash, 2 broccoli crowns, 5 sweet corn, 3 orange bell peppers, a cucumber, 8 potatoes, 2 yellow onions, a mango, 6 bananas, 5 Braeburn apples & a honeydew melon. 

This basket was veggie heavy. They usually try to make it 50/50. But I'm not complaining!

This is my Assorted Bread Pack (add-on item): 4 loaves of English Muffin Bread & 2 French baguettes. These have no artificial preservatives so most of it will go straight to the freezer. 

I got all of this for $28.50 (which includes the $3.50 which is added to each order in Texas to contribute to the fuel costs for the trucks). The spaghetti squash are new to us. I've seen them in the grocery produce sections but never bought one so we've never tasted it before. And the cute little Artisan Romaine lettuce which I was told are great to use for wrap sandwiches because they are the perfect size. 

If you want information about Bountiful Baskets, you can go here to read the New Participant Information.

I'll go back for more produce from Bountiful Baskets in mid-May. We have plans to visit one of the local Farmers Markets in our area next Saturday. I can't wait to see what we find there!

Until next time....

Get smooth, sandal-ready feet in seconds! Pedi.Cure Callus Remover Review plus GIVEAWAY! #PediCure

Warmer weather is here! Are your feet ready for those cute summer sandals? Mine are ready thanks to this Pedi.Cure Callus Remover. It helps smooth those rough spots in just a few seconds.

When I'm at home I go barefoot all the time, all year long. Unless I'm going to get in the car & go somewhere, I don't bother with shoes. So I like to know that my feet look & feel smooth all the time. This Pedi.Cure Callus Remover is like a "pedicure in the palm of your hand"!

The Pedi.Cure unit comes with 2 different roller grinding heads, a cleaning brush & a protective cover. It runs on 2 AA batteries which are not included. The roller grinding heads spin to gently buff away the hard dry skin on your feet & heels. This unit is water-resistant so it can be used in the shower. I haven't done that yet, but it's good to know that I can.

I use my Pedi.Cure every time I feel any rough or dry skin on my heels. It's easier to use than the pumice stones that I have been using & I'm very happy with the results.

The Pedi.Cure Callus Remover can be purchased on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Pedi-Cure-Solutions-Release-Electric-Remover/dp/B00U6UBPNU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1430151434&sr=8-2&keywords=pedi.cure

So. Do you want sexy smooth feet in just minutes, with no hassle? One of my lucky readers is going to win a Pedi.Cure Callus Remover!

GIVEAWAY RULES

You must be 18+ in order to win.

This contest is open only to Residents of the U.S.

This Giveaway will end on May 11

One winner will be randomly chosen & will be notified by email.

The winner will have 24 hours to respond with their shipping information.

The prize will be shipped by the sponsor. I am not responsible for shipping.

GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#PediCure

I received this product for the purpose of testing and review. Regardless, I only recommend products that I personally use and believe will be good for my readers. The opinions expressed above are 100% my own and are based on my personal experience and use of the product.

Knife Sharpener from Priority Chef Review #prioritychef

We are still using a knife set that we got back in 1999. I'd love to have a brand new set of sharp knives in a beautiful cutlery block but, when I find one that I like, they are so expensive that I just can't justify the cost. My husband sharpens our knives from time to time in his work shed in the backyard (I have no idea how he does it & I don't ask!), but then I received this Knife Sharpener from Priority Chef to review.

The Priority Chef Knife Sharpener is black & silver with a sleek modern design. It has a handle that is comfortable to grip. It has a non-slip rubber base so that I feel safer when using the sharpener because I know it isn't going to slide on the countertop. It comes with easy to understand instructions & tips to safely use the knife sharpener. The 2 sharpening slots are labeled for Stage 1 & Stage 2 sharpening.

This is a 2-stage knife sharpening system. Stage 1 is coarse sharpening using Tungsten carbide blades for dull or blunt knife blades. Stage 2 is fine sharpening using ceramic wheels to smooth & sharpen a knife blade that just needs a basic sharpening before use. To use, place the knife sharpener on your countertop or another flat surface. Hold the handle firmly with one hand while you run your knife blade through the slot from the base to the tip (do not pull the knife back & forth through the sharpener). You will always have full control as you use the sharpener. After your knife is sharpened, wipe it with a damp cloth or rinse it under running water & then dry it thoroughly. And that's it!

This knife sharpener is not to be used to sharpen scissors or serrated knives. Do not put it in the dishwasher or submerge it in water. And always keep knives & sharpeners out of the reach of children.

Are you ready to make your old knives better than new knives? Then get this Knife Sharpener & you can save the expense of replacing old knives.

The Priority Chef Knife Sharpener is available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Priority-Chef-Sharpener-Designed-Sharper/dp/B00R9P59OG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429895453&sr=8-1&keywords=Knife+Sharpener+From+Priority+Chef

#priority chef

I received this product for the purpose of testing and review. Regardless, I only recommend products that I personally use and believe will be good for my readers. The opinions expressed above are 100% my own and are based on my personal experience and use of the product.

Unboxing....WalMart Spring Beauty Box #WalMartBeauty

My Spring beauty box from WalMart finally arrived! The $5 charge showed up on my credit card statement back on the 17th of March, but the box didn't arrive until a couple of days ago.

When I opened the box, the products were covered with peach-colored tissue paper. When I pulled it back, I found 4 sample-sized products, a perfume sample, some foil packet samples & some coupons. The Winter Beauty Box was much better because I received 2 full-size products & not so many foil packets.

Sample-size products: L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Restoring Shampoo & Conditioner, Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream & Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E.

Perfume sample: Lady Gage Fame.

Foil Packet samples: Burt's Bees Renewal Intensive Firming Serum; Palmer's Skin Therapy Oil; Ken Paves Smoothing Shampoo, Smoothing Conditioner & Thick Conditioning Mask; & Garnier Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream.

Coupons:
FREE Dove, Degree or Axe Dry Spray Antiperspirant
$3 off Burt's Bees Renewal
$1 off Palmer's Skin Therapy Oil
$2 off any Garnier moisturizer

I know that there are 2 versions of these boxes. This is the "older" box. I think the people who got the "younger" box received a full-size mascara so I'm jealous of that. I wish they would put at least 1 full-size item in every box. Next time I may order one of each just to see the difference in the products.

#WalMartBeauty

Zester/Grater from Smarty Pants Supplies Review #spsupplies

I have a zester & I have a grater. My zester is a tiny little thing that I bought the first time I needed lime zest for a recipe. But the holes are so small that it doesn't work well & causes lots of frustration with little success. My grater is really designed to grate cheese so the holes are larger & not what I need to zest limes or other citrus fruits. But this Zester/Grater from Smarty Pants Supplies is the answer to my problems!

When I opened the box I was surprised to see that the zester/grater comes with a protective plastic cover. Once I removed it, I could see why....this baby is sharp! It is an 8" long stainless steel blade with a 5" handle that is comfortable to grip. The handle has a hole so that the zester/grater could be stored on a hanging utensil rack. I have a drawer where I keep my kitchen gadgets so the protective cover will save me from scraping my fingers when I'm digging around in there.

So far I've only used my zester/grater to zest citrus fruits for recipes & garnish. I have an awesome chocolate chip cookie recipe that calls for one of those BIG Hershey's Dark Chocolate bars to be grated so I'll use this for that task. Plus I want to get a big chunk of hard Parmesan cheese for Italian Night next week & this product will make it a breeze to grate quickly. And Smarty Pants Supplies sent a recipe book in PDF format that has a recipe for DIY Lemon Zest Soap that I'm going to try this weekend.

So, if you want to replace your old zester/grater because it just doesn't get the job done or has become dull, you will be happy with this one. It is dishwasher safe & is backed with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

You can purchase this Zester/Grater from Smarty Pants Supplies on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Zester-Premium-Grater-Stainless-Protective/dp/B00KCY43U2/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

#spsupplies

I received this product for the purpose of testing and review. Regardless, I only recommend products that I personally use and believe will be good for my readers. The opinions expressed above are 100% my own and are based on my personal experience and use of the product.

Unboxing....Beauty Joy Box April 2015

I'm a bit disappointed this month with my Beauty Joy Box. Not with the products that are inside the box, but with the packaging. Last month, Beauty Joy finally shipped their beauty box nestled inside of shredded crinkle paper & packed in a sturdy packing box. This month, the beauty box came inside of a not-very-padded envelope. When I opened the beauty box, there was no pretty crinkle paper & they didn't use their cute fleur-de-lis tissue paper inside the box. Just plain white tissue this month. I guess they are still experimenting with packaging, but when my beauty box arrives I like the presentation to be just as special as the contents.

This is what it looked like when I pulled it out of the envelope. Just the Beauty Joy Box & the information card. And when I took the top off of the box, no cute tissue paper. Just plain white. Kind of a letdown.

But the products inside of the box were not a letdown at all! A full-size lip product & how cute is that bracelet?!?! This subscription box comes with 1 hand-curated jewelry item, 1 full-size beauty item & 2 - 3 deluxe samples. Here is what came in the box this month:

Gemstone Bracelet - Each gemstone chip is unique & strung together to form a beautiful bracelet just for you. Made with stones of Garnet, Sodalite, Jade, Rose Quartz, Peridot, Obsidian & more. $8

Too Faced Sweet Sun Shine Lip Gloss in Watermelon Ice (full-size) $16

Tocca Body Lotion Cleopatra Crema da Corpo (2 fluid ounce) $4.50

Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Moisturizing Lather Shampoo 

& Keratin Cream Rinse 

(1 fluid ounce each) $3.25 each

The value of the items in this box is $35. The cost of this subscription is $15 per month & can be cancelled at any time before you are billed for the following month. Billing is done on the 1st of the month. Shipping is free for the U.S. & $5 for Canada.

So. I like this box! All of the beauty products are new to me. I've used Paul Mitchell hair products before, but not these. And the bracelet is especially cute. My dad was a Geologist so he used to make bracelets & necklaces for me. This really brings back memories & I can't wait to wear it! 

And....I can't wait to see what comes next month!