Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Anjou Essential Oil Set Review

I've recently been reading a lot about the healing properties of essential oils. I've bought a few books  and an essential oil diffuser. I've tried a few different oils . I really like the idea of using natural essential oils to treat many ailments. When I saw this essential oil gift set I thought it would be a great gift to get some one started with using essential oils. This set comes with 5  10 ml bottles of essential oil lavender,  lemongrass, peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree and sweet orange scents. They all come beautifully packaged in a nice box, making it a perfect gift. These scents are some of the most frequently used essential oils. They all have great benefits. Lavender has great stress relief and relaxation properties. Lemongrass also has calming effects and purifiers and refreshes the air. Peppermint stimulates your senses and clears your mind. Eucalyptus clears your respiratory system and relieves pain. Tea tree is a great antifungal and helps to make skin supple.Sweet Orange is mood enhancing. Just a few drops of the oil is all it takes in a diffuser. They are very concentrated. You must be careful not to dump too much oil from the bottles. It doesn't come out just one drop at a time. The scent fills your whole room within minutes. You can also use these in diffuser necklaces or even directly on your skin. If you mix them with a carrier oil you can create a lovely scented massage oil to soothe many ailments. They are all natural and they all smell amazing. My favorite is the lemongrass. I also like to use the lavender before bed to relax me. These are potent. They are very nice quality. They are packaged just right to make a perfect gift. I would recommend this set to anyone who wants to get into essential oils, or anyone who needs a gift for someone who loves to scent their home or likes natural remedies. You can get this set on Amazon Here.

I received this product for free for my honest unbiased review.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Magic Town Princess Dress Review

I was really happy to receive this adorable girls princess dress from Magic Town on Amazon. This is an adorable dress for playing dress up, Halloween or even a dance outfit.  It's in a pretty soft pink color. The top is made from a velvety super soft material. It has sweet puffy sleeves. The skirt is poofy and made from layers of pink tulle. The tulle is sprinkled with little white hearts. It's belted with a satin bow.

This is perfect for any little girl who loves dress up and being a princess. The skirt is very full. It's perfect for twirling. The bottom edge is feathery which makes it look even more beautiful. The top is very soft.It's made in one piece, and it's easy to put on at any age. It comes in an array of sizes.It fits snug at the top and flares out at the waist.  It's made very well.  This is such a cute dress and perfect for any little girl.

I received this product for free for my honest unbiased review.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Howlin' for Giveaways Hop

howlin-for-giveaways-hop
Welcome to the Howlin' for Giveaways Giveaway Hop presented by The Hopping Bloggers!
Many bloggers have come together to bring you some amazing prizes! Each prize is worth a minimum of $15, but some are worth much more. There is no limit to how many you can win - so enter them all! GOOD LUCK!
Start here and enter to win a great surprise gift package worth $50. Then continue on to the linky below to enter to win lots more prizes from some other great bloggers. Good Luck!

Roberta's World Surprise Gift bundle Giveaway Landing Page (Automatic)

The Hopping Bloggers and participating bloggers are not responsible for the delivery of prizes.
Are you a blogger looking to connect with brands? Join The Hopping Bloggers database and get started today! Are you a brand looking to connect with a network of over 1,000 professional bloggers? Click here to see all that we have to offer and get your personalized quote!

My First Play by Sephora Box: Unboxing

Hey there lovely readers. I'm so excited to do my first unboxing for my new Play by Sephora box. I am a big Sephora fan. The store is like a playground for makeup addicts like me. I love trying new products. This subscription box is just $10 a month.  If you're not familiar with Sephora, here's what you need to know.
1. You can try on everything in the store before you buy it
2. They have a great return policy, even if you've tried the product.
3. Yes, it's expensive, but the products are excellent. You won't find them in a drug store.
4. You earn reward points with every purpose and can redeem them for free gifts when you sign up to be a beauty insider. You also get a free gift on your birthday.
5. They have free in store makeup lessons and mini makeovers.

Now that I've got your attention.lets dig into my October Play! box. I can hardly contain my excitement!

The box comes in true Sephora style with their trademark black and white stripes.
Inside you get a fold out  guide to all of the products. Attached to it is a card that you can bring into the store, to get 50 extra reward points, and a personalized tutorial for your products.

When you open up your guide. There is a description of each product, with cute illustrations. They tell you how to use it, what the ingredients are, and why it's cool. This is so helpful. You can also get exclusive info if you download the Play app.


All of the products came in an adorable canvas drawstring bag. 
This is great for storage or travel. 

And finally, drum roll please...........
The products.


The first thing I pulled out of the bag was Pharmacy Skin Dew. This is a hydrating mist and setting spray. You can use it to hydrate your skin before makeup, in between steps or after as a setting spray. It smells minty kind of like tea tree oil. I tried it on top of my makeup. It's refreshing. It does spray out quite a bit. I patted it into my skin. It gives it kind of a dewy appearancevwhich is nice. It doesn't feel sticky or tacky. It absorbs right away . This is a decent size sample.



The second product was the Smashbox, Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick in a shade called Driver's Seat. This is in an almost brick red or dark terracotta color. It's nice. I love smashbox products. They always have fun names and great products. When this lipstick says always on, it's because once you put this on it doesn't move. I switched it on my wrist and then let it dry. 

It takes some hard rubbing to make it move. I love that. It will stay all day. It has a great matte finish. You get a good sized sample.



Next, I pulled out Madam CJ Walker Beauty Culture Scent and Shine Coconut Oil. This is great for girls with curly hair like me. It's an oil that you can pull through wet or dry hair, that adds shine and hydrates. This smells Devine. To me it's like a vanilla cupcake. It was a decent size sample because it only takes a few drops. The smell alone is enough to make me use this, but I'm excited to see the hydrating and Shine. 



Next we have the Drunk Elephant TLC Framboos Glycolic Night Serum. This is made to resurface dull skin and give you a rAdiant complexion. I use serum often, so this was a cool one. I like the light clean fresh scent. It has a silky gel texture that left my skin feeling so soft. 



Next we have the Estee Edit by Estee Lauder. This is a flash photo gloss, designed to make your teeth look whiter in photos. It's a high shine gloss with a blue undertone to make your teeth look white.


. It has a nice scent to it. It's a thicker formula. You can't see the blue undertone..it looks clear but it is very shiny. I don't know if it makes my teeth look whiter but it's a very pretty gloss. I don't know you tell me?



The final item is the Silent St.  Fragrance by Derek Lam , which is part of his 10 Crosby collection. This comes in a typical sample size sprayer but one thing I love is that the sprayer sprayed the finest mist, not like your usual bottle that sprays way to much. It's perfect. A little goes a long way. This is a soft musk scent. I'm not sure it's for me, but it is very pretty soft and floral. 

Overall I was very happy with my October Play! Box.I 'll liked all of the products. The sample sizes were good. The bag was cute and there was lots of information. It's well worth $10. I think that the sandbox lipstick is probably that much alone. My only thought is that because I love Sephora so much for makeup, I would have liked to see more makeup products, but I'm excited to use all of the products more. I can't wait to see what's in next month's box. If you are interested in subscribing to Play! By Sephora you can get on the waiting list Here.

Thanks for reading !!!  xoxo



Tuesday, October 18, 2016

14 Nights of Halloween Giveaway


It's that time of year again. The days are getting shorter, the air is getting cooler and the nights are getting spookier. Yes, it's time for tricks and treats, goblins and ghouls, chills and thrills and huge amounts of sugary sweets. But at the Laughing Vixen Lounge blog it's also time for the 5th annual Attack of the 14 Nights of Halloween Giveaway. Join Laughing Vixen Lounge and our bewitching co-hosts The Kids Did It, The Mommy Island, Herding Cats and Burning Soup, The Hopping Bloggers, Mama Smith's Reviews and Women and Their Pretties for a spooktacular Halloween event.


Enter to win a $250 Prize Pack filled with goodies from 10 wickedly fabulous shops. All shops are offering Gift Cards or your choice of item(s) so there will be something for everyone. You'll find lots of unique, handcrafted and custom designs to choose from.


Visit the Laughing Vixen Lounge blog daily during the giveaway for the Halloween Movie Marathon. Test your movie knowledge with the Guess the Movie Game. Then try to solve the Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt, if you dare! Each event will get you daily entries in the giveaway plus a special giveaway for the Scavenger Hunt. Find full details for these events HERE.

I love scary movies, from classics, which are a Halloween tradition, to newer even scarier movies. I don't think I could ever pick a favorite. I've always loved the Nightmare on Elm Street movies. 
They are some of the first horror movies I watched. They are a little cheesier now, but still fun to watch.  One, a bit more recent  movie, I can remember really freaking me out was 13 ghosts. There's lots of frightening things in that one. 
I remember a few parts in that movie that stuck with me for a while.lol. Halloween is such a fun time of the year. 
I invite you to leave me a comment with your favorite scary movie. 

You can start by entering the Rafflecopter widget below. To experience all the games, movies, shop features, giveaway info and all around awesome fun make sure to stop by the Laughing Vixen Lounge blog HERE.& nbsp;


The giveaway runs October 18th - November 1st and is open worldwide to anyone 18+. 1 winner will win the Prize Pack and 1 winner will win the Scavenger Hunt Prize Pack. Laughing Vixen Lounge is responsible for all giveaway details. Click HERE for full details.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Magnetic Knife Bar Review

I don't know about you but I have a drawer full of knifes. They are thrown in the drawer banging up against each other, getting dull. It's hard to find the one I want.

This magnetic knife strip from ONME is a really cool solution to that problem. The knife strip is easy to install on any kitchen wall, or if you're like me and you have minimal kitchen wall space, you can simply take the back off and stick it to the side of your refrigerator.The magnet is incredibly strong. It's easy to stick your knives to it. It keeps them visible, and at arms reach. You don't have to dig through a drawer. It's very functional. It's very strong and durable. This is a great product that would make an excellent housewarming or wedding gift.This product can be found on Amazon Here.

I received this product for free for my honest unbiased review.

The Bread Baker's Apprentice Book Review

My boyfriend doesn't cook much, but the one thing he does like to do is bake bread. I had the chance to write a review for The Bread Baker's Apprentice by Peter Reinhart, and I thought this would be a great book for him to learn more. Boy, was I right. Peter Reinhart has written 8 books about bread and baking. He's also won the James Beard Award for 3 of them. He is a baking instructor at Johnson and Wales University.
This book is incredibly detailed. You read details about ingredients and the process of bread making that you probably never considered before. The book gives you an actual mathematical formula for bread making.

 You get checklists and charts, including a chart that lists the types of breads and all of their attributes. The author talks about the 12 steps of making bread. You get pictorial and written instructions on making all different bread shapes, and formulas for all different types of bread. The book is full of great pictures. There are tons of great bread recipes including bagels, Challah,ciabatta,marble rye, French, and English muffins. Each recipe includes detailed instructions, a recipe list including measurements in your usual a l cups and tablespoon measurements and also in grams and ounces, and percentages of ingredients. You also get a section with tips and commentary. You learn to bake like a master with this great hardcover book. It would make a great gift for your favorite baker. You can pick up this great book, and get more information Here.

I received this book for free for my honest unbiased review.

Aromatherapy Diffuser Review

I've always been interested in essential oils. I have several books on the subject. I was very happy to try out an essential oil diffuser from URPOWER . This diffuser can be found on Amazon.
The diffuser is very sleek and modern looking. Its in a light woodgrain. It sits easily on any surface. It is very simple to use, and comes with easy to follow instructions. You simply add water, and then your choice of essential oil. This product acts as a diffuser, humidifier, air purifier, ionizer and night light. I love multi functional products. You dont need much oil and the scent fills the room. Its infused into the air with the humidifier function.

 I love having a humidifier in my bedroom, and now I can add lavender essential oil which helps me fall asleep. The nightlight function is also great. Its a soft light that comes in 7 different colors you can choose from. The machine is so quiet. The mist can last up to 6 hours, and will shut off automatically when it runs out of water. The controls a re e easy. You can choose to set a timer, or selet high or low on the amount of mist that comes out. This can be used in any room. Its very stylish, and functional. I was very impressed by the ease of use, and the multi functional design. Its a great product.

I received this product for free for my honest unbiased review.

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Bib and Sola Hand Blown Glass Water Decanter Review

I was recently able to try out a beautiful water decanter from Bib and Sola, found on Amazon. This is a modern sleek functional art piece. It has a slim silhouette.The decanter is made well, and hand made which I love. It's made of strong hand blown glass. It's mostly clear glass, with a colored accent that starts at the base and shoots upward.

The narrow mouth of the decanter has a spout that directs the water into the glass for a mess free pour. This is a beautiful one of a kind art piece,because they're hand blown, there are no two the same.  This is great for a dinner party or for every day. It will really elevate your table. When it's not in use it looks great in your hutch or on a shelf. This striking decanter comes in a variety of colors. I got it in the blue and the color is electric.  It holds about four glasses of water. It's very functional and beautiful . It's a great addition to any home.

I received this product for free for my honest unbiased review.

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Unique Pretzels Review

I was able to try several flavors and styles of unique pretzels, and let me tell you there isn't a bad one in the bunch.Unique pretzels has a variety of pretzels, something for everyone. Their pretzel shells and pretzel splits are the 2 main styles. Shells are like large pretzel sticks but they are hollow inside. This gives them a unique airy crunch. You have the best part of the pretzel, and they leave out the inside which is sometimes too dry. Splits are your original shaped pretzels, these are baked in such a way that it creates bubbles and crevices where you get a lot of flavor and crunch. The great part about both of these unique pretzels is that they are cholesterol free, trans fat free, and all natural, what could be better? Just one thing, they taste great. The splits come in original, multigrain, extra dark, extra salt, and unsalted. If you like a lot of flavor, the shells have the "Flavor shocked" flavors. You can try tangy ranch, bacon cheddar, honey mustard, and buffalo. These shells are soaked in flavor. They are all truly awesome. I loved all of the flavors, my favorite was the tangy ranch. I also loved the multigrain splits. If you're very health conscious, though the pretzels I've already mentioned a definitely a healthy snack, if you want to take it further they also offer the splits and shells in the Sprouted variety. These are still cholesterol free, trans fat free and all natural, but you get the added bonus of them being digestive friendly, diabetic friendly, heart healthy, lactose free, sugar free, high fiber, kosher and vegan. By just using 4 ingredients these give you a truly healthy option. The splits and shells also come in convenient snack sized bags for your convenience.
These are all truly unique snacks. I really loved that they had to.s of choices each unique and delicious. They truly do have something for everyone. I am a shells fan for sure.. I love the flavors. Everyone in my family loved these pretzels, and I can rest assured knowing they are a healthy alternative with no lack of flavor. I couldn't be happier. These pretzels are available on Amazon Here.

I received this product for free for my honest unbiased review.

Novice Mosaic Glass Mirror Review

This mirror is absolutely stunning..It is also a fair trade product from India, so your not only buying a beautiful piece of home decor that will transform any space you put it in but also helping artisans in developing countries get a fair price for their hand crafted goods. The mirror is made from mosaic glass tiles in brilliant blues and greens. It is beautifully designed with multifaceted tiles on mdf in a pretty circular shape. 
It has nice quality hangers on the back.All of the tiles really shine and glimmer in the sunlight. The mirror is made very well. It is very durable. It is packaged superbly to avoid and cracking or damage. It also includes a small booklet that tells you all about Kamal who is the designer.Novica in association with national geographic has worked directly with Kamal who makes these mirrors. The little booklet describes the mirror, and where it was made.
 It gives you a little background on Kamal. There's even a unique name for the mirror, in this case Aqua Fantasy. It's a fitting name for this stunning piece of artistry.This would make a beautiful and meaningful gift that anyone would love. It really stands out as a unique piece of home decor.You can find it on Amazon Here.

I received this product at a discount for my honest unbiased review.

20 inch Wavy Ombre Hair Extension Review

This clip in extension is really fun and flirty. It has a pretty ombre effect, which is in style right now. It starts out a light brown color and then gradually lightens into a pale blonde. The color is very close to my own hair. It looks very natural. This blended pretty well into my hair. 

The ombre look is great because you dont have to spend money on touch ups very often, and it looks trendy and cool..I did notice that there was a chemical smell when I took it out of the package, but I've found with other extensions or wigs that this will subside after its been out of the packaging for a while.Im sure the same will happen with this one. This piece adds some nice length, and it has a beautiful loose curl to it.. The hair is secured to your head by little clips, which are very easy to use. 

I find that if you tease the hair first that you are going to attach it to, then it is so secure it will last for quite a while. The hair is 20" long. This is great for a dressed up or casual look. You can easily style your hair to go either way.Its simple to put it and makes you feel like a million bucks. This is not a cheap or cheesy extension. It has a nice weight to it, and it looks very natural. It added that perfect touch to make my hair look beautiful .You can get one of these on Amazon Here.

I received this product for free for my honest unbiased review.

22 inch Clip in Ombre Hair Extension Review

This clip in extension was absolutely beautiful. It has a really pretty ombre effect, which is very much on trend right now. It starts out a dark brown color and then gradually lightens into a pretty sandy blonde. The color is really nice. This blended with my hair perfectly.

 You could not tell the difference.I did notice that there was a chemical smell when I took it out of the package, but I've found with other extensions or wigs that this will subside after its been out of the packaging for a while.Im sure the same will happen with this one. The hair was very thick and luxurious, so it added a lot of fullness to my hair. The hair is secured to your head by little clips, which are very easy to use. I find that if you tease the hair first that you are going to attach it to, then it is so secure it will last till you decide to take it out.

 The hair is straight and 22" long. This is great if you want to make a statement with your hair. You could wear it for special occasions, on your wedding, or just every day.Its simple to put it and makes a huge difference in how you look and feel. This is not a cheap or cheesy extension. It has a lot of hair with a good weight to it, and it looks very natural. It made me feel so glamorous .You can get one for yourself on Amazon, Here.

I received this product for free for my honest unbiased review.

Vintage Skeleton Key Shaped Wedding Favors Review

I've always thought about my wedding, since I was a little girl. There is so much that goes into planning a wedding, and sometimes it's the little details that make it truly unique.You want your wedding to be memorable, and stand out.These antique key place card holders will help make the impact you want, to make it memorable for your guests and yourself.

 In this package you get 100 antique gold toned skeleton key replicas. These pretty detailed keys look like the real thing. The design is beautiful. It is full of loops and curls just like a real vintage key. It's elegant and unique with a vintage flare.The keys are light weight but also very strong. The part of the key that would go into the keyhole to unlock a door is made with a little groove to hold your wedding place card, and the set comes with a whole package of cards to go into your keys. The white cards already have a printed design, with the word love, and then a space for the guests name and table #.

The patina on the the key makes it look like a real antique. The keys are made of metal alloy, so they are plenty durable. They will sit flat on your table and hold the place cards securely. They are so functional, but also a unique and special part of your wedding decor. These also function as more than one component of your wedding, which makes them a money saver. They also become a beautiful and thoughtful party favor for your guests, so they can take a memory of your wedding home with them. I am so glad that I found these lovely keys. Because of them, someday, my wedding will have a special touch that will make it extra memorable.I was lucky enough to get to try 3 different styles of these keys. The first you see in the pictures above. You can find it on Amazon Here. 

The second set comes in a pack of 40 keys.They have an antique copper look. They look very authentic. 

This design is very beautiful and detailed with pretty curved lines.It's very elegant and feminine.It even has a little heart emblem on it. The symbolism, a key to my heart,is a sweet detail.

Like the last set, they come with the same cards.These can be found on Amazon Here.

The third set comes with 25 silver toned keys. They have beautiful heart shaped handles, once again a nod to love, which is perfect for your wedding day.

 It has elegant lines and a pretty shiny silver finish. This one also has the sweet little heart emblem on it. These also function as a bottle opener making them the perfect favor. Like the others, the set comes with the cards to put in your keys.


You can find this set on Amazon Here.
All three designs are beautiful and durable. You can choose to mix them up, like me, for a more eclectic look, or you can focus on just one style that you like best. They will all add an unforgettable special charm to your wedding.

I received these products for free for my honest unbiased review.

Diamond Gel Pens Review

This set is the complete package. First of all my set of 36 gel pens came in a hard plastic carrying case that keeps them organized, protected, and easy to travel with. It clicks close tightly and securely by 3 plastic latches. The case and the latches are strong and durable. They are easy to open, but wont fall open on their own.

 Each gel pen clicks into place in the case so you never get a messy jumble of pens when you open it. They stay in place, organized and make a beautiful display of pens, so it's easy to find exactly what you need. The gel pens themselves are a unique slim designed pen, easy and comfortable to hold.You get a variety of options with this set. It includes 12 glitter gel pens, !2 neon gel pens, and 12 pastel gel pens. These pens all write seamlessly. They are great for writing letters, making cards, scrapbooking or even coloring in my favorite new adult coloring books. 

They are great vivid colors. You have all of the colors you could want. The ink lasts very well. They have a very fine ballpoint tip for detailed work. The ink doesn't skip at all when you write. It is crystal clear. This set would make an amazing gift for any artist, crafter, or coloring enthusiast, adult and child alike. Its a beautiful set. I have been using them non stop. I love how easy it is to take with me on the go, and how beautifully the work. My favorite are the neon colors. They are so bright and fun, but they are all wonderful, and versatile. You can find this set on Amazon Here.

I received this product for free for my honest unbiased review.

ILifeTech Baby Bottle Drying Rack Review

This is a simple but very useful product for any mom. This bottle drying rack is fun and functional. It is very easy to assemble. 

It comes with a white base with 10 holes, and 10 various attachments. Its very simple and easy to just pop the attachments into the holes and you are good to go. 

Once they are in the holes they are very secure. Once it's set up the bottle rack looks like a fun vibrant garden of sorts almost like a scene from dr. suess. It is very versatile, because of the 3 different styles of attachments that stick up out of the base. You have 3 curved, tall bright green grass like appendages that are perfect for holding your bottles. You also get two similar bright green tall appendages that look sort of like a cactus or stem with leaves. These are great because they can be used for many different things. They have 5 spots to hang things on such as nasal aspirators, nipples, pacifiers or anything else. Lastly you get 5 small red appendages, which look like little flower buds, these are perfect for your nipples or bottle tops.

 The base itself is designed in such a way that it has a raised edge and sinks down in the center.This is great because it will hold the water that drips off of your drying bottles and accessories. Its very light weight and does not take up much space. Its also very durable and the pieces are strong and secure. If you have older kids that you want to help, they will love hanging things on this drying rack to dry. It has such a fun vibrant look to it. It works wonderfully, and everything is right there when you need it. You don't have to worry about things getting knocked over and not drying properly because this keeps everything in place as it dries. The pieces can be taken out and it can be stored very flat and compact, but I like to keep it right out on my counter, because it does not get in the way, its there when you need it, and it looks cool in the You can find this product on Amazon Here.

I received this product for free for my honest unbiased review.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Skater Skirt Review

I recently got to try a cute little skater skirt from Kate Kasin on Amazon. It has a big bold , colorful, floral print, with a navy blue background. The skirt is very stretchy, so I was able to wear it even though it was a size smaller than I'd usually buy. The material is a little bit cheap feeling.

 It's mostly p polyester, but it still looks cute on. It's great with a white tank, a cardigan and a fun statement necklace. It's comfortable to wear. It's flattering on any body type. It flares out in a fun flirty way. It's a cute skirt that's very feminine. Overall I was pretty happy with it.

I received this product for free for my honest unbiased review.