Facial Sponge - Konjac Sponge With Activated Bamboo Charcoal

I was given a chance to try and review this Konjac sponge with bamboo charcoal in exchange for my honest opinion. 
At first I had no idea what it did or how to use it. After a bit of searching the web I came across a few video tutorials and I was immediately intrigued.
When I first opened the packaging it was as hard as a pumice stone but after soaking it in water like the directions said it became incredibly soft and ready to use. You can use the sponge with or without soap, I chose to test it without. I squeezed the sponge between both hands to get the excess water out, I started buffing my skin in small circular motions which gently exfoliated.
The konjac sponge is completely natural and biodegradable. It typically lasts for 2-3 months and has a string to hang it with so it will completely dry, preventing any bacteria from growing. The sponge shrinks when it is dry, which is perfectly normal and should be expected. It’s great for people with oily or acne prone skin as it cleanses your pores and reduces oil.

Check it out on Amazon

YALMEH Super Youth Eye Cream 15g 0.5 OZ Review

This came in a small jar instead of the tube pictured on Amazon and I was quite happy about that, jars are so much easier to deal with then tubes. It is a cream instead of a gel which I love, yes that is a personal preference. It is a smooth and rich feeling cream, it does not leave a sticky, greasy, or oily feeling behind. It absorbs quickly into my skin with a slight cooling feel. It does have a tiny bit of smell which to me is a very fresh smell, it is not from added fragrances as this product is all natural. The smell does go away about as fast as it absorbs. It does not contain any toxic chemicals, mineral oil, propylene glycol or paraben. It is never ever tested on animals. The company does offer a 90 day money back guarantee, which I won't be needing. I will be buying again.
I was given this product as a sample to try and give my honest opinion of.

Visit the Yalmeh Website

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Retseliney Eye Gel Review

I was chosen to receive this Retseliney Eye Gel in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have tried other Retseliney products and find them to be quality products. I really like their  Retseliney neck cream. 

This is the eye gel and it is very nice, it does have a slight burning sensation when I first apply it, but that goes away right after it dries. It also feels somewhat cool. I don't notice any smell with it, most eye gels all smell like cucumber. Not that I don't like the cucumber smell, I just don't really see the need for it. 

  I have horrible dark circles under my eyes and this does help with the darkness and the puffiness. I have tried other wonder gels that swear they will do the same and do not. So this is definitely a product worth keeping. I can feel and see the tightening. 

 It is 98.5% naturally derived, 72% organic, and good for all skin types. And the company does not test on animals.  The bottle is a pump sty;e with a push on pull off lid, it is not child proof.

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Retseliney Neck Cream Review

I was chosen to receive this product in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have only been using this about a week but after just the first use my skin already felt softer. I really like that it is a cream instead of a gel. Not sure why I feel that way really, I just prefer creams. A lot of gels have  almost sticky feel afterwards but this did not at all. I also like the bottle being a pump style bottle. It does have  push on pull off cap and is not child proof.
  It only has a slight smell to it, to me it is a hint of cucumber. It is a very light smell and goes away after it dries.
  My skin is not sagging or wrinkled, but I don't want to get that way. So I have tried a few different creams and gels, and this definitely one of the tops of the list.
  It is 98.5% naturally derived, 70% organic, and good for all skin types. And the company does not test on animals.

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Silicon Devices COMFORT+ Bluetooth Earphone Review

I was chosen to receive these Silicon Devices COMFORT+ Bluetooth Earphones in exchange for my honest review. 

Honestly I love them. I work for a cleaning service and am in full motion all day. Regular wired earphones are a pain. always getting hung up on stuff and getting ripped out of my ears. If I buy cheap ones I am lucky if they last a day, but now I have these babies. I can do anything I need to do and nothing is getting hung up and nothing is being ripped out of my ears.

 The volume is great, the sound quality is amazing, they are extremely comfortable. 

In the box you get a zippered case to keep everything in, you get the earphones, charging micro usb cable, and lots of different sized ear caps and ear locks. 

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K2R Cell Phone Car Mount Review

I tried taking the pictures in the car, but they didn't show up to well, so I took them in the house so you can fully see this handy little mount.

This si by far the coolest mount of it's kind I have personally seen. On the back out the phone holder part it has this little button they almost robotically opens the little side arms, you put your phone in, squeeze the arms snug up to the phone, then on the back there is a lock and unlock button, which locks the arms so your phone cannot work loose while you are driving. To me this is awesome.

 It also has a really strong suction cup on the bottom of the base which you can attach to either your dash or the windshield, and there is a button for that too. I like that the phone base and the suction base slides together so if you need to pick your phone up just slide it upright an it comes off the base. This is very helpful since those buttons that make your phone stay are on the back of the base. I really like this phone mount and it will hold even the larger phones. Also the phone base will turn a full 360 degrees, so you can put your phone at any angle you need.

I was given my phone mount in exchange for my honest review.

Check it out on Amazon

Going Against the Grain by: Nuccia Ardagna review and giveaway

Book Description:

This two-part book is a vital adjunct to any home attempting to be gluten-free. The first part guides you through early diagnosis and is an essential guide for any beginner diagnosed with celiac disease or some form of gluten sensitivity. You will learn how to identify symptoms of the disease, how celiac disease is diagnosed, and the consequences if left untreated. It will help you to understand how to read labels and how to manage your gluten-free home in a shared environment. It outlines practical advice for parents of children with celiac disease as well as tips for eating out and dealing with social settings such as special occasions or when traveling. Honorary foreword provided by renowned Dr. Peter HR Green, MD - Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University.

Growing up authentically Sicilian, Nuccia Ardagna thought that getting rid of gluten meant giving up her favorite traditional foods, but that could not be further from the truth! Nuccia combines her passion for eating amazingly Italian with her new dietary needs to bring you scrumptious, traditional Italian (and Sicilian) recipes. From simple, classic appetizers to decadent desserts you thought you could never enjoy, every recipe is easy-to-follow and offers beautiful full-color pictures throughout. You can feel confident about entertaining guests and family with these mouth-watering recipes. You can eat healthier, feel better, and truly enjoy living gluten-free while never having to sacrifice great taste! In this book, Nuccia not only shares her personal story with celiac disease but also the recipes she grew up with at home and uses to entertain guests. Look for the bonus section at the end of the book along with a section dedicated to her favorite links and resources.

We hope you enjoy the book and find it helpful in your journey.

Author's Bio:

Nuccia Ardagna loves to travel to the place of her roots: SICILIA! Being Sicilian, she grew up with mamma, nonna and all her zie learning all the tricks of the trade and creating DELICIOUS Italian food from scratch. When diagnosed with celiac disease she was forced to learn new habits and, now, after trial and error and experimenting, wants to share her exquisite culinary creations with you.

She IS a true Italian to the core.

Connect with Nuccia: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook

Guest Posts and Interviews:

What Makes This Book Unique in my Humble Opinion

by Nuccia Ardagna

Let’s come right out and say it. There is no shortage of books out there! There are self-help books, romance novels, cookbooks, thrillers; in fact, there is truly something to tantalize any mind, young or old. The biggest part of deciding to write a book for me had to have been the genre and topic. I knew I wasn’t creative enough to write a romance novel, however I hoped that my life experiences would help someone in some way. I felt that even if I could help just one person I would have accomplished something. So deciding on the topic, as well as who my target audience was, was the most challenging part of this whole project.

Then, shortly after deciding to write a book, I was diagnosed with celiac disease so writing a book dropped in my list of priorities. That became a huge part of my life and I remember the extensive research I had done on the subject not to mention trying to adapt to a gluten-free lifestyle at the same time. The food lover in me was not going to settle for just living. I wanted to continue to eat deliciously well! Being Italian, that was not going to be easy, but I was on a mission. When the dust settled and I had a handle on my new life AND felt I was eating as well as before my diagnosis, the desire to write a book resurfaced, only this time, I had the perfect topic!

I decided that this book would be a great ‘starter’ for anyone who was newly diagnosed with celiac or any other form of gluten sensitivity. Not only did I want it to help provide the necessary answers to common questions but I also wanted to share some of the more traditional recipes I grew up with but now modified to fit with my new dietary restrictions.

Therefore, this book is not a biography or story about living with my diagnosis. It is not a guidebook about celiac. It’s not even an Italian/Sicilian cookbook. It’s all three. I wanted to put myself in the shoes of someone who was just diagnosed and needs some practical guidance.

I remember when learning about celiac, the many resources I had to consult on many different sites in order to get answers. I remember writing tons of notes on dos and don’ts with regard to my new lifestyle. I also remember working hard on trying my old recipes with new ingredients or just tweaking some so that I could still enjoy them today after my diagnosis.

So if you’re curious about how I suffered prior to my diagnosis, or what you need to know if you’ve been diagnosed, or need direction on how to jump-start your gluten-free life with some great recipes then this is the book for you. You don’t have to buy 3 books. It’s all there for you in one comprehensive book. With regards to the recipes, some are basic, some are traditional and some didn’t even need to be modified but one thing is for sure. They are delicious and gluten-free. I hope you enjoy my story. My book.

Where to buy the book:

Amazon

My review of Going Against the Grain by: Nuccia Ardagna
Wow anyone who thinks they may have a problem with Gluten needs to grab this book, and if not grab this book for the recipes. I personally pretty much ruled out celiac disease, as my stomach problems from this book, it is a wealth of information. I have heard about celiac disease and Gluten sensitivity, but never had a good understanding of it. I have a really good understanding now. I really loved how she explained it all in laymans terms instead of medical mumbo jumbo I cannot understand. 
 I never knew you had to be so strict when on a Gluten free diet, but Nuccia really lays it all on the line for you. I would of never thought to toss the toaster out or re-season my cast iron cookware.
  I continued to read this book until I go tot part 2. Then I started DROOLING!!  The pictures are TORTURE!! Oh my everything looks so yummy. I have tried a few of the recipes so far, and well they are AMAZING. Even though I do not have to be gluten free, I did not miss anything i the recipes I tried.  The Funghi Ripieni (stuffed mushrooms) are to die for and so easy to make.  The Risotto ai funghi Misti (Risotto with Mixed Mushrooms) is delicious. Can you tell I love mushrooms? Let's not forget desert, Panna Cotta ai Mirtilli (Gelatin-Free Panna Cotta with Blueberries) is just amazing.

​Giveaway:​

​Prizes: ​ Win one of 2 copies of Going Against the Grain

. (Open to USA & Canada) Ends May 30

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