2 months ago, I ordered some natural laundry stuff off of Amazon. I ordered some Inco Little Helpers Wool Dryer Balls & some NaturOli Soap Nuts ( Soap Berries?). 

I wanted to give them some time of testing before I wrote a little post. I do 2-3 loads of laundry per week, over about 8 weeks... I thought that was a pretty decent length of time. 

So the Dryer Balls are a natural way to soften fabric without any chemical fabric softeners or disposable sheets. They come in a nice drawstring bag. I definitely feel my laundry has come out nice and fluffy and not static-y which is great! The listing says they don't make any noise during drying, but I kind of disagree. While the dryer cycles I can hear them hitting against the inside of the dryer. It isn't alarming or inconveniently loud, but it's definitely something I can hear. Just like if you have a big buckle or zipper that you hear clang against the door while it's drying... same kind of thing. My dryer is in an enclosed laundry nook anyways, so it's really not obtrusive. 

One great idea to freshen the scent of clothes is toadd a few drops of essential oils to these balls before tossing them in. I loved this suggestion, but found that no matter how many drops of oils I added to the dryer balls, I still couldn't smell them by the end of the cycle! I'm not sure if theorange oil I used was not good quality, or if I need to add them in the last few minutes of the dry cycle only. Do you have any tips?

Overall I am very pleased with this eco-friendly laundry purchase and will absolutely continue to use these wool dryer balls. 

Stop by tomorrow for a post on the soap nuts! :o)  

For the last 6 weeks I have been working my way through a new Serum by Seoul Ceuticals Korean Skin Care Line. I love that it is 98% natural land 72% organic. While I do experience periodic breakouts like most people and continue to battle with trying to fade a few old acne marks, I often get compliments on my skin which makes me feel really good because like most of us - I usually only see the random breakout or acne mark and focus on that. Anyways, I consider generally good skin to be largely due to living a clean lifestyle free of habits that are bad for health, eating healthy, and trying to minimize stress. In the last couple of years I have really improved my skin care routines and taken that more seriously as well.  
Okay that was all a little bit of a ramble, sorry. On to this serum..


This is a thin-consistency serum featuring Vitamin C & Hyaluronic Acid among other good-for-your-skin ingredients. I have been using it at least once daily- in the morning after showering/washing my face. Some days I add it in my night time routine also even though it is called a "Day Glow Serum" :) It has a light citrus scent which comes from the Orange Stem Cells within the serum. I have been applying this serum along with some oils (a mix of  jojoba and rosehip oil I have in a glass bottle) on a clean, damp (not dripping) face. I find it absorbs quickly and the added moisture on my skin helps me to distribute the serum/oils more evenly. My skin needs those extra oils to feel properly moisturized, but yours may not. After a couple of minutes this absorbs totally so that I can proceed with applying my makeup for the day. I have no issues with this affecting my makeup application which is great! 

I still have 2/3 of this 1 ounce bottle left and I will definitely continue using this product until I reach the end of the bottle! Loving it! :) 

Of all the random things, Influenster sent me a bag of Uncle Ben's Chicken & Herb Flavor Infusions to try. I generally stick with jasmine rice, my favorite of the rices, and stray from flavored rices. 

I decided to try a version of the recipe on the back which basically entailed cooking some chicken and then adding some veggies and rice to the skillet. Gotta love a one-dish meal! 

​I didn't have the veggies they recommended, so I just tossed in some broccoli I had on hand and of course topped it off with cheese at the end. 

I found it convenient that there was no flavor packet to add. I did not find the flavor infusion to be very intense or exceedingly delicious, but over all it was a good product. In the effort of keeping my cabinets streamlined, I will probably not pick up this Uncle Ben's product in the future. I will likely keep buying my favorite jasmine rice and adding my own spices and flavors to customize my meal. However, if you're not into that and need something that is convenient takes some of the guess work out of cooking then you may like this. :o) 

#BensFlavorInfusions

If you wanna check out more Influenster Reviews, click here! 

Last fall I posted about a DIY toothpaste recipe I was trying and promised to update on the whole DIY oral care from my perspective. I feel like It's been long enough that I can give you some updates!

The original recipe included coconut oil, baking soda, trace minerals, and peppermint essential oil. First thing to note is that this is not meant to replicate the standard commercial toothpastes in texture, appearance, or flavor. Because of the baking soda and trace minerals it has a salty type taste and the baking soda gives it a grittier texture than the toothpaste you are used to. Some may dislike this, but I didn't mind at all after the initial adjustment.

Last night (sorry, I wrote this in June but never posted it!) I made what is either my third or fourth batch of this toothpaste and along the way I have added bentonite clay to the mix. It gives it a more grayish color, but the clay has some really good benefits for your teeth and is said to help remineralize them. Last night I made one more addition... 2 dissolved calcium tablets. I am excited about this addition because of my results with DIY mouthwash, which I'll write about below...

Does it whiten? Yes, I believe so. Baking soda helps to remove surface stains from your teeth. (PS. I'm not a doctor or dentist, this is all my opinion or generally accepted knowledge online. Because anything online *must* be true. Hahahaha) If you brush your teeth 2-3 times a day, you will be keeping on top of potentially staining food and beverage particles on your teeth and since you're not having to brush through all kinds of gunk, the paste can work on what's underneath. I think the whitening power will be increased with the addition of the Calcium!! We'll see.

Also, one tip I can think of at the moment: If you melt down the coconut oil for ease of evenly mixing etc, just be aware that there is a little fizzing of the ingredients and the coconut oil will expand as it comes back to room temp. In other wards, don't fill your container to the brim, or it will later overflow in your cabinet, causing you a mess. Not speaking from experience or anthing... *cough, cough*

I haven't perfected the texture to be perfectly squeezable, and have turned to just scooping out of the container with my toothbrush. This is fine because I am the only one in my house using this toothpaste.

I decided to test DIY mouthwash out too! Listerine is expensive if you use it as often as recommended and why is it so vibrantly colored?!! Who told them we want to rinse our mouths with blue and purple and green liquid?? So confusing..

Anyway, I basically took an empty glass iced tea bottle, cleaned and sanitized. I added filtered water, trace minerals, peppermint essential oil, and lemon essential oil, and some calcium tablets. When they dissolved in the liquid I shook it all up. And I shake it before each use. This leaves your mouth feeling refreshed and I swear super bright. I really think the rinsing with calcium brightens your teeth. Rinse as long as you want/can. I'm a fan of a lengthy swish, and not just a two-swish-and-spit. These ingredients have remineralization benefits for your teeth, antiseptic properties, teeth whitening and gum strengthening. All great things!

If you feel you want an extra whitening booth, you know Listerine's Whitening Pre-Brush Rinse? Look, its basically just peroxide to swish around. So carefully (at your own risk, I'm not a professional) swish some peroxide before brushing for the same results with less added junk and way lower cost. Just beware that your teeth can often be sensitive after this, especially if your teeth are usually sensitive as it is.

I am still loving my DIY toothpaste and mouthwash. I still see no reason to turn back ever. My teeth look and feel great and I'm noticing in photos that my smile looks really bright and that makes me happy. Do you have any DIY oral care tips, tricks, or recipes to share? Leave a comment and let us know!

This month there were three different ipsy bags. They each have a similar ombre style, with different color and different wording.:
Peace Love Lipstick, Wild & Free, and Good Vibes Only

As you can see, I got the Good Vibes Only. In life, I think it's really important to be positive and spread positivity. There's always negativity dragging everyone down, so why add to it? Be the bright spot in someone's day! ​

I don't care what you say, shopping for guys is challenging. You want to give a gift that is unique, meaningful, and something they will actually like and use. It's no easy feat. Alas! I have an idea for you!! 

If you love things handcrafted from wood or are trying to find a gift for someone who does, check out this shop on Etsy: Kajzars Wood Work.

They are located in Slovenia and make some gorgeous wooden cufflinks, earrings, necklaces, pens etc. 
The shop owner responds quickly and has good communication, keeping you updated as he custom makes your items and letting you know when they ship out.

I wouldn't call the prices cheap, but considering that they are hand made and shipping is INCLUDED, I think it can be worth it if this is your style.  Estimated shipping time is 10-14 business days from Slovenia to most places, so keep that in mind and order well in advance. That being said, my order came a lot faster than that. 

A great idea for a groomsman gift would be matching cufflinks to wear on the wedding day and beyond. Or their amazing wooden pens. 

This is just a quick post because I am dyingggg to share this with you! 

If you love a good Moscow Mule, Dark & Stormy, or just Ginger Beer on it's own, you must try Q Ginger Beer. It is hand down **the best Ginger Beer** I have ever tried. It is perfect for mixed drinks but I also crave it on it's own which I can't generally say about any other carbonated pop/soda. It has a real kick to it between the ginger and a hint of cayenne. I loveeeeeee  it!

The only downside is that it is a tad pricey. :( But it is such quality ingredients and taste that I find this to be an item worth the splurge. (after all, it's not like I'm drinking them every day....)

One way to save a little bit is to add it to your Subscribe n Save items on Amazon which can give you up to 15% off on the purchase. You can also buy the cans which are cheaper than the glass bottles. But if you love a glass bottle like I do amazon currently has a20% off coupon on your first shipment that you could take advantage of. -->

Either way, I really recommend it. Or if you can find it in your local stores (I can't which is why I'm ordering from Amazon. Plus Amazon brings heavy things to my door. Thanks USPS carriers!) then definitely try it there and see if you like it! 

If you don't like Ginger Beer, they also have some other options. I'm curious to try the grapefruit, myself!

I got a cool lady I know a 1 year birchbox subscription and I'm going to give you a run down on what she thinks about it each month!

1. Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle
2. The Beauty Crop Fabulous Flocking Lashes Waterproof Mascara
3.Coola Mineral SPF 30 Daydream Makeup Primer
4. Whish Firming Body Cream
5. Etat Libre d'Orange You or Someone Like You Eau de Parfum

I finally did it. The insane. The unheard of.  The completely uncharacteristic. After several years of staring, drooling, trying to choose a color.... I finally broke down and ordered the outrageously priced luxurious leather ballet flats -- Tieks. 

Most people are not especially interested in modest swimwear, but if you are you know how difficult it can be to track down. Even a one piece is often cut in multiple ways that can make it quite showy.

I have lovedswim skirts as an option, but it can be annoying how the flowy skirt portion floats up to the surface of the water and besides, some of the skirted parts aren't even long enough to cover anything, but are more of a decoration!

 If you want the convenience of two pieces with modesty and functionality I recommend the swim short... or swim pant? or swim Capri?

​I wasn't sure how this would go so I ordered 3 options from Amazon that had free returns: 

I found all three to be suitable options (pun intended)... :p 

But I decided I liked the weight of the material best on the two from Private Island Hawaii Brand. 
It took me a while of deliberating. But since I plan to wear these with tankinis that adjust to swim dress length, I decided I liked the longer length ones. These also give me the option to easily go from pool and beach to shopping, traveling, touring, eating, etc without totally screaming "Hey Y'all, I'm in swimwear!" 

If you're looking for a modest, comfortable, and versatile swimwear option I think this style is a great bet!