I'm sure you all have heard of Truvia by now. If not, where have you been??
I've been a fan of Truvia for awhile now, but apparently, word's been slow to get out there. Not sure why - the stuff rocks! What better way to have a sugar substitute than one that comes from nature, itself? Who needs a lab when nature give you everything you need.
So, for those who have been in a cave recently and are just re-emerging into society, here's the scoop of Truvia. There's a plant out there, Stevia, that has a naturally occurring sweetness to it. With no calories. Think of it as another herb from your garden... all natural, very sweet flavoring. And unlike many of those other artificially sweetness out there, there's none of that nasty aspartame in there. In other words, no nasty chemicals going into your body.
Hard to believe, huh? Well, it's true.
I recently did a 'Sweet Switch" on my husband. Honestly, he doesn't think much one way or another when it comes to sweeteners, artificial or not. He just knows he has a sweet tooth, whether it's candy, soda, coffee, tea... whatever. If it's sweet, he likes it that much more. So who better to test it out on. If I could get sugar out of this house, it's a win-win for everyone! Well... maybe I can't get it all out of the house. But let's see what I can do, at least.
Turns out, he's a fan! Or he's at least not NOT a fan! Maybe he wasn't the best guinea pig... but you should try it yourself, if you haven't already. You can go get a sample here, if you'd like - no excuses not to try it! Not only do they have it in packets, but they have a spoonable version, as well as a baking blend (mixed with sugar, but brings calories down, at least.
Definitely glad I did a #SweetSwitch for my house!
Nowadays, iPhone has almost become to a smartphone as Kleenex is to tissues... a name brand replaces the generic name in society and it just sticks. Though not too long ago, if you asked a business exec what the ideal phone was, they'd say a BlackBerry. People fell in love with the full querty keyboard and the ease of typing emails on it. I had one at one point. I had a few, actually. Then I had a Trio, and then another BlackBerry, a then I got a personal iPhone, and that was the end of BlackBerry for me. My next work phone (what I have now) is an iPhone, too.
But BlackBerry finally stepped up.
They recently introduced the Z10, and not long after, I was given the opportunity to try it out. For the past month, I've been able to 'play around' with the BlackBerry Z10 and compare it to my iPhone, and even other phones friends have. The Z10 can more than compete, and I'm going to spend the rest of this blog telling you why.
First off, they finally made the touch screen the standard for this phone. At the same time, they integrated their querty keyboard into the touchscreen version, still 'learning' how you type and giving you shortcuts to words. It's nice to not have autocorrect constantly changing words you don't want changed. So if you've ever had a BlackBerry before, you'll immediately fall into this comfort zone with it's familiarity.
The Z10 also has a 'hub' if you slide the screen right, giving you all your emails, notes, appointments, alerts, etc. right in one place. You can look at just certain things (like email), or all of it in a chronological list. It's way more comprehensive then 'hubs' other phones have as an option. Even more so, on the home screen, it tells you if you have new items in the hub, so there's no guessing or wondering if something new is there.
And it has apps. Just like the iOS and Droid operating systems, it has it's own store (BlackBerry World) with lots of apps. It came pre-loaded with all of the already popular apps, like YouTube, Facebook, etc. The only flaw I found with some of the apps (mainly the social media) is that they aren't as up to date as ones you find on other operating systems. But I'm guessing that'll change as more people pick up a BlackBerry Z10.
But, by far, my favorite feature is probably the one they're trying to promote the most. It's called Story Maker and if you're one who likes to take pictures and videos and then show them off, this will give you an option that makes you look like a pro. Seriously. It's the simplest video compiler I've ever seen and I can see this, alone, being a selling point. You can even create a video in 1080dp! Especially for those with kids... imagine being able to take pictures and videos during one of their games or recitals, and then being able to have a video compilation of it all before you even get home, ready to send to all your friends and family, and even post on social media. It's absolutely brilliant. I did the video below in about 5 minutes. If that.
As far as cons go, the biggest I can see is that this great phone comes so late in the game. We're so far entrenched in smartphone technology, that most people have chosen their system, and have bought/downloaded all sorts of apps made for that system. As far as I know, there's no way to convert. Sure, it forces loyalty... but you shouldn't have to force it.
But the bottom line is, the BlackBerry Z10 is a great phone, and it's no longer just for the business side of things! It's a great personal phone now, too! They're finally crossing that line, realizing that everyone has a smartphone nowadays, not just the on the go business person. So a big 'yay!' for that! I can honestly say that if you're in the market for a new phone, this is worth a look. BlackBerry hasn't given up yet, nor do they plan on limiting who their market is anymore.
Okay... let me start this blog with a disclosure... it's about what you (or rather, I) do in the bathroom. So if that's TMI for you, stop reading. But if you are as curious as I was, read on!
I was given the opportunity to try out the Cottenelle Care Routine, and share the opportunity with a couple of friends, too. What's that? Well, I'm sure you've seen the commercials about either trying to name the routine (I liked Freshi-Fresh) or the commercials where they don't use water to cleans, say, a table top or your car. The CCR is the routine where you use Cottonelle TP, followed by Cottonelle Fresh Care Wipes.
I was completely skeptical going into this. The thought of wiping with anything wet just seemed too foreign to me. Sure, you use baby wipes on a baby, but that's because that's what you need to clean them with. But then, I guess that's not really different as you get older... hmmm...
So I tried it. Still a little iffy the first few times. But then I could actually tell... it really did feel cleaner. It was kind of... refreshing! Go figure!
So now I'm a believer in the routine. If you're never tried it, it's worth a shot. I can see where it'd be great for younger kids that are still 'learning' to fully wipe. Or just adults who try to go to fast.
I'm sure many of us grew up thinking Woolite was for our delicates. That's it. You always had a bottle around for that rare load of just delicates.
Well, guess what. It not just for delicates anymore. While they still do that, they have versions for your Everyday loads, too. Worried about those jeans or that favorite black sweater fading? They've got a detergents for dark colors, too. Whatever your concern, they've got you covered. The best part? It does more than your regular detergent. It protects anything from your favorite t-shirt to bra for special occasions.
Recently, they sent me some samples of Woolite to try AND share with my friends. I have to admit, some of the people I gave it to in person thought it was odd that I was giving them a detergent sample. But there's no better way to spread the word that with a sample! Not everyone came back with any feedback for me - most just disappeared, never to be heard from again. I *hope* they tried! But the few that came back were surprised - they didn't know Woolite was 'all that' now!
Personally, I used my sample on a load of jeans. I have a bit of a love affair with my jeans and I'm probably overly concerned about their lifespan... but I DO want them to last forever! But I have to say, I think I'm okay with using Woolite to wash them, verses to normal, barely washing them routine I normally do. They didn't seem to get 'soapy' feeling, for lack of a better term - like some residual detergent was stuck in the fibers. Which is important since they don't get thrown in the dryer, still - Woolite doesn't go in the dryer and I think a lot of the wear-n-tear happen there. But I felt like my jeans got treated a little nicer in the wash. That's good.
All in all, I have to say, go try some Woolite. Need some more convincing? Well, for now, you can go here to get a $1 off coupon and try it yourself. But I don't that link will last forever. Get Woolite Washed and rediscover an old favorite.
Something clicked with my hormones recently that has caused my skin to go crazy - oily, dry, breaking out like I never did even as a teenager... it has sucked!! why was my tried and true skin care routine no longer working for me?? So I've been on a search for something to help me out. I wasn't ready to go the medical route, since there are so many over the counter items, but I also didn't want to spend money on a product I didn't know about.
Luckily, I have found the wonderful world of free samples can, once again, fill this void of knowledge. And in this particular quest, I found LaRoche-Posay Effaclar DUO. This has even won awards this year, so there's even a backing (besides me) out there.
I had quite a few doubts since before this particular product, I had tried a few others, which just weren't good enough. They either dried out my skin too much, or just didn't work (up to my standards, at least). None have been anything worth writing about, good or bad. Until now. One use overnight and I saw a dramatic difference! ONE USE! I used the sample up and was quickly on the search to buy this product. Though in the week long use of the sample, I did learn I couldn't use it the recommended 'up to' of 2 times a day (morning and night). But as long as I stuck with the directed 'thin layer' before I went to bed, it worked great!
So this is a must buy if you have issues with breaking out, even in short bursts. It's not the cheapest thing on the market, but you only need such a little bit of it (pea sized) for each use, the tube should last for awhile!
It seems like a new razor with one more blade or other 'upgrade' comes out every year. How much new technology can there really be in a razor??
One of the more recent 'new' razors is the Schick Hydro Silk Razor. The Hydro Silk touts a water-activated moisturizing serum and 5 curve-sensing blades with skin guards to help protect skin from irritation. So I already use a 5-blade razor with ribbons of moisture of another brand, so I decided to try it out, side-by-side, or rather, leg verses leg.
The results? Surprisingly, there was a bit of a difference. The Hydro Silk left me smother for about a day or so longer. So I guess it was that much closer?? Granted, my other razor had been used a couple of times, so it was 'old' in comparison this this fresh out of the package Schick. But still...
I think the key, overall, is the five blades. So yes, the Schick Hydro Silk works and is a great little razor. At the end of the day, though, I'll like just get what's on sale. Only because I'm not exactly one to always go with the latest and greatest in choosing brands.
We all wish for 'a miracle overnight' when it comes to our facial skin tone and appearance. If we could only stay young forever!
We hear about various elements and minerals that are good for our skin. Osmotics Cosmeceuticals Blue Copper 5 Firming Elasticity Repair brings that to us (if we desire). This anti-aging moisturizer is packed with skin-repairing powerhouses. Copper PCA jumpstarts collagen synthesis, which is proven to decline as we age. Antioxidants like vitamins A and E, along with powerful carnosine combat harmful free radicals to prevent future aging while helping your skin retain moisture for a dewy, soft, line-free complexion. Plus, allantoin soothes and calms irritated complexions, making this cream great for rosacea sufferers. But does it really work?
While I don't have a lot of the aging issues yet (I like to think my skin care regimen has something to do with NOT seeing those deep wrinkles yet), I can say it did give a very dewy look when I woke up after the first night. And my skin did feel softer after just one use. But the one thing I couldn't quite wrap my hands around was the scent... the copper infusion treatment smells like, well, copper!
So this is something you may want to make a judgement for yourself, if you're up for spending some cash. But what girl doesn't want to spend a little money to make her skin look better? It just depends on where you're at in the need for it. Not a bad product, by all means... I'm just not ready for it!
Hard to believe, huh? Well, it's true. 
