Healthy cell advanced cellular nutrition

I received this product for free to review.

Hey everyone. So though I suck at it I ultimately try to be healthy. Did I mention I suck at it? So these are way more than vitamins. They contain tons of real food real nutrition combined in such a way that they preform a very specific function. I stole these pictures from them cause, my box was destroyed before I got the chance for pictures, hope no one minds.


Besides, I am pretty sure these are much clearer than mine would have been.
Now as you can see there is a daytime and night time set and they each contain some of the same and some different nutrients in different concentrations for different reason that I'm sure work great together when you take them correctly. my issue is, I remember in the morning to take them. they give me a nice level of wakefulness and I feel good but I always forget to take the second set without fail. The sad part being the night time version would probably help me fall asleep and therefore really need the morning boost a bit less cause you know I might actually be sleeping. But despite being up most nights until the early morn I still cannot bring myself to remember such a little thing as taking a second set of vitamins in the evening. Now because I keep eating the morning vitamins and not the evening ones the whole box is imbalanced so in order to start taking them properly I would have to buy a second set. Its a convenient thing to most people I am sure, for both the am and pm versions to reside in a single box but for people like me it would be nice if I could purchase the blends individually. In any case despite taking them only half ways and intermittently at best, I still had a very positive experience with these and urge you especially if you are better at remembering these types of things than I am to try it out yourself and you can pick it up right here if you are so inclined.

Protege Beauty Resurface

Hey everyone! If you will recall I received this product for free to review over a year ago. In any case they asked me to remove my review. I did because I was new at this and they were the one that gave me the product and requested that I review it in the first place so I felt that it was their right to do so. Unfortunately, I no longer have any pictures from the original review but I do remember the experience. I had tried to find something nice to say about the product but I couldn't. It was just awful to me. It had a very strong odor and I say odor because I can't call it a scent. It stung my eyes with them closed, I couldn't sleep the night I tested it because of that, I saw no benefits off of that single use and can't say whether or not it would have helped had i used it longer but I couldn't bring myself to go through it again. I can not recommend that anyone use this but as always the choice is yours and you can pick it up here.

So you know I did contact the company and tried to explain to them that they made a mistake having added me on to the promotion again but as they didn't respond they have forced me to re write my original feelings about their product.

To my long time readers, sorry for the repost.

Make sure to enter my giveaway in the top right corner of the screen. 3 winners will be chosen on August 10 good luck.

Blisslii manual coffee grinder

I received this product for free to review.

So, I've been a coffee drinker as far back as I can remember, which is pretty much since I was 9. However drinking even cheap coffee can be expensive, I've been striving for a better, easier, quicker, cleaner cup of coffee for years. I've switched from a drip brewer with its paper filters to a french press, to an older model Keurig with refillable cups. I've switched from pre-ground to grind your own and finally have found what I've been looking for.

Now, this is not my first coffee grinder. On the day I picked up my first french press in a grocery store, I was ecstatic to spot a coffee grinder near by. Of course this was the cheap, basic, two blade, electric coffee and herb grinder. It required a precise amount of coffee, being filled to capacity or it refused to do more than mix the beans. you slid the lid on to use it and had to hold the button down the entire time to grind it, which for how fine I wanted it, was about as long as it took to boil the water. Half of the coffee would end up a fine powdery espresso like grind, the other half would be about the same as store bought regular ground coffee. On top of that the little thing would get hot while working and it was a pain to get the lid off even when you know exactly what you are doing. Not that this didn't get the job done mind you, it just didn't do it well.

Enter: The age of ceramics! Or rather re-enter but that doesn't sound as dramatic. Yes, like many things in our race for the top, we left the better option behind for the perceived benefit of an electric model. But, ceramic grinders are expensive, and I did already have a coffee grinder. It cant be that different can it?? Yes, yes it can.

I was ecstatic when I was chosen to get to test this one out for ya'll. First off I get to find out first hand what the big deal is. Secondly, this one really isn't expensive. It does cost more than my old grinder but at the time of this post its only 30 bucks so its definitely affordable.

Ok. Enough back story. Its here! the first thing I did with it after photographing all of the parts putting it together and figuring out how to adjust it was grind some coffee! I did three different grinds each with only a single scoop of beans from the provided scoop.

Comes very well protected

Instructions, grinder, scoop clip, crank

As apart as you'll likely need it. grinder chamber, cap,
collection chamber, scoop,crank

Ceramic plates and adjustment screw

What the coffee bean sees before it crumbles

Inside the collection chamber

How much coffee I used.

Coffee in grinder

How much comes out.

clockwise from top left: fine, medium, course. Notice how all the grains are
actually the same size instead of being all jumbled.

how many times I turned the screw starting with as tight as it goes

It takes me about three scoops to use my french press and less than one to fill the k cup. The finer the grind, the longer it takes cause you are basically shaving the bean but coarser grinds are super quick. I tend to stick with about 2 or 3 turns in for my single cup of coffee and only fill the k cup half way. since I drink alot of coffee now that its nice and fresh, and alot less bitter than with my previous grinding methods. I honestly never knew I cared, I tend to keep the hopper full and grind as I go. In fact the only downside is I am pretty sure this has killed me for having coffee outside of my house and has turned me into even more of a coffee snob than ever. If you would like to pick up your own Blisslii grinder, you can do so here.

Ocarina

I received this product for free to review.

Since it is a musical instrument I posted a video review of it. Made more sense to me.

So I've never played many instruments. I suppose the keyboard what what I excelled in if anything so as excited as I was to get this to review being a huge Zelda fan since it came in that awesome special golden cartridge, I was also a bit nervous to try to learn to play the thing to do my review. after trying to use the music that came with it as simple as it looks to show you where your fingers are supposed to go and I just couldn't get it. looking it up online didn't help much either until I tried a song I know from the keyboard. That's when I realized I could play it the same way I had learned a keyboard (by the number) and then man oh man it was easy. I could play anything I could find written out for a keyboard with numbers and maybe eventually translate a few of the 'tabs' I found to this musical language I actually understood! This is awesome! But then I started coming across songs that use the back side of the ocarina (6-11 in my world) and they were incredibly hard to play because you had to be so careful to blow this precisely correct amount of air to get it to sound right... nay to get it to sound anything. I don't know if all ocarina are this hard to play but I think it would take years to learn to consistantly be able to play the high notes on this one. I also think it would be cool if it was made from something less breakable than ceramic though it is beautiful, I worry about it breaking all the time.

If you like it you can pick one up for yourself here.

Subscription box experiment July 2015

Ok a note to start off.  I paid for or used coupons to get for free or discounted products.(not sent for free to review)  If available, the links I use for each company can and probably will contain links that do something for me like give me points towards purchase if you subscribe and whatnot.  If you don't like the idea of helping me out feel free to Google it yourself and give them a payday,  doesn't matter to me.  I subscribed to these not to make a profit but to explore my girly side and the world of makeup of which I really have no idea what I am doing.  Feel free to correct me,  advise me and otherwise help me out in any way you see fit in the comments below.  I'm am merely documenting my journey into womanhood (lol I am 31 but have never really embraced  my feminine side)  I plan on writing up every subscription I have every month and comparing them directly in a way that makes sense to me.
I'm starting off with 4 $10 subscription boxes I've found recently,  I'm sure you've heard of most of them from the numerous awesome beauty bloggers out there.  I am not one of them but will try to learn from them along the way.  I will be including links in future posts so you can easily view past posts.  If it works well,  I will start doing that with all of my blog posts linking them to other relevant posts you may like as well,  to try to get some semblance of organization to my very mixed up blog.  Please do subscribe and tell me what I'm doing right or wrong,  other stuff to try,  your opinions of the subscriptions or products.  Whatever.  OK here goes...

July 2015 - Falling down the rabbit hole-

Rundown

Bulu box: Monthly service with samples of healthy living products. Point system in place for turning in reviews to discount full size purchases.

Birchbox: Monthly makeup subscription 5 high end samples point system in place for turning in reviews and has awesome specials and discounts available. New box design every month.

Ipsy: Monthly makeup samples and full size products.  Mixed between high end and "drugstore" makeup.  Also has a point system in place and member only specials.  Comes with a new makeup bag every month.  Has a wait list for the sole purpose of spreading the word.

Lip Monthly:  monthly makeup subscription. 3-4 full size Lip products ranging through gloss,  stains,  pencils and sticks.  Mixed value,  seems higher end.  Includes a makeup bag and a non Lip product every month.

                           Signed up    Shipped      Recieved
Bulu box -           July 3rd      July 15th      July 22nd

Birchbox -           July 3rd      July 9th        July 17th

Ipsy-                   July 3rd      July 17th      July 21st

Lip Monthly -      July 3rd      July 16         July 20th

Contents:

Bulu box

-Urgent RX- upset stomach
FS=$13.99/12 SV=$1.17
Haven't actually had need to try this yet but I have to assume its no different than chewable pepto so I'm really not sure its worth the price and I wouldn't buy it myself.

- Bach- Rescue pastilles
FS= $7.75 SV= $7.75
I actually used to use Bach rescue remedy in the liquid version. This is a lot cheaper and alcohol free. It definitely works well and my midwife even gave me the liquid version to help when I was in labor so this blend works on all kinds of stress. The pastilles are a weird texture and I honestly prefer the liquid for delivery but this works just as well and may be a little safer to transport. This was a great product to include and they actually sent a full size tin.

-Movit- Energy gummies
FS=$15.99/12 SV=$1.35
These taste really good.  The berry flavor is sweet and bright.  I didn't notice if it really did anything or not since during a workout is about the only time I don't need any additional oomph.  So not really for me.

-Shapeology- Burn blend
FS=$39.99/60 SV=$2.60
Really excited about this one. It states that it mimics high metabolism which used to have naturally and that you can feel it working. So far it seems to be true. I took two (one pack) this morning and really feel more like I used to. I actually have energy and want to move. This may just be what I spend the included coupon on.

OK so you should not do what I did and take 2 of these with your morning coffee or two.  According to the package it containsas much Caffeine in 2 pills as 3 cups of coffee.  Since I popped two of these and slammed down 2 cups I inadvertently has basically had 5 cups of coffee in under 5 minutes.  Shortly after this post my heart was racing.  I had to keep moving and exercise just so it felt like my heart should feel that way and I sweat so much.  I also didn't really feel hungry all day and did feel full very quickly. I ended up crashing hard around 8pm glad I didn't play around with a second dose that day.  I feel skinnier.  I still really think I'm going to get this one and maybe pace it a bit better,  or just get used to it.  I used to be a huge caffeine addict and way thin. Probably some correlation there.

-K-PAX- ENERGY
FS=$44.95/60 SV=$3.00
Seem like a decent vitamin I suppose... didn't actually feel anything though so not so much energy to it. I won't be looking to buy it but at least I know that now without paying almost 50 bucks for it.

Birchbox

-Benefit Cosmetics- they're real push-up liner sample
FS=$24 SV= $3
I love this! So smooth,  the silicone applicator is just perfect on my eyes and the stuff just does not go away.  Lasted all day.  Even gave me an in for another sample if I purchase a full size version.  I may get this and sample their mascara.

-Dr. Jart+ -  Ceramidin liquid .3oz
FS=$39/5oz SV= $3
Weird consistency,  felt tingly then very warm when I put it on.  Couldn't get past the ever present feeling of it or the way my skin felt greasy sticky all day.  Needless to say I wasn't a fan but at least I know without having spent 40 bucks.

-Oribe- Dry texturing spray 1oz
FS=$42/8.5oz SV= $5
I hate that I love this it is so expensive but made my hair look and smell fabulous,  can't believe people were complaining about getting it.  I hope I get more in the future or I might have to buy some.

-Real Chemistry - Luminous 3-minute peel 0.17oz
FS=$48/17oz SV= $5
On one hand this works awesomely and I'm glad I got the sample.  Follow the directions and it does pull off a couple layers of skin.  My face felt just like it does when I use baking soda on it but without feeling slightly raw.  Good stuff and if I had money to burn and or didn't know about using baking soda I would be all over it.

-Stila- look at me lipstick
FS=$22 SV=$7
Wow oh wow is this the hottest pink to ever touch me.  I really really hate pink but I tried this anyway.  Thought it was a gloss but then it dried and actually stayed almost neon pink and on place.  I any had to reapply once the whole day and that was after eating still my lips were mostly bright pink even then.  You know I'm They even felt pretty normal and they are running a special now for three of these and a cute bag for $20..  This subscription is going to break me that is 3 for 3 I want to buy in just the first box.

Ipsy

-Ofra- eyeshadow/highlighter in Bliss
FS= $15 SV= $5
This is a very pretty eyeshadow and it looks really nice blended to use as a highlighter as well.  The only thing I dislike is the clam shell it came in as a sample.  I estimated the value by dividing one of the 5 packs since the makeup was all I recieved.

-Teeez- Read my lips lipstick in killing me softly.
FS= $22 SV= $22
I wasn't impressed with this product.  The color isn't horrible I suppose but it's definitely not as long wear as the package suggests and it feels a little dry on the lips.  I can't deny it's a great value having it included the packaging is really cute too.

-Crown Brush- pink tweezers
FS= $6 SV= $6
A nice set of tweezers and they work well,  no complaints.
sorry I can't find them to take the picture lol but they are baby pink.

-Cool way- beach salt spray
FS= $13 SV=$3
Wasn't really into this one.  It's a small spritz bottle of what seems to basically be a light hairspray.  Only use I could really find for it was to get crispy hair from braids faster.  Worked great for that.  No real scent. I used it on half of my hair in the picture, the side I'm holding the bottle on.

-Avene- Cleanance gel
FS=$20/200ml SV= $2.40
Again not the most expensive sample but I really really like this cleanser. I hardly had to use any of it to clean my face and it made it feel smooth thight and tingly after plus it has a lovely clean scent. It not being expensive sucks on the sample value side of things but it is awesome when you go to buy more!
              

Lip Monthly

-Lord &  Berry- 20100 Lip crayon Fire 0.11oz FS $19 SV $19
I didn't think I would fall in love with something orange but this is awesome! I love the consistency it goes on easily and stays on for hours without drying on your lips.  The color is just perfect for me.  Slight vanilla smell and no taste.  I plan on using a Lip brush with it instead of trying to sharpen it based on other reviewers pointing out difficulty in sharpening and loss of product.

-Mica- tinted Lip balm velvet rose 0.25oz
FS $14.95 SV $14.95
OK this is another one that seeing reviews before trying helped.  Were I to name this it wouldn't be called tinted Lip balm.  It's more like a potted lipstick or stain.  You pretty much have to use a brush which I actually like and it's a beautiful red like a sheer brick red for lack of a better term.  I can't decide if I like this more than the
crayon because I love them both.

-Milani- Lipshine gloss in Sweet Grapefruit 0.21oz
FS $4.99 SV $4.99
The color of this one is cute,  very light pink.  It does make your lips really shiny too.  That being said this one is being given away.  It is so sticky it felt like my lips were getting ripped off my face when I kissed my kid.  It also had an air taste to it.  Actually licking it had no flavor but breathing through the mouth you could taste it.  Not a bad taste but definitely noticeable.
After a few days it's kind of growing on me,  the color is a nice nude look that just adds a bit of color to make my lips just look nice.  Still sticky but looks good so I'll probably keep it.

-Harvey Prince- Sincerely Eau De Parfum 8.8ml rollerball
FS $21.00 SV $21.00
Lots of people complained about this one being a perfume in a Lip subscription but they do tell you they include one non Lip product monthly and this is a really nice scent.  It's warm and floral and a bit fruity.  It feels old and young at the same time which turns out to be perfect for me.  Plus it's really potent so I'll bet this little bottle will last a really long time.  If you don't like it you can always hold on to it for a gift as its still very nice.

Value
Bulu box price $10/month worth $15.91 full price of all= $121
Birchbox price $10/month worth $23.00 price to try all of the samples if you had to buy the full size version at the store = $175.00
Ipsy $10/month value $39.00 full price value is $76.00
Lip Monthly price $10/month (just went up to $12.95  for new subscribers.) value $59.54 and since they were all full size,  that's just what you'd be paying.

Final thoughts:

Bulu box: not a huge value but you can try expensive things out before you buy them which is always great.  The real savings come from the sales and discounts they offer if you really pay attention.  If worst comes to worst this will likely be the first one to go but it's a great way to get started in the supplement world.  I really want to check out their original box to see how it compares to the weight loss box I ordered.

Birchbox: Love it fully.  It's not the highest value box I Recieved this month but the samples were great.  Best of all with all the points I got for signing up and reviewing my samples and voting for a Birchbox brick and mortar to be built here in O-town,  I had 20 bucks to spend in their shop.  Ironically I went with a few more sample kits from Smashbox makeup and even qualified for not one but 2 special free bonuses.
full list:
-Smashbox try it kit Halo + BB- cost $29.00 Value $37.50
Halo Hydrating  Perfecting Powder 0.11oz Value $11.00
Photo Finish Foundation primer 0.25oz Value $9.00
Camera Ready BB cream 0.5oz $19.50
Baby bukki brush $8.00
-Smashbox Cosmetics try it kit- cost $18.00 Value $38.70
24 hour Photo Finish shadow primer 0.14oz Value $6.70
Photo op eyeshadow trio 0.04oz Value $15.00
Photo Finish Foundation primer 0.25oz Value $9.00
Full exposure mascara .14oz Value $8.00
-Mystery Sampler- free with $35.00 purchase Cost $0.00 Value $16.00
Jouer matte moisture tint 0.03oz Value $8.00
Bee Kind body lotion 30ml Value $8.00
-Deluxe Beauty bundle 1- free with $50 purchase Cost $0.00 Value $32.75
Laura Gellar Glam lash .2oz Value $12.00
Smashbox Photo finish Primer water 5ml Value $3.75
Dr Brandt microdermabrasion .25oz  Value $7.00
Macadamia professional nourishing moisture oil treatment 1oz Value $10.00

with my $20 in points I spent $27 on all this Value $124.95
  So it's awesome I'll get to try like 14 new products on top of what I've already tried for a very very low price.  I'm ecstatic.  I could have saved up and paid for the whole thing with Birchbox points but I'm not that patient.  Waiting the month is going to kill me and I'm curious on if you can buy multiple subscriptions at once.  Wish the men's was only 10 bucks too,  I'd order it if it was.

Ipsy: I really like Ipsy too. It was the second most valuable box and though I mostly set out to do this for a makeup collection, it was really nice getting things to take care of my skin and beauty tools too. the bag is really cute too and handy since I'm going to need some place to keep all of these samples. can't wait to see what next month has in store.

Lip Monthly: by far the most valuable of all the subscriptions which is almost ironic considering for one thing it has one less item than the others did and for another it quite honestly has the worst reviews which I think are mostly due to them growing and trying to offer people what they want since the bad things I've read seem to be " oh it took forever to get my box its like its never going to come" and then later it was "oh no they are double charging me, I haven't even gotten my first box yet and I've been charged for the second" to which I say, get over it people either the company is going to have to make you wait out the whole month before even shipping you your first box or they are going to have to get you on the books sooner even if that means you haven't gotten your first order. You really can't have it both ways and I think they are doing a great job. It seems like they have made some big improvements to their company along the way and I'm excited to see whats in store and a bit glad that I was lucky enough to order it just before the price increase and get grandfathered in at the $10

All told this month I spent $47 (lip monthly and bulu box I got for free for the first month with discount codes and I  am including my purchase since I wouldn't have made it without my subscription) and received a grand total of.......$268.00 worth of products. or $138 worth of products for $20 worth of subscriptions if you prefer. I am also seriously debating using my shapeology bogo code from bulu box for two of their big starter kits and save(and spend) an addtiional $130 heck 2 of the bottles of pills I want that come in it are 80 bucks so L'd hardly be spending anything on the other 3 or 4 products that come with it *2.

So what do you think? Is it worth it? I was really thinking I would want to cancel at least one of the subscriptions but now I'm letting them all ride another month.

as promised above, here are those links to sign up if you are interested,
Bulu box     Birchbox         Ipsy       Lip Monthly

Organic handmade wool drier balls

I recieved this product for free to review

Hey everybody! So as I've mentioned,  lately I have been doing a lot of switching.  In in effort to both save money and reduce household waste I have ditched a lot of disposable household products in favor of reusable versions.  I've ousted tampons,  diapers,  baby wipes,  paper towels and laundry soap so far. It's been going great!  I've been saving tons of money and my trash can has never been lighter.  The only issue I've had is my electric bill,  it's gone up by about $20/month on average since switching over to the cloth,  washable version of these items.  It's nowhere near negating the vast financial savings or even touching the environmental improvement I've made but,  I can do better!

So I made it my mission to find a great company to work with so I can add some wool drier balls to the mix.  Why?  Well I've done quite a bit of research and it turns out that for one thing the crap on drier sheets isn't that great for you,  for another that's yet another disposable item (albeit a very low cost one) that I simply don't need since it turns out these balls of wool actually prevent static by keeping your laundry hydrated as it dries,  help to soften clothes and reportedly make them dry even faster!

OK this company claims that their products are hand made by women in Nepal and it helps with their education.  In fact let me just quote them.

Enjoy more benefits:

*Chemical free -  eliminating harmful chemicals and potential toxins that can irritate skin

*Saves you money and time - shortens drying time

*Eco-friendly, Hypo-allergenic, fragrant free

*Reduces static cling and eliminates wrinkles

*Wool is naturally mildew resistant and safe for those who have wool sensitivities

*Eliminates chemical buildup in your dryer, dryer ducts and on your clothing

*Softens your precious fabric making it soft on skin.  Perfect for baby!

*Quieter in the dryer compared to felt and plastic dryer balls

*Great for sheets and towels - more fluffy, less balling and twisting

*Lasts for thousands of loads - no more expensive dryer sheets

*Contains no fillers or additives - 100% natural

Each purchase prospers fair trade for education, medical care and the livelihood for underprivileged woman of remote Nepal who handcraft, with love and care, each wool ball and purse.  Proceeds from each sale helps rebuild communities impacted by the recent earthquake .
We thank you for your support!

So see they seem like a great company and these balls have tons of benefits.  Now I normally dry my clothes on the longest dry time of the high heat setting so my first test was using the elusive energy preferred setting,  still on the high heat and my clothes came out dry and static free! I did use all 6 balls,  I didn't see the point of not just leaving them all in the drier all the time.

Oh I did forget to mention this does come with a couple of bonuses,  an adorable sheep shaped coin purse and a nice drawstring bag you could store these in.

for the second test I went full on eco.  Energy preferred, low heat,  automatic dry with a full load of clothes and still they came out perfectly dry and static free! I don't have to buy drier sheets anymore and my drier is so fast it actually finishes before the washer is done.  I am looking forward to my next electric bill.  If you are interested you can pick up a set for yourself right here.

XSBOOM mini Bluetooth Speaker.

I received this product for free to review.

Hey everyone!
So look at this cute little thing here.

Isn't it the most adorable speaker you've ever seen?  I think it is.  Guess what else?  Yup it totally outperformed some of the bigger Bluetooth speakers I've gotten to play with.  And I could carry it around in my little purse and bug people with my music choices anywhere I choose!

It's kind of strange since the power plug sort of looks like an audio jack and normally I would be all blah blah stupid blah blah not mini USB blah blah stupid special cord blah blah make it work with every freaking other cord I own.  But in this case I'll give it a pass since it's so much easier to plug in and did I mention cute?  The only thing that would have been better is if I actually got to review the purple one because..
1. Yes they come in a variety of colors so you can make a tiny speaker rainbow ohh or only play music that feels certain colors out of each one or wear it as a necklace that matches your favorite outfit or maybe just hold it over your shoulder as a tiny but much louder boom box that doesn't require 10 D batteries or even weigh as much as one.
2. Purple is the most awesome color and it is surprisingly unavailable most of the time.
Anyway it is an awesome little speaker and works great connected to Bluetooth but I also like that I can save time and just plug it right in the old headphone jack and go
If you would like to get one for yourself you can do so here.

pm633b068fcffcbe7a7c7499bd30fe2dea

Perennial essentials mini flexible cutting mat set

I received this product for free to review

So, this is a set of 4 mats which turned out to be really handy. Now they have icons and different colors on them to help you keep track with what you are using them for such as meat, fish, fruit and veggies just in case you are using them all in a big meal.

These are really tiny little cutting mats, and are a great alternative to getting out my big cutting boards for every little meal and I can just toss them in the dishwasher when I'm done.

The handles on them are big enough that I could if I chose to, hang them directly on my cabinets instead of storing them inside. They weigh practically nothing and are flexible so you can easily pick it up to dump whatever is on it onto where ever you need to. I even used it to flour some cubed steaks so I could use some of the flour in making the gravy and dump the rest while having a nice flat surface bigger than a plate to work with.

Another cool little feature it has are the little dots and measurement markers which really make it even more of a tool to cook with and a little less just something you can throw down on the table to cut your food without

It's a really good little set, so far not a mark on it from cutting up food or even using my little onion chopper thing (think slap chop) right on it. By far though my favorite use is sticking it under my mandolin where it catches everything neatly and gives me the freedom to slide my mandolin or the cutting mat so the stack of cut food doesn't stop more food from getting cut plus I can pick it up like I mentioned before and not end up with a dirty counter or a dirty counter and a dirty bowl or plate that was trying to catch it. Being so thin makes it perfect, pretty much as flat as the counter. I'm really glad I got to check them out and at this price I can really recommend them to anyone. If you want, you can pick up a set here.

Matcha DNA ceremonial tea set.

I received this product for free to review.

Hey everyone as you may already know I have previously reviewed this product so I am going to focus on the goodies included in this set other than the matcha itself which is still my favorite brand to date.

For the review of the Matcha DNA itself click here.

Please note I much prefer this made into a matcha latte and don't actually use it for ceremonial purposes.

This kit was so nice,  it came with a beautiful ceramic bowl with a really pearly overtone,  a nice wooden spoon,  a bamboo whisk and a holder for the whisk.
The holder for the whisk was green,  I think if would have been much nicer if it matched up.  The box itself was a sturdy cardboard with magnetic closure.  It also included a small product sample.

At this point I feel the need to apologize to you and to the maker of this beautiful set.  I had previously written up and I thought posted this review.  Apparently the posting part did not happen and I fear I may have accidentally deleted it instead.  I don't have any pictures of the set anymore so I haven't posted any but will do my best to recall every thought I had whilst testing this set.

OK at first I was simply shocked at the cost of the kit,  matcha is pricey but there was so little included in the kit,  that hardly matters.  The whisk and bowl are awesome,  I am able to mix up the matcha wonderfully without any clumps happening.  The spoon is nice but I wish it was polished smoother,  not because there is anything wrong with it,  I'm just weird about being able to feel wood grain ( gives me the bad goosebumps,  happening now just from the thought grr,  moving on)  I don't care for the whisk holder.  It will stand on its own and so this part isn't really necessary.  I would much prefer a little ceramic pot with lid to serve the powder from,  just seems like it would be fancier and more useful,  or even little hinged tin full of the tasty powder.  Those are my thoughts anyway.

I still definitely think this set is worth it as is and would make a lovely gift  for any tea enthusiasts.  My husband has since stolen the bowl to use as a shave bowl.  Works great for that as well,  both the matcha and the shave soap want a nice warm bowl that holds heat to work their magic in.  The whisk works just fine on its own as well.  My son took the box to keep his treasures in so really with or without matcha practically the whole kit has uses.

If you would like to pick up a set for yourself,  and umm actually see what I am talking about you can do so here.

They also sell the parts of the kit really liked individually just click on the seller page.

599fashion.com

I received these products for free to review this website.

Hey everyone.  Well I am not the most fashion forward person on the planet.  Shocker right!?  I usually go for clothes that I like for the lowest price possible.  I mostly pick up all my new clothes at a local thrift shop.  But even with the savings you are still in all reality choking on dust,  trying to find something you love 😍 that fits you and your style before someone else beats you to it.  Above all else provided you find that perfect outfit (rare,  pieces more likely)  you still walk away with clothes someone else didn't want.

For me the price difference alone is enough that I don't really care but imagine if you will a store that combines thrift shop prices on new clothes.  Imagine further that you don't even have to leave your house to shop there!  You have just thought up 599fashion.com

I was given the chance to shop for 5 items so I went with a few different categories to try to get the full gist of the offerings and quality from 599fashion across the board.  I actually forgot about the whole photographing myself in them and posting it online part.  Had I thought it through my choices would have been different.

I was actually also ridiculed by a friend a few days before about what I choose to wear.  "you know you don't have to wear black all the time,  clothes come in other colors you should try it sometime"  and "seriously all you ever wear are flip flops and boots,  don't you own anything else"  See this is fun,  you are learning about me and why I don't venture often into the real world  🌍.

So I made some choices that I normally wouldn't and I forgot that I probably shouldn't have gotten that tiny bikini 👙 but whatever what is done is done,  here is what I came out with,  prices,  and thoughts.

 Cute crop top $5.99

It's stretchy,  form fitting and tiny.  Something I would have worn a lot more half my life ago.  Nostalgia,  not black either  

Bikini $5.99

Really hard to take a picture of a bikini on yourself,  didn't actually think of the mirror until later.  This was just too cute,  adjustable halter strap,  ties around the back with a thick piece of cloth,  not a string.  Tie side bottoms.  Actually fit well though the bottoms were a bit small in the back,(no pictures)  ,  they usually are  and I just love the pattern.  This is actually cheaper than a bikini at the thrift store. 

See that chair?

I almost tried standing on it for the photo. 

+The top of the pants fold down like some yoga pants do,  I like wearing them up too,  so my belly never shows.

Top 5.99 pants 5.99

The blouse had cute cutout arm details with some kind of pointy studs.  It was also a really long shirt and high cut in the front.  Very flattering. Both of the tops and the pants are made out of very thin material,  which is great for me because it's summer and I live in Florida.

High heels 7.99

I got these super cute shoes too,  let me tell you I was wary to order shoes online and this was a first for me but they fit great and have the look and feel of much more expensive heels which is saying something considering how strappy they are. 

They came shipped to me in a simple plastic mailer bag,  the shoes were each in their own individual cloth bag.  All of the other pieces were placed individually in plastic bags. 

In case you were wondering exactly how they keep their prices so low, I snagged this directly from their website.  

" 

MERCHANDISE INFO

About our merchandise The merchandise we sell is high quality and 100% brand new items. Our items have never been worn, and are not store returns or damages. We buy our merchandise directly from local manufacturers all around the world but mostly from right here in Los Angeles, CA, where we are based out of.  Items limitedWe buy all of our merchandise from the original manufacturer, however due to the unique scenario of the deals we buy sometimes merchandise we receive will vary from thousands of pieces to some items only few pieces. So for the most part most of the merchandise sells out fairly quick. If you like an item grab it quick, the items sell out fast. SizesWe receive merchandise from a lot of different manufacturers, the size run varies slightly depending on the manufacturer and style. This is the reason why we offer a hassle free return/exchange policy. If you are not satisfied with any item you receive from us you can definitely request to return the merchandise. Please click on the link below to view our return policy. http://www.599fashion.com/Returns_ep_35-1.html New Items Our website is updated with new merchandise about 3-4 times a week. Please make sure you sign up for our mailing list, so you will receive an email every time our website is updated with new merchandise. Back Orders If back orders occur due to the system error or miscount of inventory, it will be eliminated on your order. If you are ever charged for an item that is sold out, the money will be refunded back to your account. I did notice that except for the shoes and the bikini,  everything was made by different brands.  Their sizing chart was extremely helpful and it was great that everything fit.  They don't only carry women's clothing either,  they actually carry a large selection of men's and cheap children's clothing as well as accessories shoes and undergarments.  The interesting thing is they also carry what they call a wholesale mixlot which seems like you are buying a whole new wardrobe in one fell swoop. I don't know how I would feel about doing such a thing but it works out to $7.50 a piece so it looks like a great deal.   The website was really easy to navigate and though signing up for emails from 599fashion does mean an email about every other day,  at least you stay up to date on what they carry and can get it before it's gone.   I think this website is a great idea and I will continue to shop here,  I hope my friends and family have actually read this post as well because they have some phenomenal deals.   If you would like to check it out yourself,  you can do so here.