Filofax DIY inserts + Free Download

UPDATE!!!  INSERTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD IN BOTH FRANKLIN COVEY (6.75 X 4.25) COMPACT SIZE AND FILOFAX (6.75 X 3.75) PERSONAL SIZE. Scroll down!

As an FYI they look distorted when viewing them but are perfectly fine once downloaded :-)


Hi friends,

I am back with an update on my Filofax Personal Windsor. In my last video I had addressed my issue with not being able to find inserts I actually like in terms of design and /or layout. I did find the Serenity Pack from Franklin Covey and liked the layout, but not the design. Another concern with using Franklin Covey Compact size inserts in a Personal size Filofax is the paper size itself: 4.25 x 6.75 instead of 3.75 x 6.75. So basically, FC inserts will hang over to the side. Some Filofax lovers may find it annoying, I personally do not care since I need more writing space.

So I said I was going to start making my own inserts and this weekend I was busy mulling around the idea until I finally sat down at the PC and plugged away with Microsoft Publisher.

I used Publisher to make my inserts because it allows you to take full advantage of grids and guidelines. It also aligns elements for you or at least shows you where the proper alignment is. I did not find a similar feature in any other Office software. If you do not have Publisher, do not worry, all my inserts are downloadable as PDFs anyway.

I will make other inserts (to-do's , finance etc.) but for now I just wanted to play around with the FC layout and One Week on Two Pages.


Here is a sample FC in Serenity (compact size):

Image Source

 

 

I like the layout a lot, in particular the fact that appointments stay at the top and most of the space is taken by unlabeled boxes.  On the negative side, and having used this set up for the entire month of June, I found that the appointment boxes were too small and that the last set of boxes at the bottom of each page, were not usable, therefore a waste of space. As mentioned in my previous video, I also had difficulty reading the days of the week on top as they are printed tone - on - tone and in super tiny script.

With that in mind, I recreated my own version of the layout, with a twist and below is my first week for July 2013:

As you can see, days of the week are clearly labeled. I also extended the size of the appointment boxes and inserted my own labels for the goal boxes, as per my own needs (To Pay - To Buy, To Do, Home, Blog and Vlog, Self and Family). These are the labels I have been using and find to help me most with organizing my week.
I also added a tiny July calendar at the bottom and highlighted the corresponding week.

So of course I got carried away and decided to do the entire month of July 2013 just to see how difficult it would be to change colors (not design) in Publisher and that was relatively easy. So here are the other 4 weeks:




Week 3

Week 4

And week 5 below.

 

On the last week, since there were only three days left, I moved the right page layout up a bit and added the calendar for August as well as a box for notes. There was some empty space left and so I inserted a quote by Former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher:
 
Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country.
 
All these inserts are available for download below.
 
In the meantime, and until we get to August, there are a few things I need to work on:
 
1. Figuring out a way to print double sided in order to save paper.
2. Find the right quality paper to minimize bleed.
3. Better design (not layout) for the following months since this was only a tryout.
4. Finance sheet and other inserts.

Here is the video so that you can see them in ACTION!



 


I would love to hear your feedback in particular, since this is a Franklin Covey size for Compact (Personal) planners, would you like to see the same layout in different sizes (Filofax Personal and A5) - I would not mind resizing so that everyone would benefit from my free downloads!
What kind of labels would you like? Would you rather have blank spaces so that you can insert your own labels by hand?
If you have any request and/or question...use the comment box below.

Here are the links for downloads:

FRANKLIN COVEY OOMPACT SIZE

July 2013 - Week 1

July 2013 - Week 2

July 2013 - Week 3

July 2013 - Week 4

July 2014 - Week 5


By popular request here are the FILOFAX PERSONAL SIZE inserts (because I completed them on 7/2, I am making week 2,3, 4 and 5 available)


FF July 2013 - Week 2

FF July 2013 - Week 3

FF July 2013 - Week 4
FF July 2013 - Week 5


I hope you enjoy them.


Thank you for liking and sharing my post.
Sophia, NJ

You can find me on FACEBOOK and YOUTUBE

*This site and post contains affiliate advertising. I am not affiliated with Filofax, Franklin Covey or Microsoft Office.  All opinions are my own.

 

DIY Barn Door

Hi friends,

I love my dogs! However, when we are not around, they do tend to create a bit of chaos (think chewing through cushion, gnawing on legos etc.) So, in order to restrain their access to the basement when they are not in full sight, I have decided to build a barn door hence blocking their access to the basement/family room. They can definitely be there with us, but alone? We know better!

This was not a hard project, in fact it took under 6 hours, and since this is all about "my great challenge" I also did it all by myself.

I started by going to the Home Depot to have plywood and pine cut to size.

 

Unfortunately, I can only say that the Home Depot no longer provides quality services - the young man at the lumbar department did not make straight cuts and also messed up my measurements. Instead of giving me three pieces that were supposed to be 25 inches long, I came home with two 25 in. and one 24 and 3/4 - crooked no less!

 live and learn!

The goal here was to add the pine trims to the larger panels in order to make a barn door design (I was thinking Shaker Furniture).
So I used wood glue and nails and voila!

 

I added hinges and another strip of pine to place over my door frame (to protect and reinforce it as well).

 

 
Here is the final result and I made a video to show you how I made it, step-by-step. I hope you find it inspiring.

Enjoy!

Here is the video:




Thank you for liking and sharing my post.
Sophia, NJ

You can find me on FACEBOOK and YOUTUBE

*This site and post contains affiliate advertising. I am not affiliated with the Home Depot. All opinions are my own.

 

 

 

EcoEmi June 2013 - Open Box

Hi friends,

I am back with another EcoEmi box and this one is by far the best one I have received! (I know, I know, I say that every month!).

My June 2013 box arrived a bit late (insert sad face here), it seems that the Post Office takes its time here in NJ. But, it was well worth the wait, and what a colorful box too, just in time for the 4th of July celebration!

 

 

Obviously this is a patriotic box and aside from the colorful bandanna (what a treat!), Christine added a few foil confetti shaped like stars in matching red, white and blue.

 

Three goodies were placed on top, wrapped like candies...So much thought goes into packaging!

 

And another fold was hiding these samples...By far the biggest box this year!

Here is what I received, at a glance, and I just can't stress enough that for $15/month, I continue to feel that EcoEmi gives back in a great way (notice the full size Badger tin)!

So here we go...

Badger - Cuticle Care with Soothing Shea Butter

I always see these Badger tins at my local WholeFoods Market with "try me" samples.  I have to say that I never miss on trying them out and I always thought these were great products! Since I never actually purchased one, you can imagine that I was pretty excited about receiving this full size tin, which retails at $5.99!

This is from the card:

Cuticle Care will soothe and restore cuticles with Shea Butter and nourishing Seabuckthorn extract. Fragranced with essential oils of Geranium, Mandarin, Lemongrass and Ginger, this will repair and protect dry, splitting cuticles.

It does smell very nice! A blend of citrus and herbs and I now come to realize that anything fragranced with Mandarin is probably a favorite of mine. Of course I tried it right away, it goes one very smoothly (but slippery) yet absorbs well. From my first impression, thus far, I have the feeling that this cuticle cream is going to become my new staple, alas replacing my all time favorite (Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream). I instantly loved it and cannot wait to give you a full review, next month.

The All Natural Face - Vegan Lip and Cheeks

in Peachy Rose

 

 

It is no secret by now that when it comes to makeup, I am ready to try everything! This is actually a pretty good size as a sample and I dare say that the color is just lovely.

I only see one problem with this item: I usually do not care for multi-purpose products, in this case lips and cheeks. I personally do not like to have my fingers dipped into a pot, applying the product on my lips, only to follow with another round on my cheeks...bacteria, if you know what I mean. Over the years I have found that these kinds of products do not last long because of cross contamination and before you know it, I am breaking out. Hence the reason for my large collection of makeup brushes ( I avoid using my fingers as much as possible).

This is what it looks like on my unbelievably pale skin (sigh). Isn't it pretty?

I did not try it yet but I can already tell that I am going to like it more as a blush than as a lip tint. It is a soft peachy pink with a hint of coral. Feminine, understated, I can see this as being the perfect summer cheek color. I will let you know about its staying power in my monthly review. From the card:

This on-the-go compact is versatile and the ingredients are some of the cleanest you will find.

 I like it (aside from the lips to check business). Full size retails at $4.00.

 

Purely You Minerals - Vegan Bronzer

 

 

I am not a big fan of bronzers, in particular those with a gold finish or patina. I find that they do not look natural (at least not on my skin tone). When I use a Bronzer, it is always for contouring and not necessarily for giving my face the appearance of a tan - I know all too well that I do not tan and look unbelievably fake and made-up with bronzer! With that in mind, my current bronzer has a matte finish and again, I only use it as a contouring powder (you know, to make the triple chin look more like a double chin - I am desperate like that!)

I was somewhat disappointed by the packaging for this sample too. I would have liked to see a dusting lid or at least some kind of stopper because, as you can see, I ended up with losing a lot of product while opening the sample jar (not happy). I am also weary of samples that look like someone just scooped the stuff in - I just can't trust that hygiene wise. Well anyway, back to the bronzer: to me it looks a bit too dark so I swatched it on my inner arm, and as expected, it is way to gold as a finish for me and of course, too dark!

 

 

I can see myself using it as an eye shadow though and probably will try it as both a bronzer and a shadow. I will let you know about the results. In the meantime, this product retails at $7.00 full size (4 grams) and that is not a lot of bronzer for the price.  This is from the card:

 

It is the perfect shade for lighter skin and works as a lovely highlighter for darker skin. This bronzer has just a touch of shimmer which provides a great sun-kissed glow!

  

I disagree! This is too shimmery (I am thinking Metropolis here!) and way too dark for lighter skins! But I will give it a try anyway. Maybe I should start taking pictures of myself with all this stuff - you guys need to let me know whether that would help with the reviews.

 

 

Nelson's Pure and Clear - Purifying Cleansing wipes

 

 

This is a brand from England (pretty cool - never heard of it before today) targeting Acne prone skin. Now I can't say I have issues in this area but I do tend to have large pores around my nose and cheeks areas. This also looks like a full size product (retails at $8.75) or it is a very big sample of at least 25 wipes.
The wipes smell very fresh - clean and medicinal - though a tad pharmaceutical - and the wipes texture is a bit gritty but nothing like the Simple Exfoliating Wipes (these are just horrible - think sand paper). Maybe I should start writing or vlogging about bad products I have tried too, Lord knows there are plenty of those! (again, you guys tell me what you would like to see more of on this blog or my YouTube channel).

I sampled one wipe and used it to remove the bronzer swatch...One clean sweep - gone! I like that, it seems to do a pretty good job as a makeup remover a well!

 

 

This is from the card:

Nelson's Pure and Clean Purifying Wipes soothe redness, refresh and cleanse the skin. These are great to use when you are heading out after work, packing for a weekend away or pop in to your gym bag. The ingredients act, in combination, to heal troublesome skin. The Witch hazel leaf extract also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent to calm red, irritated skin.

I am excited to try these wipes! I find that in the summer months I tend to wear less makeup and often go bare skin (no foundation) and I can see where these would be great, on-the-go, to refresh my skin and cool my neck as well.

I found out that they sell this brand at one of my (many) favorites store: C.O. Bigelow where you can find a good deal right now on their apothecary products (check it out):



Image source

 

Spend $50 or More on C.O. Bigelow Branded Products and Get $10 Off! Code: BIGBRAND50

or
 

Spend $50 on Bath & Body Products and Save 10% off your order! Promo Code: SHOP50

 

Desert Essence - Coconut Hand and Body Lotion

 



This is another brand I have discovered through my local WholeFoods Market and have already enjoyed a few samples of this particular lotion. I can tell you that it smells wonderful (very true to coconut - which is a great summer scent).

This is from the card:

Filled with tropical extracts and oils that provide deep nourishment to dry skin [ ] Organic Coconut oil helps repair free radical damage while Organic Shea Butter and Organic Jojoba provide intense moisture. 

Here is a tidbit for you:  I went on an all organic Coconut face regimen last winter and it did miracles on my skin (pore shrinking - even tone), it's just too bad I cannot use it during the summer months!  I know about this product and I can tell you already that it is a good one. Full size retails at $8.99 /8 oz.


And now, for the food items included in the June 2013 box:

Surf Sweets - All Natural - Gluten Free - Gummy Bears

 

 These retail at $2.79 for a 2.75 oz. bag.


This is from the card:

Surf Sweet Gummy Bears are made with organic fruit juice and organic sweeteners and include 100% of the daily amount of Vitamin C per serving. This is a great sweet and healthy snack for you or for your family. Great for satisfying that sweet craving!

They're gone! Enough said.

Beanitos - Black Bean Chips - Chipotle BBQ

 

I may have mentioned this in another post, in any event, I will mention it again: I am not one to judge Mexican or Tex-Mex foods, having little taste for it. So you will have to wait for my husband's review to find out whether these are any good!

They do not look all that appetizing, if you ask me. Then again, what would you expect from a chip made out of black beans. It's just weird to me!

 From the card:

Crunch into the distinctive BBQ and smoky Chipotle spiciness of Beanitos Black Bean Chipotle BBQ Chips! These chips are made with whole black beans and whole grain rice. They are loaded with the flavor you love in a traditional chip yet provide nutrition packed servings with heart healthy fiber and protein! Kosher, gluten free, wheat free.

Okay, okay, I will try them too! They retail at $2.64 per 6 oz. bag.

 

Botanical Interests - Wheatgrass 

 Organic Heirloom Seeds

 

 

 

Two reasons why I love this: 1. I have a cat and 2. I was looking to purchase a small plant for the kitchen counter, so why not grow my own!

 

From the card:

 

Wheatgrass also called "Liquid Sunshine", contains an abundance of nutrients. The seeds, also known as hard winter wheat berries, germinate rapidly into beautiful greens that can be juiced; The juice is packed with vitamins and minerals! Reserve some seeds from the packet to grow for lush greenery and create a decorative centerpiece!

That's really cool!

And now, I have to make a big statement!

I love EcoEmi, obviously, and have rarely been disappointed with my samples. However, this time around I simply cannot help but make a comment (and I hope I will not shock anyone in the process - If I do, I apologize). So here goes:

I was super excited about receiving the bandanna. I am not going to make a statement about whether or not we should wear our flag - I do realize that we live in a different era. Christine also included these pictures to provide examples of things one can do with the bandanna:

Pretty neat and here is a picture of yours truly (sans makeup and in PJ's no less) using it as a head scarf:

However, I was not  pleased to see that the bandanna was Made in China! I find it particularly insulting (never mind sad) that we can't even be bothered to make our own flags anymore! Seriously?

 EcoEmi has been promoting all these grassroots companies, progressive and very refreshing (I am all for Mom and Pop businesses) aside from a few foreign treats here and there and I have to say that it was shocking (yes Christine, I am sorry, I find it so) that the bandanna was Made in China! And the colors bled after one hot afternoon chopping wood in my yard...Our colors do not bleed - no they don't! (And this is not a statement against China, not at all, it is a statement about us not being able to make our own flags anymore!)

That's my statement and I am sticking to it! So there!

Aside from this little rant, this is a great (see awesome) box. I am still very much a fan of EcoEmi and am looking forward to each and every box!



I hope you have enjoyed sharing my June Box with me. I cannot wait for the full review next month! Let me know (in comments below) whether you would like to see full face makeups, how to and/or videos on product reviews).

Thank you for liking and sharing my post.
Sophia, NJ

You can find me on FACEBOOK and YOUTUBE

*This site contains affiliate advertising. I am not affiliated with any of the brands mentioned above or EcoEmi. I am however affiliated with C.O Bigelow and will receive a percentage commission for any purchase you may make through the links I provided. All opinions are my own.



Eco Emi - May 2013 - Full Review

Hi friends,

Now that the B&BW giveaway is over, I am taking the time to thank all of the fans and new comers who have participated and shared the news with their friends and family. It is overwhelming to even try to grasp the large amount of response and feedback I received both for my Filofax vlog and the B&BW Giveaway last week. You guys are awesome!

From the look of it, your feedback has pointed in the direction of more DIYs and more beauty product reviews. I also received requests for makeup and routine videos. I have to take some time putting all of this together and make sure that I continue to provide a high quality content that fits my readers' needs. And, without further ado, guess what? Here's another product review post!

The May 2013 Eco Emi was an okay - to - good  box (overall) for me, and definitely not the best one in 2013. There were a few things I really liked, so before I get into reviewing the products,  here is a little reminder of what I received:

  

The Seaweed Bath Co. - Natural Seaweed Powder bath - F-

 

This product was a total fail for me. First of all, I should have known better from a company warning you that you will need to carefully wipe your tub from residue after bathing. I am thinking: What kind of a relaxing experience could this possibly be if I have to work and clean after I take a  supposedly detoxifying bath and start sweating all over again (trust me, my tub requires work, it is one of those half enclosed tubs you actually have to crawl into in order to get the job done). Anyway, so this Lavender scented seaweed detox bath took forever to dissolve in the water, matter of fact, it never did truly dissolve. Instead, I found myself bathing in some kind of dried up rebellious mud clumps that neither floated nor sunk, but smeared onto skin and surfaces under the slightest pressure. The worst part for me was the effect on my bath scrunchy (you know what I mean, I don't know the name - my bath puff). It was white when I started the bath, It turned brown when it was over and has never recovered since! My puff ha Seaweed PTSD!

I took a picture as I was drawing my bath that night....does this make you want to hop in and relax?

 

 

 

And it pretty much stayed like that, it never really dissolved. On the good side, it did smell like good lavender and botanical ingredients, however, I just could not sit in the stuff and relax as I kept thinking about my now brown bath puff and the cleaning I would have to go through afterwards.
Sorry Seaweed Bath Co. but this product is just too awful as an experience and the aftermath is just not worth the trouble. I am definitely NOT recommending this bath soak.


Beauty Without Cruelty - Shampoo Volume Plus for fine hair - A

First, kudos to the company for not only being cruelty free but also incorporating its values and beliefs into the brand's name as well!

I was surprised by the results from this shampoo since I was expecting another manic episode on the part of my mane, with crazy flyaways and all. Not at all!
Instead, this shampoo does not lather, not one bubble, nothing. In essence, it is very similar to Aubrey Orgnanic/botanical shampoos you can find at WholeFoods Market (matter of fact, I think BWC can be found there as well). In any event, this is a very fragrant shampoo and again, because it is botanical, you do not smell perfume, you smell actual plants and herbs and this one is very pleasant, a mix of orange peel and wood. This is the product description:

Conditioning jojoba, penetrating plant proteins, panthenol, and biotin strengthen and add volume to each hair strand, improving your hair's look, feel and texture.  Natural vitamins, organic aroma-therapeutic essential oils, and vital botanicals leave your hair clean, shiny, protected and full.

My hair was very manageable afterwards and it did not feel as thought it had been completely depleted from its natural oils. Because I have tried Aubrey shampoos before (this is the only other organic/botanical brand I can compare BCW to) I would go as far as saying that BWC yielded better results and my hair is not even fine to begin with!  I do love Aubrey shampoos but this is even better and  definitely a better alternative to drugstore shampoos. I would recommend this product and I am actually planning a trip to Whole Foods to find a damaged/coarse hair version and a matching conditioner. Another good thing noticed while using the Beauty without Cruelty Shampoo, Volume Plus for Fine Hair, is that you need only a little bit of product. It does require a learning curve not to add a huge amount of shampoo in the palm of one's hand and the lack of lather does make you feel that perhaps not enough product has been applied - not so! I found this to be a very economical shampoo and well worth the $12.50 per 16 oz. I recommend!

Suncoat Girl - water based Nailpolish in Coconut- C

What a disappointment! I was really looking forward to trying a nail polish that is water based (non-toxic) and therefore would not damage my nails nor my lungs from nauseating fumes!
This nail polish is indeed odorless which is just amazing to me. However, and I think I mentioned that in the open box post, the brush really sucked. I am hoping this is only a sample size brush and that their full size is of higher quality. More importantly though, is the quality of the polish itself, did it measure up to say, a brand like O.P.I or China Glaze?
Here's the verdict, I am not going to mention the not so flattering color sample I received because while I did not care for it, I can see how some other gals would find it very attractive. However, as a nail polish, the weirdest thing happened to me on day two of wearing it. It did not chip nor crack, it simply peeled itself off as a whole, one entire nail surface at a time. Very weird, it started from the top of the nail, where the "film", for a lack of a better word, would start curling up and coming off the nail bed. So I would pull on it, and it would simply peel off in a very latex kind of stretchy way, all at once, and not leaving any residue on the nail either. So by day two, I was without nail polish, having had a good time pulling it off, one sheet at a time! I would give Suncoat an A, if it was being rated for entertainment value. As a nail polish however, it does not make the mark for me! That said, I can see the attraction; here is a nail polish you can wear for 24 hours and then "peel off" the following day and start over with another color. That's pretty cool, but it's not for me, so yeah, it's getting a C .


Suncoat - Sugar Based - Vegan Mascara - B

As a mascara this is just okay. I felt that the texture was very weird, not smooth at all and felt as though it was hardening upon contact with air which made it difficult to apply several coats. Very weird. I did not care for the color at all either. It is one thing to have a brown mascara but this is more like chocolate with a dash of rust which is not very subtle. That said, I thought it was okay as a bottom lash mascara because it is not as obvious as black mascara. I went as far as trying it over my brows and that worked okay as well. but it is not waterproof. If  I have to find other uses for a product because the initial intent is not working for me...maybe it's not the product for me.  I am not rushing to the store to get this as a full size for myself, black or other.

All Terrain - Herbal Armor Insect Repellent &

All Terrain - Aqua Sport - SPF 30 Sunscreen - B+

 

 

Let me be brief on these products. They work great. I gardened all day on a hot steamy day and not one mosquito (I am The original mosquito magnet) dared coming near me. I also did not get a sunburn in particular on the top of my hands where I usually tend to burn and blister after being in the sun for  too long. So as sunscreens and insect repellents, these are amazing products I would recommend.

 

Okay, so where is the "but"? You may ask...Well, there is indeed a "but". If you plan on using this as a daily routine for the summer, prepare yourself to stick to every surface you touch. These are super thick creams and no matter the amount of heating and melting in between the palm of your hands, this stuff comes out as goo and stays pretty much like goo on you! Not too glamorous now is it?

I would think that these are awesome camping products or on a day trip. Now if All Terrain could make the same formula in a more fluid and city-girl variety, that would be perfect. Until then, it remains as a B+ because of the consistency and an A+ for results.
 

There is good news though, I did discover the spray version of each of these All Terrain Products on amazon, so you may want to check them out. I am not sure whether they would be as effective in spray formulas, but would definitely take the goo factor out of the way.

Eco Lips - Mongo Kiss Honey Vanilla Lip Balm - A

 

 

Image Source

I am always excited when there is a new lip balm in my EcoEmi! I have tried a few that were just so-so, however, this one is very good. First of all, as a full size product I have to say that this is almost double the size than a lot of drug store balms out there. This is quite chunky! As a result, the balm covers  the surface of the lips in one to two strokes, which can be a plus. The texture is very similar to a 100% cocoa butter type balm, a little bit gritty at first, but very smooth shortly after. It is not sticky nor too slippery, I would say that this is actually a good lip balm for winter and mid season, but it might be a tad heavy for summer. I did not know that EcoLips had such a great following, they are self proclaimed best lip balms in the world ( I can see that) and their Mongo Kiss balm is part of a series made with Mongongo Oil. You may want to check out their website to learn more about Ecolips and all their different lip balms and products. 




                                                                                                                                                                
And their website tells you how many gallons of oil they save by making their products
petroleum free. How cool is that? Anyway, great lip balm, totally worth the price tag of $1.99.

Lauren Brooke Cosmetics - Pink Champagne Powder Eye Shadow - A+

Last month I had received a cream version of one of Lauren Brooke's eye shadows. I was not crazy about it and did not really find it to be a valuable replacement to my similar Maybelline's Color Tattoos. Well, this is a whole other kind of shadow and it totally won me over!
This pink champagne is the most beautiful color, I would say for a brunette, like me, or any other hair color or complexion. It is the perfect pink with the right amount of shimmer. I use it on my lower lids and more towards the corner of my eyes then blend the outer edges with whatever other color I feel like wearing that day.
So far, I have found that it goes well with all other colors. It really is a beautiful shadow and though it is very shimmery, the sparkle is elegant enough to give you a pop of light without making you look like a teenager on her way to a concert.
You can see my previous swatch (left), and now that I look at it again, this picture is very true to the original color.
This one is actually part of the shimmer collection and retails for $9.00/pot. I am not sure whether the pot itself is supposed to be bigger than the one I received, but I can tell you though that this is such a quality shadow, with great lasting effect by the way, that I would not mind paying $9 for that one little pot alone.
So far, I have used it everyday and a little, tiny amount goes a long way. As always, it is about the brush you are using to apply the shadow - do not apply eye shadow with your fingers, you will waste too much product. Best makeup I have received in any of my EcoEmi boxes thus far this year! You can ask for a sample on the website itself for $1.40. Do it!

And now...the food item!




Athena Bars - Pomegranate Greek Yogurt Bar - B

Really quick review: too chunky, chalky, cardboardy as a texture. weird taste, very sweet right away, then not so much. Was starving one hour after eating the bar. I would not use that single one bar as a meal replacement, It does have 10 g of proteins so perhaps before a work out (like that would ever happen for me to have time to workout, right). Anyway, not impressed, I did not find anything special about this bar that would set it apart from anything else outside on the market when it comes to protein bars etc. Pomegranate is a weird fruit anyway, it is neither sweet nor tart, and that bar was just like that, somewhat confused and screaming to be a Clift Bar. Just saying.

 

 

Well, that was my review for the May 2013 Eco Emi box. Again, I loved the Lauren Brooke Shimmer Shadow in Pink Champagne, Beauty without Cruelty Shampoo and the EcoLips MongoKiss Lip Balm. So overall, this was a good box, not the best, probably the least earth shattering for me since I have started with EcoEmi and I still gave great reviews to 3 of the samples. I guess EcoEmi still rocks!

So I have read all comments and feedbacks and it looks like folks really like the reviews on the blog. I was thinking that I could also do the reviews or open boxes or both as vlogs with coordinating blogs. What do you think? Would you like to see the reviews rather than reading about them? Please leave a comment below.

Thank you for liking and sharing my post.
Sophia, NJ

You can find me on FACEBOOK and YOUTUBE

*This site contains affiliate advertising. I am not affiliated with any of the brands mentioned above or EcoEmi. All opinions are my own.