It's been a while...

 Hi everyone,

Today, I received a message from the blog board. It is amazing to me that some of you are still finding it, better yet,  reading it! I am not sure what to say other than "here we go again with another missed opportunity!" 

Blogging is a great way to stay in touch and share additional content I may have missed while filming. It is also another creative way to share my thoughts and progress, however small. Who knows, I may even inspire! 

So for those of you who are still around, kudos and thank you!

It seems that my blog pretty much fell into oblivion, alongside my trunk restoration, the elastic band on the yellow dress, the non functioning electric plug at the back of the kitchen...The list goes on.  I really have no one to blame but myself, in all honesty though, how many different platforms can one manage at a time? 

So let's talk about BALANCE. You all know I have the hardest time settling into a workable routine, finding time to be more business minded and sticking to what I would refer to as my side gig. Blogging, vlogging, reselling...It all takes time. I am not trying to make an excuse for my absence on either this platform or my Etsy shop, I am simply pointing out the obvious. When there are 24 hours in a day and 10 of those hours are spent on making a living, that does not leave much for the rest. I do like my sleep (I hope you do too). But it's simple math: 7 hours of sleep, or bed time rather, added to 10 hours of work, that's 7 hours for the rest. It's obvious (and I won't fool anyone with this one) that those 7 additional hours are not spent cleaning the house! So what do I do with my time and how do I reclaim it?

How does one find the right mindset and the right balance between work, family life, hobby and all the rest. It's not just MY great challenge, I believe it is every working woman's challenge. 

There are a lot of things we would like to do to enhance our day to day life and I am sure you can all agree that at some point in our life we have looked at another woman in absolute awe, wondering "how does she do it all?" Well, maybe the answer is in that 7 hours I seem to waste for no good reason at all other than being wiped out most days or otherwise engaged into running around in circles with no clear direction as to what I need to prioritize next. 

Truth:

I do not have a clear schedule.

I overload my To-Do list which is similar to my To Be Read list: it keeps piling on but really, nothing is ever accomplished here, the same goes with the bazillion other projects floating around my head and let's not get started with the quilting or that walk-in closet I am supposed to build (yes, that was a hint).

I do not prioritize...EVER. It's all super important and therefore nothing gets done. Looking busy though, does not really mean that you are. So on most days, I will look frazzled and all over the place. But truly, not much has been achieved. I think I have mastered the art of puttering around except it's all indulgence at this point. Here is a neat article on the subject. 

I am easily sidetracked, you see. I give you a for instance (true story):

I could get up on any Saturday morning with the intention of filming 3 grossly ambitious videos. Then I remember I need to go to the PO BOX. So I go there. On my way back, I remember I need to stop by the garden center for rose fertilizer, I do that. Before you know it I stop by the First Presbyterian thrift shop before they close. I am not looking for anything in particular but somehow I love the idea of having a large amount of stock I know very well I have zero time to process.  Sure enough I find something I now feel obligated to research. There goes another few hours since one does not simply research an item, surely, you get lost at one point or other into the web of neat stuff available on the internet for procrastinators like me.  Meanwhile there is no plan for lunch. It's already 1:30PM! Fine, we go out for Lunch or maybe we have leftovers. I clean up (somewhat) and realize I have a surplus of beans in the garden. So I go take care of that. On my way there, I find out the roses need pruning. It's now 4 PM and I am losing daylight. No filming today. This warrants a trip to Barnes & Noble where a new To Be Read calls my name. 

Sunday? More of the same. 

Does this sound familiar? 

Do you know what's missing? 

A Schedule and a commitment to go with it. 

The issue here is the repetition of failed expectations and their toll on my overall sense of self. Comes Monday, I feel like an absolute bum. One with zero accomplishment. Rinse. Repeat. 

I am fairly certain I could be way more successful in my endeavors if only I would...Are you ready for this? Commit to a schedule of activities. What a concept!

It sounds like a cliché (that's the French word for Overuse or Been There Done That - Come on now, you've all been there! Right?) Anyway, it may sound like a cliché but unless I start scheduling myself as though a business woman, nothing is ever going to really look business-like, feel business-like or reap business-like benefits. Don't get me wrong, my YouTube and other platforms are doing fairly well...with minimal effort on my part. Yes, I just said that. MINIMAL EFFORT. I film, I edit, I Post. Big deal! Imagine if there was an actual plan! A commitment to creating a serious platform with a clear vision and goal! Mind Blown!

If I earned a Dollar for every business dream I ever had, well, I could happily retire on a farm somewhere in Wyoming, raising chicken and riding my horse into the sunset! That is actually a dream of mine. 

But I am still here, in NJ where Me TIME is being stuck in traffic! You would think I would put that time to good use by listening to audiobook versions of my To Be Read pile! Of course not, that would make way too much sense!

So why am I even sharing all of this and where am I going with it?

It has come to my attention this week that at least 50% of my lack of motivation towards success mentioned above, was the lack of proper equipment. When I was blogging on a fairly consistent basis, while working full time AND filming equally consistently, I also happened to have the proper equipment, namely, a performing computer. Trust me, nothing sucks the motivation out of you more than a laptop that crashes every 40 minutes, writes drawkcab, and other quirks that simply make the task not only a chore, but purely wearisome. 

This week, I purchased a new computer (HP Pavilion All in One) Shameless affiliate link, BTW. And the stuff is going so fast, I am no longer dreading the task. Better yet! I am motivated again! And the proof is in the pudding, I am writing this blog!

So, as one thing often leads to another (see my Saturday story) when it comes to my general approach to life, I feel better equipped now, to renew my commitment to My Great Challenge. 

It's true, and some of you have felt it,  that MGC as a content somewhat became a tad stagnant over the past year. Coming up with new, fresh content is not easy. It's easy when it's not your content, but it's not that easy when you are the one who puts in the hours. But now that I have the proper tools again, a huge weight has been lifted and a renewed interest came with it. 

This is not an announcement that my channel, blog and Etsy shop are going to experience a revival within the next 24 hours. This is not a "come back" or even a promise. It's just me telling you that I am thinking about positive changes that in the long run (let me write that again) in the LONG RUN, are going to be beneficial. 

So let's talk baby steps. I need to restructure, regroup, recommit, not rebrand but at the very least, clarify where I am going moving forward. 

Ideally I would like to keep a schedule of videos 2 to 3 times per week. Mon, Wed, Friday seemed to work in the past. One blog per week on various trivial nonsense I feel like sharing. Could be a week in review. I always liked those plus I feel that the majority of subscribers enjoy this "youtubers are just like us" kind of moments. It's true, after all my DITL (Day in the life) have always been popular (oh look, I just linked you to all my DITL videos!) 

But baby steps first. What can I do, right now, to begin restructuring and reclaim my 7 hours?

I always believed that one has to start somewhere. Is it creating a schedule? Is it waking up earlier? How about a small daily step that could help me feeling a bit more accomplished by the end of the day.

Let's investigate the bedtime routine. 

We have this TV upstairs. We watch it without really watching it to be honest. We cut cable loose a while back so we are essentially just watching whatever is available on Prime. Most nights, one of us falls asleep within the first 30 minutes while the other browses aimlessly before settling on a James Bond rerun. Excitement prevails once you reach our age! So why not put that 30 minutes to good use?

Experiment #1: 30 minutes reading every night. What are the odds that this little baby step would actually lead to something bigger in the LONG RUN. 

This is what I am reading:

How Not to Die

How Not to Die

No I am not going Plant Based,  I am only educating myself. And as I am writing this, I realize that I am already past my bed time!

So, good night. I am off to a good start.

Tomorrow I plan on:

Working from home.

Editing and posting a video.

Working on rejuvenating this blog design as it needs a bit of an overall. 

Thank you all for reading my nonsense and cheering me on for yet another attempt at doing better. 

Cheers,

PS: I did sell the Scrapbook supplies. Thank you Carol-Ann

  

Swatches and Stuff - July 2014 + Giveaway

Hi friends,

I am back with another episode of Swatches and Stuff, a new series in which I review some of the latest products I have used in the past 30 days. If you missed the last episode, click HERE.

Don't miss the YouTube Companion to this episode of Swatches and Stuff:



Scroll down to end of page for Giveaway instructions.

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This batch had a mix of good and bad, more bad than good to be honest, so let me dive right into it, starting with the first product:

1. Kiss My Face - Foot Scrub:

Libby Withnall (check out her vlog here), had mentioned the foot cream in one of her "empties" video. Because she raved so much about it, I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, I was in a hurry and did not realize that I had purchased the scrub instead of the foot cream. Big mistake! Though this product states that it is exfoliating and scrubbing, there barely is any scrubbing beads in there. I am not sure whether I purchased a bad batch or whether this is the way it is supposed to be, but quite frankly and as is, it is a complete rip off! And I'll say it again, there is barely any scrubbing in this scrub! The scent is pleasant enough and the texture (minus pumice etc,.) is actually very creamy/velvety, so that makes it a nice moisturizing cleanser. You can pass on this one!  Ahava has a good mineral dead sea water foot cream you may want to check out, in case you cannot find the Kiss my Face one: Ahava - Deadsea Water - Mineral Foot Cream








2. Every Strand - Argan and Macadamia Oil Hydrating Hair Mask:

There is this popular Macadamia Oil Hair Mask that is $36/jar but you can buy a sample at Ulta for under $7. This single use, and quite frankly very similar product is only $1.99 at Harmon Discount. You use it in lieu of your regular conditioner, maybe once or twice per week. I felt this left my hair very manageable and supple, so much so that I did not have to use a finishing product following my blow drying routine. It comes out as a fluffy white cream and the packet has enough product for two uses, making it very economical. I really thought this was a good buy and recommend it for those of you who have aging, coarse and damaged hair. If you do not have a Harmon in your area, I found a similar product at Target. If you are looking for something a bit more high end, L'Occitane en Provence also has a reputable Hair Mask: L'Occitane 'Aromachologie' Repairing Mask 






3. Yves Rocher - White Botanical - Exceptional Youth Complex

I purchased these on sale a few months ago and fell in love with the Youth Essence Complex. This part serum/part lotion product is packed with botanical Lupin and White Licorice. The two combined provide a brightening and dark spot erasing formula. After using the day time version (left) for over a month, I cannot say that my dark spots are gone, they are however, less noticeable and require much less concealing. This is also a very good and light moisturizer. A little goes a long way as well, having used it for over a month, I am only through half the bottle. Yves Rocher products are always on sale and I purchased this one for $26 instead of the standard $48. I recommend the day time version.
The Exceptional Youth Cream is the night time version. It comes as a light cream that blends very nicely. I have not used this one as much as the day lotion only because of the heat in my room at night. I prefer to simply use eye cream and call it a night. That being said, it is also a nice cream in that range. a but thicker than the new Elixir 7.9 Night cream (less gel like) but much lighter than most Yves Rocher night creams. So it is a good in between for those of you who have aging skin but do not like heavy creams.




4. CoverGirl - Stay Brilliant - Nail Polish:

These were just okay for me. The formula is very similar to Essie, very fluid but dries relatively faster than the average nail polish. The one on the left is called Leading Lady and the one on the right did not have a name but is numbered 160.
They do stay shinny and provide a good coverage with just one coat. However, I was not crazy about the brush, it is a bit stiff and very thin. So when you have a wide nail bed like I do, it requires a lot of application for each nail to be covered. For that reason, I probably will not purchase more in that range. But, if you have narrow nails, it could be perfect for you. Covergirl does have a wide selection of colors within the line and some of them can be really fun. If I were to pick a Covergirl nail polish formula though, I would stick with the XL Gel, if only they offered more colors.






5. Wet n' Wild - Fergie - On Edge - Longwearing Eyeliner:

Let me start with the color because that is the only good thing about this liner. It is gorgeous shade of amethyst with a hint of shimmer. Just perfect for my brown eyes. Part of the Fergie  collection, usually Wet n' wild offers very cheap and at times good quality products, their nail polish for instance is one of my favorites. However, this should be called "short wearing" as it has zero staying power on your lids. It is very creamy and waxy and while it glides on, making it super easy to apply, it just does not stay on, and I mean not at all. It's pretty much gone by mid afternoon. A real disappointment for me. So, unless you have a serious eye shadow base or makeup setting spray. Don't bother.









6. L'Oreal - Visible Lift Blur - Blush:

This was somewhat intriguing to me since I usually apply a cream blush underneath my regular blush (as a primer and also for stay on). I did not care about the formula of this product. It comes out as a fluffy "exploding" sort of substance that is neither dry nor wet. I don't even know how to describe it. Obviously, it is a primer mixed with a pigment. The color itself, I chose # 502 in soft pink, is very pretty on my fair skin. It applies evenly and very easily, one rub and you're done. So for ease of application and results I would definitely recommend this product. I just cannot get past the texture, it just feels weird. 
Now, in my video, I noted this is a matte, but it is not. And I apologize for that. There is a gold shimmer to this blush, so if you have fine lines on your checks, you may not want this product as it may accentuate your fine lines. Funny how they keep using shimmers to make wrinkles disappear when in fact, they do the opposite. Well, at least to me they do, I notice fine lines more when they have shimmer over them. Anyway, this was just okay for me, I am not rushing to get more colors in that range.











7. Yves Rocher - Intense Color Eye shadows:

These are fabulous! And so cheap too! They usually go for $8 per shadow but are always on sale for $4!!!
I picked a selection of colors I would normally wear so that I could compare with other brands. These are highly pigmented and very comparable to some higher brand collections such as the Naked Palettes.  They are similar in texture and formula but for a fraction of the cost. 
These are all shimmers. They have good stay on and very little fallout which is amazing for shimmer shadows. I would say that they are seriously pressed, making them long lasting too.
The packaging is also pretty sleek. I am recommending these.






8. Milani - Bella Collection - EyeShadow Singles:

These are also very good for the price ($3.99 each).
The ivory one has a bit more shimmer than the purple one, therefore more fallout, but it is perfect as a base shadow, it is almost the powder version of the Maybeline's  Color Tattoo in Barely Branded.
The purple one is a bit creamier as a formula with less fall out. Both stay one very nicely throughout the day. Milani offers a huge selection of colors within than range so if you have a local store that stocks a good portion of Milani products, I recommend you get yourself some of these shadows.











9. Rimmel - Kate Moss Lipstick:

Again, something that started as a good idea, pairing Kate Moss' love of nude colors with a good brand. It just did not work out for me. While these two shades are just beautiful and match my skin tone perfectly, these lipsticks have no stay on. They have a nice moisturized formula, but for some reason, the pigmentation you see here on my hand, does not translate on my lip. They actually pretty much look identical on my lips, which they are not in the swatch. They also have a perfume scent and a lot of youtube reviewers have complained about it. I personally do not mind the scent. I just wish these were better quality. So for me, they just good enough for a quick pick me up at work after lunch, I do not recommend them.











10. Live Happy Magazine:

I picked a copy of this magazine at my local WholeFood Market. This was a good and fun read. It offers a large variety of articles, all surrounding the concept of Happiness and what makes us happy. I also loved the layout and illustrations in it. Check it out!

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Back by popular demand is the Monthly MGC Giveaway!

This month, I am giving away three products:

You could win:

1. Yves Rocher Hydra Vegetal - Instant Anti Wrinkle Moisturizer

2. Yves Rocher Single Eye Shadow in Taupe Rose 

3. Elf - Eye Shadow brush.

The rules are simple:

You must be a subscriber to my YouTube Channel (Subscribe Here)

You must be 18 years old or older (otherwise need parental approval)

You must follow me on either Facebook, Instagram or Twitter (see rafflecopter below on instructions)

This is open internationally - will ship to you free of charge - you will have one week to respond to my address request.

This giveaway is open until July 21, 2014 at 8 PM.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Connect with me:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

YOUTUBE

Mailing address:

My Great Challenge
PO Box 402
519 POMPTON AVE
CEDAR GROVE, NJ 07009-9998

Thank you for reading and sharing my blog.

Sophia, NJ.

************ My Advertisers ***********************************************

My blog contains affiliate advertising which allows me to support my blog and giveaways. All items mentioned above were purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own.I am affiliated with Yves Rocher, Vera Bradley, Sanrio, Nordstrom, Target, Plow and Earth, CO Bigelow, Too Faced, Amazon, and Teavana. 

What's for dinner - Cauliflower Pecan Casserole

Hi friends,

Here is a new addition to my What's for Dinner? series!

Today, I am making a cauliflower casserole using unusual ingredients such as pecans and orange zests. It is very easy to make and so delicious...the best part of this recipe is that it is power charged with flavor, so even those of you who do not care for cauliflower will enjoy it!

As always, there is a video recipe, which explains it all:




Here are the ingredients:

• 1 cauliflower - cut into florets
• 1.5 cup of fresh pecans (not roasted)
• 1 orange for the zest and its juice
• 1/4 lb of grated swiss cheese
• Grated parmesan cheese (for topping)
• Freshly hopped herbs (I use basil, oregano and rosemary)
• 1/3 onion
• 1.5 cup of whole milk
• Panko bread crumbs (for topping)
• Cracked peppercorn
• Nutmeg (to taste)

To begin, I cut my cauliflower into florets and steamed it all the way through.

I used my small food processor to finely grind the pecans...

Once that is done, zest your entire orange and add to the pecan alongside the herbs (finely chopped).

In a saucepan, add the pecans, nutmeg, herbs and orange zest to the milk and let it cook without boiling for about 5 minutes.

Once the cauliflower is steamed. Add all the ingredients, including the grated swiss cheese, mixing gently to coat all the florets.

 

 

Pour your ingredients in a baking dish (you can butter your dish as well).

Top your casserole with onions, parmesan, panko bread crumbs.

You can add peppercorn too!

 

Bake in the oven until golden and the cheese is melted.

 

 

 

 

Et voila! So simple and so delicious!

 

Thank you for liking and joining my blog.

 

You can find me on FACEBOOK and YOUTUBE

 

Sophia, NJ

 

*This blog contains affiliate advertising.  I am not a professional cook nor a nutritionist. All opinions are my own.

 

Nutribullet - unboxing, first impression and review

Hi friends,

I am on my way to better health, and to kick start my journey, I purchased a Nutribullet food extractor.
This is a smoothie maker that does not break down the fibers and nutrients in food like a blender would normally do.

In this video, I go through the entire process and make my first smoothies. This is not a paid review, I was not solicited to review this product either. I purchased it for my own use and all opinions are my own.




I purchased the Nutribullet on HSN and was able to enjoy a 15% discount as well as two installment payments with no interest. My total bill was under $95 which is less than the regular price I have seen on the internet (between $99 and $125).

Thank you for watching!

Sophia, NJ

 

You can find me on FACEBOOK and YOUTUBE

*This site contains affiliate advertising. This post is not sponsored by Nutribullet or HSN, I m not affiliated either company or any brand mentioned in this post. 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

 

 

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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

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