7/18/16

Let's Review, Shall We?

Before I buy something, I always, always read through a few reviews first. I find it so helpful to know what other users thought of the product. Is it true to size? High quality? Were most of the buyers happy with the product overall? I find it so helpful, in fact, that I'm going to share a few reviews with you too.



Let's start off with something I am still loving. My Radiant Facial Oil Serum from MarieLynn Skincare. I purchased this product back in March when my skin was suffering from pregnancy hormones and I was desperate to keep breakouts at bay. Almost immediately I noticed improvement in the overall appearance of my skin; it glowed, nearly radiant. And now, four months later, I still see continual results. I've had many makeup free days, thanks to this oil and a skin kissed glow from the summer sunshine! My first bottle of oil is nearly empty, so today I placed a second order - this time taking advantage of the Skin Rescue Set, which also includes a French Green Clay face mask in addition to the Facial Oil. If you use the code SUMMER25 you'll get 25% off your order through the end of the month. 


Next up is a product I'm brand new to: Schmidt's Natural Deodorant. I went with the scent Lavender + Sage. I'm on a bit of a quest to switch all products my family and I use on our skin and in our home to be as natural as possible. I don't like the thought of harmful chemicals and fillers to be surrounding us and absorbed into our skin. I've been using natural deodorant for several years, but I never found one I was truly happy with, one that was mess-free and long lasting. The Crystal Stick only worked in the winter and Tom's of Maine left a gooey residue on the skin and clothing, that dried white. So far I've been liking the Schmidt's stuff; it comes in a glass jar, and is applied with a spatula, so it takes some getting use to, but it works. (At least I think it does. I should probably verify that with people who I'm around all day. They would probably know better than me.) It's made in the USA and one of the ingredients is hops extract. (Joleen, if you're reading this, this fact is for you. Start growing those hops plants to your hearts content. :) ) I bought mine from Amazon - I haven't seen it in stores... yet.


I also LOVE my Norwex Cloths and Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap for cleaning my home and my skin. Dr. Bronner's products are Fair Trade! And there are so many ways you can use them, which means I don't need to have a million different products to keep my home and kiddo's clean. It's basically like a million products all in one bottle. (The Dr. Bronner company advertising like 18 in 1 or something like that. Either way, I like it.)




And have I mentioned ThredUp lately? I'm still loving them. It's been almost a year since I first placed an order, and since then I've placed many more orders. I'm a thrifter at heart, I love good quality pieces for low prices. However, after I became a mom, fitting rooms have turned into a nightmare. I honestly have stories of running out of them, dressed beach-appropriate and not at all street-appropriate, in an attempt to catch my run away toddler who made a break for it, sliding under the fitting room stall door, when my back was turned and my ankles were caught in too skinny, skinny jeans. For the love! Online thrifting it is. I'll try those pretties on in the comfort of my own home, thank you.
Anyhow, ThredUp has a wonderful referral program. If you use this link, you'll get $20 off your first order of any amount, and I'll get $20 too for telling you about them. You can't lose, even if you never place another order from them again. 


And finally, there are two books I want to tell you about. Both worth your time.



The first is Unashamed: Drop the Baggage, Pick Up Your Freedom, Fulfill Your Destiny, by Christine Caine. Christine is the founder of the A21 campaign, which is one of the largest non-profit organizations in the world dedicated to rescuing victims of human trafficking. I first learned about her through Bianca Olthoff, another very inspiring woman who works with A21. When I heard about this book, I knew it would be one I would read. I have been inspired and challenge through Christine's life, her wisdom is something I want to glean from. In the book Christine addresses shame. Through personal experience she shares how Satan uses shame to discourage Christ-followers, to hold us back from being bold and radical. Shame doesn't discriminate, it lurks in the lives of both high achieving, successful people, and those who have been broken, abused and downtrodden. Christine writes like she speaks; with passion and vigor and energy she tells the reader how they can be released from the bondage of shame and walk into their Christ-centered calling. She uses passages of scripture to show how Christ is bigger than our fears and failures and inadequacies. 
This book left me inspired, looking at verses in scripture in completely new ways. Christine has a fire in her belly for truth and justice and wholeness in a world of brokenness and anger and pain - A fire I want to grow in my life too. 

And next, Heart Made Whole: Turning Your Unhealed Pain into Your Greatest Strength, by Christa Black Gifford. One of the reviews on Amazon said that this book is a must read for anyone who has ever had a broken heart. In other words, EVERYONE would do well to read this book. Christa writes from her own experiences of rejection and loss, from the pain in her heart that hasn't yet healed. I've never lost a child, she has. But I've had a lot of pain and tragedy and heartache; all things that take time to work through, and even after you think they're healed, the pain and ache still lingers. Christa takes time to show how that pain is there for a reason; how you need to be aware of it, and walk through it, not avoid it, in order to heal. She shares how we don't have to live controlled by our circumstances, but how we can turn that painful fire that sets out to destroy us into a friend that refines us, producing our greatest healing.
I read through this book in a weekend, but I intend to go through it again, slowing, following the steps and prompts. It was powerful, and I feel I would get so much more out of it with intention and purpose.

Note: Both books were given to me by BookLookBlogger.com in exchange for an honest review.


And there you have it... If you've stuck with me this long, why don't you tell me a few things you've been recently loving? 



4 comments:

  1. Nice reviews Sarah, not only are they informative but I find them engaging and motivating as well. I think I'll go order a few of them right now!

    Could I borrow the Unashamed book from you sometime?

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    1. I'd love to know what you're ordering. :)

      Yes, absolutely. Someone is borrowing it right now. I'll make sure you get it next.

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  2. Are Norwex different from any other micro fiber cloths?

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    1. They are made with an antibacterial silver embedded in it, so when cleaning all you need to add it water. (I still use vinegar and baking soda, especially in the bathroom.) I have a polishing cloth, which I LOVE for my windows and mirrors. I've used my set (which was gifted to me by a Norwex consultant who I cleaned for) for almost three years, and it still works wonderfully. I haven't bought Windex or paper towels for cleaning windows since then.
      I also use their body cloths to clean my face and remove makeup.
      The other microfiber cloths I have always seem to collect lint and hair, which doesn't come out, even after being washed. The Norwex cloths are a tighter weave, and things like that don't seem to get embedded in it.
      It's an investment, no doubt. But after cleaning for a consultant and using all of the products, I can tell you it is certainly worth it.

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