I have a confession tho.
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Friday, September 02, 2011
Rejuvenating Treatment Masque by Exuviance
I have a confession tho.
Check out more products by Exuviance
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Spa Face Aromatherapy Neroli Water by Kerstin Florian
I spritzed this neroli water throughout my day. The petite bottle allowed me to stash it away in my purse, on my bathroom sink, on the go. It was the perfect size to take with me should I want to have it handy on a flight or checked in my luggage.
No doubt this product serves two purposes: 1. Tones (sans cotton ball) 2. Refreshes and revitalizes in seconds. This product is clearly a mood booster and much needed in our stressful day--to-day existence.
See it for yourself! See Ms. Florian's Youtube presentation by clicking here.
Buy one for your enemy. He/She will become your best friend. Buy one for your best friend to prevent him/her from taking yours - thus becoming your enemy. Hey, I may even buy my Mother-In-Law a bottle - maybe she will finally give me her sauce recipe!
Optical Illusions Colore - Corrector Pen "Dust in the Wind" by Colorescience Pro
As I reviewed this product I realized for me - this product had a bit of a learning curve in regard to 1. choosing the correct color for the correct season 2. how to get the cap off. As I tackled the easier task - I realized the longer gold cap was what I needed to pull off and the shorter gold cap was the handle which I needed to twist until the product appeared on the sponge head as shown to the right. I applied the shade Dust in the Wind under my eyes as well as under my eye brows.
I asked, "Why not?" as I applied to my eyelids. At first, I thought the color was too dark as it appeared ruddy within the first few seconds I applied it. However, as I lightly rubbed all of the product into my skin I realized what an amazing product Optical Illusions was for an evening out. My skin tone absorbed and embraced it!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product free from DermStore LLC as part of their Independent Reviewers Product Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Are you a manufacturer of a product or currently market a service? Christina will review it! Email christina@wordsofgrace.info with product name, description and manufacturer's suggested retail price along with any other information relative to said product. You will receive a response via email within two weeks if product will be reviewed. Please note not all products will be considered reviewable. Please do not send products without prior consent. Note: Products sent for review will not be returned. Product submission authorizes consent for said product to remain in sole possession of recipient. No monies shall be exchanged for product submission nor permission granted for reviews prior to submission. Reviews shall remain effective and in full force at sole discretion of blog administrator and/or authors related to http://www.christinawillreviewit.blogspot.com.
I asked, "Why not?" as I applied to my eyelids. At first, I thought the color was too dark as it appeared ruddy within the first few seconds I applied it. However, as I lightly rubbed all of the product into my skin I realized what an amazing product Optical Illusions was for an evening out. My skin tone absorbed and embraced it!
Currently, I have a bronzed skin tone from tanning in the South Florida sun. Therefore, this shade was perfect for me for now. However, after researching more about this unique creamy powder, I plan to investigate the shade Remedy that Red for my particular skin color and tone for those months when I do not have a suntan.
Just a hint about the sponge applicator. It was a bit scratchy then I realized I had run out of product on the tip. As soon as I twisted more product, I got way too much all at once. I learned to be patient and just twist a few times so that I would not waste the product. Having just enough product on the sponge tip is key to successfully adding it. Make sure you rub it in with your finger. The rubbing in of the product allowed it to successfully blend in with my skin and do it's work effectively. Before I blended it in, it was way too dark.
Optical Illusions Colore Corrector Pen is a unique as well as a multi purpose product. I felt it had cutting-edge appeal for all ages and skin tones. It truly delivered the promise of reducing puffiness and fine lines. The zinc oxide and titanium dioxide for UV protection is a nice added bonus for daytime use.
I would recommend those considering purchasing this product to do your research beforehand. Meaning, read the full description at Dermstore.com so you will know which shade is perfect for you for when you want to wear it (remember - it serves many purposes for many seasons).
Check it out today as there is a Free Gift with Purchase as of the date of this review. Also, DermStore offers free shipping on all orders all the time. No time to waste! Those puffy eyes could use some carrot oil to nourish, cocoa butter to moisturize, and who would turn down dark chocolate extract which will brighten your eyes (and not add an ounce to the scale). Optical Illusions Colore Corrector Pen delivers all that and more!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Nail Lacquer - Airhead by SpaRitual
The directions state to apply two coats of lacquer. Doing so is imperative. I smiled as I also read the other directions, "Roll before using". The round bottle literally makes you want to roll not shake. And btw - it did roll across my terrazzo floor...
My only objection about this product was its claim to be based on Numerology. Personally, I felt that listed "benefit" was not necessary to advertise to the masses but rather a personal preference of the designer. Not a benefit to me, however knowing this product was a PETA product, vegan and Paraben-free was a bonus which did deserve applause. Also, after wearing this product on both hands and feet for over a week now I can tell you it took a beating and remained spa perfect!!
Low fumes, quick drying and absolutely as good or better than an expensive manicurist could provide, SpaRitual is now for me, a must-have for summer. Actually, living in South Florida I will no doubt wear it throughout the year. It is a beautiful natural shade and perfectly compliments my tan and my favorite pair of strappy sandals!! You can find Airhead by SpaRitual and so many more colors at DermStore. Skip the spa, save your money and purchase this nail lacquer today (remember though to roll not shake well and two coats!).
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product free from DermStore LLC as part of their Independent Reviewers Product Program
PureGloss Soft Peach by Jane Iredale
Surprise! This tube of gloss had a wand that I hadn't realized existed. The wand allowed me to apply smoothly and evenly over naked lips or a deeper-hued lipstick.
The wand was a great surprise benefit. Another positive was the tingly, fresh-smelling long lasting shimmer. I was pleased to find out that what made the gloss tingly was fresh mint and ginger. Better yet this gloss was made with pure mineral pigments in an organic oil.
When I chose this product to review, I was drawn to the color and the subtle shimmer. I have found that the perfect balance of peach and nude is a challenge to find. It exceeded my expections in regard to color. It looked more beautiful on my lips than it did in the tube. And does it not look radiant in the picture?! Better on your lips though if you can imagine that being possible....
Perfect for your tween, or for you forty, fifty or sixty-somethings - as if the above isn't enough to convince you to buy it, this product is also a paraben-free PETA product.
While you are at DermStore check out Ask The Brand to learn more about Ms. Iredale and her amazing line of products!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Author Interview: Barbara Forte Abate
Please check back soon for Christina's first Author Interview. The Author of The Secret of Lies Barbara Forte Abate will share her thoughts on her amazing work. For the complete book review click here.Enjoy The Secret of Lies Trailer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Are you a manufacturer of a product or currently market a service? Christina will review it! Email christina@wordsofgrace.info with product name, description and manufacturer's suggested retail price along with any other information relative to said product. You will receive a response via email within two weeks if product will be reviewed. Please note not all products will be considered reviewable. Please do not send products without prior consent. Note: Products sent for review will not be returned. Product submission authorizes consent for said product to remain in sole possession of recipient. No monies shall be exchanged for product submission nor permission granted for reviews prior to submission. Reviews shall remain effective and in full force at sole discretion of blog administrator and/or authors related to http://www.christinawillreviewit.blogspot.com.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
CellRenew Rx Cell Recharging Gold Serum by Dr. Denese New York
After cleansing my skin I applied this product to my damp face, neck and the delicate skin on my hands. At first I was surprised then quite pleased to see the gold flecks in the serum.
This serum went on smooth with no greasy feel. It had little scent, but a pleasing clean aroma.
I used the product straight for seven nights. I noticed after the first application that some dark patches had appeared that I hadn't seen as prominently before (I have always been a sun goddess). Two nights later those patches were completely gone.
Small lines around my eyes were less noticeable. However, the biggest difference was the increased tone of my skin.
I faithfully use Dr. Denese's microdermabrasion machine three times a week.As a result of using that product, I have learned the value of stimulating collagen. Since I am a forty-something, my collagen production has slowed down. Therefore, using CellRenew Rx in conjunction with the Dr. Denese Microdermabrasion machine has undoubtedly added to "how good" I looked when I received the unsolicited compliment about my skin.
I will continue to enjoy both of these amazing products by Dr. Denese. I hope she will offer a foundation product with the same glowing gold that is offered in CellRenew. A girl just never can have too much gold in her life. Thank you Dr. Denese for helping me to look my best and to enjoy being beautiful! This product is one I will forever keep close by. I will grow old with it but no one will suspect I am a day over 40 - that is how good it is. I award it five stars - gold ones that is!!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Dr. Denese www.drdenese.com
Sunday, August 07, 2011
Nephilim by Renee Pawlish
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Courageous by Randy Alcorn
The first chapter of this book was amazing! Without being a spoiler, it wasn't until I finished the first chapter that the reality of what I had just read hit with a bang! The first chapter was clever and drew me in and gave me a taste of more intriguing storylines.The second and third chapter were a bit slow and I had to dig deep to keep going. While I struggled with Chapter Three, I realized Courageous was in my movie theatre! I thought that was cool and knowing this was also a movie, I cracked open the book and dug in (I like comparing books to their movie counterparts).
After becoming familiar with each of the four families discussed in this story, I began to look forward to realizing how the lives would connect. This book was family-friendly, Christ-focused and a blessing to behold. Courageous depicted the hard life of boys without fathers who turn to gangs to belong. The author also was quite graphic in describing the violence and danger associated with being a cop. I appreciated that graphic depiction, as many Christian fiction stories can be a little too "nicey nice" for the evil days we are truly living (Matthew 24:4-14).
A criticism I had was the repeated reference to the 'Resolution'. The Bible could have been that reference point to draw the men into the agreement to be better fathers and husbands. A page from the Bible could have just as easily been printed out and framed and referred to by Scripture and verse. I feel there was a bit of a marketing/promotion of a new fad which I have come to realize is correct, as "Focus on the Family" is pushing for a men's group to embrace the 'Resolution'. I am all for men becoming more godly, but have them bring their Bible's and not a new program with materials. We have enough 'programs'! We need to wear out the pages of our own Bibles (that is just my opinion.)
Another criticism I had what that there way too many references to food in this book! Not just humans consuming, preparing, or rejoicing over food - but the people giving their dogs food often and food that dogs should not be eating! One of the dogs was sick so the father took it to the vet. The man had just told the wife that he had given the dog people food (forget what it was) and then the dog wasn't feeling well so he brought it to the vet. Right after bringing the dog home from the vet he gave the dog pancakes, bacon and maple syrup! Duh. No wonder the dog was sick. I hope the dog didn't get fed unnecessary antibiotics in between.
Not to beat a dead horse so to speak, but, the dog eating badly scenario occurred with three separate dogs and those dogs were each mentioned at least twice each. I found those types of food discussions ridiculous. Christians including food in everything I am used to - but the inclusion of the canine cooking eating badly - did not enjoy so much!
I hope to see Courageous the movie soon. The book was really good. I enjoyed reading it and hope to hear more family-friendly plots from author Randy Alcorn!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers as part of their
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Earthen Vessels by Matthew Lee Anderson
I found that concept fascinating as I am very much into an organic lifestyle basically involving our implementation of a Mediterranean diet. For those two reasons I chose to review this book.
I smiled as I read the Contents page. Tough topics were presented: Evangelical Inattention and the Secular Body, Tattoos and the Meaning of our Bodies, Homosexuality and the Christian Body, etc.
I still had high hopes for a great read after I dove into the Preface titled In Which I Clear My Throat. Chapter One included Scripture and mention of Paul the Apostle. It was interesting.
However, Chapter Two presented a roadblock. I did not understand the author's intention with the use of the word "evangelical." I consider myself an evangelical Christian. I try not to stereotype any people group. I understand truths to be evident when presented with statistical data. In this book, I heard the author's opinion with regard to his summation that overall most evangelical Christians are not interested in having healthy bodies at least as compared to having a healthy faith. I did not read of proof of his conclusion.
Therefore, since he was using supposition, he should have used personal examples to make his case. Do case studies, use your experience, man! There truly is danger in making assumptions with regard to any class of people.
Chapter Seven was awkwardly presented. In that chapter titled The Body and Its Pleasure the author loosely threw in Scripture about Paul being the most equipped to speak about sex. On page 124 I realized without a shadow of a doubt that this would not be a book I would recommend. Respectfully, Scripture is not to be interpreted with an "I think I can" attitude. The author made the mistake of referring to Scripture and then reasoning how he "thought" it would apply and then speaking it to his audience as if it were truth.
Page 124," What follows in the rest of this chapter, then, is not a comprehensive treatment of human sexuality, but my attempt to outline what I think is distinctive about Christian sexuality in a world that worships sex. My goal is to say what I think Scripture thinks sex is rather than focusing primarily on what sex is not. Naturally, I draw on the account of the body I have sketched in earlier chapters to make my case. But I should also note that much of what follows is heavily influenced by-though not a direct translation of-John Paul II's Theology of the Body."
There were many broad brush strokes outlining how to do this or that. Legalism was mentioned. The author seemed to want to teach and guide and solve problems in "the church". There were rays of sunshine throughout but getting through the wordy, opinionated, secularly quoted sections was a struggle.
Writing a nonfiction work in the Christian market these days no doubt is a challenge. The market has become broad and if a book focuses too widely on too many facets of the "Christian Church" of course some will be offended, some may applaud, and some may change the channel.
I fell into the latter group. Mr. Anderson, I am an evengelical that does care about the body, does love God's Word and gosh darnit I can crack open that book and hear from the Holy Spirit. I will then learn all I need to know about my body, sex, and homosexuality!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House as part of their
Monday, August 01, 2011
God's Love Letters To You by Dr. Larry Crabb
Speechless. That was the one word that came to mind as I cracked open this book for the very first time. I am not often without words especially when presented with hundreds of thousands of words awaiting my review.
This book packed a powerful punch from Genesis through Revelations in a way which only Scholar Dr. Larry Crabb would be capable of delivering. Personal, direct and Scripture laden, this book exuded love and faith all rolled into one.
This would be the one book (besides your Bible) that you would pack in your overnight bag. The one book that you would sneak out to your car in the black of night to retrieve before turning the light out "just because you wanted to read one more page before getting your zzzzs". The one book you would buy several copies of even before recognizing to give as a gift.
What made this book truly special was the very direct way in which the author whispered Truth to the reader. The format was simple. There was a short devo, then a Take A Moment to Reflect section followed by Take A Moment To Pray. Concisely written but powerful this was a book that I shall not forget.
Clearly the Lord was glorified in God's Love Letters to You. He know doubt sang over the author (at the top of his "lungs") - Zephaniah 3:17. A party broke out in Heaven when this book landed on bookshelves around the world.
Throughout the book, I was challenged to pursue a more personal relationship with God. The back cover confirmed this was the intended goal of the book as it stated,
Dear (your name here),
I love you.
Love, God.
Though I obviously reviewed this book in less than 40 days (the author's stated timeframe for this annointed devotional-style book) I was blessed beyond belief to read it in several sittings. I no doubt will pick it up again and again. I also intend to purchase many copies for people I know and may meet. I will keep a copy in my car, in my house, in my favorite lounge chair outside. I will enjoy this book for many years to come.
Thank you Dr. Crabb for a book of love letters that truly enabled me to connect with God in a way I had almost forgotten existed! God's love will never let us down. God's love is endless....His love letters (the Bible) the best letters one could hope to read. Get your copy today. Someone may just ask you if you fell in love cause you will not be easily able to wipe that smile off your face!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com
Are you a manufacturer of a product or currently market a service? Christina will review it! Email christina@wordsofgrace.info with product name, description and manufacturer's suggested retail price along with any other information relative to said product. You will receive a response via email within two weeks if product will be reviewed. Please note not all products will be considered reviewable. Please do not send products without prior consent. Note: Products sent for review will not be returned. Product submission authorizes consent for said product to remain in sole possession of recipient. No monies shall be exchanged for product submission nor permission granted for reviews prior to submission. Reviews shall remain effective and in full force at sole discretion of blog administrator and/or authors related to http://www.christinawillreviewit.blogspot.com.
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