Love, Life and Appreciation

Happy New Year! I know this is a bit late. I hope that everyone has had a great start to 2018 and that all are safe and warm. Though I didn't make too many resolutions this year, I did make it a goal to become more organized this year and to get more accomplished. I was so happy to see this planner available for review on Tomoson. I have tried a planner in the past but finding the right planner that works for you can be kind of tough. I think I found it for me with the Cossac Planner.  The Cossac Planner website also has a great tutorial on how to use the planner.

The planner is nice, compact and stylish with a (5.7" x 8.3") height and strong, secure pages and a softbound hardcover. The planner is undated and I really like that the planner can start on any day. I was so motivated that I dated the planner starting on January 1! The Cossac planner is a 6-month planner and has monthly, weekly and daily sections. There are 272 pages in total.

I've used my gel colored pens and my ink pens on the pages of the planner and the color shows very boldly on the sheets and both writing tools have not bled through. The planner also has two pockets located on the inside front and inside back. I really like these additions because I can put extra notes and pictures in the pocket. I've thrown a few coupons in there as well.

The layout of the planner is detailed yet minimalistic, which I find not overwhelming and the note areas throughout the planner are dots, so the planner is somewhat of a bullet journal too. There are mind mapping areas in which the whole page is filled with dots and think that really helps with the imagination and thoughts, that the purchaser may have.



Overall I am very happy with the planner. There's a review of the day on the daily pages and habit trackers. I'm working to get a better at drinking more water too and with the Cossac Planner, I can mark down so much more than just my progress. I'm looking forward to purchasing more too.

Currently, the Cossac Planner is available on Amazon for $26.95.

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The temps have been going lower, here in Maryland and this beanie was very well welcomed for the cooler weather. The beanie is from CacheAlaska, and is warm and comfortable. The hat was designed in Alaska and also very soft. It's made from 50% wool and 50% Acrylic.

The color is a dark, grayish color which is perfect for both women and men. There are other colors of the bean available as well, like Army Green, Navy Blue and Black. The beanie fits pretty well and according to the website, the beanie fits most. My husband wore the beanie, the beanie covered his ears. He said that the beanie was a bit snug but durable. The beanie feels strong and the fabric is of great quality. The beanie is not too hot for the milder temperatures as well.

Overall, my husband is happy with this product, as am I.

Currently, the beanie is available and is on sale on Amazon for $14.99 - $24.99.



Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I am very pleased with the Salt-N-Sea Dead Sea Facial Moisturizer, I have been using the product for about a week and my face looks so nourished and glowing. I have a prone to dry spot on my forehead and really helped keep my whole face hydrated especially my stubborn dry spot, for the whole day too. The moisturizer itself is white in color and is a bit thin consistency. The moisturizer is not heavy and feels so light on the skin. The ingredients in the moisturizer include jojoba oil, dead sea salts, rose hip and vitamins E and C. The moisturizer also acts as a base for makeup and has UV radiation filtration too! The fragrance of the moisturizer is light and really quite comforting. This moisturizer is now my go to moisturizer and I would highly recommend this product.

Currently the Dead Sea Facial Moisturizer retails on Amazon for $24.90.

To find out more about Salt-N-Sea, visit their about us page.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

• Comparable to Young Living Stress Away Blend, Stress Relief blend is an excellent natural solution to reduce stress, and to uplift and relax. When inhaled it can provide uplifting and stabilizing effects on emotions.
• Stress Relief blend helps you calm both mind and body naturally, it is an excellent blend to reduce stress or just to relax, calm and sooth to provide postive energy, and to work against anxiety, worry, and even depression.
• Ingredients : Pink grapefruit, Bergamot, Patchouli, Sweet Orange, Ylang ylang. All our oils are 100% Pure, Natural, Unfiltered, Undiluted, Non-additives, Non-fillers, Non-synthetics, GMO-free, Best for Aromatherapy & Scents.
• Purity Tested / Quality Guaranteed : All our Essentials oils are 100% pure, unadulterated and without any synthetic chemicals. Your 100% satisfaction is guaranteed, Try our oil risk free, we will refund you full and also provide prepaid return shipping label if unhappy for any reasons.
• Size 10ml (0.33oz) : Packaged in high quality dark amber glass bottle with euro style dropper and tamper proof seal cap. Euro style dropper will allow controlled oil dispensing for easy oil dropping for measurement without spilling.

I was so delighted to have been approved for this promotion from Novica on Tomoson. The Alpaca Blend Reversible Shawl is actually my second product from Novica and I am loving their products!

I've been using the Panda Planner for over a week now and I really like how organizer not only to organize my family schedule and work schedule for better time-management but also my thoughts and feelings for more positive thinking. The quality of the planner is very impressive. The pages are very secure and not too thin and the cover is thick and smooth with a very distinctive panda on the front. The planner is a good size. It fits easily into a backpack, laptop bag or purse. There are quotes both in the front and back of the planner and thought provoking sections, throughout the planner. Though the planner is 240 pages and does not cover the whole year, I find the planner very helpful in putting my thoughts down on paper. This is actually the first planner I've had with such a structure and it certainly won't be my last. I feel more productive and the company also is very helpful in providing great communication!

The Clever Banana 2 Piece Wicker & Leather Tissue Box Holder and Organizer Set promotion on Tomoson really intrigued me due to the "woodsy-outdoor-like" sides of the two products. The picture above is actually both of the products with the organizer placed sideways in the tissue box holder, for shipping purposes. I found this to be a very good space saver, putting the two products like this and the shipment of the set was very fast.

I have been familiar with bento boxes in the past and I was very happy to have been accepted for this promotion through Tomoson for a EcoBento Meal Prep Bento Box. I liked the style of bento boxes and for this food storage container I really liked that it was eco-friendly with nicely proportioned compartments and it looked stylish in green. The bento box is also available in black too.

I was recently accepted to review the Leven Rose Organic Jojoba Oil recently and I must say this is a very useful oil. I have heard of jojoba before but I never really looked at what it was used for. I researched it more and found that the oil is made from an American shrub in which the seeds are compressed to produce the oil. I was excited because the oil really intrigued me as to what it could do.

The shipment of the Leven Rose Organic Jojoba Oil was fast and the bottle is a whole 4 oz. According to the bottle that is good for a 3 month supply of the product. The oil itself is slightly greenish in color but more golden and has a faint nutty smell. The bottle has a dropper that is glass and can gather up a lot of the oil but with this oil, only a few drops are needed.  I applied the oil to my face and neck after cleansing morning and night. The bottle says the oil absorbs quickly and to wipe off the excess oil. I did notice there was a bit of excess oil on my face and wiped a small portion off. I noticed that my face did feel a bit smoother after using this product.

I have been more interested in cooking homemade meals, as stated in one of my 30 before 30 goals. When I saw the promotion for KOVOT Set of 2 Non Stick Heat Resistant Baking Mats on Tomoson, I instantly applied and was so happy to be accepted. Baking mats are a great way to lessen the use of cooking sprays and oils. They are also very versatile.

According to the product's description on Amazon, the mats:

• 2 Pack of 16.5" x 11" Silicone Baking Mats
• Eliminates the Need for Cooking Sprays, Oils, Butter or Parchment Paper
• High Temperature Resistant up to 482F/250C
• Freezer, Microwave, and Oven Safe
• Simply Wipe Using Hot Water and Dish Soap and Dishwasher Safe

The mats arrived quickly to the house and came with very detailed instructions. The instructions were very helpful as this was my first time ever using baking mats. Upon first use of the mats it is instructed that the mats be washed with hot, soapy water. I did this. The instructions also said that a thin layer of cooking oil should be applied. I applied the thin layer of oil and cooked four Pillsbury biscuits at 400 degrees. I paid attention that the mats should be placed on a backing tray and never directly on heat. I thought the mats could just go into the oven. The biscuits came out well cooked though they were a little brown on the bottom. The instructions did say that the cooking times might be slightly shorter. Clean up was a breeze, just a couple of wipes with soapy water was enough. I like that the mats can be stored by laying them flat or they can be rolled. As for now, I'll be storing them laying flat in the drawer under the oven. I like too how these mats can be used in the microwave and the freezer. I think I will more use them in the oven. I will certainly be making more cookies and pies in the next coming months, and these mats will be wonderful for cooking pizza. These mats will also be a fun project for when May and Nia get older and can help in the kitchen. I'm sure they'll have fun putting the cookie dough on the mats and the cookies will also be a bit healthier with no use of cooking sprays or oils prior to application. Overall, I think these mats are very useful and I hope to use them for a long time. 

Currently the mats retail on Amazon for $13.49. 

To learn more about Kovot, check out their About Us page. 

 I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Recently I had the opportunity to review Dana Sibilsky's book on successful and profitable blogging. As I write this entry now, I am on my own blog. I actually have two blogs, this one for more personal entries and reviews and my other blog, Weather Chat, for my interest of weather and Earth Science related phenomena. Over the past couple months for this blog, and years for my other blog, I have not posted as many entries as I have been currently and with the ideas from this book, I think it will be very helpful towards writing more.

The book itself is paperback and about 30 or so pages in length. It is a quick read but filled with useful tips that are very well highlighted. There is no table of contents in the beginning but they layout of the book starts with the ground or foundation for your blog, finding your voice, building an audience and lastly monetizing the blog. One of the biggest concerns I have always had with blogging is building and keeping an audience. I have many more views on my Weather Chat blog, though many of those viewers are more bouncers. There is a way to see on your blog the bounce rate and I can see that blog has a high bounce rate. With use of this book I think I can really put the tips towards both of my blogs to engage readers with rich and creative content. I used to write in journals and in this book, Sibilsky's mentions about writing down ideas for blog postings as you go throughout the day. I hope that one day I might be able to monetize my Weather Chat blog and maybe even this one, and perhaps create some revenue.

I also thought blogging is a great way to share content with whomever you'd like to share it with. In more present times there are so many smartphones with cameras or really advanced cameras like a GoPro, in which people more vlog or video blog. Though I have a Youtube account, I don't really video blog. Maybe one day I might vlog as well, as much of what is stated in Sibilsky's book, can relate to vlogging. The book is very clear and does a great job of highlighting specific topics and points. Overall I'll be keeping this book close to me when I am writing my entries for reference. I think the book is versatile too and offers great tips for beginner blogs as well as more experienced bloggers. Honestly, where was this book back when I first started blogging, back in 2009?

Currently the book is available on Amazon for $5.38.

To learn more about Dana Sibilsky, visit her website.

 I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

For the past month I have been using the Isa Professional Xanadu 24K Gold Serum. I was actually surprised when I was selected from the Tomoson website for the promotion but I was very happy as I saw that from the description, the product contained real gold. I am not to big on gold jewelry but I was very interested to see what the gold would help do for the face.

As per the description on the website, the serum:

From Nature
* 24K Gold.
* Vitamin C - pH balanced and highly absorbable. Brightens skin, combats wrinkles and dark spots.
* Vitamin E moisturizes and heals.
* Rose Extract soothes the skin and gives the Xanadu serum a delightful natural scent.
* P-anisic from the spice anise.

Supporting what's already in your skin
* Hyaluronic Acid captures and holds up to 1000 times its volume in moisture to your skin.
* Collagen to support your skin's own collagen.
* Creatine supplies energy to your cells.
* Beta-Glucan boosts the immune system.

From High Tech science
* Palmitoyl Oligopeptide (Matrixyl-3000) is a peptide that specifically stimulates collagen synthesis and skin repair.
* Epidermal Growth Factor stimulates new cell growth.

The serum itself is semi-thick and is concentrated. Only one pump is needed to get a good amount a product to cover the face. The gold flakes are small but leave the area you apply the serum to a tad bit sparkly. Your fingers will also be a bit sparkly. The serum smells more like rose, I believe due to the rose extract. I apply the serum at night mostly but sometimes during the day and I have noticed that my face is more moisturized. I do have a few dark spots on my face and with further use I think that those spots will more fade. The serum also is supposed to help with wrinkles and though I do not have wrinkles I know it good to be proactive. I have noticed that my face feels softer and there is a glow that is left. Overall I feel that the serum is effective. It's a much more complex serum but it is not heavy or greasy so that is good. I'm looking forward to a more even skin tone as well, with further use of the product.

To find out more on Isa Professional, check out their About Us page.

Currently the 24K Gold Serum retails on Amazon for $59.00.

 I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I have heard about aloe vera gel being very useful on burns and I was so excited when I was accepted to review the La Lune Naturals Aloe Vera Gel via the Tomoson website, especially since it's the summer. The shipment of the gel was very quick and the bottle is 12 oz, so you get a lot of product. Included with the gel are two other toppers which I thought was nice of the company to add because it helps make on the go easier. For the most part I have been using the pump topper but I like that there is the possibly to use the original secure topper in case I decide to take it with me somewhere.

The gel itself is clear and is of somewhat thin consistency. I love how the gel is not sticky at all. It goes on so smooth and instantly creates a soothing affect to the area in which it has been applied. I like how La Lune Naturals included with purchase of this product a free ebook, highlighting more uses of the gel. I recently got a burn getting something from the oven on my right forearm and I applied the aloe vera gel. It cooled down the burn and I have been applying it daily to prevent scarring. Not too much is needed of this gel as well as it spreads very nicely. My daughter as I mentioned before has eczema and I applied this gel to the areas where she scratches which is more on her knees and elbows. I have noticed less scratching and it seems that she is more comfortable after I apply the gel.

The gel is 99.75% organic and is also 100% pure natural certified. Overall I really like this gel and can see many great uses of it for the whole family. The company also gave a $2 off $10 purchase of other products in their line which is nice. I will certainly be repurchasing this item in the future.

To learn more about La Lune Naturals, visit their about us page.

Currently, the La Lune Naturals Aloe Vera Gel retails on Amazon for $18.95.

 I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I received the CSCS Advanced Eye Gel from a promotion on the Tomoson website, about two weeks ago. It came in a great time due to me not getting much sleep from the new arrival of my second daughter.

The shipment was fast and though the gel is a little smaller than previous products I have tried, that is quite alright because not much is needed of this product to cover the under eye area for both eyes. I like how the gel is not like a sticky gel and more of a semi thick white cream. It has a light, somewhat tropical scent to the gel. I can't really explain that scent. It's certainly a pleasant scent though. I apply one pump day and night and within 5 days of use, I started to see my eyes look more awake. The puffiness under my eyes was slightly reduced and the dark circles were slightly brightened.

The product is all natural which is very good and apparently helps towards the reduction of wrinkles. Though I do not have wrinkles it's always good to be proactive. Overall I am very pleased with the eye gel. It feel light on the eye area and is not heavy at all. I can definitely see myself using the product in the very near future.

Currently, the CSCS Advanced Eye Gel retails on Amazon for $24.99.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.