Gurin Professional Rechargeable Water Flosser: Reviewed

I do not floss as much as I should, in fact when the dentist asks me I usually say "a few times a week." (Not true, I usually floss MAYBE once a month). I know, it is poor dental hygeine and pretty gross too, I am trying to be better.  I just am not very motivated to floss, nor am I very skilled at it. It is usually insanely late when I get to bed (3 am or later, trying to get reviews or housework done as that is the quiet time when there is no distraction) and I am too tired to take time to floss.   I lack the patience of going in between each tooth and taking the extra time.  I am sometimes good about using those flossers that are a small piece of floss on a plastic stick, but not more than a few times a month.  I do use a nice toothbrush, one that is really wide and works well on cleaning my teeth. I do brush twice a day.

I had the opportunity to review a water flosser from Gurin.  I have an old, WaterPik brand flosser that has a large tank that I have not used in years.  The house we live in now is really old with tiny sinks with no counter space so I do not have a space to set it when not actively using it.  So there it sits, in a cubbard, forgotten and lonely.  When I saw the Gurin brand flosser I was excited since it is small and easier to store.

The device is comfortable to hold and has 3 operating modes for varying oral care needs: Normal, Soft, and Pulse.  I like the softest, slowest setting as I am still getting the hang of this.  The first time I used it, it was in the kitchen near the sink, I foolishly turned it on and had it pointed the wrong direction and it sprayed the ceiling.  :)

It took me some time to get used to how to keep the water from spraying outward, and after a few short uses, I was able to close my lips and let it do its thing.  I like how the device can with 2 interchangeable nozzles, one has a blue stripe, and one  has a green stripe.  This great for my husband and I, as we both can enjoy the flosser.  I do want to note, that the first time I used it, I used water that was much too icy cold and it was not comfortable at all, as my teeth as very sensitive to cold.  I now make sure the water is warm when I fill it up.   I keep my finger on the on/off button while using it in my closed mouth.  It is very easy to refill the reservoir with water. 

I like the fact that it is rechargeable and cordless.  Our other one has a cord on it and so that is the reason that keeps me from using it (besides lack of counter space).  I have used the Gurin in the last 3 weeks and have not had to recharge it yet.  I like how I can add a few drops of mouth wash to the water tank.  What I don't like is that I have to fill it up twice to clean my teeth.  I am not sure if I am just not skilled enough or perhaps I just take too long to do it.

My husband and I both like this flosser.  It is much more convenient and easier for me to use than actual floss.  The buttons are easy to use. I do want to note that the color of the unit is not a bright white, it seems a greyish perhaps a hint of purple toned white in person.

You can find our more about the Gurin Water Flosser by visiting the product page on Amazon or visiting the Gurin 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.

Ecco Bella Enlightenment Make Up Compact: Reviewed

Lately I have been using more natural cosmetics whenever possible.  Now, I still love my Naked 3 eye shadow palette, but I really love to use mineral make up as it nourishes my skin, chemical free, and is Eco friendly.  I had seen the Ecco Bella brand at my local Whole Foods, but never had tried it.  I was sent a  travel bag friendly small compact with a pretty blush and a duo shadow set.  The Enlightenment Collection   is a "compilation of yin and yang, shadow and light."

This is a nice compact and when the shadows and blush are used up, you can refill it with other shades.  I really like this feature.  I like how it has a stretchy band to further secure the compact.

The compact is actually part of a larger set that includes a lipstick and a gloss, but I was only sent the compact.  The compact is able to be purchased as a stand alone product as well.

The powders include:

Purity - a sheer blush / highlighter.
Celestial - a heavenly eye shadow.
Mystic - a wet / dry powder which can be used wet as a liner and dry as an eye shadow

The powder set is made up of a Flower wax enriched formula to prevent moisture loss from the skin, helping colors to glide on smooth and stay true throughout the day. Compact comes with it’s own sponge applicator. Gluten-free. Vegan. Paraben free, talc free.

I like the blush a lot.  I find that it is buildable and can act as an all over facial illuminator and make you have a youthful, rosy glow.  The kind of glow that makes you look like you always get 8-9 hours of sleep,  and that you are ready to accomplish anything.  I love blush, it is something I often apply over generously. :) I was able to get a nice amount of color from this blush.  The Mystic blue eye shadow was fun to wear.  I did not save it for a night look, I wore it during a day errand with my family.  I will have no problem wearing this bright, almost cobalt blue for most any occassion as it really pops.

I did use the little sponge applicator, however I have always found them to be difficult to use and the sponge tips never last long. I found that using a regular eyeshadow brush works much better.  I used an eye shadow primer over my entire lid, then applied the blush under my eye brows to give a highlight. I then applied the blue shade on my lids only.  Please note, I do not claim to be a makeup artist, so please forgive my lack of proper blending.  I often (usually 85% of the time) do not have more than 15 minutes to get myself ready as I have an infant and a 3 1/2 year old that need my loving attention.  I am not the best at taking the time to blend my shadows correctly when I apply.

The Celestial shade, which is described as a heavenly eye shadow, was not a color I personally was able to pull off.  On my skin and in the pan it appeared very yellow and since my eye lids are pale and often have some discoloration paired with my dark under eye circles, the yellow toned powder did not look great on me.  I think it would look much more heavenly and beautiful on a darker, more tan complexion.

The great thing about this compact is that you can purchase other flower color eyeshadows and powder liners from Ecco Bella and put your desired shades into your compact.  My favorite shadow shades from their website are the  shimmer dust  refills.

This was my first experience with this brand.  I would have preferred the yellow shadow to be more of a champagne or frosty silver, steel grey shimmer, or frosty white, as the current color does not work for me personally.  I like the blush and the Mystic blue shadow.  I love the reusable card board compact.

**This compact was sent to me complementary for testing and review purposes, all opinions are honest and my own.**

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.

Kitchenware Plus Bamboo Cutting Board set: Reviewed

I recently was sent 2 bamboo cutting boards and let me tell you I am swooning! We have some other cutting boards in our kitchen and they are "just cutting boards." Cutting boards are not something you general get excited about, they are useful and necessary for providing a clean, even, stable and safe surface to cut and prepare food on, but they are not something you really think about, at least I never did.

When the Kitchenware Plus bamboo cutting boards arrived (in a massive, well sized protective box)  I was impressed. The boards are smooth, sturdy, and thick. They also smell lightly fragrant with the familiar sweet wood smell. They are 3/4" thick, with the large board being 18" X 13" and the medium one at 13" x 8.5." These are spacious enough for any of your culinary tasks. I think they are quite the stunning pair and would look great as a serving tray for food items at a holiday party (do not put very hot items on them). I can see us putting a pretty plate on top and serving fancy cheese and crackers or fruit.

They have a carved out / groove drip area along the 4 sides, which I would assume would help with keeping your kitchen counter clean from juicy fruits such as watermelon or oranges, etc. We won't be using these boards for meats (so meat juices wont be dripping), as I worry about salmonella and other bacteria seeping into wood and not getting sanitized properly. We will only use these for breads, cheeses, fruits and vegetables. Please do keep this board clean with hot soapy washes (by hand and with a cloth, not by submerging). This should be oiled every now and then to keep it looking nice.

The only thing I was frustrated with is when these arrived, they each had a large information/instruction label glued down securely on them. It took me 15 minutes to gently scrape the paper off after wetting the paper. At first I thought I could just remove the paper, but then the paper kept shredding and leaving securely strips behind on the board. I had to get a wet paper towel, and get the label really wet and then took a store card/credit card and gently scraped it away. That was my only frustration with the boards, otherwise I think they are nice.

You can find this set on Amazon: Kitchenware Plus Bamboo Cutting Board Set



**This set was sent to me as a sample in exchange for an honest review.**

Acure Organics Pumpkin Calendula Soap Bar

I have an affinity for natural soaps, and if you read my blog with regularity, you know how much I adore Calendula. I would like it in all my beauty / cosmetic products if I could have it. I like making my own Calendula infused oils for hair and skin. The soap I have for review today is from Acure Organics. This soap is an ultra-hydrating soap that has fresh calendula petals, argan oil, fresh sage, spearmint, and pumpkin seed oil. Now doesn't that just sound absolutely luxurious and skin pampering? Trust me, it is.

Acure Organics is a family owned and operated company and provides only the purest, fair trade, natural and organic ingredients. The Acure (a cure) name grew out of a passion for providing awareness for Breast Cancer research and funding, in honor and support of those who are experiencing cancer or those who have lost a loved one due to cancer. Acure's philosophy is born out of a deep love for others, love for the environment, social and environmental responsibility and impact. Each of the Acure products is free from animal testing, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, harmful preservatives and artificial colors. This is very important to me as I have been sulfate free for almost 2 years and am always looking for natural products that are top quality, have skin nourishing ingredients, and are safe for my family.

Here is what my soap bar looked like when it arrived to me:

I recommend this soap and the Acure brand, you will not be disappointed.

Ingredients:

Saponified Organic Oils of Safflower and/or Sunflower, Argan and Coconut* (with retained glycerin); essential oils of sage, lavandin, lemongrass, spearmint; calendula petals; rosemary extract, organic pumpkin seed oil

Acure Organics Pumpkin + Calendula Soap

I really liked using this bar. It is all used up now, but lasted me 3 weeks with generous daily use. I kept it on a wooden soap bar holder to keep it lasting as long as possible. What I really liked is that the bar was not rough or scratchy on my skin like some soap bars with petals or exfoliates. I also used this as a shaving bar. Before initial use, I cut a thick rectangle sliver off the end and put it in my shaving mug. I use a women's 1963 vintage double edge safety razor and a shaving brush. This soap provided a nice lather for my needs. The Calendula and essential oils really make this a great soap. It had a nice fragrance and I like how the fragrance was from the natural ingredients and not from chemicals or perfumes. I would have loved a more pumpkin scent, but really that is not necessary.


• Made with Organic oils
• Vegan
• Paraben free
• Sulfate free
• Cruelty free
• Gluten free
• Fancy free (I love how they always include cute and clever little phrases on their website and packaging)

**I received a sample bar provided in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions in this posting are honest and my own.**

Optimal Omega 3: Reviewed

I have been trying out quite a few different brands of Omega vitamin supplements lately. I have tried plant / algae based and fish based with lemon flavor or a slight vanilla flavor. I have another Omega up for review today. This one is from the Optimal Health Labs brand. Optimal Omega 3 is a fish oil supplement with high levels of DHA and EPA. It contains 600mg of DHA and 800mg of EPA per serving. The bottle is large and contains 180 yellow pills in each bottle.

I take an Omega supplement daily (have taken Omegas for 5 years straight) as I am breastfeeding my infant currently and before he was born, taken it for overall good health. Omegas are fantastic for your cardiovascular health, brain function/cognition, blood pressure, and can even assist with positive mood.

This brand sells for less than $30 on Amazon and will provide up to 3 months supply for that price which is quite reasonable. These pills have an enteric coating on them to avoid fishy burps. My particular pills did not taste fishy or cause me to have fishy burps, however the pills tasted different from other omega fish pills I have tried and they were not the best tasting in my opinion. I had no upset stomach from these, and no side effects. I tried these Omega pills about a week and a half. My husband tried these for 3 weeks. I gather his pills together each evening and he was not a fan of the flavor of this brand. We have both had Omega pills in the past several years but they are usually lemon flavor, vanilla, or gummy omegas. I am thinking perhaps my batch was defective. This brand has excellent ratings on Amazon so I am in the minority with my experience.

Directions:

Take 2 Softgels taken 1 to 2 times per day with meals. I take my pills at night about 2-3 hours before bedtime. This is the most convenient time for me as I take a lot of pills (Prenatal and several nutritional supplements) and during the day I tend to get busy and do not take the time to take my supplements. I do not skip doses, I just seem to have more time in the evening. I do make sure I have a decent snack with my pills such as 4 peanut butter cracker sandwiches or a small sandwich. It is important to take a full glass of water with supplements.

Ingredients:

Optimal Omega 3 uses the finest fish oil from Herring, Anchovy, Sardine, Salmon and Mackerel. This fish oil is then refined using the molecular distillation method to create the purest highly potent fish oil possible, free from mercury PCB and other toxins. Other ingredients: gelatin, vegetable glycerin, purified water, natural vitamin E, enteric coating and soy.

My final thoughts:

I like how the bottle tells you exactly what type fish oil is used for these pills and I love the fact that these are USA made. The bottle size is impressive for the price. I have contacted the company about my issue and they do stand by the quality of their products, so I am hoping to find out if perhaps my batch had a problem. I appreciate that if you are not 100% satisfied with your bottle you can get a full refund. It is nice to know that they care and do stand by their products and want satisfied customers.

For more information on this product, you can find them on Amazon: Optimal Health Labs

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.

Smelly Washer Cleaner: Reviewed

We have hard water and live in the country. We have a high efficiency washer that does a great job washing, however uses very little water and sometimes our towels just do not smell the cleanest. We have used monthly washer cleaners in the past, however they have been chemical laden and had strong perfumes and they really seemed to just cover up smells and I worried about their safety. I had the opportunity to review a product called Smelly Washer Cleaner. The name is simple and directly to the point.

We have not used fabric softener for over a year, as we have 2 young children with sensitive skin. I also am not fond of the scent of softener, and it would cause build up on our washer and our clothing. Our washer sometimes gets a build up of soap paired with hard water. We try to keep our washer lid open for the most part, but sometimes it gets closed and a few times we have had wet towels in the wash and forgot about them for a day or 2. Not a great combination.

This washer cleaner comes in a 12 oz bottle of white powder. It resembles a course salt and has no fragrance that I can detect. It can be used in the dish washer or laundry washer. It is USA made and works safely in High Efficiency machines. To use this cleaner, add a level 1 tbs. of Smelly Washer Cleaner through the detergent dispenser or directly into the tub. The bottle is enough for 12 monthly treatments. We cloth diaper, so we use this every 2 weeks just to keep things extra fresh and clean. We rinse our diapers with a diaper sprayer that sprays into our toilet and then the fully rinsed diapers are put into our machine separately from laundry.

We like to use this powder while clothing is in the washer so that the water level is raised. Our machine only puts a certain amount of water into the machine depending on how much weight or amount of clothing is inside the drum. We also put the washer setting on the hottest setting and the largest setting which is bulky. You can pause the wash for 2-4 hours if you like. We used white clothing as directed and some of my husband's light beige khaki pants and shorts, but will probably use our white cotton quilted comforter as well as a full load of white sheets to add bulk and height next time. We have tried just the comforter, but the level did not go up far enough. It is seen in the picture that the area where the water touched the machine, the cleaner worked really well. The key is water level.

To clean your dish washer split the tbs. scoop between both the dispenser and the inside floor of the dishwasher, and use the hottest cycle. Make sure that the dish washer is empty. Pause to soak for more extreme stink. :) Our dishwasher is stainless steel inside, but still often smells.

For more information, you can visit the Smelly Washer Website.

We like this product, it works well for us. The washer smells fresh and unscented. We are happy that this does not have a scent to it, as that might just cover up the odor. This way we know without a doubt that it is working. The clothing comes out clean, and when this is used on a cycle that had clothes in it, we have not experienced any irritation on our skin from using this powder. The powder is safe for our skin and for the HE washer itself. Although this powder is natural, please keep it away from children and pets to be on the safe side.

This was sent to me as a sample for review, it is my honest opinion.

If you are interested, here is how I used the cleaner:





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.