It's Natural and It Works... AKA: Burt's Bees Ultimate Care Body Lotion

My skin is a bit schizophrenic. I'm oily on my face but dry (so dry) every where else. So I'm sort of obsessed with lotions, creams, and butters. So when I saw the label of Burt's Bees Ultimate Care Body Lotion, I was all in!

Like A Yummy Slushie For Grown Ups! AKA: Arbor Mist Frozen Wine Cocktails

So, I promise I'm not an alcoholic, but I do enjoy imbibing a few from time to time. I consider myself to be a social drinker (though most the time the only person I'm being social with is the hubby, and it's generally within the four walls of our home), and because I seriously have a tolerance level that is ridiculous (which I'm starting to discover makes drinking not that much fun in the first place), I'm very particular about what I drink. It has to taste good. I'll admit it, I'm not a fan of beer. Or red wine (for the most part). I'm of the mindset that if you have to *acquire* the taste for something, why bother?

All that being said, the Arbor Mist Frozen Wine Cocktails are DELICIOUS!!! Thanks to SheSpeaks, I was able to try all 3 of the new flavors (Blackberry Merlot, Strawberry White Zifandel, and White Pear Pinot Grigio) and in all honesty, the hubby and I consumed them in 3 days. At first he scoffed at what he perceived as a girl's drink, but he ended up truly enjoying them (as did I). My favorite flavor was the Blackberry Merlot  (it was more mellow and less sweet than the other two) and he liked the White Pear Pinot Grigio, but all three were very good. 

The texture of the concoction was quite enjoyable, not too icy, but thick enough to feel nice and refreshing in the mouth, sort of like an alcohol laden sorbet. I used a spoon when partaking mine, but I suppose that if you let the package (or your individual glass) sit out for a while, it will melt to a sippable consistency. But I like the idea of having these on hand for a backyard BBQ, where the adults can have their own versions of the icy treats we serve our little ones. One of the other things I really enjoyed about all 3 of these cocktails is that though they were icy, they were not at all watered down. You could still taste the alcohol in each of them, which is a good thing in my book. 

These are the perfect summer time, grown up treat-whether you're enjoying them by yourself (I won't judge you as long as you do it responsibly and are of age) or sharing them with guests. And I live in Georgia, where the summer weather typically lasts until mid November (that might be a slight exaggeration, but only a slight one) so I plan on enjoying their sweet coolness for as far into the season as I can!

Have you tried Arbor Mist Frozen Wine Cocktails? Which is your favorite flavor? If you haven't tried them yet, what flavor would you like to try? My inquiring mind wants to know! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think. Until next time...

PS- Products were sent for the purpose of review by Arbor Mist and SheSpeaks. I was not paid for this post and all opinions stated are 100% honest and my own :)

CO Bigelow Has Italian Imports For Him Too! AKA:

Proraso Refreshing and Toning Formula Collection offers an immediate cooler feel after shaving. Eucalyptus oil purifies and tones the skin. Menthol invigorates and revitalizes, leaving skin feeling renewed and fresh. No parabens, No silicons, No mineral oils. These make the perfect little luxury for the man in your life!



Proraso has been transforming shaving into a pleasurable experience for decades. Created by Ludovico Martelli over 80 years ago, in Florence, Italy, these one-of-a-kind shaving preparations are still being made in the time-honored traditional way by the Martelli family. The distinctive quality and performance of Proraso products has made them a staple in barbershops throughout Italy.

This pre-shave cream softens stubble, tones and protects the skin while preparing it for a perfect shave. Eucalyptus oil purifies and tones while Menthol refreshes and revitalizes. ($13)

This wonderful shaving foam from Proraso is enriched with natural ingredients to make it particularly concentrated and rich. Eucalyptus oil purifies and tones. Menthol refreshes and revitalizes. Glycerin increases razor glide and reduces redness. A timeless ritual for those who demand a quick and easy shave without any compromise. ($9)

Through three generations, the Italians barbers' choice. A great shaving classic. A concentrated, creamy soap for shaving perfection. Eucalyptus oil purifies and tones while Menthol refreshes and revitalizes. ($10)

Refreshing formula with Eucalyptus Oil and Menthol. ($10)

This refreshing and toning formula offers an immediate cooler feel after shaving. Eucalyptus oil purifies and tones the skin. Menthol invigorates and revitalizes, leaving skin feeling renewed and fresh. ($14)

Until next time...

I Guess There's a 1st Time for Everything... AKA: My September Birchbox

My September Birchbox arrived on Tuesday, and maybe because it felt like it took longer than usual to arrive, or maybe because a few other packages arrived with it, I just wasn't as excited about it as I usually am. Unfortunately, seeing its contents didn't increase my excitement level but c'est la vie... I guess they all can't be winners (and maybe I'll like it more after I use the "goodies" inside).


Here's what arrived:


21 drops (Focus Aromatherapy Blend; Full size $29)- Stay sharp with this mind-clearing blend of rosemary and peppermint essentials oils. Apply to pulse points and breathe deep (meh... I want makeup from Birchbox-not aromatherapy stress relief).

Color Club (Birchbox Custom Polish in Status Update; Full size $8)- We teamed up with Color Club to create this custom shade, inspired by the Fall 2012 collections (the shining light of this month's box; y'all know I love me some polish).

Nexxus (Pro Mend Split End Treatment System; Full size $9.99-$14.99)- Infused with coconut oil and amino acids, this shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in treatment work together to fix unsightly split ends. (This is actually a set of products that has intrigued me whenever I've seen ads for it. However, I may be a bit spoiled when it comes to hair products-the size of these samples definitely leaves something to be desired).

twistband (Birchbox Custom Lace Hair Tie; Set of 6-12 $14-22) Designers went gaga for lace this season and we don't blame them. Get on board with these ouch-free hair ties (Um... yeah. Been there, done that with Birchbox. Once again, makeup makes me happy, fancy ponytail holders-not so much).

Vasanti (Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator; Full size $34)- This exfoliating cleanser uses professional grade (read:effective) microderm crystals and papaya enzymes to brighten dull skin. (The other star in this box-make up and skin care, that's what I love from my beloved Birchbox).

Lifestyle Extra 

Mighty Leaf Tea Company(Teas; Box of 15, $9.95)- Swap your afternoon latte for these yummy tea blends, made from natural, ethically sourced ingredients (Once again, been there done that with Birchbox, and it was cool the first time, but this time, not so much).

I also received a digital download of two songs from singer-songwriter Tristan Prettyman, a discount from Madewell, and a cute little Fall Trends mini magazine. This is the first time I've received a Birchbox that I didn't absolutely love. But it was bound to happen eventually I suppose. I'll still be faithful to Birchbox and I still think that you should give them a try too! Until next time...

Because I LOVE Her and You Should Too! AKA: Kimbra's New Video "Come Into My Head"

That is all...

CGC (For the Mini Me)! AKA: Curly Q's Curly Q Custard

Product Description: This rich and creamy custard textured cream provides great curl definition, weight and sheen for curly girls. It is loaded with certified organic ingredients (Certified Organic Sunflower Oil and Certified Organic Aloe Leaf Juice) and moisturizing butters (e.g. Shea and Mango) to hair strengthening ingredients such as Panthenol and Lecithin. Curly Q Custard will naturally elongate her curls. Provides moisture, definition, shine, frizz control, and acts as a anti-humectant.

Ingredients: Purified water, certified organic sunflower oil, octyl palmitate, certified organic aloe vera leaf juice, glycerin, glyceryl stearate, potassium stearate, panthenol, stearic acid, sodium carbomer, allantoin, cetearyl alcohol, certified organic sweet almond oil, shea butter, certified organic jojoba oil, soy tocopherols, phenoxyethanol, fragrance.

silicone free, sulfate free, paraben free, organic


My Take: Curly Q's Curly Custard is from Curls' hair care line for kids. It is a medium weight curl cream that adds definition without hold. Because I would be primarily using it on my babies, I love that it is sulfate, silicone, paraben, mineral oil and petrolatum oil free. Purified water is the first ingredient so this is definitely meant to act as a moisturizer, but I found that I needed to seal it, in order to add shine to the hair. The jar says that it will "naturally elongate" the hair, but I didn't notice any obvious change in the amount of shrinkage in Lo's hair.

A look inside  the jar. The product is really rich and creamy, but not at all greasy. 

"Custard" is the perfect way to describe the texture of this thick and rich cream and it has a very light and pleasant scent. I suggest waiting until the hair is merely damp, and not soaking wet, to apply the custard, as it did not seem to soak into the hair when applied immediately after washing. We shampooed and then conditioned the hair and I attempted to use the custard as a detangler/leave in conditoner, but it didn't really work in that capacity. I recommend detangling with a leave in first, then using this after. Lo's 4a/b curls were soft and very well defined, and though I would've liked for them to have more sheen, her hair did look beautiful.

Lo's 2nd day, wash and go hair after using the Curly Q Custard :)

I would say that this is comparable to Shea Moisture's Organic Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie , which we are already huge fans of. I think this is perfect for someone that is looking for something similar, but prefers products with a lighter scent. Ultimately, while I liked the product in Lo's hair, I think it is better suited for Kenzie's finer hair and perhaps even my own 3a/b curls.


Until next time...

PS-The product was supplied to me for the purpose of review by NaturallyCurly.com and the company. I was not paid for this review and all opinions stated are 100% honest and my own :)