Lemon zester/grater {Product Review}

 Hi girls! Me again with another review. Yep. This one, and then right aboutMidnight tomorrow's post will be up. Hehe.

This evening I'm reviewing a really neat lemon zester/grater from Chef Proven.

 



My mom loves this thing.

 At some point all classy ladies are going to need some good cooking utensils... You might even use them now. So here's a nice combined product you can use for both zesting and grating.

Here tis.

 It is a long metallic zester/grater that has been voted the #1 useful kitchen tool for grating and zesting. According to them, it is the most popular kitchen tool on the market. It works great for both zesting lemons and oranges and whatnot and is also a wonderful grater.

 My mother is the main cook in our family so she did a lot of the testing for me (I took the pictures.) She initially used it for grating and loved that half of it. She grated carrots and remarked on the fineness of the grate and how good that would be for my grandmother. She also loves how easily it grates.

Here's part of a zested lemon.

 

 The blade is stainless steel (and sharp), has a nice cover sleeve when not in use, and has a lifetime money back guarantee. It is also crafted well. Great. My mom also told me to say that it cleans really easy and that is a plus in her book. My mother is probably one of the best cooks I know so I definitely trust her judgement on this thing. If she likes it, I know it's a success.

Zesting

 It works for whatever you want to zest/grate including lemons, carrots, etc. and it costs less than $13 on Amazon, which I think is pretty cool. You can check it out and read more reviews here.

So if you or your mother or anyone you know needs a nice gift or

whatnot in this department, I recommend this one. :)

 

Softy {Product Review}

 Hey gals! Tonight I'm reviewing another product from Tomoson.com. Softy sanitizing wipes. I know a lot of you might have younger siblings or you just need some practical wipes. So this review might be the one for you. I know wipes might sound like a weird thing to review, but trust me... they come in handy.

 

So here's how big the container is. Also I'm tired.

So... Softy sent me a giant cylinder of wipes. I was surprised and pleased at the enormity. Especially when compared to those tiny little wipe containers they sell in the store. They contained a whopping 150 count of wipes. Which is pretty cool. But would they be super liquidy or too dry or too thin? The wipes turned out to be nice and thick for wipes with a perfect amount of dampness and they worked pretty wonderfully. They also smelled good. I like the way the packaging is done. When we traveled out of state for Christmas, I stuck the wipes in between the seats, anticipating their need.

 I'm pretty sure we actually used them at some point in the car but for some reason my memory is currently failing me. But when there was an accident involving my one-year-old nephew and him taking off his diaper, well... let's just say those wipes came in real handy. My mom even got some great uses out of them. She used them for wiping hands, wiping kids, wiping counters... you name it. They have been quite useful. And since there is such a large amount, we're still experiencing their usefulness.

 These wipes are unique in the fact that they are safe to use anywhere, even on little kids and are alcohol free. They're also infused with aloe and vitamin c. They have a germ-killing rate of 99.9 % and are quality with their soft application. I really like these wipes and think you will too. If you need a bunch of wipes these retail for about $15 on Amazon. Since they're so nice I think it's worth it. Also, there's a money back guaranty if the wipes don't stay moist. So that's cool.

 Thank you Softy wipes and Tomoson for letting me give my honest opinion with this review.

 

 

Review: Amari Vitamin C Serum with Organic and Natural Ingredients

Hey everyone! It's Christmas break for this college student. WHOO! Anyway, I'm reviewing Amari Vitamin C Serum with Organic and Natural Ingredients! I don't have pictures  ready to upload but they are coming!

 Vitamin C has an endless list of benefits. Here are some of them...

 Colds – Doesn't cure the cold but can reduce symptoms and help.

Stroke – Vitamin C reduces risk of having a stroke.

Heart Disease – Vitamin C may lower the risk of heart disease.

Osteoarthritis – Vitamin C helps combat this.

Asthma – Vitamin C helps.

Cataracts – Apparently increased blood levels of vitamin C are associated with decreased risk of cataracts.

Gout – Helps with this.

Skin Aging – Vitamin C helps keep your skin from aging, wrinkles, acne, etc.

Stress – Vitamin C is helpful for those whose immune systems are weakened due to stress.

 As you can see, Vitamin C is really really good for you. While I feel like I can't give you a total comprehensive review of this product because I think it's benefits are more obvious over time, here is the product description.

Description: Combination of the most powerful herbal and organic ingredients along with 20% Vitamin C provide up to eight-fold antioxidant protection, 96% percent reduction of sunburn cells, and prevents new formation of free radicals in skin exposed to sun. Vitamin C Suspended in a concentrated base of pure vegan hyaluronic acid to plump skin cells and protect and restore. This serum is a concentrated delivery system for the highest form of active, bio-available Vitamin C for beautiful skin.

- Hydrated and Moisturized skin

- Lighter and brighter complexion

- Reduced photo damage and scarring

- Boost healing properties of skin

- Improved collagen synthesis

- Reduced Inflammation

  This stuff is a really nice oil, and it smells pretty nice too. I haven't noticed any obvious effects of it yet, but I'm sure it is helping because it's a nice vitamin c combination. My mom, however, has been using it, and she put it on a spot on her skin that was darkening.  She said it started to lighten it up right away and has been really helping her skin. So though I haven't seen the obvious effects personally, I'm sure they are coming. Also, the ingredients are all organic and natural so that's a nice plus! If you would like to try out this nice product, you can purchase it here.

 

Yes, I Actually Love My Body

Think you're fat? Don't like how short you are? Don't like your not-so-chiseled stomach? Think you're too skinny and wish you had more curves? Wish your hair were straight instead of curly, or vice-versa? Unhappy with the fact that you don't have a thigh-gap?

Is it just me, or does it seem like everybody hates something about themselves? Nearly every woman or girl is dissatisfied with her physical appearance in some way or another. Even if it's a little detail that most people wouldn't even notice. WE ourselves notice. Oh, yes we do. And then we obsess over it until self-hatred even occurs.

 

For crying out loud, isn't about time we dumped the whole mess?

 

Self-hatred is so contagious.

 

In the media, we see it non-stop. All these articles on how to supposedly improve our physique, look hotter and get more attention from the dudes. Why? Because apparently we aren't amazing enough already? Apparently so, or articles like that wouldn't exist.

 

Does this bother you at all? It should. It certainly does, with me. There are many reasons why I'm irked by the self-hatred society has encouraged women to have toward their bodies, but I'm only going to give one for now.

 

Psalm 139:14 - "I will praise Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knoweth right well."

 

Did you see that? Fearfully and wonderfully made. Not ugly, worthless, or trash. Not even a fixer-upper, or a 'needs improvement.' Do you see where it says any of these things? Me neither.

 

Bath & Body Works! A favorite!

We are created in God's own Image. How could that make us anything less than beautiful?

 Contrary to a lot of what I hear being said these days, I actually love my body. Yep, that's right. I love every inch of me. Wouldn't trade this skin for any other.

 

*GASP* She actually...is satisfied with her appearance! Is.....is that a crime? A sin? Pride? Self-conceited?

 

No, it's not a crime, and it's certainly not a sin. You can call it pride or self-conceit, but I call it gratitude and contentment.

 

For a while, as an early teen, this was hard for me to grasp. I was pretty dissatisfied with parts of my body, to be honest. When I was 12, I even thought I was fat. (I wasn't.)

I was ungrateful. I was missing the unique beauty that God had given me, and mistaking it for something less than beauty.

 

But that changed as I matured and learned more about God's plan for my life.

 

See, I realize how Christ made me to be the person I am, and not someone else. If I weren't supposed to be Leah Oxendine, I wouldn't be Leah Oxendine. He knew what He was doing when He put me on this planet. I've learned to see myself and all my flaws and appreciate everything because it's what makes me me.

 

My body is His temple. Ultimately it's only a borrowed vessel. Dare I insult my Creator by calling it ugly?

 

I love my long, soft auburn hair.

I love my turquoise-blue eyes. 

I love my long fingers.

I love my hourglass shape. (Yes, it's curvy! And yes, I'm proud of that! Another shocker? I'm getting  sick of 'curvy' being used as a plus-size only term. You don't have to be plus-sized to be naturally curvy. And naturally curvy doesn't equal plus-size.)

I love that I'm fairly muscular.

I love that I'm not skinny.

I love that I'm not fat. 

I love that I'm the weight that's normal for my body type.

 I don't wish I was anything other than what I am.

I don't think I'm fat.

I don't think I've ever been fat.

I love that I'm taller than most.

And I love that I had scoliosis, because that kept me from being too much taller than my boyfriend. (haha!)

 

Newly arranged jewelry/dressing corner.

Kinda mindblown? Not used to seeing something where the girl wasn't complaining about her appearance?

Me either. That's exactly why I decided this post needed to be written. It's about time that positive things were written about one's self-image. It's about time somebody stepped out of the mire of self-hate, and learned to live in gratitude. It's about time a girl looked in the mirror at herself and smiled because she genuinely liked what she saw. It's about time a woman saw herself in a photo and thanked her Maker for crafting her the way He did.

 

Do you have a hard time finding things to love about yourself?

 

It's about time that changed.

 

It's about time we stop hating ourselves and learn to appreciate the bodies we 've been given.

 

One simple way to do this is to stop listening to the propaganda and lies of the modern media and society. Stop caring what the pop culture 'beauty experts' are saying.  Stop looking at billboard models and thinking to yourself how you don't measure up. Stop comparing yourself to friends or celebrities. Stop looking down at the scale and being disgusted with your weight. 

 

What else can you do? Start digging into God's Word about what the definition of beauty truly is.

Start working on keeping your temple strong and healthy by feeding it real food (raw and unprocessed is always best!) and not convenience junk. Exercise at least several times a week to keep your blood circulating and your body functioning at its best. Try toning workouts to get everything firm and solid. Get outside and enjoy the great outdoors - the fresh air will clear your mind! Start surrendering your thoughts to Jesus and go to Him in prayer about your issues and struggles. Start serving others more and engaging in ministry, to get your mind off self-centeredness.

Start looking yourself in the mirror every day and thinking how gorgeous you are. Start finding things to appreciate about your appearance, even if they're small things to start out with.

 

Sparkly heels from Payless which I saw and decided were worth buying!

 Are you willing to join me in this quest to abolish self-hate? Do you have a blog of your own? If so, I invite you to write a post of your own, on what you love about yourself and why. Please comment below with the link when you're done, so I can check it out! APOC may even feature it in the future.

 

Loving your body could be a major paradigm shift, if you've always lived in frustration or dissatisfaction with yourself. It may be very hard in the beginning. You might wonder if it will ever be possible.

But don't give up. With God, all things are possible. And in this case, I know He will bless you for your efforts. Why?

 

 Because He always blesses a grateful heart.

 

Blessings,

Being Single in A Not So Single Time {guest post}

 

Today, it seems like everyone has a boyfriend. (Or girlfriend if you are a guy) so you can imagine some of the strange, and sometimes funny, thing people say when you tell them you are single. Okay, well usually that’s not what get’s priceless reactions from people its usually what I say afterwards. I simply will tell people (if the topic comes up about dating or boyfriends as such) that I have chosen not to date. Usually that always leads to the question of ‘Why?’ and usually when I politely answer everyone seems to start a debate even though that was never my intention or people jump in to defend themselves. ( I am not saying dating is a bad thing it’s just a decision I have made)

I have chosen not to date at all. One day when the time comes and ‘Mister Right’ comes my way then yes, maybe I will start dating but at the moment I really don’t know where this path will lead since it is all new to me.

I will admit that being single, in a not so single time, is really, really hard and sometimes even confusing or frustrating. Especially when you are an older teen who is on the verge of adulthood. For me, most of the time I see my friends going into relationships with people or dating/courting someone and sometimes I kind of wish that maybe I did date or I just wish that ‘Mr. Right’ would hurry up and get here. (That might sound funny how I worded it but it’s true.)

In this day and age almost anyone you meet (Well teenagers or young adults anyways) is either in a dating relationship or has been at some point in their life. So, you can imagine how hard and sometimes stressful it can be to go through life being single and sometimes just feeling alone.  I’m sure some of you can relate or have felt this at some point.

A couple friends and I always joke around too on how much we despise ‘Valentine’s Day’ (We don’t actually) and how we want to make a special annual event for singles but even though we joke around about these things and being single sometimes my friends and I (and I’m sure some of you as well) really do feel alone simply because most people around you have been in or are in a relationship.

Now, I’m really hoping this isn’t coming across as complaining. (Because that is not what I am trying to do at all.) Sometimes all it takes is just a simple reminder as to why you made the decision not to date and just talking to God. Tell him your struggles or worries because he always listens.

This summer was especially hard for me and I was worrying about what would happen and when I would meet 'Mr. Right'. I know it sounds silly, but really, I was. I was also a little bummed and started asking myself why I couldn't date someone and all these questions that made me kind of want to change my mind about dating. It was during my camping trip with my uncle and aunty this summer that I was reminded of a book I packed to read during the summer. (I brought about 20 books) I hurried into the trailer and dug through my box of books and pulled out 'I Kissed Dating Goodbye' by Joshua Harris. When I packed my books I didn't really know why I was bringing it but it seemed to serve its purpose. :)

For the next couple days I carried around that book wherever I went and sat on the beach for hours on end while I read.

 

The author went through every topic in the dating world and spoke honestly about it.

Most importantly her turned to the bible, giving examples of what God says in the bible for each chapter topic. I cannot think of one chapter in the book where the author didn’t use a verse from the bible. Everything he said was backed up with a bible verse.

One thing that jumped out at me in the book was where the author spoke of singleness and the reason behind it (according to the Bible).

This was a great thing for me because, like I said before, its hard sometimes.

Sometimes I wish I had a boyfriend like everyone else or that a boy would tell me he liked me! Today it is especially hard because so many people are in relationships. (Especially a lot of my friends)

The author of the book mentioned how our years being single (As in being a young adult or teenager) are short and should be spent growing closer to God and digging deeper into his word.

I now realize how important this stage of my life is!

I’m now seeing the importance of being single now. Sometimes it just takes something like this to open your eyes.

I want to leave you today, with this.

You need to focus on God. That’s what's important…and then, when God knows you are ready 'Mr. Right' will come along. Just trust God and his timing and spend your time of singleness wisely growing closer to God. God knows what he is doing. He is writing your love story and it will be beautiful.

 

God bless,

(Visit Adriana at her blog Adriana Gabrielle Writes)

Monday Scripture Encouragement

Hi ladies! Life has been crazy lately! I started college, and that has eaten up a ton of my time, but I want to keep posting here, so we're going to have some Monday scripture encouragement today, which is perfect because it is the start of a new month! September! It's also Labor Day, so I hope you guys are enjoying a no-school day, or just a day that you get to spend with family. I also want to let you guys know that I am reading a book that a friend highly recommended--And the Bride Wore White. So far it is really good, and I may do a review when I finish it. Anywho, here is the scripture encouragement for today!

I encourage you to read the entire chapter of Ephesians 4. While going through some stuff, this chapter was in my scheduled reading, and it really spoke to me and applied to my situation. It's such an important thing that we need to remember. But I'm just going to share a couple scriptures from this chapter.

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry and sin not" let not the sun go down upon your wrath: ~ Ephesians 4:26

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. ~ Ephesians 4:32

 There are so many great scriptures in this chapter encouraging believers in their relationships with others, and urging them not to grieve the holy Spirit of God. And... well there's a lot here. You should read it. Please do.

 

Taste Testing Relationships

"He was advised to look at his options. Go date around, see what he liked before deciding on a serious relationship."

 

 This was part of a conversation that I had in the past. The person I was talking to is someone I love and admire, but this part of the conversation made something go cold in me. She explained that a male figure in her life didn't really care about any of the several girlfriends he had dated, but had actually been encouraged to sample around, so to speak, before he got into a serious relationship

 

 I guess this is the attitude out there these days. Frankly, and no offense to anyone, I want no part in it.  The thought of being in a relationship with someone who doesn't care for me at all makes me sad and a bit sickened. What ever happened to love and commitment?

 

 I think this is one of the reasons that courtship is a thing, but even if you aren't courting, I encourage you to "date with a purpose."

 

 The dating described above is what I think of as "casual dating." It is something physical. This sort of dating puts the girls in the position of object rather than treasure. Casual dating does not require you to love, or care for a person in a deeper way than "Oh, he's so cute, I think I like him." Or, "She's hot. Bet I can get her number." I actually find the term 'hot' offensive. I want my future someone to look at me with eyes that see below the surface of this flawed body, that see the deeper me, and to say, "YOU are beautiful."

 

 When I think about the conversation above I think of how it must feel to be the girl, and it makes me happy on the decisions I've made regarding relationships. People may be shocked that I've never dated, but I don't want to be someone's "taste test," or one of many,  I want to be someone's only one.

 

 This doesn't have to apply to only courtship. When I say "dating with a purpose," I mean have a REASON for you're relationship. Have a purpose. Do you see a future with this guy? Does he fit your standards? How does he treat you?

 

 As far as trying to find someone you like, yes that's a thing that is needed, but putting your heart on the line for the chance of finding "true love" is not worth it. I have a much better solution that can save many a heartbreak: friendship. Yep, the "friend-zone" that has a bad connotation can be great. Want to learn about a person? Be their friend. A person is likely to show their true selves in front of friends more than a significant other.

 

 If you are the one, or if it is the guy, choosing to date someone just because you want to try them out is cruel. What happens of that person really cares about you?

 

 This process, to me, makes relationships appear to be a cheap diversion that you can pick up anywhere, something that makes me fear for the marriages of the next generation. With so much practice trying what they like, it might be hard to break the habit.

 

 Relationships should be founded on a relationship that is already there, or could be there, before they become romantic in nature. The hearts of young people are going to be in so many pieces it might be hard to find enough to give to the person that they may marry someday.

 

 God created romance to be a beautiful thing between two special people. Pray for that other person. You don't know them yet. But pray. If there is someone for you out there, think about, and pray for them. They need it.

 

 Please care about the other young people around you. Don't pull them into a relationship that will end in heartbreak if you know that it will. It may seem cool to have a girlfriend or boyfriend, but I promise that in ten or so years, you will have a new perspective in life, and wonder why you ever "taste tested" in the first place.

 

ThePurpleBees Headbands {review}

 

Good afternoon, ladies! How have y'all been lately?

So you may be wondering about the BeTheLightTees giveaway. It ended last night and yes, we have a winner! And that winner is.....*drum rollllllllll*

 

Anna Mosley!

(Anna, congrats, and check your email!)

 

Now on to the main event of today's post! We have yet another hair accessory review.

I was sent an adorable homemade hairband from The Purple Bees!

 

 

This is the rose garden turban hairband. (Click to see the Etsy listing for it!) Isn't it darling? I love the feminine, floral retro look! The turban tie style is cute, too.

 

The headband itself is very comfortable to wear. It's durable and well-made, and I like the elastic scrunch-back. Super comfy! I'm actually wearing it now and I kinda forget it's even there!

 

 

As to the price, I think it's reasonable, considering the quality and cuteness plus the fact it's hand-made!

 

On the Etsy page:

"ThePurpleBees is dedicated to making quality, hand-made accessories that are both fashionable and comfortable to wear. We are a small but growing business, so stop by often to see what's new!"

 

Overall, I totally love this hairband! I know I will be wearing it a lot. You should visit The Purple Bees and take a look at all that they have available! There are hair bows, bun wraps, even boot cuffs! Lots of super cute designs!

 

Check out the shop for yourself! | Like on Facebook! 

 

Note: I was sent this item in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed remain mine and mine alone.

Manda Bees Fitness Headbands {review}

 

Hey ladies! Today we have a review from Manda Bees Headbands!

I was searching for some cute work-out headbands a few months back and found this awesome shop on Etsy. With the inexpensive prices and adorable designs it was love at first sight!

 

Here's what the shop description reads:

 

The BEST yoga fitness headband EVER. Guaranteed.

Our Best Seller - The FLAWLESS headband - is a barely there to-and-from yoga headband that will keep up with you on the mat, and is guaranteed no-slip.
At Manda Bees we make durable, perfect-fit headbands for every head, every hairstyle, and every occasion. From running headbands to bohemian festival style headbands, our designs are original, high quality, and fairly priced. 

 Always handmade. Always made in America.

 

I was sent an off-white lace headband from the Vixen Collection. (I don't really care for that name, but I just liked the lace look so xP) It's so cute and feminine! And white goes with just about everything, which is nice.

 

 

 If all the Manda Bees headbands are like this one, I'm definitely buying myself another. Actually, I'm doing the Color Run in September so thinking I'm gonna get me this lunar one from the FLAWLESS collection. <3

 

 

It truly does match the shop description. Extremely lightweight and comfortable!

 

// Adorable meets functional. //

 

As of now, I hereby declare this shop my favorite fitness headbands place. After a bit of investigating other similar Etsy shops, I found the Manda Bees has the most inexpensive selection by far.

 I'm willing to pay $7 for a good quality hair accessory, but not $27...which is the typical range for most other fitness hairbands on Etsy.

 

 

So overall, I love this shop and this headband. No complaints whatsoever!

 

You should totally go check out Manda Bees for yourself. I mean, need I even say any more?

 

 | Visit the Etsy shop | "Like" on Facebook |

| Follow on Instagram: @mandacrystal #MandaBees |

 

 

Hope y'all are having a blessed week!

Note: I was provided this item from Manda Bees in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed remain mine and mine alone.

BeTheLight Tees GIVEAWAY!

 

I don't know about you, but I have a ton of t-shirts in my closet. I don't know what it is about them, but they're almost like my default when it comes to tops. They're comfy, practical and oh so casual.

 

Anyway, I especially like them when they happen to have cool quotes, geeky references or 'Christian' messages.

 

Be The Light Tees offers some awesome t-shirts that fall under that last category. Here are a few of the many styles they offer. I was sent six shirts to review/use for a giveaway so check it out! (a GIVEAWAY!!!!)

 

 

"Grace Peace Love" 

This is one of my favorites. I love how bright and colorful it is.

 

 

 

"Real Love" Another favorite. I wear it everywhere. It says "Real love is unconditional." So true! Love the Bible verse referenced also.  

 

 

 

 

"Psalms 103" I really like this one as well. One, because of the dandelion on the front. I love dandelions! Two, the verse on the back - such a marvelous reminder and promise!

 

 

 

Last but not least, we have not one by THREE t-shirts that will be given away to ONE 'lucky' winner! All shirts are in size medium.

 

"Blessed are those who Mourn..."

 

 

"Keep Calm in the Belly of the Whale"

 

 

"Storm"  So cute!

(The lighting here was weird, obviously. Don't know why it made the fabric look gray.)

 

I love my shirts from BeTheLight! They have some cool designs and I love the company's mission to point others to Christ through what you wear. Go check them out!

  

What are you waiting for? We've got a GIVEAWAY going, folks!! Get your entries in before it's too late!

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway