Therapeutic Foot Soap {Review}

I'm reviewing Oleavine Therapeutic Foot Soap. I received this product in exchange for my honest review through Tomoson and Oleavine.

First of all, I love Oleavine. A while ago I reviewed one of my favorite moisturizers to date from there that was really nice. So when I had the chance to give the Therapeutic Foot Soap a try, I had to give it a shot.

 Turns out that this was a good thing for more than myself. I think I've used the product a couple of times at most, but my dad has used it several times.

But let me go over the product. The soap is made of tea tree oil and is mint for soothing relief. The soap is advertised as good for skin irritation, foot/body odor, dry/itchy skin, and body acne. The only thing we've used it for so far is feet, but I want to try it for more than that.

 For some reason, we had it in our mind that we were supposed to add this soap to warm water to soak our feet in and I've only just realized that that was technically the wrong way to use this soap as I write this review. Well, then. Score for me for observance. I'm obviously skilled there.

I will say that I liked this as a soaking agent. I used it one day when my feet were particular sore, if I recall, and it was incredibly soothing on my tired feet. My dad has some feet problems and he also confirms the soothing nature of this product. So while we may not have used it right at first, we certainly found it useful. Now to try it for its actual purpose. Check it out on its website, here.

~ Bethany

Lazy Lidz Sleep Mask {Product Reviews}

 Some exciting changes are coming to A Pinch of Classy, but we'll talk more about that in the future. Now I'm going to present you with yet another review. I KNOW. But only a few more days. 2017 has something new coming. For now, I'm reviewing the Lazy Lidz sleep mask.

 A really sad tale goes with this sleep mask and it is the primary reason I haven't reviewed it yet. It's also the reason I don't have a photo to include with this post. Let's begin our tale...

 Once upon a time there was a girl (that's me) who wanted a sleep mask because her first sleep mask was borrowed forever (stolen?) by her mother. She was sent one to review by a lovely company and her happiness began. Oh, but that happiness was short lived. After she had spent a bit of time with the mask, she went on a trip, taking it with her to block out light. It would have been better if she'd left it at home. Not even a few hours into the trip, she offered someone else the opportunity to borrow her mask because sleeping in vehicles is hard. It was then that the mask disappeared. The girl did not review the mask because she thought she would find it to take a photo. Alas, it was not meant to be.

 And that is the story of how I lost a really awesome item while on a trip. *Sad sigh.* And now that I'm going to be living in a college apartment next semester, I could really use that mask... how sad.

 Though I don't have a photo of the mask, I will direct you to the Amazon page, here.

I like this mask. It doesn't have any plastic feeling pieces on the mask. It's soft and comfortable against your face and the satin material is very nice. Instead of something that pokes into your skin, it just rests comfortably. The inside is soft cotton velvet. The mask comes with a free set of ear plugs, too, so that's nice. It's just a good product and a good company. Check them out at the link above.

~ Bethany

Speed Jump Rope {Review}

 Time for a mystery, gang! *Rounds up the Scooby-Doo characters.* But really. This product is a bit of a mystery. It got behind on my review list and now I can't find it online. I'll have to check in with the company to try to find out what happened, but here's what I know. This product is called Speed Jump Rope Discover the Secret to Blast Fat! by Bella Naturals. The problem? When I visit the URL where I bought it, a completely different product pops up. Weird. So I shall review and send you to that site and maybe one of us will discover the mystery eventually. I received this product in exchange for my honest review via Tomoson.

My room is disorganized currently and I'm preparing for a big move and whatnot. I'm not totally sure where this jump rope is among the confusion right now, but I want to find it because I definitely want to take it to school with me. Here's a photo from the company since mine is unavailable for a photo shoot.

 When you think jump ropes, you think little kids playing a game while jumping over the rope swung by two other kids. But this jump rope is not like other jump rope. In fact, it isn't even a rope at all. The portion usually designated a rope is a nice ten-foot cable. (I'm pretty sure this is in my closet. Probably). Now, if you're thinking that ten feet sounds like a lot for some short persons (*cough* me *cough*) you're right. That isn't long. But this jump rope is special. It's adjustable. See the metal things on the end of the handles? You can tighten those at any length on the 'rope' and the product comes with instructions for you to set the rope to your height specifications. You can cut the excess cord when you're done. I just left mine, though, and hold both the handle and cord when jumping. Not ideal, but I can adjust it for different people in future. It's light and there's a slight learning curve, but it's nice and sturdy.

This jump rope is specifically designed for people to lose weight, not a child's toy at all. It's a really neat product and I can't wait to use it for a good while to come because I can definitely stand to lose more weight. What makes it all the more sadder is that I can't find the product! I will try to update you if I am able to track it down. For now, here is the link to the Amazon listing it was supposed to be under.

~ Bethany

LeliaSea {Review}

Brace yourselves. More reviews are coming. This review? For LeliaSea Dead Sea Mineral Hand Cream. You read that right. Dead sea. I received this product in exchange for my honest review through Tomoson and LeliaSea.

First a little backstory on why I might be reviewing hand cream. Isn't that just lotion? Well, not exactly. But here's the thing. I've always had dry skin issues. When I was a child, every winter the skin on my hands would crack and bleed. It wasn't fun AT ALL. It was so bad at points, that my mom would put vaseline on my hands and cover them with socks at night. True story. I don't know about you, but vaseline covered sock hands are just not that attractive or practical... and that can be downright annoying. Needless to say, I sort of abandoned my vaseline and sock days as I grew older. The dry skin persisted at times, but thankfully not to the degree it had before.

As you can see in the photo, some of the bottle has worn a little bit, but the inside is what's important.

 So. Dry skin. I like lotion. It's good. But this stuff is really nice. It's designed specifically for the hands, so not a body cream. And it leaves you hands feeling incredibly soft without that "oh, I'm wearing lotion" feeling. You know? The one where you feel like you need to wipe your hands off or something? My hands are pretty dry at times so I they may not feel totally moistened, but the cream still works pretty well. The cream is thicker than most lotions which adds to the moisture, I think. Sometimes when I use thin moisturize, for example, my face will still feel dry. This stuff doesn't feel dry right after applying which is nice. Also, I love the smell. It doesn't have a strange, chemical smell, or lack of smell, but it doesn't have an overpowering scent either. The lotion is a soft, floral scent that is just enough to add to your overall scent without impeding on anyone's senses (or clashing with other scents you're wearing, as someone so aptly mentioned in an Amazon review). My mom even mentioned that I smelled good today while I was wearing this stuff. I'm pretty sure the cream had a part in that.

 But what's the cream made of? Well, obviously the cream comes from minerals in the Dead Sea. Add some essential oils, herbal extracts, and multi-vitamin complexes, and you have a pretty nice little product. Another thing I like about this product? It's compact. It can be placed in a purse (or the pocket of the bathroom bag I reviewed yesterday) easily. While the item is small, it lasts a good while because you only need a bit of the cream to spread on your hands. I believe you can find it in a larger size as well, if that's more up your alley. Overall, I like this product and I'm taking it with me to school. Hurrah. You can check out this product on Amazon here.

Contest! LeliaSea may give out one of these hand creams. Enter by commenting! :)

~ Bethany

Shower Tote {Review}

I'm going to flood you with reviews. But this one I think you will appreciate, so read on. Today I am reviewing the Showermade Portable Shower Tote Storage Organiser... a lengthy name that basically means a shower or bathroom bag, as I call it. I received the product in exchange for my honest review from Tomoson and Showermade.

 When traveling, I'm sure we have all wondered that ever-present question... where do I pack my bathroom items? Those essentials for body and hair care have to packed somewhere and in the suitcase where a potential spill is possible is rarely the ideal choice. In the past I've used random bags for these items, but this can result in digging to find small items and other headaches. Not to be cliche, but this product kind of did change my life. 

 Maybe that's too dramatic. I don't know. But this really is a great poduct. It retails on Amazon (here) for only $12.97, which is pretty awesome, and I'll explain why. 

 As a reminder, this is an honest review. If I didn't like this product I'd pretty much tell you, but I genuinely love it. I've had this bag for a while and it has held up. The cloth, canvas-like strap is nice and durable. It hasn't frayed or weakened as far as I can tell. This product is awesome in a couple of ways. 

Unlike a normal tote that only has the inside of the bag, this product has both a large space inside and several pockets of varying size all around the outside of the bag. Why is this so awesome? I can place smaller items in little pockets, such as tweezers or a contact case, and I won't have to worry about them falling into the depths of the bag. The inside works well for larger items, like shampoo bottles and other things. 

I often fill this bag up and take it with me whenever I go on a trip. It's so handy! The handle is sturdy, as I've already mentioned, and can hang pretty much anywhere on a hook, or you can sit the bag on the shelf. I've done both. I love that it's easy to hang, but doesn't fall over like a tote might if I want to set it down. It's also pretty compact, so it can fit quite a big without taking up a huge amount of space. Another feature of this bag? It's made of quick-drying mesh fabric that helps keep it dry so mold and other nasty stuff doesn't happen. Pretty neat, huh? If you think this bag is as cool as I did, you can check it out at the link I posted above. It's worth it. I can't wait to take this bag with me on my two next trips... to visit my sister and then to my college apartment. Hurrah!

~ Bethany

Alpha: Product Review

Today I have to do a quick review of a product I probably should have reviewed long ago. I am learning the consequences of putting off things so much lately, especially being in college. I'll have to write a review of that sometime. Today's review is on Alpha Garcinia Cambogia. I received this product in exchange for my honest review.

 I went through this fitness phase that I wouldn't really call fitness. You see, I wanted to lose weight without putting much effort into it. I'm sure that sounds somewhat reasonable because some of us lead super busy lives (especially during school, in my case) where finding the time or energy to exercise can be difficult. I'm working on this, myself. Now, I think there are definitely some awesome products that can help in the quest for fitness, but merely relying on products can be lazy and not do much for you in the end.

 Garcinia Cambogia is a product you've probably seen raved about on celebrity sites. In fact, many celebrities claim it as a reason for their weight loss, or so the sites say. So I decided to review some. The idea of a product that could melt away the fat? Awesome. Now, it's been a while since I've tried this product (and I think I'll try it again, just to see and update you guys) but after trying this for a while, I didn't lose significant weight. Part of that was probably due to my busy schedule. Like I said, if you don't put any effort into exercising, you probably won't lose a lot of weight in most circumstances. So this product didn't do much for me the first time I tried it. Also, as a note, the product contains 50% HCA performance blend. I believe that the higher the HCA, the more effective, so 50% really isn't the best, but again, it's been a while.

Now, here are some of the product stats on Amazon:

• 100% Pure Alpha Garcinia Cambogia Extract Featuring The Dr. Oz Recommended 50% HCA and Calcium and Potassium for Optimum Efficiency.
• Clinically Proven To Help Supress Appetite, Block Fat From Metabolizing, Increases Fat Loss by 3 Times More Than Diet And Exercise Alone, and Promotes Healthy Serotonin Levels And Energy
• Made In The USA In An FDA Approved Facility, Help Support A US Based Company Who Puts Their Customers First.
• All Natural, Completely Safe and Effective Weight Loss Supplement, Non Stimulating.

e Sounds pretty okay, huh? I don't want to give a fully positive or negative review, because I think a lot of these things require extra research and depend on the human ingesting the product. Just because it hasn't worked much for me, doesn't mean it won't work for you. In fact, there are numerous positive reviews on Amazon that I encourage you to look into. Check them out on http://www.alphapills.com. Overall, I think that maintaining health is more important than losing weight. Things like exercise and what you eat apply greatly to this, but taking a supplement to help curb those appetite cravings might not be the worst idea, either. If you'd like to look more into this product, check it out on Amazon to read reviews and buy.

~ Bethany

//the shifting tide of what we call modesty

//yeah, that was me at 12 in the die-dye shirt over my very modest swimsuit which really didn't need an extra piece of fabric over it, but i had major body confidence issues, so go figure :/

Heyyyyy y'all! 

Yes, tis' I...tis' me - and I daresay it's been so long since I last did a post on this blog that I can't even remember when that was. Ayayaya, it's been too long. 

I'm thankful though that Bethany and Keturah have done such a great job in taking over the blog for me though. Thank you ladies so much! ♥

As my life gets fuller and busier, I will likely have to drop out entirely at some point just for the sake of practicality and prioritizing. *sniffle*

Anyways, just today I was browsing Facebook and I saw on my "memories", where three years ago today I had written a post here at APOC on modest swimsuits. I read it again and realized, wow, my views on some stuff have definitely changed since three years ago! Quite drastically, in some ways. 

Is this bad? Well, I guess it depends on your perspective and viewpoint. To me it is a mixture of things, but definitely not bad. 

 As we continue on in this journey called life, we change. Our opinions usually start to bend a little over time as well on certain subjects which we allow. Sometimes we get influenced by others, and sometimes we just decide it point-blank that our past selves were a little off. 

Well, before I start to ramble as I always tend to do, let me get to the point of this post. 

There are a lot of reasons I just don't feel led to write much about modesty and the similar surrounding topics these days. 

One huge reason being that there are so many other things which I deem more important, and more demanding of my time. For example, trying to end the abortion slaughter. The spiritual walk, growing closer to God. Bible study. Missions and evangelism. Overcoming my own sin issues. I could go on and on. 

There are lots of things on my heart right now, but none of them involve carrying the banner of the 'modesty culture', if you will. 

It's not that it's a bad thing, but I feel that in some ways the conservative, Christian (and typically homeschooled) community places way too much emphasis on what we wear and how "set apart" in our clothing we can be. I have to question how important this really is, in the long run. How important it is, in the scheme of eternity. 

Don't get me wrong, it's a great thing to be aware of not showing too much skin or dressing so that your cleavage isn't spilling all out from your shirt. We definitely need to be conscience of how we dress and how we present ourselves as Christians. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Ghost, after all. 

Yes, we need to be aware that men are looking at us, and we don't want to place any extra room for temptation on their plates if we can help it. (that being said, some men will find ways to sexualize you even if you're wearing a gunny sack and culottes - if they really aim to, they can find a way.) 

Yes, our bodies are beautiful, incredible treasures. No, they are not things to be ashamed of, that need to be hidden. 

There is no shame in withholding special details about your body from the outside world. No, I see it as a sense of dignity and pride. Not everyone deserves to see your most-private places. In fact, no one really 'deserves' to see them at all, period, besides yourself. Marriage is the one area where this changes, because you are in essence agreeing to share yourself with another human being for the rest of your life. 

And besides, is it really /that/ classy to have half your butt hanging out from your shorts, regardless of who is looking at it? I mean, come on. I know that everyone has a different definition of classy, but mine sure doesn't involve looking sloppy, exposed and, well, the opposite of regal. 

Personally, I wish we all lived like we used to in the garden of Eden. Stark naked and without a worry in the world! Clothes can be such a hassle and waste of time. But, unfortunately, in the United States, running around skyclad just wouldn't do, would it? 

So we just have to deal with the fact that clothes are a necessity. 

I guess my thing here is that modesty truly is very subjective. I'll use my own life as an example. 

A few years ago, I would never have dared to wear shorts. In fact, it would have been anathema. A few years before THAT, I would have shunned the thought of pants, period! I used to be so staunchly opinionated about being "skirts-only" that some people thought I was Mennonite. I had an idea that it was best to just wear plain, frumpy, shapeless clothes so that I didn't "blend in" with the world. I also had horrible self-esteem about my body, so I think that contributed to the whole thing. I used 'modesty' as an excuse so that I didn't have to show much of my curvaceous body. I even demanded on having my swimwear include ankle-length leggings so that you couldn't see my legs at all. I hated my legs. 

As time as gone on, my confidence has drastically improved and now I LOVE the body God gave me! I love my legs, and everything else about me. I do not try to hide it. In fact, I like to wear clothes that tastefully compliment my curves, while still leaving "mysteries" to the eye. 

I now am not ashamed to wear things like shorts, jeans, and form fitting blouses, to an extent. I do have my own personal "code" for what I won't wear out of personal preference and conviction, but I will say that my whole perspective on what is modest and immodest has really loosened up. 

And I'm glad it has, because it has brought a sense of freedom. 

I think that it is too easy to fall into a trap of unnecessary judgement, when we spend so much time trying to decide if one thing is modest or not. While we compare how long our jean skirts are supposed to be, I feel like we miss the point of what it means to be a Christ-follower.

As a girl in my mid-teens, I was probably comparable to a Sadducee or Pharisee at times. 

I thought I was above all the other girls who went to public school/weren't homeschooled. 

I thought I was above people just because I didn't show as much skin as they did. 

I hid my feminine curves well and was downright proud of it, because it 'set me apart' and I looked so different than everyone else. I enjoyed the stares. 

Please, y'all, I just want you to know I'm not trying to cast a stone or point fingers at anyone out there. I use my own life as the example here because, well, I can judge my own self and there's no wrong it doing that, right? 

I'm just saying here, that I think modesty is useless and even harmful to our testimony when we let it control our lives, and turn us into judgmental, narrow-minded individuals who think we are better than other people. I think it can become a waste of time and effort, in some cases, as well. 

Does it really matter if one's skirt is knee-length or calf-length? Does it /really/ matter if you like to wear high-necked tops and dresses but I prefer sleeveless with a lower neckline? (nothing cleavage baring, mind you) 

While we read books on modesty and write blog posts and have lengthy discussions on how to make leggings or tank tops appropriate, might it be of more value to talk about how we can end abortion in our lifetimes? Or, maybe, how we can set an example to our fellow believers? 

Or, perhaps, even better, how we can win souls to Christ? 

If you feel led to dress a particular way, then by all means, do it.

Just remember, that we all have our own convictions, and unless something is blatantly ungodly or, in this case, blatantly immodest, we shouldn't judge one another for having a different opinion. 

Ultimately, we should each consider our motives for everything we do, including what we wear. 

But not to the point of creating a cult-like obsession with standing out from the world. 

Because ultimately, ladies, we are defined by what is in our hearts - not by the pieces of fabric on our bodies. 

P.S. I don't claim to be the ultimate authority on any of this. I am merely giving my own opinions and views, which, for all I know, could change yet again in a couple years - who knows? xD I think that as long as you focus on Christ, you will know what you are supposed to do. 

Suuchi Scarf! {Review + Giveaway}

  Hey, girls! To start off today's post, I want to congratulate Victoria Grace Tucker on winning the Christmas scarf giveaway. For those of you who didn't win... No worries. There will be a wonderful new opportunity at the end of this post. Today I am back with a review from Suuchi. I received this product free in exchange for my honest review.

 Suuchi is a company that makes tons of customizable (sometimes drool worthy) clothing. They've got lots of dresses, blouses, and more. They offered me one of their scarves to review, my choice. There were a couple of initial problems, most of these were probably my fault. The only reason I mention them at all is to point out what a fabulous effort the Suuchi team made to help me out when I was confused or having any issues. Any company that takes the time to help you and will try their best to accomodate you without acting irritated about it gets points in my book.

 The scarf arrived in a pretty quick amount of time, another nice thing. I chose the color orange sunset because I loved the pretty design and color. Here is a picture of me in the outfit I wore today. For some reason the dimensions look a bit strange and I'm sorry about the lighting! It was dark by the time we were able to do photos.

As you can see from the picture, the scarf has a shimmery quality to it that is really pretty. It's a very long scarf. In the picture it has already been folded in half and then over my neck. Some might not like this length, but I think it's a nice addition. It makes it simpler to wrap around your neck.

Here's one slightly closer. It still doesn't show the complete detail of the scarf so I'm going to share one more.

 Here we go. The detail on this scarf is gorgeous. It is my favorite part of the piece. The scarf is light, but thick, and feels like quality. It has a silky texture to it that feels great against the skin and you could also wear it as a wrap (or belt) because it quite thick as well as long. 

 I am so pleased with this scarf. One never knows what they'll get over the internet, but I think I can safely say that Suuchi makes quality products. I have so enjoyed working with this company and having the opportunity to review this product. If you would like to check out this product, visit here.

 Scarf: Suuchi. Given to review. 

 Jacket: Southern Lady. We probably got it at Hamrick's because that's where we tend to get most of our Southern Lady clothing. 

 Top: Rafaella. Thrift store find! 

 Skirt: Grace Elements. Found at Belk's. 

 Boots: Brand unknown. Found at Peebles. 

  Suuchi has kindly offered to give one of their beautiful scarves to one lucky reader! To enter, use the rafflecopter form below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for reading! 

~ Bethany