ThumbprintEmporia {review}

Hey!  Today I'm doing a review of *drumroll* . . . bug spray!

The shop I'm reviewing is called ThumbprintEmporia.

I know it's the end of summer right now, but the bugs won't be gone for a while and it's always nice to have bug spray, right?

So, I tried this out last weekend when I was on vacation up north.  It worked great when I put it on again after swimming.  But after a couple of hours it wouldn't work.  It frustrated me so much!  I was feeling awful about having to mention that in the blog.  But then I took a closer look at the instructions.

Apply liberally.  If only I had seen that before, I could have saved myself the few bites I got on my legs.

For pets you barely have to put any on them, they're fur holds it all so well.  Yesterday I sprayed this on and went outside.  It was a hundred degrees out, over here, so the bugs we're flying around like crazy.  I sprayed more on than last time, and when I got back - after several hours - I couldn't find a single bite.  I was so happy at how well it worked.  And anyone that walked  past me asked what was smelling so nice.  It was the cinnamon.  That was the easiest scent to smell.

ThumbprintEmporia has given our blog and their readers a 50% off coupon for their entire shop!  They got the code wrong on the paper, so it's actually BLOG1.  All you have to do is enter BLOG1 in the coupon code spot at checkout.

ThumbprintEmporia sells many items.  Masks, necklaces, coloring books, salves, insect repellent (of course,) cocoa or shea butter, massage oils, and more!  If you want to buy something, you can find it here.  Please go ahead and check out their shop.  They would certainly appreciate it.

Thanks for reading!

ShootingTulips {review}

Hey, everyone!  Today I'm reviewing a shop called ShootingTulips.

 So, Ruthanna sent me a Concealed Carry Lace Thigh Holster For Women.

This is everything that came in the package.

She even sent me a note.

(I'm just going to say it.  She probably has the best handwriting I've ever seen.  Really.)

I am so excited about this review.  I'm not old enough for concealed carry, but that's a day I've been looking forward to for so long.  I think it's important for every man, and woman, to be able to protect herself.

But this isn't only about concealed carry.  Hold on.  Let me get you a picture.

There's the pocket.  You can hold more than just a gun.  You can hold different things, if they're light enough, and can hide them from everyone.

Now, about this item.

I looked around, but couldn't figure out what these were for.  So I looked it up in her shop, and apparently they come with the holster for if you want to buy the Lace Garter Belt for extra support (if you want to carry heavier guns.)

I put this on, and it felt kind of strange.  I tried walking, and it started sliding down.  So I pulled it up and found out I hadn't had it high enough.  I would show you a picture, but I felt it wasn't appropriate to show a picture of that part of my leg.

I wore it for a day, walking around in it.  It didn't take long for me to get used to wearing it, until I almost forgot it was on me.  It started to feel like it was coming down a couple times, but I pulled it up every couple hours and it was fine.

Altogether, I really like this item.  It's very hard to find good concealed carry holsters, especially for women.  ShootingTulips sells several different types of holsters.  The one I got is good for wearing under dresses and skirts, but if you'd rather have one under your shirt you can get a Concealed Carry Corset.  They also have one you can clip onto your bra.

They focus mostly on the concealed carry holsters, but they also sell lip balms and paintings.  ShootingTulips is an amazing store, and if you want to get something from them you can find them here.

Thanks for reading!  I hope you liked it, and God bless your day!

MADMineralsMakeup {review}

Hey, everyone!  I know, it's been so long since I've posted.  But, here I am, and I'm doing a review of MADMineralsMakeup.

As you can see, it came in pretty pink tissue paper.

It's makeup.  MADMineralsMakeup sells eighteen different colors.  This is the color I got.

And these are samples she gave me.

You can put MADMineralsMakeup on your eyes, cheeks, body, nails . . . pretty much anywhere!  All of their products are FDA approved for cosmetic use, but some are not for lip use.  Look at the description below to find out if the item you want to buy is okay for using on lips.

I'm just going to copy the description of their store, just because they explain everything:

M*A*D Minerals is an internet-based, family owned company providing affordable, high quality, pure loose bare earth mineral makeup, cosmetic, & beauty supplies. Our mission is to combine high quality cosmetic products with excellent customer service! Our skin is the largest organ on our body. Many people do not consider that what is applied to the skin can be absorbed into the blood stream and then into other organs of the body. Many products on the market are mainly water (aqua) and chemicals with a few 'natural' or 'beneficial' ingredients thrown in so they can be promoted as ‘natural’ or 'beneficial' to your skin. Read any ingredient label & look at the first 3 to 4 ingredients listed in a product. Those first few ingredients listed make up approximately 90% to 95% of the entire product. The so-called ‘natural’ 'healthy' or 'beneficial' cosmetic ingredients are usually in the middle, if not the end of the ingredient list. Therefore, with such a small content, they will be of little benefit to the consumer. It is Not illegal (worldwide) to advertise cosmetic products as ‘natural’ even if they contain nasty chemicals. M*A*D Minerals is a chemical-free alternative makeup. By choosing M*A*D Minerals loose mineral makeup, you are assured the entire product is made of chemical-free ingredients.

 As you can see, MADMineralsMakeup offers completely natural mineral makeup.  I tried this on as blush, and it made my cheeks sparkly.  The blue color made it very sparkly and didn't really show the color, whereas it was easier to see the other colors.  That may be because I applied more for the other ones than for the blue, but I can't be sure.  Just make sure to pick the color that's right for you.

I, personally, think MADMineralsMakeup is a reliable store with natural products you can trust.  If you would like to buy one of their products you can find it here.

Thanks for reading!  I hope you guys liked the post!

 

BrownSugarShop {review}

Hello, everyone!  Today I'm reviewing a face cleanse from a shop called BrownSugarShop.

I'm one of those weird people that always notices how things are packaged.  What kind of tissue paper they used; envelope, manila envelope, or box; maybe bubble wrap of packing peanuts.  This item was wrapped in really pretty sparkly tissue paper, inside a bubble wrap lined manila envelope.  Very well packaged.

This is the bottle.  The words just wouldn't show up with the camera I was using.

Here's the picture they used.  Easier to see, right?  Yeeeah.  I'm not a photographer.

Cleansing Grains can be used instead of soap to cleanse skin or as a mild scrub or exfoliant. These can be used for any skin type and won't scratch the skin. Very gentle and milk, great for sensitive skin.
To use simply pour a little bit into the palm of your hand and add a few drops of water, then gently scrub face in circular motion and rinse off. You could also mix with some Aloe Vera, Oil or Floral Water to make a Mask.

They suggest Aloe Vera, Oil, or Floral Water to make a mask.  I didn't have Aloe Vera or Floral Water, so I decided to try Oil.

That's what it looked like when I mixed it with oil.  I had to keep stirring it, though, because the cleansing grains kept settling to the bottom.

This is how it looked when I put it on.

Just a tip: TIE YOUR HAIR BACK WHEN YOU DO A FACE CLEANSE.  I'm just sayin', I got a lot of oil and grains and clay in my hair.  Something easily avoided.

Then I tried water.  It was very thick, but I put a lot of cleansing grains in.  You can make it thick or thin depending on how much of each you put in.

The water mix.  I like this more than the oil.  It was thicker, and I got less to cover more of my face.

The cleansing grains were really lumpy when I used them, but I figured out that was the clay.  You can't dissolve the clay.  But I liked it, overall.  I'm really bad at doing face washes, and this feels really nice.  It was rougher than I expected, but not too rough.

 

BrownSugarShop has many items.  Body sugaring, sugar scrub, body butter (cream), soap, skin care, and hair care.  All their items look amazing.  Really.  I think I want to try buy more of them, because they're amazing.  Please check out BrownSugarShop.  You can find it here.

Sorry I got this posted so late.  Thanks for reading!  May God go with you all!

SarahLMeyers {review}

Hey, everyone!  So, today I'm reviewing an awesome camo skirt from a shop called SarahLMeyers.  This shop is awesome.  I found it and knew I wanted to review it.

 

 

 

Isn't it awesome?  It's a camo skirt!  How could it not be awesome?  Anyway, that's how it looks when it's resting on my hips: just down to my ankles.
 

And when I pull it higher, it goes a little more than halfway down my calves.  I like wearing skirts like that, but maybe you don't.

Anyway, what is most awesome about this skirt is that it's custom made!  You just tell her what size you want and what length.  Or you can give her your measurements for it to be a more exact fit.  She'll make it specially for you!  She does that with all her skirts.

The fabric is a medium weight stretchy material that is very soft and flowy but not transparent.  One of the best things about it.  It's so light, but you can't see through it.

This camo is awesome.  I mean, I can't say that enough.  I love this new skirt, and I might go back and get another one when this is too small or worn out.

She has custom skirts and clothes for both fall and summer this year.  If you want to go and check out her shop, you can find it here.  If you order one of these, I'm pretty sure you won't regret it.

Thanks for reading!

 

CoverUms {review}

Hey!  So, today I'm doing a review of CoverUms!  You might not have heard of these.  Let me show you some pictures.

 

Yeeeeeeah, it's hard to tell what they are from that pic. A CoverUm is something you wear underneath dresses or shirts that have necklines that go too low.  We all have problems with finding the perfect clothes, and then finding out the necklines are too low.  An easy fix, just wear a camisole under it, right?  Well, when it's really warm out it's not much fun to wear a lot of layers.  With CoverUms they only cover your chest, so it you don't get too hot.

It's sort of like a big bib.  Well, it looks like that when you lay it down, but here's a picture of it when you're wearing it.

I pulled the sleeve away a little so you could see the snap.  It snaps right onto your bra straps and looks like the shape of whatever shape the neckline is.

There's a picture that illustrates how it clips onto the bra strap.  It's so simple!

The sleeves on this dress I was wearing kept on sliding off my shoulders, but that's not something a camisole could fix, either.  I put that shrug on over it to keep it from showing anything.

At first I thought the CoverUm would keep coming up out of my dress, but it stayed when I put it on.  The fabric of the dress must have been enough to keep it down.

Best of all, CoverUms gave all A Pinch of Classy readers a 20% off code: TWENTY

If you want to buy a CoverUm you can order it here.  I would definitely suggest this item.  I might buy another one when these wear out.  I hope you liked the post!

RyanNicoleVintage {review}

Hey, girls!  So, today I'm reviewing an item from a shop called RyanNicoleVintage.

Here's the sort of bow/sort of belt-buckle on the front of the shoe.  I'm not sure what it's called, but it's really pretty.

Sorry about that.  It's really hard to get a good picture of those words, because they're just so shiny!  This is what they say:

Naturalizer

THE SHOE WITH THE BEAUTIFUL FIT

So vintage, right?  And the letters are all in gold!  I don't know about everyone else, but I always kind of wish other people could see the insoles when they're on your feet, because they're always so pretty!

This picture shows what material the shoe is made out of, what size it is, and a bunch of letters and numbers I can't decipher.  This is what it says:

VINYL SOCKLINING
ELASTOMER OUTSOLE

8

And all those other numbers/letters.

Okay, so I ordered the shoes and forgot to look at the measurements.   I wear a size 8, but these shoes are thinner than my feet (which is why there are no pictures of me wearing them.)  If you get any of her items remember to look at the measurements.

I think this is a great shop and definitely something you all should look at.  She has about 200 different vintage items for sale, and they're amazing!  If you want to go to her shop you can find it here.  Thanks for reading!  I hope you guys liked the post and that you all go over and see her items!

Bible Study

 

I was planning on doing a review today, but it didn't get to me in time.  So I'm going to write about Bible studies.

A couple days ago I was talking to my sister, and we got to talking about 1 John.  I think it came up because we were talking about love, and John is all about love, in all of his books.  Anyway, she asked me if I would go and study 1 John, take notes and show them to her.  She wanted to know what I would find in it.  I didn't really want to study first John, because I don't really care for all the love.  But then I read it.  I found out it talks about so much more than love.

Here's what I think about Bible studying.  Whenever I know I need to go have a Bible study I don't really want to.  It usually isn't until I sit down that I wish I had started a long time before, so I would have more time to study.

Everyone has a different schedule for studying the Bible.  Some do a study in the morning, some in the evening, or at a break in the day.  Everyone studies different amounts, also.  Everyone has their own way of studying.

Bible studies are very important to help a Christian grow in Christ.  If you have a Bible: use it.  Why would you let your Bible grow dust on the shelf - maybe taking it to church once a week - when others don't have a Bible at all.

The Bible is Gods word, so he speaks to people through it.  A lot of people sometimes just give up on listening to God, when they haven't heard him for a long time.  What I would suggest to those people is to do a Bible study, and look closely for what God might be saying to you.

Well, that's all I have to say.  I hope you guys liked the post!

 

Spiritual Highs and Lows

So, Spiritual Highs and Spiritual Lows.  Most Christians know what those are.  For those of you that don't I'll give an example.

A mountain.  It looks pretty hard to climb, huh?  It takes a lot of effort to get to the top.  This is an example of a spiritual high.  A spiritual high is when we're walking right along side of God, feeling his power all the time.

 And this, a valley.  It doesn't look like it would be too bad to live in.  This is an example of a spiritual low.  When we can't seem to find God anywhere, and we're just stuck.  We've been having trouble in life, and everything is depressing.

Our whole christian lives we will be climbing up and down, going from mountain to valley, mountain to valley.  Why can't we just stay on top of the mountain, talking with God and hearing him talk back?  Well, we can try.  But I can almost guarantee you won't be able to.  Let me give you another example.

A heart monitor.  Yup, that's what I said.  That picture looks crazy, right?  The line is going everywhere.  If you didn't know what a heart monitor was, that line wouldn't make any sense.  But picture it like mountains and valleys.  See it?  Our Christian lives are just like that, being so close to God at times, sometimes lower, and a lot of times just . . . nowhere.  Stuck halfway up the mountain.

Now, imagine if that line wasn't going up and down.

Yup.  That's what it would look like.  We all know what a flat heart monitor line means.  Death.  Your heart isn't pumping.  We need the highs to realize God and his awesomeness.  And we need the lows to remember what life is like without him.  To want to be up high.

Many of you may have heard the heart monitor theory before, and maybe some of you don't agree with it.  I just came out of a sadly long spiritual low, so I just wanted to share this with everyone.  Thanks for reading!