Maybe some of you noticed that out of nowhere every picture in my blog was erased. I am unsure of how that happened. I left it blank for a longtime because I started a new full-time job in June and my plate has been beyond full. I couldn't find the time to hunt down all of those photos and upload them.
I took several hours today to save what I could, but I was forced to erase about 40 post because I no longer had the photos for it. I have for sure learned to create a folder and save the photos from now on.
I have been searching for a recipe box that I LOVED for a long time. I finally found what I was looking for in Erin Condren personalized recipe box and cards! Use this link {CLICK HERE} to get $10 off your first order!
I love everything about, except for three things.
1. The price of the box and cards were well over $100 combined!
2. The box is REALLY large. I placed the extra large water bottle next to it to show you how large it is.
3. You have to buy A LOT of cards, around 300, to fill the box at a $1 apiece.
Hello everyone!
I was given some samples from Pura D'or to review this past week, and I would like to share my experience with you. I'm pretty picky about what goes on my face, body, and in my hair. I tend to stick with organic oil combinations and try to find hair care products that are Alcohol, Paraben and SLS free. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Pura D'or is USDA Certified Organic! This made me feel a lot more comfortable putting this on from head to toe. I started off with the Argan oil.
Pure and Organic Argan Oil:
Diminishes Wrinkles
Stimulates Skin Cells
Reduces Appearance of Scaring and Stretch Marks
Creates Softer, Smoother Skin
Relief for Eczema and Psoriasis
Restores Nutrient Content to Skin Cells
Helps Repair Damaged Hair
Now I have used a lot of Argan oils from all over the internet including the very well-known Argan oil from JM. I know the texture, smell, and constancy of real Argan oil. If you're unsure of what to look for, then here are 6 things I look for in real Argan oil:
1.The Ingredients
The ingredients list should be very short. If it says anything else other than 100% Argan Oil or 100% Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, then you don't want it.
2. The bottle
We are wary of Argan Oil sold in clear or plastic bottles, which can make the oil deteriorate. Most producers of quality Argan Oil will not put this liquid gold into anything other than a dark colored glass bottle (i.e. amber or cobalt blue). Aluminum or stainless steel works well, too. Light breaks down the oil's best properties, and keeping it inside something dark is the best way to store it.
3. The price
Argan Oil takes hours of manual labor and is very difficult to make, lending to the fact that the cost of it is not cheap. $10 for 2 ounces/60 ml seems like a bargain, but it's no bargain at all when it's just vegetable oil in that bottle. You might as well just step into your kitchen and use what you've got in the cupboard.
With that said, the most expensive Argan Oil is not necessarily the best either. You may very well find yourself paying for elaborate packaging and extensive marketing.
Sometimes you can find authentic CULINARY Argan Oil at a more economical price. Even though this oil will taste amazing, know that it will not produce the best results on your skin, hair, and nails. Raw, cosmetic-grade oil derives from non-roasted Argan fruits, and it is much more difficult to extract oil from raw materials.
4. The scent
Any Argan Oil that is absolutely strong or awful smelling should obviously be avoided. It most likely has gone rancid (To ensure freshness, keep the cap or dropper screwed onto your bottle well!).
Also, if the Argan Oil you have smells so savory that you want to eat it, then it very well could be Argan Oil that's intended for culinary use. The Argan kernels for this type of oil have been toasted first, which means great things for your salad. However, it won't provide the results you want on your skin and hair.
What about Argan Oil that smells like absolutely
nothing? That may be suspicious, too. It could lend to the Argan Oil being entirely
fake or at least diluted beyond olfactory recognition. The absence of a
scent may be a result of the Argan Oil being machine-made or put
through an exhaustive heating and “deodorization” process on a consistent basis. More specifically, this process entails that chemical
solvents are sometimes used to pull the oil from the Argan kernels. In other cases during the refining process,
the oil is frequently heated to a very high temperature (up to 375-400 degrees Fahrenheit
for 30-60 minutes). This process strips
the oil not only of any smell it might have had, but also of some of its
healing and restorative properties. So,
we firmly believe it's best to leave this precious oil alone and in its most
natural state.
Genuine, raw, hand-pressed
and/or cosmetic-grade Argan Oil however can smell unique to the uninitiated
nose. Most say it smells 'nutty'. My husband thinks it smells like
popcorn. In my experience, the smell of
the oil varies (i.e. from a scent that is lighter to one that is sometimes a
bit more aromatic) from batch to batch and most definitely varies with the
seasons.
If you get a bottle that
is a bit more aromatic, you eventually will get used to the scent after a
couple of days and know what results the use of the oil brings. You may even come to savor the raw, green,
nutty aroma. In the event you never
learn to love that smell, the scent always disappears after a few minutes on
your skin as true Argan Oil absorbs very quickly and beautifully.
5. The texture
Argan Oil should be smooth and silky. Disappearing into your skin, it should not feel slimy, sticky, or watery. It also should not sting. Even on uncomfortable skin conditions, Argan Oil should bring a soothing effect instead of a painful one.
6. The sediment
Authentic Argan Oil often has a tiny bit of sediment at the bottom of the bottle and it appears a bit "cloudy". The highly refined or fake oil will not have this sediment and will look very clear.
The smell was exactly what is was suppose to be. The texture was silky and absorbed fast. The bottle was a dark glass and they even included a bag to protect it from the light. Mostly importantly, I saw immediate results from using it. It made my skin incredibly soft and clear.
Right now they are running a sale {link here} where normally a 4 oz bottle goes for $48 dollars. It is now listed for $24.99 (hello STEAL!), and they are even offering a 20% off code for first time buyers "START20". I do not get anything if you click on the link; just sharing a good deal on a great product to all my readers.
{The Argan oil made my face baby soft}
Now onto the shampoo
Premium Organic Hair Loss Prevention Shampoo:
Prevents Hair Loss
Strengthens Hair
Adds Volume
All Natural and Organic
Vitamins for Hair Growth
Paraben, SLS and Gluten Free
12 DHT Blockers
For the past few years, I have been doing the Coopla Keratin treatments. My goodness that was love at first blow dry! For the first time in my life, my hair was not frizzy. Unfortunately, just when I thought I discovered the Holy Grail when I found this product,I began to experience immediate hair loss; not just a few strands here and there but a hair brush completely FULL of my hair. Thank God I had a ton of hair and didn't get any bald spots, but I was in denial that the keratin treatments where doing this. I mean I FINALLY found something that made my hair straight and completely removed ALL the frizz. It was like marrying a billionaire only to find out he was a cheater. I was heartbroken and knew the romance was coming to an end. Once the FDA came out with the warning about the keratin treatments containingFormaldehyde, I knew it was time for a divorce from my beloved Kertain and address the hair loss.
Just in the nick of time, Pura D'or arrived! The shampoo lathered up very well. It smelled like mint and rinsed out easily. There was only a few strands coming out while I was brushing out my hair! After using the blow dryer, my hair was completely lightweight and silky smooth.
You can find Pura D'or Premium Organic Anti-Hair Loss Argan Oil shampoo on sale here {Link}. Take a moment to look at ALL the 5 star reviews! I highly recommend their products and included some photos below.
{Before}
{After still wet}
{After ruff blow dry}
{Final Results}
Learn About the Brand
For more than four years, Pura d'or has been growing a culture planted on a natural set of values and beliefs. But when all is said and done it comes down to one unified mission—to create organic personal care solutions that naturally work.
All our ingredients are grown on trees, not in test tubes. Our products are artisanally handcrafted by a hybrid team of artists and scientists, not by machines. Some say that this is a step backward, but we believe that this is a step in the direction of how things should be
Pura d'or creates better beauty products from ingredients that are not only naturally beneficial, but are also sustainably grown and raised with respect for the animals that eat them and the people who produce them.
****FTC Disclosure- I received these products from Pura D'or for review. I did receive the products for free in exchange for a review. Though I may receive items free for review, I always give my 100% true honest opinion of the product. I did not receive any monetary compensationfor this review and if you click the links in this review, I received no monetary compensation.
Sometimes God's creations are just indescribably beautiful. The sun shining through the clouds reminded me that God is always shining down on us in the good times and bad.
I also found a beautiful new song, Jhené Aiko - Spotless Mind. It suited the day so perfectly. I hopped in the car, rolled the windows down, placed the song on repeat and let the warm spring weather flow all around me.
I was searching around trying to find a recipe for my left over Honey Baked Hambone. I know I didn't want the traditional potato or split pea soup. I wanted something with a lot of veggies and simple to make. I went through a lot of recipes reading details of what ingredients to use and found a whole lot of bad. One recipe even asked for SIX chicken bouillon cubes to be added! Yuck! When I stumbled upon this recipe it sounded perfect. I added the celery to it and you could pretty much tailor the veggies to whatever you prefer. It was quick, easy and everyone loved it, even my picky husband loved it! Needless to say there was no leftovers when it was done. Leave a comment and let me know if you changed anything and how it turned out =)
LEFTOVER HAMBONE SOUP
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour, 15 minutes
Yield 6 servings
You can use up your leftover hambone to make this cozy, hearty soup loaded with tons of veggies and chunks of sweet ham!
INGREDIENTS
1 leftover hambone
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 stock of celery, diced
1 onion, diced
2 carrots, peeled and diced
1 russet potato, peeled and diced
1 cup canned white kidney beans, drained and rinsed
3/4 cup frozen corn kernels
3/4 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
2 bay leaves
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 1/2 cups leftover diced ham
Place leftover hambone in a large stockpot or Dutch oven and add enough water to cover the bone halfway, about 6-7 cups. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until very fragrant, about 30 minutes to 1 hour; remove and discard hambone.
Heat olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add garlic, onion, carrots, celery and potato. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions have become translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in ham stock, beans, corn, thyme and bay leaves; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10-12 minutes. Stir in ham until heated through, about 1-2 minutes.
