Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal Review and Donation

 Natural deodorants has been something I have been buying on and off for about 10 years now. This last year I have told myself I need to ONLY buy natural ones. I am concerned about the harmful aluminum and parabens in many brands on the shelf. After researching about breast cancer risks and deodorants I have made the personal choice to stick to natural ones.

There are many great brands on the market for Natural Deodorants. Price ranges can vary but one I have found that is affordable and at Walmart, Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal. Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal contains 100% Natural ingredients with no aluminum or parabens. It is also great for sensitive skin since its hypoallergenic and fragrance free. My husband loves this brand and its the only one he has used for about 5 years now. I go back and forth on brands but he is a loyal customer for sure!

I also reviewed the Moiststic Natural Lip Protection. I love the refreshing feel of it. The peppermint flavor was great. It reminds me of a much more expensive competitor brand but this one is much more affordable. The natural lip product contains Tea Tree Oil, Vitamin E, Beeswax, Coconut Oil, and Peppermint Oil.

The company that sells Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal is wonderful. They were so awesome to send me a big box of Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal to donate to one of my favorite local charities Roseville Home Start. Deodorant is on the Wish List on the Charities website. Its one of those items people might forget that people need donated.  It makes me beyond happy to be able to blog for good and make donations like this.

The Staff at Home Start is always welcoming to us and appreciates our donations.

To learn more about Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal you can be a fan Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

*I was not paid or compensated for this post. The opinions in this post are 100% mine. I was provided one deodorant and lip product for my review and donated the rest by the Company / PR Company for free.

Sole Society Shoes Review and Giveaway - Mother's Day

What Mom would not LOVE new shoes for Mother's day? Yes we love flowers, candies and cards but we LOVE shoes too! A great place to shop for shoes for Mom, well yourself just paid for by the kids right, is Sole Society. This site is a fun place to shop for shoes. You sign up and it helps you pick out shoes based on your personality. They have 6 fashion personalities to select from, but don't worry you can buy any shoes you like its just a great way to suggest shoes for you. Sole Society is a shoe club that has no membership fees and there is no obligation to buy. They just like you to join to see all the awesome shoes they carry. The shoes are all $49.95. They even have a Invite Your Friends link that you can get credits towards shoes when 3 of your friends sign up and make a purchase.

For a Mother's Day gift to me I wanted shoes. I told my husband and son I would pick stuff out and then they could get it for me. Sounds great to me! After finding the Sole Society site I told myself ok I need to ask for the same thing on my birthday this summer lol. They have so many shoes that I love. I was sent the Kendall Weave Espadrille Sandal in Coral. I love that the color is bright but not over the top. The heel is perfect to wear the shoe with any outfit. You can wear cute shorts and a nice top or a dress and great jewelry. They feel so summer like to me.

I am a bit of a klutz as I have mentioned before but I can wear these shoes with ease. I love the tall heels and have a few pairs in that style but for wearing anywhere I need a shoe that is around a 2 inch heel. These shoes are surprisingly comfortable which tells me I can be comfy and stylish! I love the wrap around cross ankle strap. It creates a fashionable look that is functional. It really makes the shoe fit well. The Kendall says True Fit to Size and it delivered on that! I shop for shoes all the time and many brands the shoes are not what the size says. Online shopping for shoes at Sole Society you do not have to worry about sizing, they will be what they should be. You can shop by heel height and color. Making it easy to find a great shoe that works for you.

Love the ankle strap!

If you love shoes as much as I do this site will be a blast for you. I love that good shoes can be a starting point for an outfit. With the colorful and stylish shoes at Sole Society you can get tons of great ideas for your wardrobe. 

 

GIVEAWAY

Win a pair of Woman's Shoes from Sole Society


To Enter This Giveaway:


Sign up for Sole Society and leave me a comment telling me what Shoe Personality you are.

(you will need to sign up to be a member to win the prize, its FREE to sign up)

*Leave a comment answering the question and be sure to leave your email address if its not public in your Google account*

Extra Entries: Can be done after leaving a comment for mandatory entry. If the extra entry says 1 extra entry leave 1 comment and 2 extra entries leave me 2 comments and so on.

-Visit Sole Society and tell me your favorite shoe +1
-Like Sole Society on Facebook +1
-Follow Sole Society on Twitter +1

 -Follow/Add to your circle  Frugal Family Tree on Google+ ( right hand side) +1
-Like our new fan page on Facebook Frugal Family Tree +1
-Follow FrugalFamTree on Twitter +1 

-Share this giveaway on Facebook ONLY, using the Share Button at the bottom on this post. +1 for each share you do. (can be done once a day)

-Copy and Paste This Tweet on Twitter and leave me the link (to find the link click on the time stamp under your tweet. Can be done once a day for the duration of the giveaway)

#Win a pair of Sole Society Shoes from @solesociety at @FrugalFamTree #Giveaway ends 5/25 #shoes http://www.frugalfamilytree.com/2012/05/sole-society-shoes-review-and-giveaway.html

*Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts May 10th 2012 and ends on May 25th, 2012 at midnight PST. Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post.  I was provided the product pictured in the post for free for my review. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize.

Top 5 Cookbooks I Love

I love cookbooks. I blame my mother for this. She used to buy them and read them cover to cover, and then put them on the shelf, never cooking one single recipe.
 
I also collect cookbooks but on occasion I actually cook something that comes from one of them. I am trying to cook one recipe a week from different books, so I have pulled some of them down from my shelf. I have made a list of my Top 5 favorite cookbooks, so here they are, in no particular order:

1. Barefoot Contessa Family Style
I adore Ina Garten, I have for years. From her pretty house, to her fabulous garden, to her devoted husband Jeffrey, she is wonderful. You have probably seen her on TV on her own cooking show. Her food is elegant but simple, and any average cook can be comfortable using her recipes.
I have all of Ina's books, but this one is my favorite. Her Parmesan Chicken recipe is heavenly.

2. The Fannie Farmer Baking Book
This book has been a beloved classic for so many years. I would love to cook everything in it! There are recipes for pies, cakes, breads, cookies and more. The peanut butter cookie recipe is the one I always use. There is also a wealth of information about cooking and baking that is extremely helpful.

3. Alice Waters, The Art of Simple Food
Alice Waters is the queen of eating organic and local foods. I love this philosophy, even though it isn't always practical or affordable. But this cookbook is for all cooks, and all types of food. It really is simple to prepare and eat these wonderful recipes. Her roasted chicken and roasted root vegetables are so yummy, and the aroma of the chicken in your kitchen is a dream.

4. Tom Douglas' Seattle Kitchen.
Up here in the Seattle area, Tom Douglas is a famous name in the food and restaurant business. He has five restaurants at my last count, each of them different and special in their own way. His book is filled with many items you will find in his restaurants. I have eaten crab cakes several times at one of them, and they are super delicious. If you want a taste of Seattle, buy this book and try any of Tom's amazing dishes.

5. The Joy of Cooking
A gem of a cookbook, one that many of us learned to cook from. Originally published in 1931, there is an updated version that incorporates all of the new equipment and methods available for cooks today. From stuffing to cookies to beef stew, this cookbook can be the best source for good, old fashioned food, just like your Mom made.

I hope you like my Top 5 list, and I could have easily added more cookbooks to this list.

Do you have an absolutely favorite cookbook? I would love to know what it is.

Happy Cooking!

Medina Basket Review - Mother's Day

Medina Baskets is one of my absolute favorite companies. Beauty, quality, and durability are all characteristics of these baskets, totes, and home accessory items.

These beautiful baskets are hand-woven in villages in Mexico, Morocco, Ghana and Bangladesh. Making the baskets provides work and income for many of the villages families.
                                                              

This is the Yellow Weave Basket. It's sunny yellow color is lovely, and it's perfect for many uses. Great for taking to the farmer's market or the beach, it's roomy enough for flowers and veggies, or an armful of beach towels.

This is the Leather Top Purse. It is such a great summer purse, able to go from casual to dressy with ease. It's very spacious, woven from water reed, and has a leather zippered top. Medina Baskets are an investment in beauty and functionality that will last for years. They are the perfect gift for Mother's Day, birthdays, or any time of the year. Visit their website at medinabaskets. com to see their complete line of baskets and totes.

To learn more about Medina Baskets you can be a fan Facebook.

*I was not paid or compensated for this post. The opinions in this post are 100% mine. I was provided the products mentioned in this post to review for this post by the Company / PR Company.

Guylian Artisanal Belgian Chocolates Review and Giveaway - Mother's Day

Chocolate and Mother's Day to me go hand in hand. The one day I can tell myself its totally ok to have the candy just for me! I love chocolates that have a unique look or flavor. Guylian Artisanal Belgian Chocolates are both! I love the shapes of Seahorses and Seashells that the blend of milk and white chocolates are shaped in. It was so creamy and fun to eat. The Chocolates are filled with a rich and so sweet chocolate truffle filling. They melt in your mouth when you eat them.

They are crafted in small copper pot batches in Belgium. The chocolate company was made by a husband and wife team back in 1958. The name of the company is a melding of both their first names, Guy and Liliane. How sweet is that! The Guylian website even has tips for pairing your chocolates with wine and coffee drinks. I can imagine a tasting party with these as the star.

The detail on the chocolate is amazing. They look so real. The Seahorse have a tail that curls in the opposite direction than a seahorse in nature. These fine chocolates are even stamped with a "G" on the chocolates to show that they are genuine imported Belgium Guylian Chocolates.

Of course I let my son try some of them. I wouldnt be a Mama without the sweetheart. He thought they were as amazing as I did. He said Oh Wow and asked me what each one was. He thought the Seahorses were the neatest. He even said Oh No when I took a bite out of one and told me I Broke It. The chocolates are delicious and next time I have some I plan to do as the website suggested and melt one into a cup of hot coffee and add whipped cream. Sounds soooooo good!

Guylian Artisanal Belgian Chocolates would make a wonderful gift for Mother's Day for the mom in your life. They are delicious and special. You can find them in most Walmart, Raley's and Cost Plus stores. For a location near you there is the Store Locator page.

GIVEAWAY

Win a box of Guylian Artisanal Belgian Chocolates for the Mom you love.

To Enter This Giveaway:

Which of the 11 Sea Shell Shapes of Chocolate do you like the most?

*Leave a comment answering the question and be sure to leave your email address if its not public in your Google account*

Extra Entries: Can be done after leaving a comment for mandatory entry. If the extra entry says 1 extra entry leave 1 comment and 2 extra entries leave me 2 comments and so on.

-Like Guylian Artisanal Belgian Chocolates on Facebook +1
-Follow Guylian Artisanal Belgian Chocolates on Twitter +1

 -Follow/Add to your circle  Frugal Family Tree on Google+ ( right hand side) +1
-Like our new fan page on Facebook Frugal Family Tree +1
-Follow FrugalFamTree on Twitter +1 

-Follow PopcornNPearls on Twitter +1

-Be a friend of Popcorn and Pearls on Facebook +1

-Follow Popcorn and Pearls on Pinterest +1

-Share this giveaway on Facebook ONLY, using the Share Button at the bottom on this post. +1 for each share you do. (can be done once a day)

-Copy and Paste This Tweet on Twitter and leave me the link (to find the link click on the time stamp under your tweet. Can be done once a day for the duration of the giveaway)

#Win a box of Guylian Artisanal Belgian Chocolates at @Guylian_Chocs from @FrugalFamTree #Giveaway ends 5/20 http://www.frugalfamilytree.com/2012/05/guylian-artisanal-belgian-chocolates.html

 *Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts May 9, 2012 and ends on May 20, 2012 at midnight PST. Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post.  The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize.