Revital #Hair Treatment by Urielle #Review

When I was recently asked to do a review on a hair product, I gave some specifications.  First of all, I love all things natural.  If I have to choose between something natural and artificial, regardless of the accolades, I will pick natural every time.  It's just how I roll!  But I am not obsessive about it either.  If something is effective w/o being totally natural, I'll weigh the benefits vs. the risks because, obviously, I want results from the products I use.  But enough about me.  Let me introduce Revital by Urielle!

Designed to be used in all keratin and color-treated hair, this treatment is the first in a new line of amazing luxury hair care products, created by and named for the owner of the renowned New York Salon, The Red Chair, Uriel Yusopov.  He has gained a wild and loyal following of women from the upper East Side and far beyond.  Uriel grew up in St. Petersburg, Russia and is descended from a long line of hair masters.  He learned his techniques and eye for hair early at the feet of his grandmother, who was an award winning wig master for the renowned Bolshoi Ballet and his grandfather, who was one of St. Petersburg's most famous hair stylists, who catered to aristocrats and thespians, alike.  So the art of hair is really in his blood.  

I was impressed with just how light and weightless this treatment went into my hair.  Unlike other leave-in treatments, this oil didn't make my hair feel oily at all, even when I hadn't washed my hair in a few days.  I feel like my hair just absorbs this potion, with one of the main ingredients being Manuka Honey of New Zealand! This honey is special because it contains more healing and beneficial properties than any honey in the world.  It is combined with highly nutritional oils and beneficial extracts.  So you can apply it when your hair is damp after washing or you can apply it on dry hair.  Either way your hair will greatly benefit.  

My hair has a plethora of problems.  It dries naturally into a curly, thick, frizzy, hot mess.  So I need to blow-dry it to death and use a lot of hair-taming products.  At least that's how I've done it in the past.  And yes, I lean toward the natural hair care products.  Free from parabens, sulfates,  propylane, glycol and synthetic colors or dyes, I think it's safe for me to say that this line can qualify for my definition of natural.  At any rate, Revital seems to be different than all of the other products I've used.  And it really works well!  I put just a little bit through my damp hair after it has been washed and then I put in a little bit before styling, after styling--basically, I put Revital in my hair whenever I think about it.  No residues seem to build up and no oiliness either. I'm very pleased with the product, to say the least.  From my very first blow dry using it, I could tell a big difference.  I think that if you're a mom who would like to have a very special gift for Mother's Day or any other occasion, this would be a great one!  Remember when I said that I prefer natural but I also want effectiveness?  I believe I found the best of both in this amazing product.  It's both natural and very effective!  It is worth every penny.
I only wish I could meet Uriel Yusopov in person to thank him for making such a wonderful hair product!  


For more information or where to buy, go to Urielle.com!
Also, stay tuned for my Mother's Day Giveaway here on May 1st in associaion with Makobi Scribe Mother's Day GIveaway Event!
One lucky Gal Pal will be able to win the same 3.8 fluid oz bottle of Revital that I got to try! 
You can like Urielle on Facebook and follow them on Twitter to get ready for the extra entries that will be available during the giveway!   See you there!

http://cmp.ly/2

Roll-Up Ballerina Flats by Konvine {Review and #Giveaway}

Hey gal pals, I got to try out the most comfortable and cute ballerina-type slipper!  They are called Konvines. Now you need to know, first of all, that I’m not a flats kind of girl.  I either wear flip-flops or  tennis shoes on a functional level or something with a heel.  I am 5”4 ½  and I want to be taller.  I have felt in the past that flats make me look short and stumpy.  So these are the first flats I’ve tried and liked.  Guess what!  I may have become converted!  I put them on and they were so comfortable, plus the design I chose was so fun.  Normally I think flats are kinda boring, but these are just fun!  What do you think?  

Something that hadn’t occurred to me is that often you want a pair of shoes to slip into other than the pair you are wearing.  And you want them to be easy to take along, not a big inconvenience.  For instance,

• After a big night out - when you've had enough of those painful, yet stylish shoes!
• When travelling to work - running shoes are not only cumbersome, but are not too attractive with business attire.
• Airplane travel slippers - our comfortable shoes are the perfect fit for your handbag & can simply be unfolded when you are ready to relax during the ride.
• Around the office - Everyone likes to be comfortable at their desk but still need to be presentable if you need to speak to other workers, clients or the boss. Our foldable shoes will fit right in your office drawer or handbag and can be a great alternative to wearing your heels.
• Wedding Shoes - Every bride says the same thing, "Why did I buy those heels. And I never knew smiling could hurt". But after hours or walking around on your stilts and smiling nonstop, you'll thank yourself for being so smart by buying Konvine's White Wedding Shoes.

These slippers can roll up to be very compact, so they can fit into a purse, glovebox, drawer or locker.  You can keep a pair at work, school, and take a pair with you to a soccer game or anywhere else.  The motto for Konvine is ‘Life Has To Be Good’, and having a convenient, cute pair of shoes to slip in sure helps make it that way. 

“Konvine foldable ballet flats are not disposable & will last you well in to the future, unlike some of the other foldable shoes that are available on the market.  I hear from many women that they are not slaves to their heels, and much prefer flip-flops. But they all have to wear the stillettos once in a while - and carrying around several different pairs of shoes for one event is just ridiculous. Our shoes are rugged enough to walk anywhere. The sole is made of a study base so your shoes will last for years to come.”

 I loved the G.I. Jane shoe with the skull.  When I wore these to Independence High, where I work, I got a ton of compliments from the students, the most enthusiastic endorsements were from the boys!  They liked the skull, for sure!  I guess I could have gone with the peace sign but I’ve really wanted to have something with the skull and crossbones.  I was happy with my choice.   I guess it is true that where you spend your time is what influences you in your fashion choices.

You can buy a pair of Konvines here!

Konvine was nice to offer a reader one of their cute, roll-up, take anywhere shoes!  The giveaway will last through May 10^th, so hurry and get in your entries and best of luck! 

SassySteals Satchel and Make-up Bag Review and #Giveaway

I thoroughly enjoyed my 2^nd day at the Utah Valley Women’s Expo.  I didn’t stay as long as I did yesterday because I had a bridal shower to attend.  But today I met someone ever so talented!  As I was walking around the Expo, I noticed a booth that was crowded around with Moms and daughters.  

It was hard to see what was so interesting.  After it cleared out a little, I saw what it was.  The booth was full of super cute items and the owner was there helping everyone with their purchases.  Her name is Tori and she owns an online business called Sassy Steals!  I loved how approachable, helpful and genuine she was.  Sassy Steals is a wholesale whimsical boutique, goodies and crafts club that features vendors from around the nation and sells selected items at amazing prices.  Many of these items are only available on the site and only for a limited time.  Other items are on-going and supplied by the various vendors.  Tori is a very talented woman and previously owned her own Etsy shop!   She took what she learned and created SassySteals.com for vendors who want an easier way to market their products. Something that adds even more appeal is the fact that there is a giveaway every single Friday!  Everything is US made. And it is getting a lot of attention!  Last giveaway there were well over 900 entries! 

As I mentioned, Tori was vending at the Women’s Expo today and she offered to let me pick out a couple of items to review for Sassy Steals, which I gladly did.  I picked a polka dot theme.  I chose the cutest make-up tote.  It has a mirror inside and comes with a strap for traveling. I hope my  photo of the make-up tote does it justice, 'cause it's adorable.  I also picked one of the really popular polka dot 4-compartment satchels (also seen above), which is so cute for your favorite girly-girl--could that even be you? 

“Sassy Steals brings you Daily Boutique Deals and Daily Handmade Deals + Weekly Giveaways. If you'd like to be featured, e-mail us at info@sassysteals.com”

Someone is going to win both of the items I got!  So get your polka dot on and enter this fun giveaway!  Ends 5/8/12!

The Utah Valley Women's Expo

I attended the Utah Valley Women’s Expo today, one of two days of fun for women of all ages.  It happens twice a year and is attended by over 12,000 women.  

I’ve been going, now, for about 3 years and The Expo has been going strong for seven years.  Each time I’ve attended, I’ve come away with something new and fun.  One year it was some amazing sauces, the next time it was a great deal on clothes, another year it was some really cute headbands and a  weight loss product, and another year it was a $5 manicure that I took advantage of. 

Today I did a quick walk through the arena with the intention of going back again tomorrow for a more in-depth look and some time to think about what I actually need.  After all, I am the writer for A GAL NEEDS…so it behooves me to look for things I need, although I suspect strong wants might also qualify!

For instance I was really impressed with the ‘Body Wrap Me’ booth.  This is a way to help you spot reduce for a big night out or just a detox to help you see great results as you go for permanent weight loss.  It’s the Ultimate Body Applicator and it tightens, tones and firms your body to help you look years younger.  It also helps reduce the appearance of cellulite.  It sounds like the perfect thing to do for a special occasion or go on a cruise! 

The girls were so sweet and I just had to get a picture of them and their booth.  They have some really great deals and it’s available in a party plan.  

The 'Body Wrap Me' Girls!

 

 I also visited ‘Stephanie’s Basement’ an affordable clothing boutique,  the ‘VelvetPepper’, with beautiful designer bags, ‘Nature’s Fusions Essential Oils’, and ‘Perfectly Posh’ pure pampering  products.  These were some of the booths that immediately caught my eye because of what I am interested in, but there were so many other venues and areas of interest that anyone who goes would find something for them. 

 I was particularly excited to find the ‘HCG X-90’ booth.  It’s a fat loss product that is totally different.   It is different in that there are no pills, no chemicals, no shots, no doctors, no surgery and it is FDA compliant. You will hear more about this product and my journey with it this summer!

 If you get a chance, you should try to come to the Expo!  Come either tomorrow or make plans to attend this next Fall, but do come!  I guarantee, it will be worth your while.  Free tickets are available about a month or so before the event at sponsor locations!  I will try to chronicle my time there when I go tomorrow as well!  Until then, make sure you get all of what you NEED and some of what you want as well!

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post in any way

PrintRunner Postcards #Giveaway

I’m always so impressed with companies and their start-up stories.  What makes one company successful and another one to fail?  It is amazing to hear how they start from little back office businesses, growing and prospering, driven by the great free enterprise system that is part of our U.S. legacy.  Here is one of those stories:

"PrintRunner.com was established with little more than a small press and a dream. Ten years later our company became one of the foremost quality printers in Southern California. Our commitment to provide the best value and high quality full color printing at affordable price made our company grow.  PrintRunner is a full service high quality printing company located in Chatsworth, California." -PrintRunner 

PrintRunner offers a number of amazing services from postcards to business cards, banners, calendars, greeting cards, and more!  If you have a business or service, these printing services are amazing marketing tools, but even if you just want to have a little more style in your  personal communications, this is a great place to go.

I realize that there are plenty of other places to print online, a few of which I have used myself.  I think, however, that some the advantages of PrintRunner are:  versatility, convenience and pricing.  It’s  easy to create your own business cards, invitations or postcards with their online postcard printing. You can either download your own images or choose from a massive data base of ready-made designs. 

Today PrintRunner is offering someone a chance to experience their excellent product and service for free.  This giveway is open to U.S. residents and ends on 4/26/12 at 9 pm MST

Prize:  5×7 Postcards (100 ct) Free Offer Thanks to PrintRunner!  More Details:

• Postcards
• Size:  5×7
• Quantity: 100
• Colors: 4/0 Front Only Printing
• Paper: 14 PT. UV Coating on Front
• Rounded Corners: Yes
• Proof: None
• Ready to Ship In: 4 Business Days

*Limit (1) PrintRunner Giveaway Prize Per 6-Months Per Person

Jasmine + Neroli Roll-on Perfume by Ko Denmark #Giveaway

 I love smelling nice.  It puts me in a great frame of mind.  I find that it puts those around me in a better frame of reference towards me as well.  When I got the chance to use the Jasmine + Neroli roll-on perfume from Ko Denmark, I was  taken by surprise.  I haven’t really smelled anything like it in the world, at least where I’m from.  And the more I wore it, the more I loved it.  The reason I hadn’t smelled it is because it is a highly valuable and rare scent, made from two of the world’s most expensive flower oils, pure Jasmine and Neroli (orange blossom).  Furthermore, it is organic, certified vegan and contains no mineral oil, sulfates, parabens, perfumes, artificial colors or animal ingredients.  So of course, in my world, where you can’t buy a bar of soap without an onslaught of unnatural ingredients, there would naturally be a different smell from a product as pristine as this.  I was so pleased to be introduced to this fragrance and line of natural beauty products and I know you will be too! 

                                                          About Ko Denmark:

Owner and creator of the ko Denmark line, Henriette Holst, has drawn on her Dutch roots to create a line of body washes, moisturizers, body oils and a perfume made from two main ingredients, neroli and jasmine.  They are great for those who have sensitive skin and are allergic to synthetic perfumes.  She has been recognized on Goop Get, put out by Gwyneth Paltrow, as well as Allure and Vanity Fair and many others.  

                                                About Henriette founder of kō denmark:
i grew up in denmark where the standard of living, design sensibility and expectations for quality products are among the highest in the world. danish women are conscious of the origins of the ingredients of the products they use in their homes and on their skin. when i started kō denmark, i took great care to bring this way of thinking to everything we create. at ko denmark we use two of the most precious flower oils – jasmine and neroli – to produce beauty products quintessential to the danish beauty regime with powerful nourishing benefits and one of the most coveted scents in europe. we are proud to share ko denmark and our moisturizing products for dry and sensitive skin with women all over the world.

Interesting facts:  

• It takes 1 ton of flowers to produce just 16 ounces of oil and kō denmark uses only pure flower oils in its products. 
• It takes 8.000 handpicked blossoms to produce 1 ml of jasmine oil

Win It: One reader will win their own roll-on bottle of kō Denmark Jasmine + Neroli Roll On Perfume. (ARV:$45) Open to readers in the US & Canada!

Gourmet Gift Baskets - It's The Brownie Sampler! #Giveaway

 I feel that Gourmet Gift Baskets is the go-to company for the best quality gift baskets and now, I can tell you that they are the absolute butter best when you want to ship someone delicious baked goods! 

I was shipped the Brownie Sampler Pack, with each one of the six flavors.  It wrecked havoc on my waistline, but I didn’t care at the time.  My husband and I divided them each day.  But I was bad once and ate the Belgian Chocolate Chunk and the Cheesecake Brownie on my own.   It was a guilty, but fun pleasure.  After all, I rationalized, I was the one who had to do the review!  I really had to be sure that I got it right in order to provide an honest opinion.

Six different types of brownies come in Sampler option (The Gourmet Sampler has two of each):

• Belgian Chocolate Chunk

•  White Chocolate Macadamia Blonde

• Butterscotch Blonde

• Cheesecake

• Peanut Butter

• Fudge Walnut 

I was blown away by the freshness, the taste and the quality of the brownies.  I reserved my strictest judgement for the most common of the brownies, the Fudge Walnut.  It was amazing.  It was fresh, moist, chocolaty, and the walnuts were there in the perfect combination.  The remaining brownies followed with equal taste and quality!  Mercy!  It was like the devil delivered to me in the disguise of 6 amazing brownies.  It is definitely a temptation that is hard to resist.  So for that special one who you either want to kill with kindness or maybe even someone you don’t like but would like to trap them in the quagmire of temptation, you definitely want to consider this option!

Gourmet Gift Baskets would like to give one lucky winner a custom package with one of each brownie from the Brownie Sampler.  This giveaway is only open to residents of the Lower 48 states because of the perishable nature of the baked goods. Giveaway ends on April 26 at 11:59pm MST.  Please use the Rafflecopter entry form to enter to win:

Sweet Beauty: Homemade Sugar-Based Scrubs

You may not realize it, but most of your exfoliating beauty products get their dead-skin blasting power from an ingredient you have in your pantry: sugar. While some products like to get more on the fancier side and use black, brown or keto sugar, regular white refined sugar can work wonders too. To learn some "decadent" homemade recipes for some exfoliators that can get your skin silky smooth just in time for spring, continue reading below.

Lip Exfoliator

Lip balms can really help nourish lips, but you need to first scrub away the rough patches on your pucker so the moisturizers can seep through. Because you don't want to risk swallowing anything that can be toxic, our exfoliator only contains natural and edible ingredients.

There are two different recipes. The first requires extra virgin olive oil. Stir one tablespoon of olive oil and equal parts sugar in a small bowl. Rub the mixture on your lips in a circular motion for one full minute. Remove the mixture using a warm, damp cloth.  The second recipe requires honey, which contains natural moisturizing properties. Combine   one teaspoon of honey with one tablespoon of sugar. It should create a really thick paste. Slather the paste on your lips, rubbing it in for a few minutes. Leave the paste on for a minute, until it dries. Then remove the paste with a warm, damp cloth.

Leg and Body Exfoliator

While we recommend our second recipe since all of the oils will make sure that your skin returns back to its supple state, if you're strapped for cash our first recipe using plain, unscented lotion can work magic too.

To make a budget-friendly body and foot scrub, all you need is ¼ cup of your favorite lotion and 1/2 cup of sugar. Mix the ingredients into a bowl. It should make a paste. If it's still a little too runny or too thick, add more lotion or sugar until the consistency gets right. Rub the paste all over your legs and arms, or any particular area that is rough—like your feet. Leave on for about a minute or so and wash off the sugar in the shower. Be careful since the lotion will cause the shower floor to get slippery.  You should feel new again.

For a luxurious exfoliator, you'll need 3 tablespoons of sugar, two tablespoons of jojoba oil and one tablespoon of castor oil. Rub the mixture onto rough patches of skin and like all the rest, leave on for about a minute before rinsing off.

Thanks to Angelita Williams for guest posting,  She welcomes your comments at her email  angelita.williams7 @gmail.com.

Being The Only Gal

     Today at work was frustrating.  I'm one of 4 educators in a classroom consisting of a teacher and 3 para-educators.  3 of us have bachelor's degrees, one is working towards one.  3 of us are males and one is female (guess who?).  In my naiive days that meant fun.  I would have the attention of 3 men and since I am the only woman, I would be able to rely on those gentlemen, so capable at their jobs, to be gallant and help me with the workload in a classroom such as ours. I'm not saying do more than their share, but just have my back and do as much as I do.  Oh, by the way, the class is all boys ages 13 - 21, of various intellectual disabilities and behavioral issues ranging from autism to dyslexia and other more serious things.  (Thank goodness, for the one girl, age 17, who sometimes aligns with me, depending upon her mood. More often than not, however, she likes to try to show her own dominance with me, the only other female.)  

      I have found, however, that being the only female educator in that environment is sometimes a pain.  I find that since I am instinctively more nurturing than my male counterparts, I am the one that seems to be doing much of the talking, reasoning, helping, soothing, listening and  tutoring.  Granted, when it comes to disruptive behavior, a big, gruff male is the best way to stop it.  And in a classroom like mine, that male dynamic has to be there.  All of the students have caught on to this and they know that I've got a soft spot.  So they are always calling upon me.  In some ways, this is very fulfilling to me.  I love to help these kids, many of whom have not been given a fair shot in society and in their own homes.  Many of them are living in foster care or group homes for various reasons.  But they are so needy and it wears me out.  ESPECIALLY since the guys in the room are all standing around in a little group talking about the latest sports news, the latest cool 'You Tube' video or the Swimsuit Issue of Sports Illustrated and any other guy thing you can think of.  If they aren't doing that, they are on their laptop or one of the student computers or the iPads issued to the classroom.  What are they doing?  Gaming.  Oh, and don't get me started now that March Madness is here.  They are going to have 3 computers playing 3 different games so that they can make sure to get the scores immediately so that they can make sure they win their game predictions. 

     Don't get me wrong, I love them.  They're great.  I am so appreciative when they help me, because when they do, it's amazing and a lot gets done.  I think so much more could be done though.  These kids really need all of us to give our all.  I understand, too, that each one of us has burn-out phase.  Like I did today.  I actually had  it up to here (pointing to neck).  I  said, "Hey, I've got a dental appointment today.  I'm out.  See you later."  I left.  Checked out.  Gone.  I came home and took a long, deserved nap.  Maybe daylight savings time really got to me.  More than I thought.  

     Tonight me and my co-workers are getting together at our local 'Burger Supreme'.  It'll be great.   But I'm so over being the only gal in the room. 

Can I Stick To My Weekend Schedule?

Tomorrow, I plan on getting up super early (for a Saturday) to go on a 5 mile run/hike in the foothills with my Border Collie, Evee, who lives for those kinds of outings.  Although my metabolism has slowed down considerably since I turned 29 (lol), I still can look forward to dropping about 2 lbs. after I finish my outing.  I have a little secret weapon that I use for performance enhancement and weight loss benefits.  It's called Access from Melaleuca.  It is a small 130 calorie candy bar with special ingredients that I take about 15 minutes before I exercise.  This bar has patented technology (actually 2 U.S. patents and 40 patents or pending patents across the globe) which allows my body to use fat for pure energy at an accelarated rate and also keeps my muscles from getting really sore and stiff after strenuous workouts.  I love it!  I have been using these bars for at least 10 years.  I love them.  (Feel free to contact me for more info here or e-mail me!  I'd love to share it with you!)

I will then come home and do some light housework before leaving for my volunteer hours at the Campaign Headquarters of Mitt Romney.  I've become a political junky of sorts because I feel that this year's election is the most important election of my lifetime because of the high stakes involved. The wrong president will take our country down a very dark path.  The right president will save our country from economic, moral and even possible physical destruction and change the course of history.  It's that important.  The Michigan and Arizona Primaries are this next Tuesday and I feel like I want to do all I can to help Mitt do well there.  I think he is the one who can beat Barack Obama. Definitely anyone who has any kind of interest in a small business or  being an entrepreneur should definitely go for Mitt.  Another year of Barack Obama will kill the American dream as we have previously known it, forever.  The only dream we will have then is to try and qualify for as many entitlements as we possibly can before the financial system all caves in permanently.   The end. 

And since this is the weekend, I will try to have some down time by either reading my latest book choice, 'The 13th Tale', by Diane Setterfield or watching some of the TV Shows that I've recorded.  I have got one new guilty pleasure. (Meaning, I wouldn't exactly watch this with my family all in the room because there are some definite adult themes)  I watch 'Braxton Family Values'.  I get a kick out of all 5 of Toni Braxton's sisters and their mom, Evelyn.  What a feisty, free-spirited bunch of ladies. You should go to WE TV on Thursday nights, "'cause Thursday night is Braxton night!"  Another show I sorta put up with ('cause my husband likes it) is 'Grimm.'  It's about our human world that is also comprised of creatures disguised as humans so that they can actually prey on humans.  Only the Grimms are able to sniff these creatures out and kill them.  Like I said, not my favorite but...I put up with it and sometimes it is rather interesting in a grotesque kind of way.  I really like 'Person of Interest'.  The star, Jim Caviezel, talks like Clint Eastwood in the show.  If you haven't followed it from the start, though, it may be harder to follow some of the more recent episodes.  But I love it because Reese's style of espionage is fun and I love the fighting choreography.  For family comedies, I love 'The Middle'  and 'Last Man Standing.'  My guilty pleasure comedies are 'Suburgatory' and 'New Girl.'  So there you have my T.V. recommendations for what that is worth!  Shows that I've abandoned this season are 'Survivor', 'American Idol', 'Biggest Loser', and 'Glee'.  After all, you can't watch everything.  You have to pick and choose. A show that I'm thinking about checking out is 'Smash' because of all the star power in the show. 

On Sunday, after church, I really need to fly up I-15 about 30 miles to see my Dad.  He is 83 and still trying to go strong.  He lives by himself by choice, although 3 of his 4 children live pretty close.  It's just that we all lead really busy lives and so we don't get in to see him as much as we'd like to.  Between the 3 of us we are able to keep tabs on him fairly well.  He deserves it, he has been so faithful all of his life.  We need to do the same for him.

So there you have it, my precious weekend and what I plan to use the time for. It's time that I want to make the most of.  There is precious little of it...  Have a wonderful weekend!