The Traveling Sisterhood: March 2015

Chicnova: Super Cute and Affordable Fashion

Chicnova is a leading online fashion retailer that offers trendy fashion and mix & match styles with an aim to deliver fast fashion all over the world. The name ‘Chicnova’ consists of chic and nova, which directly expresses their wish: to help women discover their own unique styles to make their own unique chic looks.  I chose to review their Bohemian Pullover and this gray top (sold out now).   I've been wanting some cute tops to go with my leggings and these were perfect!  They have a huge selection and I had so much fun shopping with them! 

Top: c/o Chicnova
Leggings: Victoria's Secret


Top: c/o Chicnova



What's your favorite item from Chicnova?



Tash Cosmetics: Mineral Makeup at its Loveliest #Giveaway

Congrats to Maggie, the winner of this giveaway! 

Tash Cosmetics and Hayashi Hair

I won't lie.  I have fun taking "selfies" and getting all dolled up.  The pic above, of course, has a filter but the pics below don't so that you can see the effect of my latest makeup review.  Mineral makeup is a necessity in my makeup routine.  It's a million times better than the other stuff!  I recently tried TASH Cosmetics (formerly TNT Cosmetics)--a wide variety of their eye shadows along with their Honey Walnut and Black Beauty facial soaps are now lining my makeup drawer.  The eye shadow colors are absolutely gorgeous and you only need a small amount. They blend well together, they don't crease, and they look amazing.  In the pic, I am wearing Diamond Dust above Iced Latte above Dangerously Beautiful.  I also lined my lower lid in Iced Latte.  



The facial cleansers are also wonderful!  My skin was actually noticeably softer after one time using the Honey Walnut.  My husband couldn't stop petting my face (weirdo!)  Likewise, the Black Beauty, which is a bit gentler and has kind of a black licorice scent (my favorite candy--ah! I want some).  I'm so very happy with each of TASH's products!  They would make the perfect gift to treat yourself with... or someone else.   




TASH's Cosmetics are all made to order in California.  That means they're absolutely fresh and haven't been sitting on any shelf anywhere for weeks on end.  It makes a difference!  They're an American company, something I love to support.  They use all of the makeup themselves, have a very high quality standard, and have many lines used by celebrities because of that.  They have a wide variety of products that caters to women at every stage of life.  I really love this company!  Read more about them and I guarantee you will, too! 

Discount
Save 15% on your entire order by using the code TASH15 at checkout.  

A FUN GIVEAWAY
The people at TASH Cosmetics gave me so many gorgeous eye shadows that I want to send some to a lucky winner.  But you must follow the rules to win!  Comment below with your four favorite eye shadows found here and whoever chooses the four I have ready to mail (or who gets the closest) will win!  Ends on 3/17. U.S. only.

Check out our other giveaways, too--we've got lots of goodies this week!
  
You Can Follow Tash Cosmetics On




Special thanks to the wonderful people at Tash Cosmetics for providing me with these products to review!

Spark of Amber Custom Bracelet #Giveaway

I love my amber bracelet!  It was created by Spark of Amber, perfectly sized for my wrist and customized with my children's birthstones.  They did an incredible job and I love it!  Spark of Amber has a wide variety of polished amber jewelry but their mother's bracelets are the perfect gift for Mother's Day which is just right around the corner!  They also have baltic amber teething necklaces which are very awesome, too, and would be the perfect baby shower gift. 


Everything from Spark of Amber is hand-crafted.  I've read a lot about natural Baltic amber and there are many theories on its health benefits--it is said to relieve pain, stress, and inflammation.  For babies, it's said to relieve teething pain and irritability.  It's very light and comfortable to wear and I love it!  Did I say that already? ;)

Dressed up for church with my new bracelet from Spark of Amber.

GIVEAWAY 
One winner will receive a custom Mother's Bracelet for Mother's Day.  Enter below by  at March 22nd at 11 pm anyone's time. I'll choose a winner the next morning via Random.org. 
U.S. only

Check out our other giveaways, too--we've got lots of goodies this week!

Customized with birth stones.

You Can Find Spark of Amber On

Special thanks to the wonderful people at Spark of Amber for providing me with this review opportunity!


Scripture Tea: Thanking God for Every Day


I woke up this morning and made myself a cup of Scripture Tea's Berry Medley mixed with Earl Gray--so delicious!  So here I sit blogging and drinking my tea in the mug from one of my best friends which reminds me that she "thanks God for me every day".  Such a wonderful way to start my morning and, even better, each tea bag has a little bible verse on it.  This morning's verse is "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).  The God who forgave the Israelites uncountable times in the Old Testament is the same God who forgives me time after time after time again.  The same "yesterday, today, and forever."  The God who caused four questionable women to be named unashamedly in Jesus' family tree thousands of years ago, displaying His love and forgiveness--even forgetfulness of the worst sins--is the same God who loves me today.  Bathsheba was an adulteress, Rahab was a whore, Tamar was also a whore, Ruth was a Moabite, an outcast, and yet God didn't see that.  He saw their faith, He saw who they could be, not who they were when they sinned, and He blessed their lives and gave them a legacy.  That's pretty powerful, even moreso considering the time they lived in.  It gives me so much hope when I realize how imperfect I am time after time after time!



Maybe I got a little bit off course, but when a cup of tea can cause you to ponder the goodness of God, that's pretty awesome.  Eileen Hadaway came up with the idea about 30 years ago.  And the tea is delicious, too, and super affordable!  I've lately been trying a variety of quality teas but so many of them are pretty pricey.  These ones aren't!  My favorite is the Apple Cobbler -- tastes like Apple Cider and gives me that caffeine kick I like in the morning (I'm allergic to coffee--too bad, so sad--even more reason to be grateful for good tea!)  The Apple Spice is $5 a box for 20 tea bags, about the price of good tea at the grocery store.  And the good tea at the grocery store doesn't encourage you with scriptures. ;) 

Sale
Scripture Tea is having a big sale right now on their Pumpkin Spice, American Hero, and Winter Berry Medley Teas (the one I'm drinking at this very moment).  You can get a bulk box of 100 tea bags for $16 which is 16 cents for a cup of tea. 

"My desire through Scripture Tea is to not only give you a 'taste' of God's Word, but more importantly to give you a hunger to have more of His love and comfort by turning to His bible for guidance. May God richly bless you, and all those to whom you choose to bless with Scripture Tea."  -Eileen Hadaway

GIVEAWAY
Two of my readers will receive a box of Scripture Tea!  Ends 3/18.  U.S. only.  Check out our other giveaways, too--we've got lots of goodies this week!

What flavor of tea would you like to try most?  

You Can Find Scripture Tea At
Cracker Barrel Gift Stores
and Lifeway Christian Stores 

Special thanks to the wonderful people at Scripture Tea for providing me with this tea to review!

Hayashi's Design Line for the Most Gorgeous Locks



Hayashi Hair and Tash Eyes
I had a blast Sunday!  Hubby had to work after church, the kiddos had their day off (which meant my day off!) and were playing so well together outside that it seemed the perfect opportunity to take pics for my Hayashi Hair Products review.  My hair was already gorgeous from using the products the night before and my hair was so pretty for church.  In my hair pics below, I used the Triple Play Mousse and  the Hi Shine from Hayashi’s System Design line. The mousse is wonderful--gives my  hair the perfect hold and allows it to stay soft.  The Hi Shine is a perfect compliment to give it shine.  The best thing is, you really need only a tiny amount of each product to get nice results. 


 


How To Get The Look
My hair is naturally wavy, so I simply put the products in after my shower and scrunched my hair upside down (makes for a better scrunch--gravity and all that or something).  I don't brush my hair except with my fingers in the shower (for wavy or curly hair, brushing causes breakage) and I never towel dry which causes extra frizz.  After scrunching, I went to bed and woke up to gorgeous locks a la Hayashi.  I added a bit more of the hi shine in the morning and a bit of hairspray and I was good to go! 

  
FOLLOW HAYASHI ON


Special thanks to the wonderful people at Hayashi for providing me with these products to review!


Anavita Moisturizing Anti-Wrinkle Cream #Giveaway For the Softest Skin

I'm 36 (wowsers! how can I be this old?!) and so I use moisturizer proactively to stay looking young.  For the last 2 weeks, I've been using Anavita.  Their slogan is, "Say Goodbye To Wrinkled, Sagging, Dry Skin In Just A Few Short Weeks!" I've been using the cream for just a couple weeks and it's definitely softer!  It doesn't cause my skin to break out (a lot of other products do) and it is so nice and gentle, like rubbing your face with silk.  A little goes a long way--I can see this container lasting me months.  According to Anavita, "you can have more beautiful, smoother skin in just 2 to 4 weeks (so my results are only just beginning--yay!) and see continuing improvement for 12 weeks."

More About the Product

You will quickly reduce the look of fine lines and deep wrinkles, firming and replenishing your skin to look noticeably younger, without needing expensive procedures like Botox or dermal fillers. Simply massage on Anavita Moisturizing Anti-Wrinkle Cream after cleansing your skin in the morning and again at night. It is recommended for normal, dry, oily, and sensitive skin. Your skin will benefit and look years younger from our high quality moisturizer that is paraben free, sulfate free, phthalate free and not tested on animals. You will have smooth, toned, attractive skin again.                                
                                                               
GIVEAWAY
One of my readers will receive a full-size Anavita Moisturizing Anti-Wrinkle Cream.  Enter below by March 17 at 11 pm anyone's time.  Check out all my other current giveaways, too, there are more goodies and lots being added this week!
Special thanks to the wonderful people at Anavita for providing me with this review and giveaway opportunity!


MagicKitchen.com: Delicious Frozen Delivery #GiftIdeas

I was so impressed upon trying MagicKitchen.com's homestyle meals!  Once in awhile, you just have to do dessert before dinner so we tried the Chocolate Ganache Cake.  Oh. My. Goodness.  We all loved it!  The cake was very moist and rich but not too rich; it was perfect. 

My Slice of Magic Kitchen's Chocolate Ganache Cake

For lunch, we had the Chicken Pot Pies.  I am a huge fan of chicken pot pie and this is by far the best one I've ever had!  Each pie is meant to be a single serving but they're quite big!  They come in both single servings (big servings, though!) and family size.  The pie was generously stuffed full with shredded chicken, gravy, and the perfect combo of veggies and spices.  The crust was the perfect doneness, golden and flaky, after cooking it in the oven.  Unfortunately, we ate these before we remembered to take pics! 



For dinner, we had the Chicken Parmigiana.  Chicken Parm is one of my very favorite dinnertime items and one of which I've quite mastered the recipe so I waas interested to try a baked version from a company.  And it was delicious!  Very delicious!  It tasted homemade and I loved it.

Dinner a la Magic Kitchen

Those are only a sampling of the delicious-looking items from MagicKitchen.com.  They delivered fast, everything was packaged very well, and I was impressed.  So if any of you want to know what I'd like for Mother's Day or my birthday or next Christmas, I'd love a gift from MagicKitchen.com!  A zillion times better than flowers!  And Mother's Day is coming soon! 

FREE DELIVERY and DISCOUNTS
Get free delivery through March 15th by using the promo code SISTER on any $90 and up order. They also have a Seniors Discount - $10 off an $80 purchase with the code SN10.

Special thanks to the wonderful people at Magic Kitchen for providing this food to review!



The Rapunzel Box by Memebox #SubscriptionBeautyBox


I love, love, love subscription boxes! And I love, love, love making my hair beautiful.  Sub boxes are one of my very favorite things to review.... especially the beauty themed ones.  I was excited to review a Memebox this time around. The best thing about them is that they only come with full-sized products.  Got to be the best way to discover and shop for the newest beauty trends cosmetics!  The Rapunzel Box came with 6 full-sized items.  You better believe I had a blast trying them all out this week!  


Following is everything that came in my Memebox with the retail value beside it.  Memebox costs range from $25 - $35 with free shipping so you definitely get your money's worth! Remember, everything you get is the full size.





1. L'Cret Hair Color Keeper Treatment Shampoo ($42)
The Hair Color Keeper Treatment Shampoo is carefully formulated with naturally derived ingredients like sunflower seed oil, argan oil, and babassu seed oil and works not only to moisturize and nourish dry hair but also to protect hair from the UV and from de-coloring. Plus it's scented with a lovely citrus & green tea aroma.

What I thought: While I don't color treat my hair, I like my shampoo to smell amazing.  I'm a huge green tea fan and love citrusy smells so this was the perfect combination!

2. ProYou Scalp Nutrition Calming Moisture Fluid ($48)
The various soothing agents - hyaluronic acid, chamomile, pomegranate, allantoin, rosemary, centella asiatica, portulaca, etc - infused in the Scalp Nutrition Calming Moisture Fluid work not only to soothe and nourish but also to alleviate the scalp of possible itching and dandruff.

What I thought: This reminded me of argan oil (which I always use for dry hair/skin) and b/c you only need a small amount of product, I can see this bottle lasting me for months!

3. Boutique Bebe Hair Salon Vita-Clinic Mist - 60ml ($24)
Boutique Bebe's Hair Salon Vita-Clinic Mist carries rich concentrates of argania spinosa kernel oil, lavender extracts, peppermint extracts, chamomile extracts, rosemary extracts, and royal jelly extracts. Its nutritious formula provides an intense moisture and protein recharge to dry, damaged hair cuticles and protect your hair from any further damage.


What I thought: This stuff is perfect for adding shine to my hair throughout the day.  You only need a few sprays to spritz up your locks and give your hair extra moisture--something I need in this dry weather we've been having!

4. Elizavecca Collagen Ceramide Coating Protein Treatment  ($34)
"Packed with nutritious collagen, bean protein extracts, ceramide complex, allantoin, hydro-wheat protein, and various vegetable extracts, this Collagen Ceramide Coating Protein Treatment is a hair pack that literally coats over dry, damaged hair ends with rich nourishment, thus delivering a lasting moisture level and a healthy glow to your hair.
 
What I thought: This reminded me of a very good conditioner.  It worked wonderfully and the container is super cute with the piggy on it. ;)  Quite full for lots of uses and a little seems to go a long way.
5. Sally's box Friendly Argan Hair Mask  ($4)
Rich in Vitamin E, argan oil is your hair's best friend. Bring back shine to your hair with this hair mask infused with tocopherol and argan oil to nourish damaged, dry hair with essential vitamins.


What I thought: I was really impressed with this one.  It's only one time use but it's not meant to be used often, as it's a deep conditioner. I've tried many "single use" products in the past and because my hair is long and thick, there hasn't been enough product but this one was packed full for true Rapunzel-length hair.
6. Tosowoong 10 Hours ($12)
There is absolutely no need for an expensive protein care at a hair salon with Tosowoong's sensational 10 Hours protein ampoule. All you need is a minute to squeeze out the ampoule and apply it throughout your hair. No rinsing needed at all! Then, the rich protein nutrients from the ampoule will gradually and continuously absorb deep down into your hair and scalp within the next 10 hours, for a visibly healthier-looking shine and silkiness.
 
What I thought:
This reminded me of a leave-in conditioner, though a very nice and creamy one.  It made my hair so soft, I didn't even need gel the next day (which is amazing considering that my hair is sooo frizz-prone).  There was enough included for all of my locks, just like the Hair Mask.  

I loved everything and had a lot of fun trying it!  There weren't any products I didn't like and I would be totally happy to use any of them again.  Can't wait to try my next box!

DISCOUNT
Memebox currently has a "special" -- just for signing up, you get a $2 credit... plus you also earn credits for each purchase you make where each credit is worth $1.  Let me know if you decide to try it out!


Special thanks to the wonderful people at Memebox for providing me with this review opportunity!

Lucy's First Unboxing... With Pet Box! #Discount

Our poochie was so excited, as you can see in the video below, to unbox her very own subscription box!  With PetBox you can pack your own customized box, or allow the PetBox team to surprise you with a diverse selection of products--that's what we did. Our puppy unboxed 2 bags of treats, a can of delicious dog food (or so she told me), and 3 toys!  As soon as she saw her new "baby", she took it right to her bed.  (Speaking of beds, excuse our poochie's bedhead--she had just woken up for the morning when the UPS man rang the doorbell!)



PetBox feeds a rescue animal for each box shipped, and partners with a variety of shelters and rescue programs to care for neglected animals throughout the country.  Pretty awesome!  Their plans start at $7.95 a month on up depending on how many goodies you'd like your puppy or kitty to receive and they always have free shipping. 

Discount
 Use the code TRAVELINGSIS at checkout for 10% off your entire subscription. :)

You Can Find Pet Box On

Special thanks to Pet Box for providing Lucy with this box to review!