Product Review: Rose Water

Tags

Natural Skincare, Product Review, Rose Water, Things I Love

For my first product review I would like to start with something pure and simple, but that feels refreshing and smells lovely. Let me introduce you to–> Rose Water.  As I was researching different natural skin care products, I kept reading about the benefits of rose-water. People raved about this simple product; that it naturally soothes and moisturizes your skin.  So one day as I was in my local health food store I saw a bottle of Heritage Store Rose Water, and couldn’t resist picking up a bottle to try for myself.  This is as natural as you can get; just water and Rose extract.  Let me just say.. I’m in love!

So actually I got two bottles. One is just pure rose-water with a regular top, and the other is Rosewater with glycerin and a misting top.  The first one I use on a cotton ball as more of a toner, while the one with glycerin I spray directly on the face when I want some hydration. 🙂 Both leave the skin feeling soft and supple. I particularly love this product because it is summer time, and considering the humid weather I don’t need a very heavy moisturizer.  Also when it’s really hot this just feels really refreshing misted on your face.  …and it smells like a garden of Roses.  If you love the smell of roses you will be in heaven.. if you don’t.. then it’s probably not for you. (The smell reminds me of my mother’s garden.)

So here is a little research: Rose water has actually been used in skin care for generations, (especially popular during the Victorian era) and can often be found mixed into the ingredient lists of many of our 21st century creams and potions. (Maybe someone still has a granny that speaks of its benefits??)

Here are a few ways rosewater works wonders:

1. Rose oil has anti-inflammatory properties. Thus rose-water can help to reduce redness from irritation or heat.

2. It is a great cleanser and aids in removing oil and dirt accumulated in clogged pores.

3. It has astringent like properties, which is why it is often used after facials to close pores and tighten capillaries. (Applying rose-water after steaming or a shower is really good)

4. The aroma of roses is said to be a powerful mood enhancer. (Some people spray it on their pillow so that they feel calm and sleep better.)

I find the that the best and easiest way to use it is to apply it as a toner at night. It helps clear any impurities left on your face after cleansing and soothes and tightens the skin.

Lastly I want to say.. When you start looking for rose-water, you will find many different brands out there. Some of them quit expensive.  Usually you are paying for a fancy glass bottle and not so much the product.  Though Heritage Store’s rose-water doesn’t come in the most fanciful packaging, I am happy with the quality of the product. ( It’s food grade..so you can even drink it if you want ;)) So be wary of anything too expensive.. and look out for ones that have other stuff mixed in. Oh and I forgot to mention..  Glycerin adds a bit more substance to the spray rose-water so that it stays on your skin a bit better… that’s why I purchased that one in the misting bottle. Pure vegetable glycerin actually has some health benefits for your skin too.. but that’s another subject for another day.

Until then,

Stay calm, cool, and collected.

Elza

P.S. Heritage Brand rose water can be found on Amazon and your local Whole Foods or health store.  (I purchased mine at Choice Health)

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For the Love of Cookbooks

Tags

Agriculture, Coffee Table Book, Cookbooks, Cuisine, Culture, Food and Drink, German Food, History, Photography, Recipe Collections, Russian food

So I have this little obsession with cookbooks. I’ve managed to acquire a bit of a collection during the few years I’ve been married, and yesterday I ordered another one. (sheepish look)  I don’t know what it is, but I love reading cookbooks, particularly ones with good photography.  I find them inspiring, and I love making new dishes!  I do have a few favorite cookbooks that I always seem to turn to. One of these is The Food & Cooking of Russia by Elena Makhonko.

 This cookbook is great. It has beautiful photography, and a good collection of recipes.  I find the recipes to be authentic. There are quite a few Russian classics in here and some new ones I’ve never tasted before.

It even has a bit of history on Russian cuisine, agriculture, and culture.  Just enough to make this book interesting even for those who don’t cook. (It would work well as a coffee table book.)

I have The Food and Cooking of Germany also, which is just as good, and I’ve ordered myself The Food and Cooking of Belgium, which I’m sure will not disappoint.

Is anyone else in love with cook books like I am? Are there any favorites I should know about? 🙂

-Elza-

Product Review: Bumkins Waterproof Sleeved Bib

Tags

Baby, Bibs, Bumkins Waterproof Sleeved Bib, Kushies Waterproof Bib with Sleeves, Review

My little guy is quite the eater; he loves to try new foods. However he doesn’t limit his culinary exploration to just tasting, he also takes every opportunity to stick his hands into his food. (Much to my dismay!) If food is haphazardly laden onto his spoon, allowing for a bit to drop on his tray, before mommy has even a chance to blink, plop goes his hand into the new-found texture.

His culinary exploration often meant having to hose him down after every meal, and then dealing with the piles of laundry.  Thus I set out on a mission to figure out a way to protect his clothing and my valuable time, while still allowing him to savor his food, even with his  little fingers. 😉

The Solution: Bumkins Waterproof Sleeved Bib.

This bib is awesome! It is nice and large, ties at the neck, and the sleeves have elastic, so nothing gets past it.  It is made of a nylon material, thus it washes and dries easily.  I usually hand wash it in the sink after meals, and  then hang it to dry. It dries within minutes.  The icing on the cake is that it comes in many fun patterns.

Keep in mind that this bib is geared toward babies between the ages of 6 months and up, thus it may not be appropriate for smaller infants who can also create tiny messes.  We can recommend Kushies Waterproof Bib with Sleeves for smaller babies. It is very similar, however it runs smaller in size and does not have the elastic sleeves.

Baby approved! He thoroughly enjoyed his beets without getting his sleeves dirty. What more can we ask for?! 🙂

Until Next Time,

Elza

Product Review: Boogie Wipes, Uncented

Tags

Amazon, Boogie Wipes, Wet wipe

So my little darling has had a pretty nasty cold these last few weeks, accompanied by mild fever, coughing, and a very runny nose.  That’s when the Boogie Wipes save the day!  These wipes help wipe off even the most stuck on boogies, and keep my little pumpkin’s nose from getting irritated. The saline in them is particularly helpful with loosening any hardened boogies that seem to accumulate especially in the morning. ( Mothers out there know what I’m talking about)

It’s safe to say that I’m a huge fan of these wipes particularly because they are gentle and natural, with no harsh perfumes or chemicals. The only downside however, is that I have only been able to find the un-scented variety for purchase on Amazon. Stores usually only carry the scented.  I have tried the grape scented Boogie Wipes and found the odor way too strong.  Thus I purchase these on Amazon in bulk . 🙂

Hope this review was helpful, and may even save some poor little red nose out there!

-Elza-

A Boogie Free Baby… Hurrah!

 

 

Product Review: Hoppop Bato Baby Bath Tub

Tags

Baby, Baby Tub, Bathtub, Hoppop Bato Bath Tub

I have been searching for the perfect baby bath tub since my little one turned about 4 months.

We already have the First Year’s Infant To Toddler Tub with Sling, having received it as a gift. I really liked the sling part when he was really little. (for like the first two months…) However, he quickly outgrew it. Without the sling, I was not impressed.  I found that the bump in the middle of the tub, which is supposedly supposed to keep him from sliding down,  hit him in the wrong spot. He would always slide over the bump, and it would stick right into his back, making him look very uncomfortable. Plus it kept him mostly suspended above the water, and not in it. He is a tall baby, 95th percentile, so maybe the tub was made for shorter babies.

Thus, I went on the hunt for a new tub. In the mean time, poor William had to take a bath in our bathroom sink, which was a little more comfortable, but still quit  cramped.

 Almost all the bathtubs I looked at had some sort of weird bumps and guards to position the baby; which I was not a big fan of. Today there are so many safety features on things, to the point of being ridiculous. I certainly don’t intend to leave him in there unsupervised for even a second.   I just want a simple tub, where my baby could sit in actual water!

So finally I stumbled upon the Hoppop bath tub. It seemed like exactly the thing I was looking for; simple, deep, and stylish too. So I took the plunge, and purchased one.

It is a little on the pricey side, but I must say I’m pretty happy with it.  It is geared more towards toddlers or a baby that can fully sit up. However, I found that by adding a non-slip mat, and a baby bath cushion, he was able to recline comfortably without sliding around. (He is still not old enough to sit without support.)

I like the fact that I will be able to use this tub for a very long time, because its nice and deep.  Right now he has plenty of room to stretch out and splash around, and it will prob. serve him pretty well into toddler years.  This makes me happy, because we still haven’t gotten to renovating the full bath in our home. As much as I scrub, the tub just never seems clean enough. I wouldn’t dream of putting the baby in it. So until we replace it, this will work perfectly.

UPDATE….

I’m adding two more pictures to this review because of the questions I’m getting.

In this picture you can see the Summer Comfy Bath Sponge that I use so that he can recline.  In the picture above you may notice a blue bath sponge…  That is the Safety 1st brand, and I wasn’t a big fan of it. It was too thin and slid down easily. The Summer bath sponge is much thicker, thus it provides more cushion for him.  After the bath I drain the tub, and squeeze all the water out of the bath sponge. It usually dries by morning.

In the following picture you can sorta see the Green Sprouts non-slip Bath Mat on the bottom. It has a lot of little suction cups which keep it in place. I find that it dries really quickly, and is mildew resistant.Hope this helps!

Product Review: Silver Cross Baby Stroller

Tags

Baby transport, Silver Cross, stroller

So I’m pretty excited to show you the stroller my mom bought me.  I absolutely love it! It’s a modern version of what I rode around in when I was a baby.

This pram is made in the UK, by Silver Cross (Sometimes the Europeans just do things better…)  It’s a convertible system, meaning it has a 3 in 1 design which converts to pram, pushchair and travel sleep system.  I particularly love the large, multi-terrain wheels, large shopping tray, and the height adjustable multi-position handle.  My husband particularly appreciates the adjustable handle. He is 6′ 5″ thus most of the strollers are really awkward for him because the handles are too short.  (We had trouble with this when choosing a jogging stroller.  We both love rollerblading as exercise, so if you add the height of roller blades, he would have to be completely hunched over to push  it.)

This is my stroller as a baby.  Mine had fancy fringe… 🙂

Product Review: Babies’R’Us Maternity Support

Tags

Babies R Us, Health, lower back pain, Maternity clothing, Pregnancy

At 30 weeks, I have been feeling some lower back strain and stretching stomach muscles.  Especially if I do a lot of walking, my belly starts to feel very heavy, and my stomach and leg muscles cramp as if I’ve been running a marathon. I think this is because the baby is sitting towards the front, and the extra weight is ruining my posture. My mom suggested that I try some sort of support band.  I went to Babies R Us, and decided to give this product a try.  I must say I am very glad that I purchased it. It has made a world of a difference.   I was surprised at how my posture improved! It works by lifting the weight off your hips and back.  As a result my hips and back ache less, and I don’t feel like my belly is stretching with every move.   Another added bonus I noticed, is that I have to pee less because it takes some of the pressure off my bladder. Yay!  I usually wear this product over a cami, so that is doesn’t rub against my skin, and then I put another layer over it. It’s not too noticeable unless I wear something very tight-fitting.  I would recommend this product to anyone who needs a little support. 🙂 (I heard that it’s especially helpful for those who are carrying twins.)

This product comes in 3 different sizes S M and L.

Here is a link if anyone wants read some more reviews –> Maternity Support

Product Review: Bashful Bunny 15″ by Jellycat

Tags

Plush Toys, Toys and Games

My husband and I have noticed that now-a-days kids are just overloaded with toys, many of which don’t hold their attention for very long.  We have decided to keep toys at a minimum in our household.  Thus we agreed that we would only buy classic toys, which are long-lasting, high quality, and if possible, educational.   Now that we are setting up the nursery, I was itching for something cute and babyish to decorate the room with.  After a little searching, I came across this Bashful Bunny made by Jellycat.  Jellycat is a London-based toy company, which is distinguished for producing durable, high quality plush toys.  Having read many great reviews I took the leap and ordered this cute bunny.  I must say I was not disappointed when I received it in the mail.  It is indescribably soft and adorable! Its bottom and feet are slightly weighted so it sits quit nicely. However I can’t wait to see our baby boy tote it around by one of its long ears! 🙂

For more information click this link –> Jelly Cat

Also you can check it out on Amazon –> Bashful Bunny