Review: Aventura Clothing

Disclosure:  I received clothing for free for this sponsored post from Aventura.  I promised to review the product, honestly, with all opinions as my own!

I'd never heard of Aventura, until I got an e-mail asking if I'd be interested in reviewing the company's clothing.  To be honest, I wasn't entirely sure that it was my style.  I'm more indoorsy than outdoorsy, and it felt kind of crunchy.  But when I read about Aventura's sustainability efforts, I decided to give it a go; I certainly don't dress sustainably on a daily basis, but I was interested in whether or not I'd like the fabrics.

Thanks to Lauren for taking pics before dinner!

After sending over a list of clothes that I liked on their site, Aventura sent me two pieces: the Easton dress and a pair of leggings.  The first thing I noticed?  Quality!  The Easton dress has so many nice details with pintucks and the back yoke, and the fabric was incredibly soft.  It had a great thickness and felt so comfortable to wear at the office all day.  The leggings were super soft as well, and they have an amazing stretch.  It was feminine yet functional, and not the assumed crunchy look I'd imagined; I was able to express my own style.

Aventura produces fashionable and comfortable clothing with a low environmental impact.  They try to avoid chemical pesticides and choose organically farmed cotton.  Over 75% of their styles use lower impact or sustainable materials.  I wore a cardigan due to the A/C in my office, and I liked how the grey-green could go with a variety of different colors.

After these photos, I ended up taking the sweater off to have dinner with two of my friends outdoors in Nashville.  See, I go outside!  Zero complaints after wearing this dress all day, and into the night.  I kept touching the fabric because it was so soft.

As for the leggings, I think they'll be perfect under a tunic or a dress, but they didn't pass my opacity test (bend over, look in mirror! LOL) as to whether I could wear them with just a tee or for working out.  But the stretch and the seamlessness felt incredible and comfortable, so I will definitely be wearing them as they're the only grey colored leggings that I have in my closet. Note: Aventura let me know that their leggings are meant to be worn under dresses/tunics, not as pants, so FYI! :)

Overall, I loved the quality and the sustainable sourcing of Aventura clothing!

I wouldn't hesitate to shop this brand!

Disclosure:  I received clothing for free for this sponsored post from Aventura.  I promised to review the product, honestly, with all opinions as my own!

Review: LipSense Lip Color

Disclosure:  I received Lipsense samples for free for this sponsored post from an individual seller.  I promised to review the product, honestly, with all opinions as my own!

I review a lot of products on my blog that are sold through consultants or distributors in direct sales.  After all, we see our friends and family selling these things on Facebook, so we get curious!  One of the products I kept seeing pop up was LipSense, a long-lasting lip color that was getting a lot of buzz.  So when Valerie reached out to me about a sponsored post, I told her I'd be willing to give it a try, so long as I could write whatever I wanted about it.  She was game, so I gave it a whirl!

I've noticed that my face looks incomplete without my eyebrows and lips being done, but pretty much every lip color I've tried rubs off by the time I've finished my morning tea.  Oops.  Valerie helped me pick out a couple of colors, one matte and one shiny, and included lip gloss and an "oops" color removed for slips during application.  (She also sent me some additional samples to play with!  Fun!) 

LipSense isn't like your normal lip color.  There's a multi-step application process.  It helps if you've prepped your lips with a lip scrub or a warm washcloth to smooth them.  You can feel a tingle from the product, nothing painful.  You need to take the time to apply multiple coats to make it last.  You don't rub your lips together or do the normal lip gloss stuff.  You follow the instructions.

For my review, I decided that I would NOT reapply the color throughout the day, but I would reapply the clear gloss.  That way, I could see how long the color really lasts during a day of Aubrey at work, drinking beverages, exercising, you name it.  Because this stuff can be worn to swim, y'all!

You can see it was still awesome at 2pm, but after a workout by 9pm it was wearing away.
Needs one reapplication, probably after lunch is best!

I don't know if you can tell from the photos, but this stuff STAYED ON.  The only place it didn't stay were my inner lips, where I make contact with cups and whatnot.  I also noticed that those spots are usually more wet as well, making it harder for color to stay on.  That said, I know for certain that if I'd reapplied around 2pm, it would have lasted all night.  I also got a bunch of compliments on my lip color, which NEVER HAPPENS because mine normally wears off before lunch.

The next day, I tried the shiny color.  My deskmate (a dude) commented that he noticed my new lip color and liked it.  He has to look at my face every day, so it says something that he noticed!  This color stayed on even better, probably because I was also getting better at application.  Once again the color stayed around the outsides, even after working out!  

See the inner part when I pucker?  That's the only place the color didn't always stick.

Individual LipSense colors run you $25, and a kit with color, gloss, and remover run $55.  That means one color actually costs less than the NARS lip pencil I usually use (which needs reapplication), but more than the Sephora lip stain I sometimes wear (again, doesn't last to lunchtime).  So I would say that these are priced fairly, consideration the richness of color and how long they last overall.  The labeling/packaging isn't the cutest, but so what?  Valerie sent mine in these adorable little pouches!

One reapplication during the day, and I've got 12+ hours of color.  You really can't beat that, at least not with the Sephora, NARS, Clinique, Buxom, Tarte, and more lipsticks, stains, and glosses I've tried.  This is the only product I've found that has true staying power, with just a little extra application time and one fill-in during the day.

Verdict: I'm going to use these until they're empty, and I may buy some more with my own money too.  It's worth trying a couple of colors to see if you like it!

P.S.  I did play with the eyeshadows a bit, and I like that they are creaseless.  I will be using one of them as a highlighter, so I love the versatility!  The tester for foundation wasn't a good match for me, but I have nothing but good things to say about what I tried.  I rarely wear eye makeup, so I decided to really focus on the lip product for my review.

If you have any questions, you can reach out to Valerie through her Facebook page or Facebook group, as she was extremely helpful to me in choosing the right colors and products!

Disclosure:  I received Lipsense samples for free for this sponsored post from an individual seller.  I promised to review the product, honestly, with all opinions as my own!  If you wish to learn more, you can visit seller Valerie's Facebook page or join her Facebook group to ask questions!

Back to Active with Biofreeze®

I haven't mentioned it much here on the blog, but for the past few weeks I've been on a journey to be more active.  I was into sports from the time I could run, and I even did a couple of years as a college athlete.  And many of you know I'm a military Veteran; it used to be my job to stay in fighting shape.  But a few years ago, I fell off the wagon...  hard.  And every time I tried to get back on, I'd back off because it was hard to overcome the soreness and get back in the habit.

Recently, I've been trying to attend fitness classes at the gym near my apartment, including some pretty intense HIIT and strength training ones.  I'm using muscles I just haven't used before, and to be honest, OTC pain relievers weren't really cutting it.  My soreness even made it hard to sleep.  It's hard enough to get motivated to lose weight and exercise, only to have soreness happen to boot.  So when I had the opportunity to try Biofreeze® for my muscle soreness post-exercise, I say YES PLEASE.

I was able to try three forms of Biofreeze®, the roll-on, spray, and gel.  I was excited, because I knew each bottle could play a different role.  The spray, for example, was perfect for the spots (like my back) that I couldn't reach on my own.  The gel was perfect for rubbing on my sore areas after I showered, so I could apply a little massage and relief to key sore points.

Biofreeze® really is as effective as ice for treating my muscle soreness, but without a dripping towel or bag of melting ice.  I can totally pack it in my bag to take on-the-go!  My favorite for travel?  The roll-on!  It's the perfect TSA-friendly size.  I took it on a business trip earlier this week out-of-state, and I loved having it on-hand after using the hotel gym.  And it's effective; no NSAIDs needed for me, just a little of the menthol in these products for fast-acting relief for my aches.

Oh, and did I mention it's now available without a prescription, at retail stores near you, AND made in the United States?  This used to be something you could only get through a medical professional.  Now it's easily accessible for all of trying to get back into healthier habits.  Biofreeze® is also free of parabens and propylene glycol, never tested on animals, and available in dye-free formats.  All the good, without the bad.

Biofreeze® has been a great helper for me as I try to get back to fitness.  I push myself harder because I am no longer afraid of the painful recovery.  I can treat my sore muscles with a cooling, relieving gel, and move on.  That's definitely something worth sharing with you, to help overcome pain and push forward towards your health and fitness goals!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Purple Trail & Memory Planning

Thank you to Purple Trail for sponsoring this post and providing me with a beautiful planner!
Images (unless noted), text, and opinions expressed are all my own.

I love having a paper planner.  I've been journaling since I was a young teenager, and there's something about putting pen to paper and jotting down your lists, plans, and other things on a page.  I've read that it actually helps commit things to memory.  I feel like it brings you extra satisfaction to cross things off your list, or remember what happened on a particular day.

I have a tiny daily planner that I use, so when Purple Trail reached out to me about a new planner, I knew what I wanted: a memory planner.  A planner is a great tool to use as a diary.  You can add doodles, photos, and jot down daily happenings and memories.  It's way better than a notebook, because you can "micro-journal" in a way.

photo of planner from Purple Trail

Shopping for a planner on Purple Trail was FUN.  There are so many options!  I was touched to find that not only do they have wedding planners, but they even have LGBT-centric wedding planners.  I love the inclusiveness of their site!  I sorted to look at weekly planners, because I wanted a horizontal space to write down daily notes.  I fell in love with the blue handpainted floral of one of the planners, so I opened it up in Personalize/Design mode to make it mine.

It's super easy to design a planner in this mode.  I really liked that you can do so much customization, compared to other planner sellers.  There were also cover material options.  I chose a hard cover, spiral bound, so make the planner sturdy for year-long journaling.

My planner arrived quickly, and I marveled at the blank pages.  What would I do?  Since I was starting this journal in March, I was able to make the journal start on that month too.  Perfect for coming into things mid-year, right?  Also perfect if you want to do a school-centric one, starting in August or September instead of January.

The planner was beautiful!  I was so happy with the sturdiness of the cover, and how it felt.  It also had a folder and notes pages inside, which was really useful for keeping things I need to add in the journaling pages.

I decided to keep my weekly entries to a color scheme.  For the first week, I was pretty busy traveling for work and fun.  I printed a bunch of photos on 4x6 photo paper in my printer, cutting them out to paste into the planner with a gluestick.  I found inspiration on Instagram from others' memory planners.

I also decided that if I didn't have a lot to write on a page, I'd practice my amateur lettering.  I think I'm getting better!  It was also fun to jot down quotes and other things from books I'm reading, so I remember the best of what I've read.

I think that people believe they don't have time for this sort of thing.  After all,  you can stick your appointments and lists in your cell phone.  But for me, writing in a memory planner, or using a weekly paper planner, is a form of daily meditation.  Five minutes a day can bring a little peace, joy, and clarity of mind.  If you're looking for a planner to get organized for a wedding, teaching, school, or just life in general, I highly recommend Purple Trail.  The quality is fantastic, and I love how my memory planner is turning out!

Thank you to Purple Trail for sponsoring this post and providing me with a beautiful planner!
Images (unless noted), text, and opinions expressed are all my own.

Plum Deluxe Loose Leaf Teas

Plum Deluxe sent me a collection of teas for my thoughts and review. 

All opinions are my own.  Thank you Plum Deluxe for the beautiful collection!

I started drinking tea about seven years ago, when I was deployed to Iraq for the second time.  I don't drink coffee, and at the time, I didn't drink tea.  But I learned quickly that black teas, like chai, are basically the national drink of Iraq!  You just don't sit down with a group of people to discuss  anything without cups of tea passed around.  It definitely got me into the habit of drinking tea, and when I got home I became a super-fan: chai lattes, iced tea, you name it!

Andy, the founder of Plum Deluxe, reached out to me and sent me a collection of his teas.  He started the company is a tribute to his mother, who never forgot to enjoy "the little things" in life, despite battling breast cancer.  His story of building Plum Deluxe, choosing to create a line of premium, loose leaf teas that support local and USA farmers wherever possible.  The teas are also organic, non-GMO, and free of chemicals and sulfites.

I told Andy that loose leaf tea was a bit intimidating to me.  I usually grab my tea at Starbucks, or I make it myself with our pod coffee machine or tea bags.  But once he walked me through it, and I bought the cutest little diffuser ever, I was making both hot and iced teas like a pro.  For iced tea, I did a cold brew overnight in a pitcher, so I could have it in the morning.  For hot, steeping in hot water was my usual method, so I could have a single mug.

TJ Maxx had the cutest little diffusers!

The first thing I noticed about my Plum Deluxe teas?  The aroma!  Even before brewing, they were so fragrant.  I tried the Oregon Breakfast Black Tea, Portland Rose City Chai, A Dark Night Spice Puerh (AMAZING!), and a little sample of Rejuvenation Blend Herbal Tea.  All of them were more flavorful that anything I've gotten from a teabag.  There's something even more satisfying about loose leaf tea.  It's so pretty, and it adds to the ritual of tea in general.

If you're looking to start a monthly tea subscription for as low as $10/month, or simply stock up on some tea for your own collection, Plum Deluxe is a fantastic choice.  The website and booklets are stocked full of information, recipes, inspiration, and more.  Andy has put a lot of time and care into his business, and it shows.  I love supporting small businesses, and this one reminds me to take time to have a cuppa and lean back a little.

Thank you Plum Deluxe for the beautiful collection!

Morton Salt's Next Door Chef: Nashville!

Do you remember the teaser back in November when I attended Morton Salt's Next Door Chef: Nashville?  Morton Salt partnered with local chef Karl Worley to teach a Nashville local, Travis, how to cook... and then they turned his home and backyard into a pop-up restaurant!  On March 20th, the video from the event at "Indie's Kitchen", named after Travis's daughter, went live, and I couldn't be happier to share the big reveal.

photo courtesy of Morton

Upon arrival at Travis & wife Claire's house, we were truly transported to a beautiful outdoor restaurant!  I loved all of the spring flowers, and the entire menu was tied around springtime cooking, perfect for this time of year.

We started with a cocktail hour, featuring a Lemon Spring Tea cocktail.  The lemons preserved in Morton Kosher Salt really enhanced the flavor of the drink!  Super refreshing for spring as the weather get warmer, and you know Southerners can't live without their tea.  You can find the recipe *here*.

As for the meal, for me it was more than just eating the amazing food that Travis learned to make.  It was about noticing to the subtle flavors enhanced by different types of salt!  I never thought about the salt that enhances pimento cheese; Chef Karl recommended Morton Fine Sea Salt, which easily blends and dissolves for consistent seasoning.  (Find the pimento cheese recipe *here*.)

If you've been using table salt in all of your cooking, you need to check out their tips and recipes.   Kosher salt, coarse sea salt, and fine sea salt all have the ability to bring out the flavor in your home-cooked meals.  All of the dishes we tried, from cocktails to main course to dessert, were transformed by the proper use of various types of salt.

A few lessons I learned at the dinner... 

• Morton Kosher Salt is the preferred salt of many chefs because it is easy to control for perfectly seasoned food.  It's the salt that I keep in my salt keeper by the stove.
• Morton Coarse Sea Salt adds a visual "pop" that you can see and taste.  I like to sprinkle a little bit of this on top of warm brownies, or caramel ice cream.  I think it's great for a little contrast with sweet desserts.
• Morton Fine Sea Salt is perfect for blending while cooking.  The crystals dissolve quickly, which means it's the best for marinades, soups, sauces, and dressings.  I can't tell you the number of times I've cooked a dish where I realized too late that I didn't mix well enough for the larger salt crystals to dissolve!

The dish that surprised me the most?  The Salt Roasted Beet Salad.  I'm not a fan of beets!  But these didn't have all of that beet juice runoff I'm used to seeing, because Chef Karl says the Morton Kosher salt absorbs it during roasting.  I was much happier with the flavor and taste of these beets as a result.

Salt Roasted Beet Salad

The Chicken Country Captain with curry, served over cheesy grits, was probably my favorite dish of them all.  There were so many great flavors, all in one perfect dish.

Chicken Country Captain

I didn't get a great picture of dessert, because I devoured it!  So I had to steal one from the professional photographer.  But I think I could make this Biscuit Strawberry Shortcake at home... using the *recipe* provided of course!

photo courtesy of Morton

Travis and Claire (and baby Indie!) were so brave to open their home to a bunch of strangers like us... it was so much fun!  I'm sure it has inspired them to turn to their kitchen for well-seasoned meals more often.

You can go to MortonSalt.com/NextDoorChef to see more from our meal and learn how you can host your own Next Door Chef with the same recipes we had at our event.

photo courtesy of Morton

Morton Salt has shared that they will be releasing video and recipes from their third Next Door Chef, in New Orleans, this summer. Stay tuned to the website for some amazing grilling inspiration.

Thank you to Morton Salt for sponsoring this event and blog post!
The images (unless noted), text, and opinions expressed are all my own.

Modern Map Art Pillow

I received a free Modern Map Art pillow in exchange for my honest review.

The images, text, and opinions expressed are my own.

The folks at Modern Map Art e-mailed me to let me know that they had posters of the street grid and map of my hometown of Bloomington, Indiana.  Modern Map Art was created last year, inspired by world travel during the founders honeymoon.  They turn city street maps and trail maps into wall art and more.

While some of the bigger city maps would make fantastic wall art, I wasn't ready to dedicate that much wall space to a Btown poster yet.  So I opted for something that remind me of home, but adds a little pop to my living room: a pillow!

The pillow is soft, and of good quality.  It also has a zipper for washing.  It's probably not as firm of a pillow as I would expect for the $40 price tag, but you could also take the map cover off and place it over a better pillow if you want.  I don't mind paying more for something unique and special, individually printed and made in the USA.

It's not always easy being so far from family, but little things like this pillow can be subtle happy reminders of home.  I can pick out on the pillow where I worked in high school, where my business school is, where my mother works.  It's a nice little touch of Btown!

If you had a map pillow, what city would you feature?

Review: CourseHorse (and Local Giveaway!)

Disclaimer: I got to attend a free class via CourseHorse in exchange for my honest review of the platform.  All opinions are my own!

I love to take classes.  Call me a nerd, but I was always excited to learn something new as a kid, and that hasn't changed!  I've taken classes for ballroom dancing, calligraphy, sewing, and cooking over the years, and I really enjoy it.  Jack of all trades, master of none, and loving it.  So when CourseHorse reached out to me to let me know they were coming to Nashville, I was definitely intrigued.

CourseHorse eliminates all of the Google searches I've done to find classes in the local area.  I really love how easy it is to find courses near me, with a ton of variety.  Since the local cooking school near me closed, I've been looking for good cooking classes in Nashville.

The Salud! Cooking School at the Whole Foods in Green Hills has a ton of options.  I chose a cookie decorating class, Designer Cookies, because it was something I've never done before.

I was also excited that the class was being taught by Chef Melinda Knight, who I know has worked as a pastry chef in some of the best restaurants in Franklin!  She used to teach at the cooking school near me, so it was good to see the high quality of teachers in the area.

I was a little nervous to start decorating, but it was a ton of fun.  The class size was perfect (12 people) and we had lots of sprinkles and frosting to get creative.  The cookies were pre-baked, but we received the recipes to take home.  I learned about making different types of frosting for flow vs. decorating.  My cookies were pretty cute, if I do say so myself!

If it wasn't for CourseHorse, I don't know if I would have checked out this cooking school, given it's a good 30-minute drive from where I live.  But now that I've done it, I'll definitely be back!

Booking through CourseHorse was super easy, and I loved being able to save Favorites and "shop" for classes.  You pay through CourseHorse, so you don't have to handle anything when you show up.  I also appreciated the reminders that they send via e-mail; I'd actually written down the wrong date in my planner for this class, but the e-mails helped me see the error and ensured I didn't miss class!

And for my Nashville area friends, you have an opportunity to try CourseHorse yourself with a giveaway!

I hope you give it a try!

NASHVILLE AREA GIVEAWAY:

Enter your e-mail at this special CourseHorse link for a chance to win $100 towards your pick of CourseHorse class in Nashville!  I'll be naming a winner in a couple of weeks, here on this post/via e-mail.  No purchase necessary, just sign up and you could win.  This is good for redemption on classes in the NASHVILLE market only.

Congrats to our winner, Janese, who has received her gift certificate! :) 

Thanks to those who participated.

Disclaimer: I got to attend a free class via CourseHorse in exchange for my honest review of the platform.  All opinions are my own!

Escape Room: The Game

I love puzzles and brain teasers.  I especially love the "escape room" attractions popping up all over the place.  I consider myself to be a bit of a puzzle guru, but these games ALWAYS stretch my thinking, and having others join the fun means you get extra perspective.  No two people look at these puzzles the same way.

That said, it's expensive to attend some of these game venues, around $30 per person.  So when I heard that there was an at-home version Escape Room: The Game available, bringing the thrill of the game to your dining room table, I was in!  And it only costs about the cost of one person's admission, for FOUR games.

This is definitely a game for those with advanced puzzle and problem-solving skills, i.e. teens and adults age 16+, suggest for groups of 3-5.  (I think this could also be a good game for two, if you're a nerdy puzzle couple like me and my husband!)  It's perfect if you have a regular adult board game group getting together.

Don't we look super serious?  WE WANT TO WIN!!!

I played the game with three of my work friends, because a few of us had enjoyed the escape room experience before. I figured we'd be really good at this game... but we definitely were stretched!  You have just 60 minutes to find hidden clues (look closely at EVERYTHING!), decode and solve puzzles, and "escape" from one of the four rooms included in the box.  We attempted the Prison Break game, and we were ultimately victorious (yay!), but not without needing some of the hints.

A few tips...You definitely want to have pen/paper and a calculator on hand.  You also want to pick up the decoder so you can use the tools on the sides.  Lastly, remember that every wrong attempt at inserting the four keys costs you a minute.  We definitely used all of the hints provided, as well as made a few wrong attempts using the keys.

You can even enhance your experience by downloading the free Escape Room app for background music, and to share a photo as you celebrate in victory!  I definitely think the music adds to the ambiance as you're figuring things out.

The only downside to this game?  Once you've solved the four puzzles, you're done... and I want more!  But given the keys and the decoder are something you use in every game, they could easily put out expansion games and packs for you to play, to bring even more puzzles to your home!

If you're thinking about an in-person escape room experience, this game is the perfect primer to unlock that type of thinking in preparation.  If you live too far from one or don't want to pay that premium pricing, this is the perfect alternative.  You really get some good value for the investment with this game.  Definitely add this game to your shopping list for the holidays gifting season!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.