Kusmi Tea Review

I love tea!  I drink 2-3 cups every day.  I guess I am kind of picky though and I prefer black, green, and Rooibos teas most, but I have been expanding and enjoying other teas, specifically herbal blends.

I strongly believe tea has great health benefits.  Tea has high levels of anti-oxidants, and also prevent free radicals in the body.  Free radicals are cells that may cause cancer.  I used to drink tea once a day, a few times a week, and have always rarely been sick.  A year ago I began drinking tea daily, and now it's up to 2-3 cups per day and I haven't been sick with a cold in over a year!  I usually get one cold a year.

I was so excited to be able to review a new tea for my blog.  The tea is KUSMI Tea.
The flavor I got to try is called DETOX.  It is a blend made of mate, Chinese Green Tea, Lemon and Lemongrass.  This blend is supposed to invigorate the body and make you feel good and healthy.  I really did like the taste, it was refreshing and the mixture of flavors worked well.  I have had herbal teas where it just tasted like a bunch of random plants and herbs tossed into a tea bag!
The tea bags itself are quite unique....nothing like the traditional bag and string you get in a box of Lipton tea.  The bag is made of woven material, with a woven, thicker string attached (see photo.)

The tea can be bought online, and is also available at certain store, specifically Bloomingdales in NY and CA, plus other specialty stores in New York and California.  You can see the specific places at the KUSMI website.

Check them out:
http://us.kusmitea.com/  Official Site
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kusmi-Tea-US/119342101442827 Facebook

Review & Giveaway: Dove Body Wash!

Although I recently upgraded my face wash to Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub, one thing I will never change is my body wash!  I have been using Dove Body Wash for 7-8 years!

I started using Dove Gentle Exfoliating Body Wash and now I use go Fresh Burst Body Wash in Nectarine White Ginger Scent.  All the body washes feature NutriumMoisture which goes way beyond standard body washes when it comes to leaving your body moisturized.

My skin is definitely always super-soft and others seem to notice that as well.  When they ask how I get my skin so soft, I always tell them it's from Dove body wash.  The commercials about the product don't lie.  I would say it's safe for even kids, especially the sensitive skin product.    There have been times when I have showered elsewhere besides my house and had to use another kind of body wash, and my skin feels tight after the shower.

I would recommend all of you to at least go out and try a sample size of Dove Body Wash!

OR you can win a Full-Size Bottle of my favorite Dove body wash, Nectarine White Ginger!

Simply partake in the Rafflecopter entries below!
Winner Chosen!  Thanks for all the entries!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Secondhand Clothing Stores

Have you ever bought clothes from a thrift store? (See my poll on the right side of the page)
I've bought clothes from thrift stores before, and I don't see anything wrong with it! I get the impression that most people would cringe at the idea of that, but it is a great way to save money.

I've gotten some great deals....while some of you are out spending $50 on 1 item, I can buy that 1 item...plus 4 others, for less than $50!

Example...
http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=5727&vid=1&pid=136370&scid=136370002
Gap Denim Skirt, $49.95

https://www.liketwice.com/item/skirts/gap/9176217921
Gap Denim Skirt (practically the same one,) $12


As a young adult often struggling with money, it is my best option for finding cute clothes from stores other than Target.  So I can have a closet full of Ann Taylor, Gap, Urban Outfitters, and Calvin Klein for sooo much less money than malls or other stores.  As long as it fits, and it doesn't look worn or anything, I'll buy it.  I just wash it before I wear it, and it's like nothing!

I don't buy ALL my clothes secondhand,  but I am always looking for sales, coupons, and other good deals at any store.  I don't think I have bought anything full price in a long time.

Even my favorite brand of jeans, Vigoss, I get for $20-$25 at CoHoes, Kohls, or TJ Maxx.  I always see the retail price above the $19.99 TJ Maxx tag, but I don't believe it is actually the "actual retail price" until I saw the same Vigoss jeans for sale at a Saks outlet recently for $60!  :-O

I point all this stuff out to my boyfriend too and he agrees with me, because we are both young and trying to save money....although my money problems are worse than his.  However, he did just buy a pair of American Eagle khakis on clearance at the AE website.  They were listed at $19.99, marked down from $39.99.  At checkout, they showed to be $13.99!! Wow! With shipping, he did pay $20, but I couldn't find a coupon code. :-/  Oh well, he still saved almost $20!

Suggestions for people looking to save money:

www.retailmenot.com -- great way to find coupon codes for online shopping at so many stores and online stores.  For example, I bought some stuff online at Kohls.  It was buy 2 get 1 half off (or free, don't remember.)  Then at checkout some discount was applied, and then I found a coupon code which knocked it down more!  I think the bill was reduced from $70 to $40

TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Cohoes, Burlington Coat Factory -- great place to shop.  Jeans for $19.99, shorts for $12.99, cute dress for $12.99

Thrift stores

www.liketwice.com -- online secondhand shop.  (Just don't buy the skirt I have my eye on!  It's still there...waiting for me! )  ;-)

99 Things....

99 Things I have done in my life

 I saw this on Dani's blog (http://footballandrainbows.blogspot.com/) and figured I would do it.
You bold the things that you have done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland...Well Disneyworld
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightening storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check.....oops....It was a LONG time ago
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car --leased
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

How many things have you done?? 
I've only done 22!
But there is about 20 more I will end up doing!

Review: Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub

After using the same generic foaming cleanser for a few years, on a whim I bought a trial size bottle of Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub.  I decided it was time for something new.  I was hoping maybe a better product would improve my skin.  My skin is somewhat oily and acne prone.

I used it that evening before bed for the first time.  After drying off my face, my face felt so fresh, free, and clean!  I really feel like a lot of junk was washed away!  

The scrub wasn't too harsh; as I have used "scrubs" before that were too intense and abrasive.  Also, the scent of this is nice and mild and not overly perfumed as is other face washes I have used before.  In the few months since I began using this, my face feels fresher all day, and I don't get as much oiliness as in the past.  I also feel like I have less breakouts then before.

Biore products are very easy to find; CVS, Walmart, Target, Harmon Cosmetics, etc.

I definitely recommend this to anyone! 

I know not many people read my blog...yet...but I will giveaway 1 full-size bottle, and 1 trial size bottle to a person who leaves a very helpful comment on this post relating to blogging tips, how to get products to review, ways to improve my blog, etc!

Check out all their products at: http://www.biore.com/ 

:-)

My Sites:

Check out some of my sites/follow me!  I don't add people to my Facebook, because it is my personal site.

Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/courtneym713/

Twitter:  www.twitter.com/courtneym87

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/37806711@N07/

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/107892228645247304953/posts

First Post

Well, I'm giving this blogging thing a try again...it's been awhile so we'll see what happens!

Not much to say as I am at work....

Just some background I guess.

I've been working in Public Relations since the fall...it's a lot of fun.  To all you bloggers out there, e-mail me at Courtney.Manders@bhgpr.com for product reviews and giveaways for your blog!

Clients:
-Manischewitz
-Hawaiian Chips
-Luden's
-Chloraseptic
-Welch's Filled Licorice
-Mike & Ike
-Captain McFinn and Friends
-Franks Red Hot sauce
-French's Mustard
-French's Onions
-iFood.tv
-Brioni's Coffee


Speaking of my work...Luden's is having a contest right now!  La La Luden's is the name....sing a little jingle about how you enjoy Luden's and win big!  www.ludens.com/contest for more information and to enter!  (Or e-mail me with questions)