Mrs Meyer’s Clean Day Review

photo provided by Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day

Mrs Meyer’s Clean Day Review

Have you ever found a product that just met all your needs? That is how I feel with Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day products. A few months ago I needed to pick up some countertop cleaner and some all purpose cleaner. While at my favorite local organic market I saw Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, it was reasonably priced and was available in some great sounding scents so I opted to buy some. I used the countertop spray for everything in the bathroom and couldn’t believe how well it cleaned. Then my usual floor cleaner had run out and I didn’t feel like running to the store so I used the All Purpose Cleaner on the floor and now I won’t go back. But I think the my favorite thing about Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day is that it cuts through grease like nothing I’ve used before.

Mrs Meyer’s Clean Day Review: How Well It Works!

I have a hood over my stove that gets covered with grease from all the cooking we do. I hate to have to clean it because it is so difficult to wash. I always end up using a Mr. Clean Eraser and still it takes a bit of effort. Today I decided to try spraying a little Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Countertop Spray on the hood and wow, the Mr. Clean Eraser just wiped everything away. It was amazing. And the scent, I used Orange Clove (a seasonal scent), was refreshing and warm.

Mrs Meyer’s Clean Day Review: The Scents

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day has a new spring scent; Radish. It has a light floral fragrance that reminds me of Easter. Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day are available in other garden-fresh scents like Basil (a personal favorite), Lavender, Lemon Verbena, Geranium and Rhubarb among others. Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day include products that are biodegradable, packaged in recyclable bottles, don’t include ammonia, chlorine bleach, parabens or phosphates and are not tested on animals.

Where to Buy

If you want to purchase Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day you can head over to their website where you can still buy some of their seasonal products at discounted prices (they have Iowa Pine and Orange Clove). I have a personal affinity for their Iowa Pine scented soy candle. Or you can check them out at Target and pick up the Radish scented Liquid Hand Soap or Liquid Dish Soap. I love keeping a beautifully scented hand soap in all our bathrooms. It seems like such a luxury, but is really very simple.  Which Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day is your favorite?

 

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iTrace iPad App

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

photo provided by iTrace

Developing Writing Skills with iTrace

As the mother of a child with profound fine motor skill issues I know how hard it can be to get a child to write their letters properly. This has been a huge struggle for Matthew. He has such fine motor skill problems that we have had to work for years with an Occupational Therapist and he still does not have very good handwriting. That is where an app like iTrace comes in.

What I think attracts me most to iTrace is the fact that it offers a reward to the child. This is very important because when something is hard, like developing muscle memory, many children want to give up. With iTrace you can see them strive to write the letter correctly and get their virtual reward. The instant reward means so much to them, even though it is no more than a gold star on the iPad. What also makes this a fun app and therefore keeps the child interested is the fact that it is on the iPad. I don’t know about you, but in our home ANYTHING on the iPad is a good thing. My kids would do anything, even a non-prefered activity, just to get on the iPad. With iTrace they get something fun and educational, and it is on the tablet, really you can’t go wrong.

One aspect of iTrace that I particularly like is that the child can either use their finger or a stylus. Using the finger first, on such large letters, allows the child to learn the correct formation of the letter. That is something that Matthew has a problem with, and since he has been writing for a few years now, it is very hard to correct. He tends to make certain letters incorrectly and therefore they don’t look well formed and aren’t always legible. With iTrace a child learns correct letter formation with their finger first. Then they can move on to the stylus if you want. That is a great way to reinforce letter formation and develop muscle memory. But keeping that in mind iTrace does allow for “multiple methodologies” of letter formation. An example is how to form the number 8. You can correctly form it as to circles perched one on top of the other, OR as one continuous line like the infinity symbol stood upright. Either are acceptable methodologies and iTrace will allow for either formation.

photo provided by iTrace

I also appreciated that iTrace can be easily switched to a left-handed app. For me that is extremely important as Matthew’s left hand has always been stronger and that is now his dominate hand. Having an app that can accommodate that switch is so useful in creating that muscle memory and would allow him to be successful. It also makes it easy to switch back when another child wants to play with iTrace. iTrace supports multiple players and keeps a full history of each child’s work.

Where to Buy iTrace

iTrace retails for $3.99 at the AppStore.

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Kiss My Face Cold & Flu Soothing Bath & Shower Gel Review

Kiss My Face Cold & Flu Soothing Bath & Shower Gel

photo provided by Kiss My Face

I received a bottle of Kiss My Face Cold & Flu to facilitate my review.

Feeling Better with Kiss My Face Cold & Flu Soothing Bath & Shower Gel

As the mother of three and the wife of one, I always have responsibilities. I can’t take a day off just because I feel under the weather. When I get sick the meals still need to be made, the baby still needs his diaper changed and there is no one else to do it besides me. When I was little and I was sick my mom would always give me a nice warm bath. It would make my muscles feel better, open my sinuses and rejuvenate me a little bit. And that is the theory behind Kiss My Face Cold & Flu Soothing Bath & Shower Gel.

Kiss My Face Cold & Flu Soothing Bath & Shower Gel contains eucalyptus that is cooling to the skin and opens the sinuses. Olive oil, aloe vera and allantoin help comfort the skin and leave you feeling soft. Horehound offers aromatic properties that are soothing also.

We Use it all the Time

My bottle of Kiss My Face Cold & Flu Soothing Bath & Shower Gel couldn’t have come at a better time. I was suffering from a bit of a virus and needed something that would make me feel better by providing me with a little comfort and soothing aromatherapy. I jumped (ok I didn’t jump since I was sick) in the shower and used the gel almost immediately. It has a wonderful scent that lifted my spirits and helped me make it through the day.

We use Kiss My Face shower gel in our home all the time. the Cold & Flu version is a great addition to our home and I will make sure I keep it is stock during Flu Season!

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Giovanni D:tox System Review; Why We LOVE It!

 

We have been using Giovanni Brand products for years now. I think we first tired them when we were looking for natural hair care products. I really love the Giovanni Direct Leave-In Conditioner which is great for curly hair that needs a little boost of moisture before going out into the world. Larry uses their Giovanni Hair Gel-L.A. to fix his hair in the mornings and we even feel safe using that on the boys hair when theirs just isn’t behaving. Now we use Giovanni D:tox too.

Giovanni D:tox Skin Care Line

Recently we looked into their skin care line. The Giovanni D:tox System contains a purifying facial cleanser, purifying facial scrub, replenishing facial moisturizer and a purifying facial mask. The most immediatly striking feature with the D:tox System is the color. They range from black to grey to white. The reason is the Activated Charcoal. The facial cleanser, facial scrub and facial mask all contain activated charcoal, which helps to absorb toxins and whisk them off the skin. But the best thing about the system is how beautiful my skin looks after using it.

Giovanni D:tox Purifying Facial Cleanser

Giovanni D:tox

photo provided by Giovanni Brand

The Giovanni Purifying Facial Cleanser is very gentle. It foams nicely and has a really pleasant scent. In addition to the activated charcoal it also contains volcanic ash and Super-Antioxidants: Acai and Goji Berry. I used it without makeup remover and it cleaned my face perfectly. It rinses away easily and leaves your face ready for either the facial scrub or the Replenishing Facial Moisturizer. Since I have sensitive skin that doesn’t need exfoliating too often, I usually follow it up with the moisturizer on a day to day basis.

Giovanni D:tox Purifying Facial Scrub

Giovanni D:tox

photo provided by Giovanni Brand

The Giovanni Purifying Facial Scrub is FABULOUS!!! I think it may be my favorite product in the line. The scrub, like the cleanser, contains activated charcoal to absorb impurities and detoxify the skin, volcanic ash to dislodge impurities and Acai and Goji Berry. The particles in the scrub are very fine and do not “scratch” the skin. I keep ours in the shower and use it a few times a week to keep my skin from looking dull. The results are a smooth, buffed skin that looks radiant. Larry even uses it. We both found it to be very gentle.

Giovanni D:tox Replenishing Facial Moisturizer

Giovanni D:tox

photo provided by Giovanni Brand

Unlike the other Giovanni Dtox System Replenishing Facial Moisturizer does not contain volcanic ash or activated charcoal, but it still holds the benefits of Acai and Goji Berries. I love this moisturizer. It is just the right consistency, neither too liquid nor too thick. Since using it I have noticed a nice glow to my skin and I use it after cleansing, both morning and night. I have only seen benefits since using this product, without any negatives that often come with heavier moisturizers like clogged bores or breakouts.

Giovanni D:tox Purifying Facial Mask

Giovanni D:tox

Photo provided by Giovanni Brand

Lastly, the Giovanni Purifying Facial Mask is really the “big gun” of the line. This product pulls deep impurities from the skin while it detoxifies. I found that it is so powerful that I only need to use this once a week to leave my skin looking amazing. I like to use it in the evening after the boys have gone to bed and my husband is watching football. I will fill our tub, put the mask on, and soak for a little while. When I wash it off I’m left with radiant skin.

I have to say that Giovanni is truly one of my favorite product lines out there. They offer a wide range of Hair, Body and Skin Care products AND they now come in travel sizes kits. I will be traveling to Autism One in Chicago this year and I want to take the Giovanni D:tox will travel kit with me. It is TSA compliant! All the autism recovery moms will love the fact that it utilizes activated charcoal, which happens to be a staple in autism biomedical homes as it absorbs toxins from the gut!

Giovanni D:tox Gets Social

Follow Giovanni on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook to keep up with all their great products. For more information on Giovanni visit them at www.giovannicosmetics.com

I was given a complimentary set of Giovanni D:tox products to provide this review ~ but I have to tell you I really do like these products this much. All opinions are my own.

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