review - Matthew's Puzzle - Autism Recovery, Gluten Free, Green Living Mom Blog

Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Review: a Sponsored Post

April 18, 2013 By Maryann

Disclosure: I have received Sibu Beauty products to help facilitate my review. All opinions are my own.

You would think by now I would know every single supplement and alternative remedy known to mankind, but Sibu Beauty introduced me to one I had never heard of. It is Sea Buckthorn. Sea Buckthorn is a Himalayan berry that is known for its “beauty” properties. Sibu Beauty is harnessing that berry to create paraben free and cruelty free products.

I had a chance to sample the Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Body Cream, the Sibu Raw, the Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Hydrating Serum and Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil. I love the Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil. I am using it on my small lines around my mouth. After just one application I noticed a difference. I actually was surprised and couldn’t believe it was working that quickly. It has also helped ease the lines from my nose to my mouth. For me, it is like a face-lift in a bottle. The Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Body Cream has a light orange scent which is very pleasant. I have been using it on my legs especially to try to liven them up and get ready for leg baring fashions. Winter is not kind to my skin and makes it very dry and ashen, the Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Body Cream is helping to awaken and brighten my skin. I love the scent and how quickly the cream is absorbed without leaving me feeling oily or sticky.

The Sibu Raw may be the most exciting product. Although I have only been using it a few days it has interesting potential. Dr. Oz says it may help you stay thin, and it should help aid in waste elimination. It tastes a lot like pineapple that is not sweet. I take a shot glass full of it a day.

I’ve been very impressed with the Sibu Beauty products I have tried. If the Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil continues to work the way it has been for me, I will be purchasing my next bottle in a little while. I have to say this is my new go-to beauty product. I am truly in love with the Seed Oil, Hydrating Serum and the Sibu Raw. I am 43 years old, and this is making a HUGE difference in my appearance. I would not hesitate to recommend this to my friends!

Funbites Review: A Sponsored Post

April 17, 2013 By Maryann

Disclosure: I have received a Funbites in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

When I was little I was afraid to tell my mom if I didn’t like something I had for lunch. Not because she would get angry at me, she wouldn’t, but because I never wanted to hurt her feelings. She worked so hard to care for our family and I know she tried her very best to make me delicious lunches, that I hated to tell her something wasn’t quite right. I never want my boys to feel they can’t tell me their lunches aren’t great, so I try hard to make them healthy, yet delicious food. It can be difficult when you have a very strict diet such as gluten and casein free because you are already starting out with limited food options. Then we try to keep the sugar intake to a minimum, and that can spell B-O-R-I-N-G lunches.

I adore the Bento lunch movement, but wow, when do these women that create them actually sleep? Because there is no way I can come up with a theme, orchestrate that theme and get the boys lunches packed while cooking breakfast and keeping the morning arguments to a minimum. How exactly do they do it?

Well who cares, because I have Funbites. These are cool food cutting devices that come in two different shapes. The first is a simple square/grid pattern. This would be great for making uniform squares of food that can be stacked or displayed in a checkerboard patter. Think white and pumpernickel bread, or cheese and salami. The second, which is the one I opted for, is a heart shape. This one is not only comprised of hearts, but it also contains triangles and semi-circles that when put back together also form a larger heart.

I used it today to add some quick fun to the boy’s lunches. It was simple to use, is dishwasher safe, and results in an interesting lunch without all the planning and time. I want to try it out on our pancakes and think it would be great when summer rolls around for adding dimension and interest to a fruit salad. How cool would it be to serve watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew salad that has little hearts, triangles and semi-circles throughout?

Upere Wedge Sneaker Review: a Sponsored Post

April 16, 2013 By Maryann

Disclosure: I have received a pair of Upere shoes in exchange for my review of their product. All opinions are my own.

I used to LOVE to wear high heels, then I had 3 kids and my feet told me no way! But I’m still only 5’3″ and love to have a little boost when it comes to height. I started noticing that wedge sneakers are becoming popular. There are tons of them popping up on Pinterest and Ployvore so when Upere offered me a pair of their super cool shoes, I jumped at the chance. I wanted something fashionable, comfy and with a bit of a lift.

I received the Upere Wedge Sneakers in Cobalt Blue. They are bright and playful, and certainly NOT boring. The shoes are Cobalt Blue suede uppers with a 2 inch wedge heel and a rubber anti-slip soles. They have hidden Velcro closures that you can adjust to your size. This is the only feature I don’t love of the shoe, I find the Velcro closure scratches my leg if I close it. I have opted to not close them and they fit fine that way. They will NOT come off. Overall the shoes are comfortable. I wear a US 6.5 and found the EU 37 to be a perfect fit.

I love that they are casual shoes that give you a little height and a fashionable look without compromising the comfort that comes with a more casual shoe. Upere offers every color combination you can imagine, some bold and some more subdued. I happen to like the Navy and the White Tongue Cream. I think they would easily be incorporated into most wardrobes. I have chosen to wear my Upere Wedge Sneakers with jeans but as the weather warms up I think they would look cute and sporty with an easy flowing skirt or if you have the legs for it, short shorts.

The Upere Wedge Sneakers have a street smart and playful look that works well with today’s styles. I love the look with skinny jeans or paired with an unexpected dress. Many of the Upere Wedge Sneakers are multicolored offering amazing styling choices and options.

You can follow Upere on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Upere is also offering a 15% discount to my readers, simply use the code “UPERE”.

eShakti Review Sponsored Post

April 9, 2013 By Maryann

I was provided with a free eShakti dress to help facilitate this review.

I have been working on getting my figure back and since I haven’t quite gotten there yet, I often find it hard to locate a dress that looks really good on me. I have been watching enough What Not To Wear to know what I should and shouldn’t highlight but department stores don’t seem to really care. They are all about the trends. I need well constructed pieces that fit my 5’3″ frame without overwhelming me.

That is where eShakti really takes the cake, so to speak. They offer something that I think is unheard of. For a very reasonable price you can pick the dress, or other item, that you like and then have it tailored to your specifications. I started by choosing the Savannah dress in a lovely Turquoise. I loved the faux wrap effect and the retro styling which looks great on my figure. Then I selected the size. I decided to choose from traditional sizes, but you also have the option to actually measure yourself and submit those measurements to ensure a more perfect fit. I think this is a great idea and I will probably do that the next time I order. The next step has you enter your height. This allows them to proportion the dress properly. Obviously a size 10 is going to fit very differently on someone who is 5’2″ compared to someone that is 5’10”. Lastly, and I think this is sort of the most fun, you get to make changes to the design of the dress. With the Savannah dress I opted to have it fall right above the knee. Some of their other designs have more customizations available, such as type of sleeve, neckline, lengt, embroidery, pockets and other embellishments. h. This is perfect for someone that wants to make sure their arms are covered or really wants a maxi dress. eShakti now offers size 0 – 36W. Whatever the desire, eShakti has you covered.

And the pricing is VERY reasonable. The Savannah dress starts at $64.95 depending on material you choose. You don’t pay extra for customization! I was very pleased with the quality of the finished product. The material was well weighted and the craftsmanship was good. I loved how well the hidden zipper was constructed, it did not pull at all. I would not hesitate to buy from them.

One other thing I really like about eShakti is they have a gallery of real customers in their clothing. I love to see how others are wearing these beautiful articles and found it very inspirational.