Category: reviews

March 17, 2014

The 500 Hats of a Modern-Day Woman Review

Life as a woman can be hard and trying as we try to fit into our roles as mother, sister, wife, daughter, friend and so much more! The 500 Hats of a Modern-Day Woman examines these roles with humor and faith showing us how we can fit all of these roles together.

In The 500 Hats of a Modern-Day Woman by Joyce Ellis you will find strength, purpose and perspective to balance the many roles and gain insight into the roles of women around you. Using honesty, humor and practicality, Joyce helps you to see how your roles can fit together to make a difference in your world.

Joyce Ellis is an award winning author of more than a dozen books, speaks for women’s groups and at retreats across the USA and internationally. She and her husband enjoy reading by lakes and rivers and spending time with their grown children and grandchildren.

The 500 Hats of a Modern-Day Woman was a faith building read. Sometimes life can be too busy and too stressful that sometimes that I forget who I am as a person and what each person needs from me. I loved that Joyce wrote from personal experiences – she was not afraid to share her own personal story or those of her loved ones. It really helped to connect with her as a person. I did not feel like it was someone telling me how I should live my life but a conversation with her that allows her to guide us.

The only part that I was a tad bit disappointed with was the section on “working” mothers. She included quotes from other parents that hurt personally (ex. why have children if someone else will raise them – I am paraphrasing here but this was my interpretation of the comment from that mother). Working outside of the home comes with it’s own pressures and as women we should encourage and support each other (again this was not her words but a woman that was surveyed) regardless what our personal choices for working in or out of the home are.

At the end of each section there are questions for discussion and reflection which were perfect! I would love to work on these with friends and at a Church group.

To find more reviews on this book you can view the Litfuse blog tour here. To purchase your own copy you can do so here.

Rating: 4/5

Want a helper for your modern-day journey? Enter to win a Kindle Fire in Joyce’s “500 Hats” giveaway!

One winner will receive:

A Kindle Fire
The 500 Hats of a Modern-Day Woman by Joyce K. Ellis
A Modern-Day woman kit (T-shirt and hat)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 30th. Winner will be announced April 1st on the Litfuse blog.

Don’t miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by the Litfuse blog on April 1st to see if you won.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

February 28, 2014

Skinfix: Natural Skin Care for All Your Skin Needs

Do you suffer from dry skin? Eczema? Are you familiar with the Skinfix name?

Skinfix is a Canadian company who specializes in all natural balms for the entire family. The products are centuries old (they came over from England with family!) and are composed of wound healing botanicals and emollient protective oils. They provide instant relief while soothing and repairing skin affected by eczema, dermatitis, diaper rash, minor bedsores, adult incontinence rash, pressure ulcers and other common skin conditions. They can treat the acute flare ups but also chronic conditions.

Skinfix has four all natural balms: Body Repair Balm, Diaper Rash Balm, Gentle Eczema Balm, Rapid Repair Balm.

Their Body Repair Balm is used to treat dryness and irritation. Eczema and dermatitis flare ups tend to get worse in the cold weather. These conditions affect 1 in 5 adults!

The Diaper Rash Balm is used to treat irritated and raw skin from the constant exposure to wetness and irritants. The balm is formulated specifically to safely halt diaper rashes on the spot. Have to add in the diaper rash balm is nut free! Check out the graph below comparing the most popular brands of diaper rash creams. You can find the original graph here. The Diaper Rash Balm is also a PTPA Award winner!

The Gentle Eczema Balm is perfect for the red and itchy rashes that affect at least 20% of newborn babies. The balm is formulated for their delicate skin and helps reduce chronic flare ups. It is infused with oatmeal and is nut and soy free. Their Gentle Eczema Balm is also a PTPA Award winner!

The Rapid Repair balm helps to sooth and protect skin from wetness, friction and irritation. This balm is perfect for the everyday skin conditions. These skin conditions range from skin chafing, wetness in skin folds, minor burns, razor burns and post waxing.

My favourite features of Skinfix are the thick texture of the product which allows you to feel it working. Only a small amount is needed each time – a little truly goes a long way with these products. Since they do not contain water like moisturizers they last on the skin longer and less is required. It is all natural (such a bonus!) and no steroids.

Skinfix products are dermatologist tested, pediatrician tested, steroid free, fragrance free, gluten free, paraben free, phthalate free and BPA free packaging.You can purchase them online here.

Disclosure: I am a Skinfix Ambassador. I received no compensation for this post besides bringing a fantastic product to you! Clicking on the above links will take you to my affiliate page but I receive no compensation from this unless an order is placed.

February 28, 2014

Traitor’s Blade #Review #PenguinCanada

Adventure, magic and mystery at every turn. The Traitor’s Blade by Sebastien De Castell is a fantastic read that will have you unable to put it down!

The Traitor’s Blade is based on the story of Falcio, the First Cantor of the Greatcoats. They are trained in the fighting arts and the laws of Tristia – the Greatcoats are travelling Magistrates upholding the King’s law. They were known everywhere as heroes until they stood aside while the Dukes took over the Kingdom and impaled their King’s head on a spike.

Now their once fair land is on the verge of collapse and barbarians are at the borders. The Dukes are bringing chaos to the land while the Greatcoats are scattered and fear for their lives.

The only thing that the Greatcoats have left are the promises they had made to King Paelis to carry out his one final mission. To do this they must reunite or all will fall.

I absolutely, 100% LOVED this story! I fell in love with the plot from the get go and kept the candles burning late so I could finish (won’t even mention the heart failure I had when my Kindle died and I had to read with my Kindle plugged into the wall – desperate times call for desperate measures!).

Traitor’s Blade is full of adventure and kept me constantly guessing about what will happen next. I was constantly shocked with the actions of the Dukes. They are unjust but because everyone lives in fear of them they still rule. Every turn of the page came a new surprise and shocking turn to the story.

This is a definite must read! You will be on the edge of your seats the whole time.

Rating: 5/5

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

February 20, 2014

Dry Hair Relief with Garnier #DamageEraser

For the past two weeks I have been testing out Garnier’s new line of #DamageEraser products from Influenster. The Damage Eraser line is formulated for dry, damaged and distressed hair. It is designed to reconstruct and preserve hair strength by up to 90%

The formula contains Phyto-Keratin with plant based proteins and fruit concentrate, Cupuacu Butter and natural lipids. The entire line consists of shampoo, conditioner, reconstructing butter and split ends repair.

The product itself has a great smell to it. You can actually smell the Cupuacu Butter (I love body butters so I am so familiar with this smell!). The texture is quite rich and does not feel watered down. I was quite impressed with the results of the line! My hair has been through years of abuse from colouring my dark brown hair blonde to black along with over ten years in a pool daily (I still get comments when I get in the stylist chair about the green undertones in my hair from the chlorine!). I found the best results from the reconstructing butter (pictured below). It left my hair feeling smooth, silky and shiny after one application.

Rating: 4/5

You can find more about their products by visiting Garnier’s website here.

Disclosure: I received the above mentioned products for free from Influenster. All opinions expressed are my own.

February 6, 2014

Hopeful Blog Tour: Review

I have only started reading Amish fiction in the last two months but I have become a huge fan of this genre. I love the feeling of community, the selflessness and the stories are easy to relate to.

Hopeful by Shelley Shephard Gray is a story centred around Miriam Zehr. Miriam works at the Sugarcreek Inn and has been there for a very long time. The Sugarcreek Inn is a favourite among both the town residents and the tourists. Miriam always keeps herself positive at work but it is a reminder that she is missing her own family to love and care for.

Miriam has always felt like a wallflower and not quite pretty. She has always been a little heavier than the other girls her age making her self conscious. She has always held a special spot in her heart for Junior and when he finally begins to pay attention to her she is elated. She thinks that he has finally noticed her only to realize that he is using her to help him gain the attention of her pretty friend, Mary Kathryn. Miriam is faced with the dilemma to help him and be able to spend time with him or potentially lose him.

I felt like I could closely relate to Miriam. I have always felt self conscious and a bit of a wallflower. I have always been shy and afraid to talk to others in my classes. I was always self conscious about my body and she was just a character that really touched me. You can’t help but like Junior even though the situation is frustrating and you feel bad for Miriam. He is just a likable character!

The characters in this story are easy to fall in love with and care for and you just want to know more about them. There is a real sense of community and you can see how the series is beginning to develop. I looked into The Sugarcreek series (Seasons of Sugarcreek) as many others have suggested and I am going to start reading from there as many people stated that some of the characters in this novel were also present in her past novels. I love seeing this type of continuation but it also did not affect the plot line at all.

Shelley Shepard Gray is a two time New York best seller, a two time USA Today best seller, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award and a two time Holt Medallion winner (pretty lengthy list right? But very well deserved!). She lives in Southern Ohio and writes full time. You can learn more about her here.

To find more reviews of Hopeful in the Litfuse Blog Tour you can visit their page here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.