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July 2020 Favorites, Finds + Reviews

August 02, 2020 by Cara Lentz in Shopping

Between trying out a ton of new brands + products and being introduced to some AMAZING businesses + makers I wanted to round up my favorites from each month! I’ll be sharing the good, bad + ugly & hope this inspires (or warns you) about products to try!

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Not Your Mothers Hair Care Products

Overall I really, really love NYM Conditioner! It’s given life to my hair I haven’t had in YEARS. My little curls are coming back and after all the crap I’ve done to my hair I’m both shocked and so, so happy. As for the dry shampoos + texturing sprays I don’t mind the dry shampoo (original w/o fragrance) - it doesn’t irritate my scalp + isn’t terribly white. The texturing spray (Beachy) has a bit of a strange coconut scent and seems to work alright. I’ve never really used texturizing spray because I don’t need it, but Cody has found it comes in handy for his hair when he doesn’t want to use pomade! Overall I’m happy to have tried more NYM and definitely will continue using + trying for the time being!

Mega Babe Thigh Rescue

Alright alright this is the REAL DEAL. I’ve used deodorant, lotion, you name it over the years to help with chaffing (also lovingly referred to as chub rub in our home) and while those kind of work, none were without harsh chemicals. Mega Babe is cruelty free + clean + woman owned (by the one and only Katie Sturino) If you’re looking for something to take on the rest of summer + get back into shorts and skirts, give this a try! You can buy at Ulta, Target, Goop, Antrho and of course, online!

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Sodastream

Not gunna lie, when Cody first brought up getting this I was not on board. It felt and sounded like just another one-use appliance type thing that would make our kitchen counters even busier - vom. However, after some research + doing the math on what we were already spending on soda water + pop, it made sense to do the damn thing, especially with our love for craft cocktails growing. After about a month of having (and using it) I absolutely love it and has already made a difference. Skipping the soda aisle at the store is nice + lets me have a little when I want it without needing to buy a whole case or overpriced bottle. We’ve lowered our one-use plastics and are even starting to learn how to make syrups. If you love soda or use it often, this is worth it.

KitchenAide Pasta Roller

Last holidays, one of my clients hosted a holiday party where we actually cooked our dinner from scratch vis a vis a cooking class. Our main dish - pasta - was made by hand + kitchenaid attachment and since then I was hooked. Well, this month we finally found one at decent price on sale and did the damn thing. If you have the kitchenaid and enjoy pasta/cooking this is totally worth it. The fresh pasta - especially with the many shortages - is just that much better. Interested but don’t want to pay full price? Be sure to watch the Q4 sales, especially around Thanksgiving time! This is the other time I’ve seen them going on sale consistently!

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Mickey Ears (A Little Magic Mouse Tree House) If you follow along on Instagram then you know how much I ADORE my ears from this sweet shop! I personally have the Stitch + Little Mermaid Ears and have my eye on many of the new releases. They’re beautiful, sturdy and made with so much care, love + Disney magic you can feel it! Be sure to check these out whether you’re getting back to the park or enjoying the magic from home!

Kopari Deodorant For about a year, I’ve been trying different natural deodorants in hopes of finding one that I loved … and didn’t make me have an allergic reaction. Unfortunately, Kopari did still give me a reaction so I can’t say it’s the one. Overall, it was a really lovely coconut scent and did a great job in the first three days (I broke out horribly day 4 + 5, and Cody made me quit Day 6) I’m not sure why I break out so bad with awful rashes from every. single. natural deodorant I try, but alas I do. If you are looking to try though I would still get a mini and see how it goes!

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BoxLunch Despite admiring BoxLunch for ages since I came to love Disney hardcore this year, I only just purchased somethings from BoxLunch! So far, I’ve adored everything + have gotten it very quickly plus some great perks + giving back per their lovely meal-providing initiatives. If you’ve got a fandom you love, check out their options! I actually JUST ordered their Brave Loungefly backpack per recommendation of my dear IG friend + fellow Brave lover, Lauren (@disneymagicgalore).

Curology Ok so after using for about two months I can finally really have an opinion one way or another on it! Overall, I think it’s a brilliant idea to pop online, take a quiz + chat with a specialist to get your skin help via mail on a recurring basis. However, a brilliant friend let me know you can actually DIY your script from the Ordinary so moving forward I’ll be trying that! Additionally, this definitely didn’t totally work for me, but, I know with my particular skin maybe it can’t without more help from a facialist or aesthetician. Worth a try, better (and cooler) than Proactive but not the be all end all.

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Cora (Organic Tampons)

I usually opt for OI products, but, when unable to find them and in a pinch I gave these a go and so far am quite happy! They have very similar values and again, are organic, made without fragrance, polyester, dioxins + pesticides. Additionally, they offer subscription services which allow you to save money + get your products as you need them! On top of tampons, they offer other mensuration products and bladder products as well!

As always, I hope you enjoyed this months favorites + reviews! Have something in mind you want me to try before you shell out the money? Let me know in the comments!

August 02, 2020 /Cara Lentz
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June 2020 Products: Favorites & Reviews

July 09, 2020 by Cara Lentz in Shopping

Between trying out a ton of new brands + products and being introduced to some AMAZING businesses + makers I wanted to round up my favorites from each month! I’ll be sharing the good, bad + ugly & hope this inspires (or warns you) about products to try!

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Janet + Jo Nail Polish: If you’ve seen my Instagram, you know how in love I am with these amazing polishes! Not only is Janet + Jo clean polish, it works freakin wonders. I usually would never spend much on polish but in learning what awful ingredients are inside PLUS the staying power of these polishes I’m not sure I’ll ever buy anything else! These get a 10+/10 in my book + are a wonderful way to support Black Businesses! (My current favorite shade is Work Wife!)

Pholk Beauty: I’ve been trying out lots of skin care options recently and Pholk is one of them! I tried out a few of their acne specific products and am happy with them! I currently use the Daily Detox Face Wash, Moringa Pore Teatox Mask and Honeysuckle Aloe Face Mist! The wash is so lush and really makes my skin feel clean - no residue or stripping oils, just clean! The mask is probably my favorite and I love that you mix it yourself so shelf life is longer! Lastly, the aloe mist has been a life saver in the sun + my sensitive skin! The only thing that took me off guard about the products was the more natural/earthy smells! They smell real - as natural + clean beauty products should, just something I’m still getting used to after using chemically/heavily fragranced products for years! 8/10!

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Barefoot Blanket: Alright so if you’ve heard of this then you know these are highly coveted, highly raved about blankets. I think every blogger EVER has shared about these at one point or another so when I saw some on major sale at Nordy I bought one. If you don’t know about these, these “softest ever” blankets run for at least $100 (closer to $150 or even $200). I was excited to get mine after being recommended it SO MANY times by blogger friends? The truth & my opinion? They’re not worth the hype. I’ve bough softer blankets from Target for $25 so I just wasn’t impressed. Mine IS really cute and goes with our decor but I really couldn’t recomend purchasing for full price. If you really want it to say you have it - that’s your business. Be sure to at least get it on sale at Nordy or Nordstrom Rack. 3/10.

BooHoo: June was the first month I bought boohoo directly from them. I’ve thrifted NWT before but haven’t ordered from them directly so I did this time! I bought a mix of staples and fun things - a few skorts, a blazer and colette pants. Overall, I am actually selling quite a few of the pieces on Poshmark. The sizing wasn’t on point (despite measuring against charts) and the overall quality was even worse than I expected. I’m definitely at a point in my style/fashion journey where I value quality + sustainability way more than a cheap item. I can’t really recommend shopping here for more reasons than one but if you see something thrifting thats decent it may be worth giving the piece a new home! 5/10.

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Aerie Swim: While this isn’t the first time I’ve bought Aerie Swim I did get a few new styles! I LOVE Aerie and think their (mostly) inclusive sizing is nice for a brand of their size/quality. I’ve bought a total of two one pieces and about 3 bikini sets from them and have loved them all! If you’re looking to try quality swim at an affordable price with options for just about every body this is a great place to start! I’ve linked some of my favorites below - many of which I own (though maybe in a different pattern/color) 9/10!

July 09, 2020 /Cara Lentz
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