Soap

Recently I have been researching soap. I'm especially interested in homemade soap. The first reason is that it is better for you. You control the ingredients and can add or subtract whatever you like. One of the bonuses is that while it's setting your house smells wonderful!

So for the past couple months I've been experimenting with glycerin base and goat's milk base soaps. I bought essential oils and have been adding all kinds of natural exfoliators. I have used lime zest, orange peel, oatmeal, and more. My favorite is the lime zest because it gives the soap a little coloring.

For extra moisture I add some coconut oil. This soap does not give you the typical "fresh and clean" feeling. It does not strip your skin of natural oils and even leaves a layer of oil behind. After getting used to it, you realize it is a great feeling.

My favorite way to make the soap is to melt half goat's milk base and half glycerin base.I then add about 10 drops of essential grapefruit oil. I mix the 2 together and swirl a knife in the mold to make a little pattern. Then I sprinkle my lime zest on top. Sometimes I mix it throughout the whole mold.

Glade Expressions Collection

I've tried another product thanks to BzzAgent..

Glade Expressions Collection!

There are 2 kinds of fragrance - the Oil Diffuser and the room Spray. I got one of each for free with my BzzAgent coupons. I have a couple more discount coupons available.

I absolutely LOVE the room spray in the Cotton and Mandarin scent. It is so fresh and clean smelling. I use it in my bedroom in the morning. The room still smells fresh when I go to bed at night. I also use it near my dog's crate when it starts to get stinky. I have not tried any of the other spray scents -- but I may because I love this one so much.

I got the Oil Diffuser in the Pineapple and Mangosteen scent. I'm not sure if it is just the constant release of scent, but this scent is very overwhelming. We tried it in the kitchen and couldn't eat because it was so strong. Then it was moved to the living room, but it was still too strong. Now it is in the basement and doing a nice job of keeping it smelling good. Possibly it needs a bigger room (my kitchen and living room are relatively small).

I find mine at Target. I highly recommend these products.

Unreal Candy Bars

Has anyone heard of Unreal Candy Bars??

They are awesome! I tried one the other day thanks to a free coupon from BzzAgent. It was delicious!

I found the candy bars at CVS -- I tried Wal-mart and they weren't selling them there yet. The only flavor available in the bar at CVS was Chocolate Caramel Peanut Nougat. I think that's basically a Snicker's bar. It was so much better though. The entire candy bar has only 17g of sugar. That's less than a small yogurt! It also had 5g of fiber and 5g protein. That's much more than any other snack, and absolutely more than other candy bars.

I recommend that you go out and try one. It will be your new favorite snack, and they're healthy! How much more can you ask for??

CVS also carries bags of M&M-like Unreal candies.
I have buy one get one free coupons, if anyone is interested....
For more information visit http://getunreal.com/

Beirut

A co-worker asked if I had ever heard of Beirut yesterday. I said I didn't think so.

So today I look him and his band up on youtube. I listened to the song Elephant Gun for about 8 seconds before I decided I was in love....

Here is another song with an awesome video. They are making music on the street.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc3ZAs17uAg&feature=related

My Shop on Etsy

Please visit my shop on Etsy!

Creations by Brie

I have paintings for sale and will soon have photograph prints for sale.

Etsy

I just created an account with Etsy. I paint and was looking for other ways to get my work out there. It was a pretty simple process. So far I am happy with the results. I will update later with the rest of my feelings on it.

So far... etsy scores: A

Redken Shampoo and Conditioner

I LOVE Redken shampoo and conditioner! I am blonde -- so I use the formula specially formulated for blondes. It is excellent. It smells great, works into a nice thick lather, and keeps my hair lovely and full of body for two days! It also reduces the brassiness in blonde hair to give you that glam movie star look.

My rating: A++

Oil Changes

Over the past year I have gone to Meineke twice for their basic oil change and tire rotation. The first time they let me know that my exhaust system needed to be replaced. I knew this, but I wasn't ready to have it done yet -- so I declined. The next time I was there, they told me there were foreign objects in my clutch fluid. I have asked around and apparently the only way for them to know this is if they had drained the fluid.

I thought Meineke was good, until I realized how much they scheme to get extra money from you.

Rating: C

Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine

I have just recently done a 2 week trial of the Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Shampoo and Conditioner system. It smells wonderful! And the smell lasts all day. What doesn't last is the sleek and shine. They guarantee a 3 day sleek and shine, but it dries out my hair so much that I have to wash and condition every day. I don't like anything about it but the scent. I was given a free trial by BzzAgent. (www.bzzagent.com)

Overall rating: D

About.me

Today I'm blogging about a new kind of networking site. It's almost like a digital resume and business card rolled into one. It's About.me! Your own online profile that links potential clients, business partners, acquaintances, etc. to all of your personal networking sites. It also gives them a brief preview of you and what you do. I have started one, but I need to work on it a little bit more.



I would rate it: A
It is easy to use, it looks great, and I feel like it's going to be the next big thing.