Sunday, June 30, 2013

Smart Tea Maker Review and Giveaway

I like to drink tea every once in a while. When I feel so stressed out and wanted to relax, or even when I just feel like my body needs some toxic cleansing, I do reach out for a cup of good tea. Hubby on the other hand, does love tea and when given the chance, he would gladly drink it everyday, lol! However, we only buy tea bags though and I have heard that loose leaf teas are much better in quality and taste than tea bags. Not to mention you can actually steep loose tea leaves multiple times. So when Enjoying Tea.com sent us their popular tea sampler in loose leaves along with their cool Smart Tea Maker product, we couldn't wait to give it a try.


Actually, this awesome tea maker is so practical and simple to use. You just place your favorite tea leaves in the tea maker, add boiling water, and let your tea steep to your taste and liking. Once done, you place your Smart Tea Maker on top of a cup and let the tea drain into it. It does flow really fast so you need to pay attention, otherwise you could overfill your cup and waste your precious tea. To stop the flow, you simply remove your Tea Smart Maker off the cup. Voila! Your tea is ready to serve! This is perfect for quick and easy tea fix. No mess, small and portable that you can actually bring it to work or on the road if you're traveling. It is made of BPA-free durable food grade plastic and it is dishwasher safe. Even though it comes with a coaster, it doesn't leak while brewing or when you are finished dispensing tea. I simply love their unique and convenient tea dispensing feature. It seems pretty easy to clean as well, although I wish the stainless steel filter is removable. But other than that, I think this cool tea device is a great product to have especially for tea aficionados out there.


This is the tea sampler that we got from "Enjoying Tea" company. I tried the Vanilla Chai first, a top grade Indian tea. This delicious tea includes black tea, ginger, cardamom, coriander, cinnamon, black pepper, calendula, and daisy. I mixed it with milk and sugar and oh boy was it comforting and great tasting. Enjoying Tea.com offers a variety of great tasting tea from high-quality handpicked leaves. Besides being delicious, drinking tea everyday has tons of health benefits.

Tea contains a small amount of natural flouride so it is actually good for your teeth. Some tea may trigger weight loss by stimulating the body to burn calories and reduce body fat. Polyphenols (the antioxidants found in tea), may have cancer-fighting effects. Green tea specifically, activate detoxification enzymes that may help protect against tumor development. Contrary to old misconception, tea can hydrate the body just along with water. But since tea has caffeine, it is still a good idea to drink caffeinated beverages moderately. Some research has shown that tea can also lower the risk of having heart problems. White tea has been found to be effective at fighting infections caused by staph and streptococcus bacteria, pneumonia and tooth decay. So yeah, tea should be part of our daily liquid intake as it has more benefits than we could imagine.


Now having read all that, wouldn't you like to sample some great-tasting tea yourselves? The people at Enjoying Tea.com wants to make your tea drinking experience a pleasure so they would be giving away a "Smart Tea Maker" and a small canister of tea to one lucky reader. If you're interested, please join via Rafflecopter below. You can earn multiple entries by doing most if not all the contest requirements asked by Rafflecopter. This contest is open to all U.S. residents only.

Thank you everyone for joining. Good luck to you all!

Disclosure: I received product for free in exchange for an honest review, which may differ from yours. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I used personally, and believe will be good for my readers.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Splash of colors in our yard.


I considered ourselves lucky because our house which we bought last year has mature landscaping. There are trees in the front and back yards, the grass is lush and green, tall hedges surrounding the perimeter of the house adding security and privacy as well. But I have not realized all these until spring came this year. Winter in Montana tends to be longer than other places so it is only just recently that flowers have started to bloom. I do not have a green thumb which I wouldn't deny, but I do appreciate plants and flowers in all their glory. So it really has been a delight for me to discover new flowers blooming in our backyard these past few weeks. I do not know what kinds of flowers the previous owners have planted here but I must say they did a really great job. I just find them soo pretty that I couldn't help myself but take photos of them whenever we discover new ones blooming. I have noticed some empty spots especially in the front yard so I was thinking of planting more this year. It might take another year before I would see some progress but at least I have something to look forward to come spring and summer of next year.


Tuesday, June 25, 2013

The Benefits of a Good Waterproof Mascara.

I rarely use makeup but when I do, I’d like to keep my focus on the eye details. I love how a liquid eyeliner, plus the perfect shade of eye shadow and the right kind of mascara can transform a simple look to a gorgeous one. I have done it several times and it never fails to amaze me every time I use that simple trick to do my makeup. However, I found out that using the right kind of makeup products is the key to the perfect look that I’d like to achieve. For working moms like me, who does not have the luxury of time to do an elaborate makeup before going to work, prepping my face with my favorite skin care products and of course a quick and simple eye makeup and mascara application are often times just what it takes for me to have that appropriate corporate look.

These days though, there are multiple types of mascara available on the market. Among the most popular are volumizing, lengthening, curling, thickening, non-clumping and even waterproof mascara. Waterproof mascara is beneficial and popular among women of all ages. One obvious reason is the fact that they are indeed water proof, which typically means it won’t easily come off with water. While it may be a little difficult to remove, the benefits of waterproof mascara outweigh the time and effort to remove it. When you’re watching a sad movie for example and you couldn’t help yourself but let overcome with your emotions, then it’s safe to cry without having to worry that your mascara will drip down your face. They are also known for not running or smudging when the weather is humid or when you accidentally rub your eyes. If you’re the type to wear makeup when you go to the gym and do your workout, then waterproof mascara is a must-have for you. Unlike regular mascara, the waterproof ones won’t sweat away when you’re working out, thus keeping you look fresh and beautiful even after a rigorous time at the gym. I am thinking of getting one myself since I do like to spend my 30-minute breaks at work taking a walk.

LDuncan Apparel Review (Love Lock Handbag)

I must admit, I'm a sucker for nice handbags. I had to literally restrain myself from shopping for handbags. Before I had Caleb, I owned quite a lot but I realized it has been collecting dust in the closet when I decided to be a stay at home mom. So I packed everything but one in a Balikbayan box and send it to my family in the Philippines. Now that I am getting back in the workforce, I think I will be shopping for purses again, lol! I currently own five but I feel like I need more, lol! This beautiful Love Lock Handbag in White from LDuncan Apparel came just in time. I was given the opportunity to review this handbag from LDuncan Apparel. This comes in a stunning Hot Pink color as well but unfortunately they are out of stock at the moment.


I definitely love how roomy this bag is. I can literally pack all my junk essential items that I can’t go to work without like my wallet, cellphone, IPod Touch and ear phones, keys, face powder, lipstick, and of course my lunch and snacks for work. This is an alligator embossed which features a twist lock and compact design. It’s a classic look and color which never goes out of style. And it’s reasonably priced so even stay at home moms who adores handbags but are not working can still be able to afford to get lovely designed handbags for only a fraction of the cost. The quality of this handbag seems great. I have been using it to work and I received compliments from the people I work with.

For those of you who are interested, LDuncan Apparel is an online retail store that specializes in fashionable accessories at affordable prices. Their product lines cater to both men and women who want to look fashionable and trendy. Some items that they carry include t-shirts, hats, belts, bags, jewelry, sunglasses and wallets. So definitely check out L Duncan Apparel. They have what every fashionista by heart will be looking for. To learn more about them, you can also check out their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter.

Disclosure: Product mentioned above was provided for FREE by L Duncan Apparel for product endorsement/review purposes. I am disclosing this post in accordance with the FTC guidelines concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Soothing Company's Pouring Pot Tabletop Fountain

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of living, we usually need to take the time to unwind, relax and de-stress. How do you do that? Is there a specific thing that relaxes or soothes you? Personally, I do find the sound of rain and even the sound of water relaxing. I specifically like water fountains but it can be pretty expensive if we're talking about outdoor garden fountains. So for now, I am quite happy with even just a tabletop indoor fountain from Soothing Company. They offer a wide range of high quality products that help relax and soothe the body and mind. I thank them for sending me this pretty ingenious Pouring Pot Tabletop Fountain to review. It is quite timely and fitting for me to have one like this in the house since in between work, chores, toddler and blogging activities, I really do need something to keep my mind free from all worries. It really is a soothing thing to look at. I like the fact that it's just a small product, I can put it on the countertop or even on the dining table.


It came nicely packed which prevented being damaged while on transit. Assembly of this thing was easy and quick. It came with clear assembly instructions and hubby did it in less than 10 minutes. As you can see, this product features a pouring pot design which I thought is lovely. It is made of durable poly-resin material and is safe to use for indoor or outdoor. It includes a electric recirculating pump and and underwater LED light which makes this fountain all the more soothing to look at because of the effect of pouring water against the lighting. Also, the mild hum of the water pump added to the mystique of this awesome little product.  Last night, I just sat in front of it and just watched and let it captivate me for a while.
Like I've mentioned above, they have other soothing products to choose from. If art is your thing, they also have an amazing selection of outdoor wall art. They even have bean bags, fireplaces, massage chairs, hammocks, outdoor water fountains and so much more. To learn more about their products, you can check out their website and find that perfect soothing item you have been looking for.


Disclaimer: I received the above product for free in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not financially compensated for this post. All opinions in this post are mine.


Wednesday, June 19, 2013

The comfort of wearing the right pair of shoes.

I have not known any woman that does not own more than a pair of shoes. Personally, I do like to have at least an appropriate pair for specific purposes such as walking or running, dancing, casual and formal occasions and even just for running errands in town and stuff. So yes, I have several pairs of shoes. I love shopping for shoes, lol! When I do though, I make sure I looked into comfort shoes for women first and foremost. I mean the style, functionality, fit and color matters to me so much but as much as possible I do try to think about comfort when buying my footwear. What does it matter if you look cute in them but you get blisters after a few minutes of wearing them, right?

The weather has started to get warmer so sandals and flip flops are in right now. But occasionally I still find myself going to my favorite, comfy pair of walking shoes as my everyday footwear, lol! I don’t know I just love wearing them. I wish I could wear it to work on a day to day basis too but I can’t since I do wear office attire most of the time. Too bad, huh! How about you? What’s your favorite pair of shoes?

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Zipz Shoes Review and Giveaway


Like most women, I own several pairs of shoes. Hubby would sometimes wonder why on earth do I like to own more than a pair if I only have two feet to put my shoes on, lol! Well, quite simple! Women like fashion, comfort and style. We match our shoes with the clothes we wear thus we need more than one pair, right ladies? So in my closet I have pumps, flats, sandals, boots, clogs, running shoes and of course my favorite pairs of sneakers.

Lately, I am in the habit of wearing sneakers when I go out and about. I find them comfy, trendy and stylish. Unfortunately, my reliable pair has seen better days so they are not as beautiful anymore as when I first bought them. Thankfully, Zipz Shoes had agreed to coordinate a product review on my blog, hence giving me an opportunity to own a new pair of casual shoes for free. Ahh, the perks of blogging! I was excited to try them on right away the moment it arrived at my doorstep. I couldn't help but ooh'ed at the design of the shoes that I chose. I got mine in Bandanaz Lo-Top. Actually, they have a lot of cool designs to choose from. Moreover, they have each design in 3 styles such as Lo-Top, Hi-Top and Slip-on. So shopping your first Zipz shoes can be very fun as far as choosing which design and style to go with.


What sets this shoe brand apart from other competitors is the fact that they are the world's first, true, interchangeable shoe. What does that mean exactly? Well, it means you can change the top of your shoe, keeping the sole of the shoe the same. You simply unzip the top half off, add a different shoe cover, and zip it back. Simply put, you can have a new look everyday if you want to because they are removable and interchangeable. That's truly amazing, isn't it? You can save money as well since you don't have to buy a new pair each time your pair of sneakers wears off on you. You just either buy a new shoe cover or a new sole. This concept is unique, refreshing and functional as well.


Now what about comfort? When it comes to shoes, surely you just don't want to go with style and looks, but definitely comfort and fit should also be considered when choosing one as well. When I first stepped into the shoe, I felt the soft cushioned insole. I have worn them to work on a casual Friday. They are one of the most comfiest sneakers I have ever owned. Zipz shoes uses YKK zippers, which are known for their durability and dependability. So you're confident you will get long years of using your favorite Zipz shoes. I have enjoyed them! I'm sure you will too. If you're interested to get your first pair of revolutionary shoes, you can purchase them here or you can visit their website and check out their latest styles as well.


Or better yet, if you want a freebie, why don't you enter my giveaway through Rafflecopter below? The fantastic people behind Zipz shoes made sure one lucky My Sweet Haven reader will get the chance to try a pair of Zipz shoes of their choice. So what are you waiting for, join now! This contest is available to US residents only.

Disclosure: I received product for free in exchange for an honest review, which may differ from yours. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I used personally, and believe will be good for my readers.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Oransi Ionic Fridge Air Purifier: Review and Giveaway

Despite the efforts to keep the fridge clean, organized and fresh, there would be times when you open the fridge and you'd be greeted with a distinct smell of food or even that stale, unpleasant odor from veggies that have been buried and forgotten in the crisper. Yuck, I know! When the old and trusted method of keeping a box of baking soda in the fridge doesn't seem to do the trick anymore, it's good to know that there is an eco-friendly Ionic Fridge Air Purifier by Oransi that will definitely get rid of the funky smell in your fridge. I have been given a chance to try this small, but amazing product. Slightly bigger than the size of a yogurt but it does big things to keep your fridge free from bacteria and odor.

Oransi Fridge Air Purifier is a small device that runs on 2 AA batteries that require replacement approximately every 45-90 days. Unlike most purifiers, this one does not need replacement filters and nothing to clean. It has a built-in micro processor controls the operation of the air purifier so it will cycle on and off to save battery life. When you first turn it on, it will run for 30 minutes, then after that, it just runs for 5 minutes every two hours. It does not have a fan so it operates silently and does not take up so much space in your fridge. It has a patented Piezo-electric technology which allows for a high negative ion output to freshen your refrigerator without the harmful side effects of ozone that is found in standard ionizers. Cool, isn't it?


I put this little thing to an actual test by using this in our other refrigerator which hasn't been used for months when we moved from Arkansas to a rental condo apartment in Montana. Of course, I did clean the fridge first, but there's still that hint of odor which at first I wasn't sure how to get rid of. Amazingly, this powerful little air purifier works like a charm. I left it there overnight pictured below, the next morning, it did eliminate that inexplicable odor due to the fact that the fridge hasn't been used for a while. I'm really sold! This thing works.



To learn more about the Oransi Ionice fridge air purifier, simply visit Oransi on Facebook or Twitter. How would you like to win your own air purifier? Simply enter through the Rafflecopter below. Open to all US residents. Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway