I love supporting companies that are making a difference in the world!  Starfish Project restores hope to exploited women of Asia by providing them with job opportunities (and many other things, such as counseling, shelter, and vocational training) and the ability to rise above where they have come from.  You can read more about Starfish Project here!

Starfish Project creates beautiful jewelry that you will feel proud to wear.  Two of my absolute favorite items of jewelry are created by Starfish Project!  The Oval Bali Design Earrings are my go-to earrings, since they work with pretty much any outfit!  I wear them with jeans and a sweater, but also feel comfortable pairing them with something dressy for a more formal occasion.

 

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Purchase jewelry from Starfish Project here, starting at $6.99 (or, tell your significant other that jewelry from Starfish Project would make a great Valentine’s Day gift).

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One lucky She {hearts} It reader is going to win a Starfish Necklace in their choice of color (ARV $20)!

To Enter: Leave a comment telling us what your favorite item from Starfish Project is.

Additional Entries: Leave an additional comment for each entry you complete.

• Subscribe to our feed via RSS or EMAIL (be sure to click the verification link).
• Become a Fan of “she {hearts} it”.
• Become a fan of Starfish Project.
• Tweet about this giveaway.

A winner from the U.S. will be chosen on 2-22-12 at 9PM EST. Please see our Giveaway Rules for further details. Product Sample Provided

I first heard about AdvoCare back in the late ’90s, when I worked at a hotel where they would host annual conferences. My co-workers would joke about how all the attendees were overly energetic and upbeat.:)  I noticed that they were ALL fit and seemed to have A LOT of energy. I was intrigued, but didn’t really give it a second thought, since back then I wasn’t really into health and fitness like I should have been.

Now, I’m always up for new and inventive ways to better my heath and reach my fitness goals. So, I finally gave AdvoCare a shot!

Tamara was very informative and helpful in answering all of my questions, she knows her stuff! She has had amazing results and as they say, “The proof is in the pudding.”  Check out her before and after pictures. Doesn’t she look great? Four pregnancies! I’m sure impressed! Tamara has told me, she didn’t do an over-the-top rigorous exercise program, but has learned to eat healthy and works out regularly, and of course is very committed to AdvoCare products.

I’ve been taking the MNS® Max 3 and the Meal Replacement Shake since Christmas. When I first started, I felt an immediate difference. I had more energy and just felt great all around, and I was consistent and followed directions to the ” T” for the first couple weeks. But the last few weeks with my family’s move, I fell behind some, and would forget to take the vitamins when I was supposed to. Not sure if I noticed a change in the way I felt when I wasn’t as consistent, I may have just gotten used to feeling awesome! :) Either way, I had a great experience on them and I plan to continue taking products from Advocare!

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Whether you’re looking for a way to lose weight, gain energy
or maintain proper nutrition,  AdvoCare has what you’re looking for. Maybe you have a teenager struggling and needing  new direction with their health. There are products that can be started as early as the age of twelve.  Tamara is a wonderful person with a heart for people. She will be there for you with answers to all your concerns and questions about health and fitness, no matter where you live. She’s just a phone call away!

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Tamara would like to give one of our readers a box of the Metabolic Nutrition System & a box of Spark Energy Drink

To Enter: 

Simply leave a comment on this post letting us know something you might be interested in from Advocare or maybe just something positive that stood out to you.

Additional Entries: Leave an additional comment for each entry you complete.

• Subscribe to our feed via RSS or EMAIL (be sure to click the verification link).
• Become a Fan of “she {hearts} it”.
• Become a fan of “AdvoCare Team Invite”.
• Tweet about this giveaway.

A winner from the U.S. will be chosen on  February 10th, 2012 at 7PM CST.

Please see our Giveaway Rules for further details. Product Sample Provided

Not to long ago I was introduced to a company called Kelly Teegarden Organics.

A company started by an amazingly strong woman who is a cancer survivor. Who through time has experienced 1st hand the affects chemicals can have on our bodies.

For the past few weeks I have tested first hand Kelly’s facial cleanser and toner. Before even trying this line, I have always been one to watch what I put onto my skin. With years battling severe eczema and finding ways to maintain it, to other issues with breakouts and skin sensitivity… I have for years now never been able to use store bought facial cleansers or soap. Each time I tried I would break out in rashes and it would do nothing for my skin. I even tried all those expensive brands that swore to improve your skin. From the scents to the unreadable ingredients in them, I just steer clear now.

I was so pleased when I tried Kelly’s products. They worked beautifully and my skin has responded great.

I wish I could have tried her moisturizer line in order to give feed back on that, but I have yet to try it as of now. It will be on my wish list :) – finding a great moisturizer for me is still a challenge.

I got to interview Kelly and asked a few questions I thought Id share with this post:

1) Why did you feel the need to start your own line?

- I started Kelly Teegarden Organics because I couldn’t find luxurious, rich, chemical free products in the marketplace. After my cancer diagnosis, I searched high and low for products that would not affect my endocrine system, and product after product contained harmful chemicals. Kelly Teegarden Organics is guaranteed chemical free!

2) Are there other areas in your life besides beauty items, that you have made changes in, in order to live a healthier life style?

- I changed my diet to organic, I juice daily and drink high-alkaline water. My entire day is focused on staying alkaline.

3) Since many of us struggle financially today due to the economy, job loss and just life… If you had to pick your top 3 products from your line, which would they be?

- The Secret is an amazing facial cleanser that removes makeup. The Royal is our signature body lotion, packed with healthy ingredients, should be used daily. Rejeuvenate, is our super hydrating night cream. It can be used as a mask, if you need a boost of hydration, or can be worn overnight as a night cream, for dry skin.

4) Do you have any plans of starting a children’s line?

- Yes, I am so excited for my KTO children’s products. It is already formulated and we plan to release in mid 2012.

5) Can you tell us what is so different about the ingredients in your products?

- KTO ingredients have been hand selected from around the world. African Shea butter is the purest grade on the market, Organic essential oils are handpicked for their antibacterial, antimicrobial and healing effects. These highly-concentrated instantly hydrating cutting-edge products build the skin’s immune system and revitalize damaged cells, giving skin a youthful appearance.

What also sets KTO apart from other products, is that our line adheres to these guaranteed chemical free guidelines:

No cancer-causing ingredients
No organ toxicity
No endocrine disruptors
No toxic levels of ingredients
Natural preservatives based on salt
Never tested on animals

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So if you are in the market for a totally pure facial cleanser, body lotion, lip gloss and more – check out the Kelly Teegarden Organics line.

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Kelly would like to giveaway 1 Facial Cleanser to one of our readers!

To Enter:

Simply comment on this post letting us know one item that really stood out to you on Kelly’s shop.

Additional Entries:
Leave an additional comment for each entry you complete.

• Subscribe to our feed via RSS or EMAIL (be sure to click the verification link).
• Become a Fan of “she {hearts} it”.
• Become a fan of Kelly Teegarden Organics.
• Tweet about this giveaway.

A winner from the U.S. will be chosen on 2-7-11 at 7PM CST

Product Sample Provided – Giveaway Rules

How many of you drink mostly water, but on occasion would love a treat to drink? Or maybe you drink a lot of soda, but would love to cut back with a sweet, yet healthy alternative.

Phix is a company I came to learn about… that offers an energy herbal drink powder line, as well as a sleep line. Each blend packed full of green tea anti-oxidants and other added vitamins.

I got the chance to try not only their energy line but also their sleep line.

I will say that I preferred the energy to the sleep… only because I am not a huge fan of lemon. That being said their energy mix “teaberry” was by far my favorite. The taste was mild, yet sweet. As a person who drinks 99% water throughout a day… I loved being able to mix this up for lunch as a treat with my meal.

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Phix Energy comes in 3 delicious, lightly sweetened flavors: Citron, Tropic, and Teaberry. Or Phix Sleep may be just what you need to help you relax in the evening. Containing blends of Lemon Balm, Chamomile, Gaba, Jujube Berry & more.

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Phix would like to giveaway 2 of their Phix Energy variety boxes!

To Enter:

Simply comment on this post letting us know which flavor you think you’d like best.

Additional Entries:
Leave an additional comment for each entry you complete.

• Subscribe to our feed via RSS or EMAIL (be sure to click the verification link).
• Become a Fan of “she {hearts} it”.
• Become a fan of Phix.
• Tweet about this giveaway.

A winner from the U.S. will be chosen on 2-2-12 at 7PM CST. Please see our Giveaway Rules for further details.

Product Sample Provided

I came across a neat company recently that sells reusable glass drinking straws.  “Why choose glass straws?” you may ask.  Well, there are many reasons (click here for the top ten reasons to choose reusable glass straws), but I personally prefer to use them because they are toxin-free (no BPAs or phthalates) and reduce waste. Plus, they look cute and are fun to use!

Strawesome sent me a Barely Bent Going Green Straw to try out.  I love it!  I picked green because I think it looks like a Starbuck’s straw.  I was worried that glass straws would be too… well, breakable!  I was pleasantly surprised to find that this straw from Strawesome is quite durable, easy to clean, and fun to use!

Strawesome makes straws that are designed for both kids (look at these cute ones!) and grown-ups (like these great smoothie straws).  All of their straws are handmade in their own workshop, so you can have confidence that you are supporting a great business.  The best thing about Strawesome is that they will replace your straw for free if it ever breaks accidentally!

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Purchase your own reusable glass drinking straws from Strawesome, starting at just $6.

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Strawesome is giving away one beautiful artist’s choice straw to one lucky She {hearts} It reader (ARV $10)!

To Enter: Leave a comment telling us what your favorite product from Strawesome is!

Additional Entries: Leave an additional comment for each entry you complete.

• Subscribe to our feed via RSS or EMAIL (be sure to click the verification link).
• Become a Fan of “she {hearts} it”.
• Become a fan of Strawesome.
• Tweet about this giveaway.

A winner from the U.S. or Canada will be chosen on 2-08-12 at 9PM EST. Please see our Giveaway Rules for further details. Product Sample Provided

Being a yoga instructor, I have known the importance of foot and posture health for many years. I know that being barefoot is best, but unfortunately we can’t be on a yoga mat all the time. I have been interested in minimalist shoes for awhile, but I didn’t know you could have fashion coincide with this concept. Walking around looking like I was wearing gloves on my feet wasn’t gonna happen.

Nada offers two minimalist style Somnio shoes, one for running and other forms of fitness, and a ballet style, more for everyday.

The ballet flat has been my go-to shoe. They’re so comfy!  These shoes have no break-in time. They felt amazing from day one. I was a bit apprehensive about the strap, being the fashionista I can be, but it’s awesome. I have actually grown to appreciate it. I can even play soccer with my kiddos in them. I couldn’t kick a ball in  my old flats without being afraid they’d fly off!

Also, the ballet style is great for those of you who do any barefoot type fitness at a gym (yoga, Pilates, etc.). I know most of my students will wear flip-flops, easy on/off, but the gyms that I’ve taught at have a closed-toe shoe policy (which they seem to overlook for these members), but in my opinion it’s a good policy to follow. Often times you’re walking through areas where people are training with weights and equipment and it’s always good to wear real shoes in these areas. This shoe is perfect. Easy on/off, and it looks great with yoga wear–very sporty!

While I’m not an avid runner I do run outside some, but I do more indoor cardio, like dancing, kick-boxing and circuit-training. The lace-up shoes by Nada were great for all that I alternate  between. Minimal break-in time, I noticed a little rubbing on one of my feet the first couple times, but it went away and I’ve had no problem at all. I did wear thin socks with them–I don’t  think they’re meant to be worn with socks, but it just felt more comfortable to wear socks with sneakers.

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When you order from Nada you not only get a great minimalist shoe, but with every pair you receive a very well-made foot strengthening DVD program. This DVD has some great stretches and foot strengthening moves to get you on the road to optimal foot health.

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The guys at Nada are giving one of our readers a pair of these lightweight, comfy shoes, your choice of style and color! Yes, I know…pretty awesome!

To Enter:

Check out the selection over at Nada and let us know in a comment which pair you would like if you win.

Additional Entries:
Leave an additional comment for each entry you complete.

• Subscribe to our feed via RSS or EMAIL (be sure to click the verification link).
• Become a Fan of “she {hearts} it”.
• Tweetabout this giveaway.

 Comments are closed. Congratulations to our winner, Anastasia!

Please see our Giveaway Rules for further details.

Product Sample Provided

I was recently introduced to Julep, a fabulous company dedicated to delivering VIP Sneak Peek Boxes full of nail polish and nail care every month – hello! This service is part of the Julep Maven program. To get started, you take a style quiz and Julep provides you with a selection of trendy nail polish and products. These products are sent to you and beauty editors before they hit the public. Fancy huh? If you are unhappy with Julep’s selection, you can change the selection before your box is mailed out to you.

The cost of the Julep Maven program is $19.99/month for $40 worth of product which comes out to $5 per polish if you choose to receive all polish. If it’s not in the budget for the month or if you want to treat yourself to something else, you can always choose to skip each month. You can get your introductory Julep Box (valued over $40) for only $5 when using code SHEENATATUM and if you like what you see, continue your membership :).

In my Introductory Maven (Classic With a Twist) Box, I received the Glow On Age Defying Hand Brightener, Taylor (periwinkle creme), Maya (pink seashell), and SPF Hand Cream, and Hand Scrub samples. I’ve painted my nails with Taylor and topped it with Pure Ice Cheatin. It’s kind of funky since I normally don’t paint my nails purple. I painted my toes with Maya. It’s a gorgeous light pink frost color. I actually think Maya would look best on my nails and Taylor best on my toes. I was amazed at how fast they both dried though. I can totally see myself in the car… the passenger side of course… doing an instant manicure with Julep. Oh and the Hand Brightener smells sooo good and leaves my hands feeling so soft and hydrated.

All of Julep’s nail polish are free of formaldehyde or formaldehyde resin, toluene and DBP. And their nail care products are free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. And the icing on the cake? Julep donates $1 from every Julep Nail Color bottle purchased to charities that power girlfriends. Score!

So my girlfriends, it’s time I share Julep with you. I’m giving away a Classic With a Twist Maven Box below and I will also be giving away more Julep goodies through Spring during Nails to the Yeah! (now a monthly link up). So be on the lookout for the new and improved Nails to the Yeah! coming February 1st! Chicka Chicka Yeah! And enter the giveaway below :).

Giveaway ends January 29th 12:01 EST. A winner from the U.S. or Canada will be randomly selected and announced in the Rafflecopter widget below. Check out my Giveaway Rules if you have any questions. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Julep provided me with a complimentary Maven Box and the prize for this giveaway. Just thought you should know in case it wasn’t clear :). Disclosure and all that jazz.

© Sophistishe 2012 | Permalink | 22 comments - Let's chat!

My second daughter turned two years old 6 weeks ago. As she has been showing interest in the toilet for many months, we’ve just let this be a slow progression. With this slow progression however, I wanted some kind of transition wear, like a pull-up, that could provide easy accessibility for bathroom trips, but also offer protection against accidents. Also, because I have been experiencing the benefits of cloth diapering since I began having children (my oldest is now 7) I knew I wanted to find some kind of cloth option. I found just what I was looking for in Super Undies.

Jubilee tried out their pull-on in caped canary. My husband dubbed them her “Safety Underwear” and it’s what she wears on outings- like when it really matters if some bodily fluid escapes . She has had every kind of accident in the 4 months we’ve had this sucker and it holds it all. In fact the only semi-leakage we’ve had is slightly damp edges, and only that with some pretty heavy wetting. I turn it inside out and it washes up perfectly with my 10 month olds cloth diapers, ready to safely transport her from here to there once more.

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Super Undies has everything you need for your potty training endeavor. From pull-ons and night time underwear to the accessories like inserts and water-proof sheets.

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Super Undies is giving away one (1) pair of Pull-On Super Undies in size of winners choice (color choice limited to availability).

To Enter:

Leave a comment with the size/color you would chose.

Additional Entries:
Leave an additional comment for each entry you complete.

• Subscribe to our feed via RSS or EMAIL (be sure to click the verification link).
• Become a fan of She {hearts} It.
• Become a fan of Super Undies.
• Tweet about this giveaway.

A winner from the U.S. will be chosen on January 23, 2012 at 7PM CST
Product Sample Provided – Giveaway Rules

If your New Year’s Resolution is to be more organized, you’re going to love today’s review and giveaway from Gigi Hill Bags!  Gigi Hill was started by two moms who realized there was a need for fabulous and functional purses and tote bags for busy women.  They created a line of durable, stylish bags with some awesome features!

I love the signature pocket design found in the bags (such as the Audrey, pictured to the left), which is a complete pocket system which wraps around the inside of the bag.  There are bottle holders (water or baby), pen holders, a cell phone pocket, a pocket that zips, and more.  Another great feature on Gigi Hill bags is the key fob, located conveniently inside each bag.  Simply clip your keys to the loop and you’ll never be digging around in the bottom of your purse for your keys again!  Seriously, I can’t even tell you how great this feature is.

I also love my new Olivia bag (pictured at right).  I get compliments on it from everyone!  The inside and outside of this bag are both wipeable so that I can keep stickiness and dirt (I’m a mom of a toddler!) at bay.  The hardware on this bag is beautiful and I love carrying it everywhere, from church to appointments to the grocery store.  It’s just the right size for holding what I need, and while it has a great shoulder strap, there is also a longer strap that can be attached for wearing the bag different ways.

Inside my Olivia bag I keep my Rita wallet (pictured below).  I feel so grown up having a big, zip-around wallet like this!  It holds everything, from cash, gift cards, and change, to a few coupons, my grocery list, and receipts.  This wallet looks fabulous on its own, so if I need to run into the store really quick I can just take Rita with me!  This is the essential organizing tool for your purse, keeping paper, change, and clutter from crowding your purse.

As you can tell, I’m just a little bit enamored with Gigi Hill bags!

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You can purchase these great bags from Gigi Hill as well as many more, starting at $18.50.

She {hearts} Freebies

One lucky She {hearts} It reader is going to win a Rita wallet in City Red ($49 ARV)!

To Enter: Leave a comment telling us what your favorite item from Gigi Hill is (I know, it’s so hard to pick!).

Additional Entries: Leave an additional comment for each entry you complete.

• Subscribe to our feed via RSS or EMAIL (be sure to click the verification link).
• Become a Fan of “she {hearts} it”.
• Become a fan of Gigi Hill Bags.
• Tweet about this giveaway.

A winner from the U.S. will be chosen on 1-25-12 at 7PM CST
Product Sample Provided – Giveaway Rules