The new year has got me fired up! I decided to make a change and clean out my home office. I have 15 plus years of files and stuff and I went through a lot and tossed a lot. It felt very freeing. However I could not stand to have my items in boxes so the painters are coming in this week and hopefully at the end of the week I will have a new, fully decorated office. Here are some of the before photos as well as some of the cool items I purchased to spruce up the space and make it a bit more modern. I never knew I could spend so much time on Pinterest!
Home office decor – I love gold accessories and this is a new color choice for me!My office is looking better! I cleaned out all the shelves, donated some books but I still have many books to sort through. I am hoping for a more sleek, clean and modern look!My office was looking a bit messy. Over the years I have received a ton of books, products and more as you can tell from the photo.
The new year has got me fired up! I decided to make a change and clean out my home office. I have 15 plus years of files and stuff and I went through a lot and tossed a lot. It felt very freeing. However I could not stand to have my items in boxes so the painters are coming in this week and hopefully at the end of the week I will have a new, fully decorated office. Here are some of the before photos as well as some of the cool items I purchased to spruce up the space and make it a bit more modern. I never knew I could spend so much time on Pinterest!
Home office decor – I love gold accessories and this is a new color choice for me!My office is looking better! I cleaned out all the shelves, donated some books but I still have many books to sort through. I am hoping for a more sleek, clean and modern look!My office was looking a bit messy. Over the years I have received a ton of books, products and more as you can tell from the photo.
As you all know I am obsessed with checking all my beauty products via EWGand I also just discovered the Think Dirty app as well. The Think Dirty® app is the easiest way to learn about the potentially toxic ingredients in your cosmetics and personal care products. You plug in the name or you can even scan it in and Think Dirty will provide information on the product and the ingredients so you know what you are getting. It’s all about choosing cleaner options for you and your family. Local gals you may just see me at CVS checking out the products on the app with my nose in my phone. Check out the organic skin care isle the next time you are at CVS.
Lip balm is something my kids use every day and foaming hand soap seems to be a big offender as well in terms of chemical ingredients. That is why I was so happy that Kosmatology sent me a few items to test out.
Kosmatology is a line of organic and natural skin care products. All of the company’s products are vegan and free of harmful chemicals and preservatives. The organic, preservative-free skin care line is safe for the whole family. The line has everything from body wash to bug repellent (in a convenient travel size stick) In fact a few of their items come in travel size so you can test them out before committing but I am sure if you like fresh scents and clean beauty products you will love the line. Here are my thoughts on some of the products:
The body wash – Containing eight ingredients or less, the washes come in Free & Clear (Unscented) for those with super sensitive skin, the Goody-Goody Grapefruit for itchy eczema-like skin and Herbal Fresh (Spearmint-Rosemary). I tested out the spearmint rosemary and loved it. It is the perfect wash to use in the morning for a great pick me up! Made with organic Shea butter, organic olive oil and organic castor oil for the base and organic essential oils to scent, the wash is very nice! I will have to try the grapefruit one next.
The foaming hand soap – of course I stay away from the anti-bacterial hand soap and I would buy whatever was sls free and paraben free but noticed that many hand soaps have a ton of ingredients and many did not rank well on EWG or Think Dirty. The Kosmatology hand soaps are made with organic oils such as coconut, olive and safflower with organic essential oils. The lavender eucalyptus smells so good. A must have in the bathroom and it rates a 0 on Think Dirty.
The Hand Sanitizer – The goody-goody grapefruit hand sanitizer smells so good and is free of the harmful chemical triclosan. It contains ethyl alcohol to kill germs and organic glycerin to rehydrate skin. I love that is comes in a spray as it is easier for the little kids to use (how many times have your kids squeezed the hand sanitizer bottle only to get a large glob out and throw it everywhere????)
The lip balm – ladies we apply lip balm how many times a day?? You don’t want yucky chemicals in them do you? Preservative-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, beeswax-free, free of artificial dyes and colors, and vegan this lip balm is thicker than most I’ve tested and the grapefruit is not overpowering at all and at $3.99 you can buy a bunch! Plus it ranks a 0 on Think Dirty!
WOD aid – This is a hand therapy treatment and it comes in a lip balm sized stick so the hubby can have it with him at all times. It prevents the formation of calluses and cuticle cracks and the scent is not too much. I like this as I put in on my cuticles before bed and it works!
As you all know I am obsessed with checking all my beauty products via EWGand I also just discovered the Think Dirty app as well. The Think Dirty® app is the easiest way to learn about the potentially toxic ingredients in your cosmetics and personal care products. You plug in the name or you can even scan it in and Think Dirty will provide information on the product and the ingredients so you know what you are getting. It’s all about choosing cleaner options for you and your family. Local gals you may just see me at CVS checking out the products on the app with my nose in my phone. Check out the organic skin care isle the next time you are at CVS.
Lip balm is something my kids use every day and foaming hand soap seems to be a big offender as well in terms of chemical ingredients. That is why I was so happy that Kosmatology sent me a few items to test out.
Kosmatology is a line of organic and natural skin care products. All of the company’s products are vegan and free of harmful chemicals and preservatives. The organic, preservative-free skin care line is safe for the whole family. The line has everything from body wash to bug repellent (in a convenient travel size stick) In fact a few of their items come in travel size so you can test them out before committing but I am sure if you like fresh scents and clean beauty products you will love the line. Here are my thoughts on some of the products:
The body wash – Containing eight ingredients or less, the washes come in Free & Clear (Unscented) for those with super sensitive skin, the Goody-Goody Grapefruit for itchy eczema-like skin and Herbal Fresh (Spearmint-Rosemary). I tested out the spearmint rosemary and loved it. It is the perfect wash to use in the morning for a great pick me up! Made with organic Shea butter, organic olive oil and organic castor oil for the base and organic essential oils to scent, the wash is very nice! I will have to try the grapefruit one next.
The foaming hand soap – of course I stay away from the anti-bacterial hand soap and I would buy whatever was sls free and paraben free but noticed that many hand soaps have a ton of ingredients and many did not rank well on EWG or Think Dirty. The Kosmatology hand soaps are made with organic oils such as coconut, olive and safflower with organic essential oils. The lavender eucalyptus smells so good. A must have in the bathroom and it rates a 0 on Think Dirty.
The Hand Sanitizer – The goody-goody grapefruit hand sanitizer smells so good and is free of the harmful chemical triclosan. It contains ethyl alcohol to kill germs and organic glycerin to rehydrate skin. I love that is comes in a spray as it is easier for the little kids to use (how many times have your kids squeezed the hand sanitizer bottle only to get a large glob out and throw it everywhere????)
The lip balm – ladies we apply lip balm how many times a day?? You don’t want yucky chemicals in them do you? Preservative-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, beeswax-free, free of artificial dyes and colors, and vegan this lip balm is thicker than most I’ve tested and the grapefruit is not overpowering at all and at $3.99 you can buy a bunch! Plus it ranks a 0 on Think Dirty!
WOD aid – This is a hand therapy treatment and it comes in a lip balm sized stick so the hubby can have it with him at all times. It prevents the formation of calluses and cuticle cracks and the scent is not too much. I like this as I put in on my cuticles before bed and it works!
Happy New Year - you need glasses! If you are over 40 and never have worn glasses before realizing you need reading glasses just sneaks up on you. That is what happened to me and then you start to accumulate reading glasses and have them in every room! I have bought just about every reader there is out there and so glad that Peepers reading glasses sent me a pair to test out.
Peepers is a leading designer and marketer of innovative and expressive eyewear for both men and women. The designs are colorful and expressive plus they have hundreds of styles and colors to choose from. The frames are thick and sturdy and they are one of the better quality ones I have seen on the market. Extremely fashionable I received the dauntless ones in navy (which you may have seen in O, The Oprah Magazine as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things!) They are a classic rectangle shape with thicker temples and a silver like sparkles in the corner of the frame and on the side for a truly bold look. This style comes in five beautiful colors so you really do have an option perfect for every outfit. The berry oneswould be cute to purchases for Valentine’s Day! What I really like about Peepers readers is that they are comfortable on, especially if you do a lot of reading. Plus they come with a cute burlap like case to store them. Check out their web site as you can choose from frame shape, width, and style as well as lens style, tint and frame material.
Disclosure: Peepers readers sent me the dauntless readers to test out. As always all opinions in this blog post are my own.
Peepers readers are so colorful and come with a cute carrying casePeepers readers are lightweight and provide and instant pop for any outfit. No more boring reading glasses for me!
Happy New Year - you need glasses! If you are over 40 and never have worn glasses before realizing you need reading glasses just sneaks up on you. That is what happened to me and then you start to accumulate reading glasses and have them in every room! I have bought just about every reader there is out there and so glad that Peepers reading glasses sent me a pair to test out.
Peepers is a leading designer and marketer of innovative and expressive eyewear for both men and women. The designs are colorful and expressive plus they have hundreds of styles and colors to choose from. The frames are thick and sturdy and they are one of the better quality ones I have seen on the market. Extremely fashionable I received the dauntless ones in navy (which you may have seen in O, The Oprah Magazine as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things!) They are a classic rectangle shape with thicker temples and a silver like sparkles in the corner of the frame and on the side for a truly bold look. This style comes in five beautiful colors so you really do have an option perfect for every outfit. The berry oneswould be cute to purchases for Valentine’s Day! What I really like about Peepers readers is that they are comfortable on, especially if you do a lot of reading. Plus they come with a cute burlap like case to store them. Check out their web site as you can choose from frame shape, width, and style as well as lens style, tint and frame material.
Disclosure: Peepers readers sent me the dauntless readers to test out. As always all opinions in this blog post are my own.
Peepers readers are so colorful and come with a cute carrying casePeepers readers are lightweight and provide and instant pop for any outfit. No more boring reading glasses for me!
Happy New Year - you need glasses! If you are over 40 and never have worn glasses before realizing you need reading glasses just sneaks up on you. That is what happened to me and then you start to accumulate reading glasses and have them in every room! I have bought just about every reader there is out there and so glad that Peepers reading glasses sent me a pair to test out.
Peepers is a leading designer and marketer of innovative and expressive eyewear for both men and women. The designs are colorful and expressive plus they have hundreds of styles and colors to choose from. The frames are thick and sturdy and they are one of the better quality ones I have seen on the market. Extremely fashionable I received the dauntless ones in navy (which you may have seen in O, The Oprah Magazine as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things!) They are a classic rectangle shape with thicker temples and a silver like sparkles in the corner of the frame and on the side for a truly bold look. This style comes in five beautiful colors so you really do have an option perfect for every outfit. The berry oneswould be cute to purchases for Valentine’s Day! What I really like about Peepers readers is that they are comfortable on, especially if you do a lot of reading. Plus they come with a cute burlap like case to store them. Check out their web site as you can choose from frame shape, width, and style as well as lens style, tint and frame material.
Disclosure: Peepers readers sent me the dauntless readers to test out. As always all opinions in this blog post are my own.
Peepers readers are so colorful and come with a cute carrying casePeepers readers are lightweight and provide and instant pop for any outfit. No more boring reading glasses for me!
Here it is! Just a few must have items for those on your holiday list this year. Thank you to all of these companies for sending along their wonderful gifts. We try out and test out all products so you know you are getting a good deal and some truly, fun, unique gift ideas. Whether you are looking for the tween in your life, gifts for mom or gifts for guys we have some thoughts. So here it is – the top ten gift guide. Happy Holidays from trendymommies!
Perfect for mom: Soma PJs– we have a tradition on our house of opening up a pair of pjs on Christmas Eve each year. What mom would love are these cool nights PJs. They are super soft, comfy and keep you cool at night. They do work as I tested them out and lounged in them all weekend. Plus technically you can wear them as loungewear! #pajamasallday is what I love during the holiday season. Prices start at $49.
Soma pjs are the best
Perfect for your sister, officemate: Tata Harper – beauty kits are a great gift for mom or tweens in your life. I will always give products that are non-toxic, safe and effective. I love this line and my teen steals some of these products from my bathroom. Super cute sets for teens on their site including the detox defense set. This is a four-piece regimen, which includes a very nice Purifying Mask that adds a touch of nourishing moisture. The kit also contains mini sizes of Nourishing Oil Cleanser (15 ml), a Purifying Cleanser (15 ml) and their must have product – the Replenishing Nutrient Complex (3 ml)  ($42) AND as an extra stocking stuffer get the Be Smitten lip treatment. With a hint of pink color this tinted plumping & hydrating lip treatment leaves lips so smooth and the color really will flatter anyone. Super nourishing too! ($29)
Tata Harper has a great selection of beauty kits online
Perfect for the BFF: Of course my beloved Beautycounter holiday kits are also my favorite. What can I say about these gorgeous red boxed gift sets? Any mom would love to receive a packaged gift like the lip gloss or travel set. If you did not order in time there is always Valentine’s Day!
Perfect for anyone: David’s Tea – you all know I love tea but have you been to a David’s Tea retailer? They have the best selection of teas and adorable gifts for the tea lover in your life. What? You don’t know a tea lover? Well if you gift any of these items to anyone on your list they will be hooked! From the sets, mugs and loose teas you cannot go wrong in this store or their online site. These adorable affordable gift ideas are perfect for the teacher, sister, bus driver – anyone really. I love the mini pouch of tea bags, the 25 days of teas and of course any of their tea mugs (especially the travel mugs) The travel pouch is $10 and has 5 sachets. As a memorable gift the collectible tea-filled ornament is filled with hot chocolate tea which is a medium caffeine tea with chocolate nibs and chocolate chips in a base of black tea – delightful. Kids will love the night before Christmas which is nice book of nine caffeine free teas with fun names like sleigh ride, sweet dreams and apple cider.
David’s Tea has the best selection of teas and all of their holiday kits are beautiful!
Perfect for the kids: Harbor Sweets – not all chocolate is alike and these chocolates are handmade in Salem, Mass Kids will love them. Of course the kids immediately had to test out the chocolate Christmas calendar – like a traditional advent calendar each window is filled with dark horse chocolates- some with almond butter crunch, caramel and peppermint crunch. Really, any boxed chocolate you purchase from this company is sure to please anyone on your list. The company also has a new line called Gather Chocolate to raise awareness of the plight of the honeybee. 2.5% of all Gather sales goes to the Pollinator Partnership to aid in their efforts to preserve and protect the pollinators.
Harbor Sweets has a sweet treat for anyone on your list
Perfect for the hubby: Anything at CVS– this is THE retailer where I buy small gifts and ornaments and the gifts for dad like chargers and tech stuff. Hubby would even appreciate a gift card to CVS too. Who doesn’t love a gift card?
Perfect for those that are hard to buy for or for those that have everything: Anything from The Grommet– Shop for unique gifts, innovative tech gadgets, and more as The Grommet has truly unique gadgets for everyone on your list. For little girls/tweens order the Vegan nail polish set (perfectly safe and cute colors) and the Wearable nail polish holder is the most inventive product on the market. It makes it easy for them to paint their own nails. Mom will love this invention too. I loved it – it was super easy to use and make it much easier to do your own nails. For your bff she will love the Bittersweet hair tie bracelet. If you are sick of seeing that hair elastic on your wrist and the dents it leaves, bittersweet by Maria Shireen® makes a sleek hair tie bracelets holder out of stainless steel. Simply, slip the bracelet on, then the elastic over to rest in the groove. It looks very chic and just like a bracelet. For boys and tween boys they will think the Wristband headphones are cool. Plus, they won’t lose them mom! These braided wrist brand head phones transform into an undercover bracelet. Plus their textured fabric exterior prevents any tangling. For your pet – the Silent pet tag. No more jiggling tags as this super cute tag is the perfect gift. All products on this site are creative, solve problems and I love how easy it is to navigate through the site for your last minute gift giving needs!
The grommet has gifts for all those that a!re hard to buy for
Perfect for the tech lover – Clutchette power purse by Chic Buds. The Clutchette Power is a phone charger in a bag. It has an ultra-thin battery, built-in USB cords and room to carry your keys, lip gloss and other night out essentials. I like how it is sleek enough to throw into a larger bag and it makes a perfect gift for the fashionista in your life! $49.99
Clutchette power purse by chic buds is a tech lovers extra secret weapon for storage and charging
Perfect for the fashionista – Speaking of fashionista she would love a gift from Tartan + Twine. This company makes a range of cosmetic bags – pick her favorite color (sold at Ulta and retailers nationwide) and prices start at $12.00
tartan + twine has a great selection of make-up cases in a variety of sizes and colors
Perfect for the kids: I don’t have a lot of young kids to buy for this year but I have heard Hatchimals are the must have item (no I don’t have one so don’t ask) but I always love games for kids and of course I love the classics like bananagrams and apples to apples. A gift card to Barnes & Noble is a great option as they have a great toy selection and it is not too overwhelming and of course their kids book section is fun to look through
Happy Holidays to all!!!
Disclosure: The companies listed above sent me products to review and test out. As always all opinions in this blog post are my ow Â
Here it is! Just a few must have items for those on your holiday list this year. Thank you to all of these companies for sending along their wonderful gifts. We try out and test out all products so you know you are getting a good deal and some truly, fun, unique gift ideas. Whether you are looking for the tween in your life, gifts for mom or gifts for guys we have some thoughts. So here it is – the top ten gift guide. Happy Holidays from trendymommies!
Perfect for mom: Soma PJs– we have a tradition on our house of opening up a pair of pjs on Christmas Eve each year. What mom would love are these cool nights PJs. They are super soft, comfy and keep you cool at night. They do work as I tested them out and lounged in them all weekend. Plus technically you can wear them as loungewear! #pajamasallday is what I love during the holiday season. Prices start at $49.
Soma pjs are the best
Perfect for your sister, officemate: Tata Harper – beauty kits are a great gift for mom or tweens in your life. I will always give products that are non-toxic, safe and effective. I love this line and my teen steals some of these products from my bathroom. Super cute sets for teens on their site including the detox defense set. This is a four-piece regimen, which includes a very nice Purifying Mask that adds a touch of nourishing moisture. The kit also contains mini sizes of Nourishing Oil Cleanser (15 ml), a Purifying Cleanser (15 ml) and their must have product – the Replenishing Nutrient Complex (3 ml)  ($42) AND as an extra stocking stuffer get the Be Smitten lip treatment. With a hint of pink color this tinted plumping & hydrating lip treatment leaves lips so smooth and the color really will flatter anyone. Super nourishing too! ($29)
Tata Harper has a great selection of beauty kits online
Perfect for the BFF: Of course my beloved Beautycounter holiday kits are also my favorite. What can I say about these gorgeous red boxed gift sets? Any mom would love to receive a packaged gift like the lip gloss or travel set. If you did not order in time there is always Valentine’s Day!
Perfect for anyone: David’s Tea – you all know I love tea but have you been to a David’s Tea retailer? They have the best selection of teas and adorable gifts for the tea lover in your life. What? You don’t know a tea lover? Well if you gift any of these items to anyone on your list they will be hooked! From the sets, mugs and loose teas you cannot go wrong in this store or their online site. These adorable affordable gift ideas are perfect for the teacher, sister, bus driver – anyone really. I love the mini pouch of tea bags, the 25 days of teas and of course any of their tea mugs (especially the travel mugs) The travel pouch is $10 and has 5 sachets. As a memorable gift the collectible tea-filled ornament is filled with hot chocolate tea which is a medium caffeine tea with chocolate nibs and chocolate chips in a base of black tea – delightful. Kids will love the night before Christmas which is nice book of nine caffeine free teas with fun names like sleigh ride, sweet dreams and apple cider.
David’s Tea has the best selection of teas and all of their holiday kits are beautiful!
Perfect for the kids: Harbor Sweets – not all chocolate is alike and these chocolates are handmade in Salem, Mass Kids will love them. Of course the kids immediately had to test out the chocolate Christmas calendar – like a traditional advent calendar each window is filled with dark horse chocolates- some with almond butter crunch, caramel and peppermint crunch. Really, any boxed chocolate you purchase from this company is sure to please anyone on your list. The company also has a new line called Gather Chocolate to raise awareness of the plight of the honeybee. 2.5% of all Gather sales goes to the Pollinator Partnership to aid in their efforts to preserve and protect the pollinators.
Harbor Sweets has a sweet treat for anyone on your list
Perfect for the hubby: Anything at CVS– this is THE retailer where I buy small gifts and ornaments and the gifts for dad like chargers and tech stuff. Hubby would even appreciate a gift card to CVS too. Who doesn’t love a gift card?
Perfect for those that are hard to buy for or for those that have everything: Anything from The Grommet– Shop for unique gifts, innovative tech gadgets, and more as The Grommet has truly unique gadgets for everyone on your list. For little girls/tweens order the Vegan nail polish set (perfectly safe and cute colors) and the Wearable nail polish holder is the most inventive product on the market. It makes it easy for them to paint their own nails. Mom will love this invention too. I loved it – it was super easy to use and make it much easier to do your own nails. For your bff she will love the Bittersweet hair tie bracelet. If you are sick of seeing that hair elastic on your wrist and the dents it leaves, bittersweet by Maria Shireen® makes a sleek hair tie bracelets holder out of stainless steel. Simply, slip the bracelet on, then the elastic over to rest in the groove. It looks very chic and just like a bracelet. For boys and tween boys they will think the Wristband headphones are cool. Plus, they won’t lose them mom! These braided wrist brand head phones transform into an undercover bracelet. Plus their textured fabric exterior prevents any tangling. For your pet – the Silent pet tag. No more jiggling tags as this super cute tag is the perfect gift. All products on this site are creative, solve problems and I love how easy it is to navigate through the site for your last minute gift giving needs!
The grommet has gifts for all those that a!re hard to buy for
Perfect for the tech lover – Clutchette power purse by Chic Buds. The Clutchette Power is a phone charger in a bag. It has an ultra-thin battery, built-in USB cords and room to carry your keys, lip gloss and other night out essentials. I like how it is sleek enough to throw into a larger bag and it makes a perfect gift for the fashionista in your life! $49.99
Clutchette power purse by chic buds is a tech lovers extra secret weapon for storage and charging
Perfect for the fashionista – Speaking of fashionista she would love a gift from Tartan + Twine. This company makes a range of cosmetic bags – pick her favorite color (sold at Ulta and retailers nationwide) and prices start at $12.00
tartan + twine has a great selection of make-up cases in a variety of sizes and colors
Perfect for the kids: I don’t have a lot of young kids to buy for this year but I have heard Hatchimals are the must have item (no I don’t have one so don’t ask) but I always love games for kids and of course I love the classics like bananagrams and apples to apples. A gift card to Barnes & Noble is a great option as they have a great toy selection and it is not too overwhelming and of course their kids book section is fun to look through
Happy Holidays to all!!!
Disclosure: The companies listed above sent me products to review and test out. As always all opinions in this blog post are my ow Â
It is that time of year when families across the country try to figure out their holiday photo cards! This year I was on the early side of picking out the photos and thanks to Paper Culture my holiday photo cards are printed and have arrived. If you are going to create holiday photo cards why not choose an eco-friendly company to do it. Paper Culture’s mission is not only to deliver modern eco stationery to celebrate life events but to plant a tree with every order! You can even say who you would like to plant it in honor of.
Paper Culture offers personalized invitations, stationery, holiday cards, and wall art on eco-friendly materials. Paper Culture is an eco, sustainable business meaning all their cards will not cut down any new trees. The cards use exclusively 100% post-consumer recycled paper or alternative non-tree fibers. They even have an eco-friendly reversible box. The reversible box is made from recycled cardboard and printed with eco-friendly water-based inks and the best thing is that you can reuse it!
There are a ton of styles of holiday cards to choose from too. They have free designer assistance, they will mail the cards for you and free return and recipient address printing as well. Their customer service is excellent – any problems – just call them – so many companies don’t even have a customer service number! I was very pleased with my order and would highly recommend them for holiday cards.
Disclosure: Paper Culture offered me a $50 discount. As always all opinions in this blog post are my own.
Beautiful holiday photo cards from @paperculture! Don’t want to spoil the photo part -but the front side came out awesome.
