Wine Club from Uncorked Ventures Review

I rarely drink wine and I'm neither an expert on wines nor a wine connoisseur but I know what I like in a wine. I recently received 2 wines from Uncorked Ventures and here's a little something about them

Brothers-in-law Mark Aselstine and Matt Krause go treasure-hunting into California, Oregon and Washington wine country to bring you the very best wines that few people have ever heard of. Building relationships with the winemakers and vineyard proprietors, Mark and Matt find themselves offered access to special limited production wines that astonish and impress. This “feet on the ground” approach allows them to offer you both high-scoring wines and wines that would score highly—if they weren’t such a secret.

The world of flavors and pairing possibilities Uncorked Ventures can open up for you comes from the unparalleled expertise of the winemakers we discover. When we work alongside them to see their process, or take the time to get to know them beyond a casual phone call, they become inspired to take a hidden bottle out from behind the counter and say, “I don’t usually share this, but…”
Fresh. Original. Exceptional. Precious. Unforgettable.

Whether as appreciated gifts, in gift baskets with unique artisan items, or as a member of one of our wine clubs, we promise wine experiences that satisfy, surprise and create memories.

Written by Mark Aselstine

I received the following wines from their Exploration Wine Club:

2013 Sola North Coast Chardonnay

Initial impression of rich floral and apple notes that translates into a lightly toasted almond, slightly creamy citrus finish. Delicious, balanced and elegant.

2010 Mercy Pinot Noir, Arroyo Seco

The 2010 Arroyo Seco Pinot Noir combines fruit from three contiguous vineyards in the old, dry riverbed corridor of the Arroyo Seco AVA: Cedar Lane, Griva and Zabala vineyards. In concert the wine is the progeny of multiple sites, growers and clones: 3 "Dijon" clones (777, 667 and 115) and 3 classic clones (Pommard (4), Martini (13) and La Tache). Each vineyard is vinified separate from one another and ultimately blended by winemaker Alan Phillips prior to bottling.

Aged exclusively in French oak, the composite of three distinct properties, the wine showcases the characters of the region's low-yielding, riverbed terrain: as red raspberry and black cherry fruit mingle with floral, mineral, vanilla and spice.    

Double Gold Medal - 2013 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Critics Gold - 2013 Critics Challenge Wine Competition
Gold Medal - 2014 Pinot Noir Shootout (12th Annual)
Gold Medal, Chairman's Award - 2014 Orange County Wine Competition

MY REVIEW:

What I like about the Uncorked Ventures is that they have different subscription offers for their wine club. I also love how they're a family owned business and hands-on in finding and sharing the different great-tasting wines they find in California, Washington and Oregon's wine country.

For the wine, I like the taste of both wines sent to me but I prefer the 2013 Sola North Coast Chardonnay better. It has a crisp taste that I really like. As I've said, I'm not really a professional in describing wine tastes but these wines taste good. :)

You can visit their website to learn more about their Wine Club. VISIT THE WEBSITE HERE.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a sample for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I tried personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

GUEST: Win a Year's Supply Of Crest Sensi Strips & A Walmart Gift Card! 10/13 US

Hey everyone! I found this great giveaway from SheSpeaks for a chance to win a year's supply of Crest Sensi-Stop and a $50 Walmart Gift Card! :) 2 entry options! Retweet the tweet below and/or click the link to enter! :)

Enter the @SheSpeaksUp Giveaway to win new @Crest #SensiStopStrips & a @Walmart Gift Card! http://t.co/cDpK4iYhg7
— Jessamine Dungo (@JessamineDungo) September 24, 2014

2nd Entry Option:

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE! 

Hurry because this ends 10/13! :) Good Luck everyone! :)

DISCLAIMER: By entering through my link, I get an extra entry for a chance to win. No other form of compensation was received. Please see full rules on the giveaway form. Mygreatfinds is not responsible for prize fulfillment.  I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.

Natural Pressed Mineral Make-up Foundation from Ageless Derma Review

I always go for the fresh, barely there, no make-up look. My secret is to use a light foundation which is effective enough to cover my blemishes, pimples and acne but of course doesn't clog my pores and cause more acne and pimples.

I've tried the Ageless Derma Natural Camoufleur Concealer (READ MY REVIEW HERE) and loved it. Recently, I was given the chance to try the Ageless Derma Anti-Aging Pressed Mineral Foundation and was of course excited to try it.

Here's a little something about the Ageless Derma Pressed Mineral Foundation.

Ageless Derma Anti aging Pressed mineral Foundations are 100% pure  mineral Makeup that feel as light as air to provide you with a radiant barely there glow. It creates a sheer natural coverage that will replenish the skin while it protects it and keeps it neutralized from free radicals that are so damaging to the skin.

The lighter texture of Ageless Derma Foundations makeup will allow the skin to breathe while it repels the humidity in the air. This dynamic natural mineral make up adds the finishing touch to your make-up routine leaving your skin with an air brushed look that is very appealing. This mineral makeup contains light reflecting properties that will create a smooth and silky finish to any skin type.

The Ageless Derma Mineral makeup was featured at 41st  Annual Daytime Emmy Awards

Key Ingredients: Boron Nitride -- Calming Lavender Aromatherapy -  Freeze Dried Vitamins A and E -  Mica - Titanium Dioxide – Vitamin A, E and Green Tea Extracts

Other Ingredients:  Bismuth Oxychloride, Zinc Oxide, Octyl Palmitate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Cyclomethicone, Mica & Superoxide Dismutase & Catalase &  Apple Extract  &  Horseradish & Phospholipids & Retinyl Palmitate & Tocopheryl Acetate & Butylene Glycol, Lavender, Sandalwood, Geranium, Ylang Ylang, Patchouli,  Rosemary, Sage, Cedarwood, Palmarosa
May contain:  Iron Oxides, Ultramarines

When I received the Ageless Derma Natural Pressed Mineral Make-Up Foundation, I couldn't wait to try it. 

I took photos of my before and after complexion for you to see. I only used the Ageless Derma Natural Pressed Mineral Make-Up Foundation on the after photos.

This is my bare skin. No make-ups, no anything. See the pimples on my cheeks, acne on my left chin, blemishes and red marks on the middle of my chin? It might be a bit blurry but they're there.

I applied the Ageless Derma Natural Pressed Foundation on the right half of my face and none on the left side so I can see the difference. The Ageless Derma Natural Pressed Foundation blends easily. I noticed a subtle, yet very effective effect to conceal my blemishes and pimples. I also noticed that the right side (the one with concealer) was less shinier and less oilier.

Here, I've applied the Ageless Derma Natural Pressed Mineral Make-Up Foundation to the other half of my face.

And I can't help but take a selfie. :)

The Ageless Derma Natural Pressed Mineral Make-Up Foundation is a great product. I do get acne-breakouts with the wrong kind of beauty products and this didn't. It's effective enough to cover my blemishes and pimples but light enough to achieve the no-make-up look I want. It's also very easy to wash off unlike other foundations which are thick. It blended on my skin easily and it didn't clog my pores. I can wear it daily without feeling like I have any make-up on and it helped control my oily skin as well.

The Ageless Derma Natural Pressed Mineral Make-Up Foundation is available in 10 shades. You can visit their website to see all the shades available. VISIT THE WEBSITE HERE.

DISCLAIMER: I received one or more of the product/s mentioned above to try however, all opinions are honest and my own and are not influenced in any way. No other form of compensation was received. I only recommend products I think are worth sharing. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Jammy Jams' Pop Goes Lullaby 3 CD Review #jammyjams

ABOUT THE CD:

Who’s got the coolest kid in the nursery?  YOU do!  Because you play your baby “Pop Goes Lullaby 3” to rock them to sleep every night. Jammy Jams’ latest release features lullaby renditions of pop songs currently in the charts.  Hits by Iggy Azalea, Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, Sam Smith and more transformed into beautiful instrumental lullabies.

Track listing:
1. Dark Horse (Lullaby Rendition of Katy Perry)
2. Stay With Me (Lullaby Rendition of Sam Smith)
3. Fancy  (Lullaby Rendition of Iggy Azalea)
4. Maps (Lullaby Rendition of Maroon 5)
5. Ain’t it Fun (Lullaby Rendition of Paramore)
6. Summer (Lullaby Rendition of Calvin Harris)
7. Problem (Lullaby Rendition of Ariana Grande)
8. Am I Wrong (Lullaby Rendition of Nico & Vinz)
9. My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Lullaby Rendition of Fall Out Boy)
10. Chandelier (Lullaby Rendition of Sia)

MY REVIEW:

I love the popular old lullabies but it's the first time I heard pop songs turned into lullabies. The Jammy Jams' Pop Goes Lullaby 3 turned popular recent pop songs into soothing, instrumental lullabies which is really nice. All the songs in the CD are pure instrumentals. My daughters can even sing to some of the songs. My favorites are Fancy, Maps and Am I Wrong. :)

You can visit the Jammy Jams Website to listen to the songs as well as purchase the CD. VISIT THE WEBSITE HERE.

DISCLAIMER: I received one or more of the product/s mentioned above complimentary free from SheSpeaks and Aveda to try however, all opinions are honest and my own and are not influenced in any way. No other form of compensation was received. I only recommend products I think are worth sharing. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Keep Hair Straight, Reduce Frizz and Fluffiness With Aveda's Smooth Infusion Naturally Straight

About Aveda Naturally Straight
 

Go from naturally curly to naturally straight. Aveda Smooth Infusion™ Naturally Straight is a lightweight styling creme that progressively loosens curls every time you style.
As you straighten your hair, Smooth Infusion™ Naturally Straight’s naturally derived plant fibers invisibly attach to hair to loosen curl and help lock in straightness. The formula’s humidity barrier of organic cassava extract and maize defends against frizz. The more you use it, the easier it is to create straight, smooth styles, so you can spend less time with a blow dryer and flat iron every day. It is safe for relaxed and color treated hair. After five consecutive applications of Naturally Straight, hair will stay straight for up to three washes.

Here are my results and summary of what I did after applying the Aveda Smooth Infusion Naturally Straight on my hair for 5 consecutive days.

Before: Wavy, frizzy and fluffy hair.
Day 1: Used Aveda Smooth Infusion and a Blow Dryer only.
Day 2: Same routine as Day 1.
Day 3: Same routine as Day 1 and 2.
Day 4: Same routine as Day 1,2 and 3.
Day 5: Used a flat iron after blow drying.

Watch the Aveda Smooth Infusion Naturally Straight's how-to video below.

And as for me, I took a selfie on the 5th day I used the Aveda Smooth Infusion.

MY REVIEW:

I have colored, thick, wavy, frizzy and super fluffy hair which for me is a bit difficult to manage. When left to air dry, my hair would look spongy, fluffy and wavy most of the time. If I use a blow dryer often, my hair would look a bit straighter but still spongy and fluffy. The only solution for me if I want a straight and sleek hair, I would need to use my flat iron. The thing is, I'm a mom of 2 so I'm always on the go so blow drying AND flat irons are not included in my everyday list. The solution: Tie my hair in a ponytail.

The Aveda Smooth Infusion Naturally Straight product gave me hope to achieve the straight and shiny hair I wanted. It has a creamy texture, is color white and has a citrus-y scent.

I followed the video above to see how much product I need for my hair density and proceeded to use the Aveda Smooth Infusion on my hair and blow dry it.

When I used it on Day 1, I decided to just stick with blow drying to see if my hair would be straighter after applying the Aveda Smooth Infusion. I didn't see any difference with my blow-drying time and in fact took me a bit longer because I made sure I did it right. It did look straighter but mid-day, the fluffiness returned.

Day 2 wasn't much different but I noticed a difference on Day 3. My hair appeared straighter and it took me less time to blow dry it. The fluffiness still returned late in the afternoon. Day 4 for me was the same as Day 3.

On Day 5, I decided to use a flat iron in addition to blow drying because I noticed I wasn't getting the straight and sleek hair I wanted . After using the flat iron, I achieved the straight and sleek hair I wanted plus my hair looked shinier. It doesn't look like the chemically straightened hair I've experienced before (from salon relaxers) but more of the natural-looking straight hair.

It's supposed to keep hair straight for up to 3 washes after 5 consecutive applications but I noticed that when air dried, my hair is less fluffier and the waves are a bit more subtle. Running the flat iron on my dry hair quickly solved the problem and kept my hair straight.

After using the Aveda Smooth Infusion, I came to the following conclusions:

1. The Aveda Smooth Infusion Naturally Straight is NOT a solution if you want to straighten your hair without using any hot styling tools.
2. If you prefer to air dry, it helps with the frizz and the wave a bit but doesn't completely eliminate them.
3. It smells good and helps make hair look shinier.
4. It doesn't really save me time with the blow drying and flat ironing BUT it prevented my hair from becoming fluffy mid-day.
5. A tube will last me a long time since I only need a little amount.
6. I achieved a naturally-looking straight hair as opposed to stiff-looking chemically straightened hair from relaxers.
7. I dyed my hair at home and it was safe to use on my hair.
8. Prevented tangles throughout the day.
9. Made my hair shinier and looked healthier.
10. It protected my hair from being damaged by hot styling tools.

So, I hope you liked my review of the Aveda Naturally Straight and I'll continue to use this because, although I still have to blow dry and flat iron my hair, it eliminated the frizziness and fluffiness of my hair which for me are hard to manage.

HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR HAIR STRAIGHT?

 DISCLAIMER: I received one or more of the product/s mentioned above complimentary free from SheSpeaks and Aveda to try however, all opinions are honest and my own and are not influenced in any way. No other form of compensation was received. I only recommend products I think are worth sharing. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.

GUEST: Enter To Win 1 of 5 $50 Walmart Gift Cards! 9/30 US

I found this giveaway from Home Making Hacks and I wanted to share it with you guys. :) Ends September 30, 2014. Good Luck!

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!

DISCLAIMER: By entering through my link, I get an extra entry for a chance to win. Please see full rules on the giveaway form. Mygreatfinds is not responsible for prize fulfillment.  I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.

Dispose Your Used Feminine Hygiene Items Discreetly with MaskIT!

I studied in an all-girls school in the Philippines when I was in elementary and highschool and I remember our teachers teaching us how to wrap our sanitary napkin telling us that we should ALWAYS wrap our used sanitary napkins (tampons weren't popular in our school) in paper so that no one else would see it. Now I know why they told us this "lesson" because whenever I see a used napkin or tampon in public bathrooms, I can't help but feel squeamish and grossed out. I mean, I also do get my monthly period and used to seeing blood BUT, NOBODY else should see your used sanitary napkins and tampons. Right?

I've found the solution to discreetly throw away your used feminine hygiene items at least when you're in a public bathroom. MaskIT! :) Here's a short description from the company.

MaskIT is a specially designed, patent pending, product that offers a practical & sanitary solution for the disposal of soiled feminine hygiene items. MaskIT offers an intuitive use for women through its patent pending pocket technology which makes it  simple to grasp a used pad or tampon while protecting the hand. With a unique inversion process these items are then enclosed & sealed within a small pouch that prevents leaking and blocks smells. There is no product on the market that competes with what MaskIT offers. MaskIT will truly be the first viable method for women to dispose of their used feminine hygiene items.

We are very proud to provide a product that is made out of a certified compostable Biofilm and is 100% made in the USA. MaskIT’s official launch date is September 15th and will be available on amazon.com and select retailers across the country. 

 At the back, there's a short and detailed instruction on how to use the MaskIT. You can also watch a how-to video below.

The video shows clearly how to use the MaskIT and it's very easy! :)

They offer 2 different sizes. A bigger one for the sanitary pads and napkins.

And a smaller one for tampons.

The MaskIT is very easy to use and I love that I can seal it too. It doesn't just hide my used sanitary napkins and pads out of sight but it also protects my hand from touching the pads as well. I do however prefer scratch papers at home for my used pads and napkins, just to save a bit, but I'd use this when I'm in a public restroom because it's much lighter, convenient and smaller to bring. I love the concept and the product and I hope women will use it at least in a public restroom. :)

You can visit the MaskIT Website to learn more about MaskIT.

DISCLAIMER: I received one or more of the product/s mentioned above to try however, all opinions are honest and my own and are not influenced in any way. No other form of compensation was received. I only recommend products I think are worth sharing. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.