Amazon Echo & Alexa Review!

I am usually a late adopter, a marketing term for the type of person that is going to purchase a product after its proven and experienced by the early adopters. Call me a skeptic, call me whatever but until I get my hands on it or someone I know has their hands on it I tend to avoid it... 

Insert the Amazon Alexa - I thought it was intrusive and weird. I didn't want something listening to me, and I should note, I still don't, I have one in a room that is way less likely to listen to my convos then other places. 

I finally got one, today. And since - I've ordered groceries, played my favorite tunes, and had the weather read to me... wtf was I doing without one? For real? 

So far so good on Miss Alexa - what was I waiting for? I went with the Echo which is currently on sale  for $85.00 and is just as good of a speaker as my Sonos has been (approx 200 and works similarly but only music from an app)  to add to my new home office!

To buy yours click here: http://amzn.to/2CyauxY

What is something you avoided but you can't live without now? Leave it in the comments below! 

XOXO | SLL

Professional teeth whitening without leaving home? Sign me up!

I once heard that a smile speaks all languages and have always loved that sentiment. It doesn’t matter who you are, how old you are, what language you speak – your smile can speak to anyone!

Being in front of the camera can be difficult and has certainly made me more self-aware about a lot of things since beginning this blogging adventure! One of which was my smile – I am a big coffee drinker and I noticed that my smile wasn’t as bright or white as I wanted it to be! I had done several at home options including the messy strips and walking around with a weird light in my mouth. Nothing seemed to really give me the boost I was looking for.

It seems that yet again something found me right when I needed it. Smile Brilliant reached out to me and I was instantly intrigued! You mean I could have a completely custom and professional teeth whitening kit without leaving my house? Sign. Me. Up.  You guys know that I am always honest with you for my reviews, and while I received this kit for free the opinions expressed are completely my own, and authentic!

I was eager to get started with the process and was excited that my impression kit arrived super-fast – after doing a quick questionnaire about my teeth and history they shipped it right out. The kit arrived with everything I needed to do to make my impressions and also came with a pre-addressed and prepaid envelope to send them back to the lab (did I mention you also get cool email updates during the whole process?) I tracked those babies like my life depended on it!  Dom helped me make my impressions – I would highly recommend you have someone there to help you – even if it’s just to pass you a paper towel. He also thought it was hilarious that I couldn’t talk for a few minutes… married life.

My trays arrived after about a week and I got started whitening right away, I don’t think I even I bothered to put my purse down before I opened the package! They come in a little case that is perfect to travel with or pop in your purse (I loved to whiten on the way to work in the mornings!).

I was really worried about sensitivity but Smile Brilliant has literally thought of everything. Not only is their customer service a wealth of information, your kit comes with tons of information and instructions. I felt comfortable during the entire process and saw results within 3 treatments. Your kit comes with syringes of whitener and syringes of desensitizing gel for you to use after your treatments. Each syringe lasts 3-4 treatments. The trays are totally clear and barely noticeable when in (I may or may not have attended a few meetings with them in).  I loved the portability and ease of use that came with this product.

I couldn’t wait for this blog to come out and have been telling everyone I know about it and making them look at my before pictures and then smiling like a crazy person at them!   

I am now a few weeks into the treatment and still seeing positive results. You can see from my before and after photos (that I am so glad I took!) what a difference that I’ve already experienced. I have had NO sensitivity to my teeth or gums, something I certainly cannot say about my previous teeth whitening adventures!

I am so excited to be able to partner on GIVEAWAY for a free whitening kit! EVERYONE, you must enter!

Simply click the link below to enter! Winner will be picked by February 21st. 

 www.smilebrilliant.com/g/bubblesandbones

Don't want to wait for the giveaway (I wouldn't blame you!) use my code bubblesandbones15 for 15% off your purchase! 

Happy whitening! And don’t forget to #smilefearlessly

XOXO | SLL

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Amazon beauty tool favorites!

Hey babes! 

Sorry for the delay - this post has been a few days coming! Bones and I have been busy rounding up our favorite beauty tools and devices that you can grab on Amazon prime! You can shop them on the links below or directly on my Amazon Influencer page! 

1. Tinkle Razor
2. Brush Drying Rack
3. Magnified Make Up Mirror
4. Double Ended Tweezers
5. Eyelash scissors

The first thing is something a little different... razors for your face! Yep, I've been doing an at home version of dermaplaning (using a blade to remove that baby hair and also... the best part dead skin - eww!). I am totally hooked, not only is my skin continuously glowy from exfoliation, my make up goes on smoother and better. This takes some getting used to doing, I would highly suggest watching some youtube tutorials before going down this route - but once you do I promise you'll never look back! I use the Tinkle razors and you can grab a 6 pack for under 5 bucks! 

Link to shop!

Next up is this amazing brush rack that speaks for itself!, I've written about this before on some of my gift guides, because its just that good.  My friend Lauren first showed this to me and it totally makes cleaning your brushes a dream. Goodbye days of messed up and squished brushes! You can grab this for under $10! 

Link to shop!

Who doesn't need a fabulous mirror with lights! You guys. Prepare yourselves before you look in a mirror with magnification - sometimes its a little scary. But this mirror is awesome because it folds up for easy countertop storage and is a great size for tweezing your eyebrows, dermaplaning or just applying makeup in general! This one also comes in a pretty rose gold color! You can grab this one for under $30. 

Link to shop!

These double-ended tweezers are the thing you never thought you needed - they are so functional and practical - I love them. They're a little funky to get used to using but I love having one tool that can serve a few purposes. I got a different brand in an ipsy bag originally but replaced them with these! Having a sharp and a slant edge in one is awesome (also great for travel!) - they're under $10 so way cheaper than the "name" brand tweezers too! 

Link  to shop!

Last but certainly not least... a dedicated pair of scissors for your eyelash strips! I used to keep just a random pair in my drawer but got grossed out at the idea of using the same ones for something I put on my eyes as scissors I used to cut off tags, open packages etc. I now keep a pair just like this dedicated to my false eyelashes! I love the pink handle - so you can tell what they are for. The small size is great too for those precise cuts! These will set you back $6! 

Link to shop!

What are some of your favorite beauty tools or hacks? Leave me some in the comments below! 

XOXO | SLL

Timeless love! A unique watch perfect for Valentine's gifting!

Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time. - 
Marthe Troly-Curtin

Can you believe that we are already approaching Valentine's Day you guys? I feel like we just finished Christmas. Its time to start thinking about your Valentine's Day gift giving for that special someone. While the gift of time is one of my favorites, sometimes its fun to spoil our loved ones with a little something more! 

One of the things I love most about my husband is that he is a super thoughtful gift giver if you read any of my holiday gift guides you know that I try to put a ton of effort and thought into my gifts as well. I really try to find unique or custom things for people. Something, that will really resonate with them as to why I picked I, a reminder of a trip we took, something personalized with their new last name – you get the idea!

One of the most sentimental gifts I have ever received from my husband was a watch with our anniversary engraved on the back – so imagine my delight when Jord approached me about hosting a Valentines watch give away.  To me, Jord watches tick all the boxes (get it… tick, as in tick tock… watch? Ok moving on…) they’re unique in that they’re made from wood, you can personalize them by having a message engraved on the back and they come in AMAZING packaging. I was honestly taken away with the presentation; it comes with a beautiful wood magnetic box (that can be engraved as well!), a cleaning cloth, and a marker for any touch-ups.

It took me forever to pick out the watch I wanted because they have so many fun options – I ended up going with the Cassia model and I am so happy that I did. It has a large boldface that goes perfect with all my rose gold jewelry and while its substantial it’s also lightweight and comfortable to wear all day. They have amazing options for men as well – I love their timeless look (ha, did it again!).

I had Bubbles & Bones engraved on the back of mine to remind me of this journey I am on with blogging. When I showed it to my husband he said “how funny, that’s what I would have picked as well!” which makes it even more special for me.

I took my watch out for a date day with Dom and received tons of compliments on it; I was surprised at how many people noticed. This romantic and classic piece would make the perfect Valentine’s Day gift!

I am so so excited to share that, Jord has been generous enough to give away one $100 gift certificate to one of my readers – it’s a painless 2-second entry and I promise they don’t spam you! A little birdy told me there might be a significant coupon code just for entering…

Head here to enter: https://www.woodwatches.com/g/bubblesandbones

Don't want to wait and want to get shopping? Click HERE for my exact watch! Click HERE for all mens styles! Click HERE all the womens styles! Click HERE for all styles! 

Wooden Wrist Watch

Let me know which watch you would pick in the comments below, I’d also love to know what you’d get engraved on yours!

XOXO | SLL

So fresh and so clean clean... my house that is!

So I decided this year I wasn’t going to make any resolutions, I was instead going to focus on living my best life. I know a bit Oprah of me but… I feel like that encourages me to do little things to improve the big things daily and not focus on falling off the… make your bed every day, work out 6 times per week, do laundry on Tuesdays and Saturdays, don’t eat dairy wagon.

The first thing that I thought I should tackle and improve on was keeping a clean house.  Having a clean and organized home is something that is really important to me. I find that when I feel off or stressed generally my space is as well. My goal is to keep the house in order so that I have one less stressor!

I was super excited when a friend who sells Norwex reached out and offered to send me a few products to try out. You may have seen them on Facebook or been to a party where someone is selling them. They're a multi-level marketing company and I was skeptical, as unfortunately, I am about most of them.  But hey, never hurts to try right?

Amber sent me their “basic home package” which comes with the enviro cloth that they're best known for, a window cloth and 3 face and body cloths. I had heard other people talk about the “magic cleaning” properties of the enviro cloth and I honestly wasn’t sure that it would hold up to the task, but I was pleasantly surprised.

The first thing I used was window cloth and wiped down all the silver and glasses I used for Christmas dinner! I was able to easily remove the water spots - this normally takes me HOURS!!! 

(Grey = Enviro Cloth, Purple = Window Cloth, Multi = Make Up Remover) 

 I put the Enviro Cloth up against what I normally use a magic eraser for… the door handle and jam leading from my make up vanity to our bathroom. I seem to always have makeup smudges on the white door. I got the cloth slightly damp like the instructions recommend and honestly, it worked better than the magic eraser and didn’t leave behind any residue.

 If you know me you know that I’m not a huge cleaner… I have a housekeeper and my husband thank goodness seems to enjoy it… but I got so much satisfaction from how well this thing was working I quickly started on a bunch of other surfaces.

According to their website, the cloth removes dust, dirt, and grease from all washable surfaces using only water. The cloth is naturally antibacterial using silver threads (I actually already knew about the use of silvers antimicrobial/antibacterial properties from using it on the horses).

If you saw my instastories (@bubblesandbones) from New Year's Eve you saw the Window Cloth it in action! It totally removed all the water spots on my bathroom mirror and left it streak free in like 2 seconds.  I have been keeping this one upstairs and wiping down all the glass and shiny surfaces in my bathroom daily, I am for sure a convert when it comes to this one!

I tended to avoid this because it meant I had to clean off the counter of all my products and makeup brushes because I didn’t want windex on them!

The last thing that I got to try was the makeup remover cloths… and while they worked great, they're honestly not my thing. I don’t usually “wash” my face I use things like micellar water – but I am totally keeping one in the shower.

Amber has provided a link for you guys to shop if you're interested as well as some care tips for the cloths! I think I am going to look into some of their floor products because as much as I haaaaaaaaaaaad to have my dark hardwood floors they're a total bitch to keep clean!

Click here to shop directly with Amber! 

You can also reach out to Amber with any questions or concerns on her Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/AmberCleansGreen

Overall I was super impressed with how everything worked how they said it would, and additionally, I am totally excited that I don't don’t to spray chemicals everywhere to get the job done.

So tell me... whats your best cleaning hack? 

XOXO | SLL

* I recieved these prodcuts for free in exchange for my review* 

Holiday Gift Guide #4 - Beauty Gadgets!

Hey babes! This guide is all about gadgets... beauty gadgets that is! These are all items I have in my bathroom and use on a regular basis - you know I am all about trying things before I share them with you!

I thought this would be a great roundup for the beauty lover in your life, as it can often be hard to shop for makeup and products for someone else. We're picky about our brands, our shades of foundation and what we put on our faces aren't we? So here you have it... five gadgets for your beauty babe. 

First up... this awesome make up brush drying rack. I first learned about this from my friend Lauren (check out her beauty blog while you're at it! www.laurenerro.com) and let me tell you, I am not sure how I lived with out it before. 

No more brushes on towels scattered around your counter. No more weird flat bristles from drying on their sides. Game. Changer. You can pick it up on Amazon for $8.99 HERE.  You probably want to pick one up for yourself as well... 

The next item is something you never knew you even needed, and then once you start using it you have no idea how you ever lived before. I was gifted this mascara guard by a friend and thought that it would be just another something I used a few times and got lost in a drawer. Oh how wrong I was. This simple curved mascara guard from Tweezerman helps keep your perfectly blended eyeshadow and your painstakingly applied concealer just how you want it. You can grab it for just $8.15 HERE.

You know that relaxing feeling when you get facial where the warm steam starts to cover your face and you just know you're going to leave there glowing? Why not give that gift to someone! Enter... the at home facial steamer. 

Facial Steamer $25.99

I think this is the single biggest improvement I have made to my skin over the last few months. I use this 2ish times per week after cleansing my face super well. I then tone and apply products. This is a great gift for someone looking to upgrade their at-home skincare routine, or perhaps someone that isn't able to get regular facials. You can pick this one up on Amazon for $25.99 HERE. 

Any guesses what this next product is? Nope not an ear thermometer... its a vacuum for your face! 

Home "microderm" skin vacuum $34.99

... ok stick with me here. A vacuum for your face. Yes, sounds insane. Yes, you look insane but... it totally works. They advertise this as a sort of at home microderm procedure, which it certainly is not quite the same. I have been using this for about 3 months now. I would highly recommend you start out with super light treatments and work your way up. I don't think this thing sucks out impurities quite like it says it does, but it is a wonderful exfoliation and has evened out my skin tone. You can pick this up on Amazon for $34.99

Last on the list, if you have followed me for any length of time you have seen a gazillion times. But, really its so amazing I knew it should be included here. There is a not a single person who wouldn't benefit from a facial ice roller. Get rid of those puffy under eye bags in an instant. Refresh that dull complexion and get rolling! You can grab it on Amazon for just $11.00 HERE

Facial ice roller $11.99

So there you have it! My favorite beauty gadgets right now. Do you have any gadgets I need to know about? Be sure to drop it in the comments below! Happy shopping! 

XOXO | SLL

Belif Skincare - Moisture Bomb Review (Eye & Face)

We all know that skincare can be a daunting task, there are so many lotions, potions, serums, masks etc I often don't know where to start. I also feel that it usually takes a few weeks of using a product to know if it's going to make a difference or not. That, first and foremost is why I am writing this review after only a couple uses.  

Before I get too far into this blog - I want to be sure and mention that I received these products for free in exchange for my review on sephora.com, and there alone... that being said... I really enjoyed them so much I wanted to be sure and spread the word with everyone.( I also just spent another $150 ordering different products from their line... I mean... Dom, these were free too when they show up... )

So what are we talking about here? We're talking about Moisture Bombs by belif -believe in truth a Korean beauty brand with an impressive line of skincare and cosmetics. You can find their line of products at retailers like sephora or online via Amazon. 

I have pretty normal skin. I'm not overly oily or dry (except in the winter) so I am hesitant to buy all new products just for a season (stupid I know) so I was delighted to see that these products were called "moisture bombs". 

My first impression was that I was initially impressed with the packaging. I have been known to not use a product because it doesn't work with my bathroom aesthetics, yes I am that crazy.  The pretty packaging makes these products feel special. Upon further investigation, I again was not disappointed. 

I opened the Belif Moisture Eye Bomb - ($48, currently exclusive in the US to Sephora). The thick cream has a pleasant yet not overpowering scent. Important for me especially around my eyes. Their claim is that the eye cream provides a "26-hour burst of moisture" - while I'm not sure that I felt like I had fresh product on, I did wake up with pretty darn good looking skin around my eyes! It definately held its moisture, and the skin around my eyes was much much less crepe-y when I applied concealer. 

I also used The True Cream - Moisturizing Bomb ($33) all over my face and thought it worked nicely. This might be a little too thick for me to use twice a day so I think I will continue to use this, but only as a night moisturizer.  It is not greasy per say, but you can certainly tell its on your skin. If you like more dewy look then this is for sure the moisturizer for you. Again, it was lightly scented but nothing identifiable, just enough to smell fresh. 

Overall I was more impressed with these two products than anything new I have tried in a while. I am excited to get the masks I ordered (I mean... oops sorry Dom!) and will update you once I've tried them! 

Also, after doing a bit of research found out that this brand is a total cult favorite, even making PopSugars list this fall. I keep hearing all about K- Beauty (Korean Beauty) but have not yet tried any until now. So tell me... do you have any other K-Beauty musts?!?! 

XOXO | SLL 

Holiday Gift Guide #3: The person who has everything!

Next installment on the holiday gift guide is for the hard to shop for person that has everything!  We all have that one person that is super hard to shop for, they might be really picky, you might not really know them that well, or maybe they just get themselves all the cool stuff and leave you with nothing!

Right off the bat the first thing that I think of to get "the person who has everything" is an experience. Groupon and Living Social type websites have tons and tons of voucher options that you can give as gifts. From escape rooms to culinary tours there is something for everyone! (This would also be a great option for a family gift, especially if you're on a budget!)

Who doesn't want to know where they come from?  I really think the 23andME DNA test, could make such a cool gift! Give someone the gift of knowing their ancestry. I know a few people who have done this and we’re so surprised by the results!  It takes about 6 weeks to get your results back and everything you need is included in the kit for $69.00!

Shop: HERE

Next, I don’t think I know a single person who hasn’t misplaced their keys, purse, wallet… etc.… enter Tile Mate – these small tiles sync to an app on your phone (hopefully that’s not what you misplaced!) and using Bluetooth alters you to the location so you can find it fast!  You can pick what sound you want your Tile to make as well so that you can differentiate the rings! This would also be perfect for kids backpacks!

If you’ve misplaced your phone you simply push the button on one of your Tile’s and your phone will ring instantly! They come in singles for $24.99 or a 4 pack for $69.99.

Shop: HERE

My family loves table topics, and have really enjoyed the conversations that have come from these cards, especially during the holidays. These cards would suit just about anyone on the list. Perfect for your neighbor or co-worker you don’t really know that well! The box is full of conversation starting cards and comes in tons of different versions now! My personal favorite is the original and “not your mom's dinner party!. These run $25.00 per set.

Shop: HERE

Next idea is a little out of the box, but I personally have done this on many occasions and it has always been amazingly well received... make a donation in their name. For a friends birthday, I sponsored a bat at a bat sanctuary for a year, (she's a bat lover obviously!) and she totally loved it. I think this would be a wonderfully thoughtful gift, and super appropriate for the person that already has everything! 

I hope this guide gets you off to a good start for that hard to shop for person! Or even makes you think about gift giving in a different way! 

Whats the best gift you've ever received? Drop it in the comments below! 

XOXO | SLL 

This is probably wine...

I was going to save these adorable mugs for the next gift guide but decided they deserved a post all of their own! Chances are if you've hung out with me at all - or followed along on social media you would know that wine and coffee are two of my favorite things! 

I met Dallas, of The Violet Veranda and quickly fell in love with her custom coffee mugs, Dallas says that her mugs are for the "sassy caffeine obsessed" and I know I'm not the only one that falls into that category!!!

I ordered myself this  "This is probably wine" travel mug ( it comes with a plastic lid too!)and have used it almost every day since it arrived! Her shop has a phrase for everyone in your life. She just released one that says "there's a chance this is whiskey" - how perfect would those be as his and her's gifts this holiday season!?!

Be sure you get your orders in soon as she hand makes all these adorable mugs and styles do sell out fast! I'm thinking a "Merry Christmas ya filthy animal" might need to make it my way as well.

And... since Dallas is so awesome, she has extended a coupon code to all of you! Just enter BUBBLESANDBONES15 for 15% off your order! 

Check out The Violet Veranda on Insta @thevioletveranda and on ETSY. 

Drop me a comment below with your favorite one - there are so many to pick from!