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3 Reasons To Start Posting On IGTV


IGTV is yet another social media outlet, but I have 3 reasons why you should be watching it closely. These 3 reasons might not fit with every business, but influencers can definitely have a great start to building empires with IGTV.

  1. 2nd largest search engine next to Google

  2. Customers are 60%+ more likely to buy after a video

  3. The viewers are already there

The fact that the screen is vertical can be a challenge for quality, but creators thrive off of new mediums. RIP Vine, but there were some big creators that came from those short homemade style videos.

Find me @Jackie_Pfister

Youtube has been on top mostly because they do video first. Facebook does social connection well and what does the Gram do?  Instagram does visual first and exploration second. What does this have to do with video?

It’s really simple if you think about it, not a lot of people are searching single words on Facebook or Youtube like you can on the Gram. Were lazy! Also, what do people expect on the gram? Excellent visuals, videos that inspire, and up to the minute trends.

Instagram Is Hot!

Join my IGTV Trade Secret group on Facebook where i’ll be posting all my little chat and tips as I discover hacks.

Youtube has a few cards up their sleeve that could keep big creators from straying though. The two big things are selling products under the videos and creating memberships. These 2 features have been in beta for some time, but was announced to be rolling out the day after Instagram announced IGTV. If that doesn’t say they’re intimidated, I don’t know what does!

Personally, I think there’s room for Youtube and IGTV, but it may divide the demographics. Younger users like their phones and can appreciate any form of video especially if it means less work. The older users (and perhaps students) love their desktop viewing experience. Facebook and Youtube tells us this data.

We all know that being influential takes a community, a tribe, and takes some establishment. Can established influencers on Youtube turn around and be a top influencer in a new channel or medium? Most likely, the answer is no.  Your tribe becomes used to you in your environment. Some people may be successful at re-directing their tribe, but very few. I’m going to say that this is a new platform for maybe under-rated influencers and provides a new channel for brands. Super exciting!

Monetization on IGTV

What’s in it for influencers and brands? Right now you have the ability to post a video and a link in the description. This is great and all, but how will Instagram capitalize on my popular content? Will they share a piece of the pie per-say? What do you think? It won’t work if it’s not a win-win for advertisers and creators. Either way, make great content, disrupt, and have fun!

I’ll be posting my how-to’s and tech tips to my group on Facebook, so make sure you join HERE or look up ‘IGTV Trade Secret’ under groups. Let us know in the comments anything interesting you’ve found and your handle, so we can check you out!

Popular Post: Influencer Networks You Need To Know

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Tide Purclean Laundry Detergent

This brand is known for being all mighty and full of some pretty (let’s face it) good cleansers. Yes, some purists that make their own homemade stuff or opt for something completely clean, wouldn’t even give Tide a thought. But maybe they deserve a second glance with their newest plant-based detergent.

Tide Purclean

Tide purclean™ is the first plant-based liquid laundry detergent that has the cleaning power that you expect and deserve from Tide, even in cold water. Tide has been on a journey of sustainability for many years now and this is the latest step in this journey to deliver a more sustainable product that does not compromise on cleaning performance. It is the first 65% USDA certified plant-based detergent with the cleaning power of Tide.

So according to their site, it’s 65% plant-based.

I think thats a number I can root for. I know that laundry detergents are not the easiest to make at home and families can have some pretty icky laundry.

Tide Purclean.jpg

I had to step-up my laundry game recently.

The ball I was using (you can read more about that here) wasn’t getting to all of my laundry needs. I still use it, but I also use detergents. I love my smells and I really don’t like the idea of wasting my essential oils. I’ve done it all, from the ball, to homemade cleansers, to “cleaner” brands, to wool balls, and different dryer sheets.

Thrive Market sells your favorite organic and non-gmo brands for up to 50% off retail.

Tide Purclean-1
My helper and I

 

What is the actual difference of plant-based compared to regular detergents? (a lot)

Tide vs Purclean

Basically the main difference is:

  1. Purclean has a plant-based surfactant and no ammonium-based cleansers.
  2. Purclean has no optical brighteners. Some people actually prefer these.

These few things can make a big difference if you’re trying to clean up your products. I’ve seen very similar ingredients in brand like Meyers or Free & Clear. Molly’s Suds has a great coconut-based liquid with plant-based ingredients and no preservatives. You can find them on Thrive below.


Thrive Market sells your favorite organic and non-gmo brands for up to 50% off retail.

The Result?

I loved it! It smelled really nice and my clothes were noticeably soft when transferring to the dryer. I’m pretty happy with it and glad its convenient at Walmart.

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The Body Deli

If you’ve ever travel to Palm Springs, CA- you have to drive to El Paseo in Palm Desert,CA  and check out the great shops. In this rodeo drive-like street I found The Body Deli and I can truly say there’s nothing else like this!

They’ve been featured in magazines like Self, Cosmo, and Vouge. Some of their products are carried in spas, and they have quite a fan club! The Body Deli makes their own facial washes, soaps, creams, and more. Sounds like any other boutique shop right?

“But what makes this place to unique is that they actually have to refrigerate most of the products. Skin food!”

If you travel to this hot place, you can appreciate a cold cream or facial spray.The Body Deli Palm Springs Travel Natural -4Right when you walk in you can purchase kits with cleansers, lotions, toners, and treatments in the refrigerated section. You can also get an array of masks and treatments in a sample size. Its like an oasis for your skin! They also carry tons of other scrubs and beautiful scented creams, shampoos, and conditioners. All of the ingredients are sustainably sourced and some locally like their date scrub called “Coachella”.

Body Deli 2Here’s a Few Products I Purchased:

Vital C Repair serum-I didn’t feel an immediate difference, but my dry skin soaked it all up. I think you have to use this serum for a while to see any difference, but the ingredients are definitely potent. $18/48

Ingredients: Antioxidant Micro-Clustered Water, *Jojoba Oil, *Meadowfoam Seed Oil, *Virgin Coconut Oil, Fresh Cells of Pomegranate, Pumpkin & Carrot, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Rovisome Vitamin C (Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate), Alpha Lipoic Acid, DMAE, Coenzyme Q10, Retinol Palmitate, Allantoin, Olive Squalane, *Evening Primrose Oil, Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta Fructan, Beta-Glucosamine, *Chamomile, Citric Acid, Essential OIls of Mandarin, Sweet Orange, Ylang-Ylang, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate (Natural Perservative Systyem).

The Body Deli Palm Springs Travel Natural -5Rose & Geramium cleanser– I absolutely loved this facial cleanser! The texture felt creamy, hydrating, and smelled of roses. My skin was noticeably softer after using it. $12/$28

Ingredients: Antioxidant Micro-Clustered Ionized Water, Aqueous Solution of *Rosemary, *Lavender, *Rose, *Nettle, *Virgin Coconut Oil, *Jojoba Oil, *Avocado Oil, *Apricot Oil, *Castor Oil, Shea Butter, Squalane, Stabilized Rice Bran and Germ, Decyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Olivate and Sorbitan Olivate (Olive Oil Emulsifier), Vitamin-E (Alpha-Tocopherol), Lecithin, Allantoin, *Rosehip Seed Oil, *Evening Primrose Oil, *Comfrey Extract, *Carrot Seed Oil, *Arnica Montana Flower Extract, *Licorice Root Extract, *Chamomile Extract, *Rosemary Oil Extract, Oat Flour, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, *Rose Geranium Essential Oil, Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate (Natural Preservative System).

Body Deli_Papaya live mask- I didn’t feel any tingle with this mask, but I did feel like it was feeding my skin. This one I had to refrigerate and loved that it had such hydrating ingredients. $24

Ingredients: Organic Soy Amino Acid Base, Orgainc Aloe Vera Juice, Shea Butter, Green Papaya Enzymes, Colloidal Silver, Allantoin, Squalane, Evening Primrose, Rose-Hips, Calendula, Carrot Seed, Chamomile, Japanese Honeysuckle, Rosemary Oil, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Benzoin, Lecithin, Honey & Natural Fruit Extracts.The Body Deli Palm Springs Travel Natural -2

Coachella Date Scrub- A little goes a long way. This scrub feels luxurious and has so many great oils that hydrates long after the shower. I didn’t feel like the date smell came through too much which was a bummer. $13/$38

Ingredients: *Shea Butter, *Cocoa Butter, *Virgin Coconut Butter, Rice Bran Oil, *Avocado Oil, *Jojoba Oil, *Brown Sugar, *Medjool Date Sugar, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Lecithin, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Benzoin, *Thyme, Allantoin, Rose-HipSeed Oil, *Evening Primrose Oil, *Comfrey Extract, Carrot Seed Oil, *Chamomile, Rosemary Oil Extract, Essential Oils and Spices of: White Sage, Cypress, Juniper, Silver Fir, Grapefruit. (*Denotes Organically Grown Ingredients)

The Body Deli Palm Springs Travel Natural -6

Bamboo facial polishing powder– I was so happy when I saw a facial powder. I was looking for something just like this. The other facial powders I see have oat or clays. I never tried bamboo, and I will say it was effective and gentle. I’m not sure how the baking soda affected my skin, but it felt nice and clean. My makeup did go on smoother. $15

Turn your cleanser into a gentle and effective facial polishing scrub. This organic bamboo polishing powder will leave a smooth glass feel and is excellent for all skin types. This finely ground bamboo powder, mixed with sodium bicarbonate, creates an ultra fine polish to gently exfoliate and reveal softer, smoother, and healthier skin.

The Body Deli Palm Springs Travel Natural -1Check this place out if you ever visit Palm Springs or check out their products online  at The Body Deli Online

 

 

 

 

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I Tried 4 (Popular ) Non-Toxic Foundations and Here’s What Happened

I Tried 4 Popular Non-Toxic Foundations and Here’s What Happened

I went straight to the back of Sephora thinking I would claim the best non-toxic foundation once and for all. I tried 4 popular non-toxic foundations and here’s what happened: OMG it took a lot more time than I had imagined! The very first thing I did was make sure the packaging said no parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, talc, fragrances, or BHT, as well as vegan, cruelty-free, and more. Isn’t it such a mouth full of things we have to worry about? I guess we don’t have to, but I was determined to go as natural as possible. I always thought our bodies just detoxed itself and never took into the account of cumulative effects of what I was using.

Josie Maran Foundation

BONUS: Read till the end to get a cute wallet card you can print and carry to shop!

The long journey to find the right and effective non-toxic foundation officially started. Surprisingly, some didn’t even make the cut for a review! So a little background on my skin; It’s dry as heck during the day and gets oily as the day goes on. I have lots of aging spots near my eye corners and lots of uneven shadowed spots around my lips and eyes. Foundation is my miracle in a bottle. I prefer something quick and smooth to apply.

The first foundation that drew me in for my dry skin was the Josie Maran- Vibrancy Argan Oil Foundation Fluid ($45). Okay, maybe it was the bottle. This colorfully packaged foundation was right around the same price as most I saw, so I thought I would give it a try. I love argan oil! The consistency was very fluid-like and best applied with a brush (in my opinion). It smelled nice and I used it for 2 days. A whole 2 days! Why? It was a little too moisturizing and didn’t cover much.

Josie Maran Didn’t Cover All My Age Spots!

The foundation creased on all of my wrinkles and barely covered. I have yet to try the newest foundation from her line called Matchmaker Serum Foundation. Too bad on the original, cause I loved the packaging and wanted the sweet properties of argan on my skin. On to the next…

My next try was Cover FX- Natural Finish Foundation ($40) sold at Sephora as well. Apparently, the brand doesn’t sell anything with parabens, sulfates, fragrance, mineral oil, and talc. The foundation had a decent price and a perfect consistency, I had to try it. I used this one for 2 months and purchased another tube.

Cover Fx foundation with no filter!

It covered, it glided, it stayed, and it lasted longer than most of my foundations prior. Is it the tube? I’m still not sure, but this product is pretty amazing for my combo skin. A bonus is that its made with Squalene oil which may be the next “it” beauty oil. Loved this one!

Tarte Amazonian Foundation

The next on my list (even though I found one I liked) was this Tarte Amazonian Clay foundation ($39) all my friends were buying. I had to try this one for my readers! The first thing I thought was “whoa! this baby is thick”, but I knew I did want to cover those age spots as much as possible. I also thought of how it may last way longer than the prior foundations I’ve used. I threw it in my Ulta shopping bag and carried on. When I used it the next day, I used a brush for the thick consistency and it took a minute to get all the lines smoothed. It looked great, just a felt a little heavy. The next day I used my fingers to apply it. Again, it looked great and covered. By the third day I just didn’t have enough patience and used my other foundation that slathered on and glided in place. Ugh!! Moms aint got time for all that! I wish I loved it, but it takes to long and is too thick. Another upcoming brand I have yet to try with Amazonian clay ingredients is made by 14e. You can read all about their ingredients here.

Right shows blended results.

This next one I was hesitant to try. It’s a multi-level marketing product from Beauty Counter. I don’t even know why I was hesitant. Maybe I didn’t want to hurt any 4/5 friends that sold Beauty Counter Tint Skin Foundation ($41) on social media? I really should have grabbed it at Target when they carried them for a short while. I was lucky a friend saw I wanted to go non-toxic and jumped to sending me samples. How could I say no?

Beauty Counter Foundation

I really was curious and their company’s mission definitely matched my blog with being non-toxic and all. So a week later I got the samples and matched my skin color by combining 2 of them. The cream foundation comes in a tube and glided on nicely. It covered and then it dried out fairly quickly. What?! There was no more blending options after 1 minute. Could this be a good thing for moms? Overall I liked it, but I didn’t want to have to mix two colors and have it dry my skin. I could see how it may work very nicely for oily skin types. I just wished they had a bigger variety, cause I’m totally on board with their mission to change the cosmetic industry.

Beauty Counter Foundation + No Filter

One other brand that’s I’ll be watching closely is Willing Beauty. Right now they only have a tinted primer, but they really strive to just protect skin from the sun and they use some nourishing ingredients, which is pretty important don’t cha think?!  Also, Jane Iradale, Juice Beauty, and W3ll People are on my list to try (perhaps another review post soon?)

Print this card for easy clean makeup shopping!

Right-click, save, and print!

So many of my friends insisted I try some other brands, but honestly they just didn’t make the cut (see printable card). Choosing a non-toxic foundation is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I still didn’t understand a lot the ingredients named in these brands and still question some as I researched. For example; Titanium Dioxide is listed in most foundations to protect from the sun, but its shown to have possible carcinogenic effects. The point is, we have to find a balance between awareness and choice as the industry gets cleaner and more transparent. One thing I will end this post on is that luxury doesn’t always equal better and drugstore brand foundations come with a price.

P.S my car selfies are kinda out of control!


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My Cat Made Me Throw Away My Oils

I’m sure you all know cats can be highly sensitive to certain essential oils. Thats like common sense right? The kitt-tays have an amazing sense of smell, so you gotta be wondering what the effects of essential oils are on cats. This can be a tricky subject with a lot of controversies, so I’ll keep it simple as to what oils are considered “hot”, and tell you what I do now that we have a cat.

Essential Oils Cats
Poppy and I

 

Because Vets weren’t trained on holistic care and given the fact that essential oils just became very popular, you’re not going to find a whole lot of info out there. There was however a few common questions we can ask ourselves. I think the most important thing to ask is -what brands are you using?  Not all oils are made the same. Some oils have by-products, fillers, and some oils just naturally contain compounds that cause sensitivity in animals.

Lavender RMO Styled

I threw away all my oils and started fresh with Rocky Mountain Oils because of they offer GC/MS testing on every bottle purchased. Basically, its a chemistry technique for analysis on the oils. I like that they’re non-mlm and not over-priced. With all the rage with oils lately, its important to take a look at which oils you use and to steer clear of diffusing or applying certain oils topically to your pet.

Each essential oil is carefully bottled into protective amber glass bottles by trained professionals using state-of-the-art equipment. Bottles are securely sealed, labeled side and top, and prepared to ship to customers. -Rocky Mountain Oils

Heres the “Hot List” of oils that could be dangerous to cats:

 

Cat Essential Oil Hot List

 

Now on to what I do.  I diffuse a lot of properly diluted Lavender in my home. I still use peppermint in my lotions, and only utilize orange, lemon, or red mandarin in my morning showers to perk me up. Tea Tree is also something that is still a part of my self-care routine, but all of my oils are stored, diluted properly, and used mindfully. Like I said earlier in the post there’s isn’t much information out there, so just be conscious of your oil use. My research on this isn’t over on this topic, but this list is just a good place to start if you are new to essential oils!

Teatree RMO Styled

The holidays will be a little trickier with all those wonderful woodsy oils. Basically, don’t diffuse whats on the list or apply topically any of them before talking to a professional.

Love your pets and still love your oils!

Because I love these oils and their mission to make the oil industry more transparent, I’ve partnered with RMO. If you want to read more about the oils I use or shop Rocky Mountain Oils head here.  Any purchases made through my link supports my blog to bring you helpful articles like this.

What has been your experience with oils and pets? Join the conversation below!

 

 

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What The Heck Is a Smart Klean Ball? My Honest Review

sk-laundry-ball-webWait, so I don’t have to use laundry detergent ever again?

Why haven’t we heard of this laundry ball before? This could literally save me hundred of dollars! I had to see this for myself, a discovery that could be equivalent to wine (cause lets face it, wine is a miracle).

This is my honest review of The Smart Klean laundry ball.

It’s almost seems to good to be true!

This ball saved me on a road trip with our family! We didn’t have to buy any detergent and it saved tons of space in the car. For those of you that just started following my blog, I’m a military wife and we just relocated (and drove) all the way from Florida to North Idaho.

Smart Klean Laundry Ball
At the KOA Campground in South Dakota

I was really hesitant to try another gadget that probably was a gimmick and only lasts 6 months. Story of our lives right? Well, I also felt the detergents that I’ve been using were FULL of chemicals I couldn’t even pronounce. I wholeheartedly committed to the thought of having crunchy laundry if I was going to go non-toxic around my home. You don’t get all that softness with non-toxic products right? You have to give up something.

I tried the ball on a Monday when my child was in school and husband was at work. I was determined to really get into the science behind this ball. I did a few loads and saw or felt ZERO difference. I started to geek out for a bit on the technology of the ball.

I know for most of you this is the boring stuff, so I’ll try keep it simple with bullet points below.

how-it-works-imgside

Here’s 3 Basic Things You Need To Know:

  1. The ball is made with ceramic and magnetic palettes that rub together.
  2. Agitation of the ball changes the structure of the water molecules, which causes the pH of the water to change.
  3. The high pH water keeps clothes soft.

So to me this all made sense, it cleans the clothes, makes it soft. I used the ball for a whole week, and then I went back to detergent. Why? I didn’t even know why. My laundry felt the same, but just smelled a little prettier. I realized what I was attracted to-was the smell. My goal was to go less toxic, so I went back to the ball and I have been so happy with it ever since.

I think fragrance is such a powerful combination with our brains and it does take a conscious effort to get rid of some toxins in our life.

Saving money has been the biggest benefit for me. I love that there’s no replacement stuff, its re-chargeable in the sun, and I’m not using any toxins on my clothes. I mean this is as eco-friendly as it gets!

You can purchase the laundry ball HERE

Cleaning Cloth Diapers

https-www-etsy-comlisting495389746faux-glitter-hearts-cloth-diaper-fauxrefshop_home_active_2

Cloth diapers was something I was worried about for moms. I used to use cloth diapers when my princess was just a wee one. We loved them, but they were definitely a lot of work. As a 1st time mom I just didn’t have the patience to see it through 3 months. Although I do not have experience cleaning cloth diapers with this Smart Klean ball, I was directed to their blog (here) where they talk all about cleaning cloth diapers.

What You Really Need To Know About Using The Smart Klean Ball With Cloth Diapers: 

  1. Do not go over 2 dozen
  2. Pre-treat with stain remover
  3. Experiment for that particular type of diaper

Sounds easy enough! Let me know how it works for you in the comments if you have tried this ball, or come back to tell us about your experience.

Heres a video review I found on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD_VHjwrBjU

Why Hasn’t Anyone Just Made a Non-toxic Laundry Detergent? 

They say on their website that the ball is actually doing a physical process in the layers of fabric by releasing dirt and lifting it from the fabric. Detergents need to work harder and from the outside in. The best way for a detergent to be affective is with suds and surfactants.

Here is some info from their homepage you may find more helpful.

Laundry detergents and stain removers frequently contain alkyl phenol ethoxylates (APEs), which are common surfactants. APEs can damage the immune system, and they are suspected hormone disruptors, which mean they can mimic hormones in the body that regulate reproduction and development.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also warned that ethoxylated alcohol surfactants, such as APEs, may be contaminated with carcinogenic 1, 4-dioxane, which penetrates skin. Tests conducted in 1997 by the Washington Toxics Coalition found that supermarket or drugstore labels are more likely to contain APEs.

 

Smart Klean Laundry Ball Results
Results: Laundry Ball To Left Detergent Right

So if you want to try something with zero toxins that’s also great for the environment, then the Smart Klean ball is a no-brainer. I use this everyday and definitely recommend it.

Imagine not having to haul laundry detergent or run out ever again! This thing was a mom’s gift from heaven, so this is me -screaming from my washer that it works!

You can purchase this ball on their online store, amazon, or health stores.

 

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Whats an Oily Mama?

Alright, what’s this new term that has surfaced  oily mama?

Maybe you want to be an oily mama too! Well first off, you need to know that they’re talking about essential oils. I know…it sounds a lot freak-ier than that! Just oils. Why are they all the rage the last few years? They’ve been used forever, but companies like DoTerra and Young Living has brought it all to social media. This marketing is reaching younger generations and people in general that never paid attention before to natural stuff (that was me). This is cool news though ladies! You shouldn’t look over what’s been used for thousands of years. Especially if you’re a mom that wants more natural alternatives for your children and home.

yall-need-oils-shirt

I get it, oils are sort of intimidating. Allow me to give you the gist in a simple post. Firstly, essential oils are not oils, there’s no fatty acids, and is made up of organic compounds. Essential oils are highly-concentrated and highly-fragranced compounds of leafs, roots, flowers, barks, and plants. A lot of mainstream pharmaceutical companies still use these compounds, but since penicillin came out, a lot of synthetic drugs came to light. The attention has been taken away from plant-based medicine not too long ago.

There’s different ways to extract the oils from steam distillation to carbon dioxide extraction, to cold-pressing and a few others. Steam is the most common, carbon dioxide is the least unaltered, and cold-pressing is used for citrus oils. The one distraction method you don’t want is solvent extraction, which can leave behind solvents in the oils.

oils-floswer-banner

5 things you need to know before you get started with EOS:

  1. Skip oils all together first trimester if pregnant
  2. There’s a 5-year shelf life away from the sun
  3. Never buy something labeled “fragrance oil”
  4. Do not use citrus within 12 hours of sunlight exposure, due to photo toxicity
  5. Cancer patients should avoid certain oils, so always check

When you do select your oils, you will need a carrier oil to apply safely to your skin. Some great carrier oils are almond oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil, olive oil, and jojoba oil. The different methods for using oils are diffusing, aromatherapy, or therapeutically. I never ingest the oils, but some people do. When using a diffuser, certain oils can damage the diffusers. Some diffusers have special instruction on type water use, oils, and care and not all diffusers are quality. Do your homework on them. I prefer ceramic plated diffusers.

oils-shelf

Now that you know the basics, lets jump into the main oils used. Lavender is extremely calming and great for aromatherapy. Lemon is a natural detoxifier that also boosts alertness. Rose oil is excellent for moods, and has many benefits to help aging skin. Those are just a few of my favorite oils and is perfect for beginners.

Join the conversation! What’s your favorite oils?

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5 Jedi Mind Tricks to Help With Weight Loss

5 Jedi Mind Tricks to Help With Weight Loss

 

I’ve been there and done that! Kids and no kids, my weight has fluctuated quite a bit and it always came down to me and my desire to get moving, Firstly, you should never strive to unhealthy skinny and you should love what you got wherever you’re at in life. Sometimes stress is a real and big culprit. When you’re ready to make healthy changes, you can follow my 5 Jedi mind tricks to help you become successful at keeping the unwanted pounds at bay!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Wear Reminder Jewelry– Usually bad choices are made on impulse. You crave sugar, then the next thing you know it’s in your mouth! This idea works by giving you a reminder and a moment before all the damage is done. It’s kinda like the whole “sleep on it thing”. Make it fun, go treat yourself and even add a charm! Chances are you would have spent that money on junk food anyway. This is my lovely reminder below.

 

 

 

angry_cat_journal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Write in a Gratitude Journal– Your attitude is like a flat tire, if you don’t change it, you will never go anywhere. When trying to make changes like weight loss, we forget how emotionally challenging it is. Life gets busy and we get stuck on a hamster wheel. Get off the wheel for 5 minutes before you goto bed and leave a little trail of gratitude behind. Research has shown so many benefits linked to journaling. If you don’t have the time at night you can do it once a week. Just jot down 5 things that happened during the week that you were thankful for. Focus on people and not just mundane things. A great app is Day One- I use it weekly. I actually really enjoy looking back these things.

 

3. Post Sticky Notes- Reminders work wonders. When someone says you’re good at something, don’t you stop and think, “Ya, I am!”. You want validation for things you spend the most time on. When you are working on yourself, value your hard work. We all want to be valued it’s a natural human desire. Post pick-me-ups all around the house or office. Ya, you’ll look like a weirdo if someone uses your bathroom, but not if they look this cool.

motivational-sticky-notes-cartoon-cat-october-jones-12

Courtesy of October Jones

4. Collect a Jar of Hearts- Hearts, stones, or money, whatever gives you a visualization. Just drop a stone into the jar when you lose weight or maybe go a whole weekend without junk. Fill up the jar and you will feel satisfied with all your hard work. Goals!!

IMG_9296

 

5. Create a Vision Board– I know you are thinking this is soo high school, but it works! Research has shown that you are more likely to reach goals, if you define them. The power of attraction is possible with a little bit of work. Bring out all those old magazines and start getting down to your dreams. By dreams I mean realistic and attainable goals that are short-term. If you are really organized, you can create a life binder (pictured below). Make sure it’s not just about weight loss too. Identify your intentions and look at it everyday as an affirmation. You will be amazed, when you start checking things off!

71d837114033e401895a1cc100dc88e5

Basically, you have the power to control your weight loss. Yes, we all have off-days, cheat meals, and unexpected events, but don’t ever give up on yourself. Remember that progress is better than no progress.

 

What hack works for you?

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Influencer Networks You Need To Know

So you’re a blogger or Influencer, now what?

Being an influencer or blogger with a trusted following can reap big rewards these days! The best part about working for yourself, is you get to choose which brands you want to partner up with. Some brands have more restrictions, lower commissions, or shorter cookies (length of time it follows your customer online, so you can get the sale whenever they purchase) so make sure you take the time to read about the company and their small print.

What is the difference between Influencer Networks & Affiliate Networks?

Basically, you need something other than social media to do an affiliate program like a website, cause it involves a lot of links and banners. Influencer networks usually use discount codes to track your sales.

Here is  a few large networks that can pay pretty pennies if you have a solid strategy!

Rakuten 

Commission Junction

Pepperjam

Impact

Amazon Associates

These networks all have big brand names like BH cosmetics, Levis, ABC Mouse, and others. You can get on board with program from party supplies to lip glosses. I would recommend to ask your audience what they are most interested in.

invitations

Just an Influencer On Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Youtube Or Twitter?

Okay, so you’re not into the blogging and website stuff, but you have content like funny memes, videos, or beautiful pics. You can create a level of income that makes you feel like you’re living the dream doing what you love!

Heres a few Social Influencer Networks You Need To Know:

Influenster

Famebit

Tapinfluence

Fohr

Tribe

The networks typically send you the campaigns and offers money in exchange for a mention, post, or link.  This is much easier than content creation like blogging, but there is a bunch of people doing it right now. Some of these agencies also have large following restrictions.

I prefer blogging and doing my own thing with affiliate links, mostly because I have more control over all of it. Also,  because my content can constantly be making me money in the future (called evergreen). Which will you choose to do? Influence through blogging or straight social influence? Maybe a little of both?

Tell us how you’re growing your influence in the comments!

influencer

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Gemstone Inspired DIY Labels (+Recipe)

Print These Gemstone Inspired Labels Right Now!

I always say I’ll get around to doing labels, but never actually do! I currently have all of my homemade cleaning bottles without labels (not proud!) I know it doesn’t make my life any easier, but I wanted to wait until I actually found cute labels.

This is the first label I created and it’s inspired by gemstones. I’m definitely not the best on Photoshop and I know most average moms out there aren’t pros either. I found the most simple online tool and wanted to share it with you guys for printing your DIY labels. Heres the label template and directions below.

Step 1: The label above is formatted to fit any 2×2 labels, so just right-click and save!

Step 2: Purchase Avery water resistant labels (round, square, white, or clear) at the actual store (cause Amazon is a little outrageous with these.) I think they’re around $6?

Step 3: Head to Avery’s website and type in the code on the package. Easy!

Step 4: Click custom or browse the many designs. Just upload this design and add text like “Hand Soap” and press print! I used 92017 for the month and year.

Step 5: Enjoy your pretty new bottle labels!

Amber Bottles

Anything with essential oils is good to store in a glass, dark bottle. I like these from RMO. Don’t cheap out on these if you really want to get committed to a non-toxic lifestyle like me. The sprayer breaks and next thing you know, you’re at Target buying the next name brand toxic chemical.

Linen Spray Recipe

  1. 6oz Vinegar
  2. 4 Drops of Tea Tree Oil
  3. 4 Drop of Peppermint Oil

Before you go grab those labels, I must mention that this is what the final page looks like before you click “print yourself” what it does is actually pop-up a PDF, then you press print.

Let me know if you tried this!

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Stains Can Stick It!

Theres a new stain remover bar in town that looks like butter. I used it and I’m sharing all about it. 

Can’t stains just go away? I’ll be honest, I usually just end up donating clothes I don’t have the energy to fix. I know theres a way, but GOSH they can be pesky! If your like me and don’t feel like spending your afternoons working on stains-then read on…

Smart Clean Ingredients.jpg

Ingredients: Coconut Oil Palm Oil, Canola Oil, Water, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil, Litsea Cubeba Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Borax.

So I opened the package of the Smart Klean Stain Remover, it was a hard, fresh sweet smelling, wax-like bar. I made sure to follow the directions, which state:

  1. Wet area first
  2. Rub stick where needed
  3. Scrub
  4. Throw in the wash

Easy enough right? I had the perfect shirt that just got marker all over it. I started rubbing the stick and noticed it has real foam all the sudden. I could actually work with the suds to move them around the stain area. I scrubbed with my little knitted scrubbie (I just love those things!) and off the first blue tulle shirt went into the wash with several other pieces.

Tulle Shirt
First Blue Tulle Marker-Stained Shirt
I peeked as I took it out to go in the dryer and unfortunately, it didn’t get all of the marker mostly on the tulle area. BUT I tried a few other stains and here’s what happened.

The second thin pink shirt I tried was stained in grass and set out in the sun for a full 24 hours before I applied the Smart Klean Stain Remover. I repeated the directions and as I removed in from the dryer, I noticed lighter areas where I scrubbed. It got the grass out, but it looks like I may have scrubbed the delicate cotton material.

Pink Thin Shirt
Second Pink Grass-Stained Shirt
The last one to finally go in the wash was the third ketchup-stained green cotton shirt. This one I noticed immediate results after scrubbing in the Smart Klean Stain Remover. I was very pleased with this one! After all, my daughter mostly wears thick cotton clothes and her stains are mostly foods.

Cotton Shirt
Third Green Ketchup-Stained Shirt
Overall, I absolutely love that its eco-friendly, non-toxic, and that theres no wait time. I love the way it suds and smells. I am a little weary cause I haven’t tried to remove wine and it doesn’t seem to work on tulle. Other than that, I will be using the Smart Klean Stain Remover Bar for my everyday laundry stains!

Final Stain
Final Shirts After Using Smart Klean Stain Remover
The company is the same one that makes the laundry ball (which you can read all about here) and this is the perfect addition to being completely eco-friendly and non-toxic with my laundry routine. I never thought I would be this legit in getting toxic and wasteful products out of my home, yet here I am! 

You can purchase the Smart Klean Stain Remover Sticks here. I recommend stocking up to save on shipping!

 I was not compensated to review this product. 

Have you tried it? Tell us what you think below!

 

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5 Reasons Why Your Next Yoga Mat Should Be Cork

Out with the old and in with the new! The yoga mat is evolving and here’s 5 things you need to know about cork yoga mats and see the one I chose!

From Their Nomad Collection

 

Non-slip

Peace of mind is kind of what were trying to achieve in yoga right? There’s nothing worse (to me) than not being able to hold a pose because of my slippery rubber mat…then landing in a puddle of my own sweat! Apparently, cork contains a wax-like substance called Serbian, this has almost a suction-grip when wet.

Anti-microbial

It doesn’t hold the yuckies! Cork is naturally anti-microbial and if that isn’t enough for you and your hardcore hot yoga sessions, it can actually be cleaned with essential oils! I recommend lemon or tea tree essential oils.

Eco-friendly

The cork trees continue to grow after the cork is taken from the trunks. The cork trees mature about every 9 years and can be re-harvested easily. The bottom of the mat is lined with recycled tire, so from top to bottom of this mat, you can feel good about the environment and your footprint.

You can find some very cool designs

I love Yoloha mats because of their design + rubber lined design in the Nomad series. I chose the Wanderlust print cause it just spoke to me. The Sacred geometry was a close second choice though. (Shop here and enter code “TwinkleMom” at checkout for 10% off)

You can feel good

The cork yoga mats offer so much peace of mind when it comes to being conscious about the environment and sustainability. If you want to repurpose your old yoga mat you can check out this old post for a craft idea, or check out Pinterest for some really cool home décor ideas with old yoga mats.

Easy To Carry

Yoloha was such a great pick for me that I decided to become an ambassador too! Their concept formed from surfboard designs, they’re an eco-friendly family, and a US-based company. The choice to network with a great group of people wasn’t that hard. I love choosing to work with brands that support my way living toxic-free. If you shop with Yoloha here make sure you don’t miss out on savings made just for my readers enter “TwinkleMom” for 10% off your whole purchase!

I Love My Cork Yoga Mat
Oh and if you haven’t yet, you can check out how I’m loving this mat on my Instagram. Follow me @mrspfisty and Yoloha @yolohayoga cause they’ve got some pretty sweet inspo!

Have you ever heard of cork yoga mats? What do you use?