Best DIY Baby Balm

Hey moms! What sorts of products do you use for your babies bum to help prevent rashes? Powder? Balm? Ointment? Cream? There are a lot of products out there, right? But are any of them actually working? Many products out there are harming to the skin and body, and some don't even work, although they may be expensive. They contain harsh chemicals that may be harmful to your sweet baby's skin. They could cause an allergic reaction, breathing issues (if using talc), and more. I decided to make my own balm for my little boy's bum. I do my best to use gentle products on him or, like with this one, I make them myself with natural ingredients. This balm is made with 3 simple ingredients and works wonders on the skin. It has helped tremendously with preventing rashes on baby's bottom, and I have used it on my dry skin several times, too! Without further ado, here is the recipe: 1-2 T coconut oil, about 5 drops of myrrh, and about 5 drops of calendula oil. I pretty much eyeball when I put my essential oil concoctions together. But it works! Why? These 3 ingredients are a mighty force when united. Between the 3, you have antibacterial, antifungal, anti inflammatory, healing, and soothing properties. How awesome is that!

Give it a try. Play with the oils and see what works best for you! Do you use myrrh or calendula oil for anything? How about coconut oil?

This post contains affiliate links. This blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The price doesn't change for you, it just means I get a small commission if you decide to buy. Thank you for your support!

Recycling With TerraCycle And Arm & Hammer

It is easy to just go to the store and purchase products not knowing how the containers, bottles, or bags will affect the environment after we throw them away in the trash. We have heard about recycling plastic bags, water bottles, cans, etc. But there are many items that can be recycled and reused. We just have to keep our eyes open to see how we can go about recycling these items. When we do our share on recycling, we help the environment and each other. We conserve energy and save natural resources by reducing greenhouse gasses and pollution while reducing the amount of plastic that goes into the landfills, which may lead to the oceans and harm marine life and us.

Sometimes, we want to help recycle some items but don't know where or how to go about it, besides recycling plastic bottles, cans, and bags, which your local city has locations throughout shopping centers and parking lots. At least that's how it is where I live.

Have you heard of TerraCycle® They are a recycling program that recycles the "non recyclable." They are eliminating the idea of waste. They collect almost any form of waste: coffee K-cups, candy wrappers, pens, and more and recycle it to be reused over and over. Recently, TerraCycle® partnered with ARM & HAMMER™ to recycle some of their product pouches. The pouches will be cleaned, melted, and molded into new recycled products. So now, when buying ARM & HAMMER™ or OXICLEAN™ laundry detergent pouches, we can send them in to be recycled and used as something else. And the cycle will continue.

What exactly is currently being recycled? The following are products currently being recycled with this program: ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda pouches, ARM & HAMMER™ Power Paks Laundry Detergent pouches, OXICLEAN™ Laundry Detergent Paks pouches, OXICLEAN™ 2in1 Stain Fighter Power Paks pouches, and OXICLEAN™ White Revive Laundry Stain Remover Power Paks pouches.

The Baking Soda pouch is one we always have in our home. We buy the 13.5 lb. bag because we use it for many things around our home and for our bodies. It is used for our dishes, laundry, general cleaning, skincare, oral care, hair care...you get my drift, right? We use a lot of baking soda all the time. But the empty bags would end up in the trash, sadly. Now that I have learned about this program, I will definitely recycle the pouches!

Points can be earned each time pouches are recycled, as well, and can be redeemed for a variety of charitable gifts, product bundles, or a payment of $0.01 per point to the non-profit organization or school of choice. 

Check out their website for more on how to send in your pouches and how to redeem your points here.

The rewards that this program offers are many! I am happy to share this good news with you!

Is there anything you recycle? If so, what do you recycle and why?


This post contains affiliate links. This blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The price doesn't change for you, it just means I get a small commission if you decide to buy. Thank you for your support!

My Newest PINCHme Box Samples

Every month, I check my PINCHme account to see if I get to try some new samples. As you know, I enjoy receiving new samples to try. It is fun trying new things! In this box, you can get a variety of products, like food, snacks, shampoo, lotions, vitamins, dog food, laundry soap, and more.

This past month, I received only a few items, but have enjoyed trying all of them. I received a coupon for a free Slim Fast Slim Cafe and samples of Garnier Whold Blends Oat Delicacy Shampoo and Conditioner, and Garnier Fructis Smoothing Treat Hair Mask. Sometimes, they send out a sample repeat, which in this case, I got spicy Skittles.

The way PINCHme works is you sign up for an account, fill in some demographics and questions so they can see what you may qualify for according to their current promos/clients. Every month, if you qualify for some stuff, you will see it available in your account under Samples, you add it to your cart, and then they send out the products. You have some time to try the product and review it or answer a survey. It's easy, and you get to share your opinion on each item!

Give it a try here and share your thoughts on which sample has been the best sample you have tried. For me, one of the samples that I have enjoyed the most (there are many, but if I had to choose) was Barilla Pesto. Why? Because I was introduced to an easy, yet yummy dish that my family loves!! I would have probably overlooked it at the store and not purchase it. Now that I tried it, I remain a loyal customer to this product and many more that I have tried this way. This is why I love trying new products! So are you ready to try some new stuff, too? If so, sign up here!

Till next time! 💋

Samplesource Samples

I received more samples from Samplesource. Have you heard of them? They are similar to PINCHme, except they send out Spring, Summer, and Fall samples to the U.S. and Canada.

Let me show you what I got to try this Spring:

☆ Welch's Fruit Snacks
Yummy, juicy, and sweet. I shared with my son and husband and we all loved this fruit snack.

☆ Persil ProClean Laundry Detergent
Left my laundry smelling nice and super clean!

☆ Nature's Path Organic Heritage Flakes
I am a bit sad that this bag had torn in the mail at some point before arriving. We didn't get to try it, but that's okay. Maybe we'll get another chance to try this.

Have you tried any of the above? Do you get stuff from SampleSource?

Tarte Cosmetics Haul

How cute is this Pamper & Prep Makeup Ready Set from Tarte Cosmetics? I recently bought it when the sale was 20% off plus $5 via Ebates for my entire purchase from this haul (4 items...not too shabby, right?). Aren't sales and savings/rebates apps awesome?! Plus I earn reward points each time I shop through their site. More on that later, though. Right now I want to show you what I got. I am excited!

Back to my pretty set: It is an eye cream, face oil, & mosturizer that hydrates, nourishes, and preps! It is packed with vitamins, fatty acids, antioxidants, and maracuja oil providing my skin with natural softness. A little goes a long way. My face has been feeling good and well nourished. I needed this, especially with this hot weather and dry winds that we get in my area. This is good for daily use, and it is perfect for when I travel. I hate it when I have to use something else during my travels just because I wasn't able to fit my original products in my bags due to their sizes, and I hate taking them out of their original jars to put them in those "travel-size" containers. I feel they go to waste!

I am happy with my little pamper & prep set!

The next item I purchased was the Rainforest of the Sea 4-in-1 Setting Mist. 

A pretty bottle that is able to do four things in one! This is definitely a crowdpleaser! It is true with what it says it does. It is a primer, hydrating mist, makeup setting spray, and refreshes your skin. I like to use it for all the above. Misting my face throughout the day to give me a fresh feel is my favorite.

My final purchase for this haul:

Tarteist Quick-Dry Matte Lip Paint

I love lipstick, but for some reason lipstick does not love me. It disappears within the hour after applying! I needed something that not only was a pretty color, but something that was going to stay ON MY LIPS. So I looked into lip stains, and found these. I first received a sample a long time ago in a birthday bag, and this lip stain became, and has been since, my favorite lip product. They have so many vibrant, gorgeous colors to choose from. They are fairly easy to apply. And they last a long time on your lips, making your lips look divine!

Take note on lip stains: you need some prepping before you apply so you can get the best look possible that will last. Here are some tips straight from Tarte Cosmetics:

• Use a lip scrub to prep and condition lips prior to each application.
• Use the lip paint's precision brush wand to trace on longwearing matte color. First, use the felt tip to contour lips by tracing along the upper and lower lip line. Then, shade inside the lip line using the flat applicator surface.
• The quick dry formula will set in seconds and adhere to lips all day.

Now that we got the tips down, you can now play with your lip stains and see which is your favorite color. I haven't really boiled that part down, yet. There are too many pretty colors. But, soon as I choose my fave, I will definitely update you!

I appreciate when a company doesn't add a bunch of harsh chemicals to their products. There are so many chemicals out there that are harming us, in and out, as well as our environment. With Tarte Cosmetics, I don't worry about wondering if I will rash or have any sort of reaction. Their beauty products tend to be cruelty free, paraben free, gluten free, sulfate free, and I believe some of it is vegan, too. I support small businesses, especially when they are natural, non gmo, and are fighting for a good cause. But there will always be a place in my heart for bigger companies that care about me, too.

If you haven't shopped Tarte Cosmetics, you should. They have a lot of good products and they always have sales! Plus, you can earn reward points which can lead to free stuff when signing up for their Reward Program! Check them out today, and let me know what you think!

This post contains affiliate links. The price doesn't change for you, it just means I get a small commission if you decide to buy. Thank you for your support!

Simply Earth Essential Oils Box ~ April

I received my Simply Earth essential oils recipe box and I got my Big Bonus Box! There is so much in here! 

Just so you know, the essentail oils box is a subscription box that you get monthly. Each month is a theme, so you get a chance to learn about new oils. Recipe cards come in the box along with some accessories so you can put together what you like from the recipe cards. The Big Bonus Box comes with your essential oils subscription box every six months. It is filled with all the necessary products and accessories that will be used for the following six months.

For April, I decided to use my wool balls and add the oil to them, and I put them in the dryer. I normally use softener sheets to help with static, but the wool balls actually worked! My clothes did not have static and they smelled really nice. 👕👖👌 

In the Big Bonus Box, I got coconut oil, almond oil, beeswax, and lots of accessories: balm and lotion containers, roll-on balls, 5 ml bottles, spray bottles, extra containers, and inhalers. This is a lot! It's going to be so much fun putting my recipes together! 

You don't have to get the subscription box. You can just get a few things, like essential oils and some roll-on bottles, for instance. But if you do get the box, you can make adjustments to when you want the box. Either way, if you try them out, you will love them like I do. Plus, you will be helping to fight against human trafficking.

To receive a $20 Gift Card and a Big Bonus Box ($50 value) on your first essential oils subscription box use my code PEARLS2CENTSFREE! Go here for the link to shop!

Let me know what you think! 😉

Love For This Awesome Loaker Box

If you like sweet treats that are delicious and crispy and has you wanting for more, then you will love Loaker! Yum! These treats are so good! I was moved by how scrumptious these treats were. They moved me, yet had me in such a relaxed 'food coma' stage. My family enjoyed each wafer and chocolate to the fullest!

I received this box as part of a program that I participate in and earn points for rewards. Check them out here if you're interested.

Thank you Loaker for sending these yummies over!!

Have you tried any Loaker sweets? Do you have a favorite?