Best Places to Buy Frankincense Resins and the Best Frankicense Essential Oils of 2024

This is long post.  If you don't have time to read my musings about frankincense, but just want some recommendations on where to buy it, skip to the end.  You're busy, I get it.  But if you have time to read some of what I have learned about frankincense over the years, please enjoy this post and read it all! It might make you think more about who you buy from and how much you buy. 

Where does Frankincense Come From?

• Boswellia trees have a wound defense mechanism that produces a sap that turns into resin.  This resin is Frankincense, and is further turned into other prized products.

 Where do Boswellia Trees Grow?

• Over a dozen Boswellia tree species grow naturally along these third-world areas (see Figure 1, image D for a super cool map) of Africa and Asia.  In Africa, these trees are family-owned, family-operated, and family-harvested. As a result of some things going wrong (see below), some people believe that many of the Boswellia species are in danger.
• Did you know that a few Boswellia trees are growing successfully in Arizona and Florida by individuals who love the species and are trying to preserve them?
• Perhaps they could also be grown in the deserts of California, Texas, Mexico, Brazil, Corsica, and South America!

How is Frankincense harvested?

• Hardworking, third-world persons face the harsh elements (including hiking and climbing long distances) to travel to the places where the Boswellia trees grow, and then strategically cut the trees to trigger the Boswellia trees to send their sap to fix their wounds.  
• Then they wait (often camping nearby) for the frankincense resin to be hard enough to collect.
• Then the collection begins.  
• With their precious resin collected, these persons sell it individually or combine their harvest with others sell it as a community, co-op, ect. to big suppliers (or sometimes direct buyers).
• Then the resins often go through many sorting and trading hands before they end up on your doorstep.   

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

• Fair trade practices are ignored or implemented improperly.
• Exploitation of women sorters.
• Tree mismanagement (either improper tree care or overharvesting)
• Thieves (harms both people and trees)
• Drought
• Animal foraging and trampling
• Pest infestation (burrowing beetles)
• Deforestation
• War
• Can you think of anything else that might go wrong? Comment below.

doTERRA; An Example of Fair Trade Gone Wrong!

So, doTERRA is a mega-producer of essential oils.  They do try to care about fair-trade and sustainability.  But frankincense is one oil that they just plain messed up in, and they messed up so bad, for so many years, that I predict they will forever rue the day they partnered with a crook.  I'm not going to go into all the details (maybe I will in later post).  You can read more about it here.

Basically, doTERRA handed over a huge sum of money to Asli Maydi company with the charge to fairly pay all those involved in the harvest and sorting of the frankincense resins of Somaliland, build and maintain a hospital, and some schools.  Then they posted all sorts of claims about fairness and sustainability and traceability on their website. 

What really happened is that the Asli Maydi owner (Barkhad Hassan) was actually a crook who mishandled the money, the trees, the people, and the charity builds.

And while the sadder-but-wiser doTERRA is trying rectify the situation, how can you fix YEARS worth of mismanagement, poor trade, and exploitation of people and trees?  doTERRA is in over their heads and not truly repairing or back-paying any of the harvesters or sorters.  Why?  Because surprise, surprise, that information wasn't properly documented in the first place because they put their trust in corrupt people to do it for them!

Trade Smaller and Better

While I wish I could say that this doTERRA fiasco is the exception rather than the norm, how are we to really know.  The most important parts (harvesting and sorting) of the trade are basically untraceable and unregulatable IF your are buying mass quantities of resin.  Truly, the only way to trace better is to trade on a smaller, more personal scale.  And that drives up the price.  But if the price isn't driven up, then who is really paying for the true price of frankincense?  It's the caretakers, harvesters, and sorters who truly pay the most!  They truly have earned a fair wage.  It is time to start paying it.

So as we forward into my recommendations of where to buy frankincense, I plead with you to:

• Buy with awareness of the trade and the species and a purpose.
• Use your purchase of frankincense sparingly.

Now getting back to what brought you here is the first place, buying frankincense.

The Best Frankincense Resin Sellers of 2024:

Boswellness:  My number one recommendation to buy the frankincense resins of Carterii and Frereana is Boswellness.  Boswellness is actually making a difference in Somaliland, and has been even before doTerra dominated the Somaliland market.  That is something that Somaliland desperately needs after doTerra's corrupt EX-supplier Barkhad Hassan massively ripped off any tribe of Somaliland that he traded with, and then fled the country.

Apothecary’s Garden: Dan Riegler is a thousand times more knowledgeable and in love with frankincense than I will ever be!  He sells 17 different types of frankincense resins.  If your looking to expand your resin collection past the typical Carterii, Frereana, and Sacra, then Dan's the man!  He also is one that freely shares his knowledge of how to use these resins.

Mountain Rose Herbs: For frankincense resins of Sacra.

The Best Frankincense Essential Oils of 2024:

I need to preface this by letting you know that if you are buying frankincense for any illness related to inflammation, you would be better served to utitlize the whole resin, as the essential oil does not retain any boswellic acids.

The only companies I am including in this showdown are Plant Therapy, Revive, and Edens Garden (they offer free shipping and can compete with Amazon).  These calculations are based on the gc/ms reports of what they currently have in stock.  For a time, I was wary of Revive, but they are now being tested by Robert Pappas once again, so are back on my good side.  Other companies that I would trust include Nature's Gift, Eden Botanicals, Kokokahn, Desrosiers International, and Rocky Mountain Oils.

Frankincense Serrata Winner: Tie between Edens Garden and the organic version Plant Therapy.

Frankincense Carterii Winner: Tie between Revive (not the certified one) and Edens Garden.

Frankincense Sacra Winner: Revive

Frankincense C02 is another realm entirely, and I don't know how to effectively judge those.  But the one from Edens Garden had 20.38% Serratol, which is jaw-dropping and almost scary medically.

the best lavender essential oils of 2023

I use lavender essential oil quite a bit and although it's not my favorite scent or oil, I believe from reading journal articles that lavender is one of the most tested and proven therapeutic essential oils.  It's also a great base for many blends.  When I ran out of my doTERRA lavender oil (I don't purchase from doTERRA anymore for ethical reasons), I became obsessed with finding THE best lavender essential oil.  Oh, how many articles and GCMS reports I poured over!  I don't want to be the only one to benefit from all that research, so this post was born.  Enjoy!

I would trust ALL of the following lavender essential oils to be pure, unadulterated, undiluted, and high quality.  Seriously!  I combed through their description and GCMS reports, compared prices, and production dates.  No, I have not tried all of these, but I would be happy to have any of them.

best lavender essential oils budget picks ($1.00 or less per ml as of July 2023)

• Plant Therapy Organic Lavender from Greece/Bulgaria (May 2022)
• Simply Earth Bulgaria Lavender (March 2023)
• Revive French Lavender  (March 2020)
• Davina Wellness Bulgaria Lavender (October 2020)

very best lavender essential oils overall

• Edens Garden Bulgarian Lavender
• Revive Organic Greek Certified Lavender

noteworthy picks

• Rocky Mountain Lavender from Greece/France (Mar 2023)
• Kokokahn high altitude French Lavender from Provence, France
• Nature's Gift High Altitude Wild from Provence, France (Feb 2023)

fun lavender sets

• Edens Garden lavender 3 set or go crazy with the lavender 6 set
• Revive lavender trio

Ever wondered how to make sense of those big words on GCMS reports?  Hopefully, the following guide will help you.  I'm not an expert chemist, but I am an expert consumer and I don't click "buy"  on essential oils without feeling good about it.  The following are key things to look for in lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) GCMS compound percentages:

• Linalool:  Normal range is 25-40%.
• Linalyl acetate: Normal range is 25-45%.
• Lavandulyl acetate:  Normal range is 2-4%.   Super low percentages of lavandulyl acetate could be a red flag for adulteration. Super high quality, unique lavenders have higher than 4%, but this is not typical.
• Terpinen-4-ol:  Normal range is 2-6%.  Terpinen-4-ol supposedly provided immune support.
• Beta carophyllene: Look for 2% or more to benefit skin
• Camphor: 1% or less
• 1,8-Cineole: 1% or less
• Borneol: 1% or less

Lavender is often adulterated with the cheaper and lower quality lavadin which is usually higher in camphor, or with synthetic linalool or synthetic linalyl acetate.

I would love to hear about your experiences with lavender oil and specific brands!

Best Sock Brands? Ultimate Sock Brand Review

 

With 11 in our household, our sock pile is impressive.  When our family was smaller, I bought my kids whatever socks were on sale and looked cool...mostly Fruit of the Loom or Hanes.  But as our family size increased, matching and folding socks like this became a real chore!  My solution?  Each child gets a different brand, which also has the requirement of being all the same color.  For example:

• Papa: white Puma, dark dress socks
• Child 1: white Hanes
• Child 2: white Dickies
• and so forth...

The system works pretty well. Every now and then we try out new brands.  Over the years, we’ve tried many brands over the years.  It’s been pretty interesting to find out which socks wear out the best.  I won’t talk about them all, but I thought I would talk about 12 of them.  I’ve divided them into the following categories; top quality, noteworthy, and just okay.  Within each category is a list of brands arranged alphabetically.

Top Quality

• Adidas:  The cushioned ones with arch support are the best.  We ordered these over three years ago for my daughter before switching over to white Dickies.  She has continued to wear the Adidas alongside the white Dickies, and the old Adidas just started getting holes.  Three years before getting holes is super impressive!!!
• Dickies:  My favorite series is their Dritech Advanced and I got them in black.  My daughter started borrowing them from me and we decided to get her a white set to replace the aging Adidas.  Our local store sells Dickies and so it was an easy switch.  Dickies have arch support and are sturdy, cushioned, reinforced, and even have a "reciprocated heel and toe for superior fit".  I've had mine for almost three years and just spied my very first hole.  My daughter's had hers two years and counting with no holes!
• Gold Toe:  Seek out their hard-to-find athletic Ultra Tec ones which are super soft and super sturdy.  What tickles me about this brand is that it ages really well.  The little bits of gold lines on it (indicating its size) are still clear and the whiteness of the rest of the sock is still pretty bright.  I actually can't think of a different brand that compares to how well these socks age.  They are over a year old and look to be just a couple months old.  I plan to stick with this brand for my son, but it is becoming increasingly hard for me to find the specific series and/or size and/or color.

Noteworthy

• Carhartt:  I got the cozy low-cut socks to wear when it is so cold that I wear thermals under my jeans.  There are excellent deals for Carhartt socks on Amazon.
• Hanes:  This company is best-selling for a reason.  Seek out cushioned, tough, premium ones.  My oldest son loves the Max Cushion Crew series.  I’d say they last about 6-9 months before starting to get holes.  Pretty good for such an inexpensive brand.
• Jefferies:  A leader for baby, toddler, kids, and dress socks.  Over a year ago, I bought the School Uniform Seamless Half Cushion Quarter Sport Socks in pink for my toddler girl.  Although the pink color has faded away, there are no holes.  They are more pricey than your average brand.
• Puma:  Their Repreve series is good…save money and buy in bulk from Costco.  Puma is the brand of choice for my husband and second son.
• REI:  Longlasting!  I was given a hand-me-down pair for my son and it is still going strong.  It doesn't have any holes and it retains its shape well.  I think this current style is comparable.

Just Okay

Wear-Out Pattern of Children's Place Socks

• And1:  The lightweight summer sport ones get holes fast.  If I wanted to give the brand another try, I would get their Arch Compression Cushion Comfort series.
• Champion:  I’ve given up on their C9 series because although they are cushioned with arch support, they don’t last and get holes fast.  You'll be replacing these about twice a year.  They have a wear-out pattern very similar to Children's Place crew socks.
• Children’s Place:  Their toddler crew socks are better than their regular crew socks but I’ve almost given up on them.  They don't age well.  They become almost crispy.  And when they do decide to get a hole, it transforms into huge holes faster than other brands.  For the price, I'd look elsewhere.  I keep buying because the black and gray ones are easy for my toddler son to find and I’m too lazy to train him to find other ones right now. But I'm working up to a brand switch!
• Fruit of the Loom:  They have been making socks for years and they feel great but they also don’t last long.  They are also cheap enough that if you don’t mind replacing them a couple times a year, they would be a good brand.  Look for cushioned, reinforced ones.

I hope that this short and blunt Ultimate Sock Review has given you an idea of how to organize that beastly sock pile to make it more manageable.  I also hope that I have given you some ideas of what brands to pursue.

Got a favorite sock brand or series?  Please comment below!

FREE doTERRA Membership with ANY purchase; best doTERRA hack

Updates in red:  I can no longer recommend the doTERRA company.

Original Post:

Want to purchase doTERRA products at wholesale prices but don't want to pay the $35 membership fee or buy a pricey enrollment kit?  Then this is your lucky day!  I wish that I had been able to start with a referral link to a free membership because my doTERRA journey sure has been bumpy.

doTERRA has a "Refer a Friend" program and it is basically the best deal I have ever seen them do, tying only with their Buy-One-Get-One (BOGO) sales that run a few times a year.

If you can get a referral link from anyone with a doTERRA membership (just ask on FB and I am sure the doTERRA flock will happily comply), then ANY purchase gives you FREE wholesale membership to doTERRA for one year.  Plus, your referring friend gets a reward of 20% of what you buy in your first purchase.

MetaPWR: doTERRA’s most versatile blend with DIY MetaPWR

2024 Update:

Finally!  doTerra is finally facing up to the truth.  They hired a scumbag resin supplier that ripped off the tribes of Somaliland.  Read the doTerra Newsroom response here.  They also devoted an entire website portal to this issue.  I researched Barkhad Hassan and Asli Maydi company back in 2022 and quit doTerra because of it.  I also researched Anjanette DeCarlo.  But after days of researching frankincense in Somiland, Asli Maydi, and DeCarlo, I stopped for my mental well-being.  I was in turmoil over something that was a world away that I had zero control over.  When I wrote to doTerra about it, they did not address my question AT ALL.  Now, two years later, I am feeling a bit more at peace.  This is one of those times when the truth, albeit glossed over, finally comes to light.

Update:

I decided that I can't recommend the doTERRA company.  Over the last year, I had questions regarding their Frankincense oil (their most over-priced and controversial oil) and its associates would not give me straight answers.  The further I dug into finding out answers, the more doTERRA became the King of Defection over the King of Oils, leaving a bad taste in my mouth.  I did not always feel this way about their company and have some of their oils that I still use, but have no intention of reordering from doTERRA.  I hope that one day their corporate leadership will be fully transparent, show public remorse, abandon their corrupt supplier, truly buy direct from the locals, and begin to repair the frankincense fiasco that they created (whether knowingly or unknowingly) in Somaliland and surrounding countries.  Maybe one day if I get brave enough, I will do a post about it.  For now, please do some research and decide for yourself if doTERRA is a company for you.  I still think that the oils in MetaPWR create a great blend though.  Here's my guess*** at the MetaPWR formula:

DIY MetaPWR Oils:  

• 35% Ruby Red Grapefruit
• 25% Lemon
• 25% Ginger
• 10% Cinnamon Bark
• 5% Peppermint

To make a more child-friendly version, switch the peppermint out for spearmint, and then make sure to only use this as a diffuser blend for kids (on account of the cinnamon bark).

How to grow Tomatoes as Perennials

This post is for my future reference, but it might interest my readers as well.

Tomatoes are tender perennials.  In a mild enough climate or warm enough greenhouse they can last for about two years.  Some people dig up their tomatoes and bring them in and then out again each year.  Others grow clones of their treasured tomato plants and grow them over the winter then put them out in the Spring for a headstart on the season. Read on for these methods in detail!

Norwex vs E-Cloth: Why Premium Microfiber is not your Cleaning Fairy Godmother

I could spend a long time comparing all the cloths that Norwex has to offer with all the cloths that E-Cloth has to offer, but for everyone's reading sanity, let's keep this short and show each brand's two major cleaning cloths.  Both brands produce premium microfiber cloths.  And I love cleaning with them.

E-Cloth draped over Norwex. The window cloths are on top of picture.

Close up two E-Cloth General Purpose Cloths and Norwex Enviro Cloth 

What you need to know about both brands:

Norwex makes high quality microfiber cloths.  So does E-Cloth.
Norwex is rather expensive.  E-Cloth is rather reasonable.
Norwex strands are 1/200th the diameter of human hair.  Same with E-Cloth.
Properly used, Norwex can remove up to 99% of bacteria from a surface.  E-Cloth boasts over 99%.
Norwex has a 2-year microfiber warranty.  E-Cloth has a 3-year microfiber warranty.
Norwex a 60-day satisfaction guarantee.  E-Cloth does too, but there is no stated time-frame.
Norwex has BacLock.  E-Cloth does not.  E-Cloth used to dabble in such a feature with their Professional General Purpose cloth but ultimately decided to nix silver additives.

Why are Magna-Tiles so expensive? 4 things you need to know about Magna-Tiles.

I am NOT including Magna-Tiles in my magnetic tile review series for 4 reasons:

• Magna-Tiles are expensive (well over a $1.00 per tile)!  You are paying for the brand name because, like most other magnetic tiles, Magna-Tiles are also made of high grade ABS plastic and simple ceramic magnets.
• Magna-Tiles have only five different magnetic shapes in their 100 piece set.  If you want unique pieces, you need to buy a deluxe or expansion set.
• Magna-Tiles' customer service is mediocre (You have to buy directly through their website to be eligible for their 30 day satisfaction guarantee).
• Magna-Tiles quality has gone downhill.  Apparently, the old Magna-Tiles used to be super strong. and the new-style is much weaker.  See this youtube video called "Magna-Tiles by Valtech: Old-style vs. New-style".  

If the current style of Magna-Tiles could do what the old style could do in that youtube video, then I would feel confident in purchasing. (Please note, I know of no other brand of magnetic tiles--except PlayMags for one brief episode that I never could repeat--that can do what this video shows the old style Magna-Tiles doing.)

When I contacted the company about their strength and quality declining, they responded, saying,

“The materials for the product have not changed in 20 years :)”.

The response was a little evasive, if you ask me.

Their materials may not have changed, but their design certainly has.  In 2011, Magna-Tiles added metal rivets to their tiles.  I think the design change resulted in a weaker tile that was just too heavy to perform as it used to.  Or perhaps the magnets had to be weaker to conform to current toy safety standards.

Here is a close-up picture of the old-style versus new-style.

http://kk.org/cooltools/magna-tiles/

https://valtechmagnatiles.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/valtech-magna-tiles-square-pyramids.jpg?w=670&h=518

Why don't Magna-Tiles go on sale?

Magna-Tiles has a “Minimum Advertised Price Policy” which means that retailers have to advertise it for a certain company-approved price.  If you're waiting for them to go on sale, stop waiting because even if a store is going to put them on sale, they wouldn't be able to advertise the sale price because of their "Minimum Advertised Price Policy".

Where can I get the best deal on Magna-Tiles?

If you are set on buying Magna-Tiles, then you should get them from Barnes and Noble using the 30% Kids Club coupon.  You would be subject to Barnes & Noble's return policy which is pretty strict ("Returns are accepted within 14 days of the date that you received your order. All returned items must be in their original condition; shrink-wrapped products must be unopened.") OR you could try a Lakeshore Learning store and use one of their store coupons (during Christmas they usually have Buy 1 item Get 1 item 50% OFF store coupons).  OR if you have a Target % OFF coupon/code, you could try buying from Target.

What are some alternatives to Magna-Tiles?

I'm so glad you asked.  I've tested many brands and written a post called Best Magnetic Tile Set, and it contains my most up-to-date recommendations.

Jello Simply Good Gelatin and Pudding Review

I cannot tell you how pleased I was to find JELL-O Simply Good gelatin.

I'm talkin':

Feel-like-doing-cartwheels pleased.

High-fives all around with the grocers pleased.

Creating abstract art with my JELL-O Simply Good loot pleased.

Seriously, I had given up on finding gelatin mixes without artificial dyes and it was just so satisfying to see these little packets of JELL-O Simply Good gelatin with the words "NO artificial flavors, dyes or preservatives" on the front. I bought all the flavors.  Then when I saw them in another store, it was happy flashback time and I bought even more.  And I picked up quite a few puddings too.  Yes, puddings too!

Ollas Part 3: How Did My Garden Grow?

So if you read Ollas Part 1 or Ollas Part 2, you will know that I have a fascination with gardening with Ollas.

Last summer I used about 10 ollas in my tomato gardening adventures.  Two of those ollas were the GrowOya brand and the rest were homemade.  Now that Spring is here I thought I would give a quick update on how my tomatoes did with ollas, so that I can potentially save you some time.

It did not go well.

I think that the super dry climate of Utah just did not allow the tomatoes to get the much needed water from the ollas, even when I filled up the ollas everyday.  And this went for both the bought GrowOya and my homemade ollas.  And just so you know, filling up ollas is a pretty big chore with lots of funnels and squatting involved.  Basically, during the intense heat of the summer, it was not fun and since it was not rewarding, it was double not fun.  I ended up watering from above to save my urban tomato crop.

So, even though I love the idea of using ollas to cut down on water usage and be a super cool gardener, I cannot recommend it for a dry desert climate, especially for use in growing tomatoes.  I. Am. SO! Bummed.

Do Magic Erasers have formaldehyde?; Magic Erasers vs Norwex Cleaning Up Pads

If you are reading this post you probably have heard someone say something along the lines of:

"Magic Erasers have formaldehyde in them!"

OR

"Magic Erasers are toxic and cause chemical burns!"

You are probably wondering if you should ever use Magic Erasers because you are wondering if they are safe.  I have been in your position too.  Years ago I first heard something along those lines, did some research and was reassured enough to begin using them again.  Then recently I heard the same thing again and realized that I had forgotten all of my past research, so I decided to research them again, document my research, and post it for my future use down the road.  So this post is for me to remember as much as it is for you.

Along with the food and body product revolution, I have been whisked into the "clean without harsh chemicals" movement.  For me, its all about showing respect for my body and the earth.  So I have been taking baby steps to avoid harsh chemicals.  And since Magic Erasers are just sponges that work with water alone, they fit into my "try to clean with just microfiber, water, or non-harsh chemicals" ideology.  I love the cleaning power of Magic Erasers, especially for my stove-top.  So when people say that they are toxic, that sends me scrambling for answers/proof because I don't want to give them up.

Okay, so here is how this post will go.  I will provide you with a description of the ingredient in Magic Erasers, explain that ingredient, provide safety information, and then lastly compare it with Norwex Cleaning Up Pads.  I'm including the comparison at the end because both times that I heard statements accusing Magic Eraser of being unsafe was from Norwex consultants.

What are the ingredients in Mr. Clean Magic Erasers?  Proctor & Gamble reports that the only ingredient in Original Magic Erasers and their Extra Power Magic Erasers is melamine polymer, which is an "Abrasive Foam".

What is Melamine Polymer Foam?  Melamine foam is a "foam-like material consisting of a formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfite copolymer."  Melamine Polymer is also known as melamine foam, and is a form of melamine resin.  Melamine foam feels soft but really is as hard as glass and cleans through abrasion.

Okay, so the scary word fomaldehyde is there.  But did you catch the dashes in between formaldehyde and melamine and sodium?  Those dashes are not just "ingredients" in a recipe--it is a complex scientific process that produces a different compound.  I don't understand it but chemical engineers and scientists do.  So in melamine resin, the "formaldehyde is more tightly bound in melamine formaldehyde than it is in urea-formaldehyde, reducing emissions".  Here's a snippet from that page for you:

WHEW!  Now onto some explanations that I do understand.

Birthday Freebies that are Worth the Trouble

Ah, the never-ending birthday freebie list.  Do you know what I'm talking about?  If not, you need to do a "birthday freebies" google search and get with the program.  ;)  I've signed up for so many of these birthday clubs that every year round this time my inbox is full of "freebies".  Which I LOVE!

But, to be honest, some of those freebies are just not worth the trouble.  I mean, a "free dessert" is just not that appealing to me.  So I am kind of stingy with how I use all those freebies.  So I thought I would you clue you into my:

No Messing Around

Birthday Freebie List

Completely Free Meals:  These places offer completely free birthday meals and most of them give a range of dates that the offer is valid, so spread that birthday cheer around.

Replacement Guarantees; Ginsu Knives and Norwex Microfiber Cloths

I want to talk about warranties and replacement guarantees.  It is not uncommon when making a purchase to come across warranties and replacement guarantees.  Often times, this is a selling point for me.  If I can buy with confidence, then I am more likely to dish out the cash.  But I haven't utilized many warranty or replacement guarantees.  I usually think, "Why bother?" because the company will just find a loophole and not honor it.  But this year I ended up putting some companies to the test: Ginsu and Norwex.  Find out how it went below!

Mad World of Skin Care

Happy Monday to you all!

Here is a quick  just a reminder about my last post and the Sam's Club FREE annual membership offer for new and expecting mom.  If you meet the qualifications of expecting a baby or being a mom to a little one that is one year or younger, then you have until tomorrow, September 29th, to contact Sam's Club and let them know that you would like to get the free membership for new or expecting moms.  They will then most likely send you a mailer that you can take into your nearest Sam's Club and finish the sign-up process.  Wow, isn't this so kind of Sam's Club?  Will you please remember to thank them for this generous offer?

Okay, now moving on to what has been weeks in the making.  

I am so excited to start a series on NATURAL SKIN CARE.

I am now in my 30s and am seeing the beginnings of wrinkles and age spots.  I used to be perfectly happy using a fresh diaper wipe (hey, mother of five here!) to quickly cleanse my face before hitting the hay and then splashing my face in the morning with water and calling it good.  I wouldn't use lotion unless my face felt dry.  Seriously, that was my skin care.  But these last few months, I have had to change my tune.  I actually care about cleansers, toners, serums, and masks now.  I have been picking up things from the supercenter, the mall, online, ETC.  I have been researching products and companies and let me tell you this:

Made with reuse image of earth and picasa.

I still go into slight panic mode when I think of all the options.  There are thousands of products to chose from, from your average St. Ives to Chanel, ranging from $ to $$$ per product, and consisting of made-made chemicals to essential oils to snail mucus.  It is CRA-ZY!  And the claims that companies make sound like they are in possession of The Unbeatable Elder Wand, when it is basically just a industry of pseudoscience.  Lets get real.

Oh, I'm Just Stretching

MONDAY MUSING

This weekend I have been feeling stretched.  I'm a mother of five kids, 10 years and under.  Mothers feel stretching of all kinds.  It begins with a stretching belly but the stretching never ends.  What kind of stretching am I talking about?

E.L.F. and their nonexistent return policy

Today's MONDAY MOUTH-OFF is about the cosmetics company ELF and their non-existent satisfaction guarantee/refund policy.

Before I continue this mouth-off, I want to say something positive.  ELF has some fantastic products at a fantastic price.  My all-time favorite blush/contour (shade Turks&Caicos) and blush brush is from ELF.

I still buy from ELF but not as much as I would if they stood behind their products.

With the exception of ELF, I cannot think of any major cosmetic company that has not rectified a negative product experience through refund or compensation coupon.