Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Part 1: Setting Up My Hair Profile

I recently had the opportunity to try out Formulate shampoo and conditioner formulated just for me. My Formulate story began with a simple online survey to determine which natural ingredients would best serve my hair goals and hair type.

Soon after setting up my profile, I received a package from Formulate with my customized shampoo and conditioner.

Part 2: Experiencing Hair Detox

Once I received my package, I immediately incorporated the Formulate shampoo and conditioner into my hair routine. One difference I noticed was that the shampoo and conditioner felt thinner than what I was used to, and there were not as many suds. However, this was to be expected because they do not contain sulfates. I really liked the refreshing Freshly Squeezed orange scent (you can also choose how strong you want the scent to be.)

The first couple of weeks I used the Formulate shampoo and conditioner, I noticed that my hair felt very greasy/oily and “heavy”.  After doing some research, I figured out that my scalp/hair was going through detox because my hair was used to shampoos and conditioners with sulfates and parabens.  Sulfates strip oil from the hair, and the scalp has to over produce oil to compensate.  Therefore, when I first started using the Formulate Shampoo my scalp was still overproducing oil and it was not being stripped away.

Part 3: Healthier Hair

I am pleased to report that after surviving “hair detox”, my hair now feels and looks healthier. It is less oily, and feels thicker and softer. I guess it just took time for my scalp and hair to adjust. The communication and customer service at Formulate are excellent, and they will work with you if your formula does not meet your expectations. If you would like to give it a try, set up your profile here today!

I am also excited to announce that one of my readers will win a set of Formulate Shampoo and Conditioner customized to his or her hair goals and hair type. Enter here, and good luck! Plus, everyone else who enters will receive a $5 off coupon.

Disclosure: I received a free sample in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

A few months ago I told you about my positive first experience with the Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box. Today I am excited to have the opportunity to review their June Recipe Box.

The June box is full of great summer “essentials”! It contains:

• Liquid Aloe Vera (Filled with antioxidants to fight sun damage)
• Dried Hibiscus Flowers (Protects against premature aging and controls oil production)
• Anise Star Essential Oil (Uplifts, comforts, prevents gas and nausea, aids in digestion)
• Head Soothing Essential Oil (Ho Wood, Lavender & Frankincense)
• Palmarosa Essential Oil (Promotes healthy skin, calms, helps sleeplessness, and reduces fungus, swelling and aches)
• Grapefruit Essential Oil (My favorite!! Uplifts, energizes, clears oily skin, promotes healthy hair, and cleans naturally)

This month’s recipe cards are for After Sun Blend, Beachy Hair Spray, Hibiscus Skin Repair Bath Salts, and a Travel Buddy Roll On.

As someone who often suffers from motion sickness, I immediately made the Travel Buddy Roll On. It contains the Head Soothing Blend, Star Anise, and Almond Oil. With the contents from my original Bonus Box, I had everything I needed to make it. I will be sure to keep this Roll On handy in our car this summer!

Simply Earth is offering a great deal for my readers! When you start an Essential Oil Recipe Box Subscription, you will also receive a Big Bonus Box AND a free $40 gift card when you use the code LIMBYLIMFREE at checkout. (New subscribers only).

I am excited to announce that Simply Earth is also generously offering my readers a chance to win an Essential Oil Recipe Box plus a Big Bonus Box!

Disclosure: I received samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Have you heard of disc golf? I had heard of it and seen a couple of courses, but no one in our family had played it before. When Kestrel contacted me about reviewing a couple of their disc golf sets, I searched for a local course where we could play. I saw that there was a disc golf course located at Aldrich Park in the heart of the UC Irvine campus so we decided to check it out.

The Kestrel disc golf sets each come with three sizes of discs: a driver, mid-range and putter. These discs are made of high quality plastic and are Professional Disc Golf Association approved!

I like how these Kestrel sets come with their own bags. They make it easy to transport and keep the sets together at home.

At first we found a nice open field and practiced throwing the discs back and forth.

Next we started our hunt for the disc golf baskets, which look like this:

However, none were to be found. We even asked a couple of students along the way. I had D look up the course map on his phone and he figured out that this course did not use the baskets. Instead, their “holes” were light posts wrapped with different colors of tape.

The discs are designed for different distances, just as you use different clubs in golf. We ended up guessing where to start from and which target to aim at.

Even though we did not play an “official” game of disc golf, it was still a lot of fun. n wanted to keep on playing, but our parking time limit was up! Next time we will have to find a better marked course with real baskets. However, even if there are not any disc golf courses near you, I think it would also be easy to make your own course, since you really just need to set up targets.

Disc Golf is a great way to spend time together outdoors as a family. A Kestrel Disc Golf set would make a wonderful Father’s Day gift.

Enter to win a Kestrel Disc Golf Pro Pack Bundle + Bag!

Disclosure: I received a sample in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Have you heard of Brick Mates? My son loves to build things with his hands, so I knew he would enjoy playing with their Stack By Numbers kits.

Each kit comes with everything you need to create a 3D piece of art that can be hung on a wall. The building process allows kids to use their problem-solving strategies, develop fine motor skills, as well as practice math skills such as counting, quantifying and patterning.

n had a lot of fun putting his picture together and he really liked the 3-D effect of the end product! The Stack By Numbers toys are recommended for kids 5 and up. Younger kids may need some help, but n had no problem figuring everything out by himself.

Stack by Numbers is STEM.org authenticated and recently won The National Parenting Center Seal Of Approval. This would be a great screen-free way to keep the kids busy during a summer afternoon!

Stack By Numbers comes in a variety of different fun designs and can be purchased on the Brick Mates website or Amazon.

I am pleased to announce that Brick Mates has offered to give away a Stack By Numbers kit to one of my readers!

Disclosure: I received a sample in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.

This 828 Movement Bracelet is more than just a bracelet; it provides hope. Unfortunately, educational inequality still exists in America. The 828 Movement is a non-profit that donates 100% of its net profits to underfunded urban schools in the United States.

According to the 828 Movement website, 828 represents several significant days in American/Black History:

August 28, 1833: Slavery was abolished in the UK which led to American abolition.

August 28, 1955: Emmett Till was brutally murdered which was a catalyst to the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.

August 28, 1963: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream Speech”.

August 28, 2005: Hurricane Katrina landed in Louisiana and the delayed response for relief impacted mainly black communities.

August 28, 2008: Barack Obama accepted the Democratic Nomination for President. 

Each ring on the American-made 828 Movement Bracelets is symbolic:

• The Past: 13 metal rings 
To remember the 13th amendment and lives lost
in the struggle to abolish slavery. 

• The Present: Engraved ring for August 28th
To honor the date 8/28, when important events in the fight for equality line up in history.

• The Future: a single ring for hope
The pursuit for educational equality continues.

These 828 Movement bracelets come in a variety of colors and are a stylish way to support educational equality. This would be a meaningful gift for an educator or anyone else who appreciates the continual fight for justice in our country.

Giveaway Time!

Enter below to win a 828 Movement Bracelet for yourself, or to give as a gift.

Disclosure: I received samples in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.

I had a chance to watch a preview of The Pilgrim’s Progress with my kids, and it is a good one! As I mentioned in my earlier post, I have never read the classic book, The Pilgrim’s Progress. I knew it was an allegory for one man’s journey through the Christian life, but that is about it. The fun part about watching this movie with my kids was seeing them make the connections for themselves. For some of the scenes and characters, the implications are quite obvious, but for others it may be a little more difficult for kids to decipher. I really appreciated how this movie provides a lot of opportunity for deeper discussions about the Christian faith. Watching this movie would be a wonderful way to celebrate the real meaning of Easter with your family. It could also be a way to start a conversation with a non-believer relative, friend or acquaintance.

*Please note that in my opinion, some scenes might be a little intense for younger children.

Watch the trailer:

Genre: drama/ animated
Rating: NR
Run time: 1:45
Studio: Revelation Media
Talent: John Rhys-Davies (THE LORD OF THE RINGS), Kristyn Getty, Ben Price

The Pilgrim’s Progress has a very limited engagement in theaters. It will be playing for only 2 days –April 18 & 20, Easter weekend!
Thursday, April 18, 7:00p
Saturday, April 20, 12:55p

• Buy tickets NOW (click here)
• Invite a friend
• Bring a group (click here)

Giveaway

I am excited to have the opportunity to hold a giveaway for The Pilgrim’s Progress! Three winners will each receive a Fandango gift card loaded with $25 (good only toward The Pilgrim’s Progress movie on April 18 or April 20) AND a hardcover illustrated storybook of The Pilgrim’s Progress.