Breville One-Touch Tea Maker Review

Breville One-Touch Tea Maker

I drink a lot of tea! Different types have many health benefits and once you start you simply can't stop! Tea unlike coffee doesn't give you a spike in energy then crash, it is an even release of energy throughout the day and whom doesn't love that! There are teas that help curb your appetite, relax, aid in digestion, and even fall asleep.

I have been wanting this tea maker for over 3 months now! Have researched it to death and finally was able to get one with a coupon to save myself 20% or $50 being that it retails for $249 and I have yet to find it "on sale"! I purchased it at Teavana, where I purchase most of my teas. It's a lot of money for some but we don't drink coffee in our house, just tea!

This is the first machine that is most like a coffee maker, being that you can set it to brew before you get up so that you have tea waiting for you! What I love about it also is that the basket automatically descends into the water and then once it has finished brewing it lifts the basket again!

For anyone who makes tea as much as I do using loose leaf tea, you know the pain of standing there waiting for the timer to go off because if you leave the leaves in too long you end up with a very bitter taste!

It is very easy to set up, clean, and use. The only downside I have noticed so far is that you must be VERY careful as to not run water over the Carafe. I am assuming because of the electronics under it on the base. If you drink tea you need not wash it because the more tea that is brewed in a pot the better and more complex the tea will taste from that point out.

Again, yes it is expensive, but so are the teas I purchase. With this machine I won't be wasting any of the tea leaves! We don't drink sodas, sweetened processed drinks, or coffee so in the long run we are saving money. I drink at least 4 cups a day (White, Rooibos, Oolong, Green, and Herbal, rarely black)  and if you go to Starbucks for tea, it's about $2.50+ for a cup so that would be $10 day. With that math it will pay for itself in about 30 days when you add in the cost that I pay for my leaves and German Rock Sugar or Agave.

If you have any questions then please ask! So far, I love this! It's a dream for tea drinkers!! 

Ouidad Styling Mist Setting & Holding Spray Review

I've been trying some of Ouidad's products recently and must admit that my curly hair loves everything I have tried from their line! This is no exception! I spray this on my hair after my leave in conditioner and let my hair air dry. My hair is not scrunchy but rather has my bouncy curls that I love, and they remain frizz free! YOu can spray them again once your hair is dry to hold your style even more if you like.

I live in the south where high humidity is a problem from late April through fall so I have tried almost every product out there! I will stick with this!

Ouidad 12 Minute Deep Treatment Intensive Repair Review

This deep conditioner is what us curly haired girls have been looking for! Even if you straighten your curls, you NEED this! Yes, it is a little on the pricier side but it will give you the same results that you get at a salon and you can do more than 1 treatment so it will save you money in the long run! This really brought my hair back to life as I color it, straighten it sometimes, and wear it in a ponytail a lot! This has saved my hair!

I don't typically stand with a hair dryer in my hand while a shower cap is on. I put it in my hair, add a shower cap, blast it with heat a few minutes then go and do what I was doing around my house.

You can also use a very small amount as a leave in conditioner! I did this while I was out by the pool and it helped keep the chlorine out and gave me a very deep treatment!

Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo Review

Love this shampoo! It clarifies your hair without stripping color or moisture!

Typically when I see clarifying on a shampoo I avoid it at all costs! My hair is curly, fine, and color treated! I have tried clarifying shampoos before and upon rinsing the product out my hair felt completely dry and ratty! This rinsed clean and I could run my fingers through my hair before I even used my conditioner! Now that is saying something!

I used my normal conditioner and my hair even while wet seemed healthier and moved more freely.

I have a filter on my shower so for this product to still have this kind of effect on my hair, even though I don't have a chlorine build-up tells me that I will be re-purchasing it when this bottle is empty!

Silver Shatter by OPI review

Hi guys! I've seen the Silver Shatter by OPI in tons of mags and just recently it became available in a store near me! The black always sold out but I wasn't too interested in it anyway. I did grab the silver Shatter on Friday! Now I, along with many others can get lazy about the upkeep on our nails due to the fact that we as women are always so busy who has an hour to go and sit at the salon to get a manicure? I simply don't!

Well, long story short, I had my nails painted red, they were chipping some so I decided to put the silver Shatter over them. Let me tell you, this idea is brilliant! Not only does it hide flaws in you polish, but it gives them a very cool look! I can't find any of the other colors yet, interested in the teal, but with Silver, it's a color that will go with any other color you may have at home already! My Shatter was done on Saturday, in the car on a road trip! Very easy!!!

Silver Shatter by OPI over bright Red nail polish

I simply LOVE the look!

Sabrina S., M.S.

Tea sample 3, peppermint review

Today I finally tried the 3rd tea; organic peppermint. Very nice. To me, all peppermint teas taste about the same as did this one also but what I love is the fact that it is organic and peppermint!

If you are looking to save some money then any peppermint tea will do but if you love organic then give Talbott Teas a try!

Sabrina S., M.S.

Talbott Teas new tea review. Green teas with Ginger, Calendula, Sunflower, and Peppermint

This tea was absolutely wonderful. You get the green tea benefits with the taste of peppermint! I couldn't really taste the ginger but I loved this blend.

I don't drink coffee so this gave me a boost of energy throughout the day without the crash that my friends get with coffee!

Sabrina S., M.S.

Talbott Teas new tea review. Organic Chamomile Mint

I was chosen to be a tester for some new Talbott Teas flavors. Today I received the tea, 3 flavors, which came in an unbleached filter bag. I typically use loose tea so this will be a change.

I brewed the tea according to the directions and I must say that the collaboration of chamomile and mint is a very interesting one. You can't really distinguish the mint taste from the chamomile while you are drinking the tea but you can feel the cooling of the mint after you have swallowed the tea. It makes your your mouth feel fresh.

The chamomile is strong, which is a plus for me. There are some teas out there that no matter how much you put in the brewer, the flavor is so weak it's like drinking warm water.

This tea I give an A+. It relaxes you the way a chamomile tea should, gives you a little extra with the mint, and I love the fact that it is organic.

Tomorrow I shall post Sample B and C as I try them.

Sabrina S., M.S.

New Running Shoes!

If you love to maintain your beauty from the inside out then more than not you are likely to exercise. I workout through many different avenues, resistance, water, cardio, pilates, rollerblading, etc. Anything to change it up.

Many people are not aware that in order to maintain the cushioning in a shoe you must rotate them and give them up to 48 hours to decompress! If you wear the same shoes every day you are not doing your feet justice!

I am not huge into running, mainly due to a bad back injury. I do like to try it sometimes though, mostly in a gym or track where I know I am safe if my back goes out. I have worn many different brands of shoes but the absolute best I have ever purchased yet are the new Asics Kinsei 3 shoes. They are pricey, at $180, but when you compare them to the other big name brands, the prices are equivalent.I only wear them on the days that I am going to run or jog on the treadmill or track.

Do a little research on them, go try them on, and you may simply agree that they are your best shoe purchase to date!

Sabrina S., M.S.