REVIEW: VITRUVI ESSENTIAL OILS

I'm very self-conscious of the smell of my home. There's nothing like inviting people into your home for the first time only to have them smell stinky diapers (thanks, Levi). On the other hand, you don't always want your house to smell like an Anthropologie volcano candle all of the time. Well, I mean, I do, but I don't have time for that, and I'll probably forget to blow out the candle. SOLUTION: VITRUVI essentials oils and their porcelain diffuser. 

I'm going to level with you. I'm not a crazy essential oils person. I like the idea of them being able to help keep me healthy and I'm open minded to the benefits of them, but, truthfully, I just like them because they smell good. HAHA! There. I said it. Man, that felt good to get off my chest. 

So, aside from their potential healing properties, I love these oils because they smell fantastic and I can create my own home scents. VITRUVI had me at their branding (sleek and modern), and then when I saw their beautiful porcelain diffusers I knew I had found the right oil company for me. They also carry oils that resonate more with me such as spruce, cedarwood and grapefruit. I like more woodsy and clean smells for my home, and I'm not a huge floral fan. 

You can tell they care about the home experience and the product experience. The diffuser has a couple different misting settings and has a night light if you wanted to light a hallway or an entryway.

Out of all of the diffusers and oils on the market, I would say VITRUVI cares about quality and design more than the rest. Check out their site to see what I'm talking about.

Photos by Rennai Hoefer

GETTING A BRIGHT SMILE

After all of the orthodontia I went through (headgear, braces, retainer, etc.) you better believe I am doing everything I can to keep my pearly whites looking their best. As I have gotten older and started drinking drip coffee in the mornings, I have noticed my teeth have started to yellow. I used whitening toothpaste for a bit but I found it made my teeth very sensitive so I stopped. I have tried Crest White Strips, but they tasted terrible and were really expensive. But, recently, I tried a toothpaste that did the trick in three days. 

It's called AP24 by Nu Skin. I was skeptical about it when I started seeing friends post about in on Facebook. I thought, "Oh no. Is this another get rich quick scheme?" When a close friend of mine started selling it I had to ask her the million dollar question, "Does this stuff really work?" She said, "Yep, and it tastes like normal toothpaste and doesn't make your teeth more sensitive." Noticing I was still skeptical, she said she wold give me the toothpaste at no charge to try it as long as I gave an honest review about it. 

I accepted her challenge, and just three days after using it I saw a dramatic difference. In fact, I have been using it since then and they don't seem to be getting whiter than the white I got after three days. So, that means, you just have to use this toothpaste for three days and then return to your paste of choice. At least, that's what I have done, and the next time I see my teeth getting yellow again I'll bring this one back out because it works like a charm. 

This toothpaste is expensive compared to any normal tube you would find at a drugstore, but $20 isn't much to pay compared to expensive whitening treatments like white strips or trays. If you are in need of a brighter smile I highly recommend AP24. 

All photos were taken with my iPhone to ensure that no post editing or professional photography would alter the results. I do not make any money by promoting AP24 toothpaste.

SUBSCRIPTION BOX WORTH YOUR MONEY

Everyone loves getting mail and receiving gifts, so the concept of subscription boxes is truly genius. Each month or each quarter, depending on the service, you receive a box in the mail with goodies. There are subscription services for foodies, for crafters, for kids and for fashion lovers like myself.

I recently received one from FabFitFun, where they aim to give you a little of everything for "a life well-lived." The "fab" is all about feeling and looking great, so in my box I received a necklace and several different beauty products such as bath bombs, lotion, hair products, etc. to try. The "fit" is all about wellness and I found a yoga mat holder that doubles as a resistance band. The "fun" aspect was a DIY herb garden.

It was definitely a fun unboxing experience because everything was a complete surprise, but I wouldn't say everything was tailored to what I would generally pick out for myself. I planted my herb garden, which was something out of the norm for me. I feel like it encouraged me to try new things which made it fun. However, I was also left over with products I didn't really like the smell of or wouldn't use such as hair oil.

All in all, I would say that subscription boxes are worth the money if you are trying to give someone a gift that keeps on giving. They are also great gifts when you don't really know what the person would like because they give you a little bit of everything. I wouldn't necessarily buy it for myself, but I absolutely see it as a luxury to give someone else. If you are interested in trying FabFitFun you can get 10% off your subscription by entering the code "AVE" during checkout. Click here to check it out.

Photos by Rennai Hoefer