Bookish Product Review + Giveaway: NovelTeas Tea Tins

If you're a tea lover (like myself), you're in for a serious treat today, because I'm about to introduce you to my favorite tea shop in the whole world - a BOOKISH tea shop that sells incredibly delicious teas in stunning hardback size tins!!! So take a deep breath, brace yourself, apologize to your wallet in advance - and say hello to NovelTea Tins! 

I discovered NovelTea Tins on Instagram a while ago. I saw their amazing tea tins, went to their website and immediately purchased the Earl Grey one called "The Picture of Earl Grey" (get it?! Instead of The Picture of Dorian Gray?!! :D). NovelTea Tins folks were awesome enough to actually send me TWO of their GORGEOUS tins, along with a brewing device, fridge magnet and a bookmark. ALL OF IT LOVELY!!!  Read on to find out what I thought about the tea and then be sure to enter the giveaway Jorgen and I have put together for you!

The Picture of Earl Grey -a gorgeously aromatic, rosy Earl Grey blend. 

     I'm a big tea drinker and I love many different kinds of tea - from green tea, to fruity blends - but Earl Grey tea is most definitely my favorite. I love Earl Grey tea. I could drink it all the time.

I was beyond ecstatic to have discovered NovelTeas and The Picture of Earl Grey, because not only is this a favorite tea of mine, but it comes in a truly stunning collectible tin. The tin is so beautiful, it's hard to believe that it's just a tea container. It looks breath-taking on my shelf and everyone who visits, admires it. As you can see in the photos I took, it's really quite a large size tin - ever saw the B&N hardcover classics? They're about the same size as this tin. Inside it, there is a 3OZ bag of loose leaf tea (makes about 33 cups), and the best part is, when you run out of this delicious tea, you don't have to order another tin, you can just purchase a refill bag!

Now, let me tell you about how good this tea is. I honestly don't think I have ever tried a better Earl Grey tea. Like, ever. I like Tetley and I like the English Garden blend from Inspired by Jane, and I also really like the Harney & Sons Earl Grey tea, but I still like this one the best. I went through my first bag within maybe 10 days, because I got so addicted to the taste of this tea, I kept making excuses to brew another cup. It's just so aromatic and rosy, and leaves you with this incredibly smooth aftertaste. It's amazing!

NovelTeas has two other teas in their store - Don Quixotea and War and Peach - and they are working on adding one more, which will be Pride and Peppermint. I'm so exited for Pride and Peppermint, guys! I seriously can't wait! I really want to buy the other two tins as well, but that's going to have to wait till after we move. But it is going to happen, there's no way I am passing on that!

There's no greater pleasure than reading while drinking a cup of really good, aromatic tea. It makes for a phenomenal experience. And drinking a novel tea while reading a classic book, is just TOP NOTCH. I can't recommend NovelTeas enough. The founders of this company work extra hard to bring you the highest quality blends in the utmost unique tea tins you'll ever see, and they're just really sweet and kind folks. Be sure to check out their store and give their teas a try - I promise you, you won't regret!

About the tea:

WILDE'S ROSY TEA BLEND - THE PICTURE OF EARL GREY

Organic jasmine green tea with a rose-blended Calabrian bergamot to radiate hedonism and beauty and wait for your reflections, eternally.

"The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it."

NovelTea Tins are tea tins shaped as books with tea inside that matches its title. The Picture of Earl Grey™ is the second title in our library of literary tea tins. It's a tribute to Irish author Oscar Wilde's 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' and is available both with and without tea. 

TEA BLEND:

WILDE'S ROSY EARL GREY

TEA TIN DIMENSIONS: 

9.4IN X 6.3IN X 2.4IN

TINS WITH TEA CONTAINS: 

3OZ (85G) LOOSE LEAF TEA (33 CUPS)

About NovelTeas Tins

NOVELTEA TINS™ RESEMBLE GREAT BOOKS WITH ORIGINAL MOTEAF™ ARTWORK AND UNIQUELY BLENDED TEAS INSIDE, FLAVORED TO THE THEME OF A CLASSIC STORY.

We are a family of book and tea lovers in Berkeley, California who discovered a real thirst for quality tins. Our mission is to serve elegant, collectible reminders of the incredible potential for human imagination and laughter.

OUR CURRENT LIBRARY OF BOOK TEA TINS INCLUDE:

• Don QuixoTea™ - Man of La ManChai™
• Oscar Wilde's - The Picture of Earl Grey™
• War and Peach™ by L.N. Tolstoy

Find NovelTeas online:

Website | Instagram | Twitter 

Giveaway

NovelTeas and I have come together to bring you an awesome double-treat giveaway! 

We are offering a prize package consisting of one tea tin of choice from NovelTeas and one mug of choice from my Society 6 website.

This giveaway is open to US/Canada only.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beauty Product Review: Milagrous Anti Aging Serum

This Anti Wrinkle Serum really works. It smooths out your skin visibly (even in just a quick test-run, when you apply a bit to the skin on your hand, you will notice the blurring effect in the area).

It's a serum, not a cream, and while some serums have a more jelly-like consistency, this is a typical "watery" kind. Which is perfectly normal and has nothing to do with the ingredients not being good enough. In fact, it only means that the Carbomer content is on the lower side (it's a fluffy powder used as gels in cosmetics and personal care products to achieve desired consistency and texture.

If you look at the list of ingredients, you'll see that it has some fabulous ones. Including Aloe, Hyaluronic Acid (improves your skin’s moisture content and at the same time strengthens skin’s barrier), Vitamin C, Vitamin E (Tocopheryl acetate), Witch Hazel extract (contains antioxidant polyphenolic compounds that protects skin from sunburn and photo-aging), Ferulic acid (anti-oxidant), Jojoba (skin elasticity and moisture), and more. These are all organic, naturally derived ingredients. The serum is made in USA, it's cruelty free, vegan friendly and contains no harmful substances (100% paraben, alcohol, oil free).

I've been applying this twice a day, before cream/moisturizer, and have noticed improvement in the look and feel of my skin. Like I said, it's definitely smoothing and moisturizing. It provides your skin with a boost of nutrition and helps retain moisture for as long as 12 h. I noticed my skin feels very soft and moist in the morning (if I apply the serum before going to bed). I haven't been using it long enough to testify about the anti-wrinkle properties, but with ingredients like these, I am pretty confident the results will be showing soon. The skin under my eyes and on my neck definitely feels tighter and more plump already.

Overall, this is a great product. The packaging could be improved a bit (the printing on the label is a bit blurry), but in the end, it's what's in the container that counts.

Disclaimer: I received a FREE sample of the product for review consideration. All thoughts and opinion are my own.

About Milagrous Anti Aging Serum:

• Is this good for my skin? What if I have sensitive skin? We love our customers. That's why we carefully blended this natural anti-aging serum from hand-picked organic ingredients. It is also suitable for every vegan. To protect your skin from aggressive chemicals, it is paraben, oil and alcohol free, has no fragrances or fillers. Full of botanical and naturally derived ingredients and never tested on animals.
• The serum makes their skin soft, smooth and hydrated. The texture and also skin tone gets much smoother. The difference is so fast, visible and dramatic that people WILL ask you about your secret for your skin care.
• Anti-wrinkle serum will dramatically remove fine lines and improve your skin glow. Contains most potent and stable 20 % Vitamin C + E and Hyaluronic Acid to neutralize free radicals and plump your skin. It will leave your skin youthful and it will dramatically stimulate production of collagen. This will result in a shocking improvement radiance of your face skin.
• Our serum is packaged in a special airless bottle ensuring maximum protection from oxygen and sunlight. Our revolutionary bottle ensures that your precious serum won't oxidate and you will enjoy the FULL benefits of every last drop.

 

Finger Painting with Gallery 9 Premium Acrylic Paint

I recently got the opportunity to play with Gallery 9 Premium Acrylic paint set. A complimentary sample of the product was sent to me in exchange for an honest review.

Because I'm not much of an artist (I make digital art, but not real-life art) and I couldn't draw a straight line if my life depended on it, we decided to just have some family time with this set and do some finger painting. The seller has assured me that the paint is completely non toxic and safe for my child to finger paint with, so we grabbed a couple of large, thick paper sheets from the art store and got the party started. 

First thing that you notice when playing with the Galley 9 paint is the absence of any kind of odor. It's great for body painting and finger painting with your children, but it's also perfect for all sorts of crafts. This is a water-based paint, made in the USA, designed to be safe and long-lasting, but also very easy to clean up. After we were done finger painting, it took me 20 seconds of washing in lukewarm water to clean my daughter's hands. The paint just kind of flaked off nicely, leaving no trace of color or smell. 

The colors are incredibly pigmented and vibrant. They just pop! They're also very blendable and velvety in texture. You only need a tiny drop of the paint to be able to smooth it out nicely. The thickness of the paint is just right - concentrated enough for extra vivid color and definitely not watery. 

The kid and I had lots of fun with these paints, and there is still plenty left for my little artist to practice her skills. We played with the paint for about an hour and covered one large sheet with colorful splashes, but the bottles seem just as full as before, so I'm pretty sure this set will last us a long time. I'm very pleased with the quality of these paints.

You can buy the paint here: Amazon ($19.99)

Beauty Review: Too Faced Primed & Poreless

I am thoroughly disappointed with this product. 

I bought this pressed powder after watching some YouTube reviews and tutorials and reading some glowing reviews on Ulta and various beauty blogs. Everybody seems to absolutely love this pressed powder, but for whatever reason, it just doesn't work for me. 

I love the brand and use many of their products, but this was such a huge miss, I honestly regret spending so much money on this. I got it around the spring time this year, used it maybe 10 times all together (I kept trying to make it work, but it just would not), and ended up tossing it to the bottom of my "bad makeup" drawer.

It just doesn't do what it's supposed to. I have purchased it hoping to minimize the appearance of my pores (they're rather visible, especially on the nose and forehead area), but this powder only seems to be making it worse. Not only does it accentuate the pores even more, but it dries up my skin, and I'm not even one to suffer from dry or sensitive skin to begin with. 

I tried using it under foundation, on top of foundation, instead of foundation.. nothing works. It settles in pores and creases and makes my fine lines more visible. I suppose if you have an oily skin type, you might benefit from this powder's drying properties. With my normal skin type, this was just too drying, to the point that my skin would get flaky on the cheeks - yuck! 

Have you used it this product yourself? What did you think?? Let me know in the comments below!

About Too Faced Primed & Poreless Pressed Powder:

With just one brushstroke, pores disappear and skin glows with a stunning, soft-focus effect that can stand up to the harshest lighting. Wear the innovative, tried-and-true matte powder under foundation to prime skin, on top of makeup as a setting powder, or alone for a nearly-natural finish.
The pressed formula allows for easy application while still in the Boudoir or on-the-go. Choose which way you'll wear the innovative matte powder: under foundation to prime the skin, on-top of makeup as a setting powder or alone for an in-the-bare smooth finish. Whichever way you choose, you'll still banish the appearance of pores and achieve a stunning, soft-focus effect to combat any harsh lighting.
More To Love:

• Minimizes the appearance of pores, fine lines and imperfections

• Infused with a cocktail of vitamins A, C & E for antioxidant benefits; mulberry extract for a brightening effect.

• Can be worn with liquid or powder foundations and bronzers.

• Vegan-friendly

• Paraben-free

 

Beauty Review: MiXiu Mini Whitening Foundation/Concealer Cream | Review (Born Pretty)

Hi guys! I'm here today with another fantastic makeup item from BornPretty.com! :) As I said before, I just love discovering new, interesting brands of makeup and trying cosmetics that can't be found in our local drugstores! And BornPretty.com is a makeup junkie heaven :))

Today I will be taking about Mini Whitening Foundation/Concealer Cream from MiXiu ($3.48)

It comes in two shades, one is a bright pinkish shade and the other is also bright but more yellowish tone. I got the more yellowish one, thinking the pinkish one might be just a bit pale for my skin tone, and, as it turned out, it was a good decision. As you can see on the pictures I took (above and below), the one I got still looks a bit pinkish, but it actually matches my skin very nicely and I can use it as both concealer and highlighter.

I absolutely love this product. It's really tiny (about half, maybe 2/3 the size of Elf concealer), but because you only need a few tiny taps of it, it's amazingly long-lasting. It blends very well and has a creamy consistency that isn't too thick and doesn't settle in your fine lines at all. It smells kind of powdery (personally I really like this smell) and a bit like Nivea lotion. And I just love how moisturizing it feels on my skin. 

With this product you will get medium to high coverage and your dark spots and imperfections will be nicely covered. It will give you a very dewy, porcelain doll kind of look. I like using it as a highlighter when I contour, because it blends so well and leaves my skin feeling moist but not oily. 

If you're looking for a new concealer/highlighter product to try, I'd recommend this one, especially if your skin needs some extra moisture. 

Feel like checking it out and maybe trying for yourself? Here's an extra 10% OFF for you! And remember, Born Pretty ships FREE World Wide (with no minimum purchase!). 

Toddler Toy Review: Best Choice Products Bump and Go Action Learning Train

About Best Choice Products Bump and Go Action Learning Train :

Best Choice Products presents you the Smart Train. This colorful train has many ways for your baby to have fun. It has lights and sounds that will keep your baby amused and entertained for hours. Your baby will smile and laugh watching the train's eyes move and its mouth open as it rides around. The train comes with colorful blocks that your baby can place into the shaped holes. It even has a fun phone game on top of the train so your baby can make all their important phone calls free of expense. The train is also equipped with a Bump and Go moving function that allows it to keep moving even if something were to get in front of its tracks. Your baby will find endless enjoyment watching the lights of the chimney and listening to the melodious music of the Smart Train. 

We purchase our products directly from the manufacturer, so you know you're getting the best prices available. 

FEATURES: 

• Helps babies learn their ABC's and shapes while having fun, 
• Bump & Go feature allows it to change directions and run when it bumps into something, 
• Equipped with lights and sounds to amuse your baby, 
• Facial features (eyes and mouth) move as it rides around, 
• Includes phone game on top of the train. 

SPECIFICATIONS: 

• Product Dimensions: 7"x 3.5"x 5.5", 
• Weight: 0.5 lbs, 
• Color: Main color red. 
• PLEASE NOTE: Our digital images are as accurate as possible. However, different monitors may cause colors to vary slightly. Some of our items are handcrafted and/or hand finished. Color can vary and slight imperfections in the metal work are normal and considered evidence of the hand-finishing process, which adds character and authenticity to those items.

        

My Thoughts

What a fantastic toy! And the amount of detail and thought that obviously went into developing it is truly impressive - just look at how well-made it is, with even the silver pipes on the side to make it more realistic!

This battery-operated interactive toy is wonderful for children who are ready to learn about shapes and colors, as well as simple counting and first ABC. The train has color-coordinated slots for letters A, B and C on one side, and numbers 1, 2 and 3 on the other. Your child will learn to recognize and match the shapes in order to get the plastic elements inside the wagon. My daughter is a bit too young for this just yet (18 months old), but she is already trying! At this point, she hands me the elements and demands I put them in myself, or allows me to guide her hand. And she's thrilled with the results! Thanks to this train, she also learned to say "open", when she wants me to open the back door so she could take the letters and numbers out.

The direction on the box states that this toy is designed for children age 3yo and up, so that is something to keep in mind when purchasing. The plastic elements are small enough to potentially be a choking hazard, so I never allow my daughter to play with the toy unsupervised. She is a quick learner, though, and I hate to hold her back, so we often play with the toy together, even though she's only 18 months old now.

When turned on, the train moves around happily. It seems to have some sort of sensor that allows it to recognize when it bumps into obstacles. It then easily turns and changes direction. There is a big yellow face on the front - the eyes are blinking and moving around, and the mouth is opening and closing (as if it's laughing). On top of the wagon there is a dial phone - a nice touch!

It's a colorful, well-designed toy, that keeps my child entertained and happy. She's fascinated by the loud melody and choo choo sound, and she is having plenty of fun matching the shapes. I can see that she's starting to connect the dots on her own now, which makes me extremely proud!

I think this is a very beneficial toy worth adding to your child's toy collection. Personally, I think it's a gem!

Disclaimer: I received a free sample of the product in exchange for my honest review.

Baby Product: Keima Large Diaper Tote Bag Set

About Keima Large Diaper Bag Set:

100% Waterproof Nylon, easy to wipe clean. Big Bag Size: L16.54'' * W7'' * H26''. Small Bag Size: L16.54'' * W7'' * H26''. 

 

My Thoughts

This is a great diaper bag set! Until recently, I've been using an over-expensive organic cotton diaper bag that I also received for review - it was nice looking, but not functional at all! Upon getting this set, I've switched to using it and never looked back.

With the Keima set you get:

• 1 LARGE diaper bag (16.54'' x 7'' x 26') with three zipped compartments (the main one, one on the side inside and one on the front outside), as well as two bottle/baby powder compartments on both sides (they don't have zippers, but the stretch bands hold whatever you put inside them firmly in place).
• 1 MEDIUM size diaper bag (I'd call it small, but it's actually a decent size - 16.54'' x 7'' x 26) - the layout and features are the same as with the large bag, so three compartments are zipped and two bottle compartments on both sides.
• 1 Bottle sleeve with a zipper that will fit most baby bottles. It's large enough to fit my toddler's sippy cup!
• 1 Small food container for snacks, etc.
• 1 Changing pad in newborn size.

I find this set to be very well designed, vibrant, stylish and extremely functional. The large bag is really quite large, so you should be able to fit in it absolutely everything you need to. This is the one I bring with us on our weekend visits to grandparent's place. I can easily load it with 10-15 diapers, 3 changes of clothes, snacks, my daughter's favorite plush toy, baby powder, baby wipes - you name it, it all fits in there.

When we take a short day-trip somewhere, I usually go with the smaller one. It's perfectly functional and reasonably spacious.

I love that the bags are lined with waterproof material on the inside, so even if your child's bottle leaks, the liquid won't soak through. They're made with 100% waterproof nylon, so they're mess-proof and easy to clean. They come with two types of straps - two short ones on the sides of the zipper, and one long one for carrying on your shoulder. The side rings are big enough to be clipped onto the stroller, if you happen to own a set of stroller hooks.

Overall, I really love this set. It's so pretty and colorful. The bags are spacious and functional. There's really nothing to complain about here. I highly recommend this set - it would make a great gift for expecting moms, too!

Disclaimer: I received a FREE sample of the product in exchange for my honest review.

Jewelry Review: Opps Natural Quartz Necklace

I was recently invited to evaluate one of the natural quartz necklaces from Opps. It is said to have a "natural healing power" that helps "balance the chakras" and bring positive energy. While I haven't been wearing often enough to testify about its healing powers, I can definitely tell you that I'm very really impressed with both the quality of this lovely necklace as well as the beautiful and thoughtful packaging it came in.

The pink quartz stone I got looks gorgeous. It has a rough, natural-looking shape and it's just the perfect size. All the glass beads are unique in shape, size and color, with beautifully crafted edges that reflect the sunlight nicely. The necklace will go great with many different outfits, from dresses to sweaters, tunics and more. Great with both casual and more dressy looks.

The quality seems to be very good. The beads are separated with little knots, but the chain itself seems unlikely to ever break. This is a clasp-less design, the necklace length allows you to easily slip it on over your head. Despite the many elements and the quartz stone, the necklace is light and comfortable to wear all day long.

Overall, cute little necklace!

Disclaimer: Free sample of the product was provided for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Where to get:

Purchase it on Amazon for only $15.99! And be sure to check out other color selections - it comes with 8 different styles :)