spicebox review

My Spice VoxBox arrived the other day and was full of some great goodies! VoxBoxes are boxes full of free products for you to review. You can learn more by visiting their website.

Botanics Organic Hydrating Day cream

I like the day cream. I've been using it at night. It's not greasy and goes on easy. It smells good and leaves my skin feeling soft!

Foot Petals

These wool inserts are made for boots and designed to offer support but also keep your toes warm! They're one size but on the back are small, medium and large guidelines. You just cut to the size you need and stick them in your boots! Super easy and super comfortable! I have a pair of boots I wear a lot but they don't offer much support. I put my Foot Petals in them and they're so much better! Now I can wear them when I am all my feet all day!

Sinful Colors Sinfulshine Nail Polish

I was sent Diamond in the Raw along with a top coat. I liked the metallic color and it lasted for about a week - I consider a week long lasting. Because it's glittery, removing it takes a little effort but I liked the color and how easy it went on. 

Good Health Veggie Straws

I tried these and maybe if I were to eat them again I might like them but I wasn't a fan. They didn't have a whole lot of flavor.  I was sent the Sea Salt flavor but there are other flavors to try.

SoapBox Shampoo and Conditioner

I like this shampoo and conditioner for two reasons. One is that it leaves my hair feeling soft but whenever you buy a SoapBox product, you provide clean water or soap to those in need. The only thing I didn't like is that the shampoo didn't lather well. I had to use quite a bit to feel like it was getting my hair clean. I like that it's gently on my hair and safe for color-treated hair. 

Yogi Tea

I was sent Sweet Tangerine and Vanilla Spice. The Sweet Tangerine was ok but I really liked the Vanilla Spice flavor! I added a little creamer to it and it was really good! Definitely a flavor I would buy! There are so many other flavors as well and some are available in Single Serve Cups. I want to try the Peppermint and their Chai teas. You can look at all the different teas and their purpose at Yogi's website.

Not Your Mother's Whip It Up Cream Styling Mousse

I've used Not Your Mother's products before but haven't tried the mousse until now. And I love it! It's whipped so a little goes a long way and it smells like vanilla cupcake! It doesn't leave my hair feeling sticky or heavy. I haven't been able to find it in stores so I've already ordered some from Amazon because it's that great!

 I received free samples of these products from Influenster for my honest review.

book review: "the wedding chapel" by rachel hauck

For sixty years, the wedding chapel has stood silent and empty. Retired football hall-of-famer Jimmy "Coach" Westbrook built the chapel by hand, stone by stone, for his beautiful and beloved Collette Greer, whom he lost so many years ago. The chapel is a sanctuary for his memories, a monument to true love, and a testament to his survival of the deepest pain and loss.

Photographer Taylor Branson left her hometown of Heart's Bend, Tennessee, to make a new life for herself in New York. She had lots to run away from, not least of all a family history of broken promises and broken dreams. Love catches Taylor off guard when she falls for Jack Forester, a successful advertising executive, and their whirlwind romance leads to an elopement - then to second guesses. Jack, in spite of his very real love for Taylor, is battling his own demons and struggles to show her his true self and the depths of his love for her. 

Taking a photography assignment to Heart's Bend, Taylor is thrown back into a past of family secrets buried deep beneath the sands of time. When Taylor and Coach's journeys collide, they each rediscover the heartbeat of their own dreams as they learn that the love they long to hold is well worth the wait. 

I knew I had to read this book for two reasons. It's by Rachel Hauck - I love anything she writes - and it's set in my home state. This was such a great read! Because the story is being told from four different points of view, I had to really pay attention at first, trying to keep up with everything. The story also jumps from the past to the present. But I love how Taylor, Jack, Collette and Jimmy's stories intertwined! Rachel did a great job of spreading humor throughout the book. There were a few references to The Royal Wedding series which made me smile. I love the underlying theme of this book: it's never too late. Collette thought she would never see Jimmy again and had given up on that dream. Even when Collette walked back into her chapel, she still didn't believe she and Jimmy had a future together. She felt too much time had passed; she had made too many mistakes. Towards the end of the book, someone mentioned "love well." That was what stuck with me from How to Catch a Prince. Both Collette and Taylor had to figure out how to accomplish that. Taylor and Jack had huge hurdles to overcome because both had seen the effects of divorce and were afraid of opening up. But Jack, bless his heart, refused to give up on Taylor without a fight. I'd like to think their brokenness helped led to each others healing. This was such a beautiful story of love, forgiveness and pursuing what you want instead of letting it slip by. And oh, the chapel! I wish such a place actually existed! I can picture the beauty and peacefulness of it. Everything is quiet and you're able to feel God. Rachel did a great job not only with the characters but creating such beautiful visuals.

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity for my honest review.