Eliminating Bulk with Isabelt

Over the years I have been called many names from string bean, to twig, and I am sure you can think of others. I am tall, thin, and after having my children, have lost any resemblance of my hips that were once very curvy. No, I am not bragging about being tall and thin. I am telling you that finding clothes that fit, especially pants that stay up, is a complete nightmare!

When I was given the opportunity to try isABelt and write a review, I jumped at the opportunity. I hate having my pants fall down and I also hate to have my belt leave a big lump under my shirt. There is nothing more unattractive.

I am sure that you are asking what an isABelt is. Well, to keep it simple, it is a thin stretchy clear (or black) palstic belt, about 1/2 inch wide, that is designed to fit anyone with a waist from 0 to 50 inches. There is even a wider, one inch, version and even options with designs available.

 There is a small round magnetic clasp that keeps the belt closed. To adjust the belt is super simple. It is just like any other item you may need to adjust the length of. Pull a little slack out of the belt at the adjustment and pull the slack through the other side.

The plastic is thin and flexible. That is what keeps it well hidden under those thin T-shirts. This also means lightweight and flexible. The isABelt will pack in a purse or suitcase very easily and not take up any room at all.

I would not tell you that the belt is "slimming." However, I will tell you that it gets rid of that huge buckle mark that shows through your shirt. It eliminates the bulk of a traditional belt, which in turn makes you feel less bulky. There is no harm in eliminating a bump around your waist right?

Enter below for your chance to win a isABelt so you can try one before you buy one. 



I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Terracycle Re-purposed Products

Disclosure: In exchange for this review and giveaway, I was given the product for free. However, my opinions are my own and 100% honest. 


With the Holidays quickly approaching, the last thing on most peoples minds is the waste that we will create. I was given an opportunity to review a couple of products made by a company called Terracycle. With the way that most people think and not knowing how much my readers like to recycle or reuse, I was nervous about trying to think of a way to write up a post.

Then I noticed that a box of Entemann's Little Bites sitting on my fridge had a Terracyle logo on the side. Hmm. Here is a company that I know very little about, but yet they are sitting on the side of a package I see all of the time. Then I started to look at the products that Terracycle upcycles into new and creative items. I like the concept of keeping trash out of a landfill, but how good can they possibly be if they are made into new products?

The products arrived at my door and before I opened the box, I let out a big sigh. Once I opened the package, I was more than surprised. I am not quite sure what I was expecting from the Terracycle products, but I loved them.

I was sent a mail bag and a Lays large tote. First of all, let me say that I have seen, and purchased, several reusable bags over the last few years. None of the bags that I have seen or purchased have had as much personality as these bags.

The Shopping Tote:

Look at how cute my Lay's bag is. It is bright and cheery and I promise that it will not get mixed up with any other shoppers bags. The bag is thick and very durable. The actual size of this bag is a little larger than a traditional paper bag, so it will hold a decent amount of groceries or whatever else you may want to pack in it.

Look inside! It is just as cute!

I managed to pack an entire 20 pound bag of sweet potatoes inside of my Lay's bag and it held strong!  This bag is definitely high quality and fun from any angle. Knowing that it is made from upcycled products that people use everyday is just an added bonus to this bag.

The Mailbag:

The mailbag is just that. It looks just like the bag a bank or retail store would use for holding cash and checks needing to be deposited. There is one zipper pouch and a smaller pocket on the side that does not close.

I initially thought that I would not be able to find a use for the mail bag that I received. Then I started a new job. I do not have my own desk and I do not have a locker. So all personal items need to come in with me and leave with me.

Part of the problem with where I work and what I do, is personal belongings are expensive and walk away quite often. Pens are considered gold because they are always getting set down and walking off in someone's pocket. Unfortunately, it is never the correct pocket they walk away in.

The inside of the zipper pocket is nicely lined in a suede like material so it is soft and gentle on whatever you place inside. The zipper pocket is a lifesaver and keeps my personal belongings neat, tidy, and out of view of the pen eating pockets that walk by me on a regular basis. The exterior of the pouch is canvas and there are a few rivets on the edge of the exterior pocket to add a little decoration. The exterior pocket is lined in the same canvas that is found on the exterior of the pouch and works great to keep my granola bar for quick access.

It turns out that the mailbag was actually the item my husband kept taking an hiding. He was hoping that I would forget about it so he could start using it to carry his cell phone in for work since the new phones seem to be too big to fit in a pocket comfortably. I will absolutely be sneaking over to Terracycle to purchase a second one of these!

If you are looking for a great gift item or just a fun way to package a gift item that you are giving this holiday season, think about keeping a few pieces of trash from joining your local landfill and allow it to be re-purposed  by Terracycle. Take a look, some of the items they make would be a big hit with family and friends of all ages!

Shout Out to SOCK It To Me!

The one thing that I do not regularly do, is write a post about a product that I have purchased. Of course that is how I started this blog years ago, but I have found that I have strayed away from that over the last year or so. I have found a brand that I feel deserves a write up especially with the gift buying season upon us. In fact, this would have been a great post for back to school too, but I have been a little backed up with life.

The brand that I have fallen in love with is called SOCK it to me. They are a Portland Oregon based company that was started in 2004. The first time I ran across these socks, I was under a bridge in downtown Portland at an outdoor market called Saturday Market. If you have never been to the Portland area, the Saturday Market is a blend of local Portland artists and the eclectic. (I am trying to be politically correct here.) You can find everything from handmade ceramics to tie dye clothing.

While my family and I were looking through the local vendors "booths," we came across one that had some really wild and crazy socks. My daughter was immediately drawn in. Something about knee high socks, bright colors, and skulls. I very graciously bought her three pairs. Two of them were striped socks with skulls and one that were red socks with monkeys on them.

For months she ranted and raved over her crazy socks and I just could not seem to figure out what the big deal was. After all, I have children, I don't usually wear crazy socks unless it is Halloween. Okay fine, maybe I have a pair of rainbow socks with the sewn in toes, but that is not public knowledge.

Fast forward about 5 years. My oldest daughter still has not outgrown her crazy design phase and she has managed to rub a teeny bit of her style of on me. One day she convinced my husband to buy a pair for me because she knew that I loved frogs and she knew that my "normal" job is working as a nurse. They came home from a local store with the cutest darn socks even. A darker green sock with a big frog on the side,and a pair of grey socks with stethoscopes and needles on them. I was not sure when I would wear them. They did not exactly match my everyday scrubs for work. But I slipped a pair on just for fun and I have been hooked ever since.

Here is why I am hooked. Clearly as a Gen X child, I am not young in years, but I am not old at heart. I am not really physically aging very gracefully either, and standing on my feet for 12 hours a day causes serious issues with my poor legs. I found that SOCK it to me socks are a dream come true for more sore tired legs and add a cute twist to whatever I am wearing. They are thick feeling without the physical bulk of a thick sock and they are great for improving circulation through your legs. I hear some of you saying, "They are just socks." No they are not!! They are fun, crazy, and indescribably soft.  

About a year after getting my first pairs of SOCK it to me socks, I have grown my collection to about 30 pairs. I now have socks that have traveled to Africa with me and others that I covet. I know that I am probably the only person that went to Africa on vacation wearing Giraffe and Zebra socks, but I know that I had cozy feet through my whole trip.

If you need a great gift item for this Holiday Season, or any other time. SOCK it to me socks are a great and possibly crazy gift item.