FixItFransProductReviews

Quick Skin Care Tips

Ladies– Have you ever noticed how much better your legs feel after a fresh shave?

Yes, you’ve removed any hairs/stubble, but do you know what you’ve also done?

YOU EXFOLIATED!

Did you already know that?  COOL!  That’s why we’re friends. 😀

Did I lose you?  Let me break it down a little bit more:

When you shave, you remove a layer of dead skin.  

I know, I’m a nerd, so I’ll try to keep myself from getting too technical.

We shed thousands of skin cells every day; but, without some “extra scrubbing,” these dead cells may stick around until some outside force assists their removal.

Think of those times when you’ve seen your own “ashy” or dry and flaking skin and gone to grab some lotion.  The reality is– you should have been doing something to remove this dead skin in advance– like scrubbing with a loofah or sponge or a sugar scrub, but not everyone does that (#shade #noshade #alittleshady #movingon).

Some dermatologists go so far as to even suggest shaving one’s face to obtain a facial glow.  I’m not lying (check the link), but I’ll stick to just exfoliating.  #ImGood.

Long story short, part of the reason your legs “feel so good” is because you’ve removed all of that dead skin…. It’s enough to make a girl want to shave every day…. butterah, I’m not doing that either, so the Leedgetool is one of my new skincare faves!

You’ve exfoliated, now what?

Time to moisturize!

I love my Oil of Olay in shower lotion, but I can go through it rather quickly, so I also like to have a steady line-up of after shower lotions.

This, Pardon My Pretty Lotion, combines a Super Fruit Blend of antioxidant-strong and fatty acid-rich blueberry, acai, cranberry and goji berry, creating a wholesome treat to boost hydration and improve skin texture and tone.

I love the smell of this lotion and I can be very particular when it comes to my perfumes and lotions.  I don’t like any lotion that smells too fruity or that will conflict with my perfumes.  Most of all, I despise any lotions that leaves me feeling sticky or that I feel the need to wipe off before getting dressed for the day.

This lotion is lightweight, but very moisturizing and is the perfect way to pamper your skin after you’ve completed a session of exfoliating.

Never shave or exfoliate your legs (or any other area) without then following that activity with the application of a high quality moisturizer.  That newly exposed skin is nice and fresh, but it is also more vulnerable to the external environment and needs to be taken care of (Don’t make all of your hard work be short-lived!).

That’s for today’s Fix-It With Fran Skin Care Tips.  I’ll be back tomorrow with another update!  😉

Walking on A Cloud….

If you’ve been following the blog or any of my social media channels for long, you probably know that I do lots of product reviews as one my many past times.

It’s really interesting how it evolved because my family and friends were always asking my opinions on things I use or own (I guess because they know I’m not one to spend money on things, “just because”) and I’ve always been one to give a company an online review (especially when shopping on Amazon).

It just goes to show you, your hobbies and normal activities can become profitable — you just have to do your research! 😉

For the past month, I’ve been reviewing the ROHEGO Premium Anti-Fatigue Comfort Mat floor mat. Since moving into our home, I’ve upgraded our kitchen mats a few times. I was a big fan of some memory foam mats that I found on clearance at HomeGoods, but the cloth material attracted lots of lint and debris and would never wash clean. That was a major bummer. I was thrilled when I saw an offer to review this mat.  At I’ll save my final verdict for the end of this post, but here are a few details about the product:

CUSHIONED SUPPORT, RIGHT AT YOUR FEET
Standing for long periods of time on hard surfaces can put undue stress on your feet, knees, hips and back. This causes fatigue, aches and pain. By displacing your body weight the shock-absorbing mat, you experience improved circulation, better posture and muscle conditioning, and overall improved health and comfort. Whether you stand at the kitchen sink, at your garage workbench, or on the assembly line, the ROHEGO Anti-Fatigue Mat enhances your personal comfort and productivity by providing just the right amount of cushion and support between hard surfaces and your feet.

SAFE AND DURABLE FOR ANY ENVIRONMENT
The ROHEGO Premium Anti-Fatigue Mat is made of a single piece of polyurethane with a high-density core for maximum resilience and stability. The mat is eco-friendly and non-toxic, suitable for kitchens, offices and any other work areas.  A textured backing ensures non-skid performance, while beveled edges prevent trip hazards and curling. Its closed-cell construction makes it anti-microbial and stain-resistant. Hand-washing it with mild soap and water, and then allowing it to air-dry will return it to like-new condition.

WORK IN COMFORT and enhance your productivity at home or at the office. This high-density mat provides shock-absorbing support and improved blood circulation when standing on hard surfaces.

SAFETY IS IMPERATIVE so every mat has a textured non-skid backing. Beveled edges all around prevent curling and trip hazards while allowing carts to roll smoothly over the mat without upending.

GENEROUSLY SIZED at 39″ L x 20″ W x .75″D. The ROHEGO Premium Anti-Fatigue Mat is ideal for tired moms and dads at kitchen sinks and washer/dryers, those standing for hours at their standing desks/workstations, artists, cashiers, assembly-line technicians, hair stylists, mechanics, restaurant hostesses and much, much more…

MY FINAL VERDICT:  I love this floor mat! I often experience restlessness in my legs while sitting/standing and doing laundry or washing dishes. This lessened that problem. It really feels like you are walking on a thin pillow. Almost like a cloud. My husband has also become a fan of the mat I placed in our kitchen, so much so that I plan to purchase another mat for the laundry area. I also appreciate that it is much easier to clean than floor mats I have used in our kitchen in the past. This is the best of them all. I am beyond happy with this item and it gets a 5 star, Fix-it With Fran Approval Rating!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Guilt Free Pasta

I love pasta!  Especially shrimp pasta!

Sadly, pasta doesn’t love me… 😦  Or my waistline.  So I’ve looked into alternatives. 🙂

Making “zoodles” or zucchini noodles has become a quick and easy solution for my problem and my husboo LOVES them!  He even said he prefers them over traditional noodles!  #SheWon #WifeSkills #WifeyCanBurn 😉

I got the idea for this recipe from SkinnyTaste.  My remixed recipe is below:

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 tsps. olive oil
  • McCormick Basil & Garlic Seasoning Blend (Season to taste– approximately 1 1/2 tbsp.)
  • 8 oz peeled and deveined shrimp
  • 2 tbsps. minced garlic (I like A LOT of garlic and purchase it minced.)
  • 1 large zucchini, spiralized
  • 1 lemon (or 6 tbsps. lemon juice)

Directions:

  1. Spiralize the zucchini. Use a large mixing bowl to toss zucchini noodles in 4 tbsp of lemon juice. This will help to keep the noodles from browning. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place them in the fridge. (Keep the leftover lemon juice.)
  2. Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
  3. Add 1 teaspoon of the oil and the shrimp and season with the McCormick Basil & Garlic Seasoning Blend. Cook 2 to 3 minutes.
  4. Add half of the minced garlic and continue cooking 1 more minute, orBasil and Garlic Zoodles on Fix It With Fran until the shrimp is cooked through and opaque. Set aside on a dish.
  5. Add the remaining 1/2 teaspoon oil and garlic to the pan, cook 30 seconds then add the zucchini noodles and cook 2 minutes or until the zoodles become limp or “al dente.”
  6. Add the shrimp to the pan and squeeze the other lemon half over the dish. Remove from heat and serve. This should be a large enough dish to divide into servings for two people.
  7. Use leftover lemon juice to top off each plated serving. (This final step is optional.)

I used my WonderEsque Tri Blade Compact Spiralizer to make these, most recently. I received the spiralizer as a product review and it is really neat.  It came with its own cleaning brush and is small enough to be stored in a kitchen drawer (unlike my older spiralizers).  You can see more of its features on Amazon.

WonderEsque Tri Blade Compact Spiralizer Review on Fix_It_With_Fran_dot_com

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: NKJV Teen Study Bible

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NKJV Teen Study Bible Review On FixItWithFran.com

My Bible collection is ALWAYS growing.

I’m still dedicated to my Life Application Bible that has been with me since my teens, but I love the feeling of a crisp new book (blame all those years of working in libraries! 😊😂😄).

This text is in the New King James Version (NKJV), which many choose as their preferred text.  I am more of a fan of the New Living Translation (NLT),  but I do see value in reading from multiple versions and I usually review the NKJV during my personal study time.

I see this being a great resource for those working in church youth/teen ministries or as a bible to offer as a gift to a teen (maybe for graduation, a birthday, or “just because”).

I really appreciated the hardcover version as I’ve had much more success with these holding up to repeated use over the years.

Other features of this text include:

Continue reading →

A NEW Thing! Fix-It With Fran is on YouTube!

I’m in a season of firsts and I’m FULLY OPEN to where God is leading me.

Earlier this week, I did what I thought I’d NEVER do and entered the world of YouTube product reviews.

When God wants you to do a new thing, you have to move with it!

Here’s the link if you want to check it out!  It’s a basic video, but it is a start–

There’s nowhere to go but up from here! 😄

Where is God leading you today?  Don’t be afraid to take the leap!

Isaiah 43:18-19 New Living Translation

“But forget all that—
    it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
For I am about to do something new.
    See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
    I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.