Parragon November Book Buddies Box - #BookBuddies

Monday, December 18, 2017


DISCLOSURE: As a member of the Parragon Book Buddies Program, I received free books from Parragon Books to review and post my honest opinions. No further compensation was provided. Post may contain affiliate links.

It's hard to believe, but there's only a week until Christmas! Are you ready? I'm still not done with my Christmas shopping. There are still a few people on my list who I'm still shopping for. Luckily, our November Parragon Book Buddies Box came and it was filled with some great gift ideas! Maybe it could help you out if you're still shopping.

As always, my kids were really excited to see what we received from Parragon Books this month. There's usually something that they like in it. Especially, my seven-year-old son. He loves to read and loves getting new books!


NCircle Entertainment Christmas DVD Review + Giveaway - Caillou, Yo Gabba Gabba, Sonic, Doozers

Wednesday, December 6, 2017


DISCLOSURE: As a NCircle Ambassador, I received free DVDs for review purposes. No further compensation was provided. All opinions are my own. Post may contain affiliate links.

The holidays are upon us. It's hard to believe Christmas is just 19 days away! I don't know about you, but I am nowhere near being done with my Christmas shopping!

To help you get in the Christmas mood, I am giving away four holiday DVDs from NCircle Entertainment. These would be great as a gift or to keep for yourself! My kids loved watching them!

CAILLOU'S HOLIDAY MOVIE

When winter comes to Caillou's house, this curious 4-year-old tackles all kinds of big boy activities like helping Daddy shovel snow, making holiday presents for his family and even discovering how other little boys and girls around the world celebrate the season! Filled with magical moments seen through a small child's eyes, this delightful story will enchant your entire family.

YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! A VERY AWESOME HOLIDAY SHOW!

There's only one thing more fun than Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! and the holidays... You guessed it, putting them together!

Join DJ Lance Rock, Brobee, Foofa, Muno, Plex and Toodee as they dance, sing and decorate the tree to prepare for the arrival of Santa Claus! Filmed live at New York City's The Beacon Theatre, celebrate the season with the colorful cast of characters singing their hits, including "It's Wintertime," "Every Snowflake's Different, Just Like You," and a holiday version of everyone's favorite "Party in my Tummy!"

Including special appearances by superstar Leslie Hall and the one and only Santa Claus! Snowflakes are falling and we can hardly wait!

SONIC CHRISTMAS BLAST

Santa Claus announces his retirement on television and the public is shocked! But it's Santa's replacement, Robotnik Claus, who has everyone worried. It seems Robotnik Claus has his own ideas, and instead of giving boys and girls gifts, Robotnik Claus would rather receive them. Join Sonic the Hedgehog in an adventure to rescue the spirit of Christmas and bring joy back to the world.

DOOZERS: GIANT GINGERBREAD HOUSE

It's family time at Doozer Creek! The Pod Squad want to build a Doozer-size Gingerbread House! However, in order to achieve such a large size Gingerbread House, it's going to take some clever construction to create. Can the Pod Squad do it? Then, Daisy Wheel wants to ice skate with the others, but she doesn't know how. Together, the Pod Squad build her a custom Doo-Step Skating Dress that lets her glide across the ice in no time. Weee! Enjoy these adventures focusing on science, technology, ,engineering and math!

GIVEAWAY

NCircle Entertainment is giving away one (1) copy of each DVD above to one lucky reader. Enter using the widget below. Giveaway ends December 14, 2017 at 11:59 pm ET. Open to US and Canadian residents. Good luck!

NCircle Entertainment Christmas DVD Giveaway


Can't wait and want them now? They are available now for purchase. Affiliate links below.



Back To Nature Chocolate Chunk Cookies - REVIEW #MomsMeet


DISCLOSURE: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

I love cookies! But, I don't always have the time to bake my own. Especially, since I've moved to working full time. And with the holidays upon us, I love having cookies in the house! So, we usually end up buying them from the store. But, while store-bought cookies can help satisfy the craving, they're not always as good.

National Geographic Kids "Hey Baby! A Collection of Pictures, Poems & Stories From Nature's Nursery"

Saturday, December 2, 2017


DISCLOSURE: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

I just got the cutest book in the mail last week. It's from one of my favorite publishers, National Geographic Kids. Hey Baby! A Collection of Pictures, Poems and Stories From Nature's Nursery is full of the most adorable baby animals!



Parragon October Book Buddies Box - REVIEW #BookBuddies #PixarCoco

Friday, November 10, 2017

DISCLOSURE: As a member of the Parragon Book Buddies Program, I received free books from Parragon Books to review and post my honest opinions. No further compensation was provided. Post may contain affiliate links.

My family and I are big Disney fans. We love watching Disney movies and visiting the Disney Parks. So, we were pretty excited to find out the theme of the October Book Buddies Box from Parragon Books was about the new Disney Pixar movie, Coco!

Coco tells the story about a young boy named Miguel, who finds himself in the Land of the Dead. He sets off on an adventure to learn more about his ancestors. We can't wait to watch this movie when it hits theaters on November 22nd. It'll be a fun family outing and a great start to the Thanksgiving holiday.

BRÖÖ Craft Beer Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY

Monday, November 6, 2017

DISCLOSURE: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

One could say I'm obsessed with my hair. I'm constantly changing the color and cut and spend way too long styling it in the morning. I'm always looking for new products that would help make my hair look and feel good. So, when I was given the opportunity to try a craft beer shampoo and conditioner, I knew I had to sign up!

I actually hadn't heard of rinsing your hair with beer to make it stronger and shinier, but apparently, people have been doing it for years! BRÖÖ Craft Beer Shampoos and Conditioners use all-malt, freshly-hopped craft beer as the main ingredient. Malted barley in beer releases B vitamins and proteins and help to nourish and condition hair. The essential oils from the hops flowers are filled with antioxidants that help to protect hair from the environment.

NCircle Entertainment's The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That: Tricks and Treats and Pocoyo: Boo! - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY

Monday, October 30, 2017


DISCLOSURE: As an NCircle Ambassador, I received free DVDs for review purposes. No further compensation was provided. All opinions are my own. Post may contain affiliate links.

Halloween is tomorrow and I have two more NCircle DVDs to give away! This will be a quick giveaway, so be sure to get your entries in!

ABOUT THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT: TRICKS AND TREATS

A new spooky adventure this DVD brings, with the Cat, Nick and Sally, Fish and the Things. Meet the eeriest critters you've ever seen, arrived just in time for Halloween! There'll be lots of tricks, and or course, lots of treats, to share with the animal friends you will meet! There's a coconut crab, spider monkeys and bats, and plenty more fun with The Cat In The Hat!

ABOUT POCOYO: BOO!

Join Pocoyo and his friends on seven playful adventures! Whether it's playing a new game called Boo!, enjoying a monster mash party or pretending to be Godzilla & King Kong, every day is fun & engaging with Pocoyo and his friends!

REVIEW

My younger kids enjoyed both of these DVDs. They've watched other episodes of Pocoyo and The Cat In The Hat on Netflix and on TV, but hadn't seen any of these before. The episodes aren't too long and found both DVDs to be pretty amusing.

GIVEAWAY

NCircle Entertainment is giving away one (1) copy of The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That: Tricks and Treats and one (1) copy of Pocoyo: Boo! to one lucky reader. Enter using the widget below. Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm ET on November 3, 2017. Open to US and Canadian residents. Good luck!

The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That: Tricks and Treats and Pocoyo: Boo! DVD Giveaway


Can't wait and want them now? You can purchase them now! Affiliate links below.


NCircle Entertainment's Doozers: Spookypalooza - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY

Wednesday, October 25, 2017



DISCLOSURE: As an NCircle Ambassador, I received free DVDs for review purposes. No further compensation was provided. All opinions are my own. Post may contain affiliate links.

Halloween is less than a week away. Our decorations are up. Costumes have been bought. And Halloween movie favorites, like The Nightmare Before Christmas and Hocus Pocus, have been playing on repeat. We also received some fun new Halloween DVDs from NCircle Entertainment. 

ABOUT DOOZERS: SPOOKYPALOOZA

Welcome to Doozer Creek where the Doozers live! They're green. They're cute. They're three inches tall and they're full of energy, ideas and enthusiasm! 

It's Spookypalooza! The time of year when all Doozers get together to spook each other. The Pod Squad makes the spookiest pumpkin ever -- a cool "Pumpkin Doozer" made by stacking three pumpkins together. But when their new invention starts rolling all around town, the Doozers have to find a way to reign in their spooky creation! Enjoy five STEM-based adventures with the Doozers!


NCircle Entertainment's The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About Halloween! - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY

Wednesday, October 18, 2017


DISCLOSURE: As an NCircle Ambassador, I received free DVDs for review purposes. No further compensation was provided. All opinions are my own. Post may contain affiliate links.

Halloween is just around the corner! In addition to getting the house decorated for Halloween and picking out costumes, we like watching our favorite Halloween-themed shows and movies. This month, we had the chance to see four new Halloween DVDs from NCircle Entertainment. I'll be posting reviews and giveaways for the DVDs in the next few days.

ABOUT THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT HALLOWEEN!

The Cat in the Hat takes Nick and Sally on a Halloween ride filled with howlers and shockers and scary fandangles, big laughs and music and fun from all angles! Their fright-filled adventure takes them deep into the Ooky-ma-kooky Closet where Nick and Sally discover the very best Halloween costumes ever.


Fall Into Style With prAna - REVIEW #MamaInPrana #MomsMeet

Tuesday, October 17, 2017


DISCLOSURE: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my honest opinion on my blog. The opinions posted are my own.

It has been unseasonably warm the past month or so, but it's now finally starting to cool down. It actually feels like Fall now. Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. It's boots and sweater weather!

This month, I had the opportunity to style some pieces from prAna, thanks to Moms Meet. I've never worn anything by prAna before, but had always been curious about their clothing. I had seen prAna clothing while shopping at our local REI and had equated the brand with active wear and yoga clothing. It wasn't until last year, when attending the Moms Meet WOW Summit, that I saw that prAna carries much more than just active wear.

NCircle Entertainment Little Wolf's Book of Badness DVD - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY

Thursday, September 28, 2017


DISCLOSURE: As an NCircle Ambassador, I received free DVDs for review purposes. No further compensation was provided. All opinions are my own. Post may contain affiliate links.

In addition to the Gumby Movie and Floogals DVDs that we received from NCircle Entertainment this month, we also received Little Wolf's Book of Badness. This DVD is based on a series of Little Wolf story books. Even though we weren't familiar at all with the books, I still thought the DVD was something my kids would enjoy watching.

ABOUT LITTLE WOLF'S BOOK OF BADNESS


All Little Wolf wants to do is stay at home with Mum, Dad and his brother, Smellybreff. However, Mum and Dad are worried that their precious son, Little Wolf, is not as bad as a small wolf should be. So they decide to send him off to Cunning College in Frettnin Forest to learn the Nine Rules of Badness from his Uncle Bigbad. Uncle Bigbad is a hopeless teacher, but armed with determination and native wit, Little Wolf thinks things out for himself. Sent out by his Uncle to round up a troop of boy scouts to eat for supper, Little Wolf discovers that the scouts have many useful skills that Little Wolf can learn from them. In the end, Little Wolf decides not to follow outdated rules of proper wolf behavior but to be true to himself. As a result, he inherits his Uncle's fortune and becomes master of Cunning College. Based on a world famous series of best-selling Little Wolf story books, this one-off is a treat for the whole family!

NCircle Entertainment's Floogals: Mission Complete! DVD - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY

Wednesday, September 27, 2017


DISCLOSURE: As an NCircle Ambassador, I received free DVDs for review purposes. No further compensation was provided. All opinions are my own. Post may contain affiliate links.

My seven-year-old loves the Floogals! He watches it sometimes on Sprout and so, he was super excited to see that we were getting a DVD of Floogals shows. As soon as it came in the mail, he wanted to watch it.

I had seen a couple shows with him and thought it was pretty interesting. I liked the theme song. It gets stuck in your head.

ABOUT FLOOGALS: MISSION COMPLETE!

Join the Floogals on a mission of discovery as they explore Earth and the funny hoomans who live there! Each day, Captain Fleeker, First Officer Flo, and Junior Boomer encounter something that sparks their curiosity, setting in motion the day s research project and triggering an exciting adventure! First, the Floogals have an adventure in which they must learn the difficult task of assembling the Girl Hooman's jigsaw puzzle. They learn working in a team wins the day! The projects continue with investigating Boy Hooman's building of a model rocket, learning how to fly a toy helicopter to rescue Boomer, discovering who stole Dad Hooman's veggies in the garden and so much more! Adventure is everywhere they go. They're the Floogals! 3, 2, 1, let's go!

I'm A Chick-Fil-A Mom! #ChickFilAMoms

Tuesday, September 26, 2017


I'm happy to announce that I have been selected to be a member of the Chick-Fil-A Mom Panel for 2017-2018. This will be my fourth year on the panel.

My entire family loves Chick-Fil-A! We probably eat Chick-Fil-A at least once a week. It's a great option when we don't have the time to cook or when we're traveling. There's something there for each of us to eat.

I celebrated my being selected for the panel by having breakfast at Chick-Fil-A last week.


As a member of the Chick-Fil-A Mom Panel, I'll post news about new menu items, services, and other fun things from Chick-Fil-A!

Disney Junior Play 'N Dine Breakfast at Hollywood & Vine - Hollywood Studios - Walt Disney World - REVIEW

Monday, September 25, 2017


Whenever we visit Walt Disney World, we always make it a point to make dining reservations for a character meal. It's an easy way to make sure my kids meet their favorite characters without having to wait in a long line. Plus, it gives us a chance to enjoy the great food that Disney has to offer.

A family favorite is the Disney Junior Play 'n Dine character dining experience at Hollywood & Vine in Hollywood Studios.The Play 'n Dine is currently only available for breakfast and Minnie's Seasonal Dine is currently being offered for lunch and dinner. At the Disney Junior Play 'n Dine Breakfast, you can meet Doc McStuffins, Sofia The First, Handy Manny and Jake from Jake and the Neverland Pirates. At Minnie's Seasonal Dine, you can meet Minnie, Mickey, Goofy, Donald and Daisy.

Perfect Bar - REVIEW

Wednesday, September 20, 2017


DISCLOSURE: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

My kids usually pack a lunch for school. One thing I struggle with is making sure I pack foods that my kids will like and eat, while also making sure that the food is healthy and nutritious. I want to make sure they eat the food I pack them and not let it go to waste, but I also don't want to pack a lot of junk food, either.

Thanks to Moms Meet, we had the chance to try Perfect Bars. They're unlike any other nutrition bar we've tried. For one thing, they're sold in the refrigerated section of the store.  They contain no chemical preservatives, overly-processed ingredients or emulsifiers. To maintain the optimal texture and flavor, they require refrigeration. Though, they can stay fresh out of the fridge up to one week.


The Gumby Movie - Blu-Ray + DVD Combo Pack - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY

Friday, September 15, 2017


DISCLOSURE: As an NCircle Ambassador, I received free DVDs for review purposes. No further compensation was provided. All opinions are my own. Post may contain affiliate links.

I remember watching Gumby when I was growing up. I don't remember too much about the show, but I do remember some of the characters. I remember Gumby and Pokey. And I remember The Blockheads were the bad guys.

Recently, my six--year-old had showed some interest in Gumby. He had watched a few episodes of the show on Amazon Prime and so, he was pretty excited when we got the movie in the mail to review.

ABOUT THE GUMBY MOVIE

Take a magical romp with the world's most popular clay boy in The Gumby Movie. For the first time, you'll enjoy this heartwarming adventure, fully re-mastered from its original film rolls. This is the complete movie, with all its scenes intact. This clay-animated masterpiece was written and directed by Gumby Creator Art Clokey, and showcases Gumby, Pokey, Prickle, Goo, the Blockheads, Professor Kapp, and introduces the Clayboys and singing sensation Tara. Gumby rocks out with the Clayboys for a concert benefiting local farmers. But things go awry when Gumby's arch enemies, the Blockheads, dognap his pet pooch, Lowbelly! Bad turns to worse when the Blockheads also kidnap the band...and replace them with clones! The battle between Clayboys and clones is filled with trains and planes, knights and fights, thrills and spills! True to classic Gumby adventures, The Gumby Movie takes viewers in and out of books, to Toyland, Camelot, outer space and beyond! The Gumby Movie Bonus Features include: Photo Gallery and Behind the Scenes.

Parragon September 2017 Book Buddies Box - REVIEW #BookBuddies

Tuesday, September 12, 2017


DISCLOSURE: As a member of the Book Buddies program, I received free books from Parragon Books to facilitate this post. No further compensation was provided. All opinions are my own. Post may contain affiliate links.

School has been in session for more than a week now. We had a later start this year than most other families that I know of. This year, school started the day after Labor Day, when usually it starts sometime in mid to late August.

I have an 8th grader, 5th grader, 1st grader and a child in Pre-K this year. They're all super excited about the new school year and so far, things have been going pretty well.

While we were vacationing in the Outer Banks last month, we received our September Book Buddies Box from Parragon Books. Each month, they send us a selection of books that go along with that month's theme. This month, the theme is, appropriately enough, the Back To School season. The box featured Parragon's new Learnalots series of books. The series is designed to be a fun and interactive way for kids to build upon their reading and math skills and are made so kids and parents can play and learn together.

A Look At The New Refurbished Rooms At Disney's Pop Century Resort at Disney World

Wednesday, September 6, 2017


We just returned from a week-long trip to Walt Disney World. Since we're a family of six, we usually book two rooms at a value resort. We normally spend the majority of the day at the parks and so staying at a value resort gives us the convenience of staying on property, without spending too much money.

This trip, we stayed at Disney's Pop Century Resort, which is currently undergoing renovations. We had the opportunity to stay at one of the new refurbished rooms. Right now, Building 8 in the 90's section and Building 9 in the 80's section are finished being renovated. We stayed in the 90's section.



COOLA Sport SPF 50 Guava Mango Sunscreen Spray - REVIEW

Tuesday, August 22, 2017


DISCLOSURE: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

A couple years ago, I had won a contest on Facebook for a Hayden Reis Mesh Sea Shell Pouch and a bottle of COOLA SPF 30 Pina Colada Sunscreen Spray. I had never heard of COOLA, but I really liked the sunscreen. It smelled so good. It made me think of the Tropics. It also didn't make my skin feel like it had sunscreen on it, which I liked. I was so sad when it ran out. I wanted to buy more, but none of my local stores carried it at the time.

Recently, I had a chance to try COOLA again, thanks to Moms Meet! This time, I had a chance to try the Sport SPF 50 Guava Mango Sunscreen Spray.

COOLA Sport SPF 50 Guava Mango Sunscreen Spray

Veggie Go's Fruit & Veggie Snacks - REVIEW

Friday, August 18, 2017


DISCLOSURE: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

My kids and I love fruit snacks. But, often, they contain too much sugar and barely any fruit. So, we hardly ever buy them to keep in the house. Though, sometimes, I'll keep a package of fruit snacks with me at work, so I have something to snack on in between patients.

Thanks to Moms Meet, we had the chance to try Veggie Go's Fruit & Veggie Snacks. They are certified USDA Organic and Non-GMO. Each fruit & veggie strip or pouch contains one full serving of fruits and veggies in unique and interesting flavor combinations. There is no added sugar and the snacks are gluten-free. Veggie-Go's are available in Strips and Bites.

H2OBX - A Welcome Addition To The Outer Banks - REVIEW

Thursday, August 17, 2017


DISCLOSURE: I received two complimentary tickets from H2OBX in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own. No further compensation was provided.

Every year, we look forward to our annual trip to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. The kids enjoy spending time with their cousins, playing at the beach and swimming in the pool. In addition to the beach, we also like to visit the aquarium on Roanoke Island, climb a lighthouse or two, and check out the local shops and restaurants. This year, we had a chance to do something a little different. We visited the new waterpark!

H2OBX, located in Powells Point, opened this past June. The waterpark features 30 attractions, with plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy.

We visited H2OBX this past Tuesday. In addition to the two complimentary tickets I received, we also purchased additional tickets for my kids and my brother-in-law and his family. Because we had rented a house through one of H2OBX's affiliate partners, we received a small discount on each ticket.

General admission tickets are dated, since they cap how many people are admitted to the park each day. Tickets cannot be refunded or transferred to another day. This worried us, somewhat, since the whole week leading up to the day we chose to go, the weather forecast was calling for thunderstorms. Luckily, the weather turned out great and we didn't need to take advantage of H2OBX's Weather Warranty (If operations are suspended for more than 90 minutes, you can receive a complimentary return ticket valid within 7 days from being printed).

Molang: Seasone One DVD REVIEW + GIVEAWAY - Ends 8/26

Thursday, August 10, 2017


DISCLOSURE: As an NCircle Ambassador, I received free DVDs for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

I had never heard of Molang when the DVD came in the mail. But, I thought it was cute and figured the kids would like it, too. To my surprise, my kids all knew what Molang was and had seen several episodes before. I didn't realize Molang is played as little shorts in between Disney shows on Disney Junior. But, when I heard the theme song, I recognized it right away! I had heard it before and may have even seen little snippets of it before.


ABOUT MOLANG

Join Molang, a round, fluffy, and happy rabbit, and his friend, Piu Piu, a poised, timid, and reserved yellow chick, as they explore everyday life. Molang savors every moment of his life, imbuing it with joy and wonder. He pays attention to the smallest details, giving meaning to even the tiniest things. Molang puts his heart into his actions, and he has a huge heart. Even when he does absolutely nothing, he does it well! Piu Piu, on the other hand, doesn't like calling attention to himself. He likes to do things carefully and well. When unexpected situations arise (and Molang's unpredictable behavior often causes such situations to occur!), Piu Piu can become quickly unsettled, even panicked. Despite their many differences, Molang and Piu Piu enjoy a unique friendship. They have amazing times together ranging from the mundane to the extraordinary. From finding themselves in a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean to riding camels in the desert, Molang and Piu Piu experience unexpected situations. Throughout it all though, every single moment with these two is filled with happiness. Embark on 52 unforgettable adventures with Molang and Piu Piu!

My 2017 Walt Disney World Bucket List

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Images: Disney

My family and I will be visiting Walt Disney World in less than two weeks. Even though this will be my 13th visit, there are still a lot of things that I haven't had the chance to do at the parks. On this next trip, I'm hoping to cross off several things on my Walt Disney World Bucket List.

1. Surprise the kids

This will be the first year that the kids aren't involved in the planning of our Disney trip. Right now, three out of the four kids don't even know we're going. My oldest found out on her own. She has her own iPhone and was playing around with the My Disney Experience app and saw that we had hotel reservations and dining reservations. She's done a good job, though, at not spoiling the surprise. We plan to tell the kids as we're driving down. We're leaving from the Outer Banks and instead of driving home, we'll be driving towards Florida. I can't wait to see how they react! We plan to leave early from the beach to give us enough time to drive down and we plan to tell the kids we're leaving early because I have to work.

Jane Iredale Pure & Smple Makeup Kit - REVIEW #BeautyWithBrilliance #PureSimpleYou

Thursday, July 27, 2017


DISCLOSURE: I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Jane Iredale is a line of supplements, makeup and skincare products that nourish the skin, as well as making it look and feel good. Their products aim to Feed, Fortify and Finish the skin. They use high quality ingredients, including certified organic and natural ingredients and are certified cruelty-free.

Thanks to Influenster, I received the Pure & Simple Makeup Kit to try. The kit includes two shades of PurePressed Base Mineral Foundation, PurePressed Blush, two shades of PurePressed Eyeshadow and Just Kissed Lip & Cheek Stain. The kit is available in four shades: Light, Medium Light, Medium and Medium Dark. I received the Medium shade to review.


I found the foundation to be really light. It felt like I wasn't wearing anything. It gave me sheer to medium coverage, depending on how much I used. I liked how the foundation included SPF protection. I used the darker shade all over my face and the lighter shade under my eyes.

I really liked the shade of blush included in the kit. I felt it went really well with my skin tone. The eyeshadows were really pigmented. The lip and cheek stain smelled really good. The pink shade included in the kit wasn't that much different than my natural lip color. It just kind of brightened my lips.


Overall, though, I liked the kit. It would be even better if it included a small mascara. I plan to bring the makeup kit with me on the two road trips I have coming up next month (Outer Banks and Disney World!!).


The Pure & Simple Makeup Kit retails for $33 and is available on janeiredale.com and other online retailers.


NCircle Entertainment's Kiwi: Season1 + Mily Miss Questions: Season 1 - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY

Wednesday, July 26, 2017


DISCLOSURE: As an NCircle Ambassador, I received free DVDs for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

This month's DVD giveaway from NCircle Entertainment features two shows that I had never heard of. I thought they both sounded interesting and would be good for my four- and six-year-old to watch.

ABOUT MILY MISS QUESTIONS: SEASON ONE

Join Mily, a funny and inquisitive 8-year-old girl, as she embarks on adventures hoping to answer the many questions she has about life, people, and the world. In this collection of twenty four episodes, join Mily and her friends as they investigate everyday situations from learning how to deal with fear to playing by the rules to using your imagination and so much more. Whenever a particular situation raises a question worthy of examination, Mily is immediately on the case! From one episode to the next, through everyday situations, Mily introduces young viewers to the art of questioning in order to further develop an inquisitive mind.

ABOUT KIWI: SEASON ONE

It s time to learn phonics skills with Twiki and Twini! In this collection of twenty six episodes, Twiki and Twini will take us on fun and educational adventures to discover new words and new sounds. In each episode, Twiki and Twini encounter different objects themed together such as animals, trucks, and more! As each object is presented in the episode, your little one will then watch as Twiki and Twini spell the word out phonetically in fun, illustrative letters that resemble the word being spelled out with their friends. For instance, when spelling out chicken the letters resemble a chicken with its feathers and legs. Each adventure continues with a total of four to five words being spelled out in each episode. In this Season 1 collection, your little one will learn how to spell colors like red and blue to food words like fruit to animal words like snake . The fun and learning never end with Twiki and Twini! Get ready to enter into an unexpected universe comprised of sounds, words, and images. 


Himalaya Botanique Complete Care Toothpaste - REVIEW

Sunday, July 23, 2017


DISCLOSURE: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

My family and I have been making the effort to use more natural and organic products, both in the foods we eat and in the personal care products we use. While cost and availability have been a factor, we try to buy natural and organic when we can.

We recently made the move to trying natural toothpaste. We had been somewhat hesitant in the past to making the switch to natural toothpaste. Other brands that we had tried before either didn't taste good or they just didn't leave our teeth feeling clean or fresh at all.

Thanks to Moms Meet, we were sent several varieties of Himalaya Botanique Complete Care Toothpaste. The toothpaste offers a different approach to ingredients. It's free from harmful ingredients that are commonly found in other toothpastes, such as fluoride, carrageenan and sodium lauryl sulfate. Instead, Himalaya Botanique Complete Care Toothpastes uses all natural ingredients to help fight plaque, freshen breathe and whiten and brighten teeth.

Exploring D.C. With Urban Adventure Quest

Wednesday, July 5, 2017


DISCLOSURE:  This is a sponsored post in conjunction with USFamilyGuide.com.  I received a free Urban Adventure Quest scavenger hunt in exchange for a review.  No further compensation was provided.  All opinions are my own.

We don't live very far from Washington, D.C. -- it's about a 45 minute drive from our house to downtown D.C. Yet, we hardly ever venture into the city. I think it had been probably over a year since I was last in D.C. 

This past weekend, we had a chance to play tourists and go on a scavenger hunt around Washington, D.C., using Urban Adventure Quest. They offer fun scavenger hunt adventures that you can complete with your family and/or friends.  Guided from any smartphone, teams make their way among well known and overlooked gems of the city, solving clues and completing challenges while learning local history. You can play anytime during daylight hours and start when you want and play at your pace. They have 54 Quests to choose from in many major cities.

Celebrate #NationalSunglassesDay on June 27

Tuesday, June 27, 2017


DISCLOSURE: I am a licensed, practicing optometrist, employed by Luxottica Group. This post contains affiliate links.  All opinions are my own.

I don't post very often about my job. But, as a practicing optometrist, one thing I make sure to discuss with all my patients is the importance of wearing sunglasses to protect eyes from UV exposure. Long term exposure to UV radiation can accelerate the development of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

Annually, The Vision Council hosts National Sunglasses Day on June 27 to remind people to wear sunglasses whenever they're outside. To celebrate, they encourage you to post a #SunglassSelfie of yourself in sunglasses to your favorite social media channel(s) and to include the #NationalSunglassesDay.

Revlon Youth FX - REVIEW

Tuesday, June 20, 2017


DISCLOSURE: I received free samples from Crowdtap for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

I turn 40 next year, which is such a scary thought! And while I'm fortunate to look younger than I am, I know that it won't last forever. The past few years, I've added more products to my daily skincare routine to try and delay any signs of aging.

I recently had the chance to try the Youth FX system from Revlon. It consists of a primer for your forehead, a primer for your face and neck, a concealer and a foundation.

Urban Adventure Quest - Where The City Is Your Gameboard

Thursday, June 15, 2017

DISCLOSURE:  This is a sponsored post in conjunction with USFamilyGuide.com.  I will receive a free Urban Adventure Quest scavenger hunt in exchange for this post and a future review.  All opinions are my own.

I've lived in the DC area pretty much my whole life.  And yet, there are so many places in the area that I've never been to.  I've always wanted to take the time to just play tourist and explore.  So many people come to DC to visit the monuments and museums and I've probably only seen a handful of them.

I recently discovered a fun way to explore the city.  Urban Adventure Quest gives you a chance to turn your favorite city into a giant game board.  They offer fun scavenger hunt adventures that you can complete with your family and/or friends.  Guided from any smart phone, teams make their way among well known and overlooked gems of the city, solving clues and completing challenges while learning local history. Play anytime during daylight hours. Start when you want and play at your pace.

Urban Adventure Quests are available in a variety of popular cities including Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Fort Worth, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Vancouver and Washington, D.C. For a complete list, visit this link.

The Quests have an everyday low price of $49 per team of 2 to 5 people. They also offer Mini-Quests for $30 and discounts for military, school and groups.


 SPECIAL OFFER!

Save 20% and pay only $39.20 for a team of 2-5 people! Use Promotion Code: FGBLOG. Sign up online at www.UrbanAdventureQuest.com.

We plan on exploring Washington, D.C. It should be a lot of fun!

NCircle Entertainment's Octonauts: Calling All Sharks! DVD - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY

Wednesday, June 14, 2017


DISCLOSURE: As an NCircle Ambassador, I received a free DVD for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

My youngest kids are fans of the Octonauts. They love learning about the different sea creatures featured on the show. The Octonauts rescue a different one in each episode.

ABOUT OCTONAUTS: CALLING ALL SHARKS!


Dive into adventures with your favorite underwater explorers, the Octonauts! Join brave Captain Barnacles, daredevil ex-pirate Kwazii, and medic Peso Penguin, along with other Octonauts as they explore the world's oceans, rescue the creatures who live there, and protect their habitats above and below the waves! On this exciting DVD, join the Octonauts aboard the Octopod as they come face to face with a trio of pesky Cookiecutter Sharks, look after an injured Lemon Shark and stop a Whitetip Shark who is chasing the Gup-A!



Turkey Hill All Natural Ice Cream - REVIEW


DISCLOSURE: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

As a member of Moms Meet, I have the opportunity to try and review a variety of natural, organic and eco-friendly products with my friends and family. Recently, we had the chance to try Turkey Hill All Natural Ice Cream. While we've all had regular Turkey Hill ice cream before, none of us had tried the All Natural version before.

Turkey Hill All Natural Ice Cream is made with pure and simple ingredients like milk, cream, sugar and natural flavors. There are no artificial colors, artificial flavoring or stabilizers found in Turkey Hill All Natural Ice Cream. It's available in 20 flavors and retails for about $4.99.

Parragon May Book Buddies Box #BookBuddies - REVIEW

Friday, June 9, 2017


DISCLOSURE: As a member of the Book Buddies program, I received free books from Parragon Books to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own. Post may contain affiliate links.

This is the last week of school. Soon, I'll have four kids here at home that I'll need to keep busy, so they don't get too bored and end up vegging out in front of the TV or playing Minecraft all day. Luckily, our May Book Buddies Box from Parragon Books arrived! The box was filled with fun activity kits and books that should help keep the kids entertained at home or on a road trip.

NCircle's Entertainment's The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About Camping DVD - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY

Saturday, June 3, 2017



DISCLOSURE: As an NCircle Ambassador, I received a free DVD for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

We're big fans of Dr. Seuss and The Cat In The Hat books. When my kids were younger, they really enjoyed having the Dr. Seuss books read to them. And even now, my six-year-old son loves to read them himself.

A couple years ago, my kids found The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That show on Netflix. They really liked watching it and also liked the Christmas special they have on Netflix. So, when I showed my kids we could review a Cat In The Hat DVD, they were excited to get it.


Sun Basket - Healthy Organic Meal Delivery - REVIEW

Thursday, June 1, 2017


DISCLOSURE: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

I am so not a good cook. On most nights, my husband is the one who makes dinner. I'm just not very good at looking at what we have in the house and then whipping something up. I need a recipe to follow. Depending on the semester, my husband sometimes teaches late, and so on those nights, I'm in charge of dinner. If I'm not ordering out, then I usually look for a recipe that doesn't look too hard and then I go out and buy the ingredients I need.


Lancôme Visionnaire Crescendo VoxBox from Influenster - REVIEW

Monday, May 29, 2017


DISCLOSURE: I received free products from Influenster for review purposes. My opinions are my own.

As much as I don't want to admit it, I'm going to be turning 40 next year! Scary thought. To keep my skin looking young, I've been doing more in the past couple years to try and slow the aging process.

Last month, I was sent the Lancôme VoxBox from Influenster to try. It included:
  • Visionnaire Crescendo - a dual phase night peel
  • Bienfait UV SPF 50+ - a broad spectrum SPF 50+ super fluid facial sunscreen
  • Matte Shaker - comfort matte high pigment  liquid lipstick



NOW Women's Probiotic 20 Billion - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY - Ends 5/31/17

Wednesday, May 24, 2017


DISCLOSURE: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my honest opinion on my blog. The opinions posted are my own.

Lately, I've been paying more attention to what I eat. My metabolism isn't what it used to be and I can't eat the way I did 15 years ago. In addition to being more mindful of the foods I'm eating, I've begun looking into nutritional supplements to help me look and feel better.

One type of supplement that I had been considering are probiotics. I had begun noticing that my stomach would get upset after eating. I couldn't really pinpoint what it was that was making it upset. It just seemed like everything I ate was making me feel sick. I already have a ton of food allergies and so I was afraid that maybe I was developing a gluten sensitivity, too.

NCircle Entertainment's Octonauts: 12 Rescue Missions - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY - Ends 6/1/17

Monday, May 22, 2017


DISCLOSURE: As an NCircle Ambassador, I received a free DVD for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Our family have been fans of the Octonauts, since their debut on the Disney Channel in 2012. My kids love watching all the different rescue missions and learning about all the different sea creatures. Plus, they like singing along to the theme song.

I first learned about the Spider Crab from an Octonauts episode!

ABOUT OCTONAUTS: 12 RESCUE MISSIONS


Dive into adventure with your favorite underwater explorers, the Octonauts! Join brave Captain Barnacles, daredevil ex-pirate, Kwazii and medic Peso Penguin, along with the other Octonauts as they explore the world's oceans, rescue the creatures who live there and protect their habitats - above and below the waves!


On this exciting DVD, join the Octonauts as they embark on not one, not two, but TWELVE rescue missions! From attempting to dive deep into the abyssal zone to encountering a school of toothy barracudas to Barnacles seeking guidance from a mysterious sea turtle. It's time to sound the Octo-alert!

Revlon ColorStay Eye Makeup Review

Sunday, May 21, 2017


DISCLOSURE: I received free samples from Crowdtap to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

My eye makeup routine is pretty simple. I put concealer under my eyes. I put some eye shadow on. I tightline my top lid and then put a little mascara on. I never really do anything with my brows, other than brush through them and get them threaded every couple weeks.

Recently, I had the chance to try Revlon ColorStay™ 2-in-1 Angled Kajal Eyeliner, Revlon ColorStay™ Crème Eye Shadow, Revlon ColorStay™ Brow Pencil, and Revlon Super Length Mascara. Since I've never really done anything to my brows before, I was excited to give it a go.