Orajel Single Dose Cold Sore Medication

I was given a chance to try out Orajel Cold Sore medication which includes two single dose treatment vials and one tube of moisturizer. I haven’t had a cold sore, but I can honestly say I didn’t really know what one really was. It wasn’t until one fateful day that a cold sore reared its ugly head and a co-worker screamed, “herpes!” while pointing. I was shocked and appalled, why would she be yelling that, I wasn’t “that type” of girl you know. Well what I had always known as a fever blister was in fact a cold sore. I was told it was just something you got when you were getting really sick. I really had no clue and so when that event happened I went to get informed.

What is a cold sore?
Well first of all just having something appear by your lips does not a cold sore make. I actually didn’t have a cold sore at the time, but a pimple in a unfortunate place. So what exactly is a cold sore? Well they are called fever blisters and are actually groups of small blisters on the lip and around the mouth. It makes the skin red, swollen, and sometimes sore. These blisters may break open and leak clear fluid, which is the moment you have to be extra careful. Most cold sores heal within 2 weeks after scabbing over.

What causes cold sores?
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus or HSV. There are two types of HSV - 1 and 2. HSV-1 is the virus that cause cold sores while HSV-2 is genital herpes. Apparently  both types can cause cold sores so its best to get checked if any appear.

What symptoms should you look for?
Well one obvious symptom to look for is a cold sore. If you’ve been infected you may get pain around you mouth and lips, a fever, sore throat, or swollen glands. Even though most people have these symptoms there are some that never get cold sores or any symptoms. That’s why it’s always get to get periodically checked out by your doctor.

Can cold sores be treated?
While cold sores themselves can be treated you can’t treat the virus itself. Once you have it, it will always be with you for the rest of your life. So the best thing is to try and prevent them.

So how can you prevent cold sores?
Well avoid contact with an infected person, whether its your partner or stranger. Kissing isn’t the only way you can get the virus, sharing anything that an infected person may have used can  also spread it.

If you do happen to contract the virus, relax it isn’t the end of the world. Because over 70 percent of adults in America have oral herpes (HSV-1); so you’re not alone.


With Orajel Cold Sore treatment you can cut the healing time and after just one application it starts to heal your cold sore. Also, it’ll take away the pain really quickly if you have any. It’s pretty simple to use, you take one vial, snap it in half, and then gently rub it on your cold sore. You could also just press down on it to
make sure it covers the cold sore completely. It doesn’t burn and the moisturizer you use afterwards help to keep everything from drying out and looking worse.

While it can be a little expensive there are really no other options when it comes to cold sore medication. Most will take weeks and many applications to start the healing. You can find coupons online and sometimes in the newspaper.

Click here for more information: HERE

Olay Shine Shine Go Away Cleanser

I received the Olay Fresh Effects Shine, Shine Go Away in my #ParadiseVoxbox courtesy of Influenster. I am always open to trying new facial cleansers because you never really know for sure if there is something out there better for your skin.

So when I opened it up to try the first thing I did was smell it. I'm huge on smells and if I don't like the smell of something I find it very hard to use it. It has a good clean scent, not medicine-y or even too soapy. The texture was stiff and creamy, and the color is a silvery gray. Now one thing to mention is that a little definitely goes a long way. I got my normal amount that I would use in my other facial cleansers and because its so stiff, I really had to work with it. If you get too much at once it is a bit difficult to lather up. So when the directions say get a small amount, they definitely mean it. It is meant to be like a mask, which I'm guessing is why it's so dense.

I have problematic skin, some cleanser give me major issues. They can burn, cause redness, itchiness - etc. This didn't at all, although I'm not really sure its made for people with sensitive skin. I can tell you that if you do have sensitive skin, you could still probably use this. The fragrance isn't very strong so it won't irritate your skin. It does have kaolin clay and witch hazel in it, so if those ingredients give you problems then its best not to use this.

I think Shine, Shine Go Away works best for those who suffer from oily skin. I am one such person and have tried many things to try and get a handle on my oily skin. This actually works and gives my skin a smooth, almost matte finish. I know it's not really matte, but my skin isn't shiny either! It feels clean and looks clean, no shininess on my nose and forehead. No splotchy, shiny redness on my cheeks either, just clean good looking skin.

The prices range anywhere from $6.99 to $8.99, occasionally it does go on sale, or there are coupons in the Sunday paper. Either way you should still try it out if you're looking for a facial cleanser that is tough on dirt, but not on your skin.

Olay Fresh Effects has seven products in the line, and I've tried three of them: Shine, Shine Go Away, Bead Me Up Exfoliating Cleanser, S'Wipe Out Make-up Cloths. I can assure you that they are all really great products. If you are a looking for a great new facial cleanser then I'd highly recommend checking out Shine, Shine Go Away.








Disclaimer: I received this product in the Influenster #ParadiseVoxbox for the sole purpose of reviewing it. All opinions are my own and no compensation was received. 

Goody TangleFix Brush

Another great product included in the Influenster #ParadiseVoxBox was a Goody TangleFix Brush. I had never heard of this brush before so it was a totally new product for me. I was pretty excited to read that it was 70% more gentle (with detangling) than your regular brush. For my niece this was totally going to be a worthwhile product.

The brush features:
• Super-flexible bristles work with the hair, not against it
• Lightweight for less fatigue
• Easy grip sides for better control
• Dual size design for children's or adult's hands


So looking at the features themselves, the bristles are super soft. They're made out of plastic, and honestly I didn't think it would work with my niece's hair. She has thick unruly hair so I use a heavy duty brush for it. My niece is 13 so she can brush her own hair now. She started out from the bottom and worked her way up her hair. She didn't complain at all about the bristles being to hard.

The brush is really lightweight, and the shape helps to grip it better. I have hand issues and can't really grasp things for too long. I didn't have any issues with using this brush, it was pretty easy and went quickly. I have a smaller hand and found that the brush still sat comfortably in my palm. Because you're able to grip it easier you don't get any slippage just in case the brush does get caught in your hair. I couldn't really say if it would be easy to hold if a young child were to use it as I don't have any. My niece's hand is actually bigger than mine and she definitely didn't have issues grabbing onto it.

My niece had fun playing with this brush, really trying to get her hair tangled up so she could try it. I thought it would be better for her to try because over the years my hair has thinned out. She said it went through really easily, it didn't hurt at all, and it left her hair feeling really soft.

The brush is fairly inexpensive being less than 8 dollars it definitely won't hurt your wallet to try this out. You can buy it at Target, for sure but I'd keep an eye out at other major big box stores. This brush will definitely make brushing your little ones hair much easier, less painful, and tear free.



Disclaimer: I received this product in the Influenster #ParadiseVoxbox for the sole purpose of reviewing it. All opinions are my own and no compensation was received.

Dr Scholl's Heel Insoles

One of the products that I received in the #ParadiseVoxbox from Influenster were Dr. Scholl's High Heel Insoles. They sent insoles that would fit a size 6 shoe up to a size 10. I have a size 7 foot so can't comment on how the insole works for a larger size shoe.

The package was easy to open up and the insoles were really easy to put on the shoe. The insoles are clearly labeled with left and right, heel and toe for easy application. You just have to peel off the backing and stick it on. Yup it has a sticky backing which means you can stick it on any shoe you have in your closet. Sadly the stickiness doesn't last forever and you're left with insoles that don't stay put. I understand that they aren't meant to last forever though, so I think the length of time it did last was very reasonable. For me that amount of time was about a month or so, and that was with numerous changes from heels to my favorite flats.

See the orange line - thats the arch on the insole!

It is perfect for all kinds of shoes,not just heels. For me sandals tend to hurt my feet the most because they have no arch. I have a natural arch on my foot so when I wear flats my feet pay the price. The insoles have some extra gel support where the toes are, and they have an arch. It makes wearing flats and heels so comfortable, especially when they don't have an arch. It means I can wear them longer and be on my feet for longer periods of time without wanting to cut my shoes off and chuck them out the window.

Now their price is a little more expensive when compared to other insoles, but they are well worth it. Also you'll get a good amount of wear before having to replace them. Dr Scholl's runs coupons in the paper periodically so you'll never really have to pay full price for them. So if you're looking for some comfy insoles and haven't decided on the ones you want to buy, then you should definitely try Dr Scholl's For Her High Heel Insoles.

Disclaimer: I was sent this product for the sole purpose of doing a review. All opinions are my own and no compensation was received.

NYC Sparkle Eyedust Eyeshadow

New York Color Sparkle Eyedust

Inside my #ParadiseVoxbox was a NYC Sparkle Eyedust eyeshadow in "Smoky Topaz". It is a shimmery light bronze with a hint of purple. The eyeshadow itself is super pigmented and at first I felt like I had applied too much. The color is bright and shimmery, and definitely popped. I added some green to it because I felt it really went well with it. Of course I hadn't realized my eyeliner was messed up until after editing the photo, doh! my bad. As you can see though the color looks great and blended really well. I used the applicator and a regular make-up brush. While the applicator worked alright, I still really prefer a brush instead. The applicator is like the type you'd have on a lip gloss. I found it to be a bit messy when pulling it out to use it. It would get a little bit too much eyeshadow onto it which cause a bit of fallout. No matter how I pulled the applicator out (slow, fast) it still ending up dropping eyeshadow all over the place. It wasn't too big of a deal at the beginning, but I had to be careful when reapplying it because I didn't want it to get all over my clothes. Speaking of reapplying, it actually was hours before I had to touch it up a bit. It definitely would last the whole night if you had a date or ladies night out, and you wouldn't have to mess with it.

There are a total of 10 shades

1. 879 Opal Sparkle: Shimmery White
2. 880 Golden Champagne: Light Shimmery God
3. 881 Pink Topaz: Very Light Pink S
4. 882 Smokey Topaz Light Purple Shimmer with brown undertones
5. 883 Amber Glitz: Darker Shimmery Gold
6. 884 Bronze Shimmer
7. 885 Amethyst Dazzle
8. 886 Aquamarine Sparkle
9. 887 Brilliant Sapphire
10. 888 Diamond Dust

The best thing is that they're super affordable so you can get every color and not have a huge hit to your wallet. They're only about $2 a piece so why not try them all out? You can find pictures of all the available colors on the NYC Color website: Click Here.

Disclaimer: I received this product in the Influenster #ParadiseVoxbox for the sole purpose of reviewing it. All opinions are my own and no compensation was received. 

Hormel Rev Wraps

I was excited to try out the new wraps from Hormel courtesy of BzzAgent. They're called "Rev" Wraps and there are 8 different varieties:

• Pepperoni Pizza
• Ham & Cheese
• Peppered Turkey
• Meat Lovers Pizza
• Italian Style Ham
• Hot Pepper Ham
• Italian Style
• Spicy Italian Style

They come packaged in a plastic container and are really easy to open. Sadly my area grocery store only had four of the varieties - Ham & Cheese, Peppered Turkey, Meat Lovers Pizza, and Pepperoni Pizza. Of course I bought all four of them so I'd be able to try them all out.

Click to Enlarge

 The first one I tried was the #3 Peppered Turkey. The wrap uses one large round piece of cheese, three slices of turkey, and wrapped around that is a wheat flat bread that reminds me of a tortilla. It has 220 calories, 90 Fat calories, and 18g of protein. I was a little alarmed with the sodium in the wrap, it was 41% (950mg). Right now I am watching my salt intake so I changed up my dinner as to not go over my limit. I decided that I could make it my own by adding some of my favorite ingredients - spinach, mixed greens, and avocado. The result was super delicious and really filling. I wasn't sure that I would be satisfied with just one wrap, but I really was. The flatbread didn't hold up very well and did start to tear a bit when I started working with it. It held up enough for me to finish my meal and in the end it wasn't that big of a deal.

Click to Enlarge

The next wrap I tried was the Ham and Cheese and again I wanted to be a little creative. I figured I'd have this one for lunch so I got an egg, some spinach, and the Rev. The Ham & Cheese has 240 calories, 110 fat calories, and 17g of protein. This wrap too had a lot of sodium in it: 990mg to be exact. I didn't want to use up too much of my daily intake so I took out two of the slices of ham. Each wrap comes with three small round slices of meat, and one large slice of cheese. I separated the egg white from the yolk and poached it. The spinach I left alone as I don't care much for cooked spinach. This was a fantastic late breakfast for me and really held me over till I had my small lunch later in the day. I didn't feel hungry in the least and didn't feel tired afterwards.






Sadly I wasn't able to get pictures of the last two wraps as they mysteriously disappeared from the fridge. I don't know if the nobody ghost visits your house, but it practically lives in mine. You know the nobody ghost, right? Something gets eaten and nobody touched it in the house, even when you have 5 suspects they of course push the blame onto the nobody ghost. Either way I'll do my best to give you some info on the last two: Pepperoni Pizza and Meat Lovers Pizza. When I went to the store they didn't have any in stock so I may do another post featuring these two wraps as I actually had some great ideas for them.

Obviously they're both pizza wraps and I wanted to turn them into pizzas. I planned to unwrap them and throw the flatbread into the over to crisp up a bit. Then I would have taken it out, put a bit of pizza sauce on it, cut the cheese and pepperoni (for the regular pepperoni wrap) into small shreds to evenly coat it. I think doing it this way would be a totally fun way to get the kids involved in their own lunch making. You could also cut down on the ingredients so the sodium isn't too high. The pepperoni pizza has 300 calories, 180 fat calories, and 16g of protein. It has 990mg of sodium in it, so you can obviously see the trend. The last is the Meat Lovers Pizza, again I wanted to make it into an actual pizza and think it would have turned out awesome. It has pepperoni, spicy salami, genoa salami and mozzarella cheese. The nutrional value is: 280 calories, 160 fat calories, and 15g of protein. The sodium is 950mg making it a 41% dv.

I would love to see some low sodium varieties hit the market because these are really great. They're convenient, tasty, and relatively inexpensive. The cost about $1.98 for each wrap and while they do look small, they will definitely fill you up. I also would have liked to have seen some condiments inside because I normally don't eat a ham and cheese sandwich without mustard. I don't know if that would cost more to add, but I think it's something they should definitely look into.

You can find Rev Wraps at most grocery and supermarkets, although you might not be able to find all varieties at first. So if you see them in your store don't pass them up because they have potential to be a great meal. Don't be afraid to customize it either!



Disclaimer: I received 1 free product coupon and 9 - $1.00 coupons to share. I was not required to write a review. All opinions are my own and no further compensation was given. 

Remedy Skincare Review

REMEDY SKINCARE 

I was very fortunate to get the chance to try out a few products from the Remedy Skin Care line. They so generously sent me four different products: lip balm, nourishing skin cream, hydrating cleansing gel, and hydraguard skin cream. All the products have phytoplex in them, and to be honest I didn't really know what that was or what its benefits were.

So what exactly is phytoplex?
- Phytoplex is essentially a combination of all-natural, plant-based ingredients, including soy, algae extracts, green tea, and cloves.

- It’s free of ingredients that might cause an allergic reaction, such as aloe, sulfates, parabens, petroleum derivatives, and phthalates.

- Because of its unique blend of gentle ingredients, Phytoplex is perfect for people with sensitive skin.

- The marine-based algae extracts in Phytoplex provide an intense dose of vitamins, proteins, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants - all of which nourish skin and protect it from signs of aging.

- Phytoplex has more antioxidant capabilities than olive oil, apples, or red wine!

- When used in skin care products, Phytoplex works to reduce redness, soothe skin, prevent moisture loss, reverse signs of aging, and
protect skin from radical damage.

So now that we have a grasp on what phytoplex is, how does it really work in the products?

The first product I tried out was the lip balm. It doesn't have any weird smells, and it is petroleum free. Some of the ingredients include sunflower oil, beeswax, and mango seed butter.  It did tingle a little when I put it on, but it wasn't unpleasant. It left my lips feeling soft and moisturized, no chapped lips here.

Next was hydrating cleansing gel  which can be used as a regular liquid soap in a typical shower or it can be used as a soap for a sponge bath. I liked that it was also no rinse because my mom, who can't stand in the shower long, was able to use it easily. It isn't meant to get sudsy so it definitely wouldn't make for a great bubble bath. There isn't much of a scent and it's pretty non-evasive so people with sensitive skin could use it daily . I mainly let my mom use it as she has skin issues. She really liked it and was sad I didn't have more. It made it easy for her to get in and get out because she didn't have to worry about not rinsing off correctly. It left her skin soft and there was no skin irritation.

You then can use the nourishing skin cream after your shower. Like the other products there isn't much of a smell, well untill you spread it out. The smell almost reminds me of cookies and honestly it can be a little overbearing. Now a lot of lotions say they absorb into the skin quickly, but Remedy's Skin Cream really does. The cream is a bit stiff, but quickly breaks down to an almost watery consistency.  Now remember that smell well it lasts for a few seconds and then goes away. I'm sure anyone can deal with the smell, and if you do you'll definitely be rewarded with some super soft skin! Seriously I don't think my skin has felt softer with other lotions. The smoothness lasts for hours, longer than some of the leading brand lotions.

The last product I tried out was the hydraguard lotion. This was the lotion I was most excited to try. It's a water-resistant, nourishing hypo-allergenic lotion for dry and cracked skin. I first thought of my horribly dry cracked feet. I have to be honest, I walk around bare foot a lot. I'm normally never in shoes at the house, even if I step outside. Yup I will walk outside on the hot concrete and asphalt which does nothing for my feet. Years of doing this had left them gross and calloused. With one application I was already feeling smoother, not so rough skin on my feet. If you try any of Remedy's products this is the one I'd definitely recommend. I really wanted to try this out for a while to show a great change in my dry heels, I wasn't disappointed with the results.

You can head over to the Remedy SkinCare Website - where you can find more general information on all the products they offer.



Disclaimer: I was sent products from Remedy Skincare for the sole purpose of reviewing them. No further compensation was given. All opinions are my own.

Influenster Paradise Voxbox

INFLUENSTER PARADISE VOXBOX

I was so excited to hear that I had been chosen to get a voxbox from Influenster. I am always finding new great products through them. They always have great reviews by other users to help give you an idea of what products are best for you. Included in my voxbox were five awesome products: NYC shadow, Suave Moroccan Oil, Dr. Scholl's Heel Inserts, Olay Shine Shine Go Away Cleanser, and a Goody's TangleFix brush.

I think this voxbox has a great variety of products for a woman on the go to pamper herself. So look for some great posts coming up on all these great products.




Product Reviews:

• Dr Scholl's High Heel Insoles: Coming Soon
• Suave Moroccan Oil: Coming Soon
• NYC Eyeshadow: Click Here
• Goody TangleFix: Coming Soon
• Olay Shine, Shine Go Away Facial Cleanser: Coming Soon

Disclaimer: I received these products from Influenster to try out. Reviews were not required, no compensation was given, and all opinions are my own.

Noxicare Natural Pain Relief Cream Review & Giveaway

NOXICARE: NATURAL PAIN RELIEF CREAM 
REVIEW & GIVEAWAY

So I was very fortunate to work with Noxicare and try out their Natural Pain Relief Cream. Noxicare's natural pain relief cream is specially formulated to target three types of pain: muscle aches, nerve pain, and inflammation. I hate always having to take medicines in order to get rid of my pain. It sort of worries me that I may take too much over time and end up worse in the end. So being able to use some cream to get rid of my chronic pain is a definite plus. One of the biggest pluses for me is that there is no smell. I hate how some of those pain creams have an offensive odor. They may work just as well, but that smell keeps me from using them. Well you definitely don't have to worry about that with Noxicare because its completely odorless!

The cream is really smooth and rich and not greasy at all. It absorbs super fast which means its reaching your aches that much quicker. It's really convenient for me especially now that I'm watching my nephew for my brother and sis-in-law. I don't want to have to wait for a cream to work before I can pick him up. Which is another reason why I love that its natural. I don't want a whole bunch of harmful chemicals around him. Especially now that he is teething and putting everything in his mouth - especially my hands. It never seems to fail, I pick him up and before I know it his mouth is biting down on my hand. Can you imagine if he did that and one of those other creams were on my hand?

So what natural ingredients is Noxicare Pain Relief Cream made of - tumeric, willow bark, ginger, holy basil, rosemary extract, alpha lipoic acids, and boswellia extract. I know some of those spices are in your spice cabinet right now, as they're in mine. I knew they tasted good, but didn't know that they also helped take away my aches and pains.

Here is a more extensive description of some of the ingredients and what they are used for.

• Tumeric: With Tumeric studies have shown that it may help reduce the pain with its anti-inflammatory properties help to naturally relieve pain associated with arthritis by reducing inflammation in the joints. 
• Willow Bark: Willow Bark is an herb that I don't know much about, but did you know it has been used for natural pain relief and inflammation since the time of Ancient Egypt and Greece. 
• Ginger: Helps relieve muscle pains, arthritis and rheumatism, and is a catalyst for improving the effectiveness of other herbs. Ginger is also great in a lot of recipes, honestly its just a great herb. 
• Rosemary Extract: The Ancient Egyptians knew to relieve musculoskeletal pain by rubbing rosemary extract oil into their skin. If its been used for that long, then they obviously are on to something. 
• Holy Basil: Holy Basil's properties include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial and antiviral. 
• Boswellia Extract: Boswellia extracts is something I've never heard of and was surprised to know that they have been used to treat back pain. 
• Alpha Lipoic Acids: Alpha Lipoic Acid is a natural pain relief antioxidant made by every cell in the body, can't get more natural than that.

While Noxicare may be a little more expensive than your regular pain cream - you can't beat that its all natural. With people worrying more and more about what they put in and on their bodies, you can rest assured that Noxicare won't make you sick while making you better.

If you want to find out more information about Noxicare and their great product then check out their website: Noxicare.com. You will definitely be happy that you did because it is a truly natural product that really works. You can also head on over to the Noxicare Facebook Page and follow them. They sometimes have their own giveaways so you can try their product out for free. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: 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.

Book Review: Finding Monsters

Finding Monsters

                       By Liss Thomas

Book Description:
Monsters are real but they're not what we'd expect. Their realm lays hidden only to be found in darkness. They watch their humans, the little ones and keep them from the dark portals leading to their world. To touch is forbidden... but not all follow the rules.
Missy has been fighting to live her entire life, but when she finds herself in a realm of unique and sometimes deadly monsters, she discovers just how much of a survivor she really is. Accidentally transferred to this mysterious realm by her monster and only friend, Charlie, he finds himself weak and unable to protector her. The only way she can defend herself and him, is to become a monster herself. But an unknown dark stalker watches her progress and if he steals her power, he will unleash a scourge on both his world and the world she left behind.

My Review:
Finding Monsters is a Young Adult novel, but don't let that discourage you from reading it. It's well written, has great characters, and the story is a great one. Liss Thomas definitely hit it out of the ballpark with this story. It's well written, has a great plot, and the characters are really like-able.

 I can honestly say I've never read anything like this before. We are taught all our lives that monsters are scary, bad, and evil. All they want to do is come steal us away from our families and take us to who knows where. Well in "Finding Monsters" Liss Thomas changes that perception with one of the main characters, Charlie. Charlie is a sweet monster who is in charge of the portal linking earth to the monster world hidden under Missy's bed. He watches over the portal, but of course also watches over Missy during that time. Missy has had cancer her entire life and just has one wish...to be a normal teenager. When her time comes Charlie thinks he can make that dream come true. Sadly, with one kiss Charlie seals both of their fates. With that one kiss Charlie and Missy become bonded and when Missy starts to die so does he.

The first half of the book was a bit slow, but there was never a moment where I felt I was bored with the story. I still wanted to know what was going to happen next. The second half definitely went a lot faster when Missy is pushed into the monster realm. Missy has to fight for herself and for Charlie, and who knows if she can do it.

Well actually I know, but if you want to know then you'll have to read the book for yourself. If you'd like to buy it for yourself then check out the link below. At $0.99 cents you can't pass it up, it's such a great read that is totally safe for your young teen.

Amazon.com: Finding Monsters




Disclaimer: 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.

Butter London Polish Review

You see the boo boo

So was super excited to get my first three butter london polishes. At $18 a pop it was very hard to take that plunge and purchase them.They were on "sale" for $14 so thought okay let's see what all the hype is about. I'm always a little wary about purchasing more expensive brands because how different can it really be. When you have a huge market with very inexpensive polish brands does that make the more expensive brands better?  Well I found out for myself.

I got three wonderful colors: Knackered, Bluey, and Wallis. I immediately reached for Knackered as it was my favorite one. Knackered is a duochrome polish with flecks of tiny glitter that looks pretty in ever light. It has a purplish-blue base with flecks of silver glitter. It is very sheer and needs at least 3 coats to cover the nail completely. This polish is beautiful, but is it $18 or $14 dollar beautiful? I'll answer this question later.

Next was Bluey, its a dark blue base with tiny flecks of dark glitter. Because the blue was so dark it only took two coats to cover my nail. The color wasn't too different than what I've seen before. It didn't wow me and kind of reminded me a lot of other brands. It was just too similar to other polishes for my tastes.

Last was Wallis which is a dark black base with greenish yellow glitter in the forefront. I really liked Wallis, the color is pretty unique. It took only two coats to cover my nail and it went on really easily.

So is all the hype worth it? In my honest opinion... not really. Now it is a 3 FREE polish which means No formaldehyde, toluene, and no DBP. So it is better than regular polishes, but it doesn't last as long. By the second day they were already chipping. Now I did notice when I used my top coat that the polishes acted differently. They sort of started to run and took way longer to dry than normal. So I'm guessing you may need a 3 FREE top coat as well. In the end its up to you whether you want to spend the money for the 3 FREE polish. The colors are kind of in the middle with some being amazing and others being sort of meh.


Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was given.

Beauty Review: Essie Nail Polish

So I normally I tend to choose polish on the lower end of the price range, but this time I grabbed some Essie. It can now be found in Walgreens and Target which means I see it A LOT. So I bit the bullet and bought me a couple. At $8 dollars I had to pick colors that I totally loved, it had to be a commitment. So the two I chose were "Dive Bar" and "Can't Filmfest" because they were totally calling my name.



I got them home and had to play with them right away. First off they were a little "runny" compared to other polishes, but I tried them on anyway. The first choice I made was "Dive Bar", it is a blue shimmer with black undertones and it's absolutely wonderful. I loved the way it changes color in the light. You have to put two coats on for this to be solid though. I tried with just one coat and it was completely uneven. It does dry superfast though.

Now for "Can't Filmfest", it's a super bright pink with a slight blue undertone. It's not typically a color that I would go for, but I was feeling bold. It's so wonderfully pink and thankfully my skin color goes with it nicely. lol Again you need 2 coats to cover and don't forget your topcoat!

Overall I think they are an okay value at $8 and will last at least 10 days, which for me is a very good reason to buy. Don't be scared to bite the bullet and buy your own Essie Polish/ Lacquer. 

Household Review: OxiClean 2in1 Stain Fighter

Oxiclean 2 in 1 Stain Fighter

I was sent a Walmart Gift card to get myself a bottle of Oxi Clean 2in1 Stain Fighter Laundry Detergent. I have to say the scent was intense, it smelled fantastic. Now OxiClean  isn't just for your whites, it has color safe brightener so its safe for your colors as well.

I have used Oxi-Clean before, but I've never used it in liquid form. I knew it would work with my whites, but how would it do with my colored clothes? Well  it definitely smells great and left my clothes smelling so fresh and clean. The smell is really strong so if you don't really like very strong smells, well this may not be for you. I have four very active boys so I definitely loved the intense smell. It gets out that sweaty smell the clothes can have by the end of the week when its time to finally wash.

I used it for my wash for almost three weeks, almost because it didn't last through all the loads of wash. It was a good size, but when you do about 6-7 loads every week you find out really quickly that even the largest looking bottles don't last that long. The boys apparently like to wear the same shirts over and over, which is fine with me because that means less clothes with stains in them. I noticed that even though I was washing the same shirts multiple times I wasn't really seeing much fading. I won't say there was absolutely no fading, but the colors did seem to fade a whole lot less than other detergents. My nephews shirts that were already a bit faded didn't get any worse, and the newer shirts they have stayed looking new a lot longer.

It was about average price for a 66oz bottle, the price being $8.99 here in Texas. It is made for all types of washers including HE washers. I would recommend using just a little less for a regular was in a HE washer as you don't really need a lot of detergent. Also I did wash using cold water, to save money, and it worked just fine. I think overall it was a great value for the amount of loads I was able to do with it. I did use a little more in certain loads so I'm sure it could have been stretched much longer than 3 weeks.

So if you're looking to buy some detergent then you may want to add OxiClean 2in1 Stain Fighter because you definitely will not regret trying it out.

Disclaimer: I received a gift card to buy this product for the sole purpose of trying it out. No review was required and all opinions are my own. No further compensation was given nor received. I received this sample via Smiley360.

Review: Captain America Costume

Now I don't have to tell you that there was a very excited little boy waiting for this costume to arrive. It was shipped quickly and the costume arrived in excellent condition. I had to hide it when it got here because I wanted to make sure I got before pictures of the costume itself. Do you know how incredibly hard it is to hide something from a 4yr old? Yea, not easy at all.

So the costume comes much like costumes you buy in the big department stores. Paper cover showing the costume in all its glory, a plastic "bag" with a hanger attached, and the costume folded neatly inside.










The first thing I photographed was the hat or headgear. It had a large silver "A" on the front and silver wings on the sides. It has some elastic dead center on the back for a more snug fit on the head. The kiddo apparently has a larger than average sized head as it didn't fit him very well. It did stay on his head, but the eye holes were a bit off for him. It is a definite easy fix, something that I can take care of with my sewing machine. I just need to take a little from the inside of the eye holes and then fix the edging so it doesn't unravel or anything. It didn't seem to bother him at all so its something that I can take some time on doing.

The rest of the costume is an all in one type deal. Like footie pajamas, but without the feet. There are 4 velcro "buttons" on the back to keep the costume closed. They worked really well and were strong enough to keep it closed even after a few hours of play. The size I got was a 4-6 and it fit perfectly, the kiddo is a size 5.







He jumped, leaped, ran, kicked and punched in the costume and it held up great. He definitely gave it a bashing while giving the bad guys, a.k.a his cousins, a bashing. He really enjoyed the fake muscles and even flexed to show me his muscles. He found it really funny for some reason that they made him look so big.

It has now been a few weeks and I've had to hide it because he wants to wear it out everywhere. To the store, park, mall, grandma's house - everywhere! He sleeps in it as well and I'm sure if he could bathe in it he would. I'm sure he could battle some "sea monsters" while in there. This goes to show you that costumes aren't just for Halloween, but can be used for daily play time.









I did wash the costume and it held up really well. It does have a little bit of the white furries, but I can just use some "tape" and take them off. It's really simple and not that big a deal. The colors are still vivid, the velcro still works, and there is no piling at all. The costume didn't seem to have any shrinkage either which is great. The costume goes for $30 at BuyCostumes.com which is a great price because it is a quality costume. They have free shipping for orders over $75 so you can get for all the kiddos and yourself and not worry about having to wait in line. If you're like me then you end up waiting till its almost too late and have to fight to find a decent costume at the store. You end up leaving with some cheaply made costume that isn't worth the $20 you've paid for it. But with the kiddos screaming and getting pushed around by other late shoppers you take it. It doesn't last till next year either because it shrinks in the wash and doesn't fit. Or the colors fade, the buttons or velcro fall off and you're left with a new rag for your car windows.



So if you're looking for a great wide selection of costumes then check out BuyCostumes.com and you will definitely not regret it. Also, don't think that buying in July is too early because before you know it October will be on us and then it'll be too late for you.


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.

Book Review: Sheep!

Sheep

by

Martin D Rothery

Remember that hilarious book I reviewed a while back called, "Cows". Yup this is also written by the same author and is just as funny. Now I do think Martin Rothery has an unhealthy obsession with barnyard animals. I honestly don't know what went through his mind when he wrote these books. They're crazy and unbelievably ridiculous and that's what makes them so great. It's okay to have fun sometimes and read something that isn't educational and won't forward your career in some way. Well I guess if your job has to do with talking sheep and cows going up against humans, well this book is perfect for you!

Seriously, Martin D Rothery is the best animal psychic I've ever heard of. Psychics are the ones that talk to things, correct? Well either way he happens to be able to see into the minds of barnyard animals, aka dinner. Yea, that's right I said dinner, although it wasn't always that way. There was a time where cows and sheep ruled the world! Yea I know it's hard to see a hamburger and lamb chop leading anything, but it's true. Martin R got it straight out of the sheep's mouths. This book is a must read if you're wanting to find out the real history of man.

Okay so it's not really a reference type book and shouldn't really be taken seriously. Sheep and cows are known to be sworn enemies, everyone knows that. Sheep just happen to keep cows around because they offer protection. You know if you are going up against a human, who do you think will look more appetizing? The tiny little furball or a delicious huge steak? Yea, I thought so. I almost felt so horrible when the cows and sheep started dropping like flies when man first realized they would be good to eat...almost. Oh and if you think football was a human creation, think again. You've also probably never even noticed how sneaky sheep and cows are because of...camouflage. Yup, another thing you thought men came up with.

Martin D Rothery really brings barnyard animals to life in such a funny way. You will definitely be cracking up throughout the book. It's well written and I would highly recommend it as a great summer read. I would read this book before reading Cows!  because it kind of touches on some of the things found in that book. Of course there is no problem in reading this one second just as long as you read it.

Extra Links:
Follow Sheep on Facebook: Click Here
Check out Fishcake Publishing for more great books: Click Here


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.

Health Review: Dr Scholl's Insoles

I received a pack of Dr Scholl's Massaging Gel insoles for women to try out and I was loving them. First off they come in a hard plastic package that was a total pain to open. It took a little work, but in the end it was so worth it. I was certain they would not fit because they were so large compared to my feet. One package will fit a shoe from size six to size nine. Yup, that's a pretty wide range so it's sure to meet your needs. I have to say they aren't that pretty, but they are definitely comfy!

So after you take them out of the package its time to get your scissors and go to work. My favorite pair of shoes are an old pair of DC shoes that are about 5yrs old. I love them, but they have been through hell so they aren't as comfy as they once were. I figured they would be the perfect pair to stick my new insoles in. So the shoes are a size 7.5 so I tried to get it in between size 7 and 8. The insole was too large so just go down to a whole number. Meaning if you have a size 7.5 cut it at the size 7 mark.

My favorite pair of shoes - gross but comfy!

After cutting both insoles I stuck them into my shoes to try them out. My shoes were a bit snug as the insoles add height to your foot. I had to untie my shoes and redo them to the right size. I love to slip my shoes on and off so I leave them tied and loose. I could definitely feel the difference in the comfy level. I won't lie, but they did feel a little weird at first. It does take a little time to get used to going from something flat to something with cushion. It was totally awkward for me and I really noticed the wonky way I was walking.


At the end of the day my feet were feeling awesome! I have feet issues, something that has come with age, so these really helped in relieving some of the pain without my having to go and take medicine. I'd definitely recommend everyone getting themselves a pair of Dr Scholl's insoles. There are so many different kinds and types that there is surely something that will meet your needs. Visit Dr Scholl's Website to see if there are any products that will work for you!



Disclaimer: I was sent this product for the sole purpose of doing a review. All opinions are my own and no compensation was received.