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.

Food Review: Hail Mary Seeds

I was sent a bag of Hail Merry's Sunflower seeds by Swaggable and wow were they awesome! Hail Merry Sunflower Seeds are dehydrated at a low temperature to protect their natural oils and then salt and pepper are added to give them an extra kick. They're vegan, gluten-free, and gmo and super healthy for you. They are not the type of sunflower seeds that you'll find in the convenience stores loaded with tons of salt. You really get a natural crunch and flavor when eating them. I don't think I ever noticed the great flavor that sunflower seeds have. I do have an unhealthy addiction to the salt laden sunflower seeds sold at convenience and groceries stores, but all I've ever tasted was salt.

Now they are more expensive than the $0.99 sunflower seeds, but don't let the price tag scare you. They are so full of flavor and added to salads, granola, or just having a handful will make it totally worth it. Sadly I ate my whole bag before even getting a chance to snap pictures of them. They were so good and I really wish I had more bags because one just wasn't enough. I tossed some in my salad and it added crunch and flavor as celtic sea salt and black pepper added some extra seasoning. These could definitely become a guilty pleasure of mine because they're just that good!


Connect with Hail Merry:
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/hailmerry?fref=ts

On-line: http://www.hailmerry.com/snacks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/search?q=hailmerryllc


Disclaimer: I received one bag of Hail Merry Sunflower seeds for the sole purpose of reviewing them. All opinions are my own and no compensation was received. 

Beauty Review: Aveeno Dandruff Hair Products

Aveeno Nourish + Dandruff Control 

Shampoo and Conditioner

So I have a secret....I have dandruff and pretty dry scalp. It stinks to get a nice pretty hairdo only to notice those pesky white flakes. If you have dandruff you know exactly how I feel. It's embarrassing and unsightly and makes you feel bad. I've dealt with dandruff since I was a teen and it always meant using that stinky anti-dandruff shampoo. You know which ones I'm talking about. I could never stop smelling that strong medicine smell that seemed to last forever for me. Of course they all worked great, but I could never get over the smell.

Thankfully I was introduced to Aveeno's Nourish+ Dandruff Control shampoo/conditioner and 2n1. I love Aveeno products, but can honestly say I've never used their hair products. I am so glad I was able to try this out because its wonderful! It smells great, which I have to admit really made me doubt if it would work well. I guess I associate the smell of anti-dandruff shampoos with their ability to work. Well Aveeno is definitely different and it does work no matter what the smell. It left my hair smelling and looking great. 

I received two coupons for a free Aveeno Dandruff product so while I kept one bottle for myself I gave the other to my nephew. He was a little wary of it at first because he was used to a different brand. He tried it out and was really happy because it worked great. He was pretty indifferent about it leaving his hair silky smooth or smelling great, but he's a teenage boy what does he know?  I noticed his healthier locks and dandruff free shoulders and that's what matters most. 

By the way I tried really hard to get some photos of the dandruff in my hair, but it seems my eye sees it better than my lens. But I assure you my hair had dandruff before Aveeno and had a significant amount less than before. There was stray flakes here and there, but no itchy scalp and no snow flurries on my shoulders.

So if you're looking for an anti-dandruff shampoo that smells great, leaves your hair soft, and makes you dandruff free...reach for Aveeno Nourish+. It is actually pretty affordable compared to other dandruff shampoos. Also right now you can get yourself a $3.00/1 coupon making it even sweeter to try it out for yourself.

Disclaimer: I received two coupons for a free bottle of 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.