FulcrumGallery.com Art Piece Review

I was pretty excited when I was approached to review FulcrumGallery.com. I had actually never heard of them at that point, but who doesn't love some paintings to decorate their wall. The website is so easy to navigate and isn't too cluttered. They have their products arranged by room, styles, subjects, etc to make it easy for you to find what you like.

Aside from the thousands of paintings, prints, and mirrors they offer. You can also create your own masterpiece using your own photo. I am not a photographer so I didn't opt for this choice, but I think it's pretty awesome to have those special moments made into paintings. I'm thinking they would make a great gift for some parents and grandparents. The process is so easy too. I think the bigger the image is the better, so don't crop it. I made my image smaller and it wouldn't work because images need to be at least 900x900. Also right now they have a 50% off all "My Pictures" artwork, so for a 16"x16" gallery wrapped print it's only $50.99. That's pretty affordable for something that is of high quality.


Choosing your own print is super easy, but choosing a print from the thousands they offer, not so much. I saw so many images that I liked that I had practically made my choice 4 times before my final decision. They have a print that will match everyone's tastes and preferences. I finally settled on a print that said "Hope" by Grace Pullen. I love the background, it has a beach feeling to it. Just because this isn't your own print doesn't mean you can't customize it to your liking. Fulcrum Gallery let's you choose your frame and mat color. Those two choices can make the same print look totally different depending on the colors you choose. There are 3 other prints in this series: Love, Dream, and Relax. It was super simple to place my order in and I got a confirmation email within minutes. Shipping is standard shipping so it took about a week to get here.



When I got my print it came in a pretty large package. I was a bit confused because I didn't think the print would be that large. Upon opening up the package I saw why it was so big. FulcrumGallery.com makes sure your print will arrive to you safely and not messed up so they pack your print extra carefully. It wasn't too difficult to remove the print from the box, and any extra work was worth the extra packaging. My print was in excellent condition, not one blemish on it. On the back of the print there are two signatures: one for the personal framer, and the other for quality assurance. This means you can rest assured that what you're buying is 100% the best quality. On the back of the frame were two long metal hook type things. I obviously don't know the official name for them so bear with me. I used the one already attached to the back to hang my print. I wish there was perhaps some wiring to hang the print instead so it would be more sturdy. Either way my print looks fantastic on my wall and even with it being by the door, which gets slammed often, it is still hanging straight.

Shipping was on point and everything got here looking exactly as it did online. So I'll definitely be going back to Fulcrum Gallery for some more prints. I'm definitely thinking about getting a personalized print next time for my mom. A canvas print of all her grandchildren would make the best gift! So if you're looking to add some personal touches to your home, then you should definitely check out FulcrumGallery.com. They will have something to suit your tastes and decor in your home, I can pretty much guarantee that.   




Disclaimer: I was sent a print of my choice free of charge in return for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own and no compensation was received. This photo is indeed hanging in my house and looks great on my wall.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Review & Giveaway: Thirty-One Gifts

I am so happy to let you guys in on a fantastic review and giveaway from a pal of mine. She has been with me since the beginning and has always supported me and my page. So in my helping her out I bought a Timeless Beauty Bag from her and Thirty-One. I love it as its a super cute design, totally functional, and a great way to store my extra make-up and jewelry.






The bag has three different compartments and one area for your make-up brushes, or anything else you'd like to stick there. I have amassed a small number of lip glosses and found they fit perfectly in the top pocket. Honestly I didn't know I had so many lip glosses till I pulled them all out of the bag. I have 19 total lip glosses, some eyeliner pencils, mascara, eyeshadow, lipstick, and concealer pens. Total items I fit in that top pocket...30 items! Of course you would probably put way less, but for me I hand it in my closet so I can see what I have and use what I need.

Second I'll show you the bottom pocket, which happens to be the same size as the top pocket. It too has more than enough room to put your goodies in. I have some of my extra eyeshadows and palettes in this one. Total I was able to stick about 24 different products in here and there was still room for more. The zipper held it closed and there wasn't any pulling at all.

Last but not least was the middle portion which holds your jewelry (or anything else) and your brushes. I don't normally keep my brushes on here as they have their own little carriers already. Here you can see that from little to big, the bag is able to accommodate them all. I even was able to put more than one on there and for the most part the hoops go back to their starting point after you take the brushes out. They weren't loose at all and held all the brushes tightly. There is also a little cover that goes over the top to keep everything nice and clean.

Thirty-One is having an awesome deal - spend $35 and get a large tote for only $10!! The tote is regularly $35 bucks so you could get a whole set of stuff for only $45! I mean seriously some of you ladies pay way more for just a wallet...you know who you are. You can pay by paypal or credit card. These would definitely make some great gifts for birthdays or even Christmas! Get your Christmas shopping started early, they'll love them. Most of the products can be personalized so it would make it really special. Also if you think you would like to sell Thirty-One products you can talk to Angela H and she will definitely help you out. All orders get shipped directly to you, and I can personally say it comes really fast!

-GIVEAWAY-

Like I said before Angela H has been a great fan of mine so I've teamed up with her to bring you a great giveaway. You could win a cute zipper pouch from Thirty-one worth $15.00. I can definitely say that it's totally worth it because they are so well made. You can stuff them to the brim and it won't tear or break. They come in some really cute designs that will definitely fit your style. Shipping will be paid by Angela H, yay for free shipping...sort of. To win enter through the rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Hidden Under Her Heart

Hidden Under Her Heart

By Rachelle Ayala

Meet The Author:

How did you first decide that you would become an author?
I always enjoyed writing short stories or satires, but never took it seriously until Michal jumped off the pages of Scripture and into my imagination. Here was a woman who was much maligned and misunderstood, because she was too independent and dared to defy authority in a time when women were viewed as property. Michal loved David before he became King. She defied her father to save his life, but was repaid with his marrying other wives and concubines. Her most famous act was to scold David for dancing lewdly in front of the Ark of the Covenant, which at this point, she is never heard from again. To me, there is an unfinished story begging to be told and while studying Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary, I found a comment on 2nd Samuel 3:5 that led me to believe that David actually loved Michal and there was a tragic reason why she never had a son who became king. Obviously I mixed fantasy with fact, motivated by the need to tell Michal's story in a way that is affirming to this great woman who saved not only David, but the line to Jesus Christ, yet was unappreciated and scorned by most preachers.

Is there any special way you come up with the ideas for your books?
Ideas take life on their own. I honestly don't know where they start, but once I start, I play out scenarios in my mind as if I were watching a movie. My most creative times are when I'm jogging. So I should do that more often. I start with a general conflict and set of characters, and from there, the story comes together as I write and daydream. For example, while working on Knowing Vera, I introduced a minor character named Krista. I thought about her background, what she wants, dreams about and why? Something comes to mind about protecting dugongs. What's a dugong? Why is this knocking on my brain? I google it and discover they are severely endangered and subject to poaching. Now I have a potential storyline. I add in a murder, then the who, why, when, where? and of course we must have LOVE. So let's take the twin brothers in my current Work in Progress and see how they can mix things up.

Why do your books all seem to have very different themes? They almost seem written by different people.
That is strange, isn't it? My voice changes with each book. I'm not very good at replicating anything, even myself. I like the freedom of living in the world of the current set of characters, absorbing everything from them, and immersing in their reality. But after I finish one book, there's a period of divorcing myself from one set of characters and moving in with the next. It is actually quite an emotional process for me and makes me sad and excited, like falling out of love with one person and back in love with someone else. 

Tell us about your upcoming work?
Knowing Vera is the next book in my contemporary "Chance For Love" series. If you've read Broken Build and Hidden Under Her Heart, then you already know Vera, to some extent, but not really. Vera has a flirtacious but tough public face and hides her emotions under a don't care attitude. But in Knowing Vera, she is forced to take off that veneer and face her fears as well as the secret she hid, that her father jumped from the Golden Gate Bridge because he was suspected of murdering a wealthy woman, one who happens to be her current bed buddy's late mother. Vera is unable to give him the usual brushoff because he suffered a crippling injury where he lost his leg. The story deals with admitting feelings to yourself and discovering that love is not real unless someone truly knows the real you, not just the illusion you portray.

Have your children read your books, if so what do they think about them?
My daughter (who's over 18) has read my books. She actually beta reads for me and gives me suggestions and feedback. She probably thinks her crazy mother has all sorts of strange ideas to write about and is amused.

Who are some of the authors you enjoy reading?
Melissa Foster, for her dramatic situations and characters that pull you in. Melisa Hamling, for the intensely sweet way her characters fall in love, Tracy Sumner, for her historical women who are ahead of their times and strong, unyielding men that can't resist them, and Mary Forbes for that intense addictive love story you can't get enough of. 

Thanks for answering my questions, anything else you would like to add?
Thanks for having me, Sally. I enjoy writing and the fact that I never know what adventures are in store for me next. But most of all, I enjoy the reactions I get from readers. I'm fulfilled when I have made a positive difference in someone's life.




My Review:
This is the third book I've read and reviewed from Rachelle Ayala and she never ceases to surprise me. There were so many things going on in this book, but not too much that I got lost. It does touch on some controversial issues two being racial issues and abortion.

So in this story we meet MaryAnne Torres and Lucas Knight, both seem like strong characters in the beginning. Sadly, we find out really soon that looks definitely are deceiving and they are both pretty damaged people. Now for me I found it kind of annoying with their back and forth indecisiveness. I grew up in a single parent household so I learned really quick that I'd have to be strong. So sometimes when reading stories where the woman is the "come and save me" type, well it turns me off. I kept asking myself, "Why won't she just say what she wants?" Then I started saying, "Why won't he just make up his mind?!" It got a little tiresome at times, but not to the point where I wanted to stop reading. It was really an emotional rollercoaster and kind of had me thinking, "How much more could one person take?" When the topic of abortion came up it was aimed more towards a prolife angle. I'm pro choice but I never felt like it was being forced upon me. Rachelle touched a bit on the religious reasons and that the child should have a chance at life. She also showed the other side of that with MaryAnne first choosing abortion as the better choice for her at the time. Now she ends up changing her mind, but not because she found god, but because she felt that adoption was a better choice. I think Rachelle really did it tastefully and I think it made me think about abortion and the other options out there. I'm still prochoice though, but I can say I am a little more open to seeing other views.

At the end I think it all turned out well and even though this is a romance story, there wasn't much love-making. So it wasn't racy at all and a really great read. Rachelle Ayala's books always have a religious theme to them, but they never feel like she is trying to hard. I'm not a religious person so this makes it a easy read for me.


Links: Amazon.com
Website: http://rachelleayala.me/
Twitter: @AyalaRachelle


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: Centrum Multi-Vitamin Chews

I was sent some samples to try out by Centrum and Smiley360. I'm always looking for some great vitamins to try out so was looking forward to getting them. I got the samples and opened them up to see two round balls that reminded me of gumballs. You know the kind you bought as a kid for .25 cents. I popped one in my mouth and was pretty surprised at the flavor. First of all they're really sweet, sweeter than I imagined. They were pretty flavorful and the sweet tartness really got to me. The flavor was good, and the texture reminded me of a chewy gummy.

It was hard to even think that this was a vitamin. It really reminded me of candy. There was no gross smell, no weird taste, and no after taste either. You know how some vitamins make you burp up that gross after taste? Not so with these!

Overall this was a great alternative to taking regular vitamins. Although I do think it could be a little less sweet, it was alright. I'll definitely look for these at my store and hopefully they have cherry flavor because that would be awesome!



Want a free sample and a $2.00 coupon for Centrum Multi-Vitamin Chews? Then click HERE.


Disclaimer: I received a sample 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.

nuNAAT GOGO Giveaway 06/01-06/26

nuNAAT GOGO (Give One, Get One) Giveaway!

Enter for your chance to win TWO sets of nuNAAT’s NAAT Treatment Curly products (link to http://www.nunaat.com/productline/naat-treatment-curly-hair-with-cupuacu-keratin/ ) – one for you and one to give to a friend! When entering, be sure to select my blog name “Infinite Dreams Reviews” from the drop-down menu so they know who sent you.

The nuNAAT NAAT Treatment Curly collection (link to http://www.nunaat.com/productline/naat-treatment-curly-hair-with-cupuacu-keratin/ ) is great for naturally wavy or curly hair in need of frizz reduction, added body, and defined curls. It’s made with Cupuaçu Butter for intense hydration and super antioxidants, plus Keratin protein for strengthening hair back to its healthy, natural state.

The winner will receive the following products with an estimated retail value of $50:

-        2 NAAT Treatment Curly Shampoo

-        2 NAAT Treatment Curly Conditioner

-        2 NAAT Treatment Curly Hair Mask

-        2 NAAT NAAT Treatment Curly Leave-In

TO ENTER: Visit the nuNAAT Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/nunaat?sk=app_403359706360567

Rules:

CONTEST DATES: June 1 - 26, 2013

Only ONE entry PER PERSON, PER DAY will be accepted.

Winner will be chosen at random and announced June 27, 2013 by e-mail. If response from winner is not received within 24 hours, a new winner will be chosen.

PRIVACY: Your email will not be shown and will be kept private.

ELIGIBILITY: Giveaways are open to readers 18 years or older with U.S. or Canada shipping addresses only (no PO boxes). For my international readers, you may enter and if you win, we can send the prize to person of your choice with U.S. or Canada shipping address.

No purchase necessary to enter or win.