InstaNatural's Skin and Beauty Care Line: Love it!

As you may know, I love, love, love trying new beauty products!  I recently had the chance to review some of InstaNatural's best products: their Argan Oil Hair Mask, Argan Oil, and Vitamin C Serum.  InstaNatural has both a skin and beauty care line so I was blessed to be able to try some items from both. I love each of them and use them now every day! 

They're perfect for daily use and are gentle on my skin--no breakouts like some products give me. Plus, they're natural--tried & true.  In the pic off the the left, I've used the argan oil along with my other hair products and the vitamin C serum.  This isn't a planned-out pic, just a What I Look Like Everyday pic... partly because I let a friend borrow my camera and partly because another friend takes pictures everywhere he goes which is a very useful blessing. ;)


So here's the line up of all the things I've tried from InstaNatural:


The Argan Oil Hair Mask: This one is a deep conditioning treatment designed to transform dry and damaged strands into soft, shiny, healthy hair. It works marvelously and smells amazing!  The combination of Argan Oil, Japanese Green Tea, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Avocado Oil & Vitamin B5 work together to nourish your hair and give your senses quite a bit of pleasure while they're doing it.  

The Argan Oil: I love argan oil because it has so many uses!  It's perfect for dry skin, split ends, frizzy hair, and gives you a glowing complexion.  The argan oil I had been using ran out the day before this one can in the mail so the timing was perfect!  Argan oil isn't cheap but when you consider that a few drops are all you need at once, it's worth the $17 price tag.  

Vitamin C Serum: A little goes a long way with this one, too, and it smells delightfully orangey as you apply it.  I use it both morning and night as a moisturizer and love that it's so gentle on my skin and keeps the dryness away.  Perfect for this desert heat... even in February!

The Best Thing 
So one of the best things about InstaNatural is that they totally back their products with a Lifetime Money Back Guarantee, no matter where you buy our product. If you're not completely satisfied, simply contact them and get a full refund.  So what have you got to lose?!  

Special thanks to the wonderful people at InstaNatural and BrandBacker for providing me with this review opportunity!

Zotos Professional 180Pro Moisture Repair Kit: My Favorite Salon Products! #Giveaway

Congrats to the winners of this giveaway: Shakeia R,

Donna S, Lisa, Mimi A, and Sandy K!

I'm not gonna lie--I totally love my hair.... most of the time!  Which is to say when I have the wrong hair products I totally do not love my hair.  Since it's curly and thick, it's really prone to frizz.  Most of the time, in order to keep all the frizz away I end up sacrificing softness.  And who likes crunchy curls?  I'd much rather have them nice and soft and my newest hair products really impressed me.  I raved to my husband about it and even he commented on how much softer my hair felt. And the cashier at the check out line of Whole Foods the other day said, "I just have to tell you, you have the most awesome hair".  I kind of think the reason he let me use 5 free item coupons in one transaction was b/c of my beautiful hair.  But that's just conjecture. ;)

So here's a pic of me and my "awesome" hair taken today after using 180PRO's Moisture Repair Discover Kit (Shampoo, Conditioner, and Damage Eliminator treatment) for one week.  Everyday now, I also use their Heat Rescue which is a leave in cream and their Total Tamer which is a mousse product, as opposed to the gel and hairspray I was using before.  I love this stuff!  The directions, for once, are accurate when they say "apply a quarter size amount to hair".  My hair is so long and thick, I usually need a lot more than that.  But this stuff is amazing and a little really does go a long way. 

Where to Buy
You can find 180Pro at Sally Beauty and Beauty Mart.

Win It!
Five of my readers will receive the Moisture Repair Discovery Kit thanks to the generous people at Zotos Professional.  Enter below by 1/19 at 11 pm anyone's time.  I'll choose a winner the next morning.  In the meantime, I hope you're having a wonderful new year!

Special thanks to the great people at Zotos Professional for facilitating this product review and giveaway!

Milk Nursingwear: Gorgeous Dresses for Nursing and After! #FashionGiveaway

No, I don't have a big announcement to make.  ;)  Unless discovering pretty, quality nursing wear that you will actually want to continue wearing after you've finished nursing is a "big announcement"! 

Milk Nursingwear's styles are simple, timeless pieces that allow the nursing mama to feel feminine and stylish.  I chose to review their Contemporary Knot Dress in teal.  This material is so incredibly soft!  I believe it is the softest item hanging in my very full closet.  While you can nurse easily by lifting the knot-front, it also has complete coverage.  Plus it has a nice stretch; I can see how it works perfectly as maternity wear, too.  It's amazing! 

My hubby loves this dress on me.  It's now his favorite in my closet!  It's perfect because you can simply throw it on with some flats and head to the store or anywhere else.  It's comfortable for wearing even simply around the house... but it also looks gorgeous at church with a pair of black heals.  I so wish I'd known of Milk Nursingwear while I was nursing my little ones!  My nursing friends also loved my dress and I'll definitely be keeping this clothing line in mind for the next baby shower I attend.

GIVEAWAY 
One winner will receive a $35 gift card to spend at Milk Nursingwear!  Enter below by January 29th at 11 pm anyone's time. I'll choose a winner the next morning via Random.org.

You Can Find Milk Nursingwear On
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Check out their sale and let me know which Milk fashion item you'll buy if you win!

Special thanks to the wonderful people at Milk Nursing Wear for providing me with this review opportunity!

Click'N Read Looney Tunes Phonics Trial #Free #Homeschool

Everyday, when I ask my kiddos if they want to play Looney Tunes ClickN READ Phonics, they whoop and cheer and beg to be first!  The original ClickN READ Phonics and ClickN SPELL are also great, but I must admit, I think the Looney Tunes program is 10 times better.   You can try a couple of sample lessons by clicking the link and then clicking on "Free Sample Lessons".  There's no signing up required to try the freebies--just point, click, and let your kiddos have some fun as they learn. 

Delivered online, Looney Tunes Phonics contains 100 research based interactive cartoon lessons that teach the entire kindergarten to third grade phonics curriculum. Children master reading skills in an interactive environment that is fun and easy to use. Featuring the zany antics of Bugs Bunny, Daffy, Taz, Tweety and more, children learn to read the right way with help from the world famous Looney Tunes characters.  It's really fun and even I get into the end of each lesson when we get to see the continuing Looney Tunes cartoon!
 

You Can Also Find ClickN Kids On

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Baking Deliciously with Kodiak Cakes #Giveaway

"Your pancake mix is the reason that my boyfriend fell in love with me and now we live happily ever after..."

-New York

 
Isn't the above quote about Kodiak Cakes so cute?  They really are some good pancakes!  We added sprinkles to ours and they were delish.  The pancake mix works for waffles, too, and you only add water!  Super easy and convenient--I was out of eggs and was so glad to see I didn't need any that morning.  My kiddos loved the pancakes and so did I. 

Kodiak Cakes also make Big Bear Brownie and Oatmeal Cookie mixes with whole grains and dark chocolate, both of which we also tried. Only problem was... we ate them faster than we could take pics of them!  I shared both desserts with friends and they loved 'em, too.  All of Kodiaks foods are made with whole grains and are tasty and filling.  They also make Granola, Gourmet Syrups, and Minute Muffins (I'd love to try these--they're cups you cook for a minute and they make muffins--yum!) 

GIVEAWAY
One winner will receiver her choice of either Pancake and Waffle Mix or a Dessert Sampler of Brownie and Cookie Mixes.  Enter below by January 16th at 11 pm anyone's time. I'll choose a winner the next morning.

You Can Find Kodiak Cakes On

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Special thanks to the wonderful people at Kodiak Cakes for providing me with this review and giveaway opportunity!

Painted Earth SkinCare and Cosmetics, trés Magnifique!

I am so in love with my new makeup and skincare products from Painted Earth!  Their ingredients are natural and formulated to be absorbed by the skin more effectively than any other anti-aging skin care on the market.  In the photo below, I'm wearing their Mint Victorian Charm lipgloss, Baked Blush in "petal", LashLuxe in "onyx", Mineral Powder Foundation in "blonde", Superwear Gel Liner, and (my fave) their Baked Mineral Eye Fusion in Bronze.  Before applying their makeup, I used their skin cleanser and moisturizer for sensitive and acne prone skin, which is absolutely perfect--my skin is quite sensitive and if I don't use the best of the best, it will definitely break out.  I've been using this for weeks now and I can tell you it's perfect!

It makes me feel so pretty.  Love!

Preparing my makeup regimen.

Painted Earth Baked Mineral Eye Fusion. Isn't it lovely? It definitely looks like a "painted" planet, though I'd go with Mercury over Earth for this one. ;)

My Painted Earth assortment.  I love it all!

In ending my review, I want to leave you with a quote that impressed me:  "At Painted Earth we believe that it is not necessary to sacrifice health for the sake of beauty, and that pure, natural beauty nourishes the body, mind, and soul." 

You can find Painted Earth on:

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Special thanks to the wonderful people at Painted Earth for providing me with this review opportunity!  All opinions are expressly my own.

"Imaginative University" Super Fun & Educational Kits Delivered Monthly! #Giveaway

Congrats to Maureen, the winner of this giveaway!

Our Thankfulness Tree: Part of our November Imaginative U Kit

I was so impressed with each of our 3 Imaginative U kits!  I can not say enough about how great they are!  Hopefully the pics will speak for them.  Each box was stuffed full of everything we needed for about 5 projects.  And I mean everything... right down to glue, supplies, and markers for each of my 4 kiddos along with enough ingredients to continue to get creative with more of our own ideas that were inspired by the kits.  For the projects that require measuring, everything was already measured out (i.e. Borax for the slime was in little baggies of the perfect amount).  

All of the fun... none of the hassle!
Imaginative U would be such a great present for the homeschooling or crafting mama in your life, or would be a wonderful way to add excitement to the monotony for anyone.  They'd also be especially great for school breaks to keep the kiddos busy. My littles love these kits and, after we did the first one, my youngest daughter (who is usually the least easy to impress) exclaimed, "Mom, this was the funnest school day ever!" Imaginative U makes learning so fun, so hands on, and I absolutely love it!  I've been having a greater time doing school with my kids than any time I can remember in the past.  Every month is different so I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with next! 

The TREES Kit

The SCIENCE Kit

More about the Imaginative U Kits
The kits are assembled by hand and the supplies are sorted in Ziploc or lunch bags. The kits often contain simple items such as paint, flour, baking soda or sticks. They're divided by age so that children ages 4 and 5 receive a slightly different kit than those ages 6 -10.  I received the 6-10 year old kits and was so impressed!  The directions were super easy to follow and involved no preparation minus the time it took me to skim over the topic for the day.   

Giveaway
One of my readers will win a 3 month subscription of Imaginative U Kits, a $60 value! Enter by 12/15 at 11 pm anyone's time.  I'll choose a winner the next morning.

You Can Find Imaginative U On

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What's your favorite thing to do with your kiddo/s?

Special thanks to the wonderful people at Imaginative University for providing us with this review and giveaway opportunity!

Bubble Shack Hawaii! Oh. My. Goodness. I love this stuff! #Giveaway

Congrats to Janet, the winner of this giveaway!

I never imagined I'd get so excited about a soap before but, I promise you, Bubble Shack Hawaii's Handmade Loofah Soaps are pretty much the most heavenly thing ever.  I sigh with pleasure and think maybe I need to take three showers in a 24 hour period as opposed to the 2 I already took... one of which I didn't need... but I'm not going to lie to you: I needed a relaxing something and that loofah.  Sigh.  Heavenly.  The scent I received was Pikake Lei, and it's a natural loofah filled with soap which makes for the super most wonderful bathing experience.  It feels so amazing, and smells nice, too. 

While the loofah soap is my most favorite thing I've had the pleasure to review in recent memory, I also reviewed the rest of the Pikake Lei Tropical Trio which comes with their All in 1 Ultimate Kukui and Shea Wash (perfect to use as shampoo, body wash, handsoap, even dog wash!) , their Kukui and Shea Hawaiian Silky Lotion, and the Handmade Loofah Soap I already went on and on about. ;) 

Bubble Shack Hawaii also sells Dog Wash tailor made for my pooch.  Our darling poochie smells marvelous and her fur feels so soft after always using this!  She smells like a little Hawaiian darling. The best thing, though, about all of their products is that they're totally natural and ocean-friendly.  Love!  Oh, and you also get free samples with every order!  I discovered that when I went to order my bestie some of that loofah soap!

Giveaway

One of my readers will receive this Coconut Shell Soy Candle in the Hawaiian scent Pikake Lei.  Enter below by January 16th at 11 pm anyone's time.  I'll choose a winner the next morning via Random.org.  In the meantime I hope you are having a wonderful new year!

      

 

 

You Can Find Bubble Shack Hawaii On

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Our pretty pooch, nice and clean and smelling amazing!

 

Which scent or product would you most like to try?

 

Special thanks to the wonderful people at Bubble Shack Hawaii for providing me with this opportunity!

Easy & Delicious Crispy Chicken Parmesan! #FosterFarms #Giveaway

This makes a quick and easy Christmas-week dinner!  My family loved it.  We received a few bags of Foster Farms new 100% all natural Crispy Chicken Strips to try and they were marvelous.  I knew they'd make perfect Chicken Parmesan (one of my favorite dishes) and I was right.  Let me know if you decide to try it!  Five of my readers will win free product vouchers to do just that.  Just scroll down to the bottom of this post for the giveaway form.

Ingredients
Foster Farms Crispy Chicken Strips
Bertolli Tomato Sauce
Pasta of choice
8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Prepare Foster Farms Crispy Chicken Strips according to package directions on a foil-lined baking pan.
3. Prepare pasta according to package directions.
4. When Crispy Chicken Strips are cooked, remove from oven and leave on same baking pan. 
5.  Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over each Chicken Strip and cover with ¼ cup of tomato sauce. Return to the oven and heat for 5-7 minutes or until cheese has melted.
6. Serve over prepared pasta.

Foster Farms chicken comes in a few other varieties, too, and makes a perfect Saturday or Sunday lunch, or mid-week meal when you feel to busy to actually cook.  They're crispy and cook quickly and are yummy!  You can get them at pretty much any chain supermarket--just look for the yellow bag.  Easy to spot!

GIVEAWAY
Enter below by 12/23 at 11 pm anyone's time. I'll choose a winner on Christmas Eve. Have a wonderful week!

Auntie Anne’s Pretzel & Cinnamon Roll Baking Mixes! #HolidayDeliciousness

The holidays are a time for keeping friends and family close and enjoying the aroma of fresh baked treats wafting from the kitchen. Mm!  We had so much fun baking pretzels and cinnamon rolls "from scratch"... if using Auntie Anne’s Pretzels & More Homemade Baking Mixes counts as scratch. 

Of course, these kits made it super convenient--everything premeasured and included, even the yeast.  The kiddos love rolling the dough out and watching it rise.  We had a blast, and they were delicious! 

You can get the kits just about anywhere.  Today, we saw them at Joann Fabrics--where you can use one of those great 50% off coupons and get the kits for about $3.  Each kit also features different holiday recipes.  These would make a pretty great gift exchange idea (I think I might get one of the baking mixes for my upcoming White Elephant Gift Exchange).  Walmart, Michael’s, and several regional grocery chains. Similarly, the Cinnabon Baking Mix makes eight cinnamon rolls, along with other delectable treats made with the same irresistible ingredients, such as monkey bread, cupcakes or even ham and cheese pinwheels. Let me know if you decide to check them out!

Special thanks to the wonderful people at Auntie Anne's for providing us with these products to review!