Ignore the fact I need to wash my hair - Coconuts II

A couple of months ago I unpacked a box on YouTube - and I blogged about getting this box of amazing coconut oil products.

Skinny & Company is the brand and today I decided that my skin was looking pretty great - I love slathering the calming lavender & coconut facial oil on myself morning and night. I had done nothing but that for the past four days and....

This is 49.5

I have not put on any makeup since Thursday. I have been only putting on coconut oil and sitting in my hot tub.  Well, I did shower after those soaks.  :)

And while it is a little expensive for coconut oil and essential oils - it is not more expensive than any other face moisturizer I currently buy for myself.  And TODAY of all days I went to buy some and got BOGO.  They are having a "Black Friday Weekend" sale that seems to still be going strong. 

So enjoy a little slather for yourself....

Happy Cyber-Monday Peeps.

Coconuts!

I don't know if you recall the Boo Boo La La Dictionary.  In the Abridged Version we identified that polka dots were in fact actually called coconuts.

You would have been vehemently corrected if you used polka dot.

The only thing we like around here more than Boo Boo La La is to bring you fun things that may make your life easier.

To that end, we look forward to trying out some items from Skinny & Co. very soon.

Body scrub you can spread on your croissant?

Sign us up!

Candy and The Cankersaur - #Review

I love to read.

I love to find fun stories for my daughter.

I love local.

So, a local artist and author contacted me about reading "Candy and The Cankersaur" with my daughter, Boo Boo La La.

This book is illustrated with fun characters especially 'Cank' the new pet of our heroine Candy.

She teaches him rules and how to be a nice dinosaur - but then...he is gone!

Where, or more importantly HOW, did Cank get lost? 

My daughter loved the plot of this book and has read it several times since we received our advance copy.  The illustrations are bright and fanciful.  I hope you enjoy it as well - or any of the other books by Mr. Sandberg. 

You can check out his website here - http://www.jasonsandberg.com/ebooks.htm

These books are also available on Amazon, iTunes and Nook.

I think "Baby Julia Feeds The Moon" sounds like our next good read.

Mascara - I found a great one! Or should I say - Sensational!

I have VERY light eyelashes.

VERY LIGHT - I cannot leave my house without mascara on or people think I am sick.

I found this "They're REAL!" mascara that was awesome, but super expensive IMHO.

So I have been trying every drugstore kind that calls itself something representing

Fluffy, Thick or LONG Beautiful Lashes...

To no avail.

Until I found this at Target.

The one that looked the LEAST promising to me up front was the best. 

See? 

Lashes for days on the right eye - nada on the left...

And wonderous wonder of all wonderment - it lasted ALL DAY, which on me like, never happens.

So if you like that other spend-y brand - go ahead and give this a try for about $6.

You're Welcome.

You have three days to be done with Christmas Shopping!

Quick, what have you forgotten?

Last night we realized we had forgotten to have our youngest go pick out a fun gift for her brother and sister - sigh.

Are you missing something?

Did you buy a child in your home some type of electronic device?

Do you need these for YOUR sanity? Let your child enjoy his or her favorite tunes with these ReTrak Animalz over-the-ear headphones, which feature 85dB volume-limiting safety control to help protect hearing.

If you live near a Best Buy you can order them online for in-store pickup.  No, Best Buy didn't tell me to tell you this, I just find it highly convenient.  :)

But Retrak did send me* and Boo Boo La La these cool bear headphones to try out.  In fact they were kind enough to outfit her school media center with THIRTY of these great headphones - watch that story here: KSTP - 45.

Boo Boo really got excited to open them up - and they had a cool eraser inside the box.

We are pretty happy with these new headphones - Boo Boo can hear her games or videos AND she can hear me if I call her from the other room.  Boo Boo loves that the cord retracts into the headphones - NO MORE TANGLED CORD!

Plus, how cute are they?

*I got these headphones for free to try out, but the opinions are purely mine and Boo Boo's. 

Happy Shopping and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Loving my new old lady cheaters! Thank you Firmoo!

Do you have a little piece of paper with your RX from your last checkup at your Optometrist?

Do you have someone to help you measure your pupil distance and a ruler that can measure in millimeters?

Can you get to Firmoo.com?

Than you too can get a cute pair of glasses like these

They were super simple to order and arrived really fast - I ordered them July 12 and they arrived by July 19 - and came with a nice cleaning cloth and hard carrying case.  <- THAT super important as I use the glasses only for reading and they get thrown into whatever bag I am taking that day. 

Also, you can upload a picture of yourself to see how they will look.  

Or use the face shapes already there on the website.

I think these were a fun choice.

And right now they have a program available where your first pair of frames are free - so you can check them out at low risk.

Click here to get all the details.

And I want to thank Firmoo for giving me the pair in this post so I could tell you all about their service.

Kidecals - A Review

I love finding new things.

I love when new things find me too.

Kidecals..

What a fun solution to labeling your stuff, your kid's stuff, your husband's stuff, your kitchen stuff.

I have even seen people at work using the chalkboard stickers on their lunches.

We ordered some with the idea they would be VERY useful to mark Boo Boo's stuff to make sure it came home from all the camps she has going on this summer! Acting camp, 'Camp Auntie Lois", Girl Scout Camp...

They sure came in a nice envelope!

And I think I picked some pretty fun decals for myself!

Quite the STASH  - huh???

And totally ready for camp luggage!!!

And they stay on over TWO muddy, wet soccer practices.

Do you want to try them too??? Guess what!?!

You can use this code to get your own!

Okay? Come closer, let me tell you the code.

You ready?

FASHION!!!

shhhh. keep it to yourself okay???

Nah, share it with everyone! Enjoy 15 percent off your order!

Just FYI - Kidecals did send me a code for some free stickers, but I honestly could not believe how durable they are. That soccer ball was all over a swampy soccer field - You have heard about our rain here in Minnesota this summer?  No fading, peeling, nothing.  It sits just where Boo Boo put it - RIGHT OVER THE DIRT THAT WAS ON IT ALREADY.  Amazing, no? 

Go get some.

My Reveal! GE reveal® Review

You know I have a giveaway for a $10 Target Gift Card + GE reveal® light bulbs.


They sent me some bulbs too for me to try out in my home and see what I thought and share it with you. 
A package of four GE reveal® 75watt bulbs arrived at my home. 

I was thinking of what room I needed better lighting in - and I decided on.


My bathroom.
What woman couldn't use great lighting when she is getting ready to face the world each and every day?  I know I could. So I went to the bathroom, stood in my bathtub and took a picture.  
These are the bulbs that were in the sconces.

So you see - NOT cheap bulbs.

And these are the GE reveal® bulbs I then replaced them with...

Are you ready for this??

To the left are the old bulbs - to the right GE reveal®

Is that NOT amazing? I mean I had no idea how yellow the old bulbs were making my bathroom. When I took the old bulbs out and put the GE reveal® bulbs in I thought  to myself, "What is the difference? Huh?"  Then I looked at the photos.  It really makes the bathroom light cleaner and fresher somehow.  I know from watching the video I posted that they would make a difference, but see how much more lit up the bathroom is?  Even with colored sconces the light hits further and brighter than with the old bulbs.  It made me excited to get up and put on makeup this morning! 

Now get yours - enter the contest while there is still time.

And check out all that the GE reveal® bulbs have to offer at their website too! 


p.s. I did not crop or edit the pictures of my bathroom at all. 

p.p.s. I did get the bulbs for free - the results speak for themselves!

Art, Home Decor, Cards, What More??? Minted.com Review

Maybe like my Sister In Law you are expecting a baby.

You want to announce your bundle of joy in a VERY special way
You fancy yourself, or your hubby, a GREAT amatuer photographer.
You don't want to leave the house because you are constantly breastfeeding and doing laundry.

How about Minted?

I.die. from the cuteness that is the Hello Baby birth announcement.

Not sure which you will like?  Get free samples.
Wow.  Will other sites do that?
Not that I have seen.

Minted.com has a lot of new fresh looks for kids and babies this spring.
Maybe you need an Easter card?  That dress you got your precious daughter at Costco needs to been seen by more people than just at church Easter Sunday, right?

Me? I am looking to fill out an unbalanced wall in my living room.
See?

If I were being honest I might want to get rid of the existing print, deer in snow, but I know my husband loves these wildlife prints and so I conceded that this one was a good match in colors for our living room and it is a nice little cottage. I got to pick all the other prints in our home, except three upstairs we chose together. 

Fair is fair.

While I was cruising the Minted website I found that buying art from them was more meaningful than just putting something I like on my walls.  I am helping mothers around the globe.  

Every Mother Counts is a program founded by model Christy Turlington Burns that Minted supports by giving a portion of each art sale to fund their education programs to help reduce maternal mortality around the globe.  So not only do the female artists on the Minted website get commissions on their fabulous works, Minted gives 2% of their own portion to charity.  

I am IN!  

But what to choose? I narrowed it down here:

Let me know which you like:

1) Enjoy the Little Things

2) Spring Branches

3) Love Builds

4) Mountains in the Clouds

Tell me what you like - or if you think I am crazy and you like something different entirely.  It is QUITE a fun site to browse, and pin, and get lost for a few hours in...

I want you to know that I did get asked to write this review. I will be compensated for this review, but the opinions in this review are, as always, quite my own.  

p.s. I will also get a print and post an after picture when it arrives and is hung!  

Power on the go? Yes please - give me a Magicstick.

About a year ago I bought a power 'brick' to keep a charge on my phone.

It was just that, a brick. 

I tried to like it, but it was a pain to charge - and the connector really didn't sit in my phone well so it was tedious to use.

Recently a company called PowerRocks contacted me to ask if I would like to use their Magicstick 2800mAh.  I went to their website, PoweRocksMedia.com, and really? It looked cool.  Much slimmer design that the one I purchased a year ago. Simple, used USB ports...I had to try it.

I got a really nice silver one and well...

That is it! Charged itself fast, slipped right into the inside pocket of my purse, re-charged my phone from 18% to FULLY CHARGED in no time. And considering I usually forget to charge my phone at night this little Magicstick is definitely useful for me to keep in touch. 

I was super impressed. I had to tell you about it, well because they sent me one free, but also because it is pretty awesome. I have had it for over a week now and could not be happier with it.  And I speak from experience in using a similar product. This is so simple! So powerful. And because you charge your electronics by plugging your charge cord into a USB port on the Magicstick it can power up just about anything. My Samsung Galaxy, Boo Boo's iPod, our Nook...anything.

Seriously.  If you need a last minute gift I would HIGHLY recommend this for any busy mom, college student, person in sales, etc. If you need one (maybe for yourself) you can get them at their website where they offer free shipping or if you have Amazon Prime I have seen it available there!  Just search for the POWER\OCKS Magicstick 2800mAh.  

Hmmm. I maybe need a second one.  

I got FABULOUS on my chest.

So I got the opportunity from Allied Shirts to try out their custom shirt service.

Make my own t-shirt design?  Yes.  Yes, I will.

I took this logo....

I went to this link...

AlliedShirts.com

I uploaded the logo, manipulated where I wanted it.  Front? Back? Corner or the WHOLE shirt? I picked my shirt color and size - and type, they have womens - mens - long sleeve, short, even sweatshirts and girly t's...

What did I end up with?

A COMFY PURPLE T that fits EXCELLENT thank you.  I got a ladies cut Gildan T from Allied Shirts collection and it is amazingly comfortable and moves with me, plus I love the purple. 

If you need/want custom t-shirts I would highly recommend Allied Shirts as they really delivered a quality shirt in record time.  And their pricing for even just one custom shirt is worth it.  

I am off to be FABULOUS FRIDAY in my very own custom t.  How are you Fab today?

Just a little #Nibbler from @Crystal_Farms

I got an email asking if my family and I might like to try a new treat from Crystal Farms Cheese.

Sure!  We love cheese.

What arrived were these...

Nibblers in Smokey BBQ, Chipotle Pepper, Habanero, and Sour Cream & Onion

The gang was all here.

I of COURSE needed to try the Chipotle and Habanero first.  Love the spicy!

Boo Boo tried Sour Cream & Onion - T-bone the Smokey BBQ

And then we just opened the ones that were left for everyone else on vacation.

What a neat, tasty and fun treat to put in your lunch, take on a long car ride, or just watching your favorite movie.

I had never heard Nibblers before Crystal Farms reached out to me, but since I have seen this treat at grocery stores from Pequot Lakes to Crystal, MN and many convenience stores in between.  It is an affordable 99 cents (the price I saw them for where I looked) and a way better treat for your family than that candy bar or donut you would normally buy. Why not try them out the next time you are on the road or packing that school lunch?

While these Nibblers treats were provided to my family free of charge - the opinion on Nibblers is mine alone.  

You're so beautiful. - Veronica Sawyer

Yes, when you say "You are so beautiful..." you can feel everyone's brainwaves singing...  "To meeeeeeee."

Right?

I changed it up on you there, that is what I did.

Exchange - Heather's 1988

Courtney: If I got that money, I'd give it all to the homeless. Every cent. 
Veronica Sawyer: You're beautiful. 

Then of course Heather Chandler tells her something or other about being openly a bitch.  It gets hazy for me.

I digress.

Ahem.

Today's Spin is on Beauty thanks to the mind of Gretchen at Second Blooming.  I find her a great read because, well - I had my child at 38 and I can relate to being "tired" to say the least.  :)

I love beauty products.  Especially oils and moisturizers - anything to stop the inevitable wrinkles - and lessen the current crop.

One night I was watching ShopNBC because yes, I am one of those people with an unhealthy addiction to watching shopping channels.  I sometimes buy, and I usually return.  That night ShopNBC was demonstrating this heat and light device that was supposed to improve skin texture, reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles and all I had to do was shell over about $150 and use it.  (p.s. it is out of stock right now at ShopNBC you can find it here.)

The results they showed looked pretty dramatic and I am tired of my "old lady wrinkle" that runs across my forehead....I took the plunge because they had 6 value pay option and waited for it to arrive.

I have now been using it for over a month and I will tell you that I really do think my skin texture is more even and my "old lady wrinkle" is not quite as wide across my forehead as it was.  It may actually be working is what I am telling you.  For ONCE.  I mean I cannot tell you all the things I used to "reduce wrinkles".  Ugh.  Never work.

But the bonus?

OMG after I rub this on my face for twenty minutes I am zonked.  Totally relaxed and nearly asleep.

It lets me sleep better than I have in god KNOWS how long.  I don't even wake up in the night.

And - because its just light and heat.  One night when Boo Boo La La was being crabby about going to bed I went in and gave her a "face massage" and she was OUT in like two minutes.  She now begs for her face massage - I only do it once a week and just for a minute so don't report me~!  But it really helps us sleep.

Really!

Who would have thought that a beauty treatment would have such a wonderful side-effect.

Now its your turn.  Jump into the spin!

Slaving Away!

See that?

This morning I got up and out of bed - came downstairs and began slaving away on this lasagna. 

It does take me nearly 90 minutes for mis-en-place, cooking, and assembly

Four cheeses - goat, ricotta, parmesean (I used Granna Padano thank you!), and mozzerella (FRESH!)

turkey sausage - a mild Italian

fresh basil and Itallian parsely

While I was doing that my dear hubby T-bone was already slaving away at work.  On Sunday. 

Just like he worked yesterday. 

TWELVE HOUR DAYS

and all this week too.  so a little slaving in the kitchen by me is a good thing.  he LOVES lasagna.

especially THAT lasagna.  Thanks Ina for having that recipe out there - I have been making it now for almost TWO years!  It goes into the oven later today!

Happy Mother's Day - Review!

I love love love love love love Etsy

& the store above is my new favorite!

Go there now and buy these:

I purchased dryer balls from two Etsy shops and these IMHO were the very best for size and construction.

$15 including shipping for three - get SIX.

Why Dryer Balls?? 

Number One: (and the reason I first got Totally Toddler Dryer Balls) To keep the chemicals OFF of your children's clothing from dryer sheets, then I found out Totally Toddler & other plastic dryer balls were made of PVC which then leached onto the clothing....UGH!  My search for an alternative led me to these wool dryer balls from a lovely Vermont farm!!!  (If you must have a scent there are sellers who sell scented & Buddah Bunz also sends instructions how to rescent her dryer balls, plus hers are really cute!)

Number TWO: and a result I did NOT expect.  Reduced drying time.  With six dryer balls in the dryer I reduce the time it takes to dry a load of T-bone's work jeans and shirts from 80-90 minutes to just 60!  That is a huge time and energy savings as I typically do TWO loads of his work clothing per week.

So there is a Happy Mother's Day to you!  Chemical free laundry tool & energy savings to boot! 

Mommy Lisa Reviews - As Seen on TV - MEme Monday Late Night Special.

Today SupahMommy and MommyBrain are hooking you up with an extra special deal for...

not $49.95

NOT EVEN $39.95

For just $29.95 you too can play...

Okay...I lied.  Its free.

But Supah is poking FUN at my favorite informercial product.  Bare Escentuals...I am a believer and I use that shiznit daily!!!

I have purchased informercial products gone wrong... Nads?  Seriously, you could not rename that for the U.S. Consumer who was thinking "balls" they whole time they saw this infomercial?  Ick.

But here are the products "As Seen on TV" that I have purchased and USED because they actually worked!

Bare Escentuals - There are two other cheaper versions I also like...but BE is the best.

Wen Hair Cleansing Conditioner - This made me love Melissa Gilbert again.

Todd English's Green Pans...OMG!  LOVE THESE, thank you HSN.

And the Caruso Steam Setter.

I love to try new things...the only thing I ever REALLY get burned on from infomercials is the skin care products.  HOWEVER, I have gone and done it again and got the "Philosophy Makeup Optional" collection. 

When I get it and try it I will let you know if it is worth the $$$.  I figured it was going to be cheaper than getting professional peels, but you NEVER know. 

at least until you try...

The one where I write over ... here.

Today I reviewed something I had been LUSTING after since I saw the first coupon for it.

I could not find it in any grocery store though...it was weird.

Then T-bone brought some home from the company store - and I got to try both Creme Caramel and Chocolate Raspberry - now I LOVE the Yoplait Whips Chocolate Rasperry Mousse (and all the sinful new dessert flavors of fat free Yoplait), so I had high hopes...

High hopes that were DASHED. Yoplait Delights are no delight.

not worth the effort to look for or purchase. sorry.

Too Lazy to even write a post-it!

Today I wrote over here at Viewpoints.

You should check out all my reviews and give me helpful votes if you like the information! ;)