Sunday, December 29, 2013

Goal for 2014!

Here are all my excuses (some ridiculous, but totally honest) that run through my head when I think about beginning to loose weight, change my diet, & exercise more:

Why loose weight when I'm going to eventually have another baby or two?
We're broke - so I could never join a gym; even $25 a month is out of our budget! 
I'm the pickiest eater in the world - surely none of my favorites are healthy options!
I love food too much. 
I love sweets too much. 
My baking addiction surely would be less fun if I couldn't eat them! 
I have no time to eat healthy. 
I have no money to eat healthy. 
I am too unorganized to eat healthy. 

...so, you see. All these thoughts have crossed my mind on more than one occasion, but today I am hoping to make a change. I always think, well come January 1st... why wait till then? Why not start tomorrow? And, I say tomorrow because I've already pigged out on some Reese Peanut Butter cups. I like to start on a new slate. I like to have time to prepare - maybe menu plan, research, get some ideas flowing. Download some apps. Read some inspirational stories, you know...

Here is my first few steps:

1. Download the app: My Fitness Pal. I seriously contemplated paying $60 for a 3 month membership to Weight Watchers, but I'm broke and the last time I paid that much money, I lost all motivation and wasted $60. Although, I don't have official experience with Weight Watchers, I have had experience in the past with MFP and enjoyed it. It's 100% free and has a large community where you can share recipes and get support.

2. Peruse Pinterest: The best thing ever. It's the easiest way to have organization when you want to plan something healthy for breakfast or dinner.

EDIT: 3. Purchase a Fit Bit Force -  I did this pretty spontaneously, but maybe I am a tad bit motivated? This was normally on sale for $129, but with a discount code that took off 15% and using a $100 Best Buy card that I won in a Twitter Party and $20 from a Visa Gift card I won in another twitter party, this was 100% FREE for me. No guilt there!

In a perfect world I would like to say that I'm going to throw out all my sweets and bad foods, but I'm a frugal lady and the idea of throwing out all this unused foods and sweets in the garbage is a little sickening.

So, yes. Time will tell. Anyone else have any 2014 resolutions/goals?




Monday, December 23, 2013

Product Review: Montagne Jeunesse Dead Sea Mud Spa Mask

Disclaimer: I received this product complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster.


I finally had down time. Down time from a busy, almost walking 11 month old, and a day off from all the Christmas traveling and visiting family. I don't know what it was, but this year, it just came way too fast and I KNOW that it has something to do with the fact that I had Truman this year. Last January - yes, my son is almost a one year old *weeps* .. But back to the holidays - they came so fast and are already half way done. The last week I had been super stressed. For some reason I could not for the life of me get myself motivated to wrap presents. It was like pulling teeth for me. I contemplated many things: showing up with unwrapped gifts, gift cards or even the easiest, most festive option: gift bags! My last 5 gifts I resorted to gift bags, because I just ran out of time and by Friday when we were scrambling to get all the things packed and make sure we didn't forget anything, I had felt like my head was going to pop off from stress. Sigh. So this product test came with perfect timing, because I was stressed and I needed a moment to just ... relax, even if that meant watching Britney Spears, applying a face mask on and sending scary shots to my friends, like the one on the left. ;) 

As always, I love receiving a Vox Box from Influenster. They are 100% free and have a mixture of fun stuff inside. One of the products in Influenster's Violet Vox Box was the Montagne Jeunesse (Don't ask me how to pronounce it, because I have no clue, so we'll abbreviate to MJ) Dead Sea Mud Spa Mask:

I don't know what my deal was but going into opening this little package, I was envisioning it to be a clay substance, like a cream or something, but then pulled out this:



I don't ever recall using something like this so got excited! I love to try new things and this was new to me! The directions:

1. Cleanse - I had just taken a shower so I had a cleansed face. 
2. Apply - I thought it was kind of fun applying this to my face! I didn't know what to expect so just sort of molded it to shape my face. Here's some lovely and MOST EXCITING photos that I made my boyfriend take!:



3. Relax - For 10-15 minutes and so I set my timer for 12 minutes, because I can never decide! And in those moments of relaxation, I watched I Am Britney Jean
4. Massage - What? I had no idea I needed to massage, so I completely skipped this step, oops.
5. Rinse - Check! 

Afterwards, I noticed an immediate change in how my skin felt - silky smooth. No, really! It did! I may or may not have used a face mask from this product line, I don't recall, but for what it was intended to be, it worked and I am pleased. Plus, it smelt AMAZING. 

And a little side note that makes them even more awesome:

Montagne Jeunesse is known by consumers for the premium quality & affordable beauty treats, packed with the most delicious natural ingredients.  Our products are never tested on animals and are manufactured with the minimum impact on all forms of life. Our company ethos is the “Conservation of Energy, Protection of Animals and the Environment.”

Thank you, Influenster & MJ for the chance to try this product out. As a mother, you often don't shop for yourself anymore so this was a great treat! ;)


For more information on MJ, follow them on Twitter, Like them on Facebook and visit their Website!

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Like to Sample Free Products? Try Swaggable!

I can't really pinpoint when I first became obsessed with getting freebies or sampling products, but sometime this year, it happened - hardcore. One of my first "freebie hunting" sites, Vonbeau.com, first introduced me to the wonderful website that is Swaggable.


What is Swaggable?
Swaggable is a website that offers everyday consumers the opportunity to try out new products, write reviews and help spread the word on the products being tested. In my opinion, it's a great marketing strategy. What better way to get your product out there than to send out samples to those people who matter most? 

How does it work?
Step 1: After signing up, you browse all the categories - 8 in all including categories like Snacks, Cosmetics & Beauty, Kid Products & Pet Supplies. After clicking on a particular item for more information, you click "Want It" which alerts whoever that you would like to sample and review this. Just because you "Want It" doesn't mean you will get it! By having the "Want It" feature, it allows Swaggable to match you with products you really want. 

Step 2: At some point - you never know when - you'll get an email notifying you that they've found a sample for you to try and you need to accept it. From my experience, once you accept it, you will see that the status shows "Gathering Invites." This means that Swaggable is still looking for people to sample this specific product and the status won't be changed to "Shipped" until they've found all or enough participants (I don't know for sure). I have noticed that the time between when you accept an invite to actually receiving the item can take some time, sometimes a month or so! To me, this acceptable because I will never complain about a free sample or free product to try. 

Step 3: Then you are surprised to receive a package from Swaggable with your product! You sample and write an honest review - simple as that! 

It's important to follow up on the reviews, because they won't allow you to accept a new invitation to try a new product without completing the review for the one product you last were sent. I think this is a perfect way to get a review out of someone! 

I have been a product sampler (is that what we're called? ha!) for Swaggable since .... thinking hard... maybe April and have already reviewed 11 products (and 3 coming down the pipeline "gathering invites) ranging from a bar of soap, to (the most amazing) Chocolate Chip Brownie Brittle to some baby lotion. 

Definetely check it out if you love sampling products and reviews! They are a great website and more interest=more products to sample! It's a win for everyone! ;

Here's a video of that tells there story:

Happy Sampling! ;)





December 2013 Ipsy Bag

Wow, what happiness I felt when I saw the shiny pink packaging envelope waiting for me in my mailbox the other day. I had subscribed before for a almost a year, but financial considerations had to take place and IPSY got the cut, well... I allowed myself only ONE monthly subscription box, and since Walmart's Goodie Box had stopped sending out boxes, I decided to put my $10 (yes, only $10!!) elsewhere!

Of course, there was a wait list, because this is a very popular beauty subscription. Luckily, I had been following a blog that devotes it's time to reviewing the trillions of subscription boxes (My Subscription Addiction) (I was way obsessed with them last year, but now I've simmered down a bit and have chosen one to continue on with) and she mentioned how you could 'Skip The Waitlist' and it was all over from there! So, anyways on to a great December bag:


The bag:


Be a Bombshell One Stick in the color Girl Crush!

 Pop Beauty Eyeshadow Trio in Smokin' Hot!


 Julie Textured Nail Polish in Sugar Plum Fairy!

JCat's Lip Pencil in Red Rose

I must say this is a lovely color, right up my alley, and drawing that heart it was smooth and glide so nicely! 

Mirabella Eye Blender

I don't think I could ever be disappointed by an Ipsy Bag mainly because I love all kinds of makeup and most of the stuff is brand new to me. The value of each bag exceeds well over $10, so I highly recommend this bag to anyone who is obsessed with makeup. Even if you have you to wait a bit on the waitlist, it's worth it, BUT, I googled how to SKIP the Waitlist and this is what I found directly from the Ipsy website! So good luck! ;)



Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Product Review: Braun Forehead Thermometer

Disclaimer: I received this product complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster. All opinions are my own. 

I was really thrilled to be selected to receive this product to try out from Influenster. From the first email letting me know I was chosen to receiving it in the mail yesterday and literally ripping it open and using it on my 10 month old son who has his first fever. It literally came at the PERFECT time. Trying to take my son's temperature in the past has been such a struggle that I never really felt confident that the temperate that was read was correct because of those squirms and attempts at running away. Using this forehead thermometer was the the easiest and fastest thing I have ever used when it comes to checking someones temperature.

When I received my thermometer attached was a card that I think explains it best, so I will share:


I highly recommend this to anyone who has a little kid or even a big kid because it's such an easy way to get that temperature! ;) One of the great features is that after reading the temperature the screen will turn a color, Green is 'Ok', Yellow is "Mild', and Red is "High." Love this feature!!

Thank you again, Influenster!


Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Mailbox Freebies: December 9 - 14th

Monday & Tuesday:
Glytone was from an Allure win, Free RAVE Hairspray, Braun Thermometer and Violet Vox Box was from Influenster, Pepsi Iphone Cover case is from their rewards program, and the Baby Colic Drops & Rattle were from 2 giveaways from an Online Baby Shower Extravaganza!

Wednesday:

2 Amlactin samples, and half of a Grand Prize win from a Twitter party hosted by Huggies. I got a pair of slippers, a diaper bag from Skip Hop, $25 AMEX Gift Card and on it's way is a 3 month supply of diapers!

Friday, December 6, 2013

Love with Food - November 2013 Box

I was so bummed when Walmart's Goodie Box ended. It was one of my favorite subscription boxes because it was only  $7 a month and you always got some awesome stuff. Some new, some old, but always good. Surprisingly, weeks later I started to receive the Love with Food box. I got October's box and just thought it was random, but then I was happy to receive Novembers box, too and then remembered I had contacted the company about reviewing a box and so that's what I am doing.

The real big difference between Goodie Box and Love with Food is that Love with Food focuses more on Healthy and organic snack options, which is cool by me. I'll eat any kind of snack really! ;)

Here's what was in November's Box:


I'm not sure about the Eat Natural bar, I'm not a fan of fruit & nut bars, but everything else looks great. I had the Maple Fudge and it so soft but no overly chewy, which is how I like my fudge. To me, it was really like a piece of caramel. Very good. I wonder if they have any other flavors.

I do recommend this subscription service if you're looking for something to replace Goodie Box OR if you're new to the whole food subscriptions. There are some expensive ones out there, but this one is only $10 a month and you get a 8+ items per box! Totally worth it, especially if you enjoy trying out new things like myself.

Here's some information, they also have a new Deluxe Box, which I am REALLY curious about, for an extra $10 you get more goodies!

Love with Food Subscriptions

PLUS, an added bonus - for every box that is ordered they donate one to a hungry child. GREAT idea. ;)

Oops...and can't forget this one not pictured above:



Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Mailbox Freebies: December 2 - 7th!

Holidays throw me off. I'm a twitter party win spree though. I'm obsessed.

Monday:

































A great Smiley360 mission for 2 free packages of Quilted Northern Toilet Paper and some $2 off coupons. Click: http://smiley360.com/2604610.cfm and 2 3M Sandpapers!

Tuesday:

2 Fashion Tapes, Equate pad samples from Walmart.com, and 2 Starbucks K-Cups.

Thursday:

2 baby wipe product tests, Hersheys Spread from Klout, 2 Coffee Samples, 2 Lip Primers & 2 Lipsticks from Project Runway promotion, 1 free box of Rice Crackers from Walmart.com, US Weekly Magazine, Purina One Dog Food from Sam's Club, and Pine Sol from their Facebook page.

Friday:

I was so surprised to have received FOUR bags from Harvest Peas. I won their instant win game and it said only one bag of the Salted Caramel was coming. I'm definitely not complaining. I hate the Lightly Salted ones in an hour. SO good. The Equitance Dark Spot Corrector Skin Care Product is supposedly a $125 value.

Saturday:

Got 2 of my 3 Pinch Me boxes, The Berenstain Bear book is from Pinecone Research, the other 2 books are from October's Scholastic Mini Mission, and the little Santa hat is from Maker's Mark to put on my bottle of Makers Mark, ha.