Oct 03

BuyCostumes.com : Candyland Girl Costume Review

Oct 03

I can hardly believe it’s already the first week of October and Halloween is less than a month away. This time of the year has the most exciting holidays back to back. Since I never have patience for anything, we even started putting out or decorations the last day of September! Halloween is going to be here in no time and I hate looking for costumes at the last minute. I can’t stand the long lines, crowds, going on scavenger hunts for matching accessories, and fighting for sizes. Last year I learned my lesson and started costume shopping online as early as possible. Once Toodie had an idea of what she wanted to be, I was on the internet searching away. This brings me to the popular online costume retailer known as BuyCostumes.com. Founded in 1999, this site has become the top retailer for costumes and accessories year round. I had the opportunity to review one of their costumes and looked forward to browsing their full collection of choices.

When I was asked to choose which costume I would like, I HAD to include Toodie in the decision. As she has gotten older Halloween has become more exciting and eventful around here. Over the years she has been a few different things- a flower, ladybug, and Rapunzel the Disney Princess. We have been through quite a variety as you can see. This year I was hoping she would choose something a bit more unique so she wouldn’t look exactly like every child while trick or treating! While browsing through all of the toddler costumes in her size we both called out “Candy Land!” in unison. The Candyland Girl Classic Costume is described as being perfect if your little girl has a sweet tooth. How did they know? That’s my Toodie! This costume was adorable and can definitely be considered different. I can’t wait to get additional accessories and make this sweet fantasy come to life.

The Candyland Girl Classic Costume is available in both children and toddler sizes. In the below photo Toodie is wearing the 3T-4T size and even though she is tall and slim, it fit perfectly. At first, I was worried it was going to be too short but when we tried it on the dress was long and hit below the knee. This whimsical costume retails for $24.99 on the Buy Costumes website. It includes the pastel dress covered in components from the popular children’s board game that we all know and love. Candyland is such a CLASSIC but I have noticed it’s been making it’s way back into birthday parties and play time. For such an affordable costume, I was very impressed with all of the details. There are noticeable lollipops, a colorful path, and the well known peppermint Candy Land logo tying everything together. It just goes to show you don’t have to give an arm or a leg for your child to have a good quality costume. Well maybe you do .. this is HALLOWEEN and limbs aren’t exactly guaranteed!

Buy Costumes has endless pages of affordable costumes for infants, children, teens, adults, couples, and even our pets. While regular sizes are offered, they also have a selection for plus sized shoppers as well. You can even find accessories and party supplies within their site. They have everything you need for Halloween! With their prices being as reasonable as they are, you can find costumes for your whole family and stay within your budget.

Stop by the Buy Costumes website and get an early start on picking out your costume this year! You can also connect on Twitter and Facebook for spooky updates.

Disclosure: I received the product above for my consideration and to share my honest opinion and experience. I am under no obligation to post a positive review on them. I will not be compensated for this post. As always, opinion are my own!

Sep 29

Cooking Light: Parmesan-Panko Chicken Tenders + GIVEAWAY

Sep 29

Home cooked meals are few and far between these days. With all of the fast food chains, TV dinners, and restaurants, we tend to forget how nice it is to sit down and have a meal at home with our family. It has crossed my mind, that at some point we just think dinner is too darn hard and too time consuming to take care of each night. Recipes can be over complicated, long, and boring. These are some of the reasons author Amanda Haas joined forces with Cooking Light to create the “Real Family Food” cookbook. This unique cookbook contains 150 recipes to inspire families to return to the kitchen table!
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Sep 26

Johnny Depp in Dark Shadows Blu-Ray Combo Pack GIVEAWAY #DarkShadows

Sep 26

For years I have enjoyed watching Tim Burton’s quirky, strange, and just unusual films. Some of my favorites include Alice In Wonderland, Corpse Bride, and the classic Beetlejuice. His movies are far from mainstream and he has a way of mastering darkness. With quite a list of accomplished movies under his belt, Warner Bros. Pictures has recently announced the DVD & Blu-Ray release of his newest film, Dark Shadows. On October 2, 2012 you will be able to pick up this film and also the Dark Shadows Blog App. If you didn’t get a chance to see Dark Shadows in theaters let me get you up to speed with a brief description of this ghostly and silly family friendly movie.

From the incredible mind of Tim Burton comes the hit film Dark Shadows, based on the classic television series! Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) has been trapped for two centuries by an evil witch who just happens to be an ex lover. Barnabas now has to struggle with the ever changing 1970s and help to save the family business. His dysfunctional descendants are in need of his protection and fast.With an all star cast that includes Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jonny Lee Miller and more, Dark Shadows will be sure to whet your appetite for fun. This movie is full of laughs and a tiny bit of terror!

The Dark Shadow App allows you to explore the ever-so spooky Barnabas Collins and his family. Take the Creepy Quiz, challenge yourself with Barnabas’ Terrorific Trivia, check your Horror-Scope, and browse the funny Memes from scenes in the movie. You can also view the Dark Shadows trailer and share with friends so they can get in on the fun too!

If you are looking forward to the Dark Shadows release or just love Johnny Depp as much as I do, then this is your chance to SPOOK your movie collection! One of my lucky readers will win a Dark Shadows Blu-Ray Combo Pack. Enter below and good luck. All entries will be verified.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I am working with Warner Bros and they are providing me with the materials for this post and giveaway. I am under no obligation to post a positive review on them. I will not be compensated for this post. As always, opinion are my own!

Sep 26

Soothing Gentle Skin With AVEENO Baby

Sep 26

Diaper rash, eczema, and discomfort are all things that parents are familiar with and also struggle to treat effectively. We scour the aisles of the drugstore looking for the best products to make our children more comfortable and put us at ease. AVEENO Baby provides skincare solutions and comfort to parents who have children suffering from diaper rash, eczema, or any sort of irritation. They are designed to offer solutions with the expectant and experienced mom in mind.

There are two products in particular that I would like to share with you today. The Aveeno Daily Moisture Lotion along with the Wash & Shampoo can be found within their permanent line for babies or toddlers. I have personally used both of them on my daughter and have had successful results in treating her dry skin. When Toodie born we were living on the West coast in Colorado where the air is very dry and lacks humidity. At 6 months old, I started to notice dry patches of skin on her back and torso. She was itchy and I did everything I could to prevent her from scratching. Soon after, I was told she had a mild case of eczema and was given a list of trusted brands to treat it. On the top of list was Aveeno Baby.

The Baby Wash & Shampoo is made from natural oat extract which helps to make a rich lather that cleanses the skin without drying it out. You can use this to wash your child’s hair and body because it’s gentle enough for everyday use. It leaves behind a very soft fragrance so your little one will smell clean and fresh. The formula is hypoallergenic and tear free making it safe to use on infants. After a warm bath with the Baby Wash & Shampoo their skin will be moisturized and silky smooth. I love the baby smell! Even though Toodie is a toddler, it reminds me of when she was an itty bitty baby in my arms. That scent is something I will never forget.

After bath time, the Daily Moisture Lotion helps heal and protect delicate skin for a full 24 hours. Like many of the products within their baby line, it contains a natural colloidal oatmeal blend with rich emollients. If you are not familiar with colloidal oatmeal, it is made of finely ground oats. You will find this in other treatments designed to relieve itchy dry skin, eczema, chicken pox, bug bites, and even poison ivy. Since it contains Vitamin E it also acts as an anti-inflammatory. It keeps your child’s delicate skin soft and moisturized without any greasy residue left behind. I have always preferred using this lotion on my daughter because it is fragrance free and since it does not contain alcohol, I never had to worry about it drying out her skin. When she was first diagnosed with a mild case of eczema, the Aveeno Daily Moisture Lotion was on the list of recommendations provided by her doctor. It always relieved the scattered dry patches and kept her from itching away at them.

Another part of the Aveeno Baby line I wanted to add is the Eczema Therapy Soothing Bath Treatment. This is a favorite of mine can can also be found in its older packaging titled Soothing Relief Bath Treatment. I have used this so many times for many different reasons. When we began the potty training process Toodie was very hesitant and refused to have her pull up changed. At three, it’s all about independence and control. She would run and hide making it impossible to even get it off! The moisture would sometimes cause a rash leaving her skin red and bumpy. These bath treatments would not only soothe the affected area but heal it in the process. Each box comes with 5 packs of the colloidal oatmeal in which you pour into warm water and allow to dissolve. This is great for diaper rash and also eczema. We have even used it to soothe irritation from constipation. You can find these bath treatments along with others in the Aveeno Baby Line as well.

For more information on the Aveeno Baby Line you can visit their site or connect on Facebook. Here you will find pictures, video review, and answers to any skincare questions you may have.

Disclosure: I received the products above for my consideration and to share my honest opinion and experience. I am under no obligation to post a positive review on them. I will not be compensated for this post. As always, opinion are my own!

Sep 25

Starlooks: September Starbox Review

Sep 25

Just when I think that there are no beauty boxes left to review, I realize that the list may in fact be endless! For all of the subscription box junkies, this is the newest edition to my collection. The Starbox is a monthly subscription service brought to you by Starlooks. Starlooks is a website that captures all things beauty including makeup artist secrets, interviews, and how-to videos. What makes the Starbox so different from similar boxes is it comes with FULL SIZE products!

Sep 23

Savory Saturday: Baked Brown Sugar Chicken Wings + Red Pepper Sauce!

Sep 23

Tonight was “Savory Saturday” at my house thanks to the black hole of amazing-ness known as PINTEREST! Earlier today I came across a mouth watering recipe from a talented blogger named Jackie at Domestic Fits. Check her out because she has endless recipes from appetizers to desserts. She has inspired me to be creative in the kitchen and think outside of my recipe box! I followed her recipe for Baked Brown Sugar Chicken Wings with Red Pepper Dipping Sauce and hoped that mine would turn out just as delicious as hers looked! This recipe will satisfy your sweet and savory cravings. While the outside is sweet and crunchy, you will experience a spicy tang with each bite. These were so delicious! The best part was the crispy brown sugar coating on the outside. Looking for something new to serve on Football Sundays? THIS IS IT!

Sep 23

Prepare For The Holidays With Kmart’s BIG Layaway Giveaway!

Sep 23

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kmart. All opinions are 100% mine.

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Can you believe it’s ALREADY September? The holidays are just around the corner and if you are like me, you have already begun your shopping. Before the holiday rush I always head to my favorite retailers to get a glimpse and idea of what I will be purchasing this year. We all know that the earlier you get started shopping, the sooner you will finish. Many well known stores already have their holiday merchandise displayed including Target, Walmart, Kmart, and even Toys R Us. Among these stores is one of my favorite places to shop and stretch my dollar. Kmart not only offers a huge selection and variety for everyone on my shopping list, but they also have a layaway program that makes the experience stress free.

If you have never used a layaway program before, Kmart is the best place to give it a try. As you can see in the chart above, there is no comparison between Kmart and many of the other well known retailers offering layaway programs. Kmart understands the current state of the economy and how the holidays can add extra stress on families that may not be able to afford all of their holiday gifts at once. They offer a full range of merchandise that can be found online and in store. There is no minimum and they have several types of contracts available to fit your financial needs. They are also now offering a free layaway on all new Kmart purchases made between 9/9 and 11/17/2012. Now is the perfect time to grab those items you have had your eye on, and place them safely in layaway. By doing this you also have a chance to win some amazing prizes!

Here are a few of the items I would put on layaway for the holidays. The furbie craze is coming back! I am sure these are going to ber very HOT when Christmas rolls around.

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Kmart’s Big Layaway Giveaway is running through November 17, 2012 and all you have to do is place your purchase on layaway to enter. By doing so, every week you have a chance to win your remaining balance paid off. Every week they will choose a new winner per Kmart location. No layaway is too big or too small! If you get started now you may be lucky enough to have the holidays taken care of for you. I don’t know about you, but I would love to have the extra money to spend on fun activities to do with my family next year. You can’t go wrong giveaway Kmart’s layaway program a try. It’s free, conveniant, and will make holiday shopping a breeze!

Sep 21

Julep Maven Review + GIVEAWAY

Sep 21

They say that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but for some of us nail polish is the equivalent! As a girly girl who loves makeup, clothing, and getting glam- I can’t be without a good nail polish. I know I am not the only one out there so that is why I am introducing you to Julep! There are many reasons Julep stands out from the rest. All of the Julep nail colors are “4-free” which means they do not contain the carcinogens, formaldehyde resin, toluene, or DBP. Through numerous amount of testing in their own Julep Nail Parlors, they have been able to create a chip resistant and long lasting formula. Their polish goes on smooth and dries quickly, leaving your nails sleek and refined. In participation with the Julep VIP program, I had the opportunity to try one of their introductory boxes and share my experience with you. There is also a special surprise for my readers at the end!

Sep 21

Wonder Box : Sparking Creativity In Your Child!

Sep 21

Monthly subscription boxes created for children are one of my favorite things to review! That being said, when I came across the wonderful world of the Wonder Box I couldn’t wait to see how “wonderful” it was. The Wonder Box is filled with creative activities designed to stimulate the minds and imagination of your child. Each month, for $19.99 your box will be delivered to your doorstep. This includes free shipping and the option to cancel at any time. You can also purchase the Wonder Box as a gift whether it be for one month, three, or even twelve.

Each month the Wonder Box is curated around a different theme. While the contents of the box will remain a mystery until it arrives at your door, they will always include at least three educational projects. Each activity will come with everything you need to assist your child in exploring their creativity including instructions and supplies. All Wonder Boxes are carefully put together by Education.com experts and are designed to help your children work on essential Kindergarten skills. Some of these skills include Shape Recognition, Color Exploration, Fine Motor Skills, Reading Readiness, and many more. While this program targets children ages 3-6, it is never too soon to pave the learning path for your little one. The activities can be easily modified to stretch imagination and challenge younger and older children.

When the Wonder Box arrived I couldn’t resist capturing the cuteness of the packaging. Everything was wrapped in a pretty blue tissue paper fastened together by a sticker of their mascot, Ed the Otter. Why an otter? Simple, they are curious little creatures that enjoy exploring their environment just like our children!

The theme of this particular Wonder Box is “Once Upon A Time.” It included puppet play materials, a design your own cape kit, story cards, and an interactive coloring story book paired with a recipe. In total, there were six different activities provided including the Stone Soup recipe card!

The illustrated story cards allowed us to create a fun story by using our imagination. I laid out about eight cards on the table and had Toodie choose one at a time. Based on the picture, our story kept growing on growing. I enjoyed hearing what she came up with and how wacky it turned out! Three year olds REALLY do have an incredible imagination that can bring any adult’s silly side out.

The Puppet Play pouch had everything needed to create a fuzzy felt friend. I was impressed because there were more than enough pieces and we even had plenty left over. Wonder Box sure isn’t stingy when it comes to materials. There was glue, string, googly eyes, and felt pieces in different shapes. Toodie had so much fun with this project. She created a dragon-dog looking creature with a beard! The glue kept everything secure and after a lot of play, her puppet friend is still strongly held together.

Next up was the Story Cape. How ADORABLE is this? I almost wished they had sent a cape for mommy to make! I couldn’t get over the excellent quality and thought behind this activity. The cape was a soft green satin material on one side and fabric on the other. Supplied with multiple fabric crayons, Toodie could design her cape whether she wanted to be a princess or superhero. We agreed that she was “Super Toodie” and decorated together. I am beyond happy with how it turned out and she pranced around the house acting as though she was soaring through the sky. To keep the design on the cape, the instructions said to iron it on with a sheet of paper. This took about five minutes and prevented the fabric crayons from smearing or transferring. If Toodie wants to change the design all we have to do is throw it in the washing machine! Very cool..

Last but not least, Toodie colored the story of the “Stone Soup.” This coloring book was interactive and encouraged her to participate by drawing pictures that coordinated with the story. There was even a recipe card with instructions on how to make our very own stone soup. YUM!

If you can’t tell by this review how impressed I am with Wonder Box than I may have to say it one more time! Hands down, the Wonder Box is one of the best monthly subscription programs I have ever reviewed for children. You can tell that the curators behind the box have really put effort, thought, and consideration into its creation. It wasn’t just thrown together. The activities and projects are engaging and entertaining. They kept my three year old intrigued and that alone impresses me.

For more information on the Wonder Box visit their site and get social by following along with Education.com on Facebook & Twitter.

Disclosure: I received the products above from Wonderbox for my consideration and to share my honest opinion and experience. I am under no obligation to post a positive review on them. I will not be compensated for this review. As always, opinion are my own!

Sep 20

Living In Luxury: Cariloha Review + GIVEAWAY

Sep 20

For most of us, bamboo is just a plant or decoration for our home. It may not be something we see often but when you do, I guarantee that you haven’t thought about sleeping on it! At least I didn’t until I was introduced to the luxury brand retailer, Cariloha. Cariloha is like a hidden treasure that I never knew existed. Their products are made from bamboo which makes their merchandise ultra soft and comfortable. This includes bath, bedding, clothing, and numerous accessories. Cariloha was generous enough to provide me with a set of their bath towels and bedding to review. I have never worn, used, or slept on anything made from bamboo so I was very anxious for my package to arrive!

At my house, bath towels do not last very long. I am not sure if it’s because of my water pressure or just the quality of the towels I am buying. They are always stiff and not very pleasant to dry off with after a shower. After using the bamboo bath towels, I can’t believe I have been drying off this long with something the equivalent to sandpaper! Soft isn’t even the word. These are so cozy that they feel like a blanket. They are also highly absorbent and made from rayon, cotton, and renewable bamboo. This blend ensures they are durable, fluffy, and thick. Available in Blue, Chocolate, Green, Taupe, and White these towels can accommodate any bathroom.

Just like the bath towels, the sheet sets and pillow cases are made with Cariloha’s special bamboo fiber blends making them softer than 1,000 count Egyptian cotton! Their exclusive collections are soft to the touch and also created from a renewable eco-friendly resource- bamboo. These luxurious sheets will take your night’s sleep above and beyond. They are available for Queen, King, California King, Twin, and Full sized beds. While there are several colors available to choose from I decided to go with the Sage, which is a muted green with a hint of grey. The sheets and pillow cases are also available in Blue, Ivory, Tan, & White. Each sheet set consists of 1 fitted sheet, 1 flat sheet, and 2 pillow cases with the exception of the twin set which only includes 1 pillow case. With bamboo being twice as soft as cotton, I could not wait to get my set in the wash before bedtime.

The Sage color was exactly what I expected and with my furniture being such a dark wood, it complimented it nicely. But enough about how their appearance, can I rave about how incredibly soft they were? I have never owned bedding that felt this silky smooth! The bamboo fabric truly does make a difference. Bamboo is actually 3 degrees cooler than cotton and keeps moisture away from the body. I normally get hot very easily in the middle of the night, but this didn’t happen at all with this bedding They kept my body the perfect temperature and prevented them from sticking in the middle of the night when the AC was off. There are several stores that I visit when shopping for linens. The one thing they ALL have in common is the higher the thread count, the steeper the price. This is probably why I have never treated myself to a thread count over 500! These Cariloha Bamboo Sheets retail for $139 and are well worth every penny. I guarantee you could not find anything even close to 1,000 thread count for this price. It’s incredible and I don’t think I ever want to go back to cotton. Yes, this experience has left me feeling a tad bit spoiled! Even my dog took a siesta on these new sheets, and their were no complaints on her end either.

While I could go on and on about how much I loved the bamboo towels and bedding, I should probably remind you that Cariloha has other great merchandise available. They offer a full selection of clothing for men, woman, and children that are all fabricated from their unique bamboo blend. You can also find accessories and even phone covers on their site!

Want to jump on board with the bamboo craze? Here is your chance. One of my lucky readers will win a bamboo Cariloha Bath Towel Set valued at $69. Enter below to win and good luck!

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Disclosure: I received the products above from Cariloha for my consideration and to share my honest opinion and experience. I am under no obligation to post a positive review on them. I will not be compensated for this review. As always, opinion are my own!