Saturday, May 31, 2014

Home School Craft Time

 One of my favorite parts of home schooling my children is being able to do fun crafts outside when the weather is nice.  This was a fun one, hand painting ceramic train banks.










Wednesday, May 28, 2014

CoQ10 Speed

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Details: CoQ10 QSpeed is a fast melt dietary supplement.  40 fast melt tablets per box, 100mg of CoQ10 per tablet.  Supports heart health, enhances cellular energy production, supports exercise performance, published clinical data via the company.  Delicious orange flavored tables that dissolve in your mouth in seconds.  100% natural, and caffeine free. Directions: as a dietary supplement, take 1-3 tablets daily.  If taking in conjunction with exercise, consume 1-3 tablets 20-40 minutes before initial exertion.  Place QSpeed tablets on the top of your tongue and allow it to dissolve while lightly pressing the tongue against the roof of your mouth.  The tablet will disintegrate.  You can purchase this on Amazon.


My Review:  A few years ago, I went to the doctor, and found out that my heart needs extra CoQ10 to keep it functioning properly.  So I regularly take CoQ10 on a daily basis.  I've tried different brands and types of CoQ10, and they have all been a big giant horse pill that I have to swallow.  Not an easy task to perform all the time.  So when I saw this company offers QSpeed, in dissolving tablets I had to try them.  I was a little worried that the product wouldn't taste very good, and so I'd go back to my horse pills (because I'd rather gag one of those down then let something nasty dissolve on my tongue.  I WAS TOTALLY SURPRISED!!!  The orange taste is actually really good, it doesn't have any chalky texture or taste which is a huge plus, and I'm actually remembering on a daily basis to take my vitamins.  I am very impressed with QSpeed, I feel really good when I take it, there is no yucky after taste, or unpleasant churning of your stomach juices.  For people who need to take CoQ10 on a daily basis or need a quick boost before working out, this is the way to go.  Fast, easy, simple to remember, simple to take and seconds later your body had the CoQ10 that it needs.  I highly recommend this product.  I look forwards to seeing more products like this from this company.

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.
Pros: tastes great, fast dissolving process, easy to take, easy to remember

Cons: none

My Rating:




Monday, May 26, 2014

Manicure Monday: Accessory/ Nail Summer Match Up

I love doing my Manicure Monday's, but for the summer I want to spicen things up, mix up our norm and go for a whole new venue!  We're hosting an Accessory and Nail Summer Match up, meaning, we'll be choosing an accessory: purse, shoes, belt, jewelry, hair piece, and match our nails to it.  You get to come along and tell us what you would like to see.  If you have a favorite accessory post a picture of it on our Facebook page and we'll give you a fun look for your nails to match it.  We will of course be working with our very own hand painting nail artist on this venue: Nails with Zing.  Get ready for some extra special fun!





Friday, May 23, 2014

Insta Natural Emu Oil

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Details: Insta Natural's Emu Oil is 100% pure ultra premium Emu Oil, fully refined, non toxic, and certified.  For beautiful skin and hair multipurpose moisturizer.  Comes in a glass 4 fl. oz bottle.  For external use only, keep out of direct sunlight.  Emu oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and provides natural moisturizing benefits to skin and hair.  Directions: Shake well before use, dab a few drops into your hands and rub into hair and on face.  A little goes a long way with this oil.  It absorbs quickly.  If you apply too much you can wipe off excess. You can find this product on Amazon, along with my review on amazon too.

My Review: I wasn't sure about this as a moisturizer at all when I first got this product to test and try and review.  The oil isn't your typical oil feel or look.  Its more of a milky white goo that oils your skin without feeling oily to the touch once its rubbed in all the way.  My youngest child and husband have eczema and I wanted to see if this would help their extra dry skin.  I get really dry skin in the summer time so I wanted to see if the Emu oil would help keep my skin soft and smooth.  My hair isn't super dry at the moment, but by the end of the summer I'll need to trim off the dry hair from all the time at the pool and beach.  With all these opportunities to test our this oil, I started right away.  My youngest's eczema isn't getting better by using the oil, but by using this oil he isn't itchy, because his elbow's are so dry.  So I see that as a positive aspect that this Emu oil is actually helping.  My husband didn't like the feel of the oil on his skin so he only used it once.  However I have been using this on my arms (especially my elbows), and on my legs (especially my feet and knees)  I love the way it feels on my skin.  Its not sticky, super oily like baby oil or tanning oil.  It actually rubs in well, absorbs quickly just like they claim, which makes it easy to put on after I shower and my skin be clean and non oily when I put my clothing on.  Because the weather is really nice now, its great to walk around with a little bit of a shine to my legs, making it look like I was just at the beach or out in the sun, which of course is a nice perk.  The best benefit that I have found from using the Emu oil is that my legs aren't as dry as normal, and I can actually shave faster and easier without nicking myself as often.  A huge perk since we go to the pool a lot!  I highly recommend this product.

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. Pros: it works well, absorbs quickly, easy to use, works on kids and adults

Cons: none

My Rating: Thumb Up


Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Wedding Decor on a Budget

A few weeks ago I was able to help with a family wedding.  I helped plan the wedding, set up, and decorate for this wedding.  So to see what was desired by the Bride and Groom, and to see what actually took place, what came together and how much it took monetary wise.  Decorations for this wedding came from: Dollar Tree, Good Will, Michael's, and Pinterest.  With streamers, coffee filter hula hoop flowers, and mix n matched china center pieces this decorating cost around $500.
Whole picture of the Bride and Groom table

Center of the Bride and Groom's Table

Left side of the Bride and Groom Table

Right side of the Bride and Groom Table


Guest Table Center pieces: pink

Guest Table Center pieces: blue

Guest Table Center pieces: white

Canopy to distract from an ugly ceiling

Cake side table to match the cake table

Monday, May 19, 2014

Manicure Monday: Wedding Nails: 3D nail decals

Supplies: Sally Hansen Micro Glitter polish, LA color chunky silver glitter polish, Ice polish in silver, Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure top coat, Hot Designs Coral Pink nail pen, 2 types of 3D nail decals, super glue

Close up of the 3D nail decals
part of supplies but my SIL owns this not me

Start with one layer of 

add a second layer of each color: the Baby Blue, and Coral Pink
For the Ombre look you need to add the Sally Hansen blue micro glitter polish
then add a tip of silver Ice Polish, and then the LA Color chunky glitter

If you don't let it dry correctly it'll look bumpy
 and gross like this picture
Done right it'll look like these,
add the top clear coat before adding the nail decals

Then just add a cute 3D bow decal on the Coral Pink nail

You can add one to your thumb nail too
Here's another type of 3D bow nail decal


Sunday, May 18, 2014

Dead Sea Mud Shampoo

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Details: Adovia mineral skin care: Dead Sea Mud Shampoo, uses Dead Sea minerals, vitamin E and Chamomile in their shampoo mixture that works for all hair types.  Comes in a 7.4 fl oz bottle.  Directions say: apply on wet hair and gently massage the hair roots and scalp.  Rinse well and repeat as needed.  Formula is made from Dead Sea mud silt, olive oil, grape seed oil, and aloe vera on top of the other minerals mentioned above.  Can be purchased on amazon.

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.


My Review:  I love mud face masks, so I thought that a mud shampoo would be very cleansing and pure for my hair as well.  When I think about mud I think of a thick solution or mixture.  After opening this product and testing it out, I realized instantly that this is not thick, but actually really thin, and kind of gooey.  The shampoo is gun metal gray in color, there is a sheen to the shampoo.  This lathers into a large amount of bubbles when in your hair, feels great to use, smells nice and fresh, but isn't over powering.  I have looked at the ingredients and can't really place what the scent is, so if you have a perfume allergy (yes this is a real allergy), I would want to ask before using, just to be safe.  I haven't really noticed a difference in my hair since using it, but I needed to trade out shampoos and this is a great substitute.  So for me saying it works or it doesn't I am unable to say honestly.  It washes out easily and quickly, and I'll even let it sit in my hair for up to 3 minutes in the shower to give it extra time to work nicely in my hair.  I give this product a thumbs up and down.  Meaning its a good shampoo to use, but I honestly don't think there is anything special about it, even though it has Dead Sea mud silt.  Maybe as I continue to use this, in a month or two I'll see a bigger difference but right now after using it a couple of weeks I haven't really seen a good or bad change to my hair.

Pros: smells great, is soft and easy to use, washes out easy, within 2 weeks of using I don't see a negative difference

Cons: within 2 weeks of using I don't see a good difference,

My Rating: 

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Chocolate Fix Brain Fitness

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Details: Thinkfun's Brain Fitness games: Chocolate Fix is a sudoku-style logic game.  With 80 challenges, single player game, 4 progressive levels of play, cross train your brain.  Comes with: 1 challenge booklet and play instructions, 1 solution booklet, 9 hard plastic chocolate pieces, 1 chocolate tray.  ThinkFun brain fitness games help keep your mind young and sharp, strengthens memory, sharpens focus, speeds up thinking, and reduces stress.  Whether you have a sweet tooth or not, Chocolate Fix is an addictively fun way to test out your logical deduction skills.  Buy online from amazon.


 My Review:  I love brain teaser games, and games that help tune in your brain, thinking skills, and deductive skills.  So when I saw this game I just had to try it out.  When I got it, I wasn't really sure what I was getting because I've never played sudoku.  But guess what I found out, you don't need to know how sudoku works in order to play this game.  Just read the instructions, which are easy to read and understand, and then start exercising your brain.  The night I got this in the mail I played the first 10 challenges in the beginner's level within half an hour.  It was fun, challenging, and I felt relaxed afterwards.  I love the cute little pieces of chocolate you get to play with, and amazingly I don't actually crave chocolate when playing, but its always fun to have some on hand just in case.  This game is for kids age 8+ up to adults.  As an elementary teacher, I can see this being very productive to keep on my desk, or in the drawer so it doesn't disturb my students, so I can play one challenge here and there during the day to keep my mind focused.  I can also see my 7 almost 8 year old wanting to play this when I take it home.

 Suggestions: This game is great!  I love the various game options you can get from Think Fun as well, and have one suggestion for this company.  I would love to see this in a 2 player game option in the future.  But even if that's not an option, I'll just have to buy more games so all my family can play at the same time on their own boards.

My Rating: Thumbs Up

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.