A little peak into my closet will reveal two things about me...
1. I do not have a lot of clothes. My children come first. I would much rather spend money on their clothes than on myself.
2. I love to wear black. Black is slimming, right?
Therefore, I was thrilled to be able to sample Woolite Extra Dark Care through CrowdTap. I have seen the advertisements showing the jeans getting tortured. I completely understand because I have several pairs of jeans that are far from the condition that I bought them in. I also have several "tortured", faded black shirts. Woolite Extra Care Dark is formulated to keep your dark clothes and jeans looking new. This made me very excited to try out because just recently I purchased a new black t-shirt. I also have a favorite pair of capris that I purchased at the beginning of the summer that I would like to keep looking new. I was ready to take the Woolite Extra Care Dark Challenge.
My favorite items before washing them in Woolite:
This was the first time washing my black shirt, so I was a little skeptical. I was very happy that Woolite Extra Care Dark would work in my HE Washer and also in cold water. I can't have anything shrinking! I washed them exactly as I would have, but used Woolite. I was pleasantly surprised to find my clothes came out exactly as I had put them in, minus the wrinkles. NO SHRINKING! NO FADING!
I am sold! By continuing to use Woolite Extra Care Dark, I am hoping to continue to save my new black shirt from fading and looking old and keep my capris from lightening up.
Want to try Woolite Extra Care Dark for yourself? Like Woolite on Facebook and request a sample!
Note: I was given a free sample through CrowdTap. I was also given samples to share with friends and family. These are my honest opinions and I was not paid for them.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Frizz-Ease Sheer Solution Product Review

I was born with curly hair...very fine, very curly hair. Up until junior high, my mother would brush my curls into a huge frizz ball. Finally, in junior high I was introduced to styling products by a friend. Thank goodness! I have been using mousse on my hair for the past 20 years. Although it tames the majority of my frizz, I still feel like my hair looks damaged and dried out. When the opportunity came to try out a new Frizz Ease product for being a Bzz Agent, I jumped on it! You can imagine my excitement when a full size bottle arrived in the mail for me to try out!
Before I share with you the results, let's take a look at my hair without ANY type of styling product....are you ready for this?
Yikes!
Okay, so now you have seen me at my worst. I am happy to announce that I do not have to look like this anymore. I tried Frizz-Ease Sheer Solution Light Weight Frizz Control for a week or so before I ran out of it. I will admit I was a bit skeptical, so I didn't get rid of my mousse altogether. I used a little bit of mouse and then took 15-20 drops of the serum and combed it through my hair with my fingers. I then scrunched my hair up like I usually did. As my hair started to dry, I started noticing how defined my curls were. I also noticed how healthy and shiny my hair looked. My sister, who is a cosmetologist, also noticed how great my hair looked. I didn't really know how much I loved this stuff until I ran out of it! That is when I really noticed the difference. Without the Frizz Ease and only mousse, I still had less frizzy hair, but it looked more dried out and damaged. After a day without Frizz Ease, I went out and bought a bottle! Take a look at my fabulous results...
Much better! Can you see the shine? (no I am not talking about my face!)
I was very pleasantly surprised with this product. It made my curls look great with very little effort. The only reservation that I have is that it doesn't last very long. I purchased it for $9.99 at CVS and used this $3 off coupon. Unfortunately, with my long curly hair, I go through a bottle a week. A little pricey for me...so I have decided to keep purchasing the product, but only use it for special occasions: date nights, girls' night out, Thirty One parties, weddings, reunions, etc.
The great thing about this product is that is made of ALL hair types.
Many of us fight frizz and fly-a-ways whether our hair is straight or
curly. In fact, I was given several samples to give away and over half of my friends who snatched them up had straight or straightened hair!
Want to try it out? Print this great coupon and head to the store!
Note: As a Bzz Agent, I was given this product for free. However, I was not paid for my review and these opinions are truly my own.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Whatcha Eatin'? July 30th Edition
We are in a rut right now when it comes to dinner options, so I am back to adding in one new recipe each week. This week's new recipe is the Eight Layer Casserole. I am excited to try it out since I love sour cream, cream cheese and cheese. I am sure it is super fattening, but it sounds good! In addition to our new recipe, I am also preparing an old favorite using Stove Top Stuffing that I was given for free from a survey company called Mindfield. In fact, I was given two different Stove Top Stuffing boxes to use and when I complete the surveys, I will earn $10. Now that's what I am talking about!
Here is the rest of the Menu for the week:
Monday: Chicken Stuffing Dish, Mashed Potatotes, Corn
Tuesday: BBQ Chicken Sandwiches, Potatoes Chips, Veggies & Dip, Watermelon
Wednesday: Eight Layer Casserole, Salad
Thursday: Salisbury Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans
Friday: Frozen Pizza, Veggies & Dip, Watermelon
Saturday: Burgers, Cheesy Potatoes, Pasta Salad, Baked Beans
Want to get more inspiration? Visit Organizing Junkie's Blog this week!
Enjoy your week!
Friday, July 27, 2012
Warm Summer Nights
For several weeks now we have had 95-100 degree weather...every day. Finally, yesterday we had a little bit of a break and it only got to 89 degrees. With all this heat my kiddos have gotten in the habit of staying in during the day and playing outside after dinner. This makes for late summer nights with the kids going to bed at 9 instead of the usual 7:30 or 8. This past week we have enjoyed getting outside, so I thought I'd share a few pics.
One of the best toys that we could have ever given our kids was this sandbox/playhouse. I can't even tell you how much these boys have enjoyed getting dirty in here. Even our baby girl loves it!
The only problem...this cute little boy still tries to eat the sand.
Our little daredevil trying to climb up the slide.
One climbs up,while one slides down...
Crazy, sweaty hair!
As much as I dislike this hot, humid weather. I am thankful that we are able to go outside and play! How are you handling the heat with your children?
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Be. Wines Review

Recently, I had the opportunity to sample a new line of wines call Be. Wines. As a Bzz Agent, I was sent a fun bzz kit filled with all sorts of girly goodies (compact mirror, mints, nail file and lip gloss) along with a mail-in rebate to try the flavor(s) of my choice and a few other rebates to share with others.
I love the concept of Be. Wines. Be. Wines were created to match your "mood" or personality. First, I took the Be. Wines quiz to find out what wine suited my personality. I thought this was fun and very accurately placed my personality. My match was the Be. Bright Pinot Grigio. I agree, when drinking wine I typically like a light flavor.
However, I decided that it would be fun to share a bottle of wine with my family at my sister's going away party, so I settled on the Be. Radiant Riesling. I chose this because I felt that it fit my sister's personality best. Especially, since she was the guest of honor!
So after dinner, the ladies in the family were able to relax and enjoy our glass of wine while the men watched the kids. Everyone was pleased with the sweet, fruity flavor of the Riesling. A few people were thought it was a bit too sweet for their taste, but most of us loved it and thought it would be a great substitute for dessert.
Overall, we enjoyed the wine. We all agreed that this line of wines would be great for a "Ladies Night Out!"
Want to try the wine? You can purchase it a Kroger and other retailers. Visit BeWinery.com to find a location near you.
More fun???
Take the quiz and find your flavor.
1. If you were an animal, you'd like be a:
a. Dolphin
b. Jungle Cat
c. Golden Retriever
d. Eagle
2. Your idea of the perfect evening is:
a. An early evening hike, a stop by a farmer's market and a home cooked meal.
b. An early dinner with your lastest crush...followed by dessert with an even newer crush. (You're double booked.)
c. Live Music and a beachside sunset.
d. Dancing, dancing, and more dancing at the hottest new club with about a hundred of your best pals.
3. There's a lull in conversation at a party, you're most likely to:
a. Smile and enjoy the silence.
b. Lull? LOL! No such thing if you're around...
c. Compliment the person next to you on his or her hair, shirt or handbag. (Even if you don't really mean it.)
d. Burst into song
4. Rough Day? Your fail-safe solution is;
a. Light some candles, pour a glass of wine and slip into a bubble bath.
b. Call your favorite friends, hit the town and flip the day into a frenzy of fabulous.
c. Surprise someone with a random act of kindness. Helping others always makes you feel better.
d. Go for a run - at the mall. Engage in some heavy shop therapy.
5. You can never have to many:
a. Surprises
b. Kisses
c. Friends
d. Jewels
If you are not in the mood to choose, you can always try the full line. but if you're looking to narrow things down, tally up your answers to find out which mood suits you. If you answered more than one questions with:
Choice A:
You're Getting Fresh
It's your admirable ability to bring a new spin or dash of inspiration to any situation that sets you apart from the crowd. Your calm, cool and collected style is a perfect partner for Be. Fresh Chardonnay.
Choice B:
You're Feeling Flirty
Those caught up in your wondrous whirlwind of flattering fun and playful charm would have to agree. Your dazzling eyes and mesmerizing manner are a delightful treat when served up with Be. Flirty Pink Moscato.
Choice C:
You Bring On The Bright Side
Your cheerful charisma and optimistic outlook leave others with no choice but to simply bask in your warm glow. It's this illuminated aura that makes you the ideal carefree complement to Be. Bright Pinot Grigio.
Choice D:
You've Revealed You're Radiant
Superstars aren't made; they're born. And you're one of the select few that simply sparkle. This gleeful glimmer sets you at center stage for optimum excitement - much like the fervor 'round Be. Radiant Riesling.
Note: All opinions are truly my own. I received a Bzz Kit as a Bzz Agent, but was not compensated for writing this post.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Whatcha Eatin': Monday, July 23rd Edition
Looks like it is going to be another really hot week!! Triple digits or close most of the week. I really don't enjoy cooking and heating up the kitchen during these hot times, but heck, we gotta eat!
Here's our menu for this week:
Monday: Sour Cream Ritz Chicken, Green Beans, Oven Roasted Potatoes
Tuesday: Taco Chicken Bowls, Mixed Fruit
Wednesday: Country Friend Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Corn
Thursday: BLT's, Chips, Veggies & Dips
Friday: Cheeseburgers, French Fries, Baked Beans
Saturday: Frozen Pizza!!
Sunday: Dinner with Family
Want to get more dinner ideas? Link up with me at Organizing Junkie's blog and read what other mom's are cooking up!
Friday, July 13, 2012
Frugal Family Fun in the Fountains!
Looking for a great way to cool off this summer for FREE??? Look around your community or surrounding communities and you may just have a hidden summer fun spot: water fountains!
Yesterday I met up with a friend down on the riverfront in Pekin to enjoy lunch at the park and play in the fountains. They have a great little park with tables to have a picnic lunch. When the kiddos got too hot from running around on the playground, we walked across the street to cool off in the fountains. The kiddos had so much fun!
Yesterday I met up with a friend down on the riverfront in Pekin to enjoy lunch at the park and play in the fountains. They have a great little park with tables to have a picnic lunch. When the kiddos got too hot from running around on the playground, we walked across the street to cool off in the fountains. The kiddos had so much fun!
Little Brother loved standing and waiting for them to surprise him.
Big Brother loved running through them.
Little Sister just loved them. Period.
Big Brother's future wife loved posing in them.
The funniest of all...our little friend trying to "see" when the water was coming!
We had so much fun and the kids were exhausted! We will definitely be coming back to visit the fountains soon. Look to see if you have any great fountains, or as many call them, "Spray Parks" in your area. There are a few locally in Pekin & Peoria on the riverfront, but if you want to make the short trip to Bloomington/Normal you can take advantage of these FREE Spray Parks.
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