Influenster

I love being a part of communities where I can try new things, express my opinion and influence the market and products around me.  Influenster is one of those fabulous communities I am proud to be a member of for over 2 years now.

Over the few years I have been a member, I have been able to participate in a few VoxBox missions and received lots of awesome perks and new products to try out.

TLC VoxBox, containing Puffs to Go, Bryers Gelatto coupon for a free product, Neosporin to go! She'll Fuel Rewards card, Ivory Soap and Avon

Rose VoxBox containing Lindt Lindor Truffles and BelVita Breakfast Buiscuits

SunKissed VoxBox containing full size Ivory 2 in 1 Hair and Body wash and Sinful Shine nail polish

And now, with a new Influenster App, the ability to complete campaigns, write reviews and earn badges is even easier.  What a great way to get a chance to try new products, often in full size form!  This is definitely a community worth checking out: www.influenster.com

Children's Mucinex Multi-Sympton Cold Review

Often, cold season in a home with little ones means waiting it out and doing the best one can to make the kids comfortable without the help of medication.  There are few medications young children can take, and those they can often do little to help really attack the cold.  Thankfully, Mucinex has come out with a mulit-symptom cold medication that children ages 4-12 can take.

The new Children's Mucinex is designed to relieve stuffy noses, coughs and chest congestion and also adds the Mucinex advantage of thinning and loosening mucus, which means quicker relief and return to normal.  In a kid friendly "Very Berry" flavor, it is sure to 

Click here for a $2 coupon!

You can find it online or in stores nationwide

I received this product for free to review from Smiley360.  I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any way.  All thoughts expressed are my own.

Orajel Instant Pain Relief for Cold Sores Review

Cold season often means cold sore season for my household.  Usually, hubby gets hit at least twice, and often suffers through, trying to nurse the sore back however he can.  

Enter the new Orajel Instant Pain Relief for Cold Sores!  This stuff is pretty neat.  A single dose treatment plus moisturizer, it works fast to numb, dry out and kill the germs and gets right to work healing.  So much faster than other options we have tried in the past, we were happy with the treatment results.

At first sign of the cold sore, hubby applied the treatment, waited the directed 30 minutes and then applied moisturizer.  He repeated the treatment dose again later.  What we found is that the product does well to dry out the sore very quickly and numbs the pain during the process.  We were happy with how quickly it worked.  The moisturizer was so-so it it's ability to impress us, however.  We found more success keeping the sore moisturized with an old cold sore cream we had in the house than the Orajel moisturizer. 

Click here to learn more.

But, overall, we were happy to have found the product and will keep in on our radar as healing options the next time a cold sore pops up in our house!

I received a product to try for free through the Smiley360 program.  I was not required to write a positive review, nor did I receive any compensation.  All thoughts expressed are my own.

Baby Orajel Naturals Nighttime Teething Gel Review

A new baby means teething is around the corner.  With my baby now entering the age where it could happen any time, I wanted to be prepared.  In the past, I have used Orajel, but been hesitant to use it because of all of the chemicals and potential side effects that have been cited.  So, when Orajel came out with a Natural teething gel, I was very excited!

This formula has Chamomilla (Chamomile) and passion flower as main ingredients.  It is a homeopathic formula that is free of Benzocaine, Belladonna and Parabens.  Now, the #1 Pharmacist recommended homeopathic brand for teething pain relief, I feel so much more comfortable putting this to use to help my child get a good night's sleep and get relief from teething pain discomfort and restlessness due to teething.

I put a little in my mouth to try it out and found the taste to be pleasant and the numbing to be quick.  While I was not experiencing any pain, I can vouch for how well it numbs and reduces sensation to the area of application.  I definitely feel much safer using this product with my baby!

Click here to learn even more!

Click here to get a $1 coupon!

I received a sample to try and review through the Smiley360 program.  I was not required to write a positive review, nor did I receive any compensation.  All thoughts expressed are my own.

Argan Oil Hair Mask Review

I am in love with Argan Oil and the benefits for hair and skin.  So, when I got the chance to try another natural product from InstaNatural that contains Argan Oil, I jumped on it.

A creamy, lotion like texture, the hair mask has a pleasant feel and smell to it.

 I was so excited to give this one a shot. I have very long (below my waist) hair, and I am very cautious about what I put in it so as to avoid damage.  I liked how easily the cream was applied. The 10 minute wait after having washed my hair was not so bad.  I was a bit concerned once I got to the point of needing to rinse my hair again.  It felt heavy and oily, and I was already very hesitant about putting the product on my roots, not just the back where I normally condition.

I let my hair dry and found the heaviness was gone, and my hair felt light, soft and shiny.  I like how it looked and felt, but still worried about my scalp being oily.  I did find that I had to wash my hair a lot sooner than I would have otherwise done, shampooing again the next day, because I did not like how greasy my scalp felt and looked.

Going forward, I would absolutely use this again, but not on my scalp.  On the back of my hair, it was great, but I did not like how it added to my already oil prone scalp.

Check it out and get some for your hair here

I tried this product for free through Tomoson.com

Dead Sea Mud Mask Review

Already a fan of many products sold by InstaNatural, I was pleased to find a mud mask in their line of natural skin care products.

This mud mask, which comes in a 16oz jar, is 100% natural and cruelty free.  It is a thick, pasty mud with a fine grit feel to it.

As claimed by InstaNatural:

"Our Dead Sea Mud Mask captures the minerals of the Dead Sea waters, along with other nourishing organic ingredients, to provide the ultimate detoxifier & purifier that delivers exceptional results: 

- Removes excess dirt, oil, grime & dead skin 
- Improves acne and blemishes 
- Reduces appearance of wrinkles & fine lines 
- Soothes body aches 
- Hydrates skin for softness 
- Restores even skin tone and texture 
- Helps you achieve more vibrant, refined skin"

This product rubs on easily, is not greasy or heavy feeling.  As advised, I applied the mud to my face after cleansing and let it set for 10 minutes, after which I rinsed my face and applied moisturizer.  I could immediately feel the clean, my face felt fresh and smooth, even squeaky clean.  I could soon feel why I needed to put moisturizer on, as a spot I missed on my neck began to feel dry and itchy after a short time.

I was happy with the results the first time, and will be continuing to use this product on a 1x/week basis, as directed, to help keep my face clean and clear, purified and blemish free.

With a lifetime money back guarantee, InstaNatural stands behind the quality of this product, and promises to offer a full refund if not satisfied.

You can buy it here

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.

PathWords by Think Fun

Think Fun has released another fun game to challenge and grow the mind.

PathWords™ Brain Fitness
Word Search Extreme
Strengthen your vocabulary and visual perception skills in this amalgamation of polyominoes and word search!
• Ages 8 to adult

Includes:
• 80 Challenges
• 8 Puzzle Pieces
• Instructions & Solutions

 PathWords comes with a spiral bound puzzle book with 40 challenges ranging from beginner to expert, instruction and solution book, and 8 colored playing pieces

PathWords combines Tetris and Word Searches to create a new single player game that will keep you busy for quite some time.  Players place puzzle pieces onto the challenge puzzle page so that letters under each piece spell a word in any direction - forward or backward.

This game is great for killing time, creating challenges for students and children, and challenging the mind all the while.  Each puzzle increases in difficulty and length of time needed to solve, but can easily be done a puzzle at a time to fill a few moments.  I have enjoyed learning this game and spending time playing it.  As a lover of Tetris type puzzle games and word searches, this game is a perfect fit and sure to provide entertainment in my home for some time.

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.

Medium Packing Cube Organizer Review

In my past review of the Large Packing Cube Travel Organizers, I expressed my desire to get more of these organizers.  I have had the chance to add to my collection the Medium Packing Cube Travel Organizer from Dot & Dot.

As with the other packing cubes I reviewed, I am in love with this little organizer as well. It arrived zipped into a nice, compact, sturdy storage bag. Made of mesh, it folds down nice and flat, but has tons of room. The perfect size for carrying toiletries, diapers and wipes for a short trip, or even first aid needs and so much more! The handle makes transporting this little organizer so easy.

From a flat piece to a filled organizer in moments, these things have tons of room to expand.

For perspective, the small organizer compared to the medium and large:



Available in 1-Piece and 4-Piece Set. Small Packing Cube Size: 13.5" x 9.75" 3". Available in multiple colors: gray, green, purple, pink, red, dark blue, light blue, yellow and orange

Things I love about these organizers:

* Mesh fronts, so you can see what is in each organizer without having to dig around inside a suitcase to find the item you are looking for.

* Potential in my family for each member to have their own, which equates to super organization.
Also the ability to have a clean and dirty cube as the trip comes to a close, which makes the unpacking even easier - no sorting!

* They fit in my luggage or can be used on their own. They are even great for organizing closets, car trunks and other spaces in the home.

Bottom line, these things are great and I plan to stock up on more! One color for each family member, maybe. With so many different sizes and options to chose from, there is no reason not to own these organizers.

You can get one here

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.

Small Travel Organizer Review

In my past review of the Large Packing Cube Travel Organizers, I expressed my desire to get more of these organizers.  I have had the chance to add to my collection the Small Packing Cube Travel Organizer from Dot & Dot.  

 As with the other packing cubes I reviewed, I am in love with this little organizer as well.  It arrived zipped into a nice, compact, sturdy storage bag.  Made of mesh, it folds down nice and flat, but has tons of room.  The perfect size for carrying  toiletries, diapers and wipes for a short trip, or even first aid needs and so much more!  The handle makes transporting this little organizer so easy.

From a flat piece to a filled organizer in moments, these things have tons of room to expand. 

For perspective, the small organizer compared to the medium and large:

Available in 1-Piece and 4-Piece Set. Small Packing Cube Size: 11" x 6.75" x 3".  Available in multiple colors: gray, green, purple, pink, red, dark blue, light blue, yellow and orange

Things I love about these organizers:

* Mesh fronts, so you can see what is in each organizer without having to dig around inside a suitcase to find the item you are looking for.

* Potential in my family for each member to have their own, which equates to super organization.
Also the ability to have a clean and dirty cube as the trip comes to a close, which makes the unpacking even easier - no sorting!

* They fit in my luggage or can be used on their own. They are even great for organizing closets, car trunks and other spaces in the home.

Bottom line, these things are great and I plan to stock up on more! One color for each family member, maybe. With so many different sizes and options to chose from, there is no reason not to own these organizers.

You can get one here

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.

Who's Under The Bed?

Who's Under The Bed?
by Ally Nathaniel
illustrated by SugarSnail

Who's Under The Bed tells a bedtime story with a twist that is fun for children to read and consider.  A young monster goes to bed but is afraid of the child under his bed.  The story tells of his attempts to work through his fear as he lists all of the reason a child under the bed is scary, and follows him through his reasoning as he considers that perhaps he and the child are not so different after all.

Reading this story to my children at bedtime has created many reasons for giggles as we laugh about a monster being afraid of us.  It has also given us opportunity to talk about why a monster should not be scary to us either.  I have really enjoyed having this book to read with my children, as have they.  This is such a fun book with cute illustrations and a story that stands the test of time.

I received a copy of this book to review for free.  I was not compensated for or required to write a positive review, all thoughts are my own.

You can find a copy here

My Snow Day

My Snow Day: The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
by Ally Nahaniel
illustrated by Milena Radeva

A young girl awakens to discover that it is the perfect day to play in the snow with  her sister and brother.  They find fun in a project together and learn that working together makes the project so much more fun

My Snow Day is a fun book for children to read as they consider the fun they might have on their own snow day.  Written for elementary aged children, readers can identify with the characters as they learn the importance of teamwork and the fun that can be had when working together.  Well written and illustrated in a way that engages children and adults alike.

You can get your own copy here

I was provided a copy of this book for free to review.  I was not required to write a positive review or compensated in any way, all thoughts are my own.

Dancing With The Sun

Dancing With The Sun
by Ally Nathaniel
illustrated by SugarSnail

This is a fun little story that girls, especially girls who enjoy dancing, will enjoy over and over.  With cute little rhymes and fun illustrations, the reader learns of the many different ways dancing can make one feel.  It encourages little readers to be themselves, to dance however they feel best fits the moment and to embrace the chance to shine and be who they are.

This is a story my little preschooler has enjoyed over and over.  Quick and easy to read with opportunity to talk about personality qualities, this book has potential to become a favorite for any little dancer.

You can get yours here

I received a copy for free for the purposes of review.  All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for or required to write a positive review.

Sparkly Me

Sparkly Me
by Ally Nathaniel
illustrated by Sugar Snail

A story any little princess can enjoy, Sparkly Me draws girls in with the sparkles and teaches them that the best sparkles are the ones within that make each of us shine.

Sparkly Me speaks to young girls, like my preschooler, who enjoy dressing up and wearing the pretty jewels, glittery clothes and shoes, and dressing like a princess.  My little ones found fun with each page as they discovered the different sparkly things the girl in the story liked to put on.

Illustrations are friendly and inviting.  As an e-book, there was a lack of "sparkle" to the book that a print book could have to enhance the story.  With decorative sparkle on each page, the story would be more engaging.  However, it does stand as a fun little story on its own.

I received a copy of this book to review for free.  All thoughts expressed are my own.

You can get your copy here

God's Greatest Gift

God's Greatest Gift
written and illustrated by Deborah Burch

I am always searching for good quality, time withstanding, positive message books to read my little children.  When I find such a book, I am eager to share with everyone I meet so they, too, can experience the book with their little ones.  God's Greatest Gift is one of those books.

From the moment I held the book in my hand and flipped through the pages, before even reading the story, I was impressed.  This is a high quality book, a hard cover with dust jacket, but beyond that, the pages are durable and thick, not quite board book but much stronger than traditional paper pages.  This book is one that my toddler can flip through and still be readable years later.

The story walks readers through many different things that are gifts from God - stars, moon, mountains, flowers and much more in a fun rhyme, and leads children to discover the Greatest Gift God has given us.  Adults and children alike can find joy in reading this book together, and also plenty of opportunity to discuss and learn as they read.  There is even a little activity for readers to do together once the story has been completed.  Written by a mom of 6, this story has heart, creativity and a feeling of love woven throughout the tale.

The illustrations are quite beautiful and inviting.  In scrapbook style, each page is deliberately designed with pictures that seem to pop off the page and invite the reader to imagine the textures they see.  This book is truly a delight from cover to cover, each page revealing a treasure all its own.  I am so glad to have had the opportunity to discover and add this book to my collection and know we will be enjoying it for years to come!

You can find a copy for yourself:
Amazon.com
Barnes and Noble

I received a copy of this book to review for free through the Book Crash program.  I was not required nor compensated to write a positive review, all thoughts are my own.