Because I Said So!!! Mom Knows Best!

I have had the chance to review a lot of different
brands of make-up since last fall. It has been like
a bonanza of make-up since I started this Mineral make-up,
whats that big deal kick. I am delighted that I can now tell
the difference between good and bad and have found some
spectacular brands and I am really grateful to the places that
have given me that chance to learn about their products.
But now what? I have some great stuff and no where to
put it. Well, no where I would want to put it. I have my
favorites and would love to be able to toss them in my
purse and take them with me. I am on the go so much
right now that I pretty much need too but I run into two
issues there. One is I don't have a bag at the moment
that affords me enough room and the other is I don't have
a bag at the moment that I would not be Thoroughly embarrassed
to use in public. Yuck and Yikes, I have so dropped the
ball in that area and I am normally so careful when it comes
to what I wear and how I look. I am also enough of a
fashion maven to know that your accessory's and details
can also tell the world what you are about and if I whip
out any of the sloppy bags I have right now I would feel
like a lazy bum and a fool at that. Lucky, and boy
once you see this beauty you will know how lucky I
am, I got the chance to review a bag that would make
the stars shine a little brighter for it is stunning!
The Vemayca Cosmetic bag is a work of art when you
compare it to other bags. This has got to be the softest
bag I have ever felt and I swear I could not help but to rub it
against my face. The bag is simple in design but complex
in beauty. There is the large center pouch and on each side
a working pocket that is opened and closed by a zipper that
looks delicate but in truth is durable and the zipper itself
is of a great quality for I opened and closed this baby
like a woman possessed for a pet peeve of mine is running
across a zipper that does not work. The side pockets
are lined with a satin lining but the center pocket is the
masterpiece for it contains a unique removable Soft Pearl
Liner that when dirty can be taken out for cleaning or
replaced completely. Hey, this bag will never look worn,
never look old and will always provide you with the
same glamorous feel you had the first time you took it
out and used it! The lining is made to be light so you
have no problem locating the items inside as well as
coming with flat bottom that is as equally useful for
there is nothing I hate more then setting it on a counter
in a bathroom when I am out and having it tip and chasing
a lipstick all over a strange bathroom floor! The flat bottom
assures it will stand up-right and is a snap to use! I took
this out for a test run and did just that, set it on a counter
at the restaurant I was at. We were at a busy place where
women line up to vie for the mirror and I left that restroom
in a daze from all the complements I received. There is nothing
a lady likes more then when another lady asks where
a certain item came from.
The Cosmetic bag that Vemayca makes need not only
be limited to a cosmetic bag either. You can use it for
a multitude of reasons such as or travel or keeping prescriptions
or certain baby items you don't want lost in the normal chaos
of a diaper bag mix. Put your dedicates in it for I can't think
of something better to store your softest most delicate items
in then something as soft and delicate feeling as this
bag. You can use it for the Beach, or school or to
keep craft items in or I have been using it to store some
of my favorite pieces of Jewelry. The bag is as flexible as
it is beautiful. The designer Veronica is just one of those
ladies who likes style in every part of her life and loves
for it to be affordable for the masses and was just fed up
one day with the bottom of her bag and the thought of having
to replace one again. She did us all a favor by coming
up with the design for the Vemayca for it is truly lovey
and a sight to behold on its own. Now I have a lot of
bags, they are all full and they all came from some pretty
high end name brand places but none of them compete with
this bag and if someone told me that for a fraction of what
I paid for them I could have had this I would never have
believed it to I saw for myself. The other thing, all these
bags that I have that I have paid through the roof to get,
well I have taken them places, people have seen them,
it isn't like I kept them in the dark and never have I received
a complement on my cosmetic bag. Ever. With the bag I
received from Vemayca I not only had one complement I
had several and not only the one time but every time
I have used it in public. Even last week in a doctors office
I received a complement. In fact to date I have not taken it
out in front of people and not had someone tell me how
much they admired it! Beauty, style, functionality and
affordability all come together in a Vemayca cosmetics
bag. You will love it!
One of my readers will get a chance to fall in love
with it first hand! One lucky guy or gal can walk away
with one of these beauty's and all they have to do is
visit the site and take a look around and then come back
here and post what they have learned in a comment. The
contest will start tonight and run to Midnight on April 30th
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day, every day, and then posting that you did here
and other ways to enter are posted below.


Vemayca




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here. 5 entries, please post five times. You
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Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Radius Toothbrush and isABelt Contests!

I love my bed. I have not always been a big soft
comfy bed person for I have more then once fallen for
fads when it comes to what I sleep on but one thing
has always remained constant no matter what the bed
looks like. I have got to be surrounded by pillows.
Not just a couple either. 2 would not even be semi
normal and 4 is just a good start. Right now I have 8
pillows on my bed and I would have more if I had the
room. The funny part is out of all those pillows I only
truly sleep with two, the rest are tossed around the
bed for when I roll and move around. I have the body
pillow I stash between my knees but also need one
behind my back, and a pile on the other side for I
tend to flip and roll. With Rowan it has become a little
more difficult but they are still there, sort of like a
frame around the outside for I really don't think I
could sleep without them. Now for the two, those are
always my favorite and if someone so much as looks
at them I get defensive. Now remember I told you I
have eight pillows right now? Those 8 are mine. John
has two of his own and they can't mingle with mine or
I get all upset. My favorite two? I don't care what the
circumstances are he will never ever be allowed to touch
them. If we are trying to have some alone time I
very carefully take those two pillows and put them on
my dresser so he does not get "Him" on them in any
way. Even for just a normal night of sleep I place
a lesser one of the eight or two between my best ones
and his pillows so not even his pillow can touch my
top two! I know it may sound a little nutty but men
in general have a distinct smell, it doesn't matter how
clean they are, it just seems to soak into linen and
bed items. If they do the least little bit of sweating
in the night it will never come out no matter how many
times you wash it. When I lay my head down I have
to have the feel and smell of fresh linen no matter what.
Picky, you betcha, but that is just the way I am.
How does a pillow make the top 2? Wow, now
that is complected. All of my pillows at one point
were a top 2 pillow. Every single one started out top
of the heap and pillows wear down just like anything else.
When they are new they have that status of top 2, I
will tell you why in a minute, but after about 6 months
I replace and refresh and move them down a level to
top side, then top legs and at last the feet. Once there
they slowly work their way off the bed and are either
passed over to John or one of the kids or sent to the
guest bed. Last stop for them would be Andrews room
for he is a pillow hog too but for him any old one will
do but they never have a chance to leave his room and
be passed to someone else for once they enter his room
it is all over for them. Andrew's room is the last stop for
most things in this house no matter what they are. Now to
make top two on my bed a pillow needs a few things first:
The right level of firmness
The right width of the pillow
The ability to mold to your head
The right feel of the pillow. This one is a doozy. It must
have that certain cool feel and comfort of fine linen. If
it is even the slightest bit tacky or picky out it goes.
I understand a case will go over it but it is the good
old "Princess and the Pea" syndrome, you can still feel
the bumps underneath.
The Pillow has to have the right smell. Just like feel I
want to smell good linen. No plastic by-products or
cheap materials for when it is on another product you
may not smell it but a pillow you can for face it, it
spends its entire life span by your nose.
The Pillow has to have the right "inner feel". Just like
the outer feel but when you smoosh it you want to be
able to feel more pillow and not your fingers. There
can not be any gaps where the foam or feathers or
stuffing are not there. No holes so to speak.
Now my list may seem silly but to me it means a lot
and I have been known to spend hundreds of dollars on
a pillow just to make sure I get the right one. There have
also been times when I found a really cheap one with
the same qualities but those times are rare. They are out
there but rare. When all of my specifications have been
met you can rest assured it is a pillow 90 percent of
the population would love and that is why I am so
protective of them. I have had house guests before that
have asked if there were any extra pillows and John,
foolish John, has told them to just go grab some off of
our bed ( there is a closet full but you know men) and
it never fails, no matter how I bury them, my top two
are always the pillows they come back with and I instantly
revert to a five year old yanking for my pillow back and
our now unwanted guest is just as stubbornly yanking to
keep it for they know perfection when they feel it. John
has had to break up a squabble over a pillow more then
once for they are normally his relatives for I do not
have any of my own and there is no way they are getting
my top 2 and though I was raised to be gracious I
draw the line there. It also upsets me for the top 2 are
always buried to avoid such mix ups as a simple
mis-understanding and his relatives did a lot of digging to
find them in the first place. Take the comforter, take the
sheets, heck, take the bed but you will not have those
pillows. Why am I so determined? Because it is so
hard to find them. I have spent weeks looking for
replacement pillows for I can never find a place that
consistency has the same pillow. I fall for one brand
and order it without thinking the next time and when I
get it the pillow is never what I remember. THE HORROR!
The pain, Andrew gets a new pillow that is brand new!
It has been like this for years and then I got a chance
to do a product review that may have changed my ways.
I might even let the next guest try one of my top two
for when I found out I was going to do this review I
was happy but a little worried for I have never replaced
one of the two before I have always replaced both at
the same time. As a surprise John ordered me another
one and it was not even sent here and when he told me
what he did I pretty much dismissed it for I know I have
explained to him more then once if you do not get them
together they will not be the same. He knows how I feel
but absent minded John took the chance any ways and
though I admit it was a lovely gesture I didn't think I
would have two of the same pillows. I was wrong.
John won. The pillow I received for review and the
pillow he ordered were exactly the same. I about
keeled over.
Who is this company? Who has offered me two pillows
of the same consistent quality that were ordered 10 days
apart? Who has proved for the first time in my life you
can buy the same quality every time you shop? Why
the place I did a review for that offers this is Select
Comfort. I have to rave for a minute here. I thought
they were pretty much beds and that was it. I never
realized they offered so much more. I really never thought
they would have my dream pillow. For one, not only
is their product consistent, it is consistently a pillow that
is pure perfection. They met each and every one of my
requirements head on and more. Each item on my list
was blown out of the water and I can tell you that since
my pillow thing started over 25 years ago I have went
through close to 100 pillows at an average of 4 a year
and have never found a pillow this fantastic before. I
just got two new pillows in January and though they were
nice, they were not THIS nice for these are off the charts.
Now I walked through the house and counted all the
bed pillows we have in the house right now and there
are 28 in total. I think changing out 4 a year is pretty
modest and I also think out of a family of four I am
an expert in the field of pillows.
The particular pillow I received for review is the Down Pillow and though
and in theory I know they are supposed to be one of the
best types of pillows on the market but in my experience
they are the first to fail the "Inner Feel" test for seldom
are they filled enough and you can almost always feel
your other hand if you press hard enough. With the
Down Pillows at Select Comfort this was not the case.
These were fantastic. These were stupendous, these
were off the charts for me and I was doing a happy
dance around the bed like some insane rain dance of
dreams. I just couldn't believe it. Some people collect
knick knacks, some people collect trinkets, some
collect art work and some go for antiques, I collect
pillows to put it to you plainly. I am almost as bad
when it comes to throw pillows but bed pillows are my
specialty and to find a pillow that makes me this happy
is just about unheard off. Select Comfort fills theirs with
European White Goose Down and they choose the finest
quality available. They have the policy of only using
feathers that are freshness assured, and that means they
use an exclusive 15-step cleaning process that removes
allergy-causing impurities. This pretty much means those
Hypoallergenic covers I pay a small fortune for are unnecessary.
And remember that feel I told you about? Well Select
Comfort uses 300-thread-count, 100% cotton sateen to
provide me with that luxurious feel I so crave. The pillows
themselves can be spot cleaned or tossed in the wash
and come with a 5 year warranty. They are also constructed
in the USA and you guys know what a kick I am on
with that issue. Anyway you slice it, I am in love.
The fact they offer a consistently exceptional product
just sweetens the deal!
Select comfort offers more then bed and pillows
and I am so excited about that as well. In fact I
am dieing to get my hand on another one of their
products, the Comforters. Now their beds have been on
my wish list for a few years now and I have really
heated up my want for one since my back has taken
a turn for the worse but like anyone else I have to
budget and re-do one room at a time and Rowan
sorta put a bump in my road there for next year was
supposed to be the bedroom but I had to push my
schedule back and Andrews room has to be first for
he is going to need items to get him started in his
own life but right after that I will have my bed. Until
then I can busy myself with their other products and
that comforter is first on my list. They have a classic
down comforter that will go splendid with my pillows
and I have got to get it! I MUST have it! If I am
doing a Jig over the pillows I might all out break
dance over the comforter! Now they have more then
the down one, a complete line at that with everything
all the way down to an Organic one too! Even inserts
and covers and blankets for those look like they are
right up my alley as well! Select comfort has sheets
and mattress pads and covers and of coarse their
famous beds. Everything you would ever need to
assure you get the most comfortable nights rest ever.
We all work better when we have had a good night
of sleep! You just can't get more comfortable then
a bedroom accessory from Select Comfort! In
fact I need to go spend some time hugging my
pillow now!
Now if you guys come to my house I still have
not got enough of these pillows to share so Select
Comfort is going to give you a chance to win one!
To enter just head over to their site and take a look
around and then come back here and post what you
have learned in a comment. The contest will start
tonight and run to Midnight on April 29th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day, every day, and then posting that you did here
and other ways to enter are posted below.
I also will need a valid Email addy and name for Select
Comforts Mailing list. This will not be used for Spam and
their mailings only. Thanks guys!


Select Comfort!




Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.


1. Become a follower of my blog or Twitter page
and post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times. You may only do this
one time! This is not a daily entry.


2. Tweet about my blog and post the link
here. 5 entries, please post five times. You
may do this once per day if you post a new
tweet. For Each Daily entry there must be a
tweet for that day!


3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times. You may only do this one time!
This is not a daily entry.


4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries. Please
post five times. You may do this once per
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there must be a blog post for that day!






Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Radius Toothbrush and isABelt Contests!

Spring is coming and I need to freshen up.
My house, my skin, my kids and my life. I need
to not let things worry me and let the bumps just
slide off. Not to take things personal for they cause
a lot of havoc and not only in your mind but it
reflects in your skin and hair too. When you are
troubled over things going on in your life it shows
on your face and I am not speaking about just a
frown. Worry and concern and stress tends to be
pretty traumatic on your skin and that is depressing to
me for my skin has always been one of my best features.
I have always have very even, clear and seldom any
blemishes and was also blessed with my Irish and
Norwegian heritage and received their Nordic porcelain skin.
As a teenager it was a huge perk for I did not suffer
acne and I did little to care for my skin until I
was mid-teens and then not so much out of necessity but
more because all my friends did it and I wanted to fit in. Once
in a while I would have "a bump" around "that time" but
for the most part nothing. I know I am lucky and know
others would kill for my skin but now that I have passed
the 40 mark I am starting to take note. I also understand
I am still lucky for though I am in my 40s I know I
do not look it and I often get told how young I look
when I reveal my real age. It does not change the fact
that I see the calendar and know what it says and know
that I will not ride this wave of luck forever and unlike
when I was a teenager and doing it because my friends
did I know I now have to take care of it for me and me
alone. Though only I, and most likely John, know they are
there, the fine lines are making themselves known. I started
doing a lot of research on different products to use and
one name that kept popping up was Elizabeth Grant!
This is supposed to be a miracle woman and her products
are supposed to be second to none. I contacted them for
a review and was super excited when they said yes for
word of mouth alone was amazing on what I have heard
about them. I was sent the Caviar Nourishing Mask for
review and The Vitamin C Body Scrub as well as the Body Lotion.
Lets start with the Mask. I felt I needed this the most for
though I do not spend a lot of time in the sun I do spend
a fair amount and though I have never purposely been a
sunbather I was a fish when I was younger and Biked and
did a lot of other outdoor activities that have put me at risk.
I also have smoked so that is another no no in the world
of skin care for it drys out your skin. I thought adding some
moisture back into my face might be a really good thing
and grabbed this before the box even hit the table. You
have no idea how glad I am that I did. I didn't realize how
bad my skin was until I saw the difference with my own
eyes. Now really, even bad I had good skin, but in comparison
to the skin I had as a youth it was terrible. This mask filled
my face out. Is that possible? I mean it, I thought the
gauntness in my face was due to the fact I was just getting
older and believe it or not, every year thinner, without even
sticking to a diet. I thought since I was at one of the thinnest
points I have been since I was 12 that was where the gauntness
was coming from. Really. I spent most of my life
a size 8 and happy with a round and full face and very
comfy. The year before I had Rowan I was dropping weight
like crazy to the point John was starting to complain. I
had all size four clothing right before I was pregnant and most
of that was so loose I should have been in a 2. At 5 foot
9 inches it is just too thin for I never wanted to look as thin as
a model and never ever fooled myself I should. My long
wavy hair looks cute on a size 8 and whimsy and not bad
on a 6 where I am now but I am already dropping again
and it draws out my face even more when I get too thin.
I thought the gauntness was going to be my curse for even
if I eat like a Horse the weight was still dropping. I tried
the Caviar Mask though, and oh, my, I feel like a new woman!
I can even handle the boniness of the rest of my body
now that my face is once again full. You can hide hip
bones, you can't hide cheeks!I owe this woman my happiness
right now for I was truly depressed over the whole gaunt
lack of life expression my face was taking on! Product one,
the mask, ROCKS!

Lets move on to the Body scrub. Okay, first off it smells
like Oranges! Um, favorite smell here! I could die happy
right now! This is made for your whole body and to now
I have been using a lemon scrub I just grabbed at the Body
shop, I was happy, nothing special but happy. Like I said
I am blessed with no skin issues but once I tried this scrub
I learned the difference between content and wow, where
the heck has this stuff been all my life! It made me tingle
all over and the smell lingers after your bath but not so
long as it would compete with any perfume you wear, just
long enough were you feel good drying off and getting dressed.
It was fabulous and I was in heaven and to top it off with
the body lotion just kept me feeling fresh and revitalized all
day long. Really, I felt as if I could take on the world
and my troubles turned into to who cares what happened.
Who cares! I feel like a fresh happy and kinda fruity gal
who can do anything she wants! The silky smooth and
glamorous skin is such a perk I think I will keep it,
like, FOREVERRRRRRRRR!! I am so in love with MRS
GRANT right now! I promise I will send you John to do
your bidding for the rest of his life, send more and
you can have the boy to do lawn work too!

Elizabeth Grant has a complete line of products and
not only tackles skin care, and well I might add, she also
takes on fragrances and cosmetics and I have got to
try some of those for if they are just a smidgen as good
as her skin care line I might just offer myself up for service.
She even has products for men and you can already tell
what John will be getting for Fathers day this year. The
Men's anti aging face Cream for he has the same gauntness
kicking in do. The woman knows what it takes to keep
a lady looking like a lady and to help her look as glamorous
as a star! I can't believe that everyone in the world is
not chanting her name now that I have tried her products
but like me they must not have had the honor before because
her products are fantastic! This was a review I will not soon
forget and a joy to do!

You guys can discover her for yourself for the good folks
over at Elizabeth Grant are going to give one of my lucky
readers a Day Crème and Day serum. To enter
just head over to the site and take a look around and them
come back here and post something great you have learned!
The contest will start tonight and run to Midnight on May 7th.

USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day, every day, and then posting that you did here
and other ways to enter are posted below.


Elizabeth Grant!




Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.


1. Become a follower of my blog or Twitter page
and post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times. You may only do this
one time! This is not a daily entry.


2. Tweet about my blog and post the link
here. 5 entries, please post five times. You
may do this once per day if you post a new
tweet. For Each Daily entry there must be a
tweet for that day!


3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times. You may only do this one time!
This is not a daily entry.


4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries. Please
post five times. You may do this once per
day per new blog post! For each Daily entry
there must be a blog post for that day!






Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Radius Toothbrush and isABelt Contests!

When Andrew was a baby the word Organic
was seldom used and pretty much pertained to only food and
a couple of clothing items. Mostly those made of hemp. In
the early 90's there was kind of a mini little hippy movement
going on and that was the word was used, mostly in that
little community and rarely outside of that. Then slowly you
saw some products, mainly in the produce section and
Whole Foods stores started to open here and there and
by 2000 it was catching on all over and now here we
are today where you can buy Organic items at your local
7-11. Now Organics takes on a whole new meaning and
it is as common place as a Twinkie. Instead of locating
Organic products all-together now the search for the best
ones begins and with so many items to search through it
seems like a daunting task at that. I started using Organic
items in the early 2000 but will be the first to admit it
was the produce section. The reason being? Fresh items
just tasted better and there was a store not that far from
me that was pretty much a high end grocery store and
offered an abundant selection and also in convenience
forms like pre-cut fruit and veggie trays and that was a
huge thing for me because I have always been a fresh
fruit and veggie person and to have a platter all ready to
go when I was working 70 hours a week made them a
must have item at my house. As far as other items went
I could not tell you. Andrew was at the age where he
was growing in leaps and bounds and just to keep clothes
on his back that fit was a huge feather in my cap, Organic?
I had not a clue. For my own clothing I had to wear dress
clothes and suits for work and in 1999, 2000 you would
be very hard pressed to find a Donna Karen or Ellen Tracey
Organic line. I did wear a lot of silk and that can sometimes
be Organic, back then only if it costs enough but it wasn't
because they were out to help the environment it was more
because they could charge more if it came from a silk worm
and wasn't synthetic. Now a days, Organic is the thing
to buy and everyone knows what it is and what to
look for. My Organic section in the Gourmet store has
turn into Organic isle and then more isles in every store. You
no longer have to travel, like I said now you job is to find
the products that are good and weed out the fakes!
I have found a few product lines that I love to death
and learn about more everyday. Some times I come across
an item that I toss back but for the most part they are
all pretty good. The bonus with Organics being so common
place now a days is that it is becoming the norm and
therefore the prices are getting lower and lower. I used to
pay around 5 bucks for Organic Carrots and now I can get
them for just over 2. Less then a Dollar over the regular
versions price. That is a big drop. A lot of that has to
do with the fact big business has seen their error of
their ways and has started to develop their own Organic lines.
With all the searching I have done they are probably the
poorest quality but they have helped make it more main
stream and I thank them for that. Without that push I
might never have had the chance to find places like my
next review. A fabulous store that is growing by leaps
and bounds for when you offers some fantastic products
and at a price you can afford it is only a matter of time
before the word spreads and I am so glad I found them
now! The Organic Bath Company! These guys make everything
from Bath and Skin care products to Toys and Baby items
to Household and even cleaning items and so far every item
I have tried has been marvelous! For a product review I
was sent three items, each from a different section of their
store. The first was Better Body Butter. Now everyone knows
what Shea butter, jojoba oil, and green tea oil are and
we all know they are each fantastic in their own right.
The Organic Bath Company goes the extra mile and
found a way to compile these exceptional products into
one spectacular item that is also infused with Lavender and
Vanilla. Lavender relaxes you and Vanilla is not only known
for its aphrodisiac benefits it also is a good anti-oxidant
and has other medicinal properties. When you combine all
of these items into one you are pretty much looking at a
body butter that is something to write home about. Not only
is this a surefire way to visibly improve dry skin in the
shake of a tail feather it is fantastic for healing that severely
dry skin, eczema, burns, rashes and lessen the irritation
of psoriasis. It also provides a natural UV sun protection,
protecting your skin from free radical damage. All that and
it is calming and can make your hubby sit up and take
notice too! Excellent! This stuff was exceptional and
I am toting it around in my purse for it just makes me
feel good all over. Also seeing as I was feeling all spry and
so was John whenever I used it, I don't know if it was
happen-chance or fate but the next item they sent was the
Bubble Bath Roses. Okay, first thought, these are adorable.
So cute I fell for them hook line and sinker before I even
opened the box! The thing is though they are not just for
show they are also a also a rich, skin softening bubble bath.
That's right, these adorable petal melt in your bath to create
a luxurious bubble bath for the petals completely dissolve into
rich, skin softening bubbles and the heavenly fragrance of
pure, distilled essential oils. Now when I looked at them
that was the furthest thought from my mind. I thought they
were purely for show. How they did it I have no clue but
they did and I so thank them for it because there is nothing
more relaxing then a hot tub with candles and some soft
music and then to sprinkle some Rose petal in that don't
just float but dissolve into pure heaven took my entire world
by surprise and brought me up to a level of relaxation that
you just can't compete with. Sensuous, beautiful and relaxing
all rolled into one!

After they showed me some products just for me they
clued me in on what they could do for Rowan. I was sent
a sampler pack of Baby items that were absolutely fabulous!
The Organic Baby Travel Pack has a little bit of everything
and a lot of quality and I was tickled pink to try them
all. The pack includes the:
Conditioning Shampoo & Wash
Calming Bubble Bath
Velvety Soft Babee Lotion
Soothing Bottom Balm
and every single item works like a charm. The Bubble Bath
has become a must have in our house and I am pretty sure
Rowan would not have the fun she has in the bathtub right
now without it. The bubbles are full and thick and do not
fizzle away and pretty much last the length of the bath
unless she is going for a record breaker. I used the Conditioning
Shampoo & Wash while in the tub and "no tears Mom!" just
smiles for she is still oohing and aweeeing over the
bubbles and barely knows the cleaning up part has even
taken place. Once finished we use the lotion and that locks
in the moisture that bath has given her for unlike the
chemical laden products we had before she comes out
all soft and silky and not stripped of her naturally perfect
baby skin she went in the tub with. Now the Soothing
Bottom Balm I have barely had a chance to use because
with the other products she is kept so soft and her skin
is so perfect she has not had a rash since I started using
it. There has been a couple of times her number 2 has
been a little tough for her and left her pink from effort so
I did use it to be safe and not sorry but a real need for
it I have yet to run across. There is not a doubt in my mind
though that if that day should come it will work wonders for
as well as the other items worked I know this will rock just
as well. I am in love with everyone of their items I have
tried. They were just fantastic!

I am looking forward to trying the other items they
make, the cleaning products the most for with their all
purpose cleaner and laundry liquid I don't think I can go
wrong and the men's items are also on my list for
I adore the fact they use Sage in them and it is
such a manly scent I know I will be totally impressed.
The Organic Bath Company has a great line of items and
I see them growing in leaps and bounds and not from
their products alone because they offer the full package.
Not only do they have great products the customer service
is off the charts. I really enjoyed speaking to them and
found them helpful and truly compassionate in what they
do and it is rare you run across a place that believes
in what they sell and you can tell by speaking to them
that they do. They are not only proud of what they
offer they stand behind their products and I am proud
to say that The Organic Bath Company is the first
Organic company to make my top ten list! Just read
through the criteria on that list and I can assure you
they meet every single one and more. Great prices,
great customer service, a fabulous product and they
go the whole nine yards to make sure you are just
as happy owning their items as they are making them.
I can picture their staff whistling while they work for
they are just a great company all around. They are
Snow White in an Organic forests and the Butterfly's
and Birds have already been signing their song and now
I am too! The Organic Bath Company is what I hope
to be a store that sets the standards for others because
it will be a much more healthy, happy and content world
if that is the case. The Organic Bath Company can sit on
the ledge of my tub anytime!

One of you can find out just how fantastic they are
too for The Organic Bath Company is going to give one
of my very lucky readers the same items they gave me.
To enter is easy, just head over to their site and take
a look around and then come back here and post something
you have learned in a comment. The contests will start
tonight and run to Midnight on May 8th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day, every day, and then posting that you did here
and other ways to enter are posted below.


Organic Bath Co.




Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.


1. Become a follower of my blog or Twitter page
and post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times. You may only do this
one time! This is not a daily entry.


2. Tweet about my blog and post the link
here. 5 entries, please post five times. You
may do this once per day if you post a new
tweet. For Each Daily entry there must be a
tweet for that day!


3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times. You may only do this one time!
This is not a daily entry.


4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries. Please
post five times. You may do this once per
day per new blog post! For each Daily entry
there must be a blog post for that day!






Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Radius Toothbrush and isABelt Contests!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Scratch scratch.
Grumble grumble, SNIFF, grumble grumble. GRRRRRR.
SHHHHHHHHH! Stop it!
Slam! ( lid down on the toilet for one of the guys must
have been the last one in here) GRRRRR. mumble mumble.
( Water running) Grumble, grrrrrrrrr. SIGH. Pound. Pound.
Pound. Grrrrrrrr.
Alight, I know you are all wondering what in the heck is
going on about now. I just thought I would share the first couple
of minutes of my day with you. Every Morning pretty much goes
the same way and this right here, this very unflattering play
by play is mild in comparison to how Johns would go. Sad
to say though, I can't post his with out using some pretty
colorful keys and I might have to pass out a chuck the
yuck bag or two! I think the best thing to do is move
on and just let you know we are Coffee people. Coffee
people in a big way. Now I have cut back over the years
for I used to be much worse. I am down to about only
3 or 4 pots a day. I used to be closer to 10 when I
was working. Worse then that was about at least one of
those pots would be considered Espresso since we had a
machine at work and I would drink about 6 doubles a day.
One Friday night I was so bad I was on the Expediting
line during the dinner rush. I was calling the orders so
fast my cooks were about ready to drop dead from a
heart attack and when I was not calling the orders I was
talking to whatever server who happened to be a within
distance. No servers, cooks in the weeds? No problem,
I would talk to the tables closest to the line about 10
feet away. Dinner rush on a Friday night starts at about
4:30 and runs to 8:30 PM and somewhere around 7 a
waitress whom I liked and trusted walked up to the line,
grabbed my Grande Starbucks Cup I had kept pouring
Coffee into, turned and dropped it right into the trash.
"Your done!" She said cheerily as she placed a glass
of water in its spot and the rest of the staff broke into
applause. So I knew I had a problem and had to cut back.
My ten pots went to 3 or 4. It isn't my fault really, I
will blame the first person who told me Coffee was a good
thing to drink if you want to lose weight. I was around 13
and rushed to get some and have been drinking it ever since.
Now I know the diet thing is a bunch of hogwash but Coffee
is a darn good drink and like all things if done in moderation
is really enjoyable. It is also not the Coffee's fault that
I drank so much. I don't want you guys to worry that if
you drink a cup you will soon need to be in a 12 step
program or you could end up in the big house for trying
to top off your carry out cup from Starbucks at Panara Bread
for you just need a fix man! I am just a drinker in general.
If I was not drinking Coffee I would be drinking soda, if
not soda, tea, if not that whatever the next item down the
list would be. I have always been that way. I feel like if I
do not always have something liquid in my hands I will
dehydrate and wither away at any given moment. The only
thing Coffee is responsible for is being the best tasting
beverage out of the list I just rambled on about. Unless
my Mother makes it I really don't think there is such a
thing as bad tasting Coffee, only degrees of good. I buy
cheap Coffee, I buy the good stuff, I buy just about
everything there is.
Now I do have my favorites. I used to be a swear by
Starbucks, then Caribou Coffee then for the last couple
of 5 years Dunkin Donuts. Though I am always looking
for a new trick to toss in my bag of treats. When I got
the chance to review Dad's Roast I first had to giggle for
who would of thought Dad could do anything better then
Mom. Sorry Dad's out there, it is just been my experience
that Dad's tend to mess things up so Mom's will never
ask them to do it again. Then I read a little bit about
them and I must admit, I liked what they said. Now I
may settle for any old Coffee out there. I can't help it,
I love the stuff, but that does not mean that I can't tell
the difference between one Coffee to the next. Is also does
not mean that I don't know when one brand is better then
another. If that were the case I would not be so found of
Dunkin Donuts for so long. I have tried fresh roasted
Coffee before and I know it is good, great, well even better
then that in fact and I would love to drink it each and every
time I had Coffee but the problem is it is expensive.
Really Expensive
I pay about $7.99 a pound right now and go through 2 or
3 a week. Now the last time I bought fresh roasted it was
$15.99 a pound and I am sure you can see the difference
there. I can take a couple of bucks more a pound, hey,
fresh is worth it, but twice the price? Ouch! So I am reading
on the Dad's site and see it is no where near as expensive
as the places I had seen before. Not even close. In fact you
can get it for less then 10 bucks a pound. So I am already
at fresh roast and stuck there and then inexpensive?
Hey, that I can handle! They also offer a large selection of
items to choose from. Dad's Roast has all the best
and also carry flavored blends and Espresso. One of the
coolest features on the site is you can order your own
personal custom blend. That's right folks, you pick the
bean or the beans and the flavor. That will do it, no
wait, there is more, pick the grind and the roast too!
So of you wanted to you could get a Mint, Sumatra in
a Turkish Grind and an Espresso Dark Roast. Now try
getting that any where else.
How does it taste?
Oh-My-Gawd!
Look, I got the Coffee last week and could have
turned the review in early. It is an easy review to
do for Coffee is pretty much a food product and not
a whole lot of research goes into the making of a food
product review, you either like it or you don't. There is
not a lot of pro's and con's to write about there so I
don't have to put the normal 10-15 hours into the review
I normally have to do. This could have been done over the
weekend even with the chaos I have went through lately.
Hour tops and I would have been done. Rowan needs
a nap, BAM, finished by the time she wakes up but
truthfully, I was too busy. I was drinking the Coffee. I
couldn't stop. Not even for the lousy hour it would have
taken to write the review. It is delicious. When they say
fresh they mean it. Even better, if you grind it yourself and
order the bean whole like I did. Now you have a fresh
bean cooked just for you and shipped out ASAP. They
sent me an email letting me know they were roasting my
blend on Friday, Saturday evening I was enjoying a cup.
Yeah, your right, they could have been faster. ( ROLLS
EYES) Speedy Gonzales has nothing on these guys.
So let's do a quick check list here:
Delicious Coffee
Super fast can you say I barely had time to blink delivery
Freshly Roasted to Order.
You pick all the details or your order
Affordable
AWESOME IN EVERY WAY!

I am in love with Dad's Roast. My worst fear is this
stuff is so good I am going to be back up to 10 pots a
day because I can't help myself. I also kinda liked the
fact they have all sorts of information on the site so
you can educate yourself on Coffee. Health benefits even
so I can justify the fact I see 10 pots in my future.
How to store your Coffee so it will last longer as if you
have to with their delivery time but hey, you might be
moving to a shack in the middle of no where for a while
and have to stock up and take it with you. That would
be a good reason! There is just lots of fun facts and
things I didn't know and as I enjoyed a cup or four going
over all that information was fun! So my final word here
is this stuff is incredible and I can't get enough. I know
you guys will love it too even if you are not half the fiend
I am!
Another good way to try Coffee is to win it! Dad's Roast
is going to give one of my lucky readers a gift card for
2 bags so they can pick out their own blend and try it
them selves. To enter just head over to the site and
take a look around then come back here and post something
you have learned. The contest will start tonight and run to
Midnight on April 25th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day, every day, and then posting that you did here
and other ways to enter are posted below.


Dad's Roast!




Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.


1. Become a follower of my blog or Twitter page
and post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times. You may only do this
one time! This is not a daily entry.


2. Tweet about my blog and post the link
here. 5 entries, please post five times. You
may do this once per day if you post a new
tweet. For Each Daily entry there must be a
tweet for that day!


3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times. You may only do this one time!
This is not a daily entry.


4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries. Please
post five times. You may do this once per
day per new blog post! For each Daily entry
there must be a blog post for that day!






Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Radius Toothbrush and isABelt Contests!

Ugh! All this back and forth and back and forth is
killing me here. Run here and there and don't forget to
hit this place. It is hard enough with kids and taking
them everywhere they need to go. Andrew who spends
his time between here and his Dads makes for a lot of
packing and unpacking and the Baby. < Hangs Head >
The Diaper bag alone is enough to cause hip dysplasia
in most adults. I also have my dog who has to go with
no matter where we go and even has her own travel
pack for she loves Andrews Dad and he loves her and
Boo has spent a lot of time over there and needs stuff.
Now add in my Mother. < Hangs head and Sighs! > so
much carting around and running I am just about beat.
Even worse, feeding everyone. I had to learn to face
facts. I just don't have the cash to eat out all the time.
I was sitting there last week when John was still down
South and thought McDonald's tasted good for we have
not had it in ages. It was only Andrew and Rowan, the
Pooch and myself. I am not a huge eater and though
I get a Big Mac or a Quarter Pounder I can make two
meals out of it and I share a small fry with Rowan.
So we go and get Andrew and I a large sandwich, with
a coupon that was BOGO and then a happy meal and
then the dollar menu, 2 pops, fry, nuggets for Boo,
2 apple pies and 2 salads. 23 dollars! For 2 Adults
and a Baby and a 4 piece for the dog. 23 smackaroos!
I was in shock! I remember when Andrew and I could
eat for under 10 dollars, heck close to five and now it
is 4 times that and the two others that eat are happy
meal age. I know with John home it would have been
over 30 dollars and I would have cried even more. So I
have learned to pack lunches whenever I can.
Now that brings us to storage containers. Lord do
I have them everywhere. I have about 4 dozen lunch
boxers alone for John used to take lunch to work every
single day and before High School and the threat of
ruining Andrews social life, he did too. Both of the boys
would loose their heads if not attached so I picked them
up when ever I saw a good deal on them. I had a
couple for each of them and then they would swear one
was lost and I would replace it and when Andrew left
Jr High and the locker he had for 3 years he came home
with about 10. YIKES! The 6 or so I had at the home
just turned to 16. The John, years and years working
part time at the same place that turned to full time when
he left the Fire Department were soon spent filing for
Unemployment. He clears out his work station and
brings home another Dozen or so. DOUBLE YIKES!
What happened to them being lost? It soon dawned
on me that they were as lost as it is hard to locate
the Milk in the fridge that I have to go and find for
them, middle top shelf, every single time! Boys, boys,
and boys, too lazy too really look. So now I am up
around 3 dozen and Rowan shows her little face and
I need lunch items for a whole new person that the
old boxes just will not work for. Plus little plastic
containers for treats and crackers and everything else
Baby needs.
My overhead cabinets are insane with storage
and lunch containers. The only thing I don't have is
a container for me. I like Rice and Stir fry for why?
Yeah, you guessed it, I am always on a diet. The
funny part is Andrew lovesssssssss Stir Fry and Tai
Food more then anything. To pack that to go though
is the biggest pain in the dairy airy for you need so
many containers it just isn't worth it. Well I was speaking
to a nice lady I had met and she told me that she had
just the solution with a Bento Box that does not take
up a small country worth of shelf space. In fact
Bento Boxes in General are easy to store. She
directs me to a place called Zojirushi. Neat! They
also do a whole lot more then Bento Boxes too. A
whole lot. I contacted them and got to do a review
for you guys. The item is called the The Ms. Bento
Stainless Lunch Jar and is about the neatest thing I
have ever seen. Not only does it all come in this
adorable little carry bag that is the perfect size for
the whole kit and kaboodle it includes a washable
container, two microwaveable inner bowls, chopsticks,
and chopsticks holder. I feel all organized and fashionable.
It is stainless steel but it is blue so it even looks
darling. Not that I have anything against stainless steel
for that looks pretty sharp all on its own but I have so
many stainless items that I need a little bit of color in
my life. The Ms. Bento brings it! Not only are you
blessed with this durable construction you have the
inner bowls that are perfect for the microwave and
can go right from the fridge to there and not miss a
beat. Easy to clean? You Betcha! And made for the
foods I like, Stir Fry, Mamma is coming home!
I about fell in love with my very own bag that if the
boys touch I will break-a-da-face!

In fact I think I have fallen for Zojirushi all
by themselves for they have a lot of items that are
right up my alley. With baby I am rushed and they
have bottle warmers to make my day a little more
easy. My Coffee addiction can be fed with an air
pot or and Electric Kettle, both are great ways to
keep Coffee hot and right next to me for they are
safe too! They have a whole line of Gourmet items
and the Ms. Bento I received is only the tip of the
ice berg there. You also have got to see the Zutto
collection for sharp, sharp and sharp. I would kill to
have any one of these items in my kitchen. What
they are is this super stylish and efficient line of
kitchen appliances that look like they belong in life
styles of the rich and shameless and you can even afford
them for your home. The other product that Zojirushi
makes is a Rice Cooker and I must say I am aching
to try that. I have never in my life been able to
get rice to cook right unless it is Uncle Ben's instant
and thank you Uncle Ben for without you I would really
be with out a paddle on the infamous creek but
the Rice Cookers that Zojirushi makes looks so easy
that I think even I could handle one. If I ever get my
hands on one I promise to let you know. They have
a huge line to choose from and each one comes with
its own set of gadgets and special effect. All of them
belong in my kitchen! Zojirushi offers a taste of Japan
right here in the good old United States of America
and you can learn a whole lot more about them on
their web site plus they have a whole lot of stuff
that is a blast to check out too. Recipes, the Animation
theater and would you believe there is a whole bit
on how to make perfect rice! YUM and I admit I am
nervous but I am sure going to give it a try!

One of you can win a handy dandy Ms Bento
box too! To enter just head over to the site and take
a look around and then come back here and post what
you liked best about the Zojirushi site! The contest will
start tonight and run to Midnight on April 27th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day, every day, and then posting that you did here
and other ways to enter are posted below.

Zojirushi


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or Twitter page
and post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times. You may only do this
one time! This is not a daily entry.

2. Tweet about my blog and post the link
here. 5 entries, please post five times. You
may do this once per day if you post a new
tweet. For Each Daily entry there must be a
tweet for that day!

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times. You may only do this one time!
This is not a daily entry.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries. Please
post five times. You may do this once per
day per new blog post! For each Daily entry
there must be a blog post for that day!



Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Radius Toothbrush and isABelt Contests!

Do you guys remember when I started doing all the
mineral make-up reviews how I told you that while I was
pregnant with Rowan I didn't really wear any of my cosmetics
and most of them got all dry and clumpy? How it killed me to
have to throw so many of them away? Well I really wish
I would have had this product for there was so many other things
I could have done with those cosmetics instead. I didn't have
to toss any of them and I really would not have shed the
tears I shed over the hundreds and hundreds of dollars of
cosmetics I tossed. I could have revamped them and
been so happy with the outcome if I only had the
product I just reviewed. Geri G and her Mixer Kit!
Oh, where oh, where have you been?


Geri G allows you to take any make up at all, any,
and revamp, refresh, reuse. Take your mascara and turn it
into an eyeliner or soften colors that you bought and
were too dark or too bright. Turn a Lipstick into a blush
for that matter. Pretty much if you can dream it Geri G
helps to make it happen. This is the closest thing you will
get to a kit that allows for you to create all your own
cosmetics. I felt just like I did when I was 9 years
old and had that fashion design head I had. The one that
you can put make-up on and do her hair and blow dry it
and braid and the lip stick and eye shadow. Now the cosmetics
there were fake, water and the brush and all it did was
wet the dolls lips and highlight the pigment already there.
Geri G on the other hand allows you to take your own
colors or "Pigments" and turn them into the cosmetics you
wanted but didn't quiet get when you bought them or like
me, bought and did not use them fast enough she can help
breath new life into! The kit is magic in a box!
Some of the things you can do with it are:
Mix it with your eye shadow for long lasting creamy eyes.
Create a smoother mascara for defined and fuller lashes
achieve a natural dewy look with your blush
Enhance the Concealing power of your foundation and powder.
Soften the finish of your lipstick.
You can even mix your colors and create new or like
I told you before, that box I tossed, SNIFF SNIFF, it
would have been brand new and all those name brands
that I paid a small fortune for would have been saved.
Geri G is your cosmetics but only better. Your style enhanced
and she allows for you to create a look nobody but you
can duplicate for only you know what you did!
For review I was sent the Mixer Kit and her book, Eating
For Better Skin 10 Simple Steps. I loved them both but by
far the kit is the highlight. Better yet, when mixed with the
mineral make-up I can create small batches and that was
where I had the fun mixing colors to make my own shades.
I took a dark cinnamon eye shadow and mixed it with a blusher
that was way to light and created one perfect for a night
out that was just right. The video ensures you do it
correctly and is a must see with the kit and the fact
Geri G is a professional make-up artist just makes everything
she shows you all the more use-full. Though I am still hanging
my head in shame for what I lost last fall I can now look
forward to the future and what I can create. Not only does
she allow me to mix up the colors of my dreams she has
also made it so it eliminates the need for re-application and
provides me with a flawless finish!


Geri G has been written about everywhere and for
good reason. Her Mixer Kit as well as her Remover
and Cleaner are not only fabulous for your skin the kit
itself is truly innovating and unique and a must have for
any fashion maven, from novice to pro! The fact she
takes your every day cosmetics and turns them into items
that are nourishing and hydrating your skin is just the icing
on a truly fantastic cake. This is a must have in my book
and you guys got to check it out!
Geri G has also been kind enough to offer a chance for
one of my readers to win a Mixer Kit of their own. To enter
just head over to the site and take a look around and
them come back here and post what you liked best in a
comment. The contest will start tonight and run to Midnight
on May 8th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day, every day, and then posting that you did here
and other ways to enter are posted below.


Geri G




Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.


1. Become a follower of my blog or Twitter page
and post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times. You may only do this
one time! This is not a daily entry.


2. Tweet about my blog and post the link
here. 5 entries, please post five times. You
may do this once per day if you post a new
tweet. For Each Daily entry there must be a
tweet for that day!


3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times. You may only do this one time!
This is not a daily entry.


4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries. Please
post five times. You may do this once per
day per new blog post! For each Daily entry
there must be a blog post for that day!






Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Radius Toothbrush and isABelt Contests!