Vocal Point Fisher Price Laugh and Learn party

Last month, I was selected to host a Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Toy Party!!

It was an amazing opportunity, and perfect timing with Ben's first birthday (more coming up on that later) coming up!  So, when I found out I was selected, I was completely STOKED!

Fisher Price sent me 2 toys to test out, plus a ton of goodies to hand out to my guests!  It was AMAZING!!

We were given the opportunity to test the Laugh and Learn Smart Stages Chair

and the Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Smart Stages Train

It was hard for me to keep the toys under wraps until the party, but the idea was to surprise your child with the toy and see their reaction (and their friends).

Since 2013-2014 was a huge baby boom year for my friends, there was no shortage of people to invite -- with kids ranging in ages from 2 months to 7 years of age, we had quite the variety of testers.

Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Smart Stages Chair:

The chair was a huge hit with the 3-5 year olds at our party, even though it is for 12m+.  Ben (11 months at the time) didn't show too much interest in it at the time, but now he really likes to sit in it and play peek-a-boo with the seat, etc.  

Both of the toys are equipped with the Smart Stages Technology, which means the learning content changes as your baby grows 

"Every baby develops at their own pace, and Smart Stages technology gives you the ability to select the stage that’s best for your child! There are a variety of developmentally appropriate songs, phrases and sounds within three levels of play – just slide the switch or enter baby’s age for automatic level changes."

The chair (through all the stages) has over 50 songs, tunes and phrases!  The three levels of play allow the toy to grow with your child so they don't get bored of it (and you don't get sick of hearing the same songs over and over again)!

Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Smart Stages Train:

The train was (and still is) a highly played with toy -- from the 1 year old to the 7 year old!  It is involved in highly detailed and complex plots and stories with my three boys -- usually surrounding some type of Star Wars theme, LOL.

"Songs, phrases and sounds introduce letters, numbers, colors, shapes and more. Busy activities like a slider ladybug, ABC spinner, number roller and clacker beads all foster eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills. Baby can press the smokestack for motorized action and lights, introducing cause and effect. And fun characters and questions prompt imagination as baby plays along.  The train features: 3 levels of play offer fresh songs, phrases & sounds for your little one’s age & stage, Busy activities include a slider ladybug, ABC spinner, number roller, clacker beads & more, Press any of the five shape buttons to unlock more fun, Teaches colors, shapes, letters, opposites & more, Includes Puppy, Monkey & Froggy rattle figures – just the right size for baby’s hands"

As I mentioned before, the train was a huge hit.  All the kids loved playing with it and my boys still enjoy playing with it.  I have a feeling this will be one of the longer lasting toys in our repertoire.  

Guests also enjoyed playing with the Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Click N' Learn Remote Control .  I was so excited to get to send every guest home with one of these to keep!!

Overall, it was a great excuse to get all the kiddos together and to score some free loot!

My Fisher Price party was sponsored by Fisher Price and by VocalPoint. I received products for free to try, but all reviews and opinions are my own.  Party participants signed waiver forms allowing their pictures to be used.   A big THANK YOU to Fisher Price and to VocalPoint for this awesome opportunity!!

eSalon - Made for You Custom Hair Color (product review)

I was selected by BzzAgent to try out and review the Made for You Custom Hair color from eSalon

The process for figuring out what color is right for you is so simple and eSalon makes it super easy to make your hair color specific and customized JUST FOR YOU.  So, you basically get salon quality color that you apply in the comfort of your own home!  A total win-win!

Basically, I just went to the website, picked the current color of my hair -- then the color I wanted it to be -- and finally uploaded a few pictures that showed my current hair color (so the team could be sure I was assessing it correctly).  I wanted to lighten up my color a little bit, so I picked a little lighter color than I thought I currently had (but not too much).  It proved to me that the system wasn't automated though, and that someone is actually reading what you select.  Less than a day later, I received a personalized email from a team member letting me know why my color choice wouldn't work so well and what she suggested instead.  I said 'go for it' and waited eagerly to get my product!

BzzAgent gave me a $60 credit to use however I pleased in addition to the customizable hair color product, so I picked up some Color Lock Shampoo and Conditioner, a coloring bowl and brush, and a magic 'touch up' wand for root coverage in between colorings.  

It has been 4 weeks since using my products (well everything except the magic touch up wand because the coverage of this product has been A.Mazing) and I have to say that I am very pleased.  The shampoo and conditioner have a great fragrance to them and they work really well and leave my hair feeling great.  The pump on the shampoo bottle could use some fixing (it is finicky), but that is really my only complaint.

At a price point of $20, I may or may not continue using this service.  I color at home between my salon appts to minimize my cost, and what I had been using was much less expensive than eSalon.  BUT, I like the results better, so I will have to see what kind of deals or discounts they continue to throw my way.  Overall, I am very happy with this product and would definitely recommend it to anyone!

But, here...see for yourself!

My kit and products (wine not included LOL)

Mixing and getting ready to apply the color

My wonderful 'before' roots (ignore my devilish eyeball)

Waiting for the coloring process to be finished.

Loving the color coverage and the richness!

Four weeks later and no visible roots like in my before picture!  Amazing!

See?  I'm so excited that I don't have to color my hair again after only 4 weeks!  :)

And if you want to get in on the action too, check out this link for 50% off for my friends!

50%-off discount with friends: http://u.bzz.com/sakzi. 

20 Mule Team Borax -- the all-purpose household tool!

I was excited to hear that I was chosen to work with the Purex Insider team again to share some information about and a great giveaway involving 20 Mule Team® Borax.  Have you ever tried Borax? It is a great, inexpensive laundry booster plus can be used in your home hundreds of different ways.

I'm really big on having things around the house that are multi-purpose.  That's why I always have a box of 20 Mule Team Borax in the laundry room.  Borax is an all natural detergent booster and a multi-purpose household cleaner.  It can apparently also be used for fun science projects for kids (like growing crystals or making slime) but we haven't gotten around to doing that fun stuff yet....

A little background on Borax first.   Borax is the common name for sodium tetraborate: a naturally occurring substance produced by the repeated evaporation of seasonal lakes. 20 Mule Team® Borax is 100% natural, and 99.5% pure (there is about 0.5% of naturally occurring trace minerals). 20 Mule Team Borax comes from California where one of the world’s largest deposits was discovered in 1913.  Once removed from the ground it is washed, dried, and boxed for consumers.  Absolutely nothing is added. No phosphates, per-oxside, chlorine, or other additive chemicals.  Who wants more chemicals in your house anyway, right? I was so happy to hear that. Borates, borax and boron compounds are with us throughout our lives. Families use it to soak and wash diapers and other laundry, but it’s also an ingredient in cosmetics, medicines, ceramics and building materials. You can use it to clean tons of other things too!  There are so many ways to use 20 Mule Team Borax!!

Check out some of these other cleaning tips in addition to getting your clothes cleaner in the laundry room:

• For scratch-free cleaning of stains, grime, and grease throughout the kitchen, use a 1/2 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax dissolved in one gallon of hot water on sinks, counter tops, cookware, refrigerators, microwaves, toasters, and any other appliance in your arsenal. You can apply this dilution of all-natural 20 Mule Team Borax to any surface including tile, ceramic, porcelain, slate, marble, granite and stainless steel.

• You can also add a half cup of 20 Mule Team Borax to your sink to reduce water spotting, remove grime, and put a shine on dishes, utensils, pots, and pans.

• Power up your dishwasher detergent by sprinkling a 1/4 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax onto the bottom of the dishwasher to reduce spots and film on dishes and glasses.

• Just dilute a 1/2 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax in a 12-ounce spray bottle of water to deodorize mattresses.

• All-Natural Detergent Booster with Odor Control 20 Mule Team® Borax increases your detergent's power and controls odors to give you fresh, clean laundry. 
• Sprinkle it on ant mounds or around areas on the outside of your house where ants seem to get in.  
• And my favorite -- use it to make your own laundry detergent!!

DIY Laundry Detergent

1 (4 lbs 12 oz) box 20 Mule Team Borax 

1 (3lb 7oz) box of Arm & Hammer WASHING soda (not baking)

1 (3lb) container Oxyclean

2 bars Fels Naptha laundry soap (or use Zote, or Ivory, or my personal favorite -- I use bars from LuSa

1 (4lb) box of BAKING soda

Optional - 1-2 bottles Purex crystals, Downy unstoppables or my preferred method - just mix 1-2 cups of epsom salts with some essential oils

Directions:  grate soap with cheese grater or food processor.  Mix all ingredients together in a large bucket or bowl.  Use 2-4 tablespoons per laundry load.

It smells great and I have had no complaints about its cleaning power or how fresh it leaves my clothes.  I am totally converted!!

**Note -- I like to halve this recipe and make it that way.  It lasts a SUPER long time and I find it is easier to mix that way.  You could always make a full batch and share with a friend! **

You can also check out the 20 Mule Team® Borax website for lots of other great cleaning tips here. You also might be wondering "Where can I get Borax?"  Well, check out their link and you will be surprised it is readily available at all your fave grocery spots. 

Want to try your own DIY laundry detergent?  You can win your own 20 Mule Team® Borax in my contest below.  Enter to win a free coupon for a box of 20 Mule Team Borax.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received a free sample and free product coupons from Purex Insiders on behalf of Borax in order to facilitate my review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Soft Scrub 4-in-1 Toilet Care Review and Giveaway - WINNERS POSTED

I'm new to the Purex Insider program, and I just got picked for my first product review!!    I received the new Soft Scrub toilet cleaner.  New Soft Scrub 4-in-1 Toilet Care is the latest product from Soft Scrub to help make your life easier! It's a toilet cleaner that cleans and freshens for up to 4 weeks.  Woah -- that's huge!!  As the mom of two little boys, my bathroom can always use a little cleaning and freshening!  

So far, I have been very impressed with the Soft Scrub 4-in-1 Toilet Care Cleaner.  It leaves the bathroom with a fresh clean smell and so far it seems to be keeping the toilet bowl clean.  It was really funny to hear my oldest son exclaim "Mom!  The toilet has little balls!" the day after I first hung it in the toilet bowl, LOL.     

As I mentioned before, as the mom of two little boys it seems like our bathroom is always smelly no matter how much I clean and scrub, so I'm happy to have a product that works for me and saves me some scrubbing and cleaning!  

This new rim hanger really stays in place!  With each flush, the 4-in-1 Toilet Care cleans, prevents buildup, fights toilet ring, and freshens.  It is available in Alpine Fresh with bleach, and Sapphire Waters without bleach.  I am reviewing the Alpine Fresh scent.  It is a clean, fresh scent that is not overpowering.  It really leaves my bathroom smelling nice.

This toilet bowl cleaner works on the toilet bowl ring, tough stains and prevents future build ups.  It cleans, prevents, fights and freshens for up to 4 weeks.  At a price of less than $2.00!  You can't hire a personal toilet cleaning service for that price!  

And here's the best part!  I have 2 free coupons to share for your own free 4 -in - 1 Toilet Care to try!  Just enter below!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Disclosure: I received a sample(s) of Soft Scrub 4-in-1 Toilet Care for free in exchange for a review as part of a Purex Insiders campaign. The giveaway is not sponsored by Soft Scrub. I was not compensated in any other manner. The opinions expressed in this review are that of my own and any claims should be verified on the sponsor's site. Thank you to Soft Scrub and Henkel Brands for allowing me to review their product!

Old Navy - It's Tee Time - Crowdtap Fun!

I may have mentioned before that I am a member of Crowdtap. Crowdtap is an interactive marketing platform that gets the consumers involved in answering questions and shaping brands.  Plus, you get FREE stuff!  Who doesn't like FREE??

I was selected to participate in an Old Navy Sample and Share for their awesome t-shirts.  I was SO excited to be chosen for this because I know that summer is just around the corner (please!) and who doesn't need a few more t-shirts to spice up their wardrobe?

Crowdtap sends you the coupons in the mail, and then you and a lucky friend get to head to Old Navy to scour the t-shirts and collect the goods!  

Sometimes it can be tricky to know exactly which t-shirts or products are included on a coupon, so I enlisted the help of an Old Navy employee right after entering the store.  The employee was SUPER nice and VERY helpful.  She led us over to the vintage and basic tees that were included in the coupon.  There were SO many to choose from!  The colors were awesome and bright and so spring-like.  Some of the basic tees were henley-styled with buttons on the front and the vintage tees were softer and some had stripes and other patterns on them.

Of course, we tried on a bunch of the shirts to see what we liked the best...

I was a big fan of the vintage tees because they were softer and longer (therefore giving me a little more room for my expanding belly)  :)

The perfect crew tees and perfect Henleys were super cute too and they came in great colors like this kelly green Henley:

Overall, a fun time was had by my friend and I.  We had no issues with the coupons working this time and the employees were super helpful (and even a little envious).  It was a great trip, and I've had a lot of complements on my t-shirts already!  I plan to wear them as long as I possibly can!

The Everyday Effect - Part Two

For part one of this series, click here.

If every company out there took an interest in the environment, like P&G has, can you imagine what impact it would have?  It would be HUGE!  To see all that P&G has changed and accomplished recently, check out their stance on Environmental Stability.  

As a conservationist, I was most impressed to see:

P&G is partnering with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to focus on sustainable sourcing of materials for P&G products, including renewable forest products and palm oil. As we move to using more renewable materials, particularly materials such as pulp and palm oil, we need to ensure that production does not lead to loss of natural ecosystems, with associated loss of biodiversity. Over the last five years, we’ve deepened our partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the WWF-led Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN), and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in order to ensure we support our critical programs that help us, and others, meet the challenges of sustainably using forest resources.

P&G is even packaging materials in plastics made from sustainably harvested SUGARCANE.  Little steps from a big company make a HUGE impact!

But at home, you might feel more overwhelmed in your ability to make a difference.  It is hard to see the impact that the 'little guy' makes, but that doesn't make that impact any less important (or necessary).  I am a firm believer in that the future of our Earth lies with the younger generations.  Which is why I may come across as the 'crazy granola mom' to others in my neighborhood or amongst my group of friends, but I'll tell you what -- my kids DON'T CARE (at least now, LOL). And while they are young, I CAN make an impression on them that will last a LIFETIME.  I want them to see me recycle, to see me pick up the trash that someone ahead of me threw on the ground.  I want to teach them about not being wasteful and to teach them instead to be respectful of their surroundings.  Kids are SO WILLING to help out for any 'cause' at this age.  Make it a good cause!!

With that in mind, I wanted my 5.5 and 3 year old at the forefront of my Earth day plans/activities.  P&G's Future Friendly program inspired me to sit them down and ask them what they thought they could do to 'help the Earth'.  Some are definitely more do-able than others.

1.  Turn off the water when brushing our teeth (Max)
2.  Wash all our clothes in cold water (Mom)
3.  Mulch grass back into the lawn instead of bagging it (Dad)
4.  a heart (Sam)
5.  Clean up garbage when we see it outside (Max)
6.  Turn off lights when we leave a room (Max)
7.  Eat all the food we put on our plates (don't waste food) (Mom)
8.  Draw on both sides of the paper (Max)
9.  Read a book (instead of watch TV) (Sam)
10.  Recycle (Dad)

We are going to work on all these things (not sure what to do about #4) up through Earth Day.  I hope to be back next week to post updates on our progress!

This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/P&G

The Everyday Effect -- Part One

Earth day is approaching, April 22nd for those of you living under a rock.  I always think of April as a time of rebirth -- spring has usually sprung by now (except for this year where it is hiding out somewhere and only gives us brief glimpses of spring-like temperatures), some plants are starting to emerge from the ground, trees start to bud out.  Spring has always been my favorite season.  After months of a long, dull winter I am always ready for warmer temps and the ability to escape the house and be outdoors.

That's why I also like to take the month of April to look at what types of things we are doing as a family as see if there is any way to change them to make less of an impact on the earth and to reduce our waste impact.

So, I'm super excited this year to be partnering with P&G to make that happen this year, and to spread the word about waste reduction.

P&G has a great site set up to give you lots of ideas on how to improve your health and well-being, your home and garden, etc. called P&G Everyday.  Check it out, there are lots of great articles and resources (and coupons!).

About P&G Everyday Effect

Many people think their everyday actions are ordinary, and that the things they do every day can’t make a difference to help the environment. P&G believes the most effective changes don’t necessarily start with grand acts and can start much closer to home, by changing the way we think about things like waste.

Seemingly ordinary actions - like washing your laundry in lower temperatures, doing the dishes with concentrated products or changing a diaper that uses thinner materials – can be a surprising help to the world we share... allowing us all to reduce waste.

To kick off the month and choose our challenge(s) we're going to sit down at the dinner table tonight and talk about Earth day and what we can do to help reduce waste, save energy and help our planet.  With a 5 1/2 year old and a 3 year old contributing to the conversation, this could get interesting.  I look forward to seeing the final list we come up with.  Stay tuned!

This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/P&G

Product Review: L'Oréal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream

Anyone who knows me knows I love to try new things...and to get to try them for free is even better, right?

That's why I love being a member of SheSpeaks!  SheSpeaks is a community powered by women who love to get the latest scoop and share what's hot. Signing up is free, so check it out!

So, I'm sure you can imagine how excited I was when I learned that I was chosen to test out L'Oreal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream.    The cream promises to "give the sheer coverage needed to create a natural bare skin finish, while delivering built-in skincare benefits. With four beautifying actions, this all-in-one innovation primes and smoothes, perfects to hide flaws, hydrates all-day, and corrects and evens skin. The product is infused with skincare ingredients like Panthenol, Vitamin E and Glycerin for 24-hour moisturization."

To apply, simply dot on and blend with fingertips. Self-adjusting beads will instantly transform and blend to your skin tone.

And yes, you are in luck. I took some before/after pictures and even some VIDEO!  **Gasp**  Don't make too much fun of me, OK?  Promise?

First of all, this cream is really amazing.  I love how it comes out white and then as you rub it on your skin it blends and matches your skin tone.  It was almost magical, actually!  Also, I am not a big makeup fan -- I hardly wear it at all -- mainly because I don't like the feel of something cakey or thick on my skin...so I am pretty particular about what I use.  This stuff was SO lightweight it felt like a liquid powder on my skin.  I really liked it. And the coverage for being so light was very impressive.  Well...see for yourself:

And now, just because I know you want to see me in action, I've even taken a video of me using the BB cream.  Eat your heart out!  :)

L'Oréal Paris Magic BB Cream retails for $10.95 for 1 fl oz. It is available in four shades and is sold at mass food and drug retailers nationwide. Click here to find out more.

*Disclaimer:  This is my own honest opinion.  A free product was provided to facilitate this review.*

Torani Syrup Review and Recipes!

If you have a love affair with your local coffee house, you most likely already are familiar with Torani Syrups.  I know I am!!

So I was thrilled when She Speaks offered another opportunity to sample some Torani syrups and blog about them.  I am starting a collection of Torani syrups in my cupboard and have found SO many everyday uses for them!

Here are a few simple ideas:

1.  Pumpkin pie enhancer -- add two shots of Pumpkin Spice Sugar Free Torani syrup to your pumpkin pie recipe!  This was a GREAT addition to our pumpkin pie for Thanskgiving.  It added a new dimension of flavor to the pie and made it taste extra creamy and flavorful!

2.  Make your own 'salted caramel coffee drink -- add a shot of sugar free salted Caramel Torani syrup to coffee and add a more liberal splash of milk or half and half.  This is my new drink of choice -- and it is virtually calorie free!  SO good when you have that dessert craving at night (just use decaf coffee).

3.  Use Torani syrups in place of 'extract' in your dessert recipes.  Especially useful in frostings or cookies.  You can make easy peppermint cookies or salted caramel flavored frosting!

4.  Mixed drink enhancer: a shot of peppermint in your vodka martini....some sugar free vanilla in your eggnog brandy....you get the idea.  A little more flavor makes EVERYTHING better, right?  :)

Want to try any for yourself?  Here's a great coupon for 10% off that I can share with you!  Add Torani to your holidays!

About Torani:
Since 1925, 3rd generation family-owned Torani has been crafting great tasting flavored syrups that coffeehouses use to make their flavored drinks taste so delicious. With over 120 flavors in Regular and Sugar Free varieties, Torani flavored syrups are perfect for flavored lattes, mochas, coffees, cocoas, Italian sodas, teas, lemonades, cocktails and smoothies. Coffeehouse professionals choose Torani flavors because they are expertly crafted and made with the highest quality ingredients, like natural flavors and pure cane sugar. The Sugar Free flavors have no calories and are sweetened with Splenda. Now, Torani flavored syrups are widely available at retail so you can easily create authentic coffeehouse quality drinks at home.

Disclaimer:  I received  two 750ml bottles of Torani Syrups plus a recipe booklet, and 5 coupons for $1 off my next Torani purchase.

TREAT -- Greeting Card for FREE! -- UPDATED WITH GIVEAWAY!!

If you follow this blog regularly, you know that I am a big fan of Shutterfly already.  But have you seen Treat yet?

Treat is owned by Shutterfly and it is an online home for making, sending and putting some real love and personality back into greeting cards. With Treat you can completely 

customize and personalize your cards to make a one-of-a-kind kickass creations that could only come from you. 

You can add your own words and pictures so your cards stand out from the crowd.  These aren't your typical boring greeting cards from the drugstore— you can make one that actually has thought and meaning behind it. 

What's really cool is that if you are at a loss for exactly the right words, Treat has a Message Library to help inspire you.   Forgot a gift and need one at the last minute?  Treat has you covered with integrated gift cards printed right inside the card you create!  How cool is that?

They even have an awesome reminder service to help make sure you never miss a birthday, anniversary or important milestone. 

So, of course with all this information, you KNOW I have a giveaway coming, RIGHT?  

First, with the holidays fast approaching, Treat wants to help make your holiday checklist shorter.  Right now, you can create and send a totally personalized greeting card from Treat

FOR FREE!!

Whether you are saying thanks for Thanksgiving, wishing a best friend a holiday birthday, or simply sharing the holiday cheer with a 'just because' card, Treat lets you create a one-of-a-kind card that is sure to impress!!

But HURRY!!!  This offer for one free Treat card is good only on Monday 11/19 and Tuesday 11/20!!!

Just use code:  TREATBLOGR at www.treat.com for a completely FREE card!!

After you're done making your card, please come back and leave me a comment letting me know who you made a card for....

Friday morning, I will select at random from the comments, a winner for a code worth
20 CARDS FREE AT TREAT ($85 VALUE!)

EASY PEESY GIVEAWAY!!!!

  

Thank you to Treat for offering this wonderful promotion! 
***note I am compensated by Treat for this post**