Today's Deals

Enter to win tickets from AMC to a showing of The Nightmare Before Christmas in a theater near you! (Check site for dates and theater locations.)

FREE Target samples are live again! Pick what you want to receive and fill out your information! Shipments should arrive in 3-5 weeks.

Head here to score a coupon for $2 off any full-size Pantene Expert Collection product! High value!

Get a BOGO coupon for use at Family Dollar for MiO liquid water enhancers! These can get pretty expensive so that's a great deal!

Another high value coupon - $3 off any one OxyClean laundry detergent at Dollar General!

Professional Cocktail Muddler Bar Tool Review + Giveaway

My husband's favorite mixed drink is probably an old-fashioned, or at least his version of it, so he likes to muddle up a couple cherries in the bottom of his glass before adding the other ingredients. I have seen him do this (and laughed) with a spoon for years. It always seemed ineffective to me, so when I was approached to try and review the Professional Cocktail Muddler Bar Tool from BTIPSY, I was excited to surprise him.

The muddler bar tool is made of stainless steel and super easy to clean and it has a 3 year extended warranty. The actual end of the muddler is a rubber-like material so it isn't noisy while muddling in a glass or bowl and there is very little chance of damaging your dinnerware by using it.

So how did it work? Well my husband would like to add his own opinions:

"The husband here.

I would like to add that the muddler has a wide base (where you place it in the glass while muddling), so there doesn't have to be a lot of gyrating.

I think that places it above usual muddlers. No motioning around with your wrist. You just place a few cherries (or whatever ingredient) on the bottom of the glass, press the muddler down and twist it a few times.

Voila! A great mixture without a lot of work. Very convenient."

So there you have it, definitely better than a spoon.

You can buy it here,

 

but wouldn't it better to win one!?

Enter my giveaway below! Ends 10/23/14


a Rafflecopter giveaway
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.

Copper Sole Socks Review

I hate socks. I hate shoes. I would rather be barefoot, but I suffer through wearing flip flops when I have to wear something on my feet. I only wear closed toed shoes when I am out of the house during the 2 coldest months of the winter. I wear flip flops in the rain even! So even though I do own socks, a shock to many people who know me, I do not enjoy wearing them.

I have two kinds of socks: thin and pretty useless (my usual go-to) and thick and make-my-feet-sweaty. I only wear the latter with shoes that are too big for me to make them fit better.

I have flat feet so I am almost always suffering from foot and ankle aches, especially at the end of a day full of my wonderful little ones. I have adjusted to that being part of life (like my frequent migraines and constant backaches) and didn't think that anything short of expensive and uncomfortable shoe inserts would do much to help me.

When BzzAgent selected me for to try out Copper Socks, I actually selected to get them in my husband's size (Men's size 6-12/Women's 8-12) Large because I just assumed I would make him try them out for me. But after reading my friend's thoughts about them in a facebook group, I decided to try them on when they arrived.

Now I have small feet, women's size 5/6 normally and my husband wears shoe size 10-10.5 normally. I expected for the socks to be huge on me, but they weren't. They fit snugly but weren't too big on my foot or too tight. That, of course, had me worried that they would be too small for my husband. But the elastic and fabric in these socks are made of some kind of magic because they fit him equally well!

When I put the socks on, I was immediately struck by how soft and comfortable they were, seriously, I was kind of in awe. They were thick so they felt very much like a slipper, but a snug fit that were like, well, socks.

The thickness made me certain that they would be too warm and my make feet sweat. I like it cool in my house (read: I sleep with my thermostat at 66 at night just about year round) because I have been basically pregnant or breastfeeding for almost the entire last 5 years. So to test it out, I wore the socks around my house for several hours as I played with my kids, watched tv, cooked dinner and snuggled up to nurse my baby in my bed. To my amazement, MY FEET NEVER GOT HOT! These socks are made part magic, I tell ya!

I even wore these socks to bed and slept the whole night without being too hot or taking them off in my sleep. I am sort of in love! I sad when I remembered that I had actually ordered these in my husband's size and he really needed new socks... I didn't want to share.

But I am a good wife, so I shared with my overly skeptical and hard-to-please husband. Guess what? He was amazed by how soft and comfortable they were too. He likes them so much that he put them on our bedside table after wearing them for a couple hours so he could re-wear them in the morning! (My husband doesn't usually re-wear anything, he calls a towel dirty after drying off his hands!)

This morning, my husband asked if they make these socks in black (so he could wear them to work) and if I would look into ordering more. We are both sold on these socks, and I might have to reconsider shoes so I can wear them more than just around my house.

From my research, the current price is $24.99 PER PAIR (a bit steep, but definitely worth it). But I was given a coupon code to share with my readers!
Go to http://bit.ly/1mN2VVV and use coupon code CSCU615 to save 50% off one pair of Copper Sole socks. Code expires 6/30/15

Freebies and deals for 10/16

Facebook freebies:
Mom Made Foods is having a Facebook coupon promotion - head to their Facebook page and "like" them to get a pack of coupons for free! (Only valid for residents of CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, KY, MA, MD, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, & WV, takes 1-2 weeks to arrive.)

If you shop at Ralph's there is a deal on their Facebook page to load your rewards card with a coupon for a free 1/2 gallon of Simple Truth almond milk, coconut milk, or organic soy milk!

Enter to win a package of limited-edition wipes from Yes to Carrots on Facebook! I love them and their products, they're gentle on the skin! 500 will be given away!

Website freebies:
Click here for a coupon to Kohl's for $10 off any toy purchase of $50 or more! Good instore or online! Great for the holidays!

Enter to win one of 5,000 full-size bottles of Aussie split end treatment! Free to enter, no purchase necessary! (Select "no" on any offers on the page!)

Ongoing:
Join FabKids today! Full outfits for $30 for girls and boys of all ages! Adorable clothes, great deals - I got shirts for both my bigger kids for just $4 when I joined! You won't regret it!

Advil Film-Coated Tablet Review

I don't know about you, but I get headaches. I get them a lot - and typically they happen because of the three lovely little boys I spend my days chasing around. I love them a lot, but at the end of the day the screaming, running around, and general chaos of life leave me with a lot of pain. My back, neck, and head are often very done with me by the time I get to turn in. The problem is that I still have a lot to do after they've been tucked in, and I need something in the mean time to get me through the rest of the day!

That's where Advil film-coated tablets have come into the picture for me. As part of CrowdTap I was chosen to review a sample of Advil 200mg film-coated tablets. I was pretty excited about these because I'm always looking for new ways to help my aches and pains go away as fast as possible and they sounded pretty promising. Ironically enough, when I received the box I had a headache - so I gave the new film-coated tablets a try.

The effect was faster than I could have imagined! I wasn't left waiting 2+ hours for relief. Within about 45 minutes I could feel my headache drifting away. It was gone completely within the hour. The film coating on the tablets is supposed to help with absorbency, and I think it really follows through. I definitely approve of the new Advil film-coated tablets!

Depression Lies Because I Am Blessed

"Today I left some dishes dirty,
The bed got made around 3:30.
The diapers soaked a little longer,
The odor grew a little stronger.
The crumbs I spilled the day before,
Are staring at me from the floor.
The fingerprints there on the wall,
Will likely be there still next fall.
The dirty streaks on those window panes,
Will Still be there next time it rains.
Shame on you, you sit and say,
Just what did you do today?
I held a baby til he slept,
I held a toddler while she wept.
I played a game of hide and seek,
I squeezed a toy so it would squeak.
I pulled a wagon, sang a song,
Taught a child right from wrong.
What did I do this whole day through?
Not much that shows, I guess that's true.
Unless you think that what I've done
Might be important to someone,
With dark brown eyes and soft brown hair.
If that is true... I've done my share."

One year ago, I was struggling more than I ever have in my life. I was a new mom-of-two and I felt like I was failing more than I was allowed. I felt like Morgan needed me more than I could give and Riley was dependent on me for more than I had. I was in an emotional haze and I was not living up to my own expectations.

One night, I called my husband in a panic and demanded that he come home immediately. I told him the thoughts that I couldn't get out of my head, thoughts that I had NEVER heard in my own mind before. I had looked at my life, and felt certain that everyone would be better off without me in their world, that my children were done a disservice for getting me as a mother and they would be so much better taken care of without me. I thought I should no longer be a part of this world.

Instead of listening my head, I called my husband and asked for help. I wept to him about all my failings and told him how scared I was of all the damage I was doing to our kids by not being a good mother....

And he reminded me that depression lies and that I was dead wrong. My children needed me and he needed me. He helped me take a deep breath and look at my sweet offspring. Riley was laying peacefully on my bed resting with his angelic face and Morgan was adoringly watching a show on her LeapPad next to him. Both of them were safe and healthy and well taken care of. The only person's expectations I was not meeting.... were my own.

So I convinced myself to give myself a break. And I am still here one year later, and my kids? Well my kids are... they are happy and healthy and well taken care of and amazing and smart and wonderful. They make my life worth living and remind of all the good I have done in this world by having them and teaching the best way to be an important part of our society.

I am blessed to be a stay-at-home mom and I am blessed to have these small humans love me so dearly. I am blessed to have a husband who cares about what I think of myself and continually reminds me that I am doing an amazing job.

In short? I am blessed.

California Kitchenware Butterfield Silicone Cupcake Molds Review

Have you ever tried silicone cupcake molds? I am in lots of co-ops that often run buys for them, but I have never been brave enough to try them. I had a silicone bread pan once, but it was the WORST to clean so I was afraid the cupcake molds would be the same--that kept me from ordering any.

Until California Kitchenware contacted me about trying their silicone cupcake molds found here. Since I have a four year old with a mouth full of sweet teeth, cupcakes are a frequent flyer in my house so it was just a matter of the occasion to arise to try them. That day was today and I was oddly excited about making a cupcake mess in my kitchen that would allow me to try these adorable molds.

First of all, they are shipped in a plastic container that would probably be useful to keep for storing them (mine was stolen and mostly eaten by my one year old). Secondly I have to mention the colors--these molds came in a set of 12, which had 4 blue, 4 yellow and 4 pink (my daughter says its purple so it could go either way). The colors are very vibrant and bright! My daughter was excited to bake in such pretty colored molds.

Instantly I was in major like with these molds. My biggest peeve of paper cupcake molds are that they don't really stay down in the pan until they have some cupcake mix to weigh it down. Since the silicone molds keep their shape, they fit into my cupcake pan perfectly.

I prepared on pan of silicone molds and one pan of paper liners (I'm making marble swirl cupcakes):

All the cupcakes were done at the same time, but I think they silicone molds cooled a little faster for some reason (they were definitely hot to the touch out of the oven though--I checked). I was most excited to see the difference between the cupcake after you peeled away the mold and liner.

The cupcakes baked in the silicone seemed to hold the moisture a bit better so they are just a bit softer and fluffier. Also, the difference of the amount of cupcake remaining on the liner/mold was drastic. Aside from cupcake mixture I dripped on the edge of the mold, there are almost no cupcake stuck to the mold, but the usual amount stuck to the paper liner.

Both sets up cupcakes were delicious, but the cupcakes baked in silicone were prettier looking, more consistent in size and shape and easier to peel. A plus is that silicone is reusable, so less waste for the environment!

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.

Ice Pop Mold Maker Review

My daughter is a Popsicle fiend! Seriously, she wants Popsicle after Popsicle from the moment she wakes up until the time she finally closes her eyes at the end of the day. Aside from the fact that they lack all nutritional value, my biggest complaint is how messy they can be (and if there is a mess to be made, my daughter finds a way to make it--she is only 3 afterall).

While searching for an easy solution (I lack all creativity in every aspect of life), I stumbled upon a new company looking for bloggers to try their product and give honest reviews. That company is BeeSili and they offered me Silicone Ice Pop Mold Container to test on my Popsicle loving kiddo.

I used them in a sort of unconventional way (reminder: I am not crafty at all) by opening the flimsy plastic containers of ice pops and poring them into these ice pop molds. I did one set by pouring the unfrozen liquid Popsicle into the ice molds. They froze quickly and were super easy to push them up and break them into pieces because of the very flexible silicone that the molds are made of.

My other set was done after the popsicles were already frozen in the plastic sleeves that they came in. I just opened the plastic and smooshed the frozen popsicle into the mold. The kind of popsicles I had were not quiet the same size as the molds so I had to force the extra in the mold, or have leftover popsicle in the plastic still.

Some tips for use from BeeSili's amazon listing:

*6 ice pop molds stand up in a cup or glass for easy filling
*Each mold holds 3.3 oz or about 1/3 cup
*Leave 1" at top for expansion when frozen
*Run warm/hot water over sides of frozen pop to loosen for easy push up
*Fill pops: left over smoothie mix, juice, jello, yogurt, pudding, coconut, almond or chocolate milk with berries, left over baby food, leftover sauces & more!
*Adults Only: Margarita, pina colada, daiquiri mixes, jello shots & more!
*Pets: On the go, travel snack keeper for your pet's treats
*Keep snacks fresh: Nuts, seeds, dried fruit, granola, veggies, candy
*Travel: Snacks, vitamins, Q tips, cotton balls, gum, mints

My favorite part of this product has nothing to do with this product, but the company behind it. These silicone products were created to fund a project that benefits soldiers with PTSD. More information can be found here: www.brainbodybalance.com 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.

Keomi Skincare Handmade Soap Review

I have never tried handmade soap before so I was excited to see how Keomi Skincare's Handmade Soap could match up against the big store brands of bar soap.

You can find it for sale here in Sea Breeze, Luscious Lavender, Green Tea Goddess or Golden Crow for $8.97 per bar. You can also order samples for free on their website, just pay shipping and handling. There are also multi-packs you can order on Amazon.

I loved the decorative paper the soap was wrapped in and shipping was very quick directly from the Keomi location.

The bar was not very thick, about a half an inch, but I have used it many times already and have not noticed it reduced in size at all so I think it lasts longer than normal thick bar soaps you can buy in the store.

The scent was very nice, although I would have probably picked a different one myself, and I loved that the bar had little pieces of something inside to give it a very unique texture.

The ingredients are all organic so there should be no skin sensitivity issues. From their Amazon listing, the ingredients are: Saponified Oils of Pure Olive, Palm Kernel, Avocado, Grape Seed, Coconut, Cocoa Butter; Dead Sea Salt & Dead Sea Clay, Seaweed, Scented with a Blend of Lavender Oakmoss & Fir.

For the best results, I would follow the directions provided for storing and use:
Store open soap in a dry place, out of the stream of water, and on a draining soap dish. Don't let soap sit in a dish or container that is bowl shaped, or that allows water to pool in the bottom. Avoid those indentations built in some showers as "soap dishes" as they rarely drain properly. When using soap for body cleansing, longevity improves if you avoid rubbing the bar directly on the body. Instead, use hands, washcloth or other bathing instrument to apply. 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.