How One Becomes A Christian--My Story

When I was a teenager, I found God and devoted my life to him by baptism of complete immersion in water. It was a long journey to get that point, and while I have lost a lot of details of the time, I still vividly recall the feeling of safety and love of my God at that time.

It didn't take long for my life to go awry. I have kept my faith in God steadfast throughout, but I can't claim that I was living anywhere near His image nor was any kind of good Christian. I was a typical teen with typical teen problems and mistakes... but then I was an atypical teen at the same time. In the years of my remaining teens and early adulthood were filled with lies, deceit, unplanned pregnancy, infidelity and so much more that leaves me being thankful that my God already knows all my mistakes so I don't have to hash them all out here.

Before I continue, I have to say that I am very far from proud of the following story. I am telling it in it's honesty because I know that it has to be told that way. A lot of people were hurt during this time and I don't want to reopen any wounds. My goal is to complete the healing process for all involved and to put my own testimony of the power of Our God into words.

Several years ago I was married to a man whom I had known for a very long time. We were unhappy for a lot of reasons for a very long time. About the time that we had decided to through in the towel on our marriage, we were blessed with the news that we were finally expecting a baby together: something we had both wanted. As in many stories, we took this as a sign to work harder on things and choose to stay married and raise our daughter together.

Many can guess, but the child did not make things better. Our marriage stayed unhappy and turned toxic and hurtful on both sides. It was a nightmare that I still can't believe I lived through. I spent many days wondering how to come out of this awful relationship without losing my daughter. I didn't see a way for the man was adamant that if I left, he would be keeping our only child from me. That was not a risk I was willing to take and he knew it.

Around the time that our precious little girl turned two years old, her father left the country with the military on a six-month deployment. A few weeks later found me on the phone with a dear friend having a familiar-to-me conversation: How could I leave and still keep my child? Now was the easiest time, but how does this all work out? What does my life look like if I just take off before he comes back home?

That friend was my biggest spiritual compass during all the worst years of my life. She said to me, "I know you have prayed about this and I have prayed for you so much. But have you truly handed this situation over to Him and let Him do His Will?" I was so confused by her question.

"What do you mean? God can't put money in my private savings account and find me a place to live and ensure me full custody of my daughter? I have asked Him for His help and so far there has been a lot of radio silence! I have to figure this out..."

My ever-patient friend sighed and told me again, "You have to let go of this. You cannot control something this big. It is already in His plan. Say your prayers and tell Him that you will do as he sees fit, whatever it may be and just wait for the solutions to come to you. Stop thinking about it and wait."

Not gong to lie, I thought she had lost her mind a bit. But after four years in an unhealthy situation, I was ready to try anything. So that night after putting my darling daughter to bed, I had a chat with my God. I told him that I had tried everything I could, but I no longer knew what to do that. I told Him that keeping my daughter was the single most important thing in my life and that everything else could be sacrificed, but not her. I told Him that I would hand over control to Him and trust that he would show me the path meant for me. Then I went to sleep with a heart full of hope.

The very next afternoon, less than 24 hours later, my husband calls me from the country he is in. I was out at the grocery store and we had a terrible connection--which wasn't unusual. There were a lot of things sad on his end that I didn't hear at all and other things I couldn't decode through the static and blank spots. To this day, I still don't know what else was said because I have never asked. Here is what I do know...

The conversation started with a lot of interference and the first thing I could understand was "I think we should get a divorce." My heart froze, unsure what to think. This is what I wanted, but what would that mean for my child and me if I agreed? I told him I didn't understand since we had just started hours earlier and everything was fine (well our version of fine). His explanations and reasoning was completely lost over the oceans that separated us and they will remain there.

The other parts of the call that got through clearly were that he was willing to give me full custody so our daughter could live with me because he knows I am wonderful mother (something he had never before said to me) and that we would split up all property equally. We ended the terribly-connected call with plans to talk later the next day and I was just utterly shocked.

I honestly have no idea what happened to spark this change in my ex-husband, but it came immediately after my vow to let God take the reigns and steer my life down the best path for me. I have never asked the ex why he finally was willing to let me have our daughter and end a very miserable four-year marriage. I won't ever ask him either, because I don't need to. I know, with zero doubts, that God put the whole thing into play just for me.

Today, I have two other children with my now-husband and I can't even begin to describe how happy and fulfilled I am. My daughter's father is still in her life and they talk and visit often which makes me happy for her. My ex and I have a relationship based on our mutual love for our daughter and so things are generally pretty amicable between us. The life I have today is the life that I thought I would never be allowed to have; the kind of life that I felt God just simply left out of His divine plan for me,

So that's my story about how My God took me out of the most awful situation of my life the moment I relinquished control. It is my testimony and will always be my reminder that He has a plan for us all and it is far greater than any of us could ever have guessed.

Christmas Evolution

Although, my family is not celebrating Christmas for a few days, I find myself reflecting on my Christmases past. Growing up, a large Christmas event on Christmas Eve was always the highlight of my season, as any large family get-together always has been. As an adult, I was not really a fan of the Christmas season.

Looking back nine year ago to 2006 (my first Christmas as a real adult), I recall spending the holiday alone as my ex was deployed and having an older friend buy me beer at a 7/11 so I could sit a home and drink alone. It was possibly the most depressing holiday I have personally experienced.

The following few years brough more family into my life as I spend the next several Christmases in Quincy with my family. Although, outside of those celebration, my holiday spirit was non-existant at home. In 2010, I decorated and put up a tree for Morgan's first Christmas and adopted the motto of "fake it til you make it" regarding Christmas cheer.

Although I was happy to give presents to my daughter and see how much she liked Christmas decoration, lights and seeing Santa, I was still just doing it for her each year and found no joy in the holiday myself.

That is until about three years ago. Riley was not concieved and Morgan was just over 2. It was our first Christmas with Shain​ and it was like a light had gone on inside. I found a new joy in Morgan's joy and excited. I loved seeing Shain anxious to give Morgan and I the gifts he had picked out and seeing him put lights up outside our duplex. I wasn't with my large family that I adore, but I had this amazing feeling of completeness in our small home with our family of three that I had never felt before.

Now each year, I get more excited about the holidays and the great things I can teach my children about the season. This year Morgan is learning about Jesus and giving and appreciation for what you recieve, no matter what it is. I'm excited to turn on our tree each day and to see the "Merry Christmas" sign on my door. It took me quite a long time, but I think I finally found my personal reason for the season and love being able to be surrounded by my amazing kids and wonderful husband each year (even if none of our other family can be with us).

So Merry Christmas to everyone and congrats if you made it through my rambling.

Pentel Reviews

My amazing friends at Shoplet, who sell great office supplies, sent me three of their Pentel writing products for my review recently. As previously stated, I am a pen/pencil fanactic so I was super excited to try these out.

My overall favorite was the Retractable Gel Pen. It writes 1000 times better than any pen I have ever owned and it has amazing lasting power. It writes smooth and is very comfortable to grip while writing. It has become my staple pen inside my purse and I use it for every thing I can think of!

Retractable Gel Pens

I am not a huge pencil fan lately as I am doing a lot of official paperwork that requires blue or black ink, but as far as pencils go, this one is really nice. It is easy to reload and I love that the eraser is also retractable. It takes a pretty standard lead size of 0.5mm.

Mechanical Pencil

 

This ballpoint pen set is pretty nice. I like how lightweight they are and the colors are cute and fun! A few of them are more on the pastel side for my liking, but they write very well and evenly and seem to last pretty long. I did have one of them in my purse for a few weeks, but due to the hustle and bustle of my purse movement, it came apart. So it may not be the best long-term travel pen. Otherwise, I have nothing but great opinions!

Retractable Ballpoint Pens

Also, check out cleaning supplies and medical supplies on Shoplet as well!

Schneider Pens Reviews

My whole life, writing utensils have been one of my favorite office supplies. It is a real challenge for me to leave a store without buying some kind of pen or pencil or marker--and it is never because I NEED them. So it was a no-brainer when I was asked to review these pens made my Schneider for Shoplet.

 

All of the following Schneider pen products were included in my complimentary package and I love them all!

Slider XB ViscoGlide Ballpoint Pen
Slider Edge 1.0mm Ballpoint Pen
Schneider Xpress Porous Point Pen
Slider Basic Ballpoint Pen
Slider Memo XB Set
Slider Memo XB ViscoGlide Ballpoint Pen 
They can be purchased by following the links above.

So what did I think of them?
Well the Xpress Porous Point Pen is one of my favorites because it creates very thick, dark lines like a fine point marker (but it is a pen!). But the thing that set it apart from other pens is the the lasting power. I have had this pen since June and use pretty frequently. Not only has it not run out of ink with regular use (in fact all of my Schneider pens have great writing power still), but this pen has been put through an extra rough test that every other pen and marker I have ever had has failed:
About two weeks ago, my children lost the cap to my Xpress pen. I was super upset! I have used it a couple times and each time I pick it up, I expect it to not work... But as I am typing this, the pen still works just as well as it did Day One and you would have no idea that it has been sitting around my house with no lid/cap of any kind on it.

I really like the cute colors of the Memo XB Set, they are a bit different than any other colored pens of a similar kind.
The clips on the pens (for the ones that have them) have been particularly useful and durable through my neurotic clicking of it while reading/working and my small children seemingly attempting to snap them off.

Also, check out cleaning supplies and medical supplies on Shoplet as well!

Bostitch Dynamo Stapler Review

I got this Stanley Bostitch Dynamo Stapler for review and it is such a handly home office tool!

The first thing I noticed and really liked was the size. This is a full size stapler, but is a lot shorter than my current stapler which makes it much easier to fit on the top shelf of my desk and really eliminates the unnecessary lenght that I have always disliked about my cheap stapler that I have had for years.

Mini stapler on the left, Bostitch stapler in the middle, my old standard stapler on the right

Another really great feature is the built-in staple remover. I currently have a separate tool to remove staples and this makes that completely unneeded--saving me even more space on my already cluttered desk!

built-in stapler remover

This particular item is a Value Kit that includes 420 staples, so I don't have to buy staples at the same time as the stapler and for my small home office, that will last me a very long time! Paired with the StapleStore compartment on the bottom the hold extra staples, I am all set to start stapling right out of the package!

StapleStore compartment

This can secure up to 20 sheets of paper together without problem, which is great for my tax returns that I do each spring. Helps a lot to not have to use multiple staples for those larger documents and packages.

Some other features that help in making this my new favorite stapler include:
-Antimicrobial protected (because who doesn't hate germs!)
-Integrated pencil sharpener for EVEN MORE space saving!
-Allows you to use it at 180 degrees to staple things on walls or bullentin boards
-Can  be stored vertically or horizontally
-Ergonomic design for extra comfort
-Non-skid base for protection of your furniture and stability during use

pencil sharpener

180 degree use

Best Thermometer Found

As a mom to two young kids, I take temperatures often. In my four and a half years in momhood, I have gone thought about 7 different thermometers, ranging from combo ones to standing stick ones to nice ones that I spent $50 on. None of them seem to last and they have either lacked in accuracy or not been anywhere near fast enough for my taste. It has been a big struggle for me.

When I was given the change to test out the Nanny's Choice Thermometer, I agreed to post my thoughts on Amazon. However, after using it around my house, I have to share my thoughts and experience with my blog readers as well because it totally deserves the praise.

This is probably the great thermometer I have ever used and I have owned several of them. My most recent thermometer was an ear/temporal combo one and I didn't feel like it was very accurate and often froze up on me. I have had zero issues with this one. Not only does it take the temperature incredibly fast (about one second) but you don't even have to touch the person to take their temp! Just point it at the forehead about 1-1.5 inches away and push the button. The color display helps you know when a temp is normal, slightly high or really high I think that is a nice guide for anyone who might not know when to really worry on a temp.

My favorite feature that is unlike any other thermometer I have ever owned is the ability to get the room temp or take a surface temp as well as the body temp. I like to take the room temp to see if my thermostat is working well or not. I used the surface temp setting every night to check the kids bath water. I also found out that my hot water on max heat comes out at 113 degrees! I might need to adjust my water heater!

The Nanny's Choice Thermometer is so easy to use, I am just amazed. Switching between the modes and taking the temp is all so quick and easy and done with just a push of a button. As a bonus, they include a wonderful box to hold it in so it can say clean and safe and away from so many things that would likely harm or hurt a thermometer. I don't think I will ever get another thermometer!

GeckoTech Product Reviews

Duck brand is branching out from more than just duct tape and I am super excited! Find these products and all your other Office Supplies on Shoplet.com.

Duck HP260 Packaging Tape w/Dispenser
Let's me honest, everyone loves Duck brand. I am so glad they finally make packing tape like this. I sell a lot of things on Buy Sell Trade facebook groups and eBay so I send our small packages from my home a few times a month at least. I think this tape unrolled the easiest of any shipping tape I have ever tried. Very little effort and unrolled nicely so it worked great to attached my Paypal labels onto the package without messing up the tracking information. The sharp edge is sharp, but not too sharp that I get accidentally cut when I use it.

Duck GeckoTech - Reusable Hook
I use this for my daughter's school bag and coat (like shown on the packaging) and it works wonderfully! It has a 5 lb weight limit so it might not work for older kids bags that have lots of books in it, but it def works great for my elementary school kid.
My favorite part is that its clear so you don't have to worry about it looking ugly or clashing with your wall decor.
I think the reason that this one works so much better than the similar Command brand hooks is because the area that connects to the wall is much larger on the GeckoTech Duck brand.

Duck GeckoTech Reusable Hooks

I really like that these hooks are removable. They are super easy to move and re-position on the wall. They are also water proof, which I haven't had to test out just yet.
I use this one by my front door for my keys so I don't lose them.
My favorite part is that its clear so you don't have to worry about it looking ugly or clashing with your wall decor.
I think the reason that this one works so much better than the similar Command brand hooks is because the area that connects to the wall is much larger on the GeckoTech Duck brand.

Terrified of the World

I hope every generation of parents think something like what I am about to write, only because I don't want to be the first in a lifetime of scary futures.

I am afraid of the world I have brought my children into.In my sweet, small, humble hometown, a 12 year old boy was shot and killed in cold blood. A week later and they still don't have any answers, or at least not any that are being made public.

Someone is walking around that town free, and that someone who took the life of a child. Maybe that child was not the most innocent, maybe he was involved in something that he shouldn't have, maybe the parents allowed him to get involved in something illegal. I don't know, but I do know that he's gone and there is no reason for that.

I don't want to imagine how that mother felt when she found him laying dead in the road. I can't imagine it because it overtakes me and I start be nothing but a ball of worry.

In a world away from my hometown, a dear friend of mine has had her world turned upside down. A person she loved and trusted violated her and her children in ways that can't even be described. For years, her trust was given fully to this person and the whole time this person was abusing her trust and love and kindness. While she is thinking how wonderful this person is, the person is wronging her in every way possible. In the worst ways possible.

I don't know how I would feel in her situation, and I pray and pray and pray every single day that I am never even in the same dimension as her and her pain. I want to take her pain away so badly. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. No one deserves this.

I know that no one gets what they deserve in the real world. Good things happen to bad people and bad, horrible things happen to good people without explanation. Those are kind of things that can shake the faith of even the truest believer. The question of why is often on everyone's minds.

My question is not why though, for I know that I will never understand or be able rationalize it. My question is "When will this end? Will it keep getting worse? Are my children doomed to live in a world that is too scary to even face the reality of everyday life?"

Bad things happened around me when I was growing up. People were hurt in accidents, a good friend lost his two young sisters and his grandma in a car accident and his family is still trying to heal at least 15 years later. People died of cancer and surprised their loved ones by committing crimes and hurting those around them. It happened bad then and we just have to accept that and stay away from bad people as much as we can.

But today... the world today is much worse and scary than anything I ever knew was possible. I find myself terrified of my children being out of my sight for a second and worried about who I let around them. I'm not only afraid of them falling and scraping their knee, but I'm afraid of someone taking away their innocence and ruining their core goodness.

I'm petrified of someone taking their lives.

It is to the point that when someone I don't know approaches me in public, I hold my breath and immediately start praying and looking for help. But that isn't the worst part. The worst part is that I'm not being unreasonable to have these fears. It's very plausible that any random person can and will hurt me and/or my children.

That is the reality of our world. It is enough to make me wonder if I was being a terrible, selfish person by bringing them into this world of chaos, hurt, anger and pain. Would I have made the same choice today to have children, knowing the state of our world and what it can very easily become? I love my children and I am so blessed and lucky to have them; they are my world... but that doesn't change a single thing about our society, so would it change my answer?

I can't answer that question with a solid yes.

And that is also terrifying.

Inessence Aroma Essential Oil Diffuser

I recently started using essential oils around my home for cures for common aliments. I love using peppermint oil for headaches, migraines, and nausea. I have been using lavender, chamomile and a YL exclusive blend to help everyone in my family rest and be calm for bed in the evenings.

One of my favorite ways to apply oils to everyone in my household is to diffuse them. It tends to be a stronger way to get the oils into your system faster and not having to worry about skin reactions (though we have yet to experience any). The best part is that everyone in my house can benefit at once when I diffuse essential oils.

So far I have tried three different essential oil diffusers, all with their own benefits and draw backs. This is the beginning of a series of posts that I will be dedicating to my personal use and experience of essential oils, diffusers and all other EO related products.


First Up: Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser from Inessence

This is the diffuser that I use in my daughter's room and it was the prefect selection for her. It lights up in 8 different colors (a few of Morgan's favorites are shown in the below photos) and the transitions between the colors are as equally pretty as the ones shown in the photos. This diffuser has it set up so you can have the lights continuously changing or by pushing the "light" button again, it will stay on the color you selected, or the light can be off completely while having the diffuser still working. The light is completely separate from the mist function, because it can be on with or without the mist.

When you take the lid off, which locks into place by rotating it til the dots are lined up on the side, there is a very useful measurement lines that shows you exactly how much water is in the diffuser and how much remains so you can judge how many drops of essential oils to add in. It also came with a little cup that helps you fill the diffuser really easily, instead of having to put it under the faucet like other diffusers.

The diffuser timer setting are pretty great as well. You can set it to automatically stop misting after 30, 60, 120 or 180 minutes. I wish it had a 10 or 15 minute setting, as many oils suggest to only diffuse for a shorter amount of time, but this is my only diffuser that has a built in timer, so it already has a lot up on many other essential oil diffusers,

You can find this diffuser here on Amazon. I doubt you would regret this purchase for your home, Coupled with a 180 day Home Warranty Guarantee from the manufacturer, you know that it will last or they will replace it for you.

To keep reading my other posts on Essential Oils and all things related, click here and check back often.

Found a Solution to my Cookware Issue

A constant struggle in our house is how my husband treats our cookware. Sounds silly, right? But if you saw the current state of pristine cookware that I brought with me when we moved in together, you might want to cry a bit too. I finally had to make two cabinets for pots and pans: one for him to use (his older stuff, things that weren't as easy to burn/ruin, and dishes I didn't care about) and one for everything else.

I believe his issue is that he cooks on super high heat for everything and lets the pan get to like 500 degrees before putting anything on it. I never goes well. Tons of grease all over the kitchen, burning of the pan and food instantly. It is really hard for me to watch. (BTW, if you ask him, what I call 'burnt' he considers cooked and I eat my food undercooked)

I have been on a mission to find a nice frying pan that he won't be able to ruin, but is that even possible? After trying like 3 or 4 different kinds--stainless steel, non stick, teflon, etc--I was about to give up.

Enter Ozeri, AKA my Savior! I found this on Amazon and I was excited about the green color alone, but I was not sure that even this amazing looking pan would be the answer to my problem, but one can hope right?

So what did I think after using it for a couple months now?

This pan and withstand anything! Remember I told you how my husband cooks and abuses cooking utensils? Well that hasn't changed at all. So this pan has really gotten a workout around here. Eggs, bacon, ground meat, mushrooms, peppers, onions--you name it and my husband and fried it on highest heat in this pan.

The non stick coating on the pan is still totally intact and I can't see any signs of wear or damage to this pan at all. I have other nonstick pans that you can see were the coating is coming off and bubbling in places, but not this one!

I love that the surface base of the pan has a texture to it, I think that is an extra added feature to assist in nonstick and I think it stops food from getting burnt and and staying on the base of the pan even more.

One of the other things that are significantly better on this pan over the many, many others I have tried is the handle. Its heat resistant silicone so its comfortable to grab and hold and never gets hot. That is one my biggest annoyances is when I can't pick up a pan because the whole handle is hot to the touch.

I love this pan! I am planning to get a couple more sizes and replacing every other piece of cookware in my home. I am very much looking forward to having just one set of pans again--you know like a normal person.

I received this product at a discount in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

Last Children's Step Stool You'll Ever Buy

When Morgan potty trained last year, we had to get her a step stool so she could reach the toilet and sink easier. Due to urgency, we purchased the first things we found locally, a 2-step stool we got from WalMart. While it worked really well for the purpose, IT WAS SUCH A PAIN. It didn't collapse and so it took up like 12 inches of floor space in my very tiny bathroom. We were always tripping over it, having to move it or put it up and then scrambling to find it when she needed to go potty--not ideal for a potty training toddler at all.

A couple weeks ago I found this on Amazon and just to have it. Why? It folds. It's pink. It will support every member of my household. It has hearts. And its PINK, did I say that? So how did it fair in actual practice? Here's what I think:

It folds/collapses.
The folding feature is not only super convenient and helpful, but its really easy to do. Both my 4 and 1 year olds can fold and unfold it with easy (and do as they kind of think its a toy sometimes). I love that you can just grab the edge of the heart and lift it off the ground to fold it up. But even better is that when they push it over, it just folds up on itself.

Very well-made.
The plastic is wonderful too! It's very thick and sturdy and it also has little bit of a texture with it so I think it helps grip the feet of whoever is standing on it. Much better than the smooth texture of our old one. 

hearts. Pink. Need I say more?
But most importantly, IT'S PINK AND HAS HEARTS! I was soooo excited when I saw it (so was my daughter). The hearts are super cute too and it makes her excited to use it. 

Supports up to 220 pounds and very light!
It is really lightweight and easy to carry around for her. I have also stood on it (being only 5 foot tall) and not felt like I was too much for its weight at all, and it is advertised to support and hold up 220 pounds!

I donated my old step stool (and my easily attached daughter didn't even care) and I would never go back. This is best step stool we have ever used and I'm considering getting more for my house!


I received this product at a discount in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

Quaker Oat 3-Minute Steel Cut Oatmeal - Blueberries & Cranberries

So I had heard of steel cut oatmeal for awhile because it is recommended to assist in upping your milk production while breastfeeding, but I had never tried it. 

I got the Cranberries and Blueberries steel cut oatmeal from Bzzagent to try in exchange for my review. 

Let me be honest, my expectations were low. It says on the package that you can't make it with milk, which is the only way I enjoy my regular oatmeal. But I trusted the package and added water before microwaving. 

Note: you have to change the power level on your microwave before cooking, as I have seen some people ignore that advance and not have good results. It is actually much easier than you expect.

You know what? It's great! The texture isn't much different that the oatmeal you are used to (despite looking way different) and the flavor, especially the berries, is wonderful! My 17 month old son and 4.5 year old daughter love it too! We are sold on the Steel Cut Quick 3-minute Oatmeal around my house! Thanks Quaker Oats!

Smead Product Review

I am an organizational FREAK. Seriously, when this package I am about to review came, I squealed with joy and my husband said, (no joke) "Did you get more organizing stuff in the mail?" He knows me so well, that's why he has my heart *swoon*

As many of you know from my previous blogs, I am a tax preparer for my friends and family. I make very little money from it, but I love doing it. Something about the way the numbers all add up on the 1040 and then result in giving my loved ones an influx of cash once a year is calming to me. The biggest struggle I have is staying organized during my crazy tax season (which is about 4 weeks start to finish for me).

I rarely start on one person's taxes before I have finished previous person's, but I do often have the information printed and "queued up" on my desk. That was never a huge problem until this year. I now have a very active one year old who HATES anything on any table or desktop. He feels like it is his sole duty to make sure every surface in my house is clean and clear of all items, regardless of what they are. He, of course, does this by throwing everything on the ground (which also happens to be my short term trash can in my office when I am working). Not good for organization.

This is when one of my new loves entered my life: Smead 12-pocket Stadium File
HOW have I lived without this? Let me show you what my desk organization during tax season looked like before:
PHOTO

But with this organizer, my life changed! (OK that may be a bit dramatic, but you get the point). It holds over 900 sheets, has 12 separate pockets and it stands on its own. Let me be honest, I was worried it would stand up because it is pretty sleek, but I thought I would just find a place to have it laying down and it would still be super useful. But guess what?

IT STANDS!

I'm sure you are wondering what all the files in my awesome standing organizer are? Well, the are from Smead too. The pink ones are Smead SuperTab tab file folders and I really like them. Not only are they pink (my second favorite color) but they are thick and hold up really well. I have some  in this organizer, and some are just being used around my house. Neither have been damaged just from normal wear and tear like a lot of less expensive file folders. My favorite part is the oversized tabs because I have pretty big handwriting, but they would also be good for fitting a lot of words on there. Of course the 1/3 cut tab that are left, center or right make it great so you don't have too many tab on one place ans not able to see what the labels say.

The red, blue and yellow file folders are Smead 3-in-1 SuperTab Section Folders which have to be the coolest file folders I have ever discovered!

Not only do this folders have POCKETS inside (one of the left, two on the right) but hey also have the little tab on top that holds papers in place and can be used as another way to separate papers. I put my bills that I have already paid for the month behind the top tab and the ones I have yet to pay in front of the tab in the pocket. These are also the 1/3 cut tabs so they are large for viewing and writing. My ONLY dislike about these is that my pack was all left tabs. I wish it was a variety of tab positions more than variety of colors.

Be sure to check out more items from Shoplet:

Office Supplies, Promotional Products, Medical Supplies, Office Stationary

HP Product Review

I'll admit it, I am HUGE Hewlett-Packard HP fan. I bought a desktop computer from them in early 2009 and it still works just as fast and accurately today as it did the day I set it up--I have a lot of stuff stored on it! In fact, I just today had to finally replace my wireless keyboard and mouse that came with it (after 6 years!) but only due my children damaging them, not because the product was faulty! In fact, my keyboard only had to have the batteries changed TWICE in 6 years. Needless to say, they make a very quality product and I always feel like they stand behind their items.

As a gift, I received HP EcoFFICIENT paper to try at home. OK, I admit it, I thought, "What could I say about paper? Isn't all paper the same?" But I was actually surprised at how different this paper was from all the others that I had owned and used before (many different brands and colors and weights).

So this paper couldn't have come at a better time for me. I am a seasonal personal tax preparer for my friends and family and despite everything in this world being done electronically, I still do have to print some forms for my records (and theirs). This year, I actually had to mail in two state returns and an amended federal return. Why is this relevant? I'm getting to that.

When I opened the first pack of paper, I was shocked at how thin the paper felt. I instantly new that I would like this more of just about any use (my daughters watercolors are the only exception to that). I am kind of a weirdo about the texture and sounds made by paper (I buy notebooks based on how that page sounds when I turn it after I have filled it with writing). This was so lightweight and made the slightly, soft crinkle when moved around just one page--almost like tissue paper.

So my next thought was, "is this going to print well on my inkjet printer and not bleed through the page?" See for yourself! The photo below is of printed words on this HP ecofficient paper (on the left) and of a much thicker Target brand paper (on the right). The Target brand paper is about 10 times thicker and feels almost like cardstock compared to the HP paper. As you can see, both have equal amount of showage from the back of paper, I almost dare to say that you can see through the HP paper LESS. (Ignore my messy desk)

So why did I mention the taxes I am mailing to the IRS? Because the weight of this paper allows me to get an amended federal return and all the supporting documents mailed in just a standard envelope through the post office and not be too bulky or weigh too much for just one stamp! Seriously, I could fit at least twice as many pages as standard paper (but I'm daring to say more like 5 times as much) with it being the same weight (which does matter to the post office when sending things standard mail AKA third class).

To compare the stats (which mean nothing to me) on these two papers: The Target brand is 20 lbs and 75 G/M^2 and the HP brand is 16 lbs and 60 G/M^2. (as seen on the product photo at the top of this post)

Argan Oil Hair Mask Review

I love love love this stuff! I have the problem of buildup in my hair from cheaper hair products so I wanted to try this to see if it helped at all.

The smell is AMAZING! My husband literally asked me if he could eat it (my answer would be no, just to be safe). I mostly use it as a replacement for my standard conditioner but I have used it as a hair mask after washing and both results are the same. My hair feels healthier, lighter, cleaner and just FRESHER. I am so in love. I can't ever use anything else! New staple in my bathroom!

Get your own here

Desk Pad Organizer Review

 

Being a blogger and manager of my household, I do a lot of work at my desk and it usually looks like this ----> 

(note: this is not my desk because I far too ashamed to show you my actual desk).

So office supplies like pens, pencils, paperclips and just about anything else that is smaller than an 8.5x11 piece of paper, gets very easily lost in the piles.

Artistic sent me their Executive Desk Pad Organizer (and made me feel super special for being sent something with 

'Executive' in the title) to help simplify my life.

I have a desk with a pull out keyboard slot, which is where I store desk pad organizer. I'm pretty sad because it was damaged in the move and no longer rolls out, but if it did, it would be super easy to just roll out that part of desk when I need something from the convenient storage spaces up above (so this minor inconvenience is due to my broken desk and not my amazing Artistic Desk Pad.

The Desk Pad is made out of super thick cardboard and covered in "fine-grain leather-like" material that looks very sophisticated and professional. I almost feel like I should be an exec!

My favorite feature has to be the cover over the storage spaces at the top. I have two small ones and they love to mess with my stuff, plus I am very clumsy so I tend to knock things over and spill things a lot. I can have a load of paperclips in one of the small trays and not spill them, in part because of the cover.

I think the only thing I would change about this would be to offer different styles. My desk is set up in the way that it would work better for me if the storage space was on one set or another, but remained the same size that it is now.

Disclaimer: I received this product complimentary in exchange for my review on social media, but my thoughts and opinions are my own and I would never recommend a product that I do personally enjoy or find of quality.

Promotional Products, Medical Supplies, Office Stationary

Meet Lulu!

Meet Lulu is a magical coloring book that includes a stylus crayon for your iPad or Android tablet app (download of the app is free).

Here's how Meet Lulu is different than most other coloring books for kids: you can color on the pages or you can scan the pages into the app and color on your tablet device.

I tested this out with my 4 year old daughter. She looked the pictures and was really excited to have a special crayon that she could use on my iPad. Each page has a QR barcode that you can scan in the app to bring up that page, but it was kind of unnecessary because the app has the whole collection of coloring books listed and the pages easily displayed for the child to choose to color.

The stylus crayon worked, but not the way I wished. It has a rubbery tip and I wish it would slide along my iPad screen a little better, but my daughter didn't notice or care. The worst part is that my daughter decided to put the crayon in her mouth and bit it on the tip so it does not work pretty much at all anymore. However, the app works just fine without the crayon stylus and she still has the coloring book to use real crayons on.

The illustrations in the book were very adorable and my daughter thought they were so cool to color. It's really ideal for traveling or in the car because my child can color without needing any crayons--just her finger and my tablet.

I didn't see an option to save your progress on a page and come back to finish coloring it, but my daughter was a big hog of my iPad so I can't be sure that there isn't one somehow.

Great app and lots of fun for both of us. Neat idea!

Get yours here

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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