Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Educational Insights Design & Drill Socket to Me Review & Giveaway #ToyReview
Design a boat, robot, race car, or rocket with a real, working socket wrench and rugged bolts – then play with your creations! Endless construction fun for preschoolers.
Preschoolers love designing, building, banging, and using their imagination. The Design & Drill Socket to Me Play Set lets them do all the above. I love the fact that every toy that is on the Educational Insights website teaches while they play.
Play isn’t all fun it games, it’s very beneficial for kids and their growing minds. When preschoolers play and design with small pieces it teaches hand-eye coordination as well as problem solving and creativity. Adisyn couldn’t wait to get started after the box came in the mail. She even put them all in a certain tote so she could keep up with all the pieces after she was done.
The set comes with 4 different hands-on pieces which include a boat, a race car, a rocket, and a robot. The socket wrench actually works like normal and makes the clicking sounds as well. They use the socket wrench to attach different colored bolts to the pieces. She had tons of fun “building” her creations. She thought she was miss fix it all after this, lol.
This doesn’t require any batteries at all, so it makes it the perfect take along toy. You can throw this in your beach bag for a day at the beach, or in your kids backpack for long doctor waits.
Win your OWN!
Good Luck!
-Jessica
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Sangria Sunday with [Yellow Tail] #SangriaSunday
Thank you to Deutsch Family Spirits for my sample used in this review. Opinions when given are honest. Never forget to drink responsibility.
Sangria Sunday is about taking time out for yourself. Time to do whatever it is you want to do, even if it may be doing absolutely NOTHING. This time is for you to regroup from the week and relax. A cold bottle of Sangria by Yellow Tail and nothing but you time!
There was no denying my excitement over getting to experience the Sangria Sunday Care package. It came with a bottle of Sangria wine, a cute polka dot tote bag, a bottle of sangria red nail polish, and a little booklet.
I had been meaning to catch up on DIY books and their reviews. I have been super busy and needed a small break. I had been meaning to go through the books at all the amazing ideas and thinking about what to write on their reviews and my favorite projects.
“Sangria is a delicious mix of citrus and red wine. The aroma is perfumed and enticing with orange rind and red berry notes that splashes onto the palette with a soft, sweet-citrus flavor and hints of spirit.”
It felt nice to kick back, relax, and look through such inspiring books. The wine was delicious. Nice, fruity taste but yet not too sweet. It was tasty, refreshing, and went great with an amazingly productive Sangria Sunday.
I’m definitely looking forward to having a spa Sangria Sunday soon, as well. I found an amazing list of do-it-yourself hair and face masks that I think my friends would love. A couple bottles of Yellow Tail Sangria, and it’s a girls night in!
What will you do with your Sangria Sunday?
Post below with your twitter handle and we’ll tweet your comment along with #SangriaSunday and @YellowTail_Usa
or like and tag Yellowtail on Facebook with #SangriaSunday ideas and/or pictures!
-Jessica
Monday, May 12, 2014
Aqua Spa Bath & Body Collection Review #AquaSpa
Experience the spa at home and indulge your stressed out skin with benefit-rich minerals found in pure ocean waters. The Aqua Spa products give you the beauty boost that your skin is needing about now. Escape to the spa without leaving home! Give yourself a little me time and relax!
I love the fact that they are made in America and are chemical free. You won’t find any parabens or formaldehyde in these. The natural ingredients overpower the man-made ingredients, which is AMAZING!
Aqua Spa products are spa quality and have aromatherapy benefits. There is 4 different bath/body products and 3 different scents. Aqua Spa send me a variety of the scents. I love the top quality of the products yet they keep them affordable. You aren’t going to see huge prices stuck to these products… each is only $10-$15
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Formulated to help stimulate cell renewal, enhance skin elasticity, strengthen skin, boost collagen, and keep skin hydrated
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No parabens or formaldehyde donors
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Not tested on animals
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Proudly made in the USA
The Soothe Bath Soak
Tired, achy muscles? This bath soak is made with Eucalyptus and Mint to make those tired muscles feel better. This Soothe bath soak is perfect when you’ve had a long day and your body has had enough. Those days you just want to slip into something more comfortable and kick back.
It is a gently foaming, replenishing soak that brings those tired muscles back to normal. This bath soak is nothing short of absolutely amazing. I had been doing cartwheels outside with the kids and pulled my leg muscle (uhhh.. next time I’ll remember I’m not so limber anymore haha). I had a huge bruise and could barely lift my leg.
This was the perfect opportunity to use this. The bath salts look like tinted Epsom salt yet bubble and foam when you add it to bath water. I thought that was pretty amazing. I wasn’t expecting that. It not only felt great to sit there and soak but the mint/eucalyptus blend melts the senses! It is so invigorating yet relaxing. love it!
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Formulated to help stimulate cell renewal, enhance skin elasticity, strengthen skin, boost collagen, and keep skin hydrated
The Energize Body Cleanser
Envelope your skin with an ultra nourishing body wash that washes away impurities without stripping or over drying your skin. Start your day with the amazing Energize Body Cleanser that will sharpen your senses and your skin!
The Body Cleanser is a clear, liquid soap with a sweet yet bold scent of ginger & citrus. This is the perfect mixture to get your senses awake and moving because it’s light and fresh! This is blended very well. It doesn’t have an overpowering citrus scent (which always make me think of furniture polish). You can sense the ginger over the citrus which makes the perfectly sweet yet invigorating scent it has!
It doesn’t generate a giant amount of foam like you’d get from a body wash. It isn’t creamy but it is just silky enough to spread very easily onto the skin, It has a pump action top which is always appreciated with bath products! I love how each color represents the scent. The orange bottle makes you think energy and awake, doesn’t it?
Although there isn’t as many bubbles, this still leaves my skin squeaky clean yet soft. I love that isn’t so much a soap as it is a gel. Soaps leave your skin dried out, but this body cleanser adds nourishment back into your skin! I love how hydrated my skin feels
The Relax Bath Oil
Pamper your skin with the intensely hydrating Relax bath oil. It helps to replenish moisture to your skin that has been lost.
The aroma of the Lavender and chamomile has such a calming, relaxing, soothing scent. I absolutely love it! I have always loved these two scents mixed and try to get it as often as possible. I love the fact that they offer an entire collection of each scent! Would make a perfect gift basket!
The oil is a beautiful pale purple color that lightly tints the water as it gently foams. It has a sweet floral scent with an added undertone of light pine or something. It smells amazing! After soaking in the bath with the bath oil added my skin felt so smooth, silky, and hydrated.
The scent lingers throughout the bathroom after I get out, and I notice it still on my skin a while later. I love it. This is perfect for weekend soaks or having a hard “mom” day when you just need a second to yourself while the kids are sleeping.
I love the fact that my skin feels hydrated but it doesn’t feel oily afterward. It doesn’t feel baby oil or anything like that. It’s more of a lightly coating oil that doesn’t clog pores, which I love. Using this is like having my own personal getaway in the bathroom!
You can add this to your skin after the bath as well, as a skin oil.
The Relax Body Crème
Spoil yourself with the lavishly rich and creamy Relax Body Crème. Thicker than a lotion yet not as rich as a body butter, this is the perfect consistency for dry skin! This is the perfect way to top off a long day. The soothing, calming scent of the lavender and chamomile is just perfect before bed.
Although this is thicker than a lotion, it absorbs like one. It absorbs very quickly without any oily residue left on my skin or hands! This is definitely on my top of favorite moisturizers. My skin can get on the dry side when I go to the tanning bed and this definitely helps! I love it!
Connect with Aqua Spa Online:
Facebook, G+,Twitter, and Instagram
XOXO
Jessica
Beauty Review: Marc Anthony Repairing Macadamia Oil Hair Care
You all know that I am a huge fan of Marc Anthony Hair Care products. He merges nature with hair care and comes out with pure genius sulfate-free products. They smell amazing and work AMAZING. If you haven’t you should definitely check out the reviews for the Argan Oil Hair Care Line and the Argan Oil Styling Collection.
They have a new line they recently added that contains macadamia oil. Macadamia Oil is known to nourish and revitalize hair that has become dull and damaged. That’s why I was excited to see that they had a complete Macadamia Oil Hair Care line that comes with Shampoo, Conditioner, Deep Healing Treatment, and Weekly Conditioning Treatment.
I also love the fact that Marc Anthony always does Sulfate-Free hair care. Sulfates within shampoos and hair care basically strips the hair of its natural oils and causes lasting damage. That’s why I try and avoid it at all costs.
The Shampoo and Conditioner
The Shampoo and Conditioner both have a warm tropical scent. It is very intoxicating and refreshing. Makes me think I’m soaking up the sun on the sand by the beach.. ahh.. It has a vanilla/nutty fragrance that kind of reminds me of tanning oil in a way.. I love it.
The shampoo has a decent lather, which is a good thing. Most sulfate-free shampoos don’t lather very well, so that was a welcome surprise. It does clean very well and I have a naturally oily scalp. My hair was clean, soft, and didn’t feel weighed down.
The conditioner is fantastic. It has the same tropical/nutty/vanilla scent as the shampoo, which I like very much. My hair felt very moisturized and nourished after I used it. Although my scalp is oily the rest of my hair can get dry at times and I could immediately tell the Macadamia oil was giving my hair the nourishment it had been missing.
The conditioner soaks right into my hair, and very little is needed. I leave it on for about 3-4 minutes for extra benefits. I love that there is no left over residue or oily film on my hair. It looks healthy and shiny and I owe it all to Marc Anthony Hair Care products!
The Deep Healing Conditioning Treatment
This has the same delicious scent as the shampoo and conditioner. This is an amazing hair and scalp treatment that is used weekly. The natural ingredients naturally repair and revitalize dry, damaged hair. It is almost like the consistency with a thicker, richer consistency.
I love how well and how quickly this soaks into my hair, and only about a quarter amount is needed to coat my entire hair. One packet is $4.90 but you can definitely get more than just one use of the packet. If your hair is short you could possibly get 3-4 uses.
I would highly recommend this to someone who styles their hair with heat, dyes it, or perms it. If you use a deep conditioner on a weekly basis the damage isn’t so apparent. There aren’t any splitting or breaking hairs. Nothing but soft, manageable, beautiful hair.
The Oil Treatment
I am in LOVE with the hair treatment. This is a very versatile hair oil. You can put this on damp hair before you dry it, or after you’ve already straightened your hair. I love how lightweight it is. It doesn’t make my hair look or feel oily yet it takes away ALL the frizz instantly.
It not only COATS the dry, damaged hair to make it look flowing and healthy but it goes deep down into the hair shaft to actually TREAT the damage. It smells amazing and is perfect for on the go. Since summer is here, this would be perfect to put in your beach bag for a day out!
“We love to find the little hidden gems that Mother Nature provides for our health and well-being. No matter what, we always have clients whose hair needs some serious TLC and for this we look to nature’s Macadamia Oil and Bamboo. Our favorite part of this blend is that it is both lightweight and rich at the same time, which makes it perfect for just about every one of our clients.”
– Marc Anthony Stylist Team
Connect with Marc Anthony Hair Professional Online
Facebook, Pinterest & Twitter
-XoXo
Jessica
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Giveaway: Panasonic Stainless Steel and Glass Coffee Maker
-Jessica
Monday, May 5, 2014
DIY Dye: Bright and Funky Temporary Hair Coloring by Loren Lankford ;Ulysses Press
Want an accent streak of fire-engine red? How about forest-green tips? Or maybe you’re daring enough to transform your locks into a rainbow of bright colors? It’s all up to you!
With DIY Dye and some imagination, you can easily personalize your hair with any color and style imaginable. This comprehensive guide offers step-by-step instructions on every aspect of at-home hair coloring including:
• Picking the right dye
• Concocting original hues
• Adding highlights
• Getting an ombre in any color
Whether you’re looking to add color for a day, week, month or longer, DIY Dye shows you how to fashion the look you want using affordable options like coloring kits, chalks, henna, food coloring and even Kool-Aid packets.
Punky colored hair isn’t just for anarchists anymore. These new looks are being rocked by everyone from top models on the runway to regular women on the job. Now, DIY Dye brings together all the latest and greatest ways to create an iridescent ’do into one helpful and handy do-it-at-home guide.
There are countless products for freaking out one’s locks, but woefully little information on how to use them. This comprehensive manual lays out all the options for what to use, explains how to use them most effectively, and describes what different types of hair will do in reaction. Readers will learn all the ways to go from basic blonde to baby blue and to control how long their looks will last. Seeking out a one-night stand? Try the simple, nontoxic recipe for homemade hair chalk. Want a summer fling? It’s amazing what Kool-Aid can do.
My Review
DIY Dye - Bright and Funky Temporary Hair Coloring You Do at Home ($14.95 USD) by Loren Lankford. (Also available at Amazon here in Kindle edition and hardcover)
I’ve always loved experimenting with my hair color. The first time I dyed my hair I was like 12. Of course, I messed it up but still. I always loved mixing it up and I’ve probably had every hair color on the planet. When I got this book in the mail, I knew I was going to love it, I just didn’t know how much.
It’s jam-packed with interesting ideas and techniques. If you’ve ever messed your own hair up, you know how great it is to have a few tips on hand. This book is like a hair dye bible. There’s no way that you could say you don’t want this book after you’ve flipped through it. Pure awesomeness.
She really explains in detail how to keep your hair healthy and nourished while dying it. Using bleach is something that definitely needs to be done with care. Bleach and lightening products can really wreck havoc on your hair. Keeping it healthy is a priority to me. I like change but I don’t like damage.
I really love the natural options for color and highlights instead of using dyes that are packed with chemicals. Whether you’re looking for something temporary or something permanent, there is something for everyone.
I also love the little tips and tricks boxes throughout the book. Each one contains useful advice or information that makes me seriously wish I’d had this book when I was younger. I could’ve saved myself a ton of hair tragedies.. lol.
The book is broken down into 3 categories:
The first Get Ready contains everything from materials to color wheel-basics. This is particularly useful for those who are trying to get a specific color of hair for your hair type. It’s common sense that it’ll take more challenges (like bleaching) for a darker hair color to accept bright pigments. I love how well she explains it though. Great for beginners and experts alike.
The second is The Dyes which contains the recipes and techniques for dying your hair. It covers bleaching, hair chalk, kool-aid, colored-hairspray, henna, food coloring and store bought. I love how well she explains each method and how each has a set of pictures that make following along almost dummy proof. She did an amazing job!
Of course there are boxed dyes, but do you know the tricks to choosing which shade? This book covers how to make sure you don’t choose something that will end up grey or orange. Plus the recipes for each technique show you how to choose your own custom colors.
The third is the DIY Style which covers the different styles in dying. Whether you’re looking to just color the tips, go two-toned, ombre, or even rainbow—she explains (with pictures) how to accomplish it.
“With step-by-step instructions for every style from two-tone to ombre to a full head of highlighter-hued hair, this complete guide to the wonderful world of home hair dye leaves no follicle untouched.”
Question: Have You Ever caused yourself a complete hair disaster and what was it? You can post comments below or tag me in any instagram pics @stylishsouthernmom or twitter @aidanadisynsmom.
About the Author
Loren Lankford is a Georgia native, NYU film graduate and current L.A. dweller. When she isn't rescuing dogs from high kill shelters, thrifting items for her online Etsy shop, Southern Dropout, or editing her crafting website, CraftFoxes, she's doing actual freelance work!
\An early graduate of publishing giants Hearst (CosmoGIRL! and Cosmopolitan), Time Inc. (Entertainment Weekly) and Condé Nast (Jane), Lankford has also written, produced and edited for AOL's Lemondrop.com, NBC's iVillage, Paste Magazine, MTV and several others. She helped launch Fab and Bookish, did all the research for a best-selling memoir and spent time as a community operations admin at Etsy. "Time off" means traveling all over the world for sporting events and film festivals.
Get the book.
DIY Dye: Bright and Funky Temporary Hair Coloring You Do at Home $12.97
-Jessica
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Giveaway: Coach Getaway Signature Nylon File Bag
Welcome to the Coach Coach Floral Print Swingpack Handbag Giveaway
Jenns Blah Blah Blog Monthly Fan Appreciation Giveaway!
This Sweepstakes is sponsored and hosted by Jenns Blah Blah Blog. Co-hosted Just Free Stuff, Coupon Hauls, Pink Ninja Media, Pink Ninja Blogger, Simply Shawn N Jenn, Everything Mommyhood, Barefoot in Bluejeans, Mama Mission, Thrifty 4NSIC Gal, Bay Area Mommy, Momma Lew, Rude Mom Blog, and all the awesome bloggers helping to promote this event! Every single month we team up for this awesome giveaway, because we love our readers, without you we wouldn't have what we are lucky enough to have. We thank you for everything you do to help us. All your support is appreciated more than you will ever know!
Getaway Signature Nylon File Bag
- Signature nylon fabric with patent fabric trim
- Zip-top closure
- Fabric lining
- Outside zip and open pockets
- Adjustable strap for shoulder or crossbody wear
- 10 1/4 “ (L) x 5 3/4” (H)
Giveaway will run until 6/01/2014 at 11:59pm EST, is open worldwide, must be 18 + to enter, and use the Giveaway Tools widget below. Good Luck!
Disclosure:
I have not been compensated for this post. All opinions and experiences are my own. Open Worldwide, must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor(s), Jenns Blah Blah Blog will be responsible for prize fulfillment. My blog is not responsible for prize fulfillment. The sponsor of this event will be responsible for fulfillment of prize (Jenns Blah Blah Blog). This event is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
For questions, or to have your brand features contact Jenn via jenn@jennsblahblahblog.com.
-Jessica
Tech Review: Nokia Lumia Icon #VZWLife
Disclosure: I received a Nokia Lumia Icon at no cost for review. I am a Verizon Wireless Buzz Lifestyle Blogger. I did not receive compensation for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
(Picture credits): Verizon Wireless.
I’ve been working with Verizon and I was given the opportunity to review the Nokia Lumia Icon Black. Nokia has definitely stepped up their game with the Icon. It has the ability to do things that no previous Nokia can.
There are so many features that make it worth buying, but the best one is the camera. I’ve never seen a smartphone with a better camera. Even the Galaxy S4 is only 13 megapixels while the Icon is 20 megapixels.
The Nokia Icon pulls ahead of most other smartphones in some ways. The Nokia Icon is jam-packed with futuristic, cutting edge hardware, including a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core CPU. This is definitely the perfect windows phone that everybody has been wanting.
Specifications-
- Windows Phone 8 Update 3, build 10521
- Lumia Black firmware
- 5” full HD 1080p OLED display, ClearBlack, Sunlight readability, Glare-free, Super sensitive touch, Gorilla Glass 3
- Pixel density: 440 ppi
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 Quad-Core processor, 2.2 GHz
- Adreno 330 GPU
- Camera: 20 MP PureView, ZEISS optics, OIS, 2x lossless zoom, oversampling, dual LED flash
- 2 GB RAM
- 32 GB internal storage (no micro SD)
- Bluetooth 4.0 LE
- Display features: Brightness control, Orientation sensor, Sunlight readability enhancements, Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3, Easy to clean, High brightness mode, Lumia Color profile, Sculpted glass, Wide viewing angle
- 2420 mAh internal battery with Qi wireless charging
- Dimensions: 5.39 x 2.79 x 0.39 in
- Weight: 166g /5.86 oz
- nano SIM
- Networks: LTE: 700MHz; SVLTE Band 13; Band 4; CDMA: 3G EVDO 850/1900 Rev A with Rx Diversity; Global Ready: GSM (850MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, 1900MHz) UMTS (850MHz, 900MHz, 1900MHz, 2100MHz)
Design-
There aren’t any creative or bold design colors available with the Icon. It is only available in white or black. So if you were hoping for green, yellow, or blue.. you won’t find it. Nokia tried to keep the Icons design as conservative as possible and since most people buy cases, phone color shouldn’t matter anyway. Or at least to me it doesn’t.
It definitely feels sturdier than other smartphones. I needed something that could withstand the torment of my 5 year old and seven year old. I needed something tough and the Google Glass screen makes it just that. The phone has already fallen out of my truck onto the concrete and it didn’t even scratch anything (WITHOUT a case).
Size-
Plenty of people skipped out on buying the Nokia Lumia 1520 because of its enormous size. The massive size made it awkward to hold the phone comfortably. The Nokia Icon has totally changed up the game with the size, it’s only a hair taller than the Lumia 928. Fits perfectly in my hands, and I have small hands.
Homescreen
The Homescreen is fully customizable with Live Tiles and apps that you check the most, such as email or social media. I absolutely love it. I love that the tiles flip and show my updates and notifications. I don’t have to constantly click anything because my homescreen lets me know if I have a new email, message, or Facebook update.
Screenshots
Each smartphone is different in which buttons you should push to get a screenshot. With the Nokia Lumia Icon:
To capture a screenshot, press the Start button and the Power button at the same time.
To view the screenshot you've taken, navigate Photos > albums > Screenshots from the start screen.
I love how easy it is. It’s even easier to screenshot with the Icon then it is the Galaxy S4. With the Galaxy I was having problems getting the home button to push in as the same time as the power button. The home button gets stuck sometimes. With the Icon, the windows button responds very well to my touch. It didn’t even take me a second to get it right. With the Galaxy I’d have to try a couple times before it would work!
Apps
I have been having tons of fun playing around with the apps. There are so many different apps in the Windows Store. There are apps for everything. The Store is an amazing place because you can search for exactly what you’re looking for. I personally think that the apps at the Windows store are somewhat better than regular Google play apps.
I love that I don’t have to keep scrolling through all the available apps and games. I can just jump straight to whatever it is I’m looking to download.
I also love the fact that the apps are alphabetized and can be searched through. I don’t have to spend time searching through the long list. I can just hit the search button and have the app right there. Makes things 10x easier.
Camera & Videos
The 20 megapixel camera puts the icon at the top of the list for the most powerful cameras. It never fails whether you’re in a light or dark place. The pictures are always sharp, never dull and fuzzy like some night pictures are. It also allows rezooming and reframing pictures after they’ve been taken.
There are also a ton of apps that you can download that takes amazing pictures, lets you edit, and lets you add filters. I love the fact that I no longer have to pack around a heavy camera to get high definition, beautiful pictures!
You can record full HD Video with the amazing visual and audio qualities. This is because the Icon has Nokia PureView Imaging. It comes with 4 microphones, which are all high performance. This allows the phone to capture true stereo sound with impeccable accuracy at cutting out most of the background noise.
It doesn’t matter what you’re looking for in a smartphone, the Icon definitely has it. There is no better choice and you’ll love the feel of the Windows 8 interface.
The Nokia Lumia Icon is only available at Verizon Wireless.
There will be more app reviews and such to come..
-Jessica
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