Another Christmas come and gone

After so much planning and stressing and work Christmas is over ! What a great Christmas it was. I worked hard this year for my girls and I am proud of myself, I relied on myself to get them presents and to see their smiles was worth it all.

Although my poor sweet Gina does have a Staph Infection this year ( last year it was whooping cough, seriously can she get a break at Christmas time ). She had a fever that would not break for five days straight, was not eating, barely drinking, so weak and almost dehydrated when her regular doctor put her antibiotic. The first doctor we saw, was just on-call tried telling me it was just a cold....yeah right !!! Anyway after one dose of the antibiotic the poor baby's face swelled up and she got a rash all over, you guessed it she is allergic to it. Back to the doctor we went yesterday, he did feel so badly for her. I am happy to say that she is eating and drinking and feeling a whole lot better today although she still has the rash but we can deal with that.

Back to our day, it was filled with laughs, presents, family, and food the way Christmas should be every year. I hope it stays like this for next year. I hope everyone else enjoyed their Christmas. What was your favorite gift ? Or memory ? My oldest daughter framed a picture of her and her sister in a beautiful frame that says "sisters".. I absolutely love it. 

Till next time, stay well. Xoxo
Below is a picture of our cat trying to get into the Christmas tree via a moon chair,crazy cat !

Redbox

 If you all remember I had told you about my being a bzz agent, well my most recent mission was Red Box....score !!! Red Box kiosks are literally everywhere and are super cheap. If you do not want to go out into the cold or it's too snowy and yucky out just BOOM instantly download a movie onto your computer. Can you tell I am loving this mission ??? I literally get to watch movies for free because I am a bzz agent on this mission.

There are many movies to chose from, including kids movies and tv series. You can even reserve a movie online and it will for sure be at the kiosk when you go there to pick it up. It's quite affordable too, check it out www.redbox.com

Waking from my turkey coma

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I know I did, my mother outdid herself this year with the meal...it was so good ! Even days later thinking about it makes me drool. Sorry getting off track here. 

This year I was especially thankful, not sure why but I feel like I had a really tough year emotionally. I am so glad I had my friends and family around to support me. I would like to think I am ending this year on the right foot; I landed myself a job ( granted it's not my dream job but it's extra money in  my pocket for needed expenses ) I finally got the call that my apartment will be ready for me ! And I feel like I am starting to get the closure I so badly needed.

After I get settled into my new place, I am going to really start bettering myself. Life is not meant to live in order to just get by...life is meant to be lived. To be happy. And I am finally going to do it. I will get an education, get a decent job and really live....finally ! Wooo hooo and that my friends is called my moment of clarity ! 

Hope you all emerge safely from your food comas.

Bye Bye "Bubba"

Sigh..my baby is no longer a baby but now a toddler, a do it herself toddler who no longer has a bottle. That wasn't really her choice but she did not notice it was no longer there !

 I had only been giving it to her in the morning when she first woke up and in the evening after a bath. Last night, I just did not give it to her and she did not ask, this morning she did ask but instead I gave her warmed milk in a cup and she was perfectly fine with it. This evening, not a peep about a "bubba". I am not going to get all cocky just yet since it's only been a day and a half but I can do a little jig can't I ?! 

It does make me a bit sad that we are ditching the bottle, it's another aspect of the baby side of Gina that is going away. She is walking, talking, and now no more bottle. It's progress and the way things are supposed to go I know, it's just the mom in me who wants for her to stay a little innocent baby forever. Live in the moment and cherish those moments because they pass quickly ! 

Till next time.... 

Lush Cosmetics

I recently went to the mall with my aunt and she took me into this store, Lush Cosmetics to get a gift card for her good friend. While in there she asked the woman to give me a complimentary hand massage; I had no intentions of really buying anything I mean after all I am on a super strict budget. While the woman was finding out about the condition of my hands ( she really cared it seemed ) my aunt was telling another woman about my recent string of crap luck...stroke and falling.

 The awesome lady my aunt spoke to came up to me after my equally awesome hand massage and gave me a free sample of their Fair Trade Foot Lotion for my knee. I thought it was odd to be given a foot lotion for my knee but she assured me it would work for the pain in my knee as well for my temples for when I get headaches and well for any other sore joints. I tried it and low and behold it worked like a champ ! My mother tried it on her arthritic hand and it worked there as well, as swear it's magic in a bottle. Needless to say I will be back to purchase some of this lotion.

I did make a purchase while in there, I treated myself to a handmade facial mask made with all natural ingredients and it must stay in the fridge. I ended up with the Cosmetic Warrior, it has eggs, grapes, garlic among a few other things. I love this stuff, it makes my skin look and feel amazing. I cannot wait to go back to the store and try more of their products ! And they are all natural and animal friendly :-)

Vocal Point has been good to me !

I recently received a coupon in the mail from Vocalpoint to try Clairol root touch up for my hair. Since I normally do not shy too far away from my natural hair color roots was not a problem, gray hair however was ! I went to my local Target and picked out my color, and redeemed my coupon with zero problems.

When I got home I decided it would be a great time to cover up the problem area since I had a surprise party to go too in a few days. The kit came with smaller than usual amount ( for your roots only not the whole head ) I had plenty and then some. The brush was my best friend; normally hair dye ends ups everywhere in the bathroom..I have no flipping clue how I do it. Anyway with the brush I was able to apply the dye exactly where I wanted it with no issues.The only issue I had was the smell, it was a bit strong but I dealt with it. Ten minutes later and it was rinse time. Easy peasy. 

Vocalpoint also sent me another free surprise.. Secret Clinical Strength deodorant. I want to start by telling you how much I love the scent of it, it's light and fresh, actually it would make a nice body spray. I put it to the test by wearing it to physical therapy the first day and it kept me dry and smelling awesome ! The next day I tested it's "will not leave marks on your clothing " claim...it's true it left zero marks on my black top, that makes me happy since I tend to get deodorant on the bottom of my black clothing when putting it on, again please do not ask how ! All in all this deodorant will be replacing my current one since I am so in love with the scent and because I was kept dry all day long ! 

Both items were free to me, thank you Vocalpoint for being fabulous !




Before

 

Food for thought

I have been MIA since the mini stroke and fall, I do apologize for that. I started some medicine to prevent future strokes/prevent migraines/lower blood pressure and it slows my whole system down making me tired constantly. I even take 2 hour naps with the baby now and still exhausted at 8p, its ridiculous ! I feel like I am 94 instead of 34.

Speaking of the stroke, I went for an EEG.....that was weird but kind of relaxing. Felt like the nurse was massaging my head when she was sticking the electrodes on and then gently rubbed my scalp with a cloth when removing them. The trippy part was when she turned the strobe light on with my eyes closed so I saw these strange colors and shapes. That test came back normal, which brings me to my main topic tonight....food.

Since all of my blood tests and brain tests came back normal it got me thinking; why the heck do I get headaches on a daily basis and why did I have  stroke ? I am thinking it just maybe my diet. The baby eats mostly organic and I keep her away from processed foods as much as possible but do not do the same for myself. I grew up eating processed foods, it was the norm for me. I think I need to really keep everything organic for us, no GMOs, stay away from processed food and see how I feel. I am not sure if I could go fully raw, I was considering it.

I do not like taking 4 pills a day, sometimes 5 if the headache is really bad and I need the Fiorocet. I want to take zero pills and I want energy and want to feel good. I have already cut out soda and saw a 15 pound weight loss just from soda alone, imagine if I cut out the other crap ?! 

What are some of your favorite nature's candy ? Feel free to share recipes as well !! 

Till next time my friends...eat well and live well :-) 

Cheese please !

We all know I am all about sweepstakes well my ”hobby” paid off....in cheese !

I won a years supply of cheese snacks from Sargento in the form of coupons so I get to choose what I want. I also got this cool Fitbit health monitor. It's a bracelet that tracks your movement, sleep, etc and it's water proof. Pretty cool if ask me.

I would post the link to the sweep itself but the contest is over. I found it via Sweeties sweepstakes on Facebook, go check them out if you like entering contests.

My lucky streak continues....

Not ! I fell yesterday,when I say I fell I mean I slammed into the sidewalk and heard a lovely SNAP coming from my knee. Thank goodness it is not broken but it maybe my LCL.

I cannot even tell you how I fell because I have no clue. I had just gotten through strapping my little monkey into her car seat then bam next thing I know I am on the ground in an intense amount of pain. I am not sure if my knee gave out, I tripped or if my new meds just makes me tip over. I seriously need to get to the neurologist but first the orthopedic doctor.

It was the same doctor who treated me last week in the Er and he totally remembered me ! They say things happen in threes, I hope things stop at two for me, not sure how much more my poor body can take.

Stay well my friends :-)

I had a stroke

No joke, I had a mini stroke on Thursday. The technical term is Transient Ischemic Attack ( TIA ). I thought I was too young, something like that couldn't happen to me. But it did.

I had been under so much stress between learning to drive the bus ( which I passed my test and got my license but that no longer matters ) being a mom, worrying about money and it got to me. It was really scary, I got a splitting headache, it felt like my head was going to explode and then I lost my peripheral vision for several hours. I never want to experience it again. My vision is not the same, I am not sure if it is permanent or not just yet. Thankfully there was no damage to the brain or heart. I underwent an EKG, MRI,MRA and a CT scan along with blood work. Of course this required a stay at the hospital and they tell me to relax and " get some rest "...why do they say that if they wake you constantly to check your blood pressure ?! 

I am home now ( have been for a couple days ) but feel really tired. This was a life changing moment in my life. I have lots of changes to make. I need to exercise at least three times a week and I already have a volunteer to come with me ( thank you Sandra ! ) make better food choices, and cut the stress out. I cannot dwell on things I have no control over. And the things dragging me down must be cut out. Someone once told me I control my own destiny,nobody else. And it's true. I am going to live each day and enjoy every breathe I take.

:-) 

Goodies

I was a lucky recipient on the mama vox box from Influenster ! This program is wonderful and this has been my third campaign. Here is what I got;

Belvita Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuit in wild berries. It was really good, pairs well with tea and portable which for me is now important. I can stash some on the bus or my purse and even Gina's diaper bag.

Dr. Scholl's For Her Comfort Insoles. I have used these in the past in heels and they rock ! Normally my balls hurt after wearing heels, of my feet that is. I slipped a pair of these insoles um my heels and they cushion the balls of your feet. NYC new black gorgeous heeled boots are screaming for these.

Pond's Luminous Finish BB+ Cream
I am pretty picky when it comes to makeup, and I like to make sure I am taking care of it as well. With this BB cream it leaves my skin looking flawless and hides those little imperfections. The + is that it keeps working after being put on to target dark spits on my skins surface helping them fade away over time. So far so good.

Last but not least I got Annie's microwavable rice pasta & cheddar gluten free cup. I love Annie's anyway so being sent one of these was an added bonus. I wasn't so sure about the rice pasta's texture...I have this thing with textures but Gina sure loved it and we have already bought some more.

I am looking forward to my next vox box !

How Stella got her groove back

I have never seen the movie but maybe I should considering watching it since I need help getting my groove back ! I have no idea where to start really, I am a middle aged woman with a teen and a toddler. Bars are no longer my thing and I am way too old for the clubs that's for sure. So where do I go to meet people ? Normal people my age ?

I used to be so vain when younger, hogging the mirror from my best friend when getting ready,getting my nails done, tanning ( I know not good for you ) always knew what to wear and now I just wear whatever fits and is clean. I have no idea what my style is or even where to shop. My self esteem has gone waaaaaay down and I have no clue where to start.

So people who have seen said movie, how did Stella get her groove back and where can I get mine ?!

I've got the weight of a school bus on my shoulders

And it weighs a heck of a lot...15 tons or 30,000 pounds if you prefer ! I feel like this is all I think about now, pre-trip, air brakes, and freaking cones. Since I have started this training my blood pressure has gone up higher than before so my meds which I was taking once a day is now a twice a day thing, I come home with headaches almost every day and I cannot sleep at night. I have so much riding on this test, I cannot wait for it to be done and over. Then I can start getting a paycheck, lol.

Then I worry about when I pass and get my route...what if I am late ? get lost ? forget a kid ? I am not worried about my driving after all my daughter will be on the bus with me. And I am a mother with a child that takes a school bus, I know all about precious cargo. I think I need to sit back, take deep breaths and stop worrying.

Keep calm my friends and breathe on :-)



BTW: I got a package in the mail today with goodies to review so that post will be coming in the next few days.

UNREAL Candy

First I would like to apologize for not writing in over a week, I have a lot going on in my personal life that I am not ready to share just yet but will in due time. I will not let that get in the way of my blogging.

With that being said, I was recently sent two coupons from my Green Mom's Ambassador group to try out this candy called UNREAL Candy, it's mostly sold in Target stores. The logo is "Candy, unjunked " and you can seriously read every ingredient without dancing all over the words and sounding like an idiot ! Check out their website: http://getunreal.com/

Candy that is not terrible for you must taste gross right  Wrong, we actually enjoyed it. I went with "peanut M&Ms and a nougat and caramel candy bar. Both are a hit. This would be a great candy to hand out to trick or treaters.  

Next time you are in Target and have a chocolate craving grab an UNREAL candy bar, you will not be sorry :-)

Allergies

I recently found out my little monkey is allergic to peanuts, we found out the hard way.

Monday morning J (my oldest ) was eating a peanut butter and banana sandwich, the little one wanted to taste. Naturally I let her, right after that I noticed an awful rash all over then her face got swollen. Off to the ER we went; thankfully her throat and tongue did not swell up.

It's now been three days and we are still managing the itchy all over rash. According to the Dr it typically lasts 3 to 5 days....almost there !!

No more peanuts for my little monkey that's for sure. It was scary going through this ordeal. Till next time my friends.

Relationships

This is an out of the norm post for me since it's going to get personal and not about products or coupons ! 

Someone once told me that people come into your life for a reason, season or or life. My best friend from high school was here a couple weeks ago, I have not seen her for about 8 years ( could be longer ) and she and I picked up like we saw one another the day before. That relationship is a lifer for sure ! Another lifer is my bestest friend ( I have always called him that ) John, he has told me so much stuff as have I told him and we have yet to turn our backs. I also think he has made it a personal mission to be private bodyguard, lol. 

Relationships are funny, my current best friend didn't become my best friend till I got pregnant with Gina after that BAM she has continued to be there through tears and smiles. She is my rock and def another lifer !! And you just never know where you will make an awesome friend, I made one at a dealership about 6 years ago. Who the heck makes friends at a dealership..me that's who ! 

The internet has played a role in my friendships as well. I have met several great friends through it and some not so great people ! One person in particular comes to mind when I think about a lifer that I "met" over the internet that I have never seen face to face. I remember one Christmas several years back where I had just gotten married, I had little money, no job meaning not a great Christmas for my older one. I was emailing Ant, he knew all about my issues and he mailed a gift card to me so buy gifts ! Who does that for someone they never met ? A really good, trusting  friend that's who. I will never forget that. That is a lifer for sure. 

Thinking of a person who came into life for a reason is Charlie. He was the best man at my best friend's wedding. I was in an awful relationship at that time and not in a good place ( not my current husband for clarification ) Well Charlie showed me what it was like to be treated with respect and like a lady. I ditched the loser. I think I need another visit from Charlie for a refresher !!!!

Relationships can be terrible too and confusing. Make the most of all your relationships, you just never know if you will have tomorrow. To all my lifers and season...thank you :-)

To all my other tough to decipher relationships well hopefully it all works out the way it's supposed too.

Thanks for reading.

Influenster anyone ?

I am part of this great group called Influenster, they send out ”voxboxes” which are free to you and all they ask is for you to review the products.

When you first sign up you fill out your profile and unlock badges by taking surveys, reviewing products you currently use, etc. It's super easy. The more active you are the more boxes you are sent. So far I have gotten Palmolive dish soap and Mary Kay products. When I tell you they send  you products I am talking full size not samples !!

If you are interested in becoming a member let me know so I can send you an invite ! Either comment with your email address or email me at theramblingsofdiane@gmail.

It's worth it, trust me !

School bus update

It's been almost a month of training now. I am comfortable driving the bus around the streets with other cars around me. I have come to learn all the parts of the engine in order to do my pre-trip, although I have renamed some parts to my liking ! Now what is standing in my way...the flipping course ! 

I posted a picture a few posts back of the cones on the course, they are scenarios that are never going to happen in real life so why do they torture us with it ?! I am proud of myself though, I did the whole course including parallel parking without going "out" meaning without going over the imaginary line, a cone or an imaginary wall. I was coached heavily BUT I did all the actual driving. The other people I am training with seem to think I am a natural and going to make a good driver. Driving that beast still scares me a bit but I am enjoying it.

Before I can take my test to get my license to start driving real kid I need to master that course and believe me I will. I am going to own it. I need this job so that is where this confidence is coming from, that and I am learning to stand on my own two feet.

Wish me luck guys !

First Day of School

I cannot believe I am a mother to a Sophomore in high school, just doesn't seem possible after all I am still 25...alright fine, I am not still 25 !! 

I am wicked proud of my oldest daughter Jewelia, she is growing up into a respectful and nice young lady. I hope her years in high school go smoothly and turn out to be fun great life learning experiences. I hope she forms strong friendship bonds like I did with my best friend. 

Here is to a smooth new school year !

Cosmetics

I adore cosmetics, plain and simple almost as much as shoes..almost ! I recently won a deluxe size sample of Smashbox's photo finish foundation primer. Where the heck has this stuff been all my life ??!! Seriously it feels so soft and luxurious going on and then to top it off makes my skin look amazing after my foundation is on. I am definitely going to be purchasing some of this before my deluxe sample is gone.

I just want to clarify Smashbox did not ask me to review this, I just adored it so much I had to share !!

The wheels on the bus go ..

It's been a week and a day since I have started training and I have come a long way in that short amount of time. I am really proud of myself !

I have finally driven on the street with other cars and get this, I even drove on the highway in the pouring rain .....woot woot ! Highway is super scary, you feel like you have no control and the bus has absolutely no pick up. But I did it.

The hardest is yet to come, the actual course which includes parallel parking and my pre trip. There are like a million parts I will have to point out on test day, craziness !

So far I am doing well. One of the trainers said I drive like I have had my license for months :-)

Finally getting myself back and on my own two feet feels awesome !

Quick little coupon tip

Recently I have really started couponing, don't get me wrong I have been doing it but now I am upping the ante sort to speak. I have discovered that if you print coupons from http://www.inboxdollars.com when you redeem them they credit your account $.10 which can really add up especially if you read your paid emails and do the surveys. So if you have not already go and sign up, it's easy money and great coupons.

Another helpful site is www.couponmom.com, lots of great coupons there. If you know of any other good sites, leave a comment with the link. 

Yay me !

I finally did it today, I got behind the wheel of the bus, granted it was in an empty parking lot but what did you really expect ?! Although the instructor wanted me to drive on the actual street to get to the course, I nearly had a heart attack while saying no way !

It was not as scary as I anticipated, I was so nervous at the thought of driving last night that I couldn't sleep, had heart burn and literally threw up. Crazy now that I think of it but your mind plays tricks on you and makes you think something is worse than what it really is. I actually made a right hand turn without hitting the curb, pretty good for my first go. I can honestly say I am proud of myself. Either tomorrow or Friday I have a feeling I am going to be on the actual streets so if you see a very slow moving bus near Fort Devens it's me, please be kind :-) 

My new Adventure

I have officially started school bus driving training yesterday. I absolutely hated it yesterday ! But I think I was really intimidated, after all it's a 40 foot long vehicle weighing 15 tons....that's a lot of vehicle to control. And I did not drink enough caffeine so I got a mega with drawl headache. I was miserable.

Today was a completely different story, I was mentally prepared and caffeine prepared ! I am still a bit intimidated but I know I can do this. This new adventure is big for me, I am finally getting myself back and standing on my own two feet. I have a new apartment which will hopefully be ready for me soon and now my own income, I will not have to rely on anyone anymore. I can even take Gina on the bus with me which is an added bonus, no daycare worries here !! 

Now tomorrow, I actually get behind the wheel...yikes !!!!! Stay tuned for another bus update :-)

Summer Fun

Today the kiddos and I along with my mother and aunt went to Parlee Farms for some blueberry picking. Yup it was hot but those blueberries are yummy !! Plump, juicy and big. There were a lot of blueberry bushes with lots of fruit on them.

Besides blueberry picking they have a barn where you and the kids can buy some feed and well feed the barn yard animals. There are goats, lambs and chickens to feed. Our favorite are the goats, they have so much personality and are quite adorable. Here is a little secret from an animal lover...they liked to be scratched on the side of their neck right below the ear ! The sheep really didn't care if you pet them as long as you had food. I will include some pics of these guys for you to enjoy.

Along with picking fruit, feeding and petting animals there is an ice cream stand which offers some fantastic ice cream, cobblers, shortcakes and frappes. There are picnic tables and shade for you to enjoy your treats at.

It was a great day, lots of laughs and I got to bond with some goats ! If you happen to visit bring lots of quarters to buy some feed !! 

Lowell Folk Festival

It's the Monday after an awesome weekend at the Lowell Folk Festival. If you haven't heard of it then please allow me to explain: It's the largest free festival around, free admission, live music, dancing, carvings and culture from around the world. There are also food booths and vendors of all sorts ! 

There is something for everyone here from Polka music to Blue Grass ( which my 13 month old was loving ! ) This year I decided to try something new and got myself a Jamaican Beef Patty which was a little too spicy for me but tasty none the less. I also went with Philippine Food (which I absolutely love and look forward to having every year), Armenian salad pocket and Brazilian barbecue. I really enjoy experiencing foods of different cultures. It took me forever to taste octopus which in my Portuguese family we have every year on New Years Eve, I finally gave in about 2 years ago and really enjoyed it. Ever since then I have vowed to try something at least once. 

Back to the festival, there were thousands of people and little issues that I know of. People were respectful of one another which we should all try and maybe just maybe the world would be a better place. I think things went so smoothly because of amped up security due to the recent marathon bombing. Homeland security was present. It's a little scary to see that but reassuring. I did take the time to thank the officers I did see and let them know I appreciate them keeping me and my family safe.

I am really looking forward to next year's festival.

Back from my hiatus

As you can tell I had taken a break from writing for a little. Between my baby, Candy Crush (sadly I have been sucked in ! ) and my emotional wind tunnel I just had little left to sit down and write. 

I am happy to say that with a little help from my doctor for my moods, and cutting out people from my life who were dragging me down and just making me feel badly ..I am back :-)

I have not been doing much with the internet in general besides Candy Crush so no new missions to report. I will be getting involved again and engaging with you all as well. 

Take Care,
~ D

Mary Kay and Influenster

I was a lucky recipient of the glam voxbox from Influnster and it was full of goodies from Mary Kay ! I love makeup especially lip gloss and lipsticks. 

The box which I received for free had mascara, lipstick, eye shadow/concealer brush, cream eye shadow and eye lash primer.

Let me start off by saying that I used to think that Mary Kay was not for me, not fresh but more for a classic style. Then I came across the items in my box...I absolutely LOVE the lipstick shade, I swear it was made for me. It's not sticky and lasts a long while. I used the lash primer before the mascara..obviously ! It helped make my lashes look plumper and darker, the mascara did not clump at all and made my lashes look great, again the makeup was not sticky. The shadow, well I had low expectations, it's a cream shadow so I expected it to last a couple hours and smudge all over but it did the opposite...it lasted all day. It was hot and humid the day I first wore it and it stayed put. I like the brush that came with it as well, easy application. I have yet to use it with concealer.

All in all I am VERY pleased with my Mary Kay voxbox. I am very lucky to be an Influenster. I mentioned it before and I will mention it again, I got all this makeup for free :-) Check out my picture of my box.

The art of customer service is gone

I have noticed recently that the art of customer service is extinct ! From retail stores to coffee shops and everything in between. People are so caught up on themselves and their electronic devices that they forget that they are being paid to provide a service to us the consumer.

I was recently in a retail store at the mall and the woman servicing me actually walked away from me to answer the phone without saying excuse me and never returned to the counter to hand me my purchase and say thank you.  I was appalled, I should have turned right around and returned my purchase of over $100, the good thing is there is a survey at the bottom of the receipt where I will get to tell the corporate office how I was treated. I think she was angry of the fact that I did not want to apply for the store credit card...sorry I just do not want it. She actually rolled her eyes at me when I said no thank you !!! This was not a teen but an older woman rolling her eyes.

People that work with the public need to start realizing that part of their job is leaving us, the consumer happy. Whatever happened to the customer is always right ? I am not a rude or mean person by all means and I feel like I am the one working in order to get a smile...geesh.

I will not step of my milk crate ! Have a good day and smile :-)

I am an Influenster !

When I first started this blog I inboxed a friend of mine about her blog, where did she start, any recommendations etc. Well she told me about Influenster which is similar to bzzagent and smiley360. I signed up and recently got chosen to review a product !!

I was sent 2 big size bottles of Palmolive Soft Touch dish soap, one for me and one for a friend along with coupons all for free. I was sent Aloe and the Vitamin E one. I chose Aloe for myself and gave the other to my mother. As for the coupons I handed them out to family,friends and a stranger :-) I was like the coupon fairy !

The dish soap is great, it kept my hands from drying out and actually improved the softness of them. I do lots of dishes and bottles thanks to my little one. I also did dishes at my mother's so I used the Vitamin E one as well. I freaking love the scent of that one, it reminded me of fresh clean laundry. I have already purchased some for the near future.

You should check out influenster.com who knows what "voxbox" you will be chosen for !

Bucket List

I have always thought I didn't really have a ”bucket list ” but it dawned on me the other day, I DO in fact have one !

Almost everyone wants to travel at some point in their lives, I am one of them.  Therefore one of my bucket list items is travel to all of the states in the U.S, while I Hawaii I want to swim with the sea turtles, that would be the second item on my list ! Another must travel destination is England and last but not least Italy.

Another thing I would like to do is run in a Disney marathon. This will take a lot of hard work since I am not a runner nor am I in shape.. I better fet on it.

This is simple but I want to knit a blanket. Sounds simple right ?!

My list may not be long but these are things I would like to accomplish. What's on your bucket list ?

How quickly time goes

My baby celebrated her First birthday this past Saturday on June 1st. I still cannot believe it has already been a year since she has been on this earth. She amazes me day after day. I wish I could keep her this small forever.

I sat down and reflected about this past year, she has learned so much, from sitting up on her own to feeding herself. Instead scrambling to figure out what is wrong when she cries, I can pin point what the issue is by the way she is crying or by her pointing to what she wants. Sleep has not really been an issue with us but it has gotten that much better. And well the clothing has gotten cuter as well.

As another year passes she will be amazing me even more. I still have walking and more talking in store. And for me to amaze her with books and knowledge and new experiences. I love my kids from the bottom of my heart and look forward to yet another year !

Smiley Mission Part Two

I mentioned last week that I was on four missions for Smile360.com, well here is part two !

My third mission is from Centrum Flavor Burst Adult multivitamins. These come in two flavors, wild grape and mixed fruit. I personally tried the grape ones. They are not too bad if I do say so myself. But be careful if you have little ones in the house since they do resemble candy. These kind of reminded of me of Flintstones vitamins I had when growing up ! Here is a link for you to get a coupon for $2.00 off and to get more information
http://smiley360.com/1583952.cfm


My last mission is for Oxi Clean 2n1 stain fighter detergent. Smile360 sent me a $10 Walmart gift card to buy a 66 ounce bottle of the detergent. As you know I have a baby and that comes with lots of stains, sometimes gross stains ! I used it to tackle some of my toughest such as dried up sweet potatoes on a bib. It got it off, all of it not a trace of sweet potatoes. I am quite happy with the results and not having to pre-treat because I really do not have the time for that. Here is a link if you would like more info.
http://smiley360.com/1665852.cfm


All of these opinions are my own. I was not paid however I did receive the Centrum samples for free and a free gift card to pick up the detergent for ..you got it free !! 

Happy Mother's Day

What a difference a year makes, last year on Mother's Day I was in the hospital starting a week long stay due to my kidneys not properly working while pregnant. This year I spent the whole day with both of my daughters and my mother at an amusement park.

I couldn't have asked for a better day, sun came out, the park wasn't too crowded, wasn't to hot or cold and the baby was an angel. We all laughed together, rode some rides and has some yummy treats. It was a great bonding day.

Day to day life is so stressful due to work and well life in general, it's important to take a time out to enjoy and appreciate your family. I hope every mom out there took time out of their day to enjoy their family.

Happy Mother's Day !

Quickie

I must tell you that I am obsessed...obsessed I tell you with Clinique Chubby Sticks for the eyes ! Perfect for mom's on the go or even for the makeup impaired. Swipe it, smudge with finger and go. And the best part, they are only $16. 

I scored on recently and cannot get enough of it. I had stopped wearing makeup actually towards the end of my pregnancy, I just had zero energy and under so much stress. I recently started wearing it again and also started paying more attention to my skin lately since I am no longer a spring chicken ( I am getting off track here ) anyway I went into Macys to get some moisturizer from Clinique and noticed it was bonus time so I bought a chubby stick in order to get the bonus and fell in love with first swipe.

Try it, trust me !

Smiley Missions Part 1

It has been quite a busy May so far, I am on three excuse me four missions for smiley360.com ! All products received from smiley360 were given to me for free, the opinions are all my own thoughts and views. I will make this post a two part series !

I was given a full size tube of Arm and Hammer Sensitive tooth paste. It worked well when it came to the sensitive part but I could not get paste the medicine like taste. Once I stopped using it though my teeth were sensitive once again to really cold things. I have since passed on the rest of this tooth paste to my father who seems to really like it. If you would like more information on this tooth paste and want a coupon please click the following link: http://smiley360.com/1441162.cfm

My second mission was from Seventh Generation, this so far has been my favorite mission. I have always seen these products in Target but was too stingy to buy them well now I do ! I received baby lotion, baby hair and body wash, laundry detergent, hand cream for myself, dish detergent and body wash for myself. All products are plant based and hypoallergenic. My baby has sensitive skin and this worked fabulous on her ! No rash or breakouts. I missed the "baby" scent though. As for the other products, the detergent and dish soap both cleaned well.I have yet to use the hand lotion. If you want more info on Seventh Generation and their products please click the following link: 

http://smiley360.com/1551

Come back  for part two !

April BirchBox

I must admit I am loving my BirchBox's and I think I am going to keep getting them. I get to indulge myself in things I normally would not get and it's only $10 a month !!

This month BirchBox teamed up with Women's Health, with that being said this is what I received for my April shipment;

Oribe Shampoo and Conditiner for beautiful color.
 Full size retails for $37-$39
I have already used my samples and really like this shampoo and conditioner. I feel like my hair has gotten softer and less knotty. It protects your color treated hair with it's honey infused formula.

Skin & Co Roma Cleansing body gel with Olive and Sicilian Orange extracts.
Full size retails for $17.50
I have also started using this body gel. I wasn't so sure about the scent but it grew on me. It is quite moisturizing and pleasant. It is packed with antioxidants and made in Rome.

StriVectin SD eye concentrate cream for Wrinkles
Full size retails for $65
I have not used this just yet so I cannot give you my thoughts on it. It is a beauty editor favorite and is a patented molecule peptide to diminish fine lines and reverse the look of puffy eyes...we shall see !!

Supergoop Daily Correct SPF 35 CC Cream
Retails for $32
I have started using this and love it. I will be purchasing the full size product, I like it that much. I had been using a BB cream but since using this I will be sticking with the CC cream. I love the SPF in it so I will not have to worry about it on a day to day basis. It provides corrective coverage and triple protects against UVA, UVB and infrared A rays.

Hail Merry Chocolate Macaroons
Retails for $5
These treat are raw, vegan, gluten free and made with all natural non GMO ingredients.

As an added bonus I got a year of Women's Health magazine. Woot Woot. That retails for $10 so this box was well worth the money.

Check back at this time next month for the May BirchBox.

Battle of the diaper rash

Thankfully my baby has not had man bad diaper rashes, but ( no pun intended ) when she does get red I have discovered The Honest Company's Healing Balm.

I had signed up for a free trial of their family essentials bundle, all I paid was $5.95 which covered shipping which is not bad if you ask me. Included in my bundle was the healing balm which in all honestly is the only item I have tried with the exception to the hand and body lotion.

 I was skeptical at first after all it's plant based and here I was thinking there was no way this stuff was going to work, I was VERY wrong. The next morning my little monkey was not bright red and I know it did not burn when putting it on. In the past we had used Balmex, but when applying it she would cry especially if she had a full blown rash. When I applied the healing balm there was not a peep coming out of my cutie's little mouth.

Here are some other good points of The Honest Company Healing Balm- I took this info directly from their website;

• Filled with USDA certified organic essential oils: Sunflower Oil, Tamanu Oil, Chickweed Oil, and Olive Oil
• Soothes and helps delicate skin, while helping to prevent future diaper rash
• Added castor oil to battle existing rash and as an excellent urine barrier
• Promotes healthy & balanced skin – no preservatives or synthetic fragrances
• Versatile and safe to use on minor cuts & scrapes, Mom's dry skin, and Dad's razor burns
• Hypoallergenic / Clinically tested / Pediatrician Recommended / Vegetarian / Sensitive for Everyday Use
• NO Harsh Chemicals (ever!)

Personally I think it's a little pricey, it goes for $12.95 plus shipping. It's one those things that I am going to suck it up and buy it since it works so well and I feel good using it on my baby's skin.

I would like to mention that this is my personal opinion, I was not paid or given any free items to write this. I just wanted to share the love of a product. If you are interested in trying this or any of their other fabulous products or to even get their free trial, please use my referral link :-)

http://honest.com/accept_invitation/221333

 

BirchBox goodies

I am excited to report that my BirchBox came in last week ! And I am mighty happy with it. I had read mixed reviews so I was a little apprehensive about buying it, I am glad I did. They sent some things I normally wouldn't have splurged on. Let's take a peek at what I received;

1. Macadamia Natural Oil
Pretty good size, it's got several treatments in the bottle. It's a healing oil for your hair, it has macadamia nut oil in it as well as argan oils. There is a note on the card letting us know it cuts drying time down. I have yet to try this because I recently was sent a hair dye to use at home for a survey company I work with, and I am not supposed to use any masques or oil treatments for 3 weeks. I cannot wait till the 3 weeks it up. A full size bottle will run you $39.95

2. MAKE Dual phase eye makeup remover
As with the Macadamia oil treatment this sample is large enough for several makeup removals. The remover worked extremely well. I thought it was cool because the oil, chamomile and cucumber infused water were naturally separated  you have to shake it up before using it. A full size bottle will run you $18.00

3. MAKE lipstick
When I first saw the size of it, I was a little hmmm let's say sarcastic I actually said to myself " Are you kidding me " but in all honestly it is after all a sample and it's good for a least 4 applications or more, depends on how much you use. It's a really pretty color and I am looking forward to wearing it. I have yet to try it only because I normally wear gloss during the day and lipstick when going out or holidays. I will wear some this Sunday on Easter. A full size will run you $18.00, one third of all sales are donated to charity.

4. Sage + Fasten Common Sense Eau de Parfum
This scent features layers of lotus flower, peach and lychee. It is free of parabens, sulfates and synthetics. The sample was a really good size to keep in our purse and it has a roller ball for application. I adore the scent and nice and light, perfect for the upcoming weather. Full size will run you $29.50

5. Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque
As I said earlier I am not able to try something like this quite yet but my hair will need it after the coloring. According to the card that came in my box it strengthens strands from the inside while adding major gloss. Sounds good to me ! Full size will run you $36.00

6. Madwell for BirchBox Emery Board
No explanation needed. It's full size and pretty :-) This will cost you $5.00

And that is everything I received, well worth the $10 I spent to get the box. I think I will try it again for another month and see if I am just as happy. And all of this awesomeness came wrapped up all pretty in pink which happens to be my favorite color ! 

Stay tuned for April's box. If you are interested in joining BirchBox please use my referral link https://www.birchbox.com?raf=c5k19 

Patiently waiting for my first ever BirchBox !

I have been seeing blog posts about Birchboxes here and there and have looked into ordering one but was hesitant only because there is no guarantee as to what is in the box or what size the products are and I am frivolous with my money.

I recently cashed out on one of the companies I do surveys for and got a Visa gift card so I took the plunge and signed up for a box. Had it not been for the survey company I would not have spent the money. When I get gift cards like this I like to treat myself to something I would normally not purchase for myself.

I cannot wait to see what treasures are inside. I researched past boxes and have seen some full size products and awesome cosmetics. It's like Christmas for me. I will certainly post my thoughts and pictures when my treasure arrives !!

Till nest time my friends :-)

Finally see the light

After watching The Biggest Loser last night I realized I needed to change, I need to lose weight and I need to be healthy.

Truth be told, I weigh as much as one of the  contestants starting weight..I would rather not say which one for now. Alright fine, you convinced me, it's Danni. This threw me for a loop, I mean I know I had gained a few pounds but didn't realize how out of control it had become.

I want to lose weight to be healthy and not just for looks although that is part of it. I want more energy, I want to live a longer life for my kids and most importantly I want to stop feeling ashamed of myself.

Please take this journey with me and let's support one another. It's going to be a long and hard road but I am finally ready.

Do you hear that ?....Nope it's silence !

I am child free for the evening ! And what am I doing, blogging and going to dinner then I will be watching Breaking Dawn part 2. Nothing special but I am super excited but I also miss my baby. 

It has been 9 months since I had my baby, it feels strange not changing a  diaper or feeding her. And it is quiet, not a peep from anywhere which I am loving ! I am staying at my parent's house till my apartment is available so I do not take quiet for granted anymore.

Alright to be honest, I took bath thinking it was going to be the best thing in the world and I was in there literally five minutes till I got bored...crazy because I have been wishing for a nice long, bubbly hot bath; I finally get it and I am bored. Then I told myself I would take a nap, did I ??? Nope I came online and play Bejeweled. I just noticed what the problem is, I took my laptop with me. I should have left it at home then I could nap, and read. How much do you want to bet that I will not sleep in tomorrow either.

Enough blogging time for my movie........

Campbell's Slow Kettle Style Soups

I am part of smiley360, which I have shared with you in the past. Well today I tried the Campbell's slow kettle style soup which I received in the mail from mysmiley360 today. 

It was snowing, and cold here so it was the perfect thing for lunch. I had chosen the kickin crab and corn chowder; the portion is large and filling, there were beautiful chunks of veggies and crab in it and it was nicely flavored. I was very happy and warm after eating it. In addition to the free soup they had thrown in some funky long socks so I was snug and warm today for sure.

I personally recommend the soups, they are reasonably priced and like I said I large portion. I must add again that I received the soup for free and this is my own personal opinion about the soup.

Do me a favor and click this link it's for my review on smiley360  ! Thanks all :-)
http://smiley360.com/1221034.cfm

Viral Infection and fractured ribs

Let's say things have been interesting around here. My oldest slipped on ice and landed on a small wall. She was hurting so we paid a visit to the ER, which btw was quick and efficient. The verdict...fractured ribs. She is much better now, thank goodness. My first thought when she fell was please let the hardware in her back be alright and thankfully it was.

Fast forward a few downs and my little one starts coughing like crazy. Not the barking kind but a chesty one. Throw in a runny nose, fever and not eating and what do we have, a viral infection. The fever only lasted two days but we are still fighting the cough and runny nose.  The worst is when the Dr. tested for the flu. I am glad to say she is feeling a but better but are not 100%.

Hopefully this is the worst of the cold and flu season for us. Stay healthy everyone.

MorningStar Farms Veggie burger night !

For dinner tonight I made veggie burgers and I was surprised... I liked them ! You must understand, I love meat, I grew up on it and savor it.

What I especially liked about the Morningstar Farms veggie burger is that it fit the bun perfectly and the texture resembled hamburger. I am big in textures as well. They were seasoned well and had a little kick to them. I will definitely be buying some come grilling season.

Now for the legal mumbo jumbo; I received a coupon from bzz agent to try  for free and review Morningstar Farms veggie burgers.

Thanks for reading !

Glade Mist is delightful

I recently was invited to a bzz agent campaign to try the Glade Mist for free as well as their oil diffuser. I got my coupons for the free items and ran to Target ! In addition to the free items I got a stack of coupons to hand out to friends and family for some HUGE savings ! 


For the mist I went with Fuji Apple and cardamom spice, it is quite refreshing. I adore the smell of apples and with the spice it makes my living room smell like apple pie. It's nice, light and refreshing. I have gotten many compliments on it so far.

In the computer room is where I placed the oil diffuser. I went with pineapple mangosteen. In addition to my love of the apple scent I love the pineapple scent. It reminds me of summer ! And believe me I need that hope right now, there is 2 feet of snow sitting outside my window ( I was in the path of blizzard Nemo ). The decoration of the diffuser is stylish and modern and it went with my oddly painted orange walls.

All in all I am very happy with Glade and their products. I would like to reiterate that I received coupons from Bzz Agent to try the Glade Mist and Glade oil diffuser for free. 

Thanks for reading. Peace Love and Pixie Dust <3 

Target has some great deals for bambinos !

I happened to stumble upon a fantastic clearance sale at Target last night. I got complete Disney outfits for $6.00, toys for as low as $2.49 and jammies were $4.20. Granted a majority of the pajamas were Christmas themed but who cares !!!

They are also having their advertised baby sale which is quite large and reasonable so if you have a little one, expecting or like to stock up for gifts then head out there.

Goyalicious dinner !

Tonight I used my bzz kit from bzz agent to make dinner. Included in the kit was yellow rice, low sodium black beans and Abobo seasoning. I received everything in the kit for free !! I provided the chicken.

The rice was simple to make, just boil water and let the rice simmer for twenty minutes or so. It was very flavorful and adding the beans pushed it over the top.

As for my chicken, I rubbed the Adobo seasoning all over it and pan fried it in some olive oil. Again lots of flavor.

I was always a fan of Goya but never tried the rice in the past, I am cettainly glad bzz agent picked me for this campaign because now I will be buying the Goya rice !!!

Needless to say the meal was a hit with the family. Thank you Goya and thank you bzz agent !!

Bzzy Bee with Bzz Agent

I am loving Bzz Agent !! I am involved in 4 campaigns so far, yippee. 

First I have Morning Star Farms which I recently received my kit for. I am just deciding what I want to try, I am thinking just a good ol veggie burger since my oldest is not a fan of meat and we are always looking for a decent alternative. As soon as I redeem my coupon for my free product I will post my thoughts and pics of my burger.

Next is the Goya campaign, I love Goya anyway so I am super excited about this one. I am married to a Guatemalan so I am familiar with their black beans and Adobo seasoning which by the way works well with pretty much any protein. I have yet to try their rice but I will share my thoughts on that when I receive my bzz kit.

Third campaign which I got into yesterday is the Glade Expressions campaign. I do like their room spray so I am happy to try the reed diffuser. This will come in handy when I finally move into my new apartment.  I  have never used a reed diffuser so it will be a new experience for sure :-)

Last but not least is the Schick Hydro Silk campaign which I just got accepted into this morning. Now when it comes to razors I am particular, I always use a Gillette razor which works well for me. I am curious to see how this razor works out for me. 

Stay tuned for all my reviews and keep your eyes peeled for even more campaigns I get in on !!!

Something strange is going on

Yesterday FedEx showed up at my door, of course I was all kinds of excited after all I spend two hours a night entering sweepstakes. After I signed and the delivery man left I noticed the oddness.

First of all the package was under my maiden name, second the phone number on the slip was not mine. I opened it looking for the congratulations note, there was none.

What was in the package you ask ? A PX90 kit ! I called the customer service number on the packing slip and explained to the man on the phone that I received a package from them that I did not order hr apologized and connected me to his supervisor. Long story short she said a credit card was charged which now I am thinking was an old expired card of mine ( unsure how it got charged if it expired ). The email address she had was not my current address nothing was adding it. She offered to email a shipping label for me to return it and I requested she arrange with FedEx to pick it up at that point she said we cannot do that you can give it away to anybody a friend or family. Umm that makes no sense. She did cancel any future  I did cover my behind and asked her to email me stating I could give it away. Still waiting for that.

After the call I decided to check my very old enail account from hotmail, Lo and behold the phone number from the packing slip was the same as the one I had on that account. My maiden name was on that account too. I am now weirded out and worried. I closed that account. And I am going to order my credit report just to make sure things are kosher.

If I was hacked don't you think the person would have used their address. I am not understanding. Has this happened to anyone else ? Any ideas as to what is going on ?

Extraction....yowza

I hate well not hate but strongly dislike the dentist, fear them is more like it.

Last week I developed a tooth ache that just kept getting worse so I bit the bullet and called my dentist, snagged an appointment for the next day thinking I would get antibiotics or something painless and easy. But noooo the xray showed a deep filling hitting a nerve hence the pain.

What were my options you ask ? Root canal or an extraction, I went with the extraction. It was the second to last tooth on the top in the back so you cannot see it's gone besides insurance wouldn't pay for the root canal !

New England Oral Surgery are amazing especially Dr. Chu, she saw I was terrified and tried to calm me.  She tried extracting with me awake but the tooth was too dense, needed to be broken and I was having a heart attack so she put me to sleep. This was all on Tuesday, today my mouth is still a little sore buy I feel so much better.

If you live in Massachusetts and need oral surgery I strongly suggest New England Oral Surgery.

Bzz Agent and Morning Star Farms

I am so excited, my bzz kit came in for Morning Star Farms !! The kit included $1.00 off coupons for friends and a coupon for free product for me to try and tell everyone my thoughts. I am debating what to try, I might go with a plain veggie burger. My oldest does not eat meat so this is something for her as well. As soon as I pick up my choice you know I will be blogging about it so keep your eyes peeled !!!!

Quick recap

So far the month of January has been busy, which is good !

I am reviewing Clairol shampoo which beauty.com had sent me for free to use for three weeks. Look for that review on here come Thursday.

I was accepted on a mission for smile360, it's for Campbells kettle soup. I an really looking forward to that. In addition to free soup they are sending along some socks. As soon as it arrives I will post pictures.

And last but not least I have been accepted into a camaign for Morning Star Farms by the Bzz Agents. I will be receiving coupons to try veggie burgers or meatless sausage, bacon etc. It's a good way to cut down on red meat ehich I love oh so much !!

That's what's going on so far, hopefully more opportunities arise !

Happy New Year

2012 was a very rough year for me; I lost my job ( doctor removed me from work when I was 5 months pregnant ) I lost my apartment, my car, and more.

However the silver lining was the birth of my second daughter, who is perfectly healthy. No surgeries in 2012 for my oldest daughter which is a feat in it's own ! And Jewelia (my oldest ) graduated middle school and moved onto high school which she loves.

I have faith that 2013 will be a little easier on me, after all I handled everything 2012 threw at me. All I have to say is bring it on.