RSS

Category Archives: Product Review

60 Printable Christmas Games from Python Printable Games

If your family is anything like mine, games of any kind are a big part of your gatherings. Trivia, board games, anything we can find to make a competition and have a little fun we are definitely game for (pun intended). So when I was given the chance to review some printable holiday-themed games for Python Printable games, I jumped at the chance.

The 60 Printable Christmas Games from Python are easy to purchase and even easier to use. This particular pack is $19.95 and includes games perfect for all age groups, from kids to teens to family themed to the adults in the room. The games range from anything like trivia (from your favorite Christmas movies like A Christmas Story, to Bible trivia and more), scavenger hunts, Christmas-themed Mad Libs, coloring pages, and more.

Here is an example of what the games look like:

Once you purchase your pack, you will receive a link via email to then download your games in PDF form and then print them all or decide which ones you want to play right now.  There is no subscription, and you don’t have a time limit for when you must use your games. Once you buy, they are yours to keep for years of fun.

Check out Python Printable Games for New Year’s Eve as well! These games are sure to add a great element of fun to any holiday gathering!

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.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 27, 2012 in Product Review

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Product Review: Kiss Ever PRO Lash Starter Kit

False lashes are not a product that I have ever used, really because I don’t need them. I have super long lashes on my own and am a fan of eye liner, so I am able to normally create the illusion of really full lashes on my own. This Kiss Ever PRO Last Starter Kit was part of my Influenster BeautyBlogger voxbox. I received this item for free in exchange for my review. I was not told what to write nor was I paid for writing.

The kit comes with a set of lashes, the adhesive, and the applicator to help get them right there on your lash line. I found the process of applying these to be much easier than I had anticipated. First I took one set of lashes and put them up to my eye to see if i needed to trim them (they were fine for me). Then you take the adhesive and put it along your lash line, letting it set for 30-60 seconds. Then take the included applicator and put them along your lash line. Make sure you hold them there to allow the adhesive to dry.

For me, it made the base of my lashes (along where I wear eyeliner) to look really dark and thick, but did not do much for the rest of my lashes. I think this is just due to the fact that mine are long anyway.

When you are ready to remove them, just peel starting from the outside and then use eye makeup remover to get rid of any of the adhesive that might be left.

Oh and also? I forgot to take pictures while I had them on. Of course. But, they are reusable so hopefully I can find a reason to wear them and I will post some pictures.

 

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 18, 2012 in Product Review

 

Tags: , , , ,

Product Review: Boots No7 Beautiful Skin

Another part of my VoxBox from Influenster were two sample sizes of Boots No7 facial products. One is Beautiful Skin Cleansing Lotion, the other Beautiful Skin Night Cream. I received these items for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not paid nor was I told what to write.

I wash my face at night, with the main focus being getting the make-up off that’s left from the day. The Cleansing Lotion was a little different from what I am used to. I like foaming, deep cleaning products. The ones where you can ‘feel it’ working (much like foaming toothpaste). The lotion is just that….lotion. You sweep it over your skin (with a cotton ball or your fingers) and then you wipe it off. It’s…weird. But it works. The first time I used it I wasn’t convinced so I then wet a cloth and put a tiny bit of my normal cleanser on it and ran it over my face…with no make-up residue on the rag. For me it just doesn’t FEEL like it’s working…and that’s a big thing for me.

But, I do wear a lot of make-up…and it did take it all off.

The next part of this is the Beautiful Skin Night Cream, which you put on after you have washed your face. I like it a lot. It feels great. I’ve been using it at night and in the morning as a moisturizer before I put on make-up. I’m a fan of this for sure.

I don’t know that I would buy the cleansing lotion just as a personal preference. But the night cream is great.

You can check out all of the Boots No7 products available here.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 16, 2012 in Product Review

 

Tags: , , , , , ,

Product Review: Rent a Timeshare for Family Vacation

Through Tomoson.com I was given the chance to review RedWeek, a company that offers deals on time share rentals. When time share owners are unable to use their weeks at their property, they can rent them out to people looking to save on a ‘luxury’ vacation. If you’ve never stayed in a time share, it’s definitely a different experience than staying in even a ‘nice’ hotel. You are often presented with bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, balcony and or patio. They are great when you have lots of people travelling with you, and are really good options for family destination Christmas celebrations.

RedWeek is a site where time share owners can posts the weeks that their properties will not be used and gives those that are not owners the chance to rent them for a nightly or weekly fee that is often times as much as 50% less than a hotel. And just think about how much you will be saving on meals if you’re utilizing the kitchen!

The first thing you will see on RedWeek’s homepage is a listing of top destinations, showing the most popular rentals and their average nightly prices. There are also several ways to find what you’re looking for, either by destination or by features (such as ‘kid friendly’, ‘beaches’, ‘theme parks’, etc).

On top of the amenities I mentioned above, another thing that is great about time share resorts are their multiple pools (some with water park features), restaurants and bars on property, social gatherings (like BBQ’s and ice cream socials) and often times they have transportation to the sites and attractions that are near by, saving you even more money by not having to drive your car.

In this day and age, everyone is looking for ways to save money while still having fun and being able to get away from the ‘Monday through Friday blues’. RedWeek can help you save money on your family vacation and maybe even let you have a more luxurious experience than you thought you could afford.

Viewing the resorts and their availability is FREE.  In order to contact owners, read resort reviews, and view want ads a yearly membership of $14.99 is required. Thanks to RedWeek, I am able to give away a FREE 2-year membership to one lucky winner.  Here are the steps you need to take in order to be the grand prize winner:

Like RedWeek and Time Share Ambassador on Facebook

OR

Follow @redweektravel and @timeshareambass on Twitter

AND

Check out their site and then leave me a comment on this blog telling me your favorite thing you learned from the site.

I will pick my favorite comment and we will have a winner.

Get going!

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.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 15, 2012 in Product Review

 

Tags: , , , , , ,

Product Review: NYC IndividualEyes Custom Compact (Eyeshadow)

I was pretty excited to see some eye shadow in my Beauty Blogger VoxBox from Influenster. (Again, the company who gives me complimentary items in exchange for product reviews).

NYC (http://newyorkcolor.com/) is a brand of make-up that I have used in the past when I need simple ‘staple’ items like eye liner. I have not really used their eye shadow and other products, but I probably will after using this eye compact. As you can tell by the photo…I have been using it. Since I got the box from Influenster I have been wearing this every day.

There are instructions on the back of the compact to aid you in the ‘smoky’ eye look…something I will admit I have not ever really been able to do. But with this…it’s actually quite simple and gives a great dramatic look!

First I take the base (the tan color) and put it all over my eye lids with my finger. Then, it’s the grey lighter grey color (next to the white) which goes all over your lid. Then comes the next grey color in the scale, which goes in the crease. I sweep it from about mid-eye all the way out to the corner. Next I take the white and put it from the darker grey all the way up to my eyebrows. And lastly, the black. I do that a few ways, just depending on how I feel at the moment. I will take it and smudge it on my lash line in lieu of eyeliner. Or I will take it and kind of make a > at the corners of my eyes, sometimes sweeping it out a little further so as to make a wing effect.

Oh, one thing I have not used is the white creme color, next to the tan base. This it says is a ‘highlighter’ that you can sweep over darker colors to make them lighter. I will probably experiment with this sometime just to see what it creates.

I put my make-up on at about 715 every morning and take it off at about 9 at night. This eye shadow looks the same when I’m finished as it did when I began. Next I think I will experiment with blending the colors together for an even more dramatic look.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 14, 2012 in Product Review

 

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Product Review: Bath and Body Works Nutmeg and Spice Candle

I told you guys about Influenster, the site where you fill out some surveys and answer some questions and can get selected for a ‘voxbox’ full of goodies to review. I get these items for free in exchange for reviews.

This product is from my Beauty Blogger Voxbox and when I saw it, I literally squealed. If you know anything about me then you know that I’m kind of obsessed with ole Bath and Body works. So seeing a mini-version of one of their holiday candles made me giggle.

The White Barn candles are so great. I have had several over the years and they are always very scent-ful. Is that a word? If not, I’m making it one.

You can almost just sit these candles out sans plastic lid and sans lighting and still smell them.

This particular candle, Nutmeg and Spice, reminds me of being at home for the holidays in a house full of family and a kitchen full of baked goods. The scent is great and it’s long-lasting as well.

I would recommend lighting up one of these bad boys while you’re decorating for the holidays or unwrapping presents with your family.

As a super sweet bonus, I was also given a coupon to get one of the larger, 3-wick versions of these candles for $10! That’s half off!!! I went with the Fresh Balsam scent, which kind of smells like the point in the ride Soarin’ at Disney World where you are floating over the evergreen trees in California. (Nerdy, I know).

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 13, 2012 in Product Review

 

Tags: , , , , ,

Product Review: Manic Panic ‘Tainted Love’ Lipstick

When I hear the name Manic Panic, I instantly think of bright, vibrant hair color. I was not aware they sold cosmetics as well. I was presented with a free tube of this lipstick in exchange for a review. I decided to give this color, Tainted Love, a shot to replace a red I had just finished.

Initially, I was not a fan of this. It goes on SLICK…meaning it’s light and it’s quick going on. I am a fan of matte lips with thick coverage so I wasn’t sure what to think at first. Gradually, I discovered that if you apply thin/sparingly and wait maybe 15 minutes or so, it kind of ‘sets’ itself and becomes longer lasting.

Yet…I find it coming off on EVERYTHING throughout the day. Barely touching my finger to my lips, or propping my hand on my chin and brushing my lips will result in color on my fingers. Somehow it also gets on the book I’m reading..not sure how that happens.  But, the color is just as vibrant as you would expect from Manic Panic and is a nice update to the classic red lip.

I think for those of you who apply throughout the day and are more in to the feeling of a lip gloss rather than a lipstick then you would like this product. It is not something that I honestly see myself buying on my own, though I will continue using this tube until it is finished.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 6, 2012 in Product Review

 

Tags: , , , , , ,

Product Review: Goody Simple Styles Spin Pins

This is another product that I was given in my Influenster VoxBox. And another one that is kind of difficult to review with a pixie cut. So, Marie steps in once again to save the day.

If you aren’t familiar with this product, it is literally what I would describe as a twisted bobby pin which you are supposed to be able to just kind of work in your hair and create a ‘messy’ up-do with staying power. And, according to Marie, that is exactly what happens.

Marie, whose hair is around shoulder length with some wave/curl to it, had this to say about the first time she used the Spin Pin:

I really like them. They hold my hair well. I can move my head around a lot, and somewhat “thrash” it, and the pins keep my hair from budging. And they are easy to use. A+!

I witnessed her use them and I can say that they seemed to be a great thing! She just kind of threw her hair up, stuck the pins in (there are two though I think you can manage with one depending on your hair length and type) and boom. Instant messy bun. And she shook her head around a little and they still stayed. Based on this I would say these seem like a great product for those who want an easy way to get an up-do.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 5, 2012 in Product Review

 

Tags: , , , , , ,

Product Review: Not Your Mother’s Kinky Moves Curl Defining Cream

As part of my Influenster Beauty Blogger Voxbox I was given a mini-tube of Not Your Mother’s Kinky Moves Curl Defining Cream to test and review. Which, is kind of funny because I have a pixie cut. So…I don’t really have any curls to define so to speak. Therefore I asked a friend of mine, Marie, to review the product for me and let me know what she thinks.

Here is what she had to say:

My initial impression of the Not Your Mother’s Kinky Moves Curl Defining Cream (infused with grapeseed and jasmine) was that it smelled amazing in the bottle. I applied it to freshly washed, towel dried hair. Once getting it all in my hair and scrunching it, it looked great. However, I soon realized I wasn’t a fan of the smell on my hair though. It was too strong and kind of made my eyes burn and water. (weird, I know) But, my hair looked nice. I got a number of compliments. However, throughout the day my hair started looking flat and kind of oily. (I don’t have oily hair, I can normally go two days w/o having to wash my hair) The product also made my hair feel like straw and wasn’t “smooth” like the product boasts on the back of the bottle. I am on the second wash of my hair and it still feels like I have product in my hair. It feels filmy. 😦 Needless to say, I probably won’t use this product again.

So there you have it. Since I can’t personally use this product, and probably will not be able to for the forseeable future (I’ve had short hair for about 7 years now, this is the closest I will be able to review it.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 4, 2012 in Product Review

 

Tags: , , , ,

Influenster Beauty Blogger VoxBox 2012

I am SO EXCITED that I got my first VoxBox today from Influenster…and it contains some of my favorite things. BEAUTY PRODUCTS.

Here is a quick shot I took of my box as I opened it and discovered the goodies. I also shot a video which I will post shortly.
Some of the things included are an NYC eye shadow compact (which helps you achieve a smoky eye), a Bath and Body Works candle, false eyelashes, and some face cream.
There are 2 products (‘Not Your Mothers Kinky Moves’ and a ‘spin pin’) which I won’t personally be able to review (I have a pixie cut) but I think I’m going to have someone guest review them. And then probably send them invites to Influenster so that they could get some goodies themselves.
So excited to get started!
 
Leave a comment

Posted by on October 17, 2012 in Product Review