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Saturday, May 25, 2013

Book Review: The Big Book of Martinis for Moms by Rose Maura Lorre and Mavis Lamb; Adams Media

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More than 175 martinis just for moms!

You're at every game, performance, and practice.
You weather colds, flus, and strep throat better than anyone. You can finish a diorama in two hours flat.

Isn't it time you had your own happy hour?

Filled with more than 175 refreshing martini recipes, this collection gives you a reason to take a seat and just unwind. Featuring simple instructions that can be done in a matter of minutes, you will:

  • Relax tubside with a Bathtub Gin(ger).
  • Relish the view of a spotless bedroom with a Hurricane Martini in hand.
  • Savor bedtime with a Relaxing Tea Martini.
  • Reward yourself with a Cucumber Martini after getting the kids to eat their veggies.
  • Celebrate fitting into your skinny jeans with a Thin Gin.
With The Big Book of Martinis for Moms, you'll always have the perfect answer for every joy and accomplishment motherhood has to offer!

My Review

This is definitely a book that I wish I’d had when my kids were younger. It’s an amazing book for any mom that adores her kids, the milestones, the “baby” and “childhood” feats that she’s mastered and definitely needs to celebrate it when the kids are tucked in for the night.

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I love that at the beginning of the book there is (instead of a table of contents) there’s a “FEAT” list. You can skim through—find what feat you’ve successfully mastered and toast to yourself!! GREAT job mom!

The writing is quirky, humorous, and knows how us moms need a pat on the back for the “great job.” Only another parent would understand these tasks that we defeat such as “enjoying a night out with the kid without a meltdown”, “surviving a supermarket meltdown”, and surviving being up all night with a sick kid”.

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Each drink starts out with a feat such as “surviving your first ER trip” but at the top they always give it a quirky name—this one’s name is “Panic Free Zone-tini.” Then it goes into the story of how frightening it must have been, but everything was fine. Although you were still WORRIED to death. THEN it shows the reward which is called :The Pain Killer:

They are broken down into different feats such as bedtime feats, food feats, medical feats, bathroom-related feats, transitions/first feats, school feats, chore/discipline feats, mom-specific feats, out-and-about feats, festive feats, kids will be kids feats, and in the great outdoors feats.

The drinks are fun, unique, and seem to be VERY tasty. Not all of them have picture, but the ones that do have pictures—look beautiful! I can’t wait to get to mixing these concoctions for myself.

Although I don’t deserve getting through the year’s class ceremony without crying. When Aidan graduated Kindergarten last Friday- as soon as I walked into his classroom tears welled up in my eyes!! I couldn’t help it, they grow up too fast!

Here are some feats:

  Lulled baby to sleep by driving around

  Managed to get them to sleep all night

  Teaching them to feed themselves

   Baked a cake with your kid

Stayed home with your sick kid

Changed babies diaper in a parking lot

Which feats do you deserve to drink to?

 

About the Authors

Rose Maura Lorre blogtends at FiveOClockCocktails.com, a finalist for the Saveur 2012 Best Food Blog Awards, and is a contributing food writer to St. Louis Magazine. She has tended bar at The Royale Food & Spirits in St. Louis and is a graduate of the Columbia University School of Mixology. Rose has been featured in the New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Glamour, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Maxim, the New York Post, and Salon.com, amongst other publications.

Mavis Lamb coaches people on blogging for business, speaks on networking and word-of-mouth marketing, and writes books and plays. As director of Seattle Playwrights Studio, her latest play, Serendipity by Design, was inspired by a conversation with her boyfriend, Dave, a martini bar owner.

Buy It: The Big Book of Martinis for Moms for $12.75

Find more interesting and awesome books at the Adams Media Book Store!

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Kid Gourmet- Squoosh Organic Kid Snack

Squoosh™

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I received an email a couple of weeks ago about reviewing some yummy AND healthy kid treats. These come in four different flavors, which we received:

• BeetBerry – banana, apple, beet, blueberry
• OrangoBango – mango, carrot, banana, apple
• SquabbleBerry – apple, blueberry, squash, banana
• Banango – banana, mango, apple, squash

We had never had the chance to try any Baby or Kid Gourmet snacks before now. They are packaged FOR traveling with a kid- non messy, no fighting with lids, spoons, or making a giant mess!

When they came in the mail, of course Ms. Adisyn was all over them. The piglet that she is-LOL. I agreed to do the review because not only is it organic, healthy, AND contain a full serving of fruits and veggies but I was thinking it might be an awesome snack to pack with the kids next school year! AND I was right!

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Adisyn really liked it!! It was easy for her to open, she didn’t make a mess, and she ate it ALL, I even tasted each one of them and YUM. They may have veggies in them like the Beetberry having beets in it, but you can’t taste ANYTHING but the fruits!!

If they don’t eat it all, I think they only get like 10-15 minutes for snack at school- they can just put the lid back on and put it back in their snack bag and eat it when they get home! I love that it’s even an OPTION!

Squoosh™ is an organic snack that delivers one full serving of fruit and vegetables in every pouch.  All four Squoosh™ flavours have no added sugar or salt, are kosher, and are nut-free and gluten-free.  The perfect snack!

 

About Squoosh

Already leader in the Canadian market with 15% market share in the baby food, and kids snack aisle, Jen is launching her organic pouched snack line for kids under Kids Gourmet in the U.S. late spring 2013. Introducing Squoosh, the first product line under her Kids Gourmet label is designed to be a healthy snack choice for school-aged kids with fun packaging and delicious flavor combos.


Jen was inspired by her own children, and the knowledge that kids begin to pick their own snacks, when she created Squoosh as an eye-catching on-the-go pouched snack. Made of 100% organic pureed fruits and vegetables (good for a full serving of fruits and vegetables in every 3.2 oz pouch) the four yummy combos will launch in the following flavors:


• BeetBerry – banana, apple, beet, blueberry
• OrangoBango – mango, carrot, banana, apple
• SquabbleBerry – apple, blueberry, squash, banana
• Banango – banana, mango, apple, squash


Great for summer travel and Back-to-School as a lunchbox treat, Squoosh contains no added sugars, salts, and is gluten-free, nut-free, housed in BPA-free packaging. If you have a baby, Jen is debuting several flavors of her organic baby food line as well.

Buy it: Click HERE to find a store near you.

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Jessica Renee

Friday, May 24, 2013

Bright Eyed Product Line-up! #BeautifulEyes

mascaraIT Cosmetics Hello Lashes

Brighten up your eyes and say “hello” to fab lashes. It Cosmetics Hello Lashes features a spiked applicator for maximum reach of every lash and a no-slip grip for easy application!  Since it is clinically proven to quadruple the volume of your lashes, your eyes will pop all day long!

 

 

This black hot formula contains:

· Anti-ageing vitamins & amino acids

· Peptides

· Hydro-Collagen

· Bees wax

· Proteins

· Acai & Green Tea

Price: $24.00

Availability: ItCosmetics.com, QVC, QVC.com, The Shopping Channel & TheShoppingChannel.com

 

eyeshadowBECCA Ultimate Eye Colour Quad

Luxe palettes of smooth, highly pigmented eyeshadows in matte, demi-matte and metallic finishes let you perfect that runway ready look in seconds!

Color, contour and highlight the eyes with four unique palettes.  These rich colors and metallic finishes will give you intense colour immediately.

These powders build quickly and blend easily for colour that will last all day long.

Price: $40

Availability: Sephora.com

 

sonicOpal Sonic Infusion System

Toss that second cuppa Joe in favor of this little pick-me-up that’ll help you look like you got your winks.

Utilizing the same technology as found in Clarisonic’s patented sonic skin cleansing system, the Opal Sonic Infusion System massages anti-aging sea serum into the eye area, immediately working on the appearance of lines and wrinkles. In clinical studies, most women reported seeing an immediate reduction in fine lines and wrinkles and firmer, brighter, more hydrated skin in just one minute.  Sounds like a pretty good argument for ditching caffeine!

Price: $185

Availability: Nordstrom/Nordstrom.com

 

relastinPrecisionMD Relastin Eye Silk

PrecisionMD™ Relastin Eye Silk is formulated with Zinc Firming Complex, clinically proven to improve the appearance of skin’s firmness and resiliency of the delicate eye area.

Proven to help reduce the appearance of dark circles, as well as improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, the Relastin Eye Silk contains a silky formulation that allows for smooth application on the eye area and can even be applied under makeup.  The Zinc Firming Complex promotes firmer looking skin, and the Mica reflects light for brighter looking skin.

Price: $69

Availability: Physician Dispense or Medical Spas

 

Jessica Renee

Bounce into Summer Giveaway Ends 6/10

Prize:
ARV $400
Hosted by:
A Lucky Ladybug
and
A Ladybug on the Go

This playhouse really has it all.  It is height is just low enough to be used indoors, but it has a full pool and water slide for those hot summer days.  The bounce area (6x6 feet) is a nice size for a few kids and there is a separate ball pit that holds two packs of play balls just right.

Perfect for the kids who want more then just a backyard pool, and it can be used inside when it rains or even all winter (it's just 6 feet high and will fit in most rooms or in the basement of any house).


Included with Little Sprout - All-In-One Bouncer, Slide & Pool is an over sized carry bag, patch kit for rips and tears, constant air blower w/ GFCI circut interuptor for safety, ground stakes, and of course a water hose hook up.


"Make Our Own Network" solely organized this event and I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are 100% my own and may differ from your own or even those stated in this post. Stylish Southern Mama is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.
**If you are a company and would like to see your brand advertised in a M.O.O.N. event similar to this please contact ldybug1682@gmail.com

Jessica Renee

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Vine Vera Red Wine Skin Care: Resveratrol Dark Circle Eye Cream Review

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I love watching Dr. Oz. It’s an amazing way to learn how to be healthy, the do’s and don’ts of many things, and HOW certain things are good for you and why they help.
Recently I’d seen the episode of Red Wine in skincare and HOW beneficial it is for your skin. The reason Red Wine is so beneficial is 1. The alcohol and 2. The resveratrol.

The resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant that is produced from the skin of grapes. You can only get this antioxidant from red wine, because the vintners put the grape skins back into the red wine to make it, but NOT white wine.

The resveratrol actually helps your skin from aging by turns on a system in your body to prevent it. BUT 80% of the benefit from Red Wine in skincare is actually the alcohol and the other 20% from resveratrol. Dr. Oz KNOWS what he’s talking about, so I listen.

When I got a chance to review 2 items from the Vine Vera skincare line, I was jumping through the roof! OF COURSE, I would be- who doesn’t want beautiful skin?
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I ended up choosing the Resveratrol Dark Circle Eye Cream, which I will tell you about first. “This cream will immediately reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffy eyes.”
Directions: Gently apply cream to area under eyes and along orbital bone using ring finger. Use daily for optimal results.
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The Vine Vera Resveratrol Dark Circle Eye Cream comes in an amazing brown/white box that has a magnetic closure on the front. I love that! I can take the eye cream out of the box and use the box for something else!

I am a mom, so of course I have dark circles under my eyes. I have probably since the day since my son was born, and they probably got darker when I had my daughter. Having kids means you juggle the kids, cleaning the house, work, laundry, and a million other things!
This can make me extremely exhausted very quickly! I work from home, so I have to basically wait until they are asleep to start working. This means long nights and early mornings which adds to the puffiness.

I’ve tried many other dark circle treatments and they didn’t work out so well for me. I had to end up hiding them with a concealer before putting my makeup on. I wouldn’t even wear makeup most of the time in the summer if it weren’t for the dark circles. Who wants to have to check to see if they’ve sweated their makeup off every 20 minutes? I sure don’t!

The skin under our eyes is basically the thinnest skin on our body. It all those sleepless hours, all that exhaustion, and if you are dehydrated? It’ll show that as well. Who wants to wear THAT darkness all day?
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I love that this is like a metallic copper looking color. Just the packaging is refreshing and unique. It has a screw on top, which is awesome for me because if we go somewhere over night- THIS will come with me and I know it won’t spill out in my overnight bag.

I’ve been very religious applying this under my eyes twice a day since I’ve gotten it. I put it on before I go out in the morning after I wash my face, and then again at night after my cleansing ritual and before my night cream!

The resveratrol helps to reduce inflammation, to prevent damage to blood vessels, and help keep blood clots at bay. This stay up late, get up early mom can use all the help she can get with puffy inflated, dark circles, and under eye bags.
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I love when caps like these are put over a skincare product, It keeps the skincare from getting everywhere and creating a mess. It also keeps the insides from getting on top of the lid, which means there is more to use!
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When I opened the eye cream, it looked like this. A pale tinted copper/light brown lotion like cream. It is very rich, creamy, and luxurious. It feels so silky when I rub it under my eyes, and the coolness of the cream immediately makes it feel like the inflammation and puffiness has gone down.

It smells incredible too. Have you ever just been sitting at home with your feet kicked up, had a really good book to read and a glass of red wine in your hand? Relaxation at it’s best huh? YES! Well imagine swirling the glass of red wine and taking a sniff before you take a sip. That’s exactly what this smells like!
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The best part about it is that it only takes mere seconds to put this on. The amount on my fingertip in the picture is enough for both eyes. I’ve also been putting this above my eyes as well as beneath!
I noticed the next morning when I woke up and got out of the shower that YES! The dark circles did look like they weren’t as visible as they were the night before, and my eyes didn’t seem so puffy.
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I wasn’t expecting a MIRACLE- where the black circles would be gone the very next day.. but this really surprised me. I couldn’t believe how much of the inflammation was gone. The inflammation is what was making it look SO much worse. The blackness was subsiding little by little with each use.
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Within the same week, I was able to have a date night with my hubs without having to pack on the concealer and then makeup on top of it. I feel beautiful- naturally! Which felt so calming and amazing! Smile No more covering it up! I just wore my regular date night makeup and was done with it!



 VineVera has just introduced actress/model Gal Gadot (from the Fast & Furious franchise) as the new spokesperson for the luxury brand. Gal’s timeless beauty and flawless skin make her a perfect fit for the red wine-inspired skincare line.

Buy IT: Vine Vera Resveratrol Dark Circle Eye Cream for $296
This Product Was Formulated Without:
Parabens, Propylene Glycol, Mineral Oil, Lanolin, Petrolatum, Formaldehyde, Acetone, Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids, Sodium Laurel or Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Laurel or Laureth Sulfate, Synthetic Coloring.
Connect with Vine Vera on Facebook and Twitter
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Jessica Renee

Blogger Opp: Canon EOS Rebel T3i DSLR Camera with Lens Kit

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Free Blogger Event!

Prize: Canon EOS Rebel T3i DSLR Camera with Lens Kit

Event Dates: June 5 - June 30

Free link for posting and promoting the giveaway

Bloggers Sign Up Here!

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Blogger Opp: Summer Fun Giveaway

Summer Fun Event

Organized by: Iowa Mom

Prizes Include: Skywalker Bounce-N-Learn Trampoline, Intex 10' x 30" Metal Frame Swimming Pool, Glenmeadow 6-Piece Folding Patio Dining Set with Umbrella, Flexible Flyer Swing Free Metal Swing Set & 20" Huffy Rock It Boys' Bike. *5 winners*

Event dates: 6/10 - 6/24

 
SIGN-UP HERE!

 

Jessica Renee

Generacgenerators Storm Preparation & Giveaway! #Donates to Red Cross for Every Entry!

Storm and tornado season is in full swing, and each year, the United States gets an average of 5.9 hurricanes, 1,000 tornados and 10,000 severe thunderstorms. To help people prepare, STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer, America’s #1 selling brand of fuel stabilizers, and Generacgenerators, the most trusted name in residential standby power, have launched a “Storm Season: Be Ready” campaign offering tips and giveaways while also raising money for the American Red Cross.

To help educate people about how best to prepare for mother nature’s unknown, STA-BIL and Generac have created the following tips that people can do now to prepare should a natural disaster strike.

Before the storm

1. Listen to the news and local forecasts to give yourself as much notice as possible

2. Secure a back-up generator, such as a Generac portable generator to be operated safely out of doors

3. Make sure your generator is in working order by checking the oil and adding fresh fuel with a bottle of  STA-BIL Ethanol Treatment to keep the fuel fresh and combat damage from ethanol in today’s gasoline

4. Run the generator for a few minutes. If the generator does not start, add a bottle of Start Your Engines! Fuel Revitalizer to clean the carburetor and intake valves and get the engine up and running quickly

5. Create a storm kit of must-have items, such as a battery operated radio, flashlights, batteries, candles, matches, bottled water, blankets, non-perishable food, can opener, first aid kit, list of phone numbers, prescription medications and games to pass the time

When a storm is on its way

1. Listen to the news to keep updated on the storm’s status

2. Obey evacuation directions in dire situations

3. Make sure your cell phone is charged and keep a charger with you

4. Set your refrigerator and freezer controls to the coldest settings to keep food longer should the power go out

5. Fill your car’s gas tank just in case you need to drive to safety

6. Take out a reasonable amount of cash in case ATMs are out of order

7. Tie down any large objects outdoors that may get thrown during a storm (e.g. patio furniture, toys) and place valuables inside in a safe place off the floor

8. Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purposes by filling your bathtub, sinks and other large containers with water

When a storm is in progress

1. Stay indoors and away from windows or glass doors

2. Take refuge in a small interior room or closet or below ground if possible

3. Listen to the news for updates and directions on how to proceed

In addition, consumers can enter in a sweepstakes on Facebook HERE through July 20, 2013 for a chance to win nearly $2,000 in prizes, including a Generac portable generator and weekly prize packs from STA-BIL and Start Your Engines! products. And for every entry into the sweepstakes, STA-BIL will donate $1 to the American Red Cross to support disaster relief up to $5,000.

 

Jessica Renee

Romwe Outlet Flash Sale!

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Romwe Outlet Flash Sale!  Upto 80% OFF!  200+ styles!

Limited supply!  No restocking once sold out!  Only 3 days!

Hurry up >> http://www.romwe.com/manage_activity/Outlet-Flash-Sale/

From 21st to 23rd May.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Beauty Review: Umberto Beverly Hills Moisturizing Shampoo & Conditioner

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I am in love with this Umberto Beverly HIlls line of Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner. I take pride in my hair. My hair is long and layered, and I want something that is going to keep it healthy, and help with making it shiny, soft, fizz free, etc.
I loved this combo the very FIRST time I used it! I’ve gotten tons of compliments on how great my hair looks, which is always awesome!
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This helps with damaged hair (from dying, over drying, or heat styling) by adding moisture to your hair that has been lost. I love the silky consistency of both the shampoo AND conditioner and love how amazing they smell.
The shampoo lathers up VERY nicely and I don’t need more than a palm size to really get my entire hair clean! The Conditioner is very rich and luxurious! They smell just like a tropical flower to me.. maybe Tiger Lilies?
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The smell lasts all day, even after I tan and sweat a little. It has definitely made my hair feel stronger and more vibrant. I can even let my hair air dry and it doesn’t frizz up. Before I was having to blow dry it and then straighten it because of the frizz. This combo totally keeps the frizz at bay!
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I also love that it not only nourishes my hair, but my scalp as well. I’d noticed since I started tanning that my head was flaking more than usual. This was due to it being “burnt” in the tanning bed I guess.. But this has helped the itchy scalp problem 100%!
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Buy IT: Umberto Beverly Hills Moisturizing Shampoo & Umberto Beverly Hills Moisturizing Conditioner $11.04 each

Connect with Umberto on Facebook and Twitter
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Jessica Renee
 
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