Unforgettable Moments & Me

         

My life consists of writing, writing, and writing some more. As I was looking back through my old blog posts, I realized one thing. I wasn’t actually sharing that much of myself. When I started blogging back in 2009, I wanted to share ME, my thoughts, my likes, my family.

I wanted to meet like minded moms who shared the same interests as I did. I quickly lost my way. I was trying to gain knowledge of how to blog, how to design blogs, and how to get my blog name out in the world. I quickly lost my sense of self.

Sure, I was writing in my own voice- but they weren’t posts about anything I started writing about. I started blogging as a DIY adventure. I love making things. I taught myself how to sew, crochet, digi scrap, and so much more. Give me a book and some tools and I can accomplish just about anything (well except for drawing and painting, I’m totally useless there).

I also taught myself how to design my blog in both html and pretty colors. The layout and design you see floating all around you? I did that myself. I had to teach myself everything because I didn’t (and don’t) have the money to pay someone else to do stuff for me.

I also LOVE to read, but half the time I read the books so fast I don’t review them. Then I thought- my readers are really missing out. They aren’t getting to see these amazing books that fill up my time (when I’m not working, cleaning, or spending time with my family). Sure- I review DIY books, but I haven’t reviewed a nonfiction book in long while.

I just want to get to know ya’ll and for you to know me. I want to make friends, not more readers. I’m not saying I’m giving up the reviews or giveaways- just adding more “me and my time” posts.

I plan to teach you things that I’ve learned, share with you the things I build, and hopefully get you to share with me. I want this to be more of a community- not some place you check in to see the latest “product” or what you have a chance of winning.

I want you to keep coming back because you like the way I write. I want you to come back because I inspire you in some way. I want there to be more back and forth between us. I hope you’ll stand by me and my writing career and follow me down this adventure. I mean, I want it to be ME, MY blog.. not something you can read anywhere. I want to stand out and show you who is behind all this hard work.

So for starters, I am joining in on the Blogher NaBloPoMo Monthly Writing Prompts & try my best to join some blog hops. There aren’t many days left in this month (I mean, time has flown by), but if you would like to join me- you can find the October 2014 Writing Prompt list here.

Friday, October 24, 2014 (Prompt)
If babyhood is spring and young adulthood is summer, which age do you consider to be the start to the "autumn" of life?

 

Response-

I would consider autumn to be the “middle ages” most likely if young adulthood is summer. Middle Ages would be from about 30-45. Although she just turned 47 (shhh). I am in the yound adulthood stage so I’m considered summer. Yay me. Warmth, shorts, tans, and flip-flops.

She gets the more seasoned- cooler, crackling leaves, changing seasons phase. It’s hard to sit back and think about life and those around you getting older. I have lost so many people that were important to me that I despise time.

Don’t you wish you could rewind time? Take all those years back and just cherish the hell out of them? I look at my kids and think “where did the time go?” One day they are toddling around your living room, making you cringe when they stumble as they try to walk- the next they are in elementary school bringing home A.R. books to read.

I try not to take any day for granted, because I know that it is irreplaceable. Something I can never get back. Even those days where I have so much to do my head spins in circles. Laundry, dishes, sweeping, working, the kids, and everything. We get so caught up in the day-to-day that we fail to stop and look at every moment.

If there were a time in your life that you could jump back to and hold someone you lost, witness something important you missed, or just to go back and tell yourself something for the future—what would you choose?

         (You can Post in comments or write blog post and leave link in comments)

I would go back to when my kids were small and start all over. There are just so many places I wish I could have afforded to take them. Museums, zoos, theme parks. As a young mom, it was hard to get on my feet financially, so I didn’t really get the chance to do this!

That’s all for now—until next time.

 

-Jess

Mineral Fusion: Vintage Pearl Nail Polish

Mineral Fusion Nail Polishes are formulated with natural minerals and come in 61 gorgeously designed shades.

• Free of formaldehyde, toluene, camphor and butyl phthalate
• Custom; Extra thick brush for flawless application

A healthier alternative to traditional nail polish. Apply this long-lasting chip-resistant mineral nail polish formula flawlessly using our custom, extra-thick brush. Mineral Fusion Nail Polish is a toulene free nail polish and like all of their cosmetics, upholds their standard for Formula Purity.

Vintage Pearl

• Champagne frost with an opalescent finish

I don’t usually go for pearl finishes, but the Mineral Fusion Vintage Pearl hit the spot. It has such a classy, sophisticated, and flattering look. It’s a little on the sheer side, so 2-3 layers are a must. It gives such a glowing, bright, clean finish- how could I resist?

            
This is a frothy, sheer white with that slight pink hue that makes it look like a real vintage pearl necklace that makes me love it so much. It is truly such a beautiful color. You don’t have to wear this with a suit or even a dress, make anything look classy with this polish. It is so simple yet so elegant, while matching any outfit beautifully.

All Mineral Fusion polishes seem to self level for me. I don’t have spots where there isn’t enough or there is too much- just even and flawless. The polish is definitely a standout, something different for me, truly one I love now. Depending on the layers you choose to put on- with one it is very sheer but with 2-3 it turns opaque, really impressive.

If you want to choose a light nail polish but don’t want to trek all the WAY white, this is perfect. The offset of the pink hue and the pearl finish takes the brightness away. Formula is amazing, and I absolutely love the shape and design of both the bottle and the brush. The brush spreads the coat evenly and not too thick (which I have a problem with when applying other nail polishes). PERFECT!

 ♥

Connect with Mineral Fusion online:
Facebook, Twitter, & Pinterest

Zabada Eco-Friendly Bathroom Glove & Marvel Cleaning Cloth

 


When you clean your home, you naturally want it to be bacteria free right? Do you ever think about what chemicals the products you use to clean your home has inside them? Take a stand against all those nasty chemicals with Zabada. You don’t need anything other than the Zabada Bathroom Glove, Zabada Marvel Cleaning cloth, and water.

Yes, ONLY water. There’s no need for any chemical induced sprays or products. Add water to the mitt, wipe down the dirt, and dry with the cloth. It’s really that easy. Do you usually clean with paper towels? Think about how much money you will save by using the Zabada products. Not only the money, but think of how you’ll be helping the environment by NOT throwing away all those paper towels.



When I got the Zabada products, it came with instructions as to how to properly use them. You get them, wash them first, and then you can use them. Do not use bleach, fabric softeners, or harsh laundry detergents when washing them. You place them in a laundry bag, toss them in the washer in cold/warm water and tumble or air dry them. They don’t have to be washed after every use, so that’s awesome as well.



The Zabada Glove is a very unique design, it totally kicks other microfiber cleaning mitts to the curb. They couldn’t compare if they tried. I love that this isn’t just another boring mitt that’s just sitting around taking up space. Not only does it work 100% every single time, but it adds character because of the cute designs they have.

The glove is very easy to use- just wet the glove with water and roll the glove up to squeeze out the extra water. Wipe whatever it is that needs cleaning and then follow with drying with the Zabada cloth. Super easy. I was very impressed when they claimed that the Zabada mitt wouldn’t transfer dirt, even residue from makeup; lipstick, eyeliner..etc . I put it to the test, and wa-lah they were right on the money.

 
 Excuse my appearance, lol. Long day of cleaning.. and removing wallpaper to re-do the house

It was amazing not having to use any elbow grease, just wiped it slightly and it was gone. I ran my fingers over the area after I wiped it, and there was absolutely no left over lipstick or eyeliner. NO streaks, residue, or anything. That wasn’t hard at all. The best part is there wasn’t even any fiber residue stuck to the mirror, WOW. This has made bathroom clean-up a breeze.

The cloth that comes with the glove is used to wipe up any moisture that the glove leaves behind. This is because bacteria WILL grow where moisture is present, so this cloth eliminates that moisture. No moisture, no bacteria. This cloth doesn’t leave behind any streaks or fibers either. Wiping the surface right after cleaning, will kill all bacteria that could potentially harm you and your family.

    

You don’t have to JUST use this in your bathroom (just make sure you wash it before you switch rooms). I have used it to clean the inside of my washer and dryer, as a duster *WOW, the dirt just clings to it*, and counter wipe-down after I wash dishes. Cleaning is super quick now, super easy, and doesn’t cost me and arm and a leg. With the additional benefits of not having to spend money on chemically induced cleaners or paper towels.

Zabada is the only complete cleaning system that’s scientifically-proven to:
Rid homes of 90% of harmful chemicals
Remove up to 99% bacteria
Clean faster with a simple wet and wipe
Last 2-3 years to save money
Outlast generic microfiber cloths that lose power after 20 washes
Reduce water consumption by 20%
Reduce energy by 30%
Reduce solid waste by 50%
Reduce air and surface pollutants
Lower potential health risks

About Zabada:
Zabada is crusading to rid homes, and the planet, of poisionous chemical cleaners. We’re taking a stand against chemicals that leave toxic residues and emissions for your skin to absorb and kids to breathe- chemicals known to poision and cause serious harm. We’re crusaders with integrity and a solution that’s scientfically proven to clean better, faster, and healtier. And joining our mission are millions of households across Europe and Austrailia who’ve already shed the HAZMAT suit and converted to chemical-free living with the Zabada system.

 To learn more about Zabada and their products, visit them on the Zabada Website & Follow them online:
Facebook & Twitter

Had you ever heard of Zabada before?


-Jess

Piper’s Perfumery Fragrance Mists

            
    
Pipers Perfumery is a new fragrance line that recently launched in September 2014. They offer a collection of fragrance mists that are both romantic as well as whimsical, perfect for any time of the year. Every one of these fragrances are inspired by the “girl next door”, so they are all perfect for daily wear and are very lighthearted mists.

            
There are seven breathtaking fragrance mists. Inspired by Piper, the easy-going girl next door who exudes confidence and beauty in the most non-threatening way, each fragrance transports the user into a particular mindset from carefree beach wanderer to a seductive date night. Be more than a girl, be Piper.  Piper is an attitude, a mindset and a lifestyle.

I love the design of the front of the bottles. Each fragrance has it’s own design that fits that scent to a T. I love fragrances- whether they be candles, wax melts, or perfume/sprays. I was excited to get to try these amazing mixtures. I’ve never been so amazed in my life with the blends of a body spray until now. These are truly unique and Pipers Perfumery certainly know what they are doing!

Love Spark


Charming: Light a spark with this delightful blend of wild berries, peach blossoms, and sweet pea.

Top Notes: Wild berries, Red Apple, Melon Water
Middle Notes: Peach Blossom, Jasmine
Base Notes: Sweet Pea, Wild Rose, French Ozone

My Review

Out of the 4 fragrances I received, this one is my absolute favorite- Hands down. This is a light flirty scent, with the Sweet Pea, Wild Berries, and Peach Blossom being the most noticeable accents for me. The blend is fantastic and absolutely mouthwatering.

This is fruity, floral, and sensual. It isn’t overly IN YOUR FACE sweet or overpowering, which is what I love. People can’t smell me from a mile away, but if they lean in- they can get a whiff of the amazingness. The sweet succulent scent of Sweet Pea (which I have always LOVED) mixed with the melon water and wild rose just dazzles me.

I used to wear B&BW Sweet Pea until I got older and it ended up being overly sweet for my tastes. The berries & floral combination mixed with in this tones down the sweetness. This is more of a light floral fragrance more than sweet, so Jackpot for me!

Eye Candy
 

Luscious: All Eyes are on you with this sweet scent: A luscious combination of succulent strawberries, sugarcane, and whipped vanilla.

Top Notes: Sweet Strawberry, Raspberry
Middle Notes: Pink Macaroon, Cotton Candy, Sugar Cane
Base Notes: Whipped Vanilla Bean

My Review
“Eye Candy” is sweet, luring, and very feminine. This is a very distinct yet sexy smell. The fruit blends well with the sugar and cotton candy, yet it isn’t overly sweet. Most fragrances with cotton candy/sugar mix smell sickly sweet and very overpowering to the senses. This one isn’t like that at all. It’s very light, delicate, and yummy.

This is a magical, dreamy, gourmand scent. It is cozy, comforting, and brings memories of the county fair. It is fun, flirty, and simply amazing. This is also amazing for spraying on my bed sheets and linen, it smells so delicious. It isn’t cloying at all, and stays delightful all day. The fruit and vanilla take this over the top to amazing. I even let my daughter wear this to school.

It brings out the sweet tooth in everyone!

Delicate French Vanilla:

Elegant: Be decadent with the indulgent aroma of brown sugar delicately wrapped in rich vanilla crème.

Top Notes: Warm Vanilla, Sweet Orange
Middle Notes: Brown Sugar, Vanilla Orchid
Base Notes: Cedar Wood, Sweet Amber, Creamy Musk

My Review
This is a pretty, light, and non-foody smelling. Some vanilla fragrances and lotions have that vanilla extract/alcohol type smell, but this one doesn’t. I love that it isn’t too sweet smelling thanks to the Cedar Wood and Creamy Musk additives. It’s more like a soft, delicate, enticing smell of the blended Amber, Orange, and Brown Sugar.

This isn’t like any vanilla fragrance I’ve ever tried, which is a good thing. I usually wouldn’t pull towards something that smelled “musky” or had it even printed on the bottle. Don’t let it fool you though, it doesn’t smell musky. It’s a mellow, comforting smell that isn’t overpowering. It isn’t too strong and it lasts awhile. My mom absolutely LOVES this one. I love the delicate lace they have pictured on the front, fits this perfectly.

Moroccan Dream

Tropical: Escape to the tropics with the playful blend of exotic mango and juicy mandarin.

Top Notes: Exotic Mango, Tangerine Sugar, Pink Grapefruit
Middle Notes: Orange Hibiscus, Tropical Melon, Juicy Mandarin
Base Notes: Sunrise Vanilla, Malibu Musk, Sensual Woods

My Review
This is a floral, fruity fragrance that smells SO good. It has such an exotic smell, makes you think of sipping a margarita on a beach in Hawaii. This will definitely appeal to those who love the smell of exotic fruits.

This brings thoughts of summertime and happiness, feet in the water, just sitting back relaxing. This is sweet, crisp, and sensual all at the same time. This is uplifting, very feminine, and dries down to warm fruity flowery scent that lingers for hours. It isn’t overpowering and doesn’t have to be sprayed more than twice.

It is more fruity smell because of the amazing mixture of the mango, tangerine, grapefruit, mandarin, and melon- but the floral does shine through. It’s tropical without being tacky. The mango, orange hibiscus, and vanilla are the notes that shine through most for me. I love it!


($4.98 each at Wal-Mart and Walmart.com)

They also have 3 others I didn’t receive:

· Sea salt & Rosewater: Top notes of Wild Freesia, Casaba Melon and Apple Blossom, lead into mid tones of Sea Salt Accord and Rosewater Jasmine, and end with dry notes of Driftwood and Musk.

· Naughty & Nice: Top notes of Sweet Mandarin and Cyclamen lead into mid tones of Sensual Jasmine, White Cedar and Sugared Amber Crystals, ending with dry notes of Creamy Sandalwood, Warm Vanilla Bean and Musk.

· Sheer Blue: Top notes of Crisp Apple, Bright Bergamot and Lemon Zest lead into mid tones of Bluebell, Sheer Jasmine and delicate Rose, ending with dry notes of White Amber, Blonde Woods and Musk.


Connect via Social Media-
Facebook & Pinterest


♥Jess

The Good Dog Book by Todd Kessler

            


The Good Dog by Todd Kessler is an amazing book, written by Todd Kessler who is a co-creator of the popular show Blue Clues!

Ricky Lee was riding his bike down a hill when he spotted a box spilled over on the side of the road. He peeks inside and realizes to his amazement that there is a puppy inside. He brings the puppy home and claims him as his own, naming him Tako.

    
Ricky’s parents only had one condition if he keep Tako- that he must be a good dog. Tako was very thankful that he now had a forever home and tried his best to be a “good dog”. He loved the family for letting him have a chance, so tried to be on his best behavior. It’s hard to manage when you have other factors pulling you to be curious, but he continued to be a good dog.

The Lee Family owned a small bakery in the middle of town. They had competition though- Mr. Prichard. Mr. Prichard is a mean, nasty, greedy man who sells stale goods to make more money without being good to the customers. He gets mad when the Lee Family starts taking all his clients, because they were interested in their delicious home-baked goods.

Mr. Prichard starts being very rude- he breaks in the Lee’s bakery at night planting all kinds of nasty things. Bugs, rats, you name it- he plants it. Tako heard noises in the bakery and goes to check it out. He then has to make a very hard decision. Should he run Mr. Prichard off and then his family think Tako was being the trouble maker? He couldn’t just watch Mr. Prichard plant all those nasty things in the bakery, so he did what a real “good dog” would do and broke bad on Prichard.

We were rooting for Tako throughout the entire book. My kids knew that Tako was doing the right thing in the end, even if it meant standing up only for those he truly loved. We really enjoyed reading this book. The story is thoughtful, delightful to read, and delivers an amazing message. The illustrations are also top notch quality, we loved all the detail within the pictures!

About Todd Kessler:
Todd Kessler is the co-creator and show runner of the highly successful children’s television series “Blue’s Clues”. A signature of Todd’s work is that it has always been developed with the input of actual children (and sometimes dogs and cats too). His artistic and innovative creations have garnered him the prestigious Peabody Award, seven Emmy nominations, two Television Critics Association awards, five Parent’s Choice awards, first place in the children’s division of the Toronto International Film Festival, and a New York Film Festival Cine Golden Eagle. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife.

To learn more about Tako and his creator Todd, visit the website
and follow twitter, facebook, & pinterest


Jessica

Monster 600XL 3-in-1 Hand Vacuum

Kids and messes seem to go hand in hand, right? My kids seem to be little tornadoes at times. I can pick up their playroom and within mere seconds it’s back to the way it was. With so many toys to keep them entertained, keeping them organized can be quite a hassle.

These days toys come with tons of pieces- some large and some very tiny. Some that easily come off and get mashed into the carpet. Knowing that I’ll be picking up that room more than a couple times a day, I needed something other than my huge floor model vacuum. I was tired of lugging it around, it’s super heavy!

    

That’s where the Monster 600XL comes in. It adequately cleans all types of surfaces. Picks up dirt and embedded materials from even the thickest carpets. It is a 3-in-1 vacuum and it comes with 7 easy to maneuver attachments.


Don’t mistake the smallness for less, this can clean anything from floors to upholstery. It has definitely won me over because I don’t have to pull out my giant vacuum just to get the inside of the couch and loveseat clean. It even makes it easy to vacuum the inside of my food cabinets when the kids spilled cheerios everywhere.

It’s easy to put together, dump out when full, and store. It even comes with it’s own handy little storage bag. I am loving the amazing attachments that come with it. It can clean just about anything. It has tools for different surfaces and three extension tubes to make the vacuum as tall or as short as you need to get the job done right.

I even use this to clean out my truck. The cord is long enough that I can hook it up to an extension cord and go to work. No more stopping at the car wash and spending .75 each time. I can just whip this out, vacuum it up, and be done. The smaller attachments even let me clean the seat cracks! Super Amazing.

I love that this has a washable, reusable filter. No more bags or buying filters that don’t last very long. When the filter gets filled, just soak in hot water and replace it back in the vacuum. It’s small enough that even my kids WANT to vacuum up their own mess, now THAT is incredible. :D

The only problem I had was when something would get lodged inside the rubber piece inside the clear part of the vacuum, it would stop up the entire tubing. It backed up and spit it back out. Other than that, this is a great vacuum!

From Monster.

• Includes 600XL 3-in-1 handheld vacuum, two-piece upholstery/pet tool, three 11-3/4" extension tubes, crevice tool, blowing accessory, adapter tool, and storage/carry bag
• 600W motor
• Vacuum and blower functions
• Pressure-fit attachments to avoid slipping
• Washable, bagless filter system
• Ergonomic handle
• Expandable dust cup with 19.2-oz closed capacity
• Approximate measurements: Vacuum 14"L x 4"Diam with a 8-1/4" cleaning path, weighs 3 lbs; Cord 16'L; Flex hose 2'L; Extension tubes 11-3/4"L; Tote bag 13-1/2"W x 13"H; Dust cup bin 28.7-oz maximum capacity
• ETL listed; 1-year Limited Manufacturer's Warranty
• Imported

Jessica

Perks of Renting TextBooks with CampusBookRentals

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of CampusBookRentals, all opinions are my own.

If you’re a college student, than you already know that money is tight. Why spend more than you have to? Especially if your diet consists of ramen, ramen, and more ramen. Why spend $200 on one textbook if you have other options? Especially if you only get about $30-$40 of your money back when you try and resell it.

The textbooks I bought when I was in college only cost a pretty penny and I only got about a quarter of what I actually paid for them back. These textbook buy-back places would try and get me to take their offer of something ridiculously low. I just ended up keeping most of them because I’d rather keep the book then sell it back for less than 25% of what I paid for it.

Now you don’t have to worry about buying, reselling, and accepting extremely low prices. Campus Book Rentals now allows you to RENT your textbook and then return it when your class is over. How easy is that? Plus, it saved me a ton of time. I didn’t have to spend gas driving to those buy-back places.

Plus, they don’t charge you for shipping. It’s free to ship the book to your house, and free to ship it back. They also have the largest selection of textbooks available that you can find from a rental service.  If you order a book and then drop a class, they will give a refund. If you need the book longer than you thought you did, they have an extra 15 days grace period without them charging you extra!

The best thing about these book are that you can TREAT them like your own. You can highlight them and write little side notes in corners, which I love. I mean, you can’t mark up or highlight entire pages, but who does that anyway? You need to make it so that the next renter can see what has been written. 

              

You can track your order as it is being shipped, so that you always know where it is and what day it will arrive. You can even refer friends to make a little money to spend on rentals. This is a winner for all.



Not only do you save money, but you are actually helping others when you rent from Campus Book Rentals. They donate a portion of their sales to Operation Smile. Operation Smile is an international children's medical charity that performs safe, effective cleft lip and cleft palate surgery, and delivers postoperative and ongoing medical therapies to children in low and middle income countries.



Now they have RentBack that offers you even more money. Instead of just selling your textbook, you can rent it to other students. Every time your book is rented you make money.
Instead of spending $200 for 1 book- just spend $50-60! They even buy textbooks, so if you have any extras laying around that aren’t in use, make you some cash!

They’ve also set aside $90,000 in textbook scholarships to be distributed to students in communities just like yours. That’s a lot of books, and we hope to touch a lot of students who could use a hand.

-save 40-90% off of bookstore prices
-free shipping both ways
-can highlight in the textbooks
-flexible renting periods
-we donate to Operation Smile with each textbook rented



Jessica

Kohls: Candies Girl Cowboy Boot #FallFashion

My daughter enjoys looking like a true star country girl in these Candies Girls Cowboy Boots. I knew she wanted a pair, but didn’t exactly know which pair, so I let her choose. She loved these because of the detailed designs sewn on the outside, which is pretty cool if I say so myself. The design is one I’d wear myself. I really like the winged design stitches before, but these are great compared to other girl boots.

A great quality cowboy boot can make anything look good, and that is what these do. Adisyn can wear these with a pair of jeans and a plaid shirt as well as skirts and dresses. There’s no denying she absolutely loves them.



Do you know how hard it is to separate a girl from her boots? Pretty dang hard. She wears them everywhere. She’s been wearing them to school, errands, playing, and even to sleep a couple times. She adores them. They are nice enough to wear out to dinner, yet comfortable enough for her to stomp and run outside.



I  also love the boots more practical features like quality and comfort. This boot was made with comfort and safety in mind. A lightly padded lining helps keep feet comfortable, while a low-heeled sole lets her wear them without it hurting after long periods of walking.

 

I got them one size big so that she can wear them longer than a couple months, she grows too fast. They still aren’t the type of boot to fall off even if they are a little big. They have a zippered side, that make it easier for her to get them off and on.


The only issue we’ve had is the outside of the boot peeling a bit after she scraped her foot on gravel following to help me feed our dogs. I can easily add some shoe polish to cover it up, though—so no big deal. Other than that, no problems here!