Review :: Not So Average Mama

Archive for Review

Jan
23

Orchid Face Products, Review and Giveaway! #hebbeauty

by Brandy

Woohoo for another year as an H-E-B Beauty Blogger! I love blogging for H-E-B and sharing these great beauty products with you through reviews and giveaway. I love testing out new skincare, because as I age my skins is changing constantly!

I am super impressed with the Orchid Face Products! I also love the brightly colored packaging as well. I was so surprised when I opened up the package to find they had presented the products so nicely. I felt like it was Christmas all over again!

Once I opened it, I was doing the happy dance over the goodies inside!

So what’s all in there?

First I pulled out the Anti-Aging Eye Roller. It is used to reduce puffiness around the eyes as well as fine lines and wrinkles. I’m a puffy eyed girl on most days.

It feels nice and soothing. But, I’m not sure if I notice a difference. Maybe with everyday use over a period of time I would notice more of a change?

Firming Lift Face Serum

This stuff makes my heart go pitter patter. I love it. I am definitely sold on Face Serum’s and this one is at the top of the list! Makes my skin feel younger. That’s a good thing when you feel like you are trapped in the body of an 80 year old!

Acne Spot Treatment

I was able to truly put this to the test. Every month I get a visit from this hormone monster that wrecks havoc on my face. I look like a pizza faced teenager and I don’t care for that look at my age. It’s not cool at all. NOT cool. I like to be cool. I used it and it really helped reign the zit monster in! I used it as soon as I noticed one trying to bust through and it works!

Thermal Clay Mask

This is definitely the winner of the bunch! Something that feels like a treat! As my RSD progress’s I am feeling it in all parts of my body. Including my neck and face and it sucks. Heat is one of the only things that gives me a little bit of relief. This mask get’s warm immediately! I use it in the shower and I love that warming feeling all over my face and neck. It makes my skin feel nice and clean as well as soft! This is something I can see me continuing to use for a long time. In the past I didn’t really care for masks. They were always a pain to remove. Residue getting in my hair and stuff. This rinses off so easily!

All of the Orchid Face Products smell fantastic! I love the fresh clean scents, nothing perfumed. All in all these products are winners in my book! With these products you can have your own mini facial anytime you want!

Right now there is a coupon to help you try out the Orchid products! Buy Orchid Firming Face Serum or Anti-Aging Eye Roller and get free Orchid Thermal Clay Mask or Acne Spot Treatment. Use this Orchid Coupon to get the deal!

The Giveaway!

Two (2) Not So Average Mama readers will each win an Orchid Face Products set!

This Giveaway will end on February 20th, 2012!

I received the products mentioned above to facilitate this review. No compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

26 Categories : Contests

Jan
19

Have you Experienced Wuggle Pets with Your Kids Yet?

by Brandy

Whenever a package is delivered to the house the kids get so excited. They always go get the scissors before the package is even in the door! They have good reason to be excited because a lot of the time it is something for them to try out.

This time was no different. A box was delivered and the girls were on me immediately to open it. What was inside?

They could not wait to get into these boxes!

Wuggle Pets are an assortment of eight collectable baby pets. What makes them special is that kids get to bring them to life with an easy 12-piece starter kit. The kit includes one fun filled factory, a Magical Unicorn and a Cuddle Puppy, two bags of fluffy stuffing, two bags of magic dust, two sheets of personality charms, two birth certificates and a zipper lock.

You can get the starter kit for only $19.99! You can also get the additional pets for only $7.99 for each individual kit. Wuggle Pets are available online at www.wugglepets.com.

They are really simple to do and the girls really enjoyed it! With two kits they were each able to keep one Wuggle Pet as well as share one with a friend.

This is your own personal little stuffing station!

Simply remove the lid…

Remove the orange plunger piece…(we also went ahead and put our animal in place)

Fill with stuffing and magic (stars) and replace the orange plunger and then the lid…

Then you just turn the handle! Emma was totally able to do this on her own. She is 5…

Lookie, he is getting chunky!

Now it it’s time to pick out some personality charms…

Give your pet his personality by placing your choice of charms inside…That yellow piece is the zipper lock so that you can close his body up when you are finished.

I think they love them…

They have already asked for additional pets for their birthdays this spring. I think I will have to oblige!

The kits above were provided to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and no compensation was received.

1 Categories : Around Our House

Jan
11

Frosted Toast Crunch Review and Prize Pack Giveaway!

by Brandy

Have you seen the new cereal from General Mills? It’s called Frosted Toast Crunch and is one of our new favorites. If you love vanilla you will surely like this.

Frosted Toast Crunch has the great taste of frosted vanilla and dusted with cinnamon. It has 11 grams of whole grain, 9 grams of sugar and is a good source of calcium. It’s a good choice to start off your day.

My girls like it a lot and the box sure didn’t last long here in our house. We should be able to find it in stores now, if not now then very soon.

My girls really got a kick out of the spilled milk bowl and the tongue spoon. You can get your own if you win the prize pack in the giveaway below.

The Giveaway!

One Not So Average Mama reader will win a Spilt milk bowl, Lickety spoon, Frosted pitcher and Frosted Toast Crunch cereal.

Giveaway will end on January 30th, 2012!

Disclosure: Frosted Toast Crunch, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

57 Categories : Contests

Dec
23

Have You Ever Hosted a PartyLite Party? Giveaway!

by Brandy

This post brought to you by PartyLite Simple Pleasures Holiday Sweepstakes. All opinions are 100% mine.

Well, I haven’t. Until tonight I honestly thought that I probably couldn’t afford anything from them. But then I went browsing around their site online and realized there were a ton of things that I loved and could absolutely afford! Heck, my friends would totally buy this stuff!

I was given a $10 coupon code to shop with and found several things that I wanted. I finally ended up choosing two things that I absolutely love! I can not wait until they are delivered! Check out what I purchased!

Cute right? The Enchanted Winter Snow Votive Holder was on sale for $10 and the Mini Tea Light Lantern was on sale only $3.00!

You can visit the PartyLite Simple Pleasures Holiday Sweepstakes page to view the Winter/Spring 2012 collection that launced on December 16th.

So after viewing the online catalog I totally would consider having a PartyLite party. It would be an excuse to have some friends over and shop for things that make my house smell pretty. Plus, you can earn products by hosting parties! It’s pretty cool to think that you could totally change the look of a room just by replacing candles and holders around the room and then to top it off that you could possibly do that for free by being a hostess of a party!

You can keep up with specials and new items that they run by liking the PartyLite Facebook page.

The Giveaway!

One Not So Average Mama reader will win a $15 Coupon Code to shop at PartyLite! To enter simply like the PartyLite Facebook page that I linked above. Leave a comment on this post letting me know that you did that. Names will be verified on facebook before coupon code is sent.

This Giveaway will end on January 10th, 2012!

22 Categories : Contests

Dec
22

Lonesome George & Co.

by Brandy

Lonesome George & Co. is a company with a mission! After meeting a Pinta Tortoise named Lonesome George while visiting the Galapagos Islands a spark happened. A spark that grew! This was the last surviving Pinta Tortoise. Isn’t that sad? The last one. Poor Lonesome George.

Lonesome George & Co. wants to prevent this situation from happening again. They want to educate our youth.

10% of every purchase from Lonesome George & Co. directly funds youth educational programs that teach people to make better choices.

The have clothing for Men, Women and Children as well as accessories. We were sent a very cute shirt that is covered in Fireflys! The Fireflys are contained within a lightbulb.

It reads “Fireflies Technologies 100 Watts“. I’m not posting a photo of it being worn, I decided to give it to Morgan instead of keeping it for myself, but she has no idea. It’s a super nice feeling shirt! Nothing cheap about it! It’s made from 100% Certified Organic Peruvian cotton.

So if you are looking to purchase from a company with a mission for the greater good, check out Lonesome George & Co. You’ll be glad you did!

We received the shirt shown above to facilitate this review. No compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

2 Categories : Did You Know?

Dec
21

HINT Water Review

by Brandy

This stuff is good! I like it, the kids like it. That says a lot! HINT Water is pure water! It is accented with a hint of natural flavor.

It contains no sugar and no artificial sweeteners. It is a great alternative to soda and juice. The girls really liked taken it to drink while at Basketball practice. It’s water with an extra oomph!

As you make your New Years Resolutions to get healthier, think about adding HINT Water in for a special treat to keep you on track! You can find it at the following stores:

Be sure to like HINT Water on Facebook as well.

I received samples of HINT Water to facilitate this review. No compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

0 Categories : Did You Know?

Dec
18

Scala Women’s Winter Cloche

by Brandy

This winter keep your head toasty warm with the Scala Women’s Winter Cloche! It comes in a variety of colors and is so super comfy.

I’m really liking the style of this hat. It is made from a super soft wool knit. It’s very unstructured and I can shove it into my purse easily without worrying about messing up the shape.

It’s actually on sale right now for only $24.00 (regular retail is $30)! Would be a wonderful gift for your friends, family and even yourself!

I love that the hat actually looks good on me, it also looks super cute on my kiddos!

Right now you can get 20% off and free ground shipping (US delivery only) from Womens-Hats.com. The promo code is ScalaPronto. The offer ends on 12/31/11.

I received a sample of the hat mentioned above to facilitate this review. No compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

4 Categories : Did You Know?

Dec
15

Barbie, A Perfect Christmas DVD Review and Giveaway!

by Brandy

My girls are huge fans of all of the Barbie movies. They have most of them and have seen all of them! Barbie, A Perfect Christmas is no different! In fact they have watched it several times since we have received it.

The all-new DVD, “Barbie: A Perfect Christmas” stars Barbie and her three sisters – Skipper, Stacy and Chelsea, whose holiday vacation turns into an unexpected adventure filled with new friends and magical experiences. In the end, the sisters learn a heartwarming lesson that the joy of being together is what really makes A Perfect Christmas! Released November 8th at all major retailers.

This holiday season, Barbie celebrates 10 years of entertainment! Can you believe that this is the 22nd DVD to be released?

This would be a fantastic Christmas present for the little Barbie lover in your life. You can even purchase the dolls, including her three sisters from Target.

The movie really reinforces the importance of family and teaches kids that it is so important to spend the holidays with our family and loved ones. There is no better time than the holidays to teach important lessons like this to our children. Especially the importance of family.

As I said before, my girls absolutely loved the movie. The thing they love best about all the Barbie movies are the songs! They will sing and sing and sing their little hearts out. They also thought it was so cool that Barbie’s sisters were in the movie! If you have Barbie fans, they will love this! As a parent I love the Barbie movies for my children because of the positive lessons that are enforced through out the movies. Barbie always makes the best of any situation that she may find herself in…that is what we try to teach our kids by example at our house.

The Giveaway!

One Not So Average Mama reader will win their own copy of Barbie, A Perfect Christmas.

This Giveaway will end on December 29th, 2011

This is a sponsored post on behalf of One2One Network. I was provided with the Barbie “A Perfect Christmas” DVD. All opinions are my own.

16 Categories : Contests, Uncategorized

Dec
15

Skin Care Gifts for Athletes!

by Brandy

Morgan is very active. She loves sports and running a lot. In fact she plays Basketball, Volleyball and then she runs daily with her dogs. When we heard about Skincare for Athletes we were ready to check it out.

Skincare for Athletes is just what the name implies. It’s an entire line of skincare designed for athletic people.

We were sent the Tri-Body Achieve Spray and the Tri-Body Achieve Embrocation/Anti-Chafing Balm to try out.

The Tri-Body Achieve Spray

BEST USE:

Before a major race or sporting event where focus and clarity are required.
Before an intense, long training session.
Rub on tight muscles and joints to warm them before your event.
Hydrates and moisturizes the skin with light UVA/UVB protection.

Therapeutic benefits: Antibacterial, antimicrobial, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral. Strengthens connective tissue.

Aromatherapy Benefits: Improves memory and lack of energy, stimulating, clarifying thoughts. Improves sluggish circulation. Relieves muscular aches, pains and muscle stiffness, sprains, plantar fasciitis, bruises, can reduce swelling.

Ingredients: Organic Sunflower, Shea Nut oils, Aloe Vera Gel. Essential oils of Peppermint, Rosemary, Lemongrass and Cajeput

Paraben Free
Petrochemical Free
Phthalate Free
Sulfate Free (SLS-free)

Let me just tell you that this stuff smells fantastic! I love Lemongrass and it is very rejuvenating! I have the spray on my hands right now and smelling it makes me feel energized. Morgan says just having the smell on her body helps her to feel more energized as well.

Tri-Body Achieve Embrocation/Anti-Chafing Balm

Best Uses:

Warm weather hydrating embrocation balm
Pre-ride, pre-work-out balm
Anti-chafing balm – thighs, arms, nipples
Anti-blister balm – feet, toes

Therapeutic Benefits: Antibacterial, antimicrobial, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral. Strengthens connective tissue.

Aromatherapy Benefits: Improves memory and lack of energy, stimulating, clarifying thoughts. Improves sluggish circulation. Relieves muscular aches, pains and muscle stiffness, sprains, plantar fasciitis, bruises, can reduce swelling.

Ingredients: Lemon Butter, Aloe Vera Gel, Apricot Kernel Oil, Rice Bran Oil. Candellila Wax

Paraben Free
Petrochemical Free
Phthalate Free
Sulfate Free (SLS-free)

The Lemon Butter gives this a fantastic energizing scent as well! It is perfect for rubbing into achey muscles and sore tendons.

We are pleased with the products and love that they are natural. Check them out for the athlete in your life.

We received samples of the products above to facilitate this review. No compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

1 Categories : Did You Know?

Dec
14

John Frieda Premium Straightening Iron Review and Giveaway! #hebbeauty

by Brandy

I love being an H-E-B Beauty Blogger! Getting to try out all the awesome products that find their way into the H-E-B beauty section. I may not be the girliest of girls, but alas…I am a girl and I still like girl stuff…a LOT! This is the last product of 2011! This year sure did fly by! I can not wait to see what H-E-B has in store for us next year!

This month the H-E-B Beauty Pick is the John Frieda Premium Straightening Iron.

For over 20 years, the John Frieda hair care experts have been defining style. Now the leader in transformational hair care has helped inspire a line of professional appliances to totally transform frizzy, dull, flyaway hair. Advanced ionic conditioning enhances manageability and leaves hair looking and feeling healthy, smooth and shiny. This premium straightening iron features advanced ionic power, with high heat up to 455 degrees fahrenheit, true ceramic technology, and 11 professional digital settings.

The first thing I have to say is that this is a professional quality Straightening Iron at a FANTASTIC price! H-E-B sells it for only $49.97! There is even a coupon you can print that is for $10 off any John Frieda Hair Fashion Appliance!

I love the way it looks, it’s super sleek! I love the adjustable temperatures, that makes it great for every girl in our house! We can even use it to put curls in Emma and Lauren’s hair. It heats up super fast! Only 15 seconds to heat and you are ready to style!

We only have one complaint, the position of the buttons isn’t so great. We kept accidentally messing up our temperature settings and sometimes even shutting it off because of where the buttons are located. It definitely took some getting used to. That is our only dislike, everything else is just awesome!

The Giveaway!

Two readers will each win a John Frieda premium straightening iron!

This Giveaway will end on December 31st.

I received the John Frieda Premium Straightening Iron to facilitate this review. No compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

37 Categories : Contests, Uncategorized

Dec
12

Quick Dinner with Tyson Mini Chicken Sandwiches! #TysonGoodness #CBias

by Brandy

I have been SO busy! Blogging, Christmas Shopping, School, Crafts, Photo Shoots. BUSY! Sometimes it is past dinner time before I even know it! The kids are starving, the husband is grumpy because he is starving and I need to feed them fast so that we can all continue on with what needs to be done. The holidays are like this for pretty much everyone, am I right?

Thankfully I have been keeping some food on hand that is quick to make for those nights that I just do not have time to cook a full dinner. One of my families favorites are the Tyson Mini Chicken Sandwiches! Every since we tried them out for the first time, we have kept them on hand at all times. A snack, lunch on the go and fast dinner! They can even work for breakfast in a hurry as well!

You can view my Google+ shopping story and see all the great deals we spotted while we were at Walmart getting groceries, including our Tyson Mini Chicken Sandwiches!

Tyson Mini Chicken Sandwiches are exactly what you would think they would be. Little tiny chicken sandwiches!

These are super easy to prepare. Just grab your box from the freezer…

Open it…

Remove one of the packages that contains 2 mini sandwiches…

Place a package on a microwave safe plate and follow the directions on the box…

Remove from microwave and open the package…it’s hot…

All cooked, just need to separate the two sandwiches…

Serve them up!

This time we served them up with chicken flavored rice that had veggies in it. Yum! The kids devoured them again and will be asking for them again I am sure! The little girls love Ranch on theirs, but Morgan prefers BBQ sauce!

How would you serve Tyson Mini Chicken Sandwiches? Do you think they would help you out during the busy Holiday season?

Tyson Mini Chicken Sandwiches are sold at Walmart, but they haven’t quite made it into all the Walmart locations yet. You can check and see if your Walmart has them by visiting Tysongoodness.com.

Also, right now they have a fantastic deal! You can receive a five dollar ($5.00) Walmart gift card when you purchase any two(2)packages of Tyson® Mini Chicken Sadwiches(8 COUNT)between 10/31/11 – 1/13/12 while supplies last.

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias All opinions are my own.

3 Categories : Around Our House

Dec
6

Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief Toothpaste and Toothbrush

by Brandy

I’ve talked about my teeth a lot. Their jacked up, ruined. Vomiting has wrecked havoc on my mouth. Besides the fact that they are literally falling apart, they are so super sensitive.

I had my doubts about a toothpaste really helping the problem, but Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief does what it says! I was sent a tube of Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief Toothpaste along with a brand new tooth brush to test it out with. The first thing I noticed was how different the toothbrush was. It was the Colgate® 360° Sensitive Pro-Relief.

My first use of the Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief Toothpaste and toothbrush was very impressive. I’m not trying to gross you out, but during my first use it removed some plaque from my teeth. I could feel it! I brush my teeth several times a day and just one time with this and I got rid of some plaque! I’m not sure if it is the design of the brush, or a combination of the brush design and the toothpaste?

I have been using them both religiously over the last month, maybe closer to two months. I got a great BOGO deal on it at Albertsons and I am stocked up for a bit. I have definitely noticed a change in my tooth sensitivity and am so happy I was able to test it out!

If you have sensitive teeth like me, I highly suggest giving the combo a try, especially the toothbrush!

5 Categories : Did You Know?

Dec
4

Knot Genie Detangling Brush, No More Crying Kids…

by Brandy

Well, maybe I exaggerated. Kids will find something to cry about…

In our house, hair brushing was a nightmare for Emma. She is so tender headed! I have never dealt with such drama in the hair brushing area until Emma. I’m not sure if it is because her hair is so thin, or if she is just super sensitive.

When I heard about the Knot Genie Detangling Brush I knew we had to give it a try! I really didn’t think it could help, I mean a brush is a brush right? Um, no…a brush is not just a brush. It totally made a difference. Emma actually uses it and brushes her own hair out several times a day. The knots come out and the tears do not flow!

This is one of those mama tools that you need! Seriously! If you have a tender headed child, you’ve got to get it! This is definitely a product that I am telling all of my friends about!

Right now you can get it for a fantastic price of only $7.99 (regular price $20) on Zulily or you if you need more than one they have a buy one get one free deal on their website which would get you 2 for about $20!! It would make a great stocking stuffer for your child!

Be sure to like them on Facebook too!

I received the Knot Genie Detangling Brush to facilitate this review. No compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

4 Categories : Did You Know?

Dec
2

The Littlest Angel! Review and Giveaway!

by Brandy

One of the recent DVD’s to be watched on a daily basis in our home is The Littlest Angel! If you talk to my girls about the movie they will tell you “It’s a really great movie about Jesus and there is a little dog called Halo and it’s really really good!”

Haha! Yes, they kind of love this movie!

The Littlest Angelwould be the perfect gift to put under the tree this year! It’s perfect for Christmas because it shows kids how the greatest gifts in life are faith, friendship and doing the right thing. Children need to be reminded of this often, well us adults as well! It is brand new release that just came out on November 15th of this year.

The Littlest Angel tells the story of a young boy who arrives in heaven before his time. Home-sick and lonely, he will travel back to earth, with his friendly pup Halo, to retrieve a most selfless and precious gift for The Baby Jesus. First released in book form in 1946, The Littlest Angel became popular for its ornate words and phrases paired with beautifully muted oil paintings. Tazewell’s book was adapted into a TV musical in 1969 starring Johnny Whitaker, and theatrical versions continue to be done by schools and church groups today. The author would follow-up with another childhood favorite, “The Littlest Snowman,” that would be read annually on the “Captain Kangaroo” show.

The Giveaway

One Not So Average Mama reader will win a copy of The Littlest Angel on DVD!

Main Entry: Leave a comment below telling me who you would watch this with and what you hope to enforce in them such as greatest gifts in life: faith, friendship and doing the right thing.

Bonus Entries: You must complete the mandatory entry before any of the bonus entries. Leave a separate comment for each entry.

Follow me on Twitter @stitchblade
Tweet about this giveaway: “I just entered to win The Littlest Angel on DVD! @stitchblade http://wp.me/prmOk-45p #Giveaway” Leave a comment with the tweet status URL, you may do this up to 3 times per day but please space them out! I see people just tweeting one after another, don’t do that. Be sure to leave a comment for each tweet.
Become a fan of Not So Average Mama on Facebook. (3 entries, post 3 comments for this)
Post about this giveaway on Facebook, please leave a comment with the URL to where you posted.(Daily Entry! Post it to your facebook everyday and earn an entry each time. Be sure to post a comment with the URL each time.)
Follow me on Facebook Networked blogs located in my sidebar. (3 entries, post 3 comments for this)

This Giveaway will end on December 15th, 2010!

We received a copy of the DVD to facilitate this review, no compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

16 Categories : Contests

Nov
30

My Kinda Style, Shirts for Kids!

by Brandy

I think this shirt is probably the best kids shirt I have ever seen! Self esteem seems to be one of the biggest problems for kids these days…it really saddens me. Being a mom of three girls puts this issue as a top priority, I want my girls to know that they are awesome and beautiful!

My Kinda Style has a lot of cute shirts for Boys, Girls and even wee your itty bitty babies and toddlers!! They have a ton of great designs, but this one is my favorite! Our kids are perfect just the way they are! Let’s make sure they know that too!

My Kinda Style is based in Oklahoma that launched just this year! The company has a mission to encourage positive self esteem in children. That makes this a company I want to support and help promote.

My Kinda Style has also launched a section on their website where you can send in your nomination for a deserving person or child ‘in need’ who the company can reward, now, and continue in a much larger capacity as the company continues to grow. How is that for fantastic?

Consider My Kinda Style for the perfect gift this Christmas! The shirt shown above can be purchased for only $19. Prices range from $16 to $21. See the styles here http://mykindastyle.com/shop/.

4 Categories : Did You Know?

Archive for Review

Orchid Face Products, Review and Giveaway! #hebbeauty

Have you Experienced Wuggle Pets with Your Kids Yet?

Frosted Toast Crunch Review and Prize Pack Giveaway!

Have You Ever Hosted a PartyLite Party? Giveaway!

Lonesome George & Co.

HINT Water Review

Scala Women’s Winter Cloche

Barbie, A Perfect Christmas DVD Review and Giveaway!

Skin Care Gifts for Athletes!

John Frieda Premium Straightening Iron Review and Giveaway! #hebbeauty

Quick Dinner with Tyson Mini Chicken Sandwiches! #TysonGoodness #CBias

Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief Toothpaste and Toothbrush

Knot Genie Detangling Brush, No More Crying Kids…

The Littlest Angel! Review and Giveaway!

My Kinda Style, Shirts for Kids!

Site Sponsors

Sponsors

Subscribe

Current Giveaways

Archives

Awesomeness Captured

I recommend…

Check it out!

Hot Amazon Deals!