bareMinerals Skincare: Time For My Review

Recently I blogged about the brand new bareMinerals Skincare line and I was really excited to learn that I was one of the bloggers chosen to get a chance to try some of the products myself!

Skincare is very important to me, especially as I get older.  I look for products that can not only help my skin but are reasonably priced and as natural as possible.  Walk into any department store and you can see how hard that actually is - especially the part about reasonably priced!

I was given the Naturally Luminous Skin Renewing Trio to try which consists of three distinct products:  A cleanser, a moisturizer, and an eye treatment product.  Here's what bareMinerals has to say about this trio of products; ( and BTW - the whole trio costs $26!)

"This 30-day cleanser, moisturizer and eye treatment trio is the perfect introduction to bareMinerals Skincare. Our Purifying Facial Cleanser removes makeup and impurities while also hydrating and renewing skin. Our Purely Nourishing Moisturizer keeps your skin moisturized and protected so you can have younger-looking skin day after day. Our Skincare Firming Eye Treatment, completes your routine, restoring firmness and reducing puffiness around the eye area. All 3 formulas are powered by our 100% pure RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex clinically proven to deliver incredible skin-renewing benefits, including faster cell turnover, smaller-looking pores, increased luminosity and antioxidant protection.

Collection includes:

• Purifying Facial Cleanser (60 mL / 2 Fl. Oz.)
• Purely Nourishing Moisturizer: Combination Skin (30 mL / 1 Fl. Oz.)
• Skincare Firming Eye Treatment (5 mL)"

I have fallen in love with the Purely Nourishing Moisturizer!  It goes on so lightly and does not clog my pores or feel heavy on my face.  And I love that I don't have to pump or scoop in order to apply the product - a big plus to me since I have long nails and anything I have to scoop becomes too messy for me to use. 

The Purifying Facial Cleanser takes off my makeup as well as the grime that seems to settle on my face after a busy day without being harsh and drying.  Again I don't have to scoop or pump out  the product so it is super easy to apply.  I only need a small amount to really make my face feel clean and fresh!

The Skincare Firming Eye Treatment seems to be just the thing that I need to combat the dark circles and general puffiness that seem to plague my under-eye region.  The directions are clear in how much to apply and so far it seems to be effective at making that delicate under-eye region look and feel better overall.

Here is some great info taken directly from the website: it is chockful of useful and interesting information.

           Here's what women have said about our Purifying Facial Cleanser*:
         

91% of women agreed their skin felt hydrated.

88% of women agreed their skin felt smoother.

88% of women agreed their skin improved with continued use.

Here's what women have said about our Purely Nourishing Cream for Combo Skin*:
• 100% of women felt their skin texture was noticeably improved.
• 98% of women saw an improvement in firmness and elasticity.
• 90% of women saw a reduction in the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles.

Here's what women have said about our Skincare Firming Eye Treatment*:
• 85% felt the eye area looked firmer, more youthful and revived with continued use.
• 94% agreed the eye area looked and felt softer and smoother both immediately and with continued use.
• 70% saw an instant reduction of puffiness around the eye area.

* Based on an independent consumer study

Directions

• Splash face with water and massage Purifying Facial Cleanser over face using a gentle circular motion. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. Apply Purely Nourishing Moisturizer to freshly cleansed skin. Repeat morning and night.
• For Skincare Firming Eye Treatment, apply six dots in a "C" curve-from brow bone to under-eye area-and gently pat into skin until absorbed. Use twice daily.

Did I mention already that you can get ALL THREE PRODUCTS for only $26?  That is a great price and a painless way to try this trio out for yourself.  Let me know if you do and what you think!



Disclosure: I was not compensated for this review but I did receive a free sample for review purposes.  This in no way influenced my blog review.

Happy Passover! My Famous Pickled Turkey Recipe!

I cannot believe that it is time again for the holidays!  What a year this has been!  In keeping with past years, I am making a traditional Passover meal for friends and family. 

Yes - I can cook!  Just ask my husband!  One of my most requested meals is Pickled Turkey.  Yes - I know - sounds gross.  Take it from me ( and mom) - it tastes delicious.

I found it here and  it is reprinted here for your amusement:



Ingredients


3 1/2-4 lbs corned turkey (pickled turkey roast)
1 cup ketchup
1/2-3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Directions

1) Leaving the strings on, place the pickled turkey roast in clean water and bring to a boil. Lower the flame to low and cook for one hour.

2) Pour off all the water and rinse the roast well.

3) Refill the pot with clean water and cook again, this time for several hours until the roast is very tender (the roast should be nearly falling apart when you poke at it with a fork).

4) Pour off all the water and rinse again.

5) Now combine remaining ingredients in a pot and slowly heat up. When sauce is smooth add turkey roast, coating well on all sides.

6) Serve hot and enjoy!

I find my pickled turkey in my local kosher grocery store, so I suggest that is where you can find it as well.

Good luck and Happy Holidays!!

blue sky scrubs: The Place For All Your Medical Scrub Needs!

Scrubs.  Say the word and most people think of green cotton shirts and pants.  How many people have you seen wearing scrubs that actually look good in them?

Since the medical personnel who wear scrubs are the ones who interact with me the most, it makes me feel more confident when they look professional and well put together.   It somehow softens up the whole , " I hate the doctor" experience for me.  I always wondered where one could buy quality scrubs online at a reasonable price.

I  thought I would share with you, my dear readers, a really cool place to buy quality medical scrubs and accessories online. 

blue sky scrubs has loads of choices.  Take their scrubs for men. I am liking these:

I love the fact that they are jet-black.  What man does not look good in black?

How about this nursing uniforms scrubs:

Again, I love the whole idea of scrubs being black - screams classy to me!

blue sky scrubs has lots of other items too - Check out these really stylish lanyards that anyone who has to wear a name tag would drool over!

This paired with the black scrubs - who wouldn't look good!

blue sky also has earrings to match the scrub colors and the lanyards so any medical professional can look put together and stylish - and for a reasonable price!

Just because one has to wear scrubs does not mean that one has to sacrifice quality and fashion.

Remember - blue sky for all you scrub needs!


Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and I was compensated to write it.  That however, in no way affected my opinion of the product.

Soft Garlic Knots

Guest post written by Khandis Roswell


I've never been a big fan of hard bread. I was reminded of that when I went out to eat at a local Italian restaurant I hadn't been to in a long time and I had some garlic knots that were almost crunchy. That's just not how garlic knots are supposed to be though, so I thought that I would do something better and try to make one on my own.

I had never made garlic knots on my own before, so I went online to try and find a good recipe that I would bale to use with my limited cooking abilities. I went online to come up with the recipe and while I was looking for one that would make soft garlic knots, I came across some information about a wireless internet service and after I read through it some, I decided to Getclearwirelessinternet for our home internet provider.

The soft garlic knots really were great and I made sure not to cook them for too long, which I think was the problem with the ones at the restaurant that I had.

Sometimes The Little Switches In Our Lives Have The Greatest Impact!

I love being challenged; I truly do!  So when the SocialMoms blogging program asked me to write about the little switches in my life that I would like to make I really started to look at the big changes that have happened recently as well as the little things I could change to make an impact for my family.

Obviously the major change in my life has been getting married earlier this year.  Oh boy, talk about change!  But with that large change, many small changes also started to take place.

One small change is family dinnertime.  Before getting married, meals were takeout or something simple for my daughter and I to eat while watching television.  A small change that has taken place is that more meals are home made and we now strive to eat together at the kitchen table.  I encourage ( okay pull teeth) everyone to talk about their day and whatever things are happening in the world around us.  It is not an easy change, but I have noticed that meals are more social and pleasant and the aroma and taste of the food is much more appreciated since we are paying attention to what we are eating rather then watching a television show.

Another change that goes with family meal time is the elimination of soda in our house.  My daughter was not happy about it but my pocketbook has seen the difference.  Not only financially a good idea, I think overall we are healthier drinking water, juice, and ice tea instead.

We are also changing our physical environment as well.  My husband brings to this marriage a host of handy skills and has taken the task of  making a better place for me in Sarah to live in.  He has ripped up old, musty carpets and is painting walls and ceilings which are long overdue.  Small changes in our surroundings are really helping to make where we live belong to us, rather then just to me.  And these changes are also having an impact on my health as my allergies and asthma seem to be abating just a little without the carpet on the living room floor. 

My daughter, Sarah, has also been making small changes in her life as well.  She recently obtained her first real job as a hostess in a major chain steakhouse.  She has a whole new set of responsibilities and I am hopeful that this change of being responsible to someone other then herself or me will aid in her growing up and taking her first steps into the adult world she has avoided until now.  She also has to improve her time management skills and although progress is slow, she is beginning to understand a concept which will aid her greatly when she is independent and living on her own.

Big changes; small changes - change is good!


Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Cottonelle blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Keeping The Honeymoon Going; Eden Fantasys Can Help!

At this writing I have been married just over a month!  Wow!  Time goes by so quickly, doesn't it?  One of the things I am most eager to do is to keep that "honeymoon" feeling alive.  Eden Fantasys to the rescue!


You guys know they have tons of the latest and greatest adult toys, but did you know they also have a great selection of lingerie and items of a more sensual nature?  Here are a few of my favorites - forget a box of chocolates for Mother's Day - buy me some of these!

I love the whole idea of the Kamasutra Bath Salts - Everything from the color to the cool shell you use to scoop out the salts into your tub.

I think that The Bed Of Roses Deluxe Kit would be perfect for when we have some alone time.

This Breast Balm sounds like it would feel great and smell wonderful!

I could actually care less what this does - the fact that it is called Worship Me makes it a no brainer in my book!

Now if I can only get my mother to look around Eden Fantasys - would make for one interesting Mother's Day gift exchange - don't you think?




Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post but will receive a gift card in appreciation for posting about this company on this blog.  That in no way influenced what I wrote. 

Tinyprints: Custom Mother's Day Cards To Make Her Day Special!

I remember my first official Mother's Day.  Sarah was a few months old, I was all alone, living in Rapid City, South Dakota and still trying to grasp the concept that I was indeed a mother.  Money was tight but I wanted to find some way to make it special.

Circus geek that I am, I decided to splurge on two tickets to the local circus that just happened to have a special Mother's Day show.  I dressed Sarah in her Sunday best, spruced myself up as good as I could, and out we went for our first special day.

Sarah was a few months old and only drank her formula but I feasted on cotton candy, popcorn, and hot dogs.  She slept through most of it, but I enjoyed looking over at her sleeping every now and then with the knowledge that she was my daughter and I had now earned the title of, "Mom".  Sure, it wasn't a fancy meal in an expensive restaurant and sure there were no big gifts to open but I felt like the most important Mother in the world. 

Making mom feel important is what Mother's Day is really all about.  Tiny Prints provides simple, modern and unique stationery from Father’s Day Cards to personalized greeting cards to thank you cards, business cards, and even custom wedding invitations or photo birth announcements. Offering exclusive designs from the nation’s top designers, easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality, their designs have been lauded by numerous television networks, publications and celebrities. With Tiny Prints by your side commemorating every holiday and momentous occasion is a cinch! They offer perfect party invitations for every occasion and memorable personalized photo-gifts like notebooks, photo books and calendars to commemorate the event.

Take a few minutes to check out the Tiny Print's Mother's Day cards at http://www.tinyprints.com/greeting/shop/mothers-day-cards.htm



They offer Mother’s Day greeting cards for all sorts of moms – mom friends, moms, mothers-in-law… You want to tell her she’s doing a great job as a mom or thank her for being there for you? We have the card for it!

What is your favorite Mother's Day memory?

Yoplait: Greek Yogurt That Really Makes Your Day!  A Review And A Giveaway!

If you are anything like me, you struggle everyday to incorporate healthy food into your diet and the diet of your family.  Too cool that I had the chance to try Yoplait Greek Yogurt to help me do just that!  It is so easy to take a cup to work with you for that midday pick me up or include it in your husband and/or kids brown bags for a wholesome sweet treat instead of cookies or donuts.

It has two times the protein of regular yogurt and is a delicious way to help satisfy hunger!

Now with 14 to 17 grams of protein in each cup, the new and improved Yoplait Greek yogurt is a perfect choice for a snack in between meals. Protein is an important component of a healthy diet, serving as a building block for strong muscles and maintaining healthy bones. With twice the protein than regular yogurt and a thick and creamy texture, the new Yoplait Greek yogurt helps satisfy your hunger - meaning you can feel good about choosing this tasty, fat-free snack.

New Yoplait Greek is available in six delicious flavors like Blueberry, Strawberry, and Peach (each with fruit on the bottom) or Honey Vanilla, Key Lime, and Plain - all with zero percent fat and at least 14 grams!

The good news doesn´t stop there. Yoplait Greek is making it delicious, easy and free to eat a better snack through the Yoplait Greek Better Snacking Sweepstakes on Facebook+. Just visit the Yoplait Greek tab at Facebook.com/Yoplait starting March 21st through May 31st, 2011 and enter to win a Yoplait Greek snack pack and other cool prizes.Visit Yoplait.com/Greek for more information and yummy recipes.

Visit http://bit.ly/greekcoupon to download a printable coupon for $0.35 towards the purchase of the new Yoplait Greek yogurt today!




I am happy to offer you guys a cool giveaway associated with Yoplait Greek Yogurt:  I have a really cool gift pack with a coupon organizer, a magnetic customized meal planner board, a mini pocket fold-up tote, an electronics case, retractable ear buds, a magnetic shopping cart note holder and a pen.

If you want to win, here's what you need to do! ( and it is so good that I am back to being able to offer giveaways again!

(1) You MUST be a Google Friend Connect follower of my blog ( this will be verified)


AND

(2) You MUST tell me which of the flavors Yoplait Greek Yogurt offers appeal to you the most!
That's it! Too easy!!

BOTH (1) and (2) MUST be done for your initial entry! Leave me ONE comment stating that both items were completed. If you already follow me just let me know.

If you want additional entries:

(3) Follow me on Twitter

(4) Like me on Facebook

(5) Tweet about this giveaway - you can do this daily - leave a separate comment for each tweet

(6) Blog about this giveaway and leave me a comment with a link to your post and link back to this give-a-way post as well!

(7) Subscribe to my blog via email ( see email sign-up on sidebar)

Give-a-way to run until 11:59 pm EST on April 17, 2011. Winner will be chosen via Random.org. Email will be sent to winner with a response needed within 72 hours of winning email with shipping information. If winner does not respond to email, an alternate winner will be chosen. Good only within the continental USA. Make sure you leave a contact email within your post or check to make sure that I can email you via your blogger profile.



Disclosure:: I was provided with the items in this giveaway, all the information, and all the links/images by MyBlogSpark, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or conduct a product giveaway.  No other compensation was provided for this blog post.