Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Phantom Fit Resistance Bands Review

Love the freedom to work out at home?  Need a little toning and muscle conditioning?  Well, look no further than PhantomFit resistance bands.  They are compact and easy to use.  The bands come in 4 different resistances: light, medium, heavy and extra heavy.  Great to use for toning arms and legs. You can use them for side leg lifts, squats and bicep and tricep curls.  Resistance bands are also extremely useful for stretching out tight muscles after a strenuous workout.  One feature that I especially love is how compact they are.  PhantomFit even includes a nice carrying case.  They are also extremely durable.  Check them out!


  
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

InstaNatural Deep Cleansing Facial Oil Review

I haven't washed my face with any soap in over a month and it has never looked better!  How is that possible?  Oil Cleansing!  Oil cleansing is all the new rage.  Well, it's not really anything new, ancient civilizations used oil to cleanse their skin well before soap was available widespread.  Oil cleansing is something I have been interested in for awhile now but have been too scared to take the plunge.  I was unsure of what oil to use, how much to use and would it even work?  That is the great thing about InstaNatural Deep Cleansing Facial Oil - it takes all of the guess work out of oil cleansing.  Composed of natural and organic oils, this cleansing oil lifts the dirt while moisturizing your skin.  Just squirt a few pumps into your hand and massage onto your face.  I use the cleanser after my shower so my pores are nice and open.  I then remove the oil with a warm wet washcloth. And, voila!  All done!  Clean and moisturized.  Fortunately, my skin is not overly complicated - your typical pushing 40, combo oily and dry and hormonal at times.  However, blackheads and large pores were becoming a concern.  After using the InstaNatural Deep Cleansing Facial Oil, my skin is much smoother, softer, I have less blackheads and my pores are significantly smaller.  My skin also feels moisturized without that sticky heavy feeling many moisturizers can leave behind.  The bottle at 4 oz. is also more than enough to last awhile as a little goes a long way.  There is also the security of InstaNatural's 100% money back guarantee.  I'm hooked! 






I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Bobee Wall Decal Review and Giveaway!!!

Love a wall decal? A super cute, versatile, won't damage your wall decal? Me too! I have always admired those who decorate with all of these great decals in their homes but have never been brave enough to try my own...until now! Recently, I was blessed with the opportunity to try out a wall decal from Bobee.  I chose "You Are My Sunshine", as that is one of the songs I have sung to all three of my boys as we would rock to sleep. I was a bit intimidated at first, letters...that needed to be straight!! Oh why didn't I just pick the cute little elephants and polka dots??? Or the adorable giraffes??? After a quick pep talk, and being true to my nature...I picked a wall, grabbed that decal and went for it!  I was pleasantly surprised at how easy the application was! Position the decal in the desired spot, hold in place with some painter's tape, peel the backing and then press and smooth onto the wall. So quick and easy! I admit, I did get a little OCD and used a level in an attempt to get the words as straight as possible. A little off with the "You Are My"...but, I nailed it with the "Sunshine". I love the way it looks over the crib! There are so many different ways you could use this decal...family pic collage wall, baby's room, kid's playroom, the options are endless.  And, now you have the opportunity to win your very own "You Are My Sunshine" wall decal from Bobee! Just comment below on how you would use this decal. The giveaway runs through Tues. Sept. 30 so get those entries in now!!!

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Loser Mom

Hi, my name is Suzanne and I am a "Loser Mom" and I'm ok with that. Actually, there are moments when I'm kinda proud of it. I actually have a trophy to prove my title. "What??? Are you nuts???", you ask. Nope...well, maybe a little...but, no, I'm just, real. A real person, a real mom who doesn't really get it right all of the time.  A lot of times I do get it right, really right... but more times than not....I'm grasping at straws. Loser Mom started as a joke between myself and another mom. Our oldest boys went to preschool together and our second kiddos followed each other to the same preschool, as well. I must say, we did pretty well with our big boys but once the littles came along...Loser Mom became a real thing. Ours were the ones rolling around on the floor with their blankies, quite possibly shoeless. While the other mommies who worked so hard to put up that perfect facade looked on, my friend and I would just laugh.  Hahaha...no shoes! Got all the way to school before we realized they didn't have shoes on! Haha!! "Loser Mom!"  Oh, it's picture day??? Haha....he's still wearing his pajama shirt!! "Loser Mom!" Birthday party?? Picked up the present on the way there...forgot a card...thank goodness for the Sharpie in the car. Just write happy birthday on the outside of the bag! "Loser Mom!" See...Loser Mom is not really a loser...she's just a really real mom. A mom who has learned that not everything is going to be perfect and she's ok with that. She's a mom who has learned to laugh at the silly things that really do not matter in the long run. Her children are happy, healthy and loved and that is what really matters!  And, thanks to her Loser Mom status...chances are they will become extremely resourceful adults one day. So, that's why I'm proud of my title. I don't want to put up a facade. I want other moms to see that we are in the trenches together. We are all going to forget to sign papers, eat cereal for dinner and forget it's "wear blue" day.  And, that it's ok!!!  One of my favorite  memories of my own mom when I was a kid is a birthday cake she made for me and my sister. Our birthdays are only two days apart and we shared a birthday cake many years. Well, one year she made a cake for us to take to church that night to celebrate with our friends. It was delicious!! Chocolate with chocolate frosting and she even decorated it herself.  Complete with...."Happy Birtday" That is not a typo...she wrote "Happy Birtday" on the cake. We still laugh about it today and wish each other "Happy Birtday" on our birtdays ;) Is it odd that one of my most vivid and happiest memories of my mom when I was young is a moment that some moms would be mortified over?? No...because my mom knew how to laugh it off. She knew that this wasn't the defining moment of her motherhood legacy. Ironically, though, to me...it came pretty close. Moments like those taught me to not take everything so seriously. Enjoy each silly mishap. One day, your kid is going to grow up and have littles of their own.  Do we want to see them stressed over their parental performance or do we want to see them enjoying every step of the journey...including the shoeless kids rolling around in the floor and happy birtdays. My friend and I joked about Loser Mom so much, a trophy was created and passed back and forth depending on the latest Loser Mom scenario.  Not sure what I did to become the reigning Loser Mom but I hope it was something super ridiculous and that my boys and I just laughed and laughed.

Monday, September 15, 2014

InstaNatural Niacinamide 5% Moisturizer Review

So, I've never quite been the girl who has had a "beauty regimen". I've always been the wash and go girl and it's been fine...until, I got older.  I'm pushing 40 people and the skin ain't quite like it used to be.  The face is drooping a little more than usual and some of these freckles that used to be so cute would probably classify as age spots at this point.  Oh well, I guess it's time to pull up the big girl panties and embrace a "regimen" before my face hits my knees!  I was given the opportunity to try out this great moisturizer from InstaNatural - Niacinamide 5% Moisturizer and Brightening Cream. This moisturizer works as a barrier against the harsh elements that our skin faces each day and also works to plump and hydrate, giving a more youthful appearance.  Now, I'm not trying to look 21 again but as we age, our skin gets thinner and begins to look dull.  So why not give it a little boost? There was a bit of a learning curve when I first tried this moisturizer.  Let's just say a little bit goes a long way and I laid it on a little thick.  However, after a few tries, I found the happy medium and grew to really like this moisturizer.  My skin does look a little more fresh and is definitely smoother.


Along with this moisturizer, InstaNatural also presented the opportunity to try out their Youth Express Eye Gel.  I got real excited about this one!  I am a Momma who never gets to sleep and it is written all over my eye sacks - as my 8 yr. old calls them.  Can I just say, it took one application and I was hooked!  You can feel the skin around your eyes instantly tighten as the gel dries.  After almost a month of use - these tired Momma eyes are looking a lot less zombie like.  I am in love!  




Another great aspect of these products is the fact that they are made in the USA and are not tested on animals. They also contain a majority organic and natural ingredients which is very important to me. So, check out InstaNatural on Amazon - I think you will be pleasantly surprised!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Fall Giveaway Time!!

It's Fall Giveaway time!!! Easy to enter!!  Just subscribe to the blog!!  Fill in your info in the teal bar at the top of the blog.  I promise I will not flood your inbox with blog posts. I'm not that disciplined ;) You can win your choice of a personalized seasonal or monogram candle. Oh, what they hey - how about two personalized candles!?!?! Your options are endless! Font, design, ribbon - the choices are yours Giveaway ends this Saturday, Sept. 13 at midnight!  Winner will be chosen on Sunday!!  Enter now!!


Friday, September 5, 2014

How To Be A Good Husband To A Mommy...A Letter To My Little Boys




Dear sweet little boys of mine,

I wanted to take a few minutes and write you a letter.  A letter I will share with you when you are a little older.  Y'all are only 11, 8 and 10 mos. as I'm writing this, but that's why I am writing this now.  Y'all have fried my brain and if I don't get this out now while it's fresh...it may never happen!  I just wanted to give you a few tips on how to be a good husband to a Mommy.  You see, marriage itself will pose it's own highs and lows, triumphs and challenges but once you have your own little ones...all bets are off.  It's a whole new ball game!  The most exciting game you will ever play :)  In our family - the best example I can show you is your own Daddy.  The tips in this letter come straight from the many things he does that are just so right.  He didn't always know how to do all of these things.  I didn't even know how badly I would need him to know these things.  You see, for a long time, we were just David and Suzanne. And, can I just add, we rocked it!  And, then one day, we became Mommy and Daddy and everything changed.  A whole new world opened up before us and I can't for one second imagine a better world to live in.  So, here are a few tips to help you be the best husband you can be for your wife who is now the mother of your children.


- Help clean the house.  You know all those chores I always make     you do?  Vacuuming, dishes, laundry?  I don't just do it for the         free labor...it's to help you be a better husband one day.  Life is         messy, work together to clean it up.


- Take the kids - somewhere else.  Mommies love being with their     babies but even they need a little alone time at the house every         once in a while.  Give her a little time to clean, make dinner in         peace, take a bubble bath or just stare at the walls.  Trust me - it       will benefit you more than you realize. 


- Tell her she's pretty.  Mommies tend to throw all of their energy     into their kiddos - as well they should.  However, we start to see       ourselves as just Mommy, and lose sight of the vibrant women we   really are.  Even, if she's up to her elbows in poopy diapers and       snot wearing yesterday's pajamas with her hair in a ponytail...let       her know ya still think she's hot :) 


- Learn how to change a dadgum diaper....enough said.


- Work hard so she doesn't have to.  In our home, that means Daddy   works at the office and Mommy is at home.  If your wife works       outside of the home, do more at the house.  Being a parent is hard   work - many times the tough parts fall on the Mommy.  Late night   feedings, teething sleepless baby, mountains of homework,               doctor's visits, etc.  Do everything you can to lighten her load to       help her be the best Mommy she can be. 


- Play an active role in your children's lives.  Be involved, know         what's going on.  What's up at school?  How are the grades?  What   new cute trick did baby learn today?  Regardless of whether             Mommy is a stay at home mom or not, she is going to be                 completely immersed in her children's day to day lives.  Get in         there with her, it's a really cool place to be.


- Take your kids to school and/or pick them up every once in a           while.  There's something about that little bit of time in the car.       An opportunity to talk and laugh.  Chat about the day ahead or         what happened at recess.  It's a precious little moment of time you   can have with your children and it gives Mommy a little breather     on those crazy mornings.


- And, above all.  Just love her - right where your kids can see it.       Tell her you love her when you leave the house, hold her hand         when y'all are out and about, give her little kisses and hugs -             seeing it   gross out the kids is half the fun ;), praise her in front of   your children.  Show them you love their Mommy! 


There are so many more things I could tell you but you need to figure these out for yourselves.  Just ask yourselves - how would I want to see my boys treat their wives one day?  You will be their greatest teacher, even without knowing it.  They will model their actions after what they saw you do every day. And, if you have girls, think about how you want their husbands to treat them.  Many times, little girls grow up to pick husbands who have characteristics just like their Daddies.  I love you little goobers so much and while I wish you could stay my little boys forever, I am so excited to see the amazing men you will become.


Love you forever,


          Your Mommy :)