The Original™ Dish Drying Mat

I have been loving The Original™ Dish Drying Mat that I received from Influenster. It is just the right size to sit on my counter to dry my dishes. It is thick enough that the water doesn't soak through and make a mess all over the counter like when I used to use paper towels. I also like the fact that I can just throw it in the wash and reuse it over and over again. No more wasting paper towels.

I do have a dishwasher but I don't always use it. If I only have a few dishes or big items like pots and pans I just hand wash so this works great. It also has a little loop in one corner that you can hang it up to dry or if you're not using it. This is an all around great  product. It would make a great gift too!

Visit The Original™ Dish Drying Mat website to learn more about all of their products.

* I was given this product complimentary through Influenster. Opinions are my own.

LypSyl Intense Protection LypMoisturizer

I recently received a sample of Lypsyl LypMoisturizer in my Naturals VoxBox from Influenster. I have used this before but was very happy to see it included in my box. With winter coming up I know I will be needing even more.

This product goes on nicely and does not feel heavy on my lips. For me it seems to last several hours sometimes depending on how much I'm drinking or eating. I do love the scent. It's almost a little minty but not strong. So sometimes I do apply it twice a day just so I can smell it. :o)

It's made with pure Swedish beeswax, organic shea butter and vitamins so you know it's good for your lips! It also has the cutest little bee on the side that you use to push up when you need more.

You can find out more about all their products on the LypSyl  website.

*I received this product complimentary through Influenster. Opinions are my own.

Back to School Week

We started off the week on Tuesday with our annual "Not Back to School" celebration. I had planned on a day at the park with a picnic but it was a rather hot day & I figured we'd not be having many of those left. So we ended up ordering pizza and having a pool party. I ordered the pizzas online and then Grandma picked them up on her way over. She also brought along some puppy chow for dessert. We did get some school work in after the party was over. :o)



We've had a very productive week so far. Just getting back into the swing of things. We do a bit of school over the summer but not the full load. We're using Story of the World for history and are at the point of the Islamic invasion of Spain so today we had our version of a Moorish feast. It was a nice ending to the week.



The Many Uses of Ivory

A bar of Ivory soap was included in my recent MomVoxBox from Influenster. My boys have been wanting to do this microwave experiment for the longest time so we were thrilled it was in the box. The experiment only works with Ivory soap. You place a bar in the middle of a plate and put about 2 minutes on the clock. Make sure the kids are able to see in as it starts to grow.

If it happens to grow off the plate it's okay because it's fluffy and will come right up. It is a big fluffy cloud. I let my kids take it outside and play with it for awhile. I had planned on using the flakes but the boys wanted to make it snow since it was almost 100 degrees outside.

Ivory is one of the least expensive soaps out there. It is also one of the purest. If you're looking for a versatile soap that can go from cleasing your face to fun experiements I suggest you try Ivory!

Here is a little bit more info below about Ivory.

Ivory Bar Soap

Free of dyes and heavy perfumes, Ivory provides a simple, yet effective clean for the entire family (without breaking the bank!).


Ivory bar soap is 99.44% pure (it floats!).  Beyond using it as a body cleanser, many of Ivory's loyal users – not to mention a few celebrities – swear by Ivory as their beauty secret. In fact, many consumers use Ivory bar soap as a facial cleanser.  It provides healthier, smoother and more even-looking skin. Also, its versatility makes it an effective laundry soap (just chip soap flakes into the washer) as well as a spot stain remover on your clothes (including delicate items). Ivory bars can even be used for a fun soap carving project with the family!  

When it comes to motherhood,  Ivory (the clean & simple soap) knows that being a mom has become more complex than ever, and that moms are looking for ways to simplify their lives. According to a survey of 1,000+ moms conducted by Wakefield Research on Ivory’s behalf in October 2011, 80% of American moms think motherhood is more complicated today than it was 20 years ago, despite the thousands of items supposedly designed to “simplify” their lives. But, while they may be more stressed out and busier than ever, almost 90% of moms think they’re doing a better job balancing it all than their mothers did. Some other interesting stats:


· 30% of moms surveyed found the most complicated aspect of motherhood was finding more "me" time, 66% confessed to hiding in their bathroom for some alone time.
· 75% feel the pressure to make every outing, playdate, or experience a "teachable moment," which can create great pressure
· 70% of moms feel they don’t have everything together, despite others thinking that they do.


As a result of these findings, Ivory created a Facebook community where everyday moms can share tips with one another on ways to simplify life for themselves and their families.   

Find your Ivory now at your nearest retailer, including stores such as Walmart and Target as well as any major grocery, dollar and drug store.  A 10-pack of Ivory bar soap retails for around  $4.49 (bath bar size).

* I was given a complimentary sample for testing purposes from Influenster and Ivory as a participant of the MomVoxBox campaign.

Quaker Soft Baked Oatmeal Cookies

If you're a fan of soft and chewy cookies then Quaker has the cookie for you! I received this Soft Baked Oatmeal Cookie with Raisins in my recent MomVoxBox from Influenster. It is the perfect size for a snack for one. (or more if you really have to share like I did.) My boys love cookies so I broke it in parts so everyone could get a sample before it was all gone. The texture was just right. It was soft and chewy and it tasted very fresh. They got a thumbs up from all of us.

You can visit their facebook page here or follow them on twitter here. I've posted a little more info below too.

Quaker Soft Baked Oatmeal Cookies

Enjoy chewy, soft-baked cookies in a family-favorite flavor! With wholesome Quaker Oats and delicious raisins, you’ll never remember they came from our kitchen instead of yours.

-Made with Whole Grain Quaker Oats
-Individually packaged
-Provides a good source of fiber
-Contains 6 grams of total fat per serving

Where to Buy

You can find Quaker Soft Baked Oatmeal Cookies at most major retailers.
Suggested retail price: $2.69 for a box of 6 cookies.

*I was given a sample free in my MomVoxBox complimentary for testing and review purposes from Influenster. 

Cravebox



I was very happy when I got the email that I had gotten one of the 500 spots that had opened up for Cravebox. I was so excited the day my first box came. It was packed with this bright confetti and tissue paper it made me even more excited to find out what was hiding under it all.



The theme for this box was A Taste of the Tropics. So many great things to start off the summer right!

Included in the box:

2 packets of Sunsweet Plum Amazins. These were so good in my greek yogurt.

Samples of Lipton Tea & Honey To Go Packets- I actually haven't had a chance to try these yet.

Guylian Original Belgian Chocolate Sea Shells. There were so cute and tasty! They were all different shapes of shells. I was going to take a  photo of them but I ate them before I got around to doing that.

Skintersection Intense Repair Cream- this stuff is wonderful!

Tree Hut Coconut Lime Shea Sugar Body Scrub- it smells delish and feels so good on my skin. It is a huge 18 oz size jar. It's kind of hidden in the photo.

I also just found out I will be getting the limited edition Summer Spruce Up Cravebox. I can't wait to see what will be in it and actually look forward to some cleaning!

If you don't know what Cravebox is I suggest checking them out on facebook  twitter or on their website. I won my spot in a drawing. They also do twitter parties where you can win them. You can also sign up on their website to be notified when they have openings. The boxes are $10 and include shipping. I am very happy to be a member!

Missing in Action

Well, as you can tell I've not posted for almost a month now. Life has been busy with appointments and just stuff going on. So many things on the agenda and never enough time. Hubby and boys had their annual camping trip last weekend up north. A few of them came back sick. I happened to catch the stomach bug that someone got and am still feeling rather blah. Poor hubby though got into some poison ivy and it got into a cut. He ended up at urgent care and on a few meds that will hopefully get rid of the swelling and infection soon or he may end up getting iv or shot of antibiotics.

So, I will be back in action hopefully by the weekend. I have lots to share and some photos to post just need to take care of the family first. :o)