Face Painting Kit by OmegaPet

Get this great product here:  Face Painting Kit by OmegaPet

I have two young kids, and like most kids they absolutely love getting their face or hand painting at a street fair, carnival, or special party, but we’ve never done face painting at home. They were both so excited when this kit showed up – they wanted to get started with it right away! When I opened up the box, I found that each of the 8 colors of paint has a small circular piece of plastic protective film on it. I’m sure it was put there to make sure everything remains in place during shipping, but it was a bit hard to remove. Once I grabbed my fine point tweezers from the bathroom though, it wasn’t too hard to get each of the films off without damaging the paint beneath. In the photo below you can see the plastic film off to the side of the kit.  Beyond that small detail in the way the product is assembled, this is a great kit!

I mentioned already that there are 8 colors: red, yellow, light blue, dark blue, purple, green, black, and white. We started out simple with the brush. All I needed to do was use the brush to drop a couple drops of water onto the surface of the pain and it was ready to go. The brush does a nice job of drawing fine lines on the skin and easily rinses off with water to switch between colors. I easily did a heart on my daughter’s hand and then my son asked for “The Hulk”, so I drew a little green person with purple pants – LOL! We also tried out the sponge applicators, which are nice to get coverage of a broader area. My almost 5 year old son actually found that he preferred to use these sponge “sticks” as he had better control with this than the brush (although my 7 year old preferred the brush). Yes, that’s right, I let my kids experiment with the paints on their own arms and hands and they had a BLAST! My daughter even grabbed a hand mirror and drew cat whiskers and ears on her own face – so cute!

It was really fun to watch what they could create. If they needed to “erase” a mistake, a paper towel with warm water took off the paint in a hurry. If the paint was especially dark, a drop of dishsoap helped the erasing be a bit more thorough. When we were all done and they were ready for bed, it was easy to use warm water to rinse off all the fun so it wouldn’t get on their sheets. I will say though that it stayed on surprisingly well for several hours with no smearing or obvious transfer to their clothes, so that is impressive!

This would be a great starter face and body paint kit for a kid’s party or to add extra fun to a Halloween costume. The colors are bright and vibrant with a great range so you can cover pretty much anything your kids desire. Extra brushes might be useful if more than one person is going to want to be painting at once, but any inexpensive fine tip brush from a crafts store will do just fine! My only other comment is that I wish there were a plastic case to store the paints in – for now I just slid the tray back into the cardboard product box, but if I was going to be transporting this around a lot to events or parties it might not wear so well. I’m very glad that I was able to order this as a promotional sample in order to evaluate and provide my honest review.

Video of me and my 4 year old painting a heart on his hand:

Video of my 7 year old painting a flower on her own arm:

 

Jumbo Car Windshield Sunshade by X-Shade

Get this great product here: Jumbo Car Windshield Sunshade by X-Shade

I’ve used a number of different windshield shades over the years and was in need of a new one, so I was excited to try out the X-Shade jumbo sunshade. This sunshade has a nylon panels within a thin metal frame that folds up into a small round shape. I really like that instead of two separate round panels, this is all a single piece connected in the middle so that there are no gaps at all. With others I’ve used in the past it is a struggle to figure out how to best overlap the two pieces and there is usually some small gaps where sun can get through. With the X-Shade design, the ENTIRE windshield is perfectly covered, which helps keep my car as cool as possible even in the hot summer sun. The two sides of the shade are silver and black – the silver side goes so that it faces out of the car, in order to reflect the sun, while the black is good at absorbing heat inside the car. There is a sturdy, wide elastic strap that can be used to keep the shade from popping open when it is folded up and not in use. I also like that there is a sleeve for storage – this is especially handy when the seasons change and I don’t expect to be using the sunshade as often, so putting it in the sleeve will keep it in good condition until sunny weather returns. The entire construction of the X-Shade seems to be be top quality, so I suspect that this will last me for a long time to come. I’m very pleased that I was able to order this as a promotional sample in order to evaluate and provide my honest review.

 

Vita Sciences Maxasorb D3 Vitamin D Cream

Get this great product here: Vita Sciences Maxasorb D3 Vitamin D Cream

I found a few years back that my Vitamin D levels were surprisingly low and have been taking supplemental Vitamin D ever since.  I’m always interested in finding additional ways to boost my Vitamin D levels and was really intrigued when I heard about this Vita Sciences cream.  What a great idea to get some of my Vitamin D absorbed straight through my skin!  The dispenser is really well designed – each pump is designed to give the right amount of cream for 1000 IU of Vitamin D, which normally would require a large pill or multiple small pills.  I’m amazed actually at how little cream it takes to get 1000 IU – very cool!  The cream itself has no significant scent, which is a big plus since I have allergy issues and always prefer skin products without added perfumes and artificial fragrances.  The cream has a nice texture and very easily absorbs into my skin without leaving any greasy residue.  I’m pleased that I was able to order this as a promotional sample in order to evaluate and provide my honest review.

Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser by Emmi’s Essentials with GIVEAWAY

Get this great product here: Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser with Multi-colored Lights by Emmi’s Essential

s

I’ve really been enjoying using essential oils since I started building up my personal collection over the last couple months.  They are great to use right on my skin for certain uses, but to really spread those great aromas throughout my home, a diffuser is the best tool.  This Emmi’s Essential diffuser is really a great quality product.  I’m really impressed with how high volume the stream of mist is that comes out of this diffuser instantly when I press the button to turn it on.  Having that fast flow with good power behind it means that the scents are nicely spread around my bedroom, bathroom or kitchen.  I like that they included volume measurements right on the side of the water reservoir, so I can easily tell how much water I’ve put in and when it is at max capacity.  The built in timer is a great feature as well – other diffusers I have just keep going until they run to empty, but I like with this that I can just set it to go for just a half hour if I’m using it as I fall asleep or if I just want to help get rid of some unpleasant scents somewhere in my house.  The colored lights are so much fun and I like that I can use the lights even without the mist being on.  Pressing the light button once starts a beautiful cycle through every color in the rainbow.  When I press it again, it “freezes” on whatever color it currently is on, then a third press turns off the light completely.  It is very easy to use and very sturdily made, so I know that I’ll be using this for a long time to come.  I’m very happy that I was able to order this as a promotional sample in order to evaluate and provide my honest review.

You can enter to win one of these great Diffusers!  Giveaway is open until May 5!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Living Beatitudes Essential Oil Set

Get this great product here: Living Beatitudes Essential Oil Set

Over just the last couple months I’ve been starting to build up a personal collection of essential oils, and I love using them for everything from stress reduction to healing properties to just making a room smell good.  This set from Living Beatitudes is such a nice addition to the ones I already have.  First of all, it comes in such a lovely box with a protective foam insert inside to keep each bottle safe.  It looks so nice – it would make a fantastic gift!  Inside are four 10 mL bottles: orange oil, eucalyptus oil, lemongrass oil, and pine oil.

I appreciate that all of the bottles have the European style dropper inserts so that its easy to just get out a small amount and I don’t waste these precious oils.  The inside of the box lid also gives really nice descriptions with suggested uses for each oil.  So enough about the box and the bottles…how about what’s inside?  These oils are clearly really great quality.  The scents are so concentrated that a drop or two really goes a long way.

The orange oil smells amazing – like a freshly squeezed orange!  It’s great to help perk up my senses on a tired day or when I’m feeling stressed.  I like a small dab on my wrist or using it in a diffuser.  It also can be used for cleaning, since citrus oils are awesome at degreasing, but I happen to have a larger bottle of lemon oil, so I’ll probably just use the lemon for that purpose.

Eucalyptus is one of my favorite essential oils.  It makes me think back to college – there were ancient eucalyptus trees on campus and when I had a bad cold I would grab some of the fallen leaves, crush them in my hands, and breathe in the aroma.  The essential oil is a lot easier and less messy – no dried leaf crumbs everywhere!  It really is amazing at clearing up my sinuses during cold and flu season or when my allergies are acting up. I also find it awesome for stress relief.  This Living Beatitudes product smells exactly like a real eucalyptus leaf – it’s perfect!

I was really curious for the lemongrass oil.  I love lots of Asian cuisines that use lemongrass, but I wasn’t sure what the aroma is of lemongrass on its own.  It’s hard to exactly explain, but it is wonderfully citrusy and woodsy at the same time.  It is so nice also in my diffuser blended with orange or lemon oil to amp up the citrus note.  I haven’t had a chance to try this for medicinal purposes yet, but am really impressed with the range of things it can be used for, including such things as joint pain, acne, and even to keep insects at bay.

The last one in the set is pine oil.  I can definitely attest that this is concentrated, pure pine oil.  For me, it’s not favorite though because I happen to be allergic to pine and some other tree species!  I still took a small whiff of this and ended up with a small headache – totally my fault!  My husband smelled it as well (a bit more deeply than I was willing to) and further verified that the smell is very authentic.

This whole thing is a great set for experienced essential oils or those looking to get started with a personal collection.  I’m so happy that I was able to order this at a discount in order to evaluate and provide my honest review.

Toddler Caterpillar Clogs and GIVEAWAY by Clogstrom

Get this great product here: Toddler Caterpillar Clogs Unisex Shoes by Clogstrom

Kids certainly get all the cutest clothes and accessories, and these adorable caterpillar clogs from Clogstrom are no exception. I was so excited when my pair showed up in the mail. The colors are just as vibrant as I hoped from the photos in the Amazon listing. As you can see, I have the green and black striped version (although I must say that picking out a color option with my 4 year old son was quite a challenge since there are so many great choices!). I love the little antennae that stick up in front – such a great, fun detail!

The material seems very sturdy and good quality, with a nice cushioned feel that seems like it would be quite comfortable. I love how easy it is to slip these on and off – anyone with young children knows how stressful it can be getting ready to leave the house, so shoes that are easy to deal with are always a huge plus in my book! I really appreciate that there is the strap which can rotate freely to the most convenient position. For my son, it’s best to have a strap in the back to help hold his foot in, but if your child prefers an open back, the strap can easily rotate forward and blend in with the front part of the caterpillar.

I have the size 8, which seems to fit my son nicely. He has been wearing a size 8.5 sneaker, so there is definitely a bit of extra “wiggle room” in the toe area, which is great for growing kids. Hopefully he won’t keep growing quite TOO fast so he can enjoy these for the whole summer! They are great for walking around outside on the sidewalk or grass and I know they’ll be perfect for our trips to the beach over the summer. I only wish that they came in even larger sizes, as my daughter (wearing a size 11 currently) would love them as well! I’m very happy (and so is my son!) that I was able to receive these as a promotional sample in order to evaluate and provide my honest review.

Would you like to win a pair of these adorable clogs for your favorite little one?  You can choose from any of the colors shown below, and sizes from Little Kid’s 4 to 8.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

Bubble Therapy Pure and Natural Bubble Bath, Shampoo & Body wash, 3 in 1 by Sweetsation

Get this great product here: Bubble Therapy Pure and Natural Bubble Bath, Shampoo & Body wash, 3 in 1 by Sweetsation

For the last few years, I’ve made a really concerted effort to use natural personal care products for myself and my kids whenever possible, especially ones that are free of chemicals like parabens and phthalates that have been shown to possibly disrupt the body’s hormone system. There are a lot of natural bath wash/shampoo products for kids, but I’ve struggled to find good bubble baths that we like, so I was excited to find this Sweetsation product to try. I love the scent of it – it’s not overly strong and doesn’t aggravate my seasonal allergies at all, but has a very pleasant, slightly sweet fragrance. I also really like that it includes calendula, which I’m familiar with from some lotions and healing balms. I felt extra happy using this on my daughter who had scraped her hip badly on the playground, since I knew that the calendula could only be good to help her skin. I really like that the bottle is flat on the top, so I can easily turn it upside down on the counter as it starts to run low to make it easier to get the product out. The only downside to this is that there is no cap to help measure it out when using as bubble bath, but I found that a few good sized squirts did a good job of getting some nice suds in the tub for my kids to both enjoy! My kids loved the bubbles and got clean at the same time – what more can Mom ask? I’m very glad that I had the chance to order this as a promotional sample in order to evaluate and provide my honest review.

src=”https://bwmreviews.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/jrezvj_8hwd8rgck70mtl0pgajrjieeficiuq_ry-tmfw398-h708-no.jpg?w=169″ alt=”jREZVJ_8HWd8rgck70MtL0pGAJrJIEefIciUQ_Ry-tmF=w398-h708-no” width=”169″ height=”300″ />

Salted Caramel Gourmet Hot and Iced Cocoa by Fireside Coffee Co.

Get this product here: Salted Caramel Gourmet Hot and Iced Cocoa by Fireside Coffee Co

.

Like almost everyone that I know, I am a huge chocolate lover, so I was excited to give this salted caramel hot cocoa a try. The mix is extremely easy to use and I like that they even give directions of how to make an iced drink in addition to the traditional hot directions. The powder is extremely finely ground so that it dissolves quickly and easily without any clumping. The taste is nice – not overly sweet and I can definitely sense that salted caramel flavor. I like that it mixes up simply with water to a nice rich flavor – no need to bother with milk! I do have to mention though that I was disappointed that this contains two artificial sweeteners: acesulfame potassium and sucralose. I don’t completely understand why sugar is the first ingredient and it still has these other sweeteners further down the list. My husband is sensitive to sucralose and this runs generally in his family, so we try not to let our kids have things with them either. If you don’t have issues with artificial sweeteners in your family, this is a very tasty and nice quality product! I ordered this at a discount in order to evaluate and provide my honest review.

Non-stick Square Muffin Baking Pan with Double-sided Spatula by KLE

Get this great product here: Non-stick Square Muffin Baking Pan with Double-sided Spatula by KLE

I love cooking and baking, especially with and for my kids, so I was excited to be able to order this square muffin pan and spatula set through a promotion in order to evaluate and provide my honest review.  I was really impressed with the look and sturdiness of this pan when it first arrived.  The metal is a nice thickness – no bending at all – and the nonstick surface appears very smooth and nicely uniform.  The spatula is a really clever design – I like the idea of having two rubber blades (one wide and one skinny) on the same handle so you have fewer tools overall to store and keep track of.  I’ve never seen a muffin pan before with square holes – this is a clever design and I like that it’s something a bit different from the ordinary.

Most importantly of course though, is how well it performs for baking.  I made a batch of banana chocolate chip muffins, and as you can see they came out beautifully!  The pan cooked them very evenly – each spot came out to the same perfect doneness.  The nonstick surface did a great job.  I did lightly grease the cups by rubbing on a bit of butter.  After cooking, two of the muffins came out by simply inverting the pan.  With the other ten, I simply used the small end of the spatula to loosen the edges and easily lift out each muffin – none of them stuck or got broken up at all!  I love the way these square muffins look.  They are also convenient for storing in a rubbermaid container, since they are easy to stack.  With the current craze for “cupcake cakes” where you decorate together multiple cupcakes to make shapes and structures, these could be really useful, since they stack and fit next to each other very evenly.  I’m imagining some sort of creative building being made with muffin or cupcake square “bricks”!  The pan was also very easy to clean up – I just used a soapy sponge (non-abrasive since I don’t want to damage the nonstick surface) and it cleaned up beautifully.  The pan is also dishwasher safe, but I chose this time to handwash.

The spatula has a good amount of flexibility to it and works great for mixing, spreading, or scraping.  Overall I’d say this whole set is really well designed and made and I know that I will get a lot of use out of it for many years to come!

Vanilla Mint Deodorant Creme by Bella Organics – Review and GIVEAWAY

Get this product here: Vanilla Mint Deodorant Creme by Bella Organics

 

Over the last 5 years or so, I’ve been making a real effort to limit my use of personal care products that contain harsh chemical ingredients like parabens and phthalates.  Deodorant though is one of those products where I’ve had a tough time finding natural alternatives that I really like.  On top of that, vanilla and mint are two of my favorite fragrances, so I was really intrigued when I heard about this Bella Organics vanilla mint deodorant creme and was happy to be able to try out a sample to evaluate and give my honest review.

I really like the list of ingredients here – all things that I can fully understand.  The peppermint oil and vanilla extract (both organic) give it a really wonderful fragrance.  Coconut oil and shea butter I know are both great as moisturizers and provide most of the base of the cream.  Then the arrowroot powder and baking soda are what help to absorb moisture, since this is of course a deodorant!  The cream has a nice thick consistency and absorbs in quickly to my skin, both big pluses in my book.

This definitely does a good job of masking odors, although of course it is not an antiperspirant, so if it is a particularly hot day or I am doing a lot of physical activity, there is still some wetness to deal with.  On days when I feel that I don’t need the extra power of an antiperspirant, I really like that this is a natural product and it smells great!

Please click below to enter to win a full sized jar of this vanilla mint deodorant creme!

Click here to enter my Rafflecopter giveaway!!