Decorating with Silk Plants from Museum Trees

I love changing up my home decor for the seasons, and when fall rolls around I love to get especially cozy. However, I do miss the lush greenery that comes with summer. I don’t exactly have a green thumb, so I rely on beautiful silk plants to bring the outdoors inside year-round. 

Museum Trees offered to send me one of their high-quality products for review, and I was thrilled to see what their plants look like.

The silk plants are shipped in a sturdy cardboard mailer, and my ficus was snug and secure inside. 

Museum Trees ReviewMuseum Trees Review

After I took the silk plant out of the packaging, I just had to fluff up the leaves and it was ready to go. 

Museum Trees Review

Museum Trees Review

I’m impressed with how realistic this silk ficus looks. From the leaves right down to the trunk, it is very convincing. (In fact, one of our cats is still fooled into thinking it’s real — she’s obsessed with it!) The base is weighted so the plant doesn’t fall over. I have it in a corner of our living room and once the weather is cooler, I plan to add some twinkle lights to up the “cozy factor.” I just love it!

Museum trees review

Museum trees review

Museum Trees offers a huge selection of silk plants perfect for your home or office. I would certainly recommend them to anyone looking for an easy decor update that requires minimal fuss!

Review | LipSense Lip Color & Lip Gloss

I feel like I am constantly searching for a great lipstick. Every few years I find one I love, but then it goes out of production and I have to start from scratch. Well, I am happy to say that after a few years of looking, my current search is over!

I was offered the chance to try out LipSense from Red Gate Beauty and after using it for a few weeks, it’s official: I’m in love. LipSense is not your typical lipstick. It is waterproof, kiss-proof, and smear-proof. The color and gloss are both available in an array of beautiful shades.

LipSense is a long-lasting liquid lip color that lasts between 4-18 hours. I can personally attest to it lasting for 6 hours and lots of talking, drinking, and eating! It is lead-free, wax-free, gluten-free, vegan, kosher, and not tested on animals. Plus it is made right here in the U.S.A.!

To wear LipSense, you just have to follow a few steps. First, clean and dry your lips. Then shake the bottle of color. Swipe the color on in one direction (just a thin layer). If you want more color, wait 10 seconds and reapply. (The first time I tried the color I was surprised by the tingling sensation, but  that is just the cosmetic-grade denatured alcohol which create a bacteria-free environment in the tube. It wasn’t unpleasant at all – it just caught me off-guard.) Five seconds after you apply the color to your lips you can apply the gloss, which acts like a magic sealer and moisturizer.

LipSense review for redgatebeauty.com

My favorite part about the gloss? You can choose from several different colors that adds just a little bit extra to your lips when combined with the color, or you can wear it on your own for a natural look. For my gloss, I chose Orchid, and it really is the perfect topcoat to the Praline Rose color.

LipSense review for redgatebeauty.com

In addition to being long-lasting, the color itself is what I love most about LipSense. It is so hard to find color that isn’t over-the-top or really fake looking. I don’t wear a lot of makeup, but I do like to accentuate my lips. LipSense is perfect for that. And if you want a vibrant color, they have plenty to choose from! Plus, you can mix and match colors in order to get the shade that is uniquely yours!

LipSense review

I’m excited to offer my readers a 15% discount code if you want to try LipSense out for yourself. Head over to Red Gate Beauty and use the code bloggymoms15 at check-out.

 

Book Review | Real American: A Memoir, by Julie Lythcott-Haims

I received a free copy of Real American: A Memoir in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Real American: A Memoir

As a librarian a lot of books find their way across my desk, as you can imagine, but I am drawn to biographies and memoirs and always have been. I love learning about people’s individual histories, and Real American: A Memoir is no exception.

About the Book

Real American: A Memoir
by Julie Lythcott-Haims. Holt, $27 (288p)
ISBN 978-1-2501-3774-6

Julie Lythcott-Haims is the daughter of a white British mother and an African-American father. Julie was born in Africa in 1967, but her family moved to the United States when she was very young. This book chronicles her life as a bi-racial young woman in the 1970s, while living in Palisades, NY, and Madison, Wis. The book takes us through many pivotal life experiences that almost everyone shares — playing with neighborhood kids, going to prom, getting that college acceptance letter, navigating college life, experiencing love and disappointment — universal moments.

It didn’t matter that her father was an accomplished physician (and Assistant Surgeon General of the United States in 1977) and that her mother was loving and encouraging — racism was a fact of life that Julie could not escape. After graduating from Stanford University, Julie married a Jewish man, adding another layer of complication in her quest for self-understanding.  

My Review

Lythcott-Haims writes with honestly and vulnerability. I did not grow up in a very diverse town, so I found many of Lythocott-Haims’ experiences eye-opening. The author spent a good deal of time struggling with issues of race and identity — what does it mean to be mixed race and how do you fit in, especially as a young adult during that time period? — and to ultimately moving toward healing and self-acceptance. We all can relate in some way to being an outsider, or not fitting in with the people around you. When we are in high school and college, even the most average person (whatever that might mean to you) tries to figure out who they are and where they stand. But the author’s struggles were much more than average.

Real American: A Memoir

Real American: A Memoir wraps cultural moments (from seemingly simple things like watching “The Cosby Show,” and noting important movies to reflecting on Hurricane Katrina, the election of President Barack Obama, and the impact of Black Lives Matter ) around the author’s personal life. While reading I couldn’t help but reflect back upon where I was during these time periods and what I was doing. While reading this book I felt like the author was talking to me. Her writing style is so personal that it draws the reader in immediately. I soaked up every word, and I know it is a book I will go back to and read again. 

Real American: A Memoir

Real American: A Memoir is insightful and poetic, raw and honest. I think that this is an important book to read, especially given our current political climate. There’s no denying that the world we live in is racially-charged and I think that more than ever, we need to really try to know and understand each other. Whether or not you consider this book out of your “comfort zone,” I strongly encourage you to pick up a copy because it will no doubt have a lasting effect on you. Learn more about the book on Real American: A Memoir’s Publishers Weekly page.

Win A Copy of Real American: A Memoir

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway details:
Prizes: One of 10 copies of Real American: A Memoir by Julie Lythcott-Haims
Dates: September 1 – September 29, 2017
Entry: Readers may enter the giveaway via the widget and by posting ONCE to Twitter and including: @DeanJulie and the hashtags: #RealAmericanMemoir and #CLVR
Notification: Winners will be randomly selected and notified by CLEVER by October 6, 2017
Terms & Conditions: Age 18+ | US resident only | Only one winner per household

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Review | GlassesShop.com

I was given a free pair of prescription eyeglasses from GlassesShop.com in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Last month I decided that I really needed new glasses. The pair I was wearing just never seemed to fit right. I dealt with it as long as I could, but it was time. As luck would have it, a rep from GlassesShop.com contacted me and asked if I would be interested in reviewing a pair of eyeglasses from them.

After browsing their site for a moment, I quickly took advantage. I found several styles that I loved. I decided on the Iowa Rectangle style and the green shade looked so different! I couldn’t wait for them to arrive. In fact, I didn’t have to wait long — before I knew it they were in my mailboxes! I have ordered glasses online several times before, but I think these shipped faster than any other company.

New Glasses from GlassesShop.com

The fit was great! I could see clearly

New eyeglasses from GlassesShop.com

GlassesShop.com offers all kinds of glasses. Whether you are looking for fashionable frames, or  prescription sunglasses they have a fantastic selection!

If you want to give them a try, just make sure you have your eyeglass prescription (including PD – pupillary distance), pick your favorite style and order them. Simple as that! I also have a special GlassesShop.com discount code for my readers! Use coupon code GSHOT50 and save 50% off on eyeglasses and sunglasses with free lenses (sale frames excluded). 

New Glasses from GlassesShop.com

I am extremely happy with my pair of glasses and I definitely see myself ordering from them again in the future!

Easy Organization with BIC Gelocity Pens!

It’s no secret that I love pens — especially gel pens! So when I had the opportunity to try out the new quick-dry Gelocity Pens from BIC I knew I couldn’t say no!

BIC Gelocity review

My Smiley Kit came with a package of three gel pens, coupons, and a cute coloring sheet. I couldn’t wait to test them out!

The first thing I noticed is how comfortable the grip is on these pens. The barrel is slightly padded and you can write for a long time without fatigue. Also, check out how vibrant the ink is!

BIC Gelocity review

Sometimes pink gel pens don’t show up well, but this one does. The blue and purple are so pretty, and the best thing is that the ink dries faster than regular gel pens. I can’t say they are smudge-proof, but they are certainly an improvement over some other brands.

BIC Gelocity review

And of course, if you’re trying to get things organized for the new school year, these pens make color-coding a snap! Assign each of your kids a color for the family calendar, or designate a color for different areas of your life — work, to-do, fitness, etc.

Thanks to Smiley360 for the opportunity to sample these pens for free! All opinions are my own.

Trying Out Mineral Fusion Makeup


Many years ago I heard about something called “mineral makeup.” It was supposed to be better for your skin, so I gave it a try and loved it. However, over the years I’ve had opportunities to try out other types of makeup so it no longer is my go-to. I was recently offered the opportunity as a Smiley360 member to try out Mineral Fusion makeup, so I jumped at the chance!

Smiley provided me with a full-value coupon to purchase the Mineral Fusion product of my chosing at Target. I decided to try the Sheer Tint Foundation in Neutral.

Mineral Fusion Makeup Review

Mineral Fusion Makeup Review

I wanted to love this product, but overall it was not for me. When I squeezed the foundation out of the tube, watery liquid dribbled out, no matter how hard I tried to shake everything up first. I found that I needed to do quite a lot of blending to get the foundation to look less “caked on.”

Mineral Fusion Makeup Review

Also, the “neutral” is still too dark for my fair complexion. This, of course, is not something that Mineral Fusion did wrong. I’m just naturally pale. The other day I did my makeup using the Mineral Fusion Foundation and my daughter (who is 5) asked if I’d been a the beach. Out of the mouths of babes! But she has a point — I will keep this in my makeup bag until the summer is here and I have a little more color.

I would not totally give up on Mineral Fusion, though. I think I would love their lipsticks and mascaras.

According to Mineral Fusion: “Our products also help protect from environmental damage. We add age-defying antioxidants to all of our products – pomegranate, white tea, red tea and sea kelp, plus vitamins C and E – to defend against free radical damage. In addition, we enrich our products with specialized botanicals to provide targeted treatment that soothes and nourishes your skin. Our cosmetics are free from parabens, artificial colors, fragrances, gluten, phthalates and talc to ensure that even the most sensitive skin stays beautiful.”

Click here for a $3.00 off coupon and try it for yourself!

Winter Style with Firmoo.com Glasses

Firmoo.com

Disclosure: I received a free pair of glasses from Firmoo in exchange for a review on my blog.

You may remember that I reviewed my first pair of Firmoo.com glasses back in the summer. I was pretty impressed so when they offered to send me another pair, I jumped at the chance! I love being able to change up my glasses to fit various styles… or even the seasons.

This time around I wanted something more classic looking so I chose this pair of faux tortoiseshell glasses with gold accents. The processing and shipping time was similar to my prior order and once again, the glasses arrived well-packaged with both a hard case (complete with chamois cloth to clean the lenses), and a soft case.

Firmoo.com glasses review

The glasses were as pretty as I’d hoped! Firmoo.com definitely has a good sense of what is on trend right now. I’ve been wearing them off and on for the last couple weeks. They are definitely bigger frames than I’m used to, but like one of my friends said — that’s definitely the style right now.

I think that these frames are perfect for cold-weather outfits. These glasses would look so cute with outfits that have browns, burgundies, or navy blues. They’re also perfect for work or casual wear. I pulled a few ideas together to show you what I mean:

 photo e1d5df78-260a-4c9d-9854-c855f25af2bf_zps4d34c8ff.jpg

 photo burgundyoutfit_zpsb9469876.jpg

 photo navyoutfit_zpsad8c3265.jpg

Overall, I am very pleased with the glasses. With the First Pair Free Program from Firmoo.com you can see for yourself! You can choose one of a select group of frames for FREE — satisfaction guaranteed. And please let me know what you think!

Influenster #VitaVoxBox

#vitavoxbox from Influenster

Is there anything better than opening your mailbox and instead of seeing bills and junk mail, finding a package full of goodies to try out? I think not! I was super excited to be chosen to receive the #VitaVoxBox from Influenster and over the last couple of weeks I’ve been trying out all the goodies.

In case you missed my unboxing video on YouTube, here it is:

I have to say, I was most excited about the First Degree burn cream. I’m a klutz, and I often work around hot things (the oven, stove, my glue gun… you get the picture). I had the opportunity to give the First Degree cream a try the other day when I was making hair bows for Laura. Like a fool, in order to see if my glue gun was hot, I touched the metal part. (It was late, I was tired, and obviously not thinking). Immediately I put a dab of the cream on my finger, massaged it in, and felt some relief. Good stuff!

The SoftLips Cube is OK. Honestly, I am not a big fan of SoftLips products, and I have never tried one of these cube-type of lip balms before. It smells and tastes wonderful, though! And since my five-year-old always wants to share my “lipstick,” the cube works out great because there is nothing to roll up or down or make a big mess. So it gets a thumbs-up from me for those features.

Playtex Sport FreshBalance tampons. What can you really say about tampons? They work well, though I find them a little too scented.

Bikini-Ready Gummy Vitamins were an interesting product. It’s hard to say much about them because it was a one-shot sample, but they tasted like candy (though there was an odd aftertaste) and definitely gave me an energy boost.

The Pure Leaf sweet tea was tasty. I will give some of their other flavors a try.

And finally… the Elizabeth Arden Flawless Future serum. I haven’t tried this out yet, but I plan to this weekend. I’ve been neglecting my skin care routine in general, so one of my goals now that school is back in session is get back into a daily regimine.

So there you have it! have you received any Influester #VoxBoxes? If you’re interested in signing up, email me and I will send you an invitation! It’s so fun. You write some reviews, take some surveys, and get to try out products.

FTC: These products were sent to me compliments of Influenster for testing and review purposes. All opinions are my own.

{Review} Kiss Everlasting French Manicure

Kiss Everlasting French Review

One of the items in my Spring VoxBox that I was most excited to try was the Kiss Everlasting French Manicure. I don’t wear fake nails often, but sometimes there is a special occasion (a wedding, a Christmas party, something like that) when you want to have a pretty manicure.

Kiss Nails Review

The first thing that caught my eye was the length: short! Really long nails make it impossible to do even the simplest tasks. There were also a variety of nail sizes and I found several that would work with my nails.

Kiss Nails Review

Application was quick and easy and the result looked fabulous! I wore them for my daughter’s 5th birthday party and several people both complimented me and asked if I’d gone for a salon manicure. The nails were also really comfortable. In the past when I’ve worn fake nails I couldn’t wait to get them off. The Kiss nails definitely fit a lot better.

One of the marketing points is that the nails are “no chip.” Maybe I was really hard on them during the party because unfortunately the white part of one nail started too peel back, and I had to replace that nail. The set lasted for about two days before the first one came loose.

Kiss Nails Review

I was a little disappointed they did not last longer, but it could have been user error. Maybe I needed more glue, or I was especially hard on them with all the washing and wear-and-tear from the parties. With that said, I would still purchase these next time I have something special to attend. It’s so much easier and faster than doing my own nails, and a lot more convenient that going to the salon.

nail

KISS everlasting French Manicure is available for $6.49 at CVS, Kmart, Rite-Aid, Target, Walgreens and Walmart stores nationwide. For more information and how-to videos, visit KISSusa.com

Disclosure: I received this product complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.

CLOSED {Review & Giveaway) Hostess Gifts and Merci Chocolates

Merci Chocolates

I received a box of Merci Chocolates and a promotional item for my honest review.
I received no monetary compensation for this post. All opinions are my own.

If your December calendar looks anything like mine, you’ll be attending several holiday parties. I am always looking for great hostess gifts. What could be better than chocolate? Merci chocolates seem to be made for saying “thank you.” I think the name alone gives that away! And indulging in a piece of yummy chocolate is such a great way to wind down after a whirlwind party.

Each box of merci includes a delicious selection of rich, European chocolates in flavors like milk chocolate, hazelnut-almond, marzipan, dark mousse, and coffee and cream. I think my favorite, however, is the praline-creme. Such a delicious treat paired with a cup of dark roast coffee!

merci

As someone who enjoys entertaining in my home, I know how much goes in to party planning. I don’t think there is anything out-of-the-ordinary that makes a great hostess, though, as long as she is having a great time too. Enthusiasm is contagious! I do appreciate always being greeted at the door, and taking guests special needs into consideration is always appreciated, too. (These are things that I try to do myself.)

I’m really looking forward to our Christmas movie party in a couple weeks, so you can bet I’ll be keeping in mind what I enjoy when I attend someone else’s party. Basically three things: good friends, good food, and good fun. Sounds simple, but I think it’s true! I will also be bringing a gift of merci to my mother-in-law’s on Christmas Eve as a token of thanks for always having a lovely holiday dinner and making everyone feel welcome.

merci2

The sweet people at merci have generously offered to give away a gift pack to one of my readers so that you can also say “thank you” to someone!

Rules

  • Open to U.S. residents 18 and over only.
  • Giveaway will close at 12 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, December 19, 2013.
  • Winner will be chosen by Random.org and posted on the blog the next morning. To enter, please leave a comment telling me what qualities you think make a great hostess OR a party that you are looking forward to this holiday season.

And don’t forget to check out merci’s Facebook app, the Thank-You-Maker! You can send a friend a meaningful thank you, and in return receive a Buy One Get One Free coupon for merci chocolates! If you’re on Twitter, send a tweet about giving a meaningful ‘Thank You’ using the #merciHoliday hashtag.

You can find merci chocolates at many stores including World Market, Target, and Amazon.com. 

Thanks to you, my readers for supporting my blog. And good luck with this giveaway. Trust me, the winner will truly enjoy these scrumptious chocolates!