product review – Pure Sugar

Decorating with Silk Plants from Museum Trees

Posted on August 28, 2018 by Carol — No Comments ↓

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.

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

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 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

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Carol — No Comments ↓

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.

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.

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!

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.

Review | GlassesShop.com

Posted on September 12, 2017 by Carol — No Comments ↓

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.

The fit was great! I could see clearly!

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).

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

Erin Condren Fall Seasonal Surprise Box

Posted on September 8, 2017 by Carol — No Comments ↓

Warning! Spoilers!

It’s been a while since I ordered anything from Erin Condren. I’m on the fence about which brand to use for my 2018 planner. (I’m kind of hoping that Happy Planner will have an hourly planner in their fall releases, otherwise I will probably go with EC.) And honestly, I just haven’t needed any kind of stationery products. I wasn’t intending on getting another seasonal surprise box, but when I saw a preview for the autumn one I changed my mind. And I am SO glad that I did!

Yesterday I came home from work and saw this purple box propped up against the garage. I hadn’t even known that it shipped, so it truly was a surprise!

I had successfully stayed away from all the Instagram feeds and Facebook pages where people were showing off the contents, but I think by now almost everyone has gotten theirs so I don’t feel bad showing you. My box stayed in pretty good shape this time — sometimes the P.O. is so rough with it or adds sharpie marks. I can’t figure out why, but at least it wasn’t the case this time. Because I love purple, this is a box I may keep, especially because I love the quote inside. (And how about that gold tissue paper? So pretty!)

OK, on to the goodies inside! In addition to all of this beautiful stuff, there was a $10 coupon code for a spiral planner or notebook.

I can always use notecards, and these are foil stamped.

I saw this pattern in the preview on ErinCondren.com and it’s what convinced me to make this purchase. I love these leaves with foil accents. The cover is gorgeous and the stickers are absolutely beautiful!

My favorite!

There were also some large stickers/labels, a rose gold stamped dashboard, and a cute Halloween planner sticker set.

Washi tape in the same “grateful and thankful” pattern, long sticky notes, and jewel-toned dual tip markers. I have another set of these markers and love how they write, so I am thrilled to have them in my favorite colors!

So there you have it! Oh wait – there was an enamel pin, too, but Laura snagged that. She wanted to put it on her jean jacket and I was happy to let her have it. I’m really happy with this surprise box — it’s full of items I’ll use in styles that I love!

Erin Condren Seasonal Surprise Box Review

Posted on January 14, 2017 by Carol — No Comments ↓

Is there anything as exciting as coming home from work and finding out that happy mail has been delivered? I’m not talking about bills, of course. I’m talking about fun packages like this one…

Ah, yes, the classic Erin Condren box! Hard to miss. At the end of December, I got an email about a brand-new Seasonal Surprise Box that they were launching. According to the description, it would be an $80 value. The price was just $35 (including shipping)! So I took a chance. My surprise box finally arrived today! Spoiler alert! This blog post includes photos, so if you haven’t gotten yours, yet, be warned.
Continue reading Erin Condren Seasonal Surprise Box Review→

Winter Style with Firmoo.com Glasses

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Carol — No Comments ↓

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.

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:

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

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Carol — No Comments ↓

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

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Carol — No Comments ↓

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Carol

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!

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.

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!

Green Giant Has a Surprise: New Veggie Chips!

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Carol — 1 Comment ↓

{Sponsored Post}

Although I am not a big snacker, I do enjoy having a side of something crunchy with a bowl of soup or with a sandwich at lunchtime. Of course, most chips aren’t super healthy. But imagine if there was a tasty chip made from whole grains and veggies! Well, Green Giant has a big surprise for you: its brand-new Veggie Chips.

That’s right, we all know Green Giant for canned and frozen vegetables. Well, now they have a delicious new way to sneak more veggies into our diets. Thanks to a Green Giant rep sending us some free bags, I was able to sample two varieties: Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chips and Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips.

The tortilla chips were hands-down, the family favorite. They were full of flavor and delicious! The sweet potato chips were very yummy too, but a little more subdued. They were the perfect accompaniment to my sandwich.

Here are some fun facts about the new chips.

The Green Giant™ Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chips – Zesty Cheddar Flavor are made with real vegetables, 17 grams of whole grain per serving (48g are recommended daily), and are naturally flavored.
The Green Giant™ Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips – Sea Salt Flavor are made with real sweet potatoes and made with 14 grams of whole grain. Plus, they contains 40 percent less fat than regular potato chips*!
*Green Giant Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips (6g per 28g serving) have 40 percent less fat than regular potato chips (10g per 28g serving).

The folks at Green Giant want to know what your surprise talent is. Here are just a few that they have unearthed — check out more on their YouTube Channel or head over to the Green Giant Facebook page and show the Giant what you can do!

Green Giant has provided me with a printable coupon for Pure Sugar readers who’d like to try out their new veggie chips. Save 85 cents on a bag — I bet you’ll be surprised by how good they are, too!

Thank you to The Green Giant™ for being a sponsor. Show the Giant your surprise talent at www.facebook.com/greengiant

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