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Gifts for Moms

I received these products free for purposes of my review. All opinions are my own.

I LOVE reviewing products for moms, because that means I discover some cool stuff for myself while I’m at it. Here’s 3 items for that mom or female friend on your gift list that is just impossible to shop for! They’re all unique, fun, and probably something that she doesn’t have yet!

Moxie Malas

Moxie Malas is Crystal Healing and Aromatherapy jewelry. Each piece is hand crafted in the United States using semi-precious gemstones and crystals.

Moxie Malas sent me this beautiful “I Just Can’t Even” bracelet to review.It’s a 7 inch bracelet on a stretchy band. It seems appropriate considering how difficult it is to keep my cool with the mixture of work stress, educating my children, and unusual holidays this year.

This bracelet has amethyst, aquamarine, moonstone, rose quartz, prehnite, and howlite for a mixture of courage and calming semi-precious gemstones and crystals.

The porous purple stones on this bracelet are lava stones. And, aside from being the perfect addition to this bracelet, they can be used for essential oils if I want to add a little scent to my bracelet.

A lot of Moxie Malas jewelry items have these porous lava stones for adding your favorite aromatherapy to your crystals bracelet.

They even have a monthly bracelet club if you want something new every month but are just overwhelmed by all the great options like I am, and can’t make up your mind!

Bombay Hair

I love playing with my hair, but I hate owning 50 different curling wands (well, I don’t think I actually own 50 – but I definitely own at least 10). All those power cords, sizes, etc.

So, I was excited to receive this 5 in 1 Curling Wand to Review. Basically, I have 5 curling wands, and only 1 power cord. That’s just awesome! This set comes with a rest for setting my hot curling wand on and two hair clips for helping me keep my hair where I want it while I’m curling.

This wand heats up super fast. Yay! That’s really important to me because with 4 kids, when I sit down to work on my hair, I don’t have 10 minutes to wait on my curling wand to heat up. Full disclosure here – with the exception of a couple wands that I’ve purchased for my daughters, I’m still using my curling irons from the 90s and those things take almost a decade to heat up. I think I was way overdue for an upgrade.

The different sizes are super easy to swap out, and there’s a lock switch so you can’t accidentally twist your wand off the base while you’re curling – because that would be a problem. Just make sure that your wand is completely cool before swapping ends. – which is the only down side of a 5 in 1. You can’t use multiple sizes at the same time.

My favorite is the second from the left (in the picture) that has the smaller base and larger end. I start at the scalp and wind my hair around so the end of my hair is at the end of the wand. I have long hair and it’s always frustrating when my ends curl but the top doesn’t, so being able to curl tighter where it’s more difficult and looser where it holds better makes my curls come out so much more even.

Prank-o

These gifts are amazing for that white elephant gift exchange, or for the impossible to purchase for person on your gift list.

I’m actually re-gifting these because I have a couple people on my gift list that just need a gag gift.

These call of nature mugs are funnier the longer you look at them, and the gift cards are perfect for that person who is always telling you how much they love gift cards – or the person who insists on giving everyone gift cards every year. No matter which side of the gift card fence you fall all, these are awesome!

You can actually go to the web address on the gift card (Prank-o owns those domains) and it will give you all the details about how you’ve been pranked.

Prank-o also has prank gift boxes, prank greeting cards, prank flyers, and more. All perfect for bring out the laughs however you choose to exchange gifts this holiday season.

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Divatress Bobbi Boss Wigs

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are mine.

Ever wanted to change your hair, but don’t want it to be permanent? I know I have! I love to play with my hair, but my hubby isn’t so thrilled with it. To be honest, I’m dying to try out that whole bright splash of color that people are doing in their hair these days – you know, the stripe of hot pink, or turning all my ends blue. I’m just not certain I’ll like it and haven’t tried it because I hate to do something so permanent and then decide it’s no good. And you know what’s worse than doing something I don’t like to my hair? Waiting for it to grow out…

I’ve been checking out these Bobbi Boss wigs, and they’re pretty awesome. They would definitely give me a chance to try out a new hair color without it being permanent. Bobbi Boss is an e-commerce site that carries wigs, haircare, and beauty products. I’m having fun browsing their hundreds of wigs. So much fun, in fact, it’s hard to decide what wig I would try out first!

Like this long wig, I could try out those blue colors that I’ve been dying to try. Without actually dying my hair!

Oh, and I’m loving this red hair. This would be so fun to wear for an extra pop of color!

I realize colors aren’t for everyone. They have regular hair colors as well. This Bob is super cute! And would give me the chance to go shorter without actually cutting my hair. They have a great selection of short wigs.

All of these hair styles have different shades available so you can go really different or get something that’s pretty close to your natural hair color. You could easily make it look like you cut your hair or dyed it when you haven’t actually done anything to your hair at all.

They have long wigs, short wigs, and all sorts of colors for each style. Hundreds of Women’s wigs. They also sell all the wig accessories you’ll need to make your wig wearing a success. It’s like the warehouse of wigs! Just online, so you don’t ever have to leave your home. Or if you’re like me, you can shop for wigs without your children trying them all on… Let’s just say that I’m really enjoying shopping Bobbi Boss online!

 

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Lee Stafford Ceramic Curling Wand for Corkscrew Curls – Review and Giveaway

This is a sponsored post. I received this product free for purposes of my review. All opinions are my own.

My 8yr old Daughter has the straightest, silkiest, hair ever. I’ve tried everything to get good curls. We tried hot rollers, curling irons, a variety of gels and mouses, wet hair, dry hair, overnight foam rollers, overnight rag curls, curling with my straightening iron, etc. Seriously, I’m pretty sure I’ve tried everything I can think of short of getting her a perm.

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Her hair is so long and straight. And it’s so hard to curl!

The Lee Stafford CHoPstick STYLER Ceramic Curling Wand  is a single barrel clipless curling iron. The instructions say to hold the iron vertically and wrap strands of hair around the curling iron and hold there for 5 seconds. Then release and move on to the next strand. Having tried so much in the past, I was excited to try something new and at the same time very doubtful that it would work.

We had washed her hair the day before, so it was completely dry before I started curling. I did not put any product in her hair, because I was curious to see how the curling wand worked on just her hair. I brushed it and made sure there were no tangles before starting.

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It honestly took me 10 minutes to curl her hair. The process was so fast and way easier than a curling iron with a clip. There is a glove included so you don’t burn your hand but it was hard to work with her hair with the glove on, so I didn’t use it. The curling wand has a safety tip on the end so it wasn’t hard to curl her hair without burning my fingers on the wand.

If I do her hair more in layers (top and bottom) next time I can curl up a little more into those roots at the top. Since I was just testing a new curling iron that I honestly didn’t expect to be any different than the others we had used I didn’t bother doing a lot of work on her hair before curling.

Of course, not to be left out, my 5yr old had to get her hair done as well.

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And, they had to get a picture together.

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Aren’t they so cute with their curls! The Lee Stafford CHoPstick STYLER Ceramic Curling Wand was honestly so fast and so easy to use.

Usually my 8yr old’s curls fall out within an hour or two. These lasted all day and she still had some left the next day when we brushed her hair. Not only did this curling wand curl her hair. It also stayed in!

You can purchase this Lee Stafford CHoPstick STYLER Ceramic Curling Wand on Amazon. With free shipping if you have Amazon Prime.

And, enter the giveaway below for a chance to win your own Lee Stafford CHoPstick STYLER Ceramic Curling Wand.

Giveaway ends January 14. Full terms and conditions of the giveaway can be seen on the widget.

Win a Lee Stafford CHoPstick STYLER Ceramic Curling Wand #20

 

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Vibrance Healthy Hair Vitamins – Review & Discount

I received this product free for purposes of my review. All opinions are my own.

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I just love beauty products! I love trying out new nail polishes, new hair styles, and new makeup! What’s even more important than having fun with my beauty products is maintaining healthy nails, healthy hair, and healthy skin.

About

These Vibrance healthy hair vitamins are designed to help me maintain healthy hair. Because styling my hair is no fun if I’m fighting with hair that just isn’t in good shape.

Each soft capsule is packed with 23 vitamins, minerals, and herbs, including Biotin and OptiMSM®, that revitalize your hair from the inside. These nourishing ingredients support the growth of thicker, longer, and stronger hair.

Vibrance products are made in the USA without any extra fillers, binders or junk. They use only the purest and most potent natural ingredients. And they’re gluten, wheat, and dairy free!

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Plus they have a 90 day guarantee. You can purchase these vitamins at their online store or at amazon.com.

Discount

And, they have a special promo on their vitamins. You can get a bottle for just $5! Check out their giveaway here, and try these out yourself.

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Review

Side note: Capsules use fresh and natural ingredients, and may have a “smell”. They recommend airing out the bottle for a few seconds for the smell to go away. I’m glad I knew this when I first opened my bottle, because it did not smell good! After leaving it open for a minute or two it was fine though.

Also, if you don’t like taking pills the contents of the capsule can be opened and put into a smoothie! I don’t really drink smoothies so I haven’t actually tried this, but it sounds like a great idea for if you’re not wanting to swallow a capsule.

My hair is pretty good and I was already using a vitamin with biotin before this, so I wasn’t expecting dramatic results. They say to try it for 30 days to see results, I’ve been using it for about 20 days now and haven’t really noticed a difference in my hair, which means that it’s definitely as good as the product I was using previously.

My hair is still soft, shiny, and strong. It’s ready to go for any way I want to style it!

What I really like about this product is that it’s made in the USA and it doesn’t have extra fillers or binders. I’m pretty sure my previous vitamins have fillers and binders and gluten. With Vibrance I don’t get any of these, and I still get the benefit of great hair! And it’s quite nice to know more about the vitamins that I’m taking.

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Miracle Hair Gel for Curly Hair

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I received a free 1oz bottle of Madonna & Co. new Miracle Hair Gel for curly hair to review on my blog.

Me and my 5yr old have wavy hair that is very frizz prone. Especially in the spring and summer when it’s humid out. The frizz just gets out of control. I’m always looking for something that helps control frizz without weighing my hair down.

Most hair gels are just downright sticky, and while helping with the frizz, they leave my hair stiff and hard to work with.

I tried this gel out on both me and my 5yr old, and it’s awesome. It did a great job of controlling frizz, enhancing my natural wave, and wasn’t sticky. My hair was still soft and light after it dried.

After washing your hair, just use a small amount, work it up from the ends, scrunch, and let dry. I love the way my hair looks after using the Miracle Hair Gel.

You can purchase this on their website Madonna & CO. It’s only $8 for a 2oz bottle.

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And, if you live in New York. They have a Beauty Bar that you can purchase products from, get makeup, hair, and fashion tips, or just go and be pampered.

At Madonna & Co (M&C) you’ll discover exclusive designs, designer capsule collections, and exciting mixes of fabrics. Everything is easy to wear, yet sophisticated, feminine, but inspired by the art of edgy fashion details. I don’t live in NY, but I was browsing fashions on their website, and they’re so feminine and comfortable looking!

For the ultimate beauty experience, don’t forget to stop by their Beauty Bar. They believe that gorgeous hair and flawless makeup is essential to complete any look. For this reason, they strive to provide a plethora of beauty services that will help you look your best no matter the occasion.

They offer a variety of hair treatments and will work with all types & textures, with a specialty in Curly Hair!

They also provide makeup lessons and trials, off-site makeup & hair services, and can help you plan the perfect party or host all kinds of events in their luxurious boutique, including bridal/baby showers, fashion product launches, etc.

Madonna & Co thinks you are uniquely you and it’s all about attitude.

And you can’t afford not to look fabulous!

So come check out their unparalleled apparel collections, an assortment of fashion & real gem jewels & expressive accessories and treat yourself to a cut & style or a makeover all at the same place.

If you live in NY, you can Find them at:

202 East 60th Street
Midtown East off 3rd avenue
NYC, NY 10022

Hours: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm Monday – Saturday
12:00 pm – 7:00 pm Sunday

(212) 226-3363 or toll free: (888) 254-3447

If, like me, you don’t live close enough to stop in, drop by the Madonna & Co website and enjoy browsing their terrific fashions, makeup, and beauty products.

I received this product free for purposes of my review. All opinions are my own.

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L’Oréal Paris Advanced Haircare Extraordinary Oil

Thanks to Influenster and L’Oreal for the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Haircare Extraordinary Oil set. I received their new shampoo, conditioner, and hair oil.

This stuff is amazing!

First of all, it smells so good! It has a rich scent that isn’t fruity or sweet. This is the perfect haircare scent for me. It smells great while I’m taking my shower and doesn’t last past that. Scent is quite important to me in a hair product. A great scent is just more relaxing and makes me feel like I’ve done a better job of caring for my hair.

The L’Oréal Paris Advanced Haircare Extraordinary Oil products have done a great job of cleaning, conditioning, and adding shine to my hair without weighing it down.

My only complaint with this product is that the shampoo does not lather as well as I would like. It takes a lot of scrubbing to get a good lather, so I end up having to shampoo twice just to feel like I got it all.

The shampoo and conditioner both rinse out well. I haven’t noticed any residue from either of these.

IMG_20160329_102109871I apply the oil on my damp hair after towel drying it. It makes my hair so soft and shiny and does not make my hair greasy or weighed down.

The oil is also awesome for my kid’s hair. One day my 7yr old accidentally used body wash instead of shampoo in the shower. She has really long hair and it was impossible to brush out. So, before I sent her back to the shower to re-shampoo and use LOTS of conditioner, I tried out the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Haircare Extraordinary Oil. And it was awesome! It added enough moisture and softening that her hair brushed right out, and stayed soft until her next shower.

L’Oreal has made a great hair product line and it’s working great with my hair! Thanks to L’Oreal I truly have more #ExtraordinaryHair days!

I received this product for free for purposes of my review. All opinions are my own.

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Cover your gray™ Waterproof Brush In Root Touch Up – Review

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I was sent 3 Cover your gray products to try. All 3 were in medium brown, which was a great match for my hair color. I have gray that irritates me that shows only at the roots and this sounded like a great product for me!

Cover your gray sent me three of their new waterproof products. These are great for when you don’t have the time to get your hair colored or just want to save money by extending the time in between services. The new waterproof formulas are sweat-proof, rain-proof and last through three shampoos.
The first product I tried was this Cover Your Gray hair color touch-up. I’ve never used a touch-up product before so I wasn’t sure if I should do it with my hair wet or dry, so I tried it with my hair wet. This was not a good idea. Even after my hair dried, every time I touched my hair I got brown on my fingers. Yuck! I tried it again later (after shampooing once) when my hair was dry and didn’t have this problem.
So, make sure you apply your touch-up after your hair is dry.
This color blended perfectly with my hair, you can’t even tell I added a touch-up color! Well, except for the missing gray. WooHoo!
The next product they sent me was the Cover Your Gray root touch-up. This is also easy to apply. And I applied it with my hair dry – so I didn’t have any color-bleed problems. This is for heaver root application, and less all-over touch-up.
When you use the root touch-up and the hair color touch-up together you get a really good result because you can blend into your hair and get your roots well covered.
The final product they sent was a Cover Your Gray Waterproof Pencil. It’s perfect for getting anything you missed with the root touch-up and the hair color touch-up. You do have to push pretty hard to apply it so it’s not good for all over, but it’s great for those harder to reach places, like the center of your part.
It’s been raining here the past few days, and with 3 kids I’ve gotten pretty wet while running errands. Whether or not this product is waterproof has been well tested! This product does not bleed in the rain. And that’s a very good thing!
These three products together are perfect for concealing that little bit of gray that especially stands out around my roots. It blends well with my hair color, and does a great job of hiding the gray for a couple of shampoos.

I received this product free for purposes of my review. All opinions are my own.

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Did I Brush My Hair Today?

So, we all have those days. Actually, I’d say more than 50% of the time is one of “those mornings”. You know, the morning where you start to get ready, get interrupted, try again, get interrupted again, try again, and somewhere around 2 when you need to run an errand you really can’t remember if you brushed your teeth, washed your face, or brushed your hair, and while you seem to have clothing on, you don’t really remember how that came about.

Like, this morning, I put in a movie for the kids and hopped in the shower, hoping the toddler didn’t notice my absence for a little while. Well, of course, he heard me turn on the shower, so he appeared in the bathroom hot chocolate in one hand, and waffle in the other, crying about my absence before I even had time to get my hair wet. He also felt the need to supervise the entire shower time, lest I somehow disappear from sight while in the shower and am never heard from again. Hmmm…that is tempting…

Or, like two days ago, I got up, and the two littlest were up, so I gave them hot chocolate and turned on their morning show then went back to the bedroom to get ready. I was halfway through changing out of my pjs when one of them appeared in need of breakfast, so I finished dressing and then fixed them breakfast (also had to hunt for my coffee around this point because I couldn’t remember where I’d left it). Once they were eating, I returned to my room and brushed my hair, my oldest woke up at this point and needed an unspecified item for breakfast, so I had to help her look through the fridge and pick out a yogurt. I returned to the bathroom to brush my teeth and in the midst of this little man who had finished his waffle decided to steal his sister’s. Which did not make her happy, so I had to go make another set of waffles, at which point I got distracted on getting schoolwork started for the kids, and a few other things I had to do for the morning (like cleaning the kitchen, picking up toys, checking e-mail, etc.). Baby boy went down for his nap, we finished school, and around noon I decided that since I couldn’t remember washing my face, I should probably go do that, just in time for the toddler to wake up for lunch…

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Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge Review

Thanks to Bzzagent I got to try a full set of Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge products. Shampoo, Conditioner, and Moisture Plenish Treatment for free.

I have loved these hair care products! They’re all about putting moisture back in my hair and leaving my hair shiny and weightless.  The Hydra Recharge range contains superfruits goji berry, passion fruit and kiwi to actively replenish without heaviness. My hair is soft and shiny without being weighed down or oily. They definitely live up to their advertising!

The Hydra Recharge Shampoo has these cool “moisture beads” in it that make it really fun to wash my hair. It’s like a massage for my hair every time I use it! And on top of that, I love the mild smell of all the products, light and refreshing.

Next I use the conditioner and then right after that the Moisture Plenish Treatment, which is supposed to be in for 1 minute. So, I rub the Moisture Plenish Treatment in then finish the rest of my shower and then rinse it out.

I love the way my hair feels right afterwards and the softness lasts well into the next day so if I don’t get to wash my hair every single day it’s not a big deal. And with little kids, that’s a wonderful thing!

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Garnier Fructis Review

I got to try Garnier Fructis’s new Sleek & Shine Shampoo and Conditioner from bzzagent.com.

First of all, I like the scent of the shampoo and conditioner. It’s very mild, and a little bit sweet. The scent doesn’t seem to stay on my hair after I rinse it out, which is always nice.

I have slightly wavy hair and this shampoo and conditioner combination helps to keep my hair from getting frizzy, and keeps my hair feeling softer and shinier.

However, the shampoo tends to straighten my hair a bit, which doesn’t work well if I’m going for a wavy style. As long as I decide how I want to fix my hair before I wash it, it’s no big deal. I also noticed that after a week of using it it’s kind of building up in my hair a little bit, so I need to use a different shampoo at least once a week to keep this from happening.

So, it smells good, makes my hair soft, shiny, and straight, and it builds up in my hair just a bit. In the end, I like the shampoo pretty well, but I think I still like my old shampoo better.