review – Page 9 – Chocolate 'N Children

May 12, 2016

Make Money Shopping Online

This post is sponsored by Giving Assistant.

Giving Assistant’s goal is to solve one of online shopping’s most frustrating problems. Promo codes rarely work! You know, you find a code, enter code, and it’s denied. Repeat 5 times and then give up. The entire process is frustrating.

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Giving Assistant is a free digital loyalty program, over 1,100 largest retailers, avg. of 5% cash reward after each online purchase. Giving Assistant’s solution is to always provide a discount. They have 3 types of discounts.

Promo codes – Percentage off, coupons, and deals. For example, Walmart has lots of online deals listed like up to 80% off electronics.
Charity Donation – You can designate a percentage of your cash back to go to a charity of your choice. You can pick any percentage from 0% to 100%. Amazon, which is one of my favorite online retailers. You cannot earn cash back from them, but you can donate to your favorite charity every time you purchase. So, even if you can’t get something back, you can help out your community when you shop. I’ve selected my favorite local charity as my designated Charity.
Cash Back – You can get cash back through Paypal or as a mailed check. For example, Bed, Bath, & Beyond offers up to 10% cash back on purchases. Your cash out minimum is $5 so it’s pretty easy and fast to rack up cash back credits.

How Giving Assistant Works

Retailers pay them a commission for purchases originated from their website. Typically a percentage of the sale (avg ~5%).
For purchases originated by members they pay the entire commission as cash back directly and digitally to the members.
For non-member purchases they retain the commission, and make a small donation to Feeding America to give one meal.
Members are given the option to automatically donate any % of their cash back to any charity of their choice.

My Experience

I tried out Giving Assistant for the first time this week and it is so easy to use! I needed to order a wedding present for my sister from her Bed Bath & Beyond wedding registry, so I created my account on Giving Assistant (which took less than 5 minutes), searched for Bed Bath & Beyond, and went to their page.

For each retailer there’s a list of instructions so you know what you need to do to earn your cash back and what you can earn cash back for.

HowTo

If you’re looking for deals before you shop, just close this little pop-up and you’ll see the full deal page.

BBB

I didn’t need any of these deals so I just clicked “shop now” and did my shopping. Once at Bed Bath & Beyond’s website, I searched for my sister’s wedding registry. I selected and purchased her gift.

A couple of hours later I received this e-mail.

cashBack

So, I bought a wedding present AND earned some cash back. Pretty awesome and easy! In my Giving Assistant account it lists this total under Pending Earnings and it says that the cash back will be released between 15 and 60 days depending on the retailer. It won’t actually be in my PayPal for a couple of weeks still, but it will be a nice surprise when it arrives.

Earn $5 for Signing Up

One more great deal. Sign up through my referral link and you can earn $5 just for creating an account. And I get $5 too! Pretty awesome. Then go shop at your favorite online retailer and you’ll be all set to get your Cash Back in the mail or via PayPal (just set this up under your account settings)

This is a sponsored post. This post contains affiliate links.

April 20, 2016April 20, 2016

EVERPRO® GRAY AWAY Temporary Root Concealers Review

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I received a free bottle of GRAY AWAY temporary root concealer spray for purposes of my review. All opinions are my own.

GRAY AWAY temporary root concealer spray:
No mixing, no mess – just spray and go! With a unique, pinpoint applicator, GRAY AWAY temporary root concealer spray delivers targeted coverage for quick and precise results, while the revolutionary, self-adjusting color-matching technology blends seamlessly with hair color for a natural-looking finish. The current product line is made up of 3 colors (Black/Dark Brown, Light Brown, and Lightest Brown/Medium Blonde) that cover 9 shade levels and is offered in an aerosol spray can form.

I received a light brown to test and I couldn’t be more pleased with how well it blends with my hair and conceals gray. I have just enough gray that it’s visible at the roots and I find it a bit too noticeable when I part my hair a certain way.

Convenience – this GRAY AWAY temporary root concealer spray is super easy to use. Just spray it in dry, styled hair and let it dry for 2 minutes.

You can also use it in dry, unstyled hair and style later, but I ended up having to spray more on when I did it this way because I parted my hair in a different spot when I styled it than when I sprayed it.

Effectiveness – the GRAY AWAY temporary root concealer spray stayed in my hair until my next shampoo. It did not brush or rub out during the day, and as you can see in my before and after picture, it did a terrific job of concealing my gray hairs without being at all noticeable.

I tried to rub it out during the day. I’ve had other concealers rub off onto my hands every time I touch my hair and it’s very important to me that I not get brown all over my hands when I touch my hair. This product did not rub off at all.

Before and After

Quality – GRAY AWAY temporary root concealer spray works great, it conceals gray so well and it lasts until my next shampoo and does not brush or rub out throughout the day.

And that pinpoint applicator is so easy to use! I didn’t have any trouble spraying just my roots and only my roots and not the entire bathroom with this applicator. I did throw a towel over my shoulders just in case, but it wasn’t needed.

Price – At $10 a bottle the GRAY AWAY temporary root concealer spray is a great deal. You can purchase it at the Gray Away website. And as a special reader discount you can receive 20% off with the code NOGRAY20 if you order before May 31, 2016.

Recommendation – I would definitely recommend this to a friend. It’s easy to use, works great, and it’s just what I need to easily and quickly conceal my gray roots.

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

April 16, 2016May 11, 2016

Save Money With Groupon Coupons

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

I don’t know about you, but with kids, I’m always looking for ways to save money. Whether it be on kid’s clothing, groceries, toys, or household supplies. Anywhere I can save money is a win.

I’m constantly using coupons in the grocery store and for my online purchases. And Groupon Coupons has such a huge listing of coupons, I can almost always find a coupon that will save me some money off of what I’m purchasing. Yay for spending less!

With over 60,000 coupons for over 9,000 retailers both online and in-store, Groupon Coupons is free to use and can save you money! Groupon Coupons posts coupons and deals on their Groupon Coupons site to many of my favorite retailers such as:

Target
Walmart
Amazon
Kohl’s
Starbucks
ToysRUs
JCPenney
Talbots
Coldwater Creek

Groupon Coupons lists promo codes as well as info on online and in-store sales. What a great way to save some additional money when shopping!

For example, Nordstrom has some awesome sales going on right now. Like 50% off selected men’s, women’s, and kid’s clothing. And Kohl’s has a code for 20% off online or in-store. And Coldwater Creek has 20% off your next order when you sign up for e-mails. With Groupon Coupons saving money has never been so easy.

If you want to keep up with Groupon’s latest offerings you can follow them on facebook and twitter for updates about the latest sales and deals.

April 13, 2016April 9, 2016

52 Uncommon Dates – Review

52 Uncommon Dates: A Couple’s Adventure Guide for Praying, Playing, and Staying Together by Randy Southern with an introduction by Gary Chapman.

This book has some creative, fun, and imaginative date ideas. 52 ideas, to be exact.

Each date has a description, suggestions for how to accomplish the date, talking points, and suggestions for prayer and scripture reading.

I like that all of these date suggestions are different. Some are very involved and would require you to go somewhere and even plan a night away. Which is super hard for us to do these days with the kids. So I’ll save them for later.

Other dates are fun things that we could do in the evening after the kids are in bed. Plan a special snack, have our date activity, and spend some intentional time bonding as a couple doing something together that we both enjoy doing. The talking points with each date are great for going deeper into our relationship than just the activity that we’re participating in.

With work and kids we honestly don’t spend a ton of intentional time together. And we’ve used this book to schedule a couple of fun dates while the kids sleep – because, if it’s not on our calendar, it doesn’t happen.

And this book gives us something fun to do on our date, instead of just eating dinner and looking at each other with that “what now?” expression and then settling for Netflix.

If your looking for some fun new date ideas. You’ll find some fun ideas in this book!

I received this book free for purposes of my review. All opinions are my own. This post does contain affiliate links.

April 2, 2016April 9, 2016

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.

March 31, 2016April 9, 2016

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.

I 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.

March 23, 2016April 9, 2016

Live Free – Coloring Book Review

Live Free, An Adult Coloring Book by Margaret Feinberg.

This is such an awesome coloring book! On the left of each page is a spot for journaling or creating your own thoughts, and on the right is a fun picture with a verse to color.

I love all the intricacies of these pictures and it’s so relaxing to just sit for a few minutes (with 3 kids, that’s a max of 5 minutes at a time) and do something creative that doesn’t have a deadline and that doesn’t have to be done “right”.

I’ve been just leaving this out on my living room table, grabbing the nearest marker, and coloring away when I get a chance. Luckily, the pages are heavy enough none of the marker is bleeding through.

In 2 weeks this is all I’ve gotten done, but I think it’s turning out great, and I’m having so much fun picking which random colors go where.

As I work on my picture I find myself pondering what it is to be a “living stone”. Someone who brings life to my family and those around me. At the same time as I’m “bringing life” to my picture. Margaret Feinberg did a terrific job of matching this picture to this verse.

And my 7yr old picked out a page as well. This kept her busy for quite a while.

This book is full of beautiful pictures and inspiring scriptures. It’s going to take me forever to color all of these pages, and I’m loving every minute of it!

I received this book free for purposes of my review. All opinions are my own. This post does contain affiliate links.

March 16, 2016April 9, 2016

Dressed For Death – Book Review

Dressed for Death, by Julianna Deering. This book is 307 pages long and it’s the 4th in the Drew Farthering Mystery series.

I have not read the previous 3 but I had no trouble picking this one up and understanding who the characters are. In fact, after reading this one, I liked it so much, I put the other three Drew Farthering Mystery books on my reading list.

There were a lot of Jane Austin book references at the beginning of this book, and while I had to read Jane Austin in High School, I’m not a fan. So I was pretty worried that I wasn’t going to like this book. Luckily, this book is nothing like a Jane Austin, so I was just fine.

After the first couple of chapters, and the characters and setting were all introduced, and the book got very interesting. It took me a day to read the first 3 or 4 chapters, and then a day to read the rest of the book.

Once I got going, I couldn’t put it down. This was an entertaining mystery book, sometimes predictable and sometimes not. Which in my opinion, is how all good mystery books should be.

Julianan Deering is a Christian author and she did a great job of discussing the character’s faith in a realistic way. It wasn’t preachy, but very down to earth and real. And it went well with the rest of the story.

I really enjoyed this book. And I also love that I discovered a new author that I like!

I received this book free for purposes of my review. All opinions are my own. This post does contain affiliate links.

March 4, 2016April 9, 2016

Pure Goodness Protein Powder – Review

About the Product

New Pure Goodness Proteins are made from a powerful plant-based formula that contains 15 grams of plant based protein per serving and all amino acids essential for human dietary needs.

Pure Goodness products are Non-GMO verified, Gluten Free, Soy Free, Dairy Free, 100% Vegan and Paleo Friendly!

They have two different variations, Hemp Seed Protein and Pumpkin Seed Protein which are available in three different flavors, Unflavoured, Chocolate and Vanilla.

All seeds are gently cold pressed and minimally processed to ensure maximum nutrient preservation and digestibility.

Pure Goodness also believes in taking care of each other. This is why they give back, by donating 1% of sales to help provide nutritious food to communities in need across the US!

Aside from my pink backpack, which is awesome on the go. I also like to bring along my favorite shaker bottle with Pure Goodness Hemp Seed Protein. If I’m not going to be drinking it right away, I just carry it with the powder in it and then add water from a water fountain or water bottle when I’m ready to drink.

I received the Hemp Seed Protein, Chocolate Protein Powder to review. It has 4 ingredients! Hemp seed protein, fair trade cocoa powder, natural chocolate flavor, stevia leaf extract. For more nutritional info, check out the Pure Goodness website.

This Pure Goodness Hemp Seed Protein is awesome for taking with me to so many places! When I’m teaching, it’s great to sip on during the day or drink all at once at snack time. When it’s a busy day and I’m on the go, it’s great for having along for a mid-morning energy boost, or a tide-over until lunch. Days when I’m home and getting caught up on the housework it great for a mid-afternoon snack. And it makes a great post-workout drink. So many times throughout my week that a little extra protein is so helpful – and by little, I mean 15 grams.

I prefer it mixed in milk. The flavor is great (even in just water) but I’ve never been really good with the gritty texture of a protein drink and milk is a bit thicker than water so it masks the grit just a bit. Just heat up a cup of milk, add the powder, mix, and you have a Protein Hot Chocolate! Perfect for an afternoon snack or pick-me-up at home.

If you prefer to mix your protein powder with water, you’ll still like this product. It does mix in quite well. No chunks. It doesn’t settle too badly, but I do still shake my drink up every so often just in case.

What I like best is the taste. Because there’s so few ingredients, I don’t have to taste a bunch of added vitamins and such, it’s just whatever is naturally occurring in hemp seed, cocoa, chocolate flavor, and stevia. Really, with all that cocoa, it’s the best protein powder I’ve ever had in milk. So chocolaty! I can definitely taste the sweetness of the stevia, but I don’t eat a lot of foods with stevia in it so I tend to notice it when it’s there. It’s not a bad taste just a tad sweeter – in my opinion – than cane sugar.

This is a great protein powder, it tastes great, and mixes well.

Check out Pure Goodness on Social Media!

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

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

February 14, 2016April 9, 2016

Valentia Eye Cream and Mask – Review

Valentia is a modern cosmetic brand that uses natural and organic ingredients in their products. Their products are made in the USA, cruelty free, and are vegan friendly. I don’t know about you, but when I’m using a product daily on my face it’s nice to know that it’s made of high quality, natural ingredients.

I got to try out two of Valentia’s products. Their True Glow Eye Cream and their Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask.

TRUE GLOW EYE CREAM
– Astaxanthin: A powerful antioxidant that increases moisture levels, smooths fine line and wrinkles, and restores elasticity to the skin.

– Resistem: Natural Plant Stem Cells repair and protect the skin from harsh environmental pollutants and stress related aging.

– Vitamin C: Leaves the skin smooth and visibly brighter for a well-rested and bright eyed look.

– Organic Rosehip Oil: Provides intense hydration to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

– Arnica: A key anti-inflammatory agent to the restorative process that works to diminish the appearance of dark circles.

ULTRA PLUMPING HYDRATION MASK
– Silk Protein Amino Acid Blend:These natural miracles increase moisture content and help in the production of collagen and elastin which decreases the appearance of visible lines.

– Botanical Hyaluronic Acid:Penetrates deep into the skin to secure moisture and plump skin from within.

– Organic Sea Buckthorn Oil:An anti-aging wonder berry that results in fewer fine lines, diminished sun spots, more even skin tone, and firmer more supple skin.

– Japanese Green Tea:Contains catechins that provide anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and anti-irritant effects to the skin.

– Aloe Vera:This botanical moisturizers skin and fight aging by improving skin firmness.

REVIEW

Let’s start with the eye cream. The instructions say to use it twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening. It’s gentle on my skin and has really done a great job of reducing dark circles and brightening the skin under my eyes.

With 3 kids there are many night I don’t get enough sleep so I need all the help I can get to keep away the under eye dark circles.

I’m very happy with the results I get from this eye cream.

Next, the Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask. It’s a little gooey when you put it on but it rubs on well. It smells so good, and the great scent lasts even after you’ve washed off the mask.

I like to use a mask about twice a week. Just rub this one on, leave on for 15 to 20 minutes, and wash off. My skin tingles a tad during the 15 minutes but it’s not uncomfortable.

After washing off the mask my skin is soft and well hydrated. And my face smells so good!

These two products are both terrific. They’re both gentle on my skin and do a great job of hydrating and smoothing.

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