30 June 2012

Blu-Ray Review: McKenna Shoots For The Stars

My family and I recently received a copy of the new American Girl movie McKenna Shoots For The Stars to review.


McKenna Brooks is a determined and confident young gymnast. McKenna is on track to make the regional competitive gymnastics team but off-track in school, where she’s suddenly struggling to keep up. When her teacher suggests a tutor, she’s embarrassed and desperate to keep it a secret from her friends. Then a bad fall at the gym sidetracks her from her favorite sport. Will she recover in time to make the team? Can she succeed in school, too? McKenna needs to focus on her strengths to overcome her challenges – and, with the help of family and friends, find a way to believe in herself again.

Talk about perfect timing on this movie being released just as the Olympics will be highlighting the wonderful sport of gymnastics to a whole new generation of little girls! Whether the girl in your life has been taking gymnastics lessons, or you just want a family friendly movie to watch, McKenna Shoots For The Stars definitely fits the bill! There's a lesson to learn alongside a great little storyline. (Ah, to be 8 again! lol) Watching the gymnastics moves in this movie really enthralled my daughter!

Here's the trailer from the movie:


Direct Link for the feedreaders

McKenna Shoots For The Stars will be available exclusively at Walmart, and is available as a Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital Copy Combo Pack. This set allows you to instantly stream and download as part of the UltraViolet cloud, which allows you to view your movies pretty much anywhere and on every device. This is great when you are traveling and don't want to lug around a bunch of things to keep your kids occupied. ;) This movie will air live on NBC on July 14th, 8/7c, so even if you don't get a chance to purchase the movie right away, kids can still view it!

McKenna Shoots For The Stars will be available on combo pack this coming Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012. Not rated, it is safe for all ages and geared towards girls ages 4-10. Widescreen format, the total running time is 94 minutes long. The suggested retail price is , and remember, you'll need to snag this one from Walmart if you are interested in owning it.

I received a copy of this movie in order to view it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

DVD Review: Rocko's Modern Life Season Three

My family and I recently received a copy of the new animated DVD Rocko's Modern Life Season Three to review.


Finally available on DVD, Rocko's Modern Life Season Three is another classic Nickelodeon show hitting DVD for the first time, thanks to that agreement between Shout! Factory and Paramount Home Entertainment/Nickelodeon. Rocko's Modern Life first hit the network back in 1993, and it's the story of Rocko, an Australian Wallaby and his friends Heffer, a fat and enthusiastic cow, and Filburt, an easily upset turtle who often feels uncomfortable or disturbed. Toss in an angry neighbor named Ed Bighead and your average weird area named O-Town, and you'll see Rocko try to deal with all the absurdities he deals with in day to day life.

Rocko's Modern Life Season Three contains all thirteen episodes with two stories each that originally aired during season three on two discs. Here's the line up: "Bye Bye Birdy" / "Belch of Destiny", "The Emperors New Joe" / "Schnitheads", "Sugar Frosted Frights" / "Ed is Dead", "Fish-n-Chumps" / "Camera Shy", "Nothing to Sneeze At" / "Old Fogey Froggy", "Manic Mechanic" / "Rocko's Happy Vermin", "I See London, I See France" / "The Fatlands", "Fortune Cookie" / "Dear John", "Speaking Terms" / "Tooth and Nail", "Wacky Delly", "The Big Question" / "The Big Answer", "An Elk for Heffer" / "Scrubbin Down Under", and "Zanzibar ( The Recycle Show)" / "Fatal Contraption".

I'm tickled pink to see another release from the Nickelodeon vault! This show is geared towards the 6-10 crowd, both boys and girls. There is one bonus feature included in the set: a selected scene commentary by show creator Joe Murray. Of course, I wish there was more - but hey, it's better than nothing! (I'm also hoping that these shows will start to be available on Blu-Ray for those of us trying to avoid buying DVD's these days.)

Rocko's Modern Life Season Three will be available on DVD this Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012. Full screen format, the total running time is 300 minutes long, and it's not rated (see above). The suggested retail price is $19.93, but Amazon has it available on pre-order for $13.99 as of this posting. (Netflix users: this show is currently available for instant streaming!)

I received a copy of this DVD in order to view it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: My Charmed Life By Beth Bernstein

I recently received a copy of the new book My Charmed Life: Rocky Romances, Precious Family Connections and Searching For a Band of Gold by Beth Bernstein to review.


When Beth Berstein's mother unexpectedly passed away, not only did she loose her best friend, she felt that she lost a part of herself. She begins a journey of linking together the jewelry her mother left behind along with her own jewelery to the memories, and how Beth learned to love and overcome daily obstacles. From an engagement watch her father gave her mother, to love beads she wore post divorce - each one is a reminder about life's challenges and not letting things get the best of you. It's a walk down memory lane, while learning more about her mother and herself.

Hey ladies, if you look at things in your home and you can't figure out why you bought it or why you have it, do yourself a favor and donate it now. Nearly everything you own should provoke a little memory as to how you got it or who gave it to you. If there's no story behind it, and it's not functional (even cookie sheets should have memories of baking with kids or for holidays!) don't let that clutter overtake your life. /end of Storm's public service announcement. ;)

Each chapter is about a different piece of jewelry - those love beads, a solitaire ring, a Claddagh - and a memory or anecdote around it. It's not overly emotional like I had originally expected it to be, but an interesting collection of thoughts and memories nonetheless. It made me want to go back through my own jewelry box to write down the memories I have associated with each piece. (It wouldn't take long. lol The only expensive jewelry I own is heirloom pieces that have been passed down to me. Even our wedding bands belonged to my grandparents. And when it comes to costume jewelry, I seem to be so selective that what I own fits into a small box. Perhaps there is a blog post or two in them someday...)

Visit the author's website here.

My Charmed Life: Rocky Romances, Precious Family Connections and Searching For a Band of Gold by Beth Bernstein is paperback memoir book published by New American Library on July 3rd. It is 320 pages long. The suggested cover prize is $15.00, but Amazon has it available for $10.98 as of this posting. It is also available as an e-book for the Kindle and other e-readers.

I received a copy of this book in order to read it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or publisher.

Book Review: Revenge Of The Vegetarian By Jim Tilberry

I recently received a copy of the new book Revenge Of The Vegetarian: A Humorous Spin On The World Of Vegetarianism By Jim Tilberry with Patricia Van Winkle to review.


Having been a vegetarian for many years, I can attest that there's not a lot of humor in being one. I remember being nine, stuck on a plane to Europe, and they messed up my pre-ordered vegetarian meal and only had meat available. I was starving by the time we landed! When I was in college, my first roommate would talk about eating her pet cow in front of me just to get me out of the room. (and here I thought I was the wicked witch!)

That's why it's so funny to have a book like Revenge Of The Vegetarian, complete with the Top 10 Reasons to Become A Vegetarian. (#10: Avoid A Serious Injury on Thanksgiving) Forget London, how about a little history on the Vegetarian Olympics? And just in time for election year, you have "Rise of the Vegocrats". Can it get any more right up my alley? You betcha - there's even the Vegetarian Zodiac. Seriously. Even my DH - who would sooner die than give up his beloved bacon - thought this book was hilarious.

Now if you're not a vegetarian, but you have the same off the wall sense of humor as me, you've got to take a peek at this giggle worthy book. And if you're looking for a great gift for a not-so-stuffy vegetarian down the road - hey, the holidays are less than six months away - you're looking at the perfect gift idea right here.

Revenge Of The Vegetarian: A Humorous Spin On The World Of Vegetarianism By Jim Tilberry with Patricia Van Winkle is a paperback humor fiction book. It is 70 pages long. The suggested cover price is $11.95, and you can find it over on Amazon.com.

I received a copy of this book in order to read it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or publisher.

29 June 2012

First Harvest Of The Summer...

This was the sad little haul a few days ago:


The strawberries are starting to come in a bit more now, so I should have just enough to make a fresh batch of strawberry ice cream tomorrow. I was hoping for enough to make a little jam, but I guess I am out of luck this year! The onions are on the tiny side too - such a bummer. My lone tomato plant shows some buds, but doesn't seem to be making a move otherwise. On the bright side, my apple tree is showing a lot of promise, so here's hoping I get to make a ton of apple butter in the fall! (I'm down to my last container!)

I'm pretty jealous of some of the wonderful photos I'm seeing out in blog-land with a huge bounty of assorted veggies from the gardens! Someday... someday!

How is your garden doing?

Giveaway: Pratice Safe Breath With New Dentyne Split2Fit Packs

Are you a Breath Offender? You don't think so? Well, you are if you've ever eaten something on the rank side, like garlic bread or onion spread, and didn't freshen your breath afterwards before going near another person. I know how hard it can be to hang around a Breath Offender, because my DH was guilty as charged earlier today when he came up to me with the smell of stale nacho flavored chips and had the gall to ask me to kiss him. (The nerve! LOL)

The Safe Breath Survey will tell you that statistics never lie. Nope, they don't. In a poll taken of Americans ages 18 to 34, 85% of people think it would be harder to tell someone they have bad breath than tell them their zipper’s down. (I'd have field day if I got to torture my DH and pick on him for that, but anyone else? I'm not sure I could bring it up!) 58% have lost interest in someone they were attracted to due to bad breath. (That would be a buzz kill for me, too) And 48% of women 18 to 34 would end a relationship with someone with consistently bad breath. (Can't say I blame them - who wants to make out with Sir Stinky? Not me!)


Now you have no excuse not to practice Safe Breath - because even if you're wearing super skinny jeans, Dentyne's new Split2Fit Packs holds 33 percent more gum than before AND can be split into two smaller halves that are easier to slip in to close-fitting clothing. Yes, even in those skinny jeans. They have also introduced a new flavor: Dentyne Ice Mint Frost.


Direct link for the feedreaders

Win it! Excuses, excuses... don't be a Breath Offender. Share how you practice Safe Breath in a comment here, and you could be one of two lucky readers who each win a box of of Dentyne gum (that's *9* packages!) so you can practice Safe Breath all summer long.

And as always, you can receive extra entries for:

-Subscribing to my feed OR publicly following my blog via GFC or Facebook
-Blogging about this giveaway with a link back
-Tweeting about this giveaway 1X (leave the link in your comment below or @psychotichouse)
example: Practice Safe Breath & #Win! http://bit.ly/KIGoq6 ends 7/14 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends July 14th at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

I received samples of the product mentioned above in exchange for this post. Two winners will each win the prize stated above, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

Book Review: Off The Menu By Stacey Ballis

I recently received a copy of the new book Off The Menu: A Novel by Stacey Ballis to review.


Alana Ostermann is the assistant to the dashing and incredibly successful chef and food channel star, Patrick Conlon. Working behind the scenes, she does everything from developing the recipes Patrick uses to picking out birthday presents for his ex-MIL, to even dealing with the fallout from his so-called relationships. Personal life? Alana has no clue what that is! Then Alana meets southerner RJ online. For the first time, Patrick gets shifted to the backburner and even - gasp - ignored for a few minutes while she's on the phone with RJ. Now Alana must make decisions about her future -both professionally and personally - and find the perfect balance between work and play.

I had a feeling of familiarity while I was reading this book. At first I thought it was because it had a little bit of the same storyline in the beginning of another book I read recently, but then I realized it was because Alana reminded me of a friend back home who is a foodie freak, and Alana's ringer, down to the whole online chatting/dating thing.

I enjoyed this book and found it a good way to waste some time away in the evenings. It was kind of funny to be reading emails, etc just like I would if it was happening to my friend above, lol. At moments, it's almost like you're there, and of course, if you're a foodie, you'll probably enjoy some of the content anyways. A bonus? This book has yummy recipes at the end that you'll recognize from being mentioned in the story. (not just one or two, there's quite a few!) It also features a sneak peek at the author's next book, Good Enough To Eat.

You can visit the author's website here.

Off The Menu: A Novel by Stacey Ballis is a paperback fiction book published by Penguin that will be available on July 3rd, 2012. It is 401 pages long. The suggested cover price is $, but Amazon has it available for $10.20 as of this posting. It is also available as an e-book for the Kindle and other e-readers.

I received a copy of this book in order to read it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or publisher.

Giveaway: Twizzlers And The Amazing Spider-Man

I was a Spider-Man geek from the time I was about, oh, knee high. Other little girls rode pretty pink bikes. Me? I totally rocked a red Spider-Man bike with web graphics all over. I was stylin', let me tell you. ;) So, it probably comes to no surprise that I absolutely hated the last round of Spider-Man movies, and I'm currently holding my breath that the new reboot of the The Amazing Spider-Man movie coming out on July 3rd lives up to my hopes as a Spidey fan.

*insert vintage Spiderman cartoon theme song here*

The Spider-Man geek in me is torn between letting you know that now through July 7, 2012, fans can visit www.Facebook.com/Twizzlers once daily to add a Twizzlers Twist to The Amazing Spider-Man’s web in three scenes that depict the chapters of The Amazing Spider-Man story for a chance to win unique prizes, including a trip to the next Spider-Man movie set - and keeping the knowledge to myself, so I can win the prizes all to myself. Haha! ;) The grand prize rules, let me tell you - one grand prize winner will receive an all expenses paid trip to visit the set of the next Spider-Man movie, including spending money as well as airfare and hotel stay for up to three friends.

...if you should win, you'd make me one of the three friends you bring along, right? :)


You can also win other awesome prizes, like a Sony Blu-Ray Disc Home Theatre System, The Amazing Spider-Man t-shirts, one-month digital subscriptions to Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited and more. Hurry though, because you've only got until July 7th to enter to win!

And don't forget to keep your eyes peeled for The Amazing Spider-Man marked Twizzlers at your favorite store!

Win it! Yippee! I get to give away a yummy Twizzlers prize package. To enter, tell us your favorite superhero movie, and if you ever bought comic books as a kid.

And as always, you can receive extra entries for:

-Subscribing to my feed OR publicly following my blog via GFC or Facebook
-Blogging about this giveaway with a link back
-Tweeting about this giveaway 1X (leave the link in your comment below or @psychotichouse)
example: #Win Twizzlers! http://bit.ly/KRAIPe ends 7/7 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends July 7th at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

I received Twizzlers in exchange for this post. One winner will receive the prize stated above, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

Friday's Featured Etsy: Americana Round Up

Welcome to my Friday's Featured post, in which I showcase Etsy stores and small businesses from folks like you and me. Recession, smession! ;)

This week's stops in Etsy land we're celebrating Independence Day with a round up of Fourth of July goodies - and there are some great prices roaming around in here, so be sure to check them out!

Check out this adorable little Americana / 4th of July Shoulder Tie Dress, Customizing available, sizes 6m, 12m, 18m, 2T, 3T and 4T from Little Baby Princess Shop:


Let's not forget the real reason we celebrate Independence Day with this Americana Block Set from englertandenglert:


These 30 Red, White, and Blue Patriotic Striped Paper Drinking Straws with diy flags from Alana Clemens would be fun to use at a BBQ:


Clean up all those BBQ dishes with these Knit Dishcloths Red White Blue Kitchen Cleaning from Handcrafted with Ewe in mind:


And this Americana 4th of July Wreath - American Flag from Restoration & Lace would be pretty to display on your front door:


My fun pick of the week? These fabulous Red white and blue Popsicle Soap from LatherRinseClean:


Stop by Etsy today and have a look around! Support handmade!

28 June 2012

Who Knew Planning A Vacation Was So Much Work?

Mamma needs a vacation, badly. We've tried a few staycation day trip ideas, but several of those involved outdoor activities that have been rained on, so we ended up not going. We even ended up missing the first Renaissance Faire of the season, which bummed me out. (Even more so after our local yearly Murder Mystery/Pirate weekend was a bust)

I keep trying to plan camping trips, only to have the weather not co-operate. I wouldn't mind a rainy camping trip if it was just DH and I, but when you add a bored 3 year old and two wet dogs to the mix, it's not exactly my idea of a relaxing vacation. ;) So the other night I decided to play tourist. I went to the Washington State tourism list, and started clicking around. We've done a lot of sightseeing here in the Kitsap area, but that's pretty much it - so that leaves, oh, about 95% of the state left to explore, right?

I quickly got frustrated because it wasn't easy to find things to do. The website wasn't as user friendly as I would have liked. I'd love to click on a map of the state, and have that section automatically pull up things to do. I don't know most of the county names around here - or towns outside of this area - so my head was spinning. Then I though, well, since this seems to be a rainy summer, maybe I should start looking at hotels and go from there. Sounds a lot easier, right? Wrong, wrong, wroooong! I started off with the coastline, and there aren't a lot of chain hotels in the areas I was looking at. This didn't really bother me - after all, I love supporting family owned small businesses - but most of the hotels didn't even have their own website. In this day and age, it's super easy to at least get a free blogsite to share your business with the world. (Marketing fail!) (Wait, I wonder if I could offer up my services and make some side cash? LOL) Then came the headache of trying to find which ones were pet friendly, and what the costs where.

Scary sums it up. One hotel even said they had a per pet free, plus a non refundable deposit, AND they expected the room to be cleaned up by you before you leave. If they had to do any cleaning - and if there was pet hair on the bed - you'd be charged extra on top of that. They also said you would be responsible for any costs related to other folks staying there who were unhappy with your dog(s) being there. (Say what?! So if someone says they are allergic to dogs, and they want to check out, I'm responsible?!) I don't mind paying extra fees, and I realize there are some really inconsiderate people out there who would allow their dogs to trash a room, but it was an entire page of what felt like ranting from someone who was trying to say they had a dog when they were a kid and it's really a pet friendly place to visit. (No, you don't sounds like you like dogs at all) I was starting to wonder if they would be charging me if they found a stray Cheerio from my daughter that I missed on the floor.

I finally threw in the towel in disgust. No wonder folks buy RVs to travel in! So right now I am waiting on DH to attempt to give me a final schedule for the month - he swears it's someone else's turn to be the "plug" for the vacation schedules for the summer - and then I am going back to the idea of throwing the tent and other camping gear into the truck, and planning a midweek camping trip. I'd rather deal with the smell of eau du wet dog, and pack extra junk to keep the kiddo (and my DH, lol) happy inside a tent, than keep tearing my hair out trying to find a hotel that works in our price range.

Why can't things be easier? I can't be the only traveler that finds these things annoying?

This rant brought to you by folks in reputation management, something I am sure some of these hotels could use. Just sayin'.

Printable First Aid Coupons!

If you need to restock your emergency kits, or make some new ones for kids to take along to summer camp, there are a couple of great printable coupons available right now to help you save a little money doing so. You can save $1.50 on BAND-AID and Neosporin and $1.00 off a Johnson & Johnson RED CROSS Brand First Aid Kits. To print your coupons, you'll need to take a 20 second quiz, but it's fairly simple and easy.


FYI: To be ready for any other injury than a minor scrapes, most of these pre-made first aid kits - and for that matter, the supplies most of us have on hand in our home - will be devastated very quickly. You don't realize how much gauze, first aid tape, etc, you go through until you have a major wound to take care of. If stored properly, individually wrapped gauze pads never go bad. Please buy extra in case of emergency!

While you are here, don't forget to check out my other printable coupons to see if there are other coupons available to help you save on your grocery bill!

Please note: I take the time out of my busy schedule to share coupons that have landed in my email, I am not affiliated with the companies. Some coupons may be only available for a limited amount of time or for a limited amount of prints. If you come across a coupon that is now dead, please let me know, either by leaving a comment or sending me an email so I can fix the post. Thanks!

Review: The Studio Collection by Screaming O

Please note that while the following post doesn't contain anything controversial - well, I hope not, anyways - the site the post links to may be considered risque to some, and is not intended for those under the age of 18.

Here comes one of my most unique review items ever: The Studio Collection by Screaming O.


Ladies, if you don't live alone, it can be hard to hide things. Maybe you have inquisitive kids, nosy roommates, or maybe you've recently moved back home - you know that privacy can be hard to come by. (Seriously, privacy? I know that word from it being in the dictionary, but I seem to forget what's like to have it! LOL) If you don't own any adult toys because you are terrified someone is going to find them, you need to check out Screaming O's The Studio Collection.

The Studio Collection by Screaming O is a new line of luxurious women's vibrating sexcessories (whoooo - a new word I like!) that get this - drum roll - are made to look like a high styled women's cosmetics line. Yep, that's right - every item in The Studio Collection looks like items already in your makeup bag - from lipsticks, to eye shadows, to makeup brushes. They sent me on over The Studio Collection so I could see if it really passed the glance test. Hey, look, a present just for me!


Here's the rundown on the items available in this line: There's the Mascara Vibe, the Lipstick Vibe, the Brush Vibe, Warming O Balm, Cooling O Balm, Climax Gloss, and a compact that contains replacement batteries for the items in the line, and a Sexy Secrets compact that has a hidden compartment with a bullet vibe. There is also a little make up bag that you can purchase to store them all in. Take a look at these:


At first glance, even in the packaging, they really DO look like makeup. Here's the Climas Gloss out of the package:


I'm telling you, unless you pick it up and stare at it to read the "brand" (or whatever), most people wouldn't even notice that it's not lip gloss. For kicks and giggles, I didn't tell my DH at all about this review. After opening everything in the box, I placed them in the handy dandy makeup bag, and placed the bag on the bathroom counter for a couple of days. Ladies, my DH didn't notice at all! I finally brought it to his attention and he was like nu-huh! No way! LOL

Now, if you have super snoopy folks around you, or teens that like to steal borrow your makeup, leaving it out in the open like that probably won't fly. But if you're traveling this summer, or any of the scenarios above that I talked about, and want to take some "toys" with you, The Studio Collection definitely deserves a second glance from YOU. (How about as a gift for Bridal showers?) Screaming O has won a multitude of awards from these products, too!

FYI: The Warming Balm and the Cooling O Balm are both paraban free, petroleum free, and phthlate free. They are also non toxic. The Climax Gloss is latex compatible and non toxic. The vibes all use AG-13 batteries, and each package includes some spares.

Each piece in the The Studio Collection by Screaming O can be purchased separately, and range from $10 to $35, which is about the range for these kind of novelty products. You can mix and match as to what products you want to have, only buying one or two, or the entire collection. (My picks? Go for the Warming Balm and the Mascara Vibe, if you can only purchase one or two.) You'll find them at lingerie stores and adult boutiques, as well as ordering online for privacy.

I received the products shown above in exchange for sharing my thoughts on them. All opinions are must definitely my own! ;)

Review: Blue Magic Supreme Wheel & Tire Care Kit

While it's a little late for Father's Day, and a little early for holiday shopping (Weelll, for most folks, anyways! lol), if you are looking for a fun gift that's also practical for the man in your life, there's the Blue Magic Supreme Wheel & Tire Care Kit. This all in one kit will help anyone make their tires look like it belongs on the show room floor - no matter how old or beat up the vehicle is!

/side note: It would be fun to have a complete junk car for this review, wouldn't it? LOL ;)


The folks over at Blue Magic were nice enough to send me one of the Blue Magic Supreme Wheel & Tire Care Kits to try out for review. Those of you who read my blog on a regular basis know I have a love-hate relationship with vehicles. We have NO luck. The Mercury we previously owned was completely possessed, and now our new-to-us Ford F-150 truck seems to have a bit of an attitude problem. ;) Don't get me wrong - we love our truck! - but if it was human, I think I'd be grounding it from time to time. ;) Both DH and I looked at the Blue Magic kit as sort of an offering to the car gods - maybe if we made the tires shiny (hey! Firefly reference!), the truck would be in a better mood!

The Blue Magic Supreme Wheel & Tire Care Kit is safe for all tires and wheels, and contains a 16 ounce bottle of Supreme Wheel & Tire Cleaner, 4 ounce Supreme Tire Shine, a metal polish packet, the Supreme Bristle Brush, and a blue microfiber towel. You shouldn't need anything else to clean the tires and use these products besides water.

Here's a shot of our (need to be replaced soon) tires:


They look pretty depressing, don't they? ;) After getting a whiff of the products, I decided to let DH take charge of doing this project because it was a little strong for my lungs. (Be sure to do this in a well ventilated area!) It took him about 30 minutes to do all four tires. You start off with the Supreme Wheel and Tire Cleaner on your tires, which should be dry (takes awhile to get a dry day here in Washington state! lol) and wait 30 seconds, then scrub with the Supreme Bristle Brush, which should get rid of any gunk and dirt hanging around on your tires. You'll want to rise this off and dry with the microfiber tire. The next step is to spray on the Supreme Tire Shine and allow for 3-5 minute of drying. The final step is to apply the metal polish to the hubcaps to get that brilliant show room shine. Shall we talk about shiny? Let's! Check it out folks:


SHINY! The difference was amazing! Now, be aware that some of the items in the kit are only good for one use, such as the metal polish, but you can purchase this component separately. The microfiber towel also started to fall apart after only one washing too, but microfiber towels are super easy to replace.

Even after driving on dirt roads a few times, the shine is still there and even the tires (except for the treads, of course) still look shiny too! OK, granted, I'm never overly fond of chemicals, and I know it's all superficial - but I love the look on our tires after using the Blue Magic Supreme Wheel & Tire Care Kit and I'll definitely use it again.

By the way, even if your DH is not really a car geek - mine isn't, and totally loved this.

The Blue Magic Supreme Wheel & Tire Care Kit retails for around $14.99, and you can find it at your favorite local auto supply store, as well as online via sites like Amazon. (By the way, keep your eyes open because some of the boxes contain rebate forms that can save you up to $20 on Blue Magic products! There's also some rebates and coupons you can access here right now, and you can also learn more about the CEO there too!)

I received the product mentioned above in order to try it out in my own home and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and your opinion may vary from mine.

27 June 2012

Giveaway: Wendy's For National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month


National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable month might be coming to an end here in a few days, but Wendy's will still have their Berry Almond Chicken Salad available. This seasonal salad is packed with fresh, plump, tangy blueberries, hand-cut California strawberries picked at the peak of freshness and a blend of 11 kinds of field greens. If you'd like to read my review I did last year, click here.




Win it! Wendy's is offering three of my readers a $10 gift card to try out the Berry Almond Chicken Salad for themselves! To enter, share with us your dream salad. Do you prefer greens with a vinagerette? Club style with shredded cheese, fresh cherry tomatoes, and sliced lunchmeat? Share away! (Yes, I'm looking for salad ideas!)

And as always, you can receive extra entries for:

-Subscribing to my feed OR publicly following my blog via GFC or Facebook
-Blogging about this giveaway with a link back
-Tweeting about this giveaway 1X (leave the link in your comment below or @psychotichouse)
example: Win Wendy's $10 GC! http://bit.ly/MxFFuL ends 6/30 @psychotichouse

That's five (5) possible entries! Giveaway ends June 30th at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

I didn't received anything for hosting this giveaway, but three winners will receive the prize stated above, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

The Neighbors Are Way More Entertaining...


At least to Magick! ;)

Wordless Wednesday - See, My Kid IS Learning Something!


Hehe! ;)

26 June 2012

Review: Gain With Febreze Freshness Hawaiian Aloha

Thanks to One2One Network, I had the opportunity to try out a new laundry product - Gain With Febreze Freshness. I was able to choose from one of the new scents they had, and took the Hawaiian Aloha. What can I say? I'm dreaming of a tropical vacation here in dreary Washington state. ;) To be honest, I don't think I ever purchased any of Gain's products before, although I remember receiving a sample once.

Do you like your laundry to have a unique scent? Does the smell of lavender on your sheets help relax you before bed? The scent of Sunflower & Sunshine make you feel like you're out in the country instead of stuck in the middle of the busy city? Or how about Hawaiian Aloha make you feel like you're on a tropical vacation instead of stuck doing load number five of laundry that day? (Yes, this is me. You have no idea! lol)

I do tend to associate certain scents with different life experiences. We walked into a store the other day, and I could have sworn I had just walked into this rank (lol) hotel room I stayed in once when I was 19. It was like the clock rewound for a split second. (I'm scratching my head as to how I can remember the smell of the room, yet barely remember anything else from that trip. LOL!) Whenever I smell certain cleaning products, I associate it with trips we used to take to a beach house by the ocean when I was a child. How about you? Is there a certain scent you associate with a time in your life?


Now, to get back to the new Gain.... on top of being available in the Hawaiian Aloha scent I tried out, it's also available Original, Lavender, Island Fresh, Floral Fusion, Apple Mango Tango, Ocean Escape, Dazzle And Shine With Bleach Alternative, Butterfly Kiss With A Touch Of Softness, Icy Fresh Fizz With Oxi Booster, and Sunflower & Sunshine with Febreze Freshness. As you can see, there's a pretty wide variety of not-so-ordinary scents to match just about anyone's taste.

I like the idea of Febreze added to the laundry detergent, because we live in an area where mold and musty smells happen fairly quick. I don't know whether it's our water, my older dryer, or what have you - but it's rare I can pull a load out of the dryer and still smell any fragrance whatsoever. (That's probably one of the reasons why I line dry whenever I can) This new Gain with Febreeze Freshness says you'll have fantastic freshness even after two weeks - which means that maybe, just maybe, two days later I might still smell something? lol

Note: due to post time constraints, I won't be able to mention if it lasted two weeks or not yet. I'll update this post down the road.

My guinea pig item of choice is always a load of towels, so I added the recommended amount according to the bottle (something I don't normally do, as some of my readers know), let the washer fill up, and added the towels. I did notice the scent filling my house while the load was running. Fast forward about a half an hour, and my load was ready to dry. I could still smell the scent! As it was a sunny day, I was line drying my towels. When I pulled them in later that afternoon, I could still smell the scent.

That being said, the scent before I put it in the washer and after didn't really smell like what I would have called Hawaiian Aloha myself. It smelled... flowery with fruity, and if you like a lot of scent, you'll probably like it. Warning to anyone with fragrance sensitivities/breathing issues like asthma: when I opened the bottle after it arrived to sniff the scent, I ended up having a coughing fit and asthma attack. Be careful if you try this product that you don't have an attack!

The Gain bottle was made from 25% or more post consumer recycled plastic, which was a good start. Personally, I'd like to see it become 100% in the future. The laundry detergent also contains no phosphate.

While the Gain performed well for a regular laundry detergent (ie: not a green choice), and I felt my clothes were clean, I'm not so sure I'd purchase it for my household. I admit I tend to lean towards greener choices these days, but I do keep bottles of other laundry products around for use when we have what I call "toxic laundry" (if DH has brought home clothing that has come in contact with bodily fluids at work, someone has been sick on a blanket, etc). Again, your tastes and desires in a laundry product may differ from mine, so if you normally use a product like Gain, do give it a try!

You can purchase new Gain at your favorite local grocery or big box store.

As a member of the One2One Network, I received a sample bottle of the product mentioned above in order to try it out in my own home. All opinions are my own, and your experiences with the product may vary from mine.

Want To Try Anti Monkey Butt For Free?

First of, if you haven't already - go enter my Lady Anti Monkey Butt giveaway for a chance to win a free full size bottle! :)

Then, I've got news on two other chances to win Anti Monkey Butt to share with you. First of all, 1,000 winners will be randomly selected on July 2 to win a sample packet of Lady Anti Monkey Butt powder with the Lady AMBP Sample Packet Extravaganza. Simply fill out your information in order to enter. The sample sized packet is great to keep in your purse, backpack, or emergency kit!


And possibly even better, every Thursday until August 9th, they are choosing a Kick Butt Fan of the Week to win the full line of Anti Monkey Butt products and a $100 retailer gift card with the Kick Some Butt Summer Photo Sweeps over on Facebook. For more information, and to enter, click here.

Good luck if you decide to enter! I'm keeping my fingers crossed I get lucky myself! :)

Free Pringles Speaker Can With Purchase

If you eat Pringles potato chips, this looks like a fun freebie. Purchase four cans of Pringles (traditional sized, such as Super Stack cans) and save your receipt! Then visit the Pringles website to download the mail in form to receive a free Pringles Speaker by mail. The offer runs through October 4th, but be sure to print out the form ASAP because you never know!



Don't forget to keep one of those empty Pringles cans around, because the portable Pringles Speaker fits on top of an empty, traditional-sized Pringles can and attaches to any personal MP3 player or similar music device to create the “Pringles Speaker Can.”

Just sharing a sort-of freebie!

Random Thoughts Tuesday - Warning - Zombies Ahead!

randomtuesday
Stacy
Joy - the Grumpy Princess somehow managed to blow out her shoulder yesterday. At least I still had the pain medication from when Captain did it a few months ago that I was able to give it to her fairly quickly and not wait until the vet had a slot open today.

...I keep telling DH he should have been a vet tech, not a nurse. At least we would have been able to get the critters in a bit sooner. lol

Speaking of pets, we were in Petco yesterday and they had their Easter outfits marked down to a whopping 10 cents. Yeah, I was super giddy! I picked out this adorable frou-frou gingham suit for Magick, and I thought I'd be leading off RTT with an awesome picture of him wearing it... except... homeboy's 22 pound gut is too big for it. The velcro kept popping open. LOL! That ten cents gave us some serious entertainment though laughing at it popping, so all was not lost. ;) I really thought it would fit him, Meems was a big kitty too, but Magick has him beat I guess. I think Meems' highest weight was 19 pounds. I'm almost afraid to get Magick weighed again for fear he's even bigger that what he was last weight. It's not that he's hugely overweight, he's really a BIG cat. He dwarfs the other 3. I think you could even fit the other three in him... because I know he weighs more than the other three plus the rabbit combined. LOL

DH grilled bratwursts for breakfast. Yep, breakfast. LOL

I was looking at real estate back home again. I think the real estate costs have gone down every where BUT Texas. Great for those selling, bad for me!

This is genius:


Although... is there a such thing as leftover chocolate chips?! LOL ;)

Tongue in cheek, of course, but this has a great message: Zombie Apocalypse update: Survival Tip All that "junk" in your yard can be a hazard - whether we're discussing rooting wood that could get caught on fire, containers full of water that mosquitoes can lay eggs in, or useless stuff that should be at the dump getting tossed around if there is a tornado... Ditch it, folks. I know it feels like you're wasting an afternoon or two, but it's stuff that should be done.

It never gets old when someone hacks into the system for this: No zombie sightings despite warning on 520 Nope, it wasn't me! Hehe!

I think we need to do this to the truck:




Let's have some fun - what's your chance for survival? Take the quiz here Apparently, I must be slacking - I only have an 82% chance of survival. (It's the running question that got me, I swear!)

LOL Legos AND zombies.


Direct Link for the feedreaders

25 June 2012

Del Monte Gold Extra Sweet Pineapple Printable Coupon

There's a new printable coupon out to save $0.50 off Del Monte Gold Extra Sweet Pineapple. You'll need to be on Facebook in order to register and print it, unfortunately. It should be available until July 15th.


I spotted these on sale for just $1 the other day, so keep your eyes peeled for some great deals on pineapples to make smoothies and to grill out! While you are here, don't forget to check out my other printable coupons to see if there are other coupons available to help you save on your grocery bill!

Please note: I take the time out of my busy schedule to share coupons that have landed in my email, I am not affiliated with the companies. Some coupons may be only available for a limited amount of time or for a limited amount of prints. If you come across a coupon that is now dead, please let me know, either by leaving a comment or sending me an email so I can fix the post. Thanks!

Full disclosure: I'll be receiving a gift package in exchange for posting this one.

Menu Planning Monday 6/25 - 7/1

DH's schedule seems to be shifting each day, so I'm using my trusty slow cooker a bit more this week to make sure he has something warm to eat when he comes home.

Monday: toasty Tuna melts, sweet potato fries, homemade coleslaw

Tuesday: DH is grilling out

Wednesday: Cuban Black Bean Soup, rolls

Thursday:Taco Night

Friday: Beefy Macaroni and Cheese, salad

Saturday: BBQ Chicken Cornbread Pizza

Sunday: slow cooker roast, green beans, potatoes, salad

Check out Organizing Junkie for other great Menu Plans!

24 June 2012

Review: Omega-3Water

During the hot summer months, we all tend to drink a bit more. Instead of reaching for a sugary soda, there are better choices - such as water. For some though, drinking just water all the time can get boring. Omega-3Water is the first flavored water infused with omega-3 nutrients, which can be used as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle. It's available in two different varieties: Bold Berry and Orange Kiwi.


The folks over at Omega-3Water sent me on over a case of each flavor to try out. Both are vegetarian friendly and Kosher certified because the Omega-3 nutrients used are sourced from flax seed, not fish. This means no fishy aftertaste like I get from my fish oil supplement I take daily - whew! (Nothing is worse than a fish oil burp, let me tell you! LOL) Both flavors contain 20,000 mcg of Omega-3, while the Bold Berry has calcium and vitamins B 3,5,6,12 & D. The Orange Kiwi contains vitamins A, B 3,5,6,12 & C.

Omega-3Water is best served chilled, so we kept a few bottles in the fridge at a time. Because it's all natural, kids can drink it too. Both DH and I loved the Bold Berry the best, while the kiddo liked the Orange Kiwi. Now this isn't a calorie free drink - both the Orange Kiwi and the Bold Berry have 45 calories per serving in a 2.5 serving bottle. If you are counting your calories, keep this in mind and don't just drink this all day! While the product isn't clear, it doesn't seem to have the chemical colorings that other choices have, and it also doesn't contain high fructose corn syrup according to the label.

If you're interested in trying out new Omega-3Water yourself, check out their website for store locations near you. You can also "like" Omega-3Water on Facebook or follow them on Twitter for announcements and other product news.

I received samples of the product(s) mentioned above in order to try them out in my own home and share my thoughts on them. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Summerland By Elin Hilderbrand

I recently received an advance reviewers copy of the new book Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand to review.


The students of Nantucket High have a yearly tradition they participate in each June of gathering on the beach for a bonfire just after graduation. Penny, a junior, was asked to sing the national anthem at the graduation ceremony; her twin Hobby and her boyfriend Jake watching in the audience. That was the last memory most of Nantucket had of her after a terrible car accident after the bonfire leaving Penny dead, Hobby in a coma, and Jake and her friend Demeter haunted for life. Now Penny's mom Zoe must come to terms that her daughter is dead, and face the truth about her own role in all that happened. Maybe if she had been a better mother... not let them be so independent... As the summer continues, Zoe and the other Nantucket parents must ask themselves whether in their quest to keep their children so shielded from life's realities they left them more vulnerable. With Penny being the key - she had found out something on the beach that night - will it destroy others?

I felt for Zoe upon learning she had given birth to her twins alone and raised them after Hobby Sr died when she was seven months pregnant. It's not something any woman should have to do. Zoe was a bit of a free spirit, driving an old car, letting the kids do as they want - I could identify with that, letting them dress themselves however they pleased, even if it meant seeing the same outfit for day after day. ;) Having grown up in a small town, I get the whole hidden secrets and families entwined through those secrets. Summerland left me a little sad. Sad for the lost life, sad for the time wasted by others. Life isn't always pretty or perfect, is it? Regardless, losing a teenage child is a nightmare for all us moms. No, this book isn't a light read, but it's another good book by the author and fans should not be disappointed.

Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand is a hardcover fiction book published by Reagan Arthur Books. It is 400 pages long. The suggested cover price is $26.99, but Amazon has it available for $16.24 as of this posting. It is also available as an e-book for the Kindle and other e-readers.

I received an advance review copy of this book in order to read it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or publisher.

DVD Review: Iron Man: Armored Adventures Season 2 Volume 1

My family and I recently received a copy of the new CGI animated DVD Iron Man: Armored Adventures Season 2 Volume 1 to review.


Iron Man: Armored Adventures follows Tony Stark back when he was 16 and heir to the Stark International corporation giant. After a tragic plane crash kills his father and almost took his own life, Tony now uses his invincible armor and technical know-how to save others who could fall prey to corruption and conspiracy. Season 2 Volume 1 picks up where Tony and his friends Rhodey (War Machine) and Pepper Potts must attempt to keep control of Stark International when the designs for the Iron Man armor have been stolen. Tony finds himself teaming up with the Black Panther, helping the Living Laser, and confronting villains like Obadiah Stane and Justin Hammer.

The DVD contains the first six episodes of season two: "The Invincible Iron Man Part 1: Disassembled", "The Invincible Iron Man Part 2: Reborn", "Look Into the LIght", "Ghost In The Machine", "Armor Wars", and "Line Of Fire".

There are some special features included: an Original Artwork Gallery: Justin Hammer, as well as a short featurette on Iron Man's New Armor.

As a family of comic book geeks, we love whenever there are new Marvel products out to watch. Both DH and I are always so-so on CGI, but let's be honest - we're not really the audience they're going for, it's kiddos like mine. We all like that the Iron Man suit itself is pretty close to what you see in the movie, and it's nice to see Iron Man himself as a teen that kids can more easily relate to. If your kids love the Iron Man movies and The Avengers, and they haven't seen this show yet, they will probably love it!

Iron Man: Armored Adventures Season 2 Volume 1 will be available on DVD this coming Tuesday, June 26th, 2012. Not rated, it's geared towards boys 5-11, with some cartoon violence. Widescreen format, the total running time is 142 minutes long. The suggested retail price is $14.93, and Amazon has it available on pre-order for just $9.99 as of this posting. (Netflix users: you can get caught up on the series via Instant Streaming)

I received a copy of this DVD in order to view it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

Review: Ecover Natural Dishwashing Liquid Pomegranate And Lime

In my quest for greener living over the last few years, I was introduced to a company called Ecover. (See a couple of my past reviews here and here) The latest product I've been able to try out is the brand spanking new Ecover Natural Dishwashing Liquid in Pomegranate and Lime scent.


I often find myself wondering where all the dirty dishes come from. ;) I'm sure I'm not the only one, right? Sometimes we don't think about it, but handwashing dishes can be an ecological nightmare. If you're not careful, you can end up wasting a lot of water, and if you choose the wrong dishwashing detergent, you can be putting awful chemicals down the drain and right back into our drinking water supply.

Ecover was founded back in 1980 and is a Belgian company. They don't just make eco-friendly cleaners - even their plant is eco-friendly, using sedium roofs that act as insulation to eliminate the need for heating or cooling. (Hey, what a coincidence - that's what we plant to do when we build the house!) They also use lots of skylights to help eliminate the need for artificial light. Even better? All of their bottles are 100% PlantPlastic, made from sugarcane - not GMO corn or petrochemical plastic. (Yep, not contributing to the high cost of oil!) The products are biodegradable, phosphate free, septic tank safe, and those bottles I was just telling you about are recyclable. And the final, make this housewife happy part? They don't test on animals.

To use, you just simply squeeze some of the liquid into a full sink or washing tub, or a bit onto your dishwashing rag/sponge. The bottle has an easy to open pop top.

The first thing I noticed when I popped open the bottle was a pleasant lime scent that wasn't overly strong. Their fragrance is all natural, using no chemicals. Some products I can't sniff without coughing and nearly having an asthma attack, but this was just fine. I had just as much suds as I would with another eco friendly brand I've used in the past, but if you're new to greener dishwashing products, you'll probably notice that there is a little bit less - don't worry, it works just the same. Suds mean nothing about the cleaning power! I was able to scrub down my dishes and have them clean. Now, I didn't have super de duper greasy, but it cleaned up my frying pan that I had made some sausage on just fine after soaking it for a minute.

All in all, I was very pleased with the Ecover Natural Dishwashing Liquid and I will definitely be purchasing it to use again! Ecover Natural Dishwashing Liquid will be available at your favorite natural goods stores like Whole Foods, as well as small markets like PCC. You can also purchase Ecover's products online via their website, where you will receive free shipping! (That's a win-win situation for me - I love having the items I need delivered to my home for free so I don't have to go to the store as often or spend as much time in them!)

I received the product mentioned above thanks to Naturally Savvy in order to try it out and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

23 June 2012

Zombie Prep Fail #15


Note to self: do not allow DH to become involved in food storage. The last time I packaged up some long term storage buckets with extra staples (rice, flour, etc), DH helped me out. Guess what's missing? My bucket mallet! I checked his tools, camping equipment - even the kiddo's toybox. Nope, nada, nowhere to be seen. In frustration, I asked DH to find it... still no sight of it!

This is me, stomping my feet, because I bought 25 pounds of oats (remember, I make my own dog treats) and I needed to empty it into SOMETHING. It's been sitting there for two weeks on top of the deep freezer waiting... and I guess it will be waiting until DH's next day off so I can buy another one.

$50 says it shows up later that night. (Looking at it on the bright side, two is one, and one is none when something goes wrong, right?)

Oh, and FYI - I killed yet another can opener. $14.95 Kitchen Aid this time. I give up! It's time to find restaurant quality, heavy duty - or use a P38. (My fingers are cringing just thinking of it.)

Giveaway: Konsyl Senna Prompt

For some reason, most of us hate to talk about digestive issues. Well, not me! ;) Lack of exercise, poor diet, and stress can affect your digestive system and cause irregularity - and put a big crimp in your daily activities. Confession: I make sure I know where the bathroom is at all times whenever I go anywhere, and it's not just because I have a three year old in tow.


Konsyl Senna Prompt is an all natural way to solve occasional constipation. It contains psyllium (a soluble plant fiber) and natural sennosides to give overnight relief in a convenient and easy to swallow laxative capsule. The psyllium comes from the husk of the plant seeds, not wheat - therefore it is gluten free, so those with celiac sensitivities can use it. It's also safe to use if you are pregnant.

DH noticed the bottle sitting on the counter and let me know that they recommend Konsyl at work for the elderly. (He was like, hey, I know this stuff! lol) He says it's a lot gentler on our bodies than some of the other choices available on the market.

To use, simply take one capsule before bedtime - or whenever a convenient time coming up will be for you. (Try to be aware of where you will be in 12 hours, just in case it takes the longer time to work!)

You can find Konsyl Senna Prompt at stores like Walmart. Like Konsyl over on Facebook to receive notice of printable coupons and sales - and giveaways! Konsyl has kicked off their Senna Prompt Overnight Giveaway with one winner each week for the next four weeks winning an Expedia gift card, a Walmart gift card and Konsyl Senna Prompt! To enter, and for more information including rules, click here. Good luck if you decide to enter!

Win it! Of course I am hosting a giveaway of my own! Because this is a more sensitive in nature product (I know most folks don't want to announce to their Twitter followers that they are entering for a laxative! lol), I'm using the oh so handy Rafflecopter form for entering.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends July 7th at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

I received samples of the product mentioned above in order to share my thoughts on it. One winner will receive the prize stated above, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

Giveaway: Lady Anti Monkey Butt Powder

Most of the U.S. has had quite a bit of a heat spell so far this summer - but not us. Here, we're stuck in damp 60ish days, with sun here and there. It's the end of June, and I'm still using my fireplace in the evenings! Eventually we might have a summer?!

If you've been enjoying the warmer weather where you live by getting out and doing outdoor activities, you've probably dealt with feeling sweaty and icky. It comes with the territory when you're being active. A few year ago, I shared with you Anti Monkey Butt powder, the brand with the best logo ever for those of us with a warped sense of humor... ;) And today I bring you (drum roll) Lady Anti Monkey Butt!


Lightly scented and satiny smooth, Lady Anti Monkey Butt is specially formulated to quickly absorb sweat and relieve friction on our hidden nooks and cranies throughout our body, like under our arms, breasts, and inner thighs. It can even help with itching. If you're asking yourself WHY you'd need Lady Anti Monkey Butt, clearly you've never day hiked in humid conditions. I spent two days with a miserable sweat rash under my bra band, and learned my lesson as to why you need sweat wicking on your clothing AND pack a spare bra to boot. ;) Lady Anti Monkey Butt even comes in a fabulous pink bottle.


To use, it's a lot like baby powder - just sprinkle Lady Anti Monkey Butt on your body, get dressed and go play. You can reapply this friction fighter as needed if you're extra sweaty at the gym or while playing sports. The bottle isn't too heavy or overly bulky so you can fit it into your backpack when hiking too.

Lady Anti Monkey Butt retails for around $5.95, and you can purchase it at places such as Rite Aid and Walmart. I've also spotted it (as well as Anti Monkey Butt in the yellow bottle which is pretty much the same thing) at local sporting goods stores as well.

Win it! One lucky reader is going to win a bottle of Lady Anti Monkey Butt. To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter form. (RSS readers, you'll need to click over to the blog to enter)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends July 7th at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

I received samples of the product mentioned above in order to share my thoughts on it. One winner will receive the prize stated above, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

Review: Made From Earth Pure Aloe Vera Skin Treatment

Summer means the possibility of too much sun when you're outside working in the garden or having a BBQ. (Well, apparently unless you live here in Washington state!) All that sun can leave skin dry and tight, begging for relief. If you're looking for a more natural product to help, try out Made From Earth's Pure Aloe Vera Skin Treatment.


Aloe Vera is a wonderful plant that can be used for many types of skin ailments, but most of all for sunburns and dried skin. I was excited to try out this product from one of my favorite eco friendly brands, Made From Earth. This Aloe Vera Skin Treatment should be used for healing the skin from the effects of daily sun exposure, and is the most potent and natural form of aloe vera you can buy in a jar. The aloe vera also releases enzymes and natural vitamins into your skin. This treatment is also pH balanced for face & body applications.

To use, simple apply a small amount on your skin, massaging it to help it absorb into your skin. Once it's fully absorbed, you can apply a second time to help your skin even more. Use this 2 to 3 times a week when necessary.

Granted, we haven't had a ton of sun around here yet, so I can't comment on how well it could help with sunburned skin, but one thing I can say is that it's absolutely wonderful on dried, tight skin. You can keep the jar in your fridge for a ‘cooling’ effect on the skin - as well as helping it last longer - and it's a heavenly feeling. I guessing this Aloe Vera Skin Treatment is probably the next best thing to having an actual aloe vera plant and cutting it up to get the juice that way - but this is a lot more convenient! ;) My sensitive skin didn't react to it at all, and the scent is not overwhelming at all.

All of Made From Earth products are all cruelty free and not tested on animals. The vegan ingredients used in the Pure Aloe Vera Skin Treatment are all organic and it's chemical free - so no worries about bad for you ingredients like propylene glycol. It's also made here in the USA! The jar is even recyclable. (And since it's 2 oz, it can go in your carry on when you're flying!)

A two ounce jar of Made From Earth Pure Aloe Vera Skin Treatment retails for $14.99, and you can purchase it online via their website. There is free shipping on all order over $75 going right now.

I received the product shown above in order to try it out in my own home and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

22 June 2012

Friday's Featured Etsy: Glampire Design

Welcome to my Friday's Featured post, in which I showcase Etsy stores and small businesses from folks like you and me. Recession, smession! ;)

This week's stop in Etsy land is a store called Glampire Design. Recently back into Etsy after an absence, you'll find dark, cute, pin up, goth, rockabilly and kawaii accessories here.

Check out this fun Feather Hair Clip Black Feathers Emu Teal Feathers Geisha Girl Rockabilly Goth Pin Up Japanese:


One of my favorites is this Edgar Allan Poe Necklace Pendant Goth Spooky:


Or how about this Purple Sparkly Hair Clip Jeweled Purple Velvet Pin Up Goth Rockabilly? It's a steal at just $4!


Stop by Glampire Design today and have a look around! Support handmade!

21 June 2012

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Looking for a different take on a pizza this week? This is super easy to make, and nearly as fast as ordering delivery - and probably cheaper, too. I make shredded chicken ahead of time myself, by simply tossing a boneless skinless chicken breast in the slow cooker with 1/4 cup of water. Then I can just pull it out as I need it for different recipes throughout the week. Now, if you don't bake from scratch, just substitute how you normally would make or use a pizza crust. Here's the recipe:

To make the pizza crust:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (plus more for sprinkling/kneading)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1 cup water - lukewarm (not hot!)

In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, garlic salt, and yeast together. Next add in the warm water, stirring well so that a ball of dough is beginning to form. Empty out onto the floured counter, and begin kneading, working in some more flour until the dough is no longer sticky.

Place the dough into a well oiled (clean) bowl, and allow to rise for 10 minutes. While you're waiting, preheat your oven to 375 degrees. You'll want to roll the dough out as thin as you'd like it on a baking sheet or pizza stone. Place in the oven, and bake for 9-10 minutes. Leave your oven on when it's done, as you'll be placing it back in.

Toppings:

Philadelphia cooking creme, Original. (or a package of cream cheese softened)
1 boneless skinless chicken breast, cooked and shredded.
Buffalo or hot sauce
1 8 ounce package of blue cheese

If you've pre-made your chicken ahead of time, you'll want to warm it up and add Buffalo sauce to taste, going as light or as heavy as you'd like it. Once your pizza is out of the oven, you'll want to spread a good layer of the Philadelphia cooking cream across the pizza, like you would if you were using a tomato based sauce. Follow with the Buffalo chicken, and sprinkle the blue cheese across the pizza as desired. Place back in the oven and bake for 3-5 minutes (depending on your oven and how much you want your cheese melted). Here you go:


Cut and serve! You can also add extra cheese if you like your pizza super cheesey - I recommend using a Monterrey Jack. You can also add chopped celery before adding the cheese. This is a basic dough recipe that's on the cheap side, and you can create a bunch of other pizzas with it, too.

Thrifty Thursday - Boost Your Home's Sale Price

This week for my Thrifty Thursday tip, I'm talking about increasing your home's value. I don't know about where you live, but here, real estate has taken a hefty hit. Even with fixing up our house since we purchased it, it's still managed to decrease in value! If you're thinking about selling your home, and want to maximize your sales profit, here are a few out of the box ideas that might help get a prospective buyer to spend just a little bit more.


The outside of your home is the first battle. When your home goes on the market, it's listed everywhere right away. (Or should be, anyways) 2/3rd of the folks who could be interested in your home will only see the outside. It hurts, but let's be frank here: appearances are what matters. If the outside looks shoddy, they might not even bother calling their real estate agent to ask for a tour. Keep your lawn mowed regularly, and looking at least a little green, and if it's spring or summer, splurge on a few cheap annuals to fill any flower beds and give it some life. This goes for the front AND the back, especially for photos online. Things don't have to be perfect, but for less than $20 you can make your home look much more inviting AND maybe get a better offer.

Make your home smell inviting. What? You don't think your home smells? Think again. If you rarely open the windows in your home, you might have a musty smell that you're immune from smelling. As a pet owner, I'm well aware that they don't exactly help the smells either. If you can, leave your home for 24 hours, and then come back - you'll probably notice the smell now! So how do you get rid of it? Well, first of all - avoid the temptation of commercial air fresheners. Not only might your prospective buyer hate the smell of lavender or cinnamon, it also screams that you're trying to cover something up. Instead, fight back by letting your windows stay open to create a breeze through your home and whip that smell outside. Next step: try baking something like cookies just before they arrive. Not only is the sweet treat sometimes a welcome to the buyer, it also makes your home smell more inviting and help the buyer imagine what it would be like to bake in your kitchen. (No need to make from scratch: if time/cooking skills don't allow for it, just pick up a refrigerated package of cookie dough and make just a few as needed!)

Make sure the trash has been taken out, the laundry is put away, and the prospective buyer doesn't have to step over a hazmat of toys. You don't need to wipe away all evidence of living there, but folks don't want to end up with a trip to the ER after tripping over a Tonka truck or see the clutter everywhere.

Clean your windows. I know, this is one of my most hated tasks around the home, but you want as much sunlight to show in the rooms as possible. (Unless, your prospective buyer is a vampire. ha!) Do your best to get those windows streak free and sparkly, especially if they are older windows.

Speaking of light, change the light bulbs. Pick a stronger wattage, or a different style of light bulbs to show how much light there can be in a room. At the very least, make sure your light bulbs - and light fixtures - are dust and cobweb free.

Above all, resist the urge to make your home look sterile and staged if you're still living in it - buyers can see right through it.

Review: Cameleon BR Make Up Kit

I love makeup. Love, love, looovee it! I was lucky enough to be taught the proper way to apply and wear makeup at a young age, so I've never been afraid to experiment with colors. When my daughter was born, I kind of slowed down on wearing so much - even going without for awhile (oh, the horrors! lol), but for the most part, I've been wearing it daily since I was 12. I'll admit I don't buy as much as I used to, only because I've found what I like and tend to stick with two different styles. (Hey, I'm goth-y! Black, black, and well... you get the idea! lol)

The folks over at sent me the Cameleon BR Make Up Kit to try out. This all in one case contains 24 different eye shadow colors, 4 different lip glosses, 4 colors of blusher, 2 powder cakes, 1 eye pencil and several applicator brushes. The case also has a built in mirror so you really don't need anything else to go alongside it but mascara.


One of my favorite make-up products to play with are eyeshadows, so I was excited to try out the eyeshadow palettes. With 24 different colors to choose from, there's a wide variety sure to suit most women. They are more faint and neutral colors, although there are a couple of brighter ones too, like the shade of blue no. 12. My favorite color out of the palette was a bronze, no.9. I also liked the sage green, no.2, and the silver, no. 23. Some of these other colors definitely were not suitable for my skin coloring OR my taste, like the peach-y no 9, but it could be right up other folks' alley.

The try that slides out contains the lip gloss, blush, and two basic shades of powder. If you have very light skin or very dark skin, those powders probably won't work for you. The brushes included in the set are your basic applicators - if you're used to artist style brushes, you may want to ignore the ones that came with this set and use your own.

All of the makeup included is listed as hypoallergenic and fragrance free, although I could definitely still smell something when sniffing it. While the kit says it is designed here in the US, I'm guessing it's manufactured elsewhere. I also could not find out anything about whether this item is cruelty free and not tested on animals or not.

Bottom line, the Cameleon BR Make Up Kit is a fun gift for those wanting to experiment with make up palettes and see what colors suit them - especially for tweens or teens just learning how to apply makeup (sparingly). The basic colors also make the palette great if you are traveling and don't want to lug around a ton of makeup. However, those who are more discerning in their makeup choices might not benefit as much from what's included. For instance, I rarely wear blush so those are a bit of a waste for me. (I used it to do princess makeup on my daughter though, and she had a blast with it. lol)

You can purchase the Cameleon BR Make Up Kit over on the Beauty Encounter website. It has a regular retail of $30, but it's just $14.95 here. There currently is free shipping on all orders over $100. If you sign up for their mailing list, you can get 10% off your next order. (Plus, you get three free samples with every order!)

I received the product shown above in order to try it out in my own and home and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.