Sun-kissed glow without the sun! Video

It is summertime and I love makeup but it is just too hot for foundation, powder, etc. So, I make things simple. I use concealer and bronzer to give my face a sunkissed glow without using heavy makeup or worst, sitting out in the sun! I tried Neutrogena's bronzer with blush, perfect!

This is a perfect look for summer and I don't have to worry about my makeup melting off in the heat!


Disclosure: I am a Walmart mom and have been compensated for this post but as usual all opinions are my own. 

Calling all dog lovers!

I am a dog lover.  When I was four and five I used to ride my grandfather's great dane Zorba like a horse and we both loved it! My granddaddy always had a dog and I even gave him one as a father's day gift one year. It wasn't until I was 17 that I became a dog owner too. My mom and I adopted a Chow Chow puppy that we named Ling Ling and she was the love of our life. Although Ling Ling is no longer with us my love for dogs still remains and when my son is old enough to care for a dog I will get one too. Seems like dog lovers run in my family, he will always ask to "pet the doggies" we see dog owners walking their dogs!

Although I am not a dog owner now, the one thing I remember is the importance of choosing the correct dog food. Ling Ling was very picky but once we found a food she loved we stuck with it. If you are a dog owner, will you please complete this quick five question survey to help determine what you look for when you are shopping for dog food? 

Here is the link - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9PC5S96

Disclosure: I am a Walmart mom and have been compensated for getting the word out about this survey. 

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Strips -Video Post

Thanks to Walmart I had the opportunity to try Sally Hansen's Salon Effects Nail strips. When I used to have my nails done on a regular basis I was always intrigued by Minx nails, nail strips in metallic and exotic designs. I didn't have it done but I did admire the nails of women that I saw having them put on in the salon. 


Recently Sally Hansen released the Salon Effects nail strips that are very similar to minx nails. No polish, simply prep your nails and apply the strips. I chose the color "raise a glass" which is a metallic gold. It is simple, elegant and classy but if I were feeling a bit more adventurous there are wild colors available in the line. I believe the pricing was somewhere in the $8 range and if indeed my manicure lasts 10 days it is certainly worth the price. Minx nails run about $40 in the salon I used to go to.


I found the application of the strips to be fairly easy. There is a bit of a learning curve because you don't want to crinkle the strips and although I was nervous the application was quick. I think the more practice I have the better I will get at application.


I would certainly recommend trying Sally Hansen Salon Effects. When you want an interesting nail design on a budget, these work wonders. One day I will try something on the wild side but for now, I am extremely happy with my metallic gold manicure. I know I'll be trying this product again.




Disclosure: I am a Walmart mom and have been compensated for my time and provided with a product sample for review. 

Gas Rollback!

Yesterday Walmart announced a gas rollback from June 29- September 30, 2011. For these 90 days you will be able to save 10 cents per gallon on gas at participating Murphy USA and Walmart gas stations! What a relieve, with the gas prices finally going down, the additional 10 cent rollback will make a big difference.  I don't know about you but the gas prices have certainly been killing my pockets! 


To get the discounted pricing, all you have to do is utilize a Walmart re-loadable giftcard, reloadable Walmart money card or Walmart credit card. This discount is effective in the following states: 

Arkansas Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kentucky Louisiana Michigan

Mississippi Missouri New Mexico North Carolina Ohio South Carolina Tennessee Texas Virginia

Disclosure: I am a Walmart mom and I have been compensated to help spread the word about this rollback. 

30 Days to Sanity

I had the opportunity to test drive the 30 Days to Sanity program by Stephanie Marston. This online webinar is designed to help all of us - Moms and women to live more focused lives. I must say that I found the interactive program extremely helpful and it was very in depth. I liked having the opportunity to pick up where I left off and go at my own pace. 


I have to admit that I probably would need to keep at least a year subscription because my life is insane and I actually need more than 30 days to complete the program! Some days I'd forget, others I was just too busy. But mainly I have learned that it is important for me to take time for me. Sometimes that happens in the context of the online webinar but I also think I help maintain my personal sanity by exercising, taking long baths in my whirlpool tub and even just reading a book simply for entertainment. 


Overall, I'd recommend Stephanie Marston's program for anyone working on getting their lives in order. And really, the 30 Days to Sanity Program. You can thank me later! t is all of is. So, I say make the investment in yourself and sign up!


Disclosure: I am participating in a Mom Central blog tour and received complimentary access to this program and compensation for my participation. 

TruGreen Lawn Care

I don't have a green thumb and I don't particularly care for being outside in the heat caring for my lawn, shrubs and bushes. But I am envious of some of my neighbors yards that look like they should be in landscaping magazine (if such a thing exists)!  I do know that lawns need care beyond simply cutting the grass and so I've decided to try to follow some of the lawn and landscape tips suggested by TruGreen:

Tips to prepare your yard for the summer

1. Clear dead leaves and debris to give room for new spring growth
2. Prune dead branches from trees and shrubs
3. Apply mulch around plants to help hold in moisture and prevent weeds in landscape beds
4. To ensure healthy turf, be sure to mow your lawn at the correct height and always use a sharp blade to prevent tearing of the leaf blades
5. Use fertilizer to encourage lawn, tree and shrub growth after a challenging winter
6. Water your lawn one to two inches a week and be careful not to over water, which can lead to disease activity. Make sure to follow local water restrictions.

Since I'm personally not an expert, I'm going to bring in TruGreen to give my lawn a few treatments and I guess I should at the very least water my yard! This Georgia heat is burning up the grass that I have. Hopefully the combination of treatments and water will help my lawn along. 

TruGreen is going beyond lawncare and has introduced tree and shrub care. They are currently holding a nationwide contest to win a $25,000 Mastercard Reward card! You can enter to win at TruGreenSweepstakes.com

At the end of the summer I'll let you know how my lawn is coming along, I'm pessimistically optimistic! LOL

Disclosure: I've been provided with a few lawn treatments in exchange for writing this post. Honestly, when I used TruGreen in the past, I've been very pleased with the results so I truly do have high hopes for my lawn! As usual my opinions are 100% my own. 

Dyson New DC35 Digital Slim Vacuum - Review

I've introduced this vacuum, given you a behind the scenes look at it and now I will tell you about my experience. 
I actually really love this vacuum! By no means is it a replacement for the heavy duty vacuum that I need for my entire 2800 square foot home that is mostly carpeted, however it is EXCELLENT for the jobs that I need it to do. 

• Lightweight - this vacuum is amazing for doing my stairs. It is virtually impossible for me to vacuum my stairs with my heavier model but this one does wonders! It is lightweight, easy to maneuver and I really like the changeable nozzles. 
• Reach - In addition to being lightweight, the long nozzle and add-ons give me the ability to reach high places. I especially like to use it clean my air filters, blades on my ceiling fans and this leads me to my number one favorite aspect
• BUG KILLER!

I apologize for the darkness of my photo (ahem, my mom is not much of a photographer) but I needed assistance on this shoot. You can't tell from this picture but I am suctioning up a spider that is perched way up high in my bathroom. The DC35 has become my go to tool for killing bugs! I have a virtual forest in my backyard and the bugs get in my house. To date I've used it to handle at least 3 bugs! I keep the DC35 out in my bathroom so I can run and get it easily if I need to get bugs. Maybe not the most conventional use but I have to say that with it's lightweight, long reach and great suction action it is perfect for this job! 

Now you may wonder if there is anything I don't like about the DC35? I'd have to say the only thing could be improved is the length of the charge. It will only stayed charged for about 15 minutes of use so be sure to keep it on the charger if you want to ensure it has power when you want to kill those bugs! 

Overall, I really like the DC35 and it is a welcome addition to my household appliances!

Disclosure: I am a Walmart Mom and was given the DC35 for review and compensated for my time to write about my experience.