Toothbrushing Tips for Kids + Reach Review

This is part of a sponsored campaign on behalf of REACH

Did you know that according to a recent survey, 82% of the nation’s moms never skipping brushing their teeth every night?  If fact, moms have even prioritized it over washing their faces before bed or removing their make-up.  I know I always brush even if I don’t wash off my face (Which is absolutely horrible to skip! I know, I know.)  It just goes to show, even when moms are their busiest they make oral hygiene a high priority.

We need to, don’t we?  After all, we spend valuable time each day training our children to brush properly when they are little and reminding them to when they are older.  Children practice what they see so we have to be shining examples of what good oral health looks like.  Not to mention the fact that no one wants the expenses and headaches (literally) of dentist procedures that could have avoided if proper care had been given to our mouths.

I try to make it as enjoyable as possible for my children to brush their teeth.  Here are a few simple ways I try to make brushing fun for my kids.

  • – Making it a routine helps tremendously.  They know what to expect because we do the same thing every single day.
  • – I also let my daughter pick out which toothbrush she wants and we make a big deal of brushing with that fun toothbrush.  Hello Kitty is the brush of choice right now and it flashes for the length of time she should brush.  Usually, I avoid character stamped e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g but toothbrushes are one of the few areas where I embrace cartoons.
  • – We also make trips to the visit seem as big as going to the zoo.  It’s a huge deal in my 4 year old’s mind and I’ll keep it that way for as long as possible.  After all, not having cavities IS an achievement that she earned herself (with a little of her parent’s help).  It probably helps that our dentist gives out stickers and a toy for not having a cavity. 🙂

Reach for Kids

Recently, I was given a set by Reach to review and my daughter was very excited to check it out herself.  It’s similar to her Hello Kitty mouthwash that Reach also makes.

Reach Space Saving Design

The new Reach Complete Care Rinse offers 8-in-1 benefits as well as another reason to make moms smile brighter – less counter clutter.  Yea, that’s a huge one in my book!  The rinse tastes minty but isn’t overpowering, it’s designed to target problem areas in the mouth, and it makes sure the bathroom counter stays neat and tidy.

Reach Mouth Rinse

It has a built in storage space for a cup AND a toothbrush holder.  It’s quite a clever little product if you ask me.  Good job, Reach!  Plus, it’s attractive enough to leave on the counter to remind sleepy mamas to use mouthwash daily too.  It’s great!

Reach Complete Care Set

The Reach also has a new Curve toothbrush which boasts of a 13° triple angled neck and triple angled bristles to maximize contact with each tooth, clean between teeth, and clean around the gum line.  The brush fit comfortably in my hand and the angle made it easy to reach those hard to reach places.  I’ll definitely be buying this brush  the next time I’m due for a new one.

Visit Reach.com for more info or stop by and check our Reach’s new products the next time you’re out at Walgreens.

Aqua Beauty Giveaway & Coupon

Sponsored post by Lunchbox, all opinions are 100% my own.

When it comes to my beauty concerns, nothing is more important than finding products I can feel good about, use every day, and that leave my skin glowing!  That is why I’m excited to share with you about a brand that is new to me, Aqua Beauty.  It’s probably not new to many of you because it’s available at Walmart locations nationwide but I somehow managed to pass it by.  Aqua Beauty has luxurious products without the hefty price tag.

Aqua Beauty

Check out all of their great beauty care products:  

  • – Skin Conditioning Cloth Facial Mask – Combats impurities with Vitamin B, marine & tea tree extracts.  Their one time use packs are easy to use, create a fun spa experience at home, and left my skin feeling amazing!

Aqua Beauty Body Serum

  • – Hydrating Body Serum – Improves skin tone and texture with algae & marine extracts.  This has a feature I’ve never seen on a body product before – it has a roller ball applicator!

Aqua Beauty Loofah

  • – Sea Foaming 2 in 1 Soap and Sponge – Gently cleanses and massages skin with algae extract & sea salt.  I’ve never seen a body sponge like this before and I just love it!  The attached soap even massages you as you wash.

Aqua Beauty Scrub

  • – Ocean Fresh Salt Scrub + Polishing Glove System – Dual exfoliation reveals younger looking skin with sea sale & marine extracts.  I’ve never tried exfoliating gloves before and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to.  I don’t think my skin has ever felt so smooth! …especially after I added the Hydrating Body Serum afterwards.  Heavenly!
  • – Hydrating Cloth Facial Mask – Replenishes dull, dry skin with Vitamin E, aloe, & marine extracts.  This is another one of their one time use masks and I found it to be wonderfully refreshing as well!

Right now by taking your very own Aqua Beauty product quiz you can get a $1 off coupon for Aqua Beauty at Walmart!

Aqua Beauty Quiz

I took the quiz, which only took me about 5 seconds, and it gave me their recommended products to address my beauty concerns!

After you take the quiz you can scroll up, click the + sign near any of the products, and click “Save $1” to print your money saving coupon.

Aqua Beauty Coupon

YOU CAN WIN AN AQUA BEAUTY SPA KIT!

 

One lucky winner will win an Aqua Beauty at-home spa kit featuring all of the products I have mentioned today!

Aqua Beauty Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Save on Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer at Walgreens! #MyTotalBeautyForecast

This is a sponsored post written on behalf of Lunchbox. All content and opinions are 100% my own.

Vaseline

My skin has become accustomed to being moisturized.  I feel like it aches without it.  No matter what the season or what the weather is, I need a convenient moisturizer on hand.  Here lately, with the unpredictable weather days, my go to (and convenient!) moisturizer is Vaseline Spray Moisturizer which is available at Walgreens.

There are several Vaseline Spray Moisturizers to pick from.  Wondering which is best for your skin?  Go here and enter your zip code to get the current weather in your area. 🙂  Once you have that, you can answer a few questions about how your skin is feeling and then voila, you’ll have the perfect Vaseline Spray Moisturizer for you!

Print: $2/1 Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer

Vaseline Coupon

#MyTotalBeautyForecast recommended the Vaseline Intensive Care Essential Healing Spray Moisturizer for my rough, not quite ready for warm weather yet skin.  Go get your beauty forecast and if you do you’ll be able to snag a $2 coupon for it…which you can conveniently clip directly to your Balance Rewards card or print from the site.  Sweet!  No matter the weather, you can have a beautifully moisturized skin with Vaseline Spray.

Rained Out Party and #UnscriptedBeauty

I participated in a Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for AVEENO. I received product samples as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

As a blogger and a parent, I can admit that I’ve spent far too much time posing my kids for the best possible picture…which portrays them (and me!) in the best possible light.  Isn’t that silly?  I catch myself doing it often and I have to stop myself.  I don’t want to look back on my photo albums (or online albums) in ten years and see picture after picture of a perfect family that I don’t recognize.  No, I don’t want to intentionally take pictures of our dirty laundry but a little toy clutter in the background won’t hurt anything.  It’s real life and real life is beautiful.

Amazed

This is a picture of my daughter as she watched her first storm come closer and closer.  It’s not a great picture but to me it’s perfect.

Real life, sincere moments, authentic relationships are beautiful.  Unscripted beauty.  I love to be able to capture those in photos.  Moments where my husband and daughter take a walk together holding hands.  Moments where my son tightly hugs his teddy bear with his eyes closed.  Moments where I catch my daughter giving her brother a kiss.  Those are the moments I want to cherish and hold with me forever.

My family on Father's Day

This is a picture of our Father’s Day dinner.  It sure isn’t perfect but I think it captured the moment well.  My daughter didn’t want to smile and my husband kept telling my son to look at the camera by pointing to it.  My son followed his Dad’s lead and pointed to the camera.  It wasn’t like most of the polished photos I saw on Facebook yesterday but I think it captured my husband’s kindness and patience with his children…a quality that I absolutely adore in him.

AVEENO agrees that natural, candid beauty is best and they’re creating an #UnscriptedBeauty Movement which encourages parents to embrace the natural beauty around them. …even when life doesn’t go as planned.  

On Saturday, my daughter’s outdoor Candy Land birthday party had a brief rain shower towards the end of it.  Everyone raced inside carrying as much as they could.  While in the panic I couldn’t help but pause to notice the kids laughing and squealing.  They were happy.  Genuinely giddy with joy.  It was beautiful.  I wish I had a picture of that chaotic moment but I was busy trying to tell my husband to grab my camera to get it out of the rain.

Life isn’t perfect and it rarely goes as planned but I think that’s a good thing.  Beautiful even.

Contest!

AVEENO is encouraging people to capture authentic Unscripted Beauty in their lives throughout the month of June.  One winner will be selected in July to receive a photo-shoot from acclaimed photographer, Danielle Guenther, as well as AVEENO products!

  • – To enter, simply upload a photo of your favorite Unscripted Beauty moment to Instagram and include #UnscriptedBeauty, #AVEENO, and #Contest
  • – The winner will receive a photo shoot with acclaimed photographer, Danielle Guenther!
  • – Visit the AVEENO Facebook page to see other moments of #UnscriptedBeauty

My Battle with Leg Hair

Like most girls, I have battled leg hair since middle school (or junior high as we used to call it).  I had to use a men’s razor or I’d get razor burn, I had to use gel shaving cream or I’d get razor burn, and I couldn’t apply lotion right after or it would just BURN.  As if those years weren’t awkward enough, they were also painful.

Waxing has never worked for me and I honestly don’t know why.  It’s like those thick hairs are anchored in there with cement.  I tried at home waxing and was eager to endure the pain for some relief but all I did was waste my money.  Professional waxers got the job done but every visit they would talk amongst themselves about how unusual it was that they had to go over a spot several times.  Sigh.  That’s not exactly what an awkward teen wants to be known for.

I tried those chemically creams that promised to melt away my hair.  Nope, they did nothing.  Didn’t even soften it.

I followed beauty magazine directions closely as I mixed my own natural body pumice hair removals.  Those were cruel jokes.  Coffee, honey, and oatmeal are all great for breakfast but not for removing hair (in my experience).  Pumice stones were rough on my skin but not on my hair.

To my embarrassment, I’ll admit that on lazy summer days I would take tweezers and pull out the hairs on my legs.  I would only get a small patch (say one knee) each time but I hoped that would damage the hair follicle and keep it from growing back.  Because I did this all over I can’t say that it worked or not but I do know that it was painful and I still have a lot of thick hair on my legs to this day.

My mom loves her epilator but I never had the guts to try it.  If you don’t know what an epilator is, it’s a torture device that features multiple rotating tweezing discs.  I’m a wuss, I admit it!  I just couldn’t do it.  I wanted to and attempted to on occasion but I never had the courage to bring it to my skin.

I tried an at home-electrolysis system where I would insert a little needle near each hair and it would send a low-level electrical current through destroying the hair follicle.  It wasn’t too painful but didn’t give the results the infomercial boasted.

I had a doctor in high school recommend that I get a professional electrolysis or laser hair removal for my awkward hair growth.  She said that my hormones must have been out of whack to produce hair like that and she put me on birth control.  It made me sick and was unnecessary for other reasons so I quit taking it.  I then researched electrolysis and laser hair extensively and while it was fascinating to understand hair growth and the treatment possibilities out there I knew it was out of my parent’s price range.

My leg hair is not only thick and pesky to get rid of but it also appears very quickly.  Five o’clock shadow?  I wish!  One cool breeze sends those little prickly hairs through the skin.  As you can imagine, this made swimming a little daunting.  I would shave immediately before going (shaving up, to the left, and to the right to get every angle)  I would jump in the pool and quickly rub my legs to get them warmed up as fast as possible.  Even then I was conscious of everyone around me so I didn’t bump into them and scratch them with the mini razor blades hairs on my legs.  I have always loved swimming and I hated having to turn down invitations to the pool because I didn’t have time to go home and shave before going.

Fast forward a few years, okay decades, and I’m still battling leg hair.  However, now it’s not just the hair on my legs that are bothersome but hair, well, many other places.  It’s embarrassing, annoying, and at times downright painful.  A few years ago I won a radio contest for a gift certificate to a laser hair removal place.  It was a big amount so I was stoked until I went in and saw how expensive the packages were!  After I talked it over with my husband we put down money, a lot of money, for a series of treatments.   The treatments were drawn out over a long period of time and they worked fabulously.  I have very little hair growth in that area and the hairs that are there are so very fine that they don’t bother me.  Laser hair was a little painful but nothing too terrible (I’m a wuss, remember?).  Now that I have little ones around the house I can’t justify spending so much on myself.  I want to but I just can’t.

Tria

This March, I was invited to join Tria’s blogger review program.  Try a new inexpensive, at-home method of hair removal?  Yes, please!  I was given an FDA-Cleared Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X in exchange for sharing my honest opinions on it.

What are my opinions on it?  You’ll have to wait till next week for the full-review but here’s a quick overview!

  • –  Tria 4X has the same diode laser hair removal technology found in the doctor’s office.
  • –  Tria 4X is a one time investment of $449 (equal to one or two treatments of laser hair removal)
  • –  Tria says that when used once every other week for three months, you can achieve permanent results!
  • –  …and I LOVE IT!  Come back next Monday for more information!

Little Girl Swimsuits

I’ve been kind of addicted to swimsuits lately (for my daughter, not for myself!) and I found some ADORABLE ones that I just had to share with you.  I think these suits are unique, fun, and modest (as much as swimsuits can be!) for little girls.  Remember, prices and sales can change at any time but this is correct as of today, May 21st.  Happy shopping!

Little Girl Swim

 

From left to right and top to bottom (sort of):

Disclosure, affiliate links have been used in this post.

Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening Review Update

This conversation is brought to you by Smile Brilliant and contains affiliate links.  Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Quite a while ago I promised to do a teeth whitening review for you and time quickly got away from me.  Here I am, today, prepared to give you the ins and outs of the teeth whitening system called Smile Brilliant.

Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening Review

While Smile Brilliant gave me this system to review and I found making the Smile Brilliant molds to be fun I was hesitant to start the whitening process.  Why?  Because I’m frugal. 😉  Don’t get me wrong the Smile Brilliant gel isn’t that expensive…it’s quite affordable actually, but the directions say that you can use the trays for 20 minutes to 3 hours.  Being the frugal, money-stretching mama that I am I wanted the best bang for my buck which is of course 3 hours.  However, finding a 3 hour gap in my day without kids there and without me eating was tough.  Impossible even.  Days came and went as my trays just sat there begging to be used that is until, one Sunday when nap times aligned and the angels sang.

My husband and I were eager to give these a try.  We read the directions {yes, we are both rule followers} and we were off.

Smile Brilliant Desensitizing Gel

After a quick brushing and flossing we applied a small line of desensitizing gel around the front of each tray.  Put in place and wait 20 minutes.  Easy peasy!

Wearing Smile Brilliant Trays

I couldn’t believe how well they fit.  I know they were made for my mouth and all but they were actually comfortable!  My husband isn’t in pain, he just hates having his picture taken. {Sorry, Honey!}

Can you tell we are wearing them in our pictures?  I could hardly notice them on my husband.  Which brings me to my favorite part of the review!!

My daughter woke up a little early from her nap while I was still wearing my trays.  I thought she would notice them right away because she is hyper-observant but she didn’t.  It was over a half an hour before she noticed them and even then she wasn’t bothered by them.  With whitening trays and strips I’ve tried in the past I’ve always had to use them without kids around because kids ALWAYS talk and ask questions {Other kids do this too, right?  It’s not just mine?}.  With these in I was able to carry on conversations without a problem.

This is huge, folks!  

You could wear these to run errands, to the office, to a play date, anywhere!  Do it for 20 minutes or 3 hours and your life will go on and you’ll be on your way to a brighter and whiter smile!

Teeth Whitening Gel

Okay, I’m getting ahead of myself.  Let’s go back to our process.  Next, came the whitening gel.

I was a little caught off guard from the sensitivity I felt when I put the teeth whitening gel on {I mean, I just used the desensitizing gel, right?} but it only felt sensitive for maybe a minute and then it subsided never to return.  My husband said he felt the same sensitivity but wouldn’t complain about it because he has never been able to use a teeth whitener without his teeth hurting for days.  All he experienced was that brief sensitivity and then nothing.  I’m very impressed by that.

Smile Brilliant Smile

Do my teeth look whiter?  I think they are noticeably whiter after just one use!  I only used the trays for about two and a half hours before I gave in and had to eat a snack.  I can’t stress enough how simple this process was.  I regret not trying it sooner and I hope that if you’re looking for something to whiten your teeth that you’ll give it a try.  In my opinion, as far as at home teeth whitening goes, Smile Brilliant is the best of the best!  Now if only they could make an at home teeth straightening kit.  A girl can dream!

My #BeautyStory and Beauty Inspiration

This is a sponsored conversation on behalf of Dove and The Motherhood.

Family

Mom knows best, right?  I think that’s true most of the time and when it comes to beauty I definitely think that’s true – in my case it is!  My mother was, and still is, a beauty.  Here are a few of the beauty tips that I learned from her, that she probably learned from her mom.

Beauty Advice

  • – Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.  A good moisturizer is a woman’s best friend.
  • – My mom taught me that my neck and clavicle have the same skin as my face so I should moisturize it just as often and with the same product.
  • – My mom taught me to wash my face with Dove every night before bed.  I was eager to try fancy scrubs and masks but she said a simple gentle cleanser is all I needed.
  • – Use baby oil as an eye-makeup remover.  It’s cheap, gentle, and works great.
  • – “Never leave the house without lipstick” is something my grandmother ingrained in me from a young age.  At times I might opt for lipgloss instead but there’s always something colorful on my lips.  Like mother, like daughter.  From a young age, I remember admiring my mother’s skill for applying lipstick without a mirror.
  • – Drink water all day long.  It’s good for your body and your complexion.
  • – “Don’t touch your face.” My mom used to give me a hard time about how much I touched my face and how it would give me breakouts.  I’m still working on this one!
  • – Use conditioner on the ends of your hair every time you wash it.
  • – “If you’ve got a good complexion make up will just be icing on the cake.” My mom had me using good skin care products since before I was 18.
  • – Age gracefully. My mom still doesn’t have grey hair but when she does I know she’ll embrace it with gusto.
  • – She always encouraged me to learn what colors and styles looked good on me and ignore the fads.
  • – Last but not least, my mom taught me to smile.  She told me that a smile always makes you appear prettier.  I try to remember this every day but especially on days when I’m not as put together as I’d like to be you can bet that I’ll be smiling.

A Dove survey finds that most women (84% in fact) trust the women in their lives more than celebrities for beauty tips and advice.  From all the advice I learned and still incorporate from my mom and grandmother, I’d believe that to be true!

What tried-and-true beauty advice was passed onto you from the women in your life? Share your own #BeautyStory to celebrate the real women who have shaped it and take a look at this video from Dove for even more inspiration.

Clarins’ 5, 10, & 15 Minute Makeup Routines + Giveaway!

This is a sponsored post by Clarins – but the opinions are all my own.

Clarins

Being a busy mama of two, I hardly have time to gather my thoughts, eat, get out of sweatpants, take a shower, and a dozen other things I attempt to accomplish for myself on a daily basis.  In all the hustle and bustle of life, applying make up has unfortunately shifted the the bottom of the list.  I manage to smear a little on when I’m on the way to church each week but that’s about it.  I run to the grocery store with kids in tow hoping not to run into anyone I know.  If you’re a mom please comment and tell me that you’ve done that before and I’m not alone.  I feel alone in this most days as the moms I know (who I love and admire!) look polished and put together every time I see them.  Well, now I can join those put together moms…at least, a few days a week!

Clarins has put together a fabulous set of products to give moms a simple 5, 10, and 15 minute make up routine.  (The 15 minute routine is for those rare occasions when the babysitter is running late and the husband is wrangling the kids.)

For those with older kids, these quick looks are great for transitioning from a professional day time look to a date night look in mere minutes.

Not only do I love all of the products in the collection, but I’ve also began using many of them on a daily basis which is proof that these quick routines really do work!  While I think they are all great, I do have my favorites! The two stars of the collection for me are the Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in Rose Shimmer and the 3-Dot Liner.

Clarins Instant Light Lip Gloss Review

The color is perfectly subtle and adds just the right amount of shimmer.

Clarins 3 dot eye liner

This 3 dot liner is genius!  When applied gently it will make your lashes look thicker by dotting a line just above the base of your eyelid.  It can also be used like a regular eye liner and is precise enough to make a killer cat eye too.

Because I absolutely adore the Instant Light Lip Perfector, I want to give one of you the chance to try it out for yourself.  This giveaway is for US and Canadian residents 18 years and older.  Simple visit this link and tell me which product you would most like to try and which of the three looks best fits your lifestyle.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Victoria Jackson Makeup Survival Kit Review

Victoria JacksonThis conversation is brought to you on behalf of Victoria Jackson® and One2One Network. All opinions are my own.

Get a new fresh look for spring with the new Victoria Jackson Survival Kit.  It features soft pastel eye colors and peach tone blush which is perfect for spring!

The Survival Kit Includes:

  • – 10 Eye Shadows in Ice White, Rose Pink, Neutral Brown, Warm Dark Brown, Iridescent Olive, Gold Flecked Warm Brown, Silver Gray, Gray Blue, Gold Flecked Cool Brown and Steel Gray.
  • – 5 Lipsticks in Clear Gloss, Rose Pink, Berry Mauve, Fiery Red, and Deep Pink.
  • – 2 Blushes in Mauvey Pink and Copper Berry.
  • – 2 Liners: 1 lip liner in Dark Nude, 1 eye liner in Deep Black.
  • – Mascara in Midnight Black.
  • – 3 Applicators: a blush brush, a liner brush, and a shadow brush.

One of my favorite parts about this entire collection is that it all fits neatly in my hand! I love being able to touch up everything if need be while I’m out so that sold me on this collection.  Quick touch up of lipstick?  Done!  Forgot that I had eye makeup on and rubbed my eye endlessly?  No problem!  Sad movie left streaks down my cheeks?  It can be fixed!

The eye shadows in this set are gorgeous.  They are totally perfect for spring and they blend so well.  I’m picky when it comes to eye shadows and these have my approval.  The colors are lovely and have plenty of pigment.  Plus, I love how the included brushes were so soft.  I was really impressed by them!

In make up sets you don’t usually find a lip liner, eye liner, or a mascara so I was pleasantly surprised to find all three neatly tucked away in this collection.

 

 

 

I love this quote from Victoria Jackson,

Victoria Jackson Quote

Victoria Jackson Makeup

Here I am (unedited!) enjoying my new make up.  I hope you find makeup that makes you feel as beautiful on the outside as you are on the inside!

If you want to give Victoria Jackson’s makeup a try, now is the time to do it.  I have an exclusive offer to share with you!  Save 25% discount off the entire Victoria Jackson site using promo code LOVEVJC. It’s valid until 4/4/15.  Happy shopping!