Influenster Spring Beauty VoxBox Review

I am so glad I was introduced to Influenster by my friend Krystel. I was thrilled when I received an email that I would be receiving the Spring 2012 Beauty VoxBox! I am such a fan of all things beauty so I knew this program would be a great fit for me. Here is what I received:

SHEER COVER - DUO CONCEALER (@sheercover) Ideal for hiding blemishes, age spots, redness, scars and other imperfections without heavy, cakey coverage. Duo shades can be blended to perfectly match any skin tone. My thoughts: Thankfully the color works for my complexion. It is very light and not greasy. It works well for my dark circles. 

SALLY HANSEN - SALON EFFECTS Real Nail Polish Strips! (@sallyhansen) This product wears like nail polish because it IS nail polish (with no drying time). Apply and you’re ready to go. My thoughts: I have NOT tried this yet but plan on letting my 15 year old daughter test it out. We got a zebra looking pattern. I can totally see hot pink nails staggered with zebra! 

DR. SCHOLL’S FOR HER - BALL OF FOOT PADS Whether you have on-going foot discomfort, or just a soft spot for the most stylish shoes in the store, you’re going to love the Dr. Scholl’s® For Her line. Purchasing a pair is definitely worth the investment. Soft shoe inserts for standing all day are simply ideal, too. For everyday scenarios, they are simply the perfect solution. My thoughts: I am so happy for these! I don't wear heels often but when I do, YIKES! I am looking forward to using them in my heels for my date nights :)

AVEENO - DAILY MOISTURIZING BODY WASH This body wash cleanses  and moisturizes for visibly healthier skin every time you shower. It’s lightly fragranced, soap free, dye-free; hypoallergenic so it’s gentle enough for sensitive skin. My thoughts: LOVE LOVE LOVE. I really love this stuff and it is the best body wash for sensitive skin. The 4 year old is currently using it and it has been very kind to his tender skin. 

CHAPSTICK - LIP SHIELD 365 This new product offers all season protection and moisturization for year-round exposure to the sun, wind and cold. With SPF 50+, it helps to protect from the sun’s damaging UVA/UVB rays. My thoughts: I can't help but think of the beach when I wear this. It smells like sunscreen but in a good way. It is super smooth and makes my lips soft and pretty. Love it! 

BATH & BODY WORKS - FINE FRAGRANCE MIST (@LUVBBW) Discover a better, more delicate fragrance experience with the NEW Fragrance Mist Collection. My thoughts: Love it! I am already a big Bath & Body Works fan so I knew I would love it. 

SOYJOY - BAR Enjoy SOYJOY (@soyjoyus) with all-natural real ingredients like real fruit and whole soy! My thoughts: When I opened to package I was afraid. I am not a big fan of natural bars. This is was exceptional! I really enjoyed it and now I know that when I see coupons and find a sale I will purchase them. I can see myself keeping one in my purse in case hunger strikes! 

I must say that I got very lucky to receive such a good box! I am looking forward to future VoxBoxes and I encourage you to sign up for FREE!

Dental Tips for Children

Tooth decay affects children in then US more then any other chronic infections disease. Untreated tooth decay causes pain and infections that may lead to problems, such as eating, speaking, playing learning. Luckily there are things you can do to protect your child’s teeth. Dr Pankaj Singh, CEO of Arch Dental, answers parents’ most pressing oral health questions.

 · When should you start brushing your kids teeth? - As soon as the first tooth comes in you should be wiping down your kids mouth with a damp cloth. Switch to a soft kids size toothbrush as more teeth come in.

 · How much toothpaste should they use? What kind? – Just a pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste will do the trick. Don’t use fluoride toothpaste until your kid is over 2. Stick to a pea-sized amount, kids who swallow too much fluoride before the age of 6 can have white spots on their permanent teeth! There are tons of flavors, from bubble gum to watermelon.

 · Do you need a fluoride supplement? - Probably not, especially if your water has fluoride. If you have city water, you can check your water districts billing statement for the utilities contact info. If you have well water you can have it tested at a lab; local health districts often have testing capabilities. Always check with your dentist or pediatrician about your kids fluoride needs before giving a supplement.

 · What are dental sealants? Should my kid get them? – Dental sealants are thin, plastic coatings that are applied to the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from tooth decay. Most tooth decay in children and teens occurs on these surfaces. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces by keeping germs and food particles out of these grooves. They are best for permanent teeth – they should be applied shortly after the permanent back teeth come in, before they have a chance to decay. They last 5-10 years and should be checked by your dentist at your regular visit.

 · What should I do if my child’s permanent tooth is knocked out? - Find the tooth and rinse it gently in milk or saliva. (Do not scrub it or clean it with soap, use just water!) If possible, replace the tooth in the socket and hold it there with clean gauze or a wash cloth. If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with milk, saliva, or water. Get to our office immediately. The faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth.

 · What if my child has a toothache? - Call your dentist promptly. To comfort your child, rinse the mouth with water. Apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in a cloth. Do not put heat or aspirin on the sore area.

Dr. Singh, Clinical Director at Arch Dental Associates 

About Dr. Singh: Dr. Pankaj Singh is an innovator, educator, author and pioneer in the field of dentistry. With experience spanning over 15 years, Dr. Singh is a world-renowned dentist who’s taking the industry by storm. The founder and Clinical Director of Arch Dental Associates, Dr. Singh specializes in dental implants, sedation and restorative dentistry, dental sleep medicine and facial aesthetics. In addition to overseeing his three premier New York dental practices in Manhattan, Huntington and Garden City, Dr. Singh is an attending doctor and serves as Attending Faculty at LIJ/NS University Hospital in the Department of Dental Medicine and Oral Surgery. He is an editor of "Journal of Oral Implantology" and on the editorial board of various other publications. He has also served as associate professor in the International Dental Program at NYU College of Dentistry and is a past board examiner of the American Board of Oral Implantology.

The Poor Man's Keurig

For 3 years now I have bugged  nicely asked my husband for a Keurig coffee brewer. Being the frugal man he is, he reminds me of my old school Black & Decker Cup-at-a-Time coffee maker. He's like why spend $80-$100 when you already have the original version? You know what? He is so right. I bought this gadget about 12 years ago for about $15 at Walmart. I have even purchased additional ones as gifts.

Strangely enough it has hung in there after numerous uses, and even traveling on road trips, being used in the office at work and of course at home. It still makes a steaming hot cup of strong coffee. I can use any ground coffee I want and don't have to purchase the little pods and I can brew to my desired strength. I don't think one little K-cup would work for a gal like me. I am used to drinking coffee as strong as motor oil!  I guess it really makes sense after all to stick with my old school machine. I haven't seen these brewers around in some time but if I do, I might need to purchase it as back-up! 

Braces update

Brie has been in braces for about a year and 5 months now. Last year in December, she had oral surgery to have a baby tooth removed and to expose the adult tooth that has been growing in the roof of her mouth. It's hard to believe that she still had a baby tooth in the front at the age of 15! Not only that, it would not budge!! She got the tooth extracted at the dentist and went to a specialist for the other part. She had to be asleep for the procedure. It was a rough recovery at first, but luckily she was back to normal within a few days. Now her adult tooth has joined in with the rest of her teeth and is coming along well. We have seen a dramatic change so far and it looks like we will stay on schedule and she will have them on about another year and a half. She recently had some raised fillings put on a couple of her back teeth to help control her chewing. She was devastated and thought she would not be able to eat normally. Well that was short lived.  To say that you are required to watch a video on all the things to avoid with braces apparently meant nothing for Brie! She finds a way to enjoy all of her favorite foods with the exception of crunchy granola.

Thankfully her journey with braces has not been too bad. It has been really neat watching the transformation. The expense is enormous, but well worth every dime we are putting into it :)

Wordless Wednesday {Art}

I just had to share Brie's work that she created in her art class at school. Brie says that this is a girl who is depressed because her secrets got out. This is a really big piece so I might have to end up getting it custom framed. We love it!

Those are locks and keys in the tree. Cool huh?

Things that are making me so happy right now.

Today I laughed HYSTERICALLY in the car on the way home from picking the girls up from school. I am talking full abdominal pain, tears from my eyes and coughing from laughing so hard. My sunglasses even fogged up. Man, that was some good laughter! 

Today William was complaining about "those meddling kids". He loves old school Scooby Doo. As a matter of fact, he loves all the old cartoons like Tom & Jerry, Yogi Bear, The Snorks, The Smurfs and more. Sure beats Sponge Bob any day! 

This salad is made from baby organic greens (kale, spinach, arugula and others) dried cranberries, sliced almonds, feta cheese and balsamic vinaigrette. It is outstanding. It is my new favorite salad. 

If you haven't tried Mr. Clean with Gain scent, you are missing out on the happiest scent ever. It is as if you accidentally spilled Gain freshness into the air. It really makes me excited to clean. Yeah, I have issues :)

Dwayne and I tried Red Moscato for the first time and really enjoyed it. I think we need to explore some other brands. I am going to make a date night reservation to try out a wine bar in our area in the very near future. 

I love Coca-Cola from the 1.25 liter bottle. There is something so special about the taste from that specific size bottle. It's not the same out of the can or the 2 liter bottle. 

Dwayne and I have been thoroughly enjoying watching the NBA play-offs and even the pre-game, half-time and post-game footage. This has been the most enjoyable basketball season ever! We will be so sad when it's over. 

The thing that has been making me over-the-top happy lately has been the new windows we had installed over the course of the last year. We have noticed a huge difference in the consistency of  the overall temperature as well as the air conditioning unit does not run 24/7. I know our light bill should be looking a lot better too. That will be the icing on the cake! 

So what has been making you happy recently? Please share, I wanna know! :)