THANKSGIVING ACTIVITY FOR KIDS (or your table as guest place cards!)

Festive Fall Frame

Create a beautiful picture frame with festive fall colors

Adding your guests picture would be a great surprise!

Skill Level: 3

Time Needed: 45 minutes
Age(s): 8 to 12
Appropriate For: Thanksgiving

Supplies Needed:

• Elmer's Washable School Glue™
• Elmer's Mini Foam Display Board™
• Old Magazines
• Black Construction Paper
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Look through old magazines for pictures with fall colors, such as red, yellow, orange, and brown. Rip the magazine pictures into small pieces that are shaped like leaves. Ripping the paper will provide a rugged, leafy effect.
2. Cut a piece of faom board into a 6" by 6" square.
3. Glue the magazine "leaves" onto the foam board. Overlap the leaves for a collage look and feel.
4. Cut a small square from a sheet of black construction paper.
5. Glue the black square on top of the magazine leaves in the center of the foam board. Let the glue dry completely.
6. Glue a small photograph in the center of the black square. Let the glue dry completely.
7. Display your festive fall picture frame!

NEW CAMPAIGN: Fight Bad Breath With WICKED FRESH!

I have a new campaign coming!  This time I get to fight bad breath with Tom's of Main Wicket Fresh! toothpaste.  I've been using another toothpaste from a company called Melaleuca for so long that I don't know if I will be able to switch for the duration of this campaign...but of course I'll try!  Here's the information I received to tell me about the product that should take a few weeks to arrive: 

Proven to help banish bad breath, Tom’s of Maine Wicked Fresh! toothpaste combines a patent-pending boost of botanical extracts and great-tasting natural mint oils to fight bad breath germs for hours. The result? Long-lasting fresh breath — naturally!

This Weeks Craft!! Adorable Magnetic Recipe Box!

I love this campaign!  Elmer's has so many neat projects for you to tackle either alone or with your kids.  If you're a teacher...get your students to make this for their mom's this Mother's Day!

Magnetic Recipe Box

A special look to bring back memories of the past.

Skill Level: Moderate
Time Needed: 4 to 6 hours
Appropriate For: Mother's Day, Birthday, Bridal Shower

Supplies Needed:

• Elmer's® Products, Inc.:
• Craft Bond™ Extra Strength Glue Stick
• Craft Bond™ Fabric & Paper Glue
• X-ACTO® Gripster® Knife
• X-ACTO® Self-Healing Cutting Mat
• X-ACTO® Rotary Paper Trimmer
• White tin lunch box, 5" x 7" x 4 1/2" tall
• Magnetic sheeting 5" x 8"
• Six 1/2" button magnets
• Scrapbook paper, 12" x 12": light blue dot; red gingham
• Cardstock, 12" x 12", white
• Melissa Frances™ Heart & Home Collectibles, Inc. Vintage Labels, Kitchen Gadgets Collection: Crafty Cutters Ad, 2 1/2" square; Rose's Cake Tins Ad, 1 1/2" x 2 1/2"
• Monogram transfer letters, black, 3/4"
• Crafty Cutters Cookie Cutters, Star & Heart, 1 1/4"
• 24" length of 3/8" wide striped ribbon to coordinate
• 18"length of 1/4" wide red gingham ribbon
• 1 3/4 yd. length of 3/8" wide red grosgrain ribbon
• Misc.:
• scissors

Instructions

1. Cut two 4" x 12" red gingham strips to wrap around lunch box. Use Craft Bond™ Extra Strength Glue Stick to attach paper to box matching seams at sides.
2. Measure and cut needed length of red grosgrain ribbon to use as top and bottom border of paper on box. Use Glue Stick to attach.
3. Choose transfer letters to spell desired word. Rub the first transfer letter onto blue dot paper. Cut the letter into a 1" square. Repeat with other letters. To mount, attach magnetic sheeting to red gingham paper, working with an approximately 2" x 12" piece. Use X-ACTO® Gripster® Knife to trim into enough 1 1/2" squares for each of the letters. Use Glue Stick to glue blue square letters onto red gingham with magnetic back. Set aside.
4. Use Glue Stick to attach labels to white cardstock for added stability. Cut out label. Glue button magnets on back of labels for added dimension as well as to connect to recipe box. Set aside.
5. Use Craft Bond™ Fabric and Paper Glue to attach button magnets to cookie cutters. Let dry.
6. Accent recipe box by cutting various lengths of remaining ribbon and tie to either side of handle, cookie cutters and label. Place letters, cookie cutters and labels onto box to decorate. Rearrange and redesign as you wish since magnets can be moved!

#imabzzagent

This Week's Project: CLEVER CLIPBOARD

This week's featured BzzAgent project

Start your scissors and get your tape runners revving with this featured crafting project from Elmer's® Craftbond™ and X-ACTO® Designer Series products:

Week Two

"CLEVER CLIPBOARD"

DESIGNED BY: Craft Marketing Connections, Inc.
SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate
TIME TO COMPLETE: 1-3 hours
APPROPRIATE FOR: Office, Kitchen, Memo Organizer
PROJECT TYPE: Paper Crafting

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

• Elmer's® Products, Inc.:
  
  • CraftBond™ Extra Strength Glue Stick
  • CraftBond™ Glue Tape Runner, Permanent
  • CraftBond™ Foam Mounting Tape
  • X-ACTO® Designer Series Retractable #1 Knife
  • X-ACTO® Designer Series 12" x 12" Self-Healing Cutting Mat
  • X-ACTO® Designer Series 12" Metal Ruler
  • X-ACTO® Designer Series 8" Scissors
  • X-ACTO® Designer Series 12" Rotary Paper Trimmer
  • X-ACTO® Designer Series Scallop 4 Pack Decorative Edge Scissors
• 9" x 12 1/2" clipboard
• One each 12" x 12" scrapbook paper: green leaf print, green plaid, brown leaf print
• 3/16" x 5 1/2" x 8" cork sheet
• 42" length of 3/8" wide brown gros-grain ribbon
• 8" length of 3/8" wide brown sheer ribbon
• Two 3/4" green stripe decorative paper clips
• Four 1/2" green stripe decorative push pins
• 1" brown chipboard letters to spell "STUFF"
• Approx. 5" x 7" envelope (to use as pattern)
• Hand drill
• Pencil

PROJECT DIRECTIONS:

1. Use X-ACTO® Designer Series 12" Rotary Paper Trimmer to cut papers: 8 1/2" x 10" and 2 3/4" x 4 3/4" green leaf print; 4 1/2" x 10" and 1 3/4" x 3 3/4" green plaid. Use X-ACTO® Designer Series Metal Ruler and pencil to measure and draw 5 1/2" x 8" on cork. Use X-ACTO® Designer Series Retractable #1 Knife and 12" x 12" Self Healing Cutting Mat to cut cork. Set aside. Retract knife when not in use.
2. Use CraftBond™ Extra Strength Glue Stick to attach larger green leaf paper to top part of clipboard. Use Retractable Knife to cut around metal clip at top of clipboard. Similarly, use Glue Stick to attach larger green plaid paper at bottom of clipboard. Turn over clipboard onto Cutting Mat and use Retractable Knife to trim paper from curved corners.
3. Use X-ACTO® Designer Series 8" Scissors to cut brown ribbon into two 4", one 9" and one 25" lengths. Similarly, use Scissors to cut brown sheer ribbon into two 4" lengths. Use CraftBond™ Permanent Glue Tape Runner to attach 9" ribbon where green leaf and green plaid papers meet. Set other ribbon aside.
4. To make pattern from envelope, carefully pull apart envelope to open and flatten. Use pencil to trace around envelope onto brown leaf print paper. Use X-ACTO® Designer Series 8" Scissors to cut out. Fold brown paper into envelope and use Glue Stick to secure contact areas. Set aside.
5. Use Glue Stick to attach cork to green leaf paper on clipboard. Use CraftBond™ Foam Mounting Tape to attach envelope onto board under cork.
6. Use X-ACTO® Designer Series Scallop Pack Decorative Edge Scissors (Scallop) to trim around green leaf rectangle. Use Glue Stick to attach green plaid rectangle to green leaf rectangle. Similarly, use Glue Stick to attach word "STUFF" to green plaid rectangle. Use Foam Mounting Tape to attach rectangle to lower right corner on front of brown envelope.
7. For clipboard hanger, use hand drill to drill holes 1" in from sides at top of clipboard. Thread 25" ribbon through holes on clipboard, tie and knot. Also tie and knot 4" lengths of brown sheer and gros-grain ribbons, to each side of clip at top of clipboard. Place push pins into cork and slide paper clips onto either side of envelope. Hang clipboard to use.

#imabzzagent

NEW CAMPAIGN!! Glade® Winter Collection



Glade® Winter Collection Is Here!!

 

In a few weeks I'll have the Glade Winter Collection to help make my house smell like Christmas!! With SEVEN scents  to choose from, you could literally have a new wintery smell in your house each day of the week!  I've used these candles before and surprisingly they are just as good as the expensive scented candles you get from the mall or catalogs.  Here's their collection:

• Apple Cinnamon
• Bayberry Spice and Everything Nice™
• French Vanilla
• Sugarplum Fantasies™
• Chocolate Cherry Sparkle™
• Baked Magic™
• Peppermint Crush™

I really do love all the winter scents but I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed for Peppermint Crush and Sugarplum Fantasies scents to arrive in my bzzagent kit!! 

 

 Baked Magic wouldn't be so bad either!

(**hint hint bzzagent box filler!!**)



Hershey's Bake, Share & WIN Sweepstakes!

Bake, Share & WIN with Hershey's!

ENTER HERE

Enter Hershey's Bake, Share, and Win Sweepstakes for your chance to win a $20,000 KitchenAid appliance makeover, or one of ten pairs of KitchenAid stand mixers. (You get to share this prize with a friend!)

Are you getting Cozy with Cozi yet?

Earlier this month I talked about Cozi, the online organizer for the family.  It's free and it's awesome!  You can keep in sync with the entire family on birthdays, activities and even doctor appointments!  One of my favorite things on Cozi is their Journaling feature.  I was looking through some entries and here's my very first one: (I'm so thankful I wrote this down! I never would have remembered it otherwise!!) 

Jacob was 8 and Nolan's 6:

June 8, 2008
I baked banana bread today from the bananas that were starting to get a little too brown.  Later on, Nolan and Jacob brought me a big piece on a plate.  Jacob was acting a little strange and kept hanging around the couch asking me about the 5 second rule and "how it was ok to have things drop on the floor when it was under 5 seconds..."  Finally I said, "Yes, your dad follows the 5 second rule...why?" He looked a bit relieved and replied, "Well, at least your piece of bread was under 5 seconds on the floor." Never mind that I had been eating some of it while he's explaining this!! He must have seen the look on my face because he followed it with, "Well, not all of the bread fell on the floor."  Oh good!  I popped the rest into my mouth and as he walked away I heard him say to Nolan, "Only that one piece."   WHAT?! 

Free Entrance Days in Your National Parks SATURDAY!!

Free Entrance Days in Your National Parks

America’s Best Idea – the national parks – gets even better this year with several fee-free days at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees*.

Mark your calendar for fee-free days this year:

• 
  
  April 17-25, 2010
  (National Park Week)
• 
  
  June 5-6, 2010
• 
  
  August 14-15, 2010
• 
  
  September 25, 2010
  (Public Lands Day)
• 
  
  November 11, 2010
  (Veterans Day)

GET OUT AND GET SOME FREE FRESH AIR!

Weekend Project For You! MEDITERRANEAN THANK YOU'S

"MEDITERRANEAN THANK YOUS"

DESIGNED BY: Craft Marketing Connections, Inc.
SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate
TIME TO COMPLETE: 1-3 hours
APPROPRIATE FOR: Thank You's and other Note Cards
PROJECT TYPE: Cardmaking

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

• Elmer's® Products, Inc.:
  
  • CraftBond™ Extra Strength Glue Stick
  • CraftBond™ Glue Tape Runner, Permanent
  • CraftBond™ Foam Mounting Tape
  • CraftBond™ Glue Spots, Thin-small
  • CraftBond™ Glue Spots, 3D PopUp-medium
  • CraftBond™ Quick Dry Glue Dualtip Pen
  • CraftBond™ Gel Pens
  • X-ACTO® Designer 12" Rotary Paper Trimmer
  • X-ACTO® Designer 6" Precision Tip Scissors
  • X-ACTO® Designer Corner Rounder Punch
  • X-ACTO® Scallop Pack Decorative Edge Scissors
  • X-ACTO® Designer Circle Cutter
• Five 12" x 12" coordinating scrapbook papers (or double-sided papers), orange/blue
• Four black "Thank You" rub-ons
• Ten orange 1/8" gemstones
• Three black 1/16" gemstones
• 10" length of 1/4" wide decorative, blue trim
• 5/8" buttons: two blue, one orange
• 1/4" white brad

PROJECT DIRECTIONS:

1. Use X-ACTO® Designer 12" Rotary Paper Trimmer to cut four 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" pieces. Fold into four cards measuring 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".
2. Refer to photo for embellishing cards using one or more of the following techniques, as desired.
   
   • Cut various rectangles of coordinating paper and use CraftBond™ Permanent Glue Tape Runner to attach.
   • Use X-ACTO® Designer Corner Rounder Punch to round edges on rectangles.
   • Trim edges with X-ACTO® Decorative Edge Scissors.
   • Tear along edges of rectangles to expose white paper inside for distressed look.
   • Apply rub-on words to rectangles according to manufacturer's instructions.
   • Double mount pieces, creating dimension by using CraftBond™ Foam MountingTape.
   • To make the flower, use X-ACTO® Designer Circle Cutter to cut three circles: 1 1/2", 2" and 2 1/2" in diameter. Tear 1/4" off edges. Layer circles and insert brad into center. Bend circle edges upward.

Refer to photo to assemble cards using the adhesives above as well as the following products:

• Use X-ACTO® Designer 6" Precision Tip Scissors to cut fabric trim to correct length and attach to card using CraftBond™ Extra Strength Glue Stick.
• Use Craft Bond™ Glue Spots Thin-small to attach buttons to card.
• Use Craft Bond™ Quick Dry Glue Dualtip Pen to attach gemstones to cards.
• Attach flower to front of card using Craft Bond™ Glue Spots, 3D PopUp medium.
• Use CraftBond™ Gel Pens to write message inside cards.

ELMER'S/X-ACTO CAMPAIGN: My Son's First Project

News Alert:

Unfortunately, by the time I posted the this, the boat had shipwrecked itself and now there's a bunch of flotsam and jetsam floating about our house!  RIP little boat!

Get Your FREE Sandwich At Starbucks!

YUM!!  For a limited time at Starbucks you can get a FREE Artisian Breakfast Sandwich when you sign up for My Starbucks Rewards. – It’s Easy.  You can get a lot of other goodies too with your Rewards Card! 

 
Offer for a FREE Artisan Breakfast Sandwich ends September 28th so hurry!

**WIN 2 $500 Walmart Gift Cards & More!**

Enter to win this crafting suitcase worth $220 in Elmer's/X-ACTO products AND (2) $500 gift cards to Walmart!!  10 Runner-up winners will recieve (1) $25 gift card to Walmart.

ENTER HERE

Sweepstakes ends 12/30/10.  One entry per person.  

Elmer's CraftBond & X-ACTO Tester Kit Is IN!!

Yaaay!  My Elmer's CraftBond & X-ACTO kit is in and it's time for me to test this bad boy out!  There are many things I want to do with these items like birthday cards, kids projects, and of course pull out my fat box of pictures and get them into their designated scrapbooks!!  I'm going to feature a craft a week as well as the items individually.  Here is what my bzzkit included:  (Time to get busy, don't 'cha think?!)

• 2 pairs of X-ACTO Decorative Edge Scissors
• 1 X-ACTO Corner Rounder Punch
• 1 Elmer's CraftBond Permanent Tape Runner
• 1 Elmer's CraftBond Clear Glue Pen
• 1 Elmer's CraftBond All-Purpose Glue Stick
• An assortment of glue spots

"Wasn't I A Good Mother?!" (True Story)

I use a wonderful (free) site called Cozi.  I have been a member for three years and it has been one of the best discoveries I've made online.  I can make a grocery list or to-do list and send it straight to my phone when I go to the store.  There are many more features but what I love most is that I can journal my day so I don't lose any memories I've had with the kids, my friends and family members.  We all have had a funny or endearing moment that we want to remember forever and Cozi is such a great place to store those memories and the best part is, you won't ever lose the paper you wrote it on!!  It's all online!   Here is a recent entry taken from my journal.  It really happened exactly as written.  Tell me...should I be worried?

Monday, September 6, 2010

Today is Labor Day and the kids had the day off from school.  Nolan wanted to play a game so he selected Monopoly.  He didn't want to play regular 'ole Monopoly, however.  We were going to play using some Littlest Pet Shop figures instead of the traditional game pieces. 

Asya was kicking everybody's booty by buying up property after property.  She had 8 or 9 by the time we'd gone around 3 times!! She was banker so I began to wonder if she was skimming off the top...

Nolan, aka Mr. Krabs, was being VERY conservative with his money. He'd buy property here and there but wouldn't break the $500 bill for anything!!

Jake was also buying as much property as he was able to AND got to collect $50 from everyone when he landed on Chance, which made him very happy!

I bought a few properties myself and was completely broke by then and couldn't pay him the $50.  On top of it all, I had just landed on one of his properties which was $18 in rent.  Here's our conversation:

Jake: "Ok, Mom. You own me a total of $68." (sticks his hand out)
Me: "I can't, I'm out of money until I go around again."
Jake: "Oooh, Mom! You're on debt!"
Me: "Actually, I'm IN debt."
Jake: "I see you have money there." (spying over the board at my very small pile of cash)
Asya: "Jake! It's only $8!!"
Jake: "She owes $68, so if she gives me the $8 she'll only have to owe me $60."
Me: "I STILL HAVE TO EAT!"
Nolan: "I'll pay it for you."
Asya: "No, I'll pay it."
Me: "No, thanks guys, but I'll pay it when I go around again."  (Giving him the 'mom eye')
Jake: "I'm just trying to keep you out of jail!...(sigh) I'll go get a paper to write down your debt."
Me: "I'm just a poor widow who needs to eat!"
Jake: "Look, If you give me your $8, I'll be helping you make your debt go down. That way you can eat sooner."
Me: "Jake, can't you just wait until I go around again and get the $200?"
Jake: "Ok...but I'm just trying to keep you from going to jail!"
Me: "Since when do I have to go to jail for having debt in Monopoly?!!!"
Jake: "I'm pretty sure you will have to."
Nolan: (freaked out by now) "Here, I'm going to pay it! Take it, Mom!" (He obviously cares about his poor mom going to jail!)
Me: "No, Nolan, keep your money. I'll just be in debt for a little while."
(Jake gets up and gets a paper to write down my debt...we keep playing.  Asya lands on Free Parking, wins $230 in the pot.)
Asya: "Here Jake, here's your $68. Mom's now free from debt."
Jake: "Thank you. Mom, you're free. No jail."
Me: "Thanks, Asya. I'll pay you back. (Peering at Jake) So glad I don't have to go to jail, son."

(Jake smiles, completely unaware that I was being sarcastic)
Asya: "No, I want to do that for you. And here (puts the rest of the money in a pile by me) This is your emergency fund. Take from it when you need to."
Me: "Aw, thanks, honey!! You can take from it too if you need it!"
Asya: (shrugging) "Ok."

We continue playing and Asya wipes us all out. 

NEW CAMPAIGN! *Elmer's CraftBond & X-ACTO*

Elmer's CraftBond & X-ACTO

Well, I'm excited!!  I have a new campaign that I'm starting soon.  It's for Elmer's CraftBond & X-ACTO.  I haven't had any really good crafting opportunities lately and now that Halloween is coming up along with school projects, birthday parties, etc., I will have more tools to help me!  

You can get great crafting tips at their website.  I saw one for a neat looking vacation keepsake box!

WIN a Ziploc Variety Box!!

Win a Ziploc Variety Box

What's your favorite or best Ziploc tip?

 

Simply share your favorite way to use Ziploc bags and you are automatically entered to win!! 

ENTER HERE

Horizon Milk Boxes *Other Uses...Can You Think Of More?*

The kids were pleasantly surprised to find MILK boxes in their lunch bags instead of the normal juice boxes.  I decided to freeze them a little so by the time lunch rolled around they'd be nice and cold still.  They loved it!!  They still want their juice bags of course, but this was a nice change of pace for them.  I wanted to come up with other ideas for these single served (very convenient) milk boxes.  Below are a few ideas.  Can you think of more?

• Lunch boxes or bags
• Play dates
• Long car trips
• Shopping trips
• Movie theatre (you'd have to sneak it in of course...oh, like you wouldn't!)
• Sporting events

What else?

NEW CAMPAIGN!! *Horizon Organic Single Serve Milk!*

I am testing Horizon's newest product: Organic Single Serve in a 3-pack.  The kids usually get juice bags in their lunches and this will help switch up the monotanity of ho-hum lunches and after school snacks.

I have some $1 off coupons to share!  Let me know if you'd like them!  First come, first served (milk, that is!)

Garnier's Blow Dry Perfector Fifth Wash

Results for Garnier's Blow Dry Perfector are pretty much the same at 5 washes out of 7.  Hair is smooth when wet but frizzy and straw textured when dry.  I am going to stop posting my results because they aren't accurate since I applied it to my chemically damaged hair despite the warnings not to (didn't see the warnings until after, my fault).



My 13 year old is going to start school in a few days and I'm going to use this product on her hair. She has gorgeous untouched hair (no color or relaxants) and I'll be able to gain a better prospective of how this product works since it will be applied to fresh hair.  I'll also take pictures of the back of her hair and post them.  She's a very willing participant!!

Garnier's Blow Dry Perfector Fourth Wash

Believe it or not, the silky feeling is still there after washing it.  The smell seems to be fading however the crunchy texture of my hair is not improving.  I don't know if it's been enhanced due to the product or if it's just damaged and I'm paying more attention to it.  Either way, my hair feels silkier when I use a heat source to style it.

L'Oréal® Paris Collagen Micro-Pulse™ VS. Night time wrinkles

Like most of my friends, I'm concerned with derma lines from sleeping on my side or stomach.  I always go to bed on my back with the best intentions of waking up the same way...but darn it! I'm scrunched up like a baby on my side with my knee drawn up. And my face?  All scrunched up too! So since I can't stop myself from sleeping on my side, I'm going to buy a satin pillowcase like Kelly Rippa (and my grandma) suggested. Kelly's hairstylist urged her to switch to satin pillowcases only to maintain beautiful hair and skin.

So, yes, I'm in the market for a lovely satin pillowcase that will match my bedding and in the meantime, I'll keep using L'Oreal's Collagen Micro-Pulse eye cream every night. I've noticed that even with all my tossing and turning (I'm an active dreamer....I get my best story ideas in my sleep) the eye cream hasn't rubbed off completely and there's still a healthy layer remaining!  Love it!

Garnier Blow Dry Perfector Third Wash

This marks the third wash out of seven for Garnier's Sleek & Shine Blow Dry Perfector and I can still feel the product in my hair.  I can still smell it a little when it's wet and the shower is steamy.  It now smells like an old perm rather than nasty rotten drain (I'll take perm smell any day over that!).   My hair still feels very nice to the touch when it's wet and feels great after it's dried and flat ironed.  I'm not liking how my ends feel really crunchy still.  I re-read the directions and it pretty much warns not to use on damaged hair. 

Warnings:



Important - Read Before Purchasing: Do not use on hair that is damaged. Due to chemical processes such as bleaching, highlighting, relaxing with lye or no-lye. Do not use on hair that is breaking, splitting or otherwise damaged. Do not use if you have already had a reaction to this product. Do not use if you have an irritated or damaged scalp. Do not use on relaxed hair. Wait at least 14 days after coloring, bleaching, highlighting, or perming before using this product. Read and follow instruction sheet completely before using. Instruction sheet contains important safety information. Wear gloves provided in kit. This product contains cysteine. Avoid contact with eyes. In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately ant thoroughly with water and consult a doctor. Keep out of reach of children. Read and Follow the insert.

Of course I totally missed the part where it says do not use on hair that is damaged...first stinking sentence.  All I saw was wait at least 14 days after coloring and it had been 6 weeks for me.  I guess it pays to always read the directions COMPLETELY, huh? 

NIOXIN HAIR CARE: First Day

As you know, this is the moment I've been waiting for!!  I've been so excited to test out the Nioxin Hair line for thinning hair.  Yes, my husband and hairstylist think I'm totally insane but I feel my hair fallign out with each shower and through out the day.  The "100 hair per day" rule of thumb doesn't calm my nerves.  I like having a full head of hair.  That doesn't make me vain!!

Ok, my experience has been lovely.  I wish I could pop over to everyone's house and squirt some of this stuff into your hands while you're in the shower (I'd cover my eyes, I pinky swear I would!). 

This is a 3 step system that claims to deliver essential nutrients onto the scalp which improves the appearance of thinning hair and creates an environment for fuller, healthier looking hair.


The Nioxin Cleanser smelled of a really pleasant minty menthol scent and I had NO idea of how wonderful it would feel on my scalp.  I felt like I had a million peppermint fairies blowing all over my head!!  The lather was very rich and satisfying and my scalp just felt great.
 
I followed with the Nioxin Therapy (conditioner).  This product ALSO smelled like menthol and left my scalp tingling like crazy.  I think the conditoner tingled more than the shampoo!!  I literally did not want to rinse my hair!!  I loved the way it felt. 
 
But, alas!  I finally rinsed and followed it with NIOXIN Scalp Treatment.  This is a daily leave-in scalp treatment that delivers essential botanicals, nutrients, antioxidants and vitamins onto the scalp and hair to help safeguard against residues and DHT buildup on the scalp.  It was hard not rinsing it out as I'm used to doing.
 
My scalp felt great all day and my hair itself was very soft and manageable.   
 
 

L'Oréal® Paris Collagen Micro-Pulse™ VS. The Fridge

Ok.  Here's an update on what I've experience so far with L'Oréal® Paris Collagen Micro-Pulse™.  I've been using it now for a few weeks and I still like it a lot.  I decided to experiment a little and put the "pen" in the refrigerator to make it cold before I put it on.  Oh my gosh!  I wish I could do that for all over my body on these hot summer days...especially my poor feet!!  Maybe L'Oreal will come out with something for the feet?  Hmmmm...I should demand royalties if they do!!

Garnier Blow Dry Perfector 2nd Wash

It's the second wash of seven after using Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Blow Dry Protector and I have to say that after I washed it and before I conditioned it, it felt slippery and silky.  It never feels that way after a wash.  Normally, when I wring the water out, it feels like my hand skids over my hair because it is so clean but this time it just glided over.  That's a good sign!!  I didn't flat iron my hair today I just dried it with a hair dryer.  My hair feels nice but it's still a little frizzy.  That's not the products fault.  My hair was unhealthy to begin with. 

NEW PRODUCT!! NIOXIN

I have been complaining to my hair dresser about the insane amount of hair that seems to be falling from my head when I wash it (and quite frankly, all day long).  She rolls her eyes at me constantly followed by the same response: "It is normal to have a least 100 hairs fall out a day bla, bla, bla".  Yah, tell that to my scalp!!

Nioxin hair products campaign came at the RIGHT time!!  I don't think I've been this excited to try a shampoo before!!  Sure, I'm loving the other products I'm currently experimenting with, but THIS...this hair line could save my life! Well, it could make me feel better about potentially thinning hair, which is just as GOOD as saving my life!

I'm going to give it a try as soon as hair washing day comes around *which is every other day due to dryness*.  Here's the kit below: (#imabzzagent)

There's Nioxin right in the middle

Sebastian Volupt: First Use

I was really looking forward to trying this product on my hair.  When I got into the shower and cracked open the top, the first thing I noticed was the smell.  The shampoo smelled a bit like grapefruit.  It wasn't the tangy sweet smell of pink grapefruit but more like the tart yellow grapefruit.  It isn't a bad smell by any means, it's just different. 

I lathered up with Volupt Volume Boosting Shampoo.  I loved the lather; the product didn't sting my scalp or feel like it was stripping my hair.  Sebastian claims that this shampoo will give me 75% more volume, help me achieve great hair heights with revolutionary cushion particle technology that constructs harmony of soft volumes, shielding-in the lightness and is color safe.  Is it bleach safe?  Oh, let's hope so :)

After shampooing, I followed with Volupt Volume Boosting Conditioner.  I loved the way my fingers felt as they glided through my strands.  The conditioner has the same grapefruit scent which, again, is not unpleasant, just strong.  Sebastian claims that this conditioner will shield-in volume without adding weight to my hair, leaving it extra voluminous and soft to the touch.  Of course the recommend I use both products together becasue they're both color safe.

I'm not sure if after drying my hair it had more volume, but it was definitely softer.  I was afraid to use the  Volume Building Spray Gel because I loved how soft my hair was feeling.  But, I'm here to test these products and Sebastian is such a great product/name that I couldn't stop myself even if I wanted to. 

I quickly found out that I don't need to spray a lot on my hair.  This spray gel goes on light but packs a punch.  My hair is naturally wavy/curly and the gel held the curls in place without losing volume at all.  One neat thing about this gel is you need to first shake well to activate its 2-phase formula. 

I'm pleased with the performance of Sebastian's hair product line and will continue to use it.

L'Oréal® Paris Collagen Micro-Pulse™ VS. Brow Wrinkles

I like the way the Micro-Pulse feels under my eyes so much that I wondered what it would do for the squinting wrinkles between the brows.  My husband thinks I'm a little crazy being this obsessed about "concentration lines" but a girl has to look good for as long as she can, right?   

It's only been a few days since I've added this element to my nightly routine so I don't have any results to share but it's gotta be better than doing nothing at all!!

Garnier Blow Dry Perfector DAY ONE

Today is Day One using the Blow Dry Perfector.  It is supposed to last through seven shampoo's.  I only wash my hair every other day because of how dry it is (my fault for getting highlights) so this will be a two week process. 

I washed my hair without conditioning as per the instructions on the box.  After towel drying my hair I put it around my shoulders to prevent the product from dripping onto my robe.  The instructions state that this product does not stain, but I want to be safe.  I really like my pretty robe!!

Then I applied the 20-minute Smooth-It Serum thoroughly to my hair.  OH-MY-GOSH!  This stuff stunk SO bad that my daughter, who was in another room, came out to ask what smelled bad.  I'd have to say the smell was a cross between really bad B-O and a rotten drain.  Yes.  It was that bad.  I had to leave this stuff on for 20 whole minutes!!  I went on their website to make sure this was normal and that I wasn't putting bad product on my hair.  Thankfully I wasn't killing my hair; the website said that the bad smell means it's working.  It is formulated with protein building blocks, found naturally in hair, to smooth and tame unmanageable hair.  I didn't realize protein building blocks stunk so bad.

I actually left it on for 30 minutes because my hair has been so dry lately.  After, I rinsed it out without re-shampooing.  Whew!  It felt great to get that smell off my head!!  (True story: The kids yelled at the dog because they thought HE had passed gas but it was my hair!! I never told them that it wasn't the dog!  How low am I?!)

I once again towel dried my hair and applied the Heat-Activated Perfect-It Cream, with natural rice oil, which is supposed to seal in lasting smoothness and conditioning, and to create a weightless, humidity-resistant barrier to frizz.  This stuff didn't smell at all so I applied it and combed it through.  I then blow dried my hair like normal.  One thing I noticed is that my hair was a lot sleeker.  It felt like my fingers glided through my hair as I dried it.  When I finished flat-ironing it, I wasn't sure if it was any shinier than normal because of the over processing (had my hair highlighted 6 weeks earlier and it's been frizzy ever since) but it definitely FELT smoother. 

My daughter said, "Mom your hair feels nice but man it smelled BAAAAAD!!"

Garnier Blow Dry Perfector...It's Here!

The mailman dropped off a box today and I was pleased to see that it held the Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Blow Dry Perfector kit!!  I also have $2.00 off coupons to share with anyone who wants them!  E-mail me and I'll give them to you.  If you live far away, as always, you can send me .44 for a first class stamp through paypal and I'll mail it directly to you. 

When I opened the Garnier box I found two bottles.  One was the 20-minute Smooth-It Serum and the other was the Heat-Activated Perfect-It Cream.  There were also instructions and clear plastic gloves.  I already washed my hair for the day (I go two days due to dry hair) so I'll have to wait until next time.  I'm anxious to get started!

THE KIT IS IN!! Sebastian Hair Products!!

Always exciting!!! The doorbell rang and once again it's Christmas at my house! The kit for Sebastian hair products are in!  I opened the box and there was a lovely display of Volupt Shampoo, Volupt Conditioner and Volupt Gel Spray and coupons for you!!

I am excited to try these products.  As I've mentioned, my hair is very dry and brittle at the moment.  I had it chemically processed and found out that my hair doesn't like bleach...especially bleach that's been sitting for 20 minutes!  My hair is naturally blond (dark blond) and it lifts very quickly. 

Sebastian claims to give me sensually soft and healthy hair...and lord knows I need it!

NEW CAMPAIGN!! Sebastian Hair Products!

I'm going to be receiving a box full of goodies (and that probably means product coupons for you too!!) from Sebastian.  I'm really excited about it because my hair has been very dull since I had it highlighted.  My kit should contain Volupt Shampoo, Volupt Conditioner and Volupt Gel Spray. 

The kit's not in yet, but in the meantime, you can visit Sebastian's website by clicking HERE. 

#imabzzagent

L'Oréal® Paris Collagen Micro-Pulse™ VS. My Bags!

Being an author, I tend to write at completely odd hours.  Sometimes I'm inspired at 2pm and sometimes, when my fate is cruel, cruel, cruel!, I will be up at 2am pounding away at the keyboard.  Throw being a mother of three kids (not including my husband) and running around meeting all their needs into the mix and the Under Eye Bag Fairy cheerfully asks me, "paper or plastic?" 

I was especially tired this morning when I woke up at 7:30 after going to bed at 2:30am (yep, another writing night that actually begain at an earlier hour of midnight).  I was all too happy to grab the L'Oreal Collagen Micro-Pulse and slather that cream under my eyes.  I left the pulsator under my eyes a bit longer (about 45 seconds each eye) and I could literally feel the puffiness diminishing.  I didn't seen any dark circles and they still aren't there.  

The only bad thing I can think of is now there's no proof that I'm dead tired!!!

NEW CAMPAIGN!! Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Blow Dry Perfection!!

BzzAgent is sending me a new product to test.  I'll be on the Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Blow Dry Perfection campaign.  I've never tried this product before and I'm anxious to use it because my hair stylist was just talking about the Brazilion Blowout (Professional smoothing treatment where after a 90 minute process, you can have frizz-free, sleek hair for up to 12 weeks...even if you air dry)

Garnier's Blow Dry Perfector claims to:

Stay Sleek & Smooth for 7 Shampoos while it...


. Tames frizz


. Keeps hair smooth and shiny


. Provides easier, faster blow dries


. Lasts 7 shampoos

I'm looking forward to seeing what it can do for my over processed frizzy hair!

NEW CAMPAIGN! L'Oréal® Paris Collagen Micro-Pulse™

I'm really excited!  I'm going to start a new campaign for L'Oréal® Paris Collagen Micro-Pulse™.  I should receive my kit in the mail in a few weeks.  I've been using a gel pack that I got for Christmas to help cool my eyes in the morning.

The Collagen Micro-Pulse promises to deliver big on stamping out puffiness, bags, dark circles and wrinkles for brighter, smoother eyes!  I'm a mom of three and I'LL TAKE IT!!  Go to their homepage to check it!