Mom's Little Secrets

It has been a while....

2017-09-29T11:03:00.001-05:00

Hello Readers!
I'm sorry for the delay in posting blog articles. I'm in school finishing my RN. I've been a LPN for almost 14 years, and it's time to finally get that RN I've longed for. I'm also working on a Spanish Proficiency Certificate and Gerontological & Rehabilitative Nursing Certificate. I've been pretty busy lately!

I just got accepted as a Chick-fil-A Mom's Panel member for the 4th year in a row, so I will be posting a lot about CFA pretty soon!

I have not received any product reviews lately. One of the main companies I was doing reviews through has revised the way they run their program, so I'm just waiting now. I hope to bring you some new and exciting products and chances at coupons and free products pretty soon!

I also just got hired as a (case manager) for a very large and famous health insurance company, so I'll be pretty busy with that pretty soon too. I just have to finish my orientation for it.

My husband just finished his first college degree and is now interviewing for positions in electrical engineering.

My family and I took our first international family vacation this summer, and we went to Tokyo, Japan! It was an amazing adventure, and one of the most memorable trips of our lifetimes! We also got to spend some time with one of my best friends from high school! (She was an exchange student at our school.)

Lots of updates! We have been so very busy!!! Thanks for following my blog, and please stay tuned!

Our Experience Camping in Northern Wisconsin!

2016-07-20T00:06:00.000-05:00

Our family took an amazing camping trip last week, and I just had to share our experience with everyone! We were not only able to camp in a beautiful area, but we also got to see a part of our state (Wisconsin) that we have yet to visit. We visited Northern Wisconsin! It is so gorgeous up north!

For 3 days, we tent-camped at a beautiful campground on Indian Reservation land in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin. The campground was called Broken Bow Campground. It was ran and owned by a very sweet lady who was very artistic and had a love of nature. I have never camped at a campground where the ladies restroom had murals painted on the bathroom walls. She also had canoes and paddle boats (and safety vests) available to campers for free! There was a basketball court and 2 playgrounds on site. There was a beautiful lake on site also, and the lake had a nice beach area with sand & a volleyball court. She even had a volleyball on the sand! The only bad part of staying here was the fact that there were a lot of mosquitoes, but as we all know, that is part of camping!

It was so nice being at a beautiful campground that had a CLEAN bathroom. Not only was it clean, but it was beautiful too!

The lake was so serene and calm. My husband took our kids out on the lake in a boat, but I was taking a nap at the time. I was sooo tired after the 4-5 hrs drive up there. LOL

While we were camping, we ate out at 2 very cool restaurants. One was Paul Bunyan and the other was the Wild Boar. Paul Bunyan is a theme-restaurant. It takes you back to the days of logging and being like Paul Bunyan, out in the woods and working up a huge appetite from chopping down trees all day long. When you enter the restaurant, it is decorated to look like the "woods" with wild animals and logs. When you sit down at the table, you notice the dishes are camping dishes! The food is all-you-can-eat because, after all, you just worked up a huge appetite! We had breakfast, so the first items brought to us were homemade buttermilk donuts. They were delicious! After that, they brought out breakfast potatoes, biscuits and gravy, eggs, pancakes, and sausage. We were so stuffed afterwards!

The next restaurant we ate at (not on the same day LOL) was the Wild Boar. The Wild Boar was a unique restaurant also, but it was the menu that was unique. The restaurant itself was just your basic restaurant. The menu, however, was full of very different menu items. When you chose your meal, if you had a choice of meat, it wasn't just steak, chicken, or pork! You could choose duck, venison, wild boar (hence the name), etc. All of the wild game meat is imported from Colorado. I don't eat wild game meat, so my dish was just a taco salad with chicken!

While camping, my husband introduced our little boy to fishing. I didn't think our son would like fishing, but he LOVED it and was quite the fisherman! His first fish caught was a 12 inches long Northern Pike. It was released afterwards. He continued to catch many other fishes with his Daddy.

After our time tent-camping, we moved to a cabin for 2 days! We are so thankful to Camp American Legion for the beautiful opportunity that they provide to military/veteran families, like ourselves, and all at no cost! Camp American Legion is the only camp of its kind in the United States! It is completely ran by the American Legion. The American Legion is a very well-known veteran organization that is mostly known for its motorcycle brigade that honors the fallen and the military members who return from deployments by escorting them home with TONS of motorcyclists in a formation! (The American Legion actually welcomed my husband home from Iraq in 2007!) That same organization helps in many other ways also.
During our stay at Camp American Legion, we were given a beautiful cabin with 2 separate bedrooms and a gorgeous overlooking view of Lake Tomahawk! They provided all meals for us, and they were all cooked by volunteers. They offered several opportunities for boat rides, use of boats for individuals and families, trips to go shopping in Minocqua, water ski shows, fishing trips, and many other activities! All at no cost! Our children got to experience being on a pontoon boat...and even getting to drive it!!! They also got to hand-feed peanuts to the chipmunks, which walked right up to their hands. We all had a ton of fun!

Social Insiders Product Review- Purex plus Clorox 2 Stain Fighting Enzymes

2016-05-28T23:01:00.001-05:00

As a member of Social Insiders, Purex brand provided me with one FREE full-sized bottle of Purex plus Clorox 2 Stain Fighting Enzymes to review, plus they provided me with coupons to give out to my blog/Facebook readers. The opinions and experiences in this review are my own. No monetary compensation was provided for my review.

I was excited to receive this new detergent, as it has been a while since Purex has had any of us Social Insiders review a detergent, so I was very eager to try this one! I was very intrigued by its claim to remove 100 different stains. It claims to remove stains such as starchy stains like chocolate and tomato sauce, protein-based stains like blood and grass, and food stains that use guar gum like ice cream and BBQ sauce. For my review, I used it in a load with clothing that had a mixture of "outdoor play" stains and food stains. I tested 2 different pieces of clothing.

The first item was my teen daughter's hoodie that has accumulated stains from both outside wear and also from food. I have washed this with many other stain removers and detergents, but I have never been able to get the stains out. Most of the staining was old, set in staining. This is BEFORE.

This is AFTER. As you can see, it is much cleaner! Score!!!

The next item was my very active 6-1/2 yrs old son's long sleeve shirt. It had a mixture of outdoor play and food stains also. Some of these stains were set in also. This is BEFORE.

This is AFTER! As you can see, the stains are gone! :)

As for me, I am a huge FAN of this product! It definitely got my kids' clothing items cleaner! If you would like to learn more about this product, please click here.

Influenster Product Review- Head & Shoulders 2-in-1 Instant Relief

2016-05-26T08:56:00.001-05:00

As a member of Influenster, I was sent one FREE full sized bottle of Head & Shoulders 2-in-1 Instant Relief to try out and review. I received no other compensation in return for my honest review.

Before being chosen for this product review opportunity, I had already purchased this exact same shampoo to try to get rid of the dry scalp that I have been suffering with lately due to Wisconsin's crazy weather. I was really happy when I received another bottle of it for FREE! I have tried many different shampoos to try to rid myself of dry scalp, and nothing has worked...until I purchased this one!

When I used Head & Shoulders 2-in-1 Instant Relief for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised! The shampoo has a very nice minty smell and feels so cool when lathered into the hair. This shampoo has peppermint extract and tea tree oil in it, so it not only cools the head but also cleanses and conditions the hair very well.

I have been using this product for approximately 2 months now and LOVE it! It definitely does what it claims. I have had less dry scalp, less itchiness, and less dandruff. I would recommend this product to anyone who has not found relief with other shampoos or treatments!

To find out more about the product, click here.

Social Insiders product review- RENUZIT Sensitive Scents Air Fresheners

2016-03-18T23:31:00.002-05:00

As a product reviewer for Social Insiders, I was given the amazing opportunity to try out and review a new line of air freshener products from Renuzit! In exchange for my personal opinion, I was given 3 full sized products to try out. I was also given coupons to share with my readers. I was provided with an adjustable cone with the scent of Pure Water Blossom and Cucumber, a universal scented oil in the scent of Pure Ocean Breeze, and trigger spray in the scent of Pure White Pear and Lavender.

As Renuzit Sensitive Scents states, these are "a truly unique sensory experience. Each scent has been specially formulated and lab-tested to ensure effective, long-lasting, and pleasing scents without overpowering sensitive noses." I am very sensitive to air fresheners. Most of them, that are sold in stores, make my nose itch or make me sneeze. After using each one of these, I have had absolutely NO problems with allergic-reactions or sensitivities to these products. I do, honestly, believe this statement, as it has proven accurate for me and my family.

Each of these items has a scrumptious and delightful scent that fills the air with goodness! The adjustable cone was used in my bathroom. I have used many different brands of adjustable cones in the past, and although they may release a scent, it usually doesn't last. With the Renuzit Sensitive Scent adjustable cone, the scent lasted for approximately two weeks. Although I still have plenty of the fragrance left in my adjustable cone, I no longer smell it in my bathroom. It may be that I have become used to the smell, or it may have evaporated out.

The universal scented oil is a plug-in. I used this one in my kitchen. The Pure Ocean Breeze scent was fairly faint. It was a very good scent and could be smelled, but it was not overpowering at all, unlike most brands of plug-ins. Again, it only lasted about 2 weeks. It is still plugged into my outlet in my kitchen, but I no longer smell it.

The trigger spray is in a bottle. The Pure White Pear and Lavender is the most amazing combination of scents! This one was my favorite! I love that the scent is so crisp yet not to strong. It leaves a pleasing aroma! For example, we have had an issue with 2 red foxes getting under our porch of our house. These foxes release a nasty scent that smells similar to skunk spray. Each time they get under our porch and release their scent, it comes through our heating system. Oh, it's the most horrible smell EVER! When that scent would come through our vents, I would spray the Renuzit Sensitive Scents trigger spray into the air, on our drapes and on our carpet. It didn't just mask the smell like most would, but it REMOVED the smell from the air! (Luckily, those foxes have found a new home! LOL) I love that I can spray this spray on anything- carpet, drapes, furniture (not all furniture though), etc. It enlightens any room! My whole family LOVES this one! The spray fills a room full of delightful freshness!

All in all, I LOVED these products! (Although I am more fond of the trigger spray!) If you would like to learn more about these products, click here to go to the Renuzit site.

If you would like a chance to try out one of these items for free, please leave a comment below in the comments section! I will choose 3 lucky readers to send a coupon to! You must leave an email address or link to your personal Facebook page (set to Public) so that I have a way to contact you once you are selected!

HAPPY READING!!!

Purex Insiders Update!

2016-03-18T17:04:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone!
As you all know, I've been a product reviewer/blogger for Purex Insiders for many years. Recently, Purex Insiders made some changes to their formatting and also their name. From now on, when I blog about a product from them, I will be referring to Social Insiders. This is the same thing as Purex Insiders. I just wanted to let you all know so there is no confusion! Have a great day!

Shred Your Ex @ Hooter's & Get Free Food on Valentine's Day!

2016-01-22T22:06:00.004-06:00

A friend of mine works at the Hooter's in Trussville, Alabama. She posted this flyer on Facebook. She said that this came from Corporate and that all locations should be doing it. I thought it was hilarious! Plus, what better way to get rid of those pictures you don't want anymore? Haha!

This is NOT a sponsored post! I simply have a friend who is a Hooter's employee, and I wanted to share this hilarious event with everyone! Have fun on Valentine's Day!

Milwaukee's Annual Kite Festival 2015

2015-09-19T20:29:00.003-05:00

Every year, right by Lake Michigan's lake side, Milwaukee hosts an awesome (FREE!!!) Annual Kite Festival at Veteran's Park! Thousands of people come out to enjoy the sights of hundreds of beautiful kites of all sizes as they fly through the skies. There are a lot of vendors present too, so you can grab a yummy bite to eat while watching the beautiful skies above.

One of the cool things about Veteran's Park is that there is a little store on site, called Gifts of Wings, that is both a snack stand and also a kite store, so while attending this event, visitors can check out the store and buy their own kites to fly outside. This year was the 2nd year that we have attended this festival, but the last time we attended was 6 years ago (when our son was a BABY!). This time BOTH of our kids got to enjoy the festival and each got to pick out a cool new kite!

After picking out their new kites, we found a clear spot outside, then their Daddy assembled the kites for them.


(Excuse my finger in the left corner. LOL It was extremely bright outside, and I could not see that well through the view finder so I did not realize that my finger was in the way)

Our kids had so much fun flying their new kites, and Daddy even had a blast flying the kites when they weren't. I sat with my husband's service dog so that he could enjoy his time with our kids. (My husband is a wounded combat war Veteran who has had quite a troublesome past year due to his injuries, so right now he is making up for lost times with our kids. They are loving it, and so is he!)

For our family, this is such a wonderful event. It's a typically peaceful event, where everyone is there to just watch the kites fly high and enjoy the beauty of nature. We can't wait until next year!

Hales Corners Veterinary Clinic FREE EVENT for Kids and Dogs

2015-08-31T03:42:00.003-05:00

Upon looking for FREE events to take my kids to, I came across a vet clinic in Milwaukee county that was hosting a free fun event for kids and dogs! I had never heard of the clinic, but I thought it sounded like a great event to attend. They offered cotton candy, popcorn and fun things for kids to do, plus they were giving FREE nail trims and orthopaedic exams to dogs. Why not save some money on our dog's care, right? So we went! I'm so glad we did!

Hales Corners Veterinary Clinic is located in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, which was approximately 35 minutes for us to drive to from our home in Racine. This clinic was very well-organized and very clean. They had separate rooms for cats and dogs, which I thought was great. Their staff was very friendly and all smiles. We were given a personal tour of the facility. They had a "teddy bear surgery room" set up for kids to see how surgery is basically done (in a non-threatening way).

My kids enjoyed seeing this and were thankful that it was just a teddy bear. LOL

The poor teddy bear had some serious visceral issues (sorry, "nurse talk". I'm a nurse also. Visceral means its "guts."). It's poor insides were exposed. Luckily, it was sedated. LOL

Our dog, a Pitbull named Isabella, enjoyed her "pedicure" and her "massage" that she received for free! Her nails are all pretty now, and her orthopaedic exam gave her a clean bill of health! The veterinarian was extremely nice and caring. She loved our dog too!

I was extremely impressed with this facility and the staff members. I honestly believe that we may end up transferring Isabella's care to Hales Corners Veterinary Clinic. It may be a 35 minutes drive, but Isabella loved being there, and I felt like she was in good hands. With Isabella being my husband's service dog, she needs the best of care. I honestly feel she would receive it at this clinic.

After we were done, we were given lots of "swag" to take home! :)

If you would like to learn more about Hales Corners Veterinary Clinic, you can check out their Facebook page here and you can check out their website here.

Purex Insiders- Step 2 "Backyard Fun in the Sun" Giveaway

2015-07-20T20:09:00.002-05:00

As a Purex Insider, I have been chosen to help spread the word about a current giveaway that is underway! In exchange for my help, I have a chance at winning a prize. No other compensation has been provided.

Step 2 is very well known for amazingly well-built and awesomely adventurous toys for toddlers. As a mom of two kids, I can vouch for these great toys that Step 2 makes. My kids have owned and experienced many of them. (I'm not endorsing Step 2 products, but I am speaking from personal experience with them.)

Purex Insiders, along with Step 2 and Dial, is offering an amazing opportunity for readers to have a chance at winning one of many great prizes:

One grand prize winner will receive Step2 prize suite worth $1000, a year’s supply of Dial® Baby Body + Hair Wash™, & Purex® Baby laundry detergent.

Ten second-place winners will each receive a bottle of Dial Baby Body + Hair Wash and a bottle of Purex Baby laundry detergent.

To enter this great giveaway, click here! Good luck!

***THIS CONTEST ENDS ON JULY 31, 2015, SO GET YOUR ENTRIES IN!***

2015-06-15T01:39:00.001-05:00

[Giveaway] Giveaway Botanica Science

2015-06-15T01:36:00.001-05:00

My Experience with a Baby That Got Out

2015-06-12T13:42:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, my friend and I were driving through a neighborhood and saw a little girl, who was probably between 2-3 yrs old, walking in her front yard all alone. There were no adults or other children outside or near her. My friend and I thought it was odd. I remembered when my son, who was around the same age, opened the front door of a previous home we lived in and decided to walk down the road to play with another toddler who had escaped her home, too. We were asleep at the time, because it was around 5 a.m., and the other child's parents were still asleep too. I woke up to see my front door wide open and my baby gone! It was the scariest thing to experience. I immediately ran outside and screamed for my son. Luckily, we lived in the country, and he was easy to find. Unfortunately, this little girl lived in a busy neighborhood where there is a good bit of traffic. This baby was all alone and could have ran into the street or been picked up by a stranger. I stopped my car and told my friend that I didn't think anyone knew the baby was out there. She was in front of a specific house and the screen door to the porch was open, so I walked up to the baby and asked her if anyone knew she was outside. She just looked at me like she didn't understand what I said. I noticed that through the porch door was a door to the house, and it was cracked open, so I yelled asking if anyone was home. I yelled several time and then finally a lady comes running out yelling for her baby. The mom came out, and I told her that her baby was outside playing by herself, and that I had a toddler do the same thing and figured that no one knew she was outside. The mom was panicked and said she turned her back for one minute to go to the restroom and didn't realize her little girl went outside. I reminded the mother just how close I was to her daughter and how I could have easily kidnapped her and then I suggested that she put a top lock on her door. She pointed out that she already had one but had decided to leave it unlocked since she had a family member on her way over. The mom kept thanking me over and over and apologizing to me, although I told her she didn't need to apologize to me for anything. I was just being a concerned mother. Even if it's not YOUR child, it doesn't mean that you can't still protect the child. The old saying is that it takes a village to raise a child. Not only could that baby have gotten hit by a car or kidnapped, but she could have ended up at someone else's house and possibly molested or harmed. All of these horrible things COULD HAVE happened simply because this mom took one single short cut and ignored the one safety feature she already had in place for her baby! I could have also just kept driving and not stop to inquire about the child's safety. Some people would have felt like they were being nosy. You have to think though---what if it was YOUR child? Would you not want someone to help you protect your baby? I know I would! smile emoticon

School's Out for Summer! Ways to Stay Active & Have Fun...for FREE!

2015-06-12T13:02:00.001-05:00

Spring has passed us once again, and now it's finally that time of year...where the sun is hot, shade is hard to find, mosquitoes are everywhere, grass is growing like crazy, city swimming pools are at full capacity, everyone is wearing flip flops, shorts seem to be a little too short sometimes, kids are running around outside, sprinklers are on, the air is filled with the scents of barbecuing...you get the idea---IT'S SUMMER TIME!!!

With summer time comes the end of school year. Now the kids are at home all day long. They are driving you crazy. Every one is getting cabin fever. Some families are planning vacations or going on them. Some families are doing stay-cations where they do things locally. Regardless of what your plans or lack of plans are, there are TONS of things that you can do with your kids this summer...and a lot of them don't even cost a dime!

Here are some ideas of things that you can do with your kids this summer:

*Don't have a local swimming pool to visit? Get the water hose out! Remember back in the day when WE were kids, what did we all do? We played with the water hose! Get it out, turn it on, and let the kids spray each other! Give them some balloons and let them make water balloons to throw!

*Visit museums! Some are free, some will cost you. It depends on where you live or where you are going to visit the museum. If you are a military family with active DOD ID, check out Blue Star Museums! We do this every summer! There are tons of museums around the USA that participate, so no matter where you live, you should be able to find at least one that you can visit for free with your DOD/military ID.

*Go on nature walks! Nature doesn't cost a thing (unless you are visiting a national or state park...sometimes they charge for visits). I found a site that you can use to help locate nature trails near you! Exploring nature can be both educational and healthy! Your kids (and even you) can learn about wildlife, habitats, and the environment, while you enjoy the health benefits of being active with your family and enjoying the fresh air!

*Visit the beach! If you are like me and my family, and you live near a beach or a lake, pack a lunch or picnic, grab a frisbee, put on your swim suit, grab your flip flops, get the kids dressed for some sandy and watery fun and load up the family to head to the beach for the day! Walk the beach, play frisbee, etc...stay active and enjoy the sounds and scents of the beautiful beaches!

*Go on a family walk around your neighborhood! Explore new neighborhoods (just be safe about it). Check out the local mom and pop stores. Eat at a new restaurant. Just get out and enjoy a nice family walk!

*If you have a bicycle, use your bicycle this summer instead of driving locally. If you want to plan a bike route in your area, check out this site!

*Plant a family garden! This may cost money initially, but in the end, if you plant edible plants, you will save money by growing your own foods!

*Check out your local library for summer reading programs for the kids and adults! You can also find out if your local library has any summer events planned. Some libraries, like ours, will host movie nights, family nights, etc.

*Look for volunteering opportunities that you can include kids in! What better way to teach children to help and appreciate what they have than to have them help others knowing they will not receive anything in return...other than mere enjoyment that they are helping!

*Keep an eye out for local festivals. Sometimes they are free. Sometimes they cost money.

*If you follow a certain religion, or even if you don't but you want your kids to do something free, check out the local churches and find out when registration dates are open for Vacation Bible School.

*Host a camp out in your back yard and let your kids invite some friends over. If you have a tent or a canopy, set it up in the back yard, then let the kids camp outside!

*Host a family movie night at your house! Grab a movie from your collection of movies, use Netflix or Hulu if you have it, or spend $1.50 to rent a movie at a local Redbox. Make some popcorn. Sit back and relax with the kiddos!

*Pull out those board games that have collected dust throughout the year! Host a family game night!

*Host a mini-marathon or obstacle course in your neighborhood or in your own yard. Let the kids have fun while competing for prizes or goodies!

There is so much to do during the summer! Just don't let kids sit around and play video games all the time. Encourage them to get out and enjoy their summer. Don't forget to continue educating them during the summer too. Research shows that kids lose what they have learned during the whole school year, as soon as summer comes! Keep them educated and make sure they don't forget what they have already learned.

Have a great summer! Be safe and have fun!

Here are some pics of my kids enjoying the great outdoors near where we live!

Lake Michigan Harbor, Kenosha, Wisconsin

The lighthouse on the pier at Lake Michigan in Kenosha, Wisconsin

My kids playing in the sand at Lake Michigan in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It was pretty darn cold that day! LOL

My little boy checking out our garden plot that we built, as a family, last year. He is so excited that we will be putting together another family garden this summer!

Purex Insiders Product Review- RENUZIT PEARL SCENTS

2015-05-24T15:21:00.000-05:00

As a Purex Insider, I was recently chosen to try out the new Renuzit Pearl Scents room freshener. In exchange for my personal opinion and product review, I was provided with one FREE full size product and coupons for free products to give to my blog readers.

I must admit, when I first received this product to try, I was not really sure of how great it would be. I have tried other brands of room fresheners that are made from similar beads, and they never quite impressed me. Honestly, my expectations were not very high. However...that soon changed!

Upon opening the seal on the Renuzit Pearl Scents, I was taken back by how strong the aroma was. It was strong, but in a good sense. It made me feel hopeful that I would soon be impressed by its performance. I left it sitting on my counter top, and then I left my house for the day. I had several errands to run that day, so my house had many hours to soak up the amazing smell of the Renuzit Pearl Scents. I had this product in my kitchen. My kitchen and dining room are very large, and then my living room is connected, which is also very large. I can't say that the Renuzit Pearl Scents is meant for large areas; however, my portion of my kitchen that it was sitting in smelled so good! The smell was uplifting and smelled like a beautiful rain garden.

I have had this sitting in my kitchen for about a week, and I do have to say that the scent has vanished. I have tried to shake the beads to possibly reactivate them, and although I can smell it standing in front of it, it no longer spreads the aroma through my kitchen, so in my experience, the aroma is short lived.

If you would like to learn more about the Renuzit Pearl Scents, you can check out the Renuzit site here.

If you would like a chance to receive a coupon to try the new Renuzit Pearl Scents for FREE, simply comment on this blog post by answering this question:
WHAT IS THE ONE PROBLEM THAT YOU FIND WITH USING ROOM AIR FRESHENER PRODUCTS (ANY BRAND)?
**Two winners will be chosen randomly.**

Purex Insiders Product Review & Coupon Giveaway- Purex Crystals ScentSplash

2015-04-17T19:21:00.003-05:00

As a Purex Insider, I was chosen to try out the new Purex Crystals ScentSplash. In exchange for my blog post and product review, Purex sent a free full-size product for me to try out and also sent coupons for some of my lucky readers to try out this amazing product for free! No other compensation was provided.

Purex Crystals has become a common household staple for most families who love Purex products. We all know how wonderful the Purex Crystals are! Those tiny colored and scented pebbles of goodness can smell up a whole room and make clothing smell delicious! Well, now Purex has introduced a whole new concept for the Purex Crystals! It's Purex Crystals ScentSplash, which is the Purex Crystals product in LIQUID FORM!!!

Purex Crystals ScentSplash smells just as amazingly delicious as the standard Purex Crystals! (Maybe even better!) Purex Crystals ScentSplash became available, in April 2015, in stores like Wal-Mart and other stores that sell Purex products. This wonderful product comes in 3 scents: Fresh Spring Waters, Fresh Lavender Blossom, and Fresh Mountain Breeze. I received the Fresh Spring Waters scent to try out, and this is also the only scent that my local Wal-Mart carries.

Purex Crystals ScentSplash is an in-wash fragrance booster that fills your clothing with a beautiful scent of freshness! You can use a little or you can use a lot! It is your choice! Purex claims that this product provides for 35% more wash loads than the 18 oz Purex Solid Crystals. I can't verify that, but I would think it depends on how much you choose to use.

In my personal opinion, this stuff is amazing! It smells sooooo good! This is really just a product to make your clothes smell better than with just normal detergent. It's not a fabric softener. It definitely kicks up, the laundry freshness smell, several notches! I highly recommend this product!

If you would like the chance to try out the new Purex Crystals ScentSplash, please comment below and tell me why you would like to try this product. Please include an email address to be contacted at. Those entries that don't answer the question and/or don't provide an email address aren't accepted for selection!

Purex Insiders Product Review and Coupon Giveaway- Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap Infused w/ Marula Oil

2015-04-11T13:51:00.002-05:00

As a Purex Insider, I was given the opportunity to try out the new Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap Infused with Marula Oil. In exchange for my blog review, Dial provided ONE free FULL SIZE bottle for me to try in my home, and I received coupons for my readers to try a FREE bottle of DIAL COMPLETE OMEGA MOISTURE FOAMING HAND WASH 7.5 oz. No other compensation was provided.

Dial is known for having some pretty amazing body and hand soaps, so it is no surprise that the new Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap is pretty darn amazing! Like the new Dial Miracle Oil Body Wash, the Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap leaves the body and skin silky smooth! The scent that is left behind is subtle and hypnotic.

Dial states that Miracle Oil Hand Soap infused with Marula Oil "uses Micro Oil technology to nourish and deeply hydrate your skin while protecting it from skin damaging free radicals." From my personal experience, I find that this statement is true, although I can't prove that it protected my skin from damaging free radicals; however, it did leave my hands soft and smelling great!

To find out more about the new Dial products made with Marula Oil, click here.

If you would like a chance at discovering how great Dial hand soaps can be, leave a comment telling me why you love Dial hand soaps vs other brands. You must also leave an email address to be contacted at. Winners will be chosen randomly. Good luck!

Purex Insiders Product Review & Giveaway!- Purex Powershot Laundry Detergent

2015-03-31T23:32:00.004-05:00

As a Purex Insider, I was chosen to try out and review a new product from Purex----Purex PowerShot Laundry Detergent! In exchange for my product review, Purex provided, to me, a FREE full sized bottle of Purex PowerShot Laundry Detergent, along with coupons for my readers to try out this awesome product too! No other compensation was provided.

Purex PowerShot Laundry Detergent is a completely new type of detergent...completely different from any other laundry detergent that Purex has ever offered! Purex PowerShot is a self-dosing bottle of laundry detergent! No more messy pouring. No more "Oops! I poured too much!" No more nasty, messy bottle lids! This is the end to all of your laundry woes, when it comes to liquid laundry detergent!

Purex PowerShot is so easy to use! You simply tip the bottle over, while the cap is on. It pours the amount of detergent that you will need right into the lid. You pop the lid open and pour! It's THAT simple...it really is!

See! No surprises! No mess! Simply pour it in, then close the lid and sit the bottle back upright until you need it again!

I have been a Purex Insider product reviewer for a while now, and I have tried just about every single laundry detergent Purex has come out with, but I have to say that THIS one is my favorite!!! I ABSOLUTELY love the self-dosing technique and idea! I give this product 5 stars out of 5 stars!

Not only do I love this new Purex PowerShot, because of the simplicity of it, but it made my clothes SOOOO CLEAN!!!! Another great product from Purex!

If you would love a chance to try out the new Purex PowerShot Laundry Detergent, which you can now find at most Walmarts, then leave a comment below telling me why you would like to try this new product from Purex, and I will provide 6 lucky readers with either a coupon for a FREE bottle of Purex PowerShot or a coupon for $1.50 off one bottle of Purex PowerShot laundry detergent! You will find out which one you will be receiving once you receive it! It's a surprise! :) Good luck! (*Please make sure that you provide an email address for me to contact you!*)

Purex Insiders Product Review and Coupon Giveaway! - Dial Sugar Cane Husk Scrub Hand Soap

2015-03-31T23:07:00.002-05:00

As a Purex Insider, I was recently chosen to try out and review the new Dial Sugar Cane Husk Scrub Hand Soap. I was provided with a FREE full sized bottle, plus coupons for FREE full sized Dial Liquid Hand Soaps to give out to some lucky readers of this blog, in exchange for my review! No other compensation was provided!

Dial is known for giving us some pretty amazing hand soaps. Most of them have anti-bacterial products. The new Sugar Cane Husk Scrub comes via their new Boutique Collection, so it provides deep cleansing combined with moisturizing qualities for soft hands!

The Boutique Collection Hand Soaps come in vibrant scents and provide "refreshing moisture" with the combined effects of "gentle micro-scrubbers."

The first time I used this hand soap, I did not see or notice a difference in my hands. It just seemed to be like any other hand soap. However, after using it a few more times, I did notice that my hands felt SLIGHTLY smoother; however, it was not long lasting. I live in Wisconsin, and we have almost no humidity here, so my hands stay dry and cracked most of the time. (Something my hands are NOT used to! We have only lived here for a year now.) I was hoping for a wonderful effect on my hands from using this soap, but so far, it has not impressed me. The smell of the soap is very mild, but I did not really like the smell of it. It has almost a vanilla smell, which is not one of my favorite scents.

My official star rating for this product, out of 5 stars, would be 2 stars. It is an "ok" hand soap, but it is definitely not my favorite.

I have 2 coupons up for grabs! If you'd like to try the new Dial Sugar Cane Husk Scrub, or another scent of Dial Liquid Hand Soap, for free, please comment below in the comment section! I will send one out to the first 2 readers to comment! :) Good luck! (**You must leave an email address for me to contact you!**)

Congratulations to "A Guiding Star"! From One Wounded Warrior Wife to Another....

2015-03-25T14:49:00.002-05:00

As a wife of a 2-time wounded Veteran of the Iraq & Afghanistan Wars, I know all too well the challenges of loving and living with someone who has been to combat and continues to fight the battle once he gets home. My husband served in Tekrit (COB Speicher), Iraq in 2006-07. He came home totally changed. He was NOT the man I fell in love with and married. I did not know the man who the Army sent home to me. He was distant, unloving, hateful, reclusive, didn't want anything to do with me and our daughter, just wanted to sleep and play video games (war games mostly), got angry about everything, had flashbacks, attacked me in my sleep WHILE HE was asleep (night terrors), attempted multiple affairs (although it wasn't until 2010 that he actually HAD an affair, then again in 2014), etc. He was finally diagnosed with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), depression, and anxiety disorder. He had attempted to take his own life two times in a 3 yrs period (2007 in Iraq and 2010 in Wisconsin). He served, in combat, again in 2012-2013, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, where he was blown up by a suicide bomber on March 2, 2013 and was nearly killed. He received a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and his PTSD was worsened, as is expected. He came home with a ton of health issues related to the TBI. He is almost 35 yrs old, and he now has SEVERE PTSD (so bad that the Army medically retired him at the highest rating possible for a retirement with PTSD and so bad that he's been hospitalized in inpatient psych 3 times now), multiple TBIs (one from each tour- the 1st one was never diagnosed or found until he received the 2nd one in Afghanistan), TBI-induced migraines, TBI-induced hypothyroidism (he has to take medication for the rest of his life so that his thyroid function will be managed), TBI-induced tinnitus (ringing in the ears), brain damage that includes damage to the portion of his brain that controls anger & rage (he has to take medication for the rest of his life so that his anger & rage can be controlled) and cognition & memory/recall (he has memory problems and problems with understanding information that is told to him or that he reads). The man I fell in love with 9 yrs ago and married 8 yrs ago (our 8 yrs wedding anniversary is March 28th!) was the sweetest, most caring, most faithful, most honest, most loving, family-oriented and fun-loving man I had ever met! The man I am married to now (and live separately from as of last week) is uncaring most times, is very dishonest with me, has cheated on me with other women, has abused drugs & alcohol, has told me many times he doesn't love me or that he hates me (always when he's enraged or having an affair), has evaded me and our kids many times, has emotionally neglected me and our kids many times, is emotionally disconnected from me most times, tells me that he no longer "feels" love for me, is unmotivated to get out and do things to stay active unless I make him do it, lacks initiative, can't remember to takes his meds/brush his teeth/or take a shower without my reminding him or his setting a reminder alarm on his cell phone; yet through all the bad with him, I still love him with all my heart. He may not be the man I married, but he didn't ask for this to happen to him either. His actions tell the story of his combat experiences. He killed and watched others kill. He had people trying to kill him. He was shot at. He was blown up. He had a live grenade thrown in his lap. He had buddies die. He watched children die and be tortured. He watched a vehicle (with people inside) get blown up by an IED and he saw people coming out of the vehicle while on fire. He saw people get projectile shrapnel shot into their body. He lived everyday of 2 deployments not knowing if he would come home alive or in one piece. With all the trauma and chaos that he survived, I can't (nor can anyone else) expect him to NOT be changed and a be a different person. Trauma, no matter what the cause, changes people forever. For all the problems we have had with him since his return from 2 combat deployments, we have also experienced happy and loving moments with him. He may not tell me he loves me like he used to, but when he reaches for my hand with hesitation, while we are sitting in church; or when he reaches to kiss me on my forehead like he did when we were dating; or when I catch him looking at me and smiling...then I know...somewhere deep inside this war-torn body and soul, is the man I fell in love with, and I hope that one day he will have the strength to realize how important he is to me and our kids.

My story...our story...is very common in the wounded warrior community. Unfortunately, this same story can also end in divorce or by suicide (for either the Veteran or his/her caregiver). Until our government realizes that our Veterans and their families deserve to be treated with more respect and honor than what they are, and until they realize that they have way too many Veterans not getting the help they need when they come home, yet they continue to send money to other countries instead of helping these Veterans, then this story of mine will continue to be in vain...and so will the stories of millions of others.

Please read the story at this link. Help support our Veterans and their families!

SheSpeaks product review- DRIP DROP Hydration Powder #DrinkDripDrop

2015-03-16T17:29:00.000-05:00

As a member of SheSpeaks, I was given the opportunity to try out and review a new product called Drip Drop Hydration Powder. I was sent 4 packets of varying flavors to try, for free, in exchange for my personal opinion of their product and review.

Drip Drop is an electrolyte replacement aide that states it is "medical grade." As a nurse, I know how important it is to maintain electrolyte balance. When a person gets sick with vomiting, diarrhea or dehydration, and the person does not have IV fluids or some type of electrolyte replacement product given to him or her, it can become a very dangerous situation for that person. Electrolyte imbalance can affect the function of a person's kidneys, liver, blood production, and even brain function, so keeping electrolytes balanced is a key part of survival.

Drip Drop comes in packets that are opened and then mixed into 8 fl oz of water. (Kinda like the drink mix packets you can buy at the store.) The packets are 0.35 oz each, which equates to 10 grams. The flavors that were sent to me were lemon and berry. You can find out more about this product at their website.

The back of each packet does clearly state to only use this product under medical supervision. It also states that children under 12 mos of age should use this only under the advice of a doctor. Due to the nature of this product, and the fact that this product is for electrolyte replacement and should only be used when a person is sick, my family and I did not have a chance to try the product out. Thankfully, we have been perfectly well during flu and cold season!

I will hold on to these packets for future use, as this sounds like a great product to have on hand for illnesses.

Please check out #DripDrop! I have 2 - $3 off coupons available for 2 lucky readers who are interested in receiving them. They do EXPIRE on March 31st, 2015.

My Experience Shopping @ the Children's Online Boutique #FABKIDS

2015-03-01T17:42:00.002-06:00

5/5

posted Mar-01-2015

"Just started ordering outfits for our 5 yrs old son. He now has about 4 outfits or so from FabKids. We love the outfits! He loves them too! The quality of the clothes is excellent, the choices are unique, and the price is comparable to retail stores. We are very pleased! I have signed up for the VIP monthly program so that I can start building our son's wardrobe with some really cute clothes. He's very petite, and it's hard to find cute clothes to fit him. Although he wears a 5 in boys, the clothes we get him in the stores always tend to be too long or too big on the waist. So far, all of the Fabkids clothes have fit him perfectly!"

This is my recent review that can be found on Reseller Ratings. I was not compensated, in any way, for this review or for the sharing of my review. I just wanted to share my satisfaction with FabKids.

Follow Me on Social Media Sites!

2015-01-24T17:27:00.003-06:00

You can now follow me on Instagram!!!!

I am also on Facebook!!!!!

Tips to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft!!!

2015-01-24T12:22:00.002-06:00

(Photo found via Google image search. Image located at this site. I DO NOT know anything about that site nor am I promoting it. Just giving the site credit for the image. )

Prevent identity theft by following some very simple rules:

1) ALWAYS destroy your mail that you throw in the trash or recycle bin! You can invest in a shredder to shred your mail. You can cut up your mail. You can tear it up. You can even dissolve your mail in a mixture of bleach and water. (I saw that one on a show last night!) ALWAYS make sure that anything that has your name, address, personal information/medical information, bank information, credit card information, etc is DESTROYED somehow before discarding in the trash.

2) ALWAYS peel off prescription bottle labels and tear them in pieces before throwing away an empty bottle. If someone gets ahold of a prescription label, they can not only steal your medical and personal information, but they can also create fake prescriptions to retrieve your medication.

3) ALWAYS destroy any school paperwork that identifies where you, your spouse/SO or your children attend school.

4) NEVER give your social security number, date of birth, drivers license number, address, credit card or bank account information, etc to anyone over the phone IF you did NOT initiate the phone call.

5) ALWAYS destroy prescription lists and paperwork that the pharmacy sends home with your medications...IF it has any identifiable information on it, such as your name, prescription number, doctor's information, phone numbers, etc.

6) NEVER use public Wi-Fi access/hot spots to access your bank accounts, credit card accounts, email, social media or anything that you would use a password for. Public Wi-Fi accesses are hackers' paradises. Save these types of sites for your own private Wi-Fi network, i.e. home access.

7) ALWAYS ask for proper ID when allowing any techs or repair guys to access your home. If someone shows up, and you did not arrange for them to show up, ask for their first and last name, company that they work for, and their ID, then look up the company's phone number (don't ask for it because they may give you a false one), and call the company to verify that the employee is who they are and that they have a valid reason for accessing your home.

8) If you are going away on vacation or will be gone from your home for a few days, ALWAYS put in a request with your mail man or post office to hold your mail. Do not let mail accumulate at your home. Same goes for packages!

9) Don't sign up for miscellaneous apps that you don't need! A lot of apps access your personal information that is not necessary. You are allowing them to invade your personal life and sometimes...your friends' too!

10) When shopping with a bank debit card that has a credit card logo, use your card as CREDIT whenever you can! DO NOT use your card pin number at gas pumps. If you have to use debit, go inside and make the purchase. Identity thieves put card skimmers on gas pumps all the time. You won't even notice it's on there. Once they skim your card, they have total access over your whole bank account!

Decorating Our New Home- First Christmas

2014-12-13T15:43:00.002-06:00

Our family moved into our new home in May 2014. This will be our first Christmas in our new home. We had so much fun decorating for Christmas this year! (I plan to buy lots of Christmas decorations after Christmas, when they get marked down, so that we can decorate even more next year.)

OUR CHRISTMAS TREE AND STOCKING HOLDER W/GARLAND ON THE DRAPES

LIVING ROOM SIDE TABLE CHRISTMAS SET UP

KITCHEN BAKERS RACK LIGHTING

CHRISTMAS TREE RING DECORATION OUR DAUGHTER MADE

BEAUTIFUL PINE GARLAND (FAKE) ACROSS OUR DRAPES...WE ADDED ORNAMENT BALLS TO IT THIS YEAR AND LOVE HOW IT LOOKS

KITCHEN COUNTER CHRISTMAS DECOR SET UP

WINDOW LIGHTS (FROM OUTSIDE)

OUTSIDE VIEW OF WHOLE HOUSE

FRONT DOOR