Great Contradictions

Cherished Family Moments & Values: Bigelow Tea family-owned company passed down generations #cbias

April 5, 2013

Family traditions and values are priceless. Carrying on traditions that my mom and grandma started like drinking Bigelow Tea is important for many reasons. It's not just about drinking tea, but it's about the memories and calming effects that I love from a company that values the same things that I do. It's about all those Sunday dinners at grandma's. It's about even as a adult coming home and enjoying a cup of Bigelow Tea with my mom before the boys wake up. My mom and I have a close relationship no matter where my husband's job relocates us too! Girl Talk with my mom drinking a cup of Bigelow Tea is definitely a cherished moment. Since my dad died last year, I think I have come to cherish these moments even more! We are 3 generations of strong women that can be high strung I mean intense that are nurturing and hardworking as well! Bigelow Tea is my moment of zen. When I am drinking my tea, it's like everything slows down for a moment. Being a work-at-home mom of … [Read more...]

Filed Under | collective bias, economical, healthy living

Packaways {Eco-friendly Storage Solution} Review

October 2, 2012

Household clutter is one of our main issues and I am certain we aren't alone. We are always trying to find new solutions for storage while we are tight on space. Introducing... Packaways is a brand new Storage Box that ships and stores in the flat position. When needed, simply press on opposing corners and the bottom "Automatically" folds into place and locks. When not in use, simply press on the bottom and the box folds back down flat for easy, out of the way storage. Ideal for homes, apartments or living quarters where use is intermitent and space is tight. Many applications: Moving; Back To School; Organizing The Kids' Rooms; Basement or Garage; Seasonal Items, etc. You can color code your things or have the colors match your decor. Proudly made in the U.S.A. from durable corrugated plastic. Great for harsh storage conditions or long-term storage since moisture and humidity won't effect the integrety of the boxes. Will last hundreds of cycles under normal circumstances. Many, … [Read more...]

Filed Under | Earth Day, economical, environmentally friendly, Tomoson

Switch old light bulbs w/ @GElighting & @SamsClub for sustainable living & your budget #GELighting #CBias

June 4, 2012

When most people become parents, I think we begin to realize that the world is bigger than us. Before kids I made efforts to live a green lifestyle, but it wasn't until I had them that I really became active in sustainable living. I became aware of how society as a majority is happy with the status quo, but I wasn't. I didn't want my kids to live a life where they think that being rude is acceptable and preserving our environment is someone else's problem. Sustainable Living Sustainable living is a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual's or society's use of the Earth's natural resources and his/her own resources.[1] Practitioners of sustainable living often attempt to reduce their carbon footprint by altering methods of transportation, energy consumption and diet Since my first son was born, I began the process of the transformation toward sustainable living. It wasn't always easy, but now that I look back I love how much my 3 boys have learned from my journey. They are … [Read more...]

Filed Under | collective bias, economical, environmentally friendly, sams club

PMD {@personalmicrodm} at-home microdermabrasion Review & Giveaway {value $179}

May 11, 2012

Happy Early Mother's Day! As a mom, we often neglect taking time for ourselves. To be honest, I barely make an effort to regularly get my haircut so there's no way I have the time for pampering spa services either. Introducing PMD at-home Personal Microdermabrasison... ABOUT THE PRODUCT Achieve amazing anti-aging results at home with Personal Microderm System. It works just like a professional microdermabrasion treatment without the hassle or cost. The hand-held device uses the same aluminum oxide crystals as the ten thousand dollar machines found at your doctor's office. It smooths away dead skin cells, diminishing age spots and other signs of aging. Help treats acne and scarring as well. THE SYSTEM INCLUDES: 1 personal microderm 6 exfoliating discs (2 green and 4 blue) 1 electric cord (Standard U.S. Outlet) 1 facial cap 1 body cap 1 reusable filter Instructional CD and Pamphlet. Watch as I test out PMD for the first time. Note: Prior to video, I have tested it out … [Read more...]

Filed Under | beauty, economical, giveaway, mom

Spring @DialNutriSkin skin care challenge for pampering & protecting with #DialNutriskin #cbias

April 2, 2012

From season to season, our skincare needs change. During winter my skin gets dry & cracked, but come Spring I need to make sure those problems are away since Spring shows a little more skin. Last week I was in a car wreck so my skin needs some extra pampering with the bumps & bruising along with this irritating neck brace. Clearly my skin took a beating during the wreck, so off to Walmart When selecting skincare products, I go for products that offer quality & afforable products that offer real benefits Get your daily dose of healthy skin nutrition with Dial™ NutriSkin™ lotion. The unique BioNutrient Complex replenishes your skin with a fast-absorbing blend of vitamins, minerals and nutrients that lasts for 24 hours and leaves skin feeling hydrated and never greasy. My shopping cart: I decided to get a few more pampering items i.e. memory foam bath mats, loofah & candle along with the Dial Nutriskin Firming, Extra Dry Skin, & Dry Skin with true … [Read more...]

Filed Under | bath, beauty, collective bias, economical, walmart

“What’s lurking under Your Kitchen Sink?” Transform w/ @shakleehq #GetClean products {#Giveaway Too} #momsparkmedia

April 1, 2012

With Earth Day approaching, we are thinking about what we can do to better the Earth... Do your cleaning products have kerosene, phenols, cresol, lye, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sulfuric acid, petroleum distillates, ammonia, sodium hydroxide, butyl cellosolve, phosphoric acid, formaldehyde, chlorine bleach, morpholine, phthalates? Visit the household data base to find out! I consider myself to be a relatively green mom. However, when money and time factors in I am not always as green when convenience is at stake. Even cleaners that claim to be green, natural, etc... can be deceiving when you aren't sure what you are supposed to be looking for! Most importantly is what you won’t find in the Shaklee products, which have been reviewed and endorsed for their safety by Healthy Child Healthy World {http://healthychild.org}. We believe that health isn't just about what you put in your body; it's about everything around you. We bring you a full line of natural and nontoxic … [Read more...]

Filed Under | Earth Day, economical, environmentally friendly, for the home, giveaway, healthy living, momsparkmedia

Use @Elmers to create DIY frugal Snowman Lanterns from recycled bottles #ElmersHoliday #GlueNGlitter #cbias

December 17, 2011

The holiday season is here! This year has been pretty eventful in our household so I am trying to help the kids to spread the true spirit of Christmas & constantly reminding them that Christmas is not about how much money we spend. Instead we are helping them to focus on the fact that Christmas is about doing things for others no matter how big or small it seems. I have seen these adorable Snowman lanterns and decided that these would be perfect to give to teachers & hostesses for Christmas! Walmart is a great place for one-stop shopping. I was able to search for gifts, craft supplies, and more without dragging the boys from store to store. I won't lie that I love shopping at Hobby Lobby & Michael's, but only when I have a 40% coupon does it make it worth going. However, then I feel like I can only purchase one item at a time, which makes me make several trips to those craft stores. As far as Walmart, with so many departments it just makes it easier for me to … [Read more...]

Filed Under | #GlueNGlitter, collective bias, diy, economical, environmentally friendly, family, for the kids, kid-friendly, walmart

DIY: Make your own #glutenfree playdough recipe #celiac

August 25, 2011

Today was the boys' first day of school. Since Hunter is starting pre-k, we have a lot of gluten free issues to consider within the school. 4 year olds with playdough was definitely one of my major concerns, so Hunter & I are making weekly batches of playdough for the whole class. I love those teachable moments! Using everyday items to create playdough is a great way to show children how simple ingredients can have wonderful results. Hunter at age 4 has now had the experience of playing with playdough! Gluten Free Playdough Ingredients: 1/3 c. rice flour 1/6 c. potato starch (2 2/3 TBSP) 1/6 c. salt (2 2/3 TBSP) 1 tsp xanthan gum 1/2 TBSP Cream of Tartar 1 tsp. koolaid powder (any color) 1/2 TBSP oil 1/2 c. warm water Directions: 1. Mix dry ingredients in a storage bag (or container). Let your child help you by shaking to thoroughly mix ingredients. 2. Place warm water & oil in pan. Then, add dry ingredients. 3. Heat mixture on med to med-low he at … [Read more...]

Filed Under | diy, economical, kid-friendly, parenting, school, traditions

Prefense Hand Sanitizer Review & Giveaway

April 26, 2011

I used to keep a bottle of Bath & Body works hand sanitizer in the diaper bag at all time. However, since the rumor is there's contains wheat germ oil and they would never answer whether they are gluten free that ship has sailed (read here for that story). There are a lot of hand sanitizer options, but many smell like alcohol with maybe a hint of scent (maybe). Prefense shows that it does not have to smell like alcohol or contaminate us with gluten. About Prefense • No alcohol! Prefense is made of all-natural ingredients and has absolutely NO alcohol in it! • Our technology protects you for 24 hours or 10 hand washings! • Prefense is non-toxic and safe for kids! It will not hurt you if swallowed! • Prefense is silica based which means it doesn’t dry out your hands like traditional alcohol sanitizers. It actually smooths and softens your hands. You can totally see this when you apply it! • Prefense protects against staph, strep, E.coli, drug resistant … [Read more...]

Filed Under | bath, beauty, economical, giveaway, review, review/giveway

People Towels Review & Giveaway {B Kind 2 Earth}

April 22, 2011

Here some statistics to think about on Earth Day: The western, developed nations make up 1/4 of the world population as well as consuming 3/4 of the world's resources. Every day in the U.S., over 3000 tons of paper towel waste is produced as a result approximately 60 million gallons of polluted water and 72,000 trees felled to create more waste. Not too mention beyond the waste of resources, the paper towels themselves add to the landfills that have been proven to produce methane gas that is contributing to global warming. Meet the solution... People Towels are the newest concept in sustainability, and the latest in eco-chic fashion. An on-the-go, sustainable alternative to paper towels in public facilities, these reusable personal hand towels are made of a patent-pending fabric that’s 100% certified organic Fair Trade cotton. The light-weight fabric is absorbent, yet dries quickly. They are printed with eco-friendly dyes, and come in a variety of designs to appeal to … [Read more...]

Filed Under | economical, environmentally friendly, giveaway, review/giveway