Printerpix $100 Gift Card Giveaway

This Giveaway is Hosted by Jenn, Mom of Two Munchkins

Printerpix has a ton of different photo gifts to choose from and their quality is amazing.  Jenn, Mom of Two Munchkins had the opportunity to review one of their photo canvases and fell in love immediately.  They have so many types of photo gifts from photo books to canvases to metal prints and everything in between.  Check out her Full Review.

Want a chance to win $100 credit to use on the Printerpix site with free shipping?  Enter below!

I have a canvas picture of our dogs. I love it so much that I bought my mom one of her dog, Moose.  This would be great for pictures of babies and weddings as well!  Good luck from Blabs from a SAHM and TW!

Entry-Form

Jenn, Mom Of Two Munchkins was provided with a free sample of this product to review, and was under no obligation to review it.  Nor was Jenn, Mom Of Two Munchkins under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.  Jenn, Mom Of Two Munchkins and Blabs from a SAHM and TW are not responsible for shipping of prize.  Printerpix has the sole responsibility for shipping of prize.  Prize value is approximately $100.

Goodness...

Just wanted to let everyone know we had an amazing time dress shopping! I was so disappointed when they told me the dress I wanted to try on again and show everyone "was not in the show," even though another bride saw it at the expo from that store...ugh.

*In short-found a dress, shop mismeasured, stop was put on order, they pushed it through, and now I have to fight about it.  Not cool bridal store, not cool at all.*

Well I found a great dress that was me. I had to have it measured hollow to hem (I'm short).  I was not going to get it that day because I still wanted to show my friends the other dress but the lady insisted we see what size I would be. Sooooo many things went wrong after this point. The seamstress measured me without the slip on which correlates to the dress being even shorter after it is actually over a slip! Ahhh! After I realized this I freaked out, screamed, swore, and cried. Who does this to a bride?!?! It just continued to build up after the store took their time calling me back. The manager did say she was going to stop my order until I can be remeasued (I live 2.5 hrs away so this can't be anytime soon as in the next month). Ah, fret not! I checked my credit card and it had the charge from the shop on it! They put the charge for the dress through and I have not been back to be remeasured yet! Why am I going to pay for something the shop mistakenly did while measuring? If this happenend the very first time I was measured I am scared as to what will happen.

Dress Shopping

We are making the trip to MB Bridal in Greensburg, PA this weekend to see a Trunk Show for Maggie Sottero and Sottero & Midgley.  Am I excited? Yes! I've been prepping by watching "Say Yes to The Dress" and know my entourage will not be as mean to me as they are on that show.  Gee! Do people not understand that feelings are real?  Ok, dumb question ...   (: 

Some great examples from the designer:

Color choices! Ah!

There are quite a few color schemes I love .... 

Which do I choose? I have no idea!  I love that the brights are more for summer, but the blush and golds are so glamorous!  Now I am in a conundrum.... Ah!!

So I will just do two posts... one on the glam colors and one on the fun colors.  Maybe I'll actually help you pick if you are stuck with one of the colors!

Check out the pinterest inspiration and idea board for both of these colors - Brights    Glam!

The Hunt for Wedding Favors

With Trista getting married, it had me thinking about planning our wedding.  I was the first one of my friends to get married so I had no one to ask for advice on the planning process.  My mom and I sat down and talked about all the things I wanted out of my big day.  I knew the date, location and even wedding dress style I wanted, but when it came to wedding favors I was lost.  

Weddingstar offers personalized, practical, and affordable wedding favors.  There are almost 300 different wedding favors on their site!  You can search by theme, seasons and even DIY favors. For my wedding, we got everything personalized.  From match books to ribbon, everything had Robbie and Brittany written on it! I really like practical favors because it is something that your guests can actually use and you really get your money's worth.  Although, their prices really are affordable so you can surely find your dream wedding favor with Weddingstar!  Now off to look at some favors for Trista!

Gowns!

There are so many gown designs out there that I love, just like any other lady looking, but a few have caught my eye and heart!

I went to a salon near us, well an hour away, to see a truck show for Maggie Sottero & Midgley.  I tried on 8 gowns, found 3 I liked and there was a WOW dress that I just could not believe it was real! I went home and was called by my consultant and was told "If you want this dress you need to order it now.  Who really knows if the designer is actually going to make it."  Seriously? I was a little blindsided by her because she assured me in the store that what I see is what is coming out for 2013.   She did offer me a $250 discount if I went back and decided to order it.

I then checked around and found a salon in Greensburg, PA that is having the SAME truck show. Amazing! Who would have thought I could try on the same dress twice when it is supposed to travel all around the US, this must be a sign.  I enrolled the help of my sister and future mother-in-law before, now I am going to take some of my ladies.  They would tell me the truth, even though my sister was kind to point out I have no arse and am to skinny.... ok, I added the last part to it...she did say I should ask for boobs for Christmas.  Nothing but truth from my family! (:

So in Feb. B, my friend Meg, and I are making the trip so they can see the gown on me in person.  One of the hardest things I am running into is my friends are scattered and I mean SCATTERED across the US.  Laken is in Wyoming, B is in Ohio, Megan is in Ohio/Erie area, Bri is in Washpa(ok that's close) and Meg is close too.  Even though everyone is literally everywhere, we are always able to connect at some point.  

I'll post some try-on pics from my gown shopping later!

Surprise!!

For all our followers that kept wondering why we were MIA for a few.... Enjoy!

TBox To-Go!

The Tbox to-go is a sleek tampon holder for the purse, pocket, or backpack. The easy-snap lid keeps tampons secure and secret pill box on the bottom makes the Tbox to-go a lifesaver. The best part? The Tbox to-go looks like make-up. Perfect for a quick pass to a friend in need, or to slip into your pocket.

The Tbox is a great product!   When I first saw it I was surprised that it only costs $14.99.  It has an awesome secret box that you can stick your Ibuprofen or Migraine pills in! Love it!  Another great thing is it is mirrored.  It easily fits into your clutch so you can check your makeup and add more lipstick during  weddings and receptions.  This is a definite buy for someones gift or in a gift for your bridesmaids.  Fill a little clutch up must haves for the wedding day - Tic Tacs, Lip gloss, perfume, band aids, and finally a Tbox!  

 I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

ToiletTree Products!

One of my habits when I go on vacation is to take everything with me ... clothes, makeup, hair products, etc.  ToiletTree was kind enough to let me try out their Toiletry Bag with TSA approved bottles in it. I love this bag!  It actually fit my big hair straighter in it, as well as all my makeup that I think I'll take to Jamaica!

• Designed to organize all of your toiletries while traveling.
• Large double zipper compartment for easy access. Separate zipper compartment located on the bottom of bag.
• Bag comes with 3 TSA approved travel bottles, collapsible cup with pill holder, and toothbrush case.
• Designed with a fully water resistant interior.

As I said, I take a lot of stuff.  This is almost nothing compared to what I usually take. I need to remember to add my other hair products to my checked bags or else I'll be lost! I put all my powdered products into a small makeup bag, but if you do not want to it is fine.  The interior is  easily cleaned by just a damp cloth!

So neat and organized!

This bag is made of high quality materials, with a leather like outside.  The inside is made of a canvas type of material, so it is perfect if you take makeup and it accidentally spills - easy to clean up.  It is stitched in white, which allows for an expensive quality to it.  The top compartment holds many things.





The bottom has the bottles to out your shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in.  I use a ton of conditioner at the beach, so I will more than likely take the entire thing in my checked luggage.  I hate having dry hair and salt water does it to mine  but also makes it look so nice when it is wavy!

Go to Amazon and check out all the products ToiletTree has!

I received the above products through Sublime Media Connection in exchange for an honest review. In no way was I asked to give a positive review.

Flashback Friday!

This is amazing ... I think this picture is from 2002/2003 school year in the commons area of the HS.

L-R: Trista, Britt, Bri, Laken

Workout? Oh my

Whew! So it has been awhile since I updated anyone on my working out status. 

1. I have not quit! 
2. I have awesome cardio for running
3. I can only do 5 push ups at the most
4. I swim multiple times a week
5. I do Insanity every day, except our rest day! 
6. I gained weight- omgosh! 
7. I lost inches in my waist and belly area! Waist - 2 inches, Belly-3 inches.  
1. I am small but still have love handles
2. I know how to wear clothes that hide it
3. Short, Petite women can still have chub on their body
8. I eat blueberries almost everyday
9. Endurance is being built for when I scuba dive! 
10. I am ultimately healthier

When I first started having problems with my stomach, well not first way after it... long story.  Anyway I started to keep a food diary/journal to see what food caused problems.  I have always used the App My Fitness Pal on my Droid.  It keeps track of everything - you can even take a pic of the UPC code and it will tally your stuff for you.  Great App for keeping track of calories, sodium, carbs, keeping your weight,  etc.  Try it out! 

Brazilian Peel Review!

I have a lot of lotions for my face, but I often forget to use them.   When we had the chance to try the Brazilian Peel I was so excited! At first I was a little scared because it stated it is a medical strength peel for at-home use, which includes 30% glycolic acid and is 5x stronger than other stuff on the market.  Scared yet?  Don't be!  The company said it does not cause redness or peeling, so I was skeptical of course because it said it is a 'peel.'   I decided to take trying this product a step further and do some before, during and after shots of using this.  Then I saw the pictures of me with no makeup and my mind changed, sorry!

I will not lie, I was thinking I would have big red sores all over my face after this.  I just saw on WTAE-Channel4 how some ladies get sores and have scars left from it.  But the daredevil I am decided to go for it!  I did notice my face was softer and the blemishes felt like they were actually being taken care of.  As for my 'wrinkles' I am not sure.  I look relatively young, thankfully, so there was no big difference there.  My first and second time applying this treatment left my face with a tint of redness, but by the 3rd week there was no irritation or redness at all. 

It was really easy to use:
1. Clean your face/neck
2. Twist the top cap off of a dispenser
3. Put it in your hand and mix together until it is warm
4. Apply to your face!
5. Let it stay for 10 mintes
6. Wash off!

So if you are wondering if it actually works always look into their clinical trials.  100% said they had improved skin brightness and skin clarity.  If you were wondering if this is only made for women, well it is not! The only added thing for men is it should not be immediately used after shaving. 

Remember this information:

• Brazilian Peel was awarded the Allure 2010 Best of Beauty, Best Beauty Breakthrough Award. It has been featured on Dr. Oz (twice) and The Doctors (once). 
• Research Results: - 100% of the evaluable subjects had improvements in skin brightness in at least one area of the face, as graded by the investigating dermatologist  - At least 70% of the subjects found their skin to be softer and smoother - At least 70% of the subjects had increased facial brightness - At least 70% of the subjects found their skin to feel firmer and more toned.

I received the above products through Sublime Media Connection in exchange for an honest review. In no way was I asked to give a positive review.

White Russian!

 This is a flashback for all of our friends...

White Russian

This is how we would make it :

1. Pour Vodka into a cup ...  1/3 of the cup
2.  Pour Kahlua into it ...   1/3 of the cup
3. Pour in half and half ...  1/3 of the cup

Put a couple ice cubes in it if you want!

We dedicate this to our prego friend Bri ... :)  Here is your drink!

Diamond Rings!

Which one do you like better?

Parisian-122P

Verragio

Parisian-122P  or Venetian-5013P-3

Tell me below in a comment :)  

Venetian 5013P-4

10 Minute Trainer

Whew!  So we have a busy season ahead of us - Jamaica and Vegas!  I gout my mister 10 Minute Trainer by Tony Horton for Christmas.  Yes, I realize it is June... lol   Better late than never :)  I just bought it off of Amazon because that is y go to website for gifts!   It is a  super simple program, aimed to get you moving for 10 minutes straight.  I always think of Dr. Oz when I see Tony on the screen... they just looked similar to me.  


I'll let you know how it is going  in a few days if my arms do not hurt ... haha

Dollar Tree Wedding Ideas!

I literally just got this in an email from Dollar Tree, Inc.  It includes many great ideas for weddings - from walking down the aisle to leaving the reception with a favor.  Be sure to check it out! If you make anything from there let us know too :)

Dollar Tree Wedding Ideas! 

Naughty Makeovers for Nice Girls-Book~R/GA~

Naughty is the new Nice..

That’s the mantra and message of the new “tell-all” how-to paperback, physical book from beauty maestro Dimitri James. In Naughty Makeovers for Nice Girls, James creates a new kind of finishing school–one for nice girls who always finish anywhere but first.

Tired of seeing the many “nice girls” in his life constantly overlooked, James, a celebrity makeup artist, style guru and television personality, offers a lively and entertaining read full of actionable tips and tricks, showing you how to get whom and what you want.

Those open the book will learn how to look classy, not trashy, trading the prim, proper uniform of “safe” clothing, makeup and hair for something sexier and more inviting, but still situation-appropriate. “You would be surprised how many women don’t know how to use clothes and makeup to market themselves in various social or professional settings,” says James. “‘Nice’ girls are invisible, and ‘trashy’ ones go over the top. ‘Naughty’ is the happy medium that pushes the envelope without crossing the line.”

Thus, James challenges the traditional connotations of the word “naughty” and redefines it as a spirit that can change both image and self-perception for the better. In chapters that range from “Naughty at Work” to “Naughty First Date” to “Naughty Traveler” and “Yummy Mommy,” the author shows readers how to dress outside the box and re-vamp their beauty regimens to add sizzle to their style for all seasons and occasions.

Flip open the physical book to almost any page and find a small gem of wisdom, or a stunningly clear depiction of “nice” vs. “naughty” vs. “trashy,” all sprinkled with James’ trademark wit, candor and spirit of camaraderie.

Naughty Makeovers for Nice Girls is loaded with makeup and fashion advice to empower a Nice Girl to transform herself into a spicy but classy woman in every situation. So, go ahead and channel your inner naughty. Instead of fading into the background, become a star in your own life!

Naughty Makeovers is filled with all types of information.  One of my favorite sections in this book was about traveling.  I loved the illustrations because it was so real - showing girls in super short skirts and tank tops, some in sweatpants, and others looking normal.  Every time we go on vacation and fly I have the dilemma on deciding if I want to wear sweats or look good.  Although you can still look good in sweatpants using some of Dimitri James' hints, it is still classy to wear nice clothes.  I remember, well actually I do not because I was not even born, when people who flew were dressed to the 9's and were proud to be flying.  I feel that way today - many do not have the privilege to do it!  So this August when we go to Jamaica I'll post a pic of my traveling clothes.  Trust me when I saw when you look nice and professional you get more things done.  Who really wants to help someone looking homely?  

Win your own copy for tips on makeovers & beauty tips from Skinn Cosmetics - enter below! 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

  I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

PrintRunner- Stickers ~GA~

PrintRunner is an online printing company with affordable printing for postcards, stickers, etc.  We are going to do  sticker printing services!  

Why stickers?  Well you can use them on and for everything!  As a teacher I used stickers for rewards, keeping track of attendance, points, and on graded papers.  Now I am looking at stickers in another way - the wedding way!  I would love to get one that is monogrammed or has something to do with a wedding.  There are so many things you can do, even putting your own faces on it!  Customization baby!

Be sure to go to their website and look around or build your sticker you have the chance of winning!

• Sticker Shape: Standard Stickers
• Flat Width: 2"
• Flat Height: 3.5"
• Quantity: 250
• Paper: Premium Sticker Stock
• Colors: Full Color ( 4 Color Process), Black and White
• Proof: NONE
• Ready to Ship In: 3 Business Days

Just a little reminder, this giveaway is open to US Residents only, ages 18 years old and above and only to new PrintRunner winners.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to PrintRunner for providing us this giveaway, I will receive a set of stickers for hosting this. :) 

Essential Oils from Aura Cacia

Aura Cacia makes aromatherapy accessible with innovative ready-to-use products that let even beginners realize the full benefits of our 100 percent pure essential oils in a variety of ways that can easily be a part of any lifestyle.

We received two sprays and an essential oil.  

Chil Pill- 2 oz/$7.99  mist that is in a metal spray container. it states it helps you simmer down and creates harmony.  It contains lavender, citrus, and patchouli.  I would really need this when I drive in Pittsburgh ...  One of our friends, MarkieT gave B and I an ingenious piece of advice when we were seniors in HS: Always pull in front of fancy, expensive cars because they will let you in.  It works!   This would also be a great present for someone who is studying for finals!

Pep Talk-  I really wish I had this when I was teaching and giving the PSSA tests! They are the all important state standardized tests. This spray is a spicy cardamom, invigorating peppermint and energizing citrus. Wow, this would be the a push the bride and groom need on their wedding day! What is cardamom? This plant is known as an Indian Spice Plant.  The ancient Egyptians chewed cardamom seeds as a tooth cleaner; the Greeks and Romans used it as a perfume - Source.  

Essential Oil- Organic Lavender, .25 ounces/$14.65.  So this smells exactly as it is described, like Lavender.  It is the most popular oi in Aromatherepy because it is provides an unmatched array of attributes—calming, relaxing, refreshing, toning and cleansing. 

I wish they would have sent the Natural Bay Care oils!  They have one called Calming Baby Oil that is non-greasy organic jojoba and sunflower oils gently deliver the relaxing benefits of lavender, chamomile and marjoram. Yum!  $8.99/4oz. 

 

 

Calming Nursery Blend seems great too.  Chamomile’s quiet nature, ylang ylang’s steadying influence, marjoram’s warm, sleepy quality, and lavender’s renowned, relaxing aroma gently coax your baby to calm down and drift off.  Remember those sleepless nights and days?  Wonder if this wold have helped? 

 Be sure to check out their website for more information! 

Where to Shop: www.auracacia.com           Aura Cacia Facebook

Enter the Om is Where the Heart is Sweepstakes: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aura-Cacia-Aromatherapy/9064967361?sk=app_321376527931963

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

How to plan a wedding

Trista and me on my wedding day

Every time I turn around, someone else is getting married! When I first started planning mine, I had no idea where to begin.  Hopefully, this article I found can help you if you are as clueless as I was!

How to Plan a Wedding