Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Holiday Gift Guide - My Little Veterinarian Kit

Do you have a little caregiver at home? I do. My little girl loves animals. She is always asking for one kind of pet or another and sticks like glue to any animal she comes into contact with. She is a "helper" too. Always trying to take care of people and things.

I recently found a great line of toy kits for her. My Little Medical School has 3 awesome kits. My Little Sports Medicine Kit, My Little Pediatrician Kit, and My Little Veterinarian  Kit. For my little animal lover, I chose the My Little Veterinarian Kit. She has mentioned wanting to be a vet when she grows up, so I know it would be perfect.

 The kit is so cute. It has a doggy patient, a workbook, a diploma, patient assessment forms, adoption certificate, glove, tweezers, tick stickers, dough and mold to make dog treats, a lab coat and more. I love all the content. It seems very thorough for a toy.



As expected, my little girl loves this kit. I love that it all fits inside the box it came in. It is sturdy and has a Velcro closure, so it works great for storing this set, and I know it will hold up for awhile.My daughter just cares about how much fun it is. And it did not disappoint.

She played with it for over 2 hours in one sitting. And she plays with it every day. She also keeps the doggy with her, pretty much at all times. It sleeps in her bed with her and she drops it off at "school" in the morning before she goes to school. 




I'm really glad the coat fits her. I was worried about that. My MIL got her a doctor kit like 2 years ago, and she was (already at that time) way too big for it. Some many play costumes are very small. This set is recommended for ages 6+ and she is 6 (and big for her age), she still has some room, so that is great.

In addition to the darling medical kits, My Little Medical School also sells an awesome helmet, the Brain Hat-ter. And it is designed like it sounds. It looks like a colorful model of the brain. So unique and fun.


Unfortunately, neither one of my kiddos knows how to ride a bike just yet, mostly for lack of anywhere safe nearby to ride. But they get taught bike safety and riding in PE at school and they bring a helmet for that. Both of them want this one, but my son has a larger head, and this seems to fit him better, so he got it. It is so cute that if I had a bike I would have kept it.

We are loving these products from My Little Medical School. I am probably going to get the other 2 kits, one for each kiddo, for Christmas. If you have a child that wants to help others/animals I highly recommend these kits.

*Although I received these items at no cost to facilitate my review, all opinions are 100% my own.*

Monday, December 11, 2017

7 Ways to keep our skin soft and youthful

Every woman wants to have and maintain a fair and youthful appearance. The skin is one of those body parts that indicate your health and vitality. With age comes the formation of wrinkles and other signs of aging like skin sagging. Most people, however, would prefer to maintain a youthful look and appearance as they age.

It is better to find ways on how to keep and maintain a soft, youthful skin instead of waiting for wrinkles and sagging to occur before rushing to get skin care treatments from dermatologists which might be costly. Below are some of the ways that you can maintain a clear, soft skin.

1. Large water intake

A well-hydrated skin is firm and smooth. Water makes up a large percentage of the skin and by drinking plenty of water; you’ll be maintaining a healthy and younger look. Soft drink like sodas and fruit juices can be drunk, but water is the best option because it’s natural and hydrates the body more. Soft drinks might contain might be harmful to your health when consumed in large amounts and frequently. Take an average of eight glasses or more on a daily basis to maintain a hydrated skin.

2. Use a moisturizer

Moisturizers hydrate the skin and boost the production of collagen and elastin, which maintain a firm skin. You can purchase a moisturizer depending on your skin type, whether it’s dry or oily skin.

You can also purchase ointments like Aphrodite cream to increase hydration and improve your skin elasticity. Placing a humidifier in your room when you are sleeping is also a great option. It would humidify your face while you are sleeping.

3. Use an Exfoliator

Exfoliation removes the topmost layer of the skin, speeding up the repair and collagen production. The exfoliator should contain natural components and lack chemicals. Exfoliate your skin at least twice a week using a soft piece of cloth. Exfoliation leaves the skin feeling and looking radiant and healthy.

4. Wash your face regularly

Excess dirt and oil on your face can lead to acne and the formation of firm lines, wrinkles and even cause bacterial infections. Wash your face before sleeping at night using a mild cleanser gently. This cleanses the skin leaving the pores open. If you have makeup on, use a cotton ball to remove the makeup before rinsing off your face.

5. Massage

Massage your face on a daily basis to boost the production of collagen. Massaging can be on the face or entire body and it stimulates the lymph gland resulting in a clear skin.

6. Avoid or Limit Sun Exposure

Collagen and elastin fibers are broken down by the effect of harsh sun rays making them less functional leading to skin sagging. The sun is good for your skin but avoid overexposure which can lead to wrinkle formation due to the ultraviolet rays. Use a sunscreen or wear a hat when it’s too sunny to reduce the effects of the sun rays.

7. Don’t pop your pimples

Popping pimples that are not yet ready is a bad move since it might enlarge pores as well as lead to the formation of scars and spots that might be difficult to remove later on.

A clear, soft and youthful skin boosts one’s confidence. Work towards maintaining a healthy skin all the time.

Friday, December 1, 2017

Holiday Gift Guide - Strictly Briks

This year has just flown by. Now it is time for holiday shopping and planning. I LOVE to buy gifts, and I generally start early and buy what I can when I can, since I don't always have money to spend. As much as I love getting gifts in general, choosing gifts for my son is practically impossible.

I love my boy to death, he is the sweetest kid you'll ever meet. He's thankful for any gift he gets, but with his autism, he tends to stick to very few activities. Mostly drawing, and using the iPad/computer. There is not much to do with that for gifting, since he already has his own computer and 2 iPads. But I can't just get him fewer gifts than everyone else.

When I ask him what he wants, he asks for food items that no longer exist or are from other countries (things he would never even taste anyway.) I get him books and DVDs and art supplies, and then I just have to wing it and hope he likes what I pick.

The things I've always had the best luck with are building toys. But that is a double-edged sword. He likes them usually and will use them, but many varieties have hundreds of tiny pieces that get everywhere and end up getting lost (or chewed, which is something he needs to stop doing.) Some sets are made to include every piece or they don't work correctly. Making the useless when pieces inevitably get lost.

With my son, I like things that can help him open his mind and create his own ideas. He is already good at copying from examples (instructions), so something more open is actually more out of his comfort zone, which is great.

So I said all that to say this, I found a great building toy line: Strictly Briks. These are similar to other bricks on the market, but Strictly Briks have some wonderful pieces, like base plates, that I have not really seen from other brands. Also, they have silicone sets, which are really cool, and much less painful if stepped on.


My kids share, but I basically got the Big Briks set for my son and the Silicone Straps for my daughter. Of course, she was the first to open both. She always has to be first, especially for something exciting like this. (She pounces on me every time I get a package to try to see what it is before I even have a chance.)


She loves both kits, but as expected, the silicone strap kit was her favorite, because she could make it into a bracelet. Plus, that color scheme is just so adorable. My son was not far behind to join in the fun.


That's when the real fun started, since he helped her build buildings. They were making a city, they said. He explained it to me, how there were roads and an office and skyscraper. It was so sweet. Even funnier is when Little Bit chimed in and was trying to elaborate on his explanation. She does that often but usually does not even fully understand what was going on, so her explanation is unrelated.

Anyway. They had tons of fun with these from the first day they got them. They still play with them regularly, though not together for the most part. I think that is more of a timing thing than not wanting to share. They just do their own things sometimes.

The quality of these Strictly Briks sets is top notch. They are very well made, thick and durable, but not too clunky. Whereas the silicone ones are also very thick and well made, while being soft and pliable. The colors are vibrant and fun. The selection of sizes is very good. So many sets have way too many small blocks and not enough larger ones. These have a nice balance.



I plan to expand their Strictly Briks collection for Christmas. One (well a few) less gifts for me to guess and stress over for my dear son. At least I already know he'll like it, and it's something that will last for years, and even be donated when they are done.

And if my humble opinion is not enough reason to have confidence in Strictly Briks, perhaps the fact that they have won 29 awards in only 6 weeks will help. They were also featured on the The Today Show in the Black Friday Toys Spot. This kind of achievement is relatively unheard of for such a new company.

Have you heard of Strictly Briks yet? What do you think? How would you compare them to other kinds of building blocks? Are you planning to buy any building toys this holiday season? If so, who for and what do you have in mind? I would love to discuss this in the comments. I enjoy sharing ideas and getting advice.

*Although I received these items at no cost to facilitate a review, all opinions are 100% my own.*

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Holiday Gift Guide - Jord Watches. Win a $100 Jord Gift Card!

Having trouble finding a gift for the person that has everything? Looking for a practical gift that is also unique and stylish? Jord is sure to have the perfect thing. Their wood watches are so striking. They are works of art, created by artists, designers. They are sure to make a statement, both when received as a gift, and every time they are worn.

They come in a gorgeous wooden gift box, with magnetic closure. It really increases the already stunning presentation. The box can be used to store the watch, or anything else, for years to come. It also includes a cleaning cloth and cleaning oil pen, to keep your watch in pristine shape.


Even the box is impressive, but not to worry, it does not outshine the watch at all, because the watch is even more breathtaking. I chose the Hyde series in Walnut & Black. I like the look of the medium dark wood and the darker face, it makes it pop without having too much contrast.


This is one of the nicest watches I have ever seen. It is beautiful and clearly well made with high quality materials. I know the recipient will be wowed by this gift, and now I want one for myself. I am so glad they make women's watches too, because these are too cool.

Have you ever owned a wood watch? Do you want to know? Is there someone on your list who would love this? I would love to talk about gift ideas and Jord watches or anything else in the comments.

But before that, Jord has been kind enough to give away a $100 Jord Gift card to one of my lucky readers. Enter HERE. Also, all of my readers can get 20% off their Jord order with code "andreasworldreviews".


Ladies Wood Watch

*I received a sample to facilitate my review. All opinions are $100 my own.*

Coming Soon - Penwizard Review

I love personalized books. They make the best gifts. Kids love them, they are very thoughtful and special while also being educational. They are a gift that can be enjoyed over and over, and even passed down to their children one day. So I am very excited to be reviewing a personalized book from Penwizard.

Each and every book Penwizard prints is unique, just like your child! Founded from a love of children and children's books, Penwizard set up a company that took children's publishing to the next level. For more than 10 years, they've used their skills and expertise to push the boundaries and create inspirational books where children actually appear in the illustrations.


You can get 15% off* your entire order or personalized books at Penwizard, just in time for the holidays! Use code HOLIDAY15 at checkout. *Valid until 12/25/2017.

Friday, November 17, 2017

5 Tips To Dealing With Wrinkles

As you age, your physical form starts deteriorating. Wrinkles and fine lines start appearing on your skin, discouraging you from making appearances at social events and gatherings. The skin no longer produces enough collagen to keep the skin smooth and supple which is causing wrinkles. The production of sebum also decreases substantially and the skin loses its elasticity, thus, becoming loose and saggy. Fortunately, there are ways to help delay the aging process. Without further ado, here are 5 tips to dealing with wrinkles!
Tip 1: Use Bio-Based Cosmetic Serum
The RevitEye serum is one of the best natural, bio-based cosmetic serums around. It features several anti-aging, healthy and valuable ingredients such as lemon, grape, pineapple, aloe vera, essential mineral oil, and passion flower. The RevitEye serum does not contain any impurities! Basically, the product does an exceptional job of clearing the puffiness, dark circles, dryness and fine lines around the eyes. Upon application, you will experience an unbeatable cooling sensation. If you are looking for a quick fix to get rid of your wrinkles, you should give this particular product a try.
Tip 2: The benefits of fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables contain Vitamins A and D---vitamins that are essential for your skin. The vitamins play an instrumental role in helping plump the skin and making it glow from the inside. Therefore, it is in your best interest to consume plenty of fruits and vegetables. You can consider sipping on fresh vegetable juice too. The fruit, lemon, also has many helpful properties. The application of lemon juice on your skin can considerably reduce fine lines and wrinkles on your face.
Tip 3: The importance of staying hydrated
If you want to flaunt and maintain a healthy skin, we would advise you to stay hydrated at all times. In addition to helping you obtain a radiant skin, water also helps your body get rid of harmful toxins. Unfortunately, you will not be able to experience immediate skin enhancement after drinking water. You will need to drink water regularly to reap benefits.
Tip 4: The importance of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
We would suggest you to consume foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Why should you do that? Well, omega-3 fatty acids contain elements and properties that help nourish dry skin. And, that's not where the benefits stop. The omega-3 fatty acids have also been scientifically proven to reverse heart diseases, reduce depression, and improve brain cognition. Therefore, if you have dry skin, you should consider working this fat into your daily diet. Don't be fooled into thinking that all types of fat are harmful to your body!
Tip 5: Apply Sunscreen
Sure, it is difficult to refrain from tanning, but if you are someone who enjoys basking in the sun, you must absolutely apply sunscreen at all times. The harmful UV rays emitted by the sun not only play an atrocious role in causing premature aging, the rays are also considered as the primary cause of skin cancer. Hence, if you want to fight wrinkles, it is in your best interest to apply high-end sunscreen products every time you head outside.

Monday, November 13, 2017

Canvas On Demand - Holiday Gift Guide

Canvas On Demand has awesome gifts for everyone on your list! They offer more than just canvas prints. From incredible photo-to-canvas art for parents, Coloring Canvas for kids, and customizable photo gifts, including ornaments & more, Canvas On Demand can help with your holiday haul.


For a limited time, they're offering my readers a whopping 60% off your entire order at Canvas On Demand with code USFAM. Select from canvas prints and more! Valid until 12/12/17. #mycanvasondemand Canvasondemand.com

My review is coming soon.

Friday, November 3, 2017

Coming soon - Sun Tails Review

Make your child's dream come true this holiday season. Every little girl (and most grown women) wants to be a mermaid. With Sin Tail, they can be. And don't forget the boys. Sun Tails has mermen tails too.

Sun Tail Mermaid has created the world's best swimmable mermaid tails and mermaid flippers. Their mermaid tails are soft, comfortable, and come in a wide variety of designs and colors. They are made of high quality swimsuit fabric with 4-way stretch.

Sun Tail Mermaid's monofins are extremely comfortable and virtually unbreakable. Their patented monofin is several steps ahead of everyone else in engineering, durability, comfort, and functionality. The propulsion and control is exceptional. The monofins come in a wide range of beautiful colors, so you can match your mermaid tails or look amazing wearing it alone.


Here in Florida, it is always beach weather, even in the "winter", but even if it's snowy where you are, Sun Tail would be perfect to make it feel like summer (indoors, of course.) No matter the season, it's ahrd to imagine your little girl ever wanting to take her Sun Tail off, even at home.

To really put you in the holiday spirit, Sun Tail is offering a 10% discount on your order at www.SunTailMermaid.com by using coupon code: BestGiftEver. What are you waiting for?

Monday, October 30, 2017

Holiday Gift Guide - Starpath Dolls

Growing up, we had a tradition of opening up one gift Christmas Eve night. We were quite poor growing up and did not usually have many gifts. While it did make one less to open Christmas morning, it did extend the excitement, giving us an extra day to feel festive and excited.

Now that I have my own family. I have kept this tradition. Thankfully, my children have never know the kind of struggle that my siblings and I remember. But I still love the idea of having a special moment on Christmas Eve. It is a little more intimate. We always have a lot of gifts on Christmas morning and it can be hard for everyone to stop and watch others open theirs. So the one each on Christmas Eve is where that really happens.

When I first started doing it, I never really had a plan, just as my parents didn't. It was just one gift that was not too "big" that they thought we would like, and I followed suit. But doing this at night, left little time to actually use the gift, and seemed to detract from the experience. That's why I decided to make the Christmas Eve gift a book (for the kids) and a book or movie for the adults, something that could be fully enjoyed before bed.

My kids love to read, but getting a special book as a gift always creates an even bigger desire to read. They love to show their books off and read (or attempt to read) them to each other and to us. It is just so much fun for all of us. My favorite books for this are personalized books. I started that 2 years ago, and my kids adore them. Everyone who has seen them love it.

So this year, I knew that Starpath Dolls would be perfect for my daughter. I know, I just went on and on about books and now I am talking about dolls. While I am often that scatterbrained, I do have a reason. Starpath Dolls each come with a personalized e-book. They even have the option to choose a physical (paperback) copy for $20.

You add the child's name, school, family's names and so on, and the story is personal to her (or him; dolls can be great for boys too.) We chose A Fairy Tale Gone Wrong (e-book). It is such a cute story, and my daughter loves it. Of course, being the mother hen that she thinks she is, she may have loved the doll just a bit more. We chose Morning Star. She is beautiful.


My son loves her too. Like I said, dolls are great for boys as well. With his autism, he will not lead imaginative play as much, but he loves to watch his sister play, and join in when it suits him. Like she will be taking Morning Star to school, and he will chime in with what he thinks she will do at school. "She has art class today." Or something like that. If she "cries" he will try to figure out what's wrong. It very sweet. It ends up with my daughter trying to "mother" her brother along with the doll, but they have fun.


As for the doll itself, it is very high quality. It is as nice as any other 18" doll on the market, even the ones that cost much more. She is beautiful, with lovely silky hair, that my daughter loves to brush and have me help her style. Her outfit is darling. My daughter likes to remove it for "bath time", though she has a soft body and can't actually be bathed.

This is a doll that will truly be loved and will last for many years. I foresee that even when my daughter outgrows her, she will still be in great shape to pass along to a new loving home. This would be great for passing down to younger siblings.

If you do the Christmas Eve book tradition too, as I have seen many people do, I think that Starpath Dolls and books would be a great variation. The book could be the Christmas Eve gift, and how exciting it would be to get the doll on Christmas morning.

Saturday, October 21, 2017

TownleyGirl - Scary Beautiful

The haunting season is upon us. Many are already looking ahead to Christmas, but I love Halloween too much. I have to be "spooky" for as long as possible. I love all things Halloween themed, but I was especially thrilled to find the awesome Nightmare Before Christmas sets form TownleyGirl.


Beauty products are my obsession, even simple ones like lip balm. I love them. And if they are cute and themed, I just love them that much more. But Nightmare Before Christmas just puts it over the top. I LOVE that movie and all stylistic aspects of it and the characters.

Plus, for those that ARE already in Christmas mode, these work for both! They are so cute. When I first planned this review, I was thinking of my daughter, but, who am I kidding, there is no way I am sharing these. Can you blame me?

The designs on the tubes of balm and gloss are cool, that alone would make me excited, but the little pouch in the Mood Changing Lip Balm Set is beyond adorable. And the Coffin Tin in the Lip Gloss 4 Pack is fabulous. And I love that the other Nightmare lip balm set looks like they could be little figurines. 


These add so much style and fun to my beauty routine. These are not overpriced high end products, but they are great quality for the basic staples (balm and gloss) that they are. I can't ask for more than that. Plus, I've already gotten compliments on these. (My sister is jealous, lol.)

For those that are really into Christmas, I will be feature more TownleyGirl products soon for the holidays, so stay tuned. In the meantime, talk to me in the comments. Do you love The Nightmare Before Christmas? Have you used TownleyGirl before? Do you have a favorite branded cosmetic product? Let's chat.

*Although I received these products at no cost to facilitate my review, all opinions are 100% my own.*

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Coming Soon - My Green Mattress Review

I am so excited to be working with My Green Mattress on a review. In the meantime, here is a little info on My Green Mattress.  


At MyGreenMattress.com, they don't think that a safe, non-toxic green mattress should be a luxury purchase. For over a decade they've been handcrafting mattresses using all natural and organic materials, without chemical flame retardants, high VOC foams, or adhesives and offering them at
affordable prices.
They own the factory and buy their materials in bulk so that they can pass those savings on to their customers. They may not make the most mattresses, but they are okay with simply making the best, green mattresses for your family.
For More Information visit: www.mygreenmattress.com

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Starting a New Journey with Cars.com

*This is a sponsored post on behalf of Cars.com. All opinions are 100% my own.*

Many of you may not have known this, but I cannot drive. Not at all. I've never driven. Well, that's not entirely true, I drive a golf cart to take my kids to the bus stop and I used to drive one at work when I did maintenance. But I have never once been behind the wheel of a car.

It's hard for our family with me unable to drive, that leaves all the errands to be done when my husband can take us. He works a lot (as a CLD driver), so that is unfair to him and inconvenient to me. I miss school functions, scramble to find a ride if the kids get sick at school. If we run out of something, we just wait until the next weekly grocery trip instead of me being able to just go get it.

There are many reasons I should already be driving, but now there is just no way I can put it off any longer. This year my son will graduate 5th grade. He will be leaving a great school and an amazing teacher. He will be going to middle school. The problem is that our local middle school is not a good place for him.

He has autism and he needs to be in an ESE classroom for the flexibility and smaller class size, but he is also a savant (according to his teacher) and the programs there are well beneath his skill level. He would not be learning there, just attending. I need to get him in a school specifically for autistic students where they have a program for him.

The closest one is 20 miles away and, since it is a private school, there is no bus. My husband is at work during that time, so I MUST be able to drive him to school. I will not let his education suffer because I can't do what needs to be done.

With that said, I will also need to get a car, since we obviously only have one. I don't need anything extravagant or brand new. I do need something reliable and fuel efficient. I need to be able to trust that I am getting a good price and, most importantly, a good car.

I've decided to start with Cars.com. I like being able to go online and browse at my own pace with no pressure from a sales person and no worry about making hubby take me around to dealerships. You can find new cars, used cars, dealers and even for sale by owner. You can research different models, estimate used car value and even estimate your payments.


I love that I can do everything but sign the paperwork and get the keys right from my couch (in my pajamas.) Since I don't have my license (or even permit) yet, I have plenty of time to look around and find exactly what I want. I am looking for a good, used, SUV.

What's really cook is that Cars.com has a Car Seat Check feature. They conduct hands on tests to see how well car seats fit in different makes and models. I still use boosters for both kids. Kids should be in a booster until they are 4'9 tall, so the seat belt will position properly on their lap and chest not their stomach and neck.It's good to check that their seats will install safely.

I'm excited about my new journey, now that I am prepared. If any of you have any tips about buying a used car (or new car), I would love to hear them. Have any of you bought a used car via Cars.com before? If so how was the experience. Do you plan to in the future? Why or why not? Lets discuss in the comments.

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

4 Secrets To Looking Beautiful Naturally

Not everyone likes splurging on expensive skin care products to look beautiful; some prefer to look beautiful naturally. And, if you belong to the aforementioned category of people, you have come to the right place. Here are 4 secrets to looking beautiful naturally. No longer do you have to spend a fortune on beauty salon treatments to look a million dollars!

1. The importance of staying hydrated

We cannot stress enough on the importance of staying hydrated. In addition to drinking around 8 glasses of water per day, you must also eat fruits and vegetables that boast of high water content. Some of these fruits and vegetables are grapefruit, cantaloupe, cucumber, orange, watermelon, and strawberry etc. According to experts, it is better to drink water from a blue colored bottle; blue colored bottles tend to have a cooling effect. You can also spritz rose water on your skin directly if you want to reduce eye puffiness. Rose water naturally hydrates your skin and maintains pH balance too.

2. The benefits of a honey face mask

If you are looking for a quick and effective way to obtain soft, beautiful skin, you should try applying a honey face mask. Raw honey contains plenty of anti-bacterial properties, making it ideal for healing acne-prone or dry skin. Therefore, if you suffer from breakouts regularly, it is advisable for you to use a honey face mask. All that is required of you to do is to gently rub a tablespoon of raw honey on your face. You should then let it sit for around 11 minutes before using lukewarm water to gently rinse it off.

3. The benefits of exercising

The benefits of exercising are countless. Exercising helps encourage blood circulation in the body, in turn, expediting the cleansing process. You will immediately notice a glow on your face after a grueling workout. However, you shouldn't skip on your before and after workout skincare routine. Before starting your exercise routine, it is advisable for you to apply a toner to help reduce the production of oil. And, after you are done with your workout, you need to exfoliate and moisturize your skin for best results.

4. The importance of eating a balanced diet

If you want to look beautiful naturally, you should pay special attention to what you eat. You are what you eat and if you consume unhealthy food, your skin will show! The skin is the body's largest organ and it responds well to a proper diet. Therefore, it is advisable for you to feast on fruits, greens, and foods that are rich in proteins, vitamins and low in fat and sugar. Foods rich in vitamin D, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids also help promote radiant skin; some of these foods include salmon, olive oil, and ground flaxseed. A high-sugar diet plays an atrocious role in lowering the insulin levels, preventing the cells from maintaining a healthy pH balance. You should also avoid eating fermented, processed and spicy foods.

Sunday, September 17, 2017

CUJO Smart Firewall at Best Buy

*The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.*

I love being up to date on new tech gadgets. I am all for bigger, better, faster, flashier. It's easy to get caught up on the glamour of new gadgets. So much so that it can be hard to stop and think about safety. I'll admit, I never gave it a second though.

When I got the CUJO Smart Firewall from Best Buy, I was excited, but not so sure how useful I would find it. After all, it doesn't stream movies are have a 16mp camera. In fact, most of what it does is pretty unnoticeable - unless it doesn't do it.


The CUJO Smart Firewall protects you from hacks, not just to your PCs, but phones, tablets and even TVs, baby monitors and many more less conspicuous threats. If you've never had one of these hacked before, it would be easy enough to take the CUJO Smart Firewall for granted, since the protection you're getting will seem like nothing new, but it is. It's business-level security made accessible to anyone.

Of course, the CUJO Smart Firewall does much more than just protect you from hacking. It can protect your family from the inside as well, with its parental controls. The parental controls can be set up for all devices. Since my kids use the TV and the computer as well as multiple tablets, that is a very nice feature for us.

In addition to parental controls, CUJO can monitor social media and filter internet. You can also set time limits and even pause the internet. You can also set up multiple user profiles. You can get alerts and reporting and even control CUJO remotely from your smartphone.


The CUJO Smart Firewall is incredibly easy to set up. It's basically just plug and go. It connects to your router and then can be controlled via app. Even my 10 year old could do it. That is great for me because as much as I love technology, I am not very advanced when it comes to setting things up, programming, and the like.

Probably the most important feature to be is that the CUJO Smart Firewall does not take a subscription. The device is pretty meaningless if you need to pay monthly (or yearly, etc) to access the features. I love that this is a one time purchase. Buy, install, manage - that's it.

Do you worry about your family's internet safety? Have you ever considered taking steps to make your home more secure? Did you know about the CUJO Smart Firewall before? Now that you do know about it, do you plan to get one? Will you buy from Best Buy or somewhere else? I would love to discuss with you all in the comments.

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Kerrygold Review & Giveaway

Have you ever eaten something unhealthy and then not only felt guilty, but got mad because you wasted the calories on something that did not taste good enough? I have, and it is one of the worst feelings for me. I get so upset, because I could have eaten something healthy if it's not going to taste the way I want anyway.

Fortunately, I found one way to ensure that I don't have that problem again, at least not where cheese and butter are concerned. Kerrygold is an Irish company that still makes their dairy the old fashioned way, with free roaming, grass fed cows. I always wondered if that really made a difference, and after trying the amazing butters and cheeses from Kerrygold, I can say it absolutely makes all the difference.


The first thing I tried was the softer butter in a tub. Butter could be one of my food groups as much as I love it, but I had never had butter as creamy and fresh-tasting as the ones from Kerrygold. It was like waking up from a lifelong sleep. I have seen the light. It probably sounds like I am exaggerating, but it is really that good. If you have never had Irish butter, namely Kerrygold, you need to try it immediately.


As good as butter is, it can't be a whole meal/snack alone. Cheese however, can be a stand alone snack or the main component in a meal. I had the pleasure or trying 7 amazing varieties of Kerrygold cheese, and they are all fantastic.


Swiss has always been my favorite kind of cheese, so I tried that first. I made grilled ham and Swiss sandwiches, using a lot of Kerrygold butter to grill it. It was so golden and crispy, and the cheese was melty, creamy, fresh and so amazingly delicious. It was better than a bistro sandwich.


All of the cheeses are so good. It was hard to pick a favorite. The Blarney Castle was exceptional. I had never tried a cheese with that flavor profile before. The Skellig was fantastic, I love the sweetness, it is so good with a fruit plate. The Cheddar cheeses were very good. Nice and sharp, but creamy enough that it wasn't too much. Dubliner was awesome, it was another unique flavor. The reduced fat was so much more flavorful than I was expecting. Reduced fat cheese is usually flavorless.

One of my favorite things I received was the Garlic & Herb Butter. I used it to make garlic bread and to flavor some angel hair pasta. It is so flavorful. It's not like that garlic "butter" stuff you get in the tubs at the store. It is real, amazingly creamy, butter with real garlic and fresh herbs mixes in. I could use this with almost everything I cook. It is a game changer.


After experiencing true, Irish butter and cheese, I can't ever go back to the lesser products I used to buy. I am so mad that my husband never told me how much better Irish butter and cheese is. He was born in Ireland for goodness sake. He got an ear-full about it. I will not make you suffer the same fate. I am here to tell you that Kerrygold butter and cheeses are better than any other brand I have EVER tried.

One of you lucky readers will get to find out first hand just how incredible these products are, because Kerrygold is giving away an Irish Gift Basket, but like the one I received. It contains two (2) of every product shown above and is a $200 value! Enter via the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win this fantastic prize. Good luck!

*I received these products at no cost to facilitate my review. All opinions are 100% my own.*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, August 31, 2017

4 Tips to picking the best neck cream

Many people tend to neglect taking care of their neck, not realizing that it is one of the most noticeable parts of the body as it ages. You have probably seen people sporting from what is called turkey neck, where the skin of the neck sags.

If you do not want to be one of those people, it is never too early to start a skin regime that would specifically target your neck area. Purchase a neck cream that will make sure that your skin will not look old or sag, especially in the neck area.

If you’ve never bought any neck cream before, look through the tips below to make sure that you will be able to get the neck cream that would work best for your skin.

1. Know what your skin type is – each person’s skin is different, so there are many considerations to keep in mind when choosing a neck cream. Number one would be finding out exactly what your skin type is. Think of it as when you started looking for the perfect foundation to complement your skin tone. You also need to know what your skin type is to know what your skin’s needs are. When you discover if you have dry skin, sensitive skin and the like, you can do your research and know which ingredients you should look for in any skin product you will apply to your skin.

2. Ask recommendations from friends – there’s nothing like first-hand information from friends to help you in your decision making. Ask people who have been using neck creams on what products they can recommend for you.  Be specific with your questions, ask whether it is effective in hydrating the skin, or if it prevents skin sagging or wrinkles. This way, you don’t have to go through so many products before finding the one for you.

3. Go to a trusted dermatologist – if you did not find someone who can recommend any neck cream for you, it would also be a good idea to go to professionals to get advice. Dermatologists can give you suggestions on what neck cream would work best for you, depending on your skin type and what your skin needs. Make sure you can trust a dermatologist and do not just go to anyone who might suggest products without doing a thorough examination of your skin.

4. Look for ingredients that will boost your skin's elasticity the best neck creams are the one that will make your skin firm and supple. You also want to get skin creams that would boost anti-aging. Ingredients such as retinol and vitamin c all help with making your skin produce collagen and the like that help in making sure your skin is hydrated. Remember that dehydration is one of the biggest reasons why skin looks haggard and old so make sure your neck cream promises intense hydration.

It might take time and several trials to find the perfect neck cream for you. But once you find it., you’ll find that it will be worth it once you see your skin look beautiful.

4 Reasons to consider getting laser hair removal today

Many women and men rely on traditional hair removal techniques such as using tweezers or a  razor to achieve smooth and clean-looking skin. But what they actually get is the opposite of what they wanted. Hair plucking is very time consuming and, needless to say, painful when done to sensitive areas of the body. Shaving with razors, on the other hand, may be a quicker solution but it can leave your skin red, bumpy, and itchy afterward. Waxing is also a popular choice but it is definitely not cost-efficient considering that you need to go back every month or so to the clinic to get the procedure done.

Laser hair removal is, perhaps, one of the best options that you can consider to get rid of unwanted hair from your body. The procedure involves exposure of hair follicles to beams of highly-concentrated light. The light gets absorbed by the follicles eventually causing the cells to terminate further growth.

Learn more about the 4 reasons getting a laser hair removal today is a perfect choice.

1. It is guaranteed safe and effective.

Before the procedure, the equipment will be adjusted depending on the color and thickness of the hair, and the tone and area of the skin. You may be asked to use a protective eyewear for your safety. A cooling gel may also be applied after to the target area after trimming the hair to just a few millimeters. Pulses of light will only target dark colored hair, leaving the surrounding skin unharmed.

For a couple of days after the treatment, your skin may look and feel as if it were sunburned. But it is not as worse as getting ingrown hairs, blisters, itchiness, and bumpy skin through traditional hair removal techniques. You may apply simply cold compresses and moisturizers to help ease the burning sensation.

2. It is a long-term solution.

Depending on your case, you may be required to undergo three to six sessions of laser hair removal (on average). But once the treatment is complete, unwanted hair will surely be gone for good. Popular target areas for laser hair removal in women include the upper lip, chin, bikini area, underarms, back, arms, and legs. While for men, it is the chin, chest, back, abdomen, arms, and legs.  

3. It is cost-efficient.

The total costs of laser hair removal vary from hundreds of dollars to a few thousand bucks depending on the medical professional who will be performing the procedure, the city or country where it will be performed, the size of the target area, and the number of treatments required. Nevertheless, it is much less expensive considering the long-term costs of using shaving creams and undergoing hair waxing.

4. It saves you time.

Laser hair removal will help you get rid of unwanted hair permanently, saving you more time from regular tweezing, shaving, and waxing. The procedure itself is also quick, requiring only a fraction of a second to target multiple hair follicles in an area. Laser hair removal in the upper lip takes only a minute or less while for both legs, it may take up to a few hours.

If you are looking for the best hair removal clinic, trust only Body Details, the only True Laser specialists in Miami. Get a free consultation now and avail of great packages backed with a lifetime guarantee. Body Details also offer other services such as laser skin rejuvenation and laser tattoo removal.

Friday, August 18, 2017

5 Tips to rocking the latest hair trends in 2017

Every woman knows just how important a good hairstyle is. Sometimes, a well thought out outfit becomes a fashion fail because of the wrong hair. That’s why many women are not afraid to shell out the big bucks just to some special pampering and treatment at a salon.

There are many hair trends that have emerged in 2017, and if you decide to try out one of them, check out some tips on how to rock that new hairstyle of yours.

1.   Be confident – first of all, if you’ve chosen to sport a hairstyle that is very different from your usual one, just be confident about it. A little confidence goes along way. When you feel better about yourself, you’ll definitely have that glow that people will notice. Don’t think about whether the style will really fit you or not. If that’s what you want for  your new hair, just be bold enough to do it and not think about what others might think.

2.  Ask your stylist for tips – when going to the salon, most women spend their time overusing through magazines or checking stuff on their cell phone. On your next salon trip, it would actually be a good idea to see what your stylist does to your hair. You can check out what products were used and just how that particular cut you want will be achieved. Take the time to talk to your stylist and ask for tips on how to maintain your hair.

3.  Choose a hairstyle that jives with your lifestyle – when choosing from the many hairstyles available that you want to try, consider just how it will fit with your lifestyle. If you’re a very busy person and you know that you just cannot spare 30 minutes every morning curling your hair or applying products, you might want to choose the kind of hairstyle that would not require a lot of upkeep. Go through the latest hair trends and find one that would not only look good on you, but one that you would not have a hard time doing at home.

4.  Use the appropriate hair products – it’s important that you are using the right product for your hair. If you’re trying to achieve a platinum blonde look, your hair will definitely need bleach a toner, and you need a good shampoo to keep your hair healthy after all the products applied to  it. There are specific products that can address problems such as dry, frizzy hair so you can ask your salon for whatever products they might be selling.

5. Jazz it up with cool accessories – try to look for accessories that would look perfect for your specific hairstyle. It can be a cute headband or a studded clip that will just enhance your whole look. You can choose the accessory based on the event you’re going to. Whether it’s a date at the amusement park or attending the wedding of a friend, there will surely be a perfect accessory for your chosen hairstyle.