Carmex Skin Care - Review & Giveaway

Last October, Carmex contacted me for the first time about reviewing their new line of Skin Care Lotions and Creams.  At that time I had nothing but great things to say about their product.  I loved the smell, the non-greasy feel, and the moisturizing qualities.  It was a product that I liked using in the fall and even into the winter.  Whether it was just the Carmex or the severity of the winter, I can't be sure, but I can say that I did NOT experience the cracking on my hands that I normally experience during the winter months.  

Flash forward to this October.  Carmex again contacted me and sent me their Healing Lotion and Cream to try and review.  I was thrilled.  I loved it last winter, and was looking forward to using it again this winter.  Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective), the weather has been pretty mild so far this fall.  The heat hasn't been on much at all and my skin hasn't experienced any significant dryness.   Because of that, I haven't used the products too extensively yet.   However, the experiences I have had with the lotion have all been positive.

Pumpkin, my youngest daughter, has been using the Carmex Healing Lotion after her showers.  She tends to have very dry and somewhat sensitive skin.  So far, this product seems to be enough to stop her from itching her irritated skin.  While she hasn't said anything about the smell of the product, I still love it!  The other night after her bath, we were cuddling together while we said our prayers and I noticed the scent.  It isn't overpowering, but it is definitely a "warm" scent.  I love that it isn't a floral or fruity scent.  While those are great for the summer months, I prefer something warmer for the winter months.  The smell of Carmex lotion reminds me of cuddling in front of a fire while cookies bake in the kitchen.   It is a familiar smell, a nostalgia smell, and a smell that says "comfort" to me.

Do you have dry skin?  Have you tried Carmex Healing Lotion and Cream?  Would you like to?  I'm curious to see if you will have the same success I have had with it.  I know that some people really don't like the smell/taste of Carmex Lip Balms.  I wonder what you will think of the smell of the Carmex Skin Care products.  If you would like to try these products, then this might just be your lucky day.  One reader will win the same kit that I received to facilitate this review.  It includes a full size lotion, a full size cream, a small size lotion, and a small size cream.  The full size products retail for around $5.99 and should be available at Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart.  

Here's what you have to do to enter:

Mandatory Entry:  What is your favorite Carmex product?  If you don't have a favorite, tell me what you are most excited to try.  Leave me a comment.  Be sure to include your email address if it is not visible in your profile.

Optional Extra Entries: 

1. Like me on facebook.  Post your initials in the comments.
2. Follow me on Twitter.  Post your username in the comments.
3. Tweet about this giveaway using @rmgm and #carmex  Post a link to your tweet here.  This can be done once daily.  
4. Follow me publicly via Google Friend Connect and post a comment with your username.

Details:

• Only open to US residents
• Winner will be chosen using random.org
• Giveaway ends 11:59pm ET on December 5, 2011
• Include your email address in your comment if it is not available on your profile page.  If an email address in not in the comment or on your profile page another winner will be chosen.  
• Winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
• Prizes will be sent directly from the sponsor.  I am not responsible for prizes that are lost or damaged during shipment.  If you win a prize and do not receive it, please let me know

*Disclaimer:  Carmex sent me the kit pictured above in exchange for my honest review.  No other compensation was received.  All opinions are my own.  Others may have different experiences.

Crafty Kiddos - Fall Fun

This fall we have been busy, busy, busy. So busy, in fact, that I haven't had the time or energy to post much. Since I had a couple of reviews I wanted to get up, I thought I'd also take a minute to update you on some of the fun crafts the girls and I have been doing this fall.

Here are our adorable Fabric Pumpkins!   Made with toilet paper, half a toilet paper tube, fabric, yarn, ribbon, a stick, foam stars, and a leaf, they were fun to make and easy too.  In fact, we made these with Peanut's entire class at school.   The end result was so cute that I didn't want to take it down when it came time to put up our Christmas decorations.  You can make them in any size or color, and they are easy to modify and make your own by adding little "accessories".



Glass Pumpkin Candle Holders.  How cute is this glowing family of pumpkins?!  With any glass container, acrylic paint and a candle you can make these adorable decorations.  I think I had as much fun as the kiddos with this project!  We originally put tape on the jars for the faces, so that those parts wouldn't get painted.  While they looked great not glowing, we found that when illuminated, you couldn't see the features.  By adding black paint to the face, we created pumpkins that looked gorgeous in the light of day or dark of night!  :o)

Check out the ghost in the middle of our pumpkin family.  Made with cheesecloth, starch, and little black foam stickers, these happy little ghosts found homes all over the house.  We even sprayed these ghosts with glow in the dark paint so that they could be seen at night.  These were a little more frustrating to make than expected because the starch didn't dry as hard as I'd hoped.  I think perhaps we made a few too tall and my starch solution wasn't as stiff as I would have hoped.   I think that next year, with a little tweaking, they'll turn out even better!

Nothing says "Welcome" like the hand prints of my two favorite turkeys!  Using a carpet sample from the local carpet retailer, acrylic paint, sponge letters and the girls' hands, we made this adorable mat.  Actually, we made four of them.  Three were given away as gifts.  The girls did a great job sponging the letters onto the mats (though I did the letters on the one pictured here) and loved when I painted their hands so they could press them down to make the turkeys.  We also got some puffy paint so they could draw the legs, beaks, eyes, and the red thing that hangs from the neck area (I don't know why I can never remember what that is called).

Did you do any new or fun crafts this fall?  Are you getting ready to try some winter crafts with your kids?  Do you have an old standby that you know always turns out great?  I'd love to hear about them!  I'm always looking for new activities to try with my girls.  

Disclaimer:  I cannot take creative credit for any of the crafts pictured above.  All craft ideas came from magazines, previous school projects, and items I've seen online and/or in person.  Most have been modified to fit supplies I have on hand or ideas I have in my head.  I wish I could give credit to the original people that created these ideas, but since I don't know who they are, I cannot. If you know the originator of one of these crafts, please let me know and I will happily give credit.

Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon When You Take the North "Poll"

Melissa & Doug want you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is the best! Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North "Poll!" You'll Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon** to use at MelissaAndDoug.com just for voting!

Disclaimer: I will be receiving a coupon in exchange for this post.

Two Lucky Pink Winners

Earlier today I used random.org to select my winners for both of my giveaways. Winners will be contacted via email momentarily. Here are the results -

There were 27 entries for the Sam's Club Gift Card. Random.org selected lucky number 21. Congratulations to Kim C!

I had 26 entries for the Freschetta giveaway. Random.org selected lucky number 17. Congratulations to Tabathia!

Thanks so much to everyone that entered! Also, be sure to check back soon for a review and giveaway from Carmex. :)

Freschetta is Proud to Support Pink

Pizza?  Did someone say pizza?

In our family, we just love pizza.  In fact, we eat it way too often.  I actually think that you could probably feed Doc and the girls pizza every day for a year and they still wouldn't get tired of it.   They love it that much!   When Freschetta contacted me to share some information with my readers, they didn't have to ask twice.  In addition to sharing information about pizza, I am also able to share some information with you about what Freschetta is doing to support Breast Cancer Awareness this month.

For Breast Cancer Awareness month this October, Freschetta is presenting the Proud to Support Pink Program.  From September 25 to October 31, you can help Freschetta reach their goal of a $50,000 donation to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center by purchasing specially marked packages of Freschetta pizzas.   To do your part, you have to enter the code found inside the package at ProudToSupportPink.com.  Each code entered is equal to a $1 donation.   In addition to the financial donation, Freschetta is also donating 50 pink iPod Shuffle players each week to four cancer centers around America to be enjoyed by breast cancer patients during treatments.

Sounds good, right?  Well, Freschetta wants your help spreading the word about their donation goal, so they are making it even better.  Throughout the month, they are giving away 200 additional iPod Shuffles to people who enter codes and share information about the Proud To Support Pink Program on Twitter and Facebook.  So, please go to http://www.proudtosupportpink.com/ and register.  It only takes a minute or two.  Then share with your family on friends on facebook and twitter.   Even if you don't buy a pizza to enter a code, Freschetta has shared this message on twitter:

#supportpink! Go to ow.ly/74UgN & enter in the exclusive FRESCHETTA fan code FRESCH11. $1 will be donated to breast cancer...

You can help them to donate a dollar to breast cancer research by simply registering and entering the code FRESCH11.  When you think that a minute of your time could help researchers to possibly find a cure, how can you not?

Would you like to win a coupon for Freschetta pizza and two pairs of pink earphones like the ones Freschetta sent to me?  Here's what you have to do:

Mandatory Entry:  What kind of pizza will you try with your coupon if you win?  Tell me in the comments below.

Optional Extra Entries:

1. Like me on facebook.  Post your initials in the comments.
2. Follow me on Twitter.  Post your username in the comments.
3. Tweet about this giveaway using @FreschettaPizza @rmgm and #supportpink  Post a link to your tweet here.  This can be done once daily.  
4. Follow me publicly on my new blog, LovingLakeLiving, via Google Friend Connect and post a comment with your username.  (Yes, I realize I haven't posted much there yet, but I don't want you to miss it when I finally do!)
5. Register on proudtosupportpink.com and enter the free code that Freschetta shared on twitter.  Then come back and tell me that you did.  This isn't an entry that I can verify,so I'm relying on the honor system for this one.

Details:

• Only open to US residents
• Winner will be chosen using random.org
• Giveaway ends 11:59pm ET on October 28, 2011
• Include your email address in your comment if it is not available on your profile page.  If an email address in not in the comment or on your profile page another winner will be chosen.  
• Winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
• Prizes will be sent directly from the sponsor.  I am not responsible for prizes that are lost or damaged during shipment.  If you win a prize and do not receive it, please let me know

*Disclaimer - The makers of Freschetta Pizza contacted me and provided information and products for me to review in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions. 

Sam's Club & General Mills Support Breast Cancer Education and Research

As you all probably know by now (this post is a little late in coming), October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.   While we should all support breast cancer education and research throughout the year, it is also nice to give special attention to such an important topic.  There are very few people that I know that haven't been affected by breast cancer either directly or indirectly through the fight of a friend or family member.  Personally, I just love seeing all the pink in the stores this month.

One store where you will find some of the familiar pink packaging to support breast cancer awareness is Sam's Club.   Purchasing some of your favorite General Mills products such as Cheerios and Fiber One will even allow you to help determine how their donation money is spent by voting at PinkTogether.com until April 14, 2012.   To learn more about Pink Together, you should check out their facebook page here - http://bit.ly/samsclubpink.

Do you want to win a $25 Sam's Club gift card that you can spend on some of your favorite products that are packaged in pink for breast cancer awareness?  Here's your chance!  

Mandatory Entry:  Which pink products will you buy with your Sam's Club gift card if you win?  Tell me in the comments below.

Optional Extra Entries:

1. Like me on facebook.  Post your initials in the comments.
2. Follow me on Twitter.  Post your username in the comments.
3. Tweet about this giveaway using @rmgm, @SamsClub and #myblogspark  Post a link to your tweet here.  This can be done once daily.  
4. Follow me publicly on my new blog, LovingLakeLiving, via Google Friend Connect and post a comment with your username.  (Yes, I realize I haven't posted much there yet, but I don't want you to miss it when I finally do!)

Details:

• Only open to US residents
• Winner will be chosen using random.org
• Giveaway ends 11:59pm ET on October 28, 2011
• Include your email address in your comment if it is not available on your profile page.  If an email address in not in the comment or on your profile page another winner will be chosen.  
• Winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
• Prizes will be sent directly from the sponsor.  I am not responsible for prizes that are lost or damaged during shipment.  If you win a prize and do not receive it, please let me know

*Disclaimer - The information and gift card(s) have been provided by Sam’s Club and General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date! No time to say hello, goodbye! I'm late! I'm late! I'm late!

Like the somewhat frantic White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed.  With blog posts (giveaways) coming due and lots of other crafty things I want to share with you all, you are going to see a huge influx of posts for the next several days.    I apologize for the inundation after a pretty significant lull in posting, but "when it rains, it pours" or so they say.  :o)  Keep your eyes open, you don't want to miss something great!

Crafty Kiddos - Pumpkin Puff

Another day, another craft . . .

Recently, my girls made this adorable pumpkin puffs.   If you want to make one, all you need is

• An Extra Large Clover Pom Pom Maker
• Orange Yarn (Though I think it would look cute with an orange blend too.)
• A green pipe cleaner (You could also use brown or black)
• Scissors

Didn't it turn out cute?  The girls keep them in their rooms and love to toss them around.  They are so soft and fluffy that I don't even mind.

I wanted to glue on some googly eyes or felt faces, but they didn't.  If you try them with your kids and do the faces, please let me know how they turn out!

From Booking to Boarding to Boat Ups and Downs . . . Our Disney Cruise Adventure

Since our last trip away without the kiddos, Doc and I have been planning a list of vacations we want to take with our girls before they graduate from high school.  With the oldest in second grade, we figure that gives us about 10 years.  While I think Disney can be fun for kids of nearly any age, the magic of princesses is fairly short lived.   That is why we decided that Disney should be first on our list. 

I think that most parents think about taking their kids to Disney, and many of them actually do.  Having never made the trip before, I decided that perhaps I could help other Disney newbies along the way by blogging about the process.  Over the next several months you'll see posts sharing the trials, tribulations and joys of our first Disney adventure as a family.

Wish us luck!

Cold and Flu Season 2011 - Ready to Fight

I am a four seasons girl. I love playing in puddles, watching flowers bloom, and planting my garden in the spring. I love to swim, eat fresh veggies, and catch fireflies in the summer. Fall brings the crunching of leaves, watching football, and the comfort of my favorite sweater. Winter means ice skating and sledding followed by hot cocoa next to a warm fire. The one season I could definitely do without, is cold and flu season.

As soon as the girls head back to school in the fall, I know that cold and flu season is right around the corner. It starts with a tiny sniffle or a scratchy throat . . . and works its way around everyone in the school (and my house!) We do what we can to avoid the sniffles and coughs, though a few seem almost unavoidable. We have been able to avoid the flu so far though. (Where's some wood? . . . knock, knock, knock).

Here's what we have done, and will continue to do (until it stops working for us):

• Wash our hands - I am pretty diligent about requiring the girls to wash their hands before eating, after sneezing, or whenever we come in from being out and about around other people.  While I prefer a good hand washing to hand sanitizer, I also keep that on hand whenever we do leave the house.  The girls are great at reminding me to sanitize when we're out running errands. 
• Cough and Sneeze into our elbows - It is as simple as it sounds. By not catching sneezes and coughs with our hands we are less likely to spread them to others.
• Keep your hands off your face - Your face has too many mucous membranes. We try to avoid giving the germs on our hands direct access to the rest of our bodies.  This one is easier said than done.  The girls always seem to be touching their faces.  I find that pulling their hair back seems to help with that too.  It may seem odd, but when their hair isn't bothering them they seem less likely to touch their face. 
• Eat right and exercise - By making healthy choices and keeping our bodies in the best possible condition we like to think that we are at an advantage to fight off the germs that find their way in.
• Get plenty of sleep -  Like eating right and exercising, getting enough sleep is also vital to keep your body in the best condition for fighting off bad germs.  My girls sleep about 11-12 hours per night if I let them.  By keeping their bed times early enough, I can allow them to sleep well and wake up on their own.
• Sanitize dishes - My dishwasher has a sanitize setting.  It gets the water temperature high enough to kill most of the germs on my dishes.  During cold and flu season, or whenever someone in the house has a sniffle, I'm sure to use that setting.  I've been surprised that it really does seem to help prevent the spread of illness from one family member to another in our house.

I am not a scientist and have not studied cold and flu prevention.  Some of the methods that seem to work for us might actual just be coincidental.  No matter what you do to stay healthy during this cold and flu season, I hope it works for you and your family. If you have any remedies or tips that you swear by, I'd love to hear them. I'm always ready to research or try a new idea that might keep my own family healthier as well.

Disclaimer:  I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Lysol blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.