Hello my lovelies!
As this weekend was the penumtimate weekend for cookie sales, and Girl Scout Sunday was yesterday, I am sure you understand if today's post is more about Scouts than anything else. Sorry, my non-scouting fans, but it's my blog and I'll write what I want :)
Without further ado, here's this week's Monday Maddness: my random thoughts about my week/weekend, and all the things I've learned- the good, the bad, and the ugly.
If my cookie mom and I plan a booth, while watching the weather, and the day is predicted to be clear, the weather will still be horrible the day of the booth. Especially if we check out the weather the DAY BEFORE.
If we have a booth on a Friday, and don't plan one for Saturday (due to a different event), the weather will be terrible on Friday, and beautiful on Saturday. It's just the way it is.
Don't plan a cookie booth if you have to bake stuff for a bake sale the same day. Something will fail.
Sick husbands are no fun. When they are sick of being sick, they will find mess or clutter in the house (not really a hard job here, but still) and complain about it, until you stop what you are doing and fix the clutter. True story.
Winning contests online is AWESOME!! Stalking the tracking numbers will only lead to disappointment, until your package magically appears in the mailbox.
If you cookie booth in the cold, it can really go either way. Good booth: people feel SORRY for you that you and your kids are stuck out in the cold. Bad booth: it's so nasty out that no one wants to stand at the booth long enough to give you money for boxes.
Spaghetti dinner fundraisers are awesome! But, they are better if the people who are supposed to go with you actually show up.
It's not actually that hard to find 19 people who would eat a carry-out spaghetti dinner plate without any real notice. Sometimes cancellations (or no call no shows) can help make the difference to a family or two (or in our case, five!).
Girl Scout Sunday is the most fun you will ever have in church, without actively sinning. No, seriously, the girls will get it all together and it will turn out to be the best day ever.
If your Scouts are going to be saying anything remotely sentimental at GS Sunday, make sure there are tissues in sanctuary.
Just because you practice something several times, doesn't mean that it will work out the way you practice it on the event day. Go with the flow- it might turn into something even better!
Scouts is always more fun with more girls (and grown ups!!). Invite a friend who has a Scout in another troop. It will make the day even more special, and very meaningful to the other family.
Edible Arrangements are absolutely the BEST way to end a Scout Sunday event. So pretty, clean, and everyone LOVES them.
Be extra thankful for the "fellowship coordinator" at your church- she does more work than you know (just like a Scout leader!). THANK YOU MS. VIRGINIA!!!!
Be extra flexible- there will always be no shows, no matter what. It's a fact of Scouting life. Get used to it, and if you had to pay money for their spot, send them a bill. No sense in wasting the girl's troop money!
Be kind, bold and courageous. Be the person you want your kids to remember you as. They won't remember you yelling and screaming, but they WILL remember how you worked to make a difference and make things better for them.
Well, folks, that's all I have for today! My Ipsy bag and a contest prize arrived today, so look for those posts soon! Until them, Stay Average, and smile!!
*I wanted to include a photo of Scout Sunday here, but in the interest of keeping the anonymity of my girls in tact, decided not to. You're welcome, other parents :)
I'm Average. I'm sure you are too. This is a blog for people who are tired of trying to be "Super Girl"- we all want to be the best we can be. THAT'S average. Beauty is something I strive to achieve. I suppose that's average too. Come and join my quest for above average beauty, deals, and life- with an occasional side dish of Girl Scouts and just a touch of DIY. Sometimes I'll share a bit about my family. We laugh at the world because we know the true secret to freedom- being average.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Urban Decay Haul- February 2013
Hey, y'all, I just got my Urban Decay fix, and I wanted to share it with you all!
In my December UD order, I received a coupon (with a super cute UD sticker that I fully intend to put on my March Ipsy GlamRX freestyle palette) for $5 of my UD purchase, expiring on 2.28.13. I held onto this beauty of a deal, and placed me order the last week of February, so that I didn't let that deal go to waste! I tried to stack the coupon with the Friends and Family sale, but it was a no-go. Besides, money was tight that week, so it is better that I let that deal pass.
I only ordered 2 items this time; I want to slowly build my Urban Decay collection as the items I want go on sale or clearance. I am SO COMPLETELY in LOVE with Urban Decay, that this is the ONLY way I can make my pocket book (and subsequently, my husband!) happy, and still get my UD style on. If you have NEVER tried Urban Decay's products, let me stop right here and tell you- just do it. Everything that they sell is top of the line, and absolutely worth every single penny. I just love a bargain, so I shop the clearance section, and so far, being a UD cheep-skate has not steered me wrong!
Urban Decay has 2 palettes on clearance that I don't yet have, and I will tell you right now, it was a very tough decision. The Ammo palette and the Mariposa Palette are currently on sale for $19 each, and each is a solid palette, with 10 shadow pans, with an awesome color selection.
After much debate, review reading, and swatch studying, I chose the Mariposa palette.
I just LOVE the gorgeous tin that houses the palette! I collect tin (yes, I'm aware I'm a big geek and a little strange), plus it came with a mini UD good karma brush; whereas the Ammo palette includes sponge tip applicators (I HATE those things).
One thing that I will say, is that the Mariposa palette does not include a mirror, and while I thought this wouldn't bother me, it turns out that it does.
The box the palette comes in is adorable as well- I think I will put it on my dresser and put random jewelry items in it, perhaps it will keep Little Miss Sticky Fingers out of my stuff (not very likely, but a girl can dream, right?!).
The colors in this palette are absolutely vibrant, and in my opinion, these are ALL wins- there is not a single pan that I don't think I will use- and this is rare in a palette for me. UD shadows are silky smooth, highly pigmented, last all day, and for the most part, have very little fallout. Beware, though- once you use UD shadows, it will be VERY hard to switch back to brands of lesser quality! I have a very small assortment of MAC shadows, and in my opinion, compared to UD, they don't hold a candle. Of course, I AM Only Average, and probably picked shadows that aren't as great as other ones out there; and please believe me, I am NOT hating on MAC (love you, MAC!). I am only saying that for me, and my Only Average body chemistry, Urban Decay is the best out there.
This palette has some awesome neutrals, as well as some beautiful colors for that POP we all love. This is more of a autumn/winter palette, as far as colors go; but my Deluxe palette I bought after Christmas is more of a spring/summer palette; so it all works out for me. That's not to say that there aren't some awesome colors in the Mariposa; but they seem a bit more "cold season", as opposed to the "warm season" feel I get from the Deluxe. Rockstar is a beautiful aubergine shimmer (and an early favorite). Gunmetal is a gorgeous dark metallic gray with some sparkle. Skimp is the perfect highlight color, at least for me and my mega-pale self. Infamous is THE ultimate fushia, just right for a romantic look, and another early favorite for me. Wreckage is a pretty taupe color, and perfect for a flawless neutral eye. Haight is absolute perfection, and the reason (at least color-wise) that I chose THIS palette, a gorgeous mermaid blue (love love LOVE!!!). Money is a gorgeous greenish-grey color (aptly names) that seems like it flashes gold- hello, St. Patrick's day! Mushroom isn't brown as the name suggests (at least to me), but is a pretty gray- smoky eye city! Spotlight is a hard color to describe; UD says it's "light mocha with gold glitter"; I would describe it as "almost pink", for lack of a better vocabulary (more neutral eye choices!). Last but not least is Limelight- a gorgeous bronzey gold shade, with sparkles, and another win for neutral eye.
The included brush (that I was SO excited about!) is really tiny. Given the palette is about the side of my hand, I'm not sure why I was surprised by the size of the brush. I guess I thought it had magical Harry Potter powers and would grow when I took it out. Other than being surprised by its size, I really loved it! The brush did a great job picking up and applying pigment, was soft on my skin, and the bristles had the right firmness. Plus, it's vegan, and who doesn't love cruelty free items?!
Other than the lack of a mirror, this is, in my opinion a perfect palette, and as I am partial to butterflies, I am seriously loving the embossed packaging (but not so much the closure!). Each of the 10 pans is 0.8g e (0.03 us oz) in weight; smaller than my Deluxe palette; but then again, there are 10 shades in Mariposa, vs. 9 in Deluxe.
This palette is available HERE; and is currently on sale for $19.
GRADE: 5/5
I only ordered one more thing (this time!); a deluxe eye shadow pan. I LOVE my Deluxe palette; and have worn down one shadow color ALMOST to the pan. When I saw that the Deluxe shadow pans were on sale for $6 (!), I just couldn't help myself- I would never forgive myself if I ran out of this shade, and as it is discontinued (at least in this deluxe formula), couldn't reorder. The rest of the shadows in my Deluxe palette are still very full (another awesome thing about UD- I have used this palette at least 5 times a week since I received it in early January), with the exception of this one. Any guesses as to which one I'm talking about? It's not what I would have expected...I'll give you a hint...
If you guessed, Fishnet, then pat yourself on the back, because you are right! I LOVE the packaging on the deluxe shadows; each has a picture that is personalized to the shade. I think this makes it easier to identify them in my makeup bag, instead of just a sticker on the bottom. Plus, not needing to have a clear lid has room for my next favorite thing about these shadows:
There is a little mirror in the top! First, I just want to say; they can put a mirror in these little shadows, but not in the Mariposa palette: WTH? Aside from that, I think it's an awesome idea to have a mirror in the little shadow boxes. One thing that I DON'T like about the packaging, is that the clear top of the package can pop off very easily, especially if you try to open the shadow without pushing the little button. So far, I've not BROKEN broken one, but I have a feeling that it WILL happen one day.
Fishnet is my favorite UD shadow color to date (but I have a feeling that Haight will be a close second), and this absolutely surprised me. I'm really a blue/green person, and figured that I would fall in love with Peace or Graffiti; and while I do use these colors frequently in the center of my lids, I find myself reaching for Fishnet almost daily, at least as a base color for me to build others onto and around. Fishnet is such a fun name (like all UD shadows- I LOVE IT!!); and the color is fun to match. This mega-awesome shadow is a duo-tone iridescent purple, and flashes pink. I think I love it so much because it's never exactly the same color when you change angles; and therefore never boring. I have very blue eyes, so purple is a "safe" choice for me when adding color- blues and greens, while my favorites, draw attention AWAY from my eyes, and to the shadow; while purple shadows have the opposite effect.
These single pans are have a fill weight of 2.5g e, or 0.09 US oz. If you want to try Fishnet, or any other single UD Deluxe shadows, they are are available HERE, on clearance for $6 each. I will definitely be purchasing more of these; my next choice will be Honey (the ultimate in gold shadows).
GRADE: 5/5
Urban Decay is all about the "wow" factor, and they always include a sample in every order. The sample I received is a repeat for me, but if I have to repeat "any" UD product, I would choose this one: Urban Decay Primer Potion.
Although it is a foil pack sample, and not a "deluxe" sample, I will take free UDPP is any form I can get! Primer Potion goes on smooth, and dries clear, and seriously makes ANY shadow last forever- UD shadows last nearly 24 hours (at least on me!) if I use it with them! Because I have hooded eyes, eyeliner transfer is a GIVEN if I wear cheap liner, and my shadow is ALWAYS creasing- but NOT with UDPP! If I ever get around to hosting my giveaway, I MIGHT include this foil pack UDPP sample with it; provided my kids don't get to it first (I've had to HIDE the palette to keep them out!!)! UD also offers primer that does NOT dry clear, and their 3 color options are absolutely gorgeous- be sure to check them out!
Primer Potion is available HERE; and a full size tube is priced at $20 for a 11 ml tube or $9 for the travel size 3.7 ml bottle (and it's super cute!). The value of my little sample is undetermined; there is no weight indicated on the package.
GRADE: 5/5 (higher if I could!)
So there it is, y'all, my little UD haul; the last for me for a while, I'm afraid- unless I find an awesome coupon code sometime soon! I hope you all enjoyed my point of view, and if you know of a product that you are considering, but want an Only Average opinion on it, let me know, and I will do what I can to review it for you! Until next time, all you lovely ones; stay Average!
Disclaimer: The items listed above were paid for by my own money. I am not being compensated or required to review any of these items, and the opinions listed are my own true feelings. I have not been compensated, and the links shown are NOT referral links.
In my December UD order, I received a coupon (with a super cute UD sticker that I fully intend to put on my March Ipsy GlamRX freestyle palette) for $5 of my UD purchase, expiring on 2.28.13. I held onto this beauty of a deal, and placed me order the last week of February, so that I didn't let that deal go to waste! I tried to stack the coupon with the Friends and Family sale, but it was a no-go. Besides, money was tight that week, so it is better that I let that deal pass.
I only ordered 2 items this time; I want to slowly build my Urban Decay collection as the items I want go on sale or clearance. I am SO COMPLETELY in LOVE with Urban Decay, that this is the ONLY way I can make my pocket book (and subsequently, my husband!) happy, and still get my UD style on. If you have NEVER tried Urban Decay's products, let me stop right here and tell you- just do it. Everything that they sell is top of the line, and absolutely worth every single penny. I just love a bargain, so I shop the clearance section, and so far, being a UD cheep-skate has not steered me wrong!
Urban Decay has 2 palettes on clearance that I don't yet have, and I will tell you right now, it was a very tough decision. The Ammo palette and the Mariposa Palette are currently on sale for $19 each, and each is a solid palette, with 10 shadow pans, with an awesome color selection.
After much debate, review reading, and swatch studying, I chose the Mariposa palette.
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| Gorgeous packaging; but just a tad hard to open! |
I just LOVE the gorgeous tin that houses the palette! I collect tin (yes, I'm aware I'm a big geek and a little strange), plus it came with a mini UD good karma brush; whereas the Ammo palette includes sponge tip applicators (I HATE those things).
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| Such a gorgeous palette! |
One thing that I will say, is that the Mariposa palette does not include a mirror, and while I thought this wouldn't bother me, it turns out that it does.
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| Love the box- I'm a butterfly person :) |
The box the palette comes in is adorable as well- I think I will put it on my dresser and put random jewelry items in it, perhaps it will keep Little Miss Sticky Fingers out of my stuff (not very likely, but a girl can dream, right?!).
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| This picture is pretty true to life; gorgeous colors! |
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| These swatches were photographed in the light of my kitchen window (it's too cold to go outside!). |
This palette has some awesome neutrals, as well as some beautiful colors for that POP we all love. This is more of a autumn/winter palette, as far as colors go; but my Deluxe palette I bought after Christmas is more of a spring/summer palette; so it all works out for me. That's not to say that there aren't some awesome colors in the Mariposa; but they seem a bit more "cold season", as opposed to the "warm season" feel I get from the Deluxe. Rockstar is a beautiful aubergine shimmer (and an early favorite). Gunmetal is a gorgeous dark metallic gray with some sparkle. Skimp is the perfect highlight color, at least for me and my mega-pale self. Infamous is THE ultimate fushia, just right for a romantic look, and another early favorite for me. Wreckage is a pretty taupe color, and perfect for a flawless neutral eye. Haight is absolute perfection, and the reason (at least color-wise) that I chose THIS palette, a gorgeous mermaid blue (love love LOVE!!!). Money is a gorgeous greenish-grey color (aptly names) that seems like it flashes gold- hello, St. Patrick's day! Mushroom isn't brown as the name suggests (at least to me), but is a pretty gray- smoky eye city! Spotlight is a hard color to describe; UD says it's "light mocha with gold glitter"; I would describe it as "almost pink", for lack of a better vocabulary (more neutral eye choices!). Last but not least is Limelight- a gorgeous bronzey gold shade, with sparkles, and another win for neutral eye.
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| This brush might be tiny, but it packs a BIG punch! |
Other than the lack of a mirror, this is, in my opinion a perfect palette, and as I am partial to butterflies, I am seriously loving the embossed packaging (but not so much the closure!). Each of the 10 pans is 0.8g e (0.03 us oz) in weight; smaller than my Deluxe palette; but then again, there are 10 shades in Mariposa, vs. 9 in Deluxe.
This palette is available HERE; and is currently on sale for $19.
GRADE: 5/5
I only ordered one more thing (this time!); a deluxe eye shadow pan. I LOVE my Deluxe palette; and have worn down one shadow color ALMOST to the pan. When I saw that the Deluxe shadow pans were on sale for $6 (!), I just couldn't help myself- I would never forgive myself if I ran out of this shade, and as it is discontinued (at least in this deluxe formula), couldn't reorder. The rest of the shadows in my Deluxe palette are still very full (another awesome thing about UD- I have used this palette at least 5 times a week since I received it in early January), with the exception of this one. Any guesses as to which one I'm talking about? It's not what I would have expected...I'll give you a hint...
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| I love the packaging of these shadows- each one is unique! |
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| Great size pan, and LOVE that there is a mirror! |
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| Swatch of Fishnet- in one light it's purple, the another one, a purple. LOVE IT! |
These single pans are have a fill weight of 2.5g e, or 0.09 US oz. If you want to try Fishnet, or any other single UD Deluxe shadows, they are are available HERE, on clearance for $6 each. I will definitely be purchasing more of these; my next choice will be Honey (the ultimate in gold shadows).
GRADE: 5/5
Urban Decay is all about the "wow" factor, and they always include a sample in every order. The sample I received is a repeat for me, but if I have to repeat "any" UD product, I would choose this one: Urban Decay Primer Potion.
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| Urban Decay Primer Potion Foil Pack sample |
Primer Potion is available HERE; and a full size tube is priced at $20 for a 11 ml tube or $9 for the travel size 3.7 ml bottle (and it's super cute!). The value of my little sample is undetermined; there is no weight indicated on the package.
GRADE: 5/5 (higher if I could!)
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| February 2013 Urban Decay Haul |
Disclaimer: The items listed above were paid for by my own money. I am not being compensated or required to review any of these items, and the opinions listed are my own true feelings. I have not been compensated, and the links shown are NOT referral links.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Resolutions Cravebox Review, plus, Giveaway?
Oh. My. Gosh, you guys- I FINALLY won a web contest! I have entered these things for years, off an on, and I NEVER win anything! Even if I'm told I "won" something, it's a crappy coupon, or it never actually arrives!
I entered a contest on my fellow blogger Leigh's site,Whimsical Adventures of a Magical Mom. Go on, head over there and check it out. I'll wait.
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Back now? Great. Leigh was offered the chance to give away a Resolutions Cravebox, and I was the lucky winner! Leigh was awesome getting in touch with me, and could probably hear me whoo who'ing all the way at her home in NC!
The awesome thing about becoming a beauty junkie is learning about all the awesome monthly delivery services out there, and not just for makeup! I had never heard about Cravebox (and lots of other boxes!)before I read Leigh's blog; and I am so excited to receive it and give this subscription service a test run before I fork over some of my husband's hard earned dollars to do so.
Here's my thoughts on the awesome Resolutions Cravebox; so named after what we all make in January, and most of us break before February (or give up for Lent!!) :)
I cracked open the box, and then peered inside.
This box is seriously crammed full of goodies!
I love the letter, explaining how the products inside will help you keep your New Year's resolutions to get healthy. It would be nice if the letter goes over the products in the box, though, maybe they will do this in the future!
A chip clip and a coupon for a free Wholly Guacamole product?! SCORE! My hubby and the kids LIVE on this stuff, so I will definitely be putting this coupon to good use! We have guac at least once a week here (everyone but me loves it), and Wholly Guacamole is, in my opinion, THE best brand out there. Plus, who DOESN'T need another chip clip- am I right?! I am loving this box already!
I went to my market to pick up the free items in my box, and my hubby called me, to ask me to get Spicy guac instead of the "original" that I usually pick up. My oldest saw the Spicy in the fridge, and had a meltdown! I assured her that I also purchased the original, and all was well in our world again.
A 14 oz packet of the guac retails for $4.99 at my local grocery market (coupon will not exceed $6.50); so as this is a coupon for a FREE product, I will count this at part of the value of my box. Retail value: $4.99
GRADE: 5/5
I used to be a tea drinker, and every now and then I fall back into the old habit of brewing myself a cup of tea, instead of the coffee that my husband prefers. I'm very familiar with Celestial Seasonings, but I've new to the Metabo Balance tea. Tea that will help control my metabolism?! Works for me! My local grocery does carry this brand, but a box is priced at $5.49 for a box of 20 bags; at the CS website, a box of 20 bags is 3.49. Even if I take that .75 off coupon to my store on triple coupon day, the 3.49, then 10% off is a WAY better deal. Retail value of this product comes to $0.17 (I don't count the coupons unless they are for FREE product!), based on the website price.
GRADE: 4/5 (not sure if it made me want to eat less; it was a crazy day here!)
I love to try new things, and I've never heard of the brand, CocoaVia before. This is a 4 pack of samples of cocoa supplements, with flavoring. The chocolate flavors are designed to be added to milk, coffee, etc; while the berry flavored ones work well in water or yogurt. This 4 pack contained sweetened dark chocolate, unsweetened dark chocolate, summer citrus, and cran-raspberry. Each packet contains 250mg of cocoa flavanols; which are said to support healthy blood circulation. We drink a LOT of flavored water here, so I was very curious to see what we thought of this brand. I tried the sweetened dark chocolate in my coffee this morning, and had an epic fail on my behalf. By the time I made it to the coffee pot, there was only about 1/2 a cup left, that was luke warm (my husband leaves for work around 6:30 am each morning; I get up around 7:30, when my youngest wakes up). I added the powder to my sad little cup, and stirred it in. First impression was that it was way to strong and had a major after taste. I added a good bit of milk to my coffee (my home made way of making it a mochacino), and it was much better. It tasted very much like hot chocolate powder. I tried the cran-raspberry and added it to water; and I THINK I didn't add enough water. I took a big gulp, and then topped my glass off again. It was MUCH better. Given the name has "cocoa" in it, I did expect a hint of chocolate taste, and was pleasantly surprised that there was none. I much prefer the fruit flavors to the chocolate flavors, and this surprised me; but then again, I AM Only Average. The chocolate packets have a weight of .27 oz; and the fruit flavors have a weight of .24 oz. A box of these (30) retails for $39.95, but is currently on sale for $34.95. You can also purchase a set of 2-15 packet boxes, in either the chocolate varieties or the fruit varieties, for the same price. There is a coupon code on my packaging; however it has expired. My sample packets (4) have a retail value of $4.68.
GRADE: 4/5 (not sure if this is a supplement I really NEED- after I try it for 4 days, if I feel better I will reconsider)
Another brand I'm not too familiar with is Perfectly Simple. My oldest daughter LOVES snack bars, and she was excited to try this one. The cranberry almond flavor was, in her opinion, absolutely fantastic; that is, once you get over the appearance of the bar. The bar is kind of a dark reddish brown, with bits of nuts here and there. I think you probably can figure out what my first impression of what it looked like is..but I will tell you, the flavor absolutely made up for that! I will absolutely pick these up for her at the market, if she asked me to. The bar is 1.58 oz; and a 12 pack retails for $16.62 at Amazon; they aren't carried at my regular market. I received a coupon for $1 off a 5 pack along with the bar (and I don't count this towards the value). This sample has a retail value of $1.39.
GRADE: 4/5
I love me some coupons, I'll be perfectly honest. Free product coupons are the holy grail for any couponer! I don't think I have ever tried the Smart Ones brand before, but I am at least familiar with the name. These products retail $2.79-4.19 in my area, depending on the product (pizza, ice cream sundaes (!), pasta, breakfast foods, microwave meals, etc).
I picked up the 4 pack of the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sundaes at my market, and we gave it a test run! Oh. My. Gosh, y'all. These were SO good. For a "diet" food, these did NOT taste diet! There is a bit of graham cracker crumb on the bottom, then ice cream, then chocolate syrup, and then cookie dough bits. So freakin' awesome. Best thing in this box, by far- my kids gobbled them up like they were going out of style, and I only got one! My product retailed at $3.89 (coupon has a maximum value of $4)
GRADE:5/5 (absolute sinful perfection!)
Hello, I'm Only Average Mom, and I'm a soda junkie. There, I said it. I've always loved the fizzy drink, and love to try new ones. I prefer to drink diet soda, and have for years. My grandma put it best; if you want the soda, why do you want all the extra calories? Just drink the diet! I've drank diet soda for so many years, that regular soda tastes entirely too sweet to me, so I was excited to try these 10 calorie drinks out! A&W brings back childhood memories of root beer floats at the A&W restaurant, drank out of glass mugs. When we popped open this can, this is what I imagined. Sadly, fantasy and reality did not mesh in this case. The root beer had a "diet" aftertaste, but less than regular diet soda, according to my husband. I think that some sodas need the full calories, and root beer is one of them. My youngest and I popped open the 7Up 10; and although it was better, it lost its fizziness quickly and had an after taste. I think I'll stick with my Diet Dr. Pepper; although the company gets an A for effort! Each can is 12 fl oz, and retail at my local grocery market for $6.29/12 pack. This makes each can $0.52 in value, and this sample set valued at $1.04.
GRADE: 2.5/5
I recently had the opportunity to try out lots of Mary Kay products, and enjoyed the majority of them. I was very excited to see the MK Timewise repair volu-firm eye renewal in my package, a full size product! I took the lid off to put a bit of product on my hand and was astonished to see the applicator tip! It's metal and large; with the purpose to massage the cream into your skin. According to MK's webiste, this product:
GRADE: 4.5/5
Pantene is a brand that I've used off and on, since high school. I've never heard of the Moisture Whip line, though, and I was so excited to test it. My hair is very dry, very curly, and very thin. This isn't the best combination for anyone, so I am always on the lookout for a product that is designed to make my crazy hair less dry, more wavy and less kinky curly, and thicker. The first thing I noticed, is that the product comes out of the bottle really fast- I had a handfull of mousse with just a quick push of the button! I applied this to my hair, and used no other product (so I can be sure the results I am seeing are from the moisture whip, and not something else!), and my hair did not become stiff, as you kind of expect from mousse; and my hair felt a bit more hydrated throughout the day. I didn't experience any styling benefits, but in the product's defense, it doesn't advertise any. The Moisture Whip is a deluxe size sample, at 26g (0.9 oz); the full size is priced at $5.97 (5.29 oz or 150g). This makes my sample valued at $1.03
GRADE:4/5 (I still think of 80's hair when I think of mousse!)
And that's it for my very first Cravebox review! I am debating whether or not to sign up for Cravebox; it's a different type of subscription service. What happens is, Cravebox announces a theme, and if you think you would like to try it, you enter your name in a raffle. If you are chosen in the raffle to receive the box, then you pay for it. Boxes are priced from $12-16. The Cravebox Resolutions box is a $15 box. Again, I am NOT a Cravebox member, and only got to try this out thanks the the awesome Leigh over at Whimsical Adventures of a Magical Mom. If you would like to learn more about Cravebox, you can go HERE.
Even though only a couple of things really WOW'ed me, I am so happy to try this service out. I love how the boxes come packed with crinkle paper- we will definitely repurpose this in a craft, or in a birthday party bag (this is the year of the lava lamp; for anyone who is considering inviting my oldest to your child's party- everyone is getting a lava or glitter lamp. Easy peasy- Five Below!).
The total retail value of this box is $61.24 (based on current pricing available in my area as best I could find)- which, is absolutely FANTASTIC for the $15 price; IF the items inside are ones you are already looking for. I enjoyed trying this out, and am so happy to have won this box- I'm not sure I would have spent the money on it, as it isn't REALLY for our particular lifestyle, but I've been educated on some products to get, and some to steer clear for. That's what these boxes are all about!
Well, thank you SO much Leigh, for giving this Only Average mom a chance to try something new; and inspiring me to work on having my OWN giveaway! That's right, I'm spreading the love- Leigh used rafflecopter to pick me as a winner, and I want to pick one too! In the coming weeks (it's still Girl Scout cookie season, dude. Plus, St. Patty's, hubby's birthday (Pi Day), Easter; and I have to be sure to have my little ducks in a row for all this stuff!) or possibly coming days, I'll be posting a contest to win a Profusion palette, very similar to the ones I reviewed in January, and ONE Average person will be it's new proud owner- so be sure to share the love you have of my Average world, and look for my contest post very soon! Stay Average, y'all!
Disclaimer: I received these products as result of a contest I entered, and they were not sent to me by the vendor, but by a fellow blogger. I was neither asked nor required to review the products, and all opinions listed are true and are my own (or my family's).
I entered a contest on my fellow blogger Leigh's site,Whimsical Adventures of a Magical Mom. Go on, head over there and check it out. I'll wait.
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Back now? Great. Leigh was offered the chance to give away a Resolutions Cravebox, and I was the lucky winner! Leigh was awesome getting in touch with me, and could probably hear me whoo who'ing all the way at her home in NC!
The awesome thing about becoming a beauty junkie is learning about all the awesome monthly delivery services out there, and not just for makeup! I had never heard about Cravebox (and lots of other boxes!)before I read Leigh's blog; and I am so excited to receive it and give this subscription service a test run before I fork over some of my husband's hard earned dollars to do so.
Here's my thoughts on the awesome Resolutions Cravebox; so named after what we all make in January, and most of us break before February (or give up for Lent!!) :)
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| It looks like it's ready to pop! |
I cracked open the box, and then peered inside.
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| Seriously packed box! |
This box is seriously crammed full of goodies!
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| The letter talks about what Cravebox is, and how to get one, and has an encouraging message about keeping your resolutions. |
I love the letter, explaining how the products inside will help you keep your New Year's resolutions to get healthy. It would be nice if the letter goes over the products in the box, though, maybe they will do this in the future!
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| Wholly Guacamole coupon for a free product; go HERE for product info, coupons, and more |
A chip clip and a coupon for a free Wholly Guacamole product?! SCORE! My hubby and the kids LIVE on this stuff, so I will definitely be putting this coupon to good use! We have guac at least once a week here (everyone but me loves it), and Wholly Guacamole is, in my opinion, THE best brand out there. Plus, who DOESN'T need another chip clip- am I right?! I am loving this box already!
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| My hubby requested the Spicy guacamole :) |
A 14 oz packet of the guac retails for $4.99 at my local grocery market (coupon will not exceed $6.50); so as this is a coupon for a FREE product, I will count this at part of the value of my box. Retail value: $4.99
GRADE: 5/5
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| Celestial Seasonings Metabo Balance wellness tea; available HERE; coupon code CSWELLNESS will earn you 10% off your order until 12/31/13 |
I used to be a tea drinker, and every now and then I fall back into the old habit of brewing myself a cup of tea, instead of the coffee that my husband prefers. I'm very familiar with Celestial Seasonings, but I've new to the Metabo Balance tea. Tea that will help control my metabolism?! Works for me! My local grocery does carry this brand, but a box is priced at $5.49 for a box of 20 bags; at the CS website, a box of 20 bags is 3.49. Even if I take that .75 off coupon to my store on triple coupon day, the 3.49, then 10% off is a WAY better deal. Retail value of this product comes to $0.17 (I don't count the coupons unless they are for FREE product!), based on the website price.
GRADE: 4/5 (not sure if it made me want to eat less; it was a crazy day here!)
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| CocoaVia Daily Cocoa Extract Suppliment variety sample pack; available HERE |
I love to try new things, and I've never heard of the brand, CocoaVia before. This is a 4 pack of samples of cocoa supplements, with flavoring. The chocolate flavors are designed to be added to milk, coffee, etc; while the berry flavored ones work well in water or yogurt. This 4 pack contained sweetened dark chocolate, unsweetened dark chocolate, summer citrus, and cran-raspberry. Each packet contains 250mg of cocoa flavanols; which are said to support healthy blood circulation. We drink a LOT of flavored water here, so I was very curious to see what we thought of this brand. I tried the sweetened dark chocolate in my coffee this morning, and had an epic fail on my behalf. By the time I made it to the coffee pot, there was only about 1/2 a cup left, that was luke warm (my husband leaves for work around 6:30 am each morning; I get up around 7:30, when my youngest wakes up). I added the powder to my sad little cup, and stirred it in. First impression was that it was way to strong and had a major after taste. I added a good bit of milk to my coffee (my home made way of making it a mochacino), and it was much better. It tasted very much like hot chocolate powder. I tried the cran-raspberry and added it to water; and I THINK I didn't add enough water. I took a big gulp, and then topped my glass off again. It was MUCH better. Given the name has "cocoa" in it, I did expect a hint of chocolate taste, and was pleasantly surprised that there was none. I much prefer the fruit flavors to the chocolate flavors, and this surprised me; but then again, I AM Only Average. The chocolate packets have a weight of .27 oz; and the fruit flavors have a weight of .24 oz. A box of these (30) retails for $39.95, but is currently on sale for $34.95. You can also purchase a set of 2-15 packet boxes, in either the chocolate varieties or the fruit varieties, for the same price. There is a coupon code on my packaging; however it has expired. My sample packets (4) have a retail value of $4.68.
GRADE: 4/5 (not sure if this is a supplement I really NEED- after I try it for 4 days, if I feel better I will reconsider)
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| Perfectly Simple Cranberry Almond bar; go HERE for a product locator |
Another brand I'm not too familiar with is Perfectly Simple. My oldest daughter LOVES snack bars, and she was excited to try this one. The cranberry almond flavor was, in her opinion, absolutely fantastic; that is, once you get over the appearance of the bar. The bar is kind of a dark reddish brown, with bits of nuts here and there. I think you probably can figure out what my first impression of what it looked like is..but I will tell you, the flavor absolutely made up for that! I will absolutely pick these up for her at the market, if she asked me to. The bar is 1.58 oz; and a 12 pack retails for $16.62 at Amazon; they aren't carried at my regular market. I received a coupon for $1 off a 5 pack along with the bar (and I don't count this towards the value). This sample has a retail value of $1.39.
GRADE: 4/5
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| Coupon for a FREE Smart Ones by Weight Watchers product; go HERE for a product locator |
I love me some coupons, I'll be perfectly honest. Free product coupons are the holy grail for any couponer! I don't think I have ever tried the Smart Ones brand before, but I am at least familiar with the name. These products retail $2.79-4.19 in my area, depending on the product (pizza, ice cream sundaes (!), pasta, breakfast foods, microwave meals, etc).
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| Smart Ones Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sundae (4 pack): yummy! |
GRADE:5/5 (absolute sinful perfection!)
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| Sun-Rype Fruit Source Bars in Mango Strawberry and Just Fruit & Grains bar in summer berry; go HERE for a store locator |
We received 4 of the SunRype snack bars. 3 of them are Fruit Source plus Veggie bars, in the flavor Mango Strawberry; and the last one was the Just fruit & grains bar in the flavor Summer Berry. My kids both tried the fruit source plus veggie bars, and they didn't care for them. The bars have a pleasant smell, but the texture is a bit unexpected. They kind of look like thick fruit roll ups, only more fruitier. The bars are kind of soft, and kind of chewy. I tried the fruit source plus veggie bar, and I thought it was just ok. The fruit & grains bar was very similar, but had an unusual aftertaste to me. The grains gave the bars more of a "crunch" to them, and I personally didn't care for the texture. I'm glad I got to try these- I liked the fruit source bars, but now I know to stay away from the fruit & grains bars; plus if I buy these, the kids will leave them alone and I will have a snack that no one will bother. Score! The FruitSource bars have a weight of 1.3 oz; and are available at Amazon, $50.31 for 48 bars (making 1 bar $1.04). The Just Fruit & Grains bars weigh 1.5 oz, and are for sale at Amazon, $37.06 for 40 bars (making 1 bar $0.93). These 4 samples have a retail value of $4.05.
GRADE: 3/5 |
| A&W Ten and 7Up Ten soda cans, go HERE for a product locator |
GRADE: 2.5/5
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| Mary Kay Timewise repair volu-firm eye renewal cream, available HERE |
I recently had the opportunity to try out lots of Mary Kay products, and enjoyed the majority of them. I was very excited to see the MK Timewise repair volu-firm eye renewal in my package, a full size product! I took the lid off to put a bit of product on my hand and was astonished to see the applicator tip! It's metal and large; with the purpose to massage the cream into your skin. According to MK's webiste, this product:
- Targets deep lines, wrinkles and sagging skin.
- Targets undereye bags, puffiness and dark circles.
- Targets crepiness and dry skin.
- Increases skin moisture for 12 hours.
- Features a unique liquid crystal delivery system that helps enhance effectiveness.
- Contains the benefits of the Volu-Firm™ Complex.
GRADE: 4.5/5
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| Pantene Pro-V Silky Moisture Whip, available HERE |
Pantene is a brand that I've used off and on, since high school. I've never heard of the Moisture Whip line, though, and I was so excited to test it. My hair is very dry, very curly, and very thin. This isn't the best combination for anyone, so I am always on the lookout for a product that is designed to make my crazy hair less dry, more wavy and less kinky curly, and thicker. The first thing I noticed, is that the product comes out of the bottle really fast- I had a handfull of mousse with just a quick push of the button! I applied this to my hair, and used no other product (so I can be sure the results I am seeing are from the moisture whip, and not something else!), and my hair did not become stiff, as you kind of expect from mousse; and my hair felt a bit more hydrated throughout the day. I didn't experience any styling benefits, but in the product's defense, it doesn't advertise any. The Moisture Whip is a deluxe size sample, at 26g (0.9 oz); the full size is priced at $5.97 (5.29 oz or 150g). This makes my sample valued at $1.03
GRADE:4/5 (I still think of 80's hair when I think of mousse!)
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| Awesome box! We loved trying everything!! |
And that's it for my very first Cravebox review! I am debating whether or not to sign up for Cravebox; it's a different type of subscription service. What happens is, Cravebox announces a theme, and if you think you would like to try it, you enter your name in a raffle. If you are chosen in the raffle to receive the box, then you pay for it. Boxes are priced from $12-16. The Cravebox Resolutions box is a $15 box. Again, I am NOT a Cravebox member, and only got to try this out thanks the the awesome Leigh over at Whimsical Adventures of a Magical Mom. If you would like to learn more about Cravebox, you can go HERE.
Even though only a couple of things really WOW'ed me, I am so happy to try this service out. I love how the boxes come packed with crinkle paper- we will definitely repurpose this in a craft, or in a birthday party bag (this is the year of the lava lamp; for anyone who is considering inviting my oldest to your child's party- everyone is getting a lava or glitter lamp. Easy peasy- Five Below!).
The total retail value of this box is $61.24 (based on current pricing available in my area as best I could find)- which, is absolutely FANTASTIC for the $15 price; IF the items inside are ones you are already looking for. I enjoyed trying this out, and am so happy to have won this box- I'm not sure I would have spent the money on it, as it isn't REALLY for our particular lifestyle, but I've been educated on some products to get, and some to steer clear for. That's what these boxes are all about!
Well, thank you SO much Leigh, for giving this Only Average mom a chance to try something new; and inspiring me to work on having my OWN giveaway! That's right, I'm spreading the love- Leigh used rafflecopter to pick me as a winner, and I want to pick one too! In the coming weeks (it's still Girl Scout cookie season, dude. Plus, St. Patty's, hubby's birthday (Pi Day), Easter; and I have to be sure to have my little ducks in a row for all this stuff!) or possibly coming days, I'll be posting a contest to win a Profusion palette, very similar to the ones I reviewed in January, and ONE Average person will be it's new proud owner- so be sure to share the love you have of my Average world, and look for my contest post very soon! Stay Average, y'all!
Disclaimer: I received these products as result of a contest I entered, and they were not sent to me by the vendor, but by a fellow blogger. I was neither asked nor required to review the products, and all opinions listed are true and are my own (or my family's).
Monday, March 4, 2013
Monday Madness-Angels Unaware
Hello all you lovely average people!
It's Monday, and usually I post a list of crazy and random things that I learned or was reminded of over the past weekend (or week). Yesterday, I had planned out a whole rant about how no one is reliable, and this fact will cause you to be stuck doing five hours of cookie booths in the freezing wind. That is, in fact, until something happened to change my mind. Today, I'm going to post about a random act of kindness my daughter (and subsequently, I) received.
A week or so ago, a nice lady at my church asked if she could take my daughter shopping. She told me that she has always had little girls around her- foster children, neighbors, her children's friends- and has missed shopping for kids clothes. I smiled, and told her that of course she could take my oldest shopping; she is a total clothes horse, and I gave her some ideas of what Katie could actually use (jeans!) and what we have an over abundance of (shirts!). We planned for Katie and the lovely lady (whom I know fairly well) to leave after church yesterday, and "do" lunch and shopping.
Katie arrived home around 6:00 pm, with her arms LOADED with shopping bags. I could scarcely believe my eyes! She was very excited to show off all of her new things; an Easter dress, several pairs of pants, a new shirt, and a large bag from the shore store. She even had a small bag that was for her sister!
Ok. Let me pause here to say, that while my family isn't living in the slums (we live in a small but nice home in the country, 10 minutes away from the ocean- not beach front or anything, but on a beach access route), but we are by no means "well off": we don't have iPhones, my Compaq laptop is at least 4 years old, and while both of our vehicles are paid for, they would never be mistaken for new. One is actually nicknamed "the deerslayer", for obvious reasons. I tell you this because, while we do have NICE things, we have them because both my hubby and I are serious coupon freaks and die hard bargain shoppers. We're talking, buy the dearly needed gas grill in JANUARY, kind of people. I NEVER pay full price for anything. Ever. Ok, except that one time, but other than that; NEVER. I AM only average, after all. My husband has a good job, and I'm a stay home parent- we make ends meet and even put a miniscule amount away each month, but we don't tend to spend a lot on the "extras" in life (I don't count a couple makeup subscriptions as "a lot"). My kids are also pretty good at not asking for super expensive things- we do one trip a year to the "hot" store that my oldest just HAS to have some things from, and Christmas gets pretty extensive around here, but that's really about it. If they make a generic of something that's just as good, we usually go with that- especially if the price difference is enormous.
That being said, I when I saw the shoe bag, I looked at my daughter's feet. She was not wearing the cute shoes I bought her on President's Day (for $1.50, I might add), but a pair of UGGs. I blinked twice, assuming that they were what I call, "FUGGs", and then peered inside the shoe bag. This amazing woman, with whom I don't always see eye to eye (though I have ALWAYS respected), bought my kid a $200 pair of UGG boots. Plus a bunch of other stuff. I looked closer as my daughter was spinning around in her new, beautiful clothes, and noticed what was missing: red clearance stickers (the mecca of any Discount Diva, and every Only Average Mom)!
There were no receipts in any of the bags (except the shoe bag, I am sure that was an accident), so I am positive that this lovely lady doesn't want me to know what she spent on my kids, and my husband and I were moved that someone (besides our true family and our chosen family, that is) would even consider spending a few hundred dollars on a child that isn't "theirs". Plus, buy her sister a gorgeous Easter dress!
My grumblings of the day before, after being stuck at a cookie booth for what seemed like endless hours, were instantly gone, and I will filled with love, joy and hope- this woman was an angel to us. This came at a time when I was becoming particularly jaded, and perhaps less-kind than I usually was.
The moral of this story isn't to brag about how awesome this woman is (although it's true), or about how much stuff my kids have. It's a reminder to be kinder than necessary, to love one another, to share what you have when you are able- because the people you are giving to, even if it's just a smile, will notice, and maybe change their perspective. This fantastic woman (whom I figured would spend maybe $25 on my kid) completely changed my frame of mind, and my outlook. We truly are entertaining Angels Unaware.
Have a great week, my average friends!
It's Monday, and usually I post a list of crazy and random things that I learned or was reminded of over the past weekend (or week). Yesterday, I had planned out a whole rant about how no one is reliable, and this fact will cause you to be stuck doing five hours of cookie booths in the freezing wind. That is, in fact, until something happened to change my mind. Today, I'm going to post about a random act of kindness my daughter (and subsequently, I) received.
A week or so ago, a nice lady at my church asked if she could take my daughter shopping. She told me that she has always had little girls around her- foster children, neighbors, her children's friends- and has missed shopping for kids clothes. I smiled, and told her that of course she could take my oldest shopping; she is a total clothes horse, and I gave her some ideas of what Katie could actually use (jeans!) and what we have an over abundance of (shirts!). We planned for Katie and the lovely lady (whom I know fairly well) to leave after church yesterday, and "do" lunch and shopping.
Katie arrived home around 6:00 pm, with her arms LOADED with shopping bags. I could scarcely believe my eyes! She was very excited to show off all of her new things; an Easter dress, several pairs of pants, a new shirt, and a large bag from the shore store. She even had a small bag that was for her sister!
Ok. Let me pause here to say, that while my family isn't living in the slums (we live in a small but nice home in the country, 10 minutes away from the ocean- not beach front or anything, but on a beach access route), but we are by no means "well off": we don't have iPhones, my Compaq laptop is at least 4 years old, and while both of our vehicles are paid for, they would never be mistaken for new. One is actually nicknamed "the deerslayer", for obvious reasons. I tell you this because, while we do have NICE things, we have them because both my hubby and I are serious coupon freaks and die hard bargain shoppers. We're talking, buy the dearly needed gas grill in JANUARY, kind of people. I NEVER pay full price for anything. Ever. Ok, except that one time, but other than that; NEVER. I AM only average, after all. My husband has a good job, and I'm a stay home parent- we make ends meet and even put a miniscule amount away each month, but we don't tend to spend a lot on the "extras" in life (I don't count a couple makeup subscriptions as "a lot"). My kids are also pretty good at not asking for super expensive things- we do one trip a year to the "hot" store that my oldest just HAS to have some things from, and Christmas gets pretty extensive around here, but that's really about it. If they make a generic of something that's just as good, we usually go with that- especially if the price difference is enormous.
That being said, I when I saw the shoe bag, I looked at my daughter's feet. She was not wearing the cute shoes I bought her on President's Day (for $1.50, I might add), but a pair of UGGs. I blinked twice, assuming that they were what I call, "FUGGs", and then peered inside the shoe bag. This amazing woman, with whom I don't always see eye to eye (though I have ALWAYS respected), bought my kid a $200 pair of UGG boots. Plus a bunch of other stuff. I looked closer as my daughter was spinning around in her new, beautiful clothes, and noticed what was missing: red clearance stickers (the mecca of any Discount Diva, and every Only Average Mom)!
There were no receipts in any of the bags (except the shoe bag, I am sure that was an accident), so I am positive that this lovely lady doesn't want me to know what she spent on my kids, and my husband and I were moved that someone (besides our true family and our chosen family, that is) would even consider spending a few hundred dollars on a child that isn't "theirs". Plus, buy her sister a gorgeous Easter dress!
My grumblings of the day before, after being stuck at a cookie booth for what seemed like endless hours, were instantly gone, and I will filled with love, joy and hope- this woman was an angel to us. This came at a time when I was becoming particularly jaded, and perhaps less-kind than I usually was.
The moral of this story isn't to brag about how awesome this woman is (although it's true), or about how much stuff my kids have. It's a reminder to be kinder than necessary, to love one another, to share what you have when you are able- because the people you are giving to, even if it's just a smile, will notice, and maybe change their perspective. This fantastic woman (whom I figured would spend maybe $25 on my kid) completely changed my frame of mind, and my outlook. We truly are entertaining Angels Unaware.
Have a great week, my average friends!
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