$25 Skinny Jane Weight Loss Gift Code Giveaway 3/24 US

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

I did a review on the Skinny Jane "Skinny Blend Protein Shake" in Chocolate flavor a few days back and I am glad to tell you that Skinny Jane is sponsoring a giveaway for my readers for a chance to win a $25 gift code towards any of their product!

I totally love the 7-day sample chocolate protein shake they sent me since it tasted so good plus it kept me full for about 3 hours. I even lost 1.8 lbs during my first 7 days of replacing my usual breakfast with the Skinny Blend Protein Shake!
 
You can read my full review and disclosure here.

You can visit their website and facebook page so you can check out their other products as well. 

Just enter on the raflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLAIMER: 1 Winners will receive (1) $25 Skinny Jane Weight Loss Gift Code. My giveaway would start March 8, 2014 at 12:00 AM PST and will end March 24, 2014 at 12:00 AM PST. This will be open to US residents only. The prize cannot be shipped to a P.O. box address. Winners will be notified by email and will have 24 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. I am not responsible for prize fulfillment. My role is to give the sponsor the information of the winner and they will directly ship the prize to the winner.  I do not share or sell information and all information shared with me will solely be used for prize shipment. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.    

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

Boots Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask Review #PowerofPlants

I have oily skin so I am a fan of clay masks. I've tried several different clay masks but I'm only loyal to about 2 brands at the moment. So when I received the Boots Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask, I was of course super excited to try it. :)

Here is a description from the Boots Botanics website:

The oceanic clay exhibits a negative electrical charge, which helps to draw out impurities without overdrying, skin is left looking clearer whilst feeling softer and smoother. Willowbark, a key ingredient in the Boots Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask, is nature’s champion clarifier. The bark of the willow tree is a natural source of salicylic acid which helps to refine skin texture and actively target imperfections.

I had a hard time peeling the peelie off for the directions inside. Although I kind of have an idea on how to put on clay masks, because I do use another brand at the moment, I still wanted to read the directions first to make sure. And I do read the directions first to all the new products I try before using them just to be safe. :)

So I cleansed my face first (with my own personal facial cleanser) and since it didn't specify to wipe my face first and leave it to dry before applying the clay mask, and because I don't really dry my face first before applying my current clay mask, I didn't bother drying up my face.

I am used to a clay mask with a thicker consistency so I was surprised when this squirted out of the tube when I squeezed it. :)

Sorry for the description but it reminded me of a very loose, liquid-y baby poop my daughters used to make when they were newborns so I'm glad it's odorless. :)


My suggestion would be to SHAKE it first. Do a little jiggy dance and shake it. LOL. :) The directions didn't specify to shake it first before dispensing the clay mask so now you know. SHAKE IT FIRST before using. :)

The consistency of the Boots Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask is more thinner than the mask I currently use. I actually like it better because it's easier to apply and it glides on smoothly on my skin. I also realized that it's better if I put it on after I dried up my face because as I've said, the consistency is already thinner.

Hubby decided to help me and took a picture while putting on the clay mask. Look at my daughter on the side looking at me. She gets scared of me when I put on clay masks. Happy Early Halloween baby! :)

So here is a close-up photo. It says to wait 10 minutes then wipe the excess mask with tissue then rinse with warm water. The timer begins.

This dried up faster than the clay mask I currently use. I sometimes get a stinging sensation on the upper cheeks (I go in front of an electric fan and it'll go away) when I use my current clay mask maybe because it's meant to dry up pimples and it's minty but I didn't feel any stinging sensation when I initially applied the Boots Botanics Ionic Clay Mask.


I also felt the tightening feeling on my skin as the Boots Botanics Ionic Clay Mask was drying up. I love that feeling when I use a clay mask. Don't you? :)

It's almost done!! :) I noticed that the Boots Botanics Clay Mask doesn't crack easily even when it's dry already.

Here is a close-up of my nose. See the holes? Those are actually my pores. Well they are exaggerated by the mask but then, they are smaller than that but quite noticeable without the clay mask.

So here is my picture after I rinsed my face with warm water. I didn't bother wiping the mask off with tissue since it'll require more work and time and it did work with just rinsing right? :)

I am happy with the results of the Boots Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask. It left my face feeling fresh and clean. I also didn't get any reactions or breakouts so that's a big plus. I wouldn't hesitate to buy this brand again (although it a bit pricey). :)

You can visit the Boots Botanics on Facebook and Twitter or on their website.

DISCLAIMER:  I am a member of Influenster and have received a complimentary free BOOTS Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask included in my #JadoreVoxBox to try and review. All opinions are honest and my own and are not influenced in any way. No other form of compensation was received. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.

Skinny Jane "Chocolate Skinny Blend Protein Shake" Review

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

I've tried a protein shake once but that was years ago. Why? Because when I tried one before, it tasted so bad, I wanted to gag. Plus, in addition to tasting bad, the price was super escalated that I didn't think it was worth it. Plus it tasted bad. I know, I just reiterated myself but I wanted to make a point. :) I never tried another one until now.

I was lucky enough because Skinny Jane provided me with a 7-day sample of their Skinny Jane - Chocolate Skinny Blend Protein Shake. I chose the chocolate flavored one since I'm a chocolate lover.

I opened it and was glad the chocolate powder smelled sweet, chocolate-y and nice. I was excited to try it because it really smelled delicious.

It says to mix in 1/4 cup of the Skinny Blend to 8 oz. skim milk or 6 oz. skim milk for a more thicker consistency. Instead of using skim milk, I used 2% milk since it's the milk available in our home. :)

The direction was either to stir it in cold milk or blend it with milk and ice. I chose the former option and used a spoon. :)

I thought the powder would dissolve easily but it didn't. It took some time for the chocolate powder to dissolve and still, not all dissolved completely. I suggest heating a little amount of milk so the chocolate powder would dissolve easier then just add the cold milk after all the powder have been dissolved.

I tried it and was surprised because it tasted good. It tasted like chocolate milk. It actually tasted better than regular chocolate milk and the "undissolved" powder was really yummy to chew. :) There was no after taste or whatsoever and it kept me full for at least 3 hours.

I didn't even realize I've drank everything. :P

The site says that if you follow their Skinny Jane 7-Day low calorie eating plan, you'll lose 3 to 7 lbs. I didn't actually follow the eating plan and modified it a bit. For the first 3 days (of my own modified version of low calorie diet) I've lost 3.2 lbs already (my original weight was 144.4 lbs and went down to 141.2 lbs). Well, sad to say, for the 4th day onwards, I returned to eating white rice once a day during lunch time. Still, I've limited my white rice intake since I usually eat 3 full meals a day + snacks. :)

Now for my final weigh in:

Thursday (Feb. 27, 2014) : 144.4 lbs.
Wednesday (Mar. 5, 2014): 142.6 lbs.
Total Weight Lost: 1.8 lbs.

Here is a sample of what I ate for the first three days (which made me lose 3.2 lbs):

Breakfast: Skinny Jane Chocolate Skinny Blend Protein Shake
Morning Snack: Banana
Lunch: Salad + Dressing of choice (usually different dressings everyday)
Afternoon Snack: Banana
Dinner: Stone Crab claws (4 pcs) with half a cup of rice

For the 4th day onwards here is what I ate:

Breakfast: Skinny Jane Chocolate Skinny Blend Protein Shake
Morning Snack: Banana
Lunch: About 1 1/2 Cup of white rice + different entrees I cooked each day
Afternoon Snack: Banana
Dinner: Grilled fish (Pompano) + super little bit of rice

I know that if I followed the meal plan I used for the first 3 days, I would've lost a lot more weight. I am happy though that I tried the Skinny Jane "Chocolate Skinny Blend Protein Shake" because it tasted good plus it's a nice replacement for breakfast. It's low in calories per serving (100 calories, only 1 gram of sugar, 3 grams of fiber and 12 grams of protein) and made me feel full for about 3 hours.

You can learn more about the Skinny Jane "Chocolate Skinny Blend Protein Shake" on their website and facebook page.


DISCLAIMER: I am a member of Tomoson and I have received a free 7-day sample of the Skinny Jane "Chocolate Skinny Blend Protein Shake" to try and review however, all opinions are honest and my own and are not influenced in any way. I only recommend products I think are worth sharing. I do not share or sell information and all information shared with me will solely be used for prize shipment. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.

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

Dial Deep Cleansing Moisturizing Hand Soap Review + Giveaway (5 WINNERS) 3/13 US

If you have been following my blog for a while, you will probably know that we love washing our hands often. Now if I love washing my hands, my 2 daughters LOVE washing their hands. Notice how the word love is in all caps when I describe my 2 girls when it comes to washing hands? :)

We go through a LOT of hand soaps throughout the year because my daughters not only wash their hands often but finds it amusing to lather up and make bubbles while washing their hands. By the way, they're 2 and 5 years old so I think it's still normal. :) They both would crowd on the sink, wash their hands for about 10 to 15 minutes (of course you can hear them giggling and laughing), then after that, their clothes would be soaked in front and our bathroom sink would be like a mini swimming pool. And of course more work for me to do cleaning up after their mess.

Now I have been a fan of Dial hand soaps ever since and it's one of the few brands I buy and stock-up so when I received the 2 New Deep Cleansing Hand Soap from Dial, I was excited my daughters got excited to try it and couldn't contain their excitement.

I must say I was captivated by the blue-colored Dial Deep Cleansing hand soap first labeled Water Blossoms. Maybe it's just because of my experience but I whenever I see something blue, first scent that would pop in my mind would be something clean, fresh and crisp.

The green-colored Dial Deep Cleansing hand soap is labeled Coconut Lime Verbena. My first thought was that this would be perfect in the kitchen so I can use it after I cook or wash the dishes because it would smell tangy and citrus-y. :)

I took a picture of them at my bathroom sink because my 2 (almost 3) year old daughter is lining up to try it. She's literally at the bathroom door waiting for me to finish taking pictures. :)

I tried the Dial Water Blossoms Deep Cleansing Hand Soap first and I was right about the scent. I loved it instantly. :) It has a crisp floral, clean scent.

The camera didn't really take a picture of the small white beads in the hand soap. I believe these small beads act like a gentle micro-scrubber to gently remove dirt from my hands as well as exfoliate it a bit.

The Coconut Lime Verbena is indeed citrus-y and tangy in smell. It was perfect for my kitchen sink and helped a lot to eliminate the odor on my hands after cooking meat, fish and vegetables. The refreshing moisture also made my hands smooth after washing the dishes.

My hands felt smooth, soft and hydrated after using the Dial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap. I can say it can be a soap for my whole family to use since it didn't dry up my skin. It's a premium soap which smells great and the different designs of the bottles are perfect for different sinks in our home.

Now my 2 year old tried it too and the next photos would be her using the soap and a short video of her too. :)

She insisted on "mixing" the two Dial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap. :)

Almost Done! :)

 And her reaction? "Mmm! Smells so good!" :)

And below is a video of her trying out the new Dial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap. :)

There is another scent available which is the Yellow Raspberry & Black Sugar. I didn't receive this hand soap but according to the description of Dial, it will refresh your senses with a tart and rich sweetness. :) Sounds heavenly to me! :)

You can follow Dial on Facebook, Twitter and on their website.

Now for you to try the NEW Dial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap, Dial is giving away a free coupon for a free Dial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap to 5 of my readers! Yay!! Just enter at the rafflecopter below! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLAIMER: 5 Winners will each receive (1) coupon for a free DIAL Deep Cleansing Hand Soap. My giveaway would start March 4, 2014 at 12:00 AM PST and will end March 13, 2014 at 12:00 AM PST. This will be open to US residents only. The prize cannot be shipped to a P.O. box address. Winners will be notified by email and will have 24 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. I am not responsible for prize fulfillment. My role is to give the sponsor the information of the winner and they will directly ship the prize to the winner. I am a member of Purex Insiders and have received a DIAL Deep Cleansing Hand Soap product to try however, all opinions are honest and own and are not influenced in any way. I do not share or sell information and all information shared with me will solely be used for prize shipment. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.     

KISS Looks So Natural Lashes Review + VLOG #JadoreVoxBox #KISSlashes

I've always been fascinated with fake eyelashes and eyelash extensions primarily because my eyelashes are not that long. My 2 daughters on the other hand have been blessed by long and thick eyelashes and even without an eyelash curler, their eyelashes have it's natural curl. :) So putting that aside, I've been meaning to buy some fake eyelashes before so I can try to put it myself but somehow, I just didn't get the chance to buy one.

I only wore fake eyelashes once and that was on my wedding day AND somebody else put it on for me. So, I can totally say that I will be applying this to by myself and to myself the first time. :)

I was so excited when I saw the KISS Looks So Natural fake eyelashes in my J'adore Influenster VoxBox. It was the first thing I noticed. Okay maybe the second thing I noticed because the first thing I noticed was the BIG bag of Hershey's Kisses Milk Chocolate. :P

So I did a video of myself trying to put on the KISS Looks So Natural lashes but my first video got cut out at the end because my camera decided to get low on memory. :D So the video I will link here would be the second one I made. :)

 

So what are my thoughts after trying to apply the KISS Looks So Natural lashes?

- It takes practice! LOL. And I mean lots of practice. I spent too much time on my first video trying to figure out how to put on the adhesive and sticking the lashes to my lash line so I can't blame the camera for giving up on me. :D

- I love the KISS Looks So Natural lashes since it looks so natural. It doesn't feel like I'm wearing any false eyelashes and it certainly doesn't look like I'm wearing them. I remember the fake eyelashes I used on my wedding. It was so heavy that I feel like my eyes were droopy. I'm not kidding! LOL. :) So this is perfect for the everyday bare/no make-up look. :)

- Okay it didn't hurt when I removed it. :)  Maybe because I put on just the right amount of adhesive (or too little?). The first time I tried to remove the lashes from my wedding, I remember tearing up and pulling some of my real lashes. OUCH!

- When I removed it, the lashes were still in tact and in shape so I put them back on their case. Maybe I can reuse them? :)

- Love the tapered end lashes. I think this is what makes it look so natural.

- Fits perfectly on my eye. I haven't trimmed any fake eyelash yet so I sighed a sigh of relief when it fit it on my eyes and saw that I didn't have to trim them. :)

Here are some close-up pictures of me wearing the KISS Looks So Natural Eyelash.

So, all in all, I love the KISS Looks So Natural lashes and I am glad I received a pair for free to try. I will definitely buy more of these since it's perfect for the natural/everyday/no make-up look. :)

You can learn more or follow KISS Lashes on Facebook and Twitter.

 

DISCLAIMER:  I am a member of Influenster and have received a complimentary free KISS Looks So Natural Lashes included in my #JadoreVoxBox to try and review. All opinions are honest and my own and are not influenced in any way. No other form of compensation was received. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.

Whip Lash Eyelash Curler Review

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

One of the make-up tools I use most often, if not the only thing I use everyday, would be an eyelash curler. Even with just curling my lashes, it makes a huge difference in my appearance. Do you agree with me? :)

I was excited to try the Whip Lash EyeLash Curler since my current eyelash curler needs to be replaced already. :)

The box indicated that it contains 3 lash cushions included but it has 5 extra lash cushions included! :) So that's a great deal.

What I liked about it is the eyelash curler lock. See the silver metal at the bottom of the handle? That's a lock so you can lock the eyelash curler because this eyelash curler automatically opens when the handles are not squeezed.

It's easy to unlock too. Just squeeze the handles a bit while it's locked and the metal lock will unlock by itself. Nice right? :)

Here is a video demonstration of me using the eyelash curler.

So my thoughts about the Whip Lash Eyelash Curler?

- I love the pink color. I am a pink/purple color so anything pink or purple will really catch my eye. :)

- I like the extra lash cushions included in the box. :) More extra lash cushions means the longer time before I need to buy new lash cushions.

- I like that it's very easy to use. The Whip Lash Eyelash Curler has a spring which keeps the eyelash curler open unless you squeeze the handles together to curl your lashes. Thus the metal lock at the bottom of the handle to keep it from being open. Plus, it's easier to store when it's locked. :)

- The lash cushion is soft so I suggest you remove it when you store and lock the Whip Lash Eyelash curler because prolonged storage would make a groove or line on the lash cushion. Of course I used it even with the groove on the lash cushion and still worked perfectly. :)

Here are some proper care tips from the Whip Lash Eyelash Curler box:

- Use only on clean, mascara free lashes.

- Keep eyelash curler clean  to avoid getting eye infections and to avoid getting lashes stuck on the metal ridge.

- Keep eyelash curler dry.

- Change the pink (it says black in the description) cushion when curler does not seem as precise.

I think these proper care tips from the Whip Lash Eyelash Curler box can apply to all eyelash curlers. :) I like that they placed tips here to remind people of how to care for their eyelash curler. :)

You can find out more or purchase the Whip Lash Eyelash Curler here. :)

Do you use an Eyelash Curler? Any tips? :)

DISCLAIMER: I am a member of Tomoson and I have received a free Whip Lash Eyelash Curler to try and review however, all opinions are honest and my own and are not influenced in any way. I only recommend products I think are worth sharing. I do not share or sell information and all information shared with me will solely be used for prize shipment. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.
 
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Octonauts: To The Gup-X! DVD Review + Giveaway 3/24 US

If you've read my previous posts, my 5 year old daughter loves sea animals and sea creatures and because of that, she has been an Octonauts fan for quite some time now. My almost 3 year old daughter has watched a few episodes and loves it too.

As part of the NCircle Entertainment's NSider, we received the Octonauts: To the Gup-X! DVD from NCircle Entertainment and of course my daughters were very excited to watch new episodes. My 5 year old daughter has actually watched the episodes on this DVD before but this will be the first for my almost 3 year old daughter.

What I noticed is that my 5 year old daughter still remembers the episodes she watched before. She can still tell me what would happen next and she always looks forward to the Creature Report at the end of each episode. She would tell me "Look at that mom! They'll show you the real animal!".

As always, I love that my daughters love the Octonauts because the characters are so cute and my daughters always learns something from each episode. Even I learned something new! Who knew sharks would be calm and peaceful when they're upside down?! :)

Here is a brief summary of the Octonauts: To the Gup-X! DVD from NCircle Entertainment:

“Dive into adventure with your favorite underwater explorers, the Octonauts! Join brave Captain Barnacles, daredevil ex-pirate Kwazii, and medic Peso Penguin, along with other Octonauts as they explore the world’s oceans, rescue the creatures who live there, and protect their habitats – above and below the waves!  On this exciting DVD, Captain Barnacles leads a mission to rescue Dashi, who is trapped inside a giant whale shark, and Kwazii takes to the skies to retrieve a precious book from a school of flying fish!  Peso tries to bandage a Great White Shark without becoming his lunch and much more! Plus – in a special extra feature, Tweak and Tunip tell you everything you ever wanted to know about the Gup-X! ”  


- SRP: $12.99

Do you want to own a copy of your own Octonauts: To the Gup-X! DVD?! Well you're in luck today because NCircle is giving away a copy for my readers! Just enter on the Rafflecopter below. :)


If you can't wait for the giveaway and want to own the DVD right away, then you can head on over to their site to buy the DVD for $11.99.

There are also some free cool printables and activities on the NCircle Entertainment website. My daughters love it when I print some activities. for them.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

DISCLAIMER: 1 Winner will receive (1) Octonauts: Here Come the Octonauts DVD. My giveaway would start March 3, 2014 at 12:00 AM PST and will end March 24, 2014 at 12:00 AM PST. This will be open to US residents only. The prize cannot be shipped to a P.O. box address. Winners will be notified by email and will have 24 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. I am not responsible for prize fulfillment. My role is to give the sponsor the information of the winner and they will directly ship the prize to the winner.  I am a member of NCircle's NSider and have received an Octonauts: To the Gup-X! DVD to watch and review. All opinions are honest and my own and are not influenced in any way. No other form of compensation was received. I do not share or sell information and all information shared with me will solely be used for prize shipment. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.