Thank you to everyone that entered my Yoplait Kids Yogurt prize pack giveaway. This morning I used Random.org to get two entry numbers for the prizes.
JamericanSpice and Charity now have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail with their information for prize delivery or the next person will be notified. Be sure to check out my Softlips giveaway that is currently taking place and another one will be coming later today.
Each year at about this time, people start to ask me what I want for my birthday. Most of the time I have no clue. There are things I would love, but when it comes time to list them I draw a blank.
Today, we were out shopping and something caught my eye. I just had to take a photo of it with my cell phone (thus the reason the quality is not the best).
Even though I am a fan of the Twilight series, I can tell you this is something I do not want for my birthday. My friend had mentioned that these existed, but this was the first time I had seen them in person. They kind of scared me. Not the dolls themselves. The part that scared me was who they were marketed to. The usual Barbie fan is certainly not of the age that would be reading/watching the Twilight series. So who exactly are these for? Are teens, college age people and adults really going to buy these for keepsakes?
Now, let’s be serious for a few moments. What do I want for my birthday? Really, I have no major clue. I told TechyDad that we should finally purchase our tickets for BlogHer ’10 since we have the hotel booked. That worked for me. Perhaps a play that is coming to town would be nice. There are some earrings that I would like, but are probably out of price range. Not sure of anything else.
Please help. . . I would love some suggestions.
Dear NHL & JSL,
The two of you are constantly playing with your Lego blocks the last few weeks. We had one big container of the Quatro and Duplo blocks together in the living room. Of course, the problem was creative differences between the two of you. NHL, you want to build things and leave them to be admired for extended periods of time. JSL, would rather keep taking down creations and building new items. This has become an issue since NHL created his bench of Legos that prominently sits in the living room.
This morning as you were fighting over Legos and your creative differences, I asked Daddy to head to the basement. Little did you know that we have had a treasure chest just waiting for you. Thanks to Aunt S and Uncle M, we had their giant box of Legos waiting for just the right time. (Thanks again to Aunt S and Uncle M)
I wish I had gotten a photo of your faces when you saw the monster box . I think it is safe to say that you were both very happy. Almost an hour later you are still sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor with Daddy exploring all that there is within that fabulous box of Legos.
No doubt there will still be creative differences, but now there are so many more options to be had. I can not wait to see the things that you both build with your imaginations.
Love,
Mommy
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If you want to participate in Dear Kid Saturday, head on over to Cutest Kid Ever by clicking on the button below.
It’s that time of year again. No, I’m not talking about the holidays. I wish I was referring to that. It is the time when employees all over are getting information about continuing coverage for 2010 on their medical insurance.
The reality is that most people with health insurance coverage will be seeing increases. Not just small increases, in most cases premium changes that are ten or more percent. This hit home for us the other day. Sketchy details were sent home that our medical insurance premium will be going up 12%.
This means that our family will basically be getting a decrease in pay. Why? Well, when a pay freeze is instituted and premiums go up, this equals less money coming in. We are bracing ourselves for more specifics of the plans. We know that the premiums are increasing, but do not know just what it will mean for our co-pays. From 2008 to 2009 we saw the co-pay for hospitalization alone go from $500 to $1000! Talk about a massive change.
We are not alone. Since I found out about this almost everyone I know has mentioned similar instances. Of course our 12% looks like nothing compared to a family member that is seeing a 28% increase – yikes!
Please know that given the state of the economy, I am thankful each day that we have a means of income, a house, food on our table and all of the items that many Americans are not blessed with.
So, the question for this week is:
Have you heard about changes in your medical insurance premiums yet? Will they be increasing or decreasing?
For anyone without health insurance coverage, please know that I hope for things to change. Too many people do not have benefits and this question was not meant to insult anyone.
BTW – Be sure to check out two giveaways that are going on right now. One for a Yoplait Kids Yogurt prize package and a new one for the Softlips Limited Edition Winter collection.
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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the MckLinky there if you are participating.
Aloha #74
I have a confession to make. I am a 30-something adult woman and I do not wear lipstick. Wait, let me clarify that. It isn’t that I do not want to wear lipstick, I can not wear it. Around the time I was in college, I noticed that when I used lip balm, lip stick and most products of that nature that my lips had a horrible reaction. We are not talking a little rash or anything. I mean, my lips would blow up like I had cosmetic surgery on them and would tingle and hurt.
This was a horrible experience. No matter what I did, I could not narrow down the problem to a certain ingredient. I just worked from trial and error. For my wedding day, I had to carefully plan out my makeup. Obviously I wanted to wear some color on my lips. I bought some hypoallergenic lipstick from a major seller in a department store. I tried it a few times and then stopped. From previous experience, if something was going to happen it took a while. I tried the lipstick on a practice run the day before my wedding. The morning of my wedding I had my hair done. My maid of honor helped me do my make up. As I sat there my lips started to tingle. Oy vey! I was lucky they did not swell much that day, but I was a mess for my honeymoon.
One of the products that I have been able to use to protect my lips and keep them soft is Softlips brand. I once left a comment about how I loved that their line was one of the only lip products that did not cause an issue for me. Much to my surprise, I was contacted by the PR agency that works with Softlips. They asked me to review their PURE 2009 products, along with their Limited Edition Winter Flavors. Of course, I said yes!
Softlips PURE 2009 product information
Softlips PURE is the line of premium organic lip conditioners designed with skin-conditioning ingredients to help keep lips soft, supple and healthy. Available in several flavors, Softlips PURE is USDA-certified organic and 100% natural. The premium, organix ingredients provide a silky-smooth, eco-friendly lip conditioner for softer, healthier lips. The product line also contains no animal by-products and is not tested on animals.
Softlips Limited Edition Winter Flavors product information
Softlips is the line of premium lip conditioner designed with skin-protecting ingredients to help keep lips soft, supple and healthy. Available in several flavors varieties, Softlips Lip Balm with SPF 20 offers superb coverage and protection from the environmental elements, as well as a healthy sheen without the heavy waxiness or stickiness of traditional lip balms.
Keep up to date on the latest from Softlips by become a fan on Facebook. You can also enter the fourth annual 2009 Softlips Picture Perfect Lips Model Search.
My Thoughts:
As I mentioned at the start, I was already buying Softlips on my own to use before this review. This opportunity allowed me to try their new PURE and Limited Edition Winter flavors.
Softlips Limited Edition Winter Flavors – I love the fact that the winter line includes the SPF protection, every little bit helps to protect my lips. The pairing of flavors in the dual packs are wonderful. The winter flavors really do work well together and allow you to test out one of the limited edition options along with one from the regular Softlips line. The scents are not overpowering, but make you think about the sweet aromas from the holiday season. My favorites were the Winter Mint and Sugar Cookie. There is just something very comforting about the Sugar Cookie flavor that reminds me of baking delicious cookies.
Softlips PURE flavors – As a person that is working hard to recycle, use more Earth friendly products and watch the products that I use with my children I love that this line is all natural and organic. The range of flavors available are amazing. Honeydew made me long for the summer and the delicious summer fruit, pomegranate of the fall harvest, and papaya of the tropical Hawaiian paradise. At the same time I was very intrigued by the acai berry and chai tea which were quite different than anything else I had ever tried. The peppermint was refreshing and had a little tingle that went with it, but not in a bad way.
I was a fan of Softlips before this review and will continue to be. I love that they are expanding their horizons, not only with new and exciting flavors, but also with more green products. Next up for me, I want to try their tinted lip conditioners. A little color on my lips would not be a bad thing, especially when I go out to something special.
Giveaway:
Thanks to Softlips one lucky reader will be able to win their own Limited Edition Winter Collection.
Rules for Giveaway:
To enter, please follow the rules above within the comment section. Contest starts today November 12th and ends at 10:59 EST on November 29, 2009. You do not have to be a blogger to enter, but must leave a valid e-mail address for me to contact you for mailing address once the giveaway is over. I will select the winner using random.org and contact you via e-mail. You will have 48 hours to claim the prize. If there is no response, another winner will be selected. Open to U.S. residents only.
Disclosure: I received the Softlips PURE and Limited Edition Winter flavors complimentary of Softlips in order to facilitate this review. No other compensations was given. The opinions expressed in the review are my own feelings about the product that I tried.
