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Birthday present list

Posted on November 15, 2009 7:01 pm by TheAngelForever

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.

Categories:
birthday me moments shopping vent

Softlips PURE & Winter Flavors – Review & Giveaway

Posted on November 12, 2009 11:09 am by TheAngelForever

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.

Now available in six flavors for 2009: pomegranate, honeydew, peppermint, acai berry, papaya and chai tea.
Product is mounted on recyclable packaging
Vegetable-based ink is used on package of PURE products
Found in a slim stick to allow for easy carrying whether in a pocket, purse or make-up case
Natural and free of synthetic chemicals, it only uses pure organix oils and beeswax along with other natural ingredients like shea butter and vitamin E.
Can be used alone or under/over lipstick
Available in mass retail, supermarket and drugstores nationwide for the suggested retail price of $2.99 for the 0.07 ounce stick.

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.

Now available in four limited edition winter flavors beginning September 2009: winter mint, sugar cookie, sugar & spice, sugar plum berry
Combines lip protection with SPF 20 and moisturizing emollients that allow for a sheer glossing effect
Like the PURE flavors it can be used alone or under/over lipstick
Also packaged in slim cases to allow for easy transport in pockets, purses or make-up cases
They can be found in the cough and cold section nationwide for the suggested retail price of $2.99 to $3.99 for the dual-stick pack
The Softlips limited edition winter flavors (dual packs) Sugar & Spice with Vanilla and Sugar Plum Berry with Cherry will be available at Target, while the Winter Mint with Vanilla and Sugar Cookie with Cherry will be available at Walgreens.

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:

MAIN RULE – Answer the following question: If you could have Softlips create a new flavor, what would it be and why?
1 Bonus Entry – Follow me on Twitter @TheAngelForever and Tweet about the giveaway. Be sure to include @TheAngelForever and Softlips Giveaway in the Tweet. Please leave a direct link to your Tweet in a separate comment for each daily entry. Example Tweet (feel free to use): A chance to win Softlips Limited Edition Winter collection from @TheAngelForever. Check out the review and giveaway http://bit.ly/1FcHwG
1 Bonus Entry – Let me know which winter flavor you are most excited to try and why.
1 Bonus Entry – Subscribe to my RSS feed (or let me know if you already are) in a separate comment.
~~1 Bonus Entry – Become a Fan of Softlips on Facebook and let me know you did.~~ Update 11/15 – Found out that Facebook does not allow this type of entry. All previous entries of ths type will count, but none after this point. I still hope that you will become a Fan of Softlips anyway because they are very interactive on their page.
1 Bonus Entry – Leave a comment on any of my non-giveaway posts from the month of November. Be sure to leave a comment here to let me know which one.
3 Bonus Entries – Write a post on your blog linking to my blog about the Softlips giveaway. Be sure to leave 3 comments about this to get credit for all of your extra entries

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.

Categories:
giveaway looking back me moments Product review

Listerine’s October Oral Care Challenge

Posted on October 27, 2009 12:56 pm by TheAngelForever

Growing up, I learned the importance of good dental care. My parents both had a lot of dental work and made sure that my brother and I took care of our teeth. We went to the dentist every six months, used fluoride pills, had fluoride treatments done each visit, and brushed and flossed every day. To say that I was afraid of getting cavities would be an understatement. Just before my 30th birthday, I went to the dentist. The hygienist told me that if I had never had a cavity before this, it was unlikely I ever would.

I should have made her take those words back!

Care to guess what happened next? Yes, I was told I had my first cavity and needed a filling. It was very small, but I was a 29 year old baby who was nervous and crying over this.

TechyDad and I have only had two cavities between us. The boys have been brushing their gums since they were infants with no teeth. Oral hygiene is important in our house and the boys know it.

October is a tough month on teeth. Thanks to Halloween, most of us eat a little (or lot) of extra sugary foods. Thanks to this fact, Listerine and Reach created the "October Oral Care Challenge" for kids 6 and older. NHL (6) and I signed up for the challenge when asked by Mom Central. To complete it, we had to brush, floss, and rinse every day, twice a day for two weeks.

Even before the challenge, we were brushing twice daily and are getting much better at making sure everyone flosses in the evening before bed (our one area of weakness when in a rush). This challenge was not something difficult for us since we often do this and were already using some of the products that were sent to try.

Unfortunately, I have to confess something. The October Oral Care Challenge has been tough for us for an unrelated reason. When the items arrived in the mail, I was just getting sick. I had the flu for a week. The next week, my little guy had the flu. We started the two week challenge just after that point and are finishing it now. Sad to say that now one of the other participants, NHL has the flu. We still make sure to brush our teeth when sick, since the bacteria and germs love the warmer temperatures from the fever. What goes out the window are the extra steps like using the Listerine Agent Cool Blue. On these days, we do the brushing to get it done right and quickly. We will definitely continue with this challenge once NHL is feeling better.

NHL was a big fan of the Listerine Agent Cool Blue. He liked swishing it around in his mouth and then looking in the mirror to see what was on his teeth. The blue tint left on his teeth allowed NHL to gain more independence and brush on his own. We could then look in and see how he did and help to finish the job if needed. We also learned through this challenge that it is time for NHL to do this on his own. Thanks to the advice from not only our dentists, but Dr. Kaneta Lott we know what items he should be doing at certain ages. You can read more about Oral Care Smarts here. We also loved the Reach Flosser’s. They helped us to get into the back teeth easier and even allowed NHL to work on flossing solo.

Teaching oral care with our children is important to us and will always be. Our boys have learned this thanks to lots of modeling (they often go with us to the dentist too). We will continue to head to the dentist every six months, as well as brush twice daily, floss and rinse. Be sure to get your Listerine Total Care Coupon & the Listerine Smart Rinse Coupon.

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign for Mom Central on behalf of Listerine and Reach and received Listerine and Reach products for the Oral Care Challenge and a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Categories:
Blog Tour health awareness me moments nhl photos

1,001 Dalmatians -er I mean posts

Posted on October 19, 2009 8:45 pm by TheAngelForever

Today is a special blogging day for me. I officially broke my 1,000th post mark. It took me two years and eight months to get here, but I did it! Here,is a special cupcake just for you from Disney World. . . enjoy.

Back when I started blogging in February 2007, it was just an outlet to vent some about being pregnant with baby number two,as well as a place to write down memories. Now it is that and so much more. The Angel Forever has become a part of my life. I look forward to writing about my life, our family, places we go, and products we use. Thanks to opportunities over time, I also adore reviewing products and giving readers a chance with some fun giveaways (like this one).

Whether you have been with me through this 1,000+ post journey, or have just joined the adventure, I hope you enjoy your time here and continue to read. You never know what will pop up next, but I promise you there is never a dull moment in my little part of the world.

I love hearing feedback and getting comments, so please do not be shy.

Categories:
looking back me moments milestone photos

Disclosure statements and blogging with integrity

Posted on October 6, 2009 11:13 am by TheAngelForever

The Angel Forever has changed over the two and a half years that I have been blogging. These days, I not only write about my life, our family, places that we go, and things that we do, I also write product reviews and run some giveaways. Some of the reviews that I write are items that we have bought with our own money and I want to share my views about them. I often do this with books, movies and music. Other times, I am contacted by PR representatives, or am asked to participate in a campaign with one of the groups that I belong to (see side bar on right). When these take place, I am sent items to keep for my review. The companies value our opinion and know that it will not be swayed by a free product. If something does not work quite right, I tell it like it is (did this about the Temporal Scanner after my son’s febrile seizure).

Disclosure and transparency is key these days. Even before the FTC officially published their guide for endorsements/testimonials of bloggers, the word was out to change habits. Over the last few months, I have made sure to not only mention what items I received to review within my post, but have also added a disclosure statement at the end of any review/giveaway. This allows my readers to be fully aware of what relationship I have with the product. Again, please note that I form my own opinions and will never be swayed to give anything but my honest feelings about a product that I receive for free.

Thanks to making changes over the last few months, I feel no major pressure with the new rules that are being placed on bloggers beginning December 1, 2009. I feel that I can proudly say that I Blog With Integrity and can live by the words that are stated on this resourceful website. Please head over there to read the powerful words that go along with the Blog With Integrity pledge and I encourage you to sign on if you have not already done so.