It isn't easy to decide on a health or fitness program anymore since there are so many choices available, all promising you the world of health and weight-loss. I am afraid every time I decide to start up a diet to try something new since everything is soooo expensive and 90% of it either doesn't work or it makes you feel like you are on crack. As I have frequently been reviewing these, it seems as though the "new thing" is joining a monthly mailing club where you get a whole buffet of items to try out, test, and enjoy before you have to spend the full amount only to find out you dislike a product or the way it works. The most recent company I stumbled across is Bulu Box.
Tuesday
Sunday
Education Outdoors Mysterious Creatures Review and Giveaway
Labels:
Giveaway,
Product Review,
Retail
Saturday
Warrior Dash Run/Obstacle Course
Just accomplished one of the biggest things I've ever done in my life. Will tell more later. Check out the Warrior Dash if you want to see what I did at 8 this morning :)
Friday
Is There Really a Cure for Hiccups?? Hicural Review and Giveaway
Labels:
Giveaway,
Product Review,
Retail
Thursday
DIY Natural Beauty Products (above the neck)
*I had to use this pic as I just thought it was beautiful!
Ever wondered what women did before makeup was invented? At one point we used all the natural resources that were given to us instead of paying $50 for some miracle treatment thats been tested on animals and is loaded with chemicals you didn't know existed! Beauty truly was a natural thing back in the day and boy do I wish I lived then. Here are some creative ways to not only save you money, but to be naturally beautiful (and healthier)!
Labels:
DIY Project
Jack Daniels Pecan Pie with Caramel Drizzle
2 grade A large eggs (slightly beaten)
1/4 cup dark Karo syrup
3/4 cup sugar
4 teaspoons corn starch
8 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup Jack Daniels bourbon
6 oz. white chocolate
1 bag pecan halves
Caramel sauce
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. canned milk
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Mix eggs and Karo.
Combine sugar and corn starch, add to egg mixture.
Melt chocolate and butter, cool. Add bourbon and combine with egg mixture. Beat together in mixer on slow speed.
Pour into a 9 inch unbaked pie shell. Sprinkle evenly with pecan halves.
Bake on cookie sheet for one hour. Pie should be firm and will "set-up" while cooling.
Drizzle Caramel Sauce over pie
To make an impressive looking pie, lay the pecan halves on top in a circle around the edge and keep making circles until the pie top is covered rather then sprinkling them on top
1/4 cup dark Karo syrup
3/4 cup sugar
4 teaspoons corn starch
8 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup Jack Daniels bourbon
6 oz. white chocolate
1 bag pecan halves
Caramel sauce
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. canned milk
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Mix eggs and Karo.
Combine sugar and corn starch, add to egg mixture.
Melt chocolate and butter, cool. Add bourbon and combine with egg mixture. Beat together in mixer on slow speed.
Pour into a 9 inch unbaked pie shell. Sprinkle evenly with pecan halves.
Bake on cookie sheet for one hour. Pie should be firm and will "set-up" while cooling.
Drizzle Caramel Sauce over pie
To make an impressive looking pie, lay the pecan halves on top in a circle around the edge and keep making circles until the pie top is covered rather then sprinkling them on top
Tuesday
Fairhaven Health Tea-For-Two Review and Giveaway
Labels:
Giveaway,
Product Review,
Retail
Monday
shUVee™ Ultraviolet Shoe Deodorizer Review and Giveaway
So if you've ever traveled via airplane, you will know what I am talking about when I say there is a magazine that I hate to love on every airline. Sky Mall Magazine is this really great magazine with all the neat gadgets you could ever think of. Only reason I hate the magazine is because half the products are ridiculously expensive. On my most recent travels to the Lucky Leaf Orchards, I spent my time in the air checking out all of the gadgets in Sky Mall that I thought would come in handy for the average person especially those that would be considered green friendly. shUVee™ just so happened to be one of these!
Labels:
Giveaway,
Product Review,
Retail
BabyGanics’ Cover-Up Baby Face 'n' Body Sunscreen Spray Review and Giveaway
Labels:
Giveaway,
Product Review,
Retail
Thursday
The Company Kids Store Pillowcase Friends Review and Giveaway
While browsing around The Company Store searching for housewares, I was given an unexpected opportunity to review a product from their sister store - Company Kids. Little did I know at the time that there was more for our family at Company Kids. We were asked to review their Frog and Monkey Pillowcase Friends.
Labels:
Giveaway,
Product Review,
Retail
$10 Restaurant Gift Certificates for ONLY $1.60
Check out this deal at Restaurant.com and enter promo code LUNCH at check out! I love using my certificates for date nights especially!
Labels:
Restaurant
Tuesday
Laundry Tarts Review and Giveaway
I've already told you all of my allergy to Tide detergent and originally when I first started reviewing products, I was quite hesitant in trying out all these so called "green friendly" laundry soaps. I wasn't quite sure how my skin would react and whether or not they would be a cost effective option. So before blogging and over the course of the last couple years I have tried to transition my family into a much greener world and one of those ways meant making my own cleaners at home (laundry detergent most specifically). I know first hand how harmful some of the every day chemicals we use in our homes can be. This has actually become a great eye opener as to what other options are out there. I love trying new ecofriendly household products even when I make my own. Several have replaced my own and I am confident using them around my family.
Labels:
Giveaway,
Product Review,
Retail
Friday
A Lucky Ladybug's Super Hero
So I wanted to share one of those proud moments of my life. My son almost brought tears to my eyes last night and not from being sad or happy but from laughing so hard. My husband may not think this is quite as funny as I do but...oh well! My sister always buys me little ladybug things whenever she comes across them. The most recent one you will see below is a glow in the dark ladybug mask (which you probably won't catch me in).
He fights crime every where he goes, keeps people being nice, and always remembers to recycle
Need a green friendly tip...just ask him, he's got the answers! He also speaks baby in case you have a toddler/infant you can't understand.
NEVER FEAR A LUCKY LADYBUG IS HERE!!!!!
(I love him so much!!!)
Labels:
Brag
Made From Earth Products Review and Giveaway
I probably shouldn't have agreed to do this next review, not because of the quality but because I have a hard time believing in certain types of products like those that claim to be age defying or wrinkle preventing. When I was younger, my mother used to claim that if I spread my lotion from the bottom of my face to the top instead of downwards, I could prevent aging and wrinkles. Whether or not this is true, I believe that if you take care of your body naturally, all will fall into place. Your body, face, skin, etc. will all age the way it is meant to. We weren't meant to be young forever or to add silicone and other disgusting chemicals to make us appear to be.
I was able to try Made From Earth's Holistic Honey Lotion and Vitamin Enhanced Face Firming Serum. The Holistic Honey Lotion is best used for sensitive skin and of course is made from organic only honey. The weird thing about this lotion is that it doesn't appear to be lotion at all but more of a body oil?! The smell was a nice subtle sweet one and it spread in evenly without leaving a greasy look like most oils do. I definitely recommend shaking before each use though. My skin felt very soft after using it especially if it was used immediately after the shower.
Cost: $22.99 Holistic Honey Lotion
$29 Sale Price ($39 reg) Vitamin Enhanced Face Firming Serum
Recommendation: Again a little pricey for me but remember I'm not quite the girlie girl when it comes to spending money on beauty products. But this company speaks with its actions which obviously speak louder than words. These are all natural good for your products that you can feel safe using and be confident in the lack of chemicals you have to be concerned about.
Facebook: Made from Earth
Twitter: @MadefromEarth
Giveaway: Made From Earth is going to give one of A Lucky Ladybug's lucky readers a bottle of Holistic Honey Lotion of their own!
Labels:
Giveaway,
Product Review,
Retail
Thursday
Zooper Twist Stroller giveaway Blogger Sign-ups open
I am participating in an amazing free Zooper Twist Stroller giveaway hosted by Mom Powered Media! One super lucky reader will win a Zooper Twist!
Cost: $5.00 or free with announcement post. See bloggers wanted post for more details.
Prize: Zooper Twist Stroller in either Mountain Flowers , Ocean Blue, Canyon Red, or Flax Brown fabric! Average retail value is 199.99.
Giveaway Open to: US and Canada.
The event dates: August 6th- August 27th.
Free Link Option: Facebook
Optional Paid Link Option: Twitter for $3.00.
Special thanks to Real Mom Reviews, Mom To Bed By 8 and Powered By Mom for coordinating this great giveaway event!
Blogger Notes: Bloggers worldwide are welcome to participate as long as you have a large amount of US and Canadian traffic to your website .
What is required to join? Fill out this form with your information! Remember to let them know A LUCKY LADYBUG sent you!!
Tuesday
D and N Kids Peace, Love, and Giraffe Rolling Suitcase Review and Owl Lunch Bag Giveaway
One thing we have always done is try to travel at least a couple times a year whether it is to visit family or just to relax away from home. Because of our frequent family travel, I have noticed that it is extremely difficult to find decent luggage for the kids. Each piece we've found just seems cheaply made or too small to make it worth even dragging around. So once I discovered D and N Kids, I wanted to take my time picking out the perfect peice and reviewing it.
Labels:
Giveaway,
Product Review,
Retail
Monday
Sweet Pea Maternity Pink Buckle Maternity Top Review and Giveaway
Labels:
Giveaway,
Product Review,
Retail
R.J. Luna/My Song Boutique Review
Labels:
Product Review,
Retail
Aerobie Squidgie Ball Review and Giveaway
Sorry to put this so bluntly but never in my life did I imagine that I would be surrounded by so many balls in so many ways. I am the oldest of three girls and the oldest of 15 female cousins. I'm still new in to the world of men being that I am the first in four generations to have a boy and now I have two of them. Secondly, my boys are obsessed with balls. Big, little, sports balls or bouncy balls, they love them all. We have ball pits, mini basketball nets, and tents full of balls for them to play with.
Labels:
Giveaway,
Product Review,
Retail
Friday
Growums Herb and Ratatouille Garden Review and Giveaway
In my one of my recent online explorations, looking for gardening ideas I came across a site/company called Growums. Right away I was excited as there are vegetable characters greeting you from the home page. You can purchase from six different gardening sets which each follow a theme such as a Taco Garden or Pizza Garden. What got me excited to work with this company is that not only do they provide everything you need to start your own mini garden but your children can get online and enter your garden code which guides you along the way. The vegetable characters talk to your kids giving them tips along the way to care for their plants. Each moment is a teaching moment but also a game while teaching them how to watch their garden carefully.
The first garden we got was the Herb Garden (we actually got two over the last couple weeks since they were so much fun). Each kit comes with a plastic tray which evenly waters your plants as they dry, seed packets, and dirt pellets. My only disappointment was that because of the seed size two of my packets were completely empty upon arrival. No worries though because once I emailed customer service, I was quickly sent over several replacement packs.
After the seeds had been planted for a couple days, I added some of my compost dirt for some extra "love" nutrients for the plants to grow. We watched the plants grow in front of our eyes as well as online, playing games and learning lots of exciting facts. Because in Michigan we don't get much of a summer, these actually worked great indoors or out. I usually start my seeds early in the year so they are ready to be transferred outside early spring so this is going to be perfect for next years early planting indoors. Also available is a larger scale portable gardening box set where your seeds can be replanted in the box and transferred outside when ready in the patio box.
Available to purchase: Growums
Recommendation: I definately would recommend this to anyone who gardens in smallest amounts since they can be done all year round. These make great projects for your little ones to learn about growing or even would make a very cute gift at a great price!
Facebook: Growums
Twitter: @Growums
YouTube: Growums
Giveaway: Growums is going to give one of A Lucky Ladybug's lucky readers a Garden of their own!
Labels:
DIY Project,
Gardening,
Giveaway,
Product Review,
Retail
Wednesday
100% Pure Products - Body Scrub and Facial Mask Review
I am generally a very low maintenance chick (at least in my eyes, lol). I very rarely have makeup on and usually throw my hair up in a ponytail. So unfortunately, you won't find me reviewing too many beauty products. I just don't think its fair to give an opinion on something you aren't very familiar with. Most any of the personal care products that I do choose to review I ask for my daughter, sisters, or friends help/feedback. I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to share this next company with you! I actually only received products from them two days ago and I just had to share my experience right away!
100% Pure products truly are 100% Pure. They contain synthetic chemicals, chemical preservatives, artificial fragrances, artificial colors, harsh detergents or any other unhealthy toxins. They are also Vegan made from food grade ingredients and are never diluted with any type of fillers. Most are also gluten free.
100% Pure sent me their Coconut Body Scrub and the Purity Facial Cleaner+Mask. The first and only words that I can use to describe these to you are WOW and Unforgetable! First off I have tried the salt and sugar scrubs from places like Bath n Body Works and there is no competition! Hands down 100% Pure's body scrub is amazing. The smell was strong and refreshing and my skin felt beyond soft after my shower. The best part is while most of these scrubs leave your skin feeling oily and greasy, this one only felt oily as I got out of the shower and quickly soaked into my skin making it even softer. Then I tried the Purity Mask and again wow! The minty smell immediately woke me up and made my eyes feel so much lighter (no puffy drowsy feeling). Dane said I looked like I was playing in the mud but that made it more fun like I was pampering myself at a spa! This mask cleaned my face without drying it out and I have already begun to notice a difference in my acne after only two days.
I had to quote this from the website as I felt it was enlightening, "As much as 60% of topical skin-care products are absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream,” Says Dr. Nancy Lonsdorf, M.D. an lowa-based physician, “They should be consumed with the same prudence that we use to choose our breakfast cereal.” – April 2006 issue of Women's Health Magazine. There are many toxic chemicals in cosmetic products that have been clinically proven to cause cancer, tumors, irritation and many different skin disorders."
Cost: $25 Coconut Body Scrub
$21 Purity Facial Cleaner+Mask
Recommendation: As if you couldn't tell from the rest of my review but I highly recommend any of these products. Even with them being a little pricy you are getting your money worth in quality! Plus they donate to several charities.
Facebook: 100% Pure
Twitter: @100percentpure
Pinterest: 100% Pure
Google+: 100% Pure
Labels:
Product Review,
Retail
Happy 4th of July From A Lucky Ladybug
Happy 4th of July Everyone!!
Please remember to be safe...handle all fireworks carefully and no drinking and driving!!
Tuesday
Knouse Foods/Lucky Leaf Adventure 2012: Part 3 of 4
The reason that such a smaller scale company such as Knouse has made such a large investment in their processes and quality is because they truly care about what they are doing and providing. They knew what phrases such as "green" and "ecofriendly" were before they become popular or even a small concern. These are the original farmers who WANT to recycle what they can back into the earth. They DONT WANT to use anything harful on their plants because it can affect each years growth and supply. They CARE if their product arn't the safest and most natural foods you are eating because their families are eating it too.
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