Need for Adoption Funds

Most of you probably don't know about my brother and sister-in-love's adoption plans.  They knew from the time they were dating that they wanted to be parents and that adoption was the way for them to go about it.  They also knew what a financial undertaking it is to adopt.  God laid Poland on their heart and they know their little one is in Poland waiting for them.  It seems every time they hear from the agency the price has gone up, you can imagine how hard it would be to aim for a goal that is always moving.  The recently heard for the 3rd time that it would be more money than they were previously told.  They have done several things to raise money: t shirt drives, baked goods, yard sales, my brother used his ancestry skills to fill in some peoples family trees for them. They mailed off all their paperwork to Poland last week, it should have arrived yesterday and will be translated into Polish.  After translated to Polish, their papers should be given to orphanages and foster homes in various regions of Poland, some time after that they can expect to start getting emails and phone calls. So technically they are "Paper Pregnant."  Hooray!

One of the exciting parts of being doing with their dossier is that they can start applying for grants to raise funds.  I am going to share their gofundme account here in case anyone is interested in helping them reach their goal and bring home PK (Polish Kid). :) Please share their story if you can.  I would love for them to bring their little Kielbasa as soon as possible. ;)

Here is their GoFundMe account.

https://www.gofundme.com/pkandthegang?utm_medium=wdgt

Here is their blog the documents their personal journey through adoption.

 https://pkandthegang.wordpress.com/

Soapbox Shampoo

Thanks to Influenster and Soapbox I was recently able to try Soapbox Shampoo and Conditioner in the Acai berry formula.  This formula states that it helps smooth and nourish.

I will start by saying I have long hair that is highlighted.  It is wavy if it air dries but can be coaxed into curls with enough product and humidity, it also can be made straight with blow drying and a little straightening.

I received my shampoo and conditioner in the mail and was excited to see the bright pink color of the bottles. My husband and I typically share bath products and for that reason I try not to go "full girl" in scents and colors.  These pink bottles were very welcome!

I loved the smell of the products, it brought me back to my teenage days when I tried all the Herbal Essences scents at least once.  It is fruity and bright and I love it!

The next thing I noticed was that each bottle has a code on the back, the "Hope Code." Each code is linked to an organization that benefits from the sales of the SoapBox products.  My shampoo is linked to the "Clean Water and Hygiene Education" in Ethopia and the conditioner is linked to "Clean Water Project" in Vietnam.  I really liked being able to see who benefited from the proceeds.  A lot of companies say that they help but it seems kind of ambiguous-this was different because you can read all about the organizations, their size, who is helped,  and specific cities in these countries. Very cool!

The shampoo is sulfate and paraben free and I was surprised at how much lather it had compared to other sulfate free shampoos I have tried in the past.  I like to have lather, it feels "normal," so this was a pleasant surprise.  The shampoo washed out easily and my hair felt soft already.  The conditioner is thick and went on smoothly. I left it on for several minutes per my usual and then easily rinsed it out.
I let my hair air dry - it normally dries wavy and very full and when I used SoapBox it was no different.  I was happy with the results initially but I found that over time that my hair was not as easy to brush through as it is with my normal shampoo regimen.  As time went on it felt more dry than usual especially if I dried and straightened it.  Before the bottle was empty I found that I was using my previous shampoo over the SoapBox ones.

I would definitely use this brand again but I think I would try a different formula with more nourishing ingredients.

Leo's Pad Review

Thanks to BzzAgent and Kidaptive I was able to try out the application Leo's Pad for free.  I had previously tried a few of the free chapters with my then 2.5 year old and was very exciting to see more.  Leo's Pad is for use on iPad's (and perhaps other tablets too?) I know that it is not supported on the iPhone.  It features "Leo" who is a child inventor like Leonardo Da Vinci, a dragon named Cinder and a few of Leo's friends Galileo and Marie Curie.  With these three and a few others you meet further into the app you get started on your journey.

A few examples of tasks you complete in the beginning are things like finding Cinder in a room of objects and Leo will give hints such as "I think she's behind something pink" but will later change to "try behind the octagon." The app learns about your child and adapts as your child shows strengths and weaknesses.  My daughter who is three has now advanced to building a bridge where you have to match up boards cut at different lengths to make an even walkway.  There is one activity with Marie that still causes my little one trouble and that is sewing in patterns, the idea is that you stitch together a sail in the same pattern you are shown.  Sewing, in the app, is connecting dots, some might be up and down like a simple stitch but others require you to go diagonal and skip a few grommets.  The activity will stay the same for my daughter until she masters it.

This app has worked on numbers, colors, patterns, matching, following instructions, impulsiveness and even letter sounds with my little one.  I love that she loves it.  I also love that it holds her attention and that it is truly educational.

If I had to think of a complaint it would be that your child can skip through the different activities in the chapters.  There are some she does not prefer because she doesn't feel good at them or they do not interest her and she will click the menu and zoom right by them.  I do try to be present with her while she plays (not just this app but anything!) and I try to catch her before she will skip it so that I can guide and help her work through it but she is quick!

If this is something that interests you please try it out! This link will help you get a discount.  https://shop.kidaptive.com/ecommercepv

There is a partner app that works with Leo's Pad called Learner Mosaic.  You do not have to use it with Leo's Pad from my understanding but it does coordinate well.  I can log into Learner Mosaic on my phone and see my child's progress.  It will tell me when she advances in a skill, or when she has skipped the same activity multiple times.  It will also tell me the activities she seems to prefer and gives ideas for play and games not on the tablet that will foster her learning.  It provides a few questions each time I log on and gives me ideas based on my answers and her time on Leo's Pad.  I highly recommend this app as well!

Using my Thyme Wisely

Thanks to Influenster and McCormick I received a full size bottle of Thyme in the Frost VoxBox. I got to try this product for free.  I wanted to share what recipe I love the most that uses Thyme.

I really think thyme goes well with potatoes.  I love to roast potatoes after tossing them in butter, thyme, garlic, and salt.

Here is another idea too! http://www.recipe.com/thyme-roasted-potatoes

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Rimmel Review

Recently I was able to try two products that were new to me (and free!) thanks to Influenster and Rimmel. I was a recipient of the Frosty VoxBox and I was so happy to be chosen!

The first Rimmel Product I saw was a full sized Gentle Eye Make Up Remover.  This product is unscented.  I squeezed it onto a cotton ball and it removed my eye make up easily with out smearing it.  I have a fear of having to make huge raccoon eyes and then having to clean it off the rest of my face or of rubbing my sensitive under eye skin until it's tender.  Thanks to this product neither of those things happened. My eye make up easily came off with out scrubbing and without smearing. Pick some up for yourself for $7.49

Now onto the eye liner.  $4.49 for the Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner. That's a pretty good price for eye make up, especially liner that works! This liner goes on smoothly and leaves a good line.  It can also smudge for a smoky eye or would work for cat eyes or wings or whatever else you wanted to draw.  I got black but they have other colors as well.  I have only 2 complaints - 1. I felt that it smudged a bit when I put it on.  I am a stay at home mom and rarely do much more than line the bottoms of my eyes, 2. This is an actual pencil - for over 3 years I have been using the twist up type and I actually do not currently have an eyeliner sharpener. Overall, I really like this I would consider purchasing it on my own and I likely would not have had I not be able to sample it first!

Celestial Seasoning - Candy Cane Lane

Thanks to Influenster and Celestial Seasonings I was able to try this tea for free! This might actually be my new favorite hot tea flavor.  I said in a previous review that a lot of times seasonal and holiday flavors aren't always what I make them to be in my head.  This surpassed my typical experience.  Sometimes flavored teas make me feel like I've put grass clippings in hot water for a bit.  This has a nice peppermint flavor that lingers but isn't too strong and never tasted medicinal.  I am looking forward to drinking more of this in the future! 

Frosty VoxBox

Thanks to Influenster I received a "Frosty VoxBox" for free to try out and review the products included. I was excited to see that I qualified for the box and even more excited to receive the box and look inside for myself.

This is the first look, Seemed exciting but I was kind of curious as to why there was a seasoning?

There was an information card that included details about the products in the box. 

To go in the order of what is on the info card I'll start with the No 7 serum.  There were two different serums sent out.  I received the "Protect and Perfect Advanced Serum" in a 3mL foil pack. They also included a $2 off coupon for Target, the full size product is $22.99. I've never tried this brand before.  I am interested to try it-it says for the first signs of aging.  I have started using anti-aging products so it would be good to try this.  I don't know that I'll see much difference because it also says "Younger looking, more beautiful skin in just 2 weeks." I doubt I can make this packet last 2 weeks.  But again, excited to try it. 

Next is a full size bottle of Rimmel Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover. Retail is $7.49. I'm really bad at doing extra steps before bed, make up removal is an extra step.  I could definitely use an easy eye make up remover.  Great product for me to receive because I would likely not buy it on my own to try it out. It is really gentle! It has no scent and leaves no residue. It really removes the make up and does not burn or smear the mascara down my face. Really like this one! 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kajal Kohl Eyeliner in Black it retails for $4.49. This is an actual pencil, I  actually don't have a sharpener so I can only use this for so long until I remember to buy a sharpener.  I have green eyes and have been using plum or brown eyeliner for over 3 years.  It goes on really smoothly and leaves a nice line.  Black was a little stark for me since I had gotten used to a lighter color.  I felt like it smeared a little through the day.  I have a 3 year old and an 8 month old, I have a lot of little hands on my face and a lot of unplanned dirt, milk, food....other various things on my face everyday. Perhaps in a drier environment it wouldn't smudge. :) 

NYC Expert Last Lip Color in Sugar Plum - $1.99. The card says that it is lasts up to 6 hours. I do agree that it is silky. I do like the color, it seems that it would compliment many different skin tones.  I am fair with dark hair, I feel that the color is just right! Love it!

Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Decaf Green Tea.  There was no retail price listed. This tea was so good! Sometimes the holiday things just don't live up to what I make them to be in my head.  This stuff was seriously good.  I will definitely be using my coupon to try out some more. 

EcoTools Hair Brush $10.99: I wasn't convinced about this brush to start with and I'm still not.  I have fine hair but a lot of strands.  This brush doesn't reach through all of my hair.  It pretty much just fuzzes up the top layer.  I think plastic bristles with the little knob at the top are best for me. Sticking with my Wet Brush.

McCormick Gourmet Thyme $4.79-This came just in time.  I had run out only days before.  I was a little confused as to why it was in a box with largely beauty products.  But it was welcome.  I don't use a ton of Thyme.  Perhaps my favorite recipe to use Thyme in is Souvlaki.  Maybe I should make some soon. 

 

The last product in the box were Red Vines brand Fruit Vines you can purchase these for somewhere between $1.28-1.79.  I got strawberry they also offer cherry.  I like these.  I love fruity candy and I love black licorice flavor.  I guess I don't love fruit flavored licorice.  But for what they are the flavor is good.  They are soft and easy to eat and enjoy. 

This was a great box.  Perhaps the cosmetics are my favorite.  I always enjoy trying out new cosmetics and seeing what is out there.  These are great affordable options and I will likely purchase several of these products! Thanks again to Influenster, No7, Rimmel, NYC, Red Vines, McCormick, Ecotools, and Celestial Seasonings for a great VoxBox.