I love make-up. I love to test make-up. I love to buy make-up. I LOVE make-up. It always fits and makes me feel better. Even on "fat days" I can put on make-up and feel better about myself. When I recently got a chance to try the new line of skin care from Burt’s Bees I was so excited. BzzAgent sent me a full size trial of the Natural Skin Solutions Facial Cleanser and the Daily Moisturizer.

I have been a long time user of one particular brand so getting me to change skin care products is no easy task. I gave up my usual products for 5 days and used only these two products. I have to say that I love that these products are 99% natural. When you read the ingredient list you will recognize most if not all of the products. The Facial Cleanser I found to be a good product. It wasn’t drying like some of the other products I have used in the past. It felt smooth and silky both while on my face and after being rinsed off. It felt heavy like it was doing its job. My skin didn’t feel tight after washing. In contrast, the Daily Moisturizer was not at all heavy. It went on smooth and light and absorbed quickly. I didn’t feel greasy or oily at all. There was no shine to my skin after applying the moisturizer. These are both non-fragrance products and this appealed to me because I hate to smell the products on my face all day long. However, there is an odor to this product. It is a smell that reminds me of the facial products my mom or grandma used when I was little. It wasn’t unpleasant just different. The odor in the moisturizer disappeared almost immediately after applying. I didn’t notice the smell throughout the day only upon first application.

Overall I would say that these are both exceptional products. I think the greatest advantage of this line over other lines is that they are 99% natural. You know exactly what is going on your face. I have long been a fan of Burt’s Bees lip balms and I have no qualms at all about adding some of the facial products to my regimen.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Being from the South has its advantages…the food, the family, the weather, the culture. It also has its disadvantages…the amount of time it takes to catch up to the rest of the world. It was through this lens that I made the decision to read this book. I was worried that it would be just another race relations book. I decided early on what my thought were on race relations and I found there were few books that told stories in a way that spoke to my own beliefs on the issue. The first book was To Kill a Mockingbird. I remember reading that book as a young teen and being enthralled. Later on I read a James Patterson book called Alex Cross’s Trial and that book hit me in much the same way. When I first heard about The Help I wasn’t sure it would be a book I was interested in reading. Finally, a friend offered me her copy so I decided it was worth a look. I can honestly say that this was a page turner. I loved the interaction between the household help and the families. The dichotomy of the love and respect they felt for their help with the hate and disgust that they felt for the race that their help was is a phenomenon in human psyche. These people allowed the help to raise their children, clean their sheets, cook their meals and hear all of their family business. What they didn’t allow was for the help to use their inside bathrooms. It is hard for me to imagine a relationship such as this. I grew up in the early 70s and 80s. Life was very different for my generation. This book uses a novel approach to explain the race relations of the 50s and 60s. To me this book is more about love than it is hate. Sure there was hate but first there was love and respect. There are some really funny parts in this book that made me want to cheer for these strong, amazing, intelligent women who cleaned the homes, raised the children and cooked the meals of women who clearly didn’t deserve it.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

I came across a great deal this morning through the rewards site I use, Sunshine Rewards. They have a merchant named Tanga who is having a deal each day this week on select magazines. The deal is as follows:

This week Tanga is offering great magazine subscription deals. Each magazine deal listed will run on one specific day of this week. The deals will run from PM PST(PM EST) the day of to to 6:59 PST (9:59 EST) the following day. Below you will find the list of magazines, the day they are on special as well as our link to Tanga!

Monday, September 26th at PM PST (PM EST)
Weight Watchers Magazine Subscription, $3.99 with Coupon Code: WEIGHT

Tuesday, September 27th at PM PST (PM EST)
Garden & Gun Magazine Subscription, $3.50 with Coupon Code: GARDEN

Wednesday, September 28Th at PM PST (PM EST)
Disney Family Fun Magazine Subscription, $3.50 with Coupon Code: DISNEY

Thursday, September 29th at PM PST (PM EST)
Bridal Guide Magazine Subscription, $3.99 with Coupon Code: BRIDAL

Friday, September 30th at PM PST (PM EST)
Rolling Stone Magazine Subscription, $3.99 with Coupon Code: STONE

Saturday, October 1st at PM PST (PM EST)
Men’s Fitness Magazine Subscription, $3.99 with Coupon Code: FITNESS

Sunday, October 2nd at PM PST (PM EST)
Tennis Magazine Subscription, $2.99 with Coupon Code: TENNIS

These are amazing prices on these magazine subscriptions. I am personally interested in the Weight Watchers and Family Fun. I have had a subscription to Family Fun before and it is such a great magazine. They have fun articles and great ideas for recipes, crafts and "Family Fun". At 3.99 it is worth checking it. You would pay that much for one magazine on the newsstand. Let me know which ones you order!!

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Every so often a book comes along that really hits at the heart of the matter. This book did that for me. Most people know that story of Jaycee Dugard and her abduction. Most people also know the story of how she was found 18 years later. What most people don’t know is what happened to her in the 18 years that came in between those two major events.

This book is a tough read at times. The things that Jaycee Dugard endured where abhorrent and would’ve killed most people. However, her story needs to be told. Most of the true crime stories I read are written by a third party. This happens because most of the victims don’t survive to tell their story. Jaycee Dugard is different…she made it out. She can tell her story in her own words. Jaycee was abducted as a child but was anything but when she was found. She came home a woman who never knew what it was like to be cared for and loved. She came home a mother of two daughters who were fathered by her abductor. She came home a survivor and no longer a victim. Her story is one of triumph. Her story is one of heartbreak.

Read this book. Read it because it will change who you are and how you interact with others around you. I find myself being more observant of the children I come in contact with everyday. I keep an eye and ear open for their needs and for possible chances to help them change their lives. I’m not looking to save an abducted child…just make a difference in the life of a child who needs it.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Have hard to buy for people on your list? Well I have the gift for you! They will never complain about your gifts again! My friend Tricia from Sunshine Rewards sent me a gift of boxed brownies from Fairytale Brownies two weeks ago and I have been in heaven ever since.

The box I received came with an assortment of different sized and flavored brownies. I don’t think I found a single flavor I didn’t like and I am not a chocolate fan. Each brownie is individually wrapped so you can send the whole box to one person and they will stay fresh until they have eaten them all. You can also order the box and then split up the brownies any way you like. They are boxed so nicely though that I am ordering boxed gifts for all of my hard to buy people. They have instructions included that tell the recipient how to care for their brownies to ensure they stay fresh. It took us about 2 weeks to eat all of the brownies and I have to say that the last one was as fresh as the first one. My husband and all 3 of my children loved them as much as I did. I checked out their site and they have so many different levels of boxed sets that you can surely find something for every budget. I am not usually a fan of food that shipped because you never know how fresh it is going to be when it gets there. That is not a concern with Fairytale Brownies!! They are fresh and tasty like homemade!

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

I know that Christmas seems to be one of the best shopping times for electronics. It seems like every year my children’s wants in the electronics department get more expensive. We have requests for the newest game systems, laptops, games, handheld game systems and finally televisions. I have to agree that my kids need new televisions so I have been searching for some great deals on flat screens that are around 32 inch. My kids still have televisions that are big enough to knock them out if dropped on their head. They have televisions with built in DVD players that no longer work. I think it is time to find new ones. Question for me is when do you buy the tv insurance? Do you buy it every time you make a purchase? Does it depend on the cost of the television? Do you buy from the manufacturer or do you buy through one of those outside sources that sells insurance for products? I find this part to be even more confusing than the actual purchase of the television. I have only used the insurance once before and it was for the 50 inch that we have in the den. It came in very handy in that situation. I am scared though that the one time I don’t buy it will be the time I need it. So what do you guys say? Buy it or not?

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Wondering what to get for the people on your list who love to read? There are so many exciting items this year. I think perhaps the most exciting is the Nook from Barnes and Noble.

Everyone is talking about the versatility of the Nook and Nook Color. I doubt you would find a book lover who wouldn’t love to get one of these as a gift. They give you the ability to have a new book with you wherever you go!

Don’t want to spend that much? How about a new book? There are some great deals on Cyber Monday on books. Barnes & Noble.com has books for 50% today. One of the books included in that special is the new John Grisham book named The Confession. This is a suspense thriller and is already getting rave reviews.

Need to buy for kids? How about their own version of an e-reader like the Nook? It is by V-tech and it is called the V*Reader. I have long been a fan of V-tech and their products. They make learning fun and help children enjoy reading for a lifetime.

No matter who you are buying for there are always products out there that will help them to enjoy reading. With today being Cyber Monday the deals just don’t get any better than they are today. Let me know if you have seen any great book related gifts on special today that my readers should know about. Happy Shopping!

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

So now that Black Friday is over and done with I would love to know how you did? I have never gone out in to the stores on Black Friday because I have always found I could get really great deals online either on Black Friday or on Cyber Monday. I have to say that I love that companies are realizing they have a whole segment of people who will never go to the stores on Black Friday but who would love to shop online on this day. I spent a lot of time checking out the deals on Friday and I found some that couldn’t be passed up. I found that some of the stores put up the same door buster deals as in store online. They were of course limited availability but so were the ones in store. Tell me, what would stores have to offer on Black Friday to get you shop online instead of in store? For me it is as simple as offering the same limited availability items with free shipping. Couldn’t ask for more if you ask me. What do you guys think?

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

I love this time of year. I am not a person who enjoys shopping in brick and mortar stores. I walk in and immediately feel overwhelmed. However, usually you can only find the really good deals by going in to stores. Well all that changes at Christmas time. You can find so many great deals online. Some of the best deals can be found using reward sites, onecall coupons, and signing up for emailed newsletters from your favorite stores. Best of all you can get these great deals in conjunction with Free Shipping on many occasions. If you can combine reward site cash earnings with coupons and free shipping you are truly scoring the trifecta of savings. I love the challenge. I also love that I can do it all while in my pajamas in front of my computer. Who wouldn’t love to shop like that??? Let me know some of the best deals you have found this season.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

This is a book that I purchased over a year ago and I started to read it but found it hard to get past the first chapter. I recently picked it back up because I found myself with nothing to read while relaxing in the bathtub. I am really glad that I did. The subject matter of this book is tough to read but I think everyone needs to hear the details of the lives these women lead.

Not Without My Sister is the story of three sisters who were raised in the Children of God cult. These girls were abused from the very start by "family" members who viewed sex between adults as acceptable and normal. This cult used sex as a means of controlling its members. The accounts of these girls about the abuse they sustained at the hands of the adults in their lives is chilling. There was no one to protect them. They were forced to recite songs and writings of the all knowing "Mo" who was their "prophet." They had to witness beatings, sexual abuse, mental abuse, families being torn apart and people committing suicide all in the name of God.

There could be no more worse abuse than for people to take advantage of a child’s blind faith in their parents to fulfill their own needs. Their father "wed" many women and then fathered more children and then would leave to fulfill his "mission" and leave his children behind. Others would foster these children and treat them horribly. They would be sent to teen camps where they were forced to "date" older men.

I have to say that this book even made me question why I believe some of the things I believe. I had to wonder at times if I would have been capable of the blind faith these people had in another person. I even began to question whether or not I wasn’t being blindly led by my church. Finally, I realized that the teachings of cults are so off base from reality that it would be hard for someone not born and raised in their society to believe. That is why they prey on people who are lost and seeking others to bond with. They need people that have that hole they are seeking to fill. Only then can they draw people in to their lies and deception.

It is amazing to see that these three girls survived and escaped the cult they were born and raised in. It took many years and a lot of courage but they finally one by one left and reconnected with each other. I warn that this book has many disturbing parts. The girls recount their abuses in detail and not everyone wants to be faced with those kinds of horrors. In the end I am glad I read this book. Not the best writing but the story itself is an important one to tell.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.