National Geographic's Novica Celebrates Christmas

When I was a kid, I love National Geographic magazine. I had all of my Grampy's old copies, and I would get my hand on the new ones whenever I could. The pictures were amazing for a girl growing up in the city. It showed me that there was this whole other great big world out there, and someday I could go and be a part of it. I wanted to eventually collect and own every single edition of National Geographic. Luckily I got over that or my husband would probably have to leave me. My books take up enough space as it is. Someday I do plan on going on one of National Geographic's tours where they teach you about photography and you get to see some amazing places.

The reason I am telling you about my lifelong love affair with National Geographic is because I got to work with them recently! Seriously. They contacted me to see if I wanted to review their new Novica program. If you didn't know, Novica is a new online boutique where National Geographic sells amazing handicrafts made all over the world.

I got to pick absolutely anything I wanted from Novica to review. It was a really hard decision. They have a lot of objects with elephants on them, which I love. They also have some great articles of clothing and accesories.

In the end, I decided to go with a wooden nativity set. I have been searching for a nativity set that was pretty and that I could let CJ play with and not have to worry about him breaking it. I found a bunch of absolutely gorgeous nativity sets on Novica. Here are some of my favorites. You can get Nativities from Peru, El Salvador, and America.

The one I chose is similar to the one on the far left, but it isn't available on the website anymore. It was handmade and shipped from the Andes. It arrived in the cutest little package, wrapped up like a present. Attached was this adorable little "worry doll". It is a tradition in the Andes that you take all your worries and you tell it to this doll. Then you put it under your pillow, let the worries go, and fall deep into a peaceful sleep. That's the idea anyway. Every time we strip the bed and this falls out of my pillow hubby just looks at me like I'm crazy.

So I unwrapped my present and found this gorgeous Nativity set. It included two wise men, Joseph, Mary, some animals, baby Jesus, and of course the stable. Isn't it the cutest? CJ loves playing with it. I actually had to put it up because he plays with the pieces so much that they were disappearing into couch cushions and such. He loves to play with baby Jesus especially, or baby "Ess" as he calls him. He is currently obsessed with babies. 

The quality of the Nativity is absolutely amazing. It will truly last forever and is gorgeously handcrafted. I think that next year I'm going to have to buy one of the other sets. They're just gorgeous. I would expect nothing less from National Geographic. 

You can find Novica products at Novica.com. You can find information there on how to host a Novica party, where you can earn free Novica products. Everyday they have flash sales on some of their products. You can even join their website and curate your own collections. Oh, by the way, every single thing that I've mentioned in this post, the Nativities, the elephants, and the clothes... each one costs $50 and under. The prices are amazing considering the quality you are receiving. You are also supporting the amazing artists all over the world who create these amazing products. 

Luckily for you, Novica is offering one reader a $50 giftcode. You can truly get an amazing gift for yourself or for someone else. To enter, just fill out the rafflecopter form below. 

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Sharpie Gel Highlighters Review

Always take lecture notes in pencil. 

Since I am currently in grad school, I take a lot of notes. Not to brag or anything, but I am an amazing note-taker. For reals. I should get straight A's on my note taking skills alone. I like to use multi-colored highlighters and different colored pens (black, blue, and red) to get to the nitty gritty of what is being taught.

Sharpie sent me over a couple of their new gel highlighter pens to see what I thought. I've used every highlighter that ever existed, and obviously Sharpie was my favorite brand, but what would I think of these new highlighters? What was wrong with the old highlighters, I thought to myself. Then I met this guy....

Look at that little gel tip. It is flawless. It glides like the smoothest crayon you ever used in your life. I want to highlight all the things. You can't really tell the difference between the regular highlighter and the gel one as far as color goes. The only difference is the glide. Like I said, it is smooth. It is the jazz of highlighters.

These new highlighters can be found at your local school supply store, or online at sharpie.com. These are perfect. When the gel tip runs out, you just twist the bottom and more pops up, like a mechanical pencil, except more awesome. I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. Pin It

Pine Bros Softish Cough Drops Review

Sometimes I offer to review things that I don't yet have need for, hoping that eventually I will. That was the case when I offered to review Pine Bros Softish Cough Drops. I live in New England, so I knew that eventually cough drops were going to come in handy.

So a few weeks ago, this ginormous, filled to the brim with cough drops. They sent me honey and cherry flavors. They sent a ton of bags, and then what they call "pucks" that you can fill with cough drops. They are very helpful to keep in your purse. (I've also found they are very good for distracting babies.)

I am honestly not a big fan of the honey taste. I think they are just too strong for me. The cherry taste on the other hand, I love. I could (and do) eat them like they are candy. They are called softish, and they are exactly that. They aren't hard cough drops, and they aren't soft like gummy bears, they are soft-ish. I highly suggest that you check these cough drops out. With cold weather coming, you know you are going to get sick, and you know you are going to need some.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. Pin It

Card Cubby Review & Giveaway

Sorry for the absence guys. Whew, this flu/cold/plague is kicking my butt! I also had to take one of my state teaching exams so blergh. Anywho, I've got a couple of great reviews and giveaways coming your way this week, so boom, let's get started.

If you are a mom like me, your bag is completely full of crap. Just everything. Your bag becomes a catch-all for absolutely everything and then you can never find anything when you need it. You need something that can fit into your bag to keep like things together. Meet my new pal, the Card Cubby.

The Card Cubby is a neat little container that fits into your purse. It keeps all of your business cards in one place. You could also use it to store all your credit cards, insurance cards, etc. I use mine like a wallet. It comes in a ton of great colors, like pink, blue, black. Just in time for fall, the have a new pumpkin color. I'm partial to the blue crocodile as you can see. It comes with little tabbed dividers to keep things separated in alphabetical order. You can also change the dividers to suit your needs. It is 5 inches by 3 inches by 2 inches. The Card Cubby comes with a strap, so you can use it as a wristlet. You can use just this when you are running for a short errand, or you can change it from your diaper bag to your work bag to your gym bag. You make the Card Cubby work for you.

I have the Coupon Cubby. This is just like the Card Cubby, but a little bigger at 7.5 inches by 4 inches by 2 inches. It is the perfect size to store all your coupons, plus your checkbook. I am forever losing my checkbook, so now I keep it in there. It also comes with a chain, so you can use it as a mini-purse. It is grab for taking with you when you are just running to the grocery store. The coupon cubby also comes in a ton of colors. I have the blue crocodile, but I really like the leopard print. There is a ton of space inside here. if you want to use it as your wallet. The Coupon Cubby retails for $26.95 and is totally the perfect for organizing your coupons.
One of you will win your very own blue Card Cubby, which retails for $26.95. Just fill out the rafflecopter below!

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Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil Review

The first couple of times I made home-made baby wipes, by the time I got down to the end, gross mold had formed on the wipes. I couldn't wipe CJ's tush with that, now could I? I had no idea what to use that would be completely natural. Then I found this recipe for baby wipes, and it called for coconut oil. Apparently the mom who came up with that recipe felt that the coconut oil worked as an organic disinfectant. Interesting, now where the heck do I find coconut oil? As luck would have it, Tropical Traditions came calling looking for a review. Perfect timing I say.

So for the last few weeks, I have been putting about a tablespoon of coconut oil into CJ's homemade baby wipes. It works like a charm. I keep the wipes in an old Teddy peanut butter container. (It's not weird, it has been cleaned and disinfected.) When the jar of Tropical Traditions coconut oil arrived, it was in liquid form because it was left out in the sun. In the house, it has stayed a solid. The melting point of coconut oil is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit, so in some households it may stay a liquid. To melt it so I can put it in my wipes, I just take a big spoonful, put it in a glass bowl and microwave it for a few seconds. It doesn't take long.

I've found that not only does the coconut oil keep my wipes from getting moldy, it also makes them smell really good. When you are working with something that wipes up poop, a nice scent always helps.

Since I got the coconut oil, I've found a million other uses for it. Now that we are on the Paleo diet, I've found that coconut oil is used in a lot of recipes. All of the baked goods I have found that are Paleo-safe call for coconut oil. I've heard that a lot of people use it as a moisturizer, because it cleans your skin natural while also providing moisture. You can use it as a conditioner for dry hair, use it on chapped skin and lips, I've even heard that it is good for rashes. Makes sense since CJ hasn't gotten any redness on his bum since I started using it in his wipes.

You can find the coconut oil on the Tropical Traditions website. They are always having an awesome sale going on. Also, one jar will last you forever, so it is well worth the price. They have a ton of other coconut oil based products as well.

From their website: Tropical Traditions is America’s source for coconut oil. Their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is hand crafted in small batches by family producers, and it is the highest quality coconut oil they offer. You can read more about how virgin coconut oil is different from other coconut oils on their website: What is Virgin Coconut Oil?

Tropical Traditions also carries other varieties of affordable high quality coconut oil. Visit their website to check on current sales, to learn about the many uses of coconut oil, and to read about all the advantages of buying coconut oil online. Since the FDA does not want us to discuss the health benefits of coconut oil on a page where it is being sold or given away, here is the best website to read about the health benefits of coconut oil.

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Pami Pocket Review & Giveaway

CJ and I like to go on walks, but I don't like carrying my purse. I need to have my phone on me in case of emergencies though. I also don't like leaving it in my pocket because then it could fall out. So what to do? Well Pami Pocket is a great new product that solves my problem. 

The Pami Pocket is a small zippered pouch that is the perfect size to hold just exactly what you need. It can fit your cell phone, keys, maybe a few cards. It has a long handle that can be used over the shoulder or across your body. It currently comes in either hot pink or black. They are working on making it in other colors, such as teal and green. I would have loved a teal one so I look forward to that. 
 












The product came about for the same reason that I now love it. The creator, Pami, loved working in the garden but never had anywhere to put her phone. She was constantly missing calls and losing her cell phone. She eventually put her phone in an old coin purse she had lying around, but it eventually wore out. She then had her husband go rustle her up a new one with some fabric in his upholstery shop. She got so many compliments about it that she decided to expand and begin to sell the Pami Pocket. 

The PamiPocket is usually $14.99, but it is currently on sale for $9.99. Or would you like to win one? Just fill out the rafflecopter below! 

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Mom Blog Society. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers Pin It

Product Review & Giveaway - The WondaWedge (TM)

 I have this really weird habit. At least my husband thinks it is weird. Even if there are seats available in the room, I sometimes like to sit on the floor. Considering I have a bad back, this is such a bad idea for me. It is made worse by the fact that I often sit on the floor to read a book or use the computer. The alignment of my head hanging down with my shoulders drooping and my back curved is so bad for me. I could sit at the comfortable desk chair or on the comfy couch, but instead I sit on the floor like a weirdo. By the time I get up, my back is aching and cracking like I'm a 90 year old lady. (No offense to the spry 90 year old ladies out there.)

All this changed recently when I received this nifty little product in the mail.

What in the Sam Hill is that you might say. That, my friends, is the WondaWedge. And it is Wondaful. (Did you see what I did there?)

According to the WondaWedge website, the WondaWedge is "an inflatable pillow with a permanently attached mat" that is "perfect for the beach, picnics, outdoor concerts..." Most importantly, it is perfect for sitting on the floor and reading good books, which is what I use it for. The baby likes it too, I wish I got a picture of him using it. He not only used it to lie against, he also used it as a jungle gym. Then again, he uses everything as a jungle gym.

Here it is in action. Please note my excellent posture and deportment. My grandmother would be so proud.

So far I've only used this indoors. Once the nice weather gets here, I'll be using this to sit out on the porch and read, while enjoying the sunlight. Since it is deflatable and inflatable, I can take it with us to the beach or when we go camping.The seude-like surface should keep the sand off.

Would you like a WondaWedge of your very own?

You can purchase one online or win one right here!


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Numi Tea Review

It is kind of a stereotype. Those who like to read also like to sip tea. I think this particular stereotype rings true, at least for me. There's nothing like curling up with a nice cup of tea and a good book. So when I found out that Numi Tea was looking for people to review their teas, I said uhmmmm hellz yes.

Let me tell you about Numi Tea. They are an amazing company, run by a brother and sister, that does everything fair trade, fair labor, and eco-friendly. You can go to their website and see the places where they get their teas and the people who they get it from. All of their teas are organic and delicious. They use 100% recycled material on their boxes and their filters are even biodegradable.

They sent me an box with 6 different types of their amazing teas, but I'm going to tell you about my favorite three.

First there was the Aged Earl Grey Tea. This is very high in caffeine, so I only drank it first thing in the morning. For me, it was a perfect breakfast tea. It was strong, but not as strong as coffee. It was the perfect smack in the face I need when the baby wakes up at 7am. The only ingredients in this tea, is tea. Specifically, organic Assam black tea with Bergamot. There is a slight citrus taste, but it is still almost manly in its taste.

The second tea that I absolutely loved was the Chamomile Lemon. This tea is pretty much the exact opposite of the Aged Earl Grey. This one is perfectly soothing and gentle. It has no caffeine, so I like to drink this one at night before bed. It is supremely relaxing. The only ingredients in this tea are Lemon Myrtle and organic
whole chamomile tea. Drinking this feels like you are sitting down with an old friend. They call this one a "teasan" not a "tea" because it comes from herbs and not a tea plant.

Finally, there were the two green teas that I enjoyed. I tried both the regular Gunpowder Green Tea and the Jasmine Green Tea. Personally, I found the jasmine green tea too flowery for me. It seemed to overwhelm the subtlety of the green tea. Green tea is delicious by itself, and it doesn't really need anything extra. So then I tested the Gunpowder Green Tea, which is just tightly curled green tea leaves. This was freaking delicious. It wasn't overwhelming, but you know you are drinking some green tea.

So which was my favorite? It was really hard to choose, but I think that the Aged Earl Grey was my favorite. I'm surprised because I really love lemon in my tea and I assumed that my favorite would be the Lemon Chamomile. But the Aged Earl Grey surprised me with its deliciousness. If you would like to purchase some tea to try, head to their Shoplet website.

I
SHOP GREEN

I received free samples of this tea to try. This did not affect my unbiased review. All images courtesy and copyright Numi Tea (except the top one). 

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Imbue Pain Relief Patch Review

Thanks to a rather ample chest and running way too much while in the Army, I tend to have a lot of pain. The pain is generally in my back, my knees, and my feet.  Since I'd rather not take pain pills all day long, I was more than happy to try the Imbue Pain Relief Patch.

Imbue was founded by Peter and Briana Borten. Peter is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Briana is a Licensed Massage Therapist. They live in Portland, Oregon where they own and run the Dragontree holistic spa. They've worked with injuries and pain of all kinds before they developed their new pain relief patch.

The patch is made of 51mg of Menthol and 15mg of Methyl Salicylate (from Oil of Wintergreen) per patch. To apply, you simply peel of the backing and stick it onto the place you have pain. About a minute after I applied the patch, a nice cooling sensation filled the area. I applied it to my lower back. The cooling sensation lasted well after I applied it. It really helped relieve the pain. It made it feel like the pressure I usually feel in my back was gone. I have one more patch to use, and I am going to cut it in half, and use it on my feet when they start to really hurt.

I would definitely recommend these patches for anyone who has muscle sprains. Obviously, I'm not a doctor, and if you have a serious injury you should see a doctor. But for mild aches and pains, this is an awesome product to try.

Would you like to win a free sample of the Imbue Patch? Just become a follower (through RSS or GFC) and leave a comment below with your email address.

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Review - Aveeno Naturals Stress Relief Body Wash

Hubby works at a nursing home and is therefore around germs all day long. So it wasn't really surprising (but still really gross) when a few months ago, we all caught scabies. If you don't know what scabies is, google it, but be ready for some gross images. It was disgusting. Luckily, the baby was barely touched by it. As soon as we started taking the medicine, hubby's rash went right away. Mine took a bit longer, but eventually was all gone too.

Unfortunately, after all of the scabies was gone, I still found that I was crazy itchy. My skin was incredibly dry and I just didn't know what was going on. So I finally went back to the dermatologist to see what was up. The derm said that my skin was now very sensitive, and due to over-washing, very dry and therefore itchy. The itchy + dryness was causing me to even get some eczema. Her recommendations were to stop bathing so much (say what?!), not to use harsh soaps, and to look into aveeno lotions.

Well for Christmas, Santa (or the hubby), put some of Aveeno's Stress Relief Body Wash into my stocking. Let me tell you, it is heaven. It contains chamomile, ylang ylang, and lavender to soothe away you stress. The scent is wonderful, but very very light. It has the perfect amount of suds when you use it with a loofah. It also contains oatmeal, which creates a barrier on your skin to keep you moisturized. It has made my skin so less itchy it is amazing. Not only that, but the hubby mentioned the other day that my skin is softer. Ooh la la.

I highly recommend this if you have itchy, dry, or sensitive skin. Even if you just want a nice, soothing body wash, this is perfect for you. It is available at Amazon or at drugstores near you. (Or ask Santa to bring you some.) Pin It