2 Monsters and A Princess: June 2014

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Top nail colors trends for spring

Here are the latest nail color trends to play with this summer.

Shimmer and glitter
Minty
Tropical fun
Latte
Pastels
Blues/Greens
Blush
Nocturnelle
Blood red
Metallics

Top 10 Makeup Brushes

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No matter what your age or what look you are trying to achieve - there are some brushes you must have in your makeup kit. You need these 10 essential brushes on hand.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links provided by Postpresso.

Monday, June 23, 2014

Icky Stick For Tough Toilet Cleaning

I will be the first to tell you I hate cleaning bathrooms. It is one thing to clean my own bathroom. I am in there every day, so I tend to clean as I go along. When it comes to the kids bathroom, that is a whole different story. I swear to you, my kids can create chaos no matter where they are, now imagine that locked into a bathroom for s few minutes and you get what I mean. Cleaning in there is hazardous to my health, but as mom, I have to do it anyway or it won't get finished to my satisfaction.

Thankfully the people at Icky Stick understand my pain. They offered me a chance to cut down on my scrubbing time with this toilet cleaning stick. The Icky Stick is made of

Intended for getting the mess inside your toilet, this stick works wonders on hard water stains. I have tried so many different cleaners trying to prevent it, but even clean water sitting in the bottom leaves massive stained areas. The water here is hard all year round too. I used this stick first with just the water in the bowl, cleaning the top part under the rim and it removed everything in seconds. For the bottom, I added some toilet cleaner and scrubbed and was surprised that it was able to remove some of that too.

The corners work well on the curved areas of the bowl but I had difficulty getting to the rounded bottom part. This just wasn't shaped right to reach the whole area. I skipped over what I couldn't reach and went back to it later after the edges of the Icky Stick had rounded down. That helped some and I was able to reach more of the stain.

I liked that this helped me clean with less hassle than normal, but noticed that the stick only lasts for a couple of cleanings before it is wore down and needs replaced. If you don't have hard water or much of anything to scrub, then you might get a few more uses out of it. All in all it does what it says and it easy to use. This would be great for traveling where you might want to clean before you sit and perfect for RVs too. I would even add this to a gift bag for newlyweds or a housewarming basket.

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.

David Gray Mutineers Album Review

I am a music lover to the core. I can spend hours just sitting and browsing songs on YouTube with the kids. I believe in educating them about old school music instead of the junk today like "boy bands" and Miley Cyrus.

I was offered a chance to hear the Mutineers Album by David Gray recently and it is quite different from what I expected. This album is full of soft based songs, putting me in mind of skaters and dancers. I could easily see them flowing and swaying to these easy beats.

I like the piano sound in these songs. It pulls at the mind and lets your thoughts run free. It is perfect for relaxing, but would be great for a nice stretching yoga workout too. That is how I judge music. I need meaning in the words, and emotion in the voices, or it just doesn't do anything for me. I want to get lost in the song and desire to hear it again. I can't say I hated this album, but it is not what I normally would have chosen.

Mutineers Track Listing:
Back in the World
As the Crow Flies
Mutineer
Beautiful Agony
Last Summer
Snow in Vegas
Cake and Eat It
Birds of the High Arctic
The Incredible
Girl Like You
Gulls
Nearly Midnight (bonus track)

North America Tour Dates & Cities:
See all dates and ticket info here: https://tickets.davidgray.com/
Aug 01 - Boston
Aug 04 - NYC
Aug 05 - Philadelphia
Aug 07 - Columbia, MD
Aug 08 - Charlotte, NC
Aug 09 - Nashville
Aug 11 - Raleigh, NC
Aug 12 - Atlanta
Aug 13 - Indianapolis
Aug 15 - Cleveland
Aug 16 - Cincinnati
Aug 17 - Detroit
Aug 18 - Chicago
Aug 20 - Denver
Aug 21 - Salt Lake City
Aug 22 - Boise
Aug 23 - Troutdale (Portland), OR
Aug 25 - Redmond, WA
Aug 26 - Vancouver, BC
Aug 28 - Oakland, CA
Aug 29 - Reno, NV
Aug 30 - Las Vegas
Aug 31 - San Diego
Sep 03 - Los Angeles

With songs like Gulls and Snow in Vegas, I would add this to my workout playlist. I like the tone of this music and the soft singing voice is perfect for meditation. In all I would recommend this to anyone looking for something new. This is not for everyone, but I can see multiple times when it is very fitting and relaxing, making it a nice addition to many activities. Find out more here..

Official Website - http://www.davidgray.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/DavidGray
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/TheRealDavidGray
Instagram - http://instagram.com/davidgray
Instagram Contest - http://www.davidgray.com/instagram
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/davidgray

Sponsored by the independant music label Good Soldier Songs, the June 17th release of this album means it will be available for everyone. Listen to it and see what you think!

iTunes- http://bit.ly/DavidGrayMutineersiTunes
Amazon- http://bit.ly/DGMutineersAmazon

* I received a free download of the album to review from One2One Network. All opinions are my own.

Rainbow Bandz Organiziation Box Review

My daughter has joined the bandwagon for those crazy little loom bands. She has had a ton of them and made bracelets and other things for everyone she knows. This is at the top of her list for her birthday in a few weeks, so I have been looking for fun new accessories for her.

I received a cute Rainbow Bandz Organization Box to review, so I purchased two new packages of bands to put in it for her. The organizer box comes complete with dividers, so you can make the spaces larger or smaller as needed. I made a long spot on one side for the loom tool and connectors, and a bunch of small spaces for individual colors. I had 17 different choices and there are still several spaces for started or finished projects, or even more colors.

The box is made of sturdy plastic with snap closures on the side and is small enough to transport with ease. It even fits in a backpack, making it perfect for sleepovers, travel or visits to grandma. She can even take it with her on camping trips or to the doctors office.

I love that the dividers have ridges at the top, making them easy to grip and switch around. My only wish is that I would love to see this come in colors. It would be fun to collect them or use a different color for each kid. I know we could use a few more of these, and not just for the bands either. I would use them for beads and buttons and it is perfect for storing my bottles of candy flavoring. Actually, I could use a bunch of these!

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.

Friday, June 20, 2014

Litter Genie Littler Disposal System

I love cats. I have always been a big cat fan and have had them most of my life. I love the feeling I get from cuddling with my cat and the stress relief that comes with that. I love watching them balance on the craziest places and crawl into places you wouldn't think they could fit. They really do add a plus to your life.

The one thing I can't stand about having cats is having to clean out their litter boxes. No matter how often you scoop, it is still disgusting and the smell sucks. I have tried odor minimizing litter and air fresheners, even those closed in litter boxes. At the end of the day though, it still smells bad.

I was sent a Litter Genie Disposal System to help get rid of that problem. The system is really simple to use and comes with everything you need to get started, right there in the box. It takes only minutes to get ready for use and that only takes a couple of simple steps.

The sturdy disposal unit is sleek and compact for a nice look and easy fit almost anywhere. Inside is a replaceable bag unit that lasts for up to 2 months. You simply peel the tab and insert into the unit. There is even a scoop for cleaning, and it fits in it's own little holder, right on the side of the system for easy storage.

The idea behind this is that once you put the litter into the disposal unit and pull the tray, the smell is contained in the bottom. This means no dumping litter into your trash, or wasting a new bag each time you clean it. Once the bag is filled, you simply remove it and insert a new one.

Having this system does not eliminate the need to scoop, so I still have to deal with that. The benefit is really that you don't have to smell the litter sitting in your garbage for days, or waste time and bags by having to get a new one and then toss it out every time you clean a box. If you are someone who just can't stand it being in the house, or who takes out their trash every day anyway, then this is probably not for you. However, if you want a way to lessen the hassle and reduce your trips to the cans outside, I suggest giving this a try.

* I was sent a sample unit for review purposes as a member of Crowdtap. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Marvel's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY - Character Posters Now Available!!!

OFFICIAL BOILERPLATE:

From Marvel, the studio that brought you the global blockbuster franchises of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Avengers, comes a new team—the Guardians of the Galaxy. An action-packed, epic space adventure, Marvel's “Guardians of the Galaxy” expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits—Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand—with the galaxy's fate in the balance.

Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” which first appeared in comic books in Marvel Super-Heroes, Issue #18 (Jan. 1969), stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, featuring Vin Diesel as Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, with John C. Reilly, Glenn Close as Nova Prime and Benicio Del Toro as The Collector.

James Gunn is the director of the film with Kevin Feige, p.g.a., producing. Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Victoria Alonso, Jeremy Latcham, Nik Korda and Stan Lee serve as executive producers. Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” is written by James Gunn and Nicole Perlman and releases in U.S. theaters on August 1, 2014.

Like GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY on Facebook: www.facebook.com/guardiansofthegalaxy

Follow GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Guardians

Monday, June 16, 2014

My Firstborn Is A Teenager

I am really feeling old now that my son is officially a teen. I knew it was coming, of course, but now that the day has passed, it has really hit me. I am old enough to have a teenage son. In 5 short years, he will be able to go off on his own and live his life. How has that much time gone by?

This year, Gage wanted to design his own cake. Well not actually a cake since he selected double chocolate cookie. I baked the cookie for him, and once it cooled, helped him make all the icing colors he needed for his creation.

As he was doing this, I had no idea who he was drawing. The sketch he drew was not in full color, so I didn't know who it was supposed to be. About midway through, Gage asked me what I thought and I told him it looked like The Joker to me. He just laughed and said that was who it was supposed to be, so I guess he did a pretty good job, especially since this was his first real time decorating anything by hand with icing.

Gage ended up having a pretty good day. He got money and cards, as well as a music system he wanted. He also received several bottles of Axe, some Adidas cologne, a School of Rock DVD and a set of assorted writing pens with refill ink for the comics and stories he writes. I found him a shirt with comical saying and the Nirvana smile shirt he asked for, and he got several foam and wooden models including a big plane, space shuttle and two propeller planes.

We had several kinds of pizza, chips, rainbow popcorn and grapes as well as a variety of ice cream float flavors plus the cookie he made. I think it turned out pretty well and he seemed to enjoy his day. My boy is growing up on me.

More About the Because I Am A Girl Movement and Our Gathering

Having a daughter is one of the most thrilling things in my life, and one of the most terrifying. There are so many sick people in the world who want to do terrible things to little girls. I worry about her going to school, playing outside or staying with a friend. You just never know where danger might be lurking.

Recently, we had the chance to host a Because I Am A Girl party. This was a chance to not only celebrate being female, but to remember those that are not as fortunate as we are. Being born in a place like the United States comes with certain freedoms and choices that are not given to girls in other places. Something as simple as going to school or speaking your mind can get you punished or even killed in other places, for no other reason than being born female, yet it is something we do here by nature.

As much as I want to shelter my children from the harshness of the world, I know that they have to be prepared for what is facing them. People are not the same as when I was a child, or we are more aware of it now. We have watched the horrors that happen in other places, all from the safety of our country, but that doesn't mean we can ignore what goes on there. Being aware, and doing whatever we can to make a difference, is what makes us human.

The girls at our gathering were each given a lanyard with a carded photo of a girl attached at the end. The card gave the girls name, age and information of the girls. We took photos of the group and compared them to the ones they were given. I told the girls to look at how they dressed, if they seemed happy or what they noticed about them. Many of the girls pointed out the difference is clothing styles, hair and accessories. They noted that not all of the girls looked sad, but they didn't seem as lively or excited as they were used to.

We then compared what was the same. We discussed that even though they had differences, they were all the same because they are all girls. They all want to grow up and be something, they all have favorite foods or a special place they like to go. Each and every one of them has the chance to do so many things, but what those things are differ from place to place. Their lives will take very different routes and some of them are not happy ones.

Reality is just around the corner and we have to make our children aware of what happens to other people around the world. We have to teach them to care what goes on, not be blind to what lies beyond our line of sight.

*I was sent the supplies for this party as a member of My Gathering to help promote this cause. No other compensation was received and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Experience Studio Movie Grill in Columbus, OH

Are you familiar with Studio Movie Grill? I have been living 30 minutes away and had no idea about this fun movie experience. Who knew you could eat great quality food while you watched your movie?

SMG combines the latest Hollywood releases, featuring 100% digital projection, with restaurant quality food and beverage from an American Grill menu and full-service bar. While other theaters overcharge for popcorn and soda, SMG offers more. Visit any one of our locations for an unmatched movie grill experience combining quality, value, and selection for the whole family. For movie listings, showtimes, and directions to our theaters, please visit studiomoviegrill.com. Studio Movie Grill Arena Grand is offering, for a limited time, a free trial ticket offer to any movie of your choice. To print your voucher click on the link below.

http://trialoffer.studiomoviegrill.com/

What a great way to spend an evening with the family and see a new movie too!

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Ellore Femme Brushes for a Beautiful Look

I have begun to try new looks with makeup as something to do during the day when I am home alone. Not that I didn't use it before, but I usually stuck with certain shades and styles, which eliminated my need for lots of accessories. Now, with my new hobby, I have found a need for several different brushes at a time. This is why I love the great set that was sent to me by my friends at Ellore femme

This set has a ton of amazing brushes that allow me to create any look I want. From soft, puffy brushes perfect for cheeks to a mass of applicator brushes, there is nothing missing in this set.

The handles are wooden for an easy grip and it makes them a snap to clean too. The bristles of these are also very well anchored. I have not had any of them come out yet, which is a big plus to me. I hate when I get loose bristles in the middle of an application.

I have tried many of these brushes so far and have had great results with them. The brushes offer a comfortable feel and cover well too. The brush holder is another plus in this set. You can fold it over and roll it to take the brushes with you anywhere in a snap. This is perfect for travel or work and doesn't take a ton of space either.

I am in love with this set and plan to use it for a long time to come!

*I received this set of brushes for review purposes. No other compensation was received. Free products do not dictate my review, and all opinions are my own.