Purex Crystals - Review and Giveaway!

As a Purex Insider, I was one of the first to try the new Purex Complete Crystals Softener.  I received a sample size of Fresh Spring Waters, enough to do four loads of laundry.  I liked it so much, I went out and bought a full size Lavender Blossom.  I know I have said before that I am a scent person.  I have been known to spend forever in the aisle with the cleaning supplies at the store smelling ALL of the detergents and softeners before I decide what to buy.  I have to say that these did not disappoint, I have not tried Tropical Splash yet, but I really liked Spring Waters and I *love* Lavender Blossom.  So much that I even filled up a reed diffuser bottle with them and put it in my bathroom, haha.  It's on a really high shelf (so no worries about the girls getting to it), and not only does it smell great, but it looks pretty too. 

Purex Complete Crystals Softener is unique in that it is in a solid, crystals, form.  This 92% natural fabric softener gets clothes smelling fresh and clean for weeks.  Most traditional softeners are oil based, and actually coat your fabrics with an oily residue (that can accumulate!  Have you ever pulled something out of the dryer only to inspect it and see that it looks like there is an oil stain?  Wondered where it came from?), but Purex Complete Crystals work differently to actually infuse the fabrics with their great fragrances.  These new Crystals are safe for your laundry and will not harm, wear down, or discolor your fabrics the way some liquid softeners can.  They even preserve the flame retardant benefits of children's clothing, retain the ability of towels to absorb, help to keep white clothing from graying or yellowing (another issue that can arise from traditional softeners), and retain the wicking ability of athletic wear. 

You add Purex Complete Crystals in with your laundry as soon as you put it in the washing machine, so there is no waiting until the rinse cycle to add liquid softener, and since it is in a solid form, spills are not really an issue (if they do happen, they're easily cleaned up!).  It is also safe for both standard and HE washers!

Purex Complete Crystals are available in three fragrances:

Fresh Spring Waters, Lavender Blossom, and Tropical Splash.



You can find these new Purex Complete Crystals in food, drug, and mass retailers worldwide for a suggested retail price of $3.99 to $5.99!

Excited to try these out?  Enter to win a free bottle!  Two lucky winners will each win a coupon for a free 28oz bottle!

Mandatory Entry:

-Have you tried these?  Tell me your favorite scent of Purex Crystals!  If you haven't tried these, which scent would you choose if you win?

Extra Entries:

-Like Purex on Facebook. 

-Follow Purex on Twitter.

-Follow Flip Flop Reviews (publicly) on Google Friend Connect.  If you already follow us, great, let us know.

-Like Flip Flop Reviews on Facebook.

-Follow Flip Flop Reviews with Networked Blogs.  (check the sidebar)

-Follow Flip Flop Reviews on Twitter @FlipFlopReviews.

-Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in a comment.

-Enter one of our other current giveaways and let me know which one you entered. (Feel free to leave one comment for each giveaway entered)

This giveaway will end on 4/06/2011 at 8pm EST. Any entries after that will not count.  Please make sure that you leave an email address or some way to contact you in your comments.  If I can't figure out how to get in touch with you, you can't win!  :o)  Good luck! 

EdenFantasys Highlight

I don't know about you, but I love when my husband gives me a massage.  Well, maybe you don't like it when *my* husband gives you a massage (I don't think I'd like that much either!), haha, but I don't think I know a single person who doesn't like getting a massage.  I actually don't mind giving massages either, the movement can be relaxing.

I am a scent person, though, so I really enjoy setting the relaxing mood with candles and using a nice scented lotion, massage oil, or even recently I tried a massage candle.  I was surprised that the massage candle was so easy to work with and I loved that the oil was slightly warm. 

EdenFantasys has a fantastic selection of items to aid in setting the mood for and giving or recieving a fabulous massage.  This Massage Therapy Kit by Kama Sutra is on my wish list. 

Check out EdenFantasys for more great sensual massage products!

*I will recieve a gift card in exchange for this post about EdenFantasys.

Nutella Hazelnut Spread

I first tried Nutella when I was high school. I instantly fell in love, it's delicious! Unfortunately I always seem to forget to buy it when I'm at the grocery store... so I jumped at the chance to have a little Nutella party with my family! Mommy Parties sent me a box of goodies, including a full size jar of Nutella and lots of fun stuff for guests. Thank you to Mommy Parties and Ferrero/Nutella! 

The first version of what would become the revolutionary invention of the century and what is now one of the most famous food specialities in the world – Nutella – was founded in a backroom of the pastry shop founded in Alba in 1944 by Pietro Ferrero. Since then, Nutella continues to inspire and satisfy the palate of the entire world: from the United States to Europe, Australia to Canada, its unique taste and its distinctive jar appeal to consumers of all generations. Thanks to its inimitable recipe and its genuine and carefully selected ingredients, Nutella, spread on bread, has become an essential element to the breakfast ritual and serves as a great way to begin the day.

A peek at what they sent me: 

We had a blast at my little get-together! Swapping recipes and making banana nutella crepes.

All of the goodie bags:

Delicious banana nutella crepes!

We made crepes, and then filled them with Nutella and slices of banana.  Drizzled them with a little Nutella that I softened in the microwave, added a few more slices of banana.  Topped with a sprinkling of powdered sugar and in some cases whipped cream.  :o)

I used this recipe for crepes from All Recipes, but I doubled it and added two teaspoons of sugar to sweeten it up a bit.

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil

Directions

1. In a blender combine eggs, milk, flour, salt and oil. Process until smooth. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.
2. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and brush with oil. Pour 1/4 cup of crepe batter into pan, tilting to completely coat the surface of the pan. Cook 2 to 5 minutes, turning once, until golden. Repeat with remaining batter.

This is what my jar of Nutella looked like by the time we got through with it.  :o)

 Yum!

Head on over to the Nutella USA page for a $1 coupon!

Weekend Blog Hops!

Red Dress Shoppe - Cleo Skirt Review and Giveaway!

Red Dress Shoppe is an indie boutique for new retro style clothing, dresses, and vintage inspired style.  They are always looking for new and affordable retro styles and exclusive vintage reproduction dresses (by Stop Staring Clothing and All Dolled Up Retro Clothing).  Their ambition is to personify the "every day girl" from the 30's, 40's, and 50's.  The working girl, the homemaker, the socialite.  Real women, because let's face it, most women in those days were not pin-up models.  Since it is not practical to wear fancy dresses all the time, they also delve into casual retro clothing that is appropriate for daily wear, and classic vintage inspired work attire such as smart blouses, skirts, and day dresses. 

Though many of their customers embrace the retro and vintage influenced subcultures, such as rockabilly, swing, mod, and indie style, Red Dress Shoppe honestly wishes for their web based store is to connect with real women who have an appreciation and admiration for classic, retro, and vintage styles from the past. 

If you take a peek into my own personal closet, you will find several Stop Staring Clothing dresses, as well as many other classic dresses, a-line skirts, fitted blouses, mary-jane shoes...  I just love them all.  I sometimes joke I am a 50s housewife who just happened to have been born in the wrong decade.  I was immediately smitten with the selection and truly enjoyed browsing through the Red Dress Shoppe and I love so very many of the items that they proudly carry. 

I could spend all night showing you my favorite skirts, dresses, and sweaters carried by the Red Dress Shoppe, but I encourage you to check out their selection yourself (they even carry hair accessories!).  Even if you are not normally drawn to vintage, I find that many of the styles easily fit in to wardrobes today and are so classic that they will never go out of style.  I often wear my vintage inspired dresses for a normal day of running errands with a cute pair of flats and a cardigan, and I also dress them up when I'm going out for the evening by adding heels and some jewelry.  They're so versatile.  I have a banquet to go to in a few weeks with my husband, and guess what I'll be wearing?  A Stop Staring dress, of course!

      

A tip from the owner for the Red Dress Shoppe, is that most of the items on her website run on the smaller side as far as sizing goes (junior/young contemporary sizing).  It it just the nature of this style of clothing, so if you have fallen in love with an item and you plan to place an order please be sure to read the sizing information listed for the item you are considering as well as pay attention for any notes about the fabrics (some might have a bit of extra stretch to them and others might not and that can make a huge difference as far as the fit).  As someone who purchases this type/style of clothing myself often enough, I tend to keep a measuring tape handy when I'm shopping online and can not try items on. 

Madeline, from Red Dress Shoppe, was kind enough to send me a Cleo Skirt for review. 

This is a bright green, white floral printed, full cotton retro skirt featuring all around pleats.  The yoke band around the waist is stitched with an adorable white contrast, and features decorate tabs with large white buttons about the size of a quarter each. 

This is a great skirt for spring and summer!  It features a side zip and is fully lined.   

The Cleo skirt is 100% cotton and can be machine washed on a gentle cycle, but you need to hang this skirt to dry.

I absolutely adore this playful skirt, and I could not be more pleased with the quality.  The Cleo skirt retails for $48 at the Red Dress Shoppe, and I think it is worth every penny.  You are paying for something that is made well, will flatter any figure, and will last a long time with proper care.

Front Button and Contrast Stitching Detail

Side Zipper

Lining

We have one Cleo Skirt in a size Large for a giveaway!

*Get your measuring tape handy, a size Large in the Cleo Skirt can fit a 29"-30" waist, 40"-42" hips, and has a length of 24.5".  Please keep this sizing in mind before you enter. (though if you are smaller, you could have it taken in)*

This giveaway is open to the US. 

Please leave an individual comment for each entry.

Mandatory Entry:

-Like Red Dress Shoppe on Facebook.

Extra Entries:

-Tell me your favorite item for sale at Red Dress Shoppe. 

-Follow Flip Flop Reviews (publicly) on Google Friend Connect.  If you already follow us, great, let us know.

-Like Flip Flop Reviews on Facebook.

-Follow Flip Flop Reviews with Networked Blogs.  (check the sidebar)

-Follow Flip Flop Reviews on Twitter @FlipFlopReviews.

-Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in a comment.

-Enter one of our other current giveaways and let me know which one you entered. (Feel free to leave one comment for each giveaway entered)

This giveaway will end on 3/30/2011 at 8pm EST. Any entries after that will not count.  Please make sure that you leave an email address or some way to contact you in your comments.  If I can't figure out how to get in touch with you, you can't win!  :o)  Good luck! 





*I was sent a Cleo Skirt for review from the Red Dress Shoppe.

Honeybee Gardens - Review and Giveaway!

Honeybee Gardens was created in 1995 by author and herbalist Melissa J. Hertzler. Years of herbal study prompted Ms. Hertzler to create natural personal care products for her and her family. What began as kitchen cosmetics soon turned into a profitable enterprise. Honeybee Gardens products are now distributed in the US by such companies as Frontier Natural Products Co-op, Lotus Light, Mountain Peoples Warehouse, All Natural Distributors and Select Nutrition/UNFI. You will find their products in health food stores, pharmacies, on-line stores, herb shops, specialty and gift stores.  You can read more about how and why Honeybee Gardens came into existence here. 

Honeybee Gardens products are created entirely of natural materials. You can actually pronounce their ingredients! They reuse and recycle as much as possible and, perhaps most importantly, they DO NOT test ANY of their products on animals.  Since 1995, Honeybee Gardens, Inc. has operated under one simple concept, "Create pure, all-natural bath and body care products made from only the finest organic ingredients, offer them at a reasonable price, and treat every customer like a friend."

We recently had the opportunity to try out Honeybee Gardens Luscious Lipgloss.  Enriched with Vitamin E, cocoa butter, olive oil, and shea butter, this paraben free lip gloss is super moisturizing.  It provides long lasting shine without the stickiness of conventional lip glosses.  It is available in five great flavors and neutral shades that can enhance any skin tone.

I was so excited to try Honeybee Gardens Luscious Lip Gloss.  The name alone makes it sound luxurious, and well, luscious.  I chose Glam I Am, which is a gorgeous neutral plum shade (with mango flavor).  I love this lip gloss.  Truly, I do.  I am a bit of a lip gloss...collector.  If I took a picture of my makeup drawer (yes, I have an entire dresser drawer devoted to my cosmetics) you would easily be able to count ten more open lip glosses.  And I do wear them all, when the mood strikes.  This is by far one of the best lip glosses I have ever tried, there is just a hint of color, which I love, but it's not too much.  I was a bit afraid of the "plum" in the description but it's sheer enough that it's not scary at all.  This gloss feels great on my lips, it's not too sticky, and it honestly, it smells and tastes great (no, I don't eat my lip gloss, but you can't help but taste it when it's on your lips!).  I would feel completely comfortable letting my daughters use this lip gloss as well if they asked because of the sweet and simple ingredients list.

My one and only issue with this lip gloss was that the wand applicator seems very weak.  In fact, mine snapped off from the cap the first time I used it.  :o(  Now, this may or may not have something to do with the fact that it was sitting, brand new, and still sealed on my dresser waiting to be tested when a certain three year old who shall not be named, decided that it would make a *great* drumstick and proceeded to use it to make loud beautiful music on the dresser until I could get it out of her hands.  This was not a deal breaker for me with this gloss though and I have continued using it because it really is a lovely lip gloss.  I just store the wand and the gloss container in a little bag to keep them together. 

I received the Luscious Lipgloss in Innocence, a pale neutral pink with a slightly peach tint to it.  This gloss is also watermelon flavored, and you can tell as soon as you open it up, the aroma of watermelon tickles your senses and makes you think of Spring.  I loved the way it glides on so easily and that it lasts for several hours.  Unlike Danielle, I had no issues with the wand applicator being weak (but my children are also grown, and while they do play drums, it's not with my lip gloss, and my sweet little grand-daughters don't generally get in to my makeup either). 



Honeybee Gardens has generously offered one winner their choice of any one Luscious Lipgloss!

This giveaway is open to the US. 

Please leave an individual comment for each entry.

Mandatory Entry:

-Like Honeybee Gardens on Facebook.

Extra Entries:

-Follow Flip Flop Reviews (publicly) on Google Friend Connect.  If you already follow us, great, let us know.

-Like Flip Flop Reviews on Facebook.

-Follow Flip Flop Reviews with Networked Blogs.  (check the sidebar)

-Follow Flip Flop Reviews on Twitter @FlipFlopReviews.

-Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in a comment.

-Enter one of our other current giveaways and let me know which one you entered. (Feel free to leave one comment for each giveaway entered)

This giveaway will end on 3/30/2011 at 8pm EST. Any entries after that will not count.  Please make sure that you leave an email address or some way to contact you in your comments.  If we can't figure out how to get in touch with you, you can't win!  :o)  Good luck! 

*We were each sent a lip gloss to try for our reviews.

Goodnight Sweetheart - Review and Giveaway!

"May you always have time for two more minutes of happiness!" - Evon Cregar, founder of Goodnight Sweetheart LLC

Goodnight Sweetheart LLC provides do-able, easy, and FUN ways for you to better connect with the people who matter most – your “family”.  As Goodnight Sweetheart founder, Evon Creger, explains, “Having those wonderful moments - heartfelt connections - with your significant other and your kids – THAT’S what makes for a satisfying life.  At the end of the day, when you feel CONNECTED to those who matter most to you, you… feel… happy.” 

Check out their list of products here!  I can't wait for the Child Edition of Goodnight Sweetheart to come out, I think it will be awesome.

When I heard about Goodnight Sweetheart I immediately thought how sweet it was, and could not wait to get my hands on it.  The description for this game (Goodnight Sweetheart - Couple's Edition) on the Goodnight Sweetheart website says:

2 cards…2 people…2 minutes… Sweet, FUN, adorable!!!!  Create your “better together” today.  A card each before bed….or play it in its longer version for a DATE NIGHT that will become your favorite.

This adorable little card game comes packaged in a beautiful box that will look lovely on your bedside table.  It contains a 52 count deck of cards that come in four catagories.  There is also a bookmark.  Some of the cards are romantic, some are silly (fist bump certainly had me giggling), and all are meant to be fun and easy to answer.  I found this game to be light and sweet, and if I could get my husband to play the full twenty minute game I think we'd have a lot of fun with it.  I think that getting a "manly man" to play this might be the only difficult part of this game, though my husband was a trooper and willingly played the two minute version a few times before falling asleep for the night.  Fortunately this game can easily be played in two ways, the longer way, or a shorter way where each person picks a card before bed and answers the question to reconnect a little.  I personally liked the Sweetheart Cards the best. 

You can head over to their webpage and have a card emailed to you right now if you'd like to see what another card reads!  :o)  http://gnsweetheart.com/

Night Cap Notes are yet another adorably sweet product created by Goodnight Sweetheart LLC.

Delightful, endearing notes, finished by you! The good stuff that’s already in your heart, is now easy to express in a flash.  They fit perfectly into a back pack, lunch box, or wallet. Or, as the name suggests, leave one on your loved one’s pillow for a wonderful way to end their day (and yours)! These come in a a pack of 10 (2 each of 5 messages).

I thought the Night Cap Notes were very cute.  They are a good way to encourage open communication with your children or spouse.  It would be great if they also offered a companion pack that you could have the child fill out to leave for their parent as well.  Not all children (especially teenagers) are as open with their parents as far as communicating their feelings.  Thanks for taking me shopping, or I love you, Mom, sometimes those are easier written than spoken for a teenager.  As a parent I think we all regularly tell our children how we feel about them, but I do think that these can be a sweet way to give them a little reminder. 





We are proudly able to offer a giveaway for both the Couples Edition of Goodnight Sweetheart as well as a pack of Night Cap Notes!

Mandatory Entry:

-Visit http://gnsweetheart.com/ and let me know your favorite product (or upcoming product), or something you learned and liked about their products or company.

Extra Entries:

-Like Goodnight Sweetheart on Facebook. 

-Follow Goodnight Sweetheart on Twitter.

-Follow Flip Flop Reviews (publicly) on Google Friend Connect.  If you already follow us, great, let us know.

-Like Flip Flop Reviews on Facebook.

-Follow Flip Flop Reviews with Networked Blogs.  (check the sidebar)

-Follow Flip Flop Reviews on Twitter @FlipFlopReviews.

-Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in a comment.

-Enter one of our other current giveaways and let me know which one you entered. (Feel free to leave one comment for each giveaway entered)

This giveaway will end on 3/30/2011 at 8pm EST. Any entries after that will not count.  Please make sure that you leave an email address or some way to contact you in your comments.  If we can't figure out how to get in touch with you, you can't win!  :o)  Good luck! 

*We were sent products to try for our reviews. 

Blue Q Review!

Blue Q totally deserves a spot in a thesaurus right next to the word hilarious and they also need a special mention next to awesome..  When I stumbled upon their website I just could not stop laughing.  They have such an eclectic variety of items (everything from tin banks, soap, gum, bags, t-shirts, lip balm, dish towels, ceramic toothbrush holders, lotion, even raman noodles!) and almost all have such a fun and quirky humor to them.  I even recognized some of the items as I had seen them in stores (and in photos taken by friends in stores and posted online).

Blue Q is owned by the Nash brothers (Mitch and Seth), and they created Blue Q in 1988.  I don't think I could honestly do a better job of telling you about their fabulous company than they do on their About Us page.  You really should check it out. 

I was SUPER excited to find a box from Blue Q on my doorstep filled to the brim with items for my mom and I to review*.  I wanted to dig into everything right then and there but I patiently waited until we could get together to divvy things up.  While I loved everything in the box, I especially loved that Blue Q took the time to personalize our box a little bit by adding items like Understand Your Mother Breath Spray, Be a Better Parent Tea, and Enjoy Spending Time With your Mother Gum, since we are a mother - daughter team here.  :o)  -Danielle 

I thought they were hilariously funny and would make great gag gifts.  I would even use these in Easter baskets for older children (ie - over 21) -Jedea

We recieved a fantatsic selection of teas, including:

Instant Karma Tea - It's laundry day for your soul. Organic rooibos coconut chai tea. Caffeine free.

Get Along with your Co-workers Tea - Artificial joy and harmony... now in handy tea bag form. Organic black tea with orange peel.

Be a Better Parent Tea - Time out for big people. An organic blend of fragrant orange peel, chamomile and hibiscus.

and Erase Your Past Tea - Because don't we all have something we'd like to forget? Organic Oolong tea with lively bits of orange peel.

Each box of tea contains sixteen individually wrapped teabags, and not only are the boxes and descriptions enough to make your day better, but the tea tastes great too.  I love that they care enough to make sure they deliver with the quality of the tea.  I have enjoyed several cups, and while I can't really vouch that they help to erase your past or make you a better parent, they can certainly help you enjoy holding a nice of cup of tea for a few minutes and enjoying the warmth and aroma on a rainy day.  - Danielle

Blue Q also sent us four of their hand sanitizers... because well, they feel that if you're not sanitizing, you're getting infected.  I love these.  First of all, I *am* a bit of a Germ-a-Phobe, and I have quite a few OCD tendencies.  I also own a dog, who certainly does her fair share of slobbering. -Danielle ...and perfect for the boys in this family, Maybe You Touched Your Genitals.  Yep.  (Yeah maybe the whole world touched their genitals before they touched their shopping cart, so glad to have a bottle of this! - Jedea) These would make awesome little gifts (Easter basket, Christmas stocking...yeah, I'm thinking Christmas already, what?) for someone in the medical profession who needs to sanitize their hands often.

Danielle's personal favorite!

We recieved a selection of gum, and we really just loved these.  I even saved one for my husband and snuck it into his pocket on Valentine's Day!  Can you guess which one??  - Danielle

Also, in our family, being a you-know-what *ahem-see photo* is something to be proud of (to a point!) so some of these were perrrrrfect for us!

::Jedea snickers looking at the picture of all the gum::  Yeah, I thought there were great, and if I had a full time job I would definitely leave packs of these on my co-workers desks (I would just walk by randomly and think to myself "Yeah, she deserves this." and drop a pack of Could You Be a Bigger B*tch gum on her desk.  That's just how I roll.). - Jedea

Last but not least, we pulled out of the box an adorable selection of little coin purses!  They are made with 95% recycled material and are of the Very Best Quality.

These are SO cute!!  The girls instantly claimed most of these.  I absolutely LOVE the Lunch Money purse, and as ladies who love to shop, we can definitely see the humor in the "I NEED to BUY something" purse...because well, sometimes you just need to (buy something from Blue Q!)

I thought these were super cute, especially the lunch money purse for elementary aged children to have their very own special little purse for their lunch money.  - Jedea

and

*Blue Q provided us with all of the items pictured for review.