Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Softlips Review and Giveaway!


Softlips has recently re designed their packaging to include fresh new graphics and a new logo.  Softlips lip balm is still available in the same signature slender sticks, and their light flavors and formulas will remain the same, but they decided it was a time for a change and updated their packing with eye-catching graphics and a bold new logo.  Clean, simple, and balanced, with vibrant fields of color that POP! 

As a fan of Softlips on Facebook, I remember recently being asked for feedback on their packaging.  I love it when companies ask their fans for input and really put weight into what they say.  Are you a fan of the Softlips Facebook page? Connect with the brand on Facebook to keep up to date on new flavor announcements and Facebook giveaway offers! 

What do you think of the new Softlips packaging?  Have you already seen them in a store near you?


 When did you first try Softlips?  I first discovered Softlips when I was in high school.  They were all the rage and when I saw them in the store at the checkout lane one day, I had to try them for myself.  With their affordable price of $2.79 for individual sticks, to $3.99 for the special value dual packs (which are always my choice), I was easily able to purchase with my income at the time, and I have been hooked on Softlips ever since. It goes on so smooth and I love the hint of gloss it provides.  I usually stick with their classic Vanilla, but I was very excited to be given the opportunity to try some of the other flavors as well.  I was sent a selection which I decided to share with my mom.  We were sent Cherry, Vanilla, Raspberry with green tea extract, Mint with a hint of Vanilla, Wildberry, and Strawberry.  The sleek new packaging was so new at the time, it was not yet available so we received the classic, old packing of Softlips, but rest assured that the same great flavors and perfect formula will be available in the new packing.  I am loving the Mint with a hint of Vanilla.  It's a nice change from my usual plain Vanilla.  I really like the Strawberry as well.  I just learned that Softlips has a great Beach 5-pack available on their website, that includes a Coconut Cream!  I *need* it!  You all know how much I love coconut!  :o)

Softlips products combine fantastically effective lip protection with SPF 20 and moisturizing emollients, with a hint of sheer glossing effect.  They are perfect for natural lips or for adding protection/moisturizing over or under lipstick. They offer a wide range of products, from Therapeutic Lip Conditioners, to their popular Lip Balm flavors (also available in Seasonal flavors and Tinted balms) as well as their PURE 100% Natural Organic Lip Balm Flavors, Tinted Lip Balms and Glosses and Specialty Lip Products.  Softlips is a trusted name in lip health and has been a product of choice among young women for more than 20 years.  Currently, Softlips is available in the lip care section of the cough/cold aisles of food, retail and drug stores nationwide, including ULTA stores nationwide.  Currently if you purchase a Best Of pack on the Softlips website, you can get free shipping!  This promotion is going on through June 19th.  The Beach Pack is calling my name!  They even accept PayPal!


Would you like to win some Softlips?

US only.
Mandatory Entry:

-Leave a comment about Softlips, a flavor you would love to try, your current favorite flavor, when you first started using Softlips, anything!  :o)

Extra Entries:


-Follow Softlips on Twitter @ILoveSoftlips

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


-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)

-Also see this post for an extra entry! ;o)

This giveaway will end on 6/07/2011 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! 



*I received one or more of the products mentioned above for the purposes of this review through the above mentioned company or representing PR agency. In the event of a giveaway, the prize is shipped by the sponsor and I hold no responsibility. Thank you for reading!

Pink Princess Winner!



Congratulations to Ashlyn with comment number 44!

I'll be emailing you in just a moment. 

As always, winners have 72 hours to reply and accept their prize. 

Thank you for entering!


Friday, May 27, 2011

Flip Flop Friday Blog Hop - 5/27




get the InLinkz code
^^Get the code here if you'd like to add the Flip Flop Friday Blog Hop to your blog! 


Beloved Bijou - Winner!

 The winner of the Beloved Bijou Giveaway is...



Comment 26, Sunnie!

Congratulations, I'll be emailing you in just a moment. 

As always, winners have 72 hours to respond or we select a new winner.  Thanks for entering, everyone!




*I received one or more of the products mentioned above for the purposes of this review through the above mentioned company or representing PR agency. In the event of a giveaway, the prize is shipped by the sponsor and I hold no responsibility. Thank you for reading!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Daisy Tells a Secret - Review and Giveaway


Daisy Tells a Secret teaches children, about personal safety and body ownership, and explains how to identify who safe adults are in a child’s life. The Daisy animation is available in English, American Sign Language and Spanish and is recommended for children ages four to eight.

The animation is simple, and it runs only eleven minutes, but it delivers a powerful message in a way that children can easily understand, and it opens the floor for discussion between children and caregivers.  Daisy is left home alone with her Uncle Raven while her parents run errands.  Uncle Raven tells Daisy he wants to play a tickling game and touches her in her private areas which leaves her scared and with an "uh oh" feeling her tummy. He tells her it is a secret game, and after, they can do something fun that she wants to do, such as go to the park.  She confides in her best friend Clover at the park, who, along with his big sister, encourages her to tell her parents, explaining that there are “good secrets” and “bad secrets," and that it is not at all Daisy's fault.  She needs to tell a safe adult what happened.  Daisy is nervous, but tells her parents after Uncle Raven leaves.  They offer her support and reassure her that Uncle Raven did something very wrong and it was not her fault. 


There are an estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse today in the United States, and statistics tells us that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused by the age of 18.  According to ChildHelp.org, 90% of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way; 68% are abused by family members.  Daisy Tells a Secret believes that education can help play a part in changing the lives of children everywhere.

There are two editions of Daisy Tells a Secret.  A parents edition that retails for $19.95, and an Educators Edition retailing for $49.95-149.95.  You can purchase through the Daisy Tells a Secret website, and you can find it on Amazon.

I was sent a copy of the Parent's Edition.  The DVD includes the Daisy Tells a Secret animation, as well as a 25 minute segment for parents to suggest and explain ways to talk to their children about these topics in a way that they will understand, as well as to provide information on what to do if you suspect abuse or if a child discloses abuse to you.  It is recommended that parents view this segment before watching Daisy Tells a Secret with their children.  You can view video clips at http://www.daisytellsasecret.com/

Daisy was awarded the Parents' Choice "Recommended Seal."  They are very proud of this award and you can read their review here:

http://www.parents-choice.org/product.cfm?product_id=29072&StepNum=1&award=aw

My daughters are three and four, and have had quite a fascination with secrets lately.  While I understand and see how innocent they are now, I had been wondering how to broach the topic of "good secrets" and "bad secrets" and what you always need to be sure to tell mommy and daddy.  The topic of sexual abuse is hard to bring up when you want to shield and protect your children from the world.  I don't want my girls to have to think about abuse of any kind and I would have preferred that I never had to talk to my children about sexual abuse at all.  I can't stand the idea of thinking about my children, or any children, being hurt or abused, but I know that is unfortunately not realistic, and by arming them with knowledge I know I am protecting and empowering them much more. 

We watched this program together as a family.  My three year old found it hard to pay attention to the entire animation, choosing instead to sing and dance and watch a minute here and there, but my four year old watched and retained everything.  We had a great conversation after watching about our bodies, safe people, secrets, good touches and bad touches, and what is okay and what isn't.  While my three year old had trouble paying attention to the animation, she was able to benefit greatly from the discussion.  I would definitely recommend Daisy Tells a Secret as a non threatening and engaging way for caregivers and educators to springboard to a difficult topic.

Win a copy of Daisy Tells a Secret!

Open to US and Canada.

Mandatory Entry:

-Visit the Daisy Tells a Secret website and find the answer to this question:  "Who does Daisy tell the secret to?"  You can find the answer by watching the short condensed animated video or by reading the description.
Extra Entries:


-Follow Daisy Tells a Secret on Twitter @daisytells.

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


-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)

-Also see this post for an extra entry! ;o)

This giveaway will end on 6/02/2011 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! 



*I received one or more of the products mentioned above for the purposes of this review through the above mentioned company or representing PR agency. In the event of a giveaway, the prize is shipped by the sponsor and I hold no responsibility. Thank you for reading!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Poll and Suggestions

I've added a poll to the sidebar, and I'd love to know what you think!  :o)


Also, I'd love to know what you'd like to see more of as far as reviews and giveaways go.  We are very open to suggestions.  Leave a comment here and tell us what you'd like to see!


Winner Wednesday - 5/25



get the InLinkz code <--(if you'd like to place the link up on *your* blog, just grab the code!)

For now, while this is a small linkup, I'm leaving giveaway links on here until they are over and then going through and deleting them myself. If this gets to be too much, I'll start re-setting the link up every week. ;o)

Also, don't forget, if you've won something on Flip Flop Reviews and would like to share a picture we'd love to post it on Winner Wednesday!

OXY Clinical Solutions Review and Giveaway



I am twenty-six years old, and have been dealing with acne since I was fourteen.  Yep.  Twelve years.  You would think as an adult I'd be through with the acne phase of life.  I've used prescriptions, I tried Proactiv when I was a teenager (it made my skin worse!  Though I have been considering giving it another try because my skin has settled down some as an adult and changed a bit), as well as a whole slew of other acne fighting products.  I finally settled on Dove soap and St. Ives Medicated Apricot Scrub, followed by a spot treatment (and a full face of foundation, because let's face it, acne is embarrassing) as my daily ritual.  It seemed to be the only thing that didn't set my skin off and make it worse.  So many products ended up drying my skin out to the point where it was painful, and I *still* broke out.  I honestly can't even remember a time when I was completely happy with my skin, and to be completely honest, there have even been times I've cringed to have my own husband touch my face because of it.  So, when I was given the opportunity to review an OXY Clinical Acne Solutions Pack, I was a bit skeptical that it could work for me, but I figured I could at least give it a shot. 


The OXY Clinical Acne Solutions Pack includes:
  • OXY Advanced Face Wash
  • OXY Clinical Clearing Treatment
  • OXY Clinical Hydrating Therapy





OXY Advanced Facial Wash contains 2% salicylic acid.

This revolutionary, continuous-action formula battles breakouts even after you rinse.
•25 times more acne medication remains on the skin after rinsing
•Patented AcneShield salicylic acid technology unclogs pores fast and fights flare-ups
•Patented AcneShield delivery means medication stays on the skin, while impurities rinse off—to help fight acne longer
•Botanical extracts soothe irritation leaving your complexion feeling replenished
•Gentle enough to use every day

OXY Clinical Clearing Treatment contains 5% benzoyl peroxide (micro-encapsulated)and provides prescription-strength acne bacteria reduction.

Just apply this one-of-a-kind daily treatment to the entire affected area to treat, heal and help prevent acne breakouts.

•Eliminates 99% of acne bacteria in 8 hours
•Patented OXYSphere™ micro-encapsulated benzoyl peroxide is released over time to fight acne breakouts between applications
•Gentle enough to use everyday
•No embarrassing white residue

OXY Clinical Hydrating Therapy contains 0.5% salicylic acid

This unique, 3-in-1 formula delivers beneficial nutrients to replenish acne-prone skin, while still fighting blemishes and controlling oil.

•Exfoliates - Contains salicylic acid to exfoliate, unclog pores and fight blemishes
•Hydrates - Formulated with hyaluronic acid-a premium ingredient that revitalizes skin and helps it retain moisture
•Controls Oil - Patented Lipacide C8G™ helps regulate the overproduction of oil, while the patented Poly-Pore® Technology absorbs excess oil as it gradually releases salicylic acid
•Non-comedogenic: moisturizes skin without clogging pores
•Helps reduce redness

My first thought was that the Pack was very small.  I am not sure if I was sent a trial size pack or not, but a little really does go a long way with these products.  I think the facial wash smells like tea!  Haha  :o)  I have been using OXY Clinical  for about two weeks now, and I am floored by the improvement I have been seeing.   These products have not been harsh on my skin at all, which has completely taken me by surprise as most acne products I have tried have been.  I can't guarantee of course that they would not be harsh on your skin, but I will tell you I can't even use most Sensitive Skin products for acne without irritating my own skin so I find it amazing that I haven't had any issues with this.

For this past week, I have been so happy with the improvement I have seen that I have been going foundation free at home 95% of the time. If you know me, you know this is HUGE. I *always* wear foundation. I feel completely naked without it. While there is still room for improvement with my skin, I am actually hopeful that I have found the product that can provide the clear skin I have always dreamed of. I am not sure that I will ever feel comfortable not wearing makeup when I leave the house because it is such a habit for me that I really do feel naked without it, but it is so freeing to finally feel like I don't need to at home. I realize that sounds a bit silly, to say that I need makeup at home with the people who shouldn't care, but I don't wear it for anyone else, I wear it for me because of my own insecurities relating to my skin. I'm not sure I could explain that to someone who hasn't dealt with acne and skin issues.

If you're interested in trying OXY Clinical Solutions for yourself, you can visit the OXY website for more information and coupons here: http://www.oxyskincare.com/coupons.

As well, we are able to offer an OXY Clinical Acne Solutions Pack to one of our readers!

Mandatory Entry:

-Visit the OXY website and tell me something you learned or like about OXY Clincal Solutions.

Extra Entries:



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


-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)

-Also see this post for an extra entry! ;o)

This giveaway will end on 6/01/2011 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! 




*I received one or more of the products mentioned above for the purposes of this review through the above mentioned company or representing PR agency. In the event of a giveaway, the prize is shipped by the sponsor and I hold no responsibility. Thank you for reading!


Monday, May 23, 2011

Tastefully Simple - Extra Giveaway Entries!

How would you like one extra entry in to any giveaway we are currently hosting on Flip Flop Reviews?  Simply "Like" this Facebook page for Tastefully Simple, and then comment on the giveaway/s of your choice "I like Lynsie!"  You can find all of our current giveaways listed in the sidebar to the right.  :o)




Prefense Review and Giveaway


I was recently given the opportunity to try a hand sanitizer called Prefense.  I always keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in my kitchen, as well as in the car.  When I carried around a diaper bag, I always kept a small bottle in there as well.  You just never know when you might need it.  You could say I am a bit of a hand sanitizer addict, so I was excited to be able to try Prefense. 

I received a 1.5 oz bottle of their Silica Based Foaming Hand Sanitizer.  Because it is silica based, it is not drying to the skin on your hands, which is a huge plus as far as I'm concerned.  I have actually noticed that my skin feels softer after use, it acts almost like a lotion to soften my hands.  It has a light fragrance that is not at all overpowering and does *not* smell like your typical alcohol based sanitizer, in fact, Prefense is alcohol free.  It is made of all natural and organic ingredients, including amosilq silica complex, water, vegetable glycerin, cocamidopropyl betane, and organic essential oils.

As with any hand sanitizer, you simply apply Prefense to your hands, rub together, and let it dry.  Your hands will be protected for up to 24 hours or up to 10 hand washings with only one application!  Isn't that amazing?

Prefense Advantages and Benefits

  • Sanitizes skin and nails on contact
  • Proactively and persistently offers protection from germs for up to 24 hours without reapplication.
  • Silica complex, AMOSILQ, adheres to skin for 24 hours offering proactive antibacterial barrier wet or dry.
  • Forms a protective antibacterial barrier on the skin
  • Once dry, anti-bacterial activity remains effective through 10 hand washings or 24 hours.
  • Long lasting protection against germs and bacteria
  • Stops skin to skin transfer of germs
  • Regular application provides continual antimicrobial protection
  • Easy, rapid, foam application
  • Colorless product is invisible on application and will not stain skin or clothing
  • Water based product is non-flammable
I will totally be stocking up on Prefense for when my children are in school (I think it would make a great addition to a teacher's desk too!), and with my husband's profession (Firefighter/EMT-soon-to-be-Paramedic), an application of Prefense before work certainly would be a nice boost of protection for him.  I love that Prefense remains active and continues protecting you even though you are washing your hands throughout the day.  There is no need to reapply for an entire 24 hours or through up to 10 hand washings.  Prefense recommends applying just once or twice a day, that's all you need.  Best of all Prefense protects against staph, strep, E.coli, drug resistant MRSA strains, and more. They fight germs that other hand sanitizers can’t.

The small 1.5 oz bottle of Prefense I received for the purposes of this review, offers 120 applications.  Wow, right?  Well, Prefense is offering one lucky reader an 8oz bottle that offers 640 applications

This giveaway is open to US readers only.

Mandatory Entry:

-Visit the Prefense website and tell me something you learned or like about Prefense.

Extra Entries:

-Like Prefense on Facebook.

-Follow Prefense on Twitter.

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


-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 5/30/2011 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! 



*I received one or more of the products mentioned above for the purposes of this review through the above mentioned company or representing PR agency. In the event of a giveaway, the prize is shipped by the sponsor and I hold no responsibility. Thank you for reading!

Gear up for summer adventures with Kidorable and get 20% off!



As I'm sure you know, I'm a big fan of Kidorable.  Their items are just so cute and FUN!

From now to May 31st you can save 20% on the purchase of Kidorable Backpacks by using code SUMMER33.  Children love packing them up with their snacks, books and more. Check out their backpack styles for girls and boys.

Kidorable recently sent us their Fireman Backpack.

Designed to hold the imagination and more
For the beach, the park, a picnic, or school, Kidorable’s toddler-sized backpacks are perfect for everyday adventures. Our easy to wash PVC backpacks have both inside and outside pockets for child-sized outings.
(backpacks measure roughly 10” x 8” x 6”)

As you may or may not know, my husband is a firefighter, and so our girls imagination often includes fighting fires and they dream of being as brave as their dad some day.  This backpack is incredibly well made (and not to mention cute!), but what I like best about all of Kidorable's great products, is that they truly spark creativity.  I love watching my girls' imaginations soar when wearing and using Kidorable items. 

The materials used are both soft and durable (so important for a backpack like this that will be used on many of a child's adventures), as well easy super easy to clean (just wipe it down).  This particular style feature's three outer pockets, and the zipper pull is an adorable little fire hydrant.  It is definitely more for play than for school use, it's not quite large enough to fit standard folders, though I know first hand that it can fit a lot of other items in it.  We used it this week to load up supplies for a backyard picnic, and it would be great for car trips and to take to a park, or even as an overnight bag for a trip to grandma's house.  Overall, the only thing I don't care for about this backpack is the name.  Fireman Backpack, I know, I know, I'm being nit-picky here, but this is a completely gender neutral product from my point of view, even though I am sure that boys tend to gravitate towards it more often, perhaps a name change to the Firefighter Style? 


Kidorable offers many other great backpack styles.  You're sure to find a style that is perfect for your child! 




*I received a backpack for the purposes of this review from Kidorable.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Pink Princess Review and Giveaway!


Pink Princess has been in the business for over thirty years, providing customers with affordable, quality children's clothing.  In the early 90's they decided to shift their focus to be on special occasion wear.  It turned out to be the right choice, because nearly a decade later Pink Princess is now an industry leader in both girl's dresses and boy's formal wear, with their biggest sellers being flower girl dresses and pageant dresses.

I was blown away by the selection at Pink Princess, and being the mom of two sweet little princesses myself, I found so many dresses and accessories that I just knew my girls would flip over.  They have an amazing selection of Holiday dresses, and I think what I like most is that everything is beautiful, but not over the top.  Everything they carry seems to be something that I would proudly allow my children to wear.  In addition to their line of dresses and formal wear (including Christening gowns!), they also carry kid's costumes, and a great selection of pettiskirts and tutus

For our review here at Flip Flop Reviews, we were sent the gorgeous Pink Embroidered Organza Dress w/ Taffeta Waistband.  It. Is. Stunning.  Seriously!  It's beautiful.  Truly fit for a Princess.  My daughters fell in love with this dress the moment they saw it (and so did their mommy!).  As soon as I opened the package I received a chorus of "Ooooh" and "Oh, wow!" which was so incredibly cute coming from a pair of starstruck preschoolers.  This tea length dress features a sleeveless organza bodice, a full skirt (perfect for twirling!) and delicate floral details.  The taffeta waistband features a tie back sash, and the rosebuds featured on the front are removable (which I prefer...I can't tell you how many times I am out shopping and find a dress I think would be so perfect if I could *just* remove the big bow or flower on the front).  You could also choose to remove the rosebuds and place them on a headband for a matching accessory!  The back has a row of beautiful (faux) pearl buttons.  It is made in the USA, and there is also a matching 18" doll dress available for purchase if you're interested as well.  There is just something so FUN for a little girl to have her doll match.  This dress would be entirely appropriate for a wedding, a birthday, or for a spring holiday, or any occasion where your little girl wants to feel like a Princess.  



You can see here that the rosebuds are removable.



Has anything at Pink Princess caught your eye?  If so, you're in luck!  Pink Princess is offering one lucky Flip Flop Reviews reader a $15 gift certificate!  Giveaway is for a gift certificate and as such anyone in their shipping areas is eligible to enter.  You can find that information here:   http://www.pinkprincess.com/shipping.html

Mandatory Entry:

-Visit the Pink Princess and tell me your favorite piece(s)!

Extra Entries:

-Like Pink Princess on Facebook.

-Follow Pink Princess on Twitter.

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


-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 5/27/2011 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! 

Flip Flop Friday Blog Hop 5/20




get the InLinkz code
^^Get the code here if you'd like to add the Flip Flop Friday Blog Hop to your blog! 





Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Winners!

Finally!  :o) 


First up, two winners of the Purex with Zout giveaway!





Congratulations Smash Bravo Team and JC!


Next up,  the winner of the Skin MD giveaway!




Congratulations throuthehaze!


I am emailing everyone just as soon as I hit post here.  Thanks for entering!