Softlips PURE 100% Natural Line Review and Giveaway Winner!

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read and enter my Softlips PURE 100% Natural Line Review and Giveaway. I am amazed at the number of entries that this giveaway has had. I have used research randomizer to choose my winner and the results were entry #109. Congrats to Marcia Goss. I am emailing Marcia next and she will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email or another winner will be chosen.

I appologize for my research randomizer picture being so small. If you click on it and then use the magnifying glass option you will be able to see it clearer.

Thank you to Softlips for allowing me to host this review and giveaway. I feel that it was a huge success for both of us.

How do you get your kids to embrace summer reading?

When Twittermoms and HarperCollins requested that I write a post about "How do you get your kids to embrace summer reading?" I jumped at the chance! Before I get too carried away with my post, I want to let you know that you may read more about their request here.

My daughter was in kindergarten this past school year. She is learning sight words and she's really learning how to read. Our favorite books to read together are by HarperCollins. HarperCollins Children’s Books are the number one beginner reader series in the country. The I Can Read! books are a proven series for encouraging young readers from early reading together to advanced reading alone. Now with more than 6 million I Can Read! books sold, including 200 titles, I Can Read! books is the best series to take children step by step into the wonderful world of reading on their own.

I Can Read! BooksBecome an I Can Read! Member

I like to get my children excited about summer reading by getting them involved in local reading programs at our public libraries. As soon as school is out for the summer we start talking about summer reading. I remind them of all the fun that they have had there. We talk about books that they have read, activities that they have done and movies that they have seen at past summer reading programs. I find that my children feed off of my emotions and ideas. If I am positive and excited about summer reading then they will be too.

My kids and I really do look forward to Summer Reading. My daughter is turning six on June 29, and I remember how excited she was this year on the night before summer reading started. I was in my bedroom and she was taking a shower. I could hear her singing "Summer Reading, it's so much fun! Summer Reading, fun for everyone. o o o Summer Reading!" So now we sing this little song often. We all know it and we all love it. Even my 10 year old son can be caught singing it to himself.

We live in a small town that has a reading program once a week. It's on Tuesdays from 9:30 until 11:30 am and it runs for 4 weeks. This reading program has story time, arts and crafts and even a theme related snack. Our city library is ran by the Church of Christ ladies who volunteer. These ladies honestly love what they do and they give 100% to our summer reading program. They ensure that the children are safe and have a good time while they learn also. Summer reading programs teach that reading is fun!

On Tuesdays and Thursdays we also travel to the next town over for their summer reading program. On Tuesdays the children read independently from 1:00 to 2:00 pm. If the children are too young to read to themself then a parent or older sibling may read to them. From 2:00 until 3:00 pm the children move to an arts and craft area to create something to take home. This is really fun for the children. It teaches them that the library is a fun place to go. When I was younger I remember that we had to be really quiet in the library. We were shhshhed and reprimended for talking. It seems that those days are in the past. The libraries that we visit are open and ready to be enjoyed.

On Thursdays the children seperate into age groups and they have story time from 1:00 until 2:00 pm. At 2:00pm the children come together as a group and watch a movie. Drinks and snacks are handed out (yes in the library!) and the lights go out and the movie starts. Today they watched "Spies Next Door." Our library shows newly released movies that are kid friendly. Adults may sit in during the story and movie times if they wish but I normally choose to surf the internet while the kids enjoy their special time.

We have three more weeks of our Tuesday/Thursday summer reading program and we will truly be sad when it closes. To celebrate the ending of their summer reading program the library hosts an all night slumber party lock in. My children have never participated in this event but my oldest son sure does want to go this year. I am not sure how we will handle this yet.

How do you get your kids to embrace summer reading?

Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms blogging program to be eligible to get an "I Can Read!" book. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

It's Coffee Time!

I truly enjoy a good cup of coffee just about any time of day. My coffee isn't complete with out creamer though. My favorite coffee creamers are by Coffee-Mate. Coffee-Mate comes in many varieties. They have liquids, powders, sugar free and even reduced fat. The flavors range from Amaretto to Vanilla Nut. There are so many flavors to choose from. Sometimes as a treat, I will pick a new flavor to try.

I love to use my French Vanilla Coffee-Mate in the morning with my first cup of coffee. It is deliciously creamy and it has a classic vanilla taste. It goes great with my bowl of cheerios and it helps set my mood for the day.

Later in the day I will choose coffee with Hazelnut Coffee-Mate creamer. This is a great pick me up and it helps me to avoid over snacking. I like Hazelnut because it has a nutty sweetness yet it is creamy and richly satisfying. This popular flavor makes a flavorful cup that's always a pleasure, any time of the day.

Occasionally I will have a cup of coffee at night. Coffee doesn't effect my sleeping at night and it also helps to curb my cravings for sweets. I don't have a favorite Coffee-Mate flavor for night time. I usually choose my newest flavor and enjoy it then.

Disclosure: I am a member of the Coffee-Mate Brew Crew and they have asked me to write a post on coffee talk. I will receive 500 points to be used in the Brew Crew community store. If my post is selected as a feature on Coffee-Mate.com I will also receive a $25 gift card of their choice. These opinions are my own.

Rayovac Powers Your Summer Promotion

From June the 21st through July the 20th, Rayovac is empowering families to have fun through the Rayovac Powers Your Summer Promotion. Everyday they will have great summertime family tips and a chance to win awesome daily prizes. Entering is easy. You simply tell them how you will power your summer each day. Prizes range from cameras, bikes, and camping supplies to a summer supply of Rayovac batteries. The entry form may be found here. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

I am really excited about the Rayovac Powers Your Summer Twitter Event. Be sure to put this date on your calander so that you may attend it too!

Rayovac Powers Your Summer Twitter Event
Join Rayovac and 5MinutesForMom for a Twitter Event to support the exciting Rayovac Powers Your Summer Promotion. The Twitter Event will feature more than 20 fun giveaways from Rayovac ranging from a summer supply of Rayovac Batteries to $50 Target Gift Cards.

Rayovac Powers Your Vacation Summer Promotion Twitter Event
Date: Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. CST
Location: #rayovac
Follow: @Rayovac_Battery, @5minutesformom, @CirclePRMary

Disclosure: The first 99 bloggers to promote the Rayovac Powers Your Summer Promotion won a prize package from Rayovac. I was notified that I am not one of the lucky 99 bloggers who won. I am not being compensated for this post in any form or fashion. The options here are my own. The Rayovac Powers Your Summer Promotion is located at www.rayovac.com/PowersYourSummer.

Softlips PURE 100% Natural Line Review and Giveaway Closed

It's an honor for me to review the Softlips PURE 100% Natural Line. I have been using Softlips for several years but this is my first time to try the PURE line.

The new Softlips PURE 100% Natural line includes lip glosses, tinted lip balms, lip butter, and lip polish. The premium products combine 100% natural ingredients with light pleasant flavors and are free from preservatives, phthalates, sulfates, parabens, mineral oil and gluten.

After opening the package and examining the PURE products I decided to use the Softlips PURE 100% Natural Lip Polish first. Before using my new products, my lips were dry and flakey. I was excited to soften them up.




Softlips PURE 100% Natural Lip Polish is easy to use. You simply apply it to your lips in a circular motion and then rinse with water and wipe them clean. The Lip Polish provides natural exfoliation for your lips with organic coconut flakes and sugar. It moisturizes your lips leaving them looking healthy and smooth. I am very pleased with my results after using the Lip Polish. Bye-Bye rough and flakey lips!

The next product that I tried was the Softlips PURE 100% Natural Lip Butter in Vanilla Berry. This is great for the nude lip look. It adds a little shine while going on silky smooth. I love that the Softlips PURE 100% Natural Lip Butter provides a hydrating, natural SPF 15 protection with zinc oxide. This is a fun way to protect your smile from UVA and UVB sunburn.

If you want to add a subtle color to your lips, the Softlips PURE 100% Natural Lip Gloss and Lip Tint is the perfect choice. Each product provides hydrating, natural SPF15 for dry lips with zinc oxide while providing a natural glossy color with shine or sheer tinted color. The lip tint and lip gloss are available in three great
shades: Coral Charm, Natural Honesty, and Shell Pink.

Softlips(r) PURE 100% Natural lip care products are available in the Naturals/Organic section at Target stores nationwide. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/Softlips.

I love that the Softlips Pure 100% Natural Line is cruelty-free!

Giveaway Time! One of my readers will receive the full Softlips PURE 100% Natural Line.

Now for the fun part! The entry rules for my giveaways are always simple so this one will be too.

Mandatory Entry:
Follow my blog publicly and leave a comment below. Please include your email address in the comment so that I may contact you if you are the winner.

Extra Entries:
1 extra entry: Follow me on twitter and comment below with your twitter name.

3 extra entries: Tweet this giveaway and leave your tweet link below. You may copy and use this "Softlips PURE 100% Natural Line Review and Giveaway http://bit.ly/cQ3ZQc ends 6/27 #giveaway #win "

1 extra entry: Follow Softlips on facebook.

1 extra entry: Post the following on Softlips facebook wall: "I have entered the Softlips PURE 100%Natural Line giveaway at http://tryingnewproducts.blogspot.com/ "

5 extra entries: Post my giveaway on your blog and leave a link to your post in your comments.

Thank you for visiting my blog! This giveaway will end on Sunday, June the 27th, 2010 at 11:59 pm central time. I will choose a winner shortly after that and notify them by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email notification. If they fail to claim the prize in that time frame then I will choose another winner.

Disclosure: I have received the Softlips PURE 100% Natural Line free of charge so that I may produce an honest review of the product. The opinions in this post are my own. I am not being paid for this post.

Winner of the $40 gc to CSNSTORES.COM has been choosen!

I really want to thank CSNSTORES.COM for allowing me to host this great giveaway. I have gained over 125 new google friends connect followers through this promotion.

I also want to thank all of my new followers for taking the time to enter this great giveaway. We had 265 entries and the lucky winner is entry #244. I have emailed them and they have until 11:25 am central time on Wednesday, June 16 to respond with their information.

I appologize for my random number generator picture being so small. If you click on it and then use the magnifying glass option you will be able to see it clearer.

Thank you again!

Veggie Critter Snack Recipe

TwitterMoms and the makers of Hidden Valley Salad Dressings have invited me to participate in a fun recipe blogging contest! You can read more about that invitation here.

My mission was to recreate the Veggie Critter Snack Recipe and to make it my own.

The original recipes is made of 1 packet of Hidden Valley The Original Ranch Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix and 2 8 oz. tubs reduced fat cream cheese. To put my personal spin on this recipe, I added 2 tablespoons of bacon bits and a dash of garlic salt. I really liked the texture of our mix and the kids enjoyed the taste.



Although making our dip was fun, we had the most fun creating our Veggie Critters! We used zucchini, carrots, peas and fresh grean beans to create turtles and fish. I was amazed when my daughter begged "momma, can I eat it now, please." I honestly believe that I have found a fun new way to serve veggies in our home.



We also played with our veggies a while longer and created orange trees with our zucchini and carrots. I think that this is a fun way to encourage our children to explore new foods. If the children see and feel the foods then they are more out to eat them.

Disclosure: This post is part of a blogging contest from the TwitterMoms community. There is a chance this post could be selected to win a $25 AmEx Gift Card, so wish me luck! For more details, you can view the contest page here.

Swagbucks Summer of Swag starts Monday!

Do you use swagbucks.com as your search engine? If not, now is the perfect time to start! Not only will you receive 30 swag bucks for signing up as a new member but you can use the code SUMMEROFSWAG when you sign up for an extra 20 Swag Bucks to pad your account. The code is good until midnight on Friday, June 11th, 2010.

Using swag bucks as your search engine is both simple and rewarding. You use it as your daily search engine and are rewarded with random swag bucks. Your swag bucks may be redeemed for real prizes. My favorite prize is the $5 amazon gift card which is only 450 swagbucks. Your amazon gift cards may be added to your amazon account and stored there until you reach enough for a larger order.



Monday they will be having a Swag Code Extravaganza - they will be releasing at least 5 Swag Codes throughout the day. This would be a great way for any newcomers to start out with a bang!

Also each day next week they will be highlighting a different high value Swag Buck bill, starting on Monday with the 25. Every 7th searching win on Swagbucks will be awarded that big bill, meaning that more people will have big wins next week!

Swag bucks has a no spam policy. They will only email you to confirm the prizes that you have requested.

Disclosure: I have not been paid for posting this material. The opinions here are my own. I may receive promotional points from swag bucks if any one signs up to the swag bucks program through my link.