Tag Archives: reviews

I was recently introduced to a free sample box service called PINCHme and I am immediately in love. I am definitely a fan of being able to try products/samples for free! Many of the items I use in my daily routine are from being able to try/test them out previously and then fell in love with them.

What is PINCHme?

It’s simple - you choose a product from one of their leading brands, and they then deliver it to your home or workplace for free. But be quick, they’ll reserve the products in your box for a limited time, to ensure that everyone has a chance of receiving the available products. Once you’ve tried, tasted or touched the exciting products they offer, you can leave your feedback.

Sounds fun, right?!

New York Fashion Week just finished up and I was excited to receive a PINCHme box full of products from NYFW sponsors.

Just look at all this amazing stuff! I couldn’t wait to start trying everything.

First up, some guilt-free snacks: Skinny Pop Popcorn, Skinny Cow Chocolate and Pure Via Stevia Sweetener.

These came at the perfect time! The Skinny Pop Popcorn was 100 calories for the bag and was very light and tasty.

The Skinny Cow Chocolate was 110 calories and although I don’t typically like chocolate and fruit mixed together in candies like this, this was quite tasty, especially since it reminded me of those chocolate wafers I used to eat as a kid.

I didn’t get to use the Pure Via Sweetener yet, because I am going to save it for when I go back to work and want to sweeten drinks without going to the vending machine for a soda.

I am trying to have a better makeup brush collection, so I am excited to add this real Techniques brush to my arsenal.

As often as I do my nails to try to correct the damage I’ve done, I go through nail files often. This Revlon nail file lets you peel away layers to have a new one when they get worn down. So awesome!

When I first saw the No. 7 Lip Pencil, I thought it looked a little too orange, but after applying it, I really like the light shade of coral that it came out to be.

Two of these products I’ve reviewed before and was so happy to get more!!! (The ecoTools Pure Complexion Sponge and the RenewYou Spleep Spa Mask - yay!)

Also included were some skin care products I haven’t been able to fully test yet, but definitely will once I finish with the products I have now: ROC Retinol Correction Eye Cream & vbeaute anti-aging product samples.

These Band-Aid Blister bandages are PERFECT for those sore feet you get from walking around Disney Parks all day! We ALWAYS pack a box with us on every trip - they help prevent blisters from appearing, getting worse, or causing you pain while you walk.

I have never used Tom’s deodorant, but the Wild Lavendar scent is pretty strong. It says it lasts 24 hours, so I will see if that is true!

The box also included a purse-sized container of tissues! I’ll be ready when I inevitably get sick 10 times during the Winter…

We really like these babble bottles, because it has a built-in filtration system. These are perfect to bring on cruises or anywhere that you want to make sure you are drinking clean water.

Last, but not least, was this Essenza Rosemary Mint hand soap. It smells so good that I may keep it in our personal bathroom and not the guest bathroom!

 

You can sign up to PINCHme for FREE by going to this link and submitting your info. Then, keep an eye out for notifications of when new samples are available…Be quick! Samples go fast (after all, they are free!), so you’ll want to get your hands on them before everyone else does.

I also recommend liking them on Facebook to be notified of new samples!

 

With a photographer in the house, it’s no secret that we take a lot of photos. I’ve also said before that the majority of those photos remain in the computer or hard drive. However, when we do print them, we prefer to do more with them than just printing a regular photo. We prefer unique methods of printing, like on canvas, metal or acrylic. Plus, sometimes we just don’t feel like buying frames!

There are many photo-printing companies out there, so we do love trying new-to-us companies to see the quality that is delivered. When we needed a very large photo for Aubrey’s nursery (we had a very blank wall to fill), we turned to Posterjack!

We had never tried Posterjack before, and after being introduced to them, we chose to get one of our favorite Cinderella Castle photos from Brett as a metal print. We initially wanted it to be an acrylic print, to give it a more glossy and vibrant look, but chose to get a bigger size in the metal print for 2 reasons: 1) it’s a little cheaper and 2) it offered a unique look that we thought would be great in her room.

I will admit, we had an issue with our initial print. Mr. Photographer noticed something that needed correcting, so I contacted the company and they rushed a brand new print out to us. I was pleased with how they handled it.

Once we got the 2nd print, we were very pleased with how it came out and how it looks in her room.

Printing on metal has several benefits:

- The colors are extraordinarily vibrant and the depth of the coating gives photos a luminous quality that no paper print can achieve.

- Less costly than having to buy a frame and matting. Also, no glare from being covered in glass.

- Provides a modern look and several hanging options.

- Lightweight, but rigid.

We chose one of their hanging kits to come with the print (stand-off kit). It looks ultra flat and almost like it is floating off the wall.

Depending on how you look at the photo, the image seems to have a 3D effect, with various things in the picture “popping” out at you.

We really like how the deep purples and blues are displayed…perfect for her purple and gray room! A large print like this is a great focal point for any room!

All prints are available in a variety of sizes, from 8×12 to 36×48 to panorama to fit your decor style.

Ordering from Posterjack is easy! Simply go to Posterjack.co, upload a photo, choose your print and size, then sit back as it gets delivered straight to your door!

If you can’t find a photo, you can visit Posterjack’s art shop and choose from 1 million photos to create a piece that’s perfect for your home.

Which ever you choose, the end result will always be the same: a stunning piece of photo art that’s unique to your home.

 

To learn more and buy, visit the Posterjack website.

Get social with Posterjack:

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I received a credit to go towards this purchase, but I paid a portion of the total. All opinions are my own and honest. Thanks for reading!

 

 

If you’ve been following this blog for a while, then you will know that one of our favorite baby products when Trent was a newborn was the zCush Baby Nap Mat. Now, we have used it for Aubrey every single day since she has been home. I am the world’s worst baby transferor…I can’t move a baby from one spot to another without waking them up, so the nap mat has saved me plenty of times!

I originally shared my love for zCush with a photo of Trent in his zCush in an unsponsored post, and since then we have worked together with zCush to bring you several giveaways…they are so awesome and we appreciate them partnering with us to bring you guys something to win!

See our previous posts HERE, HERE and HERE.

Well, today I am back with another fun giveaway to celebrate several new zCush designs! They recently introduced four new designs: Hot Pink Chenille (my favorite!), Grey Chenille, Yellow Cotton Owl, and Blue Cotton Monkey.

Aubrey got to test out these new designs in order to bring you some photos. I would ask her what she thought of them, but we just couldn’t stop her from sleeping on the job

I’m also excited to announce that you can now also just purchase an individual nap mat cover, so you can have a backup in case one gets dirty and is in the wash! Babies make messes, so this is so smart!

All of the nap mats have a side zipper, which makes getting baby in and out much easier. The zipper on the bottom allows you to remove the nap mat cover in order to be washed.

zCush has 5 recommended uses for the Baby Nap Mat: For baby’s naptime, holding and safely passing your baby to others, playing with baby in the comfort of your home or on a picnic blanket, cozily feeding baby on the sofa or the park bench, and easily changing baby’s diaper during daytime or in the middle of the night. As with any baby product, please only use as recommended.

 

To learn more and/or purchase the zCush Baby Nap Mat, visit the zCush website. (Also available on Amazon)

Get social with zCush:

Facebook (stay updated on Zulily sales and special giveaways!)

Twitter

***GIVEAWAY!***

Prize: 1 zCush Baby Nap Mat

Eligibility: US Only

Ends: Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST

How to enter: Use the Rafflecopter form below!

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We were so excited to have the opportunity to try another fun toy from Kidzlane (see our last review here)! This time, we received the Giant Piano Mat!

So, I might be showing my age here, but the second I heard “Giant Piano Mat” what immediately came to my mind was the scene in the movie “Big” where Tom Hanks comes across the giant piano in the store and proceeds to play on it.

Who wouldn’t want a giant piano mat!? While the one from Kidzlane isn’t as large as the one in the movie Big, it’s definitely more convenient and has a ton more features!

• 4 modes - Play, Record & Playback, Demo-mode with 7 pre recorded demo songs,
• 10 selectable musical instrument sounds- Guitar, Piano, Clarinet, Trumpet, Saxophone, Violin, Banjo, Accordion, Harp, and Xylophone,
• 17 black and white keyboard keys, Adjustable volume, Automatic “power off” system,
• Jumbo Size! 59″ x 24″, Made of heavy duty vinyl material

Trent really liked this toy. As soon as we opened it, he was running across it, back and forth, back and forth. Then he realized there were other buttons and proceeded to play all the instruments, too. We could barely capture him in the photo because he was going back and forth so fast!

You can also record your musical creation and play it back when you’re done.

What we really liked as parents was the ability to adjust the volume, so Trent could still play without the noise being overwhelming.

It can also be folded up to store in smaller spaces.

Of course, we also love how this toy promotes both musical fun and exercise.

Trent knows how to open it up, turn it on, play all the features, then turn it off, fold it back up and put it back. It’s super easy! Even if the power is left on, it comes with an automatic “power-off” system, so the batteries won’t be wasted.

Crazy Hair Don’t Care shirt: from Zulily

The material is very durable, so this toy will surely last a long time!

 

To learn more and purchase the KidzLane Giant Piano Mat, visit the Amazon Product Page here.

 

Thank you to KidzLane for providing this toy for review. All opinions are my own and honest. Thanks for reading!

 

I’ve always been a fan of smoothies, but I’ve always kept them pretty simple…usually just a fruit or two, milk and ice. Tasty and fairly healthy, but definitely lacking that oomph to really make it a health food, like extra protein or supplements. Especially now that I’m no longer pregnant, but still breastfeeding and trying to lose the weight, I will be looking for ways to get the most nutrients and health benefits from my foods.

I was recently introduced to Coromega during one of my Green Scene Mom Giveaway events, and they offered to send me some products to try and then share them with you all.

Coromega offers various products with the most effective and advanced delivery form of Omega-3 supplement, and make it into incredibly tasty, natural flavors with no fishy taste, aftertaste or fishy burps!

Omega-3s and what they mean for your heart, mind and body.

Today, nutritional science is validating more and more healthful benefits that Omega-3 can have on the heart, mind and body. Omega-3 essential fatty acids are primarily found in fresh, cold-water fish such as mackerel, salmon and sardines. Your body can’t naturally produce Omega-3, so you must get these fatty acids from your diet.

Two key fatty acids in Omega-3 are known as EPA and DHA in their long-chain forms, and today several thousand of clinical and scientific studies show that together these Omega-3 essential fatty acids support:

• Heart Health
• Brain and Eye Health
• Skin and Hair Health
• Healthy triglyceride levels
• Joint health and mobility
• Mental clarity and balance
• Healthy nutrition for children over 4

 

I’ve taken fish oil pills in the past and have definitely experienced that fishy aftertaste. Yuck.

As soon as I opened the packages I received, I was surprised to find a nice citrusy smell with one and a coconut smell with the other. No fishy smell whatsoever.

While they do say you can take these straight up, I opted for the fun alternative and decided to mix my serving into a delicious strawberry banana smoothie!

I kept it fairly simple, as usual, but adding the Coromega 3 guaranteed that I was getting extra health benefits. The light coconut taste of the be bright non-gmo superfood contributed to the smoothie without overwhelming it and there was no fishy aftertaste…much better than taking pills!

I used some frozen strawberries and a frozen banana, 1/2 cup of milk, some water (it was a little thick at first), some honey for sweetness, and the Be Bright Non-GMO Superfood oil blend.

Even though I used twice as much Be Bright as I was supposed to (I thought it said tablespoon at first, so I used 1 tablespoon and then stopped when I saw a serving was 2 teaspoons), I still didn’t have any fishy aftertaste.

Smoothies don’t have to be complicated and with the right ingredients, it can really be a convenient way to get a bunch of healthy nutrients!

Plus, they look pretty!

 

To learn more about Coromega and to Buy, visit their website here.

Get social:

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***GIVEAWAY!***

Prize: 1 Coromega 3 Big Squeeze and 1 Be Bright Non-GMO Superfood Oil Blend

Eligibility: US only

Ends: Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST

How to enter: Use the Rafflecopter form below!

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received this product in order to facilitate a review. All opinions are my own and honest. Thanks for reading!