Holiday Gift Guide: Shirts Make Great Gifts

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post.

Whoop Tee is not just a cool name! Whoop Tee is my new shirt resource. I used to make t-shirts to sell and for gifts, but I just don't have the time for that anymore, so I have decided to outsource these gifts. 

T-shirts can be great for gifts, fundraisers, family events, and to make your group look more professional. I have worked with a lot of t-shirt companies and I am completely impressed with Whoop Tee! 

  

  

Is there a group you are part of- either formal organization or a group of friends? Think about getting t-shirts made for Christmas or a special event. My paranormal team has t-shirts for wearing during events. 

Does your family have special events like Six-Flags day, family reunion, or parties- you need t-shirts. 

For all those Black Friday shoppers, you needed this shirt. 

 

I have a lot of funny guys in my family. Strangly, they all like math too (I knew there had to be something wrong with them to be so funny). They will receive a funny math shirt for Christmas. It will probably be one that I have no clue what it means- but they will never know that (unless they read this blog!)

Are you planning a big party, conference, or festival? Are you going to be following your favorite band around, do you want to show your favorite little karate master or dance diva support? Its time for a custom t-shirt. 

The point is, whenever I am planning something, buying a gift, or getting together with a group of my favorite people, I always think about t-shirts. You should do the same, it is a quick, cost-effective, and unique purchase. In fact, I will be ordering a lot in 2014 (as well as the 2013 holiday season). I will say "here is your new Whoop Tee" hehe

I would definitely suggest using Whoop Tee for all of your custom shirt needs. The website is easy to use and even provides templates for design assistance. There are tips from professional designers, and even a great customer service team that will assist you the whole way. Thanks Whoop Tee for being so great!

Holiday Gift Guide: Teething Bling

Disclosure: I received a product in exchange for my review. I was not asked to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Now that I am on my second child, I have a better idea of products I love and don't care for. One of those things is teething rings. Its not that there is anything wrong with them- they do their job. What I don't like about them is that they are going to get dropped and you never seem to have it handy when you need it.

That is why Teething Bling by Smart Mom Jewelry is on my list! It is handy, stylish, and the babes love it. My little princess is not teething yet, but she loves chewing on her hands and she doesn't always want her pacifier. Instead, she wants my jewelry when she gets tired of her hands. So, I just put on my teething bling necklace and she chews/ sucks/ slobbers on it instead. In fact, I keep it in my diaper bag- so I have it every where.

I know that once her teeth start coming in, Teething Bling is going to be a sanity saver- I hate giving medicine and I hate washing traditional teething rings every time they fall on the floor.

Its stylish too!

Our Teething Bling products are made from a food-safe, phthalate-free, federally-approved silicone.- smartmomjewelry.com

I'm not one to just pop over and get something because a celebrity said to... but, when Dr. Sears likes something, I usually do! Thanks Dr. Sears for loving Teething Bling!

         

Even better, Teething Bling was developed by 2 moms and it is a mom run company!

Gift Guide 2013: The Man In Your Life

Disclosure: I received a product in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.

My husband works hard in construction to provide for me and the kids. He does everything he can for us. I was thinking about all the changes in our lives over the years- especially this year. With his injury, my mom's stroke, the birth of our surprise daughter, and the passing of my Grandfather, he has stayed strong for us all. I wanted to get something really special for him to show him how much we love him. Then, I noticed his wedding ring. He wears it so proudly, but it was so scratched up.

The people from Tristan&Eve contacted me about reviewing a ring, so I jumped at the opportunity to review this gorgeous ring and let my husband test drive it at work- he is very rough with jewelry.

He was ecstatic. The best part is that we started dating just a little over 7 years ago, and this ring has 7 stones in it- must have been fate. 

My knight in shining armor said that it is the most comfortable ring he has ever worn- it is like a comfort fit band. 

The ring is Titanium, so it is harder for him to scratch (Titanium is not scratch proof, but is scratch resistant). If he didn't scratch it in a week at work, that's pretty good! 

He usually has to take his wedding band off when he uses strong power tools or weed eats because the vibrations along with the ring make his hands swell and he cannot get the ring off. He forgot to take it off while weed eating, and his ring was not stuck! 

The cubic zirconia stones look like diamonds- no one will know the difference. 

The best thing about Tristan&Eve is that there is a 12 month money back guarantee on the ring! 

Dear Santa: Mommy wants a shiny new ring!

Qualifying for a Discount on Weight Watchers

To call Weight Watchers a weight loss program is an understatement. It is more of a guide to developing a healthy lifestyle, something which leads to weight loss. You not only learn about what you need to do in order to lose weight but also how to keep it off. After all, weight loss is only effective if you don’t gain the weight you have lost right after completing the program. This is something not every weight loss program offers which makes Weight Watchers a great choice for you.

Weight Watchers offers numerous options with regards to how you want to follow the program. You can check out their official website and learn how you can sign up for it. Also, you can attend their periodic meetings and meet fellow individuals who are also looking to shed extra weight and get into shape. Either way, the choice is yours. You can select the way you want to lose weight on the program based on what makes you feel comfortable.

Being a top of the line weight loss program, you would expect Weight Watchers to be pricey and most of its plans are. A lot of effort and research go into creating the detailed plans for Weight Watchers which is why they charge top dollar for their material. The cost can be a drawback for some, especially as you have to spend $3 to $5 per pound lost on average. However, you don’t need to worry about the cost as you can easily qualify for a discount on Weight Watchers.

You don’t have to work too hard to get a discount. All that is required of you is to go online and find coupons, vouchers, promo codes and deals that promise savings on Weight Watchers. There are so many of them that it is next to impossible to miss out on them. One of the best resources in this regard is Coupons by Answer.com. They have no less than a dozen different deals on offer you can avail. You simply have to click on the deal to avail it.

Another great website you can check out for Weight Watchers’ deals is weightlosstriumph.com. They not only have coupons and vouchers you can use to get a discount on Weight Watchers but also provide answers to commonly asked questions about the program. “What will I eat on Weight Watchers?”, “Is Weight Watchers for Men?”, and lots of testimonials are some of the things the site provides.

Diane and Stephen

If you have any doubts about the effectiveness of Weight Watchers, Diana’s story should dispel them. Diana had been overweight from an early age. She had been struggling with weight problems a long time before she discovered Weight Watchers. Even then she was having a hard time keeping up with the program. It was then that her husband, Stephen, also signed up for the same program. Both of them started seeing the results of their efforts in no time. Being hardcore foodies, they stick to the habits they developed through Weight Watchers. The happy couple is now at a healthy weight level.

Diane and Stephen after losing weight

You will find many such inspiring success stories of people who have tried Weight Watchers. While many people have lost weight successfully, others got tired of counting Points. Regardless, if you decide to give it a try make sure you avail the discounts to lower the cost of the program.

A Change in Semester and A Change In Lives

Disclaimer: I have been compensated for writing this post. All opinions are my own.

I remember my very first semester of college, walking into that bookstore all excited to get my very first college books. I was on cloud nine and finally an adult. Then my total was told to me. I was in shock. for 6 classes, I had to pay over $700. Some were even used! 

It continued that way for the next 3 semesters. I sold my books back and still only got a couple hundred each semester (if that!)

Luckily when I finally return to complete my Bachelor's degree, there are other programs that books can be purchased through. Campus Book Rental is a great one!

Some of the great benefits of using CampusBookRental.com are:

• Feel free to highlight in the book
• Free shipping both ways
• Live customer support
• Largest selection nationwide
• Flexible rental periods
• 21-Day risk free returns
• Save money!

Did you buy your book from the campus bookstore and pay too much money? Are you now concerned about how little you will get if you sell them back? Well, Campus Book Rental has a new service you will love! RentBack allows you to rent your books to other students and make up to 4 times as much as if you sold them back to the college.

My favorite thing about CampusBookRental.com is that every textbook rented, a donation is made to Operation Smile. Lives are saved because of this organization and Campus Book Rental helps make it a reality. These poor kids aren't just born with a "birthmark," but a life threatening condition. 1 in 10 children born with a cleft palate or lip do not live beyond their first birthday. Most that survive cannot talk, eat, socialize, or smile. In addition to having this disfigurement, in some places the children are shunned. 

So, you get to save money with CampusBookRental.com, make money with Rentback.com, and all of that contributes to OperationSmile.org. It truly is a win-win-win situation. 

Keeping Kids Engaged During Thanksgiving Dinner

I have such a huge family that growing up, the kids table was usually bigger than the adults table. This was fun, but sometimes got boring. If Thanksgiving dinner was at someone else's house, my mom always brought coloring books along (enough for all the kids). If Thanksgiving was at our house, mom had us set up with crafts, coloring books, and other fun things to keep us busy. Since I have become a mom, I have been intrigued by some of the things moms come up with to keep the kids busy. I will share some of my favorites.

• My mom always covered our table with wrong side up wrapping paper. It was great because we could write on it, but she didn't have to worry about us messing the table up. Butcher paper will work too! 
• Create a cardboard tree and let the kids write what they are thankful for on leaves and hang those on the tree that doubles as a centerpiece. 

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• I am absolutely in love with this Thanksgiving placemat for kids- I will definitely use this in the future

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• My mom kept a trunk of board games on hand for all occasions. My own little family has started our collection. I love holiday specific printable games like this one. 

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• If there aren't a lot of kids at the event, creating a special gift pack that they can use while at the event, is gorgeous, and can be given to the child as a special treat would be perfect. This is one I will do next year. 

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• I'm always a fan of toilet paper roll crafts

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• I love this idea for an educational activity without feeling like school

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• I am loving a photo booth as well!

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• A great idea for something for the kids to do while preparations are being finished is to let them make hats they can wear for the day

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• Turkey crafts are always a win!

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What are you doing to keep the kids busy this Thanksgiving?

Chalk Markers: Versatile, Handy, and Beautiful

Disclaimer: I received product in exchange for my review. I was not asked to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. 

I'm sure you've seen this picture on either this blog, Facebook, or Instagram. We were celebrating his very first day of homeschool. The writing on the chalkboard is done with Chalk Markers ($18.99). 

These chalk markers are easy to use and brightly colored. I am amazed at the quality of them. They can be used on a variety of surfaces as well- like glass, mirrors, laminate. Almost anything that is not porous. (Do not use them on porous surfaces, even paper or wood chalkboards). 

From the creator:

These markers helped us figure out this one little secret I discovered that helped skyrocket our family's creativity and had friends commenting on our kids creativity..Hi, my name is Louise Fox from Paper and Twine. If you're looking for chalk markers, I'd like to tell you why I think these are your best choice. I am a proud mother of three and was looking for an easy, effective way to encourage creativity in my family. I stumbled on liquid chalk and worked out some simple fun things to do with the markers that have had friends and teachers asking what we are doing with the kids to have them be so creative.The Best Chalk Markers I've Used.. - Initially, I didn't like the other chalk markers I'd used. There were too many issues so I spent months of time and thousands of dollars to research everything that would make an amazing marker. I found the best liquid chalk ink, best markers and most premium tips. It was expensive but I was so excited when I finally got a small batch of these markers created for my family and some close friends to test. The results were wonderful. One of my friends suggested these were so good that we should sell them to everyone so here they are. I sourced top, artist quality premium ingredients for these as I wanted the best. Now you get to have it as well. I'm excited and you're going to love them!

What I love so much about these chalk markers is that they are easy to use and clean up easily. I just have to wipe down what I am writing on and its ready to write on again. The only thing to be aware of is the type of surface.

However, when you order the chalk markers, you will receive a special bonus on how to use them. This bonus explains all the uses and how not to use them. It is full of creative ideas as well. The company also offers a 60-day money back guarantee. All the warning are also on the Amazon page.

The warnings about surface didn't really effect me any. The only paper/ wood chalkboards we have are for the monster and I am not letting him write with them (he is only 3). I use them when I want something to be beautiful or if I want to write a note on the bathroom mirror for my husband.

I have also written my son's vocabulary words on the mirror in the bathroom.

I keep finding handy uses for these chalk markers and will continue to use them several times a week.

Thanksgiving Prep Made Easy

If you celebrate Thanksgiving, then you have planning to do. Even if you are not cooking, there is still planning to do. The absolute first things to do are to decide which functions you will attend and which days/ times you must be at each location.

For instance, I have my little family, my husband's maternal family, his paternal family, my maternal family, and my immediate family. I have two brothers, one of which lives away, so we have a separate Thanksgiving from the rest. So, my little family must be at 4 dinners besides our own little dinner. Unfortunately, we do not always get to go to everything. However, this year- even if we just have to visit for coffee- we are making it a point to see everyone for Thanksgiving.

The next thing to decide is what you will be taking to each event. Some options (and multiple may be preferred) are listed below- but there are infinite possibilities.

• Side Dish
• Dessert
• Drinks
• Tableware (if using disposable)
• Special Coffee
• Hostess Gift
• Thank you note *always take one to the host
• Gift or something special for the Matriarch/ Patriarch of the family 
• You may even want to volunteer to take the Turkey

I always decide on a desert to take, and usually a side dish as well. Of course I take a thank you note, if not a full fledged hostess gift. Another good thing to do is to contact the host/ hostess to make sure your dish has not already been planned, and to ask if there is anything specific you can bring. 

Plan all of this information out in your planner. Include date/ time to be at which location and what to bring. It is also a good idea to include shopping days (with a sticky list handy to that day), prep days, cooking days, and even days to prepare clothing, gifts, and catch up on household chores. 

This year I am doing a little something extra. I will take items for the family to create something special for the host/ matriarch of the family. 

Here is some thanksgiving planning inspiration:

If you are hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner in your own home (or another location), I wanted to include a few things to remember just for you. Some are just things to consider.

1. Menu
2. Guests/ Invitations
3. Activities for kids
4. Kids Table
5. Decor
6. Tablescape
7. Disposable/ China
8. Silverware
9. Do you have enough seating?
10. Last minute cleanup scheduled
11. Will you put the football game on?
12. Cocktails? 
13. Location for family pictures 
14. Thanksgiving book for everyone to sign (I have one from Halmark that can be used each year)
15. You may be the host, but remember to be friendly, warm, and have fun. 

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Christmas is in full swing in the George household. I know that it isn't even Thanksgiving yet, but we love the Holidays (and Thanksgiving) and were so excited to get started. Plus, there are so many preparations, there is no way it can be done if we start the day after Thanksgiving

First Christmas (2010)

My husband has been busy decorating the yard and pulling together all the holiday decor for when we start in the house. I've been busy planning our Christmas Season, working on to do lists and calendars, and deciding on which traditions to start this year. I've also been working on our Advent ideas. 

Second Christmas (2011)

I've also been in full swing putting together all the Christmas festivities for The Palmetto Queen. There is a gift guide coming this weekend, 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways, and special Christmas posts coming. (There will also be special Thanksgiving posts and my normal series for organizing for the new year)

Third Christmas (2012) Why is the camera a day off?

So, all the preparations and the calender will be finished this week. The gift guide will be as well. Make sure you are subscribed for my updates so you can enter for the great prizes being offered in the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways. 

I even managed to order custom cards instead of picking up generic ones at the last minute!

Ready for The Show With Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product from Influenster in the #staymatte VoxBox

As many of you know, I host a paranormal podcast. We have recently started doing a lot more video shows. I am also going to be mc-ing some events in the near future. I'm sure you are wondering what that has to do with Influenster, well- everything. 

I have been very nervous about this because I haven't found makeup that isn't shiny, but gives the flawless look we all crave. But, did you see this Instagram post? 

That is a close up and pretty dang flawless (especially considering I have a breakout). Here's an even better one. My tip- exfoliate on a regular schedule.

Doesn't it look great?! Even better- the camera has a flash and still no shine!

You absolutely have to have Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation. The only thing I don't like is that I can't tell you to go buy it now- it will not be on shelves until January 2014! 

Looking Younger Already: Beauty Queen

Disclaimer: I received a product in exchange for my review. I was not asked to write a positive review- all opinions are my own. 

I turn 30 in June (GASP!) and have recently noticed some big problems with my skin. I used to have a great complexion, smooth skin, and right in the middle of oily and dry. This is no longer the case.

There are many things that have contributed to my horrible skin these days. I do not take as good of care of my face as I did pre-kids, I stress (as any mother does), I furrow my brow, I smoke, and I spend a lot of time in the sun. I never wore sun screen until I was 16 (I tanned very easily and never burned) then I got a sever sun burn at 16 after spending an entire day (literally from sun up to sun down) in a pool. I then occasionally wore sun screen, but it wasn't until the last few years that I took it seriously- when I noticed dark spots on my face. The results-

There are some important things to keep in mind about these photos. 1. This post is the only time you will see me without makeup. 2. I actually do not have freckles- those are sun damage.

Fortunately Bioque came to my rescue.

The Gentle Purifying Skin Cleanser ($18) and Acid-Free Facial Skin Refinisher ($22) has me feeling like my skin is 15 years again. I was use these products twice a day every day. I have cut the refinisher down to once a day since I have seen such amazing results. One of my favorite things is that the refinisher has a mild exfoliate that I can use every day. My face is smooth, moisturized, non-flaky, and I even see improvement on the dark spots from sun damage.

What Bioque says about the Gentle Purifying Skin Cleanser:

Say yes to Yucca—Get back to nature (and away from stripping chemicals) with the American Indians’ essential secret for clear, beautiful skin—pure Yucca extract. Yucca gently cleanses and purifies skin of contaminants, while also helping to clear acne-prone skin and working as an exfoliator gentle enough for everyday use.Oh so gentle—Botanically-derived L-Argynine-based amino acid gently foams away the bad stuff without damaging the outer layer of skin.Ooh la la orange—A touch of orange oil helps to gently cleanse and provides a fabulous, invigorating fragrance.
This purifying paraben/sulfate-free facial wash is the ultimate cleanser for all skin types, and the first step to great looking skin. Use twice daily. 

Check out the improvement. The only makeup I have on in this photo is eyeliner remnants.

When my hubby got home from work today, he asked me if I was going somewhere- he thought I was in the middle of putting my makeup on- that's how great my skin looks. 

This is a product I will keep using. I am loving the new look and feel to my skin- and the price is great!