Disclaimer: I received this product in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.
Every day, our skin is put through the wringer with the sun, environmental toxins, makeup, touching our skin, and even age itself. There are so many products out there that claim to fight these factors, but in all actuality, we're just putting more and more chemicals on our skin. Is that really so healthy?
I have been trying to add in more natural products to my beauty routine. My favorite addition has been Vitamin C Serums. They just seem to make a much better difference without burning my skin or making it feel heavy with product. One of my aims with this is to not feel the need to wear foundation as often. I'm getting there, and Valentia Skin Care is helping me with this.
Vanentia's Even Glow Serum contains 20% Vitamin C, and a combination of all kinds of other stuff that is good for your skin. Some of these ingredients include organic rosehip seed oil, buckthorn oil, resistem (plant stem cells), botanical hyaluronic acid, and green tea extract. These ingredients have all been chosen because of their ability to enhance the effects of Vitamin C on the skin.
Valentia's Even Glow Serum has the ability to even skin tone, increase glow and radiance, boost collagen production, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and absorb quickly.
When you order Valentia Even Glow Serum through Amazon, you even receive a free ebook with recipes to even further help your skin.
My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed putting this Even Glow Serum on my face every morning. It was rejuvenating and almost instantly smoothed out my skin. Over time, my complexion has evened and the dark spots are disappearing. There is a glow coming into my skin. I'm confident that in very little time, I'll be able to go through most days with no foundation. Thanks Vanlentia!
With the kids going back to school, there is usually a little more free time for mom. Even as a homeschool mom, I've found that I can work on personal goals (whether personal, educational, or professional) while my little one is having independent study. For him, this is workbook time.
While I have a few personal goals I am working on now, they are not ones I can do while doing independent work. I use this time to start some busy bag activities with Kodabug. My biggest personal goals are fitness and continuously improving my organizational habits.
I want to share with you one item I have found to help with my organizational goals that will be beneficial to you when setting goals.
Disclaimer: I have received a product in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.
The Tools4Wisdom Goals Planner has become an indispensable part of my planning process. Although I plan to add more to this planner as I go along, I started with one type of planning. I started with the events I plan with Paralina Radio and Entertainment.
With the events, I can put in the event dates, and go ahead and mark my recording dates, along with dates that I'm just not available. This really helps with the planning. I then color code (with a box around it) for if my presence is required or not. If I know I will not be there, I use yellow.
After this, I can plug in dates to remind guests, team members, and vendors. I also add in dates to confirm every thing. From there, I can plan when I need to get things done.
The Goals Planner from Tools4Wisdom also includes yearly and monthly goal worksheets.
Here are some views from the planner, so you can get a better idea of what is included.
This Goals Planner from Tools4Wisdom is a great item for anyone who is interested in setting goals or keeping track of their progress. It would be great for some people to use as their only planner, but I use it specifically as an event planner.
How would you use this Goals Planner?
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
I had one of those crazy weeks last week that I just wasn't able to get anything done. Every time I thought I would get a chance to get a post done, something else came up.
It wasn't just with posting, it was with work, planning, and even last minute prep for school. I finally gave up and decided I would get done what I could get done. I knew I could catch up.
I thought I had missed out completely on posting about Back to School Readiness Week. Its such a great idea and the book Stewie Boomstein Starts School is an amazing resource for parents with kids starting school. Plus, its such a fun book, the kids will definitely enjoy it.
Nothing But The Truth Publishing has their eye set on helping children starting school and their parents make it the best experience possible. Although I am homeschooling ours, they have been an amazing resource while preparing for this school year. I have also been able to pass the tips along to other parents I know.
The release of Stewie Boomstein Starts School (Amazon) kicked off School Readiness Week, sponsored by Nothing But The Truth Publishing. School Readiness Week was August 20th through 27th. Although it is over, you can still check out the Facebook page for tips all year.
I do apologize to all of you for not getting this up sooner. If you would like any tips on getting your littles school ready, comment below, or email me and I will help in any way I can!
Disclaimer: I have received a product in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.
As many of you know, in addition to homeschool mom and blogger, I am also a business owner (branding and virtual assistant) and an event planner for a paranormal team and a paranormal radio host. Part of my duties include setting up displays, taking promotional photos, and bringing attention to all of my projects.
When Rtgs sent me their 20 Micro LED String Lights, I knew I had a purpose for them. These lights are super small and battery operated. Because they use less power than most lights, the batteries will last over 48 hours. The 7 inches of lights make them perfect for many uses, and the super brightness of the lights will add to the ambiance of any room.
While they are perfect for many purposes, I keep them in my mobile office. I had been wanting to find some battery operated fairy lights, but didn't think I would find such good ones. I have been using them for displays when setting up books, to help with lighting problems at command central, and have many more plans for the future.
I have mostly been using them for book promotion displays, but have plans to take them along when I visit some clients, for Cari On Media, coming up so that I can get some great photos of products to use in social media posts.
Check out how they make the book look without even setting up an actual display.
I'm sure I will be using them in my kids' birthdays coming up, and plan to buy several more sets of these.
How would you use these Micro LED String Lights?
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Fresh Guard™. I received promotional items and Fresh Guard™ products in exchange for my participation. The opinions and text are mine.
For several years (15 to be exact) I have worn a night mouth guard for teeth grinding. If I do not wear it, I wake with a headache and with my jaw throbbing with pain. There are times when the grinding is so bad, it wakes me up. Apparently grinding teeth is an anxiety/ stress mechanism. Let's face it- no one is ever going to be completely free of stress and anxiety. While the mouth guard allows me to get better sleep, and not wake in pain, it isn't all roses.
To be honest, I go through entirely too many of these mouth guards because they just get yuck-o. I clean them the best I can, but after sitting in our mouths all night, cleaning needs to have a little extra oomph that toothpaste doesn't give.
Now, thanks to Fresh Guard™, my mouth is happy. Fresh Guard™ is Efferdent's latest product line. Designed to clean mouth guards, retainers, removable braces, and night guards, Fresh Guard™ gives a fresh start each night and allows you to wake with a smile on your face. (Watch the video)
I love that Fresh Guard™ comes in two unique options. There is a soak and wipe options. I was expecting the wipes to not clean as well as the soak, but they were a life saver and cleaned well beyond my expectations.
When we went away last time, we were only gone for one night (although with kids, it feels like we are packing for a month). I was trying to pack my stuff as light as possible, so I just threw in a couple of Fresh Guard™ wipes, and was on my way. That night, when it was bed time, I was almost dreading not having that clean feel I had gotten used to with the soak. I was no where near disappointed. I had a nice, clean mouth guard and had a smile on my face as I lied down.
The Fresh Guard™ wipes are alcohol free, and do not cause damage to your retainer, mouth guard, or removable braces. They remove odor causing bacteria (yay!), prevents mouth film build up, and reduces yellowing and stains of your mouth device. If you wear a retainer removable braces, these will be ideal for you- they are perfect for after meals and have a fresh mint flavor.
The Fresh Guard™ soak truly is amazing. I just love it. The soak kills 99.9% of odor causing bacteria in only 5 minutes. The removes build up of mouth film, yellowing, and stains from your device. The first use may actually require multiple uses to remove any build up of residue. Regular use will then prevent build up.
Fresh Guard, from the makers of Efferdent, is a new cleaning product for "Removable Dental Appliances." Currently, no other product exists that is designed to clean the unique materials these appliances are made of. Users have resorted to cleaning with toothbrush & toothpaste, mouthwash, denture cleaners, etc., that either damage the product, does not kill bacteria, causes discoloration to the product, and can corrode metal and damage other materials. Wearers of removable dental appliances are unsatisfied with their current cleaning methods.
Putting a smile on my face is all about freshness. I cannot handle my mouth not being clean. I always have with me a toothbrush, toothpaste, gum, mints, mouthwash, and now Fresh Guard™, for on the go cleaning. Many people think I have lost my mind, but if I carry a couple extra things around so that I am more comfortable, it is better for everyone.
Comment disclaimer: Comments submitted may be displayed on other websites owned by the sponsoring brand.
Fresh Guard™ is specially formulated to clean mouth guards, retainers, and clear braces. Fresh Guard™ Soak kills 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria in just 5 minutes while Fresh Guard™ Wipes offer a convenient on-the-go cleaning solution with no water needed. Visit Fresh Guard™ for more information, store locator and coupons!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Fresh Guard™. I received promotional items and Fresh Guard™ products in exchange for my participation. The opinions and text are mine.
Disclaimer: I received a product in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.
The Age Defense Eye Cream by Body Merry is truly amazing. It is ideal for both men and women with dark circles, wrinkles, puffiness, crows feet, fine lines and bags.
I love that this formula is all natural and organic. Eclectic blend of 70+ power packed ingredients including: Vitamins C + E + B5, Peptide Complex, Amino Acid Emulsification, Hyaluronic Acid, Retinol, Antioxidants, Aloe, Cucumber, Green Tea and many many more! It is created in the USA in a cruelty-free, FDA approved facility.
100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEED: All our products are backed with a 90 Day Guarantee so indulge yourself with some RISK FREE SHOPPING when you BUY TODAY! If you don't like our cream, we'll refund the full price. You keep the bottle, and we won't ask any questions.
My Thoughts:
I was especially intrigued, would it really help these annoying lines go away.
Well, the lines have all but disappeared. If I would stay out of the sun, they would probably be completely gone.
The pump is especially great because it dispenses the perfect amount for both eyes. It doesn't take much and the bottle will last quite a while.
The cream is not oily, but leaves my skin feeling refreshed. I have very dry skin around my eyes, it is also kind of sensitive to the touch. I think this is because I wear a good bit of eye makeup, and it takes a lot to remove it. This puts my eye area through the ringer (along with sun exposure). My eyes are not puffy, they are not as dry, and not anywhere as sensitive as normal. I use this every night after I take my makeup off. Immediate relief of the irritation that occurs after my makeup is removed! LOVE IT!
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
As many of you know, we have just wrapped up my virtual Thirty-One Party. I have shared how much I love the products and company. (Don't worry there are more organizing with Thirty-One tips coming!) Now, I want to share about how to have a successful Thirty-One Party.
31 Tips For An Amazing Thirty-One Party
These tips can work for both hostess and consultant. It all depends on how much you want to be involved.
Send invites. Send as many as you can through post. Send many more via email and Facebook.
Do you have a shared calendar, such as Google Calendar (You should). Add your party, it will give you some extra sharing tools, and make it easier for your gals to add it to theirs.
Pass out wish lists before the party like this one or this one.
Work closely with your consultant to ensure a successful party- I'm sure she won't turn down a hand.
Come up with some great party games.
Have an incentive for bringing guests. Either a raffle for anyone who brings a guest, or a special prize for who brings the most. (You could create a gift basket, or share your hostess specials)
Pick a theme (Margarita Monday, Spa Sunday, Party in Your PJs, Back to School Bash) and create an atmosphere, snacks, and drinks to match!
Encourage the gals at your party to book a party while there.
Remind the ladies that your Thirty-One consultant is a business owner. She is working like the rest of us, and "sub-contracting" under one of the most influential women owned businesses.
Host a great party once a season- Get free stuff, get the girls together, and help a business! What can be better?
Combine an in-home party and online party for twice the fun. Let family and friends who live away enjoy the fun too. You could even work in a live stream!
Invite acquaintances to the online party. You could invite those you've just met, or even hang a flyer!
Use social media before and during the event. Thirty-One just begs for Instagram.
Tie in a charity. You can take donations for your favorite charity, ask guests to bring items for a basket to auction off, or even raise awareness, while having fun.
Do you have Thirty-One products already? Bring them out and show your guests how you use them.
Have a super organized friend? (like me, hehe) Invite them and ask her to share organizing tips.
Game time- Ask your guests for creative uses for different Thirty-One products
Do you have a friend or co-worker that would make an amazing consultant. Invite them and get them to sign up with your consultant!
Do you have a recurring women's club, mom meeting, or anything else where a group of ladies get together? Turn one meeting into a party.
Invite your guests to like your consultant's Facebook Page
Have a re-gifting box or closet? Pull from your stash for some extra door/ game prizes.
Have an annual birthday party that is also a Thirty-One party! Seriously, what could be more fun?!
Have an organizing party. Focus on getting life organized, they are sure to buy!
Have friends that are business owners? Even direct-sales ladies? Have a party just for them. Thirty-One products are must-haves for business owners.
Is there a specific organizing problem you know your guests have? Let your consultant know ahead of time, that way they can prepare.
Better yet, ask on the invitation. They can email their problem in, add it to the Facebook event, or call you.
Play stump the consultant. Have major organizing challenges on slips of paper. Let guests submit as well. Read them aloud and if the consultant cannot get it, someone gets a prize!
Plan at least a month in advance. Create a private pin board for you and your consultant. Have fun and make it a big deal.
Lead by example- get excited and join in. This will get your guests to do the same!
Make your parties memorable and unique- everyone will want to be there every time!
Don't forget to have fun!
I hope you are as obsessed with Thirty-One as I am and that this gives you the encouragement to book a party. If you do not have a consultant of your own, use mine, or find one at the site!
Disclaimer: I received a product to review. All opinions are my own and I'm honored to bring you Marley Lilly!
Although we aren't starting school until next week, most kids went back today. With all those papers, books, material lists, and everything else kids accumulate, I thought it would be appropriate to share some tips for organizing a backpack. (psst stick around to the end to learn about this amazing company, backpack, and a giveaway.)
20 Tips For Organizing A Backpack with Marley Lilly
Create a "refill" station so supplies can easily and quickly be replenished when needed.
Decide that every evening, you will clean out the backpack, and place papers and other items that are not needed away. This is also a good time to make sure that all permission slips, papers to be signed, and assignment sheets are seen.
At the end of every quarter, completely clean out the backpack, vacuum, take inventory, and restock. This is good to do the day report cards come or the day before the quarterly break.
After homework each night, make sure everything that is needed the next day is there.
LABEL everything! (StickerYou and Mabel's Labels are great!)
Invest in a pencil pouch for pencils/ smaller supplies
Use a change purse, or something similar, for really small objects like paper clips.
Keep your backpack in the same place, so there is no last minute rush to figure out where you left it. (A command central is great for this)
Make sure that all items you use most days are easily accessible.
Use your book bag just for school. If you have the need for another (for trips, camping, etc) invest in a second book bag- or use one from last year. This will help cut down on lost items.
Many people find it helpful to use one folder to carry to school, then they can disperse papers to the correct binders at the end of the week. It helps to cut down on weight. Make sure you invest in dividers.
Part of keeping a backpack organized, is keeping its contents organized, so keep an eye on those binders and make sure they stay in order.
If available, utilize your locker. There's no sense in carrying everything around all day.
Don't forget your Planner- make sure it will fit in your backpack. If it will not fit, will you really use it?
Keep all chap sticks, band aids, and other personal effects in a pouch for somewhat easy access, but so that you can take it out and carry it with you.
Label all folders and books with name, teacher, and other pertinent information.
Keep theft-prevention measures in mind. Keep anything of value hidden and not easily accessible.
Keeping your backpack organized is only one piece of the puzzle. Take steps to ensure your whole life gets organized. If one this gets messy, do not let this be a domino effect.
Remember that getting and staying organized is a process. This could take one day, but it could take months. Just remember to stick with it and find what works for you.
MONOGRAM that bag! It is the most beautiful way to label, and makes your bag easily spotted.
While these things can easily be accomplished by older students, elementary and younger will need the help of you fabulous parents!
Marley Lilly is oh so fab for back to school!
Marley Lilly has become one of my favorite online shops- I wish I could just go visit them (every day!). Their products are gorgeous, the gals are fabulous, and the quality of their work is amazing. The customer service and marketing ladies are phenomenal. As an added bonus, they are located in Greenville, SC!
They sent me this amazing basic black backpack to test out. I love this bag, I honestly can't decide on its purpose- mobile office, investigation pack, diaper bag, road trip bag... I just want everyone to see it!
The quality is amazing. It is sturdy, the seams are reinforced, and the fabric is 600 denier polyester with PVC coating. It is nice and sturdy, but not heavy. On most backpacks, the zippers break first, but these zippers will last quite a while. This back pack will last for many years. The perfect school accessory for monogramming!
This photo does the monogram color justice- isn't that a gorgeous aqua?! It is a Tiffany-ish blue, and we all know how much I love that! Not only is the color gorgeous, but the monogram quality is amazing- the best I've ever seen (and I have a lot of monogrammed items, I am a Carolina Girl, afterall).
I'm telling you- these gals are just fab! They initial each process, so that not only do you know who had a hand in your amazing product, but if there is a problem (which I do not foresee), they are accountable. I think this helps with employees feeling "ownership," which always adds to the quality of product and service! (I love the sign-off of "Peace, Love, and Monograms")
This is a close up shot of the front pocket of the back pack. That red pad is a Steno Pad, so you can see how big it is- perfect size for a pad of paper, or a tablet! I love all these handy pockets! There is even a mesh zipper pocket- perfect for small items or money!
The backpack measures approximately 18.25"H x 12.5"W x 6"D, so it is the perfect size for school. That is a regular size clip board, so you can easily slide a laptop in! The back and straps are padded for comfort, it even has a mesh pocket on each side for water bottles.
The best part of Marley Lilly besides the pink and fabulous products and ladies? Everything comes with monogram included!
This really is the perfect backpack for back to school. Guess what?! You can win one for yourself.
Disclaimer: I received a product to review. All opinions are my own.
I had been racking my brain for a great first day of school activity that Tbomb could enjoy all year. When Yellow Beaks gave me the opportunity to review their bird feeder, I knew they had given me the solution.
The plan: The night before school, my husband will hang the bird feeder on the window of the kitchen. Then, on the first day of school, I will surprise him with the information that we will spend the day outside. That in itself will be a treat for Tbomb.
We will go hang out under the kitchen window and have our "circle time," bible study, and review jar (more on that).
I think the bird feeder will give not only an addition to our nature focus of homeschool, but also give a break when one is needed. What better way to continue learning when the kids are wild, than to go outside and learn about nature.
My Thoughts:
This bird feeder is really gorgeous, and I love the house shape it has. the suction cups are sturdy and stick great. Having three gives extra security for multiple birds. There is a lip on the front to keep the feed from falling out, along with the perch that runs the length of the feeder. The bird feeder is sturdy, but unobtrusive. I really love it!
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
I have found a renewed motivation, thanks to Shake The Crave. I am determined to lose this weight. I have broken my goal into 3 parts. The first part is to break the bad habits, and work in good habits.
Limit sweets (I have a bad sweet tooth)
Limit my coffee to 2 cups a day
Get up and move
Drink more water
Snack on vegetables
My second part is to get off the first 75 pounds. I know this will not get me where I need to be, but it will be a good start. I will get to this point by doing the things above, and really keeping track of my progress, and backtracking.
I will measure and weigh every week.
I have started a 100 day challenge for exercise. Basically, I will walk 10 minutes a day and do 100 jumping jacks and 50 crunches.
Then, its time to get that last 15 off and get toned and really in shape. My goal with this, is to start kickboxing and train for a marathon. To get here, I will include the Couch25k and the color run challenge.
I'm a work in progress, and will share every week to keep myself accountable.
It has been quite a while since I've sat down to write y'all a Southern Charm Sunday post. The ideas have been flowing, but I haven't taken the time to do them and I was concerned that they were not enjoyed. However, this week I received a sweet email asking me to do them again. I was also asked to share more of my beautifully imperfect southern life. I will start doing these again every Sunday!
There are big plans here at The Palmetto Queen, and bringing these posts back in full swing is one item on the agenda. Along with writing about etiquette more, I want to challenge y'all as well. So, I am putting together an Instagram challenge! Who's game? It will start in October, but don't worry, I will give you plenty of time to prepare- it would be rude not to.
We are going to start off a little simpler though, I want to challenge you this week. I urge y'all to go pick up some pretty Thank You notes. They do not have to be fancy, just something you enjoy. Share the picture on Instagram with #southerncharmsunday
Speaking of Instagram, do you follow me? Well you should- every Sunday, I share a tip. Sometimes it is etiquette, sometimes it is household, sometimes it is even organizing. I promise these are great tips and advice- well worth the week long wait!
So, follow along!
I want to hear from you! What etiquette tips and subjects do you want to know about? What are your favorite etiquette related items? What do you want to see included in the Instagram challenge? Just comment below!
Disclosure: I got the chance to experience this diaper brand Sunflowerbaby All opinions are my own. Thank you Sunflowerbaby for this opportunity!
Is that not the sweetest sight ever?! Kodabug thinks its funny to bury her face when the camera is pointed her direction. *bless her heart* I have to catch it just right to get anything with her. What's that on her bum? Why a Sunflower baby cloth diaper of course?!
Confession: I am a cloth diaper newbie, and not fully committed. As much as I wanted to, I never got on the band wagon of making that (mostly financial) commitment, when I wasn't sure it would work for my family. That being said, we have decided to use them some at home- during the day. It really does save money, especially since we are at home most of the time.
We were not hooked on a particular brand, so when I got the chance to use SunflowerBaby and review, I was excited to try them out. My first thought was how stinkin' adorable they are!
We received the Sunflowerbaby Stay Dry in Strawberries ($25.95), along with a Stay Dry insert. This diaper fits babies from 8 to 35 lbs. There are two rows of snaps, which are durable and located in just the right places for a great fit!
The thing about this particular diaper is that the insert and inner layer dries very fast and is quite breathable, more so than any other that I've experienced. Quite impressive! As breathable as they are, they are able to be used for quite a while without having to be replaced.
The lining is also very soft, which helps keep baby dry, and rash free. This is a nice feature, since you aren't supposed to use rash cream with cloth diapers. The pocket lining also has a fold over opening, so the liner is hidden, and helps keep it in place.
Look at speedy go! She will not be still. Usually if she is in something new - new clothes, new kind of diaper, hair bow, anything she isn't too sure and doesn't move a lot. But this baby diaper was so comfortable to her, she just took off. Go Kodabug go!
I urge you to visit Sunflowerbaby.com and see the amazing diapers and accessories they have to offer. Take a look around their site and learn about cloth diapering. It really is a sound investment.
Disclosure: This article and campaign have been sponsored by Fruit Shoot. I really do buy it for my son!
I discovered Robinson's Fruit Shoot about a year ago and fell in love. Now, every time I see it in a store, I have to pick a couple up for the Tbomb. It has a no-spill cap, comes in brightly colored bottles, and has no high fructose corn syrup. It even comes in low sugar varieties.
When I was contacted about sharing the Have a Ball #StuntHunt with my readers, of course I was in. You guys should know about this fun contest. It must involve your child, a Fruit Shoot bottle, and a ball. It must be between 10 and 30 seconds long. Other than that, just let your creativity flow! Be sure to upload it to the Stunt Hunt site and then vote on some of the other entries.
Tbomb and I got out in the yard and he couldn't decide on one thing, so we created a triathlon. It was so much fun! To have a triathlon of your own, get your child to drink a Fruit Shoot, complete their favorite activity (Tbomb's is riding a scooter) and then throw a ball! Don't forget to have fun and laugh!
Fruit Shoot wants to encourage you and your children to use your imaginations to get active. To do this, they have launched the #stunthunt. They are choosing a video each week to get a special treatment! Fun, right?!
When you enter the contest, you get a free bottle of Fruit Shoot. When you buy 6 bottles, you get a Waboba ball! That's pretty cool! Enter here
Disclaimer: I received this product in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.
Did you see this post on Instagram? Tbomb and I have been having fun on Speekee, a website designed to help children from 2 to 11 learn Spanish.
I did decent in Spanish in high school, averaged in the high 90s, but to be honest, I couldn't tell you more than the basics. Because of this, I find teaching the littles Spanish very intimidating. I know they need to learn it, but I'm nervous about teaching them wrong. I'm very happy to have Speekee on my side for this journey. Even more so, since it is designed for littles.
I adore that the videos are designed for little ones. The videos feature children speaking in Spanish and acting out the lesson. There are also puppets to help your little one along. The Fast Track program has lesson plans, follow alongs, and activities to try at home (requires a membership). You can watch the videos for free though.
I also really like that the Spanish taught is from Spain. I know that here in The States, most speak Mexico Spanish, wish from what I understand is more laid back. However, I know the proper way is the way they speak in Spain. I want my kids to learn that, but have a working knowledge in case they need to know Mexico Spanish. So, why not start with actual formal Spanish?!
While I really like this program, I would advise that it be used as a compliment to another Spanish instruction. Even if you play a board game, read a book, or teach vocabulary. After all, it doesn't hurt to reinforce what your children are learning.
One thing I have noticed a huge difference with is his independence. This is something that Tbomb can do completely on his own. I set the video up and he watches it. It is encouraging him to learn without mom right beside him, but he knows I'm near. I've noticed him showing his baby sister things in Spanish. He held her hand and said "conectados," like the kids in the video. Anytime something encourages him to teach his sister, I'm in.
Head on over to Speekee and sign up for a free membership, see for yourself how helpful it will be for your little ones. There is also a program for children over 7, but I didn't try that one out.
You can win a "Fast Track" 3 month membership right here- just comment what you like about Speekee. A winner will be chosen 8/15.2014
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
I'm in full swing prepping for fall, homeschool, and starting on the holidays. I am getting my goals worked out and a plan in place. What does this mean for you? Well, you reap the benefits.
While I am not planning a series dedicated to fall preparations, there are other things going on. In case you haven't noticed, The Palmetto Queen is slowly going through some changes. The southern charm look will stay the same, but I'm adding some more features, and taking some away. I'm reorganizing the way I post, and I think you guys are enjoying it. There will be lots of new things on the sidebar coming up and lots of fun freebies and giveaways.
I am going to try and start posting reviews/ giveaways on the same day each week. Some weeks, there may be multiple posts on that day, but I am going to be able to fit more organization, homeschool, fitness, and tips in. The only time the reviews will not fit with this schedule is if it is a giveaway series or if it goes along with organization, fitness, and homeschool.
I'm bringing back Southern Charm Sunday, Yay! I'm very excited about this, and there is some big news coming this way concerning SCS.
Besides the general changes coming to The Palmetto Queen, some of the fall prepping I am doing is being transferred into blog posts. I have started a back to school series with tons of tips on getting the kids and you adjusted to school again, and having fun. I have several organization posts lined up, including goal planning. There is even a planner in the works, thanks to a good friend for encouraging me to create the ultimate mom planner.
I'm also very motivated with the fitness journey I'm on. I'll be sharing more of that with you guys too. Follow me on Instagram for more of this
A lot of the things I have been posting lately that do not involve family life will now be on another blog, I'll make that announcement soon too!
So that's the basic update on the changes that are coming.
Pretty soon, we'll be saying "Happy Fall Y'all!"
What would you like to see come to The Palmetto Queen.
"Disclaimer: I received a product in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.
Rumors
were flying after a tweet sent by one of the guys from One Direction.
This rumor was not the average rumor about a pop star. This rumor was
that the big boy band was going to release their own line of makeup.
Guess what?! Its true!
Just had a great meeting about 1D make up! it's that good im gonna start wearing it myself pic.twitter.com/XKqZW45Buc” Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) June 23, 2014
I
really know nothing about One Direction. From what I understand, they
are actually a group that we can proudly let our daughters be fans of.
That's the extent of my knowledge (I think they may be from the UK)
I
know a lot about makeup. I love makeup, and I cannot wait until Kodabug
is old enough to play around with it (I paint her toes already)!
I've been a huge fan of Markwins since I was a teenager. It may be a bit lame, but I scour the beauty isles at Christmas
for their amazingly priced makeup sets. Its the best time to replenish eye shadows, blushes, special occasion makeup, and even the basics like
mascara. When I got the opportunity to try out this new makeup line by
Markwins, inspired by One Direction, I jumped on it.
This
limited edition line comes in 3 variations with a look to suite
everyone. In fact, I wouldn't mind having all three in my makeup
arsenal.
Midnight Memories
Take Me Home
Up All Night
Each
collection is named after an One Direction album, with each product/
color having the name of a song. The mascara is even called "Little
Black Dress."
I
got the opportunity to try out the Take Me Home collection, I LOVE it!
These colors are amazing. One thing I really like about the Markwins
brand eye shadow is that the colors are really great, but they go on a
little thin. That way, you can make it as bold or subtle as you like.
I
really like that these lines have some bling to them. Each eye shadow
set has a glitter eye shadow (great for under the eyebrow and inside the
eye). While this set is kind of a "girl next door" look, it does have
an edge with the bronze undertones in the color. The products include:
Kiss You™ Liquilights glow gloss: Orange glitter rush lip gloss that glows to neon yellow under UV light
Eyeshadow palette containing: Back For You™ - Velvet creme
Change My Mind™ - Peachy shimmer CMon CMon™- Soft taupe Little Things™ - Smokey brown Take Me Home™ - Golden glitter creme
˜Last First Kiss"™ - Nude pink sheer lipstick
˜Little Black Dress"™ - Volumising black mascara
˜Live While We're Young"™ - Multi Dimensional gold glitter nail polish
˜I Wish"™ - Chocolate brown eye and body crayon
Each set also comes with stencils to be used with the eye/ body crayon.
Inside
the beautiful tin (perfect for storing makeup, nail supplies,
stationary, and even concert memorabilia) are tips for using each eye
color on different color eyes (Brilliant!)
These makeup sets will be coming to the US for sale first (Macy's) the second week of August. You can learn more on the makeup line's Facebook page.
Disclaimer: I received a product in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.
This is another of those posts that apply to all schooling families, whether homeschool or traditional school. This tip involves having fun. I urge you to find something fun to do the first week of school. If your littles are in a group activity, get the moms together and plan something fun for the kids. It will work for dance, scouts, acedemia, sports, and even church groups.
There are all sorts of options for a craft. My favorite is the kits from Pippin Jewelry. They offer children's jewelry, a bead store, party kits, and Pippin Kits, like the Surfer Friendship Bands and Strands Kits.
These kits come with everything you need to make 6 bracelets or 3 necklaces. Included in the bands (bracelet) set is cord, 3 types of beads, instruction booklet, and adorable box. The strands (necklace) set includes cord, 3 types of beads, and surf themed charms (oh, and an adorable box).
These kits are great quality. Tbomb and I made them for his daddy, papa, himself, uncle, and his cousin. We had so much fun making these together.
Each kit you purchase will include everything needed to make the specified jewelry, even any tools required. They also include a collectors box with each kit!
With their party kits, you can customize how many guests the event will have and even if they will make one or two pieces of jewelry.
A sample of what the kits include:
6, 8, 10 or 12 individual organza bags each containing one Berries Friendship Bracelet Pippin Kit and one Bag Charm Pippin Kit complete with a 'Made by...' tag
party invites and envelopes
full colour kit instruction booklets
an instruction sheet for the host
a sheet of Pippin stickers
So, grab a jewelry kit, invite the kids, and have a party to celebrate back to school. One of the beat things to encourage a great school experience is to have fun with school milestones!
Disclaimer: I received this product in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.
I have written about my hair before- so you all know how difficult it is to manage. For new readers, I have very long hair- past my waist. It is also very thick, coarse, and curly. It tangles very easily and I have to spend a while detangling it every night. It takes over an hour to detangle, wash, and detangle again. I dread this every day. In fact, I would cut it to my neck if it didn't grow so fast. I really was starting to hate my hair. In fact, brushing alone was causing so much damage that it was getting tangled more.
Then, the Crave Naturals Glide Thru Detangling Brush came along. It gets all the fallen hair out without getting more tangled. It makes my hair shiny (unbelievable- but true). Its actually very therapeutic. My bedtime routine now includes brushing my hair- its so relaxing.
I now love my hair. I love brushing it. I've actually started brushing it 100 strokes every night, like I did when I was a little girl. I will order more for my purse, diaper bag, car, every where. Thanks Crave for saving my hair.
Crave Naturals really does have amazing products. The quality is phenomenal and the branding/ design is fun. This is one of my favorite brands. Try anything from them. I promise you will not be disappointed!
