..cleopatra's choice review..

I was recently contacted by a company called Cleopatra's Choice and asked to review one of their many great products. Cleopatra's Choice sells skin care and beauty products, brought to you from all over the world. They began by bringing Dead Sea products to the US, and now you can shop for skin care and beauty products from Japan, Morocco, Italy, Australia and more.

They have so many unique items, some of which include:

Dead Sea Mud Shampoo

Pure Argan Oil

And the product that I reviewed, the Adovia Mineral Lift Serum.

"This deep absorbing, light gel is formulated with natural ingredients to reduce fine lines and wrinkles by increasing your skin's elasticity and firmness. Based on a unique formula of Vitamin C, Evening Primrose Oil and Dead Sea minerals, it instantly moisturizes to improve your skin's texture - giving you a radiant, smooth and even complexion. Amino acids combined with Green Tea extract and Vitamin C help your skin naturally regenerate - creating a firmer, more youthful appearance. Additionally it protects skin from daily pollutants and weather damage that can clog pores and cause wrinkles and breakouts."

This serum feels so light when you apply it to your face. It is not greasy at all, and it absorbs instantly. I have been using the product for a little over a month now, and while it is not a "face lift in a bottle," I do feel like I can see a difference in the firmness of my skin.

This is a photo of using it for just a week:

And here is a photo after 3 weeks:

Where I can really tell a difference is in the area around my eyes. The fine lines at the corners of my eyes (which I REFUSE to call Crow's Feet because I think they should be more fabulous, like Flamingo's Feet!) have diminished slightly. The area seems smoother.

Buy It:
You can buy any of the products and many more on the website, www.CleopatrasChoice.com

..what i'm loving right now..

This voice...

..nordic ware review..

Nordic Ware is a leader in American-made kitchen products that was founded in 1946. They are known for quality bakeware, like their famous Bundt Pans invented in 1950, which can be handed down from generation to generation.

One of my earliest baking memories is watching my grandmother pour pound cake batter into her Bundt pan, and watching it come out a beautiful light golden brown. I always though that Bundt pans were a little magical.

Nordic Ware makes more than just cake pans. They also have an extensive line of baking sheets, frying and sauce pans, griddles and more.

I was lucky enough to receive two items for review from Nordic Ware. I received the Mini Pineapple Pan and the Platinum Shortcake Basket Pan.

The first thing you notice about Nordic Ware pans is the weight. The heaviness lets you know that these are quality, durable pieces. Another thing I love about them is the finish. Their light, silver platinum exterior ensures that you get even cooking, with no hot spots. Both pans have a great amount of detail, which translates beautifully in the finished baked product. I wondered if the leaves on the pineapple pan would indeed come out without breaking, and they did.

Overall I am very impressed with the Nordic Ware brand, and would definitely purchase more products. They even have a line of Microwave Cookware which I think would be neat to try.

Buy It:
~You can purchase items straight from Nordic Ware via their website
~You can also locate a retailer near you

..my how you've suffered..

My poor little blog. You, along with my loving laptop have suffered the fate known as mommyhood. Family comes first, work comes second. The internet unfortunately gets pushed way down, somewhere between shower-scrubbing and gardening. How I miss spending entire rainy afternoons clicking away on the keyboard, browsing blog after blog for new crafty or food ideas. Now I'm lucky if I can get in 15 minutes at naptime, considering the girls have decided they only want one nap a day, and it shall not be much over an hour. And after they're in bed for the night? Well that's when I have to try to catch up on the last bits of cleaning or toy-picking-upness or whatever. I dare not even try to lay in bed and play because I am usually so worn out that I fall asleep within minutes, and the amount of drool on my keyboard would surely short circuit something.

Just know that I think of you often dear blog. You are one of my oldest friends, and I know that no matter when I get to come back and visit again, you will be there.

..this photo..

does my heart good..

..the terrible twos..

If the Terrible Twos start early, does that mean they end early too? :) Oh buddy, I think we're there at 20 months. We have learned and often use the word, "no," we are very whiny, and I cannot leave their sight for a second without them throwing themselves on the floor in a fit. Tell me that's the extent of it? Please tell me the Terrible Twos don't get any worse! I don't think my sanity (or what little hair I have left) can stand it. My kiddos are the sweetest and funniest things in the world, but their little sensitivity meters have been right up there with a pregnant woman's. Any little thing sets them off.. she touched my toy... she looked like she was about to touch my toy... even though she's in the other room and I can't see her, she might be thinking about touching my toy!!

Ay yi yi.. It's so hard to get anything done. Even though we have a baby gate in the doorway that goes from the living room to the kitchen, and even though they could reach over the gate and touch me as I do laundry, they can't stand it. My laundry pile is awful y'all! I know that saying, "Good moms have sticky floors, dirty laundry and happy kids.." But how many days in a row do you have to wear the same jeans because they're the only clean pair you've got before that just becomes NOT true? :D

Oh, and have I mentioned that we have started having to DUCT TAPE their diapers? Yes, there have been too many poop-mishaps to go without taped diapers anymore. It's ugly and gross, and I'm not going to subject y'all to the details.

..Meet the Moms Giveaway..

Welcome to the Growing Up and Doing it Yourself Blog Event sponsored by Mompact.com! There are several blogs around the web taking place, reviewing different items invented by moms! The even runs from today, May 28 - June 10.

 I was excited to receive the Baby Dipper Bowl! This is one of those inventions that have you saying, "Why in the world didn't I think of that?" It was invented by a mom named Barbara Schantz who has TWO sets of twins! She knows what it's like at mealtime when you can't use both hands to feed one baby or toddler. When you have more than one kid crying at once, you can't simply tell them to wait, lol. She, like me, needed something that would let her feed with only one hand. That's when she designed the Baby Dipper. It is definitely a product invented by a mom for moms. This bowl is unique in several ways:

First, it has a non-slip bottom. That was the big, "Why didn't I think of that?" point for me. This is so helpful when I'm feeding one of the girls, or when they're feeding themselves. They are becoming very independent and like to do things on their own. The non-slip bottom keeps them from chasing it around the table or highchair tray.

Second, the interior is sloped. Let me tell you why that matters.. It makes the food gravitate towards the lowest point of the bowl. It collects it there for you people! Like a little food slide!

Third, the lowest point of the bowl is the same shape as the spoon. Genius! It makes getting the food in the spoon so much easier, both for me and the girls.

So if mealtime is somewhat of a chore for you or your child, or if you see your child is becoming frustrated trying to self-feed, you might want to give this bowl a try. I could also see it being great for children with special needs, making it easier to feed.

Buy It:
You can purchase your own Baby Dipper (in either pink or blue!) from their website!
Cost: $9.99

Win It:
As part of the blog event, MomPact is giving away a prize package that has one of every item that is being reviewed! Here's how to enter:

*Follow the Baby Dipper Fan Page here (must be done for any other entries to count) and leave a comment telling me you did.

* For an extra entry, follow my blog publicly and leave a comment telling me you do.

Contest is now closed. Thank you for entering!

..big girls..

I feel like I have 3 yr. olds instead of 18-month olds. We took down the cribs! No more cribs, that sounds so sad! I mean, I know it's an exciting time, and just another milestone. But they're really not babies anymore. And it seems like they didn't spend enough time in them, lol. That's only because they slept next to my bed until they were almost 7 months old, due to them being so little, and also due a little bit to me being kinda attached to them :D

At the moment they are just sleeping on mattresses on their floor. Their cribs do convert to a daybed, but my kids are SQUIRMERS! They flip and flop all over the place at night (they get that from their daddy) and no daybed, even with a little rail would hold them. They would find a way to fall off. So, I guess we'll stick to mattresses, unless maybe we go with those little plastic beds that just sit on the floor. They'll still fall out, but at least it won't be far. Who knows.. The only bad thing about no cribs is that it takes them longer to actually go to sleep. They can get up and play at will, so we're trying to get used to that. I laid them down about an hour ago and I can hear them on the monitor, walking around and roaring like a lion. Ahh, toddlerhood :)

..easter pictures..

Hope you all had a fantastic Easter! We did! I didn't know if the girls would "get" egg hunting or not only being 18 months old, but we tried it. We just laid eggs around the yard in the grass, and once we showed them what to do they actually had a lot of fun! Layla kept throwing eggs at everyone, and Piper kept jumping on them, popping them open, lol. In the pictures below, Piper is in the green dress and Layla in the pink (These were their eating outfits. Couldn't get mac & cheese on the frilly dresses, lol). In the last picture, J is holding Layla and I'm holding Piper.

..happy spring!..

LOVE this time of year! The weather has been great, even a little unseasonable warm (it has hit 81 degrees several times in the last couple of weeks). My first little tulip bloomed, and it was so pretty to see.

Onto to something that needs just a LITTLE bit of attention... I turned the big 3-0. I was really dreading it before it happened. I didn't think I was going to be ok with it, but now that it has come and gone, I really am good with it. There are some changes I want to make, and some I'm in the process of making (goodbye baby weight) and so I'm really looking forward to this year.

Another big change that has happened recently involves the hubs. He got a new job.. or should I say a new career. I never in my life thought I would see the day when he didn't fly for a living, but it's here. He decided to leave the airlines. Unfortunately flying for the airlines isn't nearly what it used to be. The pay and the benefits have gotten to be, well honestly, a little pathetic. Airlines have gotten to where they are trying to find any way possible to take from their pilots instead of giving. In the last year he has had one pay cut and another larger one was looming. He has been trying for the last 2 years to get on at TVA and luckily he was accepted into their latest class. This is going to help us out so much, both in a monetary sense and also just as being a family. Instead of being gone for days at a time he will be home every single day. We're very excited! :) It will also mean that I can scale back my time at the bakery too. I love my shop, but even on an easy week I am there at least 50 hours a week. On a tough week it is upwards of 60 hours. I am seriously considering having the shop open only on Thursdays and Fridays. I know that will upset some of my customers, and I may even lose some, but my family comes first. I get to spend very little time with my girls, and I can't stand that. I also miss my blog and my crafting time. My sewing machine has just about forgotten my name, lol. Although I did get to spend some time yesterday making the girls a bandanna dress each.

So I hope you all are having a beautiful Spring day so far. And here's to new and exciting changes.

Peace, love and koala fuzz y'all!

..carhartt review..

If you or someone in your household is a hunter, fisherman, or love to be outdoors, then chances are you own clothing by Carhartt. The Carhartt brand, founded in 1889, is synonymous with outdoor- and work-wear. They make lots of great and durable pants, coveralls and coats and shirts.

Carhartt recently sent me and the hubs some items to try out and review. They sent me the following items:

Women's Thermal-Lined Zip-Front Hooded Sweatshirt

Women’s Sandstone Mock-Neck Vest/Sherpa-Lined

 

And the Women's Sherpa Sweat Jacket

The first thing I noticed about the clothing is the weight. "Lightweight" is not how I would describe the items I received. They definitely feel like quality garments. Also, we had a very wet winter this year. In Alabama the high humidity makes it bitterly cold, so I was able to really put these items to the test. I have one major thing to say about all of them: WARM! When the wind blows the cold can feel like it just eats right through you. But I can honestly say that these are the warmest garments I have ever worn. Even with the wind, my legs and face would get cold, but my torso and hands (in the pockets!) stayed really warm. Carhartt absolutely knows how to make clothing. Also, the Sweat Jacket is very pretty. It can be dressed up or down, and still give you the warmth you might need. Overall, I am very, very impressed with the clothing, and I would definitely recommend the brand.

Here's what the hubs had to say about the items Carhartt sent to him:

Men's Sandstone Mock-Neck Vest

Wow. Carhartt nailed it! I love this vest.  I had to admit, I'm not much of a vest wearer, but I thought I'd give it a shot.  This vest is made from the quality durable outerwear we’ve come to demand from Carhartt, combined with a soft warm lining. Great number and placement of pockets and possibly the best feature is the extend tail to keep wind and cold off you're back. Great product!

Men’s Heavyweight Solid Flannel Shirt

I have been very pleased with the quality of this shirt, both in terms of material and craftsmanship. The flannel is nice and heavy,  and the cut is good-looking. I anticipate it will hold up well over the years and not fall apart like the thinner, flimsier flannel shirts which are the norm in retail shops. The color is a deep navy that goes well with light or dark pants. Because of the thick material, it goes better with loose or large-sleeved sweaters and would probably be difficult to layer under tighter clothes. On warmer days it can stand in for a jacket. I now see why people gravitate to the Carhartt brand.

Buy It: You can find these products and many more, including jeans, on the Carhartt website
Follow:
Carhartt on Twitter
Carhartt on Facebook

..the long day's journey..

Into weight loss, ugh. The girls are 17 months old, I'm about to turn the big 3-oh my gosh, and I decided the rest of this baby weight HAS to come off. After the girls were born I dropped 30lbs pretty quickly. But lack of exercise and a horrible diet made me get stuck there. So there I was, hovering around 176 and miserable. So it's time, for real. The weather is pretty which means I can push the girls in the stroller. In the past two weeks since I started walking again I've lost 5 pounds. And that's just a great motivator to keep going, wanting really badly to NOT put those 5lbs back on.

I'm trying to improve the diet too. It also helps that now my girls are little piggies so they eat half of whatever's on my plate. They're a very effective method of portion control, lol.

I don't care about being a size 0, which I don't even think would be physically possible for me. I just want to feel good. I want to be healthy. And I know I can do it. I set the realistic goal that by the end of summer (actual last day of summer by the calendar) that I will be under 140. To put that into perspective, I was 154 when I got pregnant (2 years ago), and I was 132 when I got married (almost 6 years ago). So according to the almanac, the last day of summer is September 21, and I have 30lbs to lose. 6 months, 5 pounds a month. Doesn't sound nearly as scary and daunting when you break it down that way. Wish me luck! :D

..winners..

Julep Maven Winner: Comment #14

Angie like Julep on facebook and left an update on their page that koala fuzz sent me (Angie B.)

 

EGRObaby Winner: Comment #60

Becca I follow Ergo on Twitter.

 

Congrats to my winner. I will be contacting you by email. Please respond within 72 hours to claim your prize!

 

..ergo baby review & giveaway..

Babywearing isn't something that has just recently come about. Mothers have been "wearing" their children for a long, long time. Some people see it as a necessity, and I can tell you it definitely helps when you have twins. One of the leading names in babywearing is ERGObaby. The ERGObaby Carrier was born out of a personal desire for mobility and comfort allowing you to tackle life while maintaining a close & natural bond with your baby and toddler.

After the girls were born, ERGObaby sent me one of their Original Carriers with the optional Infant Insert.

Original Carrier

Carrier with Infant Insert attached

One thing that I like about ERGObaby is that they really are customer driven. Not only can you download user manuals and photos from their website, but they also have a very extensive FAQ section. I'm talking two pages of FAQs!

And this carrier isn't just for younger babies. ERGObaby recommends a weight limit of up to 40lbs. I love taking it with us on vacation because even though the girls do well in a stroller, they get antsy in there after a while. They love to ride in the carrier, and they stay happy and calm for much longer. Another great thing about this carrier is that it's actually comfortable to wear. I'm 5'7" and, well, let's say I'm not a petite girl, lol. And my husband is 6'2" and has 100lbs on me and we can both wear this carrier comfortable. I can definitely recommend the ERGObaby carrier.

Buy It: You can purchase an ERGObaby carrier from their website or at a retailer near you.

Win It: ERGObaby is offering one of my readers an Original Carrier with an Infant Insert. Each entry below is worth 1 entry, unless otherwise specified. Please leave a separate comment for each entry. PLEASE make sure your email address is in your post or your profile.

*Visit the ERGObaby website and tell me which color carrier is your favorite
*Follow my blog publicly
*Follow me on Twitter @hayatiggs
*Tweet this giveaway with a link back to this post (can be done 2x daily for 1 entry each)
*Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link to where I can find it (2 entries)
*Post this giveaway on your Facebook page with a link here and tell me where I can find it (3 entries)
*Follow ERGObaby on Facebook and tell them Koala Fuzz sent you! (2 entries)
*Follow ERGObaby on Twitter
*Post the Blues Buster button on your blog and leave me a link showing me where to find it (3 entries)
*If you commented on this post, then you get 2 extra entries


This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to our winner!


 

..julep maven review & giveaway..

I have a confession to make. I'm a little bit obsessed with fingernail polish. More than a little bit actually. And what's even better is I have found a company that helps with that obsession. It's a company called Julep, and they have recently launched their Julep Maven program. When a beauty company comes up with new products, they make sure to send out previews to top beauty editors, trendsetters and magazines for review. Wouldn't you like to get ahold of one of those preview sets? Well, with the new Julep Maven program, now you can, and you can even have it personalized for your style! Here's what the beauty gurus at Julep has to say about their new program:

"We launched our new Julep Maven program to give all of our girlfriends access to the beauty editor Sneak Peek Box we create every month.  As a Julep Maven, you will have access to the hottest trends in nail color and the latest Mani Care and Pedi Care products - delivered right to your doorstep, just like the beauty editors do.  And you'll have access to these trends and products before anyone else.

We know that tailoring and customizing each editor delivery is critical to gaining her attention and enthusiasm, so every Sneak Peek Box we send you will be tailored to your needs and preferences.  Just take our fun and easy Julep Maven Style Quiz to help us understand your style profile.

Then each month, we'll send you an email to let you know what we've curated for you in your customized beauty editor Sneak Peek Box.  If you don't like what you see, you can try a new style."

For just $19.99 a month, you will receive more than double that amount in the newest trendsetting nail polish and cutting-edge beauty products from Julep Maven.

And Julep proudly donates $1 from the sale of every Julep Nail Vernis  to organizations that empower women.

Recently Julep sent me one of their great customized Julep Maven boxes. Inside I found two of their bottles of beautiful nail polishes, in colors Whitney and Nicole, and a bottle of their SPF 30 Hand Cream.

Besides the great color, another wonderful thing about Julep's nail polish is that they are developed without carcinogens such as formaldehyde or formaldehyde resin, toluene and DBP. The nail colors went on very smoothly. There is nothing worse than thin nail polish. I hate when it takes 4 coats to obtain the shade that you see in the bottle, and that is definitely not the case with Julep's polish. It coats very well and evenly. The Hand Cream was very nice also. It absorbs well, and has vitamin E which helps to strengthen my nails.

Try It: As a special just for my readers, Julep is offering your first Julep Maven box for just $5! Simply enter the code KOALAFUZZ at checkout. 

Win It: You have the chance to win a Julep Maven box of your very own! Each entry below is worth 1 entry, unless otherwise specified. Please leave a separate comment for each entry. PLEASE make sure your email address is in your post or your profile.

*Follow my blog publicly
*Follow me on Twitter @hayatiggs
*Tweet this giveaway with a link back to this post (can be done 2x daily for 1 entry each)
*Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link to where I can find it (2 entries)
*Post this giveaway on your Facebook page with a link here and tell me where I can find it (3 entries)
*Follow Julep on Facebook and tell them Koala Fuzz sent you! (2 entries)
*Follow Julep on Twitter
*Post the Blues Buster button on your blog and leave me a link showing me where to find it (3 entries)
*If you commented on this post, then you get 2 extra entries
*Become a Julep Maven using the KOALAFUZZ code (5 entries)

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to our winner!


*I was sent products for review and was not monetarily compensated in any way*

..getcha some!..

That Blues Buster Giveaway Event button I promised you? Yeh, here it is! :)

You can grab the code for it over there on the right --->  And when you put it on your blog, leave a message right here in this post telling me where I can find it. Then, when it comes time for the giveaways, look for your chance to get extra entries!

..blues buster..

Want to win some free stuff? Then you don't want to miss the giveaways here starting next month! A whole big giveaway-palooza sure to chase away the winter blues! I'll post a new blog button next week to give you an opportunity to earn extra entries, so subscribe now! You don't want to miss this!