Kylie Minogue New Album #AbbeyRoadSessions The Abbey Road Sessions

Wow! Take Kylie Minogue, her band and a full orchestra and put them together in London's amazing Abbey Road Studios and what do you get? An amazing album called The Abbey Road Sessions that is being released in the U.S. on November 6.

The Abbey Road Sessions features 16 classic songs belted out by a Kylie that you know and love. There is even one new and previously unreleased track, "Flower."   Kylie’s latest single “Flower” is a song she wrote several years ago following her battle with breast cancer, to the child she wishes she might one day still have.  Kylie is a breast cancer survivor and donates her time to American Cancer Society, as well as amFAR for AIDS research. 


I love the almost bluesy gospel sound of Slow. the sultry sounds of On a Night Like This and All The Lovers is transformed with the orchestra into something else.  I Should Be So Lucky is recognizable but slower and more interesting this time around.

Nick Cave re-recorded their duet of Where the Wild Roses Grow specially for the album. it sounds as pretty as it ever did. The Locomotion has those same catchy words and music that got you up and moving the first time. Flower is a beautiful ballad that sounds perfect and very modern.

I can't believe it is Kylie's 25th anniversary in music throughout 2012. This album is another addition to all her other hits and is a must have for any Kylie Minogue music fan. Check out the tracks on the Abbey Road Sessions sampler from Youtube.  Don't forget to follow Kylie on twitter at www.twitter.com/kylie minogue 


I participated in this campaign for One2One Network. I received a free copy of the CD to facilitate my review. By posting, I am eligible for incentives. All opinions stated are my own.

Win it!!! YourSantaStory DVD Giveaway; A great PERSONALIZED childs gift for Christmas

I heard about Your Santa Story a few months ago and I was intrigued.  When I received the totally personalized DVD I was absolutely amazed!  It really included all the personal tidbits and details that I had filled in when I ordered it online. My hubby and I could not even believe our eyes when we previewed it.  Santa was talking right to us personally!  I know the little one is going to be sitting there in awe on Christmas morning wondering how Santa knows all her amazing accomplishments this year!  He included details about her music lessons and the special awards she received at achool.  The personalized DVD included all the details too....not a thing was missed!!  She was amazed that Santa knew about how hard she was working at her piano lessons and how he even knew about her new theatre class. He even talked about our family and shared how happy he was that the tropical fish made it through Hurricane Sandy thanks to Daddy and the generator! What a great Christmas gift for anyone!

You can include your own personal details and family story with all the little details that are important to you! Don't forget his amazing flute recital or her great save at the final soccer game of the season.  Include Gramma Sylvie and Pop-Pop and don't forget to include the family pet(s).  What a sweet idea for your little girl(s) or boy(s) to get a totally personalized story DVD from Santa.  I had never seen or heard anything like this before. Your Santa Story has a REAL Santa Claus talking right to your family. You can go to YourSantaStory to learn more and order today!
We all have our own traditions and rituals that make our celebration unique to our family. Whether it is a special Christmas breakfast with Mom's yummy pancakes or even a decoration ritual with your tree or the neighbors, it all is truly meaningful to your family. This is a great way to create more special memories with your own children that you will have forever. How fun to share a unique Christmas tradition that not only celebrates your family's uniqueness but is sure to make the Christmas morning even more special!

"YourSantaStory" is a customized, family-specific DVD that will feature an authentic Santa Claus that will talk to each child in the family by name and talk about all the special events in your family story that Mom or Dad want to tell.  Santa will chat about how your children are doing in school, with specific references to sports, piano lessons or anything else you want him to talk about.  He can mention their excellent behavior or how much their grandparents love them.  He can talk about special events or get togethers with cousins or even milestone vacations! Santa can even tell them that he has hidden one last gift for them because they have been so good this year…and then give them the inside scoop on the location!  Just watch them run too.

Take a peek at the just launched YourSantaStory website to learn more about this fun new holiday tradition. While you're there, you can create your own "YourSantaStory" DVD, available for only $29.95.  Please note that because each DVD is custom made to tell your unique story, there are limited quantities that are able to be produced. It is very fast and easy to do and the website guides you through each step. With Christmas fast approaching, make sure you get your order in as soon as possible to ensure delivery by Christmas morning.

In honor of the holiday season, the team at "YourSantaStory", a tiny squad of determined Moms and Dads just like you that LOVE Christmas, will be spreading the cheer by giving away a "YourSantaStory" DVD every week on Facebook until Christmas, while supplies last! 
  
You can get more information through Facebook and Twitter.  Check them out on Pinterest too!

Don't forget to enter the contest below to win your very own YourSantaStory DVD for your child!a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer:   I was sent this product to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Chris Mann from "The Voice" has a new album! Great music #Roads

Do you remember that gorgeous face those incredible vocals from "The Voice?"  Chris Mann was a finalist on the NBC television series “The Voice,” which included judges such as Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo. After the series ended, Chris quickly had  two songs on the iTunes Top 10 Pop Singles Chart. Not a surprise considering his powerful vocals on his brand new album titled "Roads."  

Mann was influenced by a variety of talent as he trained his own voice.  His influences included Pavarotti, Robbie Williams and even Sinatra.  You can really hear that in "Roads."   The album is a fascinating blend of classic tenor and contemporary pop which is pretty unusual.  Songs like "Need You Now" and  "The Blower's Daughter" are so intense but kind of easy to listen to at the same time. You kind of feel like you are sitting in the front row of a Broadway show--the tenor of his voice is that amazing.  I can't wait to introduce it to my friends...it will be nice to play as a background for holiday get togethers this season.

I recommend you purchase his new album on iTunes  or Amazon.com.  It would make a really nice Christmas or holiday gift for someone special.  The songs are so pretty it is something that anyone would enjoy. 

You can find more of Chris Mann's music here.

“This is a review post from One2One Network. I was provided with a copy of the album and I am eligible for a prize drawing. As always, all opinions are my own.”

New! Love these EZ Pouches of Crock-Pot® Seasoning Mixes: Savory Pot Roast, Hearty Beef Stew and BBQ Pulled Pork @CrockPotMixes @MySmiley360

I just found out about these new Crock-Pot® Seasoning Mixes through my association with Smiley360 and the timing could not have been more perfect with the cooler fall days coming fast!  I love to use my Crock-Pot® and these seasoning mixes make it super easy for me especially on those busy work nights. I can set it up before I leave for work and dinner is ready when I walk in the door!  What more could a busy mom ask for?  

I snagged myself a few extras this past weekend when I saw them in my local Target by the crock pot section too!  You can find it in your area by checking out the link HERE. There are three great flavors to offer lots of variety too : Savory Pot Roast, Hearty Beef Stew and BBQ Pulled Pork.  I just tried the BBQ Pulled Pork this weekend and it came out great. My whole family LOVED it.

Here are some recipes to give you a start for each of the different mixes:

Crock-Pot® Beef Stew Seasoning Mix Recipes 

Crock-Pot® Savory Pot Roast Seasoning Mix Recipes

Crock-Pot® BBQ Pulled Pork Seasoning Mix Recipes 

Don't forget enter their great "Crockin' in the USA Sweepstakes here. Enter an original recipe using Crock-Pot® Seasoning Mixes for a chance to win groceries for a year worth $8,000!
You can follow them on Twitter and Facebook too!

Disclaimer: I received free product samples from Smiley360 in order to review it.

Kmart Decorate It Forward Sweepstakes and LOTS of Holiday Goodies!

#DecorateitForward with Kmart

Kmart has tons of great items to decorate your house for Christmas and help you entertain in style for 2012.  Kmart now has a digital gift list to help you get ideas for purchase and to truly DECORATE IT FORWARD.  Now that is a smart way to shop and to let others know the things you really want this year.

I always look forward to the Kmart Christmas shop as my first destination during the holiday shopping season. I know I can find great items from ornaments to housewares to to make my house  look so festive too and not break the bank.

I was able to scoot over to Kmart recently to make sure my holiday decor is top notch. I was impressed, once again with the great selection of decorating and entertaining items that were available throughout the store.  Items were neatly organized and I loved how colorful the store was with all the beautiful Christmas decor! From the adorable hand towels (from $6.49!),

Seasonal Hand Towels

to the adorable snowglobes (from $9.99)

to the glittering ornaments (from $6.49) you just can't beat the holiday prices at Kmart.

I was able to really spruce up my home for a song at Kmart.  My little one loves the snowglobe on the mantel too. It is adorable.

Kmart has a new sweepstakes too, the Decorate it Forward Sweeps--you can win yourself a holiday shopping spree with Sandra Lee or Jaclyn Smith--wow!!  There are tons of great items in their exclusive Kmart Holiday Collections that I know I would love to win. I bet you can find a few too....just add them to that handy digital gift list that Kmart created for you!  Don't forget that Kmart has a cool virtual Ornament Creator to make something special to send to your friends too. Make sure they all know you are modern and up to date so send that e-ornament today. 

Last of all you just have to check out that adorable St. Jude Holiday Bear Collectable Ornament.  Just take a peek now. Kmart is generously donating $1.00 to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital for every ornament that is purchased. Kmart really knows how to decorate it forward but isn't that what the holidays and Christmas is really about?

You must visit ShopYourWay.com to sign up for the Kmart rewards program. What is that you might ask?  You can earn 10 points for every $1 you spend. No minimum amount of points to redeem either.  Redeem when you want for what you want at any time. Wow, that is a great program and I have been a member for several years now.  You will be amazed at how quickly the points add up! The sweet part is that you just swipe the card when you shop--it is that easy!

Hop on over to Kmart and decorate it forward yourself!

Disclaimer:  I received a gift card from Smiley360 and Kmart to review products for this post. As always, all opinions are my own.

Brining a Turkey with Kikkoman Soy Sauce: My Experience @KikkomanKitchen @MySmiley360

I was curious about a cooking technique that I had heard about from time to time which involving brining poultry, like a turkey.  People had told me the turkey comes out really moist and tasty but I had never tried it. I finally had an opportunity recently when I was offered to actually try a turkey brining project through my partnership with Smiley360 and Kikkoman.  I love Kikkoman sauces and use their Teriyaki and soy sauce often. There are always bottles in my refrigerator and an extra down in the pantry just in case.

I was excited to give the recipe a try. I found a turkey brining recipe on the Kikkoman website.  It was easier than I thought to make a brined turkey using Kikkoman soy sauce! Truly you just marinate it.  It came out tasting great and we all enjoyed it a lot. It was pretty much worry free and very easy to follow.  I would definitely do it again--fun for a large group and very flavorful. It would be fun and different to do it for Thanksgiving too!

It's great because now you can also get Kikkoman coupons to try it out yourself by giving them a LIKE on Facebook.  Check out the Kikkoman Twitter page too. You can find more yummy Kikkoman recipes HERE.

Disclaimer:  I received a free sample of the product in order to review it. As always, all opinions are my own.

New Pantene® Pro-V Silky Moisture Whip Sample & Coupon! #PanteneWhip

New Pantene^® Pro-V Silky Moisture Whip erases the damage of 100 blow-drys. Time to smooth things over with your hair? New Pantene^® Pro-V Silky Moisture Whip erases the damage of 100 blow-drys.* Because at some point, every relationship could use a little damage control. Snag yourself a free coupon for Pantene here. 

*damage to smoothness and shine

Disclaimer:  I received this offer from Vocalpoint and was provided with a coupon and sample to evaluate the product. As always, all opinions are my own.

Glade Expressions Collection Fragrance Mist and Oil Diffuser

I was excited to be chosen by BzzAgent to be part of their Glade Expressions® Campaign. I love fragrance and there is nothing like walking into a clean home that smells fresh and natural. Glade Expressions® helps you do that two different ways that are both super easy.

There are several unique scents that all provide lightly layered and long-lasting fragrances in the Glade Expressions® Collection. I thought all of them were very natural and fresh smelling.  I know the fragrance combinations are inspired by art and  were designed to open up note by note, filling your home and inviting life in.  I think the idea is different and a little bit more elegant than your everyday air fresheners, don't you?

•  Cotton & Italian Mandarin-a blend of cotton and sparkling citrus, honeydew and sandalwood.

•  Fuji Apple & Cardamom Spice-Spicy blend of pears and crisp apple plus cinnamon and clove

•  Lavender & Juniper Berry-Lavender blends with fresh juniper berry, eucalyptus and rose 

•  Pineapple & Mangosteen-a blend of freshl pineapples and  mangosteen, coconut and passionflower.

All of the scents come in a fragrance mist or oil diffuser. I have been using the Cotton and Italian Mandarin diffuser for several weeks now and my lower level still smells delicious!

Disclaimer:  I received free samples in order to evaluate the Glade Expressions® line of products. As always, my opinion is my own.

CN Style Society Mary Kay

 

I received an exciting surprise in the mail today! Conde Nast Style Society sent me a HUGE box with tons of Mary Kay goodies to try.  I have used Mary Kay in the past but then my old consultant moved and I lost touch with her. I forgot that I can just go online to marykay.com and connect with a new consultant!  

This is what I received in the box:

• Lash and Brow Building Serum
• Lash Love waterproof mascara in Black/Noir
• Lash Love mascara in Brown/Brun
• Lash Love mascara in Black/Noir
• Lash Primer
• Ultimate mascara in Black/Noir

They really covered all the bases with options.   I have to say that I really find I need to work more on building up my lashes and brows in the past few years. Sigh....I guess it is that over-40 thing.  I was excited to try the Lash and Brow Building Serum and it worked really well for me. It was easy to apply and definitely made a difference in my lashes and brows.

I use both waterproof and regular mascara so that worked out perfectly for me. I found the Lash Love and the Ultimate mascara to be easy to apply and the Lash Love waterproof version stayed on all day and night. I prefer the black to the brown but they are both good, neutral options for the Lash Love. 

I also received the newest catalogs from Mary Kay and was impressed with the variety of items that were available from makeup to fragrances.  Check them out and let me know what you think!

Disclaimer:  I received Mary Kay samples through Conde Nast Style Society in order to provide my reviews on the products  All the opinions as always, are my own.

Vitabath Fragrance Mist #FaveFragrance @vitabath

 

How exciting to see a Vitabath item peeking out of my Beauty Bloggers VoxBox 2012 from Influenster!  I received a Spa Day Cucumber & White Tea fragrance.  I love it.  It is a refreshing crisp cucumber scent mixed with soft water florals and soothing white tea.  I have used it several times already and got a ton of compliments. My hubby loves the fresh scent too! I can't wait to get online to the Vitabath website to buy the matching  Spa Day Cucumber & White Tea Body Wash!

 

 It is nice because you can layer any of your fave Vitabath fragrances to make them last even longer. They lightly scent your skin and this way you can relish it all day long!   The Spa Day formulas are revitalizing and weightless.  They are infused with conditioning vitamins and a unique antioxidant blend.  All of the ingredients help keep skin feeling refreshed and lively. You can cleanse with the Fragrance Collection Body Wash first. Next, you can layer with the matching Fragrance Collection Fragrance Mist. 

Check them out for offers and promotions on Facebook and Twitter too. Their Twitter handle is @vitabath.

  Disclosure:  I received a product sample for review. As always, all opinions are my own.

Not Your Mother's Hair Cream Kinky Moves #HairMoves #VoxBox

 

Influenster always includes a great variety of items in their VoxBoxes. The Beauty Bloggers VoxBox 2012 is no exception. It is always fun to find new products that work well for me and my busy lifestyle. 

It is hard when you have wavy/frizzy/kinky hair. Okay, I am being nice to my hair. I have to do a lot to make it look nice and I do it because I LIKE to look nice every day. Kinky Moves really makes the whole process so much easier.  Super easy...really!   Not Your Mother's Kinky Moves is infused with natural grape seed and jasmine to encourage natural curls and eliminate frizz and fly-aways.  You just apply a little bit to towel dried hair and either blow-dry or air dry to your desired style. My hair was definitely less frizzy and it styled very easily. I like that it has natural ingredients too!

You can follow them on Facebook and on Twitter.  Their twitter handle is @nymbrands.  You never know what kind of discounts or deals they might offer to their faithful followers so I always follow my faves.

 

Disclaimer:  I received a complimentary product sample to evaluate through Influenster.  As always, all opinions are my own.

Wow! Bath & Body Works Candles Fall Discount! #Voxbox #BBWFallCandles

 

I love when I get to go to the local mall...one of my fave spots is Bath & Body Works.  Everything smells so delicious especially those candles.  The variety of scents always works for me because there is something for everyone including me, my sister, my mom...you name it. I was excited when Influenster sent a mini candle with a gorgeous fragrance for fall as part of my Beauty Bloggers VoxBox 2012!  I received the “Black Pepper Bergamot” scent...isn't it adorable? It smells wonderful...just perfect for fall!  

Even more wonderful is that BBW included a coupon code for everyone to use on their candles..including my readers. Through October 28, 2012, you can get one of their three-wick candles for $10.00...they usually go for $20.00 and up. Go to BBW and use code F126566 online or in-store to receive your discount. 

Don't forget to check BBW out on their Facebook page and you can also follow them on Twitter. Their Twitter handle is @LUVBBW.  You never know what discounts they might offer to their faithful followers!

Disclaimer:  Influenster provided me with a sample of BBW products so I could review it. However, all of the opinions expressed here are my own.

Review: Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin @goodyhair #SpinPin

I was so excited to get this item from Goody! Thank you Influenster! I debated it a few months ago when I saw it in Walgreens but was waiting. It looked so fun and stylish. I don't know why I didn't buy it then because I love it.  I love to put my long, wavy hair up on those crazy-busy hair days.   I need things that offer a really secure hold since my hair tends slide out a lot of the barrettes. The Spin Pin is perfect and give me lots of options that look glamorous and professional.  I love all the styles that you can create with the Spin Pin!

The same happens with my little one who loves to steal borrow all of my hair and makeup items!   I LOVE that the Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin comes with really detailed instructions and style ideas too!

 You can check out more styles or get more information on the Facebook or Twitter pages for Goody.

 Disclosure:  I received a product sample for review. As always, all opinions are my own.

Influenster Website Relaunch and #Beauty Blogger Vox Box 2012

It was exciting to see the new and improved Influenster website debut recently.  It is much easier to navigate and has a lot more interactive features including reviews, a Question & Answer section, different badges, and more.  They also launched the new Beauty Blogger VoxBox which yours truly received--YAY!

My latest Beauty Blogger Voxbox contained the following goodies:

*NYC New York Color Individual Eyes Customer Compact – Brown Eyes

*Kiss Ever Pro Lashes Starter Kit

*Bath & Body Works Mini Candle

*EBOOST powder in Orange

*Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin

*Not Your Mother’s Smooth Moves Frizz Control Hair Cream

Influenster is a website where people like you and me evaluate and share their experiences with all kinds of products. Believe me, it is not just beauty products. There are things geared towards all kinds of interests. Every few months they send out these "surprise" Voxboxes which are boxes full of goodies. Different members qualify for different boxes.  You need to honestly evaluate and share online through Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler, Pinterest and your blog about the products they send you. Your #Voxbox can vary greatly depending on different factors like demographics, experience, expertise, and participation in the Influenster community.  

If you want to join Influenster leave me a comment and I can send you an invite. I only have a few available so HURRY! You can also join here by requesting an invite.

Disclosure:  I received samples from Influenster in order to evaluate products.  All the opinions as always, are my own.

Clear Scalp & Hair THERAPY Shampoo/Conditioner Review #Clearhair

I was impressed with the scent of Clear Scalp & Hair THERAPY Shampoo and Conditioner when I first received it through Shespeaks. It performed well even after a hard workout at the gym. My hair felt clean but soft and moisturized. My family liked it as well.

I will say one thing though...it was not apparent if it is safe for color treated hair. I was not sure if it contained sulfate a. I wish they would say on the bottles.

I would buy it again though since the family liked it too! You can find out more on their Twitter page or check out Shespeaks here.

Disclaimer: Shespeaks provided a free sample of Clear Scalp and Hair Therapy products to me so I could review them.  However, all of the opinions expressed here are my own.

Kiss Ever Pro Lashes Starter Kit #KissLashes @Kissproducts

I kept hearing everyone raving about doing those salon lashes but I just couldn't bring myself to spend all that money for a short term result. I was so excited to see Kiss Ever Pro Lashes Starter Kit at $5.99 in my Influenster Beauty Blogger #VoxBox!  Another friend was just raving about those darn salon lashes AGAIN on Thursday night at dinner so I was so happy to find a reasonable alternative!  

I checked them out on Facebook and Twitter to get some more information and found that other ladies were had left some very positive comments about their experiences.  I tried them out yesterday for my weekly date night with my hubby and they looked gorgeous. They were very easy to apply and made my eyes look so lush.  I would definitely use them again.

They say that you can actually bring the salon home with this eyelash starter kit.  It is true!!  It has it all:  eyelashes, adhesive and applicator.   Anyone can do it if I can do it!

 Disclaimer:  I received product complimentary for testing purposes through Influenster.  As always, all opinions are my own.

NYC New York Color #IndividualEyes Customer Compact @nycnewyorkcolor

I love to add color to my everyday eye look.  I enjoy luxurious and trendy colors but don't always want to spend a ton of money.  I do want to use a good quality eyeshadow though and I found a way to do that!  NYC New York Color #IndividualEyes Customer Compact is a great AND inexpensive way to do that. At $4.99 it is a steal too with the hottest fall colors. 

NYC New York Color makes it so EZ with an all-in-one compact that totally has everything you need for a complete eye look: primer, illuminator, applicator and complementing shadows. There are four colors, specially coordinated to intensify and enhance your eye color so you can create your own look. I love how it makes my eyes really stand out in an elegant and sophisticated way!

Don't forget to check them out on Facebook.
You can also follow NYC New York Color on Twitter.

Disclaimer:  I received product complimentary for testing purposes through Influenster.  As always, all opinions are my own.

Purex plus Oxi Contests $6,000 in Prizes & Review

Wow! I love fresh clothes that are free of stains and all those everyday accidents...NEW Purex® plus Oxi powers through them all!  It is hard to find a good laundry detergent. The best part is that it leaves your clothes fresh and soft too!  I think it is one of the best laundry detergent options out there!

The most powerful  Purex® detergent available---ever! Purex® plus Oxi is so powerful, it works against over 101 different stains! I couldn't believe it myself either until I saw how it cleaned several tough stains my family threw at me. How about ketchup on a white shirt...of course a favorite one! Olive oil on my hubby's khaki pants? Purex Plus Oxi laundry detergent powered them both right out!

The three stain-fighting enzymes in  Purex® plus Oxi each work against different types of stains for the most Purex stain-fighting power you can get. I believe it now too since I have experienced the stain fighting power in action. Try it yourself and see what you think. 

Purex® plus Oxi Sweepstakes is open to enter! There is over $6,000in prizes!  You can enter HERE!

Don't forget to enter my own Rafflecopter giveaway below...you can win your own coupon for a free bottle to try!a Rafflecopter giveaway


Purex provided me with a sample of Purex plus Oxi so I could review them. However, all of the opinions expressed here are my own.