Whirl-a-Style Ponytail Volumizer + Extender Red Carpet Celebrity Look Review and Giveaway #celebrityponytails

We love to have Spa Beauty Style days here in our home. It could include facial masques to hair treatments or styles. My tween loves for me to help her with newly discovered and minted styles straight from the pages of Pinterest but sometimes it can be a real challenge. Even with our beauty salon worth drawers and cabinets full of supplies, sprays, pins, clips and bands.  I never realized that the right tools can make all the difference in the finished look of a hair style until I was contacted by Whirl-a-Style.  

Whirl-a-Style has a whole catalogue full of amazing products that make anyone look like celebrity style pro.  The ponytail has been a hot trend for the past few years. The popularity hasn't dimmed at all...in fact recently I saw it everywhere on the catwalks at the fashion shows.  Whirl-a-Style was determined to design a product that would make the ponytail beautiful, fun and exciting for anyone by giving it amazing height and volume. Just like the look that you see on the covers of all the magazines, you know what I mean. After extensive research on design and materials, they developed this patented and trademarked ponytail product that gives you exactly the look you want.  The design gives as much height and dimension as you want while holding and staying in the hair even if you are dancing all night long.  The best part is there are several options for the Whirl-a-Style Ponytail Volumizer and Extender.

The Whirl-a-Style Ponytail Volumizer and Extender comes in 3 sizes 1, 2 and 3-inch lengths and different fabrics too. The Fashion Obsessed line is made of polyethelene material and comes in several trendy colors including Hot Pink, Purple, Black, Cream and Copper .  The Haute Ponytail Extender and Volumizer is made from fabric and comes in 2 Leopard and Zebra patterns.

My thoughts:  The Whirl-a-Style products are easy to use and make styling a high ponytail a heck of a lot easier. I enjoyed the ability to get the volume I needed and still have a beautiful look without as much fuss as before.  I love to feel like my hair is longer with the ponytail extender. My tween has been having fun with them as well and thinks they are much easier to use than our traditional methods. You can find Whirl-a-Style ponytail volumizer on Amazon for the easier purchasing ever. Meanwhile, enter my Rafflecopter giveaway to win one of your own Whirl-a-Style products. a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.

DKnight Magicbox Ultra-Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Review #DKnightMagicboxUltraPortableWirelessBluetoothSpeak

One of the hottest accessories out there now are portable wireless bluetooth speakers. Some of them are totally priced out of reason but not a great one that I recently had the opportunity to check out. The DKnight Magicbox Ultra-Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker is a good, reasonably priced option. It offers some powerful sound with built in microphone.  This DKnight Magicbox works seamlessly for Iphones, Ipad Minis, Ipad 4/3/2, itouch, Blackberry, Nexus, Samsung and many other smartphones and Mp3 players. The DKnight Magicbox recently got a major upgrade with easy to follow standard "Beep" sound prompts too. This is the model I was able to review.

I love that this wireless speaker is so small it fits into the palm of my hand. It has a built in rechargeable battery that lasts for up to 10 hours or music or talk.  It even comes with a USB charging cable so I can charge it via my laptop, wall charger or even in the car. It would also work with a desktop if that is what you use. My own desktop has been retired for a few years.  This amazing little device supports wireless music streaming via novel Bluetooth v3.0 technology.  How do you get such powerful sound from a tiny little device like this? It contains not one but two highly powerful 40mml total 6W acoustic drivers and the ultra-small size produces a wide audio spectrum that pretty much knocked my socks off this week.

You can see how simple the DKnight Magicbox is to use in the photo above. It is not complicated and has easy to follow buttons. I find that the built-in Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery really has been giving me close to 10 hours of playtime. I am loving the built-in microphone so I can use it for hands-free speaker phone calling. It is a cinch to pair too...much easier than my car since you don't need any codes or pins.

This is a great option to bring to the beach or even on a vacation since it is only 8.3 ounces. Plays all kinds of audio devices through 3.5mm aux in the jack.  I have been using it with my iphone 5 and my tween has used it with the ipad mini.  The music sounds wonderful and it was simple for both of us to learn how to use it quickly. You can pick this DKnight Magicbox Ultra-Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker up quickly right on Amazon my absolute fave place to shop. 

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.

Organic Spirulina Review #OrganicSpirulina

Always check with your physician before starting any supplement product and specifically Sari Foods Spirulina. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare professional prior to use if you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medication or have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children.

I really try to eat healthy and do what I can to support my immune system. I was excited to try out something new that is super healthful and can be used in so many ways from smoothies to cereals and even baking and cooking.  Organic Spirulina is an immune powerhouse! The rich, dense green color is the big clue that it is packed with important, organic nutrients that your body needs.

Now we are heading into the season that is a challenging one for me with viruses and the flu at my doorstep. I try to do everything I can to support my immune system. I am excited about the opportunities to use this Organic Spirulina to for yummy smoothies, juices and recipes to give me the nutritional boost my body needs.  I even received a free recipe book with some wonderful recipe and tips on how to incorporate this ultimate superfood into my diet!

The company has shared that Spirulina may help:

Support your immune system: Organic Spirulina is the most nutrient dense food known to humankind. That is pretty powerful. It can help balance your pH and reduce inflammation. This nutritional content can really provide the support your immune system needs this fall and winter and all year long.

Consider how free radicals and aging take place.This miracle superfood has more antioxidant activity than 5 servings of fruits and vegetables and 3900% more beta carotene than carrots.  That is a  powerful antioxidant punch that can support skin health and cell regeneration even in the face of pollution, diet, minor injury, or stress.

Organic Spirulina can help to optimize your health.  It contains over 100 naturally occurring and bioavailable vitamins & nutrients.  Organic Spirulina contains more than 60% protein and is a non-synthetic source of iron, calcium, magnesium, selenium, beta-carotine, B12, chlorophyll, phytonutrients, antioxidants and essential amino acids (GLA, Omega 3, 6 & 9's).

This is nutrient packed USDA Certified Organic Spirulina. It has been called perhaps nature's most perfect food. In fact, if nature were to make a multivitamin, this just might be it

Spirulina can be added to just about anything but is tastes best in smoothies and other flavored beverages.  I like blending it with ice cubes, almond milk, a drop of vanilla, a few pieces of sliced apple and a banana.  Spirulina alone has a strong flavor that works well with a bit of sweetness for balance. You can also add it to vegetable juices or a veggie smoothie. Talk about a benefit....Spirulina contains more protein content than any other food source, and, it is biologically complete. This means it contains all of the essential amino acids needed for human health. Spirulina is also the most planet friendly source of protein? It yields 20% more than soybeans with 25% of the water usage and is 5 times more energy efficient. It is an Eco-conscious source of green protein.  A perfect addition to your diet for vegetarians or if you trying to reduce your consumption of animal products.

Some considerations for choosing Organic Spirulina: 

• organic

• Spirulina is 100% Non-Toxic and Contaminate Free 

• Free of Chemicals, Pesticides, Heavy Metals, Yeast, Mold, E. Coli, BMAA, Microcystine, Pheophorbides, Irradiation, GMO's, Preservatives, Additives, Solvents, Binders, Soy & Gelatin.

You can buy your Organic Spirulina right here on Amazon too. 

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.

Bella & Bear Beauty Products (Eyelash Curler & Hair Remover) Review #beautytools

Nothing opens up my eyes and makes me look more fresh and alert than a quick tap or two with and eyelash curler.  I love this Bella+Bear Eye and Mighty Eyelash Curler.  It is easy to use and makes my eyes look gorgeous. It is a little different than your average eyelash curler because you don't have to hunt from drugstore to online trying to find those elusive replacement pads. None are required. The pads are designed to last for the lifetime of the eyelash curler.  This curler also doesn't pinch me like my old one did in the past. I am an old pro at eyelash curling but every once in a while...bam, pinch, owwww. I like the design of this Eye and Mighty Eyelash Curler better. It is actually easier to hold and grip all the lashes than my old curler.  It really works no matter what.  My special final and personal secret is turning on my hair dryer or hot brush and putting the curler under it for a second or two.  You must check it to make sure it isn't too hot before putting it near your eyes but it makes the lashes curl like crazy.

One other area that you need to consider in the beauty department is hair removal.  Bella +Bear make it a snap with their new Hair Removal Kit.  It is easy to use and saves me money.  Waxes, creams, threading, laser or even electrolysis costs so much money.  You can remove facial hair really fast and save a bundle by doing it in the privacy of your own home. This works on my facial hair and really lasts for weeks because it removes the hair from the follicles. I love that it is totally natural too. It even comes with a pair of high quality tweezers that get even those tricky hairs.  The Kit does it all and it is portable too so you never have to worry anymore.

The Bella+Bear Hair She Goes Hair Remover kit is the bomb. You really need to try it and let me know what you think. I love how smooth my face looks and no worries about the stray hairs anymore. I can even tuck it into my travel bag (it is that small!) so I can feel confident anywhere I go on vacation.

You can find Bella & Bear on Amazon too so you can get all the wonderful beauty benefits right to your door really fast.

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.

180 Cosmetics Pure Swiss Hyaluronic Serum + Oxygen Review #expederm

I am always looking for options to improve the look of my skin.  You have to take care of your facial skin carefully.  I was excited to hear about a novel option from 180 Cosmetics. They have a great serum that they shared can help reverse the signs of aging with the revitalizing power of oxygen.

This powerful serum has several benefits:

• Delivers abundant moisture for smooth, supple, wrinkle-free skin.
• Diminishes wrinkles, fine lines, and the signs of aging, while preserving the skin's elasticity, suppleness, and youthful tone.
• Nourishes, energizes, hydrates, and rejuvenates.
• Contains the highest concentration of the absolute best quality Swiss hyaluronic acid available on the market, and enriched with natural ingredients for maximum results.
• Also contains powerful antioxidants that protect skin from free radicals.

Why should anyone consider adding Hyaluronic Acid to their beauty regimen? As we age, our body produces less and less of this important acid, thus affecting how moisture is stored in our skin. With 180° Cosmetics Pure Swiss Hyaluronic Serum + Oxygen, your skin gets the nourishing ingredients it needs to stay toned, smooth, rejuvenated, and beautiful. In just moments, this amazing serum penetrates deep into the skin, nourishing it from the core.

My experience:  I have been using this serum all week long on my face after cleansing.  It feels good on my skin and I haven't experienced any irritation.  My face looks bright and my skin is super clear.  The pores are starting to look smaller which is wonderful. I think my fine lines look a little softer but I will give it a few more weeks. Nothing works totally overnight and I think repeated applications make a difference.  You can find this hyaluronic serum right on Amazon.

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.

Techno Gears Marble Mania Sidewinder 2.0 Review

We love to solve puzzles and put things together so we were really excited about both aspects of this Techno Gears Marble Mania Sidewinder 2.0.  This roller coaster theme construction set includes over 200 pieces to build and create your own introductory marble and gear run.

Sidewinder 2.0 includes a hand crank to move the marbles through the spiral lifter to the top of the twisting and turning tracks. Once built, kids can watch their marbles drop, spin and roll through their own fun and exciting creation. Ages 6+ years.

My daughter was super excited to check this out.  The directions made it easy but you have to take your time and follow them. There were some pieces like the blue pieces, you had ton put them in the exact correct direction otherwise you won't be able to connect other pieces properly.  

She enjoyed the challenge!  She also pointed out that some of the pieces required strength that some younger kids might not have. If your child is younger it would be a good bonding experience to construct it together with mom, dad, Gramma or Grampa. It was fun to put together for my 10 year old. She did some construction on a Friday and then completed it Saturday morning.  

The directions are pretty much super easy to follow and they showed the matching number for each piece.  That makes it easy to follow even for younger children with supervision. At the end, it would be more exciting if there was a loop de loop or squiggly line too.  Maybe there could be dual raceways or windmills too. That would make it even more fun.

It looks and feels very sturdy. It is a good size, even if someone lived in a smaller home or apartment it will not overwhelm your space fully constructed. We have been having a lot of fun with it this weekend and I would highly recommend it for any child that enjoys construction and gears. 

She has been playing with it regularly and it is fun to play together when you get all the marbles going.  When friends come over they immediately want to check it out and play with it.  They spend time laughing and cranking those crazy marbles through.

You can find the Techno Gears Marble Mania Sidewinder 2.0 right here at the Learning Journey. You can also go directly to Amazon.

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.

Vitamin C Facial Toner Review #instanatural

I spend a lot of time caring for my skin from washes to scrubs, toners to creams and serums. Sometimes it can be a challenge and multi-step products come to my rescue. Vitamin C Facial Toner is an ideal way to tone and hydrate my skin while still delivering the powerful benefits of Vitamin C and other anti-aging elements.  I love the double duty efficacy!  This wonderful toner is rich in sulfur. Each spray allows the sulfur to penetrate deep into the skin and help to increase elasticity. It only takes a second and I know that I am doing so much good for my facial skin.

This instanatural Vitamin C Facial Toner also contains high quality Witch Hazel.  This is a gently agent that really helps to purify the skin and pores.  I love how it really helps to reduce my pores visually and keep them clean.  At the same time this multi-benefit product with Vitamin C renews and strengthens the skin to help reverse the signs of aging.  instanatural suggests that it may even help prevent future damage.

I use the Vitamin C Facial Toner every day now because I find it is a great all-in-one hydrator.  It really preps my skin to absorb serums and moisturizers more efficiently and effectively.  It just takes a second and adds that additional benefit that I know I need.  This Vitamin C Facial Toner really is the perfect staple to add to your beauty regimen.

You can find this wonderful instanatural Vitamin C Facial Toner right on Amazon too.

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.

Custom Water Bottle Labels Review + Giveaway #icustomlabel

School events, parties and anywhere you need something a little more special demands consideration for Personalized Water Bottle Labels.  Holiday parties are almost here from Halloween to Hanukkah and Christmas. Don't forget that Valentine's Day is around the corner. Baby showers, kid's birthdays and engagement parties are another thought. Think about how many ways you can really add some pizzaz to even an everyday event like school lunch.

My tween was so excited about the opportunity to create special labels for her daily water bottles. We drink so much water and it is one of the healthiest beverages you can consume. iCustomLabel sets the standard for Personalized Water Labels. What is different? They use a professional series digital press, which allows them to produce a very high quality label.

Consider all your options to make your event special from the PTA Halloween bash to the Senior Prom. If you're looking for that missing "it factor" for your wedding, birthday party, holiday, iCustomLabel is the option to really bring something different to the table. High quality professional labels take ordinary water bottles to the next level.

iCustomLabel is able to provide a one of a kind chic and elegant label suited for any occasion. You can take a peek at their website and see all the different options. It was as easy as 1-2-3 to create and order our label from scratch.  No special skills required and you can customize to your heart's content too. Just so you know the water bottle Label Dimensions are 2" x 8." The material they use is a high quality Glossy Polypropylene to give a beautiful presentation.

I love that these are totally and 100% waterproof which is important when you are considering that they are wrapped around a water bottle.They work beautifully and seamless with our water bottles.  My tween brought her water to school this week and all her friends were buzzing with jealousy.  I had to write down the website so many times on sticky notes so she could give it to the requesting friends so they could ask mom to create special labels for their own water bottles. You can find these fun water labels  right on lane and save time and money by ordering from your own, comfortable home. Meanwhile, enter my Rafflecopter giveaway to win your own iCustom Labels. a Rafflecopter giveaway


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.

Luxe Beauty Microfiber Hair Towel dries hair super fast #LuxeBeautyEssentialsMicrofiberHairTowel

There is nothing like a soft, absorbent hair towel. I recently had the opportunity to try out a Luxe Beauty Microfiber Hair Towel which was a lot of fun. This a big towel...a full 19 x 39 inches made from double sided brushed terry microfiber. This towel is super soft and it was very gentle on hair and super absorbent. It washes well and dries very nicely.

I didn't realize that microfiber is that absorbent but it is...it actually dries hair faster.  I find that after washing my hair and drying it with this towel I can really cut how much time I need to use with my hot brush or flat iron.  I am thrilled because that means less damage to my hair. Of course my teen has already tried to repossess my special Luxe Beauty towel. I resisted but let her try it. She couldn't believe how much softer it was versus our regular bath towels.  It dried her long, long hair really quickly.  She has been asking for her own towel now. Sigh. I told her I would consider it.

You can pick up this hair towel on Amazon too and have it in your house fast.

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.

Dave's Killer Bread Blog Review #momsmeet @killerbread

I received this product for free from the sponsor of the MomsMeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetsSM blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product. 

There is nothing like fresh, delicious bread.  Then, you have Dave’s Killer Bread which is fresh, delicious and the company works hard to do good too. Dave’s Killer Bread started out back in 2005 on the west coast. Being in the mid-Atlantic region, I had only recently heard about it and found it through my local Whole Foods.  They started out at local Farmer's Markets in the Portland, Oregon area and not suprisingly, quickly became a local favorite organic bread. Once you try it, you will know why.

Fast forward, and in less than 10 years they are the #1 best-selling organic bread in the country. All of Dave’s Killer Breads are organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and packed with killer taste and texture. This is not your typical supermarket bread.  It has an amazing taste and texture that works beautifully for sandwiches, French Toast and even in healthy recipes. You feel good buying it because there is a lot more to Dave's than just the taste.

Dave’s Killer Bread is known for its trademark explosion of seeds, delicious chewiness, and high quality ingredients. This is a company that want to more than just bake yummy bread though...they are determined to creating lasting change for the bread industry, their communities, and most especially their employees.  You have 12 varieties of delicious loaves to choose from too. You can find Dave’s Killer Bread in major grocery chains across 17 states and even parts of western Canada now.  Dave’s Killer Bread tastes delicious and each loaf is studded with seeds, ancient grains, and whole grain nutrition.  This kind of bread makes sense to me and fits perfectly into our healthy lifestyle. Even better, each slice also contains as much protein as one egg.  A loaf of Dave’s Killer Bread retails between $5.00 and $6.00 depending on where you shop.

I know some people (ahem, my husband...ahem, ahem) prefer a smoother texture.  To meet the needs of everyone, Dave’s Killer Bread even added a smooth textured 100% Whole Wheat bread to their product line recently.  So now your pickier family members can enjoy healthy loaves like the Dave's Whole Wheat with a touch of sweetness and that smooth texture they crave and require.You can still feel good about the nutrition and use any of the breads for sandwiches to French Toast or even as croutons in a cup of homemade soup.

One of the varieties I can't wait to try is Dave's Seeded Honey Wheat.  I didn't know until know that it was the first Non-GMO Project Verified honey wheat bread on the market.  Little Glamamama and I are definitely prime candidates for the 5g of fiber and protein, the sweet taste and crunchy texture of Seeded Honey Wheat. 

We tried the 21 Whole Grains and Seeds Thin-Sliced loaf. As a fitness buff, I appreciated that I can still enjoy the yummy taste and nutrition of Dave’s Killer Bread even when i really need to watch my calories which is almost all the time. I like that this is another variety loaded with grainy texture and big flavor but only 60 calories per slice.  I don't have to be deprived or feel guilty.

If you are really looking for lots of protein and fiber plus bold texture and sweet flavor you need to check out Good Seed variety of Dave’s Killer Bread.  We were able to sample this one and Little Glamamama and I both enjoyed it. Check out her lunch that I made last week with it above....she said it was delicious!  This will hit all the marks for you and your kids. I really liked it but I prefer the Thin Sliced so I can keep my own calories in check. That is the nice part that you have so many options!

The wonderful part about Dave’s Killer Bread is that you can stock up and freeze the extras. That is my busy mama tip that I always do since I don't have Whole Foods close to me.  If you are not going to eat a loaf in 7-10 days, they actually recommend freezing them. A best practice is to double bag the loaf (place the bagged loaf into a second zipper freezer bag), and you can actually freeze it for up to 3 months. I like to use a Sharpie marker to mark the date for easy reference. You can take pieces out to thaw as needed, toast directly out of the freezer, or just thaw the whole darn loaf if you have a posse in your home.

Truly, there are endless ways to enjoy Dave’s Killer Bread and your Pinterest pages are the only thing that limits your imagination!  You can enjoy a slice plain, toasted, or make a yummy hot or cold sandwich. Try some of the following delicious ideas:  Toast your bread and add your favorite topping (butter, almond butter, peanut butter, chocolate spread, cream cheeses, jam); create a cold sandwich (egg salad, chicken salad, turkey and Swiss, ham and cheddar, hummus and feta with cucumber); or whip up a hot sandwich (grilled cheese, monte cristo, tuna melt, tomato and mozzarella with fresh basil). You can make croutons too and add them to a nice Panzanella salad or a fresh homemade soup like I did. Any which way you slice it, you're gonna love Dave's Killer bread!

You can follow Dave's Killer Bread on their website, on Twitter and Facebook. I always like to follow my fave brands for all the updates and promotions. Don't forget to join Moms Meet too. It is a great way to meet other moms online, find out about new products and helpful ideas and maybe even sample some new options that you will come to love!