"#sponsored #MyPlatinum Giveaway! The News is Just In: I am Officially a Cascade Platinum Influencer

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Cascade. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

I was thrilled to hear today that I am going to be a member of Cascade’s ‘My Platinum‘ Ambassador Program. Glamamama will be sharing tips, tricks and goodies about dish washing with the help of Cascade.  Lordy knows, we all need to get the dishes clean one way or another.  Why not consider ANYTHING that can make the task easier, right?  I knew you were with me from the word easier!  The great part is that this is the first of four posts that I will be sharing with you so you have a bunch of opportunities to gather up all of my cleaning tricks.

As soon as I moved out of my parent’s house I was introduced to the dishwasher! My mom has one now but growing up we didn't have one. Ugh. Yes, I agree.  Thank goodness every apartment I’ve lived in has had one and now of course I have a brand new one in my house.  My sensitive skin and loads of dishes piled up is not for me. Now, with three people in our house I could never imagine not having one.

In the past, sometimes I would run the dishwasher more than once because the dishes really didn't come out clean.  This is with a really high end, fancy-pants dishwasher too.  I tried a bunch of different brands of dishwashing detergents--liquids, packets, crystals, you name it. I like my dishes to really look and feel clean. They weren't always coming out that way either. I just did not understand what was going on. I would get really irritated because I just don't have time for that.  I am busy, I work and have a family. I like to have some free time to myself.  I had zero interest in trying to soak and scrub to get out caked on dried food that a dishwasher should have gotten out.  I was finding a lot of spotting too on the glasses which is completely vexing.  I kept checking the rinse aid compartment thinking it had to be empty but I never could figure it out. 

I was excited to try Cascade’s line of products.  Cascade Platinum has been working really well for me. I am not needing to re-wash and I have not been seeing those vexing spots on the glasses.  Cascade has been around forever and they really keep innovating with new products which I like.  It is nice to know that they are not sitting on their laurels and are working to make their products better and my life easier. 

I am not kooky about it but when I make something that comes out nice, I often post it on Instagram or Facebook. Presentation is everything, right? Cascade knows that too so they recently partnered with Top Chef judge and editor of Food+Wine magazine, Gail Simmons.   Of course preparation and taste is also important and Gail knows about the whole package.

You have to have a great-tasting recipe but also you want to present it beautifully. Sparkling dishes, shining flat ware and spot-free glasses let your fantastic recipe shine through so you can hear everyone say, "Wow!" Gail says, “The easiest recipes pop with unexpected, gourmet presentations. Drizzle bright sauces on sparkling white plates or layer desserts in crystal-clean glassware. Keep your presentation sparkling with Cascade Platinum, which keeps dishes perfect for anytime entertaining and impromptu guests.”

 
Ready to win big in the new Cascade Platinum Instagram Contest?  Now you can show off how sparkly Cascade makes all your pots, pan and plates! Check out the Cascade Platinum contest landing page  to enter and submit images.  It is super easy to enter and maybe you will win!  They will get you set up with Instagram if you haven't tried it yet, you will love it. Each week, two contestants will be selected to receive a brand new Whirlpool dishwasher. Additionally, one lucky grand prize winner will receive a Platinum kitchen makeover! Now don't forget, you have to both register and upload a photo with the #MyPlatinum hashtag and tag @MyCascade to be in the running to win. Each week will have a 6-day entry period where Instagram users can enter the contest with their #MyPlatinum Photo. Cascade will choose two weekly winners and one final grand prize winner after the entry period has ended.   The schedule is below so get cracking!

· Week 1: My Platinum Plate (Entry Period: 6/3-6/9)
Show us your best dish styled from the sparkling plate up!
· Week 2: My Platinum Bite (Entry Period: 6/10-6/16)
Show us your best bite and most creative use of sparkling silverware!
· Week 3: My Platinum Clink (Entry: 6/17-6/23)
Show us how you serve up creative concoctions in sparkling glasses. Cheers!
· Week 4: My Platinum Table (Entry Period: 6/24-6/30)
Show us your sparkling tablescape for your most special celebrations!
· Grand Prize Winner (Entry: 6/3-6/30)

You can find out more by following Cascade on Facebook and Instagram.

20 Mule Team Borax 1001 Tips and Tricks Plus Giveaway

Disclosure: As a member of the Purex Insiders, a sample of 20 Mule Team® Borax was provided to me in order to review it.  As always, my opinion is my own.

I was excited to hear that I was chosen to work with the Purex Insider team again to share some information about and a great giveaway involving 20 Mule Team® Borax.  Have you ever tried Borax? It is a great, inexpensive laundry booster plus can be used in your home hundreds of different ways.

Borax is the common name for sodium tetraborate: a naturally occurring substance produced by the repeated evaporation of seasonal lakes. 20 Mule Team® Borax is 100% natural, and 99.5% pure (there is about a half of 1% of naturally occurring trace minerals). 20 Mule Team Borax comes from California where one of the world’s largest deposits was discovered in 1913.  Once removed from the ground it is washed, dried, and boxed for consumers.  Absolutely nothing is added. No phosphates, per-oxside, chlorine, or other additive chemicals.  Who wants more chemicals in your house anyway, right? I was so happy to hear that. Borates, borax and boron compounds are with us throughout our lives. Families use it to soak and wash diapers and other laundry, but it’s also an ingredient in cosmetics, medicines, ceramics and building materials. You can use it to clean tons of other things too!  There are so many ways to use 20 Mule Team Borax. 

Check out some of these other cleaning tips in addition to getting your clothes cleaner in the laundry room:

• For scratch-free cleaning of stains, grime, and grease throughout the kitchen, use a 1/2 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax dissolved in one gallon of hot water on sinks, counter tops, cookware, refrigerators, microwaves, toasters, and any other appliance in your arsenal. You can apply this dilution of all-natural 20 Mule Team Borax to any surface including tile, ceramic, porcelain, slate, marble, granite and stainless steel.

• You can also add a half cup of 20 Mule Team Borax to reduce water spotting, remove grime, and put a shine on dishes, utensils, pots, and pans.

• Power up your dishwasher detergent by sprinkling a 1/4 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax onto the bottom of the dishwasher to reduce spots and film on dishes and glasses.

• Just dilute a 1/2 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax in a 12-ounce spray bottle of water to deodorize mattresses.

• All-Natural Detergent Booster with Odor Control 20 Mule Team® Borax increases your detergent's power and controls odors to give you fresh, clean laundry. 

You can also check out the 20 Mule Team® Borax website with lots of great cleaning tips here. You also might be wondering "Where can I get Borax?"  Well, check out their link and you will be surprised it is readily available at all your fave grocery spots. You can win your own 20 Mule Team® Borax in my contest below.  Enter to win a free coupon for a box of 20 Mule Team Borax.a Rafflecopter giveaway

Important note: Keep 20 Mule Team Borax out of reach of children. We also recommend labeling any containers containing 20 Mule Team Borax solutions to identify the contents.

LuckyGirl Hair Ties Review

Disclaimer:  I received a product sample complimentary from People StyleWatch to review.  As always, my opinions are my own.

I recently received these novel hair ties from LuckyGirl and thought they were so adorable! I wore them to the gym last night and definitely felt more polished in my pony while working out.  I think I will try one for work today.  They are easy to use and look a little bit more modern and polished. I like that they are easy on my hair and seem to cause fewer creases.  The fun part is that I see on the package that you can wear them as a bracelet too!  Cute for a casual summer afternoon and then you can be prepared if you want to throw your hair up in a pony.  I saw tons more styles, colors and textures when I peeked to see what they had on Amazon and Etsy.  Sparkly, patriotic, hippy-dippy-- you name it!

Of course my almost teenager little one spied the adorable package and snagged a few for herself immediately.  Off to school with the apricot colored one in her hair today...sigh. I guess that means they are definitely most fashionable even though I could see it for myself.  So, LuckyGirl, it has been officially confirmed now:  your product is a hot fashion accessory.

I like that they are all handcrafted in the good 'ole U.S.A.  It always feels good to support our own economy. You can see tons of styles on Amazon, find them on Facebook and on Etsy.  

The Crayola Experience in Easton, PA is open!

Disclosure:  The Crayola Experience information has been provided by Crayola."

I just got all the scoop from Crayola today. It's official - the Crayola Experience is now open!  If you live in the tri-state area, or are considering traveling to the NY/NJ/PA area you should check out the Crayola Experience.  Are you looking for some fun day-trips for kids?  Good kids activities?  This is the spot. There are tons of fun activities like making your own art come alive on gigantic projected surfaces.

The Crayola Experience is the only place in the world where the magic of Crayola comes to life. There are four floors of new, interactive, one-of-a-kind attractions--wow!  There is so much to explore this summer at the Crayola Experience.  Your family can enter a world of discovery where color, chemistry, and technology magically combine to create a fantastic, colorful adventure. Perfect for adults kids of all ages.  Some of the attractions include:

• Wrap It Up! - Customize an authentic Crayola crayon label and wrap it around the color of your choice to create your very own crayon.
• Crayon Factory - Learn how iconic Crayola crayons are made in a live theatre show featuring our resident Crayonologist and his animated crayon character friends!
• Marker Mania - Make custom multi-color markers from scratch.
• Color Playground - Burn off excess energy in this Crayola-inspired indoor playground!
• Art Alive! - Make your art come to life on huge projected surfaces!   

The new Crayola Experience is the world’s only interactive Crayola family attraction. You can visit and follow them on the Crayola Facebook page and get more information (you never know about specials and deals too...I always follow).  The new Crayola Experience in Easton, PA will be an experience to remember for your whole family.  It is easy to get to from anywhere in the Northeast or the Mid-Atlantic too.  There are four floors of new interactive exhibits and one-of-a-kind attractions that will bring the indelible magic of color and your child’s creativity to life! 

Let me know your summer plans...who knows maybe we will meet up there!