It helps me comb through the delicate curls without putting heavy,conditioner into their hair that would weigh their hair down or make it look greasy.

The scent, AWESOME APPLE is also sweet and refreshing. I hate to face bathtime without this staple.

by Gidge

I’m addicted to stopping that irritating little flip OUT at the bottom of  my hair that every single hair stylist on the planet thinks is so cute. I hate it.

Thus, I must use all of my powers to stop it.

And that’s where the CONAIR HOT AIR BRUSH comes in. With just a little gel or mousse, this lovely device takes my wet hair and dries it in the curl I want – which happens to be UNDER. I use it on my bangs and then give the bottom a go round to make sure that all the bits I want curled under ARE curled under and STAY curled under.

It’s a  great alternative to just straightening – which can create a harsher, sharper look than I want most days.

by Gidge

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Ever have a really annoying smell that you just can’t seem to get rid of no matter what you try? I’ve spent a lot of time and money on room deodorizers and sprays to still have the smell linger after the scented cover-up disappears. At the suggestion of a friend I tried Smells Begone and all be if it really isn’t gone!

What I love about Smells Begone is that it doesn’t just mask the odor, it eliminates it completely. It is non-scented and can work on just about anything. And it’s also non-toxic so you don’t have to worry about children being around it. It is sold in a set that contains 12 ounce pump spray and 16 ounce jar that can be left open in a room for up to 90 days. We usually leave the jar in our garage and keep the spray in our house to use when we cook or something just lingers. The set is priced at $18.95 and is worth it.

This is a must have item to keep in your home. I wish we’d known about this when our son was a baby and we always had the smell of dirty diapers no matter how often we took out the trash.

by Emily

Do your kids love strawberries? Do your kids hate the stems? Are you tired of trying to cut out the stem and wasting perfectly good strawberry? Then this a must have for you! OXO makes the perfect Strawberry Huller that makes easier than ever to prepare salads or for your child’s snack time.

This simple gadget is easy to use and mess free. Just pierce the strawberry and scoop to remove the leaves and stem. Then push the button to release what you’ve removed and move on to the next. The plunger is removable and dishwasher safe.

With this handy kitchen tool you’ll be able to preserve the best part of the berry. For under $6 you can have one of these in your utensil drawer.

by Lisa

As a busy mom always looking for the latest deals, I thought you might like to know about a special discounted coupon available at Near East. You can save $1.00 on any two Neat East offerings, including the new Pearled Couscous flavors that run at about $2.70 per box. Near East products are available at Whole Foods and other grocery stores nationwide.

New Near East Pearled Couscous brings the elegance of Mediterranean cuisine straight to the kitchen. Made with all-natural ingredients, it’s a quick, healthy side dish that kids love – perfect for the beginning of the school year as schedules become full of new activities.

In addition, Near East offers 30 different flavors and varieties of rice pilaf, couscous and other grain dishes that consumers love.  Couscous is traditionally served under a meat dish or as an accompaniment to a vegetable stew but it can also be eaten alone, flavored or plain, warm or cold, as a dessert or a side dish. A must have in every kitchen pantry.

by Emily

How many times have you had trouble opening a can? It seems like I can never find a simple and easy to use can opener that actually works! That was true until I found the One Touch Can Opener. This opener not only does the work for you but it also is safer because it doesn’t leave jagged edges.

The only effort required from you is to place it on top of a can and press a button. It almost sounds too good to be true, but it is! Priced at around $18 you can find this handy gadget at Wal-Mart.

The One Touch is definitely a must have in your kitchen if you want to save time.

by Lisa

I am certainly not an expert in the area of lipstick, but when I find a product that goes on more like lip gloss with a little extra color, I will usually buy several tubes in different colors. Why do I do this? Mainly because it seems like I can never find that exact color I’m looking for and have to try various shades before I’m satisfied. It seems like one day a light pink looks really dark on my lips and another day it looks light pink.

Recently I found the remedy to my issue with the Avon Spectra Color lipstick. This genius invention offers 7 colors in a single lipstick  You customize the color by turning a dial on the bottom of the tube. Although it is larger than the average single color lipstick you might carry, in some ways it will save you from packing several tubes when you travel.

I give the Spectra Color high props! For the price of under $10 it is a steal. I recommend trying “The Nudes” for a creamy bit of shine that moisturizes too!

by Emily

I’m not a big sunbather but I like to look like I am. It’s not cool to show up at the beach and people have to put on sunglasses to avoid the white glare coming from your legs! This summer I shopped around determined to find the best self-tanner regardless of price. I had convinced myself that I would pay whatever it took to get even coverage that looked real.

I tried out two brands on high recommendations from a friend, but only found one to be what I was looking for. L’OrealParis Sublime Bronze Luminous Bronzer Lotion (seriously couldn’t they think of a longer name?) was exactly what I wanted. It went on very easily and dried quickly, but no too quickly. It’s important that you have enough time to make sure the coverage is even before it sets in. I expected it to rub off on my clothes just a little bit, at least my socks and bra, but it didn’t.

The biggest plus was that it added a bit of shimmer that left me looking and feeling radiant. For around $10 a bottle it was a good buy considering the results. They also make towelettes.

by Lisa

I was recovering from surgery in June when it was apparently ice cream week on the Food Network. I sat and drooled, unable to eat anything fatty, as they showed you how to make every kind of ice cream, sorbet and gelato under the sun. Show after show taunted me until my sweet husband surprised me one evening – returning from the store with a compact little ice cream maker from Hamilton Beach.

Super sleek and amazingly easy to use, we’ve become ice cream making addicts. No rock salt or ice required, this machine has an inner core that remains frozen and you simply insert it, dump in your ingredients and turn it on. In approximately 20 minutes you’ve got fresh delicious homemade ice cream. It makes exactly enough for us to share and we’ve all enjoyed the adventure of trying out ingredients and different flavors. We’ve tried fruits as well as shaved chocolate and flavors in addition to making old fashioned custard style which was exquisite and velvety.

If you want to try home made ice cream without the crazy amount of work involved – this machine is a must have.

by Gidge

I should apply to be a paid spokesman for Terro Ant Killer. The last three springs I have the same thing happen and I’m sure next year will be no exception. The ants will return just as they do every spring in Indiana. I will lay out the Terro buffet just as I do every spring in Indiana. This year, I laid down my little square and within 2 minutes it looked like this picture. Gross, huh? I agree. But not as gross as having ants crawl all over your cabinets and floor.

My husband says I’m just feeding the ants and I agree. In fact, I’m quite OK with that. It’s obvious they are going to be eating at my house every spring, so I’d rather them eat poison in a 2 square inch section of the house as opposed to every cabinet with food in it. If you have had ants in the past and expect them back in the spring, be ready. Grab a bottle of the Terro liquid and invite them on over to the buffet. You’ll be glad you did.

by Perri

By chance are you looking for a new sweetener? One you can cook with, use in your tea and something that doesn’t leave a weird bitter after-taste? Then you must try PureVia(also known as Reb-A) from PureCircle. Reb-A is all natural and zero calories! Better yet it is wonderful for people with Diabetes due to its low glycemic index and it won’t affect blood sugar levels. Since it is heat-stable it can be used to cook with too!

Reb-A is derived from Stevia Rebaudiana which was first discovered by a botanist in Paraguay. It is highly concentrated (up to 300 times sweeter than regular sugar), so you must be careful with how much you use. I first came across this in a restaurant and thought I had accidentally put regular sugar in my tea.

by Emily

I hate drinking plain water so I look for flavored water that still has zero calories and sugar. It’s hard to find something that tastes good too! Recently I tried Sobe Lifewater and was hooked! These fun bottles with the lizard tail and unique curves quickly became a must-have in our household.

Right now Sobe offers three zero-calorie flavors:  Fuji Apple Pear, Black & Blue Berry and Yumberry Pomegranate. I’ve had each one and can testify that they are beyond delicious, but Apple was my favorite. Each provides a full day’s worth of Vitamin C and that never hurts.

It is a little expensive considering it is after all water. At nearly $1.30 a bottle I have hard time picking up more than one here and there for a treat. Every once in a while I’ll see them on sale as buy-one-get-one free.

by Melissa

Have you ever looked for a fun fragrance to mix things up a bit? I have two favorite perfumes, but sometimes I get tired of smelling the same day after day. I recently ran across the TokyoMilk collection of playful scents in a magazine and gave it a try. The concept is neat and they offer 18 delightful variations for around $28 a bottle.

The fragrances are mischievously named for their combination of different oils, scents and other ingredients. My favorite scent thus far is Let Them Eat Cake, which contains sugarcane, coconut milk, white musk and vanilla orchid. Adding to the fun is the unique bottles. Each features an interesting image on the inside of the label which is visible through the glass. These would make fun gifts for friends and is a must have in my own collection!

by Emily

Babies on the go, mommas on the go, and we’re using
Pampers Clean’n Go wipes. I use these things all the time. I like to be frugal, but I like to use things that are convenient. I find Pampers Clean’n Go wipes to be worth the price of not using a wash cloth because of how easy they are to use. You open the container and pull one out like in a tissue box. They are so easy to pull out my 22 month can do it all by herself.

You can use them on all parts of the body and they don’t have any kind of smell.

• Help wipe away dirt and germs
• Tear-free
• Dermatologically tested
• Made with pure water

You will find many packages of them all around my house and one in the diaper bag for on the go. I’m always wiping off playdough, food, dirt and everything the kids get into.

by Louise

I’m sure you have seen the infomercials about the Jack LaLanne’s Power Juicer. Slim bodies getting slimmer juicing everything from apples to zucchini! Well, I couldn’t resist. I love the taste of fresh juice and this juicer was my husband’s birthday wish!

We made fresh juice for days. Carrot, apple juice, orange pineapple, apple and celery! The possibilities were endless! The juice was indeed excellent. The pulp can be used for cakes, muffins, breads and more. My 3 year old son even drank the vegetable juices.

I was concerned at first about the cleanup, but it was a breeze. It made it much easier to clean if I did it immediately after juicing. It can be cleaned in the dishwasher or hand washed. I will definitely recommend this juicer to anyone who has a desire to juice.

by Anise

Babies on the go, momma’s on the go and we’re using Pampers Clean’n Go wipes. We use these things all the time. I like to be frugal, but I like to use things that are convenient. I find Pampers Clean’n Go wipes to be worth the price of not using a wash cloth because of how easy they are to use. You open the container and pull one out like in a tissue box. They are so easy to pull out that my 22 month can do it all by herself.

You can use them on all parts of the body and they don’t have any kind of smell.

• Help wipe away dirt and germs
• Tear-free
• Dermatologically tested
• Made with pure water

You will find many packages of them all around my house and one in the diaper bag for on the go. I’m always wiping off play dough, food, dirt, everything the kids get into. Trust me this is a must-have in your home.

by Louise

Don’t throw out leftover this Christmas. The new Ziploc Double Freezer Bags with Fresh Shield will keep cooked meals fresh for weeks to come. They seal well and hold up over time. I have always found Ziploc products to be far more durable than other leading brands when it comes freshness. This new line of freezer bags is no exception. It provides double the protection to your food. I recently found out that you can determine how long foods can be kept fresh in the fridge, freezer and on the shelf using the Shelf Life 101 tool on Ziploc’s website.

Did you know that Americans spend an average of $10.16 during each fast-food shop? (See what you can learn when you look around.) Rather than stopping for food-to-go or lunch out, why not turn leftovers into snacks you take with you on-the-go. Ziploc has a wide range of products all designed to help you and your family. This line of products in a must-have in our household.

by Emily

After trying to determine if I should purchase a stationary walker or a doorway jumper for my son, I came across the Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo. I read the reviews and decided to purchase it. I can honestly say this was a wonderful investment. It combined my son’s two most favorite things, jumping and playing! My son started using it when he was 4 months old and he has been jumping faithfully for 4 months! He absolutely loves it. There are many colorful toys surrounding his seat that he can play with.

The Jumperoo adjusts to 3 different levels, so it grows with him. I don’t know what we are going to do when he outgrows it! It is very stable so I don’t have to worry about it tipping over or him falling as with some of the doorway jumpers. The cost is between $69.00-$89.00, but it is well worth the money spent!

by Anise

I’ve never been a big popcorn eater until I found Dale & Thomas. I reviewed some of their delicious goodness a while back on Props & Pans, but now I’ve discovered a new product by them totally by accident. Dale & Thomas usually only sell their gourmet popcorn online or through their own stores, so I was shocked to find that the bag called Popcorn, Indiana that I’ve been enjoying was made through them.

I purchased the large red bag of Aged White Cheddar at Bed, Bath & Beyond for under $4 and it didn’t last long in our house. Turns out this popcorn is distributed by Dale & Thomas, but actually is grown in a little town called Popcorn, Indiana. It is approximately 20 miles southwest of Bloomington (Hoosier basketball country) on a farm. We actually live in Southern Indiana, so I hope someday we can visit this small town.

They use all-natural ingredients and lots of rich flavors that make your mouth water with one bite. I’m excited I can purchase this popcorn in a retail store close to home. We plan to get several bags and give them as gifts this Christmas. Who doesn’t like popcorn?

by Emily

I have found a cracker that is beyond sensational, it is zesty and spicy and light all in one. I’ve had the regular Triscuit crackers before but quite honestly found them bland and dull. When I think of a whole wheat and grain cracker I think of dry and brittle.  My mom introduced me to a new flavor series by Triscuit that includes olive oil in each cracker which definitely softens the taste.

Maybe you’ve seen these on the store shelf, but Triscuit has introduced three new flavors that will arouse your senses. I’ve only tried the Cracked Pepper and Olive Oil, but the two others (Fire Roasted Tomato and Olive Oil and Rosemary and Olive Oil) are on my shopping list.

These crackers are unique and although a little bold, they will make a great snack or you could dress them with garnishes for an upcoming party. Look online at Nabisco’s website and you will find a great variety of reciepe’s.

by Emily

Does your child love trains? My son is very much into trains and he’s bringing my daughter right along with him. What better way to bring trains into your child’s life than Thomas & Friends? Thomas & Friends is a classic show that offers easygoing stories without having to worry about your child watching something inappropriate.

Thomas & Friends Whistle Express Collection offers 3 DVD’s and a train whistle that is sure to knock your child’s socks off. I will admit it’s a bit annoying as they are running around the house blowing this wooden whistle, but it brings so much joy I’m not about to break it up. This Collection is 189 minutes of continuous Thomas & Friends adventures. Unlike your television shows, having the DVD’s you are able to stop, pause or play whenever you need some entertainment. If your child or you know a train lover, Thomas & Friends Whistle Express Collection is a great way to go. This is a must have in our DVD collection.

by Andrea