Cover Girl and Olay Review

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Many years ago, I switched over to expensive department store foundation and powder. I can't remember why I made the switch in the first place. I suspect that I had either a skin reaction using a less expensive brand or a reaction to the smell. 

For the last week, I put my expensive department store brand away and tried the COVERGIRL & OLAY foundation and pressed powder. I am proud to admit I was pleasantly surprised with the results. 

I especially liked the Tone Rehab 2 in 1 Foundation Base. As I have aged, my skin has dried out so I like a little extra moisture in my foundation. What I love about the Tone Rehab 2 in 1, is that it felt creamy and moisturized my face well while going on evenly. The Soft Honey color was a perfect match for my face. It covered the uneven skin tone on my face without making me look like a "cake face". I couldn't even see most of my brown spots after applying the product. The foundation lasted throughout the day without having to reapply it. In fact, I ended up liking it more than my current, more expensive, foundation. I am wondering why I haven't been smart enough to try COVERGIRL & OLAY before. It is half the price of my current brand with better, natural looking coverage. When my run out of my expensive brand of foundation, I will definitely consider making a switch. I love the smooth look of the COVERGIRL & OLAY foundation.

I also had a chance to try the COVERGIRL & OLAY Pressed Powder in medium. The color was a perfect match to my skin. The powder sealed in the foundation and gave my skin a soft appearance. I don't always use powder on my face as it often makes my skin itch. However, the COVERGIRL & OLAY powder did not cause any itchiness and after using it for a week, I can definitely see the difference. From now on, I will make pressed powder a "must have" in my makeup regimen.

Before

After

**I'm a BzzAgent and received the products at no charge to try as part of my participation in the BzzAgent program. No monetary compensation was received and I was not asked to give a positive review in exchange for product. http://www.bzzagent.com

Dealing Financially with Cancer

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By Jessie Oberg Photography

Some of my readers know that my summer was turned upside down when my 22 year old daughter was diagnosed with Stage IV terminal ovarian cancer. She had her entire life in front of her. She had just finished graduated with honors from college and was about to start a new job while she waited to apply for physical therapy school. Married for two short years, her hope was to finish physical therapy school and become a mother. Those hopes were dashed when she lost her reproductive organs through the surgical removal of her cancer. Not only was her life turned upside down, but that of her husband and family as well. As a parent, the possibility of losing your child is the one of the most heartbreaking things you will have to endure.

Just weeks after my daughter completed her four years as a collegiate runner, we found three large masses in her abdomen. Those masses turned out to be large ovarian tumors. Unfortunately, the symptoms she had been in to a doctor to ask about are the same symptoms of so many other diseases. During those appointments, the idea of a 22 year old having ovarian cancer never came up. That is why ovarian cancer is referred to as the silent killer. Just months later, my daughter had lost all of her hair to chemotherapy treatments and had a new role to play; that of a cancer patient. While one of her high school competitors was running in the olympics, my daughter was watching from the chemotherapy infusion room.

Fortunately, my daughter was lucky enough to have health insurance under her parents plan as one of the provisions of Obama Care. Since her husband is still a college student and she had to pass on her job offer because she couldn't make it to the first day of work, their financial situation became dismal to say the least. She did have a little money saved for school, but that account was quickly depleted for rent. As her mother, I am willing to spend every last dime I have for her treatments. Even with insurance, cancer treatments can add up quickly. Within 6 weeks we had to come up with $10,000 for our yearly out of pocket maximum. Next year, we will have to do over again. This will drain our savings quickly. Obviously, my daughter feels bad about her parents draining their retirement fund for her care and wants to help.

My family has been awesome in trying to raise funds. My nieces and nephews went door to door selling ice cream, cookies, etc. just to help with gas money. My daughter has to travel 180 miles round trip to treatment once a week. Little things like this can take a financial toll on cancer patients and family members. My family encouraged her to start an online fundraising event to help with out of pocket expenses on Indiegogo. That campaign can be found here:

http://www.indiegogo.com/falleninchocolate?a=1112565

Though it's hard to ask complete strangers for help, I would love for some of the companies I have helped with promotion as well as my blog readers to consider donating $1.00 to her cause. This will help her with long term out of pocket expenses

Her plight can be found on her blog. http://www.sterlinaclegg.blogspot.com. For anybody in the Salt Lake City Area, her aunt is organizing a Falling In Chocolate 5k for her. Yes, there will be chocolate at the end of the race. Feel free to go to the contact me button and email for the race details. Online registration will open within the next few days and a link from my daughter's blog will take you to the online registration. By the way, the shirts for the race are really cute, thanks to my awesome brother in law.

I want to publicly thank my awesome extended family and friends for all of the support my daughter and son in law have received at such a difficult time in life. I also want to thank my daughter for having a positive outlook and making me laugh.

Chemo does funny things to the hair.

Mountain Dew Crew

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As much as the boys in my family love Mountain Dew, I didn't want to pass up the chance of joining the Mountain Dew Crew. As a member of the Dew Crew, I can earn points and win prizes. How awesome is that?

It's about to get more awesome. Why? Because you too can join the Dew Crew for your very own chance to earn points for prizes from things like voting to answering trivia questions. Are you ready? Follow the link for and join now.

http://apps.facebook.com/dewcrew?mcpArg_acquisitionSourceId=SCHORUS

Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Mountain Dew.

Back To School Snacks: Jolly Time Popcorn Review

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I am a popcorn fanatic. It's truly one of my favorite snacks. Every time I want to lose weight, I turn to 94% fat free popcorn as one of my snacks to keep my hunger at bay.

To say I was excited to try Jolly Time popcorn would definitely be an understatement. I normally eat a different brand of popcorn. It's been a while since I have tried Jolly Time and I didn't know what to expect compared to my regular brand. I received three flavors to try, Healthy Pop Butter, Healthy Pop Kettle Corn and Blast O Butter. All flavors came in the perfect snack size mini bags. The first thing I noticed about all of the flavors compared to my regular brand was more popped kernels. This is definitely a plus for me and enough to get me to switch brands. 

I know I'm kind of boring. That explains why the Healthy Pop Butter flavor is my favorite of all three flavors. Being a lifetime Weight Watchers member, it is comforting to know that an entire bag of Healthy Pop is only three Weight Watchers points. 

For a sweet treat, the Healthy Pop Kettle Corn is also very good. I like just a hint of sweet that satisfied both a sweet tooth and a salt craving. I loved the kettle corn. What's even better is that one bag is only 100 calories. Since I'm watching my weight, it is comforting to know I can eat an entire bag without feeling guilty.

Of course my son had his own idea of what constitutes good popcorn. The more butter, the better for him. He loved the Blast O Butter. The first thing he said when he tried it was, "Mom, why don't you buy the buttery popcorn more often." While I admit, eating the Blast O Butter was a guilty pleasure, it's not something I would indulge in very often. However, it's the perfect back to school treat for my son and one that I will have on hand for him in the future. 

In fact, any of the Jolly Time Popcorn flavors make great after school snacks. The mini bags are a great serving size and insure your child will be more likely to finish compared to the bigger bags.

Jolly Time offers some great recipes. I can't wait to try the Coconut Monkey Mix and the Double Chocolate Popcorn Balls. The large variety of recipes offer great after school snack choices. 

I definitely recommend Jolly Time for the perfect back to school afternoon snack. In fact, I liked it so much, I will be switching brands from my regular popcorn.




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.

$10 Applebees Gift Card Giveaway

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Enjoy lunch on me!

I am giving away a $10.00 Applebee's Gift Card to one of my lucky readers as a thank you for supporting my blog and for supporting made in U.S.A.

Contest Details:  Please use the Rafflecopter form to enter. By entering, you acknowledge you have read the form and agree to the terms, including having your name published publicly as the winner. Open to U.S. and Canadian residents only. Contest ends 9/15/2012 at 11:59 EST.

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Nerium AD Skin Care Review

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At my age, I am always looking for that magic skin care product that will help me look years younger. Nerium AD Age Defying Cream was developed with people like me in mind. Nerium AD claims through clinical trials to dramatically reduce the appearance of:

• Fine Lines and Wrinkles
• Hyperpigmentation
• Uneven Skin Texture
• Enlarged Pores
• Aging or Sun Damaged Skin

Nerium AD is made with the Nerium oleander plant. I have to admit, after reading about how the Nerium oleander plant can be toxic, I was a little nervous about trying Nerium AD. However, Nerium Biotechnology has found a way to use the beneficial plant in a way that is not toxic. Along with the other age-defying ingredients, Nerium AD promises real results.

Before Using Nerium AD

As always with skin care products, I was excited to put Nerium AD to the test. I took my before photos. My biggest areas of concern are the wrinkles around my eyes  and brown spots caused by the sun. While I never expect any skin care product to completely erase my fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, I hoped Nerium AD would improve my targeted problem areas.

My experience with Nerium AD was mixed at first. It took me almost a week to get used to the smell. At first, I was nervous the smell would cause a skin reaction. Luckily, it did not. The brochure I received with my product stated that some people see results after five days. That was not the case with me. I used the product for almost two weeks before I started seeing results.

After 2 1/2 weeks using Nerium AD.

Once I started seeing results, I was much happier with the product. I did notice a change in the fine lines around my eyes. They definitely weren't as noticeable as before. Though my before and after photos have a little different lighting, I noticed the subtle change in my fine lines when comparing the before and after photos. It's always exciting to see a change on any wrinkles. As for the brown spots on my face, I didn't notice a huge change after 2 1/2 weeks, but I'm still using Nerium AD faithfully and hoping my spots will fade a little bit. I will take photos again in a few more weeks to see if I can detect a difference. I find when I look at my face everyday, it is hard to remember how dark the spots were the day before. I can't comment on how Nerium works for enlarged pores because that is not something I have a problem with.

A little bit of Nerium goes a long way. It is concentrated and must be applied to damp skin and left on overnight. It is rinsed off in the morning. After rubbing in the Nerium and having it dry on my face, it feels like it is tightening my skin. It was a strange feeling at first, but I got used to it and it made me feel like Nerium AD was really working. I would recommend trying Nerium AD for find lines and wrinkles. It's definitely work taking photos of a targeted area before using Nerium, that way you can track any progress you might experience.

Nerium AD can be purchased here through a distributor. I am not a distributor and am in no way affiliated with the company. However, those who like Nerium AD, have the opportunity to sign up as a distributor for a chance to save money on the product.

**As per FTC regulations, I received the product at no charge for review purposes only. No monetary compensation was received. My opinions are based upon my actual experience with the product and are no way influenced by other sources. -->

Blogorama Bonanza Event Sign Ups

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                                                                      Sponsors
I am accepting sponsors for the Blogorama Bonanza Event that runs Oct. 10-26.  If you have a product you want to included in the event email me at tzufelt01@gmail.com. I am accepting a product for review and another for a giveaway for one of the readers.  This event is being heavy promoted and a great opportunity for increasing your online presence and brand awareness. If you want to be featured on my blog, Made in USA, your product must be manufactured in the U.S.A. 


                                                                 Bloggers

Mandatory

Include a Blogorama Bonanza Event button in your sidebar and giveaway post to identify your giveaway as being a part of this hop.

Event Details:

*Blogorama Bonanza 2012 Event is brought to you by Jyla's Three Of Us Giveaway, Made Only in USA and Howard House Reviews.

*The Blogorama Bonanza Event starts October 10, at 12:01 AM EST time and ends October 26, at 11:59 AM EST Time.

*The value of the prize package in total must amount up to $25. You can provide your own giveaway as the total prize giveaway. You choose the sponsors to work with or self funding by providing a product with the value of $25.

*Blogs will be linking with each other for readers to blog hop to blogs and enter to win great prize packages.

This is a big event that will consist of 100 blogs coming together to bring you giveaways from sponsoring companies.  Spread the news about the Blogorama Bonanza Back Event, on your blog by doing a post and mention it on your Facebook, Twitter  and other social networks for other blogs to join.  We want to give this event the publicity it needs to grow.

Sign Up Information:

It's free to sign up just writing a post about the Blogorama Bonanza Event.  Before you are accepted, you must fill out the form in order to participate. We ask you fill out the form in order to contact you. 

Our Twitter Hashtag #Blogorama Bonanza

 Do tweets for bloggers to signing up for this event. We want to create a great buzz about this event. Tweet (#Blogorama Bonanza Event Blogger Sign Up at http://www.jylasthreeofusgiveaway.org.  It starts October 10, 2012 to October 26,  2012.)

You can copy/paste the html code for Blogorama Bonanza Event button in the right sidebar and put it on your blog.

The participating blogs website URL links will be posted up as they arrive.

Travel in the U.S.A. Lake Powell, Utah

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Many years ago, I asked all three of my children if they would rather go to Disneyland or Lake Powell. Every one of them said Lake Powell without even hesitating. For 13 years, we have taken our family on a one week vacation to Lake Powell, Utah, part of the the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area located in Utah and Arizona.

What makes a vacation spot in the middle of a hot desert in summer more appealing than a certain mouse? Could it be that it is a boater's haven? Or is it the endless supply of water sports? How about the fisherman's dream?  

Paddle boarding at Lake Powell

At Lake Powell, you can get away with putting your swimsuit on in the morning and not taking it off until bedtime. That's definitely a swimmer's paradise. Not a lot of freshwater lakes boast 80 degree water temperatures in August. Definitely a plus for those who want to play in the water all day.

You don't even need a boat to enjoy the water sports. We bought a stand up paddle board to try out and had a blast with it. We also tried a blow up kayak and loved that as well. However, having a boat opens up even more opportunities for water fun.

Of all of the waters sports at Lake Powell, waterskiing is my favorite. If I wasn't such nervous Nellie, I might like wake boarding as much as my teenagers. But alas, I am too afraid to try getting air. I leave that to the younger, invincible crowd. Although I've been known to get up on the wake board a time or two on every trip.

For those who love to fish, the striped bass and small mouth bass make for some tasty eating. I am not a fish lover. I don't like anything that tastes fishy, but the bass at Lake Powell have a mild, white fish taste. With a few herbs, a little lemon and a nice grill, Lake Powell fish make a gourmet meal at the end of a fun filled day.

For those who can take the heat and hike along the cliff ledges, the views are spectacular. The red rocks of Southern Utah and Arizona are like nothing you've ever seen before. Sometimes, the best thing is to kick back with a good book and relax.


We have a share in a houseboat that is docked at Bullfrog Marina on the Utah side of the lake. We take our houseboat out of our slip and spend a week docked on a sandy beach in an area I want to keep secret. That way, kids can play on the beach as well where they have made all kinds of sand creations from mermaids to villages.

Houseboat rentals are available through Aarmark at both Bullfrog Marina and Wahweap Marina in Page, Arizona. We found the option of buying a personal houseboat share for a week every summer to be cheaper than renting a week through Aarmark, but it is nice to have the option. Speedboat and personal water craft rentals are available. For those who are not ready to drive a houseboat, staying at the hotel and renting a speedboat for a day is a great option. Defiance House Lodge at Bullfrog or Lake Powell Resort at Wahweap are the official Lake Powell hotel accommodations. I have never stayed at either one so I can't comment on them. However, I have stayed at the campground. While it's the cheapest option, the temperatures can soar to over 100 degrees during the summer, making it hot for camping. Sleeping under the stars at night is one of my favorite things about Lake Powell which is better than sleeping inside of a hot tent. Without any city lights, the view of the night sky is spectacular. While we were there the first week of August, the moon was so bright we could almost ski on the lake at night.

The United States boasts so many wonderful vacation spots, I'm afraid I'll never see them all in my lifetime. However, I'll never give up my week in Lake Powell for any other vacation. I will always have to use another week's vacation to see the rest of the country.

My Memories Software Review & Giveaway

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It's been a long time since I have done any scrapbooking. Though I love it, I found it to be too time consuming and expensive by the time you buy all of the paper, fancy scissors and embellishments. I have seen the My Memories Digital Scrapbook Software before but never have never taken a close look at it until now.

I like the idea of digital scrapbooking. All of my photos are digital. When we go on family vacations, almost everybody carries their own camera. It is fun to see what each of us thought would make a great vacation memory. When the trip is over, we combine our photos by emailing them to each other and each creating a digital folder. That way if one computer crashes, we can still retrieve our photos. This makes for easy digital scrapbooking. No more storing photos in the closet where we rarely look at them again. With digital photos, we can share on our social media sites.

At My Memories, they understand the shift to digital media. But that doesn't mean our photos have to be boring. My Memories has made it easy to create digital scrapbooks that are both easy and fun. What I like about the software is that there are pre-made templates I can just plug my vacation photos into the pages. While I like to use my ideas, I honestly don't have the time to look through the software and create layer upon layer of pages and embellishments. What I did like was the opportunity to add a few of my own embellishments to the pre made templates without having to create a whole new page. Once I figured out how to use the software, my two Lake Powell pages were fast and easy to create by using the built in albums. For those who like to take more time, there are a ton of scrapbook pages and embellishments to choose from.

One of my favorite things about the creations on My Memory Suite is the opportunity to print in color on my printer. Even better, sending the digital pages to be printed on glossy or matte paper and bound in a book. Just plug a few photos in the album, choose the size of book you want, send it out and a few hours you can have the perfect photo book to give as a gift.

I found the software to be fairly easy to use but it does take a little time to do some exploring. The ideas are endless. I did get frustrated at one point trying to find an embellishment that looked like a sun and I gave up for lack of time. From just the hour I spent on the software, I could see the opportunities for different creative photo pages were endless. As always, the software was developed in the U.S. in the state of Utah.

My readers can receive a $10 Discount on the My Memories Software with DISCOUNT CODE STMMMS83261. Just click the link below.

Contest Details

Want a chance to win the full version My Memories Suite software? Use the Rafflecopter form to enter. Contest is open worldwide and winner will receive a code to download the full version software.  By entering, you acknowledge you have read the terms on the Rafflecopter form and agree to them, including having your name published as the winner. Contest ends Aug. 25, 2012 at 11:59 EST.

**Per FTC regulations: I received the software at no charge for review purpose. No monetary compensation was received and my opinions are based on actual experience.

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Lauren Nicole Gifts Victorian Wax Seal Necklace Review & Giveaway

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My grandfather gave my grandmother a beautiful locket during their engagement.  Shortly after, her father sent her away to live with an aunt and uncle hoping it would change her mind about getting married. It only made her more determined. She gave the photo on the left to my  grandfather to let him know how she felt about him and the locket.

For over seventy years, that locket has held a special place in Grandma's heart. When my uncle, her youngest child passed away, she kept a small photo of him inside. Somehow, that locket helped fill that empty space left at her son's passing. Of all her possessions, this necklace meant the world to her. It was always her symbol of love for my grandpa and uncle.

In June, my 22 year old daughter was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Ever since her diagnosis, I wanted something I could wear that would remind me of her. I thought of my grandma's locket and wanted to find something that would mean the same for me as it did to Grandma.  What I wanted was something stylish and modern, made by hand which expressed the hope I feel everyday that my daughter's life will be extended. 

Victorian Wax Seal Necklace by Lauren Nicole Gifts

My heart nearly jumped in my chest when I found the sterling silver Victorian Wax Seal Necklace by Lauren Nicole Gifts. This was exactly what I hoped to find as my symbol of love and hope.  I ordered my necklace with my daughter's first initial, K. The white bead is my symbol of pure love. The best part about Lauren Nicole Gifts is that I could buy a special bead add on. To my necklace, I added a bead in the ovarian cancer color of teal and a sterling silver hand stamped bead cap with the word "hope" across the top. 

When my package arrived, I was so excited to open it, my hands were shaking. I could tell from the packaging that there was something special inside.

I loved the cute little ladybug. Most of all, I loved what I found in the box. My eyes welled with tears when I saw my necklace. It was exactly what I hoped for. The perfect reminder of what I love and cherish the most in the whole world, my family, specifically my daughter.

My necklace from Lauren Nicole Gifts

I wore my necklace the first chance I got. Ironically, the first place I went with it was the hospital with my daughter into the chemotherapy infusion room. She noticed the necklace and was touched I would wear it for her. I plan on wearing it a lot. The necklace is high quality sterling silver. I have a soft spot for hand made jewelry as I used to make jewelry. It is apparent that Lauren Nicole Gifts takes extra time and care to make sure the jewelry is made to last. I especially love the Victorian look of the wax seal and the antiqued silver around it. For me, it is both modern and nostalgic, a great combination of what I love about my grandmother's locket and my style. 

I hope to add a personalized bracelet in the future. My experience with Lauren Nicole Gifts has been excellent. The customer service is impeccable. My special request for my extra bead was handled quickly and compassionately. I highly recommend Lauren Nicole Gifts for heirloom quality jewelry.

To purchase hand stamped and wax seal jewelry visit Lauren Nicole Gifts. Also, visit Lauren Nicole Gifts on Facebook. All of Lauren Nicole products are made in the U.S.A. 

Enter to win this necklace

Contest Details: Lauren Nicole Gifts generously offered one of my lucky readers their own sterling silver Wax Seal Initial Necklace ($80 ARV). Freshwater pearl bead is included. The extra bead is not included in the prize. Contest ends 8/25/2012 at 11:59 p.m. EST. By entering the contest, you acknowledge you have read the terms on the Rafflecopter form and agree to have your name published if you are the winner.



**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.




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Knorr® Homestyle Stock Friends Mission

Tweet                  Want a chance to win a $200 gift card?

                 Use the survey link for a chance to win.

Knorr® Homestyle Stock Friends Mission: Enter for a chance to win a $200 gift card by taking this short survey from Smiley360!

Take the survey at: http://smiley360.com/776376.cfm

**FTC Disclosure: As a member of Smiley360.com, I receive products at no charge to try and review from time to time.