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I tend to favor bold lipstick over elaborate eye makeup, but I’m very pleased with the Love In Paris Eye Shadow Palette from NYX Cosmetics.

The Love in Paris Eye Shadow Palette is a collection of nine shades packaged in a slim compact featuring a cute little bow clasp. There are 12 different color collections to choose from, each with a full range of coordinated colors for you to play with.

The palette I sampled was called Je Ne Sais Quoi, which features brown, cream, silver, and plum shades. This palette has a nice mix of matte and shimmery eye shadows, so you can create day and evening looks. The colors are richly pigmented and did an excellent job of flattering my brown eyes.

The palette comes with a dual side sponge application. One side features a larger sponge for covering more of the eye area, while the other side has a narrower sponge to use for defining fine details.

Primer is helpful when using the NYX eyeshadow palettes if you want your color to last all day long. You can also help open up your eyes by adding a small touch of the lightest color of your eyeshadow palette into the inside corner of your eye. This makes your eyes look wider and more awake, which is always a plus when you’re a sleep deprived mom!

Visit the NYX Cosmetics website to review the complete Love In Paris Eye Shadow Palette collection, as well as the company’s other cosmetic products.

Disclaimer: Product samples were provided by the manufacturer for the purpose of preparing this review.

Photo credit: NYX Cosmetics

If your family eats breakfast regularly, you probably go through a ton of cereal. For the budget-conscious mom, this can be a significant expense.

According to the Food System Research Group, the cost of brand name cereals has risen exponentially since 1975, with General Mills cereals rising faster in price than all other name brands. The average cost of private label cereals has remained flat, however.

Private labels are what many of us think of as “store brand” cereals. If you’re on a budget and don’t want to spend your time clipping coupons or chasing store sales for the best deal on cereal, store brands are the way to go.

Recently, I had a chance to sample a few cereals from CVS Gold Emblem line. Their Red Berries cereal was my family’s top breakfast pick. This cereal is similar in taste to Kellogg’s Special K Red Berries cereal, although my son and I both thought it had slightly more strawberries in it than the last box of Special K Red Berries we had purchased.

Gold Emblem Red Berries cereal has 110 calories per serving and provides 10 essential vitamins and minerals. It’s sweet enough to satisfy most kids, but less sugary than Lucky Charms, Apple Jacks, or other cereals targeted to children.

All products in the CVS Gold Emblem line are priced to be 20% to 30% lower than their name brand counterparts, which makes them perfect for anyone in search of a way to make their dollar stretch a little further.

Disclaimer: Product samples were provided by the manufacturer for the purpose of preparing this review.

Photo credit: CVS.com

Are you searching for healthy yet convenient meal ideas? If so, consider picking up a package of Bibigo potstickers for your family to try.

Bibigo’s frozen potstickers are made with 17 grams of whole grains and 4 grams of fiber per serving to provide a healthy twist on classic Asian dumplings. They are available in BBQ Chicken, Pork & Vegetable, and Chicken & Vegetable varieties.

The BBQ Chicken went over the best at my house, although they are all suitable for a quick and easy meal. One package of potstickers was enough to make a light lunch for my family of three.

We dipped the potstickers in sauces we already had on hand, but there is a recipe for dipping sauce on the back of the package if you want to try making your own sauce. The dipping sauce and the small size of the potstickers should make them a hit with kids who tend to be picky eaters. My son is usually reluctant to try new foods, but he gobbled these up with no complaints.

The potstickers are very easy to prepare. I fried mine in a pan with a small amount of olive oil and they were done in less than 10 minutes.They can also be boiled or microwaved, depending upon your personal preference.

Bibigo potstickers can be purchased nationwide at Costco stores. The suggested retail price is $4.49 per package, which makes them affordable as well as tasty!

Disclaimer: Product samples were provided by the manufacturer for the purpose of preparing this review.

Photo credit: Bibigo

When every penny matters, the Shell Fuel Rewards Network can help you save on gas. The Fuel Rewards Network program is a free customer loyalty program. Once you sign up via their website, you can earn Fuel Rewards savings and redeem your savings at the pump to watch your price drop.

Savings can be earned in several different ways.

• You can shop through their online mall at more than 700 merchants and earn 5 cents off per gallon for every $50 spent.
• If you dine out one of the 10,000 participating restaurants, you can earn 10 cents off per gallon for every $50 spent.
• You can link grocery rewards cards to your account and use e-coupons that offer Fuel Rewards in addition to their regular savings.
• If you have a MasterCard that you’re willing to link to your account, you can earn additional bonuses for every grocery or dining purchase that is made with the linked card.

To redeem your savings, you insert your Fuel Rewards Network card into the pump before you buy your gas or hand the cashier the card before you attempt to fill up so they can manually lower the price for you. You can then purchase up to 20 gallons of fuel per purchase, per vehicle.

I’ve participated in a few fuel rewards programs from various retailers in the past, but I like that the Shell Fuel Rewards Network offers multiple ways to save.

I’m a frequent online shopper and two of my favorite stores (Target and Kohl’s) both participate in the program. My grocery store loyalty card from Hy-Vee also works with the program, which lets me earn rewards even faster.

You can use your Shell Fuel Rewards Network savings as soon as you earn them, but I have a suggestion that you might find helpful if you’re paid monthly.

Since Shell Fuel Rewards expire on the last day of the month immediately following the month in which they are earned, continue to accumulate your Fuel Rewards Network savings until that week where you’re running short on cash right before your next paycheck. Being able to fill up your tank with $1 or $2 off per gallon feels like you’ve won the lottery when you’re worried about making ends meet until payday.

Visit the Shell Fuel Rewards Network website to sign up for this free money-saving program. If you’re not sure whether there is a Shell station near you, the website has an online locator tool. You can search for Shell stations as well as local businesses that offer a chance for you to earn Fuel Rewards.

Disclaimer: I was financially compensated for this post. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience. If I sign up the most members, I will receive compensation that can then be offered to my readers at my discretion.

Photo credit: Shell Fuel Rewards Network

Growth charts make lovely family keepsakes, especially if you have more than one child and use the chart to compare the height of siblings at different ages.

If you’re looking for an attractive, high quality growth chart for your home, I highly recommend visiting the Paola Brown Shop on Etsy. Paola Brown has been selling on Etsy since 2012. Her cute shop features several different growth chart options, as well as various cute home decor signs.

My personal favorite growth chart is the design featured in this post. It is made from solid pine and measures 1” x 9” wide x 6’ tall. The chart is designed to be hung 5 to 8 inches from the floor and includes a sawtooth hanger.

I love the sophisticated black finish that is shown, but you can also have your chart stained with a natural, pecan,walnut or dark wood stain or request a custom color paint job. The price includes personalization with a child or family name, but additional info can be added for an extra $10.

Growth charts and other personalized items in the Paola Brown Shop take one to two weeks to ship, depending upon demand. You’d definitely want to plan ahead if you were ordering one as a gift.

I think wooden growth charts are preferable to wall decals because they can easily be taken with you if you end up moving to a new home while your children are still small. Wall decals can be removed, but are generally hard to reposition. And, with so many different customization options available, a growth chart from the Paola Brown Shop is guaranteed to perfectly match your home decor.

Photo credit: Paola Brown Shop

In early June, Amazon announced the launch of Prime Music. This service offers unlimited, ad-free access to over a million songs and hundreds of playlists. It’s a free benefit provided to anyone with a Prime membership. This is in addition to the two-day shipping, streaming video, Kindle owner’s lending library, and monthly Kindle First Look ebook selection.

If you’re looking for some kid-friendly music, there are several playlists on Prime Music that your children might enjoy. Check out these selections:

• Putting Baby to Bed
• Wake Up the Kids
• Kids’ Birthday Party
• Get the Wiggles Out
• 123, ABC for Kids
• Kids’ Singalong Songs

For the most part, Prime Music is easy to use. You simply add a playlist to your library, then access through Amazon Music’s cloud player.

I’ve never been a big fan of purchasing children’s music because it’s something you’ll only use for a short time. So, this seems like a great perk for anyone who already has a Prime membership. It’s certainly much more convenient than using YouTube to search for kid-friendly tunes.

If you’ve tried out Prime Music, what do you think of this new service?

Photo credit: Amazon

If you have a condition that requires a medical ID bracelet, ENDEVR has introduced three new lines of stylish, yet durable medical ID bracelets for you to consider: MyID Sport, MyID Sleek, and MyID Luxe.

In the event of an emergency, each MyID Series ID bracelet quickly provides a complete medical profile to first responders. They can access the profile with a smartphone QR scan, through the 24/7 call center, or by using an online lookup service.

New ENDEVR bracelet styles include:

• The MyID Sport ID Bracelet is made from silicone, which makes it perfect for athletes. It is available in nine different color combinations with a retail price of $19.95.
• The MyID Sleek Medical ID Bracelet is available in six different color combinations with additional steel and laser engraved condition specific sliders covering issues such a peanut allergy, epilepsy, autism, or a heart condition. It is great for those seeking a more fashion forward medical ID solution. This bracelet retails for $39.95 and sliders can be added for $4.95
• ENDEVR’s fashionable MyID Luxe ID bracelet is available in five different color combinations with far-infrared bio-ceramic blend, pure germanium, and naturally energized tourmaline. The MyID Luxe sells for $79.95.

The medical profiles associated with MyID bracelets are stored on an encrypted server to protect sensitive information and can be easily set up and updated via your computer or smartphone.

A free lifetime online health profile is included with the purchase of your bracelet, plus a free 1 year Premium Subscription that allows you to add unlimited lists of medical conditions, emergency contacts, allergies, medications, physicians, and insurance information.

For more information about ENDEVR or to view their entire product line, visit www.endevr.com.

Photo credit: ENDEVR

Do your kids love to go to the pool or beach? Do you hate wearing a swimsuit because it feels like all your figure flaws are on display? If so, you need girltrunks!

Girltrunks were created by Debbie Kuhn after she struggled to find an acceptable swimsuit to wear on vacation with her friends. She wanted to design a modest suit that made women feel confident, comfortable, and feminine.

Recently, I had the chance to try out a girltrunks swimsuit. I’m a size 12 or 14, depending upon how many sweets I’ve indulged in over the last month. Finding a swimsuit that doesn’t make me feel overexposed is a challenge, which is why I own seven different swimsuits and hate all of them.

I was skeptical when I first tried on my girltrunks, but I’ve come to the conclusion that this is the best option for moms in search of modest swimwear that will hold up to a day of family fun.

Pros:

• The shelf bra in the tank sample I received was surprisingly supportive. I could easily do jumping jacks or chase after a band of screaming toddlers, if needed.
• Compared to the other swimsuit options in my closet, the tank has a much longer length. It’s also fairly loose around the midsection, which helps camouflage my “muffin top” so I’m not constantly thinking about the need to suck in my gut.
• The trunks are extremely comfortable! I wasn’t sure I’d like the bikini bottom mesh lining inside the trunks, but I ended up wearing them all day long with no issues just because they were so comfortable. I actually like them better than half the regular everyday shorts in my closet.
• The pockets on the trunks are extremely handy for keeping track of cash, keys, and other necessities.

Cons:

• I wish girltrunks offered more patterns for the tops. The multi colored tank shown in the photo accompanying this post is my favorite, but I’m not “in love” with any of the four prints currently offered.
• For the mom on a tight budget, this is a bit of a splurge. The trunks sell for $79 and the tops sell for $59. The suit is far nicer than any discount store swimsuit I’ve ever owned, but I know it’s hard for moms to justify spending money on themselves when there are diapers, swimming lessons, and summer camps to pay for.

Visit the girltrunks website to learn more or to purchase your suit. Girltrunks offers sizes 4-24 to fit a variety of body types. Tops are available in tank and halter styles. Bottoms are available with a 7-inch or 11-inch inseam.

Disclaimer: Product samples were provided by the manufacturer for the purpose of preparing this review.

Photo credit: girltrunks

A big bowl of tasty popcorn makes the perfect treat for your Netflix binge watching, but not all popcorn is created equally.

Tiny But Mighty popcorn is different from other brands of popcorn because the hull of each kernel is cooked away during the popping process, making it easier to chew and digest. Tiny But Mighty popcorn is a better choice for people who suffer from IBS, Crohn’s Disease, and other digestive problems that make it hard to enjoy traditional popcorn. This also eliminates the problem of popcorn getting stuck in your teeth!

Tiny But Mighty popcorn is non-GMO, gluten free, and has no dairy. It’s an heirloom variety that was shared by the Native Americans with a Midwestern pioneer family in the 1850s. The genetic makeup of the plant is virtually identical to the corn that was grown in North America for thousands of years, which gives it a rich and distinctive flavor other modified corn crops lack.

Tiny But Mighty popcorn is available in ready to eat bags of butter, sea salt, and kettle corn flavors. I’m partial to the sea salt flavor myself, but they’re all quite good. You can also buy bags of kernels for popping at home, if desired.

Tiny But Mighty Foods is based in Shellsburg, Iowa. The company’s popcorn products can be purchased at any Whole Foods store or through select online retailers. Visit the Tiny But Mighty website for details.

Disclaimer: Product samples were provided by the manufacturer for the purpose of preparing this review.

Photo credit: Tiny But Mighty