Have you Tapped IN today?

Saturday is the day I love to tap into Crowdtap. It's usually the day that I can get some extra quiet time where I can catch up on my discussions and completing reports on my actions that are due.

For whatever reason , which I am definitely not complaining about, by Saturday it is like my step son finally needs a break from me too, and doesn't need me to come watch him while he plays, every 5 minutes.  I take full advantage of those times, and will let him play his video games all he wants while I catch up on my reviews and other things that require me to actually think. Don't worry, we do take breaks for snacks and meals .

Saturdays are also great for Crowdtapping because chances are you have missed logging in within the past couples days, and there are usually a few quickhits to do, as well as new webshares and reports to complete and discussions to catch up on. Since Sundays are usually slow on Crowdtap, I catch up on Saturday, and don't worry about it on Sunday, unless I have an email from them that there is something new to do.

If you haven't signed up for crowdtap yet, you can use the picture below to sign up.

If you aren't yet  convinced that you should sign up for Crowdtap, watch for a post coming up in a bit about my Old Navy Beach Bum Party, where I got $40 worth of Old Navy Accessories for FREE

Till Then, Stay Cool and Try to Beat the Heat  [It's 102° here right now ]

Red Apple Lipstick has launched an all-new naming contest!

Last Summer I discovered Red Apple Lipstick. Their products are made in the USA and are Gluten, Paraben and Allergen free. When I discovered them  they were having a  Lipstick naming contest for their  Summer Passion Line , and now they are at it again! They have come out with a line of Gluten Free eyeshadows, and they want YOU to help them name the shades.

 All you have to do is read their blog post HERE , and comment with the name that you think fits the shade they have posted., or head to their Face Book Page and comment with the shadow name of your choice.If they select your name , they will send you an eyeshadow for FREE. You can read my previous post about their Lipstick that I won  from a naming contest HERE.  Be sure to like them on Facebook to see when each new shadow color is posted so you can help come up with the winning name!

4th of July Party Games : Review & Giveaway

  Independence day is just a week away. I'm sure most of you have been planning your day for some time now, but have you planned any fun games for both the kids and the adults?  Every year I always try to think of new games to play at our get together but end up reverting back to the usual games of Badminton and Horse shoes because that's something both the kiddos and the adults enjoy.

This year I was determined to find some new, budget friendly games . I am in luck ,and so is one of you! Python Printable Games sent me their 4th of July Party Game Pack to review and giveaway to one lucky reader! Here is a sneak peak of just a few of the games:

I must say, I am pretty impressed with the games included in this pack.  There are 20 games total, which include both family oriented games, and ones for the adults only. Many of the games can be used for any occasion, and not just the 4th of July. They can also be fun learning tools for the kids!

The games are downloaded via email,and unlike other companies, they  don't limit the amount of time you get to use the games. They're yours to keep forever, and reuse at future parties!

I am definitely going to incorporate some of these games at our get together, and love the fact that there's plenty that the kids can play, as well as some just for us grownups.

Use the rafflecopter below to enter. There are a few mandatory entries that the company requires for the giveaway.
The giveaway will end July 1st so that you have plenty of time to view, plan, and print your games.

 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.

Crowdtap- What is it anyways?

Alot of people have asked me what Crowdtap is and how I get FREE stuff from places like Old Navy. In this post I will give you all the details about how it works and how to increase your chances to get free stuff too.

In their words:

"Crowdtap is the Influencer Marketing platform, enabling leading brands to easily identify, activate and manage their influential consumers for real-time insights and powerful online and offline peer-to-peer marketing."

What does this mean to us?  Lots of times Crowdtap members are the first to know about a new product coming out, we get to view trailers for movies before anyone else , and leave our input on new product names, package styling, and our overall opinions on the brand.

What I LOVE the most about Crowdtap:
◆ Unlike other sites, this one only requires a few minutes of my time
◆ They don't fill up my inbox with emails
◆ It is EASY!!

The perks:
◆ For everything you do you get points, which are redeemable for all kinds of different gift cards
◆ FREE stuff. Of course, my favorite is the Old Navy Style Council. All throughout the year they have sample and shares or parties, where they send coupons for you AND your friends  to get totally free items.
◆ Can donate to a charity of your choice using virtual points

A few people have signed up, and then ask me why they never get selected for any of the sample and shares or parties. When I first started with Crowdtap about a year ago, I was wondering the same thing. I wasn't getting chosen for anything , and wasn't getting alot of offers. After a few months I figured out why.  I was kind of forgetting about it, and didn't visit the site every day, and sometimes not at all during a week. I also wasn't checking my email regularly. When there' s a new discussion or sample and share  they will send an email to let you know, and you generally need to find that email and follow the link provided within 24 hours, because they only have so many open spots for each thing. You have to be active with the site to get the rewards.  I spend maybe 10 minutes a day , when I have quick hits and discussions.

 Here's a walk thru of the things I ALWAYS make sure to do when I log-in.

Check the Quick- Hits [polls]- Mine are empty today because they usually don't have any on weekends

The more quickhits you do, the more "actions " you will get, because the polls are to match you up with things that you may be interested in.

Next, I go to my actions. There I will see any new discussions, sample and shares, or parties that I can participate in

This section is really important, and you will have the opportunity to accept or decline the action. If you accept it, you need to complete it , or it will make you less likely to get more offers [especially the good ones] in the future. For everything you do, you get points, and a better chance for more offers.

Here is an example of how a party or sample and share action works :

For each action/party/sample&share you accept there will be discussions. It is very important to participate in these , and only take a few seconds. You get points for answering their questions, and for comments on others' posts .

They tell you what they want you to do during your sampling or party, and you fill out a report once you have completed it [which takes maybe 3 mins to do ] . The more detailed you are, the more points you get. They will always tell you a time frame you have to complete an action, as well as different things they may want you to do, and what to expect to get in your kit

 They also have missions for you to complete, which are usually so many quick hits, web shares , referrals and other things. Each time you complete a mission you get more points which helps you level up , which helps you to get more actions to participate in and closer to redeeming for gift cards. 

Another great thing is that you can donate your points to a charity of your choice . My chairty is the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. If you want to keep your points for gift cards, that's ok. Everytime someone gives  a webshare that you do a thumbs up they will donate to your chosen charity on your behalf.

I was a member of Crowdtap for a few months before I started being active with it. A month into participating regularly I got my first sample and share from Old Navy., and my most recent one made my Third from them alone .Don't get discouraged, just get active and you will start getting accepted.

I hope you found this post to be informative, and if you have more questions, or I left something out don't hesitate to ask!  If you're not a member yet, and want to sign up you can do so HERE

I will be sharing my review on my Old Navy Beach Bum Party soon!

Misikko Beauty : My Dream Package

  I took cosmetology in high school and was so lucky to have access to everything wonderful that my skin, hair and nails needed -both from my teacher at school, and Mom . My mother always had the best skin care products, and made sure I had the best products to make me look and feel good.  I used to get up 2 hours early before school just to fix my hair and makeup [that way if I didn't like how it turned out I would have time to start all over again].  It's funny how I took having a good hairdryer w/ diffuser, face creams , lotions and makeup for granted. Naturally, a person doesn't HAVE to have the brands I grew up with [Estee Lauder, Clinique & Elizabeth Arden to name a few]to have beautiful skin or hair .  As life has gone on, and I have gotten older,  I have learned that brands can matter when it comes to beauty and the look of youth.  I'm not at a point in life where I can afford to buy those things much  anymore,no matter the fact that they would be "investments", as my mother would say. For years Mom has given me her sample sizes of Face Creams and Serums. After having two children I  have let myself go just a little more than I intended to.  I still fix my hair, put on makeup and use moisturizer, I just do it all a little cheaper than before, which I have found has made a HUGE difference . I am at that age in life [my 30's] where I feel like I can see every line and wrinkle and that I look older in general. I don't wear much makeup anymore except the L'Oreal Face Bronzer Mom gave me, because  Cover Girl isn't  making me look like Drew Barrymore, and makes my face feel icky. I have super naturally curly hair  that has been SCREAMING for a hair dryer with a diffuser attachment so that the frizz can go away and I can have the tame curls I had as a teenager.  My daughter is now the age I was when  my hair and makeup became so important to me.  She has naturally curly hair as well , even thicker than mine . The cheap hair dryers with diffusers [when I say cheap I mean 20-$30] don't do the trick and break or stop working  pretty quickly.
 I would love to be able to provide her with some good quality necessities she needs to help her look her best, and some to make me feel my best . After all, looking good is feeling good.

 After viewing their website at Misikko.com I think I have finally narrowed down the items I would LOVE to have.   

   First on  the list would be for my daughter and I to share so that we can actually blow dry /style our hair and keep the curls, just not the frizz :
 

T3 Tourmaline EvolutionHair Dryer/Designer Dryer    $194.99                                             

















     T3 Tourmaline - Diffuser II    $24.99


   For Mom because she always loved tanning, but due to health issues cannot get out in the sun or tanning bed.

Quick Tan Tanning Mist by Body Drench  $13.99

For us Both . If I could get something that gets rid of the frizz as well as this claims, she might stop damaging her hair by straightening it all the time and wear her beautiful curls

Liquid Keratin Hair Treatment                 $69.00

And finally, Just because I'm curious how well this works :

The Ultimate Model in a Bottle Gift Set  $34.99


All of these fantastic Goodies  bring my grand total to $337.96. 

The hair dryer and diffuser alone would make our day, the rest would make our year . Not only help this mom feel younger and prettier, but also help my daughter embrace her beauty with products that will truly make it shine , plus I would have a chance to give something to Mom to help make her feel good too.It would make me feel so good to be able to give my daughter some of the "royal beauty treatment" that my Mom gave me when I was her age, and it will help her learn how important good products are for your hair and skin , as well as boost her self confidence I do believe.

Thank You, Misiko Beauty for the chance to get my Dream Package for FREE

Misikko Beauty Dream Gift Package Giveaway

Misikko.com is the premiere online destination for professional beauty appliances, and right 


now they are giving THREE people a chance to get a dream package worth $350 of their 


choosing for FREE! How does it work? Go to their site
  
Misikko.com  and choose the items you would most LOVE to have , make sure the total is 


no more than  $350, write a blog post about what you want and how you will use the

products and then  leave a link to your post on their Facebook page . Must have entries

submitted by July 4th.


Working on my dream list now.. 

I WON! Did You?

 A few weeks ago I enetered the  NYC New York Color Fan Rewards Sweepstakes and I just got this email :

 I won a NYC New York  Big Bold Mascara.!! If you entered this sweepstakes, keep an eye on your inbox!  Let me know if you won too by commenting on or liking this post :)

Deal Alert: Beautiful Earrings

 I was just checking my email[s] sifting through all the newsletters from sites that I have signed up for  when I came across this Awesome deal :   Shadora.com sent me an email to take a quick feedback survey for an exclusive offer .

         These are gorgeous earrings for just $4.99  with FREE shipping [ Their shipping is always free! ].
 Check your emails if you sign up to them , if you don't and you want this deal leave me a comment and I will send you an email so that you can get it!
Like their Facebook Page HERE to see their deals and promotions

        

The Lesser Evil - Photo Contest

          Lesser Evil Snacks make quality all natural snacks that taste great and are healthy for you . They are the Lesser Evil Solution for snack time and want to know what it means to us to be Lesser Evil, by photo submission. The prize is :
        

Nikon Coolpix S8000 Digital Camera.

The world’s slimmest 10x zoom camera with wide-angle capability. Nikon’s extra-low dispersion (ED) glass lens ensures crisp results whether you shoot still images or high-definition movie clips.

    Just submit your pic to them HERE and have a chance to win this camera. Entries are accepted until 06/20. Be sure to have your friends vote  on your picture . Here is the link for my entry if you would like to vote for it , and leave me a link to yours and I will vote to help you also!   My Entry

 

  Play- Doh is our Lesser Evil today . Every Day this summer we are going to introduce a toy or game  to this 9 year old video playing, tv watching hyperactive child,  that we played when we were kids  because those were the things that helped us exercise our imagination and our bodies [aka - get some of that energy out ] which sadly alot of kids truly do not know how to do, thanks to technology.

We Have Winners!

  Thank you to those who entered the giveaway! All the winners have been emailed

                                                           
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday Freebie Mail

 Best cure for the Monday Blues? Freebies in the Mailbox!!  Today I got lots of goodies

                                 
Pictured :* Weber's Just Add Juice Marinating Sauce [Teriyaki] - FB giveaway
                  * Cold And Cough 4 kids sample from Trymbl .
 With this site you can Self-select what you want to try, receive a beautiful box once a month, try & enjoy! All for FREE . Sign up by clicking HERE
                    * Prize Pack I won from a House Party. com Twitter Party a couple weeks ago:
                          -  T-shirt
                          -  Re-usable bag
                         -   Water bottle
            
                      What Free stuff came in your mail today?

CollageIt Father's Day Review & Giveaway

Want to give Dad the perfect Father's Day gift that he will treasure forever? A gift to help him always remember those special times?  Never fear, I have the perfect thing to help you create that gift for him.
 You can create a collage of your most favored pictures [up to 200 at a time if you want !]using this super simple software called CallageIt.

                                     
 CollageIt is a most easy-to-use collage maker which allows you to make photo collages on Mac and Windows automatically in minutes with just a few clicks. Whether you are a  casual user or a  professional photographer, you can easily and quickly master it.
With CollageIt, you can share photos with friends and families in a unique way. CollageIt assists you in recording beautiful moments in the easiest way. It has the following key features:
 - Automatic, Easy to Use and Powerful.
 - Various Collage Templates to Choose.
 - Customize Photo Collages Freely.
 - Share the Collage Anywhere.

 This was truly the easiest photo software I have ever used. You can make your collage in 3 easy steps. Here's a peak of just how easy it is [you will have to click on the pictures]

                             

 I love the fact that you can send it to email, or facebook right from the software itself before saving to the computer if you want to , and all the backgrounds there were to choose from.

 Here is my final product [I used paint to add text]

I am very excited to say that Pearl Mountain, the creators of CollageIt , have been generous enough to send me 19 license codes to give to my readers to be able to register CollageIt PRO for FREE !!

[ a value of $19.90 each]  I believe you all will LOVE this software. I know I'm already addicted to it. I have made 3 more in addition to the one I have above .  Not only will this be great for Father's Day, but think Christmas, Birthdays, Graduation... The possibilities are endless.

Now for the Giveaway Details :

 Giveaway will begin 06/05 at 12:01 Am and run until 06/09 at 12:01 AM . 

There is only one mandatory task to enter, the rest are optional and will give you extra entries. 

Make sure that if you say you did it that you did, because all winners' entries will be verified.

19 People will be WINNERS and will receive : 

Link to Download for FREE

(1) License code to register product [upgrade to PRO]

(1) User Guide 

These will be sent via email. 

Winners will be announced within 24 hours of giveaway ending ,and will have 24 hours to contact me via message .

Enter using the Rafflecopter below, and Good Luck, everyone!

                                          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.

My Not - So - New favorite movie.[Review]

 I tend to be one of those people who see a movie they want to watch but the boyfriend, or the best friend, or my sister; kind of sway me against it . They don't necessarily have to say that the movie sucks . it could be : "Oh, it's gonna make you cry " [and I already feel emotionally unstable enough at that time], or " I guess I'll watch it , if you want to " ,which always means "I don't want to watch it , I'd rather have my teeth pulled, but hey if you wanna watch it, then we will"  Which in return I'm like : "Nah, it's ok. I'll watch it some other time "
 Today THAT movie came on. The one I have been putting off seeing for YEARS because  there has never been a moment when I am totally alone that this movie came on. Ok, I wasn't totally ALONE when it came on today. My fiance was there too , but he had to work this evening.  "He's Just Not That Into You "Came on at 1 and he had to leave by 1: 30 . He left at  1:10 .
** If there are any guys reading this, don't take it the way you are. Women are just more organized than men - we break stuff down by time. Especially if we are stay at home Moms . I plan my day around the clock. Please call if you're gonna be late.. Or early. **
 My thoughts when giving into those around me that didn't want to watch this wonderfully funny yet romantically realistic movie, was that "Hey, it's cable . They will replay this later tonight or in a couple weeks. " Not this movie.  I have found it from the beginning and not watched it . The middle - which just irritates me, so I don't watch it . And the end, with no repeats in sight.
 Today, however, I caught it just 3 mins in . I am sure that USA is thankful of this haha.
 I saw the name of the movie first, because I always use the "Guide" feature on my tv . I can't stand just flipping channels .When I saw "He's Just Not That Into You"I  was like "OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH", even though the fiance was sitting beside me, [ he made this "sigh" sound] because I knew he was going to work soon. Why shouldn't I watch something I want to?  So, I turned the channel. And there was "Snow White"[Mary Margaret] from Once Upon A Time. I hit the info button to see the cast . "OH! That's Snow White!" I exclaimed. I knew Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck and Drew Barrymore  [all whom I love] were in this movie , but still hadn't watched it. Why? Well,  I love Jen in  "Friends ", But still kinda pissed about her and Ben Affleck, because he and JLO looked great together. As for Drew - it pisses me off how in most of her movies they show her with no makeup at all, which just isn't a good look for her, as Cover Girl has proved.
 I don't know if it's because of my new LOVE for Once Upon A Time, or because it's just Her , but  I absolutely could not stop watching this movie. And it was GREAT . It hit every  category of men and women. Just Friends, Just Lovers, Just Gay, and - Just not that Into You.-From a  Man and a Woman's perspective.

Years ago when this came out [2009], I really thought Drew and Jennifer were the stars . In actuality, it was Ginnifer and Justin . Every woman AND man can relate to this movie in some way.or another. It covers every aspect of a relationship. I am really glad I sat down and watched it.

                         ╰☆╮  Going to watch Mona Lisa Smile [2003]╰☆╮

Father's Day: Free Card

 I just checked my emails and found one from Cardstore., with a code for a FREE Father's Day card.
 They did this last year [and do it for most major holidays], and my fiance just loved the card his son and I made for him . It hasn't left the night stand in a year :)

                              To get your FREE Card  Head over to Card Store by clicking HERE. Enter code :
                                                     LUVDAD2 at checkout.  Shipping will be FREE as long as you have it sent to yourself. If you want it mailed to the recipient, they will charge you the price of the stamp. They have A TON of cards to choose from, and you can personalize yours with pictures as well if you want

Smiley 360 Mission: Mystery Lotion [Review]

 "smiley360.com is the world's first social media powered community designed to bring you new things to try and share."
By being a member you get to be one of the first ones to sample new products, and give your feedback to the companies to help them better improve their products.  I have gotten to do several missions with smiley360. I have gotten behind on my reviews, so decided to start out with the most recent product they sent me that I have tested.This was also the most fun one I've experienced so far.
 This mission was for a "mystery" lotion. They sent me a trial size of an unlabeled  lotion [it did have the ingredients listed on it] . They asked that I test it , then come back and take a quick survey about it, at which time they would unveil it's true identity.

When I first opened the lotion I thought the scent was familiar , but couldn't place it. I tried a little, and at first thought it was going to leave a greasy feel, but I was pleasantly surprised. It soaked in nicely, and left my skin feeling silky smooth . I didn't just use this on my hands, I used it on my legs as well - which tend to be pretty dry., and the rest of my body .I used it continually for a few days straight , and noticed a dramatic difference in my skin. My fiance even commented on how nice and soft my legs felt.

I headed back to smiley360.com to find out what I had tested. To my surprise this is what it was :

Not Only was it the only brand of lotion that I already use, but it is also their newest lotion that I kept trying to win in their latest giveaway, but never did!  What a nice surprise that my  Smiley mission was the New Vaseline total moisture. 

I was given both lotions in return for my review on the product. 

If you would like to start receiving FREE products  , and have a few minutes to voice your opinion on them, then please use my referral link below to get started .  

Smiley360

                                                 

Crowd Tap : Old Navy Beach Bum Hosted Party

 I am so excited because I just got my acceptance email to host an Old Navy Beach Bum Party from Crowd Tap 

                                                    

 This means I will get to take three of my friends with me to Old Navy to shop for FREE beach accessories using coupons I will be getting. This will be my third Old Navy shopping party since signing up for Crowd Tap , and I've been a member for almost a year now.

What is Crowd Tap ? It's a wonderful website where Brands collaborate with us- the consumers- to get feedback on their products. This includes clothing, laundry detergents, movies - and the list goes on and on.

How do you get selected? Based upon my experience the more "quick hits" [polls] you answer, and the more you share with your friends the better chance you have. 

 What I love about Crowd Tap : They aren't spammy at all. The only emails you get from them are alerts that you have quick hits, discussions or party offers.  You can also redeem your points that are earned from quick hits, signing in, discussions and polls  for gift cards . I  just redeemed mine for a $10 Amazon Gift Card [and I'm already to the halfway point for another one]. 

You can also choose to donate some or all of your virtual points to a charity of your choice. the charity I chose is the . 

When I first joined Crowd Tap I got kind of discouraged at first because I was applying to host different things and wasn't getting picked. I also was only logging in to the site maybe once a month. Finally I book marked the site , and started checking my email more frequently.  Within a month I got picked to do the Old Navy Outerwear Sample and Share . I got a beautiful wool- blend coat [one for me, and one for my daughter] , an $89 value [each] for FREE . I have been a daily "tapper" ever since.  It's really quick, and really easy - I usually only spend 10-20 mins a day with it , depending on how many discussions I have. 

Also, it isn't just for the females! Guys can sign up too and get the same perks . Right now they have TONS of things going on, including a McCormick Grill Mates Ambassador Party.  

 What are you waiting for? Here is the link to sign up:  http://bit.ly/my6kWi
 [or click on the word "crowdtap" anywhere in this post]

If you need help or have any questions, feel free to ask me .