This toy was a hit in my household the instant all eyes fell on it! For starters, the Kitty Camera is absolutely adorable from a purely aesthetic standpoint. It’s a great size for toddlers to hold, without being too bulky, and is made of durable... +
This toy was a hit in my household the instant all eyes fell on it! For starters, the Kitty Camera is absolutely adorable from a purely aesthetic standpoint. It’s a great size for toddlers to hold, without being too bulky, and is made of durable hard plastic. The camera has a small viewfinder on the back – you slide in one of the prepared photo “slides”, click the shutter, and Kitty will wink and stick her tongue out on the front side of the camera, to present you with the photo (think of it as a faux-Polaroid) – very cute and super ingenious! There are a few additional buttons on the back, as well, just to help make the experience feel realistic for your little ones. This camera was well-received by my girls and is a great first step towards a real, kids-based digital camera. As with all Gabby’s Dollhouse toys, it was well-made and safe, and has me looking to the rest of their line for other ideas. -
My husband typically uses dry sprays after working out, but normally sticks to a standard bar deodorant in the mornings. I threw this in his work bag so he could use it for a mid-day refresh or before/after going to the gym. The claim of 72 hour... +
My husband typically uses dry sprays after working out, but normally sticks to a standard bar deodorant in the mornings. I threw this in his work bag so he could use it for a mid-day refresh or before/after going to the gym. The claim of 72 hour protection didn’t fall short! It helped combat his sweat and odour for extended periods where he wasn’t able to hop in the shower. The scent is a little woodsy, which I enjoy, but the amber undertones were not a favourite for either of us. However, it did apply easily and dried practically immediately, so he was able to spray and go, without any feelings of wetness after putting on his shirt. At the end of the day, it did the trick and warded off any sign of sweat over a number of two-day periods, so it was a winner in his books, bar the scent. -
I'll be the first to admit that I sweat...a lot. That’s why I’m always on the hunt for the latest and greatest in anti-perspirants. I particularly like using dry sprays for days when I go in to the office, as they don’t leave white marks on my... +
I'll be the first to admit that I sweat...a lot. That’s why I’m always on the hunt for the latest and greatest in anti-perspirants. I particularly like using dry sprays for days when I go in to the office, as they don’t leave white marks on my nice work-clothes, which tend to either be silk or synthetic fibres. These dry sprays are great for spraying on, letting dry, and then popping on your blouse or dress with no worries. This latest spray from Degree claims to protect against sweat and odour for 72 hours – a bold claim! While I certainly didn’t rely on this to protect me for quite that long without showering, I did find that this dry spray did the trick for my day to day life. I’d be interested to see how it holds up in the summer, with high temperatures and greater physical activities – I think it would be a great addition to a camping trip, where shower facilities aren’t as accessible (though I’d warn against using in an area with bears, since the scent is very strong). As far as cold-weather use goes, I still smelled great by the end of the day/night, with no concerns about odour. When I use typical bar deodorant, I typically am worried later in the day as I start to smell like a mixture of the bar and sweat, and fear that those around me can also pick it up. No such issues with this, which also made me feel more confident to keep going with my plans into the evening. The only thing I wasn’t a fan of was this scent, called “Nonstop”. It was a bit much for me and not really my favourite type of scent – it leans heavily into jasmine and amber, which I personally don’t enjoy and find a bit strong. I would definitely pick up this 72h dry spray however in a different scent without hesitation. -
I received the Cakey Cat stuffed toy from the Gabby’s Dollhouse Purr-ific Plush line. The style of the plush is in line with the style of others on the market today – an exaggerated head/top tapering to a smaller bottom. I did like that this... +
I received the Cakey Cat stuffed toy from the Gabby’s Dollhouse Purr-ific Plush line. The style of the plush is in line with the style of others on the market today – an exaggerated head/top tapering to a smaller bottom. I did like that this wasn’t filled with beans, but rather regular polyester fill – it made for a softer, squishier feel and kept the toy light. I was impressed with how high-quality the plush was – Cakey Cat’s facial features and paws were all embroidered (and in beautiful colours). This was a hit in my household – cute, cuddly, and the perfect size for on-the-go (around 8 inches).
I #gotitfree in exchange for my honest review.
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I’ve used hello’s other, dental hygiene products so I was interested to see them branch out into deodorants, as I like to stick to more natural-based products without harsh additives. The Naturally Friendly Deodorant features shea butter... +
I’ve used hello’s other, dental hygiene products so I was interested to see them branch out into deodorants, as I like to stick to more natural-based products without harsh additives. The Naturally Friendly Deodorant features shea butter, coconout oil, cocoa seed butter, and tea tree leaf oil, just to name a few of its skin-friendly ingredients. What’s important to note is what it doesn’t contain, which is aluminum, parabens, and baking soda (though I’ve never had any reactions to the latter). The fresh citrus scent is really...for lack of a better word, fresh! The smell is reminiscent of something I’ve used in my youth, though I can’t quite put my finger on it – suffice to say, it’s a yummy scent that lasts throughout the day. I tend to use deodorants more in cooler weather, when I’m less likely to work up a strong sweat (and smell!), so I can’t speak for how well this will do in the summer. However, I was really impressed with how it masked my sweat throughout the day, without exposing me to any harmful chemicals. I’m looking forward to trying out the other scents in this line. hello has not disappointed me with any of their other offerings, so I’m glad that this deodorant was no exception.
I #gotitfree to try through Butterly in exchange for my honest review.
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My nieces love the Gabby’s Dollhouse line – we were all equally excited to try out a new toy featuring all their favourite charactes. The Paw-tastic Pajama Party Pack features Gabby’s pals Pillow Cat and Pandy Paws and is a great complement if... +
My nieces love the Gabby’s Dollhouse line – we were all equally excited to try out a new toy featuring all their favourite charactes. The Paw-tastic Pajama Party Pack features Gabby’s pals Pillow Cat and Pandy Paws and is a great complement if you also have the Gabby’s Purrfect Dollhouse. Unfortunately, we don’t, so the toy was lacking a bit just on its own. I think if this was added in to the greater dollhouse, the kids would have gotten more of a kick out of it. On its own, the pack features a surprise toy Dollhouse Delivery and some bedroom furniture (a swinging chair and canopy). It’s fun in that it features the two kitty friends figurines, but my nieces weren’t too enthralled with it beyond using them solely as figures. The swinging chair is okay – it doesn’t swing too well, but is cute to look at. It wasn’t their favourite toy from the Gabby’s Dollhouse line, but I think it makes a decent stocking stuffer or more minor gift.
I #gotitfree through Butterly in exchange for my honest review.
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My household typically has one toothpaste on the go at any one time, but it's difficult to do when my husband and I have different issues/goals with our dental care. Enter the Renewal line from Colgate. The Gum Revitalize both tackles early gum... +
My household typically has one toothpaste on the go at any one time, but it's difficult to do when my husband and I have different issues/goals with our dental care. Enter the Renewal line from Colgate. The Gum Revitalize both tackles early gum damage, while also working to whiten teeth and prevent new staining. The cool mint flavour is very subtle but breath-freshening. I particularly liked that it didn't taste "sweet" like other toothpastes on the market - helpful that it's sugar-free and safe on tooth enamel, which I always worry about. I did notice that it foamed up more than my regular toothpaste (the basic formulas from the major brands) - not a big deal, but just a different characteristic. I can't say that I noticed my teeth becoming whiter from the use of this toothpaste alone (and it's hard to quantify gum damage without a dentist taking a look), but my enamel did feel stronger and like it could stand up to more. It will be interesting to see the more long-term results of using this paste.
I #gotitfree to try through Butterly.
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Following on the huge Netflix success of Gabby's Dollhouse, this line of toys is consistently a big hit, with this kitchen being no exception. Assembly was a little tricky (I didn't initially notice the instruction booklet in one of the bags -... +
Following on the huge Netflix success of Gabby's Dollhouse, this line of toys is consistently a big hit, with this kitchen being no exception. Assembly was a little tricky (I didn't initially notice the instruction booklet in one of the bags - whoops!), but I managed to make do just from the picture on the box. It's also light enough to be moved from room to room, or set aside when cleaning. I was impressed with how sturdy the final product was, with all the pieces well-made and fitting well together. A lot of these sorts of branded kitchen sets end up being junky and poorly made, wobbly, etc., so this one was such a welcome and appreciated surprise. My experience with Spinmaster-produced toys has been consistently good, as all their products have really proven to be high quality. This kitchen is a great size for kids around 3 and up (about 3 feet high), makes a number of sounds and phrases (using 3 AAA batteries which aren't included), and comes with a few kitchen staples (frying pan, plate, cutlery, utensils, etc.). Most of all, we couldn't get over how ADORABLE this set is! The colours are vibrant and complementary, and the overall cat theme (right down to the pieces of toast and salt and pepper shakers) is beyond cute. This kitchen is perfect for playing house and includes all the right details to make it more realistic, from a drying rack to a fridge that opens/closes, to a cookbook stand. It also integrates with the Bakey with 'Cakey' Oven, which is sold separately but would make an excellent gift to add on to this set at a later date. The only issue my girls had with this was the fridge mechanism - it can be a little difficult to open and close the fridge (i.e. to actually get it to unlatch/latch in the plastic tab), and seems to require two hands: one to hold the structure still and the other to handle the fridge pull. Other than that, this is really a stand-out toy and would make a perfect "big-item" gift for the upcoming holiday season! I #gotitfree to try through Butterly and the Family Rated Club. -
I’ve been using this serum for an entire week now and can definitively say that there is a noticeable difference in my skin texture. My face looks plumper and more hydrated, giving me a healthier look. My eye area appears to be less puffy than... +
I’ve been using this serum for an entire week now and can definitively say that there is a noticeable difference in my skin texture. My face looks plumper and more hydrated, giving me a healthier look. My eye area appears to be less puffy than usual, though it’s always difficult to say whether that’s the particular skin product or swings in lifestyle (sleep, nutrition, water intake, etc.) from week to week. Most noticeable was the reduction in my pores, which was a big win for me. The scent is very light and perfect for evening application. My only complaint would be that this doesn’t absorb as quickly as I’d like, leaving my face a little oily and rubbing some residue onto my pillowcase. This may also be a function of summer skin tending to be “greasier” than the rest of the year, so I could see this serum working wonders in the dry and chapped winter months. Bonus: I love that it combines a ton of plant extracts and is made in France, which is my holy grail source for skincare. I #gotitfree to try through Butterly. -
Irish Spring is one of the go-to bar soap brands in my household, both at the sink and in the shower. I always make sure to have a bar option available since my husband has bad eczema and bars don't seem to be as irritating as liquid hand soaps... +
Irish Spring is one of the go-to bar soap brands in my household, both at the sink and in the shower. I always make sure to have a bar option available since my husband has bad eczema and bars don't seem to be as irritating as liquid hand soaps. It's always nice to use a bar that also smells great - not only does it make the hands and body smell fresh, but also livens up the bathroom which also takes on that fragrance. Irish Spring is one of those brands that's been around for so long that I have no hesitation using them. They recently redesigned their packaging (which does look fantastic - kudos to them), but the soap is the same as always and that's definitely a good thing. It gets the job done and leaves you smelling great, with limited ingredients, of which 98% are now naturally derived. All in all, a great soap at a great price point.
I #gotitfree to try through Butterly.
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