retailtherapylounge
Member Since: December 18, 2010Reviews
Progress Cards
We found this nifty little printable flashcard tool that helps kids with a variety of things - ranging from something as simple to saying please and thank you and remembering to brush their teeth before bedtime to dealing with something as severe as... +
We found this nifty little printable flashcard tool that helps kids with a variety of things - ranging from something as simple to saying please and thank you and remembering to brush their teeth before bedtime to dealing with something as severe as death. They are called Progress Cards and there are 60 subjects in all. I was surprised at how useful I found some of them. Some of the cards will apply to older children, and a few may not apply to your situation ..... but overall, they have tips you can start to use on your toddler, pre-teen or teenager. I personally have very strong willed, active kids and I have found it helps to use a tool or source - that way it is not coming directly from Mom!
I personally liked the tips for Bedtime Routines and Get Along Better with Siblings. I literally posted the Bedtime Routine on the door for my toddler. She tends to "add" things to extend bedtime and create quite a process. This way, we go down the list and done!
"Progress Cards help children manage and express difficult feelings, learn tips to improve behaviors, and learn effective coping skills to deal with divorce, death, bullies, and much more. Most of the Progress Cards can be printed double-sided, so children will have a place to check off the skills as they practice them."
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Grill Charms
So - this one - my husband was excited about. You say the word "grill" and it does not matter in what context it is in, he steps up the plate (literally). He has been talking for hours about the Sunday Smorgasboard we are grilling to test this... +
So - this one - my husband was excited about. You say the word "grill" and it does not matter in what context it is in, he steps up the plate (literally). He has been talking for hours about the Sunday Smorgasboard we are grilling to test this grill charm out.....we got chicken, we got beef, we got burgers.....bring it on grill charm!
Leslie, at Charmed Life Products, was nice enough to send me one of her "lightbulb" moment grill charms. You know, that idea we all have but don't do anything about. Well, Leslie did something about it and created a little product similar to wine charms to help differentiate meat at a party or dinner. So - you are grillin' and everyone is shouting "I Like mine RARE" "I like mine well done" - that is what this dohicky does. It looks like a pushpin for a bulletin board, sort of, and it helps you tell apart (and grill things right) the different meats, burgers, whatever - so everyone is happy. Plus they make one in a shoe - perfect for my logo :)
So - here is what I found. Okay - so my husband basically took over this part....here is what HE found.....
First of all he did not read the instructions the first time. He put the charm in AFTER it was cooked (he said he could remember - easy tough guy, that defeats the purpose). But he did figure out they stay in well if you put them in the raw meat....it kinda cooks it in a bit to hold. Overall, they are a good, easy way to differentiate meats. I would recommend writing down which one is which though (i.e. the hat charm is the medium rare....) for those of us who multi task or for a larger party. Also, we made some thick smaller burgers for the kids and the charms work better on thicker cuts.
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Benefit Cosmetics Erase Paste Concealer
Tis the season.....for Holiday parties that is. I know as a mom, I look forward to getting dressed up and sparkly. But I am also always tired - and the holiday season just emphasizes that. So, last time I stocked up on cosmetics, I took the... +
Tis the season.....for Holiday parties that is. I know as a mom, I look forward to getting dressed up and sparkly. But I am also always tired - and the holiday season just emphasizes that. So, last time I stocked up on cosmetics, I took the plunge and bought Benefit's Erase Paste. I needed some erasing.
At around $25 bucks a pop, I was hoping it did more than erasing. So, last night we had a holiday party - and I needed some help. I dug into the little pot of erase paste and it did get rid of my dark circles....it actually blended well. And it stayed put without drying out or making me look like a cake face. I will caution though to use VERY sparingly. I got a little too ambitious and a little of this golden stuff goes a long way. Which is good because that means it will last a while.
I also used it this morning with my jeans and t shirt and just some mascara - no fancy party face and it seems to work well stand alone too.
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Jammypack
I am a mom - a multi-tasker, a boo boo kisser, a dog feeder, a cat litter box scooper, a public transportation mom bus......and with that it is hard to get motivated to exercise. Then I discovered the Jammy Pack, and I be jammin now! This is a... +
I am a mom - a multi-tasker, a boo boo kisser, a dog feeder, a cat litter box scooper, a public transportation mom bus......and with that it is hard to get motivated to exercise.
Then I discovered the Jammy Pack, and I be jammin now! This is a really cool item. It is basically a fanny pack with little speakers in it. You pop in your Ipod (or other music device) and connect the built in speakers and away you go. I really like to hear music when I work out but ear phones are not practical for me right now. If I have the kids with me - I am pushing the stroller and playing referee to "I want snacks" "I want to get out and walk" and screaming "Don't touch your sister" - so the earphone, while they might drown out the noise - are not an option. If I (heaven forbid) and exercising alone - I just don't want to be a target.....a target for someone with bad intentions, a target for a biker going to fast on the trails and I don't hear him, a target for that "nice" dog that decided to run from his owner and trip me.....and so on. Earphones keep me from being alert and safe.
So I was so excited to find out a product like this existed. It was really easy to put together and while a little bulky - it was comfortable. I could also loop it around the stroller. As an added bonus - It actually HELPED my kids. They LOVED hearing music and they were not as border and did not pick on each other in the stroller as much. I actually got to exercise with them in the stroller instead of stopping to scream at someone to share the goldfish and stopping stealing the other's baby doll.
You do need batteries and it does have a volume control - which is great so you are not totally obnoxious. They come in black, pink and other cool colors like camo.
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Eye Candy Coolers
We talk about "eye candy" all of the time - but this is literally eye candy for your eyes. Eye Candy are eco-friendly reusable gel packets that you chill and pop onto your eyes.....they even look like little cucumbers like at a spa! When I first... +
We talk about "eye candy" all of the time - but this is literally eye candy for your eyes.
Eye Candy are eco-friendly reusable gel packets that you chill and pop onto your eyes.....they even look like little cucumbers like at a spa!
When I first heard of them, I immediately thought just about puffy tired eyes. But after opening the package and reading about my new "Candy" I realized that they also helped with allergy eyes - which I have a lot of. I feel tired and puffy all the time lately, in fact, with fall leaves and molds and chasing after two kids.
I was a little hesitant at first if they would stay on.....I am used to those older versions that you strap on tight like a mask. I thought maybe they would not be heavy enough to perk my baggy eyes up. But they were just right. Not too small, not too big and they did not freeze my eyeballs off like I remember the old masks did sometimes. I just popped em in the fridge and they were ready to go! They even have a little small pouch to store them in.
They are also surprisingly affordable - about $10 bucks.
It also dawned on my that 'tis the season - so they are perfect to perk back up from that Holiday cocktail party - and even more important - the impending New Year's parties!
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Clinique Happy Perfume
This has been a long time favorite of mine.....it is simple and light. I don't like heavy perfumy smells. It is affordable and if you catch the clinique bonus times you can really get some good freebies with it. It also lasts a good while.
This has been a long time favorite of mine.....it is simple and light. I don't like heavy perfumy smells.
It is affordable and if you catch the clinique bonus times you can really get some good freebies with it. It also lasts a good while.
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Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm with Vitamin-E & Peppermint
Love this - always pick up one at the checkout counter at Whole Foods. They seem to disappear in my bag. My favorite is the pomegrante flavor. This is the only lip balm that really does the trick for me.
Love this - always pick up one at the checkout counter at Whole Foods. They seem to disappear in my bag. My favorite is the pomegrante flavor. This is the only lip balm that really does the trick for me. -
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