I don't think I have ever told you before, but I have dangerously dry skin. Okay, maybe not "dangerously", but it is VERY dry and every winter I battle cracked skin and painful feet when I walk. I have always been this way to the point where my mom would toss me in an oatmeal bath to soften my skin and then douse me in baby oil. I thought this was the only relief I would ever find for my horrid skin. I had tried just smothering myself in just about every kind of lotion but it was always a temporary fix, never lasting long at all. Within a few hours I would be itching all over from how dry I am. Yes, I am bad and do not drink enough water, but I really do try. It does not seem to make a difference.

I have also tried salt scrubs. I have just one word to share: OUCH! With my already cracking skin, salt does not a healed wound make feel good. Also, avoid right after shaving - YOUCH!

So, a few years ago I was in Bath and Body Works and happened across a new smell I likes "Eucalyptus Spearmint". I mean I really liked it, LOVED it. It was so awakening and just smelled so good. Really good when you are sick too--opens those sinuses right up! Okay, off topic. :) I also saw a sugar scrub in this scent and thought, why not. Surely it can't feel worse than the salt, right? Oh, let me tell you, it was heaven on my skin! I used it after a shower and it has oil and the sugar scrub in it so not only does it scrub that nasty flaky skin away but it also covers me with oil to lock moisture in. When I use this it lasts me all day and when I put lotion on after wards, it lasts even longer. The smell is so exhilarating and relaxing at the same time. I absolutely adore it and if they ever stop selling it I will be so lost!

There are a few cons to be aware of when using it though.
1. It WILL make your tub slippery if you are not careful- it is OIL after all and we all know oil and water do not mix. Be sure to rinse well and step carefully!
2. Beware of ants! Ants had a field day in my tub one summer because I did not properly rinse it all off-that was fun!

If you are like me at all and don't mind having the oil on your skin, I would HIGHLY recommend it. This scrub works wonders for me and I look forward to using it every time! It is a bit pricey(and they also recently made the jar smaller), but it is worth it and I always spread it out to last me a long time.

They also have lots of other scents to check out.

Go for it and give it a try!

Hope everyone is having a great holiday so far!


I have to say Christmas is my FAVORITE time of year! All of our homes become even more warm and inviting than they are the rest of the year with our home cooking, lit Christmas trees and the joy everyone is feeling inside as we all become kids again. Our children lighting up at the mention of Santa Claus and asking how many more days till Christmas. Singing Christmas carols in the car and at home and my 2 yr old learning some of the words for the first time. You should hear her sing the Chipmunks Christmas Song-it's adorable! All the hustle and bustle at stores just make me smile and for some reason even long lines to checkout don't seem to bother me like they normally do.

When I am home I actively search for any shows on television that mention and celebrate Christmas. This year I have seen Jingle All The Way 3 times and it never gets old, even with it's cheesy parts and when it comes to our favorite movies to watch at Christmas? Why I would have to say Home Alone 1 & 2 are MUSTS every year!

We search out anything that will teach our children the meaning of Christmas, which for us means we read about Christ's birth and explain it as best possible to our little ones. Telling them how we are celebrating Jesus' Birthday and how he also was brought gifts on this day. It just means so much to me to share all of those things with my children.

As much as I look forward to Christmas I also get drawn into the thought of AFTER Christmas, when everything goes back to the mundane and Christmas is a year away. The cold dreary weather seems so much more bearable with the Christmas lights glinting in the snow and knowing our celebration is right around the corner. In January I almost get depressed knowing it will be cold and dreary for another 3 months AT LEAST! But, I make it through every year, just like the year before. Enjoying time inside with my kids, warm cups of cocoa and board games will still put a smile on my face. :)

I have to say, as much as I can't WAIT for Christmas to get here, I almost wish it would hold off for just a little longer-so I can enjoy the season just a few extra days!

How do all of you celebrate the season?

I was so excited to be contacted by One2One Network for another great CD review! I was sent the Harry Connick JR CD a while back and it was a lot of fun and best of all FREE! :)

So, this time I was given the opportunity to review KT Tunstall's new album "Tiger Suit". For anyone who has not heard of her before, you may recognize her from "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree", "Suddenly I See", "Other Side of the World" or "Hold On". I love all of those songs so that made me even more excited to receive her new album!

Overview(from One2One):

Tiger Suit heralds the beginning of a new musical adventure for KT. Organic instrumentation is blended with dance-friendly textures, the results of which she has dubbed “Nature Techno” to encapsulate the album’s collision of raw, upfront rootsiness and sleek electronic textures.

The album's rollicking first single, “Fade Like A Shadow" is available at digital retailers now and is already at Top 20 hit at radio. Check out the video here.

My thoughts:
I have to admit when I first received the CD in the mail I was a bit surprised by the look of it. It is essentially a cardboard case. At first I did not like it because I thought it would be easily demolished in my messy, throw things around home, but I have to admit I think it's a great idea now. It is made of 60% PCW recycled paper and is super skinny so it will fit in nicely with my full row of other CD's, it takes up very little space. Inside there is a booklet with all of KT's songs listed along with the lyrics, a plus in my mind. I love having the lyrics right there at my fingertips!

I popped the CD into my computer and as it loaded I saw on the back that it has 11 songs, all of which are a good length. I love when a CD has more than 10 songs, I feel like I get my money's worth and the CD isn't over too fast after I put it in my player.

As the CD started the first song I knew it would be my kind of CD. The song was upbeat and "must dance" music. Exactly what I need to get through a long day. Nothing moves cleaning the house along faster than dancing while I dust the blinds or bopping around the kitchen as I mop. Each song has a new beat and I am truly in love with the CD. It will be one that will remain in my computer for a long time!

Want more KT Tunstall? Check these out!
Twitter
Facebook
Tiger Suit Album Preview
KT's Website

Get It:
Buy KT's new CD "Tiger Suit" anywhere Albums are sold or buy it on Amazon.com

Discloser: I was sent this CD to review through One2One Network but I always share my own honest opinions.

I was recently contacted and asked if I would like to review a new Sesame Street Video USB and I jumped at the chance! Both of my little ones enjoy Sesame Street, especially Elmo! I had never heard of the Video USB's so I was instantly intrigued!


I was sent "The Best Of Elmo Video USB" to review for my kiddos. I have to say, when it first arrived I thought it was the cutest little thing and so easy for an on-the-go mom! It is made of a soft rubber material and it comes apart right where his mouth is to reveal the USB . It fits very snuggly so no worries about it popping off when you don't want it to. It is also waterproof, dustproof and drop proof. Thank goodness! As we all know, those are necessities with little ones!

My son saw it when I opened up they package and wanted to know what it was right away. We walked over to the computer and I plugged it into a USB. It started playing IMMEDIATELY! My son loved watching the Full Episode that it included. It was great that I didn't have to install anything on my computer. It was all right there inside this cool Elmo package! After it was over my son wanted to play with the USB, taking Elmo's head apart. I had no worries about that since it is so toddler friendly.

Another great fact about this USB is that it can also store up to 400 photos, 400 songs or just about any amount of written documents! My kids BOTH love looking at pictures, so I know this would be great to store photos on for them if we are away from home and need something else to occupy time.


Here is the overview from the Sesame Street Website:

The unforgettable DVD starring everyone's favorite furry red monster, Best Of Elmo, now on Video USB!
Product Info:
Video USB drive offers a full-length home video as well as discretionary storage space that can hold up to 400 photos, 400 songs or a virtually unlimited amount of written content!

A child cannot accidentally erase or remove the movie, ensuring viewing pleasure for a long time to come. The flexibility and portability of the drive make it the perfect item for travel and use at home!
Character drivers are waterproof, dustproof and drop proof.
A special "wearable" connector strap ensures that both parts of the character stay together. Collect them all!
How it works:
Step 1: Open drive cap and our special connector strap ensures that both parts of the character will stay together.
Step 2: Easy Plug 'n Play feature offers an exciting new way to watch video and store personal information as well as directly link to the Sesame Street website.
Step 3: One easy click to the movie, Sesame Street website (if used in a PC and connected to the internet) and Personal storage.



The Sesame Street Video USB's are available in 6 characters or the Sesame Street 25th Anniversary Musical Celebration USB.

You can buy these at www.store.sesamestreet.org, www.sesamestreetusb.com, www.amazon.com, www.qvc.com, and www.walmart.com for about $24.99 a piece!

I have made a small list of pros and cons to share with you:

Pros:

Very travel worthy! You could fit it virtually anywhere(in you pocket!) and it would be safe and be with you.

Plug and Play..NO install! That is my favorite part! I have so many things installed and it takes so much time to install sometimes. Plug and Play is GREAT!!

Plays RIGHT away! No waiting on commercials, or going through a long menu.

Cons:

The rubber part of the USB(Elmo's head) is a bit too bulky for a small space. You may have to unplug any USB close to the spot where you need to plug this one in.




My Final Thought:

I would DEFINITELY recommend this to a friend. I think the benefits are great and your kid will love picking out their favorite Sesame character to carry around with them, plus you can't beat that extra storage space on the USB! Awesome!!


Disclaimer: These thoughts are all my own, I was not paid to write my review. I was provided the Sesame Street Video USB and I am so happy I was!

Hey everyone, sorry I have been absent for a while! It has a been a busy summer so far and it's not about to stop so I will be in and out for another month. Believe me when I say, if I come across anything I just HAVE to share or any exceptional deals I will be sharing with you! :)

I went ahead and added a few new Freebies to the sidebar, but HURRY a couple of them are for a limited time!

Winning comment:

#26 Renee L. said...

I follow you on Twitter! @fiannesqueaks

I am so happy to say we have a winner! I absolutely love these shoes and I am sure you will too Renee L. ! Thank you so much to everyone who entered and don't forget to visit www.shoebuy.com/uneaks for a great discount on U*Neaks shoes!

Want a place to share your Blog Giveaways?

Need a great list of Giveaways to enter all from one page?

Look no further, you have come to the right place!!

First things first of course :)
I have a great Giveaway of my own this week--a pair of U*Neaks Shoes and Socks! You don't want to miss out on this one so just click this LINK and enter to win!

Need more fun entering Giveaways or just want to leave you own link behind? Great! Just enter or link up below and have fun!

Feel free to leave a comment if you like! :)

I am in LOVE! I recently discovered the U*Neaks shoes on another blog that I read and I just had to try them out for myself, well my son did anyway. I had even mentioned them to a couple of my mommy friends because they were so doggone cute! So, I contacted the people at U*Neaks to see if they would like me to review their shoes and host a giveaway for my readers and they said yes! I was so EXCITED and I can't even wear them!

Before I start my review, here is a little bit about the company and what they offer, from their website, www.uneaks.com:

"U*neaks patented customizable footwear are sneaker style shoes with side clear panel windows and specially designed socks that allow kids to continuously customize their shoes by simply changing their socks. Pair the shoes with any of U*neaks’ double-sided decorated socks for footwear that’s fun and chock full of personality.

U*neaks brand of customizable footwear was created by Ingenuity Express Corp. in Somerset, NJ. The footwear concept was invented and developed by company founders Steve Braynock and Jeff Gabriele, Ingenuity Express’ CEO. Both Rutgers University alum, Steve Braynock, came up with the product concept in 1990 and shared it with Jeff in 2003. Together they developed U*neaks, which included a collaboration with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in Manhattan, N.Y. On September 9th, 2008 Steve and Jeff were awarded patent number 7,421,806 for their customizable footwear system."

So what do I think about these shoes? I think they are one of the coolest new things available to kids and it enables them to really "choose" their clothes and what they want to wear each day! When I first showed them to my 3 1/2 yr old son he thought the socks that they offered were cool, but he didn't really get the concept of how the shoes work with their clear side windows so you can see the socks on the outside. The socks alone were pretty cool to him. I let him pick out the pairs of socks he liked and I told him they were going to come to him in the mail(nothing quite lights up his face like hearing he is going to get mail, lol), so of course he asked about them each time he thought the mail was here. Luckily for both of us they were here within a couple days! We opened the box together and he was so excited about the different socks and when I pointed out that they are two-sided he was just delighted!

He had Madagascar, Dinosaurs, Safari animals, cats and dogs, construction vehicles...anything a boy could want! Then it happened...I showed him the shoes...now that was a cool reaction! He couldn't believe that his socks would show through those little windows in his shoes and had to put them all on to see for himself; heck the kid was still in his PJ's! He tried them on and was twisting his foot around so he could see the cool designs through each little window. There are windows on both the inside and outside so he could see both designs. He wore them around the house for quite a while after that and I know he was just ecstatic and couldn't wait to show them off.

On the Mom side of this review, I really liked the fit of the U*Neaks shoes. I was a bit worried because it can be hard to fit his feet, either the shoes can be too narrow or too wide, but these seemed to be a perfect fit for him. They are a little wider than a normal shoe I think, but definitely not bulky like the wide-styles are. They seem to be very well made and look like they can stand up to the destruction my son is capable of putting them through. I fully expect these to last him until he needs a new size and I know he is going to wear them a lot. Even the socks themselves seem to be very well made. My son doesn't usually wear socks indoors, but now he wants to wear these a lot and they seem pretty durable.I believe the shoes are worth the money since they will stand up to destruction, plus they are not as expensive as a lot of pairs I have seen sold in certain stores before, these are very well priced in my opinion.

I am overall VERY pleased with the shoes and the socks and I am considering buying them for my 2 yr old daughter as well. I know she would love the cute pink styles they offer--she has a shoe fetish already! ;)




The only thing that they could do to make these shoes better would be to make them in my size-- you better believe I would TOTALLY wear them!! :D


If you would like to buy these shoes and try them out for yourself you can buy them online at:
http://uneaks.com/shop/
or you can check to see if there is a store near you by clicking this link:
http://uneaks.com/whereToBuy.php

If you do order online, U*Neaks has a special arrangement with Shoebuy.com where my readers can receive free shipping, free returns and a 10% discount on U*Neaks simply by clicking on this link: www.shoebuy.com/uneaks or entering the coupon code: UNEAKS at checkout.

So, would you like a shot at winning these awesome shoes? You have come to the right blog! I am so excited to be able to host this giveaway as I know some lucky little girl or boy is just going to LOVE these shoes and socks! So, on to the giveaway!!

The Giveaway

WHAT you can win:

Your choice of 1 pair of U*Neaks shoes and 2 pairs socks.

HOW you can enter: Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you in case you win!!

Mandatory entry to be Eligible to win, must do BOTH steps:

1. MUST be a public follower of my blog
2. MUST visit www.uneaks.com and leave 1 comment here telling me you are a follower and which pair of shoes and 2 pairs of socks you would choose if you win.

Want EXTRA entries?Just follow these simple tasks and leave a comment for each one you do!

2. Follow U*Neaks on Twitter (1 comment)

3. Follow my blog on Twitter (1 comment)

4. Tweet about this giveaway & leave me a link (1 tweet/comment per day)
"Win a pair of @UNeaks Shoes & Socks from @SAHMFrugalBlog ~SAHM Frugal Finds and Reviews~ http://bit.ly/92WCT3 ends 5/26 #SAHMFrugalBlog"

5. "Like" me on Facebook (1 comment)

6. "LIKE" U*Neaks on Facebook (1 comment)

7. Grab my button for your blog(on the right side-bar)-be sure to leave me a link (2 comments)

8. Blog about this giveaway(mention my blog, a link to this giveaway and a link to the U*Neaks website)-be sure to leave me a link (3 comments)


This giveaway is open to the US only

Good luck everyone!


Contest ends Wednesday May 26, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will use random.org to choose the winner. Winner will be contacted on May 27th and will have 48 hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Product was provided in exchange for review, but all of the opinions and experiences are all my own. I only do honest reviews on my blog.

.....Shooting Stars Mag said...follow you on twitter: @shootingstarmag

Congratulations and I hope you enjoy it!! :)

Thank you to everyone who participated and I hope to have more great giveaways coming up! Until then, stay "Frugal"!! :)

...Comment #17

Jodi-I'm following you on twitter - @crazeypoet

Congrats Jodi!

I will be contacting you soon and I hope you enjoy this set!


And don't forget to check out the $50 Prize Pack giveaway from ArtSkills here!