Click the picture above to be entered into Melissa & Doug’s Easter Basket Giveaway!! What child or children wouldn’t love $20.00 worth of Melissa & Doug products for Easter! How cute is Brambles Bunny you can find him and lots of other fantastic Easter toys at Melissa & Doug’s Easter Shop!
Yardenit is the celebrated baptismal site on the sacred Jordan River in Israel. They embrace Pilgrims from the four corners of the earth who come to the Holy Land and to Yardenit for a specific purpose: to walk in the footsteps if Jesus and to be part of the baptismal ritual of following their Savior through the waters of baptism.
You do not have to travel to the Holy Land to experience Yardenit specialty products. You can visit their online store and shop for Holy Land souvenirs, Christian and Jewish gifts, inspirational jewelry, food items eaten during biblical times, music, books, clothing, cosmetics, and toys.
Our Review:
I found this was a very interesting website and web store. I had never actually sought out a store in the Holy Land so I was not aware that one existed. This is a rare gem! The web store offers so many products for both Jewish and Christian guests. They offer a vast array of products… from cosmetics to clothing!
We were privileged to review two of their cosmetic products. We were sent AYA Natural Nail Oil and Olea Essence Lip Balm. Both products are all natural which was a plus! I was concerned about getting a package from overseas … as I was not sure if it would ship well…especially with cosmetics enclosed. But I assure you Yardenit packaged their products beautifully and safely. They were packaged very tight and wrapped so that nothing would break or spoil. I was very impressed.
AYA Natural Nail Oil:
This product is made of 100% AYA natural Oil blend that may have antifungal properties. Nourishes, Moisturizes, and promotes healthy nail growth.
Ingredients: Extra Virgin olive oil, Sweet Almond oil, Tea Tree oil, Jojoba oil, Wheat Germ oil, Geranium, Rosemary, Lavender, and Tocopherol (Vitamin E).
*** We liked this product… the overall packaging was very nice. The oils come in a little dropper like bottle. You then apply right to the nail and rub into the cuticles daily. I used this item for a week and found that it made a difference to the overall health of my nails and cuticles. My cuticles are generally very dry … but this product improved them ten fold. I find that they are no longer peeling after use of this product. My oldest daughter also used this product. Sometimes her nails are prone to peeling …after using this product I can honestly say that her nail structure has improved. It seems that her nails are healthier and stronger and no longer peeling.
Just as a side note… the description states that it “may” have antifungal properties. I believe this is because one o the ingredients in the product is Tea Tree Oil, which is a known antifungal agent.
Olea Essence Lip Balm:
This product is made of all natural ingredients with no preservatives. It is Olive oil based and enriched with jojoba oil, wheat oil and avocado oil. It restores damaged and chapped lips.
Ingredients: Olive oil, Seabuckthorn oil, Bees Wax, Jojoba oil, Sesame oil, Caster oil, Wheat Germ oil, Avocado oil, Tea Tree oil, and Lavender oil.
*** This product was also a hit in my family. We are currently in the winter season and chapped lips are the norm around our house. This product came nicely packaged in a little pot …so it is easily applied with the finger. So I could easily use this on more than one person if needed (unlike a stick lip balm … where it would be limited to one person). The person who benefitted most from this product was my son. He is prone to chapped lips and often licks the top of his lips so the area right above the lip is red and chapped. We have a hard time finding anything except Vaseline that will do the trick because he says that the products we have tried “burn” his skin. Well, we have a new favorite in this product! This has done wonders for his skin and it is gentle and does not burn! It has cleared up his redness and chapped lips…I am so pleased! I did in turn use this on myself and found that my lips feel smooth and not as dried out as they usually feel this time of year! Very nice product!
Overall, we were very impressed with the Yardenit products we received. The only thing I do have to mention is that since the products do have Tea Tree oil in that particular oil seems to take over as the scent of the product. It is not a bad scent… some call it medicinal or a clean scent. It does not detract from the product… but it does take over the other oil scents that are ingredients in the product. I must say that since the Nail oil had the ingredient of Almond oil I expected an overall “almond” scent since that oil seems to be a powerful scent… but the Tea tree Oil is stronger. In the Lip Balm the Tea tree oil was not as strong… but it was still the main scent. I attribute the scent not being as strong in the Lip balm because it is a solid rather than a liquid like the oil. But generally the scent is not bothersome; in my experience it is rather pleasant.
On a side note: I was interested in another product and was worried about shipping to the USA from Israel (I thought it might be expensive) when I enquired with the company I found that their sipping rates are based on weight. The product I was looking at was their hand lotion, which is 150 ml or 5.1 fl oz.; the shipping on this product would be about $ 5.00. I found that this shipping cost was comparable to an average online store. So I was pleased.
Yardenit is currently having a sale on some of their merchandise…so take a look around their store! You can find a link to the store here: http://www.yardenit.com/store
For those interested in the Yardenit site on the Jordan River or for more information on Yardenit in general feel free to visit their home page here: http://www.yardenit.com
If I am ever in Israel I think this would be a neat place to visit and a great place to purchase souvenirs!
Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.
Reverse Charades Expansion Pack
Reverse Charades and Reverse Charades Junior are a twist on an old favorite. In this game the whole team has 60 seconds to act out as many words as possible with one person guessing. Newly available are three different expansion packs, Girls’ Night In Edition, Sports Edition, and Holiday Edition, to keep the fun going. Each fits inside Reverse Charades Original or Junior Edition, or can be played by itself.
Basic rules (from the publisher):
1. Split into teams of three or more. Decide on a number of rounds or a point target to win.
2. 1 word guessed correctly = 1 point. Each team has one minute to guess as many words as possible.
3. Each team selects a guesser (everyone gets a turn) and the rest of the team acts out the words.
4. Shhh! Not a peep among the team members.
5. Ready, set, go! The first team to your target wins.
Each edition comes with 220 words, for 6 or more people aged 6 and over.
Girls’ Night In Edition
I was able to review two of the Reverse Charades Expansion Packs. I brought the Girls’ Night In to my Wives Club Christmas party, and we had an absolute blast! I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard. I loved how easy it was to teach everyone how to play and set up took under a minute. The small and compact box fit easily into my purse and clean up was a breeze. One of the teams acted out the word, “pregnancy test,” and everyone was laughing so hard! I would recommend this to any and all women groups. It would be fun at a bachelorette party or any party as an icebreaker.
Sports Edition
I brought the Sports Edition Expansion Pack to our last Monday Night Football party. There were 5 couples and we decided to do husbands vs. wives. I don’t know who laughed more, the husbands or the wives. We played until 20 points, and played three rounds. The husbands won the championship round, but the wives gave them a run for their money. This would be a great edition to any board game night, family party, couple’s night, or sporting event party. It was extremely easy to learn the game and even easier to set up.
Overall, Reverse Charades Girls’ Night In Edition and Sports Edition are hilarious and fun filled games to play. Since they come in a small box, they are great for travel and easy to set up. They would make a great gift for anyone on your list!
Retail price of expansion packs $9.99. Check out their website for more information:
Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.
“Littlest Pet Shop” Premiere Party
Who does not love the Littlest Pet Shop toys? My girls certainly do! We were excited to see that there was a new cartoon featuring the lovable characters from the brand.
The cartoon premiered on November 10th on the HUB TV network … and I am sure it will be featuring the cartoon regularly.
As part of the Mom select blogging opportunity we were given materials and the cartoon to review and have a party with our friends. Our children had a blast.
They obviously LOVE the toys so they were excited to see the cartoon. The cartoon is a half-hour show that features Blythe (a littlest pet shop character) and her father as they move into a big city apartment above the Littlest Pet Shop (which is basically a day camp for pets of all types). The story continues to show that Blythe has unearthed a hidden talent of being able to talk to animals. The show was a hit in our house and with all the children at the party.
Mom select and Littlest Pet Shop provided us with products and recipes to use during our party. We received masks, hairbrushes, and lip balms for each of the children at the party. Unfortunately I do not have any photos of the party as three of the guests did not want pictures on the Internet and most of the photos I have showcase their children. So to respect their wishes I have not included any photos.
Thank you Mom select, Littlest Pet Shop and HUB for providing us with this opportunity to host a premier party and watch your new cartoon feature!
http://www.hubworld.com/littlest-pet-shop/shows/littlest-pet-shop-show
It’s been great to be a part of the U by Kotex for tweens campaign. I know it has made me re-think how I was educating my daughters and in many ways it evoked some more dialogue about menses and the changes the girls bodies are going through or will be going through.
Our girls liked the Kotex tween products, except one of the girls did say more coverage was needed for heavier flow days. They liked the cool packaging and the surprise packages throughout the campaign. The last surprise was a $25 gift card to treat the girls to dinner out. We went out last night to Panera Bread for soup bowls..YUM! cheddar broccoli and tomato were our soup choices. We talked, laughed and watched my 12 year old antics which made us laugh even harder. The girls came to the conclusion that we needed to do a girls dinner out more often!
In the last package the girls also received calendars. Last month I said even I needed more discipline in this area because I have not been charting like I should and now that I am in my 40’s who knows when things will start to change for me. My middle daughter put her calendar to use right away by applying it to her wall. My oldest said she didn’t like calendars because she doesn’t like things that tie her down and charting her cycle ties her down – she’s funny that way, that one is (wry smile). My third daughter didn’t have much to say other than to ask what they are for, but she has yet to start her period so things are still a little obscure to her. Remember she’s my Amelia Bedilia and I say that quite affectionately. You just have to meet her to see for yourself.
What I loved best about this campaign is what I always love about blogging, that I get to include my children, it’s on my top ten things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
“I wrote this review while participating in a Brand Ambassador Campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of U by Kotex Tween and received products to facilitate my post and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”
A monthly maintenance talk with my girls is something I am still working on. Usually they just come to me with their questions or respond if I ask them questions as pertaining to any issues that come up. They also have their book on “maidenhood” they can refer to, but I don’t know how often they do that since we started going through it a few years ago in preparation of their monthly cycle and I think we have basically covered everything in it.
I have also told them about and shown them www.Kotex.com/tween as this is a site to use for reference for facts about puberty, FAQs, help for us moms to know how to start talking to our girls, as well as tools like a calendar. There is also U by Kotex website page for period questions for both tweens and teens. As much as I love having resources available, my preferred method of passing information along to my daughters is by talking directly to them. I just like being the first source of important information for topics like puberty, menses and sex education.
Monthly Maintenance Talk With My Girls
When issues have come up like the girls asking how to deal with blood overflowing onto their panties, I have told them to double up on pads for heavier days or use a larger size maxi pad or a maxi pad with wings. Each girl has to find out what works best for them.
I have tried to encourage my girls to keep track of their cycles with a calendar but it’s slow in coming. My reasoning is so they know when their moodier times are going to hit so we can all prepare for it. I am not always good about this myself and it isn’t until my period starts that I realize my emotional week was due to the onset of my period. This is something I have to work on with them and it will mean developing new habits for all of us.
Hygiene really hasn’t been an issue for us. My two older girls have been very good about that. My third daughter I suspect will be different just because her preteen years have been so very different than the other two. The other two I really didn’t have to tell them to start showering more often. My three preteens I have to tell them to shower.
Cramps and discomfort is a topic I think we do talk about every other month, it just all depends on how uncomfortable the girls feel. I do allow them to rest more on the days cramping is bad. At the same time I do want them to know they can still function even amidst their discomfort, so it all depends on how long they have been on their period and how long the cramping lasts. I think it’s good to realize everyone has their own pain tolerance and allow some wiggle room without becoming a “commando” mom.
How do you educate your daughter on the discomforts of her monthly cycle? Or how do you think you will if your daughter is still too young?
“I wrote this review while participating in a Brand Ambassador Campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of U by Kotex Tween and received products to facilitate my post and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”
Can you believe summer is over? I can’t. Sniff. Sniff. Summer is my favorite season. Everyone’s been busy with their back to school schedules and acclimating to new routines. I know nearly every weekend in September, October and November we have something one or both days of the weekends. It’s mind boggling. With such busy schedules and being out and about more it’s even more important to keep in mind our daughters’ monthly cycles. Since my girls are still pretty new to having their period I tend to baby them a little.
Back to School with U by Kotex Tween
We homeschool so our girls do not have to worry about going off to school all day and starting their periods, but we do go out places. I have always told them to carry a couple of pads in their purse…just in case they started while we are out. Our older girls are very much girlie girls and love purses and accessories, so it wasn’t difficult for them to adapt to carrying pads around. U by Kotex Tween pads are very compact to carry and easy to keep hidden. Last month, my girls received little bags that look like make up bags, which just made carrying pads easier for them.
If your girls are in school, then getting a little bag that could pass as a pencil case could make them more comfortable carrying pads too. It would make it less conspicuous in a locker or back pack.
Warning Signs
I’ve tried to teach my girls to keep track of their menstrual cycle on a calendar so they know when to expect it. This is to help eliminate the surprise element. U by Kotex has a calendar available on their website. Even if they are experiencing irregular cycles at first it is a habit I established as a young girl and wanted them to as well. We all have warning signs that our period is near and my girls know that they are prone to headaches or backaches and probably other things that are escaping me at the moment.
I Remember When…
I remember when I first started my period and going to school. I had to watch what color pants I wore. I even remember asking one of my close friends if she could tell if I was on my period – you know that pad “bulge”? Ugh. These are not very fond memories. I remember being uncomfortable at school when I was on my monthly cycle. Not fun. If I had of had internet access back then, I imagine I would have Googled “pad bulge” or visited a website like U by Kotex Tween to get answers to my questions since I really did not talk to my mom about the subject.
What about you, what are your memories of your starting your period and school? What kinds of things do you do to help your daughter feel more comfortable with her feminine cycle while at school?
“I wrote this review while participating in a Brand Ambassador Campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of U by Kotex Tween and received products to facilitate my post and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”
Mabel’s Labels
Labels for the stuff kids loose!
Mable’s Labels creates top-quality, durable labeling products.
The Mabel’s Labels personalized labels feature extremely durable laundry, dishwasher and microwave safe sticky and clothing labels plus child safety products, household labels and seasonal products. All labels are UV resistant.
Prices range from $12-21 per pack, with combos priced between $ 30-55. ALL Products are backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
The Mabel’s Labels line includes:
Baby Labels
Iron-On Labels
Sticky Labels
Allergy Labels
Waterproof Labels
Clothing Labels
Shoe Labels
Uniform Labels
Mabel’s Labels also has great fundraising ideas!
OUR REVIEW:
We received two products from Mabel’s Labels
~ Ultimate Back to School Combo
~ Tween Pack
The Ultimate Back to School Combo is their bestselling combo. It has all the labels needed to identify children’s belongings and keep them out of the lost and found. This was really a great pack! There are so many labels you cannot help but label EVERYTHING! The labels come preprinted with the child’s name…so it makes labeling a breeze. I like that they are super sticky they stay where they are placed! We used the labels to mark all of my son’s school supplies, his backpack and gym shoes. After two weeks of school I can honestly say these labels stick! Any other labels would have been long gone by now…not Mabel’s! The Ultimate Back to School Combo includes the following:
40 skinny-minis ~ 50 Tag mates ~ 16 Shoe Labels ~ 2 Teeny Tags
(Choose from 4 limited edition solid color palettes or 40+ multi-col
ored designs.)
There are so many tags that if by chance (very slim) you happen t have to replace a tag you will have extras to replace the missing tag. I honestly am not worried about having to replace any tags… except for maybe a shoe tag. But…with 16 shoe tags I can easily replace a tag if it goes missing (which I doubt it will). This is such a GREAT combo…can I say AWESOME!!!
The second product we received was the Tween pack. This is a new product to the Mabel’s Label family and it is a must stay! This label pack helps your child identify ~ with style! These beautifully personalized, shaped labels are designed
especially for big kids ~ whatever their ages! These labels are perfect for lunch, camp gear, water bottles, school supplies, journals, electronics, sports equipment and more! My daughter has adhered these labels to her water bottle, backpack and notebooks. I was a bit leery about sticking them to her water bottle and backpack thinking they would not last more than a day…boy was I wrong… now two weeks into school we have not see any wear on the labels! This is amazing! The water bottle label has even sustained through a dish washing cycle or two! The Tween Pack includes the following:
25 personalized labels & graphic labels
(Choice of 2 multi-colored designs)
Overall, we are ecstatic about Mabel’s Labels! This is such a resilient product…that will LAST! Not only are the products hardy but they are kid friendly and have such nice designs to choose from…you cannot go wrong with Mabel’s labels for your labeling needs!
I am definitely a fan of Mabel’s labels and will be back to order more products for my labeling needs!
You can find this product and many more at mabelslabels.com. I would recommend this site to ANYONE who needs to label products! They are so versatile!
Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.
Over the past few months I have been sharing my experience and thoughts about talkable moments with my daughters about their menstrual cycles, the facts of life and using U by Kotex Tween products and their website.
While I have always strived to discuss these all important topics naturally, inside I have struggled a little bit with knowing the right words to say. After all these are the facts of life we are talking about, not just random information and I want to be sure that I explain things in such a way that my girls “get it”, not to mention digest the correct information – from me, not anyone else.
Preparing for the Talkable Moments
Lots of talkable moments at our house seem to occur either when I have the girls one on one in the car or one, two or all of them sprawled all over my bed or in the living room late at night. These moments seem to happen naturally for us. It’s rare that I deliberately set a time aside, though I must say I probably should do more of that with my busy work schedule. I certainly want my girls to know that I am accessible.
Breaking the ice for “big talks” never has been an issue for us. For the most part my girls come to me and ask me any questions that come up while they are on their period and the one who has yet to start asks me some questions but tends to ask her “twin” (they are 14.5 months apart) and her “twin” directs her to me.
I gave the girls each a little sack recently for them to carry extra pads and personal items in. They really liked this little gift. I think this is one way to break the ice on talks. I did at one point give one daughter a starter kit of sorts and remember her asking what each thing was for, but I don’t think she completely understood until she started her cycle, which is understandable.
I think bonding moments can occur when we deliberately set aside time to talk about questions our girls might have or to share resources and tools they can read and explore with you. Take Kotex.com/Tween for example, just taking my girls to this site and showing them how to navigate different topics and discussions opened up the door for us to have a very open talk and for me to find out where they are at with their understanding of the different issues we have already covered in other conversations. See Hello Period for specific topics.
Bonding Moments
Bonding with my daughters has become more challenging the older they grow or at least that’s how I find it as I am working part-time to full-time hours. It takes more effort on my part to concentrate and be focused on them when my mind is going in a million different directions. As I said before those moments come in the car or on our bed when we are just shooting the breeze. It’s amazing what children can come out with once the realize they have your full attention.
Sensitive Topics and Comfort Level
Most of my girls will tell me like it is. If they think something is gross, they’ll say just that or if I’ve talked too much, I’ll be told, “Too much information, Mom.” Then I know to stop or let it be for another time when they are ready. I hate to come across as having a perfect relationship with my girls because we are far from perfect, but for the most part, depending on the day we do have really good relationships. I do worry sometimes and hope I am giving them the information they need to transition into womanhood successfully.
What are your talkable, bonding moments with your daughter(s)?
“I wrote this review while participating in a Brand Ambassador Campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of U by Kotex Tween and received products to facilitate my post and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”
It’s summer time which means most people will be spending lots of time outdoors! With the sun being so harmful, sunscreen isn’t enough! UV Skinz has a wonderful line of 50+ UV sun protection clothing for everyone in the family! This company is approved by the Melanoma International Foundation as well as an iParenting Media Award Winner!
Kids sizes range from 6 months to 14 and adult sizes go up to a size 4 XL! UV Skinz carries shirts (long and short sleeve), hats, shorts, gloves/sleeves, shades, and sun screen! It’s a one stop shop for sun-protective clothing for the entire family!
My UV Skinz Review:
My daughter received the Pink Mermaids sunwear set, which included a reversible hat, short sleeve swim shirt, and shorts.
This picture is with the Mermaid side of the hat.
This picture is the reverse side of the hat which is pink.
I have a very active, wiggly 3 year old. Sometimes trying to put sun screen on her is like trying to put it on a cat! I always miss a spot, however, with her new outfit I can worry less. The shirt covers her arms to her elbows and the hat is wide brimmed for fun at the beach. It’s light weight and doesn’t make her hot. I love the modesty of the entire outfit. It’s very age appropriate and fun!
It also washed up nicely! Gentle wash and drip dry.
UV Skins has my vote for UV-protective clothing! Check out their website to buy yours today! You can also find them on Facebook and/or Twitter.
Special Offer: BLOGS15 code that you can use for a 15% discount on UV Skinz’s site.
Now for the Giveaway!
Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.
