Lysol Touch of Foam: Review

LYSOL^® TOUCH OF FOAM^™ ANTIBACTERIAL HAND WASH

Hi friends,

Through one of my favorite websites, BzzAgent.com, I was sent a complimentary product to try and review. I was recently sent a bottle of Lysol Touch of Foam to test out!!!

My thoughts:  I really like this soap because it's an antibacterial hand wash - This is super important because I work in a hospital and washing my hands is something I try to do ALL the time. The problem is that I usually use the antibacterial waterless soaps that are in the dispensers, but those dry my hands out so much. The Lysol Touch of Foam has a thick, creamy lather and doesn't dry out my hands. It also smells really yummy, which is an added bonus.

Verdict: I recommend this soap for sure. If you want to keep your hands germ-free, smelling good, AND soft, check out Lysol Touch of Foam Antibacterial Hand Wash!


xoxo,

Megan

Colgate Optic White: A Review

Hi friends,

Oftentimes I get to try and review a lot of products because I am involved in several online communities that give me these opportunities. I was given the chance to try Colgate Optic White through a site called Influenster. I received the products complimentary from them to test and to give feedback. You can check out Influenster at http://bit.ly/154mB2X.

I got to try all three products in the Colgate Optic White regimen - the toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash. I really like how all three products are created with the same goal (to make my teeth whiter!) and can be used together. The toothbrush has a unique shape, has a tongue scraper (love those), and really feels like I"m getting my mouth clean. The toothbrush is what I loved the most out of all 3 products.  I also really love the toothpaste, it's taste, and can notice a difference in my teeth after a few weeks of using it. The mouthwash is something I'm still getting used to - I can't explain it, but I think the whitening ingredients in it give it a taste that isn't my favorite. I still use it, but sometimes I opt to use other mouthwashes. I'd imagine that if I used all 3 products, my teeth would be even whiter!

All in all, I think Colgate did a great job with these products and I'll definitely find myself buying them when I run out. I encourage all of you to try too!  Here's a link to their site if you want to read and see more: http://bit.ly/UVoWWv.

xoxo,

Megan

Julep Nail and Beauty Review

I have to come out of the blogging shadows to post about one of my favorite companies that really impressed me today. The company is called Julep - they started out selling non-toxic nail polishes, but they continue to expand their brand by making beauty products and I think makeup items are on the horizon also. If you go to Julep.com, you can take a quiz to determine your "Julep Maven" profile and get recommendations for products.

Julep has a monthly product subscription service that costs $19.99. I've tried out multiple beauty subscriptions in the past, but this one is my favorite. I like it because the week before they send out the box and charge your card, they show you exactly what will be in the box. You can then opt out if it's something you aren't interested in. Also, their products are just great in general and the nail polish is my favorite of any nail polish I've ever tried.

Julep also does "mystery boxes" every few months where you pay a set amount and get a mystery collection of products valued well over what you pay. I really learned of their EXCELLENT customer service today as it relates to a mystery box. I tried to order one last week and there seemed to be a glitch in the system, so the order was entered multiple times. Apparently I ordered two of them and was charged for two even though my confirmation email only stated that I ordered one. I got my second in the mail today and was frustrated, so I emailed their customer service department. Within 10 minutes, I got a response with an apology and they stated that not only would they refund one of the charges, they would also allow me to keep the second box on them! So cool!

I'm really impressed and will continue to give them my business. I always like to share these stories when companies take care of me so that my friends can get great stuff too!  Here's a picture of one of my mystery boxes for Easter:

And here is the original box I got that  went along with my "maven profile":

Hope you enjoy and might consider trying! If you want to give it a shot, click on this link: http://www.julep.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/96129/. If you use my referral link and then enter code "FREEBOX" you will get your first box free. It really works - that's how I got started! :) If you don't like it, you will get an email reminding you that you can cancel if you want. It's a win-win!

xoxo,

Megan

Dark chocolate chip and sea salt cookies

So I made some cookies yesterday that were seriously some of the best cookies a) I've ever made and b) Ever had in general.  They are YUMMY.

I LOVE dark chocolate. It's not something I've always loved, but now that I like it, I prefer it over milk chocolate.  And the addition of sea salt - wow. The two are just an epic combination because the salt enhances and intensifies the chocolate flavor.  Think about it - why do we put salt on savory foods?  To bring the flavor to another level!

So I got the recipe from a blog I follow.  Here's the link:
http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2012/09/dark-chocolate-chip-and-sea-salt-cookies.html

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I'm an absolute mess in the kitchen.  When I bake, there's flour on the floor, the counter tops, everywhere. I'd consider myself a person that pays attention to detail, but for some reason, when I cook/bake, all of that flies out of the window.  I don't prepare well. I just decide to make something and start. What I really SHOULD do is measure out as many things as possible so that I'm not doing it all on the fly.

So that brings me to the real reason for this post, which is to give a heads up to all of you out there who fly by the seat of their pants in the kitchen.

As you see from the recipe I posted, the ingredients are listed in paragraph form.  As I was making the cookies, I didn't pay attention enough and read that there was only 1/4 cup of butter because the extra "1" was on the end of the previous line. So yeah, the recipe calls for 1 AND 1/4 cups of butter.  Oops.

Here's what happened when I put the first half of these cookies in the oven. The dough was SO crumbly and I thought surely there must be something wrong, but I went with it anyway:

Dark chocolate and sea salt BRICKS.  Wow, those things were HARD!

Thankfully, I figured out my mistake and thankfully, this batch makes a TON of cookies, so I still had a chance to succeed.  Since I had already used half the batch, I halved the amount of butter that I missed, added it into the batter, and cooked the second batch.

Success! As you can see, my cookies are much bigger than the blogger's original recipe.  I like BIG cookies. These do have a nice brown edge, but they are mostly pretty soft. And PS - I only had them in the oven for 14 minutes.  It was the perfect amount of time, in my opinion. 

If you decide to make them, let me know what you think! Brian tried them and liked them even though he doesn't like dark chocolate, so that's a great sign. I love them so much that I already plan to make them again soon!

Happy baking! Love,

Meg

Craft-A-Thon

Can I just say how amazing these past few weeks have been? I have finished all of my dissertation edits and have also had the time to have fun with some hobbies!

I've had several craft days and have made lots of cute stuff! I really never got the chance to do these sorts of things in graduate school, so this is really exciting to me. Huge hugs and thanks to my new cousin, Mindy, for being my partner-in-crime/coach as I try all of these new things!

My favorite things so far are my fabric flowers.  These flowers were made using fabric from tablecloths at Brian and I's engagement party last year, so it has some sentimental value to it. I certainly can't take credit for the idea.  The tutorial I used is here:

http://www.paigesofstyle.com/2011/02/diy-fabric-flower-cupcake-topper.html

They are not difficult to do, but they do take some patience. You essentially need 16 fabric circles to do one of these flowers, so there's some tedious cutting involved.  GOOD NEWS though - They don't have to be perfect! These hide imperfections well, so that's always a plus!  The stems I used are sticks of floral wire covered in a brown paper - I bought these at Michael's.

Anyway, I just think these are so cute and they add a pop of color and whimsy wherever you put them!!

Next up - I've been making stationary lately, mostly with the intention of giving clusters of the cute cards/envelopes as gifts.  So, if you have an occasion coming up - You may get some of these. :)

Here's one of my latest - Sparkly LSU stationary!

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Just wanted to share some of the fun little things I've been doing lately and encourage you to try them. I'm a total novice at all of this, so if I can do it, you can too!  Hope everyone had a great weekend.

Love,

Meg

And the WINNER is....

Had to draw a new name due to not all the steps being fulfilled by the original winner ( Sorry :(, had to keep it 100% fair ) ---- Our new winner is JENNY STRAIN!  Congratulations! I saw you entered on behalf of your mom, so I'm sure she will be excited!

Thank you so much to everyone who supported me by entering!  I hope to do something else similar soon!

HUGE THANKS to Accessory Auctions for providing this necklace to me to give away! I want to buy one for myself now. :)

Have a great day, everyone!

Love,

Meg

ACCESSORY AUCTIONS GIVEAWAY!!!! - BLACK AND GOLD STATEMENT NECKLACE!

Yall - OMG.

Seriously, OMG.  I can't get over how CUTE the necklace is that Accessory Auctions sent me to GIVE AWAY!  I have to admit, I am extremelyyyyyyyy jealous because it is that cute.

Yes, Saints fans - It's black and gold and fabulous!!!!!  I am so in love with this statement necklace.

Here's what you have to do to enter - You must complete ALL THREE steps to be eligible!

(1) Go to Facebook, search for "Accessory Auctions," and LIKE their page.

(2) Comment on THIS post (not on Facebook, please), telling me that you "liked" their page. (I know a few of you have already done this, but please comment here anyway that you have Liked them)

(3) SHARE this blog post on your Facebook.

(Do not worry - we do not have to be Facebook friends for you to enter.  I can verify all of these things regardless, so please enter!)

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That's it!  Super easy!  I will announce the winner on FRIDAY afternoon!  If you are local, I can bring it to you, but if not, I will mail it.  So excited to see who wins!!!!

Love,

Meg


A few details to disclose about the contest:

• Only folks who follow all of the above steps will be eligible
• Based on the number of entries I have, I'll enter it in a random number generator online to choose which post will be the winner. I give you my word that I will not play favorites and will choose at random!!