Friday, May 24, 2013

Thompson's Water Seal - Review and Giveaway

I received products for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.
Almost every weekend, for seven months out of the year, my family goes camping.  Rather than "rough it" we have our own camper parked at a campsite and it sits there all year long.  It's our home away from home.  Because we are there so often, I want my camper and the site it's on to have a reflection of cleanliness and proper maintenance.


A couple years ago, during the move from one campsite to another, we acquired a deck and steps left by previous owners.  This was exciting to us because we didn't have to purchase or build our own.  The only downfall is that the deck and steps needed either painted or stained to look good.  Finally, that time came when Thompson's Water Seal sent us waterproofing stain and deck stripper to do the overdue project.

The steps were natural and didn't have previous stain or paint on them so the only thing I needed to do was stain them.  I first wiped them down with a rag to remove dirt and debris, then I prepped the waterproofing stain.  There are several cautions and instructions on the can that need to be read before diving in, for safety purposes. 

The steps were painted over with one coat of waterproofing stain.  The color gave them a nice brown wooden polished look, while still showing the actual grain of the wood.

The picnic table was next.  Again, I went over it with just one coat.  There was a dramatic improvement from how it looked before and how it looked after staining the table.

The biggest project was our deck.  It required first using the Deck Stripper.  It contains corrosives so it's important not to let it come in contact with skin.  As it shows in the picture above, the deck was two-toned with different paint colors and it was showing signs of paint chipping.  After carefully applying the deck stripper and letting it sit for a bit, I chipped off the excess paint and proceeded to stain my deck.

As you can see from this picture, the bottom of the deck is now all one color and has a nice, cohesive look.  I used two coats of stain for the deck to get a darker brown tint.  Temperatures need to be above 50 degrees and during daylight hours to apply the stain.  The deck stripper can be applied at any time.  Staining the deck twice, the steps once, and the picnic table once used a gallon and a half of waterproofing stain. 

Because all of these items are outdoors in all kinds of conditions, I'm glad to know that I've not only added a much nicer color, I'm also preventing water damage and the coating resists mildew & UV damage.  Using Thompson's Water Seal deck stripper and waterproofing stain, the area around my campsite has an updated, fresh look.

Win It!

One person will win Thompson's Water Seal Deck Stripper and Waterproofing Stain.

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.*
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HairUWear Extension Bar - Giveaway

I received no compensation or product for this post.  Photo captions courtesy of HairUWear® Extension Bar at the Nine Zero One Salon, West Hollywood, California.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

The hottest starlets in Hollywood came out to celebrate the launch of the HairUWear® Extension Bar at Nine Zero One Salon. Co-owned by celebrity stylists Nikki Lee and Riawna Capri, Nine Zero One is the expert destination for extensions, and Julianne Hough, Vanessa Hudgens and Jennifer Morrison were just a few of A-listers who flocked to the salon to experience the Extension Bar firsthand on opening night.
· Vanessa Hudgens and her little sister Stella each received matching braid styles enhanced with POP by HairUWear Color Strips.

· Pretty Little Liars star Janel Parrish arrived with friends and got a headband braid using the POP by HairUWear Faux Fur Braid.

· Later in the evening Julianne Hough popped by, and was spotted chatting with Audrina Patridge as stylists enhanced her bob with a bright pink POP by HairUWear Color Strip.

The HairUWear® Extension Bar offers a full line of HairUWear products and extension services for flawless styles from Great Lengths, Raquel Welch, Hairdo and POP Extension collection options.

Win It!

One person will win POP Strips hair extensions in choice of hair color and style. ($69 - $125 ARV)

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.*
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Rockin' the Moustache Movement

Get a few girls together with some time on their hands and they'll find creative ways to beat boredom.

She went for the crooked beard look.

Deep In Thought

Supa Star!

Supa Star getting the stern stare.

Space Warriors Premiering Exclusively On the Hallmark Channel - #SpaceWarriors Giveaway

I received no compensation or product for this post.  I am working on behalf of Walden Family Theater in conjunction with this information and giveaway.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.  This post contains embedded widgets.


Walden Family Theater is proud to announce the Space Warriors Blog App & a chance to Win a Family Trip to Space Camp.  Watch Space Warriors on Hallmark Channel May 31st at 8/7C for your chance to win a trip for the whole family to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Space Camp! Keep an eye out for the secret keyword for a chance to go on location where Space Warriors was filmed and train like a real astronaut!

In Space Warriors, six highly skilled teenagers are handpicked to be part of a summer space camp competition but they don’t realize that they will be forced to solve a life or death crisis aboard the International Space Station as the world anxiously watches.



Why you'll love the Space Warriors Blog App:

• Win a Family Trip to SPACE CAMP! - Tune in to Space Warriors on Hallmark Channel May 31 at 8/7c for the secret keyword to win a family trip to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center’s Space Camp!

• How Spacey Are You? QUIZ – Are you a Space Warrior? Do you use the stars to navigate your journeys instead of the map function on your smartphone? Take this quiz to find out whether you're destined to orbit the cosmos or whether you're happiest living here on this planet.

• Prepare for Blast-off! Space Warriors Viewing Guide – Mark your calendars for May 31st and check off the boxes as you watch Space Warriors for the most spectacular, spaciest experience!



About Space Warriors:

Six highly skilled teenagers are handpicked to be part of a summer space camp competition at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. As the competition heats up, the kids have no idea that their ultimate challenge will be to solve a life or death crisis aboard the International Space Station as the world anxiously watches.

Starring: Thomas Horn, Danny Glover, Josh Lucas, Dermot Mulroney, Mira Sorvino and Booboo Stewart.

Space Warriors is the second film in the Walden Family Theater original lineup featuring great family entertainment, airing Friday nights exclusively on Hallmark Channel. Walden Family Theater is creating films for the whole family to enjoy together, so make sure to mark your calendars and gather around the television to watch all the great upcoming films!

Win It!

One person will win a Space Warriors Blu-ray Combo Pack.

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Taking Part In the U.S. Cellular Better Moments Blogger Brigade

I received compensation for this post.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.
Did you know that U.S. Cellular treats their customers like neighbors, not numbers?  How about the fact that U.S. Cellular was named a J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Champion in 2012 for the second year in a row?  That's right; In 2013, the company also received their 15th consecutive J.D. Power and Associates' award for "Highest Network Quality Performance Among Wireless Cell Phone Users In The North Central Region."  Were you aware that U.S. Cellular has a strong line-up of cutting-edge devices that are all backed by its high-speed network that has the highest call quality of any national carrier?

Those are all great reasons to be a U.S. Cellular customer but it's not the main reason why I'm one.  I'm a U.S. Cellular customer because I can have a quality phone with an affordable service plan and customer service that answers my needs.  In fact, several of my family members are also U.S. Cellular customers - my mother, my oldest daughter, my brother, my sister-in-law, and my sister. 

At one time, we were all purchasers of a different cell phone plan through a local company.  That particular company ended up going out of business and we were in a crunch, trying to figure out which cellular company to switch to.  I'd go to one place to figure out prices and plans, while my brother would be at another location getting the same numbers.  None appealed to us....until we went to U.S. Cellular. 

U.S. Cellular was a company that we all agreed on as being the best for customer service, affordable plans, and variety of phones.  I wanted one particular phone while my daughter wanted another.  The employees at U.S. Cellular were kind and helped us decide which phone would work for each of our needs.  They also explained the service plans in layman's terms. 

I've been a U.S. Cellular customer for over a year now and have had only one minor problem with my service.  As soon as I went into the store and spoke with an employee, the problem was solved.  I didn't get the run-around. 

At first, when I had to quickly find another cell phone company to switch to, I was worried.  I wasn't ready for change.  Now, in hindsight, it wasn't as big of a hassle because I found all I needed with U.S. Cellular.

Because I'm a happy customer of U.S. Cellular, I'm proud to announce I've been selected to be a part of the U.S. Cellular Better Moments Blogger Brigade.  Each month I'll be posting about my experiences with U.S. Cellular, facts about the company, and what they have to offer.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Dermagist - Review and Giveaway

I received product for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.


It wasn't until just a few years ago that I really started taking care of my skin.  As I noticed the fine lines and undereye circles, I became more aware of the importance of using products to moisturize and repair my skin.  As I've tried out and tested different products, I've noticed some are more effective than others.

Dermagist, a company with a commitment to industry scientific advancement, has a product line of anti-aging and daily skin maintenance formulas.  The company takes known, brand name ingredients and combines them into unique and specialized formulas.  In addition, Dermagist has introduced Metahylate®, a one-and-only blend from the scientists at Dermagist. 


I was given the opportunity to try the Instant Effect Lifting Serum from Dermagist, a skin formula that claims to instantly tighten skin comfortably with no film.  Plus, with powerful peptides like Matrixyl, it targets wrinkles long-term.  This instant-effect product undertakes a two-pronged approach. First is the instant effect it provides on wrinkles and lines. The second aspect is that it aims to help the wrinkles on a long term basis by saturating them with replenishing, specially engineered moisture particles.

I've been applying the Instant Effect Lift Serum daily for a couple weeks now onto my face and neck.  Pumping out a couple of dollops, I apply it onto freshly washed skin.  The serum is milky white in color and goes on clear.  It doesn't take a lot for a single application.  After using it for some time now, I've seen noticable changes in my skin.  The fine lines are less visible and there's more softness.  When it's applied, the serum quenches my face and feels like it's been saturated with moisurization.  The bottle itself is rather small and the price for the product is a little pricey.  With that said, I can see an improvement in my skin's texture and a little goes a long way.  



Win It!

One person will win Instant Effect Lifting Serum ($79 ARV).

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA and Canada.  If you have previously won a Dermagist giveaway, you are not eligibile to win this one.*

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Gatsby-Insired Makeup from Rimmel London - Giveaway

I received no compensation for this post.  I will be receiving products for review.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.


The long-awaited film, The Great Gatsby, has opened and the beauty inspiration from the film did not disappoint. From subtle, baby-pink nails to deep berry lips and flirty, long lashes, Rimmel London has all of the beauty essentials you need to create a 1920’s-inspired makeup look.

Paint on a flawless canvas with Match Perfection Foundation. Offering traceless coverage and perfectly flawless skin under any light, the SPF 18 foundation is the perfect first step in achieving the perfect complexion. $8.99

Smooth on Rimmel’s Stay Matte Pressed Powder, which contains natural minerals to control shine for up to 5 hours and helps to diminish the appearance of pores. $5


Take your lashes from day to night, whether you’re going for a flapper-esque fringe or a more subtle look with Rimmel’s Glam’Eyes Day 2 Night Mascara. The 2-in-1 cap contains a daytime formula to lengthen and define, and a nighttime formula to thicken, adding oversized volume. $7.99

Rimmel’s Moisture Renew Lip Colour contains three super moisturizes to hydrate lips and leave them up to 60% smoother, as well as SPF 18 to protect. To get the deep, wine-stained look of the 1920’s, try Burgundy Shine or Berry Queen. $6.79

Finish your look with perfectly subtle, polished tips. Rimmel’s Lasting Finish Pro Nail Lacquer in Pink Bliss is the perfect shade to recreate the flawless nails of the 1920’s. $3.99

Win It!

Three people will win Gatsby-Inspired Makeup from Rimmel London that includes:

Match Perfect Foundation
Stay Matte Pressed Powder
Glam'Eyes Day 2 Night Mascara
Moisture Renew Lip Color
Lasting Finish Pro Nail Lacquer in Pink Bliss


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