Friday, January 31, 2014

Valentine's Day Roundup 2014




------------ Subway Art -------------



I love the font and color scheme of this one! 


 
Ok..c'mon this one is just too adorable. 
I'm a big fan of the mustaches!


 
I LOVE the simplistic elegance of this one!


 
So cute, plus it matches the 2nd and 3rd one perfectly!


 
Simple and cute, plus it matches the first one!



--------------- Decor Prints ---------------



I love how adorable and whimsy this one is.


 
Love the song inspiration on this one!


 
You guys know how much I adore chevron....


How elegant and perfect is this? There are actually two designs on this link.



Think of how adorable this would be framed in the kitchen!



---------- Calendars -----------

 
I love how this one has a homemade lovey feeling to it.


 
I LOVE this one! It's almost too cute to cross out!


I love how vintage and chic this one is!


----------- Monthly Menus ---------------


Ok, technically this is for the month of January, but it's pink
and I forgot to add this one to January's list so....there.

Yes, this is from August but meal plans don't expire now do they?




---------- Kid's Activities ----------

This is an easy craft that will keep them busy 
AND decorate your home, win-win.


 
These are cute and you can eat the leftover candy...


I love these fun little learning activity sheets.




Linking up at:
Serenity Now Blog

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

I am in love.


I know what you're thinking, I can totally see into those pretty little heads of yours ( I know..I know...I can't wait for my thin mints to arrive either!). You're thinking...Nickie....didn't you make a whole post about how much you dislike MLM companies? Yes, yes I did. Then I found one that was so different and wonderful that I changed my mind. Well, at least when it comes to this one.

I'm sure by now you've noticed the cute little banner on the side of the page, and thought what in the world is Perfectly Posh? Well sit down and pull up a chair buttercup.


What is Perfectly Posh?

Perfectly Posh is a relatively new company with spa and pampering products that are paraben-free, paraffin-free, free of sulfates including SLS, cruelty free and do NOT test on animals. When I heard those words I was basically sold then I also found out that they are fragranced only with the highest quality essential oils and fine phthalate-free fragrances. They even use natural enzymes and vitamin E to preserve the life and look of these awesome pampering products. Sold!


What products are offered?

There are ooodles upon oodles of pampering products from lotions to scrubs, cuticle cream, hair masks and everything in between. What really amazed me is how well they work and how INCREDIBLE they smell. I can't stop sniffing myself and sorry...you wont be able to either! These are a few of my favorites:

1. The Tree Hugger
This is a deep cleaning, D Tox scrub that has sea salts, strawberry seeds, coconut shreds, and a detoxifying blend of soothing essential oils. It scrubs and detoxes while nourishing the new layer with energizing vitamin C, rich jojoba and sunflower oil. Plus it smells like coconuts and strawberries.




2. The Caffeinator
This little baby is a moisturizing shea butter stick infused with tightening and brightening caffeine. You just rub this around your eye area and watch as the caffeine gets to work and tightens and brightens the skin. AKA: 8 hours of sleep fake-it stick.




3. The Stripper
This is a D Toxing mud mask that aggressively absorbs and removes free-radicals from skin. This puppy slows moisture removal with triglycerides and vanilla essential oil. With continued use supports cleaner, brighter skin, fewer black heads and blemishes, and improved elasticity. SIGN ME UP NOW am I right?



4.Sweet Young Thing
It's an anti-aging serum that is loaded with a sophisticated blend of CoQ10, natural cell-generating oils, and powerful peptides. This stuff is creamy and smells to me like a magnolia/jasmine smell. It is literally heaven in a bottle. When I put it on Hubby even noticed my skin looked great.



Ok Nickie, I am loving the products but c'mon MLM.....I've been hurt real bad sister. 
I feel you guys read on...


What makes them different?

I was so excited to join this company because they are SO different from all the other big name MLM companies that I've tried before. They are LOW KEY and encourage their consultants to be themselves, wear what makes them happy and comfortable, have fun, don't stress, and pamper themselves just as much as they pamper their customers.

Customers are treated like what they actually are: women who deserved to be pampered not a potential number or a sales slip. Unlike the other guys we are encouraged to share products not pressure women into joining our "army". They also pay commission on everything you buy, there is no "wholesale vs retail". You simply sell the products and they send you a check. They do bonus items, half off deals, hostess perks, and contests all the time to score some extra goodies. You're not pressured to have product on hand and consultants are encouraged to uplift and help out their fellow consultant sisters.

The price to become a consultant is only $99.00 ( plus local tax/shipping) and I signed up in January so my kit came with DOUBLE the amount of products! It was worth it to join up just for the amount of goodies alone! Another great thing about being a consultant is that this is a relatively new company so the market is WIDE OPEN! There are a million opportunities to expand and develop a market in your area! If you want more info about joining you can read about it HERE and message me either here or on my Facebook Page and I will answer any questions. PS - You can still get the double kit promotion all the way until February 6th!

I can literally go on and on, but I'll stop here and continue with the info...


What does this mean for us, your loyal readers?

Well not too awful much. No I will not be harassing or pushing anyone to join or buy something, that's not why we're here and I hope you guys know and love me better than that. But I will post some Perfectly Posh stuff occasionally when I think you guys might be interested or whenever I get really excited about something. Which...let's face it..I'm a tad bit obsessive when it comes to things I fall in love with. So if I do go a little overboard please forgive me. I'm thankful that I found Perfectly Posh, it was an accident that I stumbled onto their Facebook page posts and I will be forever grateful. I think their products are amazing and I honestly really just want to share them with you guys. I do plan on doing a giveaway or two in the next few months with both Perfectly Posh and Spark Naturals so stay tuned for that. 

Well that's about all. I just wanted to keep you all updated and caught up in the know. 













Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Freebie Tuesday 1/27





1.Free WeightWatchers Magazine Subscription
2.Free Sample Of Motiv-8 Energy
3.Free Living The Country Life Magazine Subscription
4.Free National Park Mailing Labels
5.Three Free Samples Of TeaMonger Tea
6.Free Lovable Labels Sample ( through Facebook)
7. Parkinson Foundation Aware In Care Kit (C'mon people...Parkinson's affected only please)
8. West Coast Tradition Weight Loss Sample
9. Free Sample Of Spark Energy Drink
10. Free Sample Of Chomp Industrial Hand Cleaner

Freebies Still Available From Past Weeks:

Food & Drink
1. Sample Of Wise Prepared Emergency Foods
2. Komodo Teriyaki Sample
3. Free Atkin's Starter Kit
4. Chef's Choice Beef Jerky Sample
5. Free Truvia Sweetener Sample
6. Free Sample of TongueSpank Seasoning ( through Facebook)
7.Free Quit Smoking Tea Sample
8. Free Gourmet Rosemary, Lemon, And Garlic Salt Sample
9. Yogi Tea Sample ( Through Facebook - Send to a friend or Get a sample for yourself if you've never tried them before)
10. Sample Of Slavo Gourmet Salt


Beauty
1. Sample Of Oblige Body Lotion  ( through Facebook)
4. Escada Perfume Sample
5. Eucerine Lotion Sample ( must take the pledge)
9. Free Pantene Shampoo And Conditioner Samples
10. Free Sample Of Hugo Boss Perfume
11. Free Mini Product When You Visit Any JC Penny Salon For A Free Touch Up
12. Sample of Nivea, Eucerin, or Aquaphor ( Through Facebook - Must watch video to access samples)
13. Sample Of Gucci's Made To Measure Fragrance ( Through Facebook - Scroll to the bottom)
14. Free L'Oreal Paris Advanced Haircare Sample

Health
5. Sample Of Depend Underwear
6. Free Sample Of Emergen-C
13. Real Time Pain Relief Sample


Baby

Pets
1. Free Pet Safety Pack
2. Sample Of Beneful Healthy Smiles Dog food
3. Sample Of Wag Joint Supplement For Canines

Home & Housewares
1. Sample of Sandy Cleaning Wipes
2. Re-Sealable Sticker For Tide Pods Tub
3. Free Bistro Coffee Mug From Aztec Trailers
4. Coolaz Koozie Sample
5. Sample Of Daily Bread Products ( 25 Year Guarantee Food Storage)

Magazines
1. Free Lego Magazine Subscription
2. Free Diabetic Living Magazine Subscription
3. Free American Baby Magazine Subscription
4. Free Watch! Magazine Subscription
5. Free Dirt Rider Magazine Subscription
6. Free Cycle World Magazine Subscription
7. Free Digital Issue Of KIWI Magazine


Other
2. Free Bible
3. Free digital copy of Gooseberry Patch kid friendly recipe book
4. Free Migraine Awareness Wristband
5. 3M SecureFit Eyewear Sample
6. Free Cookbook Kit From Morris Press
7. Free Jiffy Mixes Recipe Book ( Through Facebook)

Stickers
3. Free " Life's A Dog" Bumper Sticker
4. Free COAST Clothing Sticker

Calendars 
1. Free Farnam Horse Care Calendar
2.  Free Photo Calendar From Staples



Sunday, January 26, 2014

Forget the flu shot!



I talked about Shield a little bit HERE when I told you guys how I cure Munchkin's colds and keep us all protected. I just really wanted to go more in depth about it because I had LOTS of people asking me questions so here goes.

What is Shield? 

Shield is a blend from Spark Naturals that is comprised of clove, cinnamon bark, lemon, eucalyptus, and rosemary. The legend has its roots in 15th century England during the time of the great plague. Grave robbers or “thieves” developed their own blend of essential oils to protect themselves while they were robbing plague victims. 

There are many versions of this blend on the market.
Spark Naturals: Shield ( $28.08 for 15ml...Plus 10% off with coupon code "Bubble")
Young Living: Thieves ( $44.41 for 15ml)
doTerra: OnGuard ( $42.67 for 15ml)

Now, let's look a little at WHY we use these oils: 

1. Clove 
Analgesic, Anti-Infectious, Disinfectant, Stimulant and Antiseptic. Clove also has extremely high antioxidant levels ( see picture)

2. Cinnamon Bark
Antibacterial, Antispasmodic, Aphrodisiac, Antiseptic and Astringent.

3. Lemon
Anti Anemic, Anti-Bacterial, Anti-Microbial, Anti-Rheumatic, Antiseptic, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Insecticidal.

4. Eucalyptus 
Antiseptic, Astringent, Deodorant, Diuretic, Sedative and Vasoconstrictor.

5. Rosemary 
Analgesic, Antidepressant, Anti-Stringent, Carminative, Cephalic, Diuretic, Stimulant, Hypertensive.

Ok, but do they really work? 

YES. I could give you countless testimonies about the power of these awesome oils, but nothing really works as well as showing you: 

This is a one week experiment on how well certain things fight off staph.   
Notice how there is almost NO growth in the Thieves ( Shield/OnGuard) side.
Need a little more convincing?

" The Manchester study was triggered when complementary medicine specialists at Christie Cancer Hospital asked university researchers to test essential oils....Dr Peter Warn, who carried out the research, said: "When I tested the oils in the lab, absolutely nothing grew. Rather than stimulating bacteria and fungi, the oils killed them off."...The team then tested 40 essential oils against 10 of the most infectious agents found in hospitals, including MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus). Two of the oils were found to kill MRSA and E.coli almost instantly, while a third was found to act over a longer period of time.." - BBC News (source)


"  Thieves essential oil blend combines the power of cinnamon, clove, and rosemary essential oils along with eucalyptus and lemon oils, and has been shown to deliver a powerful punch against a variety of pathogens.  With thousands of natural plant chemicals, Thieves oil has been shown to kill 99.996% of airborne bacteria in a study at Weber State University.  A study at the University of Manchester found that Thieves oil killed 100% of MRSA.   Truly, when essential oils are blended together, they can have a synergistic effect and accomplish more together than they could separately. " - Essential Survival (source)

How do I use it? 
Alright, so now you've got the facts and you're ready to use it...but how?

1. Add it to a roll on bottle and rub the blend onto the bottoms of your feet every morning to protect against germs. Do the same for little ones, but make sure to mix a few drops with a carrier oil before you apply it to their feet. 

2. Diffuse it in a diffuser or just add 2-4 drops of it into a pot of water on the stove ( keep it on LOW heat ) to disperse the oils into the air and kill airborne germs. --- a MUST for when the house gets sick. 

3. Sanitize door handles, bathrooms, counters, desk tops, offices and more by filling a spray bottle with witch hazel and 1-3 drops of shield. 

4. Use the roll on bottle method as we described on the first tip as a preemptive measure to fight off bacteria and germs in a communal bathroom such as a dorm or storm shelter. 

4. Fill up one of these 1oz spray bottles with water and add 1-3 drops of shield. Keep it in the car and spray on the air vents when traveling ( or all the time you get in the car..like me) to fight off airborne germs AND fill your car with a "fall smell" 

5. Add 1-2 drops of shield into your mop water to effectively sanitize your floors. When I do this I also add lemon. 

6. Put 1/2 cup of baking soda into a container and add 1-2 drops of shield, mix it in, and then sprinkle on carpets in rooms where someone was sick. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes ( I usually wait 20-25 minutes) then vacuum it up. Not only will it kill germs, but it will also make the room smell wonderfully like fall. 

7. Use the spray mixture from tip 3 and spray down the linens and door handles in hotel rooms. It may not kill bed bugs or....other things...( cringing yet?) but it will fight off germs and bacteria.

8. Put 1-2 drops of shield in veggie capsules and take every three hours when symptoms begin to appear.

9. Little ones sick? Put waterproof (and heat proof) toys in the automatic dishwasher with a cup of distilled vinegar and 3-4 drops of shield, along with 2-3 drops of lemon and run them through to sanitize them safely.

10. Make a pendant diffuser and add a drop of shield to it to keep yourself shielded all day long.




ps - I totally wanted to title this as "how I wield my shield" but Hubby talked me out of it.  I think I missed a great opportunity.


This blend is currently on SALE at Spark Naturals until 10/5 
you can also use coupon code "Bubble" to save an additional 
10% off your order on top of this amazing sale price!!



Friday, January 24, 2014

Crazy Days

Jillee, over at One Good Thing By Jillee's Facebook page posted this little post featuring an article showing what crazy holiday falls on your birthday. I wasn't going to click it to be honest, I figured mine would be  something dumb like " National Hug Day" ( no offense to those born on June 11th) or something equally boring. Then I saw that her holiday was something called " Hoodie-Hoo Day"

Hoodie-Hoo Day is where people go outside at exactly noon and wave their arms over their head chanting hoodie-hoo, hoodie-hoo, until their "winter blues" are all gone. I was cracking up by the image of that so of course I had to check mine out...I was not dissapointed my friends.

July 3rd
National Stay Out Of The Sun Day and Compliment Your Mirror Day 
I win. 




I don't get one awesome day, I get TWO. Actually this is a national day folks so technically we are all winning on July 3rd, you are welcome. Not only do we get to stay inside all day, but we also get to show some love to our mirrors. Note: It does not say compliment your reflection.
(image source)


Daaannng mirror....you're looking hot. All smudged and sexy, rock on with your bad self! 

I of course began scanning the list, and found a few more favorites:

January 2nd - Run Up the Flagpole and See if Anybody Salutes It Day 
What dummy let the drunk rednecks pick this one out?

January 4th - Trivia Day and Humiliation Day
Because if they suck at trivia we can always publicly humiliate them.

January 13th - Make Your Dream Come True Day and Blame Someone Else Day
I'm assuming the person who made this one up really, really wanted to be a bank robber.

March 9th - Panic Day
At the disco or just in general?

April 9th - Winston Churchill Day and Name Yourself Day
Have you ever been so pissed off at your name that you create a day that is specifically for changing your name for that day?

June 24th - Museum Comes To Life Day
Standing ovation for this one.

July 29th - Cheese Sacrifice Purchase Day
Who bought so much cheese one day that it looked like a sacrifice to the cheese gods and warranted a holiday? No I don't have shifty eyes..stop judging me!

August 8th - Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Night
Is this supposed to be a prank? Because it would be like the best day ever for me.

August 15th -National Relaxation Day and National Failures Day
Relax and think about all the horrible ways you've dissapointed yourself and your loved ones. Aaaahh, I can feel the stress just melting away....

September 2nd - National Beheading Day
Nice try there Henry VIII....

September 29th - Poisoned Blackberries Day
Gah....who pissed off the September people?

October 15th - White Cane Safety Day
That is oddly specific.

November 1st - Plan Your Epitaph Day
Starting off cheery huh November?

November 19th - Have A Bad Day Day
Really? That seems a little uncalled for. Maybe you need some counseling November...

December 8th - Take It In The Ear Day
Calm down there December.....

December 10th - Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales
You guys do know festival is a cheery word right?

December 12th - National Ding-A-Ling Day
AANNNDDDD we're back to the drunk rednecks.


Find out what your crazy holiday is HERE










Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Freebie { Tuesday } Wednesday

OK, sorry that this Freebie Tuesday post is being posted on Wednesday, but I have been fighting various laptops and internet devices for about three days. I think I've finally won...hopefully. Anyways without further ado, here are the freebies: 



1. Free Cycle World Magazine Subscription
2. Sample of Nivea, Eucerin, or Aquaphor ( Through Facebook - Must watch video to access samples)
3. Sample Of Gucci's Made To Measure Fragrance ( Through Facebook - Scroll to the bottom)
4. Free Jiffy Mixes Recipe Book ( Through Facebook)
5. Yogi Tea Sample ( Through Facebook - Send to a friend or Get a sample for yourself if you've never tried them before)
6. Sample Of Beneful Healthy Smiles Dog food
7. Sample Of Wag Joint Supplement For Canines
8. Free Can Of Sheba Cat Food
9. Free NeilMed Sinus Rinse Bottle
10. 6 Samples Caplets Of Desert Harvest Aloe Vera
11. Free L'Oreal Paris Advanced Haircare Sample
12.Fekkai Haircare Sample ( COSTCO members only)
13. Sample Of Slavo Gourmet Salt
14. Free Digital Issue Of KIWI Magazine
15. Free Sample Of Bio35 Oil
16. Real Time Pain Relief Sample
17. Sample Of Daily Bread Products ( 25 Year Guarantee Food Storage)

Freebies Still Available From Past Weeks:

Food & Drink
1. Sample Of Wise Prepared Emergency Foods
2. Komodo Teriyaki Sample
3. Free Atkin's Starter Kit
4. Chef's Choice Beef Jerky Sample
5. Free Truvia Sweetener Sample
6. Free Sample of TongueSpank Seasoning ( through Facebook)
7.Free Quit Smoking Tea Sample
8. Free Gourmet Rosemary, Lemon, And Garlic Salt Sample

Beauty
1. Sample Of Oblige Body Lotion  ( through Facebook)
4. Escada Perfume Sample
5. Eucerine Lotion Sample ( must take the pledge)
9. Free Pantene Shampoo And Conditioner Samples
10. Free Sample Of Hugo Boss Perfume
11. Free Mini Product When You Visit Any JC Penny Salon For A Free Touch Up

Health
5. Sample Of Depend Underwear
6. Free Sample Of Emergen-C

Baby

Pets
1. Free Pet Safety Pack

Home & Housewares
1. Sample of Sandy Cleaning Wipes
2. Re-Sealable Sticker For Tide Pods Tub
3. Free Bistro Coffee Mug From Aztec Trailers
4. Coolaz Koozie Sample

Magazines
1. Free Lego Magazine Subscription
2. Free Diabetic Living Magazine Subscription
3. Free American Baby Magazine Subscription
4. Free Watch! Magazine Subscription
5. Free Dirt Rider Magazine Subscription

Other
2. Free Bible
3. Free digital copy of Gooseberry Patch kid friendly recipe book
4. Free Migraine Awareness Wristband
5. 3M SecureFit Eyewear Sample
6. Free Cookbook Kit From Morris Press

Stickers
3. Free " Life's A Dog" Bumper Sticker
4. Free COAST Clothing Sticker

Calendars 
1. Free Farnam Horse Care Calendar
2.  Free Photo Calendar From Staples



Monday, January 20, 2014

Technology hates me

I am having major computer issues so the freebie tuesday post will hopefully be posted later in the week, so,so,so unbelievably sorry everyone. I am seven seconds away from taking a hammer to this computer......wish me luck.

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Top 15 BEST Valentine's Day Treats - 2014








1. Heart-shaped egg in the basket by Petite Kitchenesse
We LOVE egg in the basket at my house. It's so easy and delicious. I would have never thought to make a cute shape instead of the boring circle we normally do!







2. Chicken noodle soup with heart-shaped carrots by Sophistimom
This acknowledges the lovey-dovey Valentine's Day-ness without being too overboard. It's a sweet and simple way to celebrate, I love it!






3. Sweet Valentine's Day treats (recipe plus printable tag) by Write.Click.Scrapbook
My father-in-law made these in Christmas colors and the whole family gobbled them up! I love how she used the sprinkles and pinks/reds to give it just the right about of cuteness!





4. Red Hots popcorn by Sandy Toes And Popsicles
My mother is the QUEEN of Red Hots so I was so excited to find this one and pass it along! Plus I love any new, interesting flavoring to spice up popcorn.






5. Red Velvet milkshakes by Pizzazerie
These look amazing, and SO cute. I think Munchkin would go crazy for this, it's the perfect treat for the littles.






6. Creamy strawberry dip by Lemon Tree Dwelling
The best thing about this easy dip is experimenting ways to eat it! Fruit, graham crackers, animal crackers, the possibilities are endless!






7. Parmesan hearts by Cecilia Rosslee
You have to scroll way down on the page to actually find the recipe, but it's worth it! I cannot wait to try these crunchy, yummy morsels with a salad! Yuummmm.





8. Heart-shaped tortilla chips by Make The Best Of Everything
I didn't know it was this easy to make tortilla chips! Imagine how impressed your friends will be when they come over for Valentine's Day brunch and get served homemade festive tortillas!






9. Red Hots muddy buddies by Crazy For Crust
I am a big fan of mexican chocolate, and really anything that's sweet and spicy. So you know I was excited to find this recipe, I had never seen it before and it sounds SO delicious!






10. Valentine's Day chocolate bark by The Rebel Chick
What I really love about this recipe ( other than the fact of how decadently delicious it is) is that it looks SO professional and cute. I think it would make the perfect neighbor or workplace gift.





11. Heart-shaped french toast with strawberry butter by Land O Lakes
MMmmmmmm. I just don't even need to say anything more about this. I'm fairly certain french toast runs through my veins, and you add strawberry butter to the mix and you have made me one happy girl!






12. Strawberry nutella poptarts by The Novice Chef Blog
This is another recipe that I was surprised at how easy it is to make. The result looks so cute and like you stayed up all night baking. Plus it's nutella.....NUTELLA.







13. Chocolate ravioli hearts by Hungry Happenings
Chocolate and ravioli don't typically go together in the same sentence, but this works and honey...it is DELICIOUS! Not to mention festive and cute too!





14. Jell-O strawberry heart parfait by With A Grateful Prayer And A Thankful Heart
This is another fun holiday treat that the littles are going to love! I cannot wait until Munchkin is old enough to really enjoy helping me make things like this.





15. Red velvet cookie cocktail by The Crafty Hostess
You had me at cookie and cocktail. This is another one that makes you scroll down the page a little, but it's cookies and alcohol..c'mon man, it's worth it!





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Life Inside Nickie's Little Bubble