One of my new favorite things is getting my free DailyGoodieBox in the mail monthly. It’s the excitement of not knowing what is going to be in that months box that keeps me on edge!
Even more exciting is getting to share these wonderful goodies with you guys and tell you how to get your own FREE too!
Just head over to dailygoodiebox.com and sign up free. If the box matches you’re personality/ lifestyle you’ll get one in the mail for the month!
Another cool extra way to get a box for the month (or two 😊) is to check out their Facebook page and like it to follow and get updates on contests. You’ll also get to see the fun boxes other people have gotten!
Drum roll please…….. And the June Daily Goodie Box contents are:
This pack of Ginger tea came with 6, yes SIX packs of the tea crystals! I shared them with my coworkers since we are all fans of tea and it was a fun experience trying them. Be warned, it is VERY VERY strong of ginger. Not bad, but I wouldn’t say great. It was better when i added it to liptpn tea bags than on its own. I hear ginger is amazing for colds though so this is great too have handy.
To be completely honest, my kids and husband tore through these before o even got to try them, so I assume they were good 😁. Hey… they’re gummy bears! (but healthier)..
I wasn’t really a fan of how thick this was… similar to a milk consistency. It is protein though, so i guess it’s gotta have some substance to it. Maybe I was just caught off guard since I opened and chuffed it though lol… The flavor wasn’t bad and I would try it again if i saw it at the store.
Isn’t this little bottle the cutest? My grandmother always used to warm maple syrup in the microwave for my brother and I when we would sleep over her house. This brought back so many memories and I LOVE everything about it including the bottle.
This was another item I brought to work for a snack but wound up sharing it because everyone was so interested. I actually really liked it although it was bitter from the dark chocolate. I liked the texture and I feel like it did give me a little boost. Not everyone was a fan, but i want more!
Today is June 2nd, the unofficial start of Summer in my mind. It immediately makes me feel at ease knowing school is coming to an end for my kids and long play days in the yard await. Health has been on my mind as well since of course everyone wants to be in their best shape for the beach and water parks.
Lately I’ve been on sort of a health kick.. walking a mike a day on my lunch break at work and eating more consciously. I’ve been getting a little into essential oils and using my oil diffuser while i take a shower or a relaxing bath with a bath fizz and some eucalyptus scented Epsom salt.
It helps me to wind down from the day and just clear my mind. My kids have also used the eucalyptus to help with allergies and sinus issues, I just prop the diffuser in their room and they’re good to go after a couple hours relaxing with it filling the room with aromas.
With that being said, I want to give my opinion on a lesser known mom and pop store in my home town of Staten Island (I love saying I was born on an island because it’s true haha).
Www.Relaxbehealthy.com sent me a few items to check out and i have to say I’m really loving them. I haven’t had much experience with essential oil water sprays but these probably take the cake of i had to guess from what i see with their essential oils.
All of their products are organic and hand made in their shop with imported products from around the world. The items in reviewing are made from raw materials from Bulgaria and are the real deal.
First up to the plate is the Lavender Water. It’s a 4oz misting spray and is $10.99. It has a scent of lavender just a bit lighter then the oil, and is a super soft delicate mist.
All natural Bulgarian organic Lavender water:
Use to soothe skin, used for redness of soon, eczema, inflammation caused by mosquito bites (must try this!), and acne. It also helps eradicate dandruff and prevent scalp infections.
When sprayed directly only hair, it helps make hair shiny as it conditions the hair.
You can use the water spray as deodorant for your body, or even spray on furniture and around the home to deodorize.
There are many other different uses for lavender you can experiment with.
Now this Rose Water is my absolute favorite. They captured such am amazing scent I could wear it as a body must and probably will! Also $10.99 at their store, I wish you could smell it through this post, but if you do order from them, I suggest you put this in your cart.
All natural organic Bulgarian Rose Water:
It can help reduce the redness of irritated skin, get rid of acne, helps to maintain the skin’s PH balance, helps to hydrate the skin, helps to aid healing scars, cuts, wounds, regenerate skin tissues, dermatitis and eczema. It is a great cleanser and aids in removing oil and dirt accumulated in clogged pores, helps aging skin, wrinkles and fine lines
Extra fun uses include mood enhancer and spray the scent on your pillow to help to sleep better.
Enhance the quality of hair. Helps to rid dandruff, natural conditioner.
For dry & frizzy hair: Mix equal parts rosewater and glycerin, apply on the scalp, massage for 10-15 minutes. Let it stay for another 30 minutes and wash off with shampoo.
Last but not least is their 20ml Lavender Oil that retails for $24.99 but is currently on sale for $21.99 At their online boutique. This little potent bottle is much more fragrant then any other essential oil I’ve gotten and you can tell it’s just so fresh and pure. Check out my buffet below to see what i compared it to.
Today, lavender oil benefits your body in the following ways:
Every year, the biggest companies get together for what is known as the NY Baby Show.
Mommy-to-be’s and veteran moms alike scouting the venue for the hottest new items for baby and mom, and once again Momtrends has hosted some of us mom’s for a special day of pampering and mingling so that we can bring the show to you if you couldn’t attend.
There are over 100 vendors, and with so much to see and talk about, I’ve narrowed it down to my top 3 favorites for you.
#1 is the Austlen stroller. 1 word – VERSATILITY! With over 30 handy configurations, this is the future of strollers and should be at the top of every parents wish list. Check out just a few of the life altering configurations… you’ll wonder how you ever did “life” without it. (Photos via Austlen.com)
This handy dandy stroller can hold up to 150lbs of groceries, kids, and hey… I won’t judge if you want to take a seat😊.
Luxury does come at a steep price though… at a whopping $849, it comes in either black or navy blue. Assuming you can afford this #1 pick, at least you can justify it by the fact it’ll make hope life easier, and happy wife = happy life and all..
#2 is the ergoPouch. It’s no wonder it originated in the ‘down under’. It reminds me of a kangaroo pouch mixed with a swaddle blanket. Enter to win a ergoCocoon swaddle to sleep bag valued at $34.99!
We’ve all seen the swaddle at babies r’ us and various other places, so what makes ergoPouch different? Well, they’re made from natural fibers which make them breathable and regulate temperature which are two of the most important things. I can remember “unwrapping” my babies after they slept all night swaddled and every time they were drenched in sweat.
This also makes them perfect for any weather and eliminate the need for extra blankets. They have sleep sacks for infants, and even these adorable toddler sleep suits that make the transition from passed out toddler, to sleeping cozy toddler a breeze.
Check out their neat categories, I promise you’ll want one for your sweet little one. (Photos via Ergopouch.com)
The best part? All that cuteness will only run you between $20-$35, that is assuming you can control yourself and only buy one 😉..
#3 is Wellements Baby Organic Gripe Water aka the organic way to very more cuddles! Enter to WIN a gift from Wellements (entries taken until 6/7).
I think every new parent looks for a miracle to help their baby when that first fussy fit arrives. Typically during te first week home from the hospital, adjusting to life and formula/breastmilk, your new baby is bound to fuss a bit. Typically, tiny gas bubbles are the problem and they can be fixed with mylicon drops of fennel when my boys were young.
Now, there is an organic alternative that doesn’t only help with gas, but any uncomfort your babies belly may feel, even hiccups! (Via Wellementsbaby.com)
Lastly, special shout out to water wipes. We try to keep our babies butts clear, but what if the wipes we are using are the ones causing the nasty rashes we rush to cure? Water wipes relieves the stress of that, pure and simple.
This past week was my 31st birthday and we did our annual tradition casino trip. This time we decided to go to the Sands Casino in Bethelhem, PA instead of our usual trip to Atlantic City. We had an amazing meal at Emrils’s Chophouse Burger and gambled a little bit (and lost).
We didn’t wind up staying at the casino hotels because they were extremely over priced with their rates and has no promotions. If you’re looking for an alternative, cheaper place to stay, we stayed at the Comfort Suites which is only 5 minutes away and they offer a free shuttle to the casino up until midnight.
Lucky for me I was able to drive in style with the all knew 2017 Mazda 6 Grand Touring.
The interior made the vehicle feel so luxurious, ivory leather with black trim. Having two boys, I don’t think I could ever have this choice as my day-to-day car since it would be dirty in a matter of days, but we managed to keep it nice and clean for the week, even in the rain and mud.
I mean, look at this. Who wouldn’t want to jump in this car and go for a ride? At only $21k starting MSRP, anyone can afford to drive in style (and Safety!).
The exterior reminds me alot of a BMW, just the curviness and sleek front end. The headlights are just like any new 2017 vehicle, hologen, very bright and have feature to be automatic so that you don’t ever need to remember to turn them on and off.
That’s something I used to whole time as I currently use it in my Ford.
One thing that stands out to me is the number of safety features it has right off the bat. Similar to the 2016 model, which was a top rated safety vehicle of 2016, the 2017 model has the windshield display that is projected and only the driver can see it.
It’s customizable and shows stop signs, vehicle distance and speed limit. It alerts you if you are tailgating too close, or trying to get over when another vehicle is in your blind spot. The navigation also links to this display so that you do not have to take your eyes off of forward view and look at the console. I really liked how the display looks and the subtle alerts are a big help, especially when driving with kids can be distracting (did I mention 2 boys yelling at their tablet games in the back?).
As a compact vehicle, you really do not give up much space with this one. The trunk is huge and can be folded down to the back seat to allow for deeper cargo to be transported. I was able to fit a weeks worth of groceries in the trunk with no problem.
Gas mileage is WONDERFUL, avg is 32hmpg. I had it for an entire week, with a filled tank i drove out of state to the casino, to and from work daily, which is 25 minutes away, and misc other errands and did not need to put gas on it once.
One of the things we did this week is go to Benihana with the kids. It was my 4 year olds first time there and he enjoyed the flames coming from the hibatchi grill maybe as much as he enjoyed the chopsticks. This is one of my favorite places to eat, the chicken fried rice is to die for! Luckily I’m part of the birthday club so every year I get a $30 certificate to use to cover my meal. If you haven’t been, I suggest you go.
We had a great weekend overall thanks to Mazda for giving us this ride for the week to make it happen!
Last but not least, I want to touch on Mazda’s amazing donation program “drive for good”. Mazda established the Mazda Drive for Good charitable program as a way to give back to the communities in which it does business. Since it’s launch in 2013, the Mazda program has donated more than $12.9 million, has pledged not than 192,000 charitable service hours, and continues to provide monetary donations and community service throughout the year
I used my card to donate to St. Jude’s Cancer hospital for children as it is something that is very important to me.
Let me start off by saying that this is NOT a sponsored post. I have no affiliation with Six Flags and this is just my own experiences that I want to share with you.
First off, before I even start, go get a season pass to six flags! Right now, it’s the best deal I’ve ever seen so I had to scoop them up for my family of 4. But you have to be quick because you MUST ACTIVATE the passes before Oct 31st, just 9 more days, to get the deal.
It’s only $6 a month (auto-pay) per person for minimum of 12 months, for a COMBO GOLD pass that includes the rest of this year free including Fright Fest and Holiday in the park, Free Parking, and Hurricane Harbor for next year. That is only $72 per person for the whole YEAR and a one day ticket is $72 if you were to go just 1 day,so even if you only go one time the entire year (which is not very likely), then it already paid for itself! That’s why I think it is so worth it. They do shows throughout the year, bring a friend free of discounted, and so many other deals.
During the end of the year, starting October, they’re only open Friday’s after 5:30pm and then on Sat and Sun all day. If you go during the weekends, you can spend the whole morning there and enjoy the fall and Halloween decor without and spooks or scares. Once the sun sets though, it’s a whole other story.
So should you bring your young kids to fright fest? I say go for it. My boys had a great time despite the scary zombies roaming around. My 8 year old absolutely LOVED the zombies. I on the other hand tried my best not to make eye contact and used the kids as a shield LOL! I get creeped out with that stuff… It did make it easier having the kids with me because they didn’t bother us as much.
My 4 year old didn’t mind the first time we went, I don’t think he noticed the zombies as much. The 2nd time, he was more aware of them and what was going on and he cried for a bit to go home. He kept looking over his shoulder and I felt so bad, but then I had a genius idea! I told him to switch jackets with his brother, and that it was so big on him, it was like a “blanket” and the zombies would think he was just a big blanket. It worked! He started to forget about it eventually and enjoyed himself the rest of the night.
I love carnivals, and theme parks, so of course I love Six Flags Great Adventure. I wish it was a little closer since it’s about an hour drive, but so was Sesame Place which we had a blast this past Summer and went a lot with our season passes there. It’s good to switch it up, so next Summer we’ll have these passes for the theme and water park at great adventure. Did I mention, if you love Pokemon Go, then you will be excited to know that there are many Pokemon hanging out here 🙂
My favorite thing is seeing my boys enjoying themselves on the rides. They have a bunch of rides for young kids and a large area with stands and arcades. They really wound up having a great time despite the initial fear of the zombies.
GET YOUR PASSES SOON! You must go BEFORE 10/31 to activate the pass to get the Combo Deal even if you buy the passes, it will not be combo unless it’s activated before then.
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Check out the hot places to go local to you and find the staycation you’ve been wanting!
This year, we were fortunate enough to be able to take the kids to their first Disney World trip in Florida. I worked with Drive Shop to test out the 2016 Mazda CX-5 for the week while there because we needed something reliable. It definitely did not disappoint!
The color was excellent for the extreme heat. Glacier White with light beige interior. Perfect to keep the car cool when the sun is beaming down.
This crossover SUV fits 5 comfortably and had such a smooth ride. The stylish exterior and interior made driving it around south Florida so much fun. We stayed in Palm Bay which is more on the east coast and had to travel an hour and a half to Disney World in Orlando. The SkyActive technology by Mazda made the gas last the entire week even with the long trips.
The cruise control came in handy during the long trip on the same road and it had a feature I’ve never seen before. It was a car length sensor that you can set the cruise control to keep the car one, two, or three car lengths behind the car in front of you.
The center console is where the radio controls are as well as the volume and mute. This system has no power off button, only mute. The large center button is a toggle button. It controls the LCD panel for everything. You can also use the touch screen feature, but when driving the center button is easier to navigate everything.
There is a “sport” button that allows you to easily flip the car into sport mode if you’re on the highway and want to feel some extra “umf”!
The number one thing is it got us to and from Disney safely! There was a little rain storm on the way there and it drove great in it. One of the best features is when I had to use the brights, it has an “auto” sensor when on the auto feature. This allowed the car to automatically turn the high beams off when there was a vehicle coming, and back on when it passed. I haven’t seen that function on any other vehicle yet.
We had a blast at Disney World and a big thank you to Mazda and DriveShop for providing this vehicle for our travels around south Florida!
