Boss’s Day Gift Idea!

Stumped on what to get your boss for Boss’s Day?

National Boss’s Day is observed on October 16th,… or the nearest working day.

This gift idea costs about $20 (plus liquor, in this gift variation) and is sure to be an office hit! 

Disclaimer: this was not my original idea,… but rather a variation of an ingenious idea a fellow pinner on Pinterest had!

The thick 20″x30″ poster board was $5.99 from Party City, I purchased all of the candy from CVS and I used black Sharpie fine point markers I already had at home, for the lettering. I used the fine point Sharpie because I found it easier to draw the lettering in pencil, then write over the pencil with the Sharpie and then thicken up the letters afterwards. 

Hot gluing the candy onto the board only took about 5 minutes… the lettering took the majority of the time… consuming approximately 2 hours.

I left the space at the bottom of the board, for the rest of my team to sign, before we present the gift to our boss. My boss is very fond of Jack… Jack Daniels whiskey LOL… so I signed the name ‘JACK’ (who is not a member of our team), in hopes that he’ll fall victim to my plan of asking… “who’s Jack?”… so we can then present him with the whiskey bottle gift!

With the variety of candy in stores, this gift could be tailored to your boss in so many ways. The possibilities are endless!!

I give this gift idea 4 paws!

Farmacy, Sleep Tight Firming Night Balm Review

I’m 37 now {gasp!}, but thankfully, I’m constantly getting mistaken for being at least 10 years younger… YAY! 

I love trying out new firming facial products, to find the best of the best, to keep me looking younger than I am! There is such a variety of products, with an array of benefits… no skincare is created equal! Just like it’s suggested to switch up your workout routine, to work the muscles out differently… I think switching up my skincare regimen about every 3 to 4 months, revitalizes my skin, keeping it from looking dull and tired.

Farmacy Sleep Tight Firming Night Balm has a retail value of $48. I discovered this product because it arrived in my April 2016 PopSugar Must Have Box. 

It is lightweight and transforms into a gentle oil gel, to replenish skin overnight. The problem I have, is that this gel does not absorb into my skin. Even in the morning, there’s a layer of gel,… and I’m using a nickel sized amount, which is the same amount I use with any other overnight firming skin product. Also, unlike the cream versions, I didn’t get that slight tightening of the skin feeling… so I didn’t feel like it was working.

The packaging of this product is super adorable and the brand name is quite clever,… but sadly I would not buy this product.

I give this product 2 paws.

Yes To Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Facial Wipes Review

I bought this 30-count pack of facial wipes at Target for $5.99.

The detoxifying charcoal formula claims to help remove dirt and impurities. They do give me that deep clean feeling, like an exfoliant… and it has a fantastic fresh scent.

What I don’t like about these charcoal facial wipes… is that they are black… so I’m unable to see where the mascara and eye liner is, that I’ve wiped from my eyes… because those are black too! I get it… “little black wipe”… cute marketing… but sadly I risk putting my removed make-up all over my face if I can’t see it on the wipe!

I’m not sure if the wipe has to be black, because of the charcoal properties… but I will not be buying this product again, solely because of that. If you use a make-up remover prior to a facial wipe… then give this product a try… you’ll probably love it!

I give these charcoal wipes 2 paws.

Obama Llama Party Game Review!

You NEED Obama Llama at your next game night! Seriously,… go buy it right now, LOL.

The name is so hilariously ridiculous, that I was immediately intrigued. I bought it at Target, for $24.99, with the intention of introducing it during our usual family game time, after Christmas dinner.

We usually play traditional party game favorites like Scattergories, Charades or Catch Phrase… so getting the 20+ family members on board with such a crazy named game was a feat in itself! 

The game of… “can you find the rhyme in time?” has 3 different card types… ‘Describe it’, ‘Solve it’ and name specific cards of famous people, that you act out. For example… this is a ‘solve it’ question: Ace Ventura actor is very furry… Answer: Jim Carrey is hairy.

Learning a new game can be challenging, especially with 20+ alcohol-infused family members LOL… but this game is worth it! I suggest you read the game play instructions, then do a test round with each type of card… so that everyone understands how to play. Then split into teams… and let the shouting begin!

I will definitely be featuring Obama Llama at future game nights! Thank you Big Potato for your creativity. 

I give this game 4 paws!

Spongelle Spongology Milk & Honey Body Wash Infused Body Buffer Review

I got this from the May 2016 PopSugar Must Have Box.  The suggested retail is $20.

This body wash-infused body buffer by Spongelle, designed to cleanse, exfoliate and massage… was supposed to last at least 20 washes… but I didn’t even get 10 out of it!

I really do love the concept of this item… but less than 10 washes is not worth $20 to me! I can get an amazing body wash and bath loofah or sponge for HALF that price! Plus, I did not like the milk & honey scent… at all. It’s such a minimal scent, and I prefer a fresh & fruity variety that lingers on my skin long after my shower. I won’t be buying this product in the future. 

I give this product 1 paw.

S’well ‘Santorini’ Bottle & Brush Review

Keeps drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12.

I only use it to keep ice cold water in, to stay hydrated all day… but impressively, my water stays ice cold (ice cubes and all) for 24 hours or more!!

This ‘Santorini’ bottle has a hand-painted design from the textile collection, but there are SO many designs to choose from! I definitely want another one, to take two on the go for longer travels. The S’well brush is a must-have, to easily and thoroughly clean your bottle(s).

Both were bought from The Container Store. Reusable bottle brush was $19.99 and S’well bottle was $34.99.

Bottle brush has a replaceable head. Bristles are polypropylene and head is dishwasher safe. Brush handle is bamboo + stainless steel… and not dishwasher safe!

Bottle is 17-oz/ 500-ml and made of double-walled, insulated stainless steel. Not dishwasher, microwave or freezer safe!

For every bottle sold, a tree will be planted! I’m definitely going to buy another S’well… because by using these bottles, I am reducing the number of plastic bottles in landfills and oceans!

I give this product 4 paws!

Olay Makeup Remover Towelettes Review

Infused with essence of honeysuckle & white tea, these Olay makeup remover wet cloths have a great fresh, and slightly fruity scent. They do work perfectly to remove my blackest black eye liner and mascara… and they do leave my skin feeling clean, with no greasy residue!

I purchased these towelettes at CVS to utilize a facial product promo. If purchased at full price, a 25 count pack is $6.49.

My only complaint about this product & the reason I won’t repurchase it… is because I prefer a quilted/ thicker cloth. After testing out so many facial towelettes, I appreciate when I’m also able to give my skin a quick exfoliation after removing my eye make-up.

I give this product 3 paws.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Duo, Water Gel & Eye Gel-Cream Review

Hydrated skin,… is happy skin!

I bought this duo at my favorite go-to place for beauty products… CVS! I will typically use CVS store promo coupons to get the best deal, but at full price, the 1.7 oz water gel is $19.99 and the 0.5 oz eye gel-cream is $19.99. 

I don’t like to go the cheap route when it comes to my face & eye creams… because taking care of your skin by staying moisturized and protecting it from the suns harmful rays are key to looking younger than you are!!  I’d say these are medium-low in price, because there are definitely some pricier options out there… especially if you are considering the high end beauty brands at department stores! 

“The unique water gel formula absorbs quickly, like a gel, but has the long-lasting, intense moisturizing power of a cream.”

I would absolutely buy this Hydro Boost duo again!  It’s oil-free & lightweight… and quenches my thirsty skin, by locking in the hydration all day long.

I give this duo 4 paws!

Thanksgiving Turkey Wine Cork Craft Review!

I LOVE crafting with wine corks… and not that I need an excuse to drink wine LOL… but this is a good one! 

I did not come up with this ingenious idea…’Oregon Winette’ featured this craft on their blog in 2013… and I found it on Pinterest of course, LOL. The original idea on Pinterest featured the feathers made from pipe cleaners… which is cute… but I love actual feathers, so I decided to peruse the aisles of my local Michaels store for feathers that looked like they belonged on a turkey… and boy did I find some!

You will need the following items for this craft project:

• 4 corks
• 4 bamboo skewers
• Glue Gun & Glue Stick
• Scissors
• Wiggle Eyes
• Orange Felt
• Red Felt
• and Feathers!

You will also need these items or a variation of these items, to achieve the look of my completed turkeys:

• White Index Cards
• Double-sided Tape & Packing Tape (not pictured)
• Black Sharpie
• Yellow Highlighter
• Paint Brush
• Orange Acrylic Paint
• Washers (for weight, painted black, not pictured)

Step by Step Instructions :

1. Put a skewer in the center of each cork. Takes a little bit of force & it should go  1/2″ to 3/4″ into the cork.
2. Glue 2 eyes on each cork. I like when the eyes look crossed & goofy, I think they are more cute that way!
3. Cut the orange triangle beaks & red wattles/ fleshy piece that dangles from the turkeys neck. I did this freehand & had to adjust the cuts slightly to look size appropriate on the cork. Then glue them on.
4. Glue on the feathers! The feathers I found were a 360 degree flower shape… but the perfect tones & prints for this craft… so I just cut them in half to make it work! Some feathers fell off/ apart in the halving process… but it wasn’t anything my glue gun couldn’t fix!
5. Create your Thanksgiving themed messages on the index cards. I cut them in half and stuck them together with the lined side not visible. Then I wrote my messages with black Sharpie & highlighted the text with yellow highlighter and taped them to the stick using the packing tape for durability.
6. Glue the cork turkeys onto the painted washers, slightly off-center & to the back, so there’s room to paint the feet on.
7. Paint the feet onto the washers using the orange paint and skinny paint brush. Just 3  lines slightly to the left & right of the center/beak. You may need to apply 2 to 3 coats to get the desired look.
8. Display on your turkey day table… and get ready for the “OMG those are so adorable” compliments!!

This was such a fun project I did with my mom… and pretty simple too! You could also make more or less & use as name cards for your guests & send them home with the cutie turkey as a party favor! I gave one to each family that attended our Thanksgiving gathering… to adorn their tables for years to come!

The possibilities are endless when making these turkeys… just like I used real feathers, changing the look completely! 

I am so thankful to the incredibly creative individual who originally came up with this idea… and the inventors of wine LOL!

I give this craft project 4 paws!!

Wobble Wag Giggle Dog Toy Review

Very expensive play time!

I bought this unique toy at Ross for $9.99 and couldn’t wait to give it to my precious Rottweiler!

Bubba definitely loved this toy and the silly giggle sounds it made… but it didn’t stand a chance against Bubbs strong bite! It wasn’t even an hour before pieces of the toy were all over the floor and I had to take it away. He was so intrigued by the giggles, that he wasted no time getting to the source of the sound inside.

I love the idea… but it is NOT for all size dogs like the package says!

I give this product 1 paw.