PAW Patrol Lookout Tower

My Son is OBSESSED with PAW Patrol, as most boys from ages 1-5 probably are.  I don't blame them, when the new pup was announced, my husband and I were all about DVRing the show and having a special viewing.  We were trying to guess what it was and what it did ever since the commercials came out.
Let's release a toy that's centered around it, the Lookout Tower where the PAW Patrol lives and gets their missions.  AWESOME.  AND, let's release it around Christmas because then we'll make a butt-load of money all at once.
I see why they wanted to make it all at once.  Because if they didn't release it right before the holiday then no one would want to buy it the rest of the year.  Why?  It's one of the cheapest pieces of plastic I have ever seen.
First, the tower is top-heavy.  The legs that it is balanced on are barely able to hold the weight.  So, while you're putting it together you think, "Well, that's okay, because the slide will balance it out just like in the episode where they made a cake and it was top-heavy until they added the slide."
Add the slide, wait, that top piece of it came out.  Fix it, nope, came out again.  Okay, got it.  Slide fixed!  Let's send Chase (the pup that came with it) down it!  Aaaaaannnnndddd it came out again.  What kind of crap is this?
Chase and his cop car are probably the only things out of the whole set that are worth anything, and you could have bought him with his car alone for only around $10-$15ish or so.  Not the $30+ that you paid for melted, thin, plastic tower that can barely stay together.
The scope at the top is neat.  My daughter has just taken a liking to that and has taken it off to play with.  Screw the rest of the tower.
My son is barely playing with the tower.  I feel awful because my parents got this for him and it's their money to waste.  He played with it so much at first but he got sick of having to keep bringing it to my husband or I to fix the slide.  And I know we can't take it back to the store because it's opened and really it isn't BROKEN, it's just a cheap piece of crap that is expensive.
In the end, DO NOT BUY THIS TOY!  I know, I know, your kid loves the show and is begging for it.  But would you rather them be disappointed in not getting something or have them be even more disappointed when they can't play with it after wanting it for soooooo long?
I'm probably going to alter it somehow so my kids can play with it.  Might take some super glue, but it needs to be done.  Add some weights to the bottom of the legs or something.
Nickelodeon, you either were really smart or really stupid on this one.  I don't know which.  You were either knowing people are going to buy it anyway so making a large revenue on something that you spent only $5 or so to make.  Or you rushed to get it out and didn't realize how defective it was.
Such a disappointment.

Vitality Vox Box

Once again I was sent a Vox Box by Influenster!  This is the Vitality Vox Box and I noticed that the contents all made me feel refreshed and reVitalized (Get it? Vitality, revitalized?).  I received all of these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Bikini Ready Energy Gummies


You can see about this product in a prior post here

Pure Leaf Iced Tea

I'm going to be honest.  I'm not a tea drinker.  Not Iced Tea anyways.  So I didn't try this.  But my husband did because he has an addiction to iced tea which comes in handy sometimes, haha!  In his words, this was extremely refreshing but he's not an unsweetened tea person so he'd rather try another flavor.  I plan on following through with that request and buying one for him when I visit the farmer's market this weekend.  He did say though that even though he really liked this (despite being unsweetened) that it's not his favorite because we live in the land of a brand name tea that his addiction is dedicated to and I can't blame him for that.

Playtex Sport Fresh Balance

You can see about this product in a previous post here

First Degree Burn Cream

Someone at Influenster must know me very well because if you do know me then you know that I'm the queen of clumsiness.  I was sent this nifty little tube called First Degree Burn Cream.  Yes, I burn myself often, and yes, I had to use the product almost immediately that night because I burnt myself while making dinner.
I don't think I need to say much when I have to say I had to buy another tube already because I burn myself a bit about once a week.  Like I said, I'm clumsy.
It's a nice soothing sensation after putting a thin layer on over the burn after running cold water over it.  It doesn't have a smell that is unpleasant, it smells like most generic creams smell.  Even though the scar is still somewhat there on a couple of them, I know it helped the appearance of them not be as noticeable as well.  A must for all Clumsy people!

Elizabeth Arden Flawless Future Caplet Serum

Tell me that I need something to rejuvenate my skin when I'm going on 30 and I'd laugh at you.  I feel I have great skin.  But this product takes it to a whole new level.  I feel so refreshed and rejuvenated after applying this that it almost scares me to think that I need it.  All you have to do is apply a small amount to your face after you wash it and you'll feel an instant difference.  It tingles and cools for a few minutes, then your face is smooth and soft.  The only downside to this product is that it is pretty costly for the small amount you get.  But a little does go a long way.  So you just have to ask yourself if it's worth it for yourself.

Softlips Cube 

I received the Vanilla Bean scent in the Softlip Cube and I have to keep reapplying it because I keep licking it off my lips!  It smells (and tastes, lol) delicious!  My lips feel amazing as well.  I have an issue with chapped lips, especially when the weather gets dry (like most people) and I know that this is something I'm going to invest in getting when I'm done with this one.  They have other scents that I'm excited to try like Fresh Mint (probably so tingly!) and Pomegranate Blueberry (can you say YUM?!).  Definitely a must-have for the purse/pocket!

Playtex Sport Fresh Balance

I'm not a tampon person.  I haven't been since I tried them back when Aunt Flo started 15 years ago.  But back then applicators were made of cardboard and we were scared shitless of TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome).  TSS does exist, but not to the level they used to scare us into.  Anyways, moving on to this beautiful product.
A slim, plastic applicator that is so easy to use!  The knowledge of having one in but not feeling like it's going to pop out at any second.  The freedom to run around and not have to worry about any leaks!  All of that goes with the Playtex Sport Tampons.  That and not having the fear of any stink coming out as well with the odor shield.
I wore one of these when I went to a football game this past weekend and it was so nice going to use the bathroom and just taking one out, putting one in, and having no stain on the inside of my underwear.
Ladies - your freedom has arrived

I received this product complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Bikini Ready Energy Gummies

The first thing I thought when I saw this bottle was that episode in Saved by the Bell where Jessie was addicted to the caffeine pills and had a major break down.  But these aren't caffeine pills.  So I was kind of nervous about trying these.  When I finally did I was happy I took a chance.  They don't give a jittery feeling or anything, they give a refreshed feeling that makes me able to focus on what I need to do and get done.  I've noticed my appetite change into eating smaller portions and healthier foods and I've noticed that I didn't need to take these as often as I thought and I'm not addicted because I can go without them.  I only take them if I know my day is filled with things that need to get done.  I am considering getting these again!

 I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Oreos

Have you ever tasted perfection?  Then you haven't tried one of these.  Seriously.  There are two things that are just too tempting for me to pass up on and those are Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Oreo Cookies.  So when Oreo came out with this product, my brain exploded.  Okay, it didn't really explode, but I did have to clean the puddle of drool that had formed below my computer when I saw the advertisement for them.
"But there are already Peanut Butter Oreos" you say.  "Shut up." I say.  These are REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER CUP Oreos, BIG DIFFERENCE!  Half of the cream is the tastylicious (yes I just made that word up because it deserves a new word) Reese's Peanut Butter and the other half is Chocolate.  It is MAGICAL no matter if you eat the cream alone or with the cookie pieces.
The only problem I see is that these are only a limited time thing.  Meaning, they won't be out forever.  Meaning, I already ate about 4 packs of them since I found out and I'm going to have to find a way to stock up without eating them all at once.
Did I mention they also make these in Mini size?  They do.  I have yet to find them somewhere, but I will!  Where there is a will there is a way and, damnet, I have a will!

TLC VoxBox from Influenster

I have received another VoxBox from the trendy site, Influenster!  This one is especially for moms, like me, and is called the TLC VoxBox.  I received all of these things complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Puffs Plus Lotion To Go

I've always been a Puffs fan when it comes to tissues, especially the ones with lotion.  Now that there is a Puffs Plus Lotion To Go pack that fits in my purse, I'm even happier!  Allergies are awful for my family all year and we go through tissues like water.  My poor 3-year-old daughter is trying to learn to blow her nose and the poor little thing gets so raw and red with any other kind of tissue.  These are nice and soft, they're also thick for the sneezes.  I definitely recommend these!

Shell Gas Rewards

While I think this is a great program to save money, I don't like the fact that we hardly have any Shell stations around where we live.  We have to go literally 20 minutes plus to get to one and it's just not worth it on our part.  But if you have one close to you, then you might be able to take better advantage of it.
You save 3 cents a gallon when you use the rewards card and 10 cents for every $50 spent.  There are other ways you can earn rewards and you can go to www.fuelrewards.com if you want to find out more. Personally, I find there are better rewards programs out there for my family to use, but this one might be the one for you.

Avon Anew Wrinkle Smoother
I HATE my crows feet by my eyes.  Also my laugh lines?  As much as I love laughing, those things are nothing to laugh about.  That's where this awesome product comes into play.
Avon's ANew Wrinkle Smoother is so simple to put on that even someone who hardly wears makeup (me) can figure it out.  All you need is a finger.  Preferably your pinky, but any finger will do.  Just swipe your finger along the product and dab it gently on your wrinkles.  That's it, seriously.  It covers them up and then just apply your regular foundation and you're good to go!

Breyer's Gelato Indulgences
Vanilla Caramel
Tiramisu
Triple Chocolate
Raspberry Cheesecake

Is your mouth watering yet?  It should be.  Those are the flavors available right now for New Breyers Gelato Indulgences.  This stuff is AMAZING.  I received a coupon to only get one for the testing purposes and I had the hardest time choosing, so I got two, the Vanilla Caramel and the Tiramisu.  I plan on getting the other two next.  My husband and I dug into this stuff like children.  Except the kids aren't going to eat this, we're not going to let them.  There probably won't be any left for them to try once we go to bed.

Say it together now, "mmmmmmmmmmmmm."

Neosporin Neo To Go
This is the most convenient little thing!  Every time I take my kids to the park, one of them is just bound to get a scrape of some sort.  This past week it was a splinter in my daughter's toe (I'm still trying to figure out how she did it being she had shoes on....).  She loved "helping" me put the Neosporin on to soften the splinter for later when we could take it out with tweezers.
It's nice and small so it fits right into my purse.  And one thing I know I'm crazy for loving, but really it's awesome, is that it has no lid!  You just push down on the button and it sprays!  No need for rubbing it in or anything, just a spritz and you're good to go!

Ivory Bar Soap
Not only does it smell absolutely amazing, but there are so many uses for this bar of Ivory Soap that I could go on forever about it!  What's my favorite thing to do, you might ask?  Well, my kids and I love to blow it up in the microwave.  Yup, you read that right, we blew it up.  It doesn't really BLOW up, but it looks like this:

Pardon the messy microwave which, by the way, got cleaned after this was done.
This is the soap that floats, so the air in it makes for some awesome results!  We used half of a bar and put it in the microwave for 80 seconds.  It isn't as fluffy as it looks, but it's so much fun to crumble and run your hands through.  After you're done playing with it, not only do your hands smell good, but they are soft.  So much fun to do!

IcyHot Smart Relief Tens Therapy

This product is something that I have been so excited to try ever since I saw Shaq advertising it for the first time on TV.  Not only is IcyHot a brand that has been pretty reliable for me, but it was now coming out with something that I know works and it seems at a reasonable price without a prescription.
I have arthritis in my spine and it's something that I've struggled with for over 10 years.  Before I was diagnosed my Physical Therapist gave me something called Tens Therapy.  It consisted of four electrode pads that stuck to my back and an electric pack that they were hooked up to.  After turned on, an electric currant was sent through the electrodes to me and gave a slight vibration through my muscles, causing them to relax and put less stress on my back.  I LOVED it.  I wore it every time I knew I was going to stand for long periods of time and when the weather was bad and I knew I was going to have issues.
I wanted to cry when my Rhuemetologist told me that I couldn't do physical therapy anymore because my arthritis was too far along for it to make a preventable impact.  This meant I had to give the device that has actually helped me, back.  My insurance didn't let the Rhuemetologist give me another one.
I found the IcyHot Smart Relief Tens Therapy device at Target for a very reasonable price (under $50) and quickly grabbed one.  I noticed that the replacement pads are quite reasonably priced as well.
The moment I got home I had my husband help me apply the pad to my back.  It comes with one reusable pad that has two electrodes in it.  The device that sends the currant just snaps right on to the pad.
Each session lasts 30 minutes from when you raise the currant's effectiveness.  The pad is supposed to last up to 30 sessions, the battery in the device is able to be changed but should last at least 40 sessions, and the device itself is set to expire in just over a year.
The device is no bigger than the palm of my hand and isn't very thick.  Besides the currant, I barely noticed any bulk and was able to get up and sit down easily without it, or the pad, coming off.
I HIGHLY recommend this product to anyone that has chronic back pain.  It's not cheaply made and it's very effective.