Scentsy September Scent and Warmer of the Month!

This is by far my favorite Holiday Style Scentsy Warmer yet! I love pumpkins, and the scent Caramel Pear Crisp is just yummy. Scroll down for prices. Available for Purchase Sept 1st. @ www.valleywickless.scentsy.us

September 2012 Warmer Pumpkin And Scent Of The Month Caramel Pear Crisp

LeapFrog Rock n' Learn Party With Touch Magic Learning Bus & RockinGuitar

 Do you know that most child development experts agree that play is essential to high quality learning in small and preschool aged children?

 This is true for my 3 almost 4yr old son, and many other children. I have found that he especially tends to learn things when they are put into song, which is why I have been loving Leapfrog's new Touch Magic Learning Bus and Rockin Guitar.

 

          Touch Magic Little Touches Big Learning

 Touch Magic a new product line from LeapFrog, brings intuitive touch technology to preschool toys for the first time. Combining fun, learning and creativity, Touch Magic Learning Toys recognize every tap, touch and swipe to bring each product to life! The launch portfolio includes: Touch Magic Learning Bus, Touch Magic Rockin Guitar, and Touch Magic Counting Train.

 I was selected to host a Leapfrog Touch Magic Rock n' Learn Party with my son and some of his friends. Included in our party kit were:

• 2 Rockin Guitars: The Rockin Guitar brings musical fun and helps develop preschool skills with every little touch. Kids can choose to play solo without a backup or play along with a band or select electric or acoustic guitar to play 10 built in songs including: Rockin' Robin, Itsy Bitsy Spider, If Your Happy and You Know It, Pop Goes The Weasel, and more. Plus kids can customize their play experience with guitar riffs, silly sounds, and drums creating 100+ musical combinations to make every song unique.
• 1 Learning Bus: Learning ABC’s is one of the first steps in early childhood development. The Touch Magic Learning Bus takes children on a magical journey filled with educational discovery and games.  With a simple touch, preschoolers can use the six piano keys and two drum pads to play along with songs including Wheels on the Bus, ABC song, and original Rockin’ School Baby. The interactive surface features glossy, smooth graphics encouraging exploration and features over 40 touch points  that allow kids to play their way through core learning skills.
• LeapFrog branded Invites
• Product Fact Sheets
• Coupons
• Activity Sheets

 We just finished our party a few hours ago, and while we didn't have as many guests as was expected the kids that did come had a blast! They rocked out on the Guitars, and played along to with the guitars on the Learning Bus.  We made Rockin School Bus books, and sang along to the songs on the Rockin Guitar which include: The Alphabet Song, Pop Goes the Weasel, Your a Rockstar, and my personal favorite Rockin Robin. I love that the Touch Magic toys are easy for small children to use and learn.

 I did notice that after a while dirty little hands, cause the touch pads to stick. The great thing about Touch Magic toys is that they easily wipe clean, which is a must with small children.

My personal favorite of the toys included in the party kit is the Learning Bus. I have recently started to introduce letters and flash cards just aren't cutting it. They don't hold my son's attention. I can tell you that as I type this out my 3 year old is playing with the Touch Magic Learning Bus and not only repeating the letter's that he touches, but also repeating the sounds that each particular letter makes! It's fantastic! He's learning and he doesn't even know it.  These are really great learning toys and I'm thinking about using one of the coupons included to pick up the Magic Touch Counting Train.

 LeapFrog Touch Magic Toys can me purchased at Target and other major retailers.

Enter to win $500 during the Rockin' Guitar Contest! Here's how:

• Step 1: Submit Video Upload video of your kid jamming & learning with Touch MagicTM Rockin Guitar or your own play guitar.

• Step 2: Share Video Promote your video by sharing via Facebook and email with friends and family to view and vote.

• Step 3: Great Prizes Five videos with the highest votes and panel selections will have a chance to win $500 gift cards.

*I received free LeapFrog products in order to host the LeapFrog sponsored Rock’n Learn Party and Mom Select. All my opinions are my own*

August Starbox from Starlooks

**If you sign up, I would love for you to let them know that Kristy's Place Reviews referred you.**

Starbox it is a monthly beauty subscription service, delivering you 3-4 full size Starlooks cosmetic products every month. With Starlooks you never get samples; unlike other monthly beauty subscriptions you will always get nothing but full size products, and it's ALL makeup.

 This may be my last month of Starbox and it's safe to say, I'm pretty upset about it. While it's only $15 a month, come September every year I stop making purchases for myself and start saving for my son's birthday(November) and Christmas. I'm so torn over whether I should continue my subscription or drop it until January. I love Starbox so much! In three months I have yet to receive a box that I didn't completely love. I've got two weeks to make up my mind! The cutoff date is the 1st of every month, otherwise you will have to wait until the next month to receive a box. Grrr, is it selfish to want to continue something for myself? It's only $15 right?! Whelp, anyway...Let's get into the August Starbox.

 August Starlooks released their first ever Special Edition Starbox. August's Starbox features products that were hand picked by fashion designer Lauren Bradley. The products included were used in Lauren's first Lookbook.

Photo by:  Hussein Katz

• Pink Petal Rose Lip Gloss: Super creamy, non-sticky vibrant gloss formula(comparable to the luxurious, moisturizing feel of Chanel lip gloss) is a gorgeous, sheer,  everyday raspberry-pink for the lover of color. With a bit of pearl, and lots of glassy, shiny finish, this gloss is the perfect neutral berry hue for night and day. Retail Value $11 Starlooks isn't lying this is a gorgeous high shine gloss with zero stickiness. This color is a blue hued pink and makes your teeth look super white. 
• 844 Pointed Slant Eyeliner Brush:  This ultra fine, precise liner brush creates the most perfect line for the top of the eyelid. 100% synthetic, Japanese nylon hair allowsthe brush to glide over the lid with tons of flexibility, and no grabbing or gathering of the eyelid during application. Retail Value $15 I have been loving the Starlooks brushes that have been featured in the Starboxes and this is no exception. 
• Sculpture Infinity Cream Liner: Extremely pigmented, cream liner. Perfect with the use of your new 844 Pointed Slant Eyeliner Brush. This color is an illuminating, creamy, youthful, smokey, neutral charcoal. Waterproof and smudge-proof. Retail Value $9 This is a charcoal color but it has flecks of green and gold in it, that stand out depending on the way the light is hitting it. 
• Surprise! Lauren Bradley has included an autographed collectors gift card.  And don't forget in every Starbox there are mystic crystals included.

 I have really been enjoying Starbox, the quality of the products has been really amazing, and I'm so glad that I have found it. I love getting nothing but makeup!

 If your interested in signing up to receive a monthly subscription of Starbox head to the Starlooks website. **If you sign up, I would love for you to let them know that Kristy's Place Reviews referred you.**

*I was sent the August Starbox for review purposes. I was not paid for this review. All opinions are my own and 100% Honest.*

Hearts for Hearts Girls with Mommy Parties

 I joined a website called Mommy Parties several months back, and applied to host a Hearts for Hearts Girls Party. I got it, and I'm so glad I did. Not only are these dolls just beautiful and well made but they teach girls about the struggles of other girls all over the world. Hearts for Hearts Girls is all about empowering young girls and with two young god daughters I LOVE that. I want them to know their worth and their own strength.  

Working Together For Change
It’s an undeniable fact that girls in many countries struggle against a lack of education, medical care, decent housing, and clean water and food. But when these basic needs are met, those girls achieve amazing things for themselves and their families. Sometimes, all they need is a little help.
The Hearts For Hearts Girls™ mission is to empower girls to become agents of change in their communities, their countries, and around the world. We want to change the world one heart at a time, and you can be a part of that dream!
It all starts with our dolls. Right now, there are six Hearts For Hearts Girls dolls: Lilian (Belarus), Rahel (Ethiopia), Nahji (India), Tipi (Laos), Consuelo (Mexico), and Dell (United States). Each of them has an important story to tell about life in her country, inspired by real girls who are strong, smart, courageous, and determined to rise above challenging circumstances.
When you buy a doll, Hearts For Hearts Girls donates part of the purchase price through our charitable partner, World Vision, to programs that support girls in that country. Whether it’s malaria nets in Africa, schoolbooks in Asia, or food supplies in the US, these programs help girls to thrive and succeed.  

  In our party kit we received:

·         2 Hearts for Hearts Girls Dolls/ Consuela and Lauryce One to keep and one to give away at our party

·      20  Hearts for Hearts Girls Bracelets enough for each party guest to get one bracelet and have one to giveaway to a girl who isn’t at the party

·      Hearts for Hearts Coupons to purchase your own Hearts for Hearts Dolls and start giving back!

·       Hearts for Hearts Girls Passports

Also included are menu ideas from each dolls country as well as games from each dolls country. We had a blast. I chose to make the Mexican Corn and Bean Soup, and the Ethiopian Party Punch. I made an attempt at French Beignets to represent Lauryce from New Orleans, they turned out more like Funnel Cakes but were still delicious.

We Played Shyla a game that originated in Belarus, as well as a crazy Mexican Hat Relay.

We all had a fantastic time, and I really hope that the girls have gone away with a new understanding of all the different hardships of others around the world and how they all can do their parts in their own ways to help out.  Rather than raffling off the extra doll included I chose to give the Consuelo Doll to two little girls on our street that often play with my son. He has told me that they don’t have any toys, and I have witnessed their excitement at viewing my sons play room. These two little girls happen to be children of Mexican Immigrants that came to the US to give their children more opportunities. I could not think of anyone better or another girl that I know that would appreciate that doll more. Their mother has told me that they cherish their Consuelo doll. Let me tell you it felt amazing to see the excitement in those little girls faces to receive a beautiful doll such as Consuelo, and that is what Hearts for Heart Girls is all about.  Giving back.

To Purchase your own Heart for Hearts Girls Doll or to find out more, head to their website:  www.hearts4heartsgirls.com, or the Hearts for Hearts Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/HeartsForHeartsGirls. 

To Join Mommy Parties, and host fun parties with your mommy friends, and their children head to their website: www.mommyparties.com, or their Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/MommyParties.

*The products featured in this blog post were sent to me free for the purpose's of hosting a party and this blog post. I was not paid for this post or to host the Hearts for Hearts Girls party. All opinions are my own and 100% honest*

Wholesale Children's Costumes from WholesaleHalloweenCostumes.com Review

It’s about that time, we are quickly approaching fall and it’s time to start thinking about what our kids are going to be for Halloween. I love Halloween, no scratch that. I love fall, I love everything about it. The weather, the leaves, the smells, the pumpkins. So it is not uncommon for me to anxiously await its arrival, along with my favorite holiday, Halloween.  

 I love Halloween and my favorite part has always been dressing up. Now as a mother, it’s even more fun to watch my child’s excitement at the Holiday. I appreciate a good selection of costumes to choose from, and a lot of local stores just don’t offer the greatest selection. WholesaleHalloweenCostumes.com has an awesome selection of costumes; there are hundreds to choose from. Anything you can possibly dream up to dress up as WholesaleHalloweenCostumes.com has it and if they don’t the have everything you need to put it together yourself. They even have pet costumes, props, and decorations.  On top of their selection their prices are unbeatable.  

  After looking around the website for Halloween Costumes for Kids with my 3 year old son, we narrowed it down to about 4 costumes and then decided on The Toddler Make a Wish Costume. We both love it. It looks just like a regular race car driver’s jumpsuit. It comes with the jumpsuit, the hat, a gold winner’s medal, a checkered flag, a plastic race track mat, 5 little racecars and an activity book! All for only $21.90.  Not only is it a great costume but he can wear it long after Halloween for dress up, and imaginary play and of course he will get a lot of use out of the racetrack mat and the racecars. 

 I’m impressed with the quality of the costume as well.  The material isn’t really thick but it will definitely hold up to wear from a toddler. I don’t mind that it’s not a thick material as in the California Valley where we live, it’s still pretty warm come Halloween, and if you live in an area that tends to be cold around Halloween you can easily layer clothes under the costume. Usually when I purchase costumes they almost always have loose strings hanging as well as the loose seams that come along with that.  This costume had none of that poor stitching and this is why I’m confident it will hold up well after Halloween for playtime.  My son wears a size 5T or 4, and since I wanted him to get more use out of the costume after Halloween, I chose a bigger size and got him the Large which says it fits a size 4-6 and it is already a little high in the legs. So it’s safe to say that this particular costume runs a little small. (Wholesalecostumes.com offers returns and exchanges, if you make they return or exchange within 10 days of receiving it return shipping is on them). 

No matter what time of year it may be, if you’re in the market for a costume I highly recommend Wholesalehalloweencostumes.com.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers

Lioele Beyond the Solution BB Cream and Lovely Two Way Lip Gloss from Natural Radiance Review

 I have been trying the Lioele Beyond the Solution BB Cream for a week now and let me tell you I wish I had been using it sooner because it has been perfect for this hot weather! Prior to trying the Lioele Beyond the Solution BB Cream I had tried another rather expensive BB Cream and I wasn’t impressed, it was heavy on the skin as well as being really grey. So I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I had read good things about it. 

“Lioele Beyond the Solution BB Cream is Lioele’s best selling BB cream because it is long-lasting, soothing and keeps the skin smooth without sebum secretion. Lioele Beyond the Solution BB Cream helps to create a clean and natural skin tone by being absorbed into your skin with a soft usage. This enables speedy make-up application due to the unnecessary need to apply makeup base or foundation. Lioele Beyond the Solution BB Cream includes ingredients such as bisaborol, licorice root acid derivatives, allantoin, etc. soothe your skin and ingredients such as jojoba oil, macadamia nut oil, hyaluronic acid derivatives, vegetable collagen, etc. keep your skin moist and smooth. Benefits include: moisturizes, soothes, smoothes and is long-lasting. This Lioele Beyond the Solution BB Cream is recommended for people who are looking for a make-up base product that doesn’t change to a darker tone over time. It is also recommended for those wanting an even color skin tone.”

 I say this is perfect for summer because it feels so light on the skin, and offers really great coverage for a BB Cream. I have oily/acne prone and skin and I find that the Lioele Beyond the Solution gives a very even appearance to my skin, and if you would like a fuller coverage it can be built up, or you can apply a little concealer. On the areas where I felt I needed more coverage like around my nose and acne spots I just dabbed on a little more BB cream to those areas. I apply this BB Cream with my hands as I feel you really don’t need that much. Using Beyond the Solution has really cut down on my makeup applying time. It’s so simple to just apply the BB Cream with my hands, slap on some mascara and some bronzer and be on my way. Since my skin is on the oily side I do need to set this BB Cream with some powder, and I do require a touch up of powder about 4 hours later to get rid of shine. I like to use my Stila Color Correcting Translucent Powder. Lioele does make powders but I haven’t tried them so I can’t recommend them.  Lioele Beyond the Solution blends perfectly with my NC15-NC20 skin tone, and I haven’t noticed any oxidation.  I read that some people find that the scent is too perfumey. I don’t find the scent offensive at all and it seems to diminish if not go away completely a little after application. If you have ever used any Covergirl face products such as their foundation, powder or blush, this is the exact same scent that Lioele’s BB Cream has.

 Lioele’s Beyond the Solution BB Cream can be purchased on the Natural Radiance website for: 5ML $4.99, 30ML $11.99 and 50ML for $18.45.

 I was also able to try out Lioele’s Lovely Two Way Lip-gloss. This is a great none sticky gloss. Offers a lot of shine, with a light pink color, and the tiny glitter flecks catch the light beautifully.  I can’t currently find the Lioele Lovely Two Way gloss on Natural Radiances website but it may come back as it seems that Natural Radiance updates and adds products regularly.

When ordering Korean BB Creams it is really important to find a reputable business as you never know if you are getting the real thing if you order off of Ebay and the like. This is why I recommend ordering from Natural Radiance they are a family owned business that has been providing Korean Cosmetics and Skincare directly from South Korean Manufacturers to ensure that you get the lowest prices since 2009.  If you haven’t yet checked out the Natural Radiance website and all they have to offer yet, I suggest you head over and check it out now; NaturalRadiance.net. 

  Natural Radiance is offering Kristy's Place readers 15% off! Just enter the code, "kristysplace" at checkout.

Scentsy Scent and Warmer of The Month for August. 10% OFF EVERYTHING in August!

  It's August and it's the last month to get all your favorite Spring & Summer Scentsy Fragrances before they are taken from the catalog to make way for the Fall & Winter Fragrances to come in September! So, that means that EVERYTHING is 10% off this month! Note: That all Campus, Hero, and Charity warmers will remain full price as the proceeds from these warmers go to their respective charities. August is a great time to stock up. It's also one of the best times to join the Scentsy Family! If you join in the month of August you will receive both the Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter Testers, which is great deal. I joined during the last transition and scored all the extra's as well.

 Introducing Whoot, August's Warmer of the Month:

10% Off! 

 And August's Scent of the Month, Neverland:

Interested in hosting a party and earning hostess rewards? Ask Me How!