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A Fun Family Summer to Discover with Discover It Miles

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I have always been known to have the travel bug!  From the young age of 7, my little sister and I hopped on the plane by ourselves each vacation break to visit our grandmother on another island and till this day, traveling has been something I loved to do.  I have been to all the major Hawaiian Islands and have traveled across the United States from the West to the East Coast, visiting landmarks and attractions I had only dreamed of as a child.  Now that I’m married and have a family of my own, I believe that any journey a person takes in life are moments to cherish and that is why family fun during the summer is so important to me.

A Fun Family Summer to Discover with Discover It Miles

Now that my children are much older, traveling abroad or getting on a plane is not as feasible as it once was.  Paying for five seats on a plane instead of three (now the the twins are pass the two year old mark) is a hefty cost, so we haven’t traveled off island as a family in a few years and stay-cations have been musts for family fun.  Since we live in Hawaii, paradise is our backyard and the beach our playground, so while we won’t be boarding a plane this summer, I’m sure we’ll find a cute hotel or camp grounds that we can stay and make the best of a great island and destination.  Have you seen the price of airfare lately?  Flying from Hawaii to anywhere (even an island over) is a huge cost and the more children you have, the more you pay so together as a family we plan our special stay-cations that include fun family activities.

A Fun Family Summer to Discover with Discover It Miles

Our last “out of state” trip we took was to Washington D.C. a few years ago.  It was probably a favorite because my husband made sure to take us to places I had only dreamed of seeing when I was a child.  We were there for a special Medal of Honor Ceremony where we got to meet President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, but besides that very cool highlight – the trip in general opened my eyes to a very different world from what I was used to living with the island life here on Maui.  While that was 3 years ago, that trip alone cost my husband and I $10,000 to take our family of 5.  It was one I will never forget and neither will our pocket books.

A Fun Family Summer to Discover with Discover It Miles
See my big head there on the right of President Obama
A Fun Family Summer to Discover with Discover It Miles
Oh look, there is my head making an appearance again – right next to First Lady Michelle Obama. teehee!

While my family and I have a long list of places we would like to visit, our wallets definitely do not want to take a huge hit all at once again.  However, Discover can definitely help us for our next adventure.  Discover it Miles® can help with the cost of airfare (which is our biggest expense when traveling for our family of 5).  With no annual fee and a $0 fraud liability guarantee, Discover offers you protection so you are never responsible for unauthorized purchases on your card.  Also, you earn 1.5x the miles for every dollar spent on purchases and those miles never expire.  As an introductory offer, Discover it Miles card members will now receive double the amount of miles they’ve earned at the end of their first year – with no spending cap.  Before you know it, you have earned the mileage you need to put towards your future travel plans.  There are a lot of benefits for using the Discover it Miles Card, so be sure to head on over to the Discover site and check it out for yourself.

A Fun Family Summer to Discover with Discover It Miles

Reward cards like Discover’s are really great for paying small bills or groceries with and then earning the mileage for your next travel plans.  You can easily earn your miles by spending the small amounts on your card, like Gas for example – and then pay it off each month.  It’s an easy way to build your rewards and prep for your next vacation.  While my family and I will be enjoying another fun stay-cation this year, I am excited to earn some mileage for our next one we have planned and we can use our Discover it Miles card for our on-island resort stays and have a little fun while still building up the rewards we need for next year.  Family Fun – here we come!

Signature Honey

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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SoCozy – Salon Quality Hair Care For The Littles

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Having boys means that bath time is usually pretty simple but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun or exciting.  Since my boys are much older, bath time is not play time as it used to be when they were younger, but they look forward to trying new products that help to make their baths or showers a success.  Recently my three boys had the opportunity to try out some products from So Cozy which is a kid tested, cozy approved salon quality hair care line for children.  Salon Quality products for kids that allow their bath and scrub-a-dub time to be quick and effortless?  Yes, Sign us up!

So Cozy Cinch

The first bunch of hair care products that my sons tried was from the So Cozy Cinch line.  2 in 1 Shampoo and Body Wash, Super Hydrating Conditioner, 3 in 1 Shampoo + Conditioner + Bodywash and Detangler / Leave-In Conditioner are included in this line.  Each product has a great fruity scent which my sons really enjoyed – they were smelling their hair all night after their bath.  These particular products are made to use in a snap… so bath time is quick and effortless.

So Cozy Boo! Lice Prevention

Head lice or Ukus as we call them here in Hawaii are very prominent among younger children like Luke & Isaiah who are in preschool.  If you have had head lice in your family, you know how difficult it can be to treat and how funky the products are that treat them.  Luckily – no one in our household has had any head lice so we haven’t had the need to use those chemicals often sold to treat them, but prevention is always the key.  SoCozy’s boo! lice prevention line is a great addition to any household with littles.  The line includes a lice prevention shampoo and prevention spray.  Unlike those products that you see in stores to remove or prevent, these naturally scare away the buggies and they want nothing to do with your little ones hair.  I love that this product doesn’t have a weird or funky scent and it’s so easy to use.  It’s definitely a plus that these are also non-toxic and easy to apply.

SoCozy Behave

The SoCozy Behave line is probably the favorite of the boys.  Since boys tend to like spiked hair or fun dos, this has been a great one to use on their hair.  Each product has a great fruit scent and unlike products you can get for adults, these do not include all the harsh chemicals that can make a child’s hair brittle or take away their soft locks that children have.  Each product is lightweight and easy to use.  The boys have been enjoying styling their hair with the Behave line.

As I mentioned before, SoCozy products are Salon Quality for kids and they offer a variety of products to fit your needs at reasonable prices.  Now available at Target, you can easily get your hands on these products to use on your child’s hair.  These great smelling goods are Non-Toxic and Free of Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates, Synthetic Color, Propylene Glycol, Gluten, Wheat or Nuts.  They are absolutely Nasty Free.  Cozy Friedman, founder of Cozy’s Cuts for Kids Salons NYC and Children’s Hair Care Expert has definitely provided kids with a line I know my children enjoy as much as I do.

Have you tried these products before?  What hair care products do you use on your children?

Signature Honey

Disclaimer:  These products were sent to me for review/consideration in collaboration with BeautyStat.  All opinions are my own, unbiased and honest.

 

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Paper and Twine Liquid Chalkers

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Who doesn’t like to doodle?  If you have seen my desk, then you will see that I am a doodler.  I’m a doodler with pens and pencils in every color, dry erase markers and sharpies in every possible shade and paper and post-its filled with my scribbles to last a lifetime.  I use these not only to keep my hands busy, but also to leave little notes of affirmation, love and inspiration to those around me and now I have something new to have fun with.  Recently I was introduced to Liquid Chalkers by Paper and Twine.  Let me just say this doodle bug smiled from ear to ear upon receipt of them and I haven’t put them down since.  Paper and Twine Liquid Chalkers are a fun little treat and I want to share them with all of you.

Paper and Twine Liquid chalkers

Paper & Twin’s Platinum Collection Liquid Chalkers retail for $18.99 and contain artist quality, hyper pigmented ink that provides you with bright, bold, beautiful colors.  Each chalker has marker type tips that don’t dry out or crack are easy to use and easy to get the ink flowing.  Created by a proud mother of three to enhance their creativity, Louise Fox made sure that Kids always come first and these chalkers contain completely non-toxic ink meeting stringent EN71-3, ASTM 4963 and ASTM D4236 standards.  They also do not have a scent… woohoo – I love this.  If you do smell anything, it is faint and doesn’t make you nauseous like dry erase markers can do.

Paper and Twine Liquid chalkers

The Liquid Chalkers set comes with eight gorgeous and vibrant shades.  With a chisel type marker tip – you need to first shake your pen a bit and then depress the marker until the liquid ink comes out.  I depressed my markers on average about 35 times each and once the ink came out, it flowed easily and quickly.  These markers have made it fun for me to leave little notes on the mirrors in our house, little affirmations for my family to start their day with.  In my car, I will sometimes write a little quote or just a heart on my mirror to remind me that love heals everything for those days when a little smile can go a long way.  Since we live on the mountain and driving to town is a little bit of a way, I let the boys use the markers to draw on a dry erase board I have for them.  (Note: I have tinted windows so I do not allow the boys to write on the inside of the windows since the tints are applied from the inside) Removing your artwork is as easy as wiping down the surface with a cloth or a wipe – so easy to remove.

Paper and Twine Liquid chalkers

These pens are completely dust free for non-porous surfaces.  The best places to use these are best used on mirrors, glass, desks and metal but make sure you test the liquid chalk ink on any new surface in a small inconspicuous section first.  That way you can see if it wipes off that surface or not.  We have not had any issues wiping it off our mirrors, glass and windows.

They also offer a 365 Money Back Guarantee – try these chalkers for 365 days and if you don’t like them, they will give you a full no-hassles refund.  But, after using these the last month – I think you’ll enjoy them.  This has been a great mommy tool for the boys to engage in creativity while on the go and for decorating.  And, my office supplies have enjoyed the fact that I am not using up a ton of post-its to put on the mirror for inspirational days. lol

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.

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Dotmine – Dutch Treat Family Time 17 Month Planner

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When it comes to organization and keeping dates in order, I’m a stickler for planners and keeping track of dates and appointments on paper or via technology.  Sometimes I’m told it’s a bit repetitious… but needless to say – it is a rare occasion that I’m late or missed an appointment because I keep my dates organized.  With three children who all have a schedule of their own, it is a requirement to keep my life planned out.

Dotmine - Dutch Treat Family Time 17 Month Planner

 

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Dotmine is a company that offers Family and Student planners that help you organize your busy schedule.  Each planner offers 17 months worth so that your planner can accommodate both school and regular calendar years without you having to sacrifice your organizational needs.  I rather like the 17 month year because I plan both for myself and my children and this allows me to not have to use a plethora of organizers for each of us in my family.

About Dotmine

 It all started with a simple “dot” back in 1999–Sarah, Lisa, and a commitment to reclaim our lives while helping you do the same.  A serendipitous meeting in a London pub had given us the idea. Our corporate days — one of us pitching underwear and the other pitching laundry detergent — were far behind us. And for 15 years, backed by supportive husbands and seven fabulous children, our planners became favorites throughout the world.

Family Time 17 Month Planner

This planner is great in organizing a busy family but also loved by teachers and nurses as well as bloggers such as myself.  Developed by a group of moms, the Family Time planner is there to help you juggle multiple schedules all in one place.  Those of you who have children or juggle more than one job I’m sure will definitely appreciate this.

The Family Planners are available in 3 designs (Dutch Treat, Free Bird and Petites Fleurs) and each retails for $24.99.  Each planner is 8.5 x 11 inches and includes dates from August to December.  Adorned with their fashionable designs that are printed on durable plastic, these cool planners include monthly and weekly pages on crisp white paper.  I especially love that they include inspirational and humorous quotes each week, which is probably one of my favorite features of any planner as those that know me know that I look for daily inspiration before starting my day.  Plastic coils keep this planner spiral bound and there are back pockets to hold important papers in place.  Perforated margins for “tear-out” lists and note pages help to make your daily planning and errands a breeze.  In my opinion, if you are looking for a quality Family or blogging planner without spending the hefty costs that some may offer – this planner will be a great addition for you.

Family Time 17 Month Planner

What I love the most about this planner is how easy it is to use.  There are pages that offer seasonal schedules which is awesome since my children are all involved in sports which often has practice and games on repetitive dates so listing these make it an easy reference for myself, my family or the sitter should I need one.  Speaking of sitter… there is a babysitter page where you can easily insert a sticky note each time you go out so that the sitter knows exactly where you are or how to reach you each time.

BabysitterPage_10_54448169-fa21-45a1-9795-092e805c3240_large

I also love that Family Time offers a guide and tips on how to use the planner… simply take a look at the first few pages where it outlines exactly what to do and how to utilize the planner.  From adding sticky notes to special dates or weeks to planning out “family business”… every detail you may have questions on can be found on the “Using family-time.mine Everyday” pages.

family time dotmine

Overall – the price point is great considering I have paid well over $100 for other planners on the market in the past.  While it is simplistic, it offers a wide range of organizational tools for you and your family.  I love the perforated tear sheet options because this allows me to write down my grocery shopping lists or notes, etc. and tear them out should I need them on the go. The note sections are large enough for me to list a good amount of information as are each week and day.  If I had to critique the planner in general, I wish there was a way to add on pockets to keep pencils or post-its or a book mark that will allow me to easily turn to my page of the day.  I can definitely DIY these options, but it would be great if Dotmine offered something like this.  I’m all about accessories and add ons and I think that those would be awesome options.  I do definitely give this planner a 5 Sparkle rating because the options are wonderful considering the price point.  For those of you that love reading my “Mommy Survival Guide” posts – this is definitely something I would add to a Mommy Survival Necessity. 🙂

Have you heard of Dotmine Planners?  Could you see this meeting your families’ organizational needs?

Signature Honey

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.

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Monthly Favorites: Beauty, Fashion and Lifestyle – July 2014

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july favs 2014

I know I say this each month, but man…  July sure flew by faster than ever and August is already proving to be traveling at lightning speed.  I had so much going on I really just forgot to post my Monthly Favorites here on my blog… so I am sharing it with all of you now.  Last month was a month of discovery because I tried out quite a bit of new products, most of which I found I immediately enjoyed.

Check out my video embedded below where I go through each product or click here to watch it directly on YouTube.

Check out the rundown of products for last month below.

July Beauty Favorites 2014

I did a review here on my blog of the Hask hair care products in Argan Oil and Keratin Protein.  After using other products for a few months, I find that I still enjoy this line and it has made a whole lot of difference on my hair since the sun has been doing a full beat down.  Check out my complete review for these products here, and definitely check out the line where you can find them at select stores – I have been picking up my masks at Walmart.

July Beauty Favorites 2014

I have a review coming soon on the Verona Color Switch.  This product is pretty genius and I think would be a great benefit for Makeup Artists especially.  It allows you to take your brush and swipe it through the product cleaning off excess product so you can use the brush again.  I especially love to use this when I used the brush originally to apply a color and then swipe it through the color switch so that I can blend the shade out without transferring additional product and causing a muddy effect on your eyes.  I also love that I can go from a dark shade like black to a light cream or white shade without mixing them.  It’s a great product and I hope to have the review done soon.

L’Oreal has hit a home run with Voluminous Miss Manga mascara.  It has quickly become one of my favorites because you can actually see my lashes when I use it and used in combination with one of my favorites… Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara – they have become a pair made in heaven. lol

Kiss 11 Lashes have been my jam this past month… this is my third pair even with reuse and cleaning of previous pairs.  I love how affordable Kiss Lashes are, how thin the band is so it makes it near to impossible to detect you have them on and most importantly – how comfortable they are on the eyes.  I especially love that these are dupes to my favorite Ardell Demi Whispies… but a bit cheaper than they retail since I can get them in a larger pack if I can find it.

July Beauty Favorites - 2014

Of course, I have been loving the new Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Shadows.  If you have been following me at all in July – you would have seen my review, which you can find here, as well as a tutorial using a few of the shades I mentioned in my favorites which you can find here.  Bella Chiffon, Bella Sand and Bella Bronze have been some of the favorites I have been gravitating to this past month and I know they will surely be favorites for time to come.

L’Oreal Infalliable eye shadows have been a favorite now since first trying them earlier this year.  While I am smitten and in love with Iced Latte, Gilded Envy has been a shade I have been rockin’ out in July.  I love just applying it with a quick wash of color and blending Milani’s Bella Cappuccino in the crease for a sweet every day look.  I promise I’ll have a quick tutorial for that coming up soon.

July Beauty Favorites 2014

 

Through most of the summer I usually pull for my more nude shades and since I’m already on my second tube of Milani’s Nude Creme, I figured I needed to switch things up a bit and pull out some shades I haven’t been using all that much.  I purchased Bite Beauty’s Duo Lipstick in Lychee & Musk earlier this year and have really enjoyed the shades as well as the formulation.  Creamy, moisturizing and the colors are gorgeous.  The only downfall is that the formulation of these lippies are so darn soft, the warm summer heat has been doing a number on them and I know that soon I’ll be needing to apply these lip colors with a lip brush because the lipstick is getting bent out of shape.  They are naturally soft so even without summer, they were already starting to warp.  Regardless, for the price tag I am loving these and I think that anyone would enjoy them.

Of course, NYX’s Butter Lipsticks have been a favorite for months.  I have been pulling for Pops much more now then I did any other time.  I have a review for this lipstick here and if you are someone who likes nudes, this may be a great addition to your collection.  Creamy, soft and buttery on the lips, it’s been a favorite of mine all month.

July Beauty Favorites 2014

After purchasing my Lorac Pro 2 Palette last month, I instantly fell in love.  The shades are perfect for year round because they are soft and wearable… you can easily use most of them for all over the lid one wash shades.  I love that there are a few bold shades as well.  I have a review of this palette coming soon as well as a tutorial coming up using colors that I have been rocking all month long together:  Rose, Mocha, Cool Gray, Nectar & Plum.  This is surely becoming a favorite palette of mine and will take it’s place right next to #1 in my Holy Grail pile.

Of course, we all know I’m about that Vanilla Cake scents.  I have been a long time fan of Pacifica and their Island Vanilla scent has been a top scent for me the last 2 1/2 years.  I haven’t used anything else but this scent all month long in July.

July Lifestyle Favorites 2014

Last but not least are my Lifestyle Favorites.  As I mentioned in my video, the boys have been enjoying listening to Magic’s Rude on the radio so it has become a favorite of ours in the house.  I think it’s beyond adorable when twin 4 year olds and a 10 year old knows all the words to a popular song and they love it.  I have been also getting great use out of my Glasstic Water bottle.  I have a review for it here, and definitely recommend it to anyone – especially people who love infused waters.  It has been a lifesaver for me to carry around my drink in this heat.

Last but not least is my Cafe Press Customized Plus Size V-Neck T-shirt.  I designed this last month and have been enjoying it.  I think Black and Gold are such a great combination and I have been loving the simplicity and the statement.  I’ll try to remember to post a quick Outfit of the Day the next time I wear it.  The fabric is breathable, it’s cut and fits this plus size gal really well and it’s personalized.  I love it.  You can check out more information about creating your own shirt or many other things here.

Overall – even if July flew by so quickly and August is here… I am thankful that I accomplished so much in the month.  The twins are off to school as well as my eldest and all started on August 1st so the house has been quiet during the day, and I miss them so much.  Our summers are always filled with fun and this summer was surely no exception.  From hitting the beach, to the park to just cruising and enjoying our time together – I was certainly sad to see it all go (excuse me while I tear up a bit), but all three boys were so excited for school (I’ll have more of that in another post this week).  It’s times like this when I reflect back on a previous month that I realize how awesome life is and I’m glad for Monthly Favorites that allow me to reflect on the month previously.  My number one favorite that I didn’t mention in my video – time!  The past two months has given me awesome and quality time with my littles and my husband… that overall, is the best favorite of all.

Signature Honey


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