How COULD YOU?

Shayna Rose

The original Fresh Beat Band

Tara Perry

How could you, Fresh Beat Band? I devote my time, attention, love and energy to DVRing your show, faithfully tuning in to new episodes, downloading your songs for the iPod, and even making your patented Groovy Smoothie step by step with my kids. (See recipes here.) Then you take my very favorite cast member, Marina, and replace her with some other girl and PRETEND IT'S STILL MARINA?! Well, I have news for you, buddies, WE ALL FIGURED IT OUT. I understand the original Marina (played by the wonderfully wondertastic Shayna Rose) left to focus on her marriage and family and blah blah blah and I am totally sympathetic to her idea - I stay at home with my girls, after all, and family is very important to me. HOWEVER, if she had to leave, could you not invent some little story about her going away and make a new cast member with a new name? Why stick in somebody else (abomination before God, Tara Perry) who looks like she belongs in a Julia Roberts musical or a corporate office somewhere, or behind a Fox news desk, give her Marina's name, and hope her enthusiastic jumping and apparent ability to dislocate her jaw on demand to engage in terrifying grins which I suppose are meant to convey how REALLY REALLY SUPER she thinks it is to be a Fresh Beat...but she's not. And I'm sad. And I sit beside my six year old and every single time the other people call her Marina, we look at each other knowingly, and simultaneously yell "THAT'S NOT MARINA!"


Seriously, it's that big of a deal to me. Why not Kiki? For the love of God, WHY NOT KIKI?!

Next rant: why I always fall in love with the drummers on kids shows.

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Free Waffle Fries from Chick-fil-A: Today Only! Plus More Freebies!

TODAY ONLY: Free Waffle Potato Fries at Chick-fil-A (3/4/11 - 2:00pm - 4:00pm):

Like our waffle fries? Then, you’re REALLY going to love Friday, March 4.

An innovation in ketchup calls for a celebration. Between 2 and 4 pm local time, ketchup lovers who ask for Heinz Dip & Squeeze and the Free FryDay promotion at all Chick-fil-A restaurants will receive a FREE medium order of Chick-fil-A Waffle Potato Fries®, limit one per customer.  Now the question remains, to dip or to squeeze? Pick a side and change the way you eat ketchup on-the-go.

• 10 Pampers "Gifts to Grow" Points:  Enter code "500000Pampers10" at the Pampers website. 
  
• Free Sample of OxyClinical from Wal-Mart.
  
• Free bag of Mission Chips:  printable coupon found here.
  
• Free Hyland's Cold n' Cough Medicine:

To get a free Free Hyland’s Cold ‘n Cough Medicine, you have to "share" their post on your Facebook page and then tag Hyland’s and Mothering’s Facebook pages in your post. You then have to leave a comment letting them know that you did, and which kind you prefer (nighttime or regular). They will contact you to get your Hyland’s sent out. Follow their instructions on their page.

They will post a note on top of their website when they run out of the Cold ‘n Cough. 

Lastly, I recently joined a new product review website- it's called "QuestionMoms" and it's made so that mommies like you can give your input on the latest and greatest products that make your hectic life just a little easier.  Answer just a few short surveys about your lifestyle, family, and preferences to begin receiving awesome products at no cost to you. 
 

L'Oreal BzzKit

Super nifty eyeshadow applicator

Recently, I received a BzzKit from BzzAgent.  They send out products for me to try and review.  I've gotten lots of cool stuff from them over the years, but this package was pretty interesting to me.  It had new products from L'Oreal:  the Double Extend Eye Illuminator mascara and the One Sweep Eyeshadow.  I haven't worn much makeup since The Ky was born in 2005, but I was really excited to play with these two products.
 

Before

These products are specifically made to highlight your eye color.  Whether you have blue, brown, or green/hazel eyes, they have a shade that's made to match.  The eyeshadow is in a curved pan, and comes with a curved applicator that mimics the shape of your eye.  It allows you to apply three different shades of shadow in one easy sweep.  How genius is that??  Sometimes I feel way too cosmetically clueless, so something that made blending different shades this easy is already awesome in my book. The mascara is also made to match your eye color.  It has two wands in one tube.  One is black, and is your regular mascara. The other is your custom color.  They recommend that you use the custom color of the mascara at just the tips of your eyelashes for a bit of an effect, and to use it on your whole lash for a more dramatic look.  I'm weary of eye makeup because I have an eye condition that causes severe irritability.  However, these products are ophthalmologist and allergy tested for sensitive eyes.  I've been wearing the makeup for several hours now, and not only have they not smudged or flaked, but I haven't had any irritation at all.

My verdict on the eyeshadow:  brilliant.  The darker color, which goes towards your lashline, was a bit heavy for my taste, but by using the tip of the applicator, I blended it in with the other colors and was very pleased with the results.  The top color highlighted my brow bone perfectly, but it wasn't overpowering.

After: Eyeshadow & Mascara

After: Eyeshadow only

I was also fond of the mascara, but it's hard for me to get used to seeing myself with makeup on.  I prefer a more natural, fanned out lash, and this seemed to cause more of a separated, "wet" look on my lashes.  The color didn't show up as much as I hoped when I used the opposite end of the applicator, but I could see some of the brown sparkle.  I wasn't disappointed, but it's not quite as pretty as the ads in the flyer they sent me.  Perhaps with a separate clean brush, I could use that and help fan out my lashes so that they don't look so stringy.


All in all, I think these are great products to try, especially the eyeshadow.  It took out the guesswork of using a darker color towards your lash, a more neutral color on your lid, and a highlighter toward your bone. The mascara would most likely be a hit with anybody who is already used to wearing eye makeup regularly.  I don't think you would be disappointed with either product.


I was not compensated for this review, but I was provided with free products so that I could share the details with you.  Make sure you sign up to be a BzzAgent as well, so you can start receiving awesome freebies of your own!

50% Off All Furniture & Mattresses at J C Penney!

J. C. Penney is having an awesome President's Day sale - 50% off of all furniture and mattresses.  They are advertising this as online only, and some items are sure to sell out, so don't miss your chance to get a great deal on some new goodies for your home!