Glitter Tattoo Kit by Custom Body Art review

I saw a promotion for these fun glitter tattoos, and thought it would be a fun summer activity for my daughter and I. I was right. My daughter is obsessed with tattoos, and glitter is right up her alley. She wanted to open the box within minutes of us receiving it via UPS (forget that my new TENS unit had just arrived) 😧.

We opened the package up and got to take a look at the 20 different stencils that they offered. I was surprised to know that the stencils actually stuck to your skin rather than being a plastic form that was just pressed up against. We peeled them off and placed them on our body where we wanted the tattoos to go. Then we opened up the glue stick tube and read the directions on applying a light coat to the opening of the stencils on your skin. After a slight one minute drying time we removed the stencils and placed them back on their backing. This was a little tricky because the glue residue sticks to your fingers. Maybe I could have been a little more careful about glue distribution on the stencils. 😨 Ili picked out her glitter colors and I proceeded to start applying to her skin where I thought the clear glue was (hard to see after you take off the stencils) while thinking, well this can't work well like this. [Insert foot into mouth] They started appearing like a hidden lemon juice message! (Tell me I'm not the only one who remembers that) At this point, I actually got excited about it because it was turning out so neat. Tattoos will last between 3-7 days- even in water!

 I think this is a fun and mostly easy to use product that would be a great addition to birthday parties or group events, as well as just for a weekend movie and popcorn kind of night. I received this product in exchange for my unbiased opinion, and I give it 4/5.

Super Bright bike lights review

I wanted to try out these bike lights because my mom had recently taken to riding for exercise around her neighborhood. I thought she would really enjoy these. The bike lights come in a set of six. Two blue, two green, and two multi color.

I'd like to say they lived up to expectations, but alas, they did not. The instructions left a lot to be desired. It took me a lot longer than I care to mention to figure out why they weren't working. They are made from plastic, and you had to open it up along a hidden seam to take out a piece if paper preventing the battery from being in use during transit. Only one of the green worked, and it did so poorly. Both blues were mediocre. The multi colors worked the best, and were actually fun. However, none showed the kind of super bright lights shown in the Amazon listing. They do shut off when not in motion to save battery life. 

While these lights did entertain my five year old, they certainly didn't peak the interest of any adults. 

I received this product in exchange for my unbiased opinion and I cannot recommend purchasing it.

Two Meows cat litter mat review

We received this fun, paw shaped cat litter mat. I was super excited to put this to use immediately. It has a super soft, spongy texture that is safe for kitty's paws. Meanwhile, the tiny crisscrossed loops help keep litter from being scattered on my floor by brushing it off Bella's paws before she steps into my floor. This is wonderful! I had previously been using a different flat cloth mat that "said" it kept litter in its place. I call bull patootie. Constant sweeping was the only way to avoid litter being stuck to your feet and then strewn all over the floor. This Two Meows mat has actually lived up to its promise, aside from the errant piece of runaway litter. But really, a majority is kept safe inside loops of the mat waiting for you to give it a simple shake above the garbage. For more in depth cleaning, they recommend spraying off with a hose, but avoiding the washer as it could damage the product. The non-slip backing could use a little improvement, but doesn't stray far from where you put it.

Two Meows also makes other cat products including a litter box. They come in grey or a very uplifting neon green. I received this product in exchange for my unbiased opinion and I highly recommend purchasing for your feline friend. Well, who am I kidding? It's not really for the cat, it's to save my back and my mind!
Check them out on Facebook or via their website.

Fun at the Heart of Illinois fair- mostly.

My daughter and I enjoyed the Heart of Illinois fair last night. I have to say, it's quite a different experience now that she's almost 6. I'm a bit out of practice and discovered that among the things that change as you approach 30, your ability to ride carnival rides diminishes. She is now finding the bigger rides appealing which at first, I thought was fun. After 3 trips on Zero Gravity in a row, I began to rethink this.

Between this ride, the Tornado, the Wipeout, the Spider, and the High Bounce, I was ready to hurl. 

After a corn dog break, we got to visit The Unique Twist, a local balloon artist, and grabbed a signature lemon shake up from Bill's. We went over to watch The Wade Henry Street show and watched him eat a balloon. My daughter assured me she wouldn't eat hers. He rode a unicycle and then juggled fire. My daughter then informed me she wouldn't be trying that at home. Hahahaha! Good plan! We walked over to watch Woody's Menagerie. Always a good show. Conservation education with cuddly creatures. Instills a love and respect for animals while talking about the importance of conservation efforts and wildlife protection. From there we went on to the K9's in Flight show. Their homeless to high flying dogs (including pit bulls! Yay!) steal the show. From dock diving, to high jump, to Frisbee catching antics, these dogs are driven to please and play. They stress the importance of adoption and saving a life. 

Overall, we had a good time. Once you got past the $10 admission on top of the wristband prices, and the fact that when we arrived there wasn't even anyone manning the ticket booths til 4:08 and the line was insane. (Wristband rides were from 4-7. Pretty hard to start riding at 4 when you can't even get a wristband before that.) The fair has been shrinking every year, with less and less rides. The ample amount of children's rides is great for them, but definitely a lack for teens and adults. Overall we had a good time, but improvements should be made for next year. Really, the only saving grace is the side shows. Hopefully, we'll see things start to get better instead of continuing on this downward spiral. It would be a shame to see it close up. 

Vivree Silicone Tongs review

As soon as I saw these Vivree tongs, I knew I had to have them. We were using a pair of metal tongs that scratched my pots and pans. I knew I wanted a pair of silicone tongs that had nice grip and wouldn't abuse my Rachael Ray cookwear. Along came these, and boy are they nice. Soft enough to avoid damage while sturdy enough to pick up heavier items safely. Since the ends are silicone, they don't conduct heat up the handle like my metal ones did.

 Silicone also lines the handles for a comfort grip!

They come in a set of two, one shorter and one longer, so any of your grabbing needs are satisfied. A handy locking mechanism at the end is simple to use (just pull out/push in) to keep tongs closed when not in use. The locking mechanism also has a hole in it for those of you that prefer to hang your utensils, instead of keeping them in a drawer. The only thing that I don't care for is the lip on the inside of the handle of the tongs, but I haven't seen tongs without it.

 I wish someone could come up with a sealed design where food wouldn't become trapped. Other than this- I highly recommend purchasing these universal utensils!

I received this product in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Murder To Go by Chloe Kendrick

I downloaded Murder To Go because it seemed right up my alley. Food and murder. Sign me up! It did not disappoint.
The main character is a lovable, but hopeless Gen Y gal that you can relate to. At least, I can. She inherits a hot dog food truck and a spicy Spanish chef after her aunt passes. After the first head rolls from a competitive food truck, she winds up being a suspect and the questionable beginnings of her inheritance begin to unravel.
If you enjoy books written like Janet Evonovich, you'll also enjoy this series. I'm quite looking forward to reading the next.

The Caretaker of Imagination review

I started reading The Caretaker of Imagination and was immediately entranced. This is a fun and altogether unique book for children of any age. In the story, an adult (John) is bored with his dull life, void of any real unbridled happiness and pure joy. I mean really, who hasn't been there in their life? Anywho, John takes up with a plan to add some spice and zing in his life, and sets off in a road trip with his faithful cat Theo (who is hilarious by the way) on an adventure. They encounter pirates, magical Woodland creatures and a special caretaker along their journey.
I love the fact that this book is in an easy chapter form for smaller children. There are still assorted pictures in the book and it's perfect to read a chapter or two a night. I also really love that children can love this book regardless of gender. It had everything.
I received this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion, and I highly recommend reading it with your kids. My daughter loves Theo's real cat disposition. Trust me.