SeaBuck Complete Equine Supplement

 

A new product arrived in the mail and I'm excited to try it out!  It's SeaBuck Complete and it is a health supplement for horses.

I know I've mentioned before that I'm a big believer in supplements for my family and my animals.  I can't wait to start our horse on this one.  In fact, after reading the health benefits that come from this little berry, I'm looking into the human version as well.

SeaBuck is a liquid supplement so it's easy to add it right in the daily grain.  It's made from sea buckthorn berries and seeds which have been used as a health supplement for thousands of years by humans.  Sea buckthorn is full of antioxidants, carotenoids, healthy oils (Omega 3,6, 7 and 9 fatty acids), and contains more than 190 biologically active compounds.

SeaBuck is good for digestive health, skin and coat, performance, and joint mobility.  As I use this product, I'll be sharing my personal experience.

What do you use as a supplement?


Some of the information above is from the SeaBuck website and this article by Chris Kilham

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.

Broadway Nails imPRESS Press-on Manicure Review

I received the imPRESS Press-On Manicure in my Spring VoxBox from Influenster.  I decided to try them on my daughter who has very short nails.  Wow, they look so cute on her!  She was so pleased with how pretty her fingers looked and with the fun pattern of the nails.

Application was very easy.  We used the included prep pad to wipe down her nails.  Then after picking the correct sizes, we simply peeled the backing off and stuck each one on.

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Here's the official description of the product:

Introducing imPRESS Press-On Manicure by Broadway Nails, the revolutionary way to apply polish! Featuring advanced nail technology, you can get a salon-perfect manicure in seconds – simply peel off, press on, and you're done. There's no drying, a killer shine and a manicure that lasts up to a week! And, imPRESS is so easy to remove, you can change it up to match your mood as often as you want. Check out all colors and patterns, including trendy brights, classic darks and animal prints. With imPRESS, your nails will always be your best accessory.

imPress Manicure retails for $5.99 for colors and $7.99 for patterns, and is available at CVS, Rite Aid, Duane Reade, KMart, Walgreens, Walmart and more. For a full list of online and in-store retailers, visit imPressManicure.com, where you can download an exclusive coupon and virtually try on all the colors and patterns!

Disclosure: I received this product complimentary for testing and review purposes from Influenster

Schwarzkopf Professional OSiS+ Dust It - Review

My daughter was the perfect candidate to try out OSiS+ Dust It Mattifying Powder from Schwarzkopf.  She has short hair and likes to try new products like waxes, creams, hair sprays, etc.  She had never used a powder like this and she didn't think that it would be effective.

She was delighted to find out she was wrong!  She absolutely loved the volume and styleability (new word!) of her hair using Dust It.  She said that it would normally take three or four products to get the same effect that she got with only this one.  Her hair looks great in the picture but was even better in person.

Dust It has a very fine powder consistency and I did not notice any scent at all. 

We can happily recommend this product.

Before: Air-dried hair with no product

After: Styled using only Dust It

Disclosure: I  received this product complimentary for testing and review purposes from Influenster

Why Rent a Timeshare? Review and Giveaway

I'm very excited!  This is the first year I will be renting a timeshare for my vacation.  In the past I've always stayed at hotels.  My sister was talking about a vacation that she has coming up where she will be sharing a place with some other couples and I was intrigued.  When the time came to plan our vacation, I decided to look in to the possibility.

I found that, while prices vary, there are many affordable options for a family on a budget (like us).  Some of the ways that I found to save money with a timeshare rental are:

• Making meals - Most timeshares have a full sized fully equipped kitchen where we can prepare many of our own meals.  For our family of five it is a HUGE money saver to not have to eat 3 meals a day at restaurants!
• Sharing - Most timeshares have multiple bedrooms, bathrooms, and living spaces which makes convenient and economical (and fun) to share the home with good friends or family.
• Activities - Many timeshares are resorts or condos with amenities like pools, free wi-fi, game rooms, exercise rooms, private beaches, and more included for no extra fee.
• Affordability - Many timeshares are available for less than the price of a hotel room

So, because this was going on I was intrigued when I was offered the opportunity to receive a free subscription to RedWeek for a year and an additional two year subscription to give away to one of my readers!

One of the first things I noticed on their website is that in the middle of the page they list the Top Destinations for Timeshare Rentals.  There are some great deals in some amazing locations!

Then I used the green Find a Timeshare tab in the upper left corner.  You can choose by location using the map or by feature (such as kid-friendly, beaches, theme parks) along the right sidebar.  One of the locations that I immediately checked out was Virginia Beach.  I found a bunch of great places right away with reviews so that I can see if it sounds like a good fit for my family.

My favorite find is a timeshare in a Costa Rican resort for just $107 a night. I've been to Costa Rica a couple of times on business and I would love to take my husband there to experience what a beautiful country it is.

You can learn a lot about RedWeek and how it works by clicking on the green Resource tab at the top of the site.

On to the giveaway! a Rafflecopter giveaway 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.

PSCPets Daily Enzymes and Prebiotics - Review

I'm a big believer in probiotics, prebiotics, and enzymes.  I make sure my family gets plenty of all of these things.  But I didn't think of my dog needing them too.  I was pleased to learn about this product and get a chance to try prebiotics and enzymes for dogs.  Emily is a rescued Jack Russell Terrier and she has brought us a lot of happiness.

The first thing I checked was to see where it was made, and the bottle indicates it was made in the US.  That's a big plus right there.  I always check that for food and treats for my dog.

Then the taste test was important to see how these would go over in our house.  My dog Emily LOVES them.  When this jar comes out, she forgets how to "sit" and just dances around trying to get one.  Very cute!  So that's another big hurdle that it passed.

As a plus for me, the chews have a mild and not unpleasant scent.  I hate opening a container of soft chews that have a strong awful order.  Yay!

Looking at the ingredients, it shows the first two are Dried Poultry Liver and Molasses.  Both are healthy for her and tasty!  It also includes inulin, ginger, protease, cellulase, lipase, and alpha-amylase which assist with digestion and use of nutrients.  It contains calcium carbonate which is a calcium supplement helpful in maintaining bone strength.  I was interested to read that alpha-amylase can help dogs maintain a healthy weight by reducing the amount of carbohydrates that are stored as fat.

One thing I've noticed after just a week is that she is having less gas and her digestion seems to have improved.

The full name of the product is PSCPets Daily Enzymes and Prebiotics and it's available at Probioticsmart.com.

Disclosure:  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.

Chickens in Five Minutes a Day - Book Review and Giveaway!

Murray McMurray Hatchery's Chickens in Five Minutes a Day: Raising, Tending and Getting Eggs from a Small Backyard Flock Made Easy

by Farmers at Murray McMurray Hatchery

176 pages

I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of Chickens in Five Minutes a Day to review and giveaway.  I've been raising chickens for seven years and I still love to read about chickens and how to care for them.

This book is meant for those getting ready to start raising chickens for egg production.  The idea is to set things up in such a way that in general the chicken chores can be cared for in five minutes a day.  However, as the book points out you'll probably spend quite a bit more time enjoying watching them.

Too cute!

I found the book to be easy to read.  It wasn't dry or boring.  The illustrations are both cute and informative. I was impressed with how thorough the book was and I wish I had it before I started raising chickens!   There were many important points that I thought the book needed to make and they hit on all of them (e.g., what NOT to feed chickens, checking for pasting up, etc).

I also learned some interesting facts about hatcheries and the history of Murray McMurray Hatchery in particular.

I found that in the few cases where I disagreed with the book it was simply a difference of opinion rather than any lack in the book.  For example, the book suggests to add sugar to the chicks water and I chose not to.  

I like the use of safety gear!

I was glad to see the book recommend the use of diatomaceous earth as a natural way to reduce parasites in the flock.  However, I would have liked to see them warn against using the kind that is sold for pool filters.

I highly recommend this book for those who are looking into or planning on raising chickens for egg production.  It's an excellent place to start.  

The book is being released on 5/14/13 and it's available for preorder at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.  I noticed that the e-reader copies are currently being sold at about 50% off of the listed price of $19.99!

The Giveaway:

One of my readers will receive a copy of this excellent book!  The giveaway is limited to readers in the US and Canada.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book to provide a review. No compensation was received for this post. My opinions are my own and may differ from yours. This giveaway is NOT affiliated with Facebook or any other social media networks. City Girl Bought the Farm is not responsible for shipment/prize fulfillment. There will be no monetary value given instead of products.

Influenster Beauty Bloggers VoxBox 2012 Review

I was thrilled to receive the Influenster Beauty Bloggers VoxBox for review.

I'm having some trouble with my camera so I'm going to use the official pictures with a link to illustrate each product.

First, my favorite item was the Not Your Mother's Kinky Moves Curl Defining Hair Cream.  This really holds the curl in my hair so well.  I wore it to work and several people asked me what I had done differently and one person asked me if I had used a curling iron!  That's quite a reaction for just using a different product.

I've already used up the sample and bought a full sized tube to replace it.  It's very reasonably priced.

The scent is grapey without being sweet.  I think it would smell better if there was a bit of sweetness to the scent but it is still a pleasant scent.  It does not leave my hair stiff or crunchy.

http://www.nymbrands.com/products/kinky-moves

I also received a Bath and Body Works Mini Candle.  The scent I received was Black Pepper and Bergamot.

The candle itself is good quality with a strong and long lasting scent.  I will buy Bath and Body Works candles again because of this.

The Black Pepper and Bergamot scent was not my favorite.  It was very manly.  I could imagine this scent fitting nicely in an old fashioned study with nice woodwork and leather chairs.  It's a nice scent but not what I would choose.

http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=11128744&cm_sp=FO-_-Home+%26+Candles-_-Mini+Candles+&cp=12586994.12936192

The Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin is something that I had seen in the stores but hadn't purchased because I wasn't sure how it worked.  I was pleasantly surprised.  The spin pins easily spin into the hair and I was happy to find that they also spin right back out (without catching or snarling) even with curly hair.

The spin pin didn't work perfectly to create an unstructured updo, but for other buns it is very effective.

http://www.goody.com/Products/Hair%20Accessories/Simple%20Styles%20Spin%20Pin

I was very excited to see the NYC New York Color IndividualEyes Custom Compact in Dark.  This compact comes with a primer, illuminator (a white cream shadow to add brightness) and 4 shadows ranging from silver to black.

This is a cool kit because it has the colors to coordinate for a complete look.  It has a reasonable price and is long lasting.  The primer sometimes has some creasing.  I will pick this up in other colors when I find it at the store.

http://newyorkcolor.com/products/eyes/eyeshadow/individualeyes-custom-compact

The first thing I picked up and used when I opened the box was the Vitabath Fragrance Mist in Asian Orchid and Coconut scent.  I sprayed it on my wrists and when I rubbed them together I noticed that it was very silky and smooth.  It turns out that is because it has conditioning vitamins and antioxidants.  So not only did it smell great but it was also good for my skin!  I definitely notice the difference over using a standard body spray.

http://www.myvitabath.com/Product/InBloomASIANORCHIDCOCONUT8ozBodyMist

The final item that I received is the Kiss Ever Pro Lashes Starter Kit.  This is a false eyelash kit that comes with the eyelashes, adhesive, and an applicator.  Interestingly it's created from human hair.  The adhesive is applied to the false lashes and allowed to partially dry before being placed on the lash line.  I like that this removes the possibility of dripping glue in my eyes. : )

http://www.myvitabath.com/Product/InBloomASIANORCHIDCOCONUT8ozBodyMist

Disclaimer:  I received these products free to test and provide my opinion.  No compensation was received and the opinions presented are my own.

Decorative Ceiling Tiles Have Many Uses

Decorative Ceiling Tiles has drop ceiling tiles, tin ceiling tiles, faux tin ceiling tiles, styrofoam ceiling tiles and much more available on their website.  I received two ceiling tiles for review. 


The first is styrofoam ceiling tile.  These are a very economical way to cover a ceiling (perhaps an old popcorn ceiling).  They can be painted to match any decor using water based paints and they add insulation to the room.  I'm painting mine in light pinks and purples to hang on my daughter's wall as an accent piece.

The second tile is a faux tin tile.  It totally fooled me and my husband when we opened the package.  We both thought it was a real tin tile.  It so pretty and it's big!  2 feet square!  We're going to use it as a frame for light fixture by punching a small hole in the center and mounting the light fixture through it.

One of the coolest uses for the tiles (other than on a ceiling) shown on the website, is using them as a photo backdrop.  They make lovely textured backgrounds for photo shoots.

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.

Prefense Hand Sanitizer - Review and Giveaway!

I use so much alcohol based sanitizer everyday! I use it at least 10 times a day. It's stinky and it burns all of the little cracks in my hands. I'm pretty sure all of that alcohol adds to the dryness of my hands. Not the best system but what else is there? I certainly can't walk around with germs all over my hands!

Before I received my Prefense hand sanitizer the only thing I knew about it was that the protection would last 24 hours. So I was interested to see how that was possible. What I discovered is that the protection is silica based and basically works by destroying the germ's cell wall. As Marissa Amoni of Beacon-News put it, "essentially acting like a glove with tiny spikes — penetrating the bacteria wall and killing what might be lurking on a public surface."
That makes a lot of sense to me because I like to use diatomaceous earth around the farm because it's an all natural way to kill bugs in the same manner. There's no chemical or poison involved.

So I'm liking how it works, but how will it feel on my hands? I was concerned that there might be a gritty feel but that was definitely not the case! I used one pump of foam and rubbed it into my hands until it dried. There was no residue, no greasy or oily sensation. My hands felt clean dry and comfortable. It has a very very light citrus smell. And you'll be happy to know that it doesn't have any aftertaste (yes, I tried it). : )

So I can have germ free hands from one squirt a day with no residue, drying alcohol, or smell? Sign me up!!!

You can buy this on the Prefense website or from Amazon.

GIVEAWAY!

The great news is that I get to give an 8oz bottle of Prefense to one of my readers! This is an $18 value and could last one person up to 2 years.





Sponsored by Tomoson.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.

Uncreative-Mommy's Digital Creations

Lena from Uncreative-Mommy's Digital Creations gave me the opportunity to review the Dots printables from her Etsy shop.  She has a lot of great forms, lists and planners available for only $1 each.  The Dots pattern is cute and fun.  Once you make your purchase, Lena will email you the form and you can print as many copies as you need, whenever you need them.

I found so many helpful items.  Two of my favorites are the Grocery List and the Emergency Info list.  I also liked the meal planner, What's to Eat, a lot.  The Grocery List is especially helpful because it breaks the list up into categories and that makes it easier and faster when you're at the store.

Something that I think will be very helpful is to use a hole punch and a three ring binder to make a planning book.  You could include forms such as the anniversary list, monthly calendars, budget planner and contacts pages.

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.

Slice™ Safety Cutter - Great for couponers

I had the chance to try the Slice Safety Cutter from Slice Products.  It's a handy little tool for cutting coupons, scrapbooking, opening plastic packaging and many other uses.  It has a very small ceramic blade that you draw across whatever you are cutting.  It's very sharp when used on paper but is also very safe. I poked myself with it (as shown in the product pictures on the website) and I was not injured at all!  So this would be safe for my kids to use as well.  Also since the blade is ceramic it stays sharp and won't rust.

The Slice can fit easily in my purse (where I carry it), has a hole to add it to a keychain, and also has an internal magnet so that it can hang on the fridge.  I like that I can easily cut out a coupon while I'm at the store!  I really like how attractive the Slice is as well.

As I've mentioned before, my son has Aspergers Syndrome.  So I was excited to learn that they company funds Autism research.  Here's some information from their website: "Slice was founded in 2008 by TJ Scimone as a way to help fund long-term care for his son, Alex, who is autistic. A minimum of 1% of all Slice product sales is donated to help fund autism research. By purchasing our products, you’re helping to find a cure for the millions of children and their families who live with autism every day." 

Slice™ Safety Cutter - Great for couponers

Using it to cut school pictures

Used the magnet to hang it on the fridge

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.

UGLee Pen Review and Giveaway

The UGLee Pen is an ergonomic pen created by Dr. James Lee.  The name UGLee comes from Ultimate Grip combined with Dr. Lee's name.

I was fortunate to be chosen as one of the bloggers to review this pen.  This is definitely my favorite pen!  The grip is extremely comfortable and reduces hand fatigue.  There's been so many times that my hand has cramped and ached as I took notes at school or work.  The UGLee Pen makes an amazing difference.

This is also a great pen for my son who has Asperger's.  The grip helps him to hold the pen correctly which is something that he has an issue with.  The grip is also soft so his hand is much more comfortable.  He usually hates writing.  I'm going to ask his teacher to let him try writing with this pen instead of a pencil.  I think it will make a difference in his resistance to writing sentences.

My son using the UGLee Pen to draw a robot crab.  He holds this pen much better than a standard pen or pencil.

Another feature that I like is the ink.  It's a very smooth flowing ink which makes it easy to write with and makes writing more fun.  Am I the only one who loves to write with ink that flows beautifully?  I always feel like my writing is more attractive when I have just the right pen and ink combination.

You can purchase the pen from their website.

The giveaway is open to US residents only.  Sorry to all my other readers. : (

GIVEAWAY

Nalgene Water Bottle from Reuseit.com

 I was given the opportunity to review a water bottle by the kind people at reuseit.com.  Their motto is "reusables for every part of your life" and they do indeed have a huge variety of green products that can be help to keep us green and reduce waste.


One way that we try to reduce our waste is by using reusable water bottles but they are not created equal!  The water bottle that I chose is made by Nalgene.  The full product name is the Nalgene 32 oz Wide Mouth Reusable Bottle, Tritan.  Their were several reasons that I choose this bottle.  One is that it's BPA free.  It's also dishwasher safe so I know that it will be clean and germ free.  I like that it comes in a large 32 ounce size and the wide mouth allows me to add ice as well as being able to thoroughly clean the inside.  I don't have to worry about losing the lid (or dropping it somewhere gross) because it's attached to the bottle. It's made in the USA and I think the price is very reasonable.  Not to mention the beautiful green color!  


In addition to a selection of water bottles that are both functional and attractive they have a lot of other exciting products.  I was especially happy to see the bento box selection.


I'm very happy with my water bottle and I'm looking forward to using it to keep hydrated while reducing the amount of waste I create.

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.

T-Shirt Review from tshirtprinting.net

I received a t-shirt from T Shirt Printing.net to review.  I wasn't sure what to expect since I've seen many promotional shirts that are super thin fabric that falls apart after being washed a few times. This t-shirt was nothing like my preconceived notion of a promotional shirt.  The fabric is soft and comfortable.  The design is vibrant and attractive.


The shirt:  I'm very impressed with the thickness of the material.  It's not your typical flimsy promotional t-shirt. It is a nice thick shirt and it's cottony soft. The tag says it's 90% cotton and 10% polyester. It's been worn and washed multiple times and there hasn't been stretching, shrinkage, or pilling.  The sizing does not run small either.  This shirt was a medium and fit my daughter well. 


The design:  After being washed and dried (in the dryer on normal) three times there has been no peeling, cracking, splitting or fading of the design.  It looks great and is thick enough to last but is still very flexible and moves with the fabric.


Need a t-shirt for your business or event?  I'd suggest contacting tshirtprinting.net!

My adorable daughter in her Funky Monkey t shirt from tshirtprinting.net

I recieved the shirt for review purposes only. No other compensation was received and the opinions expressed are my daughter's and my honest opinions.

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.