Cascade Platinum Pacs Review #MyPlatinium #Sponsored @MyCascade

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Cascade. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating. 

My four year old, Romee, is super observant and apparently had noticed when I slipped a Cascade Platinum Pacs into the the dishwasher instead of the normal liquid detergent he is accustomed to me using. So when I opened the dishwasher after the first time of me using Platinum he rushed over and proclaimed "the dishes are so shiny and clean". All I can do is laugh because I was thinking the same thing. But the skeptic in me crept in and I reminded myself that I did a pretty extensive pre-wash before I put the dishes in the dish washer, as I am accustomed to doing with my normal detergent. So I made a mental note to NOT pre- wash on the next load to see if we (Romee & I) would still be impressed with the results. 

As you can see in the picture below I loaded my dish washer up with some pretty filthy dishes included baked on biscuit remnants on the baking sheet to the right of the pick and baked on cheese in the circular glass baking dish to the lower left of the dishwasher. So I was all set to be let down cause I thought I hadn't given the product a fighting chance. Well, to my surprise the picture on the right is what I saw when I opened the door shiny and clean dishes AGAIN! But, this time I must same Romee wasn't too impressed I guess he was sold on round one. 

What I liked Most is that it did what it promised.

 CASCADE PLATINUM PACS

• Delivers Cascade’s best clean with a premium, advanced triple action formula that helps prevent residue on your dishes, and even filming on your machine.
• Scrubs away tough 24 hour stuck-on food.
• Eliminates the need to pre-wash dishes.
• Has the Grease Fighting Power of Dawn. Source

I must say that any product that can get me out of the kitchen and back to my family faster is definitely a winner to me!

Cascade Platinum Pacs Commercial

***CONTEST***

#MyPlatinum Instagram Contest

In addition to sharing with you about this awesome new product there is a great contest in progress on Instagram right now and I've entered and so should you!

Every week two people will win a brand new Whirlpool dishwasher and a six month supply of Cascade!  Not only that, but one grand prize winner will win a $10,000 KitchenAid kitchen make over!

To win you must register and then take your themed photo post it on Instagram with the hashtag #MyPlatinum and tag @MyCascade.

Here are the themes:

Week 1: My Platinum Plate (Entry Period: 6/3-6/9) - Show your best dish styled from the sparkling plate up.

Week 2: My Platinum Bite (Entry Period: 6/10-6/16) - Show your best bite and most creative use of sparkling silverware.

Week 3: My Platinum Clink (Entry: 6/17-6/23) - Show how you serve up creative concoctions in sparkling glasses. Cheers.

Week 4: My Platinum Table (Entry Period: 6/24-6/30) - Show your sparkling tablescape for your most special celebrations.

Remember in addition to to weekly winners someone will win the grand prize!

***TIPS***

Top Chef judge and editor of Food+Wine magazine, Gail Simmons, has partnered with Cascade to discuss why presentation is just as important as preparation. Here is a few tips from Gail that will not only help you with entertaining our guest, but when you are taking pictures to upload to intstagram! 

• It’s more than just a great-tasting recipe, but also perfect presentation. Sparkling dishes, shining flat ware and spot-free glasses truly let you put your best food forward with culinary creations that pop!

• “The easiest recipes pop with unexpected, gourmet presentations.  Drizzle bright sauces on sparkling white plates or layer desserts in crystal-clean glassware. Keep your presentation sparkling with Cascade Platinum, which keeps dishes perfect for anytime entertaining and impromptu guests.”

Make sure to get social with Cascade so you can be in the know!

• Cascade Website
• Cascade Facebook page
• #MyPlatinum Instagram Contest

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Cascade. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Spring in Your Step with #Children'sClaritin

I am excited to share the news that I am part of the Children's Claritin Mom Crew!  I love to share products/services that work for me and my family and enjoy having a direct line of communications to other moms who share some of my experiences as a mother. Unfortunately my husband and eldest son both have pretty severe allergies, but fortunately we are able to alleviate a lot of our little mans symptoms with Children's Claritin and it definitely helps that the taste is kid friendly!

As a member of Children's Claritin Mom Crew I was sent sample products, hot/cold packs and awesome literature filled with great recipes and tips on staying prepared in every aspect of your life to share with my friends. My "Mommy Party" was held during the days with our kiddies in tow so not only did we discuss keeping a "Spring in Our Step", but one in our children's as well. We held a backyard water party were our children and ourselves could not only cool off from the heat, but get in our 30 minutes of physical activity while we played. And what better way to keep a spring in yourself than to surround your self with lively preschoolers!

We all know as mothers that the the best way to avoid sickness, tramas, dangers, etc. is to plan and be prepared. So for this day not only did we make sure to coat our little ones and ourselves in sunblock, but we also planned for the inevitable crash that came after all the backyard fun and lunch, with a group nap!

As the children napped we took this opportunity to share our tips on preparing healthy meals for our families and the things we do to reduce stress. Some of the meal tips included substituting white pasta with whole grain pasta and swapping beef for turkey as an healthier alternative. We all found that we do some form of decompressing at the end of the day in order to reduce stress, whether it was via a hot bath, reading a book or a private moment of meditation. We also discussed the 2013 Preparedness Checklist & Tips that Children's Claritin provides for us make sure to click the image below to find helpful tips and resources to help keep you and your family prepared and safe year round.

How do you bring a moment of Zen into your life?

As a member of the Children’s Claritin Mom Crew, I receive product samples and promotional items to share and use as I see fit.  No monetary compensation has taken place and any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experience.

Soft Scrub #4-in-1ToiletCare Review and Giveaway

I recently became a Purex Insider which I am super excited about! As a Purex Insider I am afforded the opportunity to try out new products and review them.  I recently received the new Soft Scrub 4-in-1 Toilet Care, a toilet cleaner that cleans and freshens for up to 4 weeks.

Soft Scrub 4-in-1 Toilet Care comes in two scents, Alpine Fresh and Sapphire Water. I received the Alpine Fresh scent.  It cleans, prevents build up, fights toilet ring and  freshens for up to 4 weeks – all this for less than $2.00 and is available at Walmart. Since I regularly shop at Walmart and keep a close eye on my families budget, this product was right up my alley.

Unlike other toilet bowl rim hangers that don't stay in place or that dissolve too quickly, Soft Scrub 4-in-1 Toilet Care provides long lasting cleaning and freshening thanks to its unique design and advance formula.The plastic cage keeps the product in place and allows water to activate the cleaner with each flush. So make sure you place the product in the "stream" of water for the product to work its best.

When  I first opened the package I was concern that my entire bathroom would smell like a pine tree for the next 4 weeks. Luckily once it was installed the "Fresh" part of Alpine Fresh prevailed. I hadn't told my hubby about the product and he loved the smell of the 4- in-1 Toilet Care. I have been using this product for over a week now and although I started with a clean toilet so I can't attest to it's ability to clean the toilet it certainly has prevented buildup and keep our toilet fresh! 

As my frequent readers know I have two young boys who are very inquisitive so I opted to reserve this particular product for our private master bath. Although the product is incased in plastic I would recommend you use caution when using it around young children.

Purex Insiders, Soft Scrub and Your Unexpected Beauty would like you to be among the first to try Soft Scrub 4-in-1 Toilet Care or any of their other products and have generously offered two of my readers a chance to win ONE FREE PRODUCT COUPON (valued at $3.39)! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

The Soft Scrub brand provided me witha sample of Soft Scrub 4-in-1 Toilet Care in exchange for a product review. However, all opinions expressed are my honest opinions.

Macy's CulinaryCouncil Sizzle Showdown Winner #AmericanIcons

Join me in congratulating Leah Lyon in becoming Macy's Great American Grilling Guru, winning a trip to New York for Macy's 4th of July Fireworks an honor awarded to her by Macy's Culinary C0uncil!

Winner Leah Lyon

While the Sizzle showdown was surely a great day for Leah it was also a pretty awesome day for all in attendance. The energy under the massive tent that was so beautifully setup in Macy's parking lot at Lenox Square Mall, was stocked with all the luxuries to make those in attendance fell comfortable, from the simple things like bottled water and held hand fans to flat screens monitors so you didn't miss a moment of the action. Although we were unable to sample all the contestants grilling master pieces our other scences sure were delighted by their creations, we were actually treated to meals made by the distinguished members of Macy's Culinary Council!

Six finalists competed in the “Sizzle Showdown” at Macy’s Lenox Square in Atlanta, which was hosted by Tracye Hutchins, co-anchor of CBS’s Better Mornings Atlanta. After the first round of competition, Macy’s Culinary Council chefs Cat Cora, Marc Forgione and Stephanie Izard sampled all the awesome dishes that had been prepared by the contestants in under an hour and reduced the six down to just three finalist. Included in the final three in addition to Leah Lyon was Atlanta's very own John McDavid who had a great showing and represented Atlanta well.

Atlanta native John McDavid

Want to know how you can be apart of all this excitement make sure to check out the Macy's Culinary Council so you don't miss out on the next event that is sure to be coming your way! While you are on the official site make sure to check out more about the contestants, expert chefs that comprise the council members and browse the enticing recipes and tips section. 

Judge Marc Forgione & Stephanie Izard

Disclosure: I am a member of the Everywhere Society and Everywhere provided me with compensation for this post about Macy’s Culinary Council.  However, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.

Pantene Pro-V® Truly Natural- REVIEW

When my hair was permed Pantene hair products were a staple in my hair care routine , fortunately for me Pantene has created a line that is tailored to my hairs current needs. I recently had the opportunity to try out Pantene Truly Natural Line a  line of products designed to help manage your natural hair.

First up Pantene Pro-V® Truly Natural Clarifying Shampoo which is designed to gently cleanse your hair’s unique structure and remove buildup—leaving it shiny, clean and refreshed. I really put it to the test, I used the Clarifying Shampoo after having braids in my hair for over three weeks. It definitely stood up to the significant amount of product and dirt residue. As you can see in the picture above it does not generate a ton of suds, but surely left my hair and scalp clean without stripping it of all it's moisture.

Following the Clarifying Shampoo I applied  Pantene Pro-V® Truly Natural Deep Conditioner  which is an oil-enriched conditioner that moisturizes and detangles natural hair. My hair thrives off oil so I was excited to try it! While the bottle does not tell you a specific amount of time to keep the conditioner on I coated my strands with the conditioner put on a plastic cap and sat under my hooded dryer for 20 minutes. Detangling was a breeze and once I rinsed the product out  my hair felt super moisturized and manageable. 

Pantene Pro-V® Truly Natural Defining Curls Custard works with your hair’s unique structure to define curls and control frizz up to 24 hours, even in humid weather. This styling custard leaves curls manageable and feeling soft. I rounded out my first experience with this product line by doing a Wash and Go style applying the Defining Curl Custard and allowing it to dry completely. It left me with defined curls and minimal frizz although it does claim that your hair would be manageable and soft there was an initial crunch feel that I eliminated by gently scrunching my hair leaving my hair touch-ably soft. Honestly I rarely wear my hair in a Wash and Go style, but instead wear a Flat Twist Out, well I added the custard to my usual routine and boy did it make a difference not only did my twist out stay define through an entire cookout, but it looked  great even days later! 

Pantene Pro-V® Truly Natural Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner instantly cleanses, conditions, and detangles hair in one easy step without stripping the hair’s natural moisture. This low-lathering formula refreshes unmanageable curls and helps control frizz, leaving hair soft and shiny after use. OMG this is my absolutely favorite product from the line not only was it great in the cleaning department but it made detangling, which is usually a nightmare after a Wash and Go, a cake walk. I didn't have time to deep condition afterwards and my hair remained super moisturized for a entire week of me NOT re moisturizing my hair.

Overall I give the line two thumbs up and will be adding them to product arsenal!


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

Macy's Culinary Council Crown the Sizzle Showdown Winner @ Lenox Square Mall

Do you live in the Atlanta Metro area? Are you a foodie? Interested in having a entertaining and informative afternoon? If you answered yes to the prior questions I hope to see you this weekend at Macy's in Lenox Square Mall for the Sizzle Showdown!

Six finalists will compete in the “Sizzle Showdown” at Macy’s Lenox Square in Atlanta, which will be hosted by Tracye Hutchins, co-anchor of CBS’s Better Mornings Atlanta. Following two rounds of competition, Macy’s Culinary Council chefs Cat Cora, Marc Forgione and Stephanie Izard will select the winner, who will receive the grand prize of $10,000 and a trip to the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks in New York City where they will be revealed as America's “Greatest Grilling Guru.”

When:

Saturday, June 8 at Noon

Where:

Macy’s Lenox Square Mall

Atlanta, GA

“Macy’s Great American Grilling Guru” is a national search to find the country’s ultimate master of the grill. The contest launched on Macy’s Facebook page as part of its summer celebration of “American Icons.” From April 9 through April 27, people across the nation submitted prized recipes along with images of the finished dish for a chance to win a spot in the “Sizzle Showdown.”

Macy’s Culinary Council is a national culinary authority comprising some of the nation’s leading culinary masters. Launched in 2003, MCC’s team of distinguished chefs serves to inspire the way Macy's customers shop, cook and eat at home. The chefs are both ambassadors and instructors, providing expert culinary advice and leading cooking demonstrations at Macy’s stores, with the aim of teaching customers how to cook and shop like a master chef.

Disclosure: I am a member of the Everywhere Society and Everywhere provided me with compensation for this post about Macy’s Culinary Council's Sizzle Showdown.  However, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.

It's My Anniversary- Three Years Natural

If you are not natural it may seem odd to have an anniversary centered around your hair. Well I am natural and it still feels odd to me as well. But there was something very special that happened three years ago today it was the day that I embraced my beauty. As you can see by the pictures below I went from past shoulder length to less than an inch of hair. This drastic change was triggered by my desire to donate my hair to Locks of Love a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. So in addition to helping others regain a since of confidence in their appearance I was able to find a different level of confidence of my own.

June 2010

So this day became significant not just because of my natural hair journey, but because the personal journey it has taken me own.  I shared in my very first post some of my insecurities I have and still do struggled with from time to time. But, it has been a true blessing to be embraced in to a circle of women  who are all about uplifting each other and embracing your own beauty, regardless if this circle is centered around our hair, the support and encouragement is un matched.

June 2011                                                         June 2012                                                        June 2013

Help me celebrate my three year anniversary by supporting Locks of Love,  if you are doing a big chop  soon consider donating your hair if not find other ways to help here!

Do you have a day you celebrate that may seem odd to others, but may mean a lot to you?

Red Tricycle Big Peach #Giveaway!

 
Photo Courtesy of Red Tricycle

Red Tricycle  is a digital city guide for parents, delivered to your inbox, and has recently launched here in Atlanta. If you aren't familiar with Red Tricycle and you are a parent in the metro Atlanta area or one of the seven other markets they can be found in you should take the time to get to know more.

Our mission is simple, to help parents have more fun with their kids.

To help you have fun with your favorite little people Red Tricycle offer ideas for cool things to see, eat, make and do with your kids in your area.  So not only are you getting the convenience of entertainment ideas being delivered to your inbox they are also saving you time from scouring through the never ending happenings here in the Atlanta area to find the  ones that not only spark your interest but are kid- friendly as well. So with all that extra time on your hands what are you going to do with yourself. Well you can start by entering some of the awesome sweepstakes and contest they have listed on their site including the Big Peach Giveaway!

Help Red Tricycle celebrate their launch in Atlanta by entering to win one of 17 awesome giveaways from Atlanta's best businesses! The list of giveaways alone will give you great ideas for kid- friendly entertainment starting your relationship off right with Red Tricycle!

You will be entered to win:

• Graco Children's Products Jogger Stroller
• 4 Tickets to Tree Top Quest
• $300 Child Portraiture Session from Kate Byars Photography
• cinda b Baby Bag & Travel Friendly Pouch in Scala Ivory
• 2 Family Memberships to Chattahoochee Nature Center
• Family Membership to Southeastern Railway Museum 
• Family 5 Pack to AREA 51 - Aurora Cineplex and The Fringe Miniature Golf
• 1 pink and 1 green Highchair Organizer 
• The Music Class, Fall Session 
• Build your own bday party for 6 at Hippo Hop
• $200 B. Baby Braithwaite Gift Certificate
• emerald august $250 Gift Certificate
• 4 Pair of Babiators, 2 original, 2 polarized
• $200 Family Photo Session with Deana Levine Photography
• Southern Sitters & Nannies Annual Membership
• Rhubarb & Custard $75 Gift Certificate
• $300 Youth Technology Center Gift Certificate

Want to double your chances to win? Share with friends and family on Facebook and get an extra entry for each person mentions your name in the referred by box!

ENTER NOW!

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Red Tricycle. All opinions are 100% mine.