It Works! Wrap Review & Giveaway

I'm not sure how many people I know sell It Works!, but I have been skeptical with every Facebook post I see touting it's amazing powers. I'm a firm believer in diet and exercise, but I'll try almost anything once, so I contacted my local gal Laurianne about It Works!.

Though It Works! is primarily known for their wraps, they also have a line of vitamins, supplements, and skin care. I decided to try the much-discussed body wrap. You can apply it anywhere, but I decided to use it on my poor, post-baby tummy.

The wrap is coated on one side with a botanical-based cream that is supposed to tighten, tone, and firm the skin through detoxifying where it's applied. It's quite large and covered the front of my entire abdomen. To keep the wrap in place, I rolled myself in plastic wrap like a leftover casserole.

The wrap smells like Icy-Hot and made my tummy quite cold! It wasn't bad, but man, it woke me up! I left the wrap on for the recommended 45 minutes. You can leave it on longer, as long as there is still cream on the wrap, but I'm too impatient for that.

I'm a numbers gal, so measured my upper, natural, and lower waist prior to applying the wrap. After 45 minutes, there was no change to the upper or lower measurement, but my natural waist was down 1/4-inch. Better than a kick in the head! After 72 hours I measured again to no change.

Enough about the numbers, it's the pictures that tell the story.

Using the wrap wasn't a life-changing event for me, but it's also recommended that you do a full cycle of four applications, 72 hours apart. Who knows what would have happened if I had done that? But I'm curious to see the difference that one wrap could make for you and so is Laurianne. That's why she's giving YOU a chance to WIN an It Works! body wrap!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

52 Weeks of Dishcloths—Week 4

Can you believe it's Week 4 already? If you're just joining the party, the previous week's patterns can be found HERE.

I'm changing things up this week! This dishcloth is knit…and it's a family pattern! I'm excited to share this quick-working pattern with you.

I didn't like the original pattern name (Round Knit Dishcloth. Boring!) so I switched it up. I was inspired by the Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton in Hot Pepper I was using . The color may be Hot Pepper, but I think each section looks like a pie slice, so Cherry Pie it is!

There are a few "tricks" to this pattern.

Clear as mud? Good! Let's knit!

CHERRY PIE DISHCLOTH PATTERN

Using US size 8 short needles, co 15 st.

Row 1: K3, yo, knit all but 1 st. Turn and knit back to beginning of row.

Row 2: K3, yo, knit all but 2 st. Turn and knit back to beginning of row.

Row 3: K3, yo, knit all but 3 st. Turn and knit back to beginning of row.

Row 4: Bind off 3 st, k2, yo, knit all but 4 st. Turn and knit back to beginning of row.

Row 5: K3, yo, knit all but 5 st. Turn and knit back to beginning of row.

Row 6: K3, yo, knit all but 6 st. Turn and knit back to beginning of row.

Row 7: Bind off 3 st, k2, yo, knit all but 7 st. Turn and knit back to beginning of row.

Row 8: K3, yo, knit all but 8 st. Turn and knit back to beginning of row.

Row 9: K3, yo, knit all but 9 st. Turn and knit back to beginning of row.

Row 10: Bind off 3 st, do NOT yo, knit to end, picking up stitches that were held. You will have 15 st. Turn and knit back to beginning of row.

Repeat wedge-pattern until there are 7 in all.

Bind off all 15 st, ending at center of dishcloth.

Leaving about 15 inches of yarn, draw through center sts, tightening them into a circle.

Tie off and weave in loose ends.

Abbreviations

• co – cast on
• k – knit
• yo – yarn over
• st – stitch

I normally don't knit mainly because I'm so much faster at crocheting, but I really like how fast I can whip this up.

If you're knitting along, feel free to join the linky party below so we can see your creations!

If you link up, remember to… 

• refrain from posting links to shops, stores, and giveaways.
• link to your specific post.
• link back to me somehow. May I suggest my blog button found in the sidebar? :D

Wal-Mart White Cloud Diapers – Event Recap

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of White Cloud Diapers, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Last week I was able to attend a playdate sponsored by Wal-Mart's White Cloud Diapers. Other local bloggers and I met up to have our kids play and we were able to have some much needed grownup time. All of us had a kiddo or two in diapers, so we all had something in common.

Here's my kiddo running crazy. So glad he's not in diapers anymore!

My mother-in-law is amazing and potty trained my 3-year-old in one day (yup, you read that right) after we brought the baby home. She's a miracle worker!

I've been more particular about diapers since the baby was born. I wasn't too picky with my toddler, but there's something about a little one that makes you want the very best for them. I learned that White Cloud diapers in sizes newborn, 1, and 2 have an extra soft quilted liner, perfect for that sensitive skin. It encloses a super absorbant inner core to wick away moisture.

How can I not want the best for this little guy?

Those same sizes offer my FAVORITE feature in a diaper—the color-change wetness indicator! It's so helpful when you have a newborn to be able to just peek in and check the color before you actually wake them up to change their diaper.

Since these diapers are from Wal-Mart, they are super-affordable. It's great to know that I can save money (disposable diapers can be expensive!) and still have a quality, hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free product for my little guy. He's so sweet and he deserves the best!

Here's what Wal-Mart has to say about their diapers…

Diapering can be one of the biggest expenses in a family’s weekly budget and a great performing diaper is a must-have for parents. In order to make this affordable, Wal-Mart has reintroduced their premium line of White Cloud diapers to address the needs of today’s busy parents.

White Cloud Diapers provide your baby the highest quality diaper with superior leakage protection, exceptional softness and great fit. White Cloud Diapers are available exclusively at Walmart, where you can find low prices everyday on all your family’s needs. Check them out today!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of #WhiteCloudDiapers.

Lash Love — Drugstore Mascara Review

If there's one thing I HAVE to put on before walking out the door, it's mascara. You don't even notice my eyes without it. But mascara from a department store can get pricey. Especially when you have to replace it every three months! So I bought five of the drugstore brands to see how they fared.

I picked up the most recent releases from L'Oreal, Revlon, Maybelline, Covergirl, and Rimmel. These mascaras claimed that their formulas and brushes add volume, lengthen lashes, and are clump-free. Some lived up to their advertising. Others? Well…you'll see for yourself.

I tested these mascaras, but used my niece as the eyelash model. Her eyelashes are crazy-long and don't even need curled. The arrow under each mascara name represents the "review". Think of it as a thumbs-up, thumbs-down, or so-so, depending on where the arrow is pointing. I purchased the mascara at my local Walmart, but prices may vary depending on location.

L'OREAL TELESCOPIC SHOCKING EXTENSIONS

PRICE

$7.97

CLAIMS

• In one motion lashes are separated, intensified, and look shockingly lengthened for an intense make-up result
• Clump-free, flake-free, smudge-free

REVIEW

• A good general mascara
• Lives up to it's claims
• Wish it made lashes look thicker and fuller

REVLON PHOTOREADY 3D VOLUME

PRICE

$7.48

CLAIMS

• Get glamorous, big volume lashes from every angle
• Lashes look 100% more magnified, multiplied, amplified (with two coats)
• Award winning

REVIEW 

• Curls lashes
• Thickest brush of those reviewed
• Favorite brush to use
• Makes lashes look longer and fuller

COVERGIRL CLUMP CRUSHER BY LASHBLAST

PRICE

$6.94

CLAIMS

• 200% more volume, zero clumps
• Innovative curved brush
• Super-volumized, beautifully separated lashes

REVIEW

• Doesn't clump
• Have to go over a few times for coverage
• Bristles separate lashes
• Doesn't lengthen lashes as much as other mascaras

MAYBELLINE VOLUM' EXPRESS THE ROCKET

PRICE

$5.94

CLAIMS

• Now, the most explosive, beautiful lashes ever!
• Supersonic Brush, and Fast Glide formula
• Loads on big, sleek volume instantly

REVIEW

• Short bristles and stubby end make brush difficult to use, though it works well for bottom lashes
• Clumps
• Difficult to wash off

RIMMEL SCANDALEYES SHOW OFF

PRICE

$5.97

CLAIMS

• Breakthrough brush: Flat side for volume, ball tip for lasting lift
• Fibre enriched formula for longer lashes

REVIEW

• Ball tip is awkward at first, but once you get used to it it works great
• Lashes look fuller, but not necessarily longer
• Have to go over a few times for coverage

CONCLUSION

Our favorite mascara was Rimmel Scandaleyes Show Off. The separation and thickness it created more than made up for the lack of length. It went on easily and didn't clump.

Our least favorite was Maybelline Volum' Express The Rocket. It clumped like crazy. I should have posted a picture of us trying to remove the mascara. It's a really horrible formula.

I find it interesting that the winner and the loser are the two cheapest mascaras. Who would have thought?

What mascara do you wear? Is it a drugstore or department store brand?

52 Weeks of Dishcloths—Week 3

It's time for Week 3! For past patterns click HERE or the "dishcloth" button on my sidebar.

A big thanks to "Magnolia Tea" for this beautiful Tulip Stitch dishcloth pattern!

This pattern is almost too beautiful to dirty up! I think it might be my go-to pattern for gifts now. It uses chains and double crochets, so it's speedy to work up.

This is my favorite color of yarn right now. It's bright aqua Peaches and Creme Yarn . It's a beautiful robin's egg blue in person.

If you're crocheting along, feel free to join the linky party below so we can see your creations!

If you link up, remember to… 

• refrain from posting links to shops, stores, and giveaways.
• link to your specific post.
• link back to me somehow. May I suggest my blog button found in the sidebar? :D