My Online Support System on FamilyShare.com

I don't know about you, but I'm definitely the perfect wife and mother. I'm attentive to all my husband's needs and fulfill them just like June Cleaver would. I spend at least 6 hours each day reading the classics to my preschooler. My home is immaculate and has been mistaken for a museum at times. I feature a different country's cuisine every night for dinner such as coq au vin from France and paella from Spain.

practically perfect in every way

Oh, and did I mention that I'm a compulsive liar?

I am, by far, NOT the perfect wife and mother. My husband often has to move laundry off the bed before he can sleep at night. Most days all I to read to my preschooler are the menu options on the fast food drive-thru signs. The cleanliness of my home? We don't have a rat infestation, so I'm pretty sure it's clean enough. And in our house, Kraft Mac & Cheese is it's own food group.

reality

I'm not perfect. Neither are you. And that's okay.

It's my goal each day to try a little harder to be a little better. Most of my support comes from my family and friends, but I also have a huge support system online through FamilyShare.com.

FamilyShare.com's mission is to enlighten, strengthen, and inspire hundreds of millions of families worldwide. They do so through a network of users that ask questions, share stories, and generally buoy each other up. It's been great to have a resource when I'm struggling with something and no one I know personally has experienced it. My circle of friends has grown from reading our shared experiences.

There are 16 topics…

• LOVE
• MARRIAGE
• PREGNANCY
• BABY & TODDLER
• PARENTING CHILDREN
• ADULT CHILDREN
• FAMILY TIME
• MONEY WISE
• HEALTH & FITNESS
• HOME LIFE
• PERSONAL GROWTH
• FAITH & SPIRITUALITY
• LIFE CHALLENGES
• KIDS ACTIVITIES
• PORN & ADDICTION
• GRANDPARENTS 

Not all the topics fit me but there is a topic for everyone. So head to FamilyShare.com and find me. I'm sure we have our own shared experiences!

Which of the topics are you most interested in? Had you heard of FamilyShare.com or is it news to you?

Thank YOU for being a part of my online support system!

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

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?

OPI Spider-man Polish Minis

I am a wee bit excited for the July 3 premiere of The Amazing Spider-Man. (Is it July yet?) I love that OPI and China Glaze team up with movies for polish lines. There are actually seven polishes in the Spider-Man line, but I picked up the set of four minis.

I love getting the minis because I've never gone through an entire bottle of nail polish. Ever. Here are the colors.

OPI Into the Night

A really pretty mid/dark blue, Into the Night has some sparkle, but not bling.

OPI Number One NemesisNumber One Nemesis might be my new favorite gray! It has some gold glitter in it which gives it a green tinge. It's super cool!

OPI Just Spotted the LizardJust Spotted the Lizard reminds me of an iridescent green I have, but mine has a pink undertone. I like this one more. It's all gold and green and lizard-y, but in a wearable way.

OPI Your Web or MineTo me, Your Web or Mine is kind of a boring pink. I guess because I have a few like this. It has a tinge of coral in it, but not enough to make it fun.

I used two coats on each swatch. Each polish in The Amazing Spider-Man collection showed brush marks, but they weren't distracting. Plus I liked three out of four colors, so not bad!

What are you more excited about? The movie or the polish?

China Glaze Prismatic Chroma Glitters

I'm a sucker for glitter, so when I saw the China Glaze Chroma Glitters at the beauty supply, I was smitten.

China Glaze Prismatic Chroma Glitters

These are the shiniest things I've seen in a while! They have teeny, tiny little pieces of glitter that create an insane amount of sparkle as well as define the color of each individual polish. Couple that with the varying colors of larger glitter and it adds great dimension. The larger glitters are the same in each color—pink, green and silver.

As you can see, there are six Chroma Glitters. The photo above shows their intensity. The swatches below show what they look like in sunlight. In shadow, they're closer to the colors above. I used one coat on each swatch.

China Glaze Prismatic Swatches

1. OPTICAL ILLUSION—This is one of my favorites. I think because it's rare to see a green glitter that doesn't look too Christmas-y.
2. LIQUID CRYSTAL—Another favorite. It's not baby blue but it's not crazy bright either. I think it would go with almost anything.
3. FULL SPECTRUM—I really liked how this looked in the bottle. It didn't translate as well on the nail, though. I was wishing the pink would have stood out more. It almost comes across as a neutral.
4. RAY-DIANT—This one is kind of hard to define. It teeny sparkles are gold, but it doesn't really look gold on. It's kind of like Full Spectrum, where it's more of a neutral.
5. PRISM—I gravitated toward this one since it was purple, but, like the previous two, it just didn't come across as well. You can tell it's purple when it's on, but it's very muted.
6. POLARIZED—With all that silver sparkle, this is a favorite too. Plus the colored glitter makes it interesting.

This is a fun collection. If I had to choose only two to get, I'd go with Optical Illusion and Liquid Crystal.

Optical Illusion / Liquid CrystalThese two are the most unique. I really own nothing like them.

With all the polishes in this collection, I would use two coats. Especially with the lighter ones. Also, beware that every glitter polish (especially China Glaze) tends to peel and flake off within a day or two, even with a good topcoat. So if you're wanting the China Glaze Chroma Glitters to last, I'd use them on your toes instead of your hands. You'll get more wear out of them.