Gardein: Classic Meatless Meatballs

I’ve bought Gardein products before (with my own money) and plan on going through all the items they have at my local stores. When Social Nature gave me a voucher for a free item, I was thrilled! I could’ve picked anything but I already tried the Mini Crabless Cakes and Seven Grain Crispy Tenders, I figured I’d pick something different.

I chose the Classic Meatless Meatballs! They’re delicious, crispy and filling. I cooked them in my airfryer on 400° for about 18min. I realized after the fact that this was way too long. So avoid my mistake and make sure you don’t overcook it. I’ve included a picture of the nutritional facts and ingredients so I’m not going to go over them. In case you’re trying to avoid it, I would like to point out that this product does have soy and wheat. Below are just a few ways I used them.

Tortilla, cheese & homemade tomato sauce

Review: Delimira Full Figure Bra

I originally purchased* the Delimira Women’s Smooth Full Figure Underwire Seamless Minimizer Bra (40F) and was so impressed by the bra, speed of shipping (Amazon Prime) and cost that I purchased two more 🙂

Delimira Women’s Full Coverage Non-Foam Floral Lace Plus Size Underwire Bra (40G) – Fuchsia

Delimira Women’s Sheer Lace Unlined Minimizer Underwire Full Figure Bra (40F) – Black

Final Notes:

Affordable
Free shipping if you have Amazon Prime
Minimizer portion is more of a flattening which caused a little spillage
Original bra has been through more than 10 regular cycles of wash/dry and has held together nicely so I’m hoping these bras will be the same
- HOWEVER the cups seem to be slightly looser (or I’ve lost weight but I’m betting on the former)
Both black bras only have 3 hooks but fuchsia had 4
Original bra (top in picture above) has 4 adjustable options while lacy bras only have 3
Straps on lacy bras aren’t as sturdy or as comfortable as the original bra but cups are just as comfortable as the original

*using gift cards from taking surveys

Putting It Out There – Career/ Business

I’ve often wondered how reviewer/ product testers get in contact with their favorite brands in order to get sponsored. I’ve looked into a few things on my own but not many end up being real. I am here to ask for advice from people capable of pointing me in the right direction. I know all information comes with BUTs because no one can guarantee a company will have any use for what I can provide; detailed reviews and suggestions for improvements but any useful advice would be very much appreciated.

Drum Roll please:

Target Corporation – This has been a favorite of mine for years and I frequently refer to it as my happy place. 2 of the 3 other companies mentioned were discovered at Target. The Starbucks inside are an added bonus.

Just started using big pack of wipes; I normally use the paper masks

Yes To, Inc. – Specifically Tomatoes. I love their sheet masks but I can’t use them as often as I like so I am not positive they work so much as I enjoy using them during my Spa Day.

Out of wipes so this is just an empty package 🙂

SheaMoisture – Favorite products African Black Soap: Clarifying Mud Mask, Body Wash & Clarifying Facial Wipes; Raw Shea Chamomile & Argan Oil Baby Head-to-Toe and last but not least Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen and Restore Leave-In Conditioner. They also have makeup I would love to try.

Need to restock my oils because this is all I have left

NOW Foods – ALL THE OILS!!! I’m kidding I haven’t tried them all (though I’m working on it) but I am obsessed with a lot of them. I’ll name my top 3 there are a lot: Sweet Almond, Jojoba and Grapeseed/ Avocado (these I use interchangeably).

There you have it. It is now in the universe and even though I will not give up in pursuing these brands I’m hoping someone with the knowledge I need finds my space and points me in the right direction. Also this is not me saying I wouldn’t be open to other brands especially ones with natural ingredients, fair trade practices or local businesses. I’m simply saying this is a list of companies I currently use/ go to.

PS – I’m counting this as a digital Vision Board because lets face it it would be a dream come true to have my favorite brands find my corner of the internet.

Review: NICETOWN Thermal Insulated Grommet Blackout Curtains for Bedroom (2 Panels, W42 x L63 -Inch,Grey)

Pros:

Color
Great if you have low ceilings
Looks expensive when ironed (which I didn’t do because I hate ironing)

Cons:

Must use two panels otherwise it is not a total blackout curtain
- single panel stretched out allows light in as it doesn’t have an additional backing like expensive blackout curtains

Overall: I would and HAVE purchased again. Once I realized I needed two panels for each window I purchased more in grey for my bedroom and also purchased in navy blue for my living room. The link below shows fabric and grommets.

While this post isn’t sponsored by anyone, I was able to buy it with gift cards I accumulated through taking surveys. I still worked for the gift cards but it wasn’t part of regular income.

Review: Decopolitan 7/8-Inch Square Window Treatment Rod Set, 36 to 72-Inch, Nickel

Sorry about the lighting. Left side of the full rod picture is closest to actual color

Pros:

Affordable less than $15 as of 1/8/18 (price varies)
Bright nickel finish
Sturdy
Fast shipping with Amazon Prime

Cons:

Price varies which is important if you want to buy more
Scratches easily (could be result of how I was moving it)

Overall: I would purchase and recommend as long as the price didn’t go over $20. Looks very nice for the price 🙂 The link below shows the rod up close

While this post isn’t sponsored by anyone, I was able to buy it with gift cards I accumulated through taking surveys. I still worked for the gift cards but it wasn’t part of regular income.

Review: Delimira Full Figure Bra

Delimira Women’s Smooth Full Figure Underwire Seamless Minimizer Bra (40F)

I purchased* this bra on Amazon not expecting much because it’s literally the cheapest bra of this size I’ve ever found. I received it in the packaging above which seemed sufficient.

I immediately looked at the seams and was shocked because it was stitched well. There weren’t any loose threads and nothing was frayed. The design was cute enough for a bra of this size and the material felt soft. I say cute enough because unless you spend $60+ you only get a plain almost hospital looking bra.

Next I had to look at the clasp… I was nervous because it was on $17.99 plus tax (as of 2/7/18). But the above picture is what was looking back at me. An industrial strength reinforced closure that would hold back the twins! Okay maybe that was an exaggeration but needless to say it wasn’t the cheap piece of material I expected to see at that price. The straps and rings seemed standard.

Final Notes:

Affordable
Free shipping if you have Amazon Prime
Minimizer portion is more of a flattening which caused a little spillage
- this could be pilot error as this is my first minimizer
Not sure how many washes the cups will go through while still minimizing
- again could be pilot error as I think most bras recommend hand washing but I’m not doing that…
- so far one wash on regular cycle (& dry) and we’re doing good
Will buy again in same color
- other options in my size (40F) were Ivory & Pink

*using gift cards from taking surveys

Review: FUNERICA Pretend Play Food Set

Pros:

All pieces fit into the container easily
Cuttable pieces have sturdy velcro
Durable
Container can be opened by toddler
- my son actually found this very amusing so it is kind of like an additional toy!
Food is realistic with seeds/ core
My husband and I enjoy playing with this because of the cuttable food

Cons:

Image on Amazon shows stainless steel pots, pans and additional utensils but what I received was plastic pink & red and no additional utensils (not including knife as that wasn’t shown to be steel)
- Note – I was charged a lower than what I originally saw so the lower price might have reflected the adjustment in product
Must use back & forth motion to cut food because chopping (one movement) doesn’t work easily
- Husband pointed out this is usually how you cut which makes it more realistic however I like to chop because it’s fun 😉
Easy for toddler to lose pieces so parent has to make sure all food items are put back together
- already lost 2 pieces so we only have 1/2 of an apple and steak not a big deal but worth mentioning

Overall: I would buy this again because my son loves it and he can cook mommy lunch. I would prefer to be notified if the items will be different than what was shown as the set pictured looked more like my cookware which is what I was going for but again my son doesn’t care and still really enjoys the set. The link shows all the items I received in the set and you can see my son’s little hand as he’s too excited to wait for me to finish recording.

While this post isn’t sponsored by anyone, I was able to buy it with gift cards I accumulated through taking surveys. I still worked for the gift cards but it wasn’t part of regular income.

Wig-ing Out pt 2

I wasn’t sure what to call this but making it a part 2 seems fitting. In the original “Wig-ing Out” post, I mentioned purchasing the same wig in a different color and I did😁

I made a brief video overview (link below) but I included pictures of the wig packaging because I accidentally deleted my original video. There are also pictures of the Red Velvet color so you can see the slight differences.

BS206 1B

1st Wig which made me want to repurchase

Note: Red seems softer than black. Black had short pieces at the top which resembled hair that was broken off; best way I can think of to describe it.

I hope this helps anyone interested in this wig!

Watch my quick wig review on YouTube at Journey to Mommy; link below.

While this post isn’t sponsored by anyone, I was able to buy it with gift cards I accumulated through taking surveys. I still worked for the gift cards but it wasn’t part of regular income.

Wig-ing Out

I bought a wig on Amazon!!

Brown Sugar Human Blended Lace Front Wig – BS206 (#SR2/REDVELVET) by ISIS HAIR

I’ve been wanting to do something different with my hair for a while now but I was a wishy washy mess when it came to making a decision. Finally what started as a trim turned into a cut which morphed into looking for a wig on Amazon. I spoke with my husband and this was the best routine to avoid any further scissor happy moments.

I looked up red wigs then human hair red wigs then affordable wigs and this pooped up some where during my search. I liked what I saw but was very uncertain about the color as I am of a darker shade and don’t like anything that makes me stand out too much. But after consulting with my husband I decided to take the plunge plus I knew my sister would look great with this color so it wouldn’t be a complete waste of money.

Below are pictures of the wig on me, packaging and instructions. I am by no means a wig expert but I used to buy a lot of them and often so I wanted to review this one based on the knowledge I’ve gained from previous experience.

color looks okay on my skin tone but does take a confident person to wear as it is very bright
color is beautiful
lace seems short and somewhat stiff but very user friendly
- I’m not sure how wide the lace part is on other wigs (this is my first lace front) but for my large head it seemed short
- should mention I didn’t braid it down properly
full with minimal shedding

standard wig packaging
no smell

loved the instructions for installing the unit and washing
comes with double-sided tape

Overall I liked the wig but gave to my sister because I wasn’t comfortable with the color. I plan on buying the same wig in a different color and I will definitely buy more wigs from this brand/ seller.

While this post isn’t sponsored by anyone, I was able to buy it with gift cards I accumulated through taking surveys. I still worked for the gift cards but it wasn’t part of actual regular income more like things I do while my son is napping on me. I have also purchased other things this way. I will try to note when I do but if I forget you can always ask if you’re curious 🙂

Size 4 Diapers

“What brand of diapers do you prefer?”

This was one of the most common questions I was asked towards the end of my pregnancy and during his first few months on the outside. The most common answers:

I have no idea
Whichever ones are on sale
Whatever you want to buy me is fine

Then the day finally came when I ran out of diapers from our baby shower. I had no idea what I was doing. I almost called my mom in tears as I stood sleep deprived in the middle of Target trying to figure out what everyone had bought us at the shower. All I could think of was “insert brand is the best diaper”. I knew there were lots of options including reusable, partial reusable and disposable as well as a million brands each carrying different types. What I didn’t realize is no matter what works for others you still have to find the one or a few you are personally comfortable with.

I am by no means an expert with only one child that is one years old and only having tried 5-6 different types of diapers. While I was gifted reusable diapers I never got around to using them as I had already gotten used to disposables by the time I received them. This is just a quick rundown of the few diapers I’ve tried. And I’m mostly posting this in case we have a second child I can remind myself that I DO want to give the reusable diapers a try as well as which ones seem totally unnecessary.

First I’ll give honorable mentions to the diapers I only used 3-4x

Honest Brand: Expensive and over-rated IMO but very cute and allegedly better for the environment than regular disposables
Seventh Generation: Too stiff/ hard but allegedly better for environment than regular disposables
Luvs: Chemical smell, very affordable, caused rash and had to return but could work perfectly for someone else (please note I’ve never had this problem with any other diaper and my son doesn’t have extremely sensitive skin)

Now for the diapers I purchased numerous times

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Note these are all size 4 diapers 22-37 lbs.

1 – Pampers Swaddlers

Pros: Fit well, soft & readily available

Cons: Not a good fit once baby started crawling due to the straight edged back (see pic #1 back)

Price: Coupons and discounts occasionally but good at places like Target that offer gift card deals if a certain quantity is purchased

2 – Huggies Little Movers

Pros: Cheaper than Pampers but just as soft, stretchy with elastic style back (see pic #2). It also has a purple patch on the front that seems to help the diaper stay in place better

Cons: Thigh area was a little snug until he started to thin out so if your baby has larger thighs then be mindful this could cause chaffing

Price: Always has coupons in our local paper (free coupons that come automatically) and has the gift card deal at Target

3 – Huggies Snug & Dry

Pros: Extremely thin!!! I didn’t think this would absorb as much as the regular diapers which all seem to be larger/ plusher but it does without all the added material. Wetness indicator & stretchy back (see pic #3)

Cons: Not as soft as other diapers, slight smell to them

Price: Same as Huggies Little Movers

4 – Kirkland Signature

Pros: Very similar to Huggies Little Movers (see pic #4)

Cons: Need Costco membership, only available at Costco

Price: Very affordable and seems to have a sale/ discount every few months

April's Universe

Primary Menu

Tag: Product Reviews

Review: Delimira Full Figure Bra

*using gift cards from taking surveys

Putting It Out There – Career/ Business

Review: NICETOWN Thermal Insulated Grommet Blackout Curtains for Bedroom (2 Panels, W42 x L63 -Inch,Grey)

While this post isn’t sponsored by anyone, I was able to buy it with gift cards I accumulated through taking surveys. I still worked for the gift cards but it wasn’t part of regular income.

Review: Decopolitan 7/8-Inch Square Window Treatment Rod Set, 36 to 72-Inch, Nickel

While this post isn’t sponsored by anyone, I was able to buy it with gift cards I accumulated through taking surveys. I still worked for the gift cards but it wasn’t part of regular income.

Review: Delimira Full Figure Bra

*using gift cards from taking surveys

Review: FUNERICA Pretend Play Food Set

While this post isn’t sponsored by anyone, I was able to buy it with gift cards I accumulated through taking surveys. I still worked for the gift cards but it wasn’t part of regular income.

Wig-ing Out pt 2

While this post isn’t sponsored by anyone, I was able to buy it with gift cards I accumulated through taking surveys. I still worked for the gift cards but it wasn’t part of regular income.

Wig-ing Out

Size 4 Diapers

Note these are all size 4 diapers 22-37 lbs.