How I save for the holidays.

Who doesn’t like getting gift cards? I have found some awesome sights that allow me to earn points and redeem them for gift cards. For the past three years I’ve  accumulated enough points that I’ve used to redeem for  gift cards that I use for Christmas shopping. I use the site to click thru to shop online, print coupons, take surveys and browse. As an example I usually redeem my points for Amazon gift cards. I then use the gift cards on AWESOME deals they have thru the holiday season and by clicking thru Swagbucks I start to earn points that I use next Christmas. It’s a wonderful cycle that I don’t mind doing over again. I love swagbucks because they have so many ways of earning points. They have a tool bar you can add to your browsers and when you search for things you earn points, they have surveys, buy thru links that earn points per dollars spent, online games, daily polls; the possibilities can be endless.

Click the link (Click Here) to head on over to Swagbucks so you can start earning your awesome points.

Another sight I  use which sends me a check once I reached a certain amount so no need to try to redeem points with this one, is Ebates. If you love shopping online then this sight might be what you’re looking for.  They have a ton of stores from Macys to Overstock they even have Zulily.

Click the link (Click Here)to head on over to Ebates and start earning that BIG Fat Check.

These are just a few sights I love to use. Let me know if you want to know what Apps I use to earn cash back on items I buy at the grocery store.

What sites do you use? Leave me a comment, like this post and don’t forget to subscribe. You can also follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Start collecting to make this Holiday count.

*please note All links used are referral links. 

 

From long to short…..

Going into 2015 I knew I needed to change a lot of things. So to begin this journey of self change I decided to get a drastic hair cut.  Now if you see the picture I’ve included you will see how long my hair was. I have never cut my hair this short EVER and my darling stylist was shocked and excited to explore my request to go nuts and cut it off. Jen gave me a beautiful A line cut with my longest pieces towards the front.

When I went home and honestly looked at myself I realized I had left my old self on the floor with all that excess hair I had that was dry, brittle and easily breaking off. I honestly never thought I could pull off a short cut. But those were all hang ups I personally had about how I saw myself. I didn’t go all Angela Basset cut my own hair off like in Waiting to Exhale but I now know how she feels. I had held on to my long hair so much because I thought that was one of the few features of myself I really loved. But now I look at myself and I still love my hair. It looks fresh, light and healthy.

Have you ever given yourself a drastic change??

 Like this post let me know. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram, Facebook or twitter.

What do you give thanks for?

I give thanks for the healthy kids in my life, and I give thanks for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

For the second in year in a row my son and I will be walking in the St Jude Give thanks. Walk to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. One day one huge walk!  On November 22^nd, 65 communities will take part in the efforts to raise money to help support life saving treatments that St Jude provides to children and their families.

I’m thankful to know that St. Jude is there — finding cures for kids with pediatric cancer and other deadly diseases and giving hope to parents around the world. I’ve been so moved by the inspirational stories of the kids treated there that I decieded to walk. I need your support to help me reach my fundraising goal of $150. To find out more about St Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the research they are doing to help save lives please visit. www.stjude.org.

As a fundraiser effort I have partnered with Younique to give 10% of retail price to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. If you would like to visit the site and make a purchase please use the link below .https://www.youniqueproducts.com/leticiamolina/party/854260/view

How your support helps:
Thanks to donations from people like us, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for anything.Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent.”

Please visit my fundraising Web page to donate (or register!) today. Donate here.

To read about last year’s event visit my post from last year.   https://momoftornado.wordpress.com/2013/12/07/give-thanks-walk/

Thank you for your support!

Product Review..Younique Moonstruck 3D Fiber Lash

               As described on the website.
“Our simple three-step process combines Transplanting Gel and Natural Fibers to help create the appearance of incredible thickness and volume to your existing lashes. Watch as your lashes transform into something you have only dreamed of! The 3D Fiber Lashes are water resistant but easily wash off with warm water and facial cleanser at the end of the day. Try it! It will quickly become your favorite makeup must-have!”

Younique Moonstruck 3D Fiber Lash

As a busy single mom I’m always looking for short cuts in the morning to get out the door fast and put together. I’ve found that having a limitless amount of time in the morning to get ready is a fantasy. I’ve said this before having a fast five minute face is a must have for me. A friend of mine told me about this product because she knows my eyes are super sensitive and since our family had a scare last year with some health issues we have been moving towards a more organic approach in most of the products we use and consume. I trusted her enough that I ordered the product immediately and since then have not looked back.

Younique 3D Fiber Lashes are packed in two separate bottles, the Transplanting Gel and the Natural Green Tea Fibers. They are used together to give the appearance of thicker, fuller, longer lashes. The instructions are easy to follow and as you get used to putting it on you can put your own spin to it. I’m a one coat kind of gal which is just enough for me to look awake and ready to face the world. If I wanted a bit more drama and glam then yes I would go for a second or even a third coat.

I found the product easy to apply and easy to remove. As I would with any water proof mascara I wash my face with a cleaner and then go over my face with a makeup removing clothes. Nothing fancy I use the Target brand and it works great.  As I’ve used the product I’ve learned that a little goes a long way. Also the transplanting gel is mostly made of  Natural Proplis , a component collected by bees, it might thicken up with cold weather. I’ve learned that just warming up the bottle will help liquefy the product. I’m a fidgety person so having make-up on my face that I can feel make my fingers twitch. With this product, I forget I have it on. I originally thought my eyelids would feel heavy especially with them becoming thicker but I don’t feel anything. It comes in two tubes so finding the balance when applying is essential. Don’t let the product dry. I hold them both in one hand and immediately apply the fibers after I applied the gel. Then seal the product with the Transplanting Gel once more and you are set.  The price point for this is $29 dollars. It’s in the range of most high end mascaras and I would apply this to that spectrum. Unfortunately this product is not found in stores but you can order it and have it shipped directly to you.

If you’re interested in the product, click here for your direct link to Younique.

What are you make up must haves?? Leave me a comment. Have you tried Younique products? Let me know your thoughts.

 

**This is a personal blog. All products were purchased with my own money. I have become a Younique Presenter, the link provided is a reference link that will lead you to my personal web page.  If you have questions please contact me via the web page and I will be happy to speak with you regarding Younique.

October Shanagans !!!!

October is the month of spooky treats and sneaky tricks.. This year I decided we would do something super special.

We went to Disneyland and did Trick or Treating with Mickey and Friends. It was such a magical experience for myself since the last time I was actually there was before I could remember even being there. So even as I disguised the trip as something special for my son it was also something super special for me. As soon as the sun went down the decorations and spooky noises came out and I was in awwwww. I loved how they lit the castle and you could see spiders crawling over it and the purple color of the castle so perfect. My son was quick to say he saw spells being cast all over he park and the Magic of Disney made us feel like we were caught in a spell. I loved how they set up stations so the kiddos can collect yummy treat and if lucky catch characters posing for pictures. My son is still talking about his conversation with Pirate Goofy. I honestly cannot wait to go back. I had such a great time with my son. He was a real trooper and did well even thought it was crowded. Unfortunaly we did not get to all the rides that night but the ones we did get on were AWESOME. I have first hand experience on why people fall in love with this place. We are now ready to tackle our next trip with out laniards and pins. Our first pin is the first time at Disney pin that we were given at the ticket counter.

I’m already starting to save my pennies so we can go once again next year. Definatly visiting Disney on a budget is very doable. Never let anything stop you. It will all be worth it.

Thomas and Percy Halloween Party at Roaring Camp Railways was such a fun day for my little one. He was able to finally meet his favorite trains; Thomas the Tank Engine and his best friend Percy. This was the first year Percy made it to Roaring Camp. The day was beautiful and all the activities were so much fun. My son could not contain his excitement when we walked into the park and he was surrounded by trains.  We were able to take pictures with Thomas and Percy. Sir Topham Hatt was also available to take pictubut we did not have time. We also enjoyed all the activities they were offering. Tattoos and face painting, and picking pumpkins to take home and jumping in the Bounce House. I think having a bouncy house is essential to giving kids a fun time. The best part was our 20 min train ride. It was a relaxing ride thru the area pulled one direction by Thomas and then pulled back to the rail station by Percy.

I would defiantly suggest this trip if you have the chance to visit a railroad station where Thomas the Tank Engine stationed. The wonder of it will live forever in your childs memory

Boo at the Zoo was a super fun event the Oakland Zoo holds over a weekend in Oct. The kids and grown ups are encouranged to come in costume, participate in a costume parade, enjoy the scavanger hunt and maybe take a spooky train ride.  We saw huge spooky bats; new to me since the last visit we made to the zoo. I thought they were pretty cool. Most were sleeping but some were up scratching and swinging away. Reminded me of a book we read ; Bats at the beach by Brian Lies. Check it out if you have not. But  they were not the only animals we saw up close. During the Animal Theater show we saw a Farrett, a Horned owl and a Black snack. Honestly I cant tell you the name of the snack because I was so freaked out. This mom does not like snakes. But I did learn that its not poisenous and it kills its pray by thrashing it about and this type of snake pretend to be a cobra when its faced with a danger. As we visited different stations to learn about animals we also got our booklet stamped so we could claim a prize at the end of our scavanger hunt. This made being at the zoo so much more fun. To end the day we moved on over to Adventure Land to enjoy a kid coaster, a zippy plane ride and the carasoul.

Well I hope you all had a fabulous october and please let me know what cool and fun things you do to celebrate and count down to halloween.
Don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe so you never miss a post.

Last Minute Halloween Costume.

Fabulous news.. Halloween falls on a Friday this year! This time I was prepared or thought I was. Well my son and I went in September to scope out all the costumes, giving him options, make sure we find his size and finally reduce my stress.

Fast forward to Oct 27th… when I see that the school has sent home a note asking that costumes be characters from a book and non violent with no mask. Great …. That information would have been helpful a month ago when I got him a Power Ranger costume complete with a face mask. AHHHHHHHHHH. But totally understandable and this mom jumped on it! But now with 3 days left for this venture my hours to put together something is limited. I was a little stressed out I’m not going to lie. At that point I saw Rogelio (Jane Villanueva’s dad on “Jane the Virgin”- CW network) in front me telling me to “inhale, exhale” (in Spanish). After I’ve calmed and inhaled, exhaled I started to raid my sons books and we narrowed it down to his three favorite books.
*Aliens in underpants save the world.
*Charlie Brown is lost
*If you give a pig a party.

As most of you know the week before Halloween is crazy. The Halloween store is packed to the brim with last minute shoppers and the last thing I want to do at 6pm when I get home from work is make my way over with a tired Kindergartner to a crowed store to wait in line in the hopes that I find a cheap enough option to go with. So out of the three choices I picked.. CHARLIE BROWN.

Easy.. So here it is.
*Yellow shirt
*Black shorts
*Yellow socks.
I did purchase fabric paint to make the chevron stripes on the yellow shirt but this had to be the best last minute costume.

Allow the garment to dry for at least 24 hours before you wear it or wash it.

This year my son will have two costumes. One for school and one for our night haunts!!! 

Let me know what last minute costumes you have come up with. Like, share and comment..
Happy Halloween!!!

Frazzled Mom’s September Favorites.

September Favorites.

Hello everyone.. It’s been a while since I posted anything and I do apologize.. It’s been a hectic few months with my little one starting Kinder. I will do a whole separate post on that because he is going thru a transition period from preschool to kinder. As some of you may know when your first and only child goes from the safety of a preschool environment to the wild side of elementary school.

But as I was going thru my products that I’ve obsessed with this month I decided to let you know what my fav for the months have been.

September Favorites

Not Your Mothers : Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo: As you know I have tried a few dry shampoos to attempt to find the right ones for my needs. After one day my scalp becomes very oily and after two days its flat and dull. Since I went back to a dark color the oily look would be too greasy on me if I allowed my hair to get that way. I saw this advertised at Walgreens and decided to give it a try. Shake the can and spray then brush or finger comb the hair to blend in the powder residue. That’s what soaks up the oil. Added bonus for me at least is that is also pumps up my roots and gives me some volume. I’m all about the vava voom volume.

Shampoo and Conditioner: L’oreal Paris Advance Haircare Shampoo: Volume Filler Thickening Shampoo Conditioner: Smooth Intense Polishing Conditioner: I change up my shampoo frequently so my hair does not get used to one specific formula so when I saw this,  on sale of course, I decided to purchase the shampoo and conditioner The Shampoo leaves my hair squeaky clean with just one application. Then I apply my conditioner and leave it on while I soap up. I wait at least 5 min because my very much colored hair needs a good conditioning once in a while. Great results so far. I’ve already purchased another set of bottles.

Kiehl’s Aromatic Blend: Orange Flower & Lychee – Liquid Body Cleanser : I picked this up at Nordstrom and OMG I am obsessed with it. The scent is so fresh and so clean with that hint of feminine. The scent lingers on my body all day as well. I’m not into heavy scents at all so this is perfect.

Jordan Essentials Naturally Unscented Shea Body Butter: I saw this product on Facebook and decided to give it a try because of my sons eczema and my mothers extremely dry skin that was causing her pain.  I have to tell you we have used two tubes of it because it has helped both of them so much. After I shower I lather this on all over and it leaves my skin so soft and defiantly non greasy. bsorbs into my skin easily as well. I know I’ve noticed a huge difference on my sons skin.  Click here to visit Jordan Essentials.

Younique Moon Struck 3D Fiber Lashes : As you might know by the title of my blog I’m pretty much a frumpy mom with a busy hectic schedule so when I found these Lash fibers I was sold. They make my eyes look awake and ready to tackle the world. You can use any mascara as a base and then once applied you notice the HUGE difference in the thickness and length of your lashes. But here is the great part. No glue, no yanking, no chemical smell none of those negatives that comes with trying to put on false lashes. This is a naturally based gluten free product so I did not worry about it stinging me or making my eyes water. Water proof and comes off easily with any make up removing cloth.  If you want to learn more about these awesome lashes visit my presenter page as I currently became a Younique Presenter. Click here
for more info.

Let me know if you have tried any of the mentioned products. I’d love to hear what you think. As always let me know if you want me to review any of the mentioned products.

If you like this post share it and subscribe … Follow me on twitter at katiiz95 and or on Facebook.com/momoftornado.

Disclaimer : all products we purchased with my own money and all opinions are alley my own. I have included one referral link for Younique products.

bareMinerals BARESKIN – Foundation review

First Impression
bareMinerals BARESKIN- Pure Brightening Serum Foundation
Broad Spectrum SPF 20
My skin match is Bare Latte 11

A bit about the product as described on the packaging – “A breakthrough tone correcting mineral foundation and skincare serum in one”. This might be why the product is thin. It states that you will obtain “ a natural finish…. while delivery a more noticeably brighter youthful appearance”

Once I saw the advertisement for this product I decided I wanted to try it. Since I’ve used the bareMineral powder foundations in the past I was eager to try this foundation. The ease in use of their products for me has been there winning point. I could have gone to a specialty store or QVC to just buy the product but I had a bareMineral boutique close to my home and I wanted to make sure I got a perfect match for my skin tone. Especially since my winter skin is completely different then my summer skin.

I love going into a store and knowing exactly what I’m looking for; and boy was I happy that I did. Their range of color selections is vast and I know I would have picked something way to light for my current skin tone. She tested a few out and easily found my correct shade.

The product can be used alone or you could apply a primer first. Since I tend to get super oily towards the end of the day this is the best option for me. This has been one of my pet peeves with my current BB cream routine. I literally feel like an oily mess towards the end of my work day.

After she primed my face she showed me just how far one drop can go. Per the instructions she says two drops is pretty much all I need to obtain a nice even coverage on my face. If I wanted to build on it I can do so as well. She applied one drop then proceeded to apply the foundation to only half my face. Using the second drop she applied it to the other half of my face. I’ve seen some reviewers who have used up to 6 drops all over their face so when she demonstrated the even coverage she obtained with just two drops I was relieved. If you know me you know I love BB creams because of the simplicity, sheer coverage and even skin tone I obtain from the product. Most of the times I’m the only one who knows that I have some semblance of make up on. This product pretty much delivered just that. A nice even coverage so light that I barely feel it on my skin.

First impression- I’m surprised to see how watery the product is. As she applied it I did not feel any wetness or sliminess. All I felt was the soft brush against my skin and she buffed the product onto my skin. I instantly noticed a difference. I noticed the redness on my cheeks had diminished and my skin looked even. As I walked out of the store with my new purchase I took note to see how my skin felt. I did not feel that I had make up on at all. Sometimes even with a BB cream my skin can feel smothered. Not with this product. This was applied at around 1pm. Note I was in a mall with my child and the weather was beyond beautiful so we did spend some time playing outside, running around being silly. At around 6pm when we sat down to dinner I noticed I was s bit oily in my regular area (chin and cheeks) but not enough to prompt me to go wash my skin. Usually I would have been blotting my skin because of this. So I was impressed. At 9pm when I was going to remove my makeup I noticed the product was still on still had that even skin tone look to it. Not super oily either.

First impression at applying it myself: After I washed my skin and primed it I took the brush and applied a good size drop then did half my face. I dotted the brush on my cheek and forehead then started to make a circular buffing motion all over that side making sure I reach the temples, my nose, my chin, my cupid bow and under my chin. Doing the same thing the other side with my second good size drop. I decided to try it this way first so I can see what it looks like following the direction the young lady at the store gave me. Not even 5 minutes later I was done. My skin had a nice even tone but you could still see my freckles. If I wanted to do a fuller coverage I would do the process over again. It’s something I will have to try if I go out at night. But this is perfect for an everyday day look. I added some blush and mascara and I was ready to go.

Let me know if you have tried this product. What did you think? Would you repurchase?

Don’t forget to follow me on twitter and Facebook..xoxo

All product featured were purchased with my own money.

My Pinterest tries!!

If you know what Pinterest is then you know the amount of hours one can waste going over boards and boards of interesting things one can cook, sew, craft, DIY and mimic. Who has not found something on there and said “OMG I can totally do this”, “ Look how easy” and “OHH wow I never knew you could do that”

Once I started to meal prep the first thing I did was look to Pinterest for easy ideas to try at home. That is when I found this one..
A yummy Bean Salad:

Click here for inspirational pin.
I made a huge batch of this and used it threw out the week with my lunches. I would mix in some quinoa or chicken to give it a different taste. Even added avocado.

Another Pinterest try we did this week is this AMAZING Fried Honey Banana Recipe.

Literally my sister said she wants to purchase a ton of bananas to make this recipe every day. It’s a great healthy alternative to candy. Try at your own risk this does seem to be addictive.
Click here for inspiration pin.

So of course with me being so obsessed with Pinterest I started to collect toilet paper rolls. I thought for sure I would find a great craft idea to try with my monkey. With Easter right around the corner I found this great post we could try. Toilet paper Easter Bunnies.

Click here for inspirational pin.

What are your favorite Pinterest post. Which are your Pinterest tries and misses? I am constantly on the lookout for great ideas to try at home. Follow me at @momoftornado to keep up with things I want to try.

As always I love reading your comments and don’t forget to follow me on twitter and facebook to keep up with me.

Good Bye 2013.. Hello 2014!!!!

So every year I’ve set resolutions. I usually start out with a bang and get a good momentum going and then something happens. Thru out the year I pick it up again hit it hard then again something happens that completely throws me off. I know, if I had the ultimate dedication I imagine to have nothing can throw me off my path. Thinking back I realize some things, I got lazy, I got tired, I would snooze, time moved on and nothing would get done.

Once Christmas hit I started to think what can I set for my resolutions in 2014 and well.. I decided I will have NO RESOLUTION. I will set goals. With a do-able time line. I’ve thought long and hard on how I can reach my goal. Honesty with myself will be the most important steps to attaining any goal. Becoming inspired, staying motivated and asking for help if I need it. I have enlisted my sister and a few friends to take this journey with me. We are all busy people, life still goes on around us. Posting, texting, emailing is going to be key to attain my success.

So as for my 1st Goal.. Lose 10 pound down by my birthday.

A simple, do-able goal. If I hit the target before the date great. I realized I was trying to be unrealistic. I know how my body works so now I’m going to use that tool. The last thing I want is to be stressed about making a goal that I set to high. We all know what stress does to the body. Being a single mom, working full time does not help but I realized this is just another excuse I kept telling myself.

I will be sharing with you guys this awesome journey I am going to embark on. My reasons for losing this weight are many. I believe any reason you have that will motivate you is a great reason. So if you want to join me I would be happy to have you along for this awesome ride. If I get enough people I will start a Facebook group but for now post comments below and follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

2014 is going to be an awesome year.