Unboxing L'Oreal Extraordinary Clay VoxBox and #Review #ExtraordinaryClay #LorealHair

Even though I did not buy special things for myself this year for Christmas, I received amazing free products.  One of them is the L'Oreal Extraordinary Clay VoxBox from Influenster.  It is a complete hair care that include:

L'Oreal Extraordinary Clay Mask Pre-Shampoo Treatment

L'Oreal Extraordinary Clay Rebalancing Shampoo

L'Oreal Extraordinary Clay Rebalancing Conditioner

As you know, I am very particular with my hair. I just don't use a hair care system based on popularity.  We all have preferences on taking care of our crowning glory.  I tried a few hair care treatment to help manage my dry and frizzy hair.  After pregnancy, my hair became difficult to handle because it gone sensitive which lead to hair fall.  That is why I am very picky with hair care products.  It always diligence in keeping a hair care routine that gives you the amazing result of a beautiful manageable hair.

I have a natural jet black hair. I wear it long mostly all year long. But it has oily roots and dry ends. I love a hair care that will give my hair an amazing scent all day long. So far, the L'Oreal Extraordinary Clay hair care has the essentials that I need for my hair.  

I started using this hair care system a week ago.  It's the very first time I tried using a hair mask.  I like the overall result on my hair.  Honestly, my hair stayed soft and smooth even after 48 hours without washing it.  The only thing I didn't like about the L'Oreal Extraordinary Clay Mask Pre-Shampoo Treatment was the smell. But the shampoo and the conditioner smelled amazing.  My hair smelled clean and fresh.

For long hair like mine, it takes a little while to cover your whole head with the clay hair mask.  After you covered your hair with the clay mask, you have to let it sit for five minutes before rinsing thoroughly.  Then use the shampoo and conditioner.  I wash may hair every two days so the L'Oreal Extraordinary Clay hair care system works for me.

*I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.  All opinions are my own.

Merry Christmas To One and All

Merry Christmas to you and yours!  May your wishes come true and happiness and blessings in the new year.

Fall Colors in My Yard

Happy December everyone! It is so nice to see the beautiful fall colors in my yard.  My tree is so pretty.  It's enjoying the Texas fall weather here before dropping the leaves off for the winter.  Nature is amazing.

Weekend Snapshot: My Christmas Tree Is Up

It's December once again my dear friends.  There is no denying that the Christmas cheer is in the air.  As early as August, I have seen some stores displaying Holiday decorations already.  So jealous because I have been wanting to buy Christmas decorations early but I have to wait until after Thanksgiving.

Anyway, as soon as we arrived home from our traveling on Thanksgiving, we put our Christmas tree up and decorated it.  So here's our Christmas tree this year. Ain't it lovely?

First Freeze Fall 2016

Sipping my coffee, I looked out in the backyard and saw white covering the ground.  I told my dear husband it snowed.  He said, "no, it's only frost." Then I remembered there was a freeze warning in effect 'til 9:00 A.M. this morning.  

What a pretty sight.  I hope we will get some snow this winter in Texas.  :)

Robotic Vacuum and Mop

I would like to have this Robotic Vacuum and Mop. It looks sleek and efficient.  I saw   I heard about this new vacuum cleaner from a few friends and I am putting this one on my Christmas or Birthday Wishlist. I am having problems with cleaning my home floors because I cannot keep up with the chore. Hopefully my wish will come true very soon. I would be very happy. :)

Supermoon Photos

I was able to photograph the supermoon last night. Moon rise over Nevada, TX. What a great night. Beautiful moon. So amazing.

And then my youngest sister send over a photo of the moon she took on Monday night Philippine time.

It's A Pajama-Kind-of-Weather Today

It was raining all afternoon, thank goodness.  It was pouring. The weather is so nice that I was feeling very lazy and sleepy all day. I sat on the back porch while sipping hot coffee after lunch while watching and listening to the heavy rains pouring down.  The temperature wasn't that cold, but I felt more comfortable with socks on.

How about you? How was the weather in your area today?

New Shingles And New Gutters

Had our roof replaced recently. (Thank goodness.)  After six months of waiting, a representative from the roofer company called last month and came to tell us that his workers will come do the job very soon.  Two weeks ago, our roof was fixed with new shingles.  Last week, different people came to replace the gutters.  My dear husband said that someone will come and replace the window screens.  Not from the same company who did the roof and the gutters.

Finally, we're almost done with this.  The insurance companies, the roofers, and the other home improvement companies were very busy since the hail storm in March.  We are happy that they got our done.

Hubby's Birthday Pie

It's my beloved husband's birthday.  So thankful for this day and the opportunity to be able to visit the folks this weekend to celebrate this special occasion.  Mom made the most delicious pie.  Here is a piece of Strawberry Pie - that is now my favorite of all time. :)  I am going to make some very soon. :)

Strawberry Pie

Discount Coupons Available On Educational Entertainment Fitness And Dance Classes

This is a sponsored post.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Groupon has been around for a while and been offering great discounts on products, services, entertainment, and dining.  Now that holiday is fast approaching consider to check the website often for helpful tips and gift ideas for your family and friends. And to avoid stress on Holiday rush best also to initiate your holiday shopping as early as now.  Don’t you think?

Besides merchandise, you can also give entertainment tickets, passes, and vouchers as gifts.  In addition, you can also buy kids’ class vouchers as gifts to your beloved nieces, nephews, young cousins, grandchildren, or even to your own kids.  As you know, you can get Groupon coupons for kids’ entertainment, educational, fitness passes and dance classes.

My daughter received a voucher to a ballet class as holiday present from a good friend last year. She enjoyed the eight classes of pre-ballet  for two months and it was such wonderful experience her. I realized that it can be a good gift idea to someone who enjoys dance classes.

You can find lots of fitness classes and engaging activities for kids like Ballet Classes, fitness membership on Groupon, and you can choose also avail a year membership to a  science museum nearby. What I love about Groupon is that, discount offers are posted regularly on their site. You can even find coupons to your favorite bookstores like Barnes and Noble. I am looking forward to give these kind of gift where they can enjoy it the most.

When  purchasing  these kind of deals always remember that to know the details in every package  is very essential especially if you are going to give it as present. Though, Groupon gives you credit of your unused purchases, the satisfaction of who receive the package is important.

These Purple Flowers Smell Good

I like this bushes so much.  They bloom purple flowers and they smell good.  No wonder I saw lots of bees around them. I was almost got stung while photographing these beauties.  A bee aggressively swooped towards me with it's stinger pointing out to me.  Waahhh!  I quickly jumped away.  

Do you know what these bushes are called?

Groupon Coupons Can Save You Money On Products and Services

This is a sponsored post.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Well, it's back to school again.  Did you have a great summer vacation?  We did.  As you know, my family and I love vacations. :) When we got back from our getaway - we went to Arkansas and Oklahoma, the first thing my husband and I did was register our darling K in Kindergarten.  Then he let me buy the school supplies and school clothes two weeks before the school started in August. I did most of the school clothes shopping on the Internet and all of a sudden my laptop crashed one day.  I was quite frustrated because most of my shopping was done online.  

You see, as soon as I learned about the convenience of online shopping, I don't go to the stores more often to buy clothes or shoes. Especially when I get discounts via coupons on Groupon and check out my items fast.  But the disadvantage is when your gadget breaks, you have to think for a quick solution.  Thankfully, my dear husband knows how to fix computers. :) He recovered mine and I was able to finish my online shopping in a week.

I mentioned that I buy products on discounts using coupons from Groupon.  Yes, and I have shopped a few Groupon Goods and availed discounts on dining and kids activities in the past 12 months.  There are so many products, services, and things to do in highly discounted prices on Groupon site.  Browsing the site is easy because all items and products are well-categorized for quick navigation on Groupon goods.  I might buy a new laptop here very soon.  We'll see how the weather goes. :)

There are plenty of online shopping resources where you can get great deals on products and services.  And Groupon is one of them.  What I like about Groupon is that they always offer the best available prices on the product or item that I need.  If you are lucky, you can also avail discount coupons.  Isn't that nice?

Dell Netbook Battery Replacement

Combination Fajitas - Shrimp and Beef

 After getting our family portraits done this morning, we went to El Rodeo for a big yummy lunch.  My dear husband and I always agree on getting Fajitas.  They have meat combinations which you can choose either Chicken and Beef or Shrimp and Beef.  Darling daughter ordered Taco Salad.  We were feeling terrible after eating because we're so full. :)

New battery for my Dell netbook.

While relaxing and getting the food digested, I start replacing the worn out battery on my Dell netbook.  It's six years old.  No wonder it won't charge anymore.  I found a Dell netbook battery replacement on Amazon for around $11.00.  I hope this one will last six years also.

The Perfect Tiny Kitchen Renovations

Not every home, apartment or condo comes with a dreamy country kitchen. Are you frustrated by the lack of space in your tiny kitchen? There are some renovations you can have done that will open up the usable space and make you feel less claustrophobic when it is time to prepare a meal.

Take Out a Wall

This may seem like a drastic step, but it can really open up the space and make you breathe a little easier. You need a professional to do this so that a load bearing wall is not removed accidentally. 

Use a Mobile Island

If you seriously lack counter space for preparing food you can always invest in a small mobile kitchen island. They are on wheels and can be moved anywhere in the room, or even tucked in a closet when not being used. 

Smaller Appliances and Appliance Placement

You may need to scale down from full size appliances and opt for smaller, well-designed units. Under the cupboard mounted coffee pots, can openers and other small 
appliances can save you tons of space on the counters. Incorporating shelving designs to hold small appliances can be useful as well.

Lighting, Flooring and Glass

Subdued and multi-directional lighting can help soften the look of a small space. Quality flooring can also help open up a tiny kitchen visually. Exchange standard cupboard doors with glass front. It will make the room seem much larger than it is.

Color Your World

The right mix of colors can completely transform a small kitchen. Darker backdrop colors against white cabinets will give the room more depth. You can experiment with a variety of color swatches and see which you like the best. 

Limit Kitchen Activity

If the space is small it makes no sense to have folded laundry, homework or mail sitting on limited counter space. Trim it down to food preparation activity and items only and you will be pleasantly surprised at how much bigger the space seems.

It is time to get a hold of a quality home improvement expert that will know how to renovate your tiny kitchen to give you the added space you need. Contact professionals like remodelingcontractor.com for a free no-obligation quote right now!

Couponing: Household and Hair Care Products

One of the things I have fun doing is shopping for great bargains especially if they are needed in my household.  I also use coupons in order to cut the cost I am paying at the register.  I have been shopping using coupons (or couponing) for two years now and I can say that I am having fun.  Besides, I can get the products in a very low price or even for free.  My favorite store is CVS.  Aside from the coupons I receive from the manufacturing companies, CVS also gives out coupons to customers who are members of their rewards program.  Every now and then CVS gives you a percentage off your purchases in the mail.  

I only grab the products for my household needs.  Like detergents, paper towels, bathroom tissue, shampoos, toothpaste, and toothbrush.  Today I bought 3 tide liquid detergent and 4 Pantene products. P & G has a promotion this week at CVS that if you buy $30 worth of P & G products, you will receive $10 Extra Bucks or (it is like a cash back but in the form of a store credit/coupon).

I had a $10.50 Extra Bucks from my previous transactions which is last week.  So I used it to purchase Tide and Pantene products.  Also, I got P & G brand coupons in the Sunday paper and CVS gave me coupons from the Red Box - a CVS rewards card reader machine.  

The grand total of this transaction was $32. 81.  After deducting all the manufacturers' coupons and CVS coupons, the total came down to $16.83 including tax.  I used the $10.50 Extra Bucks and out-of-pocket of $6.83 to pay.  I got $10 Extra Bucks back.  Not bad for 7 products.

If you want to get coupons from your favorite P & G products, sign up here for free.

Free Product Samples To Try

Free products samples I received in the mail this week.

The above picture pretty much sums up all the free products sample I received this week.  I am a member of product sampling and review sites - Amazon Review Trader, Influenster, Pinch Me, and Crowdtap - where I can get a chance to receive free samples in the mail based on my answered surveys.  In exchange for these free product samples, I have to give my honest feedback about the products and the experience I had during the sampling of the product.  If you noticed, "honest feedback" are on bold.  Because as a consumer, we need to inform the companies about the products we are using or consuming everyday to help in their decision-making.  Also, we let other consumers know our honest opinion regarding a product so it will help their shopping habits.

It is FREE TO JOIN these product sampling sites.  And if you are interested to join, kindly click on the links below.

Influenster

Amazon Review Trader

Crowdtap

Pinch Me

Mulches Help Keep The Moisture In The Soil

Months after my husband pulled out the old bushes by the front porch, finally, we planted new bushes.  It's long overdue, I know.  But here it is.  My dear husband and I did a lot of yard work today.  I don't usually brag about accomplishments and stuff but it's a productive Sunday for us here in the Sefcik household.  I am just super happy that we were able to get our gardening going again this year including the front porch's flower beds.  New bushes in the row that will take years to grow into hedges.  But that's alright. The house is now happy that we came to our senses to beautify our home again.  

We bought the new bushes from Home Depot using the Visa gift card my dear husband claimed from the rewards he got from buying paints a month ago - also from Home Depot.  We bought a few Boxwood Holly and a Sky Pencil Japanese Holly to replace the Wax Myrtle that's previously planted in the corner where the water hose is.  Then we topped the flowerbeds with red mulch that according to my hubby will keep the moisture in the soil so the plants won't dry out in the summer heat.

I know it's quite silly but I had to pick the red mulch so it matches the red bricks of the house.  Target for this project is to complete the planting of flowering plants before the fourth of July comes.  It would be nice to have a newly planted flower beds when the holiday comes.

Back From A Long Vacation

I'm back!  Yes, I was away for over two months. I was on a long vacation with my darling daughter. We went to the Philippines to visit my side of the family and have had a wonderful summer vacation. By the end of March, school is out and summer vacation starts over there.  So my nieces and nephews were with us in all our getaways.

So, I am back now and will start posting about our adventures and new experiences from the vacation.  Hopefully, I won't forget a thing. :D  See you around.  Have a wonderful day peeps.

Experience With Target's Ship To Store - Not Good

If you are shopping online for a product that you really really like, you cannot wait to receive the product right?  And because the store offers free shipping to store, that's a very big plus right?  Who doesn't like free shipping?

I order items online ahead of time because I know that sometimes you cannot trust the items to be delivered and/or ready for pick up five or 7 days after the items' have shipped.  But I think this one is quite unacceptable.  As you can see, I ordered two items from a store.  Both of them are swimwear and to be shipped to the same store I selected.  One swimwear arrived at the store in six days after the order was placed.

The second swimwear is still in transit as of today, yet the estimated delivery to store is 14 March 2016.  Today is the 19th.  How come?  I called the store to double check with them.  They told me the same thing, the item is still in transit.  To some these items are not quite important.  But I am going on a vacation with my loved ones and I ordered these pieces for them expecting that they will arrive within a week or so.  What's disappointing is, it's been two weeks and one of the swimwear is still pending.  I ordered both VERY ahead of time.

One pending item as of 19 March 2016.

Spring Is Here Sunny And Windy - Clothing To Wear In This Weather

What a wonderful weather today. It's really nice to go out and have fun outdoors.  Plus, there's no need to wear sweaters for a few days.  Although it's sunny the whole week in Texas, the wind is blowing a little strong.  So wind breaker jackets will make you feel comfortable outdoors.  In addition to these women's spring clothes, capri shorts or lounge pants are also comfy to wear outside. For men, wind breaker jackets and pull over hoodies are also recommendable.  

Don't wear a summer hat yet because the wind will just blow it away. Try to tie your hair in a pony tail if you have a long hair. It will help keep your hair in place.  Always put some lip balm and facial moisturizer on.  Our skin gets dry quickly on windy day.

Women's Active Wear Doesn't Have To Be Expensive #C9atTarget #C9FitGirls #contest

Happy March everybody!  

The weather is getting warmer and it is the most anticipated time of the year when we can spend more time outdoors to do some fitness and wellness stuff.  Of course we need appropriate clothing for these activities, don't you think?  And it doesn't have to be expensive. Sure does the C9 Champion® Women's Power Shape Sports Bra is very affordable as well as pretty, stylish, and comfortable.

C9 Champion® Women's Power Shape Sports Bra

I was given the opportunity to sample this pretty stylish sports bra from C9 Champion at Target.  I received this item complimentary from Influenster for testing and review purposes.  

I love the concealing petals.

C9 Champion® Women's Power Shape Sports Bra is available at Target in the Activewear aisle.  Also available in variety styles and colors.

Valentine's Day 2016

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! 

May you have a wonderful day.  Happy Sunday.

Chocolates, cards, and red roses.

5 Everyday Uses for Casters

Everything is better on wheels, but that doesn't mean everything is practical on wheels, especially if you're budget-minded or not that handy with a wrench. If you're looking for easy-to-use, easy-to-apply caster ideas, here are just a few suitable for any home or office.

1. Toolboxes

Small toolboxes are usually carried by hand, but what if you own something larger? What if your toolbox is too big or too heavy to be hauled? Think about adding a set of wheels. Not only will it increase your mobility around the garage, but it'll also prevent falls, drops and tools scattering everywhere.

2. Chairs

All chairs should come with wheels. For one, it prevents damage to your floor by distributing your weight across circular planes rather than four fixed points; even more importantly, it's more ergonomic for your back, neck and shoulders if you can move around freely. If you haven't already, add casters on your chairs. You won't regret it.

3. Desks

Once you've put wheels on your chairs, it's time to up your game and put them on your desks, too. It's a great way to mobilize your home office or study room. It also allows you to enjoy the sunrise from your window without suffering the glare on your computer screen at high noon; simply move your desk to another angle to avoid it.

4. Entertainment Centers

It's great that you've got your televisions and video game consoles set up just the way you like them, but what happens if you need to move them? Putting your entertainment center on a wheeled cart will keep everything mobile and ready to go without forcing you to unhook, unplug and untangle dozens of cords first.

5. Laundry Baskets

Are you tired of pulling muscles in your back by hauling wet clothes around? Put your laundry basket on wheels. You can simply roll your laundry wherever it needs to go, and what's more, you can transport more loads at once when you're not worried about the weight or size limits of what you can carry at one time. You'll get your laundry done twice as fast as normal!

These are just a few simple ways to use furniture casters. Don't let this list hinder your imagination, however; the sky is the limit, so feel free to experiment with wheels to your heart's content.

Spring Coming Early This Year?

Hello everyone! It's February already.  I bet most of you cannot wait for Spring, huh?  Well, I think Spring is coming early this year.  What's your plans in the coming season?  Are you preparing Easter goodies for the kids?

I will be on vacation this Spring so I won't be in the US for Easter.  Hopefully I will be able to get some Easter stuff for my daughter while we're on vacation to the Philippines.

Almond flower

Easy Tutorial on How to Apply Kiss True Volume Lashes #KissLashes #Review #JingleVoxBox

Have you ever tried using false eyelashes?  It has been trending nowadays and the beauty enthusiasts have been posting video tutorials and photos of the look they created all over the Internet. Well, I am not a beauty enthusiast.  I am just a simple person who's interested in these things.  But I have been thinking of trying them.  Gladly I was given the chance to try these fabulous KISS Lashes complimentary from Influenster for testing and review purposes.  They came together with other awesome products in the JingleVoxBox I received during the Holidays.

Products in my #JingleVoxBox. 

So it took me 45 minutes to about an hour applying the Kiss True Volume Lashes.  Hey, I am a first-timer.  How about you?  Have you tried them?  Let me know how it went.  

Anyway, if you want to learn how to apply false eyelashes, always read the instruction in the back of lashes and the adhesive products to avoid any kind of trouble.  Make sure your hands are clean before applying false eyelashes.

You will need:

Kiss True Volume Lashes

It comes with a Kiss Strip Lash Adhesize, too.

Eyelash curler and tweezers.

Here's how to do it:

1.  Wash and dry your hands.

2.  Curl your eyelashes.

3.  Brush Kiss adhesive on the Kiss Lashes band. Wait for the adhesive to become a bit clear before application.

4.  Use the tweezers to set the Kiss Lashes on your lash line. Apply gentle pressure to let the false eyelashes to stick and dry.

There.  I have my Kiss Lashes on now. 

Honestly, I feel pretty.  Haha.  Kiss True Volume Lashes are made with 100% real hair. The strands are sturdy and won't break easily unless you tug them very hard.  Now that I know how to apply false eyelashes, I will be using these often.

Eventually, the false eyelashes will come off by itself after about eight hours.  Our eye  
movements-blinking in particular, can do that.  Removing the false eyelashes is not very difficult. Just slowly and gently peel them off from the inner part outward.  You can either use your fingers or tweezers. Be sure you wash your hands first before doing all of these. Be careful you don't hurt your eyes.

Join And Win Sweepstakes In The Comfort Of Your Home

As a stay-at-home mom and full-time housewife, there comes a time that I really needed to unwind without leaving the house unattended.  I mean, I go out with friends sometimes or just me and my darling daughter go to town for a little recreation.  But there are moments that I don't want to go out but I want to have a me time at home.  What I do is just I go to the guestroom, play some mellow music. And while watching my little one playing with her dollhouse, My Little Pony, and Little Pet Shop character toys, I also relax.  Thirty minutes to an hour of relaxation and doing nothing helps me recharge.

Sometimes, when I am done with my blogging tasks, I enjoy just browsing the Internet for good reads, tutorials, and giveaways or sweepstakes.  I like getting new updates on news, technology, and current events especially the latest news in the Philippines on the Internet.  Because of the time difference, I couldn't watch the Philippine news program on television.  

Meanwhile, watching cooking tutorials, and do-it-yourself (DIY) home improvement stuff, and beauty tutorials are fun and enjoyable to watch as well.  There are so many tutorial videos you can search on the Internet.  Once you learn about these things, you will not stop looking for more.

On the other hand, I also enjoy joining giveaways and sweepstakes.  In fact, I already won several products, items, and cash.  My favorite Instant Win Games site so far is JuliesFreebies.com.  It has lots of giveaway/sweepstakes listed on daily basis.  They are updated daily and so many games that you will be interested to enter.  The site also gives you a chance to claim free product samples from various brands.

So there you go.  Relaxing and winning.  Head to JuliesFreebies.com and let me know if you win something.

Easy-Grip And No-Pinch Eyelash Curler

Lovely Lashes Eyelash Curler

It was time to replace my old eyelash curler.  This easy-grip and no-pinch eyelash curler is just perfect to use on my small eyes.  I like it more because it comes with an extra silicone refill pad.  I am very sure that I will be using this thing more often and it will last for a very long time.

*I got this product free from Amazon in exchange for an honest review.  

Unboxing The Prize From A Campaign #VoxBox

I won!  Yup.  I have completed the Influenster's Sally Hansen #AirbrushLegs campaign.  I am an #InfluensterChamp! Woohoo!  Thank you for this opportunity, Influenster.

Would you like to get a chance to receive free products to sample? Please click here to learn more and sign up for free.

*I received this product for free from Influenster.

A Lovely Gift For A Lovely Me Indeed - Free Products to Try in My #JingleVoxBox

It's the day before Christmas.  Nobody was making a sound inside the house, not even a mouse.  Because my family and I were heading out of town to our folks' for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  As we were backing up to the road, I saw this pretty red box at the doorstep of the house.  Oh what a lovely gift indeed.  Early Christmas presents for me.  This is the second time Influenster sent me a VoxBox during the Holiday season.  Influenster rocks!!!

My #JingleVoxBox under the Christmas Tree.

The products in my #VoxBox.  Yay!  Early Christmas presents from #Influenster.

• Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream
• NYC City Proof 24HR Waterproof Eyeliner
• KISS Strip Lash Adhesive
• KISS True Volume Natural  Plump Eyelashes, Chic
• Pure Ice Nail Polish, Deja Vu
• Hallmark itty bittys SPIDER-MAN Stuffed Toy
• Biscoff Coffee Flavored Cookies
• Ore-Ida Coupon

Wow!  So much stuff.  I know there so many to do here but I don't mind.  Particularly the KISS Volume Plump Eyelashes, which I never have tried any type of it, will be on my eyes in the coming days.  How awesome is that?

I do have fun reviewing products.  Most of all, I love it when I get them for free.  :)  If you would like to get the chance to receive free product samples like me, please check the link below and sign up for free.  Thanks!

*I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing and review purposes.