The Domestic Diva » The Domestic Diva

New P&G Products at Walmart: On-the-Go Makeup Video How-To (sponsored)

The Domestic Diva — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:26:25 +0000

P&G recently came out with some new products that are now available at Walmart. I was given the opportunity to try them out for myself.

On occasion there are times when it seems like I just don’t have enough time in the day. On those days that I’m rushed and need to get out the door quickly I usually put on whatever products that I have on hand. In the video below I show you my favorite makeup look whenever I’m short on time using some of the P&G products that I was sent to try.

Watch on YouTube: http://youtu.be/3OcxADpyUqg

Olay Clean & Mild Make-Up Remover Cloths: whether it is at the end of a really long day or when I’m quickly trying to get ready before heading out the door, towelettes like these are great to have on hand.

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream: I like using this product under my makeup as a moisturizer.

Covergirl + Olay Tone Rehab 2-in-1: Foundation + Serum: this foundation offers great coverage plus I liked the added benefit of the hydrating serum.

Covergirl LashBlast 24Hr: this mascara does last a good while and I didn’t have any problems with fall-out or my mascara flaking off. I didn’t however like the feel of the brush (I usually like mascaras that have big, fluffy brushes for volumizing)

Covergirl Blast Flipstick in Vixen: I’m more of a lipgloss kind of girl but the light pink shade in this lipstick is definitely a favorite. I like that I also have two options of a darker shade as well as a lighter shade so I can mix and match.

Pantene Aqua-Light: this shampoo is Silicone Free, Dye Free, & Paraben Free.

Have you tried any of these products? Which ones do you like and which ones do you not like?

Disclosure: I am a Walmart Mom. I have been compensated for my time and efforts in creating this post/video as well as given samples of the products mentioned in this post. As always my participation is voluntary and opinions are my own. My experience may differ from your own.

Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy: After 7+ Day Trial (sponsored)

The Domestic Diva — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:54:31 +0000

In an earlier blog post, I told you all that I was trying out a new shampoo/conditioner called Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy.

Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy is different because instead of treating the ends of the hair it nourishes the scalp instead. But before I show you my before and afters, here is a video that I found interesting from Francesca Fusco, M.D., a Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy Dermatologist.

Watch on Youtube: http://youtu.be/-cB52o_FhXE

Here is a little history about my hair…
My hair is naturally curly, fine but with a ton of volume.
My hair LOVES moisture. The slightest bit of humidity and my hair gets frizzy.
I have to use a lot of products to control frizz, give my curls shape, and add shine.

I started trying out Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy as soon as the samples arrived on my doorstep. After about the third wash I started to notice a difference in the feel of my hair. My hair loved the Clear Scalp & Hair conditioner, soaking it right up. I had to go to my local Walmart and find the Clear Scalp & Hair products because with my hair being long I quickly ran out of the samples.

After the seven days of trying out Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy I noticed that my hair was shiny again. Before I would have to apply a shine serum to my strands to get my hair to shine. The second thing I noticed the most about my hair was how soft it felt. I literally couldn’t stop running my fingers through my hair. What stood out to me the most was that even my ends felt soft whereas before they always felt very dry and brittle.

Overall, I was surprised at the results after using Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy. On really humid days my hair still gets a bit frizzy but the shine and softness is what makes me want to continue trying out this product.

Have you tried Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy? What are your thoughts about this product? Did you notice a difference in your hair?

Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy is now available at Walmart.

Disclosure: I am a Walmart Mom. I have been compensated for my time and efforts in creating this post as well as given samples of the products mentioned in this post. As always my participation is voluntary and opinions are my own. My experience may differ from your own.

Mother’s Day Manicure: Rhinestones on Nails?

The Domestic Diva — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:02:10 +0000

The other day, after I had painted my nails a solid color, my husband said to me that he missed my “patterned nails”. So for Mother’s Day I thought I would treat myself to an at-home manicure. I rummaged through my nail care box and found one of my favorite products: Sally Hansen Salon Effects.

Sally Hansen Salon Effects: 220 Cut It Out; Small Rhinestones from Craft Store; Clear Top Coat

But whenever I do my nails I always like to do something different with them. Whether it is painting one nail a solid color while the other’s have pattern on them, adding glitter to the nail on my ring finger, or cutting the nail strips to make patterned french manicures. This time I looked to my craft/jewelry making box where I found some old rhinestones that I had used to bling out my laptop. Those would be perfect, I thought, in the center of the flowers on my nails.

After applying the Salon Effects to my nails, I then brushed my nails with a Top Coat to not only seal the Salon Effects to my nail (and hopefully allow it to last a bit longer) but also to act as the “glue” for my rhinestone. Using the smallest rhinestones that I had & a pair of tweezers, I would place one in the center of each flower on my nail after applying a Top Coat.
Note: use a top coat that doesn’t dry quickly so you have enough time to apply the rhinestone before the top coat hardens on your nail.
After all of my nails had one coat of Top Coat and rhinestones randomly applied, I then brushed them again with another Top Coat this time the kind that dries fairly quickly to make sure the rhinestones stay in place as I go about my day.

Now that I’ve found a new use for the random rhinestones in my craft box, I can’t wait to try out some other ways to apply some bling to my manicure.

Disclosure: I was given samples of the Sally Hansen Salon Effects from Walmart as mentioned in a previous post. This post, however, is not a sponsored post. I just wanted to share a fun and different way that I liked to use this product.

Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy: 7+ Day Trial (sponsored)

The Domestic Diva — Tue, 15 May 2012 07:57:55 +0000

Some of my long time readers may know that I started the journey to healthier hair about a year ago after years of harsh abuse with heat & dyes. Along the the way, I embraced my curly hair and learned a new way to style without the heat.

So this marks the beginning of a different hair chapter for me as I was given the opportunity to try out a new shampoo and conditioner line of hair care products that recently hit the store shelves at Walmart called Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy.

My challenge was to replace my regular shampoo/conditioner with Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy for seven days. But I’m not telling you any more about my experience just yet. First I’m going to show you my hair BEFORE trying Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy.

photos in various lighting to hopefully show off what my hair looks like

Do you think Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy will pass the test?

~~You’ll have to check back on my blog a little bit later to find out.~~
Curious to see how my hair looks after trying out Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy? (click here)
But in the meantime feel free to check out Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy on Facebook to see what other’s are saying about this new beauty product.

Disclosure: I am a Walmart Mom. I have been compensated for my time and efforts in creating this post as well as given samples of the products mentioned in this post. As always my participation is voluntary and opinions are my own. My experience may differ from your own.

Mother’s Day from the Heart

The Domestic Diva — Tue, 15 May 2012 07:52:58 +0000

Mother’s Day this year for me wasn’t spent doing anything fancy. Instead I was shown nothing but love throughout the day.

The day started with my youngest running up to me saying…
“Here Mama I want you to have this. I used to play with it everyday but I give it to you because it is Mother’s Day”
as he hands over his beloved batman action figure.

Then the kidlets quickly ran downstairs with specific instructions that I was not to follow them. They were going to “make me something special”. So I waited and when they returned this is what they brought…

Two hand written notes, one from each of them.
“I love you MaMa. You are a super star! I love you Mom”
“I love you Mom. You are SUPER. I love you very much”

So the best Mother’s day present (for me) wasn’t something that was bought, but came from the hearts of two little kidlets instead.

I hope you all had a great Mother’s Day as well :)

Taking Care of our Pets with Pedigree & PetArmor (sponsored)

The Domestic Diva — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:29:18 +0000

I think my doggies think they are a little spoiled with all of these treats we have been trying out from Walmart lately. Did you know that May is Pet Month? We were given an opportunity to try out a few products by Pedigree and PetArmor and share what we (or what we think our pets) thought of them.

products available at Walmart

We are normally a dry dog food family. It’s just what works the best for our family but on occasion we will give our dogs wet dog food. I knew that my dogs would automatically love the Pedigree Small Breed Nutrition. We have two small dogs in our family, one a terrier mix and the other a Yorkie. With our Yorkie it’s important that we feed him the right sized dog food. So I liked that Pedigree took special care to ensure that it would be easy for small dogs to enjoy.

An old photo of our Yorkie when he was a puppy….isn’t he the cutest!

Our Yorkie especially loved the Choice Cuts in Gravy Pedigree wet food. He lapped up all of the gravy before devouring the meaty bits. It’s a pretty good guess that this was his favorite choice of food by Pedigree. I loved the perfectly portioned containers. It was easy for me to feed both dogs without a lot of mess or hassle.

I’ve been looking for a good flea & tick protection product for our dogs since the area that we live in we seem to have a big flea problem especially in the summer months. I was a bit eager to see how PetArmor would work. Luckily when our box of samples arrived it was at the right time when they were due for a dose. PetArmor is said to be comparable to the one of the leading flea & tick protection product but costs a lot less and available at Walmart.

After giving our dogs a bath, we applied the product according to the package instructions (which was easy & not at all messy to do). And so far, the product is working well for our furry friends. We will definitely be continuing using the PetArmor as it has given us the best result out of the other products we have tried thus far. As the days get warmer and summer officially starts, I feel a little better about going into the “height of flea season” with the dogs being protected with PetArmor.

What are some of your favorite pet products?

Pedigree and Walmart have teamed up so that any purchase of Pedigree made in Walmart can help a local shelter. To find out more or how to donate check out the “donate tab” on pedigree.com

Disclosure: I am a Walmart Mom. I have been compensated for my time and efforts in creating this post as well as given samples of the products mentioned in this post. As always my participation is voluntary and opinions are my own. My experience may differ from your own.

Makeup Organization: Confessions of a Beauty Junkie

The Domestic Diva — Sat, 12 May 2012 02:46:58 +0000

I finally carved out some time to tackle the mess that was the basement this week. In the process I decided to weed through my makeup to get rid of the old and organize the rest. My “vanity” was looking pretty messy.

Some may remember my vanity table from a while back because I used to use it as a craft/sewing table (it’s actually an old table that I found in the store room that belonged to my Grandmother). But since I don’t have much time to sew anymore I decided to turn it into my vanity.

I dusted off my old small, drawered organizers and put my makeup bag away. Each drawer I dedicate to a specific kind of makeup like facial lotions, eye shadows, lipsticks, etc. Organizing my makeup this way makes getting ready in the morning a lot quicker because I’m not rummaging through a makeup bag filled to the brim with products.

cotton balls
mascaras & eyeliners
lipsticks & lipglosses
hair
nails
facial cleansing wipes, deodorant
moisturizers & primers
foundations
eyeshadows
eyeshadow palettes
powders
highlighters & blushes
sponges
perfumes

How do you organize your makeup collection?

One-Bowl Banana Pudding (sponsored)

The Domestic Diva — Wed, 09 May 2012 03:55:45 +0000

I don’t know about you but bananas are always a staple in our house. The kidlets and I love them. We eat them as snacks, cook with them, and make delicious treats like One-Bowl Banana Pudding with them.

When Walmart challenged me to share one of my favorite banana recipes, I knew that I would be making this dessert because it is super simple to make and only requires one bowl. Hooray! for less cleanup :)

All ingredients found at Walmart.

Ingredients:

3 Bananas, sliced
1 box instant vanilla pudding mix
1 tub of whipped topping
1 cup of milk
2 cups of mini vanilla wafers

Directions:
In a large bowl, whisk together vanilla pudding mix and milk. When combined, fold in whipped topping. Then fold in bananas. And lastly fold in the mini vanilla wafers. Refrigerate overnight until vanilla wafers become soft. Enjoy!

What is your favorite banana recipe?

Want another banana recipe? Check out Banana Biscoff Roll-Ups.

Disclosure: I am a Walmart Mom. I have been compensated for my time and efforts in creating this post as well as given a giftcard to purchase the products mentioned in this post. As always my participation is voluntary and opinions are my own. My experience may differ from your own.

Lee Jeans does Summer

The Domestic Diva — Wed, 09 May 2012 03:40:39 +0000

It seems as if summer has already hit us down here in the south. Nearly over night it seemed to go from cool, comfortable weather to nearly 90°F heat every day. One aspect of summer that I’m not looking forward to is all that heat and humidity. I’ve definitely had to pull out the summer wear earlier than I had anticipated.

Those that have read my blog for some time may know that I am a Lee Fit Ambassador and occasionally I’m sent some of their newest products to try out. When they ask me which of their newest styles that appealed the most to me, I immediately went for the Natural Fit Harrison Roll-up Capris. It seems that I live in capri’s from spring to fall. What is so great about capri’s is that you can either dress them up or dress them down. Pair them with a simple t-shirt or jazz them up with a pair of wedges. I can’t get enough of the cargo pocket detailing on these capri’s.

I also tried out the Belted Dorsey Bermuda’s. I loved the added detail of the bow belt as well as the overall fit of the shorts. These bermuda’s came in the perfect shade of grey which is always a staple in my closet. Running around from activity to activity, I really liked that both pairs of Lees have stretch to them so I can move about comfortably without sacrificing style.

What are your go-to summer styles?

Do you like shorts or capris more?

Check out more styles at Lee.com. To find out the latest happenings with Lee, fan them on Facebook.

I’m a Lee Fit Ambassador. Occasionally Lee will send their latest products to me to try out and blog about if I see fit. I was recently given some samples of their latest spring line. I have not been compensated in any other way. My experience may differ from your own. Although product was received, my views and opinions are 100% my own.

Wow Mom with Breakfast-in-Bed on Mother’s Day (sponsored)

The Domestic Diva — Mon, 07 May 2012 04:43:51 +0000

One thing I look forward every year is Mother’s Day. On Mother’s Day at my house my husband takes over the role of “MOM” for the day. Breakfast-in-Bed is what my husband and kidlets usually surprise me with first thing in the morning.

With the help of Walmart, I put together a simple Breakfast-in-Bed project to WOW Mom on Mother’s Day morning. Here are the things you may need to get started:

All items found at Walmart

Breakfast-in-Bed Tray

Mainstays Sheet Cake Pan (15.5 in. x 10.5 in.) $3.82
Wall Sticker with Family saying $.97
Square Clear Glass Dinner Plate $3.00

To put together the Breakfast-in-Bed tray. Remove any stickers and wash tray. Dry completely. Remove sticker from Wall Sticker backing and place in the center or diagonally on the tray. The sticker will come off in the dishwasher so avoid getting the sticker wet on the tray. It can be easily removed or left on and used as a decoration. Place glass dinner plate on one side of the tray. The glass allows Mom to see the family message underneath.

Customized for Mom Photo Tumbler

Scrapbook Paper in Mom’s Favorite Pattern or Mom’s favorite picture
Photo Tumbler (found with the picture frames at Walmart) $4.52

This photo tumbler is such an easy gift to put together for Mom. The entire tumbler comes apart. There is an outside layer and an inside layer with a piece of paper in between. Remove the paper from the tumbler and use as a guide to cut out the scrapbook paper. One can also add photos to the tumbler as well. When finished decorating the scrapbook paper place back inside the cup and add to the tray.

Watch Video on YouTube: http://youtu.be/z0omUsa45ww

Mother’s Day Breakfast-in-Bed Meal Plan

IHOP Stuffed French Toast
Fresh Fruit- I picked up a Melon Trio in the produce section of Walmart (already sliced and ready for the plate)
Powder Sugar for dusting the French Toast
Starbucks VIA for Mom’s Homemade Cafe Latte (the easy way) in her new Photo Tumbler

I thought it would be fun to give Mom a restaurant-like meal in bed on Mother’s Day morning. IHOP makes stuffed french toast that one can find in the freezer section at Walmart. Follow the package directions to cook them. Add them to your clear glass plate and dust with some powdered sugar. Spoon on some fruit like the Melon Trio. In Mom’s new Photo Tumbler add her favorite coffee beverage (if she likes coffee).

Want some more Mother’s Day gift ideas?

For the Mom who loves to Garden: Garden Gift Set Idea
Build a Basket of Mom’s Favorite Things
Make Mom her favorite Coffeehouse Beverage: Cafe Latte (the easy way)
Mother’s Day Gift Idea Under $20: Fashion Tote for the On-the-Go Mom

Do you like to have breakfast-in-bed on Mother’s Day?

Disclosure: I am a Walmart Mom. I have been compensated for my time and efforts in creating this post/video as well as given a giftcard to purchase the products mentioned in this post. As always my participation is voluntary and opinions are my own. My experience may differ from your own.