mr. clean magic eraser

Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are pretty darn magical in their scrubbing power.  I their bath scrubber does a fine job, but not any more of a job than the original would. Because of the spongy texture of the erasers, I didn't feel that the added grooves in the sponge really provided any more cleaning power. It's a "fine" product, but no better than the original erasers (which cost less). So I'm sticking to the original erasers from here out. 

Price: $4 for a pack of 2 bath scrubber erasers. $4 for a pack of 4 of the original erasers.  

Would I repurchase? The original erasers: yes. The bath scrubber erasers: no. 

How I use this product: The Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are very good for getting marks and discoloration off of stainless appliances. They are also good for wiping down showers and sinks in the bathroom. They are an over all good product for cleaning off things that are pretty stuck on. I don't use these every day, but they are good for doing a thorough cleaning when you want to really get appliances back to their original shine.

websites for coupons

The Sunday paper really is the best place to find some really good coupons on products you may actually purchase. Almost every Monday I kick myself for forgetting to pick it up... Occasionally stores will still have them the next day, but more often than not you're out of luck.  Thankfully there are a few websites where you can find some pretty decent coupons. None of them carry the exact ones from the paper but, more often than not, I have been able to find some great deals through these sites. I hope this helps. 

Walmart & Target have manufacturer coupons on their websites; but Walmart definitely has the better assortment of coupons between the two.

http://coupons.target.com/
http://coupons.walmart.com/

Coupons.com and GroceryCouponCart.com both are good sites for finding a variety of coupons. They generally carry the same coupons, but every now and then they vary from each other.

http://www.coupons.com/coupons/
http://www.grocerycouponcart.com/grocery-coupons/

CommonKindness.com has a variety of coupons that are never listed on the previous sites I just mentioned. Some of their coupons are for brands I am not as familiar with, but they also have a lot of great coupons I do use.

http://www.commonkindness.com/coupons

Another good place to check for coupons is on the specific websites of brands you often use. Here are a few that often have a good selection of coupons on their sites:

http://www.stonyfield.com/user?destination=coupon
http://www.hormel.com/updates/coupons/
http://www.simplyorganic.com/simplyorganic/documents/coupons.php

burt's bees almond milk beeswax hand creme

Sticky, Waxy, Somewhat Icky... but the most wonderful smelling and oh so moisturizing hand creme I've found. It's labelled hand creme, but I seldom use it on my hands except in the winter if they are really going through trouble. I often use it on my feet and it is the best moisturizer I found to really soak into my skin. I never wear it during the day, because it is just SO thick and waxy, but it is perfect as an overnight moisturizer.

price: $8.99

Where to Buy: http://www.drugstore.com/burts-bees-almond-milk-beeswax-hand-creme/qxp45513?catid=182927

maybelline color tattoo eyeshadow

For those of you that follow the beauty blogs, I'm sure you've seen this product mentioned dozens of times.  It's become one of those products that I have yet to hear anything bad about.  The most popular color around the blogs is the one I have shown, Bad to the Bronze or I think in the UK it is called On and On Bronze. I was a little skeptical of this product, considering I haven't worn cream based eyeshadows since jr. high.  After hearing SO MUCH praise about this product, I figured I'd give it a go.

First impression: It came out of the pot smooth and sheer. It was extremely blendable but dried almost immediately... which I liked about it; it was workable, but not overly creamy. Because I have dark eyes and a light complexion, dark eyeshadows look extremely harsh on me... I know it isn't a VERY dark color, but I was a little worried that this would be too dark for me... but No Ma'am it was thankfully very flattering. 

In my excitement over this product, I bought two additional colors. I'm not sure if the formula is just different on those two or what... but they definitely are a little harder to work with. I purchased the colors Barely Branded and Too Cool. It may have just been the one I bought, but my Barely Branded is so much creamier than my Bad to the Bronze. I used the same amount of product and it just went everywhere!!  I'm doing better with it now, but I have to barely touch it to get the right amount. The Too Cool I have doesn't spread as well as the Bad to the Bronze. It's extremely dry immediately after applying and therefore is a little difficult to work with.

In Summary: In my experience these products have been very inconsistent in their formulation. Yes, the Bad to the Bronze is a favorite, but the other two I have are alright. They are a little more difficult or at least different to work with.

Price: Around $5... depending on where you find them. Look for sales. Drugstore.com often does buy one get one 1/2 off.

Would I repurchase? I would repurchase Bad to the Bronze, but hopefully this one will last me a good while.

covergirl eyeshadow in cafe au lait

Covergirl Eye Enhancers 3-Kit Shadows in Cafe Au Lait

I think this is one of the very first eye shadows I ever bought (which has to have been around ten years ago now), and I have always come back to this. I must have repurchased this half a dozen times. The lightest color in the set works as a great hightlighter under the brow and the darker colors are very flattering as well. From day to day, I seldom where any other eyeshadow. This little kit is just so handy dandy!

Price: $4.69
Where to Buy: Local drugstore or, of course, drugstore.com 

fels-naptha

I had come across this product a couple years ago in a women's magazine article. The article listed products our grandmothers' had used that are still great for "today's woman"... or something along those lines.  I have no clue what magazine it was, but Fels-Naptha was listed in it as one of the products. Fels-Naptha laundry bar soap has been around for over 100 years, but it is a product you seldom hear about. I've been using it for over a year now and have found few other stain removers that are its equal. I've used it to remove all sorts of dried in stains and it has always done a great job!

In Summary:
Price: $1.99
Where to buy: Fels-Naptha can be found in most grocery stores and online.

clorox2 laundry stain remover

There are SO MANY different stain remover products out there that it can be a bit overwhelming to know which ones actually work.  I've tried so many that I've not been impressed with. With most stain removers I have had to respray multiple times, really rub the product in, and even rewash the garment a few times. This Clorox2 stain remover SO EXCEEDED my expectations! I got this for the first time right after my child was born and it just dissolved all of the stains from her clothes. I would spray the stain, leave it and by the time I got back it would be gone before I even washed it. O how I love this product! This stain remover almost always gets the job done.  On the very rare chance it doesn't get the job completely done, I bring in my big gun, Fels-Naptha, which I'll talk more about tomorrow.

my april go-to makeup

These are my go-to beauty basics... a few little make-up essentials that I keep on coming back to. With the exception of the Clinique blush, all of them are drugstore products and generally easy to find. 

Covergirl LashBlast Length Water Resistant Mascara in Very Black
I've read mixed reviews on this product, but personally I have had a lot of success with it. I have not had problems with it clumping whatsoever and have been using this product for the past few years.
Price: $7.79

Covergirl Fresh Complexion Under-Eye Concealer in Classic Ivory
I really like this concealer. It is fairly thin but covers and blends well.
Price: $5.29 for .37 fl oz

Physcians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Tinted Moisturizer in Ivory to Fair
I do not like to wear a lot of foundation... So this is generally all I wear day to day.  It provides some coverage and has SPF 15.  Before buying there are a couple things you should know... (1) They have four different shades of this, but most stores only sell two for some reason. So you may need to shop around or order online to get the best color for you. (2) The SPF smell is very strong when you're applying it, but that smell fades as soon as it dries.
Price: $10.99 for 1.5 fl oz

Physicians Formula Mineral Glow Pearls Powder Palette in Translucent Pearl
I use this on top of the upper part of my cheeks to brighten up my skin a little.  It shimmers in the light but not in a sparkly-vampire kind of way...
Price: $13.95

Clinique Soft-Pressed Powder Blusher in New Clover
This is another product I have used for YEARS. My mom bought this for me when I was in high school, and I've used it ever since. Good product. Lasts all day.
Price: $21.00


Where to Buy:
http://www.clinique.com/
http://www.drugstore.com/

seventh generation natural dish liquid

WOOHOO!!!! DISH SOAP!! 
Alright, this isn't the most exciting thing to write about, but I am loving Seventh Generation products right now. I'm generally a little afraid of cleaning products and love the fact that SG is striving to make products that are safe and nontoxic for the people that use them and the environment. Thanks SG! ;) Their products generally smell pretty wonderful, considering they don't use artificial fragrances, and everything I've used from them has been very effective. 

This dish liquid smells like yummy yummy clementines. It is not overpowering, but leaves a nice little hint of clean in the air while you do the dishes. I was using the fragrance-free version for a while, but am loving the smell of this one! I am very sensitive to smells... Nothing is worse than gagging through cleaning because of the fumes from the cleaner. Not here, my friend, not here... 

Price: Runs around $3, sometimes more... $2.95 on drugstore.com right now
Where to buy: Your local grocery or http://www.drugstore.com/
Things to know: They often have coupons in the paper for SG products. 
 

gerber longsleeve mitten cuff onesies

These onesies came in so handy when my daughter was first born! I had bought the little baby mittens to cover her little hands, but they were just too loose on her and kept on slipping off.  These onesies were such a wonderful alternative to keeping her hands covered. They only have the two snaps on the bottom and are just super easy.

In Summary:
Price: $8.84 for a 3 pack on Amazon 
Where you can buy them:  http://www.amazon.com/

aveeno baby lotion

Aveeno baby lotion has turned into our go-to lotion, not just for the baby but for me as well. Most lotions I've tried have turned out to be basically worthless in healing my skin. Aveeno baby products have yet to disappoint me.  I use their baby eczema therapy moisturizing cream on my face before bed.  During the winter months my skin likes to start acting up. This lotion really soothes and keeps all the redness and dryness at bay. I also use their daily moisture lotion and have found that it works very well. Both are very creamy, long lasting, and easily soak into the skin.

In Summary:
Would I repurchase this? Yes
Price: $7.99 for 5 oz (Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream)
$5.29 for 8 oz (Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Lotion)
Things to know: I have not been using the daily moisture lotion on my face... so I can not vouch that it will work well as a face cream. I have used it on my daughter's face and it has worked fairly well but is not as soothing as the aforementioned Mustela Hydra-stick.

gerber flatfold gauze cloth diapers

I've used these as burp cloths. They aren't the prettiest things around, but they do the BEST job of any other ones I've tried. They are super absorbent and you comparatively get a lot for your money. I can not give you a review on how great they are at their original intended purpose of diapering, but they are great for lots of other things and have come in handy!
In Summary:
Price: The price of these can really vary. One of the best prices I've found for these is at Buy Buy Baby where they have the pack of 10 for $13.99.
Where you can buy them:
http://www.buybuybaby.com/

aden + anais swaddle blankets

This is a purchase that I almost didn't make because of the initial price. The blankets come to $8.75 a piece but are generally sold in packs of four. So the initial purchase price is around $35. It's not a completely absurd price, but when you're comparing them to packs of  flannel receiving blankets, it seems like a lot.  However, if I could have a redo on things I purchased when my daughter was born, I probably would not have purchased any other blankets than these. I've used the flannel blankets once or twice, but I've used the muslin blankets more times than I could possibly count. 

They are so multifunctional!
* Substantial size for swaddling (I had a tough time swaddling with other blankets)
* Easy nursing covers (just knot two of the sides together and there you go)
* Great for shielding baby from the sun while in the carseat or stroller
* Breathable for summer and great as a car blanket in the winter
* Great to lay on during "tummy time"
In Summary:
Price: $35 for a pack of 4. BUT they can be more if you are ordering them directly from the company! I've bought mine at Target and also ordered a pack off of Amazon. 
Things to Know: These a great quality blankets. The directions say something along the lines of wash them gently (or maybe it's separately) in cold water... and to be honest, I've just thrown them in with whatever I'm washing at the time and they've worn so well! They look just as great as the day I bought them. 
Where you can buy them:
http://www.target.com/
http://www.adenandanais.com
http://www.amazon.com/

ALDI

ALDI is a discount grocery store that I've stumbled across while researching which grocery stores give you the most for your money. After reading online that you can save a lot more money at ALDI than at Costco and Walmart, I figured I'd give them a try.  Upon arrival I realized there were a lot of similarities to the grocery stores in Europe: you have to use a quarter to use the grocery carts, there is a limited variety of each type of food, and you bag your own groceries. They have a limited amount of common national brand products, but carry very similar items in their own store brands. Their produce is always at a great price on top of which they often run weekly sales. There is no way I would be able to only shop at ALDI, but it has turned into my first stop when I buy groceries.  I try to get as much on my grocery list as possible and then finish my shopping elsewhere, but by doing so I am able to generally save about $10-20 each trip. 

triple paste medicated ointment & boudreaux's butt paste

I've been very happy with both of these diaper rash pastes. I started with Boudreaux's Butt Paste from the beginning, and it works very well. I had absolutely no problems with it. However, if the rash is VERY bad, I think that Triple Paste works a little better because it is SO thick and I think has a little more staying power than Boudreaux's.  Both are great diaper creams. Triple Paste is a lot more expensive... so for that very fact I would not recommend it unless your child has a reoccurring issue.

In Summary: 
Price: Boudreaux's Butt Paste is about $8.50 for 4 oz; Triple Paste is about $9 for 2 oz
Things to Know: Boudreaux's Butt Paste is scented. I have not noticed Triple Paste having a scent. Also, there are often Triple Paste coupons in the paper and as well as in the Triple Paste box when you purchase the product. 
Where you can buy them: Almost any drugstore or online.

mustela hydra-stick

I've heard a lot of great reviews on the "Mustela Hydra-stick," and thought it would be a great thing to try on my daughter's face. Her cheeks were constantly chapped even though I had been putting lotion on them multiple times a day. I had kept my eyes open for the product and finally found it at "Buy Buy Baby." Before I saw it, I had already made up my mind to buy it, but was completely thrown when I discovered how SMALL it was in person. It retails for around $9.50 and comes in this itty bitty deodorant-case-looking applicator that only contains .35 oz of product. Honestly, I about walked away when my husband stopped me with the comment that if it has that many good reviews it probably is able to last a while, even if it doesn't look like it would. . .  So I bit the bullet and bought it anyway.

After only using it for twenty-four hours, my daughter's face was almost completely clear. After two days, all the redness and chapped skin was healed.  I still feel like they could give you a little more product for the price, but it has been the only product I've found that really heals her chapped skin. So I'm planning on buying it again whenever it runs out... hopefully that will be months and months from now!

In Summary:
Would I repurchase this? Yes
Price: $9.50 for .35 oz
Things to Know: It's in an itty-bitty-teeny-tiny container, but it seems to work extremely well and is solid enough to not be used up too quickly.
The Mustela website:
http://www.mustelausa.com/mustela/content/hydra-stick-cold-cream-nutri-protective
Where you can buy them:
http://www.drugstore.com/mustela-bebe-hydra-stick-for-lips-and-cheeks/qxp71669?catid=182484

dickinson's originial witch hazel pore perfecting toner

I went to my local drugstore the other day to pick up a few things when I came across witch hazel toner right next to the astringent I normally purchase. Honestly, I've heard of witch hazel in a general sense, but had no idea what it was used for. So I blindly decided to buy it anyways because it just sounded interesting and claimed to be "100% ALL NATURAL"!

I've been using it for a few days now, and am really enjoying it. It doesn't really give you that deep down SUPER CLEAN feeling that an astringent would, but leaves your skin feeling really soft for the rest of the day.  It isn't a LIFE CHANGING discovery, but I'm definitely planning on adding it as another step in my skincare routine.

In Summary:
Would I repurchase this? Yes
Price: $4-5 for 8 fl oz
Additional Things to Know: The smell of it is really natural, I don't know exactly how to explain it...since I really shouldn't describe it as witch-hazel-y. It isn't at all bad, but it took me a couple times using it to get used to it.
The Dickinson's website:
http://www.dickinsonsusa.com/

pampers sensitive wipes

When it comes to wipes, I have tried SO many brands in search of ones that work well and don't cost me an arm and a leg.  I've tried Walmart's brand, Target's brand, ALDI's brand, as well as multiple kinds from Huggies and Pampers... but finally settled on Pampers Sensitive Wipes.  Although they are a little more money than the store-brand wipes I have tried, the quality is just so much better. Pampers Sensitive Wipes are durable, soft, don't fall apart, and don't leave any pieces behind.  I thought Target's wipes were too thin, both  Walmart's and ALDI's brands were too harsh, and even though I enjoyed the Huggies Natural Care wipes at first, in the end they were still very rough in comparison to the Pampers Sensitive Wipes. 

In Summary: 
Price: $15.79 for box of 512 count at Target 
Where you can buy them:
http://www.target.com/