Angel Minaro Exquisite Beauty

Fun Find-  It's that time of the year when we are looking for renewal, a bit of a break and a chance to recharge.  We're also kind of broke.  Am I right?  Angel Minaro is luxurious body care made from natural, cruelty-free items from all over the world.  Designed to nurture and detox your body within the comfort of your home Angel Minaro products are also anti-aging. 

I received a bottle of Romance body lotion ($19) and Acai & Honey tropical blend smoother ($32).  While I liked the lotion, the almond oil based scent was not something I would normally choose. However it works well and is thicker than your average lotion.  It blends into your skin really well and I noticed an immediate difference in my skins texture.  The argan oil, shea butter, and silk proteins are responsible for that.  I absolutely adored the Acai & Honey smoother.  It is so soft, silky and smells fantastic!  It is one amazing body scrub.  Using it twice a week your skin will be softer and have a great feel to it. 

Angel Minaro products are available for the body, hair (protein wraps!), face and more.  They can be purchased online. 

Girl with a Dragon Tattoo Inspired Nail Polish by Duri

Fun Find- Inspired by the amazing film "Girl with a Dragon Tattoo" Duri nail polish has created six gorgeous and fun shades. I say they are here just in time to wear to the opening of the US film version today!

Colors like Dragontini (eggplant shade) , Icicle, Frozen, and Black Diamond look great on your nails. I like to mix them up and put Angels and Demons (dark silver) on my thumbs and coat my remaining fingers with Fallen Angel. It makes people look twice and I have gotten loads of compliments on each shade every time I have used them. At $5 a bottle you can love the whole collection all at once!

You can purchase Duri nail polish online and worldwide at find salons. Nail blog, Scrangie, has a really detailed review of each color with some gorgeous photos too. Check it out!


*Image from thestylecloset.net

beautyADDICTS BeautifullLIPS

Fun Find- beautyADDICTS BeautifullLIPS Lipstick ($18) collection contains eight rich and creamy colors infused with intense hydration.  Formulated with Vitamin E, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil and other natural ingredients your lips are protected and nourished with beautiful coverage. BeautifullLIPS has natural peptides that stimulate collagen for a firmer more plumped up lip. 

I was given three shades from the collection.  Peep Show - a bold eggplant shade that my three year-old pilfered from my make-up drawer one day while I was out running.  Thanks kid! The shade was too dark for me anyway. It is a deep purple that probably looks better on a darker skin tone.  Flirt – is a delicate petal pink.  I tend to wear this one on a more regular basis.  Sinful- is an red-orange shade that attracts a lot of attention.  What is it with people and red lipstick? You wear it and everyone has a comment. 

With all three shades I liked that my lips didn't dry out and the color stayed without staining. It's not all day coverage but it does last through a few drinks and most of the morning, which is fine by me.  I'm not looking for eight hour lips. 

You can find BeautifullLIPS by beautyADDICTS at a find salon near you. 

BeautyMint Skincare

Fun Find- BeautyMint skincare is a comprehensive line of products designed to marry both science and nature together in one personalized program for your skin. It shows that it is not just the ingredients but how they work together and with your own skin type and needs that proves BeautyMint's efficiency.  Just like JewelMint and StyleMint this line is celebrity endorsed by Jessica Simpson and Nerida Joy, a skincare expert who has been in the business for a few decades.  You can order the products and they will be delivered monthly. 

Go ahead, take the free skin consultation and get started.  I was not enthused initially thinking it would take up precious time but it was under five minutes and seamless.  Immediately I was offered two skincare programs (my personal results) that would tackle my needs and give me the results I was looking for in a skincare routine.  I was told my skincare type (3-6-6) and the option to go for an advanced approach to my skincare needs or a comprehensive one.  I was ready for a hefty price tag to go along with my four and five product kits but didn't see it.  My kits were between $40-50, which I could easily spend at my local Target or drugstore for a new skincare routine.  Plus, there is the 30-day BeautyMint return policy. It's perfect!  You can see results and if you are not happy, return it for a full refund (minus shipping and handling).  Love it! 

BeautyMint promises great results in typically 8 weeks.  Other reviewers found mixed results, or fell in love.  I myself am not posting results on a skincare product that is supposed to be customized but was not.  It doesn't seem right to me to give you possibly false results because the products were not the best ones for my skincare needs and concerns.  However, I will say I agree with both these other bloggers on the look, feel and scent of BeautyMint products. 



*Image from stylebakery.com

Record a Story with Dora the Explorer

Fun Find- Record  a Story™ ($19.99) is something that I'm sure many kids would love to receive as a gift this holiday season.  It allows  readers to easily record their voice narrating a story, and the narration then  plays when each page is turned. Fun for parents or grandparents, they can create  custom-recorded storybook for their kids and grandkids.  Kids can do the  same for parents or long-distance relatives. It's perfect for military families! My girls love the Dora version, which is now on sale for $14.95!

Available at major retailers  nationwide, Record a Story helps families stay connected even when they are separated.  It is a great solution for working and traveling parents too.   New titles this year include, My Grandpa is Special and My  Grandma is Special, Good Night, Sesame Street, The Day You Were Born,  Thomas:  Good Night, Little Engine, I Love You So Much, Ten Little  Pumpkins, The First Christmas and Frosty the Snowman.

Lighten Up by Peter Walsh

Fun Find- "Lighten Up" ($15) by Peter Walsh is about taking Walsh's clutter-busting principles to assist readers in organizing their financial lives.  The concept is all about applying the less is more approach to life. 

Peter Walsh, the host of “Enough Already! with Peter Walsh,”  on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network is a clutter and organizational expert.   His previous bestselling books include, It’s All Too Much and Enough Already, which showed readers how to get rid of clutter room by room.  Walsh likes to explore the impact that clutter has in our emotional and spiritual lives in his books. This is something I believe in as well so his books hit home.  

"Lighten Up" helps readers understand and clear out their financial clutter. With the economy the way it is today this is a great way to really learn to live the motto, "less is more".  I know it is something I can relate to and learn to apply in my daily life, especially around the all consuming holiday time. 

"Lighten Up" is available on the Peter Walsh website and online at Amazon.com

Little Monster Fun & Learn Book

Fun Find-  Having kids gives you entry back into the world of children's literature, for which I am so glad.  Sometimes you can find an author and set of stories that takes you back to when you were a child and the book, "Little Monster Fun & Learn" by Mercer Mayer has done that for me. 

The "Little Monster Fun & Learn" book puts a big emphasis on children's early education. It gives them a chance to have fun with learning.  Through this book they encounter their ABC's, counting and how to enjoy things like bedtime and traveling through a neighborhood. Full of rhymes and funny monster characters both my three year-old and five year-old love reading this book before bedtime. The gorgeous illustrations provide many hours spent pouring over the pages to just to gaze at the various monsters and their habitats.  They adore this book and I do too. 

You can find "Little Monster Fun & Learn" online at Amazon.com and FastPencil Premiere in both print and digital format.  

Sweet Leaf Tea

Fun Find- I love iced tea. I make it all year round and I make everything from Strawberry Kiwi, Caramel Cake, sweet tea and everything in between. As long as it tastes good and isn't loaded with artificial flavors and chemicals I will try it.  The people over at Sweet Leaf Iced Teas sent me a four pack of teas to try (Mint Honey, Mango, Classic and Peach) and they were an instant hit.

Based out of Austin, Texas Sweet Leaf Iced Teas was created in 1997 when one of the two founders, Clayton decided he wanted a good tasting bottled tea that was just like his Grandmother Mimi's iced tea.  Experiments, brewing processes and a move to Texas had Dave and Clayton building the company that is now Sweet Leaf Iced Teas.  Made from pure cane sugar and premium tea leaves the tea tastes terrific and is available in many flavors, including green tea formulas and even half tea, half lemonade.  Fantastic!  I would gladly drink each, especially the Mint Honey, again.

Sweet Leaf Teas are available in natural and regular grocery stores nationwide. 

Dakota by Brenda Marshall

Fun Find-  Maybe it is the addition of AMC's new show "Hell on Wheels" but I've been in the mood for some good ol' frontier stories this fall.  Brenda Marshall's new book, "Dakota" is exactly that type of book.  Following the lives of homesteaders, farmers, frontier politicians and some Northern Pacific Railroad executives it is the story of one Frances Houghton Bingham.  In love with the ideas of making a go at life in the west, finding opportunity in the Dakota Territory, Frances takes risks to get what she desires in this new world.  At the heart of the book is Norwegian homesteader, Kirsten Knudson who grows from girl to woman in the pages of this book. 

Dakota is a good fall read and available for $24.95 at Amazon.com

Teas' Tea

Fun Find-"An array of studies have shown correlations between green to and good cardio health & blood circulation, maintenance of healthy cholesterol levels, improvement of brain function, an aid in healthy weight maintenance and alleviation of obesity, a contributing factor to good oral health, immune system boost and more - a long list of positive health implications.  Green tea has potent antiviral and antibacterial properties."

Teas' Tea is authenically brewed, premium tea that is also GMO free.  This all-natural beverage comes in sweetned, unsweetned, low calorie (lightly sweetned) and classic (sweetned) formulas.  Flavors like Rose green, Golden Oolong, Mint Green (my favorite!) and Pure Green quench your thirst while providing antioxidants.  Made with no artifical sweetners or dyes and sweetened with natural cane sugar Teas' Tea is refreshing and a great way to get healthy green tea into your system. 

Get 20% off your Tea online with the code ADA20. Good until December 31, 2011.

Uncle Funky's Daughter

Fun Find- Free of parabens, mineral oils, synthetic ingredients and dyes and super moisturizing Uncle Funky's Daughter is the answer for curly hair.  The website offers a very comprehensive way to figure out what type of curly hair you have and the products that will work best for you. In addition you can purchase the products on the website.  The DeFunk Spray ($11) is great for taking out grease, oils and odors on  hair while stimulating your curls.  It works well on all curly hair types. My girl with her Frizzy Gillespie type curls uses this every few days to keep her curls looking fresh.   

Green & Black's Classic Collection

Fun Find- UK-based chocolate company Green & Black makes great chocolate.  I adore the Cherry bar with its dark chocolate and dried cherries.  It is my favorite in the Green & Black collection.  The dark chocolate is 60% cocoa solids and the cherries are plump. 

This fall Green & Black is debuting their new Classic Collection ($9.99) a combination of 12 miniature bars of both dark and milk chocolate.  Six flavors are in the set, including Toffee, Almond, Dark 70%, Ginger and Cherry and Milk.  All high-quality organic chocolate and fair trade certified in each and every bar.  I love how each bar is small but the flavor is so intense and superb that even a miniature Green & Black bar is highly satisfying as a small treat after a meal or as a snack.

Green & Black chocolate bars and the Classic Collection are available at retail stores like Target everywhere.  See some tasty recipes from the site here.



*Image from ebidebby.com

FireFly Toothbrush

Fun Find- Created by a Dad and his daughter the FireFly toothbrush who wanted kids to take control of their brushing habits it is one cool toothbrush.  The FireFly toothbrush is easy to use and lights up for sixty seconds at a time, which is the perfect time for a child to spend on each row of teeth.  Simply press the button and the timer blinks.  Want something even easier?  Your child can hit the bottom of the brush on a surface and the timer will start.  Your kid will think it is one cool toothbrush. 

That's not all. 

The FireFly toothbrush comes in cute Barbie, Spiderman and Hot Wheels designs.  There are many styles and sizes available for a variety of ages too.  From ages 4 months to 8 years on up there is a toothbrush recommendation for any child.  Each brush has soft bristles and is gentle but effective on kids gums and teeth.  I think the FireFly toothbrush selections are a great way to introduce good oral hygeine to kids.  The Sparkly FireFly toothbrushes are a wonderful alternative to passing out Halloween candy or get your kids excited about brushing away all that candy after a night of trick or treat bingeing! 

FireFly toothbrushes can be purchased online, Walmart, Walgreens, Drugstore.com and many other stores nationwide.

Neve Designs Annika Sweater

Fun Find- Last year I reviewed the Alanna shawl from Neve Designs and fell in love.  The soft, large shawl kept me warm many winter days and nights.  A year later it is still just as new, fresh and stylish.  I will use it again this winter and add to it my latest Neve Designs piece, the Annika sweater ($187). 

A zip-neck front made of 100% fine Merino wool this sweater in Grape is going to look fabulous come cooler weather.  I can't wait to wear it this Thanksgiving when we head to a ski resort for a week.  The knit on this sweater is soft, thick and really smooth.  It looks great with jeans, a nice wool skirt and boots or khaki's.  It comes in four colors- Grape with orange and pink accents, Black with red accents, Charcoal with blue designs and Gem which is more like a fuchsia.  I love the Nordic design and how incredibly well made this sweater is and that it is super comfortable. 

Neve Designs makes clothing and jewelry for men and women.  They can be purchased online, at REI and Sierra Trading Company.

Disclaimer:  MPR was not paid for this post.  Products received are for review purposes only.  Opinions are MPR's only. 

ZO Skin Health

Fun Find-  ZO Skin Health Oraser Daily Hand Repair SPF 20 and Oraser Overnight Hand Recovery

Zein Obagi, MD is a world-renowned doctor when it comes to anti-aging skincare. Creator of ZO® Skin Health he is the head dermatologist at Obagi Skin Health Institute in Beverly Hills.  His idea behind the Oraser Hand set is one I can relate to well.  Now in my mid-thirties I have begun to notice drier, spotted skin in my hands.  I am outside, have kids and tend to wash my hands often due to both these facts.  I don't remember to reapply lotion after each wash despite having a bottle on almost every sink in my house.  They say that hands show your true age and mine definitely do.  The Oraser set gave me a chance to see a change in that appearance.

I started applying the Oraser Daily Hand Repair ($65) about three weeks ago.  Containing Retinol, Vitamins C & E, Matrixyl 3000 and a host of other anti-aging treatments I applied it from my pulse points at my wrists to the tips of my fingers.  I didn't notice a big difference in moisturizing right away but after two weeks I did see my hands begin to look less freckled and didn't dry out as fast as they were before using the Oraser Daily Hand Repair.  I coupled this effort with the Oraser Overnight Hand Recovery cream ($65), which helps binds moisture to your skin. It also contains Retinol, Matrixyl 3000, Vitamins C & E and other anti-aging treatments.  Skin works overtime at repairing itself while you sleep and I really tried to remember to apply this overnight cream all the time.  Now three weeks later I do notice a difference. It is not huge but it is a beginning and my hands look better than they have in a long time.  I think prolonged use would certainly show more dramatic results. I would be interested to see the work of this creamy, repairing duo on older hands as well. 

Dr. Obagi has a long list of other anti-aging skincare sets, lotions and creams for your whole face and body.  For a limited time a purchase of $150 or more will get you a travel size skincare set! 

Hershey Air Delights

Fun Find- Hershey has come up with a brand new chocolate bar, the Hershey Air Delights bar is filled with wonderful and whimsical air bubbles. Air bubbles of chocolate! I love this concept. I remember how nuts I went as a kid for the Cadbury Wispa bar and the Hershey Air Delights chocolate bar is not that different. Less calories than a dense chocolate bar with a lighter texture and taste the Air Delights also comes in yummy Kiss form too! Pick up a bag or a bar of Hershey Air Delights today! Better yet give some away this upcoming Halloween!

Rocknoceros - Colonel Purple Turtle

Fun Find-The fourth studio CD ($14.99) and first ever kid-friendly concept album has launched this week by Rocknoceros. Colonel Purple Turtle is loads of fun and full of whimsical characters. Based right here in the DC Metro area this CD is energetic and features a bit of everything from jazz, barbershop quartet, string ensembles and more. Sure to appeal to kids, because Rocknoceros always does, Colonel Purple Turtle is colorful, funny and definitely worth checking out.

Available here.

*Image from Jamminjava.com

Organic Glam Nail Polish

Fun Find- British beauty company Organic Glam has a good find in their Organic Glam nail polish ($15 US). One of the things I like best about Organic Glam's nail polish line is that unlike so many other organic or natural nail lacquers this company creates colors that shine, sparkle and are on-trend. It isn't just roses and flowery pastels for Organic Glam. No, there is Silver, Midnight, Deep Grey, Gold and Lemon as well as Deep Ruby and Pinks. I loved my Peach polish. I had to put two thick coats on to make it really pop but that is typical for natural nail lacquer. I have yet to find one that is rich and not watery. Organic Glam is no different except that it lasts and looks great once applied more than once.

Organic Glam nail polish and other beauty items can be purchased on the Organic Pharmacy.

Chloraseptic Kids Sore Throat Spray

Fun Find-Chloraseptic Kids Sore Throat Spray is perfect for one touch relief. A single, quick dose of the grape flavored spray coats your child's throat and provides fast-acting relief on their mouth and throat. It's sugar-free, alcohol-free and aspirin-free too.

Find it in your local drugstore, discount store and grocery store today!

IZ BYER for Fall

Fun Find-It's that time of year again! Time to go shopping for back to school clothes or additions to your Fall wardrobe. IZ BYER at Kohl's is a great place to look. It is on trend, affordable and works well for juniors, misses and those of you just starting out at the office for the first time.



Look at this cute shirt! I thought it would be a bit too much in the ruffle department, but when I tried it on it was just perfect! Priced to move you can get it at your local Kohl's today!

Check out IZ BYER on Facebook too!