Beautifully Poor

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. Thus far you’ve heard the  Blurb story  and learned a bit about the extensive  tools and resources  that Blurb makes available to their book-making customers. While all that is impressive, what’s really remarkable to me is how they offer all of that  and  provide visually stunning books made on photo-quality paper— AND  do it all at such an incredibly affordable price. It’s really is something to marvel at.  Since day one, Blurb has been praised for their unwavering commitment to quality, which is why renowned photographers, graphic designers, architects, artists, and other creative professionals repeatedly choose Blurb to display their works of art. That speaks volumes in my book (no pun intended) because, if  they  trust Blurb to showcase their work, then it just seems logical that I should too.  Profess...

In collaboration with  The Homemaker-Mom , I have completed the Craft Stash Challenge. In this challenge we were to make crafts from things we already have in our homes. No buying anything! It got me to thinking about what I have wanted to do and just had been to busy/lazy to finish.  My project is getting a painting I made in the early 2000's while in high school framed.  I usually have it on a shelf because I really like it and can't believe I actually painted it! But I found it stored in my hope chest just sitting there. My walls are pretty bare already and I have been looking for inexpensive ways to fill them so this was perfect. Here is what I had to work with: An old, crappy picture frame My painting, some wide, ribbed ribbon, scissors and my Amazing Goop Glue And sticks Using these items here is what I did: I started by breaking the sticks to the width of the frame. Then I tied a bow around the center of the fir...

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. So last week I shared a bit of the Blurb story and how they came to unleash the power of self-publishing. But Blurb is actually way more than a self-publishing platform. They are really a tour de force of creativity that strives to help give  your  story – your inspiration – a stage. And they provide some really incredible tools to make that possible.  Here are a few of my faves: Free  book making tools  – This one may be obvious, but there’s more here than meets the eye. Blurb offers multiple  easy-to-use bookmaking tools and templates to give you complete creative control and customization: BookWright : The  only  desktop publishing software built for creating professional-looking print books, magazines, and ebooks. It’s super simple to use, which means you won't need to hire a fancy designer, know a line of code,...

The Desheddinator! What an epic name for a tool that takes the hair off of your pet. We have had a normal cat pet brush for years, and it is a pain in the butt and I swear the prongs on it are too sharp so we have to be careful.  I got this and was able to use it immediately because it is Spring and all pet owners know what that means: shedding. The hair tufts just floating around are enough to make anyone sneeze. It just adds more miserable-ness to the Spring allergies my son and I have. We went through a box of tissue in less than a week, it's that bad! This particular tool is Vet approved, so you know your pets are safe with its use, unlike the brush I mentioned previously. It has an easy grip handle and a safety guard for when it isn't in  use. It is made of stainless steel/non-toxic metal.  It comes in 3 sizes. This is the medium size, which is 76mm. It is ideal for pets 26-65 lbs.The small is 46mm and ideal for pets under 25 lbs. The large is 10...

I am proud to work with  Maycees Mommas Blogging n More  to bring you the best of the Mother's Day Giveaway's this year! Mom's DO deserve the best. We put ourselves out there all the time and are some of the most selfless people out there! And to you dad's who are mommy and daddy, thank you too!  Keep checking back as this will be updated with more giveaways up until Mother's Day!  To check out the giveaways go here:  Giveaway Collaberation

I have a hard time getting my mashed potatoes lump free and have struggled with this for a LONG time! Thanks to Priority Chef, that is no longer an issue!! When my husband ate them, he was so pleased! The potato ricer is extremely easy to use and isn't just limited to potatoes! You can used it for anything you want mashed and would be perfect for making homemade baby food. Just steam or boil whatever it is you want, strain the liquid off and place in the masher and press down on the gripped handles. Voila! It is stainless steel and dishwasher safe also, adding to the appeal. It also has a hole so it can be hung from a hook or nail. It is large, so I won't be storing it in a drawer.  And to show you how well and easy it does work, here is a video demonstration! This is offered at a promotional price of $19.95. Use code PCRICER5 to get $5 off your purchase TODAY! Get yours here:  http://amzn.to/1A7LuGb   *I received this product free ...

Hosted By Beautifully Poor Co-hosted by Bubby's Mommy Blog & Reviews   and  Mom Talk Reviews As mother's, we run ourselves ragged for our families. We all deserve a little pampering. These beauty products are some of my favorites! The ARV of this prize pack is over $60 and I can't wait to see who wins. So enter today for your chance at this Mother's Day Giveaway! This is the prize! I Love You To The Moon and Back Gold Pendant Necklace w/23.6" adjustable chain and Gift Box Revlon by Marchesa File 'N Peel 6-in-1 nail file Rimmel Volume Accelerator Mascara with Grow-Lash Complex in Extreme Black Physicians Formula Ultra-Nourishing Argan Oil CoverGirl Ultra Smooth foundation with applicator in Medium Beige Olay Fresh Effects Shine Minimizing Cleanser Travel Size John Freida 7 Day Volume In-Shower Treatment Travel Size Good luck everyone, and let's remember that mom's deserve the best this Mother's Day!! Better y...

So it's true. I was robbed Wednesday. My purse was stolen out of the trunk of our car at a local zoo. I usually put it in there just to be safe and apparently it is no longer a safe place. With the car locked and trunk shut, they still got in and were able to take my purse with my wallet, check book and car and apartment keys among other things. Thank goodness I had my phone on me because I would have been even more upset. Within the 2 hours we were in the zoo, they spent almost $100 between two gas stations within a half mile of each other. The creepiest thing is, I know they had to have been watching us. Totally creepy. Other bad thing, they got my set of keys and my ID that has my address on it. So they know where I live and have (had) keys to get to my home.  After we came back to the car and realized that the purse was gone, Lawrence called the bank and I called my credit card. The bank was very kind and after I had talked to the police we went to the bank to totall...

Anytime I can avoid taking supplements in pill form, I get excited. It is so much easier to rub a cream into my skin than choke down pills every day. I am also more apt to remember to take it because it isn't a pain in the butt.  Vita Sciences formula contains water, aloe, coconut oil, witch hazel, vitamin E, peppermint oil and chamomile extract. It is pink which I found interesting, but there are no artificial dyes or colors in this. It is also made without parabens. It goes on very easily. I put it on the inside of my arm where there isn't much hair for max absorption. It recommends two pumps a day and has 30 doses per tube. I would say this will last me about a month. This cream also helps soothe psoriasis, skin rashes and eczema and I have found it works great for that. It also supports the renewal of skin cells and has anti-aging qualities! Who doesn't want that!  Here is my video review on the product: Save 15% off your order wi...

                                DHD Culinary's Flip top water bottle is convenient and sturdy. It has a slight curve and is lightweight for working out or carrying around. The straw is also sturdy, so it will uphold use for a long time and it detaches for easy cleaning. I didn't have a problem with the top leaking either. It screws on and has a loop for easy travel use. It is well made and BPA free, which is a definite plus.  This is a well-made water bottle that will last a long time, especially because it is hand wash only. Help save the landfills by using this re-usable water bottle for your beverage needs. Get your own here:  Water Bottle Check out my video review here:  *I received this product free for testing and review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own.

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to a healthy diet and sometimes we just don't get enough from the foods we eat. A good way around that is to take a high quality supplement. Eklund Essential Omega is a good answer to that problem.  In each softgel there is 430mg EPA and 290mg of DHA and 800mg of Omega-3 fatty acids. There is no wheat, gluten, dairy, egg or peanuts in these at all. With 90 softgels per bottle and for a recommended dose of 2 daily, this will last 45 days.  They are made with Triple Molecular Distillation for the highest purity and the freshest available supplements. They test every batch for indicators of oxidation, which is what should be looked for when taking Omega-3.  They are bigger pills, but because they are a softgel they aren't too bad to swallow. They also have a natural lemon/lime flavor I could smell so it isn't too bad. This is much easier for me to take than liquid form of fish oil.  With an 100% money back guarantee...

Komax products are wonderful for everyday use. These water pitchers and bottles are no exception to that! Look at how pretty they are too! I just love how they all look. Here is my video review on them all:  Komax One Touch Water Bottle                                   This water bottle to me is just a beautiful color. The handle flips up to be hidden and the lid locks very well, but it is easy to open. The white part of the lid lock is pushed down, then the blue top part to pop open the lid. To lock, just shut the lid and push the white part back up. I like how the seal keeps it from spilling inside the cover too, making it much easier to keep clean. It is BPA free and easy to clean in hot, soapy water. It is light and easy to carry around while out and about. It is 700ml (23.6 oz), which is a great size; not to big or too small. It is made with a eco-friendly material t...

These BBQ gloves I feel are the new thing. I have been seeing them popping up in kitchens now and again and they seem to be gaining a huge popularity. This particular pair comes with a free set of meat claws, which are used to pull apart roasts, pork, and any other meat you want shredded easily. They are very sharp and made of a hard plastic. The gloves are heat resistant up to 425° and withstand heat very well! I did a demonstration in a video for you to see how good they really work. I was very impressed at how well they stood up to heat, and as you can see was a little skeptical. They are universal, meaning they both gloves fit either hand. The other plus is, instead of messing with tongs on the grill, now I can just grab the meat or vegetable off the grill without worrying about it falling off the tongs!!! How handy is that?  The other pluses of these gloves include: No-slip grips Waterproof and quick and easy clean up Dishwasher Safe Stain and od...

Shout out to my runner and triathlon readers! Today is #FinisherShirtFriday so rock that shirt that you are so proud of! That race you almost didn't finish or didn't think you could and you did! Be proud you crossed that finish line because not every can! You are AMAZING! For my shirt pic, I chose the Woodbury Country Mile shirt. I love this shirt because it reminds me of my accomplishments last summer as a runner. I would be a fool to take all the credit too! The wonderful women at Woodbury Moms On The Run are the ones who gave me the drive and the want to do better. To strive to race and to learn to love to run. Kristina Ticknor is the best coach and she will always have a special place in my heart. April Davis has become a dear friend and inspiration to me. And I loved the burn after every workout with Cailin Ashfield from those squats and lunges. I learned that it isn't about being skinny, but being healthy and strong. These women are amazing and I hope some of ...

If you are a mom or mom to be it's likely you have heard about Balboa Baby. Balboa Baby designs contemporary, unique products that are  made from luxurious fabrics and distinctive prints. With mom and baby in mind Balboa Baby offers everything from baby slings for babywearing to nursery accessories such as crib decor.  Enter to win a Fitted Crib Sheet and Security Blanket of your choice from Balboa Baby.  Giveaway Hosted By: Mom Talk Reviews  Co-Hosted By: Bubby's Mommy  Click this link to enter: Balboa Baby Giveaway Beautifully Poor is in no way responsible for prize fulfillment. Please see Giveaway rules for more information.

I have never seen a glass nail file before. I didn't even know they existed. Well now I am so happy to have found them and I will never buy an emery board or metal file again! I have never liked emery boards. They fall apart so fast and peel and are just junky. I used to only buy metal ones because they last longer, but I have had them chip, rust, peel and wear out. In fact the one I currently have is on its last leg, so this beautiful file came just in time to save the day! It is made out of Czech glass and is double sided. It is 135mm long and 2mm thick. It comes in a variety of colors, not just the beautiful red one pictured above. It is non-porous, so no bacteria or fungus will grow on this, which is very hygienic.  It doesn't take much to file either! Very lightly filing nails keeps them healthier I feel, than with a metal file. They just seem so rough on my nails since I have used this.  Here is my video review on this awesome nail file: With ...

Spring is FINALLY here, well most days anyways. With it comes the matter or cleaning the house and freshening it up from the winter blues. This can be a task, especially if you live in a larger home. Here are some tips I have found work good for me year after year and getting it done without stressing out a lot. Make a List I cant' tell you how smart this really is to do. Make a list by each room you need to clean. Under the heading of each room write down what needs to be done. Like the kitchen: underneath you could put floors, ceiling, cupboards, shelves, refrigerator, freezer, sink, disposal and microwave. This way when you go into a room you don't forget what needs to be done or overlook something and have to go back, or like in my case sometimes, just skip it altogether. Do One Room or Floor a Week or Weekend Breaking it up into different times instead of all at once can help alleviate the stress. I do one room or one side of my place a weekend ...

Ever find yourself frantically patting your pockets and looking for your smartphone...just trying to capture that perfect moment before it is lost in time, only to miss it because it took you too long to get your phone out? Maybe you like to mountain bike, or rock climb, and wish you had easy access to your phone without having to stop down and unpack to get to it's super safe location? Or are you an everyday mom who's 2 year old screams bloody murder until you hand over your phone at which point they throw it at the ground and laugh at you hysterically? This laynard design turns your smartphone from being a concern and a hassle to being an accessory and easily accessible. Wear your phone several different ways and keep it safe from being dropped but at the same time right there in your hand when you need it. ReelCase has sponsored this giveaway in celebration of their Kickstarter Campaign ! Head on over and show your support! You can contribute as little as $1...