Recently a friend recommended New Beauty Magazine’s Test Tube program and after I received my first tube, I had to not only share, but add it to my holiday gift guide {for her}.

The reason this makes such an awesome gift is because it’s a gift that keeps on giving. New Beauty Magazine’s Test Tubes come 4 times a year and is chock-full of great full-sized beauty products. Hair care, skin care, make-up– it’s all in there– along with the latest edition of New Beauty Magazine and $20 gift card to www.spalook.com  And– really, who doesn’t love getting surprises in the mail?

The cost of the program is $29.95 per tube and the value far exceeds the investment. The contents of the New Beauty Test Tube I received valued over $245!

For realz.

There were over 8 products in my Test Tube but here are some of  my favorites:

• Eyelash Conditioner by Lash Food (Value $120… In the words of Rachel Zoe: I die.)

http://www.lashfood.com/r/products.php

• Pores No-More Vacuum Cleaner by Dr. Brandt (Value $45- WOW!)

http://www.drbrandtskincare.com/product/pores+no+more+vacuum+cleaner.do

• Anti-Fatigue Foundation by Orlane (Value $45- WOW!)

http://www.orlane.com/

• L’Oreal Satin Hair Spray  (Value $14.99)

http://www.lorealparisusa.com/_us/_en/mail.aspx?type=pdp&id=Sty3_4&ci…

• Macadamia Natural Oil  (Value $13.00)

http://www.macadamiahair.com/

Disclosure: I received a complimentary Test Tube from New Beauty Magazine. The thoughts and opinions expressed in the post and video are my own.

{{This post is sponsored by Tempur-Pedic, the brand millions of owners trust to deliver their best night’s sleep every night. Enjoy our Buy 2, get 1 free pillow offer now and give the gift of custom comfort to someone you love.}}

While the holiday season can get hectic (last week was a whirlwind) and my shopping is not nearly complete-  I cannot deny the cozy feelings the holiday brings. Sometimes when you need to stay zen in the hustle and bustle of it all, it’s a good idea to just focus on those things that bring cozy feelings- because in reality there is a lot more joy than stress when you put it all in perspective.

Here are a few things that bring me comfort through out the holiday season–

My Christmas Tree

I la-la-LOVE sitting at night watching TV by the glow of the tree. Each of our ornaments have some sentimental value to us, but we have one ornament in particular that always goes right to the top of the tree. It is a crystal Seahorse we received at our wedding from our friends parents.  On the back of the ornament box they wrote “When a seahorse mates, it mates for life. Wishing you a life time of love and happiness” … It was one of my favorite wedding gifts.

New York City

There is nothing like Christmas in New York City. The Rockerfeller Center Christmas Tree, the store front windows… it all truly exudes holiday magic. My family and I always go to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular every year. It’s a tradition we all look forward to.

Family Christmas Specials

The kids love just about any holiday special, but to me- the holiday would not be complete without the claymation Rudolph and Frosty The Snowman movies. We always watch these with hot chocolate- I don’t know why, it just goes hand-in-hand.

Wrapping presents with Christmas music

Admittedly, I am wrapping paper challenged.  I just cannot get the swing of the whole awkward cutting. I always measure wrong and have jagged edges. My husband on the other hand is WAY better at this than I am.  So its always a good laugh while we’re wrapping because its always so obvious which ones he wrapped and which ones I attempted to wrap. Its all in good fun my friends, all in good fun.

Christmas Cookie Marathons

Through out the year I don’t do a ton of baking but when it comes to time for the holidays, my Christmas cookie bakeshop is in full swing. I make russian tea cookies, cheese cake cookies, pecan tarts, peanut butter thumbprints, and my mother in law’s recipe for tricolor cookies -which are always the first to disappear so I make a triple batch.

What are some of your holiday comforts?

A note from Tempur-pedic:

Comfort is the perfect gift for everyone on your holiday gift list, so be sure to take advantage of Tempur-Pedic’s Buy 2, get 1 free pillow offer!

Disclosure:

I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective

Photo Credit: Suzanne Chan of Mom Confessionals

I love BBQ season for 3 reasons…

1. The husband cooks dinner (SCORE!)

2. There’s always new dip recipes being shared

3. The husband cooks dinner …

oh, wait- did I say that already? Ok, so maybe I love BBQ season for 2 reasons… but the 1st one is weighted just a *teensy* bit heavier.

But besides, pairing me with a cooking husband what’s a more perfect pairing than chips and dip- really?

… and last week I missed what was sure to be this season’s mecca of dip sharing when, I couldn’t make the Perfect Pairing BBQ at Mom Confessionals‘ Suzanne Chan’s home…. I . Was. Bummed!

Our annual Luau – usually caters to 60+ people and when everyone always asks “What can I bring?” …& I almost always reply “Tostitos and dip” – and you know why? Because no 2 dips are every alike-

… Well besides the one dip that is known as Katie’s Dip, Kristi’s Dip and Aunt Sue’s Mexican Dip – depending on who you are talking to – but sshh! we just let them all think its “theirs”.

But besides that dip? Usually we get a great variety and its a chip and dip smorgasbord for the first 1/2 of the Luau- which the Tostitos scoops are perfect for!

And the added bonus?  I almost always walk away with a fun new one to try and claim as “my very own” at other people’s BBQs  {love that!}

Here are some of the great one’s I’ve discovered through the years:

• Buffalo Chicken Dip (This might always remain my personal favorite.

• Monterrey Jack Salsa Dip (Discovery courtesy of Here In This House’s Elise, this one is also equally amazing mixed in an omelet the next day in case you’ve had one to many…. chips.)

• Spinach Artichoke Dip

• Maui Artichoke and Crab Dip

• Hot Luau Layer Dip

• Mango Peach Salsa  (*this one is a great way to sneak in veggies and fruits for the kids)

You can also find tons of other great dip recipes on Frito-lay’s website.

So what is your favorite summer dip?

{{ SHARE AND WIN! }}

Share your favorite dip in the comments and I will pick one lucky ready to send coupons for 3 free bags of Frito-Lay chips for your next BBQ!

Rules & Info: Prize will be supplied by Frito-Lay. Winner will be chosen via random.org on Monday, Aug 1st at noon. If winner does not claim their prize we reserve the right to pick another winner.

Disclaimer: This was a sponsored post. Frito-Lay provided me with chips and ingredients to make my favorite recipe.

Available on Amazon for $13.95

It’s no secret that I am not exactly June Cleaver, so when I was asked to review Heather Solos’ “Home-Ec 101: Skills for every day living”, I jumped on the opportunity- because I could use all the help I can get… especially when it comes managing laundry and meal planning.

The book covers everything from cleaning to cooking to (gulp) fixing (?!) and does an excellent job at breaking it all down to be simple, manageable tasks everyone is capable of accomplishing.

What I loved most about this book? That she did the tough stuff for me- and for me, the tough stuff is just the planning and organizing of the day to day.

In chapter two she gives a weekly chart that will help you manage chores-

Monday- Laundry and bedding

Tuesday- Floors

Wednesday- Errands

Thursday- Bathrooms

Friday- Kitchen

etc. etc

and chapter 20 is all about meal planning- something I always wanted to do but was too lazy busy to actually sit down and plan out. Heather gives 3 examples of meal planning menus that are all easy to make.  I can’t say enough how much I LOVED this chapter.

One of Heather’s meal planning tips in this chapter was “Every meal doesnt need to be an experiment” (Whew!) I felt a huge weight lifted. Like one of the reader confessions in the book- I am guilty of always feeling like I need to add variety to our meals ALL. THE. TIME. and I am famous for printing out recipes from Food Network or my personal favorite, AllRecipes.com to try.  And while its fun to try new recipes, the pressure of whipping up new meals is exhausting.

She also covered other domestic diva issues that run rampant in this complicated house such as, picky eaters, and ingredient substitutes— which again, was a Godsend because I cannot tell you how many times I am left short of just 1 ingredient I forgot at the store, and isn’t that always the case? (hate that!)

Home-Ec 101 is a great book to have in the house for whenever you are in need of some tips in a pinch. I also think pairing it up with one of those pink tool kits and swanky aprons would make the best bridal shower or house warming gift for budding domestic goddess’- Lord knows, I could have used it!

If you read my blog regularly, you may have noticed.

If you and I are  connected on Facebook, you’ve seen it too.

I can’t help myself. I am addicted to dressing up my daughter and showing her off. Now that my son is in Kindergarten, I’ve made a conscious effort to post about him less for his own privacy- and well, baby girl is at that age where she is doing something cute every other minute. I want to just inhale these moments and never let them end.

Maybe its because she’s the baby. Maybe its because there is just a little something special between Mothers and Daughters , or maybe its the very real possibility there will not be any more complicated children entering the world… Whatever the reason, one thing is for sure- I am milking every last baby moment I have with her.

For Christmas my Mother and Step-father bought her an American Girl “Bitty Baby” and attached to it was a reservation for a “Girls Lunch” at The American Girl Place in NYC. I might have been more excited than she was. Ok, strike that. I WAS more excited than she was.

That is until we got there.

Two may seem like a young age for American Girl Lunches and shopping, but Princess is the girliest girl you have ever met and she ate the whole experience right up!

Lunch was adorable. They give your doll a high chair, tea cup and plate. The food was surprisingly good and the servings generous (4 courses!) And while, the chocolate mousse and warm cinnabuns were probably not within my points plus allotment
for the day, I am pretty sure even Jennifer Hudson would have given me a pass for the day.

Look at the joy on baby girls face as she goes from one thing to the next on shop floor…

Who could put a price (or point value) on that? Not I, my friend.

The day was perfect and being there, sharing the day and making memories with 3 generations of Complicated Mama’s, was a little emotional even for this non-cryer.

True, Princess will not remember the day- but believe me the tons of pictures and videos we took will give her memories to look back on for a life time.