New Woolite Extra Dark Care

Woolite Extra Dark Care sampling...

I was recently chosen to participate in an exclusive Woolite Extra Dark Care sampling.  The photo above is the  package that I received from Crowdtap for this sample & share.  I was super excited to get this!  I'm already a huge fan of Woolite and especially of their new Dark Care line.  This package was now an opportunity for me to spread the word on this awesome product and get my friends and family on board- anyone who wasn't already fortunate enough to have tried it.

Woolite Extra Dark Care is awesome.  I use it for so many different articles of clothing at my home, even my towels that are washed in warm water that usually would fade-are now looking newer than ever!   Woolite Extra Dark Care is perfect for everything from that sassy black lingerie (it's super gentle), to that cashmere black sweater.  By using Woolite Extra Dark Care, you can feel secure in knowing that your clothing will stay darker, and looking new much longer than they would with any other detergent (this has been tried and tested by myself- I'm always trying new products, so I like to consider myself a bit of a product junkie who really knows her stuff).    I have yet to find a product that can top this.

For the sake of proving my claims here on my blog, I took a photo of one of my favorite button down hooded sweatshirts (super cute, can be dressed up or down), and washed it not once- but twice (both complete cycles- washed and dried).  I then took a second photo.  To my astonishment, the shirt looked nicer after being washed with this!  I had never paid that close of attention, I mean I knew it was great- I've been using it since it hit the market- but I've never actually taken photos and studied articles of clothing like I did for this.  So yeah, the second round actually seemed to have darkened it.   Either way, there's was not a drop of fade to it.  It looked newer when it came out, than it did going in to the first cycle!    AMAZING.  Oh, and the detergent smells awesome.  

Below is the photo taken prior to the two cycles of washing...

Next is the photo I took after my shirt went through two complete wash and dry cycles using Woolite Extra Dark Care...amazing isn't it?

So how could I share this with my friends?  And more importantly who would be my lucky picks?  After pondering for a while, I decided that who better to share these with but the folks at my runners circle.  We wear a lot of black (those drymax pants, spandex, dark tanks and sports bras...all that cost a pretty penny- we really need to be choosy when we wash this stuff!).  So what I did was pack my usual (we take turns doing this) bottle of water and snack, and I used a rubber band to bundle it together with the pack from Woolite (sample of Extra Dark Care, and a $1.00 off coupon) as an added bonus for our circle meeting :)  Below is a photo of me laying them out right before banding them together.

Here's a not so great photo of me after banding them together, courtesy of my daughter.  She wanted to see this on my blog, so here it is sweetie!  (I should note that this was post work out...please don't judge lol)

The circle loved their samples.  They were so grateful, and were so pleasantly surprised that I chose them to try it out.  Since giving them the samples, I've gotten great feedback.  In fact I got an email today from our leader saying that she just sent her husband to the store to buy the largest bottle of this that he can find...she LOVED the smell of it, and was so surprised by how great it worked on just one load.  I'm glad they loved it, and I'm pretty sure the 5-star reviews will keep rolling in as I am going running again tonight...right after I do another load of darks with my new 60oz jug of Woolite Extra Dark Care :)

I was given the samples from Crowdtap free to give out and spread the word about Woolite Extra Dark Care.  All of the photos and thoughts shared, are my own.

.

Our new tradition is an annual family album by Mixbook

I won a free landscape hardcover book by "Mixbook" (their link is at the bottom of this post), and decided to make that book into a family album.  This would be the start of our very own family tradition.  When I ordered this, I had no idea how it would turn out.  I had never made a photo book, so I could only imagine what I would get when I opened the package the next week.  I could not have been more pleasantly surprised.  Actually, that's an understatement.  I was in awe.  The book is amazingly beautiful.  It's just perfect in every way, from the vibrant colors, the glossy paper, the perfect text- everything!  I would highly suggest every person uses Mixbook to make their memories last a lifetime.  These books are just awesome.  I've attached page-by-page, my entire book for you to see.  These photos don't do it justice, but they do give you a nice vision of what yours could look like.  Oh, and Mixbook offers tons of tools to make each page your own piece of art!  You can opt to have them design your pages, or you can use their scrapbooking type tools to add boarders, stickers, backdrops, and even edit your photos!  I could go on for days...Mixbook Rocks, seriously.  (I did get the book for free, but these are indeed my honest opinions- I'm not getting paid to say this.)  Okay, well I hope you enjoy- and make sure to check out their site!  Go and play with their tools, you'll just love all of the options- it's crazy!

http://www.mixbook.com/

Harveys Seatbeltbag

When I found out I won this bag, I wasn't too thrilled- I mean really it's a bag made of seat belts right?  Well boy was I wrong (not about it being made of seatbelts, but wrong for not being thrilled!).  This thing ROCKS!  I won the  "Harveys Medium Tote" in black, from the "Harveys Originals Collection".  The bag costs $104, and worth every penny (granted, I didn't spend a penny- but I'm currently on the prowl for a second bag to add to my collection-I'm officially obsessed).  Anyhow, before winning this I had seen one once on a street in Chicago- but had no idea what it was or how I would ever go about finding one.  Now, I own one.  Now I know where to find more of them...and trust me, there's plenty more of them.  They come out with new ones for nearly every season. Right now they have one in the color "Sunset"...as you can imagine it's a super pretty orange.  Oh man, I can't even begin to tell you about the color options available.  If you love purses, and you appreciate high quality and originality- check out the link I've posted to their site.  I promise you'll find one you love...I found a handful, okay so I found like 3 handfuls ;)

http://www.seatbeltbags.com/medium-tote-zip1.html

McCormick Grill Mates® Grill Ambassadors Party

I was chosen to host  the "McCormick Grill Mates® Grill Ambassadors Party" by McCormick and CrowdTap, and let me tell you it was one of the best parties I've thrown!  We had an awesome turn out, and ate tons of great food.  I've included a couple photos, although I have TONS for my scrapbook- this was definitely one for the books!  Anyhow, I was the following products (free!):

• Grill Mates® Spiced Brandy & Herb Marinade
• Grill Mates® Slow and Low Memphis Pit BBQ Rub
• Grill Mates® Montreal Steak Seasoning Blend
• Grill Mates® Molasses Bacon Seasoning Blend
• Grill Mates® Brown Sugar Bourbon BBQ Sauce

Let me tell you...I can't pick a favorite!  We used everything during our party, except the BBQ pit rub.  We're going to use this for our July 4th Party, we've got tons of ribs on the menu.  Anyhow, we used the AMAZINGLY delicious Brown Sugar Bourbon BBQ sauce for our drummys, a handful of wings, and breasts.  We used the Molasses Bacon seasoning on our boneless porkchops and a handful of drumsticks and wings.  We used the Steak seasoning (which has been a favorite of our family's for years!) on our tenderloins, and the Brandy and Herb Marinade for another handful of chicken wings/drummys/and breasts.  We also made cheddar and bbq burgers using the BBQ sauce and a few with the Moasses Bacon seasoning...let me tell you, I can honestly say I couldn't pick which turned out the best- nor would anyone at the party.  Everyone was in awe.  These all turned out wonderful.  You know, when I have these parties, some are a hit and some are not the best- or don't have the best results at least.  This one however, ended with complete satisfaction.  My friends and family actually took home notecards with the names of what I used on their favorite meats, so they could get some for their own use!  Everyone took photos, had a few drinks, and got super full.  It was awesome.  This was an awesome party, hands down the best yet.  Great, now that I'm talking about all this grilling out...I'm starving.  Luckily, I have a few leftover wings with the Brown Sugar Bourbon BBQ sauce ;)  YUM!!!!!!!

Oh, and I posted on McCormicks Wall and they responded- that's always nice :)  I love when the brands actually take notice of their fans...super cool.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3932910917639&set=p.3932910917639&type=1&theater&notif_t=like  (here's that photo)

essie: Fear or Desire

Okay, so I joined this new program called Klout and I must say, it's pretty neat.   They award you "perks"  which are discount codes for new stores, samples for new products, first viewings of new tv shows,etc.  It's awesome.  You're awarded based off of a points systems, which are generated by how much you participate via social media (it's linked to my Twitter and Facebook). 

Anyhow, I was awarded the essie perk and was sent a bottle of essie's new "Fear or Desire" summer polish- it's bright orange and it's beautiful.  I love this polish (I'm already a huge fan of essie, but this color line for summer is out of this world- amazing!)  I just thought I'd share a photo- it's too pretty not to!  If you like what you see, you should really check out their polishes...I swear by them- they're the best!  Hands down.  

Essie polishes stays on my fingernails looking salon perfect for just over 2 weeks, literally every time I use it.  It seriously takes that long for it to start to chip, and even then it's minimal!    I swear by their polish.  It's salon quality (and without the harsh chemicals of so many salon polishes!), and for a great price ($8/bottle).  It's the polish I tell everyone about...I can't say enough nice things about it.

Yaaaaaay! I did it! My very first entry in my new blog :)

      "So I've finally done it.  I have taken the first step into the world of blogging.  I have been an active blog member for years, and have been tossing around the idea of starting my own for a while now...but with kids, work, and well some good ol' honest intimidation I have yet to start one.  I decided now that I'm a stay at home mom, and my daughter is going to school full days this coming fall (sniff sniff!) what better time to do what I've always wanted to do...write.  I have a lot to say, I'm very social, I'm a freebie lover, I'm a "sweepstakes-a-holic", I test a lot of new products and love writing their reviews, and I coupon....blogging is totally for me.   I think it's about time I share my thoughts, deals & steals, freebies, and reviews with the world.  I hope you welcome me to the blogging world with open arms, and I'll ask of you now please be gentle LOL...although I've been in this world for a while, I have never written a day in my life.  So thank you in advance for patience, and I hope you enjoy what I have to say and I can't wait to hear what you have to say :)  Thanks for stopping by!"

          ~Jamie 

Feel free to follow me on the following...I promise, I'm a great person to follow :)

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LuLusLovinFreebies

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/#!/jamison311

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/msjamesteagall/  

(My name is Jamie Anderson, soon to be "Steagall" ;)  The big day is November 3rd!)