Metalia Reviews

Mary Kay Review, Plus $100 Giftbasket Giveaway!

2011-07-27T10:00:00.002-04:00

This is a sponsored post from BlogHer and Mary Kay.

I like to think of myself as something of a makeup savant, and I thought I had Mary Kay pegged. I had an admittedly preconceived notion of dated colors, frosted lips, and blue eyeshadow. Also something about pink suits? I don’t even know.

I wasn’t entirely wrong about the blue eyeshadow, but I was totally wrong about everything else.

BlogHer and Mary Kay recently approached me to see if I would like to try some of their products, and share my thoughts with you. Before my prettily wrapped package arrived at my front door, I was asked for my eye color, so they could customize the items just for me. (Yes, JUST FOR ME. My brown eyes are like precious and rare jewels, you guys!)

I opened the box, and found in there some Ultimate Mascara,Tinted Lip Balm Suncreen with SPF in Rose, and a magical little magnetic, swap-out-able compact, loaded with a mineral blush, and three eye shadows. (Including one in –yes—blue. More on that soon.)

This is the face I make when I see blue eyeshadow.

I immediately began playing around with my new products. I was intrigued by the Tinted Lip Balm Sunscreen; I’m all about multitasking products, and lip balm (gloss, stick, etc.) is a weakness of mine. I was a little scared of the color in the tube…

But I absolutely adored how it looked once it was on.

The balm glides on, imparting a dewy, sheer glow. Instant addition to my summer beauty arsenal!

Next, I moved on to the mascara, which, frankly, blew me away. I grade mascara on a VERY HARSH CURVE. And when I find one that gets the job done without clumping up, leaving me with lashes that basically touch my eyebrows? I am SOLD.

I then played around with the blush (which came in the “Shy” shade), and noted that while it was very subtle, it imparted that sought-after, lit-from-within, candlelit quality. The eye shadows, too, were a revelation, with a finely-milled quality that rivaled the texture of – yes – my Chanel shadows. And wonder of wonders, I wound up LOVING the deep blue shade (“Midnight Star”) which I pressed on very close to my lashline, and which made my dark brown eyes pop.

All in all, I was really impressed with the products, from the standpoint of both quality and packaging.

And now, here’s where you come in! As part of this review, I’m giving away a $100 Mary Kay gift basket. Just leave a comment between now and August 26, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST, telling me which Mary Kay product you would love to try and you will be entered into the sweepstakes! You MUST leave an email address within your comment! I will select a winner at random after the close.

The following list details more ways to win and some more guidelines. In fact, please visit the Official Rules. Here's a quick rundown:

Leave your comment on this post
Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules and follow instructions for an alternate form of entry.

No duplicate comments. This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

In addition, go here to read more Mary Kay-BlogHer blogger reviews so you can enter their sweepstakes for even more chance to win!

And the Winners Are...

2010-01-31T23:13:00.000-05:00

The first prize in the Kraft iFood Assistant 2.0 contest (a $50 American Express Gift Card) goes to number 65...

Which is....Becky!

And the winner of the second prize (the $25 iTunes gift card) goes to number 13...

Which is...Elizabeth!

Congratulations to you both! I'm emailing you for your addresses, and your prizes will be on their way! Thanks, everyone, for playing along, and sending me your amazing-sounding recipes!

(Note:The total number of entries in the contest was 70; however, one didn't contain a recipe, per the contest instructions, and one was a duplicate comment. Hence, the total number of entries was reduced to 68.)

A Contest, and Review of Kraft iFood Assistant 2.0: A close second to that live-in chef I've been wanting

2010-01-13T22:16:00.000-05:00

Cooking is one of my very favorite things to do when I have a bit of free time. I find it incredibly relaxing, and if done right, it often results in me eating untold quantities of cookies. Delicious cookies. Sadly, free time is like unobtanium around here (topical!), which is why you will often see plaintive tweets from me at 1 in the morning as I wait for bread dough to rise, bemoaning the fact that I neglected to start the whole process earlier.

My poor planning skills are only exacerbated by the fact that both my husband and I work full time, so our dinners are often slapdash and totally thrown together. Lately, we’ve been feeling that perhaps we should put in a bit more effort on Sunday, and truly organize ourselves, mealwise, for the week. You know, so we could have actual, proper meals and our children could remember that food comes in non-nugget and tot form.

I was recently contacted by Kraft Foods to review their iPhone app, iFood Assistant 2.0, which retails for 99 cents,* and puts 7,000 recipes at your fingertips. I was all, “YES PLEASE WHERE DO I SIGN UP.”

I downloaded the app, and immediately put it to work.

One of my Actual, Proper Responsible Meal Planning strategies had been to cook up a big ol’ vat of soup on Sunday which we could eat throughout the week and/or freeze, so obviously I headed to the “Soups” section, because I am a winner, and also very smart. Time being the commodity that it is around here, I was also interested in the “Prep in 30 minutes or less” category. It was there that I found the Tomato Broccoli Soup, which could not have been easier, and tasted great. (It contains Good Seasons dressing mix, which, along with onion soup mix, are my secret ingredients in a bazillion of my recipes.)

Another great feature that I LOVED was the “What’s On Hand” section, where you plug in up to three ingredients you’d like to cook with (the predictive input there is a plus) and it searches the database for recipes you can make with those items. It was through this feature that I discovered Hot & Spicy Brittle recipe, which we’ve concluded must contain trace amounts of crack, such is its addictive deliciousness.

In terms of navigation, the layout of the app is very straightforward, and easy to follow. One area for improvement, however, would be to -- after clicking on a recipe, and then hitting the “back” arrow -- have your spot on the page be “anchored,” rather than sending you back up to the top of the page. Not a big issue, but it would be a nice enhancement.

In all, I highly recommend the purchase of this app; for 99 cents, you get a highly searchable database of 7,000 recipes, a whole mess o’ features I haven’t even mentioned here. (oh, fine: a few more—a Shopping List section where you can add items by aisle, recipe, or even store locator! WE ARE IN THE FUTURE, people. You can even email the shopping list to yourself.) It’s precisely the type of app I’d have downloaded on my own, which, to me, is always a good litmus test as to whether or not I’d endorse a product.

And! Two lucky readers can try this app out, as I’m running a little contest. Seeing as I’m trying to be better about cooking real dinners lately, simply enter by giving me your best go-to, easy, peasy recipe. (You can either leave a link to it in the comments, or cut and paste it there. I’m not picky!)

I will select two winners at random. The first winner will get a $50 American Express gift card, and the second will get a $25 iTunes gift card.

The contest will end Wednesday January 27, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Good luck! I can’t wait to see your recipes!

*I have been compensated by Kraft Foods to cover the cost of groceries to try out recipes featured on iFood Assistant 2.0, downloading the app and conducting reader giveaways. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive sentiments towards iFood Assistant or other Kraft Foods mobile offerings.

Winner of the L'Bel Contest!

2010-01-11T00:21:00.001-05:00

And the winner of the L'Bel giveaway, worth $500 of their products, is...number 288!

Nancy!

(Note: The actual number of entered comments was 314, however the last one was posted after the stated contest deadline, so out of fairness, I excluded it from the final tally.)

Congratulations, Nancy! Your prize will be on its way shortly!

My Holiday Party Makeup Tips, and an L'Bel Paris Makeup Review: It's through sheer force of will that I'm not saying "ooh, la la!"

2009-12-08T20:35:00.008-05:00

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and L'Bel.

Despite having a full-on makeup addiction AND a secondary job as a beauty writer (to feed my addiction/enable me to justify my purchases for “research purposes”), my actual makeup routine is pretty minimal. I know! This IS just like an Alanis Morissette song!

You wouldn’t know it from my steamer trunk-sized makeup bag(s), but the truth is, I’ve got the whole thing—hair and makeup—down to under five minutes. (Video proof here!) I’m a creature of habit, and so while I’ll do little things like swap out this lip gloss for that, or switch from cream blush to powder, by and large, the routine itself remains pretty much the same.

The only time I stray from it is when I have a truly fancy party to attend. My litmus test for determining the Fanciness Level of a given event involves a complicated series of algorithms, but basically, boils down to “does my husband have to wear a tuxedo to this thang?” If so, I do one of three things to add a little something to shake up my routine:

1. LIPSTICK

As I mentioned, I’m a bit of a gloss fan. I have….well, an embarrassing number of them, and a special event is the perfect excuse for me to act like a grown up and put on some lipstick. The mere act of applying it just feels more elegant.

2. EYELASHES

I’ve recently gotten over my lifelong fear of false eyelashes and learned how to actually apply them. (The secret: individual lash segments! So much easier and more natural-looking than the full eyelash strips.) Done right, they make your eyes look incredible and party-ready.

3. GET MORE PRETTY, PRETTY MAKEUP

Let’s be honest, I usually wind up taking options 1, 2, and 3. And with the holiday party season rapidly approaching (hold me!) I was delighted when BlogHer asked if I’d be willing to do a review of some beauty products from L’Bel. I said yes, because, uh, see above, and also, because I'd never heard of L’Bel, and I was intrigued.

And now I shall bore you with my product review methodology: I take my reviews seriously. I used my unfamiliarity with the L’Bel brand as a factor in this review. I did not research L’Bel in advance, so as to ensure a fair and unbiased perspective, and when the package arrived (it had been customized via questionnaire for my age, skin, and preferences), I held myself back from even checking the prices online. I honestly had no idea how L’Bel was classified from a price point perspective, and again, I wanted to judge the products on their own merits. My total lack of knowledge of the brand enabled me to critique itin a completely unbiased way, without thoughts like “well, it’s good, for a drugstore brand” or “for a department store product, I expected more”.

I only recently received the products, so I cannot speak to the efficacy of some (such as the Regression Yeux eye cream), which take a while to take effect. However, some standouts for me were the (surprise!) Delicious Lip Gloss Plump (which had the perfect touch of sweetness, but not so much that I compulsively licked it all off and needed to reapply it every 12 seconds. It’s a tough balance to strike), and the Regression Jour face lotion with SPF 15. It’s made to protect against the first signs of aging (which I TOTALLY HAVE), absorbs quickly, and has only the faintest of scents, which I personally appreciate.

Overall, I was impressed with the products I received. It was only after a few days of testing them that I actually looked up prices (and learned about the company). L’Bel is a French cosmetic company which focuses on developing products focused on both age range and skin type. The quality of the products and the upmarket packaging led me to believe the prices would be in the mid-to-high-priced department store brand range, but in fact, they were more along the lines of, say, Clinique. (The lip gloss, for instance is $11.)

And--YOU GUYS. I’m hosting a sweepstakes for $500 worth of L’Bel products custom selected for the winner.

Entering is easy: Since the holidays are coming, just leave me a comment below and tell me: What you add to your makeup routine for special occasions/moments. It can be as simple as “red lipstick” or as involved as “a Rapunzel-length weave. WITH GLITTER SPARKLES!” You can also answer the question in a post on your own blog, and leave a link to it in the comments below. The contest will begin on December 9, 2009 and run until January 8, 2010. Pretty please leave a valid email address in the comments.

Also, check out the BlogHer.com review/giveaway round-up page here for other reviews, and eight other chances to win, and feel free to follow L'Bel on Twitter for beauty tips and special offers.

Good luck, and happy holidays!

Rules:

* No duplicate comments.
* You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and then leaving a link in the comments.
* You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and then leaving a link in the comments.
* This giveaway is open to US Residents, aged 18 and older.
* Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
* You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
* Please see the official rules here:

Max Factor Winner!

2009-06-23T22:56:00.002-04:00

I'm pleased to announce that the winner of the Max Factor contest:

(Although, I must say, the REAL winner in all this is me, because my GOD, people, your tales of makeup mistakes had me weeping from laughter.)

Congratulations, Caleal! Send me your info, and your prize will be on its way!

The End/The Beginning

2009-06-18T06:07:00.001-04:00

I think (and hope) I’ve managed to get through my Potty Ambassador and Potty Project posts these past few months without getting too sappy, but I think I’m going to fail MISERABLY today. You see, this is my final post for this endeavor, and I’ll have to hand the crown (er, jewel-encrusted potty seat?) off to the next Ambassador soon enough.

As I mentioned in my last post, despite T having been solidly toilet trained for over a month, I was extremely nervous about putting him in his underwear on our recent plane trip. What if he had an accident? What if he forgot everything? As I've mentioned in the past, T was initially quite stubborn with regard to potty training (not unlike the adorable Brandon, who, I believe, would be fast friends with my kid). As the morning of our flight drew near, I became increasingly anxious that putting him in underwear would be nerve-wracking at best, and The World’s Biggest Mistake at worst, if for no one else, than the person who would next inhabit what was sure to be a very soggy Seat 9F. Still, Jen’s advice in that post--which boiled down to the importance of consistency--compelled me to give it a shot. I mean, if the worst-case scenario played out, I wouldn’t be around to incur the wrath of the wet-butted person who sat in the seat after T, right? Right? I took a leap of faith.

Well, as things turned out, I need not have worried. I had taken him to the bathroom twice in the airport while we waited to board our flight, and once while we were in the air. (And speaking of which, if the Toddlerlympics ever become a reality, I’d like to enter myself in the Feats of Strength Division, under the category of Lifting Large Child Aloft, Mid-Pee, In Order For Him To Avoid Any Sort of Contact With Airline Toilet of Questionable Sanitary Conditions. These biceps don’t grow on trees, you know.)

The fact that this-- the first real test of his potty-training skills-- took place on a plane was sort of apropos, as I truly felt like (GAH, CLICHÉ ALERT) we were flying blind, so to speak. Other than a hasty change of clothes, there was no true fall-back plan for us here in the event he didn’t make it to the potty in time. All I had to back me up here was simply confidence in my kid, and his ability to remember what he needed to do. And you know what? Despite the excitement of T’s first plane flight (and as such, his new surroundings), he never forgot what we’d been diligently working on together for the past few months.

Like a sportscaster not wanting to ruin a perfect game, it was not until after we landed (and made a beeline for the restrooms in O’Hare) that I gathered T in my arms, grinning, and told him how proud I was of him for making it through his first plane trip without an accident. He smiled back and said (in an almost condescending tone, honestly) “I’m a big boy, Mommy. I go on the toilet.” I told him he was right, and together, we walked back to our family waiting for us at the baggage claim. We enjoyed our time in town over the next few days, and when the time came to fly back, I spent a lot less time worrying about a potential potty accident, and a lot more time reveling in the milestone my son had achieved.

Many, MANY thanks to everyone at Pull-Ups and the Potty Project for all the support, encouragement and resources throughout my Potty Ambassador experience. I could not have made the experience I had potty training T as (relatively!) painless as it was without their guidance.

As noted, I am being compensated by Pull-Ups for my role as spokesperson, however the opinions and feelings expressed here are my own. Become a fan of Pull-Ups on Facebook!

Some Burning Potty Training Questions (And Perhaps More Importantly, Some Answers!)

2009-06-08T22:12:00.007-04:00

After I posted my plea for guidance with nighttime potty training, not only did my commenters Sara and Reb offer me some great guidance, but in addition, the Pulls-Ups people kindly put me in touch with Jen Singer, Pull-Ups Potty Training Partner, author of Stop Second Guessing Yourself: The Toddler Years, and an experienced potty trainer and blogger.

I was fortunate to be able to ask her some of my (and your!) most burning questions:

In terms of potty-training during naps/nighttime, what readiness signs do you look for? (Personally, I’m perplexed, because my son can wake up in the morning and his Pull-Up can be completely dry, or he can be soaked through. I never know what to expect.)

It takes an average of eight months, start to finish, to complete potty training, and nighttime training generally takes longer. In fact, it can take boys in particular a long time to train at night. Some 10% of five-year-olds and 5% of 10-year-olds still wet the bed now and then. Often, kids simply outgrow it.

As for readiness for nighttime training, it’s simply a matter of how often he wakes up dry. You can help him do that by limiting his fluids after 6 or 7 p.m. and making sure he pees before he goes to bed. Some folks go so far as to wake their kids up at around 11 and make them pee, but I’m not a fan of waking up a sleeping kid...Again, it’s a personal preference.

The aforementioned lovely and helpful commenter Sara offered similar guidance, saying:

After your son shows the ability to maintain a dry diaper consistently, at least over a week consecutive, then you can broach potty training at night. It isn't really something you can force especially with a lot of science showing that boys' (and some girls') bladders develop slower. Once he shows he can keep a dry diaper make sure you have purchased a waterproof mattress pad (a must even if not toilet training) and let him try. When he's ready it will be really easy. The other part is to make sure they are on the toilet in the morning first thing when they wake up and at night last thing before they go to bed even before you start going diaperless.

How do I begin the process of training and transitioning to underwear without completely disrupting either his nap or nighttime sleep?

I’d start by keeping him in underpants during his nap. Make sure he pees beforehand and eliminate his fluids within a half-hour of his naptime. Try it for a week, and see if he can refrain from peeing in his underpants. Expect setbacks, and don’t scold him for peeing during his nap. Just make sure his bed is properly protected with a pee mat.

Meanwhile, keep track of how many times he wakes up dry in the morning. When he’s dry far more often than not, try switching to underpants.

Commenter Reb offered similar guidance, saying that with her daughter:

I had to cut off drinks after 6:30pm or so, have her pee right before going to sleep, and sometimes when I was ready for bed I would sit her on the potty half asleep and she would pee again! Nighttimes are harder and take a lot longer...

For even more nighttime potty training guidance (because really, can you ever have enough? Hint: NO.), here's a nighttime training webisode on the Potty Project.

As a general matter, how do you recommend that parents go about phasing out treats like candy and stickers for successful potty trips, once the child is really trained?

With both of my boys, I simply started phasing them out week by week, pee by poop, until they no longer expected them. I didn’t make a big deal out of it, and frankly, they soon forgot. If you’ve got a kid who remembers that sort of thing, you can tell him that he gets one big treat at the end of each successful day. Or, tell him that now that he has mastered daytime potty training, he’ll move onto the next rewards level: naps and nighttime.

What do you recommend for long-distance travel with a recently potty-trained child? We will be leaving on a 2-hour plane flight this week, and I’m concerned about a sudden “potty emergency” at an inopportune time, such as when the plane is taxiing down the runway.

The key is to remain consistent. If he normally wears underpants at home, he should wear them on the plane. Limit his fluids and take him to the potty often while you’re waiting to board the plane. Try to keep him preoccupied while you’re taking off, and don’t mention the potty then! Worse case scenario, you catch it in a cup. But I’m rooting for him to make it!

What’s the single most useful piece of advice you have for parents just starting the potty-training process?

It’s to be consistent. I met a woman who would put her daughter back into Pull-Ups at the store because she thought the toilets were gross. But that just confused her daughter: Are we potty training or not? No matter where you go or who your child is with, you need to have the same potty training plan and stick with it.

I found Jen’s (and Sara’s and Reb’s!) advice to be incredibly helpful, and I hope you guys find it useful, too (especially Cindy, who seems to be in the same boat I was, going on her second round of attempting to potty train her toddler).

As for me, based on the “be consistent!” advice of experts, both formal and informal, I planned to put T in his underwear before we left for our flight, but pack a change of clothes, just in case. I’ll let you know how it went in my next (and final!) post…wish us luck!

As noted, I am being compensated by Pull-Ups for my role as spokesperson, however the opinions and feelings expressed here are my own. Become a fan of Pull-Ups on Facebook!

Where We Are Now

2009-05-28T17:43:00.003-04:00

If you had asked me just a few months ago if I had anything even remotely meaningful to contribute to a discussion about potty training, I’d have laughed aloud (and loudly) at the question, not unlike Liz Lemon’s attempt to out-laugh Tracy Jordan on that episode of 30 Rock. Perhaps I’d have even thrown my head back and tossed my hair, soap opera-style, such would the absurdity have been.

It’s amazing how much can change in the span of a couple weeks. As I mentioned earlier, when Pull-Ups first approached me about becoming a Potty Ambassador, I was nervous about what the outcome of the potty training attempts would be. And mind you, I’m not saying I’m any sort of expert, by any means, but now that we’ve faced the challenge of potty training and lived to tell the tale, I’m here to give you a very important message:

YOU CAN DO THIS.

People, I had the most resistant kid imaginable. His craftiness cannot be overstated. I’m talking stubbornness of such magnitude that the first time we attempted potty training, he’d sit on the toilet for OVER A FULL HOUR (as my butt went numb from perching on the rim of the bathtub) refusing to, uh, take any action. The minute the diaper went back on, he’d stop holding it in, and would tug at me, telling me to change it. I kind of felt as though it was high noon in an old Western, and any minute, tumbleweed would come rolling on by, as we glowered at each other in the sun.

Now that I can look back and see how Potty Training Attempt 1 (unmitigated FAIL) differed from Potty Attempt 2 (VICTORY!) I think the real turning point for us was changing our approach to fit our kid. I was admittedly much more rigid the first time around. I mean, I of course acted EXCITED when we had our few successful trips to the potty, but I honestly viewed potty training as a chore; a responsibility we had to endure. Once I changed my tune for Attempt 2, enthusiastically involving my son in not only the acquisition of the potty, but all the accoutrements (e.g., the stickers, the charts, the Pull-Ups, the treats, etc.), he responded in kind. He went from the kid moaning “NOOOOOOO” whenever I even brought up the IDEA of giving up diapers to…well, this:

And that, my friends, is what all of us are going for. And to that end, I’d suggest checking out Pull-Ups Potty Project , a new site which follows six real families of toddlers amidst the potty training process, as they attempt to kick the diapers to the curb.

The site also contains some incredibly useful tools, articles, and advice to make potty training a smooth and fun (yes, really! It can be done!) experience. Oh, and coupons! Hello!

By the way, if you have any questions for me about potty training, please feel free to leave them in the comments here, and I’ll address them in the next post. And I’ll selfishly kick things off with a question for you, if the event any of you have helpful advice for me on the matter:

Potty training during the night? Wha? Bwuh? How?

Ahem. HELP.

As previously noted, I am being compensated by Pull-Ups for my role as spokesperson, however the opinions and feelings expressed here are my own. Become a fan of Pull-Ups on Facebook!

New Makeup: It makes you feel pretty, AND reveals your apparently complex feelings about Katy Perry

2009-05-15T17:35:00.005-04:00

This is a compensated review from BlogHer and Max Factor.

Recently, BlogHer asked me if I’d be willing to do a review of a few new beauty products from Max Factor. I’ll be honest, I’ve never purchased any Max Factor products in the past, but not being one to turn down the opportunity to expand my makeup horizons (for free, to boot), I accepted.

Max Factor then sent over a cute bag full of goodies…

But my real focus for this review is on two products: Max Factor 2000 Calorie Extreme Lash Plumper mascara, and Vivid Impact Lipcolor.

I was excited about these two products in particular, because I am on a seemingly endless quest for a New Perfect Mascara, and I juuuust recently started using lipstick again after being a lip gloss girl exclusively for years. (I fully credit Mad Men for this.)

Let’s talk about the mascara first. I am a fan of anything with the phrase “2000 Calorie” in its title, mainly because it reminds me that I recently purchased an industrial-sized bucket of cheese puffs, which makes me go to my Happy Place.

Wait.

What were we talking about again?

Oh, yes! Anyway, the mascara. I liked the sleek yet chunky packaging; it looked good, and I felt like the wand was substantial enough that it wouldn’t inadvertently go flying out of my hand, hitting the wall, and falling directly on top my wedding album. Just, you know, as a totally random example of something that could ostensibly happen to someone with mascara, at some point.

The brush was interesting, too. The…bristles were rubbery, flexible, and longer towards the fatter end. As the brush tapers towards the top, the bristles become extremely short, which meant, for me, I didn’t get a ton of product deposited towards my inner lashes. Which would have looked…odd.

And speaking of the product itself, the consistency was fabulous; almost creamy, actually. Here’s how it looked on me (Note: I am wearing no other makeup except for concealer, and I did not curl my lashes. Also, the lines under my eyes make me want to weep, so I think it’s time I invest in some eye cream, MY GOD.):

In rendering my verdict, I feel that I must first and foremost consider the lash plumping effect touted in the mascara’s name. I think “plumping” can mean different things to different people, so if someone wants a Big! Dramatic! Katy Perry! lash look, this might not be the ideal product for them. But for me, and anyone who wants a good, everyday mascara that doesn’t clump up, but definitely adds some volume? I’d recommend it in a heartbeat. I mean, look again.

Clear definition without being spiky, added length, and no clumps whatsoever. Score!

As for the Vivid Impact lipstick, I loved it. Well, let me backtrack just a bit. The color (Pin-Up Pink) was NOT for me. I’m pretty pale, and it made me look like…Katy Perry, posing for something. (What IS it with me and Katy Perry today?) The funny thing is, the day I test drove it, I forgot I was wearing it, went to the post office, and Veronique, the postal employee who assisted me, complimented me on it, telling me it made me look “sassy.” Then we got into a tussle over whether I’d written the state abbreviation for Utah or Vermont on my package. But the point is, apparently, I should consider wearing it out. At least according to Veronique.

For now, though, since the color wasn’t really my thing, I’m going to focus on other aspects of the lipstick. I enjoyed the fact that the product had staying power, but wasn’t drying at all, as many lipsticks have a tendency to be. It also had no scent or taste to speak of, which is important to me. What I loved most of all, though, was that the color swatch on the bottom of the tube was PRECISELY the same shade as the product itself.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in drugstores and purchased cosmetics based on those swatches, only to come home and discover that “Careless Whisper Plum” or whatever is really “Boca Raton Coral.” I would definitely purchase this lipstick in another color, especially since I now know I can rely upon the accuracy of the shades.

Many thanks to Max Factor and BlogHer for this opportunity!

(Because it needs to be said: The feelings I expressed about the products here are true and accurate, and are in no way colored (heh!) by the fact that I received them without charge, and was compensated for my review. I am compensated regardless, so really, I have no incentive to embellish or misrepresent my feelings about this or any product I review.)

AND NOW for the fun part. (Not that hearing me wax poetic about new makeup wasn't fun for you, or anything.) Max Factor is generously sponsoring a giveaway!

You can win a bag of goodies (value: $50) by leaving me a comment about your biggest beauty mistake (simply because I love reading about those, as I've had my fair share), or perhaps your favorite Max Factor product, or you may leave a link to your post on your own blog in the comments below. The contest will begin at begins 9:00 p.m. (PT) 05/15/09 and will end ends 5:00 p.m. (PT) 06/16/09.. (Make sure that the e-mail address you leave is correct. ) I'll select a winner at random on June 16th!

Official Rules:

No duplicate comments.
You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
This giveaway is open to US residents, aged 18 and over
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
Please see the official rules here: http://www.blogher.com/max-factor-sweepstakes-official-rules"

Head here for more reviews, and even more chances to win!

Mission Accomplished

2009-05-13T22:43:00.005-04:00

When I first started this Potty Ambassador thing a few months back, I was excited, of course, but also more than a little apprehensive. I mean, not only did I need to write about potty training my (apparently resistant) kid, but I also needed to, you know, ACTUALLY TRAIN said child. I’ve always been a big planner and maker of lists, and the funny thing with potty training is that it LAUGHS at your lists. It SPITS on your plans. It reminds you that as much as you think you’re in charge, and that you Like To Do Things The Way You Like To Do Them, you need to take a step back, and factor the whims and personality of a small yet clever toddler into your approach.

There were a few weeks when I’d wondered to myself, what if it didn’t work? What if I finish my posts, and he’s NOWHERE NEAR TO BEING POTTY-TRAINED? What if I have to admit defeat, and shamefully put in a request for a lifetime supply of Pull-Ups, since big boy underpants were never going to happen?

And that’s the funny thing. I mean, usually, when a blogger is contacted to write about their experience with a product, its success can be measured by how much the blogger has used/will use the product going forward. In this case, if everything worked out well, I actually wouldn’t need Pull-Ups anymore. (Well, at least until I have to potty-train Lo.)

Well, people? I’m happy to say that T is officially done with potty training. The Pull-Ups were, in fact, such a success, that he no longer needs them, having officially made the step up to “big boy” underwear. We utilized so many of the resources made available to us from Pull-Ups, including their website, progress charts, the Potty Dance video, and of course, the Pull-Ups themselves. We all worked hard; there were definitely some rough patches, but we (and he!) persevered, and I’m so, so proud of him. Thank you all for reading and following his progress here!

I’d like to sincerely thank Pull-Ups for this opportunity, their generosity and support, and quite honestly, the push I needed to get serious about potty training T.

P.S. Although T's potty training is now behind us, I'll be writing a few more posts, over the coming weeks sharing potty training advice and resources here.

As noted, I am being compensated by Pull-Ups for my role as spokesperson, however the opinions and feelings expressed here are my own. Become a fan of Pull-Ups on Facebook!

Making Actual Progress (And The Contest, Part Deux)

2009-04-29T20:23:00.003-04:00

After returning home from Passover, we jumped right back in where we left off, keeping to our routine. T, still giddy with the fun of sharing the potty training with his cousin, eagerly ran to the potty when he felt he needed it. It was as if something had clicked, and his accidents—-which had already been significantly tapering off--were GONE. (Knock wood, people. KNOCK WOOD.)

I still kept up with my incessant “havtagopotty?” inquiries every 10 minutes, but at a certain point, he dropped the blocks from the tower he was building, turned to me, and said “Mama. I’ll tell you when I have to go.” He said it all very slowly and deliberately, and I TOTALLY got a glimpse of what his adolescence will inevitably be like.

True to his word, he began keeping his Pull-Ups drier and drier. One of his favorite things about them (and mine, for the at-a-glance-convenience) is the Learning Designs on the front of the Pull-Ups; little pictures that disappear when the Pull-Ups get wet. His face lit up every time he got up to go to the potty and we noted together that the little car pictures were still there. (Of course, the gazillions of stickers he received didn’t hurt, either.)

As promised, here’s a video of him performing his “Potty Dance” after a, shall we say, successful trip to the bathroom. As you'll see, he took some creative license, but I say he still has some good moves:

Potty Dance! (With a few creative touches, courtesy of my son.) from metalia on Vimeo.

Told you, this kid’s dancing skills are already better than mine. Tune in next week when we cross the final frontier: WEARING BIG BOY UNDERWEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Oh, and since we didn’t get too many entries in the contest, we’re extending it until next Wednesday, May 6th at noon E.ST. If you don’t have a video, feel free to just upload a picture of your kid doing anything potty training-related to the Pull-Ups Facebook page, and leave the link to the picture in a comment here. As I indicated earlier, Pull-Ups will generously send ten winners (I’ll select them at random) a special package of Pull-Ups and a Big Kid Central Potty Training Success DVD.

Good luck!

As noted, I am being compensated by Pull-Ups for my role as spokesperson, however, the opinions and feelings expressed here are my own. Become a fan of Pull-Ups on Facebook!

Taking This Show on the Road

2009-04-16T22:56:00.003-04:00

I'm quickly learning that a huge factor in potty training is repetition and routine. In sum, asking your kid the same question over and over ("Havtagopotty?"), lovingly forcing them to go to the
same place every five or ten minutes ("No? I don't care. Let'sgopotty!") and repeatedly achieving an almost manic level of excitement once there. ("It'sthePOTTY!YAYYYY!")

It seemed almost comically cruel, therefore, that our potty training escapades coincided with Passover this year. We were leaving our home and traveling to visit family, thus neatly uprooting the carefully nurtured routine we'd developed just a few days before.

Clearly, timing is not my strong suit, people.

All the same, we had to go, and so I strategized carefully. I packed up our stickers, Pull-Ups, and some (kosher for Passover!) candy, attempting to keep some semblance of familiarity in our potty training endeavors.

As nervous as I was, I was in for a pleasant surprise once we reached our destination. As it turned out, my niece (also nearing the age of three) was amidst potty training, as well!

Although there were many frantic trips to the bathroom -- giggly, shrieky toddlers in tow--
over the course of the weekend, it was adorable to see the two of them go through the experience together, which really seemed to encourage them. I think it truly helped distract T from the fact that he was in foreign territory, so to speak, and spurred each of them on to make it to the potty in time. Huzzah!

People. There are precisely zero entries in the contest so far! Your chances of winning one of the prizes right now? Really, REALLY good.

The contest ends Saturday at noon (E.S.T.), so submit your entries soon! And stay tuned for next week, when I post a video of T performing the Potty Dance.

As noted, I am being compensated by Pull-Ups for my role as spokesperson, however the opinions and feelings expressed here are my own. Become a fan of Pull-Ups on Facebook!

Contest Time! Contest Time!

2009-04-11T23:49:00.002-04:00

Before I continue with our next installment of As The Toilet Flushes: Potty Training the Metalia Way, I thought we’d shake things up a bit with a contest!

As readers of my personal blog know, I’m pretty much one of the worst dancers ever. Fortunately, it seems that my son has inherited my (infinitely more coordinated) husband’s sense of rhythm. This was confirmed after we discovered the Potty Dance on the Pull-Ups website. After watching it approximately seventeen times, I noticed him softly singing the lyrics and shimmying around, all baby Macarena-style. Which was, as you might imagine, awesome. (As small children dancing tends to be.)

And so, I (thanks to the generosity of Pull-Ups) will be running a contest here between today and next Saturday at 12 pm E.S.T. My next post will include a video of T (and maybe me. MAYBE, I SAID!) performing the Potty Dance. In order to enter the contest, simply upload a video of your kid doing the Potty Dance to the Pull-Ups Facebook Page, and link to the video in the comments section here. See? Easy peasy!

I will choose ten winners at random from all of the entries. I’m fairly certain my comically large hat (used for selecting various contest winners) will be involved, and—oh, right! The PRIZES. The winners will each receive a package of Pull-Ups and a “Big Kid Central Potty Training Success" DVD. Awesome, yes?

So what are you waiting for? Your kid is obviously adorable, and who DOESN’T want to win free potty training gear?

I can’t wait to see your entries; Next week, I’ll fill you in on our potty training progress, and announce the winners of the contest.

Good luck!

As noted, I am being compensated by Pull-Ups for my role as spokesperson, however the opinions and feelings expressed here are my own. Become a fan of Pull-Ups on Facebook!

Potty Training Day 1: This is What We, Uh, Trained For...

2009-04-03T17:58:00.004-04:00

After receiving an almost comically large shipment of Pull-Ups a few weeks ago, it was time to commence the potty training process in earnest. (For those of you just tuning in, I have recently been appointed a Pull-Ups Potty Ambassador, writing about the process of helping my son, T, make the transition from diapers.)

I did a LOT of research before commencing the process; not in a creepy over-involved parent way, but more in the “OH MY GOD I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I’M DOING, LIKE EVEN A TINY LITTLE BIT AIEEEEEE!!!!” type of way. As I’m sure you can imagine, there are as many theories and philosophies about potty training as there are weirdos at an American Idol audition. It was important for me, therefore, to check out everything, see what worked for other parents, and distill the most promising ideas to something that would work for my kid’s personality. Here’s what I came up with:

Prepare, prepare, PREPARE. And then when you’re done? Prepare some more.

This goes for you (in terms of research) and your child. As I mentioned in my last post, I began telling T that he’d be starting to use the toilet well before we actually commenced the potty training process. To get him even more excited, we went to the drugstore, where he picked out a ton of stickers, and then to the candy store, where he selected a few of his favorite candies. I told him that these were special presents that he would get each time he used the potty.

After that, we went to the store to pick out a potty together. There seems to be a pretty even split between recommendations to use an actual potty, and the potty seat that sits atop the toilet. After much careful consideration, we went with the potty seat that sits on the regular toilet. Number one, because I am lazy, and didn’t want to have to be dumping out/cleaning the contents of an actual potty, number two, because it’s far easier to store a potty seat in a minuscule apartment bathroom, and number three, because I was swayed by the argument that teaching your kid to use the actual toilet from the beginning of the process makes for the easiest transition overall.

We headed home with our purchases, and...put them away. T was SO excited about everything we’d bought, and consequently, I wanted to make him really, really want it. I told him we’d start tomorrow, and he began quite literally bouncing up and down in anticipation.

The next day (we specifically started on a weekend, when we could spend a lot of time at home), we kicked things off. I first showed him his special chart, where we’d add a sticker every time he used the toilet, and then with great fanfare, I took out the stickers, the candy, and the potty seat. I then lugged out an adorable train stool that T had received as a gift (and which had previously been relegated to a dusty corner of the living room). Now, I explained to him, the stool would stay in the bathroom, next to the toilet, so he could easily climb up and down all by himself. I showed him his Pull-Ups, and told him that he’d be using these now, instead of diapers. He thought they looked like “big boy” underwear, which thrilled him.

The first day was essentially spent asking T every 10 minutes if he had to use the bathroom, and even when he said no, dragging him off to the bathroom to sit on the potty seat anyway. Tiresome? YES. Effective? ALSO, YES. By the end of that day, he was still making in his Pull-Up some of the time, but he’d at least begun to recognize his body’s cues, and sensing when he needed to use the potty.

The first time he actually made it to the potty in time, J and I clapped and shrieked and jumped around (in our tiny apartment bathroom, no less), lavishing T with praise. As proud as he was of himself, I think he was more tickled by us acting like total loons in his honor. I placed a tractor sticker on his shirt, and gave him two pieces of his specially-selected candy; “one for each hand,” per his request.

We still had a ways to go, but we were definitely off to a successful start…

As noted, I am being compensated by Pull-Ups for my role as spokesperson, however the opinions and feelings expressed here are my own. Become a fan of Pull-Ups on Facebook!

Prepare Yourself for A LOT of "Potty" Puns Over the Next Few Weeks, People

2009-03-25T21:43:00.006-04:00

So, I have to admit something—up until recently, I was feeling pretty good about myself, in terms of the whole parenting thing. I mean, sure, it’s really a “learn on the job”-type gig, but with rare exception, I wasn’t really questioning my skills.

Like I said, UP UNTIL RECENTLY.

As many of you know, my son T is rapidly nearing the age of 3, and we’ve decided it’s time to start potty training him. Now, I’m not going to mince words--My kid is pretty smart. He does not let anything get past him [insert various books and songs memorized here, conveniently omitting “Disturbia” and some questionable mid-90’s rap I played in the car while I THOUGHT HE WAS SLEEPING], and I suspect he may be cracking the code to cold fusion EVEN AS I WRITE THIS.

I kind of thought, therefore, that potty training him would be a breeze, but it seemed that he was, shall we say, resistant to the process. By which I mean, said process was in fact an unmitigated failure. J and I decided to give it a rest and revisit Operation: No More Diapers in a few months.

As luck would have it, I was contacted in the interim by Pull-Ups; they asked me if I would be willing to serve as a “Potty Ambassador,” which does not come with diplomatic immunity, but does come with free Pull-Ups, compensation, access to potty training experts and the opportunity to share my experience of potty training T with you all over the next few weeks.

Naturally, I accepted, because people? Potty training is…challenging. I’m flying blind here, and I need all the help I can get. This is a dream come true, in that it’s LITERALLY like someone paying me to go to the dentist, or work out, or something.

One of Pull-Ups’ goals here is to make potty training less of a chore, and I plan to use every tool they’re offering me to make it so. In terms of preparation, I’ve spent the past week telling T (with an almost alarming level of enthusiasm) that he’s going to start using the toilet soon, and I’ve stockpiled his favorite stickers and candy. (Bribery: Huzzah!) The Pull-Ups are here (thanks again, Pull-Ups!), as are the “big boy” pairs of underwear for when he’s ready. I’ve printed out a customizable progress chart for him, too. There will hopefully be some laughs, no tears, and considerably less scrubbing of pee from my formerly nice rug this time around. Oh, there will also be a contest, and some dancing (definitely T, POSSIBLY me, God help us all) in weeks to come.

I hope you guys will join me as I recount T’s progress, reporting back to you as he makes the transition from diaper to toilet over the next few weeks. I’m nervous, but excited, and need all the support I can get. I’d love it if you’d share with me any advice/potty training stories you think would help/make us laugh. I need it all!

As noted, I am being compensated by Pull-Ups for my role as spokesperson, however the opinions and feelings expressed here are my own. Become a fan of Pull-Ups on Facebook!

You can also find me at metalia.blogspot.com!

I feel pretty...thanks to EsteeLauder.com!

2008-12-02T22:31:00.002-05:00

If you know anything about me, it’s that I’m a bit of a product addict. I have been this way for years, and the fact that I work directly across the street from a Sephora DOES NOT HELP MATTERS ONE BIT. Consequently, when BlogHer recently contacted me to ask if I’d like the opportunity to review Estée Lauder’s newly-revamped website AND receive an Estée Lauder gift card to purchase products from the site, I’m sure you can only imagine my response. It was a little bit like the audience reaction that time Tyra gave away the crystal-encrusted Vaseline tubs on her talk show.

Only instead of Vaseline, I was getting INCREDIBLE FREE MAKEUP AND SKINCARE PRODUCTS.

After I performed not one, not two, but THREE separate Dances of Joy, I told them I’d love to participate.

My experience with the site was mixed. I found a ton of great features and tips, but I also had some technical issues and quibbles that, if addressed, would have made my experience that much better.

My first impression of the site was that it loaded a bit slowly, though I did like a lot of what the site had to offer.

For starters, I loved the idea of the Live Chat function, which enables you to instant message a Beauty Advisor for assistance. This feature is available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. E.T. Monday-Friday, and I decided to test it out. My Beauty Advisor was quite helpful when I presented her with my issue (my pores, OH MY GOD), and after a few questions, she suggested a product that she thought might help, Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refresher. (Pores appear 1/3 smaller? A 69% reduction in the look of pores in just 4 weeks? I’M IN.) At the time I wrote this review, I hadn’t yet received my order, so I couldn’t attest to its efficacy, but I appreciated her thorough follow-up questions and guidance to bring quick resolution to my beauty issue.

As helpful as I thought this function was, I worry that others won’t be able to find it. In order to get to it, I first had to go to the “Customer Service” tab (which is located on the bottom of the page), go to “Contact Information” and then click on the “Live Chat” link. Another option to get to it is to click within one of the product tabs (e.g., makeup, skincare, etc.) and then a “Need help?” button appears on the top right side of the page. If you roll your mouse over that, the Live Chat option appears. A feature as convenient and as helpful as this should be prominently linked on the site’s main page.

The Get the Look section with how-to videos, seasonal colors, and model looks was very informative. I don’t know about you, but every time I see a cosmetics ad in a magazine where I love the model’s makeup, I inwardly curse when they only provide the details of the item the ad is highlighting. I’m all, “I KNOW she’s wearing “Darkest-Ever Midnight Blackout Black Mascara! That’s evident! WHAT ABOUT HER AWESOME LIP GLOSS?”

The “Sumptuous” face in the Get the Look section caught my eye, and I clicked on that to find out what the model was wearing and how best to apply it. Once again, lag time was an issue, as I waited and waited for the page to open. And once again, once I got in, I was impressed by the clear outline of products, and step-by-step guidance for how to accomplish the look.

Overall, I liked a lot of what the site had to offer. In addition to the beauty products, it contains a wealth of information, in terms of Beauty Advisor guidance, as well as tips and tricks for flawless makeup application. However, getting to these areas requires a lot of time, which may try the patience of a lot of people.

Like I said earlier, there are definitely some kinks to work out. But once done? I have the feeling this site will be amazing.

See what other BlogHer Reviewers had to say about their experiences here!

A comprehensive, in-depth review of Michael Phelps' guest-hosting appearance on SNL this past week

2008-09-15T22:12:00.003-04:00

No. Just...NO.

Why Yes, I DO Believe In Magic.

2008-09-12T16:42:00.000-04:00

I must confess: I am inherently lazy. I could go on and on, explaining in detail to you the full extent of my laziness, but for now, I think the fact that I'm typing this while uncomfortably perched on a pile of folded laundry that's been sitting on my bedroom chair FOR WELL OVER A WEEK is all you need to know.

I'm particularly lazy when it comes to cleaning. I mean, I try to keep things generally organized, and our place looks spotless, but I IMPLORE you not to inspect my baseboards, or get too close to my vegetable drawer, which may or may not contain cucumbers that have been in there for so long that they've evolved and developed cognitive thought. STAY BACK, FOR THEY ARE VERY CRAFTY. My walls are another problem, seeing as T is hitting that delightful two-year-old stage where they discover their inner Picassos and must express themselves only on beige, tan and white surfaces, and NEVER ON A PIECE OF PAPER. (How does he keep finding hidden crayons? HOW? And better yet, why do I keep leaving expensive eyeliner pencils lying around?) As a result, there has recently been a rash of waist-high scribbles (and smudged handprints, to boot) all over our home, and it's taken me FOREVER to get them off the walls. I've stood there with a bottle of all-purpose cleaner and a roll of paper towels, endlessly scrubbing. And scrubbing. And scrubbing. And finally stopping only when I was certain that scrubbing any longer would give me a repetitive-stress injury. NOT FUN.

Imagine my delight, therefore, when I was contacted by BlogHer to review Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. I was all, um, hello, free cleaning supplies? And money, you say? Sign me up! I must admit, however, that at first I was concerned that it'd be difficult to write about a cleaning product without sounding like a Stepford Wife, or Laura Linney in The Truman Show.You know, someone who looks like this:

I needn't have worried; the Magic Erasers are INCREDIBLE. For starters, they have a mild, non-abrasive side (which is perfect for quick, easy cleaning jobs like my counters) in addition to the standard erasing side (ideal for tackling the inevitable future CrayonPalooza '08 on my living room wall).

Furthermore, the Magic Erasers that I received also contained foaming cleanser for the kitchen and bathroom, as well as Febreze, so (along with the soft scrubbing side and the tough erasing side), you really have four cleaning processes in one (highly effective) product. And do you know how appealing that is for someone like me, who…yes, appears to have an imprint from a ribbed sweater on her bum, since she is sitting on her laundry because it's easier than putting it away? (Hint: VERY.) I was intrigued, and immediately put the Magic Erasers to work.

The first task I tackled was my white stove top. And by "white stove top," I of course mean, "stove top that I'm pretty sure was pristinely white at some point, but it's hard to tell under the Jackson Pollack-like spatters of last night's dinner." I ran the Magic Eraser under some water, squeezed it a few times to activate the foaming cleanser, and got to work. It quickly cut through the grime, and I was instantly impressed.

Next, I took another Magic Eraser to the bathroom, where I scrubbed my sink and walls with the soft, non-abrasive side. (Apropos of which, I must point out that I truly appreciated the fact that there is more than one Magic Eraser per package. Considering that I found them useful all over my home, it was nice to have a separate one for the bathroom area.)The tiles looked noticeably brighter, which is no small feat, considering that they were likely installed during the Roosevelt Administration. TEDDY Roosevelt. (My building is OLD, yo.) As an added bonus, the room began to smell faintly of citrus from the Febreze in the Magic Eraser as I cleaned. Instant air freshener!

At this point, J returned home from golfing, and (seeing me cleaning voluntarily, and probably concerned as to my mental state) inquired as to what I was doing. As I wowed him with the powers of the Magic Eraser, he took one from me, and used the soft side to clean his golf clubs. He swears that they've never been cleaner.

The next stop was my bedroom door. I have NO idea as to the origins of the diagonal marks on the bottom (tribal etchings? Elf graffiti? Help me out here.)…

…but the Magic Eraser COMPLETELY removed all of the scuffs and smudges.

At this point, I was truly amazed. Kitchen, bathroom, golf clubs, Mystery Bedroom Door Marks…The Magic Erasers had breezed through everything.

And so, I thought, what better way to cap off my review than by seeing if it could handle my arch nemesis…The Ivan Drago to my Rocky Balboa, the Heidi to my Lauren, the Corey Haim to my Corey Feldman: Crayon on the wall.

Since my earlier experience, however, I've gone to great lengths to ensure that the crayons are out of my son's reach, so there was actually no scribbling on the wall at the time. It seemed that drastic measures had to be taken, and so I colored on the wall myself.

(I KNOW. But I had to see if it worked!)

I proceeded to draw a rabbit in a hat.

And WHY did I draw that? Because I figured it would be poetic and oh-so-apropos if the Magic Eraser could make a rabbit in a hat disappear. (And yes, with that, it's official: I have the sense of humor of a 74-year-old man. Fetch me my lumpy wool sweater and butterscotch candies, children!)

I took the Magic Eraser, said a few quick prayers, and ….

My suspicions were confirmed: The Magic Eraser wiped away all traces of my drawing.

I learned a few things from my field test with the Magic Erasers, chief among them that coloring on the wall is actually quite fun, and I should probably invest in a little blackboard paint for T's bedroom so we can both indulge our secret passion. But perhaps even more importantly, I was bowled over by the Magic Eraser's effectiveness, and what a versatile product it really is. It readily tackled simple cleaning issues in my kitchen and bathroom, as well as tougher tasks like J's golf clubs, my bedroom door and, um, my wall drawing. And the fact that I was able to get my place looking spotless with just ONE product, and not 16 separate sponges, cleansers, and scrubbers? Well, the lazy girl in me (who, by the way, is STILL sitting on her chair full of folded clothes), thinks that's just priceless.

Want more Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Cleaning tips and reviews from fellow bloggers that (presumably) don't involve an almost-28-year-old woman coloring on her wall? Check out BlogHer's special tips page here!