Announcing 31 Days of Fun with Purex

Purex Insider has an exciting new promotion called 31 Days of Fun.  I’m giddy to tell you about it.  Purex wants to make sure that as your summer comes to a close, it ends on a high note.

Because I’m a Purex Insider, I’m privileged to get the very first look at the calendar with each of the fantastic prizes Purex will be giving away during each day in August. We're talking $10K -  

TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS in PRIZES!!!! 

See why I’m giddy.  Because of you being such loyal Cotton Pickin Cute followers that means you’ll be getting all the 411 right here, so you’re in the know too!!

All you have to do is stop jumping up and down, hold on to your panties and come back tomorrow on August 1st.  Oh’ you can spread the word.  I’ll have an unique code right here for you to use tomorrow.  So mark it on your calendar and don’t be late because you don’t want to miss a single day of fun.

Now go make every last day of summer flippin’ awsome!

Hugs Y'all...

Dial $65K in Gold or A Yrs Supply of Body Wash Sweepstakes

This year Dial is celebrating it's 65th anniversary and they want to commemorate it with the people who have made them such a success - YOU!!  To commemorate the Dial brand’s 65^th anniversary...

• Dial is giving away $65,000 in gold to one lucky winner!
• Plus, 65 daily winners will receive a year’s supply of Dial Body Wash!

What would you do with $65K in Gold?  I can think of a lot of things.  I would like to win a year's supply of Dial Body wash too.  That would be a nice bit of saving in my pocket!

Enter HERE for your chance to be a winner in the $65K Gold sweepstakes.

Good Luck Y'all...

Feosol Iron Supplements Review and Giveaway

It’s time for the final day of our

Celebrate Summer Week of Giveaways.

But don’t worry if you missed the first 4 Giveaways because you still have time to enter everyone of them.  Keep reading to find out more. But first I want to tell you about today’s giveaway from Feosol.

Feosol is a brand of iron supplem,ents that offers you a choice between three forms of iron:

• Feosol Complete (Bifera HIP and PIC Iron)
• Feosol Original (Ferrous Sulfate)
• Feosol Natural Release (Carbonyl Iron)

Why did I agree to review Feosol Complete?
The last several years, I have been dealing with a lot of fatigue.  I went from working in the yard 8 to 10 hours a day and still cooking dinner, to hardly being able to get a few indoor chores and dinner completed.  It’s so frustrating.  I’ve been told well you’re starting to get older.  Well, don’t you think I know that?  Does that mean that it’s all over?  I don’t think so.  I mean you just don’t know me I was always a doer and on the go.

Take a look at the Fatigue Fallout Chart above. How many of the symptoms do you recognize?  I have my hand held up for almost everything on there.  I keep thinking if my mother was here she would have me eating liver. Eww, not my favorite way to get iron.  You will never hear me order it in a restaurant.  Thanks to Feosol there is a easier way to get iron.


What do I think:
I’ve been making a few changes lately. I'm trying to eat a healthier breakfast as you can see in photo at the top.  A good old Southern breakfast with grits, toast, yogurt, coffee and O.J. on the porch. Plus I've been making sure to take Feosol Complete this month.  I’ve also switched from drinking soda to drinking apple-cinnamon water.  Not that I stopped soda completely but I was amazed at how much I'm preferring the flavored water now.  I really have been feeling better.  There’s less fatigue and I can make it through a day without a nap. Can I get an Amen on that?

What about you?
Do you think supplements could improve the way you feel.  Because Feosol knows that I like to share what I review with all of you, they’ve generously offer a bottle to one Cotton Pickin Cute winner.  

To enter: just follow the easy Rafflecopter instructions below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Click HERE to read about Celebrate Summer Week of Giveaways and enter them all. 

Good Luck Y’all!!!

OX's...Tracy ♥

Disclosure:  I received a box of Feosol Iron Supplements to facilitate this review.  All opinions expressed are 100% mine.

Dial $65K Gold Sweepstakes and a Giveaway Too!

Day "4" of our giveaway is here.  I'm sorry about the delay but I've had computer issues.  I have a couple of giveaways to share with you today why don’t we start with the BIGGIE. 

To commemorate the Dial brand’s 65^th anniversary 

• Dial is giving away $65,000 in gold to one lucky winner!
• Plus, 65 daily winners will receive a year’s supply of Dial Body Wash!

Enter HERE for your chance to be a winner in the $65K Gold sweepstakes.

For 65 years, the Dial brand has been developing trusted personal care products for clean, healthy skin.  I think know that qualifies them as professionals.  And believe me when I tell you, they’re not resting on their laurels.  They continue to develop new products so they can stay at the forefront of personal care.  The Dial name is recognized worldwide.  You don’t get that kind of recognition unless you’ve got a quality product to back it up.  And you don’t stay on top without continuing to grow and develop products that are meeting the needs of modern families.  This isn’t your parent’s Dial y’all.

This year I’ve had the opportunity to find out for myself just how much Dial is in tune with what families are looking for.  Gone are the days of ‘one bar works for the whole family’.  Everyone has their own personality and little Johnny doesn’t want to smell like dad or worse yet mom!

One of their products I reviewed was Dial Kids Body + Hair Wash.  You can see that review here.  The kids love it.  Just one product was all they needed, kids like things simple.  Plus a bold colored bottle that sports a surfboard on the front with a vibrant liquid soap to match has a special kind of appeal for kids.  With names and scents like Watery Melon and Berry Cool the kids will be asking to take a bath.

I also reviewed Dial Coconut Water, probably my very favorite one, which you can read here.  The scent is just what you want in a body wash. It’s the soft scent of summer like a tropical rain forest, with the scent of green, floral and coconut.  Not that heavy suntan lotion coconut smell.  Showering with Dial I get a rich lather that leaves my skin feeling healthy and hydrated.  See the two photo's below.  Well that's my second bottle of Coconut Water!  I just picked up the Lavender and Twilight Jasmine scent. 

While I can’t give away $65,000 in gold on my blog I do have a GIVEAWAY that you can win right here. Dial is giving “3” lucky Cotton Pickin Cute winners a FREE coupon so you can experience Dial Body Wash for yourself.  For a chance to win just follow the easy instructions on the Rafflecopter form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Remember to come back tomorrow and each day this week for a new giveaway. New giveaways will start at 12 noon EST each day. 

Did you miss the first "3"?  Well it's not to late to enter those either just click HERE.

See y'all back here tomorrow for our final Celebrate Summer Giveaway...

OX's...Tracy ♥

Disclosure: I was provided a free Dial coupon for myself and the winners in exchange for sharing the Dial Sweepstakes.

RevitaShape Anti-Cellulite Review and Giveway

It's time for day "3" of our Celebrate Summer Week of Giveaways.  To learn more and get the links to all of the giveaways click HERE.  Today's sponsor is RevitaShape Anti-Cellulite Skin Toning Formula.  

Florida is well known for a couple of things, one of them is oranges.  We're famous for them. They taste good and there's that pretty orange texture. They look so pretty in a bowl. One place it doesn't look good is ON MY LEGS! 

You heard me right.  I don't want to look like an orange with bumpy lookin' lumps all over my legs.  Who wants orange peel skin.  And heaven forbid that I add an orange spray tan to my slightly cellulitish (it's my new word - go with it) looking legs.  I really don't want to go to the beach looking like a Florida mascot.  Really though, don't we all want to look better.  Let me tell you a little about RevitaShape and I'll tell you how you have a chance to win one for yourself.


Here's what they say:
Unlike cellulite creams that focus on swelling skin cells to make your problem areas appear firm, or lotions that focus solely on cellular drainage, RevitaShape uses the most advanced ingredients available to combat both the causes and the effects of cellulite.

• Formulated to reduce the appearance of cellulite and stored fat.
• Slims, tones, and refines problem areas.
• Promotes firmness and elasticity for a slimmer, sleeker appearance.
• Helps reduce the appearance of dimples, bumps and bulges.

RevitaShape evens and firms skin by:

• Activating lipolysis to metabolize stored fat
• Draining water and toxins from between the cells
• Improving circulation to flush away fat and toxins
• Aiding in the synthesis of collagen and elastin to firm and tone the skin

My Final Thoughts:

Actually I don't really have a lot of cellulite but I do have it and no, I'm not going to show you pictures of my legs.  As far as tightness goes, well lets be kind and just said it went.  So when I was asked if I'd like to review RevitaShape, I knew I was certainly a good candidate for it. 

So after using it for five weeks what can I tell you?  Nope, I didn't wake one morning to scream 'Glory alive, I've got Angelina Jolie's arms', this isn't a magic potion people.  But I can tell you that my arms and legs do feel a firmer and definitely smoother.  I think they look better too.  RevitaShape is non-greasy and has a nice smell.  When massaging it in, you can feel a slight warm tingle which is pleasant.  So far I'm pleased with it and would like to another tube when this one's gone.

Learn more here: 
http://www.revitashape.com/

The Giveaway:
One lucky Cotton Pickin Cute reader will win a 6 oz. tube of  RevitaShape!  *$89.99 value
This giveaway ends 7/26/13 and is open to the US only.
To enter follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form below ~ Be sure to complete the mandatory entry.  Entries will be verified.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Remember to come back tomorrow and Friday for 2 new giveaways.  New giveaways will start at 12 noon EST each day.  But don't worry if you missed one because you can still enter those too.

To see all the Celebrate Summer giveaways click HERE .

See y'all back here tomorrow at Noon...

OX's...Tracy ♥

Disclosure:  "CelluliteCreams.net provided me with a RevitaShape in exchange for a product review and has generously provided one for the giveaway prize.  However, all the opinions expressed her are my own."

Mohzy Zoo Cable Ties Review and Giveaway

Welcome back!  It's day "2" of our Celebrate Summer Week of Giveaways.  If this is your first time stopping by you can click HERE to see what the fun is all about, because we've got a whole lot in store.

I love Zoo Cable Ties!  Growing up with an electrician for a father we had zip ties all over the place but they were nothing like this.  I used them for all kinds of things as a kid and I've often thought I could use some zip ties to wrangle my electronic cords.  But who would have ever guessed someone would have turned them into something so cute.

Leave it to Mohzy to take something practical and make it adorable.  

Welcome to the Zoo!  Half a dozen animals have escaped and made their way onto these cute cable ties.  Add some life into your wire jungle! 

What a bunch of cuties these critters are!

You can tie one on! Yeah, I think that's funny too.  I think they'd make great wine glass markers.  You can tie them around the glass stem.

Each package of contains 30 assorted animals (5 of each animal!).

Animals on parade!

There are so many things these animals can do.  I've even used some for cup cake toppers. Ki'a used one for a ring.  Wouldn't they be cute inserted into a new mother's flower arrangement.   I'm just head over heels crazy about these guys.

If you want the cutest desk in the office, then you want Zoo Cable Ties!! You could punch a hole in your store savings cards and use the tie like a key ring to keep them all together.  The uses for Zoo Cable Ties are endless!

To learn more about Zoo Cable Ties click here.

You can win a set of your own just by entering my giveaway.  It's easy just follow the steps on the Rafflecopter form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway Remember to come back tomorrow and each day this week for a new giveaway. New giveaways will start at 12 noon EST each day.

To see more about Celebrate Summer Giveaways click HERE.

See y'all back here at Noon...

OX's...Tracy ♥

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. Items for review and/or giveaway were provided by sponsor or representing PR agency at no cost.

Racinne Ultimate Youth Power Skin Care Giveaway

Tick-Tock the clock’s stopped and it’s

12 O’Clock ~ High Noon

And that means it’s the start of

Celebrate Summer Week

here at “Cotton Pickin Cute”. 

Today we’re giving away

A Racinne Ultimate Youth Power 5 Piece Set

So I’ll get this party started by sharing some ground rules tips. 

• Every day this week, Monday thru Friday at noon, I’ll share a new review with a chance for you to win one too.

• You can enter 1 or all 5 giveaways on the Rafflecopter giveaway form.

• Be sure to read the instructions on the form.  I’d hate to have to draw another winner because you didn’t complete the mandatory entry.

• For each giveaway you can by completing the mandatory entry and if you’d like more entries i.e…more chances to win, enter as many bonus entries as you’d like.

• Each giveaway will last for 10 days from the day it begins.

• The winner will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter.

Okay ~ now it’s time to rock!!!  Let’s get started with an amazing set of skin care products from

Racinne

With summertime here it seems my skin goes through more changes than Taylor Swift goes through boyfriends.  I’m sure it couldn’t have anything to do with me being over 50 older.  Knowing that nature, where it’s age or the elements, isn’t going anywhere, it’s up to me to do all I can to take care of my skin.  I want to keep it looking the best I can for as long as possible.

Did you know that by age 30 skin-cell production decreases by 10 percent, making your skin less efficient at repairing itself?  It’s true.  That’s why you have to protect your skin against UV Rays and other elements.
Racinne USA, a Canadian Beauty Company sent me their luxurious “Ultimate Youth Power Series” to review.

About Racinne’s “Ultimate Youth Power” skin care series.
Racinne skin care is the result of a unique collaboration of cutting edge biotechnology and botanical stem cell cultivation spanning 7 years in the making.  The line introduces a superior system of “Anti-aging’, “Hydrating” and “Brightening” skin care systems for all ages.

This powerful anti-aging series contains “Advanced SH-DP-9 Synthesis” a kind of Neuropeptide from a fine selection of 60 plus peptides, “Korean Ginseng Callus Cultivation Extracts”, Adenosine, and other special active ingredients.  This combination effectively activates collagen and elastin production, minimizes fine lines, wrinkles and enlarged pores. Can I get an AMEN?  It promotes cell density by facilitating nutrient absorption and stimulates blood circulation.  Providing supple, glowing, younger looking skin in 30 days.

What I received:

• Ultimate Youth Power Serum – apply avoiding eye area

• Ultimate Youth Power Eye Serum – gently pat around orbital bone

• Ultimate Youth Power Lotion – apply for day

• Ultimate Youth Power Cream – apply for night

• Ultimate Youth Power Neck Emulsion – apply on neck

What I thought: 

After using the products for a few weeks I have notice that my skin feels more hydrated and the texture is nice and smooth with my pores being less prominent. My skin also seems to have a better balance without having those combination areas that I usually deal with.  I love that the dark spots have been reduced and the fine lines most noticeable around my eye area are less apparent.

Connect:

Visit Raccine’s website at racinneusa.com to learn more.

You can stay connected with Racinne USA on facebook here and twitter here.

Giveaway:

Now thanks to Racinne USA you have a chance to win your own set of the Ultimate Youth Power series.  It’s as easy just use the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Remember to come back tomorrow and each day this week for a new giveaway. New giveaways will start at 12 noon EST each day.

To see more about Celebrate Summer Giveaways click HERE.

See y'all back here at Noon...

OX's...Tracy ♥

HAPPY HAPPY GIVEAWAY WEEK

Times a tickin’ and drawing near.

Tick-Tock... Tick-Tock...

That's right y'all, we’re just hours away from

5 days of giveaways

for y'all to enter!!!

Tick-Tock... Tick-Tock...

So if you don't want to miss out on a single thing be here each day this week to enter to win a different and fabulous giveaway prize.  New giveaways will start at 12 noon EST each day.

See y'all back here at Noon...

OX's...Tracy ♥

The Easiest DIY Sewing Project Ever

Happy Friday y'all!  How about a crafty project.  My motto is if you can't find it, can't afford it, then make it for nearly nothing. Upcycle, renew and reuse.  I made an easy pillow for the 4th using what I could find on hand.

I made one a little different last year.

The thing to remember here is you don't have to limit yourself to a patriotic theme.  You could easily paint waves instead of stripes.  Or maybe keep the strips and add a crescent moon with stars.  Heck paint some butterflies or dragonflies.  I have to keep it really basic because I'm totally not talented when it comes to painting.  Oh' but wouldn't wedges of fruit like oranges, limes and lemons be cute!

Here's a picture of my inspiration. I think I found it on Pinterest but it was created by Kierste over at Simply Kierste.  She is one crafty girl with a great blog.  She gave a tutorial and I basically followed her directions with a few variations.  Please click here to see her post.  I know you'll enjoy her blog as much as I do.  I adore her pillow.

I thought I'd show you the basic's on making these.  Lets start with this years painted pillow.

• Step 1:  Use any old fabric you have on hand like I did.  A burlap or muslin works great.  Decide how big you want your pillow to be.  I wanted mine to be a rectangle since it would be a flag. I decided that I wanted my finished pillow to measure 19" x 14".  Before cutting it out I added 1" to each measurement for seam allowances.  Fold your fabric in half before cutting. I cut mine 20" x 15".
• Step 2: On just one piece of the fabric measure out your placement.  I decided to have "3" stripes at  2 1/2" each.  That left 6 1/2 on the top for stars.  Using painters tape, tape each section being sure to use a spoon or something to really press the tape edge tight so paint doesn't seep under.  Don't worry if it does you can touch it up with a art brush.  I don't plan on washing these and since they're under a covered porch I didn't use fabric paint.  I just used craft paint, you can even use house paint.

• Step 3:  For my stars I used cheap vinyl shelf paper from the dollar store and cut 2 1/4" stars on my cricut.  You could also print a star shape from the internet and make a cardboard template and trace your stars but you would have to paint the blue first, unless you want to do a lot of tedious painting around the stars.  TIP: Be sure to put cardboard under your fabric before painting because it will seep through.

• Step 4:  I half measured and half eyeballed my stars placement stuck them to the fabric and then painted the blue right over them. It would have been nice if I would have had a little foam roller but I didn't so I used a foam brush.  The brush did cause the edges of the stars to peel up a bit and the paint to get underneath.  Because of that I used a small paintbrush to paint the stars white.  I had originally planned to just leave them the natural fabric color. 

• Step 5:  I carefully pulled the vinyl up while the paint was wet.  Once dry, I painted the stars white. You can also paint your white stripe now.  Once the white dries tape over the white and blue so you can paint your red stripes. Let dry.

• Step 5:  Time to sew.  My fabric doesn't really have a right and wrong side but if yours does pin right sides together and stitch 1/2" seams. It doesn't get much easier than stitching straight seams.  Be sure to leave an opening in the bottom big enough to add your pillow. *NOTE:  You can use double sided hem tape or even fabric glue or a glue gun if you don't want to try sewing.

• Step 6: Turn your pillow right side out.  Trim corners like I've done below being careful not to cut through stitching. Use the end of a spoon or fountain pen to push the corners out completely.

•  Step 7:  Press you hem opening so it will be ready to sew after stuffing.

•  Step 8:  You can do like I did and use an old bed pillow.  I just cut one 14" down from one end and most pillows are 15-18" wide.  Sew up the end of the pillow (the other 3 sides are already sewn).  To water proof my stuffing I used an old vinyl table cloth.  Yea, I never throw anything away.  You could also use 2 plastic grocery bags putting then on in opposite directions.  Bags don't need to be sewn but I did sew the table cloth around the pillow.  The just stuff it in there.  Pin your seam closed and then simply hand stitch or machine stitch closed.

The smaller flag pillow was basically the same steps but instead of using paint I sewed a bit of patriotic plaid fabric that had stars and red seam binding for the strips.  It was stuffed with loose batting.

 

I hope you decide to make your own pillow.  It really is easy.  If you make one please come back and let me know because I'd love to see it too.

Stop back by tomorrow to see another before and after project.

Hugs Y'all...

♥ Tracy 

P.S.  Don't forget to come back Monday when the 5 day giveaway starts.  It's our first Celebrate Summer Giveaway!!  Amazing prizes worth $450! **Update: This giveaway has ended.

 

Decorating with Old Glory for the 4th of July

With things a bit busy around here I haven't even had a chance to share my 4th of July Porch.  I always feel a big gush of pride when I'm able to hang up my red, white and blue buntings.  It says summer's here and there's nothing else like the 4th of July anywhere else in the world!

I've pressured washed the porch and it's all fresh for summer.

My red rockers look like they were painted just for the celebration.  These have gone from natural to yellow, to black, to red.  I'm debating whether it's time for a change again.  I hope to get some #paint soon and get the porch brightened up.

 I did repaint a few pieces already, like this little side table.  I made this simple little flag pillow last year.  More about that in another post.

 My former neighbor gave me the cute little bench before moving earlier this year.  She told me sweet memories of her children play driving a car on it and then her grandchildren doing the same.  I sanded and painted it with plans to stencil a phrase across the back.  That will happen soon.  The tin buckets above were from the dollar store a couple of years ago and I just got those painted in time for the 4th.  Notice my little white star on the back of the bench.  It's a carpenters wooden folded measuring tape.  It folds into the perfect star.

I found both of these lanterns in two different thrift stores last year.  One was from Ikea and the other from Big Lots.  Identical - who knew.  A little paint and another patriotic item for my porch.

The pillow was a zero cost diy project.  I took some linen like fabric that I had on hand cut 2 squares to the size I wanted.  Painted them and stitched it together.  I'll have a post about both pillows up soon. If you can stitch a straight line you can make these pillows.

I love the candle light as the sun goes down.

Well that's my little spot of Americana.  I hope you enjoyed your visit and that you'll be back soon.  I'd love it if you'd leave a comment.  They make my day so much brighter.

Hugs Y'all...

Tracy