Carmex Winter Review and Giveaway: (Healing Lotion and Healing Cream)

Once again, I am back with another great Carmex giveaway!  This time I was very excited to get to review their new skin care line!  As you know, I've always been a fan of Carmex's little yellow jar, their lip balms and recently their 'click sticks' from this summer.  So when I got the newest package in the mail and it contained Carmex Healing Lotion and Carmex Healing Cream I was super excited. The last few winters my hands have been a mess, so I was hoping this would be just the thing I needed.

In addition to the 2 tubes above, I also received 2 small purse size tubes (about an oz. each) of both the Lotion and the Cream.  These are perfect, because my husband is always asking if I have any lotion with me and on these cold winter mornings coming up, I can always have some at my fingertips when I get to work.

The Carmex Healing Lotion comes in a 5.5oz tube (and now a pump!) and retails for around $5.99.  It contains Aloe and Vitamin E and if you use it for a few days in a row, you can really start to feel the difference!  It's a thinner consistency lotion, but that's ok because Carmex has the Healing Cream as well.  It has a fairly pleasant scent, but that's probably my least favorite part about the product.  It is fresh and 'clean' smelling but reminds me a little too much of baby lotion.  If you're not as sensitive about the smell of your lotion as me, you'll love it because it's not too strong but yet isn't odorless.  Although neither are particularly greasy, the Lotion is more so than the Cream.

The Carmex Healing Cream is definitely my favorite from the two.  It comes in a 4oz. tube (also for aroud $5.99) and contains 9 healing ingredients.  It's definitely not as greasy as some creams and I don't feel the need to wipe off my palms after applying it.  Also, this tube will probably last you a while, but a little really does go a long way when using this.  AND this is exactly what I was looking for when it came to my dry, cracked knuckles.

Overall, I was pretty pleased with these products and to have some new lotions/creams to try out this Winter.  I am excited also that the lotion comes in a pump still (for some reason I prefer that) and it would certainly come in handy on my desk at school.

Now it's your turn to try Carmex's new line of beauty products:  their skin care line!  You can either head on over to Walgreens, CVS or Walmart or you can enter to win one of these great packages!

One of my lucky readers will win one full size tube of each the Carmex Healing Lotion and the Carmex Healing Cream, as well as one purse/pocket size tube of each! (MSRP ~$14)  They come packaged together in a cute little yellow bag and would make a great stocking stuffer!

There are 3 ways to enter my giveaway!  Just leave one comment for each entry.

1)  Leave me a comment telling me your favorite lotion in the Winter time.

2)  Follow me with GFC.

3)  Leave a comment on any other post.

This giveaway will end in one week on Sunday, December 4th.  I will contact the winner by the 6th and you will have 48 hours to respond!  Good luck and thanks so much for entering!

Also, I'm excited to report that Carmex has a few new flavors of their Carmex Moisture Plus lip balms that I reviewed last year this time, plus they have a jar of healing ointment that I'd love to check out too!

*Although Carmex did contact me and send me these products to review, the above thoughts and opinions are all my own!

A first...

While we were visiting my parents, we also discovered that Gage had not ever engaged in something that most kids his age probably have.  Or rather most kids his age that live in 'tree-ful' neighborhoods.  One of my favorite things about the neighborhood that I grew up in when I was a kid was the size of our lots and the amount of trees we had.  If you ask my husband, I still to this day have an affection for houses that have big lots and tons of trees, they just feel homey to me.  I suppose it's what I grew up knowing.  In any case, my sweet little Gage didn't know what he was missing.  He had never before November 12th, played in a pile of leaves!  What a great childhood memory and something all kids shoud get to do!  He thought it was the cat's meow!  I took so many pictures because it was so much fun to watch him play and do something new.  I also wanted to make sure I got some cool 'action' shots.  Enjoy!

Throwing leaves is AWESOME

My favorite action shot

Not sure why he felt the need to eat the leaves

Loving every minute

Trying to make a new pile

Leaf Angel

So cute, if not for the zipper pull!

Home Sweet Home

Whenever we visit my parents house, a place I still call 'home' I am always reminiscent of my childhood and think about what it would be like to raise Gage where I grew up. I know change is always good and things don't have to be exactly the way they were when I was a kid, but I also miss the area and imagine living here again some day. Funny that I say these things, because when I teach kids whose parents went to the high school too, I think, 'Geez, this town ate these people.' Pretty ironic being that I feel exactly the same way.

In any case, a few weekends ago when we were in town to surprise my parents for their anniversary we took Gage to a park my brother and I frequented when we were kids. I can remember long long ago going to the park with my parents and feeding the ducks, having picnic lunches and riding a train called the 'Smokey Pokey'. For the last couple of years it had been rumored that 'Pokey Smokey' was reopening (it closed 6 years ago, due to safety concerns). By the time I heard it was reopening, Gage was born and I thought it would be pretty cool for him to get to ride the train like I did when I was a kid. For one reason or another the train never reopened until last weekend, when we happend to be in town. It was a perfect time and Gage was at the perfect age that he would be very excited about riding a train! It was a little cold and windy but we had to take advantage so Luke, my brother and I packed up and bundled up and headed down to the park to ride the 'Smokey Pokey II' and play on the playground.












Gage checking out his railroad token

Although it wasn't exactly as I had remembered it, the park still has some charm and Gage enjoyed his ride. It's too bad that it wasn't a little warmer.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving one and all!  I know I have been a horrible blogger these days and I still have so much to post about our trip home a few weeks back and now here we are 2 weeks later and are back home again to spend Thanksgiving with my family.

Although I would rather this not be the obligatory 'thankful for' post, I do think it's so important to slow down and remember all that we have and those things in our life that we are truly thankful for and are important to us.  I haven't even had time to blog lately, so I definitel haven't taken some time out to reflect about all of the good things in my life.  In saying that, here are the things that I am thankful for, in no particular order.

Family.  I'd be nowhere without them and the fact that I still get to come 'home' and celebrate with over 20 people each Thanksgiving the way I did when I was a kid is awesome.  Not something everyone can say.  Not only extended family, but of course I'm thankful for the awesome husband and Dad that Luke is and the unbelievable blessing that Gage is in our life.

My job.  Although some days I want to scream and have work coming out of my ears, I will always be thankful for having a job and one that I love.  I am thankful that I was given the gift to teach and make a difference in someone's life.

Friends.  I have so many great friends that I can't even keep in touch with on a regular basis, but I am oh so lucky that when we do catch up it's like we've never lost touch.  I have such great friends from high school, college and some I've made in the last 10 years.  Sometimes it's just crazy to think that I've known some of them for over 18 years.  Also nice to know we have several friends that we could call on any time and for any reason at all.

Neighbors.  This year we have been lucky enough to have some amazing neighbors move in.  They are wonderful to us and Gage and we are looking forward to being close with them for a long time.

House.  Although sometimes it seems small and seems to get even smaller as Gage gets bigger, the housing market still sucks and we are lucky that we have somewhere to call home that is comfortable and in a good neighborhood.

Health/Wealth.  We are thankful that all 3 of us and our extended family are in good health.  Gage is smart and thriving and Luke and I can't complain.  And although we're not wealthy, again, we are comfortable and can make ends meet and not everyone can say that.

On a not as serious note, our housekeeper!  I am messy and it is so hard for me to want to come home and clean after a long day at work.  I just want to spend time with Luke and Gage and have a little time to myself too.  Although we still can't keep our house clean for a whole 2 weeks, it helps so much to have a baseline and to keep our bathrooms clean!

Although the above things seem like what everyone is thankful for and kind of generic, I think it's good to at least acknowledge them and to think about how/why they are important in our lives.  I encourage you to take a little time to reflect today and be thankful for all that you have.  Now LET'S EAT!

P.S.  I'm sad I didn't do my 30 days of Thanks this year!:(

Wordless Wednesday- Better Later Than Never....

Gage's 2nd birthday cake

Happy Birthday to Camden, Happy Birthday to You!

Aside from being a horrible blogger and feeling busier than I ever have in my life, we're hanging in there and there should be some good posts coming soon.  However, today I want to wish Camden over at Chronicles of a Carolina Mama Happy Birthday.  I swear that Gage and Cam will meet in person one day and be the best of friends!  For now, they're Internet buddies.  Kerri and I can't believe our little men are 2!  I'm sure she'll be much better about getting timely birthday posts up than me, but what can I say?  It is what it is.  Please visit CCM and wish him a very Happy Day!  I can't wait to hear all about the festivities!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Gage Paxton!

Dearest Gage,


I will try not to state the obvious…time flies. My sweet baby boy is no longer that! You are a full on toddler now and are becoming quite the little man. Your language and vocabulary has exploded in the last 2 months. You were already ahead of the game to an extent, but now you are speaking in full sentences and we can actually hold a conversation. I’m not sure there’s anything you can’t repeat and you understand 100% of what we say. You say things like, ‘I forgot’ and ‘right dare’, that crack us up. You sing like nobody’s business and you know probably 12-15 songs from beginning to end. You speak in 5-10 word sentences almost constantly. You have acquired a small stutter that we will discuss with the doctor in a few weeks.

You recently moved up to the ‘big boy’ room at daycare, which I’m still a little nervous about. You seem to be adjusting ok though and like your teachers so far. You are the 2nd youngest kid in your class, yet you are still the biggest talker, of course. You will really miss Ms. Crystal and Ms. Yvette though…they were so good to you.

Your absolute favorite things these days are any kind of music, playing with your choo-choo trains and reading books. You love to play with Sawyer and the girls next door, Alyssa and Jessica. Every day on the way home from school, you talk about your choo-choo trains constantly. You amuse yourself by reading books (you know almost all of their titles), drumming with your drumsticks and playing blocks and cars with Mommy and Daddy. You are smitten with clocks….not quite sure why, though you love “Granddiddy’s clock” and have been mesmerized with it since last Christmas. You constantly ask to see “Granddiddy’s clock” on the computer “one more time” and to watch videos of yourself. Your favorite TV show is still Yo Gabba Gabba and not much else (aside from Mickey Mouse) can hold your attention for more than a few minutes. I guess I can’t complain about that though, I don’t want to rot your brain too much with nonsense.

Another recent part of your 2nd year was your trip to Texas last month to be in Aunt Annie’s wedding. You were quite handsome and walked all the way down the aisle by yourself.

You have become quite the 2 year old lately, whining and fake crying if you don’t get your way. A couple of mornings this week you have thrown quite some fits and Mommy just walks away and lets you have your space. You also are quite the master manipulator when it comes to getting up in the middle of the night and trying to get Mommy and Daddy to do favors for you. “Fishies on, soothy bear off, water, please, etc.” You are still a little peanut and wear mostly 18 month clothes. Some of your pants that we bought you for this Fall are still too big and you’re currently rotating about 4 pairs. You weigh in at a little over 24lbs and are 33ins tall. You don’t have your 2 year appt. until a few weeks from now so I’m awaiting all the advice they’ll give us for potty training and dealing with a 2 year old. You still like to eat NO VEGETABLES WHATSOEVER. The only way we can get you to eat them is through baby food pouches (gross!). They offer them to you every single day at school, but nothing…. Your favorites are of course, grilled cheese, PB&J, grapes and oranges. You have branched out a little and eat some chicken at school and hamburger. I know it shouldn’t be a fight, but sometimes it’s so frustrating that you don’t eat a variety. That’s about all for the milestones.

Now I’ll move on to bragging about my sweet baby boy. You are so so smart, Gage. I know that’s all what Mommies say, but your memory is outstanding. You will hear a book or song once and can finish it the next time you hear it. You make connections very easily, the other day I said we needed to go to the book store and you said ‘I buy Yo Gabba Gabba book’ before we even went inside. (We haven’t been to the bookstore in ages.) You do love the library and aside from Mommy forgetting to take your books back, we try to go there often as well. You know all of your letters, numbers and colors and are working on counting to 20. You amaze me every day with new phrases and your adaptability. Daddy and I will continue to thank God for bringing you in our lives. And although you’re 2 years old now, you’ll always be Mommy’s baby. I am sure like always I have left something out, but it will have to do for now. Your next letter will come in May when you’re a big 2 and a half year old! I love you my sweets….to the moon and back.

Some favorite phrases at this age—“I like it”….which really means I don’t like it, ”’Scuse me”, “toots, PU”, “that clock plays music, right?” (every clock we see all.day.long), “oh no, what happened?”

Mommy

November 14, 2009

November 14, 2010

November 14, 2011