I know that it’s highly unusual for me to post a review of something I didn’t receive for free. However, I have encountered a few things here lately that I believe warrant a free review. One of those things is the movie, The Avengers. I am a bit of geek, but not a die-hard one. I had seen Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and Thor. However, I had not viewed any of the other Marvel comic book movies nor had I read the actual comics. So, I wasn’t sure if I would like The Avengers. Nonetheless, I had heard great things about it and my boyfriend wanted to see it. So, we went and saw it this weekend.

I thought it was great. I really like Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, I think the character fits him perfectly. However, I already knew this before this movie. I also really like Chris Hemsworth as Thor (obviously). I am not a huge fan of Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow simply because I’m not used to seeing her in this type of part. I see her as more of a rom-com chick-flick kind of girl. However, I think she played the part well enough. I was surprised and delighted to see Samuel L. Jackson in this movie, too. I think he’s a really good actor.

I will admit that I didn’t initially figure out that Mark Ruffalo was The Hulk. Haha! I didn’t get it until a joke was made about him turning into a big green monster. Needless to say, that joke was appreciated as the movie made more sense after that. I really liked him as The Hulk. It was believable and touching. I know that sounds weird but I love that he says he stays angry since I feel like I wake up angry most days. I thought Chris Evans was ok as Captain America. I guess I’m not really a fan of Captain America. He seems like a boy scout to me. Haha! I also didn’t know why he spent so much time in costume in the film. I felt like they were afraid that we wouldn’t remember who he was. Sadly, I didn’t even realize that Jeremy Renner was Hawk Eye until right near the end of the film.

Like I said, I hadn’t had much exposure to some of the characters prior to watching The Avengers. However, I was happy that every effort had been made to keep old fans happy while helping us newer ones out. I thought the movie was a little long (it’s over two hours), however I did need to go to the restroom for most of it. I just didn’t want to miss any of it by getting up. So, I guess that’s actually a high compliment since I would rather wait to go to the restroom than miss the movie (I was enjoying the plot and characters).

I think this was a fantastic movie and my boyfriend enjoyed it as well. We can definitely see a second The Avengers movie being a huge hit. Now, I am looking forward to another installment of Marvel comic movies (whenever and whatever they may be). So, have you seen The Avengers yet? Were you as pleased with the film as I was? What other movies are coming out this summer that you are looking forward to seeing?

Disclosure: Nothing was received for this post. My boyfriend paid full price for both of our tickets to the movie. I just wanted to share my thoughts on the movie with you.

As you know, I graduated from college recently. Sadly, it rained off and on that day. So, the time I spent straightening my hair was wasted. Blah! By the end of the ceremony, my hair was wavy and not pretty. However, I did manage to have whiter teeth, thanks to the Colgate Optic White Toothpaste. It features the same whitening ingredient as strips—hydrogen peroxide—and whitens teeth in just one week. You are supposed to see full results after a month of brushing with teeth being three shades whiter.

I received the toothpaste in time to use it for one week before my graduation. So, I still haven’t used it for a full month yet. However, I am pretty pleased with the results thus far. Here is a picture from the day of my graduation (where my hair is still straight) where you can see how white my teeth look after just one week of use.

Don’t my teeth look white? I think my smile looks stellar in this picture. I know I smiled lots that day since I was so happy. It’s nice to know that at least my teeth look good. The rain couldn’t wash away my smile or my white teeth.

I think the toothpaste has a unique taste to it. The Cool Mild Mint flavor is pretty good. It’s what you would expect of a mint flavor, but better. I really like it. I also think the consistency is unique. I feel like the ingredients come together to really clean my teeth with this toothpaste. My whole mouth feels clean when I use this stuff.

You can keep up with the newest stuff from Colgate Optic White on their new Twitter handle @OpticWhite. So, have you tried Colgate Optic White yet? What do you think of it?

Disclosure: I received a free sample of Colgate Optic White toothpaste. No compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own.

If you are like me, then when you think of anti-dandruff shampoos and conditioners, you think of weird, manly smelling products. However, thanks to Suave, this is not true. The new Suave Scalp Solutions Nourishing Coconut & Shea Butter products are here to help us out. Suave is a name brand that I recognize for providing quality beauty products at a reasonable price, so when I was offered the opportunity to try this new product out, I was happy to do so.

Let me start by saying that I love the smell of this stuff! It reminds me of a tropical beach, instead of the usual chemical smell I’m used to from other anti-dandruff products. It smells so good that you wouldn’t even know that it’s a special shampoo or conditioner without reading the bottle! It makes me feel feminine and pretty. So, that’s definitely a step-up from some other anti-dandruff products.

I can also say this stuff works just as well as other anti-dandruff brands. I don’t have any flakes when I use this and my hair looks great. It’s so nice to encounter a hair product that can take care of all of my hair concerns for once. I love that there is a separate shampoo and conditioner so that my hair gets the proper moisturization it needs while my scalp gets the extra attention it craves. Plus, a recent

AskMen.com survey revealed dandruff ranks at the top of the turn-off list among seemingly small snafus. In fact, more than 50% of men would rather clean the bathroom for a month than tell their girlfriend or wife that she has dandruff!

So, Suave Scalp Solutions may even be able to help you with your awkward relationship issues. It’s so nice to have an anti-dandruff solution that is wonderful for women. Have you tried it yet? What was your experience like?

Disclosure: I received free samples of the Suave Scalp Solutions Nourishing Coconut & Shea Butter shampoo and conditioner. No compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own.

Staples in Virginia now offers FREE electronics recycling! This means you can take your old electronics to your local Staples store to have them recycled without any cost to you! That is way better than it ending up in a landfill somewhere. Now, there is a 6 item limit per customer per day. However, I don’t know anyone who has 6 electronics that need to be recycled. Haha! Electronics accepted include computers, shredders, mp3 players, cell phones, etc.

This program is actually being provided by both Staples and HP. However, you can bring any brand of device and still have it recycled. Also, this is happening is stores in other states besides Virginia. I just like that my state is actually included in something. Haha!

Disclosure: Nothing was received for this post. I just wanted to share this with my readers.

Now that it’s summer, I have more free time to relax and just hang out. However, that also means I am more likely to get bored. Haha! One of the things I have discovered I enjoy doing in my free time is playing brain teaser games. I think they are fun because they require me to think a little while having fun (versus just clicking buttons).

One of my new favorites games is the Mosaic Tomb of Mystery. It is a game where you try to match up different shapes to fit a particular pattern. When you complete one, you receive another clue about the death of King Tut! So, you have to try to figure out which way to place the shapes while attempting to figure out the mystery!

I love the added aspect of history to the game. As you know, one of my teaching endorsements is in middle school social studies. So, I was pleased to see even a little mention of history in a game. I feel that this game is fun enough to get people interested in ancient Egypt and perhaps curious enough to do their own research. I wouldn’t mind using the game in my future classroom as a reward for students since it does make them think and it could peak their interest in history. Plus, it’s actually a fairly inexpensive game. So, it’s a good deal I think.

Now, two lucky readers will have the opportunity to try out a game from the same site I downloaded this game from. This would be great for those with children home from school during the summer, bored college students, or adults who want to do something new that doesn’t require you to be online the whole time.

WIN!

2 Laughing Lindsay readers will win a code for a free Big Fish Games downloadable computer game of their choosing (these codes only work on Mac or PC games, not iphone or ipad games).

To enter: Post the link to a game from Big Fish Games you would like to download in a comment.

This entry is mandatory, if you do not do #1, you cannot do the “extra” entries. Comments like “enter me” will not be eligible!

Extra Entries
For each extra entry please post an additional comment!

1. Follow me on Twitter (let me know your handle in a comment).

2. Tell others about this giveaway (Tweet, Digg, Stumble, email, forum, meme, blog it, Google Buzz, etc). You get one extra entry for each thing done. One Tweet allowed per person.

3. Follow my blog and tell me (or tell me if you already are).

4. Subscribe to my blog’s feed and tell me (or tell me if you already do).

5. Add my blog button to your blog (leave blog link).

6. Comment on a non-giveaway post. (Come back and tell me which one.).

Giveaway ends on May 30th at 11:59 pm EST.

The winner will be chosen via random number generator the next day and notified by email. If I don’t hear back from the winner within 48 hours of sending the winning email, I’ll pick another.
GOOD LUCK!

*Open to US residents only.

Disclosure: I received a free code to download a game from Big Fish Games and will be receiving a small monetary thank you gift. The opinions expressed are my own.

Since Mother’s Day was on Sunday, I’d love to share a book with you that is perfect for moms! Obviously, I am not a mom. However, I have friends who are moms or pregnant and I do hope to be one someday in the far future. Haha! So, I thought it would be nice to read this book to see if I could get any tips from it for the future. Plus, I thought it would be nice to have on hand when I do finally spawn. It’s called Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Moms.

I love that this book has so many short sections. I considered saying chapters, but they are so short they are more like sections to me. There are 100 of them spanning 326 pages. So, as you can see, each one goes over only a few pages. Each one features a neat story from either the author (Kristine Carlson who is also the author of the book Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Women) or her friends. So, you know that each topic is inspired by real life moments and you can actually use the hints provided. Some of my favorite sections include: When All Else Fails, Laugh, Go Ahead and Have a Good Cry, Emotional Intelligence is Important, and It’s Not Your Essay to Write. I also appreciated the list of helpful websites, organizations, and books in the back of this book.

I feel that this book should be read when appropriate. Meaning, I wouldn’t sit down and try to read it all at once. I believe it would be best to read a little (perhaps just a section or two) at a time to really think about things and let stuff sink in fully. I also would think that it would be perfect to read a section when something happens to you or your child and you aren’t sure how to handle it best. There is so much information in the book that I wouldn’t want anyone to miss something helpful. This is definitely a great book, and not just for new or young mothers since it covers so many topics.

WIN!

One Laughing Lindsay reader will win a copy of Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Moms book.

To enter: Tell me why you would like to win this book.

This entry is mandatory, if you do not do #1, you cannot do the “extra” entries. Comments like “enter me” will not be eligible!

Extra Entries
For each extra entry please post an additional comment!

1. Follow me on Twitter (let me know your handle in a comment).

2. Tell others about this giveaway (Tweet, Digg, Stumble, email, forum, meme, blog it, Google Buzz, etc). You get one extra entry for each thing done. One Tweet allowed per person.

3. Follow my blog and tell me (or tell me if you already are).

4. Subscribe to my blog’s feed and tell me (or tell me if you already do).

5. Add my blog button to your blog (leave blog link).

6. Comment on a non-giveaway post. (Come back and tell me which one.).

Giveaway ends on May 29th at 11:59 pm EST.

The winner will be chosen via random number generator the next day and notified by email. If I don’t hear back from the winner within 48 hours of sending the winning email, I’ll pick another.
GOOD LUCK!

*Open to US residents only.

Disclosure: I received a free book. No compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own.

With my other Chicken Soup for the Soul Book Giveaway ending soon, I figured it was ok to share a very timely one with you. As we all know, Mother’s Day was yesterday. I think that most of us at least called our mom to say hello yesterday or have been thinking about/missing our mom. I went out to eat lunch with my mom and her mom. So, I figured it was the perfect time to post about the newest book in the series – The Magic of Mothers & Daughters.

Regardless of age or gender, we all know that moms & daughters have a special relationship. Often times, daughters will go to their moms for advice since they are the woman who brought us into the world and has known us the longest. I don’t feel like I have a completely normal relationship with my mother, for a variety of reasons which I have alluded to in the past. Nonetheless, she is my mother and she did bring me into this world. She also loves me unconditionally.

It is because of this special bond I have with my mom that I feel like this book is perfect for this time of the year. Granted, it may have been better to post about prior to or even yesterday. However, I feel like this book would make a good gift just because or for a birthday. It would also make for an ok summer read if you don’t want to read it all at once.

WIN!

Three Laughing Lindsay readers will win a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Magic of Mothers & Daughters.

To enter: Tell me why you would like to win this book.

This entry is mandatory, if you do not do #1, you cannot do the “extra” entries. Comments like “enter me” will not be eligible!

Extra Entries
For each extra entry please post an additional comment!

1. Follow me on Twitter (let me know your handle in a comment).

2. Tell others about this giveaway (Tweet, Digg, Stumble, email, forum, meme, blog it, Google Buzz, etc). You get one extra entry for each thing done. One Tweet allowed per person.

3. Follow my blog and tell me (or tell me if you already are).

4. Subscribe to my blog’s feed and tell me (or tell me if you already do).

5. Add my blog button to your blog (leave blog link).

6. Comment on a non-giveaway post. (Come back and tell me which one.).

Giveaway ends on May 28th at 11:59 pm EST.

The winner will be chosen via random number generator the next day and notified by email. If I don’t hear back from the winner within 48 hours of sending the winning email, I’ll pick another.
GOOD LUCK!

*Open to US & CA residents only.

Disclosure: I received a free book. No compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own.

The Dove Clear Tone Anti-Perspirant Deodorant Giveaway winner was comment # 26, jr911. This winner had to be re-drawn twice!

The winner of the Flaunt Fashion Tote Bag Giveaway was comment # 153, Jessica H.

The Post-it Sustainable Color Collection Notes Giveaway winner was comment # 56, Kimberly S.

Congratulations winners!

With the arrival of warmer months, comes the opportunity to travel and wear new clothes. Trips to the local pool and vacations are right around the corner. So, now is the perfect time to get a new swimsuit. However, it can often be hard to find the right swimwear. Thankfully, someone had a fabulous idea to create bra-sized swimwear! Created by Aerin Kwait-Taubin over ten years ago, the Aerin Rose collection provides women with a new type of swimwear.

Aerin’s new collection (found online & in stores) of one-piece (6-14) and bra-sized separates (32-38) includes bikini tops and tankinis with hidden underwire, removable padding, and tummy control. Cup sizes are available in B/C, D/DD, and F/G.

Bottoms (S – XL) in solids and prints come in retro ultra high waist brief, tonga hipster with shirred tabs, low rise side-tie hipster, shirred skirted bottom, and a-line skirts.

I was lucky enough to receive the one pictured above. It’s the Adjustable Strap Underwire Tankini in Cobalt and Basic High Waist Brief in Cobalt. I just love this color! It is fun yet classy. I didn’t want anything too wild and this color is perfect for me. I think it even goes nicely with my brown hair and brown eyes. Then again, all of the Aerin Rose designs look fabulous! I also adore the little detail in the middle of the top portion. It adds a little wow factor to it.

I really like this top. I love that it has an underwire since I always wear an underwire bra. It feels totally natural to wear this top. The removable padding is nice, too. I am very… uneven up top. Haha! So, I also always get a bra with some padding. This padding helps me feel less self-conscious about my issue. I love the tummy control provided by both pieces. Together, they try to make me feel as comfortable as possible in a swimsuit, which is a difficult thing to accomplish.

I am now in love with my Aerin Rose swimsuit and can’t wait to see what else they come up with. You can stay up-to-date on the newest styles from Aerin Rose on the Aerin Rose Swim Facebook Page. Have you ever tried a bra-sized swimsuit? How do you think the compare to regular swimwear?

Disclosure: I received a free Aerin Rose swimsuit. No compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own.

I’ve had the pleasure of getting to use an Epson Artisan Printer over the past year. So, I know what great quality the brand is. Then, I saw a product I really wanted to try, the Epson LabelWorks label printer. I am hoping to get a job teaching in the fall. So, I want to label all of my stuff in hopes that it won’t walk off with someone else. Haha! Plus, who doesn’t love seeing their name on something?

I received the Epson LabelWorks LW-300 recently and have been having fun trying it out. It takes tapes cartridges which can be bought in a variety of colors. I have been trying out the regular white label with black text to create fun labels. I even created this one…

Isn’t it cute? The label printer is so easy to use. I just click thru to select from one of the 75+ frames to make it a really festive label. Then, I can select from over 300 symbols to jazz it up. I was tickled to discover the cupcake. Yay! Happy dance! Now, I can put a cupcake on everything. It also features 14 font types and 10 font styles! So, you can make the label your own. There is definitely something to suit every person and every situation.

Oh, and did I mention there are different tape cartridges you can purchase? There’s a pretty pearlized one which is really a color with sparkles. The metallic is really fancy I think. It might be nice for a party or wedding where you want to label stuff. What really surprised me was the glow-in-the-dark cartridge. The sticker is the glow-in-the-dark color and the text is black. So, you can read stuff in the dark! Wow! That would be fabulous for camping or labeling exits.

To say I was impressed and excited about this label printer would be an understatement. I simply love it! I like how easily I can create a customized label for literally any object or occasion. I mean I do hope to move out of my parents house in the next year or so. So, I could even label my stuff when I move now (as to what it is). The ease of use and options is definitely my # 1 reason for wanting it. I think it’s also a pretty good deal at $39.99! I will be getting use out of this thing for years to come I’m sure.

Have you ever purchased an Epson LabelWorks label printer? What are you thoughts on it?

Disclosure: I received a free Epson LabelWorks LW-300 label printer. No compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own.

I’m sure we’ve all heard of or watched that show called “Dirty Jobs” where Mike Rowe performs dirty jobs. Well, now My Dirty Jobs, LLC has created cleaners that can help any dirty person or house out. I received a large bottle of the Dirty Jobs Complete which has 100 uses! Wow! It’s a powder which you mix with water to use in tons of different ways. One of its main uses is in laundry. It can be used as a detergent or to pre-treat stains. It may also be used to clean the bathroom, upholstery and fabrics, or the carpet!

Most cleanups require only several ounces of product to take care of. So, I know this big container (52 ounces) of cleaner will last me a while. I think that’s pretty cost effective and a plus. However, I do wish they included a spray bottle with the product to make it easier instead of you having to purchase it separately. I also love the wonderful handle on the container that makes it significantly easier to hold and carry. It fits nicely in my hand and everything.

The product does a wonderful job of actually cleaning things, too. It gets rid of stains and just makes things look better in general. So, you don’t have to worry about getting dirty this summer since you can clean whatever you get dirty with this stuff. I only wish it had a nice scent. I don’t think it really has any smell to it. I guess that’s because it’s meant to take care of tough dirt, so men wouldn’t want their clothes smelling like daisies or vanilla. Haha!

Overall, I think the Dirty Jobs Complete Cleaner makes a wonderful addition to any house’s stockpile of cleaning supplies. I mean the fact that it can replace so many of them can save you room if nothing else. Plus, the full product line is available in Walmart’s nationwide which means it’s easy to get while shopping for other products. So, have you tried it yet? What did you think of it?

Disclosure: I received a free container of Dirty Jobs Complete. No compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own.

I know that my readers love a great sweeps. So, I didn’t hesitate about the opportunity to share another one with you. It’s ET’s Hanging with the Stars Sweepstakes. You can enter anytime at that link between now and May 24th at 4:59 PM PDT (that’s just a little over two weeks) to win some fabulous prizes! There will be one grand prize which consists of a trip to Los Angeles, California for the ET’s Exclusive Emmy® Gala Party on Sunday, September 23, 2012. Wow! Doesn’t that sound like a blast?

Additionally, there are weekly prizes of off-air calls with one of Entertainment Tonight’s show talent: Mark Steines or Nancy O’Dell. Then, there are daily prizes where you could get your first name and last initial on a showing of Entertainment Tonight! Aww! Talk about being a celebrity. That would be really cool to be mentioned on a nationally televised show. I mean talk about bragging rights.

So, enter ET’s Hanging with the Stars Sweepstakes now to feel like you are a star. But, you better hurry so you can get a better chance of winning a prize. I mean there are only a few more weekly prize draws left. Get your name into the pot now to win something fabulous. Oh, and if you share the sweeps with your friends, you will earn more entries into the sweeps. So, go enter and get to sharing.

Disclosure: I will receive compensation for posting this but the opinions expressed are my own.

To get you excited for this quickly approaching release, I’m happy to share a list of Top 10 Things to Consider When Choosing Your Perfect Guy.

So, what do you think of the list? Anything you would add?

Disclosure: I received nothing for this post. The opinions expressed are my own.

Mother’s Day is this Sunday and if you are like me, than you have no idea what to get your mom for it. However, I do have an idea for you. Let me introduce you to Guylian Belgian Chocolates. They have been around since the 1950′s with their indulgent chocolates and they even have an adorable story about their beginnings.

The Guylian brand dates back to the late 1950’s when Guy Foubert, a passionate Belgian Chocolataire married his love, Liliane who then joined names creating Chocolaterie Guylian. Today, Guylian crafts the finest authentic Belgian Chocolate Truffles, utilizing the original handmade recipe of Guy and Liliane. The original signature truffle recipe is still made in small-batch copper kettles exclusively by Guylian’s Master Chocolatiers in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium.

I received a wonderful selection of their chocolates to try and I am pretty impressed. Their chocolate truffles are pictured above. They are 100% dark and white Belgian Chocolate! They are also filled with rich, decadent creamy chocolate praline truffle. This creates a unique tasting experience! I think it is definitely a treat to eat one of these things. I mean they look beautiful to begin with. Plus, the tropical images get me feeling like I’m on a vacation or something. Then, add the delicious chocolate and it’s a brilliant treat.

I think the combination of chocolates is really interesting. I had never had chocolate like this. I think it tastes pretty good. My dad thought it had a weird aftertaste. Either way, you can’t deny that it makes you feel like you are dining on the best. It would be a great gift for mom this Sunday. In fact, I may even let my mom have some.

You can keep up with the brand on the Guylian Facebook page. Additionally, one of my lucky readers will win a generous selection of chocolate from them!

WIN!

1 Laughing Lindsay reader will win a selection of Gulyian Belgian Chocolates, including:
* One – 22 piece box of Guylian Artisanal Belgian Original Chocolate Truffles
* Two – 6 piece Original Chocolate Truffle Box and
* Four – 2 piece Original Chocolate Truffle Box.

To enter: Tell me why you would like to win Guylian Belgian Chocolate.

This entry is mandatory, if you do not do #1, you cannot do the “extra” entries. Comments like “enter me” will not be eligible!

Extra Entries
For each extra entry please post an additional comment!

1. Follow me on Twitter (let me know your handle in a comment).

2. Tell others about this giveaway (Tweet, Digg, Stumble, email, forum, meme, blog it, etc). You get one extra entry for each thing done. One Tweet allowed per person.

3. Follow my blog and tell me (or tell me if you already are).

4. Subscribe to my blog’s feed and tell me (or tell me if you already do).

5. Add my blog button to your blog (leave blog link).

6. Comment on a non-giveaway post. (Come back and tell me which one.)

7. Sign up for the Guylian Belgian Chocolates newsletter and let me know you did so in a comment.

Giveaway ends on May 23rd at 11:59 pm EST.

The winner will be chosen via random number generator the next day and notified by email. If I don’t hear back from the winner within 48 hours of sending the winning email, I’ll pick another.

GOOD LUCK!

*Open to US residents only.

Disclosure: I received free Guylian Belgian Chocolate. No compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own.

By now, everyone has heard of the Harlem Globetrotters. They are known for their mad basketball skills and family fun. Well, now, they are offering clinics to teach children some new tricks. Harlem Globetrotters are conducting summer skills clinics to teach boys and girls ages 6-14 some fun skills. Every child that participates will receive:

* A free ticket voucher (valued up to $40) to see the Globetrotters during their 2013 World Tour,
* Autographs and photos with the stars and
* a 3-day trial pass to 24 Hour Fitness!

Wow! Doesn’t that sound like a great time? The clinics will be held in these locations:

Phoenix, Houston, San Francisco, New Jersey, Denver, Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, St Louis, Miami, and Las Vegas.

Plus, I am happy to share a coupon code with you where you can save $10 on registration! Enter the Coupon Code USFAMILY on the cart page after completing your registration for the Harlem Globetrotters Summer Skills Clinics or mention it when calling 1-800-641-HOOP (4667).

So, have you even been to a Harlem Globetrotters game? What was your experience like?

Disclosure: I will be receiving a free voucher for a Family Four Pass to ANY Globetrotter game for the upcoming 2012 – 2013 season. The opinions expressed are my own.