My Memories Suite Review and Giveaway

Hi again,

Recently I was asked if I would like to review and do a giveaway on a scrapbook software called My Memories Suite v3, and after reading and watching some reviews, I gladly accepted. My Memories Suite v3 is a new version that they just released. I'm sure that most of you are into photography and scrapbooking and also love to share your photos with others, especially on facebook.

My Memories Suite v3 is so easy to use with a variety of designed templates that you can either manually add photos or the software can automatically add photos from a selected album, it's that simple! In addition, there are many cool features that you can do to add a special touch to your scrapbook pages. For instance, you can change the fonts, crop, add a border, add a video, add photos, make the file into a movie, or even create your own template.

For all of my special readers, My Memories is giving you your very own Share the Memories code that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value! Please go to this link for your Share the Memories code:
http://www.mymemories.com/share_the_memories

Here's a great way for you to win a FREE My Memories Suite v3 software! In order to enter for the giveaway contest,

1) please visit http://mymemories.com
2) choose which is your favorite digital paper pack or layout
3) comment on my blog below, facebook (also click on the LIKE button) or on my twitter, telling me which one you would like to win.

Here are your choices:

My Memories Suite v3

Digital Scrapbooking Software

Scrapbook Software

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• This software is only open to the US and Canada. 
• The deadline to choose your favorite pack or layout is on Monday, December 12, 2011 by 11:59pm EST. 
• I will announce the one lucky winner on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 12pm EST on my blog, facebook  (also click on the LIKE button) and twitter. Please share this information to all of your family and friends! Good luck!

Look at what I made, please check it out!

Click on the movie

Scrapbook by each page

You can also follow My Memories:
Blog
Facebook
Twitter

Gingerbread Men / Women

Hi again,

Yesterday I made some gingerbread men/women for some of my friends' children. Plus, I love eating gingerbread cookies and kept some extras for me, lol. I love the winter season...although I don't live anywhere with snow, but do love how gingerbread is most popular around this time. I've included the recipe to make royal icing. If you don't want to make it from scratch, grocery stores do sell the gingerbread dough and royal icing. You can find a variety of cookie cutters at Michaels, Jo Anns, Walmart, Target, etc.

Royal Icing Recipe

Ingredients

3 Egg Whites

4 cups of Confectioner Sugar

Food Coloring (optional)

Candy (optional)

Directions

1) In the bowl of a standing mixer with a whisk attachment, add the egg whites and beat on medium speed until frothy. Decrease the speed to low and slowly add the confectioner sugar. Increase the speed to medium high and whisk for about 2 to 3 minutes or until the icing is smooth, shiny and thick.

2) Place in a piping bag with a small round tip and decorate cookie.

I'm Having a Glee Christmas

Hi again,

I started my first day of December by listening to some Christmas music. Last night I was craving for some Christmas music, so I opted to buy both of Glee's Christmas CDs. Yes, I know...CDs! lol. I just wanted something to listen to in the car whenever I go to work or travel. The songs bring back some nostalgic wonderful memories, also the missing of snow and watching snow falling lightly and calmly. I bought these at Walmart, but they can be found anywhere...in stores or online, or you can just download them. I got the Glee Christmas album for $10 and the Glee Christmas album vol.2 for $11.88.

24 more days 'til Christmas, yay!

MAC Mean & Green Nail Polish DUPE

Hi again,

I know this was last year's hype, but since I'm currently wearing the nail polish, I wanted to share it with you. Last year, MAC came out with a Disney collection that included a nail polish called Mean & Green. It was one of the most popular nail polish, which was a limited edition. I'm not sure if many of you knew about it or probably forgotten about it, but there is an inexpensive dupe of that nail polish from Hard Candy that can be found at Walmart and any other drugstore that may sell that brand. Hard Candy came out with a  nail polish named Beetle, which consisted with colors such as green, gold, pink and purple that changes when you move your fingers. It's a beautiful nail polish color that fits in with this Fall/Winter season. Check this out...it only cost $5! Hard Candy's nail polish applies great and doesn't chip or fade as quickly as others. Orly FX did come out with a similar nail polish color; however, that was also limited edition. So, if you've missed out on MAC's Mean & Green from last year, you should pick up Hard Candy nail polish in Beetle #321.

My Favorite Lush Skincare Products

Hi again,

My skin's very sensitive and anything that touches my face that my skin doesn't like, it will get irritated and break out. It's very hard for me to find any products that will work for me; however, I was introduced from someone to try out some of Lush's products. I do like Lush because of their fresh handmade cosmetics, so took the plunge in trying their skincare products. I've been using these products for a few months now and I do like it; however, these can be a bit pricey. Some I may repurchase and some I won't.

Face Cleanser

I've tried out the Aqua Marine. It can be a bit messy because of the Nori seaweed wrapped around the product. This is made for the most sensitive and dry skin, which includes calamine and aloe. You only need a small pea sized amount, mix with warm water and massage into your skin. It's supposed to make  your face feel clean, soothed and soft, but I only felt the soothing part, and not the clean feeling that it claims to be. I was given a good size sample to try, but won't purchase.

Toner

I do like their Fresh of Breath Air, because it doesn't irritate my skin and feels really fresh when spritz on my face. This one is a keeper and I may repurchase this again.

Face Scrub

I've tried a few face scrubs and by far I do like their Dark Angel. It doesn't irritate my skin and leaves it feeling soft and smooth. It claims to give your dull skin glowing. It's made with black sugar, powdered charcoal, rhassoul mud, vitamin-rich cold pressed organic avocado oil, sandalwood and rosewood oils. I will also repurchase this face scrub again.

Face Moisturizer

I love how moisturizing the Skin's Shangri-la is. It does not feel irritating to my skin and leaves it so soft. It does have a weird scent to it, but it doesn't bother me too much. It doesn't leave my skin looking oil and it's not heavy either. It's made for dry and agin skin, but works well by soothing, hydrating, and helps reduce redness. This is very pricey, so I will have to find an alternative.

These are just my opinion on some of my favorite skincare products from Lush. I was not asked to blog or review any of these products, but I just wanted to share with you some of my faves. Try it out or try out some of their other products that is made for your skin. If weary, ask for free samples. Visit their store or go online http://www.lush.com

Pho Soup

Hi again,

Since I'm in a blogging mood I decided to blog about yummy Vietnamese Food, particularly Pho! Yum, right?! There's this Vietnamese Pho restaurant called Xeula Vietnamese Restaurant that have oh so good dishes! That restaurant was the first Vietnamese restaurant that an old friend took me and I was in love, especially love how their bubble tea taste. In Canada the people there called this particular drink, bubble tea that I first known it as. I was craving for some Pho soup and luckily I had the ingredients to make this soup. It's not hard to make and it's quite fast to cook up. However, you do need to thaw the sliced beef a bit before cooking. If you're ever in the city of Vaughan, which is a suburb of Toronto...check out Xeula.

Xelua Vietnamese Restaurant

180 Steeles Avenue West, Thornhill, ON L4J 2L1, Canada

Thanksgiving Day

Hi again,

Gooble! Gooble! Last Thursday, the United States celebrated Thanksgiving. I celebrated my Thanksgiving dinner with a smaller group of friends, which still made the day even more special. I made four individual cornish game hens rather than having turkey, due to the fact that many of us did not crave the turkey that much. We actually had lots of food; however, I did not take a picture of most of our dishes. We did have most of the norm such as garlic mash potato, candied yams, green bean casserole, sweet potato pie, apple pie, and more deliciousness. It was a great dinner with fun people.

Black Friday actually started real early this year and I didn't realize the time change to 10 pm Thursday evening. My first stop was Walmart, just because I wanted to get some household essentials and they were dirt cheap. At this particular Walmart, the people were definitely anxious and sad to say, greedy. In addition, at this location compared to others that I've shopped at on Black Friday was not organized at all. Luckily I was able to purchase what I wanted/needed and then some, lol. I did check out other stores along the way and at the end I was so tired. I wasn't as hype as the previous years, nonetheless still had fun.

What are you thankful for?

This year I am thankful for the love and support from our family and especially God's blessings that He has bestowed upon us. I look forward for the many opportunities that lies ahead.