Celebrate #CanadaDay w/ Strawberry Shortcake Cookie Cups & @frostandfete Cupcake Toppers


The long weekend has come. I'm pretty excited about it since the kids are all out of school and on Monday night we'll have a great time enjoying delicious food and drinks with gfamily and friends and then heading to Navy Yard like we do every year to watch the town's Fireworks show. It's always a blast with tons of activities to do, plenty of entertainment and great company.

What are your plans for Canada Day?! 

Like I said above, we get the family together for a barbecue and enjoy lots of food, treats and drinks and then make our way to the park. This year I'll be bringing some Cookie Cups filled with a strawberry shortcake delicious filling that was super easy to make and I'm sure will have the kids going cray, cray!


Don't they look delicious?! And aren't they pretty with the Canadian Cupcake toppers? These toppers were sent to us from Frost and Fete. They're a Canadian based Etsy shop that create homemade beautiful toppers for all occasions.  From Holidays to baby-showers, weddings and even personal customized toppers, these ladies have it all and all at a really affordable. You can use their toppers for just about anything, veggies and fruit, sliders, cheese cubes and so much more. Be sure to check them out!

Strawberry Shortcake Cookie Cups
Ingredients
1 tube (18 oz.) of Pillsbury refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1 Container of White Frosting
1 Cup Cool Whip Topping
1 Packet of Duncan Hines Frosting Creations Strawberry Shortcake 

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Scoop cookie dough into a greased muffin tin, evenly dividing the dough between all 12 cups.
Bake cookie dough at 350 degrees for 12 minutes (or until browned around edges).
Remove from oven and allow cookies to sit in pan and firm up for about 3-5 minutes.
Run a small knife around the edges of each cup before popping it out and putting it on a plate.
Using the end of a wooden spoon, press the center of each cookie in to form a cup.
Chill cups until they are no longer warm.

For filling: Cream together frosting and Strawberry Shortcake flavor mix
Add 1 cup of Cool Whip and mix until smooth and creamy.
Place filling in a large zip-top bag and clip a corner.
Pipe filling evenly into each cookie cup.
Serve immediately or freeze and serve chilled.

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received cupcake toppers from Frost and Fete at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

VistaPrint Deals!


As a mother, a person who works from home, who is also a blogger, I'm always on the go meeting new people. Whether it's parents from school, after-school activities, reps from different companies or just talking to mutual friends and family members, I'm always interacting and communicating with new people in some way. One thing I always make sure to have in my purse to hand out is my business cards. When I tell people that I blog they're always curious to know how it works and where they can find me online.

(Definitely in need of new & updated cards) 

Keeping my business cards handy has helped me a lot and I have to thank VistaPrint for that because they're the ones who printed out my cards for me. They're affordable, with high quality card stock and always do a great job printing out my orders. I've never had any problems with anything I've purchased from them.

Another thing that I love is getting good deals with VistaPrint. Not only do they always offer you a set of business cards for free when you first order from them, but they also have different deals going on all the time with all of their products.

They not only sell customized business cards, they also have pens, shirts, coffee mugs, calendars, day planners and so much there. Deals on these items come perfect especially during the holidays as a gift for a friend or family. Two years ago my sister in law created a personalized calendar for my in laws that had pictures of all of their kids and grand-kids. It was not only personal and meant a lot to them, but it saved my sister in law money as well since all she had to pay for was the shipping. You can't beat that! If you're looking for something for yourself or as a gift and have a small budget to work with, VistaPrint is definitely something you should look at!
Disclosure: This post is compensated. Although this post has generously been sponsored all opinions are my own. 

Soda Stream, Perfect For The Whole Family!


We're not too big on drinking soda pop in our house. Not because we don't enjoy it, I love it when I get to have it, but because we like for our kids to drink water and sugar free juice instead we try not to buy it so much.

On the occasion that we do buy pop, it's really when it goes on sale so that I can stock up when we have a barbecue or gathering with family and friends over. I love to give my guests options for beverages when they visit, I usually break out the Keurig or make a Sangria or Spritzers especially in the Summer and now thanks to Soda Stream I have another option to offer them.



If you've never heard of Soda Stream, it's basically a way for you to make your own soda pop at home, which not only saves you money, but also helps the environment since you're not purchasing plastic bottles or cans.

I've been wanting a Soda Stream for a while now, so I was super excited to try their Black Genesis Machine with a starter kit of 12 trial sized samples of different flavors. Not only was this super easy to put together and make, but the soda was delicious and tastes just like what you would buy in the stores. I think my favorite out of the 12 had to be the Orange Mango! It was absolutely delicious.



And not only do they have different soda's, but now they also offer flavors from Crystal Light, Country Lemonade, Green Tea and for us adults, they have adult mixes for a limited time! This will be a great add to our Girls Night In, especially over the Summer while hanging outside in the backyard on the deck. I'm also really pumped to get to try their Crystal Light Flavors, I've already ordered a few for us so that we can have them over the Summer.  

Soda Stream is definitely worth a try if you love to entertain guests and for those of you who find yourself buying tons of pop, this will definitely save you money!
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Soda Stream Genesis at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

Enjoy A Glass of Slim by SunRype This Summer!


With the warmer weather coming around and actually staying, I've been breaking out all kinds of beverages that I can drink and relax with on our patio. By now you all know that my smoothie phase has been in full effect and I've been trying to create so many delicious drinks not only that I can enjoy, but also that my kiddos can enjoy as well. 

One thing I know for sure is that while I love creating and making my own drinks, I love already made drinks as well, especially when I’m on the go and in a hurry. I love that I can just pour a glass and enjoy and still get the benefits of drinking something healthy. That’s where SunRype comes in. I’m sure you've either had a glass of their delicious beverages before or you've seen them at your local stores in the juice section.


Well, I’m a huge fan of SunRype. I've actually been drinking their many different flavoured, delicious drinks for years. Not only can I drink this in place of one of my smoothies I make, but now with Slim by SunRype, you can drink their beverage without feeling guilty or worrying about the calories with 10 calories per 250mL serving.
 
Slim by SunRype is a delicious fruit beverage that combines real fruit juices with only natural flavors and a sucralose blend designed to deliver more natural fruit taste. They contain no artificial flavours, no artificial colors and no aspartame.  
 
SunRype has been a brand that I have trusted and that I feel comfortable giving to my family. And with new flavors from SunRype Slim (Cranberry Twist, Blueberry Burst, and Tropical Mango) I know that my taste-buds are going to be having a filled day and that I can feel guilt free when drinking it.

To find out more about the new Slim by SunRype check them out over on their website or on their Facebook page. 
Disclosure: This post is compensated. Although this post has generously been sponsored by SunRype through our ad network, Sheblogs Media, the opinions and language are all my own.

Book Review: Stories in Uniform



Title: Stories in Uniform
By: Reader's Digest Association
Publisher: Reader's Digest  
Publication Date: May 2, 2013  
ISBN: 9781621450634  
Pages: 224   
Stories in Uniform is a chronological retrospective of the best military pieces Reader's Digest has run; pieces that will make you weep, make your heart sing, inspire you, enrage you, and make you laugh. Beginning in World War I and continuing though to the war in Iraq, readers will follow soldiers into the trenches, peer in on emergency surgery taking place in the depths of the ocean, watch heroes carry the bodies of fallen brethren, trail Eisenhower for the three days leading up to D-Day, and be inspired as men and women rise above and beyond normal human limits to preserve our rights and save their friends.
MY REVIEW
This is such a great book filled with tons of different touching stories about those hero's in our life who sacrifice themselves for their country. I was very touched by each story when reading this book. There's so much that goes on to soldiers who serve our country while they're in the line of duty and when or if they come back they're still left with the memories of the events that occurred. 

Not only am I'm grateful for every single man and woman who has and are still til this day putting their lives on the line, but I'm also grateful for those in this book that have shared their stories for the world to read. I had goosebumps, smiled, cried and so many other emotions while reading their stories. I can't even imagine going through what so many soldiers have to go through every single day. I only pray that they all come back and make it home to their families safely. This is definitely a book I would recommend for just about anyone. 
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Stories in Uniform at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

Green Living w/ A Newborn & Seventh Generation


As the mother of a newborn baby, I am always cautious about what products I choose to use for my baby girl when giving her a bath, applying lotion to her delicate skin and washing her clothes.  Seventh Generation offers many options when caring for your baby all of which are made with extra virgin olive oil and ingredients that are plant and mineral based.  I always try to use products that are natural and that use the least amount of chemicals as possible.

When it was bath time I opened up the bottle of seventh generation baby bubble bath and was immediately impressed with the light scent.  It was a nice and refreshing smell that was not overpowering as some baby products tend to be.  The bubble bath and the shampoo and body wash are all labeled as tear free which is also extremely important to me when selecting bath products for my precious girl.  Following her bath, I always apply lotion to my daughter to ensure her skin remains moisturized at all times.  The Seventh Generation baby lotion also had the same light scent and it was not greasy or oily.  I loved the way the bath and skincare products made by baby girl smell!!



When it comes to laundry detergent I can be quite picky and often use one specific brand in one specific smell. I was a bit hesitant to sample a new detergent.  I first tested the seventh generation blue eucalyptus and lavender laundry detergent on towels and bed sheets.  Each load came out clean and with a more natural and fresh smell.  My husband does not care for laundry detergents that leave his clothes with a strong scent as it tends to bother him after a short while of wearing his clothes.  My husband was also impressed with the results of washing his clothes in the seventh generation laundry detergent as he requested we wash his clothes in this detergent from now on.

I was also very impressed with the price of these natural products.  They are inexpensive and affordable for a family on a budget.  I will definitely continue to use the Seventh Generation baby products along with the laundry detergent.  I also plan to check out the cleaning products offered by Seventh Generation.
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received the above mentioned products at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 


Family Dinner at Mandarin Restaurant @eatmandarin



Over the weekend the hubby, kids and I took a trip to London. I absolutely love going to this beautiful city because there is so much to do and see. It's a couple hours away from where we live, so when we go to visit we try and make an entire day out of it. We got to go shopping, visit a few friends and for dinner we headed on over to the Mandarin Restaurant, a restaurant that had some of the bests fresh food served there with over 100 different dishes, it was incredible. Have you ever been there? 



We were invited there to enjoy them for their dinner menu and let me tell you, being that this was our first time visiting,  I know the next time we are in London we will definitely be back there again to enjoy it. Not only does the Mandarin have a selection of food to enjoy, but they also have some of the best staff members there as well. I was very impressed with how the staff was around to ask everyone if they needed anything or if they were okay. 

When you first come in you are seated and then your server asks you if you've ever been to the restaurant before and continues to explain to you not only the different selections of the food they serve, but they also let you know where the rest rooms are and let you know that they are there if you need them, which they certainly were. They also handed us warm towels so that we could keep our hands clean, which was a great touch. I loved that they weren't too overbearing and always came around when you needed your plate removed or a refill on your beverage you were drinking. The room that we were in had three servers coming around to check on every table, Gayla, Andrew and Alice. They were very friendly and to be honest some of the best staff members I've ever interacted with at a restaurant. Another thing I noticed and loved about the Mandarin staff was that after a family was done eating and left, they not only just clean off the table, but replaced the table cloth as well.   



Now let's get on to just how delicious the food there was. Not only was it fresh, but they had such a wonderful variety for any and everyone, this is definitely a place that the entire family can go and enjoy a night out together. From Sushi to Ribs, Friend Chicken and Crab Legs, there was definitely something for us all to enjoy, especially with our little picky eaters. I personally loved their Spicy Chicken. It was cooked to perfection. My hubby loved their ribs and the kiddos loved their chicken balls. 




They also had a variety of drinks as well. And I absolutely loved that they had drinks that made my little ones feel special too. The hubby got to have a beer, I enjoyed a nice cocktail and the kids had blueberry lemonade, which was delicious!




The kids enjoyed one plate and soon wanted to hurry up to the huge selection of desserts the Mandarin had and as for the hubby and I, we enjoyed a couple plates before we took the kids to the dessert table. The different variety of desserts they have was just as big of a selection as the different dinner options. There was so much! 

We had a great time there and I've already been letting friends and family know about the restaurant and how they need to try it. I definitely look forward to visiting the Mandarin again.
 Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received five vouchers for the Mandarin Restaurant in exchange for an honest review through our ad network, SheBlogsMedia, for Mandarin Restaurant.

Hidden Valley Ranch Spicy Sausage Stars


I can't believe how fast 2013 is just flying by. As some of you may remember this time last year I got to participate in the Hidden Valley Ranch Recipe Challenge. Sadly I didn't win, but I had a blast trying out the new ranch flavors and mixing them in with my food. We love Hidden Valley Ranch in our house and with only one bottle left I can tell you we've been using their ranch on any and everything!

Well, I'm at it again and this time with a delicious recipe I found via Pinterest from the lovely lady over at With A Grateful Prayer and a Thankful Heart. I decided on these Sausage Stars because not only was this an easy recipe, but it makes up to four to five dozen and is pretty perfect for a small appetizer for almost any party or get together. I tweaked the recipe just a little so that I could use the Spicy Ranch dressing instead, we enjoy a little heat in our food in this family.  I do hope you make it and serve it at your next party!

What would you add Hidden Valley Ranch to? You can find tons of different recipes over in their recipe box on their website to try, be sure to check it out!


 
SPICY SAUSAGE STARS
Ingredients
2 cups (1 lb.) cooked crumbled sausage
1 1/2 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup prepared Hidden Valley Ranch Spicy Ranch Salad Dressing Mix
1/2 cup chopped red pepper
1 pkg. won ton wrappers

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cook sausage and drain oils/grease. In a bowl combine with cheeses, salad dressing, and peppers.

Grease a mini muffin pan with cooking spray and put one wrapper in each cup pressing the won ton's down to make a cup. Lightly spray with vegetable spray and bake for 5 minutes until golden. Remove from tins; place on baking sheet. Fill with sausage mixture. Bake 5 another minutes. Let cool and eat and enjoy!


Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I participated in the Hidden Valley Ranch Recipe Challenge which included three bottles of ranch and a $50 gift card to get the ingredients to the recipe I used. No other compensation was received.

Thirsty Thursday: Molson Canadian Cider


Now you all know by now that I do enjoy a nice drink, especially in the Summer on those hot days. Something cool and refreshing that quenches my thirst and taste delicious as well as hits the spot. Well, a few weeks ago we were sent a case of Molson Canadian Cider. This is not out at the LCBO's yet, so I was very excited to try it.


Let me tell you guys, I love cider. I love the taste that it has and it absolutely reminds me of a beverage that's in between a beer and spritzer. Not too heavy, but not too sweet. It's light and refreshing and perfect for those of you who are not a fan of beer. This drink is made with apples that are 100% Canadian grown.

 Molson Canadian Cider was a big hit for me and the hubby.This wasn't the first time we've tried cider and we have to say this is one of our favorites. It's not as bitter as some ciders are, it has just a tad more sweetness to it. That's why I'm making Molson Canadian Cider the perfect drink for this week's Thirsty Thursday.

It's definitely a beverage you should try this Summer and what better day to try it than Canada Day since that's coming up in less than two weeks. This delicious beverage will be out on shelves at your local LCBO (Ontario & Nova Scotia only) starting June 24th! I'll definitely be serving this at our BBQ for Canada Day!

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received a 6 pack of Molson Canadian Cider at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 


Kids & @DKCanada Movie Maniacs Boutique


In our house two of the things my family and I love and enjoy to do is both reading and watching movies. And right now over at DK Canada they have books that not only take you behind the scenes of your favorite movies, but at an incredible price with 30% off!



We got to pick two books and of course I let my little people do the picking. My daughter's choice was the Disney Fairies Encyclopedia book, which was 128 pages filled with tons of information about all the wonderful characters in the Tinkerbell movie series. Not only does this book share information about all the characters and locations from the movies, but they also share image stills from the movies as well.

After about an hour of letting my little fairy check this book out, I was impressed on everything she shared with me and guess what she decided to watch before going to bed that night, Tinkerbell Secret of the Wings since it included not only Tinkerbell, but also her long lost sister, Periwinkle. She was excited to see the characters on the screen and then flip to them in the book to read about them.


My son has had an obsession with Disney's Cars since before he was born. Well, maybe it was me that got him started, but he's a huge fan now and even more so after we took him to Disney's California Adventures to see Cars Land. So when he picked Cars Character Encyclopedia it was no surprise to me. 



Filled with 144 pages of pure awesomeness that shares tons of information about all 250 different die-cast Cars models and also tons of information about the characters from the movie, Cars, helping my son read information he didn't know about was so much fun. His facial expressions when learning something new about his favorite characters just lit up my heart! 

And it gets even better, the book also included a mini Lightning McQueen toy so he could play with. This went right in his collection with his other Cars that he loves so much.


Be sure to check out DK Canada's Movie Maniacs Boutique to get 30% on books from your favorite movies you and your kiddos will love!

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received the two books mentioned above at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 


OraMD Review, Sample & Giveaway


I have to admit, I have an obsession with my teeth. I brush them multiple times a day. So I'm always looking for new things to try that will help maintain and keep my teeth clean and healthy. I had the opportunity to try, OraMD, a liquid tooth paste, that is 100% pure and natural. It also works as mouthwash and breath freshener with ingredients that kill the 22 harmful bacteria that lead to gum disease and other oral health problems.



Now, at first, to be honest, when I tried OraMD it burned my mouth.  After  reading up on it a bit more on their website, they let me know that after a few days it will get better and it certainly did. My mouth felt fresh and very clean and since it was minty and in liquid form I didn't have to use my mouthwash at all, which was pretty great. Since it is a liquid toothpaste I used two drops to brush my teeth in the beginning,. Now that I'm use to the product I'm up to three drops, which gives me an even deeper clean and makes my teeth feel so much healthier and stronger.

Again, it does take a bit to get use to. After the first few days I was okay and comfortable with OraMD. I do love this product and after checking their website out online, they have so much more to offer as far as products go. I will be ordering their teeth whitener, especially since the prices on their site are very affordable and reasonable. I love that within a year of purchasing OraMD you are guaranteed your money back if you are not satisfied with the product, no questions asked!

SAMPLE TIME!
OraMD would like to offer our readers one FREE bottle. They said they would love to have Just Us Girls readers try out OraMD and agreed to send one bottle FREE if our readers would pay a minimal shipping and handling charge of $5.97. They also agreed to include 2 eye-opening reports called 1) “The 6 Hidden Dangers In Toothpaste” and 2) “Why The FDA Requires A Warning Label On Your Toothpaste.” That’s a total value of over $40.00. Click here to get your FREE bottle and FREE reports now. Remember for the samples, you do have to pay for shipping!


GIVEAWAY TIME!
Winner's of this giveaway WILL NOT be charged shipping.
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received a bottle of OraMD at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

12 Rounds 2 Reloaded DVD/Blu-ray Review



As paramedic Nick Malloy, Orton jumps into overdrive in this pulse-pounding, thrill ride filled with gripping suspense! Malloy receives a terrifying call from a vengeful psychopath connected to his past, and the maniac (Brian Markinson) threatens to unleash a murder spree unless Nick can complete a series of 12 challenges without involving the cops or missing a single deadline. With no time to spare — and his own wife’s life on the line — Nick must piece together cryptic clues and hunt down the killer before it’s too late!

MY REVIEW
I'm not much of an action girl, but my hubby is. So I grabbed at the chance to have him watch the movie, 12 Rounds 2 Reloaded. Talk about crazy action packed challenges. The main character, Nick, a paramedic, has to go through 12 different crazy type challenges, which tests him so much. I thought some of the challegnges were a bit far fetched, but seriously, who knows what could happen if someone had to actually go through this. CRAZY!

 My hubby loved it. He thought it was enough action and a great story line. I thought it was okay and A LOT of action, but I guess since it is an action movie that was to be expected. Those of you that love lots of things going on in a movie, this is definitely for you. The drama and action never stops. It goes from one to another. 

One good thing is that there was definitely eye candy on the screen that kept me interested, lol. 12 Rounds 2 Reloaded is now out for you all to purchase in stores! 
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received 12 Rounds 2 Reloaded on Blu-ray/DVD combo at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

Book Review: The Power of Poppy Pendle by Natasha Lowe (Review & Giveaway)



Title: The Power of Poppy Pendle
By: Natasha Lowe
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publication Date: September 4th, 2012
ISBN: 9781442446793
Pages: 272
Poppy may have inherited the family’s magical powers, but she would rather be a baker. How can she avoid the family business? Includes more than a dozen delectable recipes!Ten-year-old Poppy, born to ordinary parents, inherits her famous Great Aunt Mabel’s genes—GAM was a famous witch. In Poppy’s world, witches work for good and are much valued, with powers both coveted and praised. But Poppy does not want to be a witch—she wants to be a baker, and she is extremely good at baking. Her parents insist Poppy follow in the footsteps of her great aunt, but Poppy has plans of her own.
Part magic, part adventure, and wholly delicious, this spirited story includes more than a dozen recipes readers—and budding bakers—can try at home.

MY REVIEW
I had so much fun reading this book with my seven year old daughter. The Power of Poppy Pendle is not only a delightful read, but it's filled with magic, adventures and a growing character and so much more. My daughter and I took turns on reading each chapter before bed. This book had her wanting to bake more and more. Definitely a great read for those little girls that absolutely loves baking in the kitchen with mom or their Easy Bake Oven. 

I not only loved how much my daughter enjoyed the book, but I absolutely adored Poppy! This teaches young girls all over that you can do anything you put your mind too and that anything is possible. Never give up on your dreams. A message all little girls and boys should know. Very inspiring and motivating. 

We also loved that after this story there are tons of recipes for you to create in your own kitchen, this inspired my little one even more. Definitely will be baking some of these soon. 

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received The Power of Poppy Pendle at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

Littlest Pet Shop: Sweetest Pets DVD Review



When Blythe Baxter moved into the city with her father, she never expected to move into the apartment above the Littlest Pet Shop. But an even bigger surprise awaited her. Blythe can talk to the pets…and they can talk back! On June 4, 2013, Shout! Factory Kids, in collaboration with Hasbro Studios, released Littlest Pet Shop: Sweetest Pets on DVD. Join Blythe as she embarks on five more wild adventures with her newest friends: Pepper, the hilarious skunk; Sunil, the magical mongoose; Penny, the adorable panda; Russell, the highly organized hedgehog; Zoe, the diva Spaniel; and, of course, Minka, the artistic monkey!

MY REVIEW
I can't say enough how big a fan my eight year old is a fan of Littlest Pet Shop. Not only does she have lots and lots of their toys, she also has a game for her Nintendo DS and she absolutely loves the television show. With Sweetest Pets she had another great experience with the DVD and the bonus features. Not to mention she absolutely loves the theme song. I've caught her singing it a couple of times while in the bath or just humming it  as she's doing homework. She's even got the theme song stuck in my head. Filled with tons of colorful characters and loads of songs that are all catchy, your kid will love Sweetest Pets!

This is a great addition to any of your kids collection of Littlest Pet Shop, definitely a must have for all those little girls out there. And now you can bring it to your home as it's been released on DVD June 4th!

Check out the another one of my daughter's favorite songs from this DVD, The Sweet Shop, below!

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Sweetest Pets on DVD at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

Wedding Band Season One DVD Giveaway


No one knows the importance of music more than Brian Austin Green.  In his latest show “The Wedding Band,” Green plays the lead singer of a fun-loving Seattle rock band called Mother of the Bride. Alongside his band mates, he experiences outrageously funny ups and downs! They haven’t figured out their personal lives, but they do know one thing for sure — weddings are the best place to meet women, drink up and rock out. Featuring A-list guest stars like Megan Fox and Molly Sims, this Wedding Crashers-meets- The Wedding Singer comedy mash-up marries the two key elements to any great party - terrific music and lots of laughter.

Though the show was cancelled after the first season you can now purchase (released June 11, 2013) season one as it's now out in stores. 

And in honor of Mother of the Bride’s ability to now rock your living room via DVD, we’ve compiled the top 10 best party (ahem – wedding) songs:

10 Best Party (Wedding) Songs: 
10. Crazy in Love – Beyonce and Jay-Z
 9. Walking On Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
 8. Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough – Michael Jackson
 7. Rebel Yell – Billy Idol
 6. Feel This Moment – Pitbull featuring Christina Aguilera
 5. Hey Ya – Outkast
 4. Pour Some Sugar On Me – Def Leppard
 3. Walk This Way – Aerosmith & Run DMC
 2. You Make My Dreams Come True - Hall & Oates
 1. Shout – The Isley Brothers  


So which of these top ten songs is your favorite?

The Last Ride Blu-ray Review



Ride off into the sunset with the most legendary country artist of all-time when THE LAST RIDE arrived on Blu-ray and DVD June 4 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Featuring an all-star cast including Henry Thomas (E.T.), Jesse James (Jumper), Kaley Cuoco (“The Big Bang Theory”), Fred Dalton Thompson (“Law & Order”) and Stephen Tobolowsky (“Californication”), this powerful film retraces the final days of a true American icon.

Hank Williams stands tall as one of country music’s giants. The Alabama native was more than just a troubled Grand Ole Opry star; he turned out to be one of the great composers in country music history. This list of Hank Williams songs is quite impressive when you realize how many of them have been covered by artists from all genres. 

MY REVIEW
My husband was really excited to get this title. He's been listening to music from Hank Williams all through his childhood because that's what his grandpa and dad use to listen to. So we sat down and watched it. I was surprised how much I got into the movie. It was really good. I loved seeing Kaley Cuoco from The Big Bang Theory in the movie as well, I thought she did a fantastic job. 

I love watching movies that are based off of a real life person. So I did what I normally would when something interests me after watching a movie and looked up so much info about Hank Williams. My hubby just shook his head and laughed.

I also shared this film with my father in law who enjoyed it as well. He said from the stories he heard about Hank Williams they did a pretty good job portraying him.  

This is a great movie you can purchase for yourself or since Father's Day is right around the corner a great gift to give to your dad, grandpa or hubby. Also if you're a fan of country music this is definitely a great movie to watch.  We actually have a Father's day giveaway going on that includes this movie. Head on over HERE to enter before it's too late!

In case you are unfamiliar with Hank Williams music, some of Hank’s most popular songs have been covered from various artists listed below:

·         “I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry” – This song seems to have been officially covered the most of any Hank Williams song! It has been covered at least 19 times, by artists such as Elvis, Dean Martin, Johnny Cash, Al Green and Keb' Mo'.

·         “Jambalaya” – Coming in second place, “Jambalaya” has been covered at least 16 times, but such greats as Jerry Lee Lewis, Emmylou Harris and The Carpenters and Lucinda Williams.

·         “Your Cheatin' Heart” – This song has been covered at least 10 different times! Artists like Beck, Elvis, Ray Charles, LeAnn Rimes and Fats Domino have all covered this classic.

·         “Hey Good Lookin'” – “Hey Good Lookin’” has also been covered at least 10 times by musicians like Jimmy Buffett, Ray Charles and Johnny Cash! 
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received The Last Ride on blu-ray at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

Taking the Challenge and Getting Clean w/ Pine Sol (Review & Giveaway)

Growing up as a child I remember vividly watching both my parents and grandparents use the same cleaning products around our home. One of them being Pine Sol. Pine Sol has been around for longer than I can remember and has always been a constant cleaning solution that has been used in not only my household, but in family and friends home as well.

A few weeks ago I was asked to participate in a challenge where we only use Pine Sol as a cleaning solution to clean our home. I was excited and nervous at the same time because for me, I usually only used Pine Sol when cleaning the bathrooms and floors in my home. I never thought to use it for anything else, which was crazy on my part!


So I accepted the challenge. I'm already a fan of this product and thought, why not. So in the mail I was sent a cleaning kit which included Pine Sol Multi-Surface Lavender Clean along with a pair of cleaning gloves, a sponge, a roll of paper towels, a mini journal/notepad and dish rag that all came in a dark purple bucket. All wrapped super cute!

Not only have I've been using Pine Sol daily, but I am very impressed with their multi-surface solution. I love that I can go from the bathroom, kitchen, living room and pretty much anywhere around the house and only use one bottle to get the job done. I'm very impressed with how well it works with counter tops and on top of that i'm loving the lavender scent. I love cleaning my house and coming back in and still smelling how clean it is. Definitely makes me feel like I'm doing something right in this household, lol. 

Are you ready to take the challenge?  

  
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received Pine-Sol gift basket at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. 

20 Random Facts About Me!


I had a goal with Just Us Girls for the year of 2013. It was to start posting more personal stuff about myself so that my readers can get to know me a bit better...... Here we are six months into the year and I've failed big time. I've been so busy with sharing reviews on products that I got side tracked again. WHOOPS, MY BAD! I do want to point out that I have started sharing recipes, DIY posts and Thirsty Thursdays again so I'm almost getting back on track, just sayin'! ;)

So here I am ready to share with you all 20 random facts about myself, Me, LaQuita, creator and main blogger of Just Us Girls. Here goes nothing!

20 RANDOM FACTS:
1. I was born and raised in California.
2. Met my Canadian hubby in California, fell in love, got married and moved to Canada, where we currently live.
3. I'm the second oldest of eight kids. 
4. My favorite TV show as a teen was Dawson's Creek and now it's Vampire Diaries. (Same teen drama, just mix in some Vampires now, lol)
5. My favorite color is Purple, but I never wear it. 
6. I always say my favorite food is lasagna, but I'd take tacos, burritos and enchiladas over it any day of the week.
7. I love to hosts social parties for any and every occasion.
8. My all time favorite boy band growing up was N'Sync, now my favorite artist is Justin Timberlake.
9. All time favorite movie will forever be Pretty Woman.
10. I despise Mayo, but will eat my parent's potato salad and tuna salad. I know weird. My hubby has tried to get me to eat it for years now. 
11. My favorite series of book is currently The Watersong Series by Amanda Hocking. If you haven't read any of them, get on it, it's worth it!
12. My favorite song right now is, "Pusher Love Girl," by Justin Timberlake
13. I come from a huge family. My mom has 12 siblings and my dad has 5.
14. I'm a lover of wine and Skinnygirl cocktails.
15. At age 13 my mom gave me a surprise birthday party. It worked and I was shocked and then she kept throwing them for the next three years, lol. 
16. I've worked from home as a transcriber for the last eight years.
17. In order for me to enjoy a bubble bath I have to first take a shower so that I'm clean, lol. 
18. My kids can make me laugh more than most people.
19. I love dancing, but think I'm horrible at it.
 20. I some times say things without speaking, which my husband always makes fun of me for. I've told him to make a twitter for Sh*t My Wife Says, but it's already taken, lol.   

I hope you all enjoyed my 20 random facts! I plan on doing more posts like this soon!