Down & Out by Blended Beauty

Hello my curly peeps!! 

This is a review that is so over due, so let's correct that, shall we.  If you follow our Facebook Fan Page: CaramelCurlzNSwirls, then you've heard of me using this product on more than one occasion and how much I love them.

While I have a few favorite products that seemed to work perfectly on my daughter's hair, Down & Out is one of the best products and the results have never disappointed me.   When I say "it is one of the best", it's because Bee Mine Luscious Moisturizer is on the top of the list.

Down and Out Styles is a Leave-In Conditioner Butter, that helps with moisturizing, conditioning and with the definition of my daughter's hair.  I love to use this butter when I style her hair in twists.  

In combination with Curly Cake Shake, our oil mix and gel always gives me the most beautiful results, as well as a lasting hold.

  

Because Down & Out is enriched with ingredients like Shea Butter, Aloe, and Chamomile, her hair is always soft and free of frizz.   Even during our trip to the beach, her hair remained soft and beautiful.  

Down & Out Styles Ingredients: 

Aqua, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetyl Alcohol (and) Butylene Glycol, Vegetable Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Methylheptyl Isostearate, Soy Lecithin, Cetyl Esters, Parfum, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Preservative (Phenoxyethanol and Caprylyl Glycol and Sorbic Acid), Rosmarinus Officinalis, Aloe Barbadensis, Chamomilla Recutita.

How I apply Down & Out:

Working in small section is the key.  

1. Apply Curly Cake Shake to the section you are working and detangle the section using your fingers; 
2. Apply your favorite oil mix;
3. Apply Down & Out.

At this point you can start styling your little one's hair however you desire.  You can let it all "down and out" or you can style it in a protective style like I do.

Styling her hair in twists allows me to get more out of a hair style.  When styling her hair in twists, she is able to wear that protective style for a week or two, before I let it all down so that she can wear her hair in a fluffy and soft "Twist Out" for another week.  

In reality, from twists to a twist out style can approximately last a month, as long as we take our time to properly care for her ends and scalp, of course. 

The Curly Cake Shake can be used to maintain the hair as well.  This product will hydrate your thirsty curls while giving them the shine they need.

Have you tried these products before?? Share your thoughts!!   

Easy & Delicious Spring Recipes

It's Friday and I hope that everyone had a very productive week! If not, don't worry, we will start nice and fresh on Monday!! 

The family and I will be attending our local Strawberry Festival this weekend and I cannot wait to see our children enjoy the festival's activities and pick some nice and sweet strawberries straight from the field.  It will be a perfect family outing.  I anticipate last of strawberries and fresh spring vegetables, like asparagus, peas, beets, cabbage, radishes and turnips that I can try new recipes or cook one of our family recipes. 

In the meantime let's get ready to welcome the weekend with some nice, delicious and easy spring recipes!  

Let's begin with a refreshing salad that never fail to please a hungry crowd:

Easy & Delicious Pasta Salad  

This is a very easy and affordable salad to make.   A combination of cooked pasta with fresh tomatoes plus the crunchiness of the bell pepper and broccoli topped with a robust vinaigrette. 

See full recipe here: Easy & Delicious Pasta Salad. 

Laci Jameson Carlson, creator and owner of Sequins in the South has some refreshing and flavorful recipes

Strawberry & Champagne Popsicles

For this refreshing and crisp recipe click here:  Strawberry Champagne Popsicles.

Stuffed Zuchini Paired with 

Roasted Cauliflower

For these two delicious recipes click here: Stuffed Zuchini Paired with Roasted Cauliflower.

Kim Mais, creator and owner of Three Olive Branch has a sensational recipe that includes "bruschetta"!

Bruschetta with Garlic Costrini

What I love about this recipe is that it is so light and it requires very little ingredients but the result will leave you wanting more!! 

For full recipe click here: Bruschetta with Garlic Costrini

C E Lim creator and owner of Gastronomic (Mis)Adventures has created a fabulous and simple recipe that only requires 5 or less ingredient.  This is a recipe that can be prepared and served within 30 minutes!  

Baked Stuffed Fig Recipe

For the full recipe click here: Baked Stuff Fig Recipe

If you like to try any of these recipes, please make sure you pin the image, save and or share!!  To view more of their amazing creations, just visit their pages and follow!!

Go ahead, try them... you won't be disappointed and please, let us know your thoughts!! 

"Thimbleberry" by Sinful Colors Professional

Welcome back my beauties!! 

I hope everyone is having a good week so far.  We are definitely staying busy around here with only 32 days left of school!!  

Baseball season ends on May 9th, Ms. Bree is having her recital on May 21st then our family vacation! I am looking forward to that time at the Beach!!!!

After the beautiful teal color nail polish from last week ("Savage"), today I'm bringing to you "Thimbleberry-108".  This is also by Sinful Colors Professional.  (I just love the $1.99 price on these nail polishes)

Thimbleberry is a prefect "spring color", it has that vibrant dark pink "coral" finish to it.  The more coats you apply, the brighter the final color is.

One of our loyal readers commented on our Facebook page: "Gina H-S" I have this one!! It works on all skin tones!! It's my go to spring/summer color!

Thimbleberry is a prefect "spring color", it has that vibrant dark pink "coral" finish to it.  The more coats you apply, the brighter the final color will be.  

It also has a shiny look to it once it's completely dried but I always recommend the use of a base and top coat.  In my opinion, using a base coat gives the nail polish an even look and the top coat will allow the nail polish last longer.

Another of our loyal readers commented on our Facebook page: Christeena C-M W: My son picked that exact color out for me <3.

I personally love this color! Share your thoughts?

Light It Up Blue for Autism!

Hello Everyone!! 

March is officially gone and April is here!!  

Today we are taking part of something special. 

Every year, autism organizations around the world celebrate the day with unique fundraising and awareness-raising events.  Our children are participating in their school fundraising by dressing in blue for a $1.00 donation, all funds will towards "Heard Elementary Autism Program".

But why stop there!   Join us as we pledge along with thousand of others to "Light It Up Blue" #LIUB  and help us turn awareness into action.  Your gift, whether big or small will help change the future of every single child or adult who is affected by autism. 

There is no doubt that your child has encounter children with autism at school, church or at the park, and if he has not, he probably will sometime in the near future.  Studies show that the number of children with autism are continuing to rise.   

Sometimes our children don't understand what they see.  As parents, it is our job to prepare our children to face certain situations with empathy and understanding. 

Need tips or help on  how to explain Autism to your young child?  Here is a colorful 4 Page Booklet on a PDF Format that can be easily printed.  Bridges 4 Kids: Growing_Up_Together.

In this world, it is imperative that we raise our children to be kind and supportive to others.  To truly see the person not their disability.  

Use hashtags #LIUB to share your experience across social media and help light the world up blue this April! 

Check Out Our New Code From Twist Braid Snap

Welcome back everyone!!! 

We have some amazing news to share with all of you!!  We have a brand new coupon code from our sponsor Twist Braid & Snap

Use our coupon code "CARAMEL" and you will receive 20% off everything at www.TwistBraidSnap.com (except sidewinders).  Coupon Code is only good through April 7th, 2016 and cannot be used in combination with any other code. 

Twist Braid Snap started with a goal of providing a variety of children's hair accessories at a great price. Their children’s hair accessories include hair snaps, ballies, barrettes, headbands, hair beads, including the squeeze beads and more.  Whether you have curly, wavy, straight, thin, thick or course hair we have the perfect hair accessory for you.  They stock a full line of children's hair accessories.  

AND WHY STOP THERE... they also have shirts !!  Below are the links to the shirts they have available now for purchase, but they are only available for the next few days, so make sure you place your order NOW!  

To order this amazing shirts click on the links below: 

https://teespring.com/keep-it-natural

https://teespring.com/natural-hair-diva