Enter to win a Chance to Hang out with Robert Downey Jr. at the Premiere of Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron

Listen up, y'all! Robert Downey Jr. is offering fans the chance to win the best night of their life culminating at the World Premiere of Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, all to support a great cause! What could be better? 

Check out this video, Robert Downey Jr. reveals that anyone has the chance to win a flyaway trip with a friend to Los Angeles to experience a day in the life of Tony Stark. 

By going to Omaze.com and donating just $10 to benefit Julia’s House, a children’s hospice center dedicated to helping improve the lives of children diagnosed with terminal illness, you could win a chance to live out your superhero dreams with RDJ in LA. 

What will your dream day look like? You’ll kick things off with breakfast at the iconic Randy’s Donuts before launching into an action-packed day which will include a helicopter ride over the Hollywood sign, indoor skydiving, and a custom gown or tux fitting before meeting Robert Downey Jr. himself for an epic motorcade arrival at the World Premiere of Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. And yes, there will be caviar and champagne! No worries about travel expenses either - Flights, 4-star hotel, and transportation are all included.

Did I mention you’ll be one of the first people on this planet to see the newest release from Marvel’s hit franchise? Yeah, that’s happening. But the opportunity to win this once-in-a-lifetime experience won’t last forever, be sure to enter to win!

Don't miss a thing, follow THE AVENGERS on Facebook |  Twitter. 

Even if you don't win the big contest, keep in mind - Marvel's AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON will hit theaters everywhere on May 1st!

Spring Cleaning - 14 Things You Should Throw Away or Replace in Your Home!

Spring is almost here, which means the time change is coming up as well, and with that Spring Cleaning normally happens across the nation.  While my home cleaning projects are all still a work in process, I want to share a list of 14 things you probably have in your home and should think about throwing away (or replacing) while getting down and dirty with your mess!

1. Old Towels - This may be obvious, but your towels need to be replaced when they no longer are soft and absorbent or when they are stinky! I think a good time span on towel life is probably 2-3 years (in circulation and laundered regularly) at the most, but that's just my personal preference.

2. Medicine - Go through all your old medicine, I know we all have a stash of allergy pills, pain relievers, etc. Check each and every bottle and packet of meds to make sure that none are past the expiration date!

3. Pillows - This is another obvious one to replace, but some people hold on to their pillows far to long *ahem, my husband*. Replacing your pillow is important for several reasons, mainly because they gather dust and can irritate your allergies and make you sick without you even realizing it. I also think it's a good idea to replace decorative pillows every few years, for new style reasons and so they don't spread allergens as well!

4. Old Clothes - I may or may not have a stack of clothing that I plan to do something with... Something like oh I'll tie-dye that stained shirt or I'll really scrub at that stain on my white dress, I'm sure I'm not the only one guilty of this horrible habit. I also am pretty guilty to holding on to "chubby" or "skinny" favorite articles of clothing, shorts that were a size medium now fit me so that benefited me greatly this time around... But I'll be ridding my closet of all the clothes that are now too large! If your items aren't too stained or worn in, be sure to consider donating them to the Salvation Army or a local thrift shop!

5. Mail - In my home, we stock pile mail. It's not something we are proud of... but after it's read, it gets piled up until we decide to go through it again. What's that I hear? You do the same thing in your home? Well, today is the day to go through the mail pile and get rid of everything that has no importance! Expired coupons, out of date business correspondence, etc - it can all go!

 

6. Expired Make Up - I'm so incredibly guilty of hoarding stock piles of make up, it's a bit ridiculous actually. So this year I've decided to get rid of everything that I should have let go of a long time ago. I'm not just saying it's outdated - It actually expires, so note the date when you buy a product to make sure you aren't applying bad make up!

 

7. Outdated electronics - I'm pretty notorious for breaking phone screens, which means I have several phones laying around the house in a shattered, dead state. I'm going to donate or look into selling these out of date and damaged electronics, they take up too much space and have no value to me, time for someone else to use them!

8. Take Out Sauces/Menus - When you order Chinese from a place nearby my house, they always deliver the food with another menu and about a million sauce packets. We also have packets from late night runs to Taco Bell, munchie sessions at Chik-Fil-a, and more. While these sauce packets come in handy at times, they aren't saving any space in my fridge and they have to go as well as their take-out menu counterparts!

9. Neglected Projects - You may be like me, a creative soul with a passion for seeing things not always as they are but for what they could be... and while that's a beautiful habit to have, it also means that you probably have about a million and one projects currently going on. I know you really want to learn to cross-stitch but that complex pattern you picked up on clearance probably won't be the best way to learn. It's time to let go of the half-way done or "there's no hope" projects. I have a few canvases that I just need to scrap or use as a practice painting surface... no harm in admitting you made a mistake, just don't let that mistake eat up your creative space!

10. Tupperware - While Tupperware may seem like it lasts forever, containers with recycle codes 3 or 7 may contain BPA! What's BPA? It's a hormone-disrupting chemical that leaches into food as containers age or get heated in the microwave or dishwasher. Don't allow your family to get poisioned by your leftovers, check each piece of tupperware and replace it with a new BPA-free option or glass!

11. Old Magazines - I used to be a freebie junkie, which some how allowed me to continually receive free subscriptions to magazines that seem to last a lifetime. I'm not complaining about getting free magazines but we have millions, it seems. We donated what felt like hundreds to our church last year but it looks like it's time to look into donating some again. If your church or your kids school has no use for your magazine collection, look into donating them to your local library or a waiting room that you frequent.

12. Dish Sponge - Your dish sponge should actually be replaced about once a month, so go ahead and grab a big ol' pack of sponges the next time you hit Target. If your sponge still seems able bodied after a month, keep it to use while cleaning the tub or to help with a craft project, but make sure it's clean!!

13. Junk Drawer Oddities - I grew up in a house with a junk drawer full of treasures, while it's nice to keep all the odds and ends in a "junk drawer" it's also a good idea to make sure your not hoarding a collection of ridiculous items in your junk drawer. Go through and make sure that everything in this drawer serves a purpose of some sort, if it doesn't then I suggest you donate or toss it!

14. Anything else weighing you down - Admit it, you have that one collection of items that just isn't necessary! For me, this year, it has been boxes...Yep, cardboard boxes in case I plan on shipping something - while it's been useful, I'm saying goodbye to these boxes TODAY! There's no need to collect something I can find pretty much anywhere!


I'd love to hear what Spring Cleaning tips and tricks do you have to share? I'm always looking for new and inventive ways to make my house look organized!

The Secret to Self-Confidence - Are You Brave Enough? #OOTD #BeConfident #GoCommando

Thank you to Cottonelle for sponsoring today's discussion and providing me with a confident clean!  

I'm about to turn twenty-six and I'm just now able to walk with confidence.

You may call me a late bloomer if you aren't grasping what I'm saying...

What I really mean, is that I just don't care any more -
not in the sloppy, I'm not putting effort into myself way, but in a "I'm doing me" type of way.

As an empathetic person, I've always kind of cared what others thought of me...
and while that has helped in some aspects of my life, it's really damaged my confidence in others.

This year, I've decided to stop worrying so much about what others think about me.

After coming to the realization that confidence is a choice;
just like love, passion, happiness,etc. I'm changing the way I live in a big way.

I'm not following the fashion main stream any longer. I want to do my own thing and wear what makes me feel beautiful and comfortable. I'll listen to what I want to listen to, I'll write about things that make me happy, I'll eat what makes my body feel good, and I'll live how I want to live.

I used to care about how I was perceived and while it's important to care about the opinion of others in some senses, caring about what people think of who you truly are is just a waste of time.

Instead of waking up in the morning worrying about how overweight you are, make the choice to wake up and be thankful for the body you've been given and everything it is capable of doing. Instead of looking in the mirror and being upset that you have frizzy hair, be thankful for the amazing color of hair you were blessed with. Instead of beating yourself up about not understanding a new concept at work, be excited about the possibility of a break through today.

You are an amazing being full of endless possibilities. Stop worrying about what other people think you are capable of, you are you and no one else can dictate what you are capable of. So tell me, What will you accomplish today? 

When you truly begin to be thankful for yourself and start honestly loving who you are is when confidence just starts to ooze out of you.

I think some people figure this out when they're super young, maybe even most people figure it out during their college years. I wasn't one of them and I'm certain I'm not alone.

For those that are still struggling with confidence, I know It's not always easy to feel confident. Sometimes we've been told we aren't this or aren't that for so long it's just what we believe. Make the choice today to feel confident no matter what. End the repetitive negative self talk and choose to treat yourself like you would your closest friend.

You wouldn't tell a friend she looks awful in what she's wearing because she's just too fat, would you? I guarantee you wouldn't tell your friend she looks ugly without make up, why would you allow yourself to speak like that to yourself?

Slay the negativity, battle it each and everyday until it just becomes natural to speak to yourself positively. I'm not telling you to solely focus on yourself - continue to grow, nurture, and care for others, but stop worrying so much about what other people think. Are you brave enough to let go and just be who you were meant to be?
 

With that said, I need to mention that I took on the Go Cottonelle, Go Commando Challenge and it left me truly feeling inspired and confidently clean! I feel more confident in these pictures than I have in a long time! I'm wearing a dress that was too small for me to even zip up last year, but now it fits perfectly... while trying out new shades of make up! This #OOTD has to be the ultimate confidence booster. Want to join me in this confidence boosting challenge and #Go Commando? Snag a free Cottonelle Commando Kit while supplies last.

6 Tips & Tricks to Help You Achieve a Beautiful, Fresh Look This Spring

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Colgate-Palmolive. All opinions are mine alone. #OpticSmiles #CollectiveBias

It's "warming up" a bit, which means Spring is on it's way! In Florida we actually had two pretty cold days but now we are seeing temps in the 70's and the sun is staying up longer which is pretty much heavenly. This season is full of blossoming flowers and super fun trends, life comes bouncing back into the world and really, what is there not to love about Spring? I know it's snowing in some parts of the country, but hold on - Spring is on it's way!

I'm bringing out my shorts, skirts, and dresses now... there's just something about the perfect mini-dress, am I right? I'm also majorly crushing on all the "in" colors of this season, with shades of berry and marsala gracing the make up aisle I'm just absolutely giddy! Plus with freckles being "trendy" and Colgate® Optic White® Express White helping me achieve whiter teeth in just 3 days*, just by brushing- I'm all set to rock a beautiful, fresh new look this spring!

Today I'm sharing beauty tips and tricks to help you achieve a beautiful, fresh look this spring - all super affordable and sure to make you feel absolutely stunning! With everything easily found at Walmart, there's no reason not to spoil yourself a little bit this Spring!

1. Get Your Scrub on, Exfoliate! - Exfoliating is key to the "fresh, new" look. Don't over do it, but be sure to scrub your face well every single night! I found this little sponge in the beauty aisle and have been using it to make sure that my pores are extra clean and that my skin is happy! It's easy to exfoliate, just scrub and make sure to remove all make up, dry skin, etc. Be sure to apply a moisturizer after you exfoliate to keep your skin in check!

2. Nail it with a Mani-Pedi! - Painting your nails is trendy ever season, but this year I'm seriously in love with all the nude colors and dark deep mauve shades being so trendy! There are so many shades of "nude" nail polish, who would have thought? I decided on two shades that were neutral yet gorgeous and totally nailed my "at home" mani-pedi like a pro!

3. Add Some Color to Those Lips! - Adding a little bit of stain and gloss to your lips is going to be extra gorgeous this season! With shades of Marsala and Berry being the most trendy lip colors, I wanted to grab every single lip color in the aisle. I settled on a berry lip stain and a very interesting shade of mauve lip gloss to go over the top. I usually just wear a little bit of lip balm so adding some color is a huge beauty adjust for me, but it's a fun and funky one that I'm having a blast with!

4. Let Your Eyes Do The Talking! - While bright colors are super fun to work with, there's just something timelessly beautiful about a fairly neutral eye palette. Luckily, this season colors that compliment many skin tones are all the rage - with neutral shades of eyeshadow being the trendiest, it's easy to let your eyes do the talking!

5. Being Beautiful is Easy with BB Cream! - I've always been a concealer/foundation type of girl, until I found BB Creams. I've fallen in love with this creamy beauty balm that offers the same coverage as your moisturizer, primer, sunscreen, skin treatment, concealer, and foundation - all packed into one tiny little tube. It's pretty much a beauty blessing!

6. Whiten Up with Colgate® Optic White® Express White! - I saved the best beauty tip for last here, ladies. This toothpaste is life changing! Since it offers 2 times more of the professionally recommended whitening ingredient than Optic White Sparkling Mint toothpaste, Colgate® Optic White® Express White packs a powerful whitening clean that can't be compared! My teeth whitened in just 3 days and they feel so incredibly clean, I literally couldn't ask for a better reason to be smiling this Spring!

What trends are you loving this season?
What has you smiling this Spring?
I'd love to know!

Here's another reason to smile: On February 28th, Colgate® Optic White® ambassadors will be at over 500+ stores roaming the Walmart aisles and handing out coupons to some lucky shoppers, check to see if you can snag a coupon at your local store here.

*For best results, use as directed for 4 weeks.

Essentials for THAT Time of The Month: #SaveTheUndies With This Gift Basket

Today's Discussion is sponsored by U by Kotex, regardless all opinions expressed below are my own.

Let's be frank, we all know during that time of the month most women tend to be a little moody and many are experiencing quiet a bit of pain. While there's really not much you can do about mother nature, being spoiled with a gift basket full of useful and comforting items is the perfect way to help ease the pain or at least distract from it a little.

Aunt Flo is such a pain, this gift basket with U by Kotex is just what the doctor ordered. Head on over to the store, grab everything on this list and relax. Whether you're the boyfriend trying to help cheer up your girlfriend (brownie points!!) or you just feel like treating yourself to these goodies, I guarantee you'll love everything about being spoiled with these little delights!

1. Protect From Leaks - Grab a pack of U by Kotex - Security Ultra Thin featuring 3D Capture Core and never worry about leaks again. These super thin pads quickly draw in and lock away wetness, leaving for a clean feeling with super-soft sides for your comfort! All the U by Kotex products are awesome, you should really try them and lucky for you, they are giving out FREE samples! Score an awesome #SaveTheUndies free sample today!

2. Go Herbal!- I swear by herbal therapy. Packs filled with a special stress-relieving aroma-therapeutic blend of herbal essences, these little babies are designed to calm and comfort both the body and the mind.

3. Eat All The Chocolate - Sweet treats like candy bars, cupcakes, etc will satisfy cravings and make for a happier girl! Especially if you grab dark chocolate - it's actual good for you!

4. Stay Watered - Grab something hydrating with vitamins. I personally love Propel or Vitamin Water. Each girl has her own drink. Remaining hydrated is important, no matter what time of the month it is!

5. Get Polished - Painted nails don't really seem like something significant, but having a nice mani-pedi is the perfect way to add a polished touch to the yoga pants & t-shirt wearing look.

6. Comfort is Key - Buying new comfy clothing is an essential part of feeling comfortable during this time of the month. The softest sleep dress you can find and cozy undies are the perfect apparel while cramping and just hanging out around the house.

7. Catch a Flick - Grab a rom-com, a cheesy girly movie, or a feminine classic and spend the evening relaxing with all the new goodies while watching the movie and cuddling!

While this basket may not relieve the pain entirely, little surprises like this are always appreciated and may help distract from the aches a bit. I actually love giving baskets like this to my friends that just gave birth as well, it's such a creative way to give a new mommy something special made just for her. No matter who you plan on giving a basket like this, be sure to add some U by Kotex! What other goodies would you like to receive in a gift basket?

Ditch The Ick and Try Dry Spray

Today's discussion about these awesome dry spray deodorants is sponsored by Global Influence.

We've all had that horrible thing happen, the one when something is so glaringly obvious that everyone else can see it, but we just didn't notice it. It's pretty terrible, but it happens to everyone at least once. I'm talking about that dreaded deodorant stain on your favorite black dress (or shirt...or whatever) that you didn't notice before you left the house. It's a silly mistake but it happens.

I recently had a pretty awful mishap. There I was, heading out on the town with hubs for a little dinner date night and then I noticed it. White all over my favorite dress and of course, my dress was black. What in the world was all over me? I tried to wipe it off, only to find out it was deodorant... I had forgotten about applying it right before putting my dress on and embarrassingly enough stepped out on the town with white all over me. EEEEK, never again!

While I love my standard old deodorant, after walking around looking like a goofball on date night, I've decided I want to try something that won't cause stains on my dress. I'm super excited about the new Dry Spray Antiperspirants available at Walmart. With options from Degree, Dove, and Axe on the market, hubs and I will be smelling good without worrying about ruining clothing and now my LBD is without stains!

We've decided to ditch the ick and try something new and you should too! Since it goes on dry, you don't have to worry about waiting to put your LBD on for date night and it offers a whole new cleaner feel! Where will you wear your dry spray deodorant and what will you wear it with?

My Dream Kitchen Renovation with Premium Natural Quartz from MSI

Big thanks to Cooperatize and MSI for sponsoring today's discussion.

Even though we aren't homeowners yet, hubs and I spend a lot of time daydreaming about our future home and all the awesome features it will have. Comparing our past homes and then deciding we need a dishwasher and a beautiful kitchen to match it, while we also decide that we really, really would love to have a sun-porch or lanai. I like to think we'll find the perfect house soon. One can dream, right?

We've actually been blessed enough already to live in newly renovated places and loved all the features. We've also lived in older homes and truly appreciate the charm they offer. No matter what house we end up with... there is one thing I know for certain, our kitchen has to be amazing. I'm talking a stunning, drop dead, pinterest-worthy kitchen. Maybe an all-white look or something with lots of neutrals... the possibilities for our future kitchen are endless.

There are so many features I want in a kitchen. Nice cabinetry, beautiful appliances, and the most important part - the counter tops! After spending hours on pinterest, I found my personal favorite. I definitely plan to buy our future counter tops from MSI, their Premium Natural Quartz is stunning. Made by an optimal fusion of quartz and resin materials, Q is naturally beautiful yet super durable. Treated and press, this natural stone is one of nature's miracles - as one of the hardest minerals on the planet!

With the super contemporary style and extraordinary strength, choosing the right surface for your counter tops has never been easier. Scratch and stain resistant, the Arctic White Q will make my all white kitchen dream into a (clean and beautiful) reality! They offer so many beautiful modern color options and are a counter top that many homeowners, architects, and designers recommend! Backed by a Residential Lifetime Warranty, Q's extremely durable surface is protected and perfect for your beautiful (yet sometimes messy) kitchen!

I'd love to hear what your dream kitchen looks like, what quartz counter tops from MSI are your favorite?

Celebrate The Chinese New Year with Random Acts of Kindness + Tai Pei® Restaurant Inspired Appetizers

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NewYearFortune #CollectiveBias

I literally thrive on sharing fun ways to make everyday better and today I'm sharing how I plan to celebrate The Chinese New Year with random acts of kindness and delicious appetizers from Tai Pei®.

While I'm no authority on Chinese New Year, I have been a part of a few celebrations and been lucky enough to be handed a red envelope. You may be thinking I'm speaking in code, if you aren't aware of this tradition, but a red envelope is a customary gift around this time of year. It's typically stuffed with $$$ and symbolizes good luck and prosperity in the coming year. Chinese New Year as a whole is a giant celebration, that celebrates the wish of "good fortune". What could be better than spreading that good fortune around my community?

This year, I wanted to spread the tradition of the red envelopes to those that may not know about it while also spreading some joy. I could have given these red envelopes intentionally, which I believe is the tradition. But I really wanted fate to find someone to bless with good luck and prosperity and so I decided to hide them in random places all over town - from the picnic tables at my favorite park to the little freebie "take-one-leave-one" library at my favorite beach,my Chinese New Year cheer can be found all over town.

While hiding the envelopes was fun, I had even more fun stuffing them. Choosing an appetizer was super easy, I browsed the aisles at Wal-Mart and as soon as I saw Tai Pei's® selection of egg rolls and spring rolls, I knew exactly what to make while embracing the celebration at home.

Tai Pei® has so many varieties (with chicken, pork, shrimp, and vegetable options available) it was hard to choose. I ended up narrowing it down to the chicken egg rolls and veggie spring rolls! Both were so good, I'll definitely be going back soon to grab some other options.

Within minutes, I had perfectly crispy and delicious egg rolls stuffed with the most amazing chicken I've ever tasted and spring rolls with fresh veggies stuffed inside. While these Tai Pei® apps are restaurant inspired, they are more authentic and delicious than anything I've ever ordered from take-out... I couldn't stop snacking on them, especially with the sweet sauce that comes with them. So incredibly delicious and all I had to do was place them on a baking sheet and bake them for a bit... the perfect treat!

There are several amazing traditions involved in the Chinese New Year that I would love to take part in, events like Lantern Day and the fact that everyone celebrates growing another year older as a national birthday celebration of sorts... but one tradition I really hope becomes part of America's mainstream culture is sharing red envelopes, especially with children. While the amount inside an envelope isn't the important part of giving, it's the meaning behind the envelopes that makes the tradition so fun.

Hubs and I have already decided that sharing red envelopes with our community and hopefully bringing good fortune to strangers is going to be part of our Chinese New Year celebration every year, as well as Tai Pei's® egg rolls and spring rolls! Tai Pei® is Good Fortune in Every Box™ and every bite!

Don't miss your chance to save on some delicious,authentic apps in celebration of the Chinese New Year. Head on over to the Tai Pei® Facebook page and check out The Red Envelope tab for a coupon (available for a limited time, while supplies last).

Stay Connected with Tai Pei®: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

If you live in my area, be sure to keep an eye out for the envelopes! :) You never know where you'll find good fortune!