As I'm sure you're aware, Christmas is right around the corner . I try to buy gifts that help develop a child's imagination and creativity, I feel it is very important in their development .  I purchased a roll of chalkboard paper to be part of my niece's Christmas gifts.  Chalk is messy, so I decided on would try some chalk markers to see if they'd be a good option. I found these on Amazon...https://www.amazon.com/Markers-Liquid-Chalk-Revolutionary/dp/B01LY46SXH/liquid+chalk+markers

and I love them.  The colors are vibrant and there's a nice variety.  They are easy to use for doodles and clean up is a breeze. I definitely recommend these ..now I'm ready to give this stuff to her and see what she comes up with !
*I received this product at a discounted price in exchange for an unbiased review via the Giveaway Service website. Regardless of the discount ,I only recommend products I have tried and feel that my readers will find beneficial .
https://www.giveawayservice.com/p/y5a0b4t5/y5s1v3o1j2

     I've recently begun to learn the ropes as an Amazon reviewer. I am by no means a pro, but it has been a fun and enjoyable journey so far.  I'd like to share a little of what I have learned so far.
     The most important thing is to have Amazon Prime, in order to take advantage of the free 2day shipping.  Always read the listings carefully to make sure the product is eligible for Prime and not going to charge shipping prices.
    Many of the items I have gotten through the various review programs I have tried are free or deeply discounted.  This does require a disclosure stating that you got the item free or discounted in exchange for an unbiased review.  Another important thing is to have a nice bio on Amazon kind of stating your interests and stuff,so that sellers know you are a real person.  While you're on Amazon, review everything you've ever bought to help show sellers that you will follow through with posting reviews.
     The review programs I have tried are free to sign up.  You won't be approved every time for every item because it is up to the individual seller to decide who they want to offer the promotions to.  I have gotten a wide variety of products, from phone accessories,Bluetooth headphones and speakers, nutritional supplements, fitness products, kitchen stuff, even essential oils and diffusers just to name a few things off the top of my head.  All free or deeply discounted.  Each program has different requirements and you will want to do your research before you get products.  I started this out of boredom and now I am hooked!
     Now I'll list the review sites that I have had results with.  Product Elf is a good one and pretty simple,they add new things a few times a day.  My favorite is Amzreviewtrader.com and it is a little more challenging but totally worth it and they have a wide variety of products that you can browse through and request to be considered for the review.  Jungle Launch is also easy, they will email you when a campaign is available that may interest you.  Elite Deals Club sends out daily emails and if you can get on there when it is time for the deals to go live, it can be really simple to get a few more products through their program.  I have not had any luck with Tomoson yet but I am still trying.
    I take my reviews seriously and am trying very hard to be a thorough and reliable member of the Amazon community.  It is a learning process and I do stress that you need to make sure you can fulfill the obligations for your reviews and the programs you got them through.  It can be frustrating when you don't get a lot of approvals but keep trying.   I am constantly trying to get better and luckily for me, I'm entirely too opinionated anyway so I usually have plenty to say.  I've discovered some really great companies and products on this little adventure.

My favorite apps for bargain hunting.

Hi y'all! Today I'm going to talk about a couple of apps that I love. I hate paying retail for stuff, especially if I can possibly find it cheaper. I've discovered a couple of as that have become part of my bargain hunting addiction.

The first one I'm going to talk about is Poshmark. It is for women's clothing and accessories. You can buy and sell on this app, they take 20% of whatever the item sells for as their feet. They charge the buyer a flat $5.95 shipping and provide a printable label with tracking information for the seller. You can like listings and follow the "closets" of other sellers. Poshmark has a few other cool features such as the "Offer" button where you can submit an offer to the seller on an item. The seller then has 24 hours to accept, deny or counter offer.  Pm has a lot of people selling new with tags name brand clothing cheaper than in stores. My favorite brands are Rock Revival, and Miss Me jeans but I'm not paying retail prices on them. Gently used item are welcome on PM as well. I've gotten some great deals. Go check it out and enter invite code PDARQ during sign up.

The second app, Mercari, is my favorite. In addition to new and gently used clothing,they also allow listings in electronics,home decor,kid's, men's, collectibles and beauty products. Mercari DOESN'T charge anything to sell and the seller can choose whether to offer free shipping or charge the buyer. Items can be sent either FedEx or USPS. The shipping costs vary by weight, and Mercari provides the printable shipping label and tracking info. There is also a category for handmade items. I've gotten some amazing deals on both of these apps. Give them a try, enter invite code GCHSQA at sign up on Mercari for a $2 credit. Mercari also runs promotions for free credits at time, I've actually won some on there and I usually don't win anything. Now, go find some great deals!

Rtic 30 oz tumbler review

I've been wanting to try one of these stainless steel tumblers that are all the rage. I found the Rtic on Amazon ato a good price so I decided to go with it. Let me just say,I love it! I do have to add ice as the day progresses,but I'm drinking sodas that have been outside in my truck and it's hot, so I don't mind having to go get an occasional cup of ice to add in. I don't have a fridge at work. I like the lid,the cup is sturdy and it holds ice better than Styrofoam. It doesn't leave an aftertaste, either. I'd say it's probably on the level with a Yeti, but I'm not going to pay Yeti prices just to compare! The lid seals really well and it doesn't sweat or anything.

Mercari App Review

Like name brand clothing and accessories but not the prices? Have name brand stuff you don't need or use? Try Mercari! I absolutely love this app too much! I've developed a love for Rock Revival jeans and have gotten some amazing deals on them through this service. I've also sold a few things I no longer needed. There's even a men's section, kid stuff and much more! Use code GCHSQA at sign up to get  $2 credit. From time to time they run promotions for credits too, awhile back I won $50 (and I NEVER win anything). It's great for me since I've got expensive taste buy hate paying retail, and since I live 2 hours from a mall of any sort...give it a look!

Pura Vida bracelets review

I'm on a roll today...I can't help it, I've found some super great things lately and I can't help but share them with y'all! This post is about handmade bracelets from www.PURAVIDABRACELETS.com.  They have ano amazing variety of styles and colors, ranging in price from $5-$30. Shipping is free on order of $25 or more. They also recently added a few clothing items but I have not tried any of them so for this post,I'm just talking bracelets.  I love the original style bracelets they have, and all are adjustable(I've got tiny wrists so this is a huge win!), waterproof, and come with a warranty. The products are made by artisans in Costa Rica but the company is headquartered in California, and their customer service is excellent. I often wear 2 or 3 bracelets at a time. They also have a fund raising program and a HUGE selection of charity bracelets(money from each of these sold goes to the cause). I have a rep code for 20% off your purchase,  if interested let me know and I'll share it with you!

Soaps McGotes Review

This post is dedicated to reviewing the absolutely amazing line of artisan soap and body care products available at www.soapsmcgotes.com.  I figure for my first review post I would choose something epically awesome. My bff is the genius behind these high quality products. She makes many different kinds of soap, shaving soap, lotions, and much more. The line is constantly being expanded and improved upon. One of the greatest things about this soap is that it does not contain harsh chemicals like store bought,mass produced stuff does. It lasts much longer. Only the best quality can bear the Soaps McGotes name(the proprietor is an absolute perfectionist). Custom tshirts and vinyl are being added to the brand as well. Seriously, do your skin (and everyone around you'should noses) a favor by visiting www.soapsmcgotes.com today!