I love beauty products. I like creams and lotions and potions and anything that promises to give me that “dewy glow”. I really do! Unfortunately, I have extra dry, overly sensitive skin and many of the products that I’ve tried have left me with red, blotchy, bumpy unattractive looking skin. As I’ve gotten older, my skin has only gotten drier and more sensitive which has lead me on the search for the holy grail of natural skin care products. Naturally, (pun intended) I jumped on the chance to review skincare products from Terralina.

From the moment I laid eyes on the packaging, I was smitten.

My Ultimate Collection was packaged in the box above!  Even though it was the middle of the day, I unpackaged my pretty skin care set and set off to try it out.  It was every bit as delightful as the packaging!  The cleanser was creamy and non-irritating.  The toner was quite refreshing and didn’t sting or burn.  And the moisturizer…oh the moisturizer.  It was like a little bit of heaven on my skin.  It had a wonderful texture and a light refreshing scent.   I also tried the gentle facial exfoliator and it did a great job with my dry flaky skin!  The body lotion left my skin feeling soft and smooth.  My only complaint is that once my daughters tried it, I had to fight them to keep it in my bathroom.  They liked it enough that they wanted to keep it in their bathroom.  Terralina even included a soy tealight candle that will fit in your moisturizer jar once it has been cleaned out!  How cool is that?!?

The price of the Terralina Ultimate Collection is $138 which is a little higher than what I would normally spend, but for paraben-free products that are 98.65% natural, I think it’s quite worth it!  Right now, Terralina has a Buy One, Get One Free Special going on PLUS you can use code MamaBuzz10 for an additional 10% off.

TERRALINA ULTIMATE COLLECTION

Terralina Gentle Facial Cleanser (3.4 oz)
Sulfate-free formula
Contains oat and bark extracts to cleanse, willow herb and chamomile to soothe, and olive oil to moisturizer the skin.

Terralina Gentle Toner (6.7 oz)
Contains sugar cane, birch and witch hazel extracts to refine the pores, and algae, aloe and chamomile to soothe the skin.

Terralina Facial Moisturizer (1.5 oz)
Contains antioxidant-rich olive oil and white tea to help combat the damage of free radicals and signs of aging, hyaluronic acid and squalane to hydrate the skin and lupine protein extract to help increase the skin’s firmness and elasticity.

Terralina Gentle Facial Exfoliator (2.75 oz)
Revitalizes your complexion, cleanses pores and improves skin texture.

Terralina Body Lotion (8 oz)

Lightly scented. Sandalwood, barley extracts, olive and shea butter to provide the ultimate hydration, while jojoba and soy-based ceramide protect skin and lock-in moisture.

Soy Tea-light Candle & 100% Recycled Gift Box

Here’s all the info you’ve been waiting for!

Want to Buy It: You can buy a Terralina Ultimate Collection for only $138.  Plus, when you Buy One, you Get One Free! Also, use code MamaBuzz10 to take 10% off your purchase.

Want to Win It? One reader of Simplified Saving will receive their very own Terralina Ultimate Collection!

You can enter to win by doing one or more of the following; just make sure you leave a separate comment for each.

• Leave me a comment telling me which product in the Terralina Ultimate Collection you most want to try
• Subscribe to Simplified Saving by Email
• Subscribe to Simplified Saving in a Reader
• “Like” Simplified Saving on Facebook
• Follow Simplified Saving on Twitter

The Fine Print: Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Comments that just say “I want to win” or “Thanks for the giveaway” will be disqualified! This contest will end on Tuesday, September 28 at 9 pm Eastern Time. This giveaway is limited to US residents only. Winner will be drawn using Random.org.

Disclosure: The products I received as well as the products for the giveaway were provided free of charge by the kind and generous folks at Terralina in conjunction with Mama Buzz.  All opinions expressed here were my own!  No other compensation was received!

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I have another great giveaway to offer you thanks to my generous sponsors over at Giveaway Blogs and Brochures Printing Online.  They are offering 100 4 color 8.5×11 Trifold Brochures to one reader of Simplified Saving.   You could use these to promote your business, send out a unique invitation or announcement, or make informational brochures about an organization or ministry you’re involved in!  There are many ways you can take advantage of them.  Even if you don’t win the giveaway, you’ll definitely want to look into their brochure printing!  There are plenty of templates to choose from and a variety of options to meet your brochure printing needs!

Giveaway: One reader of Simplified Saving will receive:

• 100 8.5×11 Trifold Brochures

• 100lb Paper Gloss

• Trifold/Letterfold, Z-fold

• 4 Color Both Sides Printing

Want to Win?

Right now you can enter by doing one or more of the following; just make sure you leave a separate comment for each.

The Fine Print: Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Comments that just say “I want to win” or “Thanks for the giveaway” will be disqualified! This contest will end on Sunday August 22nd at 9 pm Eastern Time. This giveaway is limited to US residents 18 years old and above.

Disclosure: This giveaway was provided by Giveaway Blogs.  I received 100 brochures as well due to their generosity!  No other compensation was provided.

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We are total peanut butter junkies at our house.   We make sandwiches with it, put it on ice cream, eat it with apples,  add it to recipes, and sometimes we even eat it directly from the jar with a spoon! {I can’t believe I’m admitting this!}  Last year, I decided I would try some healthier peanut butters and was so disappointed with the sand paper texture and taste.  After trying a few different brands, I went back to my not-so-healthy, but oh-so-tasty variety.  I was recently introduced to a peanut butter that is both healthy and tasty:  Justin’s Nut Butter.

We tried  Justin’s Organic Honey Peanut Butter Squeeze Packs and we all loved them!  The taste was delicious.  The honey added just the right touch of sweetness.  Also, the squeeze packs are so convenient for a family on the run like ours.  They’re great to take to ball games or on car trips.  And they’re made with all natural ingredients like Organic Dry Roasted Peanuts, Honey Powder (Sugar, Honey), Organic Palm Fruit Oil, Sea Salt.

Justin’s also comes in these other delicious flavors:

• Chocolate Almond
• Chocolate Peanut
• Chocolate Hazelnut
• Honey Almond
• Classic Almond
• Classic Peanut
• Maple Almond

Although I want to try them all, I’m really looking forward to the Chocolate Almond Butter, the Chocolate Peanut Butter, and the Maple Almond Butter.

You can find Justin’s Nut Butter both online and in stores like Whole Foods.  The 10-pack Squeeze Packs of Justin’s Organic Honey Peanut Butter for $5.99/pack (prices vary based on flavor).  You can also connect with them on Facebook or Twitter.

Disclosure:  A 10-pack of Justin’s Organic Honey Peanut Butter was provided to me free of charge by Justin’s Nut Butter in conjunction with Mama Buzz.  All opinions expressed were my own!

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The past 3 months have been the busiest 3 months of my life.  I feel like I’m never home!  I leave for the gym at 5:15 in the morning, go straight to work, and often I’m home for less than an hour before heading out to the ballfield with my kids.  I feel like I’ve been cooking non-impressive meals for weeks on end!  I was so excited when I was offered the chance to try one of Good Earth’s Dry Dinner Kits.  All of their dinner kits are 100% whole grain and contain no trans fat, no artificial flavors, no artificial preservatives, and no MSG. I love the idea of boxed dinner kits that allow you to keep a healthy lifestyle without sacrificing taste!

I received the Mediterranean Chicken Dinner kit along with the gift pack shown above.  I wasn’t sure how my hubby and kids would feel about it since they don’t necessarily like to try new things.  While I was cooking, my daughter came downstairs to see what smelled so good.  That’s always a good sign!  Dinner took less than 30 minutes to make and it was incredible!  I felt like a regular chef when I put this one the table!

You too can make a sophisticated, restaurant-quality meal at home!  Good Earth Dry Dinner Kits are coming to stores this month.  They offer four delectable meals to choose from: Mediterranean Chicken with angel hair pasta, Spicy Citrus Glazed Shrimp with angel hair pasta, Herb Crusted Chicken with mushroom risotto and Tuscan Chicken with penne pasta.  (I’m really looking forward to trying the Herb Crusted Chicken with mushroom risotto!)

Good Earth and MyBlogSpark have offered to give one reader of Simplified Saving a gift pack that includes a Good Earth Mediterranean Chicken dry dinner kit, two sets of bamboo flatware, two bamboo dishes, a bamboo utility board and a 100% recyclable grocery tote.

Giveaway: One reader of Simplified Saving will receive a Good Earth gift pack that includes the following:

• Good Earth Mediterranean Chicken dry dinner kit
• two sets of bamboo flatware
• two bamboo dishes
• a bamboo utility board
• a 100% recyclable grocery tote

How To Win:

Leave a comment letting me know which flavor Good Earth Dinner Kit you would like to try. (This entry is mandatory!  If you don’t do this, all bonus entries will be deleted!)

Bonus Entries:

• Subscribe to Simplified Saving by Email
• Subscribe to Simplified Saving in a Reader
• Follow Simplified Saving through Google Friend Connect (in the sidebar)
• Follow Simplified Saving through Networked Blogs (in the sidebar)
• Become a fan of (or like) Simplified Saving on Facebook
• Follow me on Twitter
• Tweet about this giveaway and include @LisaAboutLife
• Blog about this giveaway and include the link (worth 5 entries!)
• Post the pretty little Simplified Saving button on your site (the code is in the sidebar)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Comments that just say “I want to win” or “Thanks for the giveaway” will be disqualified!  This contest will end on Sunday June 27th at 9 pm Eastern Time.

Disclosure: Good Earth provided me with the free product, information, and prize pack through MyBlogSpark for this review and giveaway.  All opinions expressed were truthful and my own!

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I have always loved Veggie Tales, so when I was given a chance to review What’s In The Bible? by Phil Vischer (the creator of Veggie Tales), I jumped at it.  How can you not love a singing tomato and cucumber?

When Phil created Veggie Tales, his desire was to educate kids about the Bible.  After the first episode was released, Veggie Tales grew like crazy and Phil’s vision was put on the backburner.   It wasn’t until he lost Veggie Tales that his vision and purpose were renewed.  He began working intently on What’s In The Bible.

In What’s In The Bible, Phil Vischer uses puppets (sort of like the muppets) to tell the story of the Bible and how it fits together.  I think kids (and parents) will learn things about the Bible they’ve never known.  My daughter was pleasantly surprised by What’s In The Bible.  She’s not usually a big fan of puppets and although she thought that it was a little “cheesy” in parts, she learned a few new things!

I really enjoyed watching Phil Vischer share his heart and passion for God’s Word.  His desire is that kids will learn to know and love God’s Word…and I know that’s something I desire too!  I hope that you and your family will be inspired to dig into God’s Word!

Check out this preview below (and then scroll down for your chance to win!!!)

Giveaway: One reader of Simplified Saving will receive the following:

• one voucher for What’s In The Bible: In the Beginning
• one voucher for What’s In The Bible: Let My People Go

These vouchers can be redeemed at your local Christian bookstore.  If you do not have a store in your area, you can submit these vouchers directly to Tyndale House Publishers.

Ways To Win: (You can do more than one!)

• Subscribe to Simplified Saving by Email
• Subscribe to Simplified Saving in a Reader
• Follow Simplified Saving through Google Friend Connect (in the right sidebar)
• Follow Simplified Saving through Networked Blogs (in the right sidebar)
• Become a fan of Simplified Saving and What’s In The Bible on Facebook
• Follow me (@LisaAboutLife) and @WhatsInTheBible on Twitter
• Tweet about this giveaway and include @LisaAboutLife and @WhatsInTheBible (You can tweet once per day!)
• Blog about this giveaway and include the link (worth 5 entries!)
• Post my pretty little button on your site (the code is in the right sidebar)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Comments that just say “I want to win” or “Thanks for the giveaway” will be disqualified!  This contest will end on Saturday April 10th at 8 pm Eastern Time.

Disclosure: What’s In The Bible was provided to me free of charge by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.  All opinions expressed here were my own.

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Publisher: Tyndale House
Price: Softcover $16.99

Author Bio (from Tyndale Site)

My Thoughts:

I’m very fortunate.  My husband does an amazing job pitching in with housework and the kids.  He’s even willing to let me go out of town on “Girls Weekends” while he holds down the fort at home. (As a matter of fact, I’m currently on a girls trip to Phoenix with my closest friends while he’s at home taking care of everything…including middle school science projects).  With all that being said, I still wanted to read The Busy Couple’s Guide to Sharing the Work and the Joy by Kathy Peel because let’s face it, most of us could use a little help around the house.

The Busy Couples Guide to Sharing the Work and the Joy is a practical guide for managing every day family life.  It includes chapters on managing time, home & property, meals, relationships, finances, and more.  Although many of the tips and ideas contained in the book are “common sense” to a naturally organized person, it’s a great manual for someone like me who’s not! Although I read this cover to cover, I think it would be just as useful to pick out the areas in your life that need the most help and to start with those chapters.

Each chapter also contains worksheets, assignments, and questions to work through.  Although I enjoyed the entire book, I found some of the most eye opening info in the margins.  With titles like Smart Move, Tech Tip, and Caution!, these mini paragraphs are packed with great info!  If you’re hoping to get your husband to read this too, Kathy’s husband Bill provides “A Man’s Point of View” in each chapter.

I’m pretty sure I’ll never convince my husband to read this (since he pretty much only reads technical books), however, the info in here will definitely help me do a better job of managing the day to day in our household.  And although I prefer that the Christian books I read contain Scripture and truth that will change my heart, I won’t turn down a book that will help do a better job serving my family…and this book is a great resource for that!!!

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Buy		Read

Take Your Best Shot by Austin Gutwein and Todd Hillard
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
List Price: $12.99
Ages: 12 and up

Rarely do I find a book that both of my girls love as much as I do. Although this book is geared for teens, it is a great read for anyone who has ever longed to make a difference. My basketball loving, book hating daughter called it the “best book I ever read.” My book loving, basketball hating daughter said she felt “challenged to make a difference”. I read it last month during the 30 Day Giving Challenge and was motivated to think outside the box with the way I gave.

Take Your Best Shot chronicles the story of 9 year old Austin Gutwein. After watching a video of
a 4 year old girl in Zambia who has been orphaned by the AIDS epidemic, he told his parents he wanted to do something to help her. Although most parents would be tempted to dismiss this desire, his parents believed he could make a difference and placed a call to World Vision.

When Austin spoke with World Vision, they asked him what he liked to do and his response was “I like basketball.” Little did they know that God would use this small boy who wasn’t good enough to make his school basketball team, but loved basketball, to touch the lives of hundreds of kids in Africa (and thousands of kids across America).

Here are some thoughts from my daughters:

“This is the best book I’ve ever read. It made me think about what I can do to help people. I know that with God’s help, I can make a difference too.”

“Have you ever felt like a book is speaking to you? Or like a hammer is hitting you really hard on the head saying “Hello!?! Have you figured out the message God is sending you here? Well that’s what Take Your Best Shot did to me. I mean Austin is no older than me and he is already helping millions of children in Africa. Reading what he had to say really got me going. Lately I’ve been given more than I deserve and yet all I want is more. A feeling of guilt is now kind of haunting me. I now know that if Austin can be bad at basketball and still save lives, I can do the same. I believe that maybe it’s time to take MY best shot!”

I can’t tell you enough how highly I recommend this book and I think it’s highly fitting that I’m reviewing it on World AIDS Awareness Day. This would make a great stocking stuffer for the teen in your life or would make a great book to read out loud as a family if your children are a little bit older.

Disclosure: Take Your Best Shot was provided to me free of charge by Thomas Nelson in conjunction with Mama Buzz. All opinions expressed here were my own and those of my daughters.

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Buy		Read

Take Your Best Shot by Austin Gutwein and Todd Hillard
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
List Price: $12.99
Ages: 12 and up

Rarely do I find a book that both of my girls love as much as I do. Although this book is geared for teens, it is a great read for anyone who has ever longed to make a difference. My basketball loving, book hating daughter called it the “best book I ever read.” My book loving, basketball hating daughter said she felt “challenged to make a difference”. I read it last month during the 30 Day Giving Challenge and was motivated to think outside the box with the way I gave.

Take Your Best Shot chronicles the story of 9 year old Austin Gutwein. After watching a video of
a 4 year old girl in Zambia who has been orphaned by the AIDS epidemic, he told his parents he wanted to do something to help her. Although most parents would be tempted to dismiss this desire, his parents believed he could make a difference and placed a call to World Vision.

When Austin spoke with World Vision, they asked him what he liked to do and his response was “I like basketball.” Little did they know that God would use this small boy who wasn’t good enough to make his school basketball team, but loved basketball, to touch the lives of hundreds of kids in Africa (and thousands of kids across America).

Here are some thoughts from my daughters:

“This is the best book I’ve ever read. It made me think about what I can do to help people. I know that with God’s help, I can make a difference too.”

“Have you ever felt like a book is speaking to you? Or like a hammer is hitting you really hard on the head saying “Hello!?! Have you figured out the message God is sending you here? Well that’s what Take Your Best Shot did to me. I mean Austin is no older than me and he is already helping millions of children in Africa. Reading what he had to say really got me going. Lately I’ve been given more than I deserve and yet all I want is more. A feeling of guilt is now kind of haunting me. I now know that if Austin can be bad at basketball and still save lives, I can do the same. I believe that maybe it’s time to take MY best shot!”

I can’t tell you enough how highly I recommend this book and I think it’s highly fitting that I’m reviewing it on World AIDS Awareness Day. This would make a great stocking stuffer for the teen in your life or would make a great book to read out loud as a family if your children are a little bit older.

Disclosure: Take Your Best Shot was provided to me free of charge by Thomas Nelson in conjunction with Mama Buzz. All opinions expressed here were my own and those of my daughters.

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Being a teenager is hard (and being the mom of one is really hard too, but this isn’t about me). Mila Bernadkin is a wonderful storyteller who has obviously had a lot of experience with teens. You can tell that she really “gets them” and the characters she crafted are extremely realistic.

The Attitude Girl is the story of Victoria Benson (Vicky) , a 17 year old who is tackling some pretty hefty issues with the help of her closest friends, Alex, Chloe, Jackie and Liza. When Vicky’s mom loses her job, Vicky has to come face to face with her shopping problem. She’s not too thrilled to find out that she can’t shop whenever she wants. This news is the catalyst that pushes Vicky’s already questionable attitude over the edge.

This book is written as a first person narrative and includes both Vicky’s external interactions and her inner dialogue. As Vicky deals with her mom’s unemployment, her feelings of abandonment by her dad, her shopping “problem” and the all to frequent teenage pressures to drink, be sexually active, and to fit in, she learns the importance of friendship.

I thought the story was masterfully written and extremely realistic, however, I wasn’t a big fan of the frequent swearing and sexual situations (although I do realize that’s part of what makes this book so believable).

Here’s a few thoughts from my teenager:

The most important event that happens in Attitude Girl was when all five friends deal with a hard relationship. All five girls deal with hard decisions, Alex and Vicki find out that a best friend is more important then a guy they both like, Chloe learns to step up for herself and not be the “baby” of the group anymore, and finally Liza pays the consequence for a bad choice she made with her boyfriend by finding out that she is pregnant.

The Attitude Girl teaches great lessons about decisions and friendships. Mila Bernadkin basically wrote a story about what an average teenage girl with a single mother goes through everyday. As a Christian, I don’t agree with the language Mila used in her book. Also I believe from my point of view I wouldn’t recommend this book for a junior high student because of some of the topics the characters talk about. Overall, I thought the Attitude Girl makes a great point, as I said before, about how some decisions and the friends I choose to hang around with can ether give me a positive consequence or a negative consequence.

I also really like that the author is from Ukraine…just like me!

You can get a copy of The Attitude Girl from Five Star Publications for $16.95.

Here’s a few pieces of information from the Media Kit.

In her debut novel, a first-place winner in the Arizona Authors Association Annual Literary Awards contest, Ludmila “Mila” Bernadkin draws on her experience as a teacher, mother and advanced graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature to identify with the tremulous world of confusing emotions and mixed messages of “maturity” today’s teens live in as they feel their way through the process of becoming young adults.

Born and raised in Odessa, Ukraine, a beautiful resort city on the Black Sea, Bernadkin emigrated from the former Soviet Union and came to the United States in 1977. She graduated from the Brest Music College with a BA-equivalent degree in theory of music and music literature, and accepted a teaching position at a children’s music school. After moving to the States, she became a Senior Programmer-Analyst, working at several of the largest financial institutions in New York City. However, medical reasons forced her early retirement, which turned out to be a blessing as she realized her life-long dream of becoming an award-winning published writer.

Bernadkin resides in Brooklyn, New York, with her daughter, a graduate student who is working on her Master’s degree. Bernadkin loves to travel, listen to music and read.

Disclosure: The Attitude Girl was provided to me free of charge by Mila Bernadkin and Five Star Publications in conjunction with Mama Buzz. All opinions expressed here were my own and those of my daughter.

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Being a teenager is hard (and being the mom of one is really hard too, but this isn’t about me). Mila Bernadkin is a wonderful storyteller who has obviously had a lot of experience with teens. You can tell that she really “gets them” and the characters she crafted are extremely realistic.

The Attitude Girl is the story of Victoria Benson (Vicky) , a 17 year old who is tackling some pretty hefty issues with the help of her closest friends, Alex, Chloe, Jackie and Liza. When Vicky’s mom loses her job, Vicky has to come face to face with her shopping problem. She’s not too thrilled to find out that she can’t shop whenever she wants. This news is the catalyst that pushes Vicky’s already questionable attitude over the edge.

This book is written as a first person narrative and includes both Vicky’s external interactions and her inner dialogue. As Vicky deals with her mom’s unemployment, her feelings of abandonment by her dad, her shopping “problem” and the all to frequent teenage pressures to drink, be sexually active, and to fit in, she learns the importance of friendship.

I thought the story was masterfully written and extremely realistic, however, I wasn’t a big fan of the frequent swearing and sexual situations (although I do realize that’s part of what makes this book so believable).

Here’s a few thoughts from my teenager:

The most important event that happens in Attitude Girl was when all five friends deal with a hard relationship. All five girls deal with hard decisions, Alex and Vicki find out that a best friend is more important then a guy they both like, Chloe learns to step up for herself and not be the “baby” of the group anymore, and finally Liza pays the consequence for a bad choice she made with her boyfriend by finding out that she is pregnant.

The Attitude Girl teaches great lessons about decisions and friendships. Mila Bernadkin basically wrote a story about what an average teenage girl with a single mother goes through everyday. As a Christian, I don’t agree with the language Mila used in her book. Also I believe from my point of view I wouldn’t recommend this book for a junior high student because of some of the topics the characters talk about. Overall, I thought the Attitude Girl makes a great point, as I said before, about how some decisions and the friends I choose to hang around with can ether give me a positive consequence or a negative consequence.

I also really like that the author is from Ukraine…just like me!

You can get a copy of The Attitude Girl from Five Star Publications for $16.95.

Here’s a few pieces of information from the Media Kit.

In her debut novel, a first-place winner in the Arizona Authors Association Annual Literary Awards contest, Ludmila “Mila” Bernadkin draws on her experience as a teacher, mother and advanced graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature to identify with the tremulous world of confusing emotions and mixed messages of “maturity” today’s teens live in as they feel their way through the process of becoming young adults.

Born and raised in Odessa, Ukraine, a beautiful resort city on the Black Sea, Bernadkin emigrated from the former Soviet Union and came to the United States in 1977. She graduated from the Brest Music College with a BA-equivalent degree in theory of music and music literature, and accepted a teaching position at a children’s music school. After moving to the States, she became a Senior Programmer-Analyst, working at several of the largest financial institutions in New York City. However, medical reasons forced her early retirement, which turned out to be a blessing as she realized her life-long dream of becoming an award-winning published writer.

Bernadkin resides in Brooklyn, New York, with her daughter, a graduate student who is working on her Master’s degree. Bernadkin loves to travel, listen to music and read.

Disclosure: The Attitude Girl was provided to me free of charge by Mila Bernadkin and Five Star Publications in conjunction with Mama Buzz. All opinions expressed here were my own and those of my daughter.

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