Author / Kelly Mattei

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Posts by Kelly Mattei

I grew up in Alabama but have lived in Charlotte, NC, for more 25 years...longer than I've ever lived any other one place. Growing up, we moved a few times, so when people ask where I’m from, I just say Alabama, even though I have lived in three other states. I have been married for 25 years, and we have one daughter, who has one year of college left. We love being parents, but we also love empty-nesting. We enjoy traveling, star-gazing, walking, and sunshine. I worked in the travel business for 11 years, and I’m always looking for the next place to visit, but interestingly, I don’t like going where everyone else is going. If everyone else is going to Italy or Greece, no thanks. I’d rather go to Latin America or somewhere in the US I haven’t seen before. I’ve never liked doing what everyone else is doing! I have visited 40 states and would love to visit all 50. I also consider myself a “connector.” I like helping people know other people. No, not for money…for fun.
by Kelly Mattei

Westmore Beauty Body Coverage Perfector Review

Two words: LOVE IT!

I tried the Westmore Beauty Body Coverage Perfector today on my shins and on my arms. Actually, on just one shin, because I wanted to see the difference. I love it! When my 21-yr-old daughter came in this afternoon, I asked her which leg looked better, and she immediately pointed to the one with the Westmore Beauty Body Coverage Perfector!

At 58, I have those little white spot on my legs…the ones where the pigment seems to have magically vanished. It makes for a much less smooth appearance. The leg with the perfector looks much better than the other.

To test it, I applied it before going outside in 98° heat to water my plants. Then I got in the pool. When I got out…the Perfector was still on the leg! Y’all, I love this stuff. The tube I have is 3.5 ounces, but I just ordered the 7-oz tube from Amazon.

Highly recommend! Order it here.

Also, here are pics of my legs…one outdoors and one indoors. You can see the difference. Is it perfect? No, but I only applied a very light coat. Might do more tomorrow. Yes, the leg on the right in each pic is the “perfected” one.

by Kelly Mattei

Tonight: A Review of Westmore Beauty Body Coverage Perfector

You’ve seen the ads for Westmore Beauty Body Coverage Perfector, the waterproof makeup for legs/body. Well, I’m trying it today and will report back tonight…with a full review! Stay tuned!

by Kelly Mattei

My Favorite Everyday Jewelry

My favorite everyday jewelry. *As an Amazon Associate, I receive commission on items purchased through my links.*

I’m giving away some real secrets today!

This past weekend, I met a few friends from college for a weekend full of laughs, memories, drinks, food, and new memories! It’s always fun to get together with people I have known most of my life. I’m very fortunate to have maintained friendships with people I met in college 40 years ago. Did I mention we laugh a lot when we get together?!? Well, we do.

When I travel, whether I’m meeting friends for lunch or traveling, I like to keep the jewelry simple. That doesn’t mean I don’t wear pieces I love. I just like to have some things that will work with anything I wear, so I don’t have to take as much. Also, I find those same pieces are my “fall back” pieces when I’m in a hurry to get somewhere in Charlotte or when I can’t make a decision.

The best thing about them? They’re inexpensive! If I leave them behind somewhere, it’s no disaster. I also get lots of compliments on them. For those reasons and lots more, I highly recommend these pieces:

  • Earrings. Trendy CZ Gold Hoop Earrings for Women. These earrings come in lots of colors, but my favorites for traveling are the multicolor ones, simply for ease. They match everything. They’re not too big but not too small, and I receive countless compliments on them. Best of all? They are only $13.99! I have several pairs of the multicolor ones, and I also have them in pink, green, and blue. ***Also great earrings for sorority rush if you’re still wondering what to take/send/wear!***Purchase here.

  • Necklace. Again, a piece I receive countless compliments on, and again, inexpensive…only $7.99! It’s big enough to be noticed, but not big enough to be the only thing people see. Purchase here.

  • Bangle Bracelets. A trio of bangle bracelets for about $20. Sure, they’re costume jewelry, but they fill a need and dress up an ensemble! Get them here.

There you have it. Some of my best-kept secrets…divulged. Purchase while supplies last!

by Kelly Mattei

Free Amazon Kindle Books

Free Amazon Kindle Books

Did you know Amazon offers FREE Kindle books? Well, they do, and you can download them to your Kindle or your Kindle app easily with your Prime Membership! Yes, I said FREE! And some of them were written by popular authors like Nora Roberts. One I can definitely recommend is Year One by Roberts. Get it here. Other titles are offered at low prices. If you have a voracious reader in your family and don’t want to go broke, this is a great way to get some new titles! To see the free and inexpensive offerings on Amazon, click here.

If you’d like to purchase an Amazon Kindle reader, check them out here.

But if you have a sports fan in your family who can hardly wait for college football to start, I highly recommend The System: The Glory and Scandal of Big-Time College Football. It’s not free or even almost free, but it’s the best book about college football I’ve ever read. Get it here.

*As an Amazon Associate, we receive commission on items purchased through our links.*

by Kelly Mattei

Need Extra Cooling?

Need extra cooling?

I like it cool when I sleep, and I like it cool when I’m getting ready to go out. Do I need the rest of my family to freeze? No. Maybe you have a college student who prefers cooler air than a roommate?

I have a portable personal air conditioner that I used on my bathroom vanity when getting ready, and I even carried it to hotels in my luggage. I paid $100+ for it some time ago, and I thought it worked great…UNTIL I found Arctic Air. Yes, it’s “as seen on TV,” and it really works. The best part? It’s only $39.98 at Amazon, and I have found it works better than my more expensive portable personal a/c! It’s also small enough to fit easily into a carry-on bag! I just put it right on the hotel nightstand at night, and when I’m getting dressed for the day, I move it to the bathroom vanity…just add water and/or ice and plug it in!

If you like to have cool air blowing on you at night or while you’re getting ready, this won’t cool a whole room, but it will blow directly on you, keeping you cool. Or maybe you have someone on your holiday or birthday list that could use it! I love it and highly recommend it!

Get it at Amazon here.

*As an Amazon Associate, we receive commission for items purchased through our links.*

by Kelly Mattei

Prime Days: Passport Holder With Airtag

You think you don’t need a passport holder with Airtag, but you do. I know this, because my husband lost his passport last month in the airport as we were beginning a trip…or maybe I should say “as we were attempting to begin a trip.” The vacation didn’t happen, because he dropped the passport in the airport and didn’t recover it. He had to apply for a new one, meaning he literally had to go through the application process again.

If we had put his passport in a passport holder with an Airtag, we likely would have recovered it immediately and been able to take the trip. Seriously, get it today!

Now everyone in our family has a passport holder with an Airtag. Get it now. And because it’s inexpensive, go ahead and get them for everyone on your holiday list. It comes in several colors and makes a great gift. Get it now with a Prime Days deal TODAY here.

*Amazon Associate. We receive commissions for items purchased through our links.

by Kelly Mattei

Mahjong, Anyone? Prime Day Deals!

Mahjong, anyone?

Have you noticed the Mahjong craze in the US? People have gone crazy over it! If you haven’t learned how to play, you can likely find a friend to teach you or find a local class.

But you’ll need supplies…

Or maybe you already know how to play and own a set, but you want a different set.

During Prime Days, you can find some deals on Mahjong sets and Mahjong tiles. I won’t pretend to know which ones are best for you, but let this serve as your reminder to buy some Mahjong tiles now! There is a huge selection. See the selection at Amazon here.

***We receive commissions on items purchased through our links.***

by Kelly Mattei

Amazon Prime Day Deals for Sorority Rush

Participating in sorority recruitment in the south this fall? Let’s get ready! Here are some deals from Amazon Prime Days that can help you during sorority “rush.”

  • Rush Bag. You’re going to need a bag to carry all your necessities on those hot days. And it’s hot in the south. I highly recommend a nylon bag with a zippered closure to keep your things dry during those inevitable afternoon showers. Get a great Prime Days deal here. It comes in seven colors, so pick one that’s probably easy to find when there’s a sea of bags. I highly recommend putting a luggage tag on it and maybe even an AirTag. I’ll provide links to both below.

  • Apple AirTags. Surely you’re familiar with the concept. Put an Apple AirTag in your bag so you can locate it with your iPhone’s “Find My” app. We have them in all our suitcases, and I have one in my wallet. I need to put one in my daughter’s wallet. I highly recommend you do the same for your college-age kids. Get a 4-pack of AirTags here. Personally, I would add AirTag holders. There’s a Prime Days Deal for that. Get four multicolored ones here. For my daughter’s keys, I got the Otterbox Rugged Airtag holder keychain. Purchase here.

  • Portable Charger. Because your daughter could be out and about all day, make sure she has a portable charger for her phone! Get a Prime Day deal on a great one at Amazon here.
  • Luggage Tag. You don’t need something fancy, but something bright-colored can help her find her rush bag when it’s in a pile. She definitely NEEDS a luggage tag to ID her bag. I highly recommend a colorful, inexpensive 10-pack, so she has extras to put on her real luggage, her school backpack, and more. Purchase here.

  • Mini Travel Umbrella. In the south, it can rain at any given time. Your daughter needs an umbrella that will fit in her Rush bag. I think her freshman roommate’s parents thought I was crazy when I gave the girls umbrellas, but they literally used them every day during rush.There are lots to choose from on Amazon. Get one with great reviews here.

  • Rechargeable Mini Fan. While this is not a Prime Days Deal, it’s inexpensive anyway. This is the one my daughter used. And it’s necessary on those sweltering August days in the south. Save your daughter some agony during recruitment. Get her a fan here.

  • Sharpies. They need to write their names on everything they own when they go to college, and all these things in their rush bags are not exceptions. You can check out the assortment of Sharpie products on Amazon here.

  • Comfy Shoes. Because recruitment goes on and on for days, the girls need to wear some comfortable shoes or slippers when they walk to and from the houses and between parties. They do not wear these into the parties. I recommend some comfortable flip-flops or slipper-type shoes. See some great ones here. Crocs also offers a wide variety of slip-on comfy shoes here.

  • Waterproof Changing Pad. Sounds silly, I know, but if they have to sit on the wet ground, they’ll thank you. Get one here.
  • Insulated Water Cup that closes securely. I know these girls love their Stanley and Yeti cups. If you need to purchase one, there’s a Stanley you can get with a Prime Day Deal here. There are lots of colors offered, but I could only find the one color on the deal. Yeti has one here.

What else will they need for their rush bags? You can see a previous post with links we made about it here. If you just want a quick list of the other things, here you go:

  • Hand sanitizer
  • Deodorant
  • Tissues
  • Breath Strips (no gum…nothing is uglier than someone chomping gum during a rush party)
  • Band Aids
  • Lip Gloss or balm
  • Blotting Papers
  • Small snacks
  • Safety pins
  • Feminine products
  • Painkillers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen and dose(s) of any necessary medications.

If you’d like to see previous posts we’ve made about sorority recruitment in the south, click here.

*Please share this information with anyone you know who is participating in sorority recruitment in the south! And feel free to send us a message if you have any questions about any of the above or anything else!

*We receive commissions on items purchased through our links.

by Kelly Mattei

Prime Day Deal on Dog Chew Toys

Prime Day Deal on Dog Chew Toys

Have a dog that is an aggressive chewer? My mother had a dog that would chew through almost any toy within a few minutes of receiving it. I think this one would have survived. These toys are designed just for your dog, and you can get 25% off during Amazon Prime Days. It’s a deal! Purchase here.

Get this deal while supplies last!

*We receive commission on items purchased through our links.*

by Kelly Mattei

Amazon Prime Days Deals on Beats Studio Pro with Apple Care+ (2 Years) Headphones

Amazon Prime Days Deals on Beats Studio Pro with Apple Care+ (2 Years) Headphones

Get them while they last! This deal is 50% off the Beats Studio Pro Headphones, and two years of Apple Care+ is included! Regularly $378.99, you can get these now for $188.95 in various colors! Have a college student in the family? Have a teenager? Frequent traveler? These Beats Studio Pro with Apple Care+ Headphones are a steal! Purchase them now here.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS GREAT DEAL NOW WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!

*We receive commissions on items purchased through our links.*