The best makeup I've invested in over the last year (hides my dark circles, camouflages my big pores) is due to a blog. I've mentioned Linda on several occasions before, I am completely enamored with her writing and all of her websites. So when she recommended a type of mineral powder several months ago (complete with before and after shots), I was convinced. I like her writing, I like her parenting style, I love her sense of humour -- why wouldn't I love her choices in makeup?

There are several very cool product review sites written by Moms, and they're worth mentioning here. The few that I love are completely unbiased and provide awesome time-saving tips, tricks, and tested recommendations.

Linda's review site is Sundry Buzz, and here she talks about her favourites: clothes, makeup, automotive, kid's gear, you name it. Based on her recommendations, I have bought four different products. None of them have failed me. Her current post, reviewing four styles of jeans, is fabulous, and the reader commentary is great too.

Mighty Goods is written by Maggie Mason, famous for her fabulous red hair and squishable newborn baby boy. Maggie's tagline is simple: "We look for things we really like, and then we put them here, where you can find them." Simply laid out, Mighty Goods features everything from sassy luggage tags to extra-tall cupcake tins, with categories easy to find in the sidebar.

Finally, This Week for Dinner is not exactly a shopping site, but it is a recommendation site of sorts, and highly practical for busy parents. Every week, Jane posts her weekly dinner plan, and encourages readers to post their menus in the comments section - a recipe exchange, Internet style! Recipes range from chicken marsala to chocolate bread pudding (yum!) -- I am taking notes right now.