Our (Untraditional) Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
This year, Thanksgiving is quite different for us. We were expecting to be in our own house by now but, unfortunately that just didn't happen and we are still waiting to close. So where does that leave us? In a hotel.
We would have loved to just go back to our home town to be with our families but Zach has to work and is also on call so, that wasn't possible.
This is all sounding really whiny so far but, I do not want it to come across that way!
I am so very grateful that we have a place to stay at all and I am especially grateful that, even though this Thanksgiving isn't what we had hoped it would be, we are still going to be able to be together this evening which is what matters most. This is the 4th Thanksgiving since Zach and I have been married but it will only be our 2nd of actually getting to be together. I would trade the turkey, stuffing, and trimmings every year if it meant that we could all be together.
Tonight, after Zach gets home from work, we will all head out and get some dinner at Applebees (the only place around here that is open on Thanksgiving besides McDonald's). When we are finally able to get into our own house, I plan on having our friends over and making a big traditional Turkey Day dinner because, I'll be honest, I want the amazing side dishes and pies! Haha! I hope you all have an amazing Thanksgiving!

Have you ever spent a holiday doing something untraditional? Leave a comment telling me about it!

Product Review: Sieva Stretch Mark and Cellulite Creams

Stretch marks.
A mother's 'Tiger Stripes', marks of growth, etc.
That's all fine and good but....I'll be honest. I don't like mine. I had some that I got growing up on my inner thighs but, up until the birth of my second son, that was all I had. I thought that since I hadn't gotten any with Koda that I would get away without any while pregnant with Levi. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. I got several on my lower abdomen and on my sides an I.Don't.Like.Them.
When I got the opportunity to review the Sieva Stretch Mark Cream I jumped at it! I will try anything to get rid of these things. I know they won't ever disappear forever, but if I can do anything to make them less noticeable, I will. I've been using the Stretch Mark Cream for about a month now and I love it! It's extremely thick. It has a consistency that is comparable to a body butter. When applying I don't need to use much product and after massaging it into the skin it leaves a very silky finish. Not greasy or sticky in the least. I give this one two thumbs up!

Moving on to Cellulite.
Simply put, it's unattractive and almost unavoidable.
I know some very fit and active people who have cellulite. I don't have very much, thankfully, but with age, I'm sure more is on it's way. I like to use this product on my legs for the most part and have been pleasantly surprised. It makes my skin feel firmer and smoother and nicely moisturized. This product has a slightly thinner consistency than the stretch mark cream but still feels very nice on my skin and leaves it feeling silky and not sticky or greasy.
Another great product from Sieva.

You can find both of these products on Amazon if you'd like to give them a try!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Influenster

If you've been reading my blog then you already know, but if not, let me just tell you. I LOVE free stuff. I I love to be the first one to find out about new products, try them out and let others know what I think about them, good or bad.

If you're, i dunno....human, then I'd be willing to bet money that you like free stuff too.
If you're wondering how I get to try out new products, here it is.
www.influenster.com
Influenster is a site for people like me (and possibly you!) who love to be in the know about new products, and share their personal experiences with them, and yes, it is completely free. Influenster is especially fun because you get to try out products that are actually interesting! Things like, soaps, lip balms/lipsticks/glosses, nail products, and most recently for me, a brand new Venus Razor.
The only thing that Influenster asks in return are probably things you are already doing without even realizing it. Telling your friends/family about your new favorite product. You can share with your followers on social media, or do what I do and write a blog post about it. How easy is that?  It doesn't take much to get me talking, especially about something that I genuinely enjoy so writing/talking about the products I get to try is a breeze.
To make things even more fun, and to give Influenster more of an idea of who you are, you can earn badges in the subjects which you are most interested in. For instance, I have a MegaMom badge, as well as a Sweet Tooth and Bookworm badge, among many others and through them, Influenster is able to see the many facets of who I am as a person and thereby, send me products that they know I will really enjoy and spread the word about. You can earn badges by reviewing or answering questions from other members on their page about products that you have tried in the past.
Another great feature on Influenster is called VoxPerks. By participating in campaigns and being an active member of the Influenster community, you can earn VoxPerks which are huge discounts on products or services. For instance, right now I have 5 different VoxPerks. A couple of them being 90% off a Oneplay premium membership and a free bottle of wine from ClubW.
Another great thing about Influenster is that now, you don't have to get on your computer to participate. You can get on their new InfluensterApp on your smartphone or tablet! Let's be honest, you're on them several times a day anyway, why not get some free stuff while you're at it?!
So what are you waiting for? Join Influenster today and start reviewing. You might be chosen for the next Campaign and have some goodies show up right at your doorstep.
Happy Reviewing!

Tips for Healthy, Youthful Skin

Have you started to see some fine lines, wrinkles, or bagginess in your skin? According to an article on www.dailymail.co.uk, your skin can start aging as early as your mid-twenties! NOT good news.

The skin starts to age naturally in your mid-20s. 

According to Dr Andrew Wright, a consultant dermatologist with Bradford NHS Trust, as we get older production of collagen  -  the protein which acts as scaffolding to the skin  -  slows, and elastin, the substance that enables skin to snap back into place, has less spring and can even break.

Dead skin cells don't shed as quickly and turnover of new skin cells may decrease slightly. 

This causes fine wrinkles and thin, transparent skin  -  even if the first signs may not appear until our mid-30s (unless accelerated by smoking or sun damage).

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1035037/Old-time-When-body-really-starts-going-downhill.html#ixzz3Jcio4Nzs 

I'm in my mid-twenties and I want to keep my skin looking as youthful as possible for as long as possible. So what can we do to combat the aging of our skin? Thankfully, several things!

1. Drink water. There is a reason you see and hear it everywhere. It's not just important for hydration, it's important in every aspect of keeping yourself not only healthy, but beautiful. If you have trouble consuming the amount of water you should daily, get a large water bottle and finish the water that it holds before a certain time of day. I use a Camelback water bottle and love it!

2. Take your vitamins. Your skin loves vitamin c and biotin as well as others that you might not be getting enough of through diet alone.

3.Wear sunscreen. Everyone knows exposure to the sun causes aging and can even cause cancer. Stay out of tanning beds, wear sunscreen and/or makeup that contains SPF (even in the winter and on overcast days), and wear hats and protective layers in direct sunlight.

4. Rid your body of impurities. Smoking, junk food, even caffeine. All of these things can be detrimental to your overall health and have a negative effect on your skin.

5. Get some rest. Lack of sleep makes for dull, lifeless skin.

6. Get moving. Exercise promotes healthy skin. Just make sure to wash your face afterwards to avoid breakouts.

7. Follow a daily skin regimen. Wash your face at least once, but maybe twice a day, depending on your needs and make sure you are using the right cleanser. For instance, you don't want to use a harsh cleanser, such as a daily blackhead scrub, if you have dry skin. A good way to know which kind to use is to see a dermatologist. I was surprised by what mine had to say and had to switch to a gentler, more moisturizing cleanser. It's also a good idea to use an exfoliating cleanser once or twice a week. If you're like me, after about 3 days I will begin to notice flakes on my skin. This tells me that it's time to exfoliate and slough off all of that dead skin. If you do this, you will notice that your make up goes on smoother and your skin will have an overall brighter appearance. Follow up your cleanser with a moisturizer to replenish your skin. Coconut oil is my favorite moisturizer.

8. Use anti-aging products. Things like Retinol (Vitamin A), Vitamin C, Hyaluronic acid (learn more about it here), Green Tea, and eye creams can all help your skin stay youthful and healthy. I've recently had the opportunity to try out some products containing these ingredients and have enjoyed the benefits of using them, as well as using the rest of the tips I've listed. My skin looks brighter and healthier and feels moisturized and nourished.

I've been using Body Merry's  Pro A Serum and Hyaluronic Dew Serum. I apply the Dew Serum for during the day and I use the Pro-A Serum at night.

I've also been using Foxbrim's Organic Youthful Radiance Eye Cream and have seen a huge improvement in my eye area. My dark circles have faded drastically and the puffiness has diminished as well.

I hope you have found these tips helpful. Try them out and let me know how they work for you! What are your tips to healthy, younger looking skin?

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

25 Books of Christmas!

Some of my favorite things to get for Dakota and Levi are books. I loved books when I was little and I still enjoy reading when I get the chance. I think that books are a great escape and a way to enhance your imagination so I want to encourage my children to read and to enjoy books. I recently saw an idea for Christmas that was all about books where you get 25 books, wrap them, and each night in December leading up to Christmas, you unwrap a book at bedtime and read it as a family. These books don't necessarily have to be Christmas themed and it's a great way to build your child's library. I'm including books that are extremely popular (some of my favorite's from my childhood) as well as Christmas themed. The more books, the better because, let's be honest, I don't want to have to read the same book over and over and over. Haha! I've made a list of the books that I am going to consider including in my 25 days of Christmas. Keep in mind that you don't have to get your books brand new. There are several different ways you can get books at a discount or for free, such as library sales, thrift stores, and used book stores. I know I'll be taking advantage of  these options! A well-loved book is just as good as a brand new one! 

1. Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
2. Merry Christmas, Little Critter
3. Corduroy's Christmas Surprise
4. The Biggest Christmas Tree Ever
5. The Christmas Story
6. The Barenstain Bears and The Joy of Giving
7. Harold and the Purple Crayon
8. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
9. If You Give A Mouse A Cookie
10. Where The Sidewalk Ends
11. Oh! The Places You'll Go
12. The Lorax
13. The Night Before Christmas
14. The Day the Crayons Quit
15. I Hope You Dance
16. The Sweet Smell of Christmas
17. Dear Zoo
18. The Napping House
19. Counting Kisses
20. Dream Snow

21. A Pocket for Corduroy
22. What is Christmas
23. Room For a Little One
24. The Pajama Elves (to open with our traditional Christmas Eve gift, which includes
Pajamas)
25. Happy Birthday Jesus

 There are also a few other books that we read every year at Christmas time but didn't make it onto the list because we already own them.

The Night Before the Night Before Christmas
Elf on the Shelf
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
The Polar Express

I know this post may seem a bit premature, as it is only October, but in order to get 25 books I'm going to need plenty of time! If 25 books seems a bit overwhelming, or just plain overkill, even just a few on the last few days leading up to Christmas would be a lot of fun for the littles (and the big's!).
What Christmas traditions do you have in your house?

Dream Fall Wardrobe

Fall is here, although here in the part of Texas where we live, it certainly doesn't feel like it! Eventually though, it will cool off and I have a few things in mind for the boy's wardrobes! Although there is no way I will be able to get all of this for the boys, a girl can dream! Here's a few items I picked out for my dream fall wardrobe for Dakota and Levi.

Dakota

Obviously, these items would not all be worn together. It seems that I've fallen in love with both the color mustard and corduroy. The boots look like they would go with everything though! I might actually have to get those. They would be so perfect, especially for the holidays when he will need something a little dressier. I am absolutely head over heels for the bomber jacket. I love everything about it! Koda got a pullover sweater for his birthday very similar to this grey one on the bottom right. His is a cream color and I am certain you will be seeing a lot of it in his pictures as we get into the colder weather. As far as pants go, we usually stick to basic jeans. Dakota is very active and needs something that he can move easily in.

long sleeved shirt, corduroy shirt, booties
flannel shirt/hoodie, bomber jacket, sweater

 Levi

With Levi I need stuff that will be super comfy for him, as well as easy for me to get on and off of him. The Chunky onesie would be the perfect shirt for Thanksgiving and would suit him perfectly. I'm loving the varsity one-piece. Dakota had a few outfits in this style and they were so easy,especially when it came to diaper changes. I'm in love with this woodlands themed sleeper and the colors. The coat would be perfect for the holidays and it looks easy enough to get on and off because it only has 3 buttons.

Chunky onesie, one-piece, sleeper

sneakers, coat

Ahhh, if only I could just have a shopping spree in The Gap and Old Navy....

What's in your dream fall wardrobe?

Dakota's Birthday Party

This past Saturday, we had a little party for Dakota. He is completely obsessed with airplanes, so I went with a paper airplane theme. I hand made all of his decorations, as well as his cake and cupcakes, excluding the paper airplane garland that my mom made. I was really happy with the way his bunting banner came out, his cakes on the other hand....ehhh, not so much. But this is real life, and this is what it came out looking like. It's kind of cute in a rustic/cartoony way. At the very least, it tasted good.

For the drinks I made a label for the Lemonade that said 'Jet Fuel' and a sign for in front of all of the drinks that said 'Cool Your Engines', which I thought was super cute and clever (my sisters idea). I laid down a roll of chalkboard paper at the entrance and made it look like an airplane runway and a chalkboard that said 'Welcome Aboard flight 1019. Your Captain is Dakota. Enjoy the Ride' and had a 'Baggage Claim' area set up for his presents. I also made a paper airplane toss game out of a foldout posterboard. I cut circles out of it and made each hole worth a certain amount of points for your paper airplane to go through. The kids got frustrated with the game, though, and ended up just peeking through the holes at one another. I also made the shirt he is wearing in the picture below. I took the number 2 from his decorations, painted it, and stamped it onto the shirt. It ended up showing the pattern of the wood, which I loved! It turned out so well that I actually made another one for him to wear the next day on his actual birthday.



I was on a super tight budget for this party so I am pretty happy with the way all the decorations and everything turned out. It wasn't 'picture perfect' but I put in a lot of time and effort into making my baby's birthday the best it could be. He ended up having a great time with his cousins and family and thoroughly enjoyed the cake so I call it a win!