Thursday Thoughts-"I've got the POWER!"

So long doom & gloom, you have no power over me!  I have never really been one that stays in a funk for very long.  For one thing, I have too much going on in my life to sit around and feel sorry for myself, for another I have way too many people that rely on me.  

So, I am back & I have a new focus.  I decided I needed to set some new goals for myself and my family and rearrange my priorities.  With life being so hectic it's easy to forget the things that really matter and that it's really important to stop and take some time for yourself.  For me, some time for myself was what I was in desperate need of.  Even though I really wanted to escape by myself for an entire weekend I decided that, that was not really an option so I did the next best thing and took a personal day off work.  I finally able to get caught up on a few things that I had been putting off which in turn allowed me to FINALLY have a full day on Sunday to just RELAX.  I realized that I had not felt relaxed or that I have not allowed myself to relax in the past 3 months (no wonder I was feeling full of doom & gloom).  I have been living on adrenaline and no sleep for so long that I think my body and mind finally just had enough!

My advice...if you do anything this week, make YOU a priority, everything else will fall into place!

Deals & Steals **Valid 08/28/14**

Deal & Steals Valid 08/28/14

It's Thursday and that means it's Deals & Steals day!  This week it's all about sweets & treats.  There are some interesting things to choose from, some things I have heard of and some things I haven't.  One thing is for sure, I would like to try everything!  The following are my two picks...

HannahMax Baking: Cookie Chips

Tastes like a cookie and eats like a chip.  This sweet treat is just the right amount of indulgence. HannahMax Baking’s Cookie Chips are made with high-quality ingredients including milled cane sugar, pure creamery butter, farm-fresh eggs, fine chocolate, and pure vanilla.  There are no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, trans fats or GMOs in any of the Cookie Chips.  A pack of 4 (6.0oz) bags are available in Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon Sugar, Dark Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, Original Flavor, or Sea Salted Peanut Butter.  Or, try each flavor with pack of 6 (6.0oz) bags. Shipping is included into this deal price of $17.97.  Use coupon code GMA2014.

DIVINO: All Natural Gelato Filled Fruit

Handcrafted by Italian artisans on the Amalfi Coast, each fruit has its pulp spooned out and turned into fresh gelato.  DIVINO’s gelato is then placed back into the two halves into the original skin of the fruit. Gluten-free, non-GMO and preservative-free, each gelato is individually packaged with a spoon.  Select from 5 flavors including Amalfi Lemon, Black Diamond Plum, Ciaculli Tangerine, Roman Kiwi, and Apulian Peach.  Each flavor comes in a pack of 12. DIVINO has an 18-month shelf life if stored properly in the freezer.  I am dying to try these but they may just be too pricey for me.  Even at 50% these are at $49.50 + Shipping is $13, promo code GMA.

Check out these yummy treats and see what else they have for Deals & Steals this week!

***Autographed Make-up by ONE DIRECTION Giveaway***

Autographed Make-up by ONE DIRECTION

The Wait is Over! Makeup by One Direction is now available at Macy's and to celebrate the much anticipated launch you can enter to WIN a Limited Edition Make-up by ONE DIRECTION autographed by all the members of One Direction! (insert teenage screams here, lol)

Winners will receive a Make-up by ONE DIRECTION limited-edition collection of beauty essentials, housed in a collectible keepsake tin.  Inside is everything you need to rock all your beauty looks on or off the stage.  The tin will be autographed by all the members of One Direction.  One of the 3 available collections (Midnight Memories, Take Me Home, or Up all Night) will be sent.  Check out the official rules to see if you're eligible.  Winners will be selected at random.  Filling out the form below gives the brand consent to contact you about winning, announcements, and other promotions. No Purchase Necessary.

"Midnight Memories"

The Midnight Memories tin holds all the essentials for you to look more rock and roll than Zayn in his leather jacket, with some intense blacks, bold red lip and metallic nail polish.

• Through The Dark’ Liquilights glow gloss: Electric glitter poppy lip gloss that glows to neon red orange under UV light
• Eyeshadow palette containing:
  Little White Lies – palest warm grey
  Don't Forget Where You belong – Soft pink shimmer
  Half A Heart – Metal grey
  Strong – Charcoal black matte shimmer
  Midnight Memories – Silver glitter creme
• ‘Best Song Ever’ – Crimson red creme lipstick
• ‘Little Black Dress’ – Volumizing black mascara
• ‘Right Now’ – Metallic steel nail polish
• ‘Better Than Words’ – Black eye and body crayon

"Up All Night"

This one’s for you if you love super cute colors and more of a fun, flirty side to your girly beauty look.  It’s packed with bubblegum pinks, summery shades of blue and flattering shimmers. 

• ‘Taken’ Liquilights glow gloss: Powerhouse glitter pink lip gloss that glows to neon orange under UV light
• Eyeshadow palette containing: More Than This – Soft blushing pink
  Gotta Be You – Silvered taupe shimmer
  Save You Tonight – Shimmering turquoise blue
  Another World – Royal blue shimmer
  Up All Night – Sapphire glitter creme
• ‘I Should Have Kissed You’ – Bubblegum pink creme lipstick
• ‘Little Black Dress’ – Volumizing black mascara
• ‘Na Na Na’ – Aqua blue metallic chrome nail polish
• ‘Stand Up’ – Dark denim eye and body crayon

"Take Me Home"

This one’s a little bit more bronzed up, with softer, more golden shades to make the effortlessly gorgeous, girl-next-door sorta beauty look completely foolproof.  Peachy shimmers, sheer lips and sparkles all over the place.

• ‘Kiss You’ Liquilights glow gloss: Orange glitter rush lip gloss that glows to neon yellow under UV light
• Eyeshadow palette containing: Back For You – Velvet creme
  Change My Mind – Peachy shimmer
  C’Mon C’Mon – Soft taupe
  Little Things – Smokey brown
  Take Me Home – Golden glitter creme
  ‘Last First Kiss’ – Nude pink sheer lipstick
• ‘Little Black Dress’ – Volumizing black mascara
• ‘Live While We’re Young’ – Multi Dimensional gold glitter nail polish
• ‘I Wish’ – Chocolate brown eye and body crayon

For more details on the Autographed Make-up by One Direction check out the OneDirectionMagazine.com or Make Up by One Direction.  (Post Sponsored by BrandBacker)

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Exuviance Illumination Duo & Exuviance Performance Peel AP25 Reviews

Exuviance Illumination Duo

I was so excited to receive free samples of the Exuviance Illumination Duo since I love anything skin care related and I have read some great reviews on these products and have been wanting to try them out for myself for awhile now.

The Exuviance Illumination Duo combines the power of the Evening Restorative Complex, with the 100% pure active formulation of Vitamin C+ Antiaging Booster for a potent antiaging cocktail that combats the visible signs of aging.  Exuviance Evening Restorative Complex is clinically proven to improve overall skin texture, tone, and appearance and 90% of people see smoother skin after 4 weeks of using Exuviance Evening Restorative Complex.  The Exuviance Vitamin C+ Antiaging Booster amps up the effects of the Evening Restorative Complex, helping to fade the look of dark spots while improving skin firmness and smoothing texture and wrinkles.  

While my sample sizes only had enough product for about a weeks use I am sold on both products!  I really loved how both products were quickly absorbed into my skin and they way they made my skin feel immediately afterward.  I even loved the fresh, light scent of the products.  In the morning my skin felt & looked smoother and at weeks end it even looked a little more even toned.  I can't imagine how great my skin would look with continued use!

I also received a few samples of the Exuviance Performance Peel AP25 which I also loved!  I am a huge fan of skin peels of all kinds and I have tested well over a dozen and I have to say I was really impressed with how my skin looked after just a few uses.

Here is a description directly from the Exuviance website...

The creators of the original Glycolic Acid peel introduce a high performance peel that is safe and easy to use at home. The Exuviance Performance Peel AP25 contains a 25% blend of Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Polyhydroxy Acids (PHA) including Glycolic Acid, Mandelic Acid and Gluconolactone. Performance Peel AP25 not only works at skin's surface to exfoliate dead, dull surface layers, it also stimulates the process of cell renewal among all layers, to reveal fresher, healthier cells. With regular use, up to twice a week, this peel has been clinically proven to:

• Refine pore size and smooth texture
• Visibly diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Improve clarity and brightness
• Brighten and even skin tone
• Provide an all-over healthy glow, suppleness and smoothness to skin

You can purchase both products from the Exuviance website and you can also get 7.5% Cash Back on your purchase by using your Ebates account!

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

Tone It Up Tuesdays-Fritzzas!

Fritzzas

I know I've said this before but I really do love the Tone It Up girls.  They are an inspiration to so many people (including me of course!) and they have created such an awesome brand and I love sharing it with my readers!

They recently posted a yummy recipe for Fritzzas that I wanted to share with you.  What is a Fritzza you ask?  A Frittza is basically a fruit tart that makes a perfect, healthy treat.

Ingredients

Crust:

1 batch No Bake Everything Dough (See below)

Icing:

• 1 Cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 Tbs. vanilla extract
• 3 tsp. honey or maple syrup

Topping:

Your favorite fruit and berries!

Prepare no bake everything dough and place in muffin tins, press into the sides making an even thickness throughout. Cover and place in the fridge to set. Combine icing ingredients together and place in the fridge to set. Place a spoonful on top of each Fritzza. Top with a selection of your favorite fruit and berries.

No Bake Everything Dough

Use this versatile dough as a base for a number of different recipes! Anything from healthy snack balls, bars, or an easy crust for healthy pies like your Fritzzas!

Ingredients

• 1 Cup quinoa
• ½ Cup oats
• ⅓ Cup raw cashews
• ½ Cup dates, pitted & chopped
• ½ Cup coconut oil
• ⅓ Cup almond butter
• ⅓ Cup coconut butter
• 2 Tbs. honey

Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until everything is combined. Put dough into the fridge until ready to use!.

Can you say YUMM?

Xium Raspberry Ketone-Review

*Xium Raspberry Ketones

I did a previous blog post (read here) where I mentioned that I have been testing out a few different brands of Raspberry Ketones.  I am fortunate that each product has been very high quality and that each has given me great results.  Xium sent me their Raspberry Ketones as well as their Green Coffee Bean Extract (which I am still using) that I did a review on as well and you can read here.

The science behind the all natural Xium Raspberry Ketones is that it produces a hormone, which helps in the break down of fat cells and acts as an appetite suppressant.  I have had great results with the Xium Raspberry Ketones.  Since I haven't got back on my regular exercise schedule just yet I haven't noticed any weight loss but I also haven't gained any weight either which is great since I have not been making the best food choices lately since I've been so stressed.  So, it has really help me maintain my weight!

As with all of the supplements that I use this one has no fillers, binders and is all natural!  The Xium Raspberry Ketones is a quality product that I will continue to purchase.

You can get more information from the Xium2.com website and you can also purchase a bottle of the Xium Raspberry Ketones at on Amazon.com.

Stay tuned for a future blog post where I will share all the supplements I take on a daily basis, their benefits & where you can purchase them!

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.

Pure Raspberry Ketones-Review

*Pure Raspberry Ketones

Raspberry Ketones has been a staple in my supplement arsenal for awhile now because it's been proven to be a fat burner and great for appetite control.  Over the past few months I have been sent a few different brands to test out and give my unbiased reviews.  Today's review is for Raspberry Ketones Suppressants Supplement Capsules by Summit Nutritions.

First I wanted to share a brief description of how Raspberry Ketones Supplement Capsules work...
In Vivo and In Vitro studies, it shows that it increases the fatty acid oxidation; stimulate Adiponectin, which is a protein involved in regulating glucose level and fatty acid oxidation.  It burns the body fat and converts it into energy when body needs it and that is how it helps body to control appetite; as a result it is appetite suppressant.  Raspberry Ketones works as an efficient weight loss supplement when it combined with balanced diet and regular exercise.  When one does exercise, it require body to burn extra energy and also burn extra calories, and if you are taking Raspberry Ketones, it burn the Existing Body fat to convert it into Energy which is required for Exercise.  As a result one doesn't need extra nutrition to get energy for exercise.

I have been taking Raspberry Ketones Supplement Capsules for the past several weeks and I am super happy with my results!  The supplements have really helped control my appetite and while I haven't noticed any weight loss I also haven't gained any weight which is a big bonus for me.  However, I also have not been exercising as regularly as I should be so as I start getting back to my regular exercise schedule I anticipate being able to see some weight loss.  I really like that it helps control my appetite since I am a big stress eater and while I normally eat really healthy when I'm stressed out I tend to go for the typical comfort foods and unfortunately I have been really stressed out.
I take several supplements for a variety of reasons and the most important thing I always look for in a supplement is that is has no fillers, binders or other artificial ingredients.  That should be something everyone looks for when choosing a supplement!

You can order your own bottle of Raspberry Ketones Supplement Capsules at Amazon.com.

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.