This season has seen our family suffer more sickness than any other year I can remember. We have had to run to the store several times to get medication for the children and ourselves.

Since flu season is not over yet, it might be a good idea to stock up on Children’s Advil®. Children’s Advil® provides up to 8-hours of fever relief in just one dose. Save money by using this coupon (fill out the form to get your $1 off coupon) at your local store.

Dye-free Infants’ Advil® is available for children ages 6-23 months and Children’s Advil® is available for ages 2-11 in four great liquid suspension flavors including Grape, Blue Raspberry, Fruit and Dye-Free White Grape. Plus, you can also choose Grape Chewables.

For more information about Children’s Advil visit us at www.childrensadvil.com. I received the information and coupon from Children’s Advil through MyBlogSpark.

One day I looked in the mirror and decided my skin wasn’t as youthful looking anymore. Of course, age catches up to all of us, but there are ways to make your skin look and feel healthier and younger. I grew up in Southern California, so I know that I have sun damage, plus those dark splotches were starting to appear. I have tried some creams

and other products, but because my skin tends to the oily side, some of these products would just make me break out!

I received a PMD – Home Microderm Abrasion unit from Best Buy to try on my skin. The unit comes with the base device, reusable filter, power cord, and both facial and body caps. Also included are two green and three blue exfoliating discs and an instructional pamphlet and CD. The CD is very useful in helping you set up the device for the first time and using the device correctly.

The unit works with a rotating exfoliating disc and suction which helps promote blood flow to the area. I was a little skeptical at first, but after I got the hang of using the device the process was very easy. I tried the unit on my face and it definitely left my skin feeling smoother and softer. After using the device, I applied a oil-free night cream (not included). The next day, my skin was the smoothest it has been in a long time!

While I found the unit easy to use, a word of warning – be careful not to hover the device in one spot too long as it may cause scabbing. Plus, you should wear sunscreen for the next few days following treatment as your skin will be more sensitive to the sun. Fortunately, the CD is very informative and shows you exactly how to use the device properly.

Dr. Oz reviewed this product on a recent show. You can see how the device is used and how easy it is!

I am going to continue using this device about once a week to help remove the bumpiness from my skin. Since Microdermabrasion treatments at a salon can carry a hefty price, the PMD Home Microderm Abrasion Device is well worth the price.

I have received the reviewed product from Best Buy for free in order to help facilitate my review.  All opinions are 100% my own.

I have two teen daughters.  My older daughter, who just turned 18, is on a more complicated skin care regimen that she really likes.  My younger teen, who is almost 13, would never have the patience for such a process.  I have been trying to find a skin product that would suit her busy lifestyle, be easy to use and yet work effectively.  My daughter’s skin suffers from the typical teen breakouts – some days it not so bad and other days it is not so good!

Fortunately, I was able to try out a product called X Out.  When I first told my daughter that she would be getting a product for her skin that was easy to use and would help her skin she was very excited.  She really doesn’t have a skin routine to speak of, so this would be a great test for her to see if she could use the product and get the desired results.

When X Out came in the mail, my teen took it upstairs immediately and found a place for it on the bathroom counter.  She read through the instructions and even watched some of the short videos she found by using the X Out QR code.  She was thrilled that this is a one step treatment.  She tried the product right away and was impressed with the ease of use and she loved how the product made her skin feel.

She is now in the process of establishing a routine for daily facial care.  In a few weeks, I will let you know how she does and how X Out works for her!

 

I wrote this review while participating in a text drive campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of X Out and received a X Out product sample to facilitate my review.

One thing that I love about blogging is all the great bloggers that I am connected with. I visit their blogs and see all of their fun ideas, recipes, photographs, reviews and much, much more! This Valentine’s Day, I found that Untrained Hair Mom had posted the cutest hair styles suggestions on her blog. She was able to braid her daughter’s hair into a heart!

When my girls were little, I tried to do fancy hairstyles, but usually gave up. For one, both of my daughter’s have my hair – fine, but a lot of it. This makes for the worst ratty mess! We tried every product – detanglers, conditioners, etc. – but nothing seemed to work. We just ended up cutting their hair short until they were old enough to take care of it themselves. Now, that they are both teenagers, they straighten, curl and style their hair themselves, and do a pretty good job of it!

If you are looking for great product reviews of hair products, Untrained Hair Mom posted a summary with all the hair product reviews she did for 2011. Some of the products she reviewed are Curlformers (love these!), I Love My Hair book and Sidewinder Hair Holders. I could have used some of these products when my girls were little!

As women age, they should be concerned with the amount of calcium that they get daily.  There are many different forms of calcium supplements, but Adora™ Calcium Supplement doesn’t taste like a supplement at all!  Instead it tastes like I am indulging in a great piece of chocolate.  Each Adora™ Calcium Supplement is a square of chocolate that tastes rich and creamy, plus, you are getting your daily does of calcium.

Each piece has only 30 calories and provides up to 50% of the daily value of calcium plus vitamin D3 and magnesium for optimal absorption.

Unfortunately, the average woman only gets about 2/3 of the calcium that they need.  However, as woman we should be concerned with osteoporosis and other health effects that come from calcium deficiency.  Taking calcium supplements can actually help ease menstrual cramping and other PMS symptoms as well.

I was really impressed with the taste of Adora™ Calcium Supplement.  I was worried that the chocolate would be overcome with a medicine taste, but that was certainly not the case.  I felt like I was having a treat instead of taking a supplement!

Would you like to try Adora™ Calcium Supplements?  I am giving away two packages: Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate.  Each of these packages retails for $7.99.  To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below.  Giveaway Ends February 16, 2012.  Open to US Residents Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I don’t know how often I have bought nails over the years for myself and my daughters. While they work well for a while, the fit is just not that great. Those that are blessed with great nails, probably don’t realize that there are many of us that just don’t have great nails. If I really wanted perfect nails, I would to go to a salon every couple of weeks and spend tons of money.

Now, you can have customized nails made just for you! Custom Nail Solutions Nail System is a custom fit finger nail that is guaranteed to never break, chip, crack. These nails are designed not to change shape or stain and will last a lifetime.

Everyone has unique nail beds. That is why the nails you buy at the drugstore just don’t seem to fit right. Your custom fit nails are fit to your nail beds and are meant to be removable and reusable. Plus, you can paint them with nail polish, apply nail art and even nail wraps. When you want a change, simply remove the paint/nail art with nail polish remover.

You get to choose from French Tip or Solid Pink nails. In addition, you choose between five lengths and three shapes. You will be sent forms to use on your nails to make an impression of your nail beds (these must be performed on newly professional manicured nails to get the best fit). Your impressions will be scanned and your nails created. You receive your custom nails and an Application and Removal Kit in approximately one week.

Custom Nail Solutions has generously offered one custom nail set for my readers.  Come back  for the Spring Fashionista Giveaway in March to win this prize and see what other great fashion products you can win!

To find out more about Custom Nail Solutions check out their social media sites:

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One of my New Year’s Resolutions this year was to quit drinking diet soda (and soda in general). I believe that anything can be addictive, and diet soda was certainly on the top of my list. CNN reported recently that

experts say the rituals that surround diet soda and the artificial sweeteners it contains can make some people psychologically — and even physically — dependent on it in ways that mimic more serious addictions.

Diet soda has been linked with a number of harmful side effects including:

• Kidney Damage – In a recent study, women who drank two or more servings of diet soda a day found a 30% decrease in kidney function.
• Tooth Enamel Damage – While diet soda does not contain sugar, it does contain phosphoric acid which can decay tooth enamel.
• Bone Loss – Phosphoric acid causes calcium to be excreted more quickly than normal. If you are worried about osteoporosis, quitting diet soda is a must.
• Weight Gain – Recent studies have linked drinking diet soda to weight gain. It is not the diet soda that is causing the gain, but the mindset – believing that you can splurge on other items because you are drinking diet soda. Some researches believe the sweet taste to diet soda causes more sweet cravings as well.

How I Quit Diet Coke

My diet soda of choice is Diet Coke. At first, I started mixing half regular Diet Coke with half Caffeine Free Diet Coke. If i was out and I couldn’t find the caffeine free, I filled my cup with ice and then soda so that I was drinking a lot less. I started drinking more water as well. After a few days, I just went cold turkey. Yes, I did get a couple headaches from caffeine withdrawal, but Advil solved that problem.

Diet Coke is still VERY tempting, but I have learned to substitute with other drinks. I keep a couple of bottles of Vitamin Water or Gatorade in the car in case I decided I need something flavored. Otherwise, I stick to water.