A Story To Tell

eBody Exfoliating Body Mitt and Giveaway

Wow. I just realized that it has been about a month since I have written anything. There have been tons of things going on. Starting my own business, little man has become super active (I'm serious. It's unbelievable) and the girls have needed so much of our attention. It has all been physically and emotionally draining. But here I am.

As a result of all the excitement, I have really been slacking with all my health and beauty regimens. Recently I was fortunate enough to receive an Exfoliating Body Mitt from the ebody Spa Collection.



This couldn't have come at a better time if you ask me. Exfoliating is one thing that I try to make sure I do on a regular basis (at least once a week) because it yields some excellent benefits. It improves skin texture, detoxifies skin, brightens your complexion, reveals healthy skin, and helps prevent breakouts. And these are only a few reasons why you should exfoliate regularly.

As we get older, our skins ability to shed dead skins cells slows down, so exfoliating really helps your skin look younger. Enter the Exfoliating Body Mitt by ecloth. When I opened the package and felt the cloth, it is actually very soft. It comes with a convenient little thumb hole to provide extra grip. So it was time to put it to the test and get to the scrubbing.



As I scrubbed my arms, stomach, and legs, the Body Mitt exfoliated very gently. It's microfibers were not rough on the skin and left my body feeling smooth and squeaky clean. I'd say the Exfoliating Body Mitt did exactly what it set out to do. I know some people use a terry cloth wash rag, but I find it too rough. The Exfoliating Body Mitt had just the right amount of abrasiveness to get the job done without being too harsh for my body.

The best part about using the ecloth product is that it is reusable and free of any harmful chemicals. So for those of you that have sensitive skin or any other skin issues, this product is perfect. The gentle fibers scrub away dead skin cells and reveal fresh looking skin all without the harshness of a tough fiber or nasty chemicals that can be found on most handheld plastic exfoliators. All you have to do is add water and a drop of your favorite soap and you can experience smooth, youthful looking skin in no time. The entire ebody Spa Collection is pretty amazing. I know I have mentioned how important exfoliating is for your face. Well, get this. They also have a Face Cleansing Mitt. So all you need for your nighttime facials are your favorite face wash and the Facial Cleansing Mitt to gently scrub away the dirt and grime of the day.

And The Nominees Are....

Deciding to stay at home with the children was a huge decision. I have worked ever since I was on my own, and prided myself on being independent. After leaving high school and going into college, I realized the world was a tough place. They really don't prepare you at all during your four years in high school. I was accepted into Pace University and attended for a few months. College was completely different from what I was used to, but I was excited for the change. I was excited to meet new people and most of all I was just excited for the whole experience. That was until I got that first bill. I got the list of books for ONE of my classes. I needed to get at least 2 of the books on the list, so I did what any freshman would do. I went to the bookstore. $115 for one book! Are you freakin' kidding me?!? I thought to myself, how the heck am I supposed to get through these 4 years? Forget that. How the heck was I going to get through this semester? Needless to say, I could not afford college. So I did what any person in my shoes would do. Move out of the state. Ok, that may have been a little extreme. But guess what, my leap of faith paid off. That first year I was on my own in Florida I got a job, learned how to drive, bought a car, enrolled in Massage Therapy school and graduated. How's that for an achievement?
1. Have you always wanted to be a writer?

A Moment of Clarity Please!

Lately I feel like I have had so much on my plate. I am busier now, than when I was actually working a traditional job. Seriously. But my busyness is of a different nature. I am now busy with my own projects. And that feels really good. I am finally doing something for ME. It kind of feels like I am a completely different person. Even though I stay at home now with my 3 pain in the butts wonderful children, I feel more independent. More determined. But, in the midst of feeling this way, I found myself struggling with how to manage it all. It was all becoming pretty overwhelming.

Back in the day (lol, I say this like I am some old folgie. "back in my old whipper snapper days..." ok, ok, i'll get back to my story now) I used to meditate. I tried to make it a point to sit for at least 10 minutes a day just to get some peace of mind. Get some clarity. Relax. You know, just basically try to be in the moment as much as I could because I knew that it reaped some huge benefits to take that time out for yourself. But I realized that it has been WAY too long since I have done any of that. So I needed to make some time for myself. Sit and meditate.




I suggested my husband do the same too since he has been really busy working on projects. He has been really good about trying to juggle everything, but I could tell he needed a break. It was time. We BOTH needed to take some time out of our busy day and give some much needed attention to ourselves. We needed to do some de-stressing to our minds. And so after I got Little Man to finally go to sleep, my husband and I found a nice comfortable spot on the floor in our room. The nice Tibetan relaxation music was playing in the background, and we meditated for about 20 minutes. I am sure my husband just sat there with his eyes closed and took a mini nap. It's ok though. This time was for US. To do whatever it was that our body/mind/spirit needed. I focused on good intentions. In my mind I repeated the words: peace, trust, integrity, respect, gratitude.





These are the five principles of Reiki. So when I meditate, I try to repeat these words in my mind along with my affirmation.  I have never really shared this with anyone until now. Maybe this is something you need. Maybe there is a reason why I felt so moved this morning (3am) as to write this and share. Whatever it is, take it and be grateful that it was given to you.

Here is my affirmation:


*who HIM is, is completely up to you and your beliefs

Taking that time out to recharge my mind and spirit was so helpful. It helped me focus on what needed to be done. It gave me the clarity that I needed to really figure out how to go forward with my projects. It gave me a sense of peace, which is always a great thing.

Today I feel determined. I have all these ideas rushing through my head. I am sure that is why I can't sleep (that, and the cup of coffee I was craving late in the day. Don't judge me). It's like I have opened up the flood gates. I am ready to tackle whatever it is that is presented to me.

So, this is what I do to bring me back to my "center". Sometimes you need to clear your mind to actually see what needs to be done. Some days will be hectic. Some days will be calm. The important thing is that I take that time for myself to figure things out. To make sense of everything. It's a work in progress. My life is not quite ZEN...but I'm working on it.





Oh, and feel free to use my affirmation and tweak it if you need to. Let me know how you use it in your day to day. What do you do get clarity?

Teaching the Importance of Being Kind

Showing your children the power of kindness is something that will stay with them forever. We, as parents, strive to raise our children to be respectful, intelligent, loving and kind. I am sure we can add 100+ more things to that list, but today we are going to focus on the "kind" part.




Many people are so busy going through their day to day in their hectic lives that they forget to pay attention to their surroundings. Children see how their parents interact with one another and people they come in contact with everyday. Because our children are living sponges, it is so important that we saturate them with positivity and good morals. One thing that I try to teach my children is the importance of how you treat others and the impact your behavior can have.  Previously, I wrote about Paying it Forward and how wonderful it can be to perform random acts of kindness. Doing something nice for someone can affect not only their lives, but yours as well.  Let's show our kids that being kind to one another and having compassion is contagious. Just imagine the kind of world we can live in if everyone taught compassion.



Any act of kindness, no matter how big or how small, will have an impact.  Here is a list of some random acts of kindness you can do with your children or they can do on their own:

• Hold the door open for someone
• Write a "Thank You" note and put it in the mailbox for the mailman (or lady)
• Give your grandparent a call and tell them about your day
• Donate outgrown clothes or toys 
• Make friends with the new kid at school
• Bake a batch of cookies or cupcakes for the neighbor or a family member
• Make "Get Well Soon" cards and hand them out at your local hospital
• Bring a meal to a family in need
• Leave a nice note in a library book
• Volunteer at your local church or animal shelter

• Bring an apple for your teacher
• Put a dollar behind a childrens toy at the store
• Give someone a compliment
• Help your little brother or sister with their homework
• Help your mom with the dishes
• Do your chores without being asked
• Write a nice letter to someone telling them how special they are
• Leave chalk messages on the sidewalk
• Help someone load groceries into their car
• Donate extra school supplies to you classroom

I am sure this list can go on and on. Sit with your child and see what fun and creative things they can come up with. They may just surprise you.  Children learn what they see. Let them see the power of kindness. Let's help them make the world a better place.

Getting everything back on track (Phase 1)

Ok, so these past couple of weeks have been CUH.RAY.ZEEE. I have had so much going on that I had let a lot of things slip by because I just simply did not feel like dealing with it.  But it is time I get on it. It is time I focus on the important stuff. Not to say that the other things I have been preoccupied with were not important. But I feel like I have been trying to focus on 50 million things at once. As a result, things that I held at the top of my priority list have been pushed to the side.  But really, no more.  In order for me to be successful in these other endeavors, I need to master, or at least fix, what I had started from the very beginning,

The main reason why I decided to stay home was so that I would be able to fully focus on my family and home.  That is what my husband and I felt was most important.  So, for this week I decided that I would focus on the house.  Actually, let's make that the next two weeks (just in case I encounter any "bumps" along the way).  So for the next two weeks I will be spring cleaning our home. I mean really go all out and clean EVERYTHING (or at least that is what the goal will be).



There have been too many times I have put off for tomorrow, what could have been done today.  So no more. I will begin my spring cleaning today.  I think once that is done, I will have a new sense of clarity. This will really help me focus on things that really need my attention.  I know I have mentioned it before, but I am a new Jamberry consultant.  So in order for my business to grow, I really need to set goals for myself and really create a plan of action.  I always find that it is better and easier to make these types of plans/decisions when you have a clear mind.  So by me doing a little (or a lot) of spring cleaning, it will help me get that much closer to my goals.

First things first; Figure out a plan of attack! I am going to start in my living room. It's the room you see first when you come in. So this needs to be first on my to-do list. Hopefully Little man will be on board with my plans and actually let me do some cleaning.




But so far it doesn't look like we are on the same page.  Wish me luck.

Have you ever done a spring cleaning to your home? What are some tips you may have?

Elite Serum Rx Review

Your face is, normally, the first thing people see. So why wouldn't you give it the attention it deserves? Those of you who know me, know that I have not had a good nights sleep since around my third month of my pregnancy with Little Man. And now that he is a busy 1 year old, the whole sleeping situation has not gotten better. I STILL do not get a good nights sleep. As a result, I often sport sleepy eyes with a little bit of dark circles. I want to get that refreshed look back.

I have seen a ton of things on the market that claim to battle the dark circles and bags under your eyes, but never really thought to actually purchase one.  Recently I was given the opportunity to try out the Elite Serum Rx eye cream.



Created in a facility in Florida,  Elite Serum Rx is an alternative to Botox or collagen injections. It's suppose to reduce wrinkles around the eyes and dark circles.  The applicator is pretty scary looking. Shaped to look like a syringe the clear cream is dispensed from the point, which makes this much more pleasant than actually getting Botox injections.

According to its makers, Elite Serum RX will improve your eye appearance by:

• Reducing puffiness under the eyes
• Reducing the appearance of dark under eye circles
• Minimizing fine lines, crow’s feet and wrinkles around the eyes
• Improving the tone and firmness of skin around the eyes
• Restoring skin elasticity around the eyes
• Bringing about a more youthful appearance

In addition to some pharmaceutical grade peptides (peptides are chains of amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins in the skin), Elite Serum Rx contains a natural blend of moisturizers as well.

In today's world, appearance is very important.  Not only for social or corporate advancement, but it also plays a huge role in how you feel about yourself.  Looking like I am losing hours of sleep at night, did not do any good for my self esteem.  Needles are NOT an option, so why not try the next best thing?

On my first day of using the product, the area where I applied the cream began to feel a little tingly. I wasn't sure what to expect. But I was hopeful. Throughout the day the area under and on the side of my eyes itched. The itching went on for a good part of the day. It had me a bit worried, but there was no redness and I kept an eye (no pun intended, hehe) on it.

Day 1

Day 1

You probably can't tell, but my eyes felt very droopy and heavy. I was sooooo sleepy. Little man had me up all night and I just felt beat. There were bags under my eyes, and I was starting to feel not so attractive. Needless to say I was eager to see if there would be any change.

Day 8

Day 8

So how does the Elite Serum Rx measure up? Take a look at the comparisons below:

Before. Day 1

After. Day 8

Even though there isn't a huge difference, you can notice that my eyes do look a little brighter and the skin looks a tad bit tighter.  Even on those really sleepy days, I was able to get dressed and look fresh every day. So in my book, Elite Serum Rx did exactly what it set out to do, for the most part.  I recommend you give it a try.  Interested in Elite Serum Rx? Check out their site and see how can order your unit today.

Image provided by eliteserumcom

Disclaimer: I was given Elite Serum Rx to test, at no cost. All opinions are my own.

Quick Night Time Facial Routine

Your body does some amazing things while you are asleep. Night time is the perfect opportunity to give your face, or any problems areas you may have, some extra love.

Glowing skin is often the feature sought out most by women. A good night time regimen, along with a healthy diet, is key to achieving just that. During the day, our skin is exposed to some nasty stuff. We deal with harsh winds, dirt, toxins, damaging sun rays, etc.  Throw in makeup to the mix, and you have a disaster waiting to happen.  All that build up needs to be clean and cleared before getting your zzz's. Making sure you go to bed with a clean face helps you battle clogged pores, breakouts and dull skin. Washing your face is a must.  Ok, I get it. Believe me, I do. Washing your face before you go to bed is probably the last thing on your mind after a long, hard, stressful day.  But that is exactly the reason why you need to make sure you do this. Because your long, hard and stressful day deserves a little pampering at the end of it. Trust me. You'll be glad you decided to take those extra five minutes to do something for you and your skin.

So, let's get started with the obvious, clean your skin. You want to get the type of cleanser that is right for your skin type. Got normal skin? Look for a cleanser that contains hydroxy acids, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents.  Many dermatologist recommend Cetaphil because it is gentle. When my oldest was having issues with her skin, Cetaphil is what helped her the most. If you have oily skin, try to stay away from anything that contains oil, obviously, along with fragrance. Try and grab something that contains salicylic acid. Oil free Acne washes and Cetaphil also work great for you. Dry skin, look for moisturizing cleansers. You can find a variety of skin care products at your local drug store. So just take the time out and get something that is made specially for your skin type. It's your face, so don't just grab anything.




Next on the list, exfoliate! This removes all that nasty stuff that the cleanser didn't get rid of. Come on. You didn't think washing alone did the trick did you? Don' have a fancy cream exfoliator? Not a problem. Just grab a clean, soft wash cloth. Make sure you don't use it for any other part of the body. Use that with your cleanser and you , my friend, just killed two birds with one stone. Exfoliating removes oils, dirt, sweat and dead skin cells.

I love this. It is very gentle and not too abrasive

Ok, Last step, moisturize. You just washed and scrubbed away all the essential oils and natural moisturization your skin needs. So we are going to put back all the good stuff that keeps your skin supple and young looking. Again, make sure you are getting the moisturizer that is meant for your skin type. If you have an eye cream that you like to use, now would be a good time to apply it. Currently I am in the process of reviewing the Elite Serum RX, which is said to work wonders for the under-eye area. So be on the lookout for that in the near future.

Review coming soon...

Host Your Jamberry Party From Your Personal Computer

Looking for a fun way to earn some free gifts? Host an Online Jamberry Party on Facebook or Twitter. Hostess receive great rewards. People who join the party and play the games have chances to win some great prizes. You can also take advantage of our "Buy 3 get 1 Free" deal, not to mention the other great deals that will be available to you during the party!




Online parties are a great way to get your friends from all over the globe to get in on the fun. So don't delay. Contact me today!

Starting a New Venture with Jamberry

OK, so everyone knows that I have been on this journey to loving the skin I am in (read post here). One thing that I wish I would spend more time on are my nails.  Once in a blue moon I go out and treat myself to a nice manicure. Having freshly painted nails is one way to really feel pulled together, fresh and on point.  Just because I am home with little man and spend the majority of my day in sweat pants doesn't mean I can't feel sexy, right?  The only problem is I hate to spend that money.  So I really hesitate to actually go out and get my nails done.

About a month ago I stumbled upon something that caught my eye. I saw pictures of trendy nails and loads of designs that can be applied to your nail.  I really wasn't sure what the whole idea was, so I took a chance and booked an online Facebook party for my friends and family. I am so glad I did.  It was a blast.  Because I hosted the party I was able to get a ton of free product. The company is called Jamberry Nails and they are great. The nail wraps are easy to apply and last a long time. So you get that manicured look without having to spend all that money every week or so.  The best part about it is that I don't have to sit around waiting for my nails to dry while the kids are tearing the house down.  These wraps are free of any harsh chemicals, so I can even use them on my little divas.  They love getting their nails done too, so this eliminates the mess and worry that they might get nail polish chips in their mouths.





Here is my first trial. I did my girls nails with designs from their Jamberry Juniors collection. They also have a Mommy & Me collection so you can match your little diva.

my 6 year old with leopard print thumbnails

My 9 year old sporting some cool graphics. Little man decided he wanted his hand in the picture too, lol

I was so excited to receive my first batch of nail wraps, I had to apply a design the very same day they arrived.

Hostess rewards and prizes I won

Very first application.  Not bad if I do say so myself

Nail design "Lotus"

Because there are over 300 designs and colors, I can get as creative as I want and experiment with different hues that I wouldn't normally get. Or, I can keep it classic with their solid colors or french tip designs. I liked the product so much that I decided to become a Jamberry Nail Consultant.  Contact me today. Ordering is easy. There is also a great deal, buy 3 sheets get 1 free! Right now I am hosting an online Facebook Launch party, so join me for a chance to win some free product and take advantage of some great deals.



An online party is a great way to get everyone in on the fun without leaving the comfort of your own homes. Friends and family near and far can participate. So contact me if you are interested in hosting your very own Facebook party. Don't miss out on all the fun. I am positive you are going to fall in love the way I did.

What's your perso-NAIL-ity?

A #DisneySide Weekend

So one of my girls had a birthday last week.  My little firecracker turned 6 years old and she wasn't going to let any of us forget it.  The morning of her birthday I did a silly little birthday dance for her.  Of course she thought I was crazy. But I didn't care. I love her so much that I would dance to the moon and back for her if I had to. Her big sister was so sweet that she wrote her a birthday poem highlighting how old her little sister was getting.  We all thought it was sweet.  But not the Diva.  She couldn't believe that her sister was calling her old, hahaha. I had to go see what all the commotion was about because all I could hear was Brookey telling Lexy "How dare you call me old. I cannot believe what you just said. I AM NOT old. This is ridiculous!". You see why I had to assess the situation? Once my oldest explained to me what was going on, because she was too in shock to do anything else, I couldn't help but crack up. And then my little firecracker repeated that she could not believe she was being called old.  Honey, if you had any idea how many times you will be called old once you have kids. I have been called "ancient", and I am ONLY 31 years old.  She is in for a rude awakening, haha.

Since I have already made a family rule about birthdays (Ages 1-5, they get a party. Ages 6-9 we go out and celebrate. On their 10th birthday, they get to choose if they want a party or celebrate in another way. The rest we will play by ear.) my little firecracker decided she wanted to celebrate her 6th birthday at Olive Garden. I was fine with that. I didn't have to cook so it was a win for me. Of course she still got her birthday song, Olive Garden style.

Birthday Ice Cream Sunday at the Olive Garden

Since the only thing Brookey wanted to do for her birthday was go to Disney, we did just that (thank goodness for these annual passes). Friday after school we got ready and headed to Magic Kingdom. Getting the Fast Passes days in advance makes things so much easier. Fast Passes are "reservations" for rides.  You pick the ride you will want to go on and are given a time slot in which you can arrive to bypass the long line. Brookey had so much fun. Because the weather was a lot chillier than we anticipated, actually I don't think anyone thought it was going to be that cold, there were certain parts of the park that were not busy. Buzz Lightyear is always a family favorite. And with Daddy's help, Brookey was able to achieve "Galactic Hero" status by getting the highest score possible.

Galactic Hero status on Buzz Lightyear in Magic Kingdom

The Haunted Mansion ride is such a classic and she loves it.  We were able to get on The Barnestormer twice. This little rollercoaster was perfect for her.  It had just the right amount of intensity for a 6 year old.  She though she was living dangerously. Brookey had a great time at Magic Kingdom.

It's A Small World

It's A Small World

Next item on her birthday weekend...Smile Mile Kids Run. Saturday morning we all woke up early because the girls had a track meet.  They each ran a mile with their age group. We were so proud of the girls. They gave it their all and they did great. They were so proud of themselves and I couldn't help but shed a couple of tears (shhh, no one knows) because I was just so very very proud of them.  Huge shout out to all the participants this year.  Those kids did a wonderful job.

Our little athletes in between races with Daddy

After their run, we were headed off to Part Two of our Disney World adventure. I know, we must be crazy right? This time we decided to do Epcot since I figured it would be a little more laid back after a long morning. Again, Fast Passes made the day go by so much easier.  We were even able to get a fast pass for Soaring, which is almost always a 60+ minute wait time. Epcot has the World Showcase which is a lot of fun.  The good thing about this is that they have these little stations called "Kidcot Fun Stops" in every country. So your little one can create a personalized souvenir and collect stamps from any or all the  World Showcase craft stations. So it gives them something to do while you are sampling a drink or food from each country.

Kidcot souvenirs all decorated

Each country attendant signed the back. A fun passport.

All in all it was a great weekend. Having the Disney annual pass makes things so much easier.  If you are a regular at the parks and do not own a pass, I highly recommend you get one. It is really worth the money.  For those of you who are planning a trip to Disney World, it is a great idea to go online once you have your tickets and secure your fast passes for the rides you absolutely want to hit.  That way you won't have to spend 75% of your day waiting in lines. Remember, stay hydrated in the heat. Take advantage of the baby care centers. They make changing and feeding your infant so much easier. Visiting Disney World is about making magical memories, and I think we all did just that.




Happy Birthday baby!