All About Looking Good- part 2 Things I have tried

OK - I can't believe I even bought this product but hey I wanted to see what it would do for me and what girl can't use a little help with getting some of that jiggly stuff to go away!? Don't be alarmed!! I promise to spare you any before and after shots!

I bought the dual pack of Slim and Bare it by bliss at Sephora. I decided if I was going to do it I might as well try both products. They do have some other products to go along with this line but I thought I would just try the scrub and lotion.

I have been using this product for about 2 weeks on average of 3-4 days a week. I try to use it morning and night but I do not recommend using the shower scrub right after shaving - not a great idea! It just burns.

Personally, I would not say that there is a drastic difference BUT this products doesn't claim to make all cellulite go away it says to reduce the appearance. So on that I have to say it has at least made me feel like the appearance of the cellulite on my legs is better than it was before. They seem a bit smoother overall.

Is it a must have? I wouldn't necessarily say that. I like how it makes my legs feel invigorated. Would I buy it again? Yes I would. I wouldn't necessarily be beating down the doors at Sephora the minute I run out but I do like the product and I think if you like a product and it makes you feel better about yourself then it is worth the money.

Depending on where you buy the product and whether you buy the kit or the products alone you are looking at around $38.00 and up.

So - have you ever tried this product? Have you tried one like this one? What has been your experience?

All About Looking Good - Or at least trying

Who Doesn't Like Having a Nice Tan?

I personally think I look much better with a little more color than I naturally have. However, first the sun causes so much damage to our skin when we lay out and second, for some reason lately any time I am in the sun for any length of time I seem to get sun poisoning (or something weird) because I break out like something awful!

SO.... I decided I would try a self-tanner at home. I have tried spray tan at a salon before and I loved the results but it can be a little pricey so I was looking for a little more affordable option. I have tried lotions before and I am just a true failure at those so I thought I would try a spray tan at home.

I decided to try The Banana Boat Summer color Self-Tanning  Mist.

It cost me $6.97 at Walmart and so I thought I would grab 2 cans because I honestly had no idea how much it would take and I didn't want to run out like half body!

Prep is super important! You need to make sure you have already shaved and exfoliated really well. I have a different different exfoliators I have tried and I will actually be sharing later in the week something I have tried out recently. After you exfoliate, I make sure that I have a damp towel or washcloth so I can wipe my hands or any mishaps right away!  Pay attention to elbows and knees because these areas tend to be drier and soak this stuff up! Also, I put a barrier on my feet around my heals and the really dry areas including between my toes and around the cuticles. I do the same thing on my hands as well. Remember the drier the areas are the more they soak the color up. After getting done with the spray I took my wet towel and wiped my feet really good and actually sat them in the tub and did another exfoliate on my heals to make sure they didn't soak the spray up (I know I am a little over the top but I don't want orange feet!)

I did the spray tan in my shower so I wouldn't get it all over the place. I turned on the vents, even though this does have a citrus scent (much better than most self tanners) it still is strong and seemed there was cloud of spray. As you can tell from the picture we have a big mirror which really helped me pay attention to what I was doing.

My pics below could have been better - but hey I am new at this and the ones of my arms (the second set) I know I could have done them the same direction but hey one was at night before I did it before bed and the after was when I woke up - so cut a girl some slack.  The color difference isn't drastic but the pictures don't quiet do it justice, I am darker but it isn't so dark if I had screwed up I would be in big trouble. It is natural looking and I am really happy. I might do a second application to see if it gradually gets darker.

Before                                    After

BeforeAfter

After I took my morning after shower I decided to try my new lotion I bought from Victoria Secrets. I tried this out because Raven over at A Mommas Desires and Pacifiers did a rave review I thought I have to try this! I did take some pics but my camera just doesn't show it good enough. This is a slightly colored lotion with some shimmer. It looks great and I love it! It was just enough to add a little bit of pick me up but it isn't like you see me sparkling a mile away! It is a nice summer pick me up and I think it complimented my new tan nicely.

Have you ever tried a self-tanner? How did it turn out? I am so curious to see how it turned out for all of you and what brands you tried!

LAST DAY!! LAST DAY!! LAST DAY!!

For what you ask?

A FREE Membership to Shaklee!!

I know you have seen me clean LOTS of stuff! It seems never ending and well I guess it is never ending. I swear my dang laundry procreates before I can get it into the washing machine!

Well Shaklee has a LOT of different items but they are all created with health in mind! Healthy Homes, Nutrition, Beauty, Weight Loss/Control, Baby Items and lots more!

I have tried many products! I am VERY happy with the nutrition line.

My hubby and I have been taking the Shaklee Vitalizer Essential Nutrition. There are different packs. The one pictured is really more suited for men but I have been taking them too because like you we like to test things before we invest our money in a product. There is a Vitalizer for Women that has added Iron as well as a Vitalizer Gold for those 50+ in age.

I have to say that we both are already feeling better and have more energy! Even my hubby (which has been a skeptic) said after about a week that he felt so much better, awake, energized!

I have been sick the last couple of months so I knew it is important as ever to make sure I am getting all the vitamins and nutrients to stay healthy. Just click above to take a moment to just check it out. Shaklee is the #1 Nutrition Company in the United States!

They come in these really cool packs for each day. The vitamins and minerals are released through their S.M.A.R.T delivery system. The nutrients are not released until they need to be in the right place in your digestive track.

We also have the Shaklee NutriFeron - this is a patented clinically proven system that activates your immune system defenses!

Do you want some Reusable Go Green Shopping Bags!? Shaklee has some awesome reusable bags! I bought a set of 6!

Here are some of my favorite products too! I love the Hair Products and Body Wash!  They have a light fresh scent! But even better they do not contain harmful chemicals.

Another one of my favorite products! The Get Clean Nature Bright is great for laundry stains and I have also used in my shampoo with the Basic H2 Organic All Purpose Cleaner and it works great!

So as you can tell, I love this stuff! I want you to just give it a try if you would like to try it out.

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY - to take advantage of the Free Membership with a $30 purchase (at member prices). There are no minimums to maintain your membership and the membership provides you with a 15% discount on the products.

Better yet, these products are healthy! They are non-toxic and I am so glad that I don't cough any more when I am trying to clean - especially in those tight places like the shower.

So just take 2 minutes to check it out HERE!!!!!



A Little Pick Me Up - Zebra Style

I don’t know about you but every once in a while this chicka needs a little pick me up!

It’s been a rough few weeks so I decided while Haley flipped her buns off at gymnastics I would treat myself to a little pick me up!

This is very important women! You have to take a moment to relax and gather your thoughts together!

It was short and sweet but the result is adorable! I love it!

What have you done for yourself lately?

Learning to Love Myself

As a mom I want to know that I do not want to scar my children in any way! I know as a mom of a tween girl I really don't want to give her some sort of complex about how she looks or how much she weighs. Because I know it isn't how we look but how we act, do for others, and live our lives that be our legacy and how people remember us.

WELL this can be very difficult when it is something I have personally struggled with pretty much my entire life. No, not that I have struggled with my weight per se but I have struggled with the perception of how I look think I look to others and myself. My brain tells me my self-worth is not in the number on the scale or the size on my jeans. But internally something else tells me I need to be a specific number.

For the record: I do NOT own a scale. I can't! It is a sickness and I will be the first to admit if I had a scale I would weigh myself every single time I passed it. Yes I know I am crazy!

Like most others my weight has fluctuated over the year due to having kids, getting older, just life. I am 90% happy with where I am right now. I am more focused with being more tone than losing any weight.

15 and this is what I looked like when Michael and I met (yes I realize I was a girl not a woman yet)

Yes, this is me pregnant! What can I say, when you are only 5 ft tall there is nowhere for that baby and stuff to go but out (all over lol). This was me pregnant the second time. I did really good with my weight gain considering everything (and all my complications and bed rest) 29 gained with Cody and 25 gained with Haley. Michael says he thinks I am the most beautiful when I am pregnant (aren't I lucky!) I told him I am sure I could just look pregnant hahahaha!

 

This is me and Cody I am 21 years old and only a couple of months away from getting pregnant with Haley!

OK - so seriously I can't even believe I am putting this picture on here because I would say this is when I felt at my worst (appearance wise). I am visiting Michael's grandmother with the kids Haley was only about 6 weeks old and Cody was 19 weeks old. Obviously I haven't lost much of the preggo weight yet.

I LOVE this picture! Not because of how I look but because it was such a special day and this picture was not posed for. Michael had found a flower and he was placing it in my hair. We lived in Puerto Rico and my parents were visiting so we were taking family pictures.

Christmas 2006 - 13 years after we met.

Fall 2010

Fall 2010.

Now, I have to say that since this last picture I have probably gained about 5 pounds ):  Now I know in the grand scheme of things this isn't bad and it isn't much and if I worked really hard I could get this back off. I would classify myself as a lazy, obsessed person about my weight. I do have the drive and dedication at times but like many I don't want to give up some of the stuff I like. I can maintain at a decent weight by not having to do too much (yes, again I realize I am lucky in this - It's not like I don't understand the struggles that some people go through to lost just a little bit).

HOWEVER, I am trying to teach my kids it is really about being healthy. Having a healthy mind, body, and spirit. All of it is important. People really do not love us because of how we look, they love us for who we are. I know this, I try to live this, but for those of us that have this terrible little voice in our heads it is a constant battle. No, I do not want to look like I did when Mike and I met. I just want to be healthy, feel healthy, and be happy with myself.

I do love myself. I love the person I am and I know that I have a big heart and I wish the best for others. Now, if I could just mute that terrible little voice that tries to tell me what size jeans I look best in that would be great! My kids are the best - they don't see the jiggle, muffin top, thunder thighs, whatever kind of word you want to use. They see Shanna the mom, the one that loves them unconditionally. For that I am grateful and I know that I need to let this leash that holds me down go.

If nature had intended our skeletons to be visible it would have put them on the outside of our bodies.  ~Elmer Rice

The Ugly Truth!

Ok - I can't believe I am actually going to blog about this or let's say I can't believe I am going to post the pics to go along with it but I find it THAT important to tell you about this at my expense.

When we were in middle and high school we were plagued with zits and acne and I remember I couldn't wait for the day that all stopped and I had beautiful glowing skin. My twenties were pretty good with the occasional flare up here and there but overall really good.

THEN I hit my 30's! I couldn't believe it but it was almost like overnight 3 years ago when I started breaking out again and WAY worse than when I was in my teens. Who would think at nearly 33 years old I would have more acne than my tweens!

After suffering with some horrible acne and these places that were so painful and horrible looking I went to a dermatologist. While seeing the Dr. she prescribed me a routine of medications (which I highly suggest seeing a Dermatologist) and she said I can use the zit zapper if you would like. I said sure! I mean it sounded amazing she said it would reduce and practically eliminate these acne cysts within 24-48 hours!

As the asked the nurse to get the zit zapper out I noticed they pulled out a syringe and I about freaked! I NEEDLE going in my FACE!?!?!?!

Needless to say after the Dr. told me to quit being a baby I came to love and cherish the fact that I can go in if I need to get cyst injections and sure enough within about 24 hours the zit is almost gone! I am not talking about a regular zit but these horribly, painful, cysts that take weeks to go away.

So this past Monday evening I felt a place coming up on my face - smack dab middle between my eyes! Bulls eye anyone? Tuesday I worse a hat to work and had the worst headache and it was so swollen. Wednesday morning it wasn't any better so I decided to get an appointment.

WARNING!!!  - This is a GROSS and EMBARRASSING PICTURE!


Although this picture is gross enough - it looked SO MUCH Worse in person!!

It was definitely a hat day a few days in a row! It didn't totally cover it but I hoped it would kind of hide it and I kind of hid out in my office at work.

I went into my dermatologist office and I actually didn't see the Dr. but I saw the aesthetician instead and I pay a flat rate of $30.00 regardless of the number of injections she has to do.

For this horrible place in the middle of my face there were actually 3 cysts so she did 3 different injections. I want to EMPHASIZE that this is not painful. Because the cyst acne is already sensitive to touch one of the injections was uncomfortable and that is stretching to say that. But it does NOT hurt! There were 2 smaller places on my face and she went ahead and injected these as well.

So less than 24 hours later the cyst is already looking WAY better and I am not wearing a hat today!

I know this is a very embarrassing subject and I can't believe I am putting up pictures but I want to let other women know if you are suffering with adult acne and specifically this cyst acne there are things the doctors can do to help you. In a way I look at this $30.00 as a splurge but at the same time I look at it as a medical expense and honestly makes me feel physically better and internally and emotionally better. So next time you have a break out call the dermatologist and see what they can do for you!

Nothing Like Getting Beautified!

Today was great!  I was able to get some much needed girls time but also share in the fun with my kiddos! (well at least Haley). One of my great friends is also licensed cosmetologist and she does awesome hair!
She came over and so did 2 of my other friends and Sheena ended up doing highlights and low lights for 3 of us and cutting hair for 4 of us! I decided to go with my current style and color.

In the mean time we also snacked, chatted, and had a great time!

Sheena worked so hard and quick as we all had yummy food and drinks. We had plenty of girlie stuff to keep us busy like makeup, foot spa, and plenty of nail polishes and hair supplies!

If you are wondering what the red stuff is - it is Jello! We had a 3 year old, a 21 month old, 9 year old, 10 year old, and 2 - 12 year old boys!  We had super fresh fruit, muffins, jello, a veggie tray, and I ended up making 3 pizzas! What's a good time without good food?

Sheena continued to work and work and work at our hair! Too bad we all have long hair!

Haley was even super happy because she was able to get her hair cut and I let her get highlights as well. I know I know she is getting ready to turn 11 but I figure what is the harm. They are cute little highlights it makes her feel special to get this done with her mom!

They look so natural like her hair has just been sunkissed!

Thank you Sheena for a wonderful job on our hair! Thank you to my mommy friends for hanging out and having a great day to spend girl time together and also enjoy our kiddos together!

Do you want to have a girls day? Give me a shout on the blog or email me at codyhaley106@gmail.com - I can hook you up with an awesome hair dresser!! (sorry this is for Tucson, AZ area only - unless you want to pay for her airfare lol, I am sure she would love to have a vacation!)