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If you have been reading my blog for a while, you may probably already know that I love Valentia Vitamin C Serum and it is one of my favorites for skin care.  Because of this, I was so excited to try Valentia’s True Glow Eye Cream and the Valentia Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask.  I’ve been using these two products over the last couple of weeks and I’m finally ready to share my thoughts with all of you.  Have these products become some favorites of mine as well?  Do they work for me as much as the Vitamin C serum?  Read on to get all the details.

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Valentia is a skin care brand that offers products that have been formulated with natural and organic cosmetic ingredients to help repair and protect the skin.  With these products they offer an organic base that is proven to be effective at repairing skin damaged by the sun or wind, preventing signs of aging such as wrinkles and dark spots and reversing the effects of oxidative stress on the skin.  Valentia Skin Care is becoming a brand that people are loving for it’s quality and affordability.

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The Valentia True Glow Eye Cream ($25 – 1.18 Fl.oz. / 35mL) is an intense corrective eye treatment that helps to reduce wrinkles, nourish, hydrate and tighten the eye area and brighten dark circles.  The claim is also that it will restore the radiance of your skin near the eye area.  The True Glow Eye Cream is luxurious feeling and an antioxidant rich eye cream.  It helps to lock in moisture for a youthful looking glow and leaves your eye area looking fresh, awake and younger.  I have tried MANY different eye creams from a variety of different brands and companies so I didn’t think that I would experience much difference with this particular cream.

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First, let me say that I’m impressed with the packaging.  I love when creams or gels are in a pump making it easiest for application.  The pump is easy to use and you get just the right amount of product – so you don’t have to worry about wasting.  Second – you get a lightly scented product, nothing too drastic or too strong for you to smell, which makes it great for me since I have fragrance sensitivities sometimes.

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And, third – this product feels great under my eyes and around my eye area.  It’s a cream product that is light weight and feels really soothing as you apply it.  The area where I apply the product is left soft and hydrated with an almost dewy finish but a smooth texture that I really enjoy.  Furthermore, I really like that it soaks into the skin nicely – but doesn’t leave behind a funky residue like some of my eye creams can and it doesn’t weigh down my under eye area.  I really enjoy this product.  I love how hydrated my under eye area looks and feels and you will notice these results instantly.  I didn’t notice any firming or tightening near my eye area immediately but after several uses and a few weeks time, I started to notice that the area around my eye definitely looked more plump, firm and tighter.  That result was not immediate, but I did notice a difference after a few weeks.  I love that this product has Arnica, an ingredient I use when my eyes are swollen from my allergies because it helps to reduce swelling making this just an awesome product to use.

Specially selected ingredients work together to achieve optimum results.
– Astaxanthin: A powerful antioxidant that increases moisture levels, smooths fine line and wrinkles, and restores elasticity to the skin.
– Resistem: Natural Plant Stem Cells repair and protect the skin from harsh environmental pollutants and stress related aging.
– Vitamin C: Leaves the skin smooth and visibly brighter for a well-rested and bright eyed look.
– Organic Rosehip Oil: Provides intense hydration to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
– Arnica: A key anti-inflammatory agent to the restorative process that works to diminish the appearance of dark circles.

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The Valentia Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask ($25.00 – 4 fl.oz. / 120 mL) claims to help boost collagen production, increase skin radiance and reduce fine lines.  It also helps to secure skin’s moisture and is suitable for all skin types.  With key ingredients like Japanese Green Tea (an anti-oxidant rich ingredient that helps anti-aging and anti-inflammatory effects to the skin), Aloe Vera (a nutrient rich botanical that helps to moiturize the skin and fight aging by improving skin’s natural firmness and Organic Rosehip Seed Oil (a fatty acid that works to lock in moisture by hydrating the skin and keeping it soft and supple), this mask offers a variety of benefits for our skin against every day battles.

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The texture and feel of this mask reminds me of a hair mask I use to use on my hair a few years back.  It’s squishy and cream like with a texture similar to smashed jello, but applies to the skin fairly easily.  You apply it to your face avoiding the eye area and leave it on for about 15-30 minutes.  That’s quite a long time period for me to leave a mask on so I make sure when I apply it that I have a thin layer so that it stays in place and doesn’t run down my face.  I did feel a slight tingling sensation though it wasn’t uncomfortable at all and I didn’t have any sensitivities to the product that I can recall.  Removing it was easy – I just used a damp cloth and warm water and removed the product with ease.  Since I only apply a thin layer, a little of this product goes a long way.  After the first use I noticed almost immediately that my skin seemed much more hydrated (especially during the winter) and softer.  I also noticed there was a brightness to my face – like it had stripped the dull and really awakened my face from a sleep.  With a blend of silk protein amino acids and botanical hyaluronic acid, I definitely felt the additional moisture my skin lacks during the winter months.

Specially selected ingredients work together to achieve optimum results.
– Silk Protein Amino Acid Blend:These natural miracles increase moisture content and help in the production of collagen and elastin which decreases the appearance of visible lines.
– Botanical Hyaluronic Acid:Penetrates deep into the skin to secure moisture and plump skin from within.
– Organic Sea Buckthorn Oil:An anti-aging wonder berry that results in fewer fine lines, diminished sun spots, more even skin tone, and firmer more supple skin.
– Japanese Green Tea:Contains catechins that provide anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and anti-irritant effects to the skin.
– Aloe Vera:This botanical moisturizers skin and fight aging by improving skin firmness.

I have tried many similar products before but I’m quite amazed with these two.  I have always been a fan of Valentia Skin Care and the fact that they are made in the USA so it is nice to know that these products not only work, but they are affordable and easy to purchase.  For a full list of ingredients in each of these products, visit: http://www.valentia.com/.  Overall – I think these products are really nice.  Considering they are affordable, they offer luxurious results for a fraction of the cost making great skin care available for anyone.  Both products are Alcohol and Paraben free and the brand also offers a variety of other products you could try.  I highly recommend the Vitamin C Serum and Rose Hip Oil (two of my faves).  If you are looking for a good eye cream that will offer great hydration to the eye area and a mask that may feel odd on the skin but really leaves your face feeling supple and youthful, I definitely recommend these too.

How about you?  Have you tried anything from Valentia before?  If so – what are your favorites?  If not, what products are you interested in checking out?

Signature Honey

Disclaimer:  The products mentioned and featured in this post were sent to me for review consideration.  All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased – as with anything on this site.  I was not paid to provide my thoughts but affiliate links are posted through out.

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I’m not a closet reader… in fact, anyone that knows me, knows that I LOVE to read and it’s one of the things that helps keep my mommy brain sane for long periods of time.  I wish I had more time to cuddle up with a great book, but lately – life has taken over.  My mom used to tell me as a child… “hey, speed read through it – utilize the skills I have taught you so you can get through the book faster.”  But, I hated to speed read… I wanted to be able to get lost in a book, feel every emotion and live every situation.  Because of this reason, it has taken me months to finish reading this book I’m talking about today.  I’m ashamed to say it has taken me so long… but I literally had to read it while in the car waiting in the parking lot for my twins to finish with school each day; When it was quiet and I could hear every thing described, smell everything and feel like I was a part of the story.  I struggled to be able to put the book down the last several months even if it took me a long while to get to the end.  But, today I finally give you my thoughts on Town Red, by Jennifer Moss.

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Now, I’m just letting you know now that I am not the type of person to ruin a good story line or offer up all the info prior to the other person reading it, so you won’t really get much of that here if that is what you are looking at.  I do suggest you get the book – available via Kindle Edition and read it for yourself.  The story line goes quickly and you’ll easily enjoy reading it without needing any spoilers.

I am usually someone who loves to read about romance and you can find collections from Nicholas Sparks and Danielle Steel in my library at home quite frequently – so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I began reading Town Red.  I had hoped it would offer up a little bit of romance with a crime mystery entwined through out the story.  It was just that and so much more.  See, many do not know that I married into a family of law enforcement, so when it comes to crime novels or anything along those lines, I pay great attention to detail with regard to accuracy and protocol.  I was consistently amazed with what I was reading and how accurate each detail was with regard to story line and the law enforcement side of it all, even the lingo.  The detectives lives seemed realistic, like it was plucked straight from the precinct and every word was not only believable, but it allowed you to really get into the story and feel the emotion and life of each character.

After his partner is killed and girlfriend takes off, Chicago homicide detective Ryan Doherty has one last chance to save his career with the double murder of ad execs Scott and Carly Redding. Ryan quickly learns that life wasn’t so lush at the Reddings’ agency, Town Red Media, where the list of ex-employees runs fifteen pages long. At the top of this list is Catharine Lulling, a former Vice President at Town Red.

He becomes obsessed with Catharine from their first meeting. She is charming, intelligent, wealthy, and possesses abilities even he can’t understand. Catharine draws Ryan into her unconventional world where he will risk the case-and his life-to find out if she’s for real, or if she’s the real killer.

There were many times I laughed, felt sad or emotional and darn right angry because of the actions of some of the characters.  It was easy for me to not only relate to them, their lives – but their situation.  As a reader, I look for books that can take me to the place where it is all happening and put me right in that spot as if I was there and this book did that and did it well.  It was well written and you could tell that Jennifer really took the time to research information regarding the story prior to completion.  This book has a unique twist to it and I can usually tell the outcome of a mystery prior to finishing it… but was stunned and held my breathe up until the last moment.  I also loved reading about Jennifer Moss and how she was born and raised in Evanston, Illinois which made the story real and each detail outstanding.

This book is whitty but captivating.  It is a page turner that is difficult to put down and I struggled to do so when I needed to break from the read.  The characters are not only realistic but her descriptions of each one make you feel like you are literally a real person in the book’s story line.

I actually own Jennifer Moss’ first book – The One-in-a-Million Baby Name Book and absolutely loved her debut of Town Red and how different it is in writing style and mystery than what I had expected.  If you love crime and mystery with a little romance and suspense, Town Red is a great book and one you will surely enjoy.    I can’t wait to start reading some of the others that Jennifer has written because if they are anything like this one, I’m sure I’ll love them.

You can check out Town Red and other books from Jennifer Moss in the Kindle Store through Amazon.  Thank you Jennifer for giving me the opportunity to read Town Red, I truly enjoyed it!

Signature Honey

 

Disclaimer:  This book was sent to me free of charge in exchange for my review – which is long overdue.  All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased and I was not paid to provide my thoughts on this product.  Affiliate links are posted through out.

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Running, walking or any form of working out is so much better with music and because of this, I’m always looking for a way to stash my phone that holds all my favorite workout tunes.  I have done everything under the sun from sticking my phone in a pocket – which, let’s be honest, most of my exercise clothing doesn’t have.  I have even held my phone in my hands (ear phones connected) in an attempt to still get a full workout in for the day.  But recently I was introduced to the TKO Running Belt with reflective trim.  I have used products from TKO before and it’s a brand that I enjoy so I was so eager to try this belt out.  Today I share it with all of you.

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The TKO Running Belt ($12.99) works perfectly for anyone that loves a good workout, biking, running, hiking or walking.  It gives you the convenience of having all of the things you would need on a workout – for me that would be my phone and my asthma inhaler, while still allowing you to be hands-free.  This running belt is predominantly black with colorful reflective trim (my belt has lime trim – but available in all black, wild berry, sapphire and lime).  Water-resistant design with two expandable pockets allow you to carry your necessities with ease.  I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and it fit my phone as well as my inhaler in the pocket for hands free use.  The belt also comes with an adjustable waist band which is a plus so that my husband and I both get use out of it and I like that it fits my wide hips.

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This very lightweight belt is a great workout buddy and companion.  I tend to drive to forest locations for a good run which means I’ll have my keys on hand at any given time.  This pouch holds not only my keys but the important things I need to get in a good workout.  Not only is the belt adjustable, but it stretches so it makes it comfortable and I like the fact that the reflective trim helps when I’m on the side of the road.  The reflective trim really is a great feature for anyone that takes part in their workout outside of the home.

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There are two pockets on the TKO Running Belt.  One is large enough to fit my pretty big phone and the other small enough to hold onto my asthma inhaler and some of my keys.  The belt is well made and the zipper is sturdy and strong.  I’m really impressed with how well this belt has held up with use over the last two months as well as how convenient it has been for me.  It’s nice to know that I can listen to my favorite jams and not worry about having my hands hold everything.  The pocket zips up nicely and I leave it slightly open so that my headphone cord can hang out while it’s plugged into my ears.

Do you hold your music device or other things in your hands while out for a walk?  I did and now I’m glad I don’t have to any longer.  Check out TKO’s Running Belt and get one for yourself via their Amazon Store.

Signature Honey

Disclaimer:  The product mentioned in this post was sent to me for review consideration.  All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased.  I was not paid to provide my thoughts or feature this product.  Affiliate links are posted through out.


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When it comes to skin care, I have tried so many different brands including drugstore, highend, mainstream and indie.  While I enjoy them all, I find that it can be rare that I can use a whole line of products from one brand and not have an issue with at least one of the products.  I thought it would be so with OZ Naturals, seeing as I have been enjoying some of the products I have been using.  I thought to myself, Hmm… I’m not sure the Ocean Mineral Cleanser will work for me and I’m glad I had the chance to try it out.  Today – I share with you my thoughts and review on this product and let you know if the OZ Naturals Ocean Mineral Facial Cleanser was a hit or miss.  Read on for more info.

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The OZ Naturals Ocean Mineral Facial Cleanser (4 fl.oz / 118mL) retails for about $23.00 and can be found via the Oz Naturals website or via their Amazon Store.  I haven’t heard much about this brand prior to being introduced and trying their Eye Gel (which I’m loving and you can read about here) but after looking into the brand I found that they have quite a line up of different products which I’m looking forward to testing out. This Ocean Mineral Facial Cleanser is free from alcohol, parabens and sulfates and is said to be safe for all skin types.  This effective facial cleanser is made in the USA and is said to be one of the most effective anti-aging skin care products on the market, made with the highest quality ingredients.

Some of the key ingredients in this product include:  Rose hip oil, rich ocean minerals and Vitamin E.  It was specifically developed to be gentle on sensitive skin, yet highly potent and effective in dissolving nasty particles that clog your pores as it cleanses your skin and clears your clogged pores naturally and effectively.

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The OZ Naturals Ocean Mineral Facial Cleanser is a clear liquid cleanser that feels really soothing when applied to the skin.  I like the fact that when I’m cleansing my face it feels like it’s adding moisture into my skin while still cleaning it well – if that makes any sense.  What is so neat about this cleanser is you really need just a tad bit… I usually try to squeeze out two pea sizes worth of product and that is more than enough to cover my whole face.  Once I have the cleanser in my hand, I add a little water to it and mix the product in my hand until it foams up.  Once it foams, I apply to my face in a circular motion while cleaning my face of it’s dirt and impurities.  Once I rinse the product off my face, my skin feels clean, but not dry like a cleanser that foams can normally leave my skin feeling.  Even with my sensitive skin and eczema issues, I found that this product worked well and cleaned well.  I didn’t have any breakouts, flare ups or any issues with using this product the last month.  After a month or so of using this product, it seems like my skin is brighter and some what smoother in places that tend to be drier during the winter months.

I think if you are looking for a facial cleanser that will clean your face – leaving it feeling great, but not drying your face out, you will enjoy this.  Since my skin is naturally dry, I like to use cleansers that will not strip my face of moisture and this really did the job in my opinion.  It’s not a thick formulation at all but it foams and bubbles up so quickly when using.  If you have sensitive skin like I do and you’re looking for cleanser that will do the job – I think you may enjoy this one.  I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this particular one and when it comes to cleansers, those are the types of products I don’t tend to stray away from my norm.  I would repurchase this and continue to use it.  I definitely look forward to using this during the summer when my skin needs that super clean greatness.  One note however… once you apply this product to your face, rinse and do not leave it sitting (like you would a wash off mask) as it can dry your skin out.  I noticed one day when I did that – not on purpose, the phone rang and I went to pick it up, that after a couple of minutes – when I washed it off my skin felt dry – not like it normally would feel.

What are your favorite cleansers to use for your skin?  Have you tried anything from OZ Naturals before?  Do you have any other recommendations for me?  Comment below and let me know.

Signature Honey

Disclaimer:  The product mentioned and discussed in this post was sent to me for review consideration.  All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased and I was not paid to provide my thoughts or feature this product.

 

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Who doesn’t love a bite sized chocolate treat as a gift, favor or just because?  M&M’s is a chocolate treat that claims to “melt in your mouth – not in your hand” and a childhood favorite that many love.  Recently I had the opportunity to place a personalized order from My M&M’s and I wanted to share the chocolate goodness with you as well as my customer service experience.  Don’t free like reading?  Stop by my video and I’ll chit chat and show and tell with you.

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A week ago I decided that I would cash in on a gift code for My M&M’s that I had for taking part in a campaign a few months ago.  I have never ordered anything from their personalized website before, so this was not only an exciting experience for me, but I was looking forward to seeing how detailed the design on my M&M’s would be.  After a glitch in their system with my code I called their 800 number and was promptly greeted by Red & Yellow M&M on the other line while I waited for the next customer service representative.  As a fan of M&M’s and the commercials, I thought it was quite cute to listen to Red & Yellow interact with one another and patiently waited for the next representative.

After a few minutes, Richard answered the phone.  He was a kind mannered gentlemen that walked me patiently through my order (which included various steps and designs) and processed my order accordingly.  After a 40 minute time frame over the phone, Richard and I were able to complete my order and I received an email confirmation with the final design as well as my order laid out for me.  I was very impressed with the customer service I received via the telephone because my Customer Service Agent took the time to not only ensure he was getting my designs right, but the spelling, colors and every else I had planned to do via their website.  Since I added an image to customize my M&M’s – I had to email the image to him and he was able to process that portion quickly.  While we took some time going over every aspect, Richard did so kindly, patiently and his customer service was superb.  There are few places that you can call and have not only great service but also someone who is patient.  Even while I edited the image for color correction and brightness, he held on the line without any complaints.

Shipping to Hawaii was quick.  My order was sent overnight via Fedex, which allowed my M&M’s to be delivered in tact and quickly – without any melting.  Each product within the box was packaged well so that everything was not only protected but arrived safely.

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I ordered a 2lb. bag of M&M’s that already had a set design, as well an Acrylic Gift Box with Plus Mrs. Brown Kit that had personalized M&M’s in it where I was able to customize and select:  Three (3) colors of my choosing (I went with Lavender, Light Pink and Platinum), Image Personalization, Custom Wording and Clip Art.  The Acrylic container holds 10 servings of your personalized M&M’s and it sits in a pretty black box which makes such a great gift.  I was happy to get Mrs. Brown too and knew I had to have her because she reminds me of me – lol.

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The photo I selected on my M&M’s was one of my husband and I.  The detail on the image is great and everything looks absolutely perfect.  Not to mention, they taste delicious too… just as I come to expect from one of my favorite candies.  The spelling for everything I provided was not only accurate, but the font is legible and everything looked great.  Not one M&M arrived damaged and it was a sweet treat to have for my husband and I.

I’m not only impressed with the service I received from My M&M’s but also the quality of my treats.  The 2lb bag of pink M&M’s came with a little white scoop which made enjoying our treat easy and the quality of each item was well made and of quality.

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A few years ago a friend of mine worked with me to design some M&M’s for her wedding.  It was simplistic and you could only add initials at that time so I was so happy to see the different types of customizing you can do to the M&M’s now and the fact that this could all be done online as well.  I’m glad there is an option available for those looking for a fun and thoughtful gift or something “sweet” to give out as favors at your next event.  Regardless of the reason, I think My M&M’s is a great way to go and I would return to buy and order again.

Did you know that you could customize M&M’s this way?  If so, have you tried for yourself or are your planning to?  Be sure to check out my video where I walk you through each product and discuss my thoughts with you as well.

Signature Honey

 

Disclaimer:  The product(s) featured in this post were purchased at a discount thanks to a gift code that I received from a previous campaign.  I did pay for some of the items out of pocket.  All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased and I was not paid to provide my thoughts or feature these products.