A Sweet Surprise for Valentine's Day - Influenster's Love VoxBox Invite!!

 Received my Love VoxBox Invite from Influenster today!! So excited to see what new products will be included for me to test out in this sweet little box.  This was very nice Valentine's Day Surprise!!  Thank you Influenster!!

If you would like to learn  more about how Influenster works go check them out by clicking the link below

Welcome to 2012!! Time For A Fitness Resolution!!

Okay so its a New Year and with that comes all those New Year's Resolutions that we all have such high hopes for accomplishing. You know we all say this is gonna be the year...but seldom do we follow thru.  We have good intentions and believe me I've been there and done that several times.  I couldnt count the different workouts and diets i've tried over the years with little or no success.   In October 2010 I finally found my 'soulmate' workout!!

You see that is the key to being fit, to find that workout that you enjoy, that keeps you coming back everyday, the one you look forward to doing because you know  how amazing you feel afterwards.  Until you find that one special workout for you it can be so difficult to stick to a plan.  You see its been over a year ago since I made yet another resolution to lose some weight and most of all to get healthy. I began my journey in October 2010 weighing in at 175 pounds...and I am only 5'3". I started by ordering TurboFire and I have never regretted it!!

TurboFire is fast, intense cardio training with great music and the best trainer ever...Chalene Johnson.  With the program you get so many different dvds that you never get bored because you're constantly switching up the workout with a new routine.  The workouts range from short HIIT's (High Intensity Interval Training) of 15-30 minutes and longer full cardio dvd's from 30-60 minutes.  There are also several toning and sculpting workouts.  As well as an amazing Stretch workout!!  Little video clip below just so you can see what TurboFire is like.......

Now I have done every kind of workout under the sun....from the old school Firm videos from back in the day, to Tae-Bo, those Biggest Loser DVD's and of course tons of walking and running.  While I always got some results from these it was never enough to keep me coming back...and I honestly think a lot of that was just boredom.  I have to have some variety and well TurboFire just clicked for me and I was able to stick to it because I really honestly enjoyed it!!

I went from 175 pounds in October 2010 to 141 pounds by May 2011!!  I went from a tight size 13/14 to a size 8 and was thrilled with the results.....

I kept this weight off with 5-6 lbs for over a year now.  Of course the 5-6 lbs came with all the Holiday munching so now its time to get back in the game.  I ordered several fan volumes of TurboKick , which is kind of a sister workout to TurboFire....However, TurboKick is not a Beachbody product but rather a program designed by Chalene Johnson to be taught in a gym class setting.....it is hugely popular in gyms all across the country.  These dvd's were previously only available to Certified instructors, but now anyone can get the fan volumes online thru http://www.turbokick.com/ to use at home!!

So I started a little over a week ago working out 6 days a week alternating the new TurboKick dvds and so far I am loving this workout as well!! Check out the little video clip below just to get an idea of what TurboKick is all about............

So with the New Year I am making a New Resolution to not only lose those extra holiday pounds but work even harder to be a healthier person all together and that is going to included more changes in my diet as well.  I may not ever 'reach' that perfect goal weight that I have in my mind, but that's okay....I just have to work to be MY BEST SELF!!

Montagne Jeunesse Facial Masks

I received a really great Montagne Jeunesse Facial Mask to test thru Influenster's VoxBox Program.  I am very familiar with this brand and have been buying their masks at department stores for several years now.  I was excited that I received the Dead Sea Mud Pac version because this was one formula I had not tried.

 The instructions for use of this product is simple.  Just wash face with warm water, then apply the mask evenly over face and neck with your fingertips.  Then just relax for 10-15 minutes or until dry and rinse off with warm water.  This mask had a very nice 'fresh' scent nothing to overpowering.  It is very thick and creamy.  After the mask had dried and I rinsed it off I could tell immediately that my skin looked plumper and healthier.  It seems to 'revitalize' your skin.  Pores look smaller and clearer and your skin will feel so soft.

I also recommend the Dark Chocolate Deep Cleansing Mud Masque from Montagne Jeunesse as well....it is may all time favorite mask!! It is so rich and decadent and smells amazing!

 This product contains ultra-deep cleansing Dead Sea Minerals to penetrate deep into pores drawing out impurities. It has Seaweed & Kelp to help restore skins vitality leaving you cleansed to the core and totally relaxed.



Also it is completely:
• Gluten Free

• Nut Derivative Free

• No Added Parabens

And their products are vegetarian and never tested on animals :)

Here is some more information directly from Montagne Jeunesse

"Whether you enjoy looking after your skin, being pampered, or indulging in some me-time, be it alone or with friends, you will absolutely enjoy one of these ‘Life Little Pleasures’… With a huge array to choose from, our face masques are packed with the most delicious natural ingredients and are bursting with luscious fragrances. Suitable for all different skin types, there is one to suit every mood and everybody!"

"Montagne Jeunesse beauty treats are free of parabens, vegetarian approved and never tested on animals. So treat yourself today to a masque that will hydrate, nourish and leave your skin cleansed, smooth and glowing. Available at ULTA Beauty, Walgreen’s, Claire’s, Walmart, Kroger, CVS Pharmacies and other retailers across the US, these masques are available in a variety of succulent flavours, including":

•Cucumber Peel Off, Passion Peel Off , Dead Sea Mud, Fruit Smoothie, Strawberry Souffle, Chocolate Mud, And many more! 

To Visit Their Website at http://www.montagnejeunesse.com just click the icon below and Happy Beautifying

NYC New York Color New Liquid Lipshine Collection

Great new complimentary product that I received to test thru Influenster's VoxBox Program is New York Color's New Liquid Lipshine Collection.  I received the 'Nude York City' color which is beautiful nude shade.  This color is perfect for me because I love to wear a smoky eye (especially this time of year) and with the intense look on my eyes I love to wear a pretty pale shade on my lips.  For those of you that like more color they have several more shades to choose from you can check them out on their website at www.newyorkcolor.com

This lip gloss goes on smooth...not sticky and it has a wonderful smell.  Just enough sparkle that it does produce that perfect shine...but not too much that it looks glittery or cheap like some lip gloss. An overall perfect lipgloss for special occassions or everyday use too & the price cannot be beat...seriously retails for $2.49!!

Here is some more information on this great product from their website.

"Straight from the city that never sleeps, NYC New York Color offers products with uptown style at down-to-earth prices, from $.99 - $4.99. The energy, style and color of New York City shines through the wide range of shades, textures and innovative products. NYC always delivers the most on-trend products & shades hot off the runway!

"A beauty-editor favorite is Liquid Lipshine ($2.49). It has pure pigments that created a 3-D gloss effect. Vitamin E provides shine and a moisturizing feel. The formula is non-sticky, super shiny & soft. Available in 10 on-trend shades from neutral nudes, to berries & fuchsias. Start shopping for NYC at these stores nearest you: Walmart, Target, Rite Aid, CVS, Family Dollar, Duane Reade, Kmart, HEB, and others. Visit newyorkcolor.com to check out all shades and fun products from New York Color!"

You Have Got to Try This Product: imPRESS Press On Manicure by Broadway Nails

 

When I received this new product in the Holiday Voxbox to test thru Influenster.com, I have to say I was a little hesitant to use these 'press on' nails, but I am so thrilled that I did try them because I absolutely love them. Regardless of how different all us ladies can be we all love to have pretty nails. To me a nice looking manicured nail is the best accessory, however.....let me say that it is definetely a rare occassion for me to visit a nail salon to get this manicure or to even take the time to give myself a manicure. A trim and file is about the extent of my usual nail care except for the 'special occassion' manicure a couple times of year. And believe me its not from a lack of interest in the look of my nails...no, not at all....in fact I have bought all kinds of those 'paint the white tip on your nail yourself & try to get the line straight, but give up after 10 times' manicures from the department stores. Not to mention countless bottles of nail polish that promise to withstand the daily abuse I dish out to my nails.

But alas these products never lasted over a day or 2 if I was lucky and to me the time and effort just wasn't worth that couple of days of satisfactory nails :)  You see I am really rough on my nails.....while I do have a desk job it does take me outside many times a day to do several job duties that require donning large ugly orange protective gloves & doing a little bit of manual labor....not to mention the fact that I have 5 lovable doggies at home that I am feeding, watering, and just wrestling around with every single day.  All this being said I had virtually given up on my pretty nails, until I received the imPRESS Press On Manicure by Broadway Nails in Influenster's Holiday Voxbox to test out.  I have never seen this product before so I was intrigued, I received the 'Wink Wink' design and decided to try them out immediately. 

The package comes with a prep pad that you clean your nails off with so that the imPRESS Press On Manicure can stick to your nail properly.  Just follow the directions which are basically to clean your nail with the prep pad, then line up all the correct size nails, and just peel the backing of and press them on your nailbed....be sure to do your thumbs last!  They have a great little video on their website showing you how the process works....but honestly its so simple you will not need it.  These nails fit perfectly and I have worn them for 3 days now and they still feel and look great...I honestly think I'm gonna get a full week out of them!!  Below is the final product and as you can see they look amazing. 

Here is some more information about this great product:

'Introducing imPress Press-On Manicure by Broadway Nails, the revolutionary way to apply polish! Featuring advanced nail technology, you can get a salon-perfect manicure in seconds – simply peel off, press on, and you're done. There's no drying, a killer shine and a manicure that lasts up to a week! And, imPress is so easy to remove, you can change it up to match your mood as often as you want. Check out all 36 colors and patterns, including trendy brights, classic darks and animal prints. With imPress, your nails will always be your best accessory.'


'imPress Manicure retails for $5.99 for colors and $7.99 for patterns, and is available at CVS, Rite Aid, Duane Reade, KMart, Walgreens, Walmart and more. For a full list of online and in-store retailers, visit imPressManicure.com, where you can download an exclusive coupon and virtually try on all the colors and patterns!'

My Holiday VoxBox from Influenster Is Here!!

I was so surprised Saturday when I went to the mailbox and the Holiday VoxBox that I qualified for thru Influenster.com was waiting for me :)  I knew they shipped out last week but did not expect it to arrive this quickly.  It had an assortment of awesome products for me to try out, including a new SoftSoap Bar Soap, a Montagne Jeunesse Facial Mask, Snack Size LaraBar, Mentos PureFresh Gum, imPress Press On Manicure, and a NYC Lip Color Lip Shine.  I am excited to try out each of these products, but must say I am most anxious to try the imPress Press On Manicure because well honestly my nails are in some desperate need of help and I just do not take the time to properly care for them, hoping this helps out :)

Anyway if your curious as to how you too can qualify for amazing products to try and review be sure to go check out the following page at Influenster by clicking the link below and it will explain it all for you.  And be sure to check back on my blog soon for reviews of these new products.

"The Lost Wife" by Alyson Richman Book Review

Quote: P.188 "Over sixty years have passed and her shadow still walks beside me. Her shadow stretching long & black--waiting for me to reach for her--waiting for me to extend my hand."

This is an absolutely beautifully written book that I enjoyed from the very first paragraph to the last. This is truly a love story of a young man, Josef and his bride, Lenka living in Prague during a time a great unrest just before the Nazi invasion. Against the backdrop of Prague and the increasing Antisemitism of the time, the characters fall in love and are married. However, soon after their marriage they are separated by the Nazi Invasion.

The book follows both characters along their difficult journeys separately. While Josef escapes the invasion and deportation to the death camps he faces a nightmare of his own. Lenka is forced along with her family and others living in Prague to the Terezin Concentration Camp and then later to Auschwitz. Of course Lenka's story is one of terrible atrocities that most of us cannot imagine could happen, but did; but more than that Lenka's story is one of hope and perseverance amidst impossible circumstances.

This story comes full circle and reminds us all that a heart doesn't ever forget. A beautiful, endearing, and tragic story that will stay with you long after you've read that last paragraph.