I have super sensitive skin, so I’ve always shied away from products like Hyaluronic Acid Serum. I suppose it was the thought of putting acid on my face that had me concerned- it just sounds scary! However, after reading up on the ingredients I decided to give this a try.

I’m glad I gave it a chance! After using this product for a week, I can see a visible difference in the texture and evenness of my skin. I do think my face is more bright and glowing than it was before.

I think this is a combination of not only the hyaluronic acid, but the other ingredients, including vitamin C, vitamin E, green tea and jojoba oil. I feel that with long-term use it will definitely help fade any dark spots that show up and help keep fine lines at  bay.

I also love that they offer a money-back guarantee. I always prefer to do business with companies that stand behind their products!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Living in the forest has so many benefits- it’s far away from pollution, noise and the general hustle and bustle. I can step outside my door and be surrounded by the majestic beauty of nature.

One of the few drawbacks is the tendency for us to lose power in the slightest storm. Last summer it was off for more than three weeks! You forget how many simple things you take for granted until you have to go without electricity for that long. Simple things like being able to open a can!

That’s why I always keep a manual can opener on hand and this one from Bru Joy is a great example. It’s made of top quality 18/10 stainless steel and features ultra-sharp cutting disc blades that leave smooth edges to help save you from sliced fingers.

The can opener worked very well, unlike some cheap ones I’ve used in the past that would barely open a single can. It feels sturdy and well-made. I think it will easily hold up to long-term use.

I also like that the company offers a 100% money back guarantee. I’m always pleased to find businesses that actually stand behind their products!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I’ll just get this out of the way right now: My name is Jenna and I’m a pillow addict. I know, I know. Go ahead and make your tsking noises while I hang my head in shame. I can’t help it. Nothing brightens up a room or brings together a decorating scheme like a well-placed throw pillow. Plus they’re an affordable luxury. While you may not be able to afford a plush velvet couch, a few beautiful ultra-soft chenille or hand-embroidered silk pillows may be well within your reach. Also, with the house full of the girls and their friends, there’s always an impromptu board game being played on the floor- and everyone wants their own cushion to grab and snuggle (or whappp each other with, when things get silly).

As you can imagine, I was so pleased  to be able to review these Indian Sari Cushion Covers. They were pretty on the website, but in person they are absolutely gorgeous!

These poly-silk cushion covers are made from Indian Saris in Rajasthan, India. They have a slit opening in the back and slipped easily onto my pillow forms. The fabric feels substantial and silky to the touch and is edged with gold embroidery. The colors are rich and vibrant. I feel that with proper care, these well-made covers bring you years of use.

I opted for the Kela red 24 x 24″ and Jazz blue 20 x 20″ to compliment my decor, but they’re also quite lovely out on the porch against the stark, bare wood. (These are indoor cushion covers, though, so if you use them outside make sure to bring them in with you!).

The metallic threads in the pillow shimmer and glow like liquid gold in the sunlight.

These cushion covers are very nicely priced, starting at only $15! The sponsor had generously offered my readers an additional 15% discount. Just use the coupon code INDIA15 at checkout.

They carry an array of sizes, designs and colors to suit your needs.

I have nothing negative to report, they’re just an absolutely beautiful addition to my home.

I know you’ll be excited to hear that the sponsor has also offered to give away two Indian Sari cushion covers to one of my readers! Yay! I wish I could give all of you fancy-schmancy pillows. And sconces! But this is a wonderful place to begin.

To enter the giveaway, simply follow the instruction sin the Rafflecopter form below. I will email the winner when the giveaway closes and you will have 48 hours to respond before I will have to draw a new winner. This giveaway is open to the US only. The sponsor is solely responsible for the delivery of your prizes.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

During the summer here, we’re always on the go- to the park, the lake, the library, picnics, playdates and parties! I like to keep an eye out for cute outfits that are a breeze to take on and off but don’t leave the girls looking like tiny mismatched homeless people.  That’s why I’m kind of in love with these Bubble Knicker Rompers for the little one.

They’re a simple one-piece so they require only seconds to slip on and off. Anyone who has tried to change the clothes of a squirming, wet kid in the not-so-sanitary outdoor changing rooms at a lake or pool will appreciate this! Plus they are completely adorable. The layers of lace give them a sweet, slightly Victorian glamour. And they come in so many choices of fabric or lace colors that everyone will find a favorite!

Their prices are pretty amazing too: at an average price of $7.99, you could easily snag a whole wardrobe full! To accessorize, the site also features a wide range of hats, hairbands, flower clips, necklaces and more.

It was a hard choice, but I decided on the Deep Pink Lace Romper for review. The rompers feature simple lace-covered elastic straps and elastic around the top to keep them in place. The satin bow at the top is a lovely touch.

The seem well-constructed, with tiers and tiers of lace. These are super stretchy. They have sizes from baby to toddler. And the large size stretches to fit anywhere from 12 months to a 4T.

The lace continues down to the legs. I like that the rompers feature shorts instead of a skirt, less worries about modesty while your child is running around playing!

The inside is a silky soft lining fabric, nice and cool against delicate young skin. The instructions are to hand wash and hang dry.

Little E. loved her new outfit and ran all around the yard posing for me. I thought the elastic might dig in to her skin a bit and bug her, but she didn’t seem bothered by it at all. I would definitely recommend these and already have plans to pick up a few more for her- the problem is just deciding which ones!

The sponsor has generously offered for one of my readers to win a Lace Romper or Bubble Knicker Romper of their choice! Yay!

To enter, simply use the easy Rafflecopter form below. Do as many or as few entries as you’d like. The winner will be announced on my blog and will be emailed. You will have 48 hours to respond before I will have to choose  another winner. This giveaway is open to the US only and delivery of prizes is the sole responsibility of the sponsor.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Mid-July already? Did one of you sneak in and snip a few pages out of my calendar? I don’t feel ready for the mad rush back to school, the early morning alarms, the overstuffed activity schedules. Please let me bask in the warm, breezy sunshine cocoon of summer just a little longer.

One way I’ll work on extending my free time this summer is by taking advantage of the great deals online. I know you’re all with me on this one. No one wants to spend hours in overcrowded malls, claustrophobic dressing rooms, trying to snatch the last box of crayons from the pawed-over remains of a sticky sale table.

Right now I’m having fun checking out I See Me. What a cool concept! The site offers a variety of items personalized with your child’s name, photo or likeness- which not only teaches them to recognize and spell their name but also increases their self-esteem by showing them books that feature children they can instantly relate to. They carry not only books, but puzzles, growth charts, placemats, stickers and more!

I’ve seen a few companies that offer personalized books and children’s items before, but the quality was never quite what I hoped for. Not so with I See Me. I can tell their line was created with great attention to detail, design and functionality.

For instance, their lunchboxes. One of my favorites is the All-A-Flutter Personalized Lunchbox. The outside is super cute with a cool retro color scheme of brown and pastels on the sides, along with a fluttering explosion of butterflies on the pretty pink front. Now check out the inside! All of I See Me’s lunchboxes feature a chalkboard on the inner lid so that mom or dad can leave a sweet note. So much easier than scrambling for a notepad (or in my case, honestly, the torn off back of an envelope) early in the morning, then searching for a pen, then hoping the scrap of paper doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. That’s how you can tell these products were designed by real parents with actual children in mind. You open the box and: instant smiles!

These sturdy metal lunch boxes come in quite a few styles to suit the personality and interests of your little one. From dinosaurs, sports, cars and space, to ballerinas, fairytales and pretty gardens- I think every child will find one that they love. Plus we all remember the first-day of school anxiety. Will other kids like your clothes? Who has the coolest lunch box? I think these boxes easily pass the “cool” test and will have other kids begging to know where it came from!

Another of my favorite items on the site are their personalized sticker sets. These allow you to add both the name and a photo of your child. We all know how easily possessions get lost during the bustle of the school year. I have to say, these stickers are about a million times more fun and convenient than trying to Sharpie your child’s name onto everything they own. Plus seeing their name and face so nicely displayed helps give them the sense of pride of ownership that leads children to take better care of their belongings.

They also offer a 100% money-back guarantee, which always makes me happy to see a company that stands behind their products and cares about their customers.

I know you’re eager to get over there and start shopping. Just one more thing! I See Me has generously offered my readers a discount to make back-to-school shopping even easier! Use code UNIQUE during checkout for $10 off your order of $40 or more. Make sure you stop back by to tell me what items you simply couldn’t resist!

**Though I received compensation for my time in writing this post, all opinions are always my own. I will never recommend products or sites to my readers unless I’m truly enthusiastic about them. That’s just how yams roll. **

My poor skin must think I’m some kind of evilly sadistic torture genius. We barely get over the dry, cold weather of winter when suddenly everything changes and I’m subjecting my skin to the harsh rays of the sun, along with salt, sand, chlorine, briar patches! I think the least I can do is offer some sort of soothing protection.

In my ongoing quest to find THE perfect face cream, the holy grail that will stop wrinkles cold in their tracks, tighten my pores, brighten my complexion and leave my visage so smooth and creamy that passing babies will cry out in jealousy, I was happy to try EmFACEize from Protege Beauty.

The name is cute and clever, but did the product live up to its nomenclature? For me, I think it did. After using this for a week, during which I was out swimming and in the sun almost every day. I felt like it truly quenched and replenished my moisture-hungry skin.  The formula feels lush and non-greasy and it really takes only a small amount to cover your face. My skin immediately felt softer and more supple after each use.

Looking over the ingredients, I can see why it feels so effective. It contains a combination of hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil, and almond oil to fight dryness, vitamin E and lycopene to combat UV damage, and collagen, pomegranate seed oil, and avocado oil to help improve elasticity.

I also love that it is made right here in the USA and is not tested on animals!

Overall I had a great experience with EmFACEize and would certainly add it to my skincare routine!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

My love for pretty, shiny things should be no secret by now. While I believe it’s important to spend money and time on charity and good causes, I also think life is too short to deny yourself the finer things- including delicious foods, gorgeous clothing and sparkling jewels! Thus I was thrilled to be introduced to Felt Noir. Their prices at first had me squinting and rubbing my eyes in disbelief. They’re so amazingly low that you can easily treat yourself or gift a loved one without the slightest twinge of guilt.

Felt Noir, which is an evocatively cool name, is a digital boutique jeweler. After years of searching for the perfect business, close friends Eddie and Eric realized that Eddie’s 40-year family history in wholesale jewelry manufacturing and Eric’s entrepreneurial internet skills would make a brilliant marriage. Why not cut out the middlemen, which have become a bit obsolete in the internet age, and bring wholesale jewelry prices directly to the consumer? I personally think it’s a stellar idea.

Most people who shop online, including myself, harbor a healthy dose of skepticism toward online upstarts offering fantastic prices. Will you be left with sub-par merchandise from a company who never responds to your complaints, wishing you’d just paid full retail? That’s why I was pleased to see that Felt Noir offers a no-hassle 60-day money back guarantee and returns. They seem to understand that fully satisfied customers lead to bigger and better purchases in the future.

I know, I know, this is all fascinating. But what you really want to hear about are the fabulous deals and sparkly goodies! Where to even begin? The site offers jewelry organized by type, but also divided into collections for easy perusal. They add two new collections each month. My favorite current collections are Something Blue and Vintage Inspired.

Something Blue features dreamy cerulean hues surrounded by glittering diamonds, such as the 1ct Round Cut Blue & White Certified Diamond Three Stone Halo Engagement Ring in 14K White Gold, which retails for $5400 but is available on their site for only $1800.

The Vintage Inspired collection features pure old-school elegance. I have a hard time choosing just one favorite, but the 1.5ct Marquise Cut Certified Diamond Halo Engagement Ring in 14K White Gold is a good example. At $17000 retail and $6000 Felt Noir price, you’re getting an eleven thousand dollar discount. Eleven thousand. Just let that number percolate in your mind, my friend.

One of my personal favorite types of jewelry are chunky gemstone rings and they have a nice selection of those. The Sterling Silver Green Amethyst Ring is just gorgeous and only $80. The Sterling Silver Blue Topaz Ring is similarly stunning at just $180.

They carry a cute selection of charms in the $20 range, which means you could buy a whole bracelet full at the normal price of just one well-made charm.

They also have a lovely selection of necklaces and bracelets. Continuing my choices of summery, ocean-hued items, I have to say I love this Sterling Silver 3 Row Shades of Blue Topaz Bracelet. Just the right touch of glamour for dinner on the beach- and no one will ever know you paid 50% below retail!

As if their prices weren’t already phenomenal, Felt Noir has generously offered my readers a further 20% discount, good until August 31st. The code to enter is BBSummer20. Make sure you come back and tell me about the great deals you scored!

This is a sponsored post powered by BrandBacker. While I have received compensation for my time, all opinions are always my own. That’s just the way yams roll.

For this review I had to call in my World Renown Guest Tester, the Mighty Thor Thunderpaw. He says hi. He doesn’t want to discuss the haircut, thanks. It was a little traumatic and we weren’t on speaking terms for days.

Moving on! Thor is very particular about his treats. He knows what he likes an he simply doesn’t settle for anything inferior. I read up on these Bully Sticks to make sure they fit his lofty standards, and I wasn’t disappointed. They’re made of 100% all-natural free range cattle. They are free of gluten, grain, chemicals, preservatives and additives! They not only help clean your dog’s teeth, the act of chewing soothes and calms them.

Since Thor has managed to chew through everything I own, he must be the calmest dog in the world. Which is why I’d like to divert his attention to things he’s actually allowed to chew!

Though these Bully Sticks are odor-free and were inside a sealed bag, in a box, in another bag, he somehow knew I had new treats for him. Our conversation went something like this: “Treats? Treats? There are treats for me? In that bag? Oh you are the best person ever. Treats right now. Treats!” “What treats? There are no treats. You have to wait til I get my camera.” “Treats! I know there are treats! For me! In that bag!” “No! You have to wai..” “TRRREEEAAAAAATS!”

I obviously have this stony-faced disciplinarian thing down cold. Three minutes later, he had his treat.

And I was his favorite person in the world again.

“Hmm. hey these aren’t my normal sticky chews! MMM-nnnm but they aren’t mmm-nmm too bad.”

“I mean I guess they’re okay. Chomp-chomp-nmmm”

“Oh who am I kidding, I lovvvve them! Do we have more??” He proceeds to roll around on his back with his paws in the air, gnawing on his Bully Stick in total blissed out happiness for the next half hour.

So, a nutritious treat that my puppy actually adores? Yes, I’m sold.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Over the years I’ve used a few products featuring tea Tree Oil as an ingredient but I was never aware of just how useful it could actually be. This 100% Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil comes with a recipe book to help you explore all of the different possible uses.

The 4 ounce bottle is kind of huge in terms of pure oils, and can last up to a year with regular use.

One of the things I was most interested to learn is that it can be used to make safe and effective household cleaners, disinfectants and detergents. With both children and pets roaming the house, some of whom have a tendency to think that the world is best explored just through tasting everything in their paths, I’m always looking for more natural alternatives to harsh chemical cleaners that also actually work.

I already knew Tea Tree Oil was a good way to fight acne; facial care products are primarily where I’ve encountered it before. It definitely is effective at clearing up breakouts. I think it will be fun to pass this secret on to the girls and show them that they don’t need expensive acne fighting “systems” to keep their young skin clear and blemish-free.

There is a whole other list of uses for Tea Tree Oil that I had no idea about. It can be used to cure toenail fungus, lice, yeast infections, skin tags, cold sores, dandruff, ringworm, fleas, warts, psoriasis, and more.

 You can use it to make your own shampoo, toothpaste, soap, lotion- on and on! I haven’t yet tried it for all of these things so I can’t vouch for its effectiveness in all areas, but I will certainly feel better having it on hand to try out if the need arises.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I’ve always wanted to know how some women, okay mostly movie stars and models in racy perfume ads, manage to leap out of bed with cascading waves of perfectly tousled hair and makeup that looks like it was freshly applied by a three-man stylist team just moments earlier. While I still haven’t cracked the secret hair code, I think The Bedtime Bliss Sleep Mask may explain some of that perfectly kept makeup.

I’ve actually never seen anything like this before. The mask is contoured on the inside so it isn’t touching or rubbing against your eyes while you sleep. What a great idea! This would also be perfect for travel, when you want to nap or just block out the world without smudging your mascara.

As a nice touch, the mask comes with its own carrying case AND earplugs. So you can create your own blissful little oasis with no rude interruptions.  It also features an easily adjustable Velcro strap.

I spend far too long each day staring at computer and tablet screens, plus with my crazy schedule, I’m lucky to grab sleep whenever the opportunity presents itself. I can tell you it is so soothing to be able to block out lights and sounds and just relax for a little while.  I can’t think of any drawbacks- just an innovative product that does what it is designed to do!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.