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OZ Naturals Skin Care Review

It's not often I wear make up or do much when it comes to my face/skin. Lately though, my skin has been feeling very dry and wait for this one - I am developing wrinkles around my eyes! Que tears. 29 years old! Must be all the stress and I blame genes.

But, that's okay. I take it all with pride. However, I was contacted by OZ Naturals and asked if I would like to try some products! Of course I jumped at the chance after taking a look at their products and others reviews. I don't put just anything on my skin/face but when I do I make sure it's top notch.

OZ naturals is just that.

ABOUT OZ NATURALS
OZ Naturals – A Leader In Natural Skin Care
"OZ Naturals is committed to the highest formulation standards, and uses only natural/organic active ingredients. Every one of our product formulations undergo extensive clinical testing and always over-deliver on their claims. Before we ever release a product to the public, we make sure that product is extremely effective at performing as it was designed. All of our products are produced in small batches and packaged under secure & sterile conditions in a state of the art, FDA certified facility to ensure optimal potency and freshness.

OZ Naturals products are backed by science and formulated from nature, which prove our products' efficacy sets a new standard for the skin care and anti aging industry. 

Made in the USA, our skincare line has quickly become a trusted brand for those looking for extremely effective products that actually do as claimed. Our formulations are proven to correct signs of aging, protect healthy skin, and prevent future damage from occurring. " - oznaturals.com

I also make sure to verify any products I use are NOT tested on animals, OZ Naturals is absolutely not tested on animals which I was pleasantly surprised to see addressed on the FAQ page on their official website.

Something else I was excited to see on their website in their FAQ:

Can you use OZ Naturals while pregnant or breastfeeding?

While our products contain 98% natural and 72% organic ingredients, you should probably ask your doctor. Some doctors have differing opinions when it comes to natural products. They'll tell you to stay away from something that seems totally harmless and natural, but not say anything against parabens, pabas, and propolyne gylcol…which is in almost every product on the market. However, to be on the safe side check with your doctor first. 

I am breastfeeding so I confirmed with my doctor  and he said I was okay to use the products I have. Seeing them even address this on their website FAQ was a huge plus for me as I never see this.

From OZ Naturals I received.....

I have only been using these products for about a week or so now but my favorite is by far the Super Youth Eye Gel. It has severely decreased the size of the bags/puffiness under my eyes. It's more of a different feeling rather than a visual one, which I'm okay with its been about a week so I'll see how it goes!

About these products
 

20% Vitamin C + Amino + Hyaluronic Acid Serum ($22.49)
OZ Naturals Vitamin C Serum combines the highest quality Vitamin C, and Hyaluronic acid to create a potent antioxidant that goes on smooth and helps protect and brighten your skin throughout the day. This incredible formula provides that youthful glow you've been looking for.

Vitamin C Serum combines the highest quality Vitamin C, and Hyaluronic acid to create this pure, transparent, non-GMO serum that goes on smooth and works deep down below the skin's surface to aid your skin in naturally producing more collagen, something we lose as we get older. In addition, hydration is improved thereby plumping up skin cells to minimize the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

•     Antioxidant formula protects skin from environmental stressors
•     Naturally stimulates collagen creation
•     Hydrates and moisturizes skin
•     Helps nourish cells allowing skin to heal naturally
•     Naturally lifts and firms
•     Made in the USA in our FDA certified facility
•     No Parabens, No Alcohol

 For more info please visit: here

Super Youth Eye Gel ($19.95)
Experience The Most Effective Eye Treatment Designed To Eliminate Dark Circles, Puffiness & Wrinkles!

• This Eye Gel Is Considered To Be The Most Effective & Complete Eye Treatment Available
• Designed To Treat Every Major Concern Including Dark Circles, Puffiness & Wrinkles
• Safe For All Skin Types, Non Comedogenic, Does Not Contain Parabens, Sulfates Or Alcohol
• All Active Ingredients Are 100% Natural & 75% Organic
• Made in the USA In an Advanced FDA Certified Facility

For more info please visit: here

Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin C ($16.45)
Professional Hydration Begins With The Highest Quality Hyaluronic Acid Serum On The Market!

OZ Naturals Hyaluronic Acid Serum deeply hydrates and plumps skin to diminish fine lines and wrinkles. Rich with antioxidant vitamin C, this formula leaves skin soft & rejuvenated & because it's botanically derived, it is considered to be the highest quality HA serum on the market.

The sponge-like matrix of our hyaluronic acid serum holds in the moisture that is responsible for plumping skin and diminishing fine lines and wrinkles. Its formula has been designed to create the perfect mix of ingredients your skin needs to achieve a youthful, lifted glow.

•     Plump & hydrates dry dull skin
•     Assists in balancing skin moisture levels
•     Speeds up skin-cell turnover, keeping new and healthy skin on the surface
•     Diminishes surface lines and wrinkles by stimulating collagen
•     Naturally lifts and firms sagging

 For more info please visit: here

So far I can say without a doubt I absoutely love the Super Youth Eye Gel. It's made under my eyes less dark and puffy and I feel like it's even firmed up the skin somewhat. The vitamin C Hyaluronic Acid and the Vitamin C Hyaruronic Acid and Amino blend I use before bed after washing my face and neck. It's made my skin really smooth but because I don't have any wrinkles around these areas I'm not finding a huge difference, however my skin does feel much smoother and firmer all over where I have been using all products. I've also noticed a decrease in blemishes which I still get during my monthly, and this is a HUGE plus. I will continue using all three of these products especially as I get older and those fun wrinkles appear.

All in all I would recommend trying Oz Natural products if you are looking for a natural skin care line that is effective and safe.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I was given this products complimentary to review. However all opinions are mine and 100% true.

Preparing for Halloween

As I was getting ready to write up this post Timehop informed me I had posted this photo One year ago of Justin. It's crazy how fast time flies - I miss doing these themed photos, now there's no way he would sit still for one!

Halloween is a busy,  often dark and usually a wet night around where we live. Cars are flying around driving kids from door to door (right? who does that!?) so you can NEVER be too safe and prepared for anything that may happen! I just wanted to share something we've done the past few Halloween's just to make sure if there are a group of Spiderman's going to a door and we are standing at the bottom of it - we are sure to lead our own kid away!

Neat right? These are cute little reflectable stick on's they are thick and don't fall off. They stick to the back of your child's costume and glow in the dark. I've been using these or different types of these for a few years now and we've never been disappointed. These? $1! At the dollar store. Amazing, Effective and Cheap! Who doesn't love that?

My kids are generally really good about sticking with us, but you can never be too safe on Halloween (or any outing for that matter!)

Tonight we will be carving our Three pumpkins. We usually buy two but this year Jayden went on a field trip to a farm and got one too! So, it will be interesting to see how he wants to carve his very own pumpkin! This is what we did last year.

The pumpkin on the left was my Husband's and he was attempting to create bats and a design. It didn't work out so well. The left? That would be my pumpkin Mickey! It's not perfect but I am darn proud of it!

Wish all of you that celebrate a safe and Happy Halloween!

Do you take any precautions to keep your little ones or even HOUSE safe on Halloween?

Mega Bloks SpongeBob Squarepants™ Invisible Boatmobile Rescue Giveaway

 

Who lives in a Pineapple Under the Sea?

I think anytime that question is asked the first thing that comes to anyone's mind is to shout SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS!

Did you know Spongebob Squarepants first premiered back in 1999? That was when I was 14! I still remember it, even though I was in high school I'd see that little yellow square sponge all over the place! Everyone loved and adored the show, and still do! Even my kids get a really big kick out of it!

We received Mega Bloks SpongeBob Squarepants™ Invisible Boatmobile Rescue for taking part in this giveaway and I'm sad to say I don't have any photos of the finish product YET because Jayden and Daddy are still working on it! The Invisible Boatmobile Rescue comes with 337 pieces, so it's been a really great bonding time for Jayden and Daddy to do in between school, surgeries and work schedules. They are having loads of fun! This is an absolutely great gift for Christmas or even just because, it's hours of fun in one box!

ABOUT THE INVISIBLE BOATMOBILE RESCUE

ideal for ages 5 and up

Plankton is at it again and it’s up to SpongeBob and Patrick to stop him with the Invisible Boatmobile Rescue by Mega Bloks SpongeBob SquarePants. Build the Invisible Boatmobile with cool translucent blocks and take off for a high-speed chase! Help, Plankton is launching jellyfish everywhere! It's up to SpongeBob and Patrick - dressed as Mermaidman and Barnacleboy  - to save them with the Invisible Boatmobile's not-so-invisible net!

Features: 

• Cool Invisible Boatmobile to build with translucent blocks

• Buildable bobCAT vehicle and a Jellyfish catapult

• SpongeBob, Patrick and Plankton micro action figures

• Four jellyfish

• Combine with other Mega Bloks SpongeBob SquarePants playsets to build your own wacky world of fun in Bikini Bottom.

 Please take a moment to check out these OFFICIAL LINKS
Visit the Mega Bloks SpongeBob Squarepants™ Official Site
Check out the Invisible Boatmobile Product Page
Follow Mega Bloks on Twitter and Facebook
Follow @SpongeBob on Twitter

Giveaway Time! 

The wonderful folks over at Mega Bloks have kindly offered one of my readers the Mega Bloks SpongeBob Squarepants™ Invisible Boatmobile! This giveaway is open to US residents ONLY.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I was given these products complimentary to conduct this giveaway. However all opinions are mine and 100% true.

Giveaway open to US residents only. ONE WINNER will receive 1 Mega Bloks SpongeBob Squarepants™ Invisible Boatmobile Rescue .. You have 24 hours from prize announcement to claim your prize before a new winner will be chosen instead. Giveaway is open from Oct 27 - Nov 3 at 11:59p, winner will be chosen and posted/emailed the afternoon  Nov 3rd! Good luck!

The Selfie Me Vs The Real Me

I don't know if this is an issue with anyone else but who doesn't love a good selfie? I'll tell you I've come to loathe the selfie.

Why? Because I am not a fan of photos of myself in general but a selfie? Is a chore. It also isn't really me. Taking a good selfie to me is like pulling teeth. I have to make sure the angle is right, the light is a specific way, the filter has to be perfect. It's a pain.

However I have made a point of being in more photos, especially with the kids. I was told about a year ago there isn't enough photos of me so now I try, but are the photos really who I am? Not really. 

Last week I wanted to take a photo for my blog that I could use on all social media to help people know who I was, and be able to associate my photo with blog. I went through all my selfies and none of them were a true representation of me. If you were to bump into me outside on the street you most definitely wouldn't see me as my "selfie-self".

When taking photos I think about my kids. My girls mostly, and how they must feel when they see me setting myself up for a selfie, or deleting them because I just don't like them. After writing this post I've gotten a lot better about myself, but I know there's still a lot to work on. Making sure the kids see me happy with myself, and not always deleting or altering photos of myself is a huge deal to me so I have been working on this for sometime. Now it was time for me to post photos that weren't the perfect photo - not the ultimate selfie.

I asked Jordan who is so talented when it comes to photos if he would snap a few shots for me. Of course he did, and I LOVED the results. However, I was still a little nervous about posting them.

I wanted a true representation of me, who I am on a daily basis. The mom you'd see on the sidewalk, bump into and know exactly who I am... Have no idea what I'm talking about? Here's an example of my "Selfie-self" hair just right, little bit of make up and perfect lighting and angle.

Here's a photo Jordan took of me last week, no make up, no perfect hair, no perfect side angle, Just ME. Goes with the one to the right on the side bar....

I look like two different people. I'm sure this happens with a lot of people, but why? I have no answer. Except for myself which is I just generally have never liked photos of myself. My hair always looks fluffy and out of this world - it's super thick and long, I can't wear it up due to headaches and migraines so it's always the same. I rarely put make up on unless it's to go out to a fancy dinner or event.

Then it dawned on me when I was asking my husband and sister in law for advice on what photo I should use - I've spent way too much time worrying about what my photos look like, and instead I should just embrace them because I love who I am as a person, and I'm quite okay with how I look as a mom of 6 littles - I am who I am. Which, is easier said than done believe me but it's true. Why online do we feel the NEED to only post those perfect photos? I don't know but I am going to take one photo and one photo only from now on and post it. Not 40 photos of the same thing, and choose which is best! This doesn't teach our kids anything or set a good example and I don't even think we realize this. Our kids watch everything we do. My girls, always try to do things I do. 

So I took the plunge -- I posted my photo, I used it with pride and am very happy I did. No misleading, no perfect seflie, just pure honest me. I'll admit I did throw on that "Mayfair" filter from Instagram because I LOVE the deep colours and how bright photos come out, but the rest? Is what it is!

Do you like taking selfies? Do you often find photos are a true representation of you?

Mom Guilt & A Very Brave Boy!

Yesterday was a hard day to not have a clone. A double. A snazzy I need to be in 2 places at once machine.

Jayden our very brave five year old had surgery and I couldn't be there.

He was in great hands with daddy, but that still doesn't make me feel any better. I'm the type of mom that feels guilt if I am not with my kids and something happens. Good or Bad.

Oh a kid is picking on mine at school and she's crying? MOM GUILT. (And rage but that's a whole other topic!)

My child got an award at school but I didn't get the phone call? MOM GUILT.

It's who I am. I want to be there at all times and even though it isn't realistic it's still something that bugs me and I'm working on. I cry when my kids start the first day of school every year, get a report card and even when they accomplish little or big things. Crazy mom right here. But surgery? I wish I could be there.

Back when Ava was 2 she had surgery on her eyes. She was born with a lazy weak eye which also equals a bit of a cross eye. Jayden? Same thing.

After Ava's surgery I did not want to put any child through that again. I said no way, if they want it they can do it when bigger. Why? Ava woke up after surgery and flipped out. FLIPPED OUT. Instead of a nurse or doctor getting a us they put her back under. Wish I was kidding. But, I'm not. So finally hours after her surgery we got to see her and to be honest and blunt - she looked dead laying there. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to see. For 2 days after she cried non stop and was in a lot of pain. So I was against any more eye surgery. My husband didn't agree.

He is the one who has a lazy eye and wore bi-focals as a kid. They got this from him so he kind of knows what it's like to deal with (or not) and decided Jayden needed the surgery.

So, here we are. They had to be at the hospital for 9am. His surgery was scheduled for 11a-1230pm but they took him in an hour early.

He did incredible and is doing wonderfully. He even facetimed with me from the recovery room. Where he had one of the most incredible nurses I'm told, which is AMAZING.

 When he got home I was so relieved. I think he was too and was happy to see me!

He is feeling great, and is home with me today. So why do I still feel awful? I don't know if this is typical mom behavior this feeling of guilt, I don't have my mom to ask but it really truly is stressful not being there for your child. Instead I had to be home to get the other kids off to school, to be with Jackson and Justin (Justin who is still nursing and can't be too far from me for long) and there's no way I could have gone by myself with Jayden, I'm just too much of a dramatic mess to do that. I would have cried my eyes out and no one needs that, especially Jayden. So I sat home and made him things he requested like Blue and Green jello, Chocolate chunk cookies, Cupcakes and even a surprise little cake.

I think it's time to realize it's okay to NOT be at their side every time something happens. I'm NOT their only parent. How will they be independent, or learn how to cope with things on their own? Surgery is a big deal, but Daddy was with him so it's not like he was left alone to be scared or anything.

This is more of a mom's crazy guilt, attachment issue I think. After all when we did FaceTime the first thing he said to me? " Mom I fell asleep on my own! " referring to the fact they had to put him to sleep for the surgery. It wasn't him screaming in pain, calling my name through a fit of tears. He was OK.

I'm just generally the one there for everything. An ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on and a kiss when a booboo happens and is needed. I stick up for them and guide them when upset or in pain... But Daddy was there. So, I guess that's an issue within me I have to deal with - I just need to figure out how!

Babies don't stay babies for long, and they won't need their mommy forever. Time I start to face the music before I really learn my lesson right?

How do you deal with mom guilt? or any kind of guilt?