Where To Start?

Hi friends! I haven't blogged in so long I don't know where to start!

First, and most importantly, Will is reading! The Irlen filters on his glasses are nothing short of amazing and have made a significant difference we can all see- his tutor, SE teacher, and regular teacher have all commented on how things have changed so quickly for him. Praise!

Second, I AM READY TO CHRISTMAS SHOP! Bring on the Amazon deals!

And you may already know this, I have really been struggling with my weight over the last few years, but I am ready to really do something about it. I realize, though, that I need a new mind-set. So I felt led to order Lesa TerKeurst's Made to Crave Study and am going to lead it at my church! Starting next week! Nothing like jumping into something feet first (leading the study!) to get you motivated.

One thing I did about two months ago was change what I was doing about taking supplements. For years I have been taking a regular Women's One a Day vitamin, but I struggle with a low energy level, and I already take a large Methyl B-12 supplement to help with B-12 Deficiency Anemia.

So my neighbor recommended I try Zeal Wellness, which provides antioxidants and vitamins in just one drink a day. On Zeal, I finally feel like I have energy again and I loved it enough to sign myself up as a consultant. If you'd like more info, here is a link to my Zeal website.

Lastly, I have really been enjoying watching Monthly Favorite videos on YouTube and am thinking about doing a blog version. I don't think I'm camera-ready, but I can certainly do a list of my favorite things during October! So stop by back tomorrow for that post! It's good to be back!

(And if you haven't already entered, I'm running a giveaway at Manicure Mommas for 2 shades from the Sally Hansen Gem Crush line. It ends tomorrow night, so stop by and enter!)

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon referral links.

Review: Chuao Chocolatier

Shhhhh...... don't tell my family, but I've been hiding (and eating) some delightful chocolate!

Chuao Chocolatier (pronounced chew-WOW) sent me some of their newest products to try, and I didn't tell a soul (until now!). And ate every bite myself!

The first product I tried was their 60-calorie mini chocolate bar: the Sweet & Salty ChocoPod. This two-bite delight features a touch of sea salt swirled into Chuao’s premium blend of milk chocolate. This was so so so good. I discovered last year that I love the flavor sea salt gives to chocolate so I knew I would love this. I was not disappointed!

Sweet & Salty is sold for $1 at retailers across the country.

Next I tried their Maple Bacon Bar.... so unique! This was one I savored over several days... breaking off small parts to enjoy when a chocolate craving hit me.

“We have been repeatedly asked by retailers and customers to create a chocolate bar with bacon, but
have waited until now to put our unique ‘Chuao spin’ on that coveted combo,” said Master Chef
Michael Antonorsi, co-founder of Chuao Chocolatier. “Our Maple Bacon bar is about the chocolate
first and foremost— its creamy sweetness lays the perfect foundation for the maple syrup. Then, sprinkled
through, are delightfully crunchy little bites of uncured bacon with a bit of smoky salt. The finished
product is a divine handcrafted bar destined to go on everyone’s must-have list.”


The Maple Bacon Bar is available in Chuao Chocolatier cafes, major retailers and online at
www.chuaochocolatier.com for an MSRP of $4.99.



About Chuao Chocolatier


Chuao Chocolatier, located in San Diego, Calif., creates culinary-inspired confections by blending
all-natural ingredients with its own premium blend of ethically sourced chocolate, featuring cacao from its founders’ native Venezuela. Master Chef Michael Antonorsi and his brother Richard started Chuao Chocolatier in 2002 with the intention of arousing the senses with unusual, unexpected and delicious chocolate experiences. And 10 years later, the company continues to delight with award-winning products, including the best-selling Firecracker bar and truffle, Potato Chip bar and Spicy Maya hot chocolate.

Chuao Chocolatier offers chocolate bars, ChocoPods (mini chocolate bars), hot chocolate, bonbons and other gourmet chocolate confections at Chuao Chocolatier Cafés and fine retailers nationwide including Whole Foods Market, Crate & Barrel, and Dean and Deluca. For additional information or to shop the company’s online store, visit www.chuaochocolatier.com.

Visit my nail blog for a BCA Stila giveaway

I recently received Stila's Positively Pink Cheek Palette to review and I've been wearing it pretty much everyday! It's a gorgeous pink with lighter pink embossed BCA ribbons in it that give the powder the slightest glow. Note that it's definitely not glittery!

I'm excited to say that I also have one to giveaway- and it's in a cute set with a Lip Glaze as well.

Stila Positively Pink Cheek Palette

This multi-colored pressed powder blush has a luxe, velvety finish and embossed pink ribbons for a positively glowing flush. For each purchase, $1 of proceeds will go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Price: $16, Available in October 2012 at www.stilacosmetics.com

Stila Positively Pink Set

This collectible, multi-colored, pressed powder comes paired with a Stila Lip Glaze to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For each purchase, $1 of proceeds will go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Price: $18, Available in October 2012 at www.stilacosmetics.com

Visit Sasha Says Nails to enter!

Disclosure: The Stila products pictured above were provided to me for PR purposes.

The Smell of Fall: Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser

I recently got invited to participate in BzzAgent's Glade Expressions Collection campaign and I was so excited because I LOVE my home to smell good.

BzzAgent provided me with a coupon to choose a free Oil Diffuser from the line, and I chose the Fuji Apple & Cardamom Spice scent, described as a ripe, spicy blend of sweet pears and crisp apple with a dash of cinnamon and clove that warms and invigorates. It smells SO good!

I've got it in my kitchen, which is where we enter the house from the garage. So it's the first thing I smell when I come in! I am very picky about food odors- I don't want to smell my meal after I'm done eating it. I found that having the Oil Diffuser in the kitchen really helps makes the cooking odors disappear.

Glade Expressions^® Oil Diffuser

• The best non-electric oil diffuser for living spaces, delivering 3x more fragrance**
• Refillable with your favorite Glade Expressions^® scent — authentic, exotic ingredients like mangosteen and cardamom spice are unlike anything else in the fragrance aisle
• Trendy holder (available in bamboo or white) matches home décor perfectly, allowing you to place true-to-life fragrance in any room
• The intuitive snap-in-place setup makes the diffuser easy to assemble, refill and enjoy
• The spill-free design fills living spaces with fragrance for 30 days
• A wide and thin wick releases fragrance slowly, leaving you with consistent fragrance over time
• Fragrance satisfaction guaranteed or your money back*

*Visit glade.com to learn more about the Glade Expressions^® Money-Back Guarantee.
**Vs. Glade^® Solid Air Freshener

The Oil Diffuser comes in three scents:

• Fuji Apple & Cardamom Spice - A ripe, spicy blend of sweet pears and crisp apple with a dash of cinnamon and clove that warms and invigorates
• Lavender & Juniper Berry - Lush lavender blends with fresh juniper berry, eucalyptus and rose to relax the senses and open your home
• Pineapple & Mangosteen - Evoke a tropical paradise with the blend of freshly cut pineapples and hint of tangy mangosteen, creamy coconut and passionflower

Have you tried any products from Glade's Expressions line?

We Went For Three

First grade, Second grade, Third grade

After figuring out we accidentally dressed P in the same shirt two years in a row for school pics last year, we decided to run with it and I got him another blue and white striped shirt for this year's pics.

Too funny!