Sabbatical Sunday Weekly Link-up

 I like to take a break from the regular routine on Sundays, including my blog.  It gives me a chance to clear my head, re-set priorities and appreciate the many blessings I've been given.  I go to church, I reflect, and I try to find ways to inspire me to be a better mom, wife, Christian, and person.  Sundays are my day to take a sabbatical!  If you have a post that you'd like to share that is a little different from the ordinary weekday post, feel free to link up here!  We'd love to have you!  If you post a link, won't you take some time to check out the other links and follow, comment or share! 

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Make Your Own Scented Body Cream - RainShadow Labs Review

Disclaimer:  I received one or more products to facilitate this review.  No other compensation was received!

 I love living in Utah where we get all 4 seasons.  Yesterday it was in the upper 80's and overnight a storm blew in, so today it is lightly raining. The leaves are changing rapidly.  But I love the lakes, mountains, verdant meadows, and forests.  In each of these places, if left in their pristine state, one can find substances and fragrances that are healing to the mind and body. 

RainShadow Labs has searched high and low in each of these places, throughout the world, to bring natural solutions to skin and hair that will leave you feeling as if you personally witnessed the gathering and formulation processes!  Everyone can benefit from RainShadow Labs.  They manufacture high-end natural beauty solutions at wholesale prices 
About the CEO co-owners – Vanessa Johannsen is the resident Alchemist, CEO and Chief Custom Designer with RainShadow Labs.  She is well qualified and really is the explanation why this company has such product integrity.  Vanessa spent 10 years in the natural botanical field, studying plant medicines intensively including a 5 –year apprenticeship with a Huichal elder and medicine man, 3 years with a Seminole Native American Medicine Man and Shamans from both Guatemala and Peru.  She has a bachelors and masters in Holistic Health, Herbalism and Aromatherapy.  The products are a result of her direct involvement and design.  Tim Johannsen is the business end of the company and has helped those who choose Rainshadow as their product supplier to think bigger, smarter and in a manner as to promote world conservation.  Together they are a formidable team and have been in business since 1983.

ARH Hyaluronic Acid Serum - The 32 oz. amber bottle comes without frill or labels.  But it is all business when it comes to the ingredients.  Rated as a whole food because of the 72% natural ingredient list, it packs a punch in the beauty category. 

"Botanical Hyaluronic Acid makes up five percent of this high quality formulation. Holding up to 1000 times its weight in water and drawing moisture out of the environment and onto the surface of your skin, there is not a more effective moisturizing agent on the world market today." It is Non-comedogenic, penetrates deeply, and activates collagen production for a fresher, younger, firmer, brighter complexion.

 This is a great product to use alone or mix with other products, such as a masque, lotion or cream.  I like to use it by itself, after I wash and before I moisturize.  It absorbs quickly so I don't have to wait more than a minute before putting on moisturizer.  I love how supple my skin is looking with regular use of this Serum. Other ingredients include organic aloe, witch hazel, jojoba oil, green tea, Geranium essential oil, and vitamins C and E. 

LBBC Smoothie Cream - This lotion is so lovely! It is 35% organic, unscented and the price is unbeatable.  A one-gallon bucket is $35.70! You can make over 60 2-oz jars of cream with that amount!
It absorbs into the skin quickly and makes it feel smooth and silky for hours.  Ingredients include shea butter, sweet almond oil, pumpkin seed oil, Macadamia Nut oil, wheat germ oil, avacado oil and Kukui Nut Oil, among others!  This lotion is perfect for making your own scented lotions.  I found some great Fragrance Oils that I mixed in with this lotion.  It makes for great gifts and so inexpensive!  A 2 oz. jar of scented lotion, including the container, averages about $1.50. 

Two Ways To Have More Faith In God

1) A simple admonition given by D. Todd Christopherson “Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power." struck me.  How many times do we worry, fret and stew so much that we can do nothing else?  It's so unproductive!  Many times the best way we can know that God has been there for us is when we come up short but leave the rest in God's hands and somehow He comes up with the balance.   What a faith strengthener!  
Something very simple happened to me the other day, helping me to understand that.  I had misplaced my phone and had looked everywhere to find it.  It was like I had cut off my pinky finger!  I needed it badly.  I was immobilized without it.  Even my husband got involved looking for it.  Finally I asked him if we could say a prayer because I had looked everywhere that I knew.  So we did.  As we said the actual prayer, the thought of where I had last used the phone came to me and along with it, the place where I had left it.  It was really quite amazing! But the help came only after we had done everything we could do and came up short.  That is when we left it in God's hands. When I quit worrying and being frantic, the answers came.


2) "Everything that invites and entices us to do good comes from God."  -David Bednar.  Have you ever wondered if the thought or idea you just had is your own thought or did it just come from above?  Maybe you haven't prayed for awhile and all of a sudden you can hear your mother telling you to say your prayers, like she did when you were a child.  (If you were so fortunate!) 
 I believe that God uses others to deliver personal messages, in this case, through memories of one's own mother, to remind of things already known but forgotten along the way!  Why would He do anything else if we already have had or now have a good example in our lives? And it applies to us too! We can be angels to those around us if we keep our eyes open and an open heart.  Basically all good comes from God, so when in doubt ask yourself, is this something that is good?  Or is it selfish, prideful, or coercive?  If that is the case, chances are it isn't from God. 

An Amazing Example
 I have to think about Mariam Ibraheem, the Sudanese Christian woman who was held captive, sentenced to die for not converting to Islam.  She was married to an American and wanted to leave Sudan to be with him.  I don't believe in religious coercion and any person, group or organization who tries to force a religion on anyone else is plain evil in my book.  This woman was firm about her belief in Christianity and despite very difficult conditions, including lack of help from the U.S. government, held firm.  Her faith was amazing. She knew that being a Christian was what she wanted and that it was good.  So she held on to that belief.  Finally she was released, after giving birth to her baby boy in a filthy prison, with chains on her ankles, after being pressured by Islamic Imams to switch religions, and after looking death in the face. 
It is through examples like this that I look at myself and wonder just how strong I might be in similar circumstances and realize that I need to be more proactive in my stand for good.  And thus this post. 

Sabbatical Sunday - Taking A Break From The Routine!

I like to take a break from the regular routine on Sundays.  It gives me a chance to clear my head, re-set priorities and appreciate the many blessings I've been given.  I go to church, I reflect, and I try to find ways to inspire me to be a better mom, wife, Christian, and person.  Sundays are my day to take a sabbatical!  If you have a post that you'd like to share that is a little different from the ordinary weekday post, feel free to link up here!  We'd love to have you!

Motivating Monday Post and Linky!

I have been blogging on and off for 4 years now and really have been fascinated with all aspects of the genre.  I'll be the first to admit that while I love to write, I need some work on my sentence structure, my descriptive phrases and my vocabulary. And that's OK!  I am looking forward to learning and improving each and every day at my own pace, not competing with anyone else.   As with many many bloggers, expression through writing is what brought me to the ranks but then I discovered the social media aspect and found that while it is important to promote your own product, it is even more fun to learn from others who persue the same persuasion. I suppose that is why I am not the most prolific blogger around.  I am so busy reading and clicking around other sites!  I have boosted many an Alexa ranking and Google Page Rank from my exploring. 

Many of the things I've read by my fellow bloggers and experts have spurred me on to explore and to delve further into my own interests and even find new interests. I have been motivated to try new things--from cooking, crafts, music, books to ways to relate to my family, home decorating and tips for my dog.  I've been helped with many questions that I've had and with questions I had yet to come up with, answered before I thought of the question. 

This Monday I found a great article on how to get yourself published in Huffington Post.  Carrie's  story is so candid and it inspires me to be more assertive in pitching those companies that I'd like to see myself working with!  You never know until you try....and try again!

And then I found this inspiring piece of advice on a Facebook Page

It's a reminder to me that everything takes time and practice. And even through frustrations, we need to press forward and keep doing what you love or envision yourself doing.  Then, after much work, sweat, repetition, and disappointment, the fruits of your labor will come.  And it will always be a surprise!  My blogging experience has certainly surprised me in so many ways!

We all need motivation! Did you find something that motivated you this past week? It can be a Tweet, Facebook Post or a blog post you like. OR you can write a blog post with the link embedded and tell why it motivates you! Do you have a motivational post already written? Link it up! I will definitely visit your post and comment!

RainShadow Labs $70 eGC #Giveaway

Welcome to the RainShadow Labs Giveaway!  Hosted by A GAL NEEDS...and Lynchburg Mama.  

Are you are a small-business owner who is interested in having only the best ingredients in your lotions, soaps, cleansers or serums? Or are you a savvy consumer who also wants the best in your products but who wants to pay wholesale prices for them!  RainShadow Labs is located in Oregon and has been manufacturing private label skin care products for a variety of brands for 31 years. What isn't as well known is that their products are available to regular consumers as well. 

 They have a vast inventory and one could spend hours on their website or blog learning about natural ingredients and their functions within the many and varied products at RainShadow Labs.  Read about Helena's experience with the product she ordered. 
Rainshadow Labs has generously offered one reader a $70.00 Gift Code so they can order whatever they want.  I can guarantee it will take awhile to decide what you want because there are so many options!  To help you in your decision, you can download the printable catalog and price list, found on their home page.  If you can't wait to try these products, you can order their sample sizes.  The first 3 are free (shipping not included) and after that, they are only $3.95 + shipping.  The sample sizes are quite generous and will last up to several months with regular use! 
For your chance to win a $70 exclusive Gift Code to RainShadow Labs, enter in the Rafflecopter below!  Good luck!  Must be 21+  Open to US and Canada!  One entrant per household.   a Rafflecopter giveaway

$1,000 Back To School Cash #Giveaway

Did you know you can shop, earn, and donate all at once? You are already shopping online or on your mobile devices, so why not donate to a good cause while doing so. iMyne allows you to do just that. Many of the retailers you already know and love actually offer money back as an incentive to shop their sites, but these incentives are rarely cashed in on. iMyne works with these sites to send those savings back to you as well as your favorite charitable cause. iMyne is also very easy to use. Most cash back websites are hard to navigate and are complicated, iMyne is different. Once you are signed up with iMyne you simply click on the iMyne activation button that will be in your toolbar, as a plugin. If the button is green then you are ready to shop and earn! If you're on the go and using your mobile device such as your smart phone or tablet, you simply just use the SHOP tab located on iMyne's site. Another great incentive that iMyne offers is referral cash. You can invite all of your friends through Facebook, Twitter or email to join iMyne and you will get up to $1 referral cash back for every $10 they earn. Your friends will then sign up their friends and you can earn even more. The more friends you have in your iMyne network, the more money you will earn for yourself and your charity! Any cash back that you earn will automatically be added to your account, log in to view your funds and keep track, or you can cash out. You can always send your funds to the charity of your choice as well. There are no forms to mail, no points to redeem and no fees. You earn rewards for you and your cause in real cash, automatically. Sign-up for iMyne and start earning your rewards now.

One winner will receive a $1,000 Back To School Cash from iMyne. 

Enter here and your valid entries will be counted at the time of the winning draw!  Good luck! 

Organized by: Social Swayy ♥ with special guest: Mom to Bed by 8. Giveaway ends September 10th at 11:59pm, open to US, ages 18+. Only one entrant per household, per address. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Enter using the giveaway form below. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclaimer: The participating bloggers were not compensated for this post. No purchase is necessary to enter. One entrant per household, per address. Void where prohibited by law. Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. The sponsor(s) will be responsible for product shipment to winner(s) of this sweepstakes. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. Contact teri@mompoweredmedia.com if you have any additional questions or comments.

StriaFade Premium Stretchmark Solution 2-Winner #Giveaway

       Welcome To The StriaFade Giveaway! 

  Everyone goes through body changes and many times stretchmarks are left behind as evidence!  There's no need to lose self-confidence because of your appearance!  Treat stretchmarks with StriaFade Premium Stretchmark Solution, with 5 key ingredients, which when combined, create a solution that is virtually unequaled in the skin care market!              

 It is certainly worth the time to check out the best stretch mark cream that you can find in the market today. Stretch marks removal should not hurt, nor should it cost hundreds of dollars, or require you to go to the doctor's office time and time again. Read the review at A GAL NEEDS...and find out about her experience with StriaFade!
Many thanks to StriaFade for sponsoring this giveaway and thanks to Oh My Goodies for Co-Hosting! 

 Two winners will each receive one bottle of StriaFade Premium Stretchmark Solution, a retail value of  $49.00!  Just enter from the Rafflecopter below!  If you have won or received a free StriaFade Product within the last 12 months, you are not eligible to enter.  Only one entrant per household and open to US only!  More guidelines in the Rafflecopter disclosure!

 

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Relief From Stretch Marks With StriaFade #Review

               Disclosure:  I received either product or payment for my honest review of the product!
 Pregnancy,  teenage growth spurts, explosive muscle growth, rapid weight gain, medical conditions...all of these and more, will create change in the skin and also frequently cause stretch marks.  Some professionals believe that they are also accompanied with an increase in the hormone cortisone.  Regardless of how one "obtains" these marks of growth, they are often seen as undesirable.  As you can see, however, one rarely gets through a whole lifetime without having a few.  So why is it such a taboo subject?  We hear stories about how we got tattoos, how we got scars, or the location of our moles. But you never hear about how we got our stretch marks!  I can just hear it.  "Oh yeah, one day I looked down when I was a teenager and I saw these weird red marks.  They itched something horrible.  I didn't know what they were, so I went and asked my mom and she told me they were stretch marks from growing so fast...."  We prefer that they just go away quietly, with no fanfare!  Most of the time, they just hang around, maybe fading a little, but our skin is never really ever the same.  Or can it be?  

First of all, I think we should accept it as life and be proud that we're part of the human race and that we evolve and change physically from year to year.  It's a sign of being human, not a barbie!  But the next thing is that we actually can prevent much of the annoyance of stretch marks by taking care of our health, and if we do get them, using creams and lotions specifically made for diminishing the appearance of stretch marks!

I was able to try one of the best creams for stretch marks.  It's called StriaFade.  I gave it to someone I know who is a 17-year-old high school body builder on the football team, let's call him J.  He recently had a huge growth spurt, plus was working out a lot with heavy weights to gain size, since he is on the line.  He developed lots of muscle and also got stretch marks on the undersides of  his arms.  I gave him the StriaFade to see if he noticed any difference.  He agreed to try it for awhile to see if there was any difference in the appearance of the stretch marks.  I documented before and after 17 days of use.  This is what I captured. 

Before StriaFade

 

After 17 days

Although the stretch marks are not completely gone, the surface area is much smaller!  And that is from using the product for just 17 days.  I think with continued use, they should diminish even more!  That's great news.  These stretch marks were fairly new and I think it is helpful to treat them as soon after they have developed as possible! 

One reason why anti stretch mark creams work is that they improve the level of collagen in the skin, improving its level of elasticity.  The key to StriaFade's effectiveness is the extraordinary combination of ingredients. StriaFade contains five key ingredients, Regu-Stretch®, Antarcticine®, Shea Butter, Marine Collagen, and Onion Bulb Extract, in addition to many other natural and effective ingredients. This powerful blend of unique, patented ingredients combine into a stretch mark solution that's effectiveness is virtually unequaled in the skin care market.

I'm really happy for J. and the quick response he got with using the cream.  I hope he will continue to use it so that he'll have self-confidence in those all-important young adult years! 

According to the StriaFade site, one bottle of the cream will last about a month to a month and a half, with regular use and when treating smaller areas.  More is required if you are treating a larger area.  They also offer great discounts when you buy multiple bottles of the product.  

You can get social by following them on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter! 

Rejuvenator Microbubble Showerhead #Giveaway

Why the Rejuvenator Showerhead?  "Skin is our largest organ.  Keeping it healthy is extremely important to our overall well-being.  Now, thanks to science and innvovation the Rejuvenator Showerhead cleanses, exfoliates and rejuvenates your skin leaving it feeling clean and healthy.  The Rejuvenator creates billions of microbubbles, which are infused into the water streams creating a stimulating refreshing feeling, like a cascading waterfall, penetrating deep into the skin, effectively removing dirt and oil deep within your pores!"

 The Rejuvenator Showerhead has microbubble technology.  Microbubbles deep-clean your face, skin and hair. The bubble are so tiny they penetrate through the pores, attracting impurities, binding to them and then carrying the impurities out.  They are rinsed away with the water.  It is easy to install and requires no tools!  Just screw in the adapter!  Helena, at A GAL NEEDS...had the opportunity to review this amazing showerhead! Read more about it here!
One reader will win their own Rejuvenator and have the benefit of Microbubble Technology in their home!   Enter in the Rafflecopter below.  If you have won a Rejuvenator Showerhead in the last 12 months, you are not eligible to win this giveaway.  Entrants must be 18 years of age and older, US only, and will be verified.  For additional guidelines, please read the disclosure statement on the Rafflecopter below.

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