All The Buzz #Giveaway - Anti-Aging Serum with Bee Venom (ARV $59)

Welcome to the "All The Buzz" Giveaway, where someone will win Beetinol Anti-Aging Serum with bee venom! Read my review to find out why bee venom has the anti-aging community "buzzing"!

As someone who is over 50 myself, and has been using anti-aging products for awhile, I've really been impressed since adding Beetinol by Green Esthetics to my beauty regime for the past several weeks. My skin is smoother, my wrinkles seem less in number, and the wrinkles I do have are not as visible! I feel like I'm indeed a winner here! It's never too early to start thinking about your skin and preserving its beauty. So if you're in your 20's or 30's and haven't started to think seriously about your skin, start your anti-aging routine now! Don't wait until you're in your 50's, like me, to do something about it!

Green Esthetics is a company that believes in the power of nature. Their products all feature natural ingredients, some which have been known anciently to be beneficial, and others, like bee venom, which are newer on the scene and causing quite the stir! For more information on Beetinol, check out my review!

Today I'm pleased to announce that one lucky winner will receive Beetinol Anti-Aging Serum (ARV 39.95), plus a Beetinol mini roller-bottle (ARV $18.95) to carry in your purse or keep in your desk for a quick beauty pick-me-up!

Beetinol Anti-Aging Serum ($39.95)

Beetinol in Roller-ball Applicator ($18.95)

This "All The Buzz" giveaway is exclusively hosted here on A GAL NEEDS...blog, so only those who enter here will win. Thanks for participating! Good Luck! Follow Green Esthetics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram! Please enter on the Rafflecopter below! See disclaimer below for more details:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Open to U.S.  A GAL NEEDS...received product from this sponsor to facilitate the review of this product. Affiliate links may be present.
Must be 21 or older to participate, one entrant per household. Winner will be contacted by e-mail after 09/2/20.  Must respond within 48 hours.
Entrants with invalid entries will be disqualified.
Sponsor, Green Esthetics, is responsible for delivery of prize package. In the case of non-delivery, A GAL NEEDS...is not responsible for delivery.  Ends 9/2/20 11:59 MST

Taking It Slow + #MyPostMonday - Sharing The Week's Best Original Content

Last January, back before Covid-19 was barely even a glitch on the radar, I was walking around the indoor track with some middle school students and as I'm wont to do, started taking on some of the tendencies of the students I was working with. Namely, we were getting competitive kicking a stray pickleball around the course. I was slaying it, pretending it was more like a soccor ball--dribbling it, out-maneuvering the students around me, blocking like a boss---in other words being more of a show-off than a mentor. That's when my foolishness caught up with me because my middle-aged body was not going to put up with my immature shenanigans. Suddenly my knee buckled and I went down like a rock. It was embarrassing, to say the least, and I pulled myself up as quickly and as inconspicuously as possible. I kept walking around the track, but I was in serious pain. I ended up getting sent to the InstaCare and they recommended physical therapy for two weeks. I was OK with that and still wanted to get back to work. I went to work the following day, intending to just go slowly and not push it. But the vice-principal told me that I had to stay home until released from physical therapy. I was home for approximately two weeks and I'm actually glad that I was able to recover at home, because after 36 hours, the pain became intense and I could barely get around.

Bee Venom In Anti-Aging Serum! My Review of 'Beetinol'

As a woman who has seen her fair share of birthdays roll around, I know what needs to be done to keep oneself looking their best and staying energetic. It includes eating the right foods, avoiding stress, and getting plenty of rest and exercise. Easy to say, but not easy to do. It takes work to stay healthy! Another very important thing is to give your skin extra nourishment from products that use a variety of natural and effective ingredients to preserve the youthfulness of your skin. I've found one that I really like--It's called Beetinol. Its name refers to two of the ingredients within this serum.

I received product for review purposes

This incredible anti-aging serum has a weightless formula which absorbs quickly and hydrates the skin, increasing collagen production, reducing fine lines and wrinkles by increasing the skins elasticity and general health on a cellular level.

Highlights of the active ingredients:

Bee Venom naturally increases blood circulation, skin hydration, and the natural production of collagen which firms the skin and smooths out wrinkles. As a matter of fact, in a published study bee venom was shown to clinically improve facial wrinkles by decreasing total wrinkle area, total wrinkle count, and average wrinkle depth

Retinol works on a molecular level to tighten and tone the skins with antioxidants reducing fine lines and preventing new wrinkles.
 
Peptide Complex are powerful anti-aging proteins which encourage collagen production and a firmer more even complexion.

Hyaluronic Acid occurs naturally in the body and improves the skins texture and smoothness, but natural aging and other environmental factors decrease the body’s level.

Vitamin K reduces naturally occurring inflammation in the skin by strengthening and hydrating your skin cells promoting an even skin tone.

Vitamin C is essential for many cellular skin functions working to combat free radicals and boost collagen levels.

My Experience With Beetinol:

Over the course of 10+ years of reviewing different beauty products, I have come to expect a certain quality from the products that I review. And that quality is overwhelmingly good! After all, I don't review products that I wouldn't be happy to use on a regular basis myself. But I was really pleasantly surprised at the initial experience with Beetinol. It is really light, and sinks into the skin quickly. The smell is pleasant but not overwhelming. And my skin feels protected and hydrated all day! There was a smoothness to it that was really surprising. At age 59, I don't expect miracles but this seemed to be as close to a miracle as possible!

See my video on YouTube

I should have known that I would have a good experience with this product. After all, I have reviewed some of this company's other quality beauty products. See my reviews on Alightener Teeth Whitening Foam, Argon Oil and Longer Lash. Each of these products has not disappointed and has exceeded my expectations!

Follow Green Esthetics on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Source

 

A Blind Eye + #MyPostMonday The Week's Best Original Content

Today I'm as distracted and behind as ever, having no real idea of what to post. I've been all over the internet today, in the course of operating my blog and seeing so much that just makes me say "wow". So much so, that I feel a little overwhelmed. But I'm pressing forward and the result is this re-cap of one thing I saw.

I saw one video in particular that struck me. It was of a guy on a motorbike, wearing a body cam. It looked as if he was going to record himself biking and he wanted to capture some sick footage of his epic ride! But instead, he unexpectedly passed by a really bad fire, in someone's backyard-- a large detached deck of sorts. The flames were  getting ready to jump to the main home. There were several neighbors gathered around, talking, and looking.

He jumped off his bike, camera still rolling, and starts action immediately. He gets a neighbor's water hose and drags it as close as he can to the actual fire, which is raging out of control. The neighbors are still watching.

My Braces Journey Part III + Special Offer and Treatment Discount!

My year-long journey with braces has come to a close and I couldn't be happier! Yes, I'm happy that it is over, but even more happy about the results! Here are a few things that I can share about my overall journey and what you can expect with invisible braces from Invisalign and an Invisalign Certified Orthodontist.

My initial problem: Over time, one of my lower teeth had moved and whenever I talked it stuck out and was really obvious. I hadn't really noticed it until my husband and son both made comments about it. I also noticed that my 2 front teeth were slightly overlapping and there was a small gap in between them that gave me a slight lisp.

My final results: Both of the above problems were fixed, plus one that I didn't realize I had. Dr. Cook informed me that my upper teeth were slanting quite a bit inward, affecting my bite and the way I talked. At the end of treatment, my upper teeth were back to a normal position and it really makes a difference, not only in my smile, but also in how I chew, talk, and how my jaw is aligned.

I loved wearing Invisalign braces because it wasn't obvious that I was wearing braces at all. They didn't show up in photos, and many people didn't even know that I had braces. They were invisible to someone just a couple feet from me. In addition, I was able to eat whatever I wanted because I took them out when doing so. Also, it was easier than wire braces to clean my teeth and get food particles out and keep my gums healthy.

Wearing my braces. It's hard to see them!

I used 2 products to keep my teeth white and clean my braces (called trays). Alightener  Foam is a combo Tray Cleaner/Teeth Whitener. It was really easy to use and I'm still using it now for teeth whitening purposes. The smaller spray was for quickly cleaning a tray when on the go. I love both of these products and highly recommend them.

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I was so glad that I chose an Invisalign Certified Orthodontist and specifically, Dr. Michael Cook. (He's such a nice guy!) Dr. Cook has the expertise that an extra 2-3 years gives to those with Orthodontic certification. Did you know that Orthodontists go to school an average to 10 - 11 years? And if they are Invisalign Certified, it takes time and experience to do that as well. Dr. Cook is a Gold Certified Invisalign Provider.

After my experience, I could never choose a generic, computer-generated braces treatment, where no doctor (or maybe a random doctor at best) checks up on you on a regular basis. I also would never have a regular dentist do my work because they just don't have the training and expertise like an orthodontist does.

Dr. Cook uses up-to-date equipment and technology in his office. He uses the Mandibular Advancement Feature, which simultaneously can fix an overbite while straightening the teeth. He also uses the iTero Digital Scanning System, eliminating the use of messy putty in your mouth by creating a 3-D digital scan of your teeth. For instance, they scanned me for my final retainer, which I'll wear for awhile every night and then decrease to 2 - 3 times per week. It was ready for pick-up the following day because the scanner produces ready-to-use impressions so quickly.

Dr. Cook's staff was so much fun! The office always had a really great vibe--one of productivity while having a good time. Everyone worked in sync, and were very organized.

My last few appointments were kind of sad. I couldn't really see any of my ortho workers' happy faces because they were masked up because of the Covid-19 regulations. They take their patients' and their own safety very seriously. Obviously, the patient doesn't wear a mask, but they are asked very specific questions,temperatures taken, and given hand sanitizer when entering the office.

See my 'before' pics in Parts I and II

I couldn't have been more pleased with the journey I chose to take with Dr. Cook and his office. Now with my newly straightened teeth, I can focus on things that I need to focus on and not ever have to worry about my teeth again!

If you are within a 35 mile radius of Sandy, UT, and are thinking of straightening your teeth, you definitely should consider Cook Ortho in Sandy. And if you're not in the area, I hope that my journey helped to inform you about what clear, esthetic teeth alignment is all about!

Before settling on Cook, I had many consultations from around the area. Cook Ortho came out on top in terms of cost-effectiveness, transparency, positive patient rapport, advanced methods of treatment and expertise. Schedule your free consult and get a free teeth whitening kit when you mention A GAL NEEDS...blog. Go even further by scheduling a treatment plan and get $600 off your entire treatment when you mention A GAL NEEDS....See what a beautiful smile can do for you! (Offer good through August 2020)

Follow Cook Orthodontics on Facebook and Instagram

Read Parts I and II of my braces journey here and here. For more at A GAL NEEDS...follow on Instagram and Facebook

Success Through Failure + #MyPostMonday Linky -The Week's Best Original Content

Wow, what a week, month, and year this has been. With no sign of it really ending anytime soon! The thing that I've seen, though, is that people are so resiliant, so ready to try, so anxious to be their best selves, so determined to be happy, come what may.

And I just marvel! Some examples that have moved me in recent days:

1) The mom who was told in her teens that because of a severe case of PCOS, she would likely never have children. She beat the odds with fertility treatment once, twice, and then, when she thought her chances of ever conceiving again were gone, due to the sudden cancellation of her infertility treatments because of Covid-19, in her moment of darkest despair, there it was---the two lines of the pregnancy test. In disbelief they took the test 4 times with different brands of pregnancy tests. Of course, the journey isn't done, she had to endure a painful surgery just to keep the baby in her womb in a hospital all alone. But she has courage, she is pulling through and has profound hope that she will be the mom of a miracle baby in a few months!

2) A young mom of 5 beautiful kids, wife of the high school football coach, successful social media personality, and owner of a successful dance studio, gets the devastating news that she has AML Leukemia. Cancer. Serious. Lethal . Robber of joy. As she shares with everyone her ups and downs in a hospital room where noone is allowed because of Covedf-19 restrictions, she bravely keeps going with her live online sharing sessions, where she not only inspires us, but tells us how incredibly blessed she is. She then starts dancing in her room and does a hospital patient fashion show. It's the craziest thing. It's like she is trying to make us feel better when she is the one enduring all that suffering. She is still on her cancer journey and you bet, I'm right there with her, rooting for her and hoping that she'll recover. Some days are complete failures for h er--her blood count numbers go down, her symptoms intensify, and her husband and children can't be there with her. On top of that, she recently lost her mother, who was her biggest fan, and support system. She swears that she feels her mom there, being her guardian angel, orchestrating the care she can't be there to give. She gives an example: Before she knew she had cancer, through her dance studio she was able to help a little girl named Indy Lew, who was diagnosed with....AML Leukemia, the same cancer she now has. Indy Lew's mom has come to the hospital several times to help her, care for her, and give her encouragement because now Indy Lew is now healed, in remission and doing great! I wish @thetiabeestokes every luck on her journey, because she has helped make ours so much better!

Find Sleep Relief With Sleep Cube! Review and Discount Code!

The struggle is real……to get a good night’s sleep, that is! For years, I was the one who could always count on getting enough sleep. I could sleep 12 hours a day if allowed. I wasn’t very empathetic to others who weren’t as fortunate with their sleeping patterns. Sure, there were the few sleepless  instances when I was fraught with worry over something, if I was looking forward to an activity that was going to be really fun, or if I had to do something the next day that was really stressful.  But those seemed to be few and far in between.

However, it finally caught up. This past year has been terrible for sleep. It has been such a struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep, and get up rested and ready to go through the day. As I lay in bed, tossing and turning at 2am, my mind and body are not in agreement as to what I am supposed to be doing! My mind wants sleep and my body says no! I came to the realization that this is what people were talking about about when they spoke of insomnia. It's definitely NOT a fun gig.

I believe in the occasional sleep aid, but I don’t want to get dependent on anything whatsoever, but once in awhile I would allow myself to take something a little stronger than Tylenol PM.When I did give myself that allowance, I found that I would pay for it later. I'd get a headache, or I'd be extra groggy and lethargic.

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What I did do, was to start collecting pillows. There were firm pillows, soft pillows, memory foam pillows, ridged pillows, small pillows and large pillows. They are all double cased and they all rest on my bed, but no more than 7 at a time. ('cause that would be hoarding after that!) The idea is that if I could arrange all the pillows around me in the perfect way, I would be so well supported and so comfortable that once I fell asleep, I would stay asleep and not wake up until morning. It worked (Once in a blue moon)! In the meantime, I could always use the pillows when I was awake and reading in bed. They certainly make good tablet props, elbow props, upright head position props, and so on.

Palazzo Pants -- A Summer Must-Have

It's the weekend and summer is here! I love loose-fitting, airy, comfortable clothing. Usually my style will be ultra casual, but sometimes we want to dress things up a little. Palazzo pants are the perfect way to do that! Palazzo pants certainly fit the criteria of being loose and airy, if you get the right material. The pants I am wearing here are definitely loose and airy! I love the navy blue and white print! It looks so crisp and clean with a white tee or a navy blue jacket.

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I'm going to go from more dressed up this time down to the ultra casual style that I'm known to be kicking around in most of the time. First we have the pants paired with a navy blue jacket that I acquired quite awhile back as part of an outfit. I knew I wanted to keep the jacket because it's so lightweight and easy to care for. The top that went with it and the pants are long gone. But here we have these palazzos to bring that jacket back into the rotation! I also had a quilted bag that I don't use too often at all, but the bag brings out the navy blue of the jacket and the lighter blues of the pants. So the contrasting print seems to work out, what do you think?

Believe it or not, this past week has been rather chilly, the temperature dipped down into the 40's overnight and didn't get above the 50's. So the long-sleeved sport shirt purchased at Costco this past winter was great to wear with the pants. It was actually a casual look, but when paired with heeled sandals, it passed for something you could wear shopping or out running errands.

Finally, my most loved and comfy look--the basic white tee worn along with the palazzos and some flip flops! As you can see the pants have some extra length on me when not wearing a bit of a heel, which I personally don't mind if I'm going casual, at least not enough to hem them. I'm just under 5"5 and they could easily accommodate the length of someone 5"8 or even 5"9. I don't think someone with that height could wear a heel, but easily a great sandal or sneaker would work! I'm usually a medium size and I ordered the medium here (10 - 12). 

The pants are from Cents of Style. They have other prints available as well. I like the elasticized waist and the easy fit. It is made from 100% rayon, a silk alternative so you need to be careful when washing. Wash it on the gentle cycle on cool and never dry it in a hot dryer. To avoid wrinkles, fluff dry it for a few minutes and remove promptly. Follow me on Instagram to see more fashion posts under the hashtag #agalneedsfashion

A New Narrative + #MyPostMonday Linky

Some people never change, and then some do! It's funny how some people I haven't seen in many years will reappear and somehow they are different than when I knew them back in the day.

For instance, one of my high school friends whom I knew quite well was so boy crazy! Everything she did was done to impress and snag a boy! I used to think, "Girl, get a grip. There is more to life than just boys!" Needless to say she met someone right out of high school, her prince charming, and got married. Unfortunately, it ended in divorce.

To know her now is to see her minus the boy crazy, self-absorbed personality she once had. Now, she is all about her children, her grandchildren and about making a better world around her. She is absolutely wonderful to be around. My thoughts about her are that she has really changed and has caught hold of the important things in life. I know she will again find love because she is a beautiful person. But it isn't the all-consuming passion of her life that it once was. She has broadened her scope.

Have I changed too? How have my experiences changed and shaped me? Do former acquaintances see a gentler, more compassionate person or do they see the same impulsive, crazy, moody person I once was?

What Queen Victoria Taught Us About Ourselves + #MyPostMonday Linky

One of my favorite T.V. shows is 'Victoria', shown in seasons, all about the life of Queen Victoria. I'm sure the show has been romanticized but all the same, it is highly historical and I have learned so much about the nuances of British aristocracy, the war, the Spanish flu, and the British government, to name a few things. Combined with the show, 'Downton Abbey', and the movie 'Pride And Prejudice', my love of all things historical British aristocracy runs deep!

The actress who plays Victoria, Jenna Coleman, seems to portray Victoria quite well physically, as she was in her younger years, very petite and with large blue eyes. But even more, she shows the vulnerability yet fierce determination of a teenage girl who has been put into the daunting position of being Queen of the most powerful nation in the world at the time.

Of course, Victoria had some training in the ways of royalty before being placed on the throne and had been groomed for awhile to be in that position. But even so, the patriarchy of the Parliament was overwhelming. She had to show all of those men that she could meet them head-on and contribute in a confident and intelligent manner.

At first the going was a bit rough, but as she observed with a keen eye, she picked up even more as time passed. Of course she had some great allies in Lord Melbourne, the Prime Minister and her husband, Prince Albert. They helped her navigate through those first few years. But she always held her place as the Queen and fiercely reserved her right to have the last say after weighing all options. In my opinion, she did an incredible job!