Adovia Dead Sea Mud Shampoo Review

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

I have heard and tried a variety of Dead Sea products over the years and been really pleased with the skin care results but I never knew there were hair products too. Dead Sea Mud has been known for centuries for it's healing properties as you probably know. People travel from all over the world to come and experience the amazing results at the Dead Sea.  You probably are familiar with Dead Sea Salts and Mud since they have been featured in numerous magazines and on those high profile day time shows and even in nationally known newspapers. Dead Sea Mud truly contains the highest concentration of minerals found in mud anywhere in the world. It is pretty exciting that the benefits of Dead Sea mud and salt are now available in a shampoo too.

Adovia's Dead Sea Mud Shampoo is specially formulated with natural ingredients such as Dead Sea Mud, Chamomile and Olive Oil.  All of these special ingredients bring deep hydration and moisture to the scalp.  This is an excellent option to help relieve itching and flakiness.  Think about how all these essential minerals aid in proper skin function and help to regulate moisture retention and hydration. 

My thoughts and experiences:  I was surprised at how nicely this shampoo cleaned my hair and rinsed out very easily from the first time I used it.  My scalp felt refreshed and clean. My hair was super easy to style and as I continued to use it I noticed my scalp felt healthier. The winter was so long and dry I actually was experiencing flaking which was unusual for me. I noticed the flaking has stopped and my scalp looks good. I will continue to use this since it works well.

Here are the ingredients from the manufacturer's website:

Demineralised Water (Aqua) & Dead Sea Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide Dea, Fragrance (Parfum), Glycol Stearate, Propylene Glycol & Chamomile (Anthemis Nobilis) Extract & Algae Extract & Papaya (Carica Papaya) Extract & Aloe Vera (Barbadensis) Gel, Sodium Chloride, Dead Sea Salt, Polyquaternium – 7, Wheat (Triticum Vulgare) Germ Oil, Grape (Vitis Vinifera) Seed Oil, Sweet Almond (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis) Oil, Carrot (Daucus Carota) Seed Oil, Olive (Olea Europaea) Oil, Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii), Panthenol (Pro Vitamin B5), Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit E), Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone.

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.

DSpeed Fast-Melt Vitamin D3 1000 IU Review

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial. Always check with your physician before starting any supplement product and specifically DSpeed Fast Melt Vitamin D3. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare professional prior to use if you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medication or have a medical condition.  Keep out of reach of children.

I have been taking Vitamin D supplements for a number of years now since my Vitamin D levels tested low. I take it along with my calcium to make sure it gets absorbed properly. I don't want to have any weak or broken bones! My doctor told me the D really helps the calcium absorption. I was curious to try a new form of Vitamin D that melts in your mouth.  DSpeed™ is a delicious, natural peach- flavored, sugar free fast-melt tablet that melts in your mouth in seconds. It is formulated with only the highest quality of Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) from lanolin and helps the body replenish this nutrient to fight off possible Vitamin D deficiencies.  I love fruit flavors so I thought this was a great idea to help me make sure I got my supplement in every day.

I thought it tasted great. It melted in a few seconds in my mouth and I didn't need to take it with water. Pretty cool!  DSpeed even got a three star Superior Taste Award recently in an event organized by The International Taste and Quality Institute (iTQi) in Belgium.  DSpeed™ was tested by a taste panel of Chefs and Sommeliers within Europe's most prestigious culinary and sommelier associations. The judging process was conducted on a blind basis without any kind of labeling. I am not surprised that they got a Superior Taste Award since it really does taste great. I like that I can pop one on the go so I don't have to worry about forgetting or remembering when I am running to work for example.

If you don't know what Vitamin D is, here is a little background information from DSpeed to get you up to speed on your basic supplements:  Vitamin D (cholecalciferol) is a form of steroid that promotes normal levels of calcium and phosphorus in the body. It is commonly found in sources such as eggs, fish, cod liver oil, and whole milk and has five forms: D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5. In regard to health, the two most important forms are D2, which is called ergocalciferol, and D3, which is known as cholecalciferol. Vitamin D2 is produced in plants, while sunlight exposure causes the skin to produce vitamin D3. Both D2 and D3 are often added to nutritional supplements as it was previously thought that both forms were equally effective, but research has shown that D3 is more potent than D2 and remains active in the body longer than D2 1-3. Vitamin D3 is also converted in the body to the most biologically active form of vitamin D called calcitriol 4. (Click on References, then navigate to Science - About Vitamin D if you want to see some of the references here)

The company also shared that DSpeed™ Vitamin D3 fast-melt tablets also support bone and teeth formation, the immune system and overall cellular health.* The fast-melt technology used in DSpeed™ allows for a great-tasting tablet to dissolve in the mouth with the use of water; making it ideal for children, the elderly, athletes and those with an active lifestyle. You can pick DSpeed™ Vitamin D3 fast-melt tablets up on Amazon too.

Please Note: *If you are allergic to corn, this product is not for you. We use sorbitol, a natural sweetener, as a substitute to sugar and sucralose. We naturally derive our sorbitol from corn. Although there is zero corn in this product, sorbitol has been known to cause digestive issues to people with sensitivity to corn.

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.

Mom' Night Out MommyParty #MNOmovie #NMNO14

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received a party pack of information and giveaways compliments of MomSelect and Mom' Night Out in order to share via a home party with my guests. My opinions are my own. I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and  believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:  "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Are you looking for a few good laughs over Mother's Day weekend?  No worries if you have big plans for Mother's Day weekend, Mom's Night Out will be just hitting the theatre Mother's Day weekend so you will have plenty of time to plan an excellent GNO over the next few weeks to enjoy a few drinks and lots of laughs. 

Each of us deserves a special moms' night out from time to time. We need an evening to relax and wind  down (or maybe wind it up!) with friends, socialize and enjoy some well deserved girl time.  Thanks to my friends at MomSelect and Mom's Night Out I was able to host a fun party this past weekend.  MomSelect shared a bag full of treats with us to help make our party extra fun. I am a firm believer that good friendships literally make you healthier  Experts actually say they increase your life span, boost your immune system, and make you feel generally happier as a person.  Even the moms in the movie, "Mom's Night Out" learn a lot of these important lessons. I am glad I figured them out years ago. My friends and I are stuck together like glue! 

The day before the party my daughter helped me bake some bar cookies and brownies so we could have some yummy snacks. I whipped together a few easy dips like my classic artichoke/spinach dip and my famous hummus.  I picked up a few bottles of wine and some cocktail mixes too.

The evening of the party I set my music to some great Pandora stations and turned the volume on up so we could have some good background sounds.  I set my snacks out and put the drinks and glasses on a cart so everyone could mix their own. I was so glad that most of my friends were able to come...usually someone has a sick child or something happens but not this time. We had a great night hanging out and catching up with one another. All the old shore house stories came up and we laughed about our beach house summers.  It really doesn't seem THAT long ago...boy time goes so fast.  We convinced each other that we still look great and we can totally rock those tiny little dresses we used to wear out to the clubs.  We really can...we all work hard to keep in good shape. It was a fun night and got us chatting about when we are going to see the movie, "Mom's Night Out." It is something that we can all relate to so we are going to try for the weekend after Mother's Day.  If you see it before then don't tell me how it ends, okay?

MOMS' NIGHT OUT is a fast-paced, family comedy about four moms scheduling a night out where everything can and will go wrong, yet it all turns out just fine in the end. The film features a fantastic lineup of stars like Sarah Drew (Grey's Anatomy), Sean Astin (THE LORD OF THE RINGS), and Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond, The Middle) It opens on Mother's Day Weekend.

P.S. We did get to see the movie the weekend after Mother's Day! It was a good opportunity to get together again...we did a dinner before....a glass of wine did us all good too. The movie was funny and we had a great time.

Alex Marestaing I'm Nobody: The Lost Pages Book Review

Disclosure:  I was not financially compensated for this post.  I received the product to evaluate for review purposes. 

I recently received a new book to check out and review called, I'm Nobody: The Lost Pages by Alex Marestaing. This book centers around a teenage boy named Caleb Reed.  He has a lot of issues and that is actually what draws you in and gets you hooked....fast.  His dad actually thinks he is losing his cookies altogether.  Alex Marestaing does a great job of adding really interesting elements into the story little by little to keep you engaged.  He has an older sister who died to add to the drama.

Thirteen year old Caleb watches the same episode of America's Funniest Home Videos over and over....for the past 6 years. Yes, the same episode. You know he has some issues but that is what makes the book so funny. He has a lot of kooky regimens that he follows. He hasn't even been out of the house since who knows when either to add to the drama.  The author adds an abandoned mansion across the street to get Caleb even more off kilter and adds to his daily obsessions. 

Then someone named "Emily Dickinson" leaves an odd note on his doorstep. Even freakier, it's folded perfectly and wrapped up in black ribbon.  The note says, "I'm nobody. Who are you?" it reads. "Are you nobody too?" This is just the beginning. 

Strange, poetic messages continue to arrive at his doorstep and Caleb ventures outside a little bit more and more to get them.  He wonders obsessively who these notes are from.  Are they from someone already deceased like the real Emily Dickinson or maybe his poor sister that died a few years ago?   Are the notes from Iris, the YouTube obsessed eighth grader who has begun filming an indie film on his street? Has his deceased older sister returned from the grave to deliver some sort of message?

With his sanity in question, Caleb Reed's entire existence depends on finding an answer.

My thoughts:  This is a riveting book which keeps twisting and turning as you read deeper into it. Just when you think you have an answer then you realize you don't.  I like the way the personalities develop and you gain an inside look into Caleb and his family.  I think that is why I enjoy reading so much more than tv or even movies. You can go at your own pace with a good book and let your mind take you on a fun ride wherever the author goes. This is a good book for a summer beach read or a long weekend getaway. 

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and  believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:  "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."