Sandy Bumz Ground Cover Giveaway

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. I am partnering with a group of bloggers to offer the giveaway. No financial or product compensation was given.

Welcome To The Sandy Bumz Ground Cover Giveaway!

Tis' the season for warm weather and outdoor gatherings with or without the family. For those days when you just want to sit in the grass in the park, or in the sand on the beach, without a lot of muss and fuss, this Sandy Bumz Ground Cover is a drop-and-go kind of product that you will use over and over again. You can just toss it in the trunk of your car and have it available for those times when you need it. It's lightweight, easy to fold and unfold and helps keep dirt, sand, pests, etc. at bay. I love this kind of product and this one takes it a step further, by having a raised border all the way around too, providing even more protection than if it were just a flat blanket. I really like this product and could see our family using it time and time again. For us it would be perfect for summer days at the park or the beach.

This giveaway is part of our Mother's Day Gift Guide. Stop by to see all the great giveaways and products!

Sandy Bumz is perfect for the beach, the park and anywhere you and your family want to sit in comfort outdoors.

How to Travel Safely and Stress Free with Children

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When travelling with children, make sure you keep everyone safe and happy. Children often become bored easily on road trips and may not realize that you’re stopping to see the sights. If you want your children to enjoy the experience, put some thought into what you’re doing as you plan your road trip.

 

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FactorFive Restorative Serum for Mother's Day

Disclosure: I received a product sample or a discount off of the purchase price. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Mother's Day is coming up and if you are looking for something extra special to gift your mom, Factorfive Regenerative Serum is a luxurious, expensive (and oh so worth it) serum that helps with so many different things. For starters, this best selling product has been proven to target the signs of aging such as wrinkles, sun spots, tightness, thickness, texture and more. It is also pretty groud-breaking: The potent regenerative serum combines human stem cell derived growth factors with copper peptides to help restore the skin.

Playmobil now has Volkswagen Kits!

Disclosure: I received samples or a discount to apply towards the purchase of the products mentioned. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

 

   

This building kit just screams summer in a box to me. This little Playmobil family is out and about and ready to explore new destinations. Of course doing it in a Volkswagen Beetle just makes it that much more exciting. I mean seriously, how cute is this for the kids to build?  This one is 52-pieces and it is just the kind of kit that kids love to sit around and build. It also makes the adults a little nostalgic. There's just something about a bug...

The VW Beetle is a real classic. Now the cult car with its unmistakable shape is entering the cheerful PLAYMOBIL world. Of course, the PLAYMOBIL Beetle has all the characteristic features that make it so unique, such as the curved fenders, the VW logo, the vertical windshield, the blue paint and the typical rear hood with a 4-cylinder boxer engine. After removing the roof, the lovingly designed interior with beige seats, dashboard and steering wheel is revealed. On the back seat there is space for the child, as well as a cool bag, sand toys and towel. Suitcase and surfboard can be strapped to the roof rack. Now it's time to get in and go to the beach! The playset contains three PLAYMOBIL figures, a Volkswagen Beetle by PLAYMOBIL with roof rack, removable roof and tailgate that can be opened, surfboard, cool box, sand toys and many other accessories.

How To Travel Safely With Your Dog

 Disclosure: This is a partnered post. Please welcome today's contributor.

Your dog is as much a part of your family as kids or a partner, so of course, it makes sense that you’ll want to take them with you when you travel. It’s important to understand that simply putting your dog in the car and driving or booking them onto a plane and hoping for the best isn’t going to be enough; you must plan in advance.

Even though dogs can be very in-tune to what we are doing, it is still very hard– impossible in most cases – to make them understand that they are going on a journey. This is why you need to prepare in advance to ensure that you have everything ready and aren’t stressed. It will make the trip much easier for you and your pet.

Image from Pixabay

Things You Need For Your Next Trip Away

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Traveling is a great way of gaining life experience and being able to see those iconic monuments or landmarks that you’ve only been able to see in books or online up until now. With that being said, there are some crucial things you’ll need for your travel, so here are things you need for your next trip away.

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How to Fall in Love With Cooking All Over Again

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It’s hard to truly love something if we feel like we don’t have a choice. You might like what you do for a living, but since it’s not really voluntary, there’ll be times when you wish you could be doing something else. The same principle can apply to cooking. Most people have a love/hate relationship with cooking, and in an age when we’ve had to cook more than usual (since restaurants have been closed), the pendulum is increasingly on the hate side of things. The good news is that it’s always possible to reignite your love of cooking! In this blog, we’ll take a look at a few tried and tested methods that’ll have you on the right path in no time.

Pexels - CC0 Licence 

How to Start Feeling More Confident about Your Body- Starting Today

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Research has shown that the more time you spend on social media, the lower your self-esteem is. Instead of deleting all of your social media profiles, you need to try and find healthy coping mechanisms that will stop you from feeling bad about your body.

Write Down the Cool Stuff you Can Do

Instead of focusing on the things that you hate about your body, you need to acknowledge everything that your body has helped you to do. It may be that you have had a baby, that you are able to run a race or that you can lift weights. Either way, your body is your friend, and if you have low self-esteem, then there’s a chance that you have made yours into an enemy. This is the last thing that you need, so it helps to make sure that you are focusing on the positives and not just the negatives. If you are seriously unhappy with your body and want to make a change, surgery is an option. Just make sure that you do your research and that you watch videos about tummy tuck surgery before you commit.

Source: Pexels (CC0 License)

Non Candy Ideas for Easter with Bundle Giveaway

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Some of you might remember that my oldest granddaughter is a very healthy eater. She's gotten a little more relaxed in her 7-years (she now likes ice cream and M&Ms, and yes, sometimes she likes them together). For them most part though, she makes wise choices about what she puts on her plate. Her parents still don't like to have her sugared up, and so I am careful about what I gift her on holidays that typically entail a lot of candy or other types of sweets. As such, I have compiled a list below of great gift ideas that have zero calories (because you don't eat them) and the kids will love them just the same. Candy after all, is gone right after you eat it. These are going to last a lot longer, and some of them (like the books) will last long enough to be passed down from one generation to another.

Old Trapper for the Beef Jerky Win!

Disclosure: I received samples. All opinions stated are genuine and my own. 

I know better than to buy ahead on certain things and Old Trapper Beef Jerky is one of them. Why? Because they're too hard to resist eating or gifting prior to the day or event for which I was saving them. My first intent was to tuck these into the Easter Baskets for the grown kids. They always enjoy that because they are jerky lovers through and through.

Scent Split Sample Shipment #4

Wow! If you've seen any of my previous Scent Split posts (linked under the 'fragrance' tab at the top of the blog), you might remember they send their splits in pull top dab bottles. This shipment, however, had the sample atomizers with a spray. They're only filled partially, and a note is included to tell you that is intentional so you don't think you're getting less than you should. Do I like the bottles? Yes!!! Spray is so much nicer for testing!! However, if they were to go back to dab bottles, I would still buy. Trying before buying is absolutely the way to go with scent. What one person (or even hundreds of people) love, could be a total turn off to you, or not work well on your skin. 

For all of the scents I try, I only find a few that I really, really like and want to purchase in full-sized bottles. It is worth every scent cent though, because when I do buy, I know it's something I'm really, really going to enjoy. I found a keeper in this shipment (the seventh scent on this list) and that makes me absolutely delighted. There were some others that I enjoyed too, and some that I did not (which is to be expected). I'll list them for you below.

3 Secrets to Ripping the Best From Your Workout Sessions

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Exercising is one of the most effective measures you can take towards self-care. The truth is working out is not meant for specific people, and you do not have to be overweight to hit the gym. This activity has profound benefits, such as the reduced risk of lifestyle diseases, improved mental health, general well-being, and healthy, lasting social relationships. 

How To Improve Happiness & Feel Satisfied With Your Life

 Disclosure: This is a partnered post. Please welcome today's contributor.

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Being happy doesn’t always come easy. You may find yourself struggling to focus on the positives and live your best life. However, be glad to know that it’s never too late to make changes that will boost your happiness and help you feel more satisfied with your life overall.

It’s all about what you choose to do or not do each day. Life’s all about choices and you must be making moves that are healthy and contributing to improving your lifestyle if you want to succeed. The following advice will put you on the right track to improving yourself and your life and finding more happiness.

Spot Your Teen's Strengths...and then Tell Them About It!

This post is made possible with support from the Center for Parent and Teen Communication, part of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. All opinions are my own.

The Center for Parent and Teen Communication provides science-based strategies to support healthy family relationships. They're short, to the point, and spot-on with their advice. They also have a 100-word, daily parenting tip newsletter that you can sign up for, and it's free.

The CPTC has six short videos running and my favorite is Spot their Strengths. I love the message in it, to let teens know how you see them through your eyes. I've always told my son the positives I see in him, and watching this video reinforced the reasons for doing that...just this morning, I mentioned to him that I love his sense of drive (he made A Honor Roll last quarter and is striving to do the same for this one), I told him that his dedication towards his studies will absolutely help him go far in life...and I believe that it will!

These kinds of messages are good for us to hear as parents, and even better for our children to hear. Check out the six videos found HERE and see which one you like the best.

Crayola is Offering your Kids a Crafting EXPERIENCE

Disclosure: I received a product or a discount off of the purchase of one. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

If you have a child/ren in the house, you are probably also very familiar with crafts (and if not, try it, kids love to create!). If you work with them, or remember from your own youth (who doesn't remember the 64 crayon box with a built-in sharpener...that was pure gold!) Crayola makes the best products for kids. I don't know how they do it, but no one masters crafting items with vibrant colors like they do, and as a parent and now I grandparent, I surely appreciate it. 

The set you see above was gifted to my granddaughter for the holiday season. It was part of a package to help celebrate Crayola's new limited edition kits that were out for that time of the year, and both ideas were absolutely fabulous and delivered right to your door, which is something that has become very much appreciated right now.

How To Improve Your Relationship With Food

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As a society, our relationship with food is a complicated one. While we have an abundance of food in some places, others struggle to find enough food to feed their families. Meanwhile, obesity statistics are only increasing, while eating disorders are also rife around the world. It’s clear that something is missing when it comes to relating healthily to the food we eat, but where do we even start when it comes to unpacking this?

While this one blog post won’t put the world to rights, we can start here to unpack how and why our relationships with food have gone awry, and how to set them straight. If you are struggling with your food right now, make sure to contact a licensed therapist to talk through the issues with them.

Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

 Disclosure: I have joined up with blogger friends to offer an Amazon Giveaway. I have not been paid to participate.

Welcome To The $50 Amazon Cash Giveaway!

This giveaway is part of our Spring Gift Guide. Stop by to see all the great giveaways and products!

Want $50 to Amazon? We know you do. Amazon is the one-stop-shop for almost anything you could ever want.

How Is Your Business Perceived?

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One of the most important things when starting any business is to understand that perception is everything. The way that people see your business is the thing that will impact whether or not it actually succeeds. In the modern world, while it might be easier than ever to set up any business right from your own home, that also means that the marketplace is more saturated than ever before so if you’re not able to make the right impression on the wider world in your business, you’re going to be in trouble. With that in mind, here are some that the general public might be perceiving your business and what to do about it.

How To Be More Confident In Your Body

 Disclosure: This is a partnered post. Please welcome today's contributor.

Confidence in your body doesn’t come easily. We’re all different and what makes us different, can also make us conscious of who we are and what we look like. The reality is, that everyone is beautiful and deserving of confidence in themselves. So with that being said, here are some tips to be more confident in your body.

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You Better BeLeev It!

 Disclosure: I received a product or a discount towards a product. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

My grown boys, like their mother (ahem) work a lot. They have very little down time, and honestly, neither do I, so when one of them gets a chance to come spend some time at mama's, I am very happy indeed. This weekend the oldest carved time out to come see his mama, and as always happens when the boys get together, some of the toys came out... like this new skateboard we have in the house from BeLeev.

How To Deal With The Unexpected

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(Image credit)

We all want life to be happy, easy, and never have any problems. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. They say ‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade’ but sometimes life won’t even hand you that. Unexpected things happen and we can’t always plan for every eventuality so here are a few ways to deal with problems that may happen in life when we aren’t prepared or ready to take them on.

8 Things to Consider Before Moving Home

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Moving house is a big commitment. Not only does it take a lot of time to move your entire life across town or to a new city, but there are a lot of nitty-gritty legal details that need to be finalized along the way. If only moving home was as simple as moving the furniture and settling in. 

For those thinking about moving home, buying your first home, or while moving, here are some things to consider to make the process as smooth as possible. 

   Via: Pixabay 

Scent Split for My Valentine's Day Gift to Myself!

What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than with a new scent? Honestly, though I do love flowers, fragrance has become my new favorite floral bouquet. Scent Split is one of my two favorite places at the moment to try samples, and when I find something I love, I buy the bigger bottle. No money wasted is always my favorite gift to myself. I ordered 7 scent splits for women, and one for men (my oldest two boys have also taken an interest in my new love of niche and designer perfumes and fragrances).

Choosing Your Living Room Colors

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Photo by Malte Luk from Pexels

Ready to change things up for the new year? With all the restrictions on travel, you will probably be spending

more time at home. This makes it the perfect time to redecorate your living room. 

Romantic North Carolina is Perfect for Valentine's Day

 Known for its historic sites, charming towns and breathtaking scenery, North Carolina is a popular spot to take a break. Whether you’re planning to stay in one place or to organize a packed itinerary that takes in a host of destinations, it’s natural to want to make the most of your time. If you have a trip in the pipeline, here are some tips to make your break extra special. 

Image source: https://pixabay.com/photos/north-carolina-meadow-deer-elk-1872517/

Shopping on a Budget

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Your kids grow up fast. And as they grow their tastes change, and the things they used to like are going to be the things they hate these days. They’re going to want new clothes and new toys, and they’re going to be interested in what their friends like, and soon they’re going to be wanting more and more of an allowance from you so they can cut out the middleman and buy their own things!  

While this is just a natural part of raising kids, it can get very expensive. Namely, trying to buy the right clothing for growing children can get very, very pricey, and you might slam straight through your budget each year because of it. But what can you do? Well, it’s time to start saving on clothes shopping with the tips below.

10 Alternatives to Sugary Valentine's Day Treats

 Disclosure: Items may have been received complimentary or at a discount. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Valentine's Day is a good time to give a little treat to someone you love. A lot times people choose candy or other sugar-filled confectionary treats but there are other ways to give a little expression of amore to your friends and family. I have 10 ideas that make wonderful alternatives to sugary Valentine's Day Treats. 

Grateful Even for the Setbacks

Disclosure: This post is sponsored and part of my 30-day Gratitude Challenge. Opinions are genuine and my own.

 

Still working on my 30-day Gratitude Challenge over here. I am here to tell you that some people say you make time for what you care about, but honestly that is not always true. There are some days where I don't even have a minute extra to do some things that I'd like to do. My job is one that I love again this year (and some of you know I didn't love it last year), but regardless of how I feel about it, it's one that is always, always busy. There are more things to do than time to do them. It spills over into my home life, and if it didn't, I'd be extremely behind on things while at work. I have people who depend on me to deliver, so not doing certain things (that are always very time-consuming) is not an option. That means other areas of my life, like exercising every single day, or taking time to reflect quietly simply aren't going to happen, and that's okay. I'm being as consistent as I can be. Setbacks are inevitable in most things, and that's okay too, just so long as we don't get stuck there, and we keep moving forward.

Today's challenge: Toss the gratitude ball. Share a video of you saying what you're grateful for, packing your gratitude into an imaginary ball in your hands, and sending it to the sky. Release your gratitude to others. You can search for how others are doing as well by looking up the hashtag #dancingthroughcrisis on social media. Gratitude is an important thing.

If you want to learn more, or join along, here's a link! https://dancingandlife.com?afmc=8g 

Free Mandarins and a Cute Love Bug Craft for Valentine's Day

 Disclosure: I received complimentary items to create mandarin Love Bugs. :)

Halos are California Mandarins that are sweet, seedless, delicious, nutritious and oh so easy to peel (and that's my favorite part because it takes the fun out of eating fruit if it's too hard to peel!). They're also good for making a cute Valentine's Day project with the kids. 🧡

Our Cat Orchestrated Her Own 'Me Time'

Today's Challenge: Share a video of your “me time.”
Go somewhere into nature. Sit in silence for 5 minutes (phones off).
Write down what came up for you and let us know.

My goofy cat walked across my keyboard. Something she has done before. No big deal. But this time, I have no idea what it was that she did, but my computer was down and out. And I do mean down and out. I tried a few things and a professional reset, but it is on its way to computer never-to-be-used-again land. It took me a few days to get around to going out and buying a new one, and those few days, outside of work (lol) were pretty great! It was stressful at first, and then annoying, but then it gravitated into being nice to not have the option to get online and do things on the weekdays. I have a very busy job, and getting to actually take some 'me and mine' time, including time with the cat, hahaha, was so very pleasant. It's not the way I should have chosen to take me time, but it was still nice to have it.

I'm still working through my 30-day Gratitude Challenge. You can join me if you'd like. #dancingthroughcrisis

Teach My Toddler Learning Kit Giveaway

 

This information is brought to you by Teach My Learning Kits. All opinions are my own. #homeschool #remotelearning #distancedlearning

    

 If you are looking for a fun way to teach your toddler - you need to check out the Teach My Toddler Kit! I really love that it has everything you need to have fun and teach your toddler!

• 68 pieces to teach your toddler the alphabet, numbers, shapes, and colors
• Kit includes 4 board books, 4 posters, 7 puzzles, and 55 flashcards
• It promotes literacy, numeracy, spatial reasoning, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills
• Step by Step Teaching Guide To Ensure Successful Learning and Development Bond.
• Teach. Play. 20 Minutes A Day!   

Photowall Canvas: Use their Photos or Upload your Own!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product or a discount code. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

This is what the finished product looks like. This is my approximately 16" x 20" canvas print from Photowall. I thought it would be a great Valentine's Day gift to give myself, since I enjoy having photos of my children and grandchildren all around my house. This picture is from a trip we took to the park this past summer when the oldest granddaughter came to visit. I remember the day well. She was a super happy, super busy 7-year-old who loved being on the playground. Her favorite thing there? This tire swing. When I see the picture, I remember her laughing so much, and her 92 million requests for me to push her faster, and it does bring me joy. Those kind of days are just the ones that make up some of our very best memories, and now I have this one commemorated on a canvas on my wall. 💖

Dancing & Life: Celebrate All of Your Successes!

      

This is the activity for today in my 30-day gratitude challenge. I think it's a good one to talk about here. I have a glass half-full type of mentality most of the time, and do consider it important to celebrate successes as they come our way...and not just the big ones. The little ones are vital too. Doesn't it seem like a goal is pretty far distant, but then you start taking the small steps towards making it happen and before you know it, you're at the finish line. I think the hardest part sometimes is getting started. The second hardest, depending on the goal, is to keep going. If you do both, goals are miraculously (ahem) met. :)  Good luck to all who of us who are working on personal goals. Remember to celebrate all of your successes, even the little ones.

If you're interested in participating in the gratitude challenge, you can still can! It's free and offers a nice way to intentionally start the day off on a positive note: VISIT HERE

'Under the Barnyard Light' Book Giveaway

 Disclosure: We received a free product or discount code. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Under the Barnyard Light is a book written by Carla Crane Osborne that details a young girl helping to take care of the animals on her farm, after the sun has gone down. She is responsible, loving and warm. She is also very relatable to children. She's doing what she is supposed to do, but she's still expressing the feelings and thoughts that children her age might, while she is doing them.

McCrea's Handcrafted Caramels and Candies with Giveaway

Disclosure: I received complimentary or discounted products. Any opinions stated, however, are genuine and my own.

January is coming to an end, so we are starting to think about Valentine's Day over here. I've ordered McCrea's because when it's a holiday you're celebrating, you want the sweets to be memorable. This is a company that has a nice selection of delicious treats including the luscious chocolate hearts and handcrafted caramels you see above.

Dancing and Life Gratitude Challenge Update

Disclosure: This is a sponsored update. All opinions stated are genuine and my own. 

The challenge for today is fun: Share a brief video of you “raising the roof” and proclaiming to the world one thing you’ve learned this week or that you achieved today. #ad https://dancingandlife.com?afmc=8g

Moving Right Along on my 30 Day Challenge!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Scooby Doo and Guess Who? The Complete First Season now Available on DVD!

Disclosure: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the DVD I reviewed in this Blog Post. The opinions I share are my own.

Honestly, not a lot of shows make it through the generations. I asked a group of my son's friends once if they liked Snoopy, during a conversation we were having, and they were so confused. Most of them had not even heard of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, or the The Peanuts. I was mortified. Another time, I asked them if they watched Wubzie when they were little (that was my son's favorite). Again, Crickets. But ask them if they watched Scooby Doo and almost everyone got excited and wanted to make a conversation contribution. I watched it too (and I'm 50!!), and my oldest granddaughter who is 7 also loves to watch it. It's exciting, while being a teensy bit scary to her too (which she loves!! She feels so brave watching the monsters get captured and then finding out every single time that they are just frauds). So, I think it's safe to say from my informal and unplanned survey, that Scooby Doo has stood the test of time. I will say, that depending on the generation, there are preferences for which Scooby Doo theme song is best, and I've found those opinions are unbudgingly firm, lol. For me? No preference at all, I'm here for all things Scooby Doo!!

30 Day Gratitude Challenge

Disclosure: This is a paid promotion. All thoughts and opinions however, are genuine.

I am excited to be participating in a 30-day gratitude challenge! A new year brings hope! See how you can experience joy and gratitude in the coming year. So many people are going through times of crisis and it may seem hard to be hopeful, but it’s not impossible—and may be the key to mentally surviving what they are going through. Despite the burdens of the recent past and what so many of us have been going through, we can look to the future with the likelihood of positive change. We can turn turmoil into opportunity. I think there are many ways to discover the primary inner strength that will bring you through all of the problems that life gives you. Gratitude is definitely one of them. https://dancingandlife.com?afmc=8g

A Housewarming/Birthday Gift because my Daughter is Mooooving

My daughter and her lil' family have outgrown their cute little place. This is their last month there, so to commemorate their time in that sweet little house, I have purchased this set from TreeSun Crafts (Etsy). Some of you know from a previous Wordless Wednesday post that I did, that these gorgeous Highland Cows are running around at her place, all day long. I think they're so incredibly great.  I'm going to miss them (and the peacocks that stroll around there too). I think when she sees these she'll get that good feeling that goes along with remembering where you started your family. Theresa from Theresa's Mixed Nuts made these, and if you've ever interacted with her, you know she has a knack for making things look amazing. It's no surprise to me that she started an Etsy shop, and it will be no surprise to me when it takes off and becomes very successful (which it already has quickly started to become) because I know she is the kind of person who puts in the heart, and the hard work. That's why she has such a loyal following on her blog, and people all over the country (and even outside of it) who are crazy about her even though they've never met her in person (raising my hand over here).

Amber Driftwood Scentworx Giveaway

 Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. I was not paid to write about the products. I did receive samples or discount prices, but my opinions remain genuine and my own.

Succulent, juicy and true to the scent, that's how I would accurately describe these VEGAN FRIENDLY body mist sprays from Scentworx. They are made with essential oils, so maybe that is why they are so yummy, delicious, good. Whatever the reason, this is a great way to start out the new year, with a big surprise product I never would have thought to buy until I tried it. Why?