Giveway: Aveeno Sun-Protection Prize Pack

June 5, 2012

Sitting poolside soaking up the sun getting a pedicure is definitely on my summer agenda. Before I plan my fun days in the sun, I’ll need to fill my tote with a few sun-protecting essentials: sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun-shielding hat.

Thanks to Aveeno, I want to make sure that you’re covered for summer too. I’m giving away one prize pack to a lucky reader filled with the following: Wide-Brimmed Hat, AVEENO Hydrosport Sunscreen SPF30, AVEENO Smart Essentials Daily Nourishing Mositurizer SPF 30, a pair of 100% UV-Protecting Shades, and One Month of ACUVUE OASYS Brand Contacts.

If you’re wondering how contact lenses fit into this summer bundle, well that’s because most contacts don’t offer any UV protection. These offer the highest level of UV blocking available in the marketplace.

For more information on how the sun affects vision, be sure to take a listen to HealthVision with Dr. Val’s podcast here.

While those warm sun rays feel good beaming down on our bodies, we need to take the proper precautions to prevent skin cancer.  Sometimes we BGs forget that like our fair-skinned counterparts, we’re also susceptible to the disease.

Simply leave a comment sharing your summer vacation plans for a chance to win the prize pack. **Exam and fitting fees not included. Winner must present current, valid prescription for ACUVUE Brand Contact Lenses. Please note that this giveaway is only open to U.S residents. The winner will be randomly selected and announced on Monday, June 11th. 

Category: Giveaways, Travel & Lifestyle | 9 Comments

5 “Berry” Good Reasons to Eat Berries

May 31, 2012

Balmy weather, beach bumming, impromptu barbecues, and delicious berries are the cornerstones of summer. All fruits have outstanding health advantages, but berries are the crème de la crème when it comes to wellness and beautifying benefits.

Packed with antioxidants, Vitamin C, minerals, and more, these scrumptious bites can enhance complexions, contribute to weight loss, and even help prevent certain cancers. From strawberries to blueberries, berries are always at the top of my grocery list. Plus, they’re the perfect snack for my 2-year-old daughter who can eat them by the carton!

Check out what these tasty, nutritious treats can do:

1. Antioxidants found in blueberries have been proven to soften skin, decrease inflammation, and reduce the onset of wrinkles.
2. Cranberries and blueberries contain compounds that help ward off bladder infections.
3. Blueberries and raspberries contain lutein, which help improve vision.
4. Blueberries’ anthocyanins attack cancer-causing agents.
5.  Strawberries are used topically in traditional medicines to treat burns and other skin ailments due to their astringent properties.

What’s your favorite berry?

Category: Travel & Lifestyle | 2 Comments

NYC Event Alert: Get Free Skin Cancer Screening

May 9, 2012

If you’re in the New York City area today, be sure to stop by The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Road to Healthy Skin Tour bus presented by Aveeno and Rite Aid for a free skin cancer screening. The bus will be at Lincoln Center on 62nd Street between Broadway and Columbus from 11am – 4pm.

Although we BGs are less likely to develop skin cancer due to our darker skin complexions than other groups, doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t take the proper precautions toward preventing this deadly disease.

Far too often we BGs fail to get screened for melanomas until it’s too late. That’s why it’s important to wear sunscreen, be cognizant of new and existing moles, and get periodically screened.

Have you ever been screened for skin cancer? What’s your favorite SPF moisturizer?

Category: Travel & Lifestyle | 2 Comments

Sponsored – Aveeno’s Beautiful Change Challenge: Part 5

April 23, 2012

Working out isn’t something that comes naturally for me. While some people get an adrenaline rush and enjoying sweating it out, I don’t. It takes a lot of coaxing from my husband to get me off the couch and actually get active.

But once I do get moving, I find that my go-to exercise usually involves working out my legs. I don’t have excessively flabby thighs or calves, but in the spring and summer months toning is a must in order for me to confidently sport shorts, skirts, and flirty dresses.

Despite not being a die-hard work-out kind of person, the stationary bike is typically my exercise machine of choice. But, in and effort to switch things up for the Aveeno Beautiful Change Challenge, I’ve recently been running up several flights of stairs in my apartment to get killer gams.

So far, I’ve noticed that my legs look a little more muscular and I tend to have more stamina since I started using the stairwell. Also, after my workouts I make sure to let my body cool down before taking a lukewarm shower to maintain healthy hair and skin. We all know that showering too soon in excessively cold water can be a shock to the system.

New AVEENO® PURE RENEWAL™ lets you renew your hair to its naturally balanced state daily. Unlike ordinary shampoos, these sulphate-free formulas have Balancing Seaweed Extract; bringing hair back to its naturally healthy, most balanced state with each wash, for beautifully healthy-looking hair. Learn more here http://bit.ly/A1cjWg

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by AVEENO® via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of AVEENO®”

 How do you switch up your workout routines?

Category: Beauty, Travel & Lifestyle | 5 Comments

Groove While Getting Bikini-Ready

April 18, 2012

Planning on flaunting your body on the beach this summer? If so, there’s a cool gadget that will help you stay on track toward getting bikini-ready while grooving to some of your favorite tunes. Motorola’s Motoactv effortlessly fuses music with a fitness performance tracker to help you get the most out of your workout.

With an easy-to-use touch-screen, the super lightweight Motoactv allows you to launch a new workout or tweak your playlist with the slightest tap. It’s also simple to sync with your computer so that you can program various workouts and even compete with friends with a special web portal. Plus, it provides the stats you need to monitor your calories burned, heart rate, miles covered, what songs you perform the best to, and other fitness facts.

I’m not really a gadget kind-of-girl, but this nifty workout wristband is a great way to get in shape while shimmying to some of your favorite songs while tracking your pace and progress.

Available at www.motorola.com. Prices start at $249

How often do you workout? 

Category: Travel & Lifestyle | 2 Comments

Sponsored – Aveeno’s Beautiful Change Challenge: Part 4

April 16, 2012

Our spirits and minds are the most important aspects of living a beautiful, healthy, and balanced  life. If those two major principles are out of whack, feeling good is nearly impossible. In an effort to feed my mind and keep my spirits high I’ve been trying to take 30 minutes of “me” time each day for the Aveeno’s Beautiful Change Challenge.
Whether I use that time to take a relaxing bubble bath, flip through a magazine on my patio, or download a new app on my iPad, that “me” time is my opportunity to simply put myself first and do what I want to do. Being a mom and wife, that precious half-hour can seem even more necessary. While I felt guilty taking time for myself the first few days, I’m now getting used to it and aim to increase it to a full hour!

I took this photo when I took some “me” time and visited Mexico a few weeks ago. 


When you take time out of your day to unwind by yourself, it gives you clarity and allows you to recharge so that you can be the absolute best you that you can possibly be.

New AVEENO® PURE RENEWAL™ lets you renew your hair to its naturally balanced state daily. Unlike ordinary shampoos, these sulphate-free formulas have Balancing Seaweed Extract; bringing hair back to its naturally healthy, most balanced state with each wash, for beautifully healthy-looking hair. Learn more here http://bit.ly/A1cjWg

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by AVEENO® via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of AVEENO®”


How do you maintain a healthy mind and spirit?

Category: Beauty, Travel & Lifestyle | 3 Comments

Sponsored – Aveeno’s Beautiful Change Challenge: Part 3

April 9, 2012

Who says you’re ever too old for preschool TV programs? While, I’m well beyond the playground crowd, I’m still enlightened by shows that my toddler watches. Recently, I heard Barney – the beloved purple dinosaur, singing about the importance of brushing our teeth without letting the water run.
Call it a minor “Aha” moment,” but before Barney belted out that catchy green tune I’d never thought twice about how ecologically irresponsible I’d been throughout the years. For as long as I can remember, I always kept the water on while I brushed my pearly whites.

                                      New AVEENO® PURE RENEWAL™ lets you renew your hair to its naturally balanced state daily. Unlike ordinary shampoos, these sulphate-free formulas have Balancing Seaweed Extract; bringing hair back to its naturally healthy, most balanced state with each wash, for beautifully healthy-looking hair. Learn more here http://bit.ly/A1cjWg “Disclosure: Compensation was provided by AVEENO® via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of AVEENO®”
How do you incorporate being green into your daily beauty, health, or household routines?
Since that eco-edification, I’ve made a conscious decision to turn off the tap while tending to my dental hygiene routine. Plus, I also use that same water-saving practice when I wash my face in cold water to get my blood cells flowing for healthy, clean skin.

I now realize just how smart and easy it is to conserve our precious H2O by making slight adjustments to our daily household and beauty routines.

Category: Beauty, Travel & Lifestyle | 1 Comment