DIY Facial Care Kit

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BeforeDifferinJourney #CollectiveBias

Even as an adult, my skin has never been as clear as I would like it to be. I still get the occasional breakouts that leave me feeling like an awkward teenager. To add to it, now I have some signs of aging and signs of too much sun exposure. Not to mention, redness and irritated pores. Eek!

I know it would help a lot if I remembered to wash my face in the evenings. I am notorious for going to bed without washing my face! By the time the day is over and the little one is in bed, I’m just ready to crash and zone out for the night. Any other mamas with me on this?

So I decided to put together a facial care kit for the evenings. I wanted it to have all of the essentials, yet be an easy and low-effort way for me to take better care of my skin. I can keep it in my upstairs bathroom or even beside my bed. It’ll be that easy! No excuses.

Did you know that the new Differin® Gel is the first only prescription strength retinoid that’s available over the counter? It's the newest advancement and ingredient in the OTC acne category in over 30 years! It has a history as a proven acne treatment and is supposed to help with clearing and preventing mild to moderate acne. I’ve never tried anything stronger than mild face soap, so I’m interested in giving the new Differin® Gel a try.

I found it at Target with the other skin care products.

It’s supposed to clear breakouts before they even start-- so it works deep within the pores. I’m hoping that helps with some of the enlarged pores that I have on my nose. It should clear the acne I have and prevent breakouts before they even begin and as a result, help to restore my skin’s texture and tone.

Please use caution when using Differin® Gel with more than one acne treatment or glycolic acid product because this could lead to irritation.

However, Differin® Gel is not a spot treatment, but something you apply in a thin layer over your entire face once a day, every day. The goal is to prevent future breakouts from even happening.

While using the gel, you’re supposed to continue to cleanse and moisturize your face, so I decided to also try the Cetaphil® Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths (hello convenience!), and Cetaphil® Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15.

So here we go! Here is my bare faced, #BeforeDifferinJourney photo in all its glory.

So here’s what I used to put the Facial Care Kit together.

• Small carryall to keep it all in
• Differin® Gel 45g
• Cetaphil® Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths
• Cetaphil® Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15
• Microfiber body cloth

First, I used this super cute pink polka dot carryall to hold it all. It’s nice because it has a handle, plus plenty of room to hold the essentials-- yet small enough to set on a bedside table. And what girl doesn’t love the color pink?

Next, I included all of the essentials. The first being Differin® Gel tube.

Since this kit is meant to be an easy way to wash my face-- of course I needed a facial cleanser! I included the Cetaphil® Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths for dry, sensitive skin. And for the times I want a little extra cleansing before using the cleansing cloths, I also included a microfiber body cloth.

The Cetaphil® Gentle Cleansing Cloths come in a pack of 25.

And last but not least, it’s important to have a moisturizer. I have been looking for a good facial moisturizer that has sunscreen in it, so I’m happy to be trying out the Cetaphil® Daily Facial Moisturizer with sunscreen broad spectrum SPF 15.

Lastly, place all of the items into the carryall, and you’re good to go! Hopefully there will be clear skin in my future! I will be back to update you all on the results!

Do you struggle with acne? What steps have you taken to improve your skin? Have you tried Differin® Gel?

You can find more Differin® Gel inspiration on the social hub here.

This product is dermatologist developed and tested. Please call 1-866-735-4137 for any questions you may have concerning the product. However, should you experience any problems while using the product, please discontinue use and consult your healthcare provider.

$25 Dick's Sporting Goods Gift Card Giveaway Sponsored by TRX Training Pittsburgh XShadyside

I know you all love free stuff just as much as I do, so I agreed to write a sponsored post so that I could give you the opportunity to win a $25 Dick's Sporting Goods gift card! All opinions are mine alone!

What is TRX Training?

According to the TRX Training Pittsburgh XShadyside website, their "TRX Suspension class offers a full-body challenge. TRX is a total body exercise system that leverages gravity and your bodyweight to perform a wide variety of exercises". You're in control of how challenging your workout is because you are using suspension and body weight-- with a change of position, you can add or decrease the resistance making the workout more difficult or easier.

The TRX company describes its system as "drawing on leading-edge research and best practices from the military, pro sports, and academic institutions". They are on top of leading edge research and the workout continues to evolve.

What are the benefits of TRX Training?

TRX Training requires just one piece of equipment, and with that you can train just about every muscle in your body. It's inexpensive and can be used by beginners and pro athletes alike. The TRX equipment is lightweight and small enough to fit into your gym bag and you most certainly can do TRX Training anywhere as this YouTube Video shows!

Have you ever tried TRX Training? Leaving a comment on this post is MANDATORY for entering the giveaway!

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Super Easy Funny Face Pancakes

This shop has been compensated by CollectiveBias, Inc. on behalf of its advertiser, Similac. #NutritionintheMix #Collectivebias #Walmart

You can earn $3.00 with the purchase of any size of Go & Grow by Similac® Mix-Ins™with the Ibotta app.

I have yet to determine any pattern with my toddler's eating habits. Sometimes she will eat everything I put before her (fruit, veggies, and all!), and other times she refuses the exact same meal or will only eat one of the items on her plate.

Only a parent knows how exciting it is when the little one gobbles up something healthy. I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that she has eaten something with good nutrition. I am always concerned that she is getting the nutrition that she needs and that I am also feeding her a variety of foods.

I can hardly imagine what it must be like trying to get a toddler to eat while you're short on time because it's a busy school day. More than likely, many toddlers don't get the nutrition they need at breakfast because mothers just don't have enough hands, or enough time, while trying to get the kids out the door in time to catch the school bus.

One thing my toddler will always eat is pancakes. She loves them. This recipe for Super Easy Funny Face Pancakes was made with toddlers and busy moms in mind. It's a simple four-ingredient recipe for the pancake batter, and any additional toppings for the face are totally up to you and what your toddler's preferences are that morning. It's a single serving, full of good nutrition, and it's quick and simple to prepare-- what more could you ask for?

The core four-ingredient recipe includes one egg, 1/2 banana (ripe), 1/8 tsp. baking powder, and uses one packet of Go & Grow by Similac® Mix-Ins™ for one serving (or 1/2 cup of food). This product is available at your local Walmart or at Walmart.com.

The toppings to make the face are totally your choice-- I used what I had on hand, as I'm sure you will too. Ideas for toppings are fruits like strawberries, kiwis, blueberries, bananas, oranges, and so on. You could also add whipped cream, chocolate chips, and more. Use as many or as few toppings as you'd like.

I found the Go & Grow by Similac® Mix-Ins™ and Go & Grow by Similac® Milk-Based Powder in the infant formula section at Walmart. However, this product is not for babies. It is for toddlers aged 1-4.

I like the convenience of the Go & Grow by Similac® Mix-Ins™since they're pre-packaged in powder singles. They're perfect for throwing in your bag when you're on the go. For the sake of this recipe, I love that the product provides nutrients to support growth and development.

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You can also buy the Go & Grow by Similac® Milk-Based Powder form in a canister to go with your meals.

The Go & Grow by Similac® Milk-Based Powder has OptiGro™, which is designed to support brain, eye, and physical development. The product has protein, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals. It's the perfect complement to a healthy diet and can help give healthy recipes that extra nutritional punch.

The best part about this recipe is that you can make it with a blender. Throw the 1/2 banana, one egg, and 1/8 tsp. baking powder into the blender and blend until smooth.

Begin heating the griddle. You can also use a skillet on the stove, if you wish. I sprayed mine with olive oil.

Next, add one packet of Go & Grow by Similac® Mix-Ins™to one half cup of batter and blend. This batter will be used for your toddler’s pancakes. It's really that simple to make this batter-- and so full of nutrition!

Pour 1/2 of the batter on the griddle to form one large pancake, 1/4 of the batter to form a smaller pancake, and the last 1/4 of the batter to form a second small pancake. In my case, I tried to do this in one attempt on a small-ish griddle and could not fit all three pancakes on the griddle, so I ended up with extras--which was ok, because I just got creative with the extras.

Cook the pancakes until you are able to use a spatula to wiggle the pancakes without them breaking. The batter is very thin, so make sure to give it enough time to cook or the pancakes will fall apart. When the batter begins to bubble, it's a good indication that it's almost ready to flip.

Once the pancakes are cooked, place the two smaller pancakes at the top of the plate. These will be the ears of the funny face. Place the larger pancake on the plate so that it slightly overlaps the two smaller pancakes.

And you have the head for your funny face! Like I mentioned, I had some extra little pancakes so I put a little bow tie on mine. I used the fruit to make mine look like a mouse. I used blueberries for whiskers, strawberries for the ears, nose, and bow tie, kiwi for the eyes, and a squirt of whipped cream for good measure.

You can get creative with this! Make a new face with a different facial expression every morning. Using various toppings will give you new opportunity to make a new face. Have fun with it!

My little one usually likes a little bit of maple syrup on her pancakes. Just add some Go & Grow by Similac® Milk-Based Powder to a glass of water to go with your meal! She absolutely loved this!

The first thing she said when she saw the funny face pancake was "mouse!", so I must have done something right since she knew what it was!

Save this recipe for those hectic school day mornings by pinning it on Pinterest! And try it now too, of course. I'd love to know what you, and your littles, think about it.

Super Easy Funny Face Pancakes

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 1/2 banana (ripe)
• 1/8 tsp. baking powder
• Use one packet of Go & Grow by Similac® Mix-Ins™ for one serving (or 1/2 cup of food)
• Toppings of your choice to make the face. Suggestions: strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, oranges, bananas, whipped cream, chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Blend the egg, banana, and baking powder. It works quickly with a blender.
2. Pre-heat your griddle and spray with cooking spray.
3. You will use one packet of Go & Grow by Similac® Mix-Ins™ for one serving (or 1/2 cup of food), so add the packet to the batter and blend.
4. Pour the batter on the griddle to make three pancakes. Use 1/2 the batter to make one large pancake, 1/4 of the batter to make one small pancake, and the last 1/4 to make another small pancake. Cook.
5. Once cooked, place the smaller pancakes at the top of a plate. Place the larger pancake so that it slightly overlaps the bottoms of the smaller pancakes.
6. Add toppings to make your funny face!

What kind of funny face will you be making on these pancakes? What other recipes will you be using Go & Grow by Similac® Mix-Ins™ with?

The Best Trampoline is the Safest Trampoline

If you’ve been following the papers and news outlets, you’ve likely heard that trampoline injuries are on the rise. In fact, in the last 10 years, trampoline-related hospital visits have nearly doubled in the US. The even more frightening fact is that over 90% of those injuries were dealt to children younger than 16. 

Aside from broken bones, the most common injuries range from cuts and sprains to traumatic brain injuries, and most injuries also occur when there is more than one person using the trampoline. Unfortunately, there are very few regulations in the trampoline industry, and 99% of companies are happy to slap together a rigid frame, some flimsy pads, and some springs — all without a care in the world for safety.

Many parents are torn over protecting their children while also allowing them to play on a popular backyard staple for exercise and fun, but one Australian father decided that trampolines and safety standards didn’t have to be mutually exclusive. He set out to revolutionize a new, safety-first design that put quality manufacturing first. Dr. Keith Alexander, a father and mechanical engineer, decided to redesign the trampoline from the ground up to ensure that his daughter could enjoy the thrills of outdoor bouncing without the spills.

He set out to eliminate 90% of the preventable injuries caused annually by trampolines, and accomplished this goal with some major modifications. The first major change was to remove springs completely — thereby eliminating the chance for children to pinch or tear their skin or hair. Traditional metal springs are often just inches from the jumpers' area which jeopardizes their safety, but Dr. Alexander’s new design replaced these dangerous coils with flexible carbon rods that are ingeniously placed below the jumping surface, totally hidden away from bouncers. 

The frame has also been moved below the bouncing mat so that no child can come into contact with it, further reducing the chance of injury. The SoftEdge mat is just that — it has no hard frame or edge. Instead, the mat ends where the patented FlexiNet begins, creating 360 degrees of safe bouncing. 

Traditional rigid steel poles have been replaced by flexible composite rods that cushion and absorb the weight of bouncers to gently nudge them back into bounds. These SoftEdgemats are also over 30 times more shock absorbent than traditional trampoline pads and they come in all shapes from the jumbo square to the larger circular shapes, allowing you to customize the size of your trampoline jumping surface.

Springfree Trampoline and its founder have set the new standard in safety and their designs have been recognized by numerous awards. They have won many safety-related honors, including the Parent Tested Parent Approved Award, the International Design Award and the USA Family Choice Award. Their equipment is rigorously tested in-facility to ensure the highest standards in manufacturing quality, and square trampoline at Springfree Trampoline is guaranteed to withstand the harsh American elements — in fact, you can leave yours out all year round, without any equipment depreciation.