Back to School with Yak Pak! Product review and GIVEAWAY :)

Disclosure:  Product received.  Yak Pak sent me a backpack in exchange for a review, however all opinions expressed here are that of my own.

It is that time of year again, where parents and their school age kiddos rush out to get the latest and greatest back to school trends.  First day outfits, supplies, backpacks and lunchboxes!  I think my kids favorite part about back to school shopping is picking out their backpacks!  This bag has to be sturdy enough to carry their ever growing pile of books and supplies,  comfortable enough to get through their day, and stylish enough to stand out in the crowd of an endless sea of backpacks!

 My oldest daughter who is now a "teenager" is all about the latest trends!  When Yak Pak gave us the opportunity to pick out a new backpack for this coming school year, Yak Pak was just the style she hoped for!  she picked out the "Limited Edition Earth Day Yak Pak bag".  When we received it in the mail, she was as excited as I  at the cool design and the good quality of the bag!  The Yak Pak is big enough to hold all her books this school year, it is made with quality that will last, and has big padded shoulder straps to provide her with the comfort she needs!   

  

                                                                     
Yak Pak was founded in 1989 and is a New-York based lifestyle brand that manufactures a full range of products, including backpacks, messenger bags, and casual accessories for teen and college consumers.  Yak Pak first started out of a college dorm room, has proven to be a pioneer in the backpack industry!

Yak Pak known for its innovative style and designs has shifted the largely monochromatic backpack market to one of bold colors and expressive prints!  This open minded approach to product design is the foundation of Yak Pak's spirit of freedom and independence that resonates throughout the brand.

So if you are out looking for a backpack this fall, I would recommend the Yak Pak!  It is were trend meets functionality!  You can't go wrong!  there are many styles to choose from at Amazon!  Check them out today!! Yak Pak Fuchsia Zebra Print Deluxe Backpack Bag

Not only are YAK PAKs  awesome so are GIVEAWAYS!  Yak Pak has partnered with me and has agreed to give one of my lucky winners a Yak Pak!  Please enter below for your chance to win!  Good Luck :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Back to School Trends!! Now at Zulily!!

Disclosure:  Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.

Looking for the Hottest Back to School trends?  Look no further!  Zulily has everything you are looking for!  From the first day of school outfit, to Dorm room essentials, To must have supplies, Zulily is your one stop shop!

BTS Basics and School Supplies

                    
                     According to Zulily, five of the top trends for the new school year include:

• Northern Exposure – From faux fur capelets and moccasins for girls to hoodies for boys emblazoned with bold animal faces, wild looks are big for back to school


• Galaxy – Starscapes, planets and are other galaxy themed prints make their way onto clothing and accessories alike for fall Sublimation is really big and should be said in here


• 90’s Flashback – They say if you’ve lived through a trend once not to wear it a second time around, which is why today’s school kids are the only ones cute enough to pull off 90’s inspired looks, including acid washed jeans with bold bright 90's prints along with Harem pants - Can't touch this.


• Camo Cool – From backpacks and binders to shoes and jackets, expect to see camouflage prints in a wide variety of colors in school hallways this fall


• London Calling – Trench Coats and hooded jackets paired with textured wool and corduroy will keep kids on this side of the pond warm when fall’s crisp temperatures return!

So what in the world are you waiting for??  get to shopping, because before you know it, it will be time to wake up for school!!  

Click this link to get started!
                                                        BTS Basics and School Supplies

BTS Basics and School Supplies

Wordless Wednesday...Be Happy :)

Mid-Air Sex...and my kids saw it all!

If you happen to step outside this time of year and happen to notice a spectacular swarm of flying ants, don't be alarmed!  This is an actual common summer phenomenon!  Winged ants issuing in massive numbers began falling out of a palm tree in our yard today!  It felt as if my home had been a victim of some evil curse, for my walls and sidewalks were crawling with these creepy little flying crawlers! 

 Swarms of Lasius niger (the common black ant) release their wings and take flight around mid July, usually after a heavy rain, in an annual mating ritual.  The male ant then drops dead immediately after their mid-air sex, having outlived their usefulness.  Many of the females end up dieing as well.  

The newly inseminated females that have survived shed their wings and set off to start new colonies as Queen ants.  They store the left over sperm in a sac, and use it when they lie eggs in the future, rather than mate again.

There are hundreds of thousands of these ants taking to the air, and only a few survive to keep the species going.  I watched these ants fall from the sky through a bedroom window.  They would fall in a cluster of about six to seven or more ants, once they hit the ground ants would run over and pull them apart.  Some of the ants would lay there and squirm as other walked off into the grass.  It was quite interesting!  Now that I know what they were doing I feel a little dirty for watching!  *giggle*  It was quite an impressive sight, seeing a cloud of flying ants scramble out of their nearby nest!  

So if you happen to witness this crazy phenomenon, don't be alarmed!  They will be gone as quickly as they came (no pun intended)!  As a matter of fact no one would believe you if you told them, you just had millions of flying ants falling from the sky unless they were there to witness it!  In all my life I have never seen anything like it, but glad I did!!  I continue to learn something new every day!  Have a wonderful day and don't forget you umbrella in case the sky starts falling...apparently it's that time of year!!  :)

Azure Naturals Ultimate C Skin Repair Serum...Review and Giveaway! Say NO to Sun Damage!!

Disclosure:  Azure Naturals provided me with product in exchange for a review, however all opinions stated here are my own.

I have always been a lover of the outdoors, this is where I find my inner peace.  What I don't love is the damage that the sun and environment do to my skin.   As a family we are always looking for fun outdoor activities whether it be camping, hiking, swimming, ect.  My skin has paid the price!  I was recently given the opportunity to try an Ultimate C skin repair serum by Azure Naturals.  I could not be more thrilled to try and reverse the damage I have acquired over the years.  Here is how it went...

1. I cleansed my face with a mild face wash and warm water.
2. I patted my face dry with a soft towel
3. I applied a couple drops of the Ultimate C Skin repair serum to my face and neck.

The serum I sampled was in a 1 fl oz glass bottle with a medicine dropper cap, making it easy and less messy to apply.

I like the small bottle to pack in my travel bag!

Immediately upon application I could feel the quality of the ingredients on my skin!  My skin's overall texture was improved immediately with the first application and smooth to the touch.  

Azure Naturals recommends use daily applied under makeup in the morning to help protect your skin from future sun damage, but should not be used as a substitute for sunscreen!  The Vitamin C serum can be applied up to twice a day!

Why use Vitamin C Serum, you may ask?  Because Vitamin C works!  This serum will increase cellular renewal by boosting the production of collagen and elastin!  Immediately my face felt more elastic!

Vitamin C, Ferulic Acid, and vitamin E are all powerful anti-oxidants and when combined can provide up to eight-fold antioxidant protection, 96% reduction of sunburn cells, and prevent the formation of free radicals in sun exposed skin!

This serum is thin and non-greasy or watery, allowing the ingredients to deeply penetrate the skin to repair  sun and environmental damage.

Helps repair sun damage, gradually fades age and sun spots, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, and is outstanding for the neck and face!  I also put a few drops on the back of my aging hands!

How do you receive optimal results?  Consistency!  No damage will be repaired over night!  Apply the Ultimate C serum daily, allow thirty days for optimal results!  This can be used on all skin types!

Buy with confidence!  Azure Naturals products are Made in the USA!  They use the highest quality natural and organic ingredients.  No GMOs, cruelty free and never tested on animals!  They back all their products by a one year 100% hassle free money back guarantee!  I don't know about you but this is huge to me! I love to feel confident in not only my purchase but what I am putting on my skin is safe!

Promo code : AZUREBLG Will take 30% off at checkout!  Expires July 30, 2014 

Azure Naturals Philosophy: Our mission at Azure Naturals is to provide premium quality facial skincare and anti-aging products using the finest natural and organic ingredients available, without the premium price or attitude! We use potent plants, organic ingredients, and 100% natural essential oils. We are committed to protect the environment and follow animal friendly practices. Our customers are looking for healthier and more youthful looking skin and we will endeavor to make sure each customer is 100% satisfied with their results. The solutions that we develop will always be designed around these elements. We appreciate those who decide to join with us to take the journey and return to your youth!
I will be running a giveaway for a bottle of this awesome ULTIMATE C Skin Repair Serum, where three lucky readers will be chosen at random!  So please enter today!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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.

Throw Back Thursday...Humble Beginnings...

We had nice things when I was a young child.  My daddy worked hard and we had the best of everything!  We had fancy TVs, China cabinets filled with China and dolls from all over the world, fancy tables and furniture, all the best toys!! Then one cold day in December right before my  fifth birthday and Christmas only weeks away, we got a knock on the door.  Upon answering the door we were told our house was on fire!  Within thirty minutes our house was burnt to the ground and we were left with nothing but the clothes on our backs!

This here was my house when I was the age of ten!  We had no running water, no electricity, no restroom, or kitchen.  We lived in this 8x10 shack...the five of us.  Were we embarrassed?  Were we ashamed?  Were we sad?  The answer...No!  You see before we lived in this shack that my daddy built with his own two hands, we lived in a camper shell.  The camper shell was tight!  Come time to move into our 8x10 shack it felt like a mansion!  We had two sets of bunk beds inside and my older brother slept in a small loft above us.  We played Johnny cash on a small fisher price radio and danced around our tiny room with the sound of the wood floors creaking under our feet.  We were happy!

What did I learn from living this way?  You do not need thousands of square feet and granite counter tops.  You do not need your own bedroom or bathroom.  You do not need the top of the line appliances.  These things are all material!  What you truly need to be happy is love.  My parents loved us with all their heart and we knew it!  I grew up feeling like the richest kid in the world...was I?  It all depends on your perspective!

Wordless Wednesday...What's your path??