Younger? Maybe…

I have started using the Anew Ultimate (Yes, it’s technically for women at a more advanced age than me, but I have wasted some time using just average moisturizers and need to catch up.) Night Cream as well as the Contouring Eye System.  I have used it for just under a week and am absolutely flabbergasted (yes, flabbergasted) at how much better my skin looks already.  Maybe by the end of the month I will look 10-15 years younger.  It could happen…

If you have been using some of the cheaper moisturizers (like I have been), there will be an opportunity in Campaign 10 (I believe, I’ll have to check) to purchase a four product trial of the Anew products for $9.99.  I encourage you to try it and see what results you see in a week’s time.  It might just surprise you!

Smart Kids!

Last week while we were down south, Kerri took the three girls to the Amish store.  On their way home, the girls started in with a conversation about the solar system.  They’ve been VERY into space lately, so we have gotten lots of library books about all aspects of the solar system.  I’m now absolutely certain that they have learned a lot!  They were discussing the dwarf planets as well as Ceres (which is the largest asteroid) and left Kerri feeling a little under-educated in the driver’s seat. 

As I type, they are all three dissecting the atlas we bought at Barnes & Noble a couple months ago.  (Yes, I realize that is not the typical kid-type purchase, but they have enjoyed it more than any other book in the house!)  They are discussing, with an incredible amount of emotion, the pros and cons of visiting various places on the planet.  Hope just informed her sisters that she does not want to visit Hawaii because they can have everything there:  earthquakes, volcanoes, and even TSUNAMIS!  Now they are discussing Chile and its climate.  It’s amazing how much they can learn about something when they’re really interested.  They are expert atlas readers! :)

Anew Ultimate

This stuff (the night cream and especially the contouring eye system) is my new best friend!  After three days of using it (I used it while we were at Mom’s), I decided I would buy it for myself.  I have had xanthelasmas (cholesterol deposits) on my lower eyelids since I lost weight and have never found anything (until now) to diminish them.  The Anew Ultimate Contouring Eye System has almost completely gotten rid of one xanthelasma and has significantly diminished the other one.  It’s phenomenal!  I have exceptionally sensitive skin and typically have a problem with burning when I use many skin creams, but I didn’t have any problems using this.  Granted, it’s considered to be in the 50+ skincare group, but I don’t care.  If I start using it now, at 35, I might just be able to hold off the wrinkles, right?! 

If you’re interested in trying some of this miracle cream, visit my website: www.youravon.com/dvan-cleave .   Free shipping is relatively easy to come by, so even if you’re not in my area I can still get it to you! :)

*Spring* Break?!

We spent a few days at the farm over the first part of spring break.  We were very thankful to get at least one nice day (Monday) when we could play outside, but the rest of our time there was cold.  We did end up shopping Chanute (mainly as an excuse to visit El Pueblito) and making a much anticipated trip to Ernesto’s to celebrate Jonathan’s birthday.  All in all, it was a fun time, but we really would have liked to have some warm weather.

We returned home Wednesday and had hoped for smooth sailing.  The twins went shopping in KC with me while Hannah stayed with Meme.  We had a fantastic time!  It was really, truly one of the most fun shopping trips I’ve ever had.  We only went to JCP on the mall (although we spent roughly 2 hours there) before going to eat, going to Lifeway, and finishing up at Walmart.  They were so much fun!  Hannah had spent the day outside and had broken out in hives by the time we returned, though, so the fun was just beginning.  By 9:00 I called the ER to make sure what I was doing (Benadryl, primarily) was the right thing to do.  It was, but when the phone rang at 12:15, I knew it wasn’t good news.  I ended up taking Hannah to the ER at 12:30 to get her pumped full of more Benadryl and steroids.  By 3:00 when we got home she was was no longer itching and was ready to sleep. 

We (the twins and I again) made a trip to Topeka to go to Grand Lodge for the banquet, but we all came back home that night when it started sleeting and snowing.  We’re glad we came home when we did.  We had, on the first day of Spring, no less, a pretty impressive snow storm.  Hopefully it will be short-lived.  I’m so over this whole snow thing.

Tomorrow they’ll be back in school for 9 days before having a couple days off around Easter.  Hopefully we’ve moved past the really nasty bugs and can soon enjoy a real taste of spring. 

A Few Recommendations

I tried out a few new Avon products (new to me, not necessarily to Avon) this week and wanted to spread the word on some new favorites.  Rest assured, if I didn’t like it, I would tell you.  I’m only going to give my seal of approval to things I really like. 

First up, the MagiX Face Perfector and Cashmere Finish Liquid Foundation.  They are, for me anyway, great!  The Face Perfector goes on after moisturizer and prior to foundation.  Here’s the official description from my Avon website:  

MagiX Face Perfector
A magical air-light gel-powder colorless formula* that makes all skin tones look flawless... invisible coverage; instant perfection. Banish shine up to 10 hours. Apply evenly before sun exposure or as needed. Targets pores: visibly minimizes pores with patent-pending Optix Light-Diffusing Technology. Banishes Shine: holds back shine for up to 10 hours. Smoothes Skin: reduces the look of fine lines...skin feels softer than ever.

It also has SPF 20 and does make my skin feel amazingly smooth.  I have been using it with the corresponding MagiX Cashmere Finish Liquid Foundation.  I love the combination of the two. 

Now my final seal of approval for the day/week/campaign goes to the Glimmersticks Diamonds Eye Liner.  I’ve never used Avon eye liner before, but I will never use anything else ever again.  It’s that good.  This particular eye liner has subtle sparkles as well, so that gives it just a little something extra. 

That’s it for this time.  As I try new things, I’ll give you my honest opinion of each product.  If you’re interested in more information, please let me know or check out my Avon website:  http://dvan-cleave.avonrepresentative.com/ . 

A Better Day?

So I took the girls back to the doctor on Monday, thank goodness.  All three were put on different antibiotics, which currently has its own set of problems, but that’s a whole other story.  The doctor said Addie’s sinuses and ears were “a reservoir of infection.”  That’s not exactly the phrase I wanted to hear about her.  On the plus side, because she has those beloved tubes in her ears, all that nastiness has been able to drain.  It hasn’t been pretty.  It’s been a little scary, since that’s the first time I’ve seen bloody gunk (for lack of a better word) drain from my child’s ears.  This is the child who never complains about anything, and she’s been complaining about her ears hurting.  I hope we’re on the right track now.  They’ve eased up on their draining considerably, so that’s positive.  Her doctor wanted to see her yesterday to check her out, so we went back.  She said that everything is looking better, and her eardrums and tubes are in good shape.  There is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel. 

I’m currently trying to get everything ready so the girls & I can head to the farm for a few days over spring break.  I have to get my Avon orders delivered this afternoon and tomorrow morning, but that shouldn’t take too long.  Getting the house back in working condition before we leave is going to be the bigger task.  Sick kids do not a clean house make! :)  Wish us luck!

ANOTHER Trip to the Doctor

I give up!  I really thought that if I kept them in and required them to drink lots, get lots of rest, sneak out for some fresh warm air and take it easy they would, without a doubt, be healthy and back to school today.  Not so.  This HAS to be the last big illness of their first grade year.  The house may permanently smell like Vicks after this one.  We might never find all the cough drop trash and Kleenexes.  We had to buy our last bottles of hand sanitizer at Sam’s, for crying out loud!  Have you seen the size of those things??  I spent Saturday disinfecting anything and everything I could think of to disinfect.  The bathtub was full of toys soaking in a bleach and water solution.  Every doorknob, light switch, Wii accessory, remote, phone and other surface has been wiped down with Clorox wipes.  If there was just a way to disinfect the kiddos! 

We’re going back to the doctor today.  Addie’s ears are now draining and hurting – that can’t be good.  Something has got to change…and soon!