Aveeno has been a brand that I have trusted for many years.  I remember my mom buying Aveeno oatmeal bath for us as kids when we had  chicken pox.    When Influenster contacted me about joining their Aveeno campaign, I jumped at the chance to try a product I might not normally ever think to try. 

Unlike my mom, I wasn’t blessed with incredible skin.  I had (have) acne, and some age spots.  I wear makeup – but some of those “spots” bug me – I’m 32, I shouldn’t have age spots!   

I was sent Aveeno Positively Radiant Intensive Night Cream.   I was intrigued by the claim that it can even your skin tone, and lighten dark spots.  So far I have used the cream nightly, and have noticed some differences.  The skin under my eyes isn’t as dark.  This could be attributed to JUST using the night cream, but I think that combined with actually get more sleep has helped tremendously.  I noticed I didn’t have to use as much concealer in the mornings the last few days to cover the dark circles.

The active soy complex has been used for centuries in traditional chinese medicine to even skin tone, and reduce blotchiness.   Aveeno is formulated with ACTIVE NATURALS® Total Soy Complex and vitamin B3.   Its a bit pricey for what I would normally buy, BUT – I am a firm believer that if you find a product that works great for you – buy it no matter what the price and make sure you use it! 

Other items on note that were important to me:

• It wasn’t overly perfume or strong scented.  There is NOTHING I hate more than smelling something medicinal all night long (only time this is good is the winter when you need some menthol vapor rub to clean your sinuses).  The Aveeno Positively Radiant Intensive Night Cream has a light scent, almost non-existent!
• It isn’t oily.  This was one of my main concerns.  I have “combo” skin – oily in the”T-zone” and I don’t need to add more oil to that.  I immediately felt the cream soak into my skin – almost like my skin was thirsty!   I liked that putting it on – it soaked in and didn’t leave my skin feeling weird (oily, sticky).  Patrick even kissed my forehead after I put it on (maybe 15 minutes later), and didn’t say anything about it. 

You can purchase Aveeno Positively Radiant Intensive Night Cream at most national retailers/mass market stores, as well as through the Aveeno website.

Disclosure:  I received AVEENO® POSITIVELY RADIANT® Intensive Night Cream complimentary from Influenster.  As always, all opinions are mine and mine alone!

Saturday Night.  Williams-Brice Stadium.  My girls. & My love.
Tailgating Carolina style & sending out this spring 2013 semester
with a bang, a shot of whiskey and singing at the top of our lungs.

My sweet friend Andrea posted on her facebook page today that it was Thankful Thursday, and she wanted to know what everyone was thankful for today.  For me, todays answer came to me in an instant, no hesitation. 

Second Chances

I am so thankful that God gives us second chances.

For me its meant that I find an old  friend who I had lost touch with in the last 15 years,
and I have a 2nd chance to be a part of her life again.  Angela – for everything you’ve done for me in the last 2 years, and for
every giggle, every text message, every squeal and hug.  I love you my bestie!

For me a second chance at finding love – Patrick or “P” as he is often referred to here.
Thank you for picking me, for being the calm to my crazy and making me laugh every single day.  I am one very lucky woman!
 

Warning, this is not my normal cutesy, everything is rosy kind of post.   Sometimes I just need to write to get it out.

Have you ever just over analyzed the crap out of a situation?   An old friend (and flame) of mine used to tell me all the time to “STOP over thinking things.”  I will admit, I am terrible about it.  I build crap up in my head so much (mostly bad, rarely ever good stuff). On the other hand I also get my hopes way up about stuff, and end up disappointed in the end – and I KNOW better!   I spent the last 3 years of my marriage being disappointed everyday, so for me its now normal, or commonplace.  People are going to disappoint you everyday, and most people shrug it off – not me.  I hold a grudge like it’s nobody’s business, seriously ya’ll.   Anyway, going back to the fact that I am so used to disappointed, that leads me to the fact that I overthink EVERYTHING.  Anxiety is a life sucker, and it has cost me a couple of great relationships because the other person just couldn’t handle me.  I am not a handful, I just have some crazy insecurities and given the reason my marriage failed, this could be considered normal.   I am spazzy sometimes, completely random and that is what makes me – ME.

Smart girls tend to be the over thinkers.  They analyze every little thing in life.  Why?  To avoid getting hurt again.  They stay up at night trying to think about every possible situation to get through all the so-called problems they perceive.  They think TOO much.  Sure it may help them to not hurt so much when the disappointment they expected to happen, does happen – but it still won’t stop them from thinking too much.  Those girls trust fewer people, but they ones they do trust they become very loyal to.  Their insecurity proves their respect towards themselves. Smart girls know their worth.  And they are the ones worth keeping by your side.

And for those who may think so, this is NOT directed at anyone in particular, I’ve actually had this post half written since Christmas.
In the words of a very wise man in my life “you just need to relax” and in the words of the Zach Brown Band you gotta “let it go”.

So here is to completely letting go of the past, letting go of the hurt.  In life, you have to get hurt, its how you learn.  I want to be one of the strong, who laugh the hardest with the biggest mile.  I have fought a hard battle the last 3 years, and I have decided that I am not going to let that hold me down anymore. 

I know that I am totally worth it.  I am enough for someone out there.

1)Do you always answer your phone?
No, sometimes I don’t hear it.  If you want to get ahold of me quick, text me, its easier.

2) It’s four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it?
Richie ..because he has no concept of time (love you though!)

3) If you could change your eye color what would it be?
deep green

4) What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic?
cherry, but only to dr. pepper

5) What kind of car do you have?
Honda Odyssey

6) Have you ever had a pet fish?
yes

7) Favorite Christmas song?
Rocking around the Christmas Tree

8) What’s on your wish list for your birthday?
jewelry, flowers, new bedding

9) Can you do push ups?
yes

10) Can you do a chin up?
no….

11) Does the future make you more nervous or excited
Excited.

12) Do you have any saved texts?
yep, a dozen or so

13) Ever been in a car wreck?
yep

14) Do you have an accent?
Yes, southern

15) What is the last song to make you cry?
I’m Going to Love you Thru It (Martina McBride)

16) Plans tonight?
laundry and clearing up some space on my DVR

17) Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?
Yes

18) Name 3 things you bought in the last week
gas, groceries, lunch when Bry and I went out

19) Have you ever been given roses?
not since 2003

20) Current worry?
money

21) Current hate right now?
allergies!

22) Met someone who changed your life?
Several people

23) How did you bring in the New Year?
watching the ball drop, talking to a good friend on the phone

24) What song represents you?
Sin Wagon (Dixie Chicks),  Little Bit Stronger (Sarah Evans)

25) Do you & your significant other have a song?
Not really, “One of Those Nights” by Tim McGraw plays when he calls me though. 
If I get a vote, I vote for “Give Into Me” from the movie Country Strong