Product Review: Meaningful Beauty

Note: I was given this product for free in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
I'm a member of Influenster and was given the opportunity to do a review on the Meaningful Beauty restoration product, Creme de Serum. 
Info from the website: This crème de la crème treatment takes a triple approach to combating the signs of aging with three powerful anti-aging ingredients: superantioxidant melon complex, anti-aging peptides and hyaluronic acid. Combining the power of a serum with the rich, moisturizing effects of a crème, this super-boost is designed to help protect, increase hydration and prevent the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Bear with me, this probably isn't what you're expecting to read on a product review.  I will always be honest in my reviews, even if it's not what the service/product/supplier wants to read...
While I was excited to try this product, my excitement waned greatly once I read the bottle label. My first red flag was that it says, "If ingested, call Poison Control immediately."
This is a BIG no-no for me. If there's a warning to call Poison Control if ingested, ESPECIALLY on a product that's supposed to go on my skin, then I don't want it. If it's a problem for it to be accidentally ingested, then what in the heck is in it??
Secondly, no where on the container or on the Meaningful Beauty website can I find ingredients. That's another BIG no-no for me. Why? Why not list the ingredients? I really like to know what I'm putting on my skin!
So, with those red flags at the forefront of my mind, I still decided to try the product. I used it two times then I just couldn't do it anymore. I have no idea what's in it and that really bothers me!
I'm sorry Meaningful Beauty and Influenster. 
This product goes against my personal decisions to keep a nontoxic, healthy lifestyle. I cannot in good faith recommend this product to anyone. 
That said, I do have a list of some fantastic nontoxic beauty products and yes Shaklee's is one of them! Our Instant Firming Serum is safe, nontoxic, it works, and we have the ingredients listed on the container so you know exactly what you're getting!

Five Day Mini Detox | Join Us!

I love Thanksgiving! Love, love it! 

I can tell that I love it a little too much though...my pants are usually a bit tighter from the constant eating and my energy levels are lower from less exercise. I  am personally a big fan of cleaning out once in a while.  No one is perfect, so this is a great time to start fresh!
Which is why a group of us are doing a Shaklee 180 Mini Detox beginning the second week of December! Who's in? Let's do it together!!
Our Shaklee 180 Mini Detox is a five day cleanse designed to rejuvenate, energize, and remove all the junk from your body! It is natural, safe and it works.
Reset your cravings, feel energized, and maybe even loose a few pounds without going hungry!

The Shaklee 180 Kick Start Detox helps my body let go of the junk it wants to hold on to.

To join us,  you need to purchase at least one canister of your favorite Shaklee 180 Smoothee mix and a box of Shaklee 180 snack bars so you can replace meals and snacks in a healthy way. Our smoothees are so tasty and keep you feeling full throughout the day. Plus, since they're powered by Leucine, your energy levels will stay up and you won't get those sugar cravings! 

Special Note: We highly encourage new folks to join with any Shaklee 180 Kit to take advantage of all the free goodies: FREE membership, FREE Shaklee 180 app, FREE BURST workouts, participate in the 3 for Free program, a chance to win prizes from Shaklee, PLUS the "New You for the New Year" offer! Get up to $100 in FREE Shaklee products when you join with a Shaklee 180 Kit and keep it on Autoship for 3 consecutive months!

The rest of the detox items are listed below. I highly encourage you to purchase them to gain the maximum benefits of this detox program! This detox is specific to Shaklee's natural nutrition supplements. 

~ alfalfa

~ liver dtx

~ herb lax

~ 180 energizing tea

~ 180 smoothees (chocolate and vanilla chai are my current favorites!)

~ 180 snack bars (lemon/cranberry is fantastic!)

~ fresh, cut up veggies for your snacks (I'll be using red bell peppers, cucumbers, carrots, jicama, celery, broccoli)

~ water to drink throughout the day

~ almond milk, cows milk, coconut milk, or water for your smoothees

Once you place your order, shoot me an email at jallen44 (at) gmail (dot) com to let me know and I'll add you to our private group page, which details the daily regimen!

I've done these mini detoxes several times this year. It's so much easier than you might think, and I always feel fantastic after getting the junk out of my body!

Our first DETOX CHALLENGE begins Monday Dec 9th, so place your order ASAP so you'll be ready to begin! See you in the forums!

Jessica :)

Give the Gift of Health this Season!

Christmas is right around the corner! Wow, can you believe it??

Need some ideas on what to get or give? Check out this handy gift guide to help give the gift of health to your family and friends!  Feel free to contact me at jallen (at) gmail (dot) com with any questions. Bonus: You automatically get a FREE Shaklee membership with purchase of Vitalizer!

1. Enfuselle Nutrition Skin Therapy Kit

The same nutrients that help keep you healthy on the inside also play a huge role in how you look on the outside. 50 years of scientific nutrition research has been applied to developing the most advanced therapeutic skincare system around providing you the answer to healthy-looking, beautiful skin. Look and feel 25 years younger!

2. 180 Turnaround Kit

Lose Weight
Go from before to after with clinically tested weight loss products** – and a program designed to burn fat, not muscle. This customizable two-meal kit delivers a complete program of smoothees, snacks, energizing tea and metabolic boost* – along with access to exclusive tools and rewards. Over $395 value in product, program tools and first-kit shipping upgrade.

** The weight loss portion of the Shaklee 180 Program was tested in a preliminary 12-week clinical study.Meal-in-a-bar was not included in this study.

3. Vivix

Global cutting-edge research in the fight against cellular aging and years spent in partnership with leading scientists have culminated in Vivix—a scientific breakthrough from Shaklee.

Only Vivix contains both resveratrol and a proprietary phytonutrient blend. This phytonutrient blend harnesses the powerful antioxidant properties of rare muscadine grapes and has been shown to be 10X more powerful than resveratrol alone in slowing a key mechanism of cellular aging.*

All natural. Patent pending. Clinically tested key ingredients. Exclusive.

4. Vitalizer

Vitalizer is the most advanced multinutrient supplement in the marketplace today with 80 bio-optimized nutrients clinically proven to create a foundation for a longer, healthier life.* Vitalizer is the powerful and convenient approach to complete supplementation providing the best spectrum of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, anti-aging phytonutrients, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotics*, all in one daily serving.

• Custom formula created specifically for today’s healthy active men and women
• Patent-pending delivery system designed to enhance absorption of key nutrients
• Based on 12 clinical studies and a first-of-its-kind Landmark Study

Feel better in 30 days or your money back.

5. Shaklee Baby

Clean, fresh baby. These extra gentle products are naturally formulated to get your baby pip-squeaky clean from head to toe. Made with organic chamomile and lavender,  these products are pH balanced and sensitivity tested to shower, moisturize, and soothe even the most tender skin with love.

6. Basic H Organic Cleaning Concentrate

This little 16 oz bottle creates an unbelievable 48 gallons of super-safe, really powerful, all purpose cleaner. We challenge you to use it up any time soon to clean everything from spilled milk, to bug guts on the window, to splattered spaghetti sauce. Now go, get cleaning.
Basic H Instruction

For all-purpose cleaning:
Add 1/4 tsp. to 16 oz. of water.

For windows and mirrors:
Add 1-2 drops to 16 oz. of water.

For degreasing:
Add 1 1/2 tsp. to 16 oz. of water. For bigger jobs, add 2 oz. to 1 gallon of water.

7. Shaklee Sports Nutrition

Shaklee’s Sports Nutrition products are used at the highest level of competition so you can trust them every time you take them- before, during, and after your workouts. Everything you need. Nothing you don’t. No artificial flavors, sweeteners or added preservatives.

8. Get Clean Water

Cleaner, healthier water and a cleaner, healthier planet? We can all drink to that!

This Starter Pack contains all you need to get one full year of healthier, great-tasting water*:

• Get Clean®  Water Pitcher – Food Safe: BPA-Free; 10 cup capacity
• Get Clean®  Water refillable Filter Housing Kit (with 1 filter – 80 gallon capacity)
• Get Clean®  Water Filter Refill 3-pack (80 gallon capacity each)
• The only filter on the market to remove lead from water.

9. Enfuselle Spa Shea Butter Lotion

Enfuselle® Spa Ultra Moisturizing Shea Butter Cream - Pamper your skin. Luxurious shea butter is extracted from the fruit of the shea tree, and has amazing moisturizing properties. Back by popular demand, this Shea Butter Cream has a wonderful consistency and soaks deep into your skin, leaving it smooth and hydrated. We’ve added vitamin E for extra skin nourishment. For hand and body. Paraben Free.

10. Prosante Hair Care

The ProSanté Hair Care System provides one simple, flexible system that can be personalized to meet each individual’s unique hair needs in every situation. Each ProSanté system includes one each of the following products:

• Nourishing Scalp Treatment, 2 fluid ounces
• Revitalizing Shampoo, 10 fluid ounces
• Purifying Shampoo, 8 fluid ounces
• Lightweight Conditioner, 10 fluid ounces
• Replenishing Conditioner, 8 fluid ounces
• Long-Lasting Finishing Spray, 8 fluid ounce

11. Stress Relief Complex

Stress Relief Complex offers nutritional support that helps you get through the day in a calm, alert and healthy way.  It’s powerful ingredients are designed to provide relief from tension  — without making you drowsy.*  Includes L-theanine, ashwagandha, beta sitosterol, and L-tyrosine.

12. Nutriferon

A Shaklee exclusive, NutriFeron is a patented, clinically proven blend of immune-strengthening plant extracts. When used daily, it increases the production of your body’s natural interferon, a critical activator of the immune system. NutriFeron works at the cellular level, by rapidly activating your immune system’s defenses*

Quick Tip | Make Your Own Foaming Soap

Hand washing is probably one of, if not the most, important ways to keep yourself healthy! The nasty germs are all over and our hands are usually all over everything as well: our phones, the car, grocery carts, changing diapers, touching computers, helping kids in the bathroom, wiping noses, going to the park...
And did you know that pretty much every hand soap you buy has junk in it that you don't need? Like artificial colors? Even the brands that label themselves as 'natural'. It's true. 
Check out this label on a super popular brand. The soap is CLEAR, yet they put in Violet 5. What? And more importantly, WHY??










My friend Jenny over at +Conscientious Confusion Blog posted waaaaay back in the day how to make your own foaming hand soap. I'm just now getting around to making it. 
It's so super easy and much more cost efficient than the stuff you get at the store! My five year old has been helping me make it because it's that easy!
Here's how I did it:

• 1 empty foaming soap bottle (I had these on hand, but I'm sure you could ask some friends for their old ones!)
• Castile soap (I have Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Castile Soap...love this stuff and it's not expensive at all!)
• Distilled/filtered water
• Essential oils (optional - I used Wild Orange this time. Mmm!)

Simply fill your empty soap container about 1/3 full of the castile soap. Fill the rest with water and a few drops of essential oils of your choice. Give it a good shake and you've got natural, nontoxic, inexpensive foaming hand soap!
Have you made your own soaps before? 

Natural Supplements to Relax

Note: I'm not a doctor, nor am I here to give medical advice. I'm simply letting you know what works for our family. As always, please contact your doctor with any medical questions before starting any new supplements.  If you follow my Facebook page, you might remember that I posted about doing a little experiment with my boys about using a natural supplement to help relax and calm them down in the evenings.
Well, we've been doing that experiment for just over a week and now I'm ready to report our results! We have two young boys, ages 5 and 2. They are awesome and very much boys...high energy! Our oldest has always had a hard time settling down at night. We've tried lavender essential oil to help calm him at night and get ready for bed, but it just doesn't work for him. It seems to have no effect on him. Oh, well. Time to move on and look for another natural option.
After doing some research, I read about how magnesium is a natural muscle relaxer. In fact, it's the most used mineral in our bodies. It's used in hundreds of reaction a day and is vital to the function of every cell in our body. There's actually a huge magnesium deficiency in almost everyone thanks to poor diets, medications, and poor soil for our foods.
Some effects of magnesium deficiency are: muscle pain/spasms, cramps, neck pain, migraines, anxiety, depression, fatigue, fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, asthma, PMS, restless leg syndrome...the list actually goes on and on!
Magnesium and calcium are considered sister minerals and need each other to work together efficiently. Calcium actually acts to excite nerves and is necessary for muscle contraction, while magnesium calms those nerves. You can think of it as an on/off switch....calcium is 'on', magnesium is 'off.'
Enter Shaklee's Chewable CalMag Plus. This natural supplement is what has been helping our boy calm down and relax much, much easier in the evenings! And it's been helping him sleep better at night...he's not waking up still looking tired! Hooray! We are THRILLED that this simple supplement is helping him so much! Since it's chewable and has a fruity flavor, he has no qualms about taking it. Of course, little brother has to get in on the action too!
After just a few days of using the CalMag Plus, we could see a difference so I told my brother about it. He's been dealing with restless leg syndrome for several years. I suggested he try it and he could tell a difference almost immediately after taking it! I'm so happy for him. I've heard that restless leg is awful!
I just cannot stop singing the praises of Shaklee's Chewable CalMag Plus! 

Quick Tip | No More Soggy Pizza!

I wanted to drop in and give you a great idea for reheating leftover pizza. No one (at least that I know!) likes soggy leftover pizza. Reheating it in the microwave makes it soggy, and heating up the oven to reheat one or two pieces is kind of wasteful on the electricity. I like to reheat pizza on the stove! Just put the pieces in a pan, cover with a lid, and set to medium. It takes about five minutes to have it ready! The lid traps in moisture, which helps the cheese melt and not get gummy! Super easy and virtually no clean up! What are some of your favorite quick tips? Share them below!

Giving Back & Helping Others

My husband and I have a heart for giving to those in need. We prefer to donate my time to help others, but at this season in life it's really hard to find available time to go help out. There are several organizations that we love to donate to, one being Operation Christmas Child.  This is our second year to create shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, headed up by Samaritan's Purse. Samaritan's Purse has a wonderful vision that is in alignment with our personal beliefs, and we specifically love their Christmas donation program. Operation Christmas Child is a shoebox gift program for children in third world countries. You simply decide what age range and if you want to give to a boy or girl, fill up a shoebox full of goodies (small toys, socks, school supplies, hygiene items, etc), and drop it off with your church or the nearest drop off location. Easy, FUN, and better yet the entire family can get involved!
Our oldest son (5 years) loves to go with me to the store to help pick out items to fill the shoebox. It's a great learning opportunity for him. We chat about how there are children in the world that don't have all the things we have, like soap, toothbrushes, shoes, or toys. We also talk about how God calls us to love everyone and to give to those in need, in a loving and generous way.  

Proudly showing off our box!

He wrote this note for the child who receives our box!

There is still time to make some boxes and drop them off at a church or Operation Christmas Child location!