I was contacted to get a service with a new Dermatologist to the Scottsdale area, Dr. Lal. He recently joined the Affiliated Dermatology practice. Dr. Lal is the only double board certified physician in the US in both Cosmetic Dermatology and Pediatric Dermatology. His experience and training is what you should look for in a medical provider to receive this type of treatment.
I had researched the 2 types of Fraxel Laser as they are commonly known. There is an Ablative version (which is what I had) and a non-ablative version ( a much easier recovery but with less results in the end). So if you know me I figured I’d rather go BIG or go home! Haha!
An ablative fractional laser skin resurfacing procedure is a more aggressive form of laser resurfacing. The ablative aspect makes use of intense heat to vaporize skin cells (versus non ablative lasers which do not destroy skin cells), and the fractional aspect means the laser treatment is targeted to a specific treatment area. Ablative fractional laser skin resurfacing treatments stimulate new collagen production, tighten and tone underlying skin, and destroy old, damaged, or hyperpigmented skin cells. It’s a fractional ablative treatment. This laser creates small channels within your skin and removes a fraction of your skin. This creates a wound that allows for collagen stimulation and improved skin, texture, quality, and tone. It is a high risk procedure and that’s why I sought a board certified cosmetic dermatologist such as Dr. Lal.
First step is to cleanse the skin well.
The next step is the application of the numbing cream. This at the very minimum needs to stay on before the treatment about 20-25 min. I remember waiting almost 45 min when I had my keloid scar lasered years ago. Maybe it would be better to be patient with this a little longer.
And now we laser! It was all coming back to me as we started. It is not for the faint of heart for sure. But nothing good comes easy. If I can do this you can because overall I can be a wimp lol. Dr. Lal made sure to cover all my face. My main areas of concerns were above both my eyebrows on my forehead and of course the dreaded “11s”.
The next day was a bit rough. My skin did feel like my face is on fire like an intense sunburn, which lasted about 2-3 days. I was prepared for this but I did not expect the swelling on my cheeks in some areas to be so puffy. I knew it would go down as time passed but it was a bit more than I expected. Now that being said everyone heals differently and at different rates.
Update Jan 15, 2023: My skin had tiny pinpoint scabs from tiny areas of bleeding. Those channels that Dr. Lal explained were noticeable and the laser tracks could be seen for the next 1-2 days. The nurse had provided me with a bag of CeraVe products for the first several days to use post-treatment. First, I used their Hydrating Facial Cleanser. This really helped to slough off those tiny little scabs. Next, I was given to apply to my face the CeraVe Healing Ointment, which for the first few days I used several times a day (amazing stuff by the way–my face was cooled right after using this). Lastly, I had some of the CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen-SPF 30. It is super important to protect your skin from sun exposure after this treatment. So the only thing I needed/chose to buy was some full coverage foundation to go to work on Monday. Overall, on the swelling along my jawline and under my eyes looked much less by Monday morning.
Update Jan 16, 2023 The next photos are some really up close ones of my skin approximately 72+ hours after the treatment.
This next photo was taken 2 weeks after my treatment
And finally about one month after my Fraxel Ablative Treatment. My final thoughts are yes I would do it again in a heartbeat! (ok maybe not that quickly haha). It is easy to be worried the first few days, because it was hard to sleep with my skin feeling like it was burning. Just be patient. The following night was much better already. This is totally doable but be prepared and ask questions so you know ahead of time what to expect.
First was about how long does this last? Typically, it is recommended to get 3 treatments over about 3 to 6 months. After this the results last about 2 years. Also, I am a Latina and you have to be careful with who performs this treatment on different skin types. Another question was how soon after this treatment can you get facials, dermaplaning or other spa grade treatments for your skin. Well usually about 14 days later is what Dr. Lal recommends. So if you are looking to do something amazing for your skin call Dr. Lal’s office. See his contact info below. Make sure you say All The Prettys sent you for 10% off a treatment package.
I am so excited to share with you all my Invisalign journey. I was super excited that in early 2019 I got a message about collaborating with a great local Orthodontics office, called Premier Orthodontics. They have six locations all over the Valley here. I spoke with the owner Dr. Dustin Coles and we talked about my smile goals! Eventually, I was contacted that I was chosen for this collaboration and I could not contain my excitement! And now I can’t wait to take you along with me so let’s go!
Here is my before photo so you can see where I started.
This was right before going into the office for the very first time. I was a bit nervous but also super excited.
This is “my” office located in central Phoenix off Peoria Ave. Super easy to find and parking is never a problem.
They had some goodies waiting for me! I was so surprised by this detail.
After arriving I sat down with Jahaira, the treatment coordinator, who walked me through the process before meeting the doctor which was really a nice step.
I then was led out to the area so I could get my panoramic x-rays done so they could asses my teeth placement as they were in March 2019. Then I sat in a chair and they used a computerized wand to create a three dimensional mock up of my teeth, which was the coolest thing ever!!
The after the modulation was created, Dr. Sharma came over to explain all the images to me and talk about my treatment plan.
This consult time with Dr. Sharma was so great! She shows you exactly what your future progress with be, answers any questions or concerns and gives you a general idea of how long your Invisalign journey would be. This visit is where they order your trays and then set up your follow-up to return to the clinic for your first tray fitting.
Update: Second visit: June 2019
My next visit at Premier Ortho was right on schedule. The office called a few days prior to my appointment to confirm that my trays were ready. I got to the office that afternoon and to say I was excited was an understatement!
When I arrived they sat me in one of the dental chairs and then reviewed my box of trays with me. (my first box contains 15 weekly change out trays). They explained that once a weekly I would change to the next set of trays (the upper and lower set come in a sealed plastic envelope). Then came the surprise part haha! I obviously did not understand the part about the “attachments” correctly. Basically, small almost triangle shaped attachments are glued onto each tooth that needs to be moved or adjusted in a certain direction. I ended up with over 20 different spots on my teeth with attachments.
Later when I placed the first set of trays in my mouth I understood why! The attachments create almost a pressure like tight grip to help the plastic trays “MOVE” your teeth. Whoa! Ok so check out the videos below for my funny surprised reaction and trying to get used to talking with the trays in my mouth.
Update: August 19, 2019
I am on my last set of trays from this first box and have a follow-up later this week. So a few thoughts so far about my journey. First, of all “Owww” haha. Yeah I guess I didn’t expect to be as sore as I have been with some trays certain weeks. Now to be honest it is not all the time. So say for instance it usually lasts on days 1-3 at most with a new set of trays. Also not all tray sets are that tight. If it is too much try OTC Ibuprofen–I think I only took some one time.
Second, I devised a cute little carry case with all my essentials. A foldable, portable tooth brush that I picked up at Target. Then the travel sized tooth paste and some dental floss. I will not put the trays back in after eating until my teeth are brushed and ready again. I also did order a few things from Amazon, such as a tool to remove my trays (one too many times of chipping my nail polish and I was DONE). I also ordered some of the Chewies as spares to have around to get my trays to fit good and tight. Then I got some special sugar free mints that you can suck on while your trays are in place. I always used to have gum to chew during my long commute, but with my alingers in that can’t happen right now. These mints were the perfect solution for this. And finally, I got these dissolvable crystals to clean the trays better in between trays exchanges. Now you DO NOT NEED to buy anything extra. I like to usually jump into something new and go a bit overboard lol.
Lastly, my teeth…well how do they look. I have noticed in the last several weeks a huge improvement already. My appointment is this Wednesday and I cannot wait for Dr. Sharma to check it out for herself. I will also let you know that during this while process you are not supposed to whiten your teeth. This was another surprise to me! I drink red wine and tea all the time. I did ask why and the answer makes sense and is very simple..if you use whitening gel it will whiten your tooth/teeth but where each attachment is sitting will remain covered. Otherwise, you will have two colored polka dot looking teeth! No way! So best advice be patient.
Update: August 21, 2019–Third visit to Premier Ortho
This was a quick visit. They did another set of xrays (panoramic kind) and they used the computerized wand to recreate my smile as of today. All this will be sent to Invisalign to make my next set of aligners. As of right now I am down to my last two–the one I am currently using and one more. I won’t be back for 4 more weeks so I need to make these two sets last lol. Basically, I am to only wear them at night like retainers so the teeth don’t move back until my weekly aligners are ready for my next fitting! Nest appointment is mid September 2019. Sorry no real videos or pics from today’s visit. Next time!
Update: September 18, 2019
Things are moving along well. I am really seeing shifting of my front teeth, but I FEEL shifting in my molars. So as a Marisol Tip to you is get lots of dental floss picks. As you get used to eating with your teeth shifting…well lets say it doesn’t look cute to have food stuck in places. I also will be need more trays soon so those have been ordered. My next appointment will be in about 4 weeks when the new trays arrive.
Update October 2019
This was a quick recheck and tray pick up for me today. Dr. Sharma and I were working at replacing a few attachments that had fallen off. I got to see my latest scans and wow I’m so surprised with the progress so far. I have such high hopes for this all! Check out the latest pics from the visit and my after visit summary down below.
BEFORE
AFTER ( I used a scrolling text on the story oops I shouldn’t do that huh?!)
Update November 2019
Quick visit today and more scans to see my progress. Check out the videos below for the latest visit summary. This was the next morning and I am currently in tray 7 of these new trays!
Marisol Tip#2 WEAR YOUR TRAYS ALL THE TIME!! Haha no for real. Your teeth are really shifting at this point and you can really feel the difference with by this time. So don’t delay the progress and forget your trays in “your face”!
UPDATE DECEMBER 2019
This appointment was a quick recheck with Dr. Sharma again. I am on tray 12 of this set of trays out of 27 at this point. Also I’m wearing them almost one week long here. MARISOL TIP #3–Get yourself some INVISALIGN CLEANING CRYSTALS
This is not a sponsored link just my sharing my find with you all. Here is my Instagram stories from the next morning summary after this visit.
Update Jan/Feb 2020: I continued with the trays through the holidays. I went home for Christmas to Kansas City and of course took all my trays with me for this period.
Update March 2020: This visit I got to see Dr. Coles and I got some exciting surprising news. See the latest stories down below and the video of my progress so far. At this point I am on tray 23 of 27 in this current box.
Ok so this was my last visit for quite awhile. As everyone on the planet knows March 2020 the world changed as we know it. Premier Ortho sent my some refining trays and other things through the mail but at this point we had no idea how long we would be out of the office.
Update September 2020:
Well due to the length of time we we away from the process, a few things changed. Dr. Sharma was no longer with the practice but I started seeing Dr. Kothari (love her too!). They got new scans and and well it was decided to take me back a few months which was just fine with me as long I was able to progress and track again.
So from this visit I got BAGS of boxes of trays lol. I was to change my trays daily at this point. Now sometimes they still prettys tight so I was told it was ok to extend the use for 1-3 days out depending how I felt with the tightness and soreness. I was to continue this for quite awhile.
Update November 2020: This visit was at a different location due to my work schedule. I happen to live pretty close to 3 different locations. This was at their Union Hills new office.
So today I got some updated attachments on my teeth to help along the tracking of my teeth. You can see the new ones that were placed.
Update April 2022
I have been working with Dr. Neves for several months now. It has been so awesome meeting all the different providers at Premier Ortho and seeing how nice everyone of them has been. I was excited to see that I was almost done at this point. Plans were made to order my final retainer for home maintenance. This visit was also the removal of the funny little “knobs” called “attachments” that have been on my teeth. This visit they were removed and final photos were taken!!
And well that was my Invisalign Journey! It was so amazing to be chosen for this. I know I feel very lucky to have gotten this opportunity. A very big THANK YOU to PREMIER ORTHO and all the doctors and staff. Here is a final photo of my smile.
Update 2023
After some time of cleaning my final retainer. I have been using baking soda and white vinegar, but the reatiner remained cloudy. I didn’t want to get harsh chemicals to soak something that i will be putting into my mouth. I happen to be scrolling on Instagram and saw an ad for a ZIMA DENTAL POD. i reached out to the company and they were kind enough to offer me a discount so I could buy one. The Dental pod uses high-frequency 42,000 hz ultrasonic waves to vibrate the solution and produce millions of nano-scale bubbles. These bubbles rapidly expand and collapse, releasing a large amount of energy, continuously scouring and smashing the grime, bacteria and plaque while being non abrasive to your dental appliance.
It’s that time of year again for the #NSale!! I know there are a lot of influencers sending emails, posting graphics and sooo many Reels lol. I tend to keep it low key and look for basics. I found some cute shoes and even some jewelry. I find it hard to look at flannel in July when its 115F outside. So let’s shop the NSale!!
I’ll share what I ordered and what I have on my wishlist still. Maybe I’ll go crazy and send in a second order right after this haha. First of all, I usually order shoes in really basic neutral color, like white black or beige. This time I ordered these Dolce Vita sandals in Sage. It is a gorgeous blue gray color. I’m thinking of styling them with black pants or maybe a neutral beige dress.
This gorgeous block heels come in 7 colors perfect for fall transition outfits. The heel is a 3 1/4 inch high heel. And right now they are $79.99 . After the sale they will be $125.00 that’s a huge savings!
Next, I also grabbed these cute black strappy heels for only $49.99! These are a Sam Edelman pair so you know you will be getting a great quality shoe. They come in 6 colors too.
And finally I ordered one more pair of sandals. Lol I could not bring myself to order any boots yet. I try to check out all the cute fall things, but I JUST CANNOT.
Last thing that I ordered was another ring to add to my collection. It’s a dupe for a David Yurman one that I’ve been eyeing. It’s a fraction of the cost of course. This ring is just $38 and it is a fun addition to my ring stacks.
So many cute pieces left on my wishlist to consider. Im so torn. Why cant you just have unlimited funds for shopping the NSale! Click on the photos below and it takes you directly to my wishlist picks!
So tag me if you end up getting any cute pieces from Nordstrom. It was so much fun to shop this sale. And cannot wait to style these items. Check out my Instagram feed soon for outfit looks!
***This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx on behalf of Amazon Prime Video
Hey Friends!!
This is such exciting news! My fun little dog pack and I paired with Amazon Prime Video to help promote their new original series The Pack. I jumped at the chance to be a part of this campaign with my three little fur-babies. Cleo, Whiskey, Sophie and I will show you how much fun you can have with your Pack too!
So our big announcement is that this Friday, November 20th, Amazon Prime Video will be releasing their new original series, The Pack. This is a new global unscripted series that celebrates the unrivaled bond between dogs and their human companions. The host will be Lindsey Vonn, the Olympic Gold medalist. How cool is that?!?! Well what my pack and I get to show you is how much fun we have together. So here we go!
We were sent a surprise box in the mail and the only thing we knew it was going to have was mega entertainment value for the pups. Well ‘haha the joke is on me’ the pups thought the box itself was fun!
They all came running when they heard crinkle paper and went crazy sniffing away. The suspense was real. The box itself was really cute. The show will feature twelve teams of dogs and their humans on an epic adventure across multiple continents. It is a reality competition show.
It was great to learn that Amazon Prime Video and the show itself The Pack designed the show to benefit charity. The show will award a life-changing $750,000 for the winning duo and their charity, $500,000 to the winners plus an additional $250,000 prize amount for the animal charity of their choice. I mean this sounds so amazing!!
Cleo was the most curious! She loves dog toys. She tends to snatch them away from Whiskey and Sophie lol. Oh well they will figure it out.
Whiskey would like to thank our new friends at The Pack for the box haha! And Cleo was just not sure about this one.
He is really such a ham… he is always ready to strike a pose. The pups were super excited about the fun pop up tent and the doggie fun/run tunnel. They loved the doggie play pen best I think though.
Seriously everything was so shiny and new! My helpers were full of suggestions on how to best build this out.
“I always feel like somebody’s watching me”. Its always the quiet ones…Whiskey!!
We were having the best time that we decided to take this outside. I literally packed up my “pack” and our stuff and see what happened next.
I opened up the doggie tunnel and I tried seeing if I could get Cleo (she is the most adventurous) to go through it. Well it took some coaxing but look at her go!
Whiskey later tried once haha. At least he gave it a shot my silly boy.
Sophie is the newest to the bunch. She is still figuring out how to play with the other two but she is so much better. Sophie is a rescue pup who was adopted out as a little puppy and returned back to the rescue group after three years due to “severe” behavior issues. She has been a challenge but with patience and love she is a sweet and confident little girl after just 6 months with us.
Whiskey was a Maricopa County Animal Control pup that I saw online. My friend Allison went with me because I had never been to the “county” before. I wanted to bring ALL the doggies home with me. Whiskey was found walking the streets in South Phoenix. He was 3 years old at the time. He is my quiet one unless he feels he needs to be a BIG dog lol.
Lastly is my Cleo, she was one of 4 puppies that I rescued in Cottonwood, Arizona. A lady’s dog had had puppies and she was giving them away. She has been one wild ride! She is a bit high strung but always HAPPY! She is the sweetest dog and yes I do know where her siblings are. They all having amazing families! And haha she got me AGAIN right in the face.
I hope this post put a smile on your face. Having my own little pack is really been the best (even when they destroy puppy beds, toys, pee on my curtains, etc) lol! Remember to watch The Pack on Amazon Prime Video this Friday, November 20th because you’d better believe we will! Leave me a comment with your favorite story about your own pups!
I wanted to bring you a roundup of all my latest summer finds. And here it is!! So I was asked to join in a fun collaboration with Click Collaborative at The Hotel Valley Ho here in Scottsdale, Arizona. Let me tell you all about it!
So, a few weeks ago I spent some time with six local photographers and some fellow blogger babes shooting some new summer looks. I was super excited because I would have several cute looks all ready to post about and get to work with different photographers and styles. This photo above and the series below were taken by Erica Fuchs Photography
I styled this in my head before getting to the hotel. I found my little pink parasol, but did NOT count on the annoying blazing sun lol. I think Erica did an amazing job in spite of both us dodging cars and the sun haha. Here is a few more shots of this dress down below. I wanted a solid color to not compete with the hotel’s already bright and vibrant decor and palate.
It was so much fun working with Erica she was open to my crazy ideas and was super sweet about everything. I think we created some fun images together!
I was able to shoot this outfit with the nicest gals, Joanne and Allison, from Wanderback Photography . I have to admit I’ve never shot with a team before and it was really nice having both ladies there helping and making recommendations. They were honestly super nice. Here are some of the images that I shot with them:
So fun seeing the different styles featuring this sweet blue sundress. I’m glad I had my oversized straw hat to give the photos more options in styling. Here are the links for the outfit above:
Dress: H&M sold out; Similar:
My oversized straw hat and more:
The pink umbrella is so cute and under $13!
My wedges are Carolina Hererra (old) but I’ve found much less expensive ones for you!
My circle bag can be found here and some more cute picks too!
My next outfit is a new favorite sundress. It comes in NINETEEN different prints and colors. I mean that is crazy! Check out the photos that I got to create with Maria from Theo and Belle Photography . This lovely lady and I had the opportunity to shoot together before which was nice because I feel she gets me lol. Thanks Maria I loved these!!
I absolutely LOVED the way these turned out on this chaise. I have to admit the location was Maria’s idea to go upstairs to the suite that the Hotel Valley Ho let us play around in. Next time I’m shooting in that bathtub in there!!
Now the scarf around my wrist is actually the belt to the dress. I usually can’t use/wear belts on dresses because I have a ridiculously long torso. So the waist to the dress is up higher on me lol. It worked tho!!
The next photographer was Kylee from To B Inspired Photography. I mean this lady is so talented. Here are some photos of our time together:
The floral crown was done by Copper +Bloom Floral –funny story I have never shot with a flower crown before and have been dying to!
This dress was perfect for the Hotel Valley Ho colors with its bright yellows and oranges! So shooting with Katie from Katie Torres Photography was right on it for a more earthy vibe.
Exact Dress link (under $22!) and some more Sunflower Yellow picks:
The most comfortable block sandals come in two colors & buy one get one 50% off:
Exact hat is on Clearance for $10.50 so hurry! HERE
Sunglass (old) but check out these new styles: Warby Parker
Last was the most casual shoot that involved, palm leaf prints, swim suits and cocktails! Yes keeping scrolling! I have to admit shooting in a swimsuit is not my first choice, but this ended up super fun! First I met up with Kendra from Kendra Lee Imagery.
She captured this bright palm tree leaf print dress perfectly! I absolutely loved these shots! Oh and some news for you, this dress is less than $23 with free shipping and returns, and comes in 3 different palm leaf prints! I will link all outfit deets down below. Kendra shot some more cute pics by the Valley Ho pool. See below!!
My friend Mandy joined me for some pool time. You can follow her and her adventures over at Real Housewife of Scottsdale for ALL things Scottsdale and Arizona!
This swimsuit was such a surprise find. Right now all their suits are 40-60% off with free shipping and returns. They send you a label ready to return because they get finding a suit can be hard sometimes lol. My top comes in this pink, a gorgeous turquoise blue, white, black and a yellow and white striped one. It is under $20 right now too. These hipster bottoms are my favorite style. I look for more coverage if you know what I mean haha! They have several prints and solids that are on sale too. I will link both of my suits I bought down below for you.
I also had the chance to shoot with Amanda from Glow Bug Photography. I love how these photos turned out with a flirty vibe to them.
Oh and Erica joined us over by the pool also to get a few more shots with Mandy and to wrap up our day at the Valley Ho! Here are a few more shots by Erica Fuchs Photograhy
Cheers that’s a wrap for this summer’s Click Collaborative Event at the Hotel Valley Ho! I will link the cute palm leaf dress, swim suit and more down below!
Dress under $23!
My tote bag is still available BUT only 3 left!
Swimsuits all on sale at this retailer right now!
My mules are from last summer but I found these basket weave ones which I like more! ($25 and come in black too)
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A huge thank you to both Elizabeth from Cactus Fox Photography and Andi from Andi Fisher for arranging another amazing event. If you want to join us next time (yes there is a next one) follow Click Collaborative for all the news! Until then, Happy Shopping and don’t forget to seek out All The Prettys!
— this was not a sponsored post, yet it was hosted kindly by the Hotel Valley Ho–much thanks!!
I wanted to put this post together a bit sooner, but life has been craazzzy! So here it goes! A few months ago, I was asked to be a judge at this year’s Phoenix Fashion Week’s yearly Spring Into Style Show. I was so excited and knew this was going to be a fun experience, BUT it was so much better than I ever imagined.
I, of course, saw this as a challenge to find the perfect outfit for this event. I was looking for a longer floral that had a bit of a sleeve, because it was still cool at night.
It was so fun getting to walk the red carpet right before the show. The six talented stylists who created each look based on their assigned topic. The six categories were: white on white, utility, monochrome, 80s fashion, men’s box suits and all doll’d up. Here are some fun videos of the actual show!
This years’ winner was actually chosen by unanimous decision by all three of us judges. And no it did not have anything to do with the pony (which was super cute but a bit too scared for the wild crowd).
A huge congratulations to Jazmine Nash this year’s #stylistoftheyear! Her styled-looks had so many different layers to them that I fell in love from the first to the last! Such an amazing night.
The other unexpected thing that happened right before this weekend was that I received a message from Brian Hill, Executive Director of Phoenix Fashion Week. Well, talk about a surprise, he let me know that the Andaz Scottsdale Resort would be hosting my stay that weekend! To say I was excited does not even cover it. So I called up my friend and invited her as my guest for the event and weekend. Some other girlfriends stopped by too lol.
I also quickly made arrangements with my photographer, Jacqueline Trevino Photography who helped me shoot some looks at the resort and my fun videos and pics of the weekend. Let me take you on a quick tour of my bungalow!
We all tried a few of these ready made in room cocktails. YES you read right! A cocktail bar in the room. I saw on another blogger that she featured these cocktails too and the company sent me my very own set for home! Amazing! Check out On The Rocks Cocktails to find some for you.
Oh my gosh the bathroom was just gorgeous! I need a skylight in my bathroom now haha!
I unpacked and got ready for some pool time super quick. They were having a DJ by the pool and it was happy hour!
I was so excited to be able to shoot some looks during my stay at the Andaz. Here are some of my styled looks for Spring. The first was inspired by one of the stylist’s categories, white on white!
During my stay we were able to Brunch So Hard lol. The Andaz has a great restaurant on the property and is near a bunch of other great Scottsdale restaurants too.
The property is so perfect for photos that we hard a hard time just picking a few spots to shoot looks in!
I will link all outfit details for you! I want to thank Phoenix Fashion Week for the incredible opportunity, the Andaz Scottsdale for hosting me and spoiling during my stay.
I’m here to tell you about my newest collab with CamHome Tech. I was super excited when they reached out to me and I thought that the idea of indoor security cameras was a good addition for my home. I didn’t realize that I would find them so useful to have in my place for so many more reasons. Read on to see how easy the set up was and why I love my new CamHome cameras.
I went on the CamHome website and ordered four of their Blackbox 1080p Indoor Home Security Cameras and they arrived pretty quickly.
These cameras are small in size about 2.5 inches tall and they are cube shaped. The features for such a small camera are super impressive. They rotate around to almost 360 degrees. They move vertically too. The picture quality can be set for up to 1080P. And, better yet you can record video or stills right on the built in SD card, download to your device, or upload to a cloud too.
The CamHome app lets you access your secure and encrypted feed from your phone or even a tablet like the one I used. I was then ready for set up of the cameras. They can be set on shelves like I chose or mounted on a wall or under a cabinet for a higher vantage point.
The directions were very user friendly and easy to follow. You follow the same steps for each camera unit separately, but don’t worry it only takes just a couple of minutes each.
The app generates a QR code for each camera. And then you let that camera’s “eye” scan it and pair it ready for use.
Then you “name” the camera whatever room you decide to place it in, such as “kitchen one” or “living room front” lol. Ok so I need more creative names maybe haha.
So here’s an update. I’ve had the cameras now for a few weeks. here was a bonus use for me. I have had some problems in the past with my pool guy and I was never sure if he would come or not some weeks…sigh..it was a mess this summer. My pool actually turned green because his assistant had told him that he was covering the route. So since, one of the cameras in my kitchen is set on my window ledge, I can now just swivel it around. This lets me look over my backyard and now KNOW if he has made it or not! #bonus!
But, The best thing is also checking in on my fur-babies. Sometimes Cleo has been known to destroy things lol. Ok many times… her puppy bed, her brother’s bed, her bowl, her toys, the puppy pads…ok you get the picture. Now I can check on them while I’m away at work or out. And the best feature is a two way microphone. That’s right I can TALK to her!! Check out the video below.
Lastly, these cameras are really affordable too. One camera is only $59 whereas some of lesser quality can cost a couple of hundred each. Let me know your thought below. I will link the website down below so you can check them out for yourself!
I am so excited to tell you all about my latest partnership with Winc . In case you have never heard of Winc it is a monthly wine subscription that gets delivered right to your front door. I mean seriously its wine!
I was so happy to get my first box that I immediately decided to share with my girlfriends at our Friendsgiving party!
Winc designed a fun questionnaire to help you figure out which wines you might like to try. You can pick your own selections too, but this was fun to try and see which wines would fit my taste palate.
First question was how do you like your coffee, well I actually don’t haha. Check it out and find your own wine.
This bottle of wine we tried was a bottle of Tempraniilo is called Forma De Vida. It was a really nice full bodied wine with hints of cherry, cedar and coffee.
Siara liked the light delicious Winc staple called Summer Water. This Rosé is a light wine with hints of strawberries, white peach and grapefruit.
I love hosting dinner parties. I chose my menu around my first box of winc, including this apple cinnamon cake. The roasted walnuts went well with the Rosa Obscura California blend. I ended up really liking this wine, which was the most full bodied of all the wines from my order. This wine has hints of cherry cocoa and strawberries.
The best part of hosting Friendsgiving is your friends and all the laughter!
The last wine we sampled from my Winc box was this Sauvignon Blanc. This is my favorite white wine varietal. I love the light crisp tasting flavor of a Sauvignon and the Diviner did not disappoint. This wine has hints of guava and white flowers.
I love picking out my own wine but this was so fun trying new kinds suggested by Winc. I have linked an offer for you to try some Winc wines of your own. And a huge thank you to my lovely friends who came to drink wine with me!
Oh and the best news is that I have three boxes to give to three lucky people. You do need to cover the tax and shipping but this is three free bottles is for three people! Leave me a comment below or follow along on Instagram for more entry options!
I am so excited to share with you all my recent visit to Cosmetic Laser Solutions in Scottsdale, Arizona. I made arrangements with Cindy Semerdijan. She is a Certified Laser Technician with more than 20 year of experience. She and I met one week for the initial consult and to discuss the plan for my skin. Cindy looked over my face and after some discussion about my recent sun exposure (yikes I got sunburned) it was decided to postpone my actual laser treatment for a bit to allow my skin to heal. Keep reading!
–This picture was taken 3 weeks after the treatment and my skin is glowing! #nofilter, just the sunset on the beach!
OK, so let me back track a little bit. The first week of July I was home in Kansas City and I spent many hours outside at a water park. Well, I had applied sunscreen and kept reapplying many times during this day. It was almost time to leave and we all decided to go on the lazy river ride one last time –I think this was when it really happened. I am sure I forgot to reapply once again here. I got sunburned–weird patches over my arms, legs, tops of my feet and especially my face ( forehead, cheeks, nose and chin). Now after this I peeled for weeks. Fast forward to my visit visit with Cindy on August 16th. She was so professional and kind. She finally assessed that I could not have the laser treatment on face this day, due to my sunburn history (now in my defense I have not had a sunburn since I was like 12 years old!!)
Ok So let me show you all my visit and the test spots that we did during the first visit. Ready?! Let’s go!!
Cosmetic Laser Solutions in Scottsdale, AZ–Entrance!
The lobby and the waiting area is so pretty, including the peaceful waterfall.
The exam rooms are set up with the laser and all the serums that are used for each treatment
Cindy decided to try a few test areas along my jawline to see if I would have any reaction to the laser. Watch the next two videos. I was given instructions to call Cindy if I had any problems and reschedule in a couple of weeks for the full face treatment.
Before
See the red area on my right cheek. Very mild discomfort and very mild redness really. So far not bad at all! Here are my thoughts after leaving the office. See the videos below!
Continues in the next next video!
Until the next visit about 2 + weeks later due to my crazy schedule lol. Ok here we go!
Each exam room has a different purpose and this is the actual LaseMD room
Ok, I’m ready for my treatment! I was a bit anxious as with any laser treatment that I’ve done, but Cindy was so patient. She explained everything at length and was so nice.
Another BEFORE pic and now you get to see the actual treatment happening! See the videos below and listen to Cindy explain everything!
Here is a photo right after the completed treatment!
Next, Cindy applied a cooling serum, which she sent home with me for me to continue to use on my skin.
Then was a fun mask that also cooled down my skin and helps with the process. The LaseMD creators have designed this entire program for after-care. This is all included in your treatment!
Boo! Haha! Don’t you love a good skin mask?!
Later that night (around 10 pm) I filmed an update. You can clearly see the redness was really minimal after just a few hours.
Oh btw this is with no makeup of any kind!
As a medical provider myself, you definitely want to do your own research about the type of laser which is best for skin. That being said this new LaseMD laser is perfect for all skin types and is more of a smoothing than repairing harsh laser. Also very important to note is to find a specialist as qualified as Cindy that can best guide you and educate you about your skin’s needs. If you live in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area I cannot recommend Cosmetic Laser Solutions enough. Cindy will be your best advocate to make your own skin your very best skin.
—-This post was Sponsored and my treatment was gifted by CSL. All opinions are mine and mine alone of my experience and any products gifted.
*** This post is sponsored by Babbleboxx.com on behalf of Palm Bay
Hello Lovelies,
I am so excited to share with you Portillo Wines ! So what’s a girl to do when she discovers new wine and she wants to share the news?!? Host a picnic in the park of course!
Now, no lie its still over 100F here in Phoenix, but if I wait until the weather “cools off” to be outside it will be end of November at least haha. So, I gathered some fresh fruit, mortadella, and some of my favorite cheese and packed my little basket in search of some shade.
First, let me tell you a bit about these wines. Portillo Wines is grown in Argentina, specifically the Mendoza region. This area called the Uco Valley is found at the base of the Andes Mountains. The Uco Valley is located at a high altitude of approximately 3,000 to 5,000 feet above sea level.
Now, I’m familiar with higher altitude wines from Bolivia, where my parents are from, but the Argentinean wines are known and internationally recognized for their amazing quality.
What I found so interesting was that to grow grapes in this environment you benefit by being higher “up” by being closer to the sun and the cooler temps at night. This temperature swings result in longer “hang times” for the grapes which increases the balance of sweetness and acidity.
Let me tell you what I love about the labels. It is that they tell you the name of the grape varietal, food paring suggestions, and even the plot number from where the grapes were harvested from. So cool right?!
This Rosé is so delicious. It has a nice rosy color, not overtly pink haha. The subtle berry notes make it light and airy. I love that the wine is not artificially sweet just a hint from the grapes themselves with layers of berry.
The Vineyard produces several other wines. I was also sent the Sauvignon Blanc, which actually my favorite white wine. I love the light green clear color and the crispness of a delicious cirtusy flavor of a Sauvignon Blanc.
I also got to try their Malbec. Now this is the grape that everybody immediately recognizes as uniquely Argentinean. This Malbec has a nice deep ruby red color with hints of plums and blackberries. I love a good Malbec! The pricing on most of their wines is so good and about $9 to $11. Now if you have ever bought a Malbec you know they are usually more expensive so I’m excited that a great wine can be found for less.
No don’t worry I didn’t picnic all alone, my friend and fellow blogger, Siara Rochell joined me as my photographer/picnic friend lol.
Food and wine is always better with friends! I loved learning all about these wines so much. Definitely on my list when I get to Argentina someday (along with month long tango lessons of course!).
Oh and for those of you who are concerned with the environment, Portillo Wines is the first winery in Argentina to receive certification given by The Carbon Trust, an international leader in carbon reduction. Yay!!
This post was so fun to shoot and drink lol. I love getting to try new brands and give you all my thoughts on them. If you are interested in trying the wines you can order them online www.wine.com or locally at the AJ’s on Central Ave or the Bashas on North 32nd Street. Leave me a comment below which of these three you would try first!?
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