Love getting free stuff? Check out the products I got from Influenster!

I received all of the products listed below for free from Influenster! To find out how you can start getting awesome VoxBoxes like this one, chat with me in the comments below!

I just love it when I see that I've qualified for a new VoxBox from Influenster. Everyone loves free stuff, and I get to try out all these nifty little items in exchange for completing mini-brand-challenges. (Which is pretty fun in itself, if you ask me!)

Playing Favorites

I definitely had an item I enjoyed the most this time around, and that was the coupon for a free Breyers Gelato Indulgences container. We picked up the Triple Chocolate flavor. Hubby and I pretty much destroyed the entire tub while we watched a few 30 Rock reruns on the couch. It was delicious, but we weren't fans of the white chocolate that got mixed in. (It just didn't mesh well with the other two kinds of chocolate.)

Not really a 'perk'.

I think the thing I liked the least in the VoxBox was the Fuel Rewards card. Yeah, it helped me save a little bit of gas, but anyone can pick one of these up at a Shell station. It was sort of like someone pulling one of those freebie coupons out of the dispenser at the store and then making a big production out of handing it to you. (Now a card for free gas... that would have been awesome.)

Fun times were had by all...

I also received a bar of Ivory soap in our TLC VoxBox, which I used (of course) to blow up in the microwave as entertainment for the kids. And it was awesome. (At least, it was until my daughter tried to eat the foam and my 4-year-old made it "snow" in the living room. Note to self - next time this stuff gets played with outside.)

Wrinkles? What wrinkles?

I'm a huge fan of Avon products, but I was a little sad that the Avon product we received was the ANEW Reversalist compact. I'm still a pretty young woman and (although I do have a wrinkle) I would have preferred to try out something that made me feel girly. That being said, the ANEW compact was pretty silky on my skin and I've been using it every day. It doesn't make my wrinkle go away, but it does help to hide it and smooth my skin a little.

I blew my nose on my second-favorite...

No really. It was a to-go pack of Puffs tissues... with lotion. And I really ended up needing it when I drove up north for a quick trip to see my brother before he goes to Europe for a few years. Not because I was crying (it should be noted that country girls don't cry), but because I was sneezing like crazy. My allergies went into high-gear and I was a mess. It was nice to have some tissues on me because I usually end up using McDonald's napkins. (And those, of course, aren't nearly as kind to my nose as tissues with lotion.)

Last but not least:

I also received some Neo To Go spray, which is rather handy to have around. I stuck mine into our first aid kit so that the next time I need to fix up my one of my son's scrapes or cuts (which shouldn't be long) I'll be able to do it twice as fast.

Overall:

I was a bit confused as to why this VoxBox theme was TLC. I can't really see a gas card or a bar of soap being considered TLC, and the gelato and wrinkle cream are a bit of a stretch to fit into that category as well. Regardless, the items were free and (as always) I had fun reviewing them.

Connect:

You can find Influenster on their website at www.Influenster.com. Or, connect with them on social media via Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.

What do you think of Influenster? Would you be interested in being a member?

Chat with me in the comments below, I love hearing from my readers!

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post, although I did receive bonus points towards an Influenster contest for submitting the link to this article. All opinions, as always, are 100% my own.

Restaurant Review: Trata Greek Taverna in Fort Lauderdale

Since I first moved to Florida I have been bugging my husband to take me to several restaurants that caught my eye when I came here.


Last month I finally had the opportunity to check one of them out, the Trata Greek Taverna on Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale.

Originally we hadn't gone because my husband wasn't thrilled with the prices. Their appetizers are decently priced, but the entrees for dinner average close to $20 a plate. When we saw them listed on Restaurant.com we decided to go for it since we could get a modest discount.

Here's the rundown of our experience...

The Atmosphere:

The waiter brought us bread and hummus (which was quite good!) almost immediately. Our server was attentive the entire night, but that was quite likely due to the fact that the restaurant was almost empty.

Although there was a very romantic ambiance to the dining room, the empty chairs and tables surrounding us caused our conversations to seem awkwardly loud. We could hear the diners on the patio talking, as I'm sure they could hear us. It was hard to be romantic without the white noise of muted chatter in the background to muffle anything private we might have said.

Appetizers:

We probably could have skipped buying an appetizer since we were given bread. However, my husband is a big fan of calamari and is always trying to find 'the best'.

Unfortunately, this calamari was far from the best that we've had, and I especially was disappointed in the thinness of the sauce. It had an excellent flavor - slightly sweet, and a bit different than the usual - but it wasn't enough to make up for the fact that it was too runny.

My husband was also disappointed, but for different reasons. Other than the fact that the calamari was average at best, he was quite annoyed that the price per ring came out to about 70 cents a piece, and there were no tentacles included.

On top of all this, calamari is traditionally a Mediterranean dish. If I'm eating at a Mediterranean restaurant, the calamari should be spectacular. This calamari was not.

Small Portions - Big Price

My husband ordered the lamb kebob, which did not specify how many kebobs came with the meal, but for $22.00 we expected that there would be at least two. He was extremely irritated to find that there was only one kebob on a bed of rice, and there were only five or six chunks of meat on it, and the bulk of it was vegetables.

Generally we don't judge the price of a meal based off of quantity, however the food quality wasn't good enough to warrant such high prices. The lamb was chewy and the bed of rice was quite bland. This dish was definitely over-priced.

'Good Enough'.

I ordered the gyro platter since I was craving something with tzatziki sauce on it and was thankful to see that (unlike my husband) I was given enough food to account for the $18 cost. (I would have been plenty upset if I'd only received one pita for that price!)

Unfortunately, I can only count the gyro as 'good enough'. Compared to my husband's meal, the gyro platter was a windfall, but it wasn't anything amazing. It was average, and to be honest I think the quality at Gyroville in Plantation (where I can get the same thing for about half the cost) is better.

Worst part?

No, the worst part wasn't the food or the prices. At the end of our meal, our waiter took the check (we actually left him a rather nice tip since we didn't think he had much work that night) and he opened it to see what we'd left him (right in front of us) before he wished us a good evening and walked away!

I understand that times might be hard, and I know that plenty of servers worry about their tips - but please! - have the courtesy to at least tell us good night and leave our table first. That sort of rudeness is the kind of thing I expect from a teen on his first wait job - but not a grown man in a classy restaurant! The fact that he checked to see what kind of tippers we were (after a meal we felt we overpaid for) just added insult to injury.

Best part?

The best part was the bread. It was good. The hummus was delicious, the bread was nice and crisp... as far as food quality goes, this was the tastiest item we sampled that night.

Bottom line?

The menu needs a serious revamping. I think with higher food quality (and perhaps bigger portion size on a few of the items) the price points would be just fine. As things stand now though, we won't be going back.

Have you eaten at this restaurant? What did you think?

Chat with me in the comments below, I love hearing from my readers!

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post and, as always, my opinions are purely my own.

Best platform I've seen for bloggers? Univhers.com

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to check out a site called Univhers. I was impressed with the site from the very start: It's clean, well laid-out, creative, and fun.

But what really hooked me was what an incredible platform it is for bloggers to use! (You can read my original overall review of Univhers here.)

The site, Univhers.com, is geared towards users who would like to blog, but just don't have the time or knowledge to start a blog of their own. Users are invited to post mini-articles on the site by choosing a type of post and a photo to advertise it on the front page.

Because of the way it was set-up to accommodate those who would like to blog, it ends up being an incredible platform for those who are already blogging!

Here are some of the awesome benefits that Univhers has to offer to bloggers:

You can create a quick & easy teaser for your articles.

Have a post talking about how to make hats? An article outlining some great summer deals? A write-up that includes a few of your favorite things? You can make any of your articles into a teaser to draw some traffic to your site by using the easy pre-formatted posts at Univhers.

Take a look at this article I did on Univhers with a tip about dealing with bedwetting. I only posted one tip up, but in the recommendations section, I listed the original article. In the notes section I added that more tips could be found on my post. Users that come across my article and like the mini-post I wrote can easily click through to find the rest. Easy for me, easy for them.

Recent Interaction = More Visibility

In the social media world, timing can be everything. A stellar tweet can fall flat on its face for no other reason than lack of an immediate retweet. A Facebook post can be buried under a deluge of wedding photos. A pin can be lost because the right users weren't on to see & repin it when it was posted. Usually, if you don't hit your target audience within the first few minutes, your visibility for that post is already circling the drain.

Univhers is different though because it doesn't matter when you post. If someone scrolls through and sees your post and interacts with it (via commenting, saving, or sharing) - it moves straight to the top of the Univhers homepage. This means that at any given time, anyone can be viewing your article as if it were brand new. The articles essentially become timeless because every time it catches someone's eye it gets a new lease on life.

Go ahead. Link-Drop.

Have an affiliate link or discount code that you would just looove to share because you get a commission? Have at it! Not only can you write a mini-article about a particular product, venue, brand, etc... but you can list your affiliate link in the recommendations. If people like what they see and choose to buy, you'll make a little bit of money.

Get Paid to be Featured?!

To top it all off, Univhers allows bloggers and popular figures to become 'Friend of the Week' on their site. After speaking with the site's owner, I found out that not only is this a great way to get your name and information a little bit more exposure, but I discovered that there is a sponsorship for this program in the works! That means instead of paying to get yourself featured, you will be the one getting paid. How often does an opportunity like that come up? More people will discover who you are and, thanks to a few of the site's sponsors, you'll be getting a perk on top of it.

Coming soon... social follow buttons for posters?

Another great perk that is in the process of being added are social follow buttons for anyone posting on the site. That means that if people like what they see in your mini-posts on Univhers, they'll be able to quickly and easily follow you on social media just by clicking the buttons next to your profile picture!

Connect:

If you're curious about this new social media site, I highly suggest you go and check it out. Since I've started using this site, my daily site hits have gone up significantly. Head over to Univhers.com to get started on your profile, then make sure to follow them in social media on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Have you signed up with Univhers yet? What do you think of the site?

Chat with me in the comments below, I love hearing from my readers!

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post and, as always, my opinions are purely my own.

Soleil Toujours - Luxury care for your skin.

This post has been sponsored by Soleil Toujours through BrandBacker.

Have you heard of Soleil Toujours?

This company got its start when the founder, Valerie McMurray, decided that the world needed a skincare line that was free of toxic ingredients while retaining an elegant and modern feel.

The end result was the mineral-based formulas in the Soleil Toujours line which provide fantastic UVA & UVB protection all while remaining luxurious and indulgent. The combination of textures and fragrance allows users to feel pampered, and the combination of natural & effective ingredients gives them protection.

And it was this innovation that got Soleil Toujours recognition in the 2014 May issue of W Magazine. That issue, which was guest-edited by Sofia Coppola, listed the Soleil Du Midi Sunscreen Mist as one of her Beauty Must-Haves!

Why is it so great?

In addition to being a product that makes your skin look and feel its best, all the products in the Soleil Toujours line-up are coral reef safe, hypoallergenic, vegan, and gluten-free. This line of skincare is one that promises to make your daily routine an indulgence instead of a chore, and using high-quality ingredients is their route to make that happen.

Connect:

Want to know more about the Soleil Toujours skincare? You can visit them on their website at www.soleiltoujours.com. Or, connect with them on social media for deals, updates, and more on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or LinkedIn.

Have you tried the new Soleil skincare line? What is your number one skincare must-have?

Chat with me in the comments section, I love to hear from my readers!

A Family Tradition: My Review of Cedar Point

When I shared my family's tradition with the good people over at Cedar Point, they were kind enough to give me some complimentary tickets. Please know, however, that this review is completely my own.

Since before I was even born, my family has been making the three-hour drive from our hometown in Indiana to the shores of Lake Erie in Ohio. Our destination? Cedar Point.

As a child, I imagined that every family made this yearly visit to what I believed was the sole amusement park on the planet. It came as quite a shock to me when I discovered that there were other amusement parks, closer amusement parks even, and yet my family continued to go to the same one year after year.

After years (and years) spent away from home, I was finally able to go back and join my family on their annual vacation.

It was strange to go back as an adult and be faced with the spending challenges that my parents have dealt with all along, see how they were able to make ends meet for a vacation, and hear first-hand their reasons behind choosing Cedar Point after all these years.

So here it is in a nutshell: my review of Cedar Point - the things I love, the things I don't, and the reasons I'll go back.

On-Site Camping!

This is possibly the biggest driving factor that keeps my family coming back each year. (And I don't just mean my parents, I mean my grandparents and some aunts, uncles, & cousins as well.)

The camping area has a lot to offer, but we have been saddened over the years to see that the space for campers & tents has been shrinking (as the space for the more-expensive cabin-camping area has increased).

Eating Options?

Now that I'm all-grown-up, I've had a number of opportunities to check out other parks. That being said, I wasn't impressed with the menu options at Cedar Point. Although the all-day dining option was priced quite comparably to other parks I've been to, the food quality absolutely was not. I've come to expect that the all-day dining at amusement parks will include items such as BBQ, grilled chicken, salads, fresh sandwiches, and the like. Cedar Point, disappointingly, only allows all-day diners to partake of food such as corndogs, chicken nuggets, pizza, and burgers. It just isn't the type of thing I was willing to pay $30 for.

The rides, oh goodness, the rides!

If you're looking for thrills, it's hard to beat the selection of coasters from Cedar Point. As a matter of fact, they are known as "America's Roller Coast". And for good reason. The park boasts a stunning 17 roller coasters, and many of them have been world-record breakers at one point or another.

Despite the fact that Cedar Point has a limited amount of space (the park is basically on an island), they hold the world record with 72 different rides! I'm continuously impressed with the new rides they come out with, and was amazed at some of the changes I saw while visiting. At the same time I was a bit saddened to see that one of my old favorites (Disaster Transport) had been removed to make room for a newer roller coaster.

Reasonable Entry Price.

Nothing makes a parent cringe quite like realizing that they have to pay for everyone in the family. Not just the ones who are going to ride the rides, but even the ones who are terrified of the rides and ask for a hot pretzel every five seconds. Thankfully, you can snag Cedar Point tickets online at pretty great prices. Some of their online discount tickets even entitle you to free soft drinks all day long (which I absolutely recommend purchasing). Somehow, paying way-less for tickets at Cedar Point (compared to some other places whose prices make me feel faint) makes handing over your credit card not nearly as painful.

Fun for everyone, not just thrill-seekers...

One of my best memories of Cedar Point includes a sassy performer from Lusty Lil's twirling my grandpa's hair in her finger. This was funny because 1. My grandmother was laughing so hard she was crying... 2. My grandpa was beet red... and 3. My grandpa has an old fashioned hairstyle consisting of a buzz-cut with one curl in the front... which is what she was twirling in her finger, of course.

The park provides an enormous amount of entertainment for those who don't prefer to ride, or for whatever reason (pregnancy, back pain, etc.) currently can't ride. There are many live-show options in addition to park attractions like a petting-zoo, a Dinosaurs Alive exhibit, and a few family-friendly 'rides' that anyone can go on, like the Cedar Point Train.

Great Parent-Perks.

Possibly one of the best things that any park can offer of course, is special consideration for families. The park boasts two family care facilities (for important activities like baby-changing or nursing), a parent-swap program (which allows both parents to ride the rides, even if one has to watch younger kids), and KidTrack, which enables children and parents to quickly reunite. To top it all off, the park has four different areas that are perfect for the younger children in your group, including 2 kiddie-coasters just for them! (It was amazing to see my 4-year-old ride his first roller-coaster in the kiddie area, knowing that it was the exact same mini-coaster I first rode!)

Overall:

It would take a lot to get me to dislike this park. Although I was disappointed at some of the things I noticed as an adult (like the food prices, yikes!) there is very little about the park itself that disappoints me. The rides are fantastic, there is a ton to see and do, the entertainment is unique, and the entire atmosphere there is one of laid-back, happy fun.

If you are looking for a good time this summer in a family-friendly place, I highly recommend you check out Cedar Point.

Connect:

You can check out Cedar Point for great online ticket deals on their website at www.CedarPoint.com. Or, find them in social media on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube!

Have you ever been to Cedar Point? What amusement park is your favorite?

Chat with me in the comments below, I love hearing from my readers.

Mix up some summer drinks with these 3 quick & easy recipes!

It's summertime, and for many people that means hosting parties. Make your next bash a success with one of these very easy drink recipes!

I personally hate it when I look up a drink recipe and see that I need to buy four different bottles of alcohol just to make one drink. With that in mind, here are three recipes that only use one kind of alcohol: passion fruit-flavored rum! (For these recipes, we used the Malibu brand.)

Cheers!

Throwing a summer party? Here are some easy ideas to get you started!

It might be starting to warm up outside, but did you know that Summer didn't officially start until June 21rst? If you haven't had a chance to throw a great summer party yet, don't worry - you've still got time!

Here are some easy ideas that will get you started!

If you have a big backyard...

Have a pig roast. Don't think you're up to the task? Check area BBQ joints near you to see if they offer a pig roast as a special catering option. If this doesn't come up with any good options, check out your town's local lodge and ask around to see if any of the members own a roasting set-up for when they host big events.

If you love to be outdoors...

Go on a group camping trip. You see it in movies all the time, but hardly anyone seems to do it anymore! (Possibly thanks to half of those movies being horror flicks...) Head over to your nearest camping ground with your best friends in tow and spend the night roasting marshmallows and telling stories.

If your place isn't big enough to host a large group...

Throw a potluck at the park. Get the family together for an impromptu reunion and some of your favorite dishes at a local picnic spot. Hang out with friends and rent paddle boats or play disc golf. If your group is really large, ask about renting a pavilion - you'd be surprised at the reasonable fee!

If you like to get creative...

Throw a 90's-Summer themed party. Crimped hair, black tights, denim shirts, and plaid skirts. Remember the 90's? Celebrate it by dressing so cool that your kids will roll their eyes at you. Everyone adores a theme party, and let's face it: the 90's had some of the best fashion that we love to hate.

If you want a tropical feel...

Host a luau party! Greet guests with leis and feature foods that go with the theme, all the way from island-y punch drinks to ham & pineapple hors d'oeuvres. Send friends & family home with coconuts as party favors.

Excited to throw a summer party? What are some of your favorite summer party ideas?

Chat with me in the comments below, I love hearing from my readers!

(The Swim, Sun, and Fun Giveaway that was associated with this post has expired; please check out the giveaways tab for a list of available contests! 

Disclosure: UnboundInspiration.com was not responsible for the distribution of this giveaway. I received no compensation for this post but I may earn a commission for any purchases made through any links listed within my posts. For more information on this, please see my disclosure at the top of the page.

Want to check out a great new social media platform? It's called Univhers, and it's for women!

I found out about Univhers through Business2Blogger. Although this post has been sponsored, please know that my opinions are always 100% my own.

Lately I've found myself more and more 'on edge' with Facebook. They don't show me what I want to see (other than about a bajillion posts from my momma...) and I see less & less of what I really like in my feeds: Photos.

Photos. And recipes. And tips from my fave bloggers. Quick meal ideas & ways to clean my house faster.

I didn't sign up for social media so that I could see bland ads promoted in my feed, and I didn't sign up so that I could see mundane pictures of food with #hashtags #that #don't #make #sense #like #these #ones.

I also don't need to see a massive influx of pictures (for seven days straight) from every single family member for a wedding that I didn't get invited to (poor me) even though I know the reason is that I live about 1500 miles away and have no cash to get there. (You know I'm not coming, and I know I'm not coming, but that doesn't mean I don't want that pity-invite!)

/RantOver!

Anyhow... it came as an awesome surprise to me last week when I started checking out a new site called Univhers.com. Since then, I've told pretty much all my friends about the site and I plan to be on there every day. Here are the awesome reasons why:

Univhers is K.I.S.S.

Keepin' It Simple, Silly. (Yeah I know that isn't the saying, but my mom wouldn't let us say 'stupid' growing up, and old habits die hard!) I love how easy-to-read and browse the layout of Univhers is. Basically when you sign up, you have a few different options: You can start posting right away, you can ask questions of the community, or you can share & comment on the posts that others have left.

The layout is very straightforward and simple - in a good way! When you post, the type of post you choose to do will determine what the layout of your 'article'. For instance, if you choose to leave a recipe, your posting boxes will change into a format perfect for a recipe. Check out this Mango Salsa Recipe I found on the site:

As you can see, the post above is in the perfect format for leaving a recipe. This is to keep everything looking 'neat' on the site. If you choose to leave something like a tip instead, your text boxes will change so that you have a tip, advice, and note box to fill out. Check out my Univhers post below with a tip on dealing with bedwetting so you can see how the format changes:

I love how easy it is to fill in the boxes with a quick tip, and I especially love that I can leave 'Recommendations' at the bottom of my post! This isn't just limited to recommending an original article though (like I did with my blog post)... You can recommend products, stores, or even give the location of where-to-buy a particular item!

I suggest checking out a few other posts before you post any of your own articles so that you can get an idea for how your post will look when it's finished. This will help you determine what to write in each box.

Quite Possibly Definitely My Favorite Feature:

The very first thing I noticed after I interacted with someone else's post on this site, was that it got moved to the top of the homepage. That is awesome! It means that the things that are clicked on and commented on and shared on - those are the things people are going to see first! This not only combats the problem of recycling older content now and again for all to see, but it helps people to quickly find the things that others have found helpful.

Go ahead. Pick your Favorites.

See a post you love? A recipe you want to try? You can favorite it. Whenever you revisit the site, it will be there waiting for you in your Favorites section like a mini-pin-board. Want to share it with a friend? You can do that too! Just click on the share button featured on every mini post and you'll find a plethora of ways you can share it.

Don't forget your friendy-friends!

What social media platform would be complete without your social circle? Finding friends on Univhers is easy, and if your friends aren't currently using the site, inviting them is as simple as clicking a few buttons.

The Best Platforms are Interactive

I think this site really hits the nail on the head with their unique broadcasting structure. Anytime you post, ask a question, or send a note, you have the option of choosing who will see it. You can choose whether the things you create & post are seen by everyone, a handful of people, or just your friends. These items will appear in your Daily Feed. Check out the screenshot below:

Right now my feed contains my post (that I allowed to be seen by everyone), a note from Univhers creator, Natasha, to me (that only I can see), and a question I sent out that anyone could answer (which can obviously be seen by everyone).

When you see an item in your feed that interests you, just click on the text. It will pop up into a larger screen so that you can answer it back or inspect it more closely. If your feed is full of new items, just click 'Show All' and you'll see a list of recent postings from others on the site.

Last but not least...

This site loves on its members. And by that I mean they have a Friend of the Week program. It's a tip-o-the-old-hat. A nod of the head. A spotlight shining down to make one member feel super-duper special for a whole week. It's a great way to make new friends and get your articles and face seen by the rest of the platform. (Don't worry, it's completely voluntary to sign up for!) So if you're looking for that extra nudge of visibility, applying for Friend of the Week is a great way to do it.

So let's review...

I love this site. I love this site. Cheesy? Yes. True? Most definitely.

Connect:

Want to check out Univhers for yourself? You can sign-up to be a member at Univhers.com! Or, stay in touch with them via Twitter, Pinterest, or Facebook.

Have you heard of Univhers? What do you like best about the site?

Chat with me in the comments below, I love talking with my readers!

Take Care of Your Face!: 10 Easy Tips & Tricks

When I became a mom, I didn't have a lot of time or energy (or money) for fancy skincare routines. Fortunately, I had some fall-back techniques thanks to all the skincare advice my mom (and grandmoms) chirped at me all my life. Not only do these tips keep me looking younger (check it out, I turn 30 this month!) but they keep me feeling confident about my looks day in and day out.

Pile on the SPF.

Too many women believe that being tan is an earmark of beautiful skin, but in reality it causes a lot of skin cancer and wrinkles. I know it's tough not to tan when everyone else seems to be doing it, but trust me - you'll be a lot happier at 50 if you're the only gal in your group without a plethora of wrinkles. Next time you run out of a skincare product (makeup, creams, lotions, etc.) replace it with a product that contains SPF. Don't want to waste a lot of money with makeup trial & error? You can use a site like GlamST to give yourself a free virtual makeover so you can see what looks good on you before you spend any money. (Click here to read more about this virtual makeover site.)

Don't. Rub.

Seriously. Just don't do it. Every time you rub your eyes, you risk rupturing all those teeny-tiny little blood-vessels, and that is a huge cause of dark circles. If you find yourself frequently rubbing your eyes because of dried contacts, allergies, or tiredness, find a way to combat the root of the problem (eye drops, medication, or coffee!) so that you won't be as tempted. If that still doesn't work, imagine that your fingertips are covered with something that you really don't want to get near your eyes and you'll subconsciously start to avoid them.

Spot treat naturally whenever possible.

Many of the facial washes out there that contain chemicals to clear up breakouts or reduce acne can damage your skin, so use them sparingly! I like to use a baking soda treatment made of 2 parts baking soda to 1 part water. When I get acne, I spot-treat with the mixture, leave on for about 10-15 minutes, then gently wash off. This will not only draw the oils out of my skin, but it will reduce the redness quickly. Make sure to use a light facial moisturizer afterwards on any spots you treated so that your face doesn't show signs of irritation. Quick, cheap, & natural!

What goes in, must come out.

If you want to really clear your skin up, make sure that whatever is going into your body is wholesome. Smoking is like getting a wrinkle-makeover, and drinking dehydrates your skin horribly. Think of these things as toxins that you're smearing on your face the next time you get the urge to drink or smoke. Yeah, it's fun to party it up now and then, but practicing a little moderation can go a long way towards keeping your face fresh and youthful.

Start using an anti-aging or anti-wrinkle cream early on!

You might think that because you don't see any wrinkles or signs of aging on your skin, you don't need to use these creams. The truth is though, the sooner you start using creams like these, the better off you'll be. While these types of products can certainly prevent or slow-down the process of aging skin by giving your face a boost of nutrients, there is no miracle-cream that reverses time. Believe me, if there was a cream out there that you could put on your face and you would magically look 21 again, people would know about it. Don't wait until there is a problem to start giving your face an advantage or it might be too late!

Don't forget about gravity!

Everything is subject to the laws of nature, and your pores are no exception! When you wash your face, make sure you're washing upward in a circular motion - if you're washing downward, you risk leaving a lot of gunk behind! Apply the same principle whenever you put your makeup on and make sure to apply it in a downward motion to reduce the chance of lodging anything into your pores.

Give your face a steam bath.

Fill the sink or a large bowl with steaming hot water. Lean over the bowl and drape a towel over the back of your head. This will allow the pores to open up and soften naturally so that any dirt, bacteria, dead skin cells, or other lovely gunk can be easily wiped off your skin's surface.

Skip the harsh scrubs and go for a peel.

Believe it or not, using a facial scrub can actually make the quality of your skin worse! All those bits and pieces flying across your face might feel great as are doing a fast removal of any unwanted junk, but what they are also doing is leaving your skin with microscopic tears. (Which is not great, because it leaves your face at-risk for even bigger break-outs!) Using a gentle peel is not only effective, but fun. I like this honey one from Montagne Jeunesse because it's cheap & quick!

Keep it clean!

And I'm not talking about your face right now, I'm talking about what goes on your face. Think phones, pillowcases, washcloths, makeup brushes, sponges, fingers... we put all of these items on our face on a regular basis, which is just causing the bacteria and oil we want off our face to accumulate there even faster. Wipe down phones after using them, wash pillowcases & makeup brushes frequently, and don't use sponges or washcloths more than once. As for your fingers? Keep them off your face! Unless you have an itch, the only thing you'll gain by touching your face a lot is a clogged pore.

And last, but certainly not least...

Never go to bed angry with a face full of makeup.

Look, we've all been there. It's 2am. You just got in. You really, really don't want to take the time to go in to the bathroom and wash all that fantastic off your face. Especially not if your man has seen you looking like a movie-star all night and now he's about to get socked in the eyes with the plain-face-special. But you've gotta. If you don't, sooner or later you're going to pay for it. Your skin doesn't make you go to bed wearing those pumps that hurt your toes, don't let your skin go to sleep suffocating in a layer of makeup.

Do you have a favorite facial-care tip? What are your go-to skincare products?

Share with me in the comments below, I love hearing from my readers!

(The Riivia Microdermabrasion Kit Giveaway that was associated with this post has expired; please check out our giveaways tab for a list of available contests!)

Disclosure: UnboundInspiration.com was not responsible for the distribution of this giveaway. I received no compensation for this post and, as always, my opinions are purely my own.)

Montagne Jeunesse Manuka Honey Peel-Off Mask Review: PLUS a giveaway!

My thanks goes out to Montagne Jeunesse for sending me a few free masks in order for me to do a review of their products - you guys are awesome! Although I got the masks for free, please know that my opinions are always 100% my own!

If you've been a reader of mine for a while, you know I love DIY spa days. I love the feeling of getting a facial and treating my skin to a bit of pampering, but I don't love spending a lot of money to do that!

Montagne Jeunesse has become a favorite go-to of mine because they make facial masks that are as easy-to-use as they are to afford. Don't get me wrong, I love a good facial at the spa, and I really love making my own facial mixes at home, but there is something really great about only paying two or three bucks for an instant facial that I just can't pass up!

One of my favorite masks that Montagne Jeunesse makes is actually one that they sent me, the Manuka Honey Peel-Off mask. I have been a fan of peel-off masks my whole life. I think they're fun to use and I love being able to 'see' all the gunk that I pulled out of my face when I remove the mask.

Consistency is Key.

One of the first things you'll notice if you use this mask is that it actually smells and feels like honey. It was a little sticky, but I loved that because I knew that it meant it would really latch on to anything that was holed up inside my pores!

As the mask dried, it became un-sticky, and eventually I was left with a smooth, gold-colored covering over my entire face. It only took me a couple of minutes to apply, and I left the mask on about 15 minutes so that it could fully dry on my face.

Fun fun!

Remember when pore strips first came out and seeing all those icky little black and white spikes stick to the strip was like some sort of beautiful train-wreck? We were horrified and amazed at the same time, and it was awesome. That's sort of what getting a facial peel is like (but on a smaller scale) because you will definitely see little bits of oil and gunk 'sticking' to the mask as you peel it off.

Caution ahead: Eyebrows.

Take care when applying the mask so that you don't accidentally give yourself a new look. I accidentally plucked a few of my eyebrows (ouch!) while taking mine off and looked slightly lopsided for a couple of weeks after. If you do accidentally get any of your hair stuck into the mask, just save that portion of your face for after you've peeled the rest of the mask off and gently wet it with warm water to get the mask to dissolve there.

All in all, this is a great mask and only costs a few dollars. It makes my face feel clean every time I use it and I feel better just knowing that all that I removed all the extra oil from my face. I like using this mask at least twice a month, especially when I know I'm starting to get oily.

Do you have a great at-home spa product you love to use? Have you tried these masks?

Chat with me below, I love hearing from my readers!

Connect:

Want to know more about Montagne Jeunesse? You can visit them on their website at www.montagnejeunesse.com to see their full range of products. Or, connect with them on social media for updates, deals & more via Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, or YouTube!

Disclosure: UnboundInspiration.com is not responsible for the distribution of this giveaway.

Restaurant Review: Isabella's Pizza & Pasta in Fort Lauderdale

A few weeks ago, tucked into a small plaza in the middle of Fort Lauderdale, I had one of the most surprising pizza experiences of my life.

I get a lot of good deals on Restaurant.com, which is the main reason that we use it, but about 8 times out of 10 the restaurants we see are ones we've never heard of. I've had my fair share of problems using gift certificates from this site (such as bad food, closed locations, refusal to take a gift certificate, etc.) so I've come to expect mediocrity. Don't get me wrong - I find a good restaurant now and again this way, but when it happens, it usually comes as a complete surprise.

And to be honest, I don't think my family could have been more surprised by the quality of the pizza at Isabella's.

Appetizers:

As usual, hubby had to order the calamari. He has an obsession with finding the best calamari and has become hard-to-impress due to the fact that he has ordered and consumed this dish from (literally) hundreds of restaurants.

As soon as we saw the calamari, we knew that it would be delicious. The batter was very light in color, and I mean very light, which generally means it was fried in good oil. The squid was wonderfully tender and had a nice mouth-feel. The sauce that it came with had a nice balance between sweet & robust, and the texture was just right for dipping. Spectacular.

The Pizza:

I've had pizza in just about every corner of the country. I'm not a pizza-expert by any means, but I know my way around a good pie. We ordered two different ones (partly so that we could use up our gift certificate) and ended up choosing the pepperoni and the buffalo chicken.

If I had to choose pizzas for that day over again, I would have skipped the pepperoni and gone for two of their specialty pizzas instead.

It's not that their pepperoni pizza was bad - it was a standard pizza - it was that the specialty pizza was so good. For the record, we did think that the sauce on the pepperoni pizza could use a bit of work. It wasn't our favorite, but it wasn't bad either.

The buffalo chicken, on the other hand, needed no tweaking at all. As a matter of fact, I think I might be a bit worried if I were to find out that Isabella's was trying to improve whatever perfection they delivered to our table that day. Never in my life have I had a pizza that I have thought back to for so long. The toppings ratio was perfect, the sauce - I have no idea what kind of sauce they even used! - was divine. We devoured that pizza in short order.

For The Parents:

Pizza is a perfect go-to for a family-style meal, and although the restaurant was relatively empty, the staff didn't mind our children's natural noisiness. As a matter of fact, the waitress was fantastic with them & even humored our four-year-old's request for his own menu!

Something I Found Odd:

A thought that is still bothering me is that the restaurant was so empty the day we went. Were we there at a strange hour? Are they just in a bad location? They aren't going to go out of business are they!??? This is far and above some of the best pizza I've had in my life (if you discount the pepperoni), how is it possible that the restaurant wasn't packed to the gills? Other than us, I only counted three other customers in & out during the time we were there.

Deals:

Ah, deals. The cornerstone of finding new restaurants. I was able to find Isabella's on Restaurant.com to snag about half-off my purchase that day, it's worth a look-see to check if they're still offering a discount through them. I've also seen them on GrubHub, which is a great site for getting a quick percent-off discount now and again. (They give new users a $5 discount, just check out my button on the sidebar to the right to collect!) My only problem with online ordering? At the moment, the chicken buffalo pizza I love isn't listed on their GrubHub menu. (Or any other website menu I can find. Believe me, I spent about an hour looking last week!)

Connect:

Ready to try the pizza I can't get over? You can find Isabella's by checking out their website at www.isabellaspizzapasta.com.

                Have you ever been to Isabella's? What pizza did you try?

Chat with me in the comments below, I love hearing from my readers!

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post and, as always, my opinions are purely my own.