Goodies On The Go

2019-02-20T11:21:00.000-05:00

Do you realize that if you're so busy judging people, you have no time to love them? Thank you Mother Teresa, that was deep and yeah, we've all done it, but now is a pretty good time to stop because a lot of the time, you don't realize how much you hurt someone when you lay a judgement on them.

Someone is always going to have their opinion about how you live your life. Who knows, maybe that person with their strong opinion is on the right path - but guess what? There's not just one pathway in life and it's okay if you're knocking down trees and carving your own. Me? I'm still in the rain forest, but I've got plans.

You wanna know the secret to not letting it bother you and eat your soul? It's taken me YEARS to learn this, but I kid you not, it actually works....

At the end of every day, especially if it's been a tough one. I've cried, worried, weaved my mind into a tangled mess - because I've struggled to do the right thing. I close my eyes, bow my head and I picture the people in my life that I keep close to me. Those few people who have taken the time to sit with me over the years, I realize they know my heart has always been pure, honest and good, even when I've made mistakes. They have never once questioned my intentions, though, I'll admit perhaps sometimes my sanity. They remind me that I am worthy all by myself and whole.

And then,..(THIS IS IT, SO PAY ATTENTION)

I forgive them and I wish them the gift of forgiveness I forgive the person that judged me or judged someone I love. I let that shit go. Now at first you might struggle with it, but I promise it gets easier.

WHY?

I finally realized, it's not about me, the person that made a judgement, it's about them. They have something that they need to release, that they haven't let go, that they need to forgive. That's their job, not yours. I wish them love & light & the ability to forgive whatever burden they may still carry within themselves.

Go out and spread some positive energy this week. The world needs more of that.

Make your own path

DIY Chinese Fried Rice

2017-07-08T15:00:00.000-04:00

Like the average person who tries to stretch every last penny, I browse my local supermarkets for affordable cuts of meat to feed my family. OK - I'll say it, I tend to buy meat that has solely been marked down to save a buck. I can honestly tell you we have never had anything bad happen and we save a ton shopping this way. I feel you judging me with your judgey eyes.

I happened upon boneless pork stew meat, reduced of course, so I tossed it in the cart. Call me strange, but I've never used pork stew meat for anything and had no clue how to begin to prepare it in a dish, let alone resemble a suitable meal. Hey, it was on sale - I knew I would find it's purpose later. I did what a lot of you do when the creative juices for a good meal start flowing - I googled inspiration :) FYI - You can pick another meat is pork isn't your thing

I happened upon a recipe for Chinese Fried Rice and tweaked things from there to suit my taste. My plan was to make this a meal, not a side. It's a 2-step process, but I promise well work the extra effort and totally delish.

I used the recipe below to both marinate and cook the meat at the same time, in the oven.

Marinated Oriental pork

1 pound boneless pork stew meat

1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce

1/4 cup dark brown sugar

1/4 olive oil

1 teaspoon honey

2 cloves garlic, chopped

Preheat oven to 200 °F. Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, oil, honey & garlic in a shallow baking dish. Add in pork and toss to coat. Cover dish with foil and cook slowly in the oven until tender (about an hour). When done, set aside for Chinese Fried Rice.

Chinese Fried Rice

1 cup finely chopped onion

1/4 cup finely chopped red pepper

2 1/2 tablespoons oil

2 eggs, lightly beaten (you can add more)

2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce

1 pound cooked marinated oriental pork, chopped

1/2 cup canned chopped carrot

1/2 cup canned peas

4 cups cold cooked rice, grains separated

6 green onions, chopped

2 cups bean sprouts

1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce (adjust to taste)

Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan on medium heat (I used a 12" frying pan). Add chopped onions and peppers, sautéing until onions turn a nice brown color, about 8-10 minutes. In a small bowl, mix eggs with 2 teaspoons of soy. Add 1/2 tbsp oil to pan. Toss in egg mixture, stirring frequently until cooked. Add pork to pan, along with carrots and peas; stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add rice, green onions, and bean sprouts, tossing to mix well; stir-fry for 3 minutes. Fold in 1/4 cup of soy sauce to rice mixture; stir-fry for 1 minute more; serve.

*This will serve 4 adults as a meal or about 8 as a side dish.

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2017-07-07T19:00:00.000-04:00

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2017-07-07T15:00:00.000-04:00

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When It's All Said & Done

2017-07-07T12:00:00.000-04:00

To Be Loved Like Flowers

2017-07-06T12:00:00.000-04:00

Honesty without Tact Is Cruelty #DoYouNeedToBeRight

2017-07-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

I stumbled across this quote months ago and it’s one of those things that I’ve read before, but finally, something inside me was ready to receive the message. This happens to me ALL.THE.TIME. Mostly because I know I feel something but I don’t know how I want to express it, so I go on a journey to see if anyone in the world can relate and well, Pinterest is so useful for that.

I tried to find the specific origin of that quote and while it’s been worded in various ways, it seems to me the closest thing I could find was this:

“Truth without love is brutality, and love without truth is hypocrisy.”
― Warren W. Wiersbe

While the longer quote was by an American pastor, I don’t think you have to be in any way religious to get the basics of this very important message. Let me quickly break the key words down.

Truth - a fact or belief that is accepted as true

Love - an intense feeling of deep affection

Brutality - great cruelty (behavior that causes pain or suffering)

Hypocrisy - the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform

Tact - skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations with sensitivity

I’ve based my moral scale for years on being honest. I thought that because I was telling the truth, to whomever I was talking to, I had the right to say what I way saying because it was true. Surely if what one is speaking is absolutely, without a doubt, indeed factually based– that made ME right and if I’m right, that made the other person wrong and in turn - I WIN!!! Winning is the goal isn’t it?

Off and on for years, I’ve spent many an argument with my husband, thinking I had the right to say how I felt about something without thought or tact (see definition of tact above because I lacked it). He’d told me for years I had no filter and surely, to me, that felt like a compliment, because I was the one willing to be brutally honest. In the back of my mind, I kept wondering why things weren’t getting better in our relationship. If you discuss a problem, point out everything that is wrong, that is all also TRUE and say “let’s fix this”, you’d think -simple solution, problem solved!!! My way IS right, because my way was based on honesty. Isn't that cute?

But did I win, was anything really ever solved? The answer was no and I don’t know why it took me so long to realize that the issues we were fighting over kept repeating because of my approach. I kept thinking to myself, “I am explaining the same problems over and over again and getting no results” and then I read the quote….

“Honesty without Tact Is Cruelty”

What does that even mean? No one wins if you deliver a message, no matter how open and honest you intend it, especially if you package it with hostility and use it as a weapon of mass destruction at the expense of another’s self-esteem. If you are trying to solve problems you can’t, at any time, point out faults, no matter how true they may be and expect the person you are trying to reach to hear and understand your heart’s intent when you are flat out being mean. That’s where I had being going wrong and oh my goodness; you don’t know how hard it is for me to admit that.

It was then that I realized, for the longest time, my need to be right, far outweighed my need to be kind. What I was saying during any given argument or discussion -as true as it may be, when I spoke, I did so without an ounce of love, respect, humility or thought to what I was saying or how it might be hurtful for my husband to hear. By the time I would finish whatever it was I had to get off my chest, he had already reached a point that he was emotionally cutting me off. Instead of having a discussion that was being productive and useful, I was setting up an unwelcoming environment that created a great divide - me vs. him - right vs. wrong. What I was saying, no matter how well intended, truthful or right I thought I was, I delivered it out of my mouth loaded with cruelty. When you hurt people, you push them away and that’s no way to have a healthy, productive relationship.

I had been pretending to be a multi-tasking, problem-solver, a go-getter, but I was being a one-sided hypocrite and nagging, chronic complainer. Yes, I was honest, and that can be quite an honorable value to have, but I was lacking the most important traits to go along with it. Patience, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, gratitude, love and tolerance, these values, when COMBINED with honesty can transform relationship problems into improved partnerships. I was going to have to stop making every fight into a competition.

I sat on this quote for a bit, I let it simmer and really looked deeply into myself at this point and realized I can apply this quote in nearly every aspect of my life, in every relationship that I have. Issues may still rise up here and there, but I can tell you things started getting way easier for me, when I took the time to mull over what I wanted to communicate, before I let it just spill out.

I started questioning myself before I would speak, especially on important matters. Was what I about to say not only true, was is kind? Could I present it in a loving way? Would I be willing to listen to the response with tolerance and patience even if the answer wasn’t what I wanted to hear? Could I be forgiving? Above all, could I sacrifice my NEED to be right because I valued my husband more than my ego?

#Love

2017-07-05T12:00:00.000-04:00

The Ugly House and #CuttingCords

2017-07-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

Last year the hubby and I basically started our lives over AGAIN, from scratch. We had spent the past seven years moving, 5 times. Being in our mid-forties with 4 grown kids, I'm sure people assumed we'd be great at this "adulting" trend by now, but let's be honest....this whole grown-up thing is way harder than I imagined and sometimes life just hits you square in the kisser. We reached a point where all of our kids were going to be out on their own and it was just going to be us "empty nesters".

My husband was finally able to return to work in February 2016 after a 4-year hiatus for medical issues. I, in the meantime, worked diligently to clean up my credit so that with his income and my credit we could afford to buy a home of our own, without anyone's help, financially or otherwise. That hard work eventually paid off!!! We were able to purchase a 1980 mobile home in a decent community. You gotta start somewhere right?

I should have taken lots of before pictures, but honestly, even though we were proud because we accomplished something we had set out to do, we were tremendously embarrassed because we knew what we just invested in needed a severe interior make-over. Inside the layout was open, but everything was hideous to the naked eye. The floors were bare plywood, walls needed holes to be patched and everything from floor to ceiling needed paint, some poor soul had spray foamed around the bright yellow bath-tub and mismatched, poorly cut surround, cabinets were missing trim and outdated (really everything was outdated). We bought an ugly house.

Moving day came, so the friends and family that helped us move in, kept smiles on their faces, but some made comments like "You've got your work cut out for you" & "I bet this wouldn't have passed inspection". No, no it wouldn't have....we couldn't afford an inspection, we weren't in a financial place to negotiate work, we had been given 30 to vacate our rental because our previous landlord was letting the house be foreclosed on. We didn't have time, money or negotiating power but what my husband and I shared equally was a shared goal to reach a place in our lives of stability and that was going to be enough.

We knew that even though the mobile home was built in the 80's, the roof had been taken care of, the exterior was freshly painted, there weren't any bug problems, no mold, the plywood floors - they had just been laid. The lot was the largest in the park, with a long driveway and a carport with a large attached shed. We had a private back yard, a great screened in porch. The structure was solid, we knew the interior was ugly, but with hard work and a little love, we could bring it to life and make it our home. Our first night, in our ugly little home, I took a hot shower to wash off the day and cringed while trying not to touch the tub surround. Ugh...at least I knew where to start.

Flash forward to now - TODAY, it's been 8 months since we took the plunge. During the process, I've rung up $3000.00 in credit card debt so that we could turn our dreadful interior into a welcoming, calming environment for the two of us to relax & unwind in. I've put sweat, at times a little blood, a whole lot of tears and even more love into making this a home, than one can imagine and it's all been worth it - every penny. Oh and I'm not afraid to take a bath anymore.

We didn't pay anyone to do anything in our house, it was all DIY-style, from painting to installing backsplashes to laying laminate flooring. If we didn't know how to do it, we asked someone how to do it and if they didn't know, well - Google and YouTube became my best friends. There are still things to be done and some things I could do better. Yes, we live in a "trailer park", though to me, it's a good one with decent hard-working people. I feel proud when someone comes to my home now and they totally are amazed because they don't expect someone that lives in a mobile home to actually have pride in it. (You should read my post on judgement, remember? It's not about YOU!)

Here's where I get to my point. So, curiously enough, a lot of people think my hubby and I have really green grass now and by saying that, I mean it in the most sarcastic way possible. To the outside world things look amazing! We drive a nice car, we have nice furnishings, we eat good food, our house looks nice on the outside (and finally, on the inside). This must mean we have mastered that whole "adulting" thing right? No, just no. We still have bills to pay, like any other normal, average person. Remember, those pesky renovations....yeah, time to pay up and that means time to crack down.

Now I consider myself the "Budget Coordinator of the Household", it's a cute little title that makes me feel special, but with it, comes great responsibility. Basically I pay the bills - see doesn't sound so fancy now does it? I set up a little spreadsheet and wrote down every bill that's due each month. I quickly realized hubs and I had to give up certain extras that a lot of people take for granted. I needed a plan.

I went back to couponing again. This time on a much smaller scale, being that it was just the two of us, and I only buy things we actually use and need. I also started using cash back apps any time I can.
Next step was ditching our cell phone carrier. We shopped plans with other companies that would better suit our budget and literally cut our bill in HALF immediately and sacrificed nothing in the process. Not service, not data, we lucked out.
Now up on the list, I called every single one of my credit card companies and negotiated my APR rates (yes, you can actually do that, I Googled articles and simple followed their steps). It worked on over half my cards. One eliminated my annual fee, others cut my APR rates in half for a promotional amount of time and another even gave me a credit for finance charges I already paid.
Here's the BIG one - NO VACATIONS....are you still reading this....I just wanted to make sure you guys are still paying attention, I've already basically told you we're in debt, ain't nobody got time or money for a vacation! Back to business
I called the electric company and put our account on budget mode. This is basically when they take the past 12 months of your bill and average it out, so each month, you can roughly expect to pay a "set" amount, avoiding extreme highs. This one is especially helpful because we live in Florida and right now it's super hot, making my air conditioner work over-time. Knowing how much to set aside in my monthly budget ahead of time made me feel happy.
Last but not least......our entertainment expenses. Bwahahahaha - In case you're wondering, for us, that simple means TV/Internet and guess what? The cable HAD TO GO. The area where we live is locked in with only one option and the company knew that, so we had no negotiating power once again and the rates they offered were laughable. I honesty didn't think I could do it. I knew we couldn't afford to keep it, so I started looking for back-up options because there are just some shows I wasn't willing to give up watching live I LOVE THOSE ZOMBIES.....and hubby, yeah - he's "THAT SPORTS GUY". Now there are all kinds of options to watch movies and shows that have already aired, but what we wanted, we wanted LIVE and we wanted it cheap. That's when I found these guys......

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Sling TV has a simple - set monthly price, as low as $20/month with NO long-term contracts and NO hidden fees. You get to pick your package, customize it and pay for what you use. You can use Sling on your TV, your tablet, your mobile device, or your computer.

Looking for that something extra? THEY HAVE IT Watch ESPN and HBO Online with a Free Roku!

So I clipped my cable cord and no, I don't miss it at all. I never watched 96% of the channels I was paying for anyway. I no longer have to worry about haggling promotional rates when my bill comes in and it's twice the price of the previous month because my contract expired and I had no warning, also renting cable boxes SUCK. I can have live entertainment at a fair cost, that fits my budget and lifestyle needs.

So here we are, at the end of today's tale. I've shared a little more of me with you today, all of it true (yes I tossed in an ad, but I do actually use Sling TV and a girl has to run a blog somehow). I hope some of the tips I wrote help you, if anything, perhaps you can at least relate? Your grass is just as green as mine, it may just need a little water! We're in debt up to our eyeballs, but we're trying to be a little smarter about our finances by taking responsibility. We use every spare dime we saved, by using those little tricks and hammer extra payments on the cards so within a year, we can be credit debt-free. Bonus, we're no longer living above our means and for the first time, in a long while, hubs and I feel stability in our lives and we created it by ourselves.

Gratitude

2017-07-04T12:00:00.001-04:00

Resilience

2017-07-03T19:00:00.000-04:00

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2017-07-03T17:57:00.000-04:00

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Using Coupons Not Your Thing? #Ibotta

2017-07-03T16:04:00.000-04:00

Using coupons not your thing but still feel like you want some of your hard earned cash back? Are you clipping every coupon you can find and want to get cash back in your wallet?

Ibotta is just the app for you. It's simple to use, hassle-free and fun! You can get cash back for doing what you already do - like that dreaded grocery shopping thing we all have to tackle but try to avoid as long as we can.

You simply download the app HERE, and register. You'll get to select all of your favorite retailers near you. Ibotta works in over 300 retail chains, restaurants, movie theaters, convenience stores, home improvement centers, pet stores, and pharmacies nationwide.

Once you're set up, browse through and select rebates that suit you and your family. Next, shop at your local retailer and pick up items you've saved on your rebate list, make sure to save your receipt. Once you're back home, upload your receipt and you're on your way to keeping your money where it belongs, in your pocket! You can also earn bonuses to pile on the earnings, these change all the time and are super fun!

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Target July Beauty Box is Officially HERE

2017-07-03T13:01:00.002-04:00

Target's July Beauty Box is officially in stock! CLICK HERE and type Beauty Box in the search bar to see what goodies this month's box has in store for you!

These are a one-time purchase, with a max limit of 2 boxes per order

Cashmere Headwraps (Black and Charcoal)- 2 ct
e.l.f. Illumintaing Mist & Set- 2.02 oz
John Frieda Frizz Ease Secret Weapon- 1 oz
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Moisturizer- 0.25 oz
Que Bella Limited Edition Duo - Dead Sea Mud & Pineapple Peel Off- 2 pc
Secret Cool Waterlily Clear Gel Deoderant- 0.5 oz
ACURE Day Cream- 1 oz
Neutrogena Make-Up Remover Cleansing Towelettes- 7 ct

Pure Essential Aromatherapy Oils 6 pc Gift Set 74% off

2017-07-03T12:05:00.000-04:00

Pursonic 100% Pure Essential Aromatherapy Oils Gift Set-6 Pack
Hurry, these are 74% off and going for $7.85 for the set!!

You'll get SIX 10ML bottles, one each of Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemon grass, Orange, Peppermint and Tea Tree. These are 100% pure therapeutic essential oils with no fillers, additives, bases or carriers added. So remember, you're going to want to mix them with a carrier oil if you plan on using them on your skin. I love using these in my room diffusers!

This is Not A Break Down - This is a #MentalBreakthrough #ThisIsNotToday

2017-06-28T16:33:00.000-04:00

THIS is not today.
THIS wasn’t yesterday or last week or even last month.
What you are seeing is not me having a break-down – but a full on breakthrough.

It may not look like a big deal to you, but for me, this is a moment where I allowed myself to be vulnerable, when I could have chosen a path that would have led me down a darker path as it has many times before.

I took a picture of myself while I was crying, which kind of seems ridiculous I’m sure. I needed it as a reminder of this specific sliver of time so that I could sear it into my memory as a sign of new beginnings, a start to making healthy, rational choices. I was closing the chapter of who I thought I was and letting the real me finally come through.

Why is that important?

I’ve spent a lifetime it seems, always letting anger get the best of me. I would dwell on something someone had said or done that hurt me profoundly, pretending I didn’t care, standing stoic and putting on a brave face. I was not going to show any one that I was weak in any way, especially by crying. I didn’t talk about my innermost feelings; instead, I chose to bottle them inside and wait…..

I’d wait for a day that had been long and tiresome, a day where every little thing had eaten away at my last nerve, a day when I just let all the little things become way bigger than they should have been. To the outside world, I looked normal; I was going through the motions of my daily routine with a smile. Inside - I was struggling just to take in a breathe, my body felt heavy, my spirit crushed, noises were amplified, the little voice in my head kept repeating everything negative anyone had ever spoken to me on a loop, I couldn’t focus. And then, inevitably, I would just snap.

It could be anything that finally pushed me over the edge. To those around me, it came out of nowhere. One minute I was fine, the next minute, “Mom’s throwing Christmas presents all over the living room!” (That’s just an example for your reference, albeit a true one). In my head, I rationalized that those dishes in the sink, the laundry piled up and me walking the dog - for what seemed like the hundredth time that day was just more than I could handle and had the tasks been completed by another, it would have surely prevented this particular melt-down. The truth is, it was never about those things.

To my loved ones who always seemed to be on the receiving end of my worst behavior, there was nothing they could say or do while I was mid-rage to calm me – there is no way to interject logic when a person is incapable of understanding reason. The best course of action for them was to wait it out, in silence, not feeding the beast that was rambling through my home.

I could tell you stories upon stories of things I’ve said or done while in rage-mode but I assure you they are long, childish, shameful, almost always in 3rd person and embarrassing. Once the emotion of what I always thought of as anger had run its course, along with the adrenaline, I was left feeling empty & physically drained and had traumatized those around me needlessly. In the end, my erratic behavior had solved nothing. This seemingly endless pattern lasted for 27 years, even after being diagnosed at 30 with Bipolar I disorder, years of medication trials and error, transcranial magnetic stimulation, reading self-help books and attending talk therapy.

Last year I decided I didn’t want to live like that anymore and by that, I mean I didn’t want to feel angry all the time and have random, uncontrollable outbursts like a mad woman. If I wanted real change to happen in my life, to better myself - for myself, I had to be the one to invoke it. I had to let go of trying to control everything in my life. Don’t get me wrong, I will always have to take medication, but I had to step up my game and really focus on understanding the how’s and why’s of me.

I discovered over the past year or so, that a majority of the time when I think I’m really good and mad, I’m not really angry, I’m extremely hurt and I had never learned how to express to another person "that" emotion. To express that I was hurt meant that I had to be vulnerable and let’s face it, being vulnerable is a scary thing if you’ve lived your whole life building walls to keep yourself safe and hidden. Being angry is uncomplicated, simple – anyone can do it and I was really good at it. Trusting someone, opening yourself to others, and believing wholeheartedly in them, that takes self-love, patience and work to master.

I started small and this is where the picture way at the top comes into play, it wasn’t the first time, but it was the first time I actually captured the moment. That particular day I was sad. I had no energy, I felt I had no social life, hadn’t made good choices for my family or myself, I felt I couldn’t live up to anyone’s expectations, I was lonely and above all I was still carrying a hurt that I was trying really hard to forgive. Before this picture, I was at a crossroad. I could tell an argument was brewing and that it was based on my current mood swing. I could stand there in my living room and unleash my fury. Scream, curse, throw things and continue to wear my bipolar label like it was some warrior badge of honor to display with pride or I could try something different.

I made a choice to take a brick from my decades old emotional fortress and lay it at my husband’s feet with a raw openness I had avoided for so long. I told my husband I was not in control of my emotions, that I needed him to walk away from me. That what I needed from him most was to let me calm myself and for me to do that, I needed him to leave the room and not come back in, not to say another word. With a puzzled look on his face, he did just that and I immediately exploded into tears.

Now I know what you’re thinking “How can a husband just walk away, why didn’t he come back and comfort you?” You have to understand that up to this point, I have made it my life’s mission to never let another see me cry - EVER, especially my husband and in this moment what he gave me was a gift. I could not rationally verbalize what I was feeling. I needed to push myself past all the negative things floating around in my head that wanted to escape out of my mouth with rage and just sit with them in thought, letting them process BY MYSELF. What I was feeling was temporary, deep down I knew it was going to pass, so while it was here, I was just going to embrace it, acknowledge it and when it was gone, I’d be at a point where I’d be willing to talk openly with a fresh perspective. So I took the “ugly cry” picture, it’s an honest & authentic moment. I’m totally not having a break down but a mental breakthrough. I could not control the world, or the people in it, but I could take responsibility for my thoughts and actions, right here, right now, so I did.

Ever since that picture was taken, when I started to feel upset, expressing what I am experiencing has become easier. I’ve reached a point where I just openly and immediately say out loud what I may be feeling and if I cry in the process, usually I discover it was just simple frustration. At first I would apologize for crying, because it was new to me, but now it’s just what I do because it’s so freeing to express myself openly..

I didn’t realize that for as long as I could remember I lived in fear. Fear of judgement, criticism, lack of control, looking foolish, afraid no one would love me just as I am, being vulnerable, trusting another. I cared too much if people liked me, I always wanted to say and do the right thing, be who others wanted me to be. What about now? I still care, but I let it bother me way less and I don’t make it my identity. Maybe it’s my age or the things I’ve seen or my experience in life. I don’t sit on anger anymore; I look deeper into myself when I become frustrated and I try to view it from another standpoint. I ask myself "Why are you getting mad and how can you express this in an appropriate manner and solve the actual problem forever?"

Start today by doing something you thought you never imagined you could do, even if it's something small. Today was a good day, because I decided to trust all of you with something so personal. Thanks for listening.

Describing Your Dark Place

2017-06-24T18:07:00.000-04:00

I came upon this quote some time ago and it deeply touched me on so many personal levels. It is an excerpt written by David Foster Wallace

Really, It's Not About You..

2017-06-16T14:04:00.000-04:00

You wanna know the secret to not letting it bother you and eat your soul? It's taken me YEARS to learn this, but I kid you not, it actually works....

And then,..(THIS IS IT, SO PAY ATTENTION)

WHY?

Happy Friday - Go out and spread some positive energy this weekend. The world needs more of that.

Make your own path

Large Room Aromatherapy Diffuser - LOVE THIS

2016-03-14T12:00:00.000-04:00

700 ML Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser Cool Mist

I'm a diffuser junkie, I have one in each room of my house and adore using them to keep my homes smelling fresh, clean and calming.

This 700 ML diffuser is square, a white plastic and measures 5-inches tall and is 6.5-inches wide. It holds just under 3 cups of water. It does have rubber feet on the bottom on each corner. The diffuser comes packaged well and includes a DC24V plug (with a generous cord length), a 100 ML plastic measuring cup and instruction booklet. You choose the misting direction depending on which way you place the lid.

The diffuser lights up and cycles through 14 colors (both low and bright shades). You can use it to mist alone, mist with lighting and just use the lights.

It's simple to use, pop off the cover, add water and a good bit of essential oil. My oils come in large glass bottle so I put in a fuller dropper. Replace the cover and you are good to go. The machine is really quiet, but does bubble a bit more when on high mist. Not a deal breaker for me.

There are three buttons on the front center, light, high/low and mist.

Light Button: (this button does not beep when pressed)
Press once and the colors will cycle through 14 shades (7 colors, 2 densities)
Press again and keep pressing until you find the color you like, it will stay that color.
Press and hold to shut off

High/Low button (it will beep when pressed)
Pressing this button is supposed to adjust your mist level from high to low, it does not light up to show you what option you are on already, I believe it to default to low when you start the machine. The only change I notice when pressing this button is that the machine bubbles a little more.

Mist Button: (it will beep when pressed)
Press and hold once, this will set the diffuser to run for 60 minutes and will auto shut-off
Press a second time for 120 minutes (2 hours) and it will auto shut-off
Press a third time for 180 minutes (3 hours) and it will auto shut-off
Press a forth time for continuous misting (about 10 hours)

This diffuser runs smooth and effortless, never gets warm, puts out a great aroma in a large room and is low maintenance.

You will want to clean it every 5 or 6 uses by unplugging it, draining well and wiping it with a mild detergent/cloth.

This is a fantastic unit, It's just perfect for my living room, I enjoy the colors and I'm finally able to get some great mist output.

PROS: Simple, Great for Larger Rooms, Long Cord, Great Lights
CONS: On high mist, you can hear it bubbling a bit

I received this product at a discount in exchange for an open, honest and unbiased review. My opinion is my own, we'd love to hear yours!

Cozy Brew Leaf Tea Infuser - A Tea Lover's Dream

2016-03-13T12:00:00.000-04:00

Cozy Brew Leaf Tea Infuser

My son loves to relax by sipping on various Teavana loose-leaf teas. This Cozy Brew Leaf Tea Infuser was a must have for him. It's easy to use, infuses a good amount of tea and is simple to clean (dishwasher safe). It also comes in four funky colors (lime green, rose red, light purple and sky blue)!

This Cozy Brew Leaf Tea Infuser stand at 6-inches tall and made with silicone and stainless steel. It's 100% BPA-Free, non-toxic and super-cute. It also comes with a matching little coaster, so it's mess free! You'll want to keep this out of the microwave.

The box even comes with tea timing instructions

Pop it apart and add your tea leaves!

To brew yourself a cup, remove the silicone top off of steel base, place a teaspoon of loose leaf tea in the stainless steel base, reconnect the topper and drop in cup of hot water for 3-5 minutes. You can then take out the infuser and place it on the matching coaster that comes with it to avoid a mess. I love that you never have to touch anything hot, the silicone stays cool.

Isn't this just adorable and fun?

Now, being that this is not a mesh strainer, you may have some tea leaf residue left behind, it will depend on how fine your tea is. Also, you are going to want to make sure that when placing this in your cup, it settles down on the bottom, you don't want it to float. Give it a little stir, to get the air bubbles out.

This was one of the coolest little gadgets we've tried yet and simply love it! Give this to a loved one with a bag of their favorite tea and I guarantee it'll be a hit.

I received this item at a discounted price in exchange for an open, honest and unbiased review. My experiences are my own, we'd love to hear yours! If you found this review helpful, let us know!

Coconut Oil Hair Mask - Was It Worth It?

2016-03-12T12:00:00.000-05:00

Coconut Oil Hair Mask by RADHA Beauty

I've become a bath snob, there I said it. There is nothing I enjoy more than drawing a hot bath, dropping in some essential oils and pampering myself for an hour from head to toe. It's me-time.

Lately I've become hooked on using Argan oil products for my hair but thought it would be nice to switch it up a bit. The other day I got in RADHA Beauty's Coconut Oil Hair Mask and was really excited because not only does it have Argan oil, it has Rosehip seed oil, Shea butter, Vitamin E, Ginger oil and 100% pure cold pressed coconut oil. The ingredient list was super small and completely readable! It's for all hair types, but I can see where this would be great to restore dry hair.

This sturdy jar arrived sealed in plastic to prevent leakage. I quickly opened it so I could see what this stuff looks and smells like.

This Coconut Oil Hair Mask was white, slightly greasy and of medium consistency. I would say that is in thinner when comparing it to my Argan Oil hair mask. It smells a bit like Shea butter would, not strong, just a slight hint.

To apply this mask, you'll want to first wash as you normally would. I chose to experiment with this mask on the day I use my purple-hued shampoo for grey hair that leaves my hair dry. I washed first, rinsed well and applied a generous amount onto my scalp, making sure I finger combed through to my ends. My hair is thin, yet course in texture and about shoulder length. I let the mask sit for about 10 minutes before rinsing, you can let it stay in for 20 minutes if you prefer. Now like I said before, I have been using an Argan oil mask and found that with it, I used less product because it was much thicker. This Coconut mask is going to require a little more than you may be used to.

I then moved on to the next step, blow-drying. My hair was tangle-free, felt like it had no residue and styled perfectly. There was no weighted feel to it and I did notice a nice shine. I feel like at this point I can go a day or two before I have to wash gain. My hair is naturally a bit wavy and this mask did not make my hair go flat as some other mask may do.

What I really liked about the coconut oil mask is that it's light and a change from what I have been using, with the same results. You can use this more often than you would a thicker mask and not get that greasy hair look. What I didn't like is that for a hair mask, it's supposed to be thicker than normal conditioner - it wasn't. Overall, I think it's a great product, but really prefer another brand a bit better simply because it last me longer.

I did receive this product at a discount in exchange for an open, honest and unbiased review. My experiences are my own, we'd love to hear yours!

★ Raw African Black Soap ★ 100% NATURAL

2016-03-11T12:00:00.000-05:00

Raw African Black Soap from Plant Guru

Our family has tried local handmade soaps before that are all natural and came across this Raw African Black Soap from Plant Guru. We decided to give it a try. This soap is made from Cocoa Pods, Palm Kernel Oil, Coconut Oil, Unrefined Shea Butter, Plantain Skin Ashes, Purified Water, Natural Vitamin E and has a 100% Vegetable Base.

Raw African Black Soap is supposed to boast benefits such as improving skin tone, healing skin, improving tone and have exfoliating benefits.

The package arrives in a quite large heat sealed bag resealable bag. Inside you'll find two over-sized bars wrapped separately in plastic.

Upon opening the first bar, I noticed something different about this soap, it's very chunky in consistency and feels greasy and slightly sticky to the touch. It almost seemed like a really big granola bar. It smells somewhat odd, not bad, just different, I'd almost compare it to play-doh. No earthy smells here.

The bars are so large you can actually cut it it thirds and use it a little at a time, which is what we did. I delegated a portion to my hubby to use and another portion for myself, because sharing a single bar is just gross and unhygienic. We both have different skin, mine being slightly dry in texture and hubby's is eczema prone.

My experience with this soap is that it lathers way better than I expected, a little goes a long way. The smell is still off-putting, but it did feel as if it cleansed well. After rinsing, my skin felt slightly stripped of oils, yet I felt clean. I would not call this soap moisturizing in any way. I did personally like it when it came to lathering and shaving my legs, the razor glided effortlessly and no razor burn. The scent of the soap sort of lingers on your body, but it's not bad. I didn't find it scratchy in any way.

It was then Hubby's turn. He also was surprised at the lather but, like I mentioned, he has eczema. The minute he placed it on his open skin, it stung so bad he immediately rinsed it off. This just isn't going to work for someone that has active break-outs on their body. Upon rinsing, he too felt like his skin had been stripped, particularly his hands, they felt overly dry even the next day. He discontinued use.

You are not going to want to keep this in your shower where it's going to be exposed to constant moisture, the bar breaks down fairly quickly, more so than my other natural soaps. I think you might be better off cutting one bar further down, into fourths and using that up first. Place it in a soap dish, outside of the shower.

PROS: cleans well, lathers incredibly
CONS: do NOT put this on open, exposed skin - it will sting, breaks down quickly, weird smell

I received this item at a discount in exchange for an open, honest and unbiased review. While I do like the soap for my own use, hubby found that this is something he will go out of his way to avoid.

Valentia Clear Lift Revitalizing Serum

2016-03-10T10:04:00.000-05:00

Valentia Clear Lift Revitalizing Serum

I'm one of those people that thought I could go forever not worrying about my skin, it was just going to take care of itself, after-all, I thought good genes is really what mattered. Then I hit forty. I started noticing deeper smile lines, crow's feet, age spots and dry patches. My skin became very picky no matter what I did to it, I'd have break-outs for no reason and even got to the point where I completely gave up wearing any make-up at all hoping that would help, it didn't.

A few months ago, I decided to do what I've never done before, I started taking better care of my skin. I began washing it daily, moisturizing it, applying serums, using a mud mask....if someone says something is going to improve the health of my face, I'm up for giving it a go.

Valentia Skin Care sent us their Clear Lift Revitalizing Serum to try out.

Valentia Clear Lift Revitalizing Serum is made in the USA, cruelty-free, paraben-free and contains 98% natural ingredients. It's made to be compatible for all skin-types. The list on the box is long but I wanted to include it, so you could see for yourself.

There are some really unique goodies in here:

Wakame Bioferent (seaweed) - helps to boost antioxidant defense
Gotu Kola - lessons the appearance of scars and increases skin firmness
Lactic Acid - increases skin cell turnover for renewed skin
Licorice - corrects discoloration
Argan Oil - reduces water loss, protects skin

What does all this mean? It means that this is a product that is targeted to keep your skin fresh, clear, hydrated, healed and healthy. I don't know about you, but all of that seems very promising to me.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I LOVE a pump-top.

To get started, you'll want to begin with a clean face and pat dry. Take your bottle and use about two pumps on your finger tips. The serum is lotion-like, tan is color and smells refreshingly like citrus. You'll want to apply this evenly to your face and neck and let it absorb into your skin. It spreads super-well and doesn't leave any residue or stickiness behind. You can follow it with your normal moisturizer (some nights I did and some nights I used this serum alone).

After a week of use, I did not notice any difference in my age spots, but my skin does appear a little brighter in tone. I had no break-outs, my skin felt hydrated and smoother. I expect better results with longer usage. I would say this product compares well to prestigious brands. My dried out skin is slowly coming back to life, I do notice that I am starting to get a healthy glow without make-up.

PROS: compares well to high end brands, brightens skin, left no dryness
CONS: longer than I would like ingredient list

I received this product for free in exchange for an open, honest and unbiased review. My experiences are my own, we'd love to hear yours!

#ArtNaturals Argan Oil Conditioner - Artisanal Indeed

2016-03-09T12:00:00.000-05:00

Art Naturals Argan Oil Daily Hair Conditioner 16 Oz
Under $15

Let me give you a little hair history. I am over forty, hair is just above shoulder-length, suddenly have course hair, no longer dye it and have allowed all 50 shades of grey to come in naturally. I use a purple-hued salon shampoo twice a week to keep the brassiness at bay. The downside is that is severely dries out my hair even though I match it with the conditioner. I am a chronic blow-dryer user, which I know doesn't help. In my defense, my hair just looks miserable if I let it air dry.

Argan oil is superb for hydration and my hair needed moisture desperately. Along comes this Argan Oil shampoo and conditioner, I mention both because I already use their restorative shampoo daily and loved it. Getting the conditioner was just a natural next step, I just like the way my hair feels after using it and I needed something for daily use.

My conditioner arrived, packed well, sealed and (as usual with this brand), the bottle looks crafty and professional. Bonus - no salon needed. The top flips open to disperse, but I really would have loved a pump.

The conditioner itself is white, smells sweet with floral notes and is extremely thick, very similar consistency to a hair mask that I use weekly. There is no need to pour a ton of it in your hair, a little bit goes a long way. I used a dollop about the size of a quarter and it spread through my hair smoothly, let it sit, then rinsed well and towel dried.

I proceeded to blow dry my hair on low heat, as usual and styled with a rounded brush. I had no tangles! I also noticed that I had a really nice shine going on and my hair didn't feel weighed down. What sealed the deal for me is the next day, my hubby went to give me a kiss and told me my hair smelled really nice. THAT NEVER HAPPENS. I have weird body chemistry and have a hard time holding scents both on my skin and in my hair. This stuff still smelled so good the next day, that somebody took notice.

Now this Artnaturals conditioner is Fair Trade Certified, Hypoallergenic, Paraben Free, Sulfate Free, Cruelty Free and is made with recycled materials. One thing that bothered me is actually seeing how long the product label is on the bottle itself. I really hate all those fancy words that you have to google to understand.

Overall, I did enjoy using this conditioner and know I can do so daily without any build-up. I felt like I had smoother, more hydrated hair that was easier to manage. Plus, being it's so thick, you actually use less product than you would with a store brand.

PROS: scent stayed in hair, no tangles, nice shine, high-end look, softer, smoother hair
CONS: I really want a pump dispenser and a shorter ingredient list

I did receive this product at a discounted price in exchange for an open honest and unbiased review. I always try to list what I like and dislike about each product I check out. I still remain an avid Artnaturals lover!

Eczema/Psoriasis Sufferer? Dermaced Deep Therapy

2016-03-08T12:00:00.000-05:00

Dermaced Deep Therapy Eczema/Psoriasis Cream - 2 ounces

Both my husband and my son are severe eczema sufferers on their arms, behind their knees, back and even on their faces. Prescription creams don't do much and technically my husband is allergic to cortisone. Our usual go-to product is the huge tub of CeraVe cream from a local drugstore. It's costly and with two people sharing it, it goes pretty quick. It does however work well when used daily. The one thing we didn't like is that it contains alcohol and a bunch of other things we can't pronounce.

I came across this cream and was intrigued that it had some good reviews. Dermaced boasts using six "of the most powerful hydrating, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich oils" to hydrate the skin. Hmmm. Interesting.

The jar arrived promptly and I think shock set in. Don't get me wrong, the product did have nice-looking packaging, but this is how big it is:

No joke, it fit in my hand it was so small. The average person does not keep ounce size in mind when buying something online (maybe it's just me?). Visually it's hard to judge that amount unless you're use to buying really small items. Plus what we normally use is super-sized compared to this.

This is next to a 16 ounce jar of another product:

There are no ingredients listed on the bottle, nor was there a pamphlet, something I have come to expect. I just like to all the info handy for everything my family uses, I don't want to spend time tracking down a complete ingredient list on the world wide web. Don't get me wrong, I did it any way and found what I assume is the list on DermaCed's direct website HERE.

I opened the jar and this is what it looks like:

I would describe the consistency of this lotion to pancake batter, it's pretty thin. You could pour it out of the jar directly if you wanted to. The smell was very oat-mealy, the color the same as peanut butter. I dipped my finger onto to lid to get some of the cream on it and found that it's silk-like, goes on light and spreads super-well. A little of this goes a long way, don't get crazy.

I immediately presented it to hubby to use on his arms (they were his worse break-out point, especially his left forearm), and instructed him to use it daily. He says the jar is definitely small, but thinks it will last because of the consistency. It absorbs well and doesn't leave any sticky residue on his skin like his usual lotion. So far he's been treating this area for a few days.

BEFORE PIC:

AFTER PIC

You can clearly see that healing has begun with more pink skin starting to show, so I think it's going to take a bit more time and several more applications a day to clear this up completely. Hubby thinks this stuff works better, so for him, it's a keeper.

PROS: not greasy, spreads well, light
CONS: not a fan of the smell, we're going to wait and see how long it lasts

I received this item at a discount in exchange for an open, honest and unbiased review. I always try to list the best and worst qualities of any item we bring into our home and determine if it's something we would buy again or pass on. This product is something that did work faster than a store bought cream. I always take my time to make sure a product will works as described before giving feedback