Sparkles & Spinach

My Brain Aneurysm Journey

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 16:22:00 +0000

I know each time I post (which hasn’t been much) I always say that I’m going to start posting more. It has absolutely been my plan for quite a while to reboot this blog and start writing again. However, something always seems to get in the way. I’ve been meaning to share my Brain Aneurysm story for a while. I can't even tell you how many times I've sat down to write it, or even just mentally draft a post, and I just couldn't do it. I guess I just wasn't ready. But today marks another milestone - exactly a year ago today I had my second surgery to treat my aneurysms. What a great time to finally share my story, right? So, if you're going through something similar, if you just got diagnosed and are looking for more information, or you're just interested in brain aneurysms, buckle up, because this is going to be a long post!

If you’re new to my blog you might not know that I’ve been struggling with my health for quite some time. As I’ve shared in the past, I previously suffered from mold illness which kicked off a bunch of issues. I got to a better place after a couple years, not cured but better, and then I got Covid in 2022. This really knocked me sideways. I suffered from Long Covid, then I was diagnosed with Dysautonomia and then more specifically, POTS Syndrome (a form of Dysautonomia) but that’s all a post for a different day!

MY DIAGNOSIS

In September 2023 I was finally getting a handle on my health plan. I met with my PCP and we came up with a gameplan of specialist visits and diagnostic tests. I was feeling pretty good about it and finally felt like maybe I was on the path to get some answers. In the midst of all this, my Mom’s Neurologist wanted me to get an MRA because of a health scare my Mom had had at the beginning of the year. During my appointment with my NP, I halfheartedly handed her the letter from my Moms Neurosurgeon recommending the screening, not even remotely thinking that I would be getting ready to get the biggest diagnosis of my life to date.

Scan day came and I walked out the door feeling good about my appointment and positive that nothing would be found. An MRA is a simple test, much like an MRI, but instead of looking at brain matter, it can see the complete vasculature inside your brain. My scan went well, lasted around just 8 minutes, and I was home before I knew it. Not even ten minutes after being home, I got a notification from my PCP. I opened up the message and saw words I never thought I would see in my lifetime. “You have 3 unruptured cerebral aneurysms. You need to make an appointment with a Neurosurgeon as soon as you can.”

One thing I didn’t share is that my Moms health scare (all fine and not a stroke like they thought) ended up showing two small unruptured cerebral aneurysms in the ophthalmic segment of her internal carotid artery. Being that there was a family history, I was recommended to get screened. I knew what I was being scanned for, but I never ever thought I would have one, let alone three! I actually had no idea how common they are. Did you know 1 in 50 people have an unruptured brain aneurysm and don’t even know? I certainly didn’t! But that’s how common they are.

I was reeling. To be honest, I didn't know much about Brain Aneurysms at all. All I knew was the ruptures can be deadly. I immediately called my Husband and asked him to come home from work. I called that day to make my appointment with Neurosurgery and met with the Neurosurgeon that next week. In the time leading up to my appointment I learned more about brain aneurysms than I ever thought possible. Some of it very interesting, and a lot of it very scary.

The following week I met with the first Doctor, and he explained my case and recommended a Cerebral Angiogram. Some aneurysms can be watched if they are small enough, or in a certain area, but if you have aneurysms above a certain size this is what’s recommended to get a better look. Angio’s show so much more than the standard MRA - accurate size, accurate location, surface, etc. The test is considered a procedure, as they insert a catheter into your wrist or groin and go through that artery up to your brain. It's basically the way they can really map out a potential surgery and see exactly which procedure is needed to treat the aneurysm(s).

By now I was freaking out! The first Neurosurgeon was very nice, but I didn’t feel like much was explained. It was kind of like this is what we’re doing, and we want to do it immediately. In all fairness, I think I was still in shock, so maybe my expectations were a little high. I also think that they are so knowledgeable and are obviously Neurosurgeons, so maybe some don't feel as though they have to answer a million questions. They do this every single day, so I get it. But at this point, I wasn't sure if they were the right fit for me, so I decided to meet with a very well-respected Neurosurgeon from Penn in Philadelphia. I got in quickly and my appointment went well. I felt like we had more of a connection, and I decided to move forward with my Angio with him.

NEXT STEPS

Fast forward a few weeks and I finally had my Angio. The way I obsessed over this procedure leading up to it, was crazy. I read everything about it and even watched a YouTube video of someone getting one! I was super nervous, but the test went ok. I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t the most pleasant procedure, but it was tolerable and much needed. The Angio revealed that I had three unruptured wide-neck aneurysms. Two on the left side of my brain (lateral clinoidal and superior hypophyseal), and one on the right (superior hypophyseal) in my Internal Carotid arteries. Two of them were bilateral, meaning they were in the same spot on each side of my brain and the remaining was right near the left aneurysm on the other side of my artery. The bad news was that they are inside of my brain, which means that if they were to ever rupture, they would result in a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Surgery was recommended due to the risk of having multiple and my potential life expectancy, and I would need two separate procedures.

By now my head was spinning. I was reading everything I could to be educated in order to make my upcoming decision. This made me feel better in some ways and worse in a lot of ways. You come across a lot of scary stories researching brain aneurysms. I had no idea whether I should risk surgery or risk waiting. There seems to be risk no matter what we do. What if I rupture? What if I have complications post-surgery? What if I make the wrong choice? What if… what if… what if… This is the fork in the road for everyone and it's a very personal decision not to be taken lightly.

I had my Angio follow up a couple weeks later with my Penn surgeon and he explained my results in detail. He recommended Neuroendovascular Flow Diversion surgery. This was my only option for treatment due to the location in my brain (not that I wasn't thankful I didn't need a craniotomy), but each type of treatment carries their own risks. I did not doubt his expertise, his recommendations, or his approach, but after speaking with other brain aneurysm survivors, I decided to get a second opinion. I knew that my treatment plan would most likely be the same, but I think I was in a state of denial that I absolutely needed surgery right now or if they could be watched. I just couldn't get past this weird feeling of just moving forward, and felt like I needed to see one more Doctor.

This time I decided to search Jefferson Philadelphia and found an amazing female Neurosurgeon that I was drawn to immediately. At this point, my Husband thinks I’m crazy for wanting to see someone else. We both really liked the Penn Doc and he was very well regarded, but something in my gut was pulling me in a different direction.

We met with Dr. Tjoumakaris out of Jefferson Center City a couple weeks later and before she even spoke, I knew she was my Surgeon as soon as she opened the exam room door and smiled. She’s absolutely brilliant for so many reasons that I couldn't even list them all here, she’s a badass but has an excellent bedside manner, and I felt so cared for both by her and her staff. She answered every single question I had in detail, went over my treatment plan and educated me as to why I needed to do this procedure. There was no question that when she said I needed to move forward with my surgeries, that I not only trusted her, but that she was the one I wanted to perform them.

Like many scary health journeys, the Doctor you choose is extremely personal and so important because this will potentially be a long relationship! When you're dealing with a brain diagnosis, you really want to make sure you feel as comfortable and confident in your care as you possibly can. That's what I was still searching for and what I found with Dr. T and Jefferson.

TREATMENT AND RECOVERY

So obviously, since I mentioned today being the 1 year Aneu-versary of my 2nd surgery, I went through both procedures as recommended. I spent a wonderful Holiday with my family that December, soaked up as much Christmas magic as I could, and spent a lot of time ruminating over my life. On January 11th I celebrated my "New Year, New You" on an exam table at the Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience treating 2 out of my 3 cerebral brain aneurysms. I had an eventful overnight stay in the ICU - the hospital was crazy that day with so many emergencies, but they were great and we got through it. The next day I was home and on my way to healing to prep for my next surgery exactly 3 months to the day on April 11th.

I had Endovascular surgery with a device called a Pipeline Flow Diverter. It's basically a little mesh stent, but it has a coating on it that helps prevent clots as the artery heals. One thing that a lot of people might not know is that while a craniotomy is a very invasive, difficult surgery and there is obviously a lot of risk involved, and the recovery is much much more involved (I can't even imagine!!), Neuroendovascular treatment has its risks and drawbacks as well. There's still quite a recovery time, sometimes the aneurysms don't shrink or don't heal, and you may need another surgery at some point. You also have to be on dual antiplatelet therapy for quite a while. I'm actually still on the meds! And I'm not saying this to scare you, freak you out, or make you question whether you should get treatment, if you happen to be here reading because you were just diagnosed. I just want to be up front and honest. These are the realities of the risk vs the reward and are things a very good Neurosurgeon will go over with you.

Do I still have my tough days? Of course! I've been through a lot with my health the last few years, so I still struggle mentally and emotionally some days. But I have no regrets. Even though this is not a diagnosis for the faint of heart, even though it's been quite a wild ride for the last year+ of my life, and even though I still have my difficult days, I'm grateful that my aneurysms were found. I had an option for treatment and some people don't have that. Some don't even know that they have aneurysms until they suffer from an event or start having symptoms. I know how lucky I am, which is why I felt that sharing my story and as much information as I could is important.

Today all 3 of my aneurysms are gone. One of them is taking a little longer to heal than we thought, and I had to continue my meds for a bit longer than projected, but that's ok. I'm thankful that I'm here, that I never have to worry about a rupture, and that I moved forward. I truly could never thank Dr. T and the rest of the Jefferson Team enough. You are all so amazing and not only most likely saved my life, but also made a huge difference in my life. Your dedication to your patients and their care is something I will never forget. Thank you.

If you or someone you know is dealing with a similar diagnosis, please feel free to reach out to me. I had an amazing support system with a few women that I found through Instagram and a Facebook group (if you want that info, I can send you an invite). While my family support was fantastic, I don't know how I would have gotten through it all without those women. I'm happy to answer any questions regarding my experience and am happy to help how I can. I'm an open book! I'm also going to list and link some resources that helped me through my journey.

RESOURCES AFTER DIAGNOSIS

Brain Aneurysm Foundation

The Bee Foundation

This webinar through BAF that features my Neurosurgeon and answers so many questions

My Instagram account where I documented my experience in real time and posted info in my story highlights

Feel free to contact me with any questions. And if you made it this far, thank you for letting me share my story with you!

Christy

My Post-Illness Hair Loss Story

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Tue, 10 May 2022 19:21:00 +0000

I've always had a love/hate relationship with my hair. It's naturally curly and not really the nice curls, it's more the unruly, frizzy curls that nothing seems to tame. I also just don't think I have a face meant for curly hair. It's just never looked right to me. But right now, I'm just happy to have hair at all.

As I had mentioned in a previous post, I had Covid the beginning of January. I didn't get too much into it in that post, but I had a horrible time with it and was very close to being admitted into the hospital. I had Covid Pneumonia and while my oxygen levels remained on the very border of normal to low normal, they dipped dangerously low when I slept. After doing some research, it looks as though I may have been having some kind of neuro response when I would try to sleep and it felt like my body simply would forget how to breathe. It didn't matter what position I slept in. The second I would start to fall asleep, I would feel as though I was holding my breath and would wake up gasping. Kind of like an apnea, but not really. Thankfully, this went away a couple weeks after my lungs finally started to feel better. I also wasn't really able to eat much at a certain point and my white blood cells got pretty low. My body was without normal levels of oxygen and nutrition for a few weeks. I also ended up with long haul as well.

It did take me some time to get better even after the worst of it passed. I believe this was due to my past issues with Mold illness and chronic Epstein-Barr reactivations. I had lots of strange symptoms for a while, even after I started to feel better. There's even quite a few that currently linger to this day and it's been 5 months! But there was one symptom in particular that I was not prepared for at all, which was post-covid hair loss, also known as Telogen Effluvium post-covid.

At the end of March I noticed quite a bit of hair starting to fall out in the shower when I was washing my hair. I've dealt with some shedding in the past with Epstein-Barr, but this was a lot more. By the end of that week I had handfuls coming out. I stopped washing my hair every day and coincidentally, I had a couple friends post about post-covid hair loss on Instagram. That's when I started researching and found out so many people are dealing with this! It's actually sad that this is a bit of an epidemic and no one seems to be talking about it. I'm in a Facebook group specifically for those dealing with this, and last I looked there were over 11,000 members! I'm sure it's more by now.

So for the last few weeks I've been having literal handfuls of hair fall out with each wash. I documented with pictures, rather than keeping the hair like some Docs suggest to that I could compare the loss over time. This started the very end of March, but I started taking pics when it really started getting bad. As you can see, it's quite a lot! And all of these, with the exception of the one noted, were only when washed or rinsed. I tried to minimally style, but a lot more would fall out when I did so. Also, my vacuum is filled with hair =( I will say, aside from being sick with Covid, this has been one of the most traumatic things I've dealt with concerning my health in some time. I know it's just hair, but as a woman it's so hard. There have been so many days that I've just cried and cried. My son is graduating High School mid-June and that's been a huge reason as to why I've been so upset. I have been so worried I would need to wear a wig to the ceremony. But you will see from the pics closer to now that it's a bit less, and yesterday was a lot less even counting the hair loss from styling (I forgot to take a pic).

Luckily for me, I had quite a lot of hair. It's very thin now. I've lost at least half, possibly a little more. But I feel truly lucky as some women really lose so much more. Lately it seems to be slowing down (fingers crossed). I'm not sure if maybe this corresponds with the length of time that I was very sick. It seems that those that are admitted to the hospital or need to go on oxygen, suffer the extreme shedding for much longer. I have been doing some different things, so I'm not sure if they are actually helping or if it's just a coincidence that I started them right around the time that my shedding started to slow down. It really seemed to slow almost overnight after using a couple things, so I wanted to share what I've been doing/using in case it could possibly help someone else.

One of the big things with hair is that if you are malnourished, deficient in certain vitamins, lacking proper nutrition from nutrient-dense foods, etc your hair will suffer. This was the first thing I began to work on - mainly in the form of supplements, as I already live a pretty healthy lifestyle. One thing I do need to mention is that Telogen Effluvium is caused by a trauma, whether that be an illness like Covid, an accident, a surgery, or an extreme stress in ones life. The hair basically gets shocked into the resting phase for a period of time and it will fall out. You will actually noticed with TE that all the hairs that shed will have white ends. This is due to the lack of pigment. In fact, a lot of my hairs that are already starting to grow back in are white or a lot lighter than my natural hair. I'm not complaining! I'm just grateful that the shedding is slowing and it's growing. What I'm getting at is that you may not be able to stop the shedding. What was shocked from trauma will fall out regardless. But if you have deficiencies or other things also effecting your TE, this can prevent new shedding or prolonged resting phase.

So I started with really being gentle with my hair. When I wash it, I do so without running my fingers through it completely. I'm just as gentle as possible. I did try a shampoo and conditioner that I thought might strengthen my existing hair, but I ended up going back to my current haircare, as the new stuff was causing too many tangles. I use Briogeo. I think if you are struggling with TE, maybe focusing on what makes your hair feel healthy is a good thing. I would just suggest that you don't use anything loaded with chemicals. Briogeo isn't completely clean, but it's a better option that most and my picky hair doesn't like a lot of the squeaky clean brands out there.

After washing I very carefully press my hair with a towel, spray on my tried and true Honest Detangling Spray that I've been using for years (love the new one!) and use a wide tooth comb. At first I was using a brush and this was just pulling way too much hair out. I wish I had thought to get the comb early on. Then I use a terry head wrap. This allows my hair to dry a little and soaks up some of the water without anything pulling on my hair. I've been trying to keep styling to a minimum, so most of the time I let it dry as long as I can and I just pull it up in a loose knot with a silk hair tie.

Beyond that, here are the supplements I'm taking. Please note that because I'm not a Doctor, and health is not a "one size fits all", that I'm not recommending what you should take. This is merely what works for me. I strongly recommend speaking with your Primary Physician before starting any new supplements and possibly even getting some bloodwork.

- I use a Multivitamin. I know there's some controversy about whether they are good or not, as you can end up with too much of some things and not enough of other things. However, I notice a different when I don't take them, and I don't take full servings of other supplements, so this works for me. I like the Smartypants Women's Gummies. I know they have sugar and they aren't perfect, but I like them and they aren't extremely expensive.

- B Complex Vits - These are important for me anyway, as I had my gallbladder out years ago and people without a gallbladder tend to be deficient in B vits. I take half the dose since my Multi already has B vits (just not enough for me). I don't really recommend a specific one. Just make sure they are methylated!

- I take a Zinc Supplement from Organic Olivia. This one also has Quercetin in it, which is great for allergies and the immune system. The reason I love this supplement so much is because it has copper in it as well. When you take Zinc, it needs to be taken with copper. But you have to be careful because you don't want too much copper in the body either! Try to find a balanced zinc supplement. Many people that had Covid are deficient in Zinc and it can effect your hair.

- I also found these hair gummies that I like. They don't contain collagen, which is a must for me, as I seem to be allergic. I do know a lot of women dealing with TE having been having great results in regrowth from collagen, so if you have a good one, go for it! I just personally can't use it, so I use these gummies that have Biotin, Keratin, Amla, Horsetail, and Silica. I think they must be working for me since my eyelashes seem longer and thicker! ps - keep in mind that Biotin can effect Thyroid panels. I you are being treated for anything Thyroid related or testing for Thyroid issues, make sure to stop any supplements with Biotin 3 days prior to testing and let you practitioner know you take it.

- The last one is another controversial supp for some, and it's Vit D3/K2. Over the last couple years I've researched quite a bit about the dangers of supplementing with synthetic Vit D3 and how the best way to get it is Sunshine. I do believe this to be true. However, when I was sick, it was freezing out and I couldn't get out in the sun. I've probably been deficient and though I can get daily sun time at this point, I still feel like I need that little bit extra and I started seeing a change in my hair fall. I take a chewable with only 2000 iu in it. It also has K2 which I always recommend. I also take this at night with my Magnesium Glycinate as this helps the D3 to properly absorb. I did feel noticeably different when I made this change. Even though I don't love the supplementation, at this moment in time I feel like the reward is higher than the risk. And I will ween off in a few weeks.

- I also take Ashwagandha for stress! Stress is a huge thing with TE. I was literally so anxious and depressed at first, but I had to really surrnder and let it be. That's so hard, I know. But it was necessary for me to learn to manage my stress and not make the TE worse!

I also rotate some supp’s that are part of my normal every day regimen, but have backed off to focus on my hair health - NAC, a Thyroid/Adrenal supplement, NAD+, and CoQ10 with PQQ for mitochondrial health.

The last thing I want to recommend is topical products. I have been using these hair oils and they've been working really well! RTHVI is an Ayurvedic company and uses all natural ingredients that promote hair health and growth, without added chemicals, silicones, etc. Hair oils can possibly clog the follicles and cause more shedding, so just make sure to use them carefully. I follow the instructions for the oils and only use them 3x per week. I also use them in the morning and leave on for 3 hours before washing. That way they have time do deliver the nutrients to my scalp without clogging. The company recommended their Ashwagandha oil for the stress on my hair and I felt like it helped after one use! They also recommended their Revitalize Growth Oil, which I love! The site also has tons of other amazing products, including shampoo and conditioner, though I haven't tried it. Just make sure that whatever you use, it's not filled with toxic chemicals, and silicones. That's the last thing you want to be putting on your scalp when you're dealing with hair loss! A weekly Apple Cider Vinegar rinse is also great! It keeps the scalp buildup away and is soothing.

I also think it’s important to mention overall self-care. I try to watch my stress levels, I try to get some light movement in, get out in the sunshine, use my sauna blanket, do red light therapy, practice grounding outside, read books, etc.

I'll do another update soon, but I truly hope this helps you if you're also struggling with TE. It can be so traumatic and depressing. Just know you aren't alone! If you ever want to chat, feel free to contact me anytime!!

Can't Look Away by Carola Lovering - A Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 16:38:00 +0000

Title: Can't Look Away
Author: Carola Lovering
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 320 pages
Pub Date: June 14, 2022
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Details from the Publisher:

From the author of Tell Me Lies and Too Good to Be True comes Carola Lovering's Can't Look Away, a sexy suspense novel about the kind of addictive, obsessive love that keeps you coming back––no matter how hard you try to look away.

In 2013, twenty-three-year-old Molly Diamond is a barista, dreaming of becoming a writer. One night at a concert in Brooklyn, she locks eyes with the lead singer, Jake Danner, and can’t look away. Molly and Jake fall quickly and deeply in love, especially after he writes a hit song about her that puts his band on the map.

Nearly a decade later, Molly has given up writing and is living in Flynn Cove, Connecticut with her young daughter and her husband Hunter—who is decidedly not Jake Danner. Their life looks picture-perfect, but Molly is lonely; she feels out of place with the other women in their wealthy suburb and is struggling to conceive their second child. When Sabrina, a newcomer in town, walks into the yoga studio where Molly teaches and confesses her own fertility struggles, Molly believes she's finally found a friend.

But Sabrina has her own reasons for moving to Flynn Cove and befriending Molly. And as Sabrina’s secrets are slowly unspooled, her connection to Molly becomes clearer––as do secrets of Molly's own, which she’s worked hard to keep buried.

Meanwhile, a new version of Jake's hit song is on the radio, forcing Molly to confront her past and ask the ultimate questions: What happens when life turns out nothing like we thought it would, when we were young and dreaming big? Does growing up mean choosing with your head, rather than your heart? And do we ever truly get over our first love?

My Review:

Being a sucker for a good thriller, I was immediately sucked in after reading the plot of Can't Look Away. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book and as soon as I did, I couldn't dig in fast enough. Once I started reading, I got sucked in and had a really hard time putting it down. I found myself taking breaks to live my life but couldn't wait to get back to the world of Molly & Jake. One of the things I loved most about this book, is that while classified as a Thriller, it has so many layers beyond that. The character development was outstanding. You really get a feel for each character and can almost picture them as if you're watching a movie. In my opinion, the best books are those that you can't remember if you read it or watched it!

It's hard to really get into what I loved most without giving too much away, but I feel like Can't Look Away is just as much of a love story as it is a thriller. If one or the other is not your usual cup of tea, give it a chance, I promise you, the love is all necessary for the thrill! Everything in this book just progressed so well and was so well done. It truly got to my core, touched me in so many moments, and because I'm such a romantic at heart, it was really gut-wrenching for me at times. I got so attached to the characters and fell in love with Jake right along with Molly. This was one of the best books I had read in a long time and one of the few I would read again at some point. In fact, I think it would make an excellent movie or mini-series - fingers crossed!!! (Speaking of books to Tv/Movies…. One of my absolute favorite things to do when I fall in love with a book, is to cast it in my mind! I came across this site last year where you can do just that. Check out my stories and let me know if you agree)

The only slight negative that I have is that I was so torn throughout the story. But that's my selfish feelings, not any reflection whatsoever on the Author or her beautiful book. Being torn means you feel things and feeling things for people that only exist in a story is only possible while reading an exceptionally good book! Carola Lovering truly delivers. There was anguish, disbelief, anger, sadness, and even tears, which doesn't happen often for me!

About the Author (from her website):

Carola Lovering is the author of the novels Tell Me Lies, Too Good to Be True, and the forthcoming Can’t Look Away. She attended Colorado College, and her work has appeared in New York Magazine, W Magazine, National Geographic, Outside, and Yoga Journal, among other publications. Her novel, Tell Me Lies, is currently being adapted into a television series for Hulu. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and son.

also find her on: twitter - instagram - facebook

Ps - I was so excited to see that Tell Me Lies is being adapted into a TV Series on Hulu! I had read this book a couple years ago and really enjoyed it. Can't Look Away is not due to release until 6/14/22, so make sure to check out Carola's other books before you pre-order!!!

So many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me the ARC of this amazing book to review! And thanks to Carola for creating such beautiful people and stories!!

I'm Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 17:45:00 +0000

Wow! I really can't believe it's been over two years since my last blog post!! So much has happened in the world between then and now, it truly feels like a lifetime ago. I know I've popped in here from time to time over the last several years and have had grand plans of relaunching my blog, but this time I'm so excited that I can actually follow through with that plan! Me and my family came down with C*vid right after the Holiday (who didn't, right?!) and I had a tough time. I ended up with pneumonia and long-haul, while, my Husband and Son felt like they had a bad cold for two days and sailed on through. For me, it was one of the most weird, scary experiences, and while sparing this from turning into a C*vid post, I believe that my past issues with Mold Illness and Epstein-Barr are to blame for the severity of my illness. The point of this story is that because of my Long-Haul, I resigned from my job.

Now I'll finally have the time to do all the things I want with this blog. I'm super excited because writing has always been a bit cathartic for me, and I could honestly use that right now. You'll definitely be seeing a lot more posts from me! Think Book Reviews (this will most likely be one of, if not the first official post), Organic Beauty posts, Wellness Gadgets, Healthy Recipes, and whatever else I feel like posting about! I'm also considering possibly moving this blog to Wordpress or Squarespace. If you have some experience with this or have any thoughts on it, please feel free to drop a comment below or reach out to me! I would love some honest feedback.

I'm really looking forward to getting back into this again! I already feel more like myself as I type. Look for an exciting Book Review soon!!!

Intellipure Ultrafine 468 Air Purification System - A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 15:04:00 +0000

Hi, lovelies! I had posted about my Mold Story earlier in the week and wanted to do a separate post about this amazing Air Purifier I purchased. As I had said in the closing of my post, indoor air quality is becoming a major issue and the EPA is rating it the number 1 environmental risk facing humans, and not just because of mold! Ultrafine Particles, carbon monoxide, lead from paint and other chemicals in our consumer products, as well as dust, pollen, mold spores, and VOC's are quickly degrading our air, and not everyone has the knowledge or the funds to help combat this by avoiding certain contaminants. As much as I commit to living a very healthy lifestyle, I really can't afford an organic sofa and cork flooring. Not that there's anything wrong with these things - I would love them in my home! It's just not a possibility in my life at the moment. And with the environment changing constantly, it's almost impossible to completely avoid these things unless you live in a bubble! This is where things like air purification come in. It's an easy way to help improve the air quality in your home and also the health of you and your loved ones.

As far as research goes, I had my work cut out for me! I looked all over the internet, scouring article after article. I found this post on Surviving Mold especially helpful, because it talked about mold & mycotoxins, specifically. After really researching and being so sick at the time, I even ordered a pretty pricey unit after thinking I had finally found "the one" and promptly sent it back after having many issues from receiving one of the few units with a manufacturers defect. All I can say is, do your homework! But hopefully you don't have to, because this one is the bees knees.

In my search there were quite a few things I was looking for & were absolute requirements...

- Filters particles down to the smallest possible, including Mycotoxins & VOC's

- No or Low EMF's coming off the unit with running

- No ionizing of any kind, as to avoid ozone

- No hydroxyl technology, as the research states that the byproducts of this can be harmful

- ease of use, moveable from room to room, and energy efficient

- Cost of unit and also cost of replacement filters was also a factor

After my bad experience with the previous company, and the fact that I needed to find a stellar purifier since we decided to stay in our home, I decided that I was willing to pay a little more than initially intended. I just wanted to purchase a unit that would give us the best air quality we could find. I came across a review on Intellipure in that mold site article and I decided to start looking into them. I was extremely impressed with their DFS technology ,the filtration down to .007 microns, and the fact that they are also medical-grade and utilized in hospitals, medical clean rooms, government buildings, and military applications! After a lot of thinking I went with the bigger Ultrafine 468 model and am so glad I did! Some of advantages of this unit include:

Product Performance:

Patented DFS Technology- deactivates mold, bacteria, and virus in the filters through Microbiostasis condition, which prohibits the breed through effect, where living organisms captured can grow inside the filter and be released back into the environment
Proprietary blend of granulars proven to adsorb a high level of gases and odors
Greater lifetime filter performance due to lower density media, resulting in much longer lifetime performance of the filter
Reduction of dangerous Micro-plastics
High level reduction of mycotoxins
Highly effective on all speeds

Product Features:

Highest-quality EC motor results in 50% less operating cost than other machines on the market
Incredibly energy efficient
Highest CFM per decibel level or noise
Less dense media filters for maximum airflow and filtration power
Quick and easy filter maintenance and replacement
Individually tested and certified, guaranteed to be 40x more efficient than HEPA

I've had my unit since September 19th (funny enough, this is my birthday) and I absolutely love it!!! It has different levels of purification, meaning you can adjust it to pull in air on the low side, or on as high as turbo if you want to put it in a room and leave it. I wouldn't recommend this high if you're in the room, because Turbo mode is a little loud!! I was actually quite surprised at how quiet it is in the normal modes. Even on the middle setting, with it right next to me sleeping, it just sounded like white noise. And I'm a light sleeper!

The air quality is fantastic! I noticed a huge difference almost immediately. Because of the issues in our home and the fact that we couldn't run our central A/C all summer, some rooms would get humid and the allergens would really kick up. The Ultrafine 468 helped me with this immediately. I would wake up with asthma, horrible sore throats, and congestion and this went away once I started running my unit. It also helped with air circulation in my stuffy room. Even my cats love it. I'll find them hanging out in my bedroom when the unit is in there, because the air was is so clean. The bad air quality even effects our pets.

The technology of Intellipure units is also really quite amazing. They utilize DFS Technology, which does not emit any ozone, gases, or other harmful byproducts. This short video explains it really well!

A further testament to how well this unit really works, though I wouldn't recommend this at all, is that when we had our remediation done last week, after they fogged our ducts, we ran the unit in my bedroom, to make sure the chemical vapors wouldn't be bad once we turned on the central air. Both fortunately and unfortunately, this worked really well! My room was definitely the least offensive as far as smell and contamination - I'm extremely chemical-sensitive. But the problem was that the unit worked so well sucking up the VOC's coming into the air from our ducts airing out, that it ruined 2 portions of filters - the prefilter and the VOC filter. There's no denying exactly how well the 468 works after this, but it's a bummer that I have to replace those filters. For that reason, I wouldn't recommend using it for things such as airing out a room after painting, laying down new carpet and wanting to minimize off-gassing (at least not immediately following installation), etc. Good old-fashioned open windows is good for that, and your wallet, too!

So as far as pro's to all of the Intellipure units, there's a million! I love mine, would consider getting the smallest one at some point for my sons room, or if I get the extra money, possibly the whole-house unit! I can't recommend it enough and it has absolutely saved me during such an awful time in my life. It makes me feel so much better knowing that it works so well to give myself and my family clean air to breathe. As far as any negatives, the only things that come to mind are cost for some. The units are a little on the high side, as are the replacement filters. But.... In this case, especially after having a bad experience with another fairly high priced purifier, I think you absolutely get what you pay for and I feel that any of the Intellipure models are worth every penny. DFS Technology is pretty amazing and I'm sure it's costly to manufacture units. And the filters don't need to be replaced as often as other units (annually for some and semi-annually for others), so definitely less than other units out there. There are also sensors alerting you when it's time to replace each filter. So no guessing! This can also save some money, as most units require guessing and you're either replacing too early, or running the risk of recirculating contaminants into the air with dirty filters.

If you have any questions on my experience with Intellipure, please let me know! I'm happy to give you honest feedback! And for more technical questions, the company offers amazing customer service - another huge plus!!!

Make sure to stop back soon to check out some more rec's on how I'm continuing to keep my home clean & mold-free!

ps - this is not a sponsored post. This unit was purchased by me and all opinions are my own.

What's been going on - My Mold Story

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Sun, 06 Oct 2019 18:11:00 +0000

Wow.... Has it really been well over a year since my last post?!?! I know I haven't been good at posting on here the last several years AT ALL, but I really do want to change that. What started out as an unintentional hiatus, turned into more and more time between posts, and then just... well... Life.

In my last post I was talking about all my health issues & struggles, and at the time, I just figured it was the stresses going on in my life that triggered everything. I had no idea what could have started this horrible snowballing of health problems, when I had been so healthy - probably the most healthy I had ever been in my life!! As much as I know about many things with health, I just never put some things together in my head. I was running this constant hamster wheel and had tunnel vision with one laser focus, and that was getting better!

Little did I know, that my tuning everything out, would delay my healing and put my life in a major upside down turmoil. This is where Mold comes in. Yes.... Mold. The nasty stuff you see growing on food and sometimes elsewhere. Mold was in my basement and I had no idea until I was already exposed and sick from it. And even though I knew Mold makes me sick (I'm highly allergic to at least 9 strains of mold), I had no idea what Mold sickness even was! And I never put two and two together.

So around the time that I first became ill, unbeknownst to me, my Air Conditioner had leaked all over a part of my basement that I couldn't see. It was in an area that I never walk back into and we had so much going on in life at that time, I really just went downstairs to work out in my "basement gym" on the other side and to do laundry. Sometimes I wouldn't feel great after being down there, but it was also a terrible allergy season, and I figured that was the issue. Even when I got a strange rash, even when the dead of winter hit and I started getting heart palpitations, and vertigo and all these strange things out of the blue, other than a weird basement smell, I had no idea. The following spring, when we put the air back on, I started having major issues - I got shingles and then a mono reactivation (which I talked about here). At that point, I was not able to workout at all, so I was no longer going in the basement. I still made no connection. Finally, one day we went in the basement and saw it and started contacting our homeowner's insurance to try to get it squared away. That experience alone between then and now, could fill a book. We got our moldy A/C replaced and a remediation company finally came out a few months later. We thought all was fine. Fast Forward to Spring 2019 when we go to turn on the A/C - moldy smell coming through the vents and I start having issues immediately, including..... ding ding ding - another Mono Reactivation! Come to find out, our ducts should have been included in the remediation, and the remediation itself, wasn't completed at all. Not only was there still mold, but it was a major issue.

In a nutshell, we tried to file a lawsuit. We had a case, but unfortunately, it's extremely hard to prove that medical issues are linked to mold without testing from your regular MD, and them signing off legally that you are sick from mold. Even if you have one that doesn't brush you off, a lot of the tests, at least where I live, are no longer done by labs. And most conventional MD's, at least Family Doctors, aren't versed in mold illness to be able to even understand some of the covered tests that can indicate illness from exposure. Anyway, long story short.... because of the fact that I could find no one to test me (I tried Internists, Allergists, Immunologists, and Infectious Disease Doc's), other than ND's which cost thousands out of pocket, we had to drop it. Honestly, at this point I've moved on from that. I think holding onto things and having to constantly relive things through telling Doctors, and a Lawyer, the story over and over, just wasn't healthy for me. So you might be wondering how I finally made the connection. An amazing ND that I follow on Instagram was talking about Epstein Barr Virus and Mono Reactivations, and the link to mold exposure. After learning more and more, and especially after having another mono reactivation right after being around mold, I realized this was my issue!

There is so much more to it, but it's way too much to type on here. It involves possibly moving, almost walking away from our home, and literally almost losing my mind. But luckily, other than the basement, the rest of our home wasn't too bad, and it wasn't Mycotoxin producing molds upstairs. This made it where we were able to salvage things and stay, which was good, because we really had no choice. Some people aren't so lucky, and they literally have to leave their homes with little belongings because everything is contaminated. Other than losing pretty much every belonging in our basement, we are ok and are so lucky!

We actually just got our basement remediated this past Monday, along with our HVAC and duct system, and we are all good! No more mold!!! So now, at this point, you might be wondering if you have mold, or if you know you do, you want to know how bad it is or what kind it is, etc. There are many tests out there that you can do yourself, and even though these tests are less than Environmental testing, if you have a big area or a potential major issue, call a professional. You want to go with a standalone testing company that does not do remediation. When they do both, this can create a conflict of interest. You are much better off calling just a testing company. It can be costly, but if this is a major issue, especially where your health might be concerned, it's worth it!

When it comes to remediation's (after having two companies screw us over), make sure you do your research!!! Make a list of companies in your area and look at websites, facebook, yelp, google reviews etc. Read every single one! Look for certifications and most important, a warranty. Make sure you do consults if they offer it, so you can get a feel for them in person. And if they come to your property to do a major remediation, and don't block off the moldy area and start putting protective suits on - kick them out. I mean it!

There is so much more in the world of mold to talk about, but for my friends on here that aren't into it, I'll spare you. Air quality, in general, is the next big world issue. This is already an epidemic, whether you realize it or not, and is just going to get worse over time. I solved this issue in my home, and will be doing a separate post on that this week.

In the meantime, if you have mold issues or think you might, and you have questions about my experience - drop them in the comments! I'm happy to help however I can. It's my hope that maybe by sharing my story, I might be able to help anyone that might be going through something similar. It's honestly crazy how many people out there are struggling because of mold exposure! I also post regularly on Instagram, so look for me on there, too!!

Check back soon for a review on the gadget I'm using in my home to combat poor air quality! And also some future posts about what I'm doing in my home to keep it mold-free and to combat my mold illness.

Mourning Myself- dealing with chronic illness

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 15:37:00 +0000

Hi Babes! Obviously I don't get one here much lately. I've been dealing with a lot health-wise and just haven't been able to bring myself to post anything for quite a while. After I was sick, I planned to do a post sharing my story, but after a while I just got so exhausted with all the appointments, talking about it, thinking about it.... I just couldn't bring myself to do it. The gist of it is that I haven't been feeling great since before the Holidays last year. I ended up in the ER the week or two before Christmas with vertigo, shortness of breath, and abdominal pain. Everything checked out ok for the most part. Just some minor things that I've since addressed. I started feeling ok a couple months later, but never really got back to myself.

Fast forward a couple months and I end up with an ear infection (haven't had one since I was a child), and was put on antibiotics for weeks. I actually hate going on them because of all the things they can do to your gut, but the pain was bad and I couldn't hear out of one ear, so there was no way I was chancing anything. Shortly after my second round, I got Shingles. And everything went downhill from there. After being on antivirals and my shingles started to clear up, I really got sick. My throat swelled up and felt like I had the worst case of strep throat in my life. Every lymph node in my body swelled. I had headaches, vertigo, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, could barely get out of bed and was the most sick I had ever been in my life. The Doctors didn't know what to make of it and with all the questions they were asking me, with a tiny bit of fear in their eyes that they couldn't hide, I knew Lymphoma was on the table. Luckily, that was not the case!!

However, since I had been reading Medical Medium on my holiday break, Epstein Barr came to the front of my mind. Thankfully, the Nurse Practitioner I see is amazing, and after pressing it, she added an Epstein Barr panel to my battery of tests. It turns out, I was correct. I had Mono in High School, so I knew I had a past infection, which did show on the panel, but I also had a current active infection as well, which seemed to turn into Mononucleosis. And before you think that you can't get Mono twice, or even shingles twice, you absolutely can - I'm living proof of that.

Armed with a wealth of information from Anthony William (the Medical Medium) I started on his food and supplement protocol. I eliminated all of the virus-feeding foods, and took most of the supplements or teas he recommended - Berberine, Monoluarin, Oregano Oil capsules, Vit C, and my typical vits, and also Lemon Balm Tea. I got my infection mostly into remission. I say mostly, because as of late, I'm not feeling well again and I don't know if it's due to the infection being mildly active or from the damage it's done. Constant exhaustion, headaches, hair thinning and loss, and weight gain isn't fun.

Which brings me to the purpose of this post. The part where I feel sorry for myself, as well as anyone else out there battling chronic invisible illness. I mourn for myself. I mourn for the old me. The woman, who just a year ago, was able to run 30+ miles a week, and was able to do plyometrics and lift weights several times a week, every week. The me who was in the best shape of her life. And now, I'm lucky if I can even come home from my part-time job and do something other than getting in my bed for a nap. I'm sad. I'm angry. And I don't know why things like this happen. I've always been a person that is passionate about health. It's just not fair. But I know deep inside that I'll figure it out. I'll rally and start making appointments again, start getting all the tests done, and I will get to the bottom of it. I'm thankful that it wasn't something worse. My heart breaks for anyone that has major health battles. I know how this feels, I can't fathom something worse.

And at the very least, I hope my story helps someone going through the same thing realize that you aren't alone. There are many of us with these viral issues and with autoimmune diseases that they cause. I hope that any bit of information, from the things that I did to get better or just sharing my story, could possibly help someone else. If you are someone struggling, I strongly suggest you read Medical Medium. Anthony is not your average Health advocate. However, he knows his stuff and I've done the research to back up every bit of information in his books. Even if you don't follow his entire protocol, the main points being followed like I did, can be a huge help. Push for the tests you need, research optimal results (not just the lab results), and be your own advocate. I can't stress this enough!

I hope you don't mind me feeling a little sorry for myself. Some days it's just not easy. But I'm thankful for the self I do have and I'm hoping this all will pass some day. Just know, if you are going through something similar - I'm here for you. Leave me a comment, reach out to me on Instagram, or shoot me an email! There's strength in numbers and we can support each other!

Getting Real - Purity vs. Balance

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 14:04:00 +0000

Hey Lovelies! I can't believe my last post was October!!!! Where does the time go?!

I know, I know.... I always start my posts off that way.... But in all honesty, it's been a really rough year. I came down with my second case of shingles last week, after a really really long run with severe stress. The crazy thing is that I wasn't always such an anxious person. Many years ago, I was. But in the last several years, I was pretty zen. I never got stressed out over anything and was basically a living yoda. So what happened? Life in all its gritty glory is what happened. In January 2017 my Father in Law was diagnosed with Lung Cancer, and to say it rocked our world is an understatement. That year was such a blur of heartache, sadness, and stress, that I almost forgot anything else that happened in that period of time. Add in every day life stresses - raising a teen boy, financial commitments, vet bills, things in the house crapping out, then you just have a recipe for a nervous breakdown. I don't think I ever got to that place, but I got close.

Anyway, I think so many months of constant stress just took it's toll on my body and I came down with a really bad case of shingles. So bad, in fact, that I've been on bed rest this entire week. And what do you do when you're on bed rest? Other than catch up on reading and Netflix bingeing, of course. You think. And you think a lot! So I've been thinking about the last couple weeks and this blog and really just pondering what I'm all about. This is where I get real, get raw, and get honest. Going through what I went through, what so many people go through every single day, really puts life into perspective.

Recently, I had some conversations with some friends on Instagram about being a Purist. If you're not entirely sure what being a Purist is, it basically means someone that lives their life completely chemical-free. Like nothing, nada, zilch. I am by no means saying there's anything wrong with this! Not at all. If this is what works for you, that's amazing!!! I once strived to live this lifestyle, but I realized that it just doesn't work for me. I may or may not have mentioned before that I'm a perfectionist. It's something that can serve me well professionally, but not well at all in my personal life or for my mental state. Years ago, I attended IIN, which I absolutely LOVED, and don't have a single regret about doing. However, the reason why I don't currently practice as a Health Coach is because of my perfectionist personality. I could never eat, sleep, and breathe Holistic Health. It would make me a very unhappy human. As much as I love this lifestyle, and know that I have a lot to give the world as far as helping others live a healthier life, I choose to try and do it through this blog. I tend to get obsessive with the lifestyle and am really working on balance at this point. For me, it's necessary for living MY healthiest life. Does that mean I don't recommend IIN or other programs? Absolutely not the case. That really depends on you and what you want in life and is really a whole other post. But if you're someone, like me, that tends to obsess and worry over every little ingredient, what it might be doing to you, etc, that might just be a "rabbit hole" you don't want to venture down. Just sayin.

So what does this all mean as far as me and this blog.... Nothing really has changed. My lifestyle really hasn't changed for the most part. I still use and love green & clean beauty. I just don't stress about some preservatives here and there that a Purist might avoid. I have a lot of sensitives and allergies to foods, ingredients, chemicals, and even completely natural and organic components. So honestly, when I find a product with mostly organic ingredients, but doesn't contain something like chamomile, for instance..... I'm severely allergic to chamomile by the way.... and it's in EVERYTHING!!!! So if I find something that's mostly natural, but has phenoxyethanol in it, I will use it and if it works well, I'll recommend it. I've learned to be ok with that. It's my truth. But I do worry about coming off authentic to all of you. That is something that's very important to me. I didn't always venture out of the Purist realm and I'm not going to be using any conventional products, ever. But I want to make sure that I'm always transparent with all of you. Which brings me to the perfect example:

Recently in my quest to try out some conscious beauty products, I jumped the gun and got involved with a nail company. One of my biggest gripes is that when I paint my nails, it always chips off so quickly. Especially because I've always used many of the green beauty brands. Think 100 Percent Pure, Pacifica, etc. My little digits have been looking rather haggard lately, and it finally drove me to try something that wasn't completely up to my standards as far as ingredients. But being that it was 8Free and 1 ingredient shy of being completely clean, I was ok with this, because it was such an innovative product and solved a lot of issues for me as far as painting my nails. After doing what I thought was my diligent research, I jumped in, and starting using the product, starting a new Instagram account (which you won't find now because I deleted it), and even recommending to my inner circle. When the product was on my nails, I loved it. I ignored the sensitivity in my nails, the rashes I was getting when I scratched my skin with them on, and the irritation I was getting on my fingers. I thought "I haven't used anything but Clean nail polish in years, maybe I need to adjust". Until I started reading about many others experiencing the same exact thing.

Have you ever gotten so excited about finding something new and something that you thought was really this great thing that you kinda whisper to the world about it, and ignore that little inner whisper inside you telling you that it might not be a good idea? Yea, that happened. I'm a human, what can I say. I make mistakes. But I will never ever compromise my moral standards or integrity and recommend something to any of you that I wouldn't use on myself, or on my own family. On this occasion, I may have been a little late to the party as far as listening to my inner voice. But I realize now, and can promise you that moving forward I won't jump the gun on myself. I can't always promise pure, but I can promise safe!!! I'm not here to bash any companies, and I recognize that this product might be ok for many others out there. I just happen to be one of the many that had an issue, unfortunately. And because of that, I cannot recommend them to you!

This will always be a place where I share my healthy & SAFE options, but will never be place for preaching purity or making anyone feel inferior for their lifestyle choices. I may have been guilty of coming off this way in the past, I don't know. If I have, I apologize. I just want to help others live a healthier lifestyle. Whatever that means for you.

Oh, and if you have any recommendations for a good "green" nail polish that doesn't chip off after days, please send them my way!!!

Christy
XOXO

MyHeritage DNA - A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 22:57:00 +0000

I don't know if I've mentioned on here in the past, but I am super into Ancestry. A couple years ago I did a trial on Ancestry.com and traced my family history on one side all the way back to the 1500's! Crazy right?! That side of my family was actually Mennonite (big surprise!), and went back to parts of Europe that I had no idea were even in my background.

Fast forward to a couple months ago, when MyHeritage reached out to me to see if I wanted to try their Genealogy DNA kit. Obviously, I was stoked and jumped at the chance, of course!!! What is it exactly? It's a kit that the company sends you with 2 swabs, one for each cheek. You register your kit, swab the insides of your cheeks and send it back to them. Then you just wait for the magic to happen.

Since I had been working on my Family Tree again this past summer, I was pretty familiar with some of my lineage. So I was really curious to see how the results would compare to what I already knew. I got my results about 5 weeks after I sent them in and they did not disappoint!

As you can see in the pics above, it shows the percentage of my DNA from certain regions and then goes on to tell you the countries that might be included in the results. This is a bit broad and I wish there was a bit more information provided, but it's still really cool! This did not bother me at all, as I already knew the specific countries included from my Family Tree background. It was still awesome to see exactly how much of a percentage of each region is in my personal lineage. For example, I had always thought I was more Irish than Italian, but it seems that Northern/Western European and Italian is the bulk of my background.

So the bottom, line.... Would I recommend this test? If you are really familiar with your background already, you might not have the need to do this. However, if you want confirmation, or if you're adopted or not sure of any information from a whole side of your family, this would be amazing! Or if you're someone like me, that just likes to geek out over ancestry related info, you would love this!

Another cool feature that I discovered this past week.... If there is anyone else in the database that has had a DNA test done, that matches your DNA, the company will email you their info, as well as the way you might be related, i.e. 4th cousin twice removed, etc and give you the option to contact if you're so inclined to do so.

Pretty cool, right?! Have you ever traced your family tree back far? What about a DNA test? I would love to hear about your personal experience! Genealogy is so fun!!!

ps - The company is offering 30% off all kits until October 16th! That makes the test $69, instead of $99. I do not compensated for this, I'm just passing the info along, since that's quite a bit of savings! If you do the test, let me me know! I would love to see your results!

make sure to check out MyHeritage on Instagram - Twitter - FB

XOXO

Christy

DISCLAIMER: I did not receive any financial compensation for this post. This post does not include any affiliate links. However, I was provided a kit as a PR sample,. in exchange for my honest review. As always stated, all opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

What I'm Loving - August

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 22:50:00 +0000

Hi Loves!

It's been quite a summer! Some good, some bad. Mostly bad.... But I'm trying to look towards better days and move forward, not dwelling on the sad/hard times. I'm ok, my family is ok. But we suffered a tremendous loss a few weeks ago and it's been really difficult, to say the least. I wasn't even going to mention it in this post, but I had these grand plans of starting to blog more, doing more reviews, posting more recipes, etc. Losing a loved one really changes things. It knocks you off kilter, makes you see things differently, and start to question everything in your own life. At least it has for me. But I know that I really love my blog and want to put more time into it. So hopefully all of you are still out there reading from time to time!

While I have had time this summer, I've been trying out some new products, watching some new shows, reading some new books. I wanted to make sure to pop on and share a few of my favs. I know everyone is always looking for the next good Netflix binge and that amazing read to cap off the summer! Throw in a few other products and there's an interesting mashup of summer favorites =)

What I've been Using...

I have been on the serious hunt for really good, preferably organic, antiaging skincare. And I've found a few great products that I've really been loving! First up, this oil (shown above) is the first ever oil I've ever been able to put on my skin and not break out! Got it? First Ever! I've tried A LOT of oils and this is one of the best. Prickly Pear Seed oil rates zero on the pore clogging scale and has so many amazing benefits. I initially purchased it to replace an eye cream. I have tried so many eye creams and nothing was working for me. I was starting to get crepe skin that just seemed so parched no matter what I put on it. And lets not even talk about the darker circles that wouldn't go away! But this oil has helped my eye issues so much!!! One drop, seriously, one little drop shared between both under eyes at night has made huge changes.

The next product is one that is not organic, or even completely clean, but after seeing a Facebook Ad, I was intrigued. Plus I had a credit to use and have been in desperate need of a multi-use cleanser. Let me just tell you, I typically don't like cleansers. I've been using Facial soap for years. I know.... soap on the face, even "facial" soap is supposedly really bad, but I just couldn't part ways. My first love was Osmia Organics soap (I professed my love here) and then I found Skin Owl's matcha beauty bar - my skin loooooooves green tea. Like seriously, loves! And since cleansers always seem to dry me out or break me out, I thought this one would be joining the ranks of the many that haven't worked for my skin.

So I ordered it, tried it and loved it. I can't even describe how wonderful it is. It's a Korean Skincare brand called Klavuu and it's like a combo of an oil cleanser/foaming cleanser. It's a bit on the pricey side, but a little goes a long way. You only need about a pea sized amount. And just turns into this gorgeous, luxurious, nourishing treat for your face. I've noticed a huge improvement in my skin. It looks brighter (hello pearl!), is more hydrated, and my pores appear a little smaller. I'm currently using it twice a day with my clarisonic. Like I said, the ingredients aren't perfect, but it's not super toxic either. And as long as it's doing my skin good, I'm not so strict on being 100% clean these days.

What I've been Watching...

Not only am I a major Netflix bingeaholic, but I also love to watch shows when I'm on the treadmill. I'm usually outside, but on the days that I can't get out - due to rain, heat, or my schedule, I like to prop up my tablet and put on a good show. I've been so into this series called The Night Shift! I watched one episode and I was hooked. The acting isn't super stellar all the time, but it's the perfect workout show. It's fun to watch, keeps my attention and it's 45 minutes. Perfect! Another show I've been loving is Ozark. I know everyone has been buzzing over this one! I'm only 2 episodes in, so I need to catch up a bit before I come across a spoiler!! What's your fav binge-worthy show?!

What I've been Reading...

I have to be honest. I haven't read anything that has blown me away this summer. But I have read some decent books. I typically like to sit and read on my tablet while I blow out my hair in the morning. Blowing out my hair is not one of my favorite pastimes and reading while I do makes it a little more bearable! A few fiction books I've finished over the last couple months are - Remember Me this Way by Sabine Durrant, I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid, and The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo. All 3 were just ok for me. The first one I mentioned is the only one that had me wanting to constantly read to find out the twist. But there wasn't really any crazy twist and it was really just a ho hum ending. Don't you hate that? When a book gives so much build up and it feels like there's still so many questions. Or worse, it just drops you flat on your face. I'm currently reading The Sinner, the same book that the new USA limited Series with Jessica Biel is based on. I'm dying to find out what's going to happen. I'm just hoping the ending isn't lame. It's pretty disturbing so far!

What I can't wait to recommend...

The last thing I want to mention is this months Popsugar Must-Have box! I absolutely love this month and highly recommend it. It has some great products in it and there's a bit of a birthday theme, which is really fun since my birthday is coming up in September. The contents are a metallic pink journal, a friendship bracelet by Dogeared, some delicious Gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, some glittery birthday candles (which will def be put to good use!), a nourishing face mask by First Aid Beauty, and a really fun serving tray - which you can see in the pic above. Sometimes the box can be hit or miss, but I really loved everything this month!!! You can still grab this specific box, but hurry, they'll run out soon. Use code PARTY for $10 off =)

So that wraps up the latest products and things I'm loving. I would love to hear what you've been using, reading, watching, etc! Make sure to let me know in the comments!!!

Christy
xoxo

DISCLAIMER: Please note that while this is not a sponsored post, it does contain some affiliate links. Popsugar kindly provided me with a sample box for my review. However, I was not financially compensated and all opinions are my own.

Why You need a Food Scale - A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 19:53:00 +0000

Hi Lovelies! I can't believe it's almost July already! With the hot weather, I've amped up my health & fitness routine to prep for shorts. Part of that is continuing to do BBG, but the other part has been really fine-tuning my eating even more with a food scale. I already track my macros, but I know that if you're already on top your food consumption (meaning calorie amounts, macros, and such) and not losing fat, your serving sizes can be more than you realize. If you tend to eyeball like me, you can really underestimate how much you might be eating. This can make a HUGE difference! I know with myself, if I'm not on point with my meals and staying on top of sugar and grain-based carbs especially, the weight can start creeping up again.

So that's where this nifty little food scale by EatSmart comes in to play. You can choose to weigh food in ounces or pounds, and you can also weigh food on a plate or in a bowl, without the weight of the container effecting what is shown. I've been using it daily for the last couple of months, and it has helped me tremendously. I was absolutely eating more than 1 serving amount of food and without a doubt it was effecting my results. Case in point, I've been eyeballing pistachio servings lately. But today, since I'm really cutting again, I decided to break out my scale. Whoooooooaaaaa!!! I was eating at least twice the serving size of pistachios because I was using the cup amount on the nutritional info. Yikes! That just goes to show that it's easy to get comfortable with feeling like you "just know" a serving size, and also why Intuitive Eating doesn't always work for everyone.

This scale is a great price point as well. If you've been struggling with fat loss and clean eating with a good fitness routine in place, I highly recommend giving this food scale a try! It might just be the missing piece to the puzzle that you need. Ps - It's also on super sale right now on Amazon!!!

Make sure to check out EatSmart on their Social Media channels. They make some other really neat gadgets!

FaceBook - Twitter - Instagram - Pinterest

Check back soon to find out who makes my most favorite protein ever!!!

Christy

xoxo

** while I received no financial compensation for this post, I was provided a scale in return for my honest review.

My Newest Hydration Obsession...

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 20:34:00 +0000

Hi Babes! Wow.... I seriously can't believe my last post was in November!!!! That's crazy. Between the holidays and catching up after, time just flew by. I actually meant to get organized to start actively blogging again after the New Year, and then a difficult family situation came up and we've been going through such a hard time since then. All the days and weeks kind of run together, and I have just had what feels like zero time to sit down and write.

But I'm so happy I'm finally easing back into a schedule, because I have the most amazing water to tell you about. I know what you're thinking.... "Water? C'mon Christy, it's water, how amazing can it really be??" Am I right? Well this type of water was new to me and I love it! A few weeks ago I was so lucky to receive some Essence PH10 water to try out. If you're not familiar with Essence PH10, here's some info in a nutshell:

"Essence pH10 is a premium alkaline water that contains 10% of the daily recommended allowance of calcium, magnesium, and zinc acetate. Additionally, we add organic hibiscus making this the only nutritional water on the market. This patented formula is designed to produce a sustainable pH10 that helps to restore the bodies pH balance. Essence pH10 is 100% sodium free."

I was immediately intrigued! Knowing all the benefits of an Alkaline diet, I was stoked to finally try some Alkaline water!!! I have to be honest, I didn't try it for a few days. You see, one of the key things is that Alkaline water can disrupt the stomach acid which is what your body uses to digest food. Because of this, you shouldn't drink it less than 30 minutes before and/or up to 2.5 hours after meals. I kept forgetting to try it during some windows of time. Then I ended up getting a stomach virus and was beyond sick. I was struggling to keep anything down and my stomach just felt so acidic with nothing in it. Then I remembered my Alkaline water and decided to give that a go. Within a couple hours I was able to keep some liquids down and started to feel much better. I attribute this to the water neutralizing all the nasties in my gut! That's not medical advice - just my little two cents ; )

I also recently tried it on a long, 5 miles of Sprint Intervals and it was perfect! It didn't run right through me like regular water seems to do and I felt really really hydrated. I also love that the Hibiscus (which is tasteless by the way) helps to neutralize free radicals. Win!

This water is amazing, and after just getting back into my workout routine, I'm so excited to have it to properly hydrate. I really feel like it's going to help me step up my game!!! So after hearing all the fantastic benefits of Essence PH10, how would you like a chance to win some of your own?! Essence PH10 will be giving one lucky winner a whole case of Alkaline water to try!

For your chance to win, simply leave a blog comment below telling me why you would love to win your own case of Essence Ph10 & what activities you think it would help you hydrate for, then go through the Gleam widget and enter your info! This MUST be done or I will not be able to include you in the drawing- there's also opportunity for extra entries! And don't forget to check them out on their website, twitter, facebook, and Instagram - sorry, this giveaway is available to US residents only

Christy
xoxo

DISCLAIMER: While a product sample was provided to me for my honest review, I was not financially compensated in any way. All opinions are honest and are my own.

My thoughts on the FasciaBlaster - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 19:02:00 +0000

Quite a while ago I had written a post about my experience with the FasciaBlaster. With every intention of writing a follow-up post, time obviously got away from me, and I never ended up doing so. But after many emails peppered with questions, and requests to post my latest thoughts.... here I am. I can't believe it's been well over a year since I started blasting, but it has! And while I don't have the earth shattering results that some others have, that's due to my own lack of effort to blast regularly. I currently only use my FasciaBlaster about once per week, because it is a little time consuming and labor-intensive. But it does work!!! Here are my thoughts broken down.....

Usage & Tips...

- You absolutely WILL bruise and it most likely will be uncomfortable. Go on Ashley Black's YouTube and watch as many videos and tutorials as possible to prep yourself on methods, reasoning, and pain/bruising expectation. I will say that I still bruise occasionally now, but it definitely does improve and I'm sure if I used the FB as much as I would like, I wouldn't bruise at all.

- The pain also gets better. When you have all that gravely fascia under the skin, it doesn't feel so nice to break it up. Just go easy per Ashely's recommendations and be patient. I won't say that it feels good at this point, though some areas do and some areas are still sensitive (helloooo calves!) - but the pain will decrease over time as well.

- Make time to use the FB and schedule it in. I think if I did this, I would use it more regularly and have more pronounced results. I personally prefer to use it in the shower with Body Wash. It gives a better slip. But it's like an upper body workout and being that I would typically blast after a workout session, it can be really tiring. I've started using a towel and sitting on my floor with some oil and though I feel like this isn't as good of a Blast, I do feel like it's a bit easier to work in sections and I can take my time.

What I've used it with...

- I've used a body oil by Shea Moisture. They make several and you can pick it up at Target. But I ultimately switched because the smell was a bit too strong for me.

- I love to use Acure Organics Energizing body wash in the shower. It has some amazing ingredients for your skin, it's not filled with hormone-disrupting chemicals, and it works really well! Plus it smells a little like dessert!! And now they make a large bottle - LOVE!

- Now when I blast outside of the shower, I love Desert Essence Organic Jojoba & Coffee Oil. This stuff is AMAZING! It works so well for blasting, it has some great ingredients, and the scent is soooo good. Plus, I was hoping that maybe the coffee would provide some tightening effects. I highly recommend this one. It's not a giant bottle, but you can pick it up online, often with a discount.

My Final Thoughts...

So you're probably wondering if I feel that the FasciaBlaster is worth $89? The short answer - Yes... ABSOLUTELY. I think it's worth every penny and then some. It has tightened up my skin, improved some dimply areas, and has helped the fat pockets above my knees that I loathe. It also helps with recovery after my strenuous workouts (I train 6 days per week). I'm not nearly as sore when I use it after a tough leg day. Oh, and my Achilles Tendonitis that I developed last year? Thanks to the FB & a new pair of Brooks Ghost 8's, GONE!

I receive no compensation for this post or any orders placed through a single link on this site. I would only ever recommend a product that I truly believe in. I've seen the results on myself, and also on many photo's shared on Ashley's Facebook group. It's truly amazing how this invention of hers works and it has helped so many people - myself included.

ps - I may have heard through the grapevine that there's a super Black Friday sale coming up that includes a FaceBlaster with purchase of a glossy black FasciaBlaster (until supplies last)! Jump on it!!! I haven't been lucky enough to try to the FaceBlaster, but let me tell you.... I've seen photo's shared directly from the individuals using it, and also videos and the results are phenomenal!

Hopefully I'll feel brave enough to share some before & after photo's in the future! Until then, keep the questions, comments, and emails coming! Happy Blasting!!!

Christy
xoxo

DISCLAIMER: I was not compensated for this post in any way. All links provided are not affiliate links. All opinions are my own and I was not financially influenced.

Birthday Wishlist/Fall Must-Haves ...

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 15:05:00 +0000

Happy Tuesday, Babes! I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend! My boy is starting 7th grade today and it's bittersweet. It's really a wonderful thing to watch your "baby" grow up into a young adult. They have their own beliefs, start to show independence (which can be a total PIA sometimes!), and the values that you raised them with really start to show. I just can't believe how quickly the time flies by. If you're reading this after you just dropped your little's off for the day, enjoy it and give them a big hug when they get home. Relish that time, because they'll be in Middle School before you know it! =)

Another thing that the end of the long weekend and start of school signifies is Fall. Ahhhhh, Fall, sweet Fall. My favorite time of year. The time for sweaters, boots, crunchy leaves, and too many PSL's to count! Yes, I know I'm supposed to be a "health nut", but we all have our vices right?! And along with Fall comes my birthday. The day I love to hate. The reminder that my time is flying by as well, and the reality of aging sets in. I'd be lying if I said that isn't a struggle at times. No one likes to look old - especially women! But my commitment to living a Healthy Lifestyle truly helps me with this hurdle. And it makes me better able to appreciate that I get another year on this amazing earth, rather than focusing on vanity.

I've obviously already started bookmarking some of my favorite Fall Must-Haves a few weeks ago. But it really kicks into high gear around this time. When I have my Birthday on my mind and it's the one day I allow myself to be a little bit spoiled. So..... I had to put together a list for you of some of my favorite finds. All the items I already have or hope to be scooping up for the season very very soon. Ahem.... Husband, are you reading this?! ; )

My first grouping contains this amazing High/Low Sweater I found on Super Sale at Nordstrom! I love a really loose fitting, slouchy sweater that isn't too thick. I actually picked this one up in both grey and the oatmeal color. I haven't gotten them yet, but I'm crossing my fingers that they're flattering!

I also had to include a few pieces from Madewell that I already own and love. I think they're the perfect everyday pieces for your collection, and at a great price point as well. These bar earrings are edgy, but simple at the same time. I love to add mine with a tiny earring in my second hole, or to just wear them alone. And these little gemline studs are adorable and so chic. They're like a mini ear crawler. Just enough for someone to notice that they're a little different, but without the commitment of a larger, edgier earring. And the ensign necklace, one of my most loved pieces of jewelry that I own. I got this necklace last year and I've worn it 80% of the time since. I actually just grabbed a back up during this past weekends sale, since I don't know what I would do if I ever lost it!

Here are a few casual tops that I'm hoping to add to my fall wardrobe. I like to keep it simple, but I like to have a little something going on with what I wear. Some little detail that makes it a little different than a plain top. Like this Thermal shirt in a camo print. I absolutely love Camo. Like leopard, it's the perfect neutral. And I can't wait to try out one of this season's fav trends, the cold shoulder top. Aerie actually has them for only $29! Even better if you grab during a sale. And this super cozy cardi, also from Aerie, is top on my list.

And I saved the best for last. These are 3 items that I'm so in love with. I bought a parka from American Eagle a few years ago and I loved it so much, it's starting to get a little ratty. It's definitely time for a replacement. This one from Abercrombie fits the bill and is actually even a bit nicer, and heavier than my own. Abercrombie also has this Butterfly sweater, and being that I'm a sucker for Intarsia, I fell in lust with it immediately. It would be the perfect pop of color to my work wardrobe! And my most favorite item, something I've been coveting for a while now..... This bag from Duluth Trading is my most wanted Fall item. A couple years ago I reviewed another bag from Duluth (that I still wear daily by the way), and it's holding up so well. I always get compliments on it. And while I'm not the biggest fan of wearing a lot of leather, this is a lifetime leather bag. Which means it will get better with age! And if you're like me, if you find something you love, you'll wear it to death - which means less to buy, and less waste. I'm absolutely head over heels for this color. It's perfection!!!

So that wraps up my latest round up of fav's. I hope to be updating you in a couple weeks with possible reviews of a couple of these products!

Christy
xoxo

DISCLAIMER: while this is not a sponsored post, this post does contain some affiliate links. No product is influenced by the links, they are featured because of my own personal preference.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 18:59:00 +0000

Hey Babes! I haven't done one of these posts in a while and since there's so many products that I've been buying and trying, I thought it was time to do a new round up of my current fav's. So here we go.....

At the very top of my list is a product I've been dying to try! I actually just received it the other day, but it's already a favorite. The product is Eye+ by SkinOwl. Why do I love this product? Well where do I start?! Lucky enough, I don't have a ton of wrinkles around my eyes just yet. There's some thin skin, a bit of crepe skin going on, and some very fine feathery lines in my undereye. I did have dark circles, but a recent discovery is that this was due to a minor food allergy. A quick little tidbit of info for you.... If you have itching in the corner of your inner eyes, and/or a blue or purple tinge under your eyes (also known as allergic shiners), chances are you're consuming something causing you major inflammation. In my case, peanuts. Do I have a peanut allergy? Not that I'm aware of. But I definitely have some kind of issue with them. After eliminating them from my diet, the shiners disappeared. So on to why I love this product. It's cooling and so soothing to your eyes. It just feels so nice going on. Like a little mini spa treatment. And it depuffs/tightens almost immediately. My skin is already starting to look so much better, after just a few days of use. I did notice that I don't like the way my concealer sits on top of it, due to the tightening effect. But this is easily solved by applying the Eye+ first, and then using my daily daytime moisturizer a few minutes later! I'm absolutely dying to try Neck+. It's top on my Must-Try list!!!

Which brings me to my next find....

Andalou Naturals is one of my favorite green beauty brands. Not only are the ingredients really good, but it's one of the few lines that has a few products that my skin can tolerate. But it's priced really well! I've been using this Acai + White Tea Oil-Free Moisturizer

with no breakouts at all, for a couple months now. It works great as a primer and doesn't make my skin exceptionally oily throughout the day like most creams tend to do! It's also full of antioxidants like acai, white tea, and other fruit extracts, which help to fight free radical damage throughout the day. It doesn't do much for me as far as the hairline wrinkles across my forehead. You would need something a little stronger for that. But as far as keeping my skin hydrated, protected, and prepped for makeup - it fits the bill perfectly.

Another Andalou product that I've been using for a while and love, is the Purple Carrot + C Luminous night cream. This cream is amazing during the winter months. It is so nourishing, brightening, and doesn't break me out at all. Which is not easy to find, let me tell you! There was a period of time that my skin got so bad because every cream I tried either gave me dermatitis, or caused major acne and clogged pores. For a while I wasn't using anything, because nothing would work. I tried this in a discovery kit and lucky for me, it was a winner! It works great alone in the winter months, applied before I go to bed. And during the summer I like to add a bit of Shea Terra Organics Cape Aloe to lighten it up a little. Oh, and it smells really good too! Bonus!!

Next up are the new Shampoo & Conditioner I've been using. Acure Organics came out with a Straightening line fairly recently. I finally found it on Vitacost and I love it! Acure's hair products tend to dry my finicky hair a bit, so these are not everyday products for me. However, when I feel like my hair needs a change or I'm getting some build up, it works fantastic. Oh and they smell delicious. Like a coconutty, gourmand type scent. I'm currently using them every few days, alternating with my other fav's - Shea Moistures Manuka Shampoo and Kids Mango + Carrot Conditioner. This seems to keep my naturally curly to straight hair moisturized and clean feeling.

The last product on my list is something I purchased in the beginning of the summer, and have since repurchased! If you're a green beauty user, I'm sure you're no stranger to Schmidt's. I've been using natural deodorant for years and let me tell you.... This is one of the best that I've tried. It works really well and it smells really good. And just a couple months ago, they created a stick form! I use the Bergamot + Lime scent and love it. And I saw that a new scent was released - Rose + Vanilla. I would love to hear from someone that's tried this! I'm not a huge fan of florals, but this sounds like it would smell nice!

Ps - Here's a major tip for you. All of the items listed here (with the exception of the Acure Straightening products), as well as many items I've featured in the past, are purchased from Pharmaca! They offer 6% cashback through ebates, lots of promo codes almost regularly, and a low free shipping minimum. I buy a lot of green beauty products, personal care, and supplements through them monthly. They're awesome and have exceptional customer service as well! I'm not an affiliate, I've just been using them for so long, that I really love the sales, pricing, and selection =)

So that's my latest roundup of items. I would love to hear some of your current fav's!!! I'm always adding to my list!

Christy
xoxo

DISCLAIMER: All items featured above were purchased by me. None are samples and I received no compensation for this post. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

My Thoughts on Protein Powders - A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 12:00:00 +0000

Hi Loves! Happy Friday!!! The weekend is almost here! I've been really enjoying my weekends this summer and have been devoting a lot of my time to fitness, spending quality time with my family, and relaxing. I'm not one for hot weather, so that's been my agenda lately. So I posted recently about a protein powder I've been using and I wanted to post a follow-up. I'm typically not a huge fan of protein powders, as I usually have some issues digesting them. But they are super convenient and when you aren't great at getting protein in (heeeeyyy), they can make an amazing snack option. Since my last post I've been using Bob's Red Mill Protein Boosters almost every day and I really like them! As I had also mentioned in my Hormone post a couple weeks ago, I was going to try carb cycling. Well I did try it and I started that day!!! I just decided to take the plunge and jump right in, and I'm so glad I did. What does this protein powder have to do with my carb cycling? I'm not sure it would be working for me without them. Read on....

I'm sure you're wondering.... "Well is it working so far? Did you lose any weight?!" And the answer is yes. Carb Cycling has absolutely been working for me. I'm still tweaking and playing around with the rotation of days, as well as percentage of macros on said days - but I'm happy to say that I've lost 6lbs since my post almost 3 weeks ago. Which might not seem like a lot to most people, but for someone like me that's been struggling major hormonal issues, and not been able to drop so much as a pound in several months, it's a pretty big deal.

And like I said before, this way of eating would be pretty difficult without a protein powder. I currently get my shake ready in the morning and bring it in a shaker bottle to work. It's my mid-morning snack and I would really struggle without it! It's especially perfect for my higher carb days. And it's especially delicious with a little PB Fit added in for an extra shot of protein & flavor =)

So what have I been doing with it? I have no crazy complicated recipes. Some of my favorite ways to use it are in overnight oats, chia protein pudding, adding fruit like cherries, kiwi, peaches etc, and adjusting the thickness to make my ultimate favorite - protein pudding! I just get creative playing around with flavor combo's - vanilla pb&j anyone?

One thing to keep in mind, this is a slightly higher carb protein powder. It's not bad in the sense that if you drink it on it's own (it's one of the few I've tried that actually tastes great with only filtered water), but that if you add fruit in the mix, it will most certainly make that carb & sugar amount increase.But the amounts of macros in this powder does make it a good option for a pretty balanced meal replacement - just on it's own! Chocolate is still my favorite out of all of them, with Vanilla being a close second.

I did try baking with the protein, but I find that it's difficult to completely replace a flour with the protein, so I just add some to it until I get the batter texture I prefer. I'm so thankful to Bob's Red Mill for sending me that amazing package and allowing me to try it. I'll most definitely continue to purchase my favorite chocolate flavor so that I can keep making my protein pudding post workout snacks =)

Ps - stop by my Instagram - I'm doing a Flash Giveaway where you can win 1 bag of protein. But hurry, there's just a few hours left!!! ps - snag a coupon here!

Enjoy your weekend, babes!!!!

Christy
xoxo

Bob's Red Mill Protein Powders - A Review!

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 13:30:00 +0000

Hi Babes! It's Friday!!!!!! I'm so happy the weekend is almost here. I've been really kicking up my workouts this week and with being so busy at work, and the heat, I'm ready for some relaxation. As I had mentioned in my last post, I was getting ready to try Carb Cycling! And I actually did just take the leap that day! There really was no reason for me to wait. So I just jumped in. But there's one reason I was successful without any prep work ahead of time.

A couple weeks ago I received this AMAZING package from Bob's Red Mill. If you're not familiar with them, they're a company that sells various baking mixes, flours, gluten-free oats and such. I buy a lot of my ingredients from them. Mainly Almond Flour, Coconut Flour, Arrowroot, and the like. I trust all of their products and love them already. So I was seriously stoked to get this package. What did it contain you wonder? Behold.....

Bob's Red Mill recently launched their own protein powders! And I love them. As you can see, they sent a package with all of the flavors for me to try!! I've been concocting all kinds of creations the last couple of weeks. And making shakes is what has really gotten me through these last few days. Carb Cycling is fantastic by the way. I love it and will get into more detail about it in a future post. But having a good protein on hand is definitely a necessity. I wasn't always one for powders. I have a hard time digesting some and there's always a couple ingredients in there that I'm not fond of. But these powders are great!

They're not only Vegan, but Soy-Free, and Gluten-free as well ( all a must for me). They also boast 20g of plant-based protein, as well as 11g of Fiber, probiotics, omega-3's, and are sweetened with monk fruit. So none of that overpowering Stevia aftertaste. Not that I mind Stevia in small amounts. I just can't do too much or I get headaches. I have had no issues with this protein. I love that the ingredients are pretty limited and don't get too crazy with something I might have a reaction to. The only gripes I have iare that it's a teensy bit pricey at $29.99 retail for a 10 serving bag. But I suppose that if you consider that it has probiotics and fiber, that might justify it a bit. And it's a big higher on the carb side as well. Which means on my low carb days I add a little to some overnight oats or have a half serving of a shake.

I do love the flavors, with Chocolate being my favorite! And I also love that there's a flavorless option with added fiber, if you want to mix it into a smoothie or bake with it without an added flavor in there! Right now my favorite way to enjoy it is by making a protein pudding (just a half a banana, with one scoop of protein, and water or your choice of milk blended to your consistency preference) or the shake below....

~ 1 Scoop of Bob's Red Mill Chai Protein Powder

~ 1 Cup Filtered Water or Milk of your choice

~ 1/2 Banana

~ 1 TB Justin's Maple Almond Butter

~ Dash of Cinnamon

~ 1/4 Tsp Vanilla

So so good! You could even add coconut water to this! I love that when I need an extra boost after a workout. Protein + Coconut Water is my absolute favorite!!!

Make sure to check out the website to look over all the flavors and click here for a coupon! Check back soon, as I'll be posting some more recipes and doing a giveaway as well. Happy Weekend, Babes!

Christy
xoxo

DISCLAIMER: the above post is a sponsored post. However, all opinions are my own. I did received product and a small compensation for my honest review.

My Struggles with Food & Hormones and What I'm doing about it!

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 14:46:00 +0000

Happy Monday, Babes! I hope you all had a great weekend!!! I certainly did, yet I spent most of it researching and obsessing about food. Yes... Obsessing. Or more accurately, agonizing. As I had mentioned quite a while back, I have been having a major struggle with food vs exercise for quite some time. Last Spring I started taking up jogging and though I'm not the type of jogger that can run for long, extended periods of time, it really started the ball rolling in the deterioration of my hormones. That's not to say running isn't good! I know plenty of people who run on a regular basis, but your nutrition needs to adequately support the lifestyle. Factor in that I was also doing BBG on top of this, and I just wreaked total havoc on my body.

I already have a delicate hormonal system due to endometriosis and functional ovarian cysts, so my body is extremely sensitive. I'm gotten mixed up in feeling like I need to further cut out entire food groups - I'm already gluten-free and dairy-free (both are musts as I have intolerance and minor allergies to each). Now I'm not saying that lifestyles like Paleo, Vegan, 80/20 etc are bad. Those extremes just didn't work for me long-term. After trying each I would often feel sick at some point because my new lifestyle just wasn't supporting my active workout regimen. Oh, and I don't have a gallbladder. Even more of a challenge and why the diet that worked best for me (Traditional Paleo) ultimately left me with more weight because I couldn't support the fat I was eating.

Fast forward to today, where I'm still trying so hard to maintain my active lifestyle and even experimenting with weekly weight training, but still feeling like a former shell of myself. I've been on a quest to find the personal eating template that works well for me and also to stop over-training. That's probably going to be a whole other post at some point, but I will say this. I see so many girls over on Instagram that are doing BBG on top of Tone it Up or Lauren Gleisberg daily and maybe it's because they are younger than my old, I mean wise, 35 years.... but I just don't understand how they do it. It's not so much that it can't be done, but how their nutrition is able to optimally support an excessive lifestyle. If you're over 30 and especially approaching your mid 30's and you're doing this, and struggling with digestive issues such as bloating and bathroom problems, feeling fatigued and burnt out, and just feeling depressed and not like yourself.... I suggest you take a long, hard look at your training regimen. It might be too much.

From a personal standpoint, last year when I was working out excessively (doing 2 programs plus running), that was the beginning of the end of my feeling happy, healthy, and vibrant. I felt great at first and was toning up, losing fat, etc and then all of the sudden, like a train wreck, I put back on so much weight because my body was so stressed out. Now if training a lot works for you, that's fantastic! Consider yourself lucky. It might just be my hormone situations that make it impossible for me to maintain that lifestyle. But if you find yourself in the same boat as me, read on.....

So what am I doing? I haven't made the leap yet, but after tons and tons of research in addition to the background that I already have (I'm an IIN grad, so I'm not stranger to healthy living), as well as trial and error, I've settled on Carb cycling. There are tons and tons of variations. If you look on Pinterest you can find a bevy of info, but if you go that route, be very careful, it can be overwhelming. A couple choices that I came across were from Dr. Chistianson's Adrenal Reset Program and Chris Powell's programs which you can choose between several cycles and tailor it to your lifestyle. The Adrenal program looked promising, but without reading the book, it looks as though it takes a standpoint of going low to high daily. Whereas Chris Powell's program can be more interchangeable and seems to support a very active lifestyle.

After a ton of stressing and reading article after article - this one was exceptionally helpful and made everything click for me! I finally feel like I can give this a try. And the fact that I can easily change the amount of days to support whatever workout schedule I might be following, even on a whim, helps reduce my anxiety. Generally a low carb diet is what's recommended for someone with endometriosis, but I went down that road and I think I made things worse. This might work for someone that doesn't workout, but not for someone that's doing cardio, lifting, tabata, and HIIT. I also never took into account that maybe the carbs I was burning off didn't necessarily count as carbs in my body. I can't even imagine how much I was running on empty all those times I amped up my workout.

So with my current workout schedule and following what that article I linked said, it looks like I'll be following Chris Powell's extreme cycling plan or something pretty close. I'll be started with some of the foods he recommends, even some whole gluten-free grains like oats, long grain brown rice, etc. This has been a no-no for me with my digestion in the past, but I'm going to try it. If it doesn't work, I'm just going to create a Paleo/Cycling hybrid of no-grain carbs most days. And no, I'm not an affiliate! I'm just a woman that wants to be the healthiest I can be for myself and my family, but that's going through quite a struggle. But if my struggle can really help someone else, then that's at least a silver lining right?

Hopefully I'll be starting this this week. And if I feel good and all goes well, I'll make sure to do some update posts sporadically throughout the next few weeks. Being pretty much back where I started weight-wise has been really depressing. I'm hoping this works well for me! I would love to hear what you've been doing that has worked! Especially if you're in your 30's and/or have hormone based disorders like I do!!!

Coming Soon....

~ My latest Pharmaca haul with some hormone supporting supplements for my endo & cysts
~ A review of an amazing new line of protein
~ Some of my fav new Clean Beauty products

Enjoy your Monday, lovelies!!!!

Christy
xoxo

Clean Body 28 Day Natural Tea Cleanse - A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 13:25:00 +0000

Hi babes! Well it's the first day of summer, and I couldn't be happier! I don't get summer off work, but my schedule does change a bit. And even though I'm not a huge fan of the balmy jersey heat, I still love the adventure that summer brings with all my outdoor workouts, hikes, and the occasional trips to the beach. My daily workouts are in full swing and I try to get outside for about an hour each day - even when it's 90+ degrees!

Obviously, this doesn't all just happen magically. I need to be on a bit of a schedule. And as much as I don't like to plan every aspect of my life, sometimes it's just necessary to make things happen. Which brings me to the reason for this post. A couple months ago I was sent a lovely package from a Tea Company to try out and I was beyond excited. I do love my rather large morning cup of coffee, but when I'm at work for the morning, I love to drink several cups of tea. It curbs my appetite, keeps me alert (not all the cups I drink contain caffeine), and just gives me a general feeling of well-being.

Lisa from Full Leaf Tea Company was so generous to send me a few sample sizes of their loose fruit flavored teas - these are great for work! And what I've been loving most of all.... The Clean Body 28 Day Natural Tea Cleanse. There are Two different teas included in the kit and there's enough tea for, well... 28 days. The first Tea is...

Organic Skinny Me Tea

Rich organic oolong tea is blended to perfection with ginger root and cinnamon chips giving a kick-start to your metabolism when you need it most. All ingredients are proven to help in weight loss and all have metabolism boosting properties.

and the other is ....

Detox Rejuvenation

Enjoy a gentle detox throughout the day or while you sleep. This herbal blend of holy basil (tulsi), spearmint, rose hips, lemon myrtle and linden blossoms creates a sweet mint and citrus flavor for all day enjoyment. Detox Rejuvenation is a nutrient-dense, alkaline forming blend which aids in digestion and internal purification. It will help cleanse and balance both body and mind.

Ok, so my initial thoughts on the Cleanse before I even got them. If you're on Instagram, you've probably seen a million "Tea-Toxes", especially if you're into following fitness-related accounts. I have nothing against these Tea-toxes. Prior to receiving this package, I've never even tried one. I know a lot of people seem to like them. But when I've looked over the ingredients in the past, I've seen some that contain concerning ingredients in the nighttime blends (mostly the teas that claim to cleanse the colon) and this is scary for me. I've tried similar products in the past and they were uncomfortable and caused issues for me. That being said, not all of these Tea-toxes have this, just be careful and read your ingredients.

So I initially started out using this like your average Cleanse program. I would wake in the morning and have my normal cup of coffee, and then bring the Skinny Me tea with me to work. If you look on the Full Leaf website, you will see that it states that Filtered Water must be used with this tea and can effect taste. Well let me tell you.... That's an understatement! We have a water cooler at work with Spring water, and it majorly effected the taste of the tea. I brought a fruit tea with me to work and used the cooler, and it did NOT taste good. But using my 3-stage filtration system at home, it tasted really good! Just keep that in mind if you place an order. So with this issue, rather than bringing a jug of my own water with me, I started drinking the tea at home. And this actually worked out to be better!

I came across an article not too long ago (I read so many that I can't remember where I saw it), about the benefits of Oolong Tea about an hour or so before a workout. Now as you saw on the little blurb about the Skinny Me tea, this tea is said to boost your metabolism, and maybe that's true drinking it in the morning and going about your day. But using it as a pre-workout of sorts is said to have TONS of benefits. Since I can't have my tea in the morning, and my workouts tend to be mid-afternoon, this is what I started doing. And I love it!!!

Now on to the nighttime Detox Tea. I love this tea so much for several reasons. If it is detoxing, I don't feel any ill effects like I have from other "detox" teas in the past. I love love love the taste. And it's the perfect way for me to get myself prepared for sleep. I don't have issues sleeping, but sometimes I do have trouble unwinding. This isn't like a "sleepy time" tea. It doesn't make you drowsy, it just makes you really relaxed. It has a very nice taste - I love Tulsi and Spearmint! It's honestly hard to describe, but it's just a nice way to end the night. I usually drink my cup with a tiny bit of raw honey while I'm just sitting down to watch my 9pm show before bed. I love that I feel relaxed and ready to go to sleep by the end, but not all zonked out, like I can't finish my show.

I would absolutely recommend these blends! I think they fit very well in my daily routine and I would definitely buy them when I run out. I can't make any claims as far as weight-loss. I personally did not lose any weight. But I feel like if they are worked into a healthy eating, and good fitness regimen, they would be a huge benefit! Especially since they're mild, but effective. I love that!

Want to win a 28 Day Cleanse of your own? Make sure to stop over to my Instragram Feed where I'm giving away a Full Size, 28 day cleanse to one lucky winner! You can only access this giveaway on there, so look for the post and check out the directions - I keep it pretty simple ; )

Good Luck!!! And if you try any of Lisa's amazing blends, stop back and let me know!

Christy
xoxo

DISCLAIMER: In exchange for my honest opinion, as stated above, I was sent a sample of product to try. All opinions are my own and I was not financially compensated in any way. The giveaway specified is not affiliated with blogger or instagram.

Sunwarrior Protein - A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 13:30:00 +0000

I'm so happy it's Friday. It's always so nice to have a 4 day week following a long weekend. It's like a bonus! I wanted to make sure to kick off the weekend with a review and also a couple healthy recipes! A while back I was sent a package from Sunwarrior, a company I'm already familiar with and like very much. Even though I have purchased their protein in the past, I was excited because I was sent a few envelopes in assorted flavors and blends to try. Long ago, when I was Vegetarian for a spell, I relied heavily on protein powder every single day to meet my protein needs - Sunwarrior was my go-to! Though ultimately I decided that I need a little meat in my diet (we'll save that for a future post) , I still like to consume protein in snack form or as a post-workout meal replacement. I also love to add it to muffins, pancakes, etc to make quick breakfasts or protein laced snacks for my son.

Though I'm not a huge fan of Stevia, it's extremely difficult to find a protein powder without it. If you do, you risk high sugar content as well. I just don't love the taste. But it's not super detectable in this protein and there are ways to help cut the taste as well. My past purchase was the Chocolate Warrior Blend - a raw vegan protein that contains pea protein, cranberry protein, and hemp seed protein, as well as cherry extract, medium chain triglycerides, and a few other ingredients.

I was also sent the Classic & Classic Plus proteins as well. The Classic contains Brown Rice protein as the protein form. The Plus is very similar but also contains pea, quinoa, chia seed, and amaranth in addition to the brown rice in it's protein blend. The overall winner for me is still the Warrior Blend in Chocolate. I feel that Chocolate often hides that protein flavor a lot of powders have and though I think that quinoa, amaranth, and rice proteins can be a great addition to a diet, I do try to watch my grain intake. Grains can be very difficult for me to digest.

Warrior Blend tastes pretty good and I really find that the ingredients work well for me! With 17g of protein, it's an awesome quick breakfast or recovery snack! It's still my fav =)

Make sure to check out this recent post where I shared my son's favorite snack incorporating the Warrior Blend - Protein Cookies!!! You could easily swap this out for the Classic or Classic Plus! And the most simple, but my favorite..... The recipe for my quick and tasty Post-Workout Protein Pudding. I eat this after a heavy workout or when I'm craving something sweet and want to feel like I'm eating something bad! I love it because it's quick, easy, and you can easily add in little mix-ins of your choice!

Easy Protein Pudding

serves 1

~ 1 packet or scoop of Chocolate protein powder - I like Warrior Blend, but you can use any blend or flavor!

~ 1/2 a large banana

~ Dash of Cinnamon

~ 1 Tsp Cacao powder (I like mine chocolaty)

~ Pinch of Sea Salt

~ 1 tsp sunbutter or almond butter

~ 1/4 cup of filtered water

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour in a small bowl or ramekin and add the mix-ins of your choice. Maybe a little dried fruit, puffed rice, slivered almonds - whatever you love!

If you try it! Make sure to stop back and let me know what you think!! And make sure to check out the Sunwarrior website! Happy Weekend!!!

Christy
xoxo

DISCLAIMER: I was provided a PR Sample package in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this post.

Easy Protein Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Sun, 22 May 2016 22:22:00 +0000

Hi Loves!

I know it's been forever, and I don't usually post on weekends. I do have so much amazing news to share, but I wanted to make sure to get on here to post my protein cookies I made tonight. Have I had protein cookies before? Sure! Look on Pinterest and you'll find a thousand recipes easily!!! But the thing that stands out in these cookies is the protein. I'm a huge fan of disguising healthy snacks as something completely junkie. I have a 13 year old boy and anything healthy I can get past his lips is a HUGE plus in my eyes!!! Cue the cookies. So using a clean protein is a must. You can click through in the recipe below to find what I'm using. So here we go....

CLEAN PROTEIN COOKIES

12 servings

~ 1 scoop or packet Plant Protein - I like Sunwarrior Warrior Blend!

~ 2 bananas, mashed until pretty mushy

~ 3/4 - 1 cup rolled oats, I used Bob's Red Mill to keep it Gluten-free
~ 1 tsp Cinnamon

~ 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
~ pinch of sea salt

~ 1 tsp aluminum-free, gluten-free Baking Powder

~ 1/4 cup of mix-in of your choice. I used Enjoy Life Choc Chips!

Preheat your oven to 350F. Mix all ingredients together until well mixed. There's no real science here. I started with the mashed bananas, then added the oats and other dry ingredients. Once they're all mixed, grab a spoon and scoop onto a parchment covered baking sheet. You should come out with 12. Depending on your oven, they should take anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes or so. I flipped them over close to the end. Just cook until they reach your desired crispiness.

PS - this is not a crispy cookie. It's got more of a chewy consistency, but will crisp a bit on the outside. Just a small price to pay for a cookie with very limited ingredients and a bit of protein! By the way, these cookies are also vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, non-gmo, and free of artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives! Yay!!!

So that's it! Super simple & healthy! If you end up trying them or adding a fun mix-in, stop back and let me know what you think!!!

Christy
xoxo

DISLAIMER: I was provided with sample packets of a few flavors of Sunwarrior for my review. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this post.

Why I need a NuFace Trinity - A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 19:50:00 +0000

Happy New Year! I can't believe it's been so long since my last post. The holidays flew by!!! I hope all of you had an amazing Holiday =)I'm so excited to share this post with you!!! I have been lusting after, actually coveting really, this one specific beauty device for quite some time. After a summer spent running outside with no added sunblock and furrowing from the sun, and a 35th birthday this past September, my skin has been left looking like a hot mess.

More specifically a vertical line starting to form above my left brow (the more active of the two) and a small indent starting to form above the center of my brows from constant furrowing. In 100% complete transparency, I considered Botox. It's like these little shits appeared almost overnight. Not even kidding!!! But after reading and reading about Botox, and also because of the Holistic-minded lifestyle I lead, I decided I'm not going that route without at least trying some alternatives first. And only when I'm just completely unhappy when I look in the mirror.

So one of the top items on my list was the Nuface Trinity. Now this little beauty's main function isn't really just wrinkles. It's more about fine lines, toning & tightening the skin and muscles on the face with something referred to as Microcurrent, or the "5 minute facial-lift". Retraining them in a way. I took this logic as possibly being able to soften my bulgy looking muscles in my forehead by "training them" to move in the opposite direction. My main issue was my forehead and just some very tiny little pucker lines starting to form on one side of my lips. Also, maybe a little lift of the brows as well.

I poured over the website, reviews, and youtube videos for months. I read as much as I could on this little gadget and all the benefits of microcurrent for the face. It seemed that the Trinity, more specifically the Ele attachment, was what I needed. However, even with my Christmas money from my parents, it just wasn't in my budget. So I hesitantly pulled the trigger on the limited edition rose gold NuFace mini. I had hopes that this would work on my issues, and even though I knew deep inside the Trinity was the better option, I hoped maybe this version would buy me some time until I could afford the big guns.

I ended up purchasing my mini from skinstore and they shipped it really quickly! I had to charge it the day I got it, so I didn't get to use it until the next day. That morning I woke up, gave my face a quick wash and immediately sat at my vanity and slathered the nuface primer gel all over my face. I was a little nervous, but turned it on the medium setting and glided it across my lower jaw per the instructions. I felt a tiny sensation, but nothing uncomfortable. I did all the quadrants of my face as suggested. The only adjustment I did do was move the nuface from those little bulges above my brows, outward, in hopes of relaxing them a bit. And let me tell you...... it worked! The indent that I hated so much was gone and I did notice a subtle difference in my face!!

I was extremely happy with the immediate results, and got the same results the next couple times I used the device. I did get a very tiny bit of muscle fatigue, but I'm assuming this would decrease in time. Ok, so this is where it appears that this review is taking a turn for the worst. But I assure you, this is not a negative review in the slightest.

I did return the NuFace mini. I know, I knooooow =( But I promise that I didn't return it because I was unhappy with it. Actually it was the opposite! So here is my immediate reasoning. The Trinity's price tag is a little on the high side, which is why I tried to cut corners by purchasing the mini. You can buy it from some approved retailers that offer coupons, making the price a little less steep, which I would suggest. But I so desperately wanted to try this little miracle, that I bought the version that wasn't really suited for me. So lets review my main skin issues:

~ very slight horizontal lines across the forehead

~ a vertical line forming off of my left brow

~ overactive muscles due to furrowing, creating an indent

~ slightly saggy brow muscles in need of some tightening

While the mini does address these concerns, I felt the large balls aka the face trainer (insert inappropriate humor here) were slightly difficult to maneuver on my face. I have a smaller face with delicate features and felt like some areas were getting double treatment. I felt like the biggest area of my face that would benefit from the mini, would be my cheek and jaw areas, which I feel are also the least of my concerns currently.

So why did I ultimately return it even though it was working for me?

Because I need the Trinity. Period. There's no cutting corners here ladies.

And I unfortunately just don't have the funds to keep the mini until I can afford the Trinity. I think if your main concern is loss of elasticity and feeling like your cheek and jaw area is saggy, the mini is great! I'm not saying it's not an amazing little device. It truly is, and if you're someone that just needs this little powerhouse (maybe someone that has already had Botox? Then you need it. I'll get into that later next week) and don't have the budget for the Trinity, then by all means.... pull that trigger. But I need that Ele attachment, which the mini doesn't have. Why do I need the Ele? It will be so much easier to use on those problem areas and to really get under my tiny little brows. And also, I feel like I need that more advanced, 15 minute facial-lift. This really and truly was too difficult to see without actually trying the mini.

So after reading this long novel of a post, I hope you see that this is a positive review and I hope that if you've been considering purchasing either the mini or the trinity, this has helped you! Even though I'm currently mourning the loss of my little rose gold beauty, I'm really really looking forward to getting my hands on that Trinity, hopefully in the very near future! I highly recommend this device and hope it works as well for you as it did for me!!!

Ps - I've been doing all kinds of research for natural alternatives to Botox & facelifts, and am planning a series to launch hopefully next week! I'm looking at devices, treatments, skin products, and more. If you know of a product or device that you would recommend for someone that only uses safe, non-toxic ingredients, please feel free to contact me!

Christy
xoxo

DISCLAIMER: This review is based on a product I personally purchased. I was not provided with a sample or financial compensation for this post. All opinions are my own.

What I'm Loving Wednesday - Thirdlove Bra review

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 18:07:00 +0000

Happy Wednesday Lovelies! Today's "What I'm Loving" is actually a review, because it's something that I've been loving so much, that I just have to share with you! A few weeks ago I was introduced to a company through Sweat Pink, as I'm an Ambassador. The company I'm referring to is called Thirdlove, and they offer a gorgeous array of daily wear lingerie with a Best Fit guarantee. What makes this company different from the slew of bra companies out there? Well, to put it quite simply, their product really backs the design and guarantee claims.

Without going into embarrassing detail, after I had my son many years ago, I struggled with finding a quality, good fitting bra that was still sexy, but can be worn under an assortment of clothing daily. Victoria's Secret didn't seem to fit me well anymore, and I like inexpensive bras from Target, but while they might be kinder to your wallet, they don't really last the test of time, and can be quite finicky with fit. I found it especially difficult after I lost quite a bit of fat in a couple month period doing the BBG. A hefty dose of that fat seemed to be located in my chest region, sigh*** And while I only lost a size, I found myself dealing with a plethora of bra woes once again.

So when Thirdlove offered to send me a box of a few of their bestsellers, I, of course, accepted! Us Fitgirls like to feel pretty too! =) Once I received my package, I was not disappointed. First, it was wrapped so pretty inside, it was like receiving a gift. I'm kind of a sucker for branding, packaging, and the like. If something arrives to me in a plastic bag shoved in a shipping box, I might not be ordering from you again, Just sayin' . It's all part of the whole image. That impressed me a lot!

In my box, I received The Feather Light Spacer bra in Nude with a matching mesh bikini, and a Plunge Perfect Bra in Stormy Lilac with matching Mesh Thong. There was also a little satin bag included as well. Both Bras were a perfect fit! They are both really pretty, as well as practical. They look flattering under a shirt. Which is important to me because some bras can make you look like you have pointy boobs. I hate that! The Plunge Perfect is a beautiful color and does fit well, but the Feather Light bra is the best fitting bra I have ever tried and it's so comfortable! I absolutely LOVE it and definitely plan on ordering another! So with all the love aside, I'm going to be honest with you..... The prices are a little on the mid to high end, but comparable to Victoria's Secret. This kind of scared me when I first looked at the company to review. But after trying the bras, I would absolutely spend the money. They are great quality and with proper care, should last a while. Beauty & Comfort is a hard combo to find in the lingerie world.

The last and coolest thing I want to mention, is the App! Thirdlove has a an app where you can be virtually fitted. I seriously thought this would be totally bogus. I've tried the questionnaires on other bra sites and they are so WAY off base as far as recommended size, it's laughable. This app relies on a series of private photo's you take within the app. Don't worry, they aren't saved anywhere. So I tried it out fully expecting to get the normal, ridiculous recommendation I've gotten in the past. But this genius little invention was spot on! I don't know how it does it, but it was completely accurate. So if you've had similar bra shopping struggles as me, I highly recommend trying out Thirdlove! If you do decide to give them a try, make sure to enter in code TLVIPCE10 at checkout to get $10 off your purchase of $50 or more! And don't forget to stop back to let me know how much you love your new bras!!! =)

They offer a guarantee, so what do you have to lose! Other than those uncomfortable, icky bras you currently own, of course ; ) Make sure to check them out on Twitter, FB, Pinterest, and on their gorgeous Instagram feed!!!

Christy
xoxo

DISCLAIMER: As previously mentioned, a sample box of products was provided to me for review purposes. I was not financially compensated in any way. All opinions are my own.

What's New Tuesday - Bra's, Beauty, and BBG

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 20:03:00 +0000

Hi Babes! I've been so scattered lately and have so much going on, I definitely haven't stuck to my blogging schedule the way I've hoped. I feel like time is just moving at warp speed since September started! Just when I seem to get my bearings, something else is thrown my way. Such is life though right? So what's new with me......

I've been trying out a lot of great products over the last couple months to bring you some great reviews. One of which is long overdue and will be up tomorrow! Hint Hint - it's an amazing Lingerie line that guarantees a perfect fit. And, it's the most pretty, flattering, and comfy lingerie I've ever tried! I've also been on the hunt for some new organic skincare. My skin has literally been freaking out since my birthday in September. I think hormone imbalance is to blame, and I just started some new supplements to help combat and balance my estrogen dominance, so I'm crossing my fingers it helps! In the meantime, I've been using my favorite apple peel every week and also started using a great organic Retinol cream that I really like so far.

So between those hormone issues I mentioned, school being crazy, adjusting to the crazy weather flux in NJ, and battling my recent cold, I've fallen halfway off my Fitness regimen. I've been doing Kaya Itsines BBG program (both 1 & 2) for over a year now and love them. But I'm still in the process of trying to figure out the best way to eat for me. Mainly something anti-inflammatory and endurance supporting. This can be tough. Right now I'm leaning towards low sugar, going off grains, and definitely no more dairy!!! I'm getting ready to restart BBG 1 next Monday and I'm looking forward to it. I've been pretty depressed lately with feeling like my routine has been thrown off a bit and my energy feeling so zapped. I want to feel like myself again! So BBG restart it is, maybe with a little Alexa Jean Fitness thrown in, and a weekly dose of yoga!

And last, I've been researching some classes to start taking on the side. I currently work part-time and I love where I work, so I'm looking into maybe Web Development/Coding as a Freelance on the side. I'm pretty tech-savvy, so I'm hoping it's a good fit. I'm just unsure because even with the thousands upon thousands of tech jobs out there, it seems like a very competitive market! I'm thinking of trying Skillcrush. If any of you have any input, tips, or experience in coding, or with Skillcrush specifically, I would to hear about it!

That's all for now, make sure to stop back tomorrow to check out my latest review!!!

Christy
xoxo

What I'm Loving...

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 17:33:00 +0000

It's been a while since I've done one of these posts and since I've been loving so many things lately, I thought it was appropriate to start again this week! Let me preface by saying this is not a sponsored post. It's just a smattering of some things I'm loving so much lately, that I just have to share with you =)

So lets start with my latest beauty savior. I have really crazy skin, lets just get that out of the way right now. And depending on my diet, it can go from bad to worse in a minute. If I eat ice cream or frozen yogurt, I get dermatitis with a side of sinus infection. I kid you not! If I eat too much sugar, I break out like a teenage girl. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have the face of a teenage girl, but the spots, eh not so much. Lately my skin has been crazy and I finally pinpointed that it's due to too much sugar in my diet. Whether it be from too many candy binges (yes, some of us health nuts eat candy from time to time) or foods that turn to sugar in the body. I'm looking at you white rice! So while my skin has calmed down, the weather flux and the breakout treatments have me dealing with some uneven skin. Enter Shea Terra's Cape Aloe.

I've had this gem for quite a bit. When I first bought it and tried it, it didn't seem to work for me. Maybe it was my skin at the time, or the manner in which I was using it. But things change I guess. And lately it's been my skins "knight in shining armor". I wash my face like usual and put it on at night and then in the morning before I apply my makeup. It gives a nice little dose of moisture and even helps keep my face a little more balanced (aka not an oily mess) during the day. Aloe also helps with blemishes as well. So it's a win win. Shea Terra is one of my fav natural beauty brands by the way. If you don't know them, you need to check them out! Moving on...

Another thing I'm crazy over right now is this amazing book that was released fairly recently by Juli Bauer of PaleOMG. I just bought her book a few days ago, and wow. Amazing!!! I mean, every single recipe looks SO good. Obviously if you're a vegetarian or vegan, this won't be appealing to you, since it is a Paleo cookbook. But if you're one of my meat-eating friends, then you will love! All the recipes are healthy, and look so flavorful. I have yet to make one from this book in particular, but I've made a couple recipes from Julie's blog and they turn out delicious. I can't wait to start meal planning. This book might actually make food shopping exciting again!

And last, but definitely not least..... I have been infatuated with Spotify lately. I've always been a music buff, having grown up with a Drummer Dad who was probably playing me Zeppelin in the womb. But Spotify has me enamored. I've been a subscriber for several months and I love it. I go running outside all the time and I like to have the option to listen to my curated playlists while being out in the woods with no wifi signal. But my favorite couple features are the Weekly Discovery playlist they send you every Monday, and also the suggested artists. I have found so many amazing bands this way. Definitely some that I might not have found otherwise. If you're on there, stop by my profile and check out a couple of my lists!

So that's my latest roundup of favorites. What are you loving lately? Have you tried any of the items above? what do you think?!

Christy
xoxo