Fat VS Skinny, is that even a thing? I’ll be honest with you, this is probably a topic that many people are thinking about, but don’t normally talk about. As most of you know, I have been on a “Getting Healthy Journey” as of September/October of 2017. It’s been almost a year since I started working on my overall health while losing my weight. And boy oh boy have I noticed how differently I’m treated now that I’m smaller than I was before. Let’s chit chat about this, shall we?
As much as we all love to share our accomplishments with others, I think talking about weight loss is like an unspoken language. You either have those that support you and encourage you no matter what and those that talk about or put you down. Then, you have those that just don’t talk about the subject at all. But, once you really start losing weight, do people treat you differently? Well, after 10 months of working on my weight loss journey, I’ve noticed that I am most definitely being treated nicer in comparison to my heavier self.
You can read more about my weight loss journey here, but I’ll tell you that in about 10 months, I’ve lost over 80 lbs. Having gained all of my weight after having children, I was about 125 lbs through my mid-twenties, I guess I never really remembered how differently I was treated as I started to gain my weight because I was so caught up in everyday life. Fast forward to 2018, having lost as much as I have, I notice that so many people are polite and sweet to me. Going as far as acknowledging me with a smile (instead of a nod or a smirk) and often times holding my door open for me when they wouldn’t have done so before.
How can you tell that you are being treated differently?
Now you may be saying… “How can you tell that you are being treated differently?” Well, Maui (my island home) is small and you basically shop and visit the same locations most of your life, while seeing the same people each day, time and time again. So it’s very easy to compare how they treated you at one time VS how they treat you now. I’ve definitely noticed.
I’m super proud of my accomplishments, having not only losing over 80 lbs but also going from a size 3x/4x shirt to now wearing an XL. When it comes to jeans, pants, and shorts – I was wearing a size 22/24 and can now comfortably fit into a size 14/16. It’s been a long and challenging road and making the changes has taken a lot of time and effort. I’m very happy with the new me, but I can’t help but notice that being smaller means people are much nicer than before.
This photo was taken on July 14th after my daily workout. You can see my gym behind me. I’m officially 83 lbs down from my original weight. Original weight = 286.9
If you’re smaller in size, you may not have experienced this before, but imagine being overweight (or fat to put it bluntly) and in a grocery store and purchasing food. It doesn’t have to be “bad for you” type of food, because we don’t eat badly in our household. Imagine you’re buying vegetables and have a person say under their breath “Yeah right like you actually eat vegetables. If you did, you wouldn’t look like you do.” Or imagine that when you’re shopping for clothes, you have someone tell you, “no ma’am, that will not fit you, it’s meant for a more petite frame.” How about someone not say anything to you at all, but just snicker when they look at you, snob you or ignore you when you ask for assistance. I grew up with my Dad holding open the door for any woman or girl as my husband and sons do for me now, but imagine being at a door and a man walks past you while letting the door slam in your face.
Now, those may seem like they are quite extreme scenarios, but I assure you that if I didn’t experience them myself, I would have never known that it happened. While I experienced these things during the time when I was much larger, I just assumed that people were having a bad day or just didn’t like me. It didn’t dawn on me that it had to do with my weight. Fast forward to the present and I’ve had many encounters in similar situations and in some cases with the same people only to find that I was treated respectfully and nicely. Many of these people smiled at me, took the time to greet me and even have conversations with me. Some of these people even continue to acknowledge me by name, which only instills in my mind that they just did not like the fact that I was overweight before. Whether it disgusted them or they just had a phobia of it, I don’t know. All I know is that I noticed a difference.
This is a long post, so if you want to hear the Podcast version, click here.
I guess the reason for this post is to remind people that it doesn’t matter if a person is skinny or fat, tall or short. It doesn’t matter if someone has a skin color that is different from yours or they have curly hair and you have straight hair. No one deserves to be treated like they are beneath you. There’s a stigma in the world that basically states that “overweight people are gross and disgusting and that they don’t deserve to be treated with respect because they don’t respect themselves enough to lose the weight,” but most of the time that could be furthest from the truth. I didn’t gain my weight overnight and much of it stemmed not because I overate, but because of underlying health issues. I didn’t like being overweight or unhealthy and it took me a long time to figure out the formula to change all of that for me. I do want to say, that I am in no way skinny, but I’ve noticed a huge difference in my body as others are noticing as well.
If there is a lesson to be learned from this post, it is that everyone, no matter their size should be treated with respect. Smile at more people, hold doors open and treat others as you would like to be treated. We shouldn’t have to deal with that on top of everything else that is happening in the World.
I hope you all enjoyed this post. It may have been a little bit of venting or a whole lot of nothing, but it came from my heart and I wanted to share it with all of you.
Aloha,
If you’re interested in more “Fit and Healthy” stuff, be sure to check out some of my blogger friends and their posts. This post is in collaboration with some of my favorite bloggers and they have a wide range of information to share with all of you.
Today on my YouTube Channel I share a little video reveal on what was received in my GNC Pro Box. Make sure to watch the video below or click here to watch directly on YouTube.
I actually filmed this video quite some time ago, but the footage was lost, so I apologize that it is up so late.
As a GNC Pro Member, I received the GNC Pro Box. It is a cool thing to receive as a Pro Member because you get the opportunity to try new things.
GNC Pro Membership is $39.99 and is definitely worth it if you are a shopper of GNC. You get to Pick-Your-Day Sales, Free Expedited Shipping from the website, Pro Access Giveaways, an Extra Month to Redeem Rewards, and also Pro Boxes. Pro Boxes offers you 8+ Samples, coupons and so much more delivered to your door twice a year. You can choose between men’s or women’s sports performance, wellness essentials or weight management PROs Box to get tons of good stuff for your goals. It’s awesome because these boxes give you the opportunity to try new products prior to buying them.
http://www.gnc.com/my-rewards/pro-access.html
Disclaimer: The products featured in this post were purchased by me with my own money.
I know, I know… new year means, “new me” right? Wrong! I’ve realized that I’ve been looking at getting healthy incorrectly all of these years. I didn’t start putting on my weight till after I had kids, so I guess, you could say that my mentality was a tad bit construed, or maybe I was just lazy. But, this year (I actually started in December 2017), I’m making a change in not only my thoughts and how I view things, but what I’m doing to get to my healthy me. Today I share with you my 2018 Personal Fitness Goals. I whole-heartily agree that a person’s fitness and health goals should be tapered and adjusted, customized and unique to that particular person. We aren’t cookies, so, therefore, we shouldn’t have cookie-cutter goals and routines. Don’t you agree?
Try New Things: I really want to be able to embrace new workouts by trying new things and including a variety of different stuff. By doing so you will encourage your body to continue burning fat for energy and increasing your metabolism. While I know it, I often get stuck in the same rut. My schedule is never my own, so I workout and exercise around everyone else’s time. Because of this, I find myself doing what I know works and that fits within that given time frame. The problem is that my body eventually gets to a standstill and as I plateau, I get discouraged. I have somewhat figured out a way around this. By creating a schedule block of different exercises throughout the week, changing between interval training, cardio and stretching as well as a good walk/jog each week, my body will still be active while still burning fat and building leaner muscle. Adding in additional dance and hip-hop fitness into the mix is a great way to jumpstart the routines as I’m changing them around throughout the month. I’ll test my theory and I’ll get back with all of you on how it has worked for me.
Get Running: I also look at my current fitness and exercise regimen and compare it to what I used to do before. I bet most people didn’t know that I was a runner. I ran cross country and track in middle school and high school. I used to be pretty fast too. After a few ankle injuries in the last 20-25 years and a bad knee, I stopped running or even jogging and it’s been a struggle for me to get back on track. By the end of this year, I want to be able to at least jog without being in so much pain. I have been slowly increasing my walks to a light jog lately and I noticed that it’s a challenge for my aches and pains. But with proper support and effort, I think I can include low impact running into my workout routine before the end of the year.
Planks, Pull ups and Push ups – oh my: Before planks were a popular thing, my Daddy had me doing them along with pull ups and push ups each day. It’s how I kept my core strong and strengthened my arms so that I could paddle my surfboard out to the wave breaks and stand up on the board, balance and catch a wave. It’s been years since I’ve been able to really do any of those things. However, I’ve been slowly incorporating all three into my exercise regimen the last month. I’d love to be able to do planks, push ups and pull ups easily, without having to stop to take a break between each set. I’d also like to be able to do it the challenging way instead of easy. I think by incorporating a little of it in each workout, by the end of the year, I’ll be to able to do it without struggling.
Positive affirmation and goals: You see the photo above? Well, that photo was taken in 1998, back when I was smaller than a size 8 and 125 lbs wet. It seems like a lifetime ago. Obviously, I have had three children (2 pregnancies) and I weigh more than 150 lbs above that weight that I am in that photo. I’m realistic that I can do well and I can lose my weight, tone my muscles and build lean muscle, but, honestly, I will never look the same again. I will have saggy skin once I lose my weight and that’s something I have to deal with, but I will be healthy and happy because I accomplished it all. My biggest fitness goal this year is to use my past body as inspiration, determination and drive to be a healthier person, not using it as a way to bring me down. Our lives are filled with enough negativity and lack of drive, that I want to make sure that I’m not soaking all the bad energy in. I’m doing all of this for a healthier me so that I can be there for my husband and sons. It doesn’t matter what anyone says or the looks they give because it doesn’t feed my drive to be a better me. My goal this year is to keep positivity around me as much as possible so that I can be much more successful in this healthier lifestyle.
Just me on one of my daily walks.
My 2018 Fitness goals are minimal but I believe they will make a huge impact on me. Besides, when we try out new things or focus on things to drive us, sometimes starting off small is the key. What about you? Do you have any fitness goals for this year? Is there anything in particular that you would like to try or incorporate into the year to get you on track?
This post was done in collaboration with some of my favorite Beauty and Lifestyle Bloggers. Head on over to their links below and check them out.
As many of you know, I’m working towards a healthier lifestyle. I have so many plans for 2018 (I’ll be sharing that with you in another post coming up next week) and one of them is to eat better. To help me out a bit, my nutritionist suggest Premier Protein Shakes. After drinking a few of these over the last two months, I’m coming to you with a review and my thoughts on these drinks. Press play on the video below to get the rundown or click here to watch directly on YouTube.
Please note that with anything on my YouTube Channel or here on my blog, I will always disclose whether a product was sent for review consideration or not and if the content was sponsored. I purchased these Premier Protein Shakes with my own money. And, as with anything else on this site, all opinions are my own, 100% honest & unbiased. Affiliate links are posted throughout.
My husband and I suffer from a variety of aches and pains on a daily basis, but it gets increasingly worst when the winter weather graces us with its presence. We have invested in so many different massagers over the years but found that while they do help, they just don’t offer exactly what we need. That is until… MyoBuddy. I was recently sent a MyoBuddy for review consideration and let me tell you… we haven’t been able to put it down. Let’s dig in and get more info on it, shall we?
MyoBuddy Massager Pro comes with a pretty hefty price tag at a whopping $399.99 but let me tell you, I have not experienced an at-home massager like this, EVER until now. The MyoBuddy Pro is a percussive massager that basically takes a professional-grade deep tissue, warming, trigger point and cutting edge vibrational massage technology and puts it into the palm of your hands. After just one use, I can honestly say – you will notice a huge difference. The MyoBuddy provides instant relief to sore muscles and myofascial pain.
The moment I saw this product, I was amazed at how much it looked like a Car Buffer – the type you use to polish your car. That is exactly what my husband said when he laid his eyes on it. It works just like a car buffer in that the motions seem very similar.
The MyoBuddy helps to soothe sore muscles and ease myofascial pain. It treats trigger points and everyday pain and aches. My son loved that it is perfect for his pre-workout and helps with a quicker recovery after his workout is finished. And, I noticed that it has definitely helped relax me by reducing my stress and anxiety as well as my insomnia.
What is fascia? Fascia is connective tissue made up of mostly collagen and water. It joins everything in your body together, from muscle fibers to your veins and bones. This connective tissue was long thought to have no value in our bodies, but the world is quickly discovering the opposite of such.
The MyoBuddy Massager Pro is an efficient way to help provide quick and easy treatment of our fascia and muscle. Basically what happens is that the various movements of the MyoBuddy dilate blood vessels and warm soft tissue while delivering thousands of soft, rapid percussive strokes. The percussive actions and vibration are what ultimately help your muscles by bringing them more fluids. Because of this, it releases the tension that is held in our connective tissue and brings the person using it quick relief.
The MyoBuddy includes the following in your box:
1 White Plush Bonnet
1 Blue Lotion Bonnet (perfect for coconut oil “massage oil” or lotions to help with your massage)
1 MyoBuddy unit
We have had the MyoBuddy for about a month now and it literally has been used every single day. Since I suffer from knee and ankle pain due to old injuries and a stiff neck due to lack of sleep and tossing and turning, this product has made a huge difference in how relaxed I am after a massage. I find that my constant pain is not as bad and many times I have increased mobility and are now much more active.
My husband has a perforated and compressed disc in his lower spine and the gentle but the effectiveness of this massager has helped him tolerate the pain because it soothes the body and relaxes him. He has slept so much better over the last month because of this machine.
My eldest son loves using this after coming home from a long afternoon at Football practice. He’s able to wind down after a long day and relax for a good nights rest. Because it warms the muscles with friction from your own skin, it doesn’t heat up like a traditional unit, so it doesn’t burn like others can.
I use our MyoBuddy on my twin boys who are 8 years old because there is no deep tissue pain like you would experience from an ordinary massager or shiatsu unit. It’s soft and relaxes them. This unit is now a must-have for us all and I don’t even know how we would travel without it. It’s a little on the heavy side, but it still allows me to massage myself on different parts of my body. Since I have short arms, I ask my husband for help with my back, but I’m able to easily use this massager without any problems. You can wash the bonnets so cleaning is simple and while it is corded, the cord is very long, so it shouldn’t be an issue for anyone using it on a table, etc.
Of course, if you have any particular ailments, injuries or specific medications, I definitely suggest checking with your doctor prior to using MyoBuddy. But, considering the price point, I can honestly say it’s something my family and I will not be able to live without. A good massage here on the island will run me about $150 or more for less than an hour. With the cost of MyoBuddy, I will always have that massage but from the comfort of my own home. It honestly pays for itself.
So, tell me… have you heard of the MyoBuddy before? I embedded a few videos so that you could see how some of the celebrities have enjoyed MyoBuddy and how to use the device. When I first received this product in the mail, I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I have. It’s a must-have in our household now and has been an absolute lifesaver.
Disclaimer: The product featured in this post was sent for review consideration. All opinions are my own, 100% honest & unbiased. Affiliate links may be posted through out.
I’m quite impressed with myself – to be honest, that I was able to release most of my Holiday Gift Guides by the first week of December. Let’s all stand and give me a round of applause, shall we? lol – All kidding aside, I’m pretty happy with myself this year because I laid out a schedule and I kept with it. Today, I’m sharing with you a gift guide that I’m absolutely excited about, because it’s one of my favorites to do each year. When it comes to Stocking Stuffers, I find that they can be the easiest gift to buy for anyone on your holiday gift giving list. Why? Well, because anything that you can fit in a Christmas stocking goes… and for me – that means I get to pick up all the little nifty products that I would love to get or receive as a gift and it can always be something fun, practical or unpractical and definitely interesting. I have a wide list of products that fit into this list so this is going to be a long post – so without further adieu, let’s get started.
Hickies Lacing System is by far one of my favorite gifts to give for the holiday. Each pack is small enough to fit into a stocking (of most sizes) and anyone who wears shoes with traditional laces will love these. I own about 8 pairs myself, using them to change up my shoes from time to time and to fit my personality for the day. Sneaker designs change but one thing that remains the same, are laces. You’ll never have to tie a shoelace again and once you go Hickies, you’ll never go back to traditional laces.
Hickies come in a huge array of colors and sizes for adults and children and are so easy to put on and take off. Hickies is running a Winter Holiday Sale right now – purchase Hickies 1.0 for $13.99 (reg $14.99), Hickies 2.0 for $14.99 (reg $17.99) and Hickies Kids for $9.99 (reg $11.99)
Purchase Hickies at: https://www.hickies.com/
I couldn’t mention a cool pair of laces without mentioning something along the lines of fitness and the MilestonePod is definitely a great stocking stuffer. This little device is perfect for any runner or walker and whether you’re training for your first 5K or just getting into shape or staying active, this is the perfect gear for you. This wearable pod not only tracks your running metrics, but it also tells you when it’s time to replace your shoes and it helps to prevent many common injuries a new running should definitely have in their toolkit.
The Pod is easy to use. Simply clip the Pod onto your shoe once and leave it there. The Pod collects data as soon as it senses movement. The Pod is always ready to go and it knows when you start and stop. There is no need to run with your phone to keep track of the data and you can sync your Pod to the MilestonePod App to view detailed performance data and gait metrics. The Pod works everywhere, even indoors and no charging is needed.
The MilestonePod retails for $24.95 and can be purchased at: http://www.milestonepod.com/the-product/the-milestone-pod/
Handcrafted jewelry pieces make GREAT stocking stuffers. Pura Vida Jewelry offers gorgeous handmade pieces and each bracelet is carefully handcrafted by artisans in Costa Rica. The commitment to their craft is conveyed through the quality of their gorgeous work. Pura Vida Charity Collection was created to give back to different causes all over the world. Pura Vida is partnered with over 190 charities and have donated more than $935,358 to date. Pura Vida also donates 1% of their annual net revenue to environmental organizations worldwide. The goal of Pura Vida is to continue to expand the charity line and support as many causes as possible. These gorgeous bracelets (pictured above) have been favorites of mine to use on a daily basis because they are dressy, yet casual and work well with anything that I’m wearing.
Pura Vida Bracelets retail for $5.00 each or you can select a Style Pack that retails for $65+. You can purchase your bracelet(s) from Pura Vida at: http://www.puravidabracelets.com/
When it comes to gift giving – I do my best to offer functional gifts to friends and family. A gift that you can expect from me or a stocking stuffer for all to see would be a reusable tote. Here in Hawaii, plastic bags are banned and unable to be given out at grocery markets so a great tote makes a perfect gift for anyone. Urban Market Bags to the rescue. With Urban Market bags you get 3 or 6 bags per drawstring pack which means you basically have your needs covered with bags should you need them.
Urban Market Bags come in contemporary colors that look great (I don’t know about you but I’m not a fan of that bright blue bag you get at one of those big box stores) and they are made of high quality, durable and machine washable fabric. What I love about them is that they fold up small to fit in a handbag or cupholder of your car as well as a Christmas Stocking and they are just perfect for everyday.Urban Market bags are great to take to the soccer or in my case football field, gym or grocery store and I love that you have three or more bags to take with you and have bags that are stylish.
3 Pack Set retails for $28.00 and 6 Pack Set retails for $40.00 – Urban Market Bags can be purchased at: http://www.urbanmarketbags.com/shop
Get 20% off from Now till December 16, 2016 (Friday) with code: GIVEORKEEP2016.
Probably one of my favorite stocking stuffers to give out this year comes from Topperfino. If you follow me on Instagram (if not, hello -what are you waiting for? lol) you would have seen me post about Topperfino a few weeks back. Coffee is such a huge part of our everyday lifestyles – well, in my case, it’s now cocoa and tea since I can’t drink coffee as much as I would like. Topperfino is a great coffee innovation, a chocolate topper that not only gorgeous but delectable.
Topperfino is the perfect mix for coffee to create an unparalleled coffee art, but it’s a chocolate topper that can be enjoyed with any frothy hot chocolate or foamy drink. These toppers make fabulous presents.
Get the Limited Edition Holidays Mix – 10 count box for $19.99 or select the design that you think would make a great gift for just $13.99 a 10 count box. Purchase your Topperfino for yourself or a gift at: http://topperfino.com/
I have mentioned LATHER in a previous Gift Guide for Skin Care and Body Care and couldn’t possibly resist sharing them again. LATHER has made great stocking stuffers and ornaments packaged appropriately for the holiday season. The Soap & Candle sets ($18.00 each) make great stocking stuffers as well as the Sugar Plum Kisses Set ($15.00 each) and Vanilla Bath Fizz Combos ($18.00 each). Each set would make a great addition to anyone’s gift collection and are packaged and ready to go for holiday gift giving. Simply add a little bow or hang on a tree and you’re ready to go.
FAB Nails by Beauty Junkees is the perfect little size for travel and on the go, but most definitely makes a great gift for anyone’s holiday stocking. It’s small and fits perfectly inside and it makes a wonderful gift. FAB (File and Buff) Nail File is a 2-in-1 Set that includes the best glass nail file and a case. The file is perfect for natural fingernails and a great nail care alternative to nail polish
This nail file is a great solution for men and women and if you can’t wear nail polish – you’ll enjoy this one. You can keep your nails looking FAB with a high gloss finish that lasts up to four weeks. FAB Nails crystal glass file lasts up to a year, depending on how you care for it and your use. It’s gentle on the nails like a chamois and can be used as a buffer in a back and forth direction, sealing the keratin layers together and preventing peeling and chipping. Unlike harsh Emery boardst hat can cause the keratin layers to shed, leaving your nails thin and sometimes peeling – FAB Nails is a great solution for a smooth, ridge free glossy finish.
This awesome nail file retails for $14.97 and can be purchased here.
I’ve been a long time fan of The Body Shop and I’m absolutely loving their new releases for the year. Any makeup lover would absolutely adore these Down to Earth Eye Palettes that have been recently released. These Limited Edition Eyeshadow Quads are a winter must have and are a part of The Body Shop’s Cruelty-free makeup collection. With 100% vegetarian formulation, which contains no carmine, petrolatum, gluten or mineral oil – these gifts will make a great find for anyone that wants to do good, feel good and look good this holiday season and always.
Available in 5 different shade selections (quads) and retailing for $24.00, these shadows are buttery, feel luxe and are winners this holiday for any makeup lover. You can purchase these at your local The Body Shop store or at: http://www.thebodyshop-usa.com
Speaking of beauty lovers, lippies make great holiday stocking stuffers. Having to narrow down my favorites is nearly impossible, so I figured what better product to choose than a lippy that will protect the lips during the colder months. FarmHouse Fresh Hydrating Lip Balms have been a staple for my lips this Fall and Winter and I thought these would make great stocking stuffers. Available in Coconut Beach and Whoopie! Cream, these lip balms are so sleek and ready to rock out any pout.
Made with jojoba oil and shea butters, these lip balms promote healing and hydration with a long-wear formula that lasts and lasts with one application. They have a light fragrance and taste, but overall I love that they leave my lips hydrated all day long. These lip balms are perfect for travel and on the go and will be a great gift for anyone that needs a little lip therapy.
The FarmHouse Fresh Hydrating Lip Balms retail for $15.00 and can be purchased at: http://farmhousefreshgoods.com
The perfect little nail kit for the nail lover’s Christmas Stocking would be great nail wraps or decals. I was recently introduced to Glossique Nail Deco which makes it easy for anyone to have a gorgeous manicure at anytime. Say goodbye to dry-time, chipping and harsh chemicals and have a wonderful manicure for those holiday parties. I picked up a few of these to put in each of my nieces stockings this year because they are so fun and easy to use. Glossique offers a variety of different designs and they literally can be put on in minutes at anytime.
Glossique Nail Deco Decals retail for: $15.00 and can be purchased at: https://www.glossique.com/shop
Personalized gifts make great stocking stuffers too. Whether they are handcrafted using your own creativity or you utilize a service and put your own spin on things, I love a great personalized gift in my stocking. This cute square compact mirror you see here is a great gift. Retailing for $15.95 you can create your own by adding your own text and image. I used a photo of a sunflower that I took in my garden and added fun text that I love. The options are endless and you can personalize it with a family photo or anything you see fit.
Personalize your own gift at: http://www.zazzle.com
I certainly didn’t forget about the kiddos in our lives. Stocking Stuffers are so fun to shop for when it comes to kids because they are so happy to get fun little things that they can play with. My sons are no exception and I love that we can easily put small and fun gifts into their stocking and they will cherish it all. Lego Mixels are one of my favorite things to stash into a stocking each year. Mixels are created by Lego and are similar to basic lego in that you can build different characters utilizing a set of legos to create from. My sons love them and have quite a collection of these little guys so it’s always fun to add to their sets.
Lego Mixels can be purchased at different locations like Walmart, Target and other stores and I love that they range in price from $4.99 and up so there is a Mixels set for anyone.
The National Geographic Bug Dig Kits are something my sons love and that I love giving out as gifts. Each set allows you to dig up 3 real bugs and kids love to uncover these perfectly preserved insect specimens (spiny spider, fortune beetle and scorpion). Of course – there are a bunch of different bug kits online and National Geographic and Dr. Cool’s kits are our favorites. These make great stocking stuffers or gifts and offer an educational adventure for each child that gets one. Children will learn all about their speciments as well as many other fascinating anthropods and it becomes a cool interactive lesson with a hands-on science kit. The bugs can be kept and inspected in all angles as the bugs are preserved in transparent acrylic for easy examination.
These fun sets retail for about $10 – $20 and can be purchased here.
Like most of my gift guides this 2016 – this one is particularly lengthy, but I wanted to ensure to provide all of you, my readers with a variety of different things to help inspire your holiday gift shopping. Christmas is 13 days away and if you’re still out shopping, I definitely suggest checking out some of these finds. A few things I didn’t include in my gift guide but definitely suggest are:
Pens or Pencils (I love getting new fun gel pens for the holiday – they are great gifts for a planner lover or student)
Candy Canes (I absolutely love seeing all of the different candy canes now available in stores, grab a box of canes and put a few in a stocking. Because, everyone loves a great sweet treat)
Body lotion (I didn’t include this one in the list, but I love getting some new body lotion for holidays – anything sweet smelling is right for me)
homemade goods (I make a pie or chex mix, homemade fudge or something delectable to give to my postman, delivery guys and friends and family. Sometimes making things from the heart are the best goods anyone will receive)
** Holiday Gift Giving Tip: Keep in mind shipping times and delivery schedule when ordering online and find out from the company prior to purchasing if it will be shipped and delivered in time for holiday gift giving.
If you’re looking for more ideas for your holiday shopping, be sure to check out the following links for my guides and inspiration: (this list will be updated periodically as new guides become available)
The Holidays is probably my favorite time of year and when it comes to Christmas gifts, I love shopping for family and friends. Any of these gifts would make a great selection for anyone this holiday season – even you, if you’re planning to treat yourself. What about you, are there any gifts on this list that you hope to find in your stocking this year, comment below and share!
Happy Holidays!
Disclosure: Some of the products featured in this post were sent for editorial consideration, while others were purchased by Honeygirlsworld.com. This post may contain affiliate or referral links. For more details and outline of my product review disclosures and policies, affiliate links, etc. please visit my Disclosures page.
Fall is here! Hawaii doesn’t get much change in weather – well, it’s colder, but not by much… but it’s still my favorite season… woohoo! With Fall and colder weather come a change in clothing and accessories and today I’m going to be sharing with you an unconventional one. Who says a water bottle can’t be the newest fall accessory trend? I think it’s a great idea. So, today I’m going to share with you some Fall goods that I think would be a great accessory and make fun and festive holiday gifts too. While we are all changing out our closets and prepping for the newest beauty and fashion trends, I want you to complete your outfit with the latest and greatest accessory from Contigo.
Purses, shoes and jewelry are all fabulous things any time of year – but especially during Fall when dressing up is fun for colder weather. But, Contigo has added a new addition to their line of hydration products and I want to share it with you because I think it’s important to stay hydrated during colder months. The Purity Petal Glass Water Bottle is a glass bottle that is plastic free and adorned with a flower petal silicone sleeve in bright, vibrant colors.
Retailing for $14.99 this reusable glass water bottle offers style with your hydration. The BPA-free Purity Glass Water Bottle has a stylish silicone sleeve which really makes this glass bottle so chic and perfect for on the go. It comes with an attached silicone lid to make this convenient along with a carry loop to ensure that Purity will be ready for you and on your side for on the go. I love the wide mouth which also makes it easy to add ice to keep your water cold when you’re ready to hydrate.
Made completely of glass, steel and food grade silicone; no plastic parts
Contoured wide-mouth design
Attached silicone tethered lid
Comfortable, stylish non-slip silicone sleeve to help with durability
100% BPA-free
Top-rack dishwasher safe
20 oz. capacity
SRP $14.99
Available in: Very Berry, Scuba, and Grapevine
If you are someone who loves to drink tea or coffee (that’s me), then the Contigo AUTOSEAL Transit Stainless Steel Travel Mug may be one for you too. Available in Stainless, Polar White and Matte Black – the AUTOSEAL knows when to close. It is the ultimate commuter companion and so sleek and chic that it will go with any outfit. It’s basically the Holy Grail of travel mugs and I love it. It’s Spill Proof, easy to clean and stays hot for hours on end. It was thoughtfully engineered with a CleanGuard lid to keep out dirt and germs and is perfect for transit and for a ride.
So, are you on the lookout for a fun Holiday Gift Idea or just want to add to your list of fashion and stylish accessories this Fall? If so – I highly suggest checking out these finds from Contigo. My plan is to pick up a purple one to have on hand of the Purity Bottles because I just love how simple but stylish they are.
You can check out all the info and more on Contigo and their complete line of products here: http://www.gocontigo.com/ And, if you have a coffee or tea drinker or water lover on your holiday gift list, I definitely suggest you get them one of these – it will be a great gift.
Disclaimer: The products featured in this post were sent for review consideration. All opinions are my own, 100% honest & unbiased. Affiliate links are posted through out.
I have to admit, my husband and I have been using this unit from iTens for quite a few months, maybe 6 months or so… and I’m finally devoting some time to sit down and write about it. You see, pain is never something I enjoy writing about (who does, anyway?) so putting the effort into writing about something that makes me miserable (PAIN) is not a thing I enjoy doing. But, I really wanted to share this with you and my thoughts on the iTENS wearable electrotherapy tens unit device.
The iTENS unit retails for $99.00 and you can select between the Large Wings (pictured above) or the Small Wings. My husband and I opted for the Large Wings because it gives the maximum coverage for your pain sites and are designed to provide bigger coverage area of pain relief for the back, shoulder and other large treatment areas… all of which are locations that my husband and I experience tremendous and continuous pain.
The iTENS unit will give you up to 24 hours of use per charge for continuous pain relief and the gel pads that come with it are good for 10-12 applications. Each unit includes the following items:
iTENS Device with rechargeable lithium-ion battery (installed)
Large Wings with Laser printed silver conductive surface
Charging dock with USB charging cable
One set of reusable Gel Pads
Large Wing Span of 2.5″ x 6.5″
What makes the iTENS so unique is that it brings together wearable technology that meets digital health. This thin, lightweight and compact unit can be worn discreetly under your clothing and there are no wires to get in the way or get tangled with like a traditional tens unit. The fun part, is that the device can be easily controlled from the convenience of an app on your smart phone.
The state of the art APP and an energy efficient lithium-ion battery provide you with exceptional battery life for on the go and daily use while incorporating the advanced technology of TENS electronics. And, what we enjoy is that the tool and app actually help with managing your pain allowing you to have documentation at your finger tips for how long you used the unit, a way to track your pain results and where your pain is as well as where you applied your iTENS to your body. The settings for this device is so easy and you can easily apply different types of settings to your device based on your specific pain condition and location.
The iTENS is an FDA cleared, drug-free alternative for treatment of a variety of pain conditions. It’s shape is unique in that it allows for flexible and contoured fit around most joints and body parts. My husband and I especially enjoy that it fits perfectly on our back and in the curves where we need the pain relief. Like I mentioned previously, it’s very lightweight, thin and comfortable and you get medical grade strength without the prescription.
Now, I’m not sure if I mentioned before, but my husband and I own several tens unit devices as prescribed by our doctors. Between the two of us, we probably have 6 total (not included the iTENS) so we have definitely tried many on the market, both medical grade and over the counter. I love that the accessories to keep up with the iTENS and replacement is affordable. If you’ve ever had to buy replacement pads for a tens unit, you know that they can get costly and many times only last 2-3 times before the sticky is gone. The Peel-n-stick Gel pads for iTENS are available in all sizes for the iTENS device wings. The reusable gel pads are good for 10 applications (as I stated above) and each package contains 3 sets of these gel pads for just $6.99 – which is a good bargain considering you are getting 30+ uses in one gel pad refill box.
The iTENS offers muscle massage and muscle rehabilitation modes so you get the maximum in pain relief for joints and muscles as well as recovery after you have really stressed your muscles from sports, working out, etc. You also get a variety of accessories for your device so you can decide to get teh Long Strip Accessory which is designed for sciatic nerve, IT band, tendons and other long treatment areas or the small wing, all of which are interchangeable with the original device you have purchased.
iTENS.com also offers a placement gallery to assist with areas to place your wings.
I realize I have given you an overwhelming amount of information, but I honestly don’t know where to begin or where to start. I’m absolutely enjoy my iTENS device and my husband and I love the convenience of all the options available to us. I especially enjoy that the Bluetooth app enables me to use this product without being stopped up by wires or a bulky base that can keep me from really relaxing and enjoying the massage it offers. Replacement pads and accessories are reasonably priced and offer my husband and I a range of products at our finger tips and most importantly, it works. After using different tens units over the years, I know that they work well and I enjoy the fact that this one may look discreet and small but it surely packs a punch. If my husband can get a good massage and pain relief from a device that’s so small and tiny, through his muscles and all – I know anyone could benefit from the iTENS.
Now, yes – I was sent this product for review consideration and yes, I realize that it could seem that my opinion is biased… but let’s be honest here, if you’ve been on my site for a while, you know I have no problem talking about whether or not a product worked for me, whether it was sent for review or not. I can honestly say I am enjoying this product and so is my husband and we have bought replacement pads twice already. It’s worth looking into if you experience chronic pain like we do. And, if you’re over those bulky tens units you have been prescribed, I highly suggest checking this out. The investment is reasonable and actually quite affordable considering the relief you’ll get in the long run.
You can get more information or purchase an iTENS unit at: http://itens.com/
Thanks iTENS for sending this over to my husband and I. We love it and look forward to picking up all of the accessories and more. You have customers for life here.
Disclaimer: As stated in the post, I was sent this unit for review consideration and feature. All opinions are my own, 100% honest & unbiased. Affiliate links are posted through out.
As a family, our lives tend to be a bit hectic and busy. I just consider us busy because we are out in the world, making memories and enjoying life. This year all three boys started school the same week they started Football practice for Pop Warner. Let’s just say it has been a busy month so far and keeping the littles on task for school while still getting them to and from practice and games can be a challenge but overall rewarding and we make it work to the best to our ability. With a schedule that starts from 6am and ends at 8:30pm for the boys, they have a long day and their little bodies keep truckin from rise to bed. To keep t hem on top of their game and play, I try to incorporate great tasting snacks like CLIF Kid Zbar® that have important nutrients for active kids.
It seems like I have a household full of guys that literally eat like crazy, but with three growing boys that’s exactly what is going on. To keep them on their toes, I give them CLIF Kid Zbars, which are nutritious snacks that are made from organic ingredients, all of which are specially-crafted for kids’ developing taste buds and active lives. My sons absolutely love how the CLIF Kid Zbars tastes and they have asked me to purchase them many times.
CLIF Kid Zbars are the perfect portion size for kids. I especially love that they come in flavors that they love and they fit perfectly in their lunch box or backpack to take with them to school. All three boys snack on their CLIF Kid Zbars during break for that mid day snack so that they are not starving when they come home from school. I enjoy that they are made with organic ingredients, are Non-GMO (something we try to steer clear of in our household) and have no high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors or synthetic preservatives.
CLIF Kid has been an essential part of our back to school routine and the boys have been loving the taste and flavors of the snacks they have tried. But, what I love is that they don’t need to be used for just school. CLIF Kid is dedicated to reclaiming play! With balance and active play laying the foundation for skilled, healthy, resilient and successful society, we are keeping our kids active and still providing them fun. This is one of the reasons why my sons are engaged with Play time, no matter what it is. Our play time is football and the boys enjoy CLIF Kid Zbars as a part of their snack after practice.
When my sons are on the filed, they not only get a little active time, but they have a lot of fun and CLIF Kid helps to encourage that. Let’s face it, play is disappearing at home, in school and in communities now a days, especially since technology, television and video games have a little part in that. I remember as a kid, I played outside all the time and it’s sad to see that 70% of moms like me played outside while only 31% of our kids play outside today. I encourage outside play whole heartily and enjoy that my sons love to play and keep active.
Whether it’s back to school or on the field, foraging through the woods or riding a bike – no matter the play time your family enjoys, get out and enjoy it all. Remember, like I said before… make memories while having some fun.
What about you? Do you remember being out exploring and playing till the lights came on? What are your favorite memories of your play time? Encourage play time with your kids if you don’t already, have some fun and create memories.
It’s no secret that I’m a huge water drinker… but as much as I love water, I’m not a fan of it warm or hot unless it’s in coffee or tea. Years ago my husband and I started carrying our water bottles with us everywhere, but because your typical plastic bottle usually contains some form of BPA, they were not able to be left in the car while shopping and they would get really hot from the sun. Who wants to drink hot water to rehydrate themselves? Certainly not me! Over the last year, my husband and I have invested in the Hydro Flask and it is now a household name. It is the #1 staple in our house and since all of our boys play sports and my husband and I are avid walkers, we enjoy our bottles. Today I share with you how I keep cool this summer and why I think this is such an essential item to have.
You’ve seen it featured in my Thirsty Thursday videos time and time again. The Hydro Flask has been my number one drinking companion since I first started using it a year ago. It goes where you go, whether out and about or working out, it will keep your drink ice cold or piping hot for hours. I am sharing with you the 40 oz bottle but they come in a variety of sizes. The Hydro Flask is an award-winning global leader in high performance, insulated stainless steel flasks. They were founded in 2009 in beautiful Bend, Oregon and the company’s mission is to save the world from lukewarm.
Hydro Flask uses the highest quality 18/8 stainless steel and the Hydro Flask food and beverage flasks are stylish while still offering all the necessities like BPA-free, recyclable and backed by a lifetime warranty. Hydro Flask believes strongly that great flasks and great causes go hand-in-hand. Because of this, through its charitable arm 5% back, consumers can allocate a portion of the net profit of their purchase to a charity they choose. (Learn more about Hydro Flask’s charitable giving here).
Hydro Flask offers a variety of different products that include:
Bottles (Ranging from 12 oz to 40 oz)
Beer Growlers (64 oz and 32 oz)
True Pint (16 oz beer pint)
Coffee (12 oz, 16 oz & 20 oz coffee flasks)
Food (12 oz and 18 oz food flasks)
My family and I are huge supporters of the Hydro Flask brand. Each person in my family owns a 40 oz. bottle. While each one is an investment (depending on where you buy them they can retail for about $40 for a 40 oz. flask), they are well worth the cost. During Sports, my sons need to hydrate and keep cool, especially in the warm weather that you get here in Hawaii.
Hydro Flask has Universal Benefits that are great for daily use as well as for anyone:
TempShieldTM Protected
Keeps hot up to 6 hours
Keeps cold up to 24 hours
18/8 Pro Grade Stainless Steel
BPA-Free and Phalate-Free
Durable, sweat-free powder coat finish
Lifetime Warranty
Hydro Flask is known for their Temperature, Taste and Transport. (temperature) TempShield is used in 100% of Hydro Flask products, which is a unique double wall insulation that protects temperature for up to 24 hours cold and 6 hours hot. (taste) The 18/8 pro-grade stainless steel won’t retain or transfer flavors, ensuring the pure taste of your beverage. (transport) Proprietary powder coat offers an easy-grip, sweat-free and extra-durable bottle that you can take anywhere.
Unlike other stainless steel bottles my family and I have had in the past, the Hydro Flask bottle is sturdy. Other bottles have dented quite easily but these have retained its shape for quite a bit. Of course, if it drops on a hard surface, it can get dinged, but overall it has lasted us quite some time. I have had my original flask for over a year with minimal damage to it.
I love that Hydro Flask offers a variety of different accessories for your flask. A Wide Mouth Straw attachment is a favorite of ours and it allows us to carry our water with ice in it all day. What is so awesome is that even on a hot day, with my bottle in the car, my flask is still ice cold and most of the time my ice is still wiggling around inside the flask. The bottle never sweats which makes it perfect to store anywhere without worrying that it will ruin any of my electronics or furnishings and I love how convenient it is to take with us on the go.
When it comes to staying cool and hydrated this summer or anytime of the year, I know I can rely on my Hydro Flask to keep me cool. It’s the best summer necessity to have and an essential in my book. We are completely hooked – my husband takes his to work daily and the boys take theirs to school and practice. It’s definitely something I think you should check out.
It’s an investment for a water bottle – but many times in the past I have left my flask in the sun while out at the beach or in the car and the ice is still there and my water is still very cold hours later. There are not too many of those types of stainless steel bottles on the market today that can offer you that kind of awesomeness. Who wants to drink warm water anyway, if not for coffee or tea? lol
You can purchase Hydro Flask products at: http://www.hydroflask.com/
Disclaimer: The product featured in this post was sent for review consideration, however – I already owned similar products previously so I’m speaking with experience as someone who has also spent their own money on the products. All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased. Affiliate links are posted through out.
Summer is in full swing now a days… it’s hot and humid here in Hawaii and man, cooling off and hydrating is the best way to keep from all this heat. My eldest son recently finished up his basketball season for the year, and let me just say – it was a tough one. With our weather experiencing major heat and then he having to run around in the gym on the court, it really took its toll. Recently, my family and I have had the opportunity to try HFACTOR Hydrogen water and today we share our thoughts with all of you.
HFACTOR is the first of its kind hydrogen rich water that is designed to fuel you from your very first sip. It’s made in the USA, is 100% natural and comes in a container that is BPA Free. HFACTOR has the potential to improve muscle recovery and activate peak performance to provide a variety of benefits in your first drink. Research suggests that hydrogen gas, an antioxidant, has the potential to boost circulation and provide anti-inflammatory benefits to start healing your body.
So – what is the difference between normal water if it already has hydrogen in it?
In normal water, two hydrogen atoms are bound to oxygen (H20) making it difficult for our bodies to enjoy the benefits of hydrogen. In hydrogen rich water, molecule hydrogen gas (H2) is dissolved into water creating active diatomic hydrogen molecules that are accessible to our bodies. Molecular hydrogen, small and soluble, has the potential to quickly circulate into the many locations of our body – including the hard to reach powerhouses of our cells.
The benefits of drinking Hydrogen Rich Water are really great. Depending on your home, work and lifestyle choices, there are a variety of ways that hydrogen rich water may enhance your health and wellness. Studies documented have shown that molecular hydrogen may have the potential to improve athletic performance and recovery, energy levels, jet lag, hangovers, allergies, skin irritation, inflammation and circulation and many other researched benefits.
Over the last few months, my family and I has started drink HFACTOR Hydrogen Rich Water. We chill the water to make it cold – it tastes best that way. Each water comes with its own straw so it makes it easy to drink on the go or where ever you need a quench of your thirst. Drinking the water – you don’t taste much of a difference than your standard bottled water, but after the first sip – you almost feel immediately hydrated. Honestly, my son described it as you feel like you were dipped into a swimming pool or cool stream and your body was instantly cooled down and refreshed. I drank the water for the first time on a really hot day and felt like I drank a whole gallon of water – because my thirst was quenched, but I felt so cool and hydrated.
My son Kevin drank his HFACTOR Hydrogen Rich water during half time of his games to help with his recovery and hydration. HFACTOR suggests and recommends drinking one to two refrigerated HFACTOR packages a day, within 30 minutes of opening. You can either pop a straw in or pour it into a glass. Drinking HFACTOR before and after your workout may help your performance and recovery.
Instead of the normal Gatorade that we buy him for after his games for recovery, we have been giving him HFACTOR and he loves it. Like I mentioned previously, immediately after trying it the first time, he noticed a difference in how his body felt and how it recovered. Of course, everyone’s body is different so to have my son comment on how he felt after drinking without knowing the benefits – was a huge selling point for me. He continued to use HFACTOR Hydrogen Rich water for the remainder of season.
Since Hydrogen is the lightest, smallest molecule, it can easily escape through conventional bottle materials such as plastic or gas. HFACTOR developed a special aluminum package with minimal carbon footprint, which acts as an effective barrier to keep the hydrogen inside until you are ready to drink it. HFACTOR infuses pure hydrogen into water via a patent-pending natural method, unlike other hydrogen products which are manufactured utilizing magnesium and chemical processes.
HFACTOR was founded in 2013 as a truly functional beverage company that provides hydrogen-rich water full of antioxidants, all created and distributed right here in the USA. Their mission is to make you and the planet proud, so that is why their aluminum water pouch is ergonomic and eco-friendly, providing an innovative and iconic package designed to deliver the best hydrogen water.
If you are a runner – you would absolutely love this water. I will drink one of these after a workout and immediately notice a difference. It is great for muscles as well and really helps with recovery. I noticed that after a workout, I don’t often get much swelling and pain, if any at all and the only change I made to my supplements or diet has been the HFACTOR water. An increase in energy and overall wellness. But, this is more than just a workout or sports drink. My beauty lovers out there, Hydrogen-rich water can be so much more for your beauty routine. I have noticed an improvement in my skin’s texture as well as my Eczema. My flare ups have not been as consistent and my absorption for my skin for skin care products has been so much better than before. I also struggle with my heart health and this is a drink that I have really loved to help with my blood pressure. I’m no doctor, but seeing the difference in how my body and my family’s bodies are working, makes me a believer.
I highly suggest doing your research prior to drinking hydrogen-rich water to see how it can work for you. HFACTOR sells their water in a 6 Pack for $18.00 and a 24 Pack for $64.99. Shipping to Hawaii was $9.00 for Fedex SmartPost which can take a couple of weeks or $46.56 for 2 Business Days. As a family we have ordered from HFACTOR a few times to replenish our supply. While we don’t drink it daily – it has been an integral part of my healing for my ailments and for my entire family.
I’ll be honest, it’s expensive and if I didn’t notice a huge difference with the water, I wouldn’t have purchased it myself. I also wish there were local suppliers on the island so that I wouldn’t have to buy it online. But overall, it’s a product that everyone in my family has been enjoying.
What about you? Have you tried hydrogen-rich water before? If so, was it HFACTOR or did you try another brand? What do you think of the benefits and have you noticed anything different since trying it. If not, do you think that you would try something like this at the price it is at?
You can read up on HFACTOR Hydrogen-Rich water or purchase your own at: https://h-factor.com/
Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for review consideration and feature. However, like anything you will find on this site – all opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased. My opinion is NEVER swayed because I was provided the product for free or paid to talk about it. I reserve all thoughts and opinions. Affiliate links are posted through out.
Music feeds my soul and because of this, I carry a pair of ear buds with me no matter where I go. It’s literally attached to my hip in case I need a little inspiration or need some quiet time and a little relaxation. Sometimes we don’t think about the convenience of things like headphones or ear buds until we are spending 45 minutes untangling them. It’s no secret that I’m brutal with many of my belongings and earphones are one of them. I literally take them off and toss them in my purse only to find them the next day looking like a bad hair day on steroids… it’s traumatic to say the least. Today I bring to you a product that my son Kevin and I have been absolutely loving. See, he is an earphone extraordinaire as well and you can easily find a pair of earbuds in his pocket on any given day. Today – we share with you a revolutionary product called – CordCruncher. These tangle-free earbuds (they also have charging cables) help solve a solution my son and I deal with on a daily basis – tangled head phone cords.
How many of you spend minutes or longer untangling your headphones? How many of you have headphones that look like mine (pictured above)? US&M partnered and collaborated with Spice Girl and America’s Got Talent judge, Mel B. for the global launch of CordCruncher, a much needed and most convenient tangle-free earbuds. Since Mel B. leads an active lifestyle and loves working out, she uses her Cord Cruncher to prevent tangling while she is listening to her music during her workout sessions. These awesome headphones are available in four different colors so you can pick the one that best fits your personality and style and they offer you the ease of mind – knowing you won’t be spending an hour untangling cords the next time you want to use your earbuds.
There are different types of CordCrunchers available. The Tangle Free Earbuds with Microphone and the Standard Tangle Free Earbuds are $29.99 and the Mel B Signature Series Tangle Free Earbuds are $39.99. My son and I both own the Mel B Signature Series in Cobalt Blue and Poppin Pink.
The technology of the CordCruncher is designed and engineered right here in the US. It’s a patented tangle free cord management system that has a Tangle Free Sleeve that is made of medical grade natural USA latex rubber.
The earbuds have great features like – well, of course… they NEVER tangle and have patented adjustable bass and drivers making the sound incredible for acoustics of all kinds. It extends and retracts into the tangle free sleeve 40″ to 16″ and includes 3 pairs of different sized ear tips. The different sized ear tips are especially important to me because I have sensitive ears and I can adjust the size of the earbud to fit comfortably in my ear. What makes this so great as well is that you can wrap the CordCruncher around your wrist or neck for storage while on the go… hello, genius.
Using these earbuds is as simple as pulling out the cord to use them and then stretching the latex sleeve over the cord when you are done to store them away. It’s just a matter of a little finger work and you’re good to go. I especially love that I can turn up the base with just a little turn of the actual earbud itself, offering great audio with acoustic sound that gets me pumped up and ready to go for a walk and run or workout. You can extend the cord to 40″ which gives you a lot of length for your convenience, or tuck some of it away for a shorter cord that gives you a little more freedom to move.
“These earbuds are awesome. I use them in various electronics – my iPad, Samsung Note and to listen to music or watch videos. They are comfortable to wear and easy to put away. I just toss them in my backpack and they have never tangled. It’s a great invention.” – Kevin
These earbuds are seriously a great buy. Considering the quality and the technology as well as the ease of use, they are an impressive product that I would highly suggest to anyone. If you are someone like me that uses music to inspire you or watches YouTube videos on the fly and you take music with you on a workout or run, you’ll absolutely LOVE these.
I remember a time when headphones and earbuds were really affordable and that also meant they didn’t last long. In the time when a set of headphones can cost you upwards of $100 or more, these definitely offer similar quality but the convenience of not only using on the go – but they never tangle. If you ask me, it’s a WIN.
You can get these earbuds and others products from CordCruncher at: https://www.cordcruncher.com. If you are tired of tangled headphones and earbuds, I highly suggest you check these babies out, they’re awesome. They are so good, they made my April Favorites 2016 Video, which you can watch here. I’m sure you’ll see these pop up in various videos on my channel or in social media because we truly enjoy them.
I want to thank my son Kevin for offering his input and for helping me test out the CordCruncher.
So, have you heard of the CordCruncher earbuds before? If you have, what are your thoughts on them? If not, is this is something you think you would get some use out of?
Disclaimer: I received these products for review consideration. All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased and I was not paid to provide my thoughts for feature these products. Affiliate links are posted through out.
As a blogger I receive some of the coolest products on the market sometimes and it’s always so exciting and rewarding considering all the work I put into my blog. I work with various PR Companies as well as different affiliates and have had the opportunity to try out products I would either only dream of or never heard of before. Recently I was sent the Bonus Box by Rakuten Affiliate Network. I have been a Rakuten Affiliate now for quite a few years and really considered this Bonus Box to be such a wonderful surprise, but also something fun for brands and advertisers to engage with one another. This fun box has given me the opportunity to try out some of the affiliates offered through Rakuten so that I can share great products with my readers as well.
As I mentioned previously, the Bonus Box by Rakuten Affiliate Network is a great chance and opportunity to bloggers such as myself to try out products from brands that offer affiliate links on the Rakuten network. I was one of 50 chosen publishes to receive the Q1 Bonus Box by Rakuten and was so happy to see that the box included fun fashion and lifestyle products by the advertisers, all of which go great with my blog’s demographic. Today I’m going to share with you the products that were included as well as the brands. Check out some of these awesome goodies, they make great gifts and are perfect for the Spring and Summer months. This awesome box includes a value of about $400.00 worth of products and gift codes.
Some of the brands included in this Bonus Box included Gift codes to purchase items through their online stores (Dawgs and Jus by Julie) while products were also included from brands like Sweaty Betty, Links of London, Folli Follie and Six:02.
I received a really cool drawstring bag and hair tie from Six: 02 that can be used for the gym to store or carry your workout gear or for hiking and / or every day use. From Sweaty Betty I got a Black Racerback Athlete Workout Vest ($50.00). Others who received the Bonus Box may have gotten a t-shirt in place of the top I received because this plus size woman needed something to fit her girls… so they changed it up some in order to accommodate my plus size.
From Folli Follie I received a gorgeous Happy Nugget Bracelet ($75). This beautiful and trendy bracelet is in a fun and flirty orange color that is perfect for Spring and Summer and makes the perfect accessory. The Happy Nugget Collection includes beautiful, feminine and playful accents to infuse some shine into your day or evening outfits. These can be worn together or stacked with similar pieces in different shapes and colors to compliment your style.
The Links of London White Topaz Pearl Drop Earrings ($150) are inspired by integrity and purity of pearls and are Links of London’s limited edition piece. These sophisticated and versatile earrings look luxurious and have a meaningful addition to any jewelry collection for the Spring and Summer season. They are absolutely gorgeous – lightweight and are showstopping.
Dawgs provided me with a $50 gift certificate which I used towards a new pair of flip flops for myself and one for the husband. I love these for the beach and since Spring and Summer mean beach time in Hawaii, these make great additions to our footwear. Dawgs offers comfortable and affordable footwear for the whole family and their mission is to help out your tired feet. These flip flops are super comfy and great for a beach stroll.
Jus by Julie ofered a gift code that would allow you to get a complimentary 1 day cleanse ($50 value) and 1 probiotic coffee ($8.00) and free shipping. I also took this opportunity to order another juice to try out – the Coconut and the Pumpkin Coconut Bisque soup. The 1 Day Cleanse includes 6 different juices and I look forward to trying them out. I’ll have a full review on it in the next week or so, but filled with uniquely blended juices – this cleanse sounds pretty stellar and I would have never tried it if not for the Rakuten Bonus Box.
As a blogger, I have tried many products and I’m always so excited to get my hands on new things. But, as someone who really takes the time to learn about the brands I work with – I really like that Rakuten provides and offers something so cool for their advertisers. I loved being able to try out these products and love the fact that I can share them with all of you. As many of you know if you have been here for a while, I take pride in talking about things truthfully and discussing my thoughts (whether good or bad) on products mentioned here. This awesome Bonus Box gave me the opportunity to try out a few brands I have never tried before and share them with you. Since I have been enjoying all of the items I received in this Bonus Box, you may see future features or reviews in the coming months on each product. Let me know if you have tried any of these before and what your thoughts are. If you haven’t – are there any products that I got in this box that you may have your sights on?
Disclaimer: This box was sent to me as a part of an affiliate network and pr sample. All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased as with anything discussed on this site. Affiliate links for some of these companies are posted through out and by clicking on them and purchasing an item, I can receive a commission.
I bet you didn’t know, just by looking at me, that I walk or run a mile to two miles five days a week! Or that I exercise, workout or I spend lots of time on the elliptical at least 3x a week. Running or walking is my way of clearing my mind and keeping me motivated, active and allows me to really bring out my creative side and working out, well – it keeps me healthy and helps with my asthma. A few weeks ago I was in a grocery market when a lady snickered at the fact that I had picked up a pint of ice cream… basically saying… “Are you sure you need to be buying that?” I let it go, but I then realized that there is such a common misconception that if you are plus sized, or larger than most that you are obese or overweight. The fact of the matter is, yes – I could stand to lose about 100 pounds to make myself healthier for my children, my husband and me – but that doesn’t mean that I’m necessarily unhealthy as so many will assume that I am. Prior to having children, I was a size 8, petite in body with a large bust and behind and after having children certain medical ailments have assisted with my weight gain. I’m not an over eater, but because of my physique – I often get pegged as “the fat girl”. I realized a few years ago that while I’m on my journey to get healthy and stay healthy (regardless of my size), many will not see it as such. So – now I am categorized as a plus sized lady and hey, at this moment in time… it’s who I am and I’m okay with it. The important thing is that I continue to live a healthy life to the best of my ability – regardless of what the social standards may outline. Yes, I do have extra baggage on me, but – I do live a reasonably healthy lifestyle. Today – after giving this topic some thought, I figured it would be a great way to not only share my story but also a few tips that can help you make small changes to your life for a healthy lifestyle. 5 easy, healthy lifestyle changes anyone can make and anyone can do. Feeling a little frumpy or just feel like you need a boost of endorphins or happy thoughts or need a little pick me up? These tips are simple, easy and you can do them too.
Drink more water
This particular tip may seem like a no-brainer, but the fact of the matter is… most people do not consume or drink the recommended 8 glasses of water each day. I love water and I love that I can add a little bit of lemon to my water and I am hydrated for longer periods. I’m really good at drinking the recommended amount but if I don’t I make sure I have a trusty timer go off every so often so I do not forget. Having a bottle with you at all times helps A LOT. I fill up my Hydroflask with ice and water and take it with me whenever I’m on the go so I always have water available that is cold and refreshing whenever I need it. Just adding the 8 glasses of water to your daily intake each day will make a huge difference in a healthier lifestyle.
Get up and move, walk your way to healthy
It may seem like it’s no big deal, but walking increases not only your oxygen but also helps in you regulating your breathing. But, I get it – life can get busy and sometimes you can’t find the time… as a busy mother, I know this all too well. There are still so many ways to get your walking in. Park further away from the store, at the back of the parking lot (be careful to watch your surroundings if you are by yourself) and get a little extra walking time in that way. I hate battling for parking stalls – especially when I’m at places like Costco or Walmart, so I’ll just park far and walk – exercise and a little extra steps are worth it. You can also park your car at the end of the drive way instead of right near the house. Since my mailbox is at the bottom of the drive way and we have another house in front of us, I like to walk back and forth to the mailbox a few times if I know I can’t devote any time to walking that day. And, sometimes walking by yourself is boring… so head to your local big box store like Target, Walmart, etc. and just walk around the store window shopping (if you can avoid the need to make a purchase) and get some walking done there. Last week while walking around target I clocked over 1200 steps just browsing the store and it didn’t feel like exercise to me.
Got a sweet tooth? Don’t let it get the best of you
Let’s face it – we all have it… that dreaded sweet tooth that makes us crave those favorite goodies that satisfy our souls. For me, it can be ice cream, gummy bears or the occasional chocolate. Thankfully – I am not the type of person that feels the “need” to have them, but I do have my moments. Instead of letting these things get the best of me, I just don’t keep them around me but I also don’t deprive myself if I have a craving. The key is moderation and control. Since I know I like ice cream – I will either replace my ice cream with a frozen smoothie with frozen fruit or make a sorbet and if that really doesn’t work, I will eat some ice cream, but make sure to choose the smallest bowl in the house to serve me in. Sometimes all we need is the taste on our tongue to satisfy that craving and a little of it will go a long way. Also – stock your house with fruits, when you want that snack – have a small bowl of fruit and you will be amazed at how fast it will curb that craving.
Stop drinking soda or try to eliminate it the best you can
I never drank soda growing up and once I was really introduced to the taste of it in my early 20s, it was hard to ignore. I’m a Pepsi girl and my husband and I both enjoy Pepsi soda as well (who do you think introduced it to me? haha). It was a hard one to battle and while we don’t stock soda in our house, we still treat ourselves from time to time. I NEED soda with Pizza. I know, I know – no one needs soda… but it’s something I look forward to when I have a piece of pie to eat. So if we really find the need, my husband and I will share a can of it together. That way – we get the flavor, the satisfaction and we are not stuck with a huge case of it in our house and feel the need to drink it all. We can go a whole year without it and then one day, we find the need to taste the yummy, sugary carbonated flavor we enjoy and we’ll treat ourselves. If you can quit cold turkey – do it… if not, just try eliminating it to the best of your ability until you don’t find the need for it any longer.
Get up – stand up, stand up for your life!
As someone who works from home, I can find myself on the computer for hours at a time trying to work on campaigns, type out posts, answering emails… etc. Like with any job, the time can get away with you when you have a deadline or are busy working. But, you should always remember that it’s important to get up once in a while, stand and stretch – walk away from your desk. This will not only allow you to take a breather, maybe have a second to gather your thoughts, but also stretch those muscles and move. Standing up is so important to help in the blood flow of your body and it also helps to give you a little boost of energy that you may be needing after sitting a while.
While this is just a starter list, there are so many more things you can do to make a healthy lifestyle change. Remember, it doesn’t have to be uncomfortable to do and it shouldn’t make you feel like you are dreading it each day. Living a healthy lifestyle could mean that you are getting an extra 10 minutes of walking in, each day or you cut out your favorite junk food. Rome wasn’t built in a day and things take time. These steps and tips are there to help you be more confident in your choices. If I can do them, well – you certainly can too. Remember, a little at a time and you’ll see a change. Also – if you are in the same boat as I am, know that no one can make you feel terrible – but yourself. Have faith, think positive and know that I’m cheering you on. A healthy lifestyle isn’t about killing yourself at the gym or starving yourself… it’s about being healthy so you can live life. Good luck!
Like posts like these? It’s been a while since I have done these types but I promise there will be a lot more coming soon. 😉
xo
Disclaimer: All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased. I was not paid to provide my thoughts and this post is not sponsored.
