Weight No More

Like most people, I have a desire to get in shape.  It has never been a New Year's Resolution for me, but it is always something I strive for once the summer months have rolled around and I am not beach body ready.  In 2012, I faithfully went to the gym four times a week and then one day NOTHING!! This year I signed up for a membership and I have gone all of two times. At this point, I should consider it a tax write off, because clearly I'm just donating my money.

But seriously, I have made a plan to make an attempt at eating better and being more active.  I have decided that I do weigh-ins in order to determine if I am gaining or losing and what I need to work harder on.  I know that it is better to start today opposed to tomorrow seeing that tomorrow is not promised, but I wanted to continue being lazy the rest of the year so I will start first time on January 1st, 2016.  I received a tampered glass scale from Easy @ Home and immediately fell in love.  It motivated me to start sooner than later just because it was so pretty and pretty things excite me! The need to be lazy prevailed and I have not actually started, but I did try out the scale in preparation.

Pros:
Tampered glass and design
Backlit LED display
Box Shape  
Added bonuses (BMI reference card, measurement tape, batteries)

Cons:
Weighing inconsistency

Like I said above, I fell in love with the design. I love the glass and the shape, but I never received a consistent reading of my weight.  I would step on the scale early in the morning as it states is the best time to weigh and I would get 140 lbs.  A hour or two later, I would revisit the scale and it get 137.8 lbs or something other than the original 140 lbs. At first I took it and ran with it.  In my mind I thought I had dropped a little weight just that quick.  It was strange, but my goal was to lose a little baby fat and tone up.  After receiving several different readings throughout the next few days, I asked my granny to step on so that I could see if my weight was indeed fluctuating. The same thing happened when she stepped on.  She received a different weight each time she stepped on and off. I am going to keep playing with it so I can ready by tomorrow, the first of the 2016 year.  I would advise anyone that intends to purchase the item to make sure that your floors are level because I feel like that may be the problem that I am having.  Once I figure it out, I will be sure to report back...

Details about the scale:

• High precision sensors, increments of 0.2 lb./0.1 kg; • Auto-calibration each time on.
• 12" x 13", 8mm thickness tempered safe glass top, 400lbs capacity
• Extra large 4.3" backlit LCD display in extra large font numbers; • Pound and Kilogram display option
• Smart Step-on and Auto Power-off; •Operated by 4 AAA alkaline batteries (Included)
• A Body Mass Index (BMI) reference card and a Diet Tape are included in the package for free; Satisfaction Guarantee and 1-year warranty

This item is $25 with free shipping on orders over $35. Of course with Amazon Prime, you receive free 2 day shipping.. Click here to locate the item or search amazon for B00KGPU1P8

**I received this item for free in exchange for my honest unbiased opinion. 

Long Hair Don't Care...

Not all women, but many desire to have long locks flowing down their back and I am no exception. Growing up, I am long hair, but you never could tell because my grandmother always plaited it up. As a child, I never had the option to wear my hair down so I could show off my length and the ONE time that I got to wear it down, nobody believed it was my hair.  All they had ever seen were those pretty plaits all over my head so no one ever imagined that I had some hang time.  But let's be real, what child was wearing weave back in 1998? Weave was not even popping for anyone back in that time. My grandmother grew tired of hot combing all that thickness so she sent me to the hair salon for my first ever relaxer and I have not had hair past my shoulders since.  I will admit that I am not the best at styling hair and most definitely was clueless in high school.  So, I have turned to weave to let my hair breathe every now and then and it surely does help, if you leave it in long enough. And that is nice, but it is very expensive. Weave ($200+) and that's if you get the good kind and wear it for the length, installation ($75-$180+), coloring ($25+), biweekly styling ($35+) and the costs continue if you desire to maintain it.

So, what are the alternatives to wearing weave, well I would say hair, nail and skin vitamins. You always see advertisements about vitamins that will make your hair grow 3 inches in just a week or so, but how true is that. I think every person has a different hair journey and results vary.  I recently started using NeoCell Biotin Bursts as I am transitioning back to my natural hair state.

I like these vitamin chews because they are B vitamins that support both hair and skin health, low in sugar, taste like candy instead of medicine and they are easy to chew.  I also like that they are individually wrapped for sharing and come in a resealable bag.  Let's not forget that they offer 10,000 MCG of biotin per chew.  Double the growth?? I'm not sure, but once I remove my extensions, I will be sure to report the results.  I can say that I  know when my hair is growing because it itches like crazy and I'm killing my pointy comb over here trying to get in between these braids.  Soo, maybe that is a good sign and I will be rocking my own long locks soon.

As for my skin, it is clear and smooth, just how I like it.  I have never had acne, but I attribute that to the fact that I have always taken precautions and used supplements, creams and whatever else to make sure that I had smooth and healthy skin.  I have slacked up a little and only use facial moisturizer and lotion so I could see what difference these chews would make. Now normally when I use new products, it breaks me out before it starts to work, but I have not broken out and I have gotten a few compliments about how beautiful my skin is. Well well, NeoCell, thank you!

I am not a fan of Acai Berry and that is the only thing I did not like about the chews. The taste is not unbearable though, it is just not a flavor that I like. They don't have any other flavors, but they do have Chocolate Mint and Fruit Punch chews in the Beauty Bursts, which are for hair, skin and nails as well.  For a list of all their products click here. I would and have recommended these chews to my friends and family. I obviously am a weirdo because they all like the flavor. I would highly recommend the product to women that are natural, transitioning back to natural or those that just need that boost.

Here's what NeoCell had to say about their product..

"Feed Your Skin With Delectable Bursts of Nutrients!

Having beautiful and radiant skin has never been so easy- or so delicious. NeoCell Biotin Bursts deliver high potency beauty nutrients in a delectable, gourmet soft chew. Formulated based off of scientifically proven ingredients NeoCell Biotin Bursts offer a delicious alternative to your daily biotin regimen. Each chew is low in sugar and was especially formulated to be as readily absorbable as possible in delicious Brazilian Acai Berry flavor. Healthy hair and skin were never this easy, or sweet!

NeoCell Biotin Bursts, the best way to take your biotin. Period. (You’re Welcome!)

NeoCell has been developing and manufacturing all natural, premium anti-aging formulas for over 20 years and is the leading Collagen brand in the world. Our products are naturally based, not synthetic, and are designed to promote youthful health, beauty and total body wellness. We manufacture our own products using carefully sourced food-grade raw materials and our facility exceeds all GMP standards.We strive to continuously bring the best to our customers– products that we and our own families are proud to use, made with Nutrients You Can Trust®."

***I received this product for free to try in exchange for my honest opinion.

Alterre Holiday Giveaway

If you're like me then you've encountered the outfit and shoe coordination issue.  You've searched high and low for the perfect outfit and when you finally find it, you have no shoes to match.  You go through the oh I have that pair, nah or oh what about that pair, no struggle over and over.  You have a few that would work only if it didn't have that color in it or didn't have that strap on it.  Well, Alterre may have solved our problem ladies.  They've created shoes that you can mix and match to suit you and your lifestyle. There are 65 combinations which allow your shoes to be as versatile as you are, but it gets better.....

You have a chance to win one starter kit (2-in-1 shoes) from alterreny.com...
What you can win:
- black heel starter kit (VALUE $180)
includes: a pair of black suede mules, mist grey Jackies, and evening sky Marilyns with a handy travel bag for the looks.

Be sure to comment and share what outfit(s) you will pair your free shoes.

Complete entry form below. Contest ends December 16, 2015 so hurry for your chance to win.

You must be 18 and older to enter and live in the US.  No purchase is necessary to win.  Blogger who is hosting the giveaway is not responsible for winner's prize, sponsor of the giveaway is.  Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to claim their prize or new winner will be chosen.

Fit Ring TM Powered by ArthleticTM

In a earlier post, I talked about husband's that don't like or are unable to wear their wedding bands. Well, I'm back again and this time I'm talking bout the Fit Ring TM Powered by ArthleticTM.  This ring is a men's silicone wedding ring available in black, blue, red, gray and green and according to ArthleticTM it's the official silicone wedding band for all athletics.  This ring also allows more versatility than a metal ring does.

I ordered the ring in a black size 9 and it fits better than expected seeing that it is for men. Unfortunately, my model was unavailable due to a bit of hostility from the last ring that I thought his wife would like for him to wear (he didn't want to wear a ring, but you didn't hear that from me).  So I tried on the ring and maybe it was the silicone, but actually fit my fingers, just a little.  It wasn't as attractive on me as I think it would have appeared on a guy, but it didn't look bad.

I ordered the Fit Ring from amazon.com and you can go directly to the product here.  It is currently $19.99, available in sizes 8-16.  It is sold by the company Athletic and fulfilled by Amazon.  It also qualifies for free shipping if you spend so much. I took advantage of my amazon prime membership and got the order using the free 2 day shipping (it came right on time too).  The item was packaged well and came in a cute little clear pouch.

Details about the Fit Ring are...

• Made of only the finest Medical Grade, Hypoallergenic, Non-conductive Silicone - Quality Guaranteed
• FitRingTM powered by Arthleticis the World's #1 Trusted Brand, Quality, and Design
• Arthletic FIT|RING is the everyday SAFE alternative to a metal ring.

 **Disclaimer.. I received this item at a huge discount in exchange for my honest review. What do you think?

The Keywiz

Have you ever experienced a moment of uncertainty due to not remembering if you locked the doors to your home?  Well, I have once or twice, but my dear ex-boyfriend can never remember is he locks the doors to his vehicles.  I recently received The Keywiz and intended to give to him, but it does not appear to be made for vehicle keys that have the thick frames.  Instead, I used it on my house key.  At first I was a bit confused because there were two free lying stickers included and both said locked, but I'll explain that in a minute.

So, included in The Keywiz package were 12 different inserts for a variety of key sizes.  Keep in mind that the opening for the key insert is a narrow box shape so you probably would only be able to utilize it for residential and commercial property doors.  Also, there were the stickers that I mentioned above.  After reading over the instructions, I quickly figured out that the color sticker you used depended upon what color LED light lite up after your locked your door.  Basically, you figure out what insert your key will fit into, push the insert into The Keywiz and press the purple button to see if you locked your door.  There is a blue and an orange light and once you have locked your door using the Keywiz and press the button, one of the lights will light up. The color of the light depends upon the color that flashed the very first time you tried it.  The color that lights up is the color sticker that you will place on the back of The Keywiz.

I locked my door with They Keywiz and when I pressed the purple button, it flashed blue. I used the blue sticker as indicated. I unlocked the door and it flashed orange. At this point I can say that the product did as it stated it would because blue means locked and orange means unlocked.  I tried it and it worked, but I find it hard to remove my key from The Keywiz. I have tried and tried to get my key out of the insert, but I don't want to pull too hard because I'm afraid I will either break it or my key.  All in all, I think it is a good concept that could use a little work on the delivery of the locked/unlocked status.

If you would like to try The Keywiz visit their page on amazon here .

**Disclaimer.. I received this product free of charge in exchange for an honest review. 

SOL Silicone Wedding Ring for Men

If you've got a husband who loves you to death, but won't wear his wedding ring for this reason or that reason, then you need to order him a SOL Silicone Wedding Ring for Men, a high quality wedding band for active lifestyle.  This ring allows versatility that an average wedding ring might now.  There is no slippage issue, no worries of it getting caught on something and it complements every outfit just right..

The item can be located on Amazon by clicking here.  It is sold by RAAZOS and fulfilled by Amazon Prime.  I ordered it and selected two day shipping.  I got it in three days, but I suspect it was an issue with the courier and no fault of Amazon because everything else gets delivered on time. Currently, the item is being sold for $12.99 and free shipping is offered is you spend over $35.

Details about the wedding band include..

MATERIAL: Hypoallergenic, non conductive, non porous, non toxic, waterproof, medical grade silicone rubber. Designed for: Electricians, Firefighters, Policemen, Travelers, Bikers, Campers and Outdoor Adventurers.
DISCOVER COMFORT AND SAFETY IN YOUR ACTIVE LIFESTYLE: A safe alternative for the metal wedding ring - our flexible basketball, baseball, climbing, diving, water sports, and any activity you take on.
STYLISH silicone wedding band in a modern masculine design. Gray with red stripe.
THIN but strong and durable.
WIDTH is 8.7mm, thickness is 2mm.


According to RAAZOS...
"The SOL Silicone Wedding Band is a high-quality alternative for men with active lifestyles and jobs requiring machinery.
Safer than the traditional wedding band, our hypoallergenic, non-conductive, non-porous, non-toxic, waterproof, medical grade silicone rubber band will let you pursue your active lifestyle while still showing the world you are happily married!
Ring evulsion incidents are common. A sudden pull on a finger ring can result in serious soft tissue injury.

In SOL Rings we value your complete satisfaction and strive to offer the best quality product and excellent customer service. Please contact us with any problem or suggestion, we love to hear from our costumers

At SOL rings, we are inspired by the sun that represent all the good things in life."

Now, I have no husband nor do I have a boyfriend, but I do have friends that are married or have been married.  I have heard at least one say that he doesn't wear a ring because of the duties of his job and it can be dangerous. So, he was my model and I'm sure his wife will be happy about this gift because now he has no more excuses, but I may have just lost a friend.  Ha ha, I doubt it!  

The ring appears to be brown and red, but it's actually grey and red.  According to my guy friend, despite his hesitation, the ring is very comfortable and stylish for a man.  He stated, " I would actually considering wearing this on a daily basis and would see if I could wear it while working." Looks like his wife may be a new customer for RAAZOS and get all the looks available.  Don't be let out, order you husband one today!

Disclaimer** I received this product free in exchange for an honest review..

Planet Beach Spa Gulfport

I received a call last week and was told that I had been referred by my sister for three free spa treatments.  My jaw dropped to the ground.  I was in shock because I would never expect a free spa treatment just based on a referral.  So I asked the lady what the name of her company was again because surely this was a setup and my sister was playing a joke on me.  Planet Beach Spa was the name of the company and then I became even more suspicious due to my only knowledge of Planet Beach was as a tanning company.

I agreed to make a visit and set up an appointment for today, November 20, 2015 as a treat to myself for my birthday weekend.  I called my sister for some reassurance and she explained to me that they offered much more than tanning services, but they were not a "spa" spa.  There was no one there to massage me in my nook and crannies, but they offered a great alternative, a full body massage chair.

Some of the spa services offered by Planet Beach are

• Automated facials - Brighten and harmonize your skin tone with the revolutionary Luminous Facial and notice a softer, more youthful complexion with benefits lasting up to 90 days.
• Slim Capsule* - New and immensely popular service. It's appropriate for anyone who wants to lose weight or reduce cellulite. It also can benefit people with injuries or physical.
• Hyrdo-Derma Fusion* - Revitalize your skin with this ultimate, nutrient-rich, moisture treatment. Designed for deep hydration, this treatment will leave your skin nourished, beautiful and rejuvenated.
• Automated Massages* - At the touch of a button, you will enjoy an effective massage that will relieve stress, decrease muscle tension and increase flexibility.  They have both, the HydroMassage & DreamWave Massage.
• Teeth Whitening - Teeth Whitening by Planet Beach is safe, fast, convenient and delivers the five essential elements needed for teeth whitening; Peroxide, Pressure, Light, Heat and Exposure. Pearly whites can be yours in just minutes!
• Saunatox - Saunatox uses far-infrared light to improve blood circulation, soothe muscles, reduce toxins and improve skin tone and texture.  it also helps enhance metabolism and burn calories.

On my visit I decided to try the Hydro-Derma Fusion and the full body massage chair.  First, let me say that both items were great.  I got the hydro-derma fusion treatment first and it was not what I expected, but quite enjoyable and I felt great afterwards. It is what you would expect when you visit to get a tan as you lay down and close the machine down over your body.  You face is not covered however.  The machine's temperature increased over time until it reaches a temperature of 118 degrees.  I wasn't even aware that my body was sweating, but 20 minutes later, I stepped out of the machine and there I was soaking in sweat.  It wasn't the EWW kind of sweat though, nor did it smell and I was not sticky or anything. Actually my skin stills feels great and quite moisturized.  

On to the full body massage chair I went and boy was I not ready for this.  Oh my GAWD, this chair blew my mind right to outer space and back in time to enjoy the head massage.  This machine was like the boyfriend you always dreamed about.  It massaged my head and body and my hands and feet got in on the action as well. No parts were left out and that's just how I like it. I found myself getting a little besides myself a couple times, but I would say that's normal because that massage GAVE ME LIFE!!! I received 15 minutes of continuous head, back, shoulder, legs, feet and hand massaging. Truth be told, if I could take the machine home or get one for my office, I may not need a man. 

Let's not forget the tanning services that they are well known for which include...

• Mystic Spray Tan & Airbrush
• UV Therapy
• Red Light Therapy

Coming in mid December they will begin offering a Hot Box detox and a foot sauna to do hot yoga. I can't do cold yoga or regular yoga for that matter, but if you can and/or up for the challenge then you are the real MVP!

Planet Beach Spa Gulfport is the only location in my great state of Mississippi, but you can locate a spa near you here. My local club works mostly on memberships which are regularly $59/month (unlimited spa & tanning), but has a $49/month special going on until November 30, 2015.  If you are not into memberships, they offer their services at $39 a service.  Membership is looking better huh?! Also, an added bonus is the staff.  They greet you as you walk in and very friendly the entire time.  I love when a company has staff that makes you feel at home.

*requires you to strip down or wear under garments (swimsuit) that you don't mind getting wet. 

Disclaimer ** I received this service free and am providing my honest opinion about the services received.

Thin Botanicals Body Wrap

After a long day of working and commuting I find it hard to convince myself to go to the gym.  The lazy me wins 10 times out of 10 and I just go home and prepare for reality TV.  I can't even make myself do small workouts at home so I'm always looking for a shortcut.  Anything that shows quick results and seems simple, I will try once.  I have tried the waist trainer and saw nice results, however, my skin was damaged from scarring and I would rather avoid that route.  So when I saw the information about the body wraps, I jumped on it.

I received a package of thin botanicals body wraps, from Thin Botanicals, to try free of charge. The shipping was quick and item arrived on time as promised.  The wraps were packaged neat and damage free.  The item specifies that you should not wear the wraps during a menstrual cycle, pregnancy or if you are breast feeding.  The wraps are adhesive, petite and very undetectable under clothing which is always a plus when you are wearing them while at work or going out.  As you will notice from the photo, the wrap extends down into you "woman" area and that did not work for me. I thought about cutting it so it would not be so long, but did not want to make it less effective so I left it alone.  I will say that I only suffered minor discomfort when removing the wrap from that area. Much less than I expected.

I wore mine during the day while at work, but I read that it could be wore while sleeping also.  While wearing the wraps, I noticed slight heat and I guess that served as an indication that it was working.  I have not yet completed the set of wraps, so I have no results to report, but I will say that I feel that if I keep drinking water (no sodas or tea), eat better and continue with these wraps, I will see superb results in the slimming of my waist. I'm excited and will post results later..

Check out the wraps here and let me know they worked for you. Until next time, I'm out!!

How To Get Free Stuff and Make Easy Funds

So, I live in Mississippi, where I feel like the cost of living is far greater than the wages that low to middle income families make.  With that said, I am always on the look out for great deals on items, whether it's 100% free, a discount off, or quid pro quo (this for that). Below you find a list of sites that I have joined and received from stuff or made easy money.

1. Influenster
I have a previous post about Influenster, that's just how great it is. I joined this site in May of 2014 and it does take a minute to get use to the site, but it is well worth it.  This site makes your work for their products though so if you are not up for answering questions, completing surveys or any other little tasks that they make available, this is not for you. You will be missing out though because it is most definitely worth the time and effort. They called their programs campaigns and they are sent out sporadically based upon the information that you have provided to them via surveys, etc. Since I signed up I have received three of their voxboxs. The biggest item and the one that made my life (YES, I said life, not day), was the Keurig 2.0.  They sent me the Keurig machine, the carafe pot, two boxes of kcups. A few days later, I received another box from Influenster and they'd sent me a kcup carousel. Influenster has expectations of you, but they are not unreasonable. Small things such as posting that you received this item, "Free" from Influenster on your social media sites and what not. Check out my other post, to read about the other items I have received.  I love Influenster and you will too.  Sign up here.

2. PINCHme

Pinch me is a bit confusing for me still and it seems a bit different these days than it use to be.  So I'm signed up on the site and every so many days, they have 3 to 4 samples available.  I have the option to select up to 3 items for my cart and receive by mail.  They also partner offers for those interested. As far as I can remember, they have no expectations of you. 

3. House Party

House Party is quite simple.  They have parties with certain products and brands that you can apply to host. You have to somewhat prove that you really want to host the party so they ask you to do small tasks like make a Facebook post, invite a friend to join the site and small other things depending upon the party you want to host. You can also apply to be a chatterbox where you get great samples for you and others to try and then you spread the word about the product via the chatterbox community.   Sign up here.   

4. Mystery Shopping

A lot of people are weary, but if you find the right companies, Mystery Shopping can be quite profitable. Below I am going to list mystery shopping companies that I have worked with or ones that I have not and are known to be legit. Some require you to obtain certification before performing them or before submitting a request. 

• Marketforce - This company offers a variety of retail shops including gasoline stations, fast food establishments, sit-down restaurants, drug stores, computer stores, warehouse clubs, wireless telephone providers, bookstores, etc. It depends mainly on your area as to what types of shops are available to you. In my area, there are mostly food shops (Popeyes, Sonics, Raising Canes) and I did notice an AT&T shop available for $100 and movie installation shops. Most food shops pay a small free $3- $8 and offer reimbursement for your food purchase up to a certain amount. 
• ShopperHub - This company offers a lot of Murphy USA shops (in my area) with required purchases of liquor or tobacco. Reasoning being they want to make sure their employees are carding those individuals that appear younger than 21 years of age.  I looked in other states and I noticed shops for Comcast, Murphy, Krispy Kreme, local grocery stores, etc. 
• Shoppers' View- I have only been contacted about and performed phone shops for this company. They have you call into a phone system that will call the company for you so that the call is recorded and they grade you based on the conversation. Pretty simple!
• Alta360 - Have not performed any shops, but they are mostly gas stations. 
• GFK - The companies offers you an opportunity to audit stores for great fees. When they are in a crunch and need audits completed by an upcoming date, they offer large bonuses.  I performed two at ATT and made $70.  The store manager is aware that you are coming so it's called a Revealed Audit. You just have to verify that the props are visible, answer a few questions for GFK and take some pictures. Quick and easy!! I've not performed any, but they have some Best Buy audits listed and they pay well. From reading the requirements, I gather that it takes at least half a day to complete. 

Stainless Steel Tweezers for Ingrown Hair

How many women like to pamper and care for their man. *Raises hand* I love to rub my man's head, feet and back, but what I love the most is taking care of his face.  Not only because I get some form of satisfaction out of pulling hairs from someones face, but because who wants a man with bumpy skin. NOT ME!! What bothers me though is those pesky ingrown hairs that are curled under and I can't seem to puncture the skin to get them out of there. What I have noticed is that it is those particular hairs that cause those huge bumps and are filled with so much puss.  Well, what do you do besides taking a safety pin or scissors and butcher his face, you get a pair of pointy tweezers.  That's what I did.

I had never seen any tweezers quite likes these, but Majestic Bombay sent me a free pair and I love them.  I called my boyfriend as soon as I found out I was receiving a pair and told him to get ready. Of course, since I have a reputation for being abrasive and heavy handed he was scared to death, but after some convincing I had him right where I needed him. I also had to promise that I would like blast his pictures to the world so we made a compromise that I would only use nose down pictures.  Last night, I cooked and liquored him up and right as he got comfortable I pulled out my handy dandy tweezers and went to work.  OMG you all can't guess the joy that I received from being able to actually reach and yank out those darn ingrown hairs.  I will say they most definitely are great for getting deep, but I had a bit of trouble with some of the other hairs because the ends are so straight.

All in all, I would say that this is a great product and I will definitely being using these on all the men in my family and I suggest you ladies get some for your men and you fellas get yourselves some or hint to your lady that you would like some. Click here to make your purchase today.

Oh Gosh, It's That Time Again!

Here Comes Mother Nature

I was sitting at work and wondering what is it that I can write on my blog that I would like to share with others and then it hit me.  With mother nature knocking at my door, why not talk about her and all the "joy" that she brings.  For anyone that did not catch that, I was being sarcastic, hehe.  

At age 11, I got my first visit and how unprepared I was.  All that I knew was from what I heard in sex education and that was not much.  So she came and brought the pain with her.  It was so painful, I had to start taking prescription medicines (and get on birth control) but they only worked 50% of the time.  All throughout high school, I suffered from severe cramping and can almost bet you I missed one day of school every month.  

I still experienced painful cramps during college and the prescription medicines no longer helped due to prolonged usage, I guess! By my senior year, I had begun taking Excedrin Menstrual Complete and it alleviated pain to some extent. One day I ran out of water and had nothing else to take the Excedrin with so I asked my roommate if I could have a Dr. Pepper.  The combination of the Dr. Pepper and Excedrin was wonderful.  

Now, let me say this... I am no girly girl nor am I prissy so I was totally okay with the effects of the two, but some may deem them unacceptable for a woman. Basically, I said all that to say that it makes you burp and you may not always be able to control the volume.  When it comes to being ill-mannered, per se, I will take that over cramping ANY DAY!! 

You all will never understand how happy I was to finally find something that would take away 80% of my pain. And then, like all other good things, Excedrin Menstrual Complete, had to come to an end.  It was recalled and I've not seen it in stores since.  So, here I was back at step one.  I begin trying other medicines with Dr. Pepper and they would help, but it was nothing like Excedrin and trust me I have tried it all. I recently tried Excedrin Extra Strength and it seems to be a contender so I am going to try that until I find something better.   

A few other things that I utilize from time to time to help with the pain are...

• Starbucks French Vanilla Frapp
• Handy Dandy Heating Pad
• Birth Control (regular use)

Check out a few tips I've pinned on my Pinterest board, here..

How do you alleviate the pain of cramps? Comment below....

      

Running Belt w/ expandable pocket

October 24, 2015 7:25 PM CST

Like or Dislike?... Alaska Bear Inc: Running Belt with expandable pocket

Most people are aware that October is National Breast Cancer Month. Last Saturday I attended a local walk and was faced with the carry everything in my hand dilemma.  At that moment, I wished I’d had a book bag purse, jogging pants with pockets, or one of those belt things that had pockets. I didn’t have any of those items so holding my phone, wallet and keys was what I did.

A few days ago, I visited a site, www.tomoson.com, which allows you to inform select companies which of their offered products you would be interested in trying, in exchange for reviews and/or exposure.  I ran across a running belt offered by a company called Alaska Bear Inc.  I applied to try the product, free of charge, and post on a few of my social media sites. 

Today, I received the Running Belt in the mail and when I opened the product, I had to do a double take.  My exact words were, “What the hell is this?” The size of the product was a shock to me, but it definitely lived up to its name.   At first take the Running Belt with expandable pocket is very petite and doesn’t appear to hold much, but I was able to fit in items I would never expect to be suitable.  To be exact, I was able to put my Samsung galaxy 4, completely stuffed Vera Bradley wristlet and a large pair of sunglasses into the belt (see photos below). 

The running belt is adjustable for different waist sizes, it’s petite so it doesn’t take up too much space, and the elasticity is awesome.  I would rate this product a 10 out of 10 with a note that I would like to have the option of color choices. I have not gone running with the product yet, but when I do, I will post an update to let you all know how durable the item is when put to work.  Also, I am going to let a few other people try the running belt and get their opinion was well.  Be back later!! 

#runningbeltAlaskaBearExpandableFitnessandWeatherRe

You can purchase the running belt by clicking here or visiting Amazon and searching Alaska Bear.

FREE, FREE, FREE, FREEEEEEEE!!!

October 18, 2012 6:49 PM CST

If you love free stuff, then this post is for you. If you have never heard of Influenster, you are missing out.  I joined Influenster on May 15, 2014 and it has been more than worth it.  Basically, this site provides some of the best products for selected members to try and share with their family in friends. You ever heard, "Nothing in life is free," well whoever said that was right.  You've got to put in work and show the Influenster team why they should select you for upcoming campaigns.  They have surveys, allow you to review products as well answer questions asked by other members, in order to see if you're a good fit.  

Late 2014, I got an email from Influenster that took my breath away.  It said your Keurig is on the way. Lawd knows I had been wanting a Keurig for some time, but they were just too expensive for me.  Not only did they send me a free Keurig 2.0, but almost all the accessories that went with it.  I receive the carafe container for larger brewing options, the kcup carousel, and multiple kcups.  This way the best day of my life. I was baffled that they would send me a free item that was upward of $200 in the stores.  

Prior to that, I have received a box that contained different beauty products and candy (see picture below).  The best part of all you have to do is let your following know that you are trying this free item that you received from Influenster. I posted pictures on my instagram and facebook page and used a hashtag for each product that I received to socially thank the companies for their products..  

This box included...

• Sally Hansen airbrush legs
• Rimmel Kate mascara
• Ways to make money on ebay
• Coupon for W Club wine
• Rimmel Lasting Kate lipstick
• Not your Mother's Deja Vu Do Style Extender
• Dove Whole Burberries
• Ecotools Finishing Makeup Brush

What will you get in your box from Influenster? Check them out and share with your friends... www.influenster.com/660784

Smucker's Uncrustables Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches

October 18, 2015 2:35 PM CST

Like or Dislike?... Smucker's Uncrustables Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches

I did not grow up on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or any other sandwich at that. I have never had a taste for peanut butter or jelly unless it was highly disguised.  It wasn't until I graduated college in 2011 and was hungry as a hell, that I ate a PB&J sandwich and LOVED it!! I ate it for a while and then like all things, grew tired of it.  Once day in 2013, my coworker was sitting at her desk eating this gawd awful thing that she referred to as a PB&J sandwich.  I analyzed it, had a staring contest with it and ultimately decided that I was not for that.  A few weeks later, I found her preparing to eat yet another PB& J sandwich.  She offered so I said the hell with it and tried it.  It was awesome and is one of my favorite breakfast selections. 

Trust me, this is a sandwich that everyone needs to try at least once.  You can't go wrong!!!! It's small, it's tasty and it's dripping of jelly. I found it at my local Walmart on the aisle with the frozen pizzas and appetizers, but may be located else where in your stores.  

Try it and let me know what you think and let Smucker's know what you think. Like most companies, they appreciate customer feedback on their products.

Using the link below, you can locate product information about the sandwiches.

www.uncrustables.com

Red Diamond Sweet Tea

October 18, 2015 2:12 PM CST

Like or Dislike?.... Red Diamond Sweet Tea... 

For the last year, Red Diamond Tea (Sweet) has been hit and miss, more miss than anything though. I can taste a bit of sweetness, but not enough to be considered sweet tea. It definitely does not have as much as it did in the past. Red Diamond use to be so good to me that I even purchased the tea bags so I could make my own.  Problem is, those don't taste any better. Granted, I can add all the sugar I desire but, there is still a very strange taste that is left behind.  The gallon that I purchased states that it is "all natural" sweet tea so maybe been 100% natural is the problem.. I just want Red Diamond to go back to the original ingredients, if only just for the gallons that you all send to me. I'll be a product tester, whatever you need to just take me back to the way things use to be. PLEAZZZ!!!

Signed,

A Lover of the Original Red Diamond Tea (SWEET)