Soothing Sounds

Relaxation is such a big focus for me right now. Truth be told, I do too much, far too often and end up with occasions (like this past week) where my body will let me know, “Enough is Enough” and it forces me to take a break. I really don’t like getting sick, so I’ve learned to slow down and take time for myself (Although, I can be honest and admit that I still have a good ways to go with perfecting this behavior).

Despite my tendency to be on the go, I really do enjoy taking time to sit and be still. Sometimes, I listen to the quiet and other times, I like to have instrumental music playing in the background. I’m also an ocean lover, so I have several playlists of nature sounds and oceans (especially beach thunderstorms).

This 60 minute, Tranquil Guitar CD made me feel like a kid in a candy store. I really felt like I’d hit the jackpot when I did my first listen through– there are ocean sounds and soft guitar– all of my favorite memories of North Carolina.

The CD was actually composed and recorded by a board certified music therapist with a master’s degree in psychology. The guitar medleys play over ocean sounds that continue throughout the entire CD and between tracks so there aren’t any breaks or silence between songs. For added relaxation, all of the tracks are played at the rhythm of the resting heart rate.

This CD is made for rest! If you love relaxing music – or if you simply crave peace and calm, you should consider adding this CD to your collection.

Such a Tweeze….

Have you ever noticed how you can never have enough tweezers in your collection?

Or how hard it is to find the right tweezers when you need it?

Better yet, how quickly your “favorite tweezers” — You know, the one that catches your brow hair just right when you need to clean them up in between appointments– disappears when you need it most!

This problem multiplies when you’re married. I swear it does. Even worse are those occasions when your husband will has an ingrown beard hair but swears that you can’t come near him with your pink tweezers. (REALLY DUDE. REALLY? These pink tweezers are gonna work just fine!) 😂😂😂😂 #wifeproblems

This Tweezer Set features three pairs of tweezers– slanted, straight and pointed — in a protective black leatherette travel case. Each pair of tweezers closes evenly and firmly, creating the cleanest, most advanced pulling power and they come with a free replacement guarantee.

I most appreciated the neutral colors of this set. As I mentioned earlier, I find myself needing to purchase tweezers for my husband to use, but he’s not a fan of the pink variety. The colors are very vivid and such that they can be easily adapted to be included the toiletry collection of a male or female. Beyond appearance, the color has actual function– The elegant coating makes the ergonomics of the stainless steel tweezers even more exact, super smooth, long-lasting and easy to clean.

Product Review: Brisa Menstrual Cup

This was a very interesting product review to complete. I wondered how I would do a blog post without sharing too much information, but some of you
may be like me and really want to know another person’s opinion of this type of product.

SPOILER ALERT: I will not be posting any “AFTER” photos because, ummm…. no — That’s just too much. But, I can say, this: I was able to use the product over the course of two days and clean it with minimal effort.

About the Cup:

Brisa is a soft and comfortable menstrual cup made with 100% medical grade silicone. This cup is FDA approved and collects the menstrual flow internally instead of absorbing it, which prevents the dryness and irritation women often experience while using tampons.

Selecting Your Size:

One of the first decisions you need to make when considering a menstrual cup is to find the size that will best fit your cervix.

Brisa Size Options:

1 – Small – If you have a low / medium cervix, light or regular flow, or have never given birth vaginally.

2 – Large – If you have a medium / high cervix, have given birth vaginally, or have a heavy flow.

Since I have yet to give birth and have a low cervix, I went with the small size, despite the fact that I often have a heavier flow. I figured I would take a few bathroom breaks and monitor the flow the first day to see how quickly the cup filled up. For added peace of mind the first day, I also decided to wear my cup along with a pantyliner while I adjusted to the cup.

Inserting and Wearing the Cup is Easy and Comfortable:

I thought this would be one of the most awkward parts (second only to removing the cup), but it really wasn’t. The directions are straight-forward and easy to follow. You basically fold the cup in half and in half again. Then you allow it to open up and create a natural seal (this will make more sense once you have your own cup). 🙂

I can have a very heavy flow during my cycle and this means that I have to wear “Ultra “or “Super Plus Tampons” at some point during my period. If you’ve ever worn one of these you know they area LARGE and uncomfortable! Wearing this cup was such a pleasant alternative. I really didn’t think about the fact that I was wearing the cup until I went to the restroom and remembered that I had it on. Per the manufacturer, once you have inserted the cup you can keep it for up to 12 hours (according to your flow).

Removing the cup was also just as easy. I used this towards the end of my cycle so my flow was relatively low. I followed the product directions to remove the item (removing it similar to how one would remove a tampon) and never had any issues with the cup spilling. I will add a few pointers here. I “prepared myself” for removing the cup by grabbing a few pieces of tissue and having them on hand. Then, I simply took the cup, noted where the liquid was relative to the markings on the cup and dumped the liquid into the toilet. It is possible to clean the cup with tissue if you are unable to rinse it before inserting it again, but I followed the directions provided on rinsing the cup with water before using it again during the day. And I’m still alive. 😀

Peace of Mind:

I was hesitant to do it, but I wore it to bed– and I didn’t have any accidents! It was great. It really is an AMAZING feeling when you realize that you do not need to think about changing a pad or tampon every 4-6 hours.

For my comfort and personal peace of mind, I cleaned it using the same feminine wash that I use daily. I thought this would be more sanitary than using traditional soap and water to clean and store the item. After it was completely dry, I placed it back in the satin storage pouch until I need to use it next month.

I will definitely use this again. Overall, one of the most pleasant surprises was how comfortable wearing this cup was. I thought it would be more uncomfortable than wearing a tampon, but it was QUITE the opposite– especially when sitting for extended sessions.

Give it a chance, YOUR BODY is going to thank you!

Book Review: Money-Making Mom

I fell in love with #MoneySavingMom as a student in undergrad– It went right along with the frugal habits I’d already inherited from my maternal grandmother.

This book right here! Let’s just say, it’s a game changer. I’ve started incorporating many of the author’s tips and I’m already seeing increased traffic on my blog and social media sites.
What really strikes me about this text is this– reading it felt like I was listening to a big sister or close mentor.

Her advice was SO down to earth and approachable and the text really felt like we were just curled up on some comfy seats in one of our living rooms having a conversation. You can’t just create that. That’s a real gift! I’m so grateful for what she shared and the opportunity to review this text.

My top 3 takeaways:

Post frequently. She recommends posting content to your blog, AT LEAST 3 to 4 times a week. Before reading this, I thought an average of 2 posts a week was doing OK. After reading this, I realized I needed to step my game up. By doing so, I’m generating more traffic to my blog and seeing increased interactions with my subscribers.
Repost your own content. Do you have old blogs that existed before your blog had much traffic? POST THEM AGAIN. That was a simple suggestion that was so eye opening for me. (And it takes care of one of your weekly blog posts ✔)
Follow blogs and podcasts to stay abreast of current trends. I’m pretty good at following blogs/bloggers and reading up on trends online, but I had yet to begin listening to any podcasts. She recommends: EntreLeadership or Brilliant Business Moms.

Ok. That’s it. I’m not going to give away any more of the text. If you want to know more, you’ll have to read it yourself to find out. 😉 You won’t regret it. I PROMISE ✋👍👌

More about the book (from the publisher):

Book Description:

Entrepreneur, author, and popular blogger Crystal Paine shares the secrets of building income at home, using real life examples to from her own journey in becoming a money-making mom as well as the stories of other women from all walks of life. The nuts and bolts of how to make more money from home are revealed in clear steps that can be immediately and easily put into practice.

But more than just a how-to book for earning extra income,The Money-Making Mom is a challenge to dream big and create a pathway for life. Paine offers examples and insights about what “finding your purpose” can look like in family, career, and service to others. Readers will find inspiration and hope for a life that’s more than “just getting by,” one driven by vision and the freedom to bless others generously.

About the Author:

Crystal Paine is a speaker and author of the New York Times bestseller Say Goodbye to Survival Mode. In 2007, she founded MoneySavingMom.com, a site that has since grown to become one of the most popular blogs on the web, currently averaging more than 1.5 million readers per month. She lives with her husband and three children in Wichita, Kansas.

Ghostbusters Logo Heat Reveal Coffee Cup – Product Review

When I saw this Ghostbusters Logo Heat Reveal Coffee Cup, I knew I had to have it! Husboo and I were both obsessed with the Ghostbusters as kids (He actually liked the movies, I was more of a fan of the soundtracks– Typical us! 😂😂).

The mug is so much fun! Just add coffee, tea (or slime) to reveal the officially licensed no ghost logo that was made famous by the original 1984 movie. The unique design is displayed on both sides of the mug — you are practically guaranteed to have a view of the color change in action!

Product Features

* The mugs hold up to 11 ounces of liquid.

* Made from quality ceramic with black glaze and a thermochromic coating.

* The no-ghost symbol appears after 30 seconds and is visible for up to 30 minutes.

* Features the international no symbol and the catchphrase “Who ya gonna call?”

* When hot liquid is added, the famous cartoon ghost emerges, and the title Ghostbusters appears below the no-ghost symbol.