Walking on A Cloud….

If you’ve been following the blog or any of my social media channels for long, you probably know that I do lots of product reviews as one my many past times.

It’s really interesting how it evolved because my family and friends were always asking my opinions on things I use or own (I guess because they know I’m not one to spend money on things, “just because”) and I’ve always been one to give a company an online review (especially when shopping on Amazon).

It just goes to show you, your hobbies and normal activities can become profitable — you just have to do your research! 😉

For the past month, I’ve been reviewing the ROHEGO Premium Anti-Fatigue Comfort Mat floor mat. Since moving into our home, I’ve upgraded our kitchen mats a few times. I was a big fan of some memory foam mats that I found on clearance at HomeGoods, but the cloth material attracted lots of lint and debris and would never wash clean. That was a major bummer. I was thrilled when I saw an offer to review this mat. At I’ll save my final verdict for the end of this post, but here are a few details about the product:

CUSHIONED SUPPORT, RIGHT AT YOUR FEET
Standing for long periods of time on hard surfaces can put undue stress on your feet, knees, hips and back. This causes fatigue, aches and pain. By displacing your body weight the shock-absorbing mat, you experience improved circulation, better posture and muscle conditioning, and overall improved health and comfort. Whether you stand at the kitchen sink, at your garage workbench, or on the assembly line, the ROHEGO Anti-Fatigue Mat enhances your personal comfort and productivity by providing just the right amount of cushion and support between hard surfaces and your feet.

SAFE AND DURABLE FOR ANY ENVIRONMENT
The ROHEGO Premium Anti-Fatigue Mat is made of a single piece of polyurethane with a high-density core for maximum resilience and stability. The mat is eco-friendly and non-toxic, suitable for kitchens, offices and any other work areas. A textured backing ensures non-skid performance, while beveled edges prevent trip hazards and curling. Its closed-cell construction makes it anti-microbial and stain-resistant. Hand-washing it with mild soap and water, and then allowing it to air-dry will return it to like-new condition.

WORK IN COMFORT and enhance your productivity at home or at the office. This high-density mat provides shock-absorbing support and improved blood circulation when standing on hard surfaces.

SAFETY IS IMPERATIVE so every mat has a textured non-skid backing. Beveled edges all around prevent curling and trip hazards while allowing carts to roll smoothly over the mat without upending.

GENEROUSLY SIZED at 39″ L x 20″ W x .75″D. The ROHEGO Premium Anti-Fatigue Mat is ideal for tired moms and dads at kitchen sinks and washer/dryers, those standing for hours at their standing desks/workstations, artists, cashiers, assembly-line technicians, hair stylists, mechanics, restaurant hostesses and much, much more…

MY FINAL VERDICT: I love this floor mat! I often experience restlessness in my legs while sitting/standing and doing laundry or washing dishes. This lessened that problem. It really feels like you are walking on a thin pillow. Almost like a cloud. My husband has also become a fan of the mat I placed in our kitchen, so much so that I plan to purchase another mat for the laundry area. I also appreciate that it is much easier to clean than floor mats I have used in our kitchen in the past. This is the best of them all. I am beyond happy with this item and it gets a 5 star, Fix-it With Fran Approval Rating!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Arabella’s 100% Natural Boar Bristle Hair Brush

Since transitioning my hair from relaxed to natural in 2011, I much prefer wearing my hair up in my fro/afro puff. In fact, before this past February, I’d gone over 2 years without straightening my hair (no flat-iron, no blow out, NO NOTHING- All FRO!). Now that I’m wearing it down more often, having a good brush to use is really important.

This Arabella brush boasts a number of positive features. These include:

-100% Soft Boar Bristle Hair; No Plastic Bristles

-Lightweight Schima Wood Finished Handle

-Bristles Do Not Fall Out After Repetitive Use

BENEFITS TO USING ARABELLA’S BOAR BRISTLE HAIR BRUSH:

-Naturally Conditions Hair
-Adds Gloss and Shine
-Improves Hair Texture
-Reduces Frizz
-Stimulates the Scalp
-Redistributes Natural Oils Throughout

I know there are a few of schools of thought when it comes to brushes and how often one should brush his/her hair. I try to keep it simple and minimize my use of brushes. Especially around my edges. I love how this brush is lightweight, but still sturdy and easy to handle. I still see myself using this when my hair is in an afro to lay down my edges before wrapping or styling my hair. Overall, this brush is a winner in my book and one I plan to get a lot of use out of!

Book Review: The Anti-Inflammatory Cookbook

I’ve already shared a good bit about my history of dealing with chronic pain, but the saying is really true– “You are what you eat” and for many of us, inflammation can cause problems and symptoms that may be uncomfortable, painful or even unbearable and what we eat can play a significant role in worsening or improving these symptoms.

With The Fast & Fresh Anti–Inflammatory Cookbook, you can continue to enjoy delicious meals with your loved ones, family and friends, while reducing inflammation, becoming pain free and improving your overall health at the same time.

Each of the recipes in this cookbook are made with easy to find fresh ingredients, are simple to prepare, and are either quick to bake, steam or saute, or they make use of a slow cooker, giving you more time to get on with your busy life while dinner’s cooking!

Here’s a “sneak peek” of what you’ll find inside:

150 delicious, mouthwatering recipes including some of my favorites:
- Sriracha Steak Wraps
- Spicy Shrimp and Zucchini Noodles
- Burrito Brunch
A 7-Day Meal Plan to start you on your journey to restoring your health
- Lifestyle planning
- Morning, Lunch, Dinner, and snack suggestions
Comprehensive dietary advice (Food allergies, Gluten Free, Weight-loss/gain, etc.)
Guidance to reduce inflammation
- Including details of various illnesses and diseases and their linkages to inflammation

I think this is a great cookbook and I’m glad I added it to my collection. I really appreciate the visual appeal of the book and the wealth of knowledge it shares with the reader.

Moreover, the philosophy is really a powerful one– once you take the time to understand the foods that make you feel good and those that flare up your symptoms, you can enjoy more of those healthy foods that help you to feel better, which will help you to manage your weight and your inflammation and symptoms will (hopefully) continue to decrease over time.

Healthy eating, partnered with a good fitness routine and active lifestyle, have been key to managing my chronic pain issues and I’m even more encouraged after reviewing this cookbook!

No Outdoor Grill? No Problem!

I love grilling out, but sometimes inclement weather gets in the way and other times I just don’t want to go outside. I’m just being real– It is way too hot in New Orleans! 😂

In these instances, a well performing indoor grill would be a dream come true. But is the concept TOO GOOD to be true? I had to test it to find out.

Here is my full review:

The Product Features

The grill comes gift boxed and includes a limited 2 year warranty.

Once unboxed, the actual item measures 10 inches across and works on standard electric (but NOT glass top electric), gas, or propane stoves (My home stove uses natural gas).

When in use, the grill’s water-filled outer ring (pictured above) catches fat and juices during cooking, eliminating smoke and splattering.

The cooking surface is made of a high-quality aluminum material and is non-stick to ensures easy cleanup.

My Test Kitchen Review

I decided to use this grill to make chili-lime grilled shrimp with a habanero & honey glaze.

Here are a few step-by-step photos showing the indoor grill in action:

Getting started…

Turning over the first batch…

A close up of a few, freshly glazed shrimp kebabs…

This was a very simple dish. I paired the shrimp with garlic couscous, sweet yellow corn, and sweet peas.

Overall, I really do like this indoor grill. It was extremely easy to set up and use and came out crystal clean after one dishwasher cycle.

If you’d like to see more physical details, head on over to my YouTube channel and watch my video review!

Do or DoNut….

Let’s be honest, some days we feel like waking up early and going to the gym and other mornings we would all rather get up and get a donut and watch a few episodes of our favorite shows.

Lately, my schedule has been SUPER busy. So much so, that any downtime I’ve been able to squeeze out of it was quickly occupied by sleeping or a Netflix/Hulu binge (OITNB anyone? We’re not going to talk about Episode 12. 😢 And have you watched Uncle Buck? I ACTUALLY like it. I didn’t think I would, but I DO! 😮).

I even managed to make a trip to our local Krispy Kreme to pick up some tasty treats after one of my meetings!

(Don’t judge me, the hot sign was on….and it beckoned me… and there was a drive thru 😂) I’m all about balance folks.

… and I was inspired by my new mug, pictured below.

You can’t look at that and not want a donut! Right!?!? Well, I couldn’t. 😇

So, I’ll give myself some grace for the rest of this week and go back to my old routine with a goal to reset my fitness plan after the 4th of July holiday. I haven’t been too crazy with my eating habits and I’m still on target to meet my DietBet goal (yayyyyy)!

Other updates:

I’m working on a few things for the blog. More (and better quality videos), interviews, more podcasts, several deal alerts and product reviews, my couponing tips and recipes and whatever else I think of over the next couple of weeks. I’m excited about it and I hope you are too!

In fact, you can email me at LetsFixIt@FixItWithFran.com with any particular topic requests you may have and I’ll see what I can do to incorporate your interests!

A few final requests:

Please share the blog on your social media networks and invite others to join us! Be sure to sign up for an email subscription if you haven’t already 😉