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!

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!

Guilt Free Pasta

I love pasta! Especially shrimp pasta!

Sadly, pasta doesn’t love me… 😦 Or my waistline. So I’ve looked into alternatives. 🙂

Making “zoodles” or zucchini noodles has become a quick and easy solution for my problem and my husboo LOVES them! He even said he prefers them over traditional noodles! #SheWon #WifeSkills #WifeyCanBurn 😉

I got the idea for this recipe from SkinnyTaste. My remixed recipe is below:

Ingredients:

1 1/2 tsps. olive oil
McCormick Basil & Garlic Seasoning Blend (Season to taste– approximately 1 1/2 tbsp.)
8 oz peeled and deveined shrimp
2 tbsps. minced garlic (I like A LOT of garlic and purchase it minced.)
1 large zucchini, spiralized
1 lemon (or 6 tbsps. lemon juice)

Directions:

Spiralize the zucchini. Use a large mixing bowl to toss zucchini noodles in 4 tbsp of lemon juice. This will help to keep the noodles from browning. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place them in the fridge. (Keep the leftover lemon juice.)
Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
Add 1 teaspoon of the oil and the shrimp and season with the McCormick Basil & Garlic Seasoning Blend. Cook 2 to 3 minutes.
Add half of the minced garlic and continue cooking 1 more minute, or until the shrimp is cooked through and opaque. Set aside on a dish.
Add the remaining 1/2 teaspoon oil and garlic to the pan, cook 30 seconds then add the zucchini noodles and cook 2 minutes or until the zoodles become limp or “al dente.”
Add the shrimp to the pan and squeeze the other lemon half over the dish. Remove from heat and serve. This should be a large enough dish to divide into servings for two people.
Use leftover lemon juice to top off each plated serving. (This final step is optional.)

I used my WonderEsque Tri Blade Compact Spiralizer to make these, most recently. I received the spiralizer as a product review and it is really neat. It came with its own cleaning brush and is small enough to be stored in a kitchen drawer (unlike my older spiralizers). You can see more of its features on Amazon.