Mom's of newborns as little as 4.4 lbs! Now you can keep track of your infants weight accurately!!

As you all know, I have been working on losing weight since June of this year. I had used the same scale that we have had for so many years, that I lost count! When I was offered the opportunity to review the Ozeri Touch II Total Body Scale with touch sensitive user controls, I immediately accepted.

When it arrived and I took it out of the box and saw the user manual, lets just say, I thought- what have I gotten myself into! Reading through the manual was not difficult and made the process of setting it up and understanding all the features completely frustration free. Let's just clarify, the manual, although thick, actually only has 15 actual pages for each language.

After installing the included batteries, you can set up a profile for each person in your home. Unlike other scales that have the option for more than one profile, I have never seen one that can have up to 8 different profiles...yes, that's right, 8! There are only 4 in my household, so if for some reason, my sisters or other relatives wanted to come over to weigh themselves, I can add their profile's! Setting the profiles is as simple as pushing the set button and going through the options for male or female, age, and height. Which each one, you simply use the arrows to go up or down to choose the appropriate selection.

The only downside I found is that it will not go down below age 10, so my younger son, doesn't have accurate information for the body fat, water, muscle, and bone ratios. Yes, I know what you are thinking, why would a 6 year old be into monitoring his weight...well my boys love to know this information and actually will check their weight 3-4 times a week! For them, this is how they monitor that they are growing!

When you set up each profile, you have to have the person there to be ready to step on the scale, they must be barefoot, and have to place their feet on the silver rings, so it can measure everything accurately. Then you can set up the next profile after that, going through the same sets mentioned before. Now, a really cool feature...if another person in your home is within 6.6 pounds of another person, the scale will display a choice of the profiles that are within that 6.6 pounds, so you can select your profile! Seriously, they have thought of everything!

 
 

 

Now for some more cool info...when you step on the scale, stay on after it displays your weight, you will see a flashing "0" as it is measuring your body fat (FAT), water (TBW), muscle (MUS), and bone (bone). Once it completes the measurement, your information will display for each one and repeats 3 times. Each one has a corresponding icon that lights up on the scale in the above order from left to right. Now, refer back to the manual on pages 12-15 for the normal ranges for each and has more information regarding each one.

Other than the age only going down to 10, I have found no issues with this scale and every one in my family loves to use it. An added feature, that is great for people with pets and infants, it has a "TARE" setting that allows you to weigh by either stepping on the scale by yourself first and then with the baby or the pet and then stepping on it without them in your arms...it will display your weight and the baby or pet's weight separately! I mean seriously, wow! And it can detect a weight from 4.4 lbs to 99.2 lbs! This would be great for parents of preemies, if you are worried about whether your preemie is gaining weight!

Okay now the price...$39.95 with free shipping if you have Amazon Prime! I know, I know, I sound like one of those cheesy infomercials on TV but really, I am memorized by this! My niece recently had her son and he was born at 33 weeks 5 days and weighed 4 lbs 12 oz. I have let her borrow this for the very reason above. First time mom of a preemie and worried constantly about whether he is gaining weight...When it comes to preemies, they have to learn to feed and they can burn A LOT of energy just drinking a mere 2 ounces, so they have to be monitored closely to ensure they are gaining weight and maintaining their body temperature. This is the perfect solution to help keep track easily of the progress and can let a mom see quickly if they are not, so mom can follow up with the doctor.

Here is the link to the Ozeri product page on Amazon.com: simply click on the hashtag #ozeri

Disclosure: Yes, I did receive this for free to review the item, no, I did not receive any money or anything else in exchange. I was not promised commission, a vacation, luxurious house, fancy cars, or anything else. My review is based off of my personal use and my families personal use of the scale. All words are my own and the review was written entirely by ME!

Robitussin CF Review

I recently received a coupon for a free 4 ounce sample of Robitussin CF through Crowdtap.com and Robitussin. I tried locating the product at my local Wal-Mart and Hy-Vee stores but could not find the product in stock. It was getting close to the deadline for reporting how effective the medication is and reviewing how I liked it, so after looking again, I was able to locate the combination product that included a smaller sized night time Robitussin CF. I paid almost $10 for the product and since I had been having cold symptoms the past couple days, I was ready to give it a try. I had the stuffy nose and the dry cough that happens because of feeling like I needed to clear my throat.

I do a lot of talking for my job and this causes the cough to become worse because my throat gets even more dry and irritated and the slow drip of congestion from the back of my nose into my throat causes more irritation. So I took the recommended 20ml dose according to the directions. The taste wasn't bad but still of course tasted like cough medication, which is fine, because I honestly don't think it should taste really great because this can increase the chance of poisoning, if you have a child that could get a hold of the bottle. It did help to calm my cough slightly, however, I didn't notice a reduction in the stuffiness of my nose.

Later that night, I took the night time Rubitussin CF, which was thicker in consistency than the day time one but still the same dosage of 20ml. This seemed to work more effectively with the congestion in my nose and reducing my cough, however, it has to be taken every 4 hours, just as with the day time product. Overall, in my opinion, it worked pretty much the same as all the other over the counter cough and cold medications. #Crowdtap #Robitussin

Easy to Use Automatic Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Montior by Gurin

With my 2 boys and myself having ADHD and taking medications that can affect our blood pressure, having a quick, effective, and easy way to monitor our blood pressure at home is essential. Since I am a nurse, I of course, have a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope and can take my boy's blood pressure. However getting a 6 year old and 11 year old to sit still long enough is another story. It's not just the sitting still, it's also the keeping quiet as well! I don't know about other people but trying to take my own blood pressure, is not the easiest to do, I mean, I have great nursing skills and nurses are great at multi-tasking and figuring out ways to get things done when we need to, but, we do have our limits!

I was sent the Gurin Upper-Arm Blood Pressure Monitor to review. It was really simple to set up, simply connecting the air tube to the machine, installing the included AA batteries, and programming the machine for the date and time. After that you just put the cuff on your upper arm, press the start button, and wait for it to check your blood pressure, as well as, your heart rate. This is also a plus because the medications can affect heart rate as well.

The Gurin Blood Pressure Monitor as additional features that are beneficial for us because of monitoring 3 different people. This has the ability to store 3 different users under the alarm settings and will store 60 readings. The included instruction manual gives easy to follow directions for each step of setting up the machine when first taking it out of the box, setting the date and time, and the alarm/user settings. It also has a page of troubleshooting and possible error codes.

The Gurin Blood Pressure Monitor can measure a blood pressure from 30-280mmHg, a heart rate from 40-199. It does have a +/- variation of 3mmHg for the blood pressure and a +/- 4% variation on pulse rate. In the healthcare profession, we know that the the body is in a constant state of working towards homeostasis and readings can vary slightly from one reading to the next, however, blood pressures that vary greatly should be followed up with your doctor. A normal blood pressure can vary anywhere from 15-20% throughout the day and generally your blood pressure will be higher in the evenings than in the mornings. This is because of multiple factors such as stress, diet, etc.

If you would like to find out more information about the Gurin Upper-Arm Blood Pressure Monitor simply click on the following hastag #bloodpressuremonitor, or you can go to their website by clicking HERE.

Disclosure: I received this for free to review and give my honest opinion about the product. I was not compensated in any way for reviewing this product.

Another Great Product By Arvazallia!

Last month I reviewed Arvazallia Professional Series Advanced Color Care System. I loved the results that I got using these products and recently received another product to review! This time I got the Arvazallia Ultra Curl Defining Cream with Argan Oil. It arrived back on November 6th and I have been using it almost every single day since.

After I use the Arvazallia Professional Series shampoo and conditioner, I then wrap my hair in a towel for just a few seconds to get the excess water out. I take two little pumps of the Ultra Curl Defining Cream and rub my hands together and run my fingers through my hair. I usually use a diffuser so my hair will dry but you can also let your hair air dry.

It works really well with making my curls more defined and helps with controlling the frizz. It doesn't leave my hair crunchy or sticky like other products I have tried. It also smells great and doesn't contain Sulfates or Parabens that can dry out your hair and cause even more frizz! If you would like to purchase this for yourself, simply click on the following hastag #curlsdefined.

Disclosure: I did receive this at no cost to review and give my honest and unbiased opinion. I was not compensated in any way and my review is my own.

As we get older...

With being a nurse, I have put my body through torture, I was educated on using proper body mechanics and ergonomics. Even with all the education and hands-on training that a nurse receive and how hard they try to protect their bodies from injuries, it happens...you get busy, your co-workers get busy, and you think to yourself, what will it really hurt to just do this yourself. That was me time and unfortunately time again. I would have a million and one things to do and so would the other nurses I worked with.

I eventually started having worsening lower back pain and would just ignore it and continue to work through the pain. Now here I am years later wondering why I didn't try to be more careful. If I sit in one position too long and go to move, I feel the pain in my hips and lower back. I could take stock in the Tylenol and Ibuprofen companies to get some of my money back! I have been to Chiropractors, taken OTC pain relievers around the clock, tried the heating pad, and once even had to see a neurosurgeon.

I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease (DDD), which in summary means the cushion between my discs in my back are wearing down. Not just because of being a nurse but also because of the day to day slouching, bending, and twisting of my back...pretty much not taking proper care of my spine. When my back would begin to hurt, I would try to avoid moving a certain way to avoid the pain and of course this created different problems.

So now her I am at 35 years old and feel like I'm 80. I make noises with every movement I do. I wanted to find something that would help my aches and pains without putting a bunch of medicine into my body or that would restrict being able to do the things I need to do. So when I was given the chance to try a product that was completely natural and was supposed to help with joint aches and pains, I, not literally, jumped at the chance to try it. I mean, really, I have tried pretty much everything else, so why not try it as well. Drum roll please....

I received the full sized sample of Joint Right and couldn't wait to give it a try. The Joint Right pain relieving cream contains a Cox2 inhibitor. What is this exactly? Glad you asked, it is an Cox2 is a specific enzyme that causes inflammation, pain, and even fever. So the inhibitor in turns stops that enzyme from working, thus reducing inflammation, pain, and fever. This, of course, made me even more hopeful that I would finally get some relief from the pain that I have been dealing with all this time. It is easy to apply, per the instructions, you put two pumps of the cream into your hand and rub it into the affected area and this can be applied up to six times a day.

It is a white cream and it has a smell of a mixture of menthol and alcohol but is not strong or lingering. It goes on easily and doesn't leave a greasy feel to the skin. You can immediately feel the cooling effect of the menthol. At first I didn't really think it worked because I was expecting the extreme instant after-effect like other products where your back feels extremely ice cold then turns to the immense burning sensation, this did not happen with the Joint Right. Instead after about 15 minutes, I noticed I was moving with more ease and didn't have the constant ache and twinges my back and hips make. When I got up from my recliner, it happened without the usual under my breathe ugh sound I had been accustomed to making. I finally found...relief. Wow, it was a taboo word to me, I had thought I found it before and had come close to it many times, only to be let down.

I have now made this part of my morning and bedtime routine. I can move easier in the morning and at night I am able to relax and fall asleep! If you would like to learn more about #JointRight simply click on the aforementioned hashtag and it will take you to their website! If you have Amazon Prime it is also available with free shipping through their product page HERE!

So what are you waiting for! Find some relief for yourself!!! If you go to their website through the hashtag, you can get 15% off on this or even one of their other Vita Science Products by using code "save15"! 

Slight decrease in puffiness and dark circles

The Joyal Beauty Vitamin C Eye Gel arrived on October 28th. This is one product in a set that helps reduce eye puffiness, dark circles, and fine lines around the eyes. I have been using it as instructed on the bottle, applying it in the morning and before going to bed. It has a cooling effect that I am sure is because of the cucumber properties that are in it. I have noticed a slight decrease in the puffiness and dark circles, however, I have also noticed it leaves a shiny appearance as well, almost like it creates a film on top of my skin. I'm not sure if this is the expected result or if I might be applying too much. the pump does make it difficult to get out a small amount and I feel like I am wasting more than I am using.

If it had a squeezable bottle with a fine tip dispenser, it might decrease the amount that comes out and can make the product last longer. It isn't irritating to my skin which is good since I find a lot of products cause my skin to get red and blotchy. I'm not sure if there would be a more noticeable difference if I was using the other products along with this one or not.




If you would like to learn more about this product and other products in this line of Joyal Beauty simply click on the hastag #BestEyeCream. This will take you to their product page on Amazon!




Disclaimer: I did receive this product for free for my honest and unbiased review. I appreciate the opportunity given to test this product so I can help other buyers and help sellers know if there might be issues, if any, with their products!

Remember when you had to go the the Chiropractor to help your tight sore muscles...

The days of going to the chiropractor are a thing of the past! My husband and I both get tight, aching, sore muscles all over from years of doing our jobs. Even as a nurse, I unfortunately did not use ergonomics all the time to decrease the risk of getting back pain; there were times when there wasn't anyone available to assist me in positioning a patient, or lifting and moving someone and the result was waking up to a stiff neck, shoulders, and back. I would have to drive to the next town and sit at the chiropractor and wait however long to be seen (you couldn't make an appointment, it was a walk-in only) and what choice did I have but to wait? I couldn't function when this was going on.

The SantaMedical Electronic Pulse Massager brings the same level of relief that you would get at the chiropractor. It comes with everything needed to start using right out of the box. It takes 4 AAA batteries (also included) and comes with 4 reusable electrodes and two lead wires that you plug the electrodes into. 

The device can look a little intimidating but I assure you, it is very easy to operate. After plugging the lead wires into the device, you simply turn the dials on each side of the device that are located below the LCD screen. This brings up a "P" symbol inside the middle box on the LCD screen. See picture below:

As you can see only one dial is turned on because you don't have to use both sets of lead wires and electrodes. After turning it on, you can select an auto mode function or can manually adjust the setting to what you would like. Using the auto mode function is simply selecting one of the blue buttons that are labeled with what location you have the electrodes on such as: Neck, Shoulder, Joint, Hand-Leg, and Sole. The blue button in the middle on the second row is for repeating the 15 minute cycle after it is done. Once you select a location button it immediately starts the 15 minute cycle.

To adjust the intensity you just roll the dials that I mentioned are located below the LCD screen. If you are using both sets of lead wires and electrodes, you adjust both to get the intensity to the desired level you want for where they are at. After completing that, you can also adjust the speed of the pulses by pushing either the speed + or speed - buttons located below the blue auto mode buttons. Finally you can change what type of massage you get by selecting one of the three blue buttons at the bottom of the device. You can select the massage, beat, or knead buttons and it creates a different kind of pulse. I have included my video review below so you can see how it works. I used it on my husband's back and you can see the muscle response to the pulses. 

If you would like to find out more information about the SantaMedical Tens unit, simply click  on the hashtag #Tensunit and you will be taken to their product page on Amazon.com!

Disclaimer:  I did receive this product at a discounted rate for my honest and unbiased review. I appreciate the opportunity given to test this product so I can help other buyers and help sellers know if there might be issues, if any, with their products!

ZiggyBaby 3 pack Swaddle Blanket

                               

If you have never known the peacefulness that ensues when you have a baby that feels completely secure and is able to sleep peacefully, it is probably because of the startle reflex. This infant reflex happens when the baby, for no specific reason while laying on their back, will suddenly fling their arms and legs out, hence the startle reflex. This can make a baby that was sleeping wake up and will cry because of that feeling that they are not safe.

This is where swaddle blankets become a new mom and dad's best friend. In the past there were no such things as "swaddle blankets", you simply wrapped the baby up in a receiving blanket and hoped that it would not come unwrapped. This usually led to numerous re-wrapping and frustration because you couldn't get it just right so it would stay in place. The baby would move their arms and it pretty much defeat the purpose.

The ZiggyBaby Swaddle Blankets are designed to eliminate all of the issues associated with receiving blankets. They are made of 100% cotton and machine washable. The colors are adorable and vibrant. ZiggyBaby have two wings that wrap over the babies arms and the left wing has 2 velcro tabs that secure the wrap in place to help prevent the startle reflex. 

Another wonderful design of the ZiggyBaby swaddling blankets is the pocket design for the baby's legs to go into. This pouch helps prevent the baby's legs from kicking the blanket loose, like what would generally happen with the receiving blankets in the past.

Since they are made of 100% cotton, they are breathable but will keep the baby warm. I thought this would be a wonderful gift for my niece who is having her first baby in December. She has been wanting swaddling blankets since about a week after finding out she was pregnant! I know she will love these and will get plenty of use out of them!

If you would like to learn more about the ZiggyBaby Swaddle Blankets & Infant Wraps, simply click on the following hastag #ziggybaby! This will take you to their product page on Amazon.com. 

Disclaimer: I did receive this product for free for my honest and unbiased review. I appreciate the opportunity given to test this product so I can help other buyers and help sellers know if there might be issues, if any, with their products!

  

Absolutely Beautiful Jewelry you have to see! Plus an exclusive discount offer and GIVEAWAY!

I recently began chatting back and forth with a designer, Emma Winston, who back on September 28th, officially opened her online store of her amazing and beautiful jewelry collections. As I was browsing through her online store, I was in awe of all the different designs. Each item looks so elegant and would make any woman feel like a million bucks! I was in disbelief that Emma, herself, was emailing me personally and when she offered me the opportunity to post on my blog about her and her original designed collections, I was taken aback!

I emailed back and explained that I haven't had my blog for very long and am still working on building it into what I hope it will be. I wanted to let her know that I am gaining followers and subscribers to my blog daily, however, I do not have near the amount that more established bloggers have and I wasn't sure I could bring something more than what other bloggers have already offered to her.

I was expecting a reply that I have received before from other companies informing me that although they appreciate my willingness to want to promote their company, I just don't have enough of a following that could boost their exposure about their products and company like they want, however, they would encourage me to reapply once I have established my blog more and have more followers and subscribers.

She replied back completely different than my expectations, she was very sincere and said she would love for me to showcase her collections and is even offering my readers an exclusive discount! It gets even better for my readers!!! She is also doing a giveaway and wants my readers to have the chance at winning one a Free Pair of Floating Earrings, Studs, or a $25 Gift Card!

*I do want to point out that I have received nothing in exchange for posting this, no personal discount, no free item, nothing...I chose to do this post because I think the collections so beautiful and high quality. I appreciate the opportunity given by Emma Winston to be allowed to use pictures from her online store to showcase the different styles that she has designed but I gain nothing in exchange for doing this.*

You can see her all of her designs including: Earrings, Bracelets, and Necklaces by clicking HERE! You can also keep up to date on future released designs, promotions, and sales by following her on Facebook,  Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram!

Thanks to Emma Winston, you get a great discount by applying the following discount at checkout: AUDIENCE15OFF

So what are you waiting for??? Enter below:

Who would like to win something valued at $175???

What says French luxury better than evian® and Longchamp? For 37 years The Wilkes group has distributed Evian Facial Sprays in top retail stores and luxury resorts all across the USA. The Wilkes Group is now giving everyone the chance to win this exclusive and top branded item! If you want to know more about the amazing facial spray, simply click on this LINK to learn more! So what are you waiting for? Who doesn't want to be pampered in luxury? I certainly would! Why not treat yourself with one of the most natural and purest facial sprays available! If you would like to enter for your chance to win this exclusive product simply enter your information below!!! Good luck to all and fingers crossed that you are selected!!!

A weekend of #AirheadsCrafts Fun!

This past weekend my niece came to visit and I thought this would be the perfect time to let my two boys tap into their creativity and see what they could come up with! I gave them free range with the only instruction of making Jack-o-lanterns. I baked cookies and cream cookies and frosted them with orange frosting to give them the orange color to look more like a pumpkin. I assisted with warming up the air heads and gave some minimal support to my niece and younger son.

They had so much fun and of course enjoyed consuming them when they were finished. I don't really think my niece quite got the concept but she had so much fun! They used the included rolling pin and cutting device. My older son asked if we could do something like this for Christmas too! I am so happy that I was able to do this mission because it was a great way to engage my otherwise preoccupied boys!

If you would like to see more ideas on how to use #AirheadsCrafts and bring out the creativity in your own kids or even yourself check out this PAGE! Check out this link as well!

Disclaimer: I did receive the Airheads through Smiley360 for free to be able to do the #AirheadsCrafts!