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Sunday, June 28, 2015

Review: Arnie's Gifts

As you may recall, Arnie's Gifts donated a cigar box humidor for the last giveaway featured here on Experience A Life. Many of my readers really took it. And I can see why. It was exquisitely made and looked very elegant. Tony is an occasional cigar smoker, so I am tempted to get one myself.
   Arnie's has been in business since November 2014 and since that time, their most popular pieces have been the Whiskey Decanter and the Sit and Sip Cooler. I know Tony would enjoy both of those immensely.
   Arnie's personal favorites include the All In One Tailgate Chair and the jewelry found in their Etsy shop.
   As for me, I love their Owl Bodysuit for Baby and the Personalized Wine Barrel Tool Accessory Set. But, they
have a variety of gifts for him, for her, for the kids and for the home. It's never too late to start thinking about birthdays or . . . dare I say it? . . . Christmas!
   I will definitely keep them in mind as I have already started my Christmas shopping. And I know my husband and my father would love to have some of their items! Highly recommended!

Friday, June 26, 2015

Review: Full Time Energy

Since my thyroid started taking a dive, getting my energy to stay up throughout the day has been a little challenging. The only thing that seemed to give me enough to keep going was a Five-Hour shot. But, I certainly don't want to make it a habit of consuming those daily.
   Then, along came Full Time Energy. It arrived to my door in a large 32-ounce bottle. I was excited, but I am usually leery about trying energy concoctions. Not because they might not work, but because they generally taste nasty. The first sniff when I opened the bottle did not make me change my mind that it was going to taste otherwise.
   However, I put it in the fridge and the next day, I gave it a try. It is surprisingly tasty! There was no weird chemical taste lingering in my mouth afterward and I got a boost of energy 15 minutes later. While the energy does not last all day, it lasts for most of it. It usually wears off completely about 8 o'clock at night.
   I've been taking it everyday and so has Tony. We both agree that it is a wonderful product. And, it has garcinia cambogia and green coffee bean extract to aid in weight loss. It's a perfect boost to incorporate into your exercise routine.
Full disclosure: I received this product free of charge in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Review: Nordic Kendama

I love finding different and unique toys for my daughter. I received the Nordic Kendama with no clue how to use it, but eager to give it a try.
   The bamboo that the toy is made of is very pretty and
smooth and it is exquisitely built. The ball at the top of the toy easily fits into the indentations on the three handle ends. I picked it up and saw that the ball was attached with a string to the handle. I looked quizzically to Tony and he took it from me and showed me how to use it.
   It takes a minute to learn how to use it, but truly a lifetime to master. Kind of like the yo-yo. Anyone can learn how to yo-yo, but very few people become as good as the Yo-Yo Man. I'm still practicing with it.
   When K came home and saw her new toy, at first she was not impressed. After all, it's not as colorful as her Monster High collection, but once we showed her how it works, she became intrigued. She practices with it outside and in her room shortly before bedtime. She makes sure to not use it around her baby brother because the ball has a tendency to fly around and she doesn't want to smack him in the head with a wooden ball.
    It's relieving to know that toys and entertainment for children does not have to include noise, bright lights, batteries and apps. I'm so pleased that she can have so much fun with something so simple. Highly recommended for the little kids!
Full disclosure: I was sent this product free of charge in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Review: Andre Lorent Cellulite Cream

Cellulite is becoming a bit of an issue for me. Thankfully, I hardly ever wear shorts or short skirts in public, so no one is exposed to my cottage cheese. But, I still want to get rid of it. My weight loss is helping, but I am always ready to try some other product.

   I received an offer to try Andre Lorent Cellulite Cream and I thought, "Why not?"
   The product, upon arrival, was in a smart looking container. Nothing over the top and no annoying pictures of smooth, thin legs on it. There was no smell from the cream that I could tell, but then my sense of smell is not good at all. However, my husband said he did not smell anything either.
   The instructions were to apply to problem areas in an upward circular motion and to make sure it is absorbed into the skin. After absorption, I was pleased to find that there was no greasiness left over. The instructions also said to make sure you apply it every day. And I have been.
   After the second day, the skin that was receiving the treatment felt like a baby's. It was so smooth, silky and soft. My husband really loves it.
   The Andre Lorent Cellulite Cream contains retinol and caffeine - both are used to reduce the fat deposits that create the dimply appearance. Now, I'm not sure if my cellulite is reduced. I cannot really see it, but Tony said I never had a big problem before. But, he loves how it makes my skin feel and so do I. This is definitely a product that I will be purchasing and I do recommend it to everyone. If nothing else, you will get extremely silky skin.
Full disclosure: I received this product at a deep discount in exchange for honest and unbiased review.

Friday, June 19, 2015

Review: Vegetizer by Yanu

When I first saw gadgets that could transform veggies into pasta, I was intrigued. Being a Type 1 diabetic, carbohydrates are not always the best thing. Traditional pasta is loaded with carbs and I LOVE pasta! And since I am also trying to lose
weight, I know that skipping the carbs is the best thing for that. The less carbs, the less insulin I need to take and insulin is a weight gaining hormone.
   Anyway, I figured one of these gadgets would be perfect in my quest for a healthier me without skipping all of the foods I love. I received an opportunity from Yanu to try their Vegetizer and I jumped on that the way I jump on lasagna.
   When it arrived, I squealed with delight. The box has a wonderful vintage 1950s-ish ad woman on it. And I am becoming more and more intrigued with that time period. The box was small and I was curious as to how it could be so small. Surely there must be gears and mechanical parts to this thing. But, it is really simple. It works just like a pencil sharpener.
   So far, I have used it on carrots, sweet potatoes and squash. The carrots are a little annoying to shred - like too small of a pencil in a sharpener. And the sweet potato I used had to be trimmed a little in order to fit, but all in all, the Vegetizer made some wonderful veggie pasta! The vegetable noodles had a delightful crunch after I topped them with some chicken and pasta sauce.
   The Vegetizer is wonderful and so easy to use! I highly recommend it! Even if you are not looking to cut carbs, lose weight or get healthier, still try it for something different to eat. Check it out here: http://www.amazon.com/Vegetizer-Vegetable-Complete-Spiralizer-Spaghetti/dp/B00W9JXGKG/ie=UTF8?m=AQNG54WLWA2UN&keywords=spiralizer
Full disclosure: I was sent this product for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Review: Living Natural Garcinia Cambogia

I love garcinia cambogia. It always gives me an extra boost in my weight loss endeavors. I received an opportunity from Living Natural to review theirs. And since I was recently out of my stock, I decided, why not?
   And I'm glad I did.
   I take it mid afternoon to avoid having it conflict with another medication I take right away in the morning. It gives me a surge of energy that usually begins to wane around 3 p.m.
   Now, I've only taken this product for about a week, so I have not seen any significant weight loss. I've lost about 1 inch overall - you know, a quarter inch on the thighs, a quarter inch on the belly and so forth. It's certainly not anything that will get me into my pre-pregnancy pants this week. However, I have noticed my appetite has waned. I am less enthusiastic about food than I usually am. I just don't think about it. My cravings and tummy rumblings make my appetite for food a troublesome annoyance.
   So, I am betting that this stuff will kick in based on those two factors. I would recommend it.
Full disclosure: I was sent a bottle free of charge in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Thursday, June 11, 2015

10 Ways Type 1 Can Be Awesome

I spend a lot of time figuring out how to get out of Type 1 diabetes (i.e., a cure) and complaining about Type 1. After 27 years, I still find things to complain about. But, I know it could be a lot worse and maybe I should just take time every now and again to smell the roses.

1) We can bring food and drink where it's forbidden.

2) Carb counting is second nature.
3) We are attuned to our bodies. We learn early on to pay attention and if something does not seem right, we know it right away.
4) It's party time when our blood sugar is good!
5) It's a bigger party when our A1C is good!

6) We can mess with people . . .
     "What are you doing?"

     "Shooting up."

7) Sometimes our public low blood sugars will get us a free juice or candy bar. And hey, who doesn't like free?
8) We get a confidence in knowing that the disease does not control us . . . we control it. It can and will retaliate, but we get it back in line.  

9) We feel a tremendous relief when our lab tests come back showing that nothing has gotten worse. A relief that calls for a bottle of wine! Or a stiff drink with diet soda.
10) There is an excitement in the air when a new Type 1 product becomes available.

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Review: AZSPORT Waist Trimmer

After I hurt my back a few weeks ago (a disc moved in my lumbar region), I've taken pains to be careful with what I do. Unfortunately, that also means I have been doing little physical activity. And my core is paying the price.

   So, when I got an opportunity to review the AZSPORT Waist Trimmer, I jumped on it. Not only does it help in shrinking the belly, but it is providing me with much needed relief for back pain by providing compression and creating the best posture for healing.
   Now, it is best used during physical activity, which is when I strap it on. How it works is it preserves your body heat and removes excess water weight from your abdominal area.
   While it's doing that, it helps strengthen your core - a boon for me and anyone suffering from a back injury. Strengthening your core is critical for healing and preventing injuries.
   If you are concerned that the waist trimmer might not fit around your belly, it is expandable up to 50 inches.
   I am thoroughly happy with this product. I am actually wearing it right now and it is providing me wonderful lower back relief. While they are out of stock on Amazon currently, I recommend getting one yourself.
Full disclosure: I was sent this product at no cost in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.