Review: Super Bright Glow Stick Bracelets

Kids love anything that glows in the dark! My daughter especially loves things she can wear that glow in the dark. The patriotic container that arrived in the mail fooled her at first, but her excitement was still present because she thought it held fireworks.

   Upon discovering glow stick bracelets, she was not disappointed. She immediately grabbed three - one for each of her hands and one for her brother. Snapped them, shook them and when they were all glowy, she and her brother went into the bathroom and shut the lights off. Glow in the dark fun ensued. For the most part.
   She is rather rough on toys when she gets excited and she ended up breaking one. The glow in the dark substance splattered on the walls and a little in her eye. She did not cry about it, but she said it did burn. I had her blink her eye in water to wash the substance out. Afterward, she was still ready to play with them some more.
   My son is currently taking a bath with the some of the glow sticks. He likes to see the lights glowing up at him from under the water.
   And there are plenty in the container (100) that I will be taking them to my family reunion this weekend to let all of the kids go nuts with them. It will be fun to watch little glow in the dark circles darting around the campsite while they play tag.
   The best part about these bracelets is that they are super easy to assemble and they last a LOOOONNNNGGGG time! It is definitely worth the $11.95 price on Amazon. Buy some and go nuts!
Full disclosure: I received this item free of charge in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review: CardioTabs Ultra Strength Liquid Omega 3 and Vitamin D3

Supplements are a big part of my life. I always assume that I am not getting the required dosage of all vitamins and

minerals daily with my diet. Supplements help me take care of that.
   One that I really struggle with is omega 3 - the fatty acid found in a lot of fish that is of great benefit to the human body. It helps maintain a normal metabolism and is suspected in preventing numerous ailments. These ailments include cancer, cardiovascular disease, dementia and others. It is also used to treat ailments such as autism and bipolar disorder.
   CardioTabs Ultra Strength Liquid Omega 3 and Vitamin D3 is a way to get that essential acid into your body quickly. One teaspoon a day is all you need and you will feel the health benefits after a few days of ingesting it. I recommend taking it with a beverage or a food immediately following as it is very oily. The taste is not unpleasant as it is orange flavored. So, if you can take it with some orange juice right away in the morning, it will help.
Full disclosure: I was sent this product free of charge in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Faster Hope On the Horizon

The 21st Century Cures Act is a swifter pathway to a cure for Type 1 diabetes. What is it, you ask? It is a bill (H.R. 6) that passed in the House of Representatives on July 10 in a 344 to 77 vote that will speed up the process of cures becoming

available to the United States public.
   For too long, the FDA has bogged cures down, making the researchers jump through every single hoop that could be thought of. As an example, I know of a long-lasting insulin called SIBA that works wonderfully, better than Lantus! I took part in the trial to get it to diabetics. That was seven years ago. I requested a prescription for SIBA from a recent endocrinologist and he said that it had not been approved by the FDA. The reason for the delay is the agency wants it proven that the insulin will not cause any heart problems. I'm sure if heart problems were an issue, it would have been discovered in the trial.
   Now, Faustman Laboratories has a very real, very probable cure for Type 1 diabetes and has entered phase II of the required trial. Phase II will last five years. For me, and for many other Type 1 diabetics, that is an eternity. And with the possibility of decades more being added on to the five years makes me believe that I will not see a cure either in my lifetime or before diabetes related complications set in.
   What the 21st Century Cures Act will do is eliminate the requirement for a phase III and will also eliminate a lot of the duplication in the review processes performed by the federal government. This will have a significant impact on reducing the time and the cost in getting cures and drugs to the public. That is huge!
   On July 13, this bill was introduced to the Senate and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Please, contact your senator and give your support for this bill. This will not only impact Type 1's, but numerous other Americans who are stricken with illnesses.

Review: Splashez Goggles

My family are all swimmers and the struggle to find goggles for each face is real. You need to find just the right fit for your eyes. Because if the fit is not right, water will leak in and

there is nothing more annoying while you are trying to do some laps.
   I got a pair of Splashez Goggles and my better half was excited to try them out first. I haven't seen them since. He's been using them at the pool, but he has told me all about them! First, they are an excellent fit for his face. And they are good for mine, too. I put them on and put my face under the water in the tub. No leakage.
   And, according to my husband, they remain comfortable. Sometimes goggles can start squeezing and can get uncomfortable. Another wonderful aspect - no fog. Many times when you are swimming, a fog will begin to form on the lenses and make seeing rather difficult. After you get done with a lap, you have to stop and wipe the lenses off. These seem to be rather fog free.
   For serious swimmers or even part time swimmers, this is a wonderful product and I highly recommend them.
Full disclosure: I was sent this product for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review: CLA Complex

I was so happy yesterday! I measured myself and found that I have lost half an inch off of my upper thighs, half on inch on my hips and half an inch off of my tummy. The biggest problem areas that I have in my weight loss quest are

beginning to shrink!
   And I have Pure Natural Fit's CLA Complex to thank for that! This product helps trim body fat (obviously), assists in muscle retention and support fat metabolism. With a slow acting thyroid, I need all the help that I can get and here is the help that I need in a neat little white plastic bottle. Without a whole mess of chemicals to go along with it! It has CLA complex, vitamin E, gelatin, glycerin and purified water. Who knew something so simple could help so much!
   The only downfall of this product is the size. The softgels are rather large and I take two of them twice a day. But, even though they are big, I would do it all over again because these do work!
Full disclosure: I was sent this product for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review: Green Tea Complex

I love taking supplements, especially supplements that help me feel better overall. I tried Pure Natural Fit's Green Tea Complex because it supports immune health and thermogenesis and it is heavy in antioxidants.

   Since I began taking this supplement, I have felt healthier overall. The more healthy I feel, the happier I am. And I can tell the thermogenesis is working because I start getting hot about half an hour after taking this. Granted, it is July, but I'm in air conditioning all day. I should not want to walk around in my skivvies. There is no reason for it other than my body temperature is getting a boost from the Green Tea Complex. And there is nothing wrong with a good bout of thermogenesis.
   Green Tea Complex is meant to aid in weight loss and I have noticed my weight slipping down, which I am happy about. What makes me happier is I have the ability to read the ingredients on the back of the bottle: gelatin, vegetable magnesium stearate and silicon dioxide. It's simple. I like simple.
   If you are tired of stuffing your body with a large variety of chemicals found in many supplements, I suggest giving this product a try.
Full disclosure: I was sent a free bottle of this product in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review: Liquid Caffeine

Getting some pep in steps is important in my household - especially in the morning. While the two tots have no

problem bouncing around right away, Tony and I need a little more prodding. It comes for me in the form of an apple cider vinegar concoction and for Tony - coffee.
   Liquid Caffeine gives us both an extra jolt. While caffeine does not have too much of an effect on me, Liquid Caffeine gives me a little more bounce in my step. Because one pump from the bottle is the same as drinking an 8 ounce cup of coffee. I would put pump two squirts in my vinegar drink and Tony used four each morning in his cup of joe. He had no trouble getting on with his morning tasks at work and I had no trouble getting the kids ready for the day.
   It was very important to use this product in a drink. By itself, it is not very palatable. However, in a tasty apple cider vinegar drink or coffee, it practically disappears. But, the effects remain and they stay with you for a few hours.
   This is an easy way to get extra energy and you don't have to worry about all of the nasty chemicals normally found in convenience store energy drinks. The ingredients in Liquid Caffeine is water, caffeine and sodium benzoate for preservation. Just a couple pumps and you're good to go. Tony is looking to buy a larger bottle. Highly recommended.
Full disclosure: I was sent this product for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review: Smartsmile

Years of coffee drinking and smoking cigarettes have rendered my teeth a less-than-brilliant shine. While they are not yellow, they have started their journey there and I'm not too happy about it. To answer the question that is on your

mind: Have I quit smoking? Yup. Have I quit drinking coffee? Nope. But, I still want to get whiter teeth and when I received an opportunity to review Smartsmile, I knew I had to at least try it out.
   After all, dental insurance does not cover whitening and there is no way I am going to pay the kind of money dentists want for that service. And I am done wasting my money on whitening strips that you buy at Walmart. Those do not work.
   The trays and the gel that Smartsmile sent me are easy enough to use and the trays are malleable to fit both your upper and lower teeth. It is not a perfect fit, but it's close enough. The gel comes in two syringes and a fine point tip so that you do not use too much of it.
   I have used Smartsmile for two weeks now and I can already tell my teeth have become one shade lighter. That is easy to tell because Smartsmile also sends a shade chart so you can track your teeth's progress.
   I would recommend Smartsmile for people who are looking to get a prettier smile without spending bookoo bucks.
Full disclosure: I was sent this product free of charge in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review: Killorglin Creations

This is another entry into my Etsy shop reviews. I love finding different shops on that website and it's wonderful when the owners are generous to my readers here on Experience A Life. John and Tara, the owners of Killorglin Creations are such owners.
   I ran across their shop when I was searching for sponsors for the last giveaway hop and I was impressed with what they have available. The items are all leather, glass or stone and are absolutely stunning! This is where the more than 40 years of business is apparent. Yes, Killorglin Creations was

Leather flask

started in 1972 by John's father as an industrial engraving shop. However, in 2010, they switched over to hand crafted gifts and John and Tess do all of the handcrafting themselves.
   "We do several craft shows each year to stay in touch with what the new trends are," said John. "These shows are a great way to communicate face to face with a large amount of people at one time."
   And it is at these shows that Killorglin Creations get a lot of custom work requests. Requests that are also popular with other customers, so John and Tess offer them as regular pieces. Further inspiration comes from frequent (once every 12 to 15 months) visits to Ireland to visit family. The ancient scenery fuels the creative fires.

Engraved leather photograph

   But by far, John and Tess said their favorite pieces in their shop are the Engraved Leather Photographs. "We can take someone's favorite photo such as a wedding, baby or family photo and actually engrave it into leather. The detail we can achieve still blows me away! And fortunately our customers too!!"

Etched mirror

   Not only are the engraved photographs a hit with the customers, but the most popular pieces among clients are leather flasks, engraved bottle openers and handmade wallets.
   Trust me, this is a store you do NOT want to pass up. Birthdays, Christmas, wedding, baby or graduation gifts - you can find it all here that you will not find anywhere else!  
  

Review: Legend of Zelda Ocarina

A s a child, I wanted to learn a variety of instruments. Thus, I managed to acquire a few smaller ones that I could

transport easily on my family's ranch. An ocarina was one of them. Just when I was learning how to make beautiful music with it, it broke because it was cheaply made.
   Now, I have this ceramic 12 Hole Legend of Zelda Ocarina. It has a wonderful weight and feel. The holes are neatly placed to make holding it easy. And it arrived to coincide with Tony getting his Legend of Zelda game for the Super Nintendo, so he was even excited about it.
   The music is very crisp and clear. There is no airiness to the sound and the notes are succinct. I do not know whether to keep it for myself and learn how to play all over again, or give it to my daughter as a gift so she can learn how to play it.
   This would be an excellent gift for a budding or experienced musician in your life. It is a wonderful instrument!
Full disclosure: I was sent this product for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Juicing with Type 1

During the past couple years, I have juiced off and on. Now, both Tony and I are doing it frequently. If not all day, then at least most of the day - as long as we have produce.

   At first, I was reluctant with my Type 1, but after reading numerous health benefits of juicing, I thought it would be worth the go. And boy howdy! Is it!
   Since I started juicing regularly again, my insulin intake has gone way down. I've cut my Novolog intake almost in half. And my blood sugars have been steady. They are on the lower end of normal, which makes me a little nervous, but all I have to do is take less insulin.
   I have also experimented with eating a variety of solid foods in small amounts. It is astounding at how much my blood sugar climbs when I eat a piece of bread or an egg. If I stick with my juicing, it is under better control.
   Of course, the majority of what I juice are vegetables. I do a lot of celery, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, carrots and tomatoes. I add one piece of fruit to make it more palatable. One of my favorite juices that is truly delicious and healthy is one peach, three large carrots and a teaspoon of cinnamon. It tastes like you're drinking a peach pie! Of course, the cinnamon has no influence on my blood sugar, as it does not on any Type 1's blood sugar.
   If you are a Type 1 and are considering juicing, I highly recommend it. But, if you do, make sure you check your blood sugar frequently. You don't want to change your diet too drastically without taking appropriate steps to do so. Make sure you get yourself a decent juicer. Tony and I are due for a new one, as we do not think we are getting all of the juice that we could possibly get.
   And, check with your endocrinologist. I'm sure he or she would be on board. Here's to better Type 1 health!

Review: 2nd Nature Garcinia Cambogia

I've always been a big fan of garcinia cambogia. I have been trying for a long time to get down to my ideal weight and it gives me a little boost.
   2nd Nature Garcinia Cambogia is another brand that I

recently tried. The directions on the bottle say to take two tablets once a day. I take mine before lunch with water. It would be better to take it with breakfast, but I do not want it to interfere with some other medication I am on which I take in the morning.
   Since I have started taking this brand of garcinia cambogia, I have noticed my appetite has lowered, which is a good thing because I have been doing a lot of juicing. And it's nice that I can continue that without my tummy rumbling.
   The best part - I have lost a quarter inch on my thighs and a quarter inch on my belly. Is it solely due to the garcinia cambogia? No. I think it's a combination of the 2nd Nature with the juicing. It's an excellent diet supplement to help those along. I recommend it.
Full disclosure: I was sent this product for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.