This is a household of tea drinkers - well, my husband and myself actually. I have a summer affair every year with iced tea. But when the colder temps hit, it is hot tea that I crave. However, that tea cannot be overly strong and bitter. Otherwise, it turns me off.
Waygood Tea's Ginger Rooibos Cleanse does not taste bad at all. It has a pleasant flavor, without getting that bitter aftertaste I usually get with other ginger teas. It has a wonderful underlying sweetness that makes me want to go back for more. But, I know that it is not the greatest idea, because, after all, it is a cleansing tea. Now, whether or not this cleansing tea works how it is supposed to work, I cannot comment. I started taking it on the first day of influenza. Now, it did help alleviate my symptoms, but with my body ejecting everything as it was, I cannot really tell. Was it is the tea or was it the flu? Time will tell. I will continue to drink this tea because it does taste delightful. It is light and sweet without any overpowering flavor. I do recommend this for general consumption - with a note of caution. Full disclosure: I was sent this product free of charge in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
It's winter and I'm living in Minnesota. That means when I wake up in the morning, ice and frost is going to be on the windshield of my car - eventually. So far, the winter has been rather temperate. It was only this morning that I was actually able to test out this ice scraper.
First off, it has a decent amount of weight to it - perfect for when you want to put more oomph behind those thick sheets of ice. But, it's still light enough as to not wear you out right away. The scraper itself is without those annoying grooves that make it look like a set of claws went to work on your windshield. Thank goodness! It's a nice, solid piece that easily took off this morning's frost. Of course, the real test will occur once the snows start falling and, trust me, they are on their way. The handle is very comfortable and is not made of the really hard plastic that was so common in the scrapers of the 80s and 90s. It is a nice rubber, so your hand has some cushioning. The cloth itself did very well in helping me clean my dashboard of the dust that inevitably accumulates. And I can easily fold it up and stash it in the compartment of my door - invisible to the eye. But, it's certainly not an eyesore - yet. I will put a lot of use in to this cloth. This would be a very good stocking stuffer for people who live in the colder regions of the country. Full disclosure: I was sent this product for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Welcome to the 1st Annual Happy Holidays Giveaway Hop hosted by Karen’s Got Mail! I have teamed up with a fantastic group of bloggers to share some awesome giveaways with our readers. Be sure to hop around to the participating blogs listed below and enter some fabulous giveaways, all of which are worth a minimum of $25! Also, make sure to enter the Grand Prize Giveaway – $50 Gift Card to Incredibundles!
Here on Experience A Life, I am giving away the My Sing Along Book and Personalized Music ($39.99) courtesy of my wonderful sponsor I See Me Books! This company recently sent me a personalized Christmas book and ornament for my son. He loves his books so much and I can't wait to see his face
on Christmas morning when he sees his new acquisition!
The ornament will grace our Christmas tree this coming weekend and will look smashing amongst the green branches! These are wonderful personalized gifts for any young child that you have on your Christmas shopping list.
Now, please enter this giveaway on the Rafflecopter form below and don't forget to visit the other blogs that are participating in this hop! A winner will be chosen via Random.org and contacted via email.
Disclosure: Karen’s Got Mail and the Happy Holidays Giveaway Hop participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prize obligations. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and any other social media are not affiliated with this giveaway.a Rafflecopter giveaway
Real estate is something that my husband and I have been looking into idly the past few years. You know, as a way to make some extra money, maybe set some aside for retirement and college tuitions. Because both of those will happen before we know it (sad face).
But, it seems like a daunting task. And information I've found seems rather in depth. Too much so for something we're not sure we want to do. Fortunately, something a lot easier to absorb came my way - How To Be a Real Estate Investor by Phil Pustejovsky. I really enjoy how the author wrote it. There are no step-by-step instructions. But, you get a good amount of general knowledge that will help you decide whether or not this is something you want to consider for your future. It is definitely a book for beginners, which is precisely what I need. And to be honest, I am excited to learn more and get started (hopefully) in the not-too-distant future. After reading this, I passed it off to my husband. While he has not read it yet, I know he will and he will have the same excited feeling I do about real estate. Full disclosure: I was sent this product free of charge, and received compensation, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
One thing that I dislike about packing travel bags is hauling around huge bottles of hygiene products or the teeny "travel" bottles that you buy for 99 cents. You know, the ones that are big enough to wash a Barbie doll's hair once and you get no more out of it.
That is why I love these Dot & Dot Travel Bottles - both the 2 oz and the 3 oz. The 2 oz. bottle is ideal for my shampoo. Since I got my hair cut, I use a lot less of it. The 3 oz. is perfect for my conditioner. I always use more conditioner than shampoo because I have a LOT of hair. The bottles themselves are flexible with leak-proof caps. At least, they haven't leaked into my bag yet. And I consider that a boon. I also love the suction cup attached to each bottle. It makes shower placement a snap! The cups do not always stick and sometimes slide, but they work well 80 percent of the time. These bottles are also excellent to use with baby products and fit perfectly into diaper bags! And cleaning these is a snap! I just pour a little liquid soap and water into each one, give them a good shake, rinse and let dry. No water spots either. Very good products to make your life just a little easier! Full disclosure: I was sent these products free of charge and received compensation, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Welcome to the Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop, hosted byThe Mommy Island and The Kids Did It! It's that time of year when everyone is thinking about holidays and Christmas presents for loved ones. This giveaway is to help you with your task of filling those stockings! And it is not only little kids that get stockings. Here, in this household, the adults do, as well. Personally, I love to find beauty products in my stocking. And I have some beauty products for three lucky winners! Three JGOB Blending Sponges. They are oh-so-soft and do wonders when it comes to blending your makeup effortlessly. At an $11 value, you also know these are quality sponges. Mine still has not come close to wearing out. Wonderful for the stockings belonging to mothers, grandmothers and teenage girls! Enter on the Rafflecopter form below for a chance to win one of these three sponges. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and contacted via email. Experience A Life is not responsible for prize fulfillment. After you get done here, be sure to hop to all of the other blogs and enter those, as well! a Rafflecopter giveaway
We are tea drinkers - iced tea, hot tea. My husband and I love it, but our favorite is hot green tea. Not only does it taste good, but there are wonderful health benefits to drinking green tea.
Legend Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder gives us the taste and the benefits that we desire. It is so much better than buying green tea bags. The only draw back of having the powder is the thick liquid when you reach the bottom of the cup. It's great if you really love the taste of green tea, but if you prefer your tea to be diluted, then you should skip the last few sips. But do not let that deter you from buying this product. Not only is it a tasty beverage, but it also gives you a wonderful energy boost, is loaded with antioxidants and gives your metabolism a boost. So, it is a boon for weight loss. And the energy that accompanies it stays with you for a good four hours. It's a calm energy, too. You're not bouncing off of the walls like you just drank a pot of coffee. There is also no crash afterward. The size of the container it comes in also makes it ideal as a stocking stuffer for adults. Do not pass this one up. Full disclosure: I was sent this product in exchange free of charge in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Isn't it insane how much organization you need after baby arrives? It seems like your home does not have enough storage space for all of the stuff. And that does not stay in your home. It extends to your car and your stroller.
I don't know how many times I was walking down the sidewalk with my little man, pushing the stroller and wishing that I had some extra space to put things. Things like water bottles, my purse, my diabetic supplies, his sippy cup. Trying to stuff all of that plus the diaper bag in the little compartment below the seat is not always easy. Things would fall out frequently. The Baby Stroller Attachable Organizer by Dot & Dot certainly made our afternoon strolls easier. The attachment to the stroller was easy enough and it was certainly secure. I loved that it came with two drink holders - one for my water and one for his sippy cup. I no longer have to squat every time one of us gets thirsty. It also comes with three deep pockets, so I can have easy access to my glucometer and juice boxes in case of a low blood sugar. This is one to definitely get for your stroller - or if you need one to attach to your shopping cart this holiday season. Full disclosure: I was sent this product free of exchange, and received compensation, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Ingrown hairs are an unfortunate reality of Type 1 diabetes. They happen to me roughly every three months. And when it happens, tweezers are my best friend.
But, the tweezers I have now are not able to grasp the hairs anymore or they have disappeared because my daughter likes to play with them. But, now I have Tweez'em Stainless Steel Tweezers and they are a decided improvement over my old tweezers. For one, they have a slender tip, making grasping ingrown hairs much easier. And the shape also prevents the tweezers from breaking the hair so close to the skin. I have also used these on my eyebrows since I got them and I am able to one hair at a time. There are few things I hate worse than grabbing more hairs than what I want and then ending up with disproportionate eyebrows. Because then I have to try my best to make both eyebrows the same and I end up with too thin eyebrows. I do recommend these for pesky ingrown hairs and for beauty. Full disclosure: I was sent this product free of charge in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
I have struggled with carpal tunnel for about eight years and knee problems for three. The carpal tunnel goes along with having a career in which typing and taking notes were tantamount. The knee problems came about after I gained 60 pounds during my second pregnancy.
Neither problem is constant, but will pop up from time to time. It's certainly nothing to get professional help with, but when the aches and pains do occur, it's nice to have something. I decided to give Joint Right by Vita Sciences a try. It's a lotion in an easy pump container that you apply to problem areas. Made with natural ingredients, it has Cox2 inhibitor, aloe, vitamins E and B-5 and chamomile. As you might have guessed, the smell is not bad. It's very subtle and when you do notice it, it's all that bad. Upon application, it absorbs into your skin very easily. You don't have to rub and rub to get the absorption. It leaves your skin smooth and silky. Now, the best part - it actually works! But not as you would expect. It dulls the pain and makes it a minor irritation. There is no miraculous "WOW!" But, it does help with the pain, within minutes of application. It has helped more with my knee than my carpal tunnel, but all in all, I have no complaints. Full disclosure: I was sent this product free of charge in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Before I got into blogging, I never thought much about monetizing social media. I have slowly been opening up the possibilities and the money is slowly building. It's nice. But, it was not until I read David Kravitz's book that I found out about the various options available. And I am actually considering opening different social media accounts - such as Snapchat. I've never had a Snapchat, because I never really saw the point of it, but I am actually considering it now. Why not make a little bit of money with it? Kravitz gives each site its own chapter and then proceeds to give you the different options available. Now, this is a small book, so he does not give you step-by-step instructions, but he does point you in the general direction in each chapter. He also points out the pros and the cons of each site. Sometimes, the cons make me question whether or not the site is worth it, but knowing me, I probably will. This is an excellent book for those who are wanting to earn a little extra money on this thing we call the internet. Full disclosure: I was sent this book free of charge, and received compensation, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
I'm a foodie. I love to try different fares and I hate to be disappointed. Which is why I love to read about cuisines found in different locations. You know, just in case I happen to go there one day. Well, Portland is one of the destinations
on my list to go to within the next 10 years and Doug Pitassi's 15 Best Restaurants in Portland was a way for me to find out what spots to hit. One of the good things about this book is that it almost reads like a mini travel guide. It's only 50 pages, so it's very short and to the point. It does not waste any words. Another excellent aspect is that the restaurants featured showcase a variety of cuisines - Japanese, Scandinavian, Italian, French - and gets into restaurants featuring specific foods such as sandwiches and meat. I also enjoyed that Pitassi was able to touch on the atmosphere that the restaurants provided. He doesn't give you a complete picture, more of a general feeling. Now, the bad thing - lack of pictures. In order to really stimulate my desire to eat at a restaurant, I need some visuals. I eat with my eyes first and if it does not look appealing to me, it's a no-go. However, Pitassi was able to stimulate my imagination with some descriptions of the fare. So, even though there are no pictures in this book, I will still give some of these restaurants a try when I get there. Hopefully soon. Full disclosure: I was sent this book free of charge, and received compensation, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Making money nowadays is easy. Making enough money to live without worrying how to make more is not. My household lives comfortably, and we can a small amount of savings aside each paycheck. However, that savings is not for retirement or future college tuitions or vacations. It's for emergencies and it is pathetically small. We do not have something to fall back on in the event of an illness or unemployment and that is scary. Investing is something that Tony and I have been considering for a long time, but we do not know how to do it wisely. We do not know who to turn to, or what the tricks are. But, we know investing is a way to build that emergency fund and maybe, just maybe, get something started for retirement, tuitions and future family vacations. When I received an opportunity to review Ken Fisher's Beat the Crowd: How You Can Out-Invest the Herd by Thinking Differently, I knew I had to take a few days and read it. This book is about how to scour through the hype of media and social networking to find the truth that will work for you and help you make wise investments. Dull, right? Wrong! Fisher, having been a columnist with Forbes for 30 years, knows how to write! He has a witty humor intertwined with his investing wisdom that makes this book easy to read, understand and enjoy. Unlike other investment books that I have tried and failed to read in the past, this one actually grabbed my attention. And Fisher touches on many aspects of today's society that resonates in and divides this country. Highly recommended! Full disclosure: I was sent this book free of charge and received a small compensation in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Tony has been experiencing bouts of insomnia for the past few months. It does take a toll after he gets off work. He goes straight to bed, sleeps for maybe 1 hour, gets back up and then at actual bedtime, he wakes up at 2 a.m. and stays
awake. He has a strong opinion of prescribed sleeping medications - he doesn't want to take them because they make him feel terrible. So, I started looking in to more natural means. Peppermint or lavender tea had a small effect. Optimum-Fx gave me the opportunity to review their Sleeperzzz supplement and I figured Tony had nothing to lose. Sleeperzzz are veggie capsules, so there are none of the chemicals that make Tony feel terrible. The first night, there was hardly any effect. But, the second night he gave them a try, he slept a little longer than usual and it was a restful sleep. He wished he would have slept longer, but he was happy with at least some result. He is going to try it again. Since this supplement is for occasional sleeplessness, he is not taking it every night. There are moderate results from taking this. Do not expect a valium-type effect. Full disclosure: I was sent this product free of charge in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
