The Verdict: Tria Beauty Hair Removal Laser

I received the Tria Beauty Hair Removal Laser complimentary for the purpose of this review, however all opinions expressed are my own.  

Above you will find my video review and final verdict on the Tria Beauty Hair Removal Laser.  I would like to note that this product version is no longer available and that I cannot comment on the effectiveness of the new Tria Hair Removal Laser recently released.  I am still happy that I took the time to give this product a chance.  Hope this helps in your hair-free journey! 

       

Discover the Health Benefits of Krill Oil

I received complimentary Krill Oil from Viva Labs for the purpose of  this review, however; all opinions expressed below are my own. 

Something you may not know about me, because I rarely blog about it, is that I live with a condition called Lupus.  Lupus is an autoimmune disorder that can cause a lot joint pain, fatigue and other issues, especially during times of stress.  I have been very fortunate to have a well-managed condition, but during high stress periods in my life I struggle with joint pain, fatigue and inflammation.

In my journey toward whole living and seeking out natural remedies and sources of relief for symptoms brought on by my body's inflammatory responses, I have been fascinated by the success of omega-3's, DHA/EPA and antioxidants in reducing inflammation and joint pain in the body.  When I was contacted by Viva Labs (formerly Everest Nutrition), to review their Krill Oil I couldn't wait to get started.  

A Northern krill (Meganyctiphanes norvegica) by Øystein Paulsen

What is Krill Oil?  Krill oil is harvested from an ocean crustacean (krill) similar to shrimp only much smaller.  This small creature provides some of the purest Omega-3 available along with astaxanthin, a potent antioxidant shown to protect the body against free radicals and cell damage.  Krill Oil has shown promising results in reducing inflammation and joint pain, improving cholesterol levels and cardiovascular health and even reducing symptoms of PMS.  

Does this stuff really work?  I've been taking Krill Oil for several months now as a part of my daily vitamins.  After the first two weeks of using the product I started to notice a steady decrease in the morning joint stiffness I tend to get, and found myself feeling less fatigued.  I've also noticed less of the brain fog that comes with my pre-menstrual symptoms and a sharper mental state...goodbye mom brain!

I haven't had my cholesterol levels checked in a while, so I'm not sure what effect it has been having in that area, but I do feel pretty good in general.  I believe the Krill Oil is definitely helping with my day-to-day symptom management, especially my joint health.

Some of the questions I had about Krill Oil were about the difference in fish oil versus krill oil, how sustainable the product is and its environmental impact and how this particular brand measures up to competitors.  I was pleased to see all these questions and more, quite thoroughly answered on KrillOil.com.  I decided to include a couple of my biggies here for you:

How is Krill Oil different from Fish Oil? You can find a ton of information on Viva Labs' Krill Oil website, but to summarize, Krill Oil contains 54x the antioxidant power of Fish Oil, plus it has virtually none of the toxin exposure common in fish - making it one of the purest sources of Omega3 available.

Is Krill Oil sustainable? Krill is the largest biomass in the world - making it nearly impossible to threaten its availability, however; its harvesting is regulated by an ocean conservation organization to ensure maximum sustainability.

Is it expensive?  I've paid considerably more for fish oils and other supplements and have found that Viva Labs offers great deals on their product.  Depending on how much product you order, the product ranges $19-29 per 30 day supply.

I'm pretty convinced that Krill Oil should be a regular part of my daily diet going forward!  I'd love for you to check out this supplement and consider making it a part of your whole living plan going forward!

Visit Krill Oil for more information and to find out how to purchase!

       

Potty Training Success!What Worked For Us

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and GoodNites, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #BetterNights http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO

As we were moving light speed ahead towards Zion's 3rd Birthday last month I knew it was getting close to time to move forward with potty training.  She has had a little pink princess potty since she was about 18 months old, which she has used several times but more out of novelty than anything else.   Despite a little bit of prodding from well meaning family members, I waited until I felt Zion was really ready to make the transition.  And truth be told, until I was in a place where I could devote my full time and attention to the process as well, hopefully with as little frustration as possible.

Since we have been in Alaska on an extended business trip since February, I was most concerned about what the right approach would be and how to minimize accidents - especially since we are staying in an extended stay hotel, and I would be mortified to have stains from accidents everywhere!  I also knew that I didn't really want to purchase another potty seat that would then require additional transitioning to the big seat.   

 I set out to purchase the supplies we needed, finding everything on my list at the local Target.  I opted for a potty seat that you can place directly on the toilet, and had Zion with me to pick out the design.  She, of course, picked out the princess one.  I was happy that it came with a Potty Hook, which is a great invention that allows you to hang up the seat on the side of the toilet after use.  We also picked up a small stepping stool, flushable wipes, training pants, and big girl undies.

My strategy was to take the best ideas from a few of the several popular training methods and turn them into a system that would work for us.  While I loved the concept of the 3-Day Method, having Zion run around naked in our hotel room (and having accidents on the floor) sounded like it wouldn't be fun for either of us, not to mention they suggest having a portable potty in every room.  I did however like the idea of a quick turn around.  I also felt like some of the other very gradual approaches just prolonged the experience.

I decided that we would start out by having Zion try to go frequently - essentially watching for signs she needed to go and not waiting more than 30-60 minutes between tries.  I was surprised at how quickly she started to get the idea.  We planned on using the training pants on days when we'd need to be out running errands, and use big girl undies whenever we were at home.  I honestly believed she'd be in training pants overnight for an extended period of time - mostly out of fear of her having an accident in the hotel bed.

I learned quite quickly that the training pants were too similar to diapers and the more Zion wore them, the less she was concerned about accidents happening.  Instead of trying to convince her, I just decided to stay close to home and only keep her in underpants.  After a couple of accidents, I'd say less than 5 honestly, she began to run to the potty whenever she got the urge.  During naptime and bedtime I was still very reluctant to allow her to sleep without wearing a training pant.

After several nights in a row of Zion waking up with dry training pants I believed she may be ready to eliminate the training pants all together, but I have to say, I knew in my mind the minute I took them away she would have some awful accident in the hotel bed - one that I would be mortified to clean up and have the housekeeping see the next day.  Just being honest!  I was a bit anxious and stressed out about it so I delayed.  Then I learned about the GoodNites Disposable Bed Mats that Target sells!  

 These mats can go right on top of the sheets and they have adhesive tape on the backside to keep them in place, so I don't have to worry about them bunching up - which is key with our very active little sleeper.  As for size, they are perfect for generously protecting a good chunk of a toddler or twin bed.  You could of course, use two to cover a greater area, especially if you have a very active sleeper like we do.  If you want to try them, make sure you grab this coupon to save $1.50 on a package of Target GoodNites Bed Mats.  The peace of mind they bring is well worth it!

I am happy to report that Zion has not wet the bed once since we gave up the training pants, we are super proud of her for that.  And when the inevitable does happen, we will be ready for it.  In the meantime, I don't have to be anxious or worried about it, because the bed is protected and will be easy to clean up if and when it does happen!

If I were to offer any tips for potty training it would be to wait until they are ready, and you are ready too!  Figure out what strategy or approach is going to work best, and keep in mind your child's unique personality and learning style.  Make sure you dedicate your time and attention to the task at hand and really partner with your child to make it a fun rite of passage.

Use tons of positive reinforcement!  Zion loves working towards a reward and so we took her to pick out fun and colorful stickers to fill out simple charts.  Initially she got big rewards for little successes, but as her confidence grew, we upped the requirement for the rewards.  Now she earns stickers every time she uses the Potty, but she has to turn in several filled charts to earn a special reward - often an outing to a place like Chuck-E-Cheese or a special date with Daddy.

What potty training tips worked for you?  What are your must have items for peace of mind in potty training?

       

Lullaby Versions of Bruno Mars

I received a complimentary album from TTLRS for the purpose of this review.  

Musically speaking, we embrace quite a variety in our household.  While my husband is a largely Hip-Hop and R&B enthusiast, I embrace everything from Indie to Alternative to Electronic.  It is no wonder than that if you ask Zion what some of her favorite songs are, you will get a mix of our influences.

It is definitely one of my desires that Zion be well rounded in her musical appreciation, so I try to play different kinds of music frequently.  Truth be told her very first jam was Esperanza Spalding's "Little Fly" at the age of 18 months!  While variety is important, sometimes I worry about the lyrics she is exposed to and so I've often searched for ways I can introduce basic melodies and rhythms without impressing the adult lyrics.

A fun way to do this is instrumental versions of modern songs, and in the case of today's review - lullaby versions!  A few months ago I learned about Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star, a production group that turns your favorite songs from all genres into relaxing and beautiful melodies perfect for unwinding, doing yoga or soothing your little ones.

When they recently released Lullaby Versions of Bruno Mars, I jumped at the chance to sample the album, and I couldn't be more happy to share about it with you today.

The album features the best of Bruno Mars, including "Just The Way You Are", "Locked Out of Heaven", and "Grenade", all in whimsical lullaby versions.  Even though I requested a review sample of this album mostly to share with Zion, I find myself listening to it by myself quite often!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Rockstar has such a variety to choose from!  Alicia Keys, Nirvana, Taylor Swift and even Lady Gaga!!  You've never enjoyed your favorites presented this way before!  You can purchase most of these albums on Amazon Digital for $5.99!

Let me know which ones you'd love to get your hands on!

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