Product Review: Live Infinitely Infuser Water Bottle

   I was given an Infuser Water Bottle to try. I have been wanting one of these for quite some time. I love fruit flavored water. I'm a big water drinker anyway, but sometimes you want a bit more to your water.

   This water bottle comes apart for easy washing and filling. All you need to do is cut up fruit pieces and put them into the tube. Put it all back together and fill with water.

   It doesn't hold a lot of fruit, but it definitely holds enough to get the job done. Let it sit for about ten minutes, shake it up and you will have a slight fruit flavor. Let it sit longer if you want the flavor stronger.

   This water bottle is great if you are around the house. I have found that sometimes it's a bit hard to use it when you are out and about. It doesn't have a drink spout or anything. You have to unscrew the top every time you need a drink. This can also cause some dripping when water gets caught in the lid threads. If you don't mind taking the lid off every time you want a drink, this is a great water bottle.

 I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers

Laser Maze Jr. Review

 Laser Maze Junior is another fun single player game from Thinkfun games.

Every component in this game has it's own place for storage. Everything fits nice and snug in it's place.

Inside, you have your board with an attached laser.

You have a variety of mirrors, rockets to light up and rocks to obstruct pathways.

There are forty different puzzles in four different difficulty levels.

Each maze shows you where to put your items. On the bottom left corner, it shows you what items you will need to complete the maze.

To begin, slide in a maze card and set up your board.

Turn on the laser. When the laser light hits the rocket on the correct side, the top will light up.

Use the pieces the card requires and light up the rockets. When they are all lit up, you have completed that maze!

This is a game that has been enjoyed by the whole family. My kids range in age from four to ten and they all love pulling this game out when they want some quiet time. You do need to provide your own batteries, but it's well worth the peace and quiet you will get as your kids concentrate on completing each maze. It's a game that is both entertaining and makes you problem solve. I highly recommend adding this game to your collection. You won't be sorry!

  I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers

Always Keep Fighting

   If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know I love the show Supernatural. One of the actors in the show, Jared Padaleki, made a shirt to raise funds for To Write Love On Her Arms.

   If you haven't heard of this, it's a non profit organization that helps people that suffer with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.

   Many people suffer from this on a daily basis. I bet every one of you reading this knows someone that fights every single day, just to get to the end of the day and then start over the next day.

   If any of you reading this suffers, I want to encourage you to always keep fighting. You aren't alone. When I had my youngest, I had postpartum. I never really talked to anyone about it, but my husband was always there to help lift me up when I needed it. I still have my days where I suffer, usually in silence.

   One thing that I have found that helps me, is finding a hobby you enjoy. Something that makes you happy. That is why I learned how to crochet. It keeps my mind focused and helps me get out my anxious energy. I think having something to work for and to show at the end of the day is a huge help.

   I would like to encourage you to find a new hobby. Learn a craft, play a game, make a new friend; but most importantly, Always Keep Fighting.

Product Review: Ultra Flex Compression Knee Support

   I was given an Ultra Flex Athletics compression knee and ankle support for review. I was rather excited to try this out. When my youngest was a baby, we had a baby gate up on the kitchen. I went to step over it and managed to trip and land on my knee. My knee hasn't been the same since.

   I got an exercise bike/elliptical for Christmas this past year. I was quite disappointed when I tried to use the elliptical but my knee hurt too bad. I strapped on this knee brace and I instantly felt better. I am now able to use my elliptical. Not as much as I would like though. This knee brace works so well, I have noticed my other knee bothers me as well.

   This knee brace also comes with a bonus ankle brace. I don't have ankle problems but I put it on anyway to try it out. It fits nicely and I could tell it gives extra support.

   This knee brace works amazingly well. If you are looking for something that is adjustable and doesn't slip, I highly recommend you purchase this brace.

 I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers

Travel Books

   Everyone that has small children, knows how hard it is to travel. A few years ago, we were going to travel from sunny Las Vegas to Wyoming. We had three small kids at the time and I was trying to find a way to keep the older two entertained for the fourteen hour drive. Then I found a great idea! 

   I decided to make them a road trip book. I printed off some Bingo cards. I found four different ones so they wouldn't get bingo at the same time. Instead of playing it the regular way of calling out the pictures, we had to find the pictures outside. This kept them engaged and also made the game take longer.

   I also found a road trip scavenger hunt. This is another one we had to look out the window for, to find the items on the list. I never thought it would take so long to find a green car! You can also throw in some other little activities. I printed some words to practice writing, a one hundred chart to practice numbers, and a blank lined sheet of paper to practice whatever else they may want to work on. I also threw in a blank page so they could doodle on it.

   They each got a pencil bag to keep some crayons and dry erase markers in.

   If you want to be able to reuse your books, you can put all of the pages in page protectors. Then you can write on them with a dry erase marker and then wipe it right off. This also makes it so you can put it all into a binder. This keeps it handy and neat.

   Even though we made these books about three years ago, my kids still love pulling them out. They are easy to update as the kids grow up and need harder things to do. You can just print off new pages and slide them right in.

   I have also taken apart some educational books and made my four year old a book. He likes to pull it out sometimes to practice his writing and numbers. He calls it his 'homework' and likes to work on it while his older brothers do their school homework.

   There are countless activities you can do. It's also very easy and cheap to make. You just need a few items and you are ready to go!

Product Review: Air Bar Exercise

   I was sent Erin Buchanan's Air Bar Exercises DVD. I was really excited since I am looking for a good, fast workout. You are supposed to purchase a bar to go along with this workout.

   I got my little guy stuff to do and popped in the DVD all ready to go.

   I will admit, I was a little annoyed from the beginning. She is very energetic and peppy and seemed to be doing a bit of baby talk. I figured I could get past that if I turn it down so I can hear it just enough to understand what she is saying.

   We started warming up. It was rather easy, just what I wanted! Then we started working out. Still pretty easy, still kind of annoying. Then we got more into the workout and I had to turn it off. Not because it was hard or I didn't want to do it, but she started flaunting herself and I was tired of the shots they chose to put into the video. She is dressed about the same as she is on the cover of the DVD. Now if you remember, I have a little guy at home. I couldn't chance him coming in for something while she is bending over.

   The next day I woke up sore, so the workout was giving me more of a workout than I thought it was. I'm not sure how hard the end of it was, but the first half was pretty easy. There is also a guy that does it with her so they can have a simplified version along with one that is a bit harder.

   If you are looking for a DVD that will give you a workout without feeling like your arms and legs are going to fall off, this is a good one for that. I was sore for probably three days after. Just be warned, little kids may see a bit too much.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers

Product Review: Peppermint and Lavender oil

   I was able to try some InstaNatural Peppermint and Lavender essential oil.

 

   I am still relatively new to the whole essential oil trend. I have a few oils and I am trying to figure out which ones I like and which ones I don't like so much; what oils do what and the best way to use them.

   A few days ago, I came down with an awful cold. It started as allergies, turned into bad allergies and then into a cold. Saturday, I was so congested that I couldn't taste or smell. This was rather depressing since I like food. It didn't matter what I ate, it all tasted like nothing at all.

   Sunday I decided to boil some water with the peppermint oil in it. I was breathing in the steam and still couldn't smell anything. I was applying it to my face, breathing it in, anything I could think of. I'm sure my house smelled like Christmas, but I couldn't tell.

   I woke up Monday, still unable to smell or taste. I figured I'd give it one more try. I put more oil into some boiling water and put a little more on my face. I started breathing in the steam once again. After a minute, I could start smelling the faint scent of peppermint! I can now smell and taste a bit.

   This brand of peppermint is great for applying. I've used some brands that are so strong, you put them on and your eyes burn instantly and for a long period of time.  This one seems to be the perfect strength. You can use it without feeling like your eyes are on fire, but it is still strong enough to work.

   This is also why I like the lavender. I don't know about you, but I hate the smell of lavender. I also have nights where my mind won't turn off and let me sleep. This lavender is great for helping you relax without making you feel like you are in a meadow of flowers. Having allergies, this is also nice as it doesn't trigger any sort of reaction.

   They come in four ounce jars which means they will last for a long time since you still only need a drop or two at a time. This is a great brand if you are looking for something that works, but isn't overpowering.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers