Friday, January 22, 2016

30-Minute Jump Rope Full-Body Burn




If you're stuck in a fitness rut then it is time to switch it up!

Most people give up on their New Year's Resolutions by March. Don't be one of them! If your goal was to lose weight then try this routine and get back to torching those calories and dropping the pounds.




A combination of cardiovascular exercise and resistance training has proven to produce some of the best results. That is why this workout will include both. You will alternate between the two forms of exercise to create the most work for your heart while providing the opportunity to catch your breath without stopping the exercise.

Of course, if you need to take a break then please do so. As always, please consult with your physician to see if this program is right for you. You participate in this workout at your own risk. Neither I or any of the social media networks I post to are responsible or liable for anything that happens during your workout. Listen to your body! Please be sure to warm up and cool down properly.


30-Minute Jump Rope Full-Body Burn
0:00 - 1:00 Jump rope - feet together 
1:00 - 2:00 Sumo Squat with Side Bend (Hold sumo squat. Place hands behind head and bring the same elbow towards the same knee.) 
2:00 - 3:00 Jump rope - skip with right leg in front 
3:00 - 4:00 Up & Down Plank (Hold the push-up position and lower yourself one arm at a time to plank position and then one arm at a time return to push-up position) 
4:00 - 5:00 Jump rope - skip with left leg in front 
5:00 - 6:00 Alternating Lunges 
6:00 - 7:00 Jump rope - both feet side to side 
7:00 - 8:00 Spider-Man Push-ups (Start in push-up position, lower body until arms are 90 degrees and then bring right knee out to the side up to the right elbow. Return to push-up. Repeat same movement with left side.) 
8:00 - 9:00 Jump rope - both feet front to back 
9:00 - 10:00 Wall Sit 
10:00 - 11:00 Jump rope - lift knees as high as possible 
11:00 - 12:00 Inchworm Sit-ups (sit on your butt cheeks and place the palms of your hands on the floor next to them. Bring knees to chest and raise toes off the floor. Extend legs completely while lowering torso to a 45 degree angle to the floor. Do not let feet or back touch the ground. Return to start.) 
12:00 - 13:00 Jump rope - alternately hold one foot in the air as the rope goes around 
13:00 - 14:00 Crab-walk 
14:00 - 15:00 Jump rope - feet together
REPEAT!
YOU'RE DONE!




For this routine I used my EverlastingFit jump rope. I love it! It is pink, fast, and super light. If you are struggling with your jump rope then you need to check out a wire rope. They are so much easier than any other kind that I have used. The bearings make them spin smoothly. I have never had an issue with them kinking, catching, or stopping me mid-jump. If you don't have a jump-rope then I seriously suggest you try adding them to your routine.

If you want one like the one that I used for this workout then you can find more info about them HERE



I received my sample complimentary in exchange for an honest trial and review. These are my unbiased opinions and experiences. If you want to know more, just ask!

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Suuchi Custom Made Shirt Dress



Have you ever been in the dressing room and thought to yourself, "I wish they made clothes custom made for my shape"?

I'm pretty sure we have all been there. Because let's face it, we're all unique. There is no true "One size fits all."

That's why Suuchi decided to make every piece customized to the customers measurements.

Seriously!

Don't believe me? Go to their website, HERE.
Just be sure to go there on a desktop computer. I tried doing it on my smartphone and could not get it to work very well. The best features of the site only work on a real computer.

Here's how it works:
  • Go to suuchi.com
  • Select whatever you're looking for - Dresses, Blouses, Skirts, Outerwear, Pants, Accessories
  • Choose a style that you want (ignore the predetermined fabric and color for now) and press "customize"
  • Scroll through and find the perfect fabric. Be sure to hover your mouse over each selection because it will explain in more detail what you get - some come with extra lining, some are stretchy, some are soft, some are better for pants, some are better for summer, etc.
  • Now for the fun part!
  • You can either choose a standard size based only on your height and estimated size (i.e. 4, 8, 12, S, L, XXL)
  • Or you can customize it to your actual size! Be sure to press "Custom Size" and go for it! You will need a flexible measuring tape though. And don't forget to watch the how-to videos!!! Some measurements were not done as I thought.
  • They even have a section for Additional Comments where you can tell the seamstress anything that you especially want taken into consideration.


You will need to measure your:
Shoulder
Chest
Under Chest
Waist
Hip
Armhole
Sleeve Length
Height



And if you're unsure about anything you can even view the piece of clothing on an animated 3D image. The fabric really does look different from the swatches. Plus, you can flip, twirl, spin, and do-si-do her. Ok, she may not be an ideal dancing candidate, but she did help me to figure out exactly what I wanted.

And the checkout process is a breeze. You can either create an account where they will save your information or you can purchase as a guest. Either way, you can use a credit card or PayPal.

Since these are customized pieces of clothing you don't get free 2-day shipping, but they will be delivered to you in just 5 days!!! How? There has to be some fairy godmother work going on here.

My favorite part is that they are MADE IN THE USA. You heard that right. They are sewn by an actual person in North Bergen, New Jersey. I LOVE supporting people in their business ventures. I love knowing that my purchases are helping someone fulfill their dreams.

Knowing that your clothing was made with passion by someone who loves their work rather than in a sweat shop overseas by suffering hands means so much more.




The only part I did not like about this process is that I could not seem to find the fabric the model was wearing in the options listed. Both on the Button Down Shirt Dress and these Cropped Slim Pants. Other than that, I am in love with designing my clothes!

I really wish the fabric swatches were more detailed however. They seem to be more computerized images of the design of the fabric. When placed on the cartoon model they look completely different. Sometimes the design is larger and sometimes it is a lot smaller. With this, you still cannot tell what the fabric will be like. They have descriptions, but I am more of a visual type person.

When my Shirt Dress arrived I was overwhelmed with excitement! But when I pulled it out I was slightly disappointed. The fabric I had chosen was way thick and stiff. It was more rough than I anticipated. 




But it was still beautiful! I could definitely see that somebody had put a lot of work and passion into this garment. Each stitch was perfect. Every hem was beautifully closed. It did not look hand-made to me. I loved it.

Once I tried it on though I was heartbroken. The fabric was so itchy that I could not keep it on. I can sacrifice a little bit of comfort when it comes to fashion, but not like this. The golden threads were going to be the death of me. If it had been designed with a soft inside lining then this Shirt Dress would be wonderful! But I can't do it. I wish I had chosen a different fabric. Instead. I prefer mine more as a coat or with a cute pair of leggings.

Overall, I love this piece. I would recommend ordering from Suuchi to my friends and family. If I wasn't completely broke right now I would order another one in a different fabric. I've already chosen two that I like. Plus, you can't beat their customer service. These are some of the nicest ladies that I've had the pleasure of working with. 


You can find the Shirt Dress that I ordered HERE.
Or you can browse the rest of their clothing line HERE.


UPDATE 1-14-16! SUUCHI HAS UPDATED THEIR WEBSITE. YOU CAN NOW VIEW THE FABRIC ON THE REAL LIFE MODEL.


I received this product complimentary in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

Saturday, January 9, 2016

Bonjour Cuisine Silicone Baking Mat



If your New Year's Resolution involves losing weight then I have a product that might simplify your endeavors. It's Bonjour Cuisine's Silicone Baking Mat

How does a silicone mat cut calories? Good question. It will take away the need for greasing your sheets. 

The silicone baking mats act similar to parchment paper. They create a barrier between your food and your dishes. They protect your pans from getting burned and brown, and they also prevent sticking. Seriously, such an ingenious idea.

Parchment paper is expensive. And it's not reusable. I've tried, but it doesn't work very well and it's not very clean. Plus, all of those rolls you go through just end up clogging up the landfills. With these silicone mats you are going to save some major pennies and the Earth.




I've used them for baked chicken strips, roasted broccoli, roasted brussel sprouts, chocolate chip cookies, and brown-sugared butternut squash. Everything cleaned up perfectly. I have even placed one of these mats on the oven rack below my breads and cakes that I've baked to prevent dripping on the bottom of my oven. I have a convection oven and so I can't place anything on the bottom of it. This little trick has saved me from unnecessary spills and cleanup!

When I made my squash it was a HUGE mess. I found This Recipe on Pinterest and was not impressed. Next time I will be dicing up the squash first and then placing it in a casserole dish to bake. Anyways, my mats saved me. Practically all of the butter and brown sugar ran off of squash and then cooked onto my mat and pan. I was so sad. Lucky for me, it washed right off. It was so easy to clean all thanks to my mats.




The only thing that I don't like about the mats is their size. It's smaller than the other pair that I own, and so I thought that they would fit my medium-sized pans. They don't. They only fit on my large pans as well. However, they don't extend all of the way to the edges. There is about a 1cm gap on all sides. I don't like this because when my squash spilled over some of it ran off the mat and onto my pan. Luckily, I could still clean it up easily since it was mainly butter.

My favorite part is the spatula. It is so pretty, purple, and small. At first, I thought it was useless, but I was so wrong. It is so handy. It helps me to scrape all of the contents out of my peanut butter, mayonnaise, jelly, and other condiment jars. It's small enough that it can fit in small-mouthed jars and fit into all of the crooks and crannies. I can now get all of the Nutella out of the canister without getting my paw stuck in the honey pot. The only issue is that my daughter thinks that it was designed especially for her. She loves the color purple and it's small, so it must be a gift for her. It is constantly disappearing. And no matter what I'm creating in the kitchen, she has to use "her" spatula to help me.




Overall, these are the prettiest silicone baking mats! I love them. They work perfectly and clean up nicely. Just be sure to measure your baking sheet before ordering. If you're going to order silicone baking mats then you might as well get one that help you get every drop of jam out of the jar.


I love my set and I hope you will love yours as well!
You can find them on Amazon, HERE.




I received mine complimentary in exchange for an honest trial and review. These are my personal opinions and experiences.

Friday, January 8, 2016

Boho Mama Bamboo Breastfeeding Cover

I know nursing in public is such a hot topic right now, so I'm going to tread lightly. You have your own free agency to choose how you feed your baby. As for me, I like to cover up. I don't want someone to get their jollies while staring at my child. If someone were to snap a photo of my child latched on and post it for other perverts to "enjoy" I would be outraged. I don't want to give any fuel to a child predator's fire. I will protect my children from any sexual exploitation as much as possible. That's just what I have chosen for my children and I. You do whatever works for you.

But if you're one of us covered up mothers then you have way more decisions to make. How? There are so many options...

I've tried using the blanket method. It fell off more than it was on. It was hard to help a newborn attach when I was blind to the action. Once my baby got older she would tear it off. And it was way too warm. Blankets are my least favorite way to cover up.




I own two different covers that are of similar design. It's practically a thin blanket with an adjustable loop to keep it strapped to your neck. It also features a rigid neckline that allows you to see your baby and to help with airflow. They leave your back completely bare however. Not all of my outfits are nursing friendly and so it leaves me feeling exposed. My muffin-top is something I try to keep tucked away. Plus, my daughters  were constantly flailing their arms and shifting the cover. It takes some precise clamping and tucking to keep my session private. And even though the material is very thin it still gets rather warm.

I have never owned the poncho, infinity scarf, shawl, or tube. I've heard pros and cons to each one. If you would like to shed some light on your experiences with any of these then leave me a comment below.

My favorite right now is the Boho Mama Bamboo Breastfeeding Cover. It is such a unique design. They list twelve different ways that you can wear it, but I'm sure there are many more. I especially like that it can be altered to accommodate your needs each time. Plus, as your positions change as your baby grows you can modify the style in which you wear it.





The Boho Mama is made from Organic Bamboo Modal. Did you know that bamboo is amazing?? It is. Here are some facts:
- Naturally soft. Bamboo apparel is softer than the softest cotton, and it has a natural sheen like silk or cashmere.Bamboo drapes like silk or satin, yet is less expensive and more durable. Bamboo/Organic cotton blends are also extremely soft but heavier in weight.

- Allergy reduced. Bamboo’s organic and naturally smooth fiber properties are non-irritating to the skin, making it ideal for people with skin sensitivities or other allergies and dermatitis. Some people can still experience chemical sensitivities, however, depending on the manufacturing process used to produce the fiber.
- Thermal regulating. ensuring that you are warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Bamboo clothing's excellent wicking properties also make it ideal for warm summer days.
- Absorbs moisture. A cross-section of bamboo fiber reveals various micro-holes, allowing bamboo cloth to have superior absorption. This allows bamboo cloth to absorb and evaporate human sweat rapidly. Bamboo fiber is four times more absorbent than cotton.
- Breathable. The porous qualities of bamboo fiber account for it's breathability; clothing made of bamboo resists clinging during hot weather or exercise.
- Anti-bacterial. Bamboo fabric contains a naturally occurring anti-microbial agent, kun, that prevents bacteria from cultivating on it, which means it helps keep you odor free.
- UV protection. Bamboo naturally provides added protection against the sun's harmful UV rays.   
I found this on http://eartheasy.com/wear_bamboo_clothing.htm check out their page for a few more fun facts.
I have an exercise shirt that is made from Bamboo and I love it. It is as soft as a feather. I wish I could sleep in it. In fact, I wish my bed sheets were made with it. It would be heaven! The Boho Mama is so soft to the touch. I love wearing it. My girls love touching it. It makes me want to nurse naked, but I'm pretty sure that is pushing the  "Free the Tatas" movement a little too far. I wasn't sure if I would actually wear my nursing cover as a stylish accessory, but after seeing it in person and touching it, I completely would. Plus, it's machine washable so you can wear it all day long and then wash and pack the next day.




The Boho Mama comes in three different colors. I chose black because it matches nearly everything. However, I wish I had gotten gray now. The gray won't heat up in the sun as much in the summer. It won't show lint quite as noticeably. And I own too much black. Gray would have looked better with my dark hair. It also comes in a beautiful though. I hope they keep expanding their color selection though! A pretty turquoise would be perfect!!!

Overall, I love this wrap. If you're going to cover up then you should do it in style. Nursing is a special moment and shouldn't be ruined with feelings of dread, embarrassment, or frustration. Covering up with the Boho Mama makes nursing in public easier and a little more enjoyable.






Head on over to their Amazon page and see for yourself!


And use this coupon YF87RXY7 for an extra 15% off!

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

2 PM-120 Tens Unit Electronic Pulse Massager



I am always down for a good massage. The only problem is that I can never get one.I can't fork out hundreds of dollars each month for a professional, and my husband's idea of a massage is a light back scratch that is over in just a couple of minutes. I haven't trained my three year old well enough because she just ends up jumping on me or clawing me with her "sharps." It's a work in progress.

Back when I was in high school we owned a tens unit made by Omron. Well, technically it was my Dad's, but I always kidnapped it. It lasted us forever, but they electrode pads wore out. I tried finding replacement pads when I was in college, but I couldn't find any. Yes, I even tried Amazon, Walgreens, and every other local med shop. I was devastated. I got so desperate that I used medical wraps to hold the electrodes against me. Without the gel though the pulses just aren't as strong.

About three years ago I happened to be walking through the mall around Christmas-time and there was a kiosk selling tens units called IQ Massager. I was so ecstatic! I decided to get one for my Dad for Christmas to replace the one I overused many years ago. I wanted to buy one for myself, but they were asking $150 for each one. OUCH! I only purchased one and even though I desperately wanted to keep it for myself I gave it to my Dad. Of course the electrode pads wore out over time and by the next Christmas I kept checking for the kiosk to return so that I could buy replacement pads, but it never did.

So, you can only imagine my excitement when I was given the opportunity to review one in December. It was a Christmas miracle!!! Jkjk. 




I purchased it from Amazon and it arrived within 2 days. It came in a very functional box. I know it is kind of weird to talk about the packaging, but it is necessary in this case. The box is very sturdy and seals shut using magnets. You'll be able to safely store your massager after each use without losing all of the parts.

The device felt pretty light in comparison to the IQ Massager. It felt pretty cheap in comparison, but that's because the IQ Massager felt more like you were holding an Ipod. The Santa Medical tens unit felt more similar to the plastic Omron casing, but slightly cheaper. But it was cheaper to purchase, so it didn't really matter to me as long as it worked.




When I turned on the display it was exactly like the IQ Massager. It features a pie chart that you can cycle through to choose which mode you would like to use. Below it has the buttons for Start, Pause, Mode, Increase, Decrease, and Time. To save your battery there is a sliding button on the top of machine that you use to power it on and off. That is where you will also find the two ports to attach the electrodes. To recharge the battery you insert the cord at the base of the machine.




The massager comes with two cords that attach to two pads each. You can use all four on one location or you can opt to massage to separate body parts at the same time. I even tried not connecting one cord and only using two pads and the machine still worked properly.




I love these machines. They are lifesavers! I used to run up to 16 miles a day when I was in high school and these always helped to relieve the pain from my aching muscles. When it was necessary for me to do physical therapy for the Osgood Schlatter's Disease in my knees during Cross Country they used a high-grade tens unit on me. I used to also get horrible charlie horses. I mean they were bad. The muscles would spasm so much that they would lock.

One day I was sitting in my room talking to my brother when my foot went completely nuts. The muscles in the bottom of my foot tightened up so much that it forced my toes to curl under. This had happened to me plenty of times before, but usually I could massage it out with my hands and it would end. Not this time. The muscle kept tightening. I was literally on the ground throwing myself back and forth trying to escape the pain. My brother tried desperately to force my foot back into its normal position, but the muscle wouldn't release. By this time I had tears pouring down my face and I was screaming in agony. I was ready to amputate the wretched limb that had turned against me. Luckily, I saw my Dad's tens unit on my desk and had my brother attach it to my foot. Within seconds the electrical current was able to counteract the contracting muscle in my foot. I have never been so thankful for electric shock therapy before in my life.




I have even found that these come quite handy once a month. Due to my good fortune in life I am also the recipient of incapacitating cramps once a month. Before I had children they were much worse. I don't know if it's the cysts or just my hateful body, but they left me crippled each month... or two or three times each month. Ya my body hates me. The tens unit actually helped though. I placed the electrodes on my lower abdomen and would lie on them while doing homework. It was my saving grace since I hated taking the pain meds prescribed by my doctor.

And of course slapping them on an unsuspecting victim is always a hilarious prank. Although I can't recommend doing this since there is a large risk involved. You could injure yourself or someone else when using this product. The body runs on electrical impulses and messing with them can interfere with normal functioning. Never use these on someone with a pacemaker or a serious heart condition without consulting a doctor first. In fact, nobody should really use one without talking to their doctor first. Use at your own risk.

I LOVE mine though and will be wearing it out very soon!

If you want to check them out for yourself, you can find them on Amazon HERE. 




I purchased mine at a discounted price in exchange for an honest trial and review. These are my personal opinions and experiences.