The Ultimate Squat

I was really excited to try this out. I liked the idea of being able to use the wall to help maintain posture. At first it feels really awkward for people who aren't used to squats because you have to extend your feet farther forward to prevent improper positioning of the knees. But it feels great when you're flowing through the movement. 

I'm 5'4" and I feel like the bands don't engage until I am nearly fully extended. There would be more resistance for taller people. I would really like to be able to increase the resistance.

Backward lunges are much easier to do with this system because you don't lose your balance like you do with free weights. It doesn't hurt at all, but the links rest on my shin during the movement which is distracting to me. You can place it behind your leg, but then you have to use extra muscle to keep your heel planted. Be careful so it doesn't break free and flick you where it hurts most. 

Also, the foam on the foot handles is very thin and flimsy. I don't see it lasting very long especially if you're wearing shoes. But you'll still be able to use the system even if the handles fall apart. 

I loved the workout! I especially love the carrying case. I took it with me on vacation and it was perfect. It's small enough to fit in your luggage and you can assemble it in less than a minute. Just be sure to store it so that the foam rollers aren't compressed or else they become lopsided for a bit and you'll feel it when they're rolling along the wall. 

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

SantaMedical Aneroid Sphygmomanometer and Stethoscope

I have worked in the healthcare profession as a CNA and was curious to see how a kit like this would compare to other products I have used. I personally prefer taking blood pressures manually because I feel it is more accurate.

The box it came in was pretty hammered and seemed fairly stuffed when it arrived. I was quite impressed when I first opened the box though. I ordered the purple because I like pretty colors that brighten my mood.

It's prettier in person.

The carrying case was a beautiful purple. Great quality too! I love the carrying case because I store my others in their original boxes which are hard to put back together and are falling apart.

This is the first set I've gotten that came with so many extras! The extras include: one large diaphragm, one small diaphragm, two ear tips, a large bell, medium bell, and a small bell.

The cuff is pretty nice. It's the exact same color and fabric as the case. I wish the material was a little sturdier though. As you pull it through the D-ring it tends to wrinkle and cinch. It takes a little extra attention to make sure it stays flat.

The meter face is much larger than the ones I typically use. Which makes it much easier to read! However, it does take up more space and is nearly as big as my entire palm. It inflated and deflated as it should. It was fairly easy to turn the knob while taking my blood pressure by myself. I wish the velcro extended just a bit further though because it almost didn't fit my arm. I have smaller arms, but they're not as small as some (about 14 in. circumference around my bicep).

The stethoscope was a little disappointing though. The double tube makes it kind of awkward because the tubes sometimes fight to go in opposite directions and isn't always easy to lay flat.

The name tag was wonderful! I've always had to purchase mine separately. And this one won't fall off! The only problem is that I could not hear very well through the large diaphragm.

I could hear great through the small diaphragm though. I couldn't even listen to my own heartbeat on my chest through the large one. I don't know why that is. I haven't been able to figure out the malfunction. I can hear it loud and clear through my other stethoscopes though. I read some of the other reviews online and it looks like a couple of other people have had the same issue. Plus, it's not the same purple as the cuff. I don't know why, but that made me a little sad. But it was just as they had it pictured on their page. I must've not noticed the difference when I was ordering.

All in all, it is a pretty good set. I haven't tried reaching out to the company yet, but if they are willing to replace the stethoscope then it'd be a great buy! Just my stethoscope alone costs more than this entire set. I was able to get an accurate blood pressure reading with the cuff, so I think that it is pretty decent quality.

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

Influenster Voxbox ZzzQuil

So, this is actually my second box from Influenster. My first box was amazing! But I really had no clue what I was supposed to do with it so my reviews weren't that great. Sorry guys. I knew what was going to be in this one before it even arrived and I was excited.

ZzzQuil!

I have never used a sleep aid before though so I don't have much to compare it to. However, I do know that I pretty much NEVER get enough sleep. Back before my Fitbit broke (after only 6 months of use. GRRR!) it said I usually only get like 3 hours of good sleep each night. Not enough. I am tired all of the time. Waking up is the part of the day I hate the most because I still want to be sleeping. 

Falling asleep and staying asleep are my biggest issues. For some reason I have always procrastinated bedtime. I probably have some deep-seated, unresolved issues that only a therapist could solve, but who knows because I'm not going to go to one. Anyways, I can seriously put off going to bed for like 3-4 hours on a regular basis. There's always chores that weren't completed, projects to finish, or the only chance I have to watch a show that isn't Clifford and eat a snack that I don't want to share. It's bad. I should hop in bed as soon as I get the chance, but I don't. 

The second problem is more outside of my control. I am a mom and a wife. My kids wake me up all of the time. And I can't sleep in if they're awake because they won't let me. As long as one child is awake so am I. And at least one of them is always awake. Plus, if they stir or cough in the night then I am immediately awake and on alert. Then comes my husband. He is either in bed hours before me or hours after. And he watches this super annoying Youtube channel in bed. If I knew the person that hosted this channel I would pull an Ursula and steal his voicebox. He would never be able to utter a single word again. That might be the lack of sleep talking. He drives me nuts because he can fall asleep within minutes of his head hitting his pillow. It's not fair. But if he can't sleep then he makes sure that I can't sleep either. I've been tempted to Ursula him as well. Plus, we sleep on my 17 year old bed. And it's only a full-sized bed. I NEED a bigger bed. Not to mention, we keep the house hot in the summer and cold in the winter to save money. Ugh. I am soooo tired.

That is why I was so excited to try ZzzQuil. But my night didn't go as planned. It never does. 

My kids were asleep, my husband was downstairs playing videogames and so I figured I had the all-clear to test it out. Wrong. I took the pill and started gathering my stuff for bedtime and then I heard the bathroom door shut. NOOoo! When I heard the shower start I wanted to cry. I could already feel the ZzzQuil kicking in and I still had to wash my face and brush my teeth. About an hour later I was able to finally get ready for bed. I didn't end up falling asleep until about 2 hours after I took the pills. A few hours later one of my daughters woke up whining in the night. I went in and soothed her and then headed back to bed. A couple of hours later my husband woke up and decided he needed to wake me up. I tried desperately to ignore him and go back to bed, but he would not leave me alone. I'm normally pretty ornery when I get woken up in the night, but the ZzzQuil made me that much more tired and even meaner. I wanted to Ursula something else of his and beat him with it. And then of course my daughters were awake within 2 hours after that. Why would they sleep in on a day when I want them to? 

Needless to say, ZzzQuil works. But do NOT take it unless you can actually get some sleep. If you're a mom with a lazy husband then don't even try. It won't make everything that wakes you up disappear. Next time I'm just going to dose everyone else and we'll all get a good night's sleep. Just kidding everyone. Don't go call CPS on me. I promise I don't drug my kids. Maybe I'll try it again in 20 years. (sigh...)

I received this product complimentary for testing purposes. These are my personal opinions and experiences. 

ZzzQuil 

- Helps you fall asleep in less than 20 minutes. - Sleep soundly. Wake refreshed. - Not for pain. Just for sleep. - Non-habit forming. - Ensure time to get a sufficient night's sleep (7-8 hours). 

Read all labels and warnings before use. Consult your doctor if necessary.