Diffusing essential oils..

I have been meaning to share my experience with essential oils for a few months now. 

It all started this past spring, my littlest one was sick and coughing to the point of throwing up for about a week. I took him to his pediatrician, she suspected whooping cough, and sent me home and told me to wait for the result and she would call in a prescription for me,  but his test for whooping cough came back negative. So we were back to square one, I was exhausted and desperate and since cough medicines are not recommended for little ones, I went and to a health food store almost in tears in search for an alternative route, I spoke with a woman in the health department and told her that I didn't know what to do, I tried everything. The only thing that seemed to help was sitting with him in a steamy shower during his coughing spells until he would fall back asleep. 

She asked me if I tried essential oils. I told her that I have heard of them, but last I checked you had to spend hundreds of dollars and buy them through a seller. She said that they sold some and for me to try eucalyptus oil. 

She told me to drop a few drops into the shower while I was steaming him and rub some on his feet and cover with socks and even along his spine. I was desperate and didn't have any other options so I decided to give it a try. 

I came home and did just that. I noticed he slept longer and only woke up coughing twice that night and he didn't throw up!  The next day he seemed better,  I kept using the oil and within 2 days he was no longer coughing, I didn't know if this was a coincidence or not, but this is where my journey with essential oils begin. 

I started reading more about them. I bought my first diffuser and a the family physician kit from doTERRA. I liked this kit because it was some affordable and it came with a list of what to use the oils for, which is a must for a beginner like me. 

I now use my diffuser day and night! Since then I bought 2 different diffusers for each of the kids bedrooms as well. 

My favorite diffuser is still the first one I bought, If I could, I would exchange the other 2 for this one. It uses the least amount on water and runs the longest. I can turn it on before bed and it is still running in the morning when I wake up! 

These are the differs I have now:

InstaNatural Diffuser

This is my favorite one! If you can only buy one, I highly recommend this one. It uses the least amount of water and lasts for about 8-10 hours. It only has one button to use which makes it easy to use. 

doTERRA Petal Diffuser:

This is my 2nd favorite. It uses a lot more water and only lasts for 4 hours. It has two buttons, one for how long (2 or 4 hours) and one to turn off the light. 

The essential wellness diffuser:

This is my least favorite. It uses the most water, and claims to last for 10 hours, which I do not find the case. It has two buttons which you need to press at the same time to turn it on. I do not find it easy to use.  I also do not like that the steam comes out of the side hole instead of the top. If you have the buttons facing the front, then the steam ends going towards the wall since my diffuser is on a dresser. 

My diffusers are always running. In the mornings I like to use something refreshing like grapefruit, orange/lemon, peppermint or lavender. 

One of my favorite oils is the peaceful sleep  and good night blend. I use this at night, They are very calming and soothing. Also bought a roller ball of bedtime essential oil which I can rub on my little one when he is to wound up to sleep. 

If anyone is getting the sniffles in our house, I start using On guard or  germ fighter - this one reminds me of fall. It smells like pinecones, cinnamon and pumpkins.

If someone gets sick,  I use breath,  Breath Easier, or Inhale in the diffuser, and  I also rub some on the chest of anyone who has a stuffy nose which helps clear up congestion. 

I use peppermint and lavender on my temples when ever I feel a headache coming on. In fact, my hubby asks me to get him some oils whenever he gets a headache now. :)

I have used oregano and frankincense oil to completely remove a wart I had! 

I have come to learn that oils are powerful, and it just takes some time  and patience to learn how to use them. Not that I am an expert or anything :) I don't believe that you need to spend a lot of money on oils, especially if you are just going to be putting them in a diffuser. If you will be applying them topically and ingesting them, then yes, you should get food grade oils which tend to run a little more. However, my local health food store carries there own store brand of oils which are all food grade and are very reasonably priced.  So now if I want something that I can rub on the body or ingest, I go and get some advice and buy oils there. 

Thanks for visiting, 

Do you use oils? If so, what are some of your favorite oils and uses for them?

Current Skincare Routine

As some of you may know, I am really into skincare. Ever since I got my first job 10 years ago, I started buying skincare products, so I have tried my share of products to this day, I have a lot of favorites and there is still so much I want to try. 

This is what I am  currently using:

To remove make up, I use Burt's Bees wipes ( not pictured )

I have tried a ton of different makeup removers and wipes and this is so far my favorite and it is available in almost every store. 

La Roche- Posay Effaclar Cleanser

I have been using the same cleanser for over a year now. I love it so much, I have lost count on how many tubes I have gone through. Cleans wonderfully and I can use it with my clarisonic without the foam getting in my eyes and nose. 

Day time serum: Clinique Turnaround Radiance Renewer

This is a new one for me, I bought it because of all the reviews, so even though I am not a lover of Clinique, I decided to try it out. I have been using it for about 3 weeks now and like it a lot. I have noticed that my skin seems clearer and my dark spots are disappearing. 

Night time serum: Ahava Extreme Night Treatment

I have used last year, then I ran out and since it is so spendy, I didn't rush back to get it. Then I noticed fine lines emerging on my forehead. So I bought this again and it is like my skin drinks it up. I put it on at night before bed, the fine lines are slowly softening up. This is my HG item. I now know that I need it. If you sign up for emails from AHAVA, they occasionally send coupon codes, so I was able to snag this for 40% off. 

Moisturizer: Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream

This cream smoothes and softens skin without feeling heavy, I put it on top of my serum day and night. A little goes a long way. 

Eye Cream: Origins Anti-Aging Eye Treatment

This is a new one for me, I have used it for about 2 weeks. I have been using eye cream twice a day for the past 10 years, so I have tried many different eye creams, this one keeps my under eye area moisturized, and it does not sting my eyes and feels lightweight.

Spot treatment: La Roche-Posay Effaclar DUO Acne Treatment

I have used many spot treatments and this one is one of the best. It does the job without drying out my face. 

Lips: Dr. Lipp Original Balm

I always put something on my lips, otherwise they get dry. This is a bit pricy, but lasts a long time. I use it sparingly day and night and it keeps my lips moist and soft.

Thanks for visiting, 

New Hair, New Me!

Last year, a few months postpartum, I got hit pretty badly with postpartum hair loss. I worked hard growing out my hair for the past three years, but now it was coming out in clumps, in the shower, on the bathroom floor, in fact it was all over the house. There where days when I didn't even want to brush my hair in the morning because I didn't want more to fall out. I kept my hair up in a top knot almost every day. Now, naturally my hair is already very fine, so I kept panicking when more and more kept falling out.

Now, towards the end of my pregnancy, I decided to have my stylist ombre my hair, this involved bleach. I ended up not liking it, so I had her color it back a few months after baby, but the damage was done. My hair started breaking horribly.

(before the hair loss)

I spent money on hair treatments, oils, anything to stop the breaking, but nothing helped.

So now I had postpartum hair loss and damaged ends breaking off. I was so upset, so I decided to cut it all of and start all over. 

The postpartum hair loss had long stopped, and although I miss long hair  I am loving my short hair now, No more pony tails or top knots. My hair takes only a few minutes to style each morning. 

I use a straightener to curl hair away from my face and it lasts all day.

I will probably start slowly growing out my hair again soon,  but for now I will enjoy the low maintenance of a short bob. 

Thank you so much for visiting,

Empties Reviews

My empties box has been full for quite some time now, I have actually been throwing out the duplicate things we have have used.  I decided to finally do this this week because we are starting home school next week and I am trying to organize and clean a few last minute things. 

So lets get started. 

L'Oreal Elnet Satin Hairspray (Unscented)  

Did I like it: YES. Strong hold, doesn't leave hair sticky, I can brush it at the end of the day and the hairspray is gone. Both me and my hubby use it and love it. 

Will I repurchase? Yes, already repurchased.

Beauty Protector Protect and Detangle

Did I like it: I bought this on Birchbox after loving the sample. I really love the smell and how it helps smooth my hair out before I blow dry.

Will I repurchase? Yes, already repurchased. 

Serge Normant Volumizer

Did I like it: My hair is very thin and fine and I am always trying to find something to help thicken it when I style it. I was excited to try this, however I did not like it. In fact I barely noticed a difference. It gave me a slight "dirty" texture, but that is all. 

Will I repurchase? No

Macadamia Natural Healing Oil

Did I like it: Yes! At first I used this after I dried my hair when I styled it to whisp away any frizzes. Then one day, my ends felt very dry and damaged. I took a handful of this oil and rubbed it into my ends and left it in my hair for about 4 hours. After I washed my hair, and my hair felt amazing. It was completely healed. I now have smooth hair that does not feel or look dry or damaged. Now I occasionally apply to ends before I blow dry. Something everyone should have on hand. 

Will I repurchase? Yes, I bought a larger size this time. 

Birchbox July 2014

I am always eagerly awaiting my monthly birchbox. It's like a little present for me every month.

Let me tell you what birch box is, just in case you are not familiar with it.

It's a monthly subscription service which is $10.00 a month where you get sent 4-5 high-end samples each month. First you take a little survey so they can find out more about your skin, make up likes and dislikes so they know what to send you.

You then get to try out the products and review them on birchbox.com. For each review you get 10 points. Every 100 points equals $10 you can use in the shop. So if you review your 5 samples each month, thats $5 going back to you to use in the shop. So technically each box costs $5! Now, you can't beat a $5 little present for yourself, now can you? :)

With the birch box, I can try high end products without having to buy full size products. If I love the product, then I can go buy it :)

If you are interested in checking it out, go to Birch Box

Lets see what I got this month:

Jouer Matte Moisterizer (Full Price $38.00)

What BirchBirch Says: This mattifying tint is infused with titanium and zinc dioxides, which deflect both UVA and UVB rays. In addition, it has vitamins A, C, and E to deflect the free radicals that lead to premature aging. A pale beige, Porcelain is best for extremely fair complexions, while Linen is slightly darker and best for light complexions. Nude, a neutral beige, works for light to medium complexions; Chamomile, a golden tone, suits medium to tan complexions; and Hazel, a nutty brown, is perfect for tan to dark complexions.

What I Say: I actually have gotten this sample last year sometime and I bought the full size last summer. Love this tinted moisturizer. I wear it on those days I don't want to wear makeup.... Like when it is 90 degrees outside. I still have some left from last summer, and am using it now. But if anyone wants a tinted moisturizer and your face get oily, this is a great option. 

Daughter's Strabismus Surgery

We have gone through a hard past few days. My little Emily had her strabismus surgery, to loosen and tighten her eye muscles. Emily was 3 when I noticed her slight misalignment in her left eye. We had her checked out right away and the ophthalmologist prescribed her glasses to try and strengthen her muscle. After one year we did not see any difference in the alignment of the eye, so the ophthalmologist suggested that patch her eye 2 hours a day. We did this for 2 years, without any significant correction. In fact I noticed that by now both of her eyes were misaligned. 

We got a new ophthalmologist and things finally started going somewhere. She started checking Emily every 2 months and said that she was a perfect candidate for strabismus surgery. I was a nervous wreck leading up to the surgery, I was trying to find anything I could online about the procedure and what to expect. I couldn't find much on how kids handle this procedure and decided to write a post to hopefully help someone in the same situation. 

Emily on the day of her procedure. She was giddy and nervous not really knowing what to expect. 

I think the hardest part was the first few hours after the procedure. When Emily came home she couldn't walk so she had to be carried. We got her comfortable in bed. She was crying because her eyes hurt. She fell asleep for an hour or so. She then woke up crying, we applied ice compresses to her eyes and that seemed to help with the pain. 

She was hungry by now since she wasn't allowed to eat after midnight the night of there procedure. 

I made her some scrambled eggs and cut up a banana for her, I had to feed her since she wouldn't open her eyes. I also had to carry her to the bathroom since she couldn't see where she was going. 

The doctor said that she should drink ice cold water and eat cold things because the cold in her mouth can help with the swelling in the eyes. 

I fed her some ice cream and she went back to sleep. 

She woke up crying again. It was so hard to see her this way. I just held her and cuddled with her and helped her hold the ice pack on her eyes. Her tears were bloody (which is normal after the procedure).

By now it was already noon (her procedure was at 8am)

She remembered that the night before I got her a "get well" present and she wanted to open it now. 

She pried her eyes open and I was shocked to see how bloody the inner whites were. I didn't let her see my shock, instead we opened her present. I got her the Princess Sophia Royal Family dolls and a DVD. She asked if she could watch the dvd.

I carried her downstairs and got her comfortable on the couch. 

She watched the movie while she dabbed her watery eyes and applied ice compresses. 

After the movie she started to play with her new dolls. It is amazing how fast she was bouncing back. 

By the evening she was already up and about playing with her brother. I gave her tylenol for the pain every 4 hours. She fell asleep at 9pm that night and woke up around midnight from the pain. I gave her more tylenol and she slept till morning. 

The next day my little sunshine was feeling so much better, but she still complained of pain around her eyes ( she didn't want to wear her glasses) and her eyes were watery (she carried around a tissue)

So I gave her tylenol every 4 hours. Other then that she was back to playing and running around with her brother. 

We had to apply an eye antibiotic twice a day which she hated. It made her eyes blurry for a bit. I would put it on and then cuddle with her to make her feel better for a minute or two. 

June Birchbox 2014

I am always eagerly awaiting my monthly birchbox. It's like a little present for me every month.

Let me tell you what birch box is, just in case you are not familiar with it.

It's a monthly subscription service which is $10.00 a month where you get sent 4-5 high-end samples each month. First you take a little survey so they can find out more about your skin, make up likes and dislikes so they know what to send you.

You then get to try out the products and review them on birchbox.com. For each review you get 10 points. Every 100 points equals $10 you can use in the shop. So if you review your 5 samples each month, thats $5 going back to you to use in the shop. So technically each box costs $5! Now, you can't beat a $5 little present for yourself, now can you? :)

With the birch box, I can try high end products without having to buy full size products. If I love the product, then I can go buy it :)

If you are interested in checking it out, go to Birch Box

Hot Weather Favorites

It has been so warm lately, and I have been loving it. Sunnshine= Happiness, right?

I have been using my warm weather favorites, and wanted to share them with you.  

Dry Shampoo:

I have fine/thin hair and during the summer it gets really oily, especially if I am not washing it daily. I like to freshen it up with my favorite dry shampoo: NYM Clean Freak. I have about 6 other brands, and this is my favorite, I have lost count of how many cans I have gone through.

Sea Salt Spray:

I love this sea salt spray for my hair. I just spray it into my ends and let my hair dry naturally. I love the look of wavy hair during the summer. Just don't forget to also use a leave in conditioner on your ends or you will dry out your ends. Its all natural, which is awesome. 

Sunscreen:

I burn really fast in the sun, so sun block is a must for me. However, if I am outside, I can get lazy about reapplying it. So I love this spray sunblock, I can reapply regularly and not get my hands all in unblock, So I have no excuse for laziness. This one is my favorite, It is waterproof, sweat proof, paraben free, oil free, uva/uvb protection. 

Face Sunscreen:

I use a different sunscreen for my face: Kiehls Super Fluid, I have tried a lot of different face sunblocks, and love this one the best. It is very watery and dries really fast so I can apply makeup on top. This is my 2nd bottle. Love it!

Sunless Tanner:

So what does a pale girl who doesn't tan do in the summer? Use sunless tanner off course. This is my favorite sunless tanner, it is a mouse which you apply with a mitt, it is tinted, so you can see where you have applied it, which helps with avoiding streaks. After 6 hours, wash it off and you have beautifully bronzed skin. 

spf Lip Balm (Sun Bum):

I am a chap-stick freak, I have to always have some on my lips, These are so amazing! They literally melt on top of your lips, they taste amazing and they have SPF! I am currently using the mango and pomegranate.

Burning Calories... Polar FT4 Review

Have you ever wondered how much calories you burn doing your every day actives? And I am not talking about just working out, since most machines have heart rate monitors on them.

 Weight loss has been on my mind lately. Like every morning when I try to fit into my pre pregnancy clothes. I have been loosing weight slowly, but "impatient Rita" wants to loose all the baby weight at the snap of her fingers. 

 I am certainly not dieting ( nursing) ,  But I know from my previous "calorie counting" days before this baby, that I ate about 1700-2000 calories a day.  I eat what I want, when I want. I definitely don't eat fast food every day, and we eat very healthy at home. Although I do indulge in chocolate- its my weakness. 

I read that in order to "loose weight" one must burn more calories then they eat. I thought this was crazy! Because after working my but off on the elliptical for 45 minutes, I would only burn around 400 calories- or so the elliptical machine told me. So I have always wondered how much calories I burn during the day.

Have you seen those watches that monitor your heart rate and can tell you how much calories you burn? Well I got one for Mothers Day: The Polar FT 4. I thought it would the perfect gift for me since I want to eventually loose all this baby weight. 

The Polar Watch comes with 2 parts, the chest strap (heart rate sensor) and the training computer (watch). The sensor is the little black box that gets attached to the strap with electrodes that is worn around your chest. 

The chest strap is not uncomfortable at all, in fact I completely forgot I was wearing. If you are used to your bra strap, then this is exactly how it feels.

When you are finished working out, you just unclip the sensor and rinse the strap. (It is machine washable)

Next we have the training computer, which is the watch. I got to set the gender, height, weight, using the buttons on the sides. One you set all the necessary information, you are ready to work out! Just press the train button and you will see your heart rate. While you wear the watch and strap, it transmits information like heart rate, calories burned and how long you have worked out. 

You can also pause the watch if you take a break and don't want the time to keep going. 

In my case, I wanted to see how much calories I burned on a typical day doing regular things. 

I got my watch on Tuesday, and decided to wear it on Wednesday. I will tell you that I was blown away with the results!

In almost 8 hours I burned 2059 calories! And this wasn't even my full day! I took off the watch and strap when I went to take a shower before dinner. 

Here is what I did that day:

Wake up at 7:30am

Get dressed, put heart rate monitor on. 

Brush teeth, make beds. 

Get kids dressed.

Make breakfast/wash dishes

Do Homeschool

Clean house (I clean my house every wednesday)

Laundry (I do 2 loads every day: darks and whites)

Make lunch

Prep dinner

I mowed the lawn since it was nice out, trimmed a few dead flowers. 

and that its! Then I took a shower at 3 or 4 pm!

I am sure I burned a ton more calories after that, I finished getting dinner ready, we ate dinner, I cleaned the kitchen and we all went to Target and out for jamba. 

Oh, and lets not forget nursing, since that burns calories too. :)

I have to say I am pretty impressed, No wonder the weight has been slowly coming off without much effort. I still want to work out to get stronger and build muscle, but "working out" is not going to be on my mind all the time now. I guess this showed me that I can do something productive like clean the house and burn calories at the same time. I am planning on wearing the watch on a full day next time, I will let you know how that goes. 

Thanks for visiting,

Birchbox May 2014

I am always eagerly awaiting my monthly birchbox. It's like a little present for me every month.

Let me tell you what birch box is, just in case you are not familiar with it.

It's a monthly subscription service which is $10.00 a month where you get sent 4-5 high-end samples each month. First you take a little survey so they can find out more about your skin, make up likes and dislikes so they know what to send you.

You then get to try out the products and review them on birchbox.com. For each review you get 10 points. Every 100 points equals $10 you can use in the shop. So if you review your 5 samples each month, thats $5 going back to you to use in the shop. So technically each box costs $5! Now, you can't beat a $5 little present for yourself, now can you? :)

With the birch box, I can try high end products without having to buy full size products. If I love the product, then I can go buy it :)

If you are interested in checking it out, go to Birch Box

Lets see what I got this month:

CoTZ Face Natural Skin Tone SPF 40 (Full Size $20)

What BirchBirch Says:  Free of harsh chemicals, oils, and fragrances, CoTZ FACE Natural Skin Tone deflects damaging UVA-UVB rays without irritating sensitive skin. Best for medium skin tones, the complexion-matching formula blends in seamlessly and masks minor flaws. 

What I Say: I have to say, I was a bit skeptical when I saw how dark this was. I am fairly light. However, it blended nicely and had a matte powdery feeling finish which lasted for hours. It really has no coverage, it just gives you a nice over all finish. So this is great with a bit of concealer for the trouble spots on a hot summer day. 

 I really liked it. You know when you put sunblock on, it tends to have that white cast, well because this one is tinted, it did not have that. I am putting this on my to buy list for summer. 

My Current Skincare Routine

As some of you may know, I am a big skincare junkie. I really got into skin care when I was 17 years old. I had occasional breakouts and spent a big chunk of my pay check in searching for the perfect skincare regimen. Well 10 years have passed, and I am still searching :). 

I know that there are so many things out there, I just want to try as much as I can. Which is why I subscribe to birch box. 

This is what I am  currently using:

To remove make up, I use Burt's Bees wipes ( not pictured )

I have tried a ton of different makeup removers and wipes and this is so far my favorite and it is available in almost every store. 

For face wash I use La Roche- Posay Effaclar Cleanser. This is my 2nd tube of this and I love it! Cleans wonderfully and I can use it with my clarisonic without the foam getting in my eyes and nose. 

For day time I use Juice Beauty Oil Free Moisturizer. I am very picky with my moisturizer, but this one meets all of my needs. I actually got a sample through birch box and loved it, therefore I bought myself the full size. 

My current eye cream is Caudalie SOS Morning Eye Cream. I use this both in the morning and at night. It is a cream and doesn't irritate my eyes.

If I get a occasional pimple I use Glytone 10% Benzoyl Peroxide and it works wonderfully. I have had this tube for about 6 months and there is still plenty left. 

For night time, I use Paula's Choice RESIST Retinol Wrinkle Serum. This was also a birch box find. I noticed when I use this, my fie lines seem less visible. My skin looks great when I get up in the morning.  

If my face feels dry that night, then I would add the Juice Beauty moisturizer on top. 

I still need to get a new sun screen. I ran out of the Kiehl's Fluid sunscreen. I really liked it, but I am not sure if I should get the same thing or try something else.  Sun screen is so tricky, I have tried so many brands that made me break out in big pimples. Any suggestions on sunblock for oily skin?

Thanks so much for visiting,

Birchbox April 2014

I am always eagerly awaiting my monthly birchbox. It's like a little present for me every month.

Let me tell you what birch box is, just in case you are not familiar with it.

It's a monthly subscription service which is $10.00 a month where you get sent 4-5 high-end samples each month. First you take a little survey so they can find out more about your skin, make up likes and dislikes so they know what to send you.

You then get to try out the products and review them on birchbox.com. For each review you get 10 points. Every 100 points equals $10 you can use in the shop. So if you review your 5 samples each month, thats $5 going back to you to use in the shop. So technically each box costs $5! Now, you can't beat a $5 little present for yourself, now can you? :)

With the birch box, I can try high end products without having to buy full size products. If I love the product, then I can go buy it :)

If you are interested in checking it out, go to Birch Box

Lets see what I got this month:

March Birchbox 2014

I am always eagerly awaiting my monthly birchbox. It's like a little present for me every month.

Let me tell you what birch box is, just in case you are not familiar with it.

It's a monthly subscription service which is $10.00 a month where you get sent 4-5 high-end samples each month. First you take a little survey so they can find out more about your skin, make up likes and dislikes so they know what to send you.

You then get to try out the products and review them on birchbox.com. For each review you get 10 points. Every 100 points equals $10 you can use in the shop. So if you review your 5 samples each month, thats $5 going back to you to use in the shop. So technically each box costs $5! Now, you can't beat a $5 little present for yourself, now can you? :)

With the birch box, I can try high end products without having to buy full size products. If I love the product, then I can go buy it :)

If you are interested in checking it out, go to Birch Box

Lets see what I got this month:

Birchbox January 2014

I am always eagerly awaiting my monthly birchbox. It's like a little present for me every month.

Let me tell you what birch box is, just in case you are not familiar with it.

It's a monthly subscription service which is $10.00 a month where you get sent 4-5 high-end samples each month. First you take a little survey so they can find out more about your skin, make up likes and dislikes so they know what to send you.

You know how I love trying out new products? Well, with the birch box, I can try high end products without having to buy full size products. If I love the product, then I can go buy it :)

If you are interested in checking it out, go to Birch Box

Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Creme (full size $19.99)

What BirchBox says: Fekkai’s encapsulated shine-release complex imparts softening olive oil into each strand throughout the day. Hair looks healthy, smooth, and oh-so-shiny.
 Rub a quarter-sized amount between palms and distribute through dry or wet hair, focusing on mid-lengths to ends. 

What I say: hmm.. Not sure. I used it and haven't noticed a difference, but I also did not notice anything bad about this product. So I will keep using it and update you