I hope you all had a nice Mother’s Day weekend, I know I did. On Friday I drove up to Massachusetts with Lulu and had a nice visit with my own mom & dad, and then Sunday I was spoiled rotten by my husband and kids. I got cards, a butterfly magnet, a coupon book for chores, and an iTouch (!). You see, I had been using an old iPhone (1st generation) as an iTouch. I don’t have a cell phone and don’t really want one, but I liked having access to e-mail and texting and my calendar and many of the apps. Well, a couple weeks ago while I was in the shower, someone (who will remain nameless), decided to float my iPhone/Touch in the toilet. Yeah, you’re not going to find any cell signal boosters that could help with that.
I was bummed, but I got over it. I mean, it was given to me by someone who would have otherwise just saved it for the e-recycling day, and it wasn’t a need. Just a want. I guess D. felt bad for me. And now I am back in business, wahoo! Needless to say, I will be much more careful about where I put this one down when I am not using it. Ahem.
Anyway, we then spent Sunday afternoon with D.’s mom and aunt so we hit all the moms in the Northeast Corridor đ Now it’s back to our regularly scheduled programming. Somehow this week has totally gotten away from me, but I hope to get myself organized tomorrow.
I had to share today’s awesome Eversave deal because it is for one of my favorite magazines: Family Fun. You can get a year’s subscription for just $5, which is a great deal alone. But through the weekend, new members will receive a $4 credit as part of Eversave’s Mom-A-Thon. That makes it only $1 for a year of this great magazine! If you have kids, this is one I’d definitely jump on!
Well, it’s been four days and I’ve been good about sticking to my workout regimen. I’ve been doing yoga each night as intended, and D. is interested in trying it out, too (!) I wasn’t sure if it would appeal to his masculine sensabilities, but Unfortunately, I will miss tonight because we ate dinner late and I don’t think it would be a great idea to do all that stretching while I’m stuffed. (Eeek.) I already feel better (perhaps it’s mind over matter), and I actually am kind of sad I’m missing it tonight. I’ve also been keeping up as best as I can with cardio in the morning. The first day was rough and I was pretty sore after (OK, really sore), but I pushed through and after my workout this morning, I could feel my muscles, but in a good way. It’s definitely a motivator!
Lately I’ve been trying out quite a few new products. Some I recieve because I am members of programs, some because I sign up for a lot of freebies and coupons, and some because… well, I just like to try new things. So I thought that I’d designate Wednesday as the day I post reviews. I’m trying (trying!) to get some kind of blogging schedule going, but it’s hard because I’m used to writing in a very unstructured way.
At any rate, today I’m writing about makeup. I am a member of BzzAgent, which many of you have no doubt heard of (and you might be members yourselves). I was sent two full-sized L’oreal product samples to try: their new One Sweep⢠Eye Shadow and Double ExtendÂŽ Eye Illuminator Mascara. I’ve been using the products since the end of March. While I wasn’t so sure about the mascara at first, after using them I can say that love them both!
The One Sweep⢠Eye Shadow
This eyeshadow allows you to apply three shades at one time, simplifying the process of having great-looking eyes. Normally I don’t bother with more than one color of shadow, even though I like the look. With One Sweep, it’s the best of both worlds. It took me a little bit to figure out the best way to use the applicator (I obviously didn’t want to apply the lightest shade to the bottom of my lid.) But once I got the hang of it, the application was super easy. The name of the product is a bit of a misnomer, as I needed at least two or three sweeps in order to get good coverage.
Double ExtendÂŽ Eye Illuminator Mascara
I have a love/hate relationship with mascara. I love the way good mascara accentuates my eyes, but I hate many of the mascaras I’ve tried. I was a little skeptical when I saw the tube of L’oreal Double Extend. One end is a traditional mascara brush, but the other side is  shaped like a ball, and the color is bronze. (This is the “illuminator” part of the mascara.) I’m 35 years old, so I feared this would be a little too much.
Actually, the sparkle from the illuminator end is really subtle. It gives your lashes just a hint of sparkle — perfect for a night out. The traditional end of the mascara tube includes a brush that makes your lashes appear fuller. The makeup is a little on the thick side, so it helps if you have a lash comb to separate out your eyelashes. Overall, I think it is better than most of the other mascaras I’ve tried.
Both of these products are available at stores like CVS and Target, so you should have no problem finding them if you want to try them out for yourself!
Disclosure: I received these samples as part of my participation in the BzzAgent program. The opinions I’ve expressed in this review are my own and I receive no further compensation for posting them.
For those who may not know, May is Lyme Disease Awareness month. If you live in the Northeast, I’m sure you know someone whose life has been affected by the disease. It’s becoming prevalent across the country, but many people suffer for years because doctors don’t believe they’re actually sick.
My Personal Story
I had Lyme Disease in July 2008. It started with flu-like symptoms and progressed into pain that I can’t even describe. I had a headache that made me cry. My body ached like it never had before. I could barely walk down the stairs. I had a fever that sent me into both chills that made me cover up with dozens of blankets (in July) and sweats that soaked through my pillow. I was tired constantly. I had no idea what was going on until I stepped into the shower on July 3 and saw an enormous bulls-eye rash high on my left thigh. I consider myself extremely lucky for having that rash because it doesn’t alway materialize. (It’s not true that it appears in all cases — it doesn’t). I was able to get into the doctor’s office and my NP didn’t even bother with a blood test. She called my case “classic” and the rash was large enough to warrant a prescription immediately. I was on a 21-day course of doxycycline. It worked, but it was a while until I felt normal.
And lest you think Lyme Disease only happens during the warm weather… in January 2010, my then-4-year-old was diagnosed with it. His only symptom was a swollen knee that was causing him to have difficulty walking. He never complained of pain, nor was he lethargic. Originally we though he injured his knee by falling on the tile, but when we took him to the pediatrician, she immediately suspected Lyme Disease, especially when we told her we remembered pulling a tick off of him a month earlier on an unusually warm December day. She urged us to take him to the lab for the blood test (though we didn’t need convincing), and two days later I got a call that he tested positive for Lyme. He was on a lengthy course of amoxycillin, and that seemed to clear it up. We’ve had no problems since then.
Awareness
Deer ticks (also called blacklegged ticks) carry the bacteria that cause Lyme Disease. The nymphs are as small as a poppy seed and can be tricky to spot, which is why it is important to know what to look for. Here is a chart for comparison.
Image source: CDC
It’s both a blessing and a curse to live in an area where Lyme Disease is common. At least our doctors believe us when we tell them our suspicions. That’s not the case in other parts of the country. Believe it or not, there are doctors that deny Lyme Disease’s existence, insisting that the excruciating pain and other symptoms are all psychosomatic. To learn more, I’d highly recommend watching the documentary “Under Our Skin.” You can view the trailer here. I believe that many PBS stations will be airing the film this month, and I know it is also available on Netflix (including streaming).
Prevention
There is so much misinformation about this disease, and for some reason the medical establishment does not seem to want to find a cure. (That is not to say all doctors fall into this category — there are many wonderful doctors, including our own, who are vigilant and many who dedicate their lives to this disease). I wish the pharmaceutical companies would put a fraction of the effort into finding a vaccine or cure for Lyme Disease as they do for finding ways to make an old man’s erection last. But I’m not confident that will happen.
The best we can do for now is work on prevention. Here are some tips:
Use insect repellent with 20% – 30% DEET on exposed skin and clothing to prevent tick bites. For most things I prefer natural options, but in this house you don’t go outside without a healthy dose of bug spray. I’ll take my chances with the DEET.
Wear long pants, long sleeves, and long socks to keep ticks off your skin. Light-colored clothing will help you spot ticks more easily. Tucking pant legs into socks or boots and tucking shirts into pants help keep ticks on the outside of clothing.
Check for ticks every single night. “Tick checks” are a part of summer in our home. Be sure to look under the arms, scalp, and groin.
Unfortunately, I think I will always live in fear of this disease. Last summer I noticed a dot on my leg while I was in the shower. I convinced myself it was a tick and picked away at it until it started bleeding. Turns out, it was a mole.
To learn more, start by visiting LymeInfo.net. There are plenty of other sites, as well. Lyme Disease is not a joke, it is not something to take lightly, and it is most definitely real.
Friday night I had a revelation when the dress I bought about a month ago for my husband’s high school reunion didn’t fit the same way as when I purchased it. It hugged in all the wrong places. I was horrified — how did that happen?
Well, clearly it’s because I need to get off my butt. Oh, and my nightly dish of ice cream doesn’t help. I’d seen this quote (“A year from now you’ll wish you started today”) posted several times over on Pinterest, and I took it to heart. Sure, I could research products like colonix or go on a crash diet, but really I need to do something that I can continue on a long-term basis. Starting Monday, I was going to make myself get moving.
I planned on digging out my 30 Day Shred DVD, but of course… I can’t seem to find it. Normally, I’d allow myself to wait while I get another copy, but this time I didn’t. Yesterday I put several workout videos in my Netflix instant queue, determined to start doing them until that DVD actually comes in the mail. And I completed one of them this morning, so yay for me! I found Crunch – Boot Camp Training a perfect start for me. Some of the reviews claim that the workout is not intense enough, and if you are fit and work out regularly, I can definitely see that. But for someone like me, I thought it was enough to get my heart rate up, break a sweat, and not get bored. I also didn’t mind the instructor. Seriously, this probably seems ridiculous to some of you, but it’s a big deal to me. I’ve never been much for working out, so I have to force myself to do it. But I did it. And despite the difficulty, I actually enjoyed it.
It also, however, made me realize how out of shape I am. So, as difficult as it is, I am making myself get it together. My plan is to work out 6 days a week, preferably in the morning. I also plan to ease back into yoga and do that after the kids are in bed (instead of having my hot fudge sundae). I’ll be keeping a log of my progress and I plan to share my results at the end of the month. My weight isn’t horrid (though I do have a few to lose again), but my focus is fitness and toning, not necessarily weight loss.
I planned on digging out my 30 Day Shred DVD, but of course… I can’t seem to find it. Normally, I’d allow myself to wait while I get another copy, but this time I didn’t. Yesterday I put several workout videos in my Netflix instant queue, determined to start doing them until that DVD actually comes in the mail. And I completed one of them this morning, so yay for me! I found Crunch – Boot Camp Training a perfect start for me. Some of the reviews claim that the workout is not intense enough, and if you are fit and work out regularly, I can definitely see that. But for someone like me, I thought it was enough to get my heart rate up, break a sweat, and not get bored. I also didn’t mind the instructor. Seriously, this probably seems ridiculous to some of you, but it’s a big deal to me. I’ve never been much for working out, so I have to force myself to do it. But I did it. And despite the difficulty, I actually enjoyed it.