So for as long as I've been an adult, I've also been someone's mother. One of the perks of being a young mom, is having the energy to keep up with your child/ren. One of the downfalls is...... you haven't really established who you are in the world (Other than someone's mom.) I'm talking about profession, career and your place in this world outside of being care taker. Now, don't get me wrong. I wouldn't change my life for anything in this world. EVER. I love my children dearly. I love my husband dearly,...... but I'm almost 40 and still don't know what I'd like to do with the rest of my life.
I'm feeling a bit discouraged. I've always been interested in making others feel better about themselves, and thought.... "Hey, Cosmetology school is the perfect place for someone like me." Especially since I've always been fascinated with hair, skin, and nails.
While I feel I could do the work, and could make a successful career out of this... this is one drawback..... COST.
How am I supposed to go to school, still be a full time mom, and afford school without it affecting one of the other areas in my family's life? I've looked into financial aid and even had them break it down for me into monthly payments. I asked "If I got the highest amount in grants; what would my total cost for schooling be?" And the amount I'd have to pay if I didn't go into debt with a student loan is almost the same as my monthly rent.
I'm not about to take out a student loan, and saving THAT much money is going to take forever.... so HOW am I supposed to contribute to a better future with my husband if I am unable to have an actual career?
Here is where I am leaving it in God's hands. There is nothing else I can do. I'm not gonna lie. I am VERY discouraged, and feeling very "unworthy" and like I will be nothing more than a home cook, toilet scrubbing, sheet washing, taxi service...... but I am still not giving up.
There is a career out there that will make me happy and it involves more than just ringing groceries or running a drive through at a fast food place. I want a career that is MINE and tailored to ME. I don't believe God would have put this on my heart if it weren't meant for me.
Well, thats all I got for now. Back to see what sort of scholarships are actually out there for people like me that aren't "fresh" out of high school with a 4.0 gpa.
lol
Wish me luck and your prayers are appreciated.

Today I am reviewing "Beldt Force Thermogenic"

Upon receiving this product I was very eager to try it. I followed the directions and did notice increased energy and focus during the day. This was after taking the directed one tablet. I took this dose for awhile but then decided to try taking two as suggested. I did not like how I felt on two tablets. I got slightly jittery as if I had one to many cups of coffee. I didn't experience any heart racing or trembling like I have with other thermogenic products. It seemed to aid in my workouts (while taking the one tablet), as I was able to push harder for longer and dig a bit deeper to get a more desirable result.
The bottle contained 60 capsules, and while I only took it once a day before breakfast, this  bottle has lasted me quite a while. If you were to take it more often, it would last roughly a month.
I would consider buying this product again for my heavy weight training days, but wouldn't take it on my days off. Some may want to add this to a diet and exercise program to achieve weight loss, but someone like me who is training to gain muscle mass would only want to take on weight training days and not cardio training days. As with any dietary supplement it is advisable to consult with your doctor before taking this product.



*****I recieved this product in exchange for an unbiased review and inspection.*****

Argan oil. To use or not to use..... that is the question?

So there is a lot of hype now about Moroccan argan oil. I've seen loads of shampoos, conditioners, and treatments all claiming to have this "miracle" ingredient inside. I've personally tried said shampoos, conditioners, etc.... only to find that my thin hair is not given more body, life and shine like they claim. It actually ends up looking dirty, and dull. At first I thought, maybe I'm using too much? So I cut down and then cut down some more and then some more until I realized that this product just wasn't meant for me. With this being said I also tried it on my sons hair which is dry, thick and brittle. His hair also ended up looking the same as mine. That is until I tried the Cashmere Falls Heavenly Hydration. Its not an "oil" per se, like some of these other ingredients. Its more of a lotion. I used it on his hair and WOW, what a difference. His hair had body, shine, and zuberance like its never had before. For someone who normally shaves his head just so he doesn't have to deal with those issues, this is saying alot.
There is no smell, and its got a great "drip-less" formula that doesn't seem to leave a film. Its just absorbed into the hair and voila.... makeover magic. I tried a pea size amount in my very short hair and was surprised that it didn't look weighed down or dirty. Now, since my hair IS so short, there is only so much volume I'm gonna get; but I did still manage to get volume out of my style. This is a fabulous product for anyone who colors, has dry hair, over styles, or bleaches. Its gentle and a little bit goes a long way to reviving hair. I say........ to answer that question in the title: USE, but make sure your using the best one for your hair type. I will be using Cashmere Falls Heavenly Hydration as I believe it to be the best Argan oil I've tried.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/b00p3d8e84

****I recieved this product in exchange for an honest and unbiased review and inspection*****

Lets talk about tummy troubles for just a moment. I suffer from an autoimmune disease called "Hashimotos" and while there are many out there that also suffer from this condition, many people don't talk about the stomach issues related with it. In fact there are lots of people that just don't know its a side affect of the condition. Gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and cramping are some of the many things that can plague you when you are someone living with a thyroid condition.
(Check out this for more info on the condition: http://chriskresser.com/the-thyroid-gut-connection)
I have recently had the chance to try Zenwise Labs Advanced digestive enzymes. I don't consider myself "lactose intolerant" since I am able to eat yogurt and some cheeses in strict moderation, but always have issues with things like milk, eggs, ice cream and the like. I decided to put this product to the test by taking one as directed (one tablet immediately before eating) and then having some ice cream. Now, I'm not gonna lie, there was still some discomfort, but I didn't end up in the bathroom for 45 minutes at a time as I usually do after indulging in such a treat.
I'm not saying that this will work for ALL people with stomach issues, but I also tried it with foods that usually cause me to experience extreme gassiness and bloating like broccoli and beans. It dramatically cut down on embarrassing flatulence as well.
I did a bit of research and found that digestive enzymes claim to work with your bodies own natural enzymes in breaking down the foods to help in digesting them. Simple enough explanation I know (for a more detailed explanation please see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digestive_enzyme). For me it worked.
If you suffer from stomach issues and are looking for a solution to "whatever ails you".... talk to your doctor about adding a digestive enzyme such as the one pictured above to your daily routine.

****I received this product in exchange for an honest review and inspection of the product*****

Today I am reviewing Even Glow Serum - Antioxidant Skin Treatment - 20% Vitamin C by Valentia Skin Care. It claims to be an antioxidant treatment that brightens, protect, and even skin tone while reducing the appearance of aging.
I had never tried a vitamin C skin serum before, because I honestly thought it was all hype and a way for "beauty" companies to separate us from our hard earned money. Well,... I have egg on my face. The product does what it claims. I recieved the 1.18 fluid ounce bottle. You apply to freshly washed skin and wait for it to dry before applying your moisturizer. It has a pleasant, almost citrus aroma to it. The dropper in the bottle made it very easy to get just the right amount as to not waste a single drop. After two weeks, I did in fact notice that my skin looked more vibrant, and "glowy" (is that even a word? LOL)
My husband had been using it during this time as well, and said the the lines on his forehead seemed to be filling in. The product was non greasy, non oily, and quickly absorbed into my skin leaving it feeling silky and well hydrated.
There were some days I chose not to apply moisturizer over it and I'm not sure if this has made a difference one way or another, but I really liked the very faint orangy smell and didn't want to cover it up with another product. It works very well, and the claims are absolutely valid.

***I received this product for an honest review and inspection***

Writing a review today of a product called Cassani Fogless Shower Mirror.

I received the Cassani Fogless Shower Mirror to review, and at first glance, wasn't sure what to think. It had a hook that you attach to your shower wall and the mirror hangs on the hook. I was worried that the adhesive glue on the back of the hook wouldn't properlly adhere to my shower wall, but it did. I followed the instructions and placed the adhesive strip on a cleaned and completely dry wall. (I also had rubbed some rubbing alcohol over the area to make sure it was clean).
The mirror came with a protective sheet over it and once I removed it, the mirror was of good quality. It's light and perfect size for facial shaving. Although this wasn't the way I used it. I color my hair with temporary color so have to do it often, and since the color I use stains, its always more affective to do it in the shower.

I was pleasantly surprised at the "no fog" feature of this mirror. It didn't fog up at all. Plus it came with a razor holder that both my husband and I could use for our shaving needs.
The mirror is the perfect size for his shaving needs and its quite durable. Using the fogless mirror in the shower for shaving cuts the amount of time it takes a man to shower and shave in half.
Pretty good investment. However, the only thing I would advise is to NOT put it within the reach of young children. While this mirror is durable, it is STILL a mirror and could prove to be a hazard to a small child.
***I received this product for an unbiased and honest review and inspection.

Today I will be talking about Matcha Green Tea Powder.
I have heard of the stuff as most of America has, but have never really looked into. I'm a tea drinker. In fact I LOVE tea, but didn't ever think to try Matcha green tea. First of all..... its a powder. Just how do you "brew" a powder? Well, you don't brew it actually. Its more like "disolving" it.
I tried a product from Kiss Me Organics and its a culinary grade green tea powder. It claims to improve your energy, metabolism, and help increase focus. It came with a list of recipes. Thank goodness, cause I really didn't know how to use the it properly. I made a green tea latte. Let me just tell you it was "AH-MAY-ZING". After having this drink for two days, I did in fact notice a difference in my focus and energy; as far as my metabolism.... well, its still too soon to give an honest answer about that. Matcha is said to have a higher concentrate of all the good stuff that regular green tea does and its even more versatile than tea bags.
I can't wait to try the savory recipes and test them out on my family. Not to mention all the baking that you can do with it. It has a very distinct green tea flavor. Its earthy and pungent but in a pleasing sort of way. There is that acidic taste that comes naturally with all tea, but a touch of agave syrup or honey balance it out perfectly. The latte I made was done so with almond milk, so it also had that nuttiness added to it. VERY tasty. I say that Matcha is a MUST try for anyone who likes tea or coffee. 
Plus.... ORGANIC??? YES it is. This product is a win win no matter how you look at it.

http://kissmeorganics.com/
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/b00ddt116m

****I recieved this product for an honest and unbiased review and inspection****