Rhonda Shear

I would like to thank Rhonda Shear for  giving me an opportunity to work with them by reviewing one of their items.  They sent me a package  containing their new catalogue, calendar with  inspirational quotes from successful women, a tote bag, and a Ahh Generation bra with removable pad. Rhonda Shear is a stand up comedian  and TV  personality who created a line for women which includes cosmetic,  fragrances, and under garments.  If you will browse the website, you will definitely find your "Ahh Moment" with their products.

The bra they sent me  has a full coverage seamless fabrication with a built in pocket to insert the  removable pads.  

I admire  Rhonda Shear  because she is a very down to earth person.  I sent a message through her Facebook Fan Page and she replied immediately and gave me the contact info to send my  inquiry.  So if you want to know a little more about her, like her fan page and get in touch with a  beautiful lady that full of wits and humor.  Thanks Rhonda Shear!

I will leave you with this quote from the calendar they sent me:

"Base your self esteem on the love you generate rather than the love you receive."

-Diana K. Garber-

Disclaimer:  The product mentioned above  was  received for free in exchange of a fair review.  There is NO  monetary compensation involve in facilitating this review.  Opinion is 100%mine.

5 Post Workout Shakes With Just 5 Ingredients

After a workout, your body needs energy to rehydrate and refuel. If you don't eat within 30 minutes after your exercise regimen, you run the risk of overeating later on during the day. It's important to eat some protein to keep your muscles working to burn more calories. According to Livestrong, your body goes through a ton of burning and tearing during a workout. Your muscles are aching for some protein! That's why it's important for you to go through "recovery" mode immediately after a workout. How, you might ask? With a delicious protein shake, of course! Here are 5 super easy, and especially yummy, post workout smoothie that you can make with just 5 ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen!

1. Banana and chocolate shake

If you love chocolately bananas, then this shake is right up your alley! Pull out that blender and grab a small banana, or a cup of frozen bananas is you have them in your freezer. Next, you will need a scoop of chocolate whey protein powder. Add in a cup of crushed ice, half a cup of water, and sprinkle a zero calorie sweetener packet and blend away!

2. Peanut butter and banana smoothie

You will need about a half cup of vanilla yogurt, a tablespoon or two of peanut butter, one small banana or a cup of frozen bananas, a dash of milk and a few ice cubes. Blend it all up and enjoy this delicious smoothie to recover faster after your workout.

3. Fruity shake

If you aren't a huge fan of bananas but you love berries, then you will love this post workout shake! Grab a cup of raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, or whatever else kind of berries you love. Pour in about a quarter cup of orange juice, a half cup of nonfat frozen yogurt, a small dash of sugar (or a no calorie sweetener packet), and a cup of ice. You will instantly feel rehydrated and recovered after your workout with this delicious post workout shake.

4. Flaxseed, strawberry, and banana shake.

You might be thinking, "Flaxseed? Ew." But when you mix it together with the other ingredients, you won't even taste it! The best part? Flaxseed is so good for you! It ups your intake of omega-3 acids which help burn more fat. Yes, please! You will need a couple tablespoons of flaxseeds, half of a banana, half a cup of strawberries, a cup and a half of nonfat milk, and a cup of ice. Mix together and voila! You have a healthy and delicious post workout smoothie at your fingertips.

5. Honeydew and kiwifruit smoothie

If you are looking for something a little different, but just as fruity, you will love this honeydew and kiwifruit smoothie! Grab two cubes of honeydew, a small granny apple that will need to be cut up into tiny pieces, a kiwifruit that has been peeled, a couple spoonfuls of sugar, and a cup of ice. It's delicious and will instantly help your body recover from whatever  exercise regimen you just finished up.

Be the "FIT" Girl of Fashion through Ellie

Ellie  is a company that combine fitness and fashion in one.  They provide  high end fitness clothing  in a fashionable way.  I am blessed to become  one of their product ambassadors  which gives me  an advantage to  preview or have a sneak peek of their deals and latest  fashion updates.  I got this Kiss Me Capri ($54.95) and Tempt Me top ($39.95) for  FREE, just one of the  perks that you get for being an ambassador and I love them!  It fit snugly to my body  which really shows which  part of my  body I really need to focus on.  

When I work out and my daughter is home, she always participates with me.
She's really good in hula hoops and  jump rope.

The color perfectly matches the fitness  products that I got from Empower.  I am really   inspired to work out now because I have the things that I need especially that my treadmill  got broken.  I can now do  other fitness routine  without running in my treadmill.  What I like about the products I got from Ellie is the kind of material they used, it's very comfortable and soft.

As you can see, the tummy is my biggest problem, I am working on it.  It takes time.

A heartfelt thanks to my darling photographer Burrito.

Both of our kids are inspired to stay fit as they see both me and my husband  trying to stay fit.  Hubby is still trying to talk me into  working out with him in the gym but the thought of paying $680  a year  makes me say "NO" right away lol.  I have all I need here at home  so why pay if I can do it here.  I understand what hubby is trying to do, he wants us to have a FIT" date at the gym hehehe.  Oh well, at least I can  stay with the kids while he goes to the gym, we won't need anyone to  watch them.  Sometimes, you just have to give up something in order to get something, would you agree?

Disclaimer:  Products mentioned above  were received for FREE for review purposes only.  NO monetary compensation was involve in facilitating this review.

5 most expensive iPhone cases

For those of us who have a bit more spare cash laying around there are some really cool iPhone cases available that really say ‘ I've got money’ and to own one of these babies, you’ll need to have the cash to back it up. These custom iphone covers are limited editions, and not the sort that you’ll want to identically leave laying around. To make a really good impression on that first date, one of these babies says that you are a person who knows how to spend their money.

Here are 5 of the most expensive iPhone cases.

Crystal Rock

Everyone loves crystals, and there has been a lot of talk about how great they can be for all different kinds of purposes. The Crystal Rock iPhone 5 case, is studded with Swarovski crystals and is one of the most expensive cases on the market. Your friends will need to wear sunglasses if you decide to choose this one as your case, because it is as sparkly as about 20 disco balls all put together!

The Gold and Black iPhone case

The Gold and Black iPhone 5 case is so expensive that you might need to take out insurance on it if you get one of these! While it’s not the most expensive case available it’s pretty close. If you've got a spare $5000 laying around the rose gold and white model is the most gorgeous of the two, or for $500 less you could get yourself the yellow gold and black version. Its flashy without being too gawdy and just screams out class!

Incase Leather iPhone case

You can’t really go past leather for durability and comfort, or at least that’s how it goes with jackets and shoes. This case, while not the most expensive on the market, is one that will be catching the eye of people all over the place as you whip it out to make a call. Because leather improves with age, this case just keeps getting better and better the longer you have it.

Plain from Grove

The Plain from Grove iPhone case is one of the coolest iPhone cases around, and while its expensive, it won’t break the bank. This unique case is made out of wood and the folks at Plain from Grove will sculpt the wood into any design that you want, so get drawing and work out what you want to have on your case. You won’t find anything as unique as this so splash out and get yourself something that will be a one-off design, of your choosing!

Natural Sapphire Company iPhone 5 case

This is one of THE most expensive iPhone cases ever! In fact, if you happen to have the $100,000 laying around to get yourself one of these then you may as well throw in a bodyguard to look after it for you. Made from 200 carats of natural blue Ceylons, 18karat of white gold, 38 real rubies and natural green sapphire for the Apple logo, this is an iPhone case fit for a king, or queen!

Brought to you by Vistaprint.com.

Zaggora.. Let's Get Hot!

It's inspiring to see that a lot of Mommy bloggers are taking the challenge to get fit this year.  Every blog that I visit is  doing a fitness  workout  to shed off some  unwanted  fats and  get fit.  I did  my work out last year but I lack motivation so I slacked off and did not  achieve the result that I was hoping for.  I am so inspired by so many women this year that I am doing my part religiously even though it meant a lot of body aches  lol.

Anyhow, I just want to thank  Zaggora for sending me this Hot Top  to review all the way from UK.  It is a perfect match for the  work out pants that I got from a different company.  I wear this top whenever I do my squats, sit ups, jump rope, or doing my hula hoops.  It's a very comfortable   work out  top that you could   wear.  It has a unique blend of celu-lite technology enhanced neoprene and ice cool sports, I am really pleased  with the quality of materials and how well it is made!

I am so glad that the weather is getting warmer, I can do my routines outdoor.

Zaggora  offers  a variety of  fitness  clothing  which includes Full Body Blazer, this is what I would like to have so  I can do my  run during fall.  They also have Hooded Body Blazer, Coola Bra, Hot Pants Capri, and Hot Pants Shorts.  Aside from that, they also  sell comfortable and cool clothing.  The  Top that I got  cost $80 which I think is about right for the price because it is a high end  clothing  with  extra   special feature.  

Zaggora is are challenging  fitness buffs to  join their 2-week challenge where you  have to wear your Zaggora clothing for 30 minutes while running, walking, doing, zumba, or working out in the gym.  At the start  of the challenge, you have to measure yourself  (hips, thighs  and tummy) and after two weeks, you have to measure yourself again  and share your results at FB.COM/Zaggora and you can win some prizes.  

Tell me if you didn't smile at these photos..  My ornery  Oof pup wanted to be in the scene Lol.

 You can check out more details about their challenge by liking their page at Facebook and  see  what everyone is up to.  It's a great idea to challenge ourselves once in a while especially if it would benefit our body and  quality of life in the long run.  Thank you so much once again Zaggora for providing me your high end  fitness clothing.  I'd love to have more (lol).  Okay ladies, let's get hot with Zaggora!

I'd like to thank my 7 year old daughter for taking the photos, luvya Anak!

Disclaimer:  The product mentioned above is a FREE item given to me for review purposes.  There is no monetary compensation involved in facilitating this review.

How Do You Use It: Sauna for Beginners

A sauna session can be one of the most relaxing, unwinding things you can do either after a day of work or a day of play. Just hanging out for a quarter of an hour in a very very hot room brings you multiple health benefits: the steam is known to help with mild respiratory problems, the heat relaxes and loosens your muscles, and the sweating has a cleansing effect on your skin, keeping it soft and beautiful.

To get all the benefits and avoid any accidents, if you're using a sauna for the first time, you should know a few things about how it works and what to watch out for.

First of all, make sure you're healthy. Saunas are not recommended if you have a history of heart or blood pressure problems or if you have any joint injuries. If you're pregnant or on medication, the safest thing is to check with your doctor before using a sauna and see if there are any setbacks. And even if you don't suffer from anything serious, only use the sauna if you're feeling good and as long as you feel good, especially if it's your first time. A step-by-step approach is best.

Heat up and cool down gradually. It's nice to have a warm shower both before and after the sauna. The one before helps your body heat up (and also helps keep the sauna clean), whereas the one after helps it cool down in a gentle way. In winter time, hang out around the gym for an extra 15 minutes, to give your pores the chance to close up and your body to recover from the cardiac rhythm increase.

Read the instructions. All saunas apply the same base principle, but might work differently. Make sure you read the instructions of the one you're going to use.

Here are some general tips:

• The bottom seats will be a bit cooler than the top ones (as the heat rises)
• If it gets too hot, it helps to increase the humidity (this can be done in some saunas by putting water on hot rocks)
• It's good to make slow movements from time to time, also to get up slowly and sit down again

Hydrate. Drink plenty of water before, during and after your sauna. You will sweat a lot and it's very easy to dehydrate. Don't drink any alcohol though, as it inhibits sweating and may produce overheating.

Choose a good outfit. The best sauna outfit is wearing nothing. However, if you are not comfortable with that, you can wear a swimsuit. Either way, you will need a towel to sit on and/or a towel to dry yourself afterwards.

Also, don't wear any jewelry, as metal objects can overheat and burn your skin.

Don't overstay your welcome. The ideal time recommended for a sauna session is 15 to 20 minutes, but this can vary depending on many factors. The best thing is to listen to your body and if there's anything that feels wrong, go out. 

*Photo credits: Waterton Park Hotel

Sophie Cleur has been enjoying the benefits of saunas for 6 months and is in love with the way her skin feels. After using a sauna for the first time, she began recommending it to all of her friends.

Activewear USA

ActivewearUSA.com sent me this Liberty Pant to try on and Review.  This  Stonewear Designs Slim Fit for Petite women  has a smooth fit from waist to knee.  It's feature  includes  a tummy flattening waist, flared leg, and a quick dry fabric.  Another special feature that I found is the pocket  from the  back, located  on the waistline, it's a perfect one to put your iPod when you want to listen to a music while doing your workout.

It is made  from a very high end material  and you can feel  the comfort  when you snug your lower body in it, it is so comfortable.  I like the  style where it is   tight on thighs and there's lots of room at the bottom.  I got the  size small but the waist part is still big on me so I altered it on both sides, now it fits perfectly.

I wore it when we went to Starvaggi park a couple of days ago.  I ran  at the hillside of the park while hubby and the kids were playing at the playground.  

ActivewearUSA does not only provide high end fitness products but they are also a partner in awareness with Hera Women's Cancer Foundation, an organization that promotes awareness about Ovarian cancer.  You can check out the different styles of their fitness clothing  by visiting the  link  above or  by liking their Facebook page.  Thank you so much Activewear USA for the opportunity you have given me to work with you!

Disclaimer:  The product mentioned above  was given for FREE for review purposes.  There is no monetary compensation   involved in facilitating the review.  All opinions is 100% mine.

Why Gyms Aren’t a Waste of Money

So you have made up your mind that you will finally start working out... at home. You think gyms are waste of money when you can perform the exact same workouts at home and achieve the same results, right? Wrong! As a personal trainer I see many people start and stop their gym membership and when I see people returning to the gym (with an extra 14lbs of weight) it comes as no surprise.

It’s true to say that many workouts can be performed at home but that is really not the reason why gyms are so effective. Here are a couple of reasons that you should be at the gym.

Money & space

You may have considered purchasing your very own treadmill and convinced yourself that it is going to be cheaper over the long term as oppose to gym membership, that’s not always the case. A good treadmill can cost you around $1000 now compare that to around $40 a month for gym membership where you get a variety of the most advanced epileptic training machines. Besides paying for gym membership alone is great motivation to actually go and workout. 

Now let’s talk about set up. If you have an ample amount of space for a gym mat, machines, exercise ball, weights, stretching space, jumping .. I think you get the idea. At a gym all the space you need is available and some gyms offer studio space (when not in use by classes) for more privacy.

Don’t get stuck in rut

Gyms offer variety so you won’t be stuck in a rut with the routine exercises you’ve learned along the way. Most good gyms offer a variety of classes including Zumba, aerobics, Yoga, Pilates and more, all led by professionals. And to top it off some very good gyms have a swimming pool, Jacuzzi and sauna, which not everyone has the luxury of owning in their home.

Your humble abode

What do think of when you are at home? It is a place of refuge, it is a place where you rest, relax put your feet up and unwind. Keep it that way! Why mix up work, working out relaxation and everything else under one roof? Besides the option to not workout is just too tempting.

That thing called motivation

Motivation to workout is one of the greatest challenges of training. Some people easily go through weeks of training, really energetic, determined and enthusiastic but just like that one day that same motivation could be gone and getting it back again isn’t easy if your sitting at home. Like minded people all on a mission to achieve a goal is great motivation for you to keep going when you are at the gym. 

Robin Osbourne is a personal trainer and tennis coach. He's specializes in olympic weight lifting and writes on behalf of The Park Club.

Empower... Stay Fit and Have Fun

Thank you so much Empower Fitness for providing me these great set of  fitness  sets for free!  I never knew that you co do so much exercise with hoops.  All I know before is twirl it around your waist and that's it,  but watching the video that came with this set changed my perspective about hoops.  I love  these as you can use it even when you are watching TV or you are doing laundry.

The Boxing Boot Camp comes with a  disc where you can watch the step by step  process of basic  boxing.  I like watching boxing but I don't think I could be one lol.  I use the medicine ball  and the   jump rope a lot.  The set cost $39.99, it has a bonus  abs work out  featuring professional boxer, "The Hurricane" Jaime Clampitt.  Boxing is a work out that will burn fat, tone your entire body, and knocked out stress.    With 30-minute boxing workout, you'll get to learn how to fight  to be fit!

Of the two sets that I received, I love the Cardio Core and More Fitness Hoop the most because you won't get bored as the music is upbeat and me and my daughter can do it together.  It's  pretty good.  The last part of the  hoop demo is the hardest as you will work on you abs,  but the sweat and the body pain afterwards is all worth it.  This hoop set comes with a disc and  you can buy it for $39.99.  You can hoop along with the  renowned  fitness expert  Gin Miller.

So Be Active, Be Healthy, and Be Strong with Empower Fitness.  You can get in touch with them through their social media pages such as  Facebook,  Twitter,  and Pinterest.  You  may follow and liked their pages and  enjoy the deals and fitness routines that you can get.

Disclosure:  Items m that are mentioned above were received for FREE.  There is no monetary compensation involved  in facilitating the review.  All opinions is 100% mine.

Straighten, Flip, and Curl

When I was a kid, I always love having long hair even though Mama  wanted me to have a short hair.  I would cry whenever  she would tell me that I need to have a hair cut.  It's funny though that when I grow up, Mama wanted me to have a long hair and I preferred short.  Aside from having a long hair, I always wished  to have a  curly hair as well.  We  did not have resources to get fancy stuff, we did not even have TV at home.  Despite of the lack of material things though, we were very happy because we have the most loving parents in the world.

What my mother would do since we can't afford to pay someone to curl my hair, she would take some of the stem from cassava leaves and  use it to curl my  hair over night so the next day my hair would be curly, she did those on special occasions only.  I remember, when my father's sister, who is a beautician,  visited us, she  curled my hair using the  real stuff.  Mama said that I slept that night  with my face buried on the pillow because I thought that sleeping with my hair tucked in would straighten it out.  Lol, what a memory.

Anyhow, I am so fortunate to have given the opportunity to  try and review  one of the  ceramic  styling iron from Flat Iron Experts.  They sent me  this KQC X-Heat  professional 1" plate width iron that has the capacity to leave your hair  silky smooth.  With this iron, I can have wavy hair whenever I want to since I have a straight hair.   Having a curly hair is easy with this  ceramic iron.  All you have to do is  straighten your hair first, then flip it with a twist of your wrist, and voila, you have the curl that you want.  It enhances hair shine , reduces frizz, and it softens the hair.

I have an existing flat iron but  it is getting old that it  is shocking me sometimes.  This one heats up easy and does not shock me at all, so I like it a lot.  Aside from the flat iron, they also sent me a bottle of thermal shine spray, and a stand to hold the  flat iron.  Thanks a  lot Flat Iron Experts.  

Disclaimer:  Products mentioned above were given for FREE in exchange of  of an honest review.  I was not financially compensated  in facilitating this article.  Opinion is 100% mine.

Sketchers

My Burritos are growing  like weeds,  especially their feet!  Before the start of the  school year, we bought each of them two pairs of shoes but they are now  small.  The same way with their clothes.  Oh boy, the  great thing is that, they are constantly growing which is a good  sign.

Anyhow, we went to the  mall last weekend and  bought  Ms. Burrito some clothes and another pair of shoes for her gym class because the one she has in school  does not fit her feet anymore.  We got this Sketchers on sale (still expensive though lol).  Wishing you a great weekend folks!
Pink Saturday

Link  with me every Friday through Color Connection.  You can post any color that you like.  Just click the badge below  to link up. 

Kiss - Stick On Nails

While I was doing my laundry last Saturday, I glanced over the Stick On nails that I won in a giveaway from last year. I thought of trying to put it on and see how it feels as I never have it done before. There were enough in a pack to do my nails and my daughter's. She was thrilled and find it fun.  

To be honest, I did not liked it at all.  It's the most uncomfortable thing in my finger nails lol.  I took it off after  30 minutes, gladly it was easy to  remove them.  

Ms. Burrito on the other hand liked it.  We removed it before going to bed then she put it  back on when we went to church to match her outfit.

5 Easy Cures for Chronic Dry Eye Problems

Our eyes rely on the natural flow of tears to provide lubrication and moisture to support comfort and vision to our eyes. If you experience an imbalance in the tear system, you may suffer from dry eye syndrome. People with dry eyes may suffer from light sensitivity, a gritty itchy feeling, redness and even blurred vision. You may also suffer from watery eyes. This is because the eye isn't getting enough lubrication. Dry eyes can also be caused by exposure to harsh weather elements or spending too much time in an artificial environment, such as air conditioning or heating. There are several effective methods for treating dry eye syndrome.

Drink Plenty of Fluid

For overall good health, it is important to keep your body hydrated with fluids, especially water. Water is essential to keep skin glowing and to keep vital organs functioning properly. It is also a necessity for complete eye health as well.

Artificial Tears

This is usually the first treatment for dry eyes and can be easily purchased over the counter. If you suffer from chronic dry eye, it is vitally important to keep your eyes lubricated, even if they feel fine.

Eye Exercises

Eye exercises can help prevent eye strain and will give relief in people suffering from chronic dry eye. Placing cupped hands over your eyes for a few minutes will not allow any light to enter and will give tired eyes a chance to relax. Repeat this several times throughout the day.

Eye Ointments

For chronic dry eye problems, you can purchase a thick ointment which acts as a lubricant while you are sleeping at night time.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

Avoid smoky dust filled environments where possible. Also make sure you do not expose your eyes to harsh sunlight. Looking directly at the sun can burn and damage the delicate eye, so make sure you wear wraparound sunglasses at all times when outdoors. If using an air conditioner or heater, try to use a humidifier as well, as this will stop the air from drying out.

People with chronic dry eye symptoms experience uncomfortable irritation in the eyes over a very long period of time. People with dry eye syndrome experience discomfort for shorter periods. For example, when doing long hours of computer work. If possible, when using a computer, have the monitor facing downwards. This will slow down the evaporation of tears whilst doing computer work. A simple test can be performed to determine whether you are suffering from chronic dry eye. 

The results will then enable a suitable course of treatment to begin. With drops and ointments, it may be a case of trying several over the counter medications before you find one suitable for you. Visit Dry Eye website to learn more about eye exercises for chronic dry eye and information on eye medications. Chronic dry eye often goes hand in hand with ageing, hormonal changes and certain medications. If your eyes are suffering from irritation, redness or dryness, take steps to alleviate these problems as soon as possible.

Emma Jane worked as a nutritionist for 5 years before she quit her job to be a stay-home mom of two boys.