Fab Fit Fun VIP box Unboxing

It finally came!!!!  The spring Fab Fit Fun VIP box is finally here, can you tell how excited I am?  I already know what is in the box, but to actually smell, feel, see the products in person has me super stoked!  Without further adieu, let me introduce you to the box.

The first thing you encounter is "The Better Chip" Spinach and Kale with sea salt corn chips.  Not sure how I feel about these, I eat spinach when it is in pasta or soup, but I have never had kale. You also get a coupon for $1.00 off 2 bags. I have never seen or heard of these here in Steubenville Ohio so I'm not sure I will be able to use the coupon but I will definitely report back on these!

Retail Price: $1.99

Next up is the Dermasuri Deep Exfoliating Mitt.  Here's what the company says about it:

"Bringing the secrets of the East to the West.  Exfoliate and revitalize your skin with Dermasuri deep exfoliating mitt.  Made with a unique fabric texture, our mitt catches and sloughs off dead cells and simply rolls it off your skin.  Reveal your healthy and smooth skin underneath, and rejuvenate your skin with Dermasuri."

Here are their "Claims":

- Smooth Skin Surface for even tanning and self tanning products

- Improve circulation, stimulate collagen, and fith aging

- Reduce ingrown hairs, bumps and clogged pores

- Help even skin tone and prevent dullness

- Absorb skin care products more effectively

- Remove Impurities and rejuvenate skin, leaving skin smooth and fresh

The directions tell you to soften your skin in a shower, bath or steam room for 5 minutes without soap, step away from the water, and use vigorous up and down strokes until you see dead skin cells roll away.  The more pressure the better the results. They recommend that it is rinsed and air dried, and use it every 2-4 weeks and replace every 6 months.  

I am super excited for this because I am very fair skinned and want to have a tan, I use self tanners and have a problem with dry skin.  I'll give it a try and post up a review!

Retail Price: $19.99

Next up is Level Naturals Shower Bomb.  You get 4 in the box and they have a menthol, eucalyptus smell.  These will be great for allergy season and clearing the sinuses.  Can't wait to try them!

Retail Price: $7.99

Now for one of my faves!!  Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo in an aerosol can.  I have this in a bottle that you squeeze powder out of and I L.O.V.E. it.  It is the best dry shampoo I have ever tried.  I am super excited to try it in a spray form!!

Retail Price: $25.00

Next we have the Cult Gaia Turband.  It is a thicker headband that you tie any way that you want.  It has a wire in it so you can make the perfect bow, a rosette, or anything else your little heart desires with the ends of this (they are sticking up in the pic to demonstrate).  I received the cherry print and I love it!  Others have received polka dot or aztec print ones.

Retail Price: $48.00

This next product...I can not wait to try. I have heard a lot of great things about the CoverFx brand and I am so excited to get my hands on something from the line.  This is the CoverFx SPF Protection Primer.  I don't really use primers very often, but I think this is a keeper because of the high SPF.

Retail Price: $38.00

To start getting in shape for swimsuit season they sent us a Mini Stability Ball and DVD by Merrithew.  I am on a workout kick and am trying to go to they gym at least 5X a week so anything that can keep me home and give me a workout is worth a try.  

Retail Price: $28.94

Last but not least is the Kai Perfume Oil.  If you are not a fan of floral scents, then this is not for you.  It's described on their website as "A light and intoxicating blend of gardenia wrapped in white exotics." While I generally don't like a really floraly fragrance, I do like this one.  It is a concentrated oil, so a little bit goes a long way.  

Retail Price: $48.00

They say the grand total value of this box as $217.91.  Overall a great deal for a $49.99 investment!

Are you a subscriber?  If not, follow this link to sign up: Join FabFitFun VIP

Very Impatient Person!!

I got an email 2 days ago that my FabFitFun VIP box shipped!!!!!  I have opened the email and tracked the package about a million times since it came and it is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow (Saturday).  Being the very impatient person that I am, I googled a spoiler for the box.......and I Can. Not. Wait. to get it!  It looks like it's going to be pretty ahhhmazing!  I'll get a post up as soon as I get it so you can see what I got! Time for me to go study for a couple of tests on neurological crises.

Subscription Box Series: Wantable!

Guess what came in the mail today?  My Wantable Intimates Subscription Box!  I am so excited to open it and see what I got!   For those of you who don't know, Wantable is a monthly subscription box that retails for $49.99 per month.  You can choose from 3 different types of boxes, Beauty, Accessories or Intimates.  You can pick one, or get all three (for $49.99 each).  Once you subscribe, you go through a questionnaire and tell them what you "Love", "Like" and "Dislike".  They also ask sizes, weight, height and color family and styles.

 I decided to order the intimates box because I saw a few boxes on youtube and they had some really nice stuff, one person got this cute little romper/sleeper, a cute pair of betsy johnson sleep shorts and a pretty lace trimmed blue camisole, this had my hopes up to get something like this too!

Warning!!  As this is the intimates box, there will be pics of undies that I got........

Here's what the box looks like when it arrives and the paper that tells you what you got and what it's worth...

Here's What the box looks like when it arrives

Here's the packing list that tells you the retail price of the items.

Here's what I got....

This is a Mimi Bandeau by Miel in Coral.  I think this would be cute in the summer maybe under a backless shirt that coordinates.  Retail Price is Listed at $25.00 .  I have never heard of this brand, and would never ever spend $25 on a Bandeau.......

Whimsy by Lunaire Bikini.  These are lace/mesh.  Cute undies, but they are Hi-Cut, so they look huge and probably will come up a little too high on my waist for my liking.  Retail Price is Listed at $16.00, but the tag on the undies says $18.00.  I have also never heard of this brand, and this isn't really something I would ever purchase for myself.  I'm more of a cotton boyshort/bikini type when it comes to undies!  I would also never spend $18 on ONE pair of undies!!

Lily Cheekie Boyshort by Yummie Tummie in Pink (I know it looks kind of coral in the pic, but it's more of a darker pink.).  I am kind of excited for these, they are supposed to be a tummy shaper, and they help me fit into my dress pants a little better, I'm all for it! The only problem I have is the color, I wish it was a neutral or white color so it could be worn under lighter colors too.   Retail price is listed at $18.00.  I think this is a fair price for a "shaper".  I'll keep you updated on if it actually shapes!

Cotton Slub Crew Neck in Antique Jade by PimaTee.  The shirt looks small for an XL, but maybe it's supposed to fit tight?  It's a crew neck t-shirt, what else can I say about it?  Maybe I'll wear it to work out or sleep?  Retail price is listed at $9.99.  

So, what do I think of this box?  I am not impressed at all.  When I saw what other people were getting, I was super excited!  But this was kind of a let down. I don't know if I'll keep this subscription going or not...I might try one more month but change my "Loves and Likes and Don't Send".  I don't know if in the real world, I would have paid the retail price for any of these items, except maybe the shaper.  I have never heard of any of these brands either so I can't say anything about quality. 

Do you get this box?  Let me know in the comments what you got and if you like it!

Subscription Box Series!!

What Up Yo?  Tonight, I'm gonna talk about the subscription boxes I receive and show you what I got in my most recent delivery from Ipsy.  I also receive a Julep box monthly, which is nail polish and sometimes makeup and I just signed up to receive the FabFitFun VIP box which isn't monthly, but every season and Wantable Box, Intimates Edition. Ipsy costs $10.00 per month, Julep is $19.99 per month, FabFitFun is $49.99 per quarter and wantable is $36.00 every month. For Ipsy and Julep, you always get more product than the cost, so it is worth it if you like to get new stuff every month!  Here's links to sign up if ya want!

Sign up for Wantable!

Sign up for Ipsy!

Sign up for FabFitFun VIP box!

Lets get this blog series going with Ipsy Glam Bag!

I received the March box on Wednesday and this month's theme is "Destinations."  Each month, you get a new makeup bag, and 4 products (some are full sized and some are deluxe sample sizes).  Here is what this month's bag looks like.....

This print was designed by an artist named Klari for Ipsy

I like the print a lot and the bag itself feels like oil cloth, an almost rubbery but not quite cloth.  It would be easy to clean so it is perfect for travel! I also love the fact that they are having upcoming artists design the prints.

This month, I received a lip stick (deluxe sample size), a primer (deluxe sample size), a felt tipped liquid liner pen (full size) and an eye shadow trio (full size).  Here's what I got.......

I'm familiar with all of the brands except for the eyeliner, which is made by Chella.  Overall, really happy with what I got! Since I received this on Tuesday, I have used all of the products except for the eyeliner.  Now for the swatches and my impression of each!!!!

bareMinerals marvelous Moxie Lipstick in the shade "Get Ready"

This is a pretty pinky neutral color.  It's kind of a "Your Lips but Better" color.  I have used this as kind of a "stain", just applying lightly and rubbing it into my lips.  That gave me a few hours of wear time, only drinking out of a straw, no eating.  

NYX Eyeshadow Trio in "Love in Rio"

This is a great neutral trio.  The swatches on my hand are without eye primer.  I use these over a neutral eyes shadow pencil (like milani shadow eyez pencil in 03 Champagne Toast or Avon Extralasting Eye Shadow Pencil in Shimmering Sand.)  and I get great staying power and more of an opaque color.  Overall, this is a great shadow trio - you can get a few different looks with just this one trio!

Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer

Do you see that kind of wet looking spot above my thumb?  That's the primer.  It is sort of tinted, but as you can see blends nicely with my skin tone.  It does have shimmer in it, so if you have oily skin this isn't for you.  I used it under my Revlon Colorstay foundation and it gave me a nice glow, but not anything to crazy.  I don't usually use a primer, just moisturizer and then foundation so this is a product that I would never have tried or purchase in full size.  

Chella: hello beautiful eyes Eyeliner Pen in Indigo Blue

Let me start off by saying I am not a liquid liner person.  I use gel eyeliner on special occasions, but that's as far as it goes for me.  I might consider using this one though because the tip is able to be used in ways to get different thicknesses.  The color is pretty, I can see myself experimenting with this for a "pop if color"  The tip is very soft and doesn't seem to drag at all when applying.  

So, that's my March Glam Bag.  If you receive Ipsy and got any of these products or are familiar with them, let me know what ya think!  

I'll post about my other boxes as I receive them.  Goodnight peeps!

Lets talk ADHD......

We were diagnosed almost a whole year ago.  I say we because this disorder doesn't just affect my son, but the whole family.  Cay will be 8 in 11 days.  Lets start from the beginning.....

From the time we started our first year of preschool (maybe even before then) I knew we would most likely end up with this diagnosis.  At every check up with the pediatrician, I would tell her that he was a spitfire with an endless supply of energy.  Doctor would say "he's just being a typical boy." He stopped taking naps at about 2 years old and literally would run around in circles at time, from sun up to sun down he was just always full of activity.  

Cay started preschool at 3 years old, it was a half day program and he attended in the afternoon.  We would drop him off and the school would bus him home with the rest of the elementary kids.  About a month in, the bus driver informed us that Cay was not allowed to ride the bus any more because he could not sit still and was constantly up and down and even under the seats at times.  At our first parent teacher conference, the teacher spoke about how he just didn't act like other kids.  During "Mat" time where all of the children sit on a mat and listen to a story or a lesson, Cay would be crawling around under desks or trying to talk to other kids or interrupting the teacher.  At home, we noticed the same type of behaviors.  He would constantly interrupt adults when they were speaking, wouldn't sit down at the dinner table to eat but instead take a bite then get up and walk around or crawl under the table.  I again brought all of this up with Doctor at his next check up and she again said he is "just a typical boy."  We had these same issues in our second year of half day preschool (except a new bus driver actually allowed him on the bus), kindergarten and first grade.  

Once Cay got to first grade, his grades started to drop and his attention span (what little he had left), just disappeared.  We were pretty much on a first name basis with the teacher.  At the beginning of the school year, she said she would try a few different things to help get him focused.  She put his desk right next to hers, tried to put him in groups with kids that were calm, anything to help him try to focus.  It was heartbreaking to hear that kids just didn't want to be around him because he was so distracting and would get them in trouble along with himself.  We even took a couple trips to the emergency room because of his inability to sit still.  Twice, he was under his desk for some reason and cut above his eye.  Luckily they were able to use glue both times.  Once we got to the end of the school year, the teacher told us to seek some kind of help.  I contacted the pediatrician and got an appointment.  

At the appointment, Doctor asked some questions.  She asked about grades (his had dropped), behaviors (I brought all of our notes and emails from our teacher), injuries (gave a rundown of the er visits and had her take a look at his legs, which looked liked he was abused - they were bruised and scraped up and down both legs), and finally agreed that this was not "typical boy behavior."  She said that they usually don't try to even start the diagnosing process until the child is at least 7 years old and has shown some drop in grades.  I was relieved that someone finally realized what we were dealing with but also scared because I didn't want to put my child on medication.  She referred us to a therapist and we made an appointment for the following week.

Our first appointment with the therapist was surreal.  At the beginning of the hour long appointment, she handed us questionnaires to fill out.  One was for us and one was for the teacher, we would take these home and fill them out then bring them back to her for evaluation.  After she evaluated the forms, she would call our pediatrician and discuss the results with her.  She spoke to us about the disorder, what we could expect from the visits, and medication/treatment options.  She somewhat alleviated my fears of the medications - that Cay would get addicted, or would become a zombie, or would have problems later in life from it.  Here's the best part - at the end of the appointment, she told us that we could take the questionnaires home but that she could call the doctor and set up another appointment with her because she could basically diagnose him based on his behavior at this visit.  FINALLY - someone understood what we were going through!  We called the doctor a few days later and set up an appointment to start the medications.

Our very first medication was Vyvanse at 20 mg (lowest dose).  We were on that for a month and decided that it wasn't really working.  It was a once a day pill and it took the edge off of his hyperness, but didn't make that much of a difference.  Doctor upped it to 30 mg and that was better, but then he wasn't sleeping.  So we got a pill for that at the next appointment along with a pill to increase his appetite because he lost weight.  After a few months, he got "used" to the 30 mg dose, so we switched to  a completely different medication - Concerta.  We started on the lower dose, it wasn't really lasting all day so we combined it with a Ritalin "booster" at lunch time.  This was keeping him up at night despite the sleeping pill so we upped the Concerta to a higher dose and d/c'd the Ritalin.  That was working great until about homework time, so we added Straterra in the afternoon, right when he got home from school.  This was also causing sleeping problems, so we had the sleeping pill upped to add an extra half dose at night.  This is our 3rd month on this combo of medications: Concerta 27mg and Periactin 4mg (appetite pill) in the morning; Straterra 10mg in the afternoon; Clonidine 0.15 mg at bedtime.

Yes, this seems like a lot of medications for an (almost) 8 year old.  I am hoping that we can stop taking the Periactin soon, we haven't lost any weight in the last few visits.  That does still leave 3, but I am hoping that we can work with the therapist on some different techniques to help control his impulsiveness and attention span which can help us with maybe lowering doses or eliminating the Straterra in the afternoon.

Thanks for reading our story, I know it is a long one!  If you have any questions, suggestions, comments, or are going through this same thing - please leave a comment!!!

I hope to continue to update this blog with our progress and setbacks.

About Me.....

I have never blogged before.  I don't know if anyone will read this, but if someone stumbles upon it, they might want to know who the heck I am.  So I guess I will start with a little bit about me.

I am a 31 year old mother of one, I am married, I am currently in school to become an RN,  We have 2 dogs, 1 cat and 3 fish.  I live in Ohio, but I am originally from Pittsburgh, PA.  

My son is 7 (will be 8 at the end of this month) and has ADHD.  One of the hardest decisions of my life was to start him on medicine for this diagnosis.  I knew he needed some kind of treatment, especially when at the age of 6 he tells his therapist and I that he feels like his brain is going a million miles an hour and he can't stop it and wants to be like other kids in school.  My husband is still not fully on board with our medicine routine, but he does see a difference in his attention span and activity level.  I was afraid that the drugs would make him a zombie.....but so far, we have improved our grades and listening skills in class and he is still the "same" boy he has always been.  Don't get me wrong, we still have our bad days where he just doesn't want to sit still or focus, but they are getting farther and farther apart (as opposed to every day before our meds).  It has been a lot of trial and error over the past year and a half to get the right combination of medications, we had problems with losing weight, not sleeping, feeling drugged, but we finally have a combination that seems to be working without any serious side effects.  

I am married to a wonderful man.  He has allowed me to go back to school after the company I worked for closed and pursue my life long dream of becoming an RN.  He has a slight addiction to "toys"...the expensive kind with 4 wheels and a motor, so much so that my lawn resembles a junk yard year round.  I can't complain though because my son and I want for nothing and we do have fun with the "toys" as a family.  

So as previously stated, I am in school, at the age of 31, for nursing.  I mention my age because the majority of my class is under the age of 24 which makes me feel old.  I love this field though, and can't wait to graduate (126 days, 4 hours, 13 minutes and counting), but who's keeping track?  It is something that I wanted to do since I was little, my grandma was a nurse and I want to be just like her.  This is my 3rd attempt, first was right out of high school and I just wanted to party, second attempt was after I was laid off a few years ago  - my husband was laid off right before I was set to start so I decided to go back to work.  This time around, I am fortunate enough to be able to finish.  

We have 2 dogs, a soon to be 5 year old rottweiler named Haydn (his birthday is March 31) and a 9 month old boxer named diesel; and one cat named Mittens.  See adorable pictures below.......

Well....I guess that's all for my first blog?  I have a few topics I will be blogging about in the future so Stay Tuned!